The Gamer and The Princessby Malice In WonderlandChaptersChapter 1Chapter 2Chapter 3Chapter 4Chapter 1Sweetie Belle was extremely excited. It was her favorite time of the year, Hearth’s Warming. And today was Hearth’s Warming Eve. She happily trotted down the dirt roads of Sweet Apple Acres to meet up with her friends, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo. “Well, howdy there Sweetie Belle.” Applejack called to her as she neared the barn. “Hi, Applejack!” Sweetie Belle squeaked, her voice filled with happiness and joy. She smiled at Applejack as she trotted past her, heading towards the Cutie Mark Crusader’s clubhouse. She trotted around and in between leafless apple trees. Her small hooves left little circles in the snow and leaves that littered the ground. She arrived to find her fellow crusaders outside the clubhouse putting up decorations. “Happy Hearth’s Warming Eve!!” Sweetie Belle called to them. They turned around, only slightly surprised to see her. They threw their hooves into the air and waved at Sweetie. She trotted up the ramp to help them with their decorations. The pink scarf tied around her neck billowed in the wind as she trotted up the ramp. Scootaloo was hovering over the balcony, her small little wings flapping vigorously. She used her magic to help put up the decorations in the places that Scootaloo and Apple Bloom couldn’t reach on their own. Once they had finished with the outside, they hurried inside the clubhouse and began to decorate the walls and windows on the inside. “Great job girls! It looks great!” Apple Bloom exclaimed. The three of them stared up at their decorating job and smiled, admiring their work. They all hugged each other and then decided to sit down and talk. They pulled off their scarves and boots and huddled in a small circle in the center of the floor of the treehouse. “So what should we talk about?” Scootaloo asked. “I don’t know, what do you think, Sweetie Belle?” Apple Bloom asked. Both Scootaloo and Apple Bloom turned to look at Sweetie Belle. “Well…. I’m not sure. Why don’t we all think of something together?” Sweetie asked. The girls nodded and they started to think of things they could talk about. They sat in silence for a number of minutes while they tried to think of something to talk about. “Do either of you have anything?” Apple Bloom asked. “We could talk about..… Ummmmm……. Colts?” Scootaloo suggested. “What do you mean?” Sweetie Belle asked. “Don’t you guys have any crushes on any of the colts in school?” Scootaloo asked. A blush began to spread across Sweetie Belle’s face, and both Scootaloo and Apple Bloom noticed right away. “You do, don’t you?” Scootaloo asked her, a smile forming on her lips. “Well… Ummm… Maybe….” Sweetie Belle said, avoiding eye contact with them and trying to hide her red face. “Oh, come on, tell us.” Apple Bloom begged. “Yeah, who is it?” Scootaloo asked. “Well….. You guys know Button Mash, right?” Sweetie Belle said hesitantly. Scootaloo and Apple Bloom looked at each other, eyebrows raised. “Yeah, you have a crush on him?” Scootaloo asked. “Well, yeah…. Is that bad?” “No, it’s just…. He’s so…. Weird. All he ever does is play those video games.” “That’s not all he does.” Sweetie Belle broke in. “Well what else does he do then?” Scootaloo asked. “Well… Umm…. I don’t… I don’t know exactly. But, whenever I say hi to him, he stops his game and says hi back. Doesn’t that mean something?” Sweetie asked. Scootaloo and Apple Bloom both shrugged, and then a mischievous smile appeared on Apple Bloom’s face. “So, are you going to ask him out? Do you think he likes you back?” She asked. Sweetie Belle blushed and turned away from her friends. “I’m not sure…..” “Well you like him, don’t you?” Scootaloo asked. “Y-yeah.” Sweetie Belle said shyly. “Well then you should talk to him.” “Wh-what do you mean talk to him? Do you mean… Like… Become friends with him? Or ask him out?” Sweetie Belle asked. “No, no. What you need to do,” Apple Bloom started, “Is start talking to him, and become good friends with him. Then you need to turn on your best charm and get him to fall in love with you. Don’t ask him out. You need to get him to ask you out first. Make him be the stallion.” She finished. “Ummmm, right… Ok.” Sweetie Belle said nervously. They all heard knocking on the door and jumped up, all being startled. The door creaked open and Applejack’s orange freckled face appeared in the doorway. “Howdy ya’ll. Hearth’s Warming Celebrations are about to begin. Ya might wanna start headin’ into town.” She asid. The girls all stood up and donned their scarves and boots and then they left the newly decorated clubhouse to go and celebrate Hearth’s Warming Eve. Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, Apple Bloom, Applejack, Big Macintosh, and Granny Smith left Sweet Apple Acres and headed towards Ponyville to celebrate with their friends and family for Hearth’s Warming. They went to a play, drank apple cider, sang carols, and when it was all over, they each went home to their respective homes and slept with promises to meet the next day at the clubhouse. The next day, the Cutie Mark Crusaders met at their clubhouse. They talked about a random number of things and then they decided to take down the decorations. They spent the day undecorating the clubhouse, and then they spent the evening at the Apple family farm, drinking warm apple cider together. “So,” Scootaloo started when they were the only three in the room, “Have you made any decisions for what you’re going to do about Button?” “Yeah.” Sweetie Belle said, taking a sip of her cider. “Well, what?” “I’m going to do what you said.” Sweetie Belle said. “Really?” “Yes.” She nodded and took another sip. “Anyway, it’s getting late, I should get going.” Sweetie Belle stood and left Sweet Apple Acres. She walked through Ponyville to her parent’s house, and she was so tired that she just collapsed into her bed and fell asleep almost immediately as she thought of what she would do when school started again. Sweetie Belle trotted into the schoolhouse with her saddlebag tied to her back holding her lunch. She quickly spotted her friends and made her way towards them. They waved her over and she stowed her saddlebag in her cubby, which was next to Apple Bloom’s and under Scootaloo’s. They struck up a conversation and made their way into the classroom together where Cheerilee was waiting for the students to arrive. Once the classroom was full, it filled with chatter and then moments later the bell rang and Cheerilee hushed the fillies and colts. The chatter silenced quickly and they all turned their attention towards their teacher. “Welcome back from your break my little ponies.” Cheerilee said cheerfully. She started by asking everypony how their Hearth’s Warming had been. Most of them answered, but some stayed quiet. The tales of Hearth’s Warming continued until lunch time, where all the students left the classroom to eat their lunches outside. Sweetie Belle had decided that she was going to sit with Button Mash during lunch that day. Scootaloo and Apple Bloom supported her, and were going to join Sweetie and Button. The trio walked outside and spotted Button sitting alone at a table, his game in his hooves with a carrot sticking out of his mouth as he chewed slowly. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo giggled, but Sweetie Belle ignored them and started towards his table, leaving the others trailing behind her. She magically set her lunch box down on the table, “Hi, Button Mash.” She said with a smile. “Huh… Oh, hi, Sweetie Belle.” Button mumbled around his carrot. He mashed on a few buttons on the game device with lightning speed and then let out a small victory cheer as a happy dinging sound escaped the small device. He closed it and then finished eating his carrot. Seconds later, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo joined them at the table. “Would it be alright if we sat here with you today.” Sweetie Belle asked him. “Uh, yeah. That’s fine.” Button said, acting slightly introverted. He took a long sip out of his juice box. The girls opened up their lunches and began eating. “So, what game were you playing just now, Button?” Sweetie Belle asked him as she pulled the contents out of her lunch box. “Mario.” He answered quickly. He held in his hoof a large red apple that he had already taken a bite out of. He took another bite and chewed slowly. Sweetie Belle nodded and took a bite of the green apple that her parents had packed for her lunch. They four of them ate in silence for a moment, acting a little awkward around each other. “Button?” Sweetie Belle asked. “Yeah?” Button replied. “Do you want to become friends?” She asked him. Button seemed surprised by the question. “Friends?” He asked. Sweetie Belle noticed that his dark brown cheeks started to get a reddish hint to them, but she didn’t say anything about it. Button smiled at her, and then nodded, “Yeah, sure. I’d love to be your friend.” Sweetie Belle smiled back at him, “Great!” She turned back to her food and then began eating again. When Button wasn’t looking at her, she turned towards her friends, smiling, and they smiled back, winking at her. “So, Button, would it be alright if we sat with you everyday at lunch?” She asked. “Yeah, that would be great.” He said. Sweetie Belle noticed him glance at his game system, but then he looked back up at her and smiled. She smiled back at him. “Thanks!” They smiled at each other a moment longer and then continued eating their lunches. When the bell finally rang they all went inside back into