Student of Friendship

by zalla661


Starlight Star Bright

Starlight felt tense as she stood in the tub looking down at her young coltfriend. He was so small compared to her now. Although he could easily stand up to her chin for she too was rather young compared to Twilight and her friends, she could still see the anxiety in Button's face. He was struggling to come to terms with what he was seeing.

It was also very clear he was trying to wrap his mind around the fact a mare could be interested in him. After Starlight emerged from the water all he could do was gawk at her, his jaw hanging open, as he inspected her new mature form. She tried her best to stay clam as he appraised her and smiling down at him. Finally he closed his mouth and managed to find his voice again.

"Wow."

Starlight tilted her head, never breaking eye contact. "Wow?" she cooed. "Am I so beautiful that you're at a loss for words?"

She bent down rubbing her nose to his. At first he tried to back away remembering what his parents told him about adults touching him in such ways, but he felt drawn to her. He stopped and allowed her to touch noses with his. The familiar scent of her ran through his nostrils making him feel at ease with her.

"Star? Is it really you?" he asked.

"Mhmm. It's me Button." she replied.

"Wow, I- I never thought a grown mare would like me... Is that weird?" he asked unsure of what to make of this situation.

Starlight leaned down pulling him to her. She rested his head on her chest leaning back in the tub and had him lay on her. With a gentle shake of her head she pet his mane and gave him a reassuring look.

"No, it's not weird." she said to him. "Love is, it's something, I don't really know. What I do know is the love I felt for you is real, Button. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise."

For several minutes the two just sat in the tub. The warm water melting way all their tensions and fears like a perfect remedy. Starlight felt free. For the first time in a long time she finally felt like something was going right for her. She felt on top of the world, and Button was that world.

After the bath the two left with a brief goodbye to Lotus and Aloe heading into Ponyville. They walked among the food stands searching for something to do.

"Hey, Star?"

"Hmm?"

She looked down at the colt by her side. He grinned up at her making her feel warm inside.

"Do you want get some food?" he asked shaking a small bit bag.

A slight rumble in Starlight's stomach made her blush and Button's grin widened.

"I figured." he said brushing up against her side. "Come on! Let's go get something!"

They walked side by side until they came up to a small stand where they were selling corn on the cob. Starlight and Button each got one and the colt paid for them. The mare at the stand giggled at him as he tried to act cool with Starlight in a flirtatious way.

As the nibbled on their corn they walked down a street that was lined with a variety of games from ring toss to water gun challenges. Starlight watched as several foals ran around with their parents smiling at them. She then caught sight of a griffin fletchling flying around a pegasus stallion next to a griffoness. The tiny griffon flew around and around the stallions head giggling as she flew around him.

Starlight smiled at the young fletchling as they went by. Button watched in awe as they opened their wings and flew away. Starlight noticed him and got a sly grin.

"Hey Button? Do you wanna fly with me?" she asked in a low voice.

Button gave her a curious glance. "What do you mean?"

"I wanna fly with you Button." she said lifting him up with her magic, levitating him beside herself. "You wanna see the world in a new light?"

He nodded to her as she readied herself to fly. A brown hoof flew up in front of her face stopping her before she lifted off. She looked to Button who had a worried look on his face, like he was scared.

"Please go slow for me?" he whimpered softly.

She gave him a smile followed by a quick peck on his lips. Button felt his face burn as he looked away from her, but heard her say, "I'll never let you fall, Button."

After that she gave a light jump using her magic to gently lifter herself and Button off the ground. Slowly they rose into the air gaining speed as they went. Seconds later they were flying off into the sunset over Ponyville.

Button gasped as they lifted quickly off the ground. He wiggled his legs trying to find some solid ground to stand on even though it was hopeless. He closed his eyes tight Once the initial shock wore off he found the weightlessness inviting. He was flying! A feeling of joy and excitement filled him as they flew across the sky together.

The feeling of the wind in his mane was nice. He wondered if this feeling of joy was something all pegasi had whenever they flew. Was it something Starlight felt when she flew? Looking up to her she seemed to be enjoying herself very much. He wondered what she was thinking right now, flying. He reached over touching her shoulder.

"Starlight?"

"What's wrong? Am I going too fast? Need me to slow down?" she asked concerned.

