What Friends Are For

Day 1

Date: 9th October 2012

It has been a few weeks since the asylum was built in Ponyville, the thought of this is unthinkable even if Celestia herself ordered this at my request.

Since word got out that five of the famous bearers of the Elements of Harmony went insane, disturbances and murders have been increasing almost within a weekly basis. Ponyville hasn't been the same since.

If only I knew if something was wrong with them, if I had just went out of my way to help them when they needed it, if-. My apologies I haven't introduced myself. I'm Twilight Sparkle, a graduate of Canterlot's School for Gifted Unicorns, ex student of Princess Celestia and a psychiatrist at Ponyville Asylum.

I moved some of my stuff to my room/office from my library since I've decided to stay here, that way I won't worry about being late and my friends will be more at ease knowing that I'm not leaving them alone in this place.

I know that sounds a little bit like I'm pushing myself but I think I'm the only one who can help my patients. Staying in this place is only a small part in my methods of helping my patients.

As for my library, that is left under the care of my number one assistant Spike the dragon. He's young, but he has experience and according to the dragon race he's old enough to look after himself.

Our asylum is small and one of the very few in Equestria. Most of the patients here are drug addicts or suicidal, usually both. Helping them isn't all that hard, or at least not for me. Our serious cases are as you may have guessed: Applejack, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Pinkamena Diane Pie, and Fluttershy.  They are the only friends I've ever had, even before they went insane.

Most ponies think it's dangerous to get too close to mental patients, but they don't know that my patients are what motivates me in this place. These ponies don't just need therapy, they need a friend, even if they have to be reminded of that.

Today I begin my first session with Applejack. I doubt she'll be easy to fix but I've got nothing to lose, except maybe my own sanity. I just hope it doesn't come to that.

A double click sound traveled in the small surroundings of Twilight's office before the purple aura vanished from the tape recorder, ending the recording. Twilight's session with the farm pony wouldn't be for another 15 minutes, which gave her more than enough time to prepare.

A purple aura coated itself on the tape recorder that Twilight had previously used. At the unicorn's command, the tape recorder opened it's hatch, inside it was a tape labelled "Twilight's Journal". Levitating out of the recorder, it was soon replaced with another tape labelled "Applejack Interview 1".

The purple mare got out of her chair (Still holding her magical grip on the tape recorder) and began pushing her chair with her head, positioning it to her side of the table, which was placed in the center of the office. On the other side of the table was another chair, which unlike Twilight's hard, stiff traditional chair, this chair was modern, comfortable and had a extra cushion placed on it.

Twilight climbed onto the her chair while using her magic to place the tape-recorder beside her on the table. With that the purple unicorn was ready for the interview, leaving only 13 minutes to spare.

In the seemingly empty and silent office, the unicorn began tapping her hoof against the table, hoping that time would speed it's passing a wee bit. It  made no difference. She began to ponder on possible events of today.

It's been a while time since I've seen Applejack. How will she behave? Will she be happy to see me? What if she sees me as some psychiatrist rather than an old friend? And can the same thing be said for the others?

More and more thoughts began to pour into Twilight's mind while in her daydreaming state. Occasional glances at the clock briefly broke her daydreams, before she sank back into them again. Sitting uncomfortably in her chair, her mind in broken shards of thoughts....Waiting.

A quiet knock came from the door, but it was loud enough to make the mare jump a little and snap her out of her daydream permanently ."Miss Sparkle, your patient is here" came a quiet but gruff voice. "Oh good bring her in please" answered Twilight.

The door slowly slid open, revealing to Twilight's eyes a large, light brown stallion, almost as big as Big Mac. On the right side of his flank, he had a shield for a cutie mark. The unicorn observed this, guessing that it symbolized something along the lines of protection.

Strange, a stallion of his size and talent would likely be a royal guard at Canterlot or a bodyguard for one of the Princesses.

Next to him was an orange, blonde maned earth pony wearing a brown cowpony hat. On her right flank was three red apples for a cutie mark. The orange mare let her nerves get to her as she forget her manners and allowed her head to tilt slightly lower, bringing her eyesight to the floor.

"Good morning Applejack did you sleep well?" Twilight politely asked as Applejack slowly began trotting to her seat, which to her slight surprise looked more comfortable than she guessed. Applejack took her seat.

"Slept okay Miss Sparkle" the earth pony reluctantly replied.

"Applejack you know who I am, call me Twilight".

"Oh right sorry Twilight".

"Don't worry about it, it's okay. I'm a little nervous myself".

The same gruff voice made itself known once again "I'm just outside if you need anything, Miss Sparkle".

"That's fine, thank you Gruff".

With that, the stallion trotted outside the room and closed the door behind him, before standing beside the door, as if guarding it.

Alone with Applejack, Twilight pressed her hoof against the tape recorder's "REC" button, setting it to record.