Friendship is Failure #1: Writer's Blockade

Chapters

New Friendship Problem
Stone Heart's Life
Try and Fail
Total Loss or Not
Intro: Packing for Canerlot

New Friendship Problem

ACT ONE

The train arrived in Canterlot Station, and before long, the three friends had made it to their reservations at a fancy five-star hotel.

The hotel staff was honored to be having the Princess of Friendship staying with them, even the bellhop, who used his magic to lift all the luggage in one big heap, much to Spike’s annoyance.

“Thank you very much…” Twilight said, and the bellhop smiled and bowed before taking his leave, not wanting to ask the Princess for a tip.

“Wow, what a view.” Starlight said as she gazed out the window. Twilight joined in her admiring everything, “I had almost forgotten how beautiful Canterlot looked.”

Then, while she was looking, she could see Minuette down in the streets below. She wasted no time in teleporting herself out through the glass and then flying down into the street leaving Spike and Starlight in the room.

Starlight could see how happy threw two friends looked to see each other, the way they were hugging and laughing. “I wish I had friends who loved me like that.”

“But you do…” said Spike “And maybe someday you’ll have more, and if Twilight thinks you can, then so do I.”

Starlight smiled at that thought.

Before long, the two of them were joined with Twilight and Minuette at a restaurant for lunch.

“That is so cool, you’ll be here for a whole week.” said Minuette “I’ve got to tell the others. We should have a slumber party, or spend the whole day shopping at the magic boutiques…” she gasped “…Or you could tell us more exciting stories about all your adventures.”

Twilight liked the idea, and she invited Starlight to come along.

“Oh, I don’t want to impose.”

“Nonsense.” said Twilight “That’s what friends do, remember, they share with one another. I practically insist that you join us.”

Starlight smiled again and felt really accepted and part of a whole new thing.

Soon, the friends met up with Moondancer, Lemon Hearts, and the girls were very excited to see Twilight and Starlight again, but even more excited when they mentioned the sleepover plan.

“I may have to study that night though, so I can’t promise I’ll be there.” said Moondancer.

“Ah, come on, Moondancer, you’re always studying, and you have plenty of time for that.” said Lemon, “Relax, put the books down and join us for some fun.”

Moondancer had a look of extreme strictness on her face, but then smiled and said “Okay.”

The girls were giddy with excitement. “Now, all we need is Twinkleshine.” said Minuette.

“This is going to be so fantastic.” said Twilight, but when she and the others got to their friend’s place, they found that Twinkleshine was already having a company, and it didn’t look very happy.

She welcomed them in anyway, and introduced them to her new friends, a married couple of unicorn ponies… they were…

Sandy Beam, a Pink Unicorn with a red mane and tail. Her cutiemark was that of a smiling sun.

Her husband was Shining Hope, a light green Unicorn with a small white spot down the front of his face, and a yellow mane. His cutiemark was that of a golden star with a halo over it.

“Wow, Princess Twilight Sparkle.” said Shining, and he and his wife bowed to her.

Once they were all acquainted, Twinkleshine explained the problem.

Twinkleshine, Sandy and Shining were all old friends from high school; long after Twilight was transferred to be Princess Celestia’s private student, and their High School reunion was coming up soon, which Sandy was hosting, for she was the High School Principal now.

“But what’s the problem?” Spike asked.

Sandy explained, “We wanted all our old friends to come and join us in the reunion.”

“But that’s a wonderful thing.” said Twilight “I’m sure that every-pony who goes will be happy to see each other.”

“That’s just the problem…” said Shining “Not every-pony is going.”

They told them about their old friend Stone Heart, a navy blue unicorn with a light brown mane, and his cutiemark was said to be that of a broken pencil and a book.

They were all best friends in High School, and did everything practically together. It was even believed that the two stallions had a crush on Sandy, which she found cute, and she would often tease the two by flirting with Shining.

Stone was still a cool guy, he wanted to be a story writer, and would constantly use his friends for inspiration, especially Sandy. He would often write stories about her being the charming love interest to characters based on him.

Sandy thought it was cute at the start, but then found that Stone did it so very often that she began to feel embarrassed, and she told him to please stop using her in his stories.

Stone felt very hurt, and he stopped writing his stories altogether, stating that he couldn’t make a story without putting her in it.

He tried not to let it get to him, and let things slide, but then when Sandy and Shining announced that they had officially become a couple, Stone really lost it, for it turned out he had been in love with Sandy as well, and wanted to be with her, which was why he wrote the stories.

