Chapters Button Mash and the Machine for Ponies
"...But the Everfree Forest?" Sweetie Belle asked. "That's the most frightening place, not to mention most dangerous and deadliest place in all of Equestria!"
"On don't worry Sweetie," Buttonmash replied. "it's just a date on the outskirts of it! Only enough to make things intimidating enough to keep us from going in, but we won't leave because it'll be fun!"
"Oh alright..." Sweetie muttered. 'It'll be fun for you at least...' She thought to herself. They made their way to the forest and sat down by a rock. Everfree Forest. One of the most feared areas in all of Equestria. Few ponies went there, even fewer came back to tell the tale. But Button thought of it as revenge for Sweetie making him play all of those horror games. It also was a way to get Sweetie to constantly be cuddled up beside him. And maybe their actual first kiss, but chances weren't likely. They had kissed before, but not a true passionate kiss.
Button, now 17 years of age put one foreleg around his marefriend whom he had known for nearly 13 years now, Sweetie Belle, who was about 16 years of age. Since the time Sweetie came over with Amnesia: A Machine for Ponies, they had developed a strong relationship. Not only that, but the two had made their own gaming channel on PonyTube. 4,292 subscribers. They were very successful.
"So what are we going to do Button?" Sweetie asked. She scooted closer to him, feeling more secure being right next to him.
"I think we should---" Suddenly something hit him like a smack to the face. Button stopped all thought and looked at the forest. "Somethings there..."
"What?" Sweetie said. Before she could react, Button walked directly towards the forest.
"We have to go, come on!" Button said.
"Button..." Sweetie stuttered. "Button wait!"
☣☢☣
Thirty Minutes Earlier
☣☢☣
Button made his way to Sweetie Belles house quick. He wasn't going to miss his chance at asking her out on another date. Of course, their last one was a month ago. He wanted something special this time. So he decided it would be a bright idea to bring her to the everfree forest. Bad idea.
Button trotted to the door. Most of the time his last minute dates would work out. He trotted up to the door and knocked. Sweetie, as if she was expecting it, immediately opened the door.
"Hey Sweetie would you like to---" Button said before being interrupted by her.
"Sorry Button, I can't today." Sweetie said.
"Wh-what?" Button asked.
"I'm sorry...I can't...I'm busy with something at school next week." Sweetie said. Her expression turned sad. She felt bad for doing such a thing to Button, but she had to do her school work.
"No Sweetie, don't be sad." Button said in a comforting tone. He gave her a hug. "I know you have school work to do, I understand, maybe next time."
"Thank you for understanding, Button." Sweetie said, a smile returning to her face. She kissed him on the lips really quickly. The only reason was because she wanted their first kiss to be a very special moment. A moment to remember. Button slowly walked back.
"Well, I'll see you tomorrow." Button said. He trotted away at a normal pace. Sweetie shut the door behind her, then a thought entered her mind. She opened the door quickly, right before Button had completely gone out of sight.
"Wait Button!" She shouted. Button turned back and trotted as fast as he could back to her house.
"Yeah, what is it?" Button said, panting.
"Catch your breath..." Sweetie said.
"Alright, I'm good." Button replied after panting slower and slower.
"Actually, that thing is due in three weeks." Sweetie said. "So I have some time."
"What about your sister?" Button asked. He didn't want her sister, Rarity, to hate him.
"She'll be fine, she lets me make my own choices now." Sweetie replied. "Either that or she just doesn't care, but either way I can still go."
"Alrighty then..." Button muttered. He motioned his head for her to follow him. She followed and they trotted away.
~~~
"So where are we going Button?" Sweetie asked.
"Everfree forest." Button said.
"What?!" Sweetie exclaimed.
"Some place scary, for all the games you made me play." Button said, he laughed but Sweetie was scared.
"...But the Everfree Forest?" Sweetie Belle asked. "That's the most frightening place, not to mention most dangerous and deadliest place in all of Equestria!"
"On don't worry Sweetie," Buttonmash replied. "it's just a date on the outskirts of it! Only enough to make things intimidating enough to keep us from going in, but we won't leave because it'll be fun!"
"Oh alright..." Sweetie muttered. 'It'll be fun for you at least...' She thought to herself. They made their way to the forest and sat down by a rock. Everfree Forest. One of the most feared areas in all of Equestria.
"So what are we going to do Button?" Sweetie asked. She scooted closer to him, feeling more secure being right next to him.
"I think we should---" Suddenly something hit him like a smack to the face. Button stopped all thought and looked at the forest. "Somethings there..."
"What?" Sweetie said. Before she could react, Button walked directly towards the forest.
"We have to go, come on!" Button said.
"Button..." Sweetie stuttered. "Button wait!"
"Button!"
Big mistake Buttonmash...Very. Big. Mistake...
Button Mash and the Machine for Ponies
Chapter One - This World is a Machine
He who makes a beast of himself, removes himself from the pain of being a pony.
~Dr. Samuel Johnson
Sweetie Belle ran after Button Mash as he descended into the deadly forest. Upon entering, not even one thousand suns could light the forest. Once you passed the first tree, everything was blacked out. Button Mash was five meters ahead, and completely out of Sweetie Belle's sight. Sweetie found herself lost about halfway in.
