//------------------------------// // Chapter 1 // Story: The Game Players // by GamePlayer64 //------------------------------// Game Life’s POV I was running for who knows how long; Zombies, people with actual weapons who were harvesting Zombies. What the hell was that about, why were they doing a ‘Dead Rising’ harvest to make a vaccination for a drug that will create riots & anarchy or something? I stopped as I see Fancy’s guest manor, I remember the times where I was the only non-rich kid that visit her and play videogames with. Her stupid old man hates me since he thinks I’m here to mooch off her and only visit her because of her money but I prove him wrong. Even though my proof was burning a 1000 dollar bill in front of him which he chase me and threw a freaking dictionary at his own daughter that took out her right eye, permanent. Fancy Life’s mom unleashed ‘Hell on Earth’ on her husband which @#$%ing scarred me for life since I vow to never to piss her off. I hold my chest since my heart was beating like crazy and I never that fast expect to head for my favorite videogame store on the day of it’s release. A blue screen screen appeared in front of my face. ‘Thanks to the continuous running, your speed was raised by 4.’ “Oh…” I lowered my head and raised it up “WAIT!? I have speed?!” I never seen my speed in my stats… unless. “Status Screen!” Name: Game Life Occupation: The Gamer Level: 7 HP: 480 MP: 150 Power: 18 Strength: 15 Intelligence: 18 Wisdom: 7 Luck: 4 Points: 30 Cash: $200 “I though my speed might be in here but what if it’s not on this screen.” I swipe it as it revealed a new screen which showed my stats that I didn’t seen before. Dexterity: 9 Endurance: 7 Charisma: 8 Speed: 19 Perception: 4 “Huh… I didn’t even know about this.” I swipe back to the first screen and zoomed out of it so all my stats are on the same screen. “Hmm… I wonder if the points I have, are those bonus points like in RPG games to increase the total points of my stats? I better think smart, I have 30 points and I need to be careful since I earn 5 bonus points every time I level up. Maybe I’ll earn more bonus points if earn a title or my level is in the double digits?” I did had some tough on picking which to increase, so I chosen what to increase; 10 for wisdom, 4 for luck, 5 for Perception, 6 for Endurance, 3 for Charisma and 2 for Dexterity. I felt the power of the increase and felt a bit relax “That didn’t hurt. Maybe the increase of my Endurance must of made my body to withstand the power, I took a peek at my stats again Level: 7 HP: 480 MP: 150 Power: 18 Strength: 15 Intelligence: 18 Wisdom: 17 Luck: 8 Dexterity: 11 Endurance: 13 Charisma: 11 Speed: 19 Perception: 8 Points: 0 I smirked as I looked at my watch, 8:20 PM was on my phone. “I waste my hours on running. Shitballs.” I ran up to the manor and stopped at the front door “Inventory.” My inventory screen appear, I took out the drinks as I closed it and pressed the doorbell with my nose. I waited for a few seconds; Tough Exo opened it and smirk. “Well, well, well. If it isn’t Game ‘I’m one hour early’ Life. You’re late which is odd for you since you’re never late except to bust with a game that takes your focus off of the time. Care to tell me why were you late?” I looked nervous but my ‘Gamer’s Spirit’ calmed me down “I was busy with some PC demo game but it was not as how I’d expected.” Tough Exo raise he brow “What was wrong with it? Was is lame or not what you expected?” I looked horrified “It had a false title on it and had badly written instructions, retarded gameplay and a glitched-up graphics.” Tough Exo nearly barf but swallowed “YUCK! I hate those kind of false advertisement. Come on, let me have those bags so you can meet Fancy’s cousin.” I raised my brow and looked surprised “Fancy brought her cousin? Which one? Since I doubt they like videogames since they have better things in life then videogames.” Tough shrugged her shoulders “I don’t know, Fancy only talk to her viva letters since she told me that it took 5 years to get her lousy technophobe Granddad to allow technology from present and ongoing. I mean what’s the big deal? She knows how to use a smartphone and a laptop but that granddad of hers wants her to only use them for school work.” I shook my head “That seems harsh. I don’t know her but I feel pity for her.” I followed her to the room to see Sweet Tunes singing on a karaoke machine I had to admit, when I hear that song; I want some pizza. I see Dark Speed was sleeping with earmuffs, Large and Sharp was grooving to the beat as High I.Q. was counting the funds of their collected donations while playing on his 3DS. I looked around to see the