"Alright, my little ponies," said Cheerilee, "today we're going to talk about Ponyville history! What were the first ponies to settle in Ponyville?"

Pipsqueak raised his hoof. "Earth pony farmers," said Pipsqueak.

"Correct," said Cheerilee.

"Eeyup!" said Pipsqueak. Several other ponies laughed. Apple Bloom looked around in confusion. Big Mac's catch phrase was certainly well known, but why was Pipsqueak using it?

As the day continued, Apple Bloom noticed several ponies, mostly but not always boys, mimicking Big Mac's "eeyep" and "nnnope." Finally, she cracked.

"Alright, what's the big idea?" Apple Bloom asked Snips and Snails. "Why are ya'll making fun of my brother?"

"Making fun?" Snips asked. "Why, we love your brother!"

"His channel just never gets old," said Snails. "Eeyup, nnnope!"

"Channel? What are you talking about?" asked Apple Bloom.

"You mean you don't know?" Snips asked. "Apple Bloom, your brother is a Twitch legend!"

"What's Twitch?" she asked.

"It's for live streaming video games," said Snails. "We love to watch your brother because he says nothing in his streams except for 'eeyup,' when something good happens, and 'nnnope,' when something bad happens."

"Okay," said Apple Bloom, "so you're telling me you like to watch my brother play video games?"

"Eeyup!" said Snips.

"Ummm," said Apple Bloom. "Okay then?"

Apple Bloom went to Twilight's to report her strange new Internet discovery. Twilight wasn't home; however, Spike greeted them. He pulled out his phone.

"Please describe the nature of your Internet problem," Spike said with a yawn. "The Princess of Wi-Fi, I mean Friendship, will respond to all requests in the order in which they are received. Please refrain from submitting multiple requests as this bogs down the system."

"Well, I wouldn't call it a problem, so much as weird," said Apple Bloom. "Evidently there's this website that allows people to watch other people playing video games?"

"Oh, Twitch!" Spike exclaimed.

"So you know about it?" asked Apple Bloom.

"You're looking at the number one streamer this side of Equestria!" Spike said proudly. "Well, number two for now, until your brother's fame dies down."

"Hold on now, what's that supposed to mean?"

"All he says is 'eeyup' and 'nnope'! It's a gimmick. It'll stop being funny after too long," said Spike. "I, on the other hand, offer thoughtful, in-depth game analysis."

"Well, maybe not everypony wants analysis," said Apple Bloom. "Maybe ponies like to laugh."

"But my channel will help you be a better gamer," said Spike. "I'd beat your brother at anything, too."

"PROVE IT!"

"Fine!" Spike exclaimed. "Tell Big Mac to pick a game, any game, and we'll face off!"

"Fine!" Apple Bloom said, and she stormed off.

"WAIT!" Spike called.

"WHAT?!" she replied.

"Ahem," he said. "Does this conclude your Princess request?"

"OOOH!" Apple Bloom huffed, then trotted off.

Big Mac was streaming when Apple Bloom came home. "BIG BROTHER BIG BROTHER!" Apple Bloom exclaimed.

"Eeyup?" Big Mac asked, pausing Grand Theft Carriage.

"Spike challenges you to a duel on Twitch," said Apple Bloom.

"Nnnope!" said Big Mac.

"No?!" Apple Bloom cried. "But you have to! He insulted you, Big Mac! He said you weren't a serious gamer!"

"Nnnope!" Big Mac said again, but this time, with a sense of surprise.

"Yes," said Apple Bloom. "He said pick a game, any game, and Spike will beat you."

"Eeyup," Big Mac said, thinking. He scrolled through his gaming library, then pointed to a title.

Apple Bloom read, "Night Forts?"

"Eeyup!" Big Mac declared.

"Alright, then," said Apple Bloom. "Night Forts it is!"

Big Mac returned to his game.

Apple Bloom was on her way back to Twilight's when she ran into Sweetie Belle. She explained what had happened.

"Hm," said Sweetie Belle. "I wonder if that's what Rarity is always doing."

"Rarity? On Twitch? Don't be silly," said Apple Bloom. "That's way too nerdy for Rarity!"

"Well, she doesplay that Magictopia game," said Sweetie Belle. "I must confess I've logged on a few times myself. I have a flying rainbow dragon!"

"That does sound fun, but I have a tiny purple dragon that needs put in his place," said Apple Bloom. "Let's go!"

Spike threw his head back and laughed. "Night Forts? Big Mac thinks he's going to beat me in Night Forts?! Oh, that's rich!"

