…
It had been several days since the attack on Mount Aris and the rest of Equestria was beginning to come to terms with the latest attack from Grogar and his legion. In the throne room of the Crystal Empire, Cadence and Shining Armor were taking questions from reporters that had come from all over Equestria.
"As rulers of the Crystal Empire," One female reporter from Whinnyeapolis asked. "Are you monitoring the situation that unfolded at Mount Aris?"
"Yes," Cadence answered with a nod. "Several of our subjects have willingly volunteered to be deployed at a moment's notice."
"And how many are you expecting to deploy when the time comes?" A female reporter from Baltimare asked. "Surely there is a plan in place?"
"One is being put together as we speak," Shining Armor answered. "Five hundred of our best troops are on standby to leave at the first sign of conflict. We will not let Grogar or his minions touch the Crystal Empire again! We will hold the line!" But he and his wife were beginning to grow somewhat uncomfortable by the legions of questions.
"Your highnesses," A male reporter from Fillydelphia called out, trying to get their attention. "Cloudy Skies, Fillydelphia Sun here. "Has it ever occurred to you that you have to mentally prepare yourself for anything, even an impending invasion of Equestria?"
"To answer your question," Cadence answered, rising from her throne. "We've dealt with threats from King Sombra, and even Queen Chrysalis during our wedding. I can assure you we are mentally prepared for anything that comes our way. We won't be caught off guard again!"
But none of the reporters were buying it.
Just then, the doors to the throne room were slightly opened and Cadence noticed Mistmane gesturing her to come forward.
"Um, if you'll excuse us, everypony," Cadence said to the reporters. "There's something we need to take care of immediately, thank you for being here and we wish you safe passage back to your homes."
Approaching Mistmane, Cadence shut the doors leaving the reporters in the throne room to clear out.
"She's been at it again," The Pillar of Beauty sighed. "The poor thing has that rash that will not go away."
"It's been two whole days now since Flurry started itching, Shining Armor," Cadence commented while looking over to her husband. "Do you think it's an ordinary rash?"
"I don't think it is," The prince of the Crystal Empire sighed as the three ponies jumped back as Flurry Heart appeared, her body covered in red spots. The alicorn foal attempted to find any particular object to scratch herself on, even her mother's crown. "Flurry, that's Mommy's crown! Put it back. You'll get your own crown when you're older."
Doing as her father said, Flurry complied, but Cadence understood her young daughter's frustration.
"I've tried everything to distract her from the itching," Mistmane commented. "I've given her baths, I've tried playing games with her, but it's impossible. She really should see a doctor."
"We will, first thing in the morning if she's not better. But we have dinner at Twilight's to look forward to and it's too late to back out," Cadence sighed. "Who knows? Maybe Twilight can help us with this rash."
But for Flurry Heart, it was easier said than done as she began to rub herself against the doors to the throne room.
…
…
Following her battle with Squirk, Twilight was looking forward to some much-needed downtime at the Castle of Friendship. She was expecting her brother, sister-in-law and her niece at her castle and was making sure everything was ready. "
There, that should do it!" She said to herself as she finished setting up a folded napkin on her dining room table in the shape of a swan. "At least now I'm starting to get the hang of napkin folding. Can't believe it's that important."
She then turned to Spike, finishing up on polishing an ice sculpture of an alicorn pony. "
Hope that does it," The dragon commented. "Your unmelting spell seems to have an edge on this sculpture, Twilight. Do you think Cadence and Shining Armor will love it?"
"Of course they will," Twilight happily remarked, inspecting the sculpture that had previously been used during Starlight Glimmer's cancelled dinner with Celestia. "But then again it's just a decoration. All that matters is that we spend time together."
"We could certainly use a break considering that battle against Squirk landed some of our friends in the hospital," Spike sighed, thinking of his crush as he landed in front of Twilight. "Including Rarity. Without the Maximals and Discord's help, who knows if we would've survived?"
"Don't worry, Spike," Twilight said in a reassuring voice, placing a hoof on her advisor's shoulder. "Rarity's injuries weren't that serious. She'll be out of the hospital in a day or so as will Rainbow Dash. What matters is that we survived, and we now have a better idea of what we're up against. Come on, I'm sure Rarity wouldn't want you to be upset."
