Through Deceiving Eyes

by CowgirlVK


Chapter 8: Search for the Spell

“Come in girls,” Doctor Stables greeted as the three remaining Elements of Harmony entered his office. “Have a seat.”

His medical eye studied each of the three as they entered. Twilight was the first to enter, his eyes ran down her body, her magic was stable but faint, and she had pronounced bags under her eyes. Following her was Rarity, she wasn’t even trying to use her magic, but from the color, and texture of her coat she too seemed the worse for wear. Applejack was the last to enter looking somewhat lost.

“Thanks Doc,” Applejack answered sitting down. “Honest, I didn’t know ah was that tired. Shoot, Big Mac forced me to take a nap yesterday.”

“And before that?” Rarity pried.

Applejack blushed. “Well sugarcube, ah don’t remember.”

Doctor Stable lifted a hoof to quench the argument. “Ladies, as Twilight has already stressed to me, and from the condition of your three friends, we don’t have time. Now...”

Twilight fell back into the chair, and dropped the book on Doctor Stable’s desk, her face suddenly slightly pale. “Here’s the book,” Twilight began.

Doctor Stable held up a hoof, to stop her, then reached for his equipment and gave her a quick once over checking all of her vitals. “No more magic,” He ordered.

“What? No!” she exclaimed.

Doctor Stable’s horn lit up as he forced her back into her chair. “Twilight, I made a promise that I’d keep you three alive. So with the exception of it being absolutely necessary to fix what’s going on, I don’t want you, or Rarity to use an ounce of magic. We can’t risk it. We cannot risk losing all of you.”

Twilight frowned, but she nodded in agreement. “Alright Doc, there’s... wisdom in that.”

Doctor Stable laid a hoof on her shoulder. “I know this isn’t easy, but until everything is fixed, we are all going to have to be careful. I’ve had eleven more ponies brought in for random reasons. All of whom are now in a comatose state. Two of them were hit by a unicorn’s magic going ballistic. You told me earlier that all of this is being caused by a parasite. The... what did you call it?”

“They are called Fluffs,” Twilight answered; trying to sit somewhat upright in her chair, only to find a small wave of dizziness hit her, causing her to slump back down and rub her head.

Stables sighed and levitated an ice pack over to her; placing it on her head. She was about to take it in her magic, to which he responded by quickly pulling it back. “Nope, you will use your hooves.”

Applejack gave a half smirk. “Sorry Twi, but yer’ gunna have ta live like me for a bit.”

Twilight grumbled but nodded. “Yeah, I know...” She sighed and Stables returned to the ice pack to her, this time making sure she used a hoof to hold it to her head as she closed her eyes.

He nodded and turned to Rarity and Applejack. “Now then, please explain this to me.”

The two looked at each other, their ears folding back as Applejack grabbed the book. “Actually doc… ah think ya oughtta see this one fer yerself…” She said, reluctantly bringing the pink crystal out of the book. “Ya gotta use yer magic to activate it.”

He nodded, using his magic to lift the crystal up closer when it suddenly began to pulse.


Stables stared wide-eyed at the crystal now laying on his desk. “Good... dear... Oh Celestia!” he stammered, looking at the three. “Ladies, I don’t know about you, but I think we have a problem.”

“We have a problem,” Applejack said.

“Pinkie is the one who knows the most, but when the poor dear tried to tell us-” Rarity choked up as she once again started shaking.

The doctor gently rubbed Rarity’s shoulder. “We will figure this out. First question is, how did they get loose? That uniform hasn’t been used even in the medical community for the last thousand years...”

Twilight shrugged. “I had no idea they even existed. But Doctor, I think this is the least of our worries, we have a parasite on the loose. And if we fail to stop it-” She frowned and shook her head. “I don’t want to think about what would happen.”

Doctor Stable nodded. “Well, if they’ve gotten loose once, and stopped, I’m certain there is a cure.”

“That’s what I was thinking,” Twilight said half opening one eye.

Doctor stable sat back, folding his forehooves over his chest, frowning thoughtfully. “The biggest problem for me is that thing you mentioned about when they are in a pony’s system they starve the host to death.”

Twilight nodded. “What’s going on with Dash. How is she?”

“For the moment, she’s stable. But how long it will stay that way is anypony’s guess.”