Twilight entered. "What's going on in here? Oh, hello, Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle."

"Twilight, get a load of this one! Big Mac is challenging me in Night Forts!" Spike declared.

"Uh, okay," said Twilight, clearly uninterested.

"Night Forts is a watered down version of Pony Unlimited Battle Ground," Spike explained, "which I've been dominating since its release. Big Mac is toast!"

"Okay," said Twilight, still unimpressed. "So I take it you two are Team Big Mac, huh?" Twilight asked the girls.

"Eeyup!" Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle declared.

"Toast," said Spike.

"You know, I should watch this, for research," said Twilight. "Sweetie Belle, could we get Rarity involved? I know she has a big Magictopia following."

"Rarity doesn't play Night Forts, Twilight," said Sweetie Belle.

"Oh, aren't they similar?" asked Twilight. They all laughed at her.

"Here, Twilight, watch me play," said Spike, "and then go watch Rarity play Magictopia."

"So, that was violent," Twilight said after it was over. "Big Mac likes that game?"

"He picked it out of everything," said Apple Bloom.

"And Magictopia isn't violent, then?" Twilight asked.

"Well...," said Sweetie Belle.

"DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE!" Rarity cried. Princess Periwinkle and a gang of accomplices were beating up a Bug Bear.

"Okay, so, walk me through this," Twilight instructed, notepad levitating before her.

"Rarity and her team are in a boss battle," said Sweetie Belle. "After they kill this monster, they can enter the Mystical Portal of Ymir."

"Okay," said Twilight. "What's the Mystical Portal of Ymir?"

"It leads to the Dungeons of Gaesavger," said Twilight.

"And what's the Dungeons of Gaesavger?" Twilight asked, getting frustrated. "And how do you keep track of all of these names?"

"YESSSSSSSSSSSSSS!" Rarity cried. "Marvelous job, my darlings, simply marvelous! The Jewel of Boaz shall be ours soon enough!"

"So, Rarity is playing this game with ponies from all over Equestria?" Twilight asked.

"Yes," said Sweetie Belle. "They actually have to collaborate to strategize often."

"Fascinating!" exclaimed Twilight. "So, umm, what's the Jewel of Boaz?"

Rarity put down her headphones. "The Jewel of Boaz grants your character super wealth and health," she explained. "It's the most valuable item in the entire game, and very beautiful!"

"This world has an economy?" Twilight asked. "Goodness, ponies sure put a lot of thought into this."

"So, I hear that Spike and Big Mac are in a bit of a kerfuffle?" Rarity asked.

"Spike dissed Big Mac hard core, so Big Mac challenged him to a duel on Twitch," said Apple Bloom.

"More like you challenged Spike for Big Mac," Sweetie Belle corrected, "but yes. We thought maybe you'd want to be a commentator."

"Oh, no, darlings," said Rarity. "Night Forts is nothing like Magictopia. I wouldn't know what to say."

"Told you," said Sweetie Belle.

"You'd be much better asking someone like-"

"PINKAMENA DIANE PIE!" Pinkie Pie flew through the open window. "Hiya, guys! I heard there's gonna be a Ponyville Royale?"

"Ponyville Royale! Hey, that's a good name!" Apple Bloom exclaimed.

"We're looking for a commentator," said Sweetie Belle.

"I'd LOVE to commentate!" Pinkie exclaimed. "I was born to commentate! I live to commentate! Commentating is Pinkie!"

"Then it's settled," said Twilight. "Pinkie Pie will commentate the match."

"Psst, Twilight!" Pinkie whispered.

"Yes, Pinkie?"

"What's commentate mean?"

Pinkie Pie had recently began a YouTube channel called "Pinkie Pie Reacts," so commentating the match would be relatively simple for her. The day of the match arrived. Twilight sat with Spike.

"Don't be too cocky, Spike," Twilight warned. "Big Mac plays video games just as much as you do, and he plays Night Forts way more than you."

"What's this?" Spike asked. "Is Twilight Sparkle caring about video games?"

"For research purposes," Twilight defended.

"HELLO EQUESTRIA!" Pinkie Pie declared from the computer screen. "And welcome to the very first PONYVILLE ROYALE! Today, three of Ponyville's finest will be squaring off in a round of Night Forts to determine who is the best gamer!"

"Three?" Twilight asked. "Who's the-"

"We have Big McIntosh or Big Mac from Sweet Apple Acres. Are you there, Big Mac?"

"Eeeyup!" Big Mac declared.

"The swaggin' dragon himself, Spike!"

"YOU'RE GOING DOWN, BIG MAC!" Spike shouted.

