Chapters Buttons mom's alarm goes off, she hits the snooze button and looks at the clock. 6:30 am. Time to get Button up for his first day of school. She tiredly gets out of bed and walks down the hall. As she approaches Buttons room she can hear noises that sound like some sort of sound effects from a game or TV show.
"Did he leave his TV on last night," she wondered "his father won't be happy when he gets the electrical bill if he did," she thought to her self. She pushes her son's door open
"GAAAA" his hands shot up as if he where surrendering the controller was launched in the air and came crashing down back on his head bringing him the rest of the way out of his video game induced half awake trance.
"Wa...wa..what's going on," Button frantically asked confused by his sudden reenterence into the physical world
"BUTTON ITS THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL DID YOU SLEEP AT ALL LAST NIGHT?" His mom asked still enraged by her son's irresponsible behavior
"Okay my little ponys. Every pony find your seats" Ms.Cheerily's voice rang out braking Buttons concentration, he suddenly noticed that the room was now full of filllys and colts. All of whom now made there way to the desk nearest to them, which for Sweetie Belle was right next to Button.
Sweetie Belle sat down in her seat and decided to see who would be sitting next to her. She looked to her left and saw Scootaloo and beyond her Apple Bloom, she looked to her right and stopped. She saw Button Mash sitting in his seat directly next to her and for reasons she could not explain her heart began to race.
"Sweetie Belle... Hey Sweetie Belle. PSST Sweetie Belle" Scootaloo elbows Sweetie Belle back into reality
"huh..what?" Sweetie Belle askes supprised by the sudden jolt of reality that all at once came over her like a title wave as a result of her friends actions.
"What are you looking at?" Scootaloo asked
"ummm nothing. uh the window." She answered in a jumpie uncertain manor.
"What window?" Scootaloo asked compleatly perplexed by her friends impossible answer. Sweetie Belle looked at the wall beyond Buttons perfectly shaped head and amazing looking Bacon mane and noticed there was no window only a poster that read "math is fun"
"umm I meant uh...just forget about it" she stammered, sounding rather annoyed at her friend's constant questioning. Scootaloo was about to press the issue but was cut off
"GIRLS DO I NEED TO SEPARATE YOU?" Ms Cheerily asked annoyed at Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle's over all lack of attentiveness
"no mam," the pair responded
"good, then pay attention" Ms Cheeralie said and continued her lesson. Sweetie Belle's mind again returned to thoughts about Button and his perfect boyish looks. Scootaloo and Apple Bloom looked at each other and shrugged.
Sweetie Belle returned home her mind racing with confusion and thoughts of Button. She didn't know why but everything about him his mane, his face, his voice as he answers math problems sends a tingle up her spine. She runs up the stares into her room and throws herself onto her bed and screams, frustrated into her pillow. Rarity was working on some new dress designs in the next room over when she heard Sweetie Belle's door Slam shut. Rarity leaves the room she is in and approaches Sweetie Belle's room calling to her
"Sweetie Belle is that you? How was your first day back at School dear?" Sweetie Belle hears her big sister approaching from the hallway and is suddenly torn between the desire to seek Rarity's counsel on this confusing issue and a fear. An inexplicable fear she didn't know why but something tells her that this feeling whatever it is must remain a secret at least until she knows what it is and what it means.
"I don't want to talk about it uh I mean it was fine ah no no I mean it was great AH NO I MEAN IT WAS FINE" Sweetie Belle replied frantically trying to make it sound as if today weren't so bad or so good as to warrant talking about it.
"Sweetie Belle what's wrong darling? If something is bothering you then you can tell me. I'm your Big sister its what I'm here for." Rarity replied in a reassuring motherly voice.
"NO" Sweetie Belle snapped in frustration
"Okay Sweetie" Rarity replied "but if you want to discus it latter you know where I'll be" and with that Rarity went back to her work concerned about her sister's strange behavior. Sweetie Belle became frantic she closed her eyes and saw him standing mere feet from her turned sideways surrounded by a heart that hung motionless in place like a picture frame.why...why can't I stop thinking about him? "Suddenly she is overcome with the urge to draw this image to draw him finally she gets up, grabs a piece of paper, grabs some crayons and draws a picture of the most perfect colt she has ever seen.
