//------------------------------// // The Pills // Story: A Shattered Heart // by Valorage //------------------------------// Chapter three: The pills Fluttershy made her way to the animal clinic as fast as she could. She arrived to an unusually pleased Kakashi. He had a large grin on his face. “What are you so happy about, Kakashi?” Fluttershy asked, confused. “The pills.” He responded. “What about them?” Fluttershy asked. “It’s the pills! The pills!” He was running into his office. Fluttershy followed, only getting more confused by the minute. By the time they reached his back office, it was different. It was filled with charts, complex equations, and chemical compounds. A makeshift chemistry lab was constructed in the corner. Fluttershy took a seat and Kakashi began grabbing different materials and chemicals, and placing them on his desk. “What is all of this?” Fluttershy asked, astonished. “All of this? This is nothing. But this…” he pointed towards the chemicals on his desk, “This could be the solution to all of your problems.” Fluttershy was smiling profusely, as if to urge him to explain. “Well,” he began, “I figured out the origin. The virus originates from a rare species of bird in the forest around Fillidelphia. The species uses this virus as a self defense mechanism, normally to take out packs of manticores. However, a bird was caught in one of the releases of the virus, and brought it to Pony ville. Now, taking that information, I moved onto the pills I gave you. They contain a simple compound used to thin the blood. The thinner the blood, the longer it takes to spread. I moved on to the pills you gave me. They contained herbs readily available but to no medicinal use. These herbs are combined with a blood-thinning agent that thins the blood. Unlike my pills however, they contain large amounts of this chemical.” He paused to lift a capped vial with his mouth and give it to Fluttershy. “Meet the C-virus. This isn’t a virus under normal definition. Yes, it spreads by using host cells, but it attacks the B-Virus cells. Do you remember the red and green pills? The top half, the red, contained the blood thinner and herbs. The bottom half contained this, the C-virus. If I were to take my pills, combine it with the herbs and C-Virus, and a few extra chemicals, in theory, I could eliminate the virus. It would take a while, and I have been trying to get Celestia to lend me her phoenix to test the pills on…” “W-well…you could use one of my birds…” Fluttershy squeaked. “That’s the problem though. If I were to use your birds…the risks would be way too high…” Kakashi looked grim. “R-risks?” “Every medicine has its risks, and this is no exceptions. Using this, at least while unrefined and untested, could result in a number of worse deaths than just a cough. I’m sorry…but I can’t use your birds. Not until I test it.” Fluttershy looked grim, then she got an idea. “I’ll be right back!” she yelled, flying out of the clinic. ***** Rainbow woke after a couple hours of napping. The pressure on her foreleg was gone, and there was something in her hoof. She turned to see a note. ‘Dear Rainbow Dash, I’m sorry, but I had to go. Kakashi wanted to see me about the birds. I really hope we can continue this picnic some other time. –Fluttershy’ Rainbow smiled, and started packing everything up. She put the blanket, the leftover hay fries, and the box of chocolate, only missing one piece, back into the basket. Picking it up with her teeth, she flew to Fluttershys cottage. When she arrived, she saw a very worried Angel bunny. When he saw Rainbow, his expression could have been conceived as angry. “Hey, Angel bunny? Have you seen Fluttershy anywhere?” Rainbow asked. Angel just looked at her. “Well…I need to return her basket.” Rainbow was scratching her head with her hoof when Angel kicked at the door. It opened, and Rainbow flew inside. She placed the basket on the table and flew back to the porch. “Thanks!” She yelled as she flew towards Sweet Apple Acres. ***** Fluttershy darted towards the house of Twilight Sparkle, ramming into her at the door. “Oh, I’m so sorry! Are you okay? Are you hurt?” Fluttershy asked, worried. “Fluttershy, I’m fine. What’s got you in a rush?” Twilight asked, running a hoof over her fur coat, rubbing the dirt out. “I-I um…I need to talk to spike…” Fluttershy squeaked. “Oh, let me get him for you!” Twilight offered cheerfully. “T-that would be nice.” Fluttershy thanked Twilight with a smile. “Spiiiiike!” Twilight called, opening the door to her library-house. “Wha?” Spike called, obviously being startled awake. “Fluttershy needs you!” Twilight called. “What’s up Fluttershy?” Spike asked, walking down the stairs, rubbing his eyes. “I need you to send a letter to Celestia…I mean…if that’s all right…” Fluttershy squeaked. “Sure, just write it out, and I’ll send it when you’re done.” Spike insisted, pushing a piece of parchment and a quill towards fluttershy. ‘Dear Princess Celestia, I was wondering if you could send Philomeena to Ponyville. I mean, if that’s all right. You see, the vet pony Kakashi has been working on a cure for the virus that is spreading among the birds. I heard Philomeena had it, so I was wondering if you could send her so we could test the cure. –Fluttershy.’ “Uhm…Spike? I’m done…” Fluttershy squeaks, rolling up the parchment. Spike smiles, opens his mouth, and blows a small green plume of fire out of it, sending the letter with a magical puff of dust. “There, the letter is sent. What did you ask?” Spike asked questioningly. “Well…” Fluttershy trailed. Spike opened his mouth to talk, but instead belched a cloud of magical dust that formed into a roll of parchment. “Wow, that was fast.” Spike inserted, “Must be important.” Fluttershy began unrolling the parchment and started to read. ‘Dear Fluttershy, I would be happy to send Philomeena. I will be sending her under royal guard to your cottage. From there, you can take her to the vet. Please be careful with Philomeena. –Princess Celestia.’ Fluttershy smiled, hugged spike, and started to trot to the door. “Thanks Spike!” she called as she started flying away. ***** Rainbow arrived at Sweet Apple Acres to be met by an enthusiastic Scootaloo. “Hey, Rainbow!” Scootaloo shouted. “What’s up kiddo?” Rainbow said, landing in front of Scootaloo. “We are gonna try to get racing cutie marks!” Scootaloo shouted. “CUTIE MARK CRUSADER RACERS! YAY!” Scootaloo shouted, joined now by Applebloom and Sweetie Bell. “Well, have fun! I bet you’ll win, Scootaloo!” Rainbow said, laughing a little. “Hey, Applebloom, Where is Applejack?” “Oh, she’s in the barn.” Applebloom said, scratching her chin with her hoof. “Thanks, and have fun!” Rainbow yelled, flying towards the barn. “What’s got her in a rush?” Scootaloo asked. “Don’t know, but it must be important!” Applebloom inserted. ***** Fluttershy arrived at her cottage to be met by some of Celestias royal guard. “Fluttershy?” One of the guards asked. “Uhm…yes?” Fluttershy squeaked. The other guards nodded and the captain walked out, carrying a rather large birdcage. Inside was a bird with bright red and orange feathers. “Philomeena!” Fluttershy shouted, flying up to the birdcage. Philomeena let out a squawk in greeting. “And how have you been?” She asked. Philomeena began looking towards her hair, letting out a disappointed coo. “Oh, I’m sorry, but the feather…well…it got sort of…ruined.” Fluttershy squeaked. One of the guards began looking at her oddly, when Philomeena began digging through the feathers in her wing. She pulled a feather out and held it outside of the cage. “Well, thank you Philomeena, that is quite generous of you!” She giggled, placing the feather in her hair. Philomeena let out a pleased squawk, and they began walking. Fluttershy began humming, and Philomeena quickly followed suit as she repeated the song. The guard just watched in awe. “Uhm…Fluttershy?” One of the guards asked. “Yes?” She said, pausing her song, while Philomeena continued. “How…I mean…when did you get so good with animals?” One of the veteran guards looked at him like he was crazy. Fluttershy simply giggled. “You must be new.” He nodded. “Well,” she began, “I have always been good with animals. It’s…a gift.” She turned towards Philomeena, who squawked. “It’s my cutie mark after all.” She raised a hoof and pointed towards her cutie mark. The guard nodded in understanding. As they approached the animal clinic, she asked the guards to wait out of sight. They agreed, confused. Fluttershy knocked on the door, and Kakashi appeared. “Fluttershy, what brings you here?” He asked. “I have a volunteer for testing the cure.” She said, smiling. “I told you I’m not going to use your birds.” He was grim, but she was still smiling. She nodded towards the captain and he and the other guards began walking towards Fluttershy. Kakashi looked in stunned awe as he approached. Kakashi bowed, and Fluttershy just giggled. The captain moved, and another guard began bringing the birdcage to Kakashi. Kakashi looked up, and began grinning. “Philomeena, meet Kakashi!” Fluttershy said. Philomeena squawked. “Philo- You got Philomeena? Into Ponyville?” Kakashi asked, his jaw agape. “I just asked Celestia, and she sent her over.” Fluttershy said casually. “You…asked…Celestia?” He was looking at her, stunned. “Yeah.” She giggled, and they began walking inside. ***** Rainbow dash flew into the barn, seeing Applejack lying back on a large post. “Hey Applejack, am I late?” She asked. “Nope, you’re on time, surprisingly.” Applejack remarked, laughing. Rainbow was hiding a laugh when Applejack got up. “Well, let’s get started. These trees aren’t going to buck themselves.” Rainbow nodded and began walking behind AJ. ‘Why am I doing this again? Oh…yeah…Because Fluttershy asked me to help Applejack.’ She thought to herself. Applejack laughed as Rainbow walked into a tree, causing a single apple to fall on her head. “I uhh…I meant to do that.” Rainbow tried to play it off. “Sure ya did sugar cube.” Applejack remarked. She placed some baskets onto her saddlebags, and Rainbow did the same. Rainbow headed to one of the trees, reared up, and kicked. A large mound of apples fell into her baskets. She turned to see Applejack moving and kicking the trees. Rainbow sighed in exasperation and then she got an idea. She began to hover and then she flew around, kicking all the apple trees with the force of a train. The apples were deposited into her baskets, which had to be regularly emptied. Applejack looked at Rainbow, who was grinning. After a few minutes, Rainbow deposited the last of the apples into a large basket. She had a massive grin on her face. “Now no need ta show off!” Applejack joked. “Who’s showing off?” Rainbow laughed. Applejack began laughing as well, and Rainbow looked towards the orchard. “Anything else you need help with?” “I think that’s it. Thanks for ya help, sugar cube.” Applejack replied. Rainbow bounced into the air and began flying towards her cloud home before adjusting her course and heading for Fluttershys cottage. ***** END OF CHAPTER THREE