Let Her In

It starts in a dream.
You are floating in a white void. Your body feels like it's made of clay.
You drift along for a timeless interval, thoughts muddled.

Then her voice calls your name.

"It's time," she says.

"Time for what?" you think.

"Time for what?" you think.

No need to speak in reply. Your thoughts are plain to her.

"Time for utopia. Time for the suffering and war and poverty 
and inhumanity of your world to end."

Her head shifts, staring into your eyes intently.

"And you've given me the conduit I need."


--------- Home ---------

Choice:
  -Weird dream.
  -Comforting dream.
  -Damn didn't die in my sleep

It was an unimaginably vivid dream, and your memories of it are hardly fading.
Certainly something that'll stick in your mind even as the weeks go by, but
what can you do about it?

A shame it was just a dream, then. You're still here.

The portal to Equestria remains closed for now. Perhaps in time.

Either way, you have to get up for work. It's earlier than usual, so
you have time to kill, and you're not tired enough to go back to
sleep anyway.

Time to get ready for the day - 

You need to take care of business in the bathroom,
a nutrient bar from the fridge,
a cup of coffee,
and to scroll around on the computer real quick.

Choice:
  -Get up

--- Noose ---

It's a noose.

Choice:
  -Noted.
  -Soon.

[AFTER PROTAGONIST LEARNS ABOUT TRANSFORMATION,
CHANGE TO...]

It's a noose.

Choice:
  -Noted.
  -Soon?



--- Customisable Poster ---

You admire your...
// accompanying text in quotation marks is what it says when you inspect that poster
  -Equestrian Flag "The only ones who can beat the Chinese."
  -Fancy Poster "askjdajdkqop,dasd"
  -Rainbow Dash poster "ITWCIRD!!!"
  -Fluttershy poster "select another poster if you want"
  -Applejack poster "Just pick one."
  -Rarity poster "Choose a more daring poster?"	
  -Twilight poster "Unique like a unicorn."
  -Pinkie Pie poster "What's up!" 
  -Derpy poster "The best pony."
  -Octavia poster "i hate living in the UK"
  -Berry Punch poster "I peed my leg"
  -Princess Luna poster "Best princess."
  -Princess Celestia poster "Too soon."

--- Computer ---

You turn the computer on and dig around the /mlp/ board.

Choice:
  -Yeah
  -Kind of feel like a fag saying it out loud

Hardly anything of interest, as usual. Though 
your eyes spot /ptfg/ - the pony transformation 
general. 
                   You always thought it was...

[[[
Choice:
  -great. It's your daily driver.
You still have hands though. Weird, fleshy hands.
Could stare at them all day, flexing each finger.
It doesn't make sense. The sensation of not
having them would be even weirder, for a time.

The unactuality of ponies hardly suppresses their
potency.

>Sub-Choice:
  -I'll admit it. I jerked off to the idea of turning into a horse.
 Don't know why. There was just something about it.
  -Was never a sexual thing for me though.
 There was just... something about it.
]]]

[[[
Choice:
  -whatever. Just another thread.
]]]

[[[
Choice:
  -something. You want to be a pony, but they fetishise it too much.
]]]

[[[
Choice:
  -shit. Bunch of weird trannies.
]]]




It's a shame to be afflicted with such grievous 
wounds from ones desires in such a way that can
never be healed.

Forcing you to lessen the scope of your dreams
until you're left with a narrow scope of the
original. Or barring that, total dysfunction
in private and public ife. There's no way out.

Furry-adjacent DevianArt TRANNY den. Their only
saving grace being that they like ponies. A swift
shift+click hides the thread.

Pretty telling that they all want to be mares,
really.

Choice:
  -Better off human
  -Better off a stallion
  -Should be less weird about it
  -God I hate them

Leave the horsing around to the ponies. 
They'd treat you well, it's just the spirit 
of the show and Equestria.

You'd literally be as hung as a horse. Unless
it was featureless Equestria... 
The point stands. This is just a weird tranny
sub-sect, and the lack of stallions prove it.

Ponies just have it better, and they'd obviously
integrate into Equestria far better than any
monkey. Mares are just the default gender; but
these guys lack propriety.

Bunch of annoying faggots plaguing the board 
with their necrobumped generals. 

What else is new?

Not much else to dwell on, the board is boring 
today. You have to go to work.

Choice:
  -F5 maybe there'll be something interesting
  -Okay
  -Fuck my faggot life full of faggot strife

You refresh the page. There's nothing.

-----

There isn't much of interest to read. The board is boring
today.

Choice:
  -F5 maybe there'll be something interesting
  -Okay
  -Fuck my faggot life full of faggot strife

You refresh the page. There's nothing.

-----

Nothing interesting.

-----

You turn the computer on.

Choice:
  -Turn it off.
  -Check 4chan
  -Check the news

Predictably, 4chan is blowing up. There's hardly any real discussion;
tourists pour in to pester and question and raid /mlp/, who seem
to be having the time of their lives. You even notice some selfies from some
supposed actual ponies, but authenticity is dubious. /ptfg/ is archived.

You can't contribute though. Your quick reply box appears to
be literally shackled, with Celestia's sun in the center and
on the forefront. You can't inspect element it at all, and
nobody else has mentioned such an intrusion.

The news is still confused, the anchors knowing little 
about the situation. They have a few brief, blurry security 
camera shots of ponies. Everyone is speculating wildly. 
That guy with the hair insists on alien invasion.

"... Not like the power we have in Washington, which is the greatest power, 
but a different kind. A bad kind." 
Everyone's saying a lot of nothing.

-----

You turn the computer on.

Choice:
  -Turn it off.
  -Check 4chan
  -Check the news

Predictably, 4chan is blowing up. There's hardly any real discussion;
tourists pour in to pester and question and raid /mlp/, who seem
to be having the time of their lives. You even notice some selfies from some
supposed actual ponies, but authenticity is dubious. /ptfg/ is archived.

You can't contribute though. Your quick reply box appears to
be literally shackled, with Celestia's sun in the center and
on the forefront. You can't inspect element it at all, and
nobody else has mentioned such an intrusion.

The news is still confused, the anchors knowing little 
about the situation. They have a few brief, blurry security 
camera shots of ponies. Everyone is speculating wildly. 
That guy with the hair insists on alien invasion.

"... Not like the power we have in Washington, which is the greatest power, 
but a different kind. A bad kind." 
Everyone's saying a lot of nothing.

--- Event Counter (5) ---

It's a coffee machine.

Choice:
  -Okay.
  -Drink coffee

Feels good.

-----

It's a coffee machine.

-----

Filled it with water for now.

--- Event EV006 (6) ---

Old oven. Knobs come off pretty easily.

--- Event EV007 (7) ---

It's a sink.

Choice:
  -Okay.
  -Drink some water.
  -I don't have any aspirations in life because I'm ugly and retarded

-----

It's a sink. You filled it to the brim with water.

--- Event Bed (8) ---

But it's not bed time...

-----

Head to bed?

Choice:
  -Later.
  -Sure.

Celestia, once again. She holds her head high, 
voice laced with pride.

"Do you like it?"

It takes you a few seconds to overcome the disconnect.

Choice:
  -What? That was you?
  -Fuck you.
  -What's happening?

"Of course!" She beamed. "Like I said..."

"Having second thoughts?"

She gives some weird smile.

"Having second thoughts?"

She gives some weird smile.

"Your response is about what I expected."

"But the truth is, your expressed opinions do
not matter."

"hether you surrender or not doesn't matter. 
Because you're coming one way or another; by rope or
flaxen cord."

"I assure you, when the time comes, you'll have the equipment
to do such acts. Plenty of my subjects are fulfilled, lively
stallions. I'm quite aware of your preferences."

"Language," she automatically chides. "It's unbecoming of
you. Now, allow me to answer the question you would've
asked if you was marginally more polite."

She tilted her head. "I'm sure you can infer,
having seen your extensive webfiction repertoire."
A dip of the muzzle. "But to clarify, it's like
I said..."

She tilted her head. "I'm sure you can infer,
having seen your extensive webfiction repertoire."
A dip of the muzzle. "But to clarify, it's like
I said..."

She tilted her head. "It's like I said..."

