Chapters Friendship is Failure #16: Write of Way
INTRO
A simple Saturday,
No classes at the School of Friendship, and all the students were either at home, or those who stayed at the school were studying up for tests or having fun and playing games.
Twilight, was in her office and was supposed to have been grading tests and reviewing reports, yet she had her muzzle buried in a book.
Starlight Glimmer and Spike came in with more papers for her to look at, and they noticed she was lost in her book.
“Um, Twilight?” asked Starlight “Don’t you think you should grade that pile of papers.”
“Mm-Hmm.” said Twilight, and she just turned another page.
“Twilight…?” Spike said “…Chancellor Naysayer is here.”
Again, Twilight hardly flinched.
“HEY!!!” Spike shouted, finally making her jump clear up into the air, and flutter.
Starlight held in a chuckle.
Twilight came down, “Sorry, I guess I was a little wrapped up again.”
“A little?” said Spike.
Starlight looked at the book Twilight had dropped and recognized the name of the author, “You’re reading Stone Heart’s book too, huh?
I finished reading this long ago. Great characters, great plot.”
Twilight smiled and nodded.
“Stone Heart?” said Spike “Is that the author?”
“Sure is,” said Twilight, and she pulled up the Equestria Daily newspaper, “According to this, he’s been donating a large sums of money he got from his book to different charities to help the poor and the homeless.”
Spike looked at the paper, and looked at the paper of Stone Heart.
He was navy blue unicorn with a short brown mane, but he didn’t seem very happy in the picture. If anything he looked as if he was ready to blow someone up.
His Cutiemark was that of a broken pencil and a book with pages falling out of it.
Plus, his very name “Stone Heart” didn’t seem to match that of a writer of books.
Spike read the headline: “When asked of what other stories he would write next, Stone Heart said “No comment.”
The two ponies thought that strange, but Twilight still loved the story she was reading:
“A Change of Heart”
It was about a pony whose mare-friend dumped him, got fired from his job, and his friends all moved away, and he spent the weeks learning how to let go, start over, and make new friends. After which, he became a successful business pony, was rich, had a new wife and a son, and soon rekindled with his old friends from long ago.
“It’s so beautiful!” cried Twilight “He grows so well, and becomes successful.”
“That reminds me of a story I read,” said Starlight.
The book she read was about a noble medieval warrior who risked his life to save a princess whom he was in love with, but was already married and didn’t know of his feelings or reciprocate them.
In the end, after much suffering and injury, the poor warrior ended up with hardly any credit for his heroism, and knew he would never win the princess’s heart, and while he was saddened by this, he looked ahead at the setting sun, knowing it would rise again, and tomorrow would being him hope, strength, and new possibilities.
“Now that’s courage. Some-pony I can even relate to.” said Starlight.
Twilight sat at her desk and took a letter, “That decides it.” she declared “I’d like to request him to come here to the school, and head up the literature class. Maybe his stories and his writing-style can inspire the students on what friendship and believing in yourself can do.”
“Hmm, that’s a good idea.” said Starlight.
Suddenly, Rarity burst into Twilight’s office with a gleeful shriek, “Sorry to barge in, but did I just hear you were inviting Stone Heart to this school.”
“You know about him too?” asked Starlight.
Rarity then went into one of her romantic dazes, and fanned her face to cool down, and she levitated out from her backpack, three copies of A Change of Heart.
“His penmanship, his capturing of characters and their growth-- He must be the passionate and sensitive type, as well as dashing and debonair.”
Spike was already looking jealousy and sulked.
“Oh,” Rarity sighed “I’ve written him dozens of fan-letters but never got a reply.”
Her eyes started to fill with tears, “Could it be that he just doesn’t like me?”
“How could any-pony not like you, Rarity?” Spike said.
Rarity wiped her eyes, and smiled at him, batting her eyelashes softly, which melted Spike’s heart.
“Besides, he doesn’t even know you,” said Twilight “When he comes to visit, I’m sure you two can sit down and talk.”
She finished writing the letter, and gave it to Spike who sent it on its way to Canterlot.
“Well, now we just wait it out.” said Starlight.
They did wait, for a few weeks, and Stone Heart hadn’t sent a reply back at all.
Twilight even him another letter, in case her first one got lost in the mail, which made Spike feel rather insulted.
“I never misaim my letters when I send them to the post-office.” he grumbled.
“Maybe he’s just too busy writing to really reply?” suggested Starlight “I’m sure a famous writer like him has loads of fans, fan-mail, signing sessions-- things like that.”
Twilight then looked at the publishing company logo on one of her books. “Canterlot Order of Writers”
Spike couldn’t help but chuckle, “Cow? It’s an acronym of “Cow?”
The ponies all gawked at him, and realized the funny acronym, and they resisted the urge to chuckle.
“Maybe we can visit there over the weekend and arrange a meeting.”
“Yes, Yes… OH, YES!!” cried Rarity, and then she calmed down and “Ahem, I mean, that’s a splendid idea, if you don’t mind my coming with you.”
The others all gave her a funny glare, knowing she was going to meet Stone in person, but she was more than invited to join them.
Rarity levitated a book up and gazed heavenly at Stone’s picture, much to Spike displeasure.
Author's Note
To the one spamming me on Fanfiction...
Care to unblock me and I'll unblock you and we can settle this once and for all!
Friendship is Failure #16: Write of Way
ACT TWO
Stone Heart lived in a house dug into a hill outside of the village where it was peaceful and quiet, and other houses were far away from each other.
Stone’s house seemed very nice, but not the kind you’d expect a trash-picker to be able to afford.
The gang had followed Stone, by following the tracks from his trash-wagon, as well as smelling the faint odor, that forced Rarity to wear a clip over her nostrils.
“Why would Stone live way out here?” wondered Twilight “Shouldn’t a famous write like him live in the village where he’s closer to demand?”
Starlight had an idea, “…Or maybe he doesn’t like the crowds, and he prefers to be alone?”
A moment of silence followed, and Twilight decided to go up to stone and talk to him again.
