//------------------------------// // Act 2: Love and Friendship // Story: Friendship is Failure #27- Love is a Danger Zone // by DakariKingMykan //------------------------------// ACT TWO At Rainbow Castle, the friends all gathered in the living room where Cadance told the story of Strings… *Cadance’s POV* I was more than just Twilight’s Foal-Sitter… When I was teaching about love in my youth at Canterlot Palace, I showed the many ways it could be expressed… -Drawing pictures… -Cooking fancy meals… -Or just by being there to help someone when they needed it. …But my favorite and most wonderful way was through music. There’s nothing more romantic, or heart-felt than singing or songwriting. I taught my students how to sing, how to play music, and how to write verses to come up with their own songs. …Strings was one of my older, and more advanced students, and he was phenomenal. He took my every lesson seriously and buried him into practicing for endless hours until he was able to sing so beautifully and make up so many lovely songs, you’d think he was a god. And the very first he sang to us all was “Mystery of your Gift.” *POV Pause* Rarity sniffed and dabbed her eyes weeping, “Unbelievably moving!” “That is so sweet!” squeaked Pinkie. Even Applejack and Rainbow were enamored by the beauty of that story. “So that’s why he sang it.” said Twilight. “He saw you in the audience, and he did it as a sort of “thank you.” Cadance figured that as well, and she was impressed by it all. “Do you remember what he said before he sang it?” “We all have our own special gifts; like magic that helps us become what we are today. How or why, we have it is a mystery, but when harnessed and used in the right way… it can lead to wonders beyond wonder.” “You taught him that?” asked Spike. Cadance nodded, “I taught all my students that, so they would never feel that they were never important, special, and to show them that they all had meanings, and reasons to live.” Fluttershy could barely hold her tears back. “That’s the sweetest thing I ever heard.” And then she asked. “What happened after?” Cadance continued with her story… *POV Continues* Strings became my star pupil, and the best graduate I ever had. I was no longer his teacher, but we were good friends. We saw each other from time to time, and I walked in on him writing new songs, and he would ask me to audience for him for opinions, And his songs were lovelier than ever, especially one he sang for me. “Music of the Night.” “Oh, Strings… that was so lovely!” “I… I’m glad you liked it… Cadance.” replied Strings. *Pause* The way Cadance kept describing Strings’ songs, and the way they sounded-- romantic, loving, and light— …Twilight began to sense something deep down. *Resume* As the years went by, Strings received offers to perform all over Canterlot. -He would perform concerts -Musical theater -Even at Canterlot Symphony Hall. I wouldn’t be seeing much of him soon; I had become princess, but I did ask him to perform at my coronation ball. After that, I was busy with my duties, and he was busy with his own concerts, but we wrote to each other here and then like good friends would. Then when I became engaged to Shining Armor, I really wanted Strings to come to the Royal Wedding and even perform “Mystery of your Gift” at the reception again… …Only, he wrote to me saying that he had another performance, outside of Canterlot that he couldn’t miss, and he sent his regrets. *POV Ends* Both Twilight and Applejack, again, began to sense a strange feeling-- that of dishonesty on Strings’ part. “What happened after that?” asked Spike. Cadance looked a little strange-- disheartened even. “It’s been two years now. We sort of lost touch. I tried writing to him, but he left his home in Canterlot to tour Equestria. He hasn’t been back to Canterlot ever since, at least not permanently. He came to perform a few concerts, but each time I was unable to attend-- I was too busy with Shining Armor running the Crystal Empire. Whenever I found where he was performing, I tried to write a letter to him, only to receive a response from management-- every time-- that he had just left and didn’t receive my letter.” Now all the ponies were beginning to have some sort of suspicion. “Anyway, that’s why I came here.” said Cadance. “It was wonderful to see him again.” “Yeah…” remarked Rainbow, “And then he goes around and turns down an invitation to come here and catch up