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Secrets of a CMC Filly (Bellosh101, Steel Eagle, & Riverhippo)


Bellosh

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For most citizens of Manehattan, the brick Orange family warehouse nestled on the eastern shore of the Galloping River was just that... a simple warehouse. For Babs Seed though, this was what she and family proudly called home. As the tightly-knit family unit managed the distribution of oranges (and apples from their Apple family kin), where else would they make their home other than the upper levels of a warehouse-styled building?

Yet this warehouse contained much more than just a residence. Situated in one back corner of the ground floor, an area cleared of crates had been set aside for a wooden table, three chairs, and a rug. From here, Babs Seed and her Manehattan Cutie Mark Crusader buddies plotted how to either earn their cutie marks or more likely, figure out something fun to do.

Today, Miss Seed expected her cousin Valen Orange and her pegasus friend Remington to drop by the “clubhouse” on a scheduled visit. As the filly waited for the two to arrive, she sat on a chair reading a new gardening magazine, what with her garden on top of the warehouse and all. Anytime now, the other two Crusaders should be entering through the unlocked back door... hopefully. Babs wasn't exactly the most patient of foals in Equestria after all.

[colour=#daa520]~Remington better not have fallen asleep on ‘da way here, or else.....~[/colour]

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[colour=#000000]Remington walked into the door. His walk from his home in Midtown wasn't a short one, but it became a familiar one that he had already made a few times. It wasn't that dangerous, even for a fragile young pegasus pony. He would just have to be extra attentive when walking crosswalks. [/colour][colour=#000033]"Hey Babs! You're not going to believe this. I had the same dream two naps in a row!"[/colour][colour=#000000] Remington had started having dreams since he could recall existing. He never knew what they meant though, and they occurred frequently, not only because his dreams reoccurred in patterns, but also because he slept a lot. [/colour][colour=#000033]"It's the one where I'm playing with blocks with some other pony my age I've never met before. Maybe my special talent is building things!"[/colour]

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Valen had made sure that of all the locations he could co-opt for their clubhouse, he had chosen one with the most remote possibility of being interrupted by family business. It was an overflow warehouse used for excess stock in the case of poor sales, which was a laughable concept for the Orange family who could hawk their delicious and nutritious wares across the nation with devastating ease. There were still crates and other items clogging it up, but it was the best option and he had been pleased to provide the Manehattan Crusaders with the location. It was going to be fun, hunting for their Cutie Marks or at the very least being social and not stuffed away in one of the thousands of buildings that lined the city streets that lacked personality. It wasn't like the Ponyville Crusader's clubhouse, but over time he hoped they'd inject some life into it that was uniquely attuned to the fine ponies who were members of the organization.

[colour=#0033cc]"Hello, everypony," [/colour]Valen said gently as he trotted into view, nodding towards his cousin and de-facto leader ofthis branch of the Crusaders. Remington was here too, which was just as fine- Valen had packed smelling salts just in case of emergency, which followed the colt around. He heard the final part of Remington's story and smiled.

[colour=#0033cc]"Well, building things- architecture- would give you quite the career here in Manehattan!" [/colour]He laughed as he trotted up to a table, opening up his saddlebag and tossing some papers on it.

[colour=#0033cc]"I brought what you requested, Babs,"[/colour] Valen said through his teeth as he also fished out some tea.

[colour=#0033cc]"Also, food and drink."[/colour]

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The first foal to arrive on the scene happened to be Remington, and this curious fellow couldn’t wait to share his latest hope at the very first opportunity for getting his cutie mark. [colour=#daa520]“Ummmm........ ‘dat’s great Remmy,”[/colour] Babs Seed half-heartedly encouraged, even though she didn’t think her pal’s consecutive dreams meant nothing in the long run; [colour=#daa520]“Maybe if yaw’ actually build somethin’, we can see if ‘dat’s your special talent or not.” [/colour]It couldn’t hurt for Remmy to at least try, right?

