Noise, all around her. Assaulting her from all sides. She couldn’t think, couldn’t breathe. She wanted to run, to hide, to be anywhere but here. Her heart beat quickened and her eyes darted from side to side, panic swirling through her like a thunderstorm. So many ponies, everywhere. Watching her. Judging her. Hating her. She had to escape, had to get away she had to breathe she couldn’t breath why couldn’t she—

“Breathe.” The whisper in her ear pierced through the terror as a pair of warm, familiar forelegs wrapped around her middle. “I’m here. It’s okay.”

And it was.