I don’t even think I can count how many ponies I met that night during Pinkie’s party. But what surprised me even more was what happened after the party...

        Out of everything so far, that accident is the most memorable event.

Chapter 3: The Fall

I had given up trying to resist the pink pony dragging me all over her house, from pony to pony, introducing me to them. The names were blending in my head, and I was having a hard time keeping focused as Pinkie told me their name, what they do, and a few aspects of their personality.

Every now and then I would look around for John for help, but I couldn’t find him most of the time. I figured he’d probably be off talking to ponies he knew, and it saddened me slightly that even somepony like him could easily blend in to this kind of situation, yet somepony like me was socially awkward considering I didn’t know anyone besides him.

I suddenly pulled my hoof away from Pinkie, stopping her in her tracks as her ears fell, and I swear I even saw a few of her curls give out. “What’s wrong? Are you okay? Oh, I’m overwhelming you aren’t I? I knew this maybe wasn’t a good-”

“Stop! You’re just as bad as John...” I sighed with a soft smile. “I need a break, okay? You’ve introduced me to so many ponies that my head is spinning. “

Pinkie nodded, though she still seemed disappointed. “Oh... Okay... Well, come find me when you’re ready to meet some more ponies, okay?”

I smiled to her. “Of course.” She smiled back, and the curls that let out earlier returned to their curled self. When somepony behind her called her name, she giggled and jumped off, back to her excited self.

I exhaled in relief, feeling like I could breathe now without hearing about somepony’s

name or about their personality. After separating from Pinkie, I weaved my frame through the bodies of the dozens of ponies that Pinkie had invited. I looked through the entire place, but through the entire time I couldn’t find John.

        I sighed in disappointment. I was beginning to think he had left. Honestly, I couldn’t blame him. If I had been offered the chance, I would have quickly darted my way out of this madhouse of chaos.

I made my way by the refreshment and snack table and stood there, my eyes constantly scanning the crowd constantly for one of the only familiar faces I have grown accustomed to.

After two glasses of berry punch, one cupcake, and two pieces of hard candy, I was about frantic. I decided I needed some fresh air, and the front door was blocked by a huge crowd of ponies. I remember seeing a staircase earlier and headed towards where I had last seen it. Once I reached the first step, I turned over my shoulder to make sure I wasn’t being stalked by a certain cotton candy colored pony. With a quick duck, I swiftly made my way up the stairs and away from the loud party.

Once I reached upstairs, I stretched out my wings with a sound of content. My muscles were sore, and I sure as hell couldn’t move my wings downstairs. I sometimes highly disliked being slightly larger than other ponies. But considering my pegasus father-wannabe was twice the size of my mother, a normal sized earth pony, it was bound to happen. And it wasn’t like I was that large, but I was a good three to five inches taller than most ponies. This also resulted in larger wings, and being more uncomfortable in crowds.

When I retracted my wings, I closed my eyes and sucked in a deep breath, letting it out slowly in an attempt to calm my shaking limbs. I hated being confined in a large room filled with nothing but other ponies. I shook my head as a final way to let the stress go, and also to re-fluff my mane after it got packed down from overheating.

I trotted over to the glass door and pushed it open quietly with my hoof, walking through the frame and to the balcony as I let the fresh night air hit me and relax my aching joints. I was honestly beginning to regret coming here. I hated ponies with a burning passion. But after the kind of past I’ve had, who can blame me? I hate being the center of attention, and I really, really, hate being in confined spaces. At least in the mountains I was alone. Here, that wasn’t a choice.

Though I had to admit the only good thing to come out of this so far was to meet my new friend, who I was very glad to call a friend, John. He is the only pony to show me any shred of kindness since I started to mature and realize what was being done to me.

I shook my head, refusing to let my mind wander to that hellish time period. It was just so... Difficult not to. I spent my entire lifetime up until six days ago dealing with constant abuse. And honestly, it was all I knew. It was embarrassing to admit that I had no helpful life experience, and I could barely even take care of myself. Well, thanks to John, I can if I’m in the mountains. But that’s not here. And it doesn’t help me with dealing with a party-cannon-wielding pony.

I looked up at the moon, tilting my head at the familiarity of the nighttime sphere. Things suddenly started swirling together in my vision, and the last thing I saw before my world went completely black was the same sinister grin in the shadows of the moon that has haunted my entire childhood.

---

I opened my eyes and looked around, the scene around me making me get so dizzy I collapse, my breath catching in my throat so hard it burned. The chipped wooden dining room table, the dusted fireplace with the portrait of my deceased mother, the aged-smelling cough, the pale blue quilt over the center of it, and the same gray pillow, torn in three of it’s corners by my same teeth... And tonight was going to end the perfection of the fourth corner. And it would also be the last night I stayed here; for tomorrow evening he would finally be fed up with me fighting back, though I think I just got too old for him.

I gulped, though the liquid just set my sensitive throat on fire. I finally found the strength to move and I ducked into the kitchen, knowing he was going to be home any minute. As if on queue, he walked through the front door frame at that moment.

I hid in the pantry, behind the curtain and under the bottom shelf. Even though he usually still found me here, I continued to hide here every time. I glanced up at a clock, and my heart sank when I saw I was correct.

