“Good morning, girls.” Milano said with a peppy tone, walking into Ponyville Bank with a pleased smile on her face.

Milano had been working at the bank for a good thirteen years. It was the place where she first met her now ex-husband, Almighty Dollar, a stockbroker from Manehattan, who made a stop at the bank while on vacation from the bustling city.

It was love at first sight for them, and soon after, they went on their first date. One date became two, two became three, and within six months of them enraptured in heavenly bliss, Almighty popped the question. It was one of the happiest days of her life.

Nowadays, he’s shacked up with some fashion model named Fleur De Lisle, whom Milano swears has implants in her shapely rump.

On this morning however, she is not thinking about her unfaithful ex-husband, but a new Stallion in her life; the one named Silver Screen.

Catching her jaunty attitude are Bon-Bon and Junebug, Milano’s well intentioned, but gossipy friends, who act like they belong on one of those reality shows like The Real Housemares of Applewood or something.

“Somepony is happy today.” Bon-Bon is the first to say, “Having a good morning, are we?”

“Good?” Milano chuckles, “I’m having a GREAT morning. The sun is shining, the birds are chirping…”

“She found herself a new stallion.” Junebug deduces, obviously right on the money.

Milano says nothing, only brandishing a blush and a smile. Junebug is DEFINITELY on the money. The two gossipers giggle with delight, seeing their friend so happy. It’s been a long time since they’ve seen her like this. The past few months, with consisted of Milano putting on a brave face, was disheartening to see.

“I can’t believe it!” Bon-Bon says excitedly, “Who is he? Does he live here? How big is he?”

“Shush!” Junebug snips, “Not so loud. We have customers waiting outside, and they might hear!” The three look to see a small crowd of ponies waiting rather impatiently for the doors to unlock. Junebug turns and says “Really though, how big is he?” in a whisper.

“Girls, the third question is between me and him.” Milano giggles, walking to the front door, and unlocking it at the press of a button.

“Believe us, honey…” Bon-Bon grins, “You wouldn’t be smiling like that if he was just a medium mickey.”

Milano shrugs with a chortle, as they begin to assist the customers walking in. It’s not a particularly busy first couple of hours. The usual line-up of ponies depositing, withdrawing, or starting a new account for young fillies and colts approaching the age where they can have a bank account, are present like any other day.

When the customers whittled down to numbers in the single digits, and other employees were helping them out, Bon-Bon and Junebug recommenced with their questions.

“Come on, girl. Gossip!” Bon-Bon verbally pushes, “Who is this mystery stallion?”

Milano chuckles whilst shaking her head. There was no hiding this from them. She turns to the two, who are staring with curiosity.

“His name is Silver Screen, and he works at the Ponyville Cinema.”

She doesn’t even get to the second half of that sentence, when she noticed the deflating smiles of Bon-Bon and Junebug. Their once excited expressions turn into one of simultaneous confusion and slight disgust.

“Silver Screen?” Bon-Bon said judgingly, “That weirdo?”

“Weirdo?” Milano wonders, “Why? Did he do something?” She looks to Bon-Bon for the answer.

“Well…no…but he’s just weird! He certainly LOOKS weird; with those eyes and stuff. Isn’t he kind of fat, too?”

“No. I don’t think so…” Milano shakes her head and shrugs, “He seems alright to me.”

“Didn’t you go out with him, Junebug?” Bon-Bon asks.

“I don’t know if you could call taking him home for a bit of half drunken bed wrestling ‘going out’.” she says, “Sure, he’s pretty decent in that area, but personality wise, he’s a big dork.”

“Well, I happen to like his dorky personality.” Milano says, muzzle pointed at the ceiling in defiance of her friend’s tone. “There’s nothing wrong with a bit of dorkiness every now and again.” Milano thinks back to his small moments of being a bit of a dork. She never found it abnormal, but rather charming. She was a dork back in her younger days, so the image of another displaying the same personality traits doesn’t bother her.

Junebug and Bon-Bon watch her drift off into a bit of a swoon, concerning them greatly.

