AN: Back on track for publishing (or so I hope). At least the editing process makes for a good distraction from the heat. Either way, please enjoy.
As per usual, I don't own My Little Pony and many of its characters. Please enjoy the reference to Romantically Apocalyptic (highly recommend it).
Chapter 9: Cake! and Other Insanities
"Twilight!" came Pinkie's singing voice, "We found a balloon for us! And look! We even found Rainbow Dash!"
Twilight turned to see her friends walking up the street with a disgruntled Rainbow Dash trailing behind.
"She was checkin' around Fluttershy's cottage. But," Applejack snickered, "Seemed to have some problems with the...heh...rabbits."
"I was not," Rainbow Dash declared, blushing the whole while.
"They had you tied down tighter than a pig in a hog-tying competition!" Applejack laughed.
"Yeah, Rainbow! They were jumping on you like a trampoline!" Pinkie Pie added.
"Anyways," Applejack turned to talk to Twilight, only to notice the serious look on her face and the note in her saddle, "What's wrong? Did the Princesses find anything?"
"Possibly," Twilight sighed, "It's hard to say, as dreams are a strange place. The mind likes to use both the imagination as well as your own memories for the day. Princess Luna wasn't too sure how much was real or not, but she thinks Fluttershy may be hurt."
A seriousness took over the group at that statement. While Rarity looked fearful, there was an anger behind Rainbow's gaze.
"Well, what are we waiting for?" Pinkie asked, a determined glint in her eyes, "This rescue mission isn't going to start on it's own!"
"Just tell us where to go, sugarcube!" Applejack smirked.
"Lead the way, Twilight," Rarity added softly.
"Alright," Twilight said, "Let's get to that balloon. We're going to be heading out to the Everfree Forest, so be ready for anything. So if you need anything, now is the time to grab it."
The group nodded before heading in separate directions to grab their collected supplies. All except Rainbow Dash.
"Rainbow," Twilight began.
"Listen Twilight," Rainbow interrupted her, "Fluttershy...she is like family to me. Like a sister. So if we don't find her...if she isn't...if-"
"I understand, Rainbow," Twilight said with a serious voice, "I have a brother. You remember how I was when Queen Chrysalis was trying to use my brother during the wedding."
Twilight looked down at her hooves, unable to look at Rainbow, "I would never forgive myself if anything happened to her. And I wouldn't expect you to do so either."
"As long as we are on the same page," Rainbow said, her eyes softer but full of a new dedication towards their mission.
"We'll meet you at the balloon?"
"Heh," Rainbow smirked, "I'll beat all you there!"
As Rainbow flew off at her super speeds towards her home to gather last minute supplies, she heard a clanging behind her. Turning she saw Spike carrying a bag twice his size overflowing with supplies.
"All set to go, Twilight," Spike stated happily.
"Not this time, Spike," Twilight shook her head.
"What!" he cried out, dropping the pack to the ground in frustration, "Hey! Just because I'm not a pony doesn't mean that I'm not Fluttershy's friend too! Plus, I'm your assistant!"
"And I need you to stay here in case anything happens. In case Fluttershy comes back before we do."
"But what if the princess send you a letter! Or-or you need to send something! Or you need claws to get by something like a knot! What if-"
"Spike!" Twilight interrupted him, "If the princesses send anything, or if Fluttershy returns, or if anything important happens, send Owlicious towards us with a note. He will make sure that we get the message. We can send Rainbow Dash back if anything urgent comes up."
"But-but-" Spike looked ready to cry.
"Spike," Twilight said softly, going up to hug the young dragon, "You know that you are one of my best and closest friends, and the best assistant a pony could ask for. But I need you here. We don't know what sort of dangers we will be facing, and I could not ask you to come along. You are still very young."
"I was old enough to help in the Crystal Empire," Spike declared with a frown.
"True. But I need someone smart and mature enough to watch over Ponyville and help us to keep an eye out for Fluttershy. And I can only ask that of you."
"You sure that it's not just cause I'd get in the way?"
Twilight smiled at him, "Of course not. I just want to make sure that someone is here in Ponyville in case anything happens. And you are the best one for the job!"
Spike looked up at her with a smile, "You got it, Twilight! I will watch over all of Ponyville for you and keep everything under control."
"Good!" Twilight said, using her magic to pull only the necessities out of the large pack Spike brought out and into a saddle she could carry, "I knew I could count on you Spike!"
"Good luck, Twilight," Spike called out as she made her way down the street to the new balloon, "I believe in all of you! You can bring Fluttershy home."
"You know we will, Spike," Twilight said to herself, "You know we will."
Fluttershy sighed. While she was glad that she was given a mostly clean bill of health, her wing was still in a cast, she was getting...bored? Anxious? She wasn't too sure. She just wanted to do something.
Discord was trying to be a good host. He made sure she was being fed and that she was entertained, but he was keeping her cooped up in the bedroom and not letting her out of bed.
Currently, they were busy watching two mini Discords reenact scenes from the famous pony playwright Stageplay Trottinghoof. And while the classic plays had their long loved tones and themes, Discord had to add his own special touch to them.
