...and I'll show you a future.

by Michael Hudson

First published 25th of September, 2015

No matter how many problems their relationship faces, one question must be answered. How does Button feel about Diamond Tiara?

In the week after their day together, Button Mash and Diamond Tiara face much while moving forward. While things like finding time for each other in secret, and getting to know each other aren't hard, others, like their parents, are much more treacherous to pass. But above all other questions that plague the two's mind, Button faces the worst. Diamond came out and said how she feels, but when push comes to shove, what will Button say?

Reading the original is recommended, but not necessary.

Preread by Foals Errand, and edited by Telaros.

The Father

Diamond slowly opened the door to the dining room, her hooves sore from piano lessons. It was normal of course, and if anyone watched the pink filly, they would have seen no signs of her discomfort. Not in front of her father, at the very least. She clambered slowly onto her chair, before turning towards Filthy Rich, who sat at the other end of the long table. She swallowed hard as the glare of the chandelier made it hard to see, and instead kept her eyes to the food laid out for them. Not that she would have been able to meet his gaze anyways.

Her mind immediately tried to smack the thought away. What she had done was for her happiness for once. Just because it wouldn’t be what her father approved of, or part of his grand plan, not to mention her getting caught, and thus being forced to tell him… Diamond looked down at her plate, a shiver running down her spine. “G-good evening, father. How are you?”

Filthy glanced over the large pan of vegetarian lasagne, and at the voice, before nodding as a servant brought him some of the main dish. He took a bite of the pasta, with his chef standing resolute beside him. Even after over a year of loyal service, the poor stallion sweated at this moment, and immediately trotted away when Filthy nodded his approval. Turning back to his daughter, he cleared his throat and smiled. “Quite well actually. Due to another one of their scams going awry, we finally were able to press those foolish Flim Flam brothers into joining our Research and Development department. The first thing on the list; a Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000 that will make cranberry cider. Should revolutionize the market!”

Diamond Tiara’s spirits rose at the news as she looked back up, her eyes adjusting to the chandelier’s light. Her dad had gotten it long ago, because it was what classy ponies did, even if it was too bright most of the time, and annoyed many ponies. At least when you got used to it though, you could admire just how beautiful the crystals were. They were much of what kept Diamond going, and what made her believe last weekend would work in the first place. Now though, she had to confess.

She nodded to a servant as they brought her some lettuce and carrots, before steeling herself one more time. “So, dad, you know about how I had Button over the other day, right? To help me with my homework.”

Filthy stopped as he was about to sip from a silver goblet, raising an eyebrow towards his daughter, before lowering it and nodding. “As much as I disapprove of you having not been able to do the assignment yourself, I suppose some time with a boy like.. him, is fine. So yes, I remember, and hope you two had an enjoyable, and productive night.”

Diamond took in a deep breath, her eyes closing halfway as she thought about just how enjoyable that night was. “Don’t worry father about enjoyment, for It was probably the best of my life.” The silence that echoed through the room afterwards snapped her out of her day dreaming, and she blushed a bright crimson as she sat up. “I-I mean that as in, well,” she swallowed hard, pausing to try to get the courage to finally say it. Say what she had always wanted to be able to say openly. “I...I told him that I liked him, and he may just have, um, said he liked me back. At least a bit.”

Filthy simply continued to stare at his daughter as he took another sip of his drink. Setting it down, he took in a long, slow breath. “When you say like him, I’m assuming you mean more than you’re letting on.”

Diamond took in a deep breath, pushing down her nerves, and setting her face to the cold, stone slab that she needed for such proceedings. “Look dad, I have my rights as a pony, and therefore am allowed to pursue what I need to be happy. However, my relationship with Button Mash will not stop me from seeking a business degree in college, or in my plans to take over this corporation when I am grown. So, with this in mind, I see no reason for you to object to our relationship.”

Diamond’s mind didn’t quiet yet. She knew what her father may say, and she had to be ready for it. The moment his cup touched back onto the wooden table, the two would have the longest debate of their relationship. She was certain, which made her nerves fray even worse when her father said nothing, but instead stared into his cup. The smile on her face, of which she was unaware of, fell in time with her father’s head and a cold sweat broke over Diamond’s body. “Fa-father, I know you have reservations, but I ensure you that if you-” She took a sharp intake of breath as her father held up a single hoof, silencing her.

Filthy stared across the table for another moment, before lowering his hoof. “Do you truly think you like this boy romantically?”