"NNOPE!" Big Mac countered.

"Geez, Spike, that was a little much," said Twilight.

"That's how I roll," said Spike.

"And straight from Magictopic, PRINCESS PERIWINKLE!"

"WHAT?!" Spike and Twilight said.

"Hello, darlings!" Rarity said. "I know this is probably surprising for some of you, but, there are actually quite a few skills from Magictopia transferable to Night Forts. So I gave it a whirl, and I must say, the rush is exhilarating! Hi Big Mac! Hello Spikey-wikey!"

"Rarity!" Spike protested. "You can't...ugh! Fine! You're going down too!"

"Oh, this is going to be interesting! GO RARITY!" Twilight exclaimed.

"Alright, players, are you ready?" Pinkie asked.

"Eeeyup," said Big Mac.

"READY TO KICK SOME PONY AS...SOON AS THE GAME STARTS!" Spike said, glancing at Twilight. Twilight glared at Spike in disapproval.

"Ready to kick ass, dear," said Rarity.

Each of the characters spawned in a separate area. There were no non-pony avatars, so Spike was a green and purple stallion.

"Alright, I'm in the Terrible Towers," said Spike. "I'm going to head toward the clock tower, because it contains-"

"Eeyup! Eeyup! Eeyup! Eeyup!" Big Mac said.

"Big Mac, do you have to say that every time you pick something up?" Spike asked.

"Eeyup," said Big Mac.

A missile landed on Spike's avatar. "Lord of Dis ELIMINATED YOU!" the screen read.

"WHAT?! HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE? THERE ARE ONLY THREE OF US IN THIS GAME! HOW DID-?" Spike shouted.

An ominous laugh filled their ears. "Did you all really think you could hold a Ponyville Royale without me?" Discord said.

"You don't live in Ponyville! How did you even get into our stream?" Spike asked.

"Oh, yes, your little private stream is sooooooo secure," Discord said sarcastically.

"And you're telling me that you just happened to find a Magic Missile?" Spike pressed.

"I'm just lucky I guess," said Discord.

"I've seen your channel. All you do is cheat and teach others to cheat," said Spike. "Big Mac! Rarity! Do you hear me?"

"Eeeyup," said Big Mac.

"Ohhh, Spikey-wikey, darling, don't distract me! I'm trying to win!" Rarity said.

"Forget winning right now. You guys need to team up to take Discord out of the game," said Spike.

"Eeeeyup," said Big Mac.

"So you'll do it, Big Mac?" asked Rarity.

"Eeeeyup," said Big Mac.

"Alright, meet me at Muddy Meadow. Ugh, what a disgusting name," said Rarity. "Ahem. Anyways, I've got a plan."

"Eeeeeyup," said Big Mac.

"Now, hold on, guys, that's not fair! We're supposed to be learning who the best gamer is!" Discord said.

"FAIR?!" Spike exclaimed. "You hacked your way into our game! You don't get to talk about fair!"

"Nnnnope," agreed Big Mac.

"You know what, Big Mac? I'm sorry I made fun of your earlier. This yep, nope schtick is kinda growing on me," said Spike.

Big Mac laughed. "Eeeyup."

"Looks like we've got a change in format, folks! Princess Periwinkle and Big McIntosh are teaming up against the Lord of Dis!" announced Pinkie Pie. "A much juicier plot if you ask me. Princess Periwinkle is of course a master strategist in her home realm of Magictopia."

"I see you, Big Mac," said Rarity.

"Nnnope," said Big Mac.

"What do you mean nope? Who else could it be?" Rarity asked, then squealed. "Oh no! Discord is here!"

"SURPRISE!" Pinkie Pie shouted. A pink pony avatar bounced up and down next to Rarity's avatar.

"PINKIE PIE?! You're in the game too?" asked Rarity.

"It sounded like fun, so I joined at the last minute," said Pinkie.

"Have you ever played this before?" Rarity asked.

"Nopey-dopey-lopey."

"Ohhhhkay," said Rarity. "Did you get any weapons?"

"I just collected bananas," said Pinkie.

"Lovely," said Rarity sarcastically. "Big Mac! Get here soon!"

"Nnnope," said Big Mac.

"You're out?" asked Rarity.

"Nnnope," said Big Mac.

"But he'll be out soon!" Discord laughed.

"Oh no! Pinkie, we have to help Big Mac! Big Mac, where are you?" asked Rarity.

"Eeee...Fractured Farms," said Big Mac.

"Oh, thank you so much for actually answering the question, darling!" Rarity said. "Alright, Pinkie, we've got to..."

