It was a warm afternoon, as Jared walks along the sidewalk near the beach. He looks over to the beach, as it lifts away all of his troubles away.
"I wish I had a friend to share this moment," he said to himself, as a gust of wind came from his left, feeling the wind blowing his black hair, "that would be great."
The young teen continues his walk and takes a left across the street and towards town. He looks around the place as he sees stores such as McDonalds, a mini mart and many others. As he walks past McDonalds, he notices a small store, which was never there before. He has walked along this path towards home and never has he seen a video store there before.
"I wonder how long that's been there?" said Jared to himself, as he crosses the street and talk a right toward the store.
He stands in front of the store and looks up to the logo that had blue neon lights.
"Ponyraku? Weird name," he said, as he pushes the glass doors and enters the store.
What he saw wasn't what he expected; pony related stuff. He walks along an aisle and looks around the DVDs that had cutesy looking ponies. Such odd titles like Fashion is Passion, The Big Rainboom and many others. Jared then comes upon a DVD case that had a unicorn with wings, purple fur and a soft smile. He grabs ahold of the case and looks at the title.
"'Your Best Friend Twilight'? Is that her name?" said Jared to himself.
"Indeed it is young man," said a male voice from behind him that made Jared jump and turn quickly around.
"S-sorry. I spoke out loud again, did I?"
"Indeed you have young man," said the old man.
The man before him was an old fellow who was in his sixties, he wore circular specs, was wearing a light blue buttoned up shirt, gray hair and had a small gray mustache.
"Sorry if I did. It's a bad habit of mine," said Jared.
"Are you here because you have no friends?" asked the old man.
"Huh? How did you know that?"
"Young man, this place is very special for people like you. Only those who are lonely or of pure heart can see this place. You happen to be the third person who has come here."
"Whoa!"
"Surprised? Well, I noticed that you are taking a like to Twilight? That's a good choice."
"I would love to get this, but I forgot to bring my wallet."
The old man chuckled.
"That's okay. I'll let you have it for free."
"Wha?! You mean it?!"
"I do. You need it more than ever."
"Thank you, Sir," said Jared, as he hugged the DVD case, "I'll never forget this. You are a very kind person."
"And if things don't work out, you can always come back to return it. Enjoy."
Jared smiles and places the DVD in his backpack.
"It's been nice to find your store. I'll never forget what you did for me," said Jared, as a tear fell down his cheek.
"Please, no tears. Go on home and enjoy. I bet your parents are worried about you."
Jared wipes the tear away and runs out of the store and towards home. The old man smiles and walks to the back of the store.
"Now I wait for the next pour soul."
"Mom! I'm home!" shouts Jared, as he enters the house.
"Welcome back, honey," said Jared's mother, who places dinner on the table, "Come. Dinner is ready."
"What's for dinner?" asked Jared, as he places his backpack on the floor near the door.
"Pasta."
"Yum," says Jared, as he rushes to the table and sits down beside his mother.
"You look cheerful," says his mother with a smile, "did something good happen?"
"I came to this store that had colorful ponies and got a DVD for free from this nice old man that works there. He says I need it."
"Really? What is this place called?"
"Ponyraku," said Jared, as he twirls his pasta.
"Huh… well listen Jared, no matter what you like if it's dolls or something girlie, I will not make fun of you. You are who you choose to be."
"Thanks mom," says Jared, as he takes a bite into his pasta, "Mm, delicious."
Jared's mother smiles, as they continued eating their dinner.
Later that night, Jared's mother fell asleep, but not him. He's in his room reading The Neverending Story in his PJs, but then looks back to his backpack to where he kept the DVD. He bookmarks his spot and places it on his desk. He walks up to his backpack and pulls out the DVD.
"Let's see what this is," says Jared, as he turns on his PS2 and inserts the disc.
The DVD menu screen comes up with a happy tune, but decides to not listen to it and play the movie. The movie starts with the purple mare herself, Twilight. She looks at Jared through the screen and gives out a smile.
"Hello, my name is Twilight Sparkle," said the mare with a happy tone, "what's your name?"
