Are You Ready?

by Dirty Bit

Chapter 23

The next day, Dr. Facilier and Fluttershy trotted into town with smiles on their faces. Dr. Facilier was flashing a prideful grin as he trotted with Fluttershy while holding saddlebags full of all his potions he had created and tested. The timid mare looked as happy as Pinkie Pie on a regular basis and almost felt like soaring through the sky after what had happened to her last night.

She remembered how the Shadowcolt trotted into her room with a smile, confusing her at first, until he said that he wanted to start a relationship after saying that he felt like he 'ignored her precious feelings for the longest time'. Fluttershy could never have been more happy about this set of news and threw herself in his arms as she agreed without hesitation.

Today, they were officially coltfriend and marefriend, and Fluttershy was excited to tell her friends the news. What she DIDN'T know was that Dr. Facilier had started their little relationship so she could take advantage of her feelings and use her as a shield against those who knew about his little schemes, namely Zecora and Rainbow Dash. Seeing as how she was so blinded with affection, she was sure to be on his side no matter what. He grinned as they approached town, ready to part ways and get started on his new job until they were approached with Twilight and Rarity. They were both curious as to how their timid friend could look so happy, as Rarity trotted up and asked "Darling, you seem in a very bright mood today! Did one of your animal friends have another baby?" Fluttershy giggled "Even better..." She muttered, leaving Twilight to tilt her head "Well, what is it then? I've never seen you this way before ever since you wanted to get a pet for Rainbow Dash..." Dr. Facilier decided to humor them by telling the news with pride on his face.

"Last night, I went to this dear little mare
And woke her from her sleeping without care.
I wanted to tell her how I feel
And make our little thing become real."

Fluttershy nuzzled her head under the grinning Shadowcolt's as her friends gasped with surprise "Oh my stars, darling! You two are starting a relationship?" Rarity beamed at the two nuzzling each other, happy with their newly developed love (Or Fluttershy's anyway...) and Twilight smiled at their gesture "Well, congratulations, Dr. Facilier! I never expected you to go to Fluttershy first like this, given your charm and whatnot, but at the same time I kind of saw this happening! I'm happy for you both!" The Shadowcolt inwardly sneered at how ignorant Twilight was, thinking she actually knew about his plans, but then turned to the clinic and remembered his job. He looked down at Fluttershy with a smile.

"I better get goin', buttercup...
If you're ever in need, jus' look me up."

Fluttershy looked up at Dr. Facilier with a loving smile "I will...Good luck on your first day of work, Dr. Facilier..." She gave him a kiss on the cheek and trotted off with her friends, wanting to talk to them more. The doctor only chuckled at them leaving and went to his respective job 'Time to flaunt my knowledge an' make bank...' He was more than confident about working as a registered doctor at work station and putting his fellow workers to shame with his medical prowess. Walking through the door, he trotted through as ponies in the waiting room were looking at him with curiousity and wondering how he'll perform his methods of treatment. They also stared at his potions, and began thinking that he and Zecora were related. When he reached Nurse Redheart after passing through the employee's door, he cleared his throat to get her attention. The white mare noticed her new employee and beamed at his punctuality "It's so nice to see you here, Dr. Facilier! I hope you'll enjoy your time here on the field thanks to Tenderheart's generosity! I see you've even came prepared with all of those potions!" The doctor puffed out his chest and gave a wide smile as he levitated the potions and set them on a vacant shelf in a room.

"Looks like that there examination room is mine...
I'll wait for my patients an' make sure they'll leave fine..."

Nurse Redheart nodded "I'll be sure to inform our patients about your presence and perhaps give you some ponies who aren't able to establish an appointment with the other doctors! Good luck and enjoy your time here in Ponyville Clinic, Doctor!" She walks out of the room and shuts the door, leaving Dr. Facilier to linger about in his new workspace by himself. He was beginning to get bored fast, regretting to not take a voodoo doll with him, preferably the Zecora one, and pass the time with a little fun. After a deep sigh, he went to leave for a short break and opened the door to reveal another pony wanting to open it. It was another white coated unicorn mare, only this one had a spiky mane with two shades of blue, and was wearing large tinted purple glasses over her eyes. She grinned as she saw the zebracorn and made her way inside "Yeah, sorry to come here on such short notice, Doc! I just wanted to see if there was some kind of love potion I could use for my troubles with Tavi! She an' I haven't been speaking to each other so well, and we've tried almost everything that was recommended for a good relationship. You think you can help a mare out?" Who the hay was Tavi? Dismissing the thought, he knew exactly what the mare was looking for and levitated a bottle of pink liquid over to the now-grinning mare.

"This thing'll make sure you two have fun,
An' cherish your love under Celestia's sun..."