After that, Stone found it more and more difficult to control his emotions, and worse… it lead to a fight between the friends. Sandy and Shining had lost their patience and tempers with the way he was acting, and began to point his own flaws and wrongs in attempt to get him to realize his mistakes and learn to grow up and accept…

…Stone completely lost it and he never spoke to them ever again. He never came near them; he never answered their letters or even wished to hear or accept their apologies, and remained as distant as ever.

“We didn’t mean to hurt his feelings.” said Shining “And deep down he’s still our friend and we always had hope that he would come round and be willing to forgive us.”

“…he never did.” said Sandy “It’s been quite a while since then, about five years, and still he won’t accept our invitations to parties, or hang out with us, we even invited him to our wedding.

Now he won’t even talk to us when we approach him.”

Twilight had heard more than enough, “Well, it sounds like we’ve got a friendship problem.”

Starlight agreed and said “We can try and help you.”

“You will?” Sandy asked with excitement.

“Of course they will…” said Lemon “Twilight and Starlight are the best at these things.”

“Why they could even make the most sworn of enemies make-up.” added Minuette.

Twilight and Starlight didn’t know about that, but they agreed to give it a try and see if anything could be done.

Stone Heart's Life

ACT TWO

The next day, Twilight and Starlight visited Canterlot town hall and asked to see the records of pony addresses. Of course, being Princess, Twilight was granted access.

They found what they were looking for.

Stone Heart lived in an underground house dug into the side of a grassy hill in the meadows.

Such a simple and cute looking place, but all the shutters were drawn tight, and hung on the door was a sign that read “No Solicitors or Sales-Ponies Allowed”

At the curb near the trail road by the mailbox were three recycling binds all filled to the top with empty cans of bathing-soap. “Gee, I’m starting to have a bad feeling about this.” said Starlight, but Twilight reminded her “We should at least try. We’re trying to help friends, remember.”

Unable to argue, Starlight knocked at the door.

The door then opened, and the Stone Heart himself answered, though he looked a little pale and under the weather. His expression was that of someone who had gotten out of the wrong side of the bed. “Can I help you?” he asked in a low tone.

“Hello, um… are you Stone Heart?” Twilight asked.

“Unfortunately...”

The girls felt this wouldn’t be as easy as they thought.

“Ahem… I’m Princess Twilight Sparkle, and this is my friend Starlight Glimmer.”

“Hello.”

Stone did seem too impressed, “Princess Twilight, I’ve heard of you. I don’t believe there’s any-pony who hasn’t.”

“Um… may we come in for a moment?” Twilight asked.

Not wishing to give the princess trouble and seeing it harmless, Stone invited them both inside, “But not for long. I have to leave for work shortly.” he told them.

It was very dark inside his house, which was expected as it was underground, but it was even darker with all the shutters closed, so Stone lit as many candles and oil lamps as he could.

The house itself was only one big room, bed, kitchen, library, fireplace, and a small bookshelf next to a desk with a lot of dusty old piles of paper on them. They were stories all kept together with clips and folders.

“Wow, you do love to make stories.” said Starlight.

“I used to.” said Stone “Those are all stories I wrote years ago. Some of them I just rewrite a bit as hobbies, but please tell me why you’ve come here.”

Twilight handed him an invitation to the High School Reunion from Sandy and Shining, but seeing it made Stone sigh in dismay, “You were sent by them too?”

“Well, not exactly sent by them, we came on their behalf.” said Twilight “They’ve invited you to your high school reunion.”

“I know all about that…” said Stone “…And I won’t be going.”

“Oh, you mean you have plans that night?” asked Starlight

“Nope...”

“Will you be working late?” asked Twilight.

“Nope…”

The girls gawked at one another. “Don’t you want to go?” asked Twilight.

“No… No, I don’t. I don’t want anything to do with that reunion, or either of those two, or pretty much anyone for that matter.”

He then opened the door to his closet and stepped inside, but he poked his head out and said to the girls, “Now, if that’s all there is to say, I have to leave for work.”

He shut the door and began to change.

The girls were very concerned, and began to feel that Stone was a little more upset than they thought, but neither of them were willing to give up, at least Twilight wasn’t.

“We’ll just wait until he finishes work and try to talk to talk to him again.” suggested Starlight.

