Twilight Sparkle rapped on the door of what could have been the smallest house in Canterlot. She had come straight here alone after meeting up with her friends when she'd emerged from the inter-dimensional mirror. She had had this planned ever since meeting Dactylic Pentameter in the human world, and now, before she left with her friends for Ponyville, she had to do one last thing.

“It's open,” came a lackluster voice from inside.

Twilight opened the door and stepped into a very dark living area, lit by a single candle on a desk in the corner. Sitting at the corner with his head on the desk was a Pegasus stallion with parchment-colored fur and a spiky, ink-black mane. His cutie mark, just barely seeable in the dark, was of a quill pen crossed with a flower.

“Uhh . . .” Twilight began, unsure, “Dactylic Pentameter?”

The stallion picked his head up off the desk and turned to his company. “Yeah, who's asking?” he replied roughly. He then got a good look at the pony who'd come in, and a surprised look came to his face as his tone changed, “Oh! Princess Twilight Sparkle!” He then gave her a low, respectful bow.

“No, please, that's not necessary,” Twilight urged him, “and please, just Twilight is fine. Look, I was told by certain sources that you're the best poet in Canterlot, and . . . I wanted to meet you face-to-face.”

Dactylic Pentameter looked back at Twilight, his confusion slowly slipping into ambivalence. “Well, I'm flattered, but I can't imagine who'd tell you something like that,” his voice dropped back to its former brusqueness. “I haven't published anything in months. Whatever I had, it's probably gone, now.”

“Please, don't say that, Dactylic. I'm sure you—”

“Dac, please,” the Pegasus interrupted, correcting her.

“Uh, Dac, right . . . Dac, you have a lot to offer ponies, not just here in Canterlot, but in all of Equestria. Sure, you've had a dry spell, but it's no reason to give up.”

Dac scoffed, “'Give up'? I haven't been out to enjoy myself in years. Mares repeatedly reject me. I've been insulted and laughed at by every critic from here to Manehatten. I've even had one of them claim one of my short stories plagiarized Trenderhoof! Right now, this isn't remotely close to 'giving up'.” He glanced back at his cluttered desk; a rope rested on it, looped wide enough to fit around his waist (and his wings). “Not in the sense I'm hoping for, anyway . . . .”

Twilight saw the rope, and panicked; she knew exactly what that would be used for. “Dac, please, listen to me,” she pleaded, “I know things look bad for you, but you have to believe me when I say that they can get better, and they will! You have talent, and you can't let that talent go to waste! All you need is the right inspiration, and a little something to get you out of this rut you're in. Once you're out, your work will sell again, I'm sure of it!”

Dac eyed Twilight with curiosity. “Why do you care?” he asked her, half-snapping, half-genuine. “Why the sudden interest in my failing career?”

“Well . . . just think of it as a princess reaching out to her community. Here, I wanted to give you something.” Twilight used her magic to pull something out of her saddlebag and hold it out to Dac. He looked at it as it came at him, until he allowed it to rest on his extended hoof. It looked like a business card. Taking it back to the candle on his desk, he read it out loud:

Dac looked back up at Twilight, now looking amazed at what he was given. “Who told you I had depression?” he asked her.

“Well, nopony, really, but . . . it's just that, you reminded me of somepony. He had a lot of the same problems you have, but you don't have the solution he had. He has what he needs now, and now, so do you. So, before you go and see that doctor, take one day, whenever you get the chance, and come visit me in Ponyville sometime. My friends and I would be glad to cheer you up, and you may even get the inspiration you need to get out of this slump.”

“But why? Why would you do this for me? I don't even know you.”

“But I know you, Dac,” Twilight replied, “better than you might think. And I know that if you had friends that could be there for you, you'd bounce back and be the success I know you are.” Twilight looked deep into his blue eyes. “Besides, everypony deserves friendship. Especially you.”

Dac glanced between Twilight and the card she had given him, and his eyes began to mist. “I . . . I don't know what to say . . . .”

“It's all right,” Twilight assured him, “just take me up on the offer sometime. And don't ever stop writing. You really are one of the best. You just need to find that out yourself.” She gave him a smile before she turned to leave, but stopped to add, “Oh, and one more thing. If you ever meet a pony, a Unicorn named Sunset Shimmer . . . don't be angry with her. She's a different pony now.”

“. . . Huh?”

“Oh, don't worry about it for now. Just get the help you need. And remember, don't be afraid to make a few friends. Friends really help.”

Dac looked back at Twilight, and his stony face started melting into a heartfelt smile. His response was almost broken by his voice, and the tears began to fall at last.

“Thank you, Twilight.”

The Alicorn princess smiled back as she walked out the door.

“My pleasure, Dac.”

Author's Notes:

Thanks to all of you for making this my most successful story on FIMfiction!