Deep's Office: Rainbow Dash
Every pony has this point in their life where they go mentally ill and need to visit a doctor like Deep. It is just one of those things if you live in a land like Equestria, where it is quite common a family member is gobbled up by a chimaera or another horrid creature. The most frequent cases though, are those with social issues. Everyday interaction, obsessions, temptations...
Deep probably knew most ponies in town. Button for video game addiction (no progress made so far), Fluttershy for stage freight, Berry Punch for her drinking problem, Early Stride for his approaching death... Past the pink bridge into town, left by the statue and then straight on until you pass Sugar Cube Corner. There, go to your left again. It was a small building with green windows. That's where you could find Dr Deep.
Opening the door was always the lovely mare Maranda. She was a rather young mare, earth pony. She had a light green coat. Her mane looked a smooth pink and always curled slightly to the left. She kept it short and neat. She had yellow eyes and a warm smile. Her cutie mark? A cup of coffee, as she was always ready to do everything a secretary or assistant does in the office. She was usually at her own little desk, with a square glassless window to the hallway, ready to meet clients as they came inside. Her office consisted of a small desk, a coffee machine and piles of paperwork for the stallion upstairs.
Past the grey carpeted staircase, a neat office was built. It contained a dark oak desk, carved from Everfree wood. A few bookcases were in the back. Instead of the overly jolly child's drawings one would expect in psychiatrist's room, the walls were a temperate purple. There resided Deep.
Dr Deep was a neat gentlecolt. He always wore the same red tie and when he went outside, he opted for a suit vest and a broad brimmed dark grey hat. He was a bit of a chubby unicorn. His coat was a light brown and his mane a neutral grey. His usually sparkling eyes carried grey purple irises. His cutie mark was an open book. If you would've asked him why it was so, he would simply answer,
"Because books, my friend, books are cute."
1. Meeting Miss Dash
It was a sunny day. As usual in Equestria, the weather ponies tried to postpone bad weather to a rainy season. Dr Deep preferred when the sun didn't shine so bright. He grumbled as he wiped the sweat from his brow and placed back his hat to ensure some shadow. He almost regretted not buying any sunglasses, but quickly reminded himself he needed class and neutrality not to make a negative impression on ponies.
His client's home was high up in the sky. Luckily, he had been promised a lift in a hot air balloon.
More hot air. Poxy!
He trotted over the road and watched the foals play in the field. He knew most of them by name.
Before the road split towards Froggy Bottom Bog, he noticed Twilight Sparkle running across the hilltops.
"Over here, Miss Sparkle," he called out.
She turned her head and sighed in relief. She descended from the hill. The purple princess of Friendship panted. Her mane was a mess. It had streaks of rainbow water through it. It looked like she had gotten some of it in her left eye, being red as it was.
Dr Deep had come as soon as he could. Most appointments took place at his office, but sometimes he was called out to visit homes.
Those were usually the heavier things.
"I came as soon as I got your message, Miss."
Twilight nodded thankfully, "The balloon is over the hill."
She looked over her shoulder, a worried expression on her face.
"We still have quite the way to fly though. We couldn't land it closer to town. I apologise for this little detour."
Dr Deep tipped his hat, "No problem, Miss, I can take a hike."
The two of them made their way to the balloon. A huge pink one. In the basket sat Spike the dragon, Twilight's personal purple assistant. He beckoned them to hurry. Deep hesitantly stepped into the basket. He had never been very confident about flying. He shook it off, he was not here to diagnose himself.
The trip through the air was smooth. As expected, the weather ponies hadn't organised any wind today. Dr Deep was not sure whether Rainbow Dash's home would have actual flooring. Pegasi did have a habit to live on clouds unicorns like Deep would fall through. Therefore, he had learned a spell to let him walk on clouds. It was a tough spell that cost him a lot of energy, but it was a great tool to talk to pegasi.
The balloon landed near a rainbow fountain. The side had been smashed and the nuzzle had been plugged. One of the first things the doctor noticed was how majestic the place was. The only encounters he had had with the mare owning the house were public performances and tomcoltish attitude displays in town square.
