Author's Notes:

This chapter was written by GeekySonic.

I wasn't quite sure what to expect when Mom and Dad told Zephyr and I that we were moving two months ago. I knew one or two students who had moved. They packed up, left, and never came back. After a few days of contemplation, I decided that it couldn't be that bad.

It's not like I would miss anything or anyone from my old home. I actually kind of got my hopes raised when Mom said we were moving to a small farming town. Living in such a big city was just so overwhelming. Cramped.

And I didn't exactly have a whole lot of friends. In my own defense, it wasn't for a lack of trying. I got along with plenty of people, sure. But they weren't people who would regularly hang out with me. Nobody reached the friend stage, yet.

Well, I promised myself that this time would be different; I was going to muster enough confidence to take the initiative and make friends. I nodded in silent satisfaction when we drove past the sign, Welcome to Canterlot! Home of the Wondercolts - Population 1,600. There just had to be more people with tastes similar to mine here.

Unfortunately, I wouldn't find out for a couple weeks. There was still a sliver of summer left, before the school doors opened. Well, I had waited this long. I could wait a bit more.

Unpacking was much easier than packing. I got to pick my own room, too. And thankfully, I didn't have much to unpack; I only had four boxes. By the second day I was settled into my new bedroom, which was considerably larger than the one I used to share with Zephyr.

I considered going outside to explore, but every now and then kids would race by our house, on bicycles, scooters, skateboards, rollerblades, or whatever else. I'd watch them for a minute, then think better of it.

Mom and Dad weren't too keen on us staying cooped up indoors, so they laid a little surprise on us:

We were going to a park for a little outing on my birthday.

I was so giddy. I had never been to a park. To my pleasure, it even had a pond, a river and a nature trail. I had a growing feeling that I might come there often. But there was one more surprise that Mom had for me.

Mom was meeting with an old friend at the park, and she was bringing her daughter.

I didn't really know what to expect of that, either. Mom wasn't very detailed in her description. All I knew about this Rainbow Dash was that she was close to my age. When I first saw her, I got a pretty good feel of who she was.

A superhero graphic t-shirt, ripped jeans, backwards baseball cap, and skate shoes, they gave me a pretty clear picture. I knew a couple of girls like that. But when she walked up to me, I sensed something different about her from the kids I normally associated with her appearance.

There was no vitriol in her ruby eyes. In the cliques back home, everyone was rather pretentious towards each other, especially if you didn't fit in. While I mentally muttered that she must think I looked dumb in my dress, Rainbow Dash just acted... cool.

It really threw me for a loop. I felt kind of bad for assuming Rainbow would be a jerk to me. I barely had time to think it through before Rainbow Dash chased Zephyr up a tree. I tried getting them to stop, but they didn't listen to me. Now that didn't surprise me.

I was so worried that Zephyr would fall. Despite the fact that I didn't really know Rainbow Dash, I was worried for her, too; watching people get hurt isn't fun. And I guess I was right to, because regardless of how nimble she was, Rainbow Dash did indeed fall.

My right shin throbbed at the memory. Rainbow Dash kicked me. Twice. I knew she didn't mean to, but that didn't make it feel any better. I wasn't there to complain to Rainbow Dash, however.

Mom told me that Rainbow Dash had been feeling lonely at the hospital when her parents were at work, so I decided I would pay her a visit. Why not? She was the first person I met here, and however doubtful I may have been, Rainbow could be quite nice. I checked the room number beside the polished wooden door to make sure it was the right one.

I bit my lip. Rainbow and I didn't interact much in the short time we were together. And when I last saw her two days ago, her face was all red and contorted in pain. Maybe she didn't really want to see me at all. But, I like to think that if I were in her position, I'd want someone to be there for me. It's better than being alone.

I knocked.

"Come in." A squeaky voice on the other side called.

I turned the door handle, and pushed open the door. Rainbow Dash, looking ill at ease in her mint green hospital garbs, was lying on her cot, angled towards the TV in the corner. She was craning her neck to look over at me, and I felt incredibly awkward to see her visibly disappointed. She was probably expecting someone else. I cleared my throat anyway.

"Hi."

"...Hey."

Well, maybe I should have planned what I was going to say ahead of time.

"Um, h-how are you doing?"

Rainbow Dash sighed, rolling back into her original position. "I have to pee into a plastic tray."

I lowered my head, not entirely sure how to respond to that. "So, h-how long do you have to stay here?"

