//------------------------------// // Friendship Journal Third Edition - Foreword // Story: Is That How You See Us? // by LightningSword //------------------------------// FOREWORD To the readers of the Friendship Journal: Thank you for purchasing and reading the third edition of this journal, a book created and published to spread the magic of friendship.  The first foreword, written for the second edition, was the initial reason this third edition now exists.  The content past this page remains largely unchanged (save for a few rewrites to make it accessible to all ages), but the major reason this new foreword exists is because of a very important reaction to its predecessor. The journal was meant to bring ponies together, not to tear us apart.  The initial reactions to this work were quite out of line, true enough, but my response to them, in the form of the second edition’s foreword, only served to feed the fire.  My reply was inexcusable, petty, and juvenile, and I cannot be more sorry for what I’ve said and my lack of care for it.  What gave me the insight to realize this was not the angry protests outside my door (a mere extension of the out-of-line behaviors), but from the protests I never heard until it was almost too late. It is at this point that I now dedicate this third edition to the ponies who opened my eyes to what I was too angry to see.  This latest edition shall be dedicated to the Unofficial Ponyville Book Club. To Cold Chill, whose calm and respectful demeanor proved that not all fans are intrusive. To Heat Stroke, whose passion and loyalty proved that not all fans misuse their emotions. To Heart Shard, whose honesty and sensitivity proved that the love of one fan beats the hate of a thousand any day. To Rainfall, whose strength of heart grows every day, proving that no matter how hard the road to learning one lesson gets, it’s all worth it in the end. And last but certainly not least, to Grey Sky: a pony who, despite only having lived in Ponyville for three years, has just as much love and dedication in his heart as any lifelong citizen.  He proved to me that not all fans should be addressed the same.  He proved to me that fans must be trusted to learn the importance of that which they care most about.  He proved to me that the simplest of things can bring friends together in ways that make it seem like it was meant to be.  And he also proved to me that the actions of one pony can save the life of another without them even realizing it. And finally, they all proved to me that, even though the bad may outweigh the good, when it comes to friends—and fans—it’s always quality over quantity. To them, and to all of you, thank you. Your faithful, ever-improving princess, Twilight Sparkle