“Must we?” groaned Rarity “He just got off work, collecting all that ghastly garbage, and--” she stopped when Twilight used her magic to drag her along with the rest of the crew.
Before they could reach him, another pony was seen coming up to his house from up the road.
She was a pink unicorn with a red mane and tail. Her cutiemark was that of a smiling sun.
“Stone!” she called to him.
The second Stone heard her voice and saw her coming he grumbled and quickly dashed inside his house, nearly slamming the door right in her face.
“Wait…!” she cried, and began to pound on the door “Stone, can’t we talk a minute?”
“Go away, Sandy Beam!” Stone called for him “I’m not writing anymore stories and that’s final! And tell your father to stop sending me cheques!”
“But Stone…!”
“NOT INTERESTED!!”
Sandy growled and stomped her hoof hard, “Stubborn, miserable mule!”
“Excuse me,” Twilight said as she and the gang came up to her.
Sandy gasped, “Princess Twilight Sparkle?” and then she bowed immediately.
Twilight giggled, “No, need to be so formal.” Then she asked what this was all about.
Sandy Beam explained her story.
Her father was one of the lead publishers of the Canterlot Order of Writers, and Stone Heart was a struggling writer, always getting his books rejected, not just from them, but from other publishers in all of Equestria.
Finally, he submitted “A Change of Heart.” and the Order of Writers was breath taken by it.
It became their number-one seller instantly, and readers all over fell in love with it.
Sandy, herself, loved it so much that she even started to develop a little crush on Stone, because his story was so sensitive and caring-- proving that even in the most difficult times, one could still rise from the ashes of defeat.
“You, have a crush on Stone Heart?” asked Rarity, she tried to hide her obvious and rapidly rising sense of rivalry, even though she was feeling less attracted to Stone.
Starlight then said, “We’ve heard rumors that Stone hasn’t written any other novels or stories in a long time.”
“It’s true,” answered Sandy “Ever since “A Change of Heart” became the success that it is, Stone grew very angry and scornful.
Not only does he refuse to write anymore books, but he won’t acknowledge his fans or supporters. He won’t attend signings or charity appearances. He even refused to appear at my daycare to share his wisdom with the children about writing and reading.
He just brushed us all off like we were all nothing!”
The friends were all wide-eyed and shocked beyond imagination.
“Just like when he refused your invitation, Twilight.” said Starlight.
“…Or when he rejected Celestia’s invitation as well.” added Spike
“Good gracious!” cried Rarity “I can’t-- This is-- “ she took a moment to take a deep breath and get a hold of herself, only to panic once again, “Why in the wide-world of Equestria would reject all this?”
“I don’t know.” cried Sandy “I’ve been trying to talk to him why, maybe go out with him for lunch or dinner, and we can get to know each other better.
Or maybe if something is bothering him, then I could help him like a real friend, but he’s rejected me every time.”
Twilight was most baffled and she levitated up a copy of the book from her saddle-bag. “Why would some-pony not be pleased with writing a good story and receiving praise that goes with it?”
A moment of silence followed.
“…I’ll tell you why!” Stone snapped as he came out from his house, all clean and rid of the garbage smell. Only now he was dressed in a silver slick uniform and a hardhat.
“…Because that is not my story!”
Everyone gawked at him.
“What do you mean?” asked Twilight.
Stone had a feeling she’d ask him that, and he levitated a few sheets of a basic synopsis of what his story was supposed to be like!
Twilight and friends looked at it all together, and Sandy peeked too.
Instead of being called “A Change of Heart” the title was called “A Change of Life.”
…and the story was nothing at all like the version everyone else had read.
The protagonist was the same stallion, and his mare-friend still broke up with him, but simple for selfish and col reasons, such as wanting to change her life, and living with new people. She just pretended not to know him, and threatened to call the guards on him if he didn’t stay away from her.
As if that weren’t bad enough, all his friends changed too; no longer taking interest in the things he liked, or that they once all shared-- like games, arts, sciences, and imagining they were adventurers exploring the world-- which they all deemed “Babyish” or “Retarded” and insisted he move on, let go of them, and never think of them again, and when he refused, they began to insult him, abuse him, treat him like a pest and encourage others to make fun of him, which lead to isolation, loss of confidence, and building rage.
Eventually, he snapped as he was pushed too far, and rather than learning how to cope with things that every-pony took away from him and how badly they treated him, he vowed vengeance.
So he began to train in strength and fighting, and developed weapons and gadgets to help him, and he returned to attack the village and terrorize the ponies everyone.
Many were killed, others were injured, until brave heroes came, and by using incredible miracle magic, they were able to reverse all the damage he had done, and even revive those he had killed.
It was only then that the villagers realized their mistakes in driving him to insanity. The heroes convinced the evil stallion to give up his ways and start over, but while the stallion gave up his evil ways, he refused to reconcile and ran off into the world, and was never seen or heard from again.
As for the villagers who started all this with their wicked ways and harshness, they were banished from their homes and forced to live as outcasts in the deserts for the rest of their lives.
The gang all gawked with wide-eyes.
“That was…” Spike said, he tried to find words “That was… um…”
“I know what you’re thinking,” said Stone “No pony has ever said anything but harsh negativity about my stories like that.
I’ve tried to send many stories like that, and it was always the same in the end!”
He began to imitate all the cold and ruthless ponies that rejected him.
“You know who would want to live in your world besides you? No-pony, that’s who!”
“You want to throw your stupid stories in people’s faces-- Actually make it good!”
“Put some effort into this!”
“Get out, Retard!”
The others were all horrified to hear of such harsh rudeness, but even still they didn’t think much of the story themselves.
“Why would you want to write stories like this?” asked Starlight “Ponies prefer stories like the one I read…” and she levitated the other book she had read, and explained about that story she read about the noble pony and the princess, and all that stuff about losing her and looking to the sunrise.
“I’ve read that story,” said Stone “…Pathetic!”
Starlight gasped in horror.
