//------------------------------// // Betas, boosters, and Competitive player. (revised) // Story: The Gamer, The A.I. and The Changeling // by Corsair49 //------------------------------// Button's Perspective Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom had just finished calming down Scootaloo who now had a look of vengeance on her eyes. The entire time that was going on my mind was racing a mile a minute. Just what kind of player is that kid? Why would he introduce himself that way. Was there a reason why he only now started coming to school? At that moment Sweetie Belle broke me from my torrential downpour of thoughts by poking my arm. "Hey Button... Did you notice the message on Scootaloo's Joyboy?" Sweetie Belle asked as she picked up the device in question. "What? A message? From who?" Scootaloo's voice became confused. "The Sender Tag only has a Snowflake and a pair of wings with a halo in between them." Sweetie Belle said confused. "I thought you're gamer tags couldn't use emojis like that?" Hearing this Scootaloo seemed to Brighten up. "HAH I KNEW IT! IT WAS SOME HACKER!" Scootaloo said triumphantly. "Scoots.. Y'all should take a look at this."Applebloom said while looking over Scootaloo's shoulder. Scootaloo took her Joyboy and looked at the messages You made my friend actually have to care with your score. Sorry he got ahead of himself. Since you made my friend smile you seem like fun! Would you like to play a game with us? Under that question was a choice box that said yes or no and had a text box. "They want to play a game?" Scootaloo asked. "YEAH RIGHT!" She shouted angrily. "Like I would play a game with a Hacker!" She growled as we all came in from outside. Midnight was in his desk writing stuff out with his headphones in and phone on the table. Suddenly Scootaloo's Joyboy buzzed again. A new message appeared on it. We aren't hackers but please reconsider, He doesn't have many people we can trust to play with and he doesn't know I'm reaching out like this. "What the hay?"Scootaloo looked around the room to see only Miss Cheerilee on her computer and the only other students are her friends and the new Kid. "So he thinks he's funny does he?" Scootaloo stormed over to Midnight's desk before Applebloom or Sweetie Belle Could stop her. Slamming her hands on the desk making him jump in surprise. "I bet you Think yourself some wiseguy huh Hacker..." She growled with her venom. I could only stare in suspense at what was going to happen. "Why would I waste my time playing with a Hacker like you." She said holding out her Joyboy at him. At this time Apple Blooms JoyBoy buzzed in her hand making her gasp before rushing to grab Scootaloo. "Wh-What scoots mean is She was wondering why you are friends with a hacker." Applebloom said putting her hand over her friends mouth as the rest of us followed behind. "Curse you White Law..." I heard him mutter. "My Friend is not exactly a Hacker... and while I did tell her to message you I didn't think she would do with that tag." He paused a moment before any of us could say something he got incredibly Angry. "NO, I'm Not showing you to them!" "Midnight... If its about Snow it might be best to... After all I was made aware of it." Cheerilee said from her desk going back to her work. That was what allowed a lot of us to piece it together. Snow like the snowflake that was the sender's first portion of the tag. "Yes I'm mad at you." Midnight said to his phone. Was he on a phone call? "Fine but you Brought this on yourself." He said as he jerked audio jack out of the port then turned off his phone. "Miss Cheerilee I'm going to see Vice Principal Luna." Cheerilee waived her hand dismissively. "Wait a Second Where do you think your Going?" I heard Diamond Tiara say as she got in his way. "Yeah you have some Explaining to do."I hear Silver Spoon say. I looked at him and this time he wasn't that intimidating Monster he was earlier. Suddenly he seemed really weak. "Like how do you get off on Having your Hacker friend put your Score so stupidly High! People like Scootaloo work Really Hard on their scores for that stuff!" And then just like a switch was flipped the monster was back. "Snow Angel is not a Hacker. And I got that score by using my own Skills. Now get out of my way." He commanded This made Cheerilee stop what she was doing before staring wide eyed at Midnight. I couldn't help but wonder to myself at the time, why haven't my friends seen the monster yet? And why is Cheerilee So afraid of him. Applebloom's, Sweetie Belle's and Scootaloo's Joyboys all began to buzz violently. "Or what? Listen here New kid, we don't even know how good of a gamer you are, so until you prove you're as good as you say and that you have only skill to beat ANY of us then you're just a wannabe loser." Silver spoon said as she walked around him. At this point the Game Crashers could be seen on the other side of the door listening to the conversation. I wouldn't know how much they heard until it was too late. "Children that is enough I will not Have you bull-" Cheerilee went silent when Midnight shot a look at her. "Midnight... be reasonable..." is what i read from her lips. "Hmm so it seems that your luck is working just like it always does, doesn't Orange, my boy." Immediately our attention turned to Professor Discord who opened the door. "I wonder, Would like me to help you?" He asked looking at Midnight. "Umm Professor His name is Midnight." Sweetie Belle Corrected. "Law...you shouldn't be calling me that name... right now." Midnight Said. "Oh no now is the perfect especially when some drones are flitting about wanting to check in on their Deserter. I'll Get you to Vice Principal Luna. You need to deal with this before it gets out of hand. Ice Queen Texted me letting me know they were approaching. Their Links are active but not on the schools network yet. So we don't have much time. I would suggest you hurry." Professor Discord's Voice was stern and much like that first time he substituted with us. It was filled with malice and