That One Patient

That… That dream I had last night… I didn’t remember it at first but I slowly recognized it. Ponies would like to think that we psychologists with our knowledge of how the mind works would be mentally stoic. But, that couldn’t be any farther from the truth. We’re just as psychologically frail as everypony else. In our lifetimes, we all experience some form of mental trauma that just sticks with us. For me, it’s like an old friend of mine, rooted in what could be considered a childhood. In fact, I didn’t have a childhood at all.

It all started with me in my room, playing with blocks as any foal would back in the day. I’m not sure how long ago it was but I guess I was around seven or so at the time. Then, I saw the door open and through it, entered a face I wished I forget: My father, Peppermint. Anypony, ideally, would have a good relationship with their mother or father, but not me. My mother and I never had the best of ties with that stallion. Every beating, every shout and insult, I try to forget it all with a memory suppression spell.

I’ll never forget that night and I still remember that scent of Appleloosa Malt Whiskey in his breath. He knocks over the tower I was building, laughing like some jackass that kicks down your sandcastle at a beach. Calling me everything between “Weak”, “Worthless, and a “Pansy fairy”, he gave me an earful before he started hitting me with the classic leather belt. Cursing my name with every hit, I screamed for it to stop, calling out to my mother to save me which she does most of the time. Still, I remember every bit of pain from those lashes. Something felt different about it though.

As my father gave me the lashes, I saw a shadowy figure behind him, one that glowed with the eyes of a timberwolf. It looked familiar and it took me a while to figure it out that it was…

Apollo Glint?

How in Celestia’s name was he able to reach into my mind and access those memories? How is he potentially that powerful to where he can do mental influencing and manipulation? We already suspect him of being behind the death of Prospero but… I don’t know. I’m at that point where I’m beginning to believe that I’ve bitten off more than I can chew. But, I’ve already committed myself to this case, not going to back down.

With Apollo’s interview tomorrow, I hope to get some answers from him but I’m still unsure if that is actually him. As a scientist, I have to explore every possibility to find some rational explanation for all this. If it turns out to be him, then I’ll implement any and all measures to keep him contained. There’s still much I have to learn from him but I need keep other ponies here safe. I pray that the MSR made by Celestia and Luna arrives tomorrow.

I need to cast that memory suppression spell again.