Zebra Quarantine

Zecora, with help from Mage Meadowbrook, was seen making a rash attempt to go back to her old hometown in the Equestrian Grasslands in Potamia where a serious virus epidemic is going on, and it's worse then Swamp Fever. The disease, known as Sahara Flu, which is a more wild and feral cousin of Swamp Fever, is spread via Grassland Plague Rats, which are basically grimmer and narlier versions of the already-unpleasant normal variety. The creatures were accidently unearthed by an irrespondsable gold exhibition done by the land baron Zebra of the place, Zembra. Now, the Mane 7 and the Lougers have come to help Zecora on her native land's hour of need as patients are been cared for by Zecora's healer tribe and a sentient tribe of healer giraffes, of which Zecora explains that these giraffes are different from ones that have no sentience (Like seen from the Sanctuary episode) as some breeds have sentience and others do not, and the same can be said about others like elephants, African ungulates of all kinds, and hippos or rhinos. The healer leader, and Zecora's sister, Zheina, warns that the disease has an almost simular sytile to Swamp Fever, but not as kid-friendly and more gruesome as the victim will be covered in disfiguring scabs, sores and blisters, even on vulerable places like eyes and, sensitive areas, even on places that are basicly bone like hooves, teeth, and even on horns if unicorn, as the victims will then cough out small pools of blood and green-yellow-gold pus that is highly contagious to physical contact or even inhaling it's beyond foul order that smells worse then a normal day in Tartarus, then they shrivel up into tree-like homes for more Grassland Plague Rats and the cycle will continue. And worse off, the cure is basically non-existent, as the Plague Rats of the Grasslands had to be cut-off to prevent infection, as Meadowbrook had yet to find it before she disappeared leaving only assumptions, like the overly-common one of being slain by a Black Dog, which is an overly-aggressive harbinger of sicknesses, though no clues of such a thing have been found and thus it may not be the case, which are thankfully not native to Zecora's home, and since Meadowbrook returned as her time in limbo have halted her aging and thus she is still as young as she was back then, and excited to meet a modern descendant in the form of Cattail, and aims to finally make a cure for Sahara Flu after so many years, hopefully with help from an apparent accidental creation of her revealed by a young, naïve and usually not very creditable daughter of the sentient giraffe leader's daughter, Longbawai, who claimed to have seen a Grassland Plague Rat being carried off by a giant wasp creature, as Meadowbrook, with help from an aged shaman, would finally confirm her story by saying that the creature that took the Plague Rat was it's known predator, The Giant Plague Doctor Wasp, AKA just Doctor Wasps, which are distant cousins of flash bees, only extremely larger and with a beyond painful sting and being aggressive like their cousins, deliver shocks to more than the nervous system as the two share conductive venom, the creatures being born to fend off creatures that are highly infectious and can cause environmental damage, and they are synthesizers of cures in any form bred accidentally by Meadowbrook, creating them in hives the size of redwoods as they protect the ecosystem from being destroyed by plagues. Fortunately, with help from Meadowbrook upon learning that they see her like their ultimate queen, Fluttershy learns to be more of an expert to sooth aggressive bugs better since that event, albeit even without being ill, but the real problem is that The Plague Doctor Wasps live in a death valley part of the grasslands called Shida ruled by African mythological creatures like Kongamatos, Serpopards, Emela-ntoukas, Mokele-mbembes, Grootslangs, Lightning Birds, Mazombas, Ilombas, the many vampiric beings of African mythology, Jba Fofi, Rompoes, etc, along with Skull Vultures, Nemean Lions, Hydrenas (Hyena Hydras), Nandi Bears, a deadly socity of dangerous mythical being and creature poachers, including a bitter half-brother of Zecillion named Kopha, an entire river filled with Nile Cragodiles, which are bigger versions of the ones before, Africanized Manticores which are more aggressive and violent, giant Lord of the Rings Oliphant-like pachyderms called Titanaphants, Goboons (Goblin Baboons), a cursed Titanaphant Graveyard ruled by a nasty necromancer Giraffe shaman exiled from the Giraffe tribe named Teseka, and finally a legendary Africanized Chimaera that is the longlost brother of the Lodger's Chimera turned feral and African, known as The Wasteland Kings. With Longbawai's help and Zecora's expertise, the Lodgers must face these challenges and find the Plague Doctor Wasps to get the Queen's royal jelly.