the classroom where Cheerilee was about to start class. A few weeks later, Sweetie Belle and Button had become close friends and today they were going to hang out together, outside of school. But of course Sweetie Belle didn’t consider it a date. They were only friends right now. Sweetie Belle tried to push down all her nervousness. After school today they were going to Sugarcube Corner and then to his house to play some games and eat dinner, then she would go back home. School was already almost over, and she could see Scootaloo and Apple Bloom giggling together next to her. She tried to ignore them, but it was hard. Finally, she just laid her head down on her desk and she accidentally fell asleep trying to ignore them. She didn’t wake up when the bell rang, but when Button came over to her and tapped on her back. “Sweetie Belle? Hey, wake up.” Button said. She jerked her head up and looked around. “Button? Did I fall asleep?” “Yeah, but I know what will wake you up.” Button said with a smile. Sweetie Belle cocked her head at him, and then he answered her silent question. “Milkshakes! Come on!” Sweetie Belle followed him out of the schoolhouse and together they walked through Ponyville to Sugarcube Corner. They sat down at a table and Sweetie Belle ordered a vanilla milkshake and Button ordered a chocolate one. They sat and talked as they waited for their milkshakes. “Sweetie Belle? What made you want to be my friend in the first place?” Button asked. He seemed nervous as he asked her. “Well, you always seemed so lonely there at lunch by yourself, and I’ve never seen you talking with anypony else, and you’re always so nice to me, so I thought I could try being your friend.” Sweetie Belle answered, trying to hide her red cheeks from him. “Oh.” Was all Button said. A moment later their milkshakes were delivered to them from Mr. Cake. “Thank you,” Sweetie Belle said as she pulled some bits that her parents had given her to pay for her milkshake. Button stopped her and pulled out twice as many bits, holding them out for Mr. Cake. He took them and then left. “What was that for?” Sweetie Belle asked. “My mom told me that that’s what gentlecolts do. So, she gave me enough bits to pay for both of us.” Sweetie seemed confused by his logic, but just shook it off. “Well, thank you.” She said as she took a sip of her milkshake. Button smiled and nodded and took a large sip of his milkshake as well. “So, do you have a favorite video game?” Button asked her. “I don’t really play much. So no. Do you?” She asked. Button let out a small laugh and took another sip before he spoke. “No, I don’t have a favorite. There are just too many games and I like all of them. No, I love all of them. I’ve beaten every single game I have at least three times, and I never ever get tired of them. You might want to call it an obsession, but it’s not. I just really love video games, and I’m good at them too.” Button said. He seemed proud of his actions as he spoke, and Sweetie Belle couldn’t help but smile at him. They each took another sip of their milkshakes, talking and laughing together. Then, once they had finished, they left to go to Button’s house. They talked the whole way there, finding random things to talk to each other about, not caring what the subject was, just wanting to talk. They arrived at his house a little while later, Sweetie said hi to his mom and then she and Button headed towards his room. Sweetie Belle was surprised to see that it was clean, nearly spotless, save for a few gaming systems and a tangle of wires on the floor. She had always thought that he wouldn’t be able to keep a clean room, but she had just been proven wrong. They started up a game and then played for hours. Eventually Button’s mom came in with dinner, finding Sweetie Belle lying on the floor and Button glued to a screen with a controller in his hooves. “What happened?” His mom asked, trying to hold down her laughter. “I lost! 23 times!” Sweetie Belle exclaimed. Now she let herself laugh. “Well, dinner is ready, so, Button, you need to take a break and eat.” “Yeah, just a sec.” Button continued violently bashing the controls and moments later he won. He set down the controller and turned towards his mom. She set down their dinner and Button and Sweetie started eating. His mom left the room and came back a few minutes later with two juice boxes. “It’s starting to get late, so, Sweetie Belle, you should head home when you’re done eating.” Sweetie Belle nodded and then swallowed, taking a few sips of apple juice to wash it down. “I will. And thank you for dinner, this is really good.” She said, taking another bite and washing it down. She smiled and left the room again. Once Sweetie Belle had finished eating, she said her goodbyes and grabbed her saddlebag. Then she left to go back home. “I’ll see you tomorrow at school!” Button called, waving at her from the doorway. “Bye!” Sweetie called. She hurried off through Ponyville to get back home. She was tired, she hadn’t done that much in one day since the crusaders had gone seriously crusading. Before she and her friends had gotten their cutie marks. Remembering this, she looked down at her flank and smiled. She then remembered that Button hadn’t got his cutie mark yet, and that maybe she could help him get it. She decided, as she walked home in the near dark, that she would help her new friend get his cutie mark. Chapter 2“Guys! Guys!” Sweetie Belle called out to her fellow crusaders that morning as she galloped into the schoolhouse. Scootaloo and Apple Bloom had been engaged in conversation with each other, and when they heard Sweetie calling for them, they turned and waved at her. “Hey, Sweetie, what’s up?” Scootaloo asked. Sweetie Belle trotted the rest of the way over to them and sat down on the ground to catch her breath. “Button… Mash… Cutie… Mark… Help….” Sweetie Belle panted. “What?” Sweetie Belle held up her hoof, signaling that she needed a second before she could speak. When she finally caught her breath, she explained, “Button Mash doesn’t have his cutie mark yet, we should help him get it so he can figure out his destiny!” Sweetie Belle said in a flourish, her face flushed from the excitement and from running all the way to school. “Sweetie, that’s a great idea!” Scootaloo exclaimed. “Yeah!” Sweetie Belle said excitedly. She smiled and her friends smiled back at her. They didn’t seem quite as happy though. “Is…. Is something wrong?” She asked. Scootaloo and Apple Bloom exchanged looks. “Well... “ Apple Bloom started, “You seem to be spending more time with Button than with us…” She seemed hesitant to say this, but once she did, she seemed relieved. “Oh.... I’m sorry. We should hang today, and I’ll make it up to you guys.” Sweetie Belle said. “Sweetie, you don’t have to. We know you really want Button to like you, and if you want to focus on that right now-” “No, I shouldn’t ignore you just because I have a crush on him.” She spoke somewhat quietly, but then raised her voice as she continued, “He won’t mind if I hang out with you for today, or whenever. He knows that you guys are my best friends.” Sweetie Belle said with a smile. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo smiled back and the three of them hugged. “Come on, the bell is about to ring, we don’t want to be late, let’s go inside.” Scootaloo said, breaking up the hug. They all had just sat down in their seats when the bell rang. Sweetie looked over and saw that Button was already in the classroom, sitting in his seat near the back of the classroom. He must have arrived after she had, and come in before her. Which meant that he had to have walked past her… But…. Did that mean that he had overheard any of her conversation with Scootaloo and Apple Bloom? Sweetie shook away the thought and tried her best to pay attention to Cheerilee. Throughout the day, she kept finding herself getting distracted with thoughts about Button Mash. Each time she found her mind drifting, it became harder to snap herself back into reality and pay attention to whatever it was that Cheerilee was talking about. At the end of the day, Button walked over to her desk to talk with her, “Hi, Sweetie Belle.” He said. “Oh, hi, Button.” She responded. A question suddenly popped into her head. “Button, why do you always call me by my full name?” “What?” “You always say Sweetie Belle instead of just Sweetie. Is there a reason for that?” She asked. “Oh… Ummm…. I hadn’t realized it. I can call you Sweetie if you want.” He said. Sweetie noticed that he was blushing slightly, but she decided to ignore it. “Just whatever you’re comfortable with.” Sweetie said. She noticed Apple Bloom and Scootaloo standing in the doorway of the schoolhouse, looking at her and Button. “Well, I’ve got to go now,” she said standing up. “I promised the girls I’d hang out with them today.” “Alright. I’ll see you at school tomorrow.” He said with a smile. Sweetie smiled back at him as she left. She met up with Apple Bloom and Scootaloo in the doorway and the three of them left. “So where should we go today?” Sweetie asked. “We could hang out in the clubhouse and talk?” Apple Bloom suggested. “Or go see Rainbow Dash!” Scootaloo said. Sweetie and Apple Bloom laughed. “I vote clubhouse.” Sweetie Belle said. Scootaloo deflated, but immediately perked up again, her little wings lifting her slightly off the ground. “We could talk about getting Button Mash his cutie mark.” She said. “But…” Sweetie Belle started. “Didn’t you guys just want to hang out?” “Yeah, but Button is your friend, soon to be coltfriend,” Both Scootaloo and Apple