The Dance Of The Mash

by Rated Ponystar


Chapter 3

For the first time in his life, Button Mash woke up around six AM. Never before had anypony managed to bring him up earlier than seven fifteen, and that was if they were lucky. The young gamer had a reputation for heading to bed late and waking up just as late unless it was a midnight release for a game he desperately wanted. It almost didn’t occur to Button why he was waking up until he saw a large note on the wall that made him groan: “Get to Diamond Tiara’s house.”

He rubbed his sleepy eyes before opening them widely, wishing that he was just seeing things, that yesterday was nothing but a nightmare. He smashed his own face with a hoof a few times, and after failing to wake up, he lowered his head with a pout on his face. After murmuring to himself with a sad tone, "why me?”, Button got out of his bed and made his way towards his bathroom for a quick refreshment.

After attending to his hygienic needs, he made his way to the kitchen where his mother was making coffee while watching the toaster. When she saw him, right before her very eyes, she quickly looked at the clock and then at Button again. “Um, good morning, sweetie?”

“Morning, Mom,” answered Button as he grabbed a s'mores flavored Pop-Trot from the cabinet and started chewing it. “Can’t stay for long. Busy for the next few days.”

“Doing what? Normally, I need a crowbar to pull you out of bed. Where are you going this early?” asked Loving Care, raising an eyebrow while sipping her coffee.

Button bit his lip as he thought of his options. I can’t let Mom know what I’m doing. She’ll tell me not to do it, or worse, she can tell Sweetie Belle. Guess I gotta use an excuse.

“I’m... doing a part time job. To pay for a gift for Sweetie Belle,” answered Button Mash, halving the truth a bit.

A smile decorated his mothers face as she pressed her hoof against her heart, looking upon him with pride. “Oh, that’s so sweet. Button, you're going to make a perfect coltfriend for her after your date.”

“Don’t think you think that’s going a bit too far in assuming. I-I mean I want to be, but come on, it's our first date,” said Button, rubbing the back of his neck with a dreamy smile. A thought crossed his mind as he then turned to one of the framed photos on the wall with him and his entire family. A picture that reminded him of better times. “Mom... what was your first date with Dad like?”

The smile Loving Care had on her face was quickly dashed as was the joy in her eyes. He saw a bit of what she had when his father’s infidelity was revealed: pain, betrayal, and depression. “Your father... he took me out to see a play: Spectre of the Opera. My favorite. We held each other’s hooves the entire time and had our first kiss at the end when he escorted me home.” A brief smile appeared on her lips before she shook her head. “Sometimes I wonder what happened to the same stallion who waited a full half hour for me when I told the cabbie the wrong directions by accident. The stallion who once proposed to me at Rainbow Falls. That father who rushed out of work twice when you and your brother were both born.”

A long silence lasted between the two before Button sighed and apologized, “I’m sorry… I shouldn’t have asked. I didn’t mean to make you feel sad.”

“It’s not your fault,” answered Loving Care, giving him a warm smile. “I loved your father and he was once a good pony. Maybe some part of him still is. I can’t dwell on the past forever, I know that.” She walked over, placing her coffee down before she hugged her son. “Don’t let what happened to me hinder you this holiday. You deserve to be happy, especially with Sweetie Belle. Besides, I’m not unhappy either. I’ve... found love again.”

“When am I going to meet this special somepony of yours?” asked Button, grinning.

“Soon, sweetie.” She kissed him on the cheek. “Soon. Now get going. You’ve got work to do.”

Button Mash groaned. “Don’t remind me...” He walked over to coat rack nearby and took his red scarf and jacket. “I’ll get dinner out, so don’t wait up for me! Also your toast is burning!”

Loving Care quickly turned around with a gasp just as Button exited via the back door. Cursing, she rushed over to the smoking toaster. She popped out her toast and blew on the black ruined slices but they were long burnedf. Sighing to herself, she was about to put in a new piece of toast when the door knocked.

Rolling her eyes, she walked towards the door and opened it. “Let me guess, Button, you forgot...forgot... oh, Celestia...”

It wasn’t her son, but somepony who looked very much like him. He had a darker brown coat then Button, his mane was dirty blond, yet held a shade of lighter blond. His eyes were still the same she had fallen for so long ago, but held very little of the spark that glimmered. It was a face she had not seen since the final procedures at court, where she and him signed the divorce papers.

“Hello, Loving...” whispered Money Mash, her ex-husband.

***

Button tried to keep himself calm and collected as he walked towards the Rich’s Mansion, but the fact that his IPony kept playing Video Game Boss themes while on shuffle mode only made him more queasy. He didn’t know what horrors Diamond Tiara was going to subjecting him through, nor did he feel like he was going to get through this without some sort of trauma. How the hay did I get into this mess? Oh, right. I can’t think before I talk.

Arriving at the front door, Button pressed the doorbell and waited for permission to enter. Sure enough, the same butler from last time opened the door and eyed him with a dull expression. “Mr. Mash?”

