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No Choice

By NHanon
Created: 2023-01-29 15:39:12
Expiry: Never
sad/emo/bambi

  1. 1.
    >Jump over the barrier, walk down the corridor to the left.
  2. 2.
    >This one goes on for a while.
  3. 3.
    >Labyrinths like these are always so close together for some reason.
  4. 4.
    >Then there’s the fact that they are seemingly scattered virtually everywhere.
  5. 5.
    >Most of these places are apart of various quests.
  6. 6.
    >Some of those are freely given, while others, randomly discovered.
  7. 7.
    >Adventurers search these to earn fortune, fame, power, and more.
  8. 8.
    >The difficulty of them vary greatly, with some being easy, some being hard.
  9. 9.
    >No matter the difficulty, they themselves are integral.
  10. 10.
    >Because without doing them, there can be no progress in the story.
  11. 11.
    >Even the smallest of quests can have a much larger impact overall.
  12. 12.
    >Such as assisting a cook in getting supplies for the duke’s birthday, which leads to fighting a dark wizard bent on controlling the world.
  13. 13.
    >It’s quests like those that make things interesting.
  14. 14.
    >That’s one of the reasons games are so fun to play.
  15. 15.
    >Most ponies say games are too distracting, or even harmful.
  16. 16.
    >In the very same breath, they’ll praise books and movies.
  17. 17.
    >They’re all hypocrites.
  18. 18.
    >It’s not like any of those can be directly interacted with like a game can be.
  19. 19.
    >And what’s cooler, is that in most cases, the player themselves is the hero.
  20. 20.
    >It’s there that they can be extraordinary – to be truly special – in a world elsewhere.
  21. 21.
    >Isn’t that what everypony yearns for anyways?
  22. 22.
    >Yes, of course.
  23. 23.
    >Besides, the /real/ world is far worse, and especially far more cruel than any game could ever be.
  24. 24.
    >But here in the game? It’s fair, it’s kind.
  25. 25.
    >Friends are here that never desert you.
  26. 26.
    >Family is here that never hurts you.
  27. 27.
    >Life here is good.
  28. 28.
    >You’re the hero.
  29. 29.
    >You’re special.
  30. 30.
    >You’re not you.
  31. 31.
     
  32. 32.
    >Sadly, gaming has to stop every now then and then, but it’s only for a short while.
  33. 33.
    >Sleep is one reason, and it is annoying.
  34. 34.
    >Have to do it, though.
  35. 35.
    >The long cold nights are bearable to get through.
  36. 36.
    >Hunger pains are a common form of interruption.
  37. 37.
    >Usually eat very little, so it’s not too much of an issue.
  38. 38.
    >Don’t have anypony to talk with about these things however.
  39. 39.
    >Well, that isn’t entirely true.
  40. 40.
    >But that isn’t the point.
  41. 41.
    >Because you don’t need anypony else.
  42. 42.
    >The game is all that’s needed.
  43. 43.
    >This current area is so drawn out, wish it wasn’t.
  44. 44.
    >Kinda makes it boring at times.
  45. 45.
    >That tends to wake up sleeping thoughts that should stay asleep.
  46. 46.
    >Alright, gotta pull the lever, then the next room can be accessed for-
  47. 47.
    >A skeleton pops up from seemingly nowhere.
  48. 48.
    >It is swiftly dealt with by the magic blade in your possession.
  49. 49.
    >In it’s place, several more crawl out from the earth.
  50. 50.
    >One by one, they are taken down.
  51. 51.
    >More take their place each time another falls.
  52. 52.
    >This is getting really dicey, gotta watch your health, otherwise-
  53. 53.
    “Darn it!”
  54. 54.
    >Written in red text across the screen is two words, “You Died.”
  55. 55.
    >Gonna have to redo that whole section, AGAIN.
  56. 56.
    >If you were paying more attention, you would’ve remembered that this was an ambush.
  57. 57.
    >And as the hero, mistakes cannot be afforded to be made.
  58. 58.
    >All the ponyfolk back in town are relying on the hero to save them from the dark wizard.
  59. 59.
    >The treasure this place has is essential to beating him.
  60. 60.
    >Although this is your third run of the game, it’s still just as great as the first time around.
  61. 61.
    >The hero, Epona, is awesome.
  62. 62.
    >She’s agile, strong, dependable, and skillful; borderline flawless.
  63. 63.
    >Above all else, she isn’t you.
  64. 64.
    >Need to concentrate, the area you died in is coming up again.
  65. 65.
    >Won’t fail this time, just need to circle the skeletons, then-
  66. 66.
    >The screen suddenly turns black.
  67. 67.
    >With it, the world around starts to come back into focus.
  68. 68.
    >No, don’t pay attention to that, go back to the game.
  69. 69.
    >Turning things out, the power button is pressed.
  70. 70.
    >Nothing happens however.
  71. 71.
    >Again it is pressed.
  72. 72.
    >Still nothing.
  73. 73.
    >Again and again it is pressed, each time it ends the same way.
  74. 74.
    >Which only means one thing.
  75. 75.
    >The power cells ran out.
  76. 76.
    “Great, just… great.”
  77. 77.
    >Haven’t been keeping track of it like you should have been doing.
  78. 78.
    >Worst of all, is bell that tolls inside your head.
  79. 79.
    >Your no longer the hero.
  80. 80.
    >You’re no longer special.
  81. 81.
    >You’re you.
  82. 82.
    >Again.
  83. 83.
    >Don’t like that.
  84. 84.
    >Don’t like any of it.
  85. 85.
    >There is /nothing/ good about it, ever.
  86. 86.
     
