Therapy Session #3
Apple Bloom sat across from Coltstein, expressing a look of fear. She didn't know what to think of the situation, because this was the first time she had been called into the doctor's office twice in one day. Coltstein was afraid himself, but did his best to hold a poker face, so that Apple Bloom wouldn't suspect his fear. He knew that Apple Bloom was innocent, but there was still something he had to debunk; how this demon came to be in the first place. How did a filly as young as Apple Bloom come across demonic possession?
"Ok, Apple Bloom," said the doctor. "I'm going to ask you some questions, and no matter what, I want you to be completely honest."
"I promise, sir," replied Apple Bloom.
"Good. Let's start with the first question."
Apple Bloom nodded her head, showing that she was ready for the question.
"I'm going to list some items, and I need you to tell me if you've been around any of them," stated the doctor. "An ouija board, a satanic bible, and a pentagram. Have you been around any of these objects, Apple Bloom? Be honest."
"No sir," responded Apple Bloom. "Never."
Coltstein wasn't surprised, seeing Apple Bloom was with her family most of the time, before all this happened. He proceeded to his next question.
"Alright, Apple Bloom. Next question. Have you ever been part of any of the following? An occult, witchcraft, rituals of any kind involving sacrifice."
Apple Bloom shook her head, and once again, Coltstein didn't doubt that she was telling the truth. The most obvious options for demonic possession were debunked, so now he had to resort to what he had suspected all along.
"I'm glad you are being honest, Apple Bloom," said the doctor. "Now, I'm going to need you to think hard about this next question."
"I'll try," replied Apple Bloom.
"Good. Now, I need you to remember what you did before you and your friends took this grim path."
At the sound of the question, Apple Bloom's expression changed entirely from afraid to sceptical.
"Well, all I can remember is crusadin' with Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle," stated Apple Bloom. "I don't remember anything else from before."
Coltstein didn't even have to think twice about Apple Bloom's answer, because it was clear that she was lying. He didn't want to make Apple Bloom upset by giving the usual answer, so he approached her differently.
"Apple Bloom, try harder," said the doctor. "Don't be afraid."
"I swear, doctor. That's all I remember," claimed Apple Bloom.
It was clear Apple Bloom wasn't going to break easily, but Coltstein knew just how to get somepony to pop out the truth. He had to strike her where it hurt.
"Apple Bloom, remember when I asked you if you thought your friends were at peace?" he asked.
"Yes," she replied, starting to sob.
"Well, do you want your friends at peace?" he asked.
Apple Bloom sobbed, and finally broke.
"I-I'm just afraid," she confessed.
Coltstein found this response interesting.
"What are you afraid of?" he asked.
"I-I'm afraid of what will happen if I tell the truth," she concluded.
Apple Bloom's response nearly made the doctor shed a tear. He understood her fear, because she was so young, and with the chances of possibly being forever bound to this facility for no reason, it would frighten any child. Coltstein understood she was upset, so he decided to put Apple Bloom into a comfortable state.
"Want to know something, Apple Bloom?" he said calmly.
"What is it?" she replied.
"I'm afraid too, but I'm mostly afraid for you," he said.
"Why?" she asked.
"Because, you are my patient, and it's my job to find closure for you. I'm the one who's trying to get you out of this place, because I know for a fact that you didn't commit murder, Apple Bloom. However, you must understand that unless you tell me what it is you are holding back, I can't get you out of here."
"Really? You're trying to help me?"
"Yes, but only if you let me."
Apple Bloom paused, shedding small tears. She wanted to give the doctor a hug, but something was holding her back from it.
"What's holding you back, Apple Bloom?" asked the doctor.
She paused, starting to sweat. Coltstein had an idea of what was happening, but this time he had come prepared.
"She won't let me tell you?" confessed Apple Bloom.
"Who, Apple Bloom?" he asked.
Apple Bloom struggled to answer, so Coltstein grabbed something that he planned to use as a weapon against what was starting to possess Apple Bloom.
"Why don't you let her answer her own questions!?" he exclaimed, holding out the book he had found in the library.
A sinister shriek erupted from Apple Bloom, piercing Coltstein's eardrums.
"BEGONE!" he yelled, holding the book closer to Apple Bloom. The shriek from Apple Bloom echoed throughout the room, until the demon finally gave up, and Apple Bloom was free again, but only temporarily.
The young filly was confused and frightened at the same time, as she looked at the doctor.
"How did you do that?!" she asked.
"No time to explain," concluded the doctor. "Who is this demon, Apple Bloom? Where did it come from?"
Apple Bloom hesitated.
"Are you sure she's gone for now?" she asked, frightened.
"Yes, now tell me, Apple Bloom," he assured.
"Alright. Her name is "Annie." I don't know much about her, or where she came from."
Coltstein expressed a smile. One piece of the puzzle was solved, but he still needed to know how Apple Bloom had come across this "Annie."
"Apple Bloom, I need you to be honest with me. Before all of this started, did you ever come into contact with anypony that has access to spiritual objects. Please, Apple Bloom. Now's the time to tell the truth."
"Alright! Alright," she confessed, falling to tears. "About one week before all the unmarkin's started, I came down with a fever, and I wanted to get better as fast as possible. Seein' she knows all sorts of cures to all sorts of things, I decided to visit a friend of mine for a possible cure."
Coltstein grabbed a pen and some paper, now that he knew Apple Bloom was aware of the danger, and only the truth was going to set her free.
"Who is this friend?" asked the doctor.
"She's a witch doctor that lives in the Everfree Forest, by the name of "Zecora," she replied.
Coltstein wrote down Zecora's information, knowing the case had just taken a new turn.
"Good, Apple Bloom. Did Zecora give you any sort of medicine?" he asked.
"Yeah, and it worked like a charm! I was better the next day!" confirmed Apple Bloom.
"How much did you take of this medicine?" asked Coltstein.
"Three doses," replied Apple Bloom.
Coltstein wrote down the information, then sat the pen and paper on his desk.
"Thank you, Apple Bloom. We're done here."
Apple Bloom looked at the doctor with a sad expression.
"Are you going to arrest Zecora?" she asked.
"If necessary. I'm afraid so," replied Coltstein.
Apple Bloom lowered her head, unsure if she had done the right thing.
Once the session was done, Coltstein alerted the police of his newfound suspect, asking to bring her in for questioning. Had he just solved the case? Only Zecora could answer that question. Coltstein had no idea what he was about to discover, but he knew he was one step closer to proving Apple Bloom's innocence, or was he?