"Alas!" the Discord on the left, who wore an outfit akin to the tudors of old, with bright blue hat complete with a feather, "I knew 'twas you whom did taketh away poor Merryshine, and force her into that horrible marriage!"
"Tis not me, good sir!" came the reply from the Discord on the right, who wore what was basically the same outfit, but red, "I had nothing to do-eth with poor Merryshine's disappearance...eth."
"You know, you really are not very good at plays are you?"
"Like you are one to talk, you aren't even staying in character-eth!"
"Them there are fightin' words!" The blue Discord shouted, snapping his claw to summon a pie to fly into his rivals face.
The second Discord remained motionless for a minute in shock, moving his paw up slowly to remove the pie.
"So be it! I will teach you to abuse baked goods!"
A snap from the red Discord brought forth a horde of fish that floated around him, before flying off towards the blue Discord.
"Herring!" blue called before ducking for cover...just before the fish began to explode upon impact.
"Exploding herring," blue corrected.
"I know! I thought it was a touch of genius myself!" red shouted back, before being hit with another pie.
"Discord," Fluttershy frowned, looking at the Chaos Lord to her right. He sat there watching the fight with glee, stuffing his face with popcorn.
"What?" he asked with a large grin, "There was supposed to be a fight scene here! We just made it more...entertaining!"
"N-no, they play is…," Fluttershy hesitated as she looked for the right world, "Lovely-"
"CAKED!"
Fluttershy turned back to the fight that had turned into utter mayhem. The mini red Discord began to roll on the ground, cake covering his face, enacting an overly dramatic death sequence.
"Death by cake! Classic," Discord laughed, wiping a tear from his eye.
"I was just thinking, maybe we can do something else?," Fluttershy continued now that the interruption seemed to have slowed down.
"If that is alright," she added, just in case.
"That would be just fine, dearest Fluttershy," Discord said with a clap of his hands, making the two miniature copies and their area of destruction vanish, "What would you like to do instead?"
"Well," she began, mulling over everything, when she felt that feeling again.
Just like before, she had been feeling the need for laughter. It had started small at first, easily ignorable and easily hidden, but it had grown. The laughter Discord had provided helped. It eased the pain, that need to hear and create laughter.
But even with all the laughter around her, the need to be the creator of the laugh began to grow. And she kept it at bay. Even as it buzzed in her ears like a mosquito and would not abandon her thoughts, she had ignored it. She was comfortable here. Why did she need to make anypony laugh? She did a terrible job at it anyways. They frowned at her and looked down at everything she did. Why did she need to share the laughter? Just because no one was laughing didn't mean the world would stop turning...would it?
Yet even as she questioned it, the need flooded her veins. It was her destiny, right? It was inevitable, as she was the bearer of laughter! She had to bring this laughter to ponies. Her cutie mark all but marked her future, plain as day!
And now, like a tidal wave, it had come crashing down all around her, and all she could think about was the laughter. She needed the laughter. The world felt stale and empty without it. She could hear the glee already!
And slowly…
She began to see it….
All around her! She could see it laid out for her!
"A party," Fluttershy began, her sight fogged as her inner vision took over, "A big party! And we'll have balloons and streamers! And we'll play all sorts of games!"
Fluttershy gasped as the idea developed further, turning the room into that of a colorful paradise, "It can be for the doctor! We haven't thanked her yet have we? Oh, that simply will not do! We'll have candy and-OH-a cake! I need to make a cake! A large cake with chocolate and frosting and sprinkles! Think of the smiles!"
Fluttershy turned to look at Discord, her smile wide and her eyes unfocused as she kept diving into the vision, "And I'll do balloon animals and make all the ponies happy! Their laughter can fill the room and-and-and-!"
"Fluttershy?" Discord's voice broke her thought process.
Fluttershy gasped as she came back to reality, the decorative world of celebration lost, turning into a plain, if not vividly colored bedroom. Looking up she spotted Discord frowning at her in concern.
"Are you feeling well? Should I bring the doctor back?" he asked, putting his paw upon her head to test her temperature, "Is this about your knock to the head?"
"N-no, I don't think so," she said, "I…"
"What happened? What was that?"
"I don't know," Fluttershy answered truthfully, "It-it was like one minute I was here and the next I was lost in this world of color and laughter. It was so bright and colorful and everypony was laughing so loud and-and-"
"Whoa!" Discord tried to stop her before she disappeared to wherever she went, "As amazing as it is for a pony that is usually as calm as you to lose their mind, I do believe that it should scurry back home right about now."
"Sorry," Fluttershy whispered, her voice coming out as little more than a quiver, "I...I'm not feeling too well right now. I think I will take a nap."
"Are you sure I shouldn't bring the doctor back? She is only a snap away!"
"No," Fluttershy felt scared, tears were threatening to pour down her cheeks, "I just want to be alone for a bit."
"Alright," Discord said slowly, studying her face carefully to make sure she was alright. Her face looked fearful but otherwise she looked alright. He would have to let the doctor know of this later. With a sigh he got up and made his way out of the room.