“Pinkie Pie said the cure for what’s going on was in the book.” Rarity reminded them.

Applejack nodded. “If only she also told us what page it was on before…” She grimaced. “That…”

Doctor Stables sighed and nodded, opening the book. “Well, I suggest we start looking then.”


The royal sisters walked quietly through the halls; comforting the families of the ponies who’ve already succumbed to the effects of the fluffs. The hospital was filling up rapidly, some it was out of fear, others had gone simply berserk and had to be tied to beds. Others had, for seemingly no reason at all, started dropping weight and shutting down.

Celestia held her head up high, hiding her true grief from the prying eyes of the ponies around her.

Luna on the flip side was making no such effort but was diligently comforting every mare, stallion, or foal who looked to need the lunar princess’s special touch.

Despite the two’s carefree way of walking, they were definitely on a mission. The entered the ‘VIP’ section of the hospital; meant for members of state to prevent the media and other reporters from barging in when some member of nobility fell ill.

This affliction wasn’t being picky. She paused as she passed Spitfire holding a weeping Soarin as the two stood side by side looking down into the sleeping face of Fleetfoot. The Wonderbolt family was quickly falling apart. Fleetfoot, Misty Fly, and Highwinds; all three had dropped so much weight that they were hardly recognizable. Blaze was being treated in the insane section after going ballistic and pounding three of the Wonderbolt security before she’d been stopped by her teammates.

“How is your team holding up?” Celestia asked stepping up to the clearly distraught captain.

It took a moment before the captain’s eyes cleared and she looked up at Celestia. “Team...” She sounded somewhat confused... after a moment, her eyes suddenly cleared. “OH!” she blushed, “Sorry your highness.” with a deep sigh the yellow and orange mare untangled herself from Soarin’s grasp, and stood at attention. “This... it... it’s hit us pretty hard, but if you need us, we won’t back down.”

Celestia placed a hoof on Spitfire’s shoulder. “Captain, You have my condolences.”

Spitfire nodded. “Thank you princess.”

The royal sisters moved on. Luna about jumped when from an open door, Prince Blueblood suddenly jumped out and tried to tackle her, screaming something about her being the ‘end of Equestria.’

Luckily, between the two, and several nurses, they managed to tie and sedate the crazed prince.

While all of these ponies were important, and many the sisters knew, they were coming on special invitation from one of Equestria’s Ambassadors. Ambassador Glittering Aristocrat stood at the end of the hall; waiting patiently as the royal sisters tended to, and conversed with every single pony they could on their way to her. She was a tall skinny unicorn with a fuchsia coat, and a purple mane and tail that flowed to the floor. She looked haggard and tired.

“Princesses...” Glitter greeted as they came close.

“Ambassador,” Celestia said stepping forward. “You sent for us?”

The mare nodded, then ushered them into the room. Not moments later, a crazed pony came bursting through the doors with a needle gripped in their hoof as they screamed bloody murder and launched themselves at a nurse. The mare screamed and Luna reacted instantly, blasting the pony unconscious with a quick bolt of magic.

They were sent tumbling to the ground as a few doctors rushed in, looking exhausted as they picked up the pony and dragged him back to the mental ward to be properly restrained to their bed.

Glitter sighed and her ears folded back as she watched the brief scene play out, grimacing slightly. “That’s… the fifth time today alone, I believe…” She said as she looked back towards the princesses.

Luna blinked and shook her head before turning to face the unicorn. “That aside, we would like to know why thou hath summoned us.” She said to the mare.

The unicorn looked very uncomfortable as she glanced over to a bed at the end of the room. Both princesses instantly noticed the unicorn’s two triplets. The pegasus was laying flat on the bed, hooked up to life support. The Earth pony sobbed beside her sister. “Princess, I know what’s going on... How it’s so bad though- it shouldn’t be. Darling... this-” She suddenly got a very disturbing look on her face. “There’s no way they could have multiplied that rapidly! I mean there were only one hundred fluffs in that box!”

Celestia caught the unicorn in her own magic and forced her into a chair. “Arista! Slow down. Sit down. And start at the beginning.”

The unicorn was silent looking over to the bed with her sister in it. “Princess, tell Twilight page One-hundred and three.”

