MAY 2 Monday.

I slowly hum a tune with Entropy as we walk down a dusty road while I carry a wooden cage on my back.

Currently, I'm walking down a dirt road on my way to Ponyville, somewhere I haven't been to in a while. I'll get to why in a moment, but for now, updates. First and foremost, my last meeting with Cadance unfortunately ended in failure for our first attempt.

After getting teased by her some more and playing a few card games, and then Entropy showed up on time for me to go home and stop dealing with my embarrassment. I'm not completely blind to why she does it, me and Celestia are close and I won't lie and say Celestia isn't attractive.

I force my mind away from that topic as I would rather not have a fifth leg while walking. Beyond that, I spent time working on the new material I now have access to. The Gold Oak branch has proven to be very interesting, if a little confusing, honestly, I just have more questions now.

To even work with the wood I needed to upgrade my wood carving tools to be even sharper and more durable, something that took a week by itself. I was able to cut the bark and wood after doing it, but it still proved difficult. After finding that I was able to cut through the branch I tried to use the same newly enchanted tools to cut the Gold Oak itself.

But it did not work in the slightest, it didn't even leave a scratch on the bark. I wanted to try this to see if the toughness of the wood changed in the absence of the life magic normally inside it, and it seems my guess was spot on. But it did work on the cut-off branch and that opened a few possibilities.

First I removed the branch bark, which seems to have kept a large amount of its properties, I can push life magic through it but it's uncontrolled and the bark completely stops my life magic senses. Interestingly enough it also messes with my special senses a bit, I'm not sure why.

Once the bark was off of the branch I removed any small offshoots and started to test with the wood itself. It's a really tough wood but also turned out to be very brittle. I tried to cut a piece off the branch and I used more force than I should have and the cut cracked it instead of cutting smoothly, which has made working with it difficult.

I did try cutting the small section I have with my space magic again, but the Rebound cracked it in several places and ruined it. Another reason I believe the wood loses its strength after being removed and dying, it's not able to handle the Rebound. But despite the wood's downsides, the upsides more than makeup for it.

It can conduct and channel life magic along its length with ease, and it seems to follow the wood grain. I pushed life magic into one end and it flowed out the other, this golden material seems adept at channeling life magic and I've been thinking of a way to extract it.

For now, though, I'm just trying to find even better runes and remake the cutting spell I used for my wood carving tools again. I need a smooth cut to make anything useful with how brittle the wood can be, I’ll need something stupidly sharp to cut it properly. I leave my thoughts as I crest a hill and see Ponyville in the distance.

I came here because I'm out of options that won't take a long time and decided to try something a little crazy, and I wanted to do this before the dinner night I had this evening, something me and my friends have decided we'll be doing every few weeks on top of our game nights. Back to my point though, the crow I stole is still with me after several weeks and I haven't found a home. I tried more places in Canterlot but they rejected me, I asked my few friends, and I even offered it to Avalon when we met up a week ago to hang out.

My other friends didn't need a pet, they did ask about where I got it and I just lied and said it was an odd gift from an acquaintance, something they joked about but didn't dig into. Avalon didn't want it, apparently, he just didn't have the time or want to train a crow to travel with him and because the crow doesn't seem well adapted for a city, it seems to be affecting them even with trips to Gaia's Eden.

So I'm at an impasse, I can either let this crow go somewhere in the wild, a town, or a forest. Or, I can check one last location. I may have a lot of free time but I don't want to go to another city and search through it for days just to find somepony who might find them a home or might just tell me the same thing everypony else has told me.

So, I took an opportunity to check in on Ponyville a little and see if a certain shy mare is now living here. I remember seeing her in the town last time I visited and if anypony might take this crow in, it is her. Plus I never confirmed if she now lives here, but considering I saw her here and some time has passed it's worth a look.

As I enter the town I see ponies walking around going about their days, a few do look at me, and some even wave at me in greeting. This town is always a breath of fresh air, it's friendly even by pony standards. I vaguely remember the way to Fluttershy's shack when I visited it a long time ago, and I follow those memories to guide me while Entropy under her illusion sits on my back as I walk.

I take a few turns before noticing the right path, and unlike last time the plants around it are more trimmed and controlled. The path is also far less overgrown with grass and weeds, the dirt path even looks freshly upturned and disturbed. A good sign to start with.

