Twilight flicked her ears in annoyance. She was unsatisfied by the selection of reading materials to say the least. Under-informed to downright fallacious magazines littered the small coffee table amidst several old and worn sitting mats. The so called geology magazine floating in front of her was a fine example of this. 'Diamond's Are Forever' indeed. That the issue was from several months ago was another agitator to her sensibilities.

The most infuriating thing of all: it was by choice. It must be seeing as the Mind Wellness Center of Ponyville never bothered to reply to her letters offering to update their stock of materials. She'd hoped she wouldn't endure it again after Rarity's sessions had come to a near end and she put the matter behind her after much coaxing from friend and assistant alike. However, it wasn't to be as she was once more here with poor reading material. Of course, she could have brought a book - as she'd started to while accompanying Rarity in months past - but this trip was hardly planned and so she was left adrift to the MWCP's whimsical reading choices.

Her short conversation with the yellow pelted pegasus receptionist about the matter came to an abrupt end when she succinctly asked Twilight - with flared wings - to take a seat and wait patiently. It seemed that she was high strung despite the calming ambiance in the form of soft music and potted flora. Disgruntled, Twilight had taken her seat once more. Why the ponies here would risk exposing nonsense and lies to patients already of mental frailty was nothing short of deliberate negligence. Clearly she would need to take matters into her own hooves to facilitate the proper diffusion of factual, and detailed, information in this institute.

The amusing imagery of digging out her black spandex suit - perfect for sneaking AND time travel - for a rather complex infiltration literature replacement job came to an end as Doctor Happy's door opened to produce the recently met mono-colored stallion. He was quickly followed by Doctor Happy herself, a mare with a fairly similar coloration as Cup Cake sans the swirling highlight and frosting like hair style.

Setting down the out-of-date geology magazine, Twilight stood to re-engage the most recent oddity Ponyville had provided for her. This one just happened to come with a Doctor staring at a patients haunch. Raising an eye brow she decided some gentle, if direct, social correction was needed, "See something you like Doctor?"

Happy Days snapped her head up and stared at Twilight before blinking rapidly and giving a startled shake of her muzzle, "What? No! I just.." Pausing for a moment the mind doctor gathered her thoughts quickly while John, looking confused, moved a few hoofs away from the two of them. "Good afternoon Twilight. I was just surprised that our new acquaintance here had no cutie mark."

"Really? We put that into the notes on the patient entry exam form. Wouldn't that come up in the session too?"

"Well, I got rather distracted truth be told. Still, it's certainly something I should have caught." The doctor glanced at John at the end of this statement as he interjected with 'Talent Mark'. "I'm sorry, what was that John?"

"Oh.. er... nothing actually." His mouth went into an uneven line as he looked to the side. Twilight stifled a giggle with a hoof at recalling his aversion to having something called "a cutie mark." Her attempts to explain the harmony magic behind the "rump tattoos" had been met with confusion but his cultural stumbling had been humorous.

"Alright then, lets go to the hospital and get you looked over." Happy nodded towards the clinics front door. She paused at the receptionists desk for a moment to deliver some instructions.

Twilight addressed John as he'd started moving towards Happy Days, "So, we're going to the hospital? That's a good sign at least. If things were bad it'd be the Pokey Oaks Asylum."

"Right, small blessings I suppose. Thank you for your assistance once more Ms. Twilight. I've appreciated all your help thus -"

Happy Days looked back before turning around in full, interrupting before John had the chance to continue, "We're going...? Well, certainly I was going to escort him to the hospital for a physical examination as well as an overnight committal. Seeing as he's unaware of our culture and he has no known family, I planned to have his medical matters turned over to the state."

Huh, Happy didn't want her helping with this? But this could be a case of more Everfree magic springing up! "After discussing his circumstances and how he woke up in the outskirts of the Everfree, he asked me for aid in case this difficulty was of a magical origin."