Button shook his head letting her know he was fine. "No, I just was wondering something."

Starlight looked back to where she was flying. She circled around the large clock tower and doubled back towards Ponyville Elementary. As she descended to the school house roof Button took the chance to speak to her while she wasn't distracted flying.

"I was wondering about, well... us?" he said in an unsure tone.

Starlight didn't respond immediately. She softly landed on the red roof of the school house and set Button on her back. She sat down watching the sunset. She looked at him with a sad look. This was a conversation she wasn't looking forward too.

"Well, Button. To answer your question I'm not sure." she replied.

"Oh."

Button looked out a the sunset and then down to the ponies below them. Couples were all around. Some hugged, some held tails, all around love was in the air and you didn't have to be a changeling to feel it. He thought it might have been the warmth from the sun, but deep in his heart Button knew he loved Starlight.

Looking away from her he casually placed his hoof on hers. She regarded his touch with a loving smile.

"We sure have been together a while, haven't we?" Starlight asked him.

He nodded in return. "Yeah, but still so short and fleeting."

"I know." Starlight said sadly. "Button, can I ask you something?"

"You can ask me anything, Star." he said leaning into her side to kiss her cheek.

"You're so adorable." Starlight cooed kissing him back.

"Yeah, thanks. You're amazing too Star."

"Thanks, Button." she replied hugging him. Sliding him in front of her she held him like a foal would a plush toy. "Button. I'm scared you know."

"Of what, Star?"

The mare thought for a moment before she replied, "I once ruled a small town far north from here. Our Town we called it. A paradise for anyone who sought refuge from an oppressive society." She scoffed at the thought of her old home and the subsequent betrayal after. Deep down she knew she couldn't blame the ponies of her town for being mad but like she was use to she ran. "

"What happened there?" Button asked the silent mare.

"I lied to them Button. I lied about what I was."

"What does that mean?" he asked.

Starlight cringed at the thought of revealing the truth of her darker times to him. He was so young, would he hate her for it? Would he even understand? Perhaps it was better for them if they weren't together. After all, how could a young colt understand the troubles of a broken mare?

"I stole everyponies cutie mark, Button." She said coldly.

"Their cutie marks?" he parroted. "What does that mean?"

"It means I took the cutie marks right off the ponies flanks!" She snapped at him, making him cringe under her massive form. "I stole the marks and kept mine! I bore the responsibility to make everypony equal but never go the chance cause of Twilight and her friends leading my town to revolt against me and making my four closest friends betray me!"

She stood panting over the cowering colt, who curled up into a shivering ball, and tried to hide from her. Once she calmed down and realized what she had done she backed away from the colt, and she retreated to the other side of the roof.

She sat alone, the sounds of Button whimpering behind her filled her heart with sorrow and guilt. Trying to not break into tears herself, Starlight looked to the sunset as if seeking some sort of penance with the burning ball of fire, as if some great cosmic answer would swoop down and tell her the answer.

Suddenly she felt a pair of hooves wrap around her waist and a small snout press against her back. She craned her neck back to see Button rubbing his face gently against her.

"Button, wha-why?" she asked with a choked sob. "Why are you doing this?"

He smiled reaching up taking hold of Starlight's cheek and pulled her head down. His lips met hers and in a moment the flood gates opened leaving them both in a flurry of happiness and sorrow. It had been a long time since Starlight felt such a wave of emotions and Button was left speechless as they continued on until the sun was completely gone.

The warmth faded as did the sunlight, giving way to the cool air of the night and moon. As slowly as the sun set the moon arose from the depths of the horizon and drifted to the sky. After they settled down Starlight and Button just sat back and watched the stars as they appeared across the sky. The constellations painted across the sky and the clouds drifter slowly around like a well orchestrated playwright.

Button was never one to simply stargaze felling it was too boring. He always laughed at his mom when she said such things would change when he found love. Now he was sure she would be laughing now had she been here.

"Lovely isn't it?" Starlight asked laying on her back beside him.

"Yeah, they kinda are." Button replied back casually.

A moment of silence passed.

"You know, I use to do this all the time long ago." she said, pointing to the constellation Draco. "There was a pony who I was friends with and we use to stargaze all the time. We would play together, laugh together, do everything together."

She rubbed her belly with her hoof making small circles in her fur.