"Button..?" She called. No answer. She ran farther in. "Button?!" She called again. Nothing.
Button!
Suddenly, Sweetie felt something on her shoulder. She jumped back in fright.
"I'm here Sweetie." Button said. "Follow me, something is wrong and we need to find out what it is."
"Why?" Sweetie asked.
"Because we need to, now come on." Button said. He started walking in the direction of his overcoming feeling. Sweetie sighed, as it was the only choice she had to follow.
☣☢☣
After a few minutes of walking, the two found something strange. It was a type of recording device. Button looked at the strange device. He had not really seen anything similar to it, or like it at all for that matter. A custom design, he could tell, there were strange patterns and designs all over it. None of them seemed to match up in any way shape or form. It seemed to be crafted of oak wood, with some clockwork machinery in it. It was small, but it had some cylinder in it that Button assumed was something for recording audio. It didn't fit in with it's environment. The dark green grass on the ground made it stick out, as it was a light brown color. The trees from the forest dark grey trunks and leaves made it seem to glow. Button noticed a crank, and decided to hear what was recorded. He put his hoof down to the crank and touched it. To his surprise it went on it's own.
"You don't mind if I record this do you?"
"Not at all professor."
"My my, this is very convenient, where do you get these?"
"It's a design of my own, professor."
"Oh yes yes, I see. You do know why I'm here don't you? Because 'they' have...concerns?"
"Yes professor, I know that very well."
"Well let us start with a few questions, you told me about some...engineer of yours?"
"Yes, he is much like me."
"And...a machine?"
"Yes, professor. One that will fix this world."
"And how will it do so?"
"It is a machine for pigs. It will destroy all of the pigs in this world, and bring about a new one, to safe humanity."
"I admire your vision Mr. Mandus, I truly do! There are just not enough pigs in the whole of Equestria to feed the appetite of such a machine."
"That would all rather depend, professor, on what one would call a pig."
Button put down the device. After hearing those last two sentences. He knew what nightmare he had just been drug into. The machine existed, and he knew he and Sweetie were the next two victims. As far has he knew, he had to find a way out. He didn't know what mysterious force gave him the urge to enter, but it was some strange feeling. It was definitely a good reason NEVER to go to Everfree again, however.
"I don't know where the exit is!" Button said panicking.
"It's okay Button, I know the way out...I think." Sweetie said. "This way." She took his hoof in hers as they made their way though the forest. The deeper they went, the more intense the feeling of loneliness became. After continuous walking and strangely familiar sights, the two became more confused than ever. Sweetie Belle couldn't take it. Couldn't take the stress. For all she knew, was that the end of her life, everything she had ever dreamed of, it was all over. She couldn't help but to think that this may have been her fault for making Button play Machine For Ponies years back. She laid back on a tree and began to cry.
"Sweetie, what's wrong?" Button asked. He quickly made his way to her.
"This is my fault..." Sweetie said. "I did this..."
"No Sweetie...this isn't your fault." Button said, trying to comfort her. Things quickly took turn for the worst.
"I didn't notice until after we played Machine for Ponies, that it was from the Enchanted Game Store." Sweetie said. Button froze in place. After a few seconds, Button shook his head and smiled.
"Then that means we have to get through this together." Button said. He gave Sweetie Belle a kiss on the cheek and a hug. Sweetie hugged him back.
"You're very optimistic." Sweetie said.
"How can I not be?" Button said. "Even if I were to die, I would die with you, and as long as I get to spend what life I have left with you, I'm okay with that." After hearing this, Sweetie smiled and blushed slightly. He had never really been this emotional in his words before.
"Thanks Button..." Sweetie replied.
"Now lets get going, we have a machine to defeat." Button said. He helped Sweetie up as they kept making their way into the forest.
☣☢☣
As the couple made their way through the forest, the overwhelming feeling of darkness surrounded them. It became stronger, but so did they. Love is light, and light overcomes darkness.
Darkness runs from light.
DaRkNeSs Is LiGhT...
Button Mash and the Machine for Ponies
Chapter Two - A Machine for Pigs
Button and Sweetie Belle kept making their way forward into the forest. Not sure of their objective, all they could do is walk and hope for the best. They really did hope for the best. Of course, how could it get worse? Dark environment, no way out, and there was no telling what creatures lurk there.
Before long, the Button found a...thing. He couldn't say much about it, it wasn't really much of anything. Looked like a lump of dirt with a door. There was a switch beside it. He pulled the switch and the door opened. It was a large portal.
"Should we go?" Sweetie asked.
"Well..." Button replied slowly. "Where else would we go?"
"Good point." Sweetie said. She pushed him in and jumped in herself.
☣☢☣
The couple fell down in a bed surrounded by a gate. It was almost exactly like the game. Except the two children weren't there to open the door. It was already opened. Button looked over at Sweetie Belle, given her red face, she had realized the awkward situation before he did. They weren't just on the bed, they were under the covers tucked in real tight.
"Hmm...didn't see that coming." Button said. He took the covers off himself, and quickly put them back on with a red face.
