> Rock Bottom
>  by Hyrulean Brony
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Reveries
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

A teenager stallion runs through the forest, trying desperately to escape the wooden monsters that have been chasing him.
As his lungs fail him, making him notice that he can’t run forever, his mind is taken by thoughts about the past.
		Ponies do crazy things for love, don’t they?
I remember that day… when I was a little colt going to the arcade, and I saw her for the first time. For some reason, I’m not sure why, I cared. 



I remember how nervous I was as I said: “Are you okay? You look sad.”
“I’m…  I’m ok. It’s just that I got in tow today and I don’t know anyone.” The filly answered with a shy smile.
“Don’t worry, ponies in this town are very friendly, you’ll make friends in no time.” I tried to comfort her.
“Thank you! I’m Sweetie Belle, nice to meet you.” She said, offering a hoof.
I shake her hoof and say: “My name is Button Mash, and welcome to Ponyville.”



The brown earth pony looks around and finds a cave. As he trots down the hole, his mind wanders.
When I saw such a beautiful filly walking depressed through the park, I had to do something. And I must say, for a colt whose social contact was limited to his parents, the arcade staff and the teacher, I went pretty well. As sweetie and me kept talking, we grew closer… closer like I’ve never been to anyone else, and I was happy.

The stallion, now at the bottom of the cave, sits against the wall, alone with his mind.



“Are you sure they will like me?” I said, backing off.
“Stop being dramatic, you’re nice and so are they… they will like you.” She assured me, rolling her eyes.
“Thanks Sweetie Belle.” I said, smiling.



As expected, it wasn’t long until what I said came to be; in a few months, Sweetie had made her first friends, which became my first friends not long after. Ponies who taught me how to create bounds and how to keep those bound… bounds that I would want to protect, no matter what.

I remember how many times I argued with Scootaloo… specially that time.



“Please Scootaloo, it’s not safe!”I begged, worried.
“Keep calm Button, Scootaloo is not inexperienced when it comes to danger.” Sweetie belle said… she always believed that the best would happen.
“I know, but this is too much… this is suicide!” I tried to reason, but it was useless.
The orange filly shouts, stomping a hoof to the ground: “Shut up crybaby. How come that the only colt around behaves like a filly among fillies.”
“Scootaloo, that’s…” Sweetie belle was promptly interrupted by the orange pegasus: 
“That is just the true told to a colt who needs a filly to protect him.”
“tch…” At the time, I just backed off, but almost every night I thing about what I should have said… but there was nothing to say.
“Scootaloo, your helmet…” Apple Bloom arrived, carrying a blue helmet.
“Thanks Bloom, Give it to the crybaby, so his mind doesn’t blow up when I jump.” Said the self-confident pegasus, pointing a hoof towards me.



Button Mash touches a scar in the top of his head, smiling weakly. 
Her helmet ended up saving my life, but now I can’t refrain from thinking... what a perfect choice of words.



“Scootaloo, are you okay?” I heard Sweetie asking, worried.
“Yes, I lost balance in mid-air but when I was going to hit that tree, Button Mash just jumped and… Celestia!” When I heard Scootaloo surprised tone, I noticed the pain:
“My head… hurts…” I remember it was hurting so much that I couldn’t feel the helmet I was wearing.
“The helmet… it’s broken…” I could see the despair in sweetie’s eyes as she spoke.
“Is that…” I don’t remember clearly what Apple Bloom spoke… I was starting to pass out by then.
“Bl… blood… Blood, Sompony help!!” I don’t think I have ever seen Sweetie as terrified as that day. 
“We’re Here!” After I saw Apple Bloom waving and shouting, my vision started to fade, but I noticed a purple dragon running in our direction.
“What happened?!” I could hear his voice.
“I fell... sleepy…” I managed to say.
“Button… Please…” I couldn’t see, but I think she was crying. 
As claws put my hooves around the dragon’s neck I could hear he speaking before blacking out: “To the hospital, hurry!”



The young pony lies down on the cave floor, breathing heavily.
When I woke up after the accident, everypony told me I was a hero. Heroes are ponies that risk everything to protect other. I have nothing to risk; all I have are my friends… I just did what I could to protect them, and I paid a high price.



I remember waking up in a hospital room, completely lost: “Wha… What? Where am I?”
“Button? You are awake!” I haven’t noticed Sweetie until she spoke.
“Sweetie… how long have I been sleeping?”  I’ve never felt so anxious about what answer I could get.
“Five days, I was so worried…” She answered, wiping tear with her hooves. 
“Thanks for worrying. But if I have slept for five days… then tomorrow is…!” I couldn’t bring myself to finish the sentence. The realization hit me harder than Scootaloo… I have waited so long…
“Yes, hearts and hooves day… You won’t believe it, Spike asked me on a date.” When Sweetie Belle whispered the last phrase in my ears, I knew she needed me to be happy for her. 
I had to be that friend: “Way to go (huff) Sweetie Belle.”
I was really happy for her, the Sun’s adopted son, assistant to the princesses of Friendship, the hero of the crystal empire… How can anyone compete with that?
“I’m so happy!” As she spoke, she hugged me. I couldn’t help but let my smile fade for a second.
Why am I lying to myself? I spent my whole life trying to get her back, but every word, every gift, that dragon bested each and every one of them.
“I’m (huff) (huff) happy for (huff) (puff)…” Before I could finish, panic took control of me as I noticed I couldn’t breathe.
Sweetie Belle noticed it, and gave me a burden that I would have to carry forever: “Here, take this. I’ve been using it on you, it’s an anti-asthma spray.”




