The Plague Doctor and Cutie Switched

by StarRibbon

Rating: teen
Tags: Crossover, Main 6, Gore, Diamond Tiara, Dark, Sad, Other, Original Character, Cutie Mark Crusaders, Tragedy
Length: 2425

Cheerilee had enough of Scootaloo's constant excuses for her parents. With a little unwanted aid by Rainbow Dash, they discover the truth. But really, is the truth ever that simple?

It was going to be Family Appreciation Day in Cheerilee's school in two weeks, and she was expecting the best. Of course-from all except Scootaloo. This year, however, she will not tolerate her excuses and will get to the bottom of who her parents are!

Rainbow Dash, a brash young pegasus, over hears and tries finding this out herself. What she learns, however, is much different than many ponies expect. Now they are invited to a party by a sugar rushed stallion (or, so he CLAIMS) and he won't take no for an answer! But really, is it all that he says it is? Or maybe he's hiding something from even himself?

(Disclaimer:I do NOT own the ponies that are mentioned. This was my cutie/dark little fic. Has no barrings on The Puppet Maker and has NONE of the characters that are mentioned save for some with the same name that aren't the same ponies or canon ponies)
Warning:You might encounter a run in with some pretty strange ponies, freaked out Twilight on several occasions, minor cursing, and Casu Marzu. You have been warned.

Published 2013-12-30 04:50:06 UTC
Last updated 2013-12-30 04:50:06 UTC

Discovery with a side of Canoli

Discovery with a side of Canoli

Rainbow Dash was having a blast. It was her time off and she had loved every second of it. Sure, she had to do minor work-clearing the sky did take a little portion of her time, but she knew it was worth it. Now, she easily had time to just take a nap or just lay there in content, idly listening in on conversations. This was no exception.

"Scootaloo, may I..have a word with you..?" Rainbow Dash's ear twitched. It was a sweet voice with concern etched in. The name rang out easily. She grunted to herself. Scootaloo might have been her sister and fan, but seriously, she didn't WANT to hear her rattle on as frequently as she had. She's not a mare that had patience for fillies-or for fans, so she didn't exactly blame them.

"What's wrong..Cheerilee?" Scootaloo's squeaky voice answered back, flat and full of worry. Rainbow didn't need to think so hard about what her voice was laced with. It was simply clear. The two hadn't answered eachother for a while before another entered in.

"Is Scootaloo in trouble?" A high pitched one entered the picture. Was that Sweetie Belle? A ruffling sound answered her.

"No, she isn't, Sweetie." Cheerilee's tone wasn't changing from pony to pony, she still had a concerned, yet sweet, toned voice. "Take Apple Bloom and buy a treat at Sugarcube Corner, my treat. I have to talk to Scootaloo." Rainbow Dash peered down, right when Sweetie Belle exchanged a look with Apple Bloom, showing signs of worry.

"If ya say so, Miss Cheerilee," Apple Bloom said softly before racing with the unicorn blank flank, their unease seemingly leaving as they left.

"She can't be in for something bad, "Rainbow Dash commented in a whisper only for her to hear. Why did she even care? She shrugged the worry. "Its probably because she whooped some Tiara flank. Yeah, too major." Still, curiosity set in as she tuned to their conversation.

"You haven't made any attempt at signing the name of the pony who will be there for you on Family Appreciation Day," Cheerilee replied dryly, her voice showing her resolve. Scootaloo didn't reply for a few moments, causing Rainbow to, yet again, peer over. Her eyes were locked to the ground, her frown quite evident. Rainbow Dash, from this point on, didn't like the direction of this conversation.

"Why am I even worried?" Dash questioned herself. "She's doing GREAT, there's nothing wrong." Her heart said otherwise, but she didn't listen to it.

"Well.." She was phrasing something with difficulty. "My Papa (Rainbow Dash didn't quite get why she had such a strange distaste for the phrase, like it wasn't quite the word) works a lot with tons of other ponies. He's never available then, I see him more at night." A pause, Cheerilee didn't care for that excuse.

"Scootaloo.." Cheerilee was fed up. "You've been saying that for the longest time. He can't be out that often."

"Miss Cheerilee, I'm not lying! He's really--"

"Scootaloo, are you ashamed of your family?" Rainbow Dash's jaw dropped. Cheerilee was at her wits end but she didn't expect THAT outcry! She was expecting some sort of counter, but Scootaloo's response was similar suit to her own.

"Wait what--Why would you say that..?" Scootaloo asked her. Even from up there, tension was growing uncomfortable. Didn't take a genius to figure she felt the same. She shook her head in defense. "I'm not ashamed, really! He just can't always be there. There's no problem in that, is there? Besides, there's an..event..I might not be able to go anyway!" Cheerilee raised a brow at that.

