Just Big Boned

Chapters

Instinct
Introductions
Insults
Initiation
Investigating
Indulgence
Insecurity
Information
Illustrious
Intimidation
Empathy
Temptation
New Sequel!
New Spin-Off!

Instinct

Butter woke to a loud and obnoxious beeping sound. Mumbling softly to himself, he opened his eyes, focusing on the whirling ceiling fan above him. He had a horrible night trying to fall asleep, mostly due to the anxiety of his first day at his new school. It didn't help that it was so hot in his room that he needed to have the fan on at full-blast. Why did it have to be so hot here?

He looked towards the direction of the annoying noise and saw that it was his alarm clock going off. He mumbled again in disgust over the fact that he had to wake up at seven in the morning. What type of cruel pony would make a little colt like him get up at seven? He's a growing foal who needs at least nine, maybe even ten hours of sleep! Are they trying to kill him? He realized that he was getting off-track with his thoughts and needed to get ready. School started in half an hour...

Butter slowly got out of his warm and cozy bed, sighing as he didn't want to lose the nice feeling of warm and soft blankets. He walked toward the bathroom and looked in the mirror. Staring back at him was a young, light-yellow pegasus with vibrant yellow hair. His eyes were light blue and drooping a bit, still trying to fully wake up from his rather short sleep. Butter noticed his cheeks were still as pudgy as yesterday and sighed softly. He looked down at the sink, a bit down at the image. After a bit of thought he reassured himself that his cheeks weren't fat. They were just defining cheekbones. The ones that the successful movie stars have after tons of plastic surgery. Yeah... Slightly happier with the thought, he grabbed his toothpaste tube with his mouth and squeezed gently with his teeth, pouring a generous amount of toothpaste on his toothbrush. He leaned down and clutched the toothbrush with his mouth and brushed his teeth with his hoof. After about a minute of brushing, he laid the toothbrush down on the table and spat out the excess toothpaste in his mouth. He ran the water on the sink and cleansed his face of any toothpaste that remained on around his lips.

Turning off the water, Butter started walking downstairs when he smelled a sweet scent in the air and heard familiar sizzling near the kitchen. His eyes widened as he started to smile a bit. That could only mean one thing. His mother was making the Celestia blessed gift that could only be described as...pancakes. Quickly trotting at a faster pace, Butter made his way into the kitchen and sat at the dining room table. He glanced towards the kitchen from his seat and saw his mother carrying a plate of pancakes, smiling as she set them down in front of the yellow pegasus. For a slight moment, Butter didn't care what the rest of the day would be. He only cared about the plate of flat, round, fried batter drenched in syrup placed before him. Leaning into the sugary treat, he quickly bit off a large amount of cake. His smile grew almost immediately. If there was anyone would could make his day from horrible to terrific just by presenting him with delicacy of a pancake, it was his mom.

Butter's mom giggled as he watched his son eat. "Are they good, Butter?"

Butter was almost too lost in his bliss to even comprehend his mother's question. He glanced back at her and softly replied with a small nod.

Butter's mom giggled again. "Well I'm glad, sweetie." She smiled and ruffled his hair gently. Even though he didn't show it at times, Butter's mom knew that he cared for her immensely. And she loved him just as much, if not more. Butter's mom slowly took ahold of her coffee and took a sip. "So, are you ready for your first day of school?"

Butter froze. His smile was replaced with a small frown as he let out an annoyed sigh. "No."

Butter's mom frowned a bit as well and said, "Butter, I know this is tough for you, especially after the way you were treated at your old school."

Butter remembered the bullies he faced while at his old school at Fillydelphia. He was also reminded of all the insults he received while he was there. The nickname that the bullies really seemed to prefer to call him though was "Butterblob." That one insulted him the most. He wasn't a blob, or even a bit chubby for that matter! He was just big boned...or so his parents tried to make him believe. Still, the words hurt him.

Butter's mom took note of her son's melancholy and added quickly, "But this is a new start for you! Everypony here is nice to each other and I'm sure that you'll make a lot of friends at your new school!" She gave a minuscule smile, hoping that her words would reassure Butter.

Butter just looked away from her and replied "Yeah, yeah..." He looked back at his pancakes and took another bite. After swallowing, he glanced back at his mother and asked "Did Dad go to work already?"

His mother nodded. "He leaves six and comes back at seven." She took the now empty platter (save for some small crumbs and leftover syrup) from her son and walked into the sink. "I'm glad that Donut Joe opened up a second building here in Ponyville! The pay is so much better, the hours are better for us. It's just fantastic!" She emphasized the last few words of her sentence with a rather ecstatic tone.

Butter scoffed at her and mumbled softly, "It's especially great when we had to move across to a whole different town so suddenly..."

Butter's mother heard his response and sighed again. She walked back into the dining room and looked Butter square in the eyes. "I'm very sorry we had to leave so soon, sweetie pie...but the whole opportunity was so...sudden. And you know how eager your dad is with opportunities."

Butter opened his mouth to retort but then halted for a moment. He knew his father really wanted the job. Heck, that's all he's even been talking about for the last week and a half. His father was a very passionate baker, that was obvious. He understood that he was an ambitious stallion and that it was not his fault they moved so suddenly. Butter's would-be rebuttal was replaced with a heavy sigh as he thought to himself, "It'd still would be nice to have known ahead of time..."

Butter's mom glanced up at the clock hanging in the dining room. She spoke with an enthusiastic tone, "Oh, look at the time! It's time for you to be getting to class!" She walked into the kitchen with a smile on her face, leaving Butter a bit confused.

"W-Wait, aren't you coming with me?"

She walked back into the room and laid a brown paper bag in front of him and replied, "Honey, I'm sorry. I would but your ditzy father forgot his lunch."

Butter paused before speaking. "Again?"

"Yes...again..."

Butter groaned audibly. His father may be enthusiastic, but he was extremely forgetful as well. He opened his bag slowly and observed the contents inside. A peanut butter sandwich, some apple juice, and best of all, a chocolate chip cookie. He smiled a tiny bit before shaking his head and reassessing the situation once more.

"B-But, you can't leave me alone! Wh-What if some teenagers come at beat me up or something?!"

Butter's mom's eyebrow rose up a bit. "Butter, the school is only a couple of hoofsteps away. And besides, who would hurt a ten year old colt for no reason?"

Butter stood silent for a second and gave a simple shrug. He knew that there was no chance that would happen. He just wanted his mom so that she could protect him from the bullies that may or may not be enrolled in this new school. Plus, he felt safer in general when his mom was around to hug him for a bit, although he would never admit it. He didn't want to look like a pansy.

Butter's mom sighed and leans down so that she was eye-level with him. She said to him in a comforting tone, "Butter, you're going to be fine. And you're going to make lots of friends, I guarantee it."

Butter sighed again and exchanged the look. "How are you so sure?"

Butter's mom gave a small smirk to him and replied, "Mother knows best."

It would've been at that point where Butter would've deconstructed that well-known saying by calling it cliché and overused, however there was something about her tone that made her so confident. And when Butter's mom was confident, she was always 100% correct.

Well...around 95% correct if you wanted to be accurate. But that's still a good chance.

Heeding his mother's words, Butter sighed again and mumbled incoherently under his breath. He then glanced back up at her at said quietly, "Fine..."

Butter's mom's smirk turned into a bit grin. She kissed the young colt on the cheek and said happily, "Thank you, sweetie pie~!"

Butter blushed a bit by the peck on the cheek and tried to wipe it off with his hoof. He growled softly and leaned down, picking up his lunch bag with his mouth. Butter's mom opened the door for him and told him, "Have a great day Butter!"

With the bag in his mouth, Butter replied, "Yeash shure..." He slowly continue his walk towards the direction of the school and looked back at his house. He saw his mom lock the door and walk towards the left, skipping a bit as she trotted. He waited a few moments to make sure she was gone and quickly laid the bag down on the ground. Sticking his muzzle inside the bag he felt around, trying to get an early bite of the cookie she planted in his bag. He suddenly felt a familiar hoof tug him out from the bag. He quickly looked up at the pony and saw that it was his mother again. He smiled a bit innocently, unsure of what to say. "H-Heh..."

His mom set him down and said in a parental manner, "What have I told you? Cookies are only for when you've finished your meal!" She rolled her eyes at him and almost immediately starting walking back to where her father worked.

Butter shook his head and sighed. He picked up his bag and thought, "How does she always know...?"

He heard her mother yell from across the way, "INSTINCT!"

...Yeah, that'll do it.

Introductions

Butter continued to advance forward at a slow pace, looking around his vicinity. He didn't want to be caught off guard by any bullies trying to possibly heckle him. He turned around his whole body slowly and began walking backwards, making sure he had a full view of the scenery behind him. Occupied with his surroundings, Butter suddenly bumped into somepony in front of him. Somepony big. Somepony big enough to easily beat a defenseless colt to a yellow pulp.

Flinching and yelping softly, Butter fell to the ground. He gazed up quickly at who he bumped into, hoping that he or she wouldn't be angry. Instead, he saw a purple pony holding a list of some sort looking at him not in an angry way, but more of a concerned way. Almost immediately, the pony asked, "Oh goodness, are you okay?"

Embarrassed about falling over, Butter quickly got to his hooves and nodded quickly. "Uhh, y-yeah. I'm fine."

The pony's worried look soon changed into a look of relief as she smiled at him. She checked at her list as if searching for something and then looked back at him.

"Are you Butterball?" Butter nodded in response as the purple pony's smile grew a bit. "It's nice to meet you. I'm Miss Cheerilee and I'll be your teacher."

There was something about her pleasant tone that made Butter feel a bit more comfortable. Butter smiled back a bit and said softly, "Nice to meet you, too." Butter looked past the teacher and noticed that the school was right behind her. Butter thought to himself, How could I have missed that?

Cheerilee noticed her new student's discovery as she spoke once more. "Here, let me lead you inside." Butter looked at her and nodded as he followed Cheerilee inside the school. He noticed that there was only a hoofful of students inside talking to each other, so either he was early or there was not many students attending here. Then again, this was the only school in Ponyville, so he suspected that it was the former. He observed the chalkboard on the east wall and noticed some multiplication and division equations written on it. Out of all the things in class, he hated mathematics most of all. He prayed to Celestia that they wouldn't do much work in that field.

Cheerilee interrupted his thoughts and told him, "Your desk will have your name taped on it. I moved you to the second row so you'd be able to watch and listen better." Cheerilee saw this as a way to be able to get him more adapted and comfortable to the classroom. Butter just saw this as a way to get called on more for questions he most likely didn't know the answer to. A bit irritated, Butter walked past a row of chairs and towards the second row, trying to locate his seat. He saw in the middle of the row a desk with the name "Butterball" taped on it. Butter shrugged and moved the chair back so he could sit down. After that, he moved in closer to the desk. It was a tight fit, but Butter blamed the chairs for being too high up and the desks for being too low down. That was certainly not the case for the other students, however to Butter, a lot of things were too small for him in the first place.

A few minutes passed as Butter just gazed up at the clock, waiting for class to officially begin. He saw a few other ponies entering the classroom, filling the room around behind him and in front. The most intriguing students to enter the classroom, however, were two fillies. One gray, with glasses on (which looked like they were just an accessory and didn't have lenses in them, but he couldn't tell) and the other pink, with a tiara which made the filly look rather snobby as it laid on top of her head. He noticed that both of them glared at him and mumbled to each other before giggling to themselves and sitting down in front of him at two empty desks. He was extremely suspicious over what they were talking about, but his thoughts were disrupted as a trio of fillies trotted into the classroom.

"GOOD MORNING, MISS CHEERILEE!" they yelled in unison. Startling Cheerilee, she screeched loudly and fell out of her chair. Butter couldn't help but snicker softly under his breath as she fell. He knew it wasn't kind to laugh at somepony, but he couldn't help himself. Cheerilee got up quickly, eyes wide from the sudden outburst from the three ponies.

"G-Good morning, girls!" she tried to exclaim back with the same amount of energy. All three of the ponies smiled and stopped when they noticed Butter sitting in the middle of the row of desks. He looked back at them as he froze.

The orange pegasus spoke up. "Um...what are you doing at my desk?"

Butter started to stammer and stutter, "U-Uh...um..."

Cheerilee then spoke up, "Oh, I forgot to tell you about our new student!" She giggled at her mistake and added, "Scootaloo, I moved your desk to the right of him."

The pony apparently named Scootaloo sighed and mumbled, "Okay..."

The yellow earth pony then stated, "It's okay, Scoots. At least we're not separated from across the room!"

The white unicorn added, "Yeah! It could be worse!"

Scootaloo just sighed and replied after a bit of thinking, "I guess you two are right." She grinned a bit as the three ponies continued to walk to their seats. The white unicorn sat to the left of Butter and Scootaloo sat to the right of him. The yellow pony took a seat to the left of the white unicorn and straightened the bow perched on top of her red hair. Scootaloo then moved her chair out a bit so that the three could all engage in a conversation together. Butter ignored their discussion and examined the clock once more, still anxious for class to begin. Suddenly, he realized that the three fillies stopped talking...

Butter slowly looked to the left of him and saw them all staring at him, smiling big. Startled, Butter turned his whole body their direction and just stared at them back. Time froze for a split second as Butter finally spoke up. "...What?"

Almost instantly, the yellow pony greeted him. "Hi! Ah'm Applebloom!"

The white unicorn followed her lead, "I'm Sweetie Belle!"

"And I'm Scootaloo!"

Then in unison they cheered, "And we're the CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS!"

After deafening the class with their chant, Butter had hundreds of thousands of questions for them. Cutie Mark what? What was that chant for? Are you the weird kids of the school? Are you three initiating me in a gang?! Instead, he only responded with an awkward, "...Cool..."

Overly excited, Sweetie Belle asked, "What's your name?"

Butter's mind raced. After that energetic release of over-enthusiasm, he didn't even know his own Celestia dang name! All he could do was stutter, "Um..." and "Uh..." a few times before he was interrupted by the teacher.

"Okay, class! Time to take your seats!"

Embarrassed by his failure of introducing himself, Butter quickly set all his attention on Cheerilee, not noting the three confused fillies around him.

"...But before we get to our lesson, it's time to introduce our newest classmate!"

...Horseapples... Butter leaned his head lower and hid his face with his hooves, hoping his amateur cloaking skills would come into play. Unfortunately, he was not that lucky, as he heard his name come from the teacher.

"Butter, would you mind standing up and telling the class about yourself?"

Butter groaned in defeat as he had no choice but to stand up in front of the classroom. He observed the classroom, noting that the three fillies eyes were wide. All three of them started talking to each other silently as Butter raised an eyebrow. More noticeably though, he noticed the pink pony with the tiara whispering something to the gray pony. They both simultaneously giggled as Butter thought Oh Celestia, please don't let it be me they're talking about...

"Butter?" he heard Cheerilee ask again. Butter shook his head.

"Um...I'm...Butterball...and..."

He heard the pink pony cover her mouth as she tried not to laugh audibly. He looked away and wondered what was so funny.

"M-My dad is a baker...and works at the new Donut Joe's right here in Ponyville."

The pink pony with the tiara immediately rose her hoof up. Before Cheerilee even had the chance to call on her, she blurted out, "Were you his taste tester then? Pfft..."

Butter didn't know if that was an insult masquerading as a serious question, but he reluctantly answered, "Well...only with a few of cakes and pies..."

"Oh, I see!" The pink pony then started to giggle softly with her gray friend. Butter's ears lowered a bit as he watched them.

