//------------------------------// // Chapter 10 // Story: Player Number Three // by Candy-Sweets_12 //------------------------------// It was a week before Hearth's Warming, and Sweetie Belle and Button Mash were setting up their Hearth's Warming tree. They had custom made ornaments, each one representing something. The ornament with two rings represented their love and marriage. The nest represented their relatives. A heart represented their friends. Sweetie and Button's cutiemarks were ornaments as well. And several more. Hanging it on the tree, Sweetie Belle was excited. She was almost three months, meaning she was going to start showing soon. "....Button, just think, by next year, we can have our own little foal running around." she daydreamed. Then she gasped. "I need to take pictures!" she exclaimed. "Pictures?" he asked. Sweetie Belle ran to get a empty scrapbook and notebook. Inside were different pictures of Sweetie Belle pregnant, the baby shower, holidays, telling Button both times, she flipped to a new page and took a picture of the tree with Button standing next to it. "I had no idea you had a scrap book." "Well I also have a notebook I got yesterday." she admitted. "What are you going to do with it?" "Whenever you can't be around and I'm going through emotions, I'll write songs to relive my stress." she explained. "Have you written any yet?" he asked. "No, you've never left my side when I needed you. I bought this because of Fluttershy's advice." she said. Button looked into the scrapbook and saw several pictures of him and Sweetie Belle. "How many of these do you have?" he questioned. "Well, I have one for the pictures we took on our dates, another for our first wedding days, the wedding, and anniversaries. I also have birthday scrapbooks. I made this one two months ago." she implied, pointing to the book in front of her. "What about the video?" Button Mash said. "You mean our trip to the beach? I have that in one of these somewhere, along with other videos with friends and family." she stated. Most were empty scrapbooks, but a few had loose pictures that fell out and littered the floor. There was her cutiemark crusaders scrap book, Sweetie and her sister, and so many more. "I had no idea you had so many of these." Button said. "I knew you had them, but not so many." "I have a lot of new ones lately, you want to start a Hearth's Warming one?" she held up a scrapbook and camera. "Sure. Speaking of memories, I got a new ornament to hang on the tree." Button pulled out a small box with a ribbon wrapped around it. "Button, you didn't have to do that," Sweetie Belle said. "Just think of it as a gift I got for both of us." he beckoned. Sweetie took the gift and unraveled the ribbon. Taking of the wrapping paper, she carefully saw a small box. Opening it, she pulled out the ornament. "Button, it's wonderful." Was all she could say. It was a small ornament of a little foal which had on a pair of pink and blue socks. She looked at the detail of the ornament and noticed it's tiny wings. "An angel," now she was really on the verge of tears. "Let's hang it on the tree. And see what it looks like." Sweetie Belle stood up and walked to it. She looked carefully for where to hang it, and decided to hang it near the top. Button took a picture as she levitated it with her magic, and then took another when it was on the tree. "Got it," he said. Sweetie Belle walked back to where she was and sat down. Out of nowhere, she picked up a scrapbook titled 'My Friends'. Opening it, she saw many pictures of her and her friends, from the first photos, all the way to the recent ones. She saw a lot with her first years with Button Mash before dating him. "You know, I get scrap booking from Pinkie and my dad. He always takes a lot of photos of us since he's afraid he might forget about the memories, but he never does. I guess I'm making it a bit of a tradition by looking into them." she said. "I'm sure that you know how in my family, we have a tradition to have Hearth's Warming treats while we talk about our friendships. Do you want some hot coco? I have marshmallows." "With cookies?" Button smiled. "Yes, I'll go get it." he stood up and walked to the kitchen. Sweetie Belle continued to the next book with dating. By the time Button came back, he saw her looking at a picture in the book. "What're you looking at?" he set the tray he was carrying down. "Remember the first Hearth's Warming Eve after I came back?" she asked. It was a snowy day in Ponyville, and everyone was inside