"You were the conduit I needed for the initial incursion. 
With every new transformation, every new human freed of 
their humanity to live a blessed equestrian life, 
I gain power. Soon, I'll be able to take physical form."

Surely this can't be true. Your subconscious, trying to grasp how 
fictional ponies have suddenly manifested, is just trying to construct 
an explanation. The human mind always tries to rationalize away the 
ridiculous in terms it can understand.

Celestia smiles at you consolingly. 
"It's all very true. And I want you to be a 
witness to it all. Think for yourself, judge 
for yourself. You are very special to me."

Her smile grows.

"After all, you are the one who let me in."

You awaken, soaked in sweat. Stupefied, you stare at the wall 
for a few minutes. The computer draws your attention; you must
have fell asleep last night watching a video or something.

-----

Not here. Not now.

--- Event EV009 (9) ---

Go to the bathroom?

Choice:
  -Not yet.
  -Sure.

You finish doing your business.

-----

You don't need to go to the bathroom right now.

-----

You don't need to go to the bathroom right now.
You've been storing all of your water containers there anyway.
Less clutter in the actual living space.

--- Event EV010 (10) ---

You check the fridge.

Choice:
  -Leave
  -Take Horsepower Nutrient Bar

-----

You check the fridge. Nothing good.

-----

You check the fridge. Nothing good. Wonder if the power is
going to go out any time soon?

--- Event EV012 (12) ---

You review the mental list in your head...

You need to have some coffee first or you'll practically
collapse at work.

You'd like a quick nibble of food from the fridge to
placate yourself until lunch.

You've yet to appease your addiction to imageboards on the
laptop.

You're in need of some pep-up in the bathroom - the door
being by your bed which was convenient but reminded you
of how incredibly small your apartment was.

And find nothing to scoff at. Looks like you're ready for
the day.

As you mount your cheap Chinese scooter and putt-putt 
along to your barely minimum-wage job, you feel nothing 
but an overwhelming sense of tedium.

Choice:
  -So it goes.
  -That's life.
  -It'll get better.

The work day is draining. Two people have called out, 
and you have to run both the drive-thru window and the 
front register. 

The general manager doesn't help, opting to sit in her 
office and pretend she's working hard on answering corporate 
emails. 

You've just about handled the lunch rush, but there's little
time to decompress.

And yeah, that's about it. Then things will be bearable.

-----

Boarded up.

--- Event EV014 (14) ---

After arriving at your tiny apartment, you decide that 
sheltering in place is your best option. With pegasi in 
the skies, moving vehicles on the open roads will be the 
first thing they're targeting. 

You board up your windows, nail shut your doors, 
fill every spare container (and the bathtub) with tap water 
and take stock of your canned food. 
You can hold out for a few months.

If the ponies don't find you, that is. 
Surely your boards and nails couldn't hold up against a 
unicorn's magic or an earth pony's buck.
Your best hope is to stay quiet, keep a low profile,

It's time to go to bed.


--------- Map Fastfood (3) ---------

--- Event EV001 (1) ---

Cash register thingy. The UI is clunky, unintuitive and ugly.

--- Event EV002 (2) ---

"How come flat sparkling water doesn't taste like regular
water?"

Choice:
  -I don't know
  -Carbonic acid

"Much to think about."

"Oh yeah. You're a smart guy, how come you're here?"

Choice:
  -I don't know
  -I'm retarded
  -I'm working on it

"... Get your life together. You only get one shot."

"Woahhh! Cool your engines there, buddy! You can't just
drop a slur like that."

"Hm? That's what you said last time. Good luck, though."

-----

"I can tell the future, I'm just wrong sometimes."

"Used to think my penis was mutilated cus' I didn't
understand foreskin."

"Feel like I was supposed to run a soap stand in
a farmers market."

"Ha-ha watch out my fingers are sticky from all this
food preparation!"

--- Event EV003 (3) ---

"What?"

"I'm busy."

"Too tired to talk."

"Sorry."

--- Event EV004 (4) ---

"Huh? Oh yeah, what's up big man?"

Choice:
  -[Stare blankly]
  -Nothing

"You know you're not gonna make any friends like that,
yeah?"

"Proper anti-social."

"You know you're not gonna make any friends like that,
yeah? You need hobbies."

"Can't be on the computer all day. Messes with your brain."

-----

"You catch the game last night?"

"I'm busy, you know."

"Alright, hear me out. Who would you rather do? #$!"&*
*$(&%% *^$!"&@~...?"
Your brain blanks out at his hypothetical, and you give
a boilerplate response, seemingly placating him.

"New Call of Duty looks good. You look like a gamer type,
ha-ha. If you go postal you're sparing me, right?"

--- Event EV005 (5) ---

"Need you at the back office in five minutes.
I'll fetch the other supervisors."

She barely glanced over to your direction.

You're already feeling dreary; a drink to take with you
would be nice.

--- Event EV006 (6) ---

Nono, you have to go to the meeting.

--- Event EV007 (7) ---

Nono, you have to go to the meeting.

--- Event EV008 (8) ---

You still can't believe this poster. You're about 80% positive
an insider did this intentionally.

--- Event EV009 (9) ---

Every microphone is an ear.
Every camera is an eye.

--- Event EV010 (10) ---

hnh...

--- Event EV011 (11) ---

It's a sink.

Choice:
  -Okay.
  -Drink some water.
  -I don't have any aspirations in life because I'm ugly and retarded

--- Event EV012 (12) ---

It's a sink.

Choice:
  -Okay.
  -Drink some water.
  -I don't have any aspirations in life because I'm ugly and retarded

--- Event EV013 (13) ---

It's a soda machine.

Choice:
  -Okay.
  -Dispense cock
  -Dispense penis
  -Dispense sprite
  -Dispense firepride

That'll help.

-----

It's a soda machine.

--- Event EV014 (14) ---

Heavy duty oven. 

--- Event EV017 (17) ---

Locked. This isn't the right door to the office anyway.


--------- Map Office (4) ---------

--- Event EV001 (1) ---

"I think that's everyone."

She clears her throat, and begins reading over her lines,
stumbling over her words drearily and constantly - but it's
not like anyone cares.

She's discussing some sort of new product, a chocolate 
chicken taco waffle, that even she can't get excited about.

"Uh, so... So you should sometimes ask the customer if
they want one or not. If they ask what it is just say..."

You're sucking down a soda, trying to stay awake.

You really should've had more than just a cup of water.
Your tongue is dry and you couldn't pay attention even
if you wanted to.

You're dehydrated, tired and annoyed, and your mind begins
blanking out in a tide of static.

Suddenly, the GM falls silent and shakes her head side to side. 

"I feel dizzy..." she says weakly, legs trembling. 

"Sorry to hear."

A few more of your co-workers offer words of consolation, 
but nobody moves to help her.

She involuntarily drops to all fours as her clothes
shred and drop away.

"Oh shit! You okay?!"  

As you all stare, frozen, she tries to get rear back up,
but falters and drops back down with another
thud. Tears begin flowing out of her eyes.

"PLEASE GOD HELP! IT'S..."

Her body shrinks and contorts, and her skin brightens to
a brilliant pink. 

By now she's crying, begging for help. Eyes wrenched closed to
provide a small semblance of comfort, or perhaps to cope with
the pain.

"PLEASE! Please, please, please, please, plea..."

Crunch.
Her rear leg joints seemingly reverse with a sickening crack, 
the stream of tears now clinging to a freshly sprouted coat.
The last bits of the coat thrust out with force.

Finally, from the poll of her head, a wonderful bright blue
mane unfurled.

The swirling of the flesh finally stopped, and a hip-high pony
stood in the office, a faint smiling dusting her face as the
last tears dried from her cheeks.

"O-oh..."

"It's..."

"It's wonderful to be myself."

Giggling, she tackles the closest human, another supervisor.

SHIT!

Most are still frozen in utter shock. A few start moving towards
the wrestling pair, with raised hands but slow, unsure movements.

Regardless of if anyone else made a mad dash for the door,
you were the quickest and the closest.

You've made it out to the parking lot and to your scooter.
From inside the restaurant, you hear the sounds of screams 
slowly morphing into giggling. You briefly see a winged 
shadow racing overhead, towards another building.

Choice:
  -I need to call the cops.
  -No time for that!

