It felt like any other morning. It felt like Autumn Darling rose well before the sun began to shine its bright, yellow rays, before the majority of Ponyville was even awake. But what was different? Something was just...out of place. But what? She peered out the window. The small town was already rustling with voices and movement. Again? Waking up late was going to become a usual routine, she figured. The loud banging noises coming from downstairs had struck a sense of alert to Autumn Darling. She quickly ran down the flights of stair, only to find Big McIntosh and toppled furniture.
Before asking any questions, she scoped out the area, making sure nothing was stolen or in pieces. "What happened? Did someone break in, o-or?-" She examined the furniture.
"Sorry, Miss Darlin', this house of y'all's is much smaller than Ah'm used to." Big McIntosh blushed and stared at the floor.
Autumn Darling attempted to not laugh. She couldn't really blame him, either. The house was narrow with little room, but had three floors. Reaching out to lend a hoof with cleaning up, Autumn cast a glance through the window. Ridiculously bouncing down the road from Sugarcube Corner was Pinkie Pie, singing along and greeting any pony who walked by. Please, don't pass by here! "So, um, how long do you plan on staying?" She asked him worriedly.
Big Mac turned to see what she was looking at. "Ah think it might be best if Ah left now?"
"Oh...okay. Well, I'm glad I could help."
"Ah'm glad you offered to let me stay, Miss Darlin'."
Autumn Darling kept her sight towards Pinkie as Big Mac walked away with his cart full of apples. Hopefully, she'd pass by, but knowing knowing it was Pinkie Pie......The pink mare happily hopped along, until she caught sight of the red stallion walking away from her house. Pinkie let out a loud gasp, and dashed towards Autumn's door.
"OhmygoshyouwentandbuckedApplejack'sbrother-!"
"Shh! Pinkie, you cannot tell anyone!"
"Only if you tell me how it happened." She said in a serious tone. Slowly, Autumn backed out of the doorway to let her in, instantly shutting the door the moment she entered. Cautiously walking behind Pinkie, making sure she didn't have a sudden outburst, Autumn motioned for her to sit on the couch. Sitting across from each other, they sat in silence and avoided each other's eyes. Autumn sat there and only waited for any questions or obsurdities that came out of Pinkie's thoughts. Why did i do this?
"So....How was it?" She asked cheerily.
"It was....." Autumn Darling let out a nervous laugh. How much could she tell Pinkie? Slowly, without many details, she began to tell Pinkie the whole story, carefully picking out the details she could entrust Pinkie Pie with. Luckily, the bubbly mare stayed quiet and listened intently, not showing and urge to want to repeat the same knowledge.
"....And then he left this morning, just as you saw."
Pinkie sat there lamely, her mouth gaped open. Autumn felt her cheeks getting hot, and stared at the wooden floorboards. Either she broke Pinkie, or the pink mare was still thinking of something to say.
"Pinkie.....?"
"Ohmygoshhowcouldyoudothat?!"
"Pinkie," Autumn replied quickly. "Pinkie, I swear I didn't mean to, it just happened-!"
"Justhappened?Howcanthatjusthappen? WhatwillApplejacksaywhenshefindsout?" Pinkie's rant became intimidating.
"No, no. Pinkie, you cannot tell Applejack!"
"Not tell Applejack?! Autumn, this is serious!" She added in a whisper,"What if you get preg-?"
"No, Pinkie! No matter what, there is no way Applejack can know about all this. Okay?"
Pinkie Pie reluctantly raised a hoof. "Pinkie promise. I won't tell AJ about this. Unless I absolutely have to."
"Pinkie Promise." Autumn Darling hit her hoof, look directly into her eyes. Was she lying? As far as Autumn knew, nopony could break a Pinkie Promise.
It had been months after Autumn Darling had arrived in Ponyville, after leaving her old life behind, after meeting a new set of friends almost as close as family. She had begun to sell her wooden figurines she made to make a living of sorts, and to clear up space. And months since her Pinkie Promise, set by the one and only Pinkamena Diane Pie herself. The promise was made to protect one secret, only for the safety of others. Or sanity....
On a rainy afternoon, Autumn Darling sat in the extra room of her house carving lost twigs into small figurines. Planning to have some company (her parents), she frantically began cleaning. Midway into sweeping, the room appeared to tilt in every direction. She ran towards the bathroom, which had become a second bedroom over the past months. The overwhelming sickness went and came from multiple times a day, to a few weeks apart. She soon heard a knock on the door. Please don't be my parents....
"Autumn Darling," Her mother's voice rang. "It's your parents, Dainty Twig and Chipped Branch!"
"C-coming!" She stammered as the bile shot out her mouth. Attempting to trot to the front door, Autumn barely made it to the bathroom's. "On-on second thought, m-maybe you can c-ome back later?"
"Autumn, are you alright?" Her mother worried. In a worthless, opposite whisper, she added, "Maybe we should break in-?"
"How is that alright? I refuse, simply re-FUSE to break down her door." Her father always spoke with a slight stammer, and put emphasis on the endings of words, much like an auctioneer or a quacking salespony.
"Autumn Darling, we're coming in! We are going to get in there, Celestia, so help me!" She replied sharply to her father.
Autumn Darling blocked out her parents constant bickering, keeping her attention to the toilet she was huddled over. No matter what, she'd shape up and have a nice day with her parents, who gladly took the time to invite themselves to Ponyville and her home. She knew that by letting them into her home, they'd only exaggerate and refuse to leave.
"P-please, don't come in!"
Suddenly, a loud crashing noise echoed down the hall. Loud steps grew louder, until shadows appeared from behind the crack of the door. Then, the yellow unicorn-mare and blue stallion stood overhead.
"Oh, Darling," Her mother cooed. "I believe it may be time to see a doctor."