//------------------------------// // Short #1: The Cootie Pox // Story: Back To Equestria // by DubleTruble96 //------------------------------// A/N: This is just a little short to keep readers occupied, and allow me more time to make ideas for the next part of 'My New Room-mares'. Don't worry, I will continue to update that. In the meantime, have a quick little misadventure to fill your time and stall for ideas. It's just a one-shot, and has nothing to do with the story at hand. Please tell me if you wnat to see more of these 'shorts'! I would love to make more, but only if the readers (you guys/girls) want to see them. So without further stalling, please enjoy The Cootie Pox. ==================================================================================================== School yard games and myths. They were all part of our childhood. Tag, Hide n Seek, The 'Boogeyman', Bloody Mary, even made-up diseases...Which brings us to a little town called Ponyville... It was mid afternoon, and I was wandering about Ponyville as per-usual. I passed by the school yard, hearing fillies and colts all playing and screaming and chasing each other around. At first, I thought it was nothing more than a friendly game of 'Tag'. But as it turned out, they were playing some sort of game called 'Cootie Pox', where whoever is 'it' (which is always a filly/mare) has to chase others (usually colts and stallions) in order to spread the made-up disease. Well, immediately, I wondered why the kids would play such a....questionable game. Turns out it wasn't a game. It was nothing more than a school-yard myth. The kids were in that period where they think that boys and girls are polar opposites and therefore should not have any contact, physical or otherwise, with them. And those who do, are outcasts. I remembered this from my own years of childhood. The girls befriend the girls and the boys befriend the boys and they both stay away from one another. Usually. But then the myth about 'cooties' came out. A sort of disease that was spread though those of the female gender (all female children at it. ALL female children.), and they would playfully chase the boys in order to spread this fake disease. It was more of an excuse to get away from the girls more than anything. Besides, this disease showed no symptoms and was not life threatening. Nor was it bad. In fact, any boys who did in fact get 'infected' were just fine. Nothing happened. Or...At least that's how it was on Earth... But Ponyville was no different...Right? -------------- "So Sweetie Belle has been playing this cute pretend game called 'Cootie Pox' with the other colts, and spreading this disease. Apparently, all mares and fillies have it." Rarity laughed and Twilight smiled. "Well, it doesn't even have symptoms. At least, not for females. Have you encountered any colts or stallions who have been infected?" "Yes, countless times. It's just a myth~" "Yeah, I remember that game. I never took part...I was usually reading." "Well, it seems pretty real to colts. They get all dramatic. It's kind of sad, but adorable to watch at the same time." The mares giggled. I sat there, awkwardly, listening to the mares talk over their tea. I forgot why I had come over again...I finally asked something. "Well, have you ever asked a colt what the symptoms are?" "Well...no. It's only a myth, darling." "I know, but maybe you could get some insight to why it's so....threatening. Ask Sweetie, even. Maybe she could tell you." "It is a neat idea..." Rarity said, tapping her chin. ------------------- "Well, I heard that the colt get's all zombie-like. Almost like a daze...They pretty much do whatever you tell them!" Sweetie Belle explained to her older sister. "Really?" "Yeah! It's like some sort of hypnosis." "Why doesn't it affect us?" "Because it only affects boys! We spread the disease, they catch it!" "And they do whatever you ask?" "Yep! Anything from A to Z!" "Anything?" Rarity smiled. ------------------ "Think of it, Twilight...You could get any colt you want, to do anything you want. Big Mac could wear a dress and dance! You could make Cherry Coke paint your house! You could get a personal servant!" "I don't think it's a good idea, Rarity....The princess will surely cast a fail-safe spell the minute she hears of it." "But Twilight, just think....Spike would have to do anything you say!" "The answer is NO." Twilight trotted away and closed the door in Rarity's face. Rarity just sighed and left, feeling disappointed. Meanwhile, back at the school yard.... ----------------- "We already lost Featherweight and Pipsqueak! How many more will we have to lose?!" "I'm doing my best, but my mom won't let me quit school." "I can't even sneak out the door anymore..." "After my mom found out I was playing hooky, I got grounded for a month." "Just do your best. Avoid the girls. I think the disease may be getting stronger. Warn your older brothers. They need to know this." ----------------- I looked it up online. Somehow, Pinkie had given me access to the Equestrian Internet (which seemed rather impossible. If they have Internet, why not computers to use it? But she IS Pinkie Pie and I should stop questioning everything she does.). So I looked up the myth of 'Cootie Pox'. Apparently, it wasn't a myth. It was real. But the last sample of it was supposed to be under lock and key in the Royal Canterlot Archives. Apparently, a spell went awry and it's spreading again. I took it all as one big hoax some girl threw up there to mess with young colt's minds. Little did I know it was all too true. --------------- 2 Weeks After The First Infection... "Austin. Can you come down to Sugarcube Corner? I have some special cupcakes I want you to try." "Sure thing Pinkie, be right there." I picked up my portal gun and shot the green portal, then lept through it. I landed outside Sugarcube Corner and walked inside. "Pinkie?....Pinkie? Where are you? And why are the lights off?" The lights flashed on and I saw the Mane 6 standing before me, strange smiles plastered to their faces. "Ummm....Hi?" "You remember that myth?" "You mean Cootie Pox?" "It's not a myth...It's already spread throughout Equestria and it's claiming victims everyday. Unfortunately, all the colts and stallions here in Ponyville have barricaded the uninfected outside of town. Not even my magic can break through their defences. We're running out of patience and we need a new boy to play with." The girls all grinned. "Whoa hey...I'm not anybody's slave..." "We weren't asking." "And I'm not listening." I turned and kicked the door open and ran out. The girls quickly gave chase. I duck, dove, dipped, and dodged my way through a bunch of very grabby mares. As it turned out, it wasn't being touched, but rather, any affectionate touches, like hugs, kisses, nuzzles and cuddles. They all spread the disease. But as long as you don't get glomped by one, and keep your guard up, you can escape. I did. Though, a few stallions weren't so lucky...I saw them get tackled by two mares and they struggled and squirmed, but it proved futile. It was weird. This is the first time I've ever tried to AVOID being cuddled by a mare. I finally ran into the library and slammed the door. I was tired of running. I knew I couldn't get to the barricade. I was as good as dead. So I ran upstairs and sat, and waited. The door went first. Then the windows. The mane 6 all busted into the library and slowly crawled over to me. I watched and waited. They finally all grabbed me and dragged me into a group hug, then giggled, not like insane mares, but rather, playful mares. I blinked and they all laughed. ----------- "So it was all a practical joke?!" "Yep! The biggest practical joke in Equestria!" "You were all working to prank ME? Why?" "Just for fun! We didn't mean any harm." "Well, no, it was fun. But you scared me." "Sorry." "Next time, make a better escape plan." "Shaddap Dashie."