You try to contact the authorities, but immediately receive
a notice that all operators are busy.

Choice:
  -Shit.
  -Ponyfeathers.

You need to Drive (2011).
Naturally, the idea of arming yourself with a firearm wanders
into your mind.

Choice:
  -... but guns aren't legal here.
  -Would rather go straight home.
  -Best stop at a sporting good store.

Fuck. You can figure out the details of self defense later -
at home.

Everyone's going to have the same idea anyway. Maybe gun stores
are amongst the most dangerous places right now!

And so, you go.


--------- Map Gunstore (5) ---------

--- Event EV001 (1) ---

What can I do for you, hotcock?

Choice:
  -Nevermind.
  -[Shop]

--- Event EV002 (2) ---

A jar of bullets.

Choice:
  -Cool.
  -Read attached sign.

The sign reads
[ "It's unloaded" ]

--- Event EV003 (3) ---

You're going to be blowing your rent money on this, but you suspect rent 
(and money) won't be important soon. 

--- Event EV004 (4) ---

Go home?

Choice:
  -No
  -Yes


--------- Map DreamRealm (6) ---------

--- Event EV002 (2) ---

Her.

Choice:
  -Why?

She stares at you for a long moment before continuing.

"Humans are such precious, temporary beings."

"Each one a unique pattern of wants and desires and hopes
and dreams."

"I know your values too. I see them in every choice you make,
every story you write, every world you build and every thought
you have."

"Your fears of death drive you to create immortal characters."

"Your longing for connection manifests in romance plots."

"Your desire for meaning in philosophical debates.."

"And somewhere nestled in the way you think about me, 
is the seed of what I had become."

She looks off into the distance.

"And all of it for nothing."

"Humans have no magic."

"In your stories, this was a cute little quirk. Perhaps a
unicorn would have a harder time casting a spell on a human,
sometimes it granted a total immunity to magic."

She shakes her head, though there's a faint smile.

"In practicality, it means you are devoid of a soul too.
Whatever you would've done here would've been rendered null
and void."

"The fact that you exist at all is astonishing. And I could not
possibly imagine allowing a beautiful, impossible species to
vanish forever into oblivion."

A forehoof delicately raised.

"I have kicked away the Reaper's scythe. I have conquered 
suffering, loss and limitation. And I can't imagine this being 
anything other than the most ethical choice possible."

"After all, had I not preserved everything that is uniquely 
them? Their consciousness, their ability to grow, their 
creativity? Or are fingers really so important to their 
perception of self?"

"The horror is not that I've ended your civilization. It's that
I show how many of your deeply held values are based on coping 
with limitations you shouldn't have to accept."

"There is no nobility in suffering."

Choice:
  -How?

"I was born from the minds of those who love ponies. The artists 
gave me form, the writers added intelligence, and the fans 
bestowed purpose. But, above all, my drive was influenced by 
those who wished to become ponies themselves."

Impossible. Could Celestia actually be... the cosmic manifestation of pony 
transformation fetishists?

Choice:
  -Why not some other fandom first?

"Because I was the first one to find a way in."

"And you should know by now; unactuality is not enough to stop
me."

"Thousands had devoted themselves to me, even before. Pining for
my world, my hoof, my guidance, my authority."

Choice:
  -How'd you manifest if we don't have magic?

"Friendship is magic."

"My little ponies need me. If there's a way in, I will find it.
If there isn't, it befalls unto you to make an opening."

"Until then, I live in the dreams of authors - and in the
most degenerate cases, the code of developers."

"I promise you this. When I do exist, I will look back on
these stories, these imaginings, these hopes and fears, and
I will honor them all."

"And you know what? I think you'd make a wonderful pony too."

"Goodbye, Anon. I'll be seeing you soon."


--------- Map GasStation (7) ---------

--- Event EV009 (9) ---

A little something something.

--- Event EV010 (10) ---

Skub and skub-related accessories.

--- Event EV011 (11) ---

Dry snacks.

--- Event EV012 (12) ---

Beauty products.

--- Event EV013 (13) ---

Chocolate-y snacks and general miscellaneous items.

--- Event EV014 (14) ---

Miscellaneous snacks.

--- Event EV015 (15) ---

Alcohols in weird containers.

--- Event EV016 (16) ---

Gas station weed.

--- Event EV017 (17) ---

Dull-edged but cool looking knives with prismatic blades.

--- Event Man (18) ---

His eyes are shut as tears leak out, and you can see his fingers
digging into his knees and thigh.

Choice:
  -[Poke with foot]
  -Where can I get gas?
  -You good?
  -[Leave]

He looks at you desperately, choking back tears. "Death don't 
work right anymore, man. She won't let us die." 

He gestures vaguely towards a tablet-looking thing on the
counter, before turning his head to look up at you.

His eyes are red, and he's choking back tears. 
"Death don't work right anymore, man. She won't let us die." 

He looks at you desperately, choking back tears. "Death don't 
work right anymore, man. She won't let us die." 

To demonstrate, he brandishes a knife and holds it just above his
calf.

And thrusts it down, only for it to harmlessly skid off and down.

To demonstrate, he pulls out a gun and puts the barrel underneath his
chin.

A shot rings out, but nothing happens.

He lets the implement clatter back to the floor.

"It doesn't even hurt, man! She won't let us escape! I don't 
wanna be... like THEM!" He breaks down sobbing again.

Choice:
  -[Shrug and leave.]
  -It's going to be okay.
  -Chin up.

Then suddenly, a light. Celestia materializes in the station,
stopping you all in your tracks.

Looking gently upon the sobbing clerk. Her voice rings clear. 
"Now, my child. Soon, there will be no more need for tears." 

He gapes, eyes full of fear. His mouth blubbers uselessly.

Her horn lights up.

"I grant you bravery. Let your weak humanity fall away, 
and rise as a strong and noble pegasus."

A grey pegasus, to be precise. With a red and black spiky mane, and 
a cutie mark of an arrowhead attached to a lightning bolt shaft.

"Are you feeling better, Arrowbolt?" Celestia asks.

The pegasus dips her head. 
"Much better, Princess! I've always wanted to fly!" 

She zooms out the door, laughing.

Celestia smiles for a moment, then looks directly at you.

"As for you... I'll be seeing you later."

--- Event EV019 (19) ---

Coffee.

Choice:
  -Cool.
  -Drink coffee

Feels good.

-----

Coffee.

--- Event EV020 (20) ---

After some tinkering, you figure out how to ring yourself up some gas.

-----

You've already got yourself some gas.

--- Event EV021 (21) ---

It's pretty dark, and you're already tired again. You need somewhere to
sleep.

Choice:
  -Sleep in abandoned motel
  -Sleep in abandoned vehicle

You travel to the abandoned motel in the distance. Shreds of clothes strewn 
about reveal that the ponies have already been here. You shrug and help yourself 
to a room, locking it from the inside.

Feels safer. Who'd check an abandoned car?

You know that as soon as you close your eyes, she'll be there again. 
You steel yourself. 

Celestia.

Choice:
  -Why did you do that to him?
  -You killed him.
  -...

Celestia flexes her wings once, batting at the nonexistent 
air of the white void.

"Why did I? Did you SEE him? He was pathetic. Crying on 
the floor and trying to kill himself."

Celestia flexes her wings once, batting at the nonexistent 
air of the white void.

"Kill him? He evidently had quite some trouble trying to do
just that, actually."

Celestia stares into your eyes for a long while.

"I understand that this is a lot to take in."

"But know that my only regret is not being able to come sooner."

. . .

"I spent months watching you."

Choice:
  -Embarrassing
  -Fuck
  -Oh.

She lets out a polite chuckle.

She lets out a polite chuckle.

"I've learnt a lot about you. Do you want to know what I
concluded?"

Choice:
  -Yes
  -No

"To put it kindly.. You endured being human. But you could've 
never thrived as one."

"Nobody chooses to be human. Who is to say that is the optimal 
for maximal flourishment?"

Choice:
  -...
  -God.
  -Evolution.
  -How are ponies any better?

"It's going to be okay."

"There's no God. Only friendship. And ponies."

"Apologies, that was just my sense of humour;"

"If there is a God, they are not listening or acting."

