Chapter IV

Case Study sat at his desk, across from Cheerilee. He rested his head on his hooves, looking at her expectantly. “Well?,” he asked.

Cheerilee snapped from her thoughts, blinking and shaking her head. “I’m sorry, you were saying?,” she asked groggily.

“I asked how you’re feeling,” came the reply.

Once again, Cheerilee fell silent. How do I feel?, she thought. She had had no trouble answering this question before. Even after she had opened up to Case Study, and started being honest about her feelings she always had an answer ready. Today was different, though. “I feel nervous. Very nervous,” she decided.

Case Study nodded sympathetically. “I’ve seen it before. Many people are when they’re getting close to being released.”

Being released. Cheerilee could hardly believe it. She had been in prison for just over seven years now. Vinyl had been set free two years earlier. It had left a stinging feeling at the time, and she was worried it would mean the end of their friendship. To her relief, it didn’t. Vinyl had promised that she would come visit, and she had proven to be a mare of her word. At least once a month, for as long as the guards would let them they had been keeping in touch. And now she was going to be released herself.

She couldn’t quite figure out why exactly she was nervous. Perhaps it was the daunting prospect of building up a life again, or maybe she was feeling some sort of giddiness at the thought of being able to walk the world on her own, with its trees and hills and mountains.

Or perhaps you are afraid of the ponies out there. You have ponies that you know here. Out there, you’re just the former convict. Cheerilee swallowed difficultly. “I’m thinking I should be happier.”

Case Study arched an eyebrow. “You mean you’re not?”

“No. I mean, yes. Of course I am. But I’m also afraid.”

The stallion gave her a nod. “I understand. You’ve been here for a long time, and you’ve become familiar with your surroundings. Used to it. It has become home. You’re uncertain about what’s out there, whether the world is still like you remember it.”

Cheerilee nodded. “Yes. How-,” she hesitated for a moment, “how are things out there, doc?”

“Well, a few things have changed here and there, but nothing drastic,” the therapist replied with a smile. “I have faith in you. You’ll be a productive member of society again in no time.”

Cheerilee began to smile herself. “Thanks. That’s good to hear. So, was there anything else?”

“Yes, actually,” Case Study replied, reaching for Cheerilee’s file and opening it. “You have made amazing progress over the last few years, but I’d like to do a last minute test with you, just to make the record complete.”

Cheerilee arched an eyebrow. “Ehm, sure.”

Case Study nodded. “Alright, then. You know the drill. Foal.”

“Student.”

“Lesson.”

“Teach.”

“Education.”

“Purpose.”

“Diamond Tiara.”

Cheerilee fell silent. She hadn’t really thought about Diamond Tiara of late, and she wasn’t sure how she really felt. There was a slight boiling somewhere deep within her, but nothing like the surge of rage she had felt before her therapy with Case Study. She looked the psychiatrist straight in the eye. “History.”

He nodded, making a final note on Cheerilee’s file before closing it and stamping it. “Alright. I’m sure of it, you’re ready to get out into the world again. I noticed some apprehension there at the end, but perhaps that cannot be helped. Some wounds just need a lot of time to heal.

When you get out you will be under surveillance for a while, and are obligted to report to a designated post every once in a while. You will also have a restraining order around schools for the coming year and a half.”

Cheerilee frowned and grunted slightly.

“I’m sorry, Cheerilee. It’s standard procedure. There’s nothing I can do.”

“It’s fine,” she replied grudgingly.

Case Study nodded. He sighed through his nose before continuing. “Finally, you will be forbidden to seek contact with Diamond Tiara and her family. I believe it will be for the best if any temptation to do so is removed.”

“Temptation. Right,” Cheerilee deadpanned.

“Forgive me, poor choice of words.” Case Study got to his hooves to return Cheerilee’s file to the cabinet. “Well. I guess this is it. I think I’m going to miss our conversations.”

“Yeah. You’re a good guy, doc.”

The therapist grinned. “Don’t know about that, but I do try to help my patients.”

“You did,” Cheerilee said with determination.

Case Study stuck out his hoof with a smile, which Cheerilee took and shook firmly.

“Goodbye, doc.”

“Take care, Cheerilee.”

The next weeks passed in a blur for Cheerilee. Much of her time was spent taking last good looks around what had been her home for the past years, and saying goodbye to friends. She was honestly going to miss some of them, and made promises to hook up once they would get out. She had even pushed herself to say goodbye to Garrote, who just told her to piss off in return. There was never any love lost between her and Cheerilee, but after the attempted claim and the months in isolation that followed there had been no other attempts. Garrote had left Cheerilee alone, and in return she was happy to make sure she saw as little of her as possible.