Bloom giggled at this, “And we want to help you. And since we can’t find anything to talk about, we might as well try and figure that out.” Apple Bloom suggested. “Well, if you say so.” Sweetie Belle agreed hesitantly. The girls walked to the clubhouse, talking about random things. When they arrived, they sat themselves in a circle in the center of the clubhouse and then began talking about Button. “So what is he good at?” Scootaloo asked. “Well, he’s really really good at video games. That might be his talent.” “Playing video games? Really? Does he win a lot? His talent could be winning at video games.” Scootaloo said. “That’s possible.” Sweetie Belle said, bringing her hoof to her chin in thought. “Do y’all remember how Twist got her cutie mark?” Apple Bloom asked. “Yeah, she said that…. Umm…. She said she finally realized how good she was at making… What did she make again?” Scootaloo asked. “I don’t really remember, but the point is that when she realized that she really was good at it, her cutie mark appeared. So, maybe if we can get Button to believe that he is amazing at playing video games, he could get his cutie mark.” Apple Bloom said. “Wow! Apple Bloom, you’re a genius!” Sweetie Belle exclaimed. Apple Bloom let out a chuckle, “Thanks.” She said, smiling at her friends. “So, Sweetie, if you’re ever playing games with Button, try and convince him that he’s really good at it, and let us know if it works.” Scootaloo said with a smile. “Why don’t we all three play together? Then we could all try, and you guys could see how good he really is.” Sweetie suggested. “That might be fun. Tomorrow at school we should ask him about it.” “Yeah!” The three of them smiled at each other and then decided to leave the topic and talk about other things. At first, they couldn’t think of anything else to talk about, but then Sweetie Belle had an idea. “So, you guys asked me if I had any crushes, and I answered, and now we’re all trying to help him get his cutie mark. So, do you guys have any crushes on the colts at school?” Sweetie Belle asked. Both Apple Bloom and Scootaloo blushed. Sweetie Belle gasped, “Oh! You do!” She exclaimed. “Who? Who are they?” She asked excitedly. Neither Apple Bloom nor Scootaloo said anything at first. Finally, Sweetie Belle began to prod, “Apple Bloom? Scootaloo? One of you has to tell me. Please?” She added. Scootaloo sighed. “Fine… I’ll go.” Sweetie Belle smiled, excited to find out who her friends had crushes on. “You know Thunderlane’s little brother? Rumble? He’s a year older than us, not in our class, but I’ve seen him training with his brother and…” She paused, she was blushing heavily. “Anyway, the point is, I have a crush on him.” “Awwwwww!” Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom said in unison. Scootaloo blushed and turned away from her friends. “You’re turn Apple Bloom.” She said. Apple Bloom blushed heavily and her smile changed slightly. “Umm… Well…. You guys might find it weird….” “No we won’t. Come on, tell us!” Sweetie Belle urged her on. “Fine… It’s ummm…. Well….. I have a crush on….” She took a deep breath. “It’s… Spike.” She said quickly. Both Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle were surprised. “Spike?” They asked at the same time. Apple Bloom nodded. Sweetie Belle looked at Scootaloo, and Scootaloo looked back at her. Seconds later, “Awwwwwwwwwwwww!!! That’s sooooooooo adorable!” Sweetie Belle squeaked. “I totally support interspecies relationships!” Scootaloo said, trying to shrink her smile. “That’s the cutest thing ever!” She said. Apple Bloom smiled, her face growing bright red. She turned away from her friends and tried to hide her red face. The girls giggled and talked for a little while longer. “You guys should talk to them. Apple Bloom, you talk to Spike and Scootaloo, you could talk to Rumble, maybe even help him out with his training.” Sweetie Belle said. Scootaloo and Apple Bloom smiled and agreed. The three of them decided they would take a break from each other and focus on their crushes, only for a little while. They hugged it out and then they went home for the day. Sweetie Belle couldn’t wait. They all had crushes and if everything went as they planned then they would all have colt friends! She was so excited, both for herself and for her friends. She really hoped at the colts would fall for them. Oh, and Spike too. Apple Bloom and Spike would make a really cute couple. Sweetie Belle thought of all this on the way home, and while she ate dinner and as she lie in bed trying to fall asleep. She might have even dreamed of the six of them happy and just being together. She slept with a smile and woke with a smile and was excited for what was to come. Chapter 3The next day at school, Sweetie Belle asked Button if she could come over again to play video games with him. She also asked if Apple Bloom and Scootaloo could join them. “Yeah! That’ll be fun!” Button said. “I’ll beat all of you!” He said with a smile. “Today?” He asked. Sweetie Belle nodded. “Even better.” Button rubbed his hooves together maniacally, and Sweetie Belle couldn’t help but laugh. “So, we’ll see you after school?” Sweetie Belle asked. Button nodded and smiled at Sweetie Belle. “Oh, ummm…. Sweetie B… Sweetie…. I just…. I wanted to thank you for becoming my friend.” He said, blushing slightly. “Button, you don’t have to thank me. I like being your friend.” Sweetie blushed as well, and neither of them made eye contact with each other. Button smiled at her, “Well, thanks anyway.” He hurried off to his seat and sat down, waiting for class to start. Sweetie turned to her friends and nodded at them, letting them know that their plan was a go. They nodded back at her and then burst into a fit of giggles. The bell had already rung and they were still laughing uncontrollably. “Ahem,” Ms. Cheerilee said, standing over their desks. “Oh, sorry Ms. Cheerilee.” Sweetie Belle apologized. She coughed to get the laughing out of her system. She cleared her throat and tried her hardest to stop laughing. Scootaloo and Apple Bloom did the same. Sweetie Belle glanced towards Button and noticed him watching her. She looked away, blushing slightly and tried to pretend he hadn’t been looking at her. Cheerilee continued with her class, now that the three of them were under control. She continued class as usual, but Sweetie Belle found it difficult to pay attention. Her mind drifted even more than it usually did. Eventually, the school day finally ended and she, Button, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo left the schoolhouse to go to Button’s house. The four of them talked and laughed and joked as they made their way to Button’s. Button was excited, he would have more people to beat. The others countered by saying he wouldn’t beat them, that they would demolish him instead. They all laughed. When they arrived, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo introduced themselves to his mom. Sweetie and Button both said hi, and then the four of them headed off towards his room. Button pulled out two other unused controllers for his gaming system and after a few seconds a game was pulled up and ready to play. The four of them sat on the floor next to each other, all of them holding a controller, ready to play. “You guys are going down!” Button said. They all laughed as the game started. Sweetie Belle wasn’t surprised to see that Button was already in the lead after only a few minutes. Of course, she was the very last. She had never been good at playing games, but Scootaloo and Apple Bloom had nearly caught up with him, but not quite. After several games of Button winning, they all finally gave up. “Button, you are really good at video games.” Sweetie Belle said. “Nah.” He said, waving his hoof as if waving away the idea. “You beat all of us. So many times.” She persisted. “Do you ever lose?” He thought about it. Had he ever lost at any games? “You know what, you’re right. I’ve never lost a single game. I’ve never even gotten below first place!” He said, realizing how good he was. “Do you guys think that could be my destiny? That would be awesome, to have a special talent at playing video games!” He said, his voice raised, standing in triumph. A bright flash of light filled the room. The four of them turned to the screen. “What was that?” Button asked. The others looked at him and all gasped in unison. “Button! Your flank! You got your cutie mark!” Sweetie Belle exclaimed. “Really!?” Button asked. He turned around in a circle, chasing his tail, until he got a good look at his flank. On his flank, sat a golden, pixilated trophy with a red number one scrawled on it. Button smiled, his eyes seemed to be sparkling. He began jumping up and down. “I got my cutie mark! I got my cutie mark! You guys helped me get my cutie mark! Thank you so much!” He pulled the three of them into a hug. They all hugged him back, laughing. “What’s all the commotion?” Button’s mom asked as she walked into the room. “Mom! Mom! I got my cutie mark!” Button jumped into his mom’s hooves and hugged her. She looked down at his cutie mark as she hugged him back, a smile on her face. “Congratulations!” She said through a laugh as she hugged her son. “I’m so proud of you, my little winner!” Button seemed on the verge of tears. Happy tears, but tears nonetheless. The girls laughed along with him and his mom. His mom finally left after congratulating her son. Button and the girls continued playing the game they had been playing before, with Button continuously beating them as usual. His mother served them dinner, giving Button extra helpings