"I can't believe that all of Equestria and beyond have new columns in every bookstore and shop that features the newest and most popular books!" Luster told Sunshine, as the two mares entered Ponyville's Bookstore.
"I may have decided to come along, but I'm not really here to be a fan of new or popular books." Sunshine told the excited unicorn.
"Of course you aren't," Luster responded, "As some creature moral, you have to check on everything you know that exists."
"Especially what every creature is doing." Sunshine finished, looking at the columns.
"Ooh, a new non-fictional book about more recently discovered Biology!" Luster said her thoughts out loud, "A new Geography Guide, a new Math Tips Revision book? New fictional books about Romance, Slice of Life and Comedy?! And one about some amazing heroes..."
"WHAT?!" Sunshine Rays shrieked all of a sudden.
"Sunshine, no need to fuss, the heroes in this new book aren't us; it's some creature's imaginary characters."
"Luster, that is not what I'm fussing about." Sunshine explained, holding a book in her hooves, "It's this!"
"Grogar, the Most Feared Ruler and Emperor of Equestria in History, and his Point of View?!" Luster read the title out loud, in a tone that transformed from normal to shocked.
"And that's not all." Sunshine told Luster, before pointing towards the column the book was from. Luster gasped to see that it was placed in a royal position: The top of the shelves, in a golden shelf, meaning that it was the number one most popular!
After the series' theme song intro played, Sunshine Rays voiced out her thoughts, "How can something like this be the number one most popular?! It's awful! No offence, really."
"Now, Sunshine, remember what Nature Bloom always say: We must be nice and not judge any creature, nor animal, or basically, never judge anything by their background. The School of Friendship taught us that as well, we must keep this lesson in our hearts and at least try to believe that it's not as bad as we thought upon knowing the background." Luster told her Best Friend.
"So, you're saying that we should not judge it by how bad its background is, and still...take a look inside?" Sunshine asked.
"Maybe it's the most popular for being surprisingly interesting in the inside," Luster suggested, opening the book with her magic.
To the girls' horror, the chapters were about how Grogar grew up being wicked and cruel, and an abuser of power.
"Alright...we really got a bad start, but maybe the chapters aren't as bad as their titles..." Luster began, flipping the pages with her magic, before she dropped the book in horror, screaming in fright alongside Sunshine.
"So, what's the positive side now, Luster?" Sunshine Rays sarcastically asked.
"There is no positive side, Sunshine. I should have known." Luster sighed.
That afternoon, the Heroic Ten hosted a team meeting in the Castle of Friendship. Well, more precisely, the meeting was hosted by Luster Dawn and Sunshine Rays.
"This is not good, every creature!" Sunshine Rays stated, pacing back and forth in front of a pony-sized image of the most popular book. "A book like this is a horrible book! And worst of all, it is the most popular around!"
"And?" Falcon Dive sarcastically asked.
"And there are a lot of horrible consequences of having this book, or any other book like it, being the most popular! I actually know five, ranging from bad to worst." Sunshine Rays explained, before taking out and putting on an outfit that made her alter-ego came to life. She also took out her keyboard, which had the ability to play the sounds of all kinds of different instruments. Sunshine Rays usually used her keyboard's original grand piano option to play music, but as Moonshade Fright, she would use the organ option, to assist her in being scary.
"Moonshade Fright here," Sunshine Rays' alter-ego began, "And I am here to show you all the terrible consequences your wrong doings can, and actually will cause, if not stopped!" the dark figure announced in a loud, scary tone, making Nature Bloom whimper.
Moonshade Fright may be the same pony as Sunshine Rays, but Sunshine sure was a lot scarier as her alter-ego, whom she made to scare immoral creatures into stopping their immoral ways.
"Here are the top five consequences of having a horror, villain book as something popular. Ranging from five to one, bad to worst!" Moonshade's voice boomed, scaring the sensitive Nature Bloom. "Bad thing number five: Like all books and things that exist, this book can be an influence to some creatures! In other words, this book can affect its readers! And since this book is bad, it will affect its readers in a bad way! Or most likely, make them think that it is cool or awesome to be bad, when in reality, it is not!"
After Moonshade Fright made another loud boom with her voice, she continued, "Bad thing number four: This book is the most popular! And that means a lot of creatures like it! We will never be able to convince them that it is not good! Because they got power in numbers, while we do not! And the more popular and liked this book gets, the harder it is to solve the problem!"
Falcon Dive backed down a bit when Moonshade snapped in front of him, before she resumed her explanation, "Bad thing number three: Because of their liking for it, fans of this book will never believe any creature who says that the book is not the real best, and should not be the most popular! They will get so blinded by their love for the wrong things, that they will not care about the real right and wrong, or the real good and bad!"
Moonshade scared Yellow Bright for a brief second with her suddenly turned extremely loud voice, as she stomped her hooves on the ground loudly. He eventually recovered just as fast as Moonshade Fright could scare him.
