One More Dance

by LightningSword

Chapters

#1 - To Be or Not To Be
#2 - The Timid Courting the Timid
#3 - Attention
#4 - Dac, Mac and Applejack
#5 - Out of His League
#6 - Hopes—Rainbow Dashed
#7 - As the Sun Sets
#8 - A Sparkle of Hope
#9 - A Reason to Live
#10 - The Best Dance
#11 - Epilogue

#1 - To Be or Not To Be

One More Dance

1 -- To Be Or Not To Be

“Are you serious? What a joke!”

“No one will ever go out with you!”

“You can be as confident as you want, but nothing's gonna change how weak and worthless you are!”

“I would say you and Fluttershy belong together, but even she has some looks! You're just ugly, lame, boring and pathetic!

“No one loves you! And no one ever will!!”

Dactylic Pentameter stood on the roof of Canterlot High, ready to finally go through with this. Those words he'd heard a month ago from the queen of the school, Sunset Shimmer, continued to reverberate through his mind, even now. No matter what he did in that month-long struggle to prove her wrong, he'd failed. He'd aimed too high, he'd gotten his hopes up, and with a small stroke of inconvenient circumstances, it was official. He should have quit while he was ahead. He should have quit it all a long time ago.

He was about to, though. It was all about to end.

Dac stood up and swallowed a huge breath. He'd been preparing himself for this all week, and was amazed that he still felt his stomach clench nervously. Deep down, something inside of him didn't want to do this. Something wanted him to step away from the ledge and go back inside. Something inside still hung on to that last, childish glimmer of hope.

That something would soon be splattered all over campus, right along with him.

“You up there! On the roof! Get down from there this instant!”

Dac was startled, and almost fell off when he heard the voice. It was coming from the ground below, amplified through a megaphone. Dac figured it was a hall monitor of some kind, nothing to be upset about. It was just one more thing he didn't have to worry about anymore. Once he jumped, all his worries would be over. No more school, no more grades, no more bullies, no more worries, no more heartbreak—it would all be over soon.

“You, on the roof! You are in violation of school rules! You're damaging the roofing! Get down from there!”

Maybe not the best choice of words, Dac said to himself as he raised his arms and held them out at his sides, palms forward, as if to fly off the roof of the school. He knew he couldn't, though; in fact, he was counting on it.

He only hoped that hall monitor or whoever it was would move before she got hit.

“Dac? Is that you? What are you doing up there?!”

Dac heard a new voice now, one that was strangely familiar to him. It distracted him for a few seconds longer, but he kept his resolve, and prepared to jump . . . .

“Dac! Can't you hear me? This is . . . this is Sunset! Please come down!”

Dac heard the name, and finally placed the voice. It was the same voice that insulted and belittled him a month prior. It was her: the vicious bully who had made him feel so worthless, who had, by extension, driven him to this decision in the first place.

And she wanted him to come down?

“Dac? Dac, what's going on? Wait . . . please don't tell me you're doing what I think you're doing! Oh please, no! Dac, please, don't jump! You can't! You can't do this, Dac! Please, don't do it! I'm begging you! Please!!”

Dac did a double take. For the first time, he saw the two people down on the ground who'd been talking to him. One, he couldn't quite tell who it was, but knew it had to be some kind of school official. The other was also hard to tell, but only at first. Staring long enough at her Dac could just barely make out long, red-and-yellow striped hair, a black leather jacket, and light-orange skin.

That was her! At least, it was her voice, and it was obviously coming from her. But the words she said could hardly be her own; they were pleading, compassionate and desperate, three things that Dac was absolutely sure Sunset could never be.

Compassion or no, Dac suddenly felt rage—blind, uninhibited rage that this thug in a miniskirt would be here to witness his final minutes. Most likely to gloat, too, Dac thought disdainfully as he stared daggers at the warm-colored speck he saw on the ground. That dirty, rotten, mean-spirited little—

“Dac, I'm sorry!” Sunset's voice went on, now amplified by the hall monitor's megaphone. “Please, you have to believe me! I know I've said bad things to you in the past, but things are different now! I'm a better person! I don't really think those things about you! I really don't! Please believe me!”

“SHUT UP!” Dac shouted back, not caring whether he could be heard or not. “SHUT UP, YOU LITTLE WITCH!! YOU'RE GETTING WHAT YOU WANT!! YOU'RE ALL GETTING WHAT YOU WANT!! YOU WON'T HAVE ME TO KICK AROUND ANYMORE!!”

“Give me that!” the hall monitor barked as she snatched the megaphone back from Sunset, “That's hardly helping matters now, is it, young lady?!”

“I had to say something!” Sunset replied. “Can't you see what's going on here?! What he's about to do?! I had to say something!” This was partially true; after Sunset's reformation, she had become much more empathetic and compassionate. Naturally, as soon as she passed this scene, she had to do what she could to help. But her apologies didn't come from out of nowhere. She had a good reason for pouring her newly-brightened heart and soul to Dac.

A very good reason.

Sunset Shimmer filed out of English class with the other students, fuming. Once again, that obnoxious little creep, Dactylic Pentameter, was tops in this class; another A+ essay solidified his place at the head of the pack. This was ridiculous. If she was going to keep her grip over this school (and stack the playing field in her favor in case her future scheme fell apart), she needed to stay ahead of everyone in school, in every way, by any means necessary. She had already done a flawless job of splitting up this dimension's so-called “Elements of Harmony” (Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie were hardly speaking to each other, and for some reason, she'd never seen this realm's version of Twilight Sparkle—the less she was around, the better), so the only people that needed to be kept in line were those who forgot who was running the show. Anyone who took a prominent position within the student body, be they athletes, student councilors, or just kids with good grades, needed to be taught the pecking order of Canterlot High.

All students went on the bottom. Then the teachers went above them. Principal Celestia and Vice Principal Luna came next. And finally, it was Sunset Shimmer on top. As it should be.

Dac was standing by his locker, writing in his notebook and looking like a complete loser. He was of average height, a little thin, with skin the color of parchment and mid-length, spiky hair, the color of ink, that hung in bangs over his eyes. His simple gray T-shirt had a design of a quill crossed with a flower. Sunset got a good look at him and grinned devilishly; this was the perfect opportunity to start whittling down his ego. Sunset walked over to Dac, stuck out her elbow, and knocked the boy's books out of his hands. Flustered, Dac went to pick them up, first reaching for his notebook, and panicked when Sunset's boot stamped down on it, keeping it on the ground.

“Awww, what's the matter, Dacky?” Sunset taunted as Dac struggled to pull his notebook out from under her boot. “You drop your stuff? You're as clumsy with your books as you are with words!”

Dac groaned and strained as he tried again and again to get Sunset to move. “Please,” he begged, his voice struggling to break, “please, let go. This notebook is important to me . . . .”

Sunset scoffed, “What's the big deal? Just some book you keep your stupid notes in? Grow up!” She then pushed him away with her other foot, stepped off the notebook, and picked it up, reading the page it was open to. Immediately, she had to suppress laughter—this was comedy gold.

She started reading out loud through her snickering:

“I will wait, trusting fate, struggling not to hesitate
They will try to walk by, but they'll never catch my eye
Just one chance, for romance; sway my heart, with graceful dance
You will see, we'll be free, a world of love for you and me.”

“Hey!” Dac yelled over her, reaching for his notebook. “Give it back! That's private!”

“Psh! No wonder! It's trash! How are you at the top of the class in English! You'd be lucky to get a C in Pig Latin!” She jerked the notebook one way and another, avoiding Dac's hands and ignoring his slowly-welling tears.

“Please! That's . . . that's not meant for your eyes—”

“You had this coming for a while now, kid!” Sunset continued to jeer him, “If you kept your hand down in class more often, I wouldn't have to knock you down a few pegs!”

“Just give it to me! I'm saving that poem!”

Sunset heard this, and stopped, sure to keep the notebook out of reach as she processed his words. “Whoa, whoa, whoa, wait a minute! You're saying you're gonna give this lousy poem to someone? Are you serious?” When all Dac could do was stare at the ground in shame, letting tears drip from his eyes, Sunset went on, “What a joke!”

Dac fought his misery and replied with as much strength as he could, “I . . . I like writing poetry. And someday, I'll meet a nice girl who'll like what I write, and—”

“And what?” Sunset laughed. “She'll fall all over you like a drooling fangirl? No one will ever go out with you! Especially if you write childish slop like this!”

“What makes you so sure? My poetry gives me confidence, especially when people enjoy it!”

“Please!” Sunset could hardly contain her laughter now. “You can be as confident as you want, but nothing's gonna change how weak and worthless you are!”

Dac was visibly hurt by this, and his reply was broken and subdued, “I'm . . . not . . . worthless—”

“Look again, honey! The only kid in school more flaccid and fragile than you is Fluttershy! I would say you and Fluttershy belong together, but even she has some looks! You're just ugly, lame, boring and pathetic!” She then tore the poem from Dac's notebook, crumpled it up, and threw it on the floor at his feet. She tossed the notebook to the side, turned around and walked away.

Dac dropped to his knees, unable to speak for a while as he stared at the crumbled remains of his work. As Sunset proceeded to sashay triumphantly down the hall, Dac suddenly attracted everyone's attention in a most unexpected and taboo way:

“You rotten old harpie! You can't do this to people! What gives you the right to step on everyone around you?! You should be ashamed of yourself!”

Sunset froze, her eyes wide in shock. She took special care to make sure no one ever spoke to her like that. She turned back around, staring daggers at the pathetic little wimp on the ground, and walked back up to him, placing a finger under his chin. “Let me spell it out for you, baby,” she snapped, a wildfire blazing in each eye, “I'm the queen of this school! No one does anything under this roof unless I know about it. And I got news for you—no one here is going to defend you, because no one here is going to care about you.” Sunset then went straight for the jugular, “You are nobody. Nothing would change if you'd never existed. You're hopeless, and you'd be better off if you'd disappeared off the face of the planet without a trace.”

She leaned in close, and her tone went up in volume, “Got it?! You are beneath me in every way, and you would be an idiot to challenge me! No one knows you. No one cares about you. No one loves you! And no one ever will!!” She lifted her finger, tweaking Dac's chin, and walked away again, putting that victorious swish in her hips as she moved. She could just barely hear sounds of Dac crying on the floor.

Another one knocked back to the bottom with the rest of the dregs, she thought. Perfect.

Sunset thought back to that day, and was horrified by her own behavior. She hadn't taken this deep a retrospective of her own actions since Twilight left, and the things she had done shocked her as much now as they had then. She could hardly believe she had gone all that time being so inconsiderate, insensitive and cruel. And now, she had to repair the aftermath of what she'd done; she was answering for her past, in the biggest, most harrowing way.

But there was one thing Sunset still didn't understand. That had happened a month ago. She was sure her hurtful words had a major influence in Dac's self-destructive decision today (at worst, they were the direct cause), but why wait for so long? What happened between that day and today? And did it contribute to Dac's reasons to attempt to take his own life?

#2 - The Timid Courting the Timid

One More Dance

2 -- The Timid Courting the Timid

Applejack, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Rarity and Pinkie Pie left the school building together through the front entrance, talking and laughing together just like the good old days. It had been three days since Twilight left, but their camaraderie was fully restored, thanks to her. They talked of her often, always endearingly, and although they missed her, they stayed friends and kept anything from breaking their friendship, not just for her, but for themselves.

They heard a megaphone blaring someone's voice in the distance, and they turned to see a hall monitor arguing with someone on the western lawn. A closer look told them that the other person was none other than Sunset Shimmer.

“Hey, what's Sunset up to over there?” Dash pointed out first.

“I don't know, but she's certainly a grumpy-pants today!” Pinkie chirped. “Maybe she didn't have breakfast, or they ran out of tacos in the cafeteria, or she lost her favorite hairbrush or something!”

“Oh, dear,” Fluttershy mumbled, “you don't think . . . oh, I know it's terrible to think about, but . . . do you suppose she's . . . back to her old ways?”

“Oh, balderdash, darling!” Rarity assured her. “Sunset is a changed girl. We've all seen it for ourselves!”

“Hey . . . is there someone on the roof up yonder?” Applejack asked, pointing to a spot on the roof parallel to Sunset's position. The others followed where indicated, and saw that there was indeed a person standing on the roof, arms spread.

“Whoa! You're right, Applejack!” Dash exclaimed. “He looks like . . . oh, man! I think he's gonna jump!”

“Merciful heavens!” Rarity followed suit. “Who is it? Can you tell?”

“I ain't sure . . . but whoever it is, we can't let him! C'mon!” Applejack led the group to meet up with Sunset Shimmer; she saw them coming, and sighed with relief.

“Oh, thank goodness you're here!” she greeted them. “You have to help me! He's gonna jump if we don't do something!”

“Who is it up there?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“He's in my English class. His name is Dactylic Pentameter.”

“Dac?” Applejack asked, bewildered. “You're kiddin'!”

“No, it's true! He's going to get hurt if we can't help him!”

All five girls knew Dac, but would be shocked to know exactly how mutual their acquaintance was.

“He asked me out!” they all said simultaneously. The awkward pause afterwards was well-placed.