He was surprised how elegant and artistic the cloud building looked. It had puffy clouds, swirls in the shaded walls, rainbow fountains and cloud statues... A picture of what was going on started forming in Dr Deep's head. Spike stayed with the balloon when they went onto the platform.
"It was earlier this morning she had a little, uh, 'accident'," Twilight explained.
The well groomed stallion lifted an eyebrow, "By 'her' I assume you mean Miss Rainbow Dash?"
The princess nodded silently. They passed the first door and Dr Deep noticed the streaks of rainbow water covering the walls and the flooring. So Miss Dash had floors after all. He had to remember that.
He turned towards his guide, "Do you believe this incident was truly accidental?"
Twilight bit her lip, "Well, I can't be sure. I only saw part of it."
Deep stopped where he stood, prompting Twilight to stop as well.
"Yes, I agree," he replied, "But what do you believe?"
The alicorn shook her head, "I don't believe it was an accident."
The doctor nodded thankfully, "Thank you. Is there any reason why?"
She blinked with her hurt eye, "I've seen Rainbow fly so many times... I don't think she would make an error like this."
"Has she never crashed before?"
Twilight frowned in thought, "Well, of course I've seen her crash multiple times, but that's always when she's training. I've never seen her go down during casual flying before."
Dr Deep lifted his hat off his head using a yellow aura.
"Then why call upon me? Something could be wrong with her balance sensors, or her wing might be hurt... I do not see why one would get a psychiatrist."
The mare nodded, then seemed to hesitate to speak up.
Eventually, she looked up at him and said, "She didn't even try to get out of the fountain drain herself, and now..."
She paused and looked around again, as if checking for eavesdroppers, "She seems depressed."
After those words, it appeared she had nothing more to say.
Deep nodded and gave her a warm smile, "Thank you, Miss Sparkle. Is she in her bedroom right now?"
The princess shook her head, "No, she's in her bathroom. Fluttershy is trying to clean her coat and mane from the rainbow."
"So I assume I should wait in the hallway? It is inappropriate to enter an occupied bathroom after all."
Twilight pointed him to the living room, "It's a bit uncomfy in the hallway, so I guess you should wait in the living room instead."
Deep nodded and proceeded onwards. It was a pretty room. The walls and floor were light blue. It was one of the rooms with no clouds for walls. A staircase went up next to the hall door. There was a couch near the window with red cushions. A few things were lying around on the floor. A ball and some clothing. There was a head display with a golden crown on it, large wings on the sides.
Dr Deep had never thought of Rainbow Dash as a fashionable pony, but seeing her taste for clothing added to the picture he was forming in his mind. He sat down on the floor, since it seemed inappropriate to use the couch without Miss Dash's consent.
He noticed there were no spots of water here, so he guessed they hadn't been in here since the incident. He held up his hat next to him with magic as he looked around. The room was a lot cooler than the outside and he enjoyed the fresh air ventilating through the window.
Miss Dash seemed to have a taste for extravaganza, noticing the clothing and the numerous decorations throughout the house. No, it was rather a palace than a house.
Next to that, she seemed to have a sober knack for practicality.
The room was in just the right place to keep it cool enough when it was warm outside and keep it warm enough when it was cold outside.
At least, Dr Deep assumed the latter, judging by the location in relation to the sun.
Of course, it was possible this house wasn't at all Rainbow Dash's taste, but pegasi often made their houses themselves and with Miss Dash's devotion presented by the medals and trophies he had seen throughout the house, she would've most likely customised by now.
His thought pattern was interrupted when Twilight reappeared with Fluttershy. Deep knew the pink maned pegasus well enough to know this was being tough for her. Her body language left no doubt.
Following them, was a rather downed blue pegasus mare. She held her head low. Her mane had many colours in the rainbow spectrum. She smelt of wet horse and there was no more sign of the spicy rainbow water in her coat, so Deep assumed the washing had gone well. Her coat still seemed a bit damp and her mane was clearly wet.
Miss Dash looked devastated. She barely switched her eyes away from her front hooves. She wore a purple dressing gown with white brims. Her hindhooves were stuck in turtle slippers. When she did look up however, her depression quickly switched to anger.
"What is this guy doing in my house?!" she exclaimed, turning to Twilight.
