ACT 2
>About a week after the Everfree incident.
>It was a sunny, if quiet day in Ponyville.
>The only sounds that accompanied the warm rays of nourishing light were the faint clip clop of hooves and the rustle of the leaves in the wind.
>You are Applejack, and right now you were tending to your crop.
>Alone.
>Neither Big Mac nor Applebloom could help; both had come down with a cold.
>You told Applebloom to keep her distance when visiting Sweetie Belle, but like any kid she’s bound to disobey her elders every now and then.
>You’d be lying if you said you never did the same.
*THUMP*
>Another several baskets of apples bucked from their tree.
>Another tree down… a lot more to go.
>You’re behind on the harvest.
>Again.
>You love your friends, you really do, but when you have to save Equestria every third week it almost seems more of a distraction than anything else.
>Maybe you should swallow your pride again and ask for help.
>…Nah, not yet anyways.
>You weren’t that far behind.
>Give it a few more days, and you’ll be back on schedule.
>’Sides, everypony else was off doing something else important.
>Twilight was busy studying Sweetie’s illness, Pinkie was trying to prepare a birthday party for Carrot Cake, even Discord was on vacation in…
>You couldn’t really pronounce it, and you’re sure you aren’t supposed to.
>And Rarity…

>Sweet Celestia, Rarity has just been a mess.
>Part of you wants to say she’s being a might bit overly dramatic.
>The rest of you shoves that dumb thought into the back of your head.
>If it was Applebloom in the hospital, if she had gotten Anonymous’s little ‘gift’…
>Well, he certainly wouldn’t be sittin’ in Twilight’s Castle, that’s for sure
>Heck, you're impressed Rarity didn’t give him the physical what-for.
>You sure as Tartarus would have.
>…Darn it, filly; you're getting distracted again.
>Distracted and angry don’t make good bedfellows.
>Best to instead channel that energy into the harvest.
>Heck, maybe this rage will help you catch up.
>Every dark cloud has its silver lining, as they say.
>Feeling reinvigorated, you continue your chores with greater haste.
*Thunk*
>Another load of apples fall, a cascade of red dropping perfectly into the buckets set beneath.
*Thunk*
>This time a brief flood of green, with a few unfortunate splats.
>Seems some apples had gotten overly ripe.
>You’ll sort them out later.
>You’re just about to continue bucking trees, when something catches your eye.
>Something so seemingly mundane as to not startle you, yet still alien enough that to not investigate would be a crime.

“What in tarnation?”
>Right in the grass was a colony of three little bugs.
>Looked like grasshoppers from a distance, but if your chats with Fluttershy had taught you anything it was how to differentiate certain insects.
>Really helped with pollinators and off season revenue, that’s for sure.
>But looking at these, well they just didn’t look like grasshoppers.
>The heads and eyes were just a smidge too big compared to the body, the body itself seemed slightly smaller, and the eyes themselves were a tad darker.
>Also, they weren’t green.
>More like a very pale brown or yellow.
>Before you even knew it, they flew off in some direction.
>Dang, you really wanted Twi or Flutters to look at it.
>Maybe they could tell you a thing or two.
>Oh well, you could always describe it to her latter.
>After your chores, that is.
>Ain’t no bug going to keep you from the harvest.

>Elsewhere, in Ponyville Elementary.
>You are Cheerilee, the only officially licensed teacher in Ponyville.
>You respected the Princess’s Friendship School, you really did.
>It was just a statement of fact that needed to be clarified with the occasional tourist or out-of-towner.
>’Why the multiple schools for such a small town?’ they always ask.
>Geez, I don’t know.
>Maybe it has to do with it focusing on one area of study while Ponyville Elementary has to provide a wide, comprehensive curriculum for the developing minds of fillies and colts?
>Not like you’re doing much teaching today.
>Somehow most of her students had called in sick.
>As in, a class that could fit fifteen students had only three attendees.
>Normally you’d be suspicious of the validity of these claims, if willing to wait until after the students got better before verifying the nagging thoughts.
>I mean, it’s not like twelve students suddenly came down with a cold.
>”Aachoo.”
>It was more like fifteen.
>Maybe even more, come to think of it.
>Some foals were simply too young for elementary, or chose to cultivate their special talent outside of the bounds of a classroom.
*SSSSNRK*
>Either way, the three remaining students were likely only their due to sheer stubbornness or their upbringing.

