2183/Bite

Bite
Date of Scene:	07 May 2015
Location:	Equestria <KE>
Synopsis:	It's time to gather a tooth from a magical creature that does not eat meat. Pius and Diane get help from Twilight, Rarity and Staren (as well as Spike) in a complicated plan that involves lots and lots of glitter. And a pretty dress.
Cast of Characters:	Staren, 136, 411, 741
Tinyplot:	The Great Work

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Pius Athanor (741) has posed:
    With this week's worth of duties done, the Athanor siblings seem to finally have managed to clear their schedule enough to finally find their way to Equestria. The magical world of ponies, and most of all... unicorns. Magical creatures that do not eat meat. Exactly what Pius needs for his Magnum Opus!

    Getting one might be a bit harder though.

    It doesn't seem like too many ponies take well to a stranger coming up and asking them for a tooth. Especially not when he is rather enthusiastic as well, perhaps coming on a teeeeeeensy bit too strong.

    "Sir? Madam? Yes, I was wondering if perhaps you would like to... no? Sir, I only need a tooth! It's for a good cause!"

    A tan earth pony trots down the street of Ponyville after a few unicorns, who clearly want nothing to do with this peculiar and a tad creepy individual. So they hurry on, leaving Pius behind to follow another unicorn he spots that is coming down the road. "Miss! I say, Miss! Please give me a moment of your time!" She too hurries on.

    In the meanwhile, it seems that his youger sister Diane, a light blue earth filly, is having a slightly easier time as she has found a young unicorn filly, Rose Mint, that she's talking with. "... so, you say your tooth is loose, huh?" "Yep! I can wiggle it around and everything!" The little unicorn seems quite proud as she opens her mouth and flicks at her tooth with her tongue. "The tooth fairy is going to give me a whole coin for this, I'm sure!" Diane tilts her head a bit, a hopeful look on her face as she leans down a little. "Ummm, about that... you... don't think you could give it to me, could you? I would give you two coins for it!" Mental note, get some coins.

    Rose Mint blinks and looks absolutely stunned for a moment, then shakes her head, her mane bobbing slightly. "Nuh uh! If I don't give it to the Tooth Fairy, she will be upset! And cry!" "But..." Diane begins, only to gasp when the unicorn filly hurries past her without another word. "But...!" Oh, what's the use?

    A heavy sigh leaves her, and she hangs her head just as Pius trots up, looking rather annoyed as he glances about. "I must say, none of these unicorns are very helpful!" Maybe he was ill informed about this place after all?

Staren has posed:
    Staren is traveling over ponyville when he hears a complaint... so he literally drops out of the sky on energy wings right in front of the siblings. Currently a white unicorn with a mecha's head for a QT mark and blue saddlebags, and a silver-and-opal pendant. "Did someone ask for a /helpful unicorn/?" The wings disappear once he's landed. He looks between the two. "What do you need help with?"

Twilight Sparkle (411) has posed:
     You can't make ponies run around in slight discomfort or mild panic without attracting the attention of Twilight Sparkle. So, when she sees a few ponies running around chasing other ponies and, according to one pony who ran passed Twilight, asking for teeth, she sighs softly. She remembers a conversation with Pius about obtaining teeth, but she also remembers mentioning that it would be a sensetive subject.

     Twilight trots toward the two earth ponies, offering a friendly smile. "Hello! I guess one of you is Pius? I was expecting you to visit, but I believe you will have better luck if you do not simply approach ponies and ask for their teeth." Spike, the little purple and green dragon, pops up from atop her back. "Teeth? Why do these weirdos want teeth?"

Rarity (136) has posed:
And as she had been on her way over to the library to ask Twilight for help finding an old book on traditional stitching patterns when she and Spike were on their way to investigate, Rarity decided to follow after them. Though she pauses to look around. "Well, Lily and Daisy aren't shouting about 'the horror' so it can't be -too- terrible."

