Chapters Friendship is Failure #17: Nine & Eleven
ACT ONE
It all started about a week ago.
It was Early September, and Twilight was welcoming her students back for another term at her school of friendship.
“Welcome, Every-Creature, it’s so nice to have you all back again for another term of learning the values and depths of Friendship and how it can bring us all that much closer together.”
Some of the creatures were excited, but others were not as was expected, and looked away from one another, mostly the new students.
Starlight cleared her throat, “Well, as Councillor of this school, I will do my best to make sure you all feel welcome and can find your calling here.
So, who’s up for a welcoming feast?”
All the students cheered at the idea of a big feast, especially when the great meals was then unveiled before their eyes in the main hall, and they dove right into it.
Since this was only the first day of school, not too much had gone on, but Twilight was busy as ever making all the schedules, lesson plans, field trip ideas.
Spike was growing tired filing all the finished paperwork, and yet the number of stacks never seemed to go down.
“Twilight, don’t you think it’s time to call it quits?” he groaned “It’s only the first day.”
Twilight knew he was right, but she found it really hard to put down her quill.
Starlight came in, looking a little beat and yawned, “I didn’t expect there to be that many papers to do on the first day.”
Twilight finally managed to put her quill down.
“We better go; we still have chores to do at the castle.”
Spike and Starlight both groaned.
“You’re getting to be a work-a-holic.” Starlight teased.
Twilight took no offense to this, “What can I say? I think hard work and doing a great job can really bring out the best in us.
Just look at every pony-else.”
She referred to her friends and other ponies all over Equestria, doing their jobs.
Why even little children with their school work, or volunteering to help other ponies with chores, or their parents at their own workplaces.
Rarity was sewing new outfits for her upcoming classes, and Sweetie Belle was helping her.
Rainbow Dash was training hard for her P.E classes, which seemed more like fun to her, but it was still work.
Applejack had left the building and was pulling her wagon of apples to sell at the market, and then go back to Sweet Apple Acres to do some farming.
Fluttershy was also at her Animal Sanctuary.
As for Pinkie Pie, she came into the office with a cake she had just baked with sparkling candles.
“Happy End of the First Day of School!” she hollered, followed by a bunch of confetti.
Twilight, Starlight and Spike jumped in shock.
Then Twilight noted the sparkling candles on the cake, and she had just enough time to gasp…
…followed by a big BOOM!
Cake batter was everywhere-- on the walls, on the floor, on the friends, and all Pinkie could do was giggle nervously, “Looks like I went and did it again.”
The other three nodded at her with narrowed expressions, and Twilight levitated a mop to Pinkie asking her to clean up the mess, which Pinkie was obliged to do.
Soon, all four of them left the school together, and Pinkie was bouncing merrily declaring, “Well, aside from the cake mishap, it feels great to finally get out of there.
Who likes to do nothing but work all day anyway?”
Twilight was about to protest, but Starlight and Spike gave her a look and shook their heads telling her not to give that lecture again about good-work.
But then, Snails and Snips, who were coming along from grocery shopping for their respective families, overheard what Pinkie said, and Snails answered, “I can think of one pony who hates working.”
“So can I.” added Snips.
Twilight gawked at the two boys and asked, “What pony is that?”
“You ever heard of “Silver Nickle?” asked Snips.
Twilight knew who that was, but only by reputation.
“She’s some really rich mare who owns that big business outside of Ponyville and near La-Pegasus.
She makes steel, household appliances, and wagons for all working ponies in all of Equestria.
Why many ponies would be lost without her.”
Then she realized what the boys had said, “Wait! You said that she doesn’t like working?”
“That’s right,” answered Snails “From what we’ve heard, she’s always in such a nasty mood-- like she’s been in a scrap with someone.
She doesn’t like her job, and she’s never seen having fun or doing anything enjoyable either.”
Pinkie Pie gasped “No fun? How can any pony not want to have any fun?”
Twilight pondered as well, “How can a well-to-do business pony hate her work?”
The boys just shrugged and went on their way.
While Starlight noticed Twilight was still deep in thought.
“Twilight,” said Starlight “…Much as I can’t believe I’m saying this, but we have work to do. It’s best not to think about it.”
Twilight was inclined to agreed, “I guess so. Silver may hate working, but the boys did say it was what they heard. They could be wrong.
Besides, there doesn’t seem to be any harm involved.”
Spike softly sighed in relief, feeling thankful that, for once, Twilight wasn’t about to go off on one of her Self-appointed Friendship-Missions and butt into another pony’s business or privacy.
“But wait…!” cried Pinkie “…What about the part where she doesn’t want to have any fun?”
