Where Friendships Wither, New Things Bloom

"Hey Button Mash, Long time no see." For an instant I was just frozen in place, my eyes wide and locked on her as if I'd just seen a Cockatrice, my hooves planted firmly to the ground as if my body was suddenly being turned to stone. "Hey, Button... Could I come in, please? It's kinda cold out here..." That immediately snapped me out of my daze, my jaw moving stupidly as I tried to speak "Wha- Yer! Yes, come on in!" With that, she gladly trotted in past me. As she moved I noticed an intense magic aura start to envelop her horn which then proceeded enveloped two unusually big bags just out of view of the door. Me being the oh so noble gentle colt that I am I immediately jumped to her side "Let me help with that" Rushing to the bags I ushered her inside, dragged them in and shut the door behind me.

Looking at her coat, she was soaked from head to hoof with her mane drooping down and over her eyes in a way that made her seem quite- "Cute..." Comprehending what I'd just said Sweetie belle gave me a flat look followed by a fit of giggling "Well you're not too bad yourself" Suddenly realizing that I'd actually said that aloud I quickly looked to change the subject "Uh... I'll go get you a towel".

Putting that little bit of momentary stupidity behind me I thought it was about time I started asking why she'd just randomly showed up at my door in the middle of the night. "So Sweetie Belle... What brings a mare like you here? Not to mention in the rain?" Taking the towel she gasped "Oh yes, how rude of me! My sister just opened a new boutique here in the city, unfortunately for my mane, the rain picked up as soon as I got off the train" Still confused I pressed on "That's cool but... why are you HERE? You know, at my apartment?" She sighed, swishing her tail in annoyance "I was supposed to go straight to the new boutique as soon as I got here but when the rain picked up all the carriages had already gone, apparently, the drivers don't like standing out in the rain any more than me. The Boutique is on the other side of the city so with no taxi and the rain picking up I needed somewhere to wait it out" That seemed to clear some stuff up but still unsatisfied I continued "And... How did you know where I live?" A devious smile crossed her face "Your mom told me." Now I was getting suspicious "You still talk to my mom?!" She held that look "Of course! We talk all the time!"

At that point, something in my brain seemed to snap. My best friend, who I hadn't seen or spoken to in 2 years was best buddies with my mom. "Really? For how long?" That grin didn't falter "Since you left 2 years ago" Now I wondered what they'd been talking about. The two always seemed to get along before I left, heck they practically tortured me any chance they got but I never got the impression that they had much in common "And what sort of stuff do you two talk about in these little conversations?" Dreading the answer, I raised my eyebrow in suspicious apprehension "Oh you know, manes, celebrities, fashion. Girl stuff." I relaxed a bit but that grin didn't move "And you" she added. Suddenly my heart was beating out of my chest "Oh, right" Beginning to visibly sweat at the prospect of my mother having revealed my secrets to her she broke out into a fit of laughter, falling to the floor then resting up against the side of the couch. "I do love it when you squirm" She said in an almost conspiratorial tone of voice "Ugh... Quit it" Spreading her hooves out wide she yelled "Oh COME ON Button! You know you missed me." As much as it pained me to say it she was right "Yes well... Fine, I admit it."

After getting her something to eat I pried for more info "Hey Sweetie belle, you said you were here for your sister's new boutique right?" Forgetting her food for a second she spoke in a much more professional sounding voice "Yes, I'm supposed to be managing it for a while until she finds some pony nearby to do it. Now though it looks like I'll need to find a hotel for the night..." Sighing she sat down "Can I wait here until the rain dies down please?" That gave me an idea. Walking over to my bed I patted the pillow "I'll do you one better, you can stay here!" she looked around "Button." She said in a low voice "there's only one bed..." Looking around as if just noticing the fact for the first time myself I shrugged "Oh yer... Well, I guess I'll take the couch for tonight".

She suddenly looked slightly surprised by that "Thank you button but I-" I cut her off by sharply sticking my hoof in her mouth "Sweetie Belle, you're my best friend. I can't just let you go without a good nights sleep! Anyway, the hotels here charge a horn and a hoof for a room." She just stared flatly at me for a second before huffing in defeat, her face took on a more accepting look "Thank you Button, I'm not really used to ponies being this generous, even my sister can be a stuck up at times and she's supposed to be the element of generosity! More like the biggest gem hoarder in Equestria..." Laughing I remembered the game "Oh that reminds me, Look what I got!" Motioning to the TV I dived for the couch, Sweetie Belle looked at the screen and sat down next to me "Wow, I haven't seen this in a long time, you kept it all this time?" She looked like a filly getting a new toy on Harthswarming "What? Naaa I just bought it today, cool though right? Wanna play?" Handing her the second controller I found buried in a draw she shirked "Yes! Let's do it!".

A few more hours passed and Sweetie belle had passed out on the couch arm across from me. Turning off the game I carefully put her on my back, carrying her over to the bed. Somehow she didn't even flinch when I all but dropped her on the thing, followed by me not so subtly tucking the blanket over her body "Weird... She still smells like lemons". Throwing myself back on the sofa and crushing one of my controllers in the process I attempted to get some sleep.

