Lollipop Lick had been a tough case, but there was nothing too tough for Minuette. She shook Lollipop's hoof and took a picture of those newly gleaming teeth and proudly added it to the wall of graduates in the lobby of her office. She sighed with the satisfaction on another job well done.

She had hardly finished tanking her assistant's for their help when the doorbell chimed.

"Welcome to Minuette's Smile Stable!" she sang. "Where we make every smile bright!"

A dark gray mare with a sunflower colored mane stood in the doorway, looking around and shifting warily. Her lips were tightly pursed.

"Now what seems to be the matter? Crooked teeth? Snaggleteeth? No teeth? We can work with anything!"

"It's not... my teeth..." the mare mumbled. "I'm running for Governor, but I've been told my smile isn't very friendly."

Minuette frowned. Her ears flicked down. "Now who's saying a mean thing like that? Let's see your smile, I'm sure it's perfectly lovely."

Her new patient drew her lips back in a halting, unnatural manner. Minuette could see muscles squirming under the skin. Some sort of muscle disorder? She'd have to read up on that, but—

The mare smiled and an air of sleaziness suddenly descended on the office. There was a strained, artificial look on her face. Her mane suddenly seemed greasy. Minuette felt an urge to closely read the fine print on the nearest contract.

"I see. Um, well." She took a breath to focus. She didn't know how to fix this, but she'd figure something out. "So, first, why don't you tell me what a 'Governor' is. So I can figure out what direction exactly we're trying to take things."

"It's a political position. I want to be in charge of things." The mare sounded friendly enough as she said this, while the look of her teeth screamed that she should not be in charge of anything.

"Oh, so like a mayor?"

"No, it's bigger than a mayor."

"A princess then? I don't mean to be rude, but aren't princesses Alicorns?" Minuette discreetly glanced at the mare's sides to see if there was a pair of wings she'd somehow missed.

"No, not that big. It's in between."

"I didn't know that was a thing."

"Look, the important thing is that I need a friendly smile to do it. Can you help me or not?"

Minuette looked at the wall of smiles. So many battles she'd fought, against caramel, cotton candy, the Mondays. And she had won every single one. But this case... she just didn't know.

"Maybe," she said. There was hope yet. "But I'll need to consult with my colleague."

"Who is this colleague?" the mare asked with a hopeful tone and sneering face.

"Only the top expert in Smilology in all of Equestria.

"Cancel my appointments," Minuette said to her secretary. "We're going to Ponyville."

---

A bead of sweat rolled down the Patient's forehead, as she stood in the combined gazes of Minuette and Pinkie Pie. They were all in the latter's bedroom.

"What do you think?"

"There's no way to sugarcoat this—and believe me I love sugarcoating—this is one of the sleaziest smile I've ever seen. This is going to be a tough one, Mini."

The Patient whimpered.

"But you have seen similar cases?"

Pinkie nodded. She went to the dresser and pulled a thick folder labeled "F.R." from her sock drawer. She passed it to Minuette.

Her blood ran cold as she read the case report. She locked eyes with Pinkie who was making a point of facing away from the patient. A wordless conversation passed between them. Not through telepathy, but something close to it.

No cure then?

Maybe. The sleaze doesn't seem to be as advanced in your patient's case, but there just aren't many options for reducing what's there.

Well we have to try something!

You know as well as I do how poorly this condition is understood. Containing it is the best we can do. Her case study will make for a good paper in Grin, and maybe we can learn from her something about how to help future patients, but as for her... Pinkie Pie mentally shrugged in resignation.

I don't care about publishing! I want her to SMILE, dammit!

So do I. I would if I could, but I can't. Nopony can. I'm sorry.

Everypony in the room was smiling, but it was not just the Patient who had an artificial grin on her face now.

Minuette huffed and marched out of the room, brusquely pulling her patient along with her.

"So what do you two think?" She wore a nervous grin that made Minuette think of insurance policies.

"Oh, sorry. I forgot you couldn't hear any of that conversation.

"It... didn't go well. Sleazysmile is a poorly understood condition, but she was more interested in studying you than figuring out a cure." They trotted through Ponyville, and Minuette hung her head low as they walked. There had to be something she could do. But as much as she hated to admit it, Pinkie Pie was right.

"So nopony will ever like my smile?" the Patient's eyes were teary and her mouth wobbled and that was all too sincere.

"I'm afraid..." Minuette prepared herself to step off the edge of failure, but as she lifted her head to deliver the bad news, she saw an idea in the distance. "You said you wanted to be a Governor. Does it have to be of ponies?

---

The Patient grinned greasily, slimily. Minuette shivered at the sight, as did everyone else in the Ponyville Zoo. But—the weasels were delighted. The scurried all around their enclosure and over the Patient who sat inside. She raised her hoof and declared her tax policy and all the weasels squeaked happily.

She smiled, and Minuette took her proudest picture yet. This one maybe wasn't going on the wall though.