3 days remain until laughter vanishes from the world...well, most of it
Gilda woke to find her eyes were very heavy, and the sun was too bright and blinding. She let out a moan, closing her eyes as she tried to move, only finding her body feeling heavy like a stone.
Despite feeling a heavy blanket on her, she felt like she was freezing in the winter air with a chilling breeze in her ribs. It was then something touched her head calling her back to reality.
“Shhhh,” said a voice. “It’s ok. You're awake now, and nothing's going to hurt you.”
“Shy?” Gilda moned in a pathetic cry. “What..what going...?” Her head swam in some empty sea, making it hard to focus. Even with the pony next to her, she felt miles away. Her moans became a sudden yelp when she felt a burning sensation on her scalp.
“Shhhh.” Fluttershy said as her hoof went across Gilda’s head. Despite it being a gentle rub of some warm cloth, the heat of it had the griffon writhing in hot pain. “Easy...easy…” Shy let her hoof rest there, still hot, waiting for the griffon to settle down. “I’m here Gilda, it’s going to be fine.”
Fluttershy sat there for a moment as Gilda’s yellow eyes lazily looked past her.
“It hurts…” Gilda muttered in a weak tone. “It hurts…” The burning on her head, the chill in her body, both left her in terrible pain that felt unbearable. “Make it stop,” she whimpered.
“I-ill see if I can get you another pill that might help.” Fluttershy replied, and with quick speed she left the room yelling. “Mr Discord! Mr Discord!”
Gilda wasn't having any of it, despite falling out of the bed when she got up. She wanted this to stop, and the pony was part of that problem in her head.
“No...” she said with a moan. “No more...” She stumble after the pegasus with her head feeling like webs were in it, her thoughts sluggish on a razor sharp point. She went past the open door and into a wall on the other side from it. “The pills won’t solve this, no one changes ponies! They’re…” she said her thought aloud as she stumbled down the hall.
Thankfully, despite her stumbling, she got a good grip on the stair railing--at least at first. The griffon found herself falling the rest of the way down.
As Gilda lay on the floor, she could feel how locked up her joints felt. The only part of her working with reliable effort being her eyes and mouth.
“Fluttershy, it’s freezing,” Gilda said with a shaky voice, that coldness was still present in her bones the whole time. “It’s all stupid….”
“Stupid?” said a snooty voice just out of view. Gilda took a look to see what that was as she tried to get up. That thing looked strange to her with a long tooth. “And what is so stupid about it?”
“Why’s there a walrus at that dinner table?” was Gilda reply as she wobbled, barely able to even attempt standing up.
“Well, goo goo g’joob to you too then,” That snooty creature seemed to take that well, even letting out a chuckle. “Fluttershy? You patient believes me to be a walrus, did you hear?”
“I’m sorry, she’s really delirious right now.” Fluttershy said, and just seemed to show up next to the stricken griffon. “Gilda?” A yellow thing waved in front of the griffons face, her vision foggy. “Gilda?” Now the griffon felt she could hear hoof snapping. “Gilda, can you hear me?”
“Are we still in Kansas?” Gilda said absently, as she started to attempt a stumble up. “There's a little….augh!” While the little pony had no ill intent, the hug she was giving made Gilda feel like her body was aflame. “I’m melting...melting…” she cried out as Fluttershy kept her grip. “It’s so hot!”
“Oh my!” said the walrus named Paul, but really Discord. Apparently that got some response the griffon could only guess at, namely an unhappy one. “Pardon me, ma'am,” he added softly.
“Shhhh, it’s ok,” Fluttershy said. “It’s ok, Gilda.” Even so Gilda’s body kept trembling. Fluttershy being the only thing keeping the griffon from falling over again. “Can you please lend me a hand please, Mr Discord?”
“Aces and eights?” he replied. Gilda knew there was the sound of playing cards in the air, but it looked more and more like a blur as her world still felt hot and hazy.
“Just help me get her to bed, ok?” Fluttershy asked again.
“Oh, my!” Discord added again. It ended like the last, letting out a sheepish laugh. “As you wish, Fluttershy.”
Before Gilda knew it a flipper was on her as well, well maybe not a flipper, she really couldn't tell. Half to a quarter awake, Gilda felt like she had just left the living room, and was back in the bed where she started from in an instant.
Gilda still struggled with a sudden clatter of her own teeth. Why was she still freezing?
