The New Gamer

When Button Mash woke up that one Saturday, it seemed like a normal day to go to the arcade in downtown Ponyville.

Definitely fine with him.

He got out of bed, his white pajama shirt and red pajama sweats crumbled up on his body from tossing and turning all night. Button was just so excited. Saturday was his favorite day of the week. That's because every Saturday was allowance day! Plus, on Saturday, his mom let him go to the arcade to spend his hard-earned pay he earned through weekly chores and helping-outs. To Button, that was heaven!

He got dressed in the normal wear for a Saturday: a white T-shirt with a red button-up short sleeve over it, unbuttoned; jean shorts with big pockets for the change he would get at the arcade: dark brown converse shoes over white socks: and finally, his trademark hat with a spinning top. He got it at a birthday party for him several years ago, and it has never left his waken side since!

He got breakfast quicker than a cheetah, brushed his teeth and combed his ginger hair swifter than a jackrabbit, then, like a banana, split from his nice home on the outskirts of Ponyville, waving goodbye to his mom on the way out. Oh, his blood pulsed with excitement!

The bus stop on the route of the bus that took Button downtown was only a few blocks away from his house. Like always, Button was there minutes before the bus pulled in.

The bus driver recognized Button as he got on. He smiled and waved to him as he got on, with Button doing the same to the driver. It was just a regular Saturday for both of them.

The bus headed out of the stop and went on to its regular route. It usually took about thirty minutes to get to his destination, but Button didn't mind. After all, his favorite game, Pac-Man, would still be waiting at the arcade, like it was years ago.

Button discovered Pac-Man, along with games, when he was seven years old, when his mom, out of boredom, took him to a strip mall that contained mentioned arcade. Button was both surprised and enthralled by the sight of the arcade. Video game cabinets stood all around the location. Darkness nearly enveloped the whole place, with neon lights and video screens taking over the rest. A small arcade eatery, which sold simple burgers, drinks, and candy, stood at the back corner.

Button had gone inside that first day at the arcade, wondering what these video cabinets were all about. After all, he had no friends to tell him about these machines that stood in this neon-lit place. His mother, having seen the confusion on his face, gave him a few quarters, explaining to him what to do with them. Button looked around, but couldn't decide which cabinet to try first. Most of them were occupied, too, which made Button uneasy, as he didn't like to be watched.

Then, one peculiar cabinet caught his eye.

This video game cabinet was mostly yellow. On the sides were colored ghosts with red eyes and a yellow, smiling blob with eyes. On the front, the above sign read Pac-Man, with a picture of a yellow pie without a slice, in his unknowing eyes, about to eat white dots.

This peticular game interested Button, so with his mother's instructions in mind, popped the quarter in.

The game started up, and a small yellow circle popped up in a blue maze filled with white dots, few being larger than the rest. Interested, yet still somewhat confused, Button moved the circle, which started to move and eat the dots inside the maze. It seemed pretty easy, he thought.

Just as he thought he got the gist of it, out of the blue, a ghost ambushes, causing the yellow circle to fade into himself. Button gaped in surprise. He then saw that the center of the maze held several colored ghosts, like on the side of the cabinet.

Button whined in protest, then, grabbing another quarter in determination, started another game.

Since then, Button went to that arcade over and over again, eventually mastering Pac-Man and playing the others as if they were his livelihood, and to him, they practically were! To him, the cabinets were his friends that he always wanted, always being there for when he needed solitude and solace from the outside world which vexed him ever so. To him, video games were all that he had.

Today was no exception.

Button saw the strip mall where the arcade was located. He got off the bus, crossed the street to the arcade, and, with a smile on his face, opened the swinging doors to Nirvana.

The constant smell of snacks and humming of video game noises of the Ponyville Funtime Arcade immediately hit his nostrils and ears. The smells and noises of heaven! Button thought. Yep, it was going to be a great day with his electronic friends, like usual. And, best of all, he would have Pac-Man to himself, like always, because no one here played it, favoring Mortal Combat or Dig Dug to this apparently "cliché" game, which was fine with him.

After getting quarters from the change machine in front, Button walked to the corner where Pac-Man rested, a quarter in hand, ready to start his lively Saturday routine. Maybe today, he could finally pass level 30! he thought, shaking and eager to play.

In the next moments, though, Button saw something that shook him to the core. Level 30 now seemed very far from completion.