"What's the matter, Button?" Sweetie asked.
"Wh...what's the c-cover up spell for an earth p-pony..?" He stuttered. His face turned redder by the minute.
"Oh...oh goodness let me think..." Sweetie said. "Oh I got it!" Sweetie cast a spell on Button. Button got out, perfectly covered. He didn't know that the 'simulation' was going to undo the cover up spell completely. He didn't fully understand the concept, really. The cover up spell is why most ponies don't need to wear clothes. It's a spell to keep all sensitive parts from other ponies. Young ponies are never granted access to turning off the spell, because of what could happen with their mistakes. Apparently, the...what he hoped was a simulation...had deactivated the spell for him. Unfortunately he didn't think about Sweetie Belle.
"Alright I'm good, lets go." Button said. He made his way to the door and opened it. Sweetie was behind him, neither of them noticed Sweetie needed the spell too. They made their way up stairs and to the attic, just like in the game.
"I'll go first, I'm afraid of heights." Sweetie said.
"But you just climbed another flight of stairs!" Button pointed out, looking the direction of the other flight of stairs and looking back at her.
"Well this is...different I can see through the stairs..." Sweetie said.
"Alright, go ahead." Button said. Sweetie stepped in front of him and up on the stairs. At that point, Button (unintentionally) locked his eyes on Sweetie. "Oh my..." He muttered.
"What?" Sweetie said. She glanced back at Button whose eyes were dilated and directed towards...a different Sweetie Belle.
"I th...think you n...need the spell t..too..." Button said, he quickly shook his head to get out of the daze. Sweetie immediately turned red and ran up the stairs.
"I'm sorry Button...I didn't know the spell was off of me too!" Sweetie quickly cast the spell on herself and sat down biting her lip.
"Nah...nah it's fine..." Button said. "I didn't mind at all..."
"Button!" Sweetie exclaimed.
"What?!" Button asked. "How am I supposed to help it?"
"Ugh...Touche..." Sweetie replied. "Come on, lets go." They kept walking through the mansion until they found another recording device. Button pressed the button and it started playing.
"I must say my dear stallion, you...you look awful."
"Yes I...I've seemed to have picked up something rather nasty in Mexico."
"I do understand...what you've...been through. A lesser man would have crumbled yet you...have made all this. Your great factory, your charities...It is a wonder...for one man alone---"
"It will all be made clear professor, but first...a drink?"
With that the recording ended. Button and Sweetie were...very confused with the recordings...the phonographs. They didn't add up. But one thing was for sure...they can't record something that wasn't there...in this place...Mandus was real, the professor was real...
The Machine ...was real ...
☣☢☣
Making their way closer, Button Mash and Sweetie Belle found a telephone of some sort. Button remembered and waited on it to call. He was expecting it to say "Precious Eagle Cactus Fruit...Help Us..."
"Hey, it's that phone..thingy!" Sweetie said.
"Yeah, I remember that!" Button said. They waited on the phone to ring, but nothing happened.
"We should look for another one...this one seems to be broken." Sweetie said.
"Yeah." Button said. They both walked about three feet from the phone before it started to ring. When Button turned back, he saw a shadow run across the room.
Button trotted to the phone and looked at Sweetie. Sweetie nodded her head as a signal for Button to answer. He did, expecting the Cactus Fruit statement, but instead he got something else.
"Button Mash...Nice of you to join us." A voice said.
"Wait...you're supposed to say something else!" Button said.
"No...no no no." The voice replied with laughter. "I'm not supposed to say anything. You are in the world, not the story...Mandus is not here yet, your journey is before his. Do you remember that shadow across that wall? Well that's something for you to deal with, as Mandus deals with his pig mask."
"You mean...it's going to stalk us?" Button asked. There was a clicking sound on the phone, then a louder sound indicating the voice hung up. "Hello? Hello?!"
"Wait...so we aren't walking through the game?" Sweetie asked.
"No...we but we need to shut down the machine." Button said. "Or at least try."
Button made the decision to take a new route. Going through hallway upon hallway, getting to the machine through a different way than what Mandus did through the church.
☣☢☣
"Extraordinary...Quite Extraordinary...and you built it all! Dear Celestia...Mandus...you have been busy.
"It is wonderful how tragedy focuses the mind. What else was I to do? Fall into grief and fade into my hopelessness? Why not then * DIE ** in those jungles amongst those dead temples?"*
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Button Mash and the Machine for Ponies
Chapter Three - Fit Only for the Slaughtering of Pigs
"Your faith shackles your vision professor...it is an iron coffin that keeps you from grasping the future! We require a new deity, one of steam and the wheel of...magnetism and progress! That old Celestia is nothing more than a lamed hog! Spitting back awful and ponykind. These stallions...these so called stallions of vision, they would shackle the masses to a wheel, and turn it till their backs break! All for that opiate the lure of profit. Eh...these fools who lackey them, these priest, these officials, this...government...they make pigs of us all!
But what solution my dear Mandus, how to break this cycle...you cannot simply remove the promise of a better world from these unfortunates! In the work houses, in the orphanages! The belief in heaven is certainly the only sucker one can find!