“Well . . .” Rarity spoke first, “this . . . this is highly unusual, though, isn't it?”

“Hold it!” Dash snapped, suddenly irritated. “He asked all of us on a date? Just what kind of player does this guy think he is!”

“Dash, try focusin' on the problem!” Applejack deprecated. “We'll talk about it later.”

“That's weird,” Pinkie Pie observed, “I don't remember even answering him. I remember seeing him, and I remember him being kinda nervous, but what did I say?” She slapped the top of her fluffy head with her hands. “Ooooh, think, Pink, think! Think, Pink, think!”

“Um, I remember him asking me,” Fluttershy spoke up, “but . . . well . . . I guess I . . . turned him down.” The last part came out in a near-whisper.

“Really, Fluttershy?” Applejack asked, surprised.

“Well . . . I didn't . . . well, I didn't really mean to . . . I just sort of . . . panicked.”

Sunset approached her (Fluttershy involuntarily flinched) and spoke softly, “What happened that day, Fluttershy? How long ago was it?”

“Hmm . . .” Fluttershy thought back to when it happened, “I think it was about three weeks ago . . . .”

“Ooh, go on, Angel bunny, back in the backpack. Hurry, before Sunset sees you!”

Fluttershy panicked as she urged her rabbit into her backpack. Sunset Shimmer consistently reminded her of what would happen if she ever saw Fluttershy with any of her animals in school, and that having them here was against the rules. Finally, she sighed when Angel jumped inside, and Fluttershy zipped up the bag just enough to keep him hidden, but open enough so that the tiny animal could breathe. They were both safe, for now. But Sunset had been increasingly good at catching Fluttershy and giving her a good tongue-lashing, especially lately. It was as if she was making her rounds, keeping students in her grip whenever they came close to slipping out. It was disconcerting, to say the least, and at most, it was frightening.

“Hello?”

“EEP!” Fluttershy squeaked and jumped on hearing a voice behind her. When she turned, she was relieved to see that it was not Sunset catching her in the act. It was the guy who shared an English class with her, just as much a subservient as the other students.

“Oh, Dactylic Pentameter, it's you,” she sighed, her relief relaxing her. She didn't know Dactylic very well, but she knew he was nothing like Sunset.

“Uh, just Dac is fine,” Dac replied, blushing at the use of his long, rather complicated name. “Hi, Fluttershy. How . . . how are you?”

Fluttershy smiled at Dac's kind words. “Oh, I'm fine, thank you.”

“That's good. Look, I know it's not really my business, but if you were trying to hide your rabbit because of me, it's okay. I won't turn you in.”

Fluttershy felt her panic rise up again for a second, but it went away when Dac promised not to tell. “That's . . . really nice of you. Um, thank you,” she replied. He really was nice, definitely nothing like Sunset. She didn't know why she felt so nervous earlier.

“Listen, uh . . .” Dac went on, rubbing the back of his neck, “I was wondering if . . . you know, if you're not busy, maybe . . . .”

Fluttershy felt her panic slowly come back. If she didn't know any better . . . .

“. . . . I understand if you don't want to, but, if you do . . . .”

. . . . she could swear that Dac was about to . . . .

“. . . . I thought, maybe we could . . . get together sometime?”

. . . . yes, he was. He was asking her out.

Fluttershy's eyes widened, and she felt her face redden furiously. She felt her knees buckle under her, and the only response she had for a while was a brief, high-pitched squeak.

“Uhh, are you okay?” Dac asked, looking worried. “I didn't say something wrong, did I?”

“I . . .” Fluttershy mumbled, unable to form a cohesive sentence, “I . . . I . . . I . . .” She felt herself struggling to speak, and the effort only made her panic more. This had never happened to her before; she'd never thought about dating for even a second, and even so, she never thought about whom she'd consider dating. And she hardly knew Dac! What was she supposed to say?

“I . . . I . . . I gotta go!” she finally squealed before picking up her backpack and running away.

“Come on, Fluttershy!” Dash tried to console her. “You couldn't help it. You just panicked, that's all!”

“I . . . I wanted to find him again to see if he wasn't sad or angry, but . . . I was too scared . . . I didn't know what to say . . . .”

“I figured something like that would happen,” Sunset concluded. “I said some pretty awful things to him about a month ago, and I figured it was what I said that drove him to this. But a lot could happen in a month. I guess . . . I guess he just felt like he failed.”

Fluttershy gasped. “You mean . . . you mean . . . it's my fault? Oh, no! Oh, why did I run away like that! Why didn't I say something? Anything! I broke his heart! It's all my fault!”

“Now, don't you fret none, sugarcube,” Applejack comforted her. “This ain't nobody's fault. Dac's in a bad place right now, and if he don't get help soon, he's in big trouble.”

“Wait just a moment,” Rarity suddenly realized something. “Except for Sunset, he's asked us all out at least once, hasn't he?” The other girls nodded, and she continued, “Well, Fluttershy avoided the issue, and Pinkie Pie doesn't quite remember what happened. What did the rest of us say?”

Dash thought back to when Dac had asked her what he'd asked Fluttershy. “I guess I turned him down, too,” she lamented.

Applejack nodded. “Me, too.”

“As did I,” Rarity added. “So we have a fairly accurate idea of what the real problem is, don't we?”

“Did all this happen within the last month?” Sunset suddenly asked. The question was sudden, but made some sense, considering what Sunset said she'd done a month ago. They all agreed—Dac had asked each of them out within the past month.

“So, what does that mean?” Dash asked. “So he wanted to get fresh with all of us. Big deal.”

“It's not like that, Rainbow Dash,” Sunset replied morosely. “Now, we know exactly what the real problem is. And Applejack was wrong. This is someone's fault.” She looked back up the building to see if Dac was still there, and felt her heart crumble when she saw him, locked into position and ready for his first—and last—freefall.

“It's mine.”

Dac remembered the look of fear on Fluttershy's face after he'd tried to ask her out. He thought she was pretty, compassionate, and figured she would be the easiest to approach. He thought she would be the most likely to say yes; in fact, he was counting on her kindness to make it work. He thought he would be so happy, and would finally get a chance to prove Sunset wrong.

It didn't work.

So, a few days later, he'd gathered up the courage to try again with another girl. He'd always thought that Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash were just about perfect—pretty, sweet, smart, and all-around awesome. Each had their own different characteristics that made them even more wonderful, and Dac couldn't deny that he had a fairly big crush on each of them. So he'd vowed, a month ago, to prove to Sunset, and to himself, that she was wrong, and that he really was lovable.

But it had gone so wrong in so many ways. As he went from girl to girl, getting more and more desperate to fulfill his vow, the vow itself had changed from a need to prove Sunset wrong to a need to make it happen, one way or another. He'd tried, and he'd striven to find someone to love him, and he'd failed each and every time.

So here he was, about to prove Sunset right again. No one loved him. And once he'd landed, no one ever would. Ever.

#3 - Attention

One More Dance

3 -- Attention

The hall monitor had long since left to find Principal Celestia or Vice Principal Luna and alert the authorities, but the length of time it took suggested that the two could not be found. This left the six girls to make sure Dac would stay on the roof; now that they had discovered his motives, they were determined to get Dac the help he needed. Whatever was going through his mind at that moment, it was clear that his thoughts were all wrong.

“You told him what?!” Rarity barked, shocked at Sunset Shimmer's explanation. “How could you?!”

“I know, I know, it was wrong!” Sunset pleaded. “But this was before Twilight came along! I didn't think he'd take what I said to heart! And I didn't think he'd take it like this!!”

“You should've known something like this would happen, Sunset!” Dash admonished. “Someone was going to take it pretty hard from you eventually! Now, someone's about to get really badly hurt, or worse!”

Sunset's eyes began to well up. “You’re right,” she said with a broken voice, “I've done terrible things to people. Dac was right. I really should be ashamed of myself. Now, it's on me to face the consequences.”

“I never said that,” Dash added. “You made mistakes. We get that. But if you think you're alone in this, you've lost your mind!”

“Dash is right, Sunset,” Applejack nodded, “we're all a part of this now, for better or worse. That boy's head is messed up, and we need to do what we can to make it right.”

“Yeah!” Pinkie cheered. “Making sad people happy is my specialty! YAY!”

Fluttershy gave a soft smile. “Whatever it takes.”

Rarity was the last to agree, “Absolutely! We're in this together!”

Sunset felt much better, but not as much as she'd liked. She was still responsible for this in some way or another, and Dac was too angry at her to let her apologize. She knew she had to do something, but what and how were entirely different.

“Dacky!” Pinkie Pie shouted up to him with her hands cupped around her mouth. “Dacky, don't be sad! You have friends down here, and friends don't let friends stay sad! Tell you what! If you come down, I'll throw you a big party! Balloons! Cake! Punch! Music! Dancing! Fun, fun, FUN!!”

Dac said nothing.

“Hmm,” Pinkie said, scratching her head, “that's funny. Do you think he heard me?”

“Here, let me try,” Rarity offered. She cupped a hand around her own mouth before shouting, “Dactylic? Darling, it's Rarity! Can you hear me? Please come down so we can talk! We're awfully worried about you, you know!”

“Leave me alone!” Dac replied, his voice faint, but clear.

Rarity was visibly hurt by the brush-off. “Well . . . I was only trying to help you . . . .”

“Hello?!” Pinkie tried again. “Dacky?! We wanna talk to you! Come on, don't be such a frowny-puss!”

Once again, nothing.

“Now, that don't make no sense!” Applejack interjected. “Why would he answer Rarity, but ignore Pinkie Pie?”

There was a pause amongst the group as they thought it over, until Pinkie suddenly gasped loudly, “I think I know!”

“What is it, Pinkie?” Sunset asked. “Does it have anything to do with when he talked to you?”

Pinkie's grin slowly dissolved, “Yeah, it does. Now, I remember what I said to him.”

“How'd you answer him, Pinkie?” Dash asked, “What did you say?”

Pinkie hesitated, and her frown grew steadily worse, “Nothing . . . .”

Dac walked into the gymnaisium and looked around, finally seeing Pinkie Pie, resident party planner of Canterlot High, sitting in the basketball hoop ten feet off the ground. She'd been buzzing back and forth from the gym for the last couple of days, taking measurements, putting out orders for party favors, writing down different kinds of food, and setting up the decorations for the Fall Formal three weeks early for no reason. The basketball team, the gym teachers, and various students had been a bit annoyed with her zealous antics, but since nobody had a real reason to complain, Pinkie was allowed to flit about as she pleased.

Pinkie swung off of a hanging streamer and down to the floor. “WHEEEEEEEEE!!” she cried exuberantly. The second she touched the ground, she raced over to a nearby box and dove in, plundering a trove of balloons and party favors. “Let's see . . . ooh! More streamers!” she announced, her legs kicking outside the box, “and we'll need some more balloons, too! Hmmm . . . oh, hey, there they are! Sweetness!”

“Uh, hi, Pinkie.”

Pinkie squealed, startled, and fell completely into the box. She popped her head out from the box and saw Dac looking at her and blushing, “Oh, hi! Umm . . . Dirk, right? Or is it Deck? Dark? No, wait . . . Dick?”

“Dac,” he corrected her, “just Dac.”

“'Dac'? Oooh, that's even better!” Pinkie smiled before jumping out of the box. Just as her feet touched the floor, she gasped again. “Uh-oh! STREAMER EMERGENCY!! Gotta go!” With that, she plucked another set of pink streamers from the box and raced off to the other side of the gym.

“Uh, I won't keep you or anything,” Dac said, “I just wanted to ask you something. If you're not too b—” he suddenly jumped when he felt someone sneak up on him. He turned, and saw Pinkie dangling upside-down from the ceiling on a loose streamer. Oddly enough, her skirt stayed in place as she was hanging.

Pinkie grinned and dropped from the ceiling, landing on her feet. “Sure, Dac! What's up?”

Sure that she wasn't going to run this time, Dac pressed on, “Well, I just wanted to ask . . . if you're not too busy—”

“EEEEE!” Pinkie suddenly shrieked, startling Dac. “That corner's missing balloons!” And she plucked some balloons out of the box and raced off, blowing them up easily and quickly and tying them to one end of the bleachers on the other side of the gym. She then raced back over to Dac, not even the least bit winded, “'Kay, I'm ready now!”

“Okay . . . Uh, I just wanted to ask, if you were free sometime, maybe—”

“OOH! Cookies! We need cookies!” Pinkie whooshed away again, this time to a long banquet table by the bleachers. She opened a box next to it, pulled out a box of chocolate chip cookies, then froze before opening it. “Oops!” she chirped. “I forgot! Not for another three weeks! Hee-hee!” She set the sealed box on the table and ran back to Dac, still full of energy. “Sorry, Dacky! Go ahead!”

Dac hesitated, worried that her fleeting attention might wander again. “Are you sure?” he asked nervously. “Are you absolutely sure?”

“Sure I am!” Pinkie giggled. “Absolute, one-hundred-percent, super-duper sure!”

“Okay . . . I was wondering if you would like to get togeth—”

“APPLEJACK!” And once again, Pinkie Pie was gone.

