//------------------------------// // The Doctor's Secret // Story: Pontagion // by YADAMAN //------------------------------// Date 00:03:11 – 02:36; Canterlot Castle Princess Celestia leaves her quarters and prowls the halls of Canterlot Castle. She decides to pass by the medical facility before she travels to Baltimare – where she received a distress signal. “Might as well check up on the progress of Doctor Whooves and his team,” she thought. Its been precisely 60 days since the death of the Element of Kindess, Fluttershy and 56 days since Rainbow Dash was infected, still going strong. She heads into a certain hall of the library. All dusty and left to rot, not even Twilight visited here for months. Teetering to her right, she dislodges a book from a shelf with her magic. Immediately, it revealed a passageway in between 2 shelves. It was small, yet clever. Not many ponies would notice it, even if it was left open for some reason. When she walked the narrow myriad of stairs leading downward, she approached the entrance of a metallic door. It was thick, no crevice in sight. After all, this was the medical facility. Nothing dangerous should escape its premises. In this case, the testing of the virus. After placing her hoof on the side, it scanned it with a green beacon. Then the door clicked open. Two guards were stationed to provide with the necessary equipment. Both wearing plastic wrapped suits that were girded with tubes to the ceiling, for oxygen of course. Celestia was given one and magically put it on, instantaneously. The guards placed the tube for air flow onto her suit. She looked around. The facility, instead of regular walls, was covered in bullet proof glass all around. Made it easy to tell how much work was going on. However, the staff was quite low on numbers today. With the exception of a few ponies here and there, it was a standstill. Until, she breached the last door of the facility at the hallway’s end. She entered. Date 00:03:11 – 03:21; Main Service floor, Doctor Whooves’s Private Treatment room. “Not many ponies today, Doctor?” the sound of automatic glass doors opened and closed behind her. “No, it is a holiday, there still are ponies out there who want to enjoy life, your Highness.” “Was that sass that befell my ears?” “Of course not, it’s just my way of speaking. I meant no disrespect, Princess.” “Ah that’s fine, that’s fine.” She gazed around Doctor Whooves belongings. The whole time, the Doctor didn’t even turn to face Celestia. He was so inclined in his work, he didn’t care to greet her with all his profound attention. She fangled with a few pieces of equipment then finally broke the silence. “I heard that your research has recently gone through a breakthrough?" That caught the Doctor’s attention, he turned to face her. “Is that so? Where have you obtained this information? “Nowhere. Just a hunch.” “T-that, that is some good intuition, that hunch was more-or-less correct. We recently discovered a rather common crystal from the Crystal Empire’s underground mines that seems to counter-act the virus’ effects,” His hoof showcased the crystal and its glory, “However temporarily.” Whooves smile turned into a concerned frown. “It’s certainly a start, and we performed trials with even bigger specimens, but that is when luck ceases with such research. The more of the infected surface area exists, the less effective the crystal becomes." “Does that mean that by increasing the dosage, it would have no significant effect? “Like I said prior, the more the virus is present, the more volatile it becomes. The crystal merely treats the outside layer - its cosmetic - while treating the host’s symptoms. So this could, in theory, cure the virus, as soon as introduction of the virus becomes preeminent.” “Even for those whose virus spread is rapid? “…that I cannot say. Once the symptoms start, this should immediately be used. If not, this would only treat for a short span of time, perhaps just for a few minutes at best." “Then I suppose that you should continue your research then.” She turned around, getting ready to leave it appears. “Also, any new confirmations upon the spread of the disease?” Her hoofs stopped in her tracks – her rear facing Whooves’ desk. “None, direct contact is still the confirmed primary form of the spread.” Whooves responded with a lack of poise. “Ah, then if things come to it-" “But…" Celestia raised an eyebrow even though the Doctor couldn’t see, “Buuuut?” “Nothing, just piecing thoughts." She turned around, her curiosity somewhat interested, “About what?” “Nothing in particular, just the possible benefits of the crystal.” Again, the Doctor had a hint of ‘sass’ when he spoke. “Ah well ugh, okay then. I do ask for your opinion about a certain other matter if you don’t mind,” She wasn’t leaving after all, if anything, she wanted to change the subject. “What could it be, your Majesty?" “There have been times where I seem to miss Princess Twilight in her established quarters,” Celestia walked around, as if she was instigating the Doctor in an interrogation room. Doctor Whooves had no reaction, in fact, he seemed too calm – as if he already prepared himself for this exact scenario. “Word has it she has been meeting up with an alleged scientist. One of my own it seems.” Princess Celestia looked up and gave a glare to the Doctor – to whom he still appears calm about. “The point is, I’m assuming that you have something to do with it?" Doctor Whooves already had an answer, “Well Princess, think of it this way. Why would I disobey a direct order from you? I have no reason to put