Chapter 3: Goodbye Checkpoints
“Valdus, after all our hardships we are finally here, The Keep of Dark Bliss! We will need to be swift and strong for this Valdus. We may have defeated the main forces of the goblin army, but we still have to deal with the creatures that dwell within these halls. Also Lucifer is still in the keep. If we are to have any chance of defeating Lucifer, we need to burn this horrific keep into the ground!” Explained General Talifcore. Valdus nodded his head in agreement. He knew that if they wanted to defeat Lucifer for good, they would have to destroy his keep to make sure that the same thing never happens again.
“If we are to storm the fortress, we will have to come up with a careful plan,” Valdus stated to his fellow troops. General Talifcore nodded back to him. He looked up at the keep that towered before them, glancing over the structure carefully. The large fortress stood as tall as the clouds from the points of the spiral towers. It was made of dark purple brick and had an eerie feeling when looked upon. The gate was battered and damaged, following a metal cage like look to it. The metal was bent, and in some parts completely broken through. Torches were seen on top of the walls of the keep and along the bottom as well. Some parts of the walls were cracked and even caved in. One could easily tell a battle was taken place here. General Talifcore took a deep breath at the sight before him and then turned back to Valdus.
“Agreed Valdus, what do you think we should do?” Option A: Lead the battle party through the front gates yourself. Option B: Have the main army create a distraction as you find a hidden entrance into the keep and confront Lucifer alone. The choices were fairly good, no matter what he chose.
“Geez, both of these are good strategies, but I think I will have to choose. . .”
“Good call Valdus. While we attack the remaining forces of the goblin army, you deal with Lucifer yourself. We should be able to make enough noises for you to sneak in with little to no problem. I believe that the goblins bring in valuable prisoners and rare supplies from a secret back entrance. It shouldn’t be too hard to find it, you know how these goblins work, not very smart. You should find light resistance till you reach Lucifer’s corridors,” General Talifcore explained in faint detail.
“Yes, more of my forces will survive if they don’t fight Lucifer head on. Not saying they are weak, but they would die really quick against him,”
“Thank you, General Talifcore. I shall deal with Lucifer myself while you hold off the rest of the vile goblins! May lady luck be in your favor, and may the Divine watch over you and our fellow soldiers,” Valdus said, bowing his head towards him. General Talifcore shook his head at him with a faint smile.
“Fear not, this is our victory battle! When this is over, the ale is on me! Make sure you don’t get yourself too hurt so we can’t celebrate afterwards!” Valdus chuckled at his statement. Talifcore brought out an armoured hand up to Valdus, still holding a confident smile. Valdus looked at the hand and up to General Talifcore. HIs blond hair barely escaping his elven helmet. His carefully designed golden armour glowed faintly with glow glyphs in the darkness of the still approaching storm, illuminating hope for his fellow elves. His crystal blue eyes held that of confidence and hope that sparkled outward into his very own golden eyes. Valdus nodded and took his hand with quick, firm shake.
“It better be dwarven ale! No offense but your kind make rubbish ale. It just doesn’t have a good thrust into it,” Talifcore laughed heartedly, for an elf.
“Very well, my friend. Sadly I would have to agree with you,” With a final nod, Valdus released his friend’s grip and charged across the sea of the many corpses of goblins and towards the back of the keep. “Fight hard, my friend, fight true! May your blade be swift and your armour unscathed!” he called out. Valdus disappeared moment later, leaving General Talifcore and his army at the front gates. With a final deep breath, he turned sharply to the small army that remained behind him and slightly puffed out his chest to show authority. “Prepare for battle!!” They snapped to attention and started getting into formation.
“This is the last battle! The keep, the pure symbol of evil and hatred stands before us! We have shed blood and sweat to get to this very door step! We have slain the countless goblins and orcs to be where we are right at this moment! I will not ask of you to fight for me, I only ask you to fight with me! The reign of evil is at an end, this is the last chapter of this horrible nightmare! I say it now- Button hunny, come down for lunch!”
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
Button Mash grunted and turned sharply to his opened door. “MOM!!! I’m about to defeat the the true reign of evil once and for all!” He shouted at the door. He glared angrily at the opening, still holding his joyboy.
“Oh just come down for lunch. The evil ruler Lucky can wait till then,”
“LUCIFER!” Button Mash shouted down.
“Oh, I’m sorry sweetie, Lucifer then,” Button Mash rolled his eyes in annoyance. He put his game on pause and saved it, getting up from his bed.
“I should have skipped that speech, darn it!!” With a final defeated grunt he went downstairs and into the kitchen where he saw his mother had prepared a daisy sandwich with swiss cheese and some carrots neatly placed on a plate waiting for him. She was pouring a glass of apple juice as he walked in. She turned to him after putting it away, smiling warmly to him.
“Good afternoon sweetie,” He grumbled something as he climbed up in the chair and sat down at the table, staring down at his plate slightly frowning. “Are you ok, hunny?” He looked up at the question, pouting at her and placed his joyboy down right next to him on the table.
“I’m getting to the good part, mom. I’m about to destroy the evil ruler, Lucifer!” She giggled softly and walked over to him, patting his head.
