//------------------------------// // Ch 12 - Therapony // Story: A Flurry of Problems // by MelodyMori //------------------------------// I woke up from my medicated sleep with a twitch, feeling like I got hit with a book to the chest. I took a deep breath, hissing a bit at the slight pain from my chest.  Oh right, that pegasus broke my ribs. I need to be careful. I couldn’t help but yawn as I sat up in the hospital bed, slipping out from under the stuffy covers. Now on all four hooves, I stretched like a cat, feeling my joints pop and shift into place. I tried to stretch out my wings as well, feeling them also crack a bit at being allowed to actually expand after being tied up for a few days. Stretching them out like that felt almost like cracking your knuckles in a way, releasing a lot of built-up pressure. Now mostly up I sat back down on the bed and tried to smooth my mane back into place. Turns out Rarity was right, hooves and manes don’t work out well and all my effort was for naught. All I accomplished was smushing my hair around a bit. I sighed and instead stretched my wings out to check the feathers over. They were a mess as well, the ropes and shifting in my sleep did them no favors. I tried to preen them myself but all I got was a broken feather and a bit of pain. Okay, fine. I’ll wait for Fluttershy or Dash to show me. Bleh. On the other side of the room, I heard the sound of a chair squeaking, making me jump a bit and whip my head around towards the sound. Turns out I wasn’t alone in the room, as Twilight was fast asleep in her chair. She was slumped over, snoring through the book sitting open on her face. As much as I found her uncomfortable to be around, especially now that I knew she might be part of the reason why I was stuck here, I couldn’t help but smile at the sight. The quiet moment was broken by a knock on the door, startling Twilight awake. The book clattered onto the floor as she fell out of the chair with a squawk. I couldn’t help but fall over laughing while she got up grumbling before dusting herself off. The door opened, revealing Nurse Redheart and Spike, who was holding a scroll in one of his little claws.  “I see somepony’s in a good mood.” Nurse Redheart chuckled before turning towards Twilight. “You alright, dear?” “I’m fine, I’m fine.” Twilight gave an awkward smile before pushing her tiara back into place on her head.  “Yeah, I had a good dream last night.” I grinned at the two ponies and the dragon. “So, what’s on the docket today?” “The two of us are going down to visit Counselor Sunny, to ensure you’re recovering from your amnesia alright.” Redheart gave her professional calming smile. “In the meantime, Princess Twilight has a message. Spike?” Spike jogged over to Twilight, passing her the scroll with a grimace on his face. Twilight raised an eyebrow at Spike but took the scroll with her magic and read it. I could see her pupils slowly shrinking as she read it, and by the time she was done, I could swear her mane somehow got super messy despite the fact nothing touched it. “Oh my Celestia, Princess Luna is coming from the Crystal Empire in two days!” Twilight began to hyperventilate as the note got slowly crushed in her magic grip. “I am not ready, not ready at all. She is going to banish me! Oh, FUCK!” With that yell she vanished in a flash of light and runes, forcing Spike to step back and rub his eyes. I couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow at Nurse Redheart, who shrugged back in as much confusion. “Well, that isn’t good.” Spike groaned and rubbed his head with one of his adorable little claws. After taking a second to compose himself he turned to me. “I’ll go find her and see if somepony else can pick you up. Sorry Flurry.” Nurse Redheart sighed and rubbed her own head with one hoof. “Legally, she should be picked up by a legal guardian or caretaker. But get Rarity, Fluttershy, or Applejack to pick her up and I’ll let it slide this time while you help Twilight. Again.” Spike nodded and quickly jogged out of the room. I sighed and hopped off the bed with a bit more grace than I did last time I was at the hospital. I was getting used to this pony body, for better or worse.  “Alright, let’s get this over with,” I grumbled before following Nurse Redheart out of the hospital room. “Never was a fan of therapists.” I was led to a rather comfy-looking office on the first floor, the wooden door labeled ‘Counselor Sunny Day’. Inside was a decently sized room, the floor was covered in a green carpet while the walls were painted like a park on a, well, sunny day. Several fluffy pillows and bean bag chairs were scattered about the room, along with several toys and stuffed animals. Finally, in one corner was a small wood desk with two chairs in front of it. “So, you must be Princess Flurry Heart.” The unicorn stallion behind the desk gave a similar ‘professional warm smile’ as Nurse Redheart as he hopped from his chair and began to step towards us. “I am Councilor Sunny Day. A pleasure.” Once he finished heading over to the two of us he held out a hoof for me to shake. I looked him over for a second before I shook his hoof. Like all the adults in this world, he was almost twice my height, forcing me to tilt my head up a bit more than I’d like to look at him in his silver eyes. His coat was a dull yellow, while his mane was a light blue with a gray stripe running through it. Unlike most of the ponies I’ve seen he actually wore an accessory: a pair of rounded glasses. “Same.” I shook his hoof as gently as I could, trying to not simply bump his hoof with mine. “Nice room.” “Thank you, Flurry.” Sunny smiled at Nurse Redheart and nodded before raising a hoof at one of the circles of pillows. “Would you like to take a seat? We have much to cover today before you go home, unfortunately.” “Sure.” I couldn’t help but