The Dentist's (not laughing) Gas

“Open wide.”

The filly did as Colgate requested, spanning her jaw out to fully expose her teeth. The dentist poked and prodded around the girl’s mouth, making note of the several loose teeth. Her patient twitched occasionally, but otherwise remained still in the chair.

“You’ve done a very good job with your teeth,” Colgate said, standing upright and placing her tools down. “Just make sure to brush towards the gum line, and don’t try to pull those loose teeth out yet.”

Colgate gave a small toy to the quiet foal and sent her on her way, thankful for such a well-behaved patient. After she left through the door, Colgate slipped off her mask and took a deep breath. The familiar medicinal smell of the office had grown on her, its sterile tinges comforting her as if this small cubicle were her second home.

Her life seemed on the up and up. Just a half hour or so until she got off from work. Watching Equestria’s springtime dance through the window, she began to daydream about the fair. She wasn’t normally one for carnivals (let alone outgoing at all), but Lyra sure was. Ever since Monday the dentist was looking forward to this afternoon. It certainly felt like she needed a break. Work had been hanging over her like a malevolent shadow for what felt like months. Although her coworkers and acquaintances kept her company, Lyra felt like a well needed escape.

Colgate examined herself in the mirror, adjusting her skirt. Her scrubs were a tangled mess in the corner, having been taken off just minutes ago. She was already a minute or two late, causing her to hasten her preparation. She wasn’t happy when a patient wasn’t on time, so she assumed that short-tempered Lyra was even more impatient. Still, she went through the effort to look nice, her outfit matching the vernal atmosphere. The lights of the fair could be seen flickering through the trees from her house. Within a few minutes, she was walking down the winding pathways to the fairgrounds.

This fair was always a pleasant event in the homely town of Ponyville, whose leisurely pace saw little action compared to the neighboring metropolises like Manehattan. Colgate recalled her days growing up in that city. She always felt like stranger to some degree during her youth, and expected a quiet town to suit her. Indeed, she found greater comfort between the wooden pillars of trees than the concrete behemoths that made up her hometown. The introversion that many city-dwellers are raised into never quite shook off of her though.

She walked along the path, ears perked and eyes alert for her friend. She kicked small pebbles and clouds of dust around with her feet, scanning the upcoming gates of the fair. The fear that she was late gently tickled her stomach. Why am I so focused on impressing her? Colgate asked herself in a moment of self-awareness. Insecurity seemed to be the most likely motivator, but abstract fears couldn’t bog down the dentist’s mood today.

A spearmint green blur became apparent in the small crowd that stood outside the wooden gates of the fair site. Almost as if it could read Colgate’s mind, the color began to shift through the crowd, Lyra’s form becoming visible. Colgate grinned and waved at her, meeting her halfway.

“Hey again Colgate! Glad you could make it!” Lyra said, smiling warmly at the dentist. She opened her arms, inviting Colgate to embrace. Once again the two young mares hugged. Colgate couldn’t help but notice the softness of the fabric on her friend, and how beneath its loose, silky folds there was a certain warmth.

“How are you?” inquired Lyra, shaking Colgate from her thoughts.

“I’m well, thanks,” she responded. “I love your shirt. It feels-- I mean, looks so nice on you.”

“Oh, thanks! I thought you’d like it.” Colgate instantly felt a wave of regret. Why did I say that? That sounded a lot better in my head, I look like a creep now...

“Colgate? Are you awake?”

Once again, the dentist was snapped back into reality by Lyra’s words. “Yeah, sorry, I just… didn’t get much sleep last night, I guess. Overworked.” Lyra cocked an eyebrow, clearly not convinced by the answer. Thankfully she let the issue slide and began to head into the fair, beckoning Colgate to follow.

Entering through the gates, a shower of lights and noise flooded the mares’ senses. The laughter and squeals of ecstatic ponies filled the twilight air, reminiscent of both of the mares’ foalhoods. Young colts and fillies darted around their legs, chasing after their friends. A potpourri of familiar smells wafted through the air: sweet notes of cotton candy and treats, buttery and salty hints of popcorn, and the earthy, natural smell of the fairgrounds. Colgate took a slow look around, absorbing the sights and sounds.

“Wow, I haven’t been here in years,” she remarked, her voice distant in awe.

“You haven’t?” replied Lyra. “I love this place! I’ve been coming here every year, ever since I was a filly. Didn’t we go here on a school trip a while ago?”

“Yeah, you’re right,” Colgate said, recalling a class trip back from when she and Lyra were learning how to do basic math in that little red schoolhouse by the Apple family farm.

“Let’s start walking around, we’re in everypony’s way!” Lyra suggested, grabbing Colgate by the forearm and striding into the crowd. Colgate hurried along, beginning to feel uncomfortable as Lyra’s grip held on for painful seconds afterwards. Lyra had the same excited look she always had when she came here as a young pony. It was hard not to nice the way her gold eyes glowed with excitement and how her step acquired a light bounce as she bounded down the row of game stalls and snack stands.