As she finished with Remington, Babs Seed trotted over to her cousin Valen Orange. Just like she asked, the colt managed to tear off select pages from How to Earn Your Cutie Mark in 5 Days or Less, an instructional book written for little foals in mind. Supposedly, the pages Valen brought contained a surefire plan for the three Crusaders here to get their marks. [colour=#daa520]“Sweeeet,”[/colour] the goldenrod filly congratulated, ruffling her cousin’s mane; [colour=#daa520]“You rock Valen! So, what did ya’ bring for snacks?”[/colour]

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[colour=#000000]Remington focused in on the papers that Valen had smacked onto the table. [/colour][colour=#000033]"What are these? Instructions?"[/colour][colour=#000000] Remington read the top aloud. [/colour][colour=#000033]"How. To. Get. A. Cutie mark. In. Less. Than. Five. Days."[/colour][colour=#000000] Remington popped up. [/colour][colour=#000033]"They have stuff like this published? Why didn't we think of this earlier!?"[/colour]

[colour=#000000]Remington raised an eyebrow at Valen when he shook out some tea. [/colour][colour=#000033]"Tea? Didn't you bring something like apple juice or orange juice or apple orange juice?"[/colour][colour=#000000] Remington wasn't really a pony who disliked the finer things, however he couldn't outdo Valen at a fancy party. Remington was just a normal colt, wanting normal things. Besides, he was still trying to adjust to Manehatten's way of life, not to mention Valen's high society standards.

And Babs? Well, Remington still hadn't understood her fully yet either. She was a rough. Despite being the filly, she could probably take on Rem and Valen down in a fight at the same time. So there was that immediate distaste for aggression. But Remington had also seen Babs' friendly side, the side that he related with the most. However, Remington's cloud high ideas were often held down by Babs' earth pony roots.[/colour]

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[colour=#0033cc]"Yes. Yes I do rock,"[/colour] Valen replied evenly as he silently patted himself on the back for remembering the title of the book Babs had wanted. She had mentioned it off-hoofedly one morning and he had forgotten it until the previous day, when he remembered he was supposed to bring something to the meeting. He found the book by chance as he panicked and looked through the library for whatever the hay it was supposed to be. The title caught his eye and jogged his memory, but he didn't have the heart to tell his companions the last factoid about the item. It had been found in the comedy section. Telling them that the very thing that was the centerpiece of the current excitement was a tongue in cheek expedition in foalish silliness would have put a damper on the mood anyway. Remington might not remember it, but he was sure Babs would blame him somehow.

[colour=#0033cc]"Yes, and the last copy in the library as well,"[/colour] He offered proudly, setting up the tea. Cups, a nice thermos, even the ingredients for a new brew if they found the need for so many cups. Remington would need like fifteen alone just to stay awake, but the colt had other drinks in mind. Valen smiled- what sort of Orange would he be without Orange juice?! Valen nodded and took out a pitcher of juice, tapping Remington on the shoulders.

[colour=#0033cc]"Yes! Orange juice directly from the Orange family stores. The best in the business, as it were," h[/colour]e poured Remington a cup, and after that poured both Babs and himself a cup of tea. He then brought out brownies and cookies.

[colour=#0033cc]"As for snacks Babs, cookies and brownies. And high class ones, too! Very good, not too bad for you and still delicious," [/colour]He emphasized this point by biting into one, swallowing it in one fell move. He then burped, wiped his mouth a napkin, and brought out a pad of paper and a few pens.

[colour=#0033cc]"Roll call! Say 'here' when your name is called. Then Babs will start us off! Valen Orange...Here!"[/colour], he marked it down, [colour=#0033cc]"Babs Seed?",[/colour] after her response, he marked it down, [colour=#0033cc]"Remington?"[/colour], and after his response, he marked it down and turned it over to Babs.

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After declaring her presence in roll call, Babs Seed saw fit to answer Rem’s question about getting the book in greater depth. [colour=#daa520]“Well,”[/colour] the young earth pony begun; [colour=#daa520]“My pals ovah in Pawnyville said ‘dey found a book like ‘dis one over at ‘dere local library. ‘Dey didn’t like ‘da book for some reason; somethin’ about it too brainy or somethin’... I’m not quite sure. However, ‘dat didn’t stop me from askin’ Valen to get a cutie mark book from ‘da Manehatten Library-”[/colour] Just to make sure Valen got the book, Babs looked him in the eye and questioned; [colour=#daa520]"You can show us 'da book now, right?"[/colour]

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[colour=#000000]Remington slurped his drink and then responded. [/colour][colour=#000033]"Here!"[/colour]

[colour=#000000]Babs informed of how the book might not be that great just because the Ponyville branch didn't like a similar book. Remington never thought of himself as a brainy pony, either, but how hard could it be? I mean this book had to be written for foals who don't have their cutie marks, right? [/colour][colour=#000033]"Well, what are we waiting for? Open it up, what's it say? Does it say anything about building things?"[/colour]

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Valen took the book out per Babs' request as they finished their meager rollcall, laying it flat on the table, spinning it so the cover faced Babs, and sliding it towards her with a forced smile.