their house. Button was walking with his mother to Cheese and Pinkie Pie's Hearth's Warming Palooza. "I can't wait to see the look on Sweetie Belle's face once she sees that I'm back from school." Button said. "I bet that she'll be quite surprised to see you." his mother said. They arrived at the door to SugarCube Corner, and before even knocking, it was swung open and he found the pink mare in the doorway. She was wearing a festive, thick, red sweater. "Hi you two, glad to see you again!" she exclaimed. She moved to the side and Sweetie Belle and her friends were revealed. He knew he'd never forget the look of realization on her face once she saw him across the room. "Button!" she cried. This caused anyone who wasn't looking to turn their heads to them. Unexpectedly, she ran towards him and hugged him. "I missed you so much," she said. "I missed you too Sweetie Belle." he said. Everyone watched from a distance and was either chuckling or smiling at the heart warming scene. They hugged each other for a few more seconds before pulling back. "I'm sorry that I couldn't visit earlier, ever since I had to switch schools for that new program, I've been a bit busy with my grades." he explained. "Well we're together now." she said. They stood up and hugged again. Button walked to his friends as everyone resumed what they were doing. "Hey dude, how's college?" Rumble asked. "You know, educational, and hard. Turns out it takes a lot more work to balance my classes than I ever thought. Plus, my aunt makes cookies when I make good grades, ever since I had to move in with her, she's been occupying majority of my time with her restaurant." he explained. "How's Wonderbolts training treating ya?" "It's pretty tough but Scoots and I are at the top of the class, as usual." he bragged. "And Apple Bloom and I are having a great senior year thank you." Pipsqueak intruded. "Sorry Pip, I guess I missed out on a bunch huh?" Button rubbed the back of his head. "You sure did, there's a lot you missed. You just had to skip a grade huh?" Rumble said. "You know it was a placement test, and I want to finish school as soon as possible to be with Sweetie Belle. Just three and a half years to go of this." he said. "You really have this planned out, huh?" Rumble asked. "You need to have a plan for everything, otherwise life would just be a big mess. Even I need to be organized sometimes, what else could I have learned from Twilight Time?" Button stated. Meanwhile in Canterlot: "Hey Luna, do you feel that?" Princess Luna looked up from the documents to the purple Alicorn who had to attend the important meeting they were in. "Feel what?" "I think that somepony is talking about organization." Back in Ponyville: "...then Pip spent the rest of the evenin' with me." Apple Bloom said dreamily. "Sounds like you two have a lot of fun on your dates." Sweetie Belle said. "Yeah, Ah' guess that we finally got bit by the 'love bug' as mah' sister says it." Apple Bloom said. "I guess so, whatever that means." Scootaloo uttered as Pound Cake raced past her to chase his sister, his little wings buzzing all the while. Sweetie Belle was approached by Button Mash while Scootaloo and Apple Bloom went to talk with their sisters. "Hey Button," she said. "Hey Sweetie," They looked at each other for a moment before Sweetie Belle was pushed into him by a small yellow unicorn filly by the name of Pumpkin Cake, who wasn't looking where she was going. Not seeming to notice, she turned around and faced her brother who had been chasing her around. Sweetie Belle was now touching her nose to Button's, causing red to fill their faces and tips of their ears. "Sorry." she apologized. She moved over to the side. They stood together and looked at the decorations around the room. "Pinkie really out did herself with this time," Sweetie Belle stated as she saw all of the Hearth's Warming decorations around the sweet shop. "Well considering this place looks like a gingerbread house, I'd consider it festive enough without the decorations." Button joked. Causing Sweetie Belle to laugh. The two talked about current things happening to them, like how Button got to meet the creator of the Legend of Zelda games, and how Sweetie Belle met up with Sapphire Shores again to do a duet. They talked until they found themselves leaning in together and complementing each other. They looked up to see a small plant hanging above their heads. The two blushed furiously, again they turned their heads to each other, but their heads were so close that their noses were touching. They moved away from each other and avoided the other's eyes. But eventually they met up again. 