  87. 87.
    >You slip a hoof into your hoodie, and press it against a needle.
  88. 88.
    >Pain clears away the growing fog; giving just enough focus to know what needs to be done.
  89. 89.
    >Have to venture into the market to get new power cells.
  90. 90.
    >Rather stay here where it is safe.
  91. 91.
    >Can’t do that, though.
  92. 92.
    >Sensations begin to creep up around as you sit here.
  93. 93.
    >The first is the itchy, sweatiness that is your body.
  94. 94.
    >It’s immediately followed up with a sharp pain in your gut that forces you to strongly wince.
  95. 95.
    >Not sure when the last time you ate anything, but it’s clear that it’s a problem now.
  96. 96.
    >That’s just something else that will have to be dealt with.
  97. 97.
    >You give yourself a once-over as you put away your game.
  98. 98.
    >Clothes are start to wear out again, need to fix them soon.
  99. 99.
    >Just sow them up later, like you always do.
  100. 100.
    >As for smell, well… it isn’t pleasant.
  101. 101.
    >Doesn’t matter, it’s fine.
  102. 102.
    >Out into the streets you go, with your gaze to the ground.
  103. 103.
    >Various eyes bore into you as you’re walking.
  104. 104.
    >They’re judging you.
  105. 105.
    >I know.
  106. 106.
    >They’re disgusted by you.
  107. 107.
    >I know…
  108. 108.
    >They want you gone.
  109. 109.
    >I-I know.
  110. 110.
    >Focus, don’t get sidetracked.
  111. 111.
    >As if things couldn’t get worse, a delicious smelling aroma wafts in your general direction.
  112. 112.
    >In response, a pang of hunger strikes without mercy.
  113. 113.
    >Can’t help but wince slightly.
  114. 114.
    >Keep it together.
  115. 115.
    >Have to do this.
  116. 116.
    >There is no choice.
  117. 117.
    >A large crowd moves about the marketplace up head.
  118. 118.
    >That is both good and bad.
  119. 119.
    >Good because it ensures that more distractions, so less likely to be seen.
  120. 120.
    >Bad because there’s a lot of ponies.
  121. 121.
    >Too many.
  122. 122.
    >Regardless of that, you enter the crowd, and it’s immediately clear that you’re given a wide birth.
  123. 123.
    >Legs keep shaking with each step, head buzzes loudly, with neither stopping.
  124. 124.
    >World is tightening around more and more.
  125. 125.
    >Everypony is drawing closer to you.
  126. 126.
    >It’s getting harder to breath.
  127. 127.
    >Fire licks away at your trembling form.
  128. 128.
    >Sight is fading away.
  129. 129.
    >Everything is-
  130. 130.
    “NO!”
  131. 131.
    >Chest heaves hard, body quakes in tremors, but all in all, you’re still here.
  132. 132.
     
