//------------------------------// // Part 3: Power-Up Acquired. // Story: Button Mash: High School Life // by rock4u7 //------------------------------// Button’s room ignited as his mother pulled his curtains open, The Amber sunlight of the morning dowsed button’s face with a laser beam of hot yellow illumination. Button not knowing how to react to this sensation awoke in a violent fit, screaming as he buried his head under his Star Wars sheets. “Buttons! Hurry up or you’ll be late for school!” Button’s Mother yelled in a tone that added just the right amount of ear shattering screech. “I’m late to much school to” Button deliriously explained as he barrel rolled out of his bed into the door of his closet. How Button’s mom could be up at this time after drinking one and a half bottles of AppleJack Daniels but none the less Button’s mind altering night of drugs was over and the real world was crashing down hard on poor little Button Ashley Mash. After a harsh comb through the mane and a kick in the rump to get to the kitchen button found himself scarfing down a tasty bowl of carrot bits as he tried the get the most out of his nutritious breakfast before the bus arrives in the next 10 minutes. “MOM! ---‘ere’s eye----JoyBoy!?!” Button gargled while shovelling a mountain of carrot bits into his already full mouth. “Upstairs in your room like always” His mother said while rinsing the cutting board caked with browning carrot scrapings. “Oh and what was last night about anyway? Were you sick?, because you were saying a lot of dribble about nothing?” she said with a tinge of doubt to her words. Before she could get a reply Button raced up stairs to grab his JoyBoy, leaving her to deal with an empty bowl and thoughts to figure out. He ransacked his drawers looking for his gaming device finding only mountains pencils, batteries and his brother’s stolen PlayPonies. He looked high and low in his trashed room knowing that there were only a few minutes on the clock, he looked and looked and looked till he found…An almost completely empty vial. A teaspoon, no, half a teaspoon, a bit less than half a teaspoon of ‘Green stranger’ left remaining in the small vial. Most ponies would stand there for a while and contemplate there life and if they would choose to use up the last of this magic drink just because it makes them feel good. But Button is not like ‘Most’ ponies, so without even a second thought he put the glass tube in his mouth and sucked the last remnants of Snip’s fabulous green stress-free elixir down his throat. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 3 minutes was all it took for buttons to race down the stairs, out the house, down the dirt road and to the bus stop. As Button saw the bus coming he was starting to wonder if anyone would notice…anything different, not that it was a problem or something, why should something that lets you leave your problems be bad. When button approached the first step he started to feel some familiar effects, not as strong as last night, but still pretty affective. Things became bright and happy again, The colours around button started to burst out like a over-weight pony belly-flopping into an empty pool, and finally he began to think clearly. The tropic yellow of the wooden coach shone bright in the morning sun and the… “You gettin’ on buddy?” Said The gruff bus driver in an impatient tone. “….yep…” button casually told him while still starring at the side of the bus. “You gettin’ on NOW?” the bus driver hissed with agitation. Button (feeling bored of the colour yellow) hoped onto the bus and sat down the back of the bus and hummed a wintery wrappery toon, however , The Goth ponies had taken claim to the last 3 rows for decades, so obviously to them this was seen as a full frontal invasion. “Hay, what do you think you’re doing!?” said an slightly short orange mare with far too much mascara. “….sitting…you ever wondered how we could sit on these things anyway, like our spine’s shouldn't be able to…” Button’s observation was cut short by. “You think your cool or something, go back to the front of the bus you zombie” she growled with an expression of distain. “You know you’d actually look pretty cute if you toned down on the make-up “ Button complimented. The flattery didn't seem to be lost on her as she gave a quick blush then looked to her side at her friend (littered with piercings) and then turned back and replied with. “Piss off creep” ..Her words went straight through button’s ear and out the other. Also have you ever wondered how this bus can fit 30 ponies yet there’s only one Pegasus driving, wouldn't the weight like send us falling, unless there's like magic or something holding it up? Maybe…a? gravimetric warps drive?” Button yammered. The pony with the piercings leaned to the orange mare and said something which actually made button’s heart skip a beat. “you know he’s trippin’ right, look at his eyes, he’s on the zebra juice” the pierced pony finished then sat back in her seat and raised her book entailed ‘The Catcher In The Hay’. Button sank into his seat with a grim expression as the orange pony gave a devilish smirk. She slowly extended her hoof to button and said “names ScarletThread”. