Sweetie Belle walked through Ponyville, happily humming the CMC theme to herself.
"OW!" She had walked straight into a colt!
"Watch where—" the colt began, and then broke off as he looked at the unicorn. "I-I'm B-Button M-Mash," he stammered, gazing at her.
"I'm Sweetie Belle." She caught sight of his flank. "Hey! You don't have your cutie mark!"
"Why does it matter?"
"You can join the Cutie Mark Crusaders."
Button thought about it. A chance to hang out with the coolest, most talented, prettiest pony he had ever seen?
"Yes!"
"Great!" She grabbed his hoof.
She's holding my hoof! He thought as they rocketed toward the Carousel Boutique. A unicorn that looked a little like Sweetie Belle was working at a sewing machine.
"Rarity!" Sweetie Belle said.
"What is it now?"
"Can you make another Crusader cape for Button Mash? He's our newest member and needs a uniform!" Rarity got to work and soon Button had a red cape with a gold silk inside and a CMC insignia.
"Wow, I feel like a superhero!" he said, running around with his cape billowing behind him.
Time passed and the foursome kept trying for their cutie marks. One day, Button's family went on a vacation. He had no idea what terror would greet him upon his return.