"Dr. Stein’s Custom Fluffies (Challenge No.57 winner)" By fluffstory (https://pastebin.com/u/fluffstory) URL: https://pastebin.com/nXjd7unZ Created on: Thursday 12th of December 2019 05:54:12 AM CDT Retrieved on: Friday 30 of October 2020 11:22:40 AM UTC Vanner, June 30, 2014; 19:07 / FB 23287 ======================================================================================================================================= Challenge 57: Dr. Stein’s Custom Fluffies >In all the years that fluffy ponies have been around, you’ve always taken what you could get and thought nothing of it. >Your fluffies have run the gamut from bog standard earth fluffies to an exotic spider fluffy that you housed for the winter. >Ah, little Charlotte. You can still remember those adorable fangs and how they injected liquefying venom into the foals she sustained herself on that winter. >Still, you’ve always just kind of wanted something special; something that wasn’t just a regular fluffy or a variant species. >You’re perusing the Fluff-TV forums reading through the “available” board. >It’s your usual mishmash of free “get these fucking fluffies out of my home” and high priced “seventh generation Martini” fluffies with the trademark “Rape Stare.” >As you gloss over an ad for waterhead fluffyshys, you finally reach an advertisement that piques your interest. >”Fluffies Custom built to order. All breeds, genders, colors, and temperaments available. Delivery in two weeks.” >>Now this promises to be interesting. How does one custom build a fluffy? >It can’t possibly be a custom breeder, that’d take six weeks, and even then you can’t guarantee color and gender, to say nothing of temperament. >Call up the breeder, and you’re greeted with a prerecorded message. >”Dr. Steins Fluffy Vet Clinic welcomes you. If this is an emergency, put the remainder of your fluffy in a bag, and come directly to the hospital.” >Heh, they really know their market. >”If you’re calling about an appointment, please press one. If you’re calling about custom fluffy design, press two. If you’re calling about the class action laws…” >You press two. >Wait, what was that about a class action? >The phone rings for a moment and you’re greeted by a plesant female voice on the other line. >”Dr. Steins Custom Fluffies. How can we design your perfect pet?” >”So, what kind of fluffy can I get?” you ask with a hint of doubt. “Anything I want?” >”Certainly, sir!” she replies. “You can custom order anything from a brown earth fluffy smarty to an iridescent black Lunafluff.” >It takes you a moment to put together what the hell she means by that, but you remember that Kids cartoon that kicked off fluffies so long ago. >”So, I can order, say, a pure white alicorn fluff that never makes a peep?” >”If that’s what you want,” she replies. >”How about a pinto unicorn toughie friend?” >”Anything you want, we can make,” she says. You can hear the smile in her voice, as if she’s got a yes answer to any question you might throw her way. >This may be just what you’re looking for; a completely custom fluffy job. >It’s halfway across the country, but you’re going to be in that city in two weeks anyway on business. >”Alright, here’s what I want,” you begin. “First, it’s got to be an Alicorn. Second, it’s got to be smart. We’re talking genius level fluffy here. I want it to be male, and as far as color goes…” >What’s a fluffy you’ve never had but always wanted? >”Shimmering silver with violet eyes,” you say at last. “I always wanted a shimmering fluffy but I could never find one.” >You hear keys clicking on the other end of the phone and the soft humming of a professional searching for an answer. >”Got it,” she says after a moment of quiet humming. “Alright, looks like we’ve got the ability to make that fluffy.” >”Now when you say make…” >”Dr. Stein uses a customized and trademarked process for fluffy pony design,” she replies. “Your fluffy pony will come fully trained and ready to love for years to come.” >Awesome. >Crazy expensive, but awesome. *** >There’s no such thing as an unwanted fluffy, you’ve always said. >Each and every fluffy in your network of shelters serves a purpose, even if it’s just another body to simmer in the Fluffycide! vat. >You are Dr. Francis Stein, legendary fluffy pony veterinarian, and designer. >For years you’ve repaired beloved pets back to a state of functionality from near death, and it was last year that you realized you could do so much more. >You see, fluffy pony parts are pretty much interchangeable. >Organs and limbs transplant with a minimum of good surgical technique and the hyperactive regenerative systems of the fluffy take care of the rest. >Their genetic similarity make transplantation so easy, a backyard abuser could do it, and often has. >You can’t count the number of times you’ve seen a “baby legs” fluffy come into your clinic after some psycho sewed foals to its mother’s amputated hooves. >Good idea or no, your custom fluffy business is taking the fluffy community by storm. >So much so, you’ve had to keep contract with an alicorn breeder just to keep decent base stock. >And of course your next order is no different. >Some guy in Iowa wants the works. Alicorn, shimmering, clever. >It’s not unexpected, but the iridescent ones are always such a pain in the ass. >Iridescent fluffies are recessive and rare to boot, so you mostly only get iridescent earthies in stock. >Luckily, you’ve got a breeder for them too. >Here, dozens of alicorns play with balls, blocks, and crayons, and coming running up to you as soon as you enter. >”Wuv Doctah stein!” the cheer, as you pass out treats to the waiting alicorns. “Wuv doctah stein so much!” >”Fwuffies haf nu mummah ow daddeh?” one asks you. >”That’s right, my little darlings,” you