We do not need to wait! We can bring forth paradise now! We can...speed the passion! With only a small sacrifice, we can hold the apocalypse! With just a small sacrifice, we can free our shackles, and deliver them to paradise now!
☣☢☣
"It's the elevator...to the machine." Button said. Looking around. He found a lever and stepped in. Sweetie followed right after. Button pulled the lever, and nothing happened.
"What's wrong with it Button?" Sweetie asked. She had a concerned look on her face.
"Ahh, it's nothing. Just didn't do it right." Button said as he pulled the switch again. The elevator lit up. Button smiled, but his smile quickly turned into a frown as the lights got dim and eventually turned off. Button kept pulling the lever.
"Button, I don't think it works..." Sweetie said.
"What tipped you off genius..." Button mumbled. He punched the lever and walked out. "You know what happens now."
"What?" Sweetie asked.
"Remember the Dark Descent? Before the prison?" Button said.
"Yeah...what about it?" Sweetie asked.
"The elevator. It took me three hours to fix." Button replied. "and now I have to do it again..."
"We could just take the stair---"
"What am I going to do...?"
"Maybe we could walk down the stai---"
"I don't even know where the engine room is!"
"BUTTON!" Sweetie shouted.
"Huh, what?" Button replied.
"We can take the stairs!" Sweetie finally finished pointing to a staircase. After a brief, but intense derp, Button made his way to the staircase, taking Sweeties hoof in his and walking down.
☣☢☣
"But we can save them! We can set them free! We can replace a rotten, old world, with a clean, new one."
"Mr. Mandus, you sound every bit the finatic!"
"Well, how can I be otherwise professor? How can, ANY stallion of ethics stand by and...watch this world drown in it's own excrement?
"...And your engineer...this...visionary whom which you are embarked upon this course, does he share your views?"
"Indeed he does, Indeed he does! The poor fellow has seen it ALL before. Now, this is not the first great civilization HE as wept for.
"And so you set about things immediately upon your retur---"
"Naturally, naturally! These things cannot be left a rot upon the tree, and sponsors were remarkably easy to find. I tell you professor, a trail of greed brings rich men to your door, like pigs to truffles!
"You've seen to have undergone quite a conversion in Marico Mr. Mandus..."
"You could have not seen it yourself and know it professor. As we disembark---even through my fever---I saw the detritus of this so-called progress! I saw, starvation and disease, rot and destruction, polluting the water of the empire! We are ruiners, you and I! ...And all of us, and we make the world unclean!"
"And you took it upon yourself to act as redeemer?"
"Professor, I would NOT be so presumptuous! I am merely a conduit! I am constructing an architecture to wrestle our damnation to the ground, and smother it with steam!"
☣☢☣
"They are continuing their way into a nightmare...why are you letting them do this?"
"Because, my dear, it is necessary."
"But why? Why all of the pain?"
"So that they may know."
"Know what?"
"Their mistakes."
"I knew you would have a reason father, you always do."
"Yes, I just wish your sister were here to see it."
☣☢☣
Button and Sweetie continued their way down the staircase, dark and scary as it was, they couldn't believe it would have gotten any worse. The staircase was a general design, spiraling and made of metal circling around a metal pole with a ten inch diameter. The staircase became more rusted as they descended. Not only that, but the feeling of something not being right also intensified.
"Does it feel strange to you?" Button asked, slowly descending the staircase. Sweetie doing the same, responded.
"Yeah...I'm not sure the stairs was the best option."
"It was our ONLY option." Button said. They continued down as the metal became more rusty, and the staircase less orderly. The steps started to feel damp on their hooves, which they disregarded until they saw a glimmering substance on the walls. A thick smell of iron infected the air. Both Button and Sweeties eyes were wide as they looked at their hooves. Sweetie nearly screamed. Their hooves were wet with blood from all over the walls and stairs.
"M...my hooves their....uhh...!" Sweetie stuttered.
"Sweetie, it's okay, don't worry!" Button said.
"But that's bl--blo....!" Sweetie stuttered once more, starting to panic and not being able to finish her sentence.
"It's...ugh..." Button said, before giving up on a comforting verbal response. He was at a loss of words, so he decided to give Sweetie a hug, hoping it would work. Sweetie stopped panicking and hugged him back.
"Sweetie it's alright, I'm here. It doesn't matter what comes our way I'm going to protect you from anything that will harm you, even if it costs my life. Just give me one thing in return, your trust and cooperation. We can't get through this on our own, we have to work together. I'm sure Rarity would be panicking over you right now, and we have to get back to her."
Button's expression was confused after he was done talking. 'Where did that come from?' He asked himself. He looked over at Sweetie who was smiling. She kissed him on the cheek and hugged him again.
"Thanks Button..." She said smiling still.
"Your..welcome..." Button said, still wondering where in the wide world of Equestria he'd gotten those words from. With that, they continued their way down the stairs.
☣☢☣
"How sweet."
"What is it father?"
"Oh, just the two individuals enjoying their moments of love."
"How can you see that daddy?"
"Because I am God."
"You are?"
"Yes, and I am bringing redemption to all of these ponies...starting with these two."
