Button Mash took a deep breath in, losing himself to the game as he sat alone in his room. He had been playing Papers, Please for almost an hour now, and finally was getting into his groove. No mistakes were to be made at his border point. He would examine every document like he should, make sure everything was in accordance to the rules, and then let the person in. That was how you played, and that was how he would play right now. Just do that, and he would win.

Oh, and are they going to tell you how to live so you can win life too?

Button blinked, watching as a sheet of paper came onto the game’s screen. He had made a mistake, let his concentration slip. He wouldn’t do it again. He wanted to be lost in the game right now, know nothing other than its simple bliss. He had even told Rumble to leave so he could.

Oh, how precious. Are you trying to ignore me? Or are you so lost in that little world that you can’t hear me?

“Damnit!” He gripped the sides of his computer harder as the next warning, his last one, came onto screen. Button was better than this. When he was in the zone, his friends would be silent, simply to watch who they considered the master. He wasn’t about to let some teasing get to him.

Oh, Diamond, maybe it’s a family simulator? Something to take his mind off the fact that-

Button shut his eyes. Diamond even said Silver Spoon had gone too far with that one. It wasn’t one to worry about. Just a stupid comment from a wanna-be bully. Diamond even apologized before running off, so he shouldn’t-

-his mom is dead.

Button almost threw his computer onto the ground beside him as he screamed. He didn’t care who heard, he didn’t care what other ponies thought, he just needed to let it out. The brown colt had of course tried to deny it. He was good at that, but today had been too much. The image of his mother had flashed into his head when she said that, and he couldn’t stop thinking about it.

His arms came around his legs as he shook, his whole body quaking in rage, pain, sadness… he didn’t know at this point. He was eighteen, but that hardly seemed to matter now. He was still just a little colt, unable to do a damn thing about the world he lived in.

And now, he didn’t even have his mom.

A buzz came from his computer, and he heard the sound of text scrolling from his game. He glanced over his arms, Button’s mind reflexively trying to figure out why the game would do that. He was just sitting there in the booth, so there should have been music, maybe, and that’s it. The sound of text on the screen, of a character talking to his, came again, and he reached over, happy for the distraction. Looking at it, a smiling woman was on screen, with a much kinder, more beautiful design than the pixelated graphics should have allowed.

Hello, dear Button Mash. I’m from the head office of Chaotic Industries. We sensed a lot of sadness coming from this location, and looked into it. We wish to give you a gift, to help alleviate your pain. Further down, it continued with, It could even allow you some control over your world again.

Button stared for a few moments, an in game keyboard having appeared so he could talk back. He slowly typed out, Why should I trust you or anything you have? You said you’re with chaos.

Why yes, I am, but has harmony done you so well? I mean… no, bringing her up would simply be mean.

A spasm of pain shot through Button, and he tried moving the mouse to close the window. This was so strange, and he knew tricks like these, simply to get him to stay. He wouldn’t be scammed by some con artist that had hacked his computer.

I’m not hacking your computer, and do you really have other options? I offer you control, power, abilities, and you just want to go back. Do you not wish you could bend the rules so you could win at life once more?

Button stopped, his cursor just over the red X. It would be so easy to leave. A simple click of the mouse, and he would be done. He glanced up, taking in his small room, one he didn’t even know if he would be allowed to keep for much longer. A tear fell down his face as he looked back, and moved the cursor to the keys once more. What is your gift?

A book. It’s already in your bag. All you need to do with it is write a decree at the end of the day. The next day, that request will go into effect, and you may see the consequences. One a day is almost the only limitation, along with no causing of death, removal of another’s death, and no drastic change of another’s mind or personality. If what you decree is severe, such as forcing mares at your school to all wear nothing, they may find their minds changing anyways, just as time passes and they’re so… exposed.

Button barely even paused before typing his response. This sounds too good to be true. There has to be a real catch.

The woman on screen tilted her head, before devil horns appeared on her skull. Well, I suppose there is one. The book’s ability to change things is linked to my power, and vice-versa. The more chaos you create with the book, the stronger I get, and the more you can do. Of course, I would never hurt you, or anything like that, as you would be my kind knight, helping me free myself so I may visit you, and reward you like a succubus should. A grin appeared on her face as she stated that last bit, and the clothes on the woman changed to much more… provocative attire.

This time, Button waited longer to respond, not wanting to turn her down, but not wanting to cause more pain either. What about my friends? Even if you wanted to hurt them, could I make sure you didn’t?

You and I will be partners, two sides of the same deal. I do not wish to upset you, just please, do not try to upset me and use the book for harmonious reasons. Doesn’t that sound fair?

Button hovered his fingers over the mouse, before slowly typing, Yes.

Then the book in your bag will be able to be opened, and I do hope you’ll have fun with it. Keep in touch! The woman stepped to the right, and instead of a warning, a contract came from the bottom of the screen. Before he could read it, he saw his name sign itself, and the paper disappeared, all while laughter played.

The young stallion leaned back, his body shaking as he looked to the ceiling. He hadn’t been expecting anything like that, and a part of him still felt like it was some sort of prank. One of his hands groped his bed, searching for his backpack before soon finding it. He pulled it close, and looked within.

Inside, he spotted a thin, black journal, waiting to be written in. His mouth dried up, and he reached forward, taking ahold of the hard leather. A swift pull, and it was free. Opening the pages revealed them to be blank, waiting for his commands. Button Mash’s mouth was as dry as a desert as he picked up his pen, and tried to figure out what to write.

Author's Note

Comments and votes will help with consideration, but if your comment is not fun, interesting, or completely throws the current logic of Button Mash out a window, than it's hopes for being picked are low. Past that, have fun!