//------------------------------// // 14: After Math of The Rivalry // Story: Button Mash and Sweetie Belle Love // by Masked_Frenchman //------------------------------// Sweetie Belle sat in a chair in Rarity’s living room, her head hung low and her ears dropped down. Rarity and Button’s mom were talking at the front door. She looked back to try to catch a glance of them but couldn’t see anything. She knew she was in trouble, how could she not be after what her and her friends had done. Tears formed into her eyes and one fell down onto the floor. She could remember it all as if it was still happening. “Thank you for bringing her, I will talk to her, and I am so so sorry for everything,” Rarity said calmly and elegantly as usual. Sweetie Belle could tell she was trying to hide her anger though, she was almost perfect at that. After a couple mumbled comments here and there, she heard the door close. She gulped as she heard a set of hoof steps come closer and closer to her. Rarity turned the corner and glared at her. “So, do you mind telling me exactly what happened while you were over at Button Mash’s house?” Thunder sounded off, flashing a bright light through the room before fading away. Sweetie Belle looked up from her seat with dread and regret reeking from her face. “I didn’t mean to. . . I was only. . . trying to help,” Rarity sighed annoyed, shaking her head where she stood. She took a couple extra steps towards her little sister and looked her in the eyes. “Tell me what happened. Tell me everything darling,” Sweetie Belle gulped down her hesitation and fear and nodded, taking a deep breath in and let it out slowly. “Ok. . . . Well. . . I guess I should start off from when we were trying to help him. . .” * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Button Mash laid in his bed, grunting and moaning in pain and agony. He held his stomach and curled up in a ball under the blankets. Cheat Code leaned against the wall next to his bed, his eyes closed. “So let me get this straight. . . The little earth pony started flirting with you, they gave you medicine that they said we make you feel good as new, and Sweetie Belle and Applebloom tried to feed you blazing hot poison from a Lucifer poison recipe, dumping it all over you, but before that they gave you the medicine, that tasted like the sweat of a thousand warriors, that made your stomach feel like it’s ripping itself apart, even after puking twelve times, did I miss anything?” Button Mash groaned louder in response, making Cheat Code nod his head. “It hurts! It hurts so bad!” Cheat Code opened his eyes and looked over towards him. “I checked everything they made, and Sweetie Belle almost got it right. If she didn’t add the blue cheese and chocolate it might have been healthy for you. Your tiny winged filly friend was way off! If she properly looked she would have seen the medications she used had side effects that were amplified due to the combination she used. I can tell they were only trying to help, which was a complete disaster,” He pushed off the wall and got back on all four, looking over at him. He looked away, as if he was trying to not say something. Button Mash noticed this with squinted eyes. “Where. . . were you?” Cheat Code looked back surprised and chuckled a bit. He shook his head and looked out the window. “Well. . . . ummm. . . I kinda met up with an old friend. . .actually. . . “ * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * “It looks like rain” Cheat Code whispered to himself as he watched the weather team assemble. It looked like they were still coordinating how they were gonna start the rain. He never understood that whole ordeal, nor did he really care. He looked back down where Pinkie Pie once stood and sighed. “Pinkie. . . I hate you so much sometimes. . . and yet. . . “ A smile spread across his face as he burst into run. “Damn you. . . damn you. . . damn you!!” He chanted with a smile. He ran down the roads, making a turn here and there. Damn you! You know me way too well! You knew that I would take up on your offer, didn’t you? Sweet Celestia I hate you, and yet I love you so much! Cheat Code Found the Sugar Cube Corner with ease and opened the door. The bell above it chimed in, letting everyone know that someone had walked in. Pinkie Pie was bent over behind the counter, grabbing something out of his sight. “Just a second! I will be right with you!” Cheat Code smile playfully, quietly walking up to her. Luckily no one else was in the store, or else his stalking might have looked strange. He walked up to the counter and was about to scare her. He lifted up and was