Nightmare

Shy opens the door, just wide enough to survey the area, and slowly steps out of her house. Would she get hurt today? Or maybe somepony (or something, for that matter)would decide to help themselves to whatever her small house had to offer. Same old day for Shy. It seemed that she was the only one who cared about anypony, but that didn't make much difference. Shy comes accross a group of ponies, and tries to avoid bringing attention to herself. Her efforts are in vain, though, as a rock comes sailing through the air at her. It hits it's target, making Shy wince. She puts her hoof to her head, and brings it down to look, seeing a spot of blood. The group starts chanting, "Pushover! Pushover!" but Shy ignores them and continues walking.  One of the ponies, seeing her lack of reaction, gets frustrated and throws a punch. There's an obvious 'thud' as his hoof connects with her face, knocking her to the ground. Shy tears up, the pain becoming too much to ignore. The other ponies crowd her, and she curls up to protect herself as the other ponies take turns kicking her.  The group quickly gets bored, seeing that she won't fight back, and leaves. Shy stands up, shakily, and walks back to her house. She locks the door, and falls on to her bed, crying. She looks out the window, at other ponies brawling in the street, yelling at each other, and just generally acting nasty. She goes to the kitchen, and gets a glass of water. She sits, thinking about her future, and hears someone else getting beaten up outside.  She stops, knowing that if she tried to go help that she would also get hurt. Would it matter if she just locked herself in her house, and went out only for nececities? Going against her better judgment, she goes outside to help the battered pony. "Are you okay, sir?" Shy asks tentatively. The pony looks up at her, and stands up slowly. "Yes, I think." Shy smiles, helping the pony up, but is confused. She'd never seen another innocent pony in this town.  "Thanks," he says quickly, and gallops off. As she turns back, she sees a group of ponies looking at her menecingly. Shy makes a run for it, but they grab her and pin her down. They beat her relentlesly, angry that she had helped the other pony, and her screams of pain just goaded them on. They quit, after a while, satisfied with their work. Shy, using a nearby wall for support, stands up, coughing blood. Her tears hit the ground as she walks home, stumbling along the way. Suddenly, an acrid scent hits her nose.  "Wait, that smells like..." Shy wastes no time, going as fast as she can. As she rounds the bend, she sees it. Her house, burning to the ground, the smoke thickening as a group of ponies flee the scene.  That was the last straw, "I need to get out of here," she says resolutely.  She looks up, seeing the smoke and ash rising to the sky, and then turns, walking toward the town limits, not a care in the world where she went so long as she could get away from the hatred and misery that had become her life. As Shy nears the edge of town, she looks back one final time, wondering how the other pony would fare without her.  "Good bye, Detrot," she mutters to herself, and walks on.  As she nears the forest, Shy hears... whispering. She stands still, trying to make it out.  "Hello? Who's there?"  The voice, clearer this time, replys,"My name is Nightmare Moon. I have felt your pain. You don't have to worry anymore. I am here for you."