with his old friend? That sounds strange to me.” Cadance just brushed it off, “I’m sure he’s busy. He is a star after all. Besides, I’m still proud of him anyway. He’s the best student and one of the best friends I ever had.” The ponies all sighed, but Twilight thought silently back to the concert… The way Strings spotted Cadance, and then gave a half smile, and nearly gasped in pain, and then when she brought Cadance to see him, he nearly looked shocked enough to have a heart attack and seemed desperate to get everyone out and refuse her invitation. Just then, there was a knock at the castle’s big doors. “Who could that be at this hour?” wondered Twilight. “How dare they interrupt such a comfortable moment.” grumbled Rarity. Everyone gave her a strange look as if she had said something naughty? “What?” Nevertheless, Twilight teleported herself to the door, and there stood Sun Rae. “Oh, good evening.” Twilight said politely. “Do I know you?” “No, but I know of you, Princess Twilight, and I need your help with something very desperate.” Twilight could sense in the sadness of her voice, and the look in her eyes, this pony was not kidding and had a serious problem, and despite having company over, as Princess of Friendship, Twilight was obligated to answer this. Sun only wanted to speak with Twilight, so rather than head back up to the living room, Twilight spoke with her privately in the Friendship Map room. Little did she know, her friends couldn’t help but snoop on her-- listening through the walls. “I don’t think this is very nice.” whispered Fluttershy. “Shh…!” said Pinkie. “I want to know what’s up.” Rarity snuffed, “Spying is so improper.” but she bit her hoof, unable to resist juicy gossip. Even Cadance couldn’t resist, she even recognized the voice of the other pony. “That’s Sun Rae, she’s another student of mine.” but she didn’t bother going into another detailed story, preferring to hear the problem. Twilight noticed the map was not glowing, meaning there was no Friendship Problem in need of attention, but she was still willing to hear Sun out. “What the problem you have?” Sun’s cheeks went red, and she was almost too shy, but she admitted, “…I’m in love.” Pinkie almost gasped loudly and would have shouted out behind the walls had Rainbow and Applejack-- anticipating she would-- jumped on her and held her mouth shut. “A love problem?” Cadance whispered. Whenever there were problems of love, she couldn’t help but want to be involved, but she remained silent and continued to listen in with the others. As for Twilight, while her department was Friendship; Love itself was deathly on the same level. “Tell me your problem. Sun. Maybe I can help.” she said to Sun. Sun hesitated, but then she finally blurted out. “I’m in love with Strings.” Twilight was surprised to hear this. Rarity nearly gasped and would have fainted had she not held herself back. Cadance was surprised herself, “Strings never told me he had a sweetheart.” Sun, however confirmed that she and Strings were not an item. “I’ve always loved him since we were students of Princess Cadance, but nothing ever worked out, because… he’s in love with some-pony else.” Twilight began to see the picture on this problem. “So, he never returned your feelings at all?” Sun tearfully shook her head. “But that’s not the half of it. The pony he’s in love with… she’s out of bounds to him. She’s already married and very happy. Strings knows he can never be with her, and yet he won’t ever let go and move on.” Twilight, and all her friends were now concerned, especially Cadance. There was nothing more serious or hurtful than unrequited love. The more they listened to the story, the more concerned they became, and yet Sun refused to reveal the mystery pony’s identity-- Twilight didn’t even bother to ask who she was. “I tried to show Strings my feelings…” Sun explained “I praised his music, I gave him nice gifts-- friendship bracelets, nice cards, and even shared my food with him when he hadn’t eaten. …But he just wouldn’t show any love for me.” Twilight’s friends were a mixture of emotions. “Oh, that poor dear.” sniffled Fluttershy. Rarity held back her sobs, not wanting to sound too loud. “How can some pony not notice another… reaching out… to him?” Rainbow didn’t know what to feel more disgusted by, “All the romance is mushy enough, but this is kind of the border of way mean.” Cadance had heard enough herself, and she magically melted herself through the wall, just as Sun was asking. “Why? Why can’t Strings see how much he means to me? Why can’t Strings just forget about “Her” and love me?” “…Love doesn’t work that way.” Cadance said as she appeared. Twilight and Sun were surprised when she just popped in. “We’re you listening the whole time?” Twilight asked. Cadance admitted it, “We all couldn’t help, and she motioned at the wall. Twilight sighed and called to her friends, “All right, come on in.” The friends came into the room and took their seats with embarrassed and shameful expressions, but Twilight didn’t bother be annoyed with them. No one seemed to notice Sun staring at Cadance with a rather stern expression, but she quickly changed features to avoid a problem. Cadance then cleared her throat so she could continue speaking. “As I was saying… Love is a mysterious force. It’s always unpredictable. That’s one of the first things I taught you, remember?” Sun did remember some of the lectures from years ago, but she was obviously trying to deny them. “I can’t believe you. There must be a way to make it work. How can I get Strings to return my love-- like put him under a spell or force him to forget that pony?” “No!” said Twilight “That’s not possible. There is no magic that can really make any pony fall for another.” Sun was starting to lose her temper. “You’re just saying that!” “No, it’s true.” replied Cadance. “Love isn’t some magical force you can just summon or control, or even make happen.” Still in disbelief, Sun nearly balked at her, “But you make ponies fall in love all the time.” Candance shook her head, “That’s not how it works. I don’t make ponies fall in love. I just ignite the love and the good feelings deep within to help quell their hatred for a while. If they fall in love, it isn’t magic, it’s their genuine feelings.” “Trust us, Kiddo.” said Applejack. “There’s a big difference between “Magic” and “The Real Thing. It’s almost like… an apple pie.” You can buy one at a bakeshop, or you can try making it with your own hooves. A homemade pie can taste mighty fine compared to other recipes, but that’s because you made it yourself. But when you try to pass someone else’s pie as your own, that’s just a big old lie.” “Of Course…” Pinkie agreed, but then she whispered to the others, “I haven’t the slightest idea what she means.” Cadance explained, “What she means is… There is no magic that can make you, Strings, or any pony fall in or out of love.” Twilight agreed, “Let’s put it to you this way. Say you put Strings under a love spell, and he falls head over hooves with you. What then? It’s just the magic making him act this way, it’s not his true feelings.” Rarity then placed her hoof over Sun’s back. “Darling, take it from some pony with experience in these fields.” she implied herself. “Chasing after someone who simply will not return your feelings will lead only to disaster… and make you do… rather crazy, and unethical things.” She blushed in embarrassment, remembering all the times she humiliated herself with unrequited crushes. “But that’s another thing…” said Sun. “It’s not just Strings not loving me. I’m worried he’s going to do something nutty.” She told the group how Strings was at the bar, drowning himself, and how she confronted him. Now there was cause for concern. “Whoa!” said Spike. “Sounds like this guy has one heck of an unhealthy obsession. Glad I’m not someone who acts like that.” The others glared at him, especially Rarity, which made him blush, “…Well, not a whole lot.” While Cadance and Twilight knew they couldn’t help with Sun’s love problem, they were awfully concerned about Strings. “We can at least him try to control his obsession.” said Twilight. Cadance agreed, but she had serious doubts, “If his problems are stemming from Love, it won’t be so easy. Heartbreak can have all kinds of negative effects.” She then turned to Sun and asked, “Can you at least tell me the pony he’s obsessed with? Maybe it would help to talk to her about this too.” Sun knew exactly who it was, but she refused to reveal her. “I can’t tell you.” “Ah, come on. Yes, you can.” Insisted Pinkie. “Come on, who is it? Who? Who? Who? Who…?” “I CAN’T!” shouted Sun. “…I made a promise not to. Strings never wants the pony to know he has feelings for her… ever!” “Oh, we understand.” said Fluttershy. “You don’t have to tell us if you don’t want to.” The friends all agreed to it, especially Cadance.