"And how do you supposed you will do that, father?"
"With my architecture, I shall conquer this nation, to set things right."
"One more question, father."
"Yes, my dear?"
"Why are you inside this machine?"
☣☢☣
Button and Sweetie descended the stairs for approximately fifteen minutes before reaching the end. There they found another elevator.
"Lets hope this one works..." Button said. He walked into it and pulled the switch. The elevator closed and slowly slid down. "Can't this thing go any faster?" Button muttered. The elevator suddenly stopped.
"Great..." Sweetie said. Suddenly the elevator sped down the shaft. Adrenaline pumped in both Buttonmash and Sweetie Belle as the elevator continued to fall faster and faster. Sweetie started screaming in fright as both her and Button started to fall slower than the elevator, giving the illusion that they were levitating above the floor. And all in a few seconds, the elevator crashed sending Button and Sweetie to the floor with a loud thud.
☣☢☣
"Is this it father?"
"No, dear, this is only the beginning."
"How much shall they endure before you stop?"
"As much as they can endure before their backs break."
"But why father?"
"Because it is better to punish them sooner than later...Wait a minute.."
"What is it father?"
"Oh yes...he's here."
"Who father?"
"You ask many questions my dear, you love to learn. That's good."
"But who is it?"
"Somepony I know, very well, and somepony who needs the punishment more than anypony else. He is the owner of a great industry. He left his two daughters and his wife to go on an expedition. In which he came back forgotten by them, he decided to get revenge by killing the wife, and leaving the two daughters to die. Luckily they grew up with the assistance of a mare who gave them comfort and support. But she couldn't take the stress of her life. She injected the older one with amnesia, but forgot the younger one. She told them to sleep the next night, and put them in an alley with enough supplies to live from it, and committed suicide."
"But why father? Why kill herself?"
"Because she knew what was coming."
"And what was that father?"
"Judgement"
☣☢☣
"Oh...ahhh I..I think my ribs are broken..." Button mumbled. Sweetie was lying on top of him barely conscious. She was just waking up when she noticed all of the blood on her. She got up and saw that the blood originated from Button's chest though some torn skin and bruises.
"Oh no...Button!" Sweetie said. She tried to look for a fabric to put over his bleeding wounds. She spotted some spare cloth lying on a catwalk piece. She picked it up when she heard Button mumble something. "What Button?" She asked.
"Behind you..." Button said. Sweetie turned around to see something she had never seen in her entire life.
"The Machines Reactor..." Sweetie said.
"What?" Button asked.
"And...the girl..."
"What girl..." Button said again. Sweetie seemed to ignore him as she walked over and applied the bandage to his chest.
"He tried to kill my sister...but he only killed my mother..."
"Sweetie...what are you talking about..."
"Our caretaker committed suicide...that's why Rarity never knew..."
"SWEETIE! WAKE UP!" Button shouted. Sweetie shook her head.
"Wha...What?" She asked. Button coughed and caught his breath.
"What's wrong with you?" He asked.
"What do you mean?"
"You are talking about some...person killing your mother, or something."
"Wait..."
"What?"
"I have to go..."
"Go where?"
"Goodbye Button..."
"Wait! Sweetie where are you---Wait! Come back!"
Sweetie!
"And they feel no pain. The process is completely sane."
"Sane, professor? Do we judge the accessible level of suffering by the pony's condition? Ask the beggar...professor. Ask the orphan, ask the whore...Ask the STARVING....Professor. The weak, the sick, the filthy! Ask them to define your 'sane!'
"I can meet him! Your great engineer, how marvelous. I must say my dear Mandus, my excitement is almost unseemly."
"Yes I can see that...Step this way professor, I will be right behind you." *A door is slammed*
"Mandus...? Mandus where the devil are you...I can't see a bloody thing...MANDUS!" *a piece of wood is shattered*
"We are the pig professor...we are all, the pig."
Button Mash and the Machine for Ponies
"Father...what is she doing?"
"Seeking truth, my dear."
"And how will she find it father?"
"By seeking light."
"Where does his light come from?"
"A shining city upon a hill, a grand beacon of redemption!"
"Where is the beacon, father?"
"Here, darling."
"It's here?"
"Yes. We are the beacon."
"How so, father?"
"Because we are the redeemers."
☣☢☣
"What is she doing...Has she left me? Why..?"
"I don't...Know....What..."
"I need to...I need..."
"I have to find her...I have to..."
"SWEETIE!!!"
☣☢☣
"And the suffering begins."
"Father, hasn't it been enough?"
"No!"
"F..Father...?"
"Sorry..."
"Why father?"
"Their sins are too great."
"Father, I see no sins in them."
"Look harder, dear. Look into their souls."
"I'm looking...Father...I..."
"Yes?"
"I see his sins...but the mare...I don't...I don't see anything..."
"Look closely dear, why do you think she hasn't been harmed?"
"Do you know her too father?"
"Very well."
"How well father?"
"Almost as much as you."
"What do you mean?"
"You shall find out soon enough."
