Colgate's Practice

Sunday was rather uneventful as Lyra and Colgate spent time in town doing some long overdue sister/sister bonding and before they knew it, Monday morning had arrived. Both Lyra and Colgate were up before dawn so they could shower and eat. During breakfast Colgate asked her sister, "So Lyra, are you ready for your first day?"

Lyra replied, "You bet I am. I am ready to put my skills to the test."

This made Colgate very happy. Unlike Lemon Hearts, her last hygienist, Lyra was excited to start work. Once they got to their practice and opened for business, their first patient of the day came in. Applejack walked into their office and said, "Howdy Colgate, how are y'all doing?" She then saw Lyra standing there by Colgate and asked, "Lyra, is that you? Ah thought you were up in Canterlot going to school."

Before Colgate could say anything Lyra excitedly answered, "Not anymore Applejack! I graduated and now I am working for my sister!"

Colgate added, "Yep, she is my dental hygienist now."

Applejack replied, "Well Ah'm happy to see you two working together. Y'all seem so close, you remind me a lot of Apple Bloom and myself."

Lyra knew she better hurry and get Applejack back into the chair. She smiled and said, "Come on back Applejack, let's get this started."

Applejack followed Lyra back to the dentist's chair. Unlike a lot of other ponies, Applejack was not scared of the dentist so she did not hesitate to get in the chair. Lyra began to take a look in her mouth and did not see anything out of the ordinary, except for bright white teeth. She asked, "Wow Applejack, your teeth are really white. I take it you take good care of them?"

Applejack replied, "Eeyep, Ah take very good care of them. Ah don't want to wind up like Granny Smith so Ah make sure Ah brush three times a day."

Lyra said, "Wow. I am sure Colgate will love that. Speaking of Colgate, I will go get her to take your X-rays."

A couple minutes Colgate came over and said, "So Applejack, Lyra told me about your bright, shiny teeth. Let's take a better look."

Colgate's horn began to glow and using her magic she examined Applejack's teeth for cavities, and like always, Applejack's teeth were perfectly healthy."

Colgate smiled and said, "Well Applejack, your teeth look good but let's see how strong they are." Colgate paused for a minute as she levitated this device that measures a pony's bite force out of a drawer. Applejack knew the drill as she had done this many times before. Colgate placed the device in her mouth and Applejack bit down as hard as she could.

Colgate scowled as she read the results. Applejack got a lump in her throat and looked at the dentist in fear. She asked, "Colgate, Ah take it Ah didn't do very good."

Colgate's glare intensified as she growled, "No, you didn't do very good." Her scowl immediately changed to a beaming smile and she continued in a cheerful voice, "You did excellent. I have never seen a pony with as powerful of a bite as you!" Still smiling, Colgate finished, "And this is why you are my favorite patient. Your teeth are always perfect. It is obvious you take very good care of them."

Applejack replied, "Well Ah don't want to lose my teeth like my Granny Smith did."

Colgate said, "Yeah. It is too bad that she lost her teeth before I was able to open shop here."

Applejack agreed, "Ah know. Before you came along, we had to go up to Canterlot to see the dentist and we didn't always have the money to even pay for the train ride up there, much less see the dentist." Applejack paused and asked, "Ah have a question Colgate, do you know any spells to make a pony's teeth grow back?"

Colgate smiled and replied, "I'm sorry Applejack but I don't. I could always go see if Celestia would allow me to study in the archives."

After Colgate finished talking with Applejack, Lyra cleaned her teeth. On her way out they talked some more. Applejack asked, "So Lyra, were your parents happy to see you get your certificate?"

Both Lyra and Colgate teared up a bit. Colgate replied, "Well mom and dad died after getting struck by lightning in Fillydelphia visiting me. It was one of the hardest times in my life. I was working for a demanding boss and trying to save up money to open my own practice."

Applejack asked, "So what made you decide to open a practice here at home?"

Colgate replied, "I remember when they were on their death beds they asked me to promise to open a practice here in Ponyville so I could be here if Lyra needed me."

Lyra began to cry a little and said, "And I'm so glad she did. Colgate has always been here for me."

Colgate added, "And I always will be."

Before they knew it their next patient came in the door. Applejack said, "Well Ah better get going. Y'all have a good day."

They both wished Applejack well and got to work on their next patient. Luckily for Lyra, all their patients that day had good, healthy teeth so Colgate remained in a good mood and her first day on the job was a stress free one.