The Gamer's Game

by Chrome Masquerade

Chapter 3: Skills and Thrills (edited)

The next day was a school day, and I had to get up fairly early. I hadn't felt tired the night before, but curfew was at 9:00, so I might as well get some rest, the way I saw it.

You have gained the temporary perk 'Rested'. For the next three hours, your mental stats will increase by 1.

For staying within your boundaries, you have gained 200 xp (800 until level up).

----------------------------------------

(Home, Moon's Day)

I got out of bed, had a shower and went downstairs for breakfast. As it turns out, Mom had made blueberry waffles for me.

You have eaten: Waffles.
HP +2
Essence + 3 points
Stamina +1 temporary point.

Mom looked at me pointedly. "Button. I get the impression that you have something to tell me." she not-asked, raising one eyebrow. Mare, I hate it when she does that.

Having no choice, I told her about how I got the The Gamer perk. To make the illustration easier to digest, I opened up the Party menu and invited her.

She looked seriously surprised for a moment, (can you honestly blame her?) but accepted.

Out of curiosity, I looked to her face and said, "Observe."

Name: Milano Mash
Level: ??? (Observe skill not high enough)
Title: Wonder Mom
Nature: Caregiver
Nickname: Button Mom
Relationship: Your mother
Stats: ??? (Observe skkill not high enough)
Status: She's confused, but confident that all will be explained.

I explained some of the mechanics to her, then -with her love and blessings- took my lunch, exiting the house, remembering at the last second to close the Party for the nonce.

---

Just for the fun of it, i decided to pronk down the path toward the schoolhouse. I noticed Pinkie Pie coming on an intercept course. Then she synced her gait with mine.

"Hi Button!"

"Hey there, miss Pie!" I responded.

She scoffed at that. "Button! 'Miss Pie' is my granny! Just call me Pinkie."

"Okay mi- er, Pinkie. What brings you this way?"

She began to speak rapid-fire, as is her style. "Weeeeell... I noticed that you were hopping along on the way to your school, I guess, and I wanted to know what would make you so joyful that you'd be hopping just so and I decided to come over to ask what it could possibly be, so here I am and-."

"For the love of Celestia, Pinkie! Take a breath!" I demanded.

Reflex Command check (Charisma + Manipulation) DC 6 - 4 successes.

Pinkie stopped and took said breath. Before I had time to say more, Pinkie pointed at the upcoming schoolhouse.

"Looks like this is your stop. Have fun! Or, as much fun as you can have at school, anyway."

With that, she waved and hopped off into the distance.

---

The lot of us piled into the education center, to be greeted with the sight of the rather fine-looking miss Cheerilee.

With a quick Observation, I received the following

Name: Cheerilee
Title: Learned Lady
Relationship: Your teacher
Status: Happy
Level: ??? (Observe skill not high enough)

"Good morning, class!" she greeted.

"Good morning, miss Cheerilee!" we responded in unison.

"Let me remind you that there's a test today. I hope you studied." she said.

There were a few 'aww's, but our teacher scolded, "You had plenty of time to study and plenty of warning."

With that, she started handing out papers. Basic math stuff. Simple enough.

Taking on our anthro forms, we picked up our quills.

After about 10 minutes, Twist was finished, myself coming second. A few minutes later, so were the others.

Quickly skimming over our hand-ins, Cheerilee raised an eyebrow at one before resuming.

A quick journal writing followed, mine being about a super-powered spacefaring cat.(1)

As the recess bell rang, miss Cheerilee called out, "Oh, Button Mash? -Don't worry, you aren't in trouble- i just need to talk to you for a moment."

As the rest of the students went out to play, I trotted over to our teacher's desk. "Yes, miss Cheerilee?" I queried.

"When did you get a Perk?" she asked, completely serious.

"I don't-" I began, but then she glared at me, something akin to Fluttershy's Stare.

"Do you see anything strange abut this test paper?" She asked, hoofing over the sheet.

"Uh.... No. I see that I got 100% on this."

"EXACTLY." she dryly exclaimed. "Up unto today, you've been consistently the third-worst math student, after Snips and
Snails. I don't believe that you'd improve this much in such a short time. Not only did you get every question right, but you even got the bonus question, which none of you should've been able to answer at your current grade level. It was a test to see how you reacted and not only did you get it right, you showed your work. The LONG WAY."

Yes, with my enhanced stats I had forgotten to play dumb. Oops.

"You are GOING to tell me how you improved so fast. And also tell the rest of the class. After recess."