[colour=#3366ff]"Same book, and I'm sure we'll discover more than our cousin. Smart filly, but I wouldn't call any of them anything close to patient,"[/colour] He spoke quickly, pouring some more drinks for the three as he contemplated what to avoid in that book. Everything was too broad a definition however, so what could be in there? Being more of a comedic book there was no telling what sort of embellished foalishness would be inside. He could count on Babs seeing that, but Remington might have different tastes. Probably did, because if there was one thing Valen was sure of, it was that ponies who shouldn't be anywhere near construction probably wanted to build the biggest things possible. Imagining Remington trying to build something sent chills down his spine, power tools and falling asleep was the sort of combination nightmares were made of. Smiles though!

[colour=#3366ff]"Well, I am sure they have all sorts of ideas you might like Remington, including building things!"[/colour] He ended on a chipper tone, turning to Babs.

[colour=#3366cc]"So, what's catching your eye?"[/colour]

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Babs Seed wouldn’t argue with Valen Orange’s assessment of her Ponyville pals, even if so far she’s done to earn her cutie mark has been only to perform a slightly modified version of what cousin Bloom routinely does. The goldenrod filly might have asked her parents or big sister about the matter, but she couldn’t bear to require help from them when most other ponies she knew apparently didn’t need to. That, and cousin Bloom’s letter all point towards asking around to be a useless gesture anyway.

[colour=#daa520]“I don’t think it’s ‘dat kind of book Remington,”[/colour] Miss Seed dryly chastised as she began reading through the book. Moving the first couple of pages with her teeth, Babs halted at the table of contents to scan for interesting chapter titles. After a couple dozen seconds passed by, the little earth pony thought she had an answer. “Hmmm,” she mused, jabbing an early section labeled “Know Your True You”; [colour=#daa520]“Maybe we can try ‘dis chapter first?”[/colour]

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[colour=#000000]Remington peaks over at the page Babs turned to as she slowly read the entry. Then he grabbed the book in haste and read aloud. [/colour][colour=#000033]"In order to achieve the proper mentality for receiving your cutie mark, you have to know the pony who is getting the cutie mark. You! Ask yourself these questions. What do you like to do? What sports do you like to play? How do you like hang out with your friends? How do... yada yada yada."[/colour][colour=#000000] Remington pulled up from the book. [/colour][colour=#000033]"Guys, this is boring, lets turn ahead to the exciting stuff."[/colour]

[colour=#000000]Remington flipped through pages ten at a time and read a chapter header near the end of the book. [/colour][colour=#000033]"Now that you have your cutie mark... Whoops! Too far, heh,"[/colour][colour=#000000] Remington chuckled. He flipped back about halfway and randomly turned to a page with large font. [/colour][colour=#000033]"Da dada dada. Ah! Here we go. It says here, 'strategies for practicing your cutie mark potential'. Its important to know what you are capable of, but also what you are not capable of. Step 1: Ask your friends what you are good at. Sometimes an outside view of your life helps analyze your personality more than you can yourself, like we learned in chapter one. Step 2: Do that thing and see if you like doing it."[/colour]

[colour=#000000]Remington stood up straight. [/colour][colour=#000033]"Ok. Hey Valen, what am I good at?"[/colour]

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Babs was going to go the more methodical approach and read the book page by page. That didn't fit her and it definitely didn't fit Remington, which was a shame because if they had decided to crack it open and read it like most books they would have seen the foreword where the author laid out his comedy style for the book. But Remington put that hope to rest whe he rudely snatched the book away from Babs and launched his own investigation of the content. Valen was shocked that Babs didn't turn him inside out but there was always the chance she liked somepony just going full bore at it and letting the pressure roll off of her like summer sweat in a hoofball tryout. Why do the work when somepony else can...flip to a random page? Okay, well, so maybe Remington wasn't the best at it.

