Lunch came and went without incident, after that Gilda went to see Dr. Larch. Being a doctor, he'd been asking how she felt enough times she wanted to slap him. By now, he should be able to tell that she was better off outside, but she was still here.
Plus with what just happened at lunch, she was keen to rip him a new one today. He had better have some answers for this. The griffon entered his office, finding Larch looking at some papers at a file cabinet.
"Yo!" Gilda said, tapping a claw against the door frame loudly. "We need to talk doc," she growled at him.
Larch nearly jumped up at that and, judging by that wince, had hurt his leg.
"Y-yes, I just heard and-" Dr. Larch started while still grimacing, but Gilda interrupted him.
"What was he doing here and why didn't anyone tell me?" she demanded, glaring at him.
"It's a private matter," he replied with a hoof up, hoping it would calm things with a worried look. "He won't try it again, he's back in intensive care and won't be..." but she cut him off again.
"Private?!" Gilda yelled as she walked up to him. The doctor shrank back, cringing a bit when his leg got off put further. "He's the only face I know, and he just tried to eat me! Explain, you dip!"
"Please!" Dr. Larch said, gesturing her to the seat in front of his desk. "It's a complicated matter. I know you are upset by this miss, but he isn't in my case files,” he paused, breathing a bit as he readjusted his leg brace and cane, it looked like he got his leg ok again as he relaxed. “I can't tell you anything but..." be began.
"But what?" Gilda said, and wasn’t yet sitting down.
"I have a way you can get out of here." Dr Larch said simply. The next thing he knew the griffon had sat down, dropped her anger, and had enthusiasm for something. Even he looked in a bit of shock as he hobbled to his desk.
"Finally I'm outta this place,” Gilda said with a big smile and sigh relief. “When?"
"Don't get too far ahead of yourself," Larch said as he pulled out a drawer. "It's only a transfer." her joy then sunk. "It's a rural option that we've had for a while. A miss Fluttershy started practice some time ago you see..."
"Who?" Gilda asked, no bells rung in her head. She simply shrugged and looked up at the ceiling in frustration. “Geeze---really? Can’t I just ditch this crud?”
"I hear she's kind,” Larch added as he kept looking through papers. “Regardless, she was recommended. And after some communication, she said she was interested in your case. I also think she could help you as a therapist, so to speak."
"Pifft!" Gilda huffed, now she had her questions about this new turn of events. Even going back to facing the doctor again. “And you never thought to mention this until now?”
"She's had a few before you, but then they were mostly left a bit worse for it after.” he replied to the griffon. Larch’s eyes lit up as he found the papers he’d been looking for, pulling them out with his teeth. “But, she has good intentions, I know that for a fact. Even one of the princesses recommended this action.” he continued as he looked to her with a smile. “And I am sure you are eager to be out of here. Change could be good, you see?"
Gilda pulled her head back again and sighed in annoyance. Not as much still, but she was sick of being around ponies at this point. Even so, it was a change from being stuck in once place for much longer.
"So, I just go meet some therapist?” Gilda said with a shrug, regaining a bit of coolness. “Whatever. Least I'm-" But Larch cut her off.
"It’s not so simple," he said, and he put a form with a line for a signature. "First a waiver. Plus, you aren't exactly free to go," The griffon flinched at that. "You are just released into her custody.” Another flinch. “She will be looking after you, and what she tells you goes,” his black eyes looked her in the eye seriously. “Otherwise, it's back here again. Understand?"
"Sheesh!" Gilda said as she shook her head in disbelief. "Now I'm stuck in a house?"
Larch paused for a moment, sadly, looking down and letting out a sigh. He looked back up with a weak smile.
"It's a very nice house," he said sheepishly as he scratched his also black, flat, mane and coughed. He could still see the griffons unhappiness and tried to work past it. "Besides, she’s a very nice pony, so if you are on your best behavior you won't have any problems. You might even feel calmer there and not so on edge as you are here."
Gilda rolled her eyes, but regardless of how she felt she already knew what she was going to do.
"Where is your stupid quill?" she said, now resigned to her fate.
"It's right here," Dr. Larch answered as he pulled it from another drawer and hoofed it over to the griffon. "You'll keep a copy, and we'll have you out tomorrow morning."