Diamond met his gaze, blushed slightly, and then nodded. “I do.”

For a moment, Filthy’s eye twitched, the words bringing uncomfortable images to his mind. Images that were quickly pushed to the side, as they were of no use to the older stallion at the moment. “Well then, I suppose I should meet the young colt than, and most likely his parents as well.” He glanced over at his daughter again and smiled as he saw the growing smile on her face. “And luckily, we have the event I’m holding for my business partners at the Ponyville Museum’s Main Hall coming up at the end of the week. That should be a wonderful time to test him. See how he handles our side of society.”

Diamond broke out into a cold sweat at those words, before she lifted her glass. She knew what she said was a lie. That she knew nothing of what would happen due to this, but she had to try. “To Button doing well then, as I-I know he will.”

Filthy nodded, raising his glass back towards her, before returning to his meal. His mind reeled against the idea of his little filly having a boyfriend. She was too young to have one, and to have chosen so poorly as a simple video game enthusiast with a widowed bride for a mother was almost inconceivable to him. He didn’t blame himself though. He knew she was smart enough not to go too far, or do anything that she may regret. Just as he had back in the days of his youth, and had never regretted. Just for the briefest of moments, to ensure his little princess didn’t see, he tipped his goblet to a bright, pink mare with a large smile on her face, standing in a portrait besides Filthy, and a baby Diamond Tiara. “Yes, she’ll be just fine.”

The Mother

Love Tap sipped her tea, and waited. All week long her little colt had been acting… strange. Staying after school, but not being able to tell her why, not playing Minecraft, things of that nature. But then there was the largest oddity; his blasphemy. The one thing she thought she would never see him do.

He was playing dating sims.

That had truly been the last straw, and had forced her hoof. She had to get him to talk to her, and the breaker box beside her almost guaranteed that. As if on cue, a beam of light entered the basement. It first went to the corner, causing Love Tap to smile. Checking for intruders was never a bad practice, though the continued, thorough search told her otherwise, and she had to try not to start laughing. Button’s muttering made this all the more difficult as he himself lamented about how stupid it would be for treasure or monsters to simply appear. And yet, he still had to check for them.

This was ultimately to his detriment though, as when he finally shined the light on his mother, she had been able to recompose herself, and was staring at him with a bemused smile. Her eyes tweaked, one widening as the other one almost slammed shut, all due to the scream that now echoed through the basement. “Button!”

The colt slammed his mouth shut, his chest rising and falling at a rapid rate. He blinked a few times before raising the flashlight again, and letting out a long breath. “Sorry, I thought you might be.... I don’t know actually.”

Love Tap raised an eyebrow as a brown lock of mane fell before her eye. “An axe murderer perhaps?”

Button Mash tried to level out his breathing, before furiously nodding. “Y-yeah. You never know when one of those is going to break out and come after you.”

Love Tap merely smacked herself and sighed. “You aren’t supposed to be playing Until Dawn, Button. You’re not old enough for it, and besides, you don’t like horror games.”

Button tucked his tail between his legs and bit into his cheek. “Yeah, but Rumble told me I could learn a lot from it and the relationships in it.”

Her eyes narrowed as a smile crept back onto her lips. “Relationships? Why would you want to learn about relationships?”

Button paled further before smacking his head into a post. “Why do I always do this?”

Love Tap wrapped a cream hoof around her little colt and pulled him in while she chuckled. “It’s because you’re terrible at lying and keeping secrets. Trust your mother when she says that that is a very good thing in a relationship.”

Button bit into his cheek and looked up at his mom, his eyebrows furrowed. “But Action Star lies all the time, and the girls seem to want all they can of him.”

His mother slammed a hoof over her muzzle, groaning as she did so. “Button…” She sighed and wrapped him up even tighter. “Tell me, do you think that whoever it is you like would be happy if you lied to them?”

Button became almost white as a sheet, and he started shaking his head furiously. “If Di thought I was lying to her, she would get furious!”

Love Tap’s eyes snapped open wide. She was trying to process what she had just heard. Surely he didn’t mean Diamond Tiara? As far as she had known, the only time the two had even really talked was during their visit last weekend at her house. Unless… “Button honey, what exactly happened last weekend? She didn’t have you sign any weird contracts or anything like that, right?”

Button’s color returned, and he tried getting out of his mother’s arms, before stumbling forward and shaking his head furiously. “No, Di wouldn’t ever think of doing that to me. At least, I don’t think so.”

