> The Cutie Pox Returns > by Apple-Bloom > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Travel in the EverFree. > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- A month after the Cutie Pox incident, the CMC were walking down the road through Ponyville, nearing the EverFree forest. Apple Bloom was sad, and frankly still tired from the incident, but it had completely blown off of Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo, who were walking ahead and joking about it, they were at least until they looked back and saw Apple Blooms feelings about it. "Girls," Said Apple Bloom finally,"It's getting kind of late, and I think I have to be on mah way back to Sweet Apple Acres, I can't be late for supper." "Maybe we should cut through the EverFree Forest, it's a bit of a shortcut" Said Scootaloo,"There's also a chance we will get to fight off a cool monster for our cutie marks." "I don't think," Started Sweetie Belle but was cut off by Apple Bloom. "Maybe." "Don't be a chicken you two, I mean what would Rainbow Dash do." "Fly back to Sweet Apple Acres," said Apple Bloom,"Over the entire town." "Riiiight," Scootaloo said,"Lets not be Chicken though." Right after they continued into the Forest, thoughtlessly. After a long while they were nearing Sweet Apple Acres when they heard a feint growl which grew louder, and louder as the time continued. They kept looking around as they walked, hardly aware of the noise until they heard it grow much louder, nearer, more dangerous. Then it ended with a howl. They CMC started to run from the timber wolf when they finally got into Sweet Apple Acres, but the timber wolf was gaining on them, so at the last moment they reached and practically dove into their clubhouse. "well..." said Apple Bloom,"That was... Hard to explain." "Yeah, guess we shouldn't have gone through the EverFree Forest, should we." Said Scootaloo. "It was your idea," said Sweetie Belle. "Uhhh, yeah maybe..." Replied Scootaloo. For a while they waited in the clubhouse, the feint howling of the timber wolf growing quieter as it went away. As time passed however the CMC quickly grew tired. And after an hour they finally spoke again. "That was a long silence," Said Scootalo. "Im long tucker," Said Apple Bloom,"Go tell Apple Jack, that I'm gonna hit the hay in here tonight. Mention the timber wolf as well," "NO!" Screamed Sweetie Belle,"With that MONSTROSITY out there, we all have to go together." "No point in yelling at her..." Laughed Scootaloo pointing at Apple Bloom, who had fallen asleep. Then they saw a bluish white glow on Apple Bloom's flank. "A cutie mark?!" Said Sweetie Belle. "In what?" Scootaloo asked,"Sleeping?" But to their horor as it appeared it was a shiny grey hoop. > A planned imposter is home. > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Looking at Apple Bloom, then looking at each other, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo decided just through their eyes not to tell Apple Jack, or any pony for that matter. "what should we do though?" asked Sweetie Belle. "Easy," said Scootaloo,"I pretend to be Apple Bloom at school tomorrow and say I'm sick, as I don't have anyone they will tell about me not being there at school, I will say that I am sick and pose as Apple Bloom." "What about when she wakes up?" asked Sweetie Belle,"If we don't do anything she'll exhaust herself to death." "Drastic matters then," said Scootaloo,"Nurse Sweetie, would you kindly get me the rope," "Wait, I would be the doctor, and if we tied her up..." "No I would be doctor, and yes, she would fuss about the rope, but it's for her own good." "Ok." said Sweetie Belle,"We even could get our cutie marks as doctors." Then Sweetie Belle thought for a second,"Your gonna have to pose as her all night." "Why?" "Apple Jack. Big Mac, Granny Smith." "Right" "you got makeup?" "No i thought you did" "Quick to my sisters boutique!" An hour later, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo were secretly making Scootaloo up and doing her hair in the back of Rarity's Boutique, Rarity was getting her "Beauty sleep" and soon enough Scootaloo looked just like Apple Bloom, she had even taken the bow from right off her head. Later even, Scootaloo walked into the barn. "Where y'all been, we've been waiting two hours." "In the clubhouse, I was comin' back from a