//------------------------------// // Act 2: Refusals // Story: Friendship is Failure #12- Amending Hearth's Warming // by DakariKingMykan //------------------------------// ACT TWO Velvet couldn’t hold her tears back, nor could her husband. “I can’t believe he did that.” said Shining Armor, “Just up and leave like that!” “Well, it was because of him his leg got wrecked and he lost his dream.” said Spike. “Spike!” snapped Twilight, “No, he’s right.” her father cut in. “No matter how you try to look at it; I am largely responsible for what happened. If I hadn’t gotten stuck…” “You can’t keep blaming yourself.” said Cadance “It was just an accident, it could’ve happened to any pony.” “Ya…” Flurry Heart cooed, almost as if she were actually agreeing with her mother. All the others agreed to, but while Night appreciated the comfort, “Knowing all this doesn’t stop my guilt or my nightmares. And judging from the way he just acted, especially towards Twilight. It’s obvious he hasn’t forgiven me.” Twilight hated to see her father looking so down, and then her old friendship spark began to shine. “I think you two should patch-up, you too, Mom” Her parents blinked at her with deep thoughts. “Um… I don’t know, Twilight.” Her mother said, “It’s been a really long time.” “Nonsense.” said Twilight “It’s never too late to resolve a friendship. Like me and Moondancer. We worked out just fine.” “Yeah, only it almost didn’t quite work when she shunned you so much.” muttered Spike. Twilight couldn’t argue with that, but she wasn’t willing to give up “This year, I’ll give my parents the best Hearth’s Warming present ever, a reunion with an old friend. I’m sure deep down he misses you too.” Her parents tried to protest again for her not to do it, “Don’t bother arguing.” said Shining Armor, “You know Twily… once she sets her heart on something you can’t talk her out of it.” So, the parents had no choice but to at least try. The first step was to at least confront Helper Soul, and it didn’t take too much trouble to find him; he had left a distinguished trail of footprints and wheel tracks in the snow which lead towards the neighborhood where he lived, suggesting he had gone home. Even in broad daylight, his house looked a little miserable with no pretty decorations all over it. “This is where he lives?” asked Cadance. Spike nodded and replied, “We saw him last night before all of you came along.” Twilight remembered, but she bravely went up to the door and knocked. There was no answer at first, so she knocked again. Helper finally made it to the door and opened it a crack. He looked rather groggy, “I just fell asleep!” he grumbled, but then he recognized who it was, “You again?!” Twilight maintained her cool and cleared her throat, “Helper Soul, I brought some ponies here to see you. It’s your old friends, Night Light and Velvet Sparkle.” He opened the door wider and saw the two, and his eyes widened. “Um… Hi, Helper.” said Velvet, “Hello old friend.” added her husband. Helper looked really shocked now. “I think it’s working…” Twilight whispered to the others, but Helper growled really fiercely and slammed door shut, scaring Flurry Heart into crying. Her parents comforted her, and Spike went, “Well, that’s a start.” Twilight couldn’t believe how Helper had just behaved, and her parents looked very sad. “I told you, he hasn’t forgiven us.” said Night Light. “I know you mean well, honey, but maybe it’s best we don’t peruse this.” Her parents walked off, and Twilight hung her head low. “I’m going to take Flurry back to the castle.” said Cadance “She needs a nap.” She hugged her husband and walked off, “I’m going to stay with you, Twily.” He said to her “I know you. You’re not giving up that easy. Besides, I wouldn’t mind talking to this guy myself.” He was offering her support, which she smiled and thanked him for, but Spike sighed, “I think I know where this is going.” For the past two days, they watched Helper from the terrace of the castle with telescopes. “Are you two still watching him?” Cadance asked “We’re supposed to be here on a family visit.” “Don’t bother, I tried telling them that.” said Spike. So far all Twilight and Shining had seen was Helper leaving his house every day, most likely on his way to work, and then he’d come home and that’s it. “No pony else comes out of that house or even goes in.” Twilight said “It’s like he has no family, or even any friends.” “Well that doesn’t sound cool.” said Shining “Maybe that’s why he’s so grouchy. I know I’d be if I was alone for so many years.” Twilight thought deeply, “Maybe we should all try talking to him again.” “Twilight, he doesn’t want to talk, remember?” said Spike, but Cadance actually disagreed, “I think maybe we should. If he’s an old friend of your father then maybe it would help if we all pitched in and tried to help. Maybe we can all try to befriend him.” Spike sighed, “Now you’re starting to sound like Twilight, but I’m with you guys all the way.” Twilight smiled at him, “Now, how are we going to arrange some kind of meeting with him; one that he can’t refuse?” With that, it was off to the pony profiles in the study. As the Princess of Friendship, Twilight had to keep tabs of every pony in Ponyville and around Equestria. Just basic information like ordinary security files, nothing nosy.” “According to this, Helper Soul sells insurance... for a long time now.” said Twilight. “Hey!” said Spike, “We never took out any insurance on this castle ever since it was created.” “Yes!” cried Twilight “And insurance sales-ponies can’t refuse or deny an audience with a customer. We can invite him here for a business dinner, and while he’s here we’ll try and find out more about him.” Cadance and Shining Armor thought that a confusing idea. “I don’t know, Twily. I don’t think turning an insurance deal into personal issues is a good idea.” “And I don’t think your folks would go for it either.” added Cadance. Twilight thought of that too, but seeing as she could see no other way to even approach Helper Soul and get him to express his troubles, “We still have to try.” When Helper got home that night, he found a letter in his mailbox, “Strange, I don’ usually get letters.” he said to himself. He read it, and was already dismayed that it was Twilight, “Can’t she leave me alone!” he groaned, but as he continued to read and saw how she wanted to take out an insurance policy on her own castle, he thought it over. Though he suspected this was a trap, he knew the company policies, “I can’t turn down a potential buyer regardless of personal emotions, and if I covered that castle… it could be substantial.” He groaned and rubbed his head, still frustrated with his suspicions, but his inability to refuse ultimately won. “Why do I think I’m going to regret this?”