Maya produced one of her larger bits, the 10, and set it down on the counter next to Rarity's sewing machine. "I was paid 25 bits today. I gave therapy for three ponies in a group, one session, half an hour? Did I do good, or was I ripped off?"
Rarity set her hoof on the bit. "That is a more complicated question than I think you realize, dear." She slid the coin off the counter, floating in her magic. "You seem to be trying to price things based on how hard they are to make, but that isn't how it operates, darling. Basic things, things a pony needs to survive, they are cheap, always. The throne subsidizes them to keep them that way, and regulates the price along the way. If you make staples, you'll never be rich."
She put the coin on Maya's hoof. "But you'll never be poor either. You." She pointed at Maya directly. "Are not offering a basic."
Maya's ears danced. "Mental health is a re--"
Rarity popped a hoof into Maya's mouth. The most surprising part of that was that it didn't hurt. Maya expected having a hand abruptly shoved in her mouth to be far less pleasant, but it was instead just annoying, and an invasion of space. She ducked back, but let Rarity speak.
"Dear, you heard the mayor. You're the very first in this town." Rarity smiled brilliantly. "You are a luxury. Price yourself accordingly. If you feel bad about it, and I suggest against that, use the bits you earn to offer services to those that can't afford it."
Maya's eyes widened as she processed Rarity's guidance. The elegant pony made a compelling case - with no existing mental health services in Ponyville before her arrival, Maya's counseling genuinely was a premium offering. She had skillfully, or luckily, tapped an unmet need.
"A luxury..." Maya murmured, gazing at the bits with fresh perspective. For all the village's harmony, anxiety still festered for sensitive souls unable to find support previously...until fate dropped the perfect confidante into their midst.
Perhaps she had been thinking too small-scale. Was she not the sole pioneer on the mental health frontier in these parts? A renewed sense of self-worth straightened Maya's posture. She was no mere gardener or guru. This was bespoke care crafted for evolving Equestria into its best self...one listener at a time.
"You make an excellent case, Rarity," Maya said with a growing smile. "I clearly underestimate the value of my services since they've never been available here before."
She turned a resolute look back to her mentor. "I will take your advice and price accordingly as a luxury. And your suggestion about discounted rates for struggling ponies is a great idea." Her eyes shown with purpose anew. "Ooo, I can even model that, make the ones paying full price proud to know they're funding community services."
Rarity grinned, seeing her new friend finally grasp her worth. "That's the spirit, darling! Oh, and if you ever want help advertising with some eye-catching flyers, you need only ask."
Maya gladly took the creative pony up on that offer as their chat stretched long into the starry evening. It felt so heartening to see this quaint village through freshly appreciative eyes, and two mares well on their way to becoming the staunchest of friends.
Rarity smooched Maya on either cheek. "Darling, we have some lovely things." She paused to yawn into a hoof. "But it grows late. We industrious mares must rest for the evening, hm? Go on. I know you'll knock it right out of the park tomorrow."
"You are the best." Maya hugged Rarity tightly, tail wagging behind her. "The best. Seriously." She fell to all fours and gathered everything up, waddling towards the door.
"Dear..." Rarity caught up with her easily and grabbed her things in glowing horn magic. "Use your pockets." She showed Maya how to get things in there properly, a skill a former human still had to practice. "So much easier. Poor thing, watching you..."
Maya blushed, but dipped her head. "The. Best... Good night, Rarity."
Her work done, Rarity drew Maya into one more fierce hug. "You were made for greater things here. Never doubt that, my dear. And never doubt you've a friend always ready to catch you if you stumble."
Maya returned the embrace fiercely, throat catching at such unconditional support. For all the alien changes, this anchor of camaraderie made it feel truly possible she could rebuild an extraordinary new life.
With twin kisses on the cheek, mentor and student at last parted ways to let rest replenish their hungry souls. The future shimmered with promise when gifted givers uplifted as one.
Maya scurried home with a cheerful whistle on her lips. "I have this," she promised herself as she headed inside and locked the door behind her. She hadn't locked it before, but Ponyville didn't feel like a dangerous town. "I... probably don't need to lock it now even..." But she left it locked, retreating to her bed to collapse on it.
And face her first night of sleeping entirely on her own. "This is new..." Even home, she had slept with her family, then her college roomies, then back with her family. She had always been with someone. That building just had her, alone.
Maya curled up in her cozy bed, the unfamiliar silence settling heavily around her. How long had it been since she had truly slept alone without family, friends or even strangers just on the other side of a wall? The isolation felt strangely vulnerable after a life surrounded by kin and community.
She fluffed her pillow, seeking comfort from its plush softness. At least creating familiar furnishings had proven easy enough thanks to her emerging gifts. Surely that practice summoning indoor gardens had prepared her to conjure whatever creature comforts she craved?
Yet as Maya nestled under the covers, she realized no amount of magical greenery could replace living bonds that eased restless minds. Even the gentle croaking of frogs or chirping crickets refused to manifest at her silent behest.
With a discontented huff, she rolled over and stared out the open window instead. The twinkling stars over Ponyville soothed her somewhat, imaginings of the other villagers she had connected with thus far like Rarity, Pinkie and the flower mares wrapping around her heart.