She stares at the screen, but then gives out a sad look.
"What's wrong? Why are you looking so sad? Are you feeling lonely? Are they treating you different?"
A moment of silence, as Twilight continues to stare at the screen with a sadden look.
"You poor thing. Don't let those meanies treat you any different, you have a lot to offer another person."
Somehow, those words warmed Jared's heart; it was as if she really was talking to him and seeing him through the TV. Twilight's ear suddenly flicked up and she gives out a heart-warming smile.
"Here's an idea! How about I stay with you as long as it takes to keep you happy," says Twilight, as her horn begins to give off a purple aura around it.
Suddenly, the TV goes blinding bright, which stung Jared's eyes, as he looks away and crouches in a corner. As his eyes adjusted, he notices a purple hoof coming out of the screen, then a horn, ears, and a head and suddenly, Twilight comes through the TV and lands on Jared's bed. She lies there, as a few bolts flickered around her. She's here; she's real.
"Did…did she just come out of the TV?" says Jared, as he tip toes over to the sleeping Twilight, "is she real?"
Jared sticks out his pointing finger and pokes Twilight's muzzle.
"Gah! She is real!"
Suddenly, the mare gives out a slight moan, which makes Jared give the mare its space for air. The mare opens her eyes and looks at Jared in the eye. She jumps straight up and gives him a smile. She jumps off the bed and walks up to him with a soft smile.
"Don't worry," she said in a calming voice, "I won't hurt you. I want to be friends with you."
Jared's cowardice begins to fade and he slowly walks up to the mare and sticks out his hand.
"N-nice to meet you pony," said Jared, in a nervous voice, "I'm Jared."
The mare gives Jared her hoof and they gave each other a shake.
"Nice to meet you Jared," she says, as she breaks the shake, "I'm princess Twilight Sparkle."
"Nice to meet you too, Twilight."
The mare walks to the bed and sits down.
"Come," she says, as she pats the empty space for Jared to sit, "sit with me and talk to me about your troubles."
"How did she know?" thought Jared, as he sits beside her.
"Talke to me. You got me for a reason."
"Well… I just thought you were an interesting creature," I answered, "I've never seen a creature like you before and you caught my attention."
"I can tell, but I'd like to know about your troubles."
Jared looks to the floor and doesn't reply. He then feels wings wrapping around his back, which made him flinch. He turns over to Twilight, who scoots closer to him.
"Please…tell me. You can trust me."
"…I…I'm a loser," I said, "People look at me thinking I'm some sort of weirdo and don't want to hang out with me. I asked a popular guy in class back in 3rd grade and was pushed away because they say I look ugly. Ever since then, I stayed away from other people and avoided talking to them… By fifth grade, I asked a girl out because I fell in love and she rejected me saying that I should fall off a cliff, no one will love me. Since then, I feel as though I am a worthless human being and thought of killing myself."
Twilight gives Jared a hug and squeezes his arm tight. A tear falls down her face and plops onto Jared's hand.
"Don't you ever say such things about killing yourself," she says, as she looks up to Jared, "you are perfect just the way you are. Don't let them get you down, you are special no matter what."
Jared's eyes begin to water and starts to sob. Twilight scoots ever closer and covers him with her wings.
"It's okay… I'm here," she says softly, as she gives Jared a kiss on his cheek.
Jared looks over to Twilight and gives her a gentle smile, which warmed her heart.
"Twilight, can I ask you something?" he asks, as he wipes his tears away.
"Anything."
"Can…can you be my friend?"
Twilight smiles brightly and gives him another kiss on the cheek.
"Yes."
"You mean it?"
"I promise. Forever and ever. Friendship is magic after all."
Jared smiles and gives the alicorn a hug of pure happiness.
"Like to do something with me?" asks Jared, as he releases Twilight.
"Sure. What do you have in mind?" asks Twilight, as she folds her wings.
"Would you like to watch a series with me?"
"What's it called?"
"Video Girl Ai," Jared explains, as he walks over to his stack of DVDs and pulls out the cover, "it's a romantic comedy and it's really good."