“Let it go, Pinkie.” said Spike “It could all just be a hoax.”
For his sake, and for the sake of every pony-else, he hoped it was a hoax.
…But the next day it was proved not to be a hoax!
As Twilight was working in her office looking through application documents for new teachers at her school,
She noticed there were quite a few, and according to their resumes, they had all previously worked for Silver Nickle; all were fired as was stated in their pleas for a job as they were desperate.
She began to look over the person notes she made optional to applicants to help her find out more about them.
“I was fired by Silver Nickle; just up and kicked out the door, and I need a job to support my family.”
“Working is my greatest ambition, and Silver Nickle just took it from me in a fit of rage.”
“Please let me have this job, now that Silver Nickle has fired me, just because I was optimistic and having a swell time, I have nothing better to do.”
The more Twilight read on, the more it seemed as if the applicants were all fired by Silver, and all for the same petty reasons.
-Being happy
…Yet Silver just up and chucked them out.
Rather than address the applicants right away, she bolted upright in her chair.
“Twilight,” Starlight called as she came in through the doors, “Aren’t you coming to lunch? You’ve been in here all morning.”
She then could see the strong expression Twilight had.
“Twilight…”
Twilight finally looked at her, “Starlight, something just came up, can you look after the school for a while.”
Then she just irresponsibly teleported herself outside and began to fly off in the direction of Las-Pegasus.
“Twilight…!” Starlight called.
Spike passed by the office having heard her, and given that Twilight was gone, it didn’t much for him to realize, “Yep, here we go again.”
Friendship is Failure #17: Nine & Eleven
ACT TWO
Twilight made it to the Las Pegasus borders, and she could see the city up ahead with its tall high rises, and she could hear all the sound of all bustling from afar.
Still, what she was looking for was just ahead of her; a very tall high-rise factory and worldwide headquarters of Silver Nickle’s business.
Near the site of the building was a large sign which read: “AUTHORIZED PERSONAL ONLY”
“All Visitors Check in by Appointment Only.”
So, Twilight marched right up to the front gates, and was immediately rejected by the guards.
“You don’t understand, I must speak with her.” she insisted.
“I’m sorry,” said the guard “Silver Nickle is currently out. If you wish to meet with her, please make an appointment.”
Even as Princess of Friendship, Twilight had no authority to insist or push her way through, but even still, when she asked for Silver’s latest opening.
“… Two months from now!” she cried in shock.
“I’m sorry, but Silver Nickle is a very busy pony, and so am I.
I’m afraid you’ll have to leave now.”
Twilight sighed, but left peacefully. However she was still determined to find Silver Nickle and at least talk to her about all those fired applicants.
Her stomach growled, realizing she had forgotten about lunch, and decided to head straight into town for a bite.
She enjoyed a small sandwich and lemonade at an outdoor café, but her mind was never off of her mission.
Suddenly, she could hear a load of commotion in the streets that started with a huge crash.
Two wagons had run into each other in the street, and one of which belonged to Silver Nickle’s industry as was labeled on the side of the broken woods.
The two drivers of the wagons were arguing furiously with one another, and as Princess of Friendship, Twilight wouldn’t have this and poofed her way over.
“ENOUGH!!” she shouted, which made the two drivers and all the ponies in the immediate area hush up.
Then they bowed to her respectfully.
“Princess Twilight Sparkle,” the industry driver said nervously.
“What happened here?”
The other driver grouchily stated, “I was turning, I had the red go-sign, and he just popped in out of nowhere and ran to no-go sign.”
“I couldn’t slow down,” the industry driver protested “This coach is full of supplies and things that Silver Nickle wants in the office an hour ago, or I’ll lose my job!”
Twilight whistled, telling the two ponies to quiet down.
“I’m sure we can fix all this, and I’m sure if you explain to Silver Nickle, things can work out.”
“…Think again!” growled a voice that made the industry driver’s blood turn cold.
Many ponies went silent and gawked in fear, and Twilight turned round and saw HER!
Silver Nickle: A light grey unicorn with a shoulder length white mane with grey streaks. She wore a pair of red thick-framed glasses, a light blue shirt with a purple tie, and a red suit.
Her cutiemaek was a picture of silver coins all piled up high.
“B-B-B-Boss,” whimpered the driver.
“Save it!” snapped Silver “…You’re fired!”
The crowd gasped, and the driver was heartbroken, while Twilight’s features hardened.
“He just had an accident.” she protested “He’s lucky he wasn’t hurt. You can’t just take his job like that.”
Silver gave her a stern stare, “My decision is final!”
Then she turned to walk off to a big silver coach that was waiting for her.
