"Where are you two taking us?" Sweetie Belle asked as Rarity and Applejack led the way through Ponyville.
Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle were tired and scared. The game that they had just played would be something they never forget. They would never see the Mane Six or the Elements of Harmony in the same light again. Rarity and Applejack were silently leading them somewhere. They said they weren't going to go home right away, but they had to make a quick stop.
"Sis?" Apple Bloom asked, causing Applejack to turn around, "Where are we goin'?"
"We're just going to a place where you two can talk about what you've experienced, darling," Rarity answered, "We know that our most recent events must have scared you pretty badly."
The two nodded. Sweetie Belle was especially nervous, as Rarity hadn't mentioned a word about her punishment for breaking into Twilight's Spell Room. As they walked, the two fillies noticed that they had walked completely through Ponyville without stopping. They were now exiting the town and going towards a building on the outskirts of town. Compared to the colorful, cheerful personality of Ponyville, this was the exact opposite. Dead grass populated the area under a spiked metal fence. A crow's nest could be seen at the base of a sign introducing them to their destination: Meyerhoof's Asylum for Mentally Ill Ponies.
"Applejack...why--why'd you take us h--here?" Asked Apple Bloom. The two mares turned around and gave them a nervous smile.
"Don't worry, darlings," Rarity reassured, "We'll only be here for an hour. Then we'll go straight home."
"Promise?"
"Cross my heart 'n hope to fly, stick a cupcake in mah eye," Applejack recited.
The familiar quote made Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle shudder in fear at who usually recites it.
"But why isn't Pinkie Pie here? She's the one who has a completely different person inside of her mind!" Sweetie Belle protested.
"Oh, she will be. Fluttershy is going to bring her over."
"Where's Scootaloo?"
"Inside the building. It's only for an hour," insisted Rarity.
Gulping, the four opened the gate and walked inside. Once entered, Sweetie Belle's and Apple Bloom's mood got slightly better. It looked like a regular doctor's office: there were bright colors painting the walls, a couple of seats with magazines, the receptionists' desk, and ponies in lab coats walking in and out of the place. It seemed like it wouldn't be too bad! As Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom took a seat next to Scootaloo, Rainbow Dash approached their sisters.
"Hey," she whispered, "The psychiatrist is going to be ready shortly."
"Good," Applejack whispered, "I wanna get them outta here as soon as possible. They looked terrified when we were outside the building."
"Hey, if the three of them can handle a fight to the death, they can handle a psychiatrist visit."
"Not the time, Rainbow Dash."
"Sorry. But anyway, Twilight got Spike checked in and went to the castle to prepare a visiting schedule with the princesses. She wanted us to be there right away!"
"But Fluttershy's still handling Pinkie!"
"Look, we can make a copy of the schedule and bring it to her. The point is, we have to go!"
Turning to face the three, they walked over.
"Alright, you guys have an appointment in room 259. It's just up the stairs. Do you think you guys can find it?"
"You're leaving?!" Scootaloo asked as tears welled up in her eyes.
"Just for a little while, Scoots," Rainbow said, hugging her tightly, "We're going to a meeting with the Princesses. I'll fly back as soon as we're finished. I promise."
"Stay strong, y'hear?" Applejack said as she embraced Apple Bloom, "It's okay to be scared."
"I'll be back as soon as I can, alright, Sweetie Belle?" Rarity asked.
The two fillies nodded as they got up and walked down the hall. The three mares ran out the door and headed towards the castle.
At the Princesses' Castle
Twilight couldn't contain herself. Then again, neither of the Princesses could either. Cadance and Shining Armor had made their way to Ponyville as soon as they heard what had happened. Twilight forget her scar was even there; Spike had died, come back to life, and now hated her in a span of two days. Celetia's and Luna's relationship with him had become nearly destroyed. It was scarier than anything Twilight could imagine.
"So, your friends are on their way here?" Cadance asked, to which Twilight nodded after blowing her nose, "Good. We need to find a solution to this problem, and fast."
"We're here to make a visiting schedule for him," said Luna in between sobs, "What he needs right now is to know that we still love him."
"Luna's right," Celestia said, wiping her tears away, "We need to rebuild what we destroyed."