Scenes[]

Zecora Goes Home[]

Zecora's Home Village

Zecora: (She arrived as many of the sentient animals greeted her as she waved hello)...
???: Sister! (Another Zebra similar to her was seen) You finally made it!
Zecora: It's an honor to return back home, as I wish to help get your head out of the loam!
Zecora's Sister:... I see you haven't changed your iambic pentameter habits! I swear, even today, it's like you wanna show off for poetry.
Zecora: (Sighs) It's kind of a habit I can't exactly give up. So don't judge me for being unable to live up.
Zecora's Sister: (Sighs) Just come on! Things haven't gotten servely bad.
Zecora: "How bad is this to be?"
Zecora's Sister: Well, as I had written in my note, a terrorable sickness broked out. But I didn't gave the full details because of how drastic it is. Come with me to the qurrintine zone..... And please put on a protective mask, for safety reason. Trust me sister, it is not a pleasent sight. ("And thank Gaia she didn't rhyme that ti-")
Zecora: Then allow me to have this helpful guarantee!
Zecora's Sister:... ("Sheesh, I can see why she lives on her own!")

The Qurrintine Zone part of the village.

Sicken African Animals and Ponies are seen laying in beds as some of them appear to have a serious sickness, some looking worse off then others.
Zecora and her sister arrived with protective masks.
Zecora: "..... Zheina, what has come to these poor souls?"
Zheina: "(Sighs)..... You know of the happless Land Baron?"
Zecora: "..... Zembra is responsible for having my home take this terrible toll?!"
Zheina: "Keep in mind, not intentionally. Rather the end result of his clumsy lust for unearthing sacred places for modern benifit! Like when he unearthed a tomb filled with Alicorn Artifacts. Only now..... Let's see the fool ourselves."
The duo walked up to an Okapi-Hybrid sadly watching protected by magic over a sicken male zebra.
Male Zebra: "..... (Coughs up blood)..... I.... I never intended for this to happen."
Zecora: "Zembra..... What sacred place have you recklessly ruined this time?"
Zeina: "And I have to ask you keep serious and not ask for rymes to make yourself feel better."
Zembra: "Oh, don't worry, hurts to laugh anyway. Besides, I have a sense of taking things seriously... Espeically if it's this bad. Apparently, I mistook an imprisonement site of giant Plauge Rats to be another dumping ground for lost treasure and artifacts to bring back to the surface. There was no warning that I could've known.... That they'd spread Sahara Flu!"
Zecora gasped!
Zecora: "...... IF YOU WERE NOT SO SICK, I'D SMACKED YOU IN THE-"
Zheina: "SISTER! THAT'S A LITTLE TOO FAR OF A RHYME TO MAKE!!!"
Zembra: Hey, give her credit, at least it was because of an approbeate reaction.
Zheina: You DO realize that there's no cure for Sahara Flu, and finding such hasn't been possible yet, right?!? Even MEADOWBROOK had a hard time finding a cure!!!
Zembra: DO YOU THINK I WANTED THIS PLAGUE TO OCCUR?!? (Coughs more blood) I THOUGHT IT WAS GONNA BE LIKE OTHER ANICHENT SACRED SITES THAT HAVE NOTHING BUT TREASURE AND ARTIFACTS WITH ONLY AN ANICHENT CURSE FOR MY BATTLEMAGE TO FIGHT OFF?! I WASN'T GIVEN A PROPER WARNING, other then like, some outdated anichent Zebra markings! It started so innosently enough.

Flashback.

