>you are standing in the kitchen, with a moth-eaten robe pulled across your bruised chest
>you grip a cup of tea tight and close while two police ponies finish taking your statement
>you can hear Pinkie Pie's drunken, aggravated shouts in another room as Twilight attempts to calm her
>you close your eyes and block it all out
>ignore the pain in your chest, the ridiculous feeling of nakedness, the stinging in your nose and eyes from crying
>just say the most important words you can
"I want to press charges."
>the two police ponies glance back and forth, and then they begin volleying words
>"Of course-"
>"We'll get on that right after we-
>"We just need to confirm a few parts-"
>"Just a few parts of your statement."
"I already told you that she hit me."
>tears well in your eyes as you confess again
>"Of course-"
>"And we believe you completely-"
>"Just want to be completely sure-"
>"Sure that she did it deliberately?"
>"Wouldn't accuse you of deliberately filing a false report-"
>"Not saying your report is false, but sometimes you are-"
>"You humans-"
>"And stallions too-"
>"Can get a little emotional."
>"Maybe you didn't see exactly what you saw-"
>"Or you saw something you didn't exactly see."
"She bucked me in the chest."
>"Of course-"
>"If that's how you feel-"
"It's what happened!"
>you jump to your feet, but neither police pony moves
>"Of course-"
>"There is one matter, though-"
>"A small matter-"
>"We'll have to remove you from here-"
>"For your own safety-"
>"For your own good-"
>"Normally we'd send someone in your position to the Mare's shelter-"
>"But they're not likely to accept you-"
>"Nothing prejudiced, of course-"
>"Of course-"
>"We can open up a cell for you at the county jail-"
>"It's nearly empty down there anyway-"
>"Just a few other inmates-"
>"They're good guys-"
>"The best guys, our inmates-"
>"Or we could talk to Fluttershy-"
>"Fluttershy might have a cage-"
>"A pet bed-"
>"A pen-"
>"Open for you."
>you can't believe what they're saying
"This is my home."
>"Of course-"
>"You have cohabited here for some time-"
>"Might be able to make a case for it-"
>"A strong case, if she's found guilty-"
>"If she's guilty-"
>"If she's imprisoned-"
>"But for the moment-"
>"No charges pending-"
>"Our priority has to be your safety."
"How is prison safe, or ... Fluttershy is one of her friends."
>"Of course-"
>"You'd have to go pretty far in this town-"
>"In the world-"
>"To find someone who wasn't Pinkie Pie's friend-"
>"Or at least acquaintance."
>the two ponies smile at each other as they speak their last lines
>and you realize that it doesn't matter
>whether you withdraw it now or withdraw it later, that statement is never going to enter evidence
>the ponies see your shoulders sag
>one of them throws a hoof around your neck
>"Of course-"
>"If you need some time-"
>"Time to think-"
>"Contemplate your statement-"
>"We could sit on it-"
>"Put it on ice-"
>"Maybe take a couple days-"
>"Sort things out-"
>"Get them right in your head."
"I think ... Maybe ..."
>you just want to curl up in bed and never move again
>your chest hurts, you're tired, and these strange ponies won't stop talking
>"Of course-"
>"We won't destroy it-"
>"We'll keep it on file-"
>"On hoof-"
>"Ready to be signed-"
>"To be entered into court-"
>"At a moment's notice."
"Thank you."
>you collapse, defeated into a chair that is too small for you
>the police ponies go to the living room
>Pinkie Pie has calmed down and his laughing with her good friends
>everyone in this town is her friend
>and that just leaves you out here, barefoot on the linoleum
>the lights flash red and blue outside, blinking through the window
>you wait
>as soon as the police leave, Pinkie will shut the door
>and she'll tell you to get on your knees
>and she'll tell you that it is very mean to tell tales about other ponies
>and she'll say that one mean prank gets another one in return
>and there's nowhere to go
>and it never stops