“Let’s do this.” Button says, after carefully applying battle make up onto his face.

For the past couple days, Button Mash had been planning and plotting the various methods in which to test Silver Screen’s mind and body, in order to see if he was truly a good fit for his Mother. Sure, he seemed nice, and on a couple of occasions shown himself to be quite humorous, but that’s not enough in Button’s mind to be potential step-father material…should it come down to that.

On this Monday morning, Button stands before the mirror in his bedroom, ready for the mission to end all missions, and see once and for all what this Silver Screen is capable of.

“Button! Time for lunch!” his Mother calls out.

“Okay, Mom!” he replies. “After I have my honey oats, my greatest battle begins.”

“Don’t forget your homework!” she calls back out.

“I won’t!” he responds, “Okay, after school…my greatest battle beg…”

“Hey Button!”

“Yeah?!”

“Oh, wait. Nevermind!”

“Dang it! I hate when she does that!”

Button comes galloping downstairs, hopping up on his chair to feast on the bowl of his favorite cereal, the always delicious Honey Oats. He munches on the tasty grains with great enthusiasm, catching the attention of Milano. She chuckles at the sight.

“My, somepony is…” she soon notices his battle ready make up, “What’s with the Colt of Duty get up? Is it Nightmare Night already?”

“No.” he replies, “It’s…um…it’s just something I wanted to do.”

“Dress up like you’re in the army? Is Princess Celestia hiring young colts now?”

“It’s just something I want to do!”

“Does this have something to do with testing Silver Screen?”

“Umm…” Button pauses, with mouth stuffed with milk and oats. He swallows, before responding with a quiet and timid “Maybe.”

“Well, don’t hurt him too much.” she says casually, like this isn’t very troubling. “I fully expect him to be alive and well by the weekend, and I would hate to see you put him in the hospital.”

“When I’m through, there will be nothing left to put in the hospital!”

“Don’t be so overdramatic.”

“Sorry, Mom.”

Button sits in class, listening as Ms. Cheerilee talks about various legends of Equestria, such as Starswirl The Bearded, but he has no time to listen about old fogeys doing stuff that nopony cares about, he’s on a mission, and when he gets out, he will…

“Pssst.” somepony attempts to get his attention. “Pssst.”

“Wha..” Button turns to question the voice, but realizes quite quickly that it’s Sweetie Belle, with an ever so confused look on her face. Even with a quizzical look, she looks beautiful, immediately flustering the once tough colt. “I mean…um…what’s up?” he whispers.

“What’s with the look? Is it Nightmare Night already?”

“That’s what Mom said, and no. It’s just my outfit for today.”

“Why?”

“Because…” he begins to explain as he turns to the window. “Wait…”

In his sights, he sees Silver Screen trotting along Ponyville with a pleased expression gracing his face, and a bounce in his step that looks more like he’s skipping than walking. A fire explodes inside Button, as he uses his stealth skills to open the window, and jump right out.

These stealth skills weren’t particularly effective, as everypony but the still lecturing Cheerilee noticed his exit from the classroom.

Diving into a nearby bush with the grace of a boulder vs a car, Button pops his head out, spitting any leaves and branches that manages to get into his mouth. He has Silver Screen in his sights.

Wrapped around the brown gamer pony’s waist is a bag full of goodies that he made himself, when he thought he could help Sweetie Belle and her friends get their cutie marks in science. Instead, he inadvertently made knockout bombs, which put them to sleep in a second. Despite failure in getting those marks, he kept the recipe, should he feel the need to use them again, and he has.

As he reaches into his bag, a winged pony by the name of Ditzy Doo flies down in front of Silver Screen catching his attention. Button recalls that she was once named Derpy Hooves, due to a horrifically lazy eye, but after a surgery that she got months back in Manehattan, she is now much better, and ponies have resorted to calling her by her original name.

Button listens in on the conversation.

“Hey, Silver Screen! You’re looking happy today!”

“It’s a nice day.”

“Oh, it looks like more than that. Word on the street says that you’ve been spotted with Milano Mash!”

“Yeah, I plead guilty on that one.” He rubs the back of his head whilst chuckling. “It’s been quite the week for us. How about you? How’s the eye?”

“Silver Screen, you’ve asked me that question almost every day I see you. It was good then, it’s good now.” she chuckles.

“Sorry, I guess I’m still getting used to it.”

As they make this small talk, Button continues with his plan, taking out a small sleeping bomb from the bag. It looks like a small ball, fit for a foal to play with.

“Okay…let’s see how you handle this.”

