Steam Powered Love

by Partycannon_

Heart of Steam

- Heart of Steam -

Hi, my name is Button Mash, I am a brown colt with a reddish brown mane. I live in Ponyville, a floating city powered by steam. Everything up here is powered by steam, the showers, the toilets, the ovens, the clothing, and so on and so fourth. My dad is also the CEO of Steam Corp. a company that specializes in making steam power, its kind of a big deal but I don't really like to brag.

Today my dad gave me a bag of bits to buy a new hat, the steam engine in the last one broke so it no longer gave off steam which is a shame, I loved that hat. I really don't like getting new clothing, or going out in general, I hate it when ponies notice me. But I heard about this off the wall place that I can get to through the back streets, which is great! I put on my brown cloak that hid most of my body with steam pouring out at the top of the hood, very useful for not being noticed.

I left my house through the back door and passed through the back gate ending up in the back roads. The back roads are nice, the streets are made from cobblestone like the rest of the roads in Ponyville but there's less traffic. Also you get to see some neat stuff, for instance there was a band the other day of steam powered instruments playing themselves to yester years pop, which is a rarity. Doesn't seem like there is anything today though, just the usual beggars. Dad tells me not to give bits to them, he says they just use it to get high on 'fumes' or something like that.

I finally made it, Carousels & Boutiques, it looks to be a circus tent from the outside, through the windows I see that there are mannequins displaying clothing as they rotate on a large cog. I opened the door and entered hearing a loud BIZZT.

"Hello welcome to Carousels & Boutiques, is there anything I can do for you!" said a white unicorn with a blue mane and a hat with ten or so pipes letting off steam.

"Uh, um. I, uh... I'm going, to um. I'm j-just looking!" I said very manly like.

The mare looked at me puzzled as I trotted off. Hopefully she doesn't bother me again...

The inside was cool, there were six carousels slowly moving while the clothing was being displayed. Almost all of the clothing let off steam, the steam traveled upwards and left the tent through cleverly designed slits. I was in awe of the design, the awesomeness!

"Hey, buddy, can you get out of the way?" a large stallion looked down to me, his towering height was immense.

"Uh, y-ye-eah" I swiftly moved out of the way so he could look at a peace of clothing. I uh, normally stand my ground but it was not needed here. Yeah getting out of the way was the best option!

Anyways I trotted over to the small section, I know its hard to think of me as a 'small' pony but its true. I saw a ton of clothing, some had useful gadgets like the ability to pressurize steam, the ability to hold pressurized steam, and even a backpack propeller. I didn't need any of that though, even the propeller, sure it might seem like fun and sure it might let you get out of tough crowds but do you know how much attention you get for having one? Some ponies say that 'It costs too much bits,' but I think they are just too scared to have one. Oh, uh not that I would be scared of course!

I trotted back and fourth looking at the displays however there was nothing that really spoke to me. I guess I'll go check out my father's stores. I decided to start leaving in defeat. Then I noticed it, A AWESOME PROPELLER HAT! I gawked respectfully at it. It was in a case near the back of the store, it didn't have a price tag and was locked inside of its case. I knew what I had to do! It was probably the hardest thing that I EVER did in my entire life!

I trotted up to the check out looking away, I knew what I had to do next... "H-How much is the propeller hat in the back," I said as my eyes were forced shut when I pointed a hoof at the hat.

"That item is not for sale," said the most beautiful voice I had ever heard.

I looked up to see the still yet fantastic green gaze of a white unicorn around my age. "I, uh" I blushed, in a very manly way.

"I do not understand?" her angelically robotic voice broke through my heart.

"Uh, um," mind, not, working.

"Is there a problem?" the mare with the blue mane makes her way over to the two of us.

"I do not understand?" her angelic voice once again said.

The mare with the blue mane looked at me as I tried and travel through the labyrinth of my mind searching for words to use. She then turned to the cashier, then once again back to me.

"Sorry little one, Sweetie Bot here is a older model so you have to be more specific when talking to her. Oh and my name is Rarity, what's yours?" the mare said to me with a kind smile.

I looked away. "I, am, Button Mas-"

"Hello, Rarity! My name is Sweetie Bot!" Sweetie loudly stated, startling me in the process.

