Epidemic 2

It has been nearly five years since the eradication of Celius. A plague many called the “Black Cough,” or the “Death Flu.” Many ponies died during the time of the Death Flu, leaving tons of families left to grieve.

If it weren’t for the help of Twilight Sparkle, and her semi psychotic scientist friend, Celius would not have stopped at a couple thousand. Or at all.

But now all is well, and Twilights sits read happily in her library, no more talk of Celius, and no more work needed to be put for the cure, since it was gone, never to return.

Twilight sits alone reading her favorite book on Magimatics, after which she’ll read that book of Magicology she purchased a few days ago. No more reading that book on Celius that dusted in her library. She gave it to Celestia as soon as the plague was eradicated, to ensure that the book stay in good hooves.

So Twilight sits, reading silently with a good smile on her face. Spike sleeps upstairs. It’s still pretty early, so he might as well catch some more shut eye before he has to officially wake up.

Back downstairs, Twilight finally closes her book of Magimatics, and takes it to its spot over in the “M” section of her shelves. On the way, something peculiar catches her eye.

It’s a book.

Not just any book either. This particular book is dusty. Too dusty. And if Twilight recalls, it was just yesterday that she did a library cleanup. She was sure she pulled out all the books, dusted them, and put them back where they belonged.

Why would this one book be dusty?

Twilight levitates the book out of it’s position, and tries her best to read the cover. To no avail, the dust takes up almost every single inch of the lettering on the book. Twilight takes the common approach and blows on the cover, shielding her eyes so as to not get dust on them.

Twilight gets a bad feeling about the book she just pulled from the shelf. The exact same thing happened five years ago, when Celius was rediscovered.

Five years ago, she had found a book of the same color, of the same height, and of the same level of thickness. The contents of the book were of everything one would know about Celius. From how it transmitted, to what the symptoms were, to the most important page; how to cure. Luckily, she befriended a very odd character, and together they stopped Celius once and for all.

And now, she held in her levitation aura, a book. A book on which looked exactly like the one five years ago, that warned you of a dangerous plague. The very same plague that took the lives of thousands five years ago.

Twilights sighed in relief. The book she held looks like the book on Celius, because it is the book on Celius. She must’ve left it there by mistake, when she reshelved them, mistaking for another book. Of course this one would be dusty. Nopony dares check this book out, nor would Twilight want to read it. As for why it was dusty, she may have just missed this book. She has a lot to keep track of.

Twilight turns to read her book on Magicology she left on her desk, when she finds it has been replaced with an orange book. Thinking it strange, Twilight decides to investigate, and closes in on the book. Twilight levitates the book to clear view, and reads the title silently to herself.

“Vramix?”

Twilight cracks opens the book to the very first page, and reads. “Everything you need to know about neurological worm Vramix in one book.”

Twilight gets a nervous feeling in her stomach, and flips the page. On the left, a picture of the pony brain with a worm like creature on top, sticking what appears to be its tendrils in said brain. Arrows point to certain sections of the brain, and the right page show a list of symptoms, each getting worse and worse as they go. The first symptom being “Neural Breach,” and expanding to more severe symptoms like “Suicide” and “Transcendence.”

“Neural Breach. Causes rapid eye blinking. First stages of Vramix.”

Twilight grew nervous, the same that was happening five years ago was happening yet again.

Twilight shook her head. “Stop it, Twilight!” She told herself, “You’re over reacting. Something like that can’t happen twice.”

Twilight looked at the book once more. “Can it?”

Fresh air. Twilight needs fresh air. A little walk in the park will help her forget all this nonsense. After all, she was right. Something like this can not happen twice.

Twilight sets the book back down, and prepares herself for her walk at the park by taking a deep breath and walking to the door.

Opening the door, she takes the fresh air in, and smiles. Today was going to be a good plague-free day in Ponyville.

Birds chirp freely, children laugh cutely, and ducks paddle ponds safely. It sure is a day to be appreciated, and what better way to appreciate it with a grand stroll in the park. Twilight felt the day get warmer already, and headed towards the park.

-Ponyville; Carousel Boutique-

Ever since the spread of Celius, Rarity has learned to value life to its fullest potential. That’s why she decided it would be better to spend more time with Sweetie Belle than with her wardrobe. They are having a little tea party together in Sweetie’s room. Drinking out of little white teacups and eating honeybuns, they laugh as they talk about nonsense.

“And then Scootaloo said, ‘That’s not a notebook!’” Says Sweetie Belle before laughing. Rarity simply giggles at the ridiculousness kids can come up with.

“Did she really think it was Cheerilee’s pencil?” Asks Rarity. Sweetie Belle nods, and rubs her eyes.

Rarity watches Sweetie with concern and asks, “Are you okay, darling? You’ve been rubbing your eyes for the past hour.”

“I’m fine. I just think there’s something in my eyes that I can’t get out.” Sweetie Belle gets up, “I’ll be right back.” And with that she exits.

Rarity waits patiently for a couple minutes before getting up herself to look for Sweetie Belle. After a couple room scans, she finally finds Sweetie looking into a mirror on a stool over the sink in the bathroom. Rarity watches with concern again, and Sweetie Belle finally realizes she’s in the room.

“There’s nothing in my eye.” Sweetie proclaim. She then starts to blink rapidly. Rarity begins to worry.

“Come now,” says Rarity, “I’ll take you to the ophthalmologist.”

“Do I have to?” Sweetie Belle protests slouching over the sink.

“Only to see if your eyes are okay. We can’t have you walking around, blinking all the time now can we?”

Sweetie Belle sighs, “Noooo…” She then hops off the little stool and follows Rarity out of the Boutique.

We all know where this is headed.

-Vramix Begins in Ponyville-

Cure Progress: 0%

Undetected

Infected: 26

Dead: 0