"I guess you're right, Twilight," Spike replied, wiping a tear out of his right eye. "Still, it's not easy. Like this whole war against Grogar."
Just then, their personal cook Grubber came into the dining room bringing out what appeared to be a large bowl of some kind of oddly colored goop.
"Here's the foal foad you wanted, Princess Twilight," The hedgehog said as he placed the bowl on the table. "All for your niece."
But Twilight raised an eyebrow at her chef's work. "Um, Grubber," She remarked. "I don't think Flurry Heart can eat all of that."
"Well, at least there'll be leftovers," Grubber advised. "The rest of the food will be out shortly."
"Thanks, they should be here any minute." Twilight nodded.
…
At the Ponyville Train Station, Celestia and Luna waited on the platform for the Crystal Empire's train to arrive. The two alicorns were looking forward to seeing their adopted niece and as the train pulled in, they were expecting a warm welcome.
But that was not the case. As the doors opened, the two sisters were met with Cadence and Shining Armor holding Flurry Heart wearing her star shaped snowsuit, much to the sister's confusion.
"Um, good evening," Luna remarked in a confusing tone as she approached the two. "Why is Flurry Heart wearing her snowsuit? It's not winter here."
"It's a long story, Aunt Luna," Cadence nervously chuckled. "But we just had a press conference this afternoon. You can't imagine how nosy the reporters were."
"Oh, I think I can. The press may mean well with their questioning, but oftentimes they just don't know when to back off," Celestia sighed, before looking at the pained look on Flurry Heart's spotty face. "Aw, Flurry Heart, you're not feeling too well?"
Groaning, Flurry Heart nodded that she was not feeling well and the confines of her snowsuit made it even more challenging for her.
"She's been under the weather for two days now. We're hoping Twilight can help us figure out what's wrong with Flurry Heart," Shining Armor explained. "Plus, we don't want her infecting Mistmane if what she has is contagious."
But neither Celestia nor Luna were convinced by Shining's words and as all immediately made their way towards the castle.
"It's definitely Pony Pox," Celestia whispered to Luna. "I can see it in Flurry Heart's eyes."
"For once, we can agree on something, sister," Luna whispered back. "Shining and Cadence must know too, the signs are unmistakable."
"Um, Aunt Celestia! Aunt Luna!" Cadence called out to them and stopped them from moving forward as she reached into a large duffle bag. "Could you both hold on a second? We're just going to try and put some more cream on Flurry Heart!"
"It can wait, Cadence." Celestia called back, much to her irritation as well as Shining Armor's.
…
Meanwhile, with her chef back in the kitchen, Twilight walked out of the dining room to await the arrival of her extended family at the entrance. At that moment she saw Starlight walk down the stairs, wearing her pink badge of courage around her neck.
"Hey, Twilight," Starlight called. "Thought I'd wear my pink badge of courage for the dinner tonight. Makes for a nice accessory, doesn't it?"
"Goes to show you that it's more than just a necklace, Starlight." Twilight chuckled as Starlight showed off her pink badge.
"Isn't it? I've gotten quite a few compliments from the students at the school since I wore it a few days ago," Starlight commented and then asked as she coughed into a hoof. "Anyways, how long until Cadence and Shining Armor are here with your niece?"
"Any moment now, Starlight," Twilight said, looking towards the front door. "Celestia and Luna went to the train station to meet them a little while ago. Hopefully, tonight can serve as a distraction with what happened not too long ago."
"Yeah, I mean a shark/squid hybrid that used to be a hippogriff?" Starlight remarked. "You learn something new every day, I guess. Wonder if Silverstream knew about him?"
Just then, they heard a knock at the door and Twilight dashed to the door, opening it to reveal Celestia and Luna on the other side, but her brother, sister-in-law and niece were not with them. "
Um, where are Cadence and Shining Armor?" Twilight asked her mentors. "Shouldn't they be with you?"
"Well…" Celestia stammered. "They'll be along, but…"
"They just had to stop somewhere to apply itching cream to Flurry Heart." Luna finished, much to Twilight's confusion.
Twilight raised an eyebrow. "Itching cream? Does she have a rash?"
"It's more than that, it's quite serious." Celestia cautioned as the sounds of hoofbeats were heard revealing them to be Cadence and Shining Armor, panting from all the running that they were doing.
