It was a cold, bright day, and Lily stood up from her much-enjoyed sleep in a tree. She had to go to some counseling or therapy session today, whatever, that damned Celestia could make her do whatever but Lily wouldn't enjoy it. Apparently the Princess had sentenced five of Equestria's most dangerous or mental inhabitants to a few therapy sessions, where they could hopefully be rehabilitated... or death. Not much of a big deal, but being half-Changeling was the only reason she was on the list. She couldn't control any form of transformation, and didn't eat love, she just looked much like some sort of young Queen Chrysalis without a horn. And Scootaloo's manestyle, in a murky aqua color. She tapped her holed legs and sighed, heading out to Ponyville.
~
Rainbreaker rose from her cot in a Manehattan jail cell. She hated therapy. She hated others. She hated everything, including her cheesy yellow mane and blue coat. She was a miscolored Pinkie knock-off; Rain had the bouncy mane and bright blue eyes, but she wasn't the right colors.
That, and she hated everything. No wonder she'd gone mad and attempted to slit her teacher's throat. Rrg. Now she was ordered by Celestia to go to some pathetic therapy session. No doubt filled with sadists and baby-stranglers. This was so not her day; she could tell by the look a police stallion gave her before opening the door and watching her trot out.
~
A light flash came from the inside of Zecora's hut. She stood back from her cauldron cautiously, then added a few more of her herbs. She then dipped a cup inside.
"My brew is done being prepared." She then stared at the murky liquid and cocked her head. "What have I forgotten to put in there?" She took a look around and saw a note nailed to her door.
Zecora, you are scheduled to meet with me and four others for a rehabilitation session today in Ponyville at 12. This is not an offense that you need rehabilitation, but rather an exercise for us to learn more about zebra magic. Thank you. She flipped the note over and stared at each side. There was no signature.
"I suppose I must put pause on my brew." She turned and smiled jokingly at the cauldron. "When I return, I shall deal with you."
~
Shakes 'N Quakes was doing her best at her talent: shaking. Her hooves were shaking, her tail was shaking; even her eyes darted nervously back and forth. Sitting in this room was making her soooooo anxious. She hoped the mental doctor's notes had gotten to the correct recipients for their therapy session today. Shakes had misread the letter and come at midnight instead of midday, and she was paying the ultimate price. Being alone in this room was not fun.
Her green coat shivered and twitched with her white mane, which hung down her face in long, uneven strands. She knew who was showing up. She was afraid of the other dangerous mares, and she closed her eyes tightly, whimpering.
"I-I won't survive this..."
~
Amber sighed and flipped another curl out of her face. "Buck this. I'm going home."
"Miss Darke, you cannot choose to ignore this session."
"Watch me, Celeste."
"It's Celestia to you. Princess Celestia."
"Alright, whatever. But I'm not going." The orange mare turned abruptly on her hoof to stare again at the stained glass images of Sombra in Celestia's castle. The haunting stare of her father only sent more shivers down her spine. "I'm not fit to be around others. I just want to go back to my home in the Everfree."
"I wish I could let you, Miss Darke. But I will have you there, regardless of what you believe you will do. No choice."
"Hey, wait a second, Miss! How about you take some sunshine and put it up your a-"
"Good bye, Amber." Suddenly the orange pony was seized by guards and dragged out.
~
In the large padded cell met five of Equestria's (not-so-) finest. Zecora, Rainbreaker, Lily, Shakes 'N Quakes, and the most notorious Amber. There was a large blackwood table in the center of the room with six chairs, and each of the five ponies was sitting in one. Zecora had Lily on her right, with Rain on her right, with Shakes on her right, and Amber to her right.
Rain was bouncing her mane unamused, much as she did when she was going to regret something. Lily was chatting non-stop about her dreams and what a wonderful day it was. Zecora was trying to meditate, but seemed a bit angered at Lily's endless talking. Shakes was just shaking, and Amber leaned back in her chair, resting her hooves on the table. Then, the door opened, and in came a light purple Unicorn. Amber fell off her seat in surprise, and Twilight instantly backed up a couple steps. It was obvious they were both surprised to see each other.
"Oh. Amber, I didn't expect to see you here. Well, I actually kind of did. But nonetheless, I suppose it just surprised me to see you here. Especially after your 'session' this morning with the Princess."
"Why the buck am I even here? I don't like you. I don't like anything. Hell, I don't like ME. But overall, I don't like therapy." Amber slammed her hoof down, and Rain turned across the table.
"Hey, me too."