“Wait!” Twilight called as she chased after her, but two large, burly bodyguards stood in her way.
“I want to talk to you, Silver Nickle!”
Silver paid her no mind and climbed into her seat, followed by her guards who rode in back.
“Drive!”
The coach began to move.
Much as Twilight could had used her magic to halt the coach, she didn’t wish to make an even bigger scene than there already was.
She also felt upset for the pony that was fired.
“This is exactly what I was afraid of.” he sobbed “Silver fires any-pony for even the slightest mistake.
A friend of mine last week got axed just for saying “Hi” to her, or maybe he was late coming to work.”
Either way, he was still upset for losing his job, and the other driver felt sorry for him and wanted only to help him now. “You know, my company’s always looking for new transport drivers. I can help you.”
What, five minutes, ago were two bickering hot-heads now seemed to becoming the best of friends, much to Twilight’s pleasure.
Now, she had other things to deal with and decided to leave all the friendly ponies to help each other out.
Silver’s Coach had not pulled up too far ahead, and she flew way up high after it, but kept well out of sight.
She could see it was heading out of the city and in the direction of the industry high rise outside in the open fields.
Twilight decided to confront the witchy pony there, on her own turf, with the help of a little magic or deception.
Though these methods were usually not in her best interest, she had to get to the bottom of Silver’s behaviour.
Silver stepped out of her coach and walked into the building.
Many workers in the main entrance parted ways to let her pass, but they didn’t even greet her fearing of her wrath. Not that it mattered anyway!
“GET BACK TO WORK!!” she thundered, making all the ponies jump and then scramble back to their duties.
Silver growled and muttered insults to them all under her breath as she entered the elevator and took it to the top where her office was.
There she sat down at her desk and folded her front limbs and sulked, but she took a moment to reach into her drawer, and pull out what appeared to be a small medicine bottle with no label on it, and she took a large swig from the bottle, which nearly made her gag, and seemed to make her cringe in deeper anger.
Then, she heard a soft tapping at the window.
She looked out and saw Twilight hovering there and waving to her.
She couldn’t hear her speaking through the glass, but could read her lips as she called, “I’d like to talk to you.”
Naturally, Silver was uninterested and used her magic to shut the curtains.
Twilight, as stubborn or determined as ever, just proofed herself inside.
“I’m not going to leave until you talk to me.”
Silver only pressed a large red-switch on her desk, which opened a trapdoor, causing Twilight to fall down, down, a long and steep tunnel slide and ending up falling into a garbage dumpster.
Twilight groaned and gagged as she picked the bits of trash off of her, only then to realize a big bunch of security guards were there too, ordered by Silver to ensure she was ejected from the premises.
Seeing as she was badly outnumbered, and it wouldn’t do good to make a scene.
“I’ll go quietly.” she said to the guards, and willing left through the gates which slammed shut behind her.
Twilight had never known such a pony, and was now more infuriated with her than ever.
Much as it would have been tempting to ignore the whole thing, she was convinced that Silver was horribly insane and needed help, and after all she had seen and witnessed, as well as the treatment she herself had been given, Twilight was not willing to let other innocent ponies suffer the wrath of this tyrannical monster.
Yet, she was still determined to get to the bottom of all this and at least find out why Silver was such a creep to others, or at least have her charged on harsh and unforgiving actions-- firing ponies out of pettiness.
When she got back to the School of Friendship, she immediately began to consult her law books, or anything that could help her come up with a case to have Silver face an inquiry.
At least by putting her on trial she could finally get a word in with her.
She worked, and studied, and concentrated, even long after school was out, and she looked frazzled and sweaty, but that was mainly due to her falling into the dumpster.
Her friends were deeply concerned about her.
“Twilight,” Applejack said “Put down the books, and let’s get you some vittles.”
Twilight only half heard her, “Yes, vitals!” she said with a crazy tone “Vital points, key notes. These will work.”
Rarity then used her magic to snap the books shut.
“Darling, please, you need to eat.”
She then covered her nose at the stench of garbage, “Ooh…! And a bath too it seems.”
Rainbow and Fluttershy helped Twilight up and out of her chair.
“Come on, Twilight,” said Fluttershy “This isn’t doing you any good.”
“Yeah, and besides, how do you know it’ll even work?” added Rainbow.
Twilight snapped up right and glared at her. “What do you mean “won’t work?”
“I’m just saying, maybe you won’t be able to get a case.”
“I hate to say this, Twilight,” said Starlight “…But Rainbow may be right. From what you told us, Sliver seems to fire many ponies, but why haven’t any of them tried to fight back?”
