Strangers

Chapters

Back at Ponyville
The White Bell
The Meeting
A New Feeling
Showdown and Showtime

Back at Ponyville

I'm back. I said in my head. It's been so many years since I've been in Ponyville. When I turned 18 I began planning to come back here, to come back home. Don't get me wrong I loved Los Pegasus, there was a lot of things to see and do but it didn't feel like home. At 21 I began to put things in place, I even got a few of my old friends to help me out with the move all the way across equestria. Then once I got here I just threw my stuff down and began to see what has changed in Ponyville. Nothing's really changed except for more houses and new faces but mostly it was just like I left it. I even saw Miss Cheerilee teaching at the same school. I even found out that she's married to another teacher cross town and has her own foal. I ran into a few of my old friends like Pip and Rumble. As I continued to rediscover Ponyville I heard news of what happened since I left like Twilight becoming a princess and has her own castle in Ponyville. How did I miss that? I asked myself. So many important things I missed in what 12-13 years. Wow.

"Button Mash?" Some pony asked. I turned around to see a bright yellow mare with a familiar red braid that was casted over her shoulder. I was able to see her cutie mark which was a white flower that I didn't recognize.

"Yes, what..." I looked at her more closely, studying her, trying to figure out who she was. I blinked my eyes "Apple Bloom?

"What are you doing back here?" She asked.

"I moved back."

"Wow! Look at you Button Mash. Your so tall and big." She smiled happily. I smiled back. Wow! Just look at her, it only seems that yesterday that she was only a filly and the same size as me. Now she looks so strong.

"Me? What about you! Your big and strong too."

"How have you been Button? It's been too long since I've last seen you."

"I know, it's been what? 12-13 years since I moved but neither the less, I've been great. I got a job a music studios as a sound technician in Los Pegasus."

"That's cool! Is that why your here?" She asked

"Yeah, their starting a studio here to cover Ponyville so I grabbed up this spot as soon as I could. What about you?" I responded. We started down one of the streets. We continued to talk about almost the simplest of things that I should've known if I stayed but it was cut short when she remembered about her own job with her own area of the Apple farm. So I was left to wonder the streets of Ponyville alone. Then...

"Watch out!" SLAM! I was dozy for a few seconds but I was able to shake it it off and helped the mare up. "Thanks mister. I'm sor... whoa, Button Mash!" She jumped back almost falling again.

"Yeah and no need to say sorry to me, it was my fault." Then I looked at her again after brushing myself off. "Scootaloo?" I swear I can't remember any of my best friends. Scootaloo still had her classic orange coat and purple mane but what caught my eye was her wings, they were big and muscular.

"Wow, looks like Big Mac has some competition. " She said looking me up and down. I may have gotten big and maybe stronger but not as strong as Big Mac. The last time I saw him he could lift apple carts with one hoof but then again it's been a long time so things might have changed.

"Will thanks but look at you, you have gotten bigger and your wings, they look amazing. " I complemented her. She blushed a little which was strange for her. I can't remember her ever really blushing before I left.

"Thanks Button. How have you been these past years? " She asked her blush quickly fading away.

"I've been good how about you?" Then she began to tell me what happened in the past years. Her sister, Rainbow Dash, became a Wonderbolt and herself is in the academy, training for the Wonderbolts. She has also started seeing Rumble and has even been proposed to. We stood there talking for a while, exchanging different news about each other. I lost track of the time and before we knew it the sun started to leave the sky and she had to leave for the academy.

I continued to walk around eventually began the walk to my own home. I was passing the main market place when a piece of paper landed on my face. I pulled it off and looked at it. It was part of a song. The lyrics were amazing, though it had no title or name. I kept and figured to ask around tomorrow, see if anyone lost it or knows anyone who did. The rest off the short trip was uneventfully but I continued to think of the music sheet that I put in my small satchel. "Apple Bloom? No,no, if she were to write a song it would be more country oriented." I continued thinking about when I got home and unpack my bag. "Scoots? No again, she would write a pop or rock song from the look of her."

I was in my bedroom when I found it. A picture of her, Sweetie Belle. "Sweetie Belle. She could've wrote it! She was always into music. Even written a few songs and sang at school plays and talent shows." I made a point as to find Sweetie tomorrow and ask and did a face hoof. The picture was when we were foals. We were looking straight at the camera, next to each other, smiling and she was waving.

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"Smile for me you two!" A white unicorn said and both looked at her and smiled towards her. "Ok, thank you." she said and walked to a normal wood bench.

"C'mon Button let's go!" She told me with her sweet voice. I followed and we continued to play together throughout the park.

