//------------------------------// // Chapter 7: Yttrium // Story: Transparent Living // by PinoyPony //------------------------------// “He usually wears a trench coat- usually if he’s without a lab coat.” Coco described. “Nope, never met him.” Dazzle said.   “Just checking,” Coco said. She wanted to make sure that nothing was awkward, or look like a fool again. How was she supposed to know if Dazzle passed him by on the street? Though, she knew it would be very unlikely. The door swung open. “Yttrium!” Coco cheered, holding out her forelegs. Yttrium wrapped his forelegs around her and chuckled. “Good to see you Coco!” Coco rocked back and forth on the heels of her hooves. “So, what’s up?” “Same old, same old. Got caught up in the lab again- not watching the clock can really mess with you. It's time I get a watch.” He examined his gray forehoof and sighed. “Sorry I missed yesterday's meetup.” “You're good!” Coco said. She glanced over to Dazzle, who was sitting in a chair, seemingly waiting for the right cue. “Anyways, meet Dazzle!” She motioned over. Yttrium approached Dazzle and offered a shaky hoof. “Dr. Fuse, glad to meet you.” “Doctor?” Dazzle raised an eyebrow as she shook his hoof. “Why do they call you Yttrium?” “Oh, my parents were into Metal. And I don't mean the material- they adored the music. So, the result was naming their son ‘Boron Yttrium Fuse’.” He adjusted his glasses and stroked his Crimson mane behind his dull silver horn. “I’m rather not fond of my first name, But, I respond to both.” “No worries, I completely understand,” Dazzle said. Yttrium smiled. “Anyways, Yttrium, how are the experiments going?” Coco asked. “Harsh, that pesky curse is a doozy- luckily we are cracking down on its containment.” His shook his head as it drooped. “We have yet to find the antidote.” “What’s going on now?” Dazzle asked as her eyes widened. She tilted her head. “Oh, sorry, I haven’t told her about what you do.” She shifted her gaze from Yttruim to Dazzle. Coco giggled as the look of wonder on Dazzle's face reminded her of a filly in candy shop.“Yttrium here is one of the scientists assigned to find a cure for this awful curse going crazy.” “It’s an entropy incantation.” He explained. “It causes a variety of ailments, depending on the pony. Some are immune, some aren't. We suspect it’s a strain of poison joke somewhere in the city, but we haven’t found any flowers yet.” He turned towards Coco. “Do you have any free time? We have a vacancy in hospital volunteers.” “Unfortunately, I wish I had some. But Dazzle and I need to get home after this so I can finish in time for the festival.” Coco answered. “Can I volunteer?” Dazzle asked. Yttrium's eyes widened. He smirked. “You would?” Dazzle explained. “I have wondered a long time how cool it would be to work in a lab, with a cool lab coat.” Yttrium leaned into Coco's ear and whispered. “I like your friend already!” Yttrium's expression wavered from the jovial to a dull one as he shook his head in response. “As much as I want to say ‘yes’- unfortunately, you are too young. You have to be at least fourteen.” Dazzle's ears drooped. Yttrium trotted up to her. “I'm sorry.” He craned his neck down and whispered something in her ear; something that Coco couldn't hear. She watched Dazzle's ear perk up and her eyes sparkle. He slid off his lab coat and draped it over Dazzle. “I gotta get a new one anyways.” Dazzle's jaw dropped open. She squealed as she hopped around in a circle, the coat flapping like a cape behind her. Coco wanted to giggle. She could imagine, how cute Dazzle would be, he eyes aglow and starry as they were right now, working in a lab beside Yttrium. Suddenly, a thought came to her head. It was risky idea, but it tickled her muse. “I'll tell the Secretary that you can take it. She'll have no problem with it. Just check with her first, and she'll give you a lollipop for the road.” He instructed. He looked over to Coco “Again, sorry that I’m busy Coco, but with all these incidents, I gotta move. I promise once it’s over, I can hang out more often.” He smiled at Dazzle. Dazzle smiled back but flinched when her stomach growled. As if in agreement, Yttrium’s stomach growled. He looked to Coco “You know what, Coco? Curse isn't going anywhere- we got it contained. How ‘bout we grab some grub?” Coco felt the tug of the nagging need to get back to sewing. However, Yttrium