Pinkie Pie raised her hoof, “Because they’re too scared to sue her? I know I’d be.”
Spike actually agreed with her, “That could be why.”
Even Starlight agreed, but the real reason she was hinting at, “…I’m saying, maybe they can’t fight her back.”
Twilight refused to believe that.
“There’s always a way. There has to be, especially for something this huge.”
The scene then changed to Twilight at Town Hall to try to make her case.
“What do you mean “there’s no way?” she whined.
“I’m sorry, Princess,” replied Mayor Mare, and she pulled out a large file containing many reports filed by other ponies that Silver had fired, and it was always the same story:
While it seemed that Silver was mentally in a fit of unstable rage or no concern when she fired the ponies, and even more so as she seemed to be firing them more out of spite, or person discontent, it was also noted and taken into account by every law firm that the employees were still constantly late, slacking off of work and goofing off, or just like the driver of the carriage, lost or damaged value company property and goods needed to farther projects and work at the company, causing fallbacks by several months and damaging schedules and budget.
“This is outrageous!” shouted Rarity.
“It’s horrible.” added Fluttershy.
Mare agreed with them, but had to dismay them all, “Outrageous or horrible as it is, I’m afraid it’s no use.
The legalities of Silver’s actions are legitimate, and are completely uncontestable. You haven’t a legal leg to stand on. Not even Princess Celestia can do anything to help you.
Unless Silver Nickle actually commits an illegal action, there’s nothing that can be done.”
Twilight couldn’t believe this, but it was starting to look more and more hopeless.
“Twilight?” said Spike, and as much as he couldn’t believe himself for what he was about to say, even he couldn’t stand it that some angry nutcase was firing ponies like disposable pawns on a chessboard, and giving nothing but her wrath and scorn wherever she went.
“We’ll think of something, I promise.”
Twilight looked down on him and smiled, and it was surprising that he was going along with this for once.
“I’m sorry you’re all going through this.” said Mare “Believe me, Silver wasn’t always like this-- mean, and harsh, and loud… very loud.”
“You knew her once?” asked Applejack.
Mare nodded, “She and I were like sisters when we were little. She was the happiest and most playful pony I knew.”
And she gathered the gang around to tell her story…
Author's Note
No, Silver's not meant to be sympathized with, she's just here to smash Twilight and her "Improvement" methods and attempts to smithereens because she can't take "No" for an answer.
If Silver even tried to change, or improve herself by giving into friendship, and smiling, and putting her past behind (Like people DEMAND I make Beast Boy do) It's the flame pit for her.
This is my fiction. The characters are not here to be developed, or improved.
They are here to be punished.
Friendship is Failure #17: Nine & Eleven
Act Three: Far From Friends
ACT THREE
A few decades ago, Mare and Silver were playful little school ponies who just couldn’t get enough of playtime and living life to the fullest.
They would play in the playground, the sandbox, in big trees, and there was never an imaginative game they couldn’t come up with, or any adventure they couldn’t imagine or wish to play and create that they and lots of other ponies loved to play.
To them, playing was the perfect way of life. They loved to play so much that they would often neglect to do their chores or their homework, or forget to carry out favors asked by others.
Mare’s family took it easy and helped Mare realized where to put her priorities first, but Silver’s on the other hand, her parents were not the normal kind.
They were both hard working and no nonsense ponies-- work-a-holics who believed that child’s play, fun and enjoyment were worthless frivolities and wastes of time and energy.
To them, working was the one and only way to live and be, and they disapproved of their daughter’s desires to have fun, imagine, and be carefree.
They wanted to show her that life was tough, and that meant she had to be tough, or rather toughen up, and buckle down to get to work.
They began to get stricter with her, giving her less time to play and loaded her with chores and at-home assignments, which Silver protested and didn’t like a thing of.
Finally, a few years later, her parents put their hoofs down, and vowed to make her give up having fun and get her to work even if they had to break her in half, which was only a verbal threat.
In reality they didn’t physically abuse her, but they did treat harshly, confiscating her toys, all the drawings she ever made, and forbidding her from playing simple games or even mentioning them again.
They worked her at least sixteen hours a day with loads of school work, chores, and assignments, and any ounce of free time she had, and Mare saw less and less of her friend.
She tried to help by reasoning with Silver’s folks, only to be ejected forcefully and ridiculed for her enjoying fun and not working enough.
Soon, Silver Nickle had practically disappeared, neither she nor her parents were seen anywhere in Ponyville.
Mare began to miss her friend, and couldn’t begin to imagine what she was going through.
Then, fifteen years later, when Mare had become Mayor of Ponyville. She heard of this new industry outside of Las Pegasus, that was becoming one of the most successful businesses in all of Equestria, and so many employees and outlets across the land.