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ After a conversation with the strong theme of blackmail behind it, button had finally arrived at the daily grind. “…so like I said finish my creative writing assignment and I won’t tell anyone you’re high as shit, ok?” Scarlet said slowly. “Fine, but I ain't writing it on no pussy vampire ponies or dribbly gargoyle love story” button sighed angrily, with no reply Scarlet walk into the side shadows of the gym until she blissfully caught her fore-hoof on the side of the walkway and crash into the garden leaving button confused and with no real enjoyment from it. Feeling defeated but still dazed with green stranger, button dragged his hooves towards the library. On the way to library Button thought many things (mostly about would make a good ice-cream topping) until he found himself frozen dead in his tracks and starring at the mural along the art room wall. There was a large windigo in light blue and white colours, the background was a night sky full of stars,comets,planets and small twirls of purple which supposedly represented galaxies. At the back of the windigo was a stream of complimentary colours like a basic rainbow, there was a layer of shimmer over the bright paint shades giving them an over-saturated neon effect which reminded Button of a 1970s movie trailer. Button took a deep sigh and closed his eyes and pretended for just one second that he was flying, not how a Pegasus flies, more like…Floating. He dreamed he was floating through space, the universe was everywhere around him but he had no one to bother him, no one to tell him bad news or there stupid problems, no one to make him do anything…just him and his thoughts. Button quickly opened his eyes and grunted angrily at the thought of some pony any pony telling him to leave his sanctuary, he was about to walk away when without thought,knowing or real reason he punched the mural as hard as he could. “AHHHERRHH!!!” Button shouted as he pulled his throbbing hoof in, taking a loose strip of the mural with him. “Hey Buttons, whatcha doing there?” said a familiar cream coloured pony with a ink brush on his flank. “…I…dunno” Button replied confusingly as he began to stare at the white and blue strip stuck on his hoof. “Well? Are you coming to the group or not?” InkSpot suggested. “I…..dunno” button repeated as he started to feel the sting of bloody clots forming around his injured hoof. After a brief but not brief enough awkward silence the artistically driven pony grabbed the half drugged gamer and ushered him towards the library. Finally they where on there way to the only place button knew was safe in this crazy world, he’s head felt like there was a ball of mash potato rolling around in there trying to mush up his thoughts, he didn't know how long the effects of this potent drug would last but frankly he didn't much care, his body felt like it was wrapped in a cool blanket on a hot night (although he wished he felt a cooler if not freezing wash-cloth on his throbbing hoof). He wasn't sure how he was going to hide his “Drouzy Condition” in class, come to think of it he hadn't even given it a mashed potato thought or anything thing else, he was focused on the now, what was happening, what seemed abrupt and had no mind to the future….all because of this green goo he poured down his gullet…and he want more, no…he ‘NEEDED’ more. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ “…so what do you think button” Rumble said impatiently. “..oh..um…yeah? that's right...” Button mumbled as he closed his eyes trying to have a nap for the last 2 minutes of freedom. “did you even hear me, Horde or Alliance, Which is better? C’mon” Rumble asked curiously. “…mmmm…” button groaned as he fell of the school chair and landed on the green carpet with a THUD!. “dude, what's up with you lately, you seem…Off?” Inkspot asked. “Hrmm..errmah….gerrderss” button mumbled with his muzzle pressed into the carpet. “彼は麻薬の男にだ” Manga said as he pulled his head away from his new ‘vampire huntress V’ novel. “Manga’s right, maybe you do need to see the nurse?” Rumble said as he pulled Button’s head from the pile of saliva and angst. “Im fine, just gotta get some rest” Button