The sun bore down on the school ponies. Ink Quill sat under a tree to protect himself from the princess' hot sun. Meanwhile, Wilted Rose say on a swing, thinking of what to say to him. Finally, she worked up the courage to talk to him. She hopped of the swing and trotted over to Ink Quill.
As she trotted over to him, Wilted Rose couldn't help but see that Ink Quill held a quill in his mouth and was writing something in a notebook. He appeared to be concentrating hard on his work. Although she didn't want to interrupt his focused state, but Wilted Rose's foster mother's words came back to her mind, pushing her forward.
"Um, hi..." Wilted Rose stuttered.
"Hi," Ink Quill whispered, barely audible.
"I noticed your new here."
"Yeah..."
"I, uh, also noticed you have no cutie mark." Ink Quill shifted to hide his blank flank. "Oh, its ok! I don't have one either." Wilted Rose showed her flank.
"Really?" Ink Quill perked up. The thought of not being the lone colt without a cutie mark at a new school released a huge weight off his shoulders.
"Yeah." Wilted Rose paused before continuing. "So, um, I thought maybe you might need a friend." She reached out her hoof for a shake.
"Yeah, I could use a friend," Ink Quill accepted the request with a hoofshake.
After moments of bonding, the two new friends began to get to know each other.
"Wait, so you like to draw?" Ink Quill asked curiously after Wilted Rose's comment on her favorite hobby.
"Yeah, I have since I was a kid."
"Well, I like to write!"
"Cool! So, what are you writing now?" Wilted Rose asked while trying to peek at Quill's work.
"Well, its about these creatures,"
"Uh-huh."
"and they're furless expect for the tops of their heads, they stand on their hind legs, and wear clothes all the time. Well, there IS more, but, um, that's the basic run down of them." Quill explained.
"Sounds kinda... creepy. In a good way!"
"It's ok, but they're actually sorta nice. Now back to you. Why do you like to draw?"
"Well, uhh," Wilted Rose stuttered, worried that sharing her past would cost her her new friendship. "my mom died during childbirth and my dad didn't want me so he abandoned me."
"Oh no!"
"And I have been going from foster family to foster family ever since. My drawings have been something I could always keep with me no matter where I went. The one constant in my life."
"That must been horrible! I lost my dad at a young age, but that is nothing compared to your life."
"Yeah..." Wilted Rise showed Quill the mark on her neck.
"Oh my goodness! You did that?"
"Yeah. I thought nopony cared." Wilted Rose said with shame and lowered her head. "I did it only a few days ago. Today's my first day back to school."
"Well, I care. I'm your friend now." Quill said with sympathy.
"Thanks." Wilted Rose said with a smile.
Ink Quill brought his new friend into an imbraced. It only lasted a few seconds before the school bell rang, ending recess. The two walked side-by-side to their desks, with one of Quill's wings around Wilted Rose to draw the hug out as long as possible. As silly as it my sound, Ink Quill thought he might be in love.