about to bang on the counter but then Pinkie Pie straightened up and had a cupcake in her hoof, putting it in front of him. “Here you go!” Cheat Code froze in his stance, half way from his rising position. He settled back down back on all fours and looked at her surprised, looking down at the cupcake and back up at her. “How did you know that it was me?” Cheat Code asked confused, raising an eyebrow and tilting his head slightly to the left. Pinkie Pie giggled a little, her eyes closed and her bright, cheerful smile plastered on her face. “Oh. . . just a hunch, but I am really glad you decided to come,” Cheat Code shook his head, straightening his head with a smile. “You are always two steps ahead of me,” He looked around the empty bakery. “Place seems kinda dead, don’t you think? Where is everyone? I thought this was one of the best places to go,” “It’s the scheduled rain. It’s starting soon and no pony really wants to be caught up in that, silly!” Cheat Code laughed softly, taking the cupcake. “Well, thanks for inviting me, but I guess you saw that coming, huh?” Pinkie Pie shook her head, jumping around the corner and into the kitchen. “To be honest no. I mean, I had a feeling, but I also thought you would just turn around. I mean, you aren’t as predictable as you think. Just when I think you are gonna turn left, you turn right. When I think you’re going down, you go up. When I think you’re going out-” She came back around with a tray and placed it down gently onto the counter. Freshly made cookies laid in front of him, steam still rising from them. He examined them more closely, the scent was familiar. They were his favorite, peanut butter cookies with butterscotch chips. He looked up surprised and she smiled innocently, taking a step closer to him from behind the counter. “-you come in!” Cheat Code looked deep into her eyes, confused but yet relaxed. She had a funny way of making him drop his guard and melt away. His face turned beat red and he chuckled nervously. “Yeah, you know. . . sometimes I do that I guess. I come in now and then. . . . Wait, no! I mean like. . . uhh, like theoretically, not like. . . . oh Celestia!” Pinkie Pie started laughing, her joyful laughter making his blush even darker. She flicked the tray with her tail and slid it onto her back and jumped around the counter, heading for the nearest table. “Well come on, silly. These yummy sweets aren’t going to eat themselves, you know!” She playfully stuck her tongue out at him, still smiling. He chuckled and walked over with his cupcake, sitting down across from her as she sat down. “You’re still the same as always, Pinkie Pie. Always cheerful, always smiling, always in a good mood,” Pinkie Pie giggled a bit, her tail flickering around excitedly. “I can’t believe you remember my favorite kind of cookies! I mean I only told you once!” “Yeah but I remember everything about everyone. Especially the ones I really care about!” Pinkie Pie explained quickly and kindly. Cheat Code smiled up at her and bit into the cupcake, chewing with a smile. “You are something, you know that?” He laughed openly, forgetting he had food in his mouth. Pinkie Pie laughed with him, seeing the unswallowed food. He soon realized that he had food in his mouth and quickly shut his mouth to swallow it. “I miss this,” Pinkie Pie said suddenly. Cheat Code put the cupcake down and sighed, knowing what was going to happen next. “Yes, I know. Me too,” “Then why not pick up where we left off?” “Pinkie, you have to understand, it’s just not possible,” “Why not?” Pinkie Pie asked innocently, her smile fading, turning into a face of regret and sadness. “Because it just wouldn’t work, that’s why I had to call it off,” “But we could make it work, I know we could. We could write letters to each other, send gifts, visit whenever you can. I could come visit you!” “Pinkie, please. I just can’t do it,” Pinkie Pie’s eyes started to water. “Why?” “Because I can’t stand being away from you!” Cheat Code shouted out, surprising her. He clutched the table as if to keep himself steady. A tear fell from his eyes and hit the ground. Pinkie Pie looked into his eyes hurt. “I knew if I stayed with you, I would hate every day that I was from you. I knew that I would fall for you as deeply as I have if I tried to stay close to you!” Cheat Code opened his eyes wide with shock, realizing what he had just said. a blast of thunder could be heard outside as it started to rain. “Do you really mean that?” Pinkie Pie asked quietly, her smile coming back with warmth and love radiating from it, a tear rolled down her eyes. Cheat Code took a step back and spun