“The fact that a pony like that worked so hard, nearly got himself killed just to save the lives of people who don’t respect him, not to mention his own romantic-rival and lose his dream mare to him…
…That’s not noble; to me it’s just plain foolishness”
“Whatever makes you say that?” asked Rarity.
“Yes, lots of ponies really get into stories like this,” said Twilight “Why they even base their lives around them and use them for inspiration.
But if you want to write a good story, you need to listen to what the readers want.”
Stone just rolled his eyes, “You have no idea how many times I’ve been told that.
But it’s quite obvious to me that you and I have different ideas of what a “good story” is.”
Sandy was growing impatient. “Stop this, Stone!
Can’t you at least be please for making so many ponies happy with the story you’ve written, and all the charities you donated your paychecks too?”
Stone was growing more and more irritable, “I am going to make this very clear to you,” he then eyes Twilight and the friends “…All of you.
The only reason I wrote “A Change of Heart” was to show other ponies who were wailing at me that I CAN create stories they prefer, and that they like, but at a huge price-- the price of my pride and my dignity!
I don’t like the story!
I hate everything about it!
And I don’t trust or like any other pony who enjoys this ridiculous stuff!”
Rarity felt faint!
“And those charities…?” Stone continued “I didn’t donate to them out of kindness. I did it to get rid of the paychecks that keep coming in from the book companies!
I don’t want it! I refuse to take that money over something I hate. Something I’m ashamed of making, and the same goes for any praise or fame that comes with it.”
All the others were completely frozen in shock, and couldn’t even blink their eyes.
Sandy looked on the verge of tears. Even though he hadn’t said it directly, he had defiantly implied that he hated her for her tastes and was not willing to trust her or be nice to her at all.
“I can’t believe you…!” she said tearfully.
“Neither can I!” scolded Twilight “So many ponies look up to you and are inspired by your story, and this is how you treat them?
If I wrote stories like this, I’d be more than pleased of myself, and I’d be happy that other ponies were happy about it, especially my fans.”
The others all agreed with her.
“Alright, Princess Twilight…” Stone said, and he looked her dead in the eye, “If you and your friends feel that way, why don’t YOU write stories like this, and while you’re at it, you can all accept the fame and praise and pride you feel that comes with it…
…BUT GET OFF ME!!”
And with that, he stormed off in a huff to his next job.
Sandy began to cry, and she ran off for home, leaving the gang all angered and upset.
Author's Note
hehehehe, some spammer who keeps a-logging my fanfiction account every I post ANYTHING ANWHERE thinks...
*Twilight casts a spell on them to turn them into crying babies and leaves them crying and locked in a cage* "Start acting like adults, then we'll talk."
Nah, Twilight couldn't/shouldn't/wouldn't do that, it's not very princessy and it does confirm theories that she suffers from OCD-- won't stop harassing ponies until they conform to her wishes. It'd only make her look worse than Stone
He's just trying to keep to himself and be what he wants to be, without some-pony breathing down his back DEMANDING he change for THEIR sake and not his own.
Friendship is Failure #16: Write of Way
ACT THREE
“Whoa!” cried Spike “I’ve never seen any-pony bark like that before.”
Rarity was completely livid “Any and all respect I had for that pony is rapidly dwindling now!”
Starlight approached Twilight, “Are you okay? He shouldn’t have yelled at you like that.”
Twilight did feel angry and upset for the way Stone had balked at her, and how he scoffed at the tastes of other ponies and literature, but just the same it also made her more curious than ever to find out why Stone was like this, and what would force him to want to write stories his own way and not listen to his readers.
“Uh-oh,” Spike said as he recognized the look on Twilight’s face, “Here it comes.
“I think we need to help Stone just a little more.” said Twilight.
Rarity approached her, “Darling, much as I would agree with you, I think it is clear that Stone has no intention of heeding your advice.”
Starlight on the other hoof agreed with Twilight, “Twilight’s right, we should at least figure out what pushed him to be so pushy.”
The others reluctantly agreed to help Twilight, or at least tag along.
Stone Heart worked more than one job.
Aside from being a trash-pony, he also worked at the Canterlot Foundry where they melted steel to make things like girders, beams, casings, wall panels and stuff.
The inside was really hot from all the heat from the smelting sections where some ponies worked.
Then again there were others who worked hard to shape the steel-- pounding it with huge hammers, or pouring it into molds for casings and walls, while some cooled off the burning metal with hoses.
Normally, only ponies on the force would be allowed entry, but as Princess Twilight was well known, the Foreman graciously allowed her and friends inside for a tour of the place, provided they all wore hardhats and silver uniforms to wear down the heat.
“Gracious, it’s hot.” groaned Rarity, then she gazed at her soft reflection in the shininess of her suit, “Ooh, but I love this. I can just see a whole new line of fashion in this.”
The others sighed, but the tour continued.
“As you can see,” the foreman said “We work very hard to provide necessities for not just Canterlot, but for all over Equestria.”
“I see that,” said Twilight, but as the tour progressed, she noticed a lot of the workers didn’t seem to be talking to one another. No-pony said “hello” or smiled, or even looked towards another co-worker.
Then, there was trouble, as one of the large pouring kettles tipped over and the scaling hot liquid headed straight for an employee by a wall.
“LOOK OUT!!!” shouted Spike.
The pony screamed, but then she was pulled out of the way by a fellow co-worker, and the liquid was quickly shielded off by a few unicorn ponies and kept contained.
“It’s all good, boss.” One of them called.
The foreman was delighted, but didn’t even say “Good job” or ask if the victim was alright.
Before anyone could question him, Spike saw Stone Heart working in a siding, pounding a steel girder with a large hammer, controlled by magic, to shape it well.
Suddenly, the hammer broke from being over-used, so he had to get a new one.
And luckily for Twilight and her friends, the foreman got called away to attend to the helping to clear up the mess made from the accident.
“Forgive me, but I must see this.” he said to the group “Feel free to walk around, but don’t touch anything or interfere with the work. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
Then he just walked off leaving the gang where they were.
“Well, that’s rather irresponsible.” said Starlight.
Twilight agreed, but this was the perfect chance she needed to talk to Stone, and he was just coming back with a fresh hammer for his work.