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"That was a fun time I said to myself. which put a smile to my face. I remember us always having fun when we were together, no matter what the circumstances. I also remember the first time we had a sleep over and how much fun it was.

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We were next to a fire pit. Laughing over a joke she made about her big sister, Rarity.

"Ha, ha, you two. Now lets calm down." She said but we continued to laugh. Next mourning Sweetie taped against the wall in her sleeping bag. She accused me at first but it turned out to be her sister, Rarity who was laughing in the next room.

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We ended up laughing about in the end. "I hope she remembers me." I said out loud. I sighed happily, thinking of the times we shared and her. Her beautiful white coat, pink and purple mane always so curly. Her Light green eyes and calming, sweet and caring voice. "Tomorrow, Sweetie, I can see you again." Then I climbed into bed and ended my day full of hope.

The White Bell

Author's Note

Just to make sure everyone knows this, the PMV/song takes place before this story and Button was in Las Pegasus during the song (at least in this story). Also I think that Sweetie actually wrote her part of the duet while Button was singing from the heart. See something wrong or something that can improve let me know in a separate message.

The White Bell

I woke up with a big crash on to my new floor. "That's going to bother me for a while." I groaned. I got up from my hard wood floor and put my blanket lazily back on my bed. I was about to walk out of my door when I remembered the page of music that I left on my nightstand. The page was mostly filled with lyrics but it had a few notes on it. I didn't really looked at it last night so I toke sometime to look over it now. Trying to see if there was actually a name on it like on the bottom or side but there wasn't anything of the such but I did find a intersecting lyric. Feels like you were just beside me. How did time go by so quickly? I sang in my head. I couldn't figure out what was the message behind this song was. it puzzled me as I walked out of the front door. I thought the song was pretty good just from this page alone, it was be amazing with the rest of the lyrics.

I looked around the street I lived on and it seemed like the day was going quite normal in Ponyville. I did have to ask around for directions to Rarity's shop but every pony was so nice and gave me directions. I'm glad that never changed around here. I was walking down the street when another interesting lyric popped into my head. And remember, I've been waiting ever sense this started aching. Now that was a interesting part of the song. What could that mean? I asked myself but no answer popped out to be the right one. I got what it was supposed to say, that they missed some pony but who and in what way? I haven't worked with Eclipse Records for a long time but I learned that most songs have a message hidden within the lyrics. Most the time you need to have the entiresong but this was easy with this page, the writer missed some pony deeply.

I continued to think about this for a while and didn't even notice that I was at Rarity's shop. What snapped me out of it was a feminine voice and a embarrassing smack into the door.

"Can I help you deary?" I look up from the ground which I was staring at and saw a familiar white mare, Rarity. She looked older but she looked nearly the same and its been nearly 13 years. Her coat was still as white as snow and her curly purple mane was tied back into a ponytail. Her purple eyes still looked at me with the same caring look she gave nearly everyone. To be honest, it relaxed me a little.

"Hello Rarity." I said to her. Her face lite up like lightbulb. She also started to jump up and down excitedly. I started laughing a little bit "How have you been?"

"Button! Oh my Celestia, your back!" She stopped jumping but still had a huge smile plastered across her face. "I've been good! Please come in deary." She told me. She went back in and I shortly followed her. The boutique hasn't changed much besides some new dresses obviously which surprised me a little. She took me to the house part of the building that she and Sweetie use to live in. I sat down at the table in their small kitchen and she went to the counter. "Tell me Button dear, how have you been in what, 12 years?"

"Its been 13 years Rarity but I wish that I could've got back sooner..." I corrected her. "but I've been good."

"Well the years don't matter. How was living in Las Pegasus? I hear that's where the stars live." She said bringing over a two cups of coffee. In Las Pegasus coffee basically became my fuel, sometimes working long nights or at midnight and coffee was the only thing keeping me awake through those hours.

"Yep that's where the movie ponies are but when you work for half of them they become a regular pony." I said casually, taking a sip of the coffee. Its true all of the singers and hit bands become a regular at the studios because your part of the reason they famous pop stars and hit bands.

"What do you mean Button?"

"I work for Eclipse Records, as a sound technician there." I answered. Then it felt like the beginning, she had a big smile and started to bounce in her chair.

"You have to get me in there." She said in her desperate tone of voice. I knew some pony would do that just not as soon as now but I did have a feeling that it would be Rarity.

"It doesn't work that way Rarity. I'm sorry..." Then comes her puppy eyes which was easy to resist, seeing as she used it so many times with me and Sweetie but what got me was the quivering lip. "Okay, okay the least I could do is keep you informed on weather or not sometimes pony is coming here." I sighed in ultimate defeat. Usually we are told if a artist is coming to the recording room so we can get ready ahead of time and for them. Her bright and happy smile returned.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you." She reached across the table and pulled me into a hug. Almost spilling both of the coffees in the process.

