Yes, come in my therapist. You have returned, despite the fight you were subjected to last night. I thank you for remaining loyal to me, although at this point, I wonder if I deserve it.
Yes please, sit down. Get yourself comfortable. I have a feeling this visit is going to be short, since it all depends on a few questions I have for you.
No, I don’t want to speak about last night. I have something else on my mind that I want to get out of the way first. I would like to talk to you about the future. Last night was eye opening, both for my sister and myself. I would love to believe my sister is going to think about what I said, but I doubt our confrontation is going to change anything. Even if my sister’s mind decided to ignite some sort of mental revolution, I do not know the extent with which my sister is going to change, if she even decides to. For all I know, she might be more hesitant to give me my duties back since I expressed rage like that in front of her.
I... don’t know what to make of last night. I thought I was going to meet you for another outside visit, but I instead met the one pony I didn’t want to. I could have endured a visit from Twilight Sparkle, because I could have hidden my rage with a simple congratulatory remark. But since it was my sister... hours after I heard of Twilight’s transformation and watched it from my balcony, I simply couldn’t take it anymore.
I bottled up those words for over a millenium. Ever since my imprisonment, those words were at their inception and only grew in intensity. You could say my vocabulary became sophisticated and colorful as I pondered new ways to express the myriad of feelings that swirled around in my chest. My words turned from hurtful to vitriolic, to the point where I wondered if venom became my second language. When I exploded, one single insult felt so relieving to me. It was like a huge weight was lifted from my shoulders. My mind felt clear... my shoulders relaxed in ways I never knew before. My migraine leaked out of my head. So I did it again... and again. I’ve never seen my sister cry before, but now I guess I can scratch that off of my bucket list, once I find that scroll again.
When I was done, nearly every cell of my body relaxed. I would have collapsed then and there if you weren’t standing there with me. My head felt like it was filled with clouds. I didn’t have to think about the slowly retreating memory of my imprisonment. I didn’t have to worry about everypony’s acceptance of me. Everyone loves my sister, way more than they love me. I didn’t have to care. I felt so relieved, and yet, so alone.
As I lay here on my bed, with you a few feet from me, my desire to get up has all but disintegrated. I just want to remain in my makeshift sanctuary, talk to you, and go to sleep when you leave. I want to disappear into the only kind of escapism my life has provided me: the dreams and happy thoughts of other ponies. Equestria prospered under my sister’s rule. If I laid in my bed and did nothing until my demise, it would be no different than the last thousand years. Plus, I can just pretend that I’m not myself. If I slip into enough dreams, maybe I can just... forget.
I know, Therapist. I shouldn’t be feeling this way. I hired you to avoid this. As cruel as it sounds, I wanted last night to be an eventual dump of my feelings onto you. You were no doubt trained to handle such emotional battles, so I thought if I could find some way to articulate my feelings to you without exploding, I wouldn’t have to endure a night like yesterday.
Let’s get back to the question. What do I think of last night? How do I feel about it? I feel relieved. My whole body is relieved and because of that, I’m exhausted. My muscles scream at me if I try to move. I want to sleep.
But, I know that I have duties. Maybe Celestia will wake up earlier than yesterday and raise the sun after I lower the moon. I can only hope that she does.
No, it’s fine. You don’t have to leave yet. There is one more thing I need to discuss with you, something I’m sure would help both of us if you accepted.
Twilight Sparkle has become a new Equestrian Princess. Despite the confrontation with my sister, I still promised that I was going to talk to Twilight’s friends about the dinner. My sister was right, it would be better if we talked to the rest of the Elements sooner rather than later. It gives us a higher chance of getting them to help with the dinner, and I’m sure that once one of them accepts, the rest of them will follow suit. Peer pressure works wonders that way, although I hope it does not have to come to that. I want them all to attend on their own volition.
This brings me to my first point. I would like you to become my new royal advisor. I feel you have given me more information about myself and my actions than any other pony in my life. You are a smart and insightful stallion and I believe you could help me with my royal decisions, if I actually decide to go back to the way things were. The salary you will be given will be double our therapy visits. All you have to do is provide your insight on my choices. So, what do you say? Do you wish to accept this job?
No? What do you mean, no?
That was rhetorical. I know what you mean by no. I’m asking... why? You won’t be doing anything different from your regular job. You will just be more available for me, and in turn, will be paid more as a result.
…
I see. I understand. If I was in your position, I wouldn’t take the job either. How ignorant of me to think I was the only pony you visited. Very well. I trust you will continue to visit me despite the fight I had with my sister and this isn’t your night of resignation?
Thank you. I don’t even think I’m ready to let you go anyway.
Now, let’s go back to the dinner. We need some kind of plan to get Twilight’s friends to come. I had an idea, and I wish to get your input on it.
I would really appreciate if you came with me to visit Twilight’s friends. I’m not sure if I will be able to completely persuade her friends, so I will need your help. The plan is simple. You come with me to all of their houses while pretending to be one of my bodyguards or my royal advisor. I will strike up a conversation with them. If I choose the correct words, we will probably be invited into their house for a drink or something along those lines. I’ll carry the conversation with the friend and you can simply apologize before you interject and provide your input when it is needed. I’ll think of some kind of signal I can give you when I think your input is needed, or you can simply interject when you think it is appropriate. I trust your judgment, and I can always remove you if you are a hindrance to the plan.
My apologies if that sounds rude. I’m just... testy. I can’t have anypony mess this up. So, what do you say? Would you like to help me with this?
Why not?
I’ll pay you extra. I’ll double the pay for every pony that agrees to this dinner. Even if you don’t help, but go with me, I’ll pay you. Is that what you want?
...
