It was a beautiful night in the Chicago. This was the kind of night where you could lie back in the tall grass of any hill and let yourself get lost in the stars...the forest was so dark that every single constellation and planetary body glowed brightly in the night sky, and you could get bewildered by just how much you could see. On that night, Sweetie Belle Sneer's eyes fluttered behind his thick glasses, as he tried to follow the trail of stars he'd been focusing on.
"I told you it'd be amazing!" Mash Buttons declared beside him. "Melissa said it's because of the earth's position from the moon right now!"
"There's so many stars," babbled Sweetie Belle. The stars were overwhelming enough, but it didn't help that Sweetie Belle was holding back so many words that could make or break their friendship.
A warm summer breeze blew over the two, rustling the grass around them. It was such a picturesque moment; the grass fluttering, the glowing speckled sky, and Mash Buttons sitting and fidgeting with a compass beside the reclining Sweetie Belle. He should have been perfectly at ease, but his stomach was churning too much. The cool wind blew across his flushed face, bringing some relief.
Everything was perfect. Sweetie Belle had to confess that night.
"Pop, uh...do you have a moment?"
Sweetie Belle stood in the doorway of his father's office, arms hanging limply at his sides. Rarity was in the middle of a mount of paperwork, the occasional cloud of cigar smoke rising out from amid the pile of papers and forms. Rarity looked up only briefly, and gave his son an approving grunt before looking back down to sign something.
"Well, I...I know you're busy, but..." Sweetie Belle had to hurriedly close the door. He leaned against it, his knees beginning to buckle. "...You know how Sophia moved away?"
"Yes?"
"We, uh...it wasn't just her going to gymnastics camp. It w-was...we broke up."
That made Rarity look up. He grunted, "Hmm? I thought you two were thick as thieves!"
Sweetie Belle nervously chuckled at first, and took a heavy breath. "Well...we're still friends. But, uh...I...I realized something."
"And what's that?"
Rarity's eyes were directly on Sweetie Belle at that moment. Sweetie Belle forced himself to stare down at the floor through his thick glasses, lest he break down.
Sweetie Belle sputtered, "I l...like someone else."
"Well, there's nothing odd 'bout that!" Rarity warmly said as he put down his fountain pen. "The heart's mysterious, my boy. Sometimes the best thing you can do is make sure you're faithf-"
"SMash Buttons-!"
"Hmm?"
Sweetie Belle tried to catch his breath after his wordy gasp. "It's...! B-B-Mash Buttons...!"
Rarity sat at his desk, bug-eyed, jaw hanging. Sweetie Belle made the mistake of making eye contact with him, and the young man looked away with a gasp.
"W-We've b-been friends f-f-for a long time, and..." Sweetie Belle's voice cracked. "I...I don't know h-how it happened...!"
"Sweetie Belle..." His father's chair moved back. Sweetie Belle tensed up in anticipation of...something.
"I d-don't wanna disappoint you, pop..." he whispered.
Rarity's hand gently landed on Sweetie Belle's shoulder. His father's raspy voice murmured, "Come outta the doorway, son. You look like you're in front a' a firin' squad."
Sweetie Belle opened his eyes, almost shocked; he stared back at his father in confusion, trying to gauge Rarity's mood. He was surprisingly calm, sympathetic even, and with his free hand, he gestured Sweetie Belle to a chair deeper in the office. Sweetie Belle pulled away and sat down in it, almost robotically. Rarity stayed by his desk as he extinguished his cigar, making an exasperated sigh.
"So...you're in love with one o' those raccoons, eh?"
Sweetie Belle nodded, ashamed. He didn't know what at all to expect from his father. He knew his feelings for Mash Buttons were real, and powerful; their hiking adventures were making Sweetie Belle feel more and more awkward whenever he realized the two of them were out there alone. As well, with Mash Buttons turning 19 lately, it made Sweetie Belle feel even more and more like the two of them were equals. As all this and more ran through Sweetie Belle's mind, he couldn't help but sigh; it was a sigh of embarrassment and longing.
"I...I haven't told him yet, pop..." Sweetie Belle's face seemed to burn as it flushed with colour. "I...I'm sorry."
"For what, my boy?"
Sweetie Belle stopped breathing. He looked up, startled. Rarity was standing before him, his expression soft, as it rarely was. Sweetie Belle could feel his eyes begin to burn with tears, and he looked away in a hurry.
"Son..." Rarity pulled up a chair in front of Sweetie Belle, and folded his hands together. "I...I'm surprised. But I know that kid, Mash Buttons. I know he's not the type t' put you in danger."
Sweetie Belle forced himself to keep staring at the floor.
"So you didn't tell 'im yet?"
"N-no," Sweetie Belle breathed.
"Well...let me know when you do, Sweetie Belle." Rarity's voice hadn't sounded this kind in weeks. "He's a nice boy. I can't complain 'bout that, at least."
Sweetie Belle's eyes opened wider than he ever thought they could be. He tried to breath in, but it hitched in a gasp.
"But..." Rarity pointed a stern finger at him. "You marry him, and you adopt some kids, okay? I want some descendants, my boy."
Sweetie Belle couldn't hold back the tears any longer, and began sobbing with a choked wail. Rarity hurried to his side and wrapped a reassuring arm around his son's shoulder. Rarity murmured calming ssh's and "it's okay"s, his tired, calloused hands rubbing Sweetie Belle's back in circles like he did when Sweetie Belle was a toddler. It only made Sweetie Belle cry harder, but this time, in exhausted relief.
Sweetie Belle lay back in the long field grass, taking in a shuddering sigh. The stars were beautiful but they were only a distraction. His head rolled to the side, letting him focus on Mash Buttons.