"Your welcome." I sighed again when she released me from her death hold. She may look gentle but she is strong.

"Off that topic. Why did you come back in the first place?" She asked sitting back down in her chair.

"Los Pegasus never really made me fell like I was home, so natural I urged my mother to have us move back but as luck would have it, we never had the funds to do so. Then I moved out and got a job and all that adult stuff, so I began saving up for the move. I had everything set in place and I was going to quit my job but they told me that they were building a new studio here so they can cover more area and find undiscovered stars." I said starting to breath again. "I volunteered to be the first technician to come here right then and there."

"Well you have your work cut out for you." Rarity smiled, confusing me.

"Why is that?" I asked

"There is a lot of talent around here."

"I guess your right." Then I heard a bell ring behind me and Rarity got up from her seat.

"Duty calls. Stay right here deary, I'll be right back." She said leaving for the front. I continued drinking the coffee and looking around the familiar room. I saw a picture on the wall that seemed to draw me to it but it was too far away for me to really make it out. I got curious and walked over there to see what the picture was, leaving the music page on the table. I studied it for a moment then remembered what it was, it was later that day of our sleepover...

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We were dancing to music Rarity was playing for us. She was trying to get us to do a 'fancy dance' ... we did get it eventually.

"Can we stop now Rarity?" Sweetie groaned. At the time we've been dancing for maybe 2-3 hours. I remember my feet almost giving out from below me because of how long they've been moving the exact same way for the entire time. Its not like she had us going at one pace, no she had us doing it slowly, quickly, and sometimes at the normal pace but these were quick changes, at the snap of her hoofs we were at a different pace.

"Fine you two..." She sighed. "...go and play." We celebrated and played hide and seek till we fell asleep.

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"You two were brilliant dancers you know." Rarity told me coming back in. "Even though you and Sweetie looked bored you two were happy."

"What makes you say that?" I let out a small laugh at her compliment.

"You never stopped." She replied.

"You never said we could."

"Yes I did, 7 times to be exact. " She smiled. "I guess you two liked it."

"Well, I guess we did."

"Now what's with these lyrics Button?"She asked me. I turned to her and she was holding up the page with her light blue magic. "I never knew you could write songs like this." I don't blame her for thinking I wrote the lyrics, I walked in with it and it had no name on it plus its been 13 years so in her mind I could have taken to music writing and/or singing.

"Those aren't my lyrics. I found it on the street flying through the wind. I thought it might be some pony's song." I told her.

"By some pony's you mean Sweetie's song and that's the reason for your visit today. Isn't it darling?" She pretty much found me out and I gave her a sheepish smile.

I sighed in defeat. "Yes that's the reason I came here but it was nice talking to you, I thought you might have moved to Canterlot to expand your business there and be with the nobles and upper class poines."

"I would like to expand music to Canterlot but I would trade here over there any time, I just have too many deep roots here that I don't think I could bring myself to permanently move away. Well anyway, it was nice catching up with you and seeing how you've been doing. Now Sweetie is out getting fabric for me if you want I can tell her you stopped by or you could wait here for her and help me out a little bit." She told me.

"Why not. Sir Button Mash at your service. " I said giving her a little bow. She laughed a little at my small formality. We worked on some designs, of course it was a hard job seeing I really know nothing about fashion design but Rarity helped me out as much I helped her. I also had to work as a male model because I'm a 'normal stallion' to Rarity. Her clothes were a little tight but I didn't complain, it didn't matter to me my old uniform was tighter s seeing we had to be 'presentable' to the big stars. She was making revisions to a suit (with my futile help) when I heard the bell ring. I thought it was another customer and continued working on the useless suit revisions. Then I was tackled from the side by some pony. I looked up and I saw a familiar white face of an old, old friend ... Sweetie Belle

The Meeting

"Well I didn't expect to be attacked today." I smiled. Her beautiful pink and purple curly mane covered my face as she laid on top of me. Her green eyes staring down at me with a bright smile. She pulled me into a hug which I returned gratefully. "I'm back. Did you miss me?" I asked holding her as tight as she was holding me.

"Of course I did you big goofball." She laughed as she pulled back. Her soft voice was music to my ears. Her laugh was so adorable, I haven't heard it in such a long time that I forgot what it sounded like.

"Now could you let me up off your sister's floor." I asked her.

"Oh, Oh yeah sorry." She said getting off me with a small blush that was bright as day and turned to Rarity. "I got all of fabrics you needed Rarity." She said cheerily.

"Thank you Sweetie ." She said taking it from Sweetie's new magenta magic aura that almost looked as beautiful as she did.