“It’s just a game, dear. I’m sorry for interrupting it. You can always continue playing later,” Button Mash looked up at his mom with a small smile, nodding back.
“I guess you’re right, thanks mom!” He then picked up his sandwich and took a bite out of it, smiling to himself in content from the sandwich.
“What are you planning to do on the last day off from school?”
“I’m gonna finish this game! I’m almost done, I just need to beat the final boss,” Button’s mom stared at him, a bit surprised and disappointed mixed in her expression.
“So. . . you plan on playing video games?”
“Uhuh, at least until I beat it,” Button’s mom smiled at hearing the last part, her ears perking up. “Then I can play a different game!” Her ears dropped again, now wearing a face of annoyance. She sighed and turned to look out the window to see yet another beautiful sunny day. Ponies were playing along the roads, birds were singing delightful tunes, the Celestia’s sun shining warmly down to the ponies below, a gentle breeze drifted through the town. Why can’t he go out and enjoy the air. The only time he actually goes out is when I ask him- . . wait a second! An idea came to Button’s mom and a confident smile crept through. She regathered her composure and turned back to Button Mash, who was finishing his apple juice, now wearing a friendly and motherly face.
“Button sweetie, can you walk down to the store and pick something up for me before you start playing again?” Button Mash finished his apple juice and focused on his mother.
“Sure mom, what do you need?” Button’s mom thought for a moment, tapping her chin with her hoof.
“Well. . . we are running out of apple juice, so you will have to get some more from Applejack’s stand. We also need some milk for supper tonight. Would you be so kind as to get those for me? I need them before it gets too dark out,” Button Mash nodded at her with an excited smile, jumping out of his chair and onto the floor.
“Sure mom, I can do that nooo problem!” Button’s mom smiled down at him from his excitement. He always enjoyed helping her out, and he looked so cute at the thought of it.
“Ok dear, let me go get the money you will need for it,” She walked out of the room for just a moment, picking up a small bag of bits from her dresser and gathered up the correct number of bits. “At least he can get a breath of fresh air this way,” She whispered to herself with a smile. She came back out with a smaller bag that held the bits inside. She handed it to Button Mash who placed it in his saddle that was hanging on a hook by the door and then strapped it on his back. “Now just remember sweetie, one container of apple juice and one bottle of milk,” Button Mash rolled his eyes.
“Mom, I can do this. This isn’t my first time doing something like this. I know what I am doing,” Button’s mom giggled to herself softly.
“Of course dear, I know. I just wanted to remind you,” Button Mash smiled up at his mother and gave her a quick hug.
“I’ll be back soon, mom!”
“Ok dear, be safe and don’t be afraid to talk to someone new,”
“Shouldn’t you be saying ‘Don’t talk to strangers’ or something?” Button’s mom smiled, shaking her head.
“If I were to say that, then you wouldn’t be able to make any new friends,” Button Mash rolled his eyes at his mother again.
“I get it, mom. I’ll be back soon,” With a quick wave he opened the door and walked out, closing the door behind him. Button’s mom waited a few minutes before cleaning up the dishes left from him.
“I guess I shouldn’t push it on him so much, he’ll make friends eventually. I just hope he tries to do so before his father comes back home,” After looking around, she noticed that the joyboy that sat next to Button Mash during lunch was gone. After taking a minute to look around the table, she had an idea on where it was. She sighed and shook her head. “Button Mash. . . what am I going to do with you,”
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Button Mash walked a good distance from his house towards the grocery store. He turned to see if the house was in sight, which it no longer was. When he confirmed his mother couldn’t see him anymore, he pulled out his joyboy from his saddle, smiling victoriously to himself. “I said I would go pick some things up for you, I never said I wouldn’t play on my joyboy,” He snickered to himself as he turned it on, the usual 8-bit, techno music from the main menu started playing. “I am so close to completing it, just a little further!” he said to himself cheerfully. He selected his saved file and the loading screen appeared. “Come on, come on,”
Once his game was back to the place he left off, he completely ignored the world around him, only focusing on the game before him. “Once I defeat Lucifer, I can finally get the Cloak of Eternal Shadows and be able to slay the secret boss in the deep, underground dungeon in Treeherd City! Then after collecting the last four banners of Lucifer and find the last dragon scale, I will have completely beaten the game!” After around twenty mintues or so, Button Mash looked up from his game and noticed he had passed the grocery store.
“Opps, I better turn back,” After shaking his head playfully he turned around to see the grocery store right there. “Oh, awesome, I didn’t go past it!” He walked over excitedly to it, opening the door and tucked his joyboy into his saddle bag. A pair of bells chimed as he entered, letting the shopkeeper know that someone has entered their store. An older earth pony mare sat behind the counter, reading a newspaper. She had a simple, short, purple mane and yellow fur. Once Button Mash had entered, she lowered it to see him. She smiled and placed the newspaper down.
“Well good afternoon, little colt. How can I help you?” Button Mash looked over to her and smiled.
“Hi! I need a bottle of milk, please,” The mare nodded, pointing to a shelf on the other side of the room.
