6 days before the Dance: Game boy.
It's almost summer. And the Ponyville's middle school has been busy. For the first time, they hold the Summer Dance, to wrap up the school year and to celebrate summer. But to some fillies, it is more than that. They'll get to wear beautiful dresses, be escorted by a gentlecolt, and will step a hoof further to becoming a lady. At least, that's how Sweetie Belle sees the Dance.
Sweetie is at the cafeteria with the CMCs having her lunch, talking about how great the dance is going to be. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo are excited too, but Sweetie Belle is the one who is excited the most, especially when she has gotten her date to the dance, her new coltfriend, or drakefriend, Spike.
"I wonder if they allow someone who wasn't from the school to go to the Dance? I hope they do, I don't want to go with anypony else." Sweetie says.
"Don't worry. Spike is the assistant of the Princess of Friendship, hero of Crystal Empire and the ambassador of the dragon. Even if kids from outside the school are not allowed to the dance, Ah'm sure they would love to have him at the dance." Says Apple Bloom.
"Beside, Spike is cool. I'm sure he'll get in." Scootaoo says, "What I question is: How did you get a dragon to be your coltfriend?"
"Shouldn't it be 'drakefriend'?" Apple Boom says.
"Tomato tomahto..." Scootaoo says.
"Spike is sweet." Sweetie says, "He's the nicest boy I've met. I don't have to act around him. He likes me the way I am." She blushes a little bit.
Apple Bloom and Scootaloo response with an "Awwww...."
"What about you guys?" Sweetie asks, "Have you two had a partner to the dance yet?"
"Weeeeell, I'm waiting for Tender to ask me." Apple Bloom blushes, "Ah always caught him sneaking up on me with a flower. But then he kept running away. You have to see his face." She chuckles, "He was terrified."
They all giggle. But when Scootaloo sees a frozen Button Mash behind Sweetie Belle. She says:
"Hey, was Tender Tap like that?" She points at Button, who is now seems to just got his brain to work again. He shakes his head and sees the CMC. He freaks out and runs away.
"Hmmm, stand still like a statue, have a flower in his hoof, suddenly freak out and run away,..." Apple Bloom says, "He was just like Button Mash there." She turns to Sweetie Belle, "Hey, maybe he was about to ask you out."
Sweetie feels a little bit sorry for Button Mash: "Do you think he heard what I said about me and Spike? Maybe that's why he ran away?"
"Nah, he probably panicked and chickened out." Scootaloo says, "Boys. Am I right?"
"Ah don't know. Maybe he did hear what you said, Sweetie." Apple Bloom says, "Ah think you should go talk to him."
"Yeah, maybe I should." Sweetie says...
After school, when everypony is getting ready to go home, Sweetie Belle approaches Button Mash, who is sitting at his own table, looking down at his notebook, drawing something.
"Hey Button!" She calls.
Button startles. He hides his notebook away.
"Oh hey, Sweetie Belle!" He smiles nervously.
"What were you doing at my table at lunch?" She asks.
"I... Uhm... I... was..."
His sweats start to fall from his forehead. Sweetie feels like that moment when she said she liked Spike, the same tension.
Taking all of his breath, Button Mash holds Sweetie Belle's hoof and bursts out of words:
"Sweetie Belle I like you and I want to take you to the dance and I'm way better than that purple dragon I want to get to know you more and be more than just a friend I can be the coltfriend you dream of I want you to be happy but be happy with me I want to be the one who walks with you to the dance and have the best night of our life even though we might grow old and ugly and grumpy but I'll still always be there for you till death separates us but we're not 85 yet we're just 12-year-old kids trying to understand love so please give me chance and please please please please please PLEASE go with me to the dance!" He gasps, catching his breath.
Sweetie is frozen. She can't decide what to say to him. She now understands how Spike felt when she confessed to him. But this time, it's a different story. She gets her fore hoofs out of his and sigh:
"I'm sorry Button Mash. You're such a sweet guy, but I'm already with Spike."
"You don't understand love." Button Mash angrily says, tears fall from his eyes, "I will show you my love. And you will see how true it is." He runs out the door. His notebook falls down from his table, reveals what he was drawing: Him dressed sa a knight with Spike's head on his hoof and Sweetie next to him, looking all impressed.
"Oh no." Sweetie starts to get worried. She runs out of the class...
At the smoothie shop, Spike is sitting and waiting for his new fillyfriend. Even though he knows she's late, he still puts on a smile, patiently waiting for her. Then from afar, comes running a worried Sweetie Belle. As she reaches their table, she tries to catch some breath.
"Woah, what's the rush?" Spike says, "I wouldn't mind if you're late, you know."
"Sorry. I just want to make sure that you're still fine." Sweetie says.
"Why would I be not fine?" Spike gets confused, "It's not like somepony wants to kill me or something."
"No no no, nopony's gonna kill ya." Sweetie suspiciously smiles.
"Is something wrong?" Spike asks as he gets worried, "If there's anything bothering you, you can tell me."
"Nothing! There's absolutely nothing wrong at all. I'm just so excited for the Summer Dance that I get nervous."