Pius Athanor (741) has posed:
    The voice from above doesn't go unheard, and both siblings peer upwards curiously, and Pius beams in approval. "Ah, finally some assistance! I am Pius Athanor, and this darling here is my younger sister Diane. A pleasure to make your acquaintance," he says with a bow, and Diane smiles brightly up at Staren. "Hello!" Just as they are about to explain their predicament to Staren however, Twilight and Rarity arrive. While they have not met face to face before, it does seem that Pius remembers their voices, and he seems even more pleased. "Ah! Miss Twilight, Miss Rarity! How kind of you to join us! How are you, my dears?" Why, he even reaches out to push one of their front hooves up with his own and offering them both a polite kiss unless they stop him. And if they do, he does not appear to be insulted. No, that is the least of his worries today.

    Spike earns a curious look, and Pius cants his head. "Hmm... a dragon? Too small, sadly. Oh well." Whatever he commented on is not explained as he looks at Twilight again. "How am I supposed to find a tooth if I do not ask people? Why, if I was an unicorn myself right now I might be tempted to pull my own tooth! But... alas, I do not want to be sloppy. It must be a tooth from a natural unicorn, one who was born into that shape, not just borrowing its guise!" he explains.

    That's when Diane nudges her brother carefully. "Pius? I did find one girl... uh, little unicorn?" Her voice is quiet, and she looks between the others present, her eyes dwelling on Spike for a moment. "She said she had a loose tooth and she would be giving it to the Tooth Fairy tonight... Maybe we...?"

    "Then why didn't you persuade her to give it to you?" Pius asks. "She... she said she would only be giving it to the Tooth Fairy," Diane explains, averting her eyes. And Pius? Pius snorts. "Such nonsense... Tooth fairies aren't real!"

Staren has posed:
    Staren beams at Pius's appreciation of offered assistance! His eyes widen slightly in recognition of the name. So this is that guy looking to raise the dead! Nice. He quirks an eyebrow as Pius kisses the ladies' hooves. People actually /do/ that?

    When Pius mentions pulling his own tooth Staren opens his mouth to speak, but Pius already sees the problem with this. Afterwards, Staren nods, confirming, "I tried cutting an onion to collect my own tears and tested them. No magical properties."

    He turns to Twilight and gives her a questioning look. "...Is the tooth fairy real in Equestria? Do ponies do that too, like the weather?"

Rarity (136) has posed:
Object? If anything Rarity is the last pony to object. She even turns her head to the side and holds a forehoof to her face coyly afterwards. "My, such manners. What a charming gentlecolt you must be."

It may get Pius a dirty look from Spike though. Or that could be a glare from the 'too small' remark.

Though afterwards she gives both Pius and Staren a mildly annoyed look. "Just because you have not seen something for yourself does not mean it does not exist. Is that not how most of your worlds see unicorns in the first place, after all?"

Twilight Sparkle (411) has posed:
     Twilight blinks in surprise as her hoof is lifted and kissed, causing a light blush to tint her cheeks. She smiles before setting her hoof back on the ground. She listens as Pius and Diane speak, then hmms. "It would be bad if any rumors started about tooth theives..." Twilight says softly. Spike blinks at Pius's comment about him, then huffs and crosses his little arms over his chest. "Hey! I'm not that little! And some day I'll be as big as...uh...that house over there!" He points indignantly.

     Twilight's ears perk up as she has an idea. "Oh! I've got it! I could offer you one of my teeth, after we pay a visit to Zecora. She has a potion that can repair teeth, so losing one would not be a problem, and you would not have to bother the citizens of Ponyville."

     Rarity appears, and Twilight giggles softly. "No, it was nothing bad. Just Pius and Diana trying to get some teeth." she says. Spike does glare a bit when Rarity's hoof is kissed. But, it is hardly threatening coming from such a small dragon. Twilight rolls her eyes lightly, then responds to Staren. "I have not read or heard anything to positively say we do or do not have a tooth fairy. But, there are stranger things in Equestria. I mean, we have Discord. A tiny pony that goes around collecting teeth is just as likely."

Pius Athanor (741) has posed:
    "Miss," Pius begins and turns his attention to Rarity. "Unicorns are a fact, everybody knows that. And there are detailed tellings of them even in my world. However, the Tooth Fairy is but a tale from what I have heard. Nor have I seen any conclusive proof of such a fairy." So there.