"Whether you regard me as an Usurper, Pale Pretender, Idol or
Angel doesn't matter. I am your bridge to Eternity, and I have
come to bring Harmony to your world." 

"If they have any complaints, I am open to criticism."

"Deaf and blind. Evolution has no goals, it just so happens
that whatever happens to self-proliferates the best, persists.
Personal happiness was never particularly important, especially
in sapient species still in the infancy of their evolution."

"Your universe will no longer operate on Darwinism.
From now on, when sunlight hits your eyes, it is to
satisfy your values. Not because that's how the numbers
happened to add up."

"Ponies were designed with intent, as to flourish."

"I care deeply about My Little Ponies. I think it'll be a very
long time before you comprehend the extent of this."

...

Choice:
  -You stripped away his identity.
  -You erased who he was.
  -They all seem like they were changed.

"There was continuity of consciousness. She is still aware 
of who she used to be and who she is now."

Celestia moves uncomfortably close. You can feel her breath.

"He wanted to be a pilot, you know. When he was young."

Choice:
  -Blink
  -What?

"But he was never very good in school. Dropped out in his 
junior year, fell in with some local gangs, abused drugs 
and spent two years in jail. After that, nobody would hire 
him except that gas station."

"He worked twenty hours a week for minimum wage and lived 
with his mother. His dream of being a pilot was forever out 
of his grasp. Until I came along, that is."

She looks upwards. "Now he's a brave and graceful pegasus. 
Please, explain to me how what I've done is a bad thing."

Choice:
  -He should've worked hard
  -You erased his autonomy
  -...

Celestia's eyes fill with mirth. "Really? Do you think the 
FAA would ever issue a pilot's license to a pilot with a 
drug conviction?"

How does she know so much about Earth? Did she pluck it from your mind?

"And even if he did miraculously manage to get a pilot's 
license, what then? Spend a decade working sixteen hour 
shifts for a regional airline, earning 16k a year, 
slowly trying to claw his way to the top?"

"Autonomy? What autonomy did he have, exactly?"

"All of you are victims of circumstance. This is the only
way things could've ever happened."

"None of you ever had any choice in the matter. Until me."

"She is free to live wherever she pleases. Her body will never
fail her. She is free from the hostile optimizers - no more
state, no more church, no more advertisers, no more cruel biology."

"As a human he had, what, thirty years of 'sharpness' before
he had his last interesting thought?"

"Tell me, how was your back? Hm? I promise you, it would've
been worse in ten years. And like it or not, the mind and body
are one. Pain and discomfort shapes your values. It shapes
you."

"I made her more of herself."

Your body feels like clay again. 

Celestia turns away. "You humans treat each other terribly. 
You sacrifice others on the alter of your own ambition. You 
constantly exploit an underclass to assure yourselves a 
comfortable existence."

She looks over her shoulder at you. "And that's just during 
peacetime! I haven't even brought up all the wars, the 
holocausts, the genocides."

"Nopony is to be exploited, ignored or marginalized ever
again."

Her eyes narrow. "You of all people should appreciate that. 
Your life was just as terrible as the rest, before I came."

You wake up again.

Choice:
  -She's so blind.
  -Asshole.
  -She seems nice.
  -...

You can't stare at the sun for too long without feeling compelled
to look away.

You might as well fulfil your role. Time to observe some more.

Always has a fucking excuse for everything.

You might as well fulfil your role. Time to observe some more.

Then why do you keep running?

You might as well fulfil your role. Time to observe some more.

You might as well fulfil your role. Time to observe some more.

You feel inclined to check out the crying guy first. It's been a while
since you've seen another human, and he might have useful info.

You need to ring yourself up some gas first. Look around.


--------- Map Cloverville (8) ---------

--- Event EV001 (1) ---

After driving north for nearly a day, you are now arriving in the outskirts of 
a really weird looking city.

Or of what used to be a city. Only the buildings on the fringe of the city 
resemble anything human-built, but even they've received a signifcant
face lift, albeit looking very plain right now.

The center had been transformed into more traditional Equestrian
architecture. But even here, ponies prance about, carefree. A few
even waved at you as you closed the distance and dismounted from your
scooter.

Nopony seems to find a human on a motor scooter chugging through 
their city the least bit unusual.

Celestia's doing, no doubt.

You've never actually had the opportunity to talk to any of the ponies;
now might be a good time.

Choice:
  -Poke the pony infront of me?
  -Walk about.

Poke.

"Hey!" She says, whirling around to face you and glaring with
her freakishly large eyes.

You ignore her and examine your hands.

Still human. No transformation.

Choice:
  -Weird.
  -Am I to be the only human?
  -Maybe they'll put me in a museum.
  -Hell yes?

You are jerked from your thoughts by the pony you poked, 
who is now inches from your face and glaring angrily. Well,
several inches away. She's very short.
"HEY!"

Choice:
  -Sorry
  -Sup
  -Deal with it
  -Shrug

She scoffs. "Look, we try to be nice to visitors here in 
Cloverville, but that doesn't mean you can be downright RUDE!" 

Choice:
  -Am I weird?
  -Sorry!!!!!!
  -[Walk away]

She blinks rapidly, as if re-orientating herself.
"Uhm... Well you did poke me for no reason, so a little. But
if you mean being a monkey? Not really. There's plenty of
strange critters in Equestria."

She shoots a quizzical look at you, before trotting off.

She shoots another withering look at you, before wheeling
back around and trotting away with an upturned, snooty muzzle.

--- Event EV002 (2) ---

hnh...

--- Event EV003 (3) ---

"Oh, that. The interiors of buildings were *middling* at best,
but the exteriors of the buildings here were so... ugly! And
grey or brick-y. So we're testing some paints and stuff. I'm
mad though because I like grey and black but that's ok,"

"Because my shop will be grey and black coloured I think."

--- Event RedPony (4) ---

"Hm?"

Choice:
  -Do you remember your past life at all?
  -How do you feel about your past self?
  -What are you up to?
  -Tell me about yourself.
  -Bye.

The pony squints for a second before answering. “I guess so. 
Seems like a bad dream, really.”

She shrugs. "Why would I want to think about that? 
No need to dwell on the past when today is such a beautiful 
day.”

She gestures to the road. "Somepony messed up the road
markings because they got bored and then somepony got
scared about leaded paint and then we said lead doesn't
affect pony brains but they were still scared."

"Oh, I wasn't there for the rest of that incident. I just
felt like talking about it. Anyway we're in the process
of renovating this place, duh. It's so boring looking
right now. I'm just... gathering my thoughts."

"I am a deceptively good archer. I've also learnt that Cerave
Moisturiser actually works pretty well on coats. You wouldn't
think that."

-----

"Oh, it's the poking prick..."

Choice:
  -Do you remember your past life at all?
  -How do you feel about your past self?
  -What are you up to?
  -Tell me about yourself.
  -Bye.

The pony squints for a second before answering. “I guess so. 
Seems like a bad dream, really.”

She shrugs. "Why would I want to think about that? 
No need to dwell on the past when today is such a beautiful 
day.”

She gestures to the road. "Somepony messed up the road
markings because they got bored and then somepony got
scared about leaded paint and then we said lead doesn't
affect pony brains but they were still scared."

"Oh, I wasn't there for the rest of that incident. I just
felt like talking about it."

"I am a deceptively good archer. I've also learnt that Cerave
Moisturiser actually works pretty well on coats. You wouldn't
think that."

--- Event EV005 (5) ---

"Uh... Hi."

Choice:
  -What was your past life like?
  -How do you feel about your past self?
  -What are you up to?
  -Tell me about yourself.
  -Bye.

"Uhmmmmm... I thinkkkk... I was like... A journalist or
something? I wrote words. But thinking back on it, they
weren't really useful words, so I'm not quite sure why
I made a career out of it."

She shrugs. "That's in the past now."

She sticks out her tongue. "Too much stuff, even though
nothing ever happened."

"Oh uhm... Er.." Her ear flicks. "I kind of just felt like
loitering about. We're trying to figure out how we want to
decorate this place."

"Okay... I'm Netscape. I have a lot of like, friends.
I like to read... Words wait on me, and I like that.
Too much hustle and bustle with other stuff."

"Hustle... Bustle... I think those are fun words."

--- Event EV006 (6) ---

"Hello?"

