Saving Pinkamena

A chapter a day keeps the Flim Flam brothers away.

Dear Diary,

We've not known each other long, you and I. We haven't taken the time to get to know each other, but seeing as you're not the talkative type, you probably won't mind hearing about me.

My name is Deekin... Or, at least, that's what I tell everypony else. You can call me Heartmender, though. That's my real name. I was actually named by my mother after my own cutie mark. That's right; I was born with my cutie mark already branded on my flank, and my mother always thought it meant that my special talent must be something really special. She was right, but unfortunately, she was the the only pony who was able to see that. All the other foals made fun of me for it, and I even cried myself to sleep sometimes because they hurt my feelings so much.

My special talent is reading the hearts of other ponies, and my cutie mark is a big, hot pink heart. That's right. I'm a stallion with a giant pink heart on his flank! It doesn't seem like something that would go along with a well built chestnut brown stallion with a chocolate mane, does it? What's worse is that I have pink eyes. I'm glad you're not able to laugh at me for it. Everypony else does.

I needed a diary, really. I love to listen to the thoughts of others, but it's nice to have somepony or something that listens without talking back. Ponies can't tell at first sight that I'm actually a very accomplished, miracle working therapist, but I am. In only four months of being in the field, I've volunteered and successfully brought remedy to two ponies in particular that both seemed as though they could never be helped. The first was a stallion who was obsessed with bathing in jelly. I'll have you know that I'm a very accepting pony. I believe that mares can like mares, and ponies can be physically attracted to all kinds of things, but... Jelly? I wouldn't believed it if I hadn't been there to see him wallowing in a tub of grape jelly with his hooves pulled up to his chin like a bunny, and the stupidest of grins on his face. I didn't entirely cure him; I introduced him to the wonders of toast, and now he at least spends more time eating jelly than wallowing in it. I hope he doesn't contract some disease from consuming so much sugar.

The second pony was a nervous young filly who had a teririble habit of chewing her hooves. The poor girl; she couldn't help it. If somepony wasn't there to stop her at all times, she would end up chewing past the quick until she bled and cried. As it turned out, she just needed some encouragement from me to accept some encouragement from her parents. It only took a week to get her on the right path, and within a month of speaking to her, that filly got her cutie mark, and she was a dancer. I gave her a gift that I myself was never allowed to have: Something that made ponies like her, and something that provoked admiration in lieu of derision.

This is why I have the job that I do, my ever silent diary. I like to see other ponies happy, and I'll do anything to make another pony's life better. I only have purpose so long as other ponies need me.

Pardon my abrupt leave, diary, but I've only just now received a letter regarding my volunteer application for a certain pink mare, and I'm eager to learn what is so "extreme" about this mare.

Thanks for listening when nopony else would.

Heartmender

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Heartmender's magic quickly snapped close the brass clip over his diary and slid it into his upper desk drawer, and the drawer slid shut. Now a thrice-folded parchment with bold text hovered in the air where his diary had only moments before. It read:

Deekin,

the Asylum has received your volunteer application for our patient, and it is with great honor and reluctance that we would like to accept you into the rehabilitation plan. Our team has deemed it necessary to give you more details on her condition before you take the first step. Your progress as a therapist far exceeds that of what we would find impressive, but it is important that you understand what you will be dealing with.

The mare in question is named Pinkamena Dianne Pie. Pinkamena was admitted one year ago today, and has shown no signs of improvement. All administered medication has had no effect on her, and she shows intention of cooperating with any of the few ponies who are willing to evaluate her. We have enlisted the most accomplished and learned psychiatrists in Equestria to try their hoof at understanding her, but up until this point, everypony involved with her treatment has collectively concluded that she cannot be helped. Policies regarding patient confidentiality and the like prohibit the distribution of her specific condition with you, but we must assure you that they are like nothing we have ever seen.

We are reluctant to enlist such an inexperienced stallion as yourself, even if you are well accomplished. Still, if you feel you can keep your wits about you in the face of the most extreme case of psychosis that Equestria has ever seen, we are eager to collaborate with you in hopes of rehabilitating Pinkamena.

Doctor Winters

Heartmender smiled. He smiled just as hard as he had smiled in his first memory, one  in particular that he cherished above all others. If they think she's that hard of a nut to crack, then it's time to show the world what I can really do. So what if she was the worst case they had ever seen? Heartmender thought his arrogance to be justified. He was already a miracle worker, and although he suspected that his next patient may even be a murderer, he was not intimidated. How bad could she be?

Heartmender rose from his office chair, and his horn flared as the blinds of the windows let the light seep in that would illuminate his study. Heartmender was a stallion of simplicity; the only features of the room were his desk, an empty waste basket, and a simple book shelf that only had two items on it: A copy of Predictions and Prophecies, and a small bauble resembling a draconequus. Heartmender didn't know anything about the creature, but he knew that it must be interesting at least.

To the meeting with me!