since he had just earned his cutie mark. They all ate their dinner and then the girls left, hugging Button a few more times before they left. “We’ll see you at school tomorrow, Button!” Sweetie Belle called as she walked away from his house. “Bye, Sweetie Belle! Bye, Apple Bloom! Bye, Scootaloo!” Button called, waving them away. “Thanks again for helping me get my cutie mark!” The girls laughed as they headed back home. They talked until they had to split up. “I’m so happy Button got his cutie mark, and that we helped him.” Sweetie Belle said. “Yeah.” Scootaloo agreed. Apple Bloom nodded. They split up and headed to their homes to go to sleep. Sweetie Belle awaited the future happily, hoping that Button would fall in love with her as she was in love with him. He was such a sweet little nerd, and he was always so nice to her. Sweetie Belle dreamt of him that night, of what might happen when they got together. Their entire imaginary future flashed through her mind as she slept. Though, when she woke up the next morning, she couldn’t remember any of her lovely dream. Chapter 4Sweetie Belle was very happy for Button Mash and for herself for helping him earn his cutie mark. She congratulated him at school the next day, because she felt he deserved to get congratulated again and again. She hugged him, she couldn’t help herself, and he was just the most adorable little colt. Even Cheerilee congratulated him as well. Class was delayed by a little that day, so everypony had a chance to talk to Button. Cheerilee finally started class and she talked some more about cutie marks. The day went by extraordinarily fast. By the end of the day, Scootaloo had said that she was going to go help Rumble and Thunderlane with their training. Apple Bloom had said that she was going to Princess Twilight’s castle to read a book, or something. But Sweetie knew that she was going to go and talk to Spike and try to befriend him. Sweetie Belle didn’t know what she would do after school that day. She lingered around the school for a little while longer, wondering what she would do, when Button walked up to her. “Hi, Sweetie Belle,” he said, sitting down next to her on a bench near the playground. “Hi, Button.” Sweetie responded. “Thanks again for helping me earn my cutie mark.” He said. She wasn’t looking at him, but she knew he was smiling. “Button, I told you, you don’t have to thank me. You earned it yourself.” She said, turning towards him, a smile on her face. He smiled back at her and suddenly hugged her. “I know.” He said. He whispered it right into her ear and Sweetie Belle felt a shiver travel up her spine. She hugged him back, blushing heavily, not knowing what else to say. He pulled away from the hug, Sweetie noticed that he was blushing as well, but she didn’t know why, or maybe she did. He turned to her, his cheeks red, “Umm… Sweetie Belle?” He asked, obviously nervous about something. “Yes?” She asked. “Well, you see, Sweetie….” He paused and reached his hoof up to his head, scratching it, thinking of what to say. “I umm… I really like you, and….” Sweetie Belle couldn’t help but gasp at this. “Button,” She started. “I just… Sweetie Belle…. Would you…. Ummm…… Would you be my marefriend?” He asked, his face bright red and he was avoiding eye-contact with her. This was the moment Sweetie Belle had been waiting for, but why couldn’t she speak. She found herself frozen in place and she didn’t know what to say. “Button… I…. Of course!” She said, pulling him into a hug, and he hugged her back. “I’m so glad you asked me.” She said. They hugged each other for a moment longer and then the hug broke off, and Sweetie Belle noticed that Button had tears in his eyes. “Button, what’s wrong?” “I was so scared that you would say no.” He blinked and a small tear fell down his face. Sweetie Belle lifted a hoof and wiped away the tear. “But I didn’t.” She said, trying to reassure him, smiling at him. He weakly smiled back at her. Then they both stood up, “I should be heading home now, and you should too. I’ll see you tomorrow.” Sweetie started to walk off, but Button stopped her. “Sweetie, wait!” He said, taking the few steps to catch up with her. “What?” “There’s something else I wanted to tell you.” “What is it?” She asked again. “I’ve…. Umm… I’ve wanted to ask you to be my marefriend for a long time. I’ve had a big crush on you for a really long time, Sweetie Belle. I just… I didn’t know what to say or when to ask. I always thought you would say no. I didn’t even think you knew I existed. But, ever since you became my friend….. I just…. I thought we had become closer, and I thought it would be alright to ask you.” He said. He spoke quickly, as though he just wanted to get it all out. “Button-” “And the reason I didn’t want to call you ‘Sweetie’ is because that’s what couples call each other. And… I thought if I just called you Sweetie that you would think it was weird or…. I don’t know… Something….” “Button,” Sweetie said, more firmly this time. He stopped talking and looked at her, more tears having formed in his eyes and now running down his cheeks. “I said yes. I like you, a lot. I really do.” She said. “I’ve had a crush on you for a while….” She paused, not knowing how to continue. “Don’t worry about anything. Now, I should really go, and you should too.” She hugged him once more. “I’ll see you tomorrow, I promise.” She then got up and started to walk away, this time, Button didn’t stop her, he just watched her as she left the schoolhouse. He stayed there long after she had left. Finally, he left and headed towards home. The one thing that he hadn’t told Sweetie was that he wanted to ask her so long ago, but he couldn’t. He talked to his mom about everything, including how he felt about Sweetie Belle. His mom had said that he should wait to ask her when he got his cutie mark, until he was more mature. And now that he had his cutie mark, there was nothing to stop him, so he went for it. He told his mom the good news once he got home. She hugged him and congratulated him. “Oh, I can’t wait until she comes over again! She’s going to get the biggest mom hug.” “Mom….” Button scolded her. “Sorry…” She apologized. Button laughed, “It’s fine, mom.” She smiled at him. “Well, go play your games or do whatever it s you do. Dinner will be ready soon, I’ll call you when it is, and again, congratulations.” She said. She kissed his forehead and sent him off to his room. Button was too distracted to play any of the games he had. He kept thinking of Sweetie Belle. She was so adorable and beautiful and sweet. He sighed. He fell back on his bed and stared up at the ceiling. Sweetie Belle’s face somehow appeared in front of him, smiling down at him from the ceiling. He sat up suddenly and decided he would go into the kitchen to help his mom with dinner. She didn’t talk much when she cooked. But she was an excellent listener. She always listened to what Button had to say, and spoke when she needed to. Button loved that about his mom, she was a great mom. He sat down at the kitchen table and sighed. “Button honey, what’s wrong?” She asked. “I can’t stop thinking about Sweetie Belle. I mean… Does she really like me? Or did she just say yes because she felt bad for me?” “Did you guys talk?” “Yeah, she said… What did she say?” He paused to think of what she had said. “She said she’d had a crush on me for a long time. Do you think she was telling the truth?” “Did she look like she was lying?” “Well…. No…” “Then she probably meant it.” “But… Rarity is her sister…. And…. You know how Rarity is.” Button’s mom sighed. “Right… Rarity. But Sweetie Belle just seems so much nicer than her elder sister.” “You’re right.” “Honey, why don’t you just see how things go, see if she meant it or not. I’m sure everything will go smoothly.” She paused, stirring the soup she was making for dinner. “Oh, my little Button is all grown up.” She said happily. Button didn’t respond, but he did smile. His mother continued speaking after a minute. “You know… Your father and I met at school. He asked me to be his marefriend the day after I got my cutie mark. He had gotten his before I did.” She sighed happily and stayed quiet as she stirred. She served and ate in silence, and Button didn’t speak either. The topic of his father was very sensitive. He had just disappeared from their lives years ago, when Button was just a little foal, he hardly remembered his father, but he hoped that one day he would return and Button could finally meet him. Of course, his mother wished for the same thing, but she didn’t believe it as much as Button did. She didn’t have the hope of a young colt. After dinner, without speaking, they cleaned up the table and left to their separate rooms to go to bed for the night. Button couldn’t sleep. His mind was filled with both thoughts of Sweetie Belle and of his father that he had never met. He stayed awake late into the night. Silence filling the house and willing him to sleep. For a moment, Button drifted back into reality, hearing the silence of the house in the night. But as he listened to the silence, he heard a disturbance. He had no idea what it could be, but he stayed as quiet as possible and listened carefully. He soon realized that the sound he had been hearing was his mother, and she was crying. Button felt so bad for her. She had often spoken of how much she had been in love with his father, and that she was devastated when he had just disappeared when he had. Button tried not to think about, and he laid back in his bed and tried hard to just fall asleep. He eventually succeeded and slept through the rest of the short night in a dreamless state.