'Maybe one kiss wouldn't hurt... no, we're at a party, I don't want to do this at a party, what if somepony sees us?' Sweetie Belle thought. "Should we do it Button, I mean I like it when this happens, but we've never done it in public or in front of friends, maybe we should move somewhere el-" she was stopped by Button kissing her full on the lips, once he finally pulled back, he smiled. Sweetie stood there, blushing all the while. "That was," she stated. "Extraordinary." they said. Suddenly from behind them they heard gagging. They looked down to see two twin foals making faces at them. "Ew, did you two just kiss?" Pound Cake asked. "I think that's it's romantic." Pumpkin said as she held her hooves together. "I think you're insane," "Am not," "Are too, besides, love is gross, that's why changelings eat it." "What does changelings eating love have anything to do with this?" Pumpkin asked. "Like mom says, you are what you eat. And love is gross. I'm never going to be in love when I'm older." Pound cake insisted as he batted his eyelashes. "Well," Sweetie Belle said. "your loss." The twins rolled their eyes and resumed their game. Rarity walked over to the two. "What are you doing under the mistletoe? Isn't that for couples who kiss?" she drank some of the punch she held. "We did kiss." Sweetie Belle said. Rarity spat out punch. "What!?" she screamed. The whole room directed their eyes to the mare. Who blushed and waved them off quickly. "Come again?" she asked, trying to stay calm. "We, well kissed under the mistletoe, and yeah, just ask the twins." Sweetie Belle said, hesitant from the twitching of her sister's eye. "Do you know what this means?" she asked quietly to a now scared Button Mash, who once again felt like he was staring into the eyes of a monster, or even worse, a creature from Outlast. The mare was directly in front of him, her eyes shrunk down and twitching in sudden rage. "Um...no." Button said. "You will end up taking my little sister away from me!" she whispered silently into Button's face. This caused the young earth pony to sink as he neared the wall. "Rarity, hold on, he will not do anything drastic like that, we just date and kiss a couple of times." "A couple of times?! You mean you've done it before?!" The mare whispered again. "Pretty much, yeah" Sweetie Belle answered honestly. Rarity lifted her head up, her pupils two different sizes. And her mane having a few hairs come out of place. She then calmed down. Though she talked like she was straining herself. "We'll deal with this later, right now I'm going to speak with my friends." she said. She stomped off, leaving the two alone once more. "On second thought, maybe we should keep any of that between you and I from now on." he suggested. Sweetie Belle laughed, causing him to soften up a little. "Don't worry, it's just her emotions, she'll be back to normal soon." Sweetie explained. "I hope so, I felt like she was going to snap my neck." he said. Sweetie Belle laughed again. Button smiled. "Remember the next day? When Rarity and your mother insisted that we couldn't be in the same house after ten without someone else there?" Sweetie Belle said. "How can I forget such an annoying experience? We weren't allowed to even hug each other without being scolded until we graduated college." Button said. "Yeah, not to mention that we went to separate colleges after high school, and we were only able to see each other every other few months, sometimes on video chat." "Well I'm just happy that I can spend a lot more time now that it's Hearth's Warming." Button said. "Me too," Sweetie Belle said. They looked at the tree once more and talked throughout the rest of the night; going back to previous memories. The next few days were full of joy, everybody was enjoying the winter snow. While some were inside beside a fire and reading a book or telling stories, many were outside playing with family. Sweetie Belle and Button were enjoying making treats with the Pies, listening to stories with the Sentry's, drinking cider with the Apples, hanging stockings with Rarity, or visiting the great house of chaos. Finally came the day of Hearth's Warming, and every filly and colt was eager to get their parents out of bed to see what the legendary Santa Hooves brought them. Throughout the whole morning, you could see lights from Hearth's Warming trees as families opened long awaited presents. Sounds