Chapter 20: A Health of Information
One day in the Everfree Forest, Fluttershy and Sokka were in a small field filled with beautiful flowers, and a lake that had a small swampy section. They were accompanied by Zecora as she was helping them collect some crisscross moss for their animal sanctuary as the zebra was using her tail to hold a tree branch while standing on the bottom of the tree so as not to get wet.
"Thank you so much, Zecora. Sokka and I never would've found the crisscross moss without you," Fluttershy said.
"It was pretty difficult to find them around these parts of the forest." Sokka added with a smile. "Even I couldn't find it deep enough in these parts."
"Of course. I know where it grows, so it's not much to ask. Though retrieving it has been a difficult task," Zecora replied.
"Oh, but the oxen visiting Sweet Feather Sanctuary next week will surely appreciate it. It really adds a shine to their coat," Fluttershy said.
"It will help them look more perfect than ever too." Sokka added as he nuzzled his wife, making Fluttershy giggle as she nuzzled her husband in return.
Zecora then grabbed some crisscross moss.
"There we go. Now, that wasn't so tough. Fluttershy and Sokka, tell me, will this be enough?" Zecora asked, turning to the Pegsai couple.
"Gee, I don't know. It's a pretty big pack. So maybe enough to fill up this sack?" Fluttershy said, showing the sack. She then gasped and giggled, realizing she just rhymed, "Oh, my! You're rubbing off on me, Zecora!"
"Looks like you're taking her wisdom, honey." Sokka said teasingly, making Fluttershy nudge her husband gently with playful smirk.
Zecora then tried to reach for more crisscross moss, but ended up slipping and snapping a branch.
"Whoa. Whoa!" she exclaimed, as she fell in the water.
Sokka and Fluttershy screamed in surprise.
"Oh, no, oh, no, oh, no!" Fluttershy shouted in fear.
"Zecora!" Sokka exclaimed in worry.
Then Zecora popped her head out of the water to reveal her soaking mane.
"Zecora, are you all right?" Fluttershy asked worriedly.
"No need to fret. I only got wet." Zecora assured the pegasi couple, grabbing some more crisscross moss. "At least now I can easily grab all the crisscross moss there is to be had."
She began to swim back to shore with the crisscross moss in her hooves when a lily pad that was a color blue as well as orange polka dots drifted in front of the zebra, sprouting some kind of orange mist in her face.
Sokka and Fluttershy were visibly surprised by this as Zecora approached them, now looking quite dizzy in the process. Then strangeling she had the same orange polka dots forming on her, making Sokka and Fluttershy gasp in shock by what they were seeing.
"Zecora! What's happening to you?" Fluttershy asked worriedly.
"Honestly, it's hard to tell. But suddenly, I don't feel so well..." Zecora replied.
"I hope it's not that serious, Zecora." Sokka said with concern.
Suddenly, more polka dots formed on Zecora as Sokka and Fluttershy gasped in horror at the sight.
"Okay, nevermind. This looks very serious." Sokka said in fear.
*Main theme*
After arriving at the hospital, the doctor checked Zecora out with all the mysterious symptoms she had, finishing examining her mouth, her tongue also sporting the same orange spots her body has.
"Alright Zecora, let's have a listen to the old ticker." Dr. Horse said.
With his stethoscope, the stallion listened to Zecora's heart, which had an irregular rhythm despite his normal breathing, sounding like a jazzy drum solo more than a heartbeat.
"Do you think it's serious, doctor?" Fluttershy asked.
"Will Zecora be alright?" Sokka asked with concern for the zebra's well being.
"Hmmm...Well, that's not a good sign," the doctor replied.
"I can't believe a flower did this. I take back thinking it was pretty!" Fluttershy said.
Zecora began to cough up bubbles, Quickly putting some chemicals in a small beaker, the doctor grabbed one of the bubbles, placed it in the beaker, and shook it up after plugging the small vial.
"We're looking for any color other than red," Dr. Horse said. After shaking it up enough, he showed Sokka, Fluttershy, and Zecora the results. Their relief was short-lived when the clear liquid began to turn red. "Oh, it's just as I thought. I'm afraid you have a very rare disease called...Swamp Fever!"
His voice echoed with a red background appear behind him with a clash of thunder and lightning.
"Tell me, doctor, what should I do?" Zecora asked. "I've never heard of Swamp Fever, mind you."
"Unfortunately, very little is known about the disease. Except, of course, its symptoms," The doctor said. He then held out a medical book, turning to the pages about the disease Zecora's afflicted with. "Change of coat, coughing bubbles, shock sneezing, confusion, and the last stage, the afflicted turn into the very trees that drop the disease-spreading flower."
"Oh! Is there anything that can be done for such a terrible conundrum?!" Zecora asked.
"A cure has yet to be discovered. I'm sorry, Zecora," the doctor replied, making Zecora, Sokka, and Fluttershy share looks of great concern. "I know this is a lot to take in. I'll leave you three to discuss."
He then leaves the room to leave the three alone.
"Zecora, this is all my fault! If you hadn't been helping me get the crisscross moss, you wouldn't have gotten Swamp Fever. I'm so sorry," Fluttershy apologized.
"It's not your fault, honey." Sokka said gently, putting a hoof on his wife's back. "We just didn't know what that lily pad was gonna do."
"Your husband is right, there is no need to fright." Zecora added with a smile. "Fluttershy, you are not to blame. These things happen all the same."
Fluttershy, however, didn't listen.
"I refuse to accept that! There has to be somepony who can help you," Fluttershy replied.
"But, honey. Who do we ask for help?" Sokka asked with a worried look. "There can't be a magical sorceress in any part of Equestria. Zecora is the only one in the Everfree Forest."
That's when Zecora gasped as if she remembered something.
"Oh, there's a healer of legend who never would fail. But I only know her from ancient folktales. Mystical and masked, she came in the night and cured everything from hoof cough to fur blight. What became of the healer, nopony knows, for she disappeared ages and ages ago," Zecora explained.
"The Mystical Mask! Of course! My parents would tell me about whenever I was sick in bed," Fluttershy said as Sokka gasped with a smile.
"My parents would tell me that story too before they passed on." Sokka added excitedly. "I always wanted to be a healer like her someday."
"There's so many accounts of her power to heal. She can't be just a legend. I think she's real," Zecora replied.
"If that's who we need to cure you, then I'm going to find her, and I know just the ponies who can help," Fluttershy said before she turned to Sokka. "Honey, can you watch over our animals while I'm gone? I don't want you to get sick as Zecora is."
"You got it, honey." Sokka said as they shared a kiss on the lips.
(Scene changes)
Soon, Fluttershy ran to the Castle of Friendship in hopes to find Twilight and Chase as she panted.
"Twilight?! Chase?!" Fluttershy said as she opened the doors to the main foyer and headed inside to find the royal couple.
"Twilight! Chase!" Fluttershy shouted as she searched the bedroom.