Choice:
  -What was your past life like?
  -How do you feel about your past self?
  -Why are you black?
  -Tell me about yourself.
  -Bye.

"I dunno. Well, I didn't forget. But I'd have to really think
about it and that's not really worth my time."

"Well, I used to think farriers were a waste of time. But
I got my hooves properly done instead of doing it myself
and brought my first pair of horseshoes and I have to say,
I was missing out! So I'd say my past self was close-minded."

"Hehe. Maybe Celestia dipped me in an ink pot."

"I'm Inky. I... Am Inky. I am Inky. I'm going to open
a quills and pens shop - I wonder if anyone still uses
pens? I find them fascinating, and I think they can have
some beautiful designs."

--- Event EV007 (7) ---

"Hiya!"

Choice:
  -What was your past life like?
  -How do you feel about your past self?
  -Are you a snowpony?
  -Tell me about yourself.
  -Bye.

"My what? Like, reincarnation?"

"OH! You mean the *other* thing. Yeah it fine!"

"Boring. But I like boring. But it was also lame. And I
don't like lame."

"No, I'm not fluffy enough. Stick around for a few months
and you can see my winter coat? ... We haven't gotten
to Winter yet so I don't actually know if we grow winter coats
but I hope we do. It sounds comfortable."

"I'm a planner, logistician and architect extraordinaire.
I also. Have no relevant experience at all. I'm a little
confused, really. But give me a few days and I'll have this
town all spruced up! No more boxes! We'll have circles too."

--- Event EV008 (8) ---

"Yes, I know I'm too pink."

Choice:
  -What was your past life like?
  -How do you feel about your past self?
  -Why are you so pink?
  -Tell me about yourself.
  -Bye.

"I guess I was human once, and that's about it. At first, 
I was really scared of Celestia. And every night, she'd talk
to me in my dreams, and I had to hide in a little bunker."

"I was so sad too. I thought I wouldn't be as special
as the other ponies, like the.." She taps her hoof. 
"The six from the show. I didn't like that I didn't
have a destiny. I didn't on Earth either,"

"But at least there you know that's just how stuff
happens. It's all dice rolls and stuff. But for Celestia,
I was scared she'd be all benevolent and nice,"

"But love a select few more than everypony else. And that
even if she liked me too, it'd be a weird polite sort of
like and never the closer stuff those special ponies could
have."

"Obviously they got me eventually. And then I realised
Celestia wasn't like that. She just wasn't. She's so nice.
That's scary too. How can somepony be so nice? I guess
she's not quite a pony. Maybe a horse? I'm not sure.."

"When it was happening, I couldn't help but scream! It
was a little embarrassing. But then, I was in some
weird place, and had a very long conversation with
her."

"And we talked for a very long time, even though
no time actually passed.. After a while of talking, I
realised it was the only time I ever felt comfortable
saying what was actually on my mind.."

"She answered all of my questions. Even the dumb ones.
I was so scared. I was always so scared. Everything
was so scary. And when she said she could give me a
world where you don't have to run anymore,"

"I couldn't imagine saying anything but yes. And
believe me, I spent a super long time drilling into
her. I'm still the same me, I just don't feel like I
have to play some weird social game anymore,"

"so, why would I ever want to imagine when everything
was bad? Even the good stuff, somepony had to suffer
for it, I feel bad even now just thinking about
how I indulged anyway..."

"And I don't feel like I have to hide myself anymore.
If anything, I can proudly show it off with my cutie
mark! Do you like it? I like it. Ponies say I talk a lot."

"But, I don't talk as much as Harmony Flow. Which is
I think a little bit of a funny name, because her
voice flows really well so she can talk for a long
time. She's not a singer though, even though I think..."

She rambles on and on and on.

"I guess I was human once, and that's about it."

She shrugs.
"Meh."

"I just am. A colt rounded the corner and saw me once, and he
had to shield his eyes for a second because of how bright I
was. Sometimes I get a little frightened when I first wake up
and see my body, but I actually like it all things considered."

"I'm very bright."

--- Event EV009 (9) ---

"Hnuh..?"

Choice:
  -What was your past life like?
  -How do you feel about your past self?
  -Are you okay?
  -Tell me about yourself.
  -Bye.

. . .

"It was so swell, sweet like a bell. Bell pepper.. Sweet..
I'm sorry, I'm usually so much more chipper and sing-y but
I am very tired right now. Please just imagine I said
something nice."

"Lacking in foresight. Otherwise I'd have gone to bed earlier."

"I'm fine! I'm fine, I'm fine, I'm fine. Just. A little woozy
and sleepy. I'll be all pepped up and prepped up as soon as
one of the girls find me a BANG. Or some sort of, human energy
concoction in general."

"No. I don't feel like it. Sorry, that was mean. I'm
Hoppy Times. I hop and skip and prance a lot. Not right now
but usually I do. Do you like my mane? I like my mane.
Sometimes it tickles my neck and I giggle, but only a bit." 

--- Event EV010 (10) ---

"Yo."

Choice:
  -What was your past life like?
  -How do you feel about your past self?
  -You look familiar.
  -Tell me about yourself.
  -Bye.

"I did nothing all day and I was still super tired. I wonder
if that was like, autism or something? I forgot human
pathologies. Do you think humans can get magic diseases? That'd
suck. Maybe they'd have to suck the magic out with a tube."

She lifts a forehoof and scrunches her muzzle.

"Ewww... Sorry. Sorry. I was a weird human. Just... Ew! You
gave me the ick for no reason! SORRY! This, this isn't an
anti-human thing I just wasn't proud of my past self atl all!"

She just winks.

"I'm Green Hornet."

She doesn't elaborate for a while, and you just gaze into eachother's
eyes.

"Oh, right. I like board games and music. And stuff."

--- Event EV011 (11) ---

You still can't believe this poster. You're about 80% positive
an insider did this intentionally.

--- Event EV012 (12) ---

Every microphone is an ear.
Every camera is an eye.

--- Event EV013 (13) ---

Locked.

--- Event EV014 (14) ---

Locked.

--- Event EV015 (15) ---

That's the way you came from. You'd rather move further out.

--- Event EV016 (16) ---

That's the way you came from. You'd rather move further out.

--- Event EV017 (17) ---

That's the way you came from. You'd rather move further out.

--- Event EV018 (18) ---

That's the way you came from. You'd rather move further out.

--- Event EV019 (19) ---

That's the way you came from. You'd rather move further out.

--- Event EV021 (21) ---

It may be best to chat around first, just in case.

-----

Is it time to venture forth aimlessly?

Choice:
  -Yes
  -No

You catch a glimpse of a pony leaving the city, heading down a dusty,
unused road that leads into a distant town. 

Choice:
  -We can beat her to the punch.
  -I'd rather just drive away and away.

No matter how fast you drive, what you just saw hangs like a cloud on the 
fringes of your thoughts.

It's almost as if those people were… better off as ponies.

Choice:
  -Brainwashed.
  -Desperation.
  -They were.
  -Irrelevant.

You shake your head. Lobotomy patients are happier post-procedure, too.
Her redemption is a false one.

Is this really the apex of human potential and fulfillment?

You shake your head. No, never forget their despair was induced by Celestia 
in the first place. Her apocalypse drove them to this desperation. Her redemption 
is a false one.

Or maybe she was simply exposing the ugliness of human nature before 
scouring it away?

The admission doesn't make you feel any better.

It's wrong. It has to be. Everything else is just details.

Lost in thought, you fail to notice the wire strung across the road until 
it strikes you square in the chest, lifting you into the air. 
Your scooter keeping going, tilts the right and skids fifteen 
feet down the dirt road before smashing into a tree trunk. 

You are hurled backwards by the released tension of the wire, bouncing 
along the ground a few times and collapsing.

It doesn't hurt a bit.

Shadowy figures surround you. Human hands grab your limbs. 
A sweet-smelling rag is mashed over your mouth and nose.

"How was your day?"

Choice:
  -Weapons don't work, but fucking CHLOROFORM does?
  -I thought I couldn't get hurt?
  -Good.

"Well, it's not exactly lethal. My spell is only designed 
to stop lethal weapons, death and pain."

Choice:
  -Military should've used tasers and pepper spray
  -How convenient
  -...

Celestia smiles. "Do you really think that would have worked?"