I smile a little and start to follow down the winding path through the bushes and trees. It's not too far as Ponyville is pretty close to the Everfree and Fluttershy's home is pretty much right on the edge of the forest. After a while, I turn a bend and see a building come into view.

The small plank bridge over the stream has been replaced with a sturdier one made from properly cut planks with wooden railings. The cottage that was once dilapidated seems to have been fixed up properly. The walls are freshly painted and have no holes while the front door has been replaced.

I cross the small bridge and stand on the flat area that makes up a clearing surrounded by bushes and trees that her home sits in. The front of the cottage has garden beds that seem recent as nothing has grown in them so far, but I feel seeds inside them. I can feel a pony move around inside and smile knowing she's home, it seems my slightly crazy idea could work.

I stand in front of the door for a moment to get my story straight. I've noticed the crow acting differently and I think it's not holding up the best, so asking her for help is where I will start.

I reach out a hoof to knock on the door, but before I can the door swings open. "EEEP!" A mare's voice calls out in surprise as I see Fluttershy open the door and go wide-eyed seeing me standing only a foot away. She hides half her face behind her mane and backs up very quickly.

I nearly laugh at the sight of her reaction but contain it and just smile at her. "Hello, Miss. Fluttershy. It seems we meet again, a pleasure." I will be a little more polite than I normally am and use a quieter tone than needed, mostly to try and calm her down and not startle her again.

She stares at me for a few moments before her eyes glance down and a blush overtakes her face, she looks embarrassed. "He-Hello." She stutters a bit before taking a breath, I just wait patiently for her to calm down a bit. She looks back up to me and her eyes light up a bit after seeing Entropy. "Oh! Hello!" She greets Entropy much more enthusiastically.

Entropy does what she does best and acts adorable. "Hiii!" She crows out but keeps her words like a normal crow would, such a smart girl. Fluttershy looks even more excited and happy before getting some control over herself and looking back at me.

"It's nice to see you again... Shade?" I chuckle a bit and she looks more embarrassed, I nod in the affirmative. "Good. Umm, can I help you with something?" Her tone is quiet and a little nervous, something that comes off as adorable. I quickly beat off a few other thoughts and focused on answering her.

"Yes, I was passing through town and heard you might be the pony to ask about pets?" This is my excuse, it's not perfect but it's the best I could come up with. "I have a crow that needs to be looked over and I thought you might know something, or somepony that could help."

She looks a little surprised and then a little worried as she moves closer to me and looks closely at Entropy. "Oh no! Are you ok, Entropy?! Did you get hurt?" Her tone changes to be a little more confident as she looks Entropy over with worried eyes. I noticed she did remember Entropy's name, just not mine.

I quickly shake my head at that and keep my smile. "No! No. She's fine, my other little friend I'm not so sure, it might just be things changing though." I take a slightly sad tone. The unnamed crow has been quiet and inattentive, I think all the time alone and me not really knowing how to take care of them is getting to them.

She blushes again and backs up so she's not right next to me, she looks over at the cage on my back that has its coven on. "O-oh. Do... Do you want to come inside? I-It could rain out here." She seems to remember her manners and walks inside while keeping the door open and showing a small nervous smile.

I nod my thanks. "If it's not too much trouble, sorry if I was interrupting anything." I be polite again but take a more blunt and relaxed tone than an overly friendly one. I make sure to wipe my hooves on the mat before stepping inside to look around after closing the door behind me.

The home is finished simply, with a few plain wood shelves, a blue couch, a table, and a nice red carpet. The place isn't all that large and I think she's moved in recently as it seems a little plain, or maybe that's just how she likes it? She shakes her head a little, "No, well. I mean! I-I was just going to check on the birds I met yesterday, but t-they can wait a little longer." She reassures me and stands there awkwardly.

I nod again. "Well, thank you for the help. Here." I move over the cage with my field, something she seems to notice and looks curious about. "A... Friend, couldn't take care of this one. So I took them in, but I think something might be wrong. Well, honestly, I think I'm just not right for them." I scratch the back of my neck and play up the truth a bit, this crow is just not something I'm good at taking care of.