    He does glance at Spike though. "I require dragon's blood for my Magnum Opus. However, you are too small, and so I can't take any blood from something of your size without killing you." So yes, Spike is too small too donate several gallons of blood. "And I can't wait until you are that large, lad."

    "Zecora?" Diane asks. "She can repair teeth?" How curious. "Still..." Pius looks like he's considering this, looking down the street. "A tooth that is pulled... we might risk ruining it. A tooth from a young filly, now THAT is bound to be unique! And it might even work better!" At that Diane sighs, and she looks almost apologetically up at the others. "... when he has decided on something even I can't persuade him otherwise..."

    He does give Twilight a polite nod. "Your offer is greatly appreciated, Miss. However, if there's a chance we can get that other tooth, then that would be optimal! Hmmm, she might not want to give it to us, but..." Diane's eyes brighten up, and she looks up at her brother. "She would give it to the Tooth Fairy.." "... and maybe we... OH!" "And!" "But..." "What if..."

    The two siblings seem not to notice anything else around them for now. But then suddenly, Pius turns his head sharply and looks at the other four, quite determined.

    "One of you will have to dress up as the Tooth Fairy and persuade that filly."

Staren has posed:
    Staren scrunchfaces slightly at Rarity. "That's why I'm asking instead of assuming." He's still kind of surprised that Twilight doesn't know for sure. "Hi, by the way!" he smiles at both of them. His ears perk up at twilight's suggestion. "Ooh, do you think cheating the system like that will work? Although..." he winces, "Won't... extracting the tooth be rather painful, then?"

    Pius has a different idea. Staren frowns at him. "I'm all up for a questionable wacky plan to find out if the tooth fairy is real, but a plan to decieve an innocent child and /possibly/ bilk a tooth fairy that may or may not exist out of her rightful claim doesn't sound like a good idea."

Rarity (136) has posed:
Rarity's expression brightens at the mention of dressing up. "Oh! I bet I have the perfect ensemblem for such an endeavor!" And just like that the unicorn takes off towards her boutique.

If there is one thing that gets a pony moving faster than Rainbow Dash, it's Rarity on a fashion inspired idea.

Twilight Sparkle (411) has posed:
     Twilight nods in understanding as Pius explains his preference, but at the suggestion of how to obtain the tooth, her ears splay back. "I have to agree with Staren. Deceiving a little filly for personal gain has to be high on the list of ways not to make a friend." she says.

     But, apparently not in time to disuade Rarity. Twilight sighs softly, then heads after Rarity.

Pius Athanor (741) has posed:
    Pius gives Staren a steadfast look at his comment. "If the Tooth Fairy is real, she would understand WHY I need that tooth! It's a matter of life and death!" He is quite insistent, isn't he?

    He seems far more pleased about Rarity's enthusiasm and drive, and he smiles brightly. "Splendid, darling! Ma..." That is all he gets to say before Rarity runs off, and Diane blinks. "We're... dressing them up?" "Of course, Diane! The Tooth Fairy HAS to wear a pretty dress!" It's obvious, isn't it?

    Even as Twilight heads off, Pius calls after them, his spirits high and hopeful. "Meet us back here at Sunset, we will prepare something until then!"

        ~ LATER, AT SUNSET ~

    "I must say, Diane... this is pure genius!"

    The two siblings stand ready, with Pius pulling a cart behind him. In it, there's what appears to be several jars of glitter and sparkles, as well as what appears to be a grammophone. "You think they will be here in time...? I mean, Twilight and that flying unicorn didn't seem to think this was a good idea..." "Oh, what do they know?" Pius retorts. "We aren't tricking her for bad purposes, and it's not like she will be hurt! Nobody will be hurt!" "I know, but..."

    Down the street they go, and Pius looks around as they stop outside a house. "You sure this is where you saw her enter?" he asks, and Diane nods her head. "I'm certain! It does look like they have gone to bed..."

    Satisfied, Pius turns to look behind him. "Now we just need to wait for the others. And then we will get that tooth, nice and easy! And that filly will get herself three nice coins too! Just like the Tooth Fairy, but even better!"

