//------------------------------// // Act 2: Regret and Reject // Story: Friendship is Failure #7: All Work and No Play // by DakariKingMykan //------------------------------// ACT TWO Fluttershy gathered up the rest of the gang, and introduced them to her new friend, Goldie Stocks, and explained to her the problem with Bill Dollar. The gang all stopped off at a restaurant for brunch where Goldie explained everything from the beginning, of how her brother was estranged from her family. “He hasn’t spoken to you in fifteen years?” Twilight asked in disbelief. “It’s true…” replied Goldie, and she told the friends the story, how she and her brother used to be close, but all work and no play changed her and her parents for the worst, and they pressured Bill into getting a job and let go of childish things. “Now he actually owns and manages his own company, but he’s become such a grump; worse than anything I or our parents ever were.” The friends were nearly speechless, “That is completely absurd.” stated Rarity “I mean the very idea that one pony can let all his work take him over like this?” Applejack couldn’t help but snigger at Rarity hypocrisy. “What is so funny?” Rarity asked. “Nothin’.” Rarity was not amused when she suddenly felt she got the drift. “Well, what of you, Applejack? You let your own chore rule your life.” Applejack’s features hardened, “Well excuse me for livin’ on a farm with tons to do each day.” Twilight cleared her throat making them stop quarrelling so they could focus on the situation. “Sorry about that…” she said to Goldie “Did you ever try to apologize to your brother?” Goldie nodded and she explained how a couple of years after Bill left, she and her parents, still practical and overbearing work-a-holics, were all donating money from their companies to a local elementary school as charity work. It was there that they saw loving families together—children and their parents being so loving and nurturing. Some of the children thanked their parents for helping with homework; some parents were proud of their kids and decided to take them someplace fun… There was even one little pony who drew a picture of his family and his older sister… the same way that Bill did once! All this and more struck the three of them of the way they all used to be, and they began to realize as if for the first time what miserable examples they were and how it was they’re fault that they drove Bill Dollar away. Goldie was sobbing softly with her face buried in a napkin. “We tried to find him and apologize, but we couldn’t find where he lived or worked, until only a year ago when we found out about his business, and now… he won’t even look at us or answer our letters.” “Oh, you poor, poor thing…” cried Fluttershy. “That’s the most heartbreaking thing, I’ve… ever… heard!” Pinkie sobbed, and she blubbered almost uncontrollably. Her cascading tears practically soaked the others, but they also felt equally as bad. “Don’t worry, Goldie. We’ll try and help you.” said Twilight. Goldie dabbed her eyes with her napkin, “You will…?” “Sure thing sugar-cube.” replied Applejack “It’s not like he can stay mad at you forever.” “You leave this to us, we can handle any friendship mission that comes our way.” added Rainbow. Though Goldie still had doubts, she was very thankful to them for willing to help her. Soon, Goldie went home to leave the friends to work. “So what should we do first?” asked Rainbow. “Ooh-Ooh-Ooh…!” Pinkie cried “We should arrange for a great big party, and invite every member in Bill’s family to it and have a big blowout!” The others were a little freaked out by her overly enthusiastic antics. “Um, I think we should try something a little more subtle.” Rarity suggested. “Maybe we should try talking with Bill Dollar.” said Twilight “I’m sure, deep down, he does miss his family a lot, and that could be why he’s so down.” When the gang arrived at the main office building, they were denied at the front desk. “I’m sorry, but Mr. Dollar is out at the moment. He is a very busy pony. You’d have to schedule an appointment.” “Okay, we will then…” Rainbow said impatiently, “When’s his next opening?” “Sorry…” said the secretary “Only employees and clients can make appointments. Good day.” Rainbow was really starting to lose her cool, but Applejack and Fluttershy calmed her down, and the gang decided to leave. “Twilight, can’t you do anything about this?” Pinkie asked “You’re the princess of friendship.” Twilight shook her head, “I don’t have that kind of authority, Pinkie. I can’t just barge in and make demands like that.” Rarity agreed, “Twilight is right, it would be most uncouth and highly uncivilized. But what else can we do?” Twilight and friends went back to Goldie and asked, “Do you know where your brother lives?” Much as Goldie felt the pain of her guilt eating away at her, as a successful stock-broker, she did know where her all her clients lived as her office had a record of the buyers and sellers. “I know where he lives. My folks and I tried and tried to visit him but he just brushed us off each time.” Nevertheless, they got his address, and waited until very late because a hard working pony like Bill Dollar always worked until late. It was dark by the time they all decided to visit him home, which was located in a quiet, suburban area just outside the city. It was such a simple house with a thatched roofing and simple white paint. “I didn’t think he’d live in a place like this.” said Fluttershy “I thought he’d live in a great big mansion or something like that.” “I didn’t understand it either…” said Goldie “How could he be so successful and yet live in such a place like this?” “Well, we’re about to find out.” said Twilight “Come on, every-pony.” They all marched up to the door and Twilight gave it a knock. Bill Dollar, looking exhausted and frazzled after a long day of work. He glared at them all sourly and grumbled deeply, “…Yes?” “Bill Dollar, I’m Princess Twilight Sparkle, and these are my friends.” “I know who you are! What do you want?” grunted Bill. The others felt a little mystified by his tone, but they maintained their calmness, “We came here because, we brought your sister to see you.” Goldie smiled softly and waved at him, and the others all grinned with rainbow backgrounds behind them, but Bill Dollar blinked once, unamused, and said “I don’t have time for this, I am very busy! Goodnight!” and he slammed the door right at them, making their happy scenes fade and their expressions change to concern. “How rude.” snapped Rarity. “What’s up his tail.” snorted Rainbow. Poor Goldie hung her head low, “I told you he didn’t want to talk to me. Thanks for trying.” and she walked sadly away.