I sigh as I settle into my seat across from Rainbow Dash at the kitchen table. I made some tea for us both and did my best to rustle up a snack for her. Sadly, on such short notice, with so little to work with, the best I could do was half an apple and three ketchup packets.

I tap my front hooves together nervously, the ticking of the clock almost uncomfortably obtrusive as I look over at the technicolor pegasus across from me. I cough, trying to break the silence before springing into the conversation.

“Sooooo...you wanted to talk to me about Scootaloo, right?”

Rainbow Dash nods slowly. The poor thing is acting almost as awkwardly as I am. I wait for her to speak patiently as she sips her tea before addressing me. “Well yeah, that’s what I said. I talked to her a little bit ago. She told me you gave her some food at the Sugarcube corner this morning. Is that right?”

I nod slowly, looking down at my cup, blowing at the steam softly before looking back up at Rainbow Dash. “Yeah, that's right. She came in while I was bringing some coffee and breakfast. She looked like she was getting ready to beg for something, so I wanted to save her the indignity, so I gave her my breakfast and gave Carrot Cake a hoofful of bits to pay for whatever else she might want after I left.”

“That sounds about right from what Scoots told me. She was pretty stoked to get to have more stuff at the corner than usual,” Rainbow says with a small sigh as she reaches into her mane, pulling out a small drawstring sack that clinks softly in her hoof. “How much exactly did you spend?”

My eyes widen slightly, and I raise a hoof, insistently waving her off. “Rainbow, there’s no need for any of that. I was just-”

“No, there is.” She says firmly as she sets the little sack on the table, pressing her hoof down onto it. “Scootaloo lives on her own most days. Her parents are...not always around. They travel a lot for work. Her Aunt Holiday comes in to check on her once in a while with that mare she lives with, but that's only once a month. So some of the other ponies in town and I take turns looking after her whenever they aren't around.”

She looks down at the little bag of bits and rolls it on the table under her hoof, giving an uncomfortable huff as she picks it up again. “It’s my turn to look after her this week, and I was supposed to take her to get breakfast at the Sugarcube Corner. But I overdid it with my flight training yesterday afternoon and ended up oversleeping. Mister Cake is cool. He knows I’m good for it, and he would have fed her and let me pay him when I got there. You covered for me, so I need to pay you back.” She says as she opens the tiny sack, revealing a small pile of coins. “So, how much did you spend?”

I am about to object again, a bit more firmly this time, when I recognize it.

The rugged, almost desperate glint in her eye. It's a look that I'm pretty familiar with, given how often I've felt it sit on my face. A look almost invariably accompanied by a persistent nagging at the back of my mind.

A feeling of uselessness, a sensation that I've left myself open to being perceived as deficient or helpless. And the only thing that makes that feeling go away is knowing I've evened the score.

Confronted with that look, I can only loose a resigned sigh.

“Look, the bits aren’t necessary. If you want to pay me back, just make sure that little filly is as happy tomorrow morning as she was when she came to talk to you about this whole thing. If you *really* need to pay me back in a material way, just grab me some groceries from the market this afternoon. I haven't gotten paid yet, and I've been living off of twenty bits some random mare slipped into my saddlebags after molesting me in the park. I could use some supplies, to be frank.”

Rainbow raises an eyebrow at this, her expression softening as it morphs into visible confusion as she processes what I just said. “Really? Only twenty?” She asks, sounding almost offended on my behalf as she rummages through her little coin purse. She fishes out about ten bits, placing them on the table. “I'll pick some stuff up for you later if you want. Just make me a list. But I'm not leaving without paying you something, so take it.” She says, the firmness returning to her tone as she pushes the bits across the table towards me.

I frowned but reluctantly took the bits, pulling them towards me and letting them rest on the table beside me. “Fine, if you insist. Was there anything else I can do for you, Rainbow?”

“Aside from 'Keep being nice to Scoots, ' not much comes to mind,” she admits as she gets up from her seat, stretching her wings out and flapping them a few times. A slight popping sound issues from her body as she spreads them wide before folding them again. She’s about to leave when something seems to strike her.

“Oh, there is one other thing.” She chuckles softly as she turns back to look at me. “It might sound kinda lame considering you just got them, but uh...Scoots told me what you said about not having your cutie marks. She thought you were kind of cool for not caring so much about it. Honestly, I kind of agree. Thanks for making her feel a little better about herself.”