"Twilight! Chase!" Fluttershy shouted as she opened the kitchen to find Twilight, Nyx, Jade, and Trini mixing bowls of ingredients.
This got their attention as they turned to Fluttershy.
"Oh, I'm so sorry to bother…" Fluttershy apologized until she saw the girls cooking. "Are… are you girls cooking?"
"Yeah." Twilight said as she put the bowl down on the table. "Spike, Chase, Antonio, Sunray, Trini, Nyx, Jade, and I are having a cook-off!"
"Think of it as boys against girls." Jade added with a smile.
"Our cauliflower bites blew the girls sweet potato muffins out of the water!" Spike retorted as he took out a cookie pan with some cauliflower bites from over with Chase, Sunray, and Antonio with him as they sent smirks at the girls.
This made the four girls, minus Fluttershy, smirk back at them before they turned back to the yellow pegasus.
"I'm glad you're here, Fluttershy, because we're gonna need a second opinion about that." Twilight said as she and the other girls used their magic to lift the different food products they made with the boys.
They shoved the food down Fluttershy's throat as she grunted and ate them whole.
"Um, they're both delicious, but..." Fluttershy said before she added quickly as she got into each of their faces. "Zecora has Swamp Fever and there's no-cure and it's all my fault and the only pony who can cure it is the Mystical Mask and I need your help to find her!"
"Uh…" Twilight said confusingly as Fluttershy began to push her and the others, minus Spike, out of the kitchen.
"What?" Chase, Jade, Sunray, Trini, Antonio, and Nyx asked curiously.
"So, what'd she pick? The cauliflower bites, right?" Spike asked gloatingly as she put the fresh batch on the stove, but when he turned around the ponies were already gone.
(Scene changes)
In the library, Chase, Jade, Sunray, Trini, Antonio, Fluttershy, Twilight, and Nyx were searching for answers about the Mystical Mask and what it looked like. But so far there was nothing.
Twilight sighed.
"That's the last book on ancient ponies, and still no mention of the Mystical Mask." Twilight said in dismay.
"Hmm. Did we check the unabridged versions?" Fluttershy asked with hope and concern.
"Yes, and the books on rare diseases, the books on rare plants, and the entire section on bog habitation." Jade confirmed as she, Nyx, Chase, Sunray, Trini, and Antonio.
"Okay, so we've looked through every page, including the last book on ancient ponies, and still no mention of the Mystical Mask," Chase said.
"Yeah, and so far we haven't found anything about it." Sunray remarked with a deadpan look as he searched through the books before tossing one aside angrily. "This is leading us to nowhere, guys."
"Well, we might have to look through the entire library, but I know we'll figure it out soon enough!" Fluttershy said with a determined smile, making her friends look at her with tired yet weary looks.
"Oh." Twilight sighed as Chase and the rest of his family groaned in frustration.
"I was afraid you were gonna say that." Trini said with a look of tiredness.
Soon they began to go through the whole library, but in the process as time went by, there was still none for the eight ponies to find answers. While still searching through the whole library, the ponies had made a huge pile of books as Chase slept on his back right on the top section of the pile with Twilight sleeping on him while cuddling a book to her face. Jade, Trini, Sunray, Antonio, and Nyx were already asleep on the ground.
Fluttershy picked up the last book, quickly skimmed through the pages before she tossed it away with a sigh.
"Another dead end. Have you and your family found anything yet, Twilight and Chase?" Fluttershy asked as she turned to the still sleeping royal couple as Twilight snoored softly with Chase holding her with a single foreleg.
"Twilight? Chase?" Fluttershy asked, hovering next to the royal couple, which was enough to wake them up.
"Aah!" Twilight and Chase screamed as the purple mare was sent into the books while the brown stallion slid a bit before he composed himself.
"Goodness! Are you okay?" Fluttershy asked with concern.
Twilight sighed as she popped her head up with a book on her head.
"I'm fine." Twilight responded back tiredly as Chase hovered in the air next to his wife with the same look on his face. "Fluttershy, I know you want to help Zecora. But I think we'd be a lot better off if we got some sleep. We've been at this for hours."
"Twilight has a point, Fluttershy." Chase added as he gestured to his family as they were now awake with the same tired looks on their faces they shared with the alicorn couple. "We'll never find any answers about the Mystical Mask in this state."
"Oh, I'm so sorry. I didn't realize how late it had gotten." Fluttershy apologized as she looked at the now messed library.
Twilight and Chase slid down to join their family members.
"No problem. I'll grab you a pillow and-" Twilight was about to finish when Fluttershy cut her off as she landed before them.
"Oh, no-no-no. I meant you all should sleep. I can't rest until Zecora is healed." Fluttershy explained before she grabbed a book.
"We understand how you feel, but I still think we'd have more luck if we tried again in the morning. Just promise me you'll take a break soon." Twilight said with a soft smile.
"And don't stay up too late. It's not good to do that." Chase added gently.
"Will you do that for us, Fluttershy?" Nyx asked with an encouraging smile.
"Mm-hmm." Fluttershy replied back, but she wasn't listening as she was focused on reading to find the answers.
Chase, Twilight, and their family walked out of the library as the purple alicorn yawned.
"Good night, Fluttershy." Twilight and Chase said together as they closed the doors with their magic before they, Nyx, Jade, Sunray, Trini, and Antonio went off for bed.
(Scene changes)
The next morning in Twilight and Chase's bedroom, the alicorn couple were sound asleep as Twilight was resting her head on Chase's chest as he held his wife with a foreleg.
"9-by-13-inch pan..." Twilight said in her sleep with Chase stroking her mane slowly yet sleepily.
"Twilight! Chase!" Fluttershy exclaimed excitedly, opening the doors that made the alicorn couple open their eyes wide as Twilight fell on the ground with the blanket wrapped around her while pillow was on her and Chase remained on the bed as he clenched his teeth in surprise.
"Nonstick pans!" Twilight shouted wide awake.
Spike came on with a sleeping mask on his forehead as he yawned. Jade, Sunray, Trini, Antonio, and Nyx came in with tired looks on their faces as Jade rubs her eyes tiredly.
"What's all the commotion in here, ladies and guys?" Spike asked, sleepy.
"This head better be good, Fluttershy." Sunray said crankily.
"Yeah, we're not staying up late again after doing more researching through the library." Jade added with a frustrated look.
"Sorry, but I figured out who the Mystical Mask is!" Fluttershy exclaimed with an excitedly smile, making Chase, Jade, Sunray, Trini, Antonio, and Nyx widen their eyes now full awake.
"You did?!" Twilight asked with a gasp.
"Yes! All I had to do was cross-reference a book about masks with another book on ancient Equestrian healers, then use a third book to translate it all from Olde Ponish, and there it was! Zecora was right! The Mystical Mask wasn't just a legend. The Mystical Mask was Mage Meadowbrook!" Fluttershy explained.
