"Laziness may appear attractive, but work gives satisfaction."

Almost a week passed since Rembrandt settled in Ponyville. By now, he was already a familiar face among most of the ponies, and even managed to befriend a pony or two. Still, he could mostly be seen hanging out and about with Caramel; the two often had lunch together in park during Caramels' job break and it was a common sight to see them chatting while on a walk through Ponyville during the afternoon.

Other than hanging out with his new friend, Rembrandt was spending much of his time relaxing in the mentioned park, reading, observing nature or merely thinking of various things while looking at the sky.

So when Caramel informed him he will be working extra hours on the Apple Acres, Rembrandt decided it was about time to visit the well known farm, say hi and perhaps meet the Apple family.

As he approached the farm, the scent of apples and fresh leaves could be felt in the air. Once he got close enough to the family house of the Apples, he felt a stronger scent that resembled a cake or a pie coming from their home. The farm seemed unusually calm; he expected to see many hardworking ponies running around being too busy to even notice him.

Instead, among the apple trees, a single little filly was mingling and practicing bucking trees - she seemed to be perfecting her job, but every once in a while, she would grunt as if something didn't go well.

"Hey there, Mister!" the little filly suddenly yelled out as she approached him with a wide smile - Rembrandt recognized her as a filly he met a few days ago.

"Good afternoon, little one. If I am not mistaken, you must be Applebloom?"

She gasped in surprise. "How did ya know?!"

"Mister Caramel told me a lot about the famous Apple family. He did mention an easily excitable filly with a strong kick."

The words won Applebloom over as she started braging about the record number of apples she managed to pick in one day. It was easy to see Rembrandt found hers, to everyone else boring yapping, cute, as he smiled and actually even commented on it.

"Applebloom! Are ya boring somepony with your stories again?"

"Ah'm not boring anyone!"

Rembrandt looked over his shoulder to see a blond maned mare he decided must be the famous Applejack. She was pulling a once apple-filled cart, probably getting back from town. Her face wore a strict expression.

"Ah'm mighty sorry mister, Applebloom here just doesn't know when to shut her yapper."

Applebloom pouted.

"Oh, no no, by all means, let her speak - I find her effort as a filly on your farm quite impressive."

"See?" Applebloom gleamed with pride. Applejack couldn't suppress a smile. The obviously suspicious look in her eyes crossed Rembrandt face - she probably thought he said that to please the young pony.

"Fine, fine, talk all ya want. Ah won't be botherin' ya anymore, but don' get too relaxed or anything. There's still plenty of work to be done. See ya Mister!" she playfully winked at Rembrandt who smiled in return, then continued on her way to the farmhouse.

"Is it not hard", Rembrandt began "for a filly like you to work all day under the Sun like this?"

"Sometimes it can get to ya, but Ah'm used to it", Applebloom pondered something over as she stared at him and the smiled widely as she asked: "Would ya like to try it?"

Rembrandt blinked. "Me? Well, I guess I could; if you do not mind."

"Sure not - who knows, maybe you can get your Cutie Mark then!"

He smiled considerately. "My name is Rembrandt, by the way."

"Remba-wha?" Applebloom frowned, making the stallion laugh.

"I guess you could call me Rem. Everybody else does."

"Oh, sure thing, Rem!" she giggled and the two headed off into the field.

Though it was easy in beginning, Rembrandt had to admit he was getting slightly tired after the first hour of apple bucking. Applebloom looked full of energy, but he guessed daily physical work would bring one in much better condition than other ponies. It was kind of fun and fulfilling to do though; useful physical effort was not something he did too often, it brought the satisfaction he hadn't felt in a long time.

Two hours passed much faster than he would expected; him and Applebloom had done quite a good job.

"You're not so bad, Rem. You should come work at the farm, you would get fit in no time!"

"While I appreciate the offer, I already have a job. But if you don't mind, I might come and help you every once in a while."

"Mind? Applejack will be thrilled! Her and big brother have been so busy with the infestation of termites."

"Termites?"

Applebloom's usual smile slightly fell. "Yeah, they came out of nowhere so suddenly - the last time we had this problem, I was still a baby pony. And we got lucky that time, 'cause a really big storm came in just before they settled in the trees, and washed the whole colony away - but I dunno what are we going to do now. It will take us a while to figure out how to get them outta here. And we must pick all the apples as soon as possible too, just in case."

Rembrandt looked from worried Applebloom over the to countless trees in the field and on the hills. It would be such a waste to let these trees be ruined by something as simple as bugs.

"Do not worry, I think I can help you."

Applebloom frowned. "Ya can?"

"Sure. Just show me these little buggers."

"Sure! Follow me."

Applebloom led Rembrandt to a location with a bunch of trees that were noticeably replanted away from healthy trees. Their bark was severely ruined. Rembrandt approached one that was in a particularly bad shape, studying its bark and the small bugs that settled in it. After a minute, he said:

"You said the last time you had termites, the rain chased them away?"

"Well, washed them away."

"I don't think that's the case... You should try get some humid surrounding for these trees. And I don't mean just the rain because it never gets inside the tree completely, but plenty of watering - the bark could use a pouring too."

"But that could ruin our apples!"

"Pick them first", Rembrandt continued calmly "then make sure you water the trees often, and make their bark wet and soft. I'm pretty sure that'll work."

Applebloom seemed to be thinking about what he said, not looking entirely sure. But then she asked:

"How come you know this stuff anyway?"