The alter-ego then went on explaining, "Bad thing number two: This most popular book may not be read by every creature, as there are at least some creatures who do not read it. But, those readers and fans can actually spread the word, and convince all their close ones, friends and family, to see it! The cycle will actually repeat, spreading this book and its influences far and worldwide, like a contagious disease within a year!"
Moonshade Fright's voice, in the form of sound waves travelled from her vocal chords to her best friends' faces. Nature huddled close to the rest of the team, as Moonshade played her organ once again, "Now I am going to show you the number one worst consequence, of. Them. ALL! Bad thing number one: Every creature who wants to be popular would mostly try to follow whatever the most popular is, or is like! That means, if the most popular book is about an infamous villain and a horror story, they may think that making villain horror stories will earn them the attention, fame and popularity that they wanted! Thinking that way, many authors may create horror stories, and make them popular all over the world, influencing every creature to do what is wrong...and the cycle will go on...until it engulfs the world!"
Nature Bloom fainted as Moonshade Fright finished the latter's scary explanation. Taking off her costume and putting away her keyboard, Sunshine Rays hurried towards her unconscious friend., "Nature Bloom! I am so sorry! I should have told you to leave the room so this would not happen!"
Nature Bloom eventually regained her senses and opened up her eyes, "Sunshine Rays?"
"Yes, Nature Bloom. It is me, and my keyboard is in regular grand piano option again." Sunshine stated, pressing the keyboard with her feathers making the sound of a grand piano, as proof. "And I really am so sorry for scaring you, especially when you are not a supporter of the book that I am against."
"It's alright, Sunshine. Just...please do not do it ever again."
"Now, you pointed out all the bad things that could happen, but how are we going to stop it?" Evergreen asked.
"Before it actually does happen?" Buffer added.
"Hang on, every creature, I thought Luster is the leader of the Heroic Ten!" Alkali pointed out.
"I may be and still be, but that does not mean I will know everything and come up with all the plans. In this case, Sunshine Rays knows what to do." Luster told every creature staring at her.
"Well, I know that there's a lot to do, but I know that the number one ting is to prevent the cause of more problems, before we solve the problems themselves! And that means..." Sunshine Rays began, before being cut off by Krona,
"That we're going to stop the production of more books?!"
"Technically, I am going to have a word with the author of this book." Sunshine Rays declared, "And convince whoever that is, that this book may be popular, but it is not really good just because it is liked by many! The author should totally write a new book ASAP, to fix all the damage, and that new book is going to be the real best!"
"Um, two questions?" Falcon Dive asked, "One, you do not even know anything about the author's whereabouts, and two: How are you going to convince the author to write a story that is the real best, and not what is out of the ordinary and popular?!"
"Perhaps a little Moonshade Fright, just in case," Sunshine Rays answered, "And, I got my best friends by my side."
"Ooh, she's talking about us!" Alkali squealed.
"Of course she is!" sarcastic Volcano responded to Alkali.
"Krona loves adventures with best friends!" Krona declared.
"I'm always willing to go with my best friends," Buffer stated.
"Ready to stay calm, no matter what." Evergreen announced.
"And I am always ready to tell you about all the positive things." Yellow Bright contributed.
"An adventure! I am in!" Falcon Dive declared.
"So am I," Luster Dawn added, before every creature looked at Nature Bloom.
"I may be horrified or terrified of scary adventures, and especially scary creatures , but...I am still willing to go with my best friends." Nature Bloom announced, before the whole team joined their hooves and claws.
After releasing their claws and hooves in the air, Luster announced, "Now let's go find that author!"
"One problem; we do not even know where the author is!" Nature Bloom pointed out.
"But maybe you can help us find out!" Volcano told Luster, "You are a unicorn, can't you perform some sort of...author-finding spell?"
"Well, I do remember reading about a spell that can allow me to find the creature by scanning their names, so maybe..." Luster stated, before her horn glowed as she sent a beam at the image of the book, which had the author's name on it. The rest of the Heroic Ten watched in amazement as their leader created a magical intangible compass made of her magic aura that pointed the way.
"This magical compass must be pointing the way to the author of the book! Let's follow it!" Luster Dawn instructed, leading the Heroic Ten on another adventure.
Following the compass, the team took the Friendship Express to a train station near Starlight Glimmer's old village, Our Town.
"The village my Mum created and ruled over before the Council of Friendship came and changed things for the better!" Luster Dawn gasped, "I can't believe that I am finally visiting this place!"
"You actually would have if you attended the School of Friendship on our first year," Falcon Dive told Luster.
"Not to make you feel bad, Luster, but we already visited here during a field trip," Nature Bloom explained.
"And, we met almost every creature here," Evergreen contributed.
"Head-mare Starlight's old friends, Double Diamond, Party Favour and Night Glider and their daughter, and basically the whole village, but not individually," Volcano stated.
"That's alright every creature, at least we will know some creatures and not feel like...total newcomers who know nothing." Luster responded, before leading the team into Our Town, "Let's just find the author and accomplish our mission, or goal."
As the heroes entered the village, they started gaining the attention of the creatures living there, to their discomfort.