shortcut that Scootaloo taught me through the EverFree Forest, but a timber wolf chased us there, and we hid until it went away, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo are goin' home right now." Said Scootaloo pretending to be Apple Bloom,"Wasn't a very good idea," she then said more like herself. "NOPE," said Big Mac. "Why you sound more like Scootaloo than yourself Apple Bloom," Said Granny Smith. Scootaloo pretended to clear her throat then said,"Just a frahg in mah throat, I'm gonna go hit the hay now." > School 1 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Scootaloo woke up in the morning, and quickly ran off to school, three hours too early, but she didn't care, as she so badly didn't want to screw up, and not for her sake but for Apple Blooms. After an hour of waiting she fell asleep in front of school, for the other two hours until school started when Diamond Tiara woke her up. "Are you trying to get your cutie mark in camping?" Diamond Tiara laughed,"BLANK FLANK." "Why do Y'all do this?" "Pffff like I can't see your wings, why are you dressing up as that other pathetic pony in your group, and... like talking like her." "I am Apple Bloom" "Im not like stupid." "well, I've been trying to get mah cutie mark in Earth Pony Flying, Scootaloo has been trying to get hers in magic, and Sweetie Belle has been trying to get hers in farming. "BLANK FLAAAAAAANKS!" "See these wings are fake," And Scootaloo easily but painfully ripped out one of her own feathers as it had been glued onto a piece of painted cardboard." "So where is the real Scootaloo." "Errr, uhh, she's kinda has Influponyenza." "what" "pony flu" "Ohhh... or does she have BLANK FLAAAAAANK FEVER!" At this Scootaloo, still pretending to be Apple Bloom walked away furiously, of course she couldn't mention cutie pox or Diamond Tiara would laugh at HER for days. (they still hadn't mentioned the incident to Diamond Tiara, for their own sake, but just said the Cutie Marks had been fake, as she had thought.) Finally Scootaloo was in class and as she was beginning to sit in her own seat, Cheeralee said. "Up here Apple Bloom, you should know not to talk to your friends during class by now," "Right..." "BLAAAAAANK FLAAAANK FEEEEEVER!" echoed Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon,"DONT SIT IN THAT CHAIR OR YOU MAY CATCH IT! WAIT YOU ALREADY HAVE IT!" > School 2 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Much later in Cheeralee's lesson, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo got worried for Apple Bloom who had to have woken up by now and notice she was tied up in the clubhouse. The lesson seemed boring as it was a history lesson about the PaleoPonyPeriod which meant nothing to them until Cheeralee mentioned something that caught their ear. "Later in that period there was an outbreak of the epidemic Cutie Pox, which infected many ponies causing them to exhaust themselves to death." "OOOH OOOH OOH!" Said Sweetie Belle,"Apple Bloom should know all about that." "Yes she would." "uh why?" said Diamond Tiara,"would that BLANK FLAAAAAANK, know and not me," "Y'all know don't you," Said Scootaloo. "Uhhh, no." Said Silver Spoon. "Err uhh, I uhh, I kinda sorta." "C'mon what itth not a big deal i mean itth not like theee had it or thomthin," Said Twist. "I actually kinda..." "WENT BACK IN TIME," Blurted out Sweetie Belle. "Now you know how much trouble you got into last time you lied, tell us all the truth Apple Bloom," Said Cheeralee. "I had it." "RUNNNN AWAY SHE HAS BLANK FLAAAANK FEVER TOOOO!" Laughed Diamond Tiara. "THAT ISN'T FUNNY!" Screamed Scootaloo losing the Apple Bloom impression and her wings going out. "Scootaloo," Said Cheeralee,"Why are you posing as Apple Bloom." "I'm sorry Ms. Cheeralee, but we have to go." Said Sweetie Belle as she and Scootaloo ran out of the class and back to sweet apple acres right into the clubhouse only to be greeted by. "ME, and Sweetie Belle," Apple Bloom began laughing,"Why, I knew this dream would get weirder, much weirder." At that Scootaloo wiped her face. Taking off the makeup and revealing it was her,"We're sorry to burst your bubble, but this isn't a dream." "So can some pony tell me how in Equestria I got tied up here and why no pony is taking me down." "Uhhm, we er uhh we tied you up." Said Sweetie Belle. "So y'all tied me