Eight years after coming to Crystal Heart

Tibia, with a large funding from me and Mera, had bought out the businesses next to her and had her shop expanded so it was now one of the larger shops in town. While a large portion of the shop was still dedicated to flowers the types of goods had been expanded as well. There was the pipe weed and accessories from Mera of course, but there was another new section that had been my contribution.

About two years back the newly opened port, lazily named Tidewater, had started its own fishing industry. While the primary market for these fish were Griffins that worked throughout the northern mountain range there was a growing number of Thestrals in Crystal Heart that had a desire for meat in their diets. I had suggested we be one of the first shops to capitalize on this and as a result our business was now a strange combination of flower shop, smoke shop, and fish market.

We had to invest in some strong spells to keep the smells of the two newer sections from carrying over into the flower shop. Even had to actually hire a Unicorn from the university at Canterlot to come and do the spells himself, but it had been a good investment. Now Tibia's flower shop was named The Happy Changeling's Consumables Emporium, and business was booming. The shop employed more than twenty ponies, and we were considering opening new locations in Sire's Hollow and the newly founded town of Night's Heart.

There was a lot of activity and growth throughout all the region that was now known as Ocid. Construction of roads to link together many of the previously more isolated villages, housing for Crystal Ponies in many of the areas outside of Crystal Heart that they were now migrating into, the same likewise for Thestrals who were spreading out across the region. There was a massive boom of foal births, and Flurry Heart actually gave incentives to couples that had large amounts of foals. Both Crystal Ponies and Thestrals had kept small families in the past, but now they were encouraged to breed like Earth Ponies. Flurry Heart clearly had a vision of developing Ocid into a high population, high industry region despite the area being one of the least densely populated areas of the Twilight Realm previously. With the way things were going Crystal Ponies and Thestrals might very well start to have similar numbers to the three primary tribes, with the exception of Earth Ponies-because outbreeding Earth Ponies was a near impossibility.

With the influx of new workers the three of us didn't do much collecting of payments much anymore. A lot of what we did was supervising others, making arrangements for incoming shipments, paperwork, and walking the floor to talk with customers. Technically we had employees who we trusted to do the same, but we liked to be involved.

I was working the floor as I typically did. Moving back and forth between the flower section and the fish section, making small talk with customers, giving guidance to the employees on shift, and just being generally managerial, when Peridot came into the front door.

"Hi Pearl, are Mom and Mera here right now?" Peridot asked as she spotted me.

"Mera is in the greenhouses in the back, Mom is off talking to some pony about possible sites for a second shop. Why? Is something up?" I asked, as I finished checking a flower for wilting.

"Just got orders, I have to do an emergency deployment over to Tidewater. They aren't giving any pony much time to prepare. They want us in Tidewater tonight. Not sure how long I will be away. I wanted to let you all know before I left," Peridot said hurriedly.

"Emergency? What kind of emergency?" I asked with concern.

"They got ponies acting really strange and a lot of the town has pretty much shut down. Ponies are just sitting around non-responsive in mass, and the ones that aren't acting strange are panicking about the one that are acting funny. We are being sent in to keep the peace," Peridot explained.

I froze where I was, and my blood ran cold. It was too familiar what was being described. It sounded exactly like Starlight's Folly. The same ailment had risen again in another small outlying area. I needed to go speak with Flurry Heart immediately and see if there was anything Mera and I could do. We hadn't sent our most recent shipment of crystals out yet for the month, so we had those ready to go. It wouldn't take much effort to make more in a hurry.

"Make sure that you recommend doctor's masks being dispensed to all the troops. You don't want to all get sick as well. I might be seeing you there soon. This is the thing the Alicorns pay me and Mera to combat," I said quickly, as I planned out what needed to be done quickly.

"Will do Pearl, but I need to get going now. General is made it clear that there wasn't any time to waste and almost didn't allow for us to even go home at all to prepare. I will see Yyou again soon," Peridot said, and then quickly departed at a near gallop.