"Oh? Is your memories acting up again?" Rarity trotted over to Sweetie Bot as she opened up one of her awesome looking hatches. Rarity looked rather upset as she messed around with Sweeties wires.

I trotted around to watch her work and noticed that all of the wires were everywhere, some of them were in the complete wrong place. "You need to connect the 'C' wire to the yellow one. That's probably why her memories short circuit," I pushed Rarity to the side as she stared at me with confusion. "This one goes here, this can be upgraded, this one... this one belongs in the trash!"

"Oh, your being safe with her aren't you?" Rarity watched closely.

"Uh huh," I continued to fix the mess of wires.

"Hey, you're name was Button? Right? It seems you know a lot about robots?" Rarity looked at me with intrigue.

"Right" I answered connecting two wires.

---

"Alright, I'm done!" I wiped away some of my sweat.

"Huh? Oh?" Rarity shot up with some drool dripping from her mouth. "I see you're finally finished?"

"Uh, um, yes," I answered looking away.

"Sweetie Bot at maximum efficiency!" Sweetie Bot said loudly.

"Oh wow, she hasn't said that sense the day I first got her!" Rarity dashed over to Sweetie Bot.

"Yeah..." I started trotting away. I trotted up to the door and tried to push it open but it didn't budge.

"Are you already leaving? Is there something you wanted in return? Maybe a hat?" Rarity looked at me with a smile.

"Um, n-no thank you. C-Can you let me out, please?" I said quietly pointing at the door.

Rarity tilted her head. "Well you are welcome back anytime! Its rather late, do you want me to bring you home?" Rarity said in a smile.

"I-Ill be okay," I left after she unlocked the door.

It was dark, the only light came from the steam powered street lights. I looked around just to see no pony at all. "YES, I WAS SOO COOL! NOPONY IS MORE AWESOME THEN ME!" I cheered.

Some lights to nearby houses turned on. "WHO IS SCREAMING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT!" yelled a sleepy mare.

I ran home startled. But I am pretty cool aren't I? I mean if Sweetie Bot had feelings I am sure she would be my friend, hay she might even want to... Date me? My face heated up pretty bad but I managed to cool it off in the night breeze.

---

I stood in front of my home. The door was ready for opening but I didn't want to go inside. On one hoof I could get chewed out by my father for being out so late but on the other hoof..

The door creaked as I opened it, however none of the lights were on. The house was shrouded in darkness, its what I feared. There was a letter laying on the other side of the door addressed to me. I picked it up and threw it on my bed, I then walked into the kitchen to make myself something to eat.

After I ate the same sandwich I always eat, I decided to throw myself in bed. It felt off laying in bed, it was only heightened by me forgetting to remove the note. I took out the note and decided to give it a read.

---

Dear: Button Mash

Hey son!
I won't be coming home tonight so make whatever you would like! I hope you enjoy you're new hat, I haven't gotten to see it yet but I am sure it is awesome!
Hey Button, can you please go back to school? I talked to you're teachers and classmates, they all really miss you. You're teacher said you where one of the best students he could ever ask for. Its what you're mother would have wanted.

Best Wishes: Your Dad

---

I threw the note to the trash, it rolled down the mountain of wadded up papers and finally reached the floor finding itself among even more balls of paper.

I tried to sleep, but found myself having a staring contest with my ceiling. I could have won if that pesky sun didn't get in my eyes.

---

I decided to go out and get a few things today so naturally I threw on my cloak and grabbed all of the money I had been saving. I found myself in front of one of my favorite stores. I opened the door and heard a Ding. Inside revealed a cramped space filled with shelves upon shelves of bolts, wires, tools, and everything in-between.

"Ah! Button! Hey, I haven't seen you in a few months. What are you looking for?" said the mare at the counter.

"Yes, I need everything that is on this list," I put the note on the table.

"What are you planning on making with all of these parts? Also some of the data chips are going to be pretty expensive, I would lose my job if I gave those to you." the mare overlooked the list. "Are you trying to make a heart? You know how expensive those are right? They could cost you millions of bits," the mare put down the list and looked at me with skepticism.

I lifted up my satchel and managed to drop it on the counter, a loud clash of coins fill the air.

