The next day came upon Sweetie Belle. She tapped her pencil loudly against her oak desk, which blended in with the sounds of the many fillies chatting and playing. Frantically, the little unicorn looked around the room. Where's Button Mash, she wondered. I don't think I thanked him enough for the JoyBoy yesterday.
A little bit later, Ms Cherilee cantered into the room. Her light-and-dark pink mane bounced of her head as she carried a piece of white chalk in her mouth. Once she reached her desk, Ms Cherilee stomped her hooves together to get the children's attention.
"Okay kids," Ms Cherilee began. "Is anyone missing today?"
Sweetie Belle rose her hoof. "Button Mash," she said. She spoke cautiously, for for she was afraid of getting laughed at but also cared about letting the teacher know.
But, to Sweetie Belle's shock, Ms Cherilee displayed a look of confusion. The other students returned puzzled whispers.
Sweetie Belle's mouth dropped open. Button Mash wasn't exactly popular, but he did exist!
Ms Cherilee looked down on her attendance list. "We don't have a Button Mash," she replied.
A deafening awkward silence filled the room.
Suddenly, an unamed pegasus stood up. "Looks like Squeaky Wheel has an imaginary friend!" The class erupted in laughter.
"Teehee," Diamond Tiara giggled. "That's a good one."
Annoyed, Applebloom nudged Diamond Tiara with her hoof. "Hey," she replied with an irritated voice. "Whatever happened 'good Diamond Tiara'?" Diamond Tiara immediately stopped snickering.
"Sorry," she mumbled.
Sweetie Belle, on the contrary, looked as red as an apple. She felt embarrassed, no doubt, but mostly confused. How does no one remember Button Mash, she wondered. Something is definitely wrong.
After over a minute of continuous laughter, Ms Cherilee began to feel irritated. "Okay know class," she said to the snickering students. "Just because Sweetie Belle still has an, um, imaginary friend does not give you all an excuse to laugh at her."
Although Sweetie Belle knew Ms Cherilee meant well, Sweetie Belle wished her teacher didn't say what she heard her say; it only made matters worse as young fillies were giggling and gossiping as they gawked at Sweetie Belle. At that moment, Sweetie Belle wished she could curl up in a hole and fade from exsistence. Sorta like how Button Mash did, she pondered.
Then her focus veered towards her teacher. "Listen up, my little ponies," Ms Cherilee called out to her students. "It's time to begin our math problems. Please take out a sheet of notebook paper."
The students groaned. However, Sweetie Belle was too confused to listen to a thing Ms Cherilee said.
...
When the bell for dismissal rang out through the schoolhouse a crowd of fillies and colts flooded out of the door, covering much ground. Shouts and cheers killed the peace of the afternoon. Sweetie Belle was especially eager to leave school, but it wasn't because of the small crowd of fillies still laughing at her. After hardly believing what happened in class today, Sweetie Belle decided to go straight to Button's house, determined to prove her classmates wrong. Perhaps they are just messing with me, she convinced herself, despite the nagging feeling inside of her which suggested that maybe, everyone is right.
"Sweetie!" A voice cried out from the hoard. Sweetie Belle turned around to see Applebloom waving her hoof at her. "Where the hay are you goin'?" Applebloom called out.
"Do you seriously think that a 'Button Mash' goes to our school?" Scootaloo shouted at Sweetie Belle as she sped toward her on her scooter.
Sweetie Belle felt like she got a stab in the heart. Now my FRIENDS aren't even on my side, she thought. Instead of trotting towards her fellow Crusaders, Sweetie Belle ran off, leaving them in the dust while choking back a tear.
...
About half an hour later, Sweetie Belle appeared before the residence of Button Mash and his family. Or so she thought. The dry, brown lawn seemed to be unwatered. Broken windows lay on the sides of the house. Missing shingles scattered all over the roof. The paint was peeling and faded. The house seemed to have been abandoned, almost haunted. But what caught Sweetie Belle's attention the most was the For Sale sign standing depressingly at the front of the house.
It was that moment when the little unicorn began to cry. Big, salty tears trickled out of the corners of her eyes and splatters onto the ground. Depressing moans were followed be choking sobs. Sweetie Belle sat on the curb and curled up into a little ball of sadness. Her curly bangs fell over her face as she drowned into her sorrows. Yet, all of this was done discretion; nopony saw her crying.
Except for one pony. She was tall, slender and white as snow. Her glorious mane of many colors swayed in the air. Heavenly wings folded against her back. A strong, long horn perched atop her head along with a majestic crown to match her superiority. However, when she spoke her voice was as warm as a fireplace yet comforting like a gentle breeze.
"What's the matter, little one?" The beautiful mare said in a caring voice, catching the attention of the sobbing pony. However, Sweetie Belle didn't look up.
"M-my friend," Sweetie Belle stuttered. "He's gone. I-I don't know where he is or what h-happened to him. Worst of all, no one t-thinks he ever existed."
The grown mare expressed a look of deep sympathy. "My little pony," she said. "Please look up."
Slowly, Sweetie Belle lifted her head and locked eyes with Princess Celestia. The alicorn's dazzling eyes sparkled down on Sweetie Belle's emerald ones. Immediately, Sweetie Belle jumped up and bowed to the princess. "Your Majesty," she muttered in respect.
Much to Sweetie Belle's shock, Princess Celestia only chuckled. "Now now, dear. There is hardly any need for that. Come with me; you deserve to know what is going on."