☣☢☣
Sweetie Belle was confused. Making her way through the labyrinth, she thought of nothing but to set forward to her foremost priority, to confront the minotaur. Everything else went through her mind at once, though the one thing still remained, find the machine, find the stallion, find...your closest enemy. She ran here and there, but couldn't reach her destination. Though eventually, she found something familiar.
Button Mash, hurt and frightened, stressed and confused as he was, managed to get up and follow the trail of bloody hoofprints that Sweetie left behind. He had not the slightest clue at what he had to do, except to follow Sweetie Belle. Suddenly, the elevator went up Button crawled into a corner and rolled over. The elevator slowly came down and stopped at the catwalk. The doors opened. Button stare hard as a full grown stallion walked out of the elevator. The stallion was dressed in a suit, had a black and gray mane, and a brownish-tannish coat. He was a unicorn, levitating a small flashlight-lantern sort of device.
"The reactor is starting up..." The stallion said. He had a rough voice with a Canterlot Accent.
"S...Sir..?" Button muttered, reaching to the stallion for help.
"Dear Celestia!" The stallion said jumping. The stallion dropped the lantern out of fright, hitting Buttons hoof on accident. Button quickly exhaled as a sign of pain.
"Really...?" Button said.
"Sorry...I thought you were one of those...things..." The stallion said. He extended his hoof to Button.
"Thanks, but I kinda can't get up." Button said. He rolled over revealing the gashes in his chest.
"Oh my..." The stallion said. "Who are you?"
"Buttonmash..." Button said.
"Nice to meet you Button Mash." The stallion said. "My name is Oswald Mandus." Button jaw dropped open as soon as he heard the stallions remark.
"Oswald...Mandus?" Button asked.
"Yes...what about it?" Oswald replied.
"You...are real..." Button said.
"Why yes I---" Oswald stopped. He realized that Button didn't belong. "Foreign Influence.."
"What?" Button asked confusedly.
"You don't belong here..." Oswald said.
"Yeah," Button laughed in response. "tell me about it."
"Something pulled you into Everfree...." Oswald said, staring directly at Button.
"How do you know about Everfree?" Button asked.
"My recording....the professor..." Oswald stuttered.
"You're talking like Sweetie Belle now!" Button exclaimed. Oswald stopped talking and glared at Button. His expression was so ghostly that Button was nearly frightened.
"W...who?" Oswald asked.
"Sorry...my mare friend, Sweetie Belle." Button said, pausing for a moment to look at Oswald's blank expression. "What is it to you?" A tear fell from Oswald's eye.
"She's still alive..." Oswald said.
"What?"
"My daughter is still alive!" Oswald exclaimed.
"WHAT?!" Button exclaimed.
☣☢☣
"Papa?"
"Yes, my dear?"
"That man..."
"What about him?"
"He looks like you..."
"Yes. Yes he does."
"..."
☣☢☣
Sweetie made her way through tunnels and wires trying to get to the core of the machine. Finding herself in freezing cold environments, she had to pull herself together multiple times to avoid freezing to death. As ice literally built on her fur, her skin started to become cooler, and cooler. Sweetie ran as fast as she could in order to build some heat. She stopped when she heard something in the other tunnel. She looked back and saw nothing. After returning to her original route, she saw a flash of light, and heard another odd noise. She looked back again. Staring down the hallway for a few minutes, she noticed her eyes started to dry up. So she blinked. Suddenly...
Sweetie screamed and ran as fast as she could away from the monster, it kept disappearing and reappearing in different locations. Sweetie tried to make sense of it, but couldn't. She trotted towards an exit when the hybrid monster appeared in front of her, delivering a hard hit and scratch to Sweeties face. Sweetie pushed the monster to the side and ran. The monster appeared in front of her face again. She dodged it's second blow and punched it in the face. The hybrid squealed and cringed, covering its face.
"Stop! Stop it!" Sweetie screamed. The monster covered it's face in what seemed like fear. Sweetie looked at it and tilted her head confusedly. The monster looked like it was crying. "Monster, are you alright?" Sweetie asked. The monster faced Sweetie Belle. It's eyes were blocked out by two yellow metallic objects that were bolted to the monsters face, along with some rope that circled the monsters head a few times. "Oh my...you look awful." Sweetie said. "Let me help you up." Sweetie extended her hoof to the monster, which being confused about what was happening, hesitated momentarily. Eventually the monster decided to accept the help of Sweetie Belle and took her hoof. "Let me make you a deal." Sweetie said. "You don't kill me, I'll lead you to the man who did this to you, so you can take care of him! Sound like a deal?" The monster couldn't move it's head or mouth much, but Sweetie could tell that on the inside the monster was frantic to do so. "Alright then, monster." Sweetie said. "Lets go!"
☣☢☣
"Come on Button, we must hurry!" Mandus exclaimed helping Buttonmash up from off the ground.
"What do you mean daughter?" Button asked.
"I'm just as confused on why she is your marefriend, but nonetheless I will not waste my time trying to figure out things with my daughter wandering about this wretched place." Mandus replied.
"Yeah, tell me about it." Button said.
"I did..." Mandus responded with a confused tone. Button facehooved and motioned for Mandus to keep going.