“No… it would take too long.” said Twilight “We’ll just walk to work with him and see how it goes from there.”

That’s when the door opened, and Stone came out wearing an orange suit, rubber boots over his hooves, wheeling a mobile garbage bin with a pointy-stick clipped onto it.

The girls gawked at him awkwardly.

“What?” he asked “Haven’t you ever seen a trash-picker before?”

“You’re… a trash-picker?” asked Twilight, and Stone sighed, “Yes! That’s what I just said. Now, if you don’t mind, please leave my house.”

With that, he left for work, and the girls left the house as told, and Stone walked down the trail with his bin, and using his magic to levitate the pointy stick to pick up every scrap of litter along his way.

“Wow, he really doesn’t seem happy.” said Starlight.

Twilight said nothing, and couldn’t seem to put it all together yet. “I thought he loved to write, and here he is picking up garbage and living alone in the dark?

I’m going to get to the bottom of this!”

And she took off after Stone. “Wait for me!” called Starlight as she galloped after her.

They followed Stone around and watched him as he cleaned up the parks and roads… all by himself! They offered to help, “That’s very kind of you, but believe me I don’t need or want any help. I’ve been doing this for years. I’m used to it.”

He spoke very sharply towards them, “I’m sorry, I get a little carried away at times.”

He explained that he had given up on his dreams to be a writer and publish his stories; he tried to send them in, but no publisher liked his ideas, saying they were too clichéd, too one-dimensional, and full of plot holes, and often suggested he change the plot and characterises.

That made him very angry, the fact that others could not accept his style of taste and only demanded what they wanted, and when he tried to seek help from others, they wouldn’t help him and just suggested he get another job or find a new talent… discouraging him from writing.

So now here he was, cleaning up other ponies’ trash. The work was long and hard and didn’t pay so much, and he would come home very smelly--which explain the many empty bottles of soap-- but it was all he was able to get, and he preferred to be alone than in the company of others!

Friendship meant little or nothing to him, and he felt he was better off without it, “I don’t really need friendship to be alive you know.”

The girls felt and saw things only getting worse and worse by the second, especially when bypasses deliberately threw more garbage onto the ground and called out to him, “Hey cleanup-pony, you missed a spot!”

“Ugh!!” groaned Stone, but he picked up the trash anyway, and he was starting to grow a little uncomfortable with the girls hanging around him, and he asked “What is it you want me?”

“Well…” Twilight said “As Princess of Friendship I want to know… why you don’t want to attend the High School Reunion?”

Stone was very annoyed by this point, but he calmly said “Why should I? Who says I have to go? I don’t want to go anywhere near any of those ponies, especially not Sandy Beam of Shining Hope. I’m not comfortable being around them.”

“But why is that?” asked Starlight.

Stone really hated to say it, but he felt for once he needed to tell someone “Because they are better than I am.”

The girls felt shocked at those words.

“They all have better lives than I do, they make me feel very uncomfortable, and I’m afraid things may get so out of hand I’m afraid I may hurt them, or they may hurt me again, I don’t want to see that happen. So I prefer to keep away from them. Then I can’t hurt them and they can’t hurt me.

Now, please excuse me.”

He walked off to pick up more trash and the girls didn’t follow him anymore.

Starlight felt she knew how he felt, remembering how she strayed from friendship or much to do with it, and deep down she felt lonely, like she did want to break out of her shell and make friends.

It was Twilight who spoke first, “I think he needs to really rekindle with his friends.”

Starlight agreed, but deep down she wondered about something else, “Are you sure that’s a good idea?” she asked “What if he doesn’t want to reconcile?”

Twilight figured that would be possible, but the way Stone was acting was no good either; being distant of ponies and ignoring calls for friendship and things. “Remember what I said…”

“I know… “You won’t know until you try.” said Starlight, and she smiled at her friend and Twilight smiled back at her.

They had a plan.

Try and Fail

ACT THREE

Twilight and her friends met up at Minute’s place and told them of their idea.

“Do you really think that’s a good idea?” asked Spike “I mean what if he doesn’t want to rekindle?”

“I’ve already thought of that, Spike.” said Twilight “Besides, if he attends his reunion and sees how much his friends want to make it up to him, maybe he’ll want to make up with them too.”

Starlight still had that bad feeling about it, but she and the others began to make plans anyway and even told the idea to Sandy and Shining. They weren’t too crazy about the idea, but if it meant a chance to make up with their old friend, they were willing to try…

But the first thing they had to do was actually convince Stone to come, and that would not be easy.