"Mage Meadowbrook?!" Chase asked in surprise as Twilight gasped loudly, falling on her back.
"The ancient sorceress from Hayseed Swamp? Chase and I studied her at Princess Celestia's school! Are you sure?" Twilight asked with an excited smile.
"Absolutely!" Fluttershy said. "Mage Meadowbrook wasn't just a sorceress. She was also a healer, and back then, healers wore masks so they wouldn't get sick themselves!"
"Then that must be the clue!" Antonio said, excitedly.
"Mom and Dad also told us about Meadowbrook when we were kids." Jade added as she and the rest of her family approached Chase, Twilight, and Fluttershy. "Maybe Somnambula, Rockhoof, Flash Magnus, and Mistmane were as real as she was."
"But if there were five ponies as real as legends, then how come we haven't been able to get research from Somnambula from her village long ago?" Sunray asked with confusion.
"Maybe just like A.K. Yearling said that ponies there don't know anything about the other legendary ponies just as much as they knew Somnambula." Trini guessed. "According to legend, Meadowbrook also disappeared without a trace just like the other four."
"Fluttershy, I am so incredibly proud of you for using your research skills to figure this out!" Twilight said.
"But Meadowbrook lived ages ago, and didn't you say she disappeared, Trini?" Chase asked.
"Yeah. When we came back from our trip in Somnambula, we tried to research on the other four ponies except for Meadowbrook to find some answers on where they disappeared too. But none of them had any information." Trini explained.
"Do you really think this could be Mage Meadowbrook still, Fluttershy?" Nyx asked curiously.
"Mm-hmm. But if we go to Hayseed Swamp, maybe we can find something she left behind! Something that could lead to a cure! We might be able to save Zecora!" Fluttershy replied as she helped Twilight back on her hooves as Chase joined her side.
"It seems like a long shot, but I guess it's possible." Twilight said hopefully when she and Chase were taken by surprise as Fluttershy yanked them and pushed them out the door with their family, minus Spike.
"We have to try! I've got a route all planned out, and on the way, we can check up on Zecora, and then-" Fluttershy said, but was cut off.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa. We're leaving now?" Chase asked, stunned.
"Of course! Every second we spend waiting is a second Zecora is coughing bubbles!" Fluttershy replied with worry in her voice.
"But Fluttershy, you haven't slept! And that's a long journey!" Twilight argued.
"You can't be serious about flying all the way to Hayseed Swamp in this condition!" Trini added with concern.
"There's no use try to talk me out of this, everypony." Fluttershy said sternly as she began to push the eight ponies out the bedroom, but to no avail as they stood their ground. "We've got no time to waste!"
"No!" Chase said as he sternly slammed Fluttershy on her stomach, making her yelp in surprise. "You can't do this, Fluttershy! It's too dangerous to fly out there!"
"Chase, please just hear me out!" Fluttershy pleaded. "Zecora needs us to find a cure for her! And I'm the only one who can save her by doing it!"
She didn't resist giving Chase the puppy eyed look, making Chase lose his stance as he sighed heavily yet loudly.
"Alright." Chase said reluctantly before he added sternly. "But let's get one thing straight. I'm in charge of this task. So you have to do everything I say exactly as I say it!"
"Excuse me?! Oop!" Fluttershy demanded angrily before she stopped and saw the glare in Chase's eyes as she showed an apologetic look to him. "Nevermind, you're the better leader around here with Twilight. So lead the way."
"Can we at least grab some breakfast first?" Twilight asked, making Fluttershy turn to her with a blunt expression as she brought up a brown bag in her left hoof.
"I packed cauliflower bites." Fluttershy replied back.
"Aw. No sweet potato muffins?" Twilight asked sadly.
"I, uh, ate them all." Spike said as he climbed on the royal couple's bed and put the sleeping mask over his eyes to sleep as Chase walked out with the rest of his family and Fluttershy following him while Twilight stayed behind as she smiled at Spike. "They were actually pretty good."
That was when Fluttershy pulled Twilight away to join the journey while Spike stayed behind to sleep.
(Scene changes)
The nine ponies made it to Zecora's hut in the Everfree Forest as the Zebra was already in bed while Fluttershy explained everything.
"And that's when I realized the Mystical Mask was actually Mage Meadowbrook!" Fluttershy said, finishing up her research as Zecora smiled proudly yet tiredly before she coughed some bubbles out.
"That's marvelous, Fluttershy. I am quite impressed. While you are gone on your journey, I'll try not to be... worried." Zecora said, only this time not rhyming.
This made Fluttershy gasp in horror and shock.
"Oh, no. Zecora, you didn't rhyme! You must be getting worse." Fluttershy said with worry.
"Oh. No, no, no, not at all. Something... something... ball?" Zecora said feebily as she tried to rhyme again when she suddenly sneezed as lightning came out of her mouth and zapped part of Twilight's front mane as Chase dodged it just in time as it zpipped past his family and Fluttersy.
Chase used his magic to fire blast it, causing the lightning bolt to poof away.
"Oh man, this fever is getting worse by the minute." Chase said with concern as Fluttershy gasped.
"That's it! We have to go now!" Fluttershy told the others before making for the exit.
"Lead the way, Fluttershy." Twilight said wearily.
Fluttershy then accidentally bumped into the door, making her dizzy in the process. Twilight used her magic to open the door as the nine ponies went outside.
"Um, on second thought, Chase is in charge of leading us to Hayseed Swamp. So would you be willing to guide us there, Chase?" Fluttershy asked the alicorn master with a nervous smile.
"As long as you listen and don't do anything you might regret, okay?" Chase asked in a father tone, making Fluttershy nodded timidly.
With that, Chase flew into the air with Twilight, Nyx, and Fluttershy following him while Jade, Sunray, Trini, and Antonio used their magic to perform floating magic to follow after the four ponies on the way to Hayseed Swamp.
(Scene changes)
As they finally arrived at Hayseed Swamp, they landed on the docks of the old village that looked like it had been abandoned for generations as bugs buzzed and toads croaked in the background.
"Wow, this village looks like it's been out of shape for a long time here." Nyx said, looking around the place with her family and Fluttershy.
"No argument here." Sunray noted as they take in their surroundings.
"So…" Twilight began with a nervous chuckle as a dragon fly flew past her and the others. "Where do you think Meadowbrook lived?"
Fluttershy yawned tiredly.
"I'm not sure. Maybe there's somepony we can ask." Fluttershy said as she looked around a bit.
"Yeah, not likely. This place seems like there's nopony here." Sunray said while looking around the village.
"I think we might be the only ponies here." Twilight added as Fluttershy looked at houses before she spotted a tree that looked like a house.
"Wait! I recognize that tree!" Fluttershy shouted, gaining the others' attention as they turned to the tree-like house.
The nine went up to it as they observed the house.
"I don't suppose somepony as Meadowbrook could possibly live in a place like this." Antonio said with a curious look on his face.
