"....we went to the clouds to count the stars." Scootaloo said dreamily. The other crusaders looked at each other with smug looks. "What?"
"I thought that you hated romance." Sweetie Belle implied.
"You mean before I started having a crush, dating, marrying, and getting pregnant six months ago?" Scootaloo shot back teasingly.
"Good point." Apple Bloom said. "Speakin' of which, my foal is kicking like crazy in there." She gestured to her stomach.
"Tell me about it." The other two said.
"Whenever I try to sleep," Scootaloo encouraged, "my foal is either kicking or my back hurts." She said.
"Not to mention they're always fluttering around inside you like there's literally butterflies inside my stomach. If I even go near hay or onions, I get sick." Sweetie Belle said. The three of them laughed.
"Can ya believe we're all six months?" Apple Bloom said as they looked at the cloudy sky.
"It feels just like yesterday we were becoming friends." Scootaloo said.
"And we made the club, added Babs, Imp, and Discord," Sweetie continued.
"And all of those adventures we went on." Apple Bloom said distantly.
"Yeah, we can trust each other with anything, after all we've been through." Scootaloo said. Sweetie Belle looked to the side, pausing while her friends talked.
"You ok Sweetie Belle?" The two asked, immediately taking notice. Sweetie Belle sighed, tears brimming in her eyes.
"Is it something sad?" Scootaloo asked. She nodded while the tears ran down her face.
"When I found out the news six months ago, I was so thrilled.... but then...." She started to sob, glad they were in the treehouse alone.
"We won't judge ya, tell us anything." Apple Bloom assured her friend.
"S-she said that, either me or my foal could die. The damage I took hadn't fully healed, and my pregnancy can end in my foal's death, or my own." By this time, her friends were fighting back their own tears.
"D-does Button know?" Apple Bloom tried saying maturely, but ended up with her voice cracking.
"No, I didn't want him to worry about me."
"You should tell him Sweetie-" Scootaloo
"No! I can't, it'll break his heart, he may become apprehensive, or never forgive me after lying after all this time." She wiped her wet face. "Just, please don't tell anyone, only me and my doctor know. I want to have this foal while I have a chance, even if it costs my own life. Please don't tell him!!" Sweetie begged.
The mares looked with sad looks on their faces, it took a long time for them to respond. " Ok Sweetie Belle." Apple Bloom finally said. "Ah' don't like this, but if you want this, there's nothin' ah' can do to change your decision."
"But..." Scootaloo choked out, she was in a mixture of sadness and anger. "if something were to happen to you, what are we going to do?"
Sweetie looked at her lifelong best friends. The trio had been through so much together, travelled many places, and were able to depend on and trust each other in the deepest circumstances. Sweetie Belle smiled the lump in her throat and wiped her face clean of any tears.
"Move on."
Here it was, the day was finally here! Button had waited a year for this day to come, and it finally has. It was Sweetie Belle's birthday. He had planned this for months, Twilight was proud when he first confronted her about it, and was more than happy to help. They were going to celebrate Sweetie Belle's birthday at the park, where they would have a party all day.
'I have to get Cheese and Pinkie to help with the party, and the Cakes to bake the treats, get Twilight's help with the schedule, I'd better get going.' He stepped out of bed, careful not to wake up his wife, knowing it'd be hours before she'd wake up. He went as quickly and quietly as possible down the stairs, and went out the door. He met up with Pinkie Pie and Cheese, who fell asleep standing.
"Thanks for coming," Button said. Cheese snapped awake.
"Do we have to be up this early?" Pinkie complained. She looked at the sunrise. "The roosters aren't even up yet." She yawned.
"I thought that you were one for partying all night." Button asked.
"When you become a parent, you'll understand." Cheese yawned.
"Can you set up the party please?"
"Of course, why do you think we brought our silent party canons?" Cheese said as the two pulled them out of nowhere.
"How-"
"When you have kids, you'll understand." Pinkie Pie giggled, awake now.
"Thanks." Button replied. He started off to SugarCube Corner, where the Cakes were bustling about, preparing treats for the upcoming day ahead.
Mrs. Cake's ears perked up as she heard the door creak open. "Hello Button," She said before turning around and walking to him.