She sure has no problem with the touch barrier, Colgate mentally noted. The green unicorn was leading her through the crowd by the wrist, causing the lights and noises to blur past her. “Where are we going, Lyra?” Colgate called out, her voice barely discernable from the dozens of chatters around her.

“We’re getting in line for my favorite ride, of course!” Lyra said as if it was common knowledge. She pointed an eager finger into the sky; ahead of them laid a tall wheel of metal and wood, secured seats at points on the rim. Colgate easily recognized it as a Ferris wheel. It wouldn’t have been so disturbing if she hadn’t seen that the seats could roll forwards or backwards.

“Those things aren’t supposed to move,” Colgate said, suddenly aware of the fact Lyra had let go of her wrist and was watching the ride with fascination.

“Yeah they are! That’s the fun part,” she responded. “What, did you think it was just going to take you up to the top and down again?”

Colgate was hoping that was the case. She could feel a twinge of fear bud in her stomach. “Lyra…”

The unicorn was already at the front of the line, paying for two seats.

“Lyra, I think my stomach is bruised.”

“Well maybe you shouldn’t have been leaning on the bars,” Lyra scolded. “And don’t scream so loud.”

“The thing was going to come flying off!” Colgate cried. “And the operator wasn’t listening to me!”

Lyra snorted with laughter. “Jeez Colgate, relax. That thing is safer than your dentist’s chair,” she teased. “Besides, even if it did fall apart, you’d only have to worry for a few seconds.”

Colgate rolled her eyes at Lyra’s humor. She had trouble getting that mare. The adrenaline still left her heart thumping and her legs feeling like sacks of gelatin, but Lyra seemed unfazed by the whole event. She just had on this ear-to-ear grin, occasionally shooting amused glances at the squealing dentist. And she had tried to rock the thing back and forth!

“Let’s try something less… painful,” Colgate suggested, breaking the silence between the two girls as they walked through the fair. More than once her entire body weight had ended up balanced on the bar securing her in.

“Is the Canterlot Coaster more suiting?” Lyra giggled, pointing at a miniature roller coaster decorated like the famous castles. “Lots of foals there, bet you’d fit right in.”

“Lyra!” Colgate snapped. She could feel her cheeks burn in embarrassment.

“Oh fine, maybe we’ll just grab a snack instead,” Lyra said as she directed the pair towards a food stand. “I hope you’re hungry, I know I am.”

“Yeah, I could do with some food,” Colgate replied. The excitement of the evening had completely masked her hunger up until now. Smells of greasy snack food and sweets wafted from the brightly lit hut, only helping to further the rumbling in her stomach.

The two mares ordered their meals and took a seat on a nearby bench. Colgate satisfied herself with a fruit kebab. Lyra, on the other hand, ordered several cookies and a bag of candy.Colgate wondered how she managed to keep that frame of hers, noticing that her own body was… more shapely than that of her friend’s.

“Thanks for treating me,” Colgate said, chomping down on a juicy morsel.

“No problem,” Lyra smiled, bits of colorful candy in between her teeth (to Colgate’s dismay). “That’s what friends are for, right?”

Colgate smiled in response, nodding. By now, the roar of foals and friends had begun to quiet. Crickets were beginning their nightly orchestra of shrill chirping with the rising moon as their conductor. A warm breeze passed over the fairgrounds, the comforting breath of summer’s birth sending wisps of Colgate’s mane into her eyes. Looking into the melting oranges and crimsons of the sunset, the dentist spoke to Lyra: “It’s getting late. We should think about heading home.”

“About that…” Lyra began. She stared down at her food as she spoke, twirling her bare toes through the grass. “I was wondering if you’d like to come over tonight. Maybe we could watch a movie or something.”

“I really don’t think I can,” Colgate responded. Lyra looked farther down, as if she were shy about something. “I-it’s just that I have work early tomorrow. Believe me, I’d love to visit if I could,” the blue-coated mare continued. Lyra once again perked up, smiling meekly. “I’ve been having lots of fun with you as of late.”

“I feel the same way,” Lyra said, warmth in her voice. “I’m glad I’m not bothering you with all this running around I’m making you do.”

“Certainly not! You know how work gets in the way of things though,” Colgate mused. “Anyway, I think I should head home now. I’m exhausted.”

“Me too. I had a lot of fun today, thanks for coming,” Lyra grinned.

“I’d love to come visit sometime soon, if you don’t mind,” Colgate said. She knew this would please Lyra, and sure enough the filly’s face lit up in joy. “I’ll see you then,” continued the dentist.

“Yup, bye!” Lyra said, waving farewell to Colgate. When she was well out of ear’s reach, the doctor giggled. She always loved that goofy smile plastered on Lyra’s face.