Rant of Valakut: Magic Ponies: Gathering Friendship (Ep1, Part 2)

Previously on Magic Ponies….

The white pony Spirit Shield and her river pony friend Stormsurge were discussing plans for a costume party when Lightning Dart stumbled over, interrupting them. The red pony had gotten very sick after getting too close to the dark swamp. Acting quickly, Stormsurge has gone looking for her books to find out what could have caused the illness, while Spirit Shield has carried Lightning Dart to the deep forest, hoping to get help from the wise and elusive green pony, Woodvine….

The Scare of Mareodin – part 2

Narrator
We now return to Magic Ponies: Gathering Friendship!

SCENE 2

Fade in to a clearing in the forest, where Woodvine in the middle of an intricate ritual near the riverside. She is dancing oddly and chanting incoherently.

Woodvine
Baru, Zacama! Dosan, Wasitora, O-Kagachi!

There is the sound of frantic hooves. Woodvine pauses and looks sidelong toward the noise. She tries to start her chant again, but there is a sudden crash and the sound of branches breaking. Woodvine jumps back, startled. Spirit Shield calls from the distance.

Spirit Shield
Woodvine! Woodvine! Where are you? We need your help!

More branches creak and break. Woodvine sighs, resigned.

Woodvine
Sigh… Over here, Spirit Shield.

Spirit Shield trips into the clearing, Lightning Dart rolling off her back in a heap. Lightning Dart groans.

Woodvine
What are you doing? First you come crashing through my woods, scaring the trees so much they are losing their leaves. Now you interrupt my ceremony! Explain yourself!

Spirit Shield
I’m so sorry, Woodvine, but it was an emergency! Lightning Dart is sick, and we thought you might have a cure.

Woodvine looks over Lightning Dart carefully.

Woodvine
Sick, you say?  Hm. I see. What has happened to make you so ill?

Woodvine begins to administer a poultice to Lightning Dart’s brow. Lightning Dart responds weakly, coughing.

Lightning Dart
I was galloping around the mountain… I went exploring… and got sick… near the dark swamp….

Woodvine recoils at the mention of the swamp and makes a warding gesture.

Woodvine
Silvos, Anthousa! The dark swamp? That is a very troubled land. I have heard many tales of the creatures who live there.

Lightning Dart coughs weakly.

Lightning Dart
Monsters…?

Woodvine
It is said that land was once a lush forest, much like this one, before it was corrupted by the Fillyrexians.

Spirit Shield and Lightning Dart gasp in unison.

Spirit Shield
Fillyrexians? Like from Sky Diamond’s stories?

Woodvine
The very same. The Fillyrexians are sinister. They turn everypony near them into one of their twisted Nightmares.

Lightning Dart begins to panic.

Lightning Dart
I- I don’t want to turn into a Fillyrexian!

Spirit Shield
But… but those are just stories, aren’t they, Woodvine? There aren’t actually any Fillyrexians. Not here on Mareodin!

Stormsurge pops up from the river wearing glasses. She has a book titled “Marepadian Empires vol. VII“. The other ponies are startled by her arrival.

Stormsurge
Actually, according to this book, the Fillyrexians used to travel between planes all the time. In the old days they used portals to invade places like Domineighria and Marecadia.

Woodvine
If Lightning Dart has been infected by a Fillyrexian, it may be too late. My herbs may slow the effects, but to cure it….

Lightning Dart
Oh no! I’m going to turn into a monster!

Lightning Dart gets up with a dramatic flourish and continues.

Lightning Dart
Alas! This is it! The end of poor, sweet Lightning Dart! She was taken from us far too young! She was such a dear pony, full of sound and fury! What will her friends do without her? Oh, woe!

Lightning Dart flops back down in a melodramatic heap.

Spirit Shield
Uh… Lightning Dart, are you feeling better?

Lightning Dart sits up and looks herself over.

Lightning Dart
Actually, now that you mention it, I do feel a lot better.

Lightning Dart turns to Woodvine and Stormsurge.

Lightning Dart
Does this mean I’m not turning into a Fillyrexian after all?

Woodvine
It is too early to say. My herbs have tended to your symptoms, but you may still be infected.

Stormsurge
We should go to the source. It’s the only way to be certain.

Lightning Dart
You mean go back to the dark swamp? Wouldn’t that be dangerous?

Spirit Shield
If Lightning Dart got that sick, wouldn’t we all be at risk?

Lightning Dart
Exactly!

Spirit Shield
Plus, if it really is Fillyrexians, wouldn’t going there just turn us all into those Nightmare monsters?

Woodvine
If it is Fillyrexians, we all are likely infected already.

Stormsurge flips to another page in her book.

Stormsurge
Huh. Woodvine’s right. Just being this close to Lightning Dart could be enough to make us all sick. We might not feel the effects the same way, but it would only be a matter of time.

Spirit Shield
Oh.

Stormsurge
Yeah. Not good news, I’m afraid.

The group looks at each other nervously in silence.

Woodvine
Well, if we are travelling to the dark swamp I shall have to prepare wards for us all to keep the specters away.

Woodvine turns and leaves. Spirit Shield is clearly still shaken, but calls out.

Spirit Shield
I – I’ll help you, Woodvine. I know some protective circles and runes that might work.

Spirit Shield runs after Woodvine.

Stormsurge
Hm. I’m going to do some more research on the dark swamp. I want to be prepared for whatever we may face.

Stormsurge dives back into the river, leaving Lightning Dart alone. Lightning Dart clears her throat.

Lightning Dart
I’ll… uh… yeah. I’ll just wait here, I guess?

Lightning Dart sits and rests her chin on her hooves.

The music has a comical note to it as Lightning Dart is left abandoned, but the final notes linger, unfinished.

Fade to black.

Narrator
Stick around! There’s more Magic Ponies: Gathering Friendship coming right up!

COMMERCIAL BREAK

What dangers lurk in the dark swamp? Will the ponies be able to lift the curse of the Fillyrexians?

Tune in next time for the dramatic conclusion of Magic Ponies: Gathering Friendship!