What Matters Most

It was the time of year where the summer foliage of Equestria would soon convert their green colors to a serene, calming collection of browns, oranges and yellows. In Ponyville it was a peaceful time for friends, families, and couples alike to enjoy the last  days of summer and relish in the heat before the cold winds of autumn and the snow of winter crept in.

Every weekday after school colts and fillies, who weren't immediately picked up, would race to local park. Colts and fillies were frolicking and playing to their heart's content. This was not the case for Hope Chaser.

Just another day, another dark, lonely, pointless day. Hope thought, sadly. She was sulking alone with nothing to keep her company but her saddlebags and nothing else to comfort her but the wind occasionally tickling her wings. She had tear stains on her pale blue fur and her mane was messy. Hope was doing nothing but sitting against a lone tree away from the other foals. I feel so alone, and abandoned and I don't even know why. Other foals have so much to talk about, and they're so happy. And, well, look at me, I'm making myself looking pathetic by just sitting against a tree and crying. I wish I could disappear. Her thoughts were so poisonous that Hope even starting even hearing a voice insulting her.

"I only see her as an irresponsible, lazy, brat." It's true. Hope curled in a ball and was beginning to cry into her hooves once more. "The way I see it, she's nothing more than a hindrance to her friends." I don't even know why those girls still keep me around. She thought, before sobbing quietly.  Hope soon began to here a second voice.

"A hindrance? Please, Rainbow Dash has prov-"  Wait, what? Hope Chaser looked up from her position and wiped her eyes from the newly formed tears. She looked around and heard more of the argument. "-time again that she cares for her friends. Remember tha-" Hope looked behind the tree and found the source of the voices. She saw two older colts that Hope could only assume were from the town's middle school due to their size and saddlebags full of supplies and notebooks. One of them was an earth pony with a with a dark blue coat and a white mane.  The other was a unicorn who seemed, coming from a little filly's standard, to be taller than most ponies his age.  He had a lime green coat and a mane with a lighter shade. "Although her pet was going through hibernation, it shows how much she'll go beyond the call of duty to protect those she loves.", The green one said with a slightly concerned yet angered face.

But the blue colt seemed to be having none of it, "Yea, but she blew the entire town sky-high in snow! Do you know how many lives she endangered just so she could keep her pet from hibernating? If anything, she sounds like a selfish jerk to me." He spat. The dispute seemed to be going nowhere and would seem to only get worse by the second. Hope knew she had to stop this before it could get ugly. She turned to the two boys and dusted her fur from the dirt she recently wept on. She fixed her mane as best she could and approached the two colts.

"Umm, hey." Stay calm, I'll be fine., She thought, still under the brink of tears, if she broke down now the colts would surely use this as ammunition against her. She startled the two and they both faced her with their expressions softening.  "I just overheard your argument and, well, we all have different opinions. But, I mean, everpony's gonna have their flaws, and that's okay. Personally, I think Rainbow Dash is cool, but you're right, she can be a bit mean and selfish. But hey, I guess that's just something she has to work on. She does have her good sides though, such as, she's always trying to push her friends to do new things, and of course, she's loyal. I'm not picking sides, cause I respect both of your opinions, but I just wanted to stop this argument. B-before you two would start f-fighting for real" She stated shyly.

Both colts  immediately shared a look of confusion at her then back at each other until the Grey colt spoke up, "Well, I thought this argument was over before you said all that, but fine, whatever." He then gave a small glare at the green colt then trotted off. The green colt however, looked towards Hope and smiled warmly.

"Thanks, it was nice that you were trying to stop it."

Hope Chaser mentally kicked herself. What was I thinking? Ugh, I should have paid more attention. Now I just said all that for nothing, Hope then looked down at the ground, embarrassed and ashamed, to hide her tears. "I'm sorry, I should have listened first, I was just trying to stop the argument. It had sounded pretty bad, sorry if I offended any of you." Ugh, stupid me, I should have payed attention. Why did i have to waste their time?

The colt walked up to her and gently put a hoof on her shoulder,"No it's okay, really.", he said,  "I know you were just trying to be a good pony, and I appreciate that."

Hope, caught totally off guard by the unexpected response, jerked her head up and could see in his smile that he truly meant it. "R-really?" she asked, still a little stunned.

"Yup, and to be honest, it was kinda getting harsh, and don't worry, we won't fight anymore, thank you very much for saying all that." He removed the hoof from her shoulder and used it to lightly ruff up her mane.

"Hehe", she blushed, "no problem."