Why Do I Even Need Friends

Drew this back in October. I need to find the motivation to draw more. Have a pic of Tetra with the CMCs and the litter scene I wrote to go along with it. :) ----Amidst the rustling hay and the warm sunlight streaming down from above, Tetra sat, her sharp, red eyes reflecting her simmering resentment. The young filly's shark-like features, a blend of pony and ocean predator, seemed to intensify her air of hostility. Beside her, Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo exchanged concerned glances, their expressions a mix of worry and determination.Apple Bloom, her red mane gently tousled by the breeze, cleared her throat, trying to find the right words. "Tetra, we know you've been through a lot, and we can't pretend to understand what that's like, but Princess Twilight thinks we can help you find friendship. We ain't here to force ya into it, but we're willin' to be your friends if you let us."Tetra snorted, her lavender mane shifting as she turned her gaze away. "I don't need friends," she hissed, her voice carrying a biting edge. "I've survived just fine on my own. Friends will only complicate things."Sweetie Belle, her green eyes filled with empathy, spoke softly, "We get that you're tough, Tetra, but even the strongest ponies need friends sometimes. We're not saying you gotta change who you are. Just give friendship a chance. Maybe it won't be as bad as you think."Scootaloo, her wings twitching slightly, added, "Yeah, we might be different, but we can still understand what it's like to be treated badly. We could help each other."Tetra's sharp gaze fixed on Scootaloo, her resentment clear. "I don't need help from a pegasus. Bunch of bullies you lot are, always flying high, looking down on ponies like me."Apple Bloom, her voice gentle yet firm, interjected. "Not all pegasus ponies are the same, Tetra. We're not trying to hurt you. We just wanna be friends and help if you let us."As Tetra glanced at the sincere faces of the three fillies before her, a flicker of doubt crossed her eyes. For the very first time, she wondered if perhaps there was a chance, however slim, that she could find companionship without being hurt again. But her scars ran deep, and the walls around her heart were high and fortified.Silence hung in the air, broken only by the distant sounds of nature around them. Tetra's thoughts churned, torn between her yearning for connection and her fear of vulnerability. Deep inside, a tiny spark of hope glimmered, a sliver of possibility that she hadn't dared to acknowledge before.In that moment, as the sunlight dappled the hay-strewn ground, Tetra made a choice. It was a hesitant one, filled with uncertainty, but it was a step nonetheless. She looked back at the trip of fillies, her sharp eyes softening just a fraction."Fine," she muttered, her voice barely audible. "I'll... give this friendship thing a try. But don't expect me to become all friendly and bubbly. I'm still gonna be me."Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo exchanged relieved smiles. They knew breaking through Tetra's defenses would be a gradual process, but at least it was a start. Friendship, they understood, was about patience, understanding, and acceptance, and they were willing to offer Tetra all of that and more.