food; pizza, brownies, vegetable salad, grilled meat, sushi, fresh baked bread, fruits, and the drinks I brought. Tough Exo made her own protein sandwich on backed bread with a pineapple ring and took a huge bite out of it as she followed me “Hey… I know it’s none of my business unlike a certain nosy birthday seeking girl but you do know that Fancy’s has a crush on you, right?” “I know.” Tough Exo nearly choked but swallowed her meat “WHAT?! Than what the hell are you waiting for?” “Two things in my way; myself and her old man.” Exo looked at him “I can understand her stubborn asshole of a dick pops but why you, for the purpose of understanding you?” I lowered my head “I fear that I’ll lose the ones I love again.” Exo raised her brow as took a sip of the mango juice and realize what I mean “Oh… but its not like it will happen again.” I closed my eyes “I wish it was but the hands of fate will alter the lives of mortals in unexplainable ways.” Exo looked at me and shrugged her shoulders as we found Fancy Looks who was talking with her cousin with Auburn skin, Han Purple short hair and Flax eyes in a familiar outfit that I seen before. Flashback "We have enough Zombies! We are leaving!” Yelled some pompous looking teenage girl as they raised their arms in the air with the hands spread out. My eyes widen (“OH HOLY SHIT!!!”) Fancy Look’s POV “I’m happy that you came and visit, High Stocks.” She smiled while waving her hand “Yeah me too, coz. I wanted to see you too but I’m sorry for crashing your party.” I patted her on the shoulder “It’s okay. As co-founder of the Guild of Gamers, I can put a good word for you because of great grandpa.” “I’m grateful for your generous and I’m also interested in this ‘Game Life’ fellow that you’ve been falling over heels for.” I turned red and felt embarrassed “High… I want to tell him myself. I… haven’t been able to for 7 years. I’ve been trapped in the Friend Zone because I didn’t have the courage to tell him ever since I learn what happen to his parents. I’ve been giving him time until he opened up to people and the Game Players is the evidence of his trust to others.” High gave a small grin “I’m happy that you thought of the feelings of another, also betting that your curves help reel him in.” I turned red and smacked her upside the head “Don’t talk about my body that way! I got this genetic trait from my mom’s side of the family. All women from my mom’s side get this trait.” High looked at me with an envious look “Don’t remind me. I want those curves to gain the attention of many guys since my muscles turn them away.” She flex her pecs which earned her a growl. We looked to see Tough Exo with Game Life behind her as he looked surprised “I’m the tough one here, Fancy’s cousin. And here’s our Guild Leader who was surprisingly late.” She walked away as she belch loudly which Fancy laughed. “I apologize for being late. I was experience some new things in life.” Said Game Life. “It’s okay, Game. There’s always some hazards in your racetrack.” I answered. “Yeah and who is that? I heard that your cousin is here?” Game Life asked. I looked embarrassed “Well it was a surprised visit. I didn’t want to be rude so I invited her since Great Grandpa tries to stop me from letting her play games. This is my cousin, High Stocks.” Game Life narrowed his eyes and place out his hand “Hello… I’m Game Life.” High Stocks narrowed her eyes “High Stocks… Is there a problem? Do you have a problem with me?" Game Life shock his head “No… I’m just trying to remember since I saw someone with your physical descriptions. Playing a videogame in the middle of where I was walking that involve collecting zombies.” High Stocks widen her eyes as she started to sweat for some reason but I place my hand my her shoulder “I think your wrong Game. High Stocks is afraid of zombies. She never plays any game involving the walking dead.” She let out a sigh of relief but Game Life spoke “Unless she conquered her fear and is embarrassed about it.” Her eyes widen as I noticed it and smile “You overcome your fear?!” I hugged her “I’m so proud of you! You don’t have to be ashamed of yourself.” She smile a bit as Game Life hold a cup “Mango Juice?” High Stocks noticed it “Thanks!” She took a sip and let out a happy sigh “Ahh… Mango Juice! OOOF!!!” A ball hit her in the back of the head which made her spill it on her clothes. “Sorry!” Sharp Shooter came in, picked up her ball and left while secretly snickering as well as well Game Life as he followed Sharp Shooter. “Here let me take you to get a change of clothes. I forgot to warn you that Sharp has trust issues against people she doesn’t know.” High Stocks wiped some of the juice that wasn’t absorb in her clothes “It’s okay but I’m starting to have doubts about Game Life.” “If’s its about the zombie game. Don’t worry, I’ll keep your secret from Great Grandpa.” She sighed “Thank you.” She followed me to a different room (“He knows… or is an impostor.”) No One’s POV: Everyone was holding red cups filled with Soda, juice or a mixer of both for Large Harvest as Game Life was on top of a stool “I declare the 6th Anniversary of The Game Players to be a successful year!” They all raised their cups in the air except for Dark Speed who was napping “And a message to Dark Speed; ‘may the balance of Light & Darkness never be shifted by good.’ To give him a sign of happiness.” They nodded as Dark Speed made a O.K. sign with his free hand. “And we need to know the amount of how much we have for The Switch, High I.Q.?” We all turn out heads to him as he has his eyes shut “I am happy to say that we have $300.” Everyone cheered in happiness “But not enough to cover the taxes.” Their cheers than turned into groans. “I’m afraid that those have been earning cash by selling stuff in Flea Markets, need jobs.” The small crowd groaned unhappy especially Sharp Shoot. “I can’t even get a job since I’m underage!” She complained. “And they won’t hire me since people mistake me for a kid and my rep in the worst parts of Canterlot.” Said Tough Exo. They all turn their heads to Game Life “Don’t worry my gamers. As the founder of the Game Players; I shall earn the money for the Switch without mooching on our friends.” They cheered as Fancy care in with a smile “I hope we can still be friends after High School.” The Game Players cheered as they party their asses off. Game Life was outside looking at the sky and sigh “I need to gain enough cash for the Switch and I can’t let my pals down.” He looked down until a screen appeared in front of him. ‘A new Skill “Bloodthirst Detection” has been created after feeling extreme bloodthirst.’ [Bloodthirst Detection (Passive) LV 1] - A skill that detects another’s bloodthirst within a 25 meters. It will sense the location of Bloodthirst. Game Life turned around to see High Stocks (“Oh… that makes sense.”) Hello… Game Life was it?” He looked at her and noticed her Level above her head LV 29 High Stocks He looked nervous as High Stocks looked confuse “What are you looking at?” “Nothing. I see that you’ve been given Fancy’s old track suit.” “Yeah and there’s one thing that’s been bugging me about what you said. I don’t like zombies, so how can you know about me with zombies?” He closed his eyes and turned around “What do you want me to say; I saw you collecting actual zombies with a group of LARPers with powers. That would make anyone think I’m nuts; Heir of the Róngyù yuēshù Guild. So before you can kill me; can you at least explain to me that how did I gain powers like a Videogame character out of thin air?” She widen her eyes “You gain powers out of thin air? Than that means…” She shook her head and slapped her cheeks “No! Before I answer, I got to make sure you’re the real Game Life that my cousin wrote about in her letters. 3 questions on Videogames that Fancy and Game knows.” “Answer away.” “Question 1: Who does Parappa the Rapper loves? “Sunny Funny.” “Correct. Question 2: Who is Smithy, what’s his goal and what game did he appear in for what system?” “An evil Blacksmith monster that destroy the Star Road, who plans to create a world filled with weapons instead of wishes and he appeared in Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars for the SNES AKA The Super Nintendo Entertainment System.” “Correct and good Faust. How many games you played… Never mind. Final Question: What are the only words that were said in ‘Smiles and Tears’ song that were said in the game Earthbound for the SNES? Game Life hummed a bit as Fancy Looks walked in “What’s going on here?” Game Life walked behind Fancy as High was cautious “I miss you.” he whispered in her ears. She turned red and fainted in his arms which was somehow easy to hold her “Huh. Normally I fall with her since I’m not that strong but now I hold her in my arms like we try the tango.” High Stocks walked up to him and moved her hair out off of her face “I can believe that you’re the real Game Life. I can tell you what you are if you show me one of your powers?” I summoned my inventory screen and found something that I never seen before “Wait… this one’s new.” I pulled out a chunk of a pink crystal and showed her. “Whoa… It’s like SAO.” She said with amazement. I put it back and lay Fancy on a chair as I slid my hand on her cheek softly “Am I a threat to you?” High shook her head “No… but I can say that you’ve been chosen.” I raise my brow “Chosen? By who?”