On her day off, Mare went to the borders of Las Pegasus and saw the massive high rise, which was celebrating its grand opening as the worldwide headquarters and nerve center of the industry, and who did she happen to see who was the head and founder of this great workforce?
…You guessed it, it was Silver Nickle. She had really grown over the years, but from the looks of things she had changed just as much too.
She was scowling very hard, and looked ready to fight someone, and stranger also, Mare noticed she took a drink from what appeared to be a small bottle of red liquid.
It obviously tasted very awful as Silver seemed to cringe and then look crosser after ingesting it.
Several ponies seemed to back away from her; she didn’t seem too much up for talking or exchanging pleasantries.
Even when the ribbon was cut, opening the building and the crowds began to cheer.
“SILENCE!!” she shouted, and crowds went silent and in shock.
“What you think there’s going to be some kind of party or day off?! There’s work to be done!”
Then she turned to face her workers, “GET MOVING!!!”
The workers all scrambled inside and immediately started to work, and Silver turned to face the crowd of non-workers.
“This area is restricted to workers and authorized personal only! SO GET OUT OF HERE!!!”
Her angry snarl frightened many of the ponies away while others looked back at her and called her out on her snapping, but Silver gave them a ferocious roar finally giving them the message, and they left.
The entre ground was emptied almost too quickly, but Mare still remained, and she wasn’t about to let Silver just walk away like that.
Fortunately, no security guards had stood by the perimeter yet, so she let herself go by.
“Silver…!” she called “Silver Nickle.”
Silver turned sharply, and then saw who it was, “Mare?”
She was surprised to see her again, but didn’t look a bit pleased. Even though she knew she was mayor of Ponyville now, she didn’t seem to care, and she just gave her a cold shoulder and walked away intro the building.
“Wait!” cried Mare “Silver, please. Can we talk for a moment? It’s been so long since I’ve seen you.”
Silver, not even looking back at her just grumbled, “What could you possibly have to say that I want to hear?”
Mare felt heart struck.
“Silver, what’s happened to you? How did you do all this?”
Silver scoffed, “Years of hard work, back-bone breaking, and manual labor, that’s how!
Any other questions…?”
Mare took a step back as she had addressed not her friend, but a fearsome demon.
“Silver, don’t you remember? We were friends once. We had so much fun together.”
Silver looked as though she was struggling to repress her feelings and memories.
“Fun is over…
Friendship is over…
…Time to grow up, and get to work!
Stupid! Mindless, Idiotic work!
Goodbye!”
She walked up to the building, but stopped moment to take another swig of that liquid in the bottle.
Mare was heartbroken, but confused as well.
“Silver Nickle…”
She tried to reconcile with her, or at least try to get to the bottom of what changed into… whatever she had become.
Silver Nickle, unfortunately constantly rejected her, insisting she be left alone, and she had no intention of being nice to or cooperating with any-pony, prompting Mare to just ultimately respect Silver’s wishes and leave her be, and try to move on with her life.
The story then faded into the present day, fifteen years later.
Mare looked very depressed, and rubbed her eyes behind her glasses.
“Oh, Mayor Mare.” cried Fluttershy “I’m so sorry you went through that.”
“And all we did was open up the wounds.” muttered Applejack
Rarity passed Mare a tissue which she dabbed her eyes with.
“I’m sorry, Every-Pony, it’s just I don’t understand. What happened to my friend? Why is she so enraged, so fun-loathing and hating work so much that she makes other ponies suffer?”
“That’s something we’d all like to know.” said Starlight “…Then again, you said her parents drilled her and tried to change her in a fun-loathing work-a-holic.”
Everyone began to agree it was possible.
“I’m afraid her parents have passed away long ago.” said Mare “We won’t get any information from either of them.”
“Aww, that’s sad.” said Pinkie “I didn’t even think they were that old.”
“Oh, no, no…” corrected Mare “They weren’t old, it was an accident.
They were both scientists and somewhat of inventors.”
Twilight’s head perked softly, “They were?”
“Yes, and they always seemed to be on the verge of creating new items and products for further the ways of work and industry, but then one day they were just found dead amongst the wreckage of their machinery.
Naturally, Silver was told, and seemed… well rather upset about.
…That or she was still the same.”
Twilight was deep in thought now, and thinking about that red liquid mentioned in the story.
She remembered seeing Silver drink some of it just before she tapped on her office window earlier that day.
“That liquid…!”
“Twilight, are you okay?” asked Rainbow.
Twilight snapped out of her trance.