"PINKAMENA DIANE PIE!"

"Ummm...Pinkie? Where did you go?" Rarity asked.

"What's this? Bananas? I didn't even know this game had bananas! Nice touch, I must say," said Discord.

"YOU'RE ALREADY THERE? PINKIE, NO! I HAD A PLAN!" Rarity shrieked.

"But I had an exploding banana!" Pinkie said.

"NNNNNOOOOOOOOOPPPPPPPPE!" Big Mac cried.

"You have eliminated Big McIntosh," Pinkie read. "Oopsies. I made a mistake."

"OOOF!" Rarity shouted. "Okay. Okay. Now LISTEN TO ME, PINKIE, AND DON'T DO ANYTHING ELSE...!"

"Okey-dokey-lo...Lord of Dis has eliminated you," said Pinkie. "Welp, I guess I can't do anything else!"

"It's just me and you, Princess Periwinkle," said Discord. "I am so happy to have this time together, just the two of us, don't you, Rarity? We never hang out, just the two of us!"

"Oh, yes, darling, and I would love to catch up over tea after I UTTERLY DESTROY YOU!" Rarity cried.

"Wow," said Spike. "Rarity is intense!"

Rarity and Discord both built forts. Rarity's fort was made of the finest materials and constructed to look like a castle tower. Discord built a metal box. They sat in their forts, doing nothing, for three whole minutes.

"Somepony has to come out sooner or later," said Discord.

"Or some dragonequus," said Rarity.

"How about on the count of three?" asked Discord. "One, two..."

"EAT THIS, DISCORD!"

"NO FAIR, I WAS GOING TO ATTACK BEFORE THREE FIRST! Oh, you're no fun."

Their characters lobbed everything they had at each other. At the end, Rarity's fort was disintegrated. Discord's avatar, a black and blue pony, left its fort and did a victory dance.

Discord announced, "AND THERE YOU HAVE IT, PONIES! THE LORD OF DIS IS THE ULTIMATE GAMER!"

Rarity cried, "EXPLODING BANANA!"

"WHAT?!"

The banana hit, and Discord's avatar exploded. Rarity's screen said, "#1 VICTORY ROYALE!"

"But HOW?!" exclaimed Discord. "I DISINTEGRATED your fort!"

"Oh, Discord, I wasn't in that fort," said Rarity. "I was in the brush pile behind you."

"But...but...but!"

"I know you wouldn't suspect that Princess Periwinkle, the glamorous Fashion Goddess, would hide in an icky brush pile. So, there you have it. I guess the greatest gamer in Ponyville is RARITY!"

The mane six all gathered at Twilight's to celebrate Rarity's victory and the spirit of sportsmanship.

"I got so much great data for Princess Celestia!" Twilight gushed.

"That was AWESOME!" Rainbow Dash said, high-hoofing Rarity. "I was on the edge of my cloud watching!"

"You know, Rainbow Dash, I'm surprised you don't play those games," said Applejack. "That fast-paced stuff seems right up your alley."

"Applejack, I'm far too busy to play those games," said Rainbow Dash. "But really, Rarity, awesome job."

"But I really couldn't have done it without Pinkie," said Rarity. "I had no idea the bananas exploded."

"Me neither!" said Pinkie. "We learned something new together!"

"Twilight, how is Spikey-wikey doing?" asked Rarity.

"He's pretty crushed from the defeat," said Twilight. "I have him writing the letter to Princess Celestia, though."

"Oh, would you look at the time," said Rainbow. "I need to step outside to call Spitfire for a second, alright?"

"No problem," said Fluttershy. "Hey, what a minute, what's that on your phone?"

"Nothing!" Rainbow declared, holding the screen away from Fluttershy. Applejack looked.

"It's that farm game!" Applejack said. "Rainbow, I can't believe you still play that!"

"I...ohhh! My farm is the biggest and best, alright? Leave me alone!" She bent down to harvest her crops.

Dear Princess Celestia,

I learned quite a few things from my Twitch experience. First, I learned that everypony has different game styles. Rarity and I are strategizers and take our games very seriously, but people like Pinkie Pie and Big Mac are just in it to have fun. And there's nothing wrong with either! I knew a whole lot about that game, and I was the first eliminated. No matter what your game style is, though, one thing we can all agree on is that cheating is wrong. When Discord hacked his way into our game, we all had a common enemy, because cheaters spoil everypony's fun! If you have to cheat to win, then you haven't really won at all. So even though I didn't win the game, I'm glad Rarity was able to defeat Discord. Also, I can't wait for a rematch!

Love,

Spike