"Button..." the mare said quietly.

"Its just a project I want to work on. Also don't worry I didn't steal from my dad, this was all built up over a few months," I said rubbing the back of my head, I really don't need a new hat, all I wear is this cloak anyways.

"Fine, if you promise to come by more often," the mare smiled.

"What? Uh, sure whatever."

---

The door creaked open as I pushed, I hit the light switch and a Humm filled the air as the room became brighter. It was my garage although with a lot more dust. This place was filled to the brim with hammers and other objects of fun. I pulled back my chair and dusted off the seat. I sat down and dusted off my work station then lifted my satchel and poured the objects out onto the table.

I leaned over and turned on my desk lamp, the steam from the lamp entered the air and got sucked through the vent above. Then I leaned back and stretched a little. I began working on the project, I connected wires, bolted some metal together, tightened some bolts, and connected the data chips.

Finally after what felt like hours, the heart was finished! It was extremely complex but it was finally complete, I put it in a small box and put it in my satchel and darted out the front door after putting on my cloak. I tripped on a few papers at the front door but I am to excited to even care. I mean, I am going to get a friend, a REAL FRIEND.

I dashed through the streets, every pony was headed home, it was noon after all. I guess it really did take a few hours. There were a few things to look at on the way to Carousels & Boutiques but I don't really care all that much. But I finally made it, I wiped away some of my sweat and tried to push open the door but no luck. Without thinking I knocked.

"Just a minute!" said Rarity's voice from the other side of the door.

I heard the sound of the locks unlocking and saw Rarity's face peer out the door.

"We are cl- Oh, Button! Come on in!" Rarity smiled pushing open the door.

"T-Thank you!" I enter slowly.

"So, what brings you to the Boutique? I haven't seen you in a week. Actually before that let me thank you on upgrading Sweetie Bot, she has been able to do so many more things now," Rarity jumped with excitement.

"W-Well, I wanted to give Sweetie Bot one final upgrade," I rubbed the back of my head.

"Alright! That sounds wonderful!" Rarity beamed.

"Um, y-yeah," I looked away.

"Hey Button? Why are you always so nervous around me?" Rarity asked an impossible question.

"I, uh.." I searched my mind endlessly for an answer but couldn't find one.

Rarity smiled. "Button, I consider you a good friend, there is no need to be so nervous," Rarity bent down to match my height.

"I understand," I smiled.

"While you work on Sweetie Bot I will be cleaning, if you need anything let me know," Rarity said as she trotted away.

I sighed as I walked over to Sweetie, I hope she likes me if this heart works. I took out the heart and opened a hatch, I started connecting the heart up to her wires. The wires were just as neat and organized as I left it which made my job really easy. After all of the wires were connected I closed the hatch and took a few hoof steps back as Sweetie Bot updated. My heart was racing, it had to work!

Sweetie Bot then turned to me after a few long minutes, she seemed almost life like, her movements were no longer programed, no longer perfect. Her hoof step forward was filled with flaws, just like any pony else, yet it was more beautiful then anything I had ever seen. She darted past me almost throwing me out of the way as she threw herself into the hooves of Rarity.

"I-I LOVE YOU SISTER!" Sweetie Bot cried. Not long after the hug was mutual and both of them began to cry. They had their eyes closed but I was sure even if they had them open they wouldn't be able to see through the streams of tears.

I... I... Feel.. Awful. I wanted to hit myself. How could I be so selfish! I didn't even ask Rarity or even thought about her feelings. I just wanted to have a friend, I wanted to take Sweetie Bot away from her sister. I didn't even care about Sweetie herself. I'm going home, its clear I don't belong here.

---

Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Uh, what? I slowly got out of bed, my headache was massive. I made my way over to the front door and shoved a few letters off to the side. I opened the door and sunshine flew in.

"Button! I am so glad I found you!" Rarity entered my house lifting me into a small hug.

"Huh, what's going on?" I asked rubbing my hoof in my eyes.

"Me and Sweetie found you to give you a thank you present!" Rarity sat me down. "You have no idea how hard it was to find you dear! It seems the only pony to know anything about you was a mare at one of the tool stores."