Chapter 1Sweetie Belle was extremely excited. It was her favorite time of the year, Hearth’s Warming. And today was Hearth’s Warming Eve. She happily trotted down the dirt roads of Sweet Apple Acres to meet up with her friends, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo. “Well, howdy there Sweetie Belle.” Applejack called to her as she neared the barn. “Hi, Applejack!” Sweetie Belle squeaked, her voice filled with happiness and joy. She smiled at Applejack as she trotted past her, heading towards the Cutie Mark Crusader’s clubhouse. She trotted around and in between leafless apple trees. Her small hooves left little circles in the snow and leaves that littered the ground. She arrived to find her fellow crusaders outside the clubhouse putting up decorations. “Happy Hearth’s Warming Eve!!” Sweetie Belle called to them. They turned around, only slightly surprised to see her. They threw their hooves into the air and waved at Sweetie. She trotted up the ramp to help them with their decorations. The pink scarf tied around her neck billowed in the wind as she trotted up the ramp. Scootaloo was hovering over the balcony, her small little wings flapping vigorously. She used her magic to help put up the decorations in the places that Scootaloo and Apple Bloom couldn’t reach on their own. Once they had finished with the outside, they hurried inside the clubhouse and began to decorate the walls and windows on the inside. “Great job girls! It looks great!” Apple Bloom exclaimed. The three of them stared up at their decorating job and smiled, admiring their work. They all hugged each other and then decided to sit down and talk. They pulled off their scarves and boots and huddled in a small circle in the center of the floor of the treehouse. “So what should we talk about?” Scootaloo asked. “I don’t know, what do you think, Sweetie Belle?” Apple Bloom asked. Both Scootaloo and Apple Bloom turned to look at Sweetie Belle. “Well…. I’m not sure. Why don’t we all think of something together?” Sweetie asked. The girls nodded and they started to think of things they could talk about. They sat in silence for a number of minutes while they tried to think of something to talk about. “Do either of you have anything?” Apple Bloom asked. “We could talk about..… Ummmmm……. Colts?” Scootaloo suggested. “What do you mean?” Sweetie Belle asked. “Don’t you guys have any crushes on any of the colts in school?” Scootaloo asked. A blush began to spread across Sweetie Belle’s face, and both Scootaloo and Apple Bloom noticed right away. “You do, don’t you?” Scootaloo asked her, a smile forming on her lips. “Well… Ummm… Maybe….” Sweetie Belle said, avoiding eye contact with them and trying to hide her red face. “Oh, come on, tell us.” Apple Bloom begged. “Yeah, who is it?” Scootaloo asked. “Well….. You guys know Button Mash, right?” Sweetie Belle said hesitantly. Scootaloo and Apple Bloom looked at each other, eyebrows raised. “Yeah, you have a crush on him?” Scootaloo asked. “Well, yeah…. Is that bad?” “No, it’s just…. He’s so…. Weird. All he ever does is play those video games.” “That’s not all he does.” Sweetie Belle broke in. “Well what else does he do then?” Scootaloo asked. “Well… Umm…. I don’t… I don’t know exactly. But, whenever I say hi to him, he stops his game and says hi back. Doesn’t that mean something?” Sweetie asked. Scootaloo and Apple Bloom both shrugged, and then a mischievous smile appeared on Apple Bloom’s face. “So, are you going to ask him out? Do you think he likes you back?” She asked. Sweetie Belle blushed and turned away from her friends. “I’m not sure…..” “Well you like him, don’t you?” Scootaloo asked. “Y-yeah.” Sweetie Belle said shyly. “Well then you should talk to him.” “Wh-what do you mean talk to him? Do you mean… Like… Become friends with him? Or ask him out?” Sweetie Belle asked. “No, no. What you need to do,” Apple Bloom started, “Is start talking to him, and become good friends with him. Then you need to turn on your best charm and get him to fall in love with you. Don’t ask him out. You need to get him to ask you out first. Make him be the stallion.” She finished. “Ummmm, right… Ok.” Sweetie Belle said nervously. They all heard knocking on the door and jumped up, all being startled. The door creaked open and Applejack’s orange freckled face appeared in the doorway. “Howdy ya’ll. Hearth’s Warming Celebrations are about to begin. Ya might wanna start headin’ into town.” She asid. The girls all stood up and donned their scarves and boots and then they left the newly decorated clubhouse to go and celebrate Hearth’s Warming Eve. Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, Apple Bloom, Applejack, Big Macintosh, and Granny Smith left Sweet Apple Acres and headed towards Ponyville to celebrate with their friends and family for Hearth’s Warming. They went to a play, drank apple cider, sang carols, and when it was all over, they each went home to their respective homes and slept with promises to meet the next day at the clubhouse. The next day, the Cutie Mark Crusaders met at their clubhouse. They talked about a random number of things and then they decided to take down the decorations. They spent the day undecorating the clubhouse, and then they spent the evening at the Apple family farm, drinking warm apple cider together. “So,” Scootaloo started when they were the only three in the room, “Have you made any decisions for what you’re going to do about Button?” “Yeah.” Sweetie Belle said, taking a sip of her cider. “Well, what?” “I’m going to do what you said.” Sweetie Belle said. “Really?” “Yes.” She nodded and took another sip. “Anyway, it’s getting late, I should get going.” Sweetie Belle stood and left Sweet Apple Acres. She walked through Ponyville to her parent’s house, and she was so tired that she just collapsed into her bed and fell asleep almost immediately as she thought of what she would do when school started again. Sweetie Belle trotted into the schoolhouse with her saddlebag tied to her back holding her lunch. She quickly spotted her friends and made her way towards them. They waved her over and she stowed her saddlebag in her cubby, which was next to Apple Bloom’s and under Scootaloo’s. They struck up a conversation and made their way into the classroom together where Cheerilee was waiting for the students to arrive. Once the classroom was full, it filled with chatter and then moments later the bell rang and Cheerilee hushed the fillies and colts. The chatter silenced quickly and they all turned their attention towards their teacher. “Welcome back from your break my little ponies.” Cheerilee said cheerfully. She started by asking everypony how their Hearth’s Warming had been. Most of them answered, but some stayed quiet. The tales of Hearth’s Warming continued until lunch time, where all the students left the classroom to eat their lunches outside. Sweetie Belle had decided that she was going to sit with Button Mash during lunch that day. Scootaloo and Apple Bloom supported her, and were going to join Sweetie and Button. The trio walked outside and spotted Button sitting alone at a table, his game in his hooves with a carrot sticking out of his mouth as he chewed slowly. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo giggled, but Sweetie Belle ignored them and started towards his table, leaving the others trailing behind her. She magically set her lunch box down on the table, “Hi, Button Mash.” She said with a smile. “Huh… Oh, hi, Sweetie Belle.” Button mumbled around his carrot. He mashed on a few buttons on the game device with lightning speed and then let out a small victory cheer as a happy dinging sound escaped the small device. He closed it and then finished eating his carrot. Seconds later, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo joined them at the table. “Would it be alright if we sat here with you today.” Sweetie Belle asked him. “Uh, yeah. That’s fine.” Button said, acting slightly introverted. He took a long sip out of his juice box. The girls opened up their lunches and began eating. “So, what game were you playing just now, Button?” Sweetie Belle asked him as she pulled the contents out of her lunch box. “Mario.” He answered quickly. He held in his hoof a large red apple that he had already taken a bite out of. He took another bite and chewed slowly. Sweetie Belle nodded and took a bite of the green apple that her parents had packed for her lunch. They four of them ate in silence for a moment, acting a little awkward around each other. “Button?” Sweetie Belle asked. “Yeah?” Button replied. “Do you want to become friends?” She asked him. Button seemed surprised by the question. “Friends?” He asked. Sweetie Belle noticed that his dark brown cheeks started to get a reddish hint to them, but she didn’t say anything about it. Button smiled at her, and then nodded, “Yeah, sure. I’d love to be your friend.” Sweetie Belle smiled back at him, “Great!” She turned back to her food and then began eating again. When Button wasn’t looking at her, she turned towards her friends, smiling, and they smiled back, winking at her. “So, Button, would it be alright if we sat with you everyday at lunch?” She asked. “Yeah, that would be great.” He said. Sweetie Belle noticed him glance at his game system, but then he looked back up at her and smiled. She smiled back at him. “Thanks!” They smiled at each other a moment longer and then continued eating their lunches. When the bell finally rang they all went inside back into the classroom where Cheerilee was about to start