"video games " he thought "that will get my Mind off of her "He turns on his game station but even that serves as no distraction from reality it only serves to remind him more and more of his strange feelings for her. Every princess that he must save is now Sweetie Belle every enemy he vanquishes in Diamond Tiara or Silver Spoon and he fights for his maden Sweetie Belle. He is in this mind set for about 15 minutes or so before he realizes it and forces himself out of it scared to give in to this strange new desire but at the same time wanting absolutely nothing more. "this is like a new video game " he thought to him self "and Sweetie Belle is like the ultimate achievement. " All he knew was that he wanted her but at the same time he was afraid to want her. This confused and frustrated Button who sat there in his room arms folded wondering trying to figure out this strange new emotion that was all at once two emotions. Two emotions that are usually at odds with one another he sat trying desperately to make sense of this joyes dread. Both sat quietly Button Mash on his floor and Sweetie Belle at her drawing table and both simotanisly muttered a single question
"what's wrong with me?"
The next day after school let out Scootaloo and Apple Bloom are able to intercept Sweetie Belle before she can race home to further meditate in solitude on the peculiarity of her situation.
"Hey Sweetie Belle ware are you going?" Scootaloo asked "come on you totally ditched us yesterday. And I thought we were supposed to go get our cutie marks in hang gliding"
"And today is when we are supposed to try to get our Cutie marks in sailing" Apple Bloom interjected "we are behind schedule by a full day"
"Ah ha this is perfect cutie mark crusading will get my mind off of Button for sure " Sweetie Belle thought to her self. "That's okay girls we'll just try them both out today" she suggested cheerfully.
"How?" Apple Bloom asked "we won't have time to try each activity individually"
"I'VE GOT IT" Sootaloo shouted excitedly "Apple Bloom and I will hang glide off the cliff on the out skirts of town the one rainbow dash showed you when you first tried to get your cutie mark in hang gliding remember?"
"Yeah I know the one" Apple Bloom said hardly ale to contain her excitement
"Meanwhile" Scootaloo Continued "Sweetie Belle will sail by on the river and we will swoop down drop onto the boat and help her dock it" Scootaloo concluded confidently. The plan was well received by her fellow crusaders and the three shouted in unisin
"CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS FLYING SAILERS GO!!!" Before jumping into the wagon affixed to the back of Scootaloo's wagon and speeding off.
Several hours latter
The trio of bedraggled thrill seekers drag themselves into the carousel boutique bickering amongst themselves
"it was your fault" Scootaloo said angrily to Sweetie Belle "you didn't get enough speed your approach has off and we landed right in the water"
"No it wasn't. You guys started to early I didn't have enough time to get up to speed" Sweetie Belle responded defensively.
"We made sure you were ready before we jumped we all said go at the same time over the Wilkie talkie remember?" Apple Bloom Added annoyed
"Yeah but the I said wait because I still had to untie a mooring line" Sweetie Belle retorted.
"It was too late we already jumped. You said you were ready and you weren't that's your fault" Scootaloo responded her voice rased nearly to the level of shouting.
"I WAS DISTRACTED" Sweetie Belle yelled
"Distracted by what?" Scootaloo asked her voice now returned to a normal conversation volume. Sweetie Belle's eyes widened as she realized she had metaphorically cornered herself.
"Girls" Rarity's voice rang out and the CMCs looked to see Rarity standing in the middle of the show room that serves as the boutiques main entrence. "I'm sorry to interrupt but I need to speak to Sweetie Belle in privet." The other two CMCs said there good byes and left. Sweetie Belle addressed her sister with a confused look.
"He's I'm.....uh" her mind raced she tried desperately to find an answer that would still mask the truth but her reaction only served to confirm Rarity's suspicion.
"Sweetie darling its alright your not in trouble" Rarity interrupted in a friendly voice that was almost a giggle.
"It is?" Sweetie Belle asked feeling all at once a feeling of immense joy and relief
"Of corse it is darling" Rarity replied placing a hoof on Sweetie Belles shoulder and smiling gently at the little filly "in fact I was your age when I got my first colt friend. It just means your growing up". All the fear and anxiety left Sweetie Belle and all she could feel now was absolute bliss when she stared over at her hoof drawn picture of Button. his image made her heart race and every nerve in her spine to tingle she blushed and smiled.
"So Button how was school?" His mom asked
"DAINKALEAF " he shouted mentally. he was not prepared for this question.
"Make any new friends?" His father asked
"N..no" Button replied in a quiet nervous tone
"You don't seem to sure of that answer Button" his mom said. Her voice hopeful and friendly. Button felt disarmed by his mother's voice.