The question was asked and it took Valen some time to fish for an answer. He hadn't known Remington for long at all, and hapahazardly at that. And the majority of that time was seemingly spent observing him while he slept. What did he even do for fun? Were his dreams wildly entertaining? They'd have to be if he spent so much time in his dreamworld. Maybe his talent was a vivid imagination that would one day manifest itself in great works of art and entertainment, or a certain deoth of it that even if not as colourful as others had a breathing intensity to it! It could be anything, and perhaps if Valen spent more time with Remington he could actually say something wise. Instead, he looked mutely at the colt for a few minutes, blinking dully before thinking of what to say.

[colour=#3366cc]"Uhh...you sleep...you're the best at sleeping, no doubt! You're a champion level sleeper, awesome...you're super creative...and...so creative!"[/colour]

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It felt mildly annoying to have Remington suddenly swipe the book from her, but Babs Seed simply shrugged it off as the pegasus colt started reading out loud. The goldenrod filly wasn’t so sure though whether it made sense to wantonly skip ahead all over the place; that impatient behavior was something she expected from somepony like Scootaloo. Fortunately, Rem managed to find a suitable activity for the group to start out with.

It was too bad though that cousin Valen had no decent answers to provide to Remington. [colour=#daa520]“Valen, you knucklehead!”[/colour] Babs chastised the other earth pony; [colour=#daa520]“’Dose answers won’t get him his cutie mark. Ugggh, lemme’ try instead...”[/colour] After a moment of pondering, the goldenrod filly realized to her horror that she truthfully didn’t actually know anything that Rem did on a consistent basis. Every time they’ve met so far, Rem had been chatting about whatever random fun thing he strove to do, but never sticking with it. Desperate for an answer, Miss Seed nervously stroked the back of her neck and stammered; [colour=#daa520]“Well uhhhh, yaw’ like to try out things all ‘da time, right.....?”[/colour]

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[colour=#000000]Remington's eyes grew large as Valen started telling Remington all of the these that he knew about him. Remington even blushed slightly. [/colour][colour=#000033]"Really? You think I sleep good? OK, let me try." [/colour][colour=#000000] Remington closed his eyes and laid his head on the table. He breathed silently for a few seconds, and then peaked his left eye open slightly. With full wide-eyed expression he looked back at his flank. Nothing. [/colour][colour=#000033]"Well, it was worth a shot."[/colour]

[colour=#000000]Remington leaned forward and grabbed a brownie with his mouth, and began chewing it whole as Babs started talking. She asked him a question, and he swallowed his brownie to talk. [/colour][colour=#000033] "Do I like to try new things? Hmm... I don't know. That's kind of a hard question."[/colour][colour=#000000] Remington beamed. [/colour] [colour=#000033]"Maybe that's you're special talent, Babs! Asking really hard questions! Quick, ask me or Valen another hard question."[/colour]

[colour=#000000]Remington looked at the book again. [/colour][colour=#000033]"And it also says, 'Step 3: Ask your peers what you are not good at, and avoid those things.' I guess we can strike off sleeping as a potential talent for me. Besides, everypony sleeps, not just me."[/colour]

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Babs had really gone a little bit on the rude side of the societal divide, but he couldn't really blame her. She didn't want the Manehattan Crusaders to come apart at the seams because of some unkind words, but when she was up she couldn't do much more than he had. Not so easy when you walked a mile in somepony else's shoes, was it Babs? He loved his cousin dearly but she was a pile of nerves that could snap and pop at you about anything at anytime, and rarely did she think things through past the moment. She hemmed and hawed and blurted out the stockiest answer in the history of this book's not so illustrous history. He shot her a deadpan look, wondering if that was seriously her best effort. At least he had given him something, even if it was a poor something, to go off of.

Which, speaking of, Remington launched into trying to get his cutie mark. This was certainly the most action packed way to begin their cutie mark hunting days, wasn't it? Amazing action with the Manehattan CMC. Who knows, maybe next they'd dress up in nappies and take naps like foals! Remington 'woke up' dissapointed, his flank still egregiously bare as he started to find a new method. he settled on them finding out things they weren't good at, and considering how awkward it was discussing a pony he didn't even know, Valen decided it was time for him to take his turn in. Get it done soon or his cousin would get her revenge for the bunny suit.