"Actually, I only asked if you knew of anything. You seemed rather quick to study my circumstances after that. Not that I mind but..." Neither mare paid John much attention over what Twilight felt was a minor correction at best. Asking about her knowledge of magic and asking her to investigate a magical infliction when she doesn't know were the same thing as far as she was concerned.

"Hmm... that's.. actually a good idea. Well, John," Happy turned away from her to regard MWCP's newest patient, "I have to confirm that you understand what Twilight being your escort means first." Ah, Twilight hadn't considered that actually. Did he know what it meant?

"That's just the person that's brought you to a clinic right?" Oh, so he really didn't know. Twilight guessed she shouldn't have been so quick with his admission forms then.

Happy gave the stallion a rather piteous look for his naivety., "No, no it's not hun. An escort is the mare that's leading the stallion around and one of the ones taking care of them. It's typically a mother, sister or spouse. Though in some instances a good friend can be used instead. Most importantly, in the medical field, the escort gains full disclosure of the patients medical results."

Twilight could see the gears turning behind his grey eyes as his mouth twitched in intervals. Finally, he settled on a grimace, "I.. see. And what about stallions that show up without an 'escort'?"

"It's not that common, but when that happens the family would need to request the records with official documentation at a later date unless they come with him to collect the results in person." Twilight watched as Happy waited patiently for the stallion to ask anything else. When no questions were presented and he retained the down turned corner in his mouth she continued, "So yes, being in the escort position is fairly important. Knowing this now, do you still wish for Twilight to be your escort?"

Thankfully, she was behind Happy Days so Twilight didn't need to be covert with her smile and nodding to the grey pony about his decision. She should have access to any information that could describe his condition to help her studies after all. She stopped though when Happy turned around to glance at her before going back to the stallions unsure expression. "Is Twilight indeed the local expert on magic and the Everfree like she said?"

"Of course I am! I've been studying the latent magic of the forest since I arrived. Along with friendship, harmony, transformation spells, Illusion mechanics, weather control, chaos magic, dragons, dragons, magical beasts and plants, time, enchantments, love, crystals, and- and... Hmm, I've been rather spread out these last couple years actually." Twilight had been rather busy in Ponyville with all the different things happening all the time. Her studies used to be a lot more focused and less sporadic. It was true she was learning a lot though so a broad education was hardly terrible. Still, she hadn't really noticed there had been so many varieties of issues nor that she hadn't been able to study any one of them nearly as extensively as she'd have liked.

Her train of thought guttered out allowing her to catch the last portion of what Happy was saying, "-pert on magic and the Everfree in Ponyville. Possibly even in Equestria."

"Then it only makes sense doesn't it? If it'll help me get better and she's so willing to take the time to study my case then it'd be foolish to turn down her expertise."

"Studying your case is partly what I'm worried about, but you're right." Twilight's ears folded back and her tail tucked a bit at hearing this. The insinuation was fairly clear. And here she'd been hoping the Ponyville residents had forgiven her for the other months cafe incident. Clopping her hooves together Doctor Happy moved towards the clinics exit once again beckoning the two of them to follow, "Lets get to the hospital before the night time drizzle hits hmm?"

Thankfully, the check in process proved easier than the walk to the hospital. The two mares were, of course, on either side of John and staying a half length ahead as was polite when escorting a colt. However, John kept picking up his pace causing the two mares to speed up to keep ahead while leading him only for him to try speeding up again. This continued for a time before Doctor Happy asked if something was the matter. Apparently, he was just trying to walk alongside of them.

He looked a little perturbed after they'd explained it was the polite way to escort a stallion in public but the two walked on either side of him afterwards as he seemed more comfortable with that. Twilight felt it would be an interesting case study to see Equestrian culture laid bare for an adult with a non-normative expectation. But she also wondered how much his skewed mind and history would bias the work. It could reveal things about their culture that were taken for granted, but comparisons would be useless.

