Button Mash Game Over Headcanon

I'm sure you all remember the music video Jan Animations made as an official send off to Button Mash cause the whole legal issues with Hasbro?

I had been struggling to find a context for this video because, well, let's face it, we all love the little gamer and I'd hate to have his story end with him just running away from home. I was trying to come up with a story to go along with the video to give Button a more hopeful ending but then, I went back and read a fanfic and I found the perfect solution.

My headcanon that it takes place in the Rumors arc of the Pony POV Series Finale.

For anyone not familiar with it, Discord's cousin Nyralethotrot (yes, the Crawling Chaos himself) and a Nightmare version of Diamond Tiara have resurrected Gabby Gums with a magic press that makes any story it prints real. It ends up turning Equestria into chaos where every rumor, lie, and even the fandom's own theories and character ticks are made reality, and all the Mane 6 are turned into their villainous selves from GrimDark fanfics like Cupcakes and Rainbow Factory. And that leaves the Cutie Mark Crusaders to save the world, along with Button Mash, who is also affected by the rumors to become the colt we all know from Jan's videos. And eventually, Button realizes that if they stop the evil plan and save the world, this version of him who went on this adventure and has a crush on Sweetie Belle will cease to exist. He doesn't want to effectively "die", and tries to talk Applebloom into letting things stay as they are, but he realizes that if they do, ponies everywhere will suffer. So, Button helps the Crusaders fight Nightmare Diamond Tiara and reboot the universe, undoing all the crazy reality warping the Gabbie Gums project did. It erases Button's memories, but the deities of the Pony POV universe give him his memories back and he gets to live on as a combination of the canon show Button Mash and the fanon Button Mash.

So, here's where the Game Over video fits in. The song is Button singing a heart song (the usual random musical numbers that pop up in the cartoon) soliloquy style when he's away from the Crusaders. The lyrics even fit the situation.

Except it's split into parts. The first song is just as he leaves with the Crusaders to fix the world. All heroic sounding and ready for adventure.

Dear, big brother. I'm leaving home.
Please tell mom, it's not her fault. I've got to go!
There's a voice that's calling; but I see you in every starry sky.

The thought of you right by my side. Always mine.
Don't worry, you taught me everything.
I'll be so brave. I'm still your little boy.
I'm just trying to find my way through the dark; but I'm out of time.
Now is my chance to fly!

Then there's the second part right after he realizes that this version of him will cease to exist if they save the world. At first he's angsting about how he's not real and he wants to stay alive even in a made up world like he says when he tries to make Applebloom stop.

Through the lonely nights and rainy days
My love for you will never fade
But we're so far away
It's not the same

So when I don't come back tonight
Well please just know that I'm alright
Always waiting on answers that never see the light

And all my heart, don't cry
We can paint a pretty picture
We can say it's all pretend
What a stupid wish
I can't fight on, I lied

And mid lyric, he gets the resolve to help his friends and save the world even if it costs him his life. He's steeling himself to make his last stand and consoles himself that there will still be a Button Mash there for his family when the world reboots, even if it's not the same version he is.

I wanna live in this dream forever
Even if it's just a moment
You were always worth it

Oh please mom, I tried
But I guess this is game over
I guess this is where it ends
Doesn't mean I'm gone

I'm still there by your side
So if this is our game over
I can't wait to see you soon
My Dreams are always you

And as I mentioned, this version of him ultimately gets to live, so takes some of the bitter out of the bittersweet of Game Over. Plus, instead of just running away, he's facing down what he believes is his last stand to save his friends and the world, so he gets to go out on a more heroic note.

Besides, where's the fun in being part of a fandom if you can't headcanon things like this?

Comments

[Ardashir]

It's a fine way of inserting the song into the Pony POV 'verse.

[Alex Warlorn]

*hugs* Copyright laws are grown increasingly corrupt.