class. A few weeks later, Sweetie Belle and Button had become close friends and today they were going to hang out together, outside of school. But of course Sweetie Belle didn’t consider it a date. They were only friends right now. Sweetie Belle tried to push down all her nervousness. After school today they were going to Sugarcube Corner and then to his house to play some games and eat dinner, then she would go back home. School was already almost over, and she could see Scootaloo and Apple Bloom giggling together next to her. She tried to ignore them, but it was hard. Finally, she just laid her head down on her desk and she accidentally fell asleep trying to ignore them. She didn’t wake up when the bell rang, but when Button came over to her and tapped on her back. “Sweetie Belle? Hey, wake up.” Button said. She jerked her head up and looked around. “Button? Did I fall asleep?” “Yeah, but I know what will wake you up.” Button said with a smile. Sweetie Belle cocked her head at him, and then he answered her silent question. “Milkshakes! Come on!” Sweetie Belle followed him out of the schoolhouse and together they walked through Ponyville to Sugarcube Corner. They sat down at a table and Sweetie Belle ordered a vanilla milkshake and Button ordered a chocolate one. They sat and talked as they waited for their milkshakes. “Sweetie Belle? What made you want to be my friend in the first place?” Button asked. He seemed nervous as he asked her. “Well, you always seemed so lonely there at lunch by yourself, and I’ve never seen you talking with anypony else, and you’re always so nice to me, so I thought I could try being your friend.” Sweetie Belle answered, trying to hide her red cheeks from him. “Oh.” Was all Button said. A moment later their milkshakes were delivered to them from Mr. Cake. “Thank you,” Sweetie Belle said as she pulled some bits that her parents had given her to pay for her milkshake. Button stopped her and pulled out twice as many bits, holding them out for Mr. Cake. He took them and then left. “What was that for?” Sweetie Belle asked. “My mom told me that that’s what gentlecolts do. So, she gave me enough bits to pay for both of us.” Sweetie seemed confused by his logic, but just shook it off. “Well, thank you.” She said as she took a sip of her milkshake. Button smiled and nodded and took a large sip of his milkshake as well. “So, do you have a favorite video game?” Button asked her. “I don’t really play much. So no. Do you?” She asked. Button let out a small laugh and took another sip before he spoke. “No, I don’t have a favorite. There are just too many games and I like all of them. No, I love all of them. I’ve beaten every single game I have at least three times, and I never ever get tired of them. You might want to call it an obsession, but it’s not. I just really love video games, and I’m good at them too.” Button said. He seemed proud of his actions as he spoke, and Sweetie Belle couldn’t help but smile at him. They each took another sip of their milkshakes, talking and laughing together. Then, once they had finished, they left to go to Button’s house. They talked the whole way there, finding random things to talk to each other about, not caring what the subject was, just wanting to talk. They arrived at his house a little while later, Sweetie said hi to his mom and then she and Button headed towards his room. Sweetie Belle was surprised to see that it was clean, nearly spotless, save for a few gaming systems and a tangle of wires on the floor. She had always thought that he wouldn’t be able to keep a clean room, but she had just been proven wrong. They started up a game and then played for hours. Eventually Button’s mom came in with dinner, finding Sweetie Belle lying on the floor and Button glued to a screen with a controller in his hooves. “What happened?” His mom asked, trying to hold down her laughter. “I lost! 23 times!” Sweetie Belle exclaimed. Now she let herself laugh. “Well, dinner is ready, so, Button, you need to take a break and eat.” “Yeah, just a sec.” Button continued violently bashing the controls and moments later he won. He set down the controller and turned towards his mom. She set down their dinner and Button and Sweetie started eating. His mom left the room and came back a few minutes later with two juice boxes. “It’s starting to get late, so, Sweetie Belle, you should head home when you’re done eating.” Sweetie Belle nodded and then swallowed, taking a few sips of apple juice to wash it down. “I will. And thank you for dinner, this is really good.” She said, taking another bite and washing it down. She smiled and left the room again. Once Sweetie Belle had finished eating, she said her goodbyes and grabbed her saddlebag. Then she left to go back home. “I’ll see you tomorrow at school!” Button called, waving at her from the doorway. “Bye!” Sweetie called. She hurried off through Ponyville to get back home. She was tired, she hadn’t done that much in one day since the crusaders had gone seriously crusading. Before she and her friends had gotten their cutie marks. Remembering this, she looked down at her flank and smiled. She then remembered that Button hadn’t got his cutie mark yet, and that maybe she could help him get it. She decided, as she walked home in the near dark, that she would help her new friend get his cutie mark.
Chapter 2“Guys! Guys!” Sweetie Belle called out to her fellow crusaders that morning as she galloped into the schoolhouse. Scootaloo and Apple Bloom had been engaged in conversation with each other, and when they heard Sweetie calling for them, they turned and waved at her. “Hey, Sweetie, what’s up?” Scootaloo asked. Sweetie Belle trotted the rest of the way over to them and sat down on the ground to catch her breath. “Button… Mash… Cutie… Mark… Help….” Sweetie Belle panted. “What?” Sweetie Belle held up her hoof, signaling that she needed a second before she could speak. When she finally caught her breath, she explained, “Button Mash doesn’t have his cutie mark yet, we should help him get it so he can figure out his destiny!” Sweetie Belle said in a flourish, her face flushed from the excitement and from running all the way to school. “Sweetie, that’s a great idea!” Scootaloo exclaimed. “Yeah!” Sweetie Belle said excitedly. She smiled and her friends smiled back at her. They didn’t seem quite as happy though. “Is…. Is something wrong?” She asked. Scootaloo and Apple Bloom exchanged looks. “Well... “ Apple Bloom started, “You seem to be spending more time with Button than with us…” She seemed hesitant to say this, but once she did, she seemed relieved. “Oh.... I’m sorry. We should hang today, and I’ll make it up to you guys.” Sweetie Belle said. “Sweetie, you don’t have to. We know you really want Button to like you, and if you want to focus on that right now-” “No, I shouldn’t ignore you just because I have a crush on him.” She spoke somewhat quietly, but then raised her voice as she continued, “He won’t mind if I hang out with you for today, or whenever. He knows that you guys are my best friends.” Sweetie Belle said with a smile. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo smiled back and the three of them hugged. “Come on, the bell is about to ring, we don’t want to be late, let’s go inside.” Scootaloo said, breaking up the hug. They all had just sat down in their seats when the bell rang. Sweetie looked over and saw that Button was already in the classroom, sitting in his seat near the back of the classroom. He must have arrived after she had, and come in before her. Which meant that he had to have walked past her… But…. Did that mean that he had overheard any of her conversation with Scootaloo and Apple Bloom? Sweetie shook away the thought and tried her best to pay attention to Cheerilee. Throughout the day, she kept finding herself getting distracted with thoughts about Button Mash. Each time she found her mind drifting, it became harder to snap herself back into reality and pay attention to whatever it was that Cheerilee was talking about. At the end of the day, Button walked over to her desk to talk with her, “Hi, Sweetie Belle.” He said. “Oh, hi, Button.” She responded. A question suddenly popped into her head. “Button, why do you always call me by my full name?” “What?” “You always say Sweetie Belle instead of just Sweetie. Is there a reason for that?” She asked. “Oh… Ummm…. I hadn’t realized it. I can call you Sweetie if you want.” He said. Sweetie noticed that he was blushing slightly, but she decided to ignore it. “Just whatever you’re comfortable with.” Sweetie said. She noticed Apple Bloom and Scootaloo standing in the doorway of the schoolhouse, looking at her and Button. “Well, I’ve got to go now,” she said standing up. “I promised the girls I’d hang out with them today.” “Alright. I’ll see you at school tomorrow.” He said with a smile. Sweetie smiled back at him as she left. She met up with Apple Bloom and Scootaloo in the doorway and the three of them left. “So where should we go today?” Sweetie asked. “We could hang out in the clubhouse and talk?” Apple Bloom suggested. “Or go see Rainbow Dash!” Scootaloo said. Sweetie and Apple Bloom laughed. “I vote clubhouse.” Sweetie Belle said. Scootaloo deflated, but immediately perked up again, her little wings lifting her slightly off the ground. “We could talk about getting Button Mash his cutie mark.” She said. “But…” Sweetie Belle started. “Didn’t you guys just want to hang out?” “Yeah, but Button is your friend, soon to be coltfriend,” Both Scootaloo and Apple Bloom giggled at this, “And we want to help you. And