  133. 133.
    >However, here in the middle of the crowd, all eyes are upon you.
  134. 134.
    >A single squeak escapes as you dart off into a nearby alley.
  135. 135.
    >Your heart beats like drums in your ears as they splay back upon your head.
  136. 136.
    >You hide behind a set of trashcans, and hold yourself tightly.
  137. 137.
    >It is awake, the beast, it is eating away your insides.
  138. 138.
    >That’s why there is pain.
  139. 139.
    >Never will it stop.
  140. 140.
    >It just waits.
  141. 141.
    >Everything around turns black as you squeeze your eyes shut.
  142. 142.
    >Slowly, you gently rock yourself back and forth.
  143. 143.
    >Shouldn’t have come here.
  144. 144.
    >Shouldn’t exist.
  145. 145.
    >There is no choice.
  146. 146.
    >For a time, everything else remains quiet.
  147. 147.
    >Eventually, you reopen your eyes to the blurry world around.
  148. 148.
    >Your sleeves dry your eyes, and you shakily stand back upon your hooves.
  149. 149.
    >Need to finish this, fast.
  150. 150.
    >It will be done.
  151. 151.
    >Because you are the hero.
  152. 152.
    >No pony notices when you slip back into the crowd.
  153. 153.
    >Good.
  154. 154.
    >First things first – get food.
  155. 155.
    >That’s the easiest part of all of this.
  156. 156.
    >Second thing to do – get power cells.
  157. 157.
    >The hardest part.
  158. 158.
    >Speaking of which, you can just make out the stall from where you are.
  159. 159.
    >A young mare is running it instead of the owner.
  160. 160.
    >Good.
  161. 161.
    >Some guards are talking with her, though.
  162. 162.
    >Bad.
  163. 163.
    >Will figure out what to do later once you got food.
  164. 164.
    >Various stalls sell various kinds, and best of all, nearly every one of them is crowded.
  165. 165.
    >That makes things a little less difficult, but still not a complete breeze.
  166. 166.
    >After all, it only takes on observant pony to see, then it’s all over.
  167. 167.
    >Now, what to get?
  168. 168.
    >Something small enough to conceal away within your hoodie.
  169. 169.
    >Mouth keeps watering as you eye the different foods.
  170. 170.
    >Brain is fuzzy, just want to eat.
  171. 171.
    >Probably drooling like a zombie.
  172. 172.
    >Don’t care.
  173. 173.
    >Moving along like the aforementioned creature, you slip by a few vendors.
  174. 174.
    >Practice skill comes into play, with several new items now occupying a space close to your body.
  175. 175.
    >Should eat now.
  176. 176.
    >No, not yet.
  177. 177.
    >A quick glance around reveals no pony seems to have noticed.
  178. 178.
    >Good.
  179. 179.
     
  180. 180.
    >As you start to make your way around to the next destination, the strongest hunger pain drives you to stumble.
  181. 181.
    >Barely recover enough to move out the way of everypony else.
  182. 182.
    >This is getting worse.
  183. 183.
    >Go off to eat then, that will solve the problem.
  184. 184.
    >Get the cells first.
  185. 185.
    >Going to make mistakes if you keep this up.
  186. 186.
    >Just go, do what needs to be done.
  187. 187.
    >Despite what just happened, everypony around moves on like nothing is wrong.
  188. 188.
    >Why would they ever notice you, other than seeing a piece of trash?
  189. 189.
    >You’re not special.
  190. 190.
    >You’re you.
  191. 191.
    >But you can pretend not to be.
  192. 192.
    >Remember: the hero never stops, they can’t otherwise the world suffers.
  193. 193.
    >The hero suffers alone, it is their burden.
  194. 194.
    >So you too must suffer alone.
  195. 195.
    >Body is very itchy, sweat continues to worsen.
  196. 196.
    >Hunger aggravates everything else further.
  197. 197.
    >In spite of it all, you carry onward.
  198. 198.
    >A prayer from when you were younger echoes quietly inside your mind.
  199. 199.
    >“Celestia, please help me through this.”
  200. 200.
    >No pony else has ever helped before, but if she does?
  201. 201.
    >Well, then… thanks.
  202. 202.
    >Can see the stall again, and the guards are no longer there.
  203. 203.
    >Good.
  204. 204.
    >Mustering everything you have, you *try* to appear normal as you reach the stall.
  205. 205.
    >“Hi there, can I help you with anything?” Says the cheerful voice of the mare.
  206. 206.
    >She doesn’t know you.
  207. 207.
    >Good.
  208. 208.
    >She doesn’t need to.
  209. 209.
    >She will eventually.
  210. 210.
    >Staying silent, you shake your head gently.
  211. 211.
    >Throat is dry.
  212. 212.
    >I know.
  213. 213.
    >Stomach hurts.
  214. 214.
    >I know.
  215. 215.
    >You need to eat.
  216. 216.
    >I know…
  217. 217.
    >You need to get the power cells.
  218. 218.
    >I-
  219. 219.
    >Stop getting distracted!
  220. 220.
    >The needle in your pocket is pressed against your barrel.
  221. 221.
    >It breaths some much needed concentration back.
  222. 222.
    >From the corner of your eye, the mare is keeping an eye on you.
  223. 223.
    >There is no pony else here but you.
  224. 224.
    >Be patient, don’t rush things.
  225. 225.
    >Various titles are brushed over, some interesting, others not so much.
  226. 226.
    >Keep browsing regardless, an opportunity will present itself soon.
  227. 227.
     