the princess in any danger and frankly I get no added benefits from doing so. I honestly do not know what you are talking about. If I were to find any ponies that I see whom seem suspicious, I will go to you, straight away." She smiled, “That would be very much appreciated, thank you. Oh and before I take my leave, there is just oooone more thing that I would like to mention.” Her behavior being slightly more casual, yet oddly suspicious. “Whatever it may be, I hope it’s good news.” “In some ways, yes. It could be interpreted like that. I would like you and your fellow scientists to release the latest results of your findings.” “Of the crystal? Well it is a bit premature to-“ “No, about the virus itself.” Whooves quickly jerked up. He couldn’t believe what he just heard. “What? Y-you are ordering me to tell everypony that this virus is incurable? I told you princess, this is just one of many test trials. If we said that, then that would be, in itself, false. There has to be a cure.” He looked down on the floor in defeat, “There has to be. And there will be more experiments. We will try anything to find a cure with all our resources. Please reconsider! We can’t announce that it is officially incurable!” “Well you said that this crystal could potentially cure, so why not sent it out? Release to the press. Advertise. Stock on local medical stores and hospitals. Let ponies try it!!!” Doctor Whooves made a mental note of that, “Sooo…you are suggesting a placebo effect?” “Exactly.” “Okay so to what purpose then, would be releasing our latest experiment that details the virus being incurable? This is just one of many tests. We could just send it out without this... revelation.” “Chaos.” Whooves stumbled, “Ehrm, Chaos, your Grace?" “Yes, my servant. Chaos will spread, word of the virus will litter the streets, all would seem lost, and who would come to save them?" “You, I’m guessing.” “Guessing?” “Not to be rude, but this is an awfully bad idea. Did you truly think this through? I’m asking you not as a scientist, but as a commoner Equestria – a citizen. What would you think if you were in their shoes?” “Shoes?” “Just an expres-” “I would say that if there was no cure – no hope – then everything that I have known, would be meaningless. I would freak out. Go crazy!” she did seem crazy, this was not the princess that the pony public knew and loved. Her eyes were still visible within the suit. They were bloodshot, dim, and filled with a mysterious anger. “Granted I WOULD go crazy if there wasn’t a ruler like an established princess, in fact, 2 of them. Celestia and Luna. If my rulers did everything in their power to do something, then it would be senseless to go berserk. I would calm down with the soothing voice of the 2 sisters, I would rejoice when they announce a cure for all ponies alike!” “Princess…” the Doctor’s voice fizzled out. “I would be absolutely thrilled to see and hear the salvation in which I thought was so far from my grasp, I would SCREAM on the top of my lungs, and praise her and her team for their efforts!” “PRINCESS!” She snapped out of it. She was flying across the laboratory. Using random magic here and there within her maniacal speech. “Oh, I’m sorry.” She casually glided down in front of Doctor Whooves, as if this little scene didn’t happen. “I understand, Princess. But that would be in violation of your previous orders, and you did say, and I quote, ‘By no means should you discuss anything that occurs within the facility, not even to any other workers.’ End quote.’” Whooves seemed to be satisfied with this reason, Celestia herself did made it clear that nopony should know anything regarding the progress of the virus and any ‘potential’ cures. “If that is your justification I should relinquish your previous orders – release the results.” “Princess Celestia, I TOLD you. There is no cure at this time.” “Then why is there none yet? Word goes out that ponies are not only immune to the virus, but also being cured of this epidemic. Does this detail attempted black-market placebo, or did somepony discover the cure and is keeping it low-key? Away from the public’s knowledge?” “I…I don’t know.” “Then do as I say, unless you think that you are FAR more capable in dealing with this type of situation than ANY of the princesses.” “No, I do not. I will release them immediately. Of course, the question now being, how long are you going to allow your subjects to remain in a panic?” “In due time, Doctor, in due time.” She exits the building, with her suit barely intact due to her scurry in the lab. Doctor Whooves payed no direct heed to her new order – a direct contradiction to her last. He trotted to his desk, picking up the loose materials scattered by the Princess’ flight. “She seems strong enough…” He then operated some buttons on an ominous-looking machine, then spoke once again, “Video log year zero; month three; day eleven. Test subject 00C-17 shows no further progression of the virus, with the exception of the new appearance of extended pupil dilation and increased redness around her cornea. Physical behavior is degrading in formal as well as casual conversations being replaced with exhilaration and or fierce responses toward self-praising questions or prosthesis. Change of perception and thought clearly present. Possible brain damage? To be confirmed at a later date. Magic therapy still recommended, yet not analyzed. She appears in moderate health otherwise. I will return with a few medical unicorns to subjugate the next phase of implantation, upon her return from her visit of Baltimare. End Log.”