- Written by Jeremy Whitley, Art by Brenda Hickey, Coloring by Heather Breckel
Sunburst, with Starlight's help, packs up to return to his duties in the Crystal Empire, but taking many of the books along with him. On the lonely train ride, he reads through the legend of Mage Meadowbrook.
Meadowbrook, after healing her own people, started traveling all over to help cure plagues and other diseases. Running short on supplies and caught in a rainstorm, she races into the town of Maredian, unaware of warning signs not to enter. The town seemingly is deserted, and she looks through the buildings until she comes across where all the ponies are at: they all are greenish and acting like flesh-eating zombies. Meadowbrook quickly races out of their grasp, trying to understand what's happened to them. She eventually finds safety in a storeroom, and discovers that local frogs are eating some of the grain supplies they have. Inspiration hits, realizing the ponies have been afflicted with a condition from the mucus from the frogs getting into their food supply. She quickly whips up the cure and administers it to the ponies. They turn back to normal and thank Meadowbrook for her help (though they can't offer her a celebratory feast since all of their food supply was affected), and she happily leaves on her next adventure.
Sunburst comes to the end just as the train comes to a hard stop at the Crystal Empire, spilling his packed books. As he picks them up, he comes across one he didn't recognize, but clearly had been written by Starswirl. He starts reading, and realizes something critical and that he must see Twilight Sparkle as soon as possible.
Tropes:
- No Good Deed Goes Unpunished: Played for Laughs. The town tries to throw Meadowbrook a hero's feast upon being cured only to have nothing to eat since the source of the plague was their contaminated oats which they had to throw out after she told them about it.Villager: This is the worst feast ever.
- Wham Line: From Starswirl's Journal, casting a new light on the historic figures.The best elements within us can spread light and virtue, and I know ponies who represent them all. Strength, Bravery, Healing, Beauty, Hope, Sorcery.
- Zombie Apocalypse: The ponies of Maredian, under the effects of the frog poison which contaminated their food, have turned a sickly mottled green and are reduced to shuffling mindlessly around town, moaning and gurgling and moving in a mob towards whoever catches their attention. While they aren't "traditional" undead zombies, they are certainly reminiscent of a typical zombie horde, and are referred to as such in the story.
