Hearts & Hooves - Triangle, Diamond, Circle, Square

“So how about Manticore training?” the most adventurous of the trio pitched.

“Whilst that would be an awesome Cutie Mark, we had enough problems with controlling rabbits, let alone something with claws and wings!” Applebloom applied her voice of reason.

“Can’t we think of a nice, safe idea?” Sweetie Belle added “Like, I don’t know, can’t we try normal things like baking again, rather then just give up on the first failure?”

The trio then noticed their sworn arch enemies, minor antagonists and general pains in their flanks approaching, and prepared themselves for the usual insults. Blank Flanks, Cutie Mark Catastrophes…I wonder if they have anything new they all thought in unison.

“Erm, Applebloom, Scootaloo, can we talk to you about something…over there” Diamond pointed away from where the crusaders sat, to the other side of the playground. This caught the trio completely by surprise, and Silver Spoon looked just as lost. “We need to talk to you two about…erm…stuff?” the pink earth pony added.

“Stuff?” Scootaloo finally found her voice, although it was filled with confusion.

“Yeah, it’s to do with the…the…thing?” Diamond practically face-hooved at her own words. The four other fillies looked around each other equally confused, wondering if Diamond Tiara had eaten something funny or banged her head or something.

“Why only us two?” Applebloom replied “It seems mean to leave Sweetie Belle out!”

“Because, you know, the reasons!” and her eyes instinctively darted between Sweetie Belle and the other side of the playground where Button Mash sat.

Noticing Diamond Tiara’s eye movements, and following her gaze, the orange pegasus finally cottoned on to what the earth filly was trying to do. A sly smile spread across her face and although confused as to why the earth filly was getting involved, felt it was a good thing to go along with “Oh, I remember, we had to talk about the stuff…to do with the thing…at the place!”

“Yes, exactly, the place!” Diamond shouted back a little too excitedly, glad she now had somepony else helping her with her plan.

“I aint got no clue what on tarnation you two are going on about!” Appleboom replied “But I aint leaving Sweetie Belle alone!”

Scootaloo got up and started trying to pull Applebloom away “It’ll only take a few minutes…Sweeties a big pony, she can look after herself”

Applebloom went to protest, but Sweetie Belle spoke up “It’s okay…if Scootaloo knows what this is about I trust her!” she added still a little confused at what was going on. Her birthday was coming up soon, but she doubted that their rivals would be helping to organise a surprise party or something.

Applebloom gave up protesting and allowed her pegasus friend walking next to Diamond Tiara to lead her away from their usual table, Silver Spoon just following as she always did.

Sweetie Belle now found herself sat alone at the Crusaders table as her two friends walked off Well, that was unexpected, I wonder what is going on?

Button Mash looked up from his game and noticed the four ponies walking away from his current location, across the gamemap and away from his target. This left the flag he desired isolated in open land. This is my chance he thought to himself But with clear lines of sight it’s going to be difficult to approach without being detected by everypony!

The most natural thing to do would be to simply start walking nonchalantly, playing his game as he always did. Unfortunately, being an earth pony, he couldn’t play his game with magic as he walked, so he had to turn off the JoyBoy and place it in his saddlebag. This made it impossible to act natural, so the colt looked around and surveyed his tactical options.

He noticed Snips and Snails practising their magic act about two clicks north of him, which would allow him to approach them and close the gap to his ultimate goal, without giving away his true strategic intentions. He made towards the pair, trying to act cool and aloof, but in doing so acted so unnaturally that he attracted the attention of everypony around him.

Having reached a suitable distance from Sweetie Belle, Diamond Tiara and Scootaloo waited until the unicorn filly wasn’t looking and dived into a nearby bush, each dragging their startled friend with them.

“WHAT…” Applebloom started to shout but found Scootaloo’s hooves silencing her “What in Equestria is going on!” the filly mumbled through her covered muzzle.

Diamond Tiara parted the leaves of the bush a little and pointed first to Sweetie Belle sat alone, and then over to Button Mash who was walking in Sweetie’s general direction. “I don’t get it!” Applebloom whispered.

Scootaloo and Diamond Tiara rolled their eyes at each other “Button Mash wants to ask Sweetie Belle to be his special somepony tomorrow, but we were in the way...” her pegasus friend explained “...only we didn’t realise it!”

“Oh!” Applebloom exclaimed and the four ponies peered out of the bush and watched the playground like spies.

Sweetie Belle looked over to where her friends had been, and to her surprise noticed that they had seemingly disappeared. Okay, something really weird is happening!

That is when she saw Button Mash was talking to Snips and Snails. Wait, is he trying to get over here? the filly thought to herself Or is that simply letting my heart rule my head? Regardless, the filly found herself instinctively checking her mane and tail, brushing a few strays hairs into place. She sat up as tall as she could, “like a lady always should” her sister always reminded her, and tried to act as cool as she could despite the butterflies in her stomach.

Step one of my quest completed the colt thought to himself as he let the pair show him their new magic trick, despite his obvious split attention. Okay, to complete the quest to reach the white unicorn, my fair maiden, I just need to cross the unforgiving open plain.

At the end of the trick, which went wrong and failed spectacularly, Button said his goodbyes to the unicorn pair and headed towards Sweetie’s table. The colt nervously looked around, trying to act unbothered, and was surprised how empty the playground had become. By now most of the ponies had picked up on what was about to happen, and had found hiding spots. The playground was so empty that had this been a western, a tumble weed would have blown pass.

Even Cheerilee was watching, hiding behind the school blinds. Despite lunchtime now officially being over, she decided to not ring the bell for a few minutes to give the lovebirds a chance to meet Go on Button, you can do it! Don’t turn away now…

Of course this made those final few steps for the young colt even more nerve wracking…