Yona had gotten quite used to Sandbar's positive, can-do attitude. He'd displayed that kind of confidence asking her to the Amity Ball and then confessing his feelings towards her afterward. Even at times when things looked bad, Sandbar always seemed to believe that they would work out in the end.
That was why Yona had never given up on Sandbar, not even when the rest of her friends might have had reason to doubt him once or twice before.
And yet, on one particular day, Yona happened to notice that the colt with a sandy yellow coat didn't seem to be feeling like himself. It was subtle, but if one looked closely they could see a difference in the way that he carried himself. He had his head down more often, he appeared to smile less often and the look in his light sea green eyes conveyed looks of uncertainty and sadness.
So it was that the young yak decided there was only one thing to do: She would have to figure out what it was that her boyfriend was so unhappy about. He'd always been there for her, so now it was her turn to be there for him. That's what any good girlfriend should do (at least, that's what she thought).
It wasn't long before Yona found the opportunity she needed to start probing Sandbar for information. It was another uneventful day after classes had ended at the School of Friendship. By now it was hardly uncommon for Sandbar and Yona to be seen walking together, sometimes even holding hooves. Practically everycreature at the school knew about their relationship: Be they student or teacher.
Yet Yona waited until she was certain she and the young earth pony were alone, following him as he trotted about with no particular destination in mind. Eventually, the two reached a small clearing not far from the school itself. It was just the sort of place one could go to when they wanted to be alone. Which made it the perfect place for the yak to have a much needed talk with Sandbar.
Immediately, the young yak took it upon herself to ask the obvious. "Why Sandbar not happy?" Her tone of voice conveyed more than words how worried she was by her special someone's change in attitude.
"Me? Unhappy?" Sandbar slowly blinked in reply. His expression didn't change or falter in the slightest as he spoke. It seemed he was determined not to give away anything if at all possible. "Why would I be unhappy, Yona? I have a great family, a fantastic girlfriend and I get to attend the coolest school in all of Equestria. Really, anycreature should be lucky to be like me."
Yona wasn't fooled for a moment, and the look she shot back at Sandbar indicated how unamused she was by his deflection. Avoiding the subject wasn't going to make it go away. "Sandbar of all ponies should know. Sandbar the one who saw how sad Yona was at Amity Ball." She thought to herself as a pronounced frown formed upon her face. Yet to the colt's face she only said. "Sandbar not lie to Yona. Yona know Sandbar unhappy, and Yona want to know why. Sandbar not try to hide it from Yona. Yona know when Sandbar trying to hide something."
The colt with a sandy yellow coat let out an unhappy sigh. "You really know me too well, don't you, Yona?" He paused for a moment and looked down at the ground, as though it were infinitely more interesting than having a conversation with the love of his young life. But then he looked back up, perhaps realizing it was no use trying to beat around the proverbial bush so to speak. "I don't know, really. I'm just not happy with myself. It just sort of... happened."
"Really? Sandbar not happy with himself?" Yona pondered. "That why Sandbar so glum? Yona want Sandbar to cheer up! How Yona do it?"
"I don't know, honestly," Sandbar admitted as he kicked the ground with a hoof. "It's really because of the way the world is now."
"Why? What wrong with the world?" Yona nervously questioned.
Sandbar tried to explain. "It's changing, Yona. It's changing everyday, and it's changing fast. Too fast! I can't wrap my head around even half the things that are going on. It's not the world I once knew, and I don't know where things are going to go. I knew things wouldn't stay the same forever, but I didn't expect them to change so rapidly so fast," He promptly let out a sigh. "I'm just one pony from Ponyville. I'm not like Princess Twilight and her friends, or Headmare Starlight and her friends."
"So? Neither is Yona, and Yona okay with that." Yona pointed out.
The young colt just replied in an unhappy tone of voice. "But you and the rest of our friends, you've done so many great things even before you came here. Your leaders regarded you as the best and brightest that their nations had to offer, except maybe for Gallus. But even Gallus proved he was capable of great things. Me? I just came here because I looked up to Princess Twilight and her friends, and I wanted to be just like them. But I'm not, and I don't think I ever will be."
"That not true!" Yona protested as she stomped a hoof. "Sandbar help to save the world twice with his friends, Yona included! Yona not let Sandbar doubt himself!"
"But what can I possibly do? I'm only one pony," Sandbar nervously insisted. "I can't change the world by myself. There's so much I want to be able to do. So many things I wish I could do. But I can't! I know there's a whole world beyond the one I've known in Ponyville, but I can't just leave because I want to make a difference. I know I wouldn't last long if I did," He sighed yet again and started to tear up. "This is so stupid!"
Much to the surprise of the earth pony, he was suddenly and unexpectedly pulled close to Yona as she enveloped him in a full body hug! It felt... warm and welcoming, comforting even. Like a favorite blanket that had been freshly cleaned.
Yona smiled as she looked Sandbar deep in his eyes, making sure her gaze never left his. "Sandbar not stupid! And Sandbar not blame himself for things he can't control. Sandbar can be big help on his own."
"Really?" Sandbar wondered as his cheeks flushed red. "How? How can I be a help to anyone like this?"
"Simply by Sandbar being himself," Yona pointed out. "Sandbar show great courage in being there for Yona and telling Yona he love her. Sandbar done lots of great things already, including being awesome big brother."
The colt wasn't so convinced. "You're just trying to say that to make me feel better about myself. I appreciate it, Yona. But..."
"But it working, right?" Yona hopefully asked as she tightened the hug ever so slightly. "Maybe Sandbar can't change whole world on his own. But Sandbar not have to. Sandbar not alone and never will be. Sandbar have friends, family and Yona as girlfriend. Yona sure they all want to help too. But Sandbar not be able to help anycreature if Sandbar unable to help himself."
Sandbar blinked slowly in reply. "How can I do that?"
Yona smiled. "Sandbar only one who can make himself feel better about himself. Yona can help, but Sandbar have to make choice to be happy and to accept himself for who he is," She then encouraged. "So, Sandbar think he can not be so hard on himself for Yona's sake?"
After a great deal of contemplating and silent thinking, the young earth pony finally said to his girlfriend. "You know what, Yona? You're right. I definitely can't change the world if I keep thinking that I'll never be able to make a difference. Maybe on my own I can't change much, but any help at all is better than no help at all. There are plenty of ways I can help just by being who I'm being," He promptly kissed Yona on the cheek. "Thanks for helping to cheer me up."
The young yak just smiled back. "That what Yona there for. That what a good girlfriend do for her boyfriend."
Author's Note
I imagine we're all kind of feeling like Sandbar in this fic right now. There's a lot going on in the world, and we all wish we could do more to help beyond just donations to charity and offers of support. But even small acts of kindness and generosity can have a big impact on someone's life, whether we know it or not.
