//------------------------------// // 52 - Beginning of the End - Dr. Discord // Story: Sunset Shimmer - Six Friends One Heart // by Babroniedad //------------------------------// Dr. Discord The session with Dr. Discord was interesting, to say the least. Luna accompanied Sunset to her appointment, it being her day to stay with Sunset. Arriving early to complete the ever present ‘first visit’ paperwork, they sat in Dr. Discord’s waiting room. The walls were painted like something out of an Escher original. Sunset was getting a slight bit of vertigo just looking at it. The receptionist came to show Sunset in, wearing glasses with hypnotic black and white swirls on the lenses. Seeing Luna’s raised eyebrow, she lowered the glasses and grinned over their tops. “It’s a Dr. Discord thing. It’s kind of his schtick.” She pushed the glasses back up and accompanied Sunset back to Dr. Discords office. “Ms. Shimmer is here to see you Dr. Discord,” she announced, stepping aside to let Sunset enter the office. Sunset wheeled in, immediately noting the troupe reclined couch by his desk, and the crazy hypnotic pattern painted on the wall opposite. “Good afternoon Ms. Shimmer!” greeted Dr. Discord. “Welcome to my clinic!” He turned to the receptionist. “Thank you Ms. Screwball.” She nodded then returned to her desk outside his office. “Pleased to meet you Dr. Discord. Wow, quite the office you have here!” greeted Sunset. Looking to the couch, Discord observed, “A pleasure to meet you Ms. Shimmer! I would normally invite you to make yourself comfortable on my couch, but considering your situation, please feel free to make yourself comfortable wherever you wish.” “Awesome!” snarked Sunset. “I’m heading back to my bedroom. Nice meeting you Dr. Discord!” She pretended to head out the door. “Hohoho! I’m going to like you Ms. Shimmer! Touche!” laughed Dr. Discord. Dr. Discord had her stare at the odd wall in his office, while he droned on to Sunset in a droll tone, guiding her through some meditation. At one point she could swear the wall started swirling in on itself. Then she was back outside the gym, dispassionately watching herself heading in looking for Rainbow Dash. She saw herself enter the gym, then being grabbed and held down. It all unfolded just as Trixie had described, though a bit more graphically. The entire time, Sunset just stood to the side and observed it unfolding, unfeeling and uncaring of the brutality of what she witnessed. When it was over, she watched as Trixie hid shaking in her closet while her body was carted off to the hospital. She then was bathed in golden light, and woke feeling refreshed and at peace, but unable to recall much of what she had just experienced. Dr. Discord assured her she was doing just fine. There was nothing wrong with her memories - they were clearly intact and functioning correctly. It was only her mind showing her kindness, protecting her from the grief and suffering she had experienced. “You have an old soul, my dear. And in its wisdom, it knows you are not ready for these sorrows life has shared. So she is carrying them for you, for a time. Don’t worry my dear, when you are ready, your soul will share with you all that it is carrying,” advised Dr. Discord. Slightly confused, but enjoying the feeling of peaceful serenity, Sunset nodded. Luna had scheduled a follow-on session for the next week while she waited. They thanked Dr. Discord for his time, and returned home.