"Looks like it is where she used to live, Antonio." Jade said to her older cousin.
"Yes! This has to be it! It's just like the illustrations of her home!" Fluttershy confirmed her friends.
"Anypony who lives in a tree is okay by me." Twilight said with a smile, having memories of her and Chase's old library home.
"Me too." Chase said in agreement with his wife.
Fluttershy then tried to push the door open, but to her it didn't work.
"Phew. Well, if the doorway is sealed up, we'll just have to dig our way in. Back up, Twilight! I don't want you, Chase, and the others to get hurt!" Fluttershy said as she began to dig her way into the house.
Chase, Jade, Sunray, Trini, Antonio, Twilight, and Nyx shared an unamused and annoyed look with each other.
"Or we can try the handle." Twilight suggested bluntly, making Fluttershy freeze in place with wide eyes as she turned to the handle and chuckled in embarrassment.
"It really blends in with the bark." Fluttershy said timidly while smiling sheepishly of her own mistake on breaking in.
"Guess it didn't take long for you to realize it." Chase said bluntly.
"Easy to miss." Twilight added, annoyed as their family gave Fluttershy annoyed glares of the yellow pegasus' attempt to break in.
"Alright, let's check it out." Chase said as he turned the handle to open the door before the nine went inside as Twilight closed the door with her magic.
"Wow. It looks like this place has been abandoned for years." Fluttershy said as she and the others took their surroundings around the inside of the tree-like house.
The place looked like it hadn't been cleaned for a long time, but there were healer masks on the walls, potions on different shelves with dozens of books, a messy cauldron, cobwebs everywhere, and a worn out bed.
Fluttershy then noticed the same lily pad that gave Zecora Swamp Fever as she gasped at the sight of it in the glass vial.
"Twilight, Chase, Jade, Sunray, Trini, Antonio, Nyx! Look!" Fluttershy said, getting their attention as they approached her. "It's the same kind of lilypad that gave Zecora Swamp Fever! Hmm. I wonder if Meadowbrook was looking for a cure for Swamp Fever, too." She then gasped in realization. "Do you think she found it?"
"It's possible that she must've spent years studying it." Chase suggested while eyeing the lily pad with his family.
"I hope so, but let's not get ahead of ourselves." Twilight added when there was a loud squeaking sound in the background, making the purple mare look annoyed as she turned to Fluttershy. "That's exactly what I'm talking about. You're making your excited squeaking noise!"
"Yeah, can you at least contain your excitement?!" Sunray added irritatingly.
"Uh, I wasn't making my excited squeaking noise." Fluttershy replied back nervously, making the others drop their irritated looks to surprise.
"Wait. If that wasn't you, then where's that creaking coming from?" Chase asked curiously as the squeaking sound could be heard again.
Fluttershy and Twilight turned and screamed together while hugging each other in fear while Chase and the rest of his family turned to see who was making the sound.
On a rocking chair and in the shadows was a thick earth pony stallion with orangish brown fur, a braided golden yellow mane, beard, and tail, grayish purple eyes, a red headband underneath a brown fedora, a green tribal vest, a golden necklace, and his flank had a cutie mark of two cattail plants with a yellow spiral sun.
The stallion saw this and approached the group, more specifically toward Fluttershy and Twilight as the two girls continued to scream in fear.
"Easy, guys! It's okay!" Chase said, making the girls stop as they turned to him worriedly. "It's just an Earth Pony stallion on a rocking chair."
"He's right." The stallion said in a cajun accent as he separated Fluttershy and Twilight gently while he wrapped his hooves on the two mares. "Y'all can stop screamin' now. Didn't mean to scare ya. I do that a lot."
He walked away from the nine ponies as Twilight and Fluttershy calmed down.
"Scare ponies or rock creepily in the dark?" Twilight asked with a glare she sent to the stallion for scaring them.
"Well, both, I s'pose. Name's Cattail. Pleased to meet ya." Cattail introduced himself to the group while taking off his fedora to show his mane in an up straight ponytail before putting the fedora back on.
"Likewise." Fluttershy greeted back nervously while Twilight still glared at him. Chase, Jade, Sunray, Trini, Antonio, and Nyx looked at him with curiosity. "But, um, may I ask, why are you in Mage Meadowbrook's home?"
"Yeah, what are you doing in her house?" Jade asked curiously.
"Oh, I take care of the place." Cattail explained as he opened the top of the cauldron as a small dragonfly flew out of it before he put the top back on. " I ain't much of a cleaner, but from what I hear, my kin wasn't neither. So I doubt they'd mind a few cobwebs in our ancestral home."
Hearing this made Fluttershy gasp as she hovered next to Cattail and took his left foreleg.
"You're related to Mage Meadowbrook?" Fluttershy asked in amazement.
"Mm-hmm." Cattail replied back with a nod.
"Oh, my goodness, Twilight, Chase, Jade, Sunray, Trini, Antonio, and Nyx! We did it!" Fluttershy exclaimed happily, grabbing Twilight's cheeks before she let go of them as she turned to Cattail. "Not only did we find Mage Meadowbrook's old house – we actually found one of her descendants!"
"Honestly, I would not have guessed it." Twilight said equally amazed herself.
"Me too." Jade said in agreement as her family nodded as well.
"Um, Cattail, we were wondering if maybe you could help us with something very important." Nyx said to the stallion.
"What is it?" Cattail asked curiously.
"Our friend, Zecora, has got Swamp Fever and we're looking for a cure to find it." Nyx explained with a hopeful smile on her face.
"She's also a zebra that lives in the Everfree Forest." Antonio added.
"So you're lookin' for some kind o' cure, huh? Well, now, I know Meadowbrook was known to always be writin' in her journals. If she had the cure you want, I reckon that's where it'd be." Cattail said asuringly with a smile on his face. "Come on. I'll show ya the library."
"Library?!" Twilight asked with an excited smile. "Now we're talkin'!"
Cattail gestured to a small bookshelf with fourteen books on the three shelves. Twilight looked stunned for a moment before she recomposed herself.
"Oh. Well..." Twilight said with a chuckle. "Libraries come in all shapes and sizes."
"Don't worry, Twilight." Jade said asuringly with a giggle. "You still have your library twice as big."
"She's right, honey." Chase said as she nuzzled Twilight lovingly, making his wife giggle as she nuzzled her husband back.
Fluttershy however looked relieved at the sight to know they can find a cure without ease.
"This is good. It'll take us less time to go through everything." Fluttershy said happily.
"Then what're we waiting for? Let's start going through them!" Sunray exclaimed, wanting to find the cure.
Cattail pushed some rainbow rocks and cobwebs off a small blackish gray wooden table as Twilight five books on it. The nine ponies began to read them as Fluttershy blew some dust off the cover of the book in her hooves and opened it to read.
" 'Today, my mom made me eat peas. Peas are yucky.' " Fluttershy read out loud before she smiled fondly. "And we can probably skip this one, unless she found a cure when she was a foal."