Dac sighed dejectedly as Pinkie ran to meet her friend at the gym doors. This was never going to work. If he couldn't even keep her attention, how would he be interesting in any way if they ever did go out on a date?

“Applejack!” Pinkie Pie squealed as she jumped up and down excitedly. “Did you bring the stuff? Apple pie, apple juice, apple fritters, apple dumplings, apple frappe, apple—”

“Pinkie Pie, hold your horses,” Applejack calmed her. “I only came to tell ya that I can't bring none o' that stuff today. I know y'all wanna go overboard with the Fall Formal an' all, but there're certain lines ya just have to wait to cross. Know what I mean?”

Pinkie Pie looked at her confusedly for a second, then smiled and replied, “Okey-dokey, Lokey!” She then remembered with whom she was speaking before, and turned back to Dac. “Oh! Hey, Dac, what were you gonna ask me?”

Dac had his back turned, and was walking toward the opposite exit. “Never mind,” he said without turning.

“I . . .” Pinkie mumbled, shocked at what she remembered, and how it related to the present, “I . . . made him . . . SAD!!” Pinkie then buried her face in her hands and began to cry.

Fluttershy walked up to her and gave her a comforting hug. As Pinkie sobbed, Fluttershy tried speaking over her cries, “We really didn't mean to hurt his feelings. It's just that . . . well . . . .” She could hardly go on herself, and tears began welling up in her own eyes.

“Now, don't you two go blamin' yourselves,” Applejack assuaged them. “It ain't about who hurt who. His feelin's weren't yours to hurt. What I'm guessin' is, he wanted to feel better about himself, and he thought he could do it by havin' a girlfriend, or at least a date or two.” She sighed and glanced up at Dac, still on the ledge. “Nobody told him that it don't work that way.”

Sunset closed her eyes and shook her head. “This wouldn't be happening if I hadn't treated him so horribly!” she wailed. “Why did I have to be that way?! I've said so many awful things to so many of you, and now look what it's come to!”

“I wouldn't take all the blame, sugarcube. None of us knew what kinda pain he was in. Whether we meant it or not, we all made it worse.”

“I don't see how you could think that way,” Sunset replied miserably.

“Believe me, it's true. I oughta know . . . I remember that day. The day Pinkie Pie talked about, when Dac talked to her? He asked me out that day, too.” Applejack hesitated, absently placing a hand on the brim of her hat to fill the void, before finishing, “An' I turned him down, too.”

Dac had tried not to let his feelings show that day. He had always thought Pinkie was cute, and being the party girl that she was, he was sure she'd agree to go out with him on a really fun date; when he gave up on asking, he'd put conscious effort into not looking or sounding as miserable as he felt. That day, Sunset was right again—he was boring and lame.

Both Pinkie Pie and Applejack thought so.

#4 - Dac, Mac and Applejack

One More Dance

4 -- Dac, Mac, and Applejack

“Come on, Dac!” Applejack yelled up to him. “Come on down, so we can help you! Believe me, I understand how you're feelin' right now! But this ain't the way to fix your problems! What's goin' through your mind right now, it'll all pass! Trust me, it will, I promise!!” She struggled to keep her voice from breaking, and blinked repeatedly to keep her tears from escaping.

Dac's only response was a loud, angry, “Go away!!”

“Calm down, Applejack,” said Dash, placing a hand on her friend's shoulder. “I'm pretty sure he knows that. In fact, that's why I'm sure he's not gonna jump.”

“But, h-how can you be s-so sure?” Fluttershy asked, still holding back her own tears while Pinkie still cried hers.

“I don't know . . . I just am.”

“Darling, you can't possibly know for sure,” Rarity argued. “None of us realized just how troubled Dac was until today.”

“Look, I just know, okay?!” Dash was suddenly defensive. It was easy to see that she was trying to hide her own feelings.

“Rainbow Dash?” Fluttershy asked cautiously. “Um, what did you say to Dac? How did you answer his question?”

Dash blushed a bit, crossed her arms and turned away. “Look, I don't wanna talk about it, alright?”

“Applejack, you said Dac talked to you the same day as Pinkie, right?” asked Sunset. “What did you say to him?”

Applejack glanced back up at Dac's still figure on the roof before answering, “I honestly didn't think it was such a big thing. I swear, I tried to let him down easy . . . .”

“But what's that stuff for, Applejack?” Pinkie asked as she saw her brother, Big McIntosh, hauling in several large boxes. “If you didn't bring stuff for the Fall Formal, then what's in the boxes?”

“Pinkie, these boxes have apple juice for the vendin' machines,” Applejack explained, “You know my family donates healthy food to the school all the time, right?”

As he passed, Big Mac nodded, giving a laconic, “Eeyup.”

“Oh, okay. No problem!” Pinkie replied, satisfied. “Well, I got more stuff to bring in, and more gym to decorate! Catch ya later, Apples!” She then zoomed out of the gym, a pink blur that stirred up a streamer-moving wind.

Applejack smiled and rolled her eyes. “That girl's got more zip that a thoroughbred on a sugar rush.” She then grabbed one of the boxes Mac had brought in and rushed behind him to help out. On her way, she passed the boy Pinkie was talking to earlier, easily overtaking his slow gait, and nodded to him with a friendly smile. “Howdy, Dac.”

Dac looked at her as she passed, and weakly waved back. “Oh, hi, Applejack,” he mumbled. As she left the gym, she could hear Dac starting to follow her, wanting to catch up, “Oh, hey, Applejack! Could I ask you something? I won't take too long.”

Turning a corner and walking down the hall, Applejack, Big Mac, and Dac all stopped at a vending machine at the end of the hall. As Mac opened it up, Applejack responded, “Uh, sure, Dac, but make it quick, okay? We got a lot more boxes to bring in.”

Mac agreed, curtly and simply, “Eeyup.”

“Oh, okay, uh . . . well, I was wondering . . . if you had a free day, I thought . . . maybe . . . .” Dac pushed laboriously through his question, until he took a deep breath and finally spit it out, “Applejack, would you like to go out with me?!” He then threw both hands over his mouth, his eyes widening and his face turning a deep red.

Applejack and Big Mac stared at Dac as if he'd suddenly grown wings. Applejack glanced at her brother with a raised eyebrow, and Mac continued his work, loudly and awkwardly clearing his throat beforehand.

Applejack slowly approached Dac, a soft blush on her own face. “Look, I appreciate the offer, partner,” she began easily, “but I don't really have time for a date. We've been needin' extra hands in the fields all week, and on top of deliveries, volunteerin' and caterin' the Formal, I've gotta keep ahead on my homework . . . .” She stopped and sighed, “Sorry, Dac, but I just don't have time. I hope you understand.”

Dac glanced at the floor, shrinking into himself. “No, I understand,” he mumbled dejectedly. “It's okay, I guess . . .” he trailed off as he slowly turned and walked away.

“Dac . . . don't feel bad . . . .” Applejack weakly suggested as Dac walked away, but between the quiet of her voice and Dac's despondance, she was unsure whether he heard, or was even listening. Applejack turned back to the vending machine, and saw that Big Mac was still sneaking glances at the scene, making believe he wasn't paying attention. “I hope you ain't gettin' the wrong idea from all that,” she asked him sternly.

Mac visibly resisted the urge to grin as he answered, “Nope.”

“Dac, ya gotta believe me!” Applejack went back to yelling up to Dac as soon as she finished. “There are other ways to make yourself happy! An' doin' this to yourself, well, that ain't no way to go, either! Just let us help you! Whatever it is, it won't last forever! I know it won't!”

“Please, just go away!!”

He still stood up there, ready to end it all, and Applejack turned away, shaking in frustration. “What can we do to get through to him an’ tell him it ain't the end o' the world?” she asked. “He's hurtin' 'cause he thinks no one loves him. But he's tryin' so hard for someone to love him that . . .” she stalled for a moment, realizing a new depth of Dac's misery, “. . . he never . . . took the time to love himself . . . .”

“Oh, I'm so afraid there might not be anything we can do at this point,” Rarity replied, fretted. “I'm starting to feel just as guilty as you all, now.”

“Why, Rarity?” Sunset asked. “Didn't you let him down easy, too?”

“Well . . . I suppose. At least, I tried to. But he may have taken what I said a bit . . . differently than what I would've preferred . . . .”

Applejack was pretty much the perfect girl. She was really hardworking, caring, honest and strong, and she stayed on top of things so well. And despite the accent, she hardly fit the stereotype of the 'country bumpkin'; she volunteered at school a lot, and she always managed to get really good grades. Overall, she was wonderful.

That, and looking really hot in a denim skirt helped considerably.

Dac wasn't sure why he hadn't asked Applejack out sooner, but after that day, he knew better. All five girls had their strong points, but whether it was Fluttershy's sweet approachability, Pinkie Pie's endearing eccentricity, or Applejack's unshakable integrity (or their mutual good looks), none of them had seen anything in Dac. He'd had been shut down each and every time.

But on that day, he'd found some hope. Applejack had at least given a reason for her refusal; she was busy. If she was lying (which Dac was pretty sure would have been impossible), then she only did so to preserve his feelings. And if she was telling the truth, then that meant that there was nothing wrong with Dac that she could see. At least it was a start, and it gave Dac hope that he could find love—at that point, he'd felt as though he'd desperately needed it, and not just because of what Sunset had said.

“I just wanted to be loved,” he gasped to himself even now, struggling with his tears. “I just didn’t want to be alone anymore . . . why was that so much to ask . . . .”

He'd regretted making Rarity his next choice, though. Whereas Applejack gave him hope that he wasn't undesirable, Rarity had crushed that hope to pieces.

#5 - Out of His League

One More Dance

5 -- Out of His League

“What do you mean, Rarity?” Sunset asked, the sinking feeling of dread spreading from the pit of her stomach. “What did you say that he might've misinterpreted?”

Rarity reluctantly answered, “Oh, he didn't misinterpret. I was quite . . . lucid with him . . . .”

Pinkie Pie had finally stopped sobbing, but was still sniffing. “You didn't . . . you didn't hurt his feelings, too, did you?”

“Well, I didn't mean to!” Rarity defended herself. “I just gave what I felt were the reasons I couldn't be with him.” She stopped, seeming to realize something, “Although, I do see how he could've . . . handled it badly . . . .” There was a pause in which the fret in Rarity's eyes grew little by little, becoming panicked, then frantic, and finally, it exploded. “DAC!!” she screamed up to the roof. “DAC, PLEASE DON'T DO THIS! I COULDN'T BEAR IT IF SOMETHING HAPPENED TO YOU BECAUSE OF WHAT I SAID! PLEASE COME DOWN! LET US TALK TO YOU! WE CAN HELP YOU GET THE HELP YOU NEED! THE HELP YOU DESERVE! WE'LL DO WHATEVER IT TAKES, BUT PLEASE DON'T DO THIS!”

The others looked at her with wide eyes, and she looked back, a bit sheepishly. “Well, I really would feel awful,” she said rather matter-of-factly. “I mean, we may be incompatible, but I wouldn't mind being his friend.”

“What?” Dash replied, puzzled. “'Incompatible'? What the heck is that supposed to mean?”

Rarity's sheepish look persisted as she answered, “Well . . . it happened about two weeks ago . . . .”

The bell signaled the end of class, and students got up to leave. Among the bustle, only two students stayed behind. Rarity wanted to ask a few questions about the latest assignment, and went up to the teacher's desk to inquire.

Dactylic Pentameter stayed behind to ask a completely different question to a completely different person.

“So, next week's Math assignment might be a tad late,” she explained as Dac inched ever closer. “I've just started working on my dress for the Fall Formal, and it's taken quite a bit of my attention already. I may just end up going with a designer label, but if I don't, I thought it prudent to alert you should it become an inconvenience for me.”

As they spoke, Dac slipped up a bit closer, shaky and warm-faced. He was now right next to her, and she hadn't even glanced his way.

“Oh, well, I suppose I'll make something work,” Rarity concluded. “Thank you for understanding.” The teacher left for her office, and Rarity was about to follow her out the door. She quickly turned and ran face-first into Dac before he could get out of her way; both of them dropped their books in a pile in front of the desk.

Indignant, Rarity was about to chastise whoever had blocked her path, but before she could open her mouth, she heard, “Oh, I am so sorry! I didn't mean to—I wasn't—I mean, I shouldn't have—here, let me get that . . . .” She looked down and saw Dac picking up her books and stacking them in his arms.

“Oh,” Rarity uttered, surprised, “well, thank you, darling, but that's not really necessary.”

“No, it's my fault. I was in the way. Sorry . . . .”

Rarity smiled at this act of kindness. “Oh, that's so very sweet of you!” she fawned. “I wish I could repay you somehow.” She then joined him on the floor, helping him pick up the mess. Oddly enough, he was only picking up her things, completely ignoring his own; Rarity balanced that by helping him with his own materials. Soon, they exchanged materials, having them all gathered, save for one book left on the floor. When they both reached for it, their hands brushed together.