"How'd you know it was me?" He asked.
"When you're a parent, you'll understand." She answered. "You're checking to make sure the treats are doing well?" She asked.
"Yeah, I am."
"Don't worry," Mr. Cake grunted as he set down several bags of sugar and flour on the ground. "They'll be done just in time for the party." Mr. Cake assured. Button smiled and headed to Ponyville castle. He knocked on the door once before finding a young bright orange face staring up at him from behind it.
"Oh, hi mister Button," The colt said. "I'll go get my mom." He left and returned with Twilight and his sister.
"Hi Button, glad that you made it. I already made a checklist." She teleported a clip board to her, on it was a long list. Button drooped his ears figuring it would be a long morning. To deepen his mood, the paper unfolded showing more things to check.
"See you later kids, and don't wake your dad, he just got off of work." She lectured the two. The two nodded.
"We won't!" They exclaimed as they quickly ran behind the door.
"I guess I'll be going..." Twilight said. Just as the two turned around, the door opened again and the two foals came out to hug their mother and each kissed her on the cheek, causing her to smile and blush.
"Good luck mom." The two said in unison before running back inside once more.
"What was that all about?" Button questioned.
"Kids always do the unexpected, you'll understand-"
"I know, I know, when I'm a parent." Button intruded.
"Right, so," Twilight cleared her throat. "Did you check with the Cakes and Pinkie and Cheese like I asked?" She said, taking out a fresh owl quill.
"Yes, I did." Button answered casually.
"Good," Twilight checked the first two things. "The invitations are sent?"
"Yep." She checked the box next to invitations. The two continued and walked around town until it was bustling with activity. They checked to make sure the stage was rented, went to the farm to check with the Apple treats, went back to the park to check with Pinkie and Cheese, and went to the musician's homes. It was around eleven when they finally finished with the checklist, the park full of ponies putting the finishing touches to the party while the guests started to arrive. Soon enough, everyone was there, and Button went home to get Sweetie Belle.
He unlocked the door to find Sweetie Belle writing in her song book. She turned around to see where the extra light came from and found Button.
"Happy Birthday Sweetie Belle." He said. She smiled and set down the book, book marking a page and steeped up to him. She nuzzled him for a while before they broke apart
"Not surprised that you remembered." She said.
"How could I forget about the day my precious wife was born?" He said.
"Well, considering you memorized every cheat code in the book, and all of your scores on NS4, I'm not surprised." She said.
"Shoot." Button jokingly said. He led the way to the park, where as son as she stepped in the grass, a burst of confetti came out and everyone cheered, scaring the young unicorn into getting giggles and hiccups."
"You *hic* all did this *hic* for me?" She said happily. Everyone laughed as the mare blushed and laughed with them. She walked to the center of the area they where her family, friends, and in-laws stood to greet her.
"Happy Birthday Sweetie Belle." Her mother and father said in unison. The two hugged their youngest daughter happily. Rarity came in afterwards.
"We may have always had our differences, and a lot of arguments, but I'm happy to celebrate the birthday of my little sister." She hugged her sister much more primly and gently than the gentle bear hug her parents gave her. Fancy Pants stood by with his children.
"Greatest wishes to you sister in-law." He said.
"Thank you." She told them. From behind, she felt a tap on her shoulder and turned around to see Apple Bloom with Scootaloo, Imp and to her surprise, Babs.
"Happy Birthday Sweetie." They told her, Imp smiling and nodding along with them. "Thanks girls, and thanks for coming Babs."
"You kiddin'? I wouldn't miss this for any appointment." She said. She then felt someone patting her head and looked up to see her taller brother in-law standing before her.
"Hey little sis, how's my nephew treating ya?" She pushed him away half heartedly and grinned. '"My foal is fine, we don't know the gender, we're keeping it a surprise." She explained like a little sister would.
"I don't need to know. I know it'll be a colt."
"Whatever?" She rolled her eyes and smiled as Button's parents came to greet them.
"Happy Birthday Sweetie Belle." The two congratulated.
"Thank you. Now that we have that out the way, we can continue with our party, shall we?" everyone cheered at her words and the music begun, Octavia and Noteworthy playing several tunes that mixed with the beats of Vinyl and Neon Lights' music. As the music played, there was always someone dancing to it, whether it be a pony, zebra, Draconequos, or dragon.