"I've had it with this..hiding, I can't help you if you don't allow me to. I can't allow you to miss out once again, Scootaloo. I'm going to have a word with your parent, if he doesn't show once again, I'll call services." That was a jaw dropping revelation. A cloud of silence fell on the pair until Cheerilee left from the scene when Rainbow Dash looked down again.

"She can't be serious!" She whispered to herself before making sure Cheerilee was gone. Squirt serious can't be..? Nope, not believing THAT one.

"She's wrong, I'm NOT ashamed of him, I have a family...I can't....always..."She instantly teared at the rims, tears threatening to roll down her orange cheeks. She can almost see her father's figure wiping away her tears. Her family wasn't a bad one, to prove it...she couldn't always. "There IS...a party..I just...I can't tell her.."Without a thought to disagree, Rainbow burst down and made her extravagant entrance, one of lightning strikes and rain.

"The ONE AND ONLY----RAINBOW DASH!" Scootaloo laughed at her entrance. She held out her chest with swelled pride as she smirked. "I know, I know:I'm just that awesome. No autographs needed."

"Why are you here?" Scootaloo's smile changed, the brief moment shattered. She was a smart cookie.

"Well...kid, I've got to say, I...uh...well.."

"How much had you heard?" Rainbow Dash looked away from her from instinct. She couldn't bare to see the sorrow in the filly.

"...all of it.." Scootaloo's ears fell as she stared towards the ground. "Squirt, is there something your not telling anypony?" Scootaloo backed off from her idol.

"...Your thinking the same thing as Miss.Cheerilee aren't you..?" Her voice so quiet, Rainbow had to strain to hear her sentence before she made a face of horror. That was NOT the direction she had in mind!

"Nonono--I don't think that at all, I mean, come on! You seriously can't be like that." She shook her head. "I just want to know-" Scootaloo held out her hood to answer, cutting her off. The mare in question didn't question the filly, but didn't enjoy the interruption for she shot her a glare.

"Say no more-he wants to meet you anyways. I told him allllll about you!" Scootaloo's joy was shown through her bouncing before she stopped to add more on. "He always wants to see the others-he said its for business, but I can't tell you much here, I'm not allowed in public, he doesn't want Uncle Ro-Angel Hair to yell at him for that. Not that Uncle Angel Hair doesn't yell at him ANYWAY.

"Uh...right..."How can anypony respond to something like that? "Where is he anyway?" Scootaloo paused,

"He should be at home. He's been busy with paperwork lately, so he must be at home. He might be sleeping on his work like last time. Angel Hair was not to pleased with that before." Scootaloo gestured her to follow. "Its not far from here, lets go."

"Whatever you say Squirt,lead the way." She was already regretting the questioning. Why couldn't she just ignore and go back to her nap? She still stuck by her and followed her through the town, past the merchants and the vendors until she laid eyes on a clearing just past it all. There laid a home built primarily of clouds, but were built so they wouldn't move with the use of wood and metal framing. It held a floating appearance without floating. To see it was to see a work crafted by an artisan....that had no laws of physics apply. To say the least, it wasn't what Rainbow Dash was expecting, it was the total opposite.

"Your jaw, Rainbow Dash!" Scootaloo pushed it up with a giggle and smile. Was it that strange? She didn't think so. "Just wait, it gets better!" She hopped up the stairs and pushed the door open before allowing her in. She didn't object, in fact, she wanted in by the time she reached the step. She sniffed the air. It wasn't something she smelled from the bakery or from AJ's. It was delightful.

"Scatenata, I didn't ex-"

THUD

"Dad? Are you okay?" Scootaloo trotted over to the room, passing several others. Disturbed by the lack of response, Scootaloo turned to a labeled room. Rainbow couldn't read it, something too fancy, ick. With a great force, she pushed the door open to reveal the reason why the voice never answered back.

"He...lp...meeeeee- vee!"In a pile of great papers and books, a pale orange stallion was trapped upside down in the pile. His coat was much paler than Scootaloo's light orange coat. Though, to Rainbow's credit, she didn't laugh at his plight nor laughed at how mareish he was in appearance. "I was getting the papers that they handed me..but..I misplaced them and when I--"More papers fell on him, shutting him up.

"You did it again, didn't you?" Scootaloo eyed her father with a stern glance. He gave out a soft 'vee' of guilt before the aid arrived. Immediately after, he gave her a bone crushing hug.

"I was looking for a file, then I thought:Where would I least suspect I'd put something? And, HERE I AM NOW!" He grinned, his brown eyes lighting up with glee. Rainbow Dash didn't participate in the glee when she saw his race.

"Hold up, how can you-a unicorn, manage to gather clouds and actually walk on them?" He laughed at the question, not taking it seriously at all.

