//------------------------------// // Closing Act: Okay Hearts & Hooves Day // Story: Friendship is Failure #4: Love Doesn't Work That Way // by DakariKingMykan //------------------------------// CLOSING ACT Despite all the heart-breaking sadness that had happened, there was pretty much nothing that could be really done about it now. As broken-hearted as Sun was, she promised to try and be brave about it and for the others to not worry. “Are you sure about this?” asked Twilight. “I’ll be fine, I promise.” However, she couldn’t hold it in any longer, and broke out into a soft sob. Cadance held her tightly, letting her cry, almost feeling like crying herself to see a pony so broken. “I’m sorry, Sun. I’m really sorry.” was all she could think of to say. Twilight and Starlight knew this friendship mission was a complete and total bust, and pretty much partly because they misunderstood things, but they tried… at least they tried. As Starlight gazed down by her feet, she saw three wild roses that reminded her of the rose that was in her hair…! She gasped, “Sunburst!” Everyone gazed at her! “I completely forgot him!” She felt her insides quaking, and her stomach churning. The number one thing she wanted to do when first arriving in the empire was see her old friend, but the friendship mission totally side-tracked her. She ran off in a swift flash hoping it wasn’t too late! The next day, regardless of the rather unpleasant sadness that happened, it was Hearts and Hooves Day, and everyone was up and about giving more gifts to their special some-ponies than ever before. You couldn’t look anywhere without seeing a happy couple walking side-by-side, and all gathering at the Crystal Palace for the big event… …Princess Cadance then addressed to the public, and spread out her wings to take in the sunlight, and the energy from the Crystal Heart helped her transform into her Crystal Form, which awed the crowds. “Here I come…!” she called as she took off and flew all over the empire, spreading her love all about, via, pink and gold sparkling magic that fell from the sky like snow. Everyone basked in the beauty and glory of the sparkles, and all the love seemed to spread everywhere, but in reality, the sparkles were magic at all, just for the show. The real love was what the ponies all felt themselves. “Look, Flurry…” Shining Armor said as he held his daughter up, “Wave hi to mama…” Flurry Heart only cooed and giggled, and Twilight patter her niece’s little head, then she turned to tend to her guest, Sun Rae, whom was invited to the palace as a special Hearts and Hooves day guest… Twilight felt it was the least they could do for all the trouble they had put her through. “How are you feeling?” Twilight asked, for the umpteenth time. Sun smiled, “I’m okay, Twilight. You don’t have to ask me that every time.” Sun looked back down at all the happy couples below, still feeling a bit upset that she couldn’t be among them, but she promised for her new friends that she’d be brave and try to be strong about it. Strings was gone, but she would always be good friends with him. Nothing she could say or do would make him come back, let alone make him love her. A single tear rolled down her cheek, but she rubbed it away and kept her strength up and enjoy the rest of the festivities. It wasn’t every day you got to spend time at the Crystal Palace. Later that day, after Cadance returned from her flight, Starlight arrived with Sunburst, and Starlight was smiling ever so lovingly. “You are not going to believe this…” Starlight said “It turned out Sunburst was never home.” “Nope…” Sunburst confirmed “I had a job to do at the last minute, and no time to warn Starlight about it. So I wrote her a letter and hung it on the door of my house.” He used his magic to levitate the very letter, which read… “Starlight… I hope you find this letter. I know I wrote to you asking you to meet up with me here, but I got called into a very special job that really requires my wisdom of my studies, and I won’t be back for a couple of days, before Hearts and Hooves Day. But I promise you, we can still meet up when I come back… …if you still want to that is. Love: Sunburst.” “Starlight told me about your friendship mission, and even then I would’ve understood.” said Sunburst. Starlight smiled warmly, but she never felt so relieved in her life to know she hadn’t neglected him after all. Later, that evening, it was time for the Hearts and Hooves charity ball, held down below near the palace, despite that Strings had refused the offer to play his music live for everyone, on the eve before his departure he had sent albums of his music to be played on record players, which would be equally as good as him actually being there. Cadance and Shining Armor felt it was okay, and at least they still got to get good music and slow songs for everyone to share dances with. During the ball, a very special song was played from String’s album, a song he had written long ago, but nobody had ever heard before as he never released it, but enclosed was a letter for only Cadance and her group to read. “I wrote this song out of the passion I felt for you Princess, which is why I never released it. I know you and your party are reading this, and it would be best if you told no one about this… …I wish there to be no confusions, no awkwardness or anything like that for you. …Strings” The song started, and many couples began to dance slowly to the entrancing music. Even Cadance and Shining Armor shared a dance on the terrace. Sunburt looked at Starlight feeling a bit shy but he asked “Do you… maybe… wanna…?” She blushed and giggled, but answered “Sure…” and they began to dance too. Other than her own brother, whom was still dancing with his wife, Twilight had no one to dance with, and didn’t mind and she preferred to hang with Sun and watch all the happy couples dancing below. Twilight knew that Sun was still thinking of Strings, wondering where he was now and if he was okay as the song played. Far, far away, practically on the other side of Equestria, away from the Crystal Empire, Strings sat up in a high tree limb, sitting quietly with his thoughts, and he began to sing along to the song that was playing… …the song carried on, and on right into the credits. Other than all that happened, it was an okay Hearts and Hooves Day for many. Even Cadance thought it was nice, and couldn’t help look out over the horizon and say, “Thank you, Strings… and I’m still very sorry.” (Credits keep rolling)