>You know Silver Spoon’s father wants nothing but the best grades from her, and since there was supposed to be an exam today…
*Cough*
>Yeah, upon further inspection, the exam was probably why the other two were here as well.
>Twist wanted a good grade, Scootaloo needed one.
>In any case, the class was in no condition for it, and so you made an executive decision.
“Alright, everypony! Given the absence of most of the class and the current outbreak, the exam shall be moved to Friday. I’m also sending you three home early! Much as I hate to say it, we won’t really be able to learn much today.”
>Silver Spoon had already raised her hoof in query.
“And yes, I will be writing notes before you come home. I know some of you have…ill reputations with your parents.”
>With that, you hand the three foals the aforementioned notes.
>As you see them off yourself, you start thinking about what to do with the rest of your day.
>You’re torn between getting ahead on grading papers or relaxing with a fine novel and a fine wine.
*Cough*
>Sadly, it seems biology had made the choice for you.
>Better see what kinds of herbal teas the store has.
>You could really use the throat relief.

>Late evening in the Castle of Friendship.
“This makes no sense.”
>You are Twilight Sparkle, and right now you’re dealing with the mother of all migraines and the father of all conundrums.
>After a rigorous day of experimentation, after the efforts of the rest of the research group, you choose to analyze the data yourself before going to bed.
>Only problem; the data before you shouldn’t be true.
>You knew getting into this that curing the sickness wouldn’t be a walk in the park, but this...
>It had bacterium so it wasn’t a virus, much to your surprise.
>You’d think something that altered the nature of a being in such a drastic way would alter the DNA of the host.
>Yet that wasn’t all you found.
>Surrounding the bacterium like skin encloses the organs was a mass of black…something.
>It had some magical properties to it that you could easily determine.
>Yet at the same time you had difficulty determining its precise function to the disease as a whole.
>If it even had a function, that is.
>”Uh, Twilight? Maybe you should take a break; you’re starting to get ‘that’ look in your eyes again.”
>For better or for worse, Spike managed to snap you out of your train of thought.
“Thanks Spike, but I don’t think I can take a break until I put this mystery to rest.”
>”Well, what’s wrong?”

“Spike, this disease is not merely a simple bacteria; the entire sample we took from Anonymous, every last identifiable, individual bacterium is surrounded by a black mist of some kind.”
“We know it’s magical, as is the core bacteria, and we theorize the two interact with one another, yet nothing is known on its effects.”
>”Well, what do you think it is?”
>You did have a hypothesis, and there were a few logical connections, yet the evidence was…lacking to say the least.
>After much internal debate, you tell him.
>If nothing else it will get some stress off of your chest.
“I do have one idea Spike. Earlier today one of the researchers, I’m sad to say I cannot remember his name, related the phenomenon to a gas.”
“While we would need to cut deeper into the sample or somehow create an opening in all of the cell membranes at once to truly prove my hypothesis, vaporous diseases have been claimed in past theories that have since been disproven in the larger medical world.
>”And that would be?”
“Miasma theory. It was an ancient belief that diseases and illnesses were caused by vapors and odors in the air. Ironically enough, the one who disproved it was none other than Anonymous himself with his otherworldly insights.”
>You’re still having trouble believing that.
“What’s more, the unknown substance surrounding the bacterium mimics cytoplasm and organelles, meaning this…abomination showcases traits of prokaryotic bacteria, eukaryotic cells, and miasma theory all in one unnatural horror.”
>You can’t help but giggle, the stress is too much.
“It’s a hodgepodge of microbiology! A terrifying yet awe inspiring work in and of itself!”
>Even now, you don’t know whether to commend Anon for taking his craft so far or damn his name for making such a creative perversion.