up, so that Scootaloo could pose as me at school." Apple Bloom laughed,"Please don't say that you made a fool out of me." "I kinda did." "so why did you tie me up." "Because, Apple Bloom, It's back." "It???" "Cutie Pox." "On me?" "Yes." "NOOOOOOOOOOOO" "yes" "No please no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no," "yes" "Untie me, I have to go." "No" "I have to clean Ponyville. "We won't let you." "I have to" "If we untie you you will exhaust yourself to death." "ok, I don't want to I just uhhh, kinda have to, I feel it in my heart." > What Now > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- "why don't y'all just get Zekora," Said Apple Bloom. "We don't want you to be in trouble," Blurted out Sweetie Belle. "Now why in Equestria would I be in trouble?" Asked Apple Bloom,"Now it's more about y'all pretendin' to be me." "We don't want Apple Jack to know about this, or that Scootaloo pretended to be you while leaving you in the clubhouse tied up because we were to scared to go back into the EverFree forest at that time to get Zekora." Said Sweetie Belle. "SWEETIE BELLE!" Yelled Scootaloo. "Was I not supposed to say that?" "NO!" Yelled Scootaloo,"We just didn't want Apple Bloom to be made fun of at school, we weren't scared." "But you blurted out the whole incident!" "BECAUSE CHEERALEE TOLD ME TO BECAUSE THE LESSON WAS ABOUT THE AFFLICTION OF CUTIE POX DURING THE PALEOPONYPERIOD!!!" "I thought we promised to never mention that again." Said Apple Bloom,"Now, I'm gonna be known as a lier and a joke to all of Ponyville." "Sweetie Belle brought up how you should know about it." "Well you said it out loud." Sweetie Belle rebutted, and the argument went on and on and on while Apple Bloom slowly chewed at the rope, and after a long hour she broke free, and snuck around the other to fillies. "Y'all may get going now, because I have to," and Apple Bloom ran off. "We have to stop her!" yelled Sweetie Belle. Both Fillies began to run after Apple Bloom when both of them heard a clang and cutie marks appeared on there flank. "I didn't discover any talent." "me either" Then Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo looked at each other then at themselves. "US TOO!" they screamed, then they ran off still after Apple Bloom. > A train to Ponyville > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- A day later Apple Jack was at the train station, Apple Bloom and the rest of the crusaders had been missing for a day, and now Babs Seed was coming to visit Apple Bloom (a week after she last left) but would be disappointed only to be greeted by Apple Jack, and to find out that the crusaders were missing. Apple Jack kept waiting then the train came. When Babs came off she sure was disappointed, but smiled at Apple Jack. "Where are they?" she asked,"I mean the crusaders would want to greet me." "Sometimes the truth is to hard Babs. Y'all would be hurt to hear it." "What it's not like they don't want me in their group anymore." "They have been missing for a day" "why?" "No pony knows. Just that Scootaloo had posed as Apple Bloom at school then she and Sweetie Belle ran away." "where is the real Apple Bloom?" "Thats just the thing," Said Apple Jack,"Some ponies think they saw her running around town preforming ridiculous feats, and the same with the other crusaders. But there is no conformation." Babs looked at Apple Jack worriedly, but Apple Jack couldn't keep it in,"They think she has Cutie Pox again." "Cutie what now." "Cutie Pox, why didn't she tell you last time you came by." "Whenever the crusaders brought up something they called the incident, she softly said that they swore never to mention it again." "That may be it" "What is this Cutie Pox, I remember it was mentioned in class once, but isn't it long extinct." "Or so we thought, but Apple Bloom made a potion with an entire hearts desire flower making her get it." "So she has had it since." "No she was cured the first time by Zekora." "But she has it again?" "Eyyyup." said a different voice. walking in holding Apple Bloom and the other crusaders. "how did you find em'?" Asked Apple Jack. "Easy," said Sweetie Belle. "we wanted to be caught," said Scootaloo "I wish I could just sleep," said Apple Bloom. "What'd y'all do this time to catch it?" Asked Apple Jack. "Thats just the thing, we don't know." said Apple