//------------------------------// // Cutie Mark Crusader Gamers, Yay! // Story: True Gamer // by WishSeeker //------------------------------// A paler than usual Scootaloo was sprawled across her bed with a blue laptop in front of her, her hooves furiously flashed across the keyboard and her baggy eyes glued to the screen. "Take that! Yeah and that! Guys, I got them don't worry." She spoke through her headset, the other crusaders were playing too. "I can go bot but you'll have to support for me Sweets." With Scootaloo stuck to the laptop, the blue Pegasus easily entered her bedroom unnoticed, "What're you up to squirt." Scootaloo jumped at her idol's voice, she span around to face Rainbow Dash, "Oh, hey Rainbow Dash, what are you doing here?" "I came to check up on my number one fan, I haven't seen you around much kid, so I thought I'd make sure you're still kicking, what're you doing then?" Rainbow hadn't noticed the change in Scootaloo's appearance. "I'm playing League of Ponies with the other crusaders, it's this awesome game where you play champions and fight in an arena." Scootaloo waved her hoof towards the screen, revealing a bunch of little creatures beating up what looked like a squirrel. Rainbow stared in confusion. "I don't get it." "Oh yeah, you gotta click on things so your champion attacks them, then you press keys to use abilities, like this." Scootaloo began mashing buttons again and the squirrel creature began hitting the little minions, numbers appearing above them until they were killed. Even with Scootaloo's demonstration, Rainbow was still confused, "Looks more like an egghead game to me, are you gonna start acting like Twilight, cause I don't think I can put up with two." Scootaloo smiled in response, "No, don't worry, it's easy. Everything has hit points, attacks take away hit points equal to your damage until it kills them, there's also criticals, passive effects and attack speed. You need to destroy the enemies nexus to win." "Yeah, it's an egghead game." Dash's blunt remark made Scootaloo blush in embarrassment. "If you're not busy, I can show you it's not for eggheads." Scootaloo found herself desperately clutching to get her idol to understand. "Alright squirt, I once said 'I better not knock things til I try them', I'll come over tomorrow evening." Rainbow ruffled Scootaloo's mane and turned to leave, "I'll bring my laptop, see you tomorrow." Scootaloo stood in awe, she'd have the real Rainbow Dash come and learn something from her. Her little lips were all she could move but her voice was loud, "YES!" "Apple Bloom, will ya leave yer computer alone a minute and give me a hand with the chores!" Applejack's voice came from the hallway, she strained on each word as if she was carrying something heavy. "Hang on Crusaders, my sister's calling me- I can't I'm in a- no, Scoots, get the other one on bot- I'm in a ranked match!" She was talking between Applejack and her friends , " I'll lose my rank in League of Ponies!" "Isn't there supposed to be a pause button or whatnot?" A loud crash followed Applejack's question. "It's online, duh, I can't pause the other players- yeah she thought I could pause the game." Apple Bloom was making quick motions on her keyboard, trying to kill the other players. Applejack walked into the room, her mane was covered in rubbish and grime, a banana peel fell from her face. Apple Bloom swivelled on her chair and tried to hold her amusement at the sight. "What happened to yer mane sis? Looks like ya had a fight with a dumpster." "Well, Apple Bloom, if ya weren't on yer game, I wouldn't have tripped over yer saddlebag while taking the bins out." Applejack's face was furious, her eyes were focused on her snickering sister. "I'm sorry, but it's just this once sis, I'll help next time." Apple Bloom attempted to defend her position between them, still sitting on her chair. "No, it isn't this once, it's been this for the past two weeks; You stay on yer game all day, me 'an big mac do all the work. You was supposed to feed the pigs yesterday, but they were chewing mud when I got there today." Applejack stepped closer to her sister, her expression showed her feelings, she was more than angry at Apple Bloom, Applejack felt disappointed that her sister had become a lazy pony. "Ok Applejack, I really am sorry, I'll do the chores round the farm tomorrow to make up for it." "So, yer gonna feed the animals, tidy the house, clean the dishes, clean out the barn, place the scarebats and any other chores for the next day?" "Yeah, sure you can count on me, now can I get back to the game please, I don't want to be reported." Apple Bloom was turning around before Applejack could answer. Stepping out, Applejack poked her head back around the door and added one final remark, "Fine, but ya better do them or I'll have to ban ya from yer computer." "Sure, sure," Apple Bloom returned ignorantly, "I will." The Filly returned to the smashing of keyboard buttons with the other crusaders, her moves were rapid and she responded to everything on screen with natural instinct. It was getting dark, Sweetie was