Shortly after arriving and Happy Days requested an examination, they were escorted down the hall by Nurse Tender Hoof. Twilight tried to distract herself away from the nurses well toned white posterior as he led the group to an examination room. The last thing she needed were her friends wheedling out her enjoyment of a nurses backside at the next slumber party. They'd become rather merciless with their teasing lately since each mare started venturing into the wonders of romance aside from Twilight and Fluttershy. It's not her fault the nurses blue soccer ball covered smock made him look approachable while giving that sexy nurse look by framing his butt.

As they reached a room with a peach earth pony mare in a doctors coat standing out front, Twilight repressed a gag. How did she not notice Tender was a unicorn with blue hair, a white pelt, and even unshorn fetlocks!? Oh gods, she was just attracted to a nurse version of her brother. Her horror only grew when she saw his muzzle was equally similar to a certain BBBFF. While Twilight was fending off the bad thoughts, the Nurse left and the Doctor - Just Fine - asked Happy a few questions about John's circumstances. John was gone but she supposed he was inside trying to find a way to be comfortable on the raised, hard, examination table. She wished him luck on that front.

Nodding to the both of them, soon the physician went inside as well. There was a moment of uncomfortable silence as the two sat staring at the exam room door under the overhead lights. Twilight looked around in a desperate search to remove the heart and hoof cutie marked nurse out of her head. The white light yellow walls covered with health announcement posters combined with a few nice paintings of meadows, rivers, and one little quiet cottage provided her some respite.

Thankfully, the silence didn't stretch on for very long before Happy Days broke it. "Now that we have a moment, I'd like to ask what your goals are. You don't plan on making him a test subject do you, Twilight?" Twilight was unamused by both the question and the flat stare she was receiving.

She rolled her eyes before replying to the obvious question, "Well, of course! I'll be running lots of tests as you need empirical data to form and disprove any hypothesis" Twilight nodded her head with a grin making a mental note to dust out her basement and get the incubator chamber ready for future petri dish samples. She quickly found herself looking at a stern stare from the older mare, "What?"

The mind healer stomped her hoof and looked irritated, "Twilight, didn't you learn your lesson after those invasive studies last month? I still see Mr. Jelly about his paranoia of free desserts!"

"It's not like that! I won't be doing any questionable pony experimenting. I'm going to start out with a typical brain scan along with taking biological samples to look for substances in his system." Pausing for a moment Twilight quickly realized what she'd just said, "Oh, speaking of. They could be digesting and voiding from his system now. Make sure the Doctor retains any samples she collects so I can check them as well. Time is of the essence with any chemicals the body can metabolize."

"That's... right, I'll let doctor Just Fine know." The mare seemed to hesitate for a moment before questioning her intentions once again, "Are you sure you won't take it too far? This case is a rather complicated one, and I'm not going to rule out magical interference, but if these false memories are indeed a product of his mind then I'm worried we could lose his current lucid state if he's not approached with care."

Twilight could understand the Doctor's concerns to be careful, rationally, but she was still rather upset by it. She'd learned her lesson about ethical experimentation and studies last month after all. Why didn't anyone believe that yet? She'd had to write and submit a thirty seven paged document outlying safe and acceptable practices for peer review even.

"Yes," was Twilight's admittedly petulant reply along with a frown and folded fore legs. She'd only been trying to figure out if ponies of the three tribes had different eating habits - she did and they do - and if so postulate why - part culture and part thaumatic evolution with an acceptable error margin for persona choices and cross cultural exposure- this would be so. It's not like they weren't eating out in public too, that's public domain right there! And they chose to eat the complementary dessert she'd brought them of their own free will. Everypony has a digestive tract, why did they care so much that theirs was being scanned and studied? This was about the advancement of knowledge and science!

Of course, after thirty seven pages she was now well aware where equestrian law and the Ethics Board for the Advancement of Knowledge felt she crossed the line. About when she listed specific personal information about their families in the observation and culture exposure charts and offering them food without getting consent over ingredients that were present for purposes other than strictly digestion.