"Well I did meet someone but.....not really...I mean...I sit next to her in class" button said uneasily
"HER" his mother yelped in surprise and shock. She wanted Button to make Friends but THIS....she wasn't ready for this at all.
"HER" his father cheered visibly more pleased by the information than Button's mother.
"S...Sweetie Belle" Button answered quietly
"Why are you so nervous its not like your in trouble or anything dear." Button's mom said reassuringly
"I'm not?" Button said in suppries
"Of course not Sweetie?" His mother said through a sweet and gentle smile. Button felt relived and happy he knew his feelings for sweetie Belle were real and that he didn't need to hide them. And Rarity in the carousel boutique and Button's Mother and Father at the dinner tabe all said reassuringly
"if you need help you can talk to me."
The next day before Sweetie Belle left for school, Rarity decided to help her with her perceived "unnoticed" problem. Rarity took Sweetie Belle into the bathroom and began applying makeup to her little sister.
"I wanted to make you an outfit, Sweetie Belle. But here in ponyville dresses and many other articles of clothing are considered appropriate only for special occasions. Not like Canterlot, where clothing is worn everywhere but then again it is the fashion capital of Equestria." Rarity felt herself beginning to rant, and refocused, "but at any rate a good makeover will serve just as well." She said as she began to curl Sweetie's eye lashes.
"Wow Sweetie Belle, ya'll sure do look done up real fancy," Apple Bloom said. "What's the occasion?"
"Occasion?" Sweetie asked in mock confusion, "Why would I need an occasion to want to look good?"
"Are Y'all sure it's got nothin' to do with this mysterious special some pony of yours ?" apple Bloom asked slyly. Sweetie Belles eyes got as wide as dinner plates and she jumped nearly her entire height into the air, in shock at her friends unexpected comment.
"WHAT? HOW DID YOU KNOW? (cough ) (cough )I mean what are you talking about." She exclaimed.
"According to Applejack Rarity came over to the farm yesterday and was going on and on about a drawing of a brown colt she found in your room. Applejack wanted to know if I had any idea who it could be, so that's how I know," Apple Bloom explained, " you should have told us you had a crush, we could help you" she said.
Button's heart raced, she has a crush? Maybe its me, he thought excitedly, but his heart sank at the onset of another thought, but what if it isn't me? What if she's in love with a different colt? After all I'm not the only brown coated colt in the school .get it together Button, just play it cool .
"So who is he?" Scootaloo asked shouting excitedly.
"NOPONY! JUST DROP IT" Sweetie Belle shouted, determined to put an end to the conversation. The bell rang and fillies and colts filed into class and took their seats. Sweetie Belle took her seat next to Button Mash.
Okay Button you got this you can do this, Button thought to himself. "Hey I'm Button Mash," Button said, looking at Sweetie Belle, and while trying to hide his nerves behind a kind, charming smile. Sweetie Belle looked at Button Mash, obviously taken aback by his forwardness.
"S....Sweetie Belle" she said, trying to sound calm and keep her heartbeat under control. She could hardly believe it, here she was trying to think of a way to get his attention, and he just introduces himself. Rarity was right. This makeover thing does work, she thought to herself in amazement.
Button had noticed that she looked slightly different than usual. He remembered that his mom usually puts stuff on her face when she and his father go out on "date night" and that the stuff makes her look different, but still the same; like Sweetie Belle looks. He remembered that she called it makeup.
"Are you wearing makeup?" Button asked, sounding confused.
"Yes," Sweetie Belle answered, not sure if the fact that he could tell was good or bad.
"Do.....Do you have a date or something?" Button asked, still confused and now a little worried.
"NO....I mean, no I don't. Why?" Sweetie Belle answered equally as confused. "I just put some on to look good My sister said it would be a good idea," she answered
"Oh," Button said in comprehension. "You don't need it, you look good normally," he said looking forward as if talking to nopony in particular. Regardless Sweetie Belle assumed the comment was meant for her.
"Thanks," her face was bright red and she struggled to keep her voice from becoming shaky, as her heart raced so hard it felt like it was trying to escape the confines of her chest.
"Huh? OH NO UH I MEAN" Button sputtered in panic. He had not realized that he said that last statement out loud. He looked again back at Sweetie Belle, she had stopped blushing and now looked confused and saddened by what she took to be a retraction of Buttons previous statement. Button remembered what his brother told him. He refocused and cleared his throat "I mean, uh do you want to hang out later? I'm hoping to make some friends this year." He said, recovering from his slip up.