"Is it okay if me and Button walk around a bit to catch up?" Sweetie asked.

"Of course it is Sweetie, go right ahead." She smiled

"Let's go Button." She said while she pulled me to the door. Seemed like Sweetie also got stronger.

"Bye, Rarity." I said before being pulled outside.

"Good luck Button." I heard her say from outside.

Sweetie stopped pulling me and started walking with me next to her. Its been so long sense I've gotten to just hang out with her. She was smiling as we walked down the cobblestone streets of Ponyville. We caught up on what each other has been doing in the past 13 years that we spent apart. Turns out she has been pursuing a career as a singer, picking up gigs wherever she can. She has also wrote some songs that she's performed here and actually some in Canterlot. Listening to her rumble on about what she's done was cute, she's been doing a lot and that made me really proud of her. Then I told her about the new music studio coming here and she started to bounce up and down happily. She began talking about her future in music. We ended up at the fountain when she stopped and blushed, most likely remembering I was right next to her the entire time.

"Oh, Sorry Button. How have you been." She said calming down from the endless smiles and bouncing.

"I've been good. Los Pegasus was good but it never felt like home as much as Ponyville ever did." I told her as we sat down on one of the benches in the fountain square. "The job has been nice meeting a bunch of stars and famous bands. Sadly, I have to wait a while before the studio to be finished so I guess I'm on vacation until then." I continued. I told her about my mom and the big city and the new friends that I was able to make there.

"You know I missed you a lot right?" She asked me.

"Yeah. I missed you a lot too." I answered and I pulled her into another hug.

"How long has it been Button, since we saw each other like this? Let alone talk to each other?" She asked with her head resting on my shoulder.

"About 13 years Sweetie." I answered pulling back.

"How did time go be so quickly. Seemed like yesterday you left for Los Pegasus and we promised to stay in touch." She said. Then she start to lean on me putting her head on my shoulder.

"Tell about these songs you've wrote Sweetie. " I asked her trying to lead her away from this road. I wanted to learn about her songs they were always beautiful and quite amazing. She was always a great singer and had a beautiful voice when it came to singing.

"I've wrote maybe, 5 songs. I'm working on one now, it was suppose to be a duet but I lost one of the pages to it so I have to write it all over again and I forgot the words to that part, plus I have no pony to sing it with me. I was going to sing at a event before the summer sun celebration on Wednesday but I have to think up a way to make it a solo before then." She sighed and continued to rest her head on my shoulder. I was going to give her the page back when we got back to her home but then I started to think about singing with her. I never wanted to try to sing because I was caught up with video games and when I got older, work. I also couldn't write any songs to sing but I could try now with her to help me along.

"I think I found your missing part of the song..." I began. She instantly perked up.

"Where is it?" she asked me.

"At your house with Rarity." I replied. " I think I also know some pony who could sing with, "

"Who?" She asked. I could see a confused look on her face.

"Me." I replied

"You?"

"Yes."

"Since when do you have the desire to sing."

"When I started at Eclipse Records."

"Okay then, when we get back we can start. If that's okay with you?" She asked

"That's fine." I replied. That's taken care of. We continued to sit there discussing about the song and how we were going to pull it off. Then she suggested that we go and eat at a cafe she knows. We got there and it was a nice little cafe with some outside seating which we sat down in. We continued to talk about it through out our lunch. Then a group of stallions stopped by and interrupted us.

"Well, well ,well what do we got here?" One of them said. I quickly looked at him, He was a pegasus and had a dark blue coat and a short yellow mane, it reminded me of what a cut a guard would have.

"Looks like Belle has a date." The one to the right said. This one also a pegasus which had a light gray coat and a light blue mane that looked like his buddies mane cuts. I started to think that these guys were guards if not then they were either in training or vigilantes trying to look cool.

"Can you guys just not do this today?" Sweetie exhaustedly asked them.

"Why not? Is it a special day or something." The blue one asked with a weird smile.

"I'm just sick and tired of you guys doing this." She defended

"Well just say yes and we will stop." He continued

"No, Sky, I'm not going out with you." She replied

"C'mon Sweetie you know you want to say yes." He moved next to her.

"For the last time NO!" She shouted straight in his face. He closed his eyes but still continued.

"Sweetie all you have to do is just say yes." That's when I had to step in. I got up and walked next to him and Sweetie.

"She said no, okay? You got it. So that means leave her alone which she has said today." I said defensively but that didn't change anything important.

"Get out of the way little colt before you hurt yourself." He said to me coldly. Then I snapped like a twig. I'm not the one to jump to violence but I can. I toke a fighting class in Las Pegasus for defense because my mother justified with 'if the need every a rise'. Which it didn't until now I guess. I grabbed his shoulders and calmly pushed him away from Sweetie. He stumbled a little but kept his balance. I stepped in front of him and Sweetie.