"Aaaand...that'sallthereisaboutmethankyouI'lltakemydesknow!" Cheerilee opened her mouth again to speak, but Butter quickly bolted to his desk and laid his head down, covering his face with his arms.

"Ooookay then," Cheerilee stammered. "Well then class, today we were learning about division and multiplication."

Cheerilee's voice drifted off in Butter's mind as he thought, Great...now I look like an idiot. AND we have to do math! Suddenly, Butter felt his shoulder being tapped. Looking up in curiosity, he looked towards Sweetie Belle as she passed him a note swiftly, undetected by the teacher. Butter sat up quickly and looked at the note. He hesitated a bit before opening it up and reading it.

Meet us three after school for an offer you can't refuse.

Butter reread the note again quickly to make sure he read every word correctly. He thought to himself, biting his lip. I am so gonna get beat up...

Insults

Author's Note

Aha! I learned how to place notes!

Thank you all for your comments and advice for my story! I originally thought this was going to be a small thing to cure my boredom, but it's really becoming a habit now! I'm starting on getting some ideas for more stories and I hope to be able to write them as soon as I finish this one! Once again, thank you!

Insults

Cheerilee continued on with her lessons about math, which in Butter's mind only sounded like a bunch of crazy business speak. Quotient? Product? I'm sorry, I thought this was school! Not a stupid business meeting! Butter groaned as he lay his head on the desk, almost dead from boredom, when the class bell rang. Butter's head immediately sprung up as he looked at the clock. Oh thank Celestia for lunch!

Cheerilee gaze towards the clock and asked in slight surprise, "Oh, it's noon already?" She let out a small chuckle and added, "Well, time flies when you're having fun!"

Wait...that was supposed to be fun?

"Alright then class, time to go outside for lunch and recess!" Butter's face lit up. If he was ever being graded on for lunchtime and recess for some reason, he was bound to get an A+ in both subjects. Well, actually maybe a B in recess, being slightly less active than the normal foal, but still. He would be happy with a B. Maybe even a C+. Butter shook his head as he realized he was going off on a tangent in his mind and focused back on the task at hoof.

Butter grabbed his lunch bag with his mouth and waited for the students in the first row to walk outside. He saw the pink pony glare at him smirking a bit before whispering to her gray friend. They both giggled and continued on outside. Butter let out a sigh and followed the rest of the students outside, holding his lunch with a tighter grip. He looked around the playground and noticed a few swings, two seesaws, and a lot of open fields. Butter thought to himself, Pretty good setup. Not great, but pretty good. After a good look around the place, he slowly treaded towards a lone bench and sat down, dropping his lunch bag to the right of him. He was just about to reach inside and take a bite of his sandwich when he heard the voice of a filly perk up in front of him.

"Well, well, well! What do we have here?" it announced. Startled, Butter glanced towards the direction of the voice and found himself making eye contact with the pink pony from earlier with her gray associate accompanying her. The pink filly continued, "It looks like we have ANOTHER blank flank to deal." She scoffed at him and turned her head away from him, the gray filly mimicking her in a similar manner.

"E-Excuse me, a blank flank?" Butter inquired. He had never heard this term before, but judging by the actions of the two, it was an insult.

The pink one scoffed again, "Are you serious? You don't even know what a 'blank flank' is?" Butter shamefully shook his head at her question. "Wow, you're dumber than you look then..." Butter flinched at the insult. He knew he wasn't the smartest tool in the...place where ponies kept tools... But he wasn't an idiot! The pink pony observed the look on Butter's face and grinned a bit, "A blank flank is a loser like you who can't even get their cutie mark!" Both fillies giggled in unison at him, leaving Butter even more perplexed.

"What's so bad about not having a cutie mark yet?" Butter asked.

The pink filly looked at him, smirking a bit more. "It means you're not special like us!"

Butter was even more confused. "So having a cutie mark automatically makes you special?"

This time, the gray filly behind her spoke up. "Yeah! Everypony knows that!" Both of them started to giggle again until the pink pony decided to open her mouth to talk again.

"But it's okay, I'm sure you'll get your cutie mark in eating REAL soon!"

Butter immediately did a double take. He didn't think he interpreted her words correctly. All Butter could do is let out a faint, "Wh-What?"

The sinister pink filly's smile grew. "You heard me, Blubberball!"

Butter felt like he just got bucked in the stomach hard. Like all the wind was knocked out of him. Butter's mouth hung open for a bit as he tried not to tear up. He sniffled a bit and looked away, trying to cover his eyes with one arm.

"Aww...did I strike a nerve, fatty?" The pink pony cackled at her own insult as Butter's eyes started to tear up. He started to reconsider that maybe his parents lied to him. I mean she was right. He did eat plenty more than colts his age, mostly junk food and candy. Maybe he was fat. Maybe-

"HEY!"

Butter's thoughts were abruptly halted as he heard a familiar voice cry out from somewhere. Butter moved his hoof down, eyes still teary, trying to locate the source of the yell. He suddenly saw three fillies march towards the two bullies. The Crusaders! Butter's ears lifted a bit but then quickly flattened again. Wait, the Crusaders! It made sense now! The Crusaders were allies with the two unknown bullies. They were ganging up on him! Butter watched as they got closer and closer to the group. He braced himself and closed his eyes, waiting for more hurtful words to be thrown at him.

"You leave him alone, Diamond!"

...Pardon? Butter opened one eye slowly as he saw that the three fillies were not yelling at him, but at the two bullies.

The pink filly turned her attention to them and asked simply, "Or what?"

Applebloom answered, "Or we'll tell Miss Cheerilee that you both've been teasin' our new friend!"

Wait...did she just say friend? I hardly know their names and now suddenly my friends?!

The pink pony's eyes widened a bit as she to counter Applebloom's threat. "Y-You wouldn't tell on me! That's something a tattletale would do!"

Scootaloo's eyes narrowed as she confidently stated, "We would. And we will!"

The pink pony went silent, unsure of what to say. After a few seconds of complete silence, she turned to her gray companion and ordered her, "Let's get out of here, Silver. Before our cutie marks disappear!" The gray pony nodded a bit as they trotted off in an egotistical fashion.

The three fillies all exhaled in unison and moved their heads back to Butter. Sweetie Belle was the first to speak. "Are you okay, Butter?"

Butter could've have responded with a plenty of things. But with all the emotions and thoughts going through his mind he could only simply answer, "I dunno..."

The Crusaders inched forward towards him as Scootaloo tried to comfort him. "Hey, don't listen to what those brats have to say. They're just stuck-up jerks!"

Butter wiped his eyes with one hoof and sniffled, trying to keep his cool. "Y-Yeah...I think I got the hint the moment I saw that filly's tiara." He chuckled awkwardly, attempting to cover up the fact that he almost wept his eyes out.

"Yeah, don't worry about Diamond Tiara or Silver Spoon. They're just a buncha meanies!" stated Applebloom, smiling a bit more. Butter nodded in agreement as he started to grin a bit more as well.

"Oh, by the way! Did you get our note?" Sweetie asked, her voice cracking a bit.

Butter smile faded a bit. "Y-Yeah. B-But what do you mean by 'an offer I can't refuse?'"

Applebloom's eyebrow rose up a bit. "What are ya talkin' about?"

"Heheh..." Scootaloo chuckled nervously and started to back away slowly. "I-I wanted to make it sound awesome...and well..."

Applebloom shifted her attention towards her. "What are you tryin' ta do? Frighten 'im away?"

"I'm sorry! I didn't mean it to sound threatening!"

Butter groaned and exhaled deeply. Okay, so they aren't going to kill me. That's good news to hear.

Annoyed with her friend, Applebloom looked back at Butter and tried to reassure him. "Butter, ah'm sorry. We won't hurt ya!"

Scootaloo inched her way back into the group. "Y-Yeah! Honest to Celestia!"

Butter gave them all a questioning look. First they want to murder me, and now they want to be friends? Sighing a bit and giving a bit more thought he finally answered, "F-Fine..." The Crusader's eyes all lit up with glee simultaneously until Butter suddenly added, "But you have to tell me what you three are planning!"

With an agitated groan, Scootaloo turned to Applebloom. "Should we tell him?"

"We can't! It's supposed ta be a surprise remember!"

"Applebloom. I think I surprised him enough with my 'threat.'"

"C'mon!" Applebloom begged. Whatever the surprise was, it must've been pretty important.

Before Scootaloo could argue, Butter spoke up, "Fine...it can be a surprise."

Applebloom's ears lifted as she gave him a big smile. "Thanks, Butter!"

Before Butter had the chance to reply with a "You're welcome," he heard Cheerilee announce, "Okay! Lunch and recess is over!"

Butter's heart sank as he looked at his unfinished meal. The three looked at him as Sweetie Belle apologized. "O-Oh...s-sorry..."

Noting that the three really felt bad for the poor colt, Butter simply responded, "I-It's fine." He carried the bag with his mouth and starting walking back into the room. Whatever this surprise is, it better be good!

Initiation

Class started again as usual, this time the subject focused towards writing. With a pencil in his mouth, Butter tried replicating the cursive writing on the board. After struggling to get it perfectly copied, he looked down at his work. It looked more like a bunch of spaghetti on the ground rather than it did cursive. Butter groaned as he put the pencil down. Suddenly, he felt a tap on his right shoulder.

Butter turned his attention towards Scootaloo. "Dude, it's okay. I'm worse than you, actually!" she said, presenting her attempt. Butter would normally try to be modest as his mother told him, but she was right. It was far worse than his. Feeling relieved, Butter smiled a bit before he heard the bell ring. All the students around him stood up before Cheerilee spoke up.

"Hold on class! I haven't assigned your homework!" Everypony, including Butter either sighed or groaned. "Your assignment is a small essay on somepony you appreciate!"

Butter's miffed expression soon turned into an elated one as an idea soon ran through his mind. Wait, I can write about Dad! He's pretty interesting! Plus, I could earn popularity points from the others for having an awesome dad! Butter's wings flapped a bit in glee as he tried to contain his excitement.

"Alright, have a good rest of the day!" Cheerilee said as she dismissed the students. Butter followed the rest of his peers outside as he looked towards the Crusaders. He jumped a bit, noting that Applebloom and Sweetie Belle were both giving off very creepy smiles towards him, the kind of smile a Timberwolf gives before biting into its prey. Scootaloo trotted over to get her scooter and helmet before she realized what they were doing. Her eyes widened as she quickly joined them, sharing their unsettling smile.

Butter felt a chill down his spine. "...W-What?"

Sweetie broke their silence. "It's time." Suddenly, all three of them starting walking off, Scootaloo slowing down her pace on her scooter to accompany them.

Applebloom looked back at Butter. "Are ya comin' or not?"

There was a brief silence before Butter anxiously nodded and caught up to them. I'm going to regret this, aren't I...?

They started to walk casually to their unknown destination until Scootaloo started to smirk and open her wings. "Race ya guys!" Immediately, she start to buzz her wings as she bolted off with her scooter, leaving Applebloom and Sweetie Belle looking annoyed.

"Scootaloo! Ah said we were gonna be professional about this!" complained Applebloom.

"Professional my flank!" swore Scootaloo as she started to speed up.

Sweetie joined in the argument. "That's not even fair! You're on a...scooter..." It was too late, as Scootaloo was too far ahead to listen to their pleas. Both of their walking turned into running as they both tried to catch up to the obnoxious, competitive pegasus.