By this time Apple Bloom and Scootaloo, who had been listening to the two talking from their seats on the other side of Sweetie Belle, had begun to catch on to what was happening even better than Button Mash or Sweetie Belle and decided it was time to try being Cutie Mark Crusaders Machmakers, despite the disastrous outcome that resulted last time.
"Sure y'all can." She interrupted before Sweetie Belle could respond. "Y'all can sit with us at lunch, ain't that right Sweetie Belle?" She continued, now putting Sweetie Belle on the spot.
"Um well, I guess I mean?" Sweetie Belle said shyly. She was unsure as to whether backing her friends offer was smart. She was afraid Button would say no.
"OF COURSE YOU CAN!" Scootaloo jumped in for her uncharacteristically coy friend. "There's always room at the Cutie Mark Crusader's table for another pony. And in the Cutie Mark Crusaders for another blank flank," she said winking at Apple Bloom.
"Oh yeah, I forgot y'all was a blank flank, Button Mash" Apple Bloom said,"we could definitely use another pony for the Cutie Mark Crusaders. Especially a stallion." She said slyly. "Ain't that right Sweetie Belle?" She said nudging her friend.
"Uh.... yeah" Sweetie Belle said regaining her confidence.
"Well great, I'd love to sit with you guys. And hang out with you guys after school to try and find my cutie mark. Say have you guys ever tried video games?" Button Mash said deciding that moving forward was the best thing to do from here.
One row down Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon looked at each other and grinned. "Did you hear that?" Diamond Tiara asked Silver Spoon.
"Sure did," said Silver Spoon
"Let's crash a Dinner party," Diamond Tiara snickered maliciously the two bad fillies then sealed there plan with their signature hoof shake
"Bump bump sugar lump rump"
"Well well well, what do we have here?" Diamond Tiara said smugly.
"Looks like the Cutie Mark losers got another member," Silver spoon interjected in a snide tone.
"Go away you two, this is none of your business," Sweetie Belle spoke up in a harsh tone.
"No there's more here Silver Spoon," Diamond Tiara said, still grinning and snickering in her smug tone. "Sweetie Belle has a little colt friend."
"Leave us alone," Scootaloo said, sounding very annoyed and hostile. Diamond Tiara ignored the remark and continued to verbally assault Sweetie Belle.
"Why don't you have your colt friend stand up for you?" She asked, relishing in the embarrassment she was causing Sweetie Belle. Button Mash looked at Sweetie Belle. She was looking at the table, her face was bright red with embarrassment and her eyes were welling up with tears. Button looked back at his own food tray and closed his eyes to focus and come up with an idea.
"Deme Ek Dunki" he muttered to himself. Then he grabbed the cup cake from his lunch tray and hurled it at Diamond Tiara. It hit its target, and the frosting exploded in her mane. Diamond Tiara screamed in horror and anger.
"AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH MY MANE!!!!!! YOU'LL PAY FOR THAT YOU LOSER" she shouted before running off with Silver Spoon in tow.
"BUTTON MASH, THAT WAS AWESOME!" Scootaloo shouted excitedly.
"Yeah Button Mash, y'all are a hero for that," Apple bloom said. Button Mash looked over at Sweetie Belle. She wiped a tear from her eye and smiled at him, blushing.
Induction, Crusading, and more
After school Button Mash was lead to a tree house in a secluded wooded corner of Sweet Apple Acres, he was lead up the stairs and into the tree house by Apple Bloom, once inside he saw Sweetie Belle standing at a podium at the other end of the one-room club house, to the left of the podium was Scootaloo who beat a slow steady beat on a large pair of Congo drums. Button was lead to the center of the room and Apple Bloom took her place to the right of the podium, all of the CMCs were wearing red capes with a shield bearing the silhouette of a caped pony of their age which he took to be the order's symbol sewn onto it. Sweetie Belle held up a hoof signaling Scootaloo to stop drumming, then Sweetie Belle began to read from the piece of paper in front of her.
"Button Mash we the Cutie Mark Crusaders have chosen to welcome you into our order, we welcome you as our brother, friend, confidant, and fellow crusader. Do you accept?"