around, running straight out the door. He could hear her calling for him but he would not go back, he had said too much and couldn’t stand to look her in the eyes. It started to rain but he couldn’t care less, he made a sharp turn to the left and ran as fast as he could. “Damn it all! How could I have said that?! Buck me! Buck buck buck buck!! I can’t believe I let my guard down!” He made another turn and saw Pinkie Pie standing there with an umbrella, looking over at him with a small smile. “Look, Cheat Code, it’s-” Cheat Code turned around and ran the other direction before she could finish that sentence. He ran at full speed, trying to get away. He ran across town through the emptied streets and in the now pouring rain. His mane messy and flinging around all over his face. He stopped at the park, panting and looking around. “Ok. . . I know I say this a lot but I think I lost her this time, no sign of her anywhere,” Cheat Code started to relax and leaned against a tree in the middle of the park. He felt a tap on the top of his head and looked up to see Pinkie Pie hanging upside down, her tail holding herself up. She still had that same smile aiming down at him. He started to run but only made it a few steps outside of the tree before he stopped. “Oh buck it! There’s no way to get away from you when you made it a priority to get some pony!” Cheat Code looked back at her completely soaked from head to hoof. He slowly turned back with a small smile of his own, looking into Pinkie Pie’s eyes. She let go of the branch her tail was holding and landed on all four. They stared at each other for a brief moment in silence, only the sound of the rain could be heard. With a hesitant first step, the pink party mare slowly started walking up to him. “Cheat Code, you don’t have to run from me, silly,” Cheat Code rolled his eyes at that. “Right, because it is actually possible to do so,” Pinkie Pie laughed a little at that. “Well, that’s true,” She stopped in front of him, allowing herself to get wet in the rain with him. She held her eyes locked with his, her eyes quivering as if to fight off the tears she refused to show. Cheat Code couldn’t look away, his amber eyes locked into her ocean blue eyes. Cheat Code brought a hoof to her cheek, gently grazing it. Pinkie Pie leaned against his hoof, still holding her gaze. He couldn’t help but smile down at her. He never could help himself, no matter what when ever he saw her smile like that, it makes him want to smile too. “I love you. . . Pinkie Pie,” Cheat Code whispered softly to her. Her smile grew warmer at the sound of those words, leaning towards him. Her mane soaking wet from the rain and dropped down, parts of it clinging to her face. “I love you too. . . . Cheat Code,” Pinkie Pie whispered back, a tear running down her face. Cheat Code wiped her face of her tear and tuckered her mane behind her ear. He leaned down to her, their lips closing in. He slowly closed his eyes and leaned down towards her, her eyes closing as well. They were mere inches away, the rain pouring down around them, lightning clashing against the skies. He broke the distance between them and gently pressed his lips on- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * “Cheat Code!” Button Mash called out. Cheat Code snapped out of it, noticing he was now looking outside the window at the rain. He turned back to his little brother a little embarrassed, smiling like a little foal. “I’m sorry, what’s up?” He asked innocently. Button Mash still could feel his stomach pain but tilted his head with curiosity. “You were telling me that you ran into an old friend and then you just went quiet and looked out the window like you were day dreaming or something,” Cheat Code blinked for a second and realized he was right. He stopped himself as he remembered the events which took place while he was gone. “Oh, sorry, I guess I spaced out a bit there. Yeah I met up with an old friend and we just kinda. . . . hung out,” “What did you guys do?” Cheat Code chuckled softly under his breath, his cheeks turning a faint shade of red. “Nothing really, just. . . hung out,” Button Mash looked at his breath with a confused look, waiting for his brother to explain further. “Don’t worry about it, it’s not important. Just tell me what happened today with you. You were at the part where Applebloom was hugging you, right?” “Oh, right. . . that was weird,” Cheat Code shook his head at that. Button Mash thought about it between waves of pain, feeling it die down a bit. “Well. . . after that I guess Scootaloo came in with the medicine. . .” * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * “Oh