{"sf1_id":1012741,"sf2_id":"dmWRDGMe","title":"The Invitation (A gratuitous self insert)","author":"Kendareru","words":1119,"posted_at":"2016-05-26T21:53:00.000Z","tags":["Earth pony","Java Tales","My Little Pony","Self insert"],"url":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/1012741-the-invitation-a-gratuitous-self-insert","original_url":"https://sofurry.com/s/dmWRDGMe","image_url":"https://cdn.sofurryfiles.com/submissions/thumbnails/31/70/317037fa-cea8-43f8-8a73-39da4e3bdd90","description":"#1 of Java Tales' Misadventures\n\nThis is the best I could come up with as to why Java Tales left Canterlot for Ponyville. It is a shameless cameo piece. Call it a fractured timeline, if you will.\nMy Little Pony belongs to Hasbro.\nThe awkward earth pony is my doing.","content":"The earth pony Java Tales was sitting at his favourite cafe in Canterlot, staring at a blank scroll.\u0026nbsp; His eyes were vaguely glazed and unfocused as he tried to come up with something to write.\u0026nbsp; After several minutes, he laid his head on the table.\n\n\"This is hopeless,\" he said aloud to himself, \"I've not had a good idea in ages.\u0026nbsp; I think my muse is cheating on me.\"\u0026nbsp; The comment drew a few looks from surrounding ponies, most questioning and curious, and he distinctly heard someone giggle.\u0026nbsp; He hadn't realized he was speaking out loud and felt mildly embarrassed.\n\nHe finished his coffee, collected his things, and went to leave.\u0026nbsp; At the door, he was nearly knocked over by a blue pegasus with rainbow hair.\u0026nbsp; \"Uh, sorry,\" he muttered, but she was already at the counter.\u0026nbsp; As he watched, another voice came from behind him.\n\n\"Sorry about mah friend.\u0026nbsp; She's got it in her mind that y'all Canterlot folk are a bit uptight, and it's her jot tuh loosen y'all up.\"\u0026nbsp; His head swivelled around, coming eye to eye with a rustic looking mare.\u0026nbsp; He gave an awkward smile.\u0026nbsp; \"No harm done, and to be honest, some people are a bit rigid, but the same can be said for any place.\"\n\nThe mare sighed.\u0026nbsp; \"That's what I told her, but she ain't listening to me.\u0026nbsp; Ah'm gettin' tired of being kicked out of places fer her attitude.\"\u0026nbsp; He gave a questioning look, and replied, \"Then find something else to do.\"\u0026nbsp; She shook her head.\u0026nbsp; \"Sound as that is, she's mah friend, and ah promised to spend th' day with her.\u0026nbsp; Wouldn't be very polite of me tah break mah promise, would it?\"\n\nJava could only shake his head.\u0026nbsp; \"That's very true.\u0026nbsp; Hopefully she settles down eventually so you can sit still long enough to enjoy some hospitality.\"\u0026nbsp; With that, he left the cafe, and as he walked away, he winced as he heard a fight break out.\u0026nbsp; He gave a small sigh, and headed toward the castle to poke around the library.\u0026nbsp; There was bound to be something inspiring there.\n\nBeing surrounded by books made him feel at ease; each story was a new world just waiting to be explored.\u0026nbsp; I wandered around the aisles aimlessly, looking at the various titles, from books on magic and its uses, to fairy tales and fables.\u0026nbsp; He finally gave up, slumping at one of the central tables.\n\n\"This is getting pathetic. \u0026nbsp;I'm a write with nothing to write about.\"\u0026nbsp; He heard the click of hooves as someone entered the library.\u0026nbsp; It wasn't uncommon, as a good many ponies liked to read, and the princesses made it available for anyone with a hunger for knowledge.\u0026nbsp; Princess Luna even added all the books she had collected when she was younger.\n\nThe seat beside him moved, and a purple unicorn sat beside him.\u0026nbsp; \"Hi there.\u0026nbsp; The princess wanted me to come keep you company.\u0026nbsp; I'm Twilight.\"\u0026nbsp; He lifted his head, looking her over, mind taking a moment to catch up.\u0026nbsp; \"Wait...\u0026nbsp; Twilight?\u0026nbsp; As in, Twilight Sparkle?\"\n\nShe smiled and nodded.