"I accept"
"And do you swear to stay true to the purpose for which our order was founded? And to help and support us, your sister members and fellow crusaders, in our quest to find our Cutie Marks and help each other to find theirs?" Sweetie Belle continued.
"I swear" Button Mash answered
"Then we welcome you, Button Mash, to the Cutie Mark Crusaders" Sweetie Belle concluded the reading of the induction rights. and Apple Bloom and Scootaloo placed a cape identical to the ones they were wearing over his back which Sweetie belle tied around his neck.
"What do we do now?" Button Mash asked the three fillies.
"Hey, I have an idea," Apple Bloom said "since we are on Sweet Apple Acres lets try and get our cutie marks in Apple buckin"
"yeah, that sounds like a great idea," Scootaloo said excitedly. The four young ponys trotted off toward the orchard, after several unsuccessful tries at knocking the apples out of one of the trees in the orchard the CMCs were ready to call it quits, suddenly Sweetie Belle had an idea.
"I got it, what if one of us just climbed up into the tree and picked one of the apples?" She suggested,
"Hey, that's not a bad idea, Sweetie Belle," Apple Bloom said, "but my big sis would kill me if she saw me climbing one of them trees."
"I'll do it," Sweetie Belle said excitedly, "give me a boost Scootaloo." Scootaloo helped Sweetie Belle climb up the first branch of the tree, from there Sweetie Belle nimbly ascended five more branches before she found the perfect apple,hanging from the branch directly above her, out near the end of the branch. She carefully shuffled herself to the end of the branch until she was directly under the apple, she reached up with a single hoof to grab it and just as she was about to claim her prize, SNAP , Sweetie Belle screamed, first in suprise at the sound, then in fear, as the branch she had been standing on snapped in half, and sent her falling towards the ground. Button Mash ran as fast as he could over to where she was falling, intent on catching her, Button slid to a halt underneath the falling filly and stood on his hind hooves with his front hooves stretched up toward Sweetie Belle. No sooner had Button Mash set up to catch her, that Sweetie Belle came crashing down on top of him.
"GOOD CATCH BUTTON!!!" Apple Bloom shouted.
"THAT WAS AMAZING!!!!!" Scootaloo cheered.
"How....how did you do that?" Sweetie Belle asked genuinely curious and quite impressed.
"To be honest, I have no idea," Button said dazed, "but holy Celestia, did that hurt."
"Sorry," Sweetie Belle said, starting to feel bad about having landed on Button Mash and possibly injuring him.
"Your good," he said chuckling as he began to get up. The three fillies were relieved Button and Sweetie Belle had received no real injuries, and decided one near death experience was enough for one day. And decided to go to sugar cube corner for milkshakes
Five hours later.
"I gotta get going ya'll. I still gotta do my Chores before sundown or else Applejack won't be happy with me," Apple Bloom said getting up from the table.
"Yea,h me too," Scootaloo said, "Rainbow Dash said since I can hover she can teach me some exercises to do till I can fly for real," she said as she headed for the door.
"Are you guys sure?" Sweetie Belle asked, "Button and I still have another round coming"
"That's fine Y'all can just finish up without us," Apple Bloom replied
"I guess," Sweetie Belle said. She had a sneaking suspicion there was a different reason her friends were leaving her and Button alone. Maybe they suspected her feelings for him. The two milkshakes reached the table and Button was desperate to break the now unbearable silence.
Come on Button be fun, he thought to himself, "MILKSHAKE RACE! 1.2.3. GO."
_____________________________________________________________________________________
One bad brain freeze later Button Mash and Sweetie Belle began walking home talking about nothing in particular.
"Thanks for walking me home Button," Sweetie Belle said brushing a lock of her mane away from her face and smiling at him.
"No problem It's not out of my way or anything," he replied.
"Oh, and thanks for saving me when I fell. I hope you didn't get hurt," she continued, this time looking at the ground and feeling a little guilty.
"Nah I'm fine. I just didn't want you to get hurt," he answered almost without thinking. Sweetie Belle drew her gaze up from the ground and looked at Button Mash, she looked him in the eyes, her face now bright red.
"Really?" She asked.