Bloom,"Timber wolf breath?" "Couldn't have been." "So why were you so worried to tell me about this before," said Babs. "I wasn't, she was." said Sweetie Belle. "see, we'd just become friends again, and I didn't want you to think of me as a dirty stinkin' liar." "oh." said Babs Seed,"but after you were cured how would it have come back, and how would they have got it." "It's possible that the Seeds of Truth just put the virus into a hibernation state for a month, but now it's back, and it's infecting my friends." "I don't care if I get ill, I will stick with you crusaders always." "I think you should let them have their space until this passes," Said Apple Jack,"The night after it began I heard tap dancing in Apple Bloom's room, then I thought what in tarnation until I saw it was her. But thats when I heard the most grueling noise I ever had, my poor little Apple Bloom in so much pain. Heeeelllllllpppp meeeeeeee, she moaned."said Apple Jack.,"now I have to ask you two, what did you do to contain Apple Bloom when Cutie Pox was redeveloping." "we tied her to the wall of the clubhouse." said Sweetie Belle. "And I went to school pretending to be her, so that nobody told you she was missing Apple Jack." "so you mean all that night I was talking to a fake Apple Bloom." "yes." "wow, you tricked me alright." > Seven Days To Death > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Apple Bloom and the rest of the crusaders spent a while in the clubhouse with Big Mac and Apple Jack closely watching to keep them from running off, Babs would follow the others. "Why" Said Babs,"You've ought to fix this fast." "Why is that?" asked Sweetie Belle. "I best not say." "please, tell us." "A pony with cutie pox will die after 7 days of activity," said Babs grimly,"and you can't just tie yourselves up and wait for it to go away. The virus would force you to free yourself and it even if that is by death." "That ain't good." said Apple Bloom,"some pony has ought to get Zekora and fast or every pony is a goner." "I'll go," said Apple Jack,"I feel that Big Mac has you in good hands." "Eyyupp." For a while the CMC stayed chatting until a cutie mark appeared on Babs. "No," Said Apple Bloom,"This it just can't be, I'm sorry we pulled you into this." "We have to go," Said Babs. "No, we have to control it. We have to stay strong." "We need to warn the rest of Ponyville though." "NOOOPE," said Big Mac. "But we have to," said the CMC and the cute eyes came out which with all four of them was more effective than Fluttershy's stare, but only worked on ponies. "EYYEUP," said Big Mac, and the CMC ran out the door, right into ponyville. However they could not control their cutie pox and went wild, the ponies of Ponyville tried to hide but it was too late, BonBon had caught it as well. > Death of One Dear > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- After 4 long days Apple Bloom was nearing death, she was too exhausted for her own good and only then was beginning to fight it. She was also traumatized, ponies on the street collapsing left and right after catching the cutie pox, and Zekora unable to help as she had caught the cutie pox too. Apple Bloom finally fought through and helped Zekora back to the clubhouse, they could't go through the EverFree Forest, because if the Cutie pox took control again they would be easy prey for any sort of monster. At that rate even poison joke would be a huge danger even when it was quite easy to avoid and cure. It seemed the only ponies who hadn't yet caught the Cutie pox were Rarity, Apple Jack, Twilight, and Rainbow Dash. Flutter shy had caught it but her animals wouldn't let her leave her hut. And Pinky Pie seemed the same even with it. When they went into the clubhouse, both Zekora and Apple Bloom collapsed. "Apple Bloom" moaned Zekora. "yes." "There is no saving me now, you must fulfill my wish of saving every pony though I don't quite know how." "Zekora, you can't die." "But it is too late," Zekora said,"Please just do it for me, and know that I do not hate you, not even for your misdeed a month back." "Zekora, if this is all my fault, which it is, there has to be some brew that I can use to give my life to you, so you can fulfill your own wish." "Why Apple Bloom, if this has happened, there is a reason, possibly even your destiny." "Y'mean it was mah destiny