Both the other mares hadn't expected an outburst and were taken aback. The princess reclaimed her cool.
"Rainbow Dash, this is Dr Deep. We think he can help you."
Rainbow groaned, "My wings are fine, I keep telling you!"
Her eyes were a light pink. Not just the irises, she was reacting to the spicy water.
Dr Deep stood up gently and held his hat before his chest.
"I'm not that kind of doctor, Miss Dash."
Her eye twitched, "You brought me a shrink? That's it!" She glared around at all of them.
Fluttershy's muzzle drew back as she whimpered.
"Out of my house, all of you!" Rainbow uttered. Her wingspan was wide and threatening.
When she noticed Fluttershy was on the verge of crying, she softened, "Please Fluttershy? I just want to be alone for a sec, okay?"
Fluttershy nodded and galloped away.
"I understand your agitation, Miss Dash, but I would simply like to ask you a few questions," Deep said softly.
Rainbow glared at him angrily. She slowly closed her wings.
"Please just leave already."
Suddenly, before the doctor could respond, a huge beam of light shot from the corner of his eye straight onto Miss Dash.
The mare sat down drowsily and moaned. Deep frowned at Twilight Sparkle.
"What did you do, Miss Sparkle?"
The mare responded using an educated tone, "Just a soothing spell princess Celestia taught me."
"As in mind control?"
Twilight looked a bit startled by that, "Well, yes, I guess so."
"Whenever would the princess teach such dark practices?"
Twilight drew circles on the floor with her right forehoof.
"Well, she was teaching me about changelings and- oh."
Deep nodded determinedly, "Please stop using forbidden magic on my client and go join your dragon."
Twilight nodded, "I'll just be outside then."
Dr Deep shook his head, "No, you should go home. There's not much more you can do around here."
The alicorn was a bit offended with the idea of not being able to do anything for her friend, but she followed his council.
Rainbow Dash sat down on her couch and sighed again. She was still drowsy.
Deep's horn glowed as he cast a counter spell. Miss Dash immediately became less sleepy, but she still seemed depressed.
"Thanks. I'm sorry I yelled," she said.
Dr Deep lifted his notebook from the inside of his hat and gave her a reassuring smile, "No need to apologise, Miss Dash, I'm used to not being welcome."
He gave her another investigative glance before turning back towards his booklet.
"What has your friends so upset they would call upon me?"
Rainbow Dash perked up a bit, "A little error while flying. I crashed into the fountain, big deal."
Deep nodded, "What kind of an error?"
She shrugged, "Folded a wing too early, I guess."
The doctor was not convinced. He scribbled down a few notes.
"What happened when you crashed into the fountain?"
"I got out and Fluttershy helped me wash up."
More scribbling. Rainbow seemed annoyed by it, but she didn't demand him to leave.
"Miss Sparkle told me you did not seem to try and get out by yourself."
She rolled her eyes, "Then Twilight saw it wrong."
Dr Deep wrote a bit more, "I am inclined to believe Miss Sparkle's vision is not limitless,
but the mare I saw walk in here is not the mare I know from the stories."
Rainbow Dash had another outburst, "Well then maybe the stories are all wrong!"
Her wings were open wide again.
She had a tear rolling down her cheek, but she clearly wasn't aware of it.
"Why did your wing fold so suddenly, mid flight?"
She got up and glared furiously, "I don't like these questions."
The stallion slid his notebook back in his hat, "If you wish me to leave, Miss Dash, I will do just so."
He was about to get up, when Miss Dash exclaimed, "Wait!" Her wings folded back.
He turned and gave her the most pensive look he could muster. She averted her eyes and regretted prompting him to wait.
After a deep, long sigh, she turned back towards him, "It was stiffwing."
Dr Deep lifted a brow. Stiffwing.
Stiffwing was a common issue among pegasi. When strongly emotional, be it angry, scared, euphoric or aroused, the wings would stretch out unconsciously. It was what she had been doing every time she lashed out at him. It always happened when the pegasus was standing down though. Having stiffwing aflight was quite rare. That's why many pegasi preferred to stay airborne rather than be on the floor. There were few things as easily betraying one's emotions as stiffwing. But for Rainbow Dash to have it in the air...