The stallion’s eyes widen, and he touches his sides desperately.

The saddlebag, the spray, I left it with Sweetie Belle, NO!

The teenager stops moving and closes his eyes.



I remember that day, having dinner with my family, when my mother joked: “These fillies are going to kill you one day…”
“Maybe, mom… but I don’t care.” I don’t think I meant it that time.



Button Mash tries hard to breath, tear dripping through his face. He smiles.
Hehehe... I have no regrets.



Earlier today, the three fillies came to my house. Sweetie was the first one to speak: “Fluttershy told us a chicken went into the Everfree…”
“We are going to find it, you’re coming to or you are too afraid?” Scootaloo defied me, as always. I would never let them go to such a dangerous place alone.

But my mother was right: or they would kill me…



“What is that sound?” I asked nervously.
“Timberwolves…” Apple Bloom answered, trembling.



…or they would die.



“I’ll distract them!” I said.
“What!! Are you crazy?!” Scootaloo stared me with widened eyes.
There was no time to argue, so I turned no Sweetie Belle: “Sweetie, take this saddlebag and run, try to find help!!”




The young martyr’s thoughts are interrupted by a familiar growl.
Hehe… Look like the timberwolves have found me.
Button turns his head to the entrance, and gaze upon his predator.
Can’t breathe, can’t run. I’m done for.
Once more, the weak earth pony tries to move, in vain.
I am a pitiful loser; I tried my best in everything, and accomplished nothing. I have no achievements, nor regrets.



“Please Sweetie… give me a chance.” I beg to a desolate filly.
“No Button! Spike will come back… I’ll wait for him.” She answers, in tears.



My vision is fading, and the timberwolf is getting closer. I see light… is it fire? Am I in hell?

As the stallion loses his vision, another being enters the cave, walking through the ashes of the timberwolf, and hurries towards the pony.

I feel something… claws… I’m in hell.

As the purple dragon holds Button Mash in his arms, he smiles proudly and says:
“Don’t worry Button, I’ve got you.”
As the young pony’s mind became foggy, he formulates one last thought:
Yeah… you’ve got me… again.

> Conscience
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

In a Hospital room, an orange filly visits a dear friend.

We are here again, just like that time...
That time, we weren’t alone. Sweetie Belle was here too.



"Do you think he will be alright?" I asked. 
“I hope, I pray …” Sweetie Belle answered with her hooves together.



When you told me you would distract the timberwolves, I wanted to go after you, but I didn’t, I was afraid.
But I swear I ran as fast as I could to get help. I was so happy when we found Spike.



“Spike!!” Sweetie Belle cried as she hugged the dragon.
“What’s going on?” The dragon asked, confused.
“Timberwolves…!” Apple Bloom managed to say, breathing heavily.
“Button Mash is distracting them.” I shouted, impatient.
Spike bared his teeth: “Tch… Button Mash…”

As the dragon said that, I could see it in his eyes eyes… he wasn’t surprised, he was amazed. He can see you like I do; he can see the hero I see.



“Is he going to be alright, sis?” Asked Sweetie Belle, as our sister got out the doctors room.
“We don’t know, darling.” Her sister told us, her eyes filled with tears.
“It’s a miracle he is even alive.” My sister spoke, getting an angry glare from my friend’s sister.



I’ve never been so ashamed in my life before. Being saved by the last pony I would expect.



I asked my sister if she could take me to your room, when we saw you, she asked: “Is that the weakling you told me about, Scoots?”
I hugged her. “(sob) I’m so sorry, Rainbow… (sob)” I cried in her chest.
She hugged me back and said: “Yeah Scootaloo… me too…”



Even after that, I couldn’t bring myself to be honest.
Even that day…



“I don’t think we should call Button Mash to this one…” Sweetie Belle told me as we walked to Sweet Apple Acres.
“Don’t worry Sweetie; he will probably be too scared to come anyway.” I told her.



I wanted you there, I was afraid to go alone, why couldn’t I just say it?
The pegasus hears her friend moving.
“Scootaloo? (huff) Is that You?” The pony asks.
The filly smiles to her savior and asks: “Are you okay, Button?”
“I’ve been better. (huff) Can you please (huff) give the spray.” Says Button, pointing the anti-asthma spray with his hoof.
“Yes, of course.” Says the young mare, giving him his medicine.
The earth pony grabs the spray and takes the liquid, he breathes deeply.
“Thanks, Scootaloo.” Button says, smiling.
Scootaloo sat in Button’s bed and said “You… you saved my life again, you’re a hero Button.”
“A hero… hardly!” Button answers. ”A hero must inspire confidence and security to ponies.” Button holds the medicine bottle in his right roof. "Who would feel safe around a hero who needs a spray to breathe?”
The young mare lean closer to the stallion and whispers: “A pegasus that can't fly."
And with that kiss, I claim my hero…