"Well, I'm glad then. So, if his troubles did come from an outside source, what would be your guess? Do you think some plant or creature in the Everfree could be involved?" It was about time Happy Days differed her some much deserved respect. Twilight IS the foremost expert on the Everfree after all. With the possible exception of her exceptional zebra friend that lives there of course. Twilight should go and visit Zecora about this at some point actually.

"It's not entirely out of the question. There are several hallucinogenic plant species in the Everfree forest, though I've haven't seen any sign of one being able to make the delusions and altered perception induced by the plant become semi permanent on the subject." Letting her face go limp into a deadpan expression she added, "Of course, this is assuming he's not simply making this up. It didn't seem like he was, but I've become a little wary about masks these days."

"That's understandable considering..." Giving her a look, Twilight was glad the doctor disinclined to continue that line of thought. She didn't want to talk about the wedding fiasco again. "Well, I don't get that impression from him and it's difficult to imagine what he could gain from it. There's also the fact that he hasn't found his talent yet. In reality, I'm wondering if it's not a combination of things..."

That caught her interest. A combination of what exactly? "How do you mean?"

"I suppose you are legally allowed to know as his escort." Twilight did her best to ignore the disheartened sigh Happy let out. It wouldn't hurt her feelings if she didn't let it. She'd known for some time that the doctor didn't particularly care for her. Twilight recalled her from a couple classes she skipped ahead to back in Canterlot and at the time she was being some what of a... well, she could see now that she was a little stuck up and hurt others egos in her enthusiasm for success. The young Librarian was trying Pinkie's advice of being friendly - there was more but Twilight wasn't getting a trampoline - to get Happy to warm up to her. She wasn't getting verbally sniped at anymore so there had been improvement! She took this as a lesson in the importance of first impressions.

"Not having a mark of talent at his age is usually a sign of suppression. Usually it's due to pressures in a family and cultural setting. Such as being a dancer but never being allowed to dance would prevent you from being fulfilled," Twilight noted that someone had apparently been reading Autumn Leaf's penultimate drama, 'Stifling Spring' recently, "So, he could have been stifled in his environment growing up through expectations, punishment, coercion, or force."

"That would explain the lack of a cutie mark, but what about the... you know." She spun her hoof about her head to indicate what she meant.

"Right, that's where I'm wondering if some fantasies or delusions he held didn't get reinforced by something in the forest. I've never heard of a pony that's lucid but retains the memories born of their madness."

"Well, that makes sense. But even being stifled or contained, why would he conjure up an entire world of aliens to escape to? Wouldn't he just imagine being a pony with a different life?" Twilight could see the doctor was reaching at straws at this point, but she didn't blame the mare for it. The chaos of Ponyville oft defied rational sense. Twilight herself had been struggling with it for years in an ongoing battle for her own sanity. Talking to puddles of herself and worrying about magic kindergarten stood as shining examples.

"I can only assume the worst about his previous situation. No matter how careful you are, it's nigh impossible to escape growing up without getting some kind of blemish or scar. Especially colts, with how rambunctious they are. Yet, no matter how hard I looked, I didn't see a single one on him. Though, we won't know for sure until the doctor comes back from looking more thoroughly. Still, it's something to think about."

She hadn't thought to look for any scars but then surely he'd have some right? Even Twilight, living most of her life as a shut in book worm- as an academic she meant - had managed to hurt herself growing up before becoming an Element of Harmony. She idly rubbed near her right forehoof, feeling the small almost bubbly bit of flesh. She'd fallen asleep at her writing desk one night only to wake up with her essay on fire along with her hoof. It'd been over quickly and the doctors cleared up most of the damage but that little spot never truly healed. She made sure to have candle holders that secured the candles with long hallow stems after that. Then, there was also the long line on her belly from a library ladder with a splintered edge that she fell from.