Button Mash, ah’m so sorry,” Applebloom leaned over and wrapped her hooves around him, trapping him in a warm, loving embrace. Button Mash was shocked by her sudden move but hugged her back, nuzzling her neck. He felt so warm inside. He felt an emotion he could never hope to describe, but it felt off. . . like something was missing. Button Mash pulled away slowly from Applebloom. She looked at him with a sad smile, her eyes watering. He smiled back at her, weakly but cheerfully. She was about to say something but he shook his head, stopping her. “It’s ok. That was in the past. Now I have the best of friends I could ever ask for!” Applebloom smiled brightly at that, her cheeks turning red. She let go of him but stayed close to him, looking down at him with dreamy eyes. Button Mash saw this and his face got red. “Uhhh. . . Applebloom?” Applebloom didn’t move, she seemed to be fighting something, as if something was struggling to surface. She shook her head and finally backed away a bit, keeping a hoof on one of his own. “Sorry, ah thought ah saw something on you. . . but ah guess ah was seein’ things. Sorry about that,” Button Mash exhaled with relief, looking up with a smile. “No, it’s ok. I guess I just didn’t understand what was going on,” Applebloom laughed nervously, scratching the back of her head and looking away, laughing softly but nervously. “Yeah, it’s just that, ah never heard of somepony so lonely as ya, and ah feel really bad for ya. I hope ah didn’t make ya uncomfortable or anythin’,” Button Mash shook his head with a smile. “No, not at all. Thanks for caring about me, but it doesn’t bother me anymore,” Applebloom let go of his hoof and put it back to her side. “Well. . . if you need anything, just let me know, ok?” “Ok, I promise I will,” Button Mash promised with a friendly smile. Scootaloo pushed the door open, carrying a glass cup on her back. “Guess who has the medicine ready? One super get-well-soon-brew ready!” Applebloom smiled over at her, making space so Scootaloo could walk up and offer the cup. Button Mash looked at the liquid questionably, unsure of the mixture. “Uhhmmm. . . is this safe?” Scootaloo smiled confidently at the sickly earth pony. “Of course it’s safe! I made sure it has everything it needs to make you feel better in no time!” Button Mash looked at the cup hesitantly, reaching over and picking it up to look down at the liquid. It was a light green color but the liquid itself was cloudy, unable to see the bottom of the glass. “Well. . . ok, I’ll trust you,” He lifted the glass cup to his lips and took a sip, his face turning green and coughed at the mysterious mixture. “Ewww, it tastes disgusting!” “That means it’s good for you! The more disgusting it is, then the better it is for you!” Scootaloo explained with a smile. Button Mash looked over at her, then back to the drink, bringing it back and chugging it. As soon as he finished, he held back on throwing up, but held it down. “Don’t worry, Sweetie Belle will be here any minute with the food to take the taste out of your mouth!” As if on cue, Sweetie Belle walked in, balancing a pot on her head, steadily walking over to Button Mash. She focused on keeping her balance but managed to smile over at Button Mash still. Applebloom smiled over at Sweetie Belle, as did Scootaloo. “Hey Sweetie Belle, need any help?” Scootaloo offered, taking a couple steps towards her just in case. “Naw, I got it, I got it!” Sweetie Belle replied back quickly as she walked over to Button Mash with the food steaming from the top of the pot. She stopped in front of him and put the large pot on the nightstand. “Alright, now it’s hot so be careful, it was starting to get hot while I was carrying it,” Applebloom got down from the bed and walked over to the pot, grabbing it. “Arlight Button, ah’ll feed you,” Sweetie Belle narrowed her eyes at her, and grabbed the pot gently, pulling it towards herself. “No, it’s ok, I’ll feed him,” Applebloom looked back at her, pulling the pot over to her. “You worked hard on this grub, it’s the least ah can do,” Sweetie Belle pulled it back. “Yes but it’s my job to give him his food,” Applebloom narrowed her eyes back, pulling the pot back to her, tugging harder. “Yeah but it’s MAH job to nurse him!” Sweetie Belle tugged harder on the pot back. “Well I said it was fine, I can do this!” Applebloom tugged even harder on the pot of steaming food. Scootaloo watched with a raised eyebrow in confusion of their bickering. Button Mash seemed uneasy, confused, and worried all at the same time. “Umm. . . guys. . . it’s ok, I can feed myself. . . I’m not a little foal