The Deadly Arcade

“Pew! Pew! Take that! Stupid Dragon!”

Button Mash was sitting on wooden stool at the Ponyville arcade known as ‘The HUB’ playing ‘Alicorn Assault’ where you played as Princess Celestia and you had to defend Equestria from attacks by Dragons, Griffons, Shadowbolts, and various other airborne threats by shooting magical horn lasers.

This was his last Bit and he was only on Level 12, sweat poured from his brow as his tongue stuck out of his mouth as he re-reached the boss for the ninth consecutive time.

Button’s mother had to grocery shopping and various other errands to run, when he remembered that he had left his Joy Boy at home-he wanted to go back to get it, but his mother refused insisting that he needed more social interaction with others if he was ever going to get anywhere in life.

He had to kill the Necro Dragon this time, it was his last chance and the fate of all Equestria rested squarely on his shoulders.

Reluctantly after begging and pleading from her son, as well as being fully aware that if she didn’t indulge him at least a little he would moan and groan the whole time about how he was bored and nag her about when they could go home so he could get back to his videogames, she gave him twenty Bits with the assumption that it would keep him busy for a few hours-and even if it didn’t, his unhealthy obsession would probably drive him to beg for change from other kids his age at the arcade.

The 8-Bit behemoth released a fire ball from its mouth, which split into five as he tried to maneuver Celestia to fly upwards in order to avoid the attack, unfortunately he flew a little too high as the fire ball in the arc above it clipped her wing, causing the character to flash red before plummeting to the ground as the red pixilated words ‘GAME OVER’ mocked him from the black screen.

Button reached down for another Bit before remembering that he’d just used up the last of his coins and let out an exasperated groan before slouching forward in defeat until his head slammed down onto the console.

“Ow.”

It wasn’t until this point that he realized how tired he was…his eyes were burning from staring at nothing but, a screen filled with bright colors and flashing lights in an otherwise dark environment.

There wouldn’t be any harm in resting his eyes for just a few minutes…would there?

“Hey, hey, kid!”

A female voice faintly echoed through his mind as it returned him to the world of consciousness.

“Mmmh, Mom?” he mumbled groggily. “I’m not read to go to school yet, just two more hours…”

Button’s eyes slowly opened to see the manager of the arcade; Light Gun, she was a young mare in her early twenties with a pale yellow coat and a blue mane tied back in a ponytail and wearing a white shirt with a sleeveless blue vest and ID card which hung around her neck for newcomers to the arcade.

“No,” she laughed before her voice returned to her normal, gentle tone. “Sorry, sweetie I didn’t want to wake you, but the arcade’s closing now and I’d kinda like to go home.”

He liked her, she was always nice to him and sometimes gave him tips and hints whenever he was stuck on a particular game, since she’d mastered them all before she got bored with them and had the epiphany to open up an arcade instead of throwing her old games out.

Wait…closing?

“It’s nine-thirty already!?” he shrieked, alarm bells going off in his head.

“Time flies when you’re having fun, doesn’t it?”

Button got up from his stool and began heading for the exit, he couldn’t believe he’d slept so long and his mom would be so mad…actually, come to think of it shouldn’t she have come back to pick him up a few hours ago?

He hoped nothing happened to her.

“Oomph!”

Before he could contemplate the possibilities that may have caused this situation, his train of thought was interrupted as he bumped into someone, knocking him to the floor.

“Oh, sorry about that.”

The voice had an accent to it and Button briefly wondered if the stallion before him was from Canterlot, he was wearing a blue suit with a red necktie and a brown overcoat.

“No, I’m sorry…” Button replied adjusting his beanie propeller. “I was…distracted. Wait, what are you doing here anyway? The arcade’s closing.”

“I’m investigating.”

“Investigating what?” he asked, wondering if this guy was some kind of super detective.

“Something about this place doesn’t feel right…” the stallion replied, examining the room. “Do you want to help me search for clues?”

“Sorry mister, I’d like too but, I’ve gotta find my mom-she should’ve been here to pick me up hours ago…”

“Well, why don’t we team up and search together?” he suggested. “Perhaps whatever is going on here and her absence are somehow connected?”

Button mulled it over and he had to admit that teaming up would make a lost of sense and make searching much quicker and more effective like in those games where you play a war commander and you delegated tasks to your troops and the more of them you sent together, the more effective they were as a team.

“You’ve got a deal, mister.”

“Brilliant!” he exclaimed, happily. “What’s your name, by the way?”

“Button Mash!” he replied, enthusiastically. “Solving a mystery-this is gonna be so cool! Just like the ‘Doctor Standton’ games!”

“I’m The Doctor.”

“Doctor Who?”

“Just ‘The Doctor’.”

“Why?”

“Because that’s what they call me.”

“Who?”

“People in general.”

“Why?” Button repeated.

“Well, because I-look, they just do, alright?”

“Okay…” he conceded, still very confused. “But, my mom isn’t going to be too happy about me talking to a complete stranger and solving mysterious with him.”

“I’m not a stranger-I just told you who I am!”

“You told me you were a doctor, that’s not your name-that’s an occupation.” He pointed out.

The Doctor slapped a hoof to his face in exasperation.

“Look, time is probably of the essence, so we should probably start searching for clues now; Allons-y!”