“Then what happened?” Love Tap laid down, her curiosity growing ever greater. “How did you two come to be something more than friends?” She made absolute sure to leave off ‘instead of you and Sweetie Belle,” from the question.

Button bit into his cheek, but then started furiously shaking his head. “Me and Di just started dating, that’s all. What’s so strange abo-Ow!” He rubbed the top of his head and glared at his mother. “What was that for?”

Love Tap raised an eyebrow as she raised her hoof again. “You just heard how I feel about lying, and now you’re going to try to just brush my questions away? Spill.” When Button didn’t back out of his silence, she decided to break out the big guns. “If you’d like, I could just punish you for having kept secrets from me all week long like you have. How does having to beat Hydlide before playing anything else sound for a punishment?”

Button shook his head furiously, before looking down. “Pl-please mom, don’t make me play that game again.”

Love Tap sighed and sidled up to Button, before nuzzling his cheek. “Honey, you know I support you in all you do, and that I can help you with your relationship, but you have to let me at least know how it started. Like, how did you two confess your feelings, and things like that. Please, let me know Button.”

Button looked down, before swallowing hard. “And you’re certain you won’t get angry or anything?”

Love Tap crossed a hoof over her chest and then put it to her eye. “Pinkie promise.”

Button let out a long sigh before nodding. “Well, um, you said you wanted to know how I found out that she liked me, right?” He waited for his mom to nod, his face becoming a deeper shade of red with each passing moment. “Well, Silver Spoon called right when I was putting my hoof to her vagina, and-”

“What?”

One very short, awkward, and terrifying conversation later, and Love Tap finally walked out of the bathroom, using a towel to get rid of any leftover vomit. She slowly went to the kitchen and pulled out a bucket, soon filling it with cold water, some of which she splashed on her own face, before going back to the basement. There, she found Button, curled up in the fetal position, his entire body red. A quick tipping of the bucket, and her son sprang to life, almost jumping to the rafters above her head. “Are you okay?”

Button swallowed hard, looking up at her. “H-how far did I get through the story?”

“I asked if you two had sex, and you passed out, so about half a minute.”

Button nodded. “Ca-can I please just leave it at that, please?” He barely squeaked out the last word, and Love Tap thanked Celestia that that was where he wanted it to end.

“Did you two at least use protection?” She watched as he barely nodded before letting out a long sigh herself. “And how do you feel about her? Do you think you might actually like her?”

Button pressed the edge of his hoof into the floor, unable to meet his mother’s eyes. He opened his mouth, but then simply laid down. When Love Tap lowered herself, she could see a tear come down the side of his face. She lifted a hoof, catching the small droplet as she ran her hoof along his head. “What is that for? No, or I don’t know?”

He took one more deep breath, before nuzzling into his mother’s side. “I don’t know. When I watch her with others, she is so cold, and withdrawn, only wanting to make fun of them, and even sometimes hurt them. When it’s just the two of us though, she… she’s cute. She doesn’t always know what to say, but I don’t think that’s a bad thing. Especially when she gives me that little smile of hers that I’d never seen before. The bit of red that always splashes onto her cheeks when she does it gets me every time, and it’s just… nice to be with her.”

Love Tap smiled at her little colt, staring at the smile that had drifted onto his face. She doubted he even entirely knew about it, or even why he was smiling like a damned fool. It soon faded, much to her disappointment, as he looked down. “That isn’t love though, is it? My vision doesn’t change to pink when I see her, or anything like that.”

Love Tap cooed softly into his ear as she continued to stroke his head. “That’s something you’ll just have to figure out unfortunately, and no game is going to tell you the truth, alright?” She waited for him to nod, before patting him on the head. “Now, we can talk more about all that birds and bees stuff later. Before then, I need to schedule a chance to meetup with Filthy and your new marefriend. I think a week is far too much time with how young you are for me not to have met them.”

Button had already turned bright red from mentioning birds and bees, but then gasped at the rest. “Oh, you could come with me to the event I was invited to tomorrow. It’s a big, fancy party for Diamond Tiara’s dad and a lot of his investors, and she did say we could come. I just... didn’t know how to tell you.”

His mother nodded, a smile spreading across her lips. “Yes, that sounds-” She stopped, the word ‘tomorrow’ echoing in her mind. “When you said tomorrow, d-did you mean that?”

Button bobbed his head. “August twenty-seventh, at seven in the afternoon, Ponyville Museum. Diamond’s been making me memorize that ever since Tuesday.”

