"Luna while I know you're happy to talk to Eric, I think you've left out some vital context." Tia seemed serious which was odd for what was a pleasant conversation.

Luna froze at that processing what her sister said before turning her face grim and facing me. "I- Eric I may have skipped my actions before we became familiar with each other."

"Uh, what happened?" My anxiety spiked at the thought something went wrong.

"I- I want you to know that the time we spent, was pleasant beyond compare and had me enjoy the night. I only want this to be known before I tell you of what happened."

"O-okay?"

Luna sighed before continuing, "The night I confronted you- I had a disguise and- I had pushed you against the wall to make you get serious-"

"WHAT?"

"It was to make you take the situation seriously! We did not know whether you would be a threat and-" Luna sighed, "I'm sorry Eric, we had come to you with worst of intentions only to see a kind soul that was lost."

All of this was surreal, I turned my head to meet Tia. "Wha- what am I supposed to say to that?" And then it hit him, last night when she was pounded to the wall, leaving a dent in the brickwork as his back ached. And her eyes- they showed nothing but distaste and distrust. Eric slowly pushed himself away from the table, trembling at the mere thought he was that close to being probably killed right there. His head pounced with memories flooding back, the way she did something to his drink as he was on his last leg, the vomiting, the threats she was giving, how she walked to me like she was about to slice my head.

Eric shuddered and started to tremble even more at the prospect of it all.

Luna put a hoof on my shoulder "Eric We-" but I swat at it, taking distance at that moment, "D-don't touch me, please..."

Her expression told it all, the pain, the hurt, the regret. She whispered, "I'm sorry..." I had to take a few steps back as I started to hyperventilate.

Everything has been absolutely gone to shit since I've gotten here! Being put on this damn cartoon-like world with no help, no support, no family or friends, and me just struggling out there! I got a job to help with shipment because someone felt bad for me! I felt it all building up and I tried to keep calm, I tried! But this is just ridiculous!? Getting drunk to be taken by a princess without my consent? Being drugged? Having no way to defend myself against royalty? I staggered, my stomach feeling viles building as my body could barely take the situation completely... I felt it build up to my throat and before I fainted I saw the horrified faces of them all-

I opened my eyes to feel movement to my right to see a familiar face, a human, not just any human, Sarah... she spoke but it was a blur, a garbled mess that I couldn't make out but somehow knew the result was.

"I'm not drunk?" I spoke- those words... they felt familiar as if I spoke them before.

Her face contorted to that of anger, "Eric you always drink when we hang out and I'm getting sick of it!" She spoke clearly now.

I felt as though I was replaying a role and I just spoke the lines effortlessly. "Listen I'm sorry but drinking is my way of coping and I'm still trying to be better okay?"

"You always say that!"

"Are you serious?" I breathed in and out. "I'm sorry, I'm just trying to understand myself."

"Are you serious? It's been months?"

That made me snap, "Been JUST months? Do you realize the shit storm I've been in? The financial troubles? I have to take double shifts, late-night ones just to pay for the house that was left by my parents! I've been going through bills and property that my family owned just to find out we've been in debt this whole time! Oh but just because I'm drinking that means I'm just nonsensical right? You've had it smoothly, everything went well for you and I'm sorry I can't relax without a drink but I rarely get time to relax at all!" I panted before picking up the cup of beer, "I'm tired and this is my way of picking up pieces so I'm sorry if somehow makes me worse but I'm still dealing with everything, it doesn't just disappear I'm still getting over the fact my parents are dead! It doesn't help that one of my only close friend is trying to separate themselves from me."

"I'm sorry that shit has hit the fan for you, I know it's a lot and I'm trying to help!"

"Oh? So is that why you avoid me when I want to hang out more?"

"Because of your drinking! I've been here to listen to you sulk around! You've been becoming more and more secluded and haven't talked to me in weeks! We barely message each other and when we do you just want to drink!"

"WELL, MAYBE I HAVE A REASON TO DRINK! EVER THINK OF THAT?!"

"OF COURSE I DO, WHY ELSE WOULD I BE HERE?"

"..." I looked at the drink.

"Listen, Eric, I don't want this to be us, you're one of my best friends but you didn't even show up for my wedding"

Now that crushed me, "you had a wedding? When?"

She sighed, "A month ago... I know you're hurting and you're trying to keep yourself together but each time I see you, you just seem to be letting yourself go. You are slipping, letting go..."

"...maybe I did let go, Sarah, I'm dy-" I sighed knowing this would just stress her out. "Never mind."

"Eric," her face softened, "You keep looking worse every day and I'm worried about you."

I hummed at that, she was right, everything was getting worse, all of it seemed like it blended in like blurs. "...I'm sorry" I whispered, my hand massaging my temples, "I think...I'm losing it, Sarah, sometimes I feel like there's no point y'know? Like somehow, somewhere, I failed and that was just it for me..."

Sarah just looked depressed by that, "Eric, I'm here for you but you need to connect to me... I'm starting to get really worried about you..."

Author's Note

Now I feel I need to explain a few things, due to the comment section I understand that I may not have made things clear in this story.

Eric is, well nervous and beyond scared, he has only been in this world for 2 weeks, didn't know of royalty and thought he would be beheaded for something as simple as speaking wrong. In no way is this a normal situation and you will find that small details go a long way for my story. Notice how Luna retracts to old Equestrian when speaking with Eric in a casual manner? Notice how Celestia was smirking at the realization of that? How Tia was only used as a name for Celestia and thus Eric doesn't know her actual name? Those aren't just throwaway bits.

Regardless I may have jumped the gun as Eric forgiving her of course, the idea was to say that he is easy to bend a knee for something he may have done because again, he's in a whole new world he knows next to nothing about. In no way is he the problem here but he thinks he is, I tried to show he wasn't obviously and by no means a push over but he's scared. Notice how much he's been joking especially in that interaction with Luna at the start? I'll have to try to put these themes more prevalent but the fact is, his way of working is to laugh it off, dealing with something serious as this? He's scared, lost, and feels alone... it scares him beyond belief...he's doesn't know a way to confront it all...

Anyway hope you enjoyed the chapter! I know I know, 'took your time huh?' But I wasn't particularly motivated to make Eric's breakdown and disassociating so that's my excuse. If you like where this story is going though, I'd recommend reading another of my story called 'A chance' I plan to make that much more down to earth and who knows? Maybe Celestia may play a big role in that one wink wink.

(She will)

P.s sorry that this chapter was much heavier than the others, this won't let up until maybe three chapters later so after that, everything should have the usual comedic, nice banter. And if you are squeamish to self harm or the topics of suicide? I reccomend you DON'T read the next chapter, after that it should only be mentioned very sparsly.