> Pinkie Doesn't Like Needles
>  by Starlitomega
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> A Little Help From A Friend. 
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Pinkie hovered around Mrs. Cake anxiously. They had just received a letter, and an unusual one at that. 

“What does it say?” Pinkie asked.

“Just a moment, dear.“ Mrs. Cake cleared her throat.

To whom it may concern, 

It has come to our attention that your establishment has been providing food and entertainment services to foals in violation of health regulations. In order to safeguard the health and safety of the ponies of Equestria, it is required that any establishment that provides services to foals in groups of seven or larger have their employees vaccinated against the standard range of foalhood diseases. Included is a list of employee(s) that must have their immunizations, or immunization records updated to continue working at the establishment. 
Sincerely,
Healing Hooves, 
Health Services of Equestria. 

Mrs. Cake took the other paper out of the envelope and folded it open. It featured prominently a picture of Pinkie Pie sticking her tongue out toward the camera, her name, and information beneath the photo. 

“Pinkie Pie, You haven’t had your vaccines?” The elder mare asked. 

Pinkie tilted her head. “Vaccines? I don’t think I’ve ever eaten one of those.”

“No, no, dear. Vaccines are shots that are given to ponies so you don’t catch and spread disease.”

Pinkie’s eyes widened and she took a few shaky steps back. “D-did you say, shots?” 

Mrs. Cake nodded. “Of course. They’re given to foals s-”

“Gotta go, bye!” 

Pinkie took off in a blur. Mrs. Cake heard Pinkie's bedroom door slam shut. She climbed upstairs and softly knocked on Pinkie's door. 

"Pinkie Pie, come on out. It's not that bad. "

"You're right! It's not bad, it's terrible!"

Mrs. Cake nearly stumbled backwards by the sheer volume in the distressed mare's voice. "But, if you don't get the shot, you won't be able to throw parties for the little ponies anymore. I'm sure you don't want that."

"I don't care! I hate shots! I'm never getting another one ever again!"

Mrs. Cake sighed. An idea popped into her head. She knew one pony in particular that could help her with this sort of situation. 



 

Fluttershy hovered through Ponyville on a lazy breeze. It had been such a beautiful day out and she fully intended to enjoy it. 

And she would have had it not been for Mrs. Cake's visit. Any chances of a calm and peaceful day flew out the window. She vowed to help her friend through this terrible situation... despite not having any clue of how exactly she would do that. 

It doesn't matter. I have to help Pinkie Pie!"

The pegasus took advantage of her natural abilities and swooped over to Pinkie's bedroom window. She looked in to see what she would be facing. 

Pinkie laid sprawled out on the bed, her head underneath a pillow, shaking like a leaf on a tree. Fluttershy quietly lifted the window and climbed in. 

The pink mare was none the wiser. Fluttershy decided to play it safe and lock the window behind her in case Pinkie tried to escape. Finally, ready for a true battle, she cleared her throat.

"Hi, Pinkie Pie."

Pinkie shrieked from beneath her pillow sending it flying. Her eyes darted about, filled with fear. 
"No! Not you too! You can't make me go!"

Fluttershy approached the distressed mare while slowly opening one of her wings. "I'm not here to make you do anything. I'm just here to help you make the right choice."

Pinkie, still shaking, allowed Fluttershy to get closer. "But... what if I don't want to get a shot?" 

Fluttershy sighed. "You don't have to... but you should think about what will happen if you don't."

"B-but what exactly w-will happen?" Pinkie stuttered.

 Fluttershy walked over and placed her hoof on Pinkie's. "Well, the guards will come and force you to leave. You won't be able to stay here anymore, and you probably won't be allowed to throw any more parties."

Pinkie's eyes grew wide in terror. "No, more parties? No more helping the Cakes? That's terrible!" Pinkie wailed as tears appeared at the corner of her eyes.

Fluttershy nodded solemnly. "It is. But, if you just get this shot, you'll be able to keep doing all the things you love to do. Doesn't seem so bad now, does it?"

"Why do I have to get a shot in the first place?" Pinkie asked as tears started falling down her cheeks. 

"It's for you and the other ponies' protection. You see, you can carry nasty icky stuff and make them sick. You might be carrying the germs, even if you aren't sick. So, to keep diseases from spreading, they want ponies to get shots whenever they can. You'd feel really bad if Scootaloo, Apple bloom, or Sweetie Belle caught something you had and got sick, wouldn't you?"

Pinkie nodded, staring sadly into Fluttershy's eyes. 

"Well, then you really should just get it then. Besides. It doesn't rea—"

"Don't tell me it doesn't hurt! I've had one before and I know it does!" Pinkie yelled.

Fluttershy calmly shook her head. "Pinkamena Diane Pie. I wouldn't lie to you. I was going to say it doesn't really hurt that much, especially when you consider what you'll be missing out on if you don't get one."

Pinkie hung her head in defeat. "You're right. I just remember the last time I got one as a teeny tiny filly, and boy did it hurt a lot. I guess I just have to pony up and get it though."

Fluttershy smiled. "You can do it, Pinkie. You always were the bravest one of us."

"Can I ask a favor, please?" Pinkie stared up at her hopefully.

"Of course."

"Can you go with me?"

Fluttershy wrapped her wing around the shaken earth pony. "Sure I can. It's the least I can do for a friend like you."

"Yes! Thank you so much! At least I'll have a good friend there with me."

"You'll see, Pinkie. This won't be so bad."