She wasn't truly alone, not anymore. Just on her own, for the time. That independence was cause for celebration, not clutching fears of isolation! With a resolute nod, Maya affirmed her choice to believe in community carrying her through the voids yet echoing unfamiliar. She breathed deep of the fresh air carrying scents of friendship on its breeze and gradually surrendered to sleep's soft reknitting...
Maya opened her eyes to find pink. She blinked as the pink drew back into a face, Pinkie grinning at her. "I locked that door." She pointed at where the locked door had been.
"Morning!" Pinkie grabbed maya in a tight hug. "You felt like you needed a hug or three, so I stopped by."
Maya sat up onto her haunches even as several vines tickled at Pinkie. "You didn't say how you got in. I know I locked that door. Surrender your secrets, pink menace."
Pinkie squealed and giggled, wriggling at the tickles but looking only amused by it. "Stop it! I'll talk! I'll talk."
Maya let up with a nod. "So, talk. How?" She peeked past Pinkie. The door was closed and looked unharmed.
"Chimney."
Maya frowned. "I don't have a chimney."
"Oh, right." Pinkie tapped at her chin softly. "Look, earth pony magic." She pointed at one of Maya's glowing hooves. "You can make plans grow. I end up in places ponies don't expect me. Same thing."
Maya's eyes narrowed, not quite buying the too-convenient comparison. "So...you're saying you appearing uninvited inside my locked home is just your...special talent?"
She folded her forelegs skeptically. Pinkie's permanent smile managed to look a little sheepish.
"Welllll when you put it like that, it sounds kinda bad! But I really DID feel a big ol' wave of lonely sads from here and just had to rush over to help!"
Pinkie suddenly gasped, face lighting up. "Waitwaitwait - can YOU sense feelings with your earth magic too?? Is THAT why you're so amazingly awesome at hugs and helping ponies?"
She began rapidly prodding various parts of Maya's body as if searching for an emotion antenna. "C'mooon, you gotta tell me all your magical secrets!" she begged with a winsome grin.
Maya swatted the probing hooves away, unable to hold back an amused smile herself. She supposed that boundless enthusiasm and brazen boundary pushing came from a place of care.
"Alright alright, enough guessing," she chuckled. "I can't just magically...detect feelings. But I did train for years to understand minds and trauma so I could help."
Maya took Pinkie's hoof gently. "So try to trust that I appreciate you caring, but won't always need bursting in on, okay?" She hesitated, then pulled her into a fierce hug. "But for today...thank you. This helps."
Sometimes, one just had to embrace Hurricane Pinkie's unique rhythms. And for now, the sunlight streaming around that fluffy pink mane soothed lingering alone-ness. Maya sighed, willing vines to brew them some nice chamomile tea for a slow morning's communion.
Pinkie watched the vines work with an impressed Ooo of a noise. "That is very neat, not gonna lie." She bounced around the vines as they began to waft with the scents of tea. "Very earth pony, I approve. I bet Maud would love it too. Have you met her?"
"I have not?" Maya offered a cup to Pinkie and held one for herself. "Are they a friend of yours?"
"Sister, like a friend, but better!" Pinkie sipped the tea, then chugged it down, ignoring its heat. "Mmm, good! I'll send her by later, okay? She's hard for a lot of ponies to get a read on, but that's your specialty, right? I bet you'll see through her if you try."
"Your...sister." Maya eyed Pinkie uncertainly as she sipped her own still-steaming tea. Given this pony's peculiarities, what might her relative be like? Some manic force of chaos unleashed?
"Well...I suppose meeting more of Ponyville's residents would be worthwhile," Maya said evenly, not wanting to risk offending Pinkie by expressing reluctance. "Does your sister also have unusually 'energetic' talents like you seem to?"
Pinkie snickered. "Nah, Maud couldn't bounce to save her life! She's super duper laid-back and monotone about pretty much everything. Ponies sometimes think she's emotionless but that's just 'cause they don't get her subtle signals."
She loudly slurped the rest of her drink. "She's an expert on rocks - moved out of the Pie family rock farm and lives close by in her personal cave."
Maya wasn't sure an introverted rock farmer would have much interest in befriending Ponyville's resident counselor. Then again, monotone? Hard to read? Emotionless even? "Is your sister... autistic?"
Pinkie blinked softly. "I have no idea what that is, but if it's a good thing, then yes." She put the cup down. "I gotta go. Somepony has to bake things up, and that somepony is me." She pointed at herself, then dashed for the door. To her small credit, she unlocked it before charging through it. "Bye!" She waved energetically, vanishing towards Sugarcube Corner.
That left Maya to consider the day. "First step..." She grabbed a board and a marker and began to scribble, writing up the prices she'd work with. "Luxury... Luxury... Wow." She rubbed at her cheek. "I thought I'd be offering the opposite of that... They look so happy, but they have no one to talk to about these things?"
She folded her arms with a soft hum. "I didn't ask for this, but maybe that's why I'm here at all. They need a friendly ear." She smiled, sinking to her haunches. "--and I have two. Ponyville, prepare to be listened to!"