[colour=#3366cc]"Well, I think you've done great so far, Remington. I'll go next. So, what do you two think I'm good at? And what am I not good at?"[/colour]

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Babs Seed sighed as Remington suggested that her special talent lied in asking hard questions. The goldenrod filly should have known that going through this book wouldn’t be easy; if it was, then they probably would have gotten their cutie marks without help from the thing in the first place. At any rate, that disapproving look from cousin Valen indicated that perhaps Babs herself deserved part of the blame for providing such a goofy question anyway.

But Miss Seed saw a chance to redeem herself as Val asked his other crusader pals what he was good and not good at... and Babs instantly shouted the most suitable answer possible. [colour=#daa520]“Hah! You sure like screwin’ up as a farmboy Val,”[/colour] teased the smirking earth pony; [colour=#daa520]“I still get a laugh whenever I hear about ‘da first time yaw visited our Pawnyville cousins.”[/colour] Now that she was done getting a rise out of Val, Babs took a bite out of a brownie before offering up a more serious answer; [colour=#daa520]“Really though... uhh..... I remembah yaw’re good at wearin’ silly dresses. Weren’t yaw' part of a fashion show or somethin’ in town?”[/colour] As Valen’s coz, the filly had a good enough picture of what notable stuff he did, or so Miss Seed hoped.....

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[colour=#000033]"No, no, no, no."[/colour][colour=#000000] Remington interrupted. [/colour][colour=#000033]"Valen, aren't you a colt? What colt likes to wear dresses?"[/colour][colour=#000000] Remington then gave a couple glances at Valen and Babs, and then concluded to himself that he missed the social element completely. Babs was obviously joking. [/colour][colour=#000033]"Oh! Heh, you're such a kidder, Babs."[/colour][colour=#000000] He giggled. [/colour][colour=#000033]"And I bet Babs, you like to rake leaves and plant flowers. But seriously, I would say the farm thing has some merit. Maybe Valen just dooesn't like manual labor. Maybe you're a paper pusher, Valen." [/colour][colour=#000000] Remington confused himself. As he didn't really know what it meant. He knew his dad worked at an office and that he refered to it as 'pushing paper' but beyond those details, he was lost. Remington place one of the pieces of paper in front of Valen and suggested. [/colour][colour=#000033] "Push it!"[/colour]

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Valen was taking a drink of the most regal and divine orange juice. A little bit of pulp having been freshly squeezed and left in with a subtle wink towards the consumer that what they were drinking was truly top quality. Stuff that was pulp free, though the family offered it, never had the same taste. It felt artificial and fake and he was no fan of it. A little pulp and you knew it was frsh and delicious. He drank just as Babs revealed-

-after she let that cat out of the bag, he stopped for a second, face still covered by his cup. He hesitated a second in mid-motion before he continued to finish his whole cup of juice, ending with a slightly pulp covered mouth as he let his cup down. A forced smile was on his lips as she shot Babs a look of embarrassment mixed with a little bit of anger regarding how casually it had been brought up- what a disloyal traitor! Privacy was privacy in the house of Valen and he didn't appreciate it being brought up. Luckily, remington provided an easy out and Valen took it just as quickly.

[colour=#3366ff]"Yes, Babs has a lot of silly thoughts that I'm quite happy aren't out to trot around town, yes? As if I would have the time to be at a fashion show! I have such a busy life playing hoofball and fighting crime and getting into impromptu fights in the mud with...uhh...hoofball playing supervillains that I don't have time for such silliness! Why, I'm even preparing to become a better farmcolt, because I own and operate my own massive farm that I do everything at with no help from anypony because that's what I do, very super stallionly things!"[/colour] he forced a hearty, super stallionly chuckle out of him before losing his voice and coughing to recover it as Remington continued his brazen assault upon all things considered common sense. Paper pusher? Valen would play along. He dutifully pushed the paper towards Remington and waited a few seconds. He checked his flank- nothing.