Pinkie and Fluttershy walked into the Ponyville Clinic. It was just afternoon, so there weren't any patients waiting. The whole place smelled of medicine and sterile cleaner.

They walked up to a window and stood patiently, waiting for the pony doing paperwork to notice them. Normally, this would be the point where Pinkie Pie and her open nature would be the one to catch the pony's attention, but given the way she was nervously glancing around, Fluttershy decided to gather her courage instead. 

"Ummm, excuse me..."

The nurse lowered her pen and looked up to them with a smile. "Good day, Fluttershy... oh, and Pinkie Pie too! I hope your day is going well."

"It isn't! It really isn't!" Pinkie wailed. Fluttershy gently patted her distressed friend. 

"Don't mind her. She's just a little nervous. We're here so she can get her immunizations."

The nurse nodded with a knowing smile and brushed her bangs out of her face. "That's alright. We'll have it over in no time. Since there's no pony else waiting, I can give it real quick if you like."

"That'd be great." Fluttershy smiled. 

The nurse rolled her chair to a set of filing cabinets and plucked a folder out. "Okay, I have your records right here. If you will, enter the door to your right when you're ready," the nurse said as she disappeared into the hallway behind the glass.

Fluttershy took a step towards the door. Suddenly, a strong hoof wrapped around her. 

"Do we have to do this today?" Pinkie pleaded with her, tears forming at the corner of her eyes. 

"Pinkie, if we put it off, it will just hang over your head like a dark cloud. You don't want that do you?"

The pink mare bit her lip and reluctantly shook her head.

"Then let's go."

Fluttershy marched forward through the door while Pinkie hid in her tail. The nurse motioned for them to follow. All three ponies walked into a small doctor's office with a stool, an elevated bed, a chair, and several medical posters on the walls. The nurse wasted no time in pulling out a vial and syringe from one of the cabinets.

"Fortunately for you, Pinkie Pie, recent technologies have allowed us to put the primary immunizations in one needle, rather than three like in the old days," the nurse said as she drew the liquid into the needle. 

"You hear that, Pinkie? Just one shot! That's good, isn't it?" Fluttershy smiled broadly at her friend. 

"I wish it was no shots," Pinkie pouted. 

The nurse patted on the bed in the middle of the room. "We haven't come quite that far. If you'll please hop up here, we'll have it done in no time."

Pinkie did as she was asked. Sitting on her rump, she held out her hoof and clenched her eyes shut. "Okay, let's get this over with!"

The nurse clicked her tongue.  "I'm afraid there's been another change to the shots over the years..."

Pinkie and Fluttershy both turned to her quickly. 

"There's no easy way to say this, but this one has to go in your flank."

Pinkie squealed and grabbed her rump. "But, but, but..."

"I think that's exactly the point," Fluttershy giggled. Pinkie shot her a nasty look. "Sorry."

"Fluttershy, I've never had one there! Won't it hurt even worse?"

The pegasus shook her head. "Actually, it doesn't. You'll see."

The nurse cleared her throat. "I hate to point out the obvious, but you'll need to reposition yourself before I can give this."

Pinkie nodded and turned to where her belly was beneath her. She moved her head until she faced Fluttershy straight on. 

"Fluttershy... you've been a great friend and I hate to ask, but..."

"It's alright, Pinkie, go ahead."

Tears pooled in the earth pony's eyes. "Can you hug me while I'm getting it?" 

Fluttershy smiled and held out her arms. "I'd be glad to."

Pinkie threw her arms around Fluttershy, gratefully accepting her embrace. Much to Fluttershy's dismay, the earth pony was practically shaking like jello in her arms. Out of the corner of her eyes, Fluttershy saw the nurse close in with the needle. 

An idea quickly popped into the pegasus' head. She coughed a couple times to clear her throat. 

Softly and gently, Fluttershy started humming a tune. She patted Pinkie's poofy mane, trying to comfort the shaking mare. Fluttershy closed her eyes as she knew what was going to happen next.

The needle found it's mark. Pinkie Pie cried out and sobbed into Fluttershy's mane, shaking even harder. 

"Shhhh. It's alright. It's almost over," Fluttershy said, patting and squeezing her friend tighter.

"All done!" The nurse announced, turning to throw the old syringe away. 

Pinkie released her grip on the pegasus, tears still falling from her eyes. The nurse turned around, this time with two lollipops. "I think you both deserve these."

Pinkie wiped away her tears. Shakily, she took and unwrapped the lollipop, and slowly put the tasty treat in her mouth. "Strawberry... My Favorite," Pinkie said, smiling through her tears.





"And that's why Fluttershy is one of the best and most awesome friends I've ever had," Pinkie announced proudly. 

Twilight, Applejack, and Rarity sat at a table outside of a cafe, listening to Pinkie's story in rapt fascination. 

"Well, that was just plain thoughtful of ya, sugarcube," Applejack said to Fluttershy. The pegasus simply blushed. 

"Well, it wasn't much really. I just remembered what Rarity said whenever everypony realized I had been singing in the Ponytones."

Rarity laughed nervously. "Eh heh heh... of course... that. You might need to remind me. It has been awhile."

"Well, you said that I had lived through my worst fear, and you asked if it really was that bad. It sure seemed awful at the time, but now it isn't so bad." 

Pinkie rubbed a band-aid which had been placed on her flank. "Yeah. It did hurt, and it still does, but now I can keep planning parties for ponies of all ages." Pinkie scooped Fluttershy into a massive crushing hug. "And that's why you're one of my best pony friends ever!"

Fluttershy smiled, a crimson blush shining on her face. "It was nothing, really."