Twilight figured the best way was to make him an offer he couldn’t refuse.

The next day, she came to his house again and knocked on the door. “What do you want now, your highness?”

Twilight expected him to act down in the dumps and be a little rude with her, but she took it well and said to him “I’ve come to invite you to the High School Reunion on behalf of your friends.”

Stone growled softly and sneered “I already told you, I don’t need friends and I don’t want to go to that reunion! Please leave me alone.”

He tried to shut the door, but Twilight used her magic to keep the door stuck in place, insisting she hear him out, “I spoke with Shining Hope, and he works for a book publishing company. If you attend this reunion, I promise, and he promises to publish one of your stories, without any difficulties.”

Stone’s eyes lit up softly, “Honest and for true?”

Twilight nodded and promised it would be done.

Stone honestly didn’t know what to think or do for the moment. Though he felt it was against his better judgment, “As much as I don’t want to… alright, I’ll try.”

Twilight felt giddy with hope and joy. “I promise you won’t regret this.” And she ran off to tell the good news to her friends.

“…I doubt that.” Stone said.

As the days went by, Twilight and Starlight had spread the good news, and offered to attend the reunion themselves with their friends. Of course Sandy and Shining were thrilled to let them come.

So, through a musical number, the days went by as things were planned and prepared, and Twilight even received one of Stone’s stories to send to the publisher.

Stone, however, was stilling lingering doubts about this whole thing, and so was Starlight.

Then the night came. The reunion was held outside of the Magical High School within the village, and many ponies who used to attend arrived, even Stone arrived, dressed in a nice black suit and a bowtie, but with a look of deep regret on his face.

He was escorted by Twilight and her party and was told “Just be yourself, you’ll fit right in.”

Stone sighed, still worried about this, “Okay, here goes.”

Sandy and Shining greeted every one of their friends as they entered the area, and were very surprised to see him.

“Stone Heart…” Sandy said.

“Hello, Sandy… Shining…” Stone spoke in barely more than a tone and he could barely seem to curl his lips into a very awkward smile, but it hung back down again in its usual frowning position.

“Um… it’s good to see you again.” Shining said he extended his hoof for a shake, but Stone couldn’t find the courage at first to do it, until Twilight whispered to him, “Don’t be rude.”

Stone reluctantly shook Shining’s hoof, and desperately tried to hide the sickening feelings that broiling inside him. Then he just walked in to take his seat at a table for the dinner feast.

“Well, it’s a start.” Twilight said, but Starlight, Sandy and Shining, even the other three friends were not so sure.

As the festivities began, many of the ponies began to rekindle and catch up on old times. Some were married happily and had successful jobs and businesses. One of them was even a Royal Canterlot Guard…

“Working for the Princess has its advantages, it’s the best job I could ever have dreamed of.” he bragged.

Other ponies admired him, some of the mares for his handsome appearance.

A mare stepped forth saying that she ran the Second Canterlot Bank, which was only second to the Royal Vaults in the Palace. “And being a government job, it pays very well…” she said “I can buy anything I’ve ever wanted, even stuff I don’t even think I need.”

More and more ponies bragged on about their success and great lives, which did not make Stone feel any better.

“How about you Stone…?”

“Yeah, what’s your success? Did you ever publish a novel yet?”

Stone shook his head, “No, I’m a trash picker.”

Some of the others were shocked.

“What?”

“Still?”

“My stories are just for me…” Stone said “Kind of what happens when you get shot down every time, or when you’ve lost your main source of inspiration.” He gazed over at Sandy, who was chatting with her husband and old friends.

Twilight and friends felt things were not really going as smoothly as they thought. “That’s all you can say?” Twilight asked.

“Well, what else is there to say…” said Stone “Let’s face it, I don’t have a very good life here, and I’m not that interesting to any-pony.” He looked down at his Cutiemark, and began to wonder if this was his destiny after all; a broken pencil over paper, resembling a failed story.

“Oh, come on…” said Minuette “You’re just not trying hard enough.”

“Yeah…” added Lemon “I’m sure you can find at least some ponies willing to open up to you, like Sandy and Shining.”

Moondancer offered her own advice, “Even I gave friendship another chance when I swore it off. Maybe you should too.”

Stone looked over at them again, and still didn’t know if he could even try, but Twilight and her friends persisted.