"Nice." Amber hoofbumped her, then folded her arms again. Twilight seemed uneasy as she climbed into the only free seat, next to Amber.
"Erm, well. Thank you all for coming here today. Zecora, Rainbreaker, Lily, Shakes 'N Quakes." She hesitated and slightly flinched when the orange mare turned and gave her a look. Her look said I really don't like you. "Amber... well, today is day one of our therapy sessions. I hope you enjoy these next few weeks."
Everypony groaned. "Weeks?!"
"That's right. Weeks. It may take a while to.... adjust each of you to the real world. In the meantime, we'll be learning everything about each other! We'll be one big family!"
Everypony stared at her.
"What? I never said one big, HAPPY family."
Amber tipped her head back and laughed softly. "So, what's the plan, Sparkie? You gonna tell us what we did to deserve this? Make some tea and pretend we're as civilized as the great Twilicorn? Mm, perhaps you'll hook us up to electric chairs and probe inside our minds until the burning hurts."
"Uh, no. Role call."
"Well let's see. We've got the Wicked Witchie of the West," She motioned to each of the mares as she spoke, "A broken Changeling, a blonde icing spill, an emotional train wreck, aaaaaaaaaand a psychotic cannibal. Not to mention an over-friendly Alicorn Princess who thinks she'll be able to heal anypony. None of us can be fixed, Twilight. There's nothing to fix." Her eyes dilated, and she looked even more insane. "Questions?"
Twilight cleared her throat and checked the ponies and zebra off her list. "Zecora, Lily, Rainbreaker, Shakes 'N Quakes, and Amber. Everypony's here!"
Each mare gave out an unamused groan of agreement. Twilight turned to Zecora. "Tell me, why do you think you're here? You certainly don't belong here."
"I am confused as much as you. I was simply in my hut, preparing a brew. Then I saw a note upon my door, to show up here. I know not what for."
Twilight nodded and turned to Lily. "How about you, miss... Lily? You don't have any problems whatsoever."
"Well, being a Changeling and all, I guess it's because of my appearance that makes people afraid. Since I eat normal pony food though, and I can't change my appearance, I guess it was only my looks that I was outcast."
"Uh-huh. Rainbreaker?"
"I broke a pencil sharpener and took the blade out to try to kill my teacher." She shook her mane angrily. "I'm a ball of rage. I'll kill anything if I have the chance."
".... o-kaaaaaaaay. Shakes 'N Quakes?"
"I-I-I-I-I-I was s-sent here bec-c-cause my th-therapist said to."
"I was asking about your problem."
"Sh-sh-shaking."
"Aha. Amber? Please roll off your resumé for us."
The pumpkin-coloured mare tipped back in her seat and smiled. "Let's see. Daughter of Sombra, so I have indefinite control of crystals. Assassin, Platinum class. That means I can kill anypony I'm hired to, and unlike a First class, I'll be paid for any life taken in the crossfire. I've killed..." She rolled her eyes up to the ceiling as she thought, "Four hundred, seventy-three ponies in my lifetime. I was suicidal going through a phase, and I thoroughly despise Princesses. One last thing? I was only taken out of my life sentence to come here and be "rehabilitated". So that's that."
Everypony in the room was silent. Even Lily quit her endless talking to stare at her in utter shock. Amber simply laughed lowly and took out a fedora hat. She leaned further back in her seat and covered her face in her hat.
"Holy buck." Twilight spoke. Amber snarled at her.
"'Scuse me?"
"Four hundred seventy-three ponies?"
"Two zebras." Zecora looked up, shocked.
"W-Why?"
"I'm in rehabilitation for a reason, b!tch."
Everypony looked even more surprised. This mare really was hateful. Even more than Rainbreaker.
"But..."
"Two hundred and twelve stallions, one hundred ninety-nine mares, sixty-two foals, two zebras."
"....."
"You're a monster with your killing rage! Tell us, when did you start? What age?"
"I was five when I murdered my family." Her eyes gave off a cold hate. "Six when I couldn't stand the innocence anymore. It only took me a few months to master the technique.
"After all," she continued, "it was just too easy. I'd been to a very dangerous school, and bullied a lot. That was practice. Then I got into middle school, and high school, and almost half the school was missing once I left. I was caught in my senior year, but because I'm the daughter of Sombra and killing me would be declaring war on the Crystal Empire, I lived. But I was a prisoner in the Canterlot jail for quite a while. I still killed, and every couple ponies, my cell would be upgraded. Then Celestia heard about this tea party, and now I'm here."