“Hello, Stone.” said Twilight.
Stone saw her and the gang and sighed. “Some ponies just never learn.” he grumbled, and he ignored them and proceeded to go back to his work.
But Twilight used her magic to poof the hammer away from him, which quickly aggravated Stone.
“I’d like to talk to you again.” said Twilight.
“There is nothing to discuss.” Stone said bluntly “I don’t want to write anymore, and I’m trying to make a living here.”
“Yes, I understand that…” Twilight said resisting every urge to bite into her limb.
As stone began to pound at the hot steel with the hammer, “Sooo…” she said casually “I just thought I’d ask what made you decide to write your story the way you wanted to in the first place.
…Did your friends inspire you to do it?”
Stone stopped pounded and looked over at her, “I don’t have friends, never did, and never believed in the stuff.”
Twilight and her crew were horrified.
“No pony wanted to be my friend…” Stone said as he reflected on his past life.
He was a nerdy pony-- eye glasses, braces, a little pudgy, and preferring to read fairy tales and romantic stories like Starlight had read.
He was often made fun of by other ponies, especially by Milles.
“Retard…!
Werido…
Geek…
…Who’d ever want to be friends with you?
That book can go in the garbage along with the rest of your tastes.”
Other ponies laughed with him at Stone, the poor little guy felt so dejected.
It seemed no matter how kind and polite he tried to act; no pony ever respected him, or even was willing to give him a chance.
“You’ll never be a success like any-pony else.”
“Why don’t you give up now and just stay home all day?”
“Nothing of great value will be lost!”
Worst of it was, Sandy Beam was one of those ponies. He thought she was pretty, and he did have a crush on her at one
She didn’t like nerdy ponies, and preferred ponies that were handsome, strong, rich or famous- preferable to hang with them just to boost her own image and popularity.
She hung out a lot with Milles as he was the jock at school, and great at sports, and writing.
The older Stone got, the more and more he found it harder to please any-pony; even when he lost weight, ditched his glasses for contact lenses, and he started to try writing stories, inspired by all the many novels and books he had read, but also based on his own life experiences…
…Friendship could not help in all fields, and while some ponies do live happily ever after; some do not!
…Nothing had changed!
He was still poked at, insulted, and bashed around, by Sandy, by Milles, and all the rest of them.
They ever spat on his stories.
“You want your stories to be good? Put effort into them!”
“Quit projecting yourself onto others!”
Stone began to grow angrier every day, especially after graduation when he tried to make it as a professional writer by submitting his stories to publishers, only to be cast out rejected and rudely criticized every time.
No pony liked the way his story was, insisting that was not how reality worked; though it became obvious to Stone that none of they had ever seen the world the way he saw it now-- bigoted, mean, uncaring, and above all things, blind!
This only inspired him to write hateful stories, like “A Change of Life” which portrayed the hate and wickedness of others, and what possible consequences could befall them!
Still, publishers would not accept them, and Stone was losing patience!
So, he took up three jobs to help make money to stay alive.
-A trash picker
-Working at the foundry
-His third job was a flyer distributor, for other companies, where he would go around town and putting up flyers and notices on lampposts and the sides of buildings.
…So at least he had stable ways of income!
…AND STILL… he was taunted and picked on by Milles and other ponies. Sandy no longer made fun of him, feeling rather sorry for him, but Stone was already more than turned off by her for the way she had treated him before and was not willing to give her any chances.
Finally, fed up with all the taunting and hooting, he finally complied to their demands and wrote “A Change of Heart” which ponies instantly loved, and publishers deemed worthy of distributing.
…The rest was history.
Twilight and company just stood where they were with their mouth agape, and their eyes open wide!
“So, now you know.” said Stone “Now if you’ll excuse me,” and he proceed to get back to work pounding the metal with his hammer.
Twilight finally snapped out of her trance and tried to talk some sense into him.
“So you had a hard life growing up, but you can’t spend the rest of your life like this, cold, miserable and harsh.”
Stone only sighed irritably and kept on pounding.
“You can’t just throw your dreams away.” added Rarity “You got that cutiemark for writing, and you should follow it. It is your calling.”
“Really…?” snapped Stone “Look at it again…!
It’s a book with pages falling out of it and a broken pencil, which represents FAILED stories.”
“…He’s got a point.” said Spike.
“And in any case,” sneered Stone “I don’t care about what my cutiemark is or isn’t. I’m not letting any-pony push me around anymore, least of all any of you!
Now, please leave”
Starlight’s features hardened, “We’re not trying to tell you how to live, we’re just trying to help you.
You’re on a dangerous path, Stone. I should know, I was once like you-- I didn’t care much for friendship, and it led me to do horrible things.”
Twilight agreed, “You need to give friendship better chances, Stone. I’m sure there’s some-pony out there who would appreciate you, but you have to be willing to appreciate them for their tastes and respect their ideals too.”
Stone was growing very irritable! “You know there’s a limit to my patience, and you are very rapidly reaching it!”
“You’re being very stubborn!” sneered Rarity “We are not going to sit by and let some-pony throw his life away and be some nobody!”
“That’s enough!” shouted Stone.
All the other co-workers looked his way
“Let us help you, Stone!” Twilight said, practically demanding “You can improve yourself! You can be so much more than what you are now, and other ponies will like you better!”
“…If you and your miserable friends are not out of my sight in two seconds, I don’t care if you are Princess, I actually will do something horrible, ON YOU!!”
Spike shuddered in fear, “Um, maybe we should just go.”
Twilight was furious, “How dare you speak to me that way. I’m only trying to help you, but if that’s way you want to be…”
“…TIME’S UP!!” shouted Stone, and he whipped round in a threatening manner, and Twilight stood ready to defend herself.
“What’s going on here!” the foreman shouted as he came over.
“Nothing, boss…” Stone said innocently, and he turned to go back to work.
The foreman was not stupid though. He heard the shouting, and while he couldn’t approve of Stone’s attitude towards Princess Twilight, he couldn’t approve of Twilight harassing his worker either.