[colour=#3366ff]"Well, I suppose that's enough of me. Drats and darnit. Babs, I think you're next?"[/colour]

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Bleh... what reason did Babs Seed have to bother with this stupid exercise when Valen Orange dismissed her honest answer? Cousin Val asked what his fellow Cutie Mark Crusaders thought he was good at, and Babs provided the most earnest answer possible... considering the orange colt frankly wasn’t much talented at anything else... hard labor least of all. And Babs also couldn’t understand why Valen kept on denying the whole dressing-up thing anyway, especially when he had already lost that one bet and fulfilled his oath by disguising himself as a filly model. Val couldn’t keep up that weird act forever, he surely must know by now.

Facehoofing the entire time Valen was making his monologue, Miss Seed finally perked up when it came time for her pals to discuss her unique talents. For her part, the goldenrod filly possessed no clue as to what she was especially skilled at. Babs knew how things worked in the often chaotic streets of Manehattan, but so did many other kids whose name didn’t begin with the word ‘Valen’ or ‘Remington’. Rem actually made a lucky guess about the street-smart earth pony enjoying gardening, but like her cousin Val, Babs would never willingly admit to her hobby either (although she’d vehemently deny any hypocrisy). Not only was Miss Seed fearful of losing street creed among her other friends, but she honestly only regarded gardening as a small-bit pastime to help her wind down each day. How was the filly supposed to get a cutie mark for something like that, anyway?

Thus with an air of premature defeat in her voice, Babs sighed before saying:[colour=#daa520] “Meh, I guess you guys can now figure out what I’m good and bad at. Let’s just get ‘dis ‘ding ovah with...”[/colour] The resigned filly, not bothering to acknowledge Remington's earlier guess, hoped that book better have an actual way to earn a cutie mark, because this exercise wasn’t working at all for anypony in the room.....

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[colour=#000033]"Woah, Babs. No need to get all upset about it. Your not a very nice pony under pressure, that's for sure,"[/colour][colour=#000000] Remington said timidly and candidly. [/colour][colour=#000033]"So if your attitude needs adjustment, and you're not any good at figuring things out, maybe you're the hoofball villain Valen was talking about."[/colour][colour=#000000] Remington popped up and stood on the table pointing at Babs. [/colour][colour=#000033]"Yeah! You're always had that rough edge. You could just be a professional villain!"[/colour][colour=#000000] He turned around. [/colour][colour=#000033]"And you, Valen. You could be the hero that saves the day like you said you do."[/colour][colour=#000000] Remington held his smile but then dropped it. [/colour][colour=#000033]"Seriously, if that's really what you do, then its a miracle you don't have a mark yet."[/colour][colour=#000000] He continued in a hyper tone. [/colour][colour=#000033]"And I'm good at... I'm good at..."[/colour][colour=#000000] Remington's eyes fell closed and his hoof draped loose under his body as he crash onto the table spilling the drinks and knocking off the tea party plates. As soon as his body rested, it was obvious he fell asleep, and his soft snore vibrated ever so quietly through the warehouse.[/colour]

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You could tell when something happened that put Babs mentally out of commission, as she was one of many ponies who didn't even try to put up a front about it. On one hoof such direct honesty, even if it was mostly body language, was very appreciated in many ways and you never were at a loss as to what was happening which was a rare and valuable trait of hers. On the other, she tended to not take rebuttals and poor outcomes very well, which was a part of life and something that frankly she had to learn to deal with. And more importantly, she never seemed to get that she couldn't control other ponies' actions or thoughts, which would be something unique if she could but sadly she lacked that superpower. Not that she didn't try- he'd lost more than a few bets to her, and as a consequence between them there was no doubt as to who called the shots.

Before Valen could speak, Remington launched his mini-tirade, during which Valen kept as straight a face as possible. He was pretty accurate in many regards which only made it all the sweeter and comedic when he switched targets and incorporated Valen's earlier lie into it before once more his defining trait kicked in and Remington was once more out like a light. Nice colt, which made it all the sadder that Valen couldn't get to know him incredibly well as he spent the majority of his time napping. Valen sighed, looking at Babs with a toothy grin.