Surprised, Butter whined, "Hey! Wait for me!" He tried to contribute to the race, but after only half a minute of running, Butter was already out of breath and gasping for air. His running turned into jogging. His jogging turned into walking. His walking turned into him staying at a still position, inhaling and exhaling at a fast rate. He inspected his view in front of him, trying to locate the Crusaders. He saw that they were still rushing to their destination at a much faster pace than him, not even breaking a sweat. Butter groaned and tried to start to run again when he felt a sharp pain in his side. Butter growled in pain as he started to mutter to himself. "Owowcrampcramp...sonofadonkeyow...cramp..."

~~~

When Applebloom and Sweetie Belle got to the treehouse, they saw that Scootaloo was waiting for them, leaning on the side of the entrance with a cocky smile. "It's about time you slowpokes showed up..." she bragged.

"Can it, ya cheater!" scowled Applebloom.

"It's not my fault your so slow," she boasted.

Applebloom merely stuck out her tongue at her. Sweetie Belle interrupted their miniature feud and asked, "Hey, where's Butter?" All three of them looked around until they heard some gasping from behind them.

"I-I'm here!" attempted to say. Although with how tired he was, it sounded a bit more like incoherent mumbling. After a few more steps towards their location, he finally fell on his side, absolutely exhausted. Concerned with their new friend, all three of them bolted over towards him.

"Oh my gosh!"

"Are you okay?"

"Are ya dead?"

Sweetie and Scootaloo glanced towards Applebloom. "Wh-What? Ah'm just askin'!"

"N-No...I-I'mfine..." exhaled Butter. "I-I'mjustgonna...staydownhere...foranhourortwo..."

All three of them rolled their eyes. "Come on you drama queen!" said Scootaloo, poking his side. At the small jab, Butter suddenly sprang up and gave a feminine squeal. He got to his hooves quickly and backed away from her. Attempting to contain her laughter, Scootaloo asked, "A-Are you...pfft...alright?"

Butter responded quickly, "Yesjustdon'ttouchorpokemelikethatagain!"

Scootaloo's grin grew. "Ticklish?"

He blushed a bit and shook his head quickly. "Ofcoursenot!"

Observing the glow of Butter's cheeks, Scootaloo snickered. Applebloom just rolled her eyes and fake coughed. "Ahem! I thought we were starting the initiation..."

"Oh, right. Almost forgot!" The three fillies immediately shifted around towards the entrance and walked inside. They shut the door behind them and closed the open windows up with some wooden boards.

Butter heard loud rummaging throughout the treehouse for a few minutes, which was met with complete silence. After a few minutes of silence had passed, Butter called out, "G-Guys? Are you done yet?" There was no answer. He shrugged and stepped up to the door, putting an ear next to it as he tried to see if he could listen better. Still silence. Butter hesitated a bit before finally mustering up the courage to open the door to meet his fate. Inside there was darkness. No light. Not even a sliver of a sunbeam entering between the planks of the floors. Butter stepped forward some more when he heard the door close behind him loudly. Startled, he let out a silent shriek as the whole room went pitch black. "H-Hello?!" he tried to call out again, a bit louder this time.

"BUTTERBALL!" he heard a loud booming voice call from across the room. Butter screeched again and backed up into the wall, heart pounding. "DO YOU PROMISE TO RESPECT YOUR FELLOW CRUSADER BUDDIES FOR AS LONG AS YOU LIVE?"

"Y-Yes!" Butter squeaked out.

A second voice was heard, only this one was equally roaring and eerie. "WILL YOU TRY YOUR BEST AS A CRUSADER TO HELP OUT YOUR FELLOW CRUSADERS IN ACHIEVING THEIR CUTIE MARKS?"

"Y-Yes..." Butter said in a more calm and less frightening manner. It really didn't sound intimidating to him this time due to the fact that the voice used the term "cutie." It was really hard to use that word and still sound chilling.

"AND DO YA PROMISE TA NOT BE TOTALLY WEIRD AN' STUFF BECAUSE Y'ALL ARE A COLT?"

"Y-Ye-...wait what?"

Butter heard whispering from across the room. "Applebloom!"

"What?"

"You ruined the coolness of it!"

"Well, Ah'm just wondering, okay! I don't want 'im ta be like Snips or Snails!"

While the whispering voices were arguing, Butter sighed and felt the wall, seeing if there was a lightswitch somewhere.

"Applebloom, how many times have we told you? The ruling that the Crusaders should strictly be fillies was opposed three months ago!"

"Well, who made YOU the leader?"

"You were beaten two to one!"

"Well if Babs were here she would vote-"

The voices were interrupted as the lights flickered on in the clubhouse. He turned his attention toward the opposite wall and saw the three Crusaders holding megaphones. "U-Um..." stammered Applebloom. "Y-You're in!"

Butter rolled his eyes. "This was NOT a worthy surprise..."

All three fillies looked down at the ground in disappointment. "Butter, we're sorry," apologized Scootaloo. "We tried to make this look cool but we messed up."

Butter looked at them carefully and opened his mouth. The Crusaders were expecting for him to lash out at them, but instead heard him unexpectedly sigh. "It's...It's fine...don't worry."

"W-We'll make it up to you! Honest!" squeaked Sweetie.

Butter was unsure of that statement. "How?"

Scootaloo thought for a moment. "Well, since you are now an official Cutie Mark Crusader...we should go on a crusade!"

Sweetie and Applebloom simultaneously grinned. "Yeah!" they cheered in harmony.

"Woah woah...what do you mean by going on a crusade?"

"Well," Applebloom explained, "We try ta get our cutie marks by doin' things like-"

"Bowling!" Sweetie Belle interrupted.

"Sweetie, we already tried bowling..." sighed Scootaloo as she put her hoof over her face.

"Oh yeah...um..." Sweetie thought for a second before she spoke up again. "Fishing!"

"Did that..."

"...Kite-flying?"

Scootaloo nodded. "Did that..."

Butter sighed a bit, knowing that the others were at another stalemate. If this is some sort of gag, it's obviously not funny...

"Mountain climbing?"

"Did that..."

"Bowling?"

"You already said that!"

"Alright, Ah think he gets it!" Applebloom exclaimed, cutting them off. "What we're tryin' ta say is, we've done a LOT of things ta try ta get our cutie mark."

"But now that we have another member, we'll be able to get ours much faster than before!" noted Sweetie.

"So," added Scootaloo, "Any ideas of what we can do?"

Butter started to think for a moment before finally speaking up. "Well, if we can't think of anything we can do, can't we just look something up?"

"Huh?" Applebloom asked.

"Like, search up things we could do and get ideas from there?"

"Hey, that's a good idea!" piped up Scootaloo. "We could actually go to the library and see if there are any books on fun activities!"

"Good idea, Crusader Butterball!" remarked Applebloom. Butter smiled a bit at Applebloom's compliment. "Alright Crusaders! Forge to the library!"

The three fillies marched out the clubhouse before Butter spoke up, "W-Wait, where is the library?"

"Oh, it's back where we came from!"

Butter frowned a bit, "You mean ALL the way back there?"

Scootaloo snickered. "Don't worry, we'll go slow this time for you!"

Butter let out a sigh of relief. Thank Celestia...

Author's Note

Bad news, school is starting this Monday. So I won't be cranking out these chapters as much as I used to. Worst case scenario: a chapter every two weeks. But hopefully it won't come to that and I'll be able to write weekly chapters for you guys. Just wanted you to know.

Wub all you guys for your support on this lil story! <3

Investigating

The walk to the library continued as Butter's hooves started to ache. With every step, he felt the soreness increase slightly as he swore in his mind. Agh...this would be so much easier if my bones weren't so heavy! He looked over at the other Crusaders and was surprised to see that they weren't exhausted in the slightest. Curious, Butter asked, "How are you guys not tired at all?"

All three of them stared at Butter with quizzical expressions before Scootaloo spoke up. "Uh, dude...we've only been walking for a few minutes."

"Well it feels like it's been hours..."

The Crusaders were silent again for an awkward amount of time. "Um...Maybe y'all should possibly start walking more often?" suggested Applebloom.

Butter turned his head towards her. "What?"

"Well, if y'all are already tuckered out, Ah think you should exercise more often."

Butter's eyes narrowed a bit at the comment. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Well uh...ya see...Ah'm no doctor but...err..."

Scootaloo quickly interrupted the stammering filly. "What I think she's trying to say is that we think that you should perhaps...uh...go outside and do some...more activities more often!"

Applebloom nodded quickly. "Yeah! Like...sports for example!"

Butter's heart sank as he fell silent. His lip quivered a bit as Sweetie attempted to comfort him. "B-But we're not saying that to insult you, Butter! We're saying that because...well..."

"We care for you!" blurted out...Scootaloo? Butter immediately focused on the orange pegasus to confirm that she was the one who uttered those words. Her eyes widened as she coughed. "I mean...as a friend...we want to make sure that we're there for you, alright?", she added.

Butter gazed at her a little while longer. That was...very out-of-character for her. Shaking his head, Butter sighed and insisted, "Look, I'm not 'fat' like those two obnoxious fillies were calling me, alright? I'm just...big boned."

Applebloom opened her mouth to speak before Scootaloo leered at her, making her shut her mouth almost instantaneously. "Al-Alright." Butter sighed and turned back around, continuing the journey to their destination. "But Ah'm just sayin'..." she mumbled quietly so Butter couldn't hear.

~~~

"Well, here we are!" exclaimed Sweetie Belle as they got to a ginormous oak tree complimented with windows, a balcony, and a large door.

"This is the library?"

"Yep!" she answered.

Butter stared at her as if she just got her cutie mark for answering yes-or-no questions. "What type of weirdo lives in a TREE?"

"Hey!" Applebloom exclaimed. "Twilight's not a weirdo! She's a genius!"

"Actually," Scootaloo chimed in, "I think Butter has a point. She is pretty weird."

"Excuse me?" asked an unfamiliar voice coming from behind them. All four foals quickly spun around and met eyes with a purple alicorn. She had an inquisitive expression on her face as her wings folded against her side. "Who did you say was a weirdo?"

The fillies eyes widened. "NOPONY!" they all shrieked simultaneously.

The alicorn gave them an awkward stare before looking towards the yellow colt. She took note that his gaze was shifting between her wings and her horn. "Oh, hello! What's your name?"

Butter shook his head and made eye contact with the purple alicorn. "Oh...s-sorry. I'm Butterball."

She giggled at his reaction and said in a kind manner, "It's fine, Butter. It's not every day you get to meet a princess!"

Butter eyes widened as he exhaled a sigh of relief. "Oh thank Celestia, I thought you had a birth defect that caused you to have both wings and a horn."

Her content and cheery smile was almost instantaneously replaced with a scornful glare as she tried to look happy once more. Gritting her teeth, she introduced herself "Um...well...my name is Twilight Sparkle. It's great to see you..."

Butter's relieved smile started to falter when he saw her reaction. "Are you okay?"

Twilight sighed as she nodded. Looking towards the Crusaders, she attempted to grin once more. "So, what can I do for you?"

Sweetie replied, "We need books about different activities we can try to get our cutie marks!"

"Oh, alright! Come on in!" Twilight opened the door for the four foals to enter. "The books you're looking for should be...ah!" She pointed at a shelf from across the room. "Over there!"

As the three fillies trotted over to their desired shelf, Butter peered inside and noticed the interior. He was legitimately surprised to find that the inside was almost exactly like a normal house. Well, except for the hundreds of thousands of books. He saw pictures of a young Twilight together with what he assumed were her parents. He also noticed a fair amount of pictures of her with a white and slightly older male unicorn, who Butter could guess was a close relative or good friend of hers. He shrugged and glanced over towards the seemingly infinite supply of books on the shelves around the room. For a weirdo, she was pretty darn organized.

After he finished focusing around the room, Butter shifted his attention towards the Crusaders. Sweetie, Scootaloo, and Applebloom were all looking through the shelves and dumping the books that they didn't need onto the ground. He turned towards Twilight and expected her to be furious at them for making a mess with her organized books. However, she was surprising calm with the ordeal. "Why are you so calm over...this?"

"Oh, you mean them mismanaging my publications organized specifically by the dates they were chronologically published?" Butter nodded a bit even though he didn't know what half of those words she said meant. "Of course not. Besides, I'm reorganizing the books again tomorrow. This time in reverse alphabetical order!"

Butter gave her a questioning look. "Why not just leave them in the order you have right now?"

Twilight giggled at his response. "Oh, Butter. You'll understand when you're older!"

Butter gave her a peeved look. She's nuts.

Suddenly, the sounds of books dropping on the floor stopped as the three fillies let out a sigh.

"Dag nabbit! We already did all of these things!" declared Applebloom.

Curious, Butter walked over towards the scattered books and glanced at the titles of them. Skiing, joke telling, juggling, wrestling, raising pigs...cooking? Instantly intrigued by the cookbook, he opened it up and looked at the table of contents. Oh my Celestia, look at all these foods I could make! Hay fries, veggie burgers, CAKE! Butter passed the book over towards the Crusaders eagerly. "Have you tried cooking, yet?"

Applebloom let out a sigh. "Ah did. Didn't really turn out too well..."

"Well, you can try again!"

"Butter..."

"Please! I think if we try again we can do it this time!"

Applebloom groaned and tried to argue until she was interrupted by Sweetie. "Well, Scootaloo and I didn't try cooking yet. I guess we could try cooking."

Scootaloo nodded. "Yeah. Besides, we're fresh out of ideas!"

Butter's grin grew as Applebloom sighed even louder and longer. "Ergh...fine. We can try cookin' one last time!" Butter let out an excited giggle as Applebloom pointed her hoof in the air. "To Sugarcube Corner, ladies!"

"...And gentlecolt?" added Twilight.

Applebloom sighed and nodded. "And gentlecolt..." All three started to walk outside to their new destination as Applebloom mumbled to herself. "Two out of three votes ma flank..."

Indulgence

Butter was going to die. From walking. He knew that his legs would give out and he would be left on his belly, buzzards swarming at him. Wait, do buzzards migrate around this area? I bet the weirdo had read hundreds of books about buzzards. She would know...he thought to himself.

Before he could go off any more tangents, Applebloom looked up at him and asked, "Butter, ya feelin' okay?"

He shook his head quickly to snap back to reality and wiped the sweat off his forehead. "Y-Yeah, I'm fine. Just tired from walking..."

All three of them looked at each other in concern. Scootaloo moved her eyes towards Butter in concern. "Um...we've only walkin' for a minute or two, Butter..."

Butter's eyes widened in astonishment. "You're kidding!"

They all shook their heads. A long silence occurred before Applebloom piped up. "Butter...how much do you weigh?"

Butter thought for a bit before answering. "Well...last time I checked I was about ninety or ninety fi-" Butter quickly stopped himself and leered at Applebloom, making her flinch. "Why?"

Applebloom stayed silent.

"Why?!" he repeated.

"..."

"Answer me, Applebloom!"

No response. Butter tried to pressure her again until he was interrupted by Scootaloo. "Butter..." The yellow colt glared at her. "D-Don't take this the wrong way but...we're worried that you may be..." Scootaloo coughed awkwardly. She gulped a bit and opened her mouth, but no words came out.

"May be what?"

"Well...just a little...over..." She mumbled the rest of the sentence, making her comment incoherent to Butter.

"Over...what...?"

"...Over-"

"OH MY GOSH!"

Butter flinched as he heard a loud female voice interrupt Scootaloo come from close by. He surveyed around the area in an attempt to find the source but was interrupted when he felt himself being lifted up and being held tight. "URK!" he grunted. He quickly glimpsed up at who or what was holding him against his will. Looking back at him was a pink mare with a curly pinker mane. However, the most prominent feature was her unsettling smile. She seemed a little too happy to be sane.

"Wh-Who are you?" Butter asked in slight fear.

The pony giggled at his question. "I'm Pinkie Pie! And you must be new because I'm never seen you around town before!"

Butter hesitated for a bit before nodded. "I-I am but...why are you holding me?"

Pinkie giggled again. "Because!" She nuzzled her cheek against her cheek against his own, making it squish a bit. "You're so adorable!"

Butter blushed a bit at her comment and protested, "No I'm not!"

Pinkie saw the little colt's cheeks turn redder as her smile widened. "Aww! You're so cute!" she exclaimed as she tightened her hug causing Butter to yelp and cough in response.

"Pl-Please...leggo...crushing...me to death..."

"But you're so fuzzy and soft!" she pouted.

"D-Don't care!" he coughed out weakly.

She stuck her tongue out at his overdramatic response. "Fiiiiine." She let go of the yellow colt and folded her arms as Butter plopped on his side, dizzy from the crushing strength of the mare's arms.

Trying not to laugh at Butter, Sweetie asked, "Um...Pinkie? Can we ask you for a favor?"

Pinkie quickly turned her attention toward the fillies and gave them an overzealous grin. "Sure! What do you need?"

"We're going to become Cutie Mark Crusader Professional Bakers!" exclaimed Scootaloo.

Applebloom rolled her eyes and added, "So, do ya mind if we can help ya with any bakin'?"

Pinkie put a hoof on her chin as she started to think. "Well...Rarity did come over here to order a few cupcakes. I guess you four can help me bake them!"

Butter's ears perked up as his eyes focused slowly. He rolled back on his hooves quickly, giving a small grin. "R-Really?"

Pinkie giggled. "Of course, Butterball!"

Butter's smile grew but quickly diminished as his eyes widened in shock. "H-How do you know my name?"

"It was just my Pinkie sense!" she said cheerfully.

Butter was about to open his mouth when Applebloom stopped him. "Don't ask...it's just Pinkie Pie logic..."

Pinkie Pie logic...what the hay does that-

"Alright!" Pinkie interrupted. "Let's hurry inside and get started!" She giggle-snorted and quickly bolted inside the building behind her like a pink blur, leaving the other foals speechless in the dust. A little startled by the speed of the hyper pink pony, Butter looked up at the establishment that Pinkie just entered. It looked like a gingerbread house scaled to match the size of a real one. In awe by the construction, Pinkie called from inside, "Hey Butter, we need you!" Butter shook his head and noticed that the others were already inside. He quickly sprinted back over to the group and took a look inside. The interior matched the exterior, as the inside looked like it was made of candy as well. It looked good enough to eat. Too bad concrete is bad for the teeth though...

"Alright, you four. The Cakes are out of town going to an oven convention."

Butter tilted his head in confusion. "Is that code for something?"

"Nope, the people who run Sugarcube Corner normally really are at an oven convention, so they left me in charge of the store!" she answered cheerfully.

Butter sighed to himself. Why is every adult in this town so far a nut-job?

Pinkie continued, "Alright, we're going to make some cupcakes, so I should probably tell you how to make them!" She inhaled deeply and broke out into song. "All you have to do is take a-"

"No, no stop that!" Applebloom exclaimed as the music faded quickly. "Ah've had to put up with that song once and I ain't doin' it again!"

Pinkie blew a raspberry at her and pouted. "Don't be such a tone-aphobe, Applebloom!"

For Butter, this was the high point of confusion for him. "Um...so...do you just want us to follow the directions on the cookbook then?" he asked, still unsure of what just happened or where the music came from.

Pinkie's pouty expression turned into a confident smile. "Mhm! As long as you follow the book, you can't go wrong!"

Butter nodded in understandment. "O-Okay."

"Any other questions?" asked Pinkie. The Crusaders shook their heads simultaneously. "Alright, to the kitchen!" exclaimed the ecstatic pink pony as she quickly rushed to the kitchen. The four followed her as she suddenly fastened stereotypical cooking toque on all of their heads. "There, now you are all ready to cook!"