Button Mash and the Machine for Ponies
"...But father...this doesn't make any sense..."
"This world makes no sense."
"How do you make sense of it, father?"
"I bring order...My...Order..."
☣☢☣
Sweetie Belle and her 'Monster' walked through the halls of the lower machine components. They saw device after device, and some strange containers. Not being sure what it was labeled exactly, other than making out "C--po--d -", Sweetie decided to take a closer look and identify the substance.
"What do you think it is?" Sweetie asked the monster. She had a slight Canterlot accent for some reason, but it was disregarded. The monster shrugged and looked closer at it. It took the container in its hands (if you could call them that) and acted as if he were unscrewing the lid.
"Oh yes, I see." Sweetie stated. "Go ahead, lets see whats inside." The monster nodded and tore off the lid. The contents immediately sprung out in a wide electrical ark shocking the monster to the point that it's eyes started glowing through the covering. Arks of electricity appeared all over the monster as more and more of the liquid clung to it's body and sunk in.
"Compound X...." Sweetie said. "Wait were did I..." Sweetie stopped and looked up at the Tesla. "Oh my..." She said. The monster fell down to its knees and became motionless. Sweetie looked at it.
"Monster, are you okay?" She asked. Her voice became much different, a thicker Canterlot accent. She started to feel strange as she suddenly became more concerned about the monsters health. Unknowingly, a tear came to her eye. She found herself crying over the monsters death, for some reason. Suddenly, the monsters Compound X containers--built on it's body--supercharged and re-activated its nervous system. The monster started blinking in and out of existence uncontrollably. Sweetie stared at it confusedly.
"What is happening?" Sweetie questioned. This time, she noticed her innocent tone and Canterlot accent. The Tesla eventually stopped and stood up. Sweetie looked at it.
"Shall we continue?" She asked. The Monster nodded and started walking down the hall.
☣☢☣
Button and Oswald traced Sweeties path until they finally got to the reactors.
"Alright, all I have to do is---" Oswald started before Button interrupted him, finishing his sentence.
"Flood the machine with compound X!" He said. He trotted over to the compound X containers, shoving them in some clockwork machinery below one by one. The machine roared and rumbled as it tore itself apart. Mandus stared in amazement.
"How did you know about this?" Oswald asked.
"It was in the game." Button said, smiling proudly.
"What...?" Oswald asked confusedly.
"Nothing, we just need to get to the heart of the machine so we can reach the temple and shut this thing down. Once we finish I can return home, if all is as planned. You should have been able to do most of the original work." Button said. Oswald was extremely confused, so he decided to stop asking questions and keep going forward.
☣☢☣
"It's time."
"Time...for what?"
"Time for a revival."
☣☢☣
Sweetie Belle was running through the hallways with her monster when suddenly, there was a bright flash of light. When it faded, Sweetie and the monster saw a large room and an even larger machine. There was a small filly at the top, beside something that looked like an iron lung. It was too dark to really make out anything though. Suddenly, monster was then struck with an electrical arc and killed. Sweetie looked at it and began to cry.
"No! No!" She shouted, tears flooding her eyes. "What did you do to him?"
"Hello, nice of you to join us." A voice said. It sounded like the one in the phonograph recordings.
"Who are you?" Sweetie asked.
"Oh, you don't know me?" The voice said.
"No...how do you suspect I would know you?" Sweetie asked again.
"Father, who is she?" The filly beside the iron lung said.
"You tell me." The voice said.
"Father, what are you talking about...why do I sound like her?" Sweetie asked.
"You ask a lot of questions don't you. Sounds like my daughter up here." The voice said.
"Your daughter?" Sweetie said in confusion.
"Yes..." The voice replied. "Sweetie Belle?"
"Yes?" Sweetie, and the filly answered. Both almost choked on their word when they looked to each other. The lights were then turned on, the filly, was Sweetie Belle. Both eyes were widened.
"So now do you get it, darling?" The voice said.
"Darling...I'm not your darling...you're a heartless, soulless machine!" Sweetie screamed. About that time, Button and Oswald made their entrance.
"Sweetie Belle!" Both Oswald and Button shouted in delight. Sweetie turned and looked.
"Button!" She exclaimed.
"A family reunion I see?" The Machine.
"Father who is that, why does he look like you?" The filly asked, standing scared beside the iron lung.
"Sweetie...?" Oswald stated confusedly. Looking at both Sweetie Belle, and the filly. "Sweetie Belle! Don't listen to him he's NOT your father!"
"Why does he know my name?" The filly asked again, trembling with fear.
"Because he is me...a rogue me...one of me to be eliminated." The Machine answered again. "And I'm going to have to take care of him, but in a more physical matter. Stand back darling, for this might cause a bit of damage to those too close."
"What do you mean fa---" The filly asked before being interrupted.
"I SAID STAND BACK!" The Machine shouted. The filly jumped back in fear. "IT IS TIME FOR MY RESURRECTION!"
All of the ponies watching stood back, as the iron lung started to glow. It slowly opened, metal around it started to melt as the heat intensified. The Machine began to laugh maniacally as his body arose from the grave in which he was bound for years. He had broken his chains and was resurrected, and blood thirsty.