Her eye began to twitch as her breath came in much shallower. “And a lot of fancy stallions will be there?” Button’s nod was the last straw for her before she had to slump against the wall and talk into it. “Button, did it ever occur to you that you might need a suit for this?”

Button paled, and swallowed hard. “No?”

She slowly stood up, groaning as she rubbed her muzzle. The next twenty four hours were going to be long if she was going to make Button at all prepared for this, but to see her colt happy… it was still going to be a pain. She started trudging for the door, before calling to her son. “Come along Button. We have errands to run.

Author's Notes:

The third chapter should be arriving tomorrow. It's in the editing phases, and I was simply too busy to quite finish with it yet. I do hope you're enjoying it so far though.

Fears and Smiles

Button swallowed hard, staring down the long street, waiting. Crowds of excited ponies, residents who were invited so as to make sure the hall did not feel empty during the event, clamoured behind him and his mother, behind hastily erected barriers, waiting for the real stars. Button did not have this luxury though. He didn’t even have his joyboy with him, having been taken by his mother at the last second before they rushed out the door. No, instead he was stuck at the end of the walkway, standing in a well made, albeit rushed, suit, tailored by Rarity. All he had to do right now, was wait for his date.

His mother was fussing with his mane for about the tenth time in public, when finally, a carriage began to come up the street. Looking at the fine, gold trim, the painted on diamonds, and gold bits, he was certain who’s coach it had to be, and felt a chill down his spine. He was finally to speak to Filthy. Finally, it was time for him to face all that he had feared for the past week.

Finally be questioned by even more ponies about his feelings towards Diamond Tiara, and they all would expect an exact answer.

He may have tried running away, if not for his mother wrapping a hoof around him, and nuzzling the top of his head. She said nothing, simply allowing a warmth and comfort for Button to feel for stability. To try to forget his fears, and something else to focus on instead. It wasn’t enough to stop him from wishing he had his joyboy, if not just to tune all of this out. He could only focus on what what was to come though, as the door of the carriage opened up.

His breath caught as the first site of an icy blue dress came with a pink hoof. Next came the thin lace, intertwined with her mane, that caught his eye because of it glimmering in the light. As Diamond looked over to him, the rest of the swirling blues and whites were shown on the well stylized gown, which fell gently to each side of her, as if like gentle snow on top of a frozen mountain. She then smiled, and Button thought he might fall over.

She seemed to almost glide over to him, straightening his tie for a moment before raising an eyebrow. As nothing but dead silence filled the air between the two, and the hoofs of her father coming down were met by a dull, “Uuuuh,” by Button, Diamond’s smile started to fade. “Aren’t you going to greet me?”

Button blinked again, before a sharp hoof in the ribs from his mother finally snapped him out of his stupor. He gasped slightly, before blushing and rubbing the back of his head, trying desperately to recall his mother and Rarity’s rushed lessons on etiquette. He slowly bent his forehooves, and faced the ground as he swallowed hard. “G-good evening, Diamond Tiara. Umm, h-how are you tonight?”

Diamond’s smile came back, but it felt hollow to him, which confused him since they were together. He was still pondering this when she took his hoof, and started to pull him onto the walkway between the crowds, his mother falling in step behind him, and her father doing much the same. He stumbled slightly, and blushed as a small chortle rippled through the crowds. A chill ran down his spine as he felt Diamond’s hoof clench around his own, and tried to stay positive as he thought about what creature he would kill next in Monster Hunter, simply to take his mind off of the nervousness he felt.

It didn’t quite work though, as when they entered, they had to stand close to the entrance of the grand hall, greeting each of the dignitaries that passed through. A cold sweat broke over Button’s face as he smiled awkwardly at each of them. They were strangers though, merely talking to Filthy or Diamond. The most he got was that he looked cute beside Diamond, to which Diamond smiled brightly and coiled a hoof around his own. He would merely try to smile at them, as his nerves about being asked their actual relationship strained.

The four stood there more passively once the nameless dignitaries, at least, to Button, had gotten in, and the normal ponies flooded the room. He glanced at Diamond Tiara and swallowed hard, having no idea as to what he was supposed to do. He sidled slowly over to her, not wanting to be notice, before clearing his throat. “So, um, w-what now?”

Diamond glanced over and bit into her lip, before weakly nuzzling into his shoulder and looking up. “Dad, can we find somewhere to sit, maybe have some food? I had too little at dinner, and I think a refreshment would do me well, before the music starts and me and Button begin to dance.”

