A Cure for a Toxin.

“Tia! What is it?”

Luna's voice echoed around the vacant throne room, devoid of even guards.

Celestia didn't acknowledge her sister's presence, other than a quick glance. Her mouth was turned down in a frown.

“Sister?” Luna spoke a bit softer as she neared her sibling's side.

“Of all the times...read this Luna.”

The younger alicorn glanced over the letter, her eyes widening.

“Is this true, my sister? Can it not wait?”

Celestia shook her head, writing a quick and curt response, then sending the letter on its way.

“It cannot. If we wait, we risk another disaster like the one here in Canterlot. As good as this is for political relations...” Celestia's voice trailed off, knowing her sister was thinking the same thing.

“We shall tell Toxic. Whom should accompany us?”

At this, Celestia's mouth twitched into a smile.

“Other than the ambassador and your guards? Two names come to mind....”

He had a date.

He had a date.

He had a date toniiiight!

Toxic couldn't help but sing a happy song in his mind, not caring in the slightest that a goofy grin split his face.

He trotted into his apartment, an almost forgotten warm feeling edging into his heart. Placing the testing vials in the cataloguing device, he shrugged off his saddlebags, opting for a shower to get the grime and dirt off his coat.

As the luke-warm water pounded his back, Toxic let a genuine smile ease onto his face. This feeling....

He knew exactly what it was. It was hope.

The past two days, Sky had accompanied him on most of his stops. The topics they spoke of ranged from sharing school horror-stories, to explaining his job. They hadn't spoken much of their families, something Toxic found rather puzzling. It seemed neither of them wanted to delve deeper into that particular subject.

Then again, he'd known the mare less than a week.

Toxic shut off the shower, scrubbing the water from his fur. True, he could use magic, but he liked the feeling of a rough towel.

That was the other matter that he couldn't pinpoint.

For a moment, Toxic stood in the bathroom, trying to understand the workings of his own heart. It was a trivial matter to everyone but him. Then again, who else knew?

He wasn't the randomly-huggy kind of pony, not like a sports team or groups of friends seem to do. He never had been. It had always felt like an invasion of his personal space. Even as he had gotten older, it had been a bit unnerving to hug his own family.

Which, he admitted, was a bit troubling to him.

This mare though...he didn't understand what was going on.

The first hug didn't count- that was to make her feel better.

The few times after that though, there had been no chill up his spine, no creepy-crawly feeling under his fur.

Just...warmth. Comfort.

Toxic shook his head, trotting out of the bathroom. Now to see how those samples-

“GOOD DAY, TOXIC SHIELD. HOW DOST THOU FARE?”

The few neighbors that were home easily heard the high-pitched scream echo from the next-door apartment.

• - – –

“A-are yo-u j-oki-ng?” The dismay in Toxic's voice was apparent, even with his stutter.

Luna shook her head, trying to hide a smile. That wouldn't appear very kind, but she still had the other news...

“We wish it was so. How long the assignment will last, we do not know. Your assistance will greatly strengthen political ties, to which is a good thing at this time. Before you become angry Toxic Shield, I said that there was other news. That is the bad news. Does thou wish for the good news?”

The stallion nodded, his gaze dropping to look at the floor. He felt a bit of dampness in his eyes, frustration raging in his chest.

Of course, the one night I have a date...

“The other pony to accompany us, is named Sky Duster. I believe you know her?”

Toxic stared at the alicorn for a moment in shock, then tossed all formality out the window. He jumped up, a wide grin on his features. His happy shout reverberated around the small apartment.

“YES!”

Pepper nodded approvingly at the rows of drying dishes, the kitchen having regained some semblance of order. Now, should she should go organize the-

A rapping at the door distracted the mare, and she trotted over to the large wooden door, more than a little curious as to who it was. She didn't get that many visitors, but perhaps it was Toxic Shield? He had needed to come by and adjust that water-cube-thingy yesterday...

She opened the door- and stared.

“Good day, Miss Pepper? We art looking for a Sky Duster.”

Pepper promptly fainted.

Having caught the mare just in time, Toxic levitated her onto the couch, not able to restrain a smile. Of the reactions from Pepper, he hadn't expected something like this.

“S-Sky? It-s m-e! T-oxic!” He aimed his voice upstairs, hoping she was home.

“Toxic? Be right down!”

At the sound of hoof-falls, Toxic looked over to the stairs, catching the smile on the alicorn's face.

“W-what?”

Before Luna could reply, there was a sharp gasp from the stairwell.

“P-Princess Luna?” Sky couldn't help but stutter with shock.

The princess bowed her head, smiling gently.

“Indeed it is. It would seem thou has picked up Toxic's manner of speech...”

The quip caught both unicorn's off guard, causing Sky to smile and Toxic to chuckle.

“Hmm. Celestia's joke advice 'tis most helpful it would seem. Thy friend fainted, and is on the couch. If you could wake her up, that would be most helpful. We must be quick, there is an urgent matter that needs our attention.”

Sky looked over to Toxic, her gaze both curious and a bit playful.

“Toxic...what did you do this time?”

As the stallion's eyes widened in innocent disbelief, Sky couldn't help but giggle as she trotted over to her passed out friend. Sky gave her a poke before fetching a large pitcher of cold water.

“BLARGLE!”

“Well, that was graceful Pepper....”

The sodden mare swiped the water from her eyes, looking around in a daze.

“Sky? Is that you? I had the strangest...”

She then caught sight of Luna and Toxic looking over to her.