Sweetie Belle moved the toque up a bit as it was obstructing her view and asked, "Now where's the cookbook?"

Pinkie suddenly pulled out a book from seemingly nowhere and showed it to them. "Right here. But remember...!" Pinkie broke her typical happy expression and shifted into a more serious one. "Follow. The recipe. Exactly!" She emphasized exactly with a narrowing of her eyes. She gave them all a stare for a few seconds before suddenly grinning again. "Alright! I'll help get some supplies!" she stated merrily as she laid the book down on the table, opening it to a specific recipe. She bolted off again towards the kitchen, rummaging through it.

Butter gulped. I...I don't think she's well...

"Alright..." said Sweetie as she looked at the recipe "I'll go get the ingredients."

"Okay, I'll go get the bowls!" added Scootaloo.

"Ah'll put the ingredients in!"

Butter thought for a bit and shrugged. "I guess I could mix the batter."

"Alright then, Crusaders, to your positions!" ordered Applebloom. As Sweetie traveled towards the pantry and Scootaloo searched for some bowls, Butter turned his attention to Applebloom.

"Um...Applebloom?" he asked.

"Hm?"

Butter paused for a bit before asking, "What were you going to say before? The part were you said I was 'over something?'"

Applebloom's determined expression swiftly faded as her ears lowered. "Um...n-never mind that!"

Butter's temper rose a bit but he tried to remain calm. "Please tell me! I want to know what you think about me, alright?"

Applebloom looked into his eyes and sighed. "I...I was going to say...I'm worried that you might be a bit..." Applebloom's sentence turned into incoherent mumbling.

"What was that?"

"A...A bit over-"

"WAIT!"

Both foals quickly turned their attention towards the pantry as Sweetie was holding a big ripped bag with her mouth. Flour was slowly leaking out of the sack and onto the floor. "Turn the bag around! You're spilling flour everywhere!" Scootaloo exclaimed to her as she balanced some bowls on top of her head.

Sweetie quickly turned the bag on its side and closed the gap with her mouth. "Sthoree!" she muffled.

Scootaloo rolled her eyes and placed the bowls on the table. Sweetie Belle quickly hurried and placed the bag next to the three. Pinkie Pie rejoined the group, carrying a sack of sugar, an egg carton, and some small containers of various liquids and powders. She also laid down a white box with the word "Brownies" marked across the side. "Alright, I need to deliver some brownies over from across town. Can I promise you four have the cupcakes under control?"

Applebloom eyes sparkled a bit as she saluted her. "Can do, Miss Pie! The Cutie Mark Crusaders Bakers/Responsible Ponies Who Can Take Care Of Recipes While Pinkie Pie Is Gone have got your back!"

"Well...alright. I'll be back in a few minutes!" Smiling, she grabbed the box with her mouth and trotted out of the kitchen and out the door.

Applebloom looked over and stated, "Alright, we're in charge of making these cupcakes. So let's give it our all, girls!"

"Yeah!" cheered Scootaloo. "For the cutie mark!"

"Cutie Mark Crusaders forever!" exclaimed Sweetie. All three of them gave each other a hoof-five, leaving Butter in an awkward position.

Well, I guess I'm the fourth wheel in this group...

The fillies disbanded the hoof-five and looked back at the recipe. "Alright, the recipe calls for two and a half cups of flour," stated Scootaloo.

"We got the flour!" said Sweetie as she scooped up the flour from the bag with a measuring cup. She put it on in the bowl and looked back at the recipe. "One teaspoon of vanilla..."

Scootaloo searched through the bottles carefully. "Baking soda...salt...drain cleaner...Ha!" She grabbed a bottle marked "vanilla" and gently poured in the bowl.

"Scootaloo! Ya didn't use the measurin' spoons!" remarked Applebloom.

"So?"

"We need ta follow the recipe EXACTLY."

"Pfftbh..." she blew her a raspberry. "It's close enough. There's not going to be a difference."

While the two were arguing, Sweetie sniffed the air. "Um...girls?"

"Pinkie said ta 'follow the recipe exactly!'"

"Oh, so if Pinkie jumped off a cliff does that mean you would?"

"Of course not! I mean...I guess if Ah had a bungee cord attached to my leg or somethi-"

"Girls!" Sweetie cried out. The two fillies and Butter glanced at her. "I think there's something burning in the oven!"

The three fillies' eyes widened as they exchanged looks. Quickly, they opened up the oven and saw a black, flaming funnel cake inside. All four of them shrieked in fear as Butter yelled, "Oh my Celestia, where's the extinguisher?!"

"A-Ah think it's in the pantry!" responded Applebloom as she bolted inside. She came back out, carrying a fire extinguisher and pointed the nozzle towards the cake with her hoof. She squeezed the lever with her mouth as the relieving sight of white chemicals doused the flame.

All four of them let out a sigh of relief before Applebloom spoke up. "Oh no!"

"What?" asked Sweetie.

"Pinkie's cake pan is ruined!" The foals took note of the state of the pan and it did indeed looked ruined. The pan was almost completely melted and resembled more of an abstract clay model than an actual cookware. "We need ta buy 'er a new one right now before she comes back!"

Sweetie raised an eyebrow. "Why before she comes back?"

"Because," Applebloom explained, "if we don't, then she'd know there was a fire here, and then she'd know we aren't responsible, and then she's not gonna let us have the cupcakes we make delivered!"

Sweetie gasped. "And then we won't get our baking cutie marks!"

"Exactly! We need to get 'er a new pan right away!"

The three of them nodded in agreement and took off to leave before Butter spoke up. "Hey wait, what should I do?!"

The fillies looked towards him quickly as Applebloom stated, "Y'all stay here and try ta finish the cupcakes!"

Butter's eyes widened. "Wait...j-just me? Alone?"

"Yes! We're counting on you, so please try your best and don't let us down!" begged Scootaloo.

Butter gulped nervously and started to sweat. He looked towards the bowl full of flour and vanilla. The pressure was all on him. He couldn't mess up this time. Not when ponies counted on him. With a nod, Butter turned back towards the fillies and said softly, "O-Okay. You go get the pan and I'll make the cupcakes!"

The three of them breathed out a sigh of relief. "Alright, we'll be back as soon as we can!" noted Applebloom. The Crusaders turned back around and quickly hurried out the door, leaving Butter alone to his thoughts.

They're counting on me...they really believe I can do this. He smiled a bit, wiping some sweat off his forehead. "I won't let you down!" he said enthusiastically. He looked around and sighed, feeling a bit embarrassed. Great...I'm talking to myself...I've caught the crazy...

~~~

Butter read the recipe on the table and started thinking to himself. Okay...one and a half teaspoons of baking powder. He grabbed the measuring spoon with his mouth and quickly poured it in the mixture. Two eggs... He carefully cracked some eggs into the bowl, being careful not to drop eggshells into the mixture. One cup of...sugar? Butter looked on the table, trying to find a bag of sugar. Seeing that it wasn't there, he walked inside the pantry. To his dismay though, there wasn't any sugar in sight. Butter started to panic a bit as he starting screaming in his mind. Ponyfeathers! I can't make cupcakes without sugar!

He sat down on his rump and started rubbing his temples, formulating up a plan. Okay let's see...I don't have any bits, so buying sugar is out of the question. I can't ask Pinkie because then she'd ask where the other three are. So... he thought for a little while longer before sighing. I guess I'm going have to substitute sugar with something. He didn't want it to come to this, but it was only choice. He couldn't let his new friends down just because there wasn't any stupid sugar!

Feeling a bit more confident, Butter started rummaging the shelves of the pantry, trying to find a worthy substitute for sugar. After a few minutes of searching and searching, he started to lose hope. He looked up at the clock and realized it had been fifteen minutes. Pinkie should be coming through that door any minute now. He sighed and walked out of the pantry, head hanging low and ears flat against his head. When he reached the table, he shivered a bit. Did it just colder in here?

Searching around the room he suddenly noticed that freezer was open. Oh Celestia, how did I miss THAT? Groaning loudly to himself, Butter walked towards the freezer. But instead of closing it, he glimpsed inside as he froze in place. Ice pops. A lightbulb went off in his head as he quickly grabbed some ice pops, which were now thawed out, and closed the freezer with his back hoof. He laid the ice pops on the table and bit the end of the plastic wrap one of them off, causing it to open. He poured the liquid remains into a spare bowl and repeated with the other ice pops. Please let this work!

When all the sugary liquid was inside the bowl, Butter slowly poured it inside the measuring cup until it reached the brim. When it did, he set the bowl down and poured the cup inside the bowl. He looked at the recipe and breathed out a sigh of relief that sugar was the last ingredient. Okay, just need to stir it and-

He heard the door open as Butter jumped a bit, eyes wide. With haste, he quickly poured the batter into the cupcake pan and practically tossed it into the open oven. He shut the oven quickly, set the timer for a few minutes, and ran out towards the front, expecting Pinkie. Instead, he saw Sweetie Belle holding a pan with her mouth, a slightly relieved Scootaloo, and a rather angry Applebloom.

"Wh-What's wrong, Applebloom?" Butter asked.

Applebloom growled, "That pan cost me ten bits! Ah had to use my birthday money!"

Ouch...rough.

"But more importantly, are the cupcakes done?" asked Scootaloo.

"Well..." Butter hesitated. "Not yet...but they're in the oven!"

All three fillies exhaled loudly. "Oh thank Celestia..."

"...But...um..." stuttered the colt.

"But what?" interrogated Scootaloo.

"...There was a complication...you could sa-"

Butter was interrupted as he felt the orange pegasus hold onto his shoulders. "What...complication...?" she demanded.

"...Well...um..."

She started shaking him rapidly. "WHAT COMPLICATION?"

Butter yelped in surprise as his eyes crossed a bit. "W-We were out of sugar so I used melted ice pops as a substitute!"

Scootaloo stopped shaking him as her eyes widened. The other two just stared at him with open mouths, Sweetie dropping the pan onto the floor.

"You...WHAT?" yelled Applebloom.

"I'm sorry, okay! I didn't know what to do!"

"AH SPENT MY BIRTHDAY MONEY ON A PAN FOR NOTHIN'?!" She practically had steam coming out of her nose.

"Well...I..." he stammered.

"Applebloom, relax! We could still pull this off!" said Sweetie, reassuring the angry little filly. Applebloom started taking deeper breaths as her anger subsided slowly. "Now," she added, "these cupcakes may not taste as good as we wanted them to...but think of it this way, if we don't get our cutie marks in baking, we can still try for a gift-giving cutie mark!" Applebloom and Scootaloo looked at Sweetie, unsure of her logic.

There was a moment of silence before Applebloom sighed. "Ah'm...sorry fer yellin' at ya because ya messed up, Butter..."

"Apology...accepted...I guess..." Butter hesitantly said. Not the best apology I've received...but I think that's the best I'll get from her.

Suddenly, he heard a beeping sound from the kitchen. He saw a pink blur rush past him and heard Pinkie's voice come from the kitchen. "CUPCAKES ARE DONE!"

Butter was about to question how she knew exactly when the cupcakes would be done, but he quickly dismissed it. He knew he wouldn't get a clear answer from her.

Pinkie came back out from the kitchen, holding the cupcakes that Butter had just made. She gave it a smell as her smile grew. "I knew I could trust you four!"

Scootaloo smiled sheepishly. "Heh...yeah right..."

Butter wanted to come clean to her that the cupcakes weren't as good as they should be, but before he could he saw the door open next to him as a white unicorn with a purple mane and sunglasses waltzed inside in a rather...fashionable manner, to say the least.

"Oh, Rarity!" exclaimed Pinkie. "Your order just came out of the oven!"

The unicorn moved the shades off of her face and smiled. "Oh Pinkie, I can't thank you enough for this free order!"

Pinkie giggled. "Oh, anything for the pony who buys the most ice cream in Ponyville from u-"

Rarity's eyes widened as she shut the blabbering pink mare's mouth with magic. "Hehe...I thought we said we wouldn't talk about that..."

Pinkie just shrugged. "Mmmmfffmmfff mmmmf mffffff!"

Rolling her eyes and wanting to change the subject, Rarity shifted her gaze towards the foals, noticing that there was an unfamiliar little colt in the room. "Oh my! I haven't seen you around here, little one!"

Butter uncomfortably waved a bit and introduced himself. "I'm Butter...ma'am."

"My, what manners!" the unicorn said as she smiled, her magic fading away from Pinkie's lips.

Realizing she could talk again, Pinkie quickly added, "And he also helped the fillies make these cupcakes!"

Rarity's smile faded a bit. "O-Oh they did?"

Pinkie nodded ecstatically. "Try one!"

Rarity hesitated a bit before taking one slowly with her magic. She bit into it slowly as her eyes widened. She swallowed quickly and looked at the foals. "Did you four make these cupcakes?!"

Butter felt really guilty. He looked at the three fillies and noticed that they were looking away or looking at the floor. He didn't want them to be labeled as "irresponsible" because he messed up the order. Butter let out a deep sigh and without thinking yelled, "OKAY IT WAS ME!"

Rarity jumped back a bit in surprise. "P-Pardon moi?"

"I'M THE REASON WHY THE CUPCAKES TASTE SO BAD! THERE WASN'T ANY SUGAR AND I HAD TO USE MELTED ICE POPS AS SUBSTITUTES AND I THINK THERE MAY HAVE BEEN SOME EGGSHELLS INSIDE THE BATTER BUT I COULDN'T TELL!"

"Butter...I-"

Butter lept on his knees and begs at Rarity's hooves. "PLEASE DON'T GET THEM IN TROUBLE, I DON'T WANT TO LOSE MY FRIENDS BECAUSE OF THIS! IT WAS ALL MY FAULT!"

"Butter!" Rarity exclaimed, almost screaming.

Butter looked up at her quickly. "Wh-What?"

"These cupcakes are delicious! Possibly the best ones I've ever had in my life!"

Butter stood silent for a bit. "...What?"

"I mean, it's a bit unorthodox that you used ice pops instead of sugar...but I couldn't even tell the difference! These don't even have icing on them yet and they are simply divine!"

There was another short silence before the fillies piped up. "WHAT?" they asked in unison.

Butter quickly reached over a grabbed a cupcake with his mouth. He took a big bite and found his suspicions to be true. These were fantastic! The best he's ever had! ...Maybe just one more to make sure they're really tasty.

Meanwhile, Rarity looked over at the fillies and asked, "Now, what did he mean by 'getting in trouble?'"

The fillies looked at each other and sighed, knowing that they had to come clean. "We...set Pinkie's pan on fire by accident," admitted Sweetie.

Rarity instantly gasped and grabbed the fillies in a tight hug. "Oh my Celestia! Are you okay?"

"Aghck! Y-Yes, we're fine! But w-we got another pan for her, so you wouldn't think that we were being irresponsible!"

Rarity broke the hug and looked at them. "You...bought her a pan after you set fire to hers?"

The fillies nodded and Applebloom spoke up, "We had ta use MA birthday money though!"

Rarity thought for a bit before looking back at them.

"A-Are we still responsible?" inquired Sweetie.

"Of course you are. In fact, you three proved that you can be even more responsible than most adults!"

The Crusaders did not expect that answer. "Huh?"

"Some adults would not admit to making a mistake that destroys other properties...and the fact that you used your own money to buy your friend a new pan is..." she stopped for a second and gave them another hug. "I'm so proud of you three!"

Sweetie smiled and hugged back when Rarity added, "And yes Applebloom, I'll give you however much birthday money you had left back." Applebloom's grimace turned into a pleased grin as she hugged back as well.

Their hug was interrupted with a hiccup from close by. Curious, Rarity let go and looked for the source, noticing that Butter had an empty tray full of crumbs in front of him. Rarity opened her mouth a bit in shock. "Butter, did you...just eat an ENTIRE tray of cupcakes?"

Butter held his head down in shame and nodded. Curse these cupcakes for being so good... "I-I'm sorry...I just-"

Scootaloo interrupted him in surprise, "Butter, your flank!"

Startled, Butter quickly turned his head towards his flank. His eyes widened in surprise. "Is that my cutie mark?!"

Pinkie giggled. "I think it is!"

Butter smiled big and asked, "What is it?"

Rarity looked at his flank carefully. "It's a...big brown bag of sugar." She smiled a bit and chuckled to herself. "I guess that WOULD be fitting, seeing how good you are at baking and because of your structure!"

Butter's eyebrow rose a bit. "My structure?"

"Now come on, darling. You must know that you're a big more heavyset than most colts your age!"

Butter's ears lowered a bit. "I-I've already said I'm big boned!"

The Crusaders panicked a bit as Applebloom added, "Y-Yeah! He's big boned guys!"

Pinkie giggled. "I've seen big boned colts before, and I know for certain that you're just squishy!" she said as she pulled Butter in for a tight hug.

Butter didn't react to how tight her embrace was. He just stared off into space thinking to himself. N-No...I'm big boned. I'm not squishy or heavyset...just big boned! His thoughts were interrupted when he caught sight of his stomach being squished against Pinkie's arms. He noted for the first time that it really was more prominent now that he got a good look of it. He looked down and his heart sank when he saw that he couldn't see his back hooves.

I am fat...

Butter's lip quivered as he started to tear up. Noticing this, Rarity asked in a gentle tone, "Butter? Are you alright, darling?"

Butter looked away from her and quickly broke Pinkie's grasp. All the ponies gasped as he bolted out of the door quickly and ran away, crying as he did so. Ugly...stupid...fatty!

Author's Note

Longest chapter yet! Also this will be the next-to-last chapter for this story. But don't worry, I'm sure I'll bring Butterball back for a sequel in the future!

And a minor note: I'm working on an adventure story which I don't want to reveal just yet. All I can say is that it has something to do with a pony, a changeling, and a griffon. So stay tuned for that!

oh and I may or may not be contributing with some short one-offs and other nonsense but that's not important *wink wink*

Anywho, thanks again for support of this story! I love you all!

Insecurity

"Butter!" the crying yellow pegasus heard.

"Butter, where are ya?"

Please don't find me... Butter covered his face and hoped that they wouldn't see him crying behind a bush. However, his hopes were diminished as he heard hoofsteps coming his way.

"Butter? Are you okay, darling?" he heard Rarity say.

Butter looked up and saw that the five looking at him. He noticed that they were all concerned, especially Pinkie. Her mane was straightened and no longer curly and poofy like it was before.

"Butter, are you crying? Please don't cry!" the worried pink mare pleaded.

Butter just stood silent and wiped his eyes. He sniffed and shook his head slowly.

"I'm...fat."

The two mares flinched at his statement.

"Oh, darling, you're not fat!"

"Y-Yeah!" Pinkie added. "You're just a bit chubby!"

Butter cringed at Pinkie's comment and curled back into a ball, hiding his tears. Pinkie quickly tried to correct herself. "Oh! I mean, you're not chubby either! You're really thin! Like a twig!" Butter ignored Pinkie's half-baked comment and continued to sob to himself.

"Just...leave me alone!" Butter cried. He covered his face with his hooves and started to whimper in them. He heard the sound of hoofsteps once more, only this time they started getting quieter. Butter thought they had left for good until he heard the sound of somepony sitting down next to him. He moved his hooves down a bit to see who it was. Surprisingly, it was Scootaloo.

"Butter? Can we talk for a sec?" she asked.

Butter sniffed a bit and looked up at her. He answered with a small nod.

Scootaloo sighed. "I understand how it feels to be...well...bullied."

Butter's ear twitched. He looked over at Scootaloo as she continued.

"Before I moved to Ponyville about two years ago, I used to go to school at Manehattan. I got made fun of constantly because I didn't know how to fly. I was the only pegasus in the class because all the others went to the schools up in Cloudsdale. The others called me 'dodo' and 'chicken' and other ridiculous names."

Butter sniffed and dried his eyes a bit. "Th-That's st-stupid. Wh-Why would they m-make fun of you for that?" he tried to let out, still whimpering a bit.

She shrugged. "Maybe to feel better about themselves. Maybe because everypony else is doing it and they want to look 'cool.' I don't really know.

"But the point I'm really trying to make is, just because you have one minor flaw, your weight for example..." Butter flinched at the mention of his mass. "...Doesn't mean that you don't have other, better characteristics."

"Character-what?" Butter asked, never hearing that word used before.

"Characteristics. My mom taught me that word one day when I came home from crying from school. It basically means your talents and flaws that make you who you are. Like, you may be like Rarity and Pinkie said, 'heavyset.' But that doesn't change the fact that you're a wonderful baker who can solve problems most ponies would find impossible. I mean, come on! You made cupcakes out of ice pops for Celestia's sake! THAT takes talent!"

Butter wiped his eyes and sniffed once more.

"Plus, if you're a bit uncomfortable with your weight, Sweetie, Applebloom, and I can try to help you lose weight, you know."

Butter's ears perked a bit at Scootaloo's offer. "You'd...do that for me?"

"Of course we would! We ARE still friends. And besides, I don't think we've tried getting a fitness trainer cutie mark yet."

Butter rolled his eyes at Scootaloo's silly attempt in another crusade. But she was right, just because he was fat doesn't mean that he couldn't do something about it. Slowly, Butter nodded. "Okay, I guess you could try."

"That's the spirit!" Scootaloo exclaimed. "Now, we should probably find the others."

"G-Good idea."

Butter and Scootaloo started walking together back to Sugarcube Corner as Butter started to get lost in his thoughts again. So, rundown of my first day. I get my cutie mark in baking, I made three rather weird friends, and I found out I'm fat after several years of thinking I was big boned. What else can this glorious day bri- "AIYEEE!" Butter's mind was halted again as he felt something jab his side, making his body spasm the opposite direction. He looked over at the direction of the poke and saw Scootaloo trying really hard not to laugh.

"D-Did you just...pfft...squeal?" she asked.

Butter couldn't help but blush and quickly retorted, "N-No! I ju-EEEEEEHEEHEE!" Butter's fake excuse quickly shifted into uncontrollable giggles as Scootaloo started digging into his side, tickling him brutally. Butter flopped on his back and tried to kick Scootaloo away. "ST-STAHAHAP!"

"Nope! You need to smile more!"

Butter continued to uncontrollably giggle as he suddenly felt a new pair of hooves tickle his belly quickly. His squeals grew louder as he heard Pinkie's voice, "Gitchy gitchy goo, cutie!"

"SH-SHUDDAHAHAHAHP!" he whined, still laughing. Suddenly, the tickling stopped. "O-Oh...th-thank Celesti-EEEEEEEEHEEE!" He was interrupted as he felt Pinkie blow a strong raspberry on his belly, causing him to snort and giggle again loudly.

Pinkie stopped her attacks and held Butter tight. "Aww! You're just so adorable!"

Butter pouted again. "N-No I'm not!"

"Don't deny your cuteness!" She started nuzzling his cheek with hers, making Butter blush even deeper.

"P-Put me down!" he whined.

"You need to say the magic word!"

Butter sighed at the clichéd saying. "Please."

"I was looking for 'abracadabra', but I guess that will work too..." Pinkie set down Butter gently as she smiled innocently as if she didn't just embarrass the stuffing out of the poor colt.

Butter groaned and asked, "Are the others at Sugarcube Corner then?"

Pinkie nodded. "Mhm! They were really worried for you!"

Butter sighed. He didn't want them to be worried about him, so he said, "Well, let's go see them then."

"Okie dokie lokie!" Pinkie giggled. Butter rolled his eyes but smiled at Pinkie's goofiness.

Well, at least she's feeling better.