>”Well that’s…terrifying? Still, you need to take a moment and relax, or at the very least get something to eat.”
>As much as you don’t want to admit it, he’s right.
>You did promise to not over do it like you did with the recruitment process.
>With a sigh, you decide to ask Spike what he cooked tonight.
*Knock*Knock*Knock*
>Were you not interrupted, you would have done so.
>”Twi? You busy? Ah have something to show you.”
>Applejack?
>You suppose it makes sense for her to be here; her farm was the closest habitation to where Anonymous was captured, save perhaps Zecora’s.
>”Twilight? May I speak to you for a moment?”
>Cheerilee?
>Her being here makes considerably less sense.
>You walk to the door and it opens to a worried pair of familiar ponies.
“Hello Applejack, Cheerilee. What brings you here?”
>”Twi, may we come in?”
“Of course Applejack. You said you had something to show me?”
>As the two enter through the crystal doors, you notice Applejack carrying a jar.
>”As a matter of fact, Ah do. You recognize this bug? Saw it twice today and managed to nab one the second time.”
>She lifts the jar to your eye level, and for the first time you see its contents.
>Inside is a strange bug that looks like a grasshopper, but not quite.
“I think I’ve read about it before. Give me a moment and I’ll check.”
>You already had an idea on what it was, but it’s always good to verify these things.
>Besides, you really wanted to make sure for this one.
>If it’s what you think it is…

“Let’s see, ‘Equestria Wildlife’, ‘Everything You Wanted to Know About Bees’, Aha! ‘Extinct Animals and All About Them’.”
>You set the book on the friendship map, open it, and begin searching.
“So, Cheerilee, you said you wanted to talk. Is something wrong?”
>”As a matter of fact, yes. I mean, I think something’s wrong. It could be nothing, but your input would be well appreciated.”
>Heat rises in your cheeks at the compliment.
>”You see, today there was an exam scheduled, yet most of the students called in sick.”
“Are you worried they may have been…playing hooky?”
>A deep part of your psyche instinctively shivered at the thought.
>You know others haven’t the scholarly passion you possess, and yet…
>”Normally I would be worried, however the few that did attend had visible signs of sickness.”
>A massive pandemic?
>Like the pony pox?
>No need to worry Twilight. You’re sure it’s just a massive coincidence.
>Back to finding the entry.
“Oh dear. Are they alright?”
>”I had to send them home early, but I doubt they feel all too well. In any case, that’s not the point. I came here to ask if you knew anything about it. After all, if the word around town holds any weight, you have a big bundle of blight in this very castle.”
>You quickly turn to Ponyville Elementary’s sole teacher.
“How did you know?”
>”Heard it from Nurse Redheart earlier today. She knows about Sweetie Belle, remember?”
>Ah, right.
>That would make sense.

“I’m sure he can’t do anything in his current position. There is no way whatsoever of him using his odd magic on Ponyville. No way! Nu-huh!”
>The denial in your voice is so obvious, you know you aren’t fooling anyone but yourself.
“Ah-hah! I knew the insect was familiar!”
>Though as you read the paragraphs before you, the current theory became more prevalent.
>”Twi? Somethin’ wrong?”
>Yes Applejack, did my expression make it too obvious?
>Genuine question there; you didn’t know yourself.
“Unfortunately, there is something wrong Applejack. You might want to look for yourself.”
>You make room so Applejack can read the page.
>Cheerilee comes over as well, likely out of curiosity.
>Before the three of you is an entry on the insect in question.
>”Locust?”
“A type of grasshopper in the family Acrididae, they are often solitary creatures, however they become gregarious in certain situations, forming a proverbial maelstrom of consumption and reproduction.”
>”Ah’m guessin’ that these varmin’s eat plants, being relatives of grasshoppers and all. Right?”
“Yes, Applejack. They have been known to strip entire farms dry. It got so bad in the past that any pony city that dealt with a mating swarm declared the whole thing a plague.”
>Considerable emphasis was put on that last word, perhaps more so than needed.
>”Well, that’ll certainly put the harvest beh…Twilight. Are you implyin’ that these creatures are related to Anonymous cause of plague references?”
“I admit it's one of the reasons supporting my hypothesis, though not the strongest one.”
>At this point, Cheerilee pipes up.
>”Then what is the stronger reason?”
“Locusts have been extinct for centuries now. 900 years, to be exact.”