"I t was very much like the days I've spent with you, Button. Fun. Something I haven't had in a long time." She admitted. "I finally achieved some sort of happiness with you, but, I need to know something Button."

Button looked to his mare friend with a worried look. "What is it, Star?"

"I realize it wouldn't be fair of me to take the best years of your life from you. I'm too old."

"Heh, you not that old." Button scoffed rubbing his nose against her cheek.

"Daww, thanks Button." she kissed his nose. "But I have to ask, do you wish to stay with me Button? I'm a mare and that means if we stay together we can't tell anypony about our relationship. It would be difficult since most ponies would recognize me and my name, but we could pull it off."

The colt looked confused at the mare as she went on, wondering where she was going with this he asked, "What does this mean, Star? Are you breaking up with me?"

She shook her head resting her hooves on his shoulders. "No Button. I'm asking you if 'YOU' want to stay or break up with me?"

'I, I don't know Starlight." Button hesitantly replied rubbing his hooves together. "One the one hoof, I don't want to break up, but..."

Starlight smiled nudging him gently with her nose to reassure him. "Please, go on. Tell me what you feel."

Button Mash steeled his resolve, taking a deep calming breath. Thinking long and hard in his mind of what he could do to stay with Starlight, damn the consequences. He loved her and nothing was going to break them apart!

"But, I, I don't want you to get in trouble either Starlight." he smiled at her, getting a curious look from her. "So here's what I propose."

"He leaned into her ear a whispered into it. Starlight nodded occasionally and eventually found a certain delight in his words that she began to swish her tail back and forth like an excited dog. Once she heard Button's idea she squealed hugging the colt tightly to her chest.

"OH BUTTON! THAT'S BRILLIANT!" she happily exclaimed.

"I figured you'd like it." he said.

The bell tower nearby rang signaling it was now ten o'clock. Starlight sighed with a weak smile at button who was positively beaming at her with joy.

"Come on you scoundrel. Let's get you home." she said putting him on her back and flew off to his home.

Two days later Button was at home after school playing with his joyboy when a knocking at his door broke his attention.

"Button! It's almost dinner time!" his other's voice called from beyond the threshold.

"OK, I'll be down in a minute mom!" he called back.

He closed his game and looked at his online messages. Seeing no new messages he sighed and powered down his joyboy, and placed the game device on his dresser before running off to wash his hooves for dinner.

"Button! Don't run in the house!"

Back in Twilight's castle Starlight Glimmer had just arrived with a large gift bag. She was briskly walking to her room when she came upon her mentor, Twilight. The two mares glared at one another. They stared in awkward silence until Guiding Wind came up behind the Princess and greeted her.

"Oh, Princess! I'm so glad to have found you!" the mare said with a bow. "The dignitary is here to see you."

She then turned to greet Starlight as quickly as possible. "Ah, Young Miss. Good to see you again. How have you fared?"

Starlight was about to respond when Twilight cut her off before a word was said.

"Thank you Guiding Wind. I'll see to him at once." she brushed past Starlight, who stood defiantly in place. "My faithful student."

"Princess."

Both mares spoke with nothing but venom and spite in their voices as they went their separate ways, leaving a confused and disgruntled maid behind. This had become routine for the two ponies. Both would only stay in proximity to the other to greet the other and leave and wold have their meals brought to their rooms or the library. For two days this was what they did at Guiding Winds expense.

The feeling of anger was soon gone when Starlight locked herself in her room. She looked around like she was expecting someone to see her as she revealed a dirty secret. Slowly she walked to her bed and placed the bag on the soft covers. Using her hooves she reached in the bag and pulled out a small box that read Joyboy DXL Large.

She grinned at the device and began to diligently unwrap it. Once done she inserted a memory stick and began the long process of updating and setting up the system while she read the instruction manual. An hour later she was ready and the first thing she did with her new joyboy was search for a friend. Masher22. Finding the name, she sent a quick friend request. When a message appeared saying the request was sent, she sighed contently and began to download pokemon on her joyboy. While she waited she pulled out another box, bigger than the last one that said, Ponystation 4, and put it to the side of her dresser until she got a TV. Until then she would be content with messaging Button through her joyboy, and that was good enough for her.

Lasting Friendship Gained: :heart::heart::heart::heart::heart::heart: Infamy: XXX