//------------------------------// // Act 4: Desertion // Story: Friendship is Failure #22: Pride and Punishment #2 (Family Unties) // by DakariKingMykan //------------------------------// ACT FOUR The next morning, after breakfast, Twilight had gathered the entire friendship council to the castle. Pinkie Pie was all giddy and bouncing with glee at the spread of cupcakes and cookies on the table she had brought over for the tea and refreshments. “Oooh, it all looks so tasty!” she drooled. Applejack held her back. “Take it easy, Pinkie. Remember, this here ain’t going to be no social call.” Pinkie straightened herself out and maintained her will. Rarity admired the heart-shaped cozies. “My students really know their art. I really ought to give them higher credit.” Rainbow hovered by the windows, and she didn’t like the looks of the dark clouds coming in. “I remember the pegasi were going to make it rain today. That way the weather will be clear for the picnic next weekend.” Twilight was only slightly relieved, and she had already sent Fluttershy off to ask Ruby and Sticker to come to the castle. “Once they arrive, I’ll go and get Scribbler, and then we’ll all be here and we can start to try and get the family under control.” Starlight still felt this constituted as harassment. “You’re bringing them here against their wishes, Scribbler especially.” Twilight shook her head and insisted, “This is for his own good; what he’s doing isn’t healthy for himself. He needs to go back to the way he once was-- caring, loving, and enjoying life, and it’s not just for his sake or his family, it’s for every creature’s sake.” She meant that she couldn’t take how Scribbler was punishing other creatures, and pushing them away the way he was. Even though he still wasn’t doing anything illegal, she was deeply concerned that things like this would cause uproar all over Ponyville, which would lead to more collapsing of friendship. Suddenly, Fluttershy came bursting into the room in complete panic. “Twilight!” she cried “It’s terrible! It’s awful! It’s It’s--” “Fluttershy, calm down.” said Applejack “What’s all this wildness for?” “And where are Sticker and Ruby?” asked Twilight. Fluttershy came right and said it… “...Ruby is in jail!” Everyone single face in the entire room froze with shock. Pinkie then gasped hard, and felt parched right after, so she had a sip of tea. It turned out that right after Applejack had left Ruby at the restaurant the other night, she had plenty of time to think it over, and, when she went home that night, she couldn’t sleep at all. Finally, early into the morning, she couldn’t fight it anymore, and wanted to go out to Scribbler and apologize to him… once again, ignoring and violating the restraining order. Scribbler called the guards, and she was locked up for her constant violations. In almost no time at all, Twilight had teleported straight to the Ponyville County Jailhouse, where she found Ruby was indeed behind bars, and she also learned that her son had been brought over as well to decide what to do with him. Twilight was willing to put up bail-- as a princess and school manager; she had a fortune to spare. Ruby was released, but the social workers at the jail were uncertain if whether or not Sticker could be returned to her. “But why?” wailed Twilight “She was only trying to reconcile with her ex-husband.” “I understand that,” the mare explained “But I’m afraid it doesn’t chance the fact that she is now going to have to appear in court, and the judge will have to decide if whether or not she is fit to maintain custody over her son. I’m sorry, Princess, but this is something for the law to decide. Not friendship.” She excused herself, and Twilight gazed at Ruby in shock or disappointment. “I’m sorry. I tried.” she sobbed, and she ran out of the house, humiliated and in tears. “Ruby Red!!” called Twilight, but she had already gone. …As for Sticker... Twilight could see through a window into another area of the jailhouse, where the poor little colt was sitting, and in tears. He was so scared and so upset of seeing his mother get arrested, and wondering what would happen to him. Twilight was so enraged with Scribbler, that she teleported immediately to his home, and practically slammed on the door. “SCRIBBLER… GET OUT HERE!!” she shouted. Her voice echoed all through the neighborhood, and made birds scatter away. There was no answer. Twilight was then panting softly, but then she noticed a letter under the mat by the door. It was actually addressed to her from Scribbler… “Princess Twilight… If you’re reading this, you are too late, I have already left, but I’m sure you would have come by, and you know why. So, I’ll get right to the point… I’ve just up and abandoned it all-- my job, my home, and especially the creatures around me. I am tired of everyone constantly getting in my face about how to live my life. I’m already on my way, deep beyond the borders of Equestria with what money I have to start a new life for myself. It’s better this way, for me, for Ruby, and for my son. I leave to them all my things for support and stuff, but don’t bother come looking for me. Just know I was pushed to this!” --Scribbler Twilight slumped slowly on the steps as rain began to fall. All her plans were no more good, and now the family would never reconcile and get back to a better lifestyle. She felt so angry at Scribbler, and upset for the loss, that she curled up and began to cry softly. It wasn’t until Starlight had come looking for her when she never came home, that she took her back to the castle to try and sort out whatever was left of things. Over the next few days, the courts ruled that despite Ruby’s offense, it was non-too severe, and as Sticker still needed a mother, and that she was still stable and able to provide for him… …Sticker got to stay with her. Still, two ponies were a wreck, and they cried their woes away. Ruby was outraged when she heard that Scribbler flew the coop, but more at herself for driving him to it. Sticker was especially upset that he had lost his father, possibly forever, and it hurt him dearly. Neither Sticker nor Ruby blamed Twilight or her friends for what happened. In their situation, they needed all the friends and support they could get. Twilight still felt really guilty, feeling she did play a part in this, even though it wasn’t really her fault. All the next week, Twilight and all the other ponies taught to their students at school about the events that occurred, and how some families were different. “I hope you all learn from this, because I would hate to think that you or someone you know and care about is going through the same things.” The students felt horrible for Sticker and his mother. Some of the students even went to visit Sticker at his home after school and made friends with him. Sticker was happy to have so many new friends, but it still would never fill the hole in his heart-- missing his father. As for Ruby, she was finding harder to work than ever, now having to take more care of her son than ever, but she was willing to manage as she was at fault for driving Scribble away, and she couldn’t bear to leave her boy with anymore sitters. It made her begin to appreciate what Scribble did when he was with them more than ever, and how much she wished he would come back. To show even more support and sympathy, Twilight invited to two to her school’s family picnic over the weekend, even if it meant it would remind them of their loss, it would also show how much support they were being given, and all the new friends they could have. The two had a good time, and Twilight was pleased, but she still thought of Scribbler and was still livid at how he just abandoned all morals in the book. “Maybe someday he’ll come back.” suggested Applejack “Maybe being away will give him time to think it over, and he’ll realize the error of his ways.” Twilight hoped the same thing. “But what if he never comes back, and even if he does, will everything get worse? I mean… he just up and abandoned his family and everything else he had. How can anyone forgive him over that. I’m not sure even I would.” To which Applejack replied, “Whatever happens, we’ll be ready for it. No family deserves to be under this much stress and hurt for so long, but even still… they have to learn to pull through somehow. Some families get back together, and some don’t.” Twilight smiled at her friend’s wisdom and honesty, and with all this in mind, there was nothing else to do but join back in the picnic, and prepare studied for lessons relating to these events. All they could ever do was continue to hope that Scribbler, wherever he was, would see the error of his ways, swallow his pride, and come back to make things better.