He was home late.

I sucked in my breath as I heard hoofsteps leading closer to the kitchen, and I knew he was looking for me.

“Music... Come out, come out, wherever you are...”

I squeezed my eyes shut and prayed to Celestia I could be safe for just once, but exactly 23 seconds later I felt the rush of air as the curtain was pulled aside. The rest was a blur to me, because at that point I have learned the ability to block myself from reality in order to protect the small sliver of mental sanity I had managed to save through all these years, and all the nights like tonight.

        He yanked me by my front hoof and threw me hard against the house, a pained gasp escaping my lungs when my spine hit the hard back. I felt harder than usual, and I swear  I heard a loud snap of the main bone in my wing snap. To this, a loud ear-piercing scream escaped my lips, the pain setting my entire body into a spasm of pain.

        To this, the color returned to my world...

---

        When I quickly snapped back to reality, I was very immediately aware of the searing pain throughout my body. Before I had awaken I was already in frame-shaking sobs, my pained screams echoing in the air around me. It took me a good minute or so to realize there was a frantic pony beside me, his eyes wide with fear, worry, and shock as he just stood next to me, his ears flattened and his hooves close to me. I could tell from his body language, once I was in the right state of mind to even analyze it, that he wanted to help but didn’t have a single clue as to how.

        Another wave of pain rippled from my right wing and I was sent into hysterical screaming once again. My vision blacked out, but I was still conscious. And I could feel the presence of more ponies around me. All I could hear were hushed whispers through the crowd, though I found it odd how no pony was attempting to do anything.

        “Did she really just try to commit suicide?”

        “Who is that anyway?”

        “I heard Pinkie boast about how she’s new...”

        “Did she really jump? Or did she fall?”

        I heard the closest frame stand, turning the face them. “All of you get the fucking hell out of here unless you’re going to help!” I heard a defensive hoof hit the ground beside mine, though I had immediately recognized the voice.

        Another wave of pain, and my tears only increased. When this happened, John lowered his body closer to mine, practically growling at the crowd. I could feel the close ones back up, but it took a minute or two for them to back up enough that I couldn’t tell they were there. At this point, I was curled into a tight, shaking ball, my own face soaked in my tears.

        I felt soft, gentle hooves touch my searing skin. One against my hip, the other against my upper arm. I cringed slightly to the pain, choking on my tears.

        “Music... Listen... I don’t know much about aid, but I can definitely tell that your wing is broken. And your hip may be fractured, so I’m not sure. I don’t want to move you until you calm down, but I am here. And you’re not alone.” I nodded softly to his words, recognizing he spoke. His words had calmed me slightly, but that was mostly to the fact it gave me something to focus on. I was still crying audibly, but I wasn’t screaming anymore. Though that was somewhat credited to the fact that my body was slowly starting to numb the pain.

        After a couple minutes I could finally see again, and the first thing I had looked for was John. He was still sitting in front of me, his eyes watching my every movement. Once he noticed I was looking at him, he gave me a comforting smile. When I couldn’t return the smile, his faded, but I reached out and nudged his foreleg with my nose instead, which returned the soft smile to his features.

        I coughed painfully as I forced myself to sit up with the help of John, who really had to mostly pull me up. Once I was up, he kept each hoof on my arms to keep me balanced, which I was thankful for because I probably would have fallen back over when he let go.

        He looked into my eyes, waiting until I looked back into his to speak. “Do you think you’re ready to go? I really want to get you away from here and somewhere where you can’t fall again.”

        I tilted my head dizzily, speaking hoarsely. “I... I f-fell?” He nodded with a worried sigh. “F-From... Wh.. Where?” He motioned up to the balcony I had been standing on. I followed his eyes slowly, taking care to not move too fast so that I could try to keep at least some balance. I looked back at him, my ears falling as my eyes showed an obviously apologetic expression. He sighed and nodded, then let go of me slowly and stood up when I didn’t fall.

        I tried to stand but he gave me a firm glance that told me to stay. He closed his eyes, and I tilted his head when I saw his horn glow with a faint purple aura. Next thing I know, my entire body is surrounded by the same aura, and I’m being lifted up onto his back. Now this honestly surprised me, considering I was bigger than he was. But I assumed he was also using his magic to keep me steady on his back. I rested on hoof over his shoulder and let my wings hang to one side since I was curled on my side along his spine. I rested my head against the back of his neck and I let out a long exhale.

        He planned to walk the entire way to his house with me on his back. This was going to take awhile, and I was honestly not looking forward to the wait. But a few dozen feet after he had started slowly trotting along, I found myself slowly drifting off against the comforting rhythm I could slightly feel against his neck, and the gentle beat of his hooves against the ground.

        Oh boy, was I going to be sore in the morning.

A/N: I know a lot of my story so far has been rather emotional and depressing. I promise it’s not always going to be this bad, it just has a lot to do with me slowly revealing some of my character’s past, and how initially messed up in the head she is as a result of it. I mean, hay, I did say in the description how a lot of the story is around her recovering from everything that’s happened. :3

I hope even with all the emotions that y’all enjoy this story, because it does bring me a lot of joy to see that so far quite a few (at least more than I expected) of you have already shown a likeness for my story. And I thank all of you for being interested. ^^