//------------------------------// // Final Act: Taking it Easy // Story: Friendship is Failure #24- Twilight in Therapy // by DakariKingMykan //------------------------------// FINAL ACT Cy’s job was all but finished. He had finally helped Twilight realize the source of her troubles, there was nothing more he could do other than give suggestive advice. He let her keep the booklet with the suggestive terms in them. “Remember to consider them, not follow them blindly. …And try not to overwork yourself so much. Equestria was not founded or built in a single day you know. You need to learn to take rests and maybe a much-needed vacation.” Twilight could only promise, “I will try my best. Thank you, Doctor Colt, for everything.” They shared a warm hug. “Good Luck, Princess Twilight, and remember… my door is always open if you need and want the help I can give.” Twilight returned home to Ponyville, and while her friends were excited and happy to see her back again, upon Cy’s suggestion that they not overwhelm her with big parties, or chores, friendship missions, and that she needed time to consult herself with the booklet and all the sections it offered. This time she was willing to read through it all clearly, and not misjudge off the bat. Cy only told her to consider the subjects and use them the next time she thought of getting involved in the affairs of others. “Sometimes you can help, and sometimes you should, but always ask yourself if your help is even wanted or needed and be sure the kind of help you are giving is the kind that is wanted.” Twilight kept thinking this as she and Spike took a walk one day. “How are you feeling?” Spike asked for the millionth time. Twilight rolled her eyes, “I feel fine, Spike. I appreciate your concern for me, but you don’t have to ask that question every ten minutes.” Spike agreed to try not to. “I’m just so glad your home, and I’m glad you’re trying to get better.” “Me too.” Suddenly, she could see up ahead, those two ponies from the other day by town hall-- the stallion who refused his Ex Mare-Friend’s idea of getting back together. “I don’t want to get back together with you, and that’s final.” the stallion said. “I’m not going to let you just string me along like you did before.” Then he walked off, leaving the mare to the verge of tears. “Twilight…?” Spike asked while looked up at her. Rather than immediately go over and force herself onto the situation, Twilight anlysied things from what she had learned. “Is this my issue or problem or is it someone else’s problem that’s affecting me? Is this a problem I can/should fix or change? Do they want my help or ideas?” Instead, she walked over to the mare, and braced herself in case of any rejection… “Excuse me…” she said in polite voice. The mare looked up, “Princess Twilight?” then she looked guilty and apologized for her bad behaviour the other day “…I was just so upset.” Twilight forgave her, and asked, “I know this may not be my business, but maybe I can help if you want it.” The mare explained how she and her Ex dated a long time ago in high school. They dated a whole year, and he was very sweet guy. They never argued, he never questioned her, and he always said how much she was the greatest thing that ever happened to her, and even proposed marriage with a ring and everything. “Well, why did you break up with him?” asked Twilight. The mare guilty admitted, “I was growing bored, and I was charmed by another colt who was on the sports-team. He even asked me out, despite that I was already dating some pony else.” Spike was disgusted by this point. “You cheated on your own Colt-Friend?” “He didn’t know.” replied the mare “I just needed a change of pace. I needed some excitement. That one date turned into two more, and I realized I needed to break it off with my Ex.” He didn’t take it well… In a series of flashbacks, the breakup seemed so clear. “Look, I’m sorry. I know I should’ve told you I wanted to breakup, but I didn’t know how to tell you without hurting you.” “I can’t believe this.” he said. “Don’t take this the wrong way.” “Well, how else am I supposed to take it? You said I was a great guy, sweet, and kind… and for this you just dump me?” “There’s nothing wrong with you at all.” The guy had a mixed look on his face-- sadness, anger, crushed. Then, she returned his ring to him, and she had the absolute nerve to ask, “Can we still be friends?” He looked at her grimly, and shook his head at her, “I don’t think so.” and he walked off, throwing the ring in the trash. That was the end of the flashback, and both Spike and Twilight were appalled. Now they had a clear picture. The mare then explained, “I dated over the next few years, but none of those relationships worked out, and realized I was only happy when I dated him, but he wants nothing to do with me.” “I don’t think I can blame him.” Spike muttered to himself. Twilight considered more of the advice she was given. She could see this was not a problem for her to workout herself, and it was obvious that this mare was only trying to get back with her Ex to ease her conscience and feel better about herself. “All I can say to you is, you can’t force him to reconcile with you, and the more you nag him the worse its going to get.” The mare’s features hardened. “I thought you were willing to help with all problems. Maybe you’re not the Princess of Friendship every pony says you are.” Twilight remained calm and replied, “This isn’t my issue to control or influence. The both of you have to work this out for yourselves, and if the answer is still “No” well, that’s just the way it is. …But if you want more help, there is some pony I can recommend.” And she handed her Cy’s business card. “He can help you, but you have to want help, you have to want to help yourself.” The mare, still feeling upset, gave Twilight an angry sneer, but took the card anyway and slumped away. Twilight took in a deep breath maintaining control of her nerves. Spike was impressed with her. “Twilight, that was… amazing.” Twilight agreed, unable to believe she had just done that. “It’s not our problem to solve, Spike, and I don’t want to make things worse, but if things do turn worse, I can think about it and still offer some help. …My help and Cy’s help will still be there if they want it, but we can only offer so much advice.” She didn’t feel too upset. It wasn’t as if Equestria was in danger from that one problem. Still, she knew she had a long way to go before she could consider herself truly cured, but after what she had just done, both she and Spike felt that there was good hope in the future.