"Are those the Heroic Ten?!" an earth pony asked her friends.
"Most likely, because that's Luster Dawn!" one of the friends replied.
"Uh...maybe we don't get to stroll around Our Town like the way we did during the field trip, after all!" Alkali cried, as every creature paid attention to the famous heroes.
"Look on the bright side, at least they like us!" Yellow Bright pointed out.
"Luster Dawn?" a familiar voice asked, catching the heroine's attention. Luster turned to see the owner of the voice, gasping.
"Eclipse Instant?!"
"And Shapeshifter," Eclipse responded as Shapeshifter stood beside her, "It's been a long time since we last saw you, even though it's only been a month since we left Ponyville on a world tour to fix the damage Shapeshifter caused."
"We already convinced the Wonderbolts to spread the word, and helped all kinds of creatures from Appleloosa, Cloudsdale, and even Madam Pinkie's family's rock farm!" Shapeshifter explained.
"But we figured that it still isn't enough, so we're still travelling. I'm afraid we can't return any sooner," Eclipse sadly stated.
"Don't worry, I'm sure you can fix all the damage and eventually return to Ponyville some day." Evergreen assured.
"We know, but one thing we don't know, and will like to know, is what are all of you doing here?" Eclipse asked the Heroic Ten.
"It's...a pretty long story..." Buffer replied.
"Sunshine Rays and Luster Dawn found an awful most popular book in Ponyville Bookstore! Heroic Ten gathered for a meeting about the book, and decided to go and find the author, and tell whoever that is to write a new, really the best book to fix the damage!" Krona explained.
"Damage? What damage?" a confused Shapeshifter asked.
"That's...a really long story, as well." Nature Bloom answered.
"But we believe that it may be a lot better, to explain in private," Volcano added.
"If we can find some place that is private, that is." Luster contributed, looking at the crowd around them.
"Don't worry, we know somewhere you can get the privacy you need!" Eclipse told the heroes.
The Heroic Ten soon found themselves in Eclipse and Shapeshifter's neat temporary residence in Our Town's Hotel.
"Welcome to our room, or...our temporary room for as long as we stay here," Shapeshifter told the heroes.
"Our Town leaders, Double Diamond, Party Favour and Night Glider allowed us to stay for as long as we had to, or basically...for as long as we have to ensure that the whole of Our Town don't see us as the villains we used to be," Eclipse explained.
"So...how's everything going for you two?" Buffer asked the reformed villains.
"Well, we had a bumpy start," Shapeshifter honestly answered.
"When we first came, creatures hid from us," Eclipse continued.
"Until I told them the truth that Eclipse really had changed for the better, and I fooled every creature into thinking that she was still...immoral." Shapeshifter added.
"shapeshifter then showed them the forms he used when he deceived every creature, and told them his backstory and reason," Eclipse went on.
"We told them the friendship lesson about forgiveness, and the fact that no creature is perfect," Shapeshifter explained.
"They gradually started becoming warmer and friendlier towards us, but we decided to stay a little longer to make sure that not even a single creature views us as who we used to be," Eclipse concluded.
"Good to know that you're making good progress," Sunshine Rays commented, "While we, on the other hoof, are still yet to find the author of the book that should not be the most popular! Who is this...G.R Floor?"
"Well, one thing we're sure of, that can't be the author's real name!" Luster declared, "Whoever the author is made that alias, or basically, a nickname, to cover up his or her identity!"
"But, your magic compass can still find whoever the author is, can it?" Nature Bloom asked.
"Well, most likely." Luster answered, a second before Shapeshifter brought in a large platter with cupcakes on it.
"Well, since it's almost three, I figured that we all should take a snack break!" the orange changeling announced.
"Snack break?" Falcon Dive asked, before his stomach grumbled.
"Wow, we really have not eaten anything ever since the meeting," Yellow Bright commented, after hearing his stomach growl.
"Can we please have some of your cupcakes?" Evergreen asked the reformed villains.
"Sure, when I said 'we all should take a snack break', I am totally talking about us, and you." Shapeshifter replied.
"Do you really think we can eat twenty-four cupcakes all by ourselves?" Eclipse asked in a joking tone.
"Now that you mentioned it, that totally makes sense," Volcano commented.
"Quit talking already! Let's eat!" Alkali exclaimed.
The scene changed to the moment every creature finished the cupcakes, all full and satisfied. "Thanks a lot for the cupcakes, Eclipse Instant and Shapeshifter! The cupcakes are the BEST!" Krona exclaimed.
"I think you meant, 'were the best'? Because the cupcakes are not around anymore!" Volcano pointed out.
"Whatever." Krona plainly replied.
"Now that we are not hungry anymore, we can go back to looking for G.R Floor, or, whoever the author is," Luster declared.
"And I cannot wait for the moment when we meet him!" Sunshine Rays commented.
"Can Shapeshifter and I join you?" Eclipse asked.
"And why is that?" asked Buffer.