~~~

Ugh... Butter groaned in his head. Immediately when the group of ponies entered Sugarcube Corner, Butter was suddenly grabbed in a tight cuddle with his mother.

"Don't ever...EVER go out on your own without telling me first!" Butter's mom pleaded.

Butter blushed at his mom's overprotectiveness. "M-Moooom...I didn't go alone! I was with Applebloom, Scootaloo and-"

"I don't care if you were watched by Bat-Mare!" she interrupted him, putting the severity of the matter into terms her son could understand. Usually bringing superheroes into the conversation gets Butter to listen more. "You don't go anywhere without telling me first!"

Butter let out a long groan. "Fine, mom."

His mom returned the groan as she started running her hoof through his mane. "What am I going to do with you..." she sighed.

"Not embarrass me in front of everypony?" he asked.

Butter's mom stopped petting him and let him down gently. She forgot that his new friends were right in front of them. Butter didn't, according to the reddened glow in his cheeks. "Sorry about that, sweetums."

Realizing Butter's blush was growing by the minute, Scootaloo tried to change the subject. "So...Mrs. Ball...?"

"Oh, honey, Mrs. Ball is my mother-in-law's name. Feel free to call me Mrs. Cream!" she said cheerfully. She was just as happy and enthusiastic as Pinkie. With an eighth of the caffeine intake.

"Mrs. Cream? So what's yer first name?" asked Appebloom.

"Margarine, but my adult friends call me Marge."

"Well, Margarine," Rarity said, "I really do quite fancy your name!"

"Why, thank you," she giggled. "But do please, call me Marge!"

"Oh tut tut! A civilized mare like you deserves a better name than-"

"Seriously." Butter's mom suddenly got serious as her eyes narrowed in intimidation. "Call. Me. Marge." Rarity stopped smiling and looked at her with a mix of slight fear and confusion. "...Pfft..." Butter's mother's pressurizing glare soon changed into giggling. "I-I'm just messing with ya!"

She snorted softly as Pinkie joined into the laughter. "Sh-She got you good, Rarity!"

Rarity let out a fake chuckle. "Y-Yeah right...heh...you really got me!" She looked to Butter, hoping to see if he could explain what just happened.

Butter just shrugged. "I still don't get her sense of humor."

Marge's laugh soon subsided after a minute and she calmly collected herself. "W-Well, we better get back home, Butter. Your dad's going to be back home from work any minute now."

"Oh, alri-"

"WAIT!" Scootaloo yelled. Butter and Marge moved back away from them a bit, obviously being startled from the loud outburst. Scootaloo blushed at her sudden scream and pleaded in a quieter voice, "Can we come with you?"

"Oh uh...why?" Butter asked hesitantly.

"Yeah, why?" repeated Applebloom.

"Because...um...we...need to get to know Butter more! I mean, we haven't even seen your dad yet!"

"Well, she's got a point, Applebloom," agreed Sweetie. "I mean, if that's okay with your mom, Butter."

"Oh, that's no trouble with me!" smiled the smiling mare with a smile.

"Y-Yeah...me neither," Butter said. Weird question. Then again, I guess I should get to know the three better as well.

"If you three are staying at somepony else's house then I'll tell your guardians where you are," Rarity added generously.

"NOT IF I TELL THEM FIRST!" Pinkie suddenly shouted out in a competitive manner.

"Pinkie, this isn't a competit-"

Too late. Pinkie already bolted out of the store, leaving a mare-shaped dust cloud from where she went. Rarity looked at the now-open doors and sighed softly, rubbing her temples. "Sweetie Belle, big sis is going to take a beauty rest. Pl-Please be quiet when you come home."

"Can do!" yelled Sweetie in a high pitched squeaking sound.

Rarity cringed and rubbed her temples harder. "Not helping, deary..."

"Oh...uh...sorry!" she said in a quieter voice.