Going down the stairs, Twilight went to greet them. "Hey guys, how's…?" Twilight started to say only to discover her niece wearing her star shaped snowsuit and red spots on her face. "Um, why is Flurry Heart wearing her snowsuit? There's no snow in the forecast."
But Twilight could see that her niece was being bothered by a strange ailment.
"Well," Shining Armor said. "It's a long story, but…"
Upon further inspection of her niece's condition, Twilight felt a sudden gulp in her throat realizing that a past event involving herself and her niece was about to come out into the open.
"She has the Pony Pox, doesn't she?" She nervously asked as Cadence and Shining Armor looked at Twilight and nodded in confirmation. "Oh, for the love of…"
…
…
"Oh, Flurry, I can't believe you have the pony pox," Twilight groaned as she picked her niece up out of her carriage and hugged her. "I'm so sorry."
But Flurry Heart could only let out a small groan of frustration. In her mind, she was more irritable than upset.
"How long has she been like this?" Twilight questioned her brother and sister-in-law. "Don't tell me she just recently got it?"
"It was just after her first birthday party," Cadence explained as they walked into the castle. "Right after you and your friends left, she started itching nonstop."
"We tried to apply anti-itching cream, but it's not working," Shining Armor added. "So, we thought if you knew of any medicines that might help Flurry out."
It was then that Twilight realized that something else needed to be done. Using her magic, she removed Flurry Heart's snowsuit.
Right away, Flurry immediately started to scratch profusely as her entire body was covered in spots!
"Oh my goodness!" Celestia gasped while stepping back slightly. "She's covered in spots! You poor thing!"
Luna went to approach Flurry Heart, but the baby alicorn waved her back with one of her large wings. "Okay, okay, little one, I won't harm you." Luna whispered, producing a small nervous smile.
"Aw, Flurry Heart," Starlight sighed. "You not feeling well?"
But Flurry glared at Starlight with pain in her big eyes as she began to scratch herself with her hooves.
At that moment, Grubber peaked out from behind the dining room doors. "Dinner is…" He started to say only to discover the infected Flurry Heart. "Uh, should I come back later?"
Nodding that it would be a good idea, Twilight dismissed her chef away.
…
Taking Flurry Heart into the library, Twilight tried searching for a book that talked about reducing the pain of the pony pox.
"So, basically," Twilight declared, reading from the book she had obtained from her bookshelf. "Flurry's had these symptoms for three days now?"
"That's what it is, Twilight," Cadence nodded. "However, I'm beginning to wonder how she got this virus to begin with. We didn't have any major events of recent."
Putting the book down, Twilight turned to her brother and his wife with a look of remorse on her face.
"Um, there's something that I meant to tell you, but I didn't for fear of embarrassment," Twilight confessed. "You see, on the day you surprisingly dropped off Flurry Heart…"
"Yes?" Shining Armor asked, tapping his front left hoof slightly. "What is it, Twily?"
"I went to Ponyville Hospital to cheer up all those foals who came down with the Pony Pox and…" Twilight answered, lowering her head in shame. "I brought Flurry Heart with me. The virus must've been lingering inside her for all this time, until finally her immune system couldn't fight it off anymore."
Both Cadence and Shining Armor's eyes dropped at the mere mention of what happened.
"I can't believe this!" Shining Armor exclaimed while looking at his wife with worry! "How could we not see this happening, Cadence?!"
"Shining, we didn't know this kind of thing was going to happen, Flurry didn't display any symptoms until long after the hospital visit," Cadence answered. "It's my fault too, you know. Being so caught up in seeing Spearhead's artwork."
"Um, I take it dinner is cancelled?" Luna interjected, waving her hoof to get their attention. "Because if it is…"
"No, we could use the distraction, Aunt Luna," Cadence interrupted as she picked Flurry up in her aura and they all left the library. "We should've taken action as soon as the itching began, that should've been a sign that something was wrong. But we were so caught up in our royal duties that we failed to notice."
…
At the table, Flurry was placed in a highchair while continuing to struggle with her itching.
"Sweetie, I know it itches," Cadence said to her daughter, placing a pair of oven mitts on Flurry's front hooves. "But you've got to stop scratching. You'll only make things worse if you don't."
However, Flurry Heart was determined to find a way to scratch going as far as using a fork and strawberry pick, much to Cadence's shock and horror.