Rainbow Dash peeked over at me again, one eyebrow cocked. "Uh, do you have a stutter?"

I blinked. "Hmm? Oh, uh, no. Well, s-sometimes. When I'm nervous."

"Oh. Okay," Rainbow Dash grabbed the TV remote, then began flipping through the channels. "Anyway, I got at least another week in here before they cut me loose. I won't be able to take off my stupid cast, though."

"Well," I rubbed my arm. "Broken bones do take a while to heal."

"How do you know? Have you broken a bone before?"

"Oh goodness, no," I smiled sheepishly. "I've taken care of several grounded birds, though. But, I think they heal faster than we do."

"Uh-huh."

My toes wriggled in my shoes. I didn't think I should just leave, but Rainbow Dash didn't look too interested in talking to me.

"Um, do you mind if I sit down?" I asked as I pointed to the chair by Rainbow's bed. She shook her head.

I dipped my head in acknowledgement, stepping around her cot to sit down. In doing so, I got a full view of the white cast encasing her left leg from the knee down; it had a couple signatures on it, probably from her parents. As I unslung my bookbag, I noticed a small stack of books resting on the little stand next to Rainbow's cot. Curiously, they were all about Greek mythology. I looked back up at her. Rainbow Dash was playing with a piece of string. Every now and then her mouth twitched, as if she were suppressing some unseen jolt.

"Are-are you in pain?" I asked.

Rainbow Dash scoffed. "No way. Pain is just weakness leaving the body."

...Was that a yes, or a no?

She went back to fiddling with her string, so I decided to leave her be for now. I unzipped my bookbag, taking out a package I had tucked inside. I opened it up, withdrawing a particular pen.

I examined it, then studied the artwork on the cover of its container. I tapped the pen on my lower lip while I thought. After a moment, inspiration struck.

I uncapped the pen and, holding it carefully in my left hand, touched the end to the back of my right hand. Slowly, I drew it along, creating a coffee-brown ink trail that swooped up and down in graceful arcs. Minutes passed, and I failed to notice that Rainbow Dash had been watching me work.

"What are you doing?"

"Hmm?" I looked up.

Rainbow Dash looked at me like I was an alien. "Why are you drawing on yourself?"

I felt slightly taken aback. "Um, it's henna. The gift you gave me. Thank you so much for it, by the way."

I smiled as sincerely as I could, simultaneously holding up my hand to display my progress. Rainbow Dash still had a blank look on her face, but she nodded. I went right back to where I left off, filling in the swirling patterns as best as I could. After five more minutes, I stopped. My skin all the way up to my forearm was decorated in an ivy-like tangle of smooth curls. I was pretty satisfied with my results.

"Hey." Rainbow Dash cleared her throat. I looked up at her.

"Yes?"

Rainbow Dash scratched her head, wiggling uncomfortably. "Uh, that looks... that's pretty good."

I smiled bashfully at the compliment. "Oh, well um, thank you."

"Could.... could you, uh... do my arm?"

Now there was a surprise. Rainbow Dash kept her eyes averted, her face flushed. I still smiled warmly.

"Of course."

I scooted my chair closer to Rainbow's bed. I took hold of her left arm, bringing it to the edge so I had a good view. Balancing the pen in my right hand now, I steadily brought it down on Rainbow's cool skin. I thought that Rainbow Dash might not prefer the flowery look I had given myself, so I decided to try adding little gear-like appendages to the blossoming shapes; I thought it would make it look more mechanical.

This time, I finished faster, having gotten the hang of it.

"All done," I smiled at Rainbow Dash as I capped the pen. While Rainbow Dash studied the artwork on her arm, I began putting my stuff away. "It'll wash out in a week or two."

"Yeah." Rainbow Dash muttered absently, still gazing at her arm.

I grabbed my bookbag, then stood up. "Well, I had better get going. It's almost suppertime." I moved over to the door, giving it a pull. I turned to say goodbye, but Rainbow Dash spoke up again before I had the chance.

"Can you come again tomorrow?"

I stood there, puzzled. Rainbow Dash wanted me to come back? I was getting mixed signals. I was almost tempted to ask her why, but her eyes said everything. I smiled.

"Sure thing."

Rainbow Dash nodded. "Cool. And, Fluttershy?"

"Yes?"

Rainbow Dash pursed her lips for a moment, then she looked away. I wondered if maybe she forgot what she was going to say, but then I heard her quietly squeak under her breath.

[i]"Thanks."