Reflex Integrity check (DC 8) - 0 successes. Critical miss.

Under the maroon mare's spell, I had no choice. "Yes, miss Cheerilee." I droned.

After the class came back in, the teacher said, "Alright, everypony, it's time for show and tell. Due to the test we're having it late today."

Featherweight came up first. He had a bunch of photos that he'd taken over the weekend. Pretty high quality, too. He was getting pretty good at that.

Twist came up next with a tray of candy canes she'd apparently made herself, which was passed around the class.

Then it was my turn. I gulped audibly. Coming up to the front, Gamer's Mind steadied my will, dispelling my fear. I said aloud, "Party." When the screen came up, I invited everypony to the party. They all accepted, one by one.

With that, I explained the whole story, Aside from the occasional question (usually from miss Cheerilee), all was silent. With the cat finally out of the bag, I took my seat, head bowed in shame.

"Nice use of your abilities, Button." miss Cheerilee complimented me.

This surprised me. "You... aren't mad?"

"No! Far from it! You used your ability to improve yourself! That's worh celebrating. And you actually stepped up and confessed it. That takes guts."

Apparently she wasn't fully aware of her powers of Manipulation.

"Everypony, let's give Button a round of applause for being so brave."

There was resounding appluse from the class, much to my embarassment.

You have gained two levels. (+2 max damage threshhold, +2 Essence, +4 BP)
You have gained 10 reputation points.
You have the temporary adoration of the class. Mostly, at least.
Would you like to save your progress? (Yes No)

Uh.... Do fish MOVE?!

(Yes)

Game Saved.

Author's Note:

1: The actual series was caled "Cosmo Cat and the Cosmic Kitties" or something like that.

Comments

[lainverse]

9551716
He didn't. Pinky just didn't care much. When she do care, though...

[Chrome Masquerade]

9551716
Soviet Equestria's a b**ch, ain't it?

[Blackraven]

Gained adortion from most of the class

Who don't like button already?

I mean he was pretty likable before all of this started

O and umm during the level up process which button will level up will you give him the ability to read minds and emotions

Example

Sweetie belle current emotional status :sad

Would you like to use mind ability :yes or no

Yes

Sweetie Belle :why does button always avoids me

You have gained 500 exp and potential mare friend press any key to. Contuine

And

Thank. You. For. Updating. So far I'm loving this story

[Chrome Masquerade]

9553123
1: This takes place before Crusaders of the Lost Mark. (I should have made that clear) Take a wild guess.
2: in the White Wolf system that I'm taking inspiration from, typically characters gain BP (bonus points) but allow them to upgrade their stats and abilities. Upon gaining levels in this story, he gave me a bonus points and extra health and essence. The allocation goes as follows.

Experience Point Costs

Attributes: Current Rating x 4

Ability: Current Rating x 2

New Ability: 3 Points

New Discipline: 10 Points

Virtues: Current Level x 2

Willpower: Current Rating

"Humanity": Current Rating x 2

These will be implemented later.

[Chrome Masquerade]

9553732
Thanks!

[Blackraven]

9553455
New discipline level is 10 points and you just said this will be implemented into the story bro I like where this is going if your going to give him new discipline level are you going to. Make him like samurai dicpline or soldier discipline anyway. I love all of this, I can't wait to see Hutton new discipline level if that is going to be implemented #new follower

[Chrome Masquerade]

9554162
Well, this is a work in progress and all. Scion being one of my favourite White Wolf tabletop game franchises (and My Little Exalt being the story that solidified my brony-ness, fun fact ), I'm working with that system. I'll edit chapters as necessary and write new ones as I come up with ideas (like usual).

[Blackraven]

9554204
Good luck have fun

Glhf gg

[Chrome Masquerade]

9554459
I'll try!

[jen_lee_hattie]

Uh.... Do fish MOVE ?!

You mean do they KnOw DA WaY!?

[Kadigan]

Hm... This is a bit too chaotic, for me? I'm not sure where this is going, and the class reveal thing was... weird. Is it normal for ponies in this world to have special abilities like that? Is there a system in place that enough are familiar with? Because Button's mom and Cheerile went with it way too quickly for my taste...

Unless this is meant to be smut, later on? That'd excuse the careless-seeming plot, since it would then play second-fiddle to conquests... but the thing has a [T] rating, so I doubt that...

Where are you going with this, Author?

[Chrome Masquerade]

10798393
I have no idea where I'm going with this. If you have any suggestions...
Also I'm terrible at smut.