Marge noticed Rarity's headache and quickly told the foals, "Alright, let's leave poor Rarity alone now. She's had enough for one day!" The foals nodded as Marge led them outside towards Butter's house.

~~~

"Well...it's...okay."

"It's nice an' all..."

"White...really is my favorite color!"

The Crusaders were struggling really hard to come up with a compliment to describe the interior of Butter's extremely boring residence. They all looked at Butter and gave him an awkward smile before Butter shook his head.

"I know it's dull, guys. Don't act like it's a mansion or anything."

Marge giggled at Butter's comment. "That's why next week we're going to be doing some serious renovations! This house is going to get a full makeover!"

Butter shuddered at the thought. Manual labor was his arch-nemesis next to broccoli and being tickled. However, before the task of giving the house a complete overhaul could be discussed further, the door opened and a masculine voice could be heard.

"Honey, I brought home some brownies like you wanted!"

The group of ponies looked towards the main entrance. The Crusaders did a double take when they saw a big, muscular, and rather handsome yellow pegasus enter the room.

"Oh, hey dad!" greeted Butter.

The Crusaders did another double take. "DAD?!" they shouted together in surprise.

Butter's supposed father looked towards the little fillies. "Are these your classmates, Butter?"

The three fillies stood silent in shock when he saw the burly stallion in front of him. Butter looked towards them and stifled his laughter. Oh my Celestia, the look on their faces!

"Are you three alright?" Butter's dad asked in a bit of concern.

The three shook their heads simultaneously and looked back up at him.

"Fine!"

"Ah'm fine!"

"FIIIINE!"

The whole group was now directed towards Sweetie Belle. Did she...just squeal? Sweetie blushed a bit and coughed nervously.

"I-I'mfineMister...Butterball'sdad...s-sir..."

Butter's mom looked concerned for the wee unicorn. "Oh no...Corny, I think you scared the poor thing."

Butter's dad's ears flattened a bit. "Oh my, um...d-don't be scared! I'm not gonna hurt-"

"YOU'RE HOT!" Sweetie suddenly squeaked. She hid her face in her hooves as her face blushed an impossibly deep shape of red.

Aaaand now it's awkward.

Author's Note

I wish I could take it all back. I honestly do. I honestly do wish I could take it all back.

This was supposed to be the last chapter but I got busy with tests and school and whatnot. I don't want to say that the chapter AFTER this is the last chapter, because I can't promise anything. Let's just say that we are on the homestretch of this story and that the ending is in the foreseeable future.

Okay? Okay.

(also I forgot to mention that Butter's mom is an earth pony so yeah sorry for that too)

((also sorry for playing tf2 instead of working))

Information

"U-Um...I-I...uh...bathroom!"

Sweetie Belle quickly stood from her seat and bolted into the nearest room, slamming and locking the door behind her.

A moment of silence took place before Butter's dad spoke up. "Sweetie, uh...that's the closet..."

"I KNEW THAT!" she squeaked in a voice so high-pitched it could rival a dog whistle.

Butter's dad winced a bit and coughed. "So...Butter," he said, trying to change the subject. "How was your first day here in Ponyville?"

"Well, it was okay. I've had better days, but I've also had worse days," Butter answered casually.

"Oh? Did anything exciting happen?"

"Well, I just joined a club with Sweetie, Scootaloo, and Applebloom, I made some cupcakes, I got my cutie mark, and...I think that's-"

"You did?!" Butter's dad asked enthusiastically. "What is it?"

Looking skeptical, Butter's mom looked toward his son's flank. Butter decided to let his butt do the talking for him as he stood up from the couch and shifted his body to the right. He looked down at his flank and gasped softly when he realized that it was bare. "What the heck?"

"Butter? What's wrong?" his father asked.

"I-It was right there! My cutie mark was a bag of-..." He paused as he looked at his end of his tail. Stuck on it was what looked like a brown sticker of some sort. He pulled it off with his mouth and spat it out onto the ground. He glanced over it at and saw that the sticker looked just like his cutie mark, a brown bag of sugar.

Applebloom got out of her seat and looked at it. "Huh. Guess ya 'ad a sticker stuck to yer bum instead of yer cutie mark."

Scootaloo looked at it as well. "It probably got stuck to you while you were cooking up those cupcakes."

Butter groaned for what felt like the hundredth time today and said sourly, "Guess I'm still a stupid blank flank then."

"Hey!" Applebloom scolded. "There's nothin' wrong wit' having no cutie mark!"

"I know," Butter said. "But those two bullies will still make fun of me for it."

"Butter, don't listen to them. They just day that dumb stuff to make them feel better about themselves," Scootaloo reassured. "Besides, you're still a crusader!"

"An' crusaders stick together!"

"NO MATTER WHAT!" called Sweetie from the closet.

"If somepony messes with one of us, they mess with all of us."

"YEAH!" Applebloom cheered as she put her hoof in the middle of an imaginary circle between the three. Scootaloo laid her hoof on top of hers as well and then looked at Butter. Butter looked at the hoof for a second before shrugging and laying his hoof on top of Scootaloo's. "...Ahem," Applebloom fake coughed.

"Oh, a-are we doing the salute thing now?" Sweetie asked from her sanctuary.

"Yes," Applebloom answered in an annoyed tone.

Hesitating a bit, Sweetie quickly rushed over to the group and put her hoof quickly over Butter's, her other hoof hiding the obvious blush from her face.

The group began to chant. "Three..."

"THREETWOONECUTIEMARKCRUSADERS!" Sweetie blurted out quickly before rushing out the door in a hurry. "SORRYBUTTERIHAVESOMEERRANDSTODOSEEYOUTOMORROW!" she called from outside.

Butter looked past the now-open door and tried not to laugh at the sudden display of embarrassment Sweetie just now showed. The other two sighed and looked at the exit as well. "Ah well, Ah have ta go too. Ah'm pretty sure Ah have chores Big Mac wants me ta do."

"Oh, alright," Butter said.

Applebloom walked towards the exit and waved farewell to him before leaving. "See ya tomorrow, Butter!" she said before trotting off.

Butter took his glance away from Applebloom and looked towards Scootaloo. She shifted awkwardly and looked at him for a few seconds. "Um..."

"Do you need to go too?"

"I...uh...yes..." she admitted.

"Well, alright. See ya later then," Butter said to her with a small smile.

Scootaloo returned the smile and responded, "Likewise." With a small skip in her step, she slowly left the household, leaving Butter and his parents the only one in the vicinity.

Butter's dad was the first to speak. "So all your friends are fillies?"

"Popcorn! It doesn't matter if his friends are fillies or not!" his mother scolded.

"What? He's lucky! I didn't have any fillyfriends until I was sixteen!"

"Dad, they're not my 'fillyfriends.' They're just my friends who happen to be fillies," argued Butter.

Butter's father rolled his eyes. "Whatever you say, tiger." He winked a bit, making Butter gag a bit. The thought of having a fillyfriend almost makes him too sick to eat. Almost.

Which reminds me... "Anyway, what's for dinner, mom?"

His mother glared at him with the same look she always gives when she nags Butter about something. "You're STILL hungry after all those cupcakes you've eaten today?"

"W-Wait, how do you know about that? I didn't tell-"

"Instict." Butter opened his mouth to speak but said nothing. All he did was close his mouth and shrug. At this point he wouldn't be surprised if his mom DID have all-knowing powers like Nostrotdamus. "By the way, do you have any homework that needs done?"

Butter's eyes widened a bit as he turned his head towards his dad. "Oh yeah, I forgot!" His dad looked at him confusedly as Butter continued, "Dad, I have to write about a small essay about somepony who I appreciate and...well...I kinda want to do it on you because I'm really interested in your cooking and-"

"YOU ARE?" Butter's dad smiled big enough to rival even Pinkie's smile and even have her be creeped out by it. He immediately sat down on the couch and started his long rant. "Well, when I was your age I found one of my mom's cookbooks..."

~~~2 HOURS LATER~~~

"...and that's why I still wear oven mitts and goggles to this day. Second degree burns ALL over my hooves and my corneas." Butter's dad loud chuckle awoke Butter from his sleep. He shook his head and wiped his mouth from drool and looked at his father as if he was listening this whole time. "Now do you want to hear why I always wear a jock strap when making cakes?"

"NO! Um..." Butter coughed and lowered his voice to sound like it was less of a plea for help and more like a calm rejection. "I just want to know...well..." He thought for a moment before getting an idea. "What's the most exciting thing that's ever happened at your job?" he asked.

"Well, lemme think." He put a hoof on his chin and continued. "The jock strap story was pretty exciting...but I think that the most exciting thing that's happened was when I catered cupcakes for the princess."

Butter gasped. "Wait, you did?!"

He nodded. "Yep! Asked for me specifically!"

Suddenly, Butter was actually intrigued. "Tell me more about that!"

He chuckled softly as he tried to recall that memory. "Well, business was slow that day. Not many customers were coming in. All of a sudden, my old boss came running into the kitchen and starting freaking out. He started shouting that we needed to make a chocolate cupcake for someone quickly. He was really getting all flustered so I hurry up to get a cupcake done as fast as I can while still putting as much effort as I could with it. When I walked out to deliver it, I saw the princess herself sitting at a table and talking with my boss. Let me tell ya, I almost dropped it on the floor when I saw her! When I placed the cupcake in front of her and bowed down to her, she told me that she heard that my cupcakes were the best in existence and that she wanted to see if that was true."

"Well, was it?" Butter asked.

"Judging by the look on her face when she took her first bite, I think it was." He snickered and shook his head a bit. "She ordered a dozen cupcakes that day to take home and still occasionally tries to get a few orders from me. In fact, one of the reasons we moved to Ponyville was that it was convenient for her to buy cupcakes there since she occasionally visits here from time to time."

"Wow..." Butter said in complete amazement. "Wait, but if she likes your cooking so much, why doesn't she just hire you to work for her castle or something?"

"For two reasons mainly. First, I'd have to serve food to the princesses exclusively. I'd much rather prefer serving to a large group of ponies so that I could get different reactions from them and see them smile when they get their treats. Second, and more importantly, I'd have to work most of the year. I wouldn't have time to spend with your mom and you."

"But, wait. You could be making lots of money right now! Like if you work for the princess you could live in a CASTLE! You'd be rich!"

He chuckled at the little colt's reaction. "Family is more important to me than money, Butter. I'd much prefer to be your father than to be the richest stallion in the world." He ruffled his son's mane gently, making Butter smile a little bit. "So, do you know what you're going to write about now?"

Butter thought for a bit before responding. "I think so..."

"Good. I'm glad I could help." He stood up from his seat and walked towards the kitchen. "I'll make you a personal hay pizza to help you get your brain thinking."

Butter gazed back at the kitchen and smiled more. "Thanks, Dad." He then glimpsed back at his bag and walked towards it, opening it up with his mouth and pulling out some paper and a pencil. He thought for a moment and started writing down his thoughts. A few minutes into it, he suddenly got an idea. He looked back towards the kitchen again and called out, "Dad? Do you still have that cupcake recipe you made for Princess Celestia?"

Illustrious

Butter woke to a loud and obnoxious beeping sound. Mumbling softly to himself, he opened his eyes, focusing on the whirling ceiling fan above him. He had a horrible night trying to fall asleep, mostly due to the anxiety of presenting his essay. It didn't help that he was up until 11 trying to get it done. ...This feels familiar...

Shrugging, he sat up and walked to the bathroom to brush his teeth again. As he got to the mirror, he grabbed his toothbrush and then gazed at this own reflection. He took notice of his chubby face and sighed. He looked down into the sink for a second before looking back at his reflection again. He quickly shook his head as he gave a more confident expression. "It's fine. Like she said, it doesn't matter if I'm a bit f-fat..." He took his toothbrush and started to brush his teeth. He spit out the gunk inside of his mouth and cleaned his face. "I can change this. I know it."

Butter walked downstairs and noticed that his essay was on the table. He trotted towards it and picked it up gently with his mouth, leaving a bunch of eraser shavings on the table. He placed it within his saddlebag and made his way to the kitchen. He finally sat down and waited for his mother to enter the kitchen. After a few minutes, he could hear hoofsteps. His mother walked in the kitchen slowly, her hair a bit frizzy. She yawned and rubbed her eyes. "Mmm...You're up early, Butter."

"Couldn't sleep well..." Butter stated simply.

"Oh, I'm sorry, sweetie..." Butter's mom apologized tiresomely. She yawned once more and walked to the coffee machine to brew herself a fresh cup of coffee. "Do you want me to make you some pancakes or waffles or anything for breakfast?"

Butter thought for a moment and asked, "Do you have anything healthy to eat?"

"Something healthy? Any particular reason?"

Butter shrugged. "I have to present my essay. I need my brain food," he lied. He did need to tell his parents about his weight issue, but he wanted to wait. He wasn't ready to talk about it yet.

"Well, would you like a granola bar?"

"That'd be fine. Thanks." Butter's mom looked back at him smiled while Butter just gave a small grin. She walked into the pantry and came back out holding a wrapped oat granola bar with her mouth. She placed it in front of him and cut the wrapper open for her son. "Um...thanks, but I could've opened it by myself."

She giggled and ruffled his mane. "It's no problem. I love to help you, sweetie pie!"

Butter groaned softly as his cheeks turned slightly redder. "I prefer to be independent..." he mumbled under his breath.

His mom overhead him and rolled her eyes. "Fine, I'll stop babying youuu..." she pouted. This gave Butter another quiet growl as he started to munch on his bar reluctantly. She snickered as she took a small sip of her coffee. After Butter had finished his granola bar, he stood up and walked towards his saddlebag. "Oh, are you going now, honey?" Butter's mom asked.

Butter turned around and answered, "Yep. I...uh...I want to get to school early."

"Well, alright. Have a good day at school! Oh, and good luck on presenting your essay!"

"Thanks, Mom..." Butter waved goodbye to her and left the house.

He took a few more steps before he heard the door open suddenly as his mother came rushing out towards him. She plopped down a brown sack in front of him and explained, "Sorry! Forgot your lunch!" She giggled and skipped merrily back into the house, shutting the door behind her. Rolling his eyes, Butter picked up the sack in front of him and looked back to make sure her mother was truly gone. He walked a bit faster and made his way to Sugarcube Corner.

After a few minutes of walking (or in Butter's mind pain and misery), he got to the front door, front hooves against the door and peered in through the window. He looked around and saw that the entire place was dark except for the sunlight emanating from the window. He got down back on his four hooves and attempted to try to open it when he felt the door open on its own and knock him down. He let out an "eep!" as he fell on back, dazed over what just happened. He sat up and tried to get a look of who or what knocked him over. He was surprised to see that it was actually a tall, yellow, and quite frankly geeky-looking stallion who was opening the door from the other side. The stallion noticed the poor colt on the ground and gasped. "Oh my gosh, I'm sorry! I didn't notice you there!"

Butter got back on his hooves slowly and told him, "I-It's fine. I actually need something if that's alright Mister...uh..."

"Oh, my name's Mr. Cake," he said. "But if it's an order you want to place, I'm sorry, sport. We're not open today."

"Oh no, I don't need an order. I was just wondering, well, if I could borrow, you know...um...cook something with your oven?" he stuttered.

Mr. Cake's eyebrow rose a bit. "I'm sorry, but I don't think I can allow you to do that."

Butter sighed and tried to convince him when he heard a familiar bubbly voice from behind him. "OH MY GOSH, BUTTER! HI!"

"Oh, Celestia, no-HNGGH!" Before he could finish his statement, he was grabbed and cuddled tightly by Pinkie from behind. Curse my slow reflexes...

"Ohmygoshit'sbeenforeversincewe'veseeneachotheranditfeelslikeit'sbeenawholecenturyorevenawholeMILLENIUMand-"

"Pinkie? Do you know him?" asked Mr. Cake.

"Huh? OH YEAH! Mr. Cake, this is the colt I was telling you about! The one who baked those really good cupcakes from yesterday!"

"You are?" He studied Butter for a quick second before stating, "Well, you certainly do look like the cooking type."

"I...uh...thanks...I guess." Was that a weight insult? Pretty sure that was a weight insult... "So...can I...?"

"Well, Pinkie says you're really responsible with an oven. The question is though, what are you planning on making?"

"Um...my dad says I'm not allowed to share his formula with other ponies...but I'm making cupcakes, sir..." Butter felt like this evaluation was getting too professional for his likings.

"And what's your father's name?"

"P-Popcorn Ball..."

Mr. Cake's eyes lit up suddenly like fireworks. "Your father is THE Popcorn Ball?"

"Well...uh...I mean if there's only one Popcorn Ball...y-yes..."

"The pony who serves the princesses?"

Butter nodded. "Apparently."

Mr. Cake let out a girly giggle, which was both funny and yet a little bit unsettling at the same time. "Oh, of course then! Use the ovens whenever you please! And if you could, I would LOVE to talk to your father about his cooking secrets!"

"Well, alright I guess." He let out an uncomfortable giggle as Pinkie let go of him. He picked up his bag once again and made his way to their oven. He turned it on slowly and then made his way into the pantry. He laid his bag down on the floor at reached inside it, pulling out a small white note card. Let's hope to Celestia these cupcakes'll be good...

Intimidation

After an hour had passed, Butter was heading towards the school with a tray of cupcakes strapped to his back. His head was down low as he made eye contact to the ground. I feel so stupid with this thing on. I look like a pack mule... Unfortunately for him, it was the only way he could get the cupcakes to the school. Mr. Cake was busy because he had to open Sugarcube Corner and Pinkie was helping Mrs. Cake with the two twins. So he was all on his own on this journey.

He glanced up a bit at the road in front of him to make sure he didn't run into something or somepony like last time and noticed that he was almost at the school. Butter bit his lip and looked down at the ground again, his pace slowing a bit. Oh ponyfeathers, I forgot about those two bullies. What am I going to do when they see me? He looked back up and saw the school was only a few meters away. He peeked his head through the doorway and saw that neither Diamond nor Silver were present.

Sadly, neither were the Crusaders.

They're not here yet? Come on! I need them to protect me! Butter yelled in his mind. He turned around to see if they were approaching the school. Instead of a desired trio of fillies, however, were a duo of the same fillies that tantalized Butter yesterday. Oh manure, they came here first! Butter panicked and quickly rushed to his seat. He put the tray of cupcakes on his desk and sat down. He tried lowering his head to hide his face so that they wouldn't notice him. He peeked out a bit from the right of his desk to see when they were coming. In a half of a minute, they were already in the classroom. And...OH CELESTIA, NO! THEY'RE COMING RIGHT FOR ME!

"Oh look, Silver Spoon! Somepony let a pig into the classroom!" Diamond paused for a second before adding, "Oh wait, I was wrong. It's just Butter." This got a giggle out of Silver as Butter winced.

"Sh-Shut up!"

"Or what? Your little friends aren't here to protect you, and I don't think you'd put up much of a fight!" Diamond looked down at Butter's tray and asked, "What's that, fatty? Your lunch?"

"I-It's none of your business!"

Silver Spoon took a closer looked at his tray and exclaimed, "That's a pretty big lunch!"

Diamond snorted softly and added, "What did you pack to eat? Your refrigerator?" Both started to giggle as Butter got even more upset.

