In the mind's eye

"G-gilda? What are you doing?!" I remember that day all too well, right down to the feeling of Gilda's claws around my throat. We were having a tussle on the edge of a cliff near the mountain where the dragon used to sleep.

"You've crossed the line, feather-flank," she hissed, crushing my wings with her long talons. The pain was excruciating; every nerve ending entwined about the blue feathers screamed for mercy.

In response, I swung a large hoof across her face, smudging the purple eyeliner she always wore.

"FILLYFOOLER!" She threw me onto the hard rock, then dragged me from my back-leg near the edge. With a mighty lion paw, she kicked me off the cliff.

All I could hear was a deafening roar from above me. In return, I screeched loudly and shakily flew back up.

From the look in her eyes, I could tell she was absolutely livid. I beat my chest in anger, belted out another shriek, and flew as fast as I could into Gilda's stomach.

After the retaliating blow, she stumbled clumsily to her feet and looked me dead in the eyes. "I would have tolerated it if you had a crush on Fluttershy. I'd be fine if you kissed her! But when you buckin'" She wheezed, clutching her chest in agony. With a giant leap, she closed the gap and wrapped all eight of her claws snugly around my neck. "PROPOSE to her," she tightened her vice-like grip, never backing down, staring daggers into my already terrified eyes. "it's not okay, you flank-kissing filly-fooler."

That did it. Hot tears streamed out of my eyes as I bucked her in the stomach, tired of her abuse. "Applejack t-told me no-not every pony would be-be o-o-okay with me li-liking Fluttershy," I swiped away a tear from my cheek with the back. "but th-this," I swung a hoof across the other side of her face as hard as I could, completely wiping away her purple eyeliner. I was sick with anger. She was my best friend. "THIS CROSSES THE LINE!!" After that, all I remember is me dashing at her, the feeling of Gilda's fist crushing against my stomach, and falling to the ground with an ear-splitting crack.

Oh my Celestia. I remember the pain in my wings all too well.

Too well for comfort.

When I woke up, both of my wings were twisted at an awkward angle, the feathers ragged and snapped in half.

There was a splitting pain in both my wings and my head, the agony was dizzying.

"Wuh-what h-h-have I d-done..." With a glance around, I could see a certain griffon curled up in a small, tight ball, eyes covered with her large eagle claws.

"G-ilda." when I spoke, my voice was barely reconizable, twisted with pain and weighed down by achy wings.

"St-st-stay away fr-from meeee..." Gilda's raspy voice was filled with hysteria and agony.

"Gilda, I-it's o-o-okay, I forgive you," I muttered, clumsily stumbling towards her.

"I SAID STAY AWAY FROM ME!!" She screeched. She lunged at me, and I'd prefer not to delve into details of what happened next.

With a sweep of her large griffon claws, she scraped her talons through my eyes and ran off.

THUNK.

A warm, wet feeling washed over my face, my vision stained with red.

"Fluttershy... Help m-"

There.

Are you satisfied?

Do you feel proud of making me dig up my worst memory?

Can you sleep easy tonight, now that you know why I'm blind?!?

Leave.

Just...

BUCKING.

leave.