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.