Button Mash! Master of the Arcade Arts!

by Clockworklich

Gotta Go Fast!

With a start, Button looked over to his alarm that had suddenly started ringing. He wanted to get as much done as he could so he set it to go off around the time that Sugercube Corner opens. In his moment of distraction, his latest creation crashed into his head.

"Ouch!" Button exclaimed as he rubbed the side of his head. Looking over at the makeshift dirigible Button made with the robot parts, the balloons Pinkie gave him and some string as it crashed into the side of his bed and fell apart. After finding out how he could grind his class and wisdom at the same time Button continued to give each picture nothing more than a glance before trying to build it. Once he ran out of those pictures however he instead tried to grind by thinking up a simple function and trying to figure out how to make something with what he had.

"Right, let's see what I got." Button said as he brought up his stats.

"So close." Button grumbled as he looks at his WIZ stat. "At least I got strength out of the way." Button had remembered to grind his STR stat while he worked, though this time he remembered to rest his legs now and again so as to avoid the pain that he had suffered the first time. "It also appears that Pinkie Pie's lessons did wonders for my intelligence. Probably because of how complex what she was teaching was." After looking over his stats, Button looked to his new skills and how far they progressed.

"Right so get WIZ up to fifty, try to get more lessons for my INT, and I need to find a way to grind my magic." Button mumbled to himself as he got ready to go. Running down the stairs just in time to see his mom picking up some toast with butter and jelly.

"Thanks mom gotta go bye!" Button called out as he jumped up, grabbed the piece of toast in his mouth and ran out the door. Mommy Mash just stood there with tired eyes as she stared at her hoof where the toast used to be, her mouth still open from her attempt to take a bite. Once her sleep-addled mind registered what just happened she gave a sigh and went to make another slice of toast.

"Hi Pinkie!" Button called out cheerfully as he ran into Sugercube Corner and came to a stop in front of the counter.

"Hey Button! Wow, you are early. Are you ready to build some super fun stuff?" Pinkie asked as she gave a smile so wide that he could see all of her teeth while opening the side door for the counter to let him in. Without a word, Button charged right through and immediately locked onto the large box in the corner that literally had his name on it. On top of the box was a case filled with tools that were super girly. The handles were pink with glitter that looks like it was fused into them and a flower design was somewhere on all of them.

"Um... Pinkie Pie... These tools have been wiped down for cooties right?" Button asked in concern causing Pinkie to burst out laughing.

"Don't worry Button, all my things are cooty free. I even have all my cooty shots, I mean, we serve food here so we can't let any cooties or any other yucky germs in here." Pinkie assured.

"Great!" Button exclaimed as he opened the large box to see all the different parts he had to work with. Opening another box he found two books.

"One of those is to read and the other is for making. I'll just keep an eye on you. If you impress me you'll get a reward." Pinkie sang out when she saw Button pulling out the books.

Yes! All the yes! Button thought as he accepted the quest. Cracking open the book on making your own schematics he got right to studying.

INT+1
INT+1

Half an hour and two stats later Button wasted no time on grabbing the book full of Schematics, quickly denying the instant learn options and started flipping through it, every now and again glancing into the box to see what parts to use. Assemble don't fail me now! Button thought as he got to work on a wind-up top. Taking the case, at least he thought it was the case for this thing, and started putting the parts into place. He had some trouble with the spring at first but he was able to keep it in place at the end.

Sealing the lid on top and setting the key, Button wound it up to test it out and set it down. Once the key was let go the top began spinning on its own.

"One down." Button said as he started flipping through the options again. As simple as that gadget was it had taken him longer than he would have liked. So he searched out the easiest ones. Every once in awhile Button would look with worry up at the clock.

Having finished his last mandatory gadget Button grabbed some paper and a pen. I'm still an apprentice gadgeteer. I can't design anything too complicated yet. Button thought as he looked up to the clock in worry. I need something that a normal pony can do. Think Button think! Searching his memory Button came to a decision when he remembered one of his mom's stories from one of the photo albums. Only, with a gamer flair. The motor should go there. But how would I crank it? Oh! Pedals! Looking up at the clock he saw he was close to the deadline. But this isn't enough for a gadgeteer. It needs tricks...

"Done!" Button exclaimed just before the bell ding signaled lunchtime.

"Wow!" Pinkie exclaimed as she trotted over and looked over the completed design. "You work fast. And Ambitious." Pinkie said with a giggle. "This looks like fun! I think I'll design one for myself tonight." With those words, Pinkie stashed Button's Schematics into her mane. "I'll make you some lunch. Then you can spend the rest of my shift being creative with what I have here."

Level Up!
Class Level Up!
Class Level Up!

Button waited but to his confusion, the mystery prize he earned for completing the quest on time didn't show itself. He even checked out his inventory to see if the quest dropped it in there but it was completely empty.

"What gives? Where is the mystery prize?" Button complained.

"You have to wait until after my shift is over!" Pinkie called back. Button paused at hearing this. He was under the assumption that the loot would just show up. Not like I'm going to be doing anything other than grinding till I leave anyways. So Button prepared to do what he did last night and gave one page a single glance. He needed to finish his WIZ stat after all.

Hours later.

"Times up Button." Pinkie said as she walked over. "I've got one more thing for you to work on today." Looking up in surprise Button checked the clock to see that the workday was over. Putting her tools back in their case she picked it up and gestured for Button to follow. Walking around the bakery into the alley between shops Pinkie opened up a large trap door with a ramp leading underground. Following Pinkie Button looked around in wonder at all of the complex machines before his eyes landed on where Pinkie stopped next to several large parts... familiar parts. On the wall nearby hung the very blueprints that he made for the quest.

"Come on Button!" Pinkie said excitedly as she started building the motor. "Let's get to work!"

More hours later.

Mommy Mash had just clocked out from her job at the local daycare center. With Button off with Pinkie Pie, she figured she would get an extra day in. But as she was walking away from the building she heard the sound of music getting closer. Turning to see what was going on her jaw dropped at the sight of her son driving a go-kart towards her with a radio strapped to the top playing born to be wild. The kart was sleek and black with a green X on the hood that made anypony think of an X box console.

"Hey, mama. Like my new ride?" Button asked as he leaned back while giving his best cool guy face. "Wanna... take her for a spin?" Button patted the passenger seat with a grin. Mommy Mash stood there with wide eyes, one of which was twitching.