"There was another matter actually." Happy Days continued only after Twilight made sure to signal her attention with a nod. Did Happy Days think she couldn't focus or something? "Did he happen to mention if he remembered his name being John Smith or did he get it some other way?"

"Actually, John Smith isn't in fact his name as far as he knows. It was rather odd but before introducing himself he asked if Zachery Richardson was a reasonable or strange name. I'm not sure what a Zachery is but clearly Richardson denotes being a son of a Richard, though I don't know what that could be either. It could obviously involve riches but then what is an 'ard' outside of a suffix for forming words? So real-" Twilight paused at hearing a polite cough coming from Happy Days, her musings coming to a halt.

Blushing a bit at her obvious lost train of thought, her ears folded back before finishing her answer, "Right. Well, after I told him it was unusual he said I could call him John Smith. I asked him about that first exchange - after I found out about his memory difficulties - and he stated he was trying to distance himself from the delusion by using a temporary and meaningless name until we found out his actual name."

"Oh... well, that's good and bad then. It's unfortunate that we don't have a name to work with while searching for his missing pony report but him taking initiative to move away from the false memories is-" Happy stopped mid sentence as a door opened behind Twilight. Turning around, the young librarian welcomed the coat wearing form of Just Fine as she exited the exam room with faint clops on the tiled floor.

Giving a nod to the two of them, the mare sat on her rump and flicked the orange mane she had pulled back in a ponytail to the other side of her wither. A check board was quickly removed from the side pocket of her coat and brought to bear. "The patient appears to be healthy overall. I took some blood to be tested so the results will be available in a couple days. I have him down for a stool and urine sample tonight, so they'll be tested later in the week too."

She hummed for a moment, "Lungs are good, musculature is typical for his age, good teeth, skin, frogs, and hooves. Though he mentioned the smells of everything around bothering him a lot, there was nothing wrong with his sniffer. I didn't find anything out of the ordinary."

Happy interjected with a query that had Twilight nodding to as well, "What about his ears doctor?"

"Oh they worked perfectly when I tested them like you asked. After flicking them a bit they twitched and, while it took some doing, I managed to get him to start using them. They seem to be working just fine at this point. He did say feeling them moving around was an odd experience though. Something about having ears with fixed positions before now. I asked him what he meant but he didn't elaborate." She raised a questioning eyebrow to the mind doctor at the end, clearly curious.

"Ahem, it's part of the reason the patient is seeing me. I'll explain some of the details after we've situated him here."

"Alright then. Hmm... I did look for scars but couldn't find any. Though I can't be certain as I wasn't able to fully complete the exam." The mare put the clipboard back into her white coat and stood up before the two of them.

This was supposed to be a full physical examination, and it sounded like it was. What else was there? Twilight asked her question aloud, curious about the answer.

"I wasn't able to perform an inspection of his testes, anus, or sheathe. By extension I couldn't perform a penile examination either." Twilight's mouth took on an O shape at this. She hadn't escorted a stallion to a doctors appointment just yet so somehow she'd forgotten their exams involved that sort of thing. It's not as though her own anus, labia, vestibule, and urethra weren't examined when she got a check up so she shouldn't be surprised. This was just a first time for her.

"Did John state any reason why? From what I know, it's not normally a problem right?" Twilight was having a hard time figuring out why such a basic anatomy exam would be problematic too. Those were all very important parts of the body and integral to a ponies health. Why would he avoid them being examined by the doctor?

Just Fine's ears slumped down as the mare glanced to the side, "He was against being exposed or examined in that area. I tried to reason with him about his personal health and how those body parts are natural but he was rather adamant. He seemed somewhat amiable to it at first and was even gearing up to let me inspect his anus and scrotum until I mentioned that he'd need to unsheathe his member for the penile exam and then he became rather difficult altogether saying his member wasn't coming out and he didn't feel he needed any of his lower orifices examined."