said as he tried to lower himself back onto the soft carpet. BRRRRRRRIIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNGGGGGGGG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. “Nooooohohooooooh!” button sighted as he slumped up and walked the green mile to his Software class. This was definitely button’s favorite class, being that Mr LinusLinux was as brilliant as his mane was unkempt. Not to mention that the class computers were solarware’s with 8 gigs of ram, dvi,hdmi ,vga and SSDs allamoe with GPU grunt for days, hmm, making games might be hard but if Button knew anything it was hardware. “Leadmont, Birdseed, Billiongates,Wozyjobs,EyeBee’EM,Babbage,Button Mash...WOOOW, son what happened to your eyes, you taking bleach shots with your eye sockets!?” Linus barked. “I..was drinking mountain dew on my bed the s’morning when it spilt on my face and got in my eyes sir” Button lied quite believably. “Well next time you might want to consider making an investment in a silly straw” Linus joked as the class gave a trademark cackle. Button wandered to his seat and sat down trying to draw as little attention to himself as possible, this was probably a bad idea seeing as button was usually as subtle as a giraffe running on an ice-rink. “OK kiddies, this year its all about the blood of games ,computers, programs,apps and just about anything electronic…Ze Programing. The class banded together and gave a collective sigheer (sigh and a cheer for the laymare). “let’s get down to the brass bit, there’s flows and integers…” sir blathered on as button lay his head on the wooden table hoping that the bell to lunch was 3 hours behind. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Button slumped his bloated body on the grass under the willow next to the theater and decided that 4 pies and a litre of cola was enough to eat today, still felt peckish thou. Button had lasted 3 periods without people getting suspicious, even when he sucked on a tube of (non-poisonous) purple paint in Art, thinking it was a grape gulp. “Time to re-energize” button said sloppily as he lay back into the base of the tree and closed his eyes. “…hey button…”whispered a voice right next to his ear which made him jump up almost fertilizing the grass. He looked behind the tree and saw 8bit sitting up against the tree with a sketchbook between his legs. “Jeez..8bit you scared the shit out of me” Button exhaled as he slid back down against the tree next to his friend. “I never knew you took drugs Button?” 8bit asked. …Button froze, his eyes went so wide and round that you’d swear they were dinner plates, his face also gave of a grim droopy frown as he tried to come up with a response. “W..wwhat do you mean?” button stuttered. “Button, I live in the city, I know when someone’s on the zebra brew” 8bit said as he began sketching in his book. “Uh..eh…yeah..yeah your right” button declared pitifully as he softened up against the tree knowing that he had nothing to counter-act with. “Hmmm so…what you drawing?” button asked trying to change the subject. “Oh..um, just flowers and other gay stuff, I don’t usually draw anyway. Button leaned over and took a peak. “You’re a lying shit, your just drawing on a black and white photograph” “No I’m not!” sketch defended. Button took a closer look and saw the small lines of graphite in the extremely detailed image. “…Dude!…I doubt even InkSpot could do this, come to think of it, this is probably better than his art!” Button said as he looked at the perfect use of shading and depth, the detail made it look like a grey a white image printed on the lined paper in his workbook. “Why don’t you tell anyone about this man, its amazing!” “Because…My cutie mark’s a square bit of data not a pencil or piece of paper.” 8bit said in a soft tone which seemed to have a lot of emotion in it. “And, you could just..” button paused, he began to think about the answer his friend had given him. “Apparently I have no future with this, so, I don’t bother to make it known” 8bit admitted with a more sad than sarcastic tone as he closed his book. Button was still silent, he thought deeply about the statement, then he began to think, if he realized he was good at painting could he still be a painter, is it even possible for a cutie mark to change, his Joyboy cutie-mark…hmm, why does he even have a Joyboy for a cutie mark, he was good at all consoles and handhelds, why not an old-school D-pad or even a controller… “Hello my friends!” said a self-absorbed voice. “awww, are you too having a kissy session” “What do you want Backslash?” Button groaned . “Ow nothing, I was just on my way to watch talent thrive, would you like to join me” he said holding in a laugh. “No thanks backsla…” 8bit started. “Yeah ok, why not” Button interrupted. Backslash had been stricken dumb by what Button had said. “Uhh..well ok keep up then , maybe you’ll learn how the upper crust work” Backslash said finally recovering. 