School went by quickly, but the whole time Button was just a sad-sack and almost got a lecture from Cheerilee about not paying attention. It was only by Twinken and Sweetie Belle coming to his rescue he was spared.
Once class was over, all of Button’s friends walked with him outside, partly as a way to discourage Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon from picking on him again.
“So you and your mom got a letter from your dad and the royal guard, saying your dad and brother can’t come home this weekend?” Sweetie Belle gathered.
“That’s pretty much it,” moped Button.
“Well, why don’cha come on down t’ th’ farm and we’ll have apple pie!” Apple Bloom suggested.
“Mah Granny Smith’s pie always helps cheer me up when Ah’m down in th’ dumps.”
“Alright…” Button consented, sounding like he really didn’t care.
By the time they got to the farm, they noticed Big Mac and Midnight were sitting on the porch, taking a break from the chores, when the two stallions noticed the approaching kids.
“Hey everypony, how was school today?” Midnight asked.
“Hi Midnight,” Sweetie Belle replied as they came up. “Is Granny Smith here?”
“Eeyup,” Big Mac answered, gesturing towards the front door of the house.
“We was hopin’ she or Applejack would make an apple pie fer Button,” Apple Bloom brought up, and the two stallions noticed the gloomy-gus certainly looked like he could use something to cheer him up.
“Well, Granny Smith’s taking a nap,” Midnight explained, “and Applejack went into town for a couple errands.”
“Aww!” the kids all groaned, and Midnight gestured to Twinken that he wanted a word.
“…so we wanna try and cheer Button up,” Twinken had just gone explaining Button’s sadness, and Midnight nodded in understanding.
Midnight recalled being in a similar boat as Button, from another life, when, as a child, he’d been looking forward to spending time with his dad but he had canceled on him. It was the first time Midnight had begun to realize the good-for-nothing bum his father had been. He quickly put it out of his bed because that wasn’t his life anymore, and considered the current problem. Button Mash had been looking forward to spending time with his whole family but his father and brother had gotten their attentions shifted elsewhere. He would need some help and some insight here.
“Ya wan’ me t’ do what?” Big Mac asked.
“Try and cheer up Button,” Midnight repeated. “The little guy got his hopes up and then disappointed big time because his father and brother canceled on him and his mother for the weekend. I’d like to speak to his mom for some insight but I also need somepony older to look out for him for the moment, plus we don’t want the kids causing trouble on the farm. Not after…” – Midnight shuddered – “the hayseed incident.”
Big Mac shuddered as well, the memory of that event making his rear end sore just thinking about it.
“Ah see yer point. Well, Ah’ll see wha’ Ah can do. Go on ahead.”
Midnight nodded gratefully and was gone in a literal flash.
*Knock-knock-knock*
Love Tap opened her door and saw, “Midnight, what a surprise! What can I do for you?”
“Hello Love Tap, do you mind if I come in?”
In a few moments, Love Tap was pouring lemonade for Midnight as she sighed, “I was afraid of this… Button was really looking forward to this weekend, it was supposed to be the four of us spending the whole day and tomorrow together. I’ll tell you, Midnight, it’s not easy being married to a programmer, who is often required to travel, or for your oldest being in the Royal Guard.”
“I’ve had my share of familial disappoints,” Midnight nodded as he sipped his tea. “But I’m confident my brother Mac will be able to lift Button’s spirits; if even a little.”
“I hope so,” Love Tap worried. “After I managed to calm him down, I offered to buy him a new game after school, but he said he didn’t want one! But I’m glad his friends are there for him. Goddess, I’m glad he’s made friends at all!”
“Whattya mean?”
“Well, before we moved to Ponyville, Button was always shy and awkward around other ponies,” Love Tap explained. “It was part of the reason why he got into video games, he found them to be preferable to spending time with other ponies. But then he met Sweetie Belle and she managed to get him to come out of his shell! I was even more happy to hear he’d befriended Rumble and your brother Twinken, to hear he had real friends instead of avatars and NPCs to interact with.”
“Well, from how disappointed I saw him look,” Midnight brought up, “I guess he’s pretty close with his dad and brother?”
“My husband was the one who introduced Button to games to begin with,” Love Tap clarified. “As for my oldest, he and Button played so much together when they were younger. But once he was old enough, my son signed on to join the Royal Guard. Button was really sad to see his big brother go but he’s proud of him, and considers him a hero.”
Midnight nodded as it became clearer.
“Honestly, I was quite disappointed myself when we got those letters,” Love Tap said sadly, a tear trailing down her cheek. “I can’t be angry with my husband or my son for being dedicated to their jobs, but there have been times I felt like they weren’t trying hard enough to make time for their family.”
Midnight levitated a napkin to her, and she took it gratefully to wipe her cheek.
“Well, don’t worry Love Tap. We’ll do everything we can to cheer up Button Mash, hay we’ll even try and give him a weekend to remember!”
“Thank you, Midnight,” Love Tap replied with a grateful smile.
Midnight started walking home rather than teleporting so as to use the time to think up a weekend such as the one he promised Love Tap to give her son.
“Hmm, what to do, what to do… Ergh, think Midnight, think! It’s not as though a solution is just gonna fall out of the sky!”
“Twitchy-tail!”
Midnight’s ears perked and he saw Pinkie nearby, her tail a-twitchin’, and everypony a clearin’ out. Remembering the infallible Pinkie Sense, he cringed in realization and was about to run off when…
“Look out!”
“Huh?!” Midnight looked up and- “OOF!”
Rainbow Dash sat up, rubbing the daze out of her head when she felt whatever she’d landed on move beneath her. She looked down and her pupils narrowed to pinpricks at the stink-eye Midnight was giving her.
“Heh-heh, `scuse me?” Rainbow Dash chuckled awkwardly as she got off Midnight, and he groaned as he stood up.
“I’m not even going to ask,” he muttered but then noticed Rainbow had some saddlebags on and a flyer fluttered down in front of his face. Taking it in his aura, he read ‘Brohoof Brodown: Hosted by Ponyville Weather Team Co-Captain Thunderlane, come and have a blast with your brother in this bash of brotherhood’. Midnight’s brow rose and a plan started formulating in his mind.
“Rainbow Dash! You just gave me an idea!”
He galloped off, leaving a bewildered Rainbow Dash, confused by his statement and the lack of yelling.