flick one of my ears back in apprehension as I moved over to a bean bag chair and sank into it. I really didn’t like therapists, they read too much into what ponies said. Sunny used his magic to lift a pillow over to face me, relaxing into it with practiced ease. The bean bag chair made me almost eye height with him, which was nice for once. His horn glowed with a red aura a second time before a file poofed out of nowhere, flipping open to show a few papers and pictures. “So, what do you want to know?” I took the second of silence to relax into the bean bag chair, loafing like a cat in the soft cushioning of the seat. “Well, I want to know about you.” Sunny gave the trademark Therapist Smile. “How have you been feeling today?” “I’ve been better. Ending up in the hospital twice in one week is not a good look.” I grimaced a bit. “That and being reprimanded for helping the Cutie Mark Crusaders escape a foalnapping attempt was unexpected and frankly kind of insulting.” “Hmm.” Sunny levitated a quill in his magic before writing a note in the folder. “Perhaps they’re worried that you might get hurt again? As you said, you ended up in the hospital twice. One due to an accident and one due to a foalnapping.” “Maybe. It’s still not the response I expected nor wanted.” I sighed and glanced down at the ground. “I hate to say it but I at least expected gratitude if not for them being proud.” “I see.” More writing. Made me wish I could read their strange symbols. “What made you so ready to stay behind while the other fillies escaped?” “The girls reminded me of my little sister.” I felt my other ear flick back, the thought of my little sister filling me with loss. Not sure what made me want to share info about my human life but it just slipped out. “I wanted to make sure they got out first and didn't get hurt, since to do otherwise would just be wrong. So far they were the only ponies who spoke to me without pretending I would fall and break like an ice sculpture. That and Princess Luna.” I could hear him writing up a frenzy, especially that bit about how ponies were treating me. “Princess Luna, you say? She visited you in your dreams?”  “Yeah. She visited and helped me work through a few things. I don’t want to share those though if that’s okay.” Nice try Sunny! But I ain’t ready to talk about the fact I’m probably totally not a zombie yet. “Very well then. How about we talk about your test scores? You’re a very bright filly.” Sunny raised an eyebrow as he flipped a page in his notes. “Your math and creative writing are incredibly advanced for somepony your age, but you can’t read.” I shrugged again. “I am just good at math, and have an active imagination according to my aunt.” “Indeed. Tell me about your sister, is she also a pony or...” Sunny raised an eyebrow again, rolling his ‘r’ so I probably would finish his sentence. “She’s my younger sister, fill in the gaps how you like.” I frowned at Sunny, starting to feel uncomfortable. What else did Twilight tell Sunny? I mean it made some sense that she would talk to him while I was asleep, but still. “Uh, Councilor Sunny? Do we have to keep talking about stuff like that? I'd rather just relax for a bit after the past few days.” “Of course, of course.” Sunny smiled and closed the file, floating it all the way back to his desk. “If you do not want to talk, we don’t have to. Would you like to play Candy Land for the remaining time?” “Sure.” I couldn’t help but tilt my head in slight confusion. “Uh, what's Candy Land?” A half an hour and a few board games later, our time came to a swift end. The final game of Candy Land was interrupted by Nurse Redheart opening the door, giving a polite cough to catch Sunny’s attention from me kicking his ass. Meanwhile, I was grinning wider than my face should allow, almost bouncing a bit in place as I won the third game in a row. “Ah, Nurse Redheart, how can I help you?” Sunny pushed his glasses back up his nose with one hoof as he looked up. “Fluttershy is here to pick up Flurry Heart, Councilor. Are you all set or do you want to finish your game?” “No, no, our time is almost over anyway.” Sunny got to his hooves, brushing himself off as he did so. “So, Flurry Heart, I would like to see you again this time next week. Would that work for you?” “I mean, I have a feeling I don’t have a choice but sure Councilor if that is what you recommend it works for me.” I shrugged, feeling my good mood slowly dissipate. Sunny nodded before walking me to the door. “In that case, I will see you soon. Have a good week Flurry Heart.”  I nodded back at him before turning to Nurse Redheart. “Well, I guess that’s our cue, Nurse. Lead on to Ms. Fluttershy.” Waiting for me in the waiting room of the hospital was Fluttershy, the yellow pegasus fidgeting in her chair as she watched the clock. Once the sound of my hooves clanked on the otherwise quiet, empty room she got up with a gasp and trotted over to me. She gave me a gentle wing hug in greeting, her soft coat and feathers making it feel almost like a soft blanket being wrapped around me for a moment. “Oh Flurry Heart, I am glad you are alright. I was so worried about you.” Fluttershy gave me a warm smile, her soft voice reminding me of my mother in a way. Full of patience and kindness. “Thank you, Ms. Fluttershy.” I smiled back at her, hugging her back in turn. “Sorry for how I look, by the way. Ms. Rarity was right, hooves aren’t good to brush manes and I am still not sure how to properly preen my wings.” “Oh, I can show you when we get back to my cottage, don’t worry Flurry.” She rubbed her chin with one hoof before smiling to herself. “After I show you how to do that, would you like to meet the animals? I’m sure they’d love to meet you.” I couldn’t help but give Fluttershy a dumb grin. “I would love that Ms. Fluttershy. Maybe this will be an amazing day after all.”