and squeals of delight as they received what they wanted, those who received sleds riding them down the snowy hills. It was a wonderful day for all but one. Sweetie Belle sighed as she stared out the window. She smiled at how the pegasus foals flew around and teased the ones without wings. She smiled at the snow ponies young fillies and colts made with their parents. She laughed at the magical snowball fights the families engaged in. It nearly brought her to tears as she saw everyone race down a hill in the snow, while she sat there, inside. She heard a sound out in the hallway and stood up of off the windowsill. She approached Button, her face down. "Sweetie Belle! I was hoping you'd want to-" he saw a few drops of water stain the carpet underneath them and immediately set down the present he was holding and hugged Sweetie Belle. Who stood there and cried over Button's shoulder. "It's alright Sweetie Belle. One day, it'll happen with us. I promise." Sweetie Belle pulled back, wiping a tear from her eye. "I know, I just wish that I could be smiling out there with them, instead of in here every year. It's not that I don't love spending time with you. I do, it's just..." she couldn't finish and, and only tears could come out. "I understand Sweetie Belle. I promise that you will get your turn soon, I promise." he wiped the tear from her eye and wrapped a hoof around her neck. 'But there's only a small chance that it can come true. That all will be out there one day.' she thought. But she didn't let it show. "You're right. Let's open those presents. I have a feeling that you'll like yours." she smiled. They walked to the tree. and lying down, they exchanged gifts. "You didn't have to give me a gift Sweetie Belle," "How come?" "You already did." he said. He laid a hoof over the mare's stomach, who was now really on the edge of tears. "Besides, what kind of knight would I be if my lady didn't go first?" he said with a crack of a smile. The unicorn reflected the smile as she unraveled the ribbon. There was a box underneath the wrapping paper that said Hay on it. (I'm so sorry.) Slowly opening the box, she gasped at the beautiful necklace inside. "Button," she breathed. Tears once again falling from her eyes from happiness as she lifted the golden necklace. It was a lot like the necklaces for the Harmony stones, only, it had many unique designs and patterns such as swirls and hearts skillfully embedded into the blend of light pink and purple, although it was gold it reflected the colors beautifully. There were several hearts embedded into it, getting bigger as they lead to the end, were a beautiful pink heart, was in place, and was like a much smaller of Spike's Rarity's fire ruby. "It's beautiful. Where did you buy this?" "I made the design." "Oh Button, you didn't have to do that for me," "I had to, I knew that it would suit a beautiful mare such as yourself. Happy Hearth's Warming, Belle." he received a tight hug from Sweetie Belle, who had tears of joy on her face. Finally, she pulled back. "Now open your presents." Button did as told, and was amazed at the newest and hottest games he had inside the wrapping paper. Batmare, Legend of Zelda, Mortal Kombat X, the newest games he'd never thought he receive. "Sweetie Belle..." he was silent for a minute, worrying Sweetie Belle. "You're the greatest." he jumped up and cheered like he won the lottery, and in his book, he had. "You know me so well Sweetie Belle." he finally said at the end. He received a hug from the mare and they kissed. They eventually parted and prepared themselves to meet up with their family and friends. Throwing on their scarves, hats and coats, the two went outside to their families. "Button, Sweetie Belle, glad you two finally made it." Rarity said as she sat on her son's elegant sled, who was ready to slide down the hill the two just climbed on. "Happy Hearth's Warming Rarity, I take that you're enjoying yourself?" Sweetie Belle teasingly asked her sister. "I certainly am, you should say hello to everyone else, we've been waiting for you." Rarity uttered. Immediately she and her son raced down the hill, both screaming in enjoyment as they came to a stop in the snow, having so much fun that they didn't seem to notice the snow in their hair. Sweetie Belle and Button walked around and talked with everyone, who were all glad to see them all. Eventually they were approached by their closes friends. "Hey guys happy Hearth's Warming." Scootaloo said as she approached the two with Apple Bloom, Pipsqueak