"This is great! Can you believe it? I finally got my cutie mark!" Scootaloo exclaimed. Sweetie Bell and Apple Bloom were off in the distance, preoccupied with another group of ponies. She had moved far enough away so that she could talk to Dreadwing without looking like she was crazy.
The creature smiled and reached down to ruffle the filly's purple hair. "Congratulations. Now you can live a happy life, helping other ponies to find their purpose," he said with a hint of sadness in his voice.
"I know, right? It's gonna be awesome!" Scootaloo turned to trot away excitedly, not having noticed Dreadwing's sorrow. When he didn't follow, the orange pegasus turned around with a look of confusion on her face. "Aren't you coming?"
Dreadwing sighed and glanced out at the tree line. "I can't stay. The energy of a pony who has earned their cutie mark isn't enough to sustain me, remember?"
Scootaloo's shoulders drooped as that memory came to mind. "Oh yeah. I forgot about that." She was silent for a moment and opened her mouth to suggest an idea, but Dreadwing's head was shaking before she even opened her mouth.
"I don't know if I can absorb the happiness from foals anymore, not after everything we've been through. It just doesn't feel right anymore. Even if I stayed here and linked to another blank flank, I wouldn't feel content."
"I guess not." Scootaloo sat on the ground and sighed. "Is there really nothing you can do? We've been through so much together. I know I've made more friends, but they can't replace you," she said sadly as her eyes began to water.
Dreadwing kneeled down next to Scootaloo and placed a clawed hand on her shoulder. "And they don't have to. Even if I'm not here anymore, the memories we made will never go away."
Scootaloo nodded forlornly. "I know. It's just going to hurt for a while." She sniffed and smiled slightly at the large creature. "At least you can go out and help other foals now. You could be like an honorary member of the Cutie Mark Crusaders."
Dreadwing frowned. He had been avoiding thinking about his future, mostly because he didn't know what he was supposed to do. Scootaloo's suggestion was such an obvious one, so how had he not thought of it sooner? Helping her along the past year has made him so happy, being able to see her progression. He smiled back at her. "I hadn't actually thought of that. I guess your cutie mark really does fit you."
"I guess so." Scootaloo reached up and wrapped her forelegs around Dreadwing's neck. "I'm gonna miss you."
"And I you." Dreadwing held her tight for a moment. Having never had a friend before, he hadn't realized just how painful leaving would be until now. It was like a tugging pain on his heart, knowing that he had to leave behind this filly that had become like a sister to him. But they both knew he had to.
Dreadwing stood up after a much too short minute and smiled sadly at Scootaloo. "I'll try to visit sometime. I can't stray too far from my host, but I can always pop in for a day or so when I'm not attached to anypony."
"That would be great." Scootaloo took a step back and wiped the tears that had begun to form from her eyes. "That's a promise, then?"
Dreadwing nodded. "It's a promise. See you around, Scootaloo."
"See you." Scootaloo turned and walked back over to her friends, who had just finished up their business.
"I guess that's it, then. Time to find another foal who needs my help," Dreadwing thought as he watched the orange filly with her friends. "I guess I'm not a monster after all."
The creature blinked as his mind came back to the present time. Not even a second had passed while he had been reminiscing, and when he turned to look, he saw the small entourage still walking down the road in the setting sun. He smiled to himself and turned towards a small tree not far from where he was standing. There was a hollow about head-height for a pony, and he reached in and placed his leather journal in it. Maybe one day somepony would discover it and learn of his existence, as he no longer had any need for it.
Movement out of the corner of the creature's eye caught his attention, and when he turned to look he saw a duo of sparrows flying through the air. He smiled to himself, already thinking ahead to his new plan for the future. It was easy to tell there wasn't another pony in Ponyville who needed his help, as his magic would have alerted him to the deep negative emotions. However, large cities were always full of anger and despair, which was why he tended to avoid such places. Maybe he would try there next.
The creature glanced up at the orange sky. It was almost tempting to stay, but he knew his purpose now. Nothing made him happier than aiding foals in need, and that was what he planned to do. He nodded to himself and shivered slightly at the negative emotions that assaulted him as he teleported to the center of Manehattan. He could detect countless young colts and fillies in less than happy states, and a particularly distressed one caught his attention, not unlike the way Scootaloo had all those moons ago. The creature rolled his shoulders in determination. He had a lot of work ahead of him.