I gave a quick few instructions to the most senior of the employees on shift, told them I was leaving for the day and not sure when I would return to work, and that I would leave a note for Tibia in the office. I then raced to the back to go find my wife.

"Mera, we need to hurry to Flurry Heart. The epidemic from Starlight's Folly, it has started again, this time in Tidewater," I said as I burst into the greenhouse area.

Mera had been overseeing some workers who were tending to the pipe weed crop. When she heard me she gasped and put a hoof up to her mouth to cover the gasp, and her eyes went wide with fear. She was quick to take action after that though. Within a second or two she was giving final instructions to the workers and telling them that she would be leaving just as I had.

While she was doing that I quickly write out a note to my mother-in-law explaining the situation. I put the note on her desk and reconstructed the workers to make sure she got read that note promptly when she returned. On a passing thought I told them that they would all be receiving bonuses and I expected them to go by the medical supply store and get doctor's masks for them and their families. I would compensate them for the costs. It might have been a bad idea to do that as it might start a panic in Crystal Heart, but I would rather they kept themselves safe than sorry about any potential panic.

"I have our current stock of stones in my life pack so we don't need to stop to fmgo get it. We can get to making more as soon as we are done talking to Flurry Heart. Maybe she will give us a room in the Spire to work in," Mera said as she rushed over to me. She gave me a strong hug as she reached me, not only for comfort, but to fill herself more on my magic.

I wasn't sure if we would be able to fill many more stones under the circumstances. Our typical method involved filling the stone when Mera was at her most full of my magic. That time was usually right after sex and only filled one stone each time. We had a surplus beyond what we were due to deliver, but this was not the time when we would be in the mood for sex. Trying to do it other ways would either make lower quality stones, or leave Mera depleted of my magic, the second option I wasn't going to risk.

On the plus side the majority of ponies in the area were Crystal Ponies, that made them more naturally able to absorb magic from the stones directed straight into them. Not as well as Mera could, but better than any other tribe would be able to. Any Thestrals or other tribes that were present would be another story. It would take Unicorns or Crystal Ponies that were trained in the use of the focus stones to help those unfortunate. Hopefully there would be enough who knew what they were doing available, and hopefully the Alicorns in Harmony could get the stocks to Tidewater quickly.

We took to the air immediately after leaving the shop, and flew as fast as we could towards the Spire. It only took us a few minutes to reach it. When we arrived there was already a bustle if activity going on as the Crystal Guard was preparing here to leave for Tidewater. We spotted Peridot among the ponies, but didn't take the time to go greet her. She had her job to do and we had ours.

Thankfully we were on the list of ponies that were allowed immediate admittance into the Spire. This was by virtue of being immortals in truth, but the guards likely thought it by virtue of our position within the Thestral community, since our immortality was a state secret. When we got inside we were quickly met by two other immortals, Night Shine and Day Shade, that made their home in Crystal Heart as well as Sunset, who was still in her Crystal Pony disguise for the moment.

"I see you heard there is some sort of epidemic, glad that you have come to help," Day Shade said as she spotted us. Day Shade was a very dark silver Crystal Pony mare. She and her Thestral sister had the distinction of being vampires. Their bites for sucking blood also injected a unique venom that caused rapid healing. They tended to frequent areas that had frequent outbreaks of illnesses, but had recently settled in Crystal Heart after the sight of Thestrals became more common. They were a little creepy, as they would spend most conversations staring at your neck, but they did a lot of good for ponies, and were generally kind hearted. They would go into hospitals at night to feed, and suddenly the next day the doctors would be shocked to find many ponies were suddenly showing marked improvement in their conditions. It was a symbiotic arrangement they had with their food.

"I am assuming that the rush over here was because you heard the symptoms," Sunset said. "Word has already been sent back to Harmony, but I think Flurry Heart has an additional plan on how to utilize you two."