Bon-Bon places a hoof on Milano’s shoulder, snapping her out of it. Milano can see the confusion in both their eyes, not in understanding as to why she feels the way that she does.

“Milano…we’re your friends…and we care about you….” Bon-Bon pauses, thinking her next words carefully, “But…if I’m being honest….I feel that…maybe……….you could do better?”

Milano responds with a chuckle in disbelief that she would say that, pushing past them to head back to her station.

“Girls, you two are just overreacting. He’s a nice colt.”

“Yeah, but that was last night.” Junebug says, “How was he this morning?”

“STILL nice.” Milano emphasizes those words, hammering the point home that she likes him.

“Okay, maybe to YOU.” Bon-Bon explains, “But what if he’s a big creep when he’s NOT with you? I bet he’s at the Cineplex right now, telling all his ruffian friends what a great lay you are!”

Her voice catches the attention of one stallion, waiting to make a transaction. His glance alternates between Milano and Bon-Bon. Slowly, and with confidence, he inches forward to the teller where Milano is.

“Back off, buster.” Milano says sternly, “I’m taken.”

The stallion goes back to his spot in line, head hanging down in disappointment and shame.

“You are NOT taken.” says Junebug, “It was only one night!”

“One night, and this morning, actually.”

“Wait, you had morning sex?”

“Yeah, after we dropped Button off at school and had breakfast.”

“Breakfast AND morning sex?” she looks at Bon-Bon, “Wow, it might really be serious. I never have morning sex with the stallions I bring home.”

“My point still stands that he’s probably letting loose with all the explicit details at his work.” Bon-Bon has none of it, still convinced that Silver Screen is a prude.

“Bon-Bon…” Milano has enough, “Relax. You might not like him, but I do. He’s nice, and he’s been a gentlecolt for all the hours that I’ve known him. If he’s off schmoozing with his buddies, then LET him. He’s a colt, that’s what they do.” she looks to see a crowd beginning to reform at the line, “Oh boy, we got to get back to work.”

Being a weekday at the Ponyville Cineplex, the crowd isn’t as lively as it could be. Thursday night shows, where they play high profile movies at Midnight, followed by the weekend rush, are the biggest days of every week. Silver Screen had been working at the theater for years, to the point where the word ‘busy’ wasn’t part of his vocabulary.

He loved working there, and didn’t often have a bad day, yesterday’s sudden beat down notwithstanding. He isn’t the kind of colt to let that get to him, exemplified by him coming into work the very next day, much to the amazement of his boss, Box Office, another hard working, yet slightly crotchety stallion, whom Silver Screen finds to be one of his best friends.

Silver Screen trots down the steps leading up to the reel room, and heads behind the snack bar, grabbing a hayseed milkshake. Box Office, overseeing the other employees, sees Silver Screen heading out of the snack bar, after grabbing what he needs.

“Silver Screen!” Box Office says. “What are you doing down here?”

“Just grabbing a Hayseed Shake, boss. Don’t worry, I have everything under control.”

“But, you’re working. You’re not supposed to be down here while you’re working.”

“What do you mean? I’ve been allowed down here all the time.”

“I…oh…” Box Office remembers, “Well, we’re a bit understaffed today, so can you please make the trips until your break minimal?”

“Sure thing. Sorry, Boss.” Silver Screen shrugs but with a smile, trotting back up the stairs happily, humming a jaunty tune. The catches Box Office’s attention. He follows him up the stairs and into the reel room. Silver Screen turns to see his Boss looking at him with a cocked eyebrow. “What’s up, Box Office?”

“There’s something different about you today.”

“You mean the black eye?” he points at his wound, “You know about that; you were there.”

“No, I mean…you seem…happy.”

“I’m always happy.”

“I mean happiER!” he says, “In all my years of watching you work, you’ve NEVER been this happy, and like you said, you’re a pretty damn happy colt.” he leans in closer, “You trying those drugs, kid?”

“No.”

“Smoking the hemp? Cracking the crack? Blowing the…blow?”