"Sure. I don't mind if you take off my DVD. Nothing bad will happen," says Twilight, as she turns her direction towards Jared's TV.
Jared walks over to the PS2 and takes out Twilight's DVD and places the other disc in. Jared sits beside Twilight giving her a smile of joy.
"Pinkie will like that smile of yours," says Twilight.
"Who's Pinkie?" asks Jared, as he skips to the DVD menu.
"A funny friend of mine who loves the smiles of everypony."
"She sounds like a nice person," said Jared, as he presses play.
"She really is."
The two friends sat on the bed watching the show until Jared began to feel sleepy at the end of episode three.
"You tired?" asked Twilight.
"I am," says Jared, as he turns off the PS2, "time for bed."
"You're right. It's getting late," says Twilight, as she looks over to Jared's Batman clock.
"Plus, I have school tomorrow."
"Oh? Then please, you must get your sleep."
Jared gets under the covers, as Twilight tucks him in.
"Thanks Twilight."
"Your welcome, Jared."
Twilight uses her magic by pulling down the string to shut off Jared's lamp until the room was dark. Twilight uses her horn as a dim light to show where she was; she was lying beside him and gives him a sleepy smile.
"Good night, Jared," says Twilight, as she shuts her eyes.
"Good night, Twilight," says Jared, as he does the same.
That night, Jared had a rather beautiful dream that he hasn't had in a long while. He was standing on a lonely hill with Twilight by his side, as they watched a sun setting in the distance. He looks down at Twilight, who gives him a cute smile that made him blush.
"Twilight?"
"Yes?"
"Can you be by my side forever?"
"Haven't I told you that I will never leave your side? I will stay with you no matter what happens."
Jared smiles and ruffles her hair.
"Thanks Twilight. You are the best pony I ever met."
"Jared?"
"Jared?"
"Jared, wake up."
Jared opens his eyes, but his eyes were stung from the sight of bright lights shooting out from his window behind Twilight.
"Ugh, Twilight?" says Jared, as he reels up and gives out a stretch, "good morning, Twilight."
"Good morning, Jared. Come on, you should get ready."
"Let me sleep a little longer," says Jared, as he collapses back onto his bed.
"Wake up, sleepy," says Twilight, as she uses her magic to move the covers off of Jared.
"All right! All right! I'm awake," grumbled Jared, as he gets off his bed and gives out another stretch.
"By the way, you should go downstairs. I can smell breakfast from here."
Jared takes a few sniffs and smells his mothers' bacon and eggs.
"Moms making eggs and bacon," says Jared, as he walks to the door, but stops to look back at Twilight, "what about you? Are you hungry?"
"Nah, I'm fine. You need food more than I do. Go on, don't keep your mom waiting."
"I'll be back in a bit," says Jared, as he rushes out of his room and runs down the hallway towards the kitchen, "Good morning mother."
"Good morning, honey. Did you sleep well?" asks Jared's mother, as she places down breakfast on the table.
"I did. I had a great nights sleep," says Jared, as he sits down and picks up his fork.
"You seem very cheerful this morning. Did something happen?"
"Let's just say that I forgot to tell you that I met a friend yesterday."
"You did? Cool! What's his name?"
"Actually… it's a she."
"She? Well, what's her name then?"
"Her name is Twilight and she's very kind to me."
"She sounds like a nice person. May I see her someday?"
"Possibly mom… possibly," says Jared, as he picks up a strip of bacon and bites into it.
"Good to know you have a friend," says Jared's mom with a gleeful smile.
Jared straightens out his shirt and places his backpack over his shoulders.
"Well, looks like I'll be heading off to school," says Jared, as he looks over to Twilight.
"Jared?" says Twilight, as he stands beside him.
"Yes?"
"Have a great day at school," she says, as she nudges him on his left leg.
Jared smiles and gives Twilight a hug.
"Thanks Twilight. You're a good friend."
"I'll always be your friend."
"Forever?"
"Forever."
Jared smiles and hugs the mare again.
As Jared sits on the bus, he looks over to the beach that he always walks by as he walks home and smiles.
"See you at home Twilight."