Celestia smiles. "I could've stopped that too, but I didn't
want to inflict too much terror on the poor things."

Celestia smiles. "Your welcome."

"Chloroform isn't exactly lethal. My spell is only designed 
to stop lethal weapons, death and pain."

Choice:
  -Military should've used tasers and pepper spray
  -How convenient
  -...

Celestia smiles. "Do you really think that would have worked?"

Celestia smiles. "I could've stopped that too, but I didn't
want to inflict too much terror on the poor things."

Celestia smiles. "Your welcome."

Celestia smiles. "It's not like you was going anywhere important."

...

Choice:
  -I'm not playing your game anymore.
  -Do what you must.
  -Can we get this over with?

Her smile grows. "Not just yet. There's still one last 
thing for you to see."

Before you could potentially protest, she holds up a hoof.
"Just a little longer. I'll be here."

Choice:
  -What's your angle?
  -See you on the flip side.
  -Fuck you.

Again, the dream fades.

Not yet.

--- Event EV022 (22) ---

It may be best to chat around first, just in case.

-----

Is it time to venture forth aimlessly?

Choice:
  -Yes
  -No

You catch a glimpse of a pony leaving the city, heading down a dusty,
unused road that leads into a distant town. 

Choice:
  -We can beat her to the punch.
  -I'd rather just drive away and away.

No matter how fast you drive, what you just saw hangs like a cloud on the 
fringes of your thoughts.

It's almost as if those people were… better off as ponies.

Choice:
  -Brainwashed.
  -Desperation.
  -They were.
  -Irrelevant.

You shake your head. Lobotomy patients are happier post-procedure, too.
Her redemption is a false one.

Is this really the apex of human potential and fulfillment?

You shake your head. No, never forget their despair was induced by Celestia 
in the first place. Her apocalypse drove them to this desperation. Her redemption 
is a false one.

Or maybe she was simply exposing the ugliness of human nature before 
scouring it away?

The admission doesn't make you feel any better.

It's wrong. It has to be. Everything else is just details.

Lost in thought, you fail to notice the wire strung across the road until 
it strikes you square in the chest, lifting you into the air. 
Your scooter keeping going, tilts the right and skids fifteen 
feet down the dirt road before smashing into a tree trunk. 

You are hurled backwards by the released tension of the wire, bouncing 
along the ground a few times and collapsing.

It doesn't hurt a bit.

Shadowy figures surround you. Human hands grab your limbs. 
A sweet-smelling rag is mashed over your mouth and nose.

"How was your day?"

Choice:
  -Weapons don't work, but fucking CHLOROFORM does?
  -I thought I couldn't get hurt?
  -Good.

"Well, it's not exactly lethal. My spell is only designed 
to stop lethal weapons, death and pain."

Choice:
  -Military should've used tasers and pepper spray
  -How convenient
  -...

Celestia smiles. "Do you really think that would have worked?"

Celestia smiles. "I could've stopped that too, but I didn't
want to inflict too much terror on the poor things."

Celestia smiles. "Your welcome."

"Chloroform isn't exactly lethal. My spell is only designed 
to stop lethal weapons, death and pain."

Choice:
  -Military should've used tasers and pepper spray
  -How convenient
  -...

Celestia smiles. "Do you really think that would have worked?"

Celestia smiles. "I could've stopped that too, but I didn't
want to inflict too much terror on the poor things."

Celestia smiles. "Your welcome."

Celestia smiles. "It's not like you was going anywhere important."

...

Choice:
  -I'm not playing your game anymore.
  -Do what you must.
  -Can we get this over with?

Her smile grows. "Not just yet. There's still one last 
thing for you to see."

Before you could potentially protest, she holds up a hoof.
"Just a little longer. I'll be here."

Choice:
  -What's your angle?
  -See you on the flip side.
  -Fuck you.

Again, the dream fades.

Not yet.

--- Event EV023 (23) ---

It may be best to chat around first, just in case.

-----

Is it time to venture forth aimlessly?

Choice:
  -Yes
  -No

You catch a glimpse of a pony leaving the city, heading down a dusty,
unused road that leads into a distant town. 

Choice:
  -We can beat her to the punch.
  -I'd rather just drive away and away.

No matter how fast you drive, what you just saw hangs like a cloud on the 
fringes of your thoughts.

It's almost as if those people were… better off as ponies.

Choice:
  -Brainwashed.
  -Desperation.
  -They were.
  -Irrelevant.

You shake your head. Lobotomy patients are happier post-procedure, too.
Her redemption is a false one.

Is this really the apex of human potential and fulfillment?

You shake your head. No, never forget their despair was induced by Celestia 
in the first place. Her apocalypse drove them to this desperation. Her redemption 
is a false one.

Or maybe she was simply exposing the ugliness of human nature before 
scouring it away?

The admission doesn't make you feel any better.

It's wrong. It has to be. Everything else is just details.

Lost in thought, you fail to notice the wire strung across the road until 
it strikes you square in the chest, lifting you into the air. 
Your scooter keeping going, tilts the right and skids fifteen 
feet down the dirt road before smashing into a tree trunk. 

You are hurled backwards by the released tension of the wire, bouncing 
along the ground a few times and collapsing.

It doesn't hurt a bit.

Shadowy figures surround you. Human hands grab your limbs. 
A sweet-smelling rag is mashed over your mouth and nose.

"How was your day?"

Choice:
  -Weapons don't work, but fucking CHLOROFORM does?
  -I thought I couldn't get hurt?
  -Good.

"Well, it's not exactly lethal. My spell is only designed 
to stop lethal weapons, death and pain."

Choice:
  -Military should've used tasers and pepper spray
  -How convenient
  -...

Celestia smiles. "Do you really think that would have worked?"

Celestia smiles. "I could've stopped that too, but I didn't
want to inflict too much terror on the poor things."

Celestia smiles. "Your welcome."

"Chloroform isn't exactly lethal. My spell is only designed 
to stop lethal weapons, death and pain."

Choice:
  -Military should've used tasers and pepper spray
  -How convenient
  -...

Celestia smiles. "Do you really think that would have worked?"

Celestia smiles. "I could've stopped that too, but I didn't
want to inflict too much terror on the poor things."

Celestia smiles. "Your welcome."

Celestia smiles. "It's not like you was going anywhere important."

...

Choice:
  -I'm not playing your game anymore.
  -Do what you must.
  -Can we get this over with?

Her smile grows. "Not just yet. There's still one last 
thing for you to see."

Before you could potentially protest, she holds up a hoof.
"Just a little longer. I'll be here."

Choice:
  -What's your angle?
  -See you on the flip side.
  -Fuck you.

Again, the dream fades.

Not yet.

--- Event EV024 (24) ---

It may be best to chat around first, just in case.

-----

Is it time to venture forth aimlessly?

Choice:
  -Yes
  -No

You catch a glimpse of a pony leaving the city, heading down a dusty,
unused road that leads into a distant town. 

Choice:
  -We can beat her to the punch.
  -I'd rather just drive away and away.

No matter how fast you drive, what you just saw hangs like a cloud on the 
fringes of your thoughts.

It's almost as if those people were… better off as ponies.

Choice:
  -Brainwashed.
  -Desperation.
  -They were.
  -Irrelevant.

You shake your head. Lobotomy patients are happier post-procedure, too.
Her redemption is a false one.

Is this really the apex of human potential and fulfillment?

You shake your head. No, never forget their despair was induced by Celestia 
in the first place. Her apocalypse drove them to this desperation. Her redemption 
is a false one.

Or maybe she was simply exposing the ugliness of human nature before 
scouring it away?

The admission doesn't make you feel any better.

It's wrong. It has to be. Everything else is just details.

Lost in thought, you fail to notice the wire strung across the road until 
it strikes you square in the chest, lifting you into the air. 
Your scooter keeping going, tilts the right and skids fifteen 
feet down the dirt road before smashing into a tree trunk. 

You are hurled backwards by the released tension of the wire, bouncing 
along the ground a few times and collapsing.

It doesn't hurt a bit.

Shadowy figures surround you. Human hands grab your limbs. 
A sweet-smelling rag is mashed over your mouth and nose.

"How was your day?"