8bit whispered to his ballsy friend “dude, what are you doing”. “Doing something new, I’m done doing what everyone expects me to do, for once I’m calling my own shots” Button replied almost with a harsh tone. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ The inside of the theater had a sort of tardis effect, the inside was huge. Lights hung 3 stories high, and a row of 200+ seats littered the front of the stage. There where high end ponies everywhere, Button felt surrounding, like a pack of wolfs...turds in wolves skin. Backslash looked highly uncomfortable ushering Button towards his group of quote on quote ‘Friends’, and Button didn't know if he was going to get beaten up or condescendingly yelled at. The group of 6 starred at Button as he was walking towards them, their faces twisted with confusion and maybe even disdain. Here was this anti-social little nerd thinking that he could even be 10 meters in there presents. Backslash finally spoke in a forced cocky tone “everyone I’d like you to meet Button Mash”. Button quickly felt time stop once everypony looked at him expecting a hello, what would he do, oh goddess what would he do, he wished he hadn't decided to take Backslash’s kind-off offer, things got hot, Button could’ve been back in the library talking about ‘Breaking bad’ or ‘Skyrim’ or something, time was running out, 'what do I ..what do I do!' button thought, everypony was expecting him to….expecting him…..they were all expecting him to say a slightly awkward hello, feel uncomfortable and come up with some bullshit excuse to leave….Well Fuck that!. “Hello” button said as he raised up his hoof and look around sizing everyone up. The pony in front of him had a confused look but once he saw Button raise an eyebrow, he quickly followed through with the hoof shake. “Um, so Button what do you do?” said a tall caramel pony with a faded scarf. Button cocked his head and replied with “Computers you know Programming, coding, building and breaking in hardware, tough stuff, you probably wouldn't understand, its abit complicated, you know". Usually most ponies would see this type of snarky behavior as insulting and rude but too these prestigious craps button had shown that he wasn't afraid of them or they're bow ties. “well button, our main star’s about to give us a sneak speak of her next assessment, would you like to watch?” bleated a young ochre coloured mare with a manila streak in her mane. “I’d love to” Button replied as the group of 8 sat in the front row. Button obviously knew what was going to happen next, it was too obvious. The lights dimmed and in the back a voiced could be heard saying ‘you ready, ok, 5..4..3..2..1…your on”. The southern twang of the acoustic guitar could be heard all round the theater, it was nice and pleasant. Then came in the humming from the main singer which was amazingly catchy. And finally came the words which filled the room like a spell of smoke, “I dig my hole you build a wall” came the soft voice of a familiar pony. Button watched as sweetie bell stepped into the spotlight, her brilliant white coat contrasted so well with her purple mane, like ivory with lavender. “I dig my hole you build a wall….one day that wall is gunna fall”. “..Amazing isn’t she” BackSlash whispered as he also stared at sweaty with a uncomfortable amount of Awe. “Yeah, she’s pretty good” button said as he shifted in his seat, but Backslash was too occupied by the image on the stage. “Come build that city on a hill, come build that ci-i-ity on a hi-ell, someday those tears are gunna spi-ell” she sung so perfectly and on key that button was starting too loose track on where he was, her words where lased with magic, and the magic was working. She open her eyes for a second as she was about the go into the chorus, her large jade green eyes skimmed the room, until she dropped them hard on button. “so..oh build that wall and build it strong coz, we’ll be there before too long” she lost the first note as she was obviously spooked, but she picked it up so fast that you’d probably thing it was just a glitch in the mic. She came into her own as she sung (thou looking slightly agitated), it reminded button of when she used to sing to him when he stayed at her house. As she finished singing everypony cheered, whistled, clapped and went wild, the room was ecstatic with praise. “She’s amazing isn't she” Backslash boomed at Button. Button finally said with a heart full of fucks to give “…eh, I've heard better”.