Twilight was fiddling with her coffee cup, not feeling in the mood to drink or eat anything. Flash came up and offered her some oatmeal, but all she could do was stare at it. He patted her back in sorrow.
Pinkie's mane was deflated and Cheese wore a sad expression on his face. He comforted his wife, but he knew it was going to take a while until she was herself again.
Applejack was lying on the bed, looking depressed. Spike was next to her, looking just as upset as she was.
Rainbow was on a cloud that she darkened to match her mood. Soarin' was another cloud watching her carefully.
Fancy Pants couldn't bear to see his wife so distraught. Her hair was a mess because she was crying in the pillows, but she didn't care, not with everything that happened.
Fluttershy and Discord sat on the couch side by side, releasing each other's pain. Fluttershy would cry every five minutes while Discord moped and wouldn't have a care in the world, especially since their entire world was shattered the night before.
He would never forget the moment that Apple Bloom and Scootaloo called in on the magic mirror without Sweetie Belle and when they were asked where she was, they broke down and told the whole thing in tears. That caused his own heart to break in half, as well as the rest of the family. The sisters immediately started crying and their husbands could do nothing but watch, but Discord himself had to release a few tears since unlike them, he was in more pain.
He found himself saying, "It's all my fault…"
"Don't say that…" Fluttershy softly said.
"But it is… I could have helped her or protected her more…"
"This was something entirely out of your hands… You could not have known this would happen…" she wept.
"I just wish…"
She held his paw, "I know… we all wish that…" she leaned on his arm.
At the Canterlot castle, Celestia was weeping in her husband's arms as he was also shedding a few tears. Luna stood by as she watched them in grieve.
Marendelle was covered in rain. Ever since the tragedy, it didn't let up. Featherweight, Scootaloo, Apple Bloom, Pip, and Rumble were outside Button's door. He locked himself in ever since they came back.
Featherweight knocked on the door, "Button…? Please… we know you're in there… They're all wondering where you've been…"
Scootaloo and Apple Bloom softly sang, "They say 'have courage' and we're trying to… We're right out here for you… Just let us in… We know what you're going through…"
"Won't you please come out of there?"
Button had his head against the door, blocking out any pony trying to reach out to him. He started crying again as he thought miserably, I failed her… I should have saved her but I couldn't… I'm so sorry, Sweetie… I'm so sorry… He kept crying.
Featherweight shook his head, knowing they weren't getting anywhere and led them off. The queen saw them going and gave a sympathetic look. She turned to her son's bedroom door and knocked, "Button… it's your mother… I know you're not in any position to talk, but we must discuss something…"
There was a pause until she heard a click and the door slowly open. She had her arms out as he raced into them sobbing.
She stroked his head, "Oh, my sweet, brave boy… This really has been a nightmare for you…"
"I loved her… l loved her…" he said between sobs.
"Shhh… I know… After everything you told me about the two of you, I will always admire that she wanted to seek my approval so I can bless the marriage… She would have made an excellent queen and an even better wife… And I would have been proud to call her 'daughter'…"
"Mom… you really mean that…?"
"Yes… and I am so glad you found love after all. You made me remember the times of being young and in love… I'm so sorry for forcing you into something that would have made you very unhappy… I'm even sorrier that things took a turn for the worse and that you're forced to face a difficult decision… If I had another child, I would have them take up the throne instead of my heartbroken son, who's lost his one true love…"
Button realized then what his mother was getting at… He was the only heir to Marendelle's throne… The fact still remained that he had to marry to have the next heir…
"You don't have to say anything… You're in enough pain as it is… But you are going to have to think about it… Your father and I will give you all the time you need until you are ready to go through with it…"
He went to the window and saw pouring rain landing on the panels. The dark clouds matched his mood. He didn't want to get married, but what choice did he have…? Marendelle would be lost without the next rightful ruler… He thought about how Sweetie Belle once told him he would be a good king. He believed her. Even if she wasn't here, she would have wanted him to take his place as the true king…
"We can invite all of the princesses back here and you can pick from there…" Love Tap softly suggested, "But it is your choice… Tell us what you want to do and we will fulfill it."
Button pondered on this. It was quite obvious he would never fall in love again like he did with Sweetie. If he had to choose, he would want to marry one of her sisters, but Scootaloo was already taken and Apple Bloom was in love as well. The second choice would be one of their friends, but Babs was in love with Featherweight and Twist and Truffle had a thing for each other. Dinky was around Snails more and he recalled being told that she would want to marry for love. He could never force either of them to go through what he almost went through in the first place. There was only one thing to do…
He spoke while going to his closet, picking out a blue and red uniform he hardly wore, "It only makes sense to marry the runner-up from the tests."
"Princess Diamond Tiara?"
"Yes. And we are to marry as soon as possible…" he buttoned up the uniform.
"Button… are… are you sure? So soon?"
He nodded, "Let's not let it linger. It'll only be just a reminder of what could have been… The faster we get this out of the way, the faster it'll be over and my duty to the kingdom will be done…"
"Alright… if this is what you really want?"
He nodded again, "It is…"
The queen slowly walked away and gave her son a worried glance before leaving.
The wedding announcement was made after lunch and Diamond Tiara was more than excited by the news. She and Silver Spoon went to go make wedding arrangements.
Scootaloo, Apple Bloom, and their friends tried to talk Button out of it, but his mind was made up.
"I'm going to be unhappy for the rest of my life, anyway… Why should it matter if I marry some pony that's going to add to it?"
"At least spare yourself some decency!" Scootaloo pointed.
"All of my decency is gone… It left just as Sweetie had left…"
"If you have to marry some pony, then marry me!" AB offered, even if caused her to cringe.
"No!" Babs gestured and glumly said, "I shall…"
"No… I will…" Twist sadly said.