Dac gasped and recoiled, his face flushing to red instantly. He looked at Rarity, almost as if to make sure she hadn't noticed, but she showed she had by looking right back at him. “Something wrong, Dactylic?” she asked, a bit concerned over his sudden silence.

“Will you go out with me?!”

He almost bellowed it, and when he did, he recoiled slightly. His eyes widened, he sucked in his lips, and the red on his face considerably deepened.

“Oh,” Rarity tried to answer, “well . . . not exactly the repayment I was expecting, but . . . .” As they both stood up with their books, she paused when she got a better look at him; on top of the eyes and lips, and the reddening of his face, he was also shaking and sweating, and his breathing was way too fast. This looked like something much more than simple nervousness. He looked as if his life depended on her answer.

Rarity sighed, set her books down, and placed her hands on his shoulders. “Right, then,” she said in a regulatory tone, “first of all, calm down. Stand up straight, take a deep breath. Go on, now.”

He was still shaking, and his blushing only got worse (if it was even possible), but Dac obeyed. He straightened his posture, took in a deep, calming breath, and let it out slowly. He looked relieved almost immediately.

“Very good!” Rarity rejoiced. “Now, I suppose I can't leave a question like this unanswered, can I? Ooh, how do I put this delicately . . . well, Dactylic, darling, I'm afraid you and I are too . . . different for that sort of thing.”

Dac's posture slumped as she heard her reply, “. . . . What?”

“Oh, now don't get me wrong, I'm sure you're a wonderful person with a simply grand little personality. But I'm afraid you're just not my type. I look for certain qualities in a fellow before taking him up on that sort of offer. And as nice as you are, I'm afraid you don't quite have what I'm looking for. And I wouldn't want us to both be miserable together if one of us goes unfulfilled. You understand though, don't you, Dactylic?”

Dac simply stared back at her, unresponsive, his redness gone and his eyes looking empty. When he finally did answer, it was weak and melancholy, “Yes.”

“Oh, darling, don't be depressed,” Rarity encouraged, picking up his head with one finger. “We all go through that stage of 'puppy love' sometime in our lives. You'll get over it soon enough, and by then, who knows? Maybe you'll find someone who's looking for . . . whatever it is you have that girls might like.” Rarity then checked her watch, and was surprised at the time. “Oh, dear! I'll be late to class! Sorry, darling, but I've got to run. Lovely chatting with you!” Once she picked her books back up, off she went out the door and to her next class, leaving Dac behind, still slumped and unresponsive.

She had no idea how badly she'd made his heartbreak worse.

“And to think I wanted to tell him straight that I was out of his league!” Rarity gasped. “Oh, gracious, what have I done?!”

“Now, don't panic, Rarity,” Applejack stepped in once again to keep the calm. “Ya coulda worded it better, but your point was made. What Dac took from it wasn't 'cause of you, it was 'cause of this depression he's got. He's got the wrong idea of how love works, and he's lettin' it get to him.”

Pinkie Pie sniffed a little before trying to speak again, “Making people smile is what I love to do, but . . . I didn't know he was actually depressed. If I did, I would've made him smile again. I still could if he . . . .” She glanced up to the roof for what had to be the fiftieth time amongst the six of them.

“This all started with me,” Sunset admitted once again. “What I said, what I did . . . maybe he was always depressed, but I started him on this whole thing, this . . . cry for attention.” She crossed her arms across her chest as she concluded, “I may as well push him off the roof myself.”

“Now, what kinda talk is that?” Applejack rounded on her. “We start givin' up, then he gives up, and that's gonna be a disaster! We all gotta stay strong, right? All of us!”

It was at this point that the group began to realize Rainbow Dash hadn't spoken for a good while. “Rainbow Dash?” Fluttershy asked. “Are you okay?”

“He only asked us all out because we each turned him down,” Rainbow Dash mumbled, almost unintelligibly. “He's no player. He was just looking for a girl who would say yes to him, but we all said no. First Fluttershy, then Pinkie Pie, then Applejack, then Rarity, and then . . .” Dash stopped before mentioning herself, then changed her tone. “Look, he's not jumping,” she said resolutely. “He's getting the attention he wants right now, isn't he? That's what this is all about! He just wants someone to look at him!”

“Then why did he choose now to do it, when everyone's in class?” Rarity asked. “And at the front of the building rather than the back, so no one will see him from the running track or soccer pitch?”

“I don't know! All I know is that he's full of it! He's not jumping! He won't do it!”

“But Rainbow Dash,” Fluttershy muttered, upset, “How can you be so sure?”

“I already told you, I just am! He doesn't have the guts to go through with it! It's not gonna happen! I know it won't! I know he won't do it! I just know he won't!!”

Dash's outburst lost all of its credibility when her voice slowly started breaking, and a single tear trickled down from her right eye.

Sunset approached her and put a hand on her shoulder. “You really don't know for sure, do you?” she asked placidly. “You just want to be sure. You want to believe he won't jump because you don't want him to.”

Dash looked back at Sunset, and allowed another tear to slide down her face. “No, I don't. Not after what I did to him.”

“What'd you say, sugarcube?” Applejack asked. “It couldn't be all that bad, right?”

Dash shook her head; the closing of her eyes gave way to more tears. “You thought Sunset was bad?” she said, her voice no longer as brassy as it was. “I put him on that roof just as easily as she did.”

Dac considered Rarity to be, hands-down, the most attractive girl in school. She was also majorly popular, and had lots of friends. He wouldn't be surprised if guys approached her all the time. Actually, the fact that she didn't have a boyfriend stunned Dac, then and now.

I was a fool to even approach her . . . .

She had said so politely, but the fact was clear—she was way out of his league, and they both knew it. She may have tried to spare his feelings (which didn't work in the slightest), but whereas Applejack's reasons had nothing to do with Dac, Rarity's reasons did. She basically wanted nothing to do with him. And if she were as cruel as Sunset, she would have let him know right away that his attempt to court the prettiest, most popular girl in school was pitiful and laughable. This carried over very easily to his desperate need for affection in general—pitiful and laughable.

Even Rarity hadn't reminded him of that better than Rainbow Dash had.

#6 - Hopes—Rainbow Dashed

One More Dance

6 -- Hopes—Rainbow Dashed

“Oh, I hope they find Principal Celestia soon,” Fluttershy said, glancing up at the roof, “I'm so worried about Dac.”

Applejack nodded. “We all are, sugarcube. We just gotta get through to him somehow.”

“Can't we just go up there with him?” Pinkie asked. “I could do it lickity-split!”

“No!” Rarity interjected, “If we move, he might jump before we can reach him! We simply can't move now!”

“But we can't just stand here and do nothing!” Pinkie argued. “Applejack's right! He needs help!”

“I guess there's nothing we can do right now,” Fluttershy assessed, “except wait and hope we can get through to him from down here.”

“Fat chance,” Dash retorted, half-indignant and half-hurt. “It doesn't matter whether we knew he was sick or not. We made it worse. All of us. And now he wants to pull this stunt before we can apologize to him . . . that jerk!”

Sunset turned to Rainbow Dash and asked her the same question the others had to answer, “What did you say to him, Rainbow Dash?”

Dash rubbed her arms and looked down at the ground. “It's not like I meant it or anything,” she muttered shamefully, still trying to conceal her emotions.

“What didn't you mean, Dash?” Sunset asked, the tension reaching her. “What did you say?”

When Dash hesitated again, Applejack approached her. “I know how you feel,” she said, trying to comfort her. “We all do. Dac read us all wrong and we didn't even know it. But whatever ya said, it wasn't wrong.”

“Yes, it was,” Dash stubbornly argued. “What I did was wrong, no matter how he should have taken it.”

It was another three days before the Fall Formal, and excitement was building all over the school. Rainbow Dash wasn't too concerned, though; all she needed was some space, a goal and a soccer ball, and her cares were dissolved. It was the perfect way to kill time, work off stress, or expend some excess excitement. Having as rough a few days as she'd had lately, what with she and her ex-friends not really seeing eye to eye anymore, it wasn't a stretch to say she was doing all three at once.

Dash made a beeline for the goal, threw a heavy kick, and the ball sailed through the air, caught by the net. Almost in the ball's path, a passerby yelled out, startled, and fell backwards into the grass.

“Whoops!” Dash called out, noticing him as he fell. “Sorry, Dac! Didn't see you there!”

Dactylic Pentameter sat up as Dash approached him. “It's okay,” he said, his voice subdued, “I was just passing through . . . hope you don't mind . . . .”

“Nah, just nailing a few goals after class!” Dash reached out and took Dac's hand, helping him to his feet. As soon as their hands touched, Dac's eyes widened, and a healthy amount of red tinged his face.

“Uhh, Rainbow Dash?” Dac asked, still submissive. “C-could I ask you something?”

“Sure Dac, shoot!”

“Well . . . it's probably gonna sound stupid . . . I don't really know how to say it . . . this isn't easy for me . . . .”

“Oh, come on, you can do it!” Dash said with an encouraging smile. “What, you got stage fright or something? Just take a deep breath and let me have it!”

“Okay, okay . . . um, I was wondering if . . . if you'd . . . .” he tried with clear effort to make his request known, and finally, with a deep breath, he said it, “if you'd like to get together with me.”

Rainbow Dash stared back at him for a while, stunned at what she thought she heard. Did this guy just ask her out on a date? No way! Even if she had given a lot of thought to dating, a guy like Dactylic Pentameter wasn't exactly her type. Sure, he was a nice guy, and he was kind of cute (in a weird, egghead sort of way), but a bookworm like him going out with an athlete like her? It was actually pretty funny.

“Oh! I get it!”

Rainbow Dash then did something she never thought she'd regret. She laughed.

Dash laughed hard, doubling over and holding her sides, “Th-that's a good one, Dac! 'Get together with you'! Th-that's good! Like I'd be seen in some fancy-schmancy restaurant, or taking a walk on the beach or something! That's priceless!”

Dac looked confused at her reaction at first, and tried to elaborate, “Well, we don't have to do all that. We could . . . I don't know . . . play a little one-on-one?”

That just made Dash laugh harder. “No, stop! Y-you're killing me, here! Are y-are you writing a stand-up act or something? That's great! You'll kill with material like that! Seriously, you playing against me, for a date?! Jeez, that's a good one!”

Dac's confusion slowly segued to resentful sadness, “But . . . .”

Wiping tears from her eyes, Rainbow Dash tapped Dac on the shoulder. “Oh, man, that's great stuff!” she chuckled. “Are you planning on making a show? You could enter the Talent Contest this year! Or show it off at the comedy club on the other side of town! You'd be awesome!”

“But . . . but I—”

“Don't sweat it, man! With jokes like yours, you'll do great! Just get rid of that stage fright, and you'll have 'em rolling!” She then picked up her ball and made to leave the soccer pitch. “Well, I gotta run. Knock 'em dead, Dac!” And she ran off, residual laughter still coming up.

Dac just stood there in the field, watching Rainbow Dash jog away. As she brushed away tears of laughter, she didn't see his tears of misery. He didn't brush them away.

“I wasn't trying to make fun of him! I really thought he was joking! I really did! But he wasn't, and now he's up there, getting ready to check out, all because of me! And he won't even let me apologize! That creep! That . . . stupid little . . .” she couldn't bring herself to finish, and she failed to keep several tears—real tears—from falling.

“Well, Dash, your behavior was deplorable and completely without couth,” Rarity admonished, “but you can hardly blame yourself for your reaction, or his. He couldn't help himself.”

“'Deplorable'?” Dash retorted. “'Without couth'? Look who's talking, Miss 'He's Out of My League'!”

“Oh! Well, that's not fair! I didn't insult him or anything like that!”

“No, you just made him feel like he was beneath you!!”

“Please, stop!” Fluttershy yelled, stopping the two from arguing further. Her follow-up was much quieter, “Please . . . Dac needs our help. If we don't, then he'll . . . .” She, too, was unable to complete her own thought.

Dash's hands curled into fists, and she angrily stomped her foot. “WHY DO YOU HAVE TO DO THIS, DAC!?!” she screamed up at him, her tears not detracting from her rage. “ONLY A COWARD WOULD QUIT NOW, AND I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT YOU'RE NO COWARD!! NO COWARD WOULD HAVE HAD THE GUTS TO DO WHAT YOU DID!! YOU DESERVE TO LIVE, AND YOU KNOW IT!!” Finally, her emotional dam collapsed, and she dropped onto all fours, sobbing harder than Pinkie Pie had moments earlier. “He deserves to live . . .” she growled, trying to make herself sound tough in spite of her tears; combined with her sobs, this made her almost unintelligible. “He . . . deserves . . . to live . . . .”

Applejack knelt down beside her and rubbed her back. “We know,” she assured her, “we know, hon. And we want him to. We all do.”

Sunset nodded. Applejack really was the Element of Honesty; truer words were never spoken.

“This isn't about cowardice . . . .”

Dac muttered it so quietly, even he could quite hear himself. Rainbow Dash's screaming could be heard as easily as if she were on the roof with Dac, and he couldn't believe how she was trying so hard to appeal to him after the way she'd treated him. Sure, she was full of herself, but Dac never expected what he heard from her. He was so hoping she would be appealed by his offer; he was no athlete, but his reasoning was that, if it meant spending time with a cool, cute girl like Dash, she would see past that and give him a chance. He could still remember her reaction from nearly a week prior. It was as fresh in his mind as if he'd heard it a few seconds ago.