on her bed tapping away at her pink laptop, the computers and laptops were well designed as to stop unicorns having an advantage. "Yeah Scootaloo, I can cover you." "Sweetie Belle!" Rarity's voice shot from outside Sweetie's door, "It's getting late, you must get ready for bed." Sweetie's head turned to her sister as she entered, "I can't, we need to get more wins so I can..." "I'm sorry Sweetie, but I am afraid I can't let you stay up," Rarity spoke with a firm but fair tone, "you have to be in school tomorrow." Sweetie used her most adorable puppy eyes, complete with heart breaking frown "But-" "Sweetie, I'm not falling for that, bed now." Rarity stomped her hoof, showing her authority. Sweetie Belle slapped her laptop shut and slid it under her bed, she then climbed into her sheets, "There, happy." "Thank you," after turning off the lights with magic, the afterglow of Rarity's horn was brighter than usual, if only for a second. "Good night." Sweetie counted the minutes, waiting to let Rarity get to her room, she then pulled the laptop out again, slid her headset on and opened it. "'SweetBellesOfFire' is back online." The school bell rang for the lunch break, all the fillies and colts rushed out the school doors to play in the sun as it was a beautiful day. The Crusaders followed out behind the other students, Apple Bloom's eyes were hurt by the bright day before her. The red mane that was usually tied in a bow, was now a distorted mess, "Maybe we shouldn't have stayed up all night." "But then we would only be silver two, it was boring playing all those noobs in silver three and we're that much closer to gold." Scootaloo spoke energetically, most likely from all those energy drinks she had been drinking over the past month. Everyone agreed it would be a wonder if she ever slept again. "Anyway who cares about 'real life', it's got bad graphics anyway." "I think that's just your eyes." Sweetie Belle had difficulty standing, her knees trembling and her whole leaning from left to right. "Maybe Apple Bloom is right. Babs even said online that she was really tired of these all-nighters. I don't think gaming all the time is any of our special talents, but then, I still guess it was fun when Apple Bloom got a pentakill." Scootaloo began to get psyched with images of the games flashing through her mind, "Yeah, and then when you went to solo baron and took out their jungler too! and then when you... " Apple Bloom stuffed her hoof into Scootaloo's face "Don't do that! I think I have a headache." "Mawry." Scootaloo's muffled apology got Apple Bloom's hoof out of her face, "Can't we just do one more night and then we stop? I want Rainbow Dash to see how awesome I am and she said she'll come watch me." Apple Bloom mulled it over in her head for a moment, "Fine, but that's what you said yesterday, and the day before that, I want to sleep, sometime ya know." The rainbow colored laptop was tucked neatly under Dash's wing when she entered Scootaloo's room, "So squirt, I'm here. I downloaded League of Ponies, even though it took about four hours." "Yeah, sorry I didn't mention the download time, so do you have a gamer name?" Scootaloo was acting laidback, but she couldn't hold the joy of teaching 'The Rainbow Dash' how to play League of Ponies. "It's 'Super-Ultra-Extreme-Awesomazing'." Rainbow pulled her laptop out from her wing and sat next to Scootaloo, who was already logged onto the game. Scootaloo typed the name into the search bar and found Rainbow; Dash's profile was at level two so she must have practiced a bit before hand, Scootaloo clicked on the add friend button and a giddy tremor ran through her body. "Okay, so I can help you practice a little in the lower levels, at least until the crusaders come online, but then I'll have to play with them. You can watch me if you want." Rainbow finally logged on. "That's ok, just one question, how do I accept a friend request?" "Click the accept for 'ScootaBomb', on the bottom of the screen, and then I'll put us in a game." Scootaloo began preparing the game. After two long matches, the rest of the crusaders were online; 'SweetBellesOfFire' was first, then 'BadSeed', 'AppleyDoom' came on last after Babs' friend 'FragileSnake'. Scootaloo began playing with them, at first Rainbow watched happily, but after a while she realised it was more than a game to Scootaloo. The pale orange filly hadn't been out for weeks, except for school, and it seemed as if she was having trouble holding her head up. Rainbow hadn't picked up on this until now, Scootaloo was skinnier, it was clear she wasn't eating as much and strangest of all her voice had an unnatural wheeze to it. After almost three hours passed, watching Scootaloo attack buttons and click ferociously, Dash turned to the rainbow laptop then back to the filly. Rainbow had enjoyed hanging out with Scootaloo, but seeing the filly stare helplessly at the screen hurt her, she didn't want Scootaloo to become a zombie focused on the game. "Scootaloo, stop." Rainbow looked down at her sister. Scootaloo heeded Rainbows words and turned to look back. "What's