since we can’t find anything to talk about, we might as well try and figure that out.” Apple Bloom suggested. “Well, if you say so.” Sweetie Belle agreed hesitantly. The girls walked to the clubhouse, talking about random things. When they arrived, they sat themselves in a circle in the center of the clubhouse and then began talking about Button. “So what is he good at?” Scootaloo asked. “Well, he’s really really good at video games. That might be his talent.” “Playing video games? Really? Does he win a lot? His talent could be winning at video games.” Scootaloo said. “That’s possible.” Sweetie Belle said, bringing her hoof to her chin in thought. “Do y’all remember how Twist got her cutie mark?” Apple Bloom asked. “Yeah, she said that…. Umm…. She said she finally realized how good she was at making… What did she make again?” Scootaloo asked. “I don’t really remember, but the point is that when she realized that she really was good at it, her cutie mark appeared. So, maybe if we can get Button to believe that he is amazing at playing video games, he could get his cutie mark.” Apple Bloom said. “Wow! Apple Bloom, you’re a genius!” Sweetie Belle exclaimed. Apple Bloom let out a chuckle, “Thanks.” She said, smiling at her friends. “So, Sweetie, if you’re ever playing games with Button, try and convince him that he’s really good at it, and let us know if it works.” Scootaloo said with a smile. “Why don’t we all three play together? Then we could all try, and you guys could see how good he really is.” Sweetie suggested. “That might be fun. Tomorrow at school we should ask him about it.” “Yeah!” The three of them smiled at each other and then decided to leave the topic and talk about other things. At first, they couldn’t think of anything else to talk about, but then Sweetie Belle had an idea. “So, you guys asked me if I had any crushes, and I answered, and now we’re all trying to help him get his cutie mark. So, do you guys have any crushes on the colts at school?” Sweetie Belle asked. Both Apple Bloom and Scootaloo blushed. Sweetie Belle gasped, “Oh! You do!” She exclaimed. “Who? Who are they?” She asked excitedly. Neither Apple Bloom nor Scootaloo said anything at first. Finally, Sweetie Belle began to prod, “Apple Bloom? Scootaloo? One of you has to tell me. Please?” She added. Scootaloo sighed. “Fine… I’ll go.” Sweetie Belle smiled, excited to find out who her friends had crushes on. “You know Thunderlane’s little brother? Rumble? He’s a year older than us, not in our class, but I’ve seen him training with his brother and…” She paused, she was blushing heavily. “Anyway, the point is, I have a crush on him.” “Awwwwww!” Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom said in unison. Scootaloo blushed and turned away from her friends. “You’re turn Apple Bloom.” She said. Apple Bloom blushed heavily and her smile changed slightly. “Umm… Well…. You guys might find it weird….” “No we won’t. Come on, tell us!” Sweetie Belle urged her on. “Fine… It’s ummm…. Well….. I have a crush on….” She took a deep breath. “It’s… Spike.” She said quickly. Both Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle were surprised. “Spike?” They asked at the same time. Apple Bloom nodded. Sweetie Belle looked at Scootaloo, and Scootaloo looked back at her. Seconds later, “Awwwwwwwwwwwww!!! That’s sooooooooo adorable!” Sweetie Belle squeaked. “I totally support interspecies relationships!” Scootaloo said, trying to shrink her smile. “That’s the cutest thing ever!” She said. Apple Bloom smiled, her face growing bright red. She turned away from her friends and tried to hide her red face. The girls giggled and talked for a little while longer. “You guys should talk to them. Apple Bloom, you talk to Spike and Scootaloo, you could talk to Rumble, maybe even help him out with his training.” Sweetie Belle said. Scootaloo and Apple Bloom smiled and agreed. The three of them decided they would take a break from each other and focus on their crushes, only for a little while. They hugged it out and then they went home for the day. Sweetie Belle couldn’t wait. They all had crushes and if everything went as they planned then they would all have colt friends! She was so excited, both for herself and for her friends. She really hoped at the colts would fall for them. Oh, and Spike too. Apple Bloom and Spike would make a really cute couple. Sweetie Belle thought of all this on the way home, and while she ate dinner and as she lie in bed trying to fall asleep. She might have even dreamed of the six of them happy and just being together. She slept with a smile and woke with a smile and was excited for what was to come.
Chapter 3The next day at school, Sweetie Belle asked Button if she could come over again to play video games with him. She also asked if Apple Bloom and Scootaloo could join them. “Yeah! That’ll be fun!” Button said. “I’ll beat all of you!” He said with a smile. “Today?” He asked. Sweetie Belle nodded. “Even better.” Button rubbed his hooves together maniacally, and Sweetie Belle couldn’t help but laugh. “So, we’ll see you after school?” Sweetie Belle asked. Button nodded and smiled at Sweetie Belle. “Oh, ummm…. Sweetie B… Sweetie…. I just…. I wanted to thank you for becoming my friend.” He said, blushing slightly. “Button, you don’t have to thank me. I like being your friend.” Sweetie blushed as well, and neither of them made eye contact with each other. Button smiled at her, “Well, thanks anyway.” He hurried off to his seat and sat down, waiting for class to start. Sweetie turned to her friends and nodded at them, letting them know that their plan was a go. They nodded back at her and then burst into a fit of giggles. The bell had already rung and they were still laughing uncontrollably. “Ahem,” Ms. Cheerilee said, standing over their desks. “Oh, sorry Ms. Cheerilee.” Sweetie Belle apologized. She coughed to get the laughing out of her system. She cleared her throat and tried her hardest to stop laughing. Scootaloo and Apple Bloom did the same. Sweetie Belle glanced towards Button and noticed him watching her. She looked away, blushing slightly and tried to pretend he hadn’t been looking at her. Cheerilee continued with her class, now that the three of them were under control. She continued class as usual, but Sweetie Belle found it difficult to pay attention. Her mind drifted even more than it usually did. Eventually, the school day finally ended and she, Button, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo left the schoolhouse to go to Button’s house. The four of them talked and laughed and joked as they made their way to Button’s. Button was excited, he would have more people to beat. The others countered by saying he wouldn’t beat them, that they would demolish him instead. They all laughed. When they arrived, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo introduced themselves to his mom. Sweetie and Button both said hi, and then the four of them headed off towards his room. Button pulled out two other unused controllers for his gaming system and after a few seconds a game was pulled up and ready to play. The four of them sat on the floor next to each other, all of them holding a controller, ready to play. “You guys are going down!” Button said. They all laughed as the game started. Sweetie Belle wasn’t surprised to see that Button was already in the lead after only a few minutes. Of course, she was the very last. She had never been good at playing games, but Scootaloo and Apple Bloom had nearly caught up with him, but not quite. After several games of Button winning, they all finally gave up. “Button, you are really good at video games.” Sweetie Belle said. “Nah.” He said, waving his hoof as if waving away the idea. “You beat all of us. So many times.” She persisted. “Do you ever lose?” He thought about it. Had he ever lost at any games? “You know what, you’re right. I’ve never lost a single game. I’ve never even gotten below first place!” He said, realizing how good he was. “Do you guys think that could be my destiny? That would be awesome, to have a special talent at playing video games!” He said, his voice raised, standing in triumph. A bright flash of light filled the room. The four of them turned to the screen. “What was that?” Button asked. The others looked at him and all gasped in unison. “Button! Your flank! You got your cutie mark!” Sweetie Belle exclaimed. “Really!?” Button asked. He turned around in a circle, chasing his tail, until he got a good look at his flank. On his flank, sat a golden, pixilated trophy with a red number one scrawled on it. Button smiled, his eyes seemed to be sparkling. He began jumping up and down. “I got my cutie mark! I got my cutie mark! You guys helped me get my cutie mark! Thank you so much!” He pulled the three of them into a hug. They all hugged him back, laughing. “What’s all the commotion?” Button’s mom asked as she walked into the room. “Mom! Mom! I got my cutie mark!” Button jumped into his mom’s hooves and hugged her. She looked down at his cutie mark as she hugged him back, a smile on her face. “Congratulations!” She said through a laugh as she hugged her son. “I’m so proud of you, my little winner!” Button seemed on the verge of tears. Happy tears, but tears nonetheless. The girls laughed along with him and his mom. His mom finally left after congratulating her son. Button and the girls continued playing the game they had been playing before, with Button continuously beating them as usual. His mother served them dinner, giving Button extra helpings since he had just earned his cutie mark. They all ate their dinner and then the girls left, hugging Button a few more times before they left. “We’ll see you at school tomorrow, Button!” Sweetie Belle called as she walked away from his house. “Bye, Sweetie Belle! Bye, Apple Bloom! Bye, Scootaloo!” Button called, waving them away. “Thanks again for helping me get my cutie mark!” The girls laughed as they headed back home. They talked until they had to split up. “I’m so happy Button got his cutie mark, and that we helped him.” Sweetie Belle said. “Yeah.” Scootaloo agreed. Apple Bloom nodded. They split up and headed to their homes to go to sleep. Sweetie Belle awaited the future happily, hoping that Button would fall in love with her as she was in love with him. He was such a sweet little nerd, and he was always so nice to her. Sweetie Belle dreamt of him that night, of what might happen when they got together. Their entire imaginary future flashed through her mind as she slept. Though, when she woke up the next morning, she couldn’t remember any of her lovely dream.