"Get it through your head she's not interested in you." I told him more harshly than I wanted to. He walked straight up to me, his face was inches from mine but I held my ground. I could fell him breathing and he just stared at me as I stared at him, eye to eye.

"Fine, guys let's go." He turned away and began walking away with his friends. "See you next time Sweetie." He laughed as he disappeared shortly followed by his friends.

"Thank you Button and I'm sorry for that whole." She apologized as I sat back down

"There is no need to apologize Sweetie. I was only trying to help you" I told her. I think she smiled a little at the response but I couldn't tell, she kept her head down. We silently finished up at the cafe and I paid for the lunch. We started to walk back to her house, the sun was starting to set below the trees when I brought up the subject again. "Who were they Sweetie? If you don't mind me asking."

"Their names are Sky Light, Blue Cloud, and Lightning Air." She replied "Their guards in training and they think their practicality invincible because of it. " She laughed a little. "Don't worry about them Button, okay."

"If you say so Sweetie." We walked into the boutique and said hello to Rarity. Sweetie told her about the day, excluding the part with the group of guards in training which honestly raised some alarms with me. She gave Sweetie her music page then Sweetie dragged me to her room. Where we began practicing her song but I never forgot the names of those stallions or their actions.

A New Feeling

The one time I want to try something it keeps me up till 2 in the morning, practicing the same thing. I never knew Sweetie practiced that much or to 2 a.m at least. The practice did serve me well, I got the first half of it memorized. I got home and almost didn't make it to my own bed before passing out. Before I left we agreed to practice twice a day till the concert. I didn't mind that considering that the concert was Wednesday which is in 3 days. By the time I woke up it was 7 a.m. and I cursed myself and tried to full back asleep but I got up. I went out the door and walked around, its not like I had a job to do yet, the studio was still being built. I was just sitting around the fountain when I recognized one my friends, he is a video editor that I often work with, his name is Camera Vision. I waved him over to me.

"Dang, you beat me here Button." He joked.

"Always one step ahead of you." I replied and we both laughed.

"Hey, do you know when we going back to work?" He asked

"Nope, I hope not for a while." I replied. I never really wanted to know when it would be done, I just wanted to enjoy my little break from it all.

"Well then I hope your right. Where are you holding up?"

"Down the road in a small house. You?"

"Also got a small house. Hey at least you got roots here, I don't. You wouldn't mind showing me around here do you?" He asked

"Why not, I just have to meet some pony later." So I showed him around a little. I showed him the market, fountain, the town square, a few restaurants and my house. He seemed to like the town, which I was glad to see. I left him at the town hall to meet Sweetie Belle. By my guess it was maybe 2-3 in the afternoon so its not like Sweetie would be asleep... I hope. She wanted to master this song by Wednesday which by the way meant wanted it mastered ASAP. I got there and I could hear Sweetie and Rarity talking from inside in boutique. I wanted to walk in but I wanted them to talk so I just stood outside and waited. Yet I listened in on them just to make sure everything was okay and those stallions weren't causing more trouble.

"Well Sweetie, what doe's your heart say?"

"It says that I like him."

"Yes and?"

"Want to be around him."

"And?"

"That I love him." These words spun me around like a tornado. I wondered who she liked, who captured her heart. I also couldn't help but feel a strange burning that was coming from my chest. I wanted to walk in now but at this put it would be rude, honestly.

"Well there you have it Sweetie."

"How am I supposed to know if he feels the same way about me."

"Well first of who is it, I don't even know because you came down wanting to ask me a question."

"Promise you won't go nuts on him or do anything to intervene between us."

"Sister's Oath."

"It's...." I couldn't hear what she said but I guess Rarity didn't either.

"Louder please."

"Button." I stumbled away a little bit. The words just stunned me. This began to piece together in my head, the song is about her missing me. That after a while she realized she had feelings for me. 'And remember, I've been waiting ever sense this started aching.' Her heart was aching because she missed me and loved me. That's when my heart began to rely something new...Love, I love her in return. I guess that's why I stood up for her the way I did at the cafe because I loved her and was growing a little defensive over her. Also why I was overfilled with joy when I saw her again after 13 years. Yet I couldn't bring this to her first, if I did this could hinder her performance and I can't do that for her, not after the reputation that she built up. So I set my mind I would tell her after the celebration. So I walked in, normally and they were in the front of the store as I thought.

"Oh, hello Button." Rarity said as I walked in to the store. It's like the conversation between them never happened, I guess a sister's oath is serious. There wasn't even a hint of the conversation but I guess that's good for me.

