Okie-dokie-lokie! So, this is just a quick and dirty (literally) series of drabbles that I wrote last night. They're not my best, but I wanted some practice with Flux's character. Despite being in her Madness Place for most of these, I don't think I have her quite "mad scientists-y" enough yet. Basically, I don't think I have her final, stable characterization yet. However, that's what practice is for, no? Also, for the curious, Chiptune is an OC from a different board who is friends with Flux. I may actually bring her over here after some revision...

Anyway, without further ado, onto the drabbles!

4 Signs that Somepony Needs a Bath

1. When Even Your Muddy Ferret Doesn't Want To Be Around You

Quantum Flux paced back and forth across the rugged and stained floor of the room. Such architecture was to be expected, due to both the age and purposes of the basement that the scientist pony called home. Levitating a battered and dog-earred leather bound notebook toward her, Flux began to look over the hypotheses and previous experiments. A quiet tapping sound emanated from the tiny door that Flux had requested for her ferret, Tesla.

Dropping the notebook, Flux dashed over to the door and directed some magic toward the handle, opening it for her brown furred companion. Tesla yawned as he entered, seeming tired but generally normal. However, Flux noted that he seemed to be a much darker brown than usual and that a strange dripping sound accompanied his steps. Lowering her head to eye level with the small creature, Flux asked, "Is that mud?".

The tiny creature nodded, shaking his fur to force out the wetter pieces of mud. Most of the wet dirt clung to his coat, already dried enough that a simple shake of the body would not dislodge them. Raising her head again, Flux turned to her fallen notebook and began to read it aloud. "Alright Tesla, you're late and there fore we have lots to catch up on. I need you to fetch me some..." Turning around, Flux stopped abruptly, staring at Tesla. The ferret had backed away, covering his nose and waving a tiny paw in front of him to bat away some invisible odour.

Staring at him in confusion, Flux did a quick inventory of the room. I did just have a minor explosion, but it was most odourless, so it can't be that. Torvus isn't cooking, thank Celestia. I haven't left the steam tubes open again. What could it possibly be? The unicorn's puzzled expression made her question clear to the ferret, who pointed to the dusty calender in the corner of the room. Flux never used it, but Torvus flipped it to the correct month when he bothered to enter the basement. She remembered that her experiments had begun on a Thursday and consulting the calender, she saw that a whole week had gone by.

“Oh,” mumbled the unicorn. “I suppose you won't help me until I've taken a bath then?” Tesla nodded exuberantly. “Very well, but you'd better have the supplies out when I'm back.”

2. When Your Friend Buys You Some Soap and Insists That You Have a Pool Party

“Look, Flux,” began the lime green Pegasus, flapping her wings gently as she spoke. “I know that you're on the edge of an important breakthrough or something, but I haven't seen you for a week and a half! I'm just worried about you, Flux.”

The white unicorn scoffed, shifting the goggles off her face and turning away from her bubbling concoction. “I'm perfectly fine! Nothing to worry about,” Flux smiled at her friend, but based on the Pegasus' expression, it was not very convincing.

“Just this one time, please? I even got you a present!” The Pegasus fully grounded herself and produced a wrapped up bar from her flankpack. Flux sighed, but levitated the object toward her, unwrapping it with some magic. Under the wrapping paper, a bar of pink soap could be seen.

Flux raised her eyebrow, "Soap? Odd. When someone like you, Chiptune, announces that they have a gift, its generally a bit more extravagant." Flux immediately began to examine the bar, complete with an internal inspection. "However, I'm certain I can make use of its fizzing properties in my experiments."

"Actually, I was thinking that we should have a pool party! With soap!" Chiptune declared, faux excitement on her face. Even Flux, who was not very familiar with many social practices, found this to be a rather odd suggestion.

"With soap? Forgive me, but I wasn't aware that soap was usually involved in such exercises."

"To be honest, it isn't, but Torvus has started complaining about the smell down here and we've got to get rid of it. Now come on, we've got a soap pool party to go to!"

3. When You Finally Notice That the Smell Isn't Torvus' Bad Cooking

Flux was on a mission. Taking time away from her precious experiments wasn't something Flux did lightly, but the matter at hand was immensely pressing. Tesla watched Flux patch back and forth, yawning slightly as the rhythm began to lull him into sleep. "Tesla! This is no time for sleep! This stench has gotten so bad that I can't work through it any longer. We must confront Torvus. I know he means well, but if his cooking is interfering with my work, something must be done!" The ferret mewed in annoyance and lay his head down on his paws. "Fine, I shall go and do it myself," Flux declared, trotting up the stairs.

With a dramatic bang, Flux opened the door and began to speak. "Torvus! I apologize, but I think I must be blunt with you. Your cooking is terrible. I didn't mind it as much before, but now the stench is interrupting my work. I'm sure something can be worked out, but I need at least a temporary solution in order to return to my work!"

Torvus chuckled, "I'll say! I was wondering when you'd notice. That smell ain't me, Quantum, it's you." Flux looked puzzled for a moment before seeing the date once more. With a small "oh" of realization, she bowed out of the room as respectfully as she could, closing the door softly behind her.

"Also, my cooking is divine!" The old Earth Pony called after her, causing Tesla to s****** slightly.

4. When You Just Blew Up Something...Again

It seems that soap is not the best thing to use in one's experiments. It's combination with one of Flux's various chemicals had resulting in the ball of smoke that now engulfed the basement level of the Clock Tower. Coughing loudly, Flux cleared away some of the smoke with her magic, depositing it into a disused corner. Tesla, who could be identified by his smaller coughs, scurried over to the magically cleared corner of the room. "Note to self, never use soap with chemicals that contain more volatile components."

Bring forth a notebook labelled Unwise Combinations Volume II, Flux scribbled down this information and began to take inventory of the room. It seemed intact, with minimal damage to any equipment or surfaces. However, Flux and Tesla were completely covered in soot and smoke. Tesla looked pointedly at her, his meaning clear. "This is the third time this month. It seems to be turning into some strange pattern."

With a slight shake of his head in incredulity, Tesla climbed up the stairs quickly. Flux followed, bringing the remnants of the soap bar with her and preparing to sort of explanation to a no doubt impatient Torvus.