'I can't believe that everyone came to see me for my birthday,' Sweetie Belle thought as she looked out at all of her different friends laughing and dancing with each other, the little kids running around with sparklers as the day turned to the early evening, slipping on different shades of pink, blue, indigo and purple as the stars poked out of the sky.
"What a beautiful night huh?" A muscular voice asked. She turned around to see two familiar faces across the table full of treats. She found two faces she hadn't seen in a long time.
"Snips? Snails?" She asked. The two beamed and nodded. They weren't the same colts as before, taller, longer hair, definitely different voices. It was as though the ponies she imagined sent in two completely different look-a-likes in their place.
"It's been so long! Ever since you guys moved away a few years ago, I never thought you'd come back here." She said.
"Well, we came here because of this." Snails said as he lifted a ring from around his neck. Sweetie Belle looked at it in surprise.
"You married too? Wow, I've missed out on a lot, I haven't seen you two in ages."
"Yeah, you've changed too, your hair is longer, you're much taller, and you're voice isn't as squeaky before." Snips said.
"I get it, so who's the lucky mare?" Snails looked to the side, Sweetie followed his gaze to Twist.
"I had no idea you married Twist! Ever since she moved away to open her candy shop a few years back, I haven't heard from her until my wedding."
"Oh yeah, you married Button, where is he anyway?" Snips asked.
"Oh he's over there, talking wit Rarity." She pointed in his direction and the stallions gasped at how he looked so different.
"Have we really been gone for that long?" Snips asked.
"Yeah, you even missed the big news."
"What news?" The three of them asked; Twist coming from where she was to check on Snails. Sweetie stepped from behind the table, in which her full body was being shown, shocking the trio.
"Whoa Sweetie Belle!" Twist said, her voice had changed, and she no longer had a lisp in it, She wore small purple glasses and her red curly hair in a ponytail. Her pink eyes filled with surprise.
"Had we really been gone that long?" She asked.
"Yeah, I could say the same about myself."
"I'm... surprised and happy for you Sweetie Belle." Snails said.
"Yeah, me too, let's catch up some other time, they're playing our song!" Twist agreed. She led Snails to the floor where an upbeat melody was playing, every couple went out and danced to it, and Snips just stood there, sighing.
"You'd think that after so long, we would've both been married or split apart." He said out of nowhere to Sweetie Belle. "But I'm still a bachelor and single. And Snails and I have our own lives now, I have my salon here, he and Twist will make a sweet shop, maybe even work with the cakes, or have a successful business together." He sighed.
"Am I rushing this?"
"Yeah, don't rush into happiness, because as soon as it comes, that's as soon as it will go. You'll find you special somepony one day, took me ten years to marry mine." Sweetie Belle said.
"Thanks for listening, Happy Birthday Sweetie Belle." Just as she was about to walk off, he stopped her.
"Wait." She looked back. "I've been through a lot of pain and sadness in my lifetime, but I always had Snails, because I rushed into things, you have a life I'd give my right arm for, great friends, great marriage, enough to have them celebrate this one night for you. And..."
"Yeah?"
"I know it's silly, and rushed, but, please don't make the same mistake I did, seeing an old friend again, I want to see them happy, just please..." He paused as the song came to a close a new one coming on as Button walked to Sweetie Belle.
"Hey Snips, long time no see, thanks for coming, you mind if I steal Sweetie Belle for a minute?"
"Not at all, just finishing up a conversation."
"Ok, talk to ya later, c'mon Belle, they're playing our song." He walked off, waiting for Sweetie to find him.
"S-see ya later Snips."
"don't waste your chance." The stallion finished as he stared at a flower petal that landed on the cloth. Just loud enough for Sweetie Belle to hear as she walked away.
'Don't waste your chance' the words echoed in my head all night, even though Snips had whispered it, he may as well have shouted it with the way I hear it so clearly in my mind. It kept my eyelids from getting heavy, even after such a long and tiring beautiful day and evening of dancing and laughing. I can't stop thinking about what my friend said. What did he go through that made his life so miserable? Could Snails be his first and only true best friend? Why does he emphasize so much happiness for me? More and more questions stirred around in my mind throughout the night, my foal's kicking wasn't helping either.