"Sounds like a plan," Shining Armor said, with his hoof around his sister, "How do you propose we do this?"
Just then, the door flew open, and in came Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Rarity.
"Sorry we're late. We just had to drop off the other three at the psychiatrist's office." Rainbow said.
"Has Pinkie Pie been checked in yet?"
"No, not yet," Applejack said, "Fluttershy should be bringing her any minute now."
"Well, we're glad you're here. We were about to make the schedule."
"I think it goes without saying the Twilight should visit first," Shining Armor said, "She's known him the longest."
A thankful smile crept across her face.
"I'll go next," Cadance volunteered, "I'll make sure to bring some gems with me when I do."
"I'll go after Cadance," Rarity said. "Need to make sure Spikey-Wikey looks stylish when--"
"Rarity," Applejack yelled, "Time and place. I'll go with her when she goes. To make sure she knows why we're really there."
"Okay," Celestia said, holding a pen and paper, "So far we have Twilight on Sundays, Cadance on Mondays, and Rarity and Applejack for Tuesdays. Who's next?"
"Me," Luna volunteered, "I need to begin rebuilding his trust as soon as possible."
"I'll go with you," Celestia said, marking both of their names down for Wednesday.
"I guess I'm going Thursday," Rainbow volunteered.
"That leaves me for Fridays," Shining Armor said.
"And Fluttershy for Saturdays," finished Celestia, "We can hit two birds with one stone and visit Pinkie as well, assuming that Fluttershy neutralizes her before the day's end."
"Okay, so are we done?" Rainbow asked, "I need to go get Scootaloo."
"I understand," Celestia nodded, "You two are free to go."
"Two?"
"I need to speak with Rarity," Celestia said, donning a serious tone.
"Don't worry," Applejack said, "I'll get Sweetie Belle and bring 'er over with Apple Bloom."
"Okay," said Rarity as the two ponies flew out.
"You understand that there is still a punishment in order for Sweetie Belle?" Celestia asked.
"Yes."
She smiled at Twilight. "Well, the two of us came to an agreement on an appropriate punishment for an offense of this degree."
"I'm listening..."
At the asylum...
"Why is it that I still don't feel quite right after that?" Scootaloo asked, to which the other two shrugged.
"I dunno. Hopefully things start to get back to normal when we get back." Apple Bloom responded.
The three walked towards the stairs at the end of the long hallway, deep in thought at what they discussed with the psychiatrist. Of course they were scared, but they learned about something called 'PTSD'. They were told they may encounter triggers of those unpleasant events and, if they did, they had to make sure their sisters were there to help them. They also received some pills to help deal with the sudden anxiety attacks.
"This wasn't too bad," Sweetie Belle noted.
"Keep telling yourself that."
The three froze at the sudden interruption. They looked for the source of the noise, only to find none. All around them were the rooms of various patients; when they originally came up, each room seemed empty.
"Over here, you three!"
Looking to their left, they gasped at who they saw.
Dressed in a white jumpsuit, they stared into the eyes of Diamond Tiara.
At Fluttershy's House...
Pinkamena had greatly underestimated Fluttershy's strength. She seemed to be much faster, stronger, and smarter than she looked. No matter how many blasters, tricks, and bombs she could throw at her, she dodged every single one.
"YOU'RE COMING WITH ME, PINKAMENA! YOU'RE FINISHED!" Screamed Fluttershy as she landed a punch directly to Pinkie's neck.
"NO! I'M NOT GOING TO DIE BY YOUR HOOF!"
Running up to her and attempting to buck her jaw, Fluttershy caught one leg in her mouth. Pulling her forward, Pinkamena fell.
"GET...OFF...OF...ME!!"
"NO! You're not running any more!!"
Stepping on her back with the leg in her mouth, Fluttershy pulled...and pulled...and pulled...until...
CRACK!!
"AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!" Pinkamena screamed as a fresh set of tears flowed down her face. Letting go of the now-broken leg, Fluttershy landed a punch directly on her skull, rendering her unconscious. Just before she closed her eyes, she heard Pinkie mutter "Thank you."
Breathing heavily, Fluttershy picked her up and took her to the asylum for treatment.