Zembra was overlooking an escabation of a giant seal with an anichent but almost clear enough warning of an anichent depiction of Zebras fighting back against giant necromorthic rat monsters, as it was being done by Zebras, other African creatures, even the rare pony.
Zembra: "..... This will be my grand-opiuss of recovering lost relics of the past for modern use, Zambai, my legacy as the Land Baron who brought the past back from the past and into the present and onword to the future is made greater for this!"
Zambai, the Okapi-Hybrid, was seen next to him.
Zambai: "..... Please forgive my caution, but.... Something about this place is giving me nothing but bad vibes."
Zembra: "Oh don't tell me your letting what that old shamon from the village a mile back get to you! What did he say again? Oh, I know! (Mimics an old voice) A terrorable sickness will befall apawn us if that Plauge Seal is broken! (Laughs uncontrolably!)..... Oh please, it's likely another stupid curse, something YOU can stop."
Zambai: "And it's not that I doubt these abilities, but..... What if it's not a curse? What if the seal was meant to hold off something that was banished there?"
Zembra: "Awwwww, come on, Zam, where's your sense of adventure? We've opened up simular seals and all we found was anichent mulah and old relics ripe for modern useage! I bet ya, this is another anichent treasurey, or even a holder of a secret magical staff that can change the face of the world! In modern hands, something like that can RETIRE that Rainbow Power stuff and even the Harmony tree combined! We can be legends from this!"
A Languist Antelope Came up to Zembra worried!
Antelope: "Sir, please, a word?!"
Zembra: "Yes, Inagi, my best anichent seal translater?"
Antelope (Inagi): "Sir, I, I don't think this seal's safe to remove!?"
Zembra: "Oh for crying out loud, you too?"
Inagi: "Sir, I read the anichent Zebransie perfectly, and, it's a seal that holds off a speices of Plauge Rat known as the Grasslandian Plauge Rat."
Zembra: "Plauge Rats? Pffft! Those phathic dog-sized cowerds are nothing to Zambai."
Inagi: "But sir! These Plauge Rats are not the size of Dogs! They're the size of bears with a dash of really big gorillas?! ON STERIODS?!"
Zembra: "Oh relax, at the least those things are likely long dead, so the worse that would come from the seal being removed is a bit of a bad smell!"
The Seal was about to be completely removed!
Zembra: "Up up up! The big reveil's about to happen!"
The Zeal was in process of being removed, but as it does, a foul oder dominated the area!
Pony 1: "GROSS?! IT SMELLS LIKE A NORMAL DAY IN TARTARUS IN THERE?!"
Pony 2: "WITH A HINT OF ROTTEN EGGS?!"
Zebra 1: "A SMELL LIKE THAT WOULD MEAN IT'S NOT A GOOD IDEA TO MESS WITH THIS SEAL?!"
Zembra: "PEWWWWWWWW?! LIKE I SAID, THE BAD SMELL'S THE WORSE THING YOU'LL GET?! BUT DON'T WORRY, NOTHING SOME AIR FRESHENERS CAN'T FIX EVERYONE?! KEEP GOING?!"
The Seal was competely removed as the smell became unbareable!
Zebra 2: "OHH CELESTIA, IT'S MAKING MY EYES WATER WORSE THEN UNWASHED ONIONS?!"
Zembra: ".... Okay, I'll delay investigations into the hole until we can get some gasmasks on stand-by, but other then that, I say we made good- (Snarls and moans are heard as even Zembra as does everyone else got worried and took notice)..... Pro..... Gress? (A series of red eyes formed around the seal)...... What, in, the, world of Equestia- (The Grasslandian Plauge Rats leaped out of the hole and screeched!) (SQEEALS LIKE A GIRL?!)"
The Escabaters began to run for their lives as the Grasslandian Plauge rats charged out enmass!
The Plauge Rats scratch at victims, stopped at that and ran off!
Pony 1: "OW?! THAT ONE GOT ME IN THE BUTT?! THAT HURTS- (Starts coughing blood)?! AM I COUGHING BLOOD?!"
