Ponid-19

Starlight trotted about in her room, trying to think up some way that she might crack the lid on the entire situation. Something was rotten in Canterlot…or Manehattan…or somewhere, and she intended to find out just what that was. The virus had appeared so suddenly, and so enigmatically, that she just knew someone, or something, was behind it. She believed that it had been engineered for some diabolical purpose, and she was determined to reveal everything. Once that was done, she could take it to Celestia and Luna and demand that those evildoers be brought to justice.

Now, she just needed the perfect sidekick. Somepony who could keep her company, help her solve clues, and piece the puzzle together. It needed to be someone with a good sense of humor and a sharp sense of detection. She recalled a movie she’d seen when she was still a filly that featured a hardened detective and his companion, a stallion who made a lot of mirth but was also fairly competent in his own skills. She had to have somepony like that, and she began running through a list of the ponies she knew.

She thought of Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Rarity, but figured that they’d be much too serious. She needed somepony to bring a sense of levity to the investigation and, even though Rarity had proven to be an expert detective, she figured that it would be all seriousness, all the time. She needed someone who knew when to laugh, when to cry, and when to act a part. That eliminated both Pinkie and Fluttershy, because Pinkie would laugh way too much, and Fluttershy would cry way too much. She also eliminated Twilight, because she didn’t want the same pony who had just shut down Ponyville to be caught up in a secret operation like this. It would look pretty damn hypocritical.

“Alright, Star,” she said out loud, “that’s all your friends…except…no, no, I couldn’t! Trixie wouldn’t want to do something like this, would she?”

Her knees knocked a bit at the thought of asking her dear friend to take part in the proceedings. But she also realized that she didn’t have a choice. Time was running short for ponies, as the news had reported that morning that the first cases had popped up in Canterlot, Manehattan, Vanhoover, and Appleloosa. It seemed that the pony who had escaped from The Crystal Empire had gone to Manehattan and given the virus to a bunch of ponies there without even realizing he had it. Then, they went to the ensuing cities and spread it there. They became unknowing carriers of this deadly affliction.

Starlight knew that, were she to avoid asking Trixie, she might live to regret it. Ponies might live their entire lives in complete fear, shut up in their homes, waving at each other from ridiculous distances, and wearing those awful masks that the Princesses were beginning to require. She understood the reasoning of safety and health, but she also understood that she was a free pony. The Equestrian Constitution demanded that freedom be defended above all else, and as a reformed dictator, she had come to love her newfound liberty in friendship. She hated to see it decisively destroyed by a blob of mindless parasitic proteins.

I must ask Trixie, she told herself, the fate of Equestria may depend on it.

“Aw, come on, Trix!” Starlight begged her friend. She had asked her about thirty times to join in the investigation, but each time the fake magician had soundly refused. She told Starlight that she didn’t want to risk her health, nor her stage show by getting caught up in these “whackjob conspiracy theories.”

“But it’s not a conspiracy theory!” Starlight protested, “it’s a quest to find the truth! I’m just saying that this entire virus thing is being blown way out of proportion. Everypony’s acting like this big, bad ball of evil is gonna rain hellish fire down upon them the moment they step outside their door! It’s just-“

“-crazy?” Trixie finished, and then nodded. “I agree with you. However, I also agree with the experts. I think we can find common ground on that.”

Starlight snorted. She was about to leap at Trixie and force her to help, but then she reminded herself of the reasons for her impending search and decided against it. She grit her teeth together and put her hooves on Trixie’s shoulders. “Trixie, listen to me,” she said urgently, “I know what the experts have said, and I know what the Princesses have said. But still, I also know what my gut tells me.”

“You’re basing all this on a feeling of indigestion?” Trixie asked sarcastically.

Starlight puffed out a frustrated sigh. “Look, you’re one of my best friends,” she said, “and I can’t force you to help me. But just know that, if you still refuse, there may be dire consequences. I may never find the solution on my own! I…need you, Trixie.”

She put on her most irresistible face, knowing of Trixie’s deep seated requirement for constant companionship. It wouldn’t be long before the walls of cracked stone that she’d built against the idea would crumble and she’d be begging Starlight to tag along. The former dictator understood Trixie’s deepest heart, which was what made them such good friends. In a way, they had both been lulled into the caring arms of gentility, respect, and love by Twilight. Now, they shared so much in common…and Starlight hoped that this adventure would be the same.

Trixie sighed, unable to put up any more barriers against Starlight’s impeccable charm and friendliness. “Alright,” she said, “but if I catch this damned disease, it’s on you.”

“We’re not gonna get it, Trix,” Starlight said with confidence.

“How can you say that?” Trixie asked, “the news said that 1,300 ponies have been infected already, and that’s just from one stallion escaping The Crystal Empire. Imagine what could happen if we caught the disease from somepony and then unknowingly gave it to the ponies we know!”

“We’ll just have to take the chance,” Starlight responded, “I would rather get sick and die a free pony, then live knowing that I was under the hooves of a silent ruler.”

“Boy, you really have changed,” Trixie remarked.

“Yes, I have,” Starlight said, “and it’s thanks to Twilight that I did. I can’t call myself one of her best friends if I don’t do everything within my power to help her save Equestria. Now, come on! We’ve got some digging to do!”