"You ready to practice Button?' Sweetie said turning around towards me. I noticed the slight pink hue that was stained across her cheeks.

"Let's get started." I replied. Honestly it was taking all my might not to walk over to her and just kiss her right then and there. Why is this so hard, keeping this feeling in.

"Okay c'mon." She said walking to the back. I shortly followed her to her room and we began as normal. The way it was that I started by myself then a short pause then her solo another pause. Then we began to sing together but not the same words, we were kind of talking to each other in a way at the end we come together and sing the same thing which is just one lyric. We also stare at each other in the end to add 'emotion' Sweetie says but I won't question it. We kept making errors but we continuously worked at it yet we couldn't get it right. We finished another run but instead of just getting ready to do it again we just stayed in place. Like a photo, just staring at each other. Then not thinking I put my hoof under her chin and raised it slightly, she immediately started to blush furiously and turned away from me, I did the same.

"L-L-Let's take a break, okay?" she said still turned away.

"Okay Sweetie." I answered looking back, it seemed like she forgot that was her name and blushed even harder.

"I'll be right back." She said and quickly left the room.

I looked at the time, it was 9 in the afternoon. I looked down at the sheet of paper and studied the lyrics more. 'Control Button, control.' I screamed at myself in my head. 'Stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid.' I kept insulting myself while staring at the paper.

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'Think Sweetie, just think!' I couldn't think straight. Button just messed me up big time. 'Just tell him, now he's made it obvious that he shares your feelings. So mare up and just tell him.' It felt like a civil war was going on in my head, one side saying tell him one side saying not to. I don't know what to do, do I go back up there and continue or lie to him so he goes home. I continued pacing around the kitchen thinking of what to do. Then I made my decision and went back upstairs.

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When Sweetie came back into the room I instantly stopped insulting myself and turned to her.

"Do want to continue?" She asked me putting on a smile.

"That's fine." I stared at the sheet and began the song and I did everything correctly but Sweetie was having trouble remembering the words, even having to look at the sheet to get the words right. Then I asked her about it she said its nothing. After about a hour of her messing up I brought it up to her again but she stuck with her answer of it being nothing. I didn't take that for an answer.

"Just tell me Sweetie. I want you to be at your best for the celebration and I can't help you if you keep pushing me away. " I pushed on the subject.

"Maybe I'm just a bit tired okay. Can we pick this up tomorrow?" She asked, she did seem tired before and I didn't feel like pushing this subject any further, I did get a logical answer. I looked at the time, it was close to midnight.

"Okay we can do that." I said calmly. So we said our good nights and I left for my house. I hope this doesn't effect her at the celebration but telling her or making a move could effect her as much as this did. The thing is that its wednsday, once that hand reached the 12 that meant we had 22 hours to master this song. We have yet to get the last part correct when it comes to pacing and if one of us finished before the other on stage it would destroy the performance. I can only hope Sweetie and I can resolve this and do it correctly the last time we practice tomorrow. So I went to bed wishing for the best and thinking of the mare I love.

Showdown and Showtime

The town has one big party on the eve of the celebration. Sweetie told me that we had to be there early so we could get ready, like all the other performers. The party begins at 10 in the afternoon and the performances will start at 11 and she told me, we had to be there two hours early. I can say I was nervous about tonight for so many reasons rather than a lot of ponies will be watching my every move, but a big one was I was worried about Sweetie Belle. She was a train wreck last night because of me so I can only hope that it doesn't happen when we're doing this live in front of every pony in town. When I woke up I was hit immediately by butterflies in my stomach that almost hurt. I looked around for my clock and saw that I slept till noon which was the latest I've slept for.

'I slept that late' I said to myself as I got up. Then reality really slapped me across the face waking me up fully. I hurried towards Sweetie's house. 'I hope your up Sweetie.' I said to myself. I was determined to have her master this song with me. Not for my benefit but for hers, saving her reputation as a musical artist. I thought of who would be there, well Rarity of course, Camera, the mayor, Twilight and the rest of Rarity's friends, most of the town and maybe so ponies from Canterlot. Hopeful not the other princesses at that. I got to her house and slowed down a bit trying to catch my breath. I walked in casually trying not to show that I've been running all the way here.

I saw Rarity in the front making a new dress like business was normal on a normal day. I didn't see Sweetie so I walked over to Rarity, Sweetie is usually either with Rarity or doing errands for her.

"Hey Rarity, do you know where Sweetie is by any chance?" I asked her.

"Hello Button. Sweetie said she was going for a walk in the park. Why do you ask?" She said raising her eyebrow.

"We still need to practice our song for tonight."

