"All right Screw Loose. Remember, if you have any problems just call me at the hospital" Nurse Coldheart said, exiting the blue mare's new home. Screw Loose had been recently released from the hospital and was now permitted to live in ponyville again, provided a nurse came to check in on her every few days.
She was happy to be a part of life again, no longer locked away in a cold, white hospital room. She shuddered.
The pony looked out her window watching the busy activity of the town. "There sure are a lot of ponies living here." She noted aloud.
She stepped away from the window and sat down, lifting a back leg to scratch her ear. The limb froze and inch away from her head. "Nope. Nope! I'm not a dog. I do things like a pony!" She scratched her itch with a front hoof. "I'm a pony." She repeated firmly.
Around noon she decided that she might as well use lunch as an excuse to see a bit more of ponyville. She headed out, on her way to the cafe.
She took the walk slowly enjoying the feeling of being among other ponies for the first time in forever. She smiled.
"Wynona! Heel!" A mare with a southern accent shouted into the crowd. The dog ignored her owner and darted past the hooves of one pony after another.
Screw Loose's eyes widened when she saw it. 'A dog!'
Apple Jack had managed to catch up to her pet and stop it in it's tracks just as it reached Screw Loose, who had stopped walking.
"Few! Sorry about that. Wynona here just got a bit too excited." Apple Jack smiled at the blue mare.
She smiled back in return. "It's okay. I love dogs." She grinned even more looking down at the furry creature.
Wynona leaned forward with her rear in the air, a playful position, and wagged her tail. Before she could stop herself, Screw Loose dropped into the same position, mimicking the dog's behavior.
"Uh...ah. ha ha...i really should get back to the farm." Apple Jack sounded nervous as she made an akward attempt to get away from the strange pony. "Come on Wynona." The orange mare took her pet and took off without another word. Screw Loose watched her go.
'oh no...i screwed up.'
She continued on her way to the cafe, a bit droopier than before. She was so busy mentally scolding herself for her slip up, that she didn't see the pony running her way until it was too late.
"oof!" Two voices cried as the ponies collided and toppled to the ground.
"Ow...sorry. Didn't see you there." A cyan pony with a rainbow mane had regained her footing and now stood with an outstreched hoof. The other pony took it and was lifted back onto her feet.
"that's ok. I wasn't really looking were i was going, so it's really my fault." She gave an uncertain laugh.
Rainbow Dash tilted her head slightly looking the pony over. "Do i know you? You seem really familiar."
"Oh, well I-"
"Do you work at the salon?"
"No, I-"
"Are you a waitress?"
"No-"
"Oh! Are you a nurse?"
"N-No. I-"
"Really? I feel like i've seen you at the hospital before."
"Well, I was-"
Rainbow gasped. "Hold on...i know who you are!"
Screw Loose fell silent. She obviously wasn't going to get a word in edgewise.
"You're that mental pony that barks like a dog!"
Screw looked around them in slight panic. Rainbow Dash was talking rather loudly, and she would rather not tell all of ponyville that she used to be a mental patient.
"T-that's true. I did that. But they discharged me just yesterday." She smiled nervously.
Rainbow looked a but uncertain. "Um...that's..nice." She took a sidestep so she could go around the pony. "Uh, i better get going. Bye!"
"B-" the pegasus was already gone. With a sigh Screw Loose walked the rest of the way to the cafe. She was seated and began pouring over the menu.
It wasn't long before she became aware of several pairs of eyes watching her. Glancing up, the pony saw a unicorn and a pegasus sitting at a nearby table. The unicorn was looking in her direction and whispering to the pegasus, who kept stealing shy glaces at her.
She decieded to ignore them and returned her gaze to her menu. After a moment however, her sharp ears picked up on a snippet of their whisperings. "...and Apple Jack said she started acting just like a dog! Can you believe it?"
'They're talking about me...' she frowned.
"oh my." The pegasus replied, almost inaudibley.
"I for one wonder if it's really best letting her roam about." The unicorn whispered, stirring her iced tea.

Screw Loose walked home from the cafe after her lunch feeling much worse than she had when she left. It was only her first full day as a member of society and after just a few encounters she had already gained a poor reputation.
The mare sat down in her kitchen thinking about were she went wrong. "It's ok. I'll get better."
that evening she stood looking out her window once more. Watching the other ponies was enjoyable and would hopefully help her to learn proper behavior.
She watched an earth pony and her small filly walking home. A pair of pegasi joking with one another. A pink earth pony excitidly chatting with a purple unicorn. She smiled. They all looked happy.
A stallion and a mare bought candy apples and laughed together. A unicorn and an earth pony sat quietly on a bench, enjoying each other's company. It struck her suddenly that everypony seemed to have a friend. No one was alone that evening as the town's activity gradually slowed down. No one but her.
The blue mare turned away from the window and walked into the other room. 'I'm probably the only pony around here who doesn't have a friend.' She snuffed out the lights and headed for her bedroom. 'And now everypony thinks i'm crazy.' Her eyes moistened slightly.
Screw climbed into bed wrapping herself in covers.
Looking out her window up into the night sky, everything was blurred. As wet drops fell on her pillow mutely, she prayed a silent prayer.
'Please send me a friend.'