So, he reluctantly agreed and went to comingle amongst his old friends, but starlight was still worried. “I just hope things don’t get any worse.” said Starlight. Twilight hoped the same thing, but she was confident that things would only go up from here.

Stone sat with his old friends along with Twinkleshine as they were her friends too.

Things seemed to go okay.

“So, Stone…” asked Twinkleshine “Do you ever intend to do anything besides just pick up trash?”

“Nope…” replied Stone “This is all I have, and it is fine as it is.”

“O-kay…” said Sandy “But surely you want to try and be something you’ve always wanted.”

Stone shook his head “The only things I ever wanted just never happened, whether I worked for them or not. So I prefer not to try and just give up.”

Now the friends were starting to feel really concerned about him.

“Well, I bet I can help you a bit…” said Shining, and he held up a book he had gotten from his publishing company and passed it to Stone.

Stone gawked at the tittle: Solemn Wishes

“…This is my story.”

He looked through he pages, and it was exactly as he wrote it; a story about a pony like him who had his dreams crushed and so he decided to go on a long journey to find his happy ending, only to end up deeper into despair than before, the story ended on a cliff-hanger; the pony would just keep searching for his happiness, even if would never come. His ultimate fate was left up to the readers.

Stone flipped through all the pages and noted not a single change had been made, like how all the many other publishers wanted and demanded he do. It just plain written as he did it.

“We gave one copy to each guest here today.” Sandy said “Look, some are reading it now.”

Stone could see they weren’t lying, and that several ponies were in fact reading his book.

“I… I don’t know what to say.” said Stone. It almost looked as if he was starting to come out of the darkness.

Twilight and her other friends watched with glee. “I think it’s working.” Twilight cried for joy. Starlight was inclined to agree.

“Well, we’d expect nothing less from the princess of friendship and friend.” said Lemon Hearts.

Minuette and Moondancer nodded in agreement.

…However, things were about to blow up in their faces!

It all started when Stone had to ask Sandy, “Why did you choose Shining over me?”

Sandy felt that would come, and she her husband didn’t know how to break it gently. “I know you liked me, Stone, but… I just… I never had feelings for you. I mean you were my friend, but… I just didn’t feel the same for you as I did for Shining.”

Her husband agreed, “We knew each other long before we met you.”

“Is that why you teased me?” Stone asked “You flirted with each other to make me feel jealous, and then you told me to stop putting you my stories, Sandy as if I was committing a crime.”

“Well, it wasn’t a crime…” Sandy said “I was just annoyed and embarrassed, that’s all.”

Neither she nor her husband could find an excuse about the teasing though.

The conversation was observed and overheard by Twilight’s party.

“Oh, no…” cried Starlight.

“This can’t be good.” added Moondancer.

Twilight felt nervous too, but she was also shocked from what she had heard. True, she heard the story before, but now it was like hearing someone else’s side of it.

“It was all in fun…” Shining said “Weren’t really trying to hurt you.”

Stone had heard enough, and he could see all this was only causing him more pain and anger. It was bad enough he loved Sandy, but she never liked him that way, she and Shining teased him, and then barked at him to not put Sandy in his stories, even though she inspired him.

He got up and decided to leave.

“Stone, wait, please!” cried Sandy.

“We’re sorry if we upset you.” added Shining, but Stone could not believe them. He didn’t want to believe them, and he continued to walk.

“Stone Heart, wait!” Twilight called as she cantered to catch up to him. “Listen, I know what they said isn’t exactly nice, but they were only be honest. They weren’t trying to hurt you.”

Stone stopped and looked straight at her, “Look, I’ve tried, okay, but this isn’t working. Now, please, let me go before something else happens.”

Before Twilight could even ask what that could be… one of the ponies put down the book scoffing, “I’ve never read anything so ridiculous before.”

Stone didn’t like that a bit.

The two more ponies slammed the book down.

“So one-dimensional and pathetic…”

“It’s no wonder Stone never succeeded, and never will.”

Stone was starting to lose his cool.

More of the ponies started to throw the books into a big pile in the center of the party area, all them scoffing at it or criticising it horribly, and then it got way worse.

“Hey, Stone Heart.” a pony called “Thanks for letting me read this, now I feel better about myself” and he laughed at him.

“You sure showed us… how NOT to make a story.” said another and she and her friend laughed too.

“No, please, stop that.” Twilight said to the ponies trying to get them to calm down and cease the needless mockery, but the ponies simple ignored her and kept throwing all the books until they were all in one big pile.