"Nopony really knows I'm her father, dunno why!" He bounded around the room a bit. Rainbow Dash paid clear attention to him now. "Though, I'm not really a unicorn...I can't remember why, but I just..well.."

"Dad--"

"My horn cracked..."He sounded so sad. "...I can't really use strong magic anymore...but ponies don't realize that often..and I'm always useless in that regard..." Rainbow Dash stepped forward.

"That's not-"

"Her mom's a pegasus, is THAT so shocking? A pegasus and a unicorn?" He gave a huff before grabbing something else. "She's in Russia right now.." Another tear fell before Rainbow tried once more.

"STOPPPPP!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed. Cutting a pony off in the middle of a sentence must have been a family habit. She fell back on the ground before she realized. She must have actually floated when yelling out. "HOW can you do that with the clouds? Only PEGASI can do that sort of thing!" He waved her off with a hoof.

"I enhanced it of course, duh!" He went to her, his eyes showing such a childlike appearance, something of innocence. His sadness no longer showing."Why does everypony ask that? Jeeezzz! Its not THAT hard to figure out!" He stuffed a file in his saddlebag finally.

"But didn't you just say---"

"I can't use spells often, yes!" He answered with a wink. "Even with the smallest of spells, I have to use TOOONNSS of magic. I don't understand how it happened, really, but I can't even teleport or levitate without being dizzy by the end, and that's only for a brief periods! I can't go TOOOO long or I sleep, so I used a really neat spell that doesn't need much on my part."

"That's Screw Driver, my father! He's a very important pony. I..can't say much other than he works a lot. He also owns a home building company as a part time job here. "

"WAIT WAIT WAIIITTT----"Screw Driver immediately came to a grinding halt, immediately examining Rainbow Dash. "You look prismatic...and you have a bolt---Your Rainbow Dash, right? Your one of those ponies I need to visit! Can you show me where Twilight Sparkle lives? I will greatly appreciate it! Oh, and I'll bring Canoli's! You all will LOVE them!" She eyed him with annoyance.

"He's like the male version of Pinkie Pie!" She whispered before she was shushed by Scootaloo.

"What would you expect?" Rainbow Dash didn't want to answer that, she didn't expect such an outcome. She gave a sheepish grin back at Scootaloo.

"Well...uh.." Scootaloo rose an eyebrow at the response. "Mr.Driver, what's a canoli? How come I never heard of one?" Screw Driver's ears perked up instantly as he gasped in shock.

"Of course~ None of you ponies heard of one because they mainly are done in big cities and my native country." He tapped his chin before giving a full answer. "You see, my real name's Italy Veneziano, I'm always out doing paperwork for my country and Roma's side-he can be kind of a dick and won't do any of his work. He's so stubborn, I can't make any events Scootaloo has been in BECAUSE of his stubbornness! I swear he'll drive me insane..! That and the strange blackouts..I can't always remember what I've been doing later...THEN IT HAPPENED.One day before we moved here, we had this huuuggeeee meeting in Britain and BAM! They gave me this file and forms-they want to make Twilight a representative. I took all this time and energy to get it approved by Celestia and Luna. That took forever, I had to wait and wait- anyway, THAT'S what I needed to tell Twilight! Oh, this is why Germany doesn't trust me with anything, I end up messing it up...." He hit the floor with his hoof before a tear slid down his cheek.

"Wait, let me get this clear..." Rainbow grew skeptical. "You..are the representative of..."

"I'm Italy Veneziano, I'm Northern Italy~ Uh, we got into several..um....fights...we couldn't unite." His gaze shifted downward like a punished foal.

"..Right...."She rolled her eyes. "And you need us for..?"

"You see, Twilight needs to represent Equestria!" He bounced once more before he shook his head, what happened earlier not on his mind. "Besides...she's much more organized. Germany does it and screams too loud, then makes a funny face before going all BAMMMPPP!"

"Why should I believe you?" He took his turn, rolling his eyes at her. "Prove.it." She narrowed her eyes. Scootaloo lived with a nutcase! There's no way she'll allow him to continue.

"Course I will~ Countries are magical in nature, we heal faster than other ponies." He took a piece of cardboard from his study, then, without warning, he cut himself. Rainbow Dash's eyes widen in shock from his stunt.

"Why are you doing that? Are you crazy or something?" Why wasn't Scootaloo even affected by this? He gave her a hoof. Did THAT run in the family too? Her eyes fell on his bleeding chest before they ultimately grew in size once more. The cut was healed within a few minutes and the blood was gone. When it was done, he had the last giggle as her jaw dropped.

"So when do you want me to take you there?"

Author's Note

People honestly call Italy the Pinkie Pie of Hetalia, why not make him really Pinkie like? I wonder what makes him busy when he doesn't remember...