Button tosses the little inconspicuous ball out from the bush. It bounces and rolls along the gravel, before stopping underneath Silver Screen. Nether pony has noticed this, so everything is going according to plan.

“Anyway, I got to get back to making the rounds.” Ditzy steps back to take off.

“Okay. Tell Quill I said…”

GAS! The ball explodes from underneath him, with a giant cloud of green gas forming around him. In an instant, he drops onto the ground, fast asleep. Button hoofpumps at his victory, as Ditzy looks confused at the sudden gas explosion underneath the projectionist.

“Um…Silver Screen?” she goes over to him, poking at his side. “Hello?”

Button dives back into the classroom. Cheerilee is still lecturing, as the rest of the class fights to stay awake, even when the teacher gets to the part of the tale where Starswirl took on an army of dragons by himself. Button’s arrival was not lost on Sweetie Belle, who was looking at the empty chair, as if anticipating his return.

“Hi, welcome back.” Sweetie Belle says with sarcasm.

An hour passes, and the school bell rings wildly, due to Pinkie Pie taking bell ringing duties, as the mechanism on the bell is still being repaired. The ringing goes on seemingly forever, even though it would only ring five times when the clock struck noon. Cherilee had to go up there to tell her to knock it off, but after she wishes the fillies and colts a good day.

“I love half days.” Button says with a mischievous grin. “Now, onto phase two.” He notices Silver Screen’s knocked out body is nowhere to be found. “The gas must have worn off. He probably went to work.”

Button jumps into action, as Sweetie Belle watches him run off. She scratches her chin, wondering where he’s going.

Button runs to the Cineplex, where Monday is the least busiest day of the week. Only a hoof full of ponies are there to watch movies. Surprisingly, much to the amazement of himself, Button manages to sneak past the ticket taker and a security guard. Now in the lobby, Button looks towards the stairs, where Silver Screen no doubt is at work with the projectors.

He opens the door slowly, seeing Silver Screen talking to Box Office. He hides behind a box of film reels, listening in on their chat.

“Sorry I’m late, Box Office.” Silver Screen apologizes, “I don’t know what happened. I was talking to Ditzy, when suddenly I just fell asleep.”

“Must have been all that fun you’ve had with Milano.” he chortles. “Don’t worry about it. You were only a couple minutes late.”

“Still, it was so weird. When I woke up, I saw that I had fallen on a small bouncy ball. I didn’t even notice it when I was walking up to Ditzy.”

“It’s alright, Silver Screen. I’m not mad. Go on, a couple of the theaters are approaching the reel changes.” Box Office pats him on the shoulder, before walking off out of the room.

Silver Screen gets to work on the projectors, unaware that Button is in the room, ready to unleash another knockout bomb on him. He reaches inside his bag…

“What are you doing?” a soft voice asks right next to him.

Button looks to see Sweetie Belle staring right at him. His eyes widen in surprise, not expecting her to be right there…and so close to him too.

“H-How did you get here?”

“Magic.”

“Since when could you teleport?”

“For a while.”

“How did you know I was here?”

“Are you going to tell me what you’re doing to that poor projectionist over there?”

“That projectionist is Silver Screen. He’s the one dating my mom.”

“Yeah, I saw. What’s in the bag?”

“My knockout bombs.”

“What are you planning to do?”

“I’m going to knock him out.”

“Then what?”

“Then he won’t be able to do his job.”

“What would that accomplish?”

“It’s all part of my tests.”

“Tests?”

“Yeah. I’m testing him to see if he’s worthy of being with my mom.”

“No offense, but this is an awful test.”

Button’s confidence crashes to the floor when he hears those negative words come from her mouth. Awful? But how? Why would she say such a horrible thing? His eyes are glazed over by sadness.

“Wh…what do you mean?”

“This sounds less like tests, and more like mean spirited pranks. What if he gets fired? He’ll have no source of income, and he’ll be out on the street.”

“That’s not true. I bet my mom would let him in.”

“Wouldn’t that defeat the purpose of getting rid of him?”

“No, because then I would find a way to get him out of the house!”

“So, you want him to be homeless?”

“Aw, man! Now I’m all confused!” in his confusion, he drops a knockout bomb. “Uh-Oh.”

GAS! The two young ponies are knocked out in an instant. Silver Screen is too occupied with the reel changes to notices the giant cloud of gas appear and disappear behind a box. Instead, he keeps on working, while humming the theme to Mare of Steel. Button and Sweetie Belle have fallen on top of each other, sleeping peacefully and quietly from the effects of the gas.