"Oh", Rembrandt laughed, "I just remember reading about garden pests a long time ago in an Encyclopedia. While I was still a young colt."

"... and you still remember that?"

"Well, of course. What is the point of reading something if I am going to forget it?"

"... I suppose you are right mister, but I must say, that is mighty rare."

"Hmm... I wonder."

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Rembrandt got back to Ponyville, feeling satisfied with today's day. He felt slightly tired, but work was never something he complained about. In fact, it only meant he would get a better sleep.

As he sat in the nearby outdoor cafe and ordered himself a dinner, he recalled his second visit to Twilight Sparkle, the one that was supposed to give him answers...

"Good evening, Rembrandt", Twilight opened the door, with a somewhat worried look on her face that immediately placed a concern into Rembrandt's eyes.

"Is something amiss?" he asked as he entered.

"Oh, no no, do not worry... well... it might---it is just that-- well, let's go inside"

They both got settled there with a few books Twilight brought along and once again,with some tea. Twilight opened one book, titled 'Mysterious History of Cutie Mark: Lost and Legendary'.

"This book here is a collection of stories and extra knowledge of Cutie Marks that was either lost or never recorded  - thus we still don't know if they are true, or how much of it is true. Due to the fact rarely any scientist took this book seriously, it is pretty rare, so most of this data can't be found anywhere else. So everything I am about to tell you may not or may be only partially correct..."

"I understand. Please proceed."

Twilight took a deep breath.

"Well, according to this book, there were several rare cases such as yours - in average, about one pony out of hundreds of thousands of them would end up with a case such as yours. Here are many stories about every single pony with no Cutie Mark that supposedly existed - for reasons I mentioned before, these are almost never mentioned in any other scientific books."

She cleared her throat.

"Now, most of these ponies got their Cutie Mark, but there are rarely any explanations for their late appearance. Most of the reasons that are written down mention these ponies were brought down by their bad health, poverty or something else - some of them were apparently even unwilling to find their Cutie Mark."

"But the part that worries me", Twilight swallowed "is the fact some of these ponies didn't get their Cutie Mark... until their, umm... passing."

Death?

"Many of them apparently actually got their Cutie Mark on their death beds, while breathing out their last breath." Twilight continued, her speech seemingly something she practiced in advance - no wonder, it was probably not an easy thing to say.

"Unfortunately, none of these specific examples of Cutie Marks are explained, but I have a theory. It is quite an unlikely theory though, because it has to do with, umm... after life. And we don't really know anything about that, now do we."

Realizing they got way too deep into the mystical parts of Cutie Marks, Rembrandt interrupted her:

"I am sorry but... I would like to avoid the discussion of that possibility. At least for now. Please."

"Of course", Twilight silently said. They both got embraced by a somewhat sad silence, but surprisingly enough, it was nothing but fitting. Like a short moment of understanding.

"Would you mind if I borrow that book?"

"Huh? Oh, um, not at all, uh, I guess! Just, take good care of it and please return it as soon as possible. It is not mine and I got it only with a little bit of an extra effort from a dear friend of mine..." Twilight grinned slightly shyly, remembering how she had to send at least three letters to Princess Celestia and the owner of the book to get her hooves on it.

Rembrandt carefully put the book away in his bag.

"Thank you... for everything.

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The next morning, Rembrandt got awakened by a very loud banging on the door and very excited familiar voice from the outside. He couldn't recall whom it belonged to, until he opened the door and a small filly glomped him, her bow tickling his nose.

"Rem! Thank you so much for your advice!"

"Huh?" he replied, still slightly in daze from both sleepiness and a sudden hug.

"The termites! They already started to slowly pack their things!"

"Pack the-huh, what?"

"Yeah, the weaker part of the colony is leaving!"

"Wait so... you took what I said seriously?"

"Well, duh. We had to try something." Applebloom gave him another hug before running off, yelling out to him in process.

"I gotta run now, but you're invited for dinner tonight! Don't be late!"

Still in a daze, with messy mane and a stupefied expression on his face, Rembrandt got back into the house, sat down at his desk, and started writing.

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This week has been nothing short of wonderful, but it took it long enough to become particularly interesting.

Among all the relaxation in the world I had time to invest in, I found myself relaxing especially well while doing something useful - for someone else as well. I never really did things for anyone else but myself. I am honestly not sure is it that way because nobody ever needed any help or support from me - at least not anyone close to me - or because I wasn't ready to give any help to anyone; I don't know if I was selfish, unwilling or unneeded.

Whatever the reason is, or should I say was, I am glad it is behind me. I guess that sometimes offering a friendly help for no particular reason can be of selfish use as well, because I never felt so happy about it.

Private notes:

Twilight showed me that my destiny could be much darker - but in the end, even if my death becomes the moment of getting my Cutie Mark, I guess my goal will complete itself. Maybe I shouldn't worry myself so much about it anymore, considering it might be inevitable.

I met Applebloom, the pony who seemed interested in lack of my Cutie Mark when I first arrived to Ponyville. She taught me joys of physical work. She showed me that sometimes somepony can be useful even thought it doesn't seem that way; it taught me that every decent pony deserves an equal share of respect.

She also told me that she picked more than one thousand, two hundred, fifty three apples in a single day! One thousand, two hundred, fifty three! 1253! A single filly! That is quite an impressive pick!