Zebra 3: "THEY ARE BARERS OF SAHARA FLU!? WHAT HAVE WE DONE?! WE CONDEMNED THE WORLD TO THEIR PESTILENCE?! (Gets scracthed by a Grasslandian Plauge Rat) GAAAAAAAAAAAAA?!"
The Workers and staff scream as the Grasslandian Plauge Rats rampage goes unchallnaged!
Zembra looks in horror of what he done.....
Inagi: "LOOK WHAT YOU HAVE DONE?! WHAT WE HAVE DONE?! WE HAVE TO WARN THE OUTSIDE WORLD?! THIS NEEDS TO BE- (Hisses were heard as Inagi looked behind her and gasped as she saw that a Grasslandian Plauge Rat was behind her climbing up onto the platform) (Inagi was in a panic attack!)"
Zembra was in one as well as he struggled to get out a gun!
Inagi screamed blood-curddly as the Grasslandian Plauge Rat scratched her in the face near her eye, as the sickness took quick hold!
Zembra fumbled and dropped his gun as Inagi fell down sick!
Inagi: "(Coughs blood)..... The Alicorns've.... Forsaken us....."
The Grasslandian Plauge Rat looked at Zembra and snarled.....
Zembra: "Uhhhh..... (Laughs)..... Is it, too much to ask if you guys just, go back in your hole and-"
The Grasslandian Plauge Rat roared as it tried to scratch him with it's long bony-fingered claws, but Zambai magic blasted the creature off of the platform!
Zambai: "SIR?! WE HAVE TO RETREAT IN THE CHOPPER?!"
Zembra: "BUT THE STAFF?!"
Zambai: "WE CAN'T HELP THEM IF WE FALL TOO?!"
Zambai and Zembra ran, as Zembra looked in regret as the Grasslandian Plague Rats were infecting the employies?!
Zembra saw a rhino worker who grabbed him!
Rhino Worker: "YOU STUPID BASTURD?! YOU BROUGHT THIS APAWN US?!"
Zembra: "LET ME GO, YOU FAT IDIOT, I DIDN'T KNOW THIS WOULD HAPPEN?!"
Rhino Worker: "NOW YOU'LL SUFFER LIKE THE REST OF US?! (Tosses Zembra right into the path of a rampaging Grasslandian Plague Rat, as the Rhino Himself already became a scratched victim himself by another Grasslandian Plague Rat!)"
Zembra looked in fear of the cornering Grasslandian Plague Rat as it snarled.....
Zembra: "No, no please?! No?! ZAMBAI?! ZAMBAI?! ZAAMMMMMMMMMMMMBAAAAAAAAAI?! (Gets scracthed in the back) AGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHH!?"
The Grasslandian Plague Rat screeched victoriously until Zambai blasted it off and into another Plague Rat!
Zambai came to Zembra's aide while in magic protection coating!
Zambai: "SIR?! BARON ZEMBRA?!"
Zembra coughs blood!
Zembra: "Zambai.... Please...... Don't leave me....."
The Grasslandian Plague Rats surrounded Zambai while she was cuddling Zembra, as it was clear that all of the workers got infected.
Zambai: "(Craddles him closer) Spirits of the Grasslands, please.... Protect and forgive our sorry souls...."
The Grasslandian Plague rats were getting uncomfertably closer, aiming to strike, but then, buzzing was heard.
The Grasslandian Plague Rats began to panic and scatter and ran away in a certain direction as large shadows flew after the desises spreaders!
Zambai was confused by this, but was reliefed that the creatures were retreating.
Zambai quickly got out a radio.
Zambai: "(Breaths heavily)...... Hello, this is Zambai! Zembra has made a serious mistake?! There was these, creatures in the seal that were not meant to see the light of day?! Please send for help?! Zembra got infected along with the staff?!"
Voice: "Help is on the way. Just get Zembra and any infected qurrintined until greater aide came come."
Zambai: "Roger! (Turns off the radio)....."
Zembra: "All I wanted, was to bring the past back into the present, and onto the future..... I..... I never wanted this. (Sheds a blood soaked tear)."
Zambai started to shed tears as well..... She failed to protect Zembra, everyone, and a terrorable force was freed and it wasn't a curse.
Zambai: "..... May the spirits of judgement have mercy on our souls for this day....."