[colour=#3366ff]"Well, that was certainly a thing,"[/colour] he began, pouring a new cup of juice for the pair,[colour=#3366ff] "I'd say that you have a lot of talents, Babs. You're very honest, even if I'd rather you not just so blithely lay out some things for ponies who frankly have no need to know some things. You're smart, you're usually kind- unless you've won a bet,"[/colour] he laughed, [colour=#3366ff]"but I think your true talent is in, well, gardening. You've got quite the green hoof...at least as much as I'm good at some other things. As for weaknesses, sometimes you're too brutally honest and you don't know when to keep some things a secret. But you're still my favorite cousin. Or one of them."[/colour]

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Contrary to Remington’s poorly-thought beliefs, Babs Seed was of the opinion that he was the one requiring attitude adjustment. Why couldn’t he just, you know, act mature and avoid shouting out nonsensical ideas? By this juncture, the goldenrod filly had no faith that her pegasus buddy would be getting his cutie mark anytime soon... especially now that he was taking one of his sudden naps again. Too bad how no talents the Maneahttan Cutie Mark Crusaders knew about required sleep.

Valen Orange however provided a more sensible appraisal of his cousin’s strengths and weaknesses. Babs Seed may not be the shiniest example of honesty compared to the likes of Ponyville’s Applejack, but the filly had a knack for being quite a blunt pony. True, Valen’s own secret would most likely be discovered soon enough, but perhaps it was the wrong thing to carelessly blurt it out in Rem’s presence... even if it was Miss Seed’s genuine guess as to Valen’s talent.

[colour=#daa520]“Well, I suppose I’m not ‘da best secret keeper out ‘dere,”[/colour] Babs dryly commented; [colour=#daa520]“But I really think your talent lies in dressin’ up. I remember yaw really seemed to like being in ‘dat fashion show. But since yaw asked ‘dat question, I gave ya’ my honest answer.”[/colour] Casually flicking her strawberry mane, the earth pony sighed and gave Val a rare look of uncertainty before rambling on; [colour=#daa520]“I don’t know about ‘dat gardening thing, cuz. Just because I do one little fun thing in my free time doesn’t mean it’ll turn out to be my special talent. If it did, wouldn’t I have my cutie mark already?”[/colour]

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[colour=#000000]Remington opened his eyes to see a vivid mist before him. And when it cleared, he could see a group of ponies. And two of them were Valen and Babs! Remington looked in front to see a camera staring back at him, with a pony with lots of facial hair calling out random directions to ponies behind him. Immediately, water started sprinkling artificially from the sky. [/colour] [colour=#a52a2a]"And..... ACTION!!!"[/colour]

[colour=#ffa500]"If you don't mind, you fill in the name. That will make it even more official. And the name is Ms. Seed,"[/colour] [colour=#000000]Valen said to Remington, who was in charge of the manifest.

Babs was confused to hear her name.[/colour] [colour=#daa520]"But why my name, Valen?"[/colour]

[colour=#ffa500]"Because you're getting on that train."[/colour]

[colour=#daa520]"I don't understand. What about you?"[/colour]

[colour=#ffa500]"I'm staying here with Rem 'til the train gets safely away."[/colour]

[colour=#daa520]"No, Valen, no. What has happened to you? Last night we said..."[/colour]

[colour=#ffa500]"...Last night we said a great many things. You said I was to do the thinking for both of us to get our cutie marks. Well, I've done a lot of it since then and it all adds up to one thing. You're getting on that train to get your cutie mark where you belong."[/colour]

[colour=#daa520]"But Valen, no, I, I..."[/colour]

[colour=#ffa500]"...You've got to listen to me. Do you have any idea what you'd have to look forward to if you stayed here? Nine chances out of ten we'd both wind up without our cutie marks."[/colour] [colour=#000000]As Valen stated, Remington nodded in agreement.[/colour]

[colour=#daa520]"You're saying this only to make me go."[/colour]

[colour=#ffa500]"I'm saying this because its true. Inside of us we both know your talent is gardening. You're part of that, the thing that keeps them growing. If that trains leaves the station and you're not, you'll regret it. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but soon, and for the rest of your life."[/colour]

[colour=#000000]Babs started to tear up.[/colour] [colour=#daa520]"But what about us?"[/colour]

[colour=#ffa500]"We'll always have Manehatten. We didn't have, we lost it, until you came to Ponyville. We got it back last night."[/colour]