Stone gazed furiously at the pile of his books gnashing his teeth, and finally… some-pony took it way too far, and threw his used napkin on the pile. This was the very pony that teased him the other day in the park, “Hey, trash-pony, you’ll need a big bag for this pile.”

Twilight had lost patience too, but before she could say even a word, Stone Heart began to glow brightly with fury, and with his horn he blasted the pile of books into a mountain of ash. The blast was so strong, that some of the tables were knocked over and the decorations fell down leaving a big mess in the middle of everything.

Now everyone’s expressions were fraught with fear, while Stone had nothing but a deep look of fury on his face as he approached Sandy and shining and finally told them what he had been longing to say…

“You’re pests! Disgraceful… selfish, inconsiderate ponies and I have no desire to be friends with you nor have I any use for you two.

You claimed you were my friends, but in reality you’re the furthest things from. Not only did you hurt my feelings, stomp all over my dreams and hopes, but, once again, you have publicly humiliated me, and instead of making me feel like some-pony who matters, all I am in the pony who makes every-pony else, including you, look good. Do you get what I’m saying…?”

The two gazed at him as if he were about to do something more fretful.

“Now get this straight, both of you…” Stone said to them “I don’t want to see you, I don’t want to know you and I don’t want to remember you!”

Then he turned his back to the couple, and Sandy felt her heart being crushed, and Shining felt shocked, upset, but most of all he felt hurt.

Then Stone pulled off his bowtie, angrily throwing it aside and gazed at Twilight severely, “I beg your pardon, Princess, but I ask you this once and nicely… for you, your friends, and your apprentice to stay away from me and my house.”

He walked angrily to the entrance way and gazed back at everyone bidding them and angry but soft, “…Goodnight.”

Then he was gone.

The second he had left, Spike showed up, having been late for the party for unknown reasons. He was all suited up, but when he saw the mess and all the ponies looking unenthusiastic and grim,

“…Okay, what did I miss?”

Total Loss or Not

ACT FOUR

The whole place was still a mess, Sandy was near tears, and Shining still felt a mix between hurt feelings and outrage, but more the hurt.

Twilight had told everything to Spike, “Wow…” Spike said “Talk about a bad night.”

“I was afraid something like this would happen.” Starlight said “Even though Stone tried, the others didn’t play their part very well either. I’m not picking sides, I’m just saying things are worse than we realized, perhaps… irreparable.”

Twilight and her friends felt shocked that she would say such a thing. “How can you say that?” Twilight asked “I gave you the chance for a turnaround and you took it.”

“I know…” said Starlight “But remember the first time; I ran out on you, rejecting your offer. To be honest, I wonder if I still would have accepted you the second time if things were bad enough.”

“Wait, what are you saying?” asked Spike.

“I’m saying that Friendship may be a good thing, but… well… maybe it’s just not for every-pony. I mean, we can’t really enforce others to accept our ways, especially if it may not be good enough for them, or maybe they just don’t feel the same way.”

Something deep down inside of Twilight clicked; she remembered once the situation of Pinkie Pie and Cranky Doodle. Though it worked out in the end, it almost didn’t because Cranky wasn’t like others.

She was snapped out of her thoughts when she heard some of the ponies say.

“That, Stone Heart, what a big baby.”

“Yeah, can’t handle a little criticism or a joke.”

“No wonder he’s doomed to fail at life.”

Mandy of the ponies laughed at him, but Twilight was infuriated and shouted “ENOUGH!!”

At once the ponies quieted down and looked frightfully at her as she ranted, “I can’t believe all of you! Stone Heart came here to try and make amends, and all you do is laugh at him and poke fun at him, and make him feel like he’s not special!”

Many of the ponies were speechless, as if they were realizing for the first time that maybe they had gone too far, but some were still unmoved.

“It’s not our fault if he can’t make a good story, or take some criticism.” one pony said, but Starlight stepped in and chastised him, “There is a difference between Criticising, and just being plain mean-hearted.”

She knew the feeling better than anyone, but did not wish to say for fear of her past coming back to harm her.

Twilight’s friends agreed with her.

“I admit, he wasn’t acting very fine either, but at least he was trying.” said Minuette.

Lemon Hearts picked up a copy of the book, one of few that hadn’t been destroyed, “I’ll admit I didn’t like the story very much, but I didn’t try to laugh at him or say horrible things.”

