//------------------------------//
// Friendship and Harmony 
// Story: Last 
// by Alan Smithee 
//------------------------------//

Dear Princess Celestia,

I am happy to report that the dragon has departed our fair country, and that it was my good friend Fluttershy who convinced him to go. This adventure has taught me to never lose faith in your friends. They can be an amazing source of strength, and can help you overcome even your greatest fears.

Always your faithful student, Twilight Sparkle.

Spike the dragon happily transcribed Twilight's letter. The dragon and the pony were in their bedroom atop the library in Ponyville, and Twilight was recounting the events of her latest adventure.

"Twilight! You gotta come see this!" Applejack called from outside.

Twilight walked to her front balcony, leaving Spike alone with the letter, sitting on the stairs in the upper room of the library. The smell of Fluttershy’s animals hung in the air. 

Spike read the letter over. "An amazing source of strength," Spike echoed. Twilight didn't need strength, he thought to himself. Her magic was more powerful than anything. He'd even gotten her to admit she was the best unicorn in Ponyville. Laughter erupted from outside. That was usually his cue to go and join in on whatever fun his pony friends were having, but he was stuck in his musings. She had rid Ponyville of an Ursa Minor all on her own, knew everything any of her friends knew and more, and she was Princess Celestia's one and only student for Pete's sake! Surely the most powerful pony in all of Equestria had taught her enough to meet any challenge that could come her way. Spike was pulled out of his musings as Twilight returned from the balcony, still chuckling. 

"Spike, you should have seen it! Pinkie Pie just pulled the funniest prank on Rainbow Dash. She practically scared Dash out of her skin!" 

Spike regretted missing it. The letter in his claws drooped, reflecting his mood. 

"What's the matter? Are you going to send that letter or just keep reading it?"

"Oh. Right." Spike rolled up the scroll and sent it on its way in a burst of yellow-green fire. Twilight was heading downstairs. "Hey, Twilight..."

"Hm?" She stopped.

"Can I ask you a question?"

"Anything." Twilight turned around to face Spike.

"When you said friends were an amazing source of strength...you didn't mean for you, right?"

Twilight cocked her head. "Of course I did. Everypony ought to have friends! Why? What are you thinking?"

"Well, I just don't think a unicorn as talented as you would need to worry about being weak. I mean, we both know you could have gotten rid of that dragon yourself."

Twilight thought about it. She supposed it was possible that she could have figured out a way to trick or scare or carry the dragon out of its cave and away from Ponyville. Such a task would have required study and planning, but it could have been done. “I guess, Spike.” Maybe Spike was on to something there. "But..." she started.

"But nothing!" Spike declared, proud of how unquestionably right he was. Twilight glared at him. Spike's smile disappeared when he realized he'd forgotten his place.

"But the thing is, Fluttershy was the perfect pony for the job. She was kind but firm, and the dragon learned not to sleep where his snoring threatened living things with smoke."

Spike tilted an eyebrow, he still didn't get it.

"There is one less inconsiderate dragon in the world, Spike, because of Fluttershy. I could have scared that dragon out of his cave, but I couldn't teach him anything like that. It's not my special talent"

Spike nodded in half-understanding. "But what about Applejack, or Rainbow Dash or Pinkie Pie? What did they do?" Spike was careful not to mention Rarity.

Twilight thought some more. "Well, Applejack carried Fluttershy all the way around the mountain when she got scared. Applejack's physical strength made that possible. Her tenacity and good judgment set a good example for all of us..." Twilight shivered, "...And she saved my life."

Spike's jaw dropped.

"I'll tell you later. I know Rainbow Dash was reckless up there, but if she hadn't gotten the dragon out of his cave Fluttershy would never have found the bravery to do what she did. As for Pinkie Pie and Rarity..." Twilight stood for a minute, lightly tapping her hoof on the wooden floor to a regular beat. At last, she spoke. "Nothing, really"

"Nothing?"

"Nothing. But Spike, Pinkie Pie is always smiling, and always making us smile. What if that trip had taken days, or weeks or years? I don't think anypony but Pinkie Pie could have kept us going."

"And...Rarity?"

"Rarity came this close", Twilight held her hooves an inch apart, "to tricking that dragon into leaving the cave and abandoning his jewels. Pretty amazing of her, wouldn't you say?"

Spike was smitten with Rarity and she wasn't even in the room. "Amazing..." he said dreamily.

"I would sure like a pony like her to be around in a lot of situations. Not this time, but that doesn't mean she has no purpose! And don't forget yourself, Spike. We wouldn't have gotten Fluttershy to even leave Ponyville if you hadn't agreed to look after her animals while she was gone."

"So what you're saying is that every friend has something special to add to our lives, and to make the world a better place at the same time?"

"Exactly! All ponies need the help of their friends to fully realize their potential, and nopony is completely useless."

"Wow, imagine if everypony was friends with everypony!"

"Well, that's what we try to achieve everyday, isn't it? That’s what Harmony is!."

"I'll bet there's nothing in the whole Universe more powerful than Harmony!" Spike jumped at the exciting concept. He ran up to and embraced Twilight with renewed appreciation for their friendship.

"I don't think there is, either" Twilight smiled. She thought of writing another letter to the Princess, but decided not to spoil the moment.





Edited by KeatsLocksley.
Re-formatted and partially re-edited 06/10/13 by Admari and Alan Smithee