Epidemic

Twilight had her things packed. She was heading out the door. Outside, Dr. Whooves waited, and has his own saddlebag as well.

"Dr. Whooves," Twilight began, "Where is this laboratory?"

"The laboratory is in the outskirts of Canterlot." Dr. Whooves explained. "I have a friend waiting for us there. He is expecting us."

"Oh. Well, can I at least say goodbye to my friends before I leave?" Twilight pleaded. Dr. Whooves thought for a while. His friend wasn't expecting them until two hours,  so it would be enough time for a couple departures.

"Sure. Let's hurry along now. We wouldn't want to be late." Dr: Whooves mentioned.

Twilight and Dr. Whooves started walking to the closest place around, SugarCube Corner. She opened the door to the bakery, and inside, conveniently, there were all her friends, all behind the counter. Twilight walked in, happy to see all her friends in one place. Meanwhile, Dr. Whooves stayed outside.

That happiness quickly turned into despair when she realized the dangerously inevitable scene. Four of her best friends were sick. As she could see the fatigue in there eyes, and hear the groans of nauseated pain.

The only two ponies among the six that weren't sick were Twilight and Pinkie. Pinkie's mane was flat, it wasn't in its usual poofy style. Twilight stared at the four sick ponies, then she was noticed by Pinkie.

"Hey Twilight. There's a weird sickness thing going around Ponyville. You don't have it too, do you?" Pinkie's ears went flat when, and she bowed her head in anguish she said that.

"No Pinkie. I'm not sick." With that, every other pony in the room noticed Twilight. They couldn't fully make out Twilight, as they were squinting there eyes.

"Howdy *cough* Twilight!" Applejack spoke up. "Looks like that cough syrup didn't *cough* work very well, hehe."

"Is that Twilight?" Rarity spoke up next. Twilight wanted to tell her friends about Celius, but she didn't want them to think that they had a chance of dying.

"Girls." Twilight started, "I'm going to leave Ponyville for a while. I need too..." Twilight paused, and lowered her head, reconsidering to tell her friends about Celius.

"Ya need 't do *cough* what Twi?" Applejack asked. Twilight raised her head.

"I need to do some study on... Plants." Twilight ended her statement. All the ponies in the room looked at her and smiled.

"We'll *cough* miss you Twilight." It was Fluttershy's turn to say something. Twilight weakly smiled back. Twilight knew that Celius could cost them there lives, and they didn't know it, and there they are, smiling. They are in pain, in agony, in distress, but all they can do is smile.

"I'll miss you too." A tear ran down Twilight's cheek, because she thought about the dream she had, and about what Celius is capable of doing. The rest of the ponies noticed this, and there smiles quickly turned into frowns.

"Hey, what's wrong?" Pinkie walked over to Twilight, and placed a hoof over her shoulder.

"Nothing..." Twilight wiped her tears, "I guess I'm just gonna miss you girls a lot."

Pinkie gave Twilight a comforting hug, and smiled. After the embrace, she let go.

"You won't be gone forever. You'll be back, and everything will be back to normal." Pinkie comforted Twilight. Twilight felt better and turned to head out the door.

"Goodbye girls." Twilight waved. The smile on the others returned as they waved back.

"Good luck Twilight." Pinkie leaned in to whisper into Twilight ear. "I promise I won't say a word to anypony about you-know-what."

Twilight was taken by surprise, and was about to ask something when Dr. Whooves walked in.

"Speed this up Twilight, the train is coming in 15 minutes." Dr. Whooves impatiently said.

"I'm ready." Twilight responded, keeping her eyes fixed on Pinkie. Twilight and the doctor left SugarCube Corner, and headed for the train station.

Luckily, they arrived right on time, and got into the train. They presented two tickets, that Dr. Whooves had, to the conductor, and headed off to Canterlot.

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The trip was an hour long, but they made it to Canterlot. Once they arrived, they were greeted by a pony wearing a suit and tie.

"Hello good gentleman. I am Dr. Whooves, and this is my acquaintance, Twilight Sparkle." Dr. Whooves said to the pony. The pony looked around, and then cocked his head at the two, keeping a blank expression on his face.

Twilight followed Dr. Whooves, who followed the pony in he suit.

"So. Who is this 'friend' of yours?" Twilight asked Dr. Whooves.

"His name is Labor Kittel." Dr. Whooves explained, "He is a Germane, and he does have quite the thick accent."

"Does he know about Celius?" Twilight asked.

"I wrote him a letter the night I left your tree. I explained everything to him, and he is more than willing to help." Dr. Whooves said, "Although I must warn you. He has a rather disturbing history of crazy experiments with live ponies. Burning them, freezing them, psychologically tormenting them, and I don't want to go further into detail." Dr. Whooves shivers to the thought. "He lost his medical license a few years back.

"How is he allowed to be in a lab?" Twilight asked a bit frightened that she will be in the same room with a deranged madpony.

"After he was sent to the nuthouse, he was rehabilitated. In addition to freedom, he also got his license back. He promised he would never experiment on live ponies ever again." Dr. Whooves explained.

Finally, they arrived at the lab. The pony in the suit and tie opened the door for them, and they made there way inside. Inside, they found a grey pony wearing a lab coat, and had some reading glasses on. His mane was a lighter shade of grey, and was extremely messy. He greeted Dr. Whooves, and shook his hoof.

"Ah. Dr. Whooves. How vundabah it is to see you!" The grey pony said. Then he looked at Twilight, who just stood there looking at the two.

"I see you brought company. Vhelcome to my laboratory, err?"

"Twilight Sparkle. Nice to meet you." Twilight took out her hoof to shake.

"Ah! Tvilight Sparkle! Zhe princess says a lot about you!" The grey pony said. "My name is Labor Kittel." He takes out his hoof and shakes Twilight's hand.

"Wait. You work for the princess?" Twilight asked, caught off-guard.

"Vhy of course! I am von of Celestias most intelligent scientists. I vouldnt be here if I vasn't." Labor said with a chuckle. "Vhy don't you put your zings over zhere?" Labor points at a desk nearby.

Twilight and Dr. Whooves walk over to the desk and place all there things on it. Twilight put down her book, microscope, vial of Spike's contaminated blood, medical mask, notebook, and quill. The doctor took out medical gloves, goggles, a notebook, and a quill.

"Now zen... Vhere vere we?"