“What is it all about?”
“Hmm?”
“Well... Life. I used to think I understood it...”
“Haha... you’re growing up a bit, I see, son.”
“What do you mean?”
“Nopony’s ever been able to understand the meaning, or purpose of life. Not definitively for everypony, anyway. And you can’t do that anyway - you’d never get the whole world to agree with you.”
“Then?”
“Life’s what you make it, son. Sometimes it’ll treat you pretty roughly. Sometimes, it’ll send you soaring high with happiness. But you only get the one, and it doesn’t last forever - which is just as well for us all.”
“Then... so what’s the point?”
“In my opinion? To make everyone around you as happy as possible while you’re there. If everypony does that, nopony need ever feel alone.”
A look of realisation dawns on the young one’s face, followed closely by a broad smile.
“Just be careful, son. Don’t make the same mistakes I did.”
“I won’t.”
Wait. Maybe Sketchy and Tavy won't get back together. I guess I'll just have to keep reading.
Sketchy and his dad, I'm guessing?
The only real way to go is cheerful nihilism, though. Yet somehow it seems like most people have trouble enjoying the freedom of life having no inherent meaning. It can mean anything you want it to mean! And the universe doesn't care about humans, so we owe it nothing and don't have to do anything it says beyond obeying the laws of physics (and those tend to have loopholes is you're willing to look closely). The fact that there is no inherent right means that you can freely argue that you are living your life properly as long as you aren't actively detrimental to society (and if you are, it just means other people won't believe your argument). What could be more liberating than that? What is better than to figure out for yourself what your ethics should be, and to owe loyalty to no being or concept but those which your sense of right and wrong dictate to be worth following?
Okay, fine, I can see where freedom can be scary. But in an awesome way. Uncertainty just means there's always something new to explore. Life is an adventure, and the lack of a goal ensures you cannot accidentally finish the game and be forced to ask, "now what?"
Though when you get into what meaning to impose, I'm largely with Sketchy's dad. Utilitarianism all the way.
This chapter is 161 words. My comment is significantly longer.