“I’m going to have to ask you and your friends to leave.”
Twilight shut her eyes tight, supressing any and all rage that was still poking at her, but she agreed, “Come on, guys.” she said to her friends.
“Humph!” Rarity grunted as she stuck her nose up high and walked off.
Starlight could only shake her head pitifully, and Spike, he was just relieved that no pony got hurt… at least not physically.
Not only that, as Twilight was about the leave through the main entrance, she noticed that all the ponies were still working about as if nothing had happened-- still not looking please, and were acting cold and distant at one another…
…Even the mare that was nearly melted to death in the accident, or the other pony that saved her.
The foreman wasn’t even talking severely to Stone, or reprimanding him for his attitude.
“Come on, Twilight.” said Starlight “Let’s just go.”
Twilight agreed, and the friends all walked out.
Author's Note
Stone has three jobs, but he's ignored for it, which adds fuel to his temper, mostly because ponies REFUSE to see him as decent enough.
Well, just because you have good pay, can do lots of things, doesn't automatically make you a decent person.
Rarity may work hard to manage her businesses in Ponyville, Canterlot, and even Manehattan, but that doesn't excuse her Diva attitude, and the way I see her.
-If I studied hard and got a college degree, and if I had a job that brought in lots of pay (If it's not a job I like) I wouldn't see myself as a decent person. (Mostly because I don't like any of it and feel nothing about it to be proud of) Nobody else will, why should I?
Only attitude describes who you are; No jobs, not brains, not income, strength, accomplishment...
...Only Attitude. (and Stone's is rather poor, but it's understandable why he ended up that way)
Friendship is Failure #16: Write of Way
Act 4: Apology and Analogy
ACT FOUR
Twilight didn’t sleep very well that night. She had never felt so embarrassed, not to mention outraged from Stone threatening her the way he had.
She had filed a complaint to Princess Celestia for it. It was a serious crime to threaten royalty; enough though Twilight was really that sort of royalty.
Unfortunately, she got an instant answer. Stone was left off with merely a severe warning, because Twilight was provoking him into threatening her.
If he tried that again, he would be prosecuted, but for now he was totally left off, and Twilight was cautioned by Celestia to leaving Stone be as well.
The next morning, there was a knock at her hotel suite.
“Alright! I’m coming!” she groaned in a groggy voice.
There, much to her surprise, “Stone Heart?”
Starlight sat up in her bed, “What’s going on?” she groaned as she rubbed her eyes.
Stone sighed softly, and held out a letter he had written to Twilight, “By order of Princess Celestia, I was told to give you this; an official apology for my attitude the other day and for threatening you.”
Twilight blinked once, but she accepted the note.
“I was also told to give you this other note.” said Stone, and he held up another parchment, which indeed had Celestia’s seal on it, proving it was not forged.
Twilight read the note, which told her that Celestia had gone easy on Stone Heart-- ordering him to write the apology letter to Twilight-- because the incident was caused by her and the others constantly harassing him the other day, and that they were not to interfere with Stone’s life anymore.
Starlight leapt out of bed at the mention of such an order and looked at the note herself, and before the ladies could even try to talk to him, Stone had already gone.
“I can’t believe this is happening!” cried Twilight “How can some-pony hate friendship this much.”
“Um, I believe he covered that yesterday.” said Starlight.
Even though Twilight was ordered not to bother with Stone anymore, she still remained determined to prove to him that friendship was a good thing and could get really far if you knew where to find it and how to use it properly.
Later that morning, after she got the rest of the gang up and they had a quick breakfast, they strolled into town, but Spike was getting a little sick to his stomach from fluttering up so much.
“Remind me, again, what we’re doing?” he asked.
“We are trying to help Stone Heart realize the virtues and values of friendship.” Rarity reminded him.
Twilight could see Stone dropping off yet another unwanted check from his “Change of Heart” story to a charity donation.
As usual he seemed pretty aggravated, and would you believe, one of the ponies was a fan of his book.
“Can I have your autograph?” she asked.
“Ugh!” Stone grumbled, and just walked off with a pack of flyers on his back, which he was to hang up all over town.
The fan looked upset, but her partner was amazed at the money they got. The cheque was worth more than five times what they already had made.
Twilight saw them, and came over to apologize to the ponies, “I’m sorry you had to go through that.”
“Go through what?” the fan asked.
Twilight felt confused, “Stone Heart treating you like dirt when he could’ve learned from your friendship.”
“Friendship?” asked the fan “I just asked for his autograph. That doesn’t make us friends.”
“What?” asked Twilight.
The fan’s partner spoke, “Princess, we don’t even know him. We can’t just become instant friends just like that.”
Twilight was starting to feel shocked, and starlight approached the ponies, “So it doesn’t bother you that he gave you that money in anger and spite?”
She explained why Stone gave them his paycheck, and the ponies didn’t seem to care at all.
“This is a fundraiser. You know-- collecting donations, not judging others.”
“We don’t care how we got the money. We got it, and that’s all that matters.
What, we should just throw away a vast amount or not accept it because some pony has a temper?”
Twilight was speechless, but then again they were correct.
“Obviously these ponies are the wrong sorts to be dealing with.” suggested Rarity.
“Are we?” the fan giggled “Even we aren’t friends with each other. We just work this fundraiser together.”
Her partner nodded, “Being partners is not the same as being friends, but we don’t have to be friends to get a job done.”
“They’re right…” said the foreman of the foundry, as he made a donation himself, “Every single pony on my workforce aren’t friends with one another.”
“What?!” snapped Twilight “But, they work together. They help each other out.
I saw your employee save another employee’s life!”
“So what?” said the foreman, which shocked the entire gang.
“Look, here’s the thing,” said the foreman “They’re not my friends, they’re just my employees.
When they come to work, they come to make money, not friends.
The truth is, Slammer only saved Steelia from that burning liquid because she’s a good worker, and it would save me the trouble of finding a new employee.”
Rarity choked on her breath, “You mean… they mean absolutely nothing to you, or one-another.”
“You just let them get hurt or worse?!” added Starlight.