“She laughed at me . . . .”

That had been the last straw for Dac. Not only was he hopelessly failing to find love, but his attempts were escalating from feeble to pathetic to hilarious. It had gotten to where the popular girls in school were laughing at him, as if his honest efforts were nothing more than a joke.

It’s not even about whether I deserve to live, he thought, mulling over Dash’s desperate screams. Sure, I want to, but what’s the point? There are better-looking, more interesting guys all over campus. And no girl wants me anyway. I’m just unnecessary.

There was a fine line between not being a coward and being just plain stupid, and Dac knew he'd crossed that line—five times. It wasn't about cowardice. It was about escaping the pain.

The pain that, he suddenly realized, they had caused him.

They made me feel this way, he said to himself, now feeling a fire burning in the pit of his stomach. They were shortsighted enough to overlook it when they said no. Sure, it’ll probably hurt them to see this, but I don't care. They deserve it. In fact, I hope it does hurt. I hope it really hurts for them to see me die. I just want it to end, anyway.

Sunset was right again. I’m better off gone, anyway.

#7 - As the Sun Sets

One More Dance

7 – As the Sun Sets

Rainbow Dash gathered herself faster than Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie had, and was back on her feet and drying her face in a few seconds. Applejack kept a hand on her shoulder until she was sure Dash would be all right, and when Dash started breathing normally again, she removed it.

“There's gotta be something we can do,” Dash asserted, her voice still a bit shaky. “Dac's life is on the line over something silly, and we can't do anything to help him. There's just gotta be a way!”

“I don't think it's very silly,” Applejack replied. “He's hurtin', and if he's hurtin' this bad, there ain't nothin' silly about it.” She glanced up at Dac's still form, still standing straight against a slowly-darkening sky. “But you're right,” she added, “there is a way to get through to him. We just gotta figure out what it is.”

“Wait a moment!” Rarity announced. “Sunset! You told us earlier that Dactylic loves poetry, right? Well, there you have it! That is his reason to live! We need to remind him what a skilled and passionate writer he is!”

Sunset thought back to the day her stinging words reached Dac, and she realized that Rarity's idea made sense. “That's brilliant!” she exclaimed. “All we have to do is remind him how talented he is!” She rethought her last words, and somehow, it felt good to say them, as if she'd been lying to herself for a long time. She had only attacked Dac's affinity for poetry just to undermine and degrade him, and the idea of using his knack for words as a catalyst for his misery reaffirmed the truth in her mind. Dac really was a great poet, perhaps the best she'd ever seen.

“Hey, Dacky!” Pinkie called up to him. “Do you like to write? I hear you like poetry! I'll bet you write some really pretty prose! Can you recite one of your poems for us? Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease?”

Like before, Dac completely ignored Pinkie's words.

Applejack took over, “Come on now, Dac! If you can write, then why not do that instead of this? You're a lot better at it, you'd make a lot of people happy, and it'll last a heck of a lot longer!”

“Go away!!” Dac yelled down to them. “I'm no better with words than I am with girls, and you know it!”

“Well, you were rather charming, you know!” Rarity offered in a sweet tone. “So if you are right, then you really are a positively fabulous poet!”

Dac's reply was scathing, “Not that you'd care!”

Once again, Rarity was clearly hurt by Dac's words. She turned away, trying to hold back her own tears. “He just won't listen to us,” she gasped. “There has to be a better way . . . .”

“Well, we don't know what his poetry is like for sure, do we?” Dash asked. “We need to read it to judge it, right? I mean, I'm not into that whole frou-frou poetry stuff, but if it'll help Dac, I'll take a chance with it.”

“Me, too!” agreed Pinkie.

“But, how do we do that?” Fluttershy asked. “We don't even know if he still writes anymore. We'd need to find it first.”

Once again, Sunset became enlightened, “I've got it! His notebook! In his locker! I saw him writing stuff down in it that day!”

“You think that’ll help him?” Dash asked, perplexed.

“I know it will! That's where he keeps all his poems! If we read to him from that notebook, he'll remember what he was meant for!”

“If ya think it’ll help, then that’s what we’ll do!” Applejack urged. “Ask whoever ya gotta ask, Sunset, but ya gotta get that notebook!”

“Break into the darn thing yourself, if you have to!” Dash spurred her on.

“Hurry, hurry, hurry!” Pinkie squealed.

Sunset nodded to her friends, turned around, and raced inside.

The others suddenly heard Dac again, and the threatening tone in his voice made their stomachs clench: “She better not be coming up here!”

“No, no, of course not, darling!” Rarity tried to smooth things over with him. “No, she's just . . . looking for the hall aide that was here a moment ago! Yes, that's it! She, uh . . . wants to know if she's found Principal Celestia!”

“She better not!”

Rarity gasped, “Oh! No, I would hope not! Why would she do such a thing? She . . . she wouldn't want to . . . make you . . . .” She trailed off, her sweet-talking quickly losing its charm.

Fluttershy crossed her arms and hugged her shoulders, staring despondently at the ground. “I wish Twilight were here . . .” she almost whispered it.

The others agreed with a collective nod. Twilight gave them guidance and unity before; she could no doubt be of immense help to them now.

She would indeed be of help to them. They just didn't know it yet.

Twilight Sparkle walked excitedly through the halls of Canterlot High School. Her quest to retrieve her crown had been far more complicated than she had anticipated, but nearly everything she'd needed to do had been done. The Fall Formal was tonight, she had reunited this realm's version of her friends, and together, they had rallied the students in a bid to dethrone her nemesis, Sunset Shimmer. Sunset was aware of this, and seemed more irritable than usual. Even so, her attempts to sway students under her influence through her venomous behavior and her bullying didn't seem to work anymore.

Save on one boy.

“Out of my way, loser! I can’t believe you still haven't learned what a waste of space you are!!”

As Twilight rounded a corner, she heard Sunset's acrimonious tone, accompanied by a bang of the lockers and the dropping of a set of books. Sunset walked past the turn and straight down the hall, either not noticing Twilight or not caring one way or another. Twilight slowly looked around the corner to see who had suffered her wrath (hoping it wasn't one of her friends), and saw a boy on the ground, picking up his books and sniffling. He was of average height and slim build, with parchment-colored skin and spiky, ink-black hair. At first glance, he seemed only resentful of Sunset's rudeness, but Twilight caught something else as she looked on. A single tear dropped from his face and onto one of his books.

“My gosh,” Twilight muttered to herself. “I knew Sunset would be angry, but I didn't think things were this bad.” She watched the boy slowly gather his materials, until he stopped. His crying finally started to show; his body began jerking with his sobs, and his sniffs got louder. It got worse quickly, to the point where Twilight could no longer bear to just stand and watch. She knew she was on a mission, but she had to do something.

She had to help him.

Before she could move, the boy stood up, his cries now fully audible, and he raced back down the hall, covering his face with his free hand. There was one book he'd left behind, but he seemed far too distraught to notice.

“Wait!” Twilight called after him. “You forgot something! Wait!” But it was too late; he'd turned a corner and was out of sight. Twilight sighed and walked up to the spot the boy had been. She saw the one item he'd left behind, and bent to pick it up. It was a simple black notebook.

“I'll have to give this back to him eventually,” Twilight said, looking the notebook over. Opening it, she looked inside the front cover to see if he'd labeled it, and thankfully, there it was, in large, clear print: “Property of Dactylic Pentameter. PLEASE RETURN IMMEDIATELY IF FOUND”

“Dactylic Pentameter,” Twilight mused, “that name sounds familiar.” She supposed it could be possible that there was also a Dactylic Pentameter in Equestria; she made a mental note to look into the possibility as soon as she got back. Until then, she had a new short-term goal: get Dactylic Pentameter's notebook back to him.

She was pretty sure it wouldn't be too much of a distraction from her long-term goal.

Why are they still here?

They had been standing down there yelling at him for hours. School was long over by now, and they insisted on wasting their time trying to dissuade him from this. As if I believe them, he thought spitefully. They've already proven that they don't care about me. They were all clear that something’s wrong with me, and that I’m not worth their time.

And Sunset had been right all along—if he had done this sooner, there would have been less embarrassment for him, and less trouble for them.

So why, then, hadn't Dac jumped yet?

Dac had been standing on top of that roof for hours, awaiting that beautiful peace of mind that would come during the freefall, just before the end. He couldn't figure out why he hadn't jumped yet; all hope had been drained from him, he knew nothing was worth living for, and he'd been eagerly anticipating the closure. Actually, he was almost happy again. And they’re responsible, he thought, the bitterness never fading. They didn’t want me, so they’ll be responsible for my death.

Or were they responsible for his hesitation?

No! Dac thought, shaking himself out of his reluctance. If they'd cared, they wouldn't have rejected me! They didn't care enough to think what would happen if they'd turned me down! How much it would hurt! How alone I'd feel! They should've known! They should've thought ahead! They . . . .

It's not their fault.

The counter-argument sprang into his mind almost as quickly as the thought that warranted it. What am I thinking? he asked himself. What on earth am I thinking?

How could they have known how Dac was feeling if he hadn't told them? And how could he possibly blame these girls for his own inadequacies? He was right the first time; there was something wrong with him, and him alone. Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Applejack, Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy had done nothing but call him out on it. They weren't in the wrong at all. In fact, even implying that they were had made him horribly wrong. It made him feel even lower than Sunset had made him feel, especially since these same five girls were now pouring their hearts and souls into keeping him alive.

It made him feel even surer that he truly deserved to die.

#8 - A Sparkle of Hope

One More Dance

8 – A Sparkle of Hope

The sun began to lower in the sky; naturally, the colder seasons called for an early dusk. The air began to dip in temperature, and all five girls began to feel the change. Fluttershy shivered, Rarity rubbed her hands together, and Pinkie's knees began to shake.

“Oh, how could I be so thoughtless!” Rarity exclaimed. “I love this outfit, but this is not the kind of weather for a short skirt!”

“Oh, quit complaining!” snapped Dash, who had herself stuffed her hands under her armpits. “Sure, we should all be home by now, but this is serious!”

“And besides,” Fluttershy added, “just think of how cold Dac is up there, all alone . . . without a jacket, or a sweater, or anything . . . poor guy . . . .”

“Oh, I know, I know!” Rarity relented, “I keep forgetting the stakes here. It's not every day when one of your peers becomes so . . . so . . . .”

“Overtly suicidal?” Pinkie Pie finished, prompting surprised glances from all her friends. “What?” she asked anxiously. “I know it's not nice to think about, but . . . but if we can't help him . . . oh, I just don't know . . . .”

“Just hang in there, sugarcube,” Applejack comforted her, “things'll turn out all right. I promise.” She then looked back up at Dac, and saw that his posture had become dangerously loose. “That means you too, partner!” she called up to him. “Stay strong for us, y'hear? We'll all get through this together! Don't you leave on us, now! Don't . . . leave on us . . .” she trailed off, her voice weakening. At this point, she started feeling that even her resolve was beginning to soften. If they couldn't help Dac before, there was no telling if he could be helped at all. The longer this went on, the less likely it seemed that Dactylic Pentameter would come out of this alive.

Sunset Shimmer scanned the halls for someone who could help, but saw no one but a few students going home late after detention or late study sessions. The hall monitor who'd found Dac on the roof earlier had taken way too long in locating Principal Celestia, and whether or not she had been found, she was unsure whether the principal would be any help at this point. It wasn't just because of the slowly-darkening situation—there was already more than enough dread surrounding that—but Sunset also considered what Miss Celestia would say when she explained everything. Sunset hadn't exactly been a model student; in fact, this very situation all started because of her. But this was a time of desperation. Principal Celestia wouldn't refuse her simply because she was the cause of it all. And even if she did allow it to cloud her judgment, Sunset was willing to do whatever she needed to do to make sure Miss Celestia's judgment remained clear.

Having searched two whole floors, Sunset's legs finally caved from under her, and a combination of exhaustion and despair brought her to her knees. “Oh, it's hopeless!” Sunset yelled in the middle of an empty hallway. “I'll never find her in time! Why am I even trying?! This wouldn't be happening if it weren't for me! I wish I could take it all back! I wish I could make it so it never happened! I wish it were me on that roof instead of him!” She finally broke down into tears as she sat on the floor, hugging her knees, “It should be me . . . Why couldn't it be me . . . . ?”

“Sunset, is there something wrong?”

Sunset heard the voice, and looked up from her tears to see someone standing before her. Principal Celestia looked down at Sunset, concern shining in her eyes.

“Principal Celestia!” Sunset gasped and stood back up. “Thank goodness it's you! We need your help! There's a boy on the roof! He's depressed and in a lot of pain! He's gonna jump if we don't help him!””

“I’m well aware of the situation,” she replied calmly. “In fact, Vice Principal Luna and I have been taking steps to escort departing students off campus and away from the front lawn, to avoid a scene. That’s mainly the reason why we’ve been slow to arrive.”