A half hour of Silver Screen sitting around and changing reels pass, and Button gradually opens his eyes, noticing almost instantly that Sweetie Belle is on his back, still sleeping. A blush adorns his face, making him freeze in place, as if refusing to move in the fear of disturbing her.

Eventually, she wakes up as well. Sweetie Belle looks down, seeing the blushing and frozen Button being perfectly still.

“Oh gosh.” Sweetie Belle says in a hushed panic, getting off of him. “I’m so sorry.”

“It’s…um…okay.” Button says nervously. “You’re right, these tests aren’t exactly working out. Let’s get out of here before something bad happens.”

“Yeah, lets.” she nods.

The two manage to sneak out of the room without Silver Screen noticing. The theater was a completely different story. As they were making their way down the stairs, Box Office caught them, thinking that they were trying to sneak into a film made for older audiences. With a quick yelp of “CHEESE IT!” from Button, the two ran straight out of the building, with only slight bumps and bruises, due to them tripping over themselves during the daring escape.

Later on in the afternoon, Button and Sweetie Belle take refuge in the tree house normally reserved for meetings with the Cutie Mark Crusaders. Since Applebloom is helping out at the farm, and Scootaloo is getting flying lessons from Rainbow Dash, things are relatively quiet, giving Sweetie Belle the chance to help Button out with how tests are supposed to work.

“Okay, Button, here’s the deal. You shouldn’t come up with plans that will damage his reputation with the other ponies. Do you REALLY hate his guts?”

“Well…no…” Button admits sheepishly, “…but I still don’t think he’s right for my Mom. He doesn’t seem like the kind of stallion that can protect her, and would rather play video games than help out at the house.”

“That sounds familiar.” Sweetie Belle says with a chuckle.

“Hey, I’m still young! I bet when I’m older, I’ll be the picture of responsibility.”

“Yeah, let me know when that day comes.” she giggles a giggle that makes Button a little flustered. “Anyway, your tests need to reflect that; that he can be strong and a quick thinker. Of course, you have to make these tests look like random accidents around Ponyville.”

“How am I supposed to do that?”

“Well, luckily for you, you happen to know a unicorn that can perform magic.”

“Oooooo….” Button can see where’s she’s going with it. “So, what’s the plan?”

“I don’t know.” Sweetie Belle shrugs, “What IS the plan?” she winks. Button begins to get what she is saying. He must be the one to come up with the plans.

He thinks…and thinks….and thinks…..and thinks some more.

“Ah ha!” he claps his hooves together, “I got it!”

Silver Screen heads out of the theater for his lunchtime break. In the distance, Button and Sweetie Belle watch as he trots along to search for his afternoon grub, looking around at different restaurants to see what tickles his fancy. In the bush, Button gets his wooden train set ready for test number one.

“Umm…why do we need this train set?” Sweetie Belle wonders.

“Because the last time I played with it in the sun, it caught fire.” Button thinks back to that horrible and sudden event. “I discovered that the paint I used was highly flammable, and sensitive to the hot sun.”

“Did you like start playing with it the moment you painted it?”

“Maybe…” Button says in a whisper. “So, this has been freshly repainted. I want to see how he reacts to a random situation. In this case, this train set bursting into flames.”

The two watch as Silver Screen looks around the area, still trying to make a decision. Suddenly, Pinkie Pie comes bouncing in, humming a jaunty tune, nearly colliding with the searching stallion. They stop right in front of each other, before something messy would happen.

“Oops!” Sorry, Mr. Projectionist!”

“It’s okay, Pinkie. And it’s Silver Screen, by the way.”

“I know, I just like calling you Mr. Projectionist!” she says with a wide smile.

“Ah-ha!” Button whispers and grins, “This is the perfect opportunity! Let’s see if this works…”

Button puts the train set on the ground, checking the wheels to make sure it can make the trip. The wheels turn perfectly, and the plan is set. With one quick and powerful motion, he pushes the train towards the unsuspecting ponies, stopping inches away from Pinkie Pie.

“So, how’s Maud doing?” Silver Screen asks with genuine curiosity.

“She’s doing great! I got a letter yesterday saying that she’s in Saddle Arabia studying…”

FWOSH! The train is suddenly ignited by the sunlight, immediately catching Silver Screen’s attention. The blaze nearly gets to Pinkie’s poufy, cotton candy style mane, and he springs into action. He grabs Pinkie, moving her off to the side before the flames could get to her. Then, using his magic, he carries the train all the way to the nearby well, throwing it into the water below.

Pinkie comes bouncing to back to him.

“Woah! Nice catch, Mr. Projectionist! Who knows what would have happened if that thing got my mane!”