I can’t do this without you. I may have cut off my ties with my sister, but I keep my promises. There has to be some way that you can help.
No... that won’t work. You can’t hide in the bushes near their houses. The only reason that worked with Fluttershy’s house is because her house is more secluded than the others. You were able to hide in pitch black darkness with no lights illuminating you. Since I plan on visiting Twilight’s friends in the morning, I doubt you will be able to hide then. I saw some of the houses in Ponyville, but I simply cannot remember if most of them have bushes or not. What if there aren’t any? Where will you hide? And even if there are bushes outside every house, if somepony finds you hiding, then I might as well be imprisoned in the moon again. Your intrusion would be attributed to me, and the dinner might as well be catered by some regular Canterlot citizen. My task would be a failure and my promise broken.
Perhaps we can form a plan around some kind of spell. We both have unicorn horns, I’m sure we can come up with something. Bring me that spell book from my bookcase.
Thank you. Let’s see what kind of spells we could use from here. What kind of magic are you versed in?
Perfect, then perhaps we can pool our magic together in order to cast one of the more adept spells. Let’s start at the end of the book and work our way to the beginning.
Hmm... no. An invisibility spell can’t work. If you make a sound or someone bumps into you, there goes my cover.
As funny as it would be to turn you into a bush or piece of shrubbery, I’m not comfortable with this spell if we do it wrong.
Perhaps this spell can work. It’s a modification of the spell I used during my confrontation with Celestia.
It’s a powerful one. It connects our minds and allows us to share our thoughts and project them into each other’s heads. Distance doesn’t matter as long as the spell is in effect. This is the perfect spell. You can listen into the conversation and tell me what to say.
The spell isn’t that complicated. The only problem is that both of us need to cast it, since the spell is simply a one-way mind connection. I’ll cast it first, and then you can cast it after I test the spell out.
…
Can you hear me?
Perfect. Now, cast the spell yourself.
…
…
Good. Now our next step should be who to ask. I should talk to them in the morning. Even though it would be convenient for me to visit them during the night time, I doubt someone like Rarity or Rainbow Dash will be happy if I interrupt their sleep to ask them for an important favor. The least I can do is wait until the morning. Oh well, I guess that means I’m going to stay up all night again. I might as well, I doubt I was going to get any sleep tonight anyway.
Perhaps I should ask Fluttershy first. I’ve already gone sightseeing with her and I know where her house is. Since I’m her friend, she will probably be the easiest to persuade.
Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash are left. The only one I haven’t previously spoken to is Rainbow Dash. Applejack and Pinkie Pie will be easy to persuade. If I mention catering and Twilight, they will probably agree to the dinner immediately.
Rarity will be all too happy to decorate Canterlot. Perhaps if I pull some strings, I can get Hoity Toity to see Rarity’s work during the dinner, or a few photographers to publish her decorations in the Canterlot Calendar.
Rainbow Dash is going to be the hardest to persuade. The only reason she would want to go to the party is because of Twilight. But then again, perhaps that’s the only reason Rainbow needs. She is the Element of Loyalty after all.
Well, that settles it. We have a sound plan for tomorrow. Thank you my therapist, for agreeing to help me.
Oh, one more thing. I don’t approve of the method you used in order to get my sister and I to talk to each other. I’m not angry, I’ve gotten over it. But I just thought it would be a good idea to express my irritation. You pulled a move that reminded me of my sister. You tricked both her and myself into a confrontation, and I doubt you knew what would happen. We could have started a magic fight and you might have been hit in the crossfire. I could have transformed into Nightmare Moon in front of you. Your little letter trick was reckless, please do not do something like that ever again.
Thank you. I’ve broken the mind spell, since we don’t need to use it until the morning. As much as I would like to avoid the trouble of casting this spell again, I can’t say I trust having your thoughts inside of my head and vice versa. I’m sure we both want our privacy. We will establish our connection tomorrow.
Now, I’m going to need you to be completely awake tomorrow and in your right mind. I don’t think anything is going to happen to you during the time we are apart, but if this plan is going to work, I need you to be alert. I want you to be here bright and early tomorrow morning for the spell, but once it is cast, I will not need you to be in Canterlot afterwards. You can go home, go work with another patient, or stay here. I do not care, since I will not be here. As long as you can project your thoughts and listen to mine, then our plan will work. Have a good night my therapist. I’ll see you in the morning.
~
Good morning my therapist... thank you for being on time.
No, unfortunately my sister did not wake up earlier than usual, so I had to stay up the entire night. She probably left Canterlot to go talk to the other country leaders, so she is out of the way for today. I just want to get this over with.
I’ll cast the spell. Stay still.
…
Can you hear me?
Perfect.
…
Yes, I can hear you.
Perfect. Now, since I am going to Fluttershy’s house first, I’m going to need you to tell me if my words are a little more harsh than they should be. My last conversation with her during the sightseeing tour went well, but I did scare her accidentally due to a poor choice of words. Here is what I know about her. She is a shy pegasus pony. She loves animals, and is able to communicate with them. She’s fragile, at least, she seemed like it. My words dictated her mood, more than the usual pony.
Good, you are writing this down. Thank you my therapist. I’m off. I’ll speak to you when I reach Fluttershy’s house. Pay attention to my thoughts... okay?
Have a good morning.
~
Hello?
Hello Fluttershy. It is I, Princess Luna.
Oh, it is nice to see you again Luna. I didn’t think you would visit me for a while. Twilight said that Canterlot is a very busy city.
Are you there, Therapist?
Ah... yes. I’ve been busy with a lot of royal duties, but I did want to come and talk to you Fluttershy. May I come in?
Oh, yes of course.
Therapist... what are you doing?! Where are you?! Hello? ANSWER ME!