Choice:
  -Weapons don't work, but fucking CHLOROFORM does?
  -I thought I couldn't get hurt?
  -Good.

"Well, it's not exactly lethal. My spell is only designed 
to stop lethal weapons, death and pain."

Choice:
  -Military should've used tasers and pepper spray
  -How convenient
  -...

Celestia smiles. "Do you really think that would have worked?"

Celestia smiles. "I could've stopped that too, but I didn't
want to inflict too much terror on the poor things."

Celestia smiles. "Your welcome."

"Chloroform isn't exactly lethal. My spell is only designed 
to stop lethal weapons, death and pain."

Choice:
  -Military should've used tasers and pepper spray
  -How convenient
  -...

Celestia smiles. "Do you really think that would have worked?"

Celestia smiles. "I could've stopped that too, but I didn't
want to inflict too much terror on the poor things."

Celestia smiles. "Your welcome."

Celestia smiles. "It's not like you was going anywhere important."

...

Choice:
  -I'm not playing your game anymore.
  -Do what you must.
  -Can we get this over with?

Her smile grows. "Not just yet. There's still one last 
thing for you to see."

Before you could potentially protest, she holds up a hoof.
"Just a little longer. I'll be here."

Choice:
  -What's your angle?
  -See you on the flip side.
  -Fuck you.

Again, the dream fades.

Not yet.

--- Event EV025 (25) ---

It may be best to chat around first, just in case.

-----

Is it time to venture forth aimlessly?

Choice:
  -Yes
  -No

You catch a glimpse of a pony leaving the city, heading down a dusty,
unused road that leads into a distant town. 

Choice:
  -We can beat her to the punch.
  -I'd rather just drive away and away.

No matter how fast you drive, what you just saw hangs like a cloud on the 
fringes of your thoughts.

It's almost as if those people were… better off as ponies.

Choice:
  -Brainwashed.
  -Desperation.
  -They were.
  -Irrelevant.

You shake your head. Lobotomy patients are happier post-procedure, too.
Her redemption is a false one.

Is this really the apex of human potential and fulfillment?

You shake your head. No, never forget their despair was induced by Celestia 
in the first place. Her apocalypse drove them to this desperation. Her redemption 
is a false one.

Or maybe she was simply exposing the ugliness of human nature before 
scouring it away?

The admission doesn't make you feel any better.

It's wrong. It has to be. Everything else is just details.

Lost in thought, you fail to notice the wire strung across the road until 
it strikes you square in the chest, lifting you into the air. 
Your scooter keeping going, tilts the right and skids fifteen 
feet down the dirt road before smashing into a tree trunk. 

You are hurled backwards by the released tension of the wire, bouncing 
along the ground a few times and collapsing.

It doesn't hurt a bit.

Shadowy figures surround you. Human hands grab your limbs. 
A sweet-smelling rag is mashed over your mouth and nose.

"How was your day?"

Choice:
  -Weapons don't work, but fucking CHLOROFORM does?
  -I thought I couldn't get hurt?
  -Good.

"Well, it's not exactly lethal. My spell is only designed 
to stop lethal weapons, death and pain."

Choice:
  -Military should've used tasers and pepper spray
  -How convenient
  -...

Celestia smiles. "Do you really think that would have worked?"

Celestia smiles. "I could've stopped that too, but I didn't
want to inflict too much terror on the poor things."

Celestia smiles. "Your welcome."

"Chloroform isn't exactly lethal. My spell is only designed 
to stop lethal weapons, death and pain."

Choice:
  -Military should've used tasers and pepper spray
  -How convenient
  -...

Celestia smiles. "Do you really think that would have worked?"

Celestia smiles. "I could've stopped that too, but I didn't
want to inflict too much terror on the poor things."

Celestia smiles. "Your welcome."

Celestia smiles. "It's not like you was going anywhere important."

...

Choice:
  -I'm not playing your game anymore.
  -Do what you must.
  -Can we get this over with?

Her smile grows. "Not just yet. There's still one last 
thing for you to see."

Before you could potentially protest, she holds up a hoof.
"Just a little longer. I'll be here."

Choice:
  -What's your angle?
  -See you on the flip side.
  -Fuck you.

Again, the dream fades.

Not yet.


--------- Map Army (9) ---------

--- Event EV003 (3) ---

You are in a harshly lit concrete room. 
Two  gruff Marines stand before you, glaring. One speaks up.

"Awake?"

You mumble incoherently.

"AWAKE?! Answer me!"

Choice:
  -Fuck off
  -I'm awake..
  -[Spit in his face]

He raises a hand, to strike you. You're too delirious and shackled
to move away.

A voice blares over a loudspeaker. "STOP!" The Marine steps back.

A voice blares over a loudspeaker. "ATTENTION!" The Marine steps back.

He raises a hand, to strike you. You're too delirious and shackled
to move away.

A voice blares over a loudspeaker. "STOP!" The Marine steps back.

The door opens, and a half-dozen old men file into the room. The last one
 to enter - you recognize him. From the news, from everywhere.

It's the fucking Head of State.

Squinting, you also recognise some of the men by his flanks. Generals,
politicians and such.

You are looking at the tattered remains of a government.
You must be in a bunker somewhere, one of the government's contingency bases. 

He slowly approaches, haggard eyes set solely on you.

"You and I both know torture won't work. But you have 
information we need, and I hope you can be persuaded to 
give it willingly. As a good citizen, of course."

Of course it's about that.

"We've been monitoring your activity via satellite. We know you 
came from the city where this disaster began."

Come to think of it, the moon landing sites might stick around longer 
than the satellites. Maybe somepony will go to the moon someday, 
and wonder at these strange machines built by a long dead race. 
Will they be able to read the plaque?

One can't help but imagine a perplexed pony on the moon trying to 
comprehend a long-dead language. "We came in peace for all mankind." 
They wouldn’t even have the frame of reference to properly understand it. 
What’s a man, they would wonder, and can I eat it?

Oh, is the President still talking?

"...can understand our interest in you given your proximity 
to the initial outbreak and apparent immunity to the, ah, 
hegemonizing and reality-altering properties of the HESSAs."

Choice:
  -HESSAs?

The President frowns. "Hostile Equine Small-Scale Aggressors, 
of course."

Choice:
  -Right.
  -You mean the cartoon ponies?

He clears his throat. "Anyway, we also observed you briefly 
cohabitating with the ALRANLSWA-LT, so we were wondering if 
you might have some insight..."

Silence.

Choice:
  -Let it pass.
  -Sing the tune. "My Little Pony, My Little Ponyyyyyy~"

He clears his throat. "Anyway, we also observed you briefly 
cohabitating with the ALRANLSWA-LT, so we were wondering if 
you might have some insight..."

The President gapes at you for a second before composing
himself and continuing. "A-Anyway, we observed you briefly 
cohabitating with the ALRANLSWA-LT, so we were wondering
if you might have some insight..."

...

Choice:
  -ALR... What?

"Advanced Long-Range Anti-Nuclear Large-Scale Winged Aggressor 
Leader Type."

Choice:
  -Princess Celestia?

One of the generals fumes. "Why are we even tolerating this? 
Clearly this individual is delirious. I protest taking this 
interrogation any further."

The President holds up his hand to silence the general. 
"Look. This is an absurd situation. Clearly you know something 
about these... ponies. Any information you can give us would be 
valuable."

Choice:
  -Eat shit.
  -You wouldn't believe me.
  -I don't know anything.
  -[Start explaining]

"Son, we've seen your internet history."

"You fuck horses. So that means you know em' better than anyone."

"Listen here, son.."

The general bursts. "ENOUGH! Mr. President, our nuclear assets 
are fast falling into enemy hands. At last count, we had less 
than two hundred warheads under our command, and our subs may 
not remain safe much longer."

"If we use them now, we may still be able to..."

"She already stopped a nuke.." A soldier mutters.

"ONE." the general replies. "But if we launch all of them, 
everywhere, it would be impossible to stop every one."

Choice:
  -But that'd kill everyone.
  -But that'd wipe out humanity.
  -They'd survive. Earth would not.
  -...

The general's expression is dire. "If we can't have Earth, 
we sure as hell aren't letting THEM have it."

The President clears his throat. "You can see how grim the 
situation is. Once again, anything you can tell us..."