“Well, that’s a bit too harsh,” replied the foremen “But hey, some of us ponies just don’t believe in friendship. We don’t want it or need it; we’ve got a good beat on things. As long as we have our comfort and our health, we don’t need it.”
Twilight felt like she was going to be sick and she called out, “Doesn’t any-pony anywhere here believe in true friendship to guide them?”
“I do,” called a voice “I have five best friends.”
Twilight turned, and saw a rather wealthy looking pony, dressed in a suit, a monocle and seemed rich.
“Oh,” Rarity said, feeling herself falling into a loving daze, “Well, I certainly wouldn’t mind being… your friend.”
She fluttered her eyes, but the pony pointed to the other pony behind him, who was the actual owner of the voice, and Rarity gasped.
This other pony seemed to be a lowly garbage picker, like Stone was,
“I’m afraid I didn’t get too far in life.” He confessed “I guess friendship alone really can’t get you all that far, but I can sure appreciate the irony.”
And he went straight back to his work without a care in the world, and Rarity just fainted on the ground.
“Rarity!” cried Spike, and he began to fan her with his wings.
Twilight never felt so shocked in her life, and finally conceded to defeat. “I guess some-ponies are just different than others.”
“That’s exactly what I was trying to tell you the whole time.” said Stone.
He was only standing near them sticking some flyers to the lamppost.
“And that’s exactly what I’ve tried to tell every-pony every day: we don’t need to do as you say, and we don’t need help if we’re fine just the way we are.”
Twilight looked up at him, and said nothing. After what she had just seen and witnessed, though she didn’t approve of many ponies attitudes, she felt he was right.
“Oh, please,” grumbled Milles “That’s just more retardation, more hypocrisy, and more stupidity from a talentless hack that will never succeed in anything.”
Some ponies still laughed with him, at Stone, further proving Stone’s earlier points of others being mean and nasty to him.
Still, Stone said nothing and began to walk off, when suddenly his bag and his flyers were levitated off of his back.
“Hey!” he thundered at Milles, who was doing it just to provoke him some more, and he threw them all to the ground.
“What’s the matter?” he taunted “I thought you loved garbage, like the trash you are!”
Stone finally was beginning to lose his patience and looked rather infuriated.
“Oh, did I strike a nerve?”
“You’ve gone too far this time, Milles!” Stone growled at him.
“Don’t kid yourself.” sneered Milles “I’ll flatten you like a pancake, which is exactly what you deserve, you good-for-nothing waste of space!”
Something inside of Stone finally, snapped, and then…
WHACK!!
Milles was on the ground, and every-pony, Spike, and even Stone gasped at Twilight for swatting him across the face like that.
“That is quite enough!” she growled at Milles.
“Twilight!” cried Starlight.
Twilight was in disbelief herself at what she had just done, but she was too angry to care!
“You ought to be ashamed of yourself!”
Milles angrily got up, rubbing his sore face, “You’re going to pay for this!” he threatened her. “I’m going to write to Celestia, and she’ll strip you of your tittle, and make Stone go in the street where he should be!”
“I will do no such thing to either of them!” sneered a voice behind him.
Many ponies gasped and gawked, and Milles turned round sharply, “Who asked you!” only to realize whom he was balking at, and his features suddenly changed to nervous, “Princess Celestia…!”
“What are you doing here?” asked Starlight.
“I had come to donate to some charities in town myself, until I noticed the commotion over here.”
She looked grimly at Twilight for smacking another pony the way she had.
Twilight got down on the ground, “Forgive me! I didn’t mean it, I was just so outraged.”
“Well,” said Celestia “I can’t approve of what you did, and I do expect you to make up for it, but I do understand what provoked you into doing it. Perhaps I myself wouldn’t have acted any different.”
Then she glared grimly at Milles, “When Stone Heart wrote his apology to Twilight, he included a small story of why he acted the way he did, including refusing my book club invitation.
At first I thought he was overreacting; now I can see he was being sincere.”
Milles couldn’t believe this, “What are you defending him for? He’s a retard; a worthless, miserable waste that refuses to improve himself or contribute to society properly!”
Stone stepped forth feeling very livid, “I pick up your garbage to keep the streets clean!
I make steel and steel products so other ponies can build things and do other stuff to help the world.
I hang up flyers for other businesses so they can get some attention and maybe increase their work.
…Looks pretty proper to me!”
“I agree!” Sandy said as she came up “Stone may not be the nicest of ponies, and an attitude to boot, but now that I see it, I can’t blame him.
That still doesn’t mean he’s not productive, and he still donated to a whole bunch of charities, which help the poor, regardless of what he does.”
Many other ponies around who heard her began to see and agree, but Milles was still being as arrogant as ever. “He’s a jerk! A hypocrite and a loser who should’ve been thrown in the streets long ago!
His parents should be ashamed for birthing him!”
Finally, even Celestia had heard enough, and she approached the rude pony, “Just because you have personal and rather petty and pitiful issues with him do not give you the right to say such things!
It’s true, I cannot and do not approve much of Stone Heart’s attitude himself, but you have been far worse.
You may be a good writer, Milles, but you are horrid pony, with baffling issues for those who are not like you.
For this, I strongly suggest that you get help, and this is not a request!”
Milles cowardly nodded, “Y-Y-Yes your majesty!”
Celestia then turned to Stone, “As for you, like I said: I hardly approve of your behaviour either…”
Stone looked ashamed.
“However, given the circumstances, the reasoning, and the fact you have apologized to Princess Twilight, as ordered, and also the fact that you do not wish to truly harm anyone…
…I will let you off, this time.”
Stone showed actual respect and bowed to her thankfully.
Celestia even used her magic to gather up the flyers on the ground, shake them clean, and pass them back to Stone so he could go about his way.
Suddenly, Stone’s eyes lit up, and he got a great idea, and just ran off.
“Where’s he going in such a hurry?” wondered Spike.
“I don’t know.” said Twilight.