Gilda signed it with a sigh. Rural or no, it couldn't be any crazier than where she was. Maybe she could get a decent meal out there too that wasn’t just bread and fruit--or worse, hayfries.
"Ok....” Gilda said, pushing the paper back to the doctor. “So, we done here?" she asked, pointing a tallon at the door. “Or you got more letdowns for me?”
"Just one," Larch said with a raised a hoof as he took the paper away. "I know you may be in a bit of a shock about the other events today, but if you could..." Larch looked like the next part was hard to say. "...not tell Miss Shy about the events involving Mr Deal?"
"Why?" Gilda asked, as she figured she could smell a rat in this.
"Well, it’s not just that fact his file is private, but also I would imagine telling her about his, er... condition could be detrimental to matters." Larch said, but he could see the "are you kidding me" look on Gilda’s face, and apparently knew why with another sad look.
"I know you are thinking something is wrong, and there is with him,” he added and sighed as he leaned back in his chair, looking to the window in the back of the office. “His doctor thought he could be let out of his wing, as he'd been making good progress,” he said sadly. “I'm not even sure anypony knows what's wrong with him,” he looked back to her. “Off the record, of course. But you should know that even I don’t have the facts."
"But what's his beef with me?" Gilda asked, pointing to herself. "I mean, sure I butted heads with him over how he ran things...maybe called him a cud eater, but geeze..." She shook her head. “That a declaration of war here or something?”
“I wouldn't know,” replied Doctor Larch, turning his chair back from the window. “For now I’m sure you could feel much better if you tried not to let that event bother you. It’s unlikely you will have to face him again, so don’t worry.”
Gilda looked away from a moment. “Think he’s seeing these nightmares too?” she asked in a low voice. “Maybe I am going crazy.” While she was about to let that sink in, Dr. Larch coughed, pulling her out of it.
"Maybe, we'll find out at some point.” he said as he hoofed her the papers for her to take. “For now, I'd advise you to pack a few things for the trip and I wish you good luck with Dr Fluttershy,” Gilda took her copy as Larch tried to be encouraging. “She's bound to have a successful patient, it might even be you!"
He had a light laugh at that point, on his attempt at humor. Gilda let out a groan as she got up and left, with Larch looking nervous that he might have pushed the wrong button.
The rest of the day was uneventful. While Gilda felt clearly more than a little energetic, the other ponies did not seem to notice. As for her packing, she didn't have much to pack. After all, she traveled with that caravan and before that she’d been drifting.
A toothbrush, some cuttlebones, a brush and what not. She’d been missing a few bones though, but that didn’t matter to her. After all, she was leaving this place.
Then it was just that waiting game, the waiting game and coffee.
Then dinner came, walnut fig dough surprise with a side of an apple and hay fries. The hay fries found the trash as usual, as no self respecting griffon would ever eat those as far as Gilda was concerned.
As the griffon ate her last meal in relative peace something sat next to her. She didn't need to look up, only one person ever did that.
"When they let you out?" Gilda said as she took a bite of her apple.
"Dr. Larch gave me a talk about my anger, but said I shouldn't blame meself," Sunshine said calmly. In an instant, the apple on his tray entered his mouth and never returned. After a light burp, he continued. "Is pretty bird ok? Chilly pony was scary too."
"Until you showed up, yeah," Gilda deadpanned back and kept eating. “I was fine.”
"Oh," Sunshine didn’t seem to understand her annoyance, as usual. “Doctor said he knew I just wanted to help.” The griffon said nothing and resumed eating. “You ever scared when you get angry?”
“Just shut up,” was Gilda’s muttered response with a sigh.
There was a pause in words as both ate. While Gilda was not a fan of talking to things she saw of a lower intelligence, she still felt the need to spread the news.
"I'm getting out of this nut house tomorrow," she said with some glee.
"Oh," was about the best response Sunshine had for a few seconds, uttered in low surprise. "Is it safe out there?"
"Is what safe?" Gilda asked, looking with a raised eyebrow.
"Outside,” he replied ceriously. “Know stuff happens outside, but here I can know what lunch is and stuff."
Gilda blinked a few times, as she wondered if this dog could sound any dumber. "Least I can have someone smarter to talk too," she grumbled as she looked back to her meal.
