//------------------------------// // The Controlled Epidemic // Story: Martha & Skits's Adventure in Ponyville // by Zenitram Nadroj //------------------------------// All of the party guests in Sugar Cube Corner are still in disbelief, especially Martha. “Skits, you actually spoke.”, she says. “My gosh. It's a miracle.”, Skits says. He then stands on his hind legs and is amazed. “I can also stand and walk on two legs.” He starts walking and dancing. “Wow. Wait, I was hit by that magic, too.”, Martha says. She then stands up and walks and dances, too. “Whoa! Discord, what did you do to them?”, Starlight asks. “It appears some of my chaotic magic must have shot out when I sneezed.”, he answers. “And as a result them must have gotten as sentient as me.” “Senti-what now?”, Martha asks. “Oh. 'Sentient' means able to perceive or feel things.”, Discord says. “In other words you know have my abilities in your bodies.” “Wow. This is completely out there.”, she says. “So this is what it's like to walk on two legs.” “Wait, if I can walk, talk and dance, I wonder if I can sing as well.”, Skits says. He then starts singing and Martha joins in. Soon, they become so carried away and take their musical number outside and perform in front of the citizens of Ponyville. As soon as their song number ends they realize that all of the citizens have seen the dogs. “Oh, dang.”, they both say in unison. “How did those dogs sing?”, a mare asks. “Uh, I can explain.”, Twilight says. She then tries to think and then comes up with a possible explanation. “You see, Fluttershy found these dogs and took care of them. And when we celebrated their birthday, Discord sneezed and caused these dogs to become sentient.”, she says. The citizens exclaim in awe. “Excuse me. Excuse me.”, a voice says. A stallion wearing a suit approaches the dogs. “I'm a traveling music career agent and just so happened to see you two pull of a phenomenal music number.”, he says. “What I want to ask is would the two of you like to be in show business “Us? Be in show business?”, Martha asks. “Oooohhh. Martha, Skits, take the job.”, Pinkie says. “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity.” “Yes. You could be the most famous dogs in all of Equestria.”, Rarity says. “Martha, you already have a job as a firehouse dog and a disc jokey.”, Skits says. “Well...”, Martha says as she thinks. “All right then.” “Perfect. Come with me.”, the agent says. Martha and Skits follow him but Martha stops and turns to Fluttershy. “Fluttershy, you are going to keep your promise to take me and Skits back home right?” “Of course.”, she says. “I would never break a pinkie promise.” They leave with the agent and get on a carriage. They soon leave to their first gig. All of the citizens leave and continue with their lives. “They're so lucky.”, Rainbow says. “How can dogs actually be famous?” Suddenly, the group that was in the Crystal Empire appear before the group. “Cadance, Shining, Flurry, Celestia, Luna, Sunburst, Thorax.”, Twilight says. “What in the hay are y'all doin' here?”, Applejack asks. “Thank goodness we found you, we have something to tell you all.”, Celestia says. Back in Wagstaff City, the professor and the townspeople construct a machine that will get the pets and animals back. “Do you think this will work?”, Helen says as she yawns. “It's been four whole days.” “I don't know, Helen.”, her father says. “The professor says that this will be able to get all of our pets back.” “Come on, everyone. Put you back into it.”, her grandfather says. Everyone gives the professor more technology and Agent Johnson and T.D.'s father helps him taking apart and place them together. Outside, looking through a window, the goons watch as the townspeople put together the machine and start planning. “How are we going to get a hold of that machine?”, Kablooey asks. “That professor has about every single citizen in Wagstaff City helping him out.” “And it's even worse because of that agent.”, Fildgemarker comments as 001 growls. “Hmm. Maybe there is a way.”, Bumblecrum says. “What are you suggesting?”, Gimmie asks. “Well, maybe we can come up with a ploy to use to get these supporters away from that machine.” “Well, don't just stand there. What's the ploy?”, Weaselegraft asks. They all huddle up and she whispers to the group. They all mutter in agreement and the break apart. “Do you really think that will work? Not everyone in this town is gullible.”, Pablum asks. “And 'gullible' means easily persuaded to believe something.” “It's fool proof. I'm certain that everyone will believe it.”, Bumblecrum says. “Well, let's get to work, Tumblegum.”, Weaselegraft says. “It's Bumblecrum!”, she shouts and covers her mouth. They all duck as Truman turns to a window. “Hmm.”, he says. “What is it, Truman?”, Carolina asks. “I thought I heard something. Oh, well.” “All right. Let's all get to work.”, Kablooey says. In Keretomatus's lair, he continues to turn more and more ponies into monsters. “Everything is all coming together.”, he says. “I can practically taste that worship already.” Suddenly his viewing pool starts glowing. He then growls in frustration. “Oh, what could it possibly be this time?” He then stops his process and walks to the pool. He stirs his finger in the water and it shows the dogs again. But this time, they're both dancing and singing. They end their musical number. “What, those dogs can sing and dance now?”, he says. “Why show me this?” He then notices the dogs going into their trailer exhausted. “Oh, Skits, I don't know if I can do this any longer.”, the yellow dog says. “Don't worry, Martha. We just have to focus on getting back home.”, the brown dog says. “They would never break their promise.” “So they're planning on going back home, huh?”, the emperor says. “Well, then I'll have to work extra hard now that they'll soon be gone.” He then powers up his magic and starts to turn more ponies into monsters at once. His sons the enter the room and power up their magic. He then smiles and lets the princes extract the beauty of the prisoners. Back in Ponyville, Celestia and Luna finish their story at why they came. “So all of the citizens are following pets out of the kingdom?”, Twilight asks. “Yes. And even more surprising, they're the same pets we saw in Zecora's cauldron.”, Celestia says. “You mean they came from the same world as Martha and Skits?”, Rainbow asks. “Yes. And what's more they all have the same aura me and Celestia are trying to remember.”, Luna says. “Wait a minute.”, Starlight says. “If those pets have been controlled, maybe Martha and Skits will be controlled as well.” “What do you mean?”, asks Trixie. “Think about it. The pets that are being controlled came from the same world as Martha and Skits. If they've been controlled, there's no doubt that those two will be controlled as well.” “Well we better find Martha and Skits fast.”, Scootaloo says. “But we don't even know where they went.”, Apple Bloom says. “Well, this is one pony who can help us.”, Twilight says.