to cause a breakout of an epidemic that is going to kill every pony." "No, your destiny is to stop it." "Not if it means Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon finally g-g-git what they deserve." "Put your hatred aside, and you have the potential to save Equestria." "Fine." "But now I must go, the rest of my tribe await me." At that Zekora went still and cold, Apple Bloom wept, as Zekora was dead. How could she save Ponyville or Equestria now. Then she said to herself,"I can do this but I'm gonna need all the help I can get. > Death of the Apple Fillies > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Apple Bloom looked at Zekora, she was dead, but just as Apple Bloom was about to leave, some seeds fell out of Zekora's saddlebag, seeds of truth. Apple Bloom took them and began to run forth, but she grew weaker and weaker as the virus noticed what she was holding, her run was slower than a walk, and she was about to collapse but she felt Zekora's guidance over her, filling her with determination. She ran as hard as she could now to find the rest of the CMC and found them together. All of them about to collapse. "Girls," she said. "yes," they moaned. "I got three sets of seeds to save y'all." "What about yourself?" Babs asked. "I need to give them to you." "No," Said Babs,"Cousin, I won't let you die for me." "But, I made a promise to Zekora, to save every pony, and to me that means letting no pony die, now, you will have to fulfill the rest of that promise for me." "NO." Said Babs,"if anyone dies it should be me, I was such a big bully." At that Apple Bloom planted the seeds into the ground crying. "Zekora has fallen," She muttered, and the flowers burst into bloom. Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo each ate one but Apple Bloom and Babs Seed refused, reserving it for the other until the both passed out from exhaustion, death was upon them, and they spent their last few minutes together, as they died in peace. Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo now cured knew what they had to do, fulfill Apple Blooms promise to Zekora, they would save Equestria. > A Foe turned ally and an ally turned foe > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- "C'mon Sweetie Belle, we've been mourning for hours now and Equestria has few days left." sniffled Scootaloo. "Before we move on we need to tell Apple Jack about this. "That would be noble." So the two remaining fillies walked on, only to be stopped by Diamond Tiara who was infected as well. "What are you Blank Flanks doing here!" she yelled. "Not dying," they said. "wheres are the other ones?" "Apple Bloom, and Babs Seed, are dead." "Ha, I told you they had BLAAAANK FLLAHAAAANK FEVER!" "Y'know we can cure you Diamond Tiara." "Really." "yes you just have to come with us." So Diamond Tiara followed Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle to where Apple Bloom and Babs lay, and then Diamond Tiara ate the remaining flower and was cured. "I'm sorry about what I did to you." "It's ok, we just need to get to Sweet Apple Acres, and fast, Apple Jack has to know about what happens. "She'll kill you." "Why do you think that." "She'll think that it was your fault." "We have to tell her anyway." So the three Fillies ran into the barn to see Apple Jack, on the floor Big Mac, and Granny Smith were dead. "Please," Pleaded Apple Jack,"Tell me that she's ok." At that Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo began to bawl, as they knew they could not truthfully tell the element bearer of honesty that Apple Bloom was ok. "I'm sorry," Said Scootaloo finally,"We can't do that." "Is she at least alive." "I'm sorry," Said Scootaloo again,"Your whole family is... Dead." At that Apple Jack entered a fit of rage. "YOU THREE OBVIOUSLY WERE CURED!!!!! AND YOU LET MY POOR LITTLE SISTER DIE!!!!!" "No," said Sweetie Belle,"She gave her life to try to cure Babs Seed with the only three pouches of seeds left she cured Scootaloo and I, but Babs wouldn't eat the flower either, the two of them, however ironic it is wouldn't let the other die and instead decided to die together." "THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT DIAMOND TIARA!!!!! YOU BULLIED HER!!!!! YOUR BULLYING IS THE REASON SHE GOT HERSELF THE CUTIE POX IN THE FIRST PLACE!!!! SO THAT SHE COULD HAVE A CUTIE MARK