Mash Buttons Raccoon, ever adventurous and energetic. It seemed like nothing could hold Mash Buttons back when he set his mind to something. It was this courage and resilience that Sweetie Belle had always admired and envied, and lately, had endeared him to Mash Buttons more and more. Just being around Mash Buttons made Sweetie Belle feel like he could do anything. The summer wind blew past the two once more, ruffling Mash Buttons's soft grey fur. Sweetie Belle got lost in watching this. Mash Buttons was so full of life and positive that just looking at him made Sweetie Belle's heart soar.
"Wow...you see any great constellations, buddy?" Mash Buttons looked down, making eye contact with Sweetie Belle. "...Buddy?"
Mash Buttons Raccoon had glanced down to see his best friend gazing at him intently, even more awestruck than he'd been while looking at the gleaming stars above them. Mash Buttons stared back, trying to understand Sweetie Belle's expression.
"Mash Buttons...?" Sweetie Belle asked breathlessly.
"Y-Yeah, buddy?" Mash Buttons moved closer. Maybe Sweetie Belle wasn't feeling well. He put a furred hand on Sweetie Belle's forehead, drying to check his temperature, but Sweetie Belle winced at the touch. Mash Buttons pulled his paw back apprehensively.
"Mash Buttons, I...I have to tell you something..." Sweetie Belle sighed, scared. "B-But you can't get too mad at me, okay? I-I wanna still be friends."
Mash Buttons's stomach turned. What could Sweetie Belle possibly have to say? Was he moving away? Was his dad going to start some new reckless business endeavour? Mash Buttons sputtered, "Wh-what is it, Sweetie Belle ol' buddy?"
"I-I'm in love with you."
Sweetie Belle words had tumbled out, like the dice in a Yahtzee cup, as Mash Buttons imagined it. He stared back at Sweetie Belle, breathless, shocked at the revelation.
"Geez...! Sweetie Belle, you really...?"
"Y-Yeah!" Sweetie Belle turned away suddenly. "I...I d-don't know how to talk ab-b-bout it..."
"Well...'cause..." Mash Buttons sputtered, clicking his compass opened and closed. "I...Lisa's cute and all, but you..."
Sweetie Belle lay there, shocked, waiting for Mash Buttons's words to return.
"Sh-she's nice, but...I think I like you more, you know...?" Mash Buttons laughed nervously. "You're always there for me! And you're really handsome!"
Sweetie Belle felt his face almost glow red. "Handsome?!"
"Well, gosh, yeah!" Mash Buttons beamed. "Your hair's so neat, you have cool glasses, and you're strong! Even more athletic than me!"
Sweetie Belle sat up, stunned. This had been far better a confession than he could've ever expected. He and Mash Buttons stared into each other's eyes in a way they never had before...they felt connected, linked heart to heart, as the two of them realized that they had a bond even stronger than that of just friends.
"How...how long've you felt like this?" Mash Buttons whispered.
"Ever since you graduated." Sweetie Belle's eyes fluttered. They couldn't look away from each other.
Mash Buttons lifted his hand, and it hung in the air uselessly. He didn't know what to do. He felt like his heart was going to explode as he stared into his best buddy's eyes – but now he felt even more than just a best buddy, he felt like...like...
"Should we be boyfriends now?"
"H-huh?!"
"Let's be boyfriends!" Mash Buttons declared, more confident than ever. "We'll be friends like always, but now, even more!"
"What if other people-?" Sweetie Belle gasped, worried.
"Aw, Ralph an' Melissa aren't behind the times," Mash Buttons declared, confident. "Schaeffer's cool with stuff like this, too! And all their friends are nice folk, y'know! We can be like...like..."
Mash Buttons's hand fell to the grass as he blissfully stared down. An ample blush was on the younger man's face. Sweetie Belle didn't know what else to do but reach for the raccoon's hand, holding it warmly like a piece of treasure.
"I...I wan...wanna be..." Sweetie Belle gulped hard. "I wanna be your boyfriend, Mash Buttons."
Mash Buttons Raccoon looked back at Sweetie Belle, starry eyed, a big, dumb excited grin across his face. Sweetie Belle couldn't help but return a beaming smile, too. His other hand wrapped around Mash Buttons's hand, clutching it closer, and the two of them stared at each other passionately for a moment. Before they knew it, they were drifting closer together, and they were soon nose to nose. Mash Buttons coasted on the joy he was feeling, and Sweetie Belle relaxed enough to let his lips push forward.
Under that beaming, speckled starry night sky, Mash Buttons Raccoon and Sweetie Belle Sneer kissed.
It was a soft, gentle kiss, officiating something they didn't know yet. When the kiss ended, they drifted back and stared deeply into each other. They couldn't believe the kiss had just happened.
They couldn't believe the kiss had taken that long to happen.
"This is great...!" Mash Buttons whispered. "I'm...I'm so excited!"
"I have a boyfriend..." Sweetie Belle whispered, sounding out each syllable, letting himself realize the situation. He wasn't alone anymore, and neither was Mash Buttons. And they were finally, finally together.
"Wh-what about your pop?" Mash Buttons suddenly asked, nervous. Sweetie Belle shook his head with a contented grin.
"He's okay, Mash Buttons!" Sweetie Belle said with a waver in his voice. "He gave his blessings! That's why I was so confident tonight...!"
Mash Buttons laughed suddenly. He exclaimed, "No wonder, old buddy!"
He lay down beside Sweetie Belle, and the two laughed, overjoyed. When it was over, they rubbed noses together, enjoying the closeness between them. The stars above them were so bright, so perfectly patterned, so beautiful that the two of them felt so perfect in that moment.
Mash Buttons and Sweetie Belle were in love. And in the middle of a perfect night like that, they knew they were destined for something wonderful.