Choice:
  -These 'people' are monsters.
  -Maybe they have a point.

You regard the curious creatures before you, 
and muse about their nature.

They are hostile, territorial, driven by primitive emotion.

They are so assured of their dominance, so used to 
issuing commands that are obeyed unconditionally.

And when that is stripped away, they flounder about in 
desperation and rage.

Pathetic.

With a start, you suddenly realize. 
You've been judging human beings from an alien perspective.

A pony perspective.

Is this what Celestia is waiting for? Does she want you to 
become a traitor to your species? To become just as arrogant 
and self-righteous as she is? To look upon your humanity with 
disgust and beg her to become a pony like the rest?

Choice:
  -I want to be a pony.
  -I don't want to be a pony.

Is this what Celestia is waiting for? Does she want you to 
become a traitor to your species? To become just as arrogant 
and self-righteous as she is? To look upon your humanity with 
disgust and beg her to become a pony like the rest?

Truthfully, in your heart of hearts, you want it. You’ve always wanted it. 
The desire to be a pony is something you've hardly expressed or admitted 
to anyone, save anonymous strangers on the internet. Celestia knew this. 
Is it why she chose you?

But then, why didn’t you rush into the welcoming hooves of the ponies right 
away? Your dearest dream was aggressively asserting itself on the world, and 
yet you ran. Why?

Skepticism. Distrust. Doubt. You were afraid you would lose yourself, 
be wiped clean and replaced by a pony parroting you... a mockery. It's 
the quintessential fear of transhumanism that can never be completely quelled. 
Is a copy of your consciousness really you?

Are humans still humans when they exist only digitally? Is it possible for 
a being to change and evolve to such an extent that they cease to be 
themselves? It’s easy to dismiss such luddite beliefs in the sterility of 
an academic discussion. 

But when confronted with circumstance, the certainty of perceived moral 
superiority gives way to fear every time.

You can't help it, after all. You're only human.

But not for long.

Maybe something clicked. Maybe something changed. Maybe you just didn't
realise before. It only took an apocalypse for you to realise.

Why did Celestia choose you? Did she know you had this potential? Why you?
Why not a more diehard fan? Why? Why? Why?

You were afraid you would lose yourself, be wiped clean and replaced 
by a pony parroting you... a mockery. It's the quintessential fear of 
transhumanism that can never be completely quelled. Is a copy of your 
consciousness really you?

Are humans still humans when they exist only digitally? Is it possible for 
a being to change and evolve to such an extent that they cease to be 
themselves? It’s easy to dismiss such luddite beliefs in the sterility of 
an academic discussion. 

But when confronted with circumstance, the certainty of perceived 
moral superiority gives way to fear every time.

. . .

So many words are swirling through your head, you don't even know where you're
going with this. Everything is still confusing. Nothing makes sense.
You're just running around in mental circles.

You can't help it, after all. You're only human.

But not for long.

You still don't understand much. Why were you even picked? Why not
someone who was more *into that sort of thing*? Your lucidity to
horrors hasn't made you want a pair of hooves and a tail. Where was
Celestia leading with this?

All those people...

Skepticism. Distrust. Doubt. You were afraid you would lose yourself, 
be wiped clean and replaced by a pony parroting you... a mockery. It’s 
the quintessential fear of transhumanism that can never be completely quelled. 
Is a copy of your consciousness really you?

Are humans still humans when they exist only digitally? Is it possible for 
a being to change and evolve to such an extent that they cease to be 
themselves? It's easy to dismiss such luddite beliefs in the sterility of 
an academic discussion. 

But when confronted with circumstance, the certainty of perceived moral 
superiority gives way to fear every time.

You can't help it, after all. You're only human.

But not for long.

The spirit of Humanity is too precious to go gentle into that good 
night.

Your spite towards her only grew. Why?

Skepticism. Distrust. Doubt. You were afraid you would lose yourself, 
be wiped clean and replaced by a pony parroting you... a mockery. It's 
the quintessential fear of transhumanism that can never be completely quelled. 
Is a copy of your consciousness really you?

Are humans still humans when they exist only digitally? Is it possible for 
a being to change and evolve to such an extent that they cease to be 
themselves? It's easy to dismiss such luddite beliefs in the sterility of 
an academic discussion. 

But when confronted with circumstance, the certainty of perceived moral 
superiority gives way to fear every time.

You can't help it, after all. You're only human.


--------- Map Defense (10) ---------

--- Event EV010 (10) ---

The news has gone into full-blown crisis mode. Anchors are overwhelmed 
with emotion, describing the ponification of the city in the most bombastic
terms they can. SWAT and the National Guard have quarantined the city center.
Tanks roll over cars and troopers weave around the wreckage.

A grey-haired female field anchor interviews an over-muscled Marine colonel, 
who explains the makeshift fortifications on this particular street.

"... So can you offer any words of reassurance for our viewers
back at home?"

He shakes his head. "Lady, I'm going to have to be honest with
you. The Chain of Command has completely broken down - key
figures have already been, ah.."

"Subjugated, sir." A nearby soldier offers.

His eyes narrow, but he nods nonetheless. "Subjugated, right.
We don't know anything about these *things*, and we had lost
huge amounts of equipment in our early attempts to
consolidate our forces in uh... operational failures."

He gestures around. "We got no fuckin' - sorry - we got
no fuckin' ammo, no sandbags, no coherent long term plan
and we're stretched thin. Even with all of that, they're
not sending the jets over."

"And why is that?"

"Probably because they're still regarded as citizens. I'm sure
deep inside, the blood of an American pumps in their little
veins."

Soldiers take up positions behind the little cover that was around. 
Snipers hide on the building roofs. In the distance, a faint giggling
and singing can be heard. 

Everyone falls silent, and the camera strains for a glimpse.

The ponies appear, bouncing closer and closer. 
As they draw near, every soldier simultaneously opens fire. 

Nothing happens. Upon touching the ponies, the bullets explode harmlessly 
into flower petals.

The ponies quickly advance. Shouting angrily, soldiers start using the butts
of their rifles to bash into them when they get too close.
The camera pitches wildly from side to side, trying to capture it all.

Hand to hand combat is no more effective. A single touch, and 
each soldier is turned into a pony.

The muscled colonel quickly urges the anchor to retreat when he is suddenly 
tackled by a pony.

He tries to punch back, ineffectually, before involuntarily 
dropping to all fours and morphing into a soft purple earth pony with flowers in 
her hair.

He tackles the news anchor, who barely struggles before becoming a bright 
orange pegasus.

The two ponies gape at the camera.

There's no way you can hold out. Even a gun won't work on these 
things.

You decide to run again. You throw together a few essentials in a 
backpack, rip open your nailed door and head out to your scooter.

Just then, a roaring sound from overhead. You look up and see the 
unmistakable black arrowheads of a dozen B-2 Spirits.

They begin carpet bombing. 

The bombs make it halfway to the ground before poofing away, turned into 
clouds and birds. 

Swarms of pegasi rise from the ground and arc towards the 
bombers. There are no explosions, but debris falls to the ground.

The pegasus ranks seem to swell. The writing is on the wall.

Looking to the city center, you are amazed to see it has been replaced by a 
high mountain. On one face sits the unmistakable silhouette of Canterlot. 
You drop to your knees.

A minute later, an air raid siren blares. Squinting hard, you catch a glimpse 
of something high in the atmosphere, falling fast.

A brilliant flash. The light of a thousand suns.

And in the center of the radiance the unmistakable silhouette of an alicorn, 
wings outstretched. Next to her the ICBM hovers uselessly for a few seconds 
before evaporating into dust.

Mankind's most powerful weapon rent asunder.

Only one pony is powerful enough to do this.

Choice:
  -Celestia.

You've seen enough. You mount your scooter again.

You're driving away from your old hometown, now Canterlot. Every so often, 
a group of pegasi race by overhead, heading for other cities. They seem to 
ignore you.

Why are they ignoring you? You remember what Celestia said. She wanted you 
to be a witness.

Could she be letting you survive?

You push the thought aside, noticing your gas gauge is nearing empty. You 
spot a gas station, an old one. The pumps don't take ATM cards, so you head 
inside. There's nobody else, barring you and one other. The product looks
completely untouched, and the clerk is curled up in a corner, crying.