" 'I was forced to clean up the house on my own while my mother went off to get some supplies.'." Jade also read out loud while reading a book while using her magic to read it. "Yeah, this one doesn't seem that helpful since she was trying to do chores around the place."
"No doubt about it. It's almost like she was a healer in training for the most part." Sunray said while reading the book with his magic.
" 'I met a colt today. He pulled my mane, so I put a frog on his head.' Also not helpful." Twilight said before she became interested as she turned a few pages. "But I do kinda want to see where it goes."
"You can read it after we find the cure, honey. Stay focused." Chase said sternly as he handed Twilight a book, making his wife take it and grumbled in annoyance while reading.
Then Fluttershy saw something in the book she was reading and gasped in surprise.
"Wait! Listen to this!" Fluttershy said, gaining the nine ponies' attention. " 'Today, I tried again to brew an unsniffle elixir...' "
(Scene changes)
The scene then moves back to when Mage Meadowbrook lived in her home where she and her mother were cooking an unsniffle elixir in the cauldron back when it wasn't old, but new.
"And I finally got it right!" Fluttershy's voice said crossfading to Mage Meadowbrook's cajun voice.
In Mage Meadowbrook's appearance, she was an Earth Pony mare with a light cerulean blue fur coat, brilliant turquoise eyes, a pink and moderate scarlet mane and tail tied in ponytail styles, wearing a light green skirt with a grayish white stripe in the middle, a whitish gray cloth wrapped around her forehead, a golden bracelet on her left hoof and neck.
Her mother was also an Earth Pony mare with a dark blue fur coat, wore a purple skirt, wore a pink bandana on her forehead, a pink scarf on her neck, golden mane and tail wrapped in ponytail styles, and amber eyes.
They heard the sound of sneezing coming from a chipmunk, who recently caught a cold. Meadowbrook gave some to a chipmunk who had a stuffy and swollen nose, until it shrunk to its normal size. The chipmunk nuzzled the top of its head on the mage's hoof and then ran back to the forest. Mage's mother smiled proudly at her daughter's work.
"Meadowbrook, I think it's time you had this," Meadowbrook's mother said in the same cajun with a smile as she gave her a gift box.
When her daughter opened it, she received a bird-like mask with black and yellow stripes.
"My very own healer's mask! You really think I'm ready, mother," Meadowbrook asked. Meadowbrook's mother nodded, and gave her daughter a hug.
Suddenly, a knock on the door was heard, and Meadowbrook's mother answered it, and it showed a unicorn mare with splotches from Swamp Fever, causing Mage's mother to gasp.
"What caused this to you poor dear?" Mage's mother asked with concern.
The mare showed her the blue lily with orange spots.
"Mother calls it Swamp Fever. We've been tryin' to find a cure, but it hasn't been easy." Mage Meadowbrook's voice narrated as she and her mother tried to find a cure which was easier said than done.
The lily popped open and puffed out the mist on Meadowbrook's mother, causing her to cough. There was another knock on the door, and Meadowbrook suddenly saw more ponies with Swamp Fever by sneezing electricity and coughing bubbles.
"The fever spread like wildfire." Mage Meadowbrook's voice continued to narrate as her mother coughed up bubbles, and it made her daughter feel worried. "I fear if we don't find a cure soon, everypony will be in grave danger!"
(Scene changes)
Meadowbrook put her mother in bed with a cold compress on her head, as she kept coughing bubbles, and her daughter would come check on her mother every second.
(Scene changes)
On the outskirts of her village just a few yards away from the swamp, Mage was sitting on the grass studying the lily pad in deep thought.
"With mother sick, I didn't think I'd ever find a cure. But starin' at those cursed flowers today, I saw somethin'." Mage's voice narrated.
A few flash bees buzzed over the flowers as they puffed the mist from inside, and then Mage Meadowbrook saw a miracle happen. The bees weren't affected by the fever.
"Flash bees!" Mage Meadowbrook shouted amazingly.
She soon saw the flash bees buzzing away from the lily pads back to where they came from as Mage followed after them.
"I realized the flowers' poison didn't affect the flash bees. And if they were immune to Swamp Fever, their honey could be the cure!" Mage Meadowbrook's voice still narrated as she followed after the flash bees to a tree where their hive would be at one of the top branches.
She eventually made it to the tree before she jumped and swung on a few branches to reach the top of the tree where the flash bee hive was at. She looked inside to see all of the bees inside with the queen sleeping. Mage Meadowbrook was about to get a closer look when her right hoof stepped on a branch and snapped it.
This caused the flash bees to glare at her with angry buzzing noises as they flew out of the hive straight at her. They stung her everywhere before she fell to the ground with a few stings on her.
Mage Meadowbrook glared at the bees as the swarm hovered next to the hive. She then began to think of something to get the honey.
"But they were so aggressive defendin' their hive, I didn't know how I was gonna get it!" Mage's voice still narrated.
(Scene changes)
About a few minutes or so, she was back on the top of the tree a few inches from the hive while sitting as she held her healer's mask.
"Here goes nothin!" Meadowbrook said, as she put the mask on her head, and then carefully went to the hive to try to get the honey safely.
(Scene changes)
Mage's mother woke up to see her daughter with a vial of honey as she somehow got it from the flash bees.
"Today, I cured mother…" Mage Meadowbrook's voice then crossfaded back to Fluttershy's as the screen was shown back to the present as Fluttershy was finishing the story with her friends listening.
"...And the rest of the bayou! 'It was the greatest feeling I've ever experienced, and I promise to dedicate my life to curing ponies all over Equestria!'." Fluttershy concluded.
"And she did just that. Right up 'til she disappeared without a trace." Cattail added as he approached the nine ponies in the background.
"Wow... Mage Meadowbrook must've been so courageous and thoughtful over sick ponies." Jade said in amazement.
"Hold on, Meadowbrook disappeared?" Sunray asked Cattail curiously as the Earth Pony stallion nodded in confirmation.
"That happened to Rockhoof, Somnambula, Flash Magnus, and Mistmane!" Trini said in realization.
"It looks like it." Chase said with a thoughtful look in his mind.
"Definitely," Nyx replied as she turned to Cattail, "Do you think there's a way we can get the honey safely?"
"Well, I don't really know, Nyx." Cattail replied back with an unsure look. "I haven't been able to see what strategy she used."
"So all we have to do is find those aggressive flash bees and get them to give us their honey!" Fluttershy said hopefully while smiling as she looked through the pages of the book before she dropped her smile to concern. "Of course, it doesn't say how she did that..."
That's when Chase, Jade, Sunray, Trini, Antonio, Twilight, Nyx, and Cattail noticed something on Fluttershy as they became nervous and worried.
"What? Is my mane messy? I know I haven't slept in a while, but..." Fluttershy said as she lifted her now messy mane up a bit, not noticing the orange polka dots on her.