“Now, now Gilda,” said that snooty thing called Discord, still not much more visible than a shadow to the griffon. “Fluttershy only wants to help you.”
“It’s not real, just a bunch of stupid hopes and dreams,” Gilda said weakly as she shook her head. “No ones really there.”
“Oh dear,” was the Discord’s two words of vague concern, turning his body to the pony in the room. “Fluttershy, what has she been dreaming about?”
‘I...forgot to ask?” was her sheepish reply. After a pause she let out a sad sigh. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay, even ponies make mistakes,” he replied as he scratched his tooth, then snapped his gnarled fingers. “I got an idea! One brain freeze defrost coming right up!”
Something then tapped Gilda’s head and things were a much more blurry for a moment.
She didn’t feel clouded as much in the next second, the cold webs swept up away and her eyes re-adjusted. She could now see the worry in Fluttershy’s eyes, and the off smile of an odd snake chimera...thing there as well. But that wasn’t the scary part to her.
“W-what came over me?” Gilda said, trembling in fear. “I-I just...” She then found herself starting to hyperventilate before Fluttershy calmed her down.
“Shhhh...it’s ok,” she said as she rubbed the griffons neck, apparently doing the trick. “You’re going to be fine Gilda.”
The griffon felt glad and safe then and, for whatever reason, she grabbed a hold of the pegasus. Gilda let out a sigh of relief.
“Um, Discord, what have you...?” Fluttershy whispered, and sounded more than a bit unhappy as she looked to the creature.
“Not to worry, she’ll be back to her more grouchy self again,” Discord replied, not letting the bothered look bother it. “Cross my heart.” And as if to make it clear, said heart appeared, which he then drew lines across. “For now, perhaps, you can enjoy a more cheerful griffon.”
“You're so warm!” added Gilda with some delight. “It feels like I just got out of a freezer,” she chuckled as she let go, noticing the a smile of the blushing pony in front of her. “Are we having breakfast soon? I could go with something to eat right now!”
Thankfully, for a griffon, some things never change. Still with a blush, Fluttershy giggled, and Gilda found herself giggling as well.
“S-sure,” Shy nodded as she spoke, no longer bothered by the griffon’s change of mood.
Before she knew it, as though Gilda had awoke from some kind of dream, she was in the kitchen sitting next to Fluttershy. She had even helped with lunch with enjoyment it seemed, and had given the pony a joyful hug at some point as well.
Also, the apron she was still wearing was an adorable eyesore.
“How…!” Gilda said with a jump, only just now realizing what had happened. Or she certainly felt that way. “Get this stupid thing off me!” was her snarl to no one in particular. With a snap of fingers, she was now in a maid outfit with a little frilly hat. “Not cool, you freak!” she yelled at Discord.
“It’s a step up at least,” Discord said with disinterest and a low chuckle, and with another snap Gilda was naked again. “But, I’d say it worked. The proof is in the pudding, which I could go for some!” He turned to Fluttershy, still sitting at the table. “I’ll leave the rest to you, Fluttershy dear. But I’ll be back later to check up.”
In a flash the creature was gone. All while Gilda still stood flabbergasted.
“Did I eat?” Gilda asked cautiously, not sure she wanted the answer. “Stuff...got...weird...” She blinked, trying to take in the room. Just in case she missed something else.
“Of course!” Shy replied, doing her best to calm the griffon down. “You were pretty down, so I got you some fatty tuna. Don’t worry, you enjoyed it!” she said with a smile.
Gilda blinked for a moment, only noting one part of that statement. “You...got me fatty tuna...because I looked down?”
She remembered eating it. It was even seasoned pretty well, the proof being that plate on the table with only crumbs left. The griffon didn’t expect that, that stuff is hard to find where she was.
“Ok….now what?” she sighed, still trying to get her bearings. “And what just happened? This another dream I’m in?”
“He…just affected your mind for a moment,” Fluttershy said nervously. Then, seeing Gilda eyes wide with anger, she began to tremble.
Well, until all Gilda did was put a claw to her head with a groan.
“You’re fine for now, and that’s what matters,” Shy continued. The griffon let out a sigh and got up from the table, still quite down. “Are you okay for a session right now, or do you need some rest first?”
“Can I get some straight answer for once?” Gilda said in frustration.
Shy nodded, and that was all that was needed. The pair went downstairs, Gilda lay on the couch, and didn’t have to wait long for Dr Shy to get ready.