Button froze as Filthy’s eyes narrowed, and the brown colt crossed his forehooves. He heard a sigh escape both the older stallion, and the pink filly beside him, only causing him to look down more. “Alright, you may go. I do hope to see you on the floor early on though.”

Button didn’t like the cold tone that came with the words. He had come to the event, dressed up all nice, and was doing his best to not mess anything up. As far as he knew, he hadn’t done anything wrong yet. But from how Filthy acted, he knew he had, and that it was hurting Diamond too, which in turn, strangely hurt him. He still followed though as Diamond Tiara trudged beside him down the hallway. There was not even a public smile now, but a thin, determined line as they headed to the back entrance of the ballroom. The moment Button realized that this also left them a few moments alone, he knew he had to at least try to lighten the mood.

“Hey, did you see the green dress the photographer was in?”

Diamond raised an eyebrow. ‘You mean Photo Finish?”

“Yeah, her.”

“I did, why?”

“Well, with how far that cone around her head went outward, I thought for a moment she was one of those frayed lizards from the Jurrasipone Park movies.”

Diamond smacked herself with a hoof before groaning out, a chuckle forcing itself into the anguish in her voice. “It’s called Jurassic, you idiot!”

Button grinned as he felt her hoof hit his shoulder, loving the fact that the pun making skills he got from his mom was able to make Di laugh, even when he knew they were terrible. “Still has you laughing though.”

Diamond simply rolled her eyes, before smiling at him. He expected his spirits to lift upon seeing her happiness, but instead, the nagging worry stayed at the back of his head. It only got worse when Diamond Tiara opened the door. There were so many people, all able to judge him as they wanted. Looking over at the slightly faded smile on Diamond, he knew he had to put those fears aside. He had agreed to be here, and knew how stressful it was going to be when he had said yes. To just give up now would go against all a noble, level ten knight like himself had sworn to be.

The two entered the bustling room, with ponies still streaming through one side of the hall. Diamond stopped for a moment, glancing to the side of the room. “Ugh. Dad invited too many ponies. We’ll never get to a set of cushions while it’s like this.”

Button bit into his cheek, before looking behind them and stepping over to the wall and sitting down. ‘Why don’t we just rest right here while everyone else comes in. It’s not like ponies are going to suddenly be needing to leave right this minute.”

Diamond blinked a few times before stomping over. “Are you serious? You don’t just sit on the floor at one of these events!”

“Why? We do it all the time for assemblies.”

She puffed out her cheeks and shook her head. “That’s at school. Besides, a mare should have something clean to sit on, so as not to ruin their dresses.”

Button sucked in a deep breath, somewhat desperate to do something right, while still avoid the crowds of strange ponies. At least, to him. He went to scratch his head, before feeling the black fedora on his head, the final touch that Rarity had put on the rather standard suit to make it stand out. He slipped it off of his head, before flattening it on the ground.

Diamond’s eyes widened at the action as she danced on her hooves, unsure as to what her date was planning. “What are you doing?”

Button sat back down, a large grin on his head. “A flat cap for my lady?”

Diamond stopped for a moment, before blushing a bit and seating herself. “You know, I still should have say no. However, you did ruin your hat… Wait, was that another stupid pun?”

Button merely smiled in response, and got another groan from Diamond Tiara. There, the two swapped small talk, and passed the time. However, the loud raucous of the rest of the ponies made it hard to talk, and soon the two merely sat there, not wanting to begin to yell. And to be entirely honest, Button adored it. He didn’t have to worry about what to say, or do. He could just sit there, blushing slightly as Diamond Tiara leaned against his side.

Once all of the ponies were gathered, Filthy walked up onto the stage that had been prepared in the grand hall, and began to speak. Even with the great speakers being used though, the two foals in the corner had a hard time hearing the inspiring words that Filthy fed his investors about his company. This was also about the time when Button realized that he had no clue what all of this was for. “So… why are we here?”

Diamond turned away from watching her father, her smile having faltered again. She waved a hoof in the air. “My dad just wants to make sure everyone is happy, and get some more investors. Nothing you would be interested in.”

Button glanced back at Filthy as the stallion began to point to charts that were levitated on and off the stage. “Will this be something you do someday?”

“Of course. It’s part of being a business pony.”

Button booped Diamond on the nose. “Then I want to know. Besides, you’ve been letting me rant at you about video games all week, I’ll survive a few minutes of whatever this is.”