"Well, we need to spread the word of our reformations, and figured that this is the perfect opportunity! Or...something that can help." Shapeshifter explained.
"We really changed for the better, and we would like every creature to know that!" Eclipse added, "So if we helped you convince this author to write better books..."
"You can totally prove that you are no longer...horrible!" Alkali finished the sentence.
The reformed villains nodded, before Shapeshifter asked, "So...can we hep?"
"Of course you can! And we totally accept help from friends," Luster replied.
The scene changed to show the Heroic Ten and their former enemies in front of one of the houses in Our Town.
"I think his is it; G.R Floor residence. Or, basically where he is right now." Luster told her company.
"So, once we meet whoever that author is, what are we going to do?" asked Yellow Bright.
"Well, we should show how respectful we are by greeting them and introducing ourselves, to create a warm start." Nature Bloom insisted.
"I like the sound of that!" Evergreen commented.
"And I listened to that!" Buffer added.
"Can we stop talking and start doing something already?!" Falcon Dive impatiently asked.
"Alright, alright. Here we go." Luster said, taking a deep breath, before she knocked on the door.
The door opened to reveal an earth pony who was presumed to be as old as the members of the Council of Friendship. He was shocked to see the visitors, gasping, "The Heroic Ten?!"
"Yes, it is us, all ten of us!" Alkali confirmed.
"This is the best day of my life!" the earth pony exclaimed, before he took the team in. "I am Grandeur, and I am basically and I. Love. Heroes! You ten saved me and all of Equestria and beyond from that power-hungry Eclipse Instant!"
Eclipse cleared her throat, catching his attention, making him freak out, "AAAH! Eclipse Instant! Heroic Ten, help!"
"Eclipse is reformed now," Krona told the frightened pony.
"That means she isn't bad anymore," Volcano clarified.
"So is Shapeshifter!" Yellow Bright pointed out.
"And now, they are our friends," Evergreen calmly stated.
"And any friend of a true friend, is a friend." Alkali pointed out in a cheerful tone.
"Speaking of friend, would you be friendly enough to help us find the author of this most popular book around?" Luster asked, levitating a picture of the book cover for Grandeur to see.
Grandeur gasped, "You're looking for the author of this book?!"
"Yes, we are, and have been the whole day!" Sunshine Rays confirmed.
"This really is the best day of my life! EVER!" Grandeur excitedly squealed.
"It is?" Falcon Dive asked in a confused tone.
"It totally is! Because not only is the book the most popular, it made me earn a visit from the Heroic Ten!" Grandeur exclaimed.
"Wait...earn you a visit from the Heroic Ten?!" Volcano repeated the words he heard, saying his thought out loud, "That means you're the author of the book!"
The rest of the team gasped to hear what their friend said, while Grandeur was impressed, "Volcano, I've always heard that you were...a very intelligent dragon indeed. And yup, what they said is no doubt, a fact. You really are smart."
"And he still is a very intelligent dragon!" Alkali pointed out.
"Wait, so you're the author of the most popular book in all of Equestria this very moment!?" Falcon Dive asked.
"Yes, I am. And G.R Floor is my nickname when I publish books," Grandeur replied.
"But, your most popular book is..." Sunshine Rays begun, before being cut off by Grandeur.
"Really out of the ordinary? I know, we don't have much books about villains lately, so I figured that I write and publish what I think Grogar's point of view was when he was alive."
"That is not what she wants to say," Nature Bloom told the author.
"Nature Bloom's telling the truth, you know." Krona pointed out.
"And what Sunshine Rays wanted to say is..." Falcon Dive began, before the white pegasus cut him off.
"That your book may be the most popular, but that does not mean it's the..."
Before Sunshine could finish, Nature Bloom filled in for her, "What she meant was, your book may be loved and popular, but there can actually be a book even better than it! Would you like to write a new book?"
"The Heroic Ten wants me...to...write a new book?!" Grandeur asked in disbelief, "I am so honoured!"
"Nature Bloom! Why did you..." Sunshine Rays began to scold the green-turquoise changeling, but was once again but off by Nature.
"Actually, we are hoping that your new book can be a lot better, as in, a lot more beneficial and a better influence than the one that's popular?"
Grandeur immediately stopped his celebration and froze in place, replying, "Well, if you heroes insist...I shall...if I knew what to write..."
"What do you mean by, 'if you knew what to write?' You just wrote a book that became the most popular," Sunshine Rays pointed out, as her tone changed from Rainbow Dash-like to sarcastic as she said the three final words.
"You see...I may have written a lot of narrative stories for all these years, but...they are all...action, adventure, drama, fantasy and everything out of the ordinary...the thing is...none of them are the moral-teaching or, lesson-y types!" Grandeur replied, making the heroes gasp in shock.
"You never wrote a single moral-teaching story?! In all these years?! What kind of author are you?!" Sunshine Rays angrily asked, before Evergreen pulled the furious pegasus backwards.
"Now, now, Sunshine. Take a deep breath, and relax," the Kirin advised.