'Was he talking about me?' Thump.
'Our foal?' Thump.
'My whole life, marriage and friends?' Thump, thump.
'Could it be that he's apprehensive or worried about my future? Or was he thinking about how his choices ruined his future? What choices did he make to need to say that to me? In what ways did his life change? Am I already making that mistake?' As my foal kicked at my ribs, I looked to Button, sleeping so peacefully without a trouble I the world.
That's when he wrapped his arm around me, like a child does with a toy. He tightened his embrace as he held me closer, stopping the pounding thumping in my stomach and my heart.
'What is gong on through his head?' I couldn't help but think. Eventually I fall asleep, pulled into a dream landscape by fatigue, and the feeling of Button protecting me.
As I plunge into a dream, I find myself young again, Button standing right in front of me, a cold look in his eyes.
"Button!" I squeak out. I trot up to my friend as I remember the memory from so long ago. He moves to the side, the world shattering into colorful pieces. He stood behind me, talking so coldly it made me shiver as though there was something cold slipping down my spine.
He murmured something I couldn't hear from behind him, still in shock as to how quickly my dream changed.
"What are you saying?" My voice echoed across the black space.
"I trusted you." He says more harshly.
"Wh-what?" I say uneasily. I suddenly find myself turn and look into his cold orange eyes. Shrunken in hatred.
"I trusted you!!" He shouts out, his voice echoing but never fading. "How could you lie to me!! Don't you love me!"
"Of course I do!!" I try to shout over the shouts of anger as the turned into wailing, crying, my foal...
"You can't even keep a promise, our promise, how am I supposed to believe that!!" The crying became louder even as I crushed my hooves to ears.
"What are you doing to them?!" I scream out, tears coming out my eyes. I know it's my foal, it has to be, I have to get to it. I find my eyes are squeezed shut and open them to find myself in a grassy field. The wailing stopped, Button gone too. I find a fog surrounding me, sticking to my coat as I walk down a path, as though I've taken it before.
I bump into something from the ground, a large rock I hadn't noticed before. I look down to find it's a gravestone. I turn around sharply to find that they're surrounding me. I run. I have to get away from this terrible place, the pounding in my heart seeming to shake through me. I find myself growing s my tears mix with the falling rain that starts to pour.
Where is my protector? My knight in Shining Armor? Where's Button Mash. I hear another wailing, only not a foal's, it sounds like...I run to the source and find myself in the hospital.
"What's going on!!" I shout.
I find myself in a hospital room, ponies running around and getting instruments as they work on the patient, and from the heart monitor, the poor pony doesn't seem like it will make it. I hear wailing from the hallways, it sounds like it's coming from my sister, my mother, my father, it can't be them, who could they possibly be crying over? It doesn't hit me until I find Button by the pony's side, wearing a mask and pleading the pony to stay with him. Shouting and yelling as the doctors try their best to revive the corpse of a body. I then find a lock of messy pink and purple hair come from the side.
The monitor stops, making a long beep as the patient's heart stops. It can't be.
"What are you doing!?" Button yelled out angrily. "Don't just stand there!! Do something!!" The nurses tried reasoning with him, but he pushed them away. From where I was standing on the far side of the room, I could see the tears on his face.
"I can't, I can't, I can't lose both of you..." He wailed. he doctors all looked down, emotionless as they watched the stallion I love cry over someone so important to him.
I turn around to find my self in the cemetery again. Everyone I know wearing black, many dabbing at their wet faces with cloth and linens. I see Button standing next to an open coffin, and find myself inside.
'This can't be..' From the side I see Snips looking towards me, shaking his head. His words echoing through the world, completely oblivious to everything. "Don't ruin your chance..."
The world drifts away, the last thing I see being two coffins, one with my name on it.
"Wake up Sweetie Belle." I hear a familiar voice say.
"Princess Luna." I say. I run to her with my tear stained face, new ones running over the dry ones.
"I came when I saw you dreams filled with torment and sadness. Listen to your friend Sweetie Belle." The stars around us n the Celestial plane started to ripple like water as she floated away.
"Don't ruin your chance."