Friendship is Failure #16: Write of Way
Closing Act: I'm still standing
CLOSING ACT
One month later…
Stone was more successful than ever thanks to the new Self-Help book he had written, based on all of his experiences, analogies, philosophies, and proven points.
Despite other publisher’s hearing of what happened in Canterlot, they were under no rights to refuse or restrain Stone out of personal spite, and were obligated to see what he had.
“I’m Still Standing.” the book was entitled, and it contained all kinds of ideals.
“Friendship may seem golden, noble, and the only way to success, but it really isn’t. It’s just one-way, and should not be relied on so heavily, or you can lose focus.”
“Love doesn’t exactly make the world go round; it’s money that does that. Not saying love should be disregarded, but when you think about it…
Love doesn’t buy food, clothes, a home, or your fancy education, or even this book. It’s money that does more of that.”
Even though to many, even to Twilight, the book came on as self-indulging, materialistic badgering, and ways of being selfish, they weren’t all that wrong either.
Even very successful ponies that did believe in friendship could tell there were other ways to go about in life. Not that they would change their ways, but didn’t see too much to argue with.
Though Stone still received some negative reviews, and insults here and there, they didn’t bother him as much as the book was selling like hotcakes, and he was making more money than ever, which he was proud to keep for himself because he wrote something he enjoyed, he approved of, and was finally showing differences in the world.
Of course, he still retained his other three jobs, as he wasn’t writing all the time, and he still donated a little to charity, just to keep up helping others, now that they believed in him.
He attended book signings, book clubs; even Celestia invited him back to question him about his “Unusual philosophies” which they discussed on friendly terms.
“I understand,” Stone put it “This can come off as rather cold and selfish, but like the book says… “If you don’t treat yourself like Number-One, then you may as well be seen as Number-Two!”
Celestia gasped in horror at such a thought, and almost didn’t know how to respond to it, but if many ponies liked the book, and actually used it’s teachings to gain confidence and courage to take on the world, she couldn’t really argue.
“I can’t believe it,” said Twilight “Stone’s really pulled himself up with this.”
Starlight could hardly believe some of the passages in the book, and stopped reading. “He still doesn’t even wish to make friends, but as long as he’s still standing, I guess he’ll be alright.”
Rarity no longer had feelings for Stone; it was just a simple crush-- comes and goes, which was also a passage in the book.
“A simple crush is not the same being madly in love.
Some ponies CAN move on from heartbreak, and some just can’t, and even if they can’t, that gives you no right to force your beliefs on them or treat them harshly without good reason.”
“Humph!” she scoffed “At least he is doing far better than Milles did.”
“What happened to him anyway?” asked Spike.
It turned out that Milles had taken correction classes, just as Celestia ordered, but he was still doing horribly due to his bullying ego and his need to wail on other ponies to maintain his image and feel important.
This cost him serious popularity.
Though his own books were still selling, he was now viewed as the bully he was, and not many wished to hang near him.
Not that Stone was acting too different.
As was pointed out, he wasn’t being as hostile towards others anymore, but he still felt no need for friendship in his life.
While many still tried to persuade him to try it, all he did was sing a song that was included in his book, and part of the audio reading, which was also entitled the same as the book: “I’m Still Standing!”
As he sang and danced to the song during a signing, many ponies acted as his chorus and backup.
He was still standing, just the way he was!
Author's Note
I don't want some people to think of me using the song in a bad way, the message still stands no matter what. "I'm still standing" plain and simple.
I also like it cuz it reflects me too, no matter how much people bully me and wish me to end up in the streets out of personal spite, I'm Still Standing, and I'm still making fics and vids, and nothing they say or do is going to make their wish come true (I'll still be standing)
Friendship is Failure #16: Write of Way
ACT ONE
The next afternoon, the gang arrived by train to Canterlot.
“Couldn’t we have just teleported?” asked Spike, but Twilight sighed “I told you this before, I can’t warp all of us and the luggage at the same time.”
Rarity then stepped off the train wearing elegant sunglasses and a sunhat with a kerchief around silky her neck. “Even still, Spike, the train is a most moderate way to travel, and quite stylish as well.”
The others rolled their eyes, and all helped with the luggage.
Rarity, as usual, brought along a lot more than she had too-- many suitcases, and steamer trunks-- all filled with her best gowns, make up and jewelry.
Starlight had to tease. “This wouldn’t happen to have anything to do with a certain Some-Pony we’re looking for?”
Rarity blushed, “Well, one must look presentable to be meeting with one so gifted, talented and charitable.”
She fell into another lovey-dovey daze as she thought of him, “Oh, Stone Heart.”
She was suddenly snapped out of her trance by a rather wretched smell as some-pony passed by her.
“Excuse me.” he said in low tone as he passed by her to reach the garbage bin behind her, which he then used unicorn magic to levitate the can and unload the trash into his wagon off the platform.
Rarity stepped back, and covered her nostrils by levitating a hankie, but as the collector unloaded the trash, she noted how familiar he seemed…!
…A navy blue unicorn with a short brown mane, but she couldn’t see his cutie-mark as his sanitation uniform hid his flank.
He didn’t even seem to notice her, and just placed the garbage bin back before returning to his wagon and going about his duties to collect more trash.
“Rarity?” said Twilight, snapping her out of her trance, “Come on, we need to check into our hotel.”
Rarity agreed, and then levitated her luggage onto another wagon she had rented.
Finally, the friends had reached their hotel, and Rarity spent a good deal of time trying to choose which outfit to wear or how to pretty herself up when she found and met Stone Heart.
“Rarity, it’s no big deal.” said Starlight “He’s just an author, and he probably wouldn’t care less of how you look.”
Rarity only chuckled, “Oh, Starlight, one never knows, and one should always come prepared, prettied, and perfect.”
Twilight and Starlight rolled their eyes.
“I think you look pretty just as you are, Rarity.” said Spike.
She smiled lovingly at him for that. “Oh, Spike, you are so sweet.”
He blushed and rubbed the back of his head.
Eventually, Rarity decided to just go as she casually was. After all, their first destination was Canterlot Order of Writers, in hopes they could contact Stone Heart from there.