“W-what? Principal, what do you mean?”

“I mean, a crowd of teenagers with cell phones means easy access to the media,” the principal replied placidly, “and an overwhelming response from it. Dactylic Pentameter is already unstable, and at this point, crowds, news cameras and police cars will only exacerbate matters.”

“So . . .” Sunset replied, trying to fight off her sudden amazement, “. . . you trusted us to be able to handle it?”

“Well, those girls have saved the whole school before,” Celestia answered. “I trust they’re all still out there?”

Sunset nodded. “Yes, they’re all are outside right now, trying to snap him out of it. We've been at it since earlier this afternoon. We think we have a way to help him, but I need to get into his locker to do it—”

“Hold it, Sunset,” Miss Celestia interrupted sternly. “You're asking me to let you break into another student's locker?” She suddenly didn't seem very willing to help. “You wouldn't happen to have any other reasons for doing something like this, would you?”

“What? No! Principal Celestia, you have to believe me! We think we know what to do to stop him, but we need something very important in his locker! It's the truth!”

“Sunset, you do realize the position you're in, don't you?” the principal replied, her severity unwavering. “You aren't very well known for honesty or compassion, and have been known to manipulate people for your own ends. I know you've shown interest in changing your ways, but trust takes a long time to build up. And frankly, what you're asking of me sounds very untrustworthy.”

Sunset's heart plummeted; she was afraid this might happen. “I understand,” Sunset admitted, “In fact, I expected you to say something like that. I know what I did was wrong, and I wish I had the chance to go back and do things differently. And I understand that you don't trust me.” She looked up at Principal Celestia desperately, her eyes watering again. “But please . . .” she begged, her voice breaking, “. . . please don't let Dac pay for it. He's suffered enough. Please . . . let me help him . . . .”

There was a brief pause, in which Sunset's head sank low, looking back down at the floor. Her tears dropped freely from her eyes and sprinkled the tile. She was almost sure Celestia wouldn't listen, that it was all for nothing. She tried to will herself into believing otherwise, but it was no use. She did, after all, deserve doubt and mistrust.

Finally, Celestia answered, “Are you sure you can help him?”

Sunset looked back up at her principal and nodded. “Yes. If I can show him he has a reason to live, I know he'll at least listen to me. And that reason is his poetry. He writes . . . beautiful poetry.” She thought back once again to the poem she'd read aloud to embarrass him. She'd lied that day; she thought that those simple four lines were lovely, and she needed to let the author know.

Celestia crossed her arms, closed her eyes briefly, and sighed. Seeming to consider the options, she relented, “I'll get you access to Dac's locker. Any attempt to take more than what you need will result in severe punishment. I'll stand by and alert the authorities in case things go wrong.” She stepped closer and put a hand on her shoulder. “I'm trusting you, Sunset. Do what you have to do to save his life.”

Sunset's tears were now shed in joy, and she nodded. “Thank you, Principal Celestia,” she replied joyfully. “I'll do whatever it takes to help him. Believe me.”

The conflict was growing.

Dac struggled inside his own mind, questioning whether this really was the right decision. He'd been ready for it since the day of the Fall Formal, and now, because of the heinous thoughts he’d had of the girls who were trying to save him, he was surer now than ever that he had to die.

But they want me to live, he continued to toss it around inside his head. They’re not budging. They really want to see me live through the night. After what I’ve been putting them all through, I deserve it, but they really want to help me . . . maybe even Sunset, too . . . how can I . . . how can I do this . . . how could I want to to this . . . . ?

And despite all of this, it wasn't quite enough to pull Dac away from the edge of the building.

What really made all the difference was the kindness of a girl he didn't even know. A girl that the entire school could not have known for more than two days.

Twilight Sparkle finally found Dactylic Pentameter sometime before the end of school. She had spotted him from down the hall and went to greet him, hoping he would stick around long enough to take his notebook back. Unfortunately, he'd left before she could reach him, and Twilight had to follow him (as subtly as possible, so as not to upset him) until he'd disappeared into the men's room. It may have been a human world, but the same basic social etiquette still applied—girls had one room, boys had another. At this point, there was nothing to do but wait.

Twilight walked past the room to find a spot to wait at until Dactylic came out, but stopped in front of the door when she heard something. She could swear she'd heard it coming from inside the bathroom, and leaned in closer to hear better. Pressing her ear to the door, she'd finally heard what it was.

It was Dactylic. He was crying again. And talking.

“What did I do wrong?” Twilight thought she could hear him sob. “What did I do wrong? Why don't any of them like me? What's wrong with me?!”

Hearing this saddened Twilight, but it also confused her. She figured he might be still upset about Sunset, but she wasn't sure who “any of them” were. Who else was Dactylic upset with, and why?

“Five times!” he spoke through his tears again, and Twilight listened. “Five times!! Who else but me gets rejected five times?! I knew this was a stupid idea! I knew they were too good for me!”

Twilight felt her curiosity drop considerably. She hadn't been in the human world for very long, but she still recognized teen angst when she heard it. “I see,” she muttered to herself, as quietly as she could, “he’s just having dating problems. Strange to hear a colt—I mean, a boy cry about it, but still, I guess there’s nothing to worry about here. A little teenage drama isn't the end of the world.” She checked her watch and saw how late she was. “Oh, no! I have to get moving! We all have to prepare for the Fall Formal—”

“Sunset was right!” Dactylic wailed, cutting Twilight off and piquing her interest again. “She was right! No one could ever love me! I really am worthless! It really would be better if I'd never existed! I really should just go away . . . forever . . . .”

Twilight gasped in spite of her need to stay inconspicuous. Was Dactylic thinking about what she thought he was thinking about? Was he really that depressed? Was he really contemplating suicide?

Twilight felt a rustle in her backpack, heard it unzip, and heard the whispering voice of her dragon assistant-turned-pet dog, Spike, “Come on, Twilight! Don't we have somewhere to be right now?”

“I know, Spike, but something just came up,” Twilight responded, “and it looks pretty serious!”

“Twilight, you know we don't have time for any more distractions! We have to get ready for that dance tonight!”

“But I can't just leave him like this! He's been bullied by Sunset, too, and from the sounds of it, it's been even worse than that! He might need serious help!”

“But we're running out of time! We can help our version of him when we get back home!”

“Spike, it's not that simple, I—” Twilight stopped, suddenly remembering who Dactylic Pentameter was in their own dimension. “We can, Spike,” she answered him, “but I think I know how we can help both of them out and still have time to get ready. Dig around in there and grab Dactylic's notebook and a pen, would you please?”

Spike sighed and rolled his eyes, but he did as he was told; in a few seconds, he came back up with both items in his mouth, and Twilight took them from him. “I know this was an invasion of privacy,” she mumbled as she worked (the notion kept her from unfolding a wrinkly piece of paper that had been stuffed into the back cover), “but there's no time to do anything else . . . oh, I just hope I’ve had enough practice writing with these . . . ‘hands’.”

As quickly and neatly as she could manage, Twilight scribbled a note onto the last blank page of the notebook, closed it, and handed the pen back to Spike just as the door to the restroom opened. Dactylic Pentameter stood there in the doorway, looking confused and captivated the moment he saw Twilight.

“Oh, um . . . hi,” she greeted him.

Dactylic simply stared back, his face reddening as he looked her over from head to foot. All he could manage was a mirrored greeting, “. . . Hi.”

Twilight continued, pushing away the awkwardness, “Oh, um, I saw you leave this behind, and I thought you might want it back.” She handed the notebook out to him with a smile.

Dactylic looked at it, and his eyes widened. “I was wondering where that went!” he gasped. “I thought Sunset had stolen it again. That's really nice of you.” He reached out and took it back, and his blush deepened as she kept speaking, “Thank you . . . I . . . don't think I've seen you around—”

“Oh, no! I'm late!” Twilight suddenly realized. “Look, I gotta go! Uh, take good care of that, and be sure to look through it as soon as possible!” And with that, she began speed-walking back down the hall.

“Wait!” Dactylic called out to her as she left. “Will I see you again? Like, maybe at the Fall Formal tonight?”

Twilight turned and slowly walked backwards and she answered, “Oh, I'm sorry! I'm not staying! At least, I sure hope I'm not . . . l-look, I'm sorry, but I have to go! See ya! And try to cheer up, okay?”

And with that, she was gone. There was a lot to get done tonight, and she'd done all she could to help Dactylic. She only hoped it would be enough.

“It was just another failure . . . .”

Dac wasn't even interested in reading his notebook, like the pretty new girl had said. He'd stuffed it back into his locker before leaving school that day, and hadn't touched it since. He was no longer interested in it at all. He was too hung up on the string of painful failures that made him get up on that roof.

“And that made six . . . I talked to the pretty girl whose name I didn't even know, and it all ended in failure. A failure before I'd even tried . . . .”

#9 - A Reason to Live

One More Dance

9 -- A Reason to Live

Dusk became more and more pronounced as time went on. The girls could now see their breaths in the air, grey and amorphous with each exhale. Glancing at Dac, who still stood on the roof, had given way to staring for long periods of time. Sunset had been gone for nearly an hour, and each minute added worry and misery to the girls' collective emotions.

“Dactylic!” Rarity tried again to reach him. “Darling, please listen to us! We still care about you! We don't want you to die! Of all possible ways to handle your distress, this is the worst possible way!”

Dac said nothing.

“Hey, Dac!” Dash took over. “Come on, man, we're trying to help you! You can't threaten to jump off a building every time you have a bad day! You just have to pick up the pieces and move on!”

Again, Dac didn't say a word.

“Now, listen, Dac,” Applejack made the next attempt, “I know deep down you don't want to hurt us like this! You fancied each of us, right? Well, I know you like us enough not to do this to yourself! If there was anything you could do for us to prove that, this'd be it!”

“Umm . . . Dac?” Fluttershy tried to speak up. “Please don't jump. You're not a bad person. You're perfect just the way you are. Please don't do this. Please . . . . ?”

“Yeah, Fluttershy's right!” Dash added, more loudly. “Don't let that stuff Sunset said get to you! You shouldn't let anyone label you like that! You're awesome! But you won't let people see that if you go through with this!”

It seemed as though Dac wasn't listening to anyone anymore.

“This is a bad sign, girls,” Rarity assessed. “Maybe he's getting ready to do it! Oh, gracious, this is absolute agony! Whatever shall we do?!”

Applejack struggled to say something comforting, but by now, her well of comfort had run dry. “I . . . I don't know. I just plum don't know.”

Pinkie Pie was inches away from shedding more walls of tears when she tried once again to get Dac's attention, “Dacky! Please talk to us! Just 'cause none of us is your girlfriend, doesn't mean we can't all be your friends! We wanna be your friends, Dacky! We want you to feel better! Honest!” Once again, Pinkie's cries were in vain, and she sank to her knees, her will close to evaporating as well.

“What are you doing here?!”

All five girls looked up at Dac when they heard him speak. It had been faint, perhaps not aimed at any of them, but it definitely came from him.

“Who's he talking to?” Dash asked, squinting to see who had joined Dac on the roof.

“Dactylic, darling, is someone else up there with you?” Rarity asked him directly.

“Oh, I don't know if I can take much more of this,” Fluttershy said weakly. “We don't know whether Dac will jump or not, we don't know what to say to help him . . . and now this . . .” She hugged herself tightly, her shivering not just because of the cold.

After a few seconds, the girls heard something that livened their spirits instantly:

“It's okay, girls! I'll take it from here!”

“What are you doing here?!” Dac spat as he saw Sunset Shimmer standing on the roof with him.

Sunset shivered against the cold, made even worse because of their distance from the ground, and kept her hands behind her back. “It's nice to see you too, Dac,” she said, smiling warmly.

“Who's he talking to?”

“Dactylic, darling, is someone else up there with you?”

The calls came from below; the girls had reacted to Dac's outburst. Dac glanced down at them, then back to Sunset; he was so angry, so suddenly, that he could barely process clear thoughts anymore. “Come to watch me drop?” Dac continued spitting his venomous words. “Just another day of getting what you want, isn't it, Sunset?”

Sunset sighed and looked down, not bothering to hide the hurt she felt at his words. “I know you're still mad at me,” she said morosely, “and you have every right to be. But you have to believe me when I say that I'm different now. I want to make up for all the bad things I've done, and I want to start with you.” After hearing more commotion coming from the ground, Sunset yelled out to her friends, “It's okay, girls! I'll take it from here!”

Dac stared daggers at her. “I don't buy that for a minute. You just know they'll hold you responsible. But don't worry, I'm sure they won't make you clean me off the pavement.”

“Dac, please, listen to me!” Sunset's voice went up as her eyes began to water. “I feel awful about the way I've acted! And I feel even worse about the way I treated you! I never meant for this to happen! I never wanted you to die!”

“Stop lying to me!!”

“It's the truth! I really do want you to live! And those five girls down there, they want you to live, too! You have too much in your favor to leave us now! You're a wonderful person with a good heart, and you have so much talent! You have too much to live for! You can't do this, Dac! You just can't!”