"It's not that, Fluttershy." Chase said slowly with concern of how his friend might react. "But promise us you won't freak out."
"Why?" Fluttershy asked, not understanding.
"He means this." Cattail said as he brought a mirror to show Fluttershy her reflection by what they're talking about.
One last look at it and Fluttershy gasped at the sight of the polka dots as she realized one thing.
"Oh, no! I've caught Swamp Fever!" Fluttershy said in horror.
"Zecora must've passed it onto you when we were back at the hut!" Jade said in realization as she and her family looked at the yellow pegasus in horror.
"Huh?!" Fluttershy asked in surprise as more polka dots appeared around her still and she became pale.
Thinking quickly, she grabs her saddle bags, three vials of potions, and nine masks for her friends.
She put a bird mask on Twilight, a warthog mask for Cattail, a dragonfly mask for Nyx, a crocodile mask for Antonio, a gecko mask for Jade, a bat mask for Trini, a spidermonkey mask for Sunray, and an Iguana mask for Chase.
"Are you sure these are necessary?" Twilight asked with her tone slightly muffled.
"What?" Fluttershy asked as she didn't quite catch it.
Twilight lifts her mask so she could repeat the question again.
"I said, are you sure these are necessary?" Twilight asked as Chase lifts his mask.
"Yeah, there's gotta be another way. Are you willing to take this chance?" Chase asked Fluttershy, not wanting her to go local.
"Yes!" Fluttershy replied back, pushing the masks down on Twilight and Chase again. "I won't risk infecting you, your family, or Cattail!"
"But what you can't risk is getting any sicker!" Jade argued behind her mask to show her concern for the yellow pegasus. "If you don't rest, your symptoms will only get worse!"
"She's right, Fluttershy. You can't do this on your own!" Sunray agreed with his sister as Fluttershy coughed up some more bubbles as Chase, Jade, Sunray, Trini, Antonio, and Nyx stepped away from the bubbles.
"Mm-hmm." Cattail said in agreement. "You really should rest up before going up against those flash bees. They are nasty critters."
"Um, you don't know this about me, but I'm pretty good with animals." Fluttershy said with a smug smile. "And besides, Dogtail-"
"Cattail." Cattail corrected the yellow pegasus.
Fluttershy realized her mistake before she quickly recomposed herself.
"Um, Zecora is counting on me. I have to help her, just like Meadowbrook helped her mother and all those bayou ponies long ago!"
"You won't be able to do it in this condition!" Trini argued firmly.
"Not taking any chances here, Trini!" Fluttershy protested sternly.
"But Fluttershy, as much as Meadowbrook took care of other ponies, I'm sure she also took care of herself." Twilight said calmly, standing beside Trini in defense with the rest of her family and Cattail by their side.
"You're not gonna change my mind, Twilight!" Fluttershy snapped as she zipped behind the nine ponies, pushing them out the door to help her.
"Ooh. For bein' sick, she sure is strong." Cattail commented in amazement.
"Yeah, we noticed." Chase added bluntly behind his mask.
(Scene changes)
They were outside walking to the flash bee hive.
"The flash beehive is just up yonder." Cattail instructed as they stopped by the tree about a few inches.
"Are you sure none of us want to go with you as well?" Twilight asked Fluttershy again.
"No! It's too dangerous, Twilight. Besides, I've already gotten one friend hurt. I won't let it happen to another." Fluttershy ensured her friends as she exhaled deeply with a confident look on her face. "Okay, Fluttershy, you can do this!"
She coughed up some more bubbles before she returned her determined look back at the tree.
Fluttershy charges for it, jumps on the trunk of the tree and flaps her way up… only to fall down a bit as she holds onto the tree.
"Mind over matter!" Fluttershy panted as she tried again and again before she eventually made it to the top of the tree close to the flash bee hive.
She slid her down the branch Mage Meadowbrook stood near the hive from before so she could get in for a closer look as she saw the bees inside the hive with the queen.
"Hello, flash bees! I was hoping I could get some of your honey." Fluttershy greeted the bees, who glared at her as they zoomed out of their hive with buzzing language that Fluttershy understood that they don't take lightly.
"Oh! I see. You don't let others have any." Fluttershy said, understanding their language. "Well, I'm sorry, but I really need it."
Fluttershy didn't hesitate on moving closer to the flash bees, who in response zapped her muzzle as she yelped in surprise and pain as her nose became a shade of red.
"I didn't want it to have to come to this, but I'll just have to use... the Stare!" Fluttershy said as she used her stare at the bees, getting their attention at her as the yellow pegasus smirked at getting the job done.
But not for long.
The flash bees broke free from her stare and zapped her three times from the hoof, her behind, and her left ear. Fluttershy shrieked as she fell on the branch after the swarm zoomed past her while she coughed up some bubbles.
"You really are aggressive!" Fluttershy noted with worry, but then coughed violently with more bubbles coming out before she gazed at the flash bee swarm and then suddenly her whole world began to spin around. "Oh, dear."
She whimpered before falling to the ground while losing conscience.
The others saw this as they lifted their masks and became shocked and horrified.
"FLUTTERSHY!" Chase, Jade, Sunray, Trini, Antonio, Nyx, Cattail, and Twilight shouted in alarm.
Just when all hope seemed lost, a shadowy figure flew into the scene and caught the unconscious yellow pegasus in his talon feet.
The figure dropped Fluttershy to the ground gently before he landed behind her.
Chase and the others, minus Cattail, saw who saved Fluttershy in surprise. It was a familiar Wingquin they knew very well.
"Grazer!" Chase shouted in surprise and happiness while his family smiled at Fluttershy's savior.
Cattail was stunned at the sight of a Quinkan monster saving Fluttershy.
"My friends." Grazer greeted with a friendly smile on his face.
"Thank you so much for rescuing Fluttershy, Grazer." Twilight said with a grateful smile to Grazer.
They then turned their attention to Cattail, who was stunned at the sight of the former dragon turned Wingquin.
"You all know this creature?" Cattail asked, pointing at Grazer.
"It's okay, Cattail. This is Grazer. He's one of our trusted allies in stopping the Quinkan threat." Nyx explained with a gentle smile.
"But-but he's a Wingquin." Cattail noted while gazing at Grazer, who eyed him back.
"It's okay. He's really friendly." Jade said assuringly.
"As long as you don't make him angry." Sunray added with a shrug, only for Trini to hush her younger cousin sternly.
Then they returned their attention to Fluttershy as she was fast asleep.
"We gotta get her back to the house!" Chase said with great concern as Grazer took the sleeping yellow pegasus into his hands as they ten ran back to the house.
(Scene changes)
Fluttershy's eyes opened as she saw Twilight, Cattail, and surprisingly Sokka looking down at her with concern before they smiled at her with relief as she groaned a bit.
"What happened? Where am I?" Fluttershy asked, struggling to wake up.