She takes the cage and peels off the cover hesitantly, only for her eyes to go soft at seeing the crow inside. She spends a moment looking them over before looking concerned and whistling to them a bit. They chirp back and I raise a brow, I never could find out if she could really communicate with animals, I know it's possible but I never needed to look into it after Entropy started talking. "Oh, you poor thing." Her tone is very soft as she takes the crow out of the cage.

I feel kind of bad that the crow has gotten to this state, but I'm not one to deny my fuckups. "Yes. Sadly, unlike Entropy, this one seems unable to handle city life or travel." I half lie and she raises a brow slightly. "I live in Canterlot or travel around a lot of the day, Entropy is fine with that and I can take care of her well, it's not the same for them," I admit with some guilt in my tone.

Fluttershy lets the crow out of the cage as it seems to trust her almost immediately. It steps out onto her hoof and Fluttershy starts to look over her more. "Hmm. He's very healthy, just... Not happy." She says more to herself before looking at me. "N-Not that you did anything wrong! He's clearly well taken care of!" She defends me.

I shake my head. "No, you're right. He's?" I ask, noticing she seems to have found out the gender, she nods. "He's not ok, and part of that is my inability to take care of them," I say honestly while sitting down. "But that's why I'm here, I was passing through, and heard you might know who to talk to about getting him to help."

She shares a sad stare for a moment but shakes it off. She puts the cage on the floor and turns to me with a gentle smile, "Would you care for some tea?" She asks uncertainly, I nod and she smiles a bit more before walking into a kitchen through an open door.

I take a seat at her small table and decide to read while I wait. An hour ago I got home in the afternoon and I collected a letter from Twilight before coming here, it might be impolite but my curiosity is getting to me. I open the letter and read it quickly.

Dear Shade.

I'm taking an exam later today so I can't write much, but I just wanted to get this to you as early as I can. I've been so busy with learning and tests, it's AMAZING! The princess is really testing me this year! I even got to work on a few more advanced spells like th-

Sorry, I really do need to keep this short. Ok, I'm going to be free on May thirteenth, I know you have work so I thought Saturday would work best. I need to do some research so I'll be there for a long while. I hope to see you there.

Signed Twilight.

I chuckle a little at the letter, she really can't help herself, can she? Even in a short letter, she adds so many unnecessary things. "Wha- N-Never mind." I look up to see Fluttershy and the crow with a wooden tray, it has a few snacks and a hot teapot. She places it down and sits with me, "I. I hope lemon tea is alright, I don't like most other teas." She admits shyly.

She seems curious but stops herself from asking. I nod and take an offered teacup, "It's just fine. I like your home by the way, you are certainly better at decorating than I am." I mix a joke and compliment to relax the mood and try to make her more comfortable.

She smiles again and looks bashful. "I-I'm sure your home looks lovely. And thank you." I nod in turn and the male crow on Fluttershy’s back hops on the table to steal a cracker for itself. "Oh, right. Umm, you need help with this one?" She smiles as the crow eats.

I nod yet again. "Yes, I, well... Honestly? I'm not sure I can keep taking care of him, even if he gets better he's just not compatible with the way I live my life." I did come here seeking help, but I could have just gone to a veterinarian for that, I came for a different reason. "But, sadly I couldn't find them a new home."

She also looks a bit sad and looks at the crow. "So, I was hoping you'd know where I can get them help, and hopefully somepony that can take them in. I already tried places in Canterlot but none would take him." I lay my reasons out plainly and with a blunt and kind tone.

She looks a bit surprised at my admission but also happy with me, to be honest. "You're very kind." I raise a brow. "T-To take care of them for so long, e-even when you... W-Well many just, let them go." She looks a bit, well not quite mad and not quite sad, some odd mix of both maybe? "Well, maybe I-I could?" She offers very uncertainly.

I smile at that as I thought I was trying to think of a way to suggest just that, but I notice she seems uncertain about it. "I'd be more than happy to leave them with you, Miss. Fluttershy. You already seem to know more about crows than me and I've been living with one for years." I joke again and she giggles a little. "But, are you sure? I don't want to drop my responsibility on you." I offer her an easy way to back out.