AND YOU WOULD STOP BULLYING HER!!!!! BUT NOW... She's dead." Cried Apple Jack then in a fit of rage she grabbed a kitchen knife and dove on Diamond Tiara and in the end stabbed the filly to death out of pure rage, then after noticing what she had done, stabbed herself in guilt. The remainder of the CMC left. > Gather the Mane no longer 6 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- "We should go tell Twilight, or Rarity." said Sweetie Belle "I don't think they would react the same way, I mean it's not like their whole family just died." "Every pony is crazy, I mean it almost seems like there is evil at work here," said Scootaloo,"Such evil that only ponies with levels of cool such as Rainbow Dash could defeat." "How... would... Rainbow Dash... Defeat... A... Virus..." "Because she's the coolest pony in Ponyville, no Equestria." "Keep telling yourself that." "This is mainly hard for me because in times like these, the worst of ponies come out." Thats when they heard booing booing booing behind them. "Everything brings out the best in me!" Laughed Pinky Pie. "Didn't you catch it." "Nope, I just tattoo myself so that I can look like every other pony, because, well it looks funny." "Y'know what it is right?" Asked Scootaloo. "Ohhh yeah, didn't it happen to Apple Bloom 38 days ago now." "yes..." Said Sweetie Belle,"and it has again but this time it spread." "Ohh, is every pony ok, I just keep seeing them taking naps on the street." "Keep telling yourself that Pinky." Said Sweetie Belle. "Is Apple Bloom taking a nap as well." "Yeah... I wouldn't wake her, she's really tired, I mean so tired that you probably couldn't wake her." said Scootaloo trying so hard not to ruin the entire day of the one pony who could make some ponies happy, maybe even distract them long enough so the CMC could plant the seeds and get some pony to tell the truth, then every pony would possibly be healed, then most likely really take a real nap on the street. "It's ok, I just wanted to throw her a get well party." "well," said Sweetie Belle,"We kind of have to get to the library, and fast." "Alright, I'm going to arrange parties!" at that Pinky bounced off and the CMC (well what remained of it) walked up to the Library, but it had a magenta force field around it. So they knocked for a bit then the library door opened, at that spike came out up to the bubble and said. "Go around a full circle, if you are clean Twilight will let you in." he recited, though it sounded like the thousandth time and that he was bored to hell out of it. "We were cured spike, you can probably see from our fronts." "Just turn around." so the cmc did a full circle slowly. and Spike went back in, and presumably told Twilight, who opened the force field. a little for the cmc to go in then closed it. "Why are you not letting any non clean ponies in?" asked Sweetie Belle,"They could need help." "I've been reorganizing all week, so when spike told me there was a disaster i just closed up." > Spread > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lyra was crying BonBon had died, and she was now walking away, she was going to move to FillyDelphia for some time away, but was so sad that it was hard for her to go on. She had never had a friend die before, not that she remembered at least, and what happened to BonBon was more than harsh, so harsh that Lyra didn't want to remember it but just couldn't stop doing so. She was just so sad, so she was catching the 2 a.m train, because she didn't want to have to see ponies in the streets being forced to exhaust themselves to death, but it didn't matter as the ponies did it around the clock. Derpy (or Muffin, but I call her Derpy.) and Vinyl followed her, because Octavia had died and Derpy said that she had dropped her muffins in the icy pit. Neither Lyra or Vinyl could figure out what it meant but even if she did Vinyl wouldn't tell Lyra, or anyone for that matter anything, ever. "So, are you guys mourning some pony too?" cried Lyra. "The muffin funhouse." "So no pony wants to talk about anything worth my time, great." Soon enough the train pulled into the station and the three ponies got on it, but to their horror they noticed, but not until they got to FillyDelphia, that the train conductor was infected, and now they were too, they had unwillingly spread the virus to another town.