Unexpected Changes

Once Lily was tucked in and resting, her father took off down the road toward the apothecary. As much as he didn't want his daughter to be going through this, he knew that it had to happen. He couldn't stop it, and he'd have to accept it eventually. He just wasn't wanting it to be required so soon.

The bell rang as he stepped into the shop. There were more than just herbs in the place. Dazzling crystals hung from the ceiling, as well as various bottles of unknown liquids that glowed in various colours. The air smelled absolutely foul, and it was coming from the back wall, where behind the counter, hundreds of small drawers were crudely marked with strange symbols he didn't recognise.

"Can I help you?" asked a hissing voice from behind a table. He looked, but he couldn't see them through the large stack of candle boxes. "Hello?" the voice asked again after a few seconds. "Isss sssomeone there?"

"Y-yeah, sorry," he answered, his voice slightly muffled by the hoof covering his nose. "I'm looking for some medicine."

"We have much of that. You're going to need to be more ssspecccific..."

"I'm looking for... Hang on a second..." He moved through the various tables and displays until he was able to circle the one the clerk was hiding behind. "I don't want to keep shouting across the room and around displays. I'm Cloverleaf."

The dragon reorganising the crystals extended his claw for a shake. "Sssalazzzar."

"Pleasure to meet you." He shook his claw. "I'm looking for something to help with heat."

"I can whip up a treatment for that, but you can find variousss ointmentsss of Aloe Vera and Menthol at mossst drug ssstoresss that'll fixxx most burnsss."

Cloverleaf furrowed his brow. "You'd turn away customers like that?"

He shrugged. "Cussstomersss are cussstomersss, and coin isss coin, but it'sss obviousss that you don't like the sssmell of my ssstore."

Cloverleaf lowered his hoof, though he wished he'd lift it up to hide his embarrassment. "Sorry. I don't mean to insult you or your store..."

Salazar chuckled. "I forgive you. It ssstinksss in here. That isss the ssstench of the cabinet of herbsss in the back. If you ssstill want it, I can put together a bottle of your burn cream."

"Hm?" Cloverleaf blinked a few times, then shook his head. "No! Sorry. That's not what I wanted. It's not for burns, it's for heat."

Salazar tilted his head to the side. "I'm confusssed. Isss it not a burning you were hoping to avoid?"

"No. No fire. Just heat."

He scratched his chin for a bit, then it dawned on him. "I sssee, now. You're venturing into a warm environment, and don't want to sssuccumb to exxxhaussstion. Isss it a humid placcce, or a dry heat?"

As Salazar began slithering back to the counter, Cloverleaf noted how very long his body was. "No, that's not it, either. I'm not going anywhere for a little bit."

Salazar once more looked confused as he coiled himself behind the counter. "I have no idea what it is that you want."

Cloverleaf took a deep breath, instantly regretting it because of the smell. "I have a young mare at home. She's gone into heat."

Salazar's eyes instantly lit up. "Oh, essstrusss! I underssstand what it isss you mean, now!"

Cloverleaf sighed in relief. "So, can you help me out?"

"Cccertainly!"

Grabbing a large bowl from underneath the counter, Salazar uncoiled his body, barely ever moving his bottom claws as he darted from drawer to drawer, grabbing clawfuls of powders, dusts and dried leaves, little chunks of dried fruit and some shavings from some weird, woody-looking root. He brought all of this down and set it next to a small machine, poured everything into a chute, and flipped a switch to turn it on.

"Thisss will jussst be a minute or two," he said, patting a claw on the machine. "Now, there are a few other itemsss that can add to the effectsss of this brew, if you're interesssted?"

Cloverleaf nodded. "Anything that can help her. As long as it isn't harmful."

"Of courssse," promised Salazar. "Your young mare will exxxperienccce no pain at all."

Salazar wandered the shop, pulling down crystals and charms, small bottles of prepared ointment, various candles with a multitude of colours and scents. He occasionally asked a question, but they were odd questions. "Doesss her window faccce eassst?" "Doesss ssshe usually wake up early?" "Doesss ssshe play any inssstrumentsss?" Cloverleaf was quick to answer, but was definitely confused by the end. Still, he trusted that Salazar knew what he was doing, as this was the address his doctor had recommended.

When the machine let out a small chime, Salazar returned to it and grabbed a large box of paper filters, dumping the mixed powder by spoonfuls into the bags and then sealing them with staples, in addition to a string that was attached to each bag. "You know how to brew tea, yesss?"

Cloverleaf nodded. "Pour boiling water into a cup, drop in the bag, and when the water has cooled enough to drink, remove the bag and add honey. Stir it up, and enjoy."

"Indeed ssso," smiled Salazar. "Thisss sssolution isss much the sssame, and while not all of my herbs work well with honey, thisss particular brew will sssuffer no ill effectsss from itsss addition. Hang the cryssstalsss from her window and let the morning sssun ssshine through them into her bedroom. Hang the charmsss where ssshe ssspendsss mossst of her time, the ointmentsss have inssstructionsss on the bottle, and are for her hygiene, ssso thossse go in the bath, and the candlesss have a calming effect. Two cupsss of medicine per day; one in the morning, and one in the evening. And if ssshe'sss nervousss, it'sss perfectly sssafe for you, asss well. I've even included a few exxxtra bagsss to make absssolutely cccertain that you can lassst through her entire essstrusss cycle."

"Perfect," smiled Cloverleaf as he pulled out his coinpurse and paid for the supplies. "I must say, I was a bit skeptical when I walked in, but you've been very helpful. This was actually less expensive than I thought it would be, too."

"It isss my pleasssure to asssissst the pony folk," Salazar smiled back. "Tell your little misss that I wisssh her the bessst of luck."