"Here, here, play with your whammy," Shining Armor suggested, giving Flurry Heart her stuffed snail, only for Flurry to place the stuffed toy to her face and rub against her face.
"There must be some way to help Flurry Heart," Celestia sighed while looking over at her niece. "Doesn't the Crystal Empire have a doctor who specializes in such diseases?"
"They've all said that viruses run a natural course, Aunt Celestia," Cadence sighed as Flurry Heart continued to struggle with not being able to scratch. "Even Pony Pox. But Shining Armor and I just want our daughter to be well again."
"Has anypony who attended Flurry's party also shown any symptoms?" Luna questioned.
"Not yet, Luna," Shining Armor answered, sitting next to his daughter in an attempt to feed her a small bowl of foal food. "It seems like there's only one pony here who has it and she's sitting right here."
It was then that Twilight got herself an idea. "There is one pony who might be able to help," She declared, catching Cadence and Shining Armor's attention.
"Who is it?" Cadence asked. "Who do you know of, Twilight?"
"Mage Meadowbrook," Twilight answered. "One of the Pillars of Old Equestria. If you like, we can visit her home in Hayseed Swamp in the morning. She's a healer of the highest regard, she could even cure Swamp Fever."
"Will she help?" Shining Armor asked with a hint of worry in his voice.
"She's the best there is, big brother. If there is anypony who can give you the best medical advice, it's her," Twilight nodded. "If Meadowbrook can't help, nopony can!"
…
…
The next morning, Ponyville and the Crystal Empire's leadership met up at the entrance to Hayseed Swamp. The heat and the humidity of the swamp's location was a lot to take in and only made Flurry Heart itch more and more.
"Why does Mage Meadowbrook have to be in a swamp?" Shining Armor protested as they landed into the swamp, surrounded by various shacks. "Couldn't she just…?"
"This is her home, big brother," Twilight sharply interrupted. "And she is perhaps better than any modern day doctor in Equestria."
Soon, they approached a blue tree with round upper roots.
"So this is Mage Meadowbrook's home?" Luna commented in amazement. "I've always wanted to see it for myself. I must say her choice of location reminds me an awful lot of Zecora."
Knocking on the door, Twilight and her entourage waited for an answer on the other side and eventually, the door opened to reveal an obese looking pony with a long blonde beard and red bandana on his head, covered by a brown stovetop hat.
"Yes?" He asked, only to jump back slightly when he saw Twilight. "Well, Princess Twilight! Nice to see ya again! What can I do for ya"
"It's good to see you too, Cattail!" Twilight smiled while hugging Mage's descendant. "I was wondering if Mage would be willing to…"
"Cattail, who is that?" A female sounding voice called from outside.
"It's Princess Twilight and company, Meadowbrook!" Cattail called back as Mage Meadowbrook came into the room placing some supplies she had collected on a table. The Equestrian pillar was astonished by the group of ponies in her tree.
"Well, this is quite a gathering, I reckon," Mage Meadowbroook remarked. "Celestia? Luna? What are y'all doin' here?"
But the medicine pony was immediately taken aback slightly by Flurry Heart as she continued to struggle with her scratching.
"Oh, my goodness, you poor thing!" she cried walking over to Flurry Heart. "You're covered in spots! This is definitely a sign of Pony Pox, though some also call 'em Horsey Hives. Don't know how long you've had it so there's no time to waste, let's get you inside!"
Placing her on an examining table, Meadowbrook took a magnifying glass and carefully studied one of the spots on Flurry Heart's stomach.
"What are you looking at, Mage?" Celestia asked.
"I'm looking to see the spots up close, and call me Meadowbrook, everypony does," Meadowbrook replied. "Pony Pox is the name we medical ponies refer to for the Harpies Zoster virus."
"Harpies Zoster virus?" Shining Armor commented. "I don't recall hearing that before."
Meadowbrook replied. "I'm pretty sure you have had it before, Mr…"
"Shining Armor, Prince Shining Armor of the Crystal Empire." Shining bowed.
"Everypony usually gets the Pony Pox at least once in their lives," Cattail remarked as he prepared to draw a bath in one of the sinks. "It's not my place to say, however…"
"What exactly have you been usin' to treat her rashes?" Meadowbrook asked as she carried Flurry over to the bathtub.