Dac found himself shocked at what he saw—Sunset Shimmer, the cold, callous bully who, a month ago, had declared him unfit to exist, was close to tears and begging him not to jump? This was too good to be true. She had some other motive to do this, he knew it. Why else would she be trying to reverse the damage she'd caused to begin with?

Unless she really did feel remorse.

Dac fought hard to keep from considering that Sunset really wanted redemption. And yet, seeing her here, hearing the poignancy of her words, it made sense the more he resisted the thought. It was possible, if unlikely, that Sunset really did want forgiveness.

Something else she had said made the whole argument collapse. She had insisted that he'd had a reason to live. That was pure nonsense, and he was sure they both knew it. “You're full of it,” Dac accused. “You show me a reason to live, and I'll show you something that would've kept me off this roof in the first place.”

Sunset took a deep breath and responded firmly, “Fair enough.” She took her hands out from behind her back, and she revealed what she'd been hiding. It was a thin black notebook.

Dac's notebook.

Dac stared at it, and a wave of emotion threatened to drown him. His anger was boundless, his shock froze him in place and kept him from lunging at her, and his melancholy weakened him, body and mind, to the point where he could hardly stand. “Wh- . . . why . . .” he tried to speak, every word requiring a hundred percent effort, “. . . why are you doing this to me . . . . ?”

Sunset eyed him with rock-solid determination. “Because whether you believe it or not,” she said with a voice to match, “I care about you.” She then opened the notebook to the first page and began reading the first poem she saw out loud:

“Can you believe when I say that I love you eternally?
Or will you turn from me wishing you never had noticed me?
Trying to capture your love is like toying with miracles
So my last way to express my affection is lyrical”

Sunset felt her throat close up as she finished reading. “Dac, this . . . this is beautiful. You really are talented.” She paused for a moment, blinking away more tears, “I . . . I was wrong about you.”

The bitter look in Dac's eyes returned. “You said it was trash before,” he snapped. “Why should I believe you now?”

“Dac, I was wrong before! Your poetry really is beautiful, I mean it!” Insisting on her point, Sunset flipped through the notebook to another poem, and when she found a shorter one, she began to read:

“A star in the sky
Beautiful and far away
Unapproachable

“That's a haiku, isn't it?” Sunset asked. “You did so well on those when we covered them in class. See, Dac? Your work makes people happy. You can't tell me this isn't reason enough for you!”

Dac didn't speak. He looked down at the roof under his feet, unsure of what to say. The longer he listened, the more he was convinced that Sunset's words were genuine. But at the same time, he fought against the need to believe it—he almost didn't want to believe it.

“You still don't believe me?” Sunset asked desperately. “Okay, how about this one?” She picked out another poem on the same page and read it aloud:

“Invisibility
The ability to remain unseen
In pain, unclean, unwanted, despised
Disguised by a rise of secrecy
To seek, to see
A way to be seen, to mean what I say
I pray each day to catch your eye
Match your sigh of longing
With need of belonging
Wronging me when you turn away
Burn day after day, wasting time
Is belonging a crime?
Or an upward climb to the unreachable
Unteachable skill
Unmastered still
Losing will, ready to kill or die
Still I'll try to catch your eye
My, my, how time flies
When one cries, wanting to be, to see
A friend
Me
Can it be? Could it ever?
I'm thinking never
Severed ties
Covering lies with fantasy
False ecstasy
For love and friendship, it seems
Only happens in dreams”

Sunset stopped and looked up at Dac, the desperate begging in her eyes. “You get it now?” he asked, his voice soft, low and final. “You just had a look into my mind through those poems, and you still think I have a reason to live? You're just grasping at straws, now.”

Sunset admitted, his work was dark in its own way. In fact, this was proof that Dac had been ill for a long time, maybe even before they knew each other. But she didn't want to give up on him. Not after what she'd just read. Dac had so much promise, and he was willing to overlook it, to throw it all away, just to end his suffering.

“I wish I could tell you how sorry I am,” she admitted. “I wish there was some way to get you to believe me. I wish I could convince you that we care about you . . . .” Her head sank down, and her arms slumped at her sides. She felt more and more helpless by the second; she couldn't think of anything else to say, and reading Dac's own poetry to him, her last best chance, had yielded nothing. Sunset began to feel as though everything up to this point had been in vain, and that there really was no hope for Dactylic Pentameter.

Out of the corner of her eye, Sunset saw something drop out of the notebook as it hung lazily in her hand. She reached down to grab it before the wind could blow it away, and saw that it was a wrinkly, folded-up piece of paper, the same kind as the notebook. She unfolded it and saw what was written on it, and more tears formed in her eyes immediately:

I will wait, trusting fate, struggling not to hesitate
y will try to walk by, but they'll never catch my eye
ne chance, for romance; sway my heart, with graceful dance
u will see, we'll be free, a world of love for you and me.

A chunk of it was missing, making it hard to read, but Sunset knew exactly what it was supposed to say. This was the poem she had taunted Dac about, a month prior. She had ripped it out of the book and crumpled it up, causing the damage, and yet Dac still felt the need to keep it. The poem that Sunset had blatantly insulted still existed. This meant something huge—as much punishment as that one work had taken, both physical and verbal, Dac had still kept it. It was small and subtle, but Sunset could swear she knew what this meant for Dac.

He may still have had a small glimmer of hope in him.

Sunset opened the back cover to tuck the page back inside, and saw more writing on the back page. It was strange and messy, but otherwise legible—it wasn't written by Dac. In fact, as Sunset read it out loud, she quickly realized whose handwriting this was:

“Dear Princ Dear Dactylic Pentameter,

You probably don't know me, and I don't think we'll ever get another chance to talk, but I hope you read this soon. I've seen you around a couple times, and I couldn't help but notice how sad you are. In fact, today, before giving this notebook back to you, I heard you crying in the restroom. I don't know what made you so upset, and I'd understand if it's something you'd rather not talk about. But whatever it is, suicide is not the answer.

“I don't know you, so I don't know what kind of pain you're in, or exactly how much. But if it's enough for you to consider taking your own life, you can't allow yourself to think that way. Whatever you're feeling right now may be strong, and you may feel the need to give in, but I know you can keep going. And if it seems like nothing is stronger than the pain, I'm here to tell you that there's one thing no depression can overpower, no pain can erase, and no sadness can undermine. And that something is friendship.

“I know it sounds strange, but friendship is stronger than you could possibly know. Take it from someone who's had first-hand experience, and don't just take my word for it; see it for yourself. You'll know for sure that friendship isn't just strong, steady and life-changing. It's magic.

“If you still feel bad after you read this, then take me up on my offer, and look to the comfort of friends to help you. I've made some really amazing friends here at Canterlot High, and I know you can, too. Even if you feel rejected or unloved, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Rarity and Rainbow Dash can help you, be there for you, and give you the strength you need and the peace of mind you deserve.

“Thank you for taking the time to read this, Dactylic Pentameter. Even though we've never formally met, and even though I never even told you my name before now, I consider you a friend. And if I'm ever back at Canterlot High, be sure to look for me if you need me. I'll be there for you, too.

Your faithful stu Yours sincerely,

Twilight Sparkle”

When Sunset finished reading, she looked up to see Dac staring back at her. His face was completely blank, and his body was still. He looked as though he might not even be breathing.

“That's what it says,” was all Sunset could say. She even folded the notebook back and held it out to him, so he could see it for himself. Dac stood there for a few more seconds, staring at this note from a stranger (the only part of it he could see clearly was the grossly oversized signature at the end). Sunset felt her heart speed up when she saw Dac move, and almost couldn't believe her eyes when she saw Dac slowly walk towards her, away from the edge of the roof.

He came closer and closer, his steps clumsy and dragging, but he was finally a safe distance from the edge. Dac soon reached close proximity with the notebook, and was able to read it clearly. It took several long minutes, and at one point, Sunset fleetingly wondered whether he was even conscious. Finally, she was sure he was done reading; he closed his eyes and he began to cry. He wrapped his arms around himself, dropped to his knees, and released deep sobs that seemed dragged from the deepest part of him. He was doubled over, almost looking like he was in pain, and his sobs of anguish got so loud, they echoed across the twilight sky.

Sunset got down on her knees and put her hand on Dac's shoulder. “It's okay, Dac,” she cooed to him, “it's gonna be all right now. It's all over. There's no need to worry anymore. You're okay, now. You're okay.” After a few seconds, she reached her arms out, wrapped them around Dac, and held him closely as he cried. He shook in her arms and wet the front of her shirt with his tears, but she didn't mind. This was the first step back from oblivion, and Dac had the right to cry as hard as he wanted, for however long he needed.

Soon, Sunset sat down on the roof and allowed Dac to lie down next to her with his head in her lap. As his tears soaked her skirt, she kept one arm around him, and she ran the other through his spiky black hair. He cried for what could have been hours, but it wasn't quite clear, even to him, what kind of tears they were. But after everything he’d been through, to be pulled away from suicide by the caring words of a stranger and the gentle hand of his former tormentor—every possible emotion contributed to Dac’s tears tonight.

“Shh, it's okay, Dac,” Sunset whispered to him as his cries slowly gave way to sleep, and she carefully slipped off her leather jacket and draped it over him. “It's okay . . . shh, it's gonna be okay . . . you're gonna be okay . . . .”

Author's Note

All of Dactylic Pentameter's poetry are original works written by yours truly, LightningSword. :raritywink:

#10 - The Best Dance

One More Dance

10 -- The Best Dance

The sun was now completely gone, leaving only faint echoes of light on the horizon. No one dared speak when they heard him and Sunset yelling at each other, nor did they move when they saw Dac move away from the edge. The powerful tension they all felt had wrenched the words from them. And even if they could speak, no one knew what to say. All there was, was hope that Sunset had succeeded.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity of waiting, the front door opened, and Fluttershy, Rarity, Applejack, Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash all looked in its direction at once. They saw Sunset Shimmer walk out and move toward them, a soft smile on her still-wet face. Supported in her arms, draped in Sunset’s jacket, was an exhausted, weak, and red-faced Dactylic Pentameter.

The girls rushed over to them, and a plethora of well-wishes and questions on his welfare flew all around. Hands touched Dac's shoulders and back, and the closeness gave him warmth. It seemed as though Twilight Sparkle was right; these girls would make wonderful friends.

“Oh, Dactylic, darling, thank goodness you're all right!” Rarity wailed as she held him tightly. “After what I said to you . . . I never meant for you to take it that way . . . I'm so sorry!”

“Me, too, Dac!” Dash added, her voice strained. “I wasn't making fun of you, honest! I didn't mean to hurt your feelings!”

“Please don't,” Dac answered groggily, “don't apologize. Don't any of you apologize. None of this happened because of you.” His sight trickled down to the ground before he closed his eyes guiltily. “I really made a mess of things, didn't I?”

Fluttershy approached him next, with happy tears in her eyes. “You're okay, Dac,” she said, “nothing bad happened to anyone. And you didn't do anything wrong.”

“You just had a really bad go, partner,” Applejack added as she rubbed his back, “but you're back on earth with the rest of us, and now you got a chance to start over.”

“Yep,” Dash agreed, “there's always that chance. Even when you feel your worst, you always have a chance to dust yourself off and try again tomorrow.”

Dac opened his eyes, but didn't look back up. “After all that's happened, you still wanted to help me,” he almost whispered, “and I wanted to blame you for rejecting me . . . I was wrong . . . I was so wrong . . . .”

“Well, sure you were, Dac,” Applejack said, “but that don't make you a bad fella. Fact, you're about as good as they come. And as for the things you've done or thought, I'm willin' to forgive and forget if you are, sugarcube.”

“Me, too!” Dash nodded.

“Indeed!” Rarity agreed. “The past is behind us, now.”

Pinkie reached out and squeezed him into a hug. “Don't you worry, new bestie!” she squealed. “We'll stick by you until you're all better!” She gave Dac a small kiss on the cheek and went on hugging him tightly. She was surprised when Dac lifted his arms and returned her embrace.

“Pinkie,” he whispered, “thank you.”

Pinkie gasped with joy and pulled back from him, looking him full in the face. “You talked to me,” she said, her smile shining brightly, “you talked to me! Girls, he talked to me! Does this mean we're really friends now, Dacky? Huh? Does it?”

Dac nodded, and Pinkie went right back to hugging him close. Soon, Fluttershy joined their hug from Dac's right, and Rarity from the left. Applejack and Rainbow Dash moved in close, as well, and when Sunset joined in, their group hug was complete. Dac felt even warmer, not just from their group hug, but from knowing he wasn't alone. Knowing the girls he'd admired for so long were there for him was worth more than the love he'd tried so hard to find. Infinitely more.

“Well, I'm glad to know everything turned out all right,” went a voice from a few feet away. Dac and the girls broke up their hug and turned to see Principal Celestia walking up to them, a soft, venerable smile on her own face. “So, Dactylic Pentameter,” she greeted him, “are you feeling better, now?”

Dac felt guilt creep back into him, and he dropped his head back down. “Yes, ma'am,” he answered respectfully, “and I'm sorry about making things so difficult on everyone. I promise I won't do anything like this ever again.” He hesitated before adding, “But if you're still gonna punish me, I understand.”