“Yeah?”

“I am the one who you will be replacing for the next few days. In the bathroom to your left, you will find the attire you will need to wear while acting as a butler for Mistress Tiara. Have you had any butler experience?”

“Does watching Batmare and his butler count?” asked Button with a nervous grin.

“... good enough I suppose.” He then stepped out of the house, but not before turning to Button and placing a hoof on his shoulders. “Good luck, old chap. You’re going to need it.” He then sighed, turned away, and without warning smiled like an insane patient in an asylum.”Freeeeeeedom!!” he shouted while doing cartwheels out towards the road, laughing maniacally.

Button stared at the laughing old pony for brief moment before entering the house and closing the door.

***

Upon seeing himself in his new uniform, Button had to admit that he looked quite good in a tux. Almost like he was an Agent 007, ready to save the world, drink hard cider, and have a lovely night with a hot mare. Of course he was soon brought back from his small daydream when the sound of a bell ringing echoed in the hallway.

“Ooooh, Button!” sang the shrill voice of Diamond Tiara. “I need you to come here for a minute!”

Sighing, Button did his best to keep a straight face as he walked down the hall until he was in the living room. Diamond Tiara was at the same chair as yesterday, with a small silver folding table that held her breakfast consisting of poached eggs, toast, tofu bacon, grapefruit, OJ, and tea. All Button could do was stare at it while his stomach growled in fury over the simple breakfast he had not to long ago.

“Yes, Mistress Tiara?” asked Button.

“I would like you to fluff my pillow and then add more wood into the fire. This place is getting way too cold,” ordered Diamond Tiara, happily sipping her OJ.

“Yes, Mistress Tiara,” answered Button as he took the pillow from behind Tiara’s head and began to fluff it. So far nothing too bad.

When that was done, he put it back in its proper place where Diamond placed her head down and sighed in satisfaction. Walking towards the fireplace, he was about to put more wood in when Diamond then ordered, “Wait, I think a little more fluff is needed for the pillow.”

Rolling his eyes, Button put the wood down and walked over back to the chair where he to the pillow and fluffed it for a full minute. All while Diamond Tiara continued to smile at him as if he was a fish and she was a rod. He placed it down for her to use again, and then started to make his way towards the fireplace. After placing a few logs inside, he got ready to leave when Diamond Tiara’ mouth opened once more.

“Oh, Button? I need you to feed me.”

“W-what?!” shouted Button, slowly turning red. “F-feed you? What are you, four?”

I will not be spoken to like that. I had a long day and I’m still so tired. If you could feed me that would be great. Or I can test the new toilet we installed by flushing some tickets,” taunted Diamond, narrowing her eyes.

Unable to take the risk, Button bit his tongue before bowing to his new master. “I apologize, Mistress Tiara. I won’t question you again.”

“See that you don’t,” said Diamond Tiara. She put her hooves behind her head and opened her mouth. “Now feed me.”

Button stared at Diamond Tiara for a bit before he, hastily, grabbed the knife and fork. Cutting up the eggs, he scooped some up before looking at Diamond Tiara’s wide open mouth. Despite wishing he could shove the entire plate down her throat, Button carefully put pieces of egg into Diamonds mouth, letting her chew and swallow before continuing. This went on for some time until Diamond Tiara took a sip of her tea and gagged.

“Ugh! This tea is cold and horrible! Get me some hot Green Jade Tea instead of this dirt,” shouted Diamond Tiara, proceeding to throw the tea in Button’s face.

“Yes... Mistress Tiara,” mumbled a soaking Button Mash as he turned around and wiped his face.

“And I need my pillow fluffed again when you get back!”

Oh, Celestia, Luna, Twilight, Cadence, and Faust. Shoot me now! thought Button, silently weeping in his head.

***

Lies.

It was all lies.

All those Mother’s Day cards were for the wrong pony. All the Sister Hooves Social Events they had won were all for naught. And her father? Who the hay was he? Was he alive? Dead? If Magnum Belle was her grandfather, who was it that helped give her life? All of these questions plagued Sweetie Belle after a night of yelling and crying. Her face was completely drenched in tears as she hugged one of her stuffed animals, staring at the blank ceiling for hours.

Her parents had tried to enter her room and ask what was wrong. She pretty much told Grandma and Grandpa to leave her alone. That all but silenced them for the night.

How could her family do this to her? How could Rarity? The one pony she looked up to more than any other? All this time she had been calling that mare sister when in truth she was her mother. Her mother. Now that she thought about it, certain things in Sweetie’s life began to make sense. She always wondered why her so called “parents” always let her stay at Rarity’s for so long, to the point where she was barely in the house. Why it was always Rarity who went to Parent Teacher Conferences or took her for checkups at the doctor. Why Rarity always planned her birthday parties when other parents did it for their children.

Were they ever going to tell me? Was I suppose to never find out? I had every right to know! thought Sweetie Belle. She looked at her stuffed animal, a white fox that Rarity had given her on her tenth birthday. Imagining her sweet, darling mother’s face instead, Sweetie Belle growled and punched the doll across her room.

