//------------------------------// // Chapter 3 // Story: MLP A New Generation 3: The Rise of Armored Hoof // by TwiShine45 //------------------------------// “Failed…how have we failed?” Mane asked inquisitively. He noted that his friend’s face took on a look of complete sadness. More to the point, it was complete defeat. After millennia of feeling like a failure, it seemed that Quarter had become the living embodiment of it. At least, that was what Mane read in his eyes. The guitarist became extremely concerned for Quarter’s well being. For, after all, they’d been friends since foalhood, when they’d discovered each other and their shared penchant for music. “Look at us,” Quarter moaned. “We live in the middle of what used to be the Everfree Forest! Ponyville’s gone, Canterlot’s gone…and friendship is gone. Everything’s just…gone, Mane!” “But that doesn’t mean it can’t be put back together,” Mane reasoned. “I mean, there’s always a way to fix what’s broken, right?” “I don’t think this can be fixed,” Quarter said. “I mean, the three pony kinds have drifted so far apart since the war…a war that we couldn’t stop, even with all our music. But more than that, friendship has just been eliminated from society. No matter what we do, we’ll never make a difference again. We’ve failed Equestria, we’ve failed Celestia, and we’ve failed Twilight. Now…we sit here…waiting our inevitable demise.” Mane noticed the faded picture of Twilight sitting next to Quarter’s chair. He knew that the singer had very deep feelings for the pretty mare. They’d even written an entire album of music dedicated to her. True, she was the logical next step in their princess themed succession of records, but that one was different. Every note on there was carefully etched out by Quarter himself. He took the initiative to come up with melodies and lyrics that he thought she’d enjoy. It turned out that she did enjoy them, but unfortunately, had already given her heart to another. “Ah…I think I know where this is coming from,” Mane said. “What do you mean?” “Well, considering the picture resting beside you, I think this is all because of Twilight.” Quarter gave his friend a look. “N-no, it’s not! It has nothing to do with her! I mean, I miss her, sure, but I also miss friendship! Celestia gave us a mission, and we’re failing her. That’s what this is about.” “Uh-huh,” Mane said, nodding his head knowingly, “sure. You just keep telling yourself that.” Quarter looked down at the photo. Mane’s words rang true in his ears, though he didn’t want to let anypony know it. He’d been very private with his feelings for Twilight. She was happy with Gentle Wind, and he understood the boundaries that had been set. Still, there were many nights where he’d long to be alone with the kind ruler. Her purple eyes, her flowing mane, her sweet voice…everything about her set his heart alight. He desperately wanted to tell her, but he couldn’t. So, he hid a message in a song to her, told from the third-pony point of view. It was all about a stallion arriving in Ponyville, becoming bewitched by her friendship, and remaining there…but just as a friend, never as more. “…You could never be with her. You know that…right?” Mane asked, noting Quarter’s stare boring holes in the picture. “Why’d she have to go with Gentle Wind?” Quarter asked. “That stallion didn’t deserve her! I was the one who was always there for her, wasn’t I? He was off gallivanting around in the Pegasus Platoons while I took care of Twilight. I saw to her needs…I gave her friendship…I…I loved her.” “I have no doubt that you did,” Mane said, “but that was then and this is now. She made her choice between you, and I know that she did so with all the consideration in the world. After all, it was Gentle who spoke up and made his feelings known.” “I kept mine hidden,” Quarter said as tears formed, “…I just had to go and write that cryptic song to her!” “That ‘cryptic song’ was one of our biggest hits!” Mane argued. “The label loved it, our fans loved it…and Twilight certainly loved it. Do you know how many times she played it?” “Yes, and then she never got the freakin’ message!” Quarter said as a thousand years of emotions exploded. “She never understood that the song was about her! She never got it, and I have nopony to blame but myself! Do you know how much that hurts?!” Mane thought for a second about his own special mare in Canterlot, Moon Dancer. In many ways, she and Twilight were exactly alike. Bookish to a fault, studious, and increasingly interested in honing their various crafts. Yes, Moon and Twilight shared a ton of commonalities. After Moon had come out of her shell, Mane had begun dating her in earnest. The two had gotten married and had two foals. But, with him on the road so much as a member of Armored Hoof, and with her so busy at home…things fell apart. While he’d never written lyrics about Moon, he liked to think that a little piece of every riff he came up with was dedicated to her. “…yes…yes, I do,” Mane said. “I do know how much it hurts to lose somepony you love. But that doesn’t mean you just sit around and give up. We’ve been camped in these woods for I don’t know how long while you consistently bemoan the state of Equestria. But, it’s never been about the state of Equestria, has it? It’s all been about Twilight and a love that you can’t learn to move past.” “Mane’s right,” a new voice said. The two stallions turned to see one of the mare members of the band, Glowing Radiance, emerge from her tent. She was a pretty pony, with eyes the color of the sea and a mane to match. It was her job to lend backup vocals and keyboards to the twin guitar attack of the group. In fact, she was such a good singer, that it had once been rumored that her voice could be heard from Canterlot’s square all the way to the very heights of Cloudsdale. “What do you mean, he’s right?” Quarter asked. “He is,” Glowing said, “I mean, come on, Quarter. It’s been well over 1,200 years since Twilight was killed. It’s time to move on from her…not that I’m saying you, or any of us, should reject her memory, mind you. But it’s simply a matter of putting all feelings you had for her behind you.” “Yeah…maybe you’re right,” Quarter said. “I’m glad to hear you say that,” Mane said, “because we’ve gotta get back on our hooves. I mean, we used to sell out Canterlot Stadium on a regular basis! We’d spread our message of friendship to 100,000 ponies at a time! Now…we’re here, and we need to figure a way out.” Quarter looked up and was about to answer…when suddenly, something came barging into the camp!