Meanwhile, Sweetie found a way upstairs to the poor filly laying scared in the corner. She began to make her way up there as the machine started to speak.
"This world is a machine....a machine for pigs, fit ONLY for the SLAUGHTERING OF PIGS!" The Machine shouted. He lifted his voice over intercom throughout all of London. "Whores....Beggars...Orphans...FILTHY LEGITIMATES, PIGS ALL! But I shall PURIFY THE STREETS! CLEANSE THIS CITY, AND MAKE IT ANEW! ONLY THROUGH MY REDEMPTION, CAN YOU ASCEND TO THE SKIE AND CLAIM THE HEAVENS AS YOUR KINGDOM! Ashes....Ashes...BONES AND ASHES! For the pile will reach critical, and we can have SUCH A BURNING, THAT THE CITY WILL SHINE AS A BEACON, OF REDEMPTION...TO THE WORLD!"
Monitors started appearing on walls all around Mandus and Button. Showing scene after scene of ponies being mutilated by hybrid-pigs.
"DO YOU HEAR ME MANDUS? THIS IS WHAT YOU PLANNED!" The machine shouted.
"This is not what I meant!" Mandus pleaded. "This is not what I meant AT ALL!" The machine laughed and threw Mandus into a corner. A minus 1 appeared over his head. Button looked confusedly. In front of the machine, there appeared to be a health bar, much different from the machine for ponies game. Button threw a rock at the first orb. The machine fell to the ground.
"Who did that..." The machine said angrily. He looked up at Button. "You did didn't you...YOU LITTLE TWAT!" The machine, emphasizing his words while doing so, threw a block of cement at Button, who jumped on it, doing a backflip off of it and delivering a drop kick to the machines mouth. The machine staggered back in pain after hitting a wall. Angrily, blew open a wall with a sewage entrance. The machine opened the entrance, two engineer pigs came out.
"KILL HIM!" The Machine shouted, pointing to Button. The pigs started making their way to Button as the machine drew energy from the remaining orb and flew back up to the balcony.
Button threw a punch at the first pony-pig. It grabbed his hoof and threw him down. Button thought for a minute. He walked back, then trotted forward and jumped on the pigs head. It went flat and disappeared.
"What the..." Button said. "This is like...Mario or something..." Button dropkicked the next pig into a wall and threw a boulder at it. The machine roared in anger as it threw electric bolts down at Button. Button jumped around dodging them. He found a mirror and reflected the electricity to the orb, which blew up, making the machine plummet to the ground once more. Button ran up to the machine with another large piece of cement and swung it at the machines face. The machine to a staggering -47 with a remaining 2% health left. Button punched the machine once.
"THAT'S FOR HURTING AN INNOCENT CHILD!" Button screamed in anger. The hit brought the machine to 1% health. Button drew back his hoof. "AND THIS IS FOR HURTING MY SWEETIE!" He threw his hoof forward and punched the machine's face into the ground leaving a large crater. Button got up as the machine lie down motionless.
The little filly ran up to Oswald. "You're my really father, aren't you?" She asked.
"Yes darling...I am your daddy." Oswald said. He gave her a hug. She hugged him back.
"Well that's sweet." Buttons said. He looked at the audience. "Get it? Sweet? Sweetie?" Then I slapped him and continued being serious with the story.
"Button!" Sweetie said.
"Sweetie! Are you alright?" Button asked.
"Yes, you put up a nice fight out there." Sweetie replied.
"Thanks." Button said.
"We should do this again sometime!" Sweetie said.
"Uh...Haha..." Button responded. "No thanks." They both laughed.
"I guess it's time you two get back to your world now." Oswald said.
"Yeah." Button said. "Nice knowing you, Mr. Mandus."
"You too." Oswald replied.
A portal opened in a wall close by. Sweetie and Button walked out.
They beat the game.
☣☢☣
"So Button..." Sweetie said.
"What?" Button replied.
"Did you expect anything that you didn't get?" Sweetie asked.
"Well, after the staircase I'm not sure what else to expect." Button said laughing. Sweetie slapped him.
"Button! Not like that!" Sweetie said.
"Well...I'm not sure..." Button replied. "Unless---" Button was suddenly interrupted when Sweetie Belle drew close to him.
"Let me give you a hint then." Sweetie said. She then kissed him. On the lips this time. Very passionately. Button's thinking was about as stuttery as those last three sentences, until he realized he should just enjoy the moment. So he kissed her back.
The End
Button Mash and the Machine for Ponies
Sweetie Belle and Rarity sat down in Carousel Boutique. Looking around at the merchandise once more with nothing much to do.
Then, they heard something.
A knock at the door.
Rarity lazily pulled herself up as Sweetie followed behind.
Rarity opened the door to see a stallion with a suit on, he had a beard and looked very dirty.
"Oh, hello, I'm sorry, but we are closed---" Rarity said before being interrupted.
"I'm not here for clothes." The stallion said with a rusty Canterlot Accent.
Sweetie Belle smiled. "Let me take care of this sister." She said.
She walked up to the stallion and hugged him.
Welcome home, daddy.