"What is that? We are willing to help in any way we can," I replied. Did they come up with a new method to utilize my magic?

"I think she intends to have you do with the Heart itself what you already do with focus stones. The Heart is an extremely powerful focus stone in its own way. If it works you can purge this illness from just about every Crystal Pony in the region at once. We will still need to dispense your stored stones out for use on the Thestrals and others, but that is a far more manageable task. Ocid is probably the safest place for the sickness to resurface. If it had been elsewhere in the Realm we might have a crisis to deal with, but here it will be dealt with easily as long as we are quick. This won't be another Starlight's Folly," Sunset explained with a reassuring smile.

She seemed confident that all that was needed was quick action and this time it would be dealt with. I couldn't help feeling a little reassured myself, but still had a lingering fear after having dealt with this before. We had learned so little about the cause, the transmission, and the final fate of the victims.

"Where is Flurry Heart?" Mera asked as looked around.

"In a meeting with Alicorns that arrived from Harmony not long ago, they are planning out how to to utilize resources," Night Shine said. "If what Sunset says is true, then my sister and I are likely not needed. I don't know if I should be happy or disappointed. It is good that this seems like you can deal with it quickly, but it means we are out a lot of potential feeding."

"We get to feed often enough, Night. There is never a shortage of sick or injured ponies, but I admit I would have liked to really have a feast as well," Day Shade said with a wistful sigh.

"She and the others will be out in a few minutes. They only just arrived ahead of you, via teleport," Sunset said.

"Who all came from Harmony?" I asked curiously.

"Starlight, Paleo, Pinkie, Meadowbrook, and Luna are the ones that arrived. Starlight and Paleo said they want to see the illness that wiped away Starlight's Folly up close. Meadowbrook goes wherever there is an epidemic. Tidewater is part of Luna's agreement for resetting Thestrals in lands typically held by Crystal Ponies, so she has a vested interest in the what happens. Pinkie said she came to try to keep ponies spirits up, and try to keep any panic from starting," Sunset explained.

"Um, if they want me to channel Pearl's magic into the Heart I am going to probably need to be filled up more. A normal focus stone I am filled to the brink on her magic before I send it into the stone. I would think the Heart would take even more magic than that. I am not sure how this is going to work," Mera said as she shuffled on her hooves.

"It won't take more, it will magnify the power and make it stronger while spreading it out," Sunset said. And sat and made gestures with her forehooves to illustrate the point.

"And if it somehow gets the element of the magic that cancels out other magic what happens?" I asked as the concern suddenly came into my mind.

"To date there hasn't been any sign Mera is able to channel that aspect of your magic, so it likely won't happen. If it does then it will disappate in a short period of time, since it won't have constant production. Yeah, it would shut down everything magical for a day or two, but that isn't the end of the world, and worth the risk to stop this ailment from getting any traction. I will talk with Flurry about double checking to make sure nothing incredibly bad happens if magic goes down for a period," Sunset assured me, though she did look thoughtful.

So we waited a few minutes in silence. It felt like an eternity, but it couldn't have been more than five minutes before Flurry Heart and the other Greater Alicorns emerged from the meeting room.

"Good, you are all here already. I was thinking I would have to have some pony go fetch some of you. I am glad we will save time as the infection rates seem to be high. I don't have exact numbers yet, but if I had to put a guess on it we are be looking at a region wide pandemic within three days if we don't stop this now. I am shutting down on movement through Ocid until we care certain this hasn't already spread beyond Tidewater. Additional soldiers from the Luna Guard, Star Guard, Medical Guard, Preservationists, and Birthday Party Brigade..seriously Pinkie, you need a different name for your guard..are going to be assisting," Flurry Heart informed us.

"I already told Mera and Pearl what they would likely be doing, if you haven't changed plans. What do you want the rest of us doing?" Sunset asked.