  228. 228.
    >As if on cue, a young colt accompanied by his mother come up to the stall.
  229. 229.
    >Good.
  230. 230.
    >Just need to wait a little longer.
  231. 231.
    >Nerves may be frayed, pain may be constant, but determination is all you have right now.
  232. 232.
    >The colt begins talking up a storm to the mare running the stall.
  233. 233.
    >There we go.
  234. 234.
    >Leaning forward slightly, a seemingly unassuming scratch of a foreleg does the job.
  235. 235.
    >With that, you carefully, and calmly, retreat into the crowd.
  236. 236.
    >Each step is very shaky, unfocused.
  237. 237.
    >A dull ringing is in your ears, it won’t stop.
  238. 238.
    >It will pass once you get home, so keep going.
  239. 239.
    >Some color from nearby draws your attention, though once you see it, prettification takes hold.
  240. 240.
    >A large group of guards are coming your way.
  241. 241.
    >Instincts take over instantly, with you breaking out of the crowd, and immediately sprinting away.
  242. 242.
    >Each leg aches badly, along with your lungs that burn terribly, but there can be no stopping, there can’t be.
  243. 243.
    >There is no choice.
  244. 244.
    >Into the alleyways, around street corners, and through backyards you go.
  245. 245.
    >Reflexes just barely prevent accidents.
  246. 246.
    >Shouting is seemingly coming from all directions.
  247. 247.
    >Every voice oozes with venom; the very same venom that’s been spewed your way since you were little.
  248. 248.
    >They’re going to catch you.
  249. 249.
    >No.
  250. 250.
    >They’ll find what you really are.
  251. 251.
    >No!
  252. 252.
    >They’ll lock you up in that terrible, terrible place.
  253. 253.
    >NO!
  254. 254.
    >The asylum awaits.
  255. 255.
    >Vision rapidly begins to dissolve into a blurred mess.
  256. 256.
    >Can just barely make out greenery around through the pain.
  257. 257.
    >It’s-
  258. 258.
    >…
  259. 259.
    >…
  260. 260.
    >…
  261. 261.
    >Sounds.
  262. 262.
    >Thoughts.
  263. 263.
    >Feelings.
  264. 264.
    >Pain.
  265. 265.
    >So. Much. Pain.
  266. 266.
    >Every part of you is agony, especially your lungs.
  267. 267.
    >Looming over you, is a dark unicorn mare.
  268. 268.
    >Her steel blue eyes burn into you, “...welcome home…”
  269. 269.
    “NO!”
  270. 270.
    >Your words banish her in an instant.
  271. 271.
    >Clarity takes the reigns, and with it, everything else around comes into focus.
  272. 272.
    >There are no pale walls around; only grass, stones, bushes, and trees.
  273. 273.
    >You must have crashed face first into here.
  274. 274.
    >Guess you blacked out.
  275. 275.
     
  276. 276.
    >Nearby, nestled between a set of trees is a something you are very familiar with.
  277. 277.
    >Those boxes, all cobbled together, you know them.
  278. 278.
    >It’s then that you realize exactly where you are.
  279. 279.
    >This is home.
  280. 280.
    >Fear forces your ears to twitch about to listen carefully.
  281. 281.
    >No pony else is around here.
  282. 282.
    >It’s just you.
  283. 283.
    >Which means one of two things – either you lost your pursuers, or there was no pony chasing you to begin with.
  284. 284.
    >Of course, it’s the former, it has to be.
  285. 285.
    >You’re not crazy.
  286. 286.
    >You are not your si-
  287. 287.
    >Your hoof makes contact with the needle in your pocket, thus silencing that thought.
  288. 288.
    >Alongside it, are the items acquired from the marketplace.
  289. 289.
    >Despite the pain, a sigh of relief escapes from your lips.
  290. 290.
    “...quest complete.”
  291. 291.
    >An apple is withdrawn, and is greedily devoured within seconds.
  292. 292.
    >Something hot and wet rolls down your cheeks.
  293. 293.
    >Ignore it like the beast inside is ignore.
  294. 294.
    >Another piece of food is eaten hastily.
  295. 295.
    >Would go for another, but you must exercise restraint to save the rest for later.
  296. 296.
    >Legs hurt too much to stand up, so you crawl into your home.
  297. 297.
    >Still feel really itchy, need to remedy that.
  298. 298.
    >Your hoodie is removed, and a coolness washes over your body.
  299. 299.
    >It does little in the wake of the pain coursing through you, but it certainly feels better.
  300. 300.
    >The power cells are replaced in your game, then the button is pressed.
  301. 301.
    >The screen lights up, so does everything else around begin to fade away.
  302. 302.
    >You can be hero.
  303. 303.
    >You can be special.
  304. 304.
    >You can not be you, Bambi.
  305. 305.
    >This is fun.
  306. 306.
    >This is right.
  307. 307.
    >This is all that matters.
  308. 308.
    >There is no choice.
  309. 309.
    >Ever.

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