\u0026nbsp; Java was speechless.\u0026nbsp; Princess Celestia sent her personal student to meet with him, but why?\u0026nbsp; \"Uh, thanks.\u0026nbsp; I'm Java.\u0026nbsp; It's nice to meet you, Miss Sparkle.\"\u0026nbsp; She inclined her head.\u0026nbsp; \"I know who you are; a few of your books are in my library back home in Ponyville.\"\u0026nbsp; He blushed hotly, stammering, \"Y-you've read my books?\"\n\n\"A couple of them.\u0026nbsp; I've noticed they tend to be short stories, mostly.\"\u0026nbsp; Her observation was indeed correct; he had trouble maintaining a plot long enough to hold the stories together.\u0026nbsp; A failing he'd always been a little sensitive about.\n\n\"The way I write is a bit difficult.\u0026nbsp; I tend to take a back seat to the characters, basically writing the events the way they witness them,\" he said, his ears folding back in embarrassment.\u0026nbsp; She gave him a questioning look.\u0026nbsp; \"The characters write the story?\u0026nbsp; That's an odd way to put it.\"\n\nHe looked down at the table.\u0026nbsp; \"That's how it feels, and why I'm able to write multiple stories at once.\u0026nbsp; Each one is a separate entity, and I can distinguish between them easier than most ponies.\u0026nbsp; That's also why they tend to be written in different styles.\u0026nbsp; Each story has its own personality.\"\n\nHe waited, for what seemed like time stretching to its limits, for the judgement he normally got for that explanation.\u0026nbsp; However, it wasn't a lie, and he prided himself on his honesty.\u0026nbsp; Finally, she said, \"That's kind of interesting.\u0026nbsp; So, are they aware of you, or is it like eavesdropping?\"\n\nHe looked at her, shocked.\u0026nbsp; Not many were willing to accept his views on writing.\u0026nbsp; He only nodded, mind still reeling.\u0026nbsp; She pointed to a distant shelf.\u0026nbsp;   \n\"There's a book somewhere over there on 'Life as a Stage.'\u0026nbsp; I'm guessing you know the Walls?\"\u0026nbsp; He grinned and nodded.\u0026nbsp; \"I have always been fond of that view of life.\u0026nbsp; And no, none of my characters are self-aware, as far as I know.\"\n\nTime passed, and the two discussed their favourite stories and writers, among other various topics, including magic and food.\u0026nbsp; Finally, she asked, \"Have you ever thought to take a break?\u0026nbsp; That might be the issue with your writing.\"\n\nHe thought about it.\u0026nbsp; \"You mean like a vacation?\u0026nbsp; I've done a little travelling, but again it's always been for a project.\"\u0026nbsp; She nodded.\u0026nbsp; \"Well, I've done most of my learning when I wasn't trying.\u0026nbsp; The princess sent me to Ponyville to get me out of my comfort zone, and it's been a really inspiring time.\u0026nbsp; You should try the same.\"\n\n\"Are you asking me to go to Ponyville,\" he asked with a laugh.\u0026nbsp; She gave him a questioning look.\u0026nbsp; \"Well, why not?\u0026nbsp; Quite a lot happens there, often.\u0026nbsp; I'm sure it could help you with your block.\u0026nbsp; There are many interesting ponies, though it does tend to get a little... crazy.\"\n\nIt was his turn to give the questioning glance, but she waved her hooves in a negative gesture.\u0026nbsp; \"Nothing bad... usually.\u0026nbsp; It's just that you never know what's going to happen.\u0026nbsp; My friends and I have had quite a few interesting adventured.\"\n\nHe gave her a smile.\u0026nbsp; \"Why not.\u0026nbsp; Sounds like a great place, from what you say.\u0026nbsp; I could use some time away from Canterlot anyway.\u0026nbsp; As much as I like it here, it's always been a bit too ritzy for me.\u0026nbsp; Miss Sparkle...\"\u0026nbsp; \"Please, just Twilight,\" she interrupted.\u0026nbsp; \"Right.\u0026nbsp; Twilight, then.\u0026nbsp; I accept your invitation.\u0026nbsp; Though, I have to tie up some things here first.\"\n\nThey bid each other farewell, and Java, feeling a bit lighter on his hooves, went to prepare for the beginning of his new adventure.\n\n  \n  \n\n"}