That gets a smile out of me, and a fairly genuine one at that. I nod and wave Rainbow Dash off as a slight hint of additional pink finds its way to the tips of my ears, averting my gaze. The multicolor mare cackles softly as she trots out the door, setting it back onto its hinges on her way out before taking off to who knows where. Presumably, I hope, to spend some more time with Scootaloo. The foal could use more adult guidance in her life.

Now, how should I spend the rest of my day? Hmmm…a visit to the park sounds nice. I could show off my new Cutiemarks and maybe enjoy the nice weather.

I slip out of my chair and stretch a bit. I retrieve my saddlebags, slip them on quickly, and place the book back inside. I turn off the lights and make sure the door is locked before heading out.

This was definitely a good idea.

That is what I am going to keep telling myself. I’ve gotten a few lingering looks here and there from the townsfolk, and I am holding onto the hope that they are, in fact, positive looks. They probably are, but well, I feel so awkward when folks are just looking at me, you know?

I stopped by the Sugarcube Corner again before heading over to see if they had any stale bits of bread they could give me for the birds. Mister Cake was nice enough to provide me with a small sack once he heard what it was for on the house, and I am currently quite happily sitting on the same bench as before, tossing crumbs and bits to the birds. A small gathering of crows has collected around me, quite graciously enjoying my offerings. Some even get bold enough to sit beside me on the bench. I smile at this, feeding one of them from my hoof before gently stroking its head. “Hmmm, yes. Friend.” I say with a slight nod before turning my attention back to the other birds.

After about thirty minutes of uninterrupted Real Crow Hours, I am startled by the sudden flapping of wings and cawing as the crows scatter. I snap my head up to see a pale, almost cream-colored pony approaching me.

She’s an earth pony mare with welcoming, friendly blue eyes. Her mane is a much darker blue, with a light, cottony pink streak through the middle. Her cutie mark is a set of three wrapped candies, blue with stripes of yellow through them. She looks over at the now empty space on the bench, then at me before speaking. “Oh! Uh…sorry to scare off your friends. Is it okay if I sit here?”

I look over at her, just a bit hesitant. “I…suppose I don’t mind?” I say slowly with a small shrug. “Go ahead if you want to.”

She nods and settles in on the spot next to me. “Thanks! My name is Bon Bon, by the way. It’s nice to meet you. I was at your welcome party, but we didn't get a chance to talk.”

“Oh yeah, you were there with the blue unicorn with the musical instrument Cutiemark, right?” I say, recognition coming to me as I look her over slowly.

She nods and gestures with a hoof towards that same pony, a few benches over. She’s hard at work playing…yep, a lyre. “That’s Lyra, my best friend. We’ve lived together here in Ponyville for a few years now. She works as a freelance musician. Speaking of Cutiemarks…”

Bon Bon’s eyes trail down my body towards my flank, making me feel self-conscious. “I had heard that you didn't have one from some of the other mares, was that just a rumor?”

“Oh no, it was true until about, oh… an hour or so ago?” I say as I sit up more, covering my flank with my tail on reflex sheepishly. “I was fiddling around with the beginner's magic book Cheerilee had recommended to me for study and ended up with them earlier this morning! The scream I did when it happened actually got Rainbow Dash so worried she busted my door open to check on me,” I say, chuckling softly at the recollection.

“Oh! A magic-related Cutiemark? That’s fairly rare, you know.” She says as she stops looking at my flank once I cover it. Well, at least she can take a hint. “I think the only pony I’ve seen with one is that one mare who comes through town every year to put on a magic show. You know, if you’re willing to move to Canterlot, there’s a lot of career opportunities for a unicorn with a talent in magic, even for stallions!”

My smile falls slightly at this last phrase, but I keep it on as best as possible. “That sounds…lovely, thank you Bon-Bon. But really, I’ve only just started learning magic. Doing anything that makes a career out of it still feels so far away when all I can do is lift stuff and make lights, ya know?”

“Pshhh, don’t worry. Once a pony gets its mark, they usually get better at their special talent much more quickly, at least for a year or two. It's all part of the magic. I remember when I got mine. I went from barely being able to prepare a batch of caramel without burning the pot to having my own line of sweet treats within six months! My mom was so proud of me.” She says, sniffing and rubbing at her eye as she remembers the moment before returning her attention to me. “But yeah, you should see some substantial gains in the magic department soon.”