“Horseapples.”

Sky wasn't sure what to think.

Her gaze alternated between Luna and Toxic, her usually quick mind short-circuiting with shock.

“Now?”

Luna nodded, annoyance briefly hardening her features, but Sky could tell it wasn't directed at her.

“Yes. We wish there was more that we could tell thee...but even we don't know what has transpired at the facility.”

“Zecora!” Pepper blurted out suddenly.

Everyone in the room glanced at the sound of the mare's voice, the embarrassed pony covering her mouth with a hoof.

“Erm. Sorry...”

Luna stared at the mare for a moment, then let out a loud laugh, to which the others couldn't help but join in.

“Art we not all allowed a rhyme now and again?” Luna's expression then saddened as she glanced to Toxic and Sky.

“We-I wish we had more time to spend with all of you ponies, but...we do not.

She sighed, shaking her head slowly. Luna's expression was...troubled? Frustrated?

“I could make this an order, but I do not wish that. I know it is short notice, and all we can offer is compensation for the inconvenience...”

Toxic wasn't sure what to expect as Luna cast him and Sky a knowing look, finishing her sentence.

“For ruining thy date.”

The stallion's eyes widened, cheeks blushing. Oh.

Sky didn't fare much better, ears slightly back with an equally obvious reddening of her cheeks-

Sky is really cute when she's embarrassed...

Wait. What?!

“Will thou accept this assignment then?”

Toxic nodded, then looking over to Luna.

“It-s my j-ob.”

He then looked over to sky, ears flattened with genuine remorse.

“So-rry...”

For a moment, Sky looked a tad put out, but a smile quickly asserted itself on her face.

“What are you apologizing for Toxic? You've got a job to do...and besides, I get to come with you! I am a bit curious about what you do, other than install strange boxes in random pony's yards...”

Her enthusiasm was infectious, and a slight smile twitched at Toxic's mouth at her jest.

“I g-guess th-is won't b-e too b-ad af-ter al-l...”

A few moments passed where no pony spoke, but finally Pepper piped up.

“Well darn it! It's going to be boring here for a while!”

The air blew through the interior as the chariot zipped through the sky, making a beeline for the Equestrian/Griffin Territories border. One of the occupants had his head poked out the window, mane whipping in the wind.

“Toxic, if thou could retract thy head for a moment, we will explain the situation.”

Pouting like a foal who had his candy stollen, Toxic nodded, pulling the window closed. Sky couldn't help but laugh at his new hairstyle.

“W-what?” He glanced over to her indignantly.

She shrugged, poking his mane with a hoof.

“Oh, nothing....”

The large and spacious chariot was enclosed, usually reserved for dignitaries traveling to and from meetings. In this case, it held Luna, Sky, and Toxic. For the past few hours they had simply chatted, Luna apparently wanting to ease any tension Sky still felt around her. As they neared the border though, it was clear that it was time for business. The princess had explained it briefly, but now would be the time for the details.

“So Pr-I mean Luna, basically there's a bunch of nasty chemicals at this place, and Toxic has to fix the broken safety systems?” Sky glanced over to the Luna curiously, hoping to sum up the situation for herself.

The alicorn pondered for a few moments, then nodding.

“More or less. It is the first combined equestrian and griffin facility. We thought it would strengthen ties between our kingdoms. Thus far, that has been the case, and there have been no incidents, until now.”

Sky then looked down at her hooves with embarrassment.

“Umm, well I can see why you need Toxic, but why do I need to come?”

Luna bent her head down to meet the mare's gaze.

“Because, Sky Duster, we need someone who has ties with the griffins. Any meeting where ponies and griffins can be at peace, is a step in the right direction. I believe you know a griffin by the name of Doctor Ironeye?”

Sky instantly squealed happily, bouncing in her seat with excitement.

“Soggy works there! How is he?”

Both Luna and Toxic stared at her, both speaking their question at the same time.

“Soggy?”

Sky smiled, shrugging briefly.

“I'll tell you about that later. Just don't call him that...inside joke and stuff.”

It was Toxic's turn to shrug, and he levitated a piece of normal parchment from his hastily-packed saddlebags.

“W-what do I ha-ve to d-o, whe-n I'-m ther-e?”

Luna proceeded to draw the rough layout of the facility, as well as the location of the spill, leaving Sky feeling a tad left out. That feeling only lasted for a few seconds though. Sky listened in on the conversation, and couldn't help but be intrigued. Toxic still retained his speech patters, but he seemed more professional as he went over the problem again. She couldn't understand the technical parts of it, but from what Sky could gather, the safety devices that usually stopped such a leak had strangely not been engaged, despite the facility being fairly new. The problem was also on a higher level then normal. All the nasty stuff apparently was stored far underground, away from anything that might cause a bad reaction.

So much for that...

“Also, one of my aids will be meeting us there. Hopefully, between all of us, we can make this a simple, helpful, operation.” Luna's voice was even, not betraying any signs of tension. At least that was good...

“Y-our a-id?” Toxic beat Sky to the question.

“Yes, one of my aids. It gets lonely at night, and once my basic duties are done, I have aids to help me...get re-acquainted with Equestrian culture and such. I see them as my friends, more than anything else. She is a griffin, and that aspect alone makes her a commonality, as basic as that may be.”

There was a slight bump as the chariot came to a halt.

“Ah, we are here. Do you have everything Toxic?”

His green eyes seemed more distant, the stallion nodding an affirmative.

“Then let us be off.”