I looked at the door as my eyes adjusted to the light revealing Sweetie Bot with a decently sized package. I started to blush and quickly tried to hide it. Sweetie Bot stepped inside and put the package on the floor. She then looked to me in a smile, I then had to hide my blush again.

"U-Uh, can you take it back please. I don't, um deserve it," I said while hiding my face.

"Whatever do you mean? Of course you deserve it," Rarity sat close to me with a gentle smile.

"Yeah, what do you mean Button?" Sweetie Bot asked me.

I let out a sigh. "I-I made you that heart because I wanted a friend... No one ever talks to me, they all think I'm weird. I was selfish and I should have known it was bad to put a heart in you without asking. I don't deserve friendship, not even love. I am just some annoyin-"

Rarity hugged me... She didn't mind the stream of tears running down her back, and I didn't mind the nice warmth of a hug, I missed this feeling.

Rarity sat me back down after a few short minutes. Sweetie opened the box and took out a propeller hat and placed it on my head.

"This looks better on you then a dirty old cloak," Sweetie smiled.

- The End! -

Author's Note:

DAMMIT, IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A WHOLESOME COMEDY! WHY THE CRAP DID I MAKE IT SAD! I'll make a post after I finish up Unidentified Path Forward about what I want to make next. Lets just say none of them are wholesome and the one wholesome idea I had (this story) I somehow messed it up.

Sorry this one took a while to get out, it took more time then I expected. Didn't help I spend a whole day deciding to use the word "he" over "she" in the letter when he is talking about the teacher. Because it can go either way, on one side we can assume that things here are different and maybe Button really does have a stallion as a teacher. On the other hand (hoof) we are already questioning whether everything we are reading is the truth because of Buttons perception and him and his father have a relationship which you can only speculate on and maybe his father is just lying to him. Or maybe NO ONE CARES and I am reading too much into something that not a single person will notice. Thank you for allowing me to waste you're time.

If I get enough people yelling at me I can make a short epilogue but this story is done!

Comments

[YoursTruly]

nicely made.
i love the concept! its very unique.
the only problem is button thinking he was selfish at the end was kinda forced.
nicely made though.

10/10

[DCpnoy]

This was one of the best way to waste my time, thank you very much

[Partycannon_]

Thank you guys! It means alot! Glad you enjoyed it.

[Brony9216]

Probably the most unique of both the Sweetie Bot and Buttonbelle stories I've read. In fact, I don't think I've seen another story combing these two, despite the now obvious technology connection.

It's tough to say the exact reason why, but the narration is much better here than in UPF.

[Partycannon_]

11232237
Thank you! Steam Punk is a cool genre and it helped make this story something interesting.

My lack of skill really showed in UPF, with that being my first story I would say it makes sense. I feel like I have grown a lot better as a writer sense then.

[Green-Venom]

Don’t you love it when random searches lead you to some of the best stories?

Steampunk, Sweetie Bot & Botton Mash. A rare combination, and you pulled it off perfectly.

Have a favorite!

[Partycannon_]

11608974
Thanks! I'm glad you found this story and liked it.

[Green-Venom]

11609077
BTW: Do you have more steampunk in your folder of planned?

[Partycannon_]

11609099
Not currently, only Slice of Life and Horror stuff as of now. I will probably do more Steampunk in the future though. ButtonPunk should 100% be a genre, I think it fits too well.

[Green-Venom]

11609116
True.

[Hannah Nelson]

I liked the steam

[Pony_01]

After a weird reading drought I’m finally here reading one of your other stories, and I quite like this one. The way you write Button Mash was very fun, very wholesome, and unexpectedly sad? Bittersweet I believe they call it.
Didn’t expect to see Sweetie Bot here but it’s quite fitting, applause to that.

In short it was a extremely enjoyable read, I shall now go acquire my yo-yo, hammer, and other objects of FUN!!!

[Partycannon_]

11808057
Thanks! I have really fond memories of making this one and to this day I think it's one of my best.
Button is like me just without all the 'fun' and 'wholesome'.
Well, I can't have a steampunk story without Sweetie Bot can I?

I'm glad you commented, it made me read the story again. Sure I noticed every single spelling mistake but it was still fun to go through memory lane. Finally, WHY DO I HAVE TO BE IN THE WATER?