“Oh, sorry, I was thinking about that liquid. If I could figure out what it is, maybe it’ll give us a clue.”
Spike then noticed, “Hey, what’s that spot on your tail?”
Twilight looked and saw a red sticky spot on her tail, realizing it must’ve come from the dumpster she fell intro.
Twilight gawked at the spot and realized it was the same color as the liquid that Silver was drinking.
“Yes!” she cried “This is it!” and without warning she teleported away in a puff of smoke.
“Is that girl ever going to take it easy?” asked Applejack.
“If I know Twilight,” said Spike “…This is going to be an all-nighter.”
Friendship is Failure #17: Nine & Eleven
Act 4: The Big Boom Theory
ACT FOUR
September 11, that’s what read on the calendar…
Indeed, Twilight had been hard at work all night analyzing the speck of sticky liquid on her tail, while Starlight and Spike were asleep.
She didn’t even join them for breakfast on time the next morning, and it would be time to head to the school soon.
“Think one of us should go and check on her?” asked Starlight.
“I’ll go.” said Spike, and he headed for the door, only for Twilight to burst right through, smashing Spike on the door and into the wall.
She looked really beat and more frazzled than ever, “I finally got it.” she yawned.
“Hooray…!” Spike groaned as she slipped off the wall and onto the floor.
Twilight then slammed down a small file of notes she had made from her analysis of the liquid.
“What is it?” asked Starlight.
Twilight yawned again, “It’s a pony-made medicine, almost like a potion.
I analyzed the ingredients and mixtures, and I’ve determined that this elixir causes ponies to think and gain strength and heal of internal injuries.”
Starlight and Spike looked at one another.
“You mean it’s just a healing elixir?” Starlight asked in disbelief “Why would Silver be constantly drinking a healing elixir?”
Spike shrugged.
“But there’s more…” said Twilight “I also found traces of ingredients that, when mixed improperly, can cause ponies to experience negative emotions and fits of rage.”
Now there was reason to be concerned.
“If Silver’s been drinking this stuff all this time it’s no wonder she’s such a grouch.” said Spike.
This still did not explain why Silver Nickle was constantly drinking the stuff, which was obviously not doing her emotions very well.
Twilight no longer seemed as sleepy, and had that burning look of determination in her eyes.
“Oh, no! Twilight…!” wailed Spike, but Twilight had already poofed herself outside and was already flying off in the direction of Las Pegasus.
“Ugh! What is she thinking? Silver will never want to talk to her.”
Even Starlight felt deeply concerned about Twilight, and as much as she wanted to go after her, she and Spike did have to open the school.
“I just hope that pony knows what she’s doing.”
At Silver’s head office, she was signing for delivery of vital supplies for the production machinery.
“There!” she snapped “Now go away. I have work to do.”
The mover ponies weren’t enlightened by her attitude, but left her in peace to get to work installing the new equipment.
Silver slumped into her desk, and held her head in pain.
She reached into her drawer for another medicine bottle and took another swig.
“PAH…!!” she groaned, and then growled as she felt her rage growing.
She decided to open her office windows to get some fresh air, and used her magic to swing the curtains open, only to once again see Twilight outside, making her scream in shock.
“Oh, not you again!” she whined.
And before she knew it, Twilight had poofed her way inside again; this time hovering off the floor to avoid any traps.
Sliver raced to her desk to contact security, but Twilight was ready for her this time as well, as she used her magic to sit her down in her chair and hold her down in a magical field.
“You and I are going to have a little talk.”
Silver refused to speak and stuck her nose up high in the air.
“Sorry it has to be this way,” said Twilight “But this time you have no right to refuse me.”
Skilfully, she managed to keep her lockdown on Silver, but she managed to cast another small beam of aura on her which was a Truth Spell.
“The spell will wear off in a few minutes, but until then you have no choice but to tell me the complete and total truth.
Do you understand?”
Unable to control herself, Silver answered “Yes, I understand.”
Twilight nodded and then asked, “Tell me…
What did your parents do to you?
Why do you drink that healing elixir?
Most of all, why do you hate so much that you fire ponies in fits of rage?”
Try and she would to resist, Silver began to reveal the truth.
“I always wanted to live a life full of play and carefree joy. I never liked worked, no matter how important it was, or how much money I could make, I didn’t like working and hoped to find some way of making it through life without getting a serious job!
But my parents wanted me to be rid of such thoughts, and insisted I become a hard worker like they are.
So they began to drill me, and work me hard day and night, but still they were not convinced.
So being the nutty professors they were, they experimented on me, and hooked me into a kind of machine that would alter my brainwaves and change my way of thinking.