say. “One of you is going to a new home. Now which one is it going to be? I need a fluffy that’s smart. Who’s the smartest fluffy here?” >The alicorns rush around, trying to show off just how clever they are; some with art or blocks, others with simple tricks like standing on their back hooves, or hiding under boxes. >You select a rather ugly colored alicorn who’s managed to arrange magnetic numbers in order up to ten. >”Bwanchie get nu home!” he giggles, as you put him into the kennel. >The alicorn aren’t really sad that they didn’t get chosen, and instead wave to Branchy as you head out. >”Bye bye bwanchie!” They call Bbe gud fow nu mummah an daddeh!” >You set Branchy aside, and head into the smaller kennel with soft, but true white lighting. >Dozens of cages line the walls, and in each is a single fluffy of various shades and hues. >Each has a kibble dispenser, a water bottle, and a toy to play with. >There’s nothing sharp or even remotely dangerous here, as one cut could ruin their shimmering, beautiful coats. >As you come into the room, the constant babble of fluffies goes silent and they all back away from the doors of the cages. >You hadn’t trained them to do this, but they quickly figured out that any fluffy who threw a fit when the got pulled from the cage got a serious whipping, then disappeared down to “da bad pwace.” >It only takes a moment to find your fluffy, a stunning silver Pegasus who only bites his lip as you pull him from the cage. >He’s barely holding back sobs as you place him in the kennel next to Branchy. >”Nu fwiend haf pwettiest fwuff!” says Branchy as you head to “Da bad pwace” >Now it’s time for eyes. >You walk down the row of cages, your heels “click-click-clicking” across the tiled floor as fluffy ponies cry out in fear. >It screams make you smile a little as the fluffies quail in terror from the sound of your shoes. >You actually quite enjoy that they call you “Docta Munsta,” but you make sure to harshly punish any that does so in ear shot. >After all, forbidden fruit tastes sweetest, even to a fluffy pony. >Ah, there’s one in the back. Shimmering golden fluff, sparkling grey mane, and most importantly, violet eyes. >She’s been here for months, though most of that time has been spent laying one her side and sobbing “wan die” >Sadly, she’s not getting her wish today. >You pick her up with no resistance as the rest of the basement cries out in terror. >The carpet of mutlticolored fluffy that hangs paralyzed from the wall only tries to turn away as you prepr the donor for surgery. >A sniff of ether, a few taps with the bone hammer, a bit of pulling, and voila! Two perfect violet eyes ready for transplant. >Pack the empty sockets with dissolving gauze and then glue them shut to heal. >You’ll probably be back later for her fluff, but you’re pretty sure she won’t care at that point. >Eyes on ice, you head back upstairs to find your assistant taking Branchy into prep for his surgery. >The other fluffy just trembles as you approach. >”Fwuffy gon die?” he asks. >”Fraid so,” you reply. “Are you going to fight me? Scream and cry and wail and make a mess of yourself?” >”Fwuffy nu wan die,” he sobs softly. “Jus wan wuv nu mummah.” >“At least parts of you will be loved,” you say, pressing the rag against his face. “It’s just bad luck that you’re a fluffy.” >With a quick stick and a flick of the wrist, the fluffy’s hide comes off in a single velvety sheet of skin and fluff. >It’s like taking a sweater off, really, except in this case the sweater is still alive for a few minutes. >You pass them off to an assistant before going to work on the wings with a screwdriver and scalpel. >It only takes you a moment before the wings squelch off the pegasus’s scapula like wet pop beads. >The donor’s fading fast, but there aren’t any other surgeries scheduled for the enxt few days. >Normally, you could keep a skinless fluffy alive for days in a heated kennel, but there’s no real need right now. >Plenty of fluffies in the basement for that, and this one didn’t need to be made an example. >You waltz over to the surgical area where Branchy is already asleep and under the careful eye of your assistant. >”So do we need to reset this one after we’re done or just let him heal?” he asks. >”No, Branchy will be happy to get out his ugly brown coat and into something more luxurious,” you reply. >“But let’s get those eyes in his head before anything else. Hand me that melon baller, won’t you? And pop those wings off next; we need to get them in place before we put the pelt back on.” *** >it’s been two weeks, but you’ve arrived at Dr. Stein’s Custom Fluffies. >The wait’s been almost too much for you. Your very own bred to order custom fluffy. >They must do some sort of accelerated cloning process to get them ready that fast, but who cares? >Your heart leaps as your shimmering fluffy pony trots out of the back like a proud Arabian stallion. >He’s everything you could have hoped for and he barrels into your waiting arms. >”Nu daddeh!” he squeals. “Wuv nu daddeh! Bwanchy wan be bestest fwuffy fow nu daddeh!” >”Well?” asks Doctor Stein. “What do you think?” >”He’s perfect!” you reply. “I’ve never seen a better looking fluffy.” >”Bwanchy pwetty now!” he says. “Bwachy have ugwy ppoopie fwuff, buh now haf pretty spawky fwuff!” >You look to Dr. Stein, who just kind of shrugs. >”Who knows why fluffies say what they do?” she says. “I hope you two have a long and happy life together.” >”Daddeh wan go pway?” asks Branchy. “Pway wif otha fwuffies?” >Sure, that seems like a good idea. >You fuzz his head and notice a small scar beneath the fluff where the horn meats the head. >Huh, must have slipped with the clipper or something. Oh well. >Branchy is your fluffy, and he’s perfect just the way he was born.