Then, that sadness slowly shifted into anger, as Butter had finally reached his breaking point. "Well, you're ugly!"

Silver and Diamond both stopped laughing immediately as Diamond quickly snapped over to Butter. "What did you say?"

"You say that I'm fat, but I can exercise! You can't fix ugly!" At that moment, Butter saw Diamond wince a bit. Butter grinned a bit at Diamond's reaction. Oh, a weak spot?

Diamond shook her head and scowled at him. "I am NOT ugly! You got that fatty?!"

"What's the matter, Diamond? Did I strike a nerve?"

"Shut up!"

"Why? Is it because I'm pointing out the obvious?"

"I-I said shut up!"

"Why should I listen to an ugly filly like you?"

"B-Because...I...I-I'M NOT UGLY!" she yelled. She huffed loudly and stomped away before Butter could insult her anymore. She sat down in her desk with her head down as Silver sat down next to her, counseling her. As Silver moved away, he noticed that the Crusaders were all standing there in shock, obviously catching the whole thing.

"Wow..." admired Sweetie.

"That was amazin'!" Applebloom exclaimed.

All three smiled as they sped over to Butter. "You actually stood up to those three, Butter! Awesome!" commended Scootaloo.

"Heh...th-thanks," blushed Butter. Before the Crusaders could give him any more attention, the bell rang, and the Crusaders all sat down in their respective seats.

Cheerilee walked in and sat at her desk. "Good morning, everypony! I hope you all had a nice evening..."

Butter's mind drifted off almost immediately as he suddenly felt a small soreness in his gut. Agh...why do I feel so bad? He glanced around the room until his sight was locked onto Diamond, who still had her head covered up by her arms. The soreness worsened as Butter grunted a bit under his breath. Am I...feeling guilty? For HER? She treats me like manure and now I feel bad for her when I get back at her?

"...Butter, you go first"

Butter snapped back to reality at the mention of his name as he looked up quickly. "Huh?"

"Your name is first on the class list, so you may present your essay first."

Alphabetical order, you fiend. "Oh...al-alright." Butter slowly sat up and reached into his bag for his essay. He pulled it out and walked to the front of the room. He looked around, looking for something to place his essay on to read it. Eventually, he gave up and just spat it on the ground.

"Um...this report is about somepony I appreciate. The pony that I appreciate is my dad. My dad works at Donut Joe's and makes pastries and other sweets." Butter stopped a bit and coughed nervously. He continued in a monotone voice, "My dad is also a pegasus but lives on the ground with my mom because she is an earth pony. The reason why I appreciate my dad is because he is a baker and he is very well known because he makes cupcakes for the princesses."

That apparently got everypony's attention as he heard the sound of almost everypony in the room sit up in their chairs and some collective whispers. Cheerilee heard this and instructed, "Everypony, please don't interrupt!" Everypony stood silent obediently as Cheerilee asked, "Your dad truly makes cupcakes for the princesses?"

"Um...y-yes...ma'am."

"Well, I didn't know that. It must feel really good knowing that your dad's a celebrity!"

"Yeah..heh..." Even though I just found out yesterday. "A-Anyways, um...I have some cupcakes here with me that are the same as the ones my dad makes the princesses. Oh...uh..." He trotted over quickly to his desk and grabbed the tray with his mouth. He laid them down on the ground and opened the tray, exposing a batch of chocolate cupcakes. "Is it okay that I give them out, Ms. Cheerilee?"

"Well, I'd say if there's enough for everypony, why not?" Cheerliee looked at the class and said, "Everypony, if you would like a cupcake, you may receive one from Butter over here."

The whole class, unable to refuse a sweet, got up and walked towards the cupcakes. Butter looked down and in a few seconds saw that most of the cupcakes have disappeared. He heard a bunch of other foals say things like, "Mmm..." and "This is delicious!" The compliments made Butter's face shine a bit redder than it already was. Even Cheerilee was curious and decided to try one for herself. After taking a bite, she exclaimed, "Oh my, Butter this is one of the best cupcakes I've ever had! I can't believe your father made these!"

"Well, actually...uh...I made them."

Everyone froze as many of his classmates hung their mouths open. "Y-You made these? On your own?" asked Cheerilee.

"Y-Yes. I-I've always wanted to become a baker. And my dad inspired me to become one. He's such a great cook and just...well...I want to be just like my dad when I grow up." Cheerilee couldn't help but smile as Butter finally concluded, "And that's why I appreciate my dad."

"Butter, that was a terrific essay! You get a check plus!"

Butter smiled before looking confused. "I...usually got letter grades from my old schools...so is that good?"

"That's equivalent to an A+, so yes."

"Oh! Well...good! Thanks!" Butter's smile returned as he picked up his cupcake tray, which now only contained a single cupcake and made his way back to his seat. Well, not only did I pass my essay, but I get a treat to go with it! He was about to eat his delicious reward when he noticed that Diamond had not moved from her seat. In fact, she was in the same place she was when the bell rang. A twinge of guilt was sent through Butter insides as he looked at his cupcake. Ergh...what is wrong with me? We're even now, I should feel satisfied! Butter thought for a moment before covering the cupcake up to save for later. Fine, guilt. You win.

~~~

Recess had begun and all the foals had ran outside, except for a certain, miffed-looking pink filly who was angrily stomping out the door. Butter noticed her behavior as she left and picked up the tray of cupcakes with his mouth. The fillies had joined Butter by his side as Scootaloo gushed, "That was a great essay, Butter! I never knew your dad was famous like that!"

Butter continued walking as he simply said, "Thanks." He wasn't really paying attention to them as he was focused more on Diamond, who was talking to Silver.

He continued to trot towards her as Applebloom asked, "What are ya doin'?"

"Just...give me a second." The fillies looked at each other and shrugged before backing off and letting Butter talk to Diamond.

Butter finally reached Diamond as he asked gently, "Um...Diamond?"

Diamond turned her head towards Butter and flinched a bit. "Wh-What do you want, f-fatty?!"

Butter didn't reaction to her insult this time as he laid down the tray. "I just...wanted to say I'm sorry for insulting you. I didn't mean to call you ugly."

She twitched a bit as she tried to remain calm. Butter expected another insult, but surprisingly Diamond just simply stated, "It's fine."

Butter coughed nervously before opening the tray. "I...have one last cupcake. I was going to eat it but I noticed you didn't come up and get one."

Diamond looked at the cupcake before taking it slowly. She took a small bite out of it as she looked away from him. "Hmph..."

"If...you want to talk about anything-"

"I don't want to talk to you at all. Please go away," Diamond declared in a harsh manner.

Butter said nothing more to her and just nodded. He took the tray back and walked back to the fillies, who all looked at him like he had a massive tick attached to his head.

"Butter, why'd ya give her a cupcake? I thought ya hated her!" exclaimed Applebloom.

"Did you do anything to the cupcake?" asked Scootaloo.

"Did you add laxatives to it as a prank?" inquired Sweetie.

"Look," Butter said, interrupting them, "I did it because I felt guilty!" All three of them looked at him even more confusedly. "You see, I learned something today. I learned that bullying somepony for revenge only makes you look like a bully in return. In those few seconds I called her ugly, I was becoming the thing I hated. So I apologized and tried to make up for it so I wouldn't look like her."

"So you're sayin' that instead of being mean ta her, we should try to be nice to her?"

"If it means we don't stoop down to her level, then yes."

The fillies looked at each other skeptically before Sweetie finally said, "He's right. We should at least try to be nice to them. Maybe they're just misunderstood. I mean, Butter practically reduced Diamond to tears with just a simple word."

Butter's ears lowered as he mumbled, "Thanks for making me feel better..."

Applebloom groaned and looked down. "Ah guess you're right."

"Yeah..." Scootaloo added.

At that moment, Butter felt like a heavy burden was lifted off his shoulders. "Cutie Mark Crusaders Friend Makers?" he asked in a slightly enthusiastic manner.

"Um...we tried that already," declared Scootaloo. "Not good results."

"Oh...um...right."

A few minutes of awkward silence passed until the bell rang, breaking the silence and allowing class to resume once more.

~~~

"And class, there will be no homework tonight because it's the weekend. So have a nice, relaxing two days!"

The class cheered at the announcement as they all ran outside with glee. Butter made his way outside with all his materials and joined with the Crusaders. "Alright, so what are we going to do the rest of the day?"

All three looked at each with a slight smirk before Scootaloo quickly put something around his head. Confused, Butter moved his hoof up and felt it. A sweatband?

"Remember when you told me you wanted to lose weight?" asked Scootaloo.

Oh Celestia, no.

"CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS FITNESS TRAINERS!" the three cheered in unison. Scootaloo got on her scooter while the other two got on with her.

"Try to keep up!" taunted Scootaloo as she buzzed forward, leaving a trail of dust behind her.

Butter groaned the loudest groan he made since he got to Ponyville and followed them, huffing with each step.

This was going to be a long couple of months for Butter.

Author's Note

This feels a bit rushed (mostly with the ending) and I apologize, but here it is!

A couple of small notes about this chapter, there were actually a few scenes I had planned where Butter and Diamond have a "final face-off." One of them was a longer version of Butter insulting Diamond, one was Butter being polite to Diamond and then backstabbing her with laxative-injected cupcakes (referenced as you can see here), and the current ending. I chose the current one not just because I felt like that would be too jerky even for Butter, but because I want to do a short story in the future where Butter tries to patch things up with Diamond and eventually friend her.

But that's in due time. For now, I will enjoy a nice relaxing break before preparing the next story I have planned. Toodles, and happy late Thanksgiving!

Empathy

As the days went by, Butter soon become more and more social. He started to hang out with some more of his peers and played with them more often. Of course, despite his new and numerous friends, he didn't dare abandon his best friends, the crusaders. In fact, he started hanging out with them the most after school to help assist them in getting their cutie marks (and also help them not get in any dangerous situations by turning down the riskier attempts to get a cutie mark). For the first time, Butter wasn't scared of going to school or of any other foals his age. He actually enthusiastic about going and despite the strenuous schoolwork, came to enjoy school and his interaction with the other students.

And just like that, the last day of the school week had come. To Butter, the week just flew by quickly, and he was kind of surprised that it ended as soon as it did. He looked around the classroom to see that the room was full of excited and joyous faces. However, out of the crowd of smiling ponies, he single out one saddened filly with her head on her desk: Diamond Tiara.

Now, normally he would just ignore her and go on with his day like normal, but then he started to recall that she hasn't really been happy ever since that encounter he had with her a few days ago. Ever since he called Diamond out on her bullying and retaliated with his own mean words, she hasn't smiled or shown any emotion other than sadness in front of him. He wanted to make sure she was okay, but then he remembered the exact words she said to him.

"I don't want to talk to you at all. Please go away."

She remembered how serious she was when she told Butter, and he didn't want to take that risk by talking to her and making everything worse. So, he decided to keep his eyes fixated on the teacher and act like he was listening to her speech the entire time.

"Alright, class. Now I know I always give you homework to do over the weekend..." The whole class aww'd in frustration of having to do something as lame as homework. "But...I've decided that since we have a new student and that I know you are all very eager to enjoy your weekend, I guess we can skip homework just for this week." The whole class cheered, excluding Diamond, who still had her head covering with her arms. "Alright, everypony! Class dismissed!" Cheerilee announced, letting their class reign free.

With that, the class disbanded. Everypony either walked out of the room collectively and slowly, while others dashed out in a hurry. Butter decided to do the former, as he was still bugged about Diamond's current state. His attention towards her was interrupted when he heard Scootaloo's voice. "You ready for some crusading, Butterball?"

He quickly turned forward as he noticed the crusaders were standing in front of him, ready to head off to the clubhouse. Scootaloo fastened her helmet and was ready to take off when Butter quickly replied, "Actually, I...need to take care of something before we start doing some crusading."

Scootaloo determined glare dropped as she pressed on, "What sort of something?"

"Something rather personal, if you don't mind," Butter replied.

Scootaloo and the other crusaders suddenly looked as serious as Butter did. They knew him for only a couple days, but they already figured out that Butter was a chill and funny colt. When he was serious though, it was best to leave him alone and not to press on him any further. "Okay, then. We'll be at the clubhouse if you need us." Scootaloo scooted off as the other two fillies followed her, leaving Butter alone to himself at the school with Diamond, who had finally gotten out of her desk and started to leave the school.

Did Silver decide not to tag along with her this time? wondered Butter to himself as he slowly started to gather the courage to go talk to her. After a minute, he decided to walk up beside her and greeted, "Hey, Diamond." He tried to give off a friendly smile, but it just looked awkward.

Diamond quickly shot her head towards the colt and angrily asked, "What do YOU want?"

Butter fumbled with his words in fear that he would say something wrong. "Oh...I...uh...I was just wondering if something was the matter..."

"Hmph." Diamond stuck her nose in the air in a snooty manner. "Everything is perfect."

"Well, i-it doesn't seem that way," Butter argued.

"I assure you that everything is absolutely, truly, one-hundred percent-"

"Diamond, I'm worried about you," Butter interrupted quickly. Diamond shut her mouth in surprise as Butter continued. "Look, ever since our little argument, you haven't just been avoiding me, you've been avoiding everypony else. You never giggle, you never smile, and you never show interest in anything as far as I've seen so far."

"Well," Diamond tried to rebuttal, "I just think that class has gotten more boring than usual, lately."

"So why aren't you and Silver making snide comments like usual?" Butter hoped in his mind that maybe if he continued to ask questions, she'll start spilling out the truth.

"It's...just gotten too hard to think of new material every day."

"And come to think of it, why isn't Silver here with you today?"

"N-No reason!" Diamond was starting to sound more unsure with her answers.

"I think there is a reason and you're avoiding it."

"There isn't!"

"Then Pinkie Promise."

Diamond's heart skipped a beat. "Wh-What?"

"You heard me, Diamond. Pinkie Promise that everything's okay with you," Butter challenged. Diamond shifted her hooves but said nothing. She looked at Butter nervously as she bit her lip. "Go ahead. Do it." Diamond's lip quivered as she still stood silent. And then, she did something Butter never expected Diamond to do.

She started to cry.

Butter flinched a bit and started to look concerned. Oh no...did I say something wrong?

Diamond sniffed and turned her back away. "Th-There...I'm crying now! Is th-that what you wanted?!" she asked with a stutter.

Butter's ears flattened as he hesitantly trotted up to her and laid a hoof around her comfortingly. She flinched a bit and felt as if she didn't want to be touched, but she didn't reject to it. "No. I wanted you to tell me what's wrong," answered Butter.

After a few more moments of sniffling, Diamond looked at Butter. "I-If I tell you, you tell nopony else. Understand?" Butter nodded sincerely as a response as Diamond continued, "And will you finally stop pestering me?"

"Yes, I will," Butter answered.

Diamond sighed and wiped her eyes before adding, "I-It's a long story, so..."

"I have the time to listen to it."

Diamond looked into Butter's eyes, knowing that there was no way around this situation. After she let out a sigh, she finally began, "Well, this whole thing really begins when I first moved here to Ponyville about 2 years ago. Well, I actually was born here...but I moved to Manehattan for a few years because my father was on business, so I stayed there for a bit, and then moved back. Anyway, on the first day of school..." She stopped for a second and gulped, trying to hold back tears. "S-Sorry. On the first day of school, there were a bunch of mean fillies who were, like, three years older than me. First, they started to shoot spitballs at my hair during class. I tried to raise my hoof and tell the teacher, but she thought I was a tattletale and didn't listen."