“Um…no.” Silver Screen laughs, “I’m not on the drugs, boss.”

“Then how is a colt such as yourself, who took a pretty bad punch yesterday, manage to not only come to work on time, but with a wide smile on your face?”

“Maybe I have a reason to be happy.” Silver Screen smirks. His horn glows, changing the reels for theater six.

Box Office watches his behavior closely, slowly but surely understanding just what is happening. A smile creeps across his face, as the revelation dawns upon him.

“Wait a sec…have you…met somepony?” he asks.

“Maybe.” Silver Screen replies, his behavior suggesting that yes indeed, he has met somepony.

“You did? Wait, is it a serious thing, or another one of your one night stands?”

“I hope it’s serious. We’re planning on seeing each other again this weekend.”

“That’s great!” Box Office says excitedly, “Who is she? Have I met her? Is she hot?”

“Dude…” he reminisces on Milano’s looks, “She’s like…the most beautiful mare in Equestria, and I don’t say that lightly, I mean…she’s better looking than the Princesses.”

“Wow, that good looking, huh?”

“And best of all? She’s nice, she’s funny, she’s got a great personality.”

“Wouldn’t the first two things relate to her personality to begin with?”

“Rule of three, dude; I had to do it.”

“Oh, right.” he nods, “So, who is she?”

“Her name…is Milano Mash.”

The mere utterance of Milano’s name causes Box Office’s jaw to nearly drop from his head. His agape maw catches Silver Screen’s attention, who looks at him with great worry and concern.

“You okay, boss?”

“Milano Mash?” he asks, “Button’s Mom?”

“You know Button?”

“Yeah, he’s a regular here. You’re dating his mother?”

“Yeah.”

“Sweet Celestia…nice work!” Box Office goes for a brohoof, acting like a young colt. Silver Screen chuckles, as he obliges, pounding his hoof with Box Office’s. “I’ve seen her come down here a few times, and let me tell you…Button’s Mom has got it goin’ on.”

“Sounds like a song, somehow.” Silver Screen giggles, “But she is extremely pretty.”

“How did you manage to get a piece like that?”

“Hey now…” Silver Screen gets slightly defensive, “There will be no ‘piece’ talk around here. She’s a mare.”

“Sorry, I mean…how did you two meet?” he chuckles, “Was it under the moonlight by the lake?”

“No.” Silver Screen shakes his head, “It was at the bar.” He thinks back to their first meeting. “We were both having pretty crummy days yesterday. We talked, had a few drinks, made each other smile and laugh, went back to her place, and….well…you can probably guess.”

“How was it?”

“A stallion like myself doesn’t tell you the explicit details; you know that.”

“Yeah, yeah, but come on. At least give me a hint.”

“A hint? Okay…” he drums up a word to describe his experience of last night’s events, “In a word…wow.”

“Wow? Whoa, now I HAVE to know.”

“Nope. Keeping it classified.” His horn glows again, changing the reels in theater 10. “Go on, Boss.” He shoos Box Office with a hoof, “You said you were understaffed. Don’t let me get in the way.”

“Fine, fine…keep me hanging why don’t ya.” he grimaces, opening the door to the stairs. “One day, Silver Screen…one day you’ll tell me all about your experiences.”

“Not likely.” he smiles.

Hours pass, and lunch time has commenced at the Ponyville Schoolhouse. Fillies and colts are laughing and playing in the sandbox, doing jump rope, swinging on the swings, or eating their lunches.

Button Mash sits at his table, opening up his Super Equestrian Fighter lunchbox, revealing his favorite sandwich; a homemade daffodil, lettuce and tomato sandwich. His mother always knew how to make it; even better than the sandwich at ITROT. His mouth waters, anticipating the deliciousness of the meal to come.

As he brings the sandwich to his wanting and hungry mouth…

“Hey, Button!” a voice says, sitting right next to him.

“Urgh, what? Can’t you see I…” he looks to see that it’s Sweetie Belle who is talking to him. He changes his tone quickly, “Oh, hi Sweetie Belle!” he says with an ecstatic smile, “What’s up?”