[colour=#daa520]"And I said I would never leave you."[/colour]

[colour=#ffa500]"And you never will. But I've got a job to do, too. Where I'm going you can't follow. What I've got to do you can be any part of. Babs, I'm no good at being noble, but it doesn't take much to see that the problems of three little ponies don't amount to a hill of beans in this crazy world. Someday, you'll understand that. Now, now... [/colour][colour=#000000]Valen raised the fallen chin of Babs up and looked at her into her eyes, whiping away a trail of tears off her cheeks.[/colour][colour=#ffa500] Here's looking at you Cuz."[/colour]

[colour=#000000]Remington awoke at his position on the table when he fell asleep. He immediately jumped up and exclaimed to Valen and Babs.[/colour] [colour=#000033]"Oh my gosh, guys!! I just had a dream. You you were there, and you were there, too! Guys, I think my special talent is acting! We we're on a movie set and we were being filmed!"[/colour] [colour=#000000]Remington breathed heavily with excitement as he sat back down to contain his adrenaline.[/colour]

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Valen understood the well-intentioned reasoning behind his cousin's blunt attempt to destroy his personal standing with Remington and by and large most of the ponies he dealt with. She was as like a hammer that sought to split apart all that stood before it under the thunder blows it delivered, truth without mercy at times seemingly crushing the unprepared. Just as she was a hammer, Valen was a scalpel. He got to the truth eventually, but he felt no need to do it directly. Indirect means and skirting the issue, working a subject over, these were far more preferable to sheer honesty. To some that made him sneaky. To Valen, it prevented babs from throttling him and that was a worthy trade. Of course somepony with as green a hoof as she wasn't really liable to start throttling you, but better safe than sorry in her case. And in this case, he was the sharper tool.

[colour=#3366cc]"That is true. You've already tried your hoof at it so much, if gardening was your special talent you'd have a cutie mark. The same goes for me- if I was to be a model, I'd have it already. So I guess we'll both have to agree that we haven't tried what will lead to our cutie marks, correct?"[/colour] he led her on ably, finishing another cup of juice. He felt nature calling him and he was more than up to the challenge of answering it.[colour=#3366cc] "I'll be back in a moment Babs, need to-"[/colour]

[colour=#0000ff]"Oh my gosh, guys!! I just had a dream. You you were there, and you were there, too! Guys, I think my special talent is acting! We we're on a movie set and we were being filmed!" [/colour]

[colour=#3366cc]"GAHH!"[/colour] Valen fell over off the chair as Remington shot up from his prone sleeping position in a burst of energy that he was entirely incapable of handling. He slammed to the ground, back hooves pawing at the air fitfully for a second or two more before he lay there motionless.

[colour=#3366cc]"...use the bathroom,"[/colour] Valen muttered, shaking his head and holding it as he stood back up. Well, that wasn't very suave of him but that was to be expected. Sometimes a scalpel failed. He patted Remington on the head a few times.

[colour=#3366cc]"That sounds like one fantastic idea, Remington. Explain your dream in full detail to Babs here,"[/colour] He motioned towards his cousin, whom Valen would momentarily throw under the carriage,[colour=#3366cc] "while I run off and use the bathroom,"[/colour] he finished, patting Babs on the back and then trotting away swiftly towards the warehouse's restroom.

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So that was that... just like how gardening was out of the cards for Babs Seed’s destiny according to her logic, by extension it also meant that Valen Orange probably wouldn’t get his cutie mark from being a fashion model. It made sense to Babs when she thought about their parallel situation. In that case then, that book the Cutie Mark Crusaders read through really hadn’t helped them at all. All three kids were back where they started; with no clue on how to get their cutie mark. Babs made no attempt to keep her face from expressing the dejecting frustration she felt right now.

Yet before Valen was able to take a bathroom break, Remington suddenly woke up to tell everypony of a dream where all of them were... actors or something. Cousin Val was ever so kind enough to instruct that Rem describe his complete dream to Babs, while the orange colt naturally went off to the restroom. Not too terribly believing in the idea that the pegasus’s dream meant anything, the goldenrod filly shrugged and nonchalantly replied; [colour=#daa520]“Sure uhhh... tell me all about your dream, Remington.....”[/colour]

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