"Plus, now that you pointed it out, or, most likely got him to realise that, he will write one!" Yellow Bright added.
"I'm so sorry, I really have no idea where to start." Grandeur stated, enraging Sunshine.
"No idea where to start?! How can you not know anything about morality! Morality is extremely important! And it should be something every creature knows and values!"
"Sunshine, please! Give him some time! I'm sure he'll make a book that is everything some creature like you want!" Nature Bloom told the pegasus.
"Or maybe you I should take over handling Sunshine for these few minutes, so you all can help Grandeur think of what to write for his new, totally much better book?" Falcon Dive asked, placing his right wing around Sunshine.
"Well...if that's the only way for her to not go so...mad, you should." Luster replied.
"Great! Come on, Sunshine! There's a lot of better things for you to do than be mad!" Falcon told the pegasus, as they walked away.
"So sorry about Sunshine Rays," Krona apologised.
"She tends to get...furious over the lack of morality." Buffer pointed out.
"But we're sure she will cool off over time," Volcano stated.
"While she's cooling, what are you going to write?" Alkali asked, causing Grandeur to panic.
"I have no idea! Just because I'm a writer, does not mean I'm good at writing anything and everything! All I ever wrote about is every creature's favourites!"
"What do Grandeur mean by, 'every creature's favourites'?" Krona asked.
"Well, nowadays, many stories are about adventure, action and some extraordinary things! There are still some moral-teaching stories, but they are simply too unpopular..." Grandeur explained, before he was hushed by Buffer.
"Don't say that about more-teaching books! If Sunshine hears that..."
Grandeur began to show a scared expression, causing Buffer to change his words, "I mean...it's best not to say that, at all?!"
"But, why would you say that?" Volcano asked.
"Is it because they are boring?!" Alkali asked, "No offence to anything nor any creature, really."
"It's not that, it's just...every creature thinks that morals are for kids!" Grandeur explained.
"Look on the bright side! Maybe you can write the most popular children's book in all of Equestria and Beyond!" Yellow Bright cheered.
"But I don't want to be an author of children's books; I want to be an author of books that are for every creature!" Grandeur responded.
"But why would you write a...villain story?!" asked Nature Bloom, as she bean to cower down in fear of the thought.
"I figured that, if I show that I can come up with something new and out of the ordinary as my debut as an author, every creature will notice me..." Grandeur answered.
"So you mean that you choose popularity over morality?!" the voice of Sunshine Rays could be heard angrily asking, as the said pegasus appeared, with Falcon Dive following behind her.
"I am so sorry..." Grandeur gulped, "It's just that, an author's job is not as easy as it just writing books and stories! Their books must be popular so they can earn an income!"
"But still, choosing being popular and publishing a book that is not beneficial and worst of all, a bad influence, is downright wrong!" Sunshine angrily roared.
"Sunshine! You are really out-of-control!" Luster told the furious, huffing and letting out steam pegasus, "I know morality means a lot to you, and the world, but you need to be patient!"
Hearing Luster Dawn's words, Sunshine Rays began to cool down, as she apologised to Grandeur, "I am so sorry for getting so furious, so quickly. I guess this is a lesson for me to report to the princess about friendship."
"And it is a great lesson to be taught to all of Equestria and Beyond!" Eclipse commented, as she and Shapeshifter approached the team.
"We have been travelling around all of Equestria for weeks, just to teach the friendship lessons we have learnt, and prove that we have changed for the better. And, if it's a lesson written in a popular book..." Shapeshifter began, making Grandeur gasp.
"You're saying I should write a book about...that friendship lesson?!"
"And not just that friendship lesson, all sorts of friendship lessons!" Alkali claimed.
"Friendship lessons are indeed beneficial as long as they teach what real, true good friendship is like. So, I am totally alright if you chose them over moral lessons, since they can be quite friendly." Sunshine Rays commented.
"So, what do you say, would you write a new book about friendship lessons?" Luster asked.
"Sorry every creature, but...I still have no idea where to start." grandeur told the heroes, causing Falcon Dive to groan and face-claw himself.
"Come on! How can author not know any friendship lessons to write?!" asked Krona, in a somewhat furious tone.
"I'm so sorry, I was so carried away with wanting to come up with something rare and extraordinary to be the most popular, I never thought of writing something like friendship lessons, especially since Princess Twilight and her friends' Friendship Journal was published so long ago, and it has a lot of friendship lessons!" Grandeur explained.
"But yours won't be completely the same! Every creature is different!" Buffer pointed out.
"How will I know if every creature will be interested?!" asked Grandeur.
"Listen, is it being the most popular what you wanted and needed? Or is it being really, truly the best what you wanted and needed?" asked Sunshine Rays.
"What she meant is; will you choose being loved and liked and known by many, or choose to show what the real good, best things are?" Volcano clarified.
"Please choose the second option, it's really for the better." Nature Bloom pleaded.
"You totally should have seen Sunshine's alter-ego's scary presentation of the consequences of every creature being interested in what is the most popular instead of what is the real best!" Alkali commented.