>Silence followed, broken only by Applejack.
>”Come again, sugarcube?”
“Shortly after the Banishment of Nightmare Moon, Equestria was hit with several simultaneous locust swarms. The famine that followed caused untold suffering, with at least seven confirmed casualties from malnutrition. This includes the bride to be of one Baron Cleansing Light. Enraged by this travesty, he sought to avenge his love and all those who suffered. Thus began an extermination campaign on the entire locust population. It was long and costly but Cleansing Light saw it through to the end; from then on no one had heard or seen a locust, much less suffered their wrath. That is, until today.”
>Closing your eyes and breathing in, you wind down from your lecture.
>When they open again, it is to the shocked face of Applejack and the worried face of Cheerilee.
>”Land’s sakes, Twi. That sounded pretty brutal. Though now that yer done, Ah have a question.”
>”Why didn’t this Cleansing feller kill the parasprites while he was at it? I mean, they seem to be worse than the locust.”
>To your surprise, it isn’t you who responds.
>”Parasprites have stronger inate magic than locusts and smaller overall populations. A parasprite infestation, while certainly dangerous, Is far less likely than a locust swarm. Some theories state that the two species may have a common ancestor, but…
“Without a living locust, it would be impossible to determine. I didn’t take you to have an interest in the sciences, Cheerilee.”
>You immediately recognize your faux pas.
“AH, not to suggest you are dumb or anything, I just…”
>She’s giggling.
>Right: over apologizing Twilight is a funny Twilight.
>You’d think you’d learn from your time with Celestia.

>”No apologies needed, Twilight. In all honesty, it is a recent hobby of mine.”
“Right. Sorry.”
>NO WAIT, YOU DID IT AGAI…
>You know what, it doesn’t matter; you really need to get back on track.
“My point is, this insect,”
>You say, gesturing your hoof to the caged bug in question, it’s compound eyes staring at you, it’s head tilted as if in confusion.
“Has been extinct for quite some time now. Either the species had survived, remained hidden from the Baron’s spells that were SPECIFICALLY engineered to find them, and managed to not notify anypony of their presence with their destructive breeding cycle, or the second, much more likely, much more terrifying explanation.”
>”That this was Anon’s doin’”
>For a while, no further words were spoken; none were needed.
>The only sound was the wind brushing against the crystal walls of the palace, through the crystals of the chandelier, and…
>Some sort of humming from the recently ‘installed’ laboratory.
>An irritatingly familiar humming it was.
“Applejack, leave the locust specimen here; I’ll see if I can’t find Cleansing Light’s journal. Might give us a clue on how to deal with them.”
>Plus it gives you an excuse to study a once extinct creature!
“Cheerilee, while I cannot say for certain this may just be a case of the common cold. I’ll notify the doctors of this incident, but until the students are reported to get better it might be best to temporarily close the school and send them make-up work.”
>”Thanks, Twi!”
>”Thank you, and good luck on your search.”
>You wait until the two leave, until the crystal doors slam shut before heading back to the lab.
>A much needed conversation with a certain undead, filth ridden alien awaits you.

>You are Anon, and you're a lot more comfortable right now than you thought you would be in a bubble of magic.
>It's no proper bed, but that little purple horse didn't make it feel like a bed of spikes.
>A surprise given her attitude towards you.
>With a voice that carried venom more potent than even a black momba, coupled with a stare that you swore actually doubled as a gateway to hell.
>You're surprised she didn't at least try to kill you by now.
SLAM
>”ANON!”
>Speak of the Devil, and she shall appear.
“Hello Twinkles, to what do I...*cough* owe this pleasure?”
>Yep, same stare as always.
>You know a thing or two about curdling milk, and she could do so with that grimace alone.
>However, in an unusual twist of fate, rather than directing the obvious fury she felt towards you, instead she breathed in, saluted with her hoof, and breathed out.
>Was this some kind of pony prayer or meditation you were unaware of.
>Good to know even after eight centuries there are still things to learn, mysteries to uncover.
>Life would be boring otherwise.
>Getting back on track, purple pony is now calm and in front of you.
>This is either something really good or really bad, and you hesitate to place bets on the former option.
>”Anon. Are you familiar with Ponyville Elementary?”
“Can't say I've *snnrk*  heard of it, but I'm guessing it's a school.”
>”Yes, a school of fifteen students. All of whom are now sick with the flu.”
>Oh , she's catching on.
“Twilight. I'm speechless. Children naturally have *cough* weaker immune systems and a greater tendency to share things, yet you acc*cough* immediately accuse me of being the culprit?
>”Who said anything about right away? For all you know I could have exhausted every other option.”
>Dang nabbit!
>You want to savor this moment.
“It just seems like a 'you' thing to do, given your track record.”
>”And I'm the one being presumptuous?”
“Fair point; my mis*snnrk*take.