"Yeah, if you get hurt, you won't be able to come to school till you're better and I won't be able to see you." He stopped and looked at Sweetie Belle, realizing the effect of what he was about to say, he took a deep breath and decided to proceed, "and that scares me." Now Button's face began to turn bright red as he met eyes with Sweetie Belle, then without thinking, as if both ponies were possessed by some unknown, outside force Button Mash and Sweetie Belle leaned in toward each other, their eyes closed as their heads tilted opposite one another's, the lips of both ponies puckered as they drew nearer, then they meet at the equilibrium of the distance between the filly and the colt, the kiss lasted only a few seconds and was ended with a simple relaxing of the lips. Sweetie Belle's and Button Mash's eyes opened and suddenly reality returned to them as they realized what had just transpired between them, both were overcome with joy and embarrassment. Sweetie Belle was the first to speak.
"Well, um, good nigh,t Button," she said the words coming in quick panicked burst. She then began an uneasy trot to her door unsure whether she wanted to leave or hear his response.
"Yeah, see you tomorrow," Button said, trying to sound confident but unable to keep his voice from shaking. He then ran home as Sweetie Belle quickly entered her house and ran to her room.
In the bushes two unseen watchers have observed what had happened and prepared to deliver that information to their nefarious employers.
Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon sat in Diamond Tiara's bedroom, passing the time with a makeover kit when they heard somepony ring the doorbell, the door was answered by the butler who then summoned the two fillies.
"Mistress Tiara, Mistress Spoon, you have two gentlemen callers." At that the two fillies proceeded down the stairs. "Shall I inform your father?" The butler asked with concern.
"Not necessary, these two will only be staying a moment," she replied
"Very well madam," the butler said before promptly leaving the room. Diamond Tiara focused her attention back on the two colts in her foyer.
"Snips, Snails, report." She ordered. The two colts saluted and told of what they saw.
"Button Mash walked Sweetie Belle home," Snails began, "then they just stood in front of the Carousel Boutique talking."
"Talking about what?" Diamond Tiara demanded.
"I don't know, we couldn't hear them." Snips answered for his friend. "But we did see them kiss"
"You did huh, well I guess you two aren't completely useless, okay you're dismissed." Diamond Tiara said while gesturing toward the door with her hoof. Snips and Snails promptly left the house and returned home. "Well this proves they are together," she said pacing back and forth, "we can use this against both of those losers." She continued maliciously, "come Silver Spoon, we have plans to make."
The next day was a Saturday, the weekend, no school. But that didn't mean the CMCs could take a lazy day. Button Mash was on his way to the School play ground where the CMCs were waiting for him, when he was suddenly approached by Snips.
"HEY BUTTON, WAIT UP" Snips yelled as he ran up to Button. "I got a note for you, It's from Sweetie Belle. I don't know what it says, she told me to give it directly to you, she said it was super important," Snips said trying to sound as convincing as possible.
"Uh thanks," Button said, taking the note from Snips.
"See ya," Snips said as he galloped away. Button opened the note and read the contents
"Dear Button Mash. I need you to meet me at Sugar Cube Corner, don't worry about Crusading. Scoots and Apple Bloom know I want to talk to you alone and they are okay with it. Love Sweetie Belle " with that Button went as quick as he could to Sugar Cube Corner dropping the note in his haste. The note landed with one corner sliding under a rock.
The CMCs had been waiting for over an hour for Button to show up, all the while Sweetie Belle had been telling her friends about the events of the previous night. When suddenly Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon showed up with Snips and Snails in tow.
"Well well well. If it isn't the Cutie Mark losers," she said in her usual smug condescending tone. "Where's your new member? I guess he got tired of hanging out with you losers"
"You're wrong. He's on his way right now," Sweetie Belle said defiantly.
"Oh, what would you know Squeaky Belle," Diamond Tiara said mockingly, "you're probably the reason he's avoiding you guys now. Did you really think he liked you? You loser." Diamond Tiara said, now beginning to zero in on Sweetie Belle with a malicious grin.
"HE DID! I...I MEAN HE DOES!" She yelled, she could feel a lump beginning to form in her throat as she struggled to hold back tears.
"Yeah, how do you know? Did you ask him before you kissed him?" Diamond Tiara said laughing evilly, every feature of her expression seemed to emanate pure unrestrained malice.
Apple bloom had heard all she cared to hear, she leaned over to Scootaloo "go find Button Mash". She then turned her attention to comforting and defending the now visibly distraught Sweetie Belle as Scootaloo slipped away on her scooter, heading full speed for Button's house.
Scootaloo arrived at Button's house and knocked frantically on the door calling out for him. Button's mom came to the door as quick as she could to answer the panicked filly.