"If you need more proof that is! And if you are wondering about Sunshine's alter-ego presentation, we can tell you. But, back to the main point, what we are all trying to tell you is: the most popular and the best are not the same." Evergreen clarified.
"The best, or to be more specific, the real best, is something truly beneficial, and a good example and influence for all who know its existence!" Yellow Bright added.
"I learnt from you that authors' aims are to be the most popular, but think about it; Is being selfish and more concerned with your own needs and wishes, and choosing them over being a good moral influence the best? Or something the most popular author should be like?! " Falcon Dive asked.
"What we are all hoping that you will choose is to be truly, the real best, and write a beneficial good influence book." clarified Luster Down, "And if you can't think well enough to write one, we will help."
"Because that is what true, real good friends do!" Sunshine Rays claimed.
"Wait...true, real good friends?!" asked Grandeur.
"Grandeur may not be the Heroic Ten's best friend, but the Heroic Ten are willing to call him a friend." Krona declared, as her tone gradually changed from declaring to a warm, friendly tone.
"It is quite true that we are best friends with one another," Evergreen stated, before Yellow Bright finished the sentence for her in a cheerful tone.
"But we still treat every creature else as friends! And the way we would treat each other!"
"Really? Every creature?" Eclipse asked in a sarcastic tone.
"Well...except for those who aren't willing to accept friendship, and are up to extreme no good?" Volcano responded in a gradually turning from normal to scared tone.
"Just a reminder," Eclipse told the creatures, as a warm expression formed on her face.
"I was pretty awful too, wanting and preventing Eclipse from getting forgiveness all because I never got forgiven when I wanted to, but you are all still willing to reason with me and befriend me, which is...really noble of all of you." Shapeshifter commented.
"When you know true good friendship, you truly can be some creature great and heroic!" Alkali responded.
"And since some creature like us are famous for our well-known good deeds, there's no doubt that something good can become well-known, too!" Sunshine Rays exclaimed upon her realisation.
"Can't believe that one short, less than ten minutes conversation is enough to get us to realise a lot of good friendship lessons to be written in a book," Buffer commented.
"But, how am I going to fit them all in, in a way that it obviously won't be like Princess Twilight and her friends' Friendship Journal?!" asked Grandeur.
The heroes thought for a while, before Luster suggested, "Why don't instead of listing all those lessons, write narrative stories that teach them! There's no way your narrative stories can be the same as what is in that journal!"
"But how am I going to make them interesting? I need inspiration! And know what to teach, and how t teach!" Grandeur panicked.
"We may not be students nor ex-students of any friendship-teaching school," Eclipse Instant commented, turning every creature's attention to her and Shapeshifter.
"But we know for sure, one of the most valuable lessons about friendship is..." Shapeshifter began, before saying in unison with Eclipse, "Every creature deserves to be forgiven for their mistakes and former bad attitudes, as no creature is perfect, not even a friend."
"If your friend isn't perfect from birth to present," Eclipse started a sentence, before Shapeshifter finished it for her.
"Why should you be not willing to befriend some creature who has a past of flaws like every creature?"
"A friendship lesson about forgiveness! That is a really good one to include in a beneficial, good example and influence, best book ever, for real." Evergreen commented, mostly for Grandeur to listen to.
"Another great friendship lesson we know is to never let anything the world gives you distract you from caring about your friends, or any creature you know that exists," Alkali added, before referring to the recent events that affected her friendship with Volcano, "A while ago, Volcano made me his teaching assistant so he...or most likely, we can teach the students at Improvement Academy, who find his lessons uninteresting. I got so overwhelmed by the students' praises and love for me, that I...forgot about Volcano. Or, mostly never thought abut him nor the fact that he Never got any credit until he..."
"Got super jealous and angry? Kept the emotions a secret until they escaped as the jealous teacher got extremely jealous? During the Monthly Award Ceremony?" Volcano finished the story for Alkali, as he stood by her side, "Yes, all those events are real. They indeed happened, and we both learnt a lesson about friendship. Alkali already stated hers, and now it's my turn to state mine: I learnt that true friends will never hide the truth about any unpleasant emotion that they have from their friends, even if i's a bad feeling towards a friend. Hiding the truth and bottling up emotions will only make things worse, and can lead o disaster when the emotions reach its brim, as in, the limits and make their owner go out-of-control."
"But you sure aren't going to make those mistakes again, are you?" Nature Bloom asked.
"I will never forget that valuable friendship lesson, nor any of my best friends, nor friends, nor any creature I know that exists!" Alkali declared.
"And I will totally improve my integrity and tell the truth more often at the start," Volcano added.
"All this talking about friendship lessons make Krona remember something about friendship, that the Heroic Ten really did not go through any adventure to learn," Krona contributed, "When Luster said that Princess Twilight Sparkle acted mean, Luster's friends decided to ensure everything's alright."
"Like true friends would!" Buffer added.
"As true friends will care about their friends," Falcon Dive continued.