Present.

Zembra: "..... Then, a lucky uninfected worker must've managed to get to your tribe, and...... Well, here we are....."
Zecora: "..... It is obvious that your addiction for unearthing things best left forgotten have finally upheathed unpleasennt consinquences."
Zembra: "Please, (Coughs), I never meant to cause this much suffering. I never had the intention to free those, oversized zombieifived rodents?! The warning wasn't clear enough until it was too late?!"
Zheina: "More like your overcompidence in Zambai's albeit impressive abilities got the better of you, and now you days of plundering sacred grounds have come crashing down. Only this time, the past will have a violent and sickening revenge to what the present has done."
Zecora looked at Zambai....
Zecora: "And why have you helped him done such reckless deeds?"
Zambai: "Didn't you think I tried to make him reconsider?! Even before this, I tried to steer him away from messing with those places! I only fought off those curses because I had to, not for his benifit! I never had an intention to encourage his overblown faith in me! I purely meant to make sure his hunger for lost treaures and powerful artifacts doesn't become an undoing!"
Zecora: "Well why help him if you didn't approved?"
Zambai: "Because...... Zembra's clan and my clan on the Okapi side are longtime friends. My clan serves and protect his for a long time. As with tradition, every leader of his tribe must have aide of the most powerful member, and.... That was me. Espeically since I was a hybrid."
Zecora: "Pardon my rudeness, but I doubt tradition would pardon such carelessness! Espeically on matters of these grounds!"
Zambai: "Aren't I suffering enough that I failed to protect a member of a clan my clan considers to be impourent to us?! Why must you criticised me on this?! Everything I did was only because he wished it?!"
Zecora: Because he has been through a lot of trouble. I should know, because when it came to him, trouble was ALWAYS on-
Zambai: The double. Great Gaia Everfree, woman, you just NEVER shut up with the rhyme scheme!
Zecora: I know when it's not needed, thank you very much. When it comes to incidents where I'm sick, it's not necessary and takes away the seriousness of the situation, like right now. I just do it to pass the time. You DO know I do it because it's a hobby.
Zheina: (Sighs) She's right...

Flashback

(Zheina): (As she and Zecora were seen as fillies) She's liked poetry since we were fillies. But... I guess as time went by... (The two got older as time faded)... It started to grow on her like weeds on a lawn. She clearly felt that leaving would help everyone here cope with the articulation that stuck to her.

