//------------------------------//
// Chapter 1 
// Story: ButtonBall 
// by linkman443 
//------------------------------//

It was a crisp morning in Ponyville. The sun was shining, the air was warm, in the distance you can see a gray mare enjoying a muffin. On one side of the village you could see a colt named Button Mash hurriedly swallowing down a piece of toast while galloping his way towards school.

"Darn, I finally catch Humantai on Ponymon and it was time for school. Such cruel irony." He thought while finishing his toast. On his way he hurried through the morning hustle and bustle of Ponyville. The young colt knew if he was late for school again his mother would take away his video games for sure. When he was only a few feet away from the school the bell began to ring. He galloped as fast as his little hooves could carry him. When he was just up the stairs he did a slow motion jump and with a just barely made it through the doorway in time. "Phew, that was closer than beating the running mares time in The Ocarina of Time." He picked himself up and took his seat.

Waiting for class to begin, he watched he classmates. Near him he could see Peppermint Twist talking with Truffle Shuffle about various types of candy. In the front of the classroom was Sweetie Belle talking with Apple Bloom convincing Apple Bloom to let him join the CMC and blushing every time his name came up. In the back row there's Scootaloo talking with Rumble about flying, but mostly how awesome Rainbow Dash is. Button paid no attention to any of them but sat up straight when Ms. Cherilee walked into the room.

"Alright, settle down class" Cherilee said as the classroom faced forwards and looked ahead. "Before we jump into our lessons on Equestrian history I would like to introduce you all to a new student." Cherilee made a gesture to the door and a small filly no more than Button Mash's age walked. She had a pink coat with a lavender mane and tail with white, swirly highlights. Her cutie mark was a screw with a baseball next to it. She wore a propeller hat similar to Button’s, but it spun on its own. But the feature that really stuck out to everypony was her eyes. The filly’s eyes had swirls of violet and lavender not making up the color, but replacing her irises and pupils. The young foals were… a bit weirded out by her appearance. Button Mash, his head filled with the strange and fantastic characters of his video games, thought nothing of it.

The new girl stepped in front of the class and introduced herself in a smooth, yet chilling voice.

"Hi everypony, my name is Screwball. My mom and i just transferred from Canterlot and my special talent i- "

"Is what?” Interrupted Diamond Tiara “Being the biggest liar in all of Equestria! You're an earth pony! How could you live in Canterlot?"

"Diamond Tiara! That is enough!” Exclaimed Cherilee, indignant at the impoliteness of her student. Diamond continued "And what's with your eyes? Those are the fakest lenses I have ever seen!”

"That is it Diamond, you have earned yourself a detention." Cherilee said. Screwball ignored that and continued. "No, my special talent is being an idea pony! I can amke even the craziest ideas work."

Miss Cherilee looked at Diamond Tiara with a mixture of anger and disappointment, silently promising discipline.

"Alright Screwball, you can sit next to, hmm... Button Mash."

All the fillies looked on with jealous faces, and the colts looked at Button with sly smiles. As Screwball took her seat next to Button Mash, she tried to draw his attention to say hi but all he did was wave and mouth the word "hi " back.

All in all, it was a very normal first day for Screwball. Button just had a regular school day while Screwball got to know everypony. Once the day ended he decided to do his homework near the school because there were too many distractions at home. He overheard some faint crying near the playground and went to see who was so sad. Believe it or not, the despairing pony was Screwball. He slowly approached the sobbing filly.

"Hey, whats wrong?" Button asked.

Screwball wiped her tears and said "Why are ponies so mean to me? All i want is to be everypony's friend, and nopony will even acknowledge me."

Button thought of something that his mom had told him when he was feeling the same way. "Let me tell you something Screwball. You can't expect to be somepony's friend right away. You need to earn their trust and respect first."

Screwball slowly stopped crying, and soon was only sniffling.

"But what about that one girl that made fun of me?"

"Who, Diamond Tiara? Just ignore her, she thinks she can treat anyone like dirt just because her father is rich." Button said, irritated just at the thought of her. "If it makes you feel any better, I'll be your friend." Button said sincerely.

"Really?!" Screwball said surprised

"Of course," Button said.

Button decided to walk his new friend Screwball home, and they stopped at the front entrance.

"I'll see you tomorrow then." Button said as he waved goodbye.

Screwball trotted back to Button Mash and gave him a tight hug filled with something Button couldn't quite understand.

Button wasn’t sure why his cheeks were reddening slightly as he walked home, but he put it out of his mind as his mother greeted him with the usual.

“Anything interesting happen at school today, Button?”

"Well I made friends with the new girl." Button replied.

Meanwhile, at Screwball's house, her mother Screw Loose greeted her daughter with the usual

"RUFF RUFF RUFFF RUFF?"

Screwball knew from experience that this was supposed to mean “How was your day sweetie?”

Screwball yelled in delight "Oh mommy I'm in LOVE!!!"

“RUFF? RUFF RUFF RUFF RUFF RUFF RUFF.” (What? Sweetie, you know how your father feels about puppy love.)

Screwball shot back "Well he isn't here, so I don't care. Can you help me win him over mom, pleeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaassssssssse?"

“...RUFF RUFF.” (…As long as your father and I approve of him.)

Screwball's joyous shout of one word shook the rafters.

“YAAAAYYYYY!!”