“Nothing, just having lunch with you.” she pulls up her lunchbox with her magic.

“You are? Sweet! I mean, uh…sure, I guess.” he hides a small blush on his cheeks, taking a bite into his sandwich. Yep, as good as it has ever been. “Where are Applebloom and Scootaloo?”

“They’re working on some other plan to get our cutie marks. I’m too hungry to think. Normally, I let them make the plans, and only step in if it sounds super dangerous.”

“What if what they’re coming up right now sounds super dangerous?”

“You have a point, but like I said…I’m really hungry.” she bites into a granola bar like she hadn’t eaten in days, even though it’s only been a few hours.

Button smiles, eating along with her. It’s been awhile since they’re spent some time together without the company of the other two members of the Cutie Mark Crusaders. He once went out for milkshakes with her, without officially telling her that it was a date. Any sort of romantic happenings were cut short however, when Button made the mistake of challenging her to a milkshake drinking contest, immediately getting brain freeze, and spending the next forty five minutes writing on the floor in pain.

Sweetie Belle eventually asked if he was okay…after playing some games on his handheld Game Colt system.

Now, here they are, alone again, with nothing to…

“Hey!” Sweetie Belle points, “Isn’t that the projectionist again?”

Button looks in the direction that she is pointing to see Silver Screen walking along Ponyville, towards his as of yet unknown destination. His eyes widen and nostrils flare up in rage, remembering his loud vow in the classroom.

“DESTROYYYYY!!!!!!!!!” he shouts, before immediately jumping into some nearby bushes.

Silver Screen stops, looking around the area to see where the mysterious noise came from. He sees nothing, just Sweetie Belle with two lunch boxes and a bunch of playing foals. He shrugs, and continues trotting along the path.

“What was that all about?” Sweetie Belle asks, as Button pops back out of the bushes.

“It’s that stallion who is stealing my mom away from dad!”

“Aren’t they divorced?”

“Doesn’t matter!” he snaps, “He’s headed in the direction of her work, and I’M going to follow him!”

“Ooohh! Are you going to do some sleuthing?”

“Maybe.”

“Can I come?”

“I…um…” he thinks, “Yeah, sure.”

“Cool! Hold on…” she looks at the grass, as if looking for something, “Don’t we need cardboard boxes for this kind of thing?”

“No time! Let’s go!”

Button Mash and Sweetie Belle begin their tactical espionage action, jumping from bush to shrubbery, avoiding making any noise that might alert the oblivious projectionist. While everypony else is aware of these two foal’s tomfoolery, Silver Screen remains unaware, filling his mind with thoughts of the upcoming weekend with Milano, thinking of all the fun things they’re going to do with each other…and possibly TO each other.

The two not so super detectives follow him all the way to the Ponyville Bank, where Button correctly surmised where he was going to be.

Silver Screen spots Milano walking towards the bank, waving to her and calling out her name.

“Milano, hey!” he says, catching her attention.

Button and Sweetie Belle dive behind a nearby stack of boxes, peeking out from behind to watch the events unfold. Milano approaches Silver Screen with a smile, but her mind also contained with the thoughts of her judgmental friends currently inside the bank.

“Silver Screen?” she wonders, “What are you doing here?”

“I know we said that we won’t see each other until Saturday, but I was wondering if you wanted to go out to lunch.”

“Saturday?” Button Mash whispers, “That’s when I’ll be in Manehattan with dad!”

“Oh…” Milano looks saddened, “I already had my lunch break. I’m about to head back to work. Did yours just start?”

“Yeah.” Silver Screen scratches the ground with his hoof, sort of embarrassed. “I suppose it was rather silly of me to think our breaks happened at the same time. Oh well, it was worth a shot.”

“Awww…he’s so cute.” Sweetie Belle quietly says, “He’s like a nervous colt asking a filly out on a date, and getting rejected.”

“Shush!”

“I’m sorry, Silver Screen.” Milano says with regret, “I would love to, if mine didn’t happen already. How is work going?”