“We are a tad low on milk at the moment, but I still got some left,” Button Mash nodded over to her and hurried over. The store wasn’t really big but it wasn’t really small either. Just a small store, compared to Manehatten, to gather what you may need. Button Mash grabbed the milk he needed and walked over to the mare, putting it down on the counter in front of her. “That will be 2 bits young sir,” She stated with a playful smile and giggle.
“Sure thing!” Button Mash exclaimed with enthusiasm. He reached into his saddle, pulling out the bag of bits. He did a quick count of them and placed the correct amount on the counter. She pulled the bits in behind the counter and pushed the milk towards him.
“There you go, do you need anything else?” The mare at the counter asked cheerfully.
“Nope, I’m good, thank you!” He grabbed the milk and put it in his saddle bag. He started walking out, waving over to the mare who returned the gester.
“Have a wonderful day!”
“Thanks, you too!” He left the grocery store and walked off, pulling out his joyboy out of his saddle bag, taking it off the pause menu. “Good, I didn’t lose my progress!” He continued to play where he left off, smiling to himself and returning all of his focus to it while walking. “Good, I found Lucifer’s room! Now all I have to do is equip my Bow of The Woods and be ready to-” He bumped into someone in front of him, making him fall down on his flank and dropping his joyboy with him. The game fell out of it’s protective device and laid in the dirt a couple inches away from the game. He rubbed his backside and looked up to who he bumped into. It was Snips and he too was on the ground. Snips looked at him confused and helped himself back up. Snails was next to him, looking down at Button Mash.
“Hey sorry about that, I wasn’t looking where I was going,” Button Mash stated, rubbing his mane embarrassed.
“No, no. I too wasn’t lookin where I was going. I should have though,” Snips stated back. He dusted himself off, returning his gaze down to Button Mash. His eyes widen in fear as he scanned the ground.
“Where is it, where is it?!” Snips and Snails looked at him confused, at each other, then back to him. Snails examining Button Mash while scratching his chin.
“What are you looking for?”
“My game! I dropped it. If it accidentally restarted, I would lose all of my progress!” Snips looked around at the ground for it, Snails walked over to Button Mash.
“Well let’s get ya off of the ground so we can look for-” Button Mash looked over to where Snails was walking. The world froze into a state of slow motion. He found it, his game a few inches away from his joyboy, right under Snails’ hoof that was slowly coming down on it. His face formed that of horror as he tried to reach out for it before Snails put his hoof down upon it. He was close, just a couple more inches, but it was too late. Before he could grab his game from the present danger, he first heard it before his eyes could register it. The sound of thin plastic cracking and crunching into the ground. Tears built up in his eyes right then and there. The world returned to normal as he laid there, stomach on the ground and him fully stretched out to save his game that is now destroyed. Snails froze in place as he felt the crunch under his hooves. He lifted it up and saw the bits and pieces of plastic stuck to his hoof.
“Umm. . . . is this. . . your game?” Button Mash nodded slowly, tears running down his face.
“So close. . . I was soooo close!!” He gathered up the remains of his game, crying as he cradled the bits and pieces of plastic and wiring. Snips and Snails watched him for a moment, looking at each other nervously.
“Ummm, sorry about your game, we didn’t mean to break it, honest,”
“Yeah, if I saw it I wouldn’t have stepped on it. I didn’t do it on purpose,” Button Mash collected himself a bit, long enough to pick up the pieces and slowly put them in his saddle bag carefully. Tears continued to run down his face along with some muffled cries and sniffles.
“I know. . . I. . I just. . . I was so close. . . I never thought. . . th-that. . “ He was unable to fully speak, his voice started to shake. He merely shook his head, keeping his eyes closed and took a shaky deep breath. “I have to go guys, I’m sorry,” Snips and Snails frowned at themselves depressed.
“We’re sorry Button Mash, do you want us to help pay it back?” Button Mash shook his head again, starting to walk past them.
“Thanks guys, just leave me be. I have to pick up some apple juice for my mom. See ya guys at school tomorrow,” They all had their heads down. Snips and Snails were feeling guilty for what they have done, wishing they could help. Button Mash continued on to his destination, except now he didn’t have one of his favorite games to keep him entertained. Tears still dripped down every now and then, his head hung low and his ears down to the sides of his head.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon watched the whole thing, him breaking down crying and him walking away. Seeing him like that made her laugh cruelly, Silver Spoon giggled along the way. “Did you see the way that big baby cried over a stupid game?! Now THAT, Silver Spoon, is really sad!”
“I know, right? I mean who would cry over something like that? That is totally stupid. I bet he still sucks his hoof and is a little cry baby at home,” They both laughed as they hide around a corner near the scene. Diamond Tiara stopped her laughing suddenly and put a hoof on Silver Spoon’s shoulder to get her attention.
“Wait a second! I think I know of a way to show him his place. Make him pay for scaring us like he did yesterday!”
“Yeah, he acted all high and mighty, thinking a blank flank like HIM is better than us! Whatcha thinking about doing, Diamond?” Diamond Tiara snickered to herself, turning to Silver Spoon with a horrific smile on her face.
“Let’s just make sure he remembers not to mess with us, ever again!”