Therapy with Twilight Sparkle

Twilight bit into her fourth cake and washed it down her throat with cocoa. It felt good. Her stomach was protesting and her taste buds were numb, but she payed them no mind. Everypony in Sugarcube was staring at her with a mix of fear and concern. Her mane was full of icing, her coat dirty from crumbs and spilled cocoa. A small cupcake was impaled on her horn. Her table was miraculously clean, courtesy of a cleaning spell she put around it. She didn't want to cause Mr and Ms Cake any trouble, after all. She just wanted to eat pastries and sweets. A lot of them.

Twilight started thinking about her other friends, what troubles they might be going through and how she should go and talk to them as soon as possible. She slapped herself and chomped down on an oversized bar of toffee. "Less thinking – more eating, Twilight". She was in no condition to resolve any more situations today, so she might as well enjoy herself.

Suddenly she heard a raspy bloodcurdling scream outside. "Seriously? Can't a mare have some peace today?" She jumped on her feet, nearly overturning the table, and was outside in a second. Her body was protesting such rough treatment, her gums ached and she felt like vomiting, but she felt like this was not just Rarity losing a ribbon. Especially since Rarity was definitely not in the mood for histrionics.

Cleaning herself with magic Twilight ran until she finally found the source of the scream. Thankfully, it was not too far away.Ponies were crowding the Ponyville square, loudly debating what was happening in front of them. The first important thing she saw was a completely silent Rainbow Dash squirming in Applejack's iron grip on the ground. One of her hooves was free and she was trying to throw Applejack off by hitting her in the head. The farmpony was successfully dodging. Scootaloo was standing between the fighting pair and the crowd, looking very confused, a small bloodstain on her cheek. Twilight also saw a familiar large pegasus lying on the ground. His right wing was twisted at an unnatural angle, his beige coat was matted with blood and his jaw was seemingly broken. A peaked cap and a small saddlebag were lying next to him on the ground.

Seeing enough, she cleared her throat and cast a spell. She felt magic leaving her horn and concentrating in her throat.

"BE STILL!" she boomed. She did not know how to use the Royal Canterlot Voice and this little actor spell was nowhere near as powerful but it did the trick. Ponies recoiled in fear, Applejack and Rainbow Dash broke away from each other. Rainbow took a look at her bloodied hooves. She let out the bloodcurdling scream again, recoiled and waved them in front of her as if trying to get away from them.

"Any medical specialists?" A few unsure hooves rose up in the crowd. Twilight gestured at the twitching stallion, "Give him first aid and get him to the hospital. Carefully." She then walked over to Applejack and Rainbow Dash, examining them. Applejack was fine, save for a few minor bruises. Rainbow Dash's hooves were cracked and bloodied and she was looking very light-headed.

"Rainbow! Can you tell me what the hay is going on around here?!"

Dash let out another, this time very weak, scream and fainted, dropping to the ground like a sack of potatoes.

Twilight turned towards her orange friend.

Applejack shrugged, "Ah was just running by, having made a delivery of treats when Ah saw RD and that poor fellow talkin' about something. Scoots was nearby listening to them. One moment Dash looked just fine and the next was trying to beat the life out of him. Ah got her off him as fast as Ah could and, well, ya know the rest."

Scootaloo started speaking, "I know about as much. RD was showing me some cool tricks and sport tips when this big guy showed up. They started talking about some boring adult stuff. I think he was stating something and Dash was replying, until his last sentence. That's when she flipped out and started beating him up. This is also where the blood on my cheek is from. Is something wrong with Rainbow, Twilight?"

Twilight Sparkle sighed, "Yes, Scootaloo. Something is. Are you feeling fine?"

"Yah, a little bit confused though. Are they both going to be fine? Should I go home now?"

"Yes, they will be fine" – she was slightly less sure than she wanted to be – "and yes, Scootaloo, you should go home now. If you feel bad about anything, visit me at once."

Looking up she saw the crowd staring at them. "What are you all still looking at? Does this look like a theater stage to you? Go do something productive!" Twilight yelled. She was a little more angry and annoyed than she should have been.

The crowd started dissipating.

With Applejack's help she got Rainbow Dash to the hospital. Her orange friend bid her farewell since she had work to do, but made Twilight promise she would tell her everything about RD once she got better.

Twilight walked into the hospital. First things first, she inquired about the state of the pegasus stallion and was relieved to hear that while he was in a pretty rough state, he was going to make a full recovery in the next few days. Handing over Rainbow Dash to the nurses, Twilight sat down to wait for their friend to recover.