Staren has posed:
    Twilight agrees with him! But then Pius reminds them that this is a matter of life and death. "I suppose so... still, I'm sure if you /explained/ this you could just..." and everyone's running off. Staren sighs.

        ~ THAT EVENING ~

    Staren returns with the others and looks in the cart. "Seriously?" he sighs. "I know this is important, but can't we find a way to get what we want /and/ be honest?"

Rarity (136) has posed:
In hindsight, Rarity should of asked -where- they were suppose to meet. Oh well. It's not like it's a hard to identify the assorted group this effort has brought together.

When she arrives it is wearing what has to be the equestrian equivilent to a ball gown, with how large and billowy the dress portion is. The whole thing is sparkly blue and white, with plenty of pretty ribbon and lace trimming. Her mane has been done up in a large bun style, with several curled locks hanging off of it like tassles.

"Well, how do I look?"

Twilight Sparkle (411) has posed:
     Twilight meets them that evening as well. She still isn't sure about this. Spike is once again perched atop her back, and his eyes go wide when he sees Rarity. "B-beautiful..." he murmurs. Twilight nods in agreement. "But, shouldn't a tooth fairy have wings?" she asks, pointing a hoof at Rarity's back.

     She then looks to Pius and Diane. "Staren is right. We should not be doing this. As I can't see any way it will actually hurt anyone, I won't stop you, but...I don't think I can help either. Just, please, do not get caught, and do not upset the filly or the possibly real tooth fairy."

Rarity (136) has posed:
Rarity .. gets distracted by posing for Spike. Oi vey. Someone is probably going to have to snap her out of it to point out the lack of wings.

Pius Athanor (741) has posed:
    "Does this hurt anybody?" Pius asks Staren, then immediately answers his own question. "No, it doesn't, and..." Here comes Rarity! Diane lets out a gasp, and... is her eyes sparkling with adoration. "You... you look so PRETTY!" she gushes, hurrying over and around Rarity to look at her from every angle. "Did you make that dress all by yourself! The trims are so nice, and the... oh!" Yes, the Athanor sister seems to like her dresses all right. And her reaction should be answer enough to Rarity's question. But Pius too beams, though his answer is more subdued. "You look absolutely stunning, dear! Perfect for the part, I say."

    Wings. Hmmm. That does seem to cause Pius some headache as he considers this, then he glances at Staren. "... you have wings, don't you?" For that matter, he looks sincerely at Twilight. "Please... this is important. Your help would mean the world to me and my sister. We will compensate her well for her tooth and give her exactly what the Tooth Fairy would have given her. Please... this is for the sake of family," he pleads.

    Diane however seems to look between Staren and Rarity. "Wait, Pius... are you saying that HE should wear HER dress and be the Tooth Fairy instead?" she asks. "It could work!" Pius retorts in a defensive manner. "He can fly, and if Twilight won't help us..."

Rarity (136) has posed:
"Yes dear, yes I did." Rarity strikes another poes. "I am after all the finest fashionista in Ponyvi--" Or mention that. That works too, as Rarity nearly falls flat on her face as someone mentions Staren wearing the outfit instead. You could swear there was even that 'needle scratching halt' sound.

Staren has posed:
    "...Like a fairy." Staren answers Rarity. "Although, you need some wings..." He'll see if anyone has an idea about that. Then he turns to Pius. "It might. Ponies might learn of the incident and be concerned. We might get caught sneaking into a little filly's bedroom, that looks bad. I once helped a Confederate with a similar goal, because I believed it was the right thing to do. She needed a body for an important ritual. She stole one from the morgue without telling me and got a whole bunch of people concerned -- the resulting Union investigation arrived in the middle of her ritual and screwed it up, effectively killing her child and creating a bunch of monsters." That was /not/ a good day. "Now, if she had just found someone... someone willing to donate their body to her cause, a terminally ill person perhaps... that wouldn't have happened."

    Staren sweatdrops. Wait, they want /him/ to be the tooth fairy? "I could lend her my flight ring..." he says, hopefully, then immediately looks crestfallen. Learning to fly took time. Thinking about it, Rarity probably can't... wait, no, this is silly. She can drink a potion of flight or something. Yes.