Pausing at the door, he turned around and gave her a large grin, "But perhaps we can make that cake later? And we can add all the cute little chaotic bits to it too! Like pop candy that will shock any pony who dares to try it! It can be like you said, a surprise for the good doctor that is looking after you!"
Fluttershy smiled, despite herself.
"Yes," she said, "Perhaps we should."
Doctor Strong Bones walked down the halls of the hospital yawning.
"Hey, stay up all night again?" called Doctor Shining Heart, one of the doctors who worked on her floor, "Don't tell me you spent the night in your office!"
"What?" she asked as her sleep and coffee deprived mind moved five seconds behind reality.
"I left before you last night and come in to find you still here," he declared, "You shouldn't work so hard, you know. It will make you do crazy things!"
"Tell me about it," Strong Bones sighed.
"So what is your schedule today, if you don't mind me asking?"
"Well," she replied with a yawn, "I don't usually schedule patients for the weekends, so that way I have time to finalize paperwork, but I got a...surprise patient last night, and needed to head by the medical library to try and look up some information."
"Surprise patient," Shining Heart looked confused, "You don't normally get many calls like that. You usually only are needed when somepony has serious bone issues. What are you needing to look up?"
Strong Bones bit her lip, debating about how much to tell him, "You wouldn't happen to know many things about cutie mark related illnesses or injuries, would you?"
"Cutie marks? Not really. I've never heard of anypony having issues with cutie marks before."
With a sigh she muttered, "Well, thanks anyways. I need to get going to the library if I want to find anything before tonight is over."
"Hey!" he called out as she started to walk away, "Just what is this issue you are having with cutie marks?"
Strong Bones froze. She couldn't tell him everything without jeopardizing a lot of the privacy revolving around the whole case. He might even commit her if she actually told him the truth.
Well this god like creature foal-napped me last night and forced me to heal the wing of one of the Princess' aides. You know, those girls from Ponyville that use the Elements of Harmony to help heal and solve the problems of the kingdom? Yeah, one of them! And both this crazy, mismatched chaos lord and this pony think that her cutie mark is off and are looking to me to solve it! So, what do you think?
Yeah...that would go over real well….
"Oh, nothing much. Just something for a friend of a friend!" she laughed nervously, backing away to the door, "Oh! Look at the time! I think the coffee kiosk just opened up! Bye!"
Strong Bones made a run for the library, not bothering to look behind her at the confused doctor she left behind. She knew Fluttershy did not want to be found right now, and out of respect for her, she would not tell a soul of her whereabouts. Not to mention there was little she could do to protect herself from something with powers like Discord if she stepped out of some invisible boundaries. He could be watching her right now for all she knew.
Looking up she found that she had made it to the medical library. Somehow her hoofs could still lead her in the right direction while her mind was elsewhere. Walking in she went straight to the help desk, ignoring the various stacks of books and the small collections of medical students and interns scattered intermittently around the room.
"Hello?" she asked to the desk attendant, who had their back turned to her.
"Ah! A visitor! And a fully fledged doctor at that!" he smiled in delight, somehow she was pretty sure that he did not receive many visits from the non-learning staff at the hospital, "What can this librarian do for you today?"
"I am looking for information on cutie marks. Do you have any books on them?"
"We have many, I believe," he said, "Anything from investigations behind why and how they appear down towards historical experiments. What in particular would you like to know?"
"Illnesses or issues that could cause a cutie mark to be...off? Oh, I don't really know how to explain it. Cutie marks that were just...wrong...for that pony?"
"Wrong cutie marks," the librarian muttered, his eyes going back and forth as if reading some invisible book of memory, "Only a handful of things illness related...there was something about cutie pox, would that be along the lines that you are looking?"
"Cutie pox? What is that?"
"Ah, a rare disease that causes ponies to gain cutie marks that they are compelled to enact. They keep gaining cutie marks again and again until a cure is in place or death. It destroyed a civilization once! They only recently have found a cure, though I don't think it is very scientific. But that is what happens sometimes with a world having magic." he sighed.
"That's not really it. Do you have any cases where the cutie mark as changed or altered in some form?"
"Changed? After they have already gained their mark? Now that is strange. I would recommend you start with the historical section first. They had some interesting experiments in the medieval era, in the times before Celestia, where they would maim or remove the cutie marks of convicts to see what would happen. I think in one case they switched them between two ponies and-"
"That is great and all," Strong Bones interrupted before any gory details were shared, "but if you could just point me in the right direction?"
"Oh! Of course, just let me pull out the catalog."
"How do you remember all the stuff like that anyways," Strong Bones asked as the pony wrote down her information.
"Why, I have photographic memory," the librarian explained after putting down the quill, "I remember every book I read. This should help you with your search. And if you could write out what has happened to your patient, I would be most intrigued! There is surprisingly little we actually know about cutie marks, even at this day and age."
"I'll try," she said with a frown, before walking off to the shelves. She had a feeling that what she was looking for was not going to be as easy to find as she was hoping for.