An hour later Rainbow Dash came out. She was clean once again and her hooves were bandaged. She winced slightly with each step.

"Rainbow Dash, what in Equestria was going on back there?"

"I will tell you everything. Can we go somewhere quiet first?

Twilight wordlessly teleported them to her room in the castle. They settled down.

Finally, Rainbow started speaking.

"I have been hanging around with Scootaloo all day. I decided to show her some tricks and we went to the square for that. Then I heard my name get called out. I turn and see nopony other than Hoops. Despite being the bullying little prick he is, I decided to entertain him. After all, I don't hold grudges and everypony deserves a second chance. Besides, surely the years have taught him something, you can't stay a butthead forever.

So I ask him, "Whattup, Hoops, how is life?" and he shows me his cap saying that he is now a senior cloud production manager and was sent here to receive fresh information about Ponyville's cloud needs. So, he asks me how my life is. I told him that I was doing okay, just the usual weather-captaining, Equestria-saving and cider-drinking life of mine. Then I talk business and he writes it down. I was preparing to leave and then he suddenly stops me and asks, "How is your sex life? Still "doin' it" with that yellow klutz?". I politely tell him that my sex life is mighty fine and Fluttershy doesn't figure into it in any way. He continues, "Don't try to kid me, Rainbow Dash, I know how you have been looking at that grey idiot. You totally have the hots for her." So I tell him that first, Derpy is not an idiot and is just wall eyed, second, that my sex life should not concern his moronic mind since he was going to get none of my flank anyway and third, that he should really just scram and stop insulting my friends. I was already pretty pissed and my vision was starting to act a little funny, and I was going to put some distance between me and him. I was already unfurling my wings when he said "So, is that plucked orange kiwi your friend or your mate, heh, Dash?" Then it kind of all went dark and next thing I remember is trying to break free from AJ," her tone suddenly became a lot more worried, "Twilight, what is wrong with me? Please tell me. I nearly offed him."

"Have you had anything like this happen to you before?"

"No. I always had a little bit of an anger problem, but nothing I couldn't manage. It got slightly worse lately, since I have to act a lot less like me and a lot more professionally, unless I am in Ponyville. I can't even tell some high-profile jerkflank to piss off when I'm in Canterlot or Cloudsdale. Newspapers will be all over me. So, that's one of my ways to cool off gone. Still, I never exploded in anypony's face like this before. What do I do, Twilight?

"First of all, you shouldn't give a buck about the newspapers. If something helps you vent, do it. They write a lot of things about me as well. I stopped caring a long time ago. As for why you blew up, that guy was practically asking for it. I know you have a soft spot for every pony he mentioned. He probably intended to make you cry, but he apparently didn't know you very well.

Still, it wouldn't be a bad idea to get some therapy. All of us, mind you. Rarity got her heart in a knot as well. I still need to talk to our other friends about their issues. We should probably go to Mac and Shy first and then, if that's not enough, go visit a professional."

"That's a great idea, Twi." They both smiled.

Twilight dropped her smile. "Unfortunately, there is still one problem. You know, the one in the hospital with the dislocated jaw. Rainbow, I am afraid you will have to pay the hospital fee for him, along with some moral compensation. You are damn lucky he is not permanently injured or he could seriously press charges against you."

"Pfft, bits are not an issue."

"I know they are not. Just sad that you have to pay money to that flankhole after what he said to you. Ugh, my stomach hurts. RD, I'm tired, can you go now? I need sleep and some medicine."

"Sure thing, Twi, unless there is anything you need."

"No, Dash, you can go now." With those words she flew out.

Twilight rolled over. Her body was aching, her stomach was on fire, her horn fizzled and cracked for some reason. But worst of all were the thoughts on her mind.

I was too slow again. Dash nearly got herself into huge trouble. I just hope I won't be slow tomorrow.

Spike came over to her side. He carried a tray with two cups and a bowl sitting on it. The smaller cup contained a mixture, which she recognized by its smell as stomach medicine. The larger cup held inside heavily infused green tea. The bowl held some oak cookies. He placed them down near the bed. taking the smaller cup in his claw, he poured it into her mouth. Twilight winced but instantly felt a little bit better. She gave her horn a try. The teacup and the cookies levitated. She could use her magic again. After drinking the tea and eating the cookies, she drew Spike into a hug.

"I love you Spike. Thank you for brightening up this horrible day."

"I love you too Twilight." He cuddled closer to her and soon they were both asleep.