"Hello dear can I help you?" She said in a friendly concerned tone. Scootaloo answered breathing heavily,
"I need....to....talk to...Button," she said frantically.
"He's not here, he left to go meet some friends two hours ago." Button's mom replied calmly.
"Do you know where he went?" Scootaloo asked still in a panic.
"He said he was going the the school house play ground," Button's mom replied.
"But that's impossible. We were just there, waiting for him for two hours," Scootaloo replied, confused and still panicked.
"I'm sorry dear, that's all I know," Buttons mom replied in an apologetic tone.
"Okay, well thanks anyway," Scootaloo said disappointed.
"Be safe." Buttons mom said cheerfully as she closed the door. Scootaloo got back onto her scooter, she noticed some sudden movement in the bottom corner of her eye as a slight breeze blew by. She reached down to retrieve the abandoned piece of paper and read its contents.
"Love Sweetie Belle? This isn't Sweetie Belle's hoof writing,who wrote this?" Almost immediately after she asked the question the answer hit her, "Diamond Tiara." Scootaloo strapped on her helmet, got back on her scooter and raced full speed to Sugar Cube Corner.
She raced down the streets of Ponyville, houses and store fronts appeared as nothing more than multicolored blurs as she sped past them, going as fast as her wings could propel her. She came to a stop in front of the front doors of Sugar Cube Corner, she ran in, franticly looking for Button Mash, she saw him sitting alone in a both drinking a milkshake
"BUTTON," she yelled as she ran over to him, Button was startled by the sudden intrusion into what was his otherwise silent wait.
"HUH WHAT?...oh, hey Scootaloo, what are you doing here?" Button asked, confused by her appearance
"You need to come to the playground now," she said frantically.
"But I got this note from Sweetie Belle saying to come here" he said before noticing he didn't have the note.
"You mean this note?" Scootaloo said presenting the note to Button Mash. Button took the note and read it.
"Yeah, see, it says to be here," He said.
"Only it's not from Sweetie Belle, that's from Diamond Tiara, she's at the playground right now saying you left us because you don't like her," Scootaloo explained frantically. It was then that Button remembered Diamond Tiara's words after he hit her with the cupcake the other day and sighed in frustrated comprehension. He got up from the booth and approached the counter were Pinkie Pie was putting a fresh batch of cupcakes out for display.
"Pinkie Pie, I'll take a bakers dozen of cupcakes I need to borrow something if that's okay" Button placed a small bag of bits on the counter as Pinkie Pie smiled.
"Okie dokie Loki. What do you need to borrow?" Button smiled as he answered.
Scootaloo and Button pulled up to the schoolhouse, screeching to a halt. And raced to the playground, Snips and Snails had been ordered by Diamond Tiara to watch out for his arrival. Knowing full well of Scootaloo's departure and of its purpose. The pair approached Button Mash from either side, Button untied the twine securing the box of cupcakes to his back and pulled out a slingshot he had brought from home, he loaded a cupcake into the slingshot and fired at Snips, being that he was closest. The cupcake exploded in his face sending him tumbling over his own hooves. He then loaded another and fired at Snails, the cupcake frosting covered Snails' face blocking his vision causing him to run into a tree. Button retrieved the box of cupcakes and galloped full speed to the playground, he turned the corner of the school house with Scootaloo in tow and saw Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon making fun of Sweetie Belle, causing her to cry uncontrollably.
"KNOCK IT OFF, DIAMOND TIARA," Button Mash yelled as he galloped over to the school yard bully. "Leave her alone she's not the one who embarrassed you at lunch, I am. You can take that up with me, not forge notes to get me to go to Sugar Cube Corner so it looks like I ditched, so Sweetie Belle would break up with me. Yeah your plan was that easy to figure out once I found out the note was fake, you aren't as clever as you think you are, and on top of that you're a coward, you only pick on the ponies too scared or too nice to tell you to back off, and until now that were the Cutie Mark Crusaders, a group of fillies too polite to tell you to kiss their flanks, but now that's changed, they got me now and I tell it like it is, so make your move Madonna," his eyes narrowed into a challenging glare.
"Who do you think you are talking to me like that, you loser. I am the most popular and powerful filly in school. I can ruin your whole life, I can make you a laughing stock of the whole school. I hold all the cards. So why don't you just go back to your video games, you insolent little introvert," Diamond Tiara said. It was obvious from her voice that what Button said had gotten to her.
