//------------------------------//
// Cause 
// Story: Singular Entities 
// by Cynical 
//------------------------------//

The Everfree surrounded her.

She’d sought comfort in the hidden crevices that belonged to the castle in the centre of the forest, she’d wanted to hide from the events not an hour or two earlier. She wanted to forget, for things to go back to how they used to be… when things were simple.

That didn’t look like it was going to happen though; her thoughts were already whirling around in her head, bringing the events of the last day back to her with frightening clarity.

Sugarcube Corner, she’d gone there to meet with her friends, to find out how they’d been doing over the past few weeks and to make a confession.

It wasn’t an easy confession to make for her, she’d waited patiently at the bakery until they were all there with her.

Applejack and her Stetson, tilted back on her head.
Fluttershy, sitting quietly on one of the chairs and smiling meekly.
Pinkie Pie, buzzing in place slightly.
Rainbow Dash, laid back in her own chair as she waited for the next thing to happen,
And Rarity, elegant as always, in a deep blue silken dress.

They’d all sat patiently as Twilight had started to explain something she’d come to realise over numerous years, something she’d accepted a long time ago and something that she hoped would not remain as a sticking point between her friends.

That silence afterwards had been one of the tensest in her life as she waited with baited breath for their reaction.

She got the reaction…
Just not the one she wanted.

The silence had reigned supreme for a little while longer, then Rarity had spoken up.

“Excuse me if I misheard dear, but did my ears deceive me or did you just admit that you were sexually inclined towards mares?”
“She just said that she was gay if that’s what yer were askin’.” Applejack drawled, throwing Twilight a look of revulsion. She shrank away slightly.

Pinkie was still sat there, a thoughtful hoof against her face, but the evidence already there was damning enough. Applejack, and now Rarity were staring at her with expressions of disgust while Rainbow Dash was looking at Twilight with her jaw wide open. Desperately, Twilight swung her gaze towards Fluttershy who had remained silent throughout, and was struck numb by what she saw.

The same disgusted glare emanated from the usually easy-going pegasus, not quite a Stare, but a glare from Fluttershy was damning enough.
She took another look at the ponies in the room, then fled. Turning around and running from Sugarcube Corner, escaping from Ponyville and losing the judgemental gazes of the ponies she’d known as friends.

That was how she’d ended up here after her mad sprint through the Everfree, running past twisted branches and crooked roots, paying no heed to the battering her body took.

That was why she now sat here, alone under the night sky, and likewise within the world.

Until she heard a voice.

“Twilight?”