"I will be getting you all doctor's masks and have you search the area for the cause of the outbreak. It is unknown if this can impact Alicorns or immortals yet, and I prefer you be protected. We know from the previous time that it was speculated a strange rod was the cause of the outbreak. If a similar object is in Tidewater somewhere I want it found and everything possible done to determine where it came from. This isn't the edge of the Lost Lands and there shouldn't be random artifacts from that far back turning up here. Some pony or some creature had to have brought it there dilibrately and I intend to find out who. And can you please drop the disguise, Sunset, it is distracting," Flurry Heart said with a grunt at the end as she looked at Sunset.

"Um, if you want me and Pearl to work with the Heart I am going to need to recharge some more," Mera said sheepishly as Sunset transformed back to her Alicorn form.

"What do you need to do to recharge? I thought you absorbed her magic by just touching," Flurry Heart said with confusion.

"I absorb a little bit that way, but it is kind of like taking small sips from a drink over time. To get really well charged we kinda-sorta have to have..personal time in bed," Mera said with a little bit of a blush.

"You need to go screw? Seriously?" Flurry Heart said with raised eyebrows. I couldn't tell if it she had disbelief or if she was trying not to laugh.

"Pretty much," I said so Mera didn't have to feel embarrassed further in telling a Greater Alicorn that the fate of her ponies depending on two ponies have a wild time in bed. I tried my hardest not to blush myself, and didn't succeed.

Flurry Heart definitely had some disbelief as she looked at us. She did a quick glance at both Sunset and Starlight who nodded confirmation that it was true, before rolling her eyes and sighing.

"Fine, I'll get you two into a bedroom quickly then. It is one of the dumbest things to have to wait on in the middle of a crisis, but whatever. How long will you need to get ready?" Flurry Heart said with an exasperated groan.

"Not really sure, we are typically ready to take a go anytime, but crisis kind of kills the mood," Mera said as she figeted in place.

"I can fix that!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed. "A good party planner is always prepared to help make sure any type of party has what it needs to go on. I've got this stuff called lustwort that will make it so you can't help but want to do bedtime party things!"

"I thought I banned the use and sale of that drug. It is completely immoral, it is borderline mind control," Meadowbrook growled at Pinkie.

"I see nothing wrong with its use between two consenting adult ponies," Pinkie said with a huff.

"The issue is when they aren't consenting, and it forces them to suddenly be consenting. A full dose of that stuff and any pony would happily let any pony or any thing have their way with them, no matter how opposed to the action they were before. It is the ultimate rape drug, and shouldn't be available to any pony because of that," Meadowbrook snarled.

"We can discuss Pinkie possessing illicit drugs at length later. If it will get these two to do what they need to get done, then it can be used," Flurry Heart said as she covered her face with a hoof in frustration. When she uncovered her face she looked back to me and Mera.

"Down the left hall, up one staircase, third door on the right, you'll find a bedroom. I'll have Pinkie send some of her guard.." Flurry began.

"Birthday Party Brigade!" Pinkie shouted.

"..to watch over you. I don't anticipate any threats to you, but there is definitely some pony behind this outbreak, and I want you two protected at all times since you are our best weapons against it," Flurry Heart finished. "Pinkie how soon can you get that drug for them?"

"Always prepared, remember!" Pinkie shouted happily, and then reached into her mane and pulled out a small sealed vial of liquid, and then floated it over to us. "Each of you take half of that and you'll be in the mood to rub some kitties in no time!"

"I'm so done with you for today, Pinkie," Flurry Heart muttered loudly, and then looked at us. "Anyway, just go do that and once you are charged up let her ponies know you need to be escorted to the Heart to get to work. Just channel the magic into the Heart and it will do the rest."

I took the foal from the air and put it in my life pack, before nodding. Sensing that we were dismissed to go do our duties, Mera and I trotted off to go find the bedroom.

Next Chapter: Chapter 35: Bedtime Musings Estimated time remaining: 2 Hours, 17 Minutes