unbridled rage. I wouldn't come to understand what he was talking about deserters and Drones till much later. Everyone else was just as confused by the conversation. "Midnight, do you need an escort? I know I'm not exactly the best but I can assist you in-" Cheerilee began only to be cut off by Discord. "Now now Cheerilee, first you must show the difference in skill between a Beta, a Teacher and the schools Gamers." Discord said as he took held out his hand for Midnight after Silver Spoon and Diamond Tiara moved out of the way. Midnight handed over the Phone and proceeded to walk towards the VPs Office. Discord in tow. "And of course he leaves me to handle the dirty work... Just because it luckily... Fine.. whatever. Both groups Sit down in the front now." Cheerilee said angrily. The Game Crashers came in after that as She set up her speaker system. "Ice Queen Give a test will you... " "The systems are functioning normally... Cheerilee. Come now where is that smile? I know the kids are worried about you." Her voice came off chiding as she spoke with an audible smugness. "Would it kill you to not be sarcastic this is going to take little bit to explain." Cheerilee's voice was exhausted. "What is there to explain? Just play the same game he did." The voice on the speakers said. "That... Might work? Fine... Student's All of you pay attention to the screen.. any question you have will be answered by myself and Snow Angel." She explained. We all saw Cheerilee take out a link unit and put it on like what we do when we go to game. "Log in I.D. Violet Abandon." She said the projector showed her online avatar as she went towards the speed reaction race game. The vehicle she chose for it of the 3 was the one that had the least handling and highest max speed. "Whats she doing? That will crash right out the gate?" Snails said confused. "She would've been better in the 3rd car... higher handling mid speed and acceleration." Scootaloo commented. "Little Children should know to watch and learn before talking like they know." Snow angel said. "Shut it hacker!" Scootaloo Said angrily. "I suddenly regret having him attempt to reach out to you. Since you obviously know the difference between a hacker and capable player. Look at where Cheerilee is." Snow Angel said her voice dripping with Sarcasm. Snips and snails simply gasped as somehow Cheerilee had pulled a tight u-turn with the extreme precision careful not let the tires touch any of the blades along the wall. While still being on her first life. "Wait... I'm usually on my second life by that point.... How is she-" Scootaloo began as they watched Cheerilee jump the track over to a different path way her points constantly increasing until she sighed and pulled to a stop and let her vehicle get destroyed 3 times at the same spot. Locking in her score at 86012907 and putting her name as CHRE. Before logging out. "Do you all understand now." Cheerilee said frustrated with a smile. "Midnight Is not a Hacker, And Snow Angel, Although most of the faculty here refers to her as Ice Queen, is most certainly not. I was able to do what I was able to because I was a Beta Tester for this game in particular." Cheerilee explained. "Midnight and Angel... Are better gamers than you guys think... In fact his entire old school is. Snow? How is he doing?" "3 v 1 parameters... They want a lot and are risking more than half each. They Want him back badly..." Snow said distantly. "What are you talking about?" "I have the fight recorded would you like me to play it?" Snow asked Cheerilee. "After their fight tomorrow play it through their joyboys at around 7pm. Just after everyone's dinner. For now when Midnight gets back, Scootaloo, Diamond, Silver. You three are to apologize and leave him be for the rest of the day. He will need his rest. And yes he ahead enough to get away with it. Plus he might be in a lot of pain. And.... really they want..." Cheerilee sighed heavily. "Snow Angel... Answer the students however you want I need to deal with a brat. Unlimited Burst." She declared her body suddenly going rigid. "Unlimited Burst?" Rumble asked confused just then they heard someone scream in pain from outside the school and collapse. Rushing to the window they all saw 3 teenagers with link units equipped one of them on the ground gripping their arm and side. The other two standing dazed blinked shaking their heads helping their friend up and running to the parking lot. All of a sudden Cheerilee jumped up and rushed to the door opening it up to catch the weakened Midnight. All of this transpired in roughly 6 seconds. "Can you stand?" she asked getting a moment to recompose himself he stood shakily and visibly limped to his desk. "I hope that will serve as a lesson NOT to do that again. You can't keep fighting them on your own! What if your mother was there for that fight you know what she-" "SHUT UP VIOLET!" He screamed before jerking his head to the other students. It was the first time any of us saw Ms.Cheerilee physically back off. "Snow angel... Send the video to the faculty too as well." Cheerilee ordered the female voice. "And all of you need to get over whatever feud you have soon. If not, you will all be wiped out of whatever leaderboards you're on. The rest of the day is a free period. Midnight go to the school nurse." Cheerilee said as she logged off her computer heading out, as Luna showed up, a slight frown and look of worry. "Come now Young Requiem let's get you patched up." "I'm fine." "I'll hear none of that. The rest of you may leave school early for today given what's you all just witnessed Answers to any and all questions will be explained tomorrow." Luna said grabbing and lifting him up making him flail about to spit out obscenities before getting his mouth covered by Luna. "your Only homework is to watch the Gameplay video of Midnight Requiem against 3 of an entire school that will wipe out all normal gamers." Luna said before leaving. Everyone stood there confused as Discord came in shortly after grabbed Midnight's phone and walked away.