Diamond shook her head as a thin lipped smile crossed her lips. A smile that still wasn’t quite right to Button. “Alright, so, since a business has investors, ponies who put money into your idea so as to allow you to make it,”

“Oh!” Button smiled and snapped with one of his hoofs. “So like Buckstarter supporters, right?”

Diamond nodded. “Somewhat. These backers though, get stocks in your company. Those are pretty much small pieces of your company, and thus, they get some control. You can’t talk to all of them for every decision though, so most leave you be, and during meetings like this, they get a chance to hear how much money you’ve made them, and what your plans are, before they give feedback.”

Button slowly nodded, trying to keep his mind on what Di was saying, though it all did sound kind of boring. He didn’t want to completely dismiss it though. “One quick question. Why are we in a museum than?”

Diamond nodded, her smile growing somewhat, having expected the question. “Well, you see, that has to do with the other half of the purpose for this; talking to future investors. In a-”

Button held a hoof up, and waved it slightly, a large grin on his face as Diamond Tiara rolled her eyes. “Yes?”

Button stuck his tongue out for a moment, before putting his hoof down. “That wasn’t what I meant. What I did mean was why are we in a place that is so boooooring? If it were me, I would choose a convention hall, put up tons of gaming stations so everyone could relax, with me playing Smash on a huge screen, using Epona to kick everyone else’s flanks, just to show how awesome I am! I mean,” he scratched the back of his head, blushing as he realized how loud he got, “that is the goal in the end, right?”

Diamond blinked for a few moments, as Button guessed she was pondering his wise words. He was so confident about his idea, he had what his mother called his ‘victor’s’ grin on, which was about as stupid, and wide as one pony could get a grin to be. Which made the whine to escape him because of Diamond’s laughter all that much cuter. “I-I’ll, snnrk, keep that in mind, promise.”

The two shared in the laughter soon after, not caring about the eyes that were cast upon them. Annoyed glares for interrupting the speech, and soon enough, for interrupting his speech. In the joking that had ensued after the ridiculous suggestion, Filthy had finished his speech, and been told of the disruption.

Diamond was the first to notice her father being there, almost immediately quelling her excitement as she looked up, and then away. Button soon followed in her realization, though he was not only able to keep his smile, but also waved to the businesscolt. “Hello sir. Do you want to hear the joke? The last one was very punn-Ow!” He rubbed his head, curious as to why Diamond hit him on the head.

Filthy let out a long breath, his eyes shut as he did so. Once he opened them, he tried to feign kindness. “I’m happy to see you two enjoying yourselves, but if you’re that wound up, then I think it would be best if you tried to relieve some of that on the dance floor. I even believe a slow song may be coming on soon.”

Diamond Tiara nodded quickly, nudging Button in the side. The shocked stallion took a little to get moving, confused as to what he seemed to have done wrong. Button soon found himself getting pushed and prodded towards the center of the room; a cleared space specifically for those who wanted to dance, which currently was none. The moment Diamond let him stop, he stayed petrified, noticing now all of the practical nobles who were looking their way. He turned slightly when Diamond spoke. “So, what do you know?”

“That I’m absolutely terrified right now.”

“I meant as far as dancing went.”

Button blinked a few times before swallowing hard and lowering himself slightly. “Umm, the robot?”

Diamond blinked a few times, before glancing past Button and paling slightly. “Th-then I’ll teach you the waltz. That shouldn’t be too hard.”

Button paled even harder as he heard that. “Are you insane? That’s the dance every movie has the groom hate to learn.”

Diamond glared at him for a moment. “It’s only six steps, promise.” She wrapped a hoof around his, and met his eyes. “Please, for me?”

He stared into her deep, blue eyes for a few moments, and felt the gaze of every other pony waver from him. He swallowed hard, keeping his gaze dead on with that cerulean expanse. “I-if I can keep looking here, sure. Otherwise, I’m not sure if I can entirely move.”

Diamond Tiara blinked a few times, before nodding, and nuzzling into his cheek. “Alright then stupid, you can, but if you step on my hooves, I’m bonking you on the head again.” After Button gave a nod, she let out a long breath and nodded back. “Alright, first thing’s first, you need to put your hooves on my shoulder, and I do the same to you.”

It took one failed, where Button’s hooves slipped off of her when she rose herself, but soon, the two were centimeters from each other’s faces, trying to ignore the chortles of the social elite. Diamond swallowed hard, and put on a smile. “Alright, since I’ll be leading, I need you to step back with your right hoof.”