“'Punish you'?” the principal replied. “Considering the circumstances, don't you think that's a little extreme? All I need to know is if you'll at least try to get the help you need. Do that for me, and I see no reason to drag this on any longer. After all, I'm sure you've been through enough already.”

Dac nodded, slowly looking up at her and smiling, “I think I can do that. I know I'll have all the support I need from my . . .” he paused as he glanced around at the girls' smiling faces, “. . . my new friends.”

“Hmm, good,” Principal Celestia sighed, satisfied, “then I suppose the last thing we should do tonight is get you kids home. I'll drive you.”

They all agreed, and followed Principal Celestia to the parking lot. As they walked, Dac looked over at Sunset, realizing something that needed to be said. “Sunset,” he said, a bit uneasily, “I . . . I was wrong about you, too. You really are a different person now. You're . . . . you're a wonderful friend.”

Sunset smiled and put a hand on his back. “Dac, that . . . that means a lot to me. Thank you . . . so much.”

Two weeks had passed since that day, and Dac had never been happier. The night after his time on the roof, Pinkie Pie was true to her word, and had thrown him a big party after school at a local restaurant, which many kids from school attended. At school, every time he passed Fluttershy in the hall, she stopped him for a big hug. He chatted with Rarity often; she always had questions about his love life and what kind of girls he liked, and she'd given him advice on how to approach girls and be more confident. Once, while Applejack had been making her deliveries, she'd given him a wink and a free apple juice box. He'd offered once again to go one-on-one with Rainbow Dash on the soccer field, but she'd turned him down, wanting instead to read some of his poetry.

Sunset had kept her word, as well; she and Dac were as thick as thieves since she'd talked him down off the roof. They had lunch together almost every day, they helped each other with their homework, and during his prose presentation in their English class, she had applauded louder than anyone else in the room. A casual observer may have suspected that they were dating.

The last bell of the day had just rung, and the five friends met up in the hall, talking and laughing and reveling in their success with Dac. Helping to improve Dac's life had changed their own lives a little; they knew now to think more deeply on the subject of suicide from now on. And they knew that, if something like this ever happened again, this past experience would make them prepared.

“So, I asked him if he was seeing anyone,” Rarity relayed her most recent talk with Dac to the girls, “and—you'll never believe this—he blushed! He went absolutely beet red! I kid you not!”

Pinkie Pie squealed in girlish delight, “YAAAY! Dacky's got a girlfriend!”

“Well, I'm happy for him and all,” Fluttershy spoke up, “but isn't that a little . . . well . . . private?”

“Fluttershy's right, y'all,” Applejack agreed, “whether he's got someone special or not, best not to pry too much into it, all right?”

“Hey, girls!” came a call from down the hall, and all five turned to see Sunset Shimmer walking side-by-side with Dactylic Pentameter.

“Hi, Dac,” Fluttershy greeted him cheerfully, and walked up to him to give him another big hug.

“Hi, Fluttershy. Hi, everyone,” he greeted them, “I wanted to let you all know something, but I wanted to wait until today. You see, I . . . I won't be back in school tomorrow.”

“WHAT?!” they all responded in shocked unison.

“Whatever do you mean, darling?” Rarity asked. “Does this mean you're transferring to another school? Well, don't you like it here at Canterlot High?”

“You're not dropping out, are you?” Dash asked. “Come on, even an athlete needs a good education!”

“Are you gonna play hooky?!” Pinkie squeaked. “So naughty!!”

“Girls, calm down,” Sunset quelled them, “he already told me earlier, but he just wanted to let you all know that he's taking a few weeks off school so he can see a therapist.”

Dac nodded and explained, “I just finished fleshing out a deal with Principal Celestia. She thought it would be best if I take a little vacation until I can get myself together. For the first week, I'll be making a schedule that works and be better prepared to come back well. I know I probably should've let you know sooner, but I wasn't sure what would happen or how it would work until today.” He glanced from one face to the next and continued, “But this doesn't change anything. Even though we'll see less of each other, we're still friends. And I'll be thinking of you all while I'm gone.”

At this statement, all the girls released a collective, “Awwwww!”

“Shucks, sugarcube,” Applejack replied, “if that's all it is, then go for it. We got nothin' but good thoughts for ya, hear?”

“Thanks, Applejack,” Dac answered her, then turned to another of his friends. “Fluttershy? Maybe when I get back, I could help you out at the animal shelter?”

Fluttershy gave a small gasp at his consideration. “Oh, Dac,” she beamed, “that would be wonderful!”

Dac went to the next girl. “Thanks for talking with me, Rarity. I've been feeling a lot more confident around girls lately, and I think it's because of you.”

Rarity smiled and held out a hand to Dac's face. “We'll be thinking of you as well, darling,” she said warmly. “We wish you nothing but happiness, all of us.” She leaned forward and gently kissed his forehead.

“And Pinkie?” Dac said, turning to her next. “Thanks again for the party. I can't remember the last time I had so much fun.”

Pinkie responded by reaching out and giving him another squeezing hug. “Any time, bestie!!”

Once Pinkie and Dac parted, Dash spoke with a sly grin, “So, Dac, we hear you've been gettin' lucky!”

Dac and the other girls looked at her, and Applejack's look was stern. “What?” Dash replied, “It wasn't prying, it was a statement!”

“Well, that could certainly be open to interpretation!” Rarity deprecated, but her tone shifted to curiosity. “But since the question's been asked . . . .” She stepped up to Dac, her eyes searching him wildly. “Is it true? Do you have a special little someone in your life? Tell me everything! Tell me, tell me, tell me!”

Dac blushed, just as Rarity said he had when the subject came up between them earlier. “Well, actually . . .” he said softly, fidgeting a little on the spot, “there is . . . someone . . . .”

“EEEEEEEEE!!” Pinkie shrieked in excitement, “Dacky really does have a girlfriend!”

“Hah! I knew you were a stud!” Dash gave him a friendly punch on the shoulder. “So spill it! Who's the lucky girl?!”

“Hi, muffin!”

Everyone turned to see another girl join them. She rushed immediately to Dac, the two hugged for a good long while, and they kissed each other passionately. The girls got a good look at her—she had grayish skin and light-blonde hair, and they could all swear she had some sort of a cockeye.

When Dac finished kissing his girlfriend, they both turned to see six surprised looks. “Oh, uh . . . yeah,” Dac began awkwardly, “I met her on the way back from the counselor's office a couple days after you all helped me off the roof.”

She nodded and lay her head against Dac's shoulder, adding, “We talked about why we were in the counselor's office, and he told me about what happened on the roof. I guess I should thank you all for saving his life. I never would have met him if you hadn't.” She glanced up at Dac, and when he looked back, they kissed again, a little more quickly. She then continued, a little saddened, “I told him my reasons, too. I told him about how I'm kinda clumsy, and my grades weren't the best, and about how some of the other kids like to make fun of me . . . .”

“All I said was one thing,” Dac continued, “I told her basically what I learned from all of you. I told her never to let anyone label you, and you're perfect just the way you are.” His hand curled tightly around her waist. “I've been all hers ever since.”

She looked back up at him, only one eye aimed directly at him. “Oh, come on, you know it was because I fell for your pretty blue eyes.”

Dac smiled and stared back at her lovingly. “Well, only people with pretty eyes can find pretty eyes.”

She blushed heavily as her eyes began to mist, and she moved in for another kiss, during which Dac held her tenderly by the waist, and her foot popped up behind her.

As they looked on, each girl reacted differently. Fluttershy shed a few tears of happiness, while Pinkie gave another heartfelt, “Awwwww!”

Applejack seemed a little concerned. “You know, y'all gotta come up for air eventually.”

“They look so cute together!” Rarity cooed. “Oh, now I feel a bit jealous . . . hmm . . .” she suddenly sounded a bit irritable for some reason as she said, “You know, I think Applejack's right, she is kissing him a bit too long . . . far too long . . . .”

Dash rolled her eyes and turned away, feigning disinterest. “Eh, the novelty's gone, now just a load of mush.” She looked back, though, and smiled, adding, “Still . . . way to go, Dac . . . .”

Sunset smiled proudly, feeling almost like a mother witnessing her son's graduation. “I knew it all along, Dac. I told you that you had a reason to live.”

Author's Note

There's actually one more chapter after this. It's a short epilogue that takes place on the pony side. As always, thanks for reading!

#11 - Epilogue

One More Dance

11 -- Epilogue

Twilight Sparkle rapped on the door of what could have been the smallest house in Canterlot. She had come straight here alone after meeting up with her friends when she'd emerged from the inter-dimensional mirror. She had had this planned ever since meeting Dactylic Pentameter in the human world, and now, before she left with her friends for Ponyville, she had to do one last thing.

“It's open,” came a lackluster voice from inside.

Twilight opened the door and stepped into a very dark living area, lit by a single candle on a desk in the corner. Sitting at the corner with his head on the desk was a Pegasus stallion with parchment-colored fur and a spiky, ink-black mane. His cutie mark, just barely seeable in the dark, was of a quill pen crossed with a flower.

“Uhh . . .” Twilight began, unsure, “Dactylic Pentameter?”

The stallion picked his head up off the desk and turned to his company. “Yeah, who's asking?” he replied roughly. He then got a good look at the pony who'd come in, and a surprised look came to his face as his tone changed, “Oh! Princess Twilight Sparkle!” He then gave her a low, respectful bow.

“No, please, that's not necessary,” Twilight urged him, “and please, just Twilight is fine. Look, I was told by certain sources that you're the best poet in Canterlot, and . . . I wanted to meet you face-to-face.”

Dactylic Pentameter looked back at Twilight, his confusion slowly slipping into ambivalence. “Well, I'm flattered, but I can't imagine who'd tell you something like that,” his voice dropped back to its former brusqueness. “I haven't published anything in months. Whatever I had, it's probably gone, now.”

“Please, don't say that, Dactylic. I'm sure you—”

“Dac, please,” the Pegasus interrupted, correcting her.

“Uh, Dac, right . . . Dac, you have a lot to offer ponies, not just here in Canterlot, but in all of Equestria. Sure, you've had a dry spell, but it's no reason to give up.”

Dac scoffed, “'Give up'? I haven't been out to enjoy myself in years. Mares repeatedly reject me. I've been insulted and laughed at by every critic from here to Manehatten. I've even had one of them claim one of my short stories plagiarized Trenderhoof! Right now, this isn't remotely close to 'giving up'.” He glanced back at his cluttered desk; a rope rested on it, looped wide enough to fit around his waist (and his wings). “Not in the sense I'm hoping for, anyway . . . .”

Twilight saw the rope, and panicked; she knew exactly what that would be used for. “Dac, please, listen to me,” she pleaded, “I know things look bad for you, but you have to believe me when I say that they can get better, and they will! You have talent, and you can't let that talent go to waste! All you need is the right inspiration, and a little something to get you out of this rut you're in. Once you're out, your work will sell again, I'm sure of it!”

Dac eyed Twilight with curiosity. “Why do you care?” he asked her, half-snapping, half-genuine. “Why the sudden interest in my failing career?”

“Well . . . just think of it as a princess reaching out to her community. Here, I wanted to give you something.” Twilight used her magic to pull something out of her saddlebag and hold it out to Dac. He looked at it as it came at him, until he allowed it to rest on his extended hoof. It looked like a business card. Taking it back to the candle on his desk, he read it out loud:

“DR. FREUD E. N. SLIPP

Depression Specialist”

Dac looked back up at Twilight, now looking amazed at what he was given. “Who told you I had depression?” he asked her.

“Well, nopony, really, but . . . it's just that, you reminded me of somepony. He had a lot of the same problems you have, but you don't have the solution he had. He has what he needs now, and now, so do you. So, before you go and see that doctor, take one day, whenever you get the chance, and come visit me in Ponyville sometime. My friends and I would be glad to cheer you up, and you may even get the inspiration you need to get out of this slump.”

“But why? Why would you do this for me? I don't even know you.”

“But I know you, Dac,” Twilight replied, “better than you might think. And I know that if you had friends that could be there for you, you'd bounce back and be the success I know you are.” Twilight looked deep into his blue eyes. “Besides, everypony deserves friendship. Especially you.”

Dac glanced between Twilight and the card she had given him, and his eyes began to mist. “I . . . I don't know what to say . . . .”

“It's all right,” Twilight assured him, “just take me up on the offer sometime. And don't ever stop writing. You really are one of the best. You just need to find that out yourself.” She gave him a smile before she turned to leave, but stopped to add, “Oh, and one more thing. If you ever meet a pony, a Unicorn named Sunset Shimmer . . . don't be angry with her. She's a different pony now.”

“. . . Huh?”

“Oh, don't worry about it for now. Just get the help you need. And remember, don't be afraid to make a few friends. Friends really help.”

Dac looked back at Twilight, and his stony face started melting into a heartfelt smile. His response was almost broken by his voice, and the tears began to fall at last.

“Thank you, Twilight.”

The Alicorn princess smiled back as she walked out the door.

“My pleasure, Dac.”

Author's Note

Thanks to all of you for making this my most successful story on FIMfiction! :yay: