Forgiven

The Friendship Problem Twilight Sparkle Couldn't Solve

Sunset's P. O. V.

For the next few months, I was used to a routine. Garrett would wake up in the morning, and he'd help the Apple Family with working on the farm. Because he was tall and lean, apple picking was easy for Garrett. He'd help Big Mac carry bucket loads of the apples they picked. Something tells me that Garrett and Big Mac got along fine. I'd sit on the porch with Granny Smith. She taught me how to knit. Sometimes, we'd listen to Garrett sing while he worked. And sometimes we would hang out with the girls. Every Sunday, Garrett and I would visit Solar's grave. And every Saturday I would write to Twilight about the progress we were making so far.

On one particular Sunday, we'd finished visiting Solar. My stomach was beginning to show a little. But something was on my mind. As Garrett rolled my wheelchair, I asked, "Hey Garrett, is it true that you're part of a singing band? And I hear it's the equivalent to a boy band." Garrett chuckled and said, "Yes, I'm part of a singing group. I'm the bass of the group. We call ourselves Colts To Stallions." I can't help but crack a smile at the name. "Sounds similar to a boy band here," I chuckled, "Boyz II Men."

"That does sound similar," chuckled Garrett. "Aside from you, who else is part of Colts to Stallions?" I asked out of curiosity. I saw Garrett move his face a little in order to remember the names, and then he said, "Well there was me, our lead singer Elvis, he's a blue Pegasus, there's our baritone rhythmist Barry Tone, he's a land pony, there's our high tenor harmonists Tenor and Fall Setto, they're twins, and there was Vanity Narcissus." I couldn't help but groan and scowl at the mere mention of Garrett's childhood friend. Out of all the ponies I've met in my life, Vanity Narcissus is one of the few ponies I dislike. I always thought he was self centered and rude. He always interrupted Garrett, and talked way too much. Why Garrett would ever be friends with such a snob is beyond me.

"Look, Garrett I love you as my brother," I began, "but can Vanity even sing? I never liked him. I always thought he was toxic." Garrett sighed and said, "Well you'll notice I used the past tense of was. Over the years, I realized that Vanity was an awful friend. Every conversation was one-way with him, he didn't know how to take criticism, if he was resisted, he'd throw a temper tantrum and blame it on me like it was my fault!" I frowned even more. "So he always labelled you the bad guy for his petulant behavior?" I asked. "That's not all," replied Garrett, "he always said he had a bad temper, as if that would justify his actions. Imagine Blueblood and Trixie combined, and that is what Vanity Narcissus was. He'd always shoehorn himself into everything I wanted to do, with unrealistic expectations; and when I tried to be reasonable and logical in a kind-hearted way, he'd say stuff like, 'well thanks a lot, now I'm angry!' I've honestly had to repress my anger to where I screamed into pillows and cried myself to sleep. That's how suffocating he was!" He huffed in frustration. I didn't realize Garrett went through so much anxiety because of this toxic friend. And he was nothing but kind to him. I held his hand and asked, "if you felt that way, why let him join Colts to Stallions?"

"I had no choice," said Garrett, "he threatened to ruin my life if I didn't let him join. I thought it would work out. And I did befriend the rest of the group. I was happy because I got to live my dream. But I ended up regretting the idea of letting Vanity join. He can't sing. He sings about as good as a dying donkey falling off a cliff!" Mean as that insult was, I couldn't help but laugh at that. I ought to tell Dash that insult. She could get a laugh. "Go on," I chuckled. "Yeah so," continued Garrett, "because Van couldn't sing, it was one of the reasons Colts to Stallions was divisive. And Van was a diva! He'd always show up late, pick fights with the guys, and he'd demand more singing parts. Plus, he thought it would be a great idea if the band's name was renamed Vanity and the Colts to Stallions! That doesn't even make any sense since Elvis is the leader of our group! And he doesn't call it Elvis and the Colts to Stallions! If it weren't for me, things would get violent. He had to go. When I met Princess Twilight, we turned to her for friendship advice. She agreed, Vanity was a toxic friend. So toxic, that there was no way Twilight could solve this friendship problem. Vanity Narcissus drove Twilight to her limits. I was in a no-win situation. If I ended our friendship, Van would get angry and label me the bad guy. If I remained friends with Van, we'd all be unhappy. And I would be at my wit's end! But Twilight advised me that it would be better to let him go. Yeah, it'd hurt, but it'd be better than the alternative. So we unanimously kicked him out of the group. Unsurprisingly, Van threw a temper tantrum and made me to be the bad guy, and accused me of being a gold digger because of my newfound friendship with Twilight. That's when I snapped and screamed every awful thing I hated about him, and told him I had enough of having him as a toxic friend. Van stormed off after that, threatening that this wasn't over. I then burst into tears, having a mental breakdown. I let out years of repressed pain. Twilight was the one who comforted me." Bless Twilight's heart. I smiled and said, "you love her, don't you?"

"Yeah," admitted Garrett as he blushed. "Don't worry, our little secret," I promised as I winked at him. He and Twilight do look cute together. "Anyway, when we got rid of Van, we hoped Colts to Stallions would prosper more," continued Garrett, "and we almost did. Colts to Stallions was better without Van. But Vanity found a way to retaliate. He spread awful rumors about us, nearly damaging our reputation. We then decided to take a hiatus until all this could blow over. After Colts to Stallions decided to take the hiatus, Twilight told me about what happened to you, and here we are." Poor Garrett. "I'm sorry you went through that," I said. "Hey, I'm just glad I can spend time with my BSBFF." Garrett optimistically said. "What?" I laughed. "Twilight calls Shining Armor her Big Brother Best Friend Forever," explained Garrett. "Oh, so I'm your Big Sister Best Friend Forever," I said, understanding the reference. "Yep," said Garrett. I smiled and said, "Well I'm glad to have you as my LBBFF." I think Garrett got what that stood for.