Suddenly the unicorn’s magic came to life with a blast. Glitter’s eyes shone for a moment, before she slumped unconscious in the chair. Instantly a doctor entered and moved the now comatose unicorn into a bed and hooked her up to life support.

The Earth pony kissed her sister’s hoof, before moving in. “Ach, Princesses. It be the Fluffs! They be on the loose! Hurry! Ah beg of ye!”

Celestia and Luna glanced at one another. “What are the Fluffs?” They both asked at once.


Twilight groaned almost forgetting that she was on a magic ban as she nearly threw the book across the room. “THIS ISN’T WORKING!” She yelled.

Doctor Stable stood up, looking between Twilight and the book he’d caught. He frowned placing the book on his desk. They’d been at this for hours. “Princess, not to be rude, but I think you need a break.”

“BREAK!” Twilight’s eye twitched. “Doctor, we don’t have time for a break! Every moment I spend resting, is another moment the Fluffs are spreading. Did you READ how fast they breed?”

Doctor Stable nodded. “Yes, but also, if you fall victim, we won’t have your magic to fall back on. And there are no other ponies who come close. Twilight, as your doctor I’m ordering you to eat, and take a walk.”

“If I may interrupt,” Rarity cooed, smiling sweetly at the doctor. “You are both right, but- what about you darling?”

“Obviously it affects mares faster than it does stallions... most of my patients right now are mares...”

“But yer all not immune,” Applejack pointed out.

He nodded. “Girls, my job is to keep the rest of you healthy, yes we need to find this cure, but-”

Just then the door slammed open. Nurse Redheart pounded in. “Doctor, Captain Spitfire just entered saying she needs to speak directly to Twilight.”

All ears instinctively shoved forward. “SPITFIRE?” Twilight asked shocked. “Oh no! No... no!”

Applejack laid a hoof on Twilight's shoulder, while Rarity held Twilight’s other hoof. Doctor Stable glanced at the trio and took a deep breath steadying his nerves. “Send her in.”

Nurse Redheart nodded and disappeared. All ponies returned to their seats, eyes full of worry about what the captain could want.

It was a few minutes before Redheart returned with the captain, all eyes going wide at the sight of her. Her wings sagged, her being too drained to keep them folded, and she had dark bags under her eyes. Her eyes seemed dull, and a bit glassy which only served to unsettle the three mares in the room. She turned her confused gaze to Twilight for a few moments before something clicked and she blinked, shaking her head.

She stepped up and looked at the purple alicorn seriously. “Twilight, I have a message from Celestia for you.”

She sat up immediately, staring at the mare. “What? What is it?”

“She told me to tell you to look on… page…” Her eyes glassed over again and she fell silent.

“Page?!” Twilight tried to stand, only to find Stables pinning her to the chair with his magic. She grumbled but spoke again. “What page?”

After a long moment of silence, she began to lose her temper. “Spitfire! What. Page!” She insisted.

The pegasus blinked and shook her head. “Wha-? Oh... “ She grimaced and sighed. “Page one hundred and thirty.”

Applejack grabbed the book, raising an eyebrow at the title of the page. “The Texture of their wings?” She cocked an eyebrow up.

Spitfire blinked looking rather lost. Doctor Stable grabbed another chair and then helped the rapidly deflating captain into it. “Let’s try mixing those numbers around.”

“Well, there aren’t three-hundred ten pages... ain't even three hundred... only two-ninety-five,” Applejack said flipping through it.

“Try one-hundred three then.” Doctor Stables suggested.

Applejack flipped to the said page and read the title out so everypony could hear. “The Inability to see Fluffs.”

“Umm… I think you’d better try a bit further in the journal, darling.” Rarity said.

The doctor frowned as he looked over Spitfire. “Ma’am, rest. That’s an order.” He then turned back to the others as she took a seat in one of the chairs, curling up and closing her eyes. She was too tired to fight or be stubborn about anything right now.

Applejack nodded and thought for a moment. “What if it’s not one-hundred anything… maybe two hundred and three?” She mused, earning a nod of agreement from Rarity.

“Try it, darling. It’s worth a shot.” The unicorn said, leaning over her shoulder to read the pages with the orange mare.

She took a deep breath, and started flipping through the pages, arriving on the page she began to read out loud. “The Cure.”

