>Anon's arms are wrapped around your neck as he sobs into your chest.
>Your rub his back gently.
"There there Anon" you coo.
>Gosh dang that Diamond Tiara and her rotten son, Petit Fleur.
>Your yellow coat is turning dark yellow around your chest in the spots where Anon's tears have stained it.
"Was it Petit again?"
>"Uh- Uh... Uh-huh" he mumbles out.
>You tell him to sit down on the couch while you go and get your apple salve.
>The healing salve tingles the tip of your hoof as you scoop up a small dab of it.
>Anon winces when you rub it into the cut on his cheek.
"Just let me rub it in for a little longer Nonny, I promise it'll feel better faster'n Uncle Mac eats durin' apple buckin' season."
>"I know momma..."
>This is a pretty common occurance.
>"Why'd you two get into a fight this time?"
>"I didn't fight him momma, honest!"
>He takes a lot after big sis... though it only comes out during outbursts like this.
>Still though, the honest look burning in his bright green eyes are just like hers.
"Alright alright... so what happened then?"
>Anon sighs heavily, "Petit said that I was a dumb monkey... too dumb to even get a cutie mark."
>You grit your teeth and blow air out of your nostrils to try and cool your anger.
>Rotten apple doesn't fall far from the rotten tree.
>"And then the other kids started laughing at me, so I told him what you told me to say next time."
>Stick and stones...
"So then he tried to use stick and stones huh?"
>Anon sniffles quietly and nods.
>You kiss him on the forehead.
"Why don't we go find Scootie and Sweetie and see if they're not too busy to try getting you that hang-gliding cutie mark?"
>"Really?" he says with a gap toothed smile spreading along his face.
"Yeah, the weather looks really good today. Maybe today will be the day."
>He nods excitedly, 'Alright! Scootie said this one was her favorite, so I hope I can get it!" he shouts as he darts into his room.
 
"Y'all gonna be alright?"
>"Yeah, go on, we'll be at sugarcube corner" Sweetie responds.
>"Hey Non, betcha can't eat a Rainboom Special faster than I can" Scootaloo says gloatingly.
>Anon cheeks puff out, "I can too!" he shouts.
"Come on Scootie, I'm the one who has to put him to bed y'know?" you shout to the pair that's racing away.
>Sweetie giggles as she turns to follow after them, "I'm pretty sure that's why she does it" she says over her shoulder.
>You watch Anon race with one of your best friends for a little longer.
>Happy as can be, he's already forgotten the little "incident" from this afternoon.
>But you sure haven't...
>Diamond's "house" is just down this road.
>You breathe deeply in the hopes that it'll keep your voice from growling at her.
>You think back to the long talk you had with Twilight when Petit first started picking on him.
>That helps a lot.
>A very disgruntled looking butler pony answers the door after just two knocks.
>"May I hel-"
>"I heard that second knock! You know that tardiness is inexcusable!" you hear Diamond shout from some other room.
>His face grimaces even more, "May I help you?"
"Yeah... I was hoping to speak to Diamond, If'n ya don't mind?"
>He nods once and turns to face the directions Diamond's voice came from, "Miss Tiara, you have a guest."
>"Can there ever be a day that I'm not desired" Diamond sighs.
>"I believe it's called "everyday"" he mumbles to himself as he walks away.
 
>You put a hoof to your lips in order to keep your sides intact.
>"Oh, it's you" Diamond spits out, "And what do you want?"
>To put a hoof through your face.
"I came to talk about the little scuffle our sons got into this mornin'."
>Diamond looks confused for a moment before her face shifts into a sneer, "Ah! Yes, your little APE attacked my poor Petit Fleur."
"I'm pretty sure it wasn't as one sided as you think" you say gruffly.
>Keep your cool Bloom.
>Diamond blows air out of her nostrils, "I'm sure that if you saw my darling boy you'd feel a little differently about that."
>Be the bigger mare here...
"I only know what I've seen on my son, and I had a long talk with him about the whole thing."
>"Just a talk? Ha! No wonder your mongrel of a "son" is so misbehaved."
>I will END YOU BI-
>No.
>Remember why you're here.
"Our family settles things through talkin'" you hiss out through gritted teeth.
>You let out the anger with a sigh before continuing.
"And... we wanted to give ya this here Zapapple coat wash."
>You pull the plastic bottle out of your saddlebags, its rainbow color shows through the clear plastic, and set it down in front of Diamond.
>She glances down at it for a moment and squints her eyes at you.
"Consider it a "bury the hatchet" gift, from our family to yours."
>She looks down at the coat wash again.
>"Wow... I don't. Th-thanks?"
"You're welcome Diamond" you chirp back.
>She just stands there, completely at a loss for words.
"Welp, I best be headin' back now. My son's probably wonderin' why I ain't back yet to whoop him at Rainboom Special eatin'."
>"Y-yes I... I have to go fin- uh, TALK, talk to my son as well."
>The door shuts behind you as you trot away.
>"Petit! Get down here!"
>"Leave me alone mom, I'm busy!"
>You chuckle to yourself as you hear them "bond."
>They'll never be as close as you are with Anon.
 
>"Anon will never have a cutie mark Applebloom, humans don't get them."
"B-but... how will he ever find his special talent?"
>"In a way that is his special talent."
"How in the hay is that a special talent?"
>"Well... think of it like this, all ponies eventually find what they're meant to do in life right?"
"Eventually..." you grumble, looking down at your potion making cutie mark.
>Twilight giggles, "Yes, eventually. But humans are different, they don't have anything they're MEANT to do in life, which also means that they can do anything they want."
>You look down at the sleeping boy leaning back against your belly.
"So y'mean that he could be good at anything?"
>"Everything, one thing, five things. Yes, I think anything is a good word to use."
"But how is he supposed to find out all the things he CAN do?"
>"Well, I think having a mom that spent a long time trying everything to get her cutie mark would be perfect to help her son, don't you?"
>Anon yawns and leans further into you.
>You smile as you think about all the possibilities.
 
>Yeah, Twilight's words were just the thing to help keep you cool back there.
>It's a real good thing that big sis is the Element of Honesty instead of you.
>Diamond is going to be furious when she uses that balding potion on her coat.
>You laugh yourself to tears all the way to sugarcube corner.
>There's a bunch of activity going on through the window.
>Anon is dancing with Pinkie Pie on top of a table with blue smeared all over his face.
>Scootie is face down in a bowl of Rainboom Surprise.
>Hmmm, maybe he could "get a cutie mark" in professional eating?
>You are feeling mighty hungry...