“Sorry for moving you so fast. I didn’t want that blaze burning you.”

“That’s okay! Anyway, Maud is…”

As the conversation continues, Button writes down a few notes in his notepad, as Sweetie Belle looks on at the two conversing ponies.

“Did you see that?!” she asks, “Good reaction time.”

“Okay, so he is very responsive to sudden flames.” Button says to himself. “Now, for round two.”

They slink away as Silver Screen takes the wet train out of the well, shaking the water off in the hopes of getting it dry.

Later on, Sweetie Belle stands in the middle of the road, waiting around as Button is deep inside a recently dug hole, with dirt flinging up into the newly made pile. Sweetie Belle avoids getting hit by the dirt, as she waits for Button to be finished.

“Okay!” Button calls out, his voice echoing from the hole. “Pull me out.”

Sweetie Belle sighs, using her magic to pull him out. He floats up, having fun with being enveloped by magic. Disappointment sets in when he is put back on the ground, and the magic bubble disappears.

“Okay, teleport the dirt somewhere.”

Sweetie Belle does so, not quite happy with being used for manual labor.

“You know, when I said that I can use my magic to help, I didn’t think it would be used to transport dirt somewhere.”

“Don’t worry, it’ll be worth it.” He says, as he puts a small and frail plank of wood over the hole, covering it up with grass and leaves. “Silver Screen comes through here on his way home. I’ll put a few bits here…” he puts four bits on the patch of grass, “…which will tempt him to come closer.”

“And what will this accomplish?”

“I made the hole deep enough, so he’ll act quickly. Hopefully, he’ll find a way to teleport himself out of the hole with no problem.”

“And if he doesn’t?”

“Then…um…we’ll get help. He’ll survive either way. The worst he’ll get is a bump or a bruise.”

“Uh-huh.” Suddenly, the crunching of leaves are heard. “Somepony is coming. Hide.”

They dive into a nearby brush. They look through the leaves to get a good view of the trap that has been set. Button chuckles with delight, as Sweetie Belle looks at him with more than a hint of worry.

“If my calculations are correct, Silver Screen just got off work, and he’ll be coming right through here.”

“Ooooh! Bits!” a voice that is obviously not Silver Screen is heard.

Button and Sweetie Belle are caught by surprise, when they see Bon-Bon trotting towards the free bits on the ground, with no other pony around the claim them. The two trouble makers consider jumping out to stop her, but…

“Why would anypo-WAHHH!” the wood breaks, and Bon-Bon falls through. She grabs the edge of the hole, trying not to fall all the way in. Her hooves dig at the ground, hoping that it will keep her from plunging into the unknown depths. “Somepony! Help me!”

Again, Button and Sweetie Belle consider jumping out to save her, but…

“Bon-Bon?!” Silver Screen calls out, seeing her in peril. “Sweet Celestia, hang on!”

“I’m trying!”

Silver Screen runs up to her, reaching his hooves out, getting a good grip on her forelegs. With a mighty pull, and a few kicks at the dirt from Bon-Bon, she is pulled out. Quickly, she embraces Silver Screen with a frightened shiver.

“Are you okay?” he asks her.

“I’m fine. I don’t know what happened! There were bits on the ground, and suddenly, I ended up here! Who would do such a mean trick?”

“I don’t know, but you’re not hurt, right?”

“No…” she looks up at him, “Thanks to you. If you weren’t here…” the adrenaline is getting to her, as she looks into his kind and 3D glasses colored eyes. His expression of concern and the wind flowing through his unkempt black mane makes him seem just a little more attractive than when she last saw him. It also helps that he possibly saved her life. It’s like at that instant, she realizes why Milano likes him so much. Maybe…maybe she wants him for herself.

As her lips get dangerously close to his, he stares at her with great confusion, before putting a hoof over her mouth.

“Hey, I’m glad you’re okay, but I what are you doing?”

“Huh?” she asks. Finally, she realizes what she was doing, pulling back to separate from him. She tries to straighten her disheveled mane with a couple of hoof strokes, and pats away dirt from her hind legs. “Oh…um…sorry.”

“That’s okay….I guess.”

“Yeah…um…thanks for the help.” She looks around the area out of awkwardness. “Bye.” She gallops away, leaving him alone with his thoughts…or so he thinks.

“Weird.” He says to himself. He glances over at the hole. “Who in Equestria would dig a random hole in the ground, and put bits on it?” He looks deeper inside, using his magic to light up the hole. “Hey, it’s not really that de…OH! BITS!” He floats the bits up, looking at them with victory. “Nice! I can go buy Milano some flowers! Wait…I don’t know what flowers she likes. Cupcakes! I’ll buy her cupcakes!