The few unmoved ponies were still unmoved, “What’s the big deal? All we did was tell him the truth, how we felt about it.”

“You could’ve been more civil about it.” snapped Twinkleshine “Sometimes the truth hurts, and after what we’ve seen, I don’t know what to believe… right now.”

Now the unmoved ponies were starting to feel ashamed.

“Maybe we should try talking to Stone Heart one more time?” Spike suggested, and Twilight and the others gawked at him, “What? I haven’t said anything in a bit.”

The next day, after the mess was cleaned up from the other night, Twilight and Starlight set out for Stone’s house in the meadows. Sandy and Shining were with them, and so was Spike.

“I don’t know if this is such a good idea.” Spike said.

“Well, we can’t just sit and do nothing about it...” said Twilight.

As much as Starlight agreed with Twilight, she just had to say what she was feeling, “Giving Stone another chance may be noble, but remember what I said… what if he just won’t accept it?”

Sandy and Shining anticipated this too, but they were not willing to give up on their friend. They just hoped they could persuade him.

Upon arriving at Stone’s house, it all looked the same except for a small “No” sign with a picture of friends on it.

“Oh, dear…!” Twilight muttered

“Hey, I’m not on it. That’s a good thing.” said Spike, but the others gave him a strict look.

The approached the door and Twilight knocked at it “Stone Heart…” she called “It’s me, Princess Twilight.”

Stone walked up to the door, not opening it, opened the shade cover glaring angrily and sneered, “I do not want to see you.”

He closed the shade!

“Stone, please…” Sandy called “We just want to talk to you.” but Stone called to her through the door, “You’ve done enough! Now, leave me alone!”

Though it was normally against her better judgement, Twilight set Spike down off her back, and she teleported inside the house, and then poofed back out again with Stone, just as he was dressed to leave for work, with his tools.

“This is harassment!” snarled Stone “I will write to Princess Celestia about this!”

“Good, then maybe she’ll make you realize how foolish you’re being!” said Twilight.

“Huh?”

Shining and Sandy stepped forward “Stone, look at you…” said Shining “Look what you’ve become. You’re angry, miserable, and you alienate yourself from everyone.”

Stone scoffed, “You act like it’s a big deal.”

“It is a big deal.” said Twilight “They’re your friends, they care about you, and they hate to see you like this.”

Stone chuckled softly, and then burst out laughing almost manically “That’s the most ridiculous thing I ever heard.” he said “If they were my friends then why did they tease and scold me, just like everyone else?”

He went on explaining how his current life style wasn’t just by choice, but rather all he could possibly do. Writing was all he felt he was good at, but because others couldn’t respect his style and taste what was the point to it. He had no other skills and talents, hence why he was a trash-picker “…even there it isn’t good enough!” he grumbled.

“All any-pony does is scoff at me, even when I do as they say. I get a job, I stop writing, I even keep out of their lives so they don’t have to put up with me, but it’s just enough for them.

It’s always what THEY wanted, and what OTHERS wanted. Well what about ME? Did anyone ever to think for one minute of things I wanted instead of getting bashed at and made fun of? I don’t think so.

And now, I’m getting more grief from the likes of all of you; you’re enforcing your beliefs on me and trying to get me to believe something I no longer need nor desire.”

Sandy gasped, “Stone, what are you saying?”

Stone walked right up to her and looked her dead in the eyes, “I’m saying, and I’ll put this in terms of writing… We are so not on the same page anymore; in fact I don’t want to even be in the same story as you, or any of you.

I don’t wish you any harm, and I hope you don’t find any misfortune… but what you need to find is some-pony else to be your friend, because I’m not interested.”

With that said he grabbed his tools and prepared to walk off to work.

Tears we’re falling down Sandy’s face, “But… you said we’d be friends forever.”

“Yeah, don’t you remember that… the vow we all made a long time ago?” added Shining.

Stone remembered it all too well, the three of them in school, all getting along well and promising to be close friends forever.

Stone remained unmoved and had to be true to himself, “That’s not how the story goes, not this page anyway. You can’t act like my friends and then make things so hard for me. Are you a good friend or a bad friend; Pick one.”

Then he cast a look at Twilight and the others and said very deeply “Now I mean it. I don’t need Friendship to live, and I don’t need other ponies telling me what’s right and wrong for me, and I don’t need you… or them!

What I do with my life and how I choose to live it is my choice, and it’s no concern of yours.