At least they had the address which was printed on the book, and Twilight knew where it was too, remembering all the books she had read from those fine writers during her time in Canterlot.
On their way, Rarity suddenly stopped when she noticed that trash gathering pony again.
A mail courier approached him, and handed him a single envelope, which the pony tried to give back, rather by force.
“I don’t want this cheque and that is final!” he growled.
“I sorry but I can’t take it back. It must be delivered to whom its addressed to.” protested the courier “…Besides, why would you reject this? You earned it, and everyone loves the story, even I did.”
The other pony looked very cross, but he took the cheque anyway and then angrily stormed off with his trash wagon, stopping a moment at a siding where two ponies were gathering donations for a charity to feed the poor, and he simply deposited the entire cheque just like that.
“Thank you very much.” one of the ponies called to him, but the trash pony didn’t even look back or smile. He just grabbed his wagon and headed off.
The two ponies were confused, but then looked at the cheque, and their eyes bulged at how much it was worth, and then they looked dismayed.
“That Stone Heart.” one of them groaned.
Rarity gasped!
“Rarity, what is it?” asked Starlight, but Rarity just galloped off.
“What’s got her?” wondered Twilight.
They followed her right up to the trash pony who was unloading another trashcan.
“Excuse me,” Rarity said “Are you Stone Heart, the famous author?”
The other pony looked crosser than ever, but he spoke calmly. “Yes, I am Stone Heart, but I am not a famous author.
If this is anything about my stories, please leave me alone.”
Rarity looked shocked, and the others had just caught up as Stone Heart pulled away with his wagon.
“What is it?” asked Spike.
Rarity explained,
“That’s Stone Heart?” Twilight said in shock “But what is he doing with a garbage wagon?”
“Um, taking out the trash?” said Spike.
Suddenly, they saw Stone up ahead being halted by two royal guards from the palace.
“Mr. Stone heart.” one of them said.
“Yes?” Stone replied in a groan.
The second guard held out a simple tray which held a royal scroll which the first guard read:
“This royal invitation is sent to Stone Heart, by order of her royal highness, Princess Celestia, who was fascinated and enamoured with the story “A Change of Heart” and wishes for you to appear as a special guest at her royal book club, at the palace, the very evening.”
Twilight and friends heard, and they were amazed. Not many ponies got invited like this by Princess Celestia to the palace, unless they really had earned it by her impressions.
…Yet, Stone Heart didn’t seem much moved at all by the invite.
“The princess is most eagerly excited to have you this evening.” said the guard “Shall we inform her of your acceptance?”
“No!” snapped Stone “Give my comments and tell her to “go to the devil!”
The guards, the gang, any-pony was nearby and heard him gasped in horror at what he had just said and watched as he walked off in a huff.
“No-Pony has ever turned down a royal invitation like that before.” said Twilight.
Rarity was finding it hard to catch her breath and felt like she would faint.
“Many ponies would give their very souls to be invited to the palace, and yet he turned it down as though it meant nothing to him.”
Even Starlight was completely shocked, but rather curious regarding Stone’s behaviour.
“He seems so grumpy, and miserable. Do you think maybe there’s something wrong with him?”
“Well, if I had to pull a garbage wagon around like that, I’d be pretty grumpy.” said Spike.
Twilight still didn’t understand. This was not the life or scene she expected a well-known author of a great book to be.
She thought for sure he’d have a happy life, and lots of fans and friends huddling around him.
“I think we should investigate this.”
The others agreed.
Stone Heart was just finishing his pickup rounds, when the gang caught up with him.
Twilight cleared her throat, “Stone Heart, I’m Princess Twilight Sparkle.”
Stone looked up with a sneer, “I know who you are. I don’t believe there’s any-pony who doesn’t.”
Twilight felt a little embarrassed, “Anyhow… Several weeks ago I sent you a letter inviting you to my School of Friendship. May I ask why you never replied?”
Stone answered her very bluntly, “Simple: I wasn’t interested.”
Twilight’s eyes widened, but she sort of expected that from after seeing him turn down Celestia’s royal invitation.
“Um, can I ask why?”
Before Stone could answer her, a banana peel was dumped right by his feet.
“Hey, you good for nothing retard!” called a mean voice.
Stone looked and saw an orange unicorn with a red mane, and a cutiemark of a golden book on his flank.
“What do you want, Milles?”
“Nothing, I just thought you’d like a little trash to pick up, other than yourself or your worthlessness!”
Several ponies standing by laughed at Stone the way.
Twilight and friends were not pleased with this, but Stone just levitated the peel and tossed it into his trash wagon.
“Do you know him?” asked Starlight.
“Unfortunately, yes.” replied Stone “Milles Page is another famous writer whose published many successful stories, but he likes to go around and talk down to other ponies.”
Milles snuffed, “I talk down to ponies I feel deserve it, like those who won’t grow up and do something constructive for society!” he hinted strongly at Stone.
“Okay, calm down here,” said Spike “There’s no need to have a fight.”
“Never mind,” sneered Stone “I don’t have time for this anyway. I have another job to get to.”
With that, he pulled up his wagon and headed off.
“But wait, Stone Heart,” Twilight called.
“…Good day!” Stone called back, and he kept on going.
“That’s right,” Milles called to him “Good back to your worthless, retarded life of being stupid to every pony because you can’t get over yourself!”
Twilight did not at all take kindly to Milles taunting.
“That’s enough!” she grunted at him “What right did you have to call to him that way?”
“Pffft!” said Milles “He deserved it, and if you knew why, you’d do the same to him too.
I’m outta here. Unlike some-ponies, I actually have a life to live.”
Then he walked off, and Rarity snuffed “Such ilk and horridness!” she grumbled, “Then again, Stone Heart acted no differently.”
Already she was starting to feel less attracted to Stone Heart than she was before, but she like her friends still wanted to know why, and it was beginning to look as if maybe it were a friendship problem.
“Come on, every-pony,” said Twilight “Looks like we may have a mission to take care of.”
The others agreed and followed her in the direction that Stone had gone.