Well, I've circled most of the outside of this town, and I still couldn't find this filly. My legs were starting to ache from the immense walking, I was practically sweating from all this exercise. The way I was sweating reminded, of how I was sweating earlier in Twilight's library. I can't remember being that nervous, but as nervous as I was, she gave me no reason to be. Even if we didn't know each other for that long, she still wanted make sure I was okay. That's more than I can say for most ponies I knew in Manehatten, never caring about any pony else, but themselves. Before I could finish my thought however, I noticed that I was coming across an unknown forest. Although upon further inspection, I realized that this was the fabled Everfree Forest. I stepped back in fear, knowing al the dangers that lurk in this place, though I only heard about this place in the form of myths, back up in Manehatten. Then I got a sudden thought that popped into my head, "Is this where that filly ran off to" The mere thought of that made my skin crawl, if this filly was in there did she even know about the dangers in that forest? My thoughts were soon interrupted again, but this time, by the sound of...sobbing? These sobs did sound like they were coming from the forest, and maybe that filly was in there. Could she be hurt, lost, or something like that? I couldn't just stand here, and guess what was wrong, I had to go in there or myself. I then took a big gulp, breathed in deep, and made my way into the forest.
As I walked into the forest, the sobbing seem to grow louder, and louder, giving proof that some pony was in here. Yet it didn't take long for me to find the source of the noise, and before I got any closer to it, I inspected what is was. With upon further inspection, it was indeed a filly, and as I looked closer, I could see a big bow on top of her head. She did fit the description, that Twilight's friend Applejack gave me, if the giant bow didn't give it away. Also, when I was inspecting the filly, I could see that her body was covered in patches of dirt, and her mane was a wreck. I then walked closer to the filly, carefully though, as I didn't want to startle her, and also the fact that I was a complete stranger to her. Then I softly spoke to her, "Hello there" Her ears perked up, and then she turned her head towards me. Her eyes were red, as if she was crying, in which she was, though the sight of me did startle her, but not enough for her to run away. She then turned her head back around, and buried her face into her forelegs. As I walked closer to her, I spoke softly to her again, "What are you doing out here by yourself?" There was still no answer, the only sound she made were muffled sniffs. I decided to sit next to her, but not too close since I was still a stranger to her. Though I tried to speak to her once again, still in a soft tone. "If there's something bothering you, you can-" Before I could finish, she immediately latched onto me. Burying her face into my cloak, as I felt the wetness of her tears on me. Her quiet sniffs, had once again become louder sobs, muffled by the cloak. Though I was shocked from the sudden trust she had given me, I then started to stroke her mane with my hoof, as I cooed to her. "Shh. Shh. It's okay."
After a few minutes of her sobbing, she seemed to finally calm down, and pulled away from, but still sticking close to me. "Now tell me what's wrong, and are you out here?" I asked, putting a hoof onto her shoulder. She was silent for a few seconds, but then she spoke up.
"Bullies" She simply stated. "Ah was walking home from school, when two bullies from my class cut me off." She then proceeded to look at her flank, which was bare with no cutie mark. She the continued, "They started calling me a blank flank as usual, and kept on getting in my face. Though my sister Applejack always told me to ignore them and walk away, but they wouldn't let me go." I sat there attentively listening to her story, not intending on interrupting her. "They kept on pushing me around, until one of them decided to straight up shove me to the ground. They started laughing at me, and Ah was so embarrassed, that I ran away into the forest." I still kept on listening to her, hurt by the fact that foals could be this cruel. Once again, she looked back at her flank, and tears began welling up in her eyes. "It's not fair, all I want is to finally get my cutie mark, so they can stop teasing me, but it feels like that never will happen."
She then buried her face in her forelegs again, as I finally decided to speak.
"Hey, hey, don't let them get to you. It may not seem fair that you don't have your cutie mark, but that doesn't mean you should feel worthless." It seemed like I got her attention, as she lifted up her head to look at me. "Listen, I've got a secret that I have never told any pony until now. Do want to know what it is?" She only nodded in response. I then stood up, and I proceeded to take off the cloak I was wearing. When I did, I pointed towards my flank, which was just as bare as hers. "I don't have a cutie mark either." I said, as she looked up at me in astonishment.
"You don't?" She asked
"Nope" I replied, "Just like you I was teased for it, but as I grew up, I learned, that you never let what others say get to you. Your anger will just fuel their fire. Understand what I'm saying?" She then nodded once again, this time she had a small smile on her face. "Good, now I think it's time that we get you home." Before I could take one step, I felt her squeezing my leg, as she was giving me a hug.
"Thank you Mister." She said.
"Hey, kid please, call me Ryder" I said as I was roughing up her mane. We than started our way back to her home, which she led the way.