"But, isn’t it cold outside?” Sunshine asked her with a dumb, but worried look. “This place has heaters to heat things, but outside has snow and that’s cold."
It was then that Gilda’s eyes widened. She had lost track of time, being annoyed did that and this whole asylum thing had done a number. It was winter, or had been winter for sometime now. Why didn’t notice the gray sky?
"What day is it?" Gilda asked with an air of shock, her eyes wide.
"Oat loaf wednesday?" Sunshine replied simply, not exactly fazed.
"Number goofus," she deadpanned as she held her beak.
"18th day," he answered back calmly.
"Least you're good for something," Gilda snarked with a light laugh.
"Calendar told me," Sunshine replied, and was back to his meal as Gilda paused in some surprise.
Looking behind her, there was indeed a calendar that anyone could have looked at. It was about a week till Hearth’s Warming Eve. The fact she had not paid attention to it until now was not lost on her.
"Shut up!" Gilda added, as if anticipating someones remark on her bird brain. None really came through.
“Er, kay,” Sunshine uttered without argument. He just looked down sadly.
Despite the new revelations, the griffon didn’t let it get her down. After her dinner, for lack of anything better, she checked on things. Her stuff was still ready to go, the papers were on her bed, and now it was a matter of counting down the hours. After some more waiting and some more coffee, a better part of her brain decided to finally read the paperwork, if only to relieve the boredom.
The first part was what she already knew, judged mentally deficient, blah blah--legal guardianship by one Dr. Fluttershy, blah blah--practice set in the outskirts of Ponyville, blah blah!?!?
Her beak dropped first, then she dropped the papers in her claw, then she let out a off sound on par with a scratch on glass.
After her shock settled however she wasn’t happy.
“You gotta be..!” Gilda uttered, now doing a quick run to Larch’s office found that he had already gone home for the day. Her prior elation for getting out of this place had just been replaced by a cold feeling of shock, fear and even dread. “Aw snap….” she moaned to no one as all the air left her, filling her with coldness. “...This freaking bites.”
Now what’s the worst nightmare? Gilda thought to herself. Awake or asleep?
Despite the chill, despite the disappointment, she wouldn’t allow herself to sleep. She would spent her night pacing again. At least that was the plan.
While she was pacing in her room, late that night, she heard a sound. Gilda looked up, but saw no one there in her room. With a sigh, looked back to the floor as she continued to pace.
“Hello,” Gilda heard. While most ponies sleep, even the orderlies doze off at their post, and now weirdos seem to wander in shadows apparently. “Does coffee exist where you go to?” It was Sunshine again, the voice and poor grammar gave away any mystery.
“Don’t start with me you goof,” Gilda said, not looking up from the floor she kept pacing on. In time she noticed that Sunshine wasn’t in the room, he was in the vent looking thru the grate with his eyes glowing in the darkness. “Ok, that is beyond creepy, dweeb!” she snarled as her eyes narrowed. “Get lost.”
“Just can’t sleep, know how it is,” he said from the shadows. Despite his eyes, he looked like a child asking about grown up problems. “Started thinking, so I start wandering.” He looked like he expected her to respond, maybe even start a conversation. “Me wonder about you.”
Gilda laughed and resumed pacing, doing her best to ignore the dog looking in. After a while, she started to feel annoyed that she didn’t hear him leaving. She looked back at him and growled at him, but despite seeing she was hostile he spoke again.
“Other ponies scared when I come near, but you don’t,” Sunshine said as he scratched his ear. Gilda blew some air out of her beak, blowing her head feathers up. “Maybe, you scared to be alone?”
“Pffft, geeze,” Gilda stated with mock concern. “You getting all teary eyed, goofus?” She was quite annoyed by all this.
“But you look sad back at Larch office.” he added as he cocked his head to the side. “Me gonna miss you too.”
While the diamond dog was trying to be heartfelt with his good bye, Gilda wasn’t interested. Quite the opposite really.
“I’m not going to miss you, weirdo,” Gilda dismissed coldly.
The griffon resumed ignoring him, and after a bit, he finally left. She was finally alone again and it was quiet, almost too quiet. She did her best not to mind, not to feel so discouraged. After a while she found herself mumbling to herself.
“I hate all this stupid crud,” she grumbled bitterly. “Just ticks me off.”