She seems to think about it for a few moments before nodding with some surprising determination on her face and petting the crow. "Just F-Flutteshy is fine. And, I- Yes. It's not too much, I. I already have a pet and... Well, I like animals." She sees my uncertain expression. "R-Really! In fact, I want to make this place an animal s-sanctuary." She blurts out before realizing her words and blushing fiercely.

I smile widely at that. "Really? That's quite a noble aspiration. And thank you, it means a lot that I can find them a good home." I compliment and thank her, and it's the truth, caring for and running a sanctuary for animals is no easy task, and finding the crow such a good home is great.

Entropy seems to agree with me as well. "Pretty." She caws out before deciding that the best place to rest is on top of my head, just as she did the last time I met Fluttershy. She blushes even more at the combined compliments and buries her face in her mane.

"T-Thank you, but it's really not that much." She doesn't whisper so much as just speak quieter. "S-So, what do you do, f-for work I mean." She can't seem to take all the compliments but also doesn't really know how to make me stop so she just changes the subject.

I almost answered that I'm a librarian, but that's not quite right anymore. What do I do now? After thinking on it for a minute I finally answer as she happily feeds Entropy a cracker by outstretching a wing and being careful not to hit me with it. "I've been a fair few things, right now though I'm just an aspiring rune scribe."

In the past, I was quiet about this but I can't see much harm in saying it now, it's not like I can get in trouble for saying it either way. She looks intrigued but also confused, "Don't they, make spells?" She guesses hesitantly. "So you cast a spell, mmm, runic casting?" She again guesses.

I smile at somepony recognizing my craft, many don't. "Correct. Although it's an aspiration more than anything, making spells is no easy feat." A half lie from me. I take a moment to sip from my teacup and enjoy the simple lemon tea, it's not bad. "And again correct. I've learned to cast spells. Not many know the technical name of my craft though."

She again looks bashful. "O-Oh. Well, it's just something I remember from a classmate. They wanted to learn, I think they learned to cast a light spell last time I met them." She seems to be in thought. "Or maybe a cleaning spell?" She seems to have relaxed much more after the change in topic.

I smile at that and decide to have a little fun. A rune flashes into the air slower than normal to not startle her, and a moment later there is a blue ball of light in mid-air. "Wow." I nearly laugh at the small whisper. "I- She never did anything like that, you don't have to draw the... Carving?"

I shake my head. "Its technical name is spell matrix. And no, I'm a Journeypony Runic Caster so I can do it without drawing them." I explain but a thought comes to mind a moment later, I cast another spell to check the time remembering I have a night out with my friends in an hour, shit. "Sorry, it seems I have to cut this a bit short." I quickly stood up after seeing the time.

She looks a bit sad at that but nods and follows me to her front door. "Oh, of course, it was nice meeting you again, and p-please don't feel bad... W-Wait, don't you need your cage?" She asks and points to it on the table.

I shake my head and take out a small bag of bits, fifty bits in total. "No, my friend gave it to me and I have no use for it, keep it. And here, for the help and taking him in." I offer and her eyes widen and she looks uncertain. "I won't take no for an answer, not after barging in unannounced and you being so helpful," I say, noticing she looked like she'd reject me.

I toss the bag to her and smirk a little at the slightly shocked face she has while catching it. "Thank you again for the help Fluttershy. Please take good care of them for me." I open the door and step out as she follows me again.

"Wait!" I turn to her as she speaks pretty loudly. She looks embarrassed at the outburst. "It's nearly dark, a-and the... E-Everfree, is close." She seems afraid of the name itself and looks genuinely concerned about me. "I- I could lead you back. In the d-dark." She offers with some fear, but also concern for me.

I see that she is right and it is going to be dark very soon. I smile at her in reassurance. "I will be just fine, I don't plan to walk." I was planning to just have Entropy take me home once we were out of sight, but this will work as well. I quickly cast a spell and waited a moment for my wings to fully form.

"Have a good night, Fluttershy." I don't wait for a response before beating my wings several times and leaving a stunned Fluttershy in my wake as I fly off into the evening to head home again.

Author's Note

Thanks for reading. :]
Current year is 995

I was thinking about giving the crow to Avalon, but this gave me an opportunity to head to Ponyville again. I know there isn’t much in this chapter but I wanted to stop at Ponyville and solve the crow problem before getting to Twilight.

Ps. taking tomorrow or the next day off.