What Your Friendship Means To Me
I know this side of the forest isn't the prettiest. Yes, the leaves are all gone here and the path is a bit sloshy from the snow, but I promise it gets better. I hope you can trust me to navigate, that's one skill I haven't quite forgotten since my early years. There's a perfect spot just beyond this path.
Again I thank you for joining me on this little expedition. I know bonzire trees don't normally blaze during the winter but I think we're close enough to the end of the season that we'll be in luck. And besides, I needed to talk to you.
It's been often said over the years that I, Princess Twilight Sparkle, am a stranger to my own subjects. I'm often asked by the visiting ambassadors from our neighboring countries, “What exactly is it that you do.” I spoke the same verse of understanding that I practically had memorized. I would relay that entire explanation to you, but it is too much, so I will sum it up into a single sentence. I govern the acts of the friendship council which pursues the solution to social anxieties. In short, me and my friends solve friendship problems.
You must understand that friendship transcends mere disputes between friends. It envelopes entire social orders, groups, and communities. I've learned to deal with the many conflicts that have troubled ponies within these varying social foundations. I've learned about establishing peace between rivaling families, settling disputes among circles of friends, and even freeing ponies from a cult dictatorship where differences were forbidden in the basis of friends. I've learned so much over the years.
And, I still had no clue about what friendship really was at that time.
I had no clue as to where it comes from. What is friendship? It's so confusing, even now that I've finally got it figured out. I always knew it was there, but I didn't know how it began. It was like tree that you never knew came from a seed. What was the seed of friendship? That was the question that plagued me forever until I had to think over your proposal last night. That idea you gave me; you seeded the thoughts that would lead to the greatest epiphany of my life.
Oh, look at that! It's a hummingbird. I think, if we're quiet we can get real close to it to observe it better. Oops! Oh, I'm sorry. It was my fault not yours. I should have been watching where I was going. I'm afraid I've scared it off. What? Oh yes, it was last night.
The other night, as I said, I had begun to think deep. I didn't even use books. You can't use books to rediscover something as grand as friendship. I had to look deep into my own senses to understand what I could know and not what books tell me. The first question I asked myself is, “What is the essence of friendship?” Well, I could have easily asked, “What are friends?” That was the first notion that became apparent to my understanding. Usually when you discover your friends, you simply know or understand. But, it is described adequately as a special bond that one or more beings share with each other. However, this brought up a new question.
How is that bond made? How does it come about? I know that bonds we share with others can be defined by experiences, but rivals who hate each other share a bond as well. The bond between enemies is hate. Then my next question was answered. The bond between friends is the opposite of the bond between enemies. That bond is love. I'm sorry for how this speculation seems to be chasing a tail of questions, but that's how friendship is. Love is the final great mystery of friendship.
The hardest part about understanding love is that it can't be quantified. And, it's never the same for anyone. True friends share this mysterious bond of love. That bond could run deep into an strong admiration, or be as simple as neighbors that always look forward to saying hello to each other. Love is complicated. It's not always intimate like the attraction between two beings in what you would call a romantic relationship. Love can be of a simple, innocent, and pure intent of caring for each other. But, there is what you would call romantic relationships.
I believe that these intimate relationships could very well be the basis of how many friendships work today.
There are two distinct features I noticed in the intimacies of couples. It's through these simple, no, they appear to be simple actions, but they are infinitely more complex in their meaning as far as two beings communicating feelings. Hugging and kissing. These two seemingly simple acts began long ago. They may not be as old as time, but their upbringing dates long before the beginning of our civilization.
Before complex social norms and ideas formed, there was a very basic concept. Reproduction. Male and female. It was this basic instinct that we started with. Much like animals, social complexities did not form yet. It was a different time. Relationships hadn't evolved yet. This was how it began. Then it blossomed as time went on. When the life of ponies was improved by progress, we were able to develop these complex social interactions that evolved from our early primal interactions.
But now I’m afraid.
Ponies don’t look at each other the way they used to. Everything seems to have dulled. When you look around now of days, some of the basic problems with relationships in the social realm can be boiled down to a sad simple truth. We’re all different. I don’t know if you remember when you said it, but I remember you were joking with one of the guards about why there are contentions between nations. You jokingly said, “You’re not me.” That simple phrase, though I know it was a joke, was really profound. When I looked again at why ponies have become so introverted in this day and age, that phrase seemed to sum up these collective issues.
What? Oh I know, exactly. It's surprisingly convenient that the friendship council exists. With so many ponies keeping to themselves these days, I'm glad my friends and I could be the ones to turn that around.
Oh look! Sorry that was a bit loud. I almost scare them away. I mean look at them. Those two raccoons over there, do you see them? It’s interesting that raccoons have such complex social behaviors. But, ponies look down on them because they dig in our trash. But, weren’t we that way once? Did we not begin this existence the same way? We scavenged the forests and plains for food and water sources at the mercy of the Princesses. But, now we’ve adapted. And, because we have certain luxuries, we’ve lost the value of those social behaviors.