anymore,” They ignored him, tugging the pot of food back and forth from each other, the soupy food sloshing around in it’s large container. Before anyone could say another word, Sweetie Belle slipped as she was pulling and accidentally through the pot up in the air. Everyone looked up as it slowly came back down towards Button Mash, turning upside down. Sweetie Belle saw this and tried to get back up quickly but she didn’t make it in time. They all watched in horror as the pot came down on Button Mash’s head, dumping all of the hot food all over him. He screamed out in alarm and pain as the food dumped all over him, his sheets, and the bed, burning all the way down. “IT BUUURRRRNNNSSS!!!!” * * * * * * * * * * * * * “And. . . well. . . that’s what happened. After that his dad ran up and saw what we did and got us to clean up everything we did. He got a little upset when he saw the bathroom though. He saw all the things that Scootaloo gave him. So once Button’s mom came back home, he told us that we should leave for today, and, well, here I am now,” Sweetie Belle explained, her ears dropping down and her eyes tearing up. “I just wanted to help him,” Rarity couldn’t stay mad at her. “Oh Sweetie Belle. . . at least your heart was in the right place,” Rarity smiled softly down at the little filly who sat in the chair as if waiting for punishment. She knelt down and hugged her little sister tightly in her arms, brushing her mane with her hoof gently. “I understand that it was an accident, but you need to be more careful! You could have seriously hurt Button Mash. . . if you haven’t already,” Sweetie Belle gripped tightly onto her older sister and started crying instantly, bawling her eyes into Rarity’s shoulder. She patted her back and nuzzled her cheek, trying to calm her down. “I know I messed up! I wanted to help him but I only made things worse, I always make things worse!” “Shhhhh, shh shh shh, Sweetie Belle, calm down. You don’t always make things worse. You showed him how much you cared about him and he knew that you tried your hardest to help him. Accidents happen darling,” “He must really hate me now! I made him even more sick and hurt him so badly!” “Darling, heavens no! There is no way that he is upset in anyway, shape, or form! I bet right now he is smiling to himself thinking that he was glad to see you today!” Sweetie Belle pulled away to look up at her big sister, her fur wet with her tears. “R-really?” Rarity smiled ever so softly down at her, patting the top of her head. “Yes Sweetie Belle, I can promise you that!” Sweetie Belle smiled up at Rarity and hugged her tightly, nuzzling into her, making her sister giggle faintly. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * “Whoa, well that’s one hell of a story there, squirt. I guess that explains the burn marks pretty well. I’m sorry you had such a bad day,” Cheat Code said down to Button Mash, who was still laying in bed, trying to sip at some soup his mother made for him. “Oh no, I mean yeah some things happened. . . but to be honest. . . I’m glad they came and did all of this for me,” Cheat Code chuckled down at him, smirking at him. “Well my little bro, if you are into some weird pain fetish or something, then we need to have a serious talk,” Button Mash looked up at him innocently confused. “What does ‘fetish’ mean?” Cheat Code was about to explain when he suddenly felt a pair of death filled, glaring eyes piercing his very soul from the back of his head. He slowly and hesitantly turned to see his mother glaring at him like the devil himself. “Don’t mind me dear. . . I think you were about to say something?” He smiled nervously and he turned back over to Button Mash, patting his head. “I’ll explain when you get older. . I, uhhh, gotta go check on something. Stay strong bro!” He patted his head and quickly walked out of the room, trying to avoid the glare of his mother. Once he was out of the room, her glared faded and she smiled over at Button Mash. She walked over and sat down in front of him. “How is my little trooper? Does it still hurt?” Button Mash Smiled weakly and shook his head. “It doesn’t hurt so bad now,” “I would give you some medicine. . . but that’s what got you where you are now in the first place. So right now I’m just gonna try rest,” “Sounds good mom,” Button’s Mom smoothed out his mane with a heart filled smile, leaning down to kiss his head. “Get some rest, Button. I’ll take good care of you in the morning,” Button Mash smiled up at his mother as she got up and left. He nuzzled into his blankets and closed his eyes, resting his head on the pillow. Button’s Mom looked back at him