…Princess of Friendship… Good grief!”

Then he was gone, leaving all the others with sad and very concerned expressions on their faces.

Sandy cried softly, and her husband held her tight, but he too felt like she did.

As for Twilight, she never felt so lost, confused and above all things, hurt, in her life.

“Let it go, Twilight.” Spike said “He’s not worth the time… not right now, anyway.”

Starlight sighed, believing that Stone Heart was probably more like her in many ways; the way he was unwilling to forgive and start over, but the way he did, “Do you think he’ll ever be okay?” she asked.

Twilight wanted to believe that eventually Stone Heart would find in his heart to one forgive and forget all the troubles and maybe turn his life around from what it was, but after the way he had just behaved, “I just hope he will, but he is right…

…It’s never a good idea to force your own views on someone else, especially when it may not be right for them. It might only make things worse.”

Sandy and Shining were inclined to agree.

A couple of days later, Twilight and Starlight were all packed and ready for the train ride back to Ponyville, but she had sent a letter to Princess Celestia informing her of all that had happened, and she got her reply.

Dear Princess Twilight…

I am very sorry to hear that things did not turn out so well, but know that I do not hold you responsible, nor any-pony else. You were only trying your best.

Perhaps it would be best to leave Stone Heart alone for the moment and see how things turn out later on. I do hope he comes round.

Give my reguards to Starlight Glimmer…

: Princess Celestia

The girls smiled at the letter, but they both still felt pretty bad that things didn’t go very well, regardless, Sandy and Shining held no grudge against Twilight or Starlight.

“You are both welcome in our home any time.” said Shining.

Sandy nodded “It’s just our way of saying thank you for trying to help us, even though it didn’t work.”

The girls were grateful to their two new friends, so it wasn’t a total loss after all.

Twilight then bid farewell to her three friends; Minuette, Lemon Hearts and Twinkleshine, each extended their goodbyes to them both.

“Come back soon…” said Minutette.

“Yeah, we still owe ourselves that sleepover.” added Lemon.

“And don’t worry about Sandy and Shining, I can look after them.” said Twinkle.

Twilight smiled and hugged her friends, “Thank you, all.”

Starlight said nothing, she didn’t know what to say, but Spike on the other hand, he groaned as he pushed the heavy load of luggage up the ramp “Will someone please give me a hand here?!”

Suddenly, all the baggage fell on him. “Spike!” cried Twilight, and she and the others worked and worked to dig him out.

“Oh!” Spike groaned “Next time, can we travel lighter?”

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Intro: Packing for Canerlot

INTRO

Starlight Glimmer was busy packing her bags, for she Princess Twilight Sparkle, and Spike were due to catch a train bound for Canterlot.

“There, I think that’s just about everything.” Starlight said to herself, and she checked off her list.

There was a knock at her door.

“Come in…”

Princess Twilight walked in and asked, “How’s the packing going, Starlight?”

Spike came up alongside her, looking pretty beat. “Please say you’re done?” he groaned softly, and the reason he was so beat was because outside was a huge trolley of suitcases and luggage, all of which were Twilight’s, which he spent all morning helping her load.

Starlight saw the pile and asked again “Why pack so much?”

“Oh, you know me. I just like to be prepared for anything.” said Twilight “Besides, we’ll be staying in Canterlot all week, as part of your friendship training, and I figured I may as well visit my old friends while I’m at it.”

Starlight felt it would be nice to see Canterlot again, but she honestly didn’t know what to expect there that would help her in her friendship training. “Whatever happens…” she said “I just hope I don’t mess things up.”

“Ah, come on, Starlight…” Spike said “How could you mess things up? I mean sure, you were once evil, tried to destroy Equestria and all that stuff…” he stopped when Twilight covered his mouth with her hoof, but Starlight already heard it and looked deeply remorseful.

“I’m sure you’ll be fine.” said Twilight “Who knows, maybe there won’t be any friendship issues to deal with, and even if there is, just try your best.

As Princess Celestia once told me: “Twilight, you’ll never know unless you try.”

Starlight smiled at that saying, finding it really profound and deep, but Spike got both the girls’ attention by clearing his throat, “Um, I hate to break up the moment, but we’ll never make our train unless we GET GOING!”

The girls concurred and headed off leaving Spike to push the heavy load of luggage… which didn’t seem to want to move an inch.

“Um, a little help, please!” he hollered.

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