Once the big day came, she couldn’t believe how quick the procedures had been completed. The release papers were signed and approved, and an apartment and job had been arranged for her. She received a saddlebag with necessities, some of which had been her possessions before she went to prison.

Before long she stood outside the dull gray walls. She hadn’t actually known what the building looked like from the outside until then. It wasn’t like she was paying attention at the time she got in. It was a dull thing, gray stone walls in a square shape, with bars in front of the windows. What did you expect from a prison anyway? Cheerilee shook her head to clear her thoughts and looked around. It was cloudy that day, and rather windy. Autumn had begun to set in, and it showed in the dull gray weather. She was alone save for a single figure that approached her. Cheerilee grinned.

“Heya, Cheers,” Vinyl said once they were within speaking range of eachother.

“Vinyl!” Cheerilee rushed towards her friend and wrapped her foreleg around the other mare in a hug, which was happily returned.

“Finally out, huh?” the DJ said with a grin.

“Yes. It feels so weird. What are you doing here, though?”

“Well, I had a friend waiting for me when I got out of prison as well, and I thought about how much it would suck if I had been alone. I wanted to make sure you wouldn’t be alone either.” Vinyl looked around. “I’m glad I did.”

Cheerilee beamed, once again wrapping her forelegs around the white mare. “Me too.”

“Ahh, think nothing of it,” Vinyl replied, “you knew I wouldn’t leave you out in the cold. Speaking of which, let’s get moving. We can just catch the eleven fifteen to Manehatten. That’s where you’ve been assigned, right?”

Cheerilee nodded.

“Then let’s go.” Vinyl began to trot away. Cheerilee cast one last look behind her, taking in the prison’s exterior. She whispered quietly, “goodbye,” and then trotted after her friend.

Cheerilee stared out of the train windows with a gaze of wonder during their entire voyage, to the great amusement of Vinyl. The purple mare didn’t mind her friend’s laughter, though. She hadn’t seen the outside world with her own eyes for so many years, she couldn’t help but take in the sights. In the distance, the tall skyscrapers of Manehatten came into view.

The station was crowded. Ponies of all shapes, sizes and genders moving from platform to platform were all around. Manehatten was a big city, with plenty of travelers from all corners of Equestria. From beyond Equestria as well, Cheerilee thought as she saw the occasional griffin and zebra. Vinyl appeared to be pretty at home in a crowd, as she deftly guided herself and her friend through the mass of commuters to the station´s exit.

The city was overwhelming. The biggest place Cheerilee had been to in her life had been Canterlot, and it had nothing on Manehatten when it came to size. She suddenly understood the meaning of `urban jungle´ as Vinyl showed her around. The DJ dragged her friend to a barbershop, insisting that she looked everything the part of a former prisoner and needed something fresh. She wanted to return to her old curls, but her friend insisted that it simply wasn´t done in this day and age. She found the haircut Vinyl picked out for her an outrageous monstrosity, though, and exited the shop with what could best be described as a compromise that was a little spikier and a lot shorter than Cheerilee would have liked. Despite this, it took only a few peeks in the mirror to convince her that she didn’t look half bad.

By the time they were done with the tour and filled their bellies with a typical Manehatten hot-dog—which was, of course, made out of plants—the sun had begun to set, and the magically powered neon lights began to come to life. Cheerilee decided she wanted to get to her apartment and rest.

After Vinyl escorted her to the door and left her contact details they parted ways with a lengthy hug. Her apartment was located in one of the less fancy neighborhoods of Manehatten. It was small, and looked rather dilapidated. Cheerilee was glad to find that it was mostly clean, however, as was the furniture. Her bed was simple, but looked comfortable, and she decided to read over the description of her new job before hitting the hay.

She lay in her bed for a while, pondering. She knew she should probably sleep, as she was due to start in the cardboard box factory tomorrow morning. She had been happy to find that the wage, while low, was reasonable for the work in question. She figured she could always apply for a new job anyway. A final thought passed her head before she closed her eyes and drifted to sleep. How hard can it be?

Author's Note

Small chapter, this one. I was hoping to get more writing done, but aside from exams I have been struck with a fever. I really wanted to get this tidbit out the door, though, so here it is. With my head full of fluff from the fever I doubt I'll get any proper writing done, so I'm just going to watch a few MLP episodes and hope it goes over soon. In the meantime, forgive me if the next chapter is going to take a little longer to write. There'll be more words in it though! \o/