"And anything and everything they know that matters to their friends!" Yellow Bright cheerfully joined the conversation.
"Including feelings and emotions," Nature Bloom ended.
"Wow, that's a lot about friendship! I can see why Princess Twilight decided to declare that you all graduated on the day you named yourselves and defeated Eclipse Instant," Grander commented, before turning to Eclipse, "No offence, really."
"Don't worry, I know every creature knows about what I've done," Eclipse replied in a depressed tone.
"But we are going to make sure that they all know that you are no longer like that," Shapeshifter assured, placing his right front hoof on Eclipse's shoulder.
"There's a lot more about true friendship than just what we mentioned," Luster told the author, before Sunshine Rays made a list.
"True friends will ensure you do what is really right, true friends will listen to one another, true friends will share beneficial things with one another, true friends will give each other the encouragement they need..."
"We all know those, Sunshine." Falcon Dive cut her off, before turning to Grandeur, "Everything we mentioned are all so epic! They will totally not risk your popularity! I mean, they're interesting!"
"And true friendship isn't the only thing beneficial! You can include some beneficial educational facts in your book!" Volcano suggested.
"So your readers will learn and improve in their education as they read!" Alkali added.
"It's killing two birds with one stone," Evergreen explained, "Which is an idiom meaning achieve two aims at once. Mostly saying get two benefits from one thing."
"Thank goodness it's an idiom and not...literally!" Nature Bloom commented.
"Look on the bright side; even if those were already thought of and featured in others' creations, you can still be interesting!" Yellow Bright cheered as he pointed out.
"And you can always try to add more to it!" Buffer added.
"Like comics, discs, magic animation! They're all the BEST!" Krona exclaimed like a yak would.
"I think you meant 'magical animation'," Volcano corrected before suggesting, "I know it can take a lot of time, but they are totally worth it, as creating comics and a disc that can play music and a reading-aloud, will prove that you are diligent and put in a lot of effort."
"So what do Grandeur say?" Krona asked.
"Well, I have been an author who writes thousands of words...but...I guess all of your suggestions are worth it to be in my new, better book. If only I had the skills to make all those..." Grandeur sadly responded.
"Don't worry, you got ten new friends here who will help you with all of that," Luster Dawn reassured the grey pony, as the Heroic Ten gathered around him.
"Make that twelve," Eclipse declared, as she and Shapeshifter jones in.
"We may be former villains, but that does not stop us from doing any good!" Shapeshifter saluted.
"And as former bad-doers who changed for the better and turned good, we can totally help make the best book better by proving that being good is a lot better than being bad!" Eclipse finished.
"For the first time in my whole life, I can't believe that something's happening! I'm getting help from famous heroes...and former villains." Grandeur happily wept a tear of joy.
"Then what are we all waiting for?! Let's get writing already!" Falcon Dive announced.
"And make a book that's truly the real best!" Sunshine Rays added.
"We can even create a disc with a song to further encourage every creature to acknowledge that it's the real best!" Alkali suggested.
"Say no more." Luster Dawn declared, before teleporting herself to the Castle of Friendship and back to Grandeur's house with the Heroic Ten's band instruments: Krona's bass drum pedal, Buffer's triangle, Sunshine Rays' keyboard, Volcano's viola, Nature Bloom's clarinet, Alkali's horn, Evergreen's harp, Yellow Bright's tambourine, Falcon Dive's electric guitar and Luster Dawn's microphone.
As soon as they held their instruments, Eclipse used one of her spells to record their musical performance. Throughout the song, the different individuals took turns playing and resting, and singing. Whenever Volcano, Nature Bloom and Alkali sang their lines, they stopped playing their respective instruments and only resumed after a line was finished. Buffer used his horns to gently hit the triangle tied to a string that was hung on a hook on a stand. Evergreen only strummed her harp after a verse was complete, while the short triangle tings only came after commas and completed sentences.
Volcano sang, "Got to be diligent,"
Sunshine Rays sang, "And moral,"
Falcon Dive sang, "And selfless,"
Nature Bloom, "And respectful and polite."
Luster Dawn sang,"If we want to create,"
Sunshine Rays sang, "A book that teaches what is right."
Krona sang, "The book must be, really, truly the best!"
Buffer sang, "Even if it's not the most popular, compared to the rest!"
Volcano sang, "Popularity may mean being liked, admired or supported by many."
Alkali sang, "But that sure doesn't mean, that it's really good!"
Evergreen sang, "Something that went on for generations, that they all didn't see..."
Yellow Bright sang, "But it's not too late to set things right!"
Sunshine Rays sang, "And in order to do that, you must do what you should, like a good creature would!"
Eclipse Instant sang, "Being moral isn't easy, going against some wishes,"
Shapeshifter sang, "Doing so is truly for, every creature's good."
Evergreen sang, "Even if they don't, see it that way,"
Yellow Bright sang, "Cheer up! Sooner or later, it will finally be understood."
All sang, "The real, true best is something needed.
a good example, a good influence, a good choice.
Something beneficial to every creature,
and it is what should be voiced."
