It was bright and early with a freshly raised sun and the Canterlot city centre was bustling with activity. Ponies were trotting around trying to get the things they needed for the day, market stalls dotted around were trying to sell their ware and musicians looking to make their way in the world were busking along the streets. All this was just a regular morning in the Royal City.
Among the crowds a dark blue pony was weaving between the crowds, going against the endless stream of ponies the morning rush provided. This pony was Comet Skystreak and he was running late for an important appointment with his psychiatrist. He couldn't believe it had taken him almost half an hour to realise he'd been looking at next year's calendar.
He finally reached the turning he needed and practically galloped down the less densely populated side street. Finally reaching the building he needed he paused before the front gate to gather his senses and allow his addrenaline to fade. He trotted through the gate and walked up the path to the door, noting the bronze plate above the door knocker that stated this was the office of Dr Darkest Dreams, Registered independent Psychiatrist. Taking a deep breath, Comet raised his hoof to knock on the door.
The door opened before the hoof made contact revealing the dark grey face and deep purple mane of Dr Dreams. Comet shrank back a little in surprise and stood there with his hoof outstretched looking at the unicorn who he had been visiting for the past two years.
With a kind smile Dr Dreams welcomed his client, "Mr Skystreak, I was wondering when you'd arrive. Your appointment was supposed to start five minutes ago."
"Sorry doctor, I accidentally looked at the wrong calendar when I woke up this morning and then got stuck in the crowds," Comet replied a little sheepishly while lowering his hoof to the floor.
"No matter, the next appointment I had was cancelled yesterday so it won't matter if we run over a little bit." Dr Dreams motioned for Comet to enter the hallway to his house.
Comet walked towards the room he knew the doctor used as his therapy office. "Oh, that makes things easier," he said as he walked through and took a seat in the small brown armchair in the corner of the room. He never liked lying down in the recliner sofa.
"You know, you could have just flown over the crowds and directly here."
Comet pressed his hooves into his face as he remembered that he was a Pegasus. "I'm such an idiot."
While Dr Dreams pushed his office chair into position opposite the armchair he smiled a little. "You've only recently gotten over the fear of flying you've been plagued with since foalhood, it's understandable that you'd default to running here when under pressure, flying isn't yet natural to you." With that he sat down with his notebook and levitated his quill at the ready.
Comet unburied his muzzle and took a moment to think the information over. "That makes a lot of sense actually. Thanks."
His therapist gestured dismissively. "You know this is only a catch up session. You've already gotten over the fears you had and from what I gather you are now quite the stunt flier."
Comet nodded proudly at the praise. "Who'd have thought that in a few short months I'd be doing flight competitions all over Equestria. I wish I'd known how much I love flying. It's all thanks to you Doc."
"You got over the fears on your own, you know. All I do is let you find out what is holding you back so you can deal with it yourself."
"That's true, but I still wouldn't have made it this far without your help. You're the greatest therapist in Equestria."
Although Dr Dreams smiled at the comment he shook his head slowly. "No, no. I'm not the greatest, I just do what I can to help ponies get past their problems and move on with their lives."
A sharp knock was then heard on the door to the office and a young mare walked in carrying a tray holding two cups, a milk jug and a pot of sugar. "Sorry to interrupt but I made drinks for you both."
Comet perked up at the entrance of the mare and Dr Dreams motioned for her to bring them over. "Wonderful, I was just about to ring up."
The mare laid the tray on a side table nearby and mixed some milk and sugar into one of the cups and brought it over to the doctor. "Your tea. One sugar and extra milk."
Taking the cup in his magic aura Dreams took a sip and nodded his approval. "Wonderful as always. Thank you."
"It's what you pay me for," she joked as she brought over Comet's cup after stirring in some sugar and a little milk. "Here's the coffee you like. Two sugars and extra hot." She winked in his direction as she went back to the tray and carried it out the room.
Comet blushed a little at her comments knowing full well she flirted with most of the clients that walked into this office. "She still hasn't got a special somepony to flirt with?"
Dr Dreams shook his head and chuckled, "no, she enjoys chatting up everypony too much to settle down with only one."
Comet chuckled back. "Guess you aren't looking for the old boss with his secretary relationship then?"
To that his doctor shook his head. "I'm not her type. And for that matter, she isn't mine either."
"Fair enough." Comet took a sip from his coffee.
"So I hear you've started dating again now. How has it been going?"
"You heard right. I started dating the flight instructor that helped me relearn to fly. After finishing my retraining she became interested to know how I was progressing with my fear. After a while we got a bit closer and now?" Comet smiled fondly as he thought of his marefriend, "we've been dating for a month now."
"That's wonderful. You look very happy." Dr Dreams scribbled a little on his notepad for the first time during the meeting.
"Yeah, I am. I've had a good life the past year. Never realised how much my fear of flying held me back. I feel like I'm finally free to be who I'm supposed to be."
"Well, I think you won't need my help anymore. You've completed all the goals you set out at the start and all the extra ones that popped up since. You're now clear."
Comet's face betrayed the shock he felt, "you mean it? For real?" He practically beamed with pride after the doctor nodded in confirmation.
"You no longer need my help. That doesn't mean you aren't allowed back though, feel free to stop by any time. I like to know the progress ponies make after I am no longer needed in their lives." With that Dr Dreams closed his notebook and levitated it over to Comet, "these are your case notes. I'll let you keep them so you can see all the progress you've made so far and so you can keep updating it with even more."
Comet took the notebook and flicked through a few pages. "Are you sure? You don't need it for your files or anything?"
"No, I keep my own separate files copied from this notebook. The notebooks I used during meetings are to represent a pony's mental progress, being in every meeting makes ponies recognise them and then giving it to them signifies them being able to take their minds into their own hooves."
"That's kinda cool. Like a trophy saying I've won the battle against my brain."
"You could look at it that way."
Both ponies then stood from their chairs and walked back out to the front door.
"Thanks for everything doc, I'll send the bits over tomorrow. In my rush this morning I forgot my saddlebags."
Dr Dreams shook his head. "Don't worry about it, last session was free. No need to pay when you haven't any reason to."
"Really? Well thank you again Dr Darkest Dreams. I'll make sure to stop by one day and let you know how I'm doing."
"I don't doubt it Comet, you'll go on to do great things." The doctor waved his client down the garden.
Comet reached the front gate and thought back. Three years ago he'd come through this gate as a nervous wreck, a Pegasus incapable of flight. Now he could soar through the skies like he always should have. He entered a patient, now he left as a pony free from the shackles of fear. His new life was about to begin in earnest. With that he unfolded his wings and took off into the air, holding the notebook that represented his journey.
Author's Note
I'm sorry there isn't much in the way of story here, I wrote this to challenge myself to actually finish a writing project as I've never managed it before. I just needed to get this out there to prove to myself I can actually write stuff. There may be some errors as I don't know anyone who can proofread. Feel free to please point anything out.
Couldn't think of a name for the secretary mare or the flight instructor. If you come up with something good, feel free to drop it on me.
Might revisit this one day if the mood takes me and people like this enough to want more.