“Better than yesterday, as long as nopony tries to beat me up again.” The two chuckle in amusement.

“Oooh, he’s a bad colt.” says Sweetie Belle, “That must be why she likes him.”

“He’s anything BUT a bad colt.” he snides, “Probably cries like a little foal when he gets beaten up.”

“Like when you did, when you didn’t win a contest on a juice box?” she teases.

“You said you would never bring that up again!”

“Well, I’ll see you on Saturday, then.” Silver Screen waves, turning to leave.

“Wait. Silver Screen?” Milano calls out, making him turn around again to face her. She gets close to him. Milano opens her mouth to say something, possibly what her friends have been telling her. “I…” she stops.

“Yeah?”

Milano ceases with what she wanted to say. Instead, she leans forward, planting a soft and gentle kiss on his lips. Button and Sweetie Belle’s eyes widen, but both vary in emotions. Sweetie thinks this is the cutest thing she’s ever seen, Button…thinks it’s the most awful thing he’s ever seen.

“I knew it.” Button hisses, “I knew he’s trying to steal her away from Dad.”

“But…she made the first move.”

“Doesn’t matter! He probably has her on some kind of mind control thing. I bet his eyes spin around and hypnotize unsuspecting ponies!”

“You’re overreacting.”

“YOU’RE overreacting!” Button looks up to see Sweetie Belle’s judgemental stare, making him instantly regret saying that. “Uh…sorry?”

“I’m going back to school.” Sweetie Belle says, “I’ll see you there.” She walks away in a huff.

“Dang it.” He says to himself, before looking back at Silver Screen and his mother’s lip lock session, staring at the scene with hate in his eyes.

The two separate, gazing into each other’s eyes, locked in a moment of eternal bliss.

“What…” Silver Screen breathes out, still in amazement, “What was that for?”

“Nothing.” Milano smiles, “I can’t wait for this weekend.”

“Me neither. The wait is going to be even worse now, after that.”

“Sorry.” Milano giggles. “Just a little taste of what’s to come, when I see your apartment.”

“You want to see my apartment?” Silver Screen rubs the top of his mane as his face reddens, “I suppose I’ll pass the time by cleaning the place up.”

“You don’t need to. I’m not some prim and proper pony.”

“Liar.”Button whispers, “You always want me to clean my room.”

“Maybe I’ll move some things around. Don’t want you tripping on things.” Silver Screen nodded, “I’ll let you get back to work. See you soon.”

“Yeah.” she gives him a lustful stare, which causes his heart to pound around his chest, “I’ll see you soon.” She turns around walking inside the bank with a sultry walk, showing off her plot to him. Silver Screen can only stare in awe, while Button wants to gouge his eyes out.

When Silver Screen turns to leave, Button proceeds to stalk him even further. He follows him to ITROT, where he stares at him through the window, watching him eat his food with a pleasant expression on what Button perceives to be a doofy face. Ponies in the restaurant take notice of the peeping pony, scaring him off, while Silver Screen remains blissfully unaware.

Once he was done, he heads back to work, and Button follows close behind.

As he gets closer to the theater, Button realizes that he can’t go inside unless he buys a ticket. Quickly, he buys a ticket to the latest in the Transformares film franchise, a series of films that are packed to the brim with non stop explosions and action. Button tries to act like he’s above such mindless film-making, but secretly has a soft spot for it, as he owns the first two films in a super rare box set that cost him a pretty bit to get.

He continues to follow Silver Screen inside after getting his ticket. As Silver Screen goes to approach the stairs, leading to the reel room…

“Hey!” Button calls out.

Silver Screen turns around, surprised to see the colt out of school.

“Oh, hey Button. Out of school already?”

“Early day. Decided to go to the movies.”

“Cool. Well, enjoy.”

“You said you just moved into Ponyville.” he glares in anger.

“Ah…right…” Silver Screen grimaces, knowing that he’s been caught. “I figured you for a smart colt. Glad I wasn’t disappointed.”

“Don’t think for a second that that complement is going to flatter me!” he pierces Silver Screen’s soul with his eyes, before mumbling, “as nice as that was…BUT STILL! I know your game, mister!”