and Rumble right behind her. "Hey guys," Sweetie Belle said. "What a snow day, I haven't seen one like this in ages." Rumble said as he watched all of the other families. "Ah know, it was just like yesterday that we were in that position." It was a Hearth's Warming day, Button had just opened up his new sled and video game systems. He was eager to go outside to share it with his friends, especially Sweetie Belle. This surprised his family. "Don't you want to play a game Button?" his dad asked. "Nah, I'm just going to play with my friend Sweetie Belle." Button explained. His family stood in shock as they saw him race out the door with the new sled, running to the tree he and Sweetie Belle always met at. He waited as he watched the snow fall, and admired the snow in the trees. He stood there for a few minutes before being hit by a snowball. "Hi Button." Came a giggling Sweetie Belle. "Hi Sweetie Belle," he replied as he wiped the remaining snow from his face. It had been about a little year since the two became friends, and they agreed to spend the snow day together. "My friends should be coming in a minute." Sweetie Belle said. Button's ears drooped. 'Friends? I thought that it was only the two of us.' he didn't let it show on his face. Fortunately, before Sweetie Belle could say anything else, her two friends came racing up the hill with two other colts. "Hey Sweetie," Scootaloo said. She looked at the colt next to her, who had a tinge of red on his face from the cold. "Hi Button." she said. "There you are dude, we've been all over looking for you. You weren't anywhere we looked, so we thought we'd come here were we always see you with your fillyfriend. The two blushed. "She's not my fillyfriend!" "I'm not his fillyfriend!" The two exclaimed at the same time. They all laughed. "We're just messin' with you dude," Rumble said, avoiding his gaze with Scootaloo, his face the tips of his ears slightly going red. Pipsqueak, still small for his age, seemed to be blushing up a storm as he stared at a certain red haired earth pony with a pink bow. Who was as oblivious to it as she was to her special talent. Scootaloo seemed the same way as well as she stared at the pegasus colt. "You ok there Scoots?" Sweetie asked as she waved a hoof in front of the filly's face. Both foals snapped out of their trances. "Yeah, I'm fine, hey that's a pretty sweet sled you got there Rumble." "You really think so? My dad got it for me." "How about we have a race?" Pipsqueak said. "I'll go with Apple Bloom on her sled, Sweetie Belle can go on Button's, and Scootaloo with Rumble." The colt suggested. "That sounds fun." Apple Bloom said. Pipsqueak blushed. "Hey dude, are you blushing?" Button asked. "It's from the cold." The colt answered quickly. "I swear that you weren't blushing before those other girls showed up." Rumble insisted. "Don't worry about it, let's just race!" Sweetie Belle said. Pipsqueak was grateful. They all ran towards the tallest hill they could find, and climbed on to their sleds. "We go on three...," They all leaned forward. "two," Rumble's wings started to flap until it resembled an engine. "three!" Sweetie Belle exclaimed, and they were off, the pegasi in the lead as Pip and Apple Bloom were a close second. Button and Sweetie Belle leaned forward, going faster in the process. They all panicked once they saw a huge lump on the ground. They flew into the air, losing control of their sleds as they all landed in different places. Button landed in a snow pile, and Sweetie Belle coincidently next to him. She laughed, and giggled. "That was fun." she claimed. Soon, Button laughed with her, happy and glad that he landed in snow. They laughed until their sides hurt. Finally, Button stood up and held out a hoof. Sweetie took it. "Want to build a snow pony?" she asked excitedly. Button smiled. "Yes." They raced to a pile of snow, where they rolled snowballs and had snowball fights and made angels and snow ponies until they all went to SugarCube Corner for coco. The group sighed. "That was the life." Scootaloo said as they recalled their memories. "I just wish I had a foal now so that I can do it all over again." Sweetie Belle said. She felt a small nudge on her foreleg and looked down to see her niece. "Um, aunt Sweetie Belle, I was hoping you would like to... um... go sledding with me?" she asked. She looked up shyly. Sweetie Belle smiled. "Yes." she followed her niece, and boarded the sled with her. A single happy tear flying past her as she pushed off and down the hill.