"Oh, honey!" Sokka said as he hugged his wife with relief and tears fell from his eyes. "I heard of what happened to you, and I was so worried."
"Thank you, dear." Fluttershy said as they broke the hug and Twilight sighs with relief.
"I'm so glad you're okay. You're still in Meadowbrook's tree." Twilight explained to the still frazzled yellow pegasus.
"You fainted, but Grazer flew into the scene and caught ya. It was crazy." Cattail said, pointing at Grazer as he was studying something on the table with Chase, Jade, Sunray, Trini, and Antonio behind him.
"So, anything you can tell us, Grazer?" Chase asked with hope of how Fluttershy caught Swamp Fever.
"Fascinating. The tissue sample from Fluttershy's illness contains the same Swamp Fever found from her first encounter she had in the Everfree Forest on her visit to Zecora."
"You mean she's somehow gotten infected from it as it spread through the air?" Jade asked in shock.
"Yes. And in Fluttershy's case, it's only the beginning of her tree transformation. What I can't understand is how the cold was introduced into Fluttershy." Grazer said with confirmation.
"I think I know. It must've happened when Zecora sneezed out that lightning bolt and she passed the fever on to somepony else. That must've been Fluttershy." Chase said now understanding how Fluttershy got Swamp Fever too.
"Goodness gracious!" Fluttershy said in surprise before she turned to Twilight. "Have you heard from Zecora? Is she okay?"
"Well…" Jade said uneasily.
"Uh…" Twilight added nervously.
"We got word your zebra friend has started sproutin' leaves." Cattail explained to Fluttershy with worry.
"She's already turning into a tree?!" Fluttershy asked in shock and confusion. "I thought we'd have more time!"
"Actually, you've been asleep for three days." Twilight explained, much to Fluttershy's shock.
"Three days?!" Fluttershy asked in surprise.
"Mm-hmm. You were asleep so long, we were afraid you wouldn't be able to move when you woke up. But thankfully, you just wore yourself down!" Twilight explained.
"Yeah, and when I heard that you were out cold that long, I was worried sick about you so I came all the way out here to help you out, especially the others." Sokka added.
Fluttershy noticed they were one pony short.
"Wait, where's Nyx?" Fluttershy asked, looking around for the alicorn filly.
"She's at the beehive trying to find a way to get the honey." Twilight answered her question when the door opened to reveal Nyx covered with a few bee stings.
"Ow." Nyx moaned as she placed the mask on the ground.
Twilight and Chase immediately went to their daughter.
"Nyx, are you alright?" Twilight asked her daughter with great concern.
"No." Nyx said as she sat down. "Those flash bees never give up without a fight. I tried to convince them to hand over some honey, but they're just too stubborn to let us have some for the cure."
"Great. I don't see how we're gonna cure Zecora in time now." Chase said with a glare.
"Oh, dear. We have to get back to the hive!" Fluttershy exclaimed, getting out of bed and ready to start all over again. "I've wasted so much time, and-!"
"Oh no, honey!" Sokka said sternly, gaining his wife's attention. "You can't go back there. It's too dangerous!"
"You're not the boss of me, Sokka! I know what I'm doing!" Fluttershy snapped with a glare.
"Well, it seems like you don't!" Sokka argued angrily.
"Of course I do! We've already wasted all of the time finding a cure and I'm not gonna let Zecora be any sicker anymore!" Fluttershy argued back.
"You're not doing this again until you rest well!" Sokka shouted angrily.
"I've already been rested for three days already so I can handle this on my own!" Fluttershy shouted back.
The two got into each other's faces with growls until somepony pressure pointed them on the necks, making them squeak in pain. Chase was the one doing it with an annoyed look on his face before he separated the two ponies.
"Alright! You two, enough!" Chase scolded the two as they lay on the ground before Fluttershy finally stood up, glaring hotly at the alicorn master, who wouldn't back down.
"You stay out of this, Chase!" Fluttershy angrily shouted at him, jabbing an accusing hoof on his chest.
"Knock it off!" Chase snapped, slapping Fluttershy's hoof away, much to everypony's shock. "What do you want from us, Fluttershy?! I don't see you coming up with any bright ideas! And fighting amongst each other isn't one of them! We need a smarter plan than that!"
Fluttershy growled like a feral dog at the alicorn master.
"I am so sick of you, Chase! Who made you the Prince of Friendship and the Jiu Jitsu master to order us around anyway?!" Fluttershy shouted angrily.
"Celestia did when I earned these wings! That's who!" Chase snapped, whipping his head to face the angry yellow pegasus. "You've been constantly pushing us into something dangerous when you dragged us into this when we were trying to warn you, but all you've been doing was acting like a stubborn girl! Don't you get it!? You haven't been yourself since Zecora got Swamp Fever! We kept telling you that it wasn't your fault and you kept saying that it was! We tried to reason with you, but you never listened to us!" Fluttershy's angry look dropped when she realized Chase was right. "I get that you wanted to find the cure, but you've been awake every single day out of exhaustion and never got to sleep! You've been acting crazy on this whole mission and you almost got yourself killed back at the hive! What were you thinking of doing that without any help?! So drop the stubbornness you have in you and just cool off already!"
Fluttershy flinched at Chase's harsh words at her as waters began to form in her eyes.
"You're right." Fluttershy croaked sadly before she wept loudly while covering her face.
Chase didn't change his angry look as he glared at the weeping pegasus.
"All I wanted to do was prove myself that I can be an independent pony to find something and help others, but I was just so worried about Zecora's well-being!" Fluttershy continued to weep as tears streamed down her face. "I-I-I never thought that I would go this far to drag you all out here and push around so much that I was so stressed out from time to time!"
Fluttershy croaked and sobbed loudly.
"I'm so sorry, Chase!" Fluttershy said with tears leaking out of her eyes as she tried to wipe them away feebly. "This was my chance to prove myself that I wanted to act brave and strong like you, but all that effort was a waste!"
Chase took a deep breath sighed slowly as he looked at the still weeping yellow pegasus. He then approached her.
"It's so hard for other ponies to think I can't do anything. I wanted to prove that I can do it, but now I'll never get the chance again." Fluttershy said sadly as she wiped her tears away.
"I know, but you did something very careless and nearly got yourself hurt back there." Chase said gently yet sternly. "I'm still highly disappointed in you. The first rule of being an independent pony is do no harm. Unless you mean to do harm, then do lots of harm."
Fluttershy wiped the last remaining tears from her eyes.
"You're right, Chase." Fluttershy said, guilty. "I did make a mess of things."
"So, what do you think would be a fitting punishment?" Chase asked her sternly.
Fluttershy thought things through carefully before she turned back to Chase.
"I need to clean up my mess." Fluttershy said, determinedly.
"Yes. But before you do, there is somepony else you need to talk to." Chase said as he turned to Sokka, who was listening to the conversation with the rest of the group.