    "...I don't want to do this, but I /do/ think I should go along in some capacity to try and talk to anyone who catches us. S-someone has to..."

Twilight Sparkle (411) has posed:
     Staren's story gets Twilight worried even more. "See? Nothing about this is a good idea. Even if done for a noble goal, we are invading a pony's privacy, breaking and entering, possibly stealing from a fairy, and deceiving a little filly. And that's just if we -aren't- caught!" Twilight it starting to do her worried hyperventillating thing. "If we -are- caught, then a pony family is scared thanks to an intruder in their house in the middle of the night! I can't be associated with intruders into pony's homes! Queen Celestia might not be my teacher anymore! She might banish us! Or imprison us!!"

     Twilight takes a few deep breaths to steady herself, then shakes her head. "I'm sorry, but...there has to be another way..." She thinks a moment. "Perhaps, if there is not a tooth fairy, we can ask the parents of the filly. They would likely not be keeping the tooth. Let them decide whether to remove the tooth themselves and leave the payment, or if they would allow us to enter and take the tooth."

Rarity (136) has posed:
Rarity manages to actually not fumble from her pose and regain her composure. Ahem. You saw nothing. Right, wings. Maybe Twilight woul ... okay, maybe not.

Instead Rarity moves next to the other unicorn and puts a leg over her shoulders. "Your concern is touching as always Twilight dear." Calm the unicorn before we have another hysteria attack. You remember what happened the last time that occured. "Now just relax before you hurt that darling head of yours overthi--"

Pause. Then Rarity turns her head a bit to tap her chin with the other forehoof. "--Actually. Maybe if you told them it was for a special project, which is essentially true. Just.. less.. you know..." She smiles softly at Pius. "No offense, but your approach was a bit brash about it."

Pius Athanor (741) has posed:
    Something Staren said doesn't seem to fit well with Pius. "Of course stealing a body is wrong! We are merely trading one tooth, you can't possibly compare the two!" Preposterous! Diane too doesn't seem to like that either. "Honest, nothing like that will happen! Promise! This isn't a ritual, it's science! Pius is right!" she pleads with Staren.

    Yet, when Staren agrees to assist, the two Athanor siblings are all smiles. "Thank you! Thank you!" Diane nearly bounces in place next to him, eager and happy.

    Perhaps things would have been easier if they had considered Twilight's suggestion earlier. Both Pius and Diane blink, look at one another, then at the others in turn. "Uh..." Diane bites her lower lip. "That actually makes sense." For a moment Pius just stands there in stunned silence. "I guess that could work...?" he offers, rubbing his left hoof against his scarf to adjust it. At least it wouldn't get them into any trouble, and well... it would help if they had an extra pair of hands. Hooves.

    It appears that they have found a better solution, and Pius listens to Rarity expand on the idea. "That... is actually a good idea. Okay! Sir, you put on the dress! Miss Twilight, Miss Rarity, if you would help with the glitter and the grammophone please...! Diane, if you would be so kind?" "Yes!"

    The young filly hurries up to the front door and knocks on it. Not too long passes, and the father of the house opens the door, looking quite surprised at seeing all the ponies outside of his house at this time of day. "Uh... can I help you?" he asks, glancing beween them. Diane gathers her courage, speaking up as clearly as she can. "Hello, we... we were wondering if you wanted to help us with a project! We are going around to collect baby teeth, and also give little colts and fillies a special treat that they will remember the rest of their lives as well as pay the standard tooth fee that the Tooth Fairy pay! Ummm... would you be interested?" Here she glances at the others. Come on, help her out!

Rarity (136) has posed:
Rarity sighs wistfully. She was looking forward to acting up the part, but, well .... honestly, they probably wouldn't trust her with wings again anyways. So with melodramatic remorse she delicately removes the dress, and uses her magic to zap it onto Staren before he can change his mind. Followed by grabbing one of the jars of glitter with her magic and thankfully NOT dumping it over him. That would be a waste of perfectly good glitter! She opens the jar properly, and skillfully takes little wads of it out with her magic and flecks it in Staren's mane and tail.