"Oh, well I hope you find her at the park. Good luck if I don't see you until then Button."

"Thanks Rarity, see you then." I said rushing out the front door. I never thought of the park, now I fell like a complete idiot. She always loved the park when we were younger. I started to walk to the park which isn't that far from Sweetie's home so there was no need to run. I continued to stress myself out over this. Wow... I think Sweetie is turning me into a girl. Ether way its killing me, all I can do is find her and practice. I got to the park and started down one of the many paths trying to remember where she loved to play when we were younger. I was at a fork in the path which just made me frustrated because I don't remember anything about the park besides the picture. The picture, if I find that place I could find Sweetie. I remembered how to get there so I began walking again. The I heard yelling down the path.

"Just leave me alone!" I heard some pony familiar scream.

"Sweetie." I said under my breath and started to pick up the pace in its direction.

"Get away!" She sounded close. Then I heard him.

"Your coltfriend isn't here Sweetie so no pony can help you." I heard him say to her. I turned the bend and saw them. She was backed up against a tree and he was advancing on her slowly. "So just forget him and come with me, Sweetie." I ran as hard as I could and plowed him down, he rolled across the green ground and stopped next to another tree in the tiny grove.

"Are you okay Sweetie?" I quickly turned to her.

"I'm fine, thank you Button." She told me, calming down a little. I was happy she was okay but I had a bigger problem to deal with at the moment.

"Sweetie, get back to your house and wait for me there." I told her as he was getting up off the ground.

"Please don't do this Button." She pleaded to me. She probably thought that this would make it worse which it could but that is something for the future.

"Go Sweetie." I told her. I didn't want her see me fight him but I needed to end her torment from this stallion.

"Please, Button."

"Just go, I will be right behind you." I said to her. "I promise and this promise I will keep."

"Hurry back." She said then ran down the same path I came from.

He was off the ground now and he was visually angry. I didn't care who he was but he needed to stop tormenting her. I couldn't let this continue, I wouldn't let this continue. "You have two options here. Option 1: Stop this with Sweetie, apologize and walk away. That's the easy way. Option 2: I continue to hurt you until you stop. That's the hard way. Your choice and you need to make a choice now." I told him "I have no problem with doing either of them." I could feel my own anger inside, I didn't want this to get physical but I will do what I must, in order to protect Sweetie.

"I pick option 3: I beat you till you can't stand and I take Sweetie from you." He stated then changed towards me. I quickly got out of the way and he ran head first into the tree behind me but that did nothing to him, he quickly swung around and hit me straight in the jaw. He came around with his other hoof but I blocked it by raising my arm up. Then I grabbed it and flipped him over my back. He hit the ground when I released him from my hand. For a guard in training he was reckless, I always thought that was the first thing they were taught, hand to hand combat. He knocked my legs out from under me and I fell to the ground hard. He tried to pin me but I kicked him off and he tumbled back.

I got up. "My offer still remains you know." He remained silent and charged me again. I moved out of the way again but as he went by I grabbed his arm and swung him around and used his speed to toss him away. When he hit the ground he tried to get up but I pushed him down. "Leave me and her alone. Unless you want to do this again." I told him as coldly as possible, I don't know why but I liked it, hurting someone. I slightly shivered from the feeling. I let my hoof off of him and walked away silently. I hoped I never had to do that again, I hated hurting some pony but I needed to. I guess it just became I part of me, a part I hated.

When I arrived at Sweetie's house she was waiting outside pacing in front of the door. She saw me and raced over to me. She threw her arms around me and said "Don't do that again."

"I hope I never need to again." I told her and held her close. For her, I would do anything. "Do you know what time it is?" I asked her still holding her tight.

"Its 7:30. We can still make it if you want to." She told me. I let her go and she did the same.

"Let's do that." I told her then we started walking towards the event. As we were walking I was thinking of the stallion. I hope he's going to leave her alone for good.

"Button..." I heard a some pony whisper. I looked at Sweetie but she was still walking besides me, silently. "...Button."

I kept looking around and saw no pony trying to reach me. I just ignored it and continued to walked with Sweetie. When we arrived we quickly ran backstage we had 2 hours to prepare. Which we toke happily, we still couldn't get it correctly. Even though we could get the words, we couldn't time them to sound right. We were ready when it came to looks but not when it came to the actual singing we were a train wreck. At least were weren't first to go up. Yet it didn't help anything because that extra time flew by like a pegasus. Before we knew it we were up on stage and I was right, every pony I guessed was there. The one thing is that Princess Luna was next to Princess Twilight watching us. There was silence, all eyes were on us. With one last look at each other we began.

As we finished and looked back then they started to clap one after the other before we knew it the entire crowd clapping for us. We walked backstage then the next ponies went up.