A collective gasp of relief went through the group. Applejack felt a small smile cross her face for the first time since everything started happening as she read aloud for the group.

“Curing everything of the Fluffs is simple… simple, but not easy. The first issue is being able to see these creatures. The problem, however, is that ponies can’t see these things, only the animals can.” Applejack looked over at the others. “But… wait…” She frowned. “How in tarnation are we gonna fix that problem?”

“Darling, why don’t you just keep reading the book...” Rarity cooed.

Applejack sighed and nodded, her eyes returning to the page. “Once they can be seen, you can assure that the treatment was effective so as to avoid a reinfestation. The only known cure for these infestations is a special mushroom known as the ‘Fluff Exterminator’.”

All eyes went up. “There’s such a plant?” Twilight asked looking to the doctor.

Applejack shook her head confused. “Honest Twilight, ah’ve never heard of such a plant.”

“Me neither,” Doctor Stables added. “Keep going Miss Apple, I’m sure the book gives a description eventually of this plant. If not, we can go ask Zecora.”

Upon agreement, Applejack took up the book once more and began to read. “This mushroom is very-” She squinted at the page as the words started to blur.

“Very what?” Rarity asked impatiently.

Doctor Stables looked the earth pony over with a professional eye. “Miss Apple, hand me the book. I’ll keep reading. I think you need to let your body rest for a moment.”

“Nah Doc, ah’m fine. Just felt a might dizzy there for a moment.”

Doctor Stable took the book in his magic frowning. “No Miss Apple, I’m not taking any of your stubbornness. You’ll need your strength for other things. I’m not feeling any effects of these pests yet, so allow me.”

Applejack’s ears folded back, but she did as she was asked since there was no way to win against Stables. She glanced back as she felt a hoof placed on her shoulder, Rarity flashing an apologetic smile which the farm mare returned. “Ah hope Granny is alright.” She mumbled.

Doctor Stable nodded. “I’ve taken care of that Miss Apple. I sent around some nurses this morning. Granny is down the hall... NOW, we need to figure out what’s going on, and fix it.” His gaze hardened as she looked longingly towards the door.

Before anything more could happen, Spitfire’s ears perked up and she tried to stand. “I need... Fleetfoot... I need-”

Doctor Stable groaned before once more helping her back into the chair. “Madam, please... The rest of the Wonderbolts are there, your duty right now is to obey me.”

She looked up at him with confusion, but her eyes glazed over once more and she drifted off to sleep. He pulled out a cot, and laid her down upon it. Once the pegasus was settled, he returned to his chair and picked up the book to continue reading. “Now then, where were we…” His eyes scanned the page before brightening. “The mushrooms are very common, mostly found in dark places such as caves or scattered about the Everfree Forest. They are a very sweet tasting fungi that act as a poison for these creatures. I have found that the most effective method is to burn the mushrooms and have the infected recipient inhale the smoke. Once the Fluff has been killed, the plant aids in the recovery of the pony…”

Rarity butt in. “So… it heals the pony as well as kills the fluff?”

Stables frowned and skimmed over the page before shaking his head. “Not exactly… The sweet scent that the mushroom gives off when burned helps to relax a crazed pony. Because it is safe to eat but holds no nutritional value, it triggers an overwhelming sense of hunger that allows the pony to eat and regain their strength… a food shortage would make that a bit of a problem though… and it has no effect on the loss of memories, those would merely need to return with time. However, this is exactly the information we were looking for! THIS is the cure for these… bugs…” He flipped to the next page and smiled, holding it out for the mares to see. “Here’s a sketch done by the owner of this journal.”

Applejack, Twilight, and Rarity looked at the drawing and Twilight suddenly pitched in. “I think we need to take this to Zecora… She’ll be able to put this information to use.”

“That’s great an’ all but…” Applejack frowned. “What about the part about needin’ ta see these filthy varmint?... only the animals can!”

Rarity sighed. “Unfortunately darling, I’m going to have to agree with Applejack on this one.”

“Shoot!” Twilight frowned, gazing down at her hooves as she racked her brain for a solution. She thought back to all the spellbooks.

“Here it is!” Doctor Stable cried out turning the book around. “A transformation spell that switches the consciousness of ponies with other sentient things.”