As I once heard in a joke, there are two nutjobs in a psychiatrist’s office and only one of them is certified.
Future Pages knocked on the door and stepped into the small office. The young grey earth pony stallion with the blond mane looked up and smiled at him nervously.
“Doctor Terastari, I presume?” Pages trotted over to the small couch at the side of the room and sat down.
“Oh, please just call me Tarascha. Everypony does.”
“Very well, Tarascha. It’s a nice office you have here.” He looked around the room.
“T-thank you. I’m hoping that I’ll be able to afford it long-term.” Tarascha paused, creating an awkward silence, though Pages didn’t seem to notice. “So, uhm… You are here for therapy, yes?”
“Oh, not at all, actually.” Pages shook his head, smiling. “I still feel quite sane, thank you. The truth is that I am here to talk to you.”
“Talk to me? I’m not sure if I follow… Are you from the Guard? Did something happen?” Tara raised an eyebrow.
“Oh no, don’t worry.” Pages waved off, chuckling. “You see, I am a chronicler. I talk to ponies to hear their stories. I would like to hear about you.”
“Me? Oh my, I don’t think there’s anything interesting to hear…” Tarascha looked down in embarrassment. “I’m nopony special.”
“Please, if there’s one thing I’ve learned it’s that everypony has a story. I heard that you just started this office… What did you do before you started to give therapy?”
“Oh, I’ve been travelling a little after graduation. I needed to get away from Canterlot, for… personal reasons. I’d rather not talk about that.”
“Oh, I can understand that. But you said you went travelling, I’d love to hear more about that.” Pages leaned forward excitedly.
“Well… It wasn’t all that interesting. Me and a friend travelled together for a while. Eventually I went back to Canterlot while she kept travelling…” He trailed of and looked into the distance, muttering. “I wonder where she is now…”
“A friend you say? Tell me about her.”
“Oh, where to start.” A happy grin appeared on his face. “She’s a wonderful mare. I-I mean, we’re only friends of course… She wouldn’t want to be with somepony like me.” His smile faded and he looked down again.
“Oh, she didn’t want to be your marefriend?” Pages gave him a sympathetic look.
“Well…” Tarascha rubbed his neck nervously. “She didn’t actually say that. I never asked her… But why would she want to? I’m just a good-for-nothing.”
“Is that what she said?”
“Well, no… If she heard me saying that she would just hit me over the head and tell me to stop being silly.” He looked down, smiling. “She would always do that. Sometimes she would tell me to stop being silly when I hadn’t said anything. She could notice when I was getting myself down before I did.”
Pages just nodded, watching and smiling.
“And I always managed to make her laugh. Half the time I didn’t even know what was so funny, but seeing her laugh…” Tarascha smiled, looking down. “But seeing her laugh like she did…” He trailed off.
“Well, this has been a few minutes and I’m paying for at least an hour…” Pages leaned back, smiling. “Please, tell me more.”
I haven’t been to Canterlot for some time. I hope Tarascha is okay. I wonder if he has reunited with his friend by now.
…Maybe I should see about another therapy session sometime.