"We did it Sweetie!" I said happily, I picked her up and swung her around. We were laughing and filled with joy. I set her back on the ground and she was still laughing.

"We did it, finally." She said still with a smile. "Well I guess we know the song now." She stated as the laughing died out between us. We looked at each other and that's when it happened. I just kissed her and she didn't resist, in fact she pushed into the kiss. It felt like it was just me and her in our own little world. We stayed like that for a bit,eyes closed just enjoying the surprising moment. I pulled away from the kiss and opened my eyes, she had deep red in her cheeks. I was holding her against myself and she was looking up at me. I let her go and she said. "I love you, Button."

"I love you too, Sweetie." I replied. Then we heard the mayor say that there was no more performances and she thanked Princess Luna and Twilight for coming and came back here.

"Well you two sounded amazing. Where did come up with that song?" She asked us when she came over.

Sweetie looked up at me and back to the mayor. "From the heart, I guess."

"Well good luck in the future Sweetie and you too of course Button." She said then left us be. We were walking out when Rarity, Princess Luna and Princess Twilight walked over to us blocking the way out.

"Well I guess there is a few rising stars in the mix." Princess Luna smiled.

"You two were great up there, you have a amazing gift the both of you. It's also good to see you back in Ponyville with us Button." Princess Twilight replied with a equally bright smile.

"It seems you were able to get the song in the end." Rarity told us pulling us into a hug. "Sweetie doe's this mean I can start now?" she whispered but I don't think Rarity realized how loud she said it. I could see Princess Luna and Twilight's eyebrows go up in a questioning look at us before exchanging glances.

"Nope." Sweetie replied looking smug and cute. Rarity just groaned at Sweetie's response.

"Start what Rarity?" Twilight asked.

"Sister's Oath, can't break it." Then Twilight groaned. I was holding back laughter.

"I will figure it Rarity one way or another." That's when I got worried. Twilight is determined so I wouldn't be surprise if she doe's try. Though I wonder why she would be interested, maybe she wants a challenge or wants to know everything like I always thought.

"Well again, good job you two and good luck in the future. Thank you for inviting me Twilight but I sadly must return to Canterlot." Princess Luna said to us.

"Thank you for coming Luna and have a safe trip." Twilight told Princess Luna then she flew away, into the night.

"Again, It's good to see you back Button and good luck in the future Sweetie." Twilight said then also left us. Then it was just us three.

"Why can't I Sweetie, its obvious that you two just kissed each other." Rarity said casually and I took a slight step back, stunned.

"Wh-What makes you think that." Sweetie said stuttering a little. I just simply nodded. Then Rarity smiled.

"Oh nothing, till now. In fact I had no idea, I was just pulling your leg. Then you two just did that and you stuttered, which you do when you lie. So now I know you just kissed each other." She smiled gleefully.

Sweetie just sighed in defeat. "Okay we did, go ahead."

"My sister has a coltfriend, my sister has coltfriend." She sang as she pranced around us in victory. When she finished she was still smiling as big of a smile she could. "Don't worry, I won't tell any pony Sweetie."

"I don't think you can call him that but thanks anyway sis." Sweetie thanked. Rarity ended up staying with us for a while but she went home to sleep. So it was just me and Sweetie lying in the grass waiting for dawn with a few others scattered about the field. "You know she's going to do that for a while, right?" She asked me.

"Pretty much." I replied with a sigh. Sweetie had her head on my shoulder again. We were watching the sky in a field waistcoat turned into a new day. Then Celestia started her flight into the sky with the sun in her musical grasp. The night slowly retreated as the sun flew into the sky spreading light across Equestria.

"It's beautiful isn't Button." Sweetie asked me.

"I've seen better." I told her. I felt her lift her head off my shoulder.

"What's more beautiful than watching the dawn come?" She sounded a little angry but that didn't scare me.

"The mare that's sitting next to me." I told her as I turned to her. Her blush returned and she smiled. She put her head back on my shoulder and we continued watching the sun. When the sun was fully in the sky and the show was over we left to her house. Before I left her at her house she told me to meet her here tomorrow. As I walked home I thought of the things that happened the past few days. 'I came back to my roots in Ponyville. I met old friends from when I was a little colt. I sang at the town celebration with my best friend. I fell in love with my best friend. I saved my best friend from a stupid colt. I kissed my best friend.' I must have had the biggest smile as I fell a sleep on the best day of my life.

Author's Note

The story doesn't end here readers, in fact its only getting started for our two lovers. There is still a stallion that has found a new hatred for Button and Sweetie. Want to know want happens continue reading and cast your votes for who will win, Our hero Button or our enemy Sky.