They just put me into that thing without properly testing it first like I was some kind of lab rat.
The currents were so painful I couldn’t even scream in agony, and there was a short out as the equipment began to go crazy and explode.
My head hurt so much I thought it would explode, but thankfully it didn’t.
The experiment seemed to work. I could no longer think the way I used to-- imaginative, playful, I didn’t even seem to like it anymore.
I felt a great urge that compelled me to buckle down and start working hard, but I still didn’t like it, if anything I hated it more than ever.
Worse than that, those currents and waves that changed me had altered my body for the worst, into a state that slowly makes me weaker, and causes me pain and headaches.
…All this would very well have killed me if it weren’t for my parent’s elixir, again, which they gave to me without testing.
While the medicine keeps me strong, it brings me great rage and misery and compels me to hate and loathe everything from work, to play, to life itself!
After my very first dose I turned on my folks. I resented them for what they had done to me, and I let loose my full rage on them; destroying they’re life’s work and ending their stupid lives!”
Twilight gasped, at the fact that Silver killed her own parents, and no pony ever knew.
The two mad scientists had created a working, life-loathing monster!
Silver continued with her story.
“I left home as it was, with no trace of my crime.
I started a laboratory which helped to recreate the elixir my parents made. I needed to stay strong from my condition or the attacks would kill me!
No doctor could help me, and no potion could cure me.
But I just kept on working, and building, and making more money, until finally I have the empire that stands.
How I loathe and despise it all!
All this work which I hate, and how I was robbed of my dignity, my pride, my dreams and happiness!
…I HATE IT ALL!!!!!!!!!”
She began to have a freak-out, and she fussed and bucked about on her chair.
Her rage was so intense because of all the elixir that Twilight was having a hard time maintaining her hold on her.
“Silver, don’t!” she cried “I can help you! Let me try!”
Silver’s horn glowed, and her magic combined with her rage fired through the aura and hit Twilight hard, sending her crashing to the floor and canceling the hold.
Rather than lung over and attempt to beat the living daylights out of Twilight, Silver had a nastier idea in mind, and matched straight over to her desk.
“What are you doing?” cried Twilight.
“…Something I should’ve done, a long time ago!”
She typed into her computer, and a giant red flashing button appeared out from a hidden panel.
She pounded it at once, causing a blaring alarm to sound, and an automated voice over the intercom shouted.
“Danger! Self-Destruction Program Activated!
Self-Destruct in one minute!”
A large time began to count down the seconds as the building began to rumble and start breaking apart.
“SILVER!” shouted Twilight.
All through the building, all the workers and all the ponies began to panic and race for the exit and small explosions began to blast, and wires popped out raining sparks all over the place, and large bits of debris came crashing down.
Silver was cackling like the completely insane creature she was made to be.
Twilight was panicking, and rushed over to the big red button, slamming it hard with her hoof, but the countdown just kept on going.
“Turn it off! Turn it off!!” she begged.
“I can’t!” shouted Silver “Once it’s done that’s it.” And she laughed some more as the floor began to crack apart.
“Finally this stupid workforce is about to be dragged to ROCK BOTTOM!!”
Twilight knew Silver was completely hopeless, especially seeing as she was willing to destroy the place and hurt all the ponies in it without care for their safety.
Only twenty seconds were left, and the automated voice hollered.
“Danger! Self-Destruct Imminent!
Self-Destruct Imminent!”
Twilight didn’t have time to think or try to conjured any spells to try to stop this and knew she had to bolt it right out of there.
“Come on…!” she shouted to Silver, trying to take her out too, but Silver just buck kicked her hard, sending her clear out of the window, shattering the glass.
“SO LONG SUCKER…!!!” was the last thing Silver shouted to her.
All the ponies down below had exited the building, but were running and flying as fast as they could.
“RUN FOR YOUR LIFE!!”
“…IT’S GONNA BLOW!!!”
Twilight realized only five second left, and she screamed and teleported herself right in the nick of time!
POW!!!
A huge explosion burst right through the middle of the building, and at its base, causing the whole thing to come crashing down in a massive cloud of smoke and dust, making one final explosion that rocked the land.
The inhabitants of Las Pegasus saw and felt the tremors, and they could not believe their eyes!
Friendship is Failure #17: Nine & Eleven
CLOSING ACT
That cloud of dust would have spread for miles had the many ponies in Las Pegasus City not seen the commotion and the tragedy.
Many of the pegsai came and brought rain clouds so the downpour would make the dust settle and the flames from the explosion would be extinguished and not spread.
Unicorn ponies came and did their best to help contain more of the spreading dust and helped the pegasai purify the air...