"Don't worry." He reaches for her hoof, "It's just a dance. You will look absolutely stunning. If anything, I should be the one who is nervous. I'm not from the school and will pretty sure be the only dragon there. But I know you will be there and tell me everything is A-Ok."
"Awww... You are the sweetest thing ever." Sweetie says.
Suddenly, a third voice interrupts their conversation: "There you are, Spike the Dragon!"
They turn around to see Button Mash in a hand-made knight's armor with cardboard helmet, wooden sword and a trash can's lid as a shield.
"You shall participate in a duel against me for the lady to see who is truly worthy." He says.
"Button, please don't do this." Sweetie says.
Spike can't get anymore confused. "I need some explanation." He says.
"You have taken away my chance with true love. But now, I shall fight my heart out to get it back." Button says.
"Wait, are you trying to steal my girlfriend? And trying to look heroic while doing it?" Spike asks.
"Please Spike, let me talk to him." Sweetie says.
"No no, no need for that. He won't get you." Spike stands up and walks toward Button, his face gets more and more serious. "Ok, we'll do this. I'll need my armor and weapon."
"You don't need weapons and armory. You have your claws and your scale. Be a dragon." Button says.
"But it wouldn't be a duel." Spike says.
"No, it wouldn't. Because I'm gonna slay your head." Button charges at Spike.
"Wait..." Spike was cut off as Button swing his sword. Spike dodges blade after blade. But Button doesn't slow down. He swings faster and faster, harder and harder. Spike doesn't want to fight back. Like Button said,he has his claws. And his claws is sharp. He doesn't want to hurt his opponent, not for real. But Spike knows this is not a game. Button really wants to hurt him. Spike can see Button's eyes raging, there are flames in there. Even hotter than those Spike breathes out.
"Wait, Button. Stop!" Spike says, "This is not a joke. We might get hurt."
"No matter. All in the name of love." Button says as he swing his sword even harder.
"Guys, stop. This is stupid." Sweetie says as she gets worried.
"I'm trying." Spike says. "But it's hard to do just that when somepony just keep trying to chop off your head with a wooden sword."
"I shall never stop as long as the holy light testifies my heart and my desire." Button yells, "And if I die, it shall bring me back to life."
"I don't know what you're talking about." Spike yells back.
Just in that moment, Button gives him a swing across his eyes. Spike falls down, holding his left eye.
"SPIKE!!!" Sweetie runs at him and check if he's ok.
"Yes... finally..." Button huffs, "I have defeated my opponent. Now, to claim my prize..."
Sweetie cannot be any madder, she turns around and stares at Button, yelling:
"What's wrong with you? I'm not a prize. And you don't just hurt somepony like that and be proud of it. He didn't do anything to you. What, you think this is some sort of story where you're a heroic knight fighting others to get the princess? Well, I'm not a princess and you're not a heroic knight.In fact, you're more of a bad guy."
Button is speechless. He thought he was doing what's right. At least, what's right for him. He turns his head down, turns around and starts walking away. As for Sweetie, she turns to Spike, who just managed to sit up.
"I guess I should've let you talk to him." He says.
"You boys are extremely stupid. I wouldn't be surprised if you jump into lava."
"Not like lava's gonna hurt me or something. But I feel bad for Button, tho. He must really likes you to hate me that much."
"Let's just take care of that bruise on your face." Sweetie gets worried, "I hope it will go away before the Dance."
"Hey, scars make men look hot." Spike smirks.
"It's not a scar, it's a bruise, and don't make me give you another one." Sweetie looks intimidating.
"Ok, fine. Let's take care of this." Spike stands up and starts walking back to the castle with Sweetie, leaving the smoothie shop with all the guesses who have been watching everything now looking at each other, wondering what just happened. One of the guesses says: "Did we just witness child violent, children break down and a love story?"
Back at the castle, Twilight just heard from Sweetie and Spike about what happened to her number 1 assistant, and now she is freaking out:
"Oh my Celestia! How could you two let that happen?"
"Well, Spike was being an idiot. And so was Button. And you know what happens when two idiots meet: They do something stupid." Sweetie says.
Spike rolls his eyes: "Sure, I'm stupid. I'm the idiot. Laugh at me!" He crosses his arms.
Sweetie feels sorry for Spike. Like Button, he was just trying to prove his love. If somepony tried to take his girlfriend, of course he had to do something. He just didn't expect Button to play dirty on him and fight him when he's in a disadvantage. She giggles a little bit.
"Yeah, you're an idiot. But you're my idiot." She hugs him and give him a kiss on his bruise. "Get well soon. I need to go home now." She says as she walks toward the door.
"Bye, Sweetie Belle." Twilight waves goodbye. She turns to Spike and says: "You know, you're very lucky."
"Why? I got a bruise on my head." He replies.
"Because you're an idiot." Twilight smiles.
...
Author's Note
It took me longer than I had expected to finish this chapter. But I'm pleased that I'm finally done with it.
A tease for the next chapter: It has Shinning Armor in it.
Also, there's a song in this chapter if you didn't know.