The doctor flicked her long well cared for tail from one side to the other in bafflement before continuing, "Normally this is a pretty straight forward portion of the exam. Stallions don't really have qualms with letting themselves out for a quick compliment or two, let alone a medical exam. The only time I had a problem like this before was coaxing an individual with a disfigurement to not feel ashamed of their body with a medical professional. But asking the patient about it, he didn't seem to be lying when he said it wasn't disfigured. Actually, that upset John more now that I think of it." She ended it all with a shrug of her withers.

"Well, if he's not comfortable unsheathing himself then it will need to wait until he's more comfortable. Anything else I should know? Thanks for viewing the patient on such short notice Just Fine." Happy Days gave Just Fine a smile, one of familiarity. Twilight wouldn't be surprised if they knew each other outside of work.

"Of course Happy. Happy to help." Just Fine winked at Happy's rolling eyes before she shook her head, "That covers it so far. We'll have to wait for the results to come back on the samples we're taking but he's-"

Seeing a good point to step in herself, Twilight interjected between the two doctors, "Speaking of samples Doctor, I would like it if you could have some of the samples you procure put to the side for my own testing." Seeing the mares raised eye brow she felt the need to elaborate, "I'm checking them for any signs of his problems being the result of magic. Specifically, magic from the Everfree forest."

Just Fine glanced questioningly to Happy Days who nodded in turn. Twilight wanted to be irritated at this but knew the sharing of medical waste was a cautiously controlled one. Before the conversation could continue, the three mares attention was grabbed by something else entirely.

"Holy shiT!" The sudden yell from the examination room startled the three mares, Twilight herself jumping at the sudden coarse language. Quickly, the two unicorns fumbled their magic around the double hinged door, trying to open it only to thwart each other as she tried to push it inwards and Happy outwards. In turn the two mares ended up in a heap on the floor of the examination room as they smacked into a still closed doorway after charging ahead.

"It's so big..." Hearing this confused voice of wonderment Twilight looked up to catch sight of the commotion. It was John with a measuring tape along with... littler John? Just what was he doing in here? She felt a blush start to develop on seeing his exposed self next to a measuring tape, but was otherwise confused. What was the problem that had him yelling? Didn't he have an aversion to being unsheathed? What was going on?

"Ahhh! What are you doing in here? Out! OUT!" The stallion contorted himself away from them turning his back and pulling the thin sheet on the nearby examination pad down to cover himself - clearly embarrassed - and started motioning at the doorway with his free fore hoof. Oh look, his ears work 'just fine' like the doctor Just Fine had said. Twilight decided she would need to remember that one for later use. And Dash had said she wasn't good at comedy! Ha, that's what Twilight said to that. Ha, Ha, Ha.

"Is everything alright, you cussed and yelled a moment ago?" Doctor Just asked from the hallway, looking at John over her and Happy's heap on the floor.

"No, no, I'm fine. Was just surprised a bit is all. Sorry for yelling. Just, please close the door." He had shifted his red faced gaze to the wall, not looking at the three of them. Or anything as Twilight saw his eyes were scrunched closed.

"Right, sorry for upsetting you John. Come on Twilight." Twilight felt Happy finally disentangle from her and back out of the room. She followed suit, giving a confused pardon before leaving the exam room. As she backed out she felt the cotton of Doctor Fine's coat brush past her and saw the peach pelted mare enter the examination room.

"What are- I meant you too!" John sounded a little high pitched and Twilight had given up trying to put sense to his distress.

"What? I need to finish the examin-," *swing* the snapping sound of a rubber hoof cover being pulled into place broke out of the doorway, just escaping the warble as the door continued to swing in and out several times. "-ine, just relax for a minute and-," *swing*, "- measuring tape over."

"I already said I wasn't doin-," *swing* Twilight could see the doctor with fore hooves covered in thin green rubber covers approaching a mortified John, "- it doesn't need to be checked!"

