//------------------------------// // A Solution // Story: Wake Me Up // by Gumball2 //------------------------------// The hill was a nice place for a picnic. Pinkie had known it. Her friends had known it too. "So then I said 'Oatmeal, are you crazy?'" Pinkie joked. Everypony— including Pinkie herself— were in stitches. Laughter was always soothing and Pinkie never failed to bring it. "Oh Pinkie, you got us good there!" Dashie cried as she wiped a joyful tear from her eye. "You see! I told you I would make you laugh! Or I'm not Pinkamena Happy Pie!" "But isn't your middle name Diane?" Rarity asked. Pinkie's smile fell. Faster than Dashie when she whooshes, zooms, and tops it off with a Sonic Rainboom. "Oh..." Pinkie said. There was a brief pause before she opened her mouth, "I...forgot...." Pinkie tried to laugh, but she sounded like she was coughing up cake. "Yeah....I must have eaten too much cake too quickly.....Silly me!" But nopony was there to hear her. There was only white. Pinkamena's eyes flung open to reveal the dark ceiling she has seen every day for three months. Everything in the room was the same— the empty chairs beside her, the blank white wall before her, and the window on her right "Good morning Pinkamena," Smiley Bunch cheered as she came through the door. Before her was a tray that she levitated, "I have your breakfast." The nurse paused and waited for her patient to say something. She didn't. Again. It wasn't as if her face was smothered by her pillow. In fact, her face was visible on that morning. Smiley Bunch waited a whole minute before serving Pinkamena the tray. "Did you sleep well?" Smiley Bunch asked as she gave Pinkamena a smile. But as foreshadowed by the tear-stained cheeks and lifeless eyes, one would never be returned. "Is there something cool and awesome you wanna talk about?" Some would say that she should have known better than to try, but she stayed anyway. Rather than going to the door, Smiley Bunch sat in one of the vacant chairs and watched Pinkamena. At first, the nurse hoped that she would say anything. But even Pinkamena's breathing was silent. She hoped that she would eat her breakfast. But Pinkamena's muscles were tired, even after a night's rest. "Is there anything you need at all?" It was as if the nurse was talking to a wall— nothing. Although Pinkamena's eyes were facing the other side of the room— not too far from where Smiley Bunch was standing-- telling whether or not they were focused was impossible. But even with the sad sight, the nurse gave a beaming grin. "If you need anything," she said— again—, "just push the button." Goodtalk was sorting through her papers—notes, reports, and other documents— when her door opened. The mare looked up and saw Cloudy and Igneous Pie. "You wanted to see us?" Cloudy asked. Goodtalk nodded. "Yes," she said before pointing her hoof at two chairs, "sit down." The two ponies found themselves in the chairs before directing their attention at Goodtalk. "Now," Goodtalk started, "I have been observing your daughter every day for over two months, expecting for her to become happier. And...." The mare paused, looking at the staring parents before her, before continuing. "there has been little progress.... Yes... it's about time I admitted it. I know it's not something you would want to hear from someone like me, but I cannot be in denial forever.... I have been trying to do what I can to help Pinkamena overcome her depression, but her fantasy world continues to act as a roadblock. She refuses to accept reality." Goodtalk paused to take a breath. "Well...we can keep trying," Cloudy said, "Igneous and I have visited her every day." Goodtalk remained silent as she listened to her. Afterward, she sighed. "There.......is a possible solution.......it would work, but I'm a little hesistant." Cloudy leaned in closer to Goodtalk. Her eyes widened as she hoofed the chair's handles. "What is it?" she demanded. The professional was anxious— her hooves twiddling together and her face tensing up— but she opened her mouth. "It's a memory removal spell. It's often used on war veterans with painful, traumatic memories but it can be just as useful on Pinkamena. We can customize it so that it only removes her memory of her coma dreams.... But...." Goodtalk stopped and rolled her lips inward. "I have always been skeptical about it. Although it's been proven to be successful, I feel like it's wrong to rob somepony of their memories. It's a part of who they are. Besides, it's good for someone to come to terms with something on their own. It's a good quality for someone to have...." The counselor grabbed a sheet of paper and handed it to Cloudy. "But....it's not my decision over whether or not she gets it. The patient has to sign this form, agreeing to accept the treatment." Cloudy stared at the form and all its information before looking back at Goodtalk. "If you don't agree with it, then why are you suggesting it?" she asked. "In most cases, I believe that the spell is too extreme, especially when counseling can help people recover.....but if there is little success, then progress can only be made by psychiatric means. And given that Pinkamena's depression is rooted in memories, I believe that eliminating them would assist her more than counseling ever could....I want Pinkamena to be happy again, and if push comes to shove, then I would go for it." Cloudy took another look at the paper and noticed a certain clause on the form. She read it over and an idea came to her head. "But......even though Pinkamena's an adult, she's never really matured because of the coma.....so.....could I sign it on her behalf?" Cloudy asked. Goodtalk shook her head. "I'm sorry, Mrs. Pie. Coma or not, she is a legal adult that is capable of making her own judgement. You can convince her to sign it, but you cannot do it for her." Cloudy was clearly shocked— as shown by her wide eyes. But she knew that nothing could have been done to change things. Taking the sheet, she stood up and faced the mare before her. "Well, thank you Dr. Goodtalk. We'll tell Pinkamena as soon as possible," Cloudy said. "Okay." Igneous got up shortly after and followed his wife out of the room.