King of the Arcade

The next few days were just like the first. 8-bit, Ponyville’s own arcade owner would walk to his arcade, open the doors, and would get run over as children of all ages would gallop to the nearest game they could find, and just play away.

8-bit would fix a game every once in awhile, and even give a gift to a few lucky kids who would save up enough tickets from the small carnival games he had installed in the corner of the first floor.

Soon, the days found themselves to be almost eventless. About a full week passed by when kids slowly stopped coming in. Only a few of the loyal customers would come by, but only for a few games.

“I don’t get it...” He pondered to himself out loud. “Last week, this place was booming, and now it’s as empty as my bank.” He sighed depressingly, until he looked over at a kid giving him the weirded-out look.

“...What? Never saw a pony talk to himself before? Get!” He ordered as the little ball of fluff ran off from the building.

He needed to think of something. He needed a gimmick to bring them back in again. Was it the games? Were they getting old? It could’ve been anything!

“What would kids like...” He sat around the desk, playing with a spare feather he had for writing notes with. After a few moments of silence, a idea grew in his head.

“Kids like free stuff. Contests give out free stuff. If I can....yes....it’s perfect!” He shouted to nopony in the building. With a beaming grin on his face, he began to work on his magnificent plan.

***

The next day, the little colts and fillies came by the herd full. They had themselves a bag full of bits on each of them. They all gathered ‘round the machines like normal, but something was wrong...

“Hey, my high score’s been beaten!” One chubby pony said, looking up at the high score of “Trot: Deadly Discs”

“Mine too!” A filly said in the back. All of them seemed to be saying the same thing: Their high scores were not only beaten, but they were replaced! All across the board of each game, stood one name...

“8bit?” A small pegasus asked out loud. “Who’s...”

“Oh, you mean me?” The owner of the arcade announced. The faces of the ponies were just priceless.

“You? How did you--”

“What? Never saw an arcade owner actually beat his games?”

They couldn’t really objectify that comment. They never saw him actually play the games, let alone beat every high score!

“I got something to say,” Exclaimed 8-bit, after clearing his throat. “I have beaten each and every one of your high scores. Each and every game! Why did I do this? I’ll be giving away a special prize to whoever can beat my top score first!”

The kids muttered to one another. They bickered to each other, saying it was too hard. The high score was 3,333,360 on Pac-Colt alone. Nopony could beat that!

“What do we even get if we win?” One colt shouted from somewhere in the crowd.

8-bit smiled widely. “If you win? Well, if you ever-so-happen to beat any of these high scores, You’ll receive your very own...ARCADE CABINET FOR HOME!”

As he shouted into the air, he trotted towards a door, and opened it. Inside, the lights flickered on, showing a machine that could only be described as beautiful.

The machine itself was held up from a hexagon base by six columns of what seemed to be flowing rainbows. The entire construct was painted a dark blue, lightening to a sky blue close to the respectably-sized HD screen. Images of six mares were plastered on the sides of the machine, three on each side. Three speakers stood out from the cabinet, one on top and one on each side. The screen of the cabinet suddenly came to life, displaying the words ‘Fighting is Magic’ onscreen as an rock n’ roll-themed tune started playing.

“This magnificent piece of art is called “Fighting is Magic”! Whoever beats the score wins it, as I stated earlier. BUT! Everypony has to play or the game is over. And I win...”8-bit smiled evilly and chuckled to himself, but nopony noticed.

The kids could only gasp in awe at the sight of the machine. Each one of them wasted no time to grab a machine they were good at, and start playing.

And it was all going according to 8-bit’s plans...

***

About six hours passed by, and not a single filly or colt has beaten any of the high scores. They were growing tired, and would eventually have to stop. One by one, they let go of the controls, and peered into their bags, upon expecting to find little to no bits left.

“I...I can’t do it!” A Pegasus filly screamed. The rest of them started complaining that they wasted their time. They all decided to take their losses and just go home.

Of course, 8-bit was laughing his tail off at the whole scene. He just got them to waste more than what they normally would, and kept his copy! He was gonna roll in the money! Loads o’ money!

“I beat it!” Suddenly was heard in the back. The laughter stopped altogether, 8-bit’s eyes shot out. He bolted towards the back to see a older pony, around his age perhaps, next to Pac-Colt.

He was a unicorn with a tan coat, with a black mane and tail. He wore a blue-green hoodie, with a purple controller as his cutie mark. His mane was unkempt, with hairs in the back of his head standing straight up. His eyes were a royal purple coloring. He was slightly taller than 8-bit was by a inch or two.

He was leaning next to the machine, With the screen flickering with the sound of victory, however it would sound, in the air. The high score on the arcade stated...

“4,831,620 points!? B-b-but...HOW?!” 8-bit yelled in shock. He couldn’t believe it, his best possible score...beaten!

All the fillies and colts stopped in their tracks. They started muttering, then they started cheering. All of them ran towards the unnamed winner and surrounded him, asking how he did it.

8-bit pushed the little runts to the sides and stood in front of him. “Who are you? I’ve never seen you in here before.”

The stallion looked towards the owner and gave a little smirk. “I’m the guy who made this game.”

“Very funny, now tell me who you are--” He was stopped short with a card. It stated the name of the pony before him, along with the name of the company.

“Hoof-co?” He asked confused. He looked at the credits that were rolling on the screen, where he just happen to see the words, along with the executive producer.

“Y-You...you really are the pony who...” He stuttered.

“Why yes. Yes I am. Name’s Natural Glitch. Nice to meet ‘cha.” The newly-named stallion chuckled.

“How did you beat the highscore?”

Mr. Glitch smirked away. “I’m the guy who made this game, remember? I know how to beat it! So I heard you’re giving away a prize now?”

As much as he hated it, he was right, he beat the score. He had to give the game away. He put it on a platform with wheels, and pushed it towards him.

“Why, thank you very much, mr...”

“8-bit. It’s 8-bit. And before you go, I have one more thing to say.”

Natural Glitch stopped at the door, and looked behind him.

“I have one more challenge for you. I hate losing, and I certainly hate losing my possessions. I’m gonna give you a chance at another arcade. If you win, you get one of my other games: Pony-Kart! All you have to do, is ante up Fighting is Magic. The winner not only gets the games, but he’ll receive a party in his name, along with the title: “King of the Arcade”! The loser will have to pay for everything, of course...”

“Hmm...I dunno...”

“DJ Pon3’s gonna be here. I’ll make sure of it.”

“Vinyl Scratch, eh? Deal.”

Both of them spit on their hooves, and smacked them together, staring into each-other’s eyes with determination. The kids around them started bolting outside. They started to holler everywhere they went...

“There’s a contest going on! King of the Arcade! DJ Pon3's gonna be there!!”

The contest would start tomorrow. Both contestants would have to bring their best forward if either were going to show the other one up. Who would win? This contest was going to be the biggest thing since the Running of the Leaves!