Claire: The Love Doctor

It was a slow day in Hearthfire Jewelry. Though business had been booming for the past few days, this particular day was progressing slower than a snail on a treadmill. Claire welcomed the change. Sure, she loved the exposure and respect her finely crafted jewels were rightfully receiving, but on a hot summer's day such as this, it's better to just kick back and relax. Kick back, and re--

"CLAAIIRE!"

The store's entrance busted open as her close friend, Cotton Candy, came flying towards her at a ballistic speed.

"CLAAIIRE!" she shouted again, before soaring over the counter and crashing headlong into Claire. The two impacted and rebounded off the back wall. When Claire looked up from her new position on the floor, she found the light blue pony with seemingly edible pink and white hair standing over her.

"Sorry," apologized Candy, offering Claire a hoof up. "I tried telling mom I could walk, but she insisted I take the party cannon."

Clarity accepted the hoof and gracefully rose to her feet. The back of the store was now in some disarray, but with Candy around, disarray never lasts for long.

"I actually really need to talk to you about something," said Candy, all the while using her tape-measure to exactly realign the jewelry. "It's, well, it's about this colt I think I like..."

A magic aura surrounded the jewelry before suddenly floating them into their correct positions.

"You've come to the right place," Claire said, summoning Rarity's old fainting chair. "Tell me all about it, darling."

Candy, after closely double checking and readjusting some of their placements, rushed over and hopped into the chair for another one of their occasional, impromptu therapy sessions. Claire levitated her stool from behind the counter and seated herself beside Candy.

"Okay, so, there's this guy," Candy started, twiddling her hooves together. "And we've been friends for like, a super long time."

"T's already taken, Candy," Claire reminded her. Turquoise Blitz, Claire's green, half dragon brother, was a surprisingly desirable pony-dragon, sought after by blind blondes and rebellious royalty alike. Surprisingly, between the two, the blind blonde won out.

"No, no... I mean-- Wait. How'd you know I liked T?"

"Darling, please. Don't underestimate my sixth sense for romance. Now, a colt friend whom you've known a long while?"

Candy nodded her head, her face now blushed light-red. She placed one of her hoofs over her head to mask it.

"Yeah, a colt I've known for pretty much my whole life. We've been close for forever, best friends even! I always kinda liked him, but he had eyes for some-pony else, and they were such a good match, I didn't think I should interfere."

Candy stared up at the ceiling, lost in deep thought.

"But now..." Claire urged in her passive manner.

"But now," continued Candy. "After repeatedly breaking up and getting back together, I think he's starting to branch out. I see him and this other pony together sometimes, but I don't think he's really into it."

"So, you see this as an opportunity to catch Prism's attention," Claire inferred, tapping the bottom of her chin with her clawed hoof.

"Yeah! This could be my only chance to--" Candy stopped mid-sentence and stared at Claire with a puzzled look. "How do you do that?"

Claire gave her a confident chuckle.

"Sixth sense, darling," she repeated. "And as for your colt problem, everything should work out fine. Prism isn't totally dense, at least not when it comes to mares. Drop a few hints for him. He'll catch on."

To this, Candy leaped from the chair and wrapped Claire in a vice grip of a hug.

"Oh, thank you-thank you-thank you!" shouted Candy, shaking Claire left and right with each repetition. "Best pony-dragon-friend ever!"

With that, she shot out the door, returning only for a short second to stabilize a flower pot she left wobbling in her wake. Claire sighed with relief. Helping her friends was always a pleasure, something she inherited from her mother, but it could be quite draining at times, especially depending on the pony. With Candy's problem solved, she could finally relax and enjoy her simple workday.

"Hey-ya, Claire!" sounded a familiar, raw-country accent.

Del had trotted in while she was trying to rest her eyes. She didn't mind though.

"Del! What a pleasure to see you!" greeted Claire. "Do you require help putting together your latest masterpiece? If that's the case, you must let me contribute as more than just a back-up stove."

Del was an artist, and his cuisine, his masterpieces. He could transform any material into a delectable treat. Unfortunately, he could not transform a broken oven into a working one. Such was the case last Summer, during a cook-off between himself and a Canterlot chef. In the middle of the cook-off, the old Apple family stove-oven gave out on Del, and Claire had to debase herself as an oven/stove for the sake of her friend.

"Sure," began Del in a sarcastic tone. "So long as you don't go about punching anymore judges, I think I could make room for ya."