was ditching work, and just for her for that matter. “That would be… wonderful.” She finished. “Wonderful.” He repeated, stepping towards the door. “Just let me get my trench coat and I’ll meet you in the Foyer. Cafe 80’s sound good?” “Sounds Perfect!” Coco pulled a scarf out of her saddlebags. Another nagging thought entered her mind as she caught a glimpse of the fabric she bought earlier. “Great!” He said as he slipped past the door. “Well, let’s get heading.” Coco said. “I hope you don’t mind Cafe 80’s twice.” “Their apple pie is good. I’ll get another.” Dazzle said. “On our way down, can I stop by the secretary? I want a lollipop.” Coco snickered, knowing that Yttrium has worked some magic once again. He could cure anything, except that pesky curse. As they exited to the stairwell, she asked “What did he tell you?” “He said he's been in my horseshoes. And when I finally get to volunteer, he'll accept me into the lab in open hooves.” Dazzle said. She  gently tugged at the white collar. She ran a little, letting the coat tails catch the air. It flowed like a cape. “He also said that this lab coat is a lucky charm.” Coco thought about her plans now, hold bold and risky the were going to be. The coat is the exact thing that She and Dazzle needed. She laughed. “Yes it is.” Coco did her best to carry Dazzle up the stairs to the apartment. She juggled her keys in one hoof as she tried to keep Dazzle steady. Luckily, the groceries were already inside with the fabric from this morning. She let Dazzle wait on the couch while she made the rounds. Upon return, Dazzle had dozed off. She looked so peaceful, so she didn’t want to wake her. Weaving through the dark, she carried Dazzle to her room. She carefully stepped around furniture, making sure that Dazzle's slumber wouldn't be disturbed. She set her on her bed, and tucked the blankets over her. Coco was about to exit the room when her eyes met with the button eyes of an Alicorn Plushie. The occasional gleam from a passing taxi glazed across its eyes from the windowsill. She could tell from the faint light that the buttons were electric blue. She smiled as she picked it up off the floor and placed it near Dazzle’s forehooves. In response, Dazzle pulled the plush closer and snuggled it in the crook of her neck. She yawned and smiled. Coco’s heart warmed. She hadn't done this in ages. At home, her siblings have all grown up and moved away. Oh, if only she could bring those times back. She tip-hooved around the stray fabric still strewn across the floor and slipped through the door quietly. As she shut the door, she stepped across the hardwood, making her way to the sewing room- which doubled as her bedroom. Her hoofsteps were muffled as she stepped across carpet. Along the way, she smiled at the pictures she had hanging, ones of family and friends. The ones who help her put her dreams together. Quietly, she situated herself in front of her sewing machine and started to push the pedal. Darkness surrounded her except the glowing light under the sewing machine's neck. Nothing to bother her. It was just her and good ol’ sewing machine. She zoned out as the rest of the room faded into darkness. “White and Red Spool.” she mumbled as she opened a drawer door underneath the desk. She flinched when she pushed a box of needles away over an unsent letter underneath. Which reminded her. Slamming the drawer shut, she inspected her hoof. “Good, It didn't draw any blood.” Rolling her eyes at the fabric under the light of the sewing machine, she scoffed and trotted over to the kitchen. Her hooves clattered on the cold surface of the floor. She came to the kitchen and pulled the refrigerator door open. She squinted as the light blinded her. When her eyes adjusted, she rummaged through the fridge. She silently celebrated a ‘gotcha’ as her hooves found purchase on the can of soda she bought earlier from the grocery store. She flicked it open. She took a sip. “One down, Twenty-three more to go.” As she sipped on the soda, her mind glazed back to the letter. She tried to shake it off, maybe procrastinate sending it, but the time she dawdled away was over. Figuring it would be better for her than cozy fabric, or the purr of sewing machine, she snatched a piece of paper from the counter with her reading glasses. She scooted into the table, took a deep breath, and started to write. ‘Dear Randolph…’