"The special display will be ready in just one moment~"

Twilight Sparkle (411) has posed:
     Twilight blinks as...her argument works! They agree to peacefully request the tooth from the parents! She seems immensely relieved by this. When Diane knocks and explains, Twilight approaches. "We apologize for the unusual request, but this tooth could help save many lives in the future if this research proves worthwhile. And, we..." She pauses when she turns, intending to gesture to Rarity, but finding Staren in the dress. "...um...we..." She is stuck, holding one forehoof toward Staren. She blinks a few times, then giggles softly. "..we even have a proper semblance of a tooth fairy, should you wish to availe yourself of it, so that the little filly will not have her beliefs disturbed."

     The stallion at the door considers all of this, then frowns lightly. "How did you know my daughter had lost a tooth?"

     Twilight blinks, then blushes lightly realizing the implications. "She informed us earlier today."

Staren has posed:
    "Celestia's not going to banish or imprison you, or... or reject you as her student." Staren hurries over to give her a reassuring hug, then smiles as people start talking reasonably.

    Staren just gives Pius a confused look at the order to put on the dress. "We're not doing that anymore."

    And Diane needs help. Staren canters over. "I'll level with you." He looks between the parents and Twilight. Honesty is the best policy, right? "We're--" he starts, and then suddenly is zapped into a dress with glitter flung his way. He sighs, and holds a forehoof to his face for a few seconds.

    Then he stands again. "Where was I... These two are performing an important experiment. For science and knowledge, and... and if it works, it may be able to help people in the future. But the ritual requires the tooth of a unicorn. Foals lose their teeth naturally, so this is the most practical and safest way to obtain one. But it's kind of an unconventional request, so my acquaintances here didn't really know how to go about it." He nods, trying to keep a straight face. "Yes, I'm here as a representative tooth fairy." He pulls three bits from his bag and levitates them to the stallion. "Yes, they went around earlier asking fillies and colts if they happened to be losing any teeth. They're... really not good with people. You know how researchers can be." He tries to smile, but forced like this it's more of a grimace.

Pius Athanor (741) has posed:
    The father looks between the ponies at his door as they explain matters, looking extra hard at Diane who does her very best to plead with him by her facial expression one. Pius himself reaches out to adjust the dress on Staren a bit and arrange his mane, obviously taking this seriously. "It is indeed for a good cause, and we will be moving on shortly while preserving your little filly's faith in childhood fancies," he assures him. Though he can't help but give Staren a pointed look. Researchers can be like what now? And he also lets out a slight mutter. "It's not a ritual, it's SCIENCE," he points out to Staren.

    It does seem like they are all rather trustworthy, or at least trustworthy enough, and the stallion even gives a little smile as he looks at Staren in his pretty dress. "Oh well, as long as you don't take too long. Perhaps she might even enjoy it, she has talked about the Tooth Fairy all day."

    Diane looks visibly relieved, smiling brightly up at him as he opens the door further and steps aside so they can enter the little house. "Her room is up the stairs and to the right." Pius follows after Diane, carrying the grammophone on his back. Diane looks so happy, and she even smiles up at Staren. "You look pretty in the dress too! It brings out your eyes!"

    It's showtime.

    Inside the bedroom, little Rose Mint has snuggled up in bed, hugging her stuffed animal close as she is about to drift off to sleep...

Rarity (136) has posed:
Rarity has to cover her mouth with a hoof and try really REALLY hard to not start snickering when Staren gets complimented on the dress matching his eyes.

Twilight Sparkle (411) has posed:
     Twilight smiles warmly as the others plead the case, and the pony father sighs. "Oh...fine. But, only because it could help other ponies." he says, then motions for Staren to head inside. "Just make it quick, and try not to wake her."

     Twilight looks to Staren, holding in her giggles as he is fussed over and complimented. "Okay, Staren. It's all up to you." she says, smiling. The pony father leads the way to Rose Mint's room, and very carefully opens the door, his protective eye staying on Staren.

Staren has posed:
    Staren status: >: