Chapter Text
Everything came in flashes...
(Content warning: kind of sad?? mentions of injury)
in and out of darkness. Voices muffled, hands touching my shoulders and arms, my helmet being unclipped. My eyelids were heavy as I blinked slowly. Light and then dark. Someone holding my head. The world around sounding like I was underwater. Muffled and Distorted.
I rolled my head in what felt like slow motion, my vision having yet to be anything but blurry and warped, though I could see a fuzzy outline of a dusty white mane, the one I had braided to make Rosebud feel pretty for the showcase today.
"Ro--" I couldn't form the words, my mouth not working properly as I felt myself trying to sit up but immediately being gently pushed back down. I could hear Rosebud's whinnying, sounding distressed.
"Hey, hey. It's okay." I heard Pin's voice, far away and muddled, but I couldn't see him. Every bone in my body seared with pain as I tried to move. A shadow moved over me and my eyes vaguely focused on Pin's face, full of concern and I realized it was his hands holding my head.
"Need--" I tried again, growing frustrated as I was denied again. "No!" My eyes were heavy again as I felt my head swimming. I knew I was falling back into the dark, scaring me.
"It's okay." I heard Pin whispering.
~
I noticed three things when I opened my eyes again: it was dark out, I was in my own room, and Pin was pacing around my room. I couldn't help but feel relieved that I didn't wake up in the hospital again. The soft glow of my fairy lights illuminated my room. I smiled, warming at the idea of Pin turning them on for me, as he knew I always kept them on.
I groaned, trying to sit up, accidentally catching Pin's attention. He jumped into protective mode, rushing over to me. I noticed the glass of water and two little white pills on my nightstand. Pin followed my gaze, grabbing them for me.
"Hey, hey, easy, Love." Pin sat on my bed, quick to help me sit up, handing me the water and meds. "How are you feeling?"
"Like I got thrown off a horse." I said, laughing lightly, though Pin didn't seem overly amused. "Sorry. 'm okay." I added. Pin nodded, as if trying to reassure himself. "Really." I swallowed the pills with ease, wincing at the throbbing in my head.
"You certainly gave us a fright." Pin sighed.
"I know. I shouldn't have pushed Rosebud." I muttered, leaning my head back. Pin squeezed my hand.
"I'm sure your parents showing up out of the blue didn't help." I lifted my head back up, laughing.
"Exactly!" We dissolved into laughter before I winced again and remembering my parents were probably downstairs. Pin lifted my head, kissing it softly.
"They're downstairs with Ellis." He said, reading my mind. I sighed heavily, but Pin only held out his hand, squeezing it reassuringly.
"I'm right here with you, Lu." He whispered, kissing my temple before we crept down the stairs.
"Thanks." I breathed out, feeling my nerves intensify. Upon making it into the kitchen, Ellis was quick to her feet, embracing me and examining me for damage.
"I'm okay, Ellis." I urged as she thrust a cup of tea into my hands.
"We would've though after all those years at Bright Fields, you'd turn out to be a better rider." I stiffened at the icy voice of my mother. I could feel Pin tense too, the energy in the room chilling.
"Luna's a great rider, Mrs. Pierre." Pin was quick to answer. I squeezed his hand and he smiled down at me.
"Is she? From today's display, you leave much to be imagined." My father chimed in.
"Maybe if you we're around more, you'd see." I grumbled under my breath.
"What was that, dear?" My mother mused as she reapplied her vibrant lipstick.
"Nothing, never mind. It's nice to see you." I said at a normal volume. I could see from the corner of my eye both Pin and Ellis working hard to conceal their amusement in my greeting.
"And who is this?" My father asked, sizing up Pin.
"This is Pin. You've met him like, so many times when I was growing up." I replied.
"Right. Nice to see you again, Pim."
"It's Pin, Mum--" I cut in, digging my nails into my palm.
"It's nice to see you as well, Mr. and Mrs. Pierre." Pin said, cordially. The room remained silent for just a few moments too long.
"So, what um... what brings you to the island?" I ask, treading lightly.
"You asked us to." My mother replied as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"I asked a long time ago. Rosebud was getting worse--" Upon mentioning my horse's name, I was suddenly reminded of her, desperate to know how she was.
"Is she... is she okay?" I asked Pin who only looked at me with sad eyes. The world around me grew static again as I nodded along.
"Listen, Lu," Pin started, making me nervous, "why don't you sit down?" I followed, humouring him.
"I do believe the poor old girl's broken a leg. Isn't that right?" My mother's words knocked the wind out of me nearly as harshly as the fall had earlier today. I couldn't bring myself to meet Pin's eyes as he clenched his jaw.
Ellis looked completely devastated and my parents looked... like they had other things on their minds.
"Oh." I whispered, sniffling. My head was pounding and I knew crying would only make it worse.
"She's at Bright Fields." Pin added, "if you want to see her."
"Luna, love, you really should stay here and rest--" Ellis chimed in, ever so softly. I sniffled, shaking my head.
"I have to go see her. She's probably in pain. I should be with her." Ellis only nodded, knowing there wasn't anything to say to convince me otherwise. My mother stood then, dropping her lipstick and compact into her purse.
"Well, Luna, it's been lovely to see you but we really must go." Her words echoed in the tensely silent room. I couldn't move.
"You can't leave now--" Pin started to say before I rested my head against his arm while he stood next to me, signaling my white flag. My mother blew me a kiss, whisking my father away and just like that, there was no trace they had ever been here.
"I can't believe them! They-- they just left?!" Pin exclaimed as Ellis nodded, disappointed.
"We've gotten pretty used to them waltzing in and out whenever they please." Ellis mused, bitterness laced in her words. "Let's get you two to Bright Fields."