Butter raised an eyebrow skeptically. "Was she a different teacher than Cheerilee?"

Diamond confirmed with a nod. "Yes. Cheerilee's only been teaching for a year now, so this was before then. Our old teacher was an older pony named Mrs. Persnickety. She was a good teacher, but too strict. Anyway, she ignored my complaints and went onto teaching. When recess began, the ponies from before started to gang up on me. They started making fun of me and called me stupid and ugly and...a blank flank. That's the insult they used the most. A stupid, ordinary, good-for-nothing blank flank."

Butter frowned a bit more as Diamond continued with her story. "I tried to tell my dad that they were bullying me, but he seemed to interested in moving his new business to Ponyville to take notice. So after a few months, I tried to suck it up and take the abuse. While I was there, I also met Silver Spoon. She also was in the same boat as me because she also suffered from being bullied a lot. She had her cutie mark already though from being a spoon-maker, strangely enough, so she didn't get bullied as much as me, but still. We started talking a lot about how we don't deserve to be bullied and well...that kind of helped out self-esteem, I guess." She smiled a bit as she said this, but it soon faded as she continued. "We started to act all snooty and cool like the other bullies in hopes of not getting bullied anymore, and that sort of worked. We weren't called names anymore, so it was a big plus to us.

"The next year came sooner than I'd thought, and it turns out that the bullies got in trouble or something. I don't know what the details were, but they moved to a different city. On the first day, we tried to be nice to everypony and make amends after last year, ya know? Well, the ponies who we bullied didn't want to have anything to do with us, so they ignored us. We tried our hardest to apologize, but nopony listened to us. We were all alone. Just the two of us." Diamond took her eyes away from Butter's and looked towards the ground. "We tried to raise our self-esteem again by doing the same thing last year, bullying others and praising ourselves. That earned me my cutie mark. I don't remember how, but it's most likely from being a selfish, snooty, little brat." She wanted to go on, cursing herself for having such an awful talent, if it even was a talent, but for the sake of not going on a rant, she left it at that.

"So, then why'd you stop bullying everypony after our argument?" Butter asked.

"After you called me ugly and all that, it made me realize something. No matter what one does, they're always going to be criticized by somepony, and there's nothing you can do to stop it. So to not make matters worse, I just ignored everypony and hopefully thought they'd forget about me. Silver tried talking to me about it and tried to build up my self-esteem by calling me 'pretty' and 'gorgeous' and other stupid lies, but it didn't work. After school that day, she came to my house and said how she didn't want to be friends with me anymore. To be honest though, I don't think we were friends to begin with. She probably stuck by side when I was a bully to make sure she didn't suffer like the rest of the ponies did..."

Silence fell upon the two foals until Diamond finally spoke up. "Does that answer all of your questions?"

"Almost all of them. I do have one more."

Diamond sighed. "And what would that be?"

"Do you want to change?"

Diamond tilted her head a bit in confusion. "Like, change being a bully and all?" Butter nodded as Diamond continued, "Y-Yes...I truly do."

"Then what's stopping you?" Butter asked.

Diamond sighed and looked at the tiara stamped on her flank. "My cutie mark. It basically symbolizes how much of a rich jerk I am..."

Butter glanced at her flank for a split second before looking back into Diamond's eyes. "You shouldn't let something on your butt tell you what you're good at. And like you said, you don't know how you got it, so you don't know what it stands for in the first place."

"Well, what do you think it stands for?" Diamond asked.

Butter thought for a moment before answering her question with the cheesiest statement he could come up with. "Maybe you're rich in character or something."

Diamond looked at Butter like she was a bit peeved. Obviously, his effort in complimenting her had failed. "Listen, I told you what was up. Now please leave me alone," Diamond said, trying to be polite.

"Wait, can I say one last thing before I leave?" asked Butter.

Diamond sighed and mumbled to herself. "I'm going to regret this, but fine. Go ahead."

Butter cleared his throat and went on, "I know you don't want to be a bully, Diamond, and you don't have to keep 'acting tough' to get respect. All you need to do is just act yourself."

"I tried that, but the ponies never believed that I was being honest with my apology, so they ignored me," stated Diamond.

"So? Some apologizing takes time. You just need to be honest and truthful, and they'll start to accept who you truly are," Butter said with a slight smile.

Diamond looked down and started to think to herself. "I-I'm not sure about that..."

"Well, you've got one pony convinced already, so it shouldn't be too hard," Butter reassured. Diamond looked back into Butter's eyes and gave him a small, but noticeable smile. Butter got to his hooves and said, "Well, I've gotta go. Don't want to keep the crusaders waiting."

Diamond nodded as Butter turned around and started to trot off. Suddenly, Diamond spoke, "W-Wait! Um..."

Butter turned around and faced her. "Hm?"

"D-Do you wanna maybe...talk sometime? Or hang out or something?"

"Oh...um...sure!"

"O-Okay!" Diamond said with a bigger smile. "I'll let you know when I'm free!"

"Alright! I'll let you know when I'm free, too!" Butter said with a sincere smile. He waved to Diamond and turned back around, heading for the clubhouse.

Diamond watched him leave as she finally said to herself, "Goodbye, friend."

Author's Note

Ahh, I don't really like writing Butter as a counselor. But hey, extra chapter right?

Just a little something attempting to be heartfelt while I write a vulgar and tasteless comedy. Enjoy!

(P.S. I just ended the alliteration gimmick. I'm sorry but at the same time don't feel sorry. At all.)

Temptation

"I've gained five pounds?!" Butter exclaimed as the other three crusaders confirmed his weight on the scale.

"Ah don't understand!" exclaimed Applebloom. "We've been exercisin' and trainin' ya for two weeks and haven't seen ANY progress!"

"Maybe we're doing it wrong?" asked Sweetie.

"No way! I asked Rainbow Dash myself and she said that she gets stronger by running a lot and doing push-ups!" proclaimed Scootaloo. "...Even if Butter can't do push-ups yet."

"Or wing-ups," added Applebloom.

"I thought we agreed that it's because my wings are too small to reach the ground!" argued Butter.

"Right..." said Applebloom, rolling her eyes. "So...what could've caused him to gain weight?"

All three of the fillies thought for a bit before looking at each slowly and then at Butter. "...Butter?" asked Scootaloo slowly.

"Yes?"

"Have you been limiting your sweet intake?"

"...Do I have to?" he asked sincerely.

All three fillies groaned and put a hoof on their respective foreheads. "Butter, if you're gonna lose weight, you need to learn to limit how much sugar you have everyday."

Butter's ears lowered as his eyes widened. "I have to diet too?!" he asked in a mortified tone.

"Butter, it ain't that bad. Ya just have to eat vegetables once in a while and reduce how much candy and other sweets ya have," said Applebloom, trying to reassure Butter.

"Speaking of which, how much sugar have you had this week anyway?" asked Sweetie.

Butter rubbed his chin, trying to recall his sugar intake. "Well, so far this week I've had a few lollipops, couple of a cupcakes...oh, and I've had some ice cream sandwiches every night after bed."

"Well, maybe instead of lollipops and cupcakes you can have carrots or broccoli. And maybe instead of ice cream every night you can limit it to once every two or three days," suggested Scootaloo.

Butter gulped. "Do I have to?"

"If ya want to get rid of all that pudge," answered Applebloom, poking his side, making him flinch due to his sensitivity. Butter frowned a bit before Applebloom became serious. "Really though, it'd be best if y'all'd listen to Scootaloo on this one. You've already gained some weight even with our exercises. If ya wanna make any progress, yer gonna need to restrain yerself."

Butter sighed and looked into her eyes and then into the eyes of the other two fillies before finally answering, "Alright...I'll try my best to...mff..." Butter gagged a bit. "D-Diet..."

All three of them smiled, especially Scootaloo for whatever reason. "Thank you, Butter." She hugged Butter tight, making him blush in embarrassment.

Butter looked at her in confusion and tilted his head. "What's with the hugging?"

Scootaloo suddenly blushed as well and let go almost instantly. "Heh...s-sorry...I'm just so happy for you. It's touching even for me..." she said in an unconvincing manner.

Butter shrugged it off, however, and heard somepony open the front door. "Oh, that's Rarity. We better get out of here, she'd KILL us if she found out we used her nice scale!"

All three nodded in agreement and quickly ran out of Rarity's bathroom in fear that she would dramatically overreact to the situation.

Butter woke up to a loud alarm early in the morning. He instinctively slapped the alarm clock down on the ground, causing it to land on the snooze button. He groaned and sat up in his bed. Oh my Celestia, last night was HORRIBLE, he thought to himself. Dinner was terrible with all those vegetables. AND NO DESSERT! He growled a bit in annoyance, cursing himself for letting the fillies coax his mom and dad to making him put on a diet. But he had a plan, and by Luna's moon it was going to work. He looked at his clock as it displayed "7:00." He smirked and thought to himself again, Perfect. Sugarcube Corner is always open early on Sundays. No foal would dare wake up at such an earlier hour, especially not Applebloom, Sweetie, or Scootaloo. The plan was just too perfect to fail.

Butter reached under his pillow and pulled out a five bits, his emergency money. He thought for a minute, wondering if it was wise to spend his money on a few sweets. The growl in his stomach answered for him as he nodded to himself. Well, I am starving. I guess this does count as an emergency. He got up out of bed and slowly made his way down the stairs, the stairs eliciting wooden squeaks with every step. He walked to the kitchen and opened up one of the drawers, retrieving a pen and paper. He quickly wrote a note out with his the pen in his mouth and left it on the counter.

Went out running. -Butter

He looked at it to admire his beautiful penmanship. Well, beautiful wasn't the right adjective, as his writing consisted nothing more than a few random scribbles. Still, it was somewhat legible. He smirked again, knowing that this plan couldn't fail without a doubt. He put the pen back in the drawer and closed it. Leaving the kitchen, he sneaked out of his house and looked outside. He only noticed a few ponies walking around at this time, most likely going to work. He used the opportunity of few witnesses to slink his way towards Sugarcube Corner without being detected.

Not that any strangers would care. He just thought it looked cool.

When he got to Sugarcube Corner, he looked behind him, making sure nopony was watching. He entered the bakery, where a blue, stout mare with pink hair was at the counter, awfully concerned with his behavior.

"Um...are you alright?" she asked, watching him sneak around the walls.

Butter looked up at her and quickly ran up the counter. "I'd like two chocolate cupcakes please," he ordered quickly.

"Err...alright," she said. She turned around and walked off into the kitchen, leaving Butter to sigh in relief.

I knew this plan was gonna work! he cheered in his mind.

"Butter, what are you doing here?" he heard from behind him.

Startled, Butter spun around quickly and met face to face with a drowsy Sweetie Belle. He moved his a bit and saw Scootaloo and Applebloom with a grimace on their faces. "Oh...um...wait, what are YOU three doing here?" he asked.

"Ah had to wake up early ta do some chores for mah sister," answered Applebloom.

"Well I wanted to get a few rides of my scooter in at the skate park. I have to get there pretty early because it gets crowded in the middle of the day on a weekend," followed Scootaloo.

"Insomnia...I decided a nice walk would help me sleep..." responded Sweetie sleepily.

"We all ran into each other by chance on the way and decided to get ourselves chocolate chip muffins for breakfast. But the real question is, why are YOU up so early?" asked Scootaloo.

"Oh well...um..." Don't blow this Butter...this plan could still work!

"Little colt? Your order is ready," the blue mare from before stated, placing a place of two chocolate cupcakes on the counter.

Butter froze up, quickly trying to make up the best excuse he could. "I...bought you three some cupcakes!"

The fillies deadpanned at Butter as Sweetie spoke up, "There are only two cupcakes..."

Butter stood silent for a little bit longer trying to come up with another excuse before Scootaloo interrupted his thoughts. "Butter. Your plan failed."

Butter looked down at the floor in shame and sighed. "Alright...fine...I have a confession to make him. Guys, I can't do it. I can't lose weight."

"Why not?" asked Scootaloo.

"I...I just can't bring myself to diet. I mean, I can't eat vegetables all my life! They're disgusting! Plus I'm addicted to sweets and too reliant on them!" He sighed and continued, "Face it, I'm going to be fat all my life..."

Scootaloo moved his head up so that he faced her. His eyes moved up to hers as she began to speak, "Listen Butter. I know you're not that overweight now, but the sugar you eat will soon pile up. I hear in the news all the time of obese ponies dying at early ages like twenty or thirty. I know you're not at all at the point yet, but I'm just seriously worried for you. So please Butter, let us help you diet!" Her eyes glistened a bit and she looked like she was going to tear up. Butter bit his lip as Scootaloo added, "And if you need help with it, we can help you eat healthier as well as help you exercise!"

"Yeah, Butter!" said Sweetie.

"We're with ya all the way!"

Butter looked at his three friends and sighed, giving his final answer. "Okay. Do whatever you need to."

Scootaloo smiled again and wiped her eyes. "Agh, dust in my eye." She sniffed and looked at the two cupcakes on the counter. "You can have those two cupcakes, but after that you're back on the diet!"

Butter looked back at the cupcakes and then at Scootaloo before saying, "You know what? I don't think I'm hungry for cupcakes."

"Are you sure? These came from a pretty good batch," said the mare behind the counter.

Butter looked at the frosted temptation as his mouth watered. However, he didn't give in and nodded. "Yes, I'm sure."

"Alright," responded the mare as she picked up the plate of cupcakes and put them back on the kitchen counter for a later order.

Butter smiled a bit as his decision before his stomach growled again. "Oh right...that was supposed to be my breakfast."

Applebloom rolled her orange eyes and reached into her saddlebag. "Here, y'all can have this," she said, retrieving an apple from it. She gave it to him as Butter looked at it curiously.

"An apple?"

"Try it! Mah family grows the best apples in Equestria!"

Butter shrugged and took a bite of the apple. His eyes widened in surprise as the fruit actually tasted good...better than most cupcakes he's ever eaten! "Oh my Celestia, this is amazing!" he exclaimed.

Applebloom smirked. "Ah told ya! Nopony beats our freshly picked apples!"

"Mmm...do ya got any more?"

"Ah got loads of them! Applejack always puts tons in mah bag just in case of an emergency."

"Well, I guess this technically is an emergency," he chuckled at his own joke and then noticed than the other three remained silent. He blushed lightly in embarrassment and mumbled under his breath, "Guess it wasn't as funny the second time..."

"Anyway...if ya want to buy some, Ah think Ah can get Applejack to sell ya a bunch of them at a lower price. Best friend discount and all that."

"Wow...thanks, Applebloom," Butter said, smiling again.

"Don't mention it, Butter," Applebloom smiled. "But, next time ya decide to cheat on yer diet, we WILL tickle ya 'til ya can't breathe."

Butter's eyes widened as he gulped. "M-Message received."

Scootaloo rolled her eyes and asked, "Alright, so do you guys wanna see some cool scooter tricks at the skate park? It's still pretty early in the day, so I don't think there'll be many ponies there."

"Alright. That sounds cool," Butter said. The other two nodded as Scootaloo led the way to the skate park, Butter eating the delicious apple on the way there.

Author's Note

Sorry for the extra chapters, I haven't been given a lot of time to write a proper sequel because of school work. :fluttershbad:

So thus officially begins Butter's road to getting thin. It's gonna be a hard couple of months for him. :rainbowlaugh:

New Sequel!

Author's Note

You guys were disappointed of the lack of sequel? Well, here you go then!

New Sequel!

New Spin-Off!

Author's Note

Fans of Just Big Boned, there's a spin-off about Butter's parents and how they met right here!