Present

Zheina: So, at least THIS helps. I was under the impression that, given what you said through the Swamp Fever you caught not too long ago, that the rhyming thing was, a mental norm for you, no offense.
Zecora:... None taken.
Zambai: (Sighs) Look, this Sahara Flu is a more Junglized variant of that disease. Forget about the Swamp Fever and it's coughing and/or vomiting of bubbles, brown pox, and turning into the tree that spreads it's flowers, THIS one takes all that to a WHOLE NEW LEVEL!! What's left of the infected after that provides good homes for those that spread the pathogen, INCLUDING those filthy oversized rats! Coughing or vomiting blood and/or plasma bubbles, exposed and swelling veins and later move into foul-smelling and contagious pus and bodily fluids, massive swells, scabs, pox, and spots that make the skin overly sensitive to even touch, and-
Zembra was fighting off an erge to vomet as are the patients....
Zambai:.... I AM SO NOT GONNA GET INTO ANY FURTHER DETAIL IF EVERYONE'S REACTIONS ANY INDICATION!?
Zecora: Well, I will be glad to establish a quarantine to help fight off the disease. And for that, I brought friends.
Zambai:... Friends?
???: Indeed! (Meadowbrook, Fluttershy, and the Mane Six arrived)...
Zambai: (She and all except Zecora were surprised at Meadowbrook's return)... It's her!
Zheina: It-it can't be! I thought you were-
Meadowbrook: Mauled by a black dog? Well... That may've been a lie fabricated by the fearful powers of the Pony of Shadows to discourage any hope in anypony out there of being cured of incurable illnesses after trapping me in limbo for a thousand years, and essentially freezing my aging. Those Taraxippises are VERY monstrous when it comes to striking fear on par with he-who-shall-not-be-named! I'm the same age as I was back then.
Zambai:... I... It's a miracle!... It is an HONOR to meet you, Mage Meadowbrook!
Meadowbrook: Ease off on any hoof-kissing right now!
Zembra: "What about a hug?"
Meadowbrook: Hold off on that too! I don't wanna catch the disease here! It's true. It was hard to find a cure to Swamp Fever's somewhat wild cousin, because there wasn't any available resources to combat the sicknesses, even in the wild. Even flash bees are not immune to it as they are it's less-feral cousin. Just keep in mind, the two aren't related as cousins, but they are of the same branch, and are DISTANT relatives. Just about as distant as me to Cattail. Just know, it won't be easy, but I am willing to offer whatever I can. And, I may already have left a solution before I disappeared.
Zambai: "..... Is it by chance related to the buzzing and the shadows that chased after the Grasslandian Plague Rats?"
Meadowbrook: Indeed. You know the stories of me creating doctor wasps unintentionally prior to my disappearance?... They are all too true. (She brews a magical demonstration)... You see, these wasps are instinctively dedicated to protecting their ecosystem from plague-based destruction. They haul away only the infected wildlife, and euthanize them upon bringing them to the hive for both quarantine measures, and to extract the infected material to create a cure in the form of honey. When they need the cure, they spread it across the entire land, curing it of the plague. There are a few castes of this species, and not just the queen. There are work soldiers, the combined caste of both workers and soldiers that collect material, fight for it, and defend their hives, and are FIERCELY aggressive, with sting venom that electrifies the internals of their victims, and even kills them, there's scouts that search the land for infected and call for work soldiers by using a sticky spray glue to immobilize the infected, and there are angels, which are charged with storing the cure honey within a pouch, and spreading it across the land to cure everything when a plague is in effect. The drones and the queen do what you know they do. (The demonstration ends)... So, these creatures fulfilled my role while I was gone, but not for sentient beings, but for their own ecosystem. My thinking is if we can tame these things, we MAY synthesize a cure for the Sahara Flu, as they likely did so after I vanished.
Fluttershy: And, before we came, she taught me how to tame flash bees in an entire field of hundreds of hives, which are equal to the aggression of a SINGLE doctor wasp work soldier. So... I'll need some time to grow on that, and yet I can teach you how to defend yourselves should you be at their mercy and you don't wanna be put down by their quarantine instinct. You just barter for a work-soldier should they not wish to give it away for free... Or if you're sick and unable to fight back, you just ask sympathy out of them. It won't work for you at first since I know animals more than anypony else, but I can teach you how to animal whisper.
Meadowbrook: Exactly. So, worry not, everyone. We will save you from the Sahara Flu epidemic, if it's the last, thing, we do! (Everyone cheers)
Zambai: "..... But what about the Plague Rats? The Wasps may be able to capture a good number, but those beasts breed like rabbits. Any numbers they lose, will be quickly replaced come mating season."
Twilight: "Don't you worry. Starswirl and the other pillers of Equestia offered to cortail the Plague Rats to a spefic place so the Doctor Wasps can be able to effictently capture the creatures to the last one."
Zambai: "Well, true, but then there's the matter that the Doctor Wasps are living in the wastelands. The most dangerious part of the grasslands. Your going to need alot of help to venture in that death valley."
Rainbow Dash: "Celestia already has it covered. The Lougers will join up with us soon enough."