"We've just been creaming her up," Shining Armor explained. "Putting on anti-itch cream. It works whenever Flurry gets rashes. There was little else we could do. I remember when I was growing up they always said never to itch the spots, or you'll make it worse. But that's as far as treatment went."
Mage Meadowbrook said nothing as she placed Flurry Heart in the tub, and began covering her with a special brand of medical soap. "Well as you're seein' here," She explained. "I've placed your little one in this here bath. and am coverin' her with a special medical bubble soap. It's meant to weaken the virus until it retreats."
"Kind of like what's going on with the war against Grogar," Twilight guessed. "If that is a good comparison."
"Sort of, Princess Twilight," Mage Meadowbrook answered. "You see, we must always be prepared to defend ourselves against any virus. I'm going to recommend that Flurry Heart get a vaccination. That way she'll be protected against future encounters with viruses like this. You're lucky you live in an age where such vaccinations are readily available upon appointment. In my time the only way you'd get immunity from a virus was if you caught it and survived."
She then instructed Cattail to prepare the vaccination while taking Flurry Heart out of the bathtub and dried her off gently.
Bringing the vaccination over, Cattail handed the syringe to Meadowbrook who then proceeded to rub some alcohol on Flurry's right foreleg. The young alicorn was too tired to notice that Mage was about to stick a needle into her.
"Now, this is just goin' to pinch for a second, sweetie," Meadowbrook aid tenderly to Flurry Heart. Cadence held her daughter's left forehoof as Meadowbrook placed the needle into Flurry's foreleg while they all watched. "My, what a brave little girl you are."
But it was apparent that Flurry Heart was too tired to cry out in pain. Instead she just sat there in exhaustion as Mage Meadowbrook placed a bandage on the wound where the vaccine had been administered.
"Good job, Flurry!" Twilight cooed, taking her niece in her aura and hugging her. "I'm so proud of you for taking on something like this!"
However, despite the relief that their daughter was being treated, both Cadence and Shining Armor felt nothing but guilt for putting Flurry Heart in the situation to begin with.
"Look, Meadowbrook," Shining Armor suggested. "This wasn't by accident…Flurry Heart getting sick and all."
"Oh, what do you mean?" The healer remarked as she disposed of the needle.
"Well, you see, I had a friend who was showing off his art gallery in Ponyville and well…" Shining began only to trail off.
"They left Flurry Heart with me, and I took her to the hospital where there was a group of fillies and colts with the Pony Pox," Twilight explained. "So, if there is anypony you should blame, it's myself, Cadence and Shining Armor."
The three royal ponies looked at Meadowbrook with forlorn looks on their faces.
"Why should I put any blame on y'all?" Meadowbrook remarked as she washed her hooves. "Sometimes it can't be helped, and for all you know she might have gotten the Pony Pox anyway. If there is ever a time for Flurry Heart to be infected with the Pony Pox, foalhood is the safest time. Though if you can help it you should make sure she stays up to date on all her shots."
"What about when you are a full grown mare or stallion?" Luna asked.
"Oh, the virus can come back and be even worse," Cattail answered. "After you get the Pony Pox, it stays dormant in y'all until later in life, where it comes back and causes sharp pain in a certain spot on your bodies."
"There is a way to protect yourself against that too," Mage Meadowbrook added, nodding for Cattail to prepare more vaccines while Mage held out an empty syringe. "Who wants to be first?"
…
Having received all of their vaccinations, the group left Hayseed Swamp and returned to the Castle of Friendship to reflect on what they all went through.
"I hope Flurry Heart can finally rest at ease now," Cadence sighed, holding onto a sleeping Flurry Heart in Twilight's living room, while also inspecting the bubble bath that Mage Meadowbrook had given her. "And with this bubble bath Mage Meadowbrook gave us, the virus will continue to weaken."
A few moments later, Twilight returned with Mistmane in tow. "I came as soon as I heard what had happened," Mistmane declared. "How's my precious little angel?"
Opening her eyes weakly, Flurry babbled quietly as Mistmane looked on tenderly. "Aw, come here, little one," Mistmane whispered, rocking Flurry Heart back and forth while Cadence and the others looked on. "Grandmother Misty is here for you."
And Flurry Heart fell asleep in Mistmane's aura, grateful to finally be rid of the virus that made her life a living nightmare.
…
…