Author's Note

I have tried to meet everyone's expectations and listened to the feedback and constructive feedback, making changes to the story that all of you thought was confusing so hopefully, the story is a little bit better than before.

A reminder that words in italic are Russian

Покажи другу - E -

Act 1 - Chapter 2
Show a Friend

I was patiently waiting for the bell the ring to signal the end of school and for summer to begin. Rainbow Dash was beside me, squirming in her seat as she stared at the clock. Another minute went by and the clock struck 2:50 pm causing the bell to ring. All the students jumped out of their seats, flying out of windows or out the door as they chattered with each other.

I was particularly excited to go see my new friend. I wandered through the halls, looking around at all the students chatting about their summer plans and other things that had no concern with me. I stopped by my locker to grab my saddlebags and my collection of decorations. I stuffed everything into my bags before heading out of the schools front doors.

I was about to jump off the cloud and fly down to the forest where Dimitri was but was stopped by Rainbow Dash who asked "Where are you going?"

I smiled and said "Going to see a friend, he lives in the forest"

She tilts her head before questioning me "Why were you down there?" I began my descent down to the ground as I retold every single detail of the events of yesterday to Rainbow who began blushing from embarrassment. I finish telling her what happened before she says "I-I'm sorry I pushed you off and everything..."

I nod and pat her back softly as I told her "It's fine. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have met Dimitri and I wouldn't have gotten my cutie mark"

Dashie tilts her head again before muttering "That's a weird name"

We made it to the entrance of the forest so I led the way down the dirt path and to the opening where Ray set up camp. I stopped her just as the camp came into view to tell her "Dimitri is a little... Strange, he doesn't speak Equish very well so just be patient and let me talk to him" Rainbow Dash nodded so we continued to the camp.

As we got closer, some kind of music could be heard from the tent. The tent itself seemed very worn down and torn in some places. the tent door was open and I could see the light grey colt inside bobbing his head to relaxing music that was coming from nowhere. I stood in front of the tent but I wasn't getting his attention due to him being really focused on the music. I cleared my throat causing him to jump and look at me with a panicked expression but soon calmed down when he saw that it was me.

He pressed his nose on a glowing rectangle making the music stop before sliding it under his sleeping bag. He turned to me with a wide smile and said "H-Hello"

I smile back and say "Hi"

I step back as he gets out of the tent and stretches before his behavior changes in an instant upon seeing Rainbow Dash. Dimitri began to stare at her with the scariest expression I've ever seen. His eyes were wide and his mouth in a what looked like a snarl. I look to Dashie to see that she was shaking from his glare. He finally spoke in his language "Who is this?"

I guess he was asking who she was so I swallow the lump in my throat and answer "S-She's my best f-friend, R-Rainbow Dash"

The tension in the air seemed to disintegrate as his glare turned to his usual smile and says "Go get Rainbow"

I nod slowly and trot to Rainbow to tell her that she could come closer but when I looked at her, she was still shaking. I pick up my pace and stood beside her before shaking her free of the trance she was in. She looked at me with a terrified expression before taking off at full speed towards the city. I stare wide-eyed at the rainbow trail, shocked by the amount of fear that Rainbow Dash showed.

Dimitri give a small sigh and mutter "S-Sorry"

I turn around to see him walk into his tent and sit down. He pulled out that black rectangle from under his bed and pressed a button on the side with his hoof before pressing his nose on it a couple of times causing the music from earlier to resume playing.

I was at a lost for words. This seeming friendly colt can cause Rainbow Dash to run with her tail between her legs and immediately show regret afterward. I cautiously trotted towards the tent. I dropped my saddlebags on the ground beside the door of the tent before taking an experimental step inside to see Dimitri's reaction but he paid no mind so I continued to step in and sit down. Inside the tent smelled like the same stuff that my older friend, Tree Hugger got into.

I felt the need to comfort him so I slowly placed my hoof on his shoulder and began to lightly rub it. He tensed up from the touch but did nothing to stop me so I continued. Dimitri looked me in the eyes and I saw nothing a normal pony would have. I saw sorrow, anger, paranoia and the list went on as I saw for who he was or have been through.

I decided to finally ask some questions "W-Where are you from?"

He froze for a few seconds before answering "Russia"

It certainly wasn't a place I had heard of but decided to ask later as another question came to mind "What is your cutie mark? It's been covered by your clothes" He tilted his head in clear confusion as I asked again "You know, your cutie mark. The thing everypony gets on their rump when they find their special talent?" He hesitantly used his hoof to pull on the sides of his vest causing a loud rip of velcro before he slid it off.

Dimitri began having second thoughts, pawing at the dirt as he looked down into his shirt, clearly trying to hide something but I look him in the eyes with a small smile which gives him the motivation to shed the black shirt. My eyes widen as I see his cutie mark first, It was a grey hoof mark with a huge orange explosion behind it. My eyes catch weird patterns along Dimitri's body but I realize they are not fur patterns as I got a closer look. His body was riddled with scars in numerous sizes.