Meadowbrook Teaches Fluttershy How To Tame Doctor Wasps And Flash Bees[]

Meadowbrook's Hut

Meadowbrook:... Well, Fluttershy, since you saved me... I HAVE been helping provide cures for Equestria and beyond. And with my descendant Cattail, it's... Been nice. But he tells me you once helped Zecora from the same disease my home suffered a plague of.
Cattail: Yeah! She was so determined to do it, she got no sleep, didn't eat, and she ended up catching the same disease.
Meadowbrook:... I applaud you for your determination, but if you're going to help Zecora save her home from a similar-ish disease, then you DEFINITELY need help. AND you need to learn to tame those Flash Bees, because just your normal taming capabilities are not enough.
Cattail: We found her unconscious after trying to get the honey.
Meadowbrook:... I rest my case.
Fluttershy: But I improved relatively good enough on my own since then.
Meadowbrook: And I don't doubt that, but you need even more expertise for this instance. After I cured my home, I had time to actually tame the flash bees. It DID play in the evolution of the doctor wasps.
Fluttershy:... I suppose, that makes sense.
Meadowbrook: But since I came back, I learned that I need FURTHER skills to work with my creations. They DID see me as their ultimate queen, but... To others, they're like flash bees on steroids, at least, that's what your alien friends suggested. They will do MORE than sting you! For the sake of not intimidating you, nuff said!
Fluttershy:... Well... I'm willing to do what it takes to help Zecora again!
Meadowbrook: Well, you really are as bold as those in Equantica say. Very well. (She brews up a magical simulation)
Fluttershy:... What's... THIS?!? (They were both seen in a simulation of a jungle sector of hundreds of flash bee hives)...
Icky: (He tears in through fourth-wall breaking) "Oh way to pull a Mama Odie on us!"
Meadowbrook: Uh, Mister Icky, it's supposed to be the BOTH of us!
Icky:... Oh!... (He left)
Meadowbrook:... Now then, Miss Fluttershy, you may know how to tame ONE flash bee hive... But a HUNDRED of them, in a field, is not enough for even your 'Stare'. Flash bees are SO aggressive, they make killer bees look like whining fillies. If thought the ones you encountered before were rough, then you DEFINITELY do not want to know what a HUNDRED of them together can do! In fact, all THESE are equal to the aggression of a SINGLE doctor wasp work soldier.
Fluttershy:... Work soldiers?
Meadowbrook: The doctor wasps have a caste that combines BOTH the worker and soldier castes. Thus, the ones who collect disease samples to use them to make cures can defend themselves well, as you and your heroes likely saw. Their stings deliver pain that lasts for an entire day, as they inject a conductive venom into the bloodstream that keeps agitating the nervous system, and shocks MORE than the nervous system. Some cases have resulted in... Well, again, nuff said! So, in order to learn to tame the doctor wasp, you need to tame ALL these hives at once!
Fluttershy:... I don't feel comfortable with this.
Meadowbrook: The reason you couldn't do it well before was because you were sick, and couldn't think properly due to the Swamp Fever's fatigue and blackout-inducing symptoms. By being healthy, you were able to tame them properly.
Fluttershy:... Fair point.
Meadowbrook: But we'll save THAT test for later!
Fluttershy:... What?
Meadowbrook: Right now, you must use the same tactic as before to tame all these flash bees at the same time. And don't worry. This is a simulation. Thus, there's no pain involved. The only thing you'll suffer is a little tingle or tickling sensation like when your hoof's asleep.
Fluttershy:... I STILL don't feel comfortable about this.
Meadowbrook: At least you can try! I believe in you! If you can face flash bees even when on the verge of death, I have full confidance you can do this. Good luck out there.