to turn off the light and smile down at him. Rage Quit walked up behind her and wrapped an arm around her and followed her gaze with the same smile. “Don’t worry, he will be just fine. He has the greatest mother watching over him,” She looked back over at him with a smile, kissing his cheek. “Thank you for coming back. He really missed you,” “I noticed. I’m gonna spend some time with him tomorrow. Catch up on the time that was lost that I wasn’t here. How about you and me go downstairs and have a little. . . . fun?” Button’s Mom looked back up at him with a slight blush. “Dear, what if they hear us?” Rage Quit smiled allusively down back at her. “Oh don’t worry, if we stay quiet, they won’t hear us,” She looked away a bit, unsure about it. “Oh come on, we haven’t done it in a long time. It’ll be fun,” She looked back up with a smile. “Alright, I guess we could, but we can’t do it all night like last time, we need sleep,” Rage Quit smiled down at her victoriously. “Got it!” They walked down stairs and into the living room. Cheat Code laid in bed, just thinking about the day that had just passed. He put his hoof to his lips, blushing lightly. “I didn’t mean for the events of today to happen. . . and yet they did anyway. Funny what an innocent act will lead to,” “It seems thou has had an eventful day,” A voice spoke inside his mind. Cheat Code snapped at attention from the voice, putting his hoof back down onto the bed. “Please don’t tell me you were in my mind that whole time,” “No, we gave you peace of mind while you enjoyed your day off, but we are aware of what happened today,” Cheat Code’s ears dropped down with sadness at the reminder of that. “I should have stayed. Of I didn’t leave I would have been able to stop them,” “What happened happened and couldn’t have happened another way,” Cheat Code looked up at the ceiling questionably. “Because now fate is on the move of course. The wheels of fate have begun to move thanks to the events of today. Now is the time for us to stand down and simply observe and guide when it is deemed necessary,” “When are you going to tell me what the whole plan is?” “When you need to know. For now, follow our orders as we give them and you will see the change you have been waiting for,” “Look, I don’t like being in the dark here. Could you at least-” Cheat Code stopped when he suddenly heard a noise downstairs. He tried to listen carefully but couldn’t pick up on anything. “Is something wrong?” Cheat Code got out of bed and started walking to the door. “Hang on, I think Someone is in the living room,” He opened the door quietly and started sneaking down the hallway and down the stairs, being careful not to make a single sound. From the middle of the stairs he could hear talking, it sounded like his parents. “That’s it. . . right there. . . keep going!” It sounded like his mother, but her voice sounded a lot different. “What the?” Cheat Code whispered to himself puzzled. He left the staircase and started making his way towards the living room where he could see a light shining through. “Yeah, you would like that would you?” Cheat Code stopped in his place, staying around the corner, listening in on what was going on, trying to figure it out. “Come on, just give it to me already, don’t make me wait!” He could recognize the voices as his parents, but they should be in bed at this time of night. “Oh no, I want you to beg for it, come over and get it!” Cheat Code’s face turned beat red as he listened. “No way! They aren’t. . . I mean they wouldn’t. . . would they?” Cheat Code whispered to himself shocked. He gulped down and started to slowly make his way to the corner. “They would never!” “Oh yes, right there. . . don’t stop, please keep going!” Cheat Code made it to the last inch, sweat dripping down from his forehead. He gulped in fear one last time before trying to summon the courage to keep going. “No. . . no. . .NO!” Cheat Code squeezed his eyes shut, getting ready to run for the hills. He couldn’t take hearing what he was hearing. “HEAD SHOT!” Cheat Code opened his eyes now confused. "What the?" He looked over and saw Rage Quit and his mother sitting on the couch with controllers in their hooves. “RED TEAM HAS THE FLAG!” The announcement voice spoke out once again. “Darn it! I’ll get you for that!” His mother stuck her tongue out at him. “Thanks for the free kill, hunny,” Cheat Code sighed in relief, shaking his head. “That is just no fair! My team sucks!” “Yeah yeah, blame it on them!” Cheat Code tried to hold in some laughter as he stepped away and started walking back to his room quietly. “Yup. . . they are so my parents alright!”