"Don't get cold hoo-," *swing*, "-ou already got it out to be looked over s-" the door ceased it's swinging at last.

Silence stretched outside the patient room as Twilight tried to process the casual strangeness that she just witnessed. She was so used to Pinkie's special brand of oddities that something realistic like an awkward patient examination gave her pause instead. What a life she lived if this is what confused her anymore instead of the emergency disguise mustaches hidden around town.

"Hmm, that was... unusual." A voice sounded out, dragging Twilight into conversation.

"Ya, it wasn't big at all..." Was Twilight's first response, trying to parse through the events in order of occurrence. Why had he yelled in the first place? The stallion had been wide eyed at himself... did he really think that he was well endowed? It couldn't have been even close the national average. She'd caught a glimpse at that measuring tape, somewhere around twenty-one to twenty-two centimeters give or take his positioning of the tape. It was below the national average of twenty-six and a quarter centimeters regardless. "He really is crazy if he thinks that's big."

"No, not that." A voice decided to intrude into her thoughts.

Snapped back to the world, she shifted her previously bemused gaze to Happy Days. "Huh?"

"It's fairly common for stallions to have an inflated ego about their 'size'," Happy emphasized the word by making quotes in the air with her hooves, "even if they're actually fairly small. It is an integral part of the male ego and few mares, family or herd, would cause them such emotional harm as to belittle it. It's also considered petty and cruel to hurt a mare by debasing her stallions confidence. So, attacks on their male ego are rare."

Twilight nodded along with the mind doctor, clapping a hoof on the floor in concurrence. "Ah, of course. The Short Sheath Syndrome. Well, did you mean how he dropped himself out?" She didn't see anything odd about it. After all, Spike did weird things with his body all the time. Like tasting his feet, eating his claw trimmings, and measuring how far he could spit - she cringed remembering that time - so Twilight just figured that's how guys were.

"Well, yes considering he did just wish to avoid it but more so on how embarrassed he was. It's like Doctor Fine said, most stallions are happy to show themselves off. Especially herdless stallions. It's their most prominent desirable sexual trait, aside from their broad frame and muzzle. Also, attracting mares increases their survival odds and general happiness due to social expectations so it's sound instinct."

"You didn't have to explain a stallions instincts, I happen to be an avid pony biology enthusiast after all. I've read through all of Cherry Marewin's collection on thaumatic evolutions along with Careful Look's investigations into the nature of instincts in Equu's different sapient beings." Twilight tilted her head up in pride at the end, happy that once again, being a well rounded student had been proven useful for everyday life.

"Then you'll agree that this was odd given how he was acting ashamed at his genitalia being exposed, especially amongst professionals. Hmm... that says some unsettling things about his past home life and may lend some credence to my fears." The pink maned mare looked away, putting a hoof below her chin, to stare at one of the many health advisory posters on the walls. Somehow, Twilight gathered she was more likely in thought than taking to heart the 'Have a Hay Day! For Your Health!' slogan from a poster on proper fiber intake.

"Are you sure it was shame? He just looked embarrassed to me. I know my brother felt embarrassed a few times when he 'showed off' without meaning too. Mostly cause it caused problems with all the mares in his classes." Twilight giggled while remembering times with her brother coming home bearing saddle bags filled with Hearts and Hooves Day cards.

Being an aristocratic stallion with a direct line to the Princess through his sister, on top of being athletic and well built, left Shining flummoxed with his romantic life and trying to discern the earnest mares from the disingenuous ones. A little known fact is that he'd actually wanted to try and make it in the ECF (Equestrian Cavalry Forces) and aim for becoming a General - the first Stallion in centuries to do so - but decided to join the Royal Guards instead since it was a stallion only unit. After the worst of it during his senior year she didn't blame him.