“I have a game?”

“Yeah! It’s called stealing my Mom away from Dad!”

“Isn’t your mother divorced?”

“That’s not the point!”

“She’s free to go out with anypony she wants now, doesn’t she?”

“NO! She belongs with my Dad!”

“I hate to tell you, but…”

“I don’t want to hear it!” he yells, catching the attention of the ponies at the snack bar. “You listen to me…Silver Screen, I have my eyes on you at ALL times. I don’t know what you two will be doing on Saturday, but I swear that no matter what, I will be watching you.”

“You don’t know where I live.”

“No…But I can find out!”

“I’m not in the phone book.”

“I can check the internet!”

“It’s not on my Facehoof page.”

“What about Google?”

“Nope.”

“Darn it!”

“Sorry.”

“Shut up!”

“How will you be able to watch me, when you’ll be in Manehattan with your Dad?”

“Don’t poke holes in my narrative!”

“It’s a legitimate question. I’m just saying this spying plan is a little flimsy.”

“You let me worry about the details!”

“Aren’t you overreacting a little bit?”

“Your FACE is overreacting!”

“That doesn’t make any sense.”

“Silence!” Button has had enough of this pointless bickering. Slowly, be backs away, heading towards the theater to watch his movie. “Beware, Silver Screen. I won’t tell you when, I won’t tell you how, but soon, your end is near! Mark my words, I will destroy you!” he runs into the theater.

He immediately pops back out, with a look of absolute perplexity, and a little bit of revulsion.

“Wrong theater?” Silver Screen asks.

“Yeah. They were playing Fifty Bales of Hay in there. What’s a pearl necklace?”

“Uhh…a necklace made of pearls?

“Really? Because it didn’t look like that stallion was giving her jewelry.”

“You know what? Nevermind.” Silver Screen hurriedly says, trying to get away from this conversation. “What theater are you in?”

“Five.”

“Ah, alright. It’s a couple more theaters down.” He points to the theater. Button sees it clearly now.

“Thanks.”

“No problem, enjoy the movie.”

“I will.” Button keeps walking backwards, “And remember; I’ll destroy you.”

“Sounds good; say hi to Milano for me.”

“Yeah I…wait…NO I WON’T!” he runs in the theater. Seconds later, he comes right back out, with a frightened look on his face.

“Wrong theater again?”

“Yeah.” He looks up, seeing that he is outside theater four, playing the highly touted Evil Ponies remake. He stumbled upon a grisly scene where a mare saws off her possessed hoof with a kitchen knife “What is wrong with this theater?!”

“Don’t worry. One more theater down, and you’ll get it.”

“Okay.” Button walks backwards some more, looking up to see that he’s at the right theater now. “I’m good now.”

“You sure?”

“Positive. Remember…”

“You’ll destroy me?”

“Yeah.” An awkward pause between the two of them ensues, with neither one knowing what to say. “Uh…see you.” He bolts inside.

Silver Screen stands there in utter bewilderment as to the events that occurred. Box Office walks to his side; he witnessed the whole encounter.

“What just happened?” Silver Screen asks.

“You, my friend, have just incurred the wrath of one Button Mash.”

“Should…should I be afraid?”

“Who’s to say? The last time I saw him this angry, was when he saw Mare of Steel, and witnessed Supermare snap the villain’s neck.”

“What? That movie was awesome!”

“He didn’t think so. Nearly tore down the theater in rage when the credits rolled.”

“Sweet Celestia….”

“Yep. Have fun kiddo.” Box Office slaps Silver Screen on the back, returning to the snack back.

Silver Screen remained there, thinking about what the future holds for him. He’s not going to let an angry young colt get in the way of somepony as beautiful and lovely as Milano. No way, no how he was going to do that. Still, the thought of this colt concocting a possible demise or horrific injury to him does make him worry.

“Hey, Silver Screen?” Box office calls out, snapping him out of his delirium.

“Yeah, boss?”

“Get back to work!”