"I understand you were having a conversation with Miss Sparkle?"
Rainbow nodded, "Yeah, we were talking about her duties as a princess."
Deep noted that down, "So what was it that startled you?"
The mare shrugged, "I'm not sure. It kind of just happened."
It wasn't unusual not to know why stiffwing was there, but it sure wasn't helping her case.
"Did you see anything unusual whilst flying?" the doctor asked.
She rolled her eyes in thought, "No, nothing."
"Did the conversation take any strange turns?"
Rainbow Dash scuffed back and forth in her couch. She was hiding something, but clearly considering whether or not she would tell him.
"Well, actually..."
"Do you think I'm really fit for being a princess?"
"Of course, Twilight! Nobody rocks wings and horns together better than you do!"
"Do you think I'll need a prince?"
"Wh- Why would you need a prince?"
"Well, Cadence married Shining Armour..."
"But Celestia and Luna are both single!"
"I guess so... Yeah, you're right. I don't need a prince!"
"Yeah, stop being so ridiculous and just go with the flow."
Deep didn't take any notes yet, "I assume that didn't cause any reaction?"
Rainbow Dash shook her head, "No, it's definitely not that. But the conversation gets weirder."
"Hey, Rainbow Dash, do you think Rarity would ever, you know, go on a date with Spike?"
"Uuuh, I don't know. I don't think so. I'm pretty sure Rarity isn't into dragons."
"I guess that's true... Poor Spike. Hey, would you go on a date with Spike?"
"WHAT? What kind of question is that?! Seriously Twilight!"
"Sorry, I just thought-"
"Ugh, never mind. Let's just fly."
Dr Deep nodded again, "But that's not when the incident occurred?"
Again, the mare shook her head, "No, I believe it got weirder. Yeah, that's it!"
"Rainbow?"
"Yes, Twilight."
"I wasn't suggesting you two get it on, you know."
"What are you talking about?"
"I mean, you and Spike. I wasn't suggesting you two do it or something."
"Twilight, you worry me sometimes, you know that?"
"I just thought: Spike is loyal, Rainbow Dash is loyal, perfect match, right?"
The doctor noted that down, "I assume you didn't entirely agree with that reasoning?"
The blue pegasus moved her hoof to her forehead, "Of course not, but there was something else."
"I'm not going on a date with Spike! I don't even think he likes me. He's completely smitten with Rarity."
The pen stopped moving on the paper.
"So you actually reasoned why Spike wouldn't like you, not why you didn't like Spike?"
Rainbow lifted a brow, "Of course. I wouldn't want to be spilling negative stuff about Spike to Twilight, would I now?
She'd fry me!"
"Okay, okay. It was just an idea, Rainbow Dash, don't go all crazy about it."
"I'm not!"
Rainbow Dash stood up from her couch and started folding some of her clothes.
"Then it was silent for a bit. We were almost at my house."
"Hey, Rainbow Dash?"
"Yes, Twilight?"
"I still think you should get a coltfriend."
"Stop trying to throw me into some weird arranged marriage mumbo jumbo, Twilight.
Try that with Applejack. She's probably used to spear point marriages."
"I'm being serious here, Rainbow Dash!"
"Why?"
"I don't know, it just adds up! Loyalty, love!"
Rainbow's eye twitched again. She stopped folding her clothes and stared at it.
"Miss Dash? Is that when you fell?" her guest asked. She nodded quietly.
Dr Deep noted it down, "So I'm guessing what caused the stiffwing has something to do with the last thing Twilight said.
About loyalty and love."
Confusion crossed the poor mare, but she eventually nodded. Deep took another look around. It could be the repeated mentioning of a love relationship that had set it off, but judging by Rainbow Dash's ambition, she had no interest in it. The mentioning of Spike the dragon probably wasn't it either. It took too long after he'd been adressed before she responded. No, it had to have been something different. He quickly tried to put the pieces together.
Maybe the stories are all wrong, she had said.
"Miss Dash, do you not like being associated with loyalty?"
She turned her head, "Come again?" She must've been hidden in her pondering.
"Do you have a problem with your element, loyalty?"
Her wings flapped open wide.