Fluttershy: "..... Okay, I guess I can give it a try. What do I got to lose since this is mostly a simulation after all?" (She approached them as they looked at her)... ("Alright... I learned that the Stare didn't work before because the illness made me look less threatening and unable to fight back. So, my Stare should be in working order here! Here we go!") (She uses it as the Flash Bees flinched a bit)... Alright... Everybee, I need some of your honey! And if you feel I must do something for you... Then I will do anything! Just name it! Either way, I won't accept no for an answer, because don't expect your doctor wasp cousins to kill you if you are infected with a eco-destroying disease. (The Flash Bees hesitantly agreed and offered a solution)... Good!... Thank you! (Everything shifted)... Wha?
Meadowbrook: Well, the test is complete anyway. You were perfectly capable of fulfilling whatever favor they requested of you in return for some honey. Now, for the next test.
Fluttershy:... The test involving the si- (She coughed out the same bubbles as with Swamp Fever as she saw them in horror)... Oh, no! (She got the same brown pox as the Swamp Fever) What-what is- (Coughs bubbles)
Meadowbrook: Don't worry! This is a simulation of Swamp Fever. No fatal effects are apparent. But that doesn't mean it'll be easy. Like I said, the disease can induce fatigue and blackouts. You need to find a way to tame the same amount of flash bees. This is to ensure you know how to get the honey when you don't have the energy or resources to get far. Sort of a, Plan B should you be at your weakest and most hopeless. Try to prove your strength to animals by showing them you need the honey desperately to the best of your ability.
Fluttershy:... I- (Coughs bubbles) I don't know how!
Meadowbrook: I'm sure you can figure it out! I believe in you! (She went back to the same setting as the flash bees saw her and got angry knowing what was coming)
Fluttershy: (She looked worried)... I... I don't wanna steal your honey!... I- (She coughs bubbles)... I wanna ask for some! I... I'm sick! I don't wanna become a Swamp Fever tree! I... Just please! PLEASE, have me cured through your honey! (She sobbed)... And save me the trouble of- (Coughs more bubbles)... Of being put down by doctor wasps! PLEASE! (Sobs)... I wanna live! (The flash bees felt awful as Fluttershy started violently coughing massive amounts of bubbles as she was about to fall unconscious, and thus the flash bees gave in and fed her some of their honey, curing her)... I... Thank you! (The flash bees hugged and cuddled her as the setting defaulted)...
Meadowbrook:... Impressive! You tamed them through making them feel sympathy.
Fluttershy:... I kinda thought they were too aggressive for that.
Meadowbrook: Well, when it comes to the doctor wasps, they can learn to be as passive as any other animal, and can offer a chance to save an infected individual from being put down by a doctor wasp. You KNOW that they kill the infected in order to both quarantine them, but also to collect the infected organic material and make a cure out of them.
Fluttershy:... I... I had no idea!... So... The Doctor Wasps can feel the same, then?
Meadowbrook: Unfortunately, the work soldiers can't! Only scouts can. Scouts search the lands for the infected, but they CAN feel sympathy. If you do what you did, then you can likely have them spare you, and mail you a batch of the cure. And trust me, the cures, taste sweet, as any honey should, and depending upon the cure, they can do more than taste sweet. Trust me, if you can get used to doctor wasps, then you can learn to help me put them to the beekeeper business the same way I did for the flash bees.
Fluttershy: "Okay, good to know then."
Meadowbrook: That's the spirit! Hopefully, we'll be able to tame the doctor wasps and get them to cure for us. Even though they look up to me, they look up to me like they would a queen bee, and thus they don't go well amongst other ponies. They still respect me even without a mask, but they NEED to learn to look up to other ponies like queens.
Fluttershy:... That sounds a little... Dishonest.
Meadowbrook: Maybe, but these creatures don't communicate to us the same way we do. They communicate through MORE than dance. They communicate by body language, tone of speech, and through rank. Thus, the only way to open up to them, is to think like them. And you'll need a LOT of time and training to do so.
Fluttershy: I'll do anything!
Meadowbrook: "Well your gonna need an attatude like that. Because the Grasslands needs something that can be a beacon of hope right about now."

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