Last she'd heard from him he was doing well in the ranks, despite his newest duties as a prince, and still loved the job, but now that he was older he regretted not being tougher and taking the dive into the ECF. Twilight agreed with their mom that this was a much better fit for him though. Neither had wanted to see him charging head first into any border skirmishes or Diamond Dog caves, let alone the 'civil incidents' that happen to ECF enlisted stallions when there were too many physically trained mares around and not enough over sight. Though given that he was married to a certain former bestest foalsitter she wondered just what his days were really like now.

Keeping a hoof to her chin, Doctor Happy waved off the idea with her free hoof. "Years of observing patients emotional and mental queues hones your skills at discerning these things. It was definitely shame."

Seeing an opening for a bit of wit Twilight committed to her jab with a small snort of amusement, "Oh? Keen observations like noticing what a patients cutie mark is hmmm?" She always enjoyed a good quip. The mind doctor looked fairly nonplussed about the comment. Hmm, perhaps back and forth witty remarks wasn't her thing.

Twilight shuffled her hooves nervously when Happy squared up her shoulders and looked steadily into her eyes. Did Twilight go too far? Was this one of those times where a verbal jab was more irritating then funny? She was still figuring that out! What made this too far? "Twilight, first, I want you to know that Rarity has been very happy with our meetings about her compulsive behavior and we're both glad you referred her to me. That said, you're more than welcome to come visit anytime life seems like it's just too hectic, alright?" Happy Days ended her message by raising a hoof and setting it upon Twilight's withers, giving her a gentle pat.

Glancing at the awkward hoof upon her, Twilight shifted her back legs uncomfortably. This wasn't the response she'd expected. "Well, I'm glad Rarity has been feeling better but I'm not sure what you're implying exact-"

"How is your schedule for today looking Twilight?" The other mare squeezed her withers at the end of the statement, gazing at her with an obscure expression. Was it condescending? Was it sympathy? Was it humor? WAS IT ALL OF THEM?!

That strange mark-less stallion had completely derailed her late afternoon plans! "No no no noo no nooo!" Twilight started shaking her head, backing away from the light blue doctor. With a forehoof brought to the base of her horn Twilight began running through the mental checklist of all the activities that had been waylaid by this development.

"I was supposed to pick up that outfit at Rarity's for tomorrow and recheck the reservations at Daisy's Basket along with ordering a cloud over Whitetail Pond and confirm the meeting time and place for the date with Applejack and Soarin and and - I don't have my list with me!" She didn't even have the list on her to confirm that she had remembered it all and - worst of all - she wasn't speaking in proper sentences anymore! This was a disaster AND a crime against Common Equish!

She'd need to run back to the library first to make sure her eidetic memory wasn't faulty from overlooking or failing to read part of the list. It was the only option. Golden Oaks should be closed by now so Spike could split up and do part of the work instead of cooking dinner too.

"Thanks for the help Twilight, and just remember that my doors are always-!" Twilight paid Doctor Happy little attention as she charged up a teleportation spell and vanished with a flash and pop. It was rude to teleport indoors, especially a hospital, but she'd need to hurry if she was ever going to recover her fumbled schedule!

She'd be mortified if her date tomorrow with Soarin and Applejack, after weeks of her friends convincing her to finally try dating and then setting it up with the Wonderbolt, went poorly and they thought she was uninterested, or ungrateful, or sloppy - or - or - worst yet: a slacker! She ignored the quiet voice in her mind that mentioned how Rainbow Dash and Soarin might actually like that development. That was one of many concerns she had that could wait awhile.

Author's Note

Thaumatic is a word Terry Pratchet uses to describe "things to do with magic" basically. A couple friends of mine are big on him, though I haven't read any of his works. Figured the word would do well here.

Not sure if anyone noticed, but I colored Happy Days after the logo of the show with the same name.

I'm not terribly satisfied with the dialogue of this chapter since these are well mannered and semi polite individuals so I found it difficult since their voices (modes of speaking) felt so similar in this mundane setting.