The mare took the potion with her own magic and was more than happy with the words spoken to her "Alright! Thanks, Doc, you've done me a solid! Maybe I could try and make you a regular at my club for this! See ya!" She trotted off with her love potion, leaving the Shadowcolt to smile at his first satisfied customer while straightening his suit and hat. A doctor then passed by, looking down the hall behind him with an intrigued look on his face. The doctor's mane resembled an orange muffin, leading him to wonder if he ever had any encounters with the one called Derpy. He never expected to hear that sort of name from Pinkie when she apologized for sending her after him thinking he had muffins stashed in his suit. The doctor turned to the Shadowcolt with a smile "Say! That was Vinyl Scratch, wasn't it? And thanks to you, she seems to be in the best of moods! Way to go, sir!" he walks off, leaving the doctor dropping his jaw. The first customer he helped happened to be the same pony who made the music he considered audible drek that he had heard before at his welcome party. He wanted to slap himself for this, not anticipating this moment. He should remember to keep track of everypony in Ponyville so he knew who to help and who to make miserable. Sighing at his inner loss, he perked up and remember that he had a job to do as a doctor. This was going to be a long day... 'This is gonna be a LONG day...'

( Told ya... )

Every patient began coming to him like flies to a bug zapper, helping everypony left and right with their problems. A colt named Caramel came in with a splint on his right hindleg "D-Do ya think ya have anythin' for my leg here? I kinda had an accident when I was applebucking..." The doctor rolled his eyes at this and levitated a bottle of green liquid to a colt, making him take a good gulp of it. After a few minutes his leg started to feel better "Oh...Oh! That's a mighty fine potion there, Doc. I feel loads better! Thank ya kindly!" He made his way out, happy that his leg could heal so easily. The Shadowcolt grinned and chuckled to himself 'Zecora, eat your heart out...'.

His next patient was another colt named Pokey Pierce, who appeared to be sluggish at the moment. He looked at Dr. Facilier with eyes yearning for help, his voice sounding dreary "I just need some kind of drink that'll give me that extra boost of energy I need every day...I feel like Rainbow Dash's pet tortoise..." He pulled out a potion of yellow liquid and let him sample a sip. After one sip, he quickly jumped up and looked like he was struck by lightning, his mane and tail sticking up and frazzled "Wow! Thanks a bunch, doctor!!" He said with a quick and energized tone as he sped out with his bottle. The doctor's shadow saw this and donned a crooked smile, giving its master a brohoof.

The mare named Berry Punch was next in line, and she looked at the doctor with worry in her eyes "I think I have a drinking problem..." The doctor simply closed his eyes and levitated a bottle of red liquid over to Berry Punch and scooted her out of his room. Shutting the door, he only shook his head as he trotted back to his shelf for inventory check.

This next patient was a pony wearing a cloak and sunglasses, shifting its head left and right as it quickly made its way inside "There was word that you are a good doctor and could help anypony with certain problems..." The feminine tone of voice dictated it was a mare, and Dr. Facilier donned a smug smile, brushing his suit with a hoof.

"Yeah, maybe I am one o' the best...
You tryin' to put my skill to the test?"

The cloaked mare scoffed and tossed a small bag of bits "Do you have anything suitable for mental truama? This should cover it if your expertise is as you claim..." Dr. Facilier levitated a bottle of blue liquid over to her, and it was then enveloped in an aura of blue magic "Yes...yes this shall work out nicely...Trix-I-I mean 'I' am quite pleased with your success, doctor...Keep up the good work and you shall have a repeat customer..." She trotted out of the room, then quickly galloped away as if she were trying to remain unseen. It's official: Everypony in this town is crazy.

After another slew of patients, the day flew by fast as Nurse Redheart came in to check on Dr. Facilier, who was keeping another inventory check on his many potions. She smiled as she trotted over to the Shadowcolt and spoke "Dr. Facilier, you really have done a good job with folks who needed help with almost nopony else to turn to! We're actually more productive than ever since you've arrived! I cannot thank you enough for your added services to the clinic!" The Shadowcolt puffed his chest out and gave a prideful grin towards his superior, taking in the praise with open hooves.

"Well, all my brews aren't really a joke.
I'm just glad to help the pony folk..."

Nurse Redheart nodded as she decided for what her newest employee should do next "Well I'm here to tell you that your shift is over for today. If you would follow me, I will gladly give you your pay for today!" He followed the white mare to her office, where she had presented him with a bag of bits bigger than what the cloaked mare offered. She looked up at Dr. Facilier with a smile "Thank you once again for your services today. I'll let you know when to come back if things around here begin to get out of hoof." The doctor did not know how to react to that certain response, but the bright side was he got some time to himself, and he was still gonna get paid in the making. This was practically 10 times as much money he had made back when he was a run-of-the-mill charlatan back in Louisiana. He tipped his hat farewell to his boss and trotted off with his pay, ready to go back to Fluttershy's cottage and count his well-earned loot.

Little did he know...he was being followed by a pair of determined mares; One pink, the other rainbow...