Button thought about it for a few moments, before furrowing his brow, and grinning. “You mean the one on the ground, right?” He didn’t remove his grin as Diamond glared at him, and shook a bit as he stepped back. Their equilibrium was righted again though when Diamond stepped forward with her left.

“Alright, next is for you to move your left back and over.” When Button began to close his feet, Diamond shook her head, almost throwing them both to the ground. “Back and over!”

He quickly righted himself, and watched as Diamond moved her right hoof forward and over. She then began the next step without him, bringing her hooves together. It didn’t throw Button though, as he followed her. “Just mimic, right?”

Diamond blinked for a moment, before mouthing, ‘What?’ She then noticed the fact that the two were as they should be. “Umm, yeah, very good.” She then cleared her throat and shut her eyes for a moment. “Okay, so now, to finish the cycle, it’s forward with your left, over with your right, and together. Understand?”

Button decided to skip giving a response, favoring a chance to prove himself instead as he stepped forward. While it did succeed in surprising Diamond she quickly responded as she needed to, and the last two steps were done almost smoothly. She giggled a little as they righted, only now really being able to take her eyes off of their hooves. “And now you know how to do the basic waltz.”

Button’s eyes grew wide at the words. “Really?”

Diamond nodded, before stepping forward, forcing Button to start dancing. “Yes, that’s it. There is more, but in essence, this is it.”

Button whistled slightly as he tried getting into it, and the rather slow, dull music that was rambling on in the background. It really did amaze him though just how easy it was. :”Wow, that’s awesome. Don’t you agree, Di-” He stopped as he looked up, only now truly realizing how close their faces were. How close he was to those deep seas, and the smile, that made the rest of the world fade away.

For long minutes, they danced. The two kept each other’s eyes as all they knew, as their hooves clumsily continued the six pace cadence. Diamond let the two spin, leading Button as he simply forgot to care. She was in control of his movements because, if he were honest, he would have done almost anything to stay like this. To simply be making the beautiful filly, even when she didn’t have a hint of blue eyeliner or red lips, happy, and keeping that genuine smile on.

All good things must come to an end though, and for the two of them, it came to an end when Button swung into the legs of another stallion, causing the business pony to fall, having been off balance from bad dancing already. A chuckle came from his date as Button shook his head, having only just been snapped out of the dream he was in. Looking behind him, he saw the stallion’s angry face.

“Will you watch where you’re going? A civilized colt should not be so foolish as to run himself into another pony! Even a simpleton would know that.” The stallion turned back to his date, who was still laughing, and steam came out of his muzzle. “What do you have to say for yourself?”

“I-I’m sorry, I didn’t know you were there.”

“Oh, didn’t know? Do you know how important this event is, how prestigious it is in the eyes of ponies? And you come here not even knowing proper etiquette? I bet you’re the type of stallion who won’t even get your date a drink!”

Button paled at the accusation, especially when he realized that he in fact hadn’t. Hoping that rectifying that may bring him any closer to the wonder he had been in, instead of thee horrifying reality that he had been trying to deny all night, he raced off without a word.

What he missed in his absence though, was the stallion, who thought he had recovered his pride, jumping at a small growl behind him. He turned to see Filthy, whom’s eyes glowed with the fire behind his gaze. “Get out.”

He swallowed hard. “Bu-but I have a hundred shares, and that kid-”

Filthy stomped on the tile, barely keeping his voice low. “I will not tolerate somepony screaming at a foal at my event. So, before you try to teach any more lessons on etiquette, I suggest you leave, and learn some.” He backed away as the stallion scrambled, breathing hard as he glanced in front of him. Before he could say anything to the ponies gathered about him about the whereabouts of his little filly, a cream hoof came into his peripherals.

She nodded to him, and offered a hoof to shake. “Thank you, for standing up for my colt. You didn’t have to.”

Filthy took in a deep breath to recompose himself, knowing that he had gone too far himself. “Please, think nothing of it.” He then smiled. “Besides, it’s the least I can do for a colt that makes my little one so happy, right?”

Love Tap smiled back, nodding as the two slowly made their way towards the edge of the crowd, missing Button as he came back with the drinks, and him running off after the direction Diamond Tiara supposedly went. “I’m just amazed that my little Button could be liked by someone of such high culture. I would have thought his affinity for puns would have destroyed his chances.”

Filthy raised an eyebrow as he sat on a cushion, happy to finally have a chance to talk to the mare. “Exactly how bad is this love for puns?”