Falcon Dive sang, "Care about others,"
Nature Bloom sang, "And every little thing,"
Volcano sang, "That can set a reaction,"
Sunshine Rays sang, "As fast as time is flying."
Alkali sang, "Even one little action, can cause a big effect!"
Krona sang, "So all it takes to encourage creatures to be immoral, is one little wrong act..."
Buffer sang, "Do not follow the crowd, when you know that they're wrong,"
Evergreen sang, "What the real right is, remains right all along!"
Sunshine Rays sang, "Follow the rules, even if they take away your fun!"
Luster Dawn sang, "Because they are truly for the good, of every creature, every last one!"
Falcon Dive sang, "You got many acceptable ways to be epic.
Like instruct a safe new skill, with info from Physics!"
Nature Bloom sang, "Or encourage others to accept nature's rules! With info from, Biology..."
Volcano sang, "Or warn others of reactions, with the aid of Chemistry!"
Yellow Bright sang, "When there are so many things that aren't against the rules,"
Sunshine Rays sang, "No reason to break them to be amused."
All sang, "The real, true best is something needed.
a good example, a good influence, a good choice.
Something beneficial to every creature,
and it is what should be voiced."
Eclipse Instant sang, "Is it really getting everything you desired, really the best?"
Shapeshifter sang, "Being truly good-valued, and a do-gooder, makes you feel really blessed."
Krona sang, "No matter what's popular,"
Yellow Bright sang, "Or favoured."
Buffer sang, "Or wanted."
Falcon Dive sang, "Or interesting."
Sunshine Rays sang, "The real,
right,
good thing,
is still the real best thing!"
Krona sang, "Integrity,"
Buffer sang, "Listening,"
Sunshine Rays sang, "Morality,"
Volcano sang,"Diligence,"
Nature Bloom sang, "Niceness,"
Alkali sang, "Encouraging,"
Evergreen sang, "Patience,"
Yellow Bright sang, "Positivity,"
Falcon Dive sang, "Selflessness,"
Luster Dawn sang, "And leadership."
All sang, "Will help you be a good, heroic creature,
and show that popularity will never be as good as true friendship!"
All sang, "The real, true best is something needed.
a good example, a good influence, a good choice.
Something beneficial to every creature,
and it is what should be voiced."
At the end of the song, Eclipse magically placed the record int a disc that was placed at the end of Grandeur's new book, which was about his experience of meeting the Heroic Ten, and the valuable good friendship lessons they taught him, to the delight of the heroes.
"That is way better than a villain horror story!" Nature Bloom commented.
"And we were involved! For real!" Yellow Bright added.
"We really are epic and great enough," Falcon Dive proudly declared.
"And I can't wait to see what happens after this new, better book is published!" Sunshine Rays voiced her opinion.
"Well, I better get going to the publishers," Grandeur told his new friends, "And I can't wait to write more beneficial, good influence, what every creature needed, books!"
"Grandeur meant the real BEST!" Krona exclaimed.
"And I still can't thank you all enough for helping me, even though I was not a friend that you're familiar with." Grandeur told the twelve creatures.
"Do you really think we only help creatures we know really well?" Falcon Dive asked.
"We care about every creature that we know the existence of!" Alkali said in a cheerful tone.
"Or basically, any creature who needs our help," Volcano added
"And it's always, help them become better creatures for real!" Sunshine Rays stated.
"Like a real, true, good friend would." Luster Dawn ended, "Speaking of friend, there's a friend that I have to send a letter to."
Dear Princess Twilight Sparkle,
My best friends and I know a lot about real, true, good friendship, and one of the many things we have learnt, returned to focus with each adventure we have. Our focus may initially have been, encourage an author to write books that are truly the real best over books that are the most popular, but we ended up teaching him about true good friendship, and the valuable lessons we learnt. Most importantly, we taught him to not go after fame, as it is never as good as the real best, nor true good friendship. The real best thing is something every creature needed, a good example and influence, and beneficial, like real, true good friends are.
Signed, your faithful student,
Luster Dawn
After sending the letter away, Luster turned to see Sunshine Rays with the book Grandeur created with the aid of the Heroic Ten, Eclipse Instant and Shapeshifter.
"Luster! Grandeur's new book have been published! And thanks to us, it's the number one most popular! And it encouraged all of Equestria and Beyond to have a new column for the real, best books!" Sunshine Rays happily exclaimed.
"That's great news! With a popular, beneficial book, every creature will be influenced to do good, and be good! To bad Eclipse and Shapeshifter are still travelling, or they can finally return to Ponyville to read Grandeur's An Author Meets the Heroic Ten, True Story with us." Luster sadly stated.
"They figured that their travels are worth it, as in, to ensure that every creature knows that they're reformed, and to ensure every creature learns about true friendship." Sunshine Rays reminded.
"And hopefully they can return really soon, as this book with a mixture of cartoon comics and well-written words in the pages, and the song we played, is. The. BEST!" Luster exclaimed, before using her magic to open the book and read.