It was just a television show. A television show featuring multicolored ponies espousing the values of friendship. By all accounts, such a show should be quite silly and intended for a precise and unchangingly young demographic. It should have been what others painted it as: a stupid, poorly written show meant as a distraction for three and four year olds while their parents chatted with their adult friends. All it should have been was a show that faded into the wind after its conclusion.
So, as I sat at my desk after the final episode, why did I feel such pain? Why was this conclusion so absolute…so final…and so heartbreaking? Why was my heart in tatters, feeling as if the entire world had come crashing down around me? After all, it was just a television show, and a children’s cartoon at that. What about it created such feelings of joy and happiness in me? What about it caused me to feel like it was an escape from a messed up world filled with screwed up characters?
I asked myself these questions over the week that ensued. The pain never went away, and I felt as if I had lost six of my dearest friends. Real life set in, and I returned to a world where friendship was almost dead and hatred and despair ruled. I wished with all my heart that I could return to that place of joy, where everything was resolved after 25 minutes and life just worked. Outside of Equestria, life didn’t work. At least…for me, it didn’t. These ponies were my only friends in the world, and now they were gone.
The week after the finale, when I awoke and realized that there wasn’t going to be another adventure with my Equestrian friends, the pain only intensified. It was as if someone had taken knives and thrown them straight into my very being. It was a sharp, extensive pain, and it didn’t seem like anything would end. So I went about my day in a dull manner, trying desperately to keep their memories alive. Even though it had only been a week, it felt as if it had been an entire millennium.
Once again, I found myself back at my desk, doing what I love to do whenever I’m upset: write. But today, nothing I wrote seemed to come out correctly. So, I stopped and began weeping. Nothing could ever replace you, my friends! I cried internally, I can’t live without you!
Darling, that’s a ridiculous thought! A voice suddenly said.
I jumped. The voice carried a distinctly accented quality that almost betrayed its owner. But I wasn’t quite sure. Um…who’s there? I asked sheepishly. I almost regretted asking that question, because I knew exactly who the voice belonged to. I shot around and saw two ponies waft their way through my door and into my room. My eyes bugged out, and as I have a personal loathing of drugs and alcohol, I knew I could not have been tripping out.
You…you’re…Twilight and Rarity! I fairly screamed internally.
Yes, Twilight responded, we are…but we’re not really here. We’re simple figments of that very active imagination of yours. I understand you have some feelings regarding the cancellation of our television program.
Of course I do! I responded angrily, It’s not fair that your show, which is so wonderful and teaches the magic of friendship to so many people, is cancelled while so much of television remains mindless drivel and dreck! Please…come back…come home. I need you desperately. Our world is chaotic, and you made some sense out of it.
The illusion of Twilight smiled. Of course, she said, it’s always nice to have somewhere to escape the endless collision of good and evil that is the human world. I believe Equestria provided you with that place.
Abso-tivo-lutely! A high pitched voice suddenly said.
As my eyes gradually widened, four more ponies came into my room. I knew them all. They had been there for me ever since I began watching the show. These were my best friends in the entire world, and I felt a special connection with them. True, they might have been fictional, but to me they were absolute. They were reality, and the world I lived in was some kind of sinister projection.
Twilight, you have to tell me…is this like The Matrix and you’re coming to get me like Morpheus did to Neo?
Twilight giggled. No, it’s nothing like that. Like I said, we’re simply figments. The world out there is real, and it’s full of people who are just waiting for you…if you’d only give them the chance to do so. Take what you’ve learned from us and fly on your own now. You aren’t a kid, for crying out loud! You’re 23 with a good job! You don’t need us little ponies in your world anymore.
But I don’t want you to go!! I cried, I need all of you! You’re…my…friends…
We’re always gonna be yer friends, Applejack drawled, but the fact is, Twilight’s right. It’s time fer all y’all to get out there and act out the same lessons in yer personal life! If’n y’all ever need us, don’t ferget that we’re right here.
Applejack’s right, darling, Rarity concurred, there’s nothing in this world that could ever separate us. We might be finished on the airwaves, but there will always be a place for us in your heart, and in the hearts of our dear friends the world over. I know it’s sad to say goodbye. We don’t wish to say it, either. But truthfully, you’re so much more now than you were then, and we’re so proud of you.
Indeed, Fluttershy piped up, and your fandom will keep us alive.
Yeah! Dash jumped in, and you guys are so cool! Like way more than 20% cool!
Twilight glided forward and pressed her head against mine. I also understand…you love me?
Yes! I blurted, I mean…I love all of you, but the feelings I have for you are more…romantic.
I understand, she responded, and I want you to know I feel the same way. I’ve seen you watching us, and I know of the deep devotion you have to my friends and I. Like Rarity said, there’s nothing in the world that could ever tear us asunder. I promise…
With that, she pressed her lips to mine. I could almost feel her standing there, even though some part of me registered that it wasn’t real. The light that flashed from our meeting enveloped the room, and when I opened my eyes again, everypony was gone. I thought about shedding some tears, but then I remembered what Twilight and her friends had told me.
“Thank you,” I said out loud to the air, “thank you for being there for me when things looked their darkest. Thank you for never, ever giving up on your fellow pony. I’ll try and do that with my fellow man. Thank you for your undying friendship, and your love and care. But most of all, thank you for taking this lonely man and giving him something to believe in. While I will miss all of you for the rest of my life, I am ready to move forward, knowing that whatever I create or do will have you laced all throughout it. I also realize that our friendship is real, no matter what the differences are, and I will carry that to my grave. Bon voyage, my pony friends. Fare thee well.”
