Derpy sat with the three centaur foals. She was trying to teach them how to blow bubbles. They sat on the floor together in a circle, with a small table between them. On the table were a few treats, a stuffed doll, and a bottle of bubble mix.
The room was now an eye searing shade of safety orange, with yellow plastic curtains. The foals didn’t seem to mind, but the working adults certainly did. The room was now considered a class 2 safety goggle zone.
There were also some toys scattered about.
Rhubarb, Buttermilk, and Doctor Broadneck all sat at a table nearby, taking notes, observing the social interaction between the gray mare and the odd foals.
“Bubbles…” Derpy began, “are fun.” She demonstrated this by grasping a bubble wand in her wing tip, dipping it into the bubble mix, and then blowing a stream of bubbles at Bon Mot, who sat in wide eyed wonder. She dipped the wand again, this time, she blew a stream of bubbles at Cafe Mocha. Cafe Mocha poked at the bubbles with her fingers, popping several.
Betelgeuse was entranced by the bubbles, clapping her hands together, twitching her tail, and squirming wildly. Derpy blew a stream of bubbles at Betelgeuse, who responded by tackling Derpy with a hug and squeezing her.
“Fun!” Derpy said, while being squeezed. She smiled broadly.
Derpy’s smile turned to a look of alarm as Betelgeuse seized the bottle of bubble mix.
Betelgeuse took a long pull from the bottle… And froze.
“BLEH!” Betelgeuse announced.
“Oh my,” said the doctor, “science is about to happen. Be ready!” His pen quivered, ready to take down scientific notations that would baffle the minds of above average intelligence.
Betelgeuse sat there, her face frozen in disgust, her tongue hanging out, still holding the bottle of bubble mix. She set the bottle down upon the table and began to sputter. “Not fun.” Betelgeuse announced.
“It is soap.” Derpy said patiently. “Soap tastes bad.”
Betelgeuse took a deep breath and blew out a belch.
“BRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAP!” She brapped, blowing out a long stream of bubbles as she burped, causing her siblings to squeal in delight.
“Fascinating.” The doctor said.
Betelgeuse belched again, causing another stream of bubbles. Derpy began to giggle. “Fun!” Betelgeuse announced.
“Betelgeuse will be making carpet art later.” Buttermilk said, sighing.
“I like the browns she uses for texture.” The doctor said absentmindedly, scribbling down notes.
Betelgeuse paused, suddenly looking more than a little green. She ran to Buttermilk. “Buttermilk, I don’t feel good.” Betelgeuse said in a queasy voice.
“Do you want to throw up?” Buttermilk asked with some concern.
“Okay.” Betelgeuse replied, suddenly blowing chunks on Buttermilk.
Buttermilk sat there in shock, suddenly covered in soapy bubbly vomit.
A single bubble formed and blew out of Betelgeuse’s nostril, drifting away, towards the yellow plastic curtain.
“On a scale of one to ten, what is the level of your revulsion right now Buttermilk?” Doctor Broadneck inquired, pen held ready.
“I need a drink.” Betelgeuse said, her mouth forming several bubbles which blew away as she spoke.
“About a ten. Definitely a ten.” Buttermilk said.
“We don’t have a comparative sample.” Rhubarb said. “Have we taken bias into account?” Rhubarb seemed concerned, worried, wanting reliable results for the directors.
“I can help.” Betelgeuse said, turning towards Doctor Broadneck and blowing chunks once again, sending a violent stream of bubbles out of her nose as she did so.
Bon Mot and Cafe Mocha giggled.
Derpy sat in stunned silence, mouth open in an o of horror. A small o, not a large O, as she didn’t want to take any chances with stray vomit.
“Fascinating.” The doctor said. “This is the third time this week and it is only Tuesday. Soapy, rather warm, with a piquant aroma, and there is noticeable traces of the subject's lunch from earlier. Is that macaroni?” The doctor asked. “A ten seems warranted.” He agreed, nodding his head. “The synthetic orange cheese from the macaroni dish provides a most interesting colour contrast on my coat.” He murmured.