Two hours later and I was still awake with nothing to do so I did what any sane stallion would do in a situation like this, I got out my Joyboy and  began playing with it. I finished the last boss and had a little celebration for myself. Placing the Joyboy down on the table I went to the kitchen for a drink when noticed that the sun was already coming up and with Sweetie Belle still flat out on the bed where I'd left her I decided I'd go out for a while to look for some work and maybe get a new controller to replace the one I'd inexplicably sat on a few hours earlier.

Leaving a note telling Sweetie Belle to lock the door and put the key under the mat if she went out as well as my number I grabbed my saddle bags and cap to leave, pushing the key back under the door so she could get out if she woke up. My apartment wasn't exactly in the center of the city but it was close enough that I had quick access to all the fun stuff. The building itself was only about 20 stories high so it blended in quite well with the surrounding area.

Walking through the busy streets I felt somewhat at ease, I'd never really liked the quietness of the country. Don't get me wrong I love Ponyville but I just prefer the city, there's never a dull moment here, always something interesting around every corner. As interesting as it is I always found it to be a bit over crowded which made getting around into somewhat of a hassle considering  and as the roads were always in a deadlock many like myself just turned to doing it the good old fashioned way, hoofing it... Everywhere.

Part way into my journey I heard my phone buzzing in my saddle bags. Pulling out the device and expecting the worst I groaned, mouthing the words around the device in my mouth  "Peas don teh me shes loct in..." Attaching the device on my ear I spoke, trying to sound as robotic as possible "Hello, you have reached *Beep* Button Mash. Unfortunately, the person you are calling is unavailable at the moment, please leave your message after the beep. *BEEEEEP*" suddenly something hard hit my rump "Yes. Can you tell doofus to call me back when he gets this?" Yelling in pain I turned to see the cause of my dead ass. Before me stood a familiar looking stallion "Ah! Screw you Rumble!" Patting my head he walked up beside me "Hey bro what's up?! I haven't seen you in like... Forever! It's good to see you man!". With my ass still numb from the punch, I decided that I deserved some retribution.

Punching him in the shoulder I said quite matter-of-factly "Feelings mutual bro" Still visibly squirming from the pain he laughed "Ha! You still punch like a filly!" Smirking I carried on walking "Heh I noticed" Nodding to his shoulder. Having not seen him for about as long as Sweetie belle I wondered what he'd been up to "So Rumble; I know you were studying when I left town but what are you doing here? I thought you'd be training for the Equestrian Skygaurd by now?" Giving me somewhat of a suppressed chuckle "Heh yea, about that... When I finished college last year I just sort of... didn't do anything. My Brother got sick so I wanted to stay with him until he got well again so I missed my chance at University which I need if I want to join as an officer. Their stupid regulations say I need to do at least a year of psychology before I can start" That revelation was BIG, all most every pegasus colt wanted to join the Skyguard at some point, that or the Wonderbolts but they were in a whole other league.

"So... What? You're going back next year or something?" His whole body seemed to stand up straighter at that comment  "Shit! I forgot I could even re-apply! I guess since my bro got sick I've been too busy working my ass off to think about what I'm gonna do next" "What's up with that? Do you work alone or something?" Rumble huffed "Yep, my brother couldn't work so I had to find a job that paid enough to support us both and pay for his meds. Rainbow Dash hooked me up with the head of the Manehattan weather service so I've been bucking clouds ever since. My bro's good now though" Ah Rainbowdash, she was the coolest and most amazingly epic pony in Equestria... Or at least that's what Scootaloo always said.

"So what are ya doing now?" I just shrugged "I'm not really. I got laid off a little while back so right now I've got nothing better to do than sit on my ass" He seemed taken aback by that comment "Really? Weren't you doing game design or something?"

"In college yes, I got my grades and left. Now I'm just floating in the ether." Suddenly he stopped dead in his tracks "What is it?" "SHIT I left my bucking stove on! sorry bro I gotta go!" And without a word he vanished in the opposite direction.

A few minutes later I ended up back at the game store I was in just the day before. Going up to the counter I looked at the collection of controllers they had on offer. As I was browsing a chubby looking stallion came up to me "Hey, weren't you in here yesterday?" I found it weird that someone would notice that but I thought I may as well play ball for now "Yes why? Do I know you?" He just looked at me skeptically raising an eyebrow "No. I was just wondering why you were here again" I sighed "Well long story I crushed my controller" For some reason he seemed to find that extremely funny "Haha what a doofus" Now I was getting annoyed "Buck off dude".

Going back to browsing I saw a nice looking model which seemed pretty cheap, seeing a pretty good deal I got what I'd came for and went on my way. Heading home I felt a few small drops of rain hitting off my muzzle, looking up I noticed that the sky had again turned a sickly black "Luna must be pissed". As the rain picked up so did I, now galloping down the path I tried to get home before the downpour inevitably came down on me.

As I turned a corner I saw a distinctly purple and pink mane flash into view only a few inches from my face, before I could slow down however, we were sprawled out on the ground and blood was pouring from my nose. Getting to my hooves I brushed myself off before helping Sweetie belle back up. Groaning she spat "I know you Mr. Button but you can't just go running into a lady, it's quite uncouth" Still dizzy from the horn I'd just had rammed into my face I didn't really know how to respond to such an accusation so instead, I did what I always did when this shit happened to me... Nothing "What? I wasn't-" She just shoved her hoof in my mouth. Snickering to herself she wiped her hoof off on my coat "Come on you big doof, let's get you home" Huffing I screamed, "Why is everypony calling me that?!"