There’s one more thing about those two raccoons. Do you see how they look each other in the eyes? Yes. I don’t see ponies do that anymore. I mean, think about it. How many ponies do you see on a regular basis that look each other in the eye. No, oh my goodness, I didn’t mean us. Silly. But in all seriousness, why does nopony look each other in the eyes? What are they afraid of?
I remember reading in an old text, written by Starswirl, that the eyes were the gateway to a pony’s soul. Is that what ponies are afraid of? Are they afraid of seeing another pony’s soul? If so, why does that scare them? What? Oh, well I guess that makes sense, but I think it might even be something deeper. What if they’re really afraid of-
Ah!
Oh, shoot. I’m sorry. I’m such a clutz. Hold still, I have a spell that can get that mud off of you. There. Better? Oh, well, you’re welcome. Wait, do you see that? Nevermind what I was saying earlier. Look at that light. I think we’re close. Yes! This is the cave, come on!
Oh, isn’t it beautiful? Bonzire trees are rare, there’s hardly any left. Do you know who created them. Yes, that’s right. I see my studying skills have rubbed off on you. What do you mean I talk obsessively about Starswirl? Nevermind. Ha, you’re such a tease. Anyway. This is the biggest bonzire tree that exists. Because their light really burns, it hinders their growth. But, this cave’s flooding smother’s its fire enough that it can grow.
Hmm? Oh yes, I think it’s romantic too.
That’s another thing about friendship that intrigues me. Love. There’s no exact science to it. It’s one of the deepest emotions that sentient ponies display. I’m just beginning to understand it myself, with you. Don’t act so surprised. But anyway, I believe that’s another key to friendship that many take for granted. That could be because of how abusive some ponies are with love. Nopony seems to see beyond being friendly. There’s not as many loving friendships as there once was. There’s loads of friendliness, but no friendship. There’s no relationships. Friendship, relationship; they’re both the same. One just sounds more cute and modern.
This relationship, that you and I have, it’s like friendship. But recently, it’s become more than that. When you look at me, oh, this is so childish of me! It’s unprofessional. I know, I know. Again, what’s wrong with this being a little cheesy. What if it’s not? What if things like this, like being sincere, is doomed to fade away with the progression of pony society? It’s horrible. But maybe, we can change that. Sincerity, maybe, we can bring it back.
I know you think you’re not like that, but you really have your moments. Everypony does. It sounds repetitive, I know, but that’s the only way any of us will learn anything. Friendship is magic. Come on! We don’t even know what magic is, it just works!
I’m sorry.
Maybe that’s how everything is meant to be. Maybe it all just works out in the end. I can’t prove it, but I believe it. You too? Maybe that’s all that’s important. None of us need scientific justification for friendships or relationships. Science is physical. It applies to the world around us, but it doesn’t define who ponies are, really. Sure, there’s science for politics, money, and social behaviors. But ultimately, it’s the pony’s choice. It’s our choice. We define our generations. Ponies can’t change the world they live in. They define how they live in that world.
For the longest time, I defined my life by the science in my books. But, there is no science that dictates love. Love is the backbone of friendship. Even if you don’t see a certain pony in a certain way, there’s still love. Maybe you like the way his mane looks, or maybe you like her voice. There are these little bits of ponies that we can fall in love with. There are qualities I love about all of my friends. And you, well, you know. Hey, have you ever walked through a crowd, spotted a face, and secretly imagined how the two of you might meet? Really? Good. I’m not alone on that.
Who? Oh, no. You would laugh. No, really.
Fine.
It was you. Though, when I first saw you, I thought about what kind of friend you’d be to me. I never thought we’d come to this. I didn’t mean it like that, okay? No. I’m sorry.
My goodness, has it been that long? I didn’t realize it was so late. Wow. The bonzire tree is really bright now. The darker it gets, the brighter its flames glow.
Can you promise me something? Can you promise that no matter what happens, we’ll always be friends? Thankyou. Can you make me another promise? Oh, anything. Really, you’d do that? That’s really inspired. No really. See? I told you you can be heartfelt too.
Now, I want to focus on the proposal you made to me last night. To be honest, I didn’t really need too much time to decide. Especially with the kind of friendship we had. No don’t take this the wrong way. I’ll have to talk to Spike about filling your head up with this idea of that ridiculous friendzone. No this isn’t like that. It’s the opposite actually. What? No! I don’t want you to leave. Let me finish. Please.
I’ve thought over your proposal entirely now. And, my answer is yes. It would be a privilege to marry a friend as wonderful as you. Hmm? Oh, of course. What? Yes silly, I understand what my friendship means to you.
