Spamming the Buttons
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“MOM!! I’m going to the arcade!” Button shouted as he made his way to the door. His mother; who was currently cleaning in the kitchen replied,
“Alright Button, but be back by supper. I know you’ll be able to stay there for an entire day if you could.”
“Bye mom!” Button shouted, being too excited in going to the arcade to reply or confirm his mother’s return time. Going to the local arcade isn't new for Button Mash. Whenever he got his allowance, he would spend nearly every bit he earned for a few minutes of game play. He’s been visiting the arcade ever since he was trusted to venture Ponyville alone. Which; last time he checked, was when he was about 5 or 6 years old. The arcade wasn't far, so that explains the trust at such a young age.
Button trotted down the path leading to the outdoor arcade. He always liked the fact that it was outdoors. His mother always told him to play outside. He was technically “Playing Outside” when he went to the arcade.
As he made his way to the arcade, treading what was left of the path that lead to the arcade, he passed by Sweetie Belle.
“Hello Button!” Sweetie cheerfully called out. Button stopped and waved a hoof to his friend and fellow gamer.
“Hey Sweetie Belle! What are you up to?” Button asked as he politely stopped to listen to his friend.
“Not much, I’m just going to visit Applebloom and Scootaloo at Sugarcube Corner. I gotta go, they’re waiting for me.” Sweetie said as she began to trot the opposite way.
“Same, I’m going to the arcade, to play whatever I can before supper.” Button explained. He waved goodbye to his gaming companion and began to begin his easy trot to the arcade.
In a matter of minutes, Button arrived at his destination. Being greeted by the patrons of the arcade who came to know Button as a regular, Button made his way to his favorite game in the arcade.
“Street Brawler: Equestrian Warrior”
It was your average fighting game but it was still entertaining to Button.
Happy that it was free of players, Button rushed to the cabinet and inserted his first bit. It instantly took him to the character select, he chose his usual character and began to play.
“Okay, first game of the day.” He said to himself as he waited for the screen to load. Once the screen finally loaded and the character’s intros were finished, Button instantly began rapidly smacking the buttons and vigorously shaking the joystick. In nearly seconds, his enemy was down for round one. Chuckling to himself, Button began getting ready for the second and final round for his first opponent.
Once the CPU character was up and active in game, Button began his gaming style of smashing buttons and jerking joysticks to get the upperhoof. It didn't take long for Button to defeat the CPU, it was the first opponent so it wouldn't be too hard to beat the round.
“Alright, second round. Let’s go!” Button said, pumping himself up for the next round. After the load screen and intros, the game began, the only difference being the difficulty change between the new CPU enemy.
As he played on, he failed to notice a new arrival to the arcade. It was a filly who looked about Button’s age. She was a pegasus with a light orange coloring to her fur, and dark black mane with red streaks that ran through her mane. Her eyes were grey and her cutie mark was a red game cabinet. A small sack of bits hung from her neck. The jingle of bits could be heard as she walked to the game cabinet Button currently occupied.
At this point, Button was well in the middle of round four. The young pegasus watch in amusement as Button slammed and jerked the controls of the cabinet.
After some time, Button cheered in victory as he landed the final move on the CPU opponent. The filly began laughing at Button for his sudden success in the video game. Noticing this, Button looked to her in confusion.
“Uhh, what are you laughing at?” Button asked.
The filly slowly stopped her laughter to answer Button’s question.
“You. You’re just kinda funny!” She said, with chuckles still escaping her mouth.
“Why? What did I do that was funny?” Button asked. He’s been known to act socially awkward since he’s surrounded himself with video games. Sweetie was only his friend because they both share an interest in video games. They also were set up with play dates when they were foals.
“Well, nothing intentionally. Look, my name’s Double Points. What’s yours?” The filly asked kindly.
“Button Mash.” Button responded.
“Well, Button Mash…” Double Points reached into her bits bag and slipped it into the slot to become player two in the game Button was playing.
“Wanna play me?” She concluded. She got on her hind legs to reach the control panel on the cabinet and smirked at Button with a cocky face.
“Wait, wait. You, wanna go against me? In Street Brawler? Listen, Double Points, I don’t want to be mean or anything but, I will wipe the floor with you.” Button said as he looked to the screen to pick his character.
Double did the same and chose her character.
“I’d like to see you try.” She mumbled to herself as she settled with a female ninja-like character.
“What!? You chose Mitsukage? She’s like, the worst character ever! They only made her character for the fanart and-” Button was interrupted by Double.
“Oh yeah? If Mitsukage is so bad, then why did you choose Purazumakoruto? His move set is super slow, and even when you are able to land a hit, it can be easily dodged or blocked!” Double argued. It was amazing that they could pronounce such names in the first place, but to be able to criticize and look at a character’s move set to establish whether they were good or bad was impressive.
After the two young ponies chose their characters, they were taken to the loading screen that Button personally thought was the most intense loading screen he’s waited on. Finally, after what seemed like hours of waiting for the game to begin, the intros for the characters began. Since the intros are kept short, the fighting began almost instantly. While Button was making full attempts to attack his opponent, Double was doing odd combinations of pressing buttons and swiveling the joystick in certain directions.
‘What’s she doing? She’s just button mashing...’ Button thought to himself as he watched Double’s quick hoof movements. Shaking off his confusion, he decided to end the match by releasing a swarm of quick jabs and plasma blasts from his character.
When it looked like the match was coming to an end, Double’s character instantly began floating, something her character wasn't programmed to do. Then her character began using the same moves as Button’s character. Knowing all the tricks to the moves, he was able to dodge and block them successfully.
“How’d you do that!?” Button exclaimed, but his question wasn't answered, Double was too busy spazzing out the controls. Her hooves moving with a majestic speed came to a stop, which startled Button who instead of watching the screen, watched Double’s hoof movements. Double then simply moved the joystick to the left and the impossible happened.
Button’s character began taking damage without Double’s character even moving. The life bar began to decrease, section by section, Button watched in horror as his character met his demise. Double’s character stood in her hind legs and let out a kawaii little victory cheer.
Button was left aghast. Not only was he defeated, he witnessed possible game hacking and moves he's never heard of or seen in his life. Not only was he defeated, he witnessed possible game hacking and the complete destruction of the controls on the cabinet.
“B-b-b-b-But, how did-” Button was once again interrupted.
“My dad was one of the leading developers of the game. He taught me every trick there’s to know.” Double stopped and looked over both her shoulders. She leaned closer to Button’s ear and whispered,
“Some even the original creator doesn't even know.”
Button gasped. His surprise was added to once again learning that he just went head to head with one of the lead developers of the game’s daughter. Button didn't know whether to feel honored or dishonored.
“Look, it was fun Button Mash. I gotta go though.” Before she left, she whispered again into Button’s ear.
“I like you. Be back tomorrow, at the same time.”
All Button did was nod while failing to hide an intense blush on his face.
“Bye Button!” Double called out as she trotted off. Leaving Button standing alone in front of the game cabinet.
He felt awkward, being alone once again, and being told to meet Double again tomorrow, along with her saying “I like you” left him with little to no words. Button lazily moved the joystick as the “Continue?” counter reached zero.
“I wonder if the crane game is open…”