"I'll do it!" Dinky raised her hoof, but gave an unsure look.
Scootaloo rubbed her neck, "I would offer, too, but… you know…"
"Look, guys… I appreciate this… but you owe it to yourselves to be happy… I can't take that happiness away from any of you. And Sweetie would agree… She wants all of you to be happy. You know I'm right…"
The sisters sighed. He spoke the truth. Sweetie was always the one who saw a happy ending for every pony.
"So… are any of you willing to stay for the wedding?"
They exchanged glances and Scootaloo said, "AB and I are leaving the moment the rain stops and we can set sail for home."
Bloom spoke, "Don't get us wrong, but it'll be hard for us to watch you marry another pony other than our sister… And staying here is upsetting…"
"I understand… out of respect for your sister… I wish we had gotten married sooner because I would have been honored to call you my sisters…"
They gushed over that and they both hugged him. He looked over to the other three princesses.
Babs said, "It's the same reasoning that applies for us. We're leaving at the first chance."
"Sure…" he gave a small smile, "I will miss all of you, though… It was fun while it lasted…"
They nodded in agreement.
"If you'll excuse me, I have wedding details to go over…" he gave them one last glance before he went out.
"Poor Button…" Dinky faintly said.
They could only nod in sorrow.
Diamond Tiara was looking over flower arrangements and it infuriated her, "I don't want white roses! I want red roses!"
The flower arranger, by the name of Roseluck, crouched in fear, "Yes, Your Highness! Apologies, Your Highness!" she rushed off to fix the problem.
When she went into the banquet hall, she saw a towering wedding cake before her. She noticed Truffle standing by putting the finishing touches on the frosting. She demanded, "Is that the biggest you got?!"
"Um… Oh… we can always add an extra layer…?"
"Do so! And make sure the frosting is buttercream!" she huffed and held her head high as she trotted out.
"Oh, Di! I can wait for you to try on your dress and me in the bridesmaid dress!" Silver Spoon gleefully said.
"It better be good… I want this wedding to be perfect! But ponies are incompetent to figure that out…"
A guard came up to her then, "Your Highness?"
She shouted, "What?!"
"Uh, some pony is requesting to see you… Shall we send him away?"
Silver whispered, "It's probably that creepo that we had to meet with the last few times…"
"Yes…" Tiara wickedly grinned and said in a sickly sweet tone, "Thank you, guard. I shall take it from here…" she went pass him and headed towards the gates.
"It's about time! We've been waiting for the last ten minutes! Now that we've fulfilled our end of the deal, you can fulfill yours."
She started acting innocently, "Deal…? What deal?"
"What do you mean 'what deal'?! You know perfectly what deal!"
"Oh, really…? I seem to recall that you offered to help me…" she smirked.
Caballeron went pale.
"You did your part and now I shall be queen of this kingdom. I suggest you submit to me, but if you're against me… You'll be having a harder time hiding out than you are now…" she showed her evil smile.
He gritted his teeth and turned to go with his gang behind him. Diamond gave off a look of triumph.
Moments later, Diamond Tiara was trying out her wedding dress that was made out of silk and lace. She admired herself in the mirror.
"Oh, Dia, you are so beautiful!" Sliver gawked.
"Indeed…" she started singing, "What a lovely little bride, I'll make… My dear, I'll look divine… Things are working out according to my ultimate design… Soon I'll be queen and the whole kingdom will be mine!" She giggled evilly.
Button lied on his bed, knowing of the changes that would soon come to pass. No matter what happens, Sweetie… I will always love you… Forever…
The rain poured into the ocean and waves crashed against rocks while fathoms below the water remained untouched by the elements above. An underwater city lied at the bottom. Sea ponies, kelpies, and mermares were swimming about, going their own way. A kelpie and a mermare were both going the same way as they reached a reef building.
"How is she?" asked the mermare that was pink and had green hair and fins.
"Fine, for now…" said the kelpie that was dark purple and had a white fin on her head.
"The poor thing… It's a good thing we spotted her off the coast or she would have…"
"Yes… but you know she can't stay here or else, we'll both be in trouble for bringing a pony from the above world…"
"And it's hard to say how long the transformation will last anyway…"
The kelpie nodded. They turned into a room where a white coated mare was resting in a sea bed. Slowly, she was waking up and looked to see that she was underwater. She gasped in surprise and realized she could breathe underwater!
"How…?" She found out, "I can talk!"
"Of course you can…" said a voice.
She turned to see two strange creatures watching her and was shocked, "You're… you're mermares!"
"Close, but I am a kelpie. My name is Cassie."
"And I am Jewel. Do you have a name?"
"I'm… Sweetie Belle."
"Welcome, Sweetie Belle," said Jewel, "to the city of Coltlantis!"
"Although it is forbidden for upper-worlders to see it…" Cassie added.
"Aw," Sweetie groaned and then said, "But if that's true… why am I here…?" she started getting out of the bed, "And how can I breath under-" she noticed then that she had a tail from the waist down and her legs were missing. She screamed, only to be silenced by Jewel's fin.
"Please! Don't scream!" Cassie begged, "We'll tell you everything, if you'll just calm down!"
Sweetie compensated this and nodded. Jewel let go of her and started explaining, "Cassie and I were following the ocean currents that lead us close to the island you came from… when suddenly, you dropped into the water. We saw you were unconscious…"
"We were going to bring you back up to the surface, but we were too close to the shore and we could not be seen by other ponies. So Jewel and I combined our powers and transformed you into a sea mare, if only for a short while."
"We brought you back here to rest, and now you know…"
"What I like to know is… what were you doing in the first place that caused you to fall in the ocean like that?"
"Well… it all started…" she relayed her whole tale.