“Huh…interesting…” I mutter, rubbing softly at my chin as I contemplate the information I’ve just been given. “I’ll keep that in mind. But honestly, I don't see myself wanting to leave Ponyville anytime soon. Everypony is so kind here compared to back home, and I even have a steady job lined up. I love magic and all, but I wouldn’t want my passion for it to come between me and my friends.”

Bon Bon gives me a slightly surprised look as I deliver my response, then smiles a bit wider. “Well, that’s a wonderful sentiment, Rose. I’m glad you’re a stallion who knows his priorities.”

“I…appreciate that,” I say in an even tone as I sit up a bit straighter, looking Bob Bon over more carefully. “Was there something in particular you needed from me?” I ask, a bit of anxiousness slipping into my tone despite my best efforts. Something about this mare is making me feel on edge for whatever reason. She hides her true intent. She’s watching me, but why?

She seems to catch on to my worry and raises a hoof, waving it insistently. “O-oh! Nono, I wasn’t uh…I’m taken, Lyra and I are er…together.” She stumbles through it, seeming quite adequately embarrassed as she pulls her composure back together. “You just seemed like you might be worth talking to. And you were! But I have to head off now. I have some errands at home that need taking care of.” She says quickly, waving for Lyra on the other bench, who nods and starts walking towards us.

Bon Bon gets up from the bench and walks towards her, waving goodbye to me before turning her attention to Lyra. She kisses her cheek and nuzzles her before they walk off together. Yep, those bitches are gay. Good for them, good for them.

My new crow friends return a few minutes after that, and I spend another half hour or so tossing them crumbs before I finally run out. I dust myself off to get any lingering crumbs off my coat before stretching out a bit. Most of them scatter after I get up, but one remains, eying me expectantly.

I tilt my head slightly as I look him over. He’s a bit bigger than the rest of them, standing maybe a (crow’s) head higher. He tilts his head in response and caws softly at me before hopping onto my back, trying to stick his head into the now empty little bag of bread crumbs sticking out of my saddlebag.

“Heh, sorry. All empty for right now. I won't have any more until Dash swings by my place this afternoon with the groceries, “I say gently to the bird, trying to ease him away from the bag with my hoof, slowly pushing at his chest.

After a moment, he moves away of his own accord, then looks me over with an intelligent, almost calculating glint in his little black eyes before shaking his head up and down, giving a soft caw, and flying away. Huh, intelligent little fella.

I throw the bag away in a waste bin nearby before making my way back to the library. Now that I’ve had a nice relaxing break, let’s see if I can’t figure out that Glue spell. With all the commotion earlier, I almost forgot about it!

Report Log xxxx-1999
Report Drafted on xx/xx/999

First Contact was made with the target today under cover of the agent's previously assumed identity. Target seemed mildly suspicious and anxious, but this may be due to a general distrust of strangers or strange mares.

According to eyewitness testimony from several sources, Target’s date of initial appearance does seem to line up with the visions experienced by Priority C-Alpha. According to testimony from Cheerilee and Potential Assets L-P, G-R, H-A, and L-D, Target appears by all accounts to be somewhat socially awkward but otherwise polite, kind, and notably intelligent. The Target has acquired a Cutiemark. Initial questioning and symbolic analysis lead the agent to believe that Target is gifted with significant magical talent, as the mark seems to bear some variant of the Arcane Crest.

Recommend that Target’s proximity and growing familiarity with individuals marked as Potential Assets should be monitored, and for surveillance on Potential Asset K-F and security for Priority Asset M-T to be increased for the time being. Preparations for Operation Moonshadow are cleared to continue at present, Inspection of the Event Site by Priority C-Alpha is ago at their discretion.

Addendum: Why do you have me following this colt, C? He’s about as much of a danger to another pony as he is to his own shadow. Honestly, the poor thing seems like he’s going through it. I know you probably have a good reason, but as far as I can tell, there isn't anything wrong with him that half a dozen good friends or so couldn't fix.

- Agent Sweetie Drops

Another Chapter down, another little tidbit for you guys to chew on, hope you enjoy!

Big ups to Your_FBI_Agent and Exiled Path For their continued support. via Ko-Fi and Patreon. The extra cash you guys are tossing my way is doing a lot to empower me to not only provide for myself, but to make this story the best it can be!

See you all next chapter ^^