"Most powerful filly i school? Oh please get over yourself you're a spoiled brat with self esteem issues who can't handle being told no. I mean, look what you brought today two henchponies who don't average half a brain between them, and a yes mare. And you think I'm afraid of you just because you can bully other ponies into picking on me? You may have a fear based position at the top of the popularity ladder, but I don't care, I love Sweetie Belle and I won't let you or anypony else hurt her. if there is one thing video games have taught me its that when the odds are against you, USE MODS," and with that Button grabbed two large frosting tubes from the box of cupcakes, "GG PRINCESS!" Button squeezed both tubes as hard as he could, sending purple and pink frosting flying into the pink filly's face and mane. Diamond Tiara screamed in horror and ran home, Silver Spoon in tow. Button Mash walked over to Sweetie Belle who was still wiping tears from her eyes, "Hey don't listen to her, I will never leave you," he said with a smile. He then opened the box of cupcakes and held it out to her, "cupcake?" Sweetie Belle looked first at the box then at Button Mash and smiled, she lunged forward and kissed Button Mash.
The End
Advice to be taken advice to be ignored
Rarity sat on her bed next to Sweetie Belle absolutely giddy that she and her little sister get to have some "Girl time"
"Rarity I thought you were going to give me advise." Sweetie Belle said annoyed
"I will darling I just want to know more about the dashing young colt who stole my lovely little sister's heart" Rarity replied wavering her hoof through the air for dramatic emphasis.
"RARITY" Sweetie Belle blushed and her face turned bright red. She punched her sister's shoulder but then calmed down
"Is he popular?" Rarity asked
"No I don't know if he has any friends I never see him talk to anypony els" Sweetie Belle answered as if this were the first time she had noticed. And in fact It was.
"Ooooo a lone wolf" Rarity added playfully "Dose he talk much?" Rarity continued
"No he usually sits in his desk quietly unless he's answering a question from M.s Cheerily" Sweetie Belle answered
"Oh the strong silent type very mysterious darling very attractive" Rarity giggled. "Does he like you?" Rarity asked now more serious
"I...I don't know" Sweetie Belle answered now looking at the ground "I don't think he even knows I exist" she continued trying to hold back tears.
"Oh darling well we will have to fix that now won't we" Rarity said resolutely "but back to this. You must let him know you like him" Rarity said
"So I should tell him?" Sweetie Belle asked inquisitively
"Good heavens no" Rarity said with a chuckle "the mare is never so forward darling its not proper. The gentalcolt must be the first to declare his feelings. You must be more subtle"
"What do you mean?" Sweetie Belle asked confused.
"Body language, admiring looks." Rarity answered "and remember a gentalcolt will always step in to assist the object of his affection so give him opportunities to do so that is how you will know if he likes you or not" Rarity concluded confidently.
"Hey kiddo" his dad said stepping through the doorway and closing the door behind him "your mother and I think its time you and I had a little talk. You know colt to colt."
"Okay dad" button said torn between the desire to be left alone and the desire to get answers to his questions.
"Son there comes a time in every young colt's life when he begins to notice fillys in a way he hadn't before. And as your mother and I told you this is completely natural it happens to all young colts. All you have to do is let the fillly you like know that you like her. Just tell her. It's that simple after all thats how your mother and I meet. okay son!"
"Okay dad" Button answered. His fathers speech seemed to clear up his remaining questions. Button's father ruffled Button's mane with his hoof and left the room.
"Hey you don't believe that do you?" Button looked over at his doorway again this time to see his older brother standing there "you can't just walk up to a filly and be all like 'I love you' that may have worked back when he and mom where young but now that's how you end up getting slapped." Burtton's older brother said in a very matter of fact tone
"So what DO I do?" Button asked
"Alright little dude here's what fillys like in a colt. First confidence ask her if she wants to hang out some time make the event casual like getting a milk shake or something but fillys also like to have fun so don't be boring. Second they want a colt who can stand up for them if you see the school bully picking on her beat him up"
"But the school bully's are girls" button interrupted
"Really? Wow. Okay don't beat them up but stand up to them tell them to back off. Yeah don't hit fillys little bro good instincts. Third is looks and seeing as how we share the same genes you should be okay in that department" Button rolled his eyes "and lastly be funny but that goes along with not being boring. once you got all that down she will be puddly in your hooves. Then tell her you love her" With that Button's older brother left the room and Button began planing his next day at school.
