Happiness in the Heart of the Forlorn
“And, uh... that's why I came here, to you, Pinkie. I had figured that you, of all ponies, could help me out with these, er... issues," concluded Redheart, herself making an awkward pause or two due to her discomfort.
“So, you're telling me that you came here because you can't handle the remorse that comes with the death of a patient?" Pinkie questioned with her squeaky, yet cute, voice. From the mind of an average pony, nobody could imagine words like that coming out of Pinkie's mouth; she was cheerful, happy, and just boistering with positive energy.
“I don't know why you had to say it," Nurse Redheart sighed, the disappointment in her voice just as prominent as the silky, white fur coat she naturally wore. " It's just," again, she sighed, " I hear those words, and guilt, it just... it radiates throughout my body. And then, just, that thought, the bad ones, they make their place in my mind," she continued, “I've never encountered issues like this at work before, but now... well, the guilt just seems to hit me in the face. And, and it's always happening, hurting me, eating at me, just, URGH!" Nurse Redheart told Pinkie, her face half-swept with anger and belittlement of her own self.
“As my Granny-Pie always said, 'make the best of what you have,'" Pinkie half-heartedly told the down-trodden Redheart.
“Pinkie, this is serious! I need your help, and I'm not even sure that you listened to the story I began telling fifteen minutes ago!"
“Don't worry! I listen to everypony's issues, and yours are no different, well... perhaps in how serious they are. Okie-dokie-lokie?" replied Pinkie, “but, just to recap, would you mind telling me again?" she irked, Pinkie's face looking away as a smile began to make its way onto her face.
At this point, Nurse Redheart was beyond angry with Pinkie's annoying and irksome nature, but due to the recent telling of her emotions, and thoughts, she was pretty darned unstable, and couldn't convey herself properly towards the pinkly pastel-colored pony. But, Instead of yelling, or becoming an absolute waterfall in the terms of her tears, she placed her hooves onto the end-table right next to the chair she was resting in, and sat her head in them.
“Alright, alright! I'm done, I was just trying to cheer you up. And, yes, Nurse Redheart-"
“Just Redheart. Please. I'm not at work, and that title is more of downer than you might think" interrupted Redheart, her eyes wandering to the clock that sat on the wall.
“Er, Redheart. Anyhow, I know what you said, and I'm sure that I can help you out," continued Pinkie, “however, it will be a long, and arduous process."
Pinkie did possess a serious side, which was inherited from her family's background. However, it came from the general monotony of their daily lives, not from home-issues or insecurities; the family was so well-knit, there wasn't really any way it could have gotten bad. Nevertheless, Pinkie did know how to help others cope with their issues, after-all, she WAS the element of laughter.
“I understand, and I've lived long enough with this guilt to find out that the sooner I rid myself of it, the better."
Redheart removed her head, and hooves, from the table, and sat upright in her chair. As Pinkie noticed this, she smiled.
"Redheart, you deserve this help," Pinkie Pie continued on as her hooves met Redheart's in an assuring expression, "however, I must ask you this very important question."
"Yes, Pinkie? Anything. Whatever it is, just ask," Redheart calmly stated, her eyes staring directly into Pinkie Pie's as the air smelt of the kindness that Pinkie was to offer.
"Weeeeell... I was wondering, just maaaaaybe, maybe, maybe, maybe I could bring cookies and punch next time?"
Redheart grinned and unwrinkled her forehead, which she had been doing for the entirety of the hour that they gad spent together.
"Yes, Pinkie. Please bring them, maybe they'd help," Redheart kindly retorted, the smallest of grins making its way across her face.
At those words, Pinkie let go of Redheart's hooves, herself getting out her chair.
"Pinkie, what in the name of Tartarus are you doing?"
Pinkie Pie continued to walk towards Redheart, and eventually, they were face-to-face. Pinkie smiled, and stuck her tongue out.
"You took a joke."
"Yes. Yes, I did, you annoyingly effective therapist."
At those final words, Pinkie Pie poked Nurse Redheart's nose, effectively enlightening their first-ever therapy session."
Happiness in the Heart of the Forlorn
Nurse Redheart sat across from Pinkie Pie, their eyes dead-locked on each other, not knowing how to begin "The Talk of Feelings" - the name they had crisened to this event - this continued for minutes, until Pinkie Pie blinked, and began smiling. Redheart raised her eyebrow, and spoke.
"Erm, shall we begin?"
"Why, of course! I've only been waiting because I thought that you just weren't ready," replied Pinkie Pie.
After Pinkie uttered those words, she burped.
"Ooh, sorry! Too much fizzy-pop, I guess," Pinkie Pie said, her signature smirk making its way across her face.
Redheart looked down, and grinned. She began to cover her face due to the fact that she found this immature act rather humorous, and not aberrant in its nature. But, of course, this was Pinkie Pie after all.
"See! See! You find me funny!" Pinkie Pie had yelled-out, herself pointing a hoof in excitement at Redheart.
Nurse Redheart kept chuckling, and a tear let itself out of her eye.
"Alright, Alright. Maaaaybe you are funny. It's just that I kinda don't like the kind of humor that you use. i mean, a lot of ponies like it, it's just, there are times where it makes things really, really weird. But, in truth, you are... well, hilarious," replied Redheart while she was still chuckling under her breath.
"Well, I'm sorry that you don't like my humor. Perhaps we can change that some day," said Pinkie Pie.
"Yeah, maybe," mumbled Nurse Redheart, her smile fading away.
The room got quiet again, but so that this meeting wouldn't be for naught, Nurse Redheart posed an important question.
"Pinkie Pie, may I ask something of you?"
"Of course, Redheart. I'm already trying to help you with your feelings," said Pinkie Pie.
"You don't have to change it now, but I'd really be happy if you'd change your outlook on these meetings. Perhaps you could be a tad bit more mature? Maybe even a bit more serious?" perused Nurse Redheart.
"Well, I can try, but I really can't guarantee it," answered Pinkie Pie, herself doubting the likelihood of it.
At those words, Nurse Redheart let go of her stiffened composure, and began to breath in a bit more of a lax manner. Pinkie, in all of its suddenness, placed her hooves underneath the chair she was sitting on, and procured several chocolate-chip cookies. She placed the cookies on the table that sat in between the two.
Pinkie Pie hung her head a tad bit as the words that she had begun to speak saddened her.
"I wasn't able to bring the punch," Pinkie continued, "I couldn't of hidden the bowl of it AND some cups under this chair."
Nurse Redheart put an odd expression upon her face, not remembering that she said that she was fine with the cookies and punch.