Claire smiled, recalling the memory. Any judge that would dare to give my friend a seven after embarrassing myself like that should know what's coming to them, she thought. Full disclosure though, the other two judges gave him tens. Del approached the counter.

"I do need help, but it's got nothin' to do with cooking."

"Oh, don't tell me," Claire interrupted. She scanned his face mercilessly with her intense, draconic eyes. She narrowed them, seemingly pinpointing an exact spot on his face like a detective who just discovered the final clue. Del remained comfortably still as she did this. He feared very little in Equestria, and of those things he feared dragons were not among them. Bats, though? Now those he found terrifying. Claire returned to her gentle gaze and proceeded to give her diagnosis.

"Mare problems, darling?" she questioned. Del nodded his head. The red fainting chair returned to the room, sweeping beneath Del's hooves and landing him back-first on the center of its fine padding. Claire assumed a therapist-like posture.

"Now, dear, what seems to be the problem?" she inquired. "A problem of love observed from a distance for many years, perhaps? If so, I have a solution all cooked up and ready to go for you."

"No, nothing like that," Del rejected. "Also, cooked up?"

Claire smiled wryly.

"Slip of the tongue, dear," she said. "Did not intend to make you 'Applalled'."

Del just stared back at her, an actual 'appalled' look on his face. Clarity cleared her throat awkwardly.

"I apologize," she conceded. "Please, continue."

"Well, it's about these two mares I like, but I'm stuck between; Amber Lily and Creme de la Creme," explained Del. "I met Creme first, thanks to you, catering for her father's dinner few years back. Sweetest, prettiest pony I'd ever met. The way she talked to me; she didn't seem to care where I was from, Canterlot or Ponyville! Then Annie introduced us to Amber and her little family a while back. She came right up to me and called me 'muscular', as well as... a few, other things. I never seen a pony be so forward..."

"These two are quite the opposites," Claire pointed out. "On the one hand, Creme. Descendent of a wealthy family and raised in Canterlot's high society. On the other, Amber. Raised in an orphanage and more inclined to 'forward' behavior, such as flirting and partying. Quite different indeed. I must commend you, Golden, for your diversity in tastes."

Del ignored the probably intentional pun and rested his hooves behind his head.

"I wouldn't say they're complete opposites," Del expanded. "They're alike in almost every way that matters to me. They're both kind, gentle, breathtakingly intelligent and fun as heck to be around. To be honest, I'm sorta surprised either of them would consider settlin' for a guy like me."

One of Claire's cheaper jewels floated out of its box and smacked Del across the head. He winced, more from the surprise than the pain.

"Don't underestimate yourself, Golden Delicious!" Her tone emulated that of Rarity's whenever she scolded Claire. "Self confidence is invaluable in starting any relationship! If you cannot respect yourself, no-pony will respect you in turn. Carry yourself with pride, Del, and you will be worthy of either of their affections."

"Right," said Del, taken somewhat aback. "Respect myself. Got it. But I'm still not sure who I should be respectin' myself for."

Claire placed a single claw against her chin.

"Amber or Creme..." she mused aloud. "Hm... Amber certainly shares your views about family, having adopted two of her fellow orphans. But Creme has a genuine fascination with rural farm-life, which balances your fascination with Canterlot's high society. Although, Red June is dating Valiant Heart, which is similar to your dynamic with Creme. However, by that same token, Amber and Valiant are both Crystal ponies, so either relationship is at least somewhat redundant. Maybe--"

When she looked back down, she realized she'd been talking to an empty chair.

"Sorry, but I'm gonna get goin'," he cried from the door. "If I wanted to talk about matching ponies up like that, I'd just ask Api. Thanks for everythin' else though!"

He exited, leaving behind a fuming Claire. She checked the clock hanging behind her. Only one O'clock. After letting out a defeated sigh, she descended from her seat and laid herself down on the fainting chair. The day was proving more taxing than a usual workday. She placed one of her hoof-claws over her head and closed her eyes. The sun's warm glow shone through the glass windows, affording her some comfort on this tiring day. As she felt her muscles slowly relax, the warmth suddenly vanished and in its place stood a cold shadow. Claire lifted herself up and looked to the door.

"Uh... I'm not interrupting anything, am I?" questioned Whirlwind, now walking into the store. Claire let out a silent sigh.

"No," she responded with a grin. "Not at all. How can I help you?"