the matter Rainbow Dash?" "You've got to stop, I know you probably like this game but you need to spend way less time on it." Rainbow rubbed her hoof along Scootaloo's back. The little filly tried to defend the game, "But my rank and my..." "Is that what you want your life to be, a number on a computer game?" Rainbow knew she had to help her sister, it was an addiction and Scootaloo had to cut down on the game. "But- But- " She huffed in defeat. "I guess you're right, but what do I do know?" Scootaloo's face and body were shaky, she thought she'd be teaching Rainbow Dash something, but again her sister had taught her a lesson instead. "We could go for a late night flight." Rainbow bounced and displayed her wings as she spoke. A little colour returned to Scootaloo's face, "That'd be awesome!" Apple Bloom swept up the final bit of dirt in the house. "Finally, first chore down, now I guess I earned a break." Applejack was out with Twilight doing something, Big Mac was in town helping a few ponies move furniture around and Granny Smith was in Manehattan visiting the Oranges, so I was just her until later. Her computer was back on in a flash, Apple Bloom pulled up League of Ponies, last Crusader online. Sliding her headset on she announced her arrival, "'AppleyDoom' has arrived!" She entered the game with the other crusader and happily hacked away at her enemies. At her third game Apple Bloom had already shown up the others, her skills were unmatched. "I'm sure I'm forgetting something, oh well, can't be Important. Game number four, Crusaders are we ready to kick flank?" A positive cheer in response came from her headset. Hours past, it fell dark in no time to Apple Bloom, by her tenth game the moon was up high in the sky. "Apple Bloom!" AJ was standing behind her disappointed, she span the filly's chair around, "Yer banned from that computer, tomorrow ya can help me in the orchard." "But-" the words didn't come. "But nothing, yer gonna help me, consider yerself lucky I'm in a good mood." AJ pulled the plug from Apple Bloom's computer and stormed out with it. Apple Bloom realised her mistake quickly; she shouldn't have turned the computer on, she should've just did all the chores. But weirdly, Apple Bloom was happy with what her sister did, it was like she had a weight lifted off her, no more League of Ponies. "I guess I don't need that stupid game." It was dark in Sweetie's room, the only light originated from under the lump in the blanket. Sweetie was tapping away still playing. Scootaloo and Apple Bloom had mysteriously disappeared from the game but she was still going with Babs and her friend. "Okay, I'll go top while you jungle." The little unicorn cheerfully made little click noises with her mouse, her movements were as graceful as a butterfly and her speed was as sharp as a knife. Even with how quietly she tapped, her clicking soon drew attention. "Sweetie Belle, are you still awake?" Rarity was at Sweetie's door, the filly panicked and closed the laptop. As the door opened slowly Sweetie closed her eyes to feign sleep, letting out cute little snores to add to the effect. "Silly Rarity, Sweetie isn't like that." Rarity stroked Sweetie's mane, then quiet hoofsteps informed Sweetie that her sister was leaving. As soon as the door shut Sweetie jumped back up and grabbed her laptop, she opened it and continued playing under her covers. After a few minute she was so focused she didn't notice the blanket had been pulled from her. "Sweetie Belle, you should be asleep." Suddenly, Sweetie's face dropped and tears drew into her eyes, as if by magic Sweetie was reduced to a tearful mess. "I have a problem, help me rarity." "Oh Sweetie Belle." Rarity pulled Sweetie in for a hug, comforting her little sister by stroking her mane. "I haven't slept for a week Rarity, what do I do, I can't stop." The little filly was gasping between words, she couldn't fake this, she actually felt bad. Rarity looked down at Sweetie. "Look, Sweetie dear, I'll take the laptop away, I know you love it but you'll need to make a sacrifice. Is that ok?" "Yes, please just take it, take it!" Sweetie did her best to magically levitate the pink device to Rarity. Rarity tucked Sweetie in, then enveloped the laptop in her own aura and carried it to the door, "Go to sleep, Sweetie, you'll feel better in the morning." With that Rarity knocked the door shut behind her, leaving Sweetie quickly fall into a deep sleep. Deep into the night, the clicking of mouses and the tapping of keyboards could be heard from three places in Ponyville, but they were all connected to one game, their voices spoke to each other through the game. "'Super-Ultra-Extreme-Awesomazing' what're ya doin, go bot." 'Applejacker' was mashing away enemies in the middle of the map. "Shut up 'Applejacker', 'Rarimystery' isn't even on a lane!" 'Super-Ultra-Extreme-Awesomazing' found herself at the top of the map fighting another player. "I think you'll find I have taken to this jungling thing, I hate mud yes but this is a game." 'Rarimystery' was simply running around in circles between a bunch of trees.