//------------------------------//
// Before Innocence 
// Story: Innocence, Equestria 
// by Quantum Trip 
//------------------------------//

Button Mash's jaw dropped wide open.

"What? That... WHAT?! Mom, ugh, that—it's just so gross!" said the little colt, recoiling against the wall in horror.

Love Tap smiled and suppressed a giggle. "It's perfectly natural, dear. That's just the way it works." She continued doing the dishes.

"But... you didn't do that with Dad, did you?"

"Well, you're here asking me that. So that should answer your question."

"Oh, oh, barf. Barf. BARF!" said Button, making a gagging gesture with his muzzle. "Mom, I'm really, super-seriously going to be sick."

Button's Mom sighed. "I should have discussed this with you sooner, Button. I heard some of the misinformation you were getting from your friends, and I knew it couldn't wait any longer," she replied. "But I kept putting it off because I knew you would react like this."

Button immediately felt ashamed. "I'm s-sorry," he said, and stood upright. "It's just super nasty, and I'm trying not to think about it."

Shrugging, Love Tap nodded. "It's okay. You're right. It is nasty, in a way. But it's also beautiful. When you're older, you'll understand."

"Uh, no. I'm not going to change my opinion, Mom. It's gross. Why would I change my mind? That doesn't make sense. You're not making any sense." One of Button's hooves nervously fidgeted against the floor.

"Well, when you grow older you'll start to have... special feelings inside of you. These feelings can be very strong," she explained. "You need to be prepared for them, because if you're not ready the feelings can overpower you."

"I don't care how strong they are, I am never doing that!" he said. "I'm not even... I'm not even touching it. I know that's what older boys do. That whole belly-slapping thing. I never will, it's just sick."

"Never say never, Button," cautioned Love Tap.

"I hate it when adults tell me I'm going do stuff I'll never do! You can't make me!" he screamed.

"Wait—" called his mother, but Button Mash turn and ran. He galloped into his room and slammed the door behind him, feeling a queasy sensation overflowing his stomach.

It was horrible, he thought. Even the simple idea of it was horrible. She had to be lying. But somehow he knew it was true. Instinctively, deep down inside, he just knew. Because there was something even more horrible, something he couldn't run away or hide from, not even in the sanctity of his own room. A piece of that queasiness was causing adrenaline to flood his body. Briefly thinking about Sweetie Belle was making it much worse.

"No," he said, and closed his eyes tight, willing the heat in his veins to ice. I can't let this happen to me, he thought.

The adults were wrong. He would never, ever, ever give in. He would never touch it, and he would never do anything with it with another pony. 

That didn't mean he didn't want a fillyfriend. He still liked Sweetie Belle. Special someponies were fine. Holding hooves was fine. Normal kisses were fine. But that was the line. Anything beyond that...

"I'll never be a monster," he whispered as he leaned his back against the wall and slowly slid down to the floor. "I won't."

Button Mash sat rocking on his haunches and cried very softly, lest his mother hear.





"You're leaving?" gasped Sweetie Belle.

Button frowned and nodded. "Yeah. They're gonna pay for a new house for us and everything. It's more of a cabin than a house, though," he said.

"Is... is that Role pony going to be your special somepony now?" asked Sweetie, her eyes downcast.

"What? No! Look, Sweetie Belle, she's just a quillpal. I mean, she's the reason they're letting us move there, but it isn't like that. I still really like you. I... Maybe someday we could be, um..." he said, nervously rubbing the back of his neck with a hoof. "Did you hear the part where I said I like you?"

Sweetie Belle sniffled and wiped away a tear. "It's okay if she is. I just can't believe I'm never going to see you again!"

"You'll see me again plenty! We'll visit Ponyville a lot. You can visit us too!" said Button, his voice excited but quivering with nervousness. "Role's really close to Upendo. I'll bet she can convince him to let you come visit—she says she can convince adults to do pretty much anything. You could even move there someday."

"That... might work, actually," said Sweetie Belle, her eyes brightening. "I mean, my parents made a bunch of money, and Rarity helped them out a lot, and they're looking to retire early. Do you really think you could get permission? I never heard of a gated village in the middle of a forest before."

"Me neither, but it's not really gated. Not physically, I mean. They're just super careful about who can visit. I've been quillpals with Role for almost a year. They started getting paranoid or something a few months ago," he said. "But she had no problem getting me permission, so I'm sure they'll let you move there if I ask nice."

"Maybe. Just... promise to write me, at least?" asked Sweetie Belle. "I don't want you to forget me!"

Button hugged her tight to his chest. "I'll never forget you," he said. "And I won't have to, because I'm going to get you to Innocence with me no matter what it takes."