>”Not your only one, of course. Tell me, are you familiar with locust?”
“Hmm, like the flower?”
>Strange, your normal efforts to annoy aren't working.
>Guess that's what happens when she has had a good night's sleep.
>”Er, no; LocuST. It ends in a 't'.
“Ah, the grasshopper's more symbolic cousin!”
>She's not surprised at that, meaning she did her research.
>”Why yes, Anon. It's said they represent famine, a specific kind of plague.”
>Slowly she walks over to your little magic prison.
>”They've also been extinct since before you came to Equestria.”
>Her muzzle is now inches away from one of the force-fields keeping you in.
>When she next spoke her voice was strained, betraying her recent irritation.
>”Guess what was just found today?”
>You don't have a witty deflection for that.
>She did catch on rather quickly.
>Well, if you can't lead her on to waste her time, you always have a response perfect for the villain she clearly thinks you are.
>Monologuing!
>You couldn't help but grin; you always wanted to do this, yet pragmatism always got in the way.

“I must say, with wit like that, it's no wonder Celestia made you her personal student.”
>”How? I thought my prison...”
“There's the root of your fault; you thought but you didn't check. Trust but verify, as they say.”
>You move a little further towards her.
“All I needed was a brief moment of exposure outside of this cage to revitalize my connection.”
>The look of utter horror on her face says more than any book.
>”The sample.”
“Exactly! You can blame me for these crimes all you want, yet without your intervention, without your desire to 'cure' she who needed none, I would have been unable to do so.”
>Better calm down Anon; the proposal needs to be inviting.
“Understand this Mrs. Sparkle, I never wished such harm upon anypony. Each sickness fills me with pain, save of course for one.”
>”I'm guessing you're speaking of Sweetie Belle.”
>You nod before continuing.
“Her infection will lead her to apotheosis. Her arrival unto me was fated. Everyone else is just unnecessarily suffering.”
>She opens her mouth to interject, so you continue.
“But it doesn't have to be this way. Cease this search for a cure, trying to 'save' her from her own destined glory, and I shall cease my hostilities in turn.”
>For a while, all was silent in the crystal laboratory.
>When she at last spoke, her voice was silent and weak.
>”You're cough seems to have cleared up.”
“I control disease, part and parcel with the magic. It isn't perfect, though; continue down this path and I may be forced to invoke powers I cannot fully control, causing damages I cannot simply erase.”
>It wasn't a complete lie, you couldn't control the 'high tier' stuff well.
>Of course, if push came to shove...

>Pained contemplation adorned Mrs. Sparkle's face.
>You'd be concerned if it didn't.
>You well know what your asking of her.
>Still she's a logical mare at heart.
>You have no doubts she'll make the right choice.
>”No.”
>...You've been wrong before, but really?
>She does realize what she's doing, right?
>You're shock must be evident, why else would she smile?
>You gather your bearings, tongue burning with questions.
>Well, question more like.
“Pray tell, why are you damning the town?”
>”You're afraid. Afraid of us finding the cure. If you didn't think it was possible you wouldn't try to scare us.”
“Prudence is always wise, Twilight. I just seek to ensure an end to your foolishness.”
>She's right though.
>You're piss your robe scared at the thought, given all that had happened.
>Yet you must remain calm; to give into panic is to concede your position of strength.
>”You aren't fooling anypony. Perhaps before you thought it was impossible, but new evidence proved otherwise. Whether it's likely or not, we have hope. We have a chance. That is enough.”
>Her smile shifted subtly into something that made you uncomfortable.
>No easy feat.
>”You are only here as research material. Once Sweetie is cured... well, I'll leave that in the hooves of Princess Celestia.”
“What I can do shall not be easily remedied.”
>”On principle alone that is a risk that must be taken.”
>Ah the face of rage, how You missed it so!
>”If you harm even a single pony here I shall send you to Tartarus myself. Understood?”
>You nodded your head in understanding.

>As she turns to leave she makes one final, somber comment.
>”You know, had the circumstances been different we could have gotten along.”
“That we could have Mrs. Sparkle, that we could have.”
>...
>She's not moving right now, probably deep in thought.
>You decide to bring back the coughing for just a little bit.
>”Oh right, sorry.”
>And so she leaves.
>Fine with you.
>You had enough on your plate as is.
>So try and continue, sweet Twilight. Try to find the panacea.
>Just know that all that shall transpire, all the suffering and loss, all the innocent who perish and are forced into a torturous existence, is on your head.