Fluttershy nodded as she approached her husband and hugged him as he hugged his wife back.
"I'm sorry, honey." Fluttershy said softly. "I know that you were worried about me and love me so much. I was just trying to prove that I can be brave and strong like Chase. But I still have some steps to go through."
"I know, sweetheart." Sokka said gently. "But right now, we just need to get the honey so we can cure you and Zecora."
Fluttershy broke away from him as she nodded with a determined look on her face
"Then we better get moving so we can-" Fluttershy began as she approached the door when Cattail stopped her.
"Now hang on there, Fluttershy." Cattail said with worry as she turned to him. "Those flash bee critters are tricky."
"Cattail's right." Twilight said in agreement. "Chase, Jade, Sunray, Trini, Antonio, and I can't even use magic or element magic to calm them down. We'll have to find a way to get the honey."
"We've tried everything from disguises to things I won't even speak of." Cattail added with a shudder and a shake.
"He's been through a lot these past three days." Twilight said, placing a hoof on the Earth Pony stallion.
"And we can tell you right now it wasn't pretty." Chase added.
"And I've got sting marks to prove it too." Antonio said, showing his flank to see flash bee stings on it.
"Wait… Disguises…" Fluttershy said in deep thought.
That's when a flash bee came into the house and landed on Mage Meadowbrook's mask. Seeing the mask's colors were exactly like the flash bees, Fluttershy gasped in realization.
"That's it! I know how she did it!" Fluttershy shouted in astonishment as she turned to the others. "I know how Meadowbrook got the honey!"
"How?" Sokka asked curiously as Fluttershy smiled at her husband with an idea in her head.
(Scene changes)
They were back at the tree as they looked up at the flash bee hive as the eleven ponies were wearing their masks. Sokka's healer mask had that of a snake.
"I still don't understand, Fluttershy. What could have caused Meadowbrook to get the honey from the flash bees?" Grazer asked the yellow pegasus curiously.
"This is how Meadowbrook got the honey from the flash bees!" Fluttershy said, holding Mage Meadowbrook's mask in her hooves.
"She threw a mask at 'em?" Cattail asked behind his mask with concern. "I wouldn't recommend that."
"No." Fluttershy said, shaking her head. "The male bees aren't aggressive around the queen bee, and this mask has the same stripes that she does."
"Of course!" Sokka, Trini, Jade, and Grazer said in amazement.
"Smooth!" Sunray and Antonio said in unison of Fluttershy's brilliance.
"Fluttershy, that's brilliant!" Twilight said from behind her mask as if showing her amazement.
That's when Fluttershy sneezed out some lightning as Cattail yelped out a 'Whoa!' before ducking behind some tall grass and a few cattails.
"There's no time to waste!" Fluttershy said with worry.
"Then we better do this fast before it's too late." Chase said firmly behind his mask.
"Hooves crossed!" Twilight said, crossing her hooves before she used her magic to levitate Fluttershy up to the tree toward the hive as Cattail peek out from behind the bush.
"Oh, golly! I can't watch!" Cattail shouted in worry, covering the eyes of his mask.
Twilight placed Fluttershy on the branch a few inches from the hive before she coughed up some bubbles.
"Mind over matter!" Fluttershy said with determination as Twilight handed her the mask.
She put it on and slid her way to the hive unharmed. Fluttershy began to use her bee language to the flash bees as they turned to her with glares, only to see her wearing the mask that resembled their colors. Seeing that she was no threat by using the mask, they moved out of the way for her to get the honey and brought a some out on her hoof.
"Everypony… it's working!" Fluttershy said, lifting the mask as she smiled at a job well done.
"Alright, honey!" Sokka praised his wife happily while the others smiled behind their masks.
"Now let's cure Fluttershy, and then bring the honey back to Zecora." Chase said as the others nodded in agreement.
(Scene changes)
Some time later, at Zecora's hut, a fully-rested and cured Fluttershy fed the honey to Zecora, and she made an instant recovery.
"I think she's cured now, Fluttershy," Twilight pointed out.
"Looks good enough for us." Chase added.
"Ohhh, I do feel fine, and this honey is divine," Zecora said.
"Oh, you're rhyming again! Welcome back, my friend!" Fluttershy replied.
"Thank you, Fluttershy, for all you endured. If not for you, I would not be cured," Zecora said.
"Oh, if it wasn't for me, you wouldn't have been sick in the first place," Fluttershy replied.
"Don't blame yourself for this, honey." Sokka said, holding his wife close to him. "You did a good job for everything."
"Regret is not what you should feel, because on this journey, you've learned a great deal," Zecora added calmly.
"That's true. I certainly learned that if you don't take care of yourself, you won't be able to take care of anypony else. In fact, if I had rested like Twilight had suggested all along, maybe I would have thought to use Meadowbrook's mask sooner," Fluttershy said.
Then the window opened as Dr. Horse coughed some bubbles as he got the fever too with leaves sprouting.
"Please tell me you found the cure!" Dr. Horse pleaded as the others turned to him as he began to sneeze lightning out of him two times.
"Don't worry, Dr. Horse." Chase said as he brought out a vile of flash bee honey. "We got it for you."
"Thank you, Chase." Dr. Horse said, taking the vial and head back to the hospital.
"All in a day's work." Chase said as Twilight giggled at her husband's words before she nuzzled him lovingly as he returned the favor.
The others chuckled to each other in agreement.
(Scene changes)
At the Well of Shade, Celtic was placing the stolen glowpaze jewels on his desk and used his magic to bring them over a blue fire. He used his magic to bring the glowpaze into the fire close enough as it sprouted around the glowpaze, turning it into some sort of green magical energy.
He places it in a vial as Zhao comes into the scene.
"Has it fully been turned into mojo, Celtic?" Zhao asked with his voice cold.
"Yes, my lord. I have perfected the second part of the glowpaze's energy with the fire." Celtic responded back to his master. "Now, all we need is one final crucial element to begin our plan to destroy Chase and his friends."
"Perfect." Zhao said sinisterly as he approached the vial. "And I know the perfect element that will harness all of this much energy to make our army grow stronger than ever before." He opens his hand to conjure a flame in the color of blue as it showed a silo filled with a strange rainbow energy as it sparked up a bit. "The Dragon Mojo. Once we have obtained this much energy into our possession, Chase and all of his friends and family will bow to me. And very soon, we will bring the Pony of Shadows back from Limbo so that Starswirl along with his pathetic allies will return as well. Then I will have my vengeance!"
Zhao chuckled sinisterly as the screen died down to show his menacing glowing eyes before they died down too.
Author's note:
Hey guys, happy Valentines Day! Here's the 20th chapter. I almost forgot to tell you all that I won't be doing all of the chapters due to my stress from work. So here's the list that I'll be doing:
21: The Dragon Mojo
22: Secrets and Pies
23: Uncommon Bond
24: Shadow Play, part 1
25: Shadow Play, part 2