...But still... what a disaster and tragedy!
All the workers and other ponies from the building didn't make it out in time.
Many were lost in the explosion...
Many others were dying from fatal injuries...
Some did survive, but some survived with terrible life-changing injuries-- One pony was going to have both his hind legs amputated, another permanently lost her eyesight from the brightness of the fires, some had deep burns and scars that would remain on their faces and bodies were undetermined amount of time, maybe even for life.
They were now all out of a job, having also lost their friends, loved ones, and even children of the land had lost their moms, their dads, or even both!
Twilight had reappeared from wherever it was she teleported too, and she was devastated and horrified beyond words. Tears of anger, sadness and near disbelief came to her eyes.
“Sliver…” she sobbed softly “You crazy, stubborn, stuck-up--” she couldn’t go on, remembering their circumstances that led up to all this.
“Why? Why couldn’t you let me just try and help you?”
That was the end of Spike’s story, and the scene changed back to him, as he spoke to the audience.
*Fourth Wall*
“And that’s pretty much how we all ended up here, cleaning up this mess.”
He paused and sighed, “You know I really can’t help but feel sorry for Silver Nickle.
I mean, sure, she had a bad attitude, she was mean to ponies all around, and she killed a ton of ponies, and ruined the lives of many...
...But then I remember what Twilight told me how she couldn’t help herself. She was a mess, forced to be what she was by ponies who forced her to change, grow up, and leave things behind.
I really wished she hadn’t done all this, and I really wish she’d let us try to help her.
Don’t worry about Twilight, she’s okay now. In fact, she’s helping all the ponies who lost their jobs to find new employment as well as helping around here.
But she was just as upset the way things turned out and how and why they did.
We’re all feeling okay about this.
It’s true, we’ll never forget this day, and what happened, and we’ll always try to remind other creatures of it so we can learn and grow from this, and try to prevent it from happening again.
…But life will go on. We can’t just mope about it forever, but we can learn from this.”
Spike then heard Twilight call to him, “Hey, Spike, could come help me with these wires.”
Spike then looked at the audience one last time.
“…See you all again soon.”
Then he went off to get back to work with the others.
Author's Note
18 years later and we all still remember 9-11 (I was in Tenth Grade when it happened)
The reason people want us to remember it is to show us just how evil and heartless the world really can be, all those people who were lost and all those other people who;s lives were affected by their loss and the loss of the buildings.
This is what I keep warning people, being positive is okay, but DON'T BE BLINDED BY IT.
Ignoring the bad things, and pretending there aren't any doesn't stop them from happening anyway.
The world isn't always as positive or as loving as you think it is, and tomorrow is promised to NO ONE (Even Greg Cipes and Tara Strong believe in that)
We have terrorists, gunners, wild animals, bullies, abusive people.
Even nature itself can be and is a danger at times (Lightning, typhoons, hurricanes, Earthquakes, volcano and tornado and blizzards, cancer, famine)
We remember these things, and we try our best to prevent it from repeating.
...But it's going to take a lot. QUITE a lot!
And remember: "The past may be gone, but the memories remain and shall never disappear."
Friendship is Failure #17: Nine & Eleven
INTRO
It was a terrible sight to behold…!
Burning bits of broken debris and rubble lay all about—bricks, stone, broken glass, rusted pipes and a burned out wires.
The entire area around the great mess was all closed off as worker ponies were preparing to begin the long and tedious task of clearing it all away.
Princess Twilight Sparkle and her friends volunteered their services to assist.
Twilight, Rarity and Starlight used their powers to levitate much of the debris onto wagons pulled by Applejack and Pinkie Pie, while Rainbow Dash lifted up some of the debris herself and dropped them away from the site to be dealt with later.
Fluttershy helped as best she could-- loading all the pipes and wires to be taken to the scrapyards, while at the same time, tend to the tired worker whom by giving them water to drink on their breaks.
Spike wasn’t able to do too much heavy lifting, but he did help as best he could by pulling a smaller wagon of the lighter stuff away-- every little bit helped.
As he pulled his wagon along, he stopped and he looked before him at all the people watching him from afar.
*Fourth Wall*
“Oh, hi…” he said “If you’re wondering what all this is about,” and he motioned behind him at the big mess.
“You see over there, there used to be a big tall building and it was part of a great business empire, but now it’s nothing but this massive mess, and so many ponies have lost their jobs, and others are in the hospital.
Oh, don't worry, they're all right.
But really, all this happened because of one mare who hated her job, her life, and everything it stood for.”
He sighed and hung his head low, and then looked back up at the audience.
“Maybe I should tell you all how it happened from the beginning…
…After the intro.”