Love Tap sipped her own tea, shrugging slightly. “Not too bad, as long as he isn’t nervous. Then he’ll make a pun out of anything, so expect a lot of forced ones near you.”

He let out a deep sigh as he shook his head, before nodding. “Anything else I should know?”

She thought for a moment, before deciding to get it out of the way sooner, rather than later. “I thought I would reassure you that my Button Mash is not very sexual. He is a little too socially repressed, and your daughter may have been one of his first real experiences with any of… that.”

Filthy froze in his tracks, before slowly moving his head, and staring at her. “What do you mean by that?”

Love Tap’s stomach became knots as she swallowed hard. “Di-did Diamond Tiara not tell you what the two did a week ago?”

Button was already out of the museum, when Filthy screamed for the boy’s head.

Diamond Tiara felt a small tickle against her cheek. It was the first outside feeling she had had other then anguish when she saw how much pain and horror she had caused Button. She had told herself fine, and for so much of the event she had lied to herself that his behavior was wrong. From her father, to having to get Button out of the reception line, and that stupid stallion, they were all just proofs as to why she was wrong.

And then the second tickle came, and she finally looked over into concerned, orange eyes. “Sorry to leaf you behind.”

She tried to smile, but instead just turned away. “Leave me alone Button. You don’t want me. We… we don’t belong together.”

Button laid down beside her, scowling at the response. “Diamond, no.”

She shook her head. “You’re not a business pony, and you don’t do well with crowds. Add to that the fact that my dad hates you, and-”

“Shut up!”

Diamond looked over at a Button who was glaring at her. There was no playfulness, no fear, and definitely no happiness there. Just anger, and annoyance. “I-I’m sorry.”

“I said shut up.”

“But Butto-” She stopped as a hoof was put against her muzzle.

His glare didn’t go down as he stood up. “I have been searching through these stupid woods for almost ten minutes, scraping one of my knees, falling into mud, and getting carried down half a stream, just to find you. I haven’t done that for even my favorite video games, and you know what, I didn’t care. I am only just realizing what I went through, and would like an explanation as to why. Why did you run away?”

Silence permeated the woods as only Button’s pants answered the question. The young colt rubbed at one of his eyes, before yelling in frustration. “Why does this hurt so much?”

“Wh-what?”

He glared at her, a tear at the edge of his eyes. “Why does you saying goodbye hurt so much? Why does your smile make me so happy when I think it’s real? Why did I put up with anything tonight? Every part that we weren’t pretending it was just the two of us sucked! I don’t know why though!”

Diamond lowered her head, before tentatively putting one hoof on the ground. Then the other, before stepping closer to Button, nuzzling against his chin. The young colt then nuzzle back, his tears finally falling. Looking him in the eyes, she leapt, just like she had last week. “Ma-maybe it’s because… because you do feel something for me?”

Button tried to smile back, but instead just looked down. “I… I don’t know. You seem to think this all matters so much, and… and I don’t want to mess up and be wrong. I barely even know what you’re suggesting is!”

Diamond stayed close to him, their young bodies only centimeters from each other. “And yet you still hang out with me. You… you gave me tonight. Will you at least say that I’m special to you with that as evidence?”

Silence came back as Button stared at Diamond. He didn’t know what to say. He didn’t want to hurt her, and he didn’t want to be wrong. His mind sought after some sort of joke, something to make all of this go away, but nothing worked. He just wanted to lose himself in something, anything he knew was good, was right. Was where he wanted to be.

Both of their eyes widened as they found themselves in a very abrupt kiss. Diamond spent a fraction of the time that Button did in shock, before wrapping her hooves around him, and kissing back. Button spent only a moment more questioning if this was what he wanted, before shoving the stupid, confusing thoughts away. Diamond made him happy, especially when she was happy. She made him feel different than any other filly or mare he had ever met.

With that in his head, he submitted to his feelings, and leaned into the kiss too. For several long minutes, they simply sat there, enjoying the other’s embrace, before they finally broke apart. Button smiled at Diamond Tiara, and she smiled back. That same smile that made his chest flutter, and his mind cloud, all with happiness.

A happiness, that was short lived.

A crash came from beside them as Filthy slammed down onto the bush, having seen the demon kissing his daughter. He rose to his full height, and glared at the colt. “Button, you die tonight!”

“Button, run!”

“Aaaah!”

Their screams could he heard into the night, with the princess doing all she could to keep her beloved knight safe from the rampaging monster.

Author's Notes:

And that's it. I hope you all enjoyed.