Separate from the palace proper, just inside the royal gardens stood a mid-sized building that, by most standards, demanded little notice. A simple structure, it had only one floor of rectangular shape, but high ceilings with many windows along each side to let in natural light. Inside were rows of beds and sitting pillows for visitors to rest, relax, and utilize the unique services offered by the ponies who worked there.
The hospitals of Canterlot are where ponies with injuries of legs, wings, or body would find relief, but here in Heart Healer Hall, ponies could seek comfort of the heart and of the mind. Between drop-ins and overnight patients, the hall could accommodate perhaps twenty ponies at once, though most days they saw barely half that many.
Besides hall duties, healers answered requests to assist with negotiations, provide consultation, or promote general well-being. Despite the busy and sometimes brutal nature of their work, each found joy in using their talents to make Equestria a better and brighter place for everypony, every day.
Well, almost every day.
Sitting with her snout resting flatly on a desk, lay an icy-white pegasus with her bright green hair tied into braids. Her hooves lay drooped in the most undignified manner to her sides as she studied the dust motes riding the early afternoon sunbeams that shone through the wide open windows. The day was more than half-over with no patients, no walk-ins, no requests of any kind. Winter Willow was bored.
*SIGH*
Without lifting her head from the table, she turned to see the other healers taking full advantage of the lull to catch up on some reading, have casual conversations, or prepare beds and supplies for when they’d next be needed. For a moment, Willow considered joining them, but instead flopped to the floor, kicking her legs weakly in a faux tantrum.
“Uuuuuuuugh!” she complained aloud. From behind, somepony giggled lightly in response.
Lying on her back and lacking the strength to do much else, she traced the pattern of the wood grain in the closest ceiling support beam. Normally, she had very little time to devote to personal tasks and projects, but now that she did, she couldn’t find the motivation. Instead she spent her energy lamenting how quiet things were and grumbling to herself.
If something doesn’t happen soon I swear I’m going to…
Suddenly, she rolled upright and raised her head; her ears snapping to attention. Somepony was coming. Somepony special.
Willow smiled.
Her reaction hadn’t gone unnoticed; so well did they know their capricious leader that Willow was barely half-way through the window before Inner Light yelled, “Use the door!” to which Willow unapologetically shouted back, “Sorry!”
Landing in the soft grass outside, Willow took a moment to orient herself and then, like an arrow, took flight.
**********
It was only moments before Willow saw Rose making her way through the garden. Even at this distance, Willow could feel Rose’s heart wrapping around her like a warm embrace. Unable to contain herself anymore, she shouted:
“Rose!”
In one motion, Rose looked skyward and braced for impact, but Willow halted mid-pounce when a nearby garden statue turned it’s piercing blue eyes up to stare directly at her. Startled, she dropped to the ground and crossed the rest of the distance on hoof.
Willow walked close, studying the non-statue, while the non-statue studied her back. Their gaze was only broken when Rose leaned close to share a muzzle-nuzzle with Willow. On contact, Rose’s heart came sharply into focus: some images of the mountains and the white pony followed by sensations of confusion. She’d found the pony on her trip and didn’t know what to do with her… A fleeting splash of color, ice-blue and then brown along with a sense of urgency. And she’s worried about her flowers.
Willow broke contact and grinned at her; Rose smiled back knowing that she’d been understood.
Willow turned to the white pony. “Hello. My name is Winter Willow. I’m pleased to meet you.”
The white pony had been watching them with a bemused expression, but brightened upon being spoken to. “Hello!” she said. “It’s beautiful here,” she added, glancing towards the garden.
Willow’s eyes widened slightly and her wings quivered in excitement. Everything about this pony was strange. From her coloration, to the missing cutie mark, to the lack of proper social skills; she was quite a mystery.
The pony was acting like one who’d taken a blow to the head, but there were no signs of injury. Instead, her condition must have been caused by emotional trauma. But if that were the case, she’d buried or forgotten it as Willow could sense nothing of the sort. If anything, “miss statue” had a foal-like quality about her. She was easily distracted and seemed to take joy in everything and everypony she encountered.
As Willow played with various scenarios in her head, she felt Rose’s urgency increase. A quick glance confirmed it; Rose was silently pleading for escape.
Turning back to the white pony, she said “Rose harvested some rare flowers with very particular needs and must tend to them. But I’d love to chat with you a while and introduce you to my friends if that’s alright.”
“I’d love to” she replied excitedly.
“Wonderful! It’s just this way,” Willow said turning towards the hall. “Thanks for bringing her Rose”.
The white pony, already walking to Willow’s side, absently turned to Rose as well. “Thank you Rose Petal! Have fun with your flowers”.
Relieved, Rose smiled and simply said, “goodbye!” as she walked away.
Willow and her new companion strolled to the hall’s entrance where two curious healers had opened the door to watch. The white pony smiled at them as her heart whispered of wonder and adventure. Willow also smiled while silently thanking Rose for breaking the tedium of her day.
**************
Vexing. Annoying. Frustrating!
Willlow was irritated.
The white pony was perfectly happy to openly chat with anypony who wanted to talk to her. Willow took advantage of her willingness to pair her with each healer, one at a time. They asked simple questions, trying to feel her out for what lay underneath the surface, but when they stepped aside to report their findings in hushed tones, each said the same thing: “well… she’s nice?”
They still knew nothing of her past, her situation, or even her name. What in Equestria am I going to do with her!? Willow wondered.
FEAR
Willow snapped to attention and studied the white mare. “How are you feeling?” she asked.
“I’m… hungry” she replied haltingly. She looked confused, but before Willow could chase the sensation, it subsided. The white mare’s face cleared and the emotion was gone. But there was no mistaking it, no matter how brief, this pony was afraid of something.
Willow closed her eyes and mentally held the remaining fragments of the emotional burst. She turned it over, pushed and pulled it… trying to get a sense of its “scent”. As she did, a certain pony’s face kept popping into her head and, though she tried to brush it off, it stubbornly fought its way back.
“Oh!” Willow exclaimed, opening her eyes and grinning broadly.
Inner Light who was in the middle of a second attempt with the mystery patient turned to Willow. “What is it?”
“We should go get some food!” she responded excitedly. Then, walking slightly toward the door and turning to the white mare, she said “I’d like to take you to Artisan Square to meet an… ah… acquaintance of mine. We should be able to get dinner there as well.”
Her eyes brightened as she responded, “that sounds fun!” She was already walking to Willow’s side as Inner Light, looking comically constipated finally put the pieces together.
“Wait… Wait! You can’t mean…”
Willow giggled as she kicked the entrance door shut behind them, cutting off the argument she knew was coming. As usual, the white mare seemed amused by the interaction, but said nothing.
“Shall we go?” Willow asked.
“Yes” came the cheerful reply.