He trots away, humming a happy song.

Button explodes from the bushes in anger, kicking at the ground whilst grunting with bloodshot eyes.

“Dang it! Not only did that plan not work, but he’s going to use the money for sweets, and another pony likes him! This is the worst day ever!”

“He looked so handsome…” Sweetie Belle swoons.

“Not you too!” Button panics. “This Silver Screen is getting more dangerous by the second! He’s like some kind of overpowered boss character in an RPG!”

“I like his eyes…”

“No, Sweetie Belle, no!” He stomps his hoof on the ground, had it with all the shenanigans. “Desperate times, call for desperate measures.”

Silver Screen hops along Ponyville with a box of freshly baked cupcakes fleeting in front of him. From the look on his face, he might as well be on cloud nine, with a euphoric expression of love gracing his face, as he goes through the town with his jovial attitude.

This moment is absolutely perfect for him….

…but then he steps on a mysterious rubber ball.

“Huh?” he wonders.

GAS! A big cloud of gas explodes out of the ball, surrounding him and knocking him out in an instant. The box drops to the ground, as he is sound asleep, snoring softly as if he were in bed on a soft mattress and a nice fluffy pillow.

“MUAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!” Button maniacally laughs, running victory laps around the unconscious projectionist pony, making no effort to conceal his treachery around the other citizens as to who could have knocked him out. “REVENGE!” he screams, “REVENGE!”

“BUTTON!” a harsh voice calls out to him, stopping Button in his tracks.

He turns to see Milano, staring at him with anger in her eyes, and Sweetie Belle standing right next to her. Milano gestures to him forcefully to come to her. He does so out of fear. It’s been a while since he’s seen his mother this angry.

“Hey, Mom.” he says, trying to sound happy a pleasant.

“Just what in Equestria are you doing?” she asks.

“Um…testing Silver Screen?”

“And how is this a test?”

“Um…because….um….reasons?”

“When he wakes up, you better apologize.”

“But Mom…” he whines.

“No buts, mister.” she says sternly, “Testing a stallion is one thing, knocking him out with gas is another thing entirely. When did you make such things, anyway?”

“Completely by accident, you see…”

“Urgh…” Silver Screen groans, slowly recovering from the gas.

“Huh. He woke up faster than expected.” Button is surprised, “I knew he was an overpowered boss character!”

“Button, hush.” Milano goes to Silver Screen, kneeling down. “SS? Are you okay?” she asks with care in her voice.

“Milano?” Silver Screen mumbles, his eyes gradually opening. “Is that you?”

“Yes, it’s me.” she smiles, “Button knocked you out with a gas bomb.”

“He did?” he mumbles some more, but his words are audible, “I thought it was him. Maybe ninjas….but most likely Button.” he chuckles, “He probably did the fire train and hole, too.”

“Huh?” Milano looks sharply back at Button, who looks down.

“I bought you cupcakes.” he beams, “I didn’t know what you liked, so I bought every flavor they had.”

“Oh, SS.” Milano says softly, looking at the box of pastries. “You didn’t have to do that.”

“I know…but I wanted to.” he grins, “Don’t be mad at Button. He’s only looking out for you.”

“Yeah, but…”

“Besides, I think Bon-Bon likes me now.”

“Does she?” she laughs, “Well, that might be a different story.” Milano helps him to his hooves, “Come on. I’ll take you to my house.” Milano looks at Button, “You too, Button. You and Silver Screen are going to have a long talk.”

“Okay.” Button hangs his head in disappointment. He glances back at Sweetie Belle, “See you, Sweetie Belle. Sorry for making you do all that.”

“It’s okay. I had fun.” her voice squeaks, “We should hang out again, sometime!”

“Really?”

“Button?” Milano calls out, “Take the box of cupcakes with you!”

“Okay, Mom!” Button calls back. He looks back at Sweetie Belle, “Well, um…see you!” he takes the box of cupcakes, galloping after Milano and Silver Screen.

Sweetie Belle chuckles at Button exit. While she didn’t really like doing mundane tasks such as teleporting dirt, she did like hanging out with Button. She found his eccentric nature amusing…maybe even cute. Maybe her friends will let him join their Cutie Mark Crusaders. Though he’s a colt, he also doesn’t have his cutie mark yet. Sweetie Belle thinks about the possibility, when…

“Sweetie Belle!” Rarity walks up to Sweetie Belle, covered in dirt. “Did you teleport a pile of dirt on me?!”