A knock on the door soon followed and Sweetie Belle turned away from her door. “Go away!”

“Sweetie Belle, its Mommy. Please, I need to talk to you,” asked the voice from the other side.

“You’re not my real mother!” shouted Sweetie Belle.

There was a brief silence, followed by a sigh. “Yes, I’m not your real mom. But I am still older than you and I raised you as if you were one. It doesn’t matter if you’re my grandchild or my daughter, or a distant niece. I need to speak to you, now.”

Rolling her eyes, Sweetie Belle unlocked the door with her magic, but continued to keep her back turned towards her fake mom, Cookie Crumbles, who walked inside. Cookie sighed as she sat down on the bed and placed her hoof on her granddaughter's shoulder. “Sweetie, I know this... this is a lot to deal with, but you must understand. We never wanted to hurt you. Especially, Rarity.”

“Well, she did. She did and I hope she’s happy,” muttered Sweetie Belle, clenching her eyes shut.

“Actually, she was here last night. Crying just as much as you were. She wanted to talk to you, but I convinced her to give you time to sort through what you’ve learned,” said Cookie.

Sweetie Belle, slowly opened her eyes and looked past her shoulder. “Y-you did?” Her grandmother nodded. “Why?”

“Because I knew this day would come. Either you would find out and freak out or when we finally told you, you wouldn’t take it well.” Cookie shook her head. “It’s almost a relief to finally have this secret out. I just wish you were of the age we had planned to tell you at.”

“You really think I would take this well? No matter how old I was?!” shouted Sweetie Belle, sitting up and wiping the tears from her eyes. “All this time... all this time you all lied to me! Why did I have to be raised into thinking my mother was my sister?! And where is my father?! Who else knows about this?!”

Cookie bit her lip and closed her eyes. “Your sister was your age when she had you. If anypony in town knew she had been pregnant it would have ruined her. Even worse, if the fashion industry knew... they wouldn’t even look at her.”

“So Rarity’s career was more important than me, huh?!” growled Sweetie Belle as she saw a photo of her mother and slammed it down shut. “Figures, that’s all she cares about.”

“If she didn’t care about you, Sweetie Belle, she wouldn’t have had you,” snapped back her grandmother, standing up. “Rarity loves you. She loved you when she had you and always has. She may have not been your mother in public, but she raised you better then either your grandfather or I could. She could have put you up for adoption, or even aborted you, but she wanted to care and love you.”

Sweetie Belle didn’t answer. She was instead trying to fight back all the times that Rarity had been very motherly to her. Like the time she scraped her knee and started crying when she was a very little filly. Rarity bandaged it up and kissed her knee so many times it made her giggle and forget the pain. Then there was the time Rarity had gone out of her way to miss three important clients so she could see Sweetie Belle in her school play of The Sound of Harmony. And finally, there was the fire. The fire that haunted her still to this day. How Rarity was willing to sacrifice herself so that Sweetie Belle could be safe. She knew her sister had faced danger before and she was always worried for her life, but that night she truly felt that she had seen Rarity for the last time until she leaped out of her window.

As much as Sweetie Belle wanted to hate her mother... she was finding it hard to. “What about my dad? My real dad?”

“I don’t know. Rarity refuses to tell us,” answered Cookie Crumbles, shaking her head. “All she ever said was that he wanted nothing to do with you or her. Maybe she’ll tell you the story, but I’m... worried about what you might hear.”

Sweetie’s heart sunk even deeper into her chest. If Rarity had refused to tell her parents about her father that could mean a number of things. Did he really not care and just left without saying anything? Or maybe he was decreased? Something might have happened and he died before she was born. A cold grip upon her throat seemed to choke her as she thought of the worst possible outcome. That he had forced himself upon Rarity. That she was a product of...

Shaking her head, Sweetie Belle swept such thoughts away as she felt the need to take a long hot shower. “And... the last one? Who else knows?”

“Only me, your fath—I mean grandfather—Rarity, and some of the staff in a hospital in Trottingham. We stayed in our summer home while Rarity was pregnant and had you there. Apart from them, nopony else knows you are Rarity’s daughter. Not even members of our own family.”

“... What happens now?” asked Sweetie Belle, sighing. “I can’t... I can’t just ignore this...”

Cookie sighed and walked over to the door. “This is between you and your mother, Sweetie Belle. But please believe me when I say that you two need to talk and you need to believe that your mother never meant to hurt. What you do is up to you, but know that Magnum and I have loved you as both our daughter and our granddaughter. Nothing more or less.”

With that said, Cookie closed the door behind her as Sweetie Belle sat back on her bed. Wondering what in the name of Celestia she was going to do. She needed to talk to somepony about this... or someponies.

Taking out her cellphone from under her pillow she quickly sent a text to the two ponies who she could always count on.

“Meet me at Tree House. CMC Emergency. Sweetie”