Chapter 4Sweetie Belle was very happy for Button Mash and for herself for helping him earn his cutie mark. She congratulated him at school the next day, because she felt he deserved to get congratulated again and again. She hugged him, she couldn’t help herself, and he was just the most adorable little colt. Even Cheerilee congratulated him as well. Class was delayed by a little that day, so everypony had a chance to talk to Button. Cheerilee finally started class and she talked some more about cutie marks. The day went by extraordinarily fast. By the end of the day, Scootaloo had said that she was going to go help Rumble and Thunderlane with their training. Apple Bloom had said that she was going to Princess Twilight’s castle to read a book, or something. But Sweetie knew that she was going to go and talk to Spike and try to befriend him. Sweetie Belle didn’t know what she would do after school that day. She lingered around the school for a little while longer, wondering what she would do, when Button walked up to her. “Hi, Sweetie Belle,” he said, sitting down next to her on a bench near the playground. “Hi, Button.” Sweetie responded. “Thanks again for helping me earn my cutie mark.” He said. She wasn’t looking at him, but she knew he was smiling. “Button, I told you, you don’t have to thank me. You earned it yourself.” She said, turning towards him, a smile on her face. He smiled back at her and suddenly hugged her. “I know.” He said. He whispered it right into her ear and Sweetie Belle felt a shiver travel up her spine. She hugged him back, blushing heavily, not knowing what else to say. He pulled away from the hug, Sweetie noticed that he was blushing as well, but she didn’t know why, or maybe she did. He turned to her, his cheeks red, “Umm… Sweetie Belle?” He asked, obviously nervous about something. “Yes?” She asked. “Well, you see, Sweetie….” He paused and reached his hoof up to his head, scratching it, thinking of what to say. “I umm… I really like you, and….” Sweetie Belle couldn’t help but gasp at this. “Button,” She started. “I just… Sweetie Belle…. Would you…. Ummm…… Would you be my marefriend?” He asked, his face bright red and he was avoiding eye-contact with her. This was the moment Sweetie Belle had been waiting for, but why couldn’t she speak. She found herself frozen in place and she didn’t know what to say. “Button… I…. Of course!” She said, pulling him into a hug, and he hugged her back. “I’m so glad you asked me.” She said. They hugged each other for a moment longer and then the hug broke off, and Sweetie Belle noticed that Button had tears in his eyes. “Button, what’s wrong?” “I was so scared that you would say no.” He blinked and a small tear fell down his face. Sweetie Belle lifted a hoof and wiped away the tear. “But I didn’t.” She said, trying to reassure him, smiling at him. He weakly smiled back at her. Then they both stood up, “I should be heading home now, and you should too. I’ll see you tomorrow.” Sweetie started to walk off, but Button stopped her. “Sweetie, wait!” He said, taking the few steps to catch up with her. “What?” “There’s something else I wanted to tell you.” “What is it?” She asked again. “I’ve…. Umm… I’ve wanted to ask you to be my marefriend for a long time. I’ve had a big crush on you for a really long time, Sweetie Belle. I just… I didn’t know what to say or when to ask. I always thought you would say no. I didn’t even think you knew I existed. But, ever since you became my friend….. I just…. I thought we had become closer, and I thought it would be alright to ask you.” He said. He spoke quickly, as though he just wanted to get it all out. “Button-” “And the reason I didn’t want to call you ‘Sweetie’ is because that’s what couples call each other. And… I thought if I just called you Sweetie that you would think it was weird or…. I don’t know… Something….” “Button,” Sweetie said, more firmly this time. He stopped talking and looked at her, more tears having formed in his eyes and now running down his cheeks. “I said yes. I like you, a lot. I really do.” She said. “I’ve had a crush on you for a while….” She paused, not knowing how to continue. “Don’t worry about anything. Now, I should really go, and you should too.” She hugged him once more. “I’ll see you tomorrow, I promise.” She then got up and started to walk away, this time, Button didn’t stop her, he just watched her as she left the schoolhouse. He stayed there long after she had left. Finally, he left and headed towards home. The one thing that he hadn’t told Sweetie was that he wanted to ask her so long ago, but he couldn’t. He talked to his mom about everything, including how he felt about Sweetie Belle. His mom had said that he should wait to ask her when he got his cutie mark, until he was more mature. And now that he had his cutie mark, there was nothing to stop him, so he went for it. He told his mom the good news once he got home. She hugged him and congratulated him. “Oh, I can’t wait until she comes over again! She’s going to get the biggest mom hug.” “Mom….” Button scolded her. “Sorry…” She apologized. Button laughed, “It’s fine, mom.” She smiled at him. “Well, go play your games or do whatever it s you do. Dinner will be ready soon, I’ll call you when it is, and again, congratulations.” She said. She kissed his forehead and sent him off to his room. Button was too distracted to play any of the games he had. He kept thinking of Sweetie Belle. She was so adorable and beautiful and sweet. He sighed. He fell back on his bed and stared up at the ceiling. Sweetie Belle’s face somehow appeared in front of him, smiling down at him from the ceiling. He sat up suddenly and decided he would go into the kitchen to help his mom with dinner. She didn’t talk much when she cooked. But she was an excellent listener. She always listened to what Button had to say, and spoke when she needed to. Button loved that about his mom, she was a great mom. He sat down at the kitchen table and sighed. “Button honey, what’s wrong?” She asked. “I can’t stop thinking about Sweetie Belle. I mean… Does she really like me? Or did she just say yes because she felt bad for me?” “Did you guys talk?” “Yeah, she said… What did she say?” He paused to think of what she had said. “She said she’d had a crush on me for a long time. Do you think she was telling the truth?” “Did she look like she was lying?” “Well…. No…” “Then she probably meant it.” “But… Rarity is her sister…. And…. You know how Rarity is.” Button’s mom sighed. “Right… Rarity. But Sweetie Belle just seems so much nicer than her elder sister.” “You’re right.” “Honey, why don’t you just see how things go, see if she meant it or not. I’m sure everything will go smoothly.” She paused, stirring the soup she was making for dinner. “Oh, my little Button is all grown up.” She said happily. Button didn’t respond, but he did smile. His mother continued speaking after a minute. “You know… Your father and I met at school. He asked me to be his marefriend the day after I got my cutie mark. He had gotten his before I did.” She sighed happily and stayed quiet as she stirred. She served and ate in silence, and Button didn’t speak either. The topic of his father was very sensitive. He had just disappeared from their lives years ago, when Button was just a little foal, he hardly remembered his father, but he hoped that one day he would return and Button could finally meet him. Of course, his mother wished for the same thing, but she didn’t believe it as much as Button did. She didn’t have the hope of a young colt. After dinner, without speaking, they cleaned up the table and left to their separate rooms to go to bed for the night. Button couldn’t sleep. His mind was filled with both thoughts of Sweetie Belle and of his father that he had never met. He stayed awake late into the night. Silence filling the house and willing him to sleep. For a moment, Button drifted back into reality, hearing the silence of the house in the night. But as he listened to the silence, he heard a disturbance. He had no idea what it could be, but he stayed as quiet as possible and listened carefully. He soon realized that the sound he had been hearing was his mother, and she was crying. Button felt so bad for her. She had often spoken of how much she had been in love with his father, and that she was devastated when he had just disappeared when he had. Button tried not to think about, and he laid back in his bed and tried hard to just fall asleep. He eventually succeeded and slept through the rest of the short night in a dreamless state.