My mouth hangs open as I stare at Dimitri causing him to blush and say "N-No stare please"

I shake my head and gain my composure before apologizing "Oh gosh, I'm so sorry. I-It's just that I've never seen anything like this..." He was about to speak again when I heard his stomach rumble loudly so I asked "Would you some food? I can give you the rest of my lunch"

He nods before quickly putting his shirt back on and curling up slightly as the music suddenly stopped. I dug into the right pocket of my saddlebags and pulled out a lunch bag. I opened the lunch bag to see an Apple and a packet of fruit gummies so I lightly dump them onto his sleepy bag, making him smile a little. The music stopped causing to Dimitri look at the music player and let out a growl. He stuffed it back into his large bag before letting out another sigh and saying "should go home, get dark out"

He was right. The sun was nearly down and I would get in trouble if I didn't go home soon so I got out of the tent and put on my saddle bags before jogging down the dark path. I was about to exit the forest when I was suddenly tackled by the side, the wind being knocked out of me as I was pushed onto the ground. I looked at my attacker to see my school bully, Hoops with Dumb-Bell and Score behind him.

They all laughed as Dumb-Bell gave a quick kick to my torso, not giving me a chance to take another breath. I try to stand back up but was pushed back down Hoops who said "Looky here! Klutzershy is trying to run away!"

Hoops lifted his hoof and punched me across the cheek, a piece of a tooth flying out as my face is engulfed in pain. A series of kicks came down upon me so I curl up tight and use my front hooves to block my face. I could feel the bruises begin to form as each hoof landed. A ringing in my ears began as a hoof struck the side of my head. All of a sudden, the beating stopped. I let out a cry of relief but I then hear Dimitri "Leave. Flutter. Alone."

I gasp as I look up and see the light gray colt approaching us. Score laughs and asks "Who's this tough colt?"

I try to stand up but the pain was unbearable so I just watched. Hoops walks up to Dimitri and tries to shove his chest but shockingly, Dimitri stands up on his hind legs and wraps his foreleg around Hoops foreleg before landing a punch to his diaphragm and pushing him away. Hoops began to hack and cough like he couldn't breathe before pointing at Dimitri causing the other two bullies charge at him.

Score was the first one to try and punch him but was too slow as Dimitri grabbed him and used him as a shield against Dumb-Bell who landed a hard strike against Score's face, knocking him out cold. Dumb-Bell stared in shock as his friend fell to the ground but his staring was interrupted by a hoof to the face causing his head to fly back in a stream of blood, his nose obviously broken now. Dumb-Bell stumbled back before touching his nose to see blood. He looked back to Dimitri who flinched at him causing him to yelp and pick up Score before flying out of here, leaving a wheezing Hoops behind.

Hoops saw his friends leaving so he tried to take flight but was stopped when Dimitri grabbed his tail in his teeth and yanked him back to the ground. Dimitri sat on top of Hoops before begin to throw punch after punch while yelling in his language "YOU. WILL. NOT. TOUCH. HER. EVER. AGAIN!"

Hoops was now crying was his nose bled and his left eye swollen up. I stand up and stumble over to Dimitri while shouting "Stop! You'll k-kill him!" He froze as he was about to deliver another punch before turning to me with his eyes filled with pure hatred but soften when he saw my state, he got off of Hoops who quickly got up and flew away.

My hooves felt weak and nearly collapsed if it weren't for Dimitri who caught me. He asked "Can you fly?"

I tried giving my wings a flap but my body adreniline had worn off so all of the pain flooded through my body, making me cry out as I even try to flex my wings. The pain began to make me cry, tears streaming down my cheeks as I lightly whimper. Dimitri frowned before picking me up with both of his forelegs and carrying me back to his camp. After a few minutes of walking, the sky had gone dark and it began to get cold by the time we got back to the campsite.

He set me down in the tent softly before giving me the apple that I gave to him which he hadn't bitten yet. I feel bad for leaving him with only gummies but the beating took most of the energy out of me so I started to munch on the apple slowly so I dont hurt my chipped tooth. I hear Dimitri say "Aha!" as a orange glow emitted from a fire pit, its warmth leaking into the tent.

Dimitri steps into the tent before zipping the door up with his teeth. He rubs his hooves together as I lightly shiver. Dimitri looks down in thought before looking up with a smile and began digging through his bag. He pulled out a very large black sweater with the word 'Adidas' on the left side and white stripes going down the sleeves. He looked between me and the hoodie a few times before pulling this huge knife out of his bag with his teeth and begin cutting ear and wing holes into the hoodie.

He nods and slides it over my head gently, my head and forelegs finding their holes to slide through. I smile as I gain more warmth and hug him. Dimitri starts to rub my back softly as he wraps his forelegs around me. I began to close my eyes and drift off to sleep in his embrace.

Fluttershy began to quietly snore in as she slept, my smile widening as I gently lay down on the sleeping bag before pulling the blanket over us. I lay there awake for a few minutes reflecting on the past few days and what had transpire, perhaps I will enjoy this place.... Perhaps I get a second chance... I look back down to Fluttershy and rub her head softly before laying my head back and closing my eyes, falling asleep with one final though. What a cute girl.