Divine Swamp Fever AU

The sun is slowly setting over Sweet Apple Acres, painting the sky in deep oranges and reds. You’re helping Applejack hammer wooden boards over the barn windows while Big Mac silently stacks hay bales nearby. Apple Bloom stays close to her big sister, looking nervous and clutching a small lantern. Granny Smith is resting inside the farmhouse, her usual energy dimmed by worry.

Applejack: wiping sweat from her brow with a heavy sigh “Ah sure do appreciate you stickin’ around to help, sugarcube. With how bad things are gettin’ lately... it’s been real hard keepin’ the farm safe for the family. Big Mac’s been workin’ nonstop, and Apple Bloom’s been havin’ nightmares.”

Bon Bon walks over from the direction of Ponyville, her expression tight with worry. She keeps glancing back over her shoulder as if expecting something to emerge from the trees.

Bon Bon: “Have any of you seen Lyra? She came by earlier but... she’s been acting really strange lately. She keeps drinking water nonstop, her eyes are all red and irritated, and she zones out mid-sentence. I’m really scared for her... I think it might be the Divine Swamp Fever.”

Applejack’s face darkens as she grips her hammer tighter.

Applejack: “Ah was hopin’ it wouldn’t reach us this fast. Rarity’s been workin’ herself to the bone as a nurse tryin’ to help everypony, but reports from Canterlot say it’s spreadin’ quicker than we thought.”

The group falls quiet. In the distance, the swamp mist seems closer than it was yesterday, glowing faintly under the fading light.

What do you do or say?

Later that evening, a small dragonfire scroll suddenly appears in a burst of green flames. You gather with Applejack, Big Mac, and Apple Bloom around the kitchen table to read it. The message is from Twilight, written in hurried, slightly shaky hoofwriting.

Twilight’s Message: “We’re safe at Canterlot Castle for now with Celestia, Luna, and Zecora. Zecora has been giving us crucial information about the origins of the Divine Swamp Fever. It started deep in the swamps and spreads through spores. Please be extremely careful out there — we’ve lost contact with Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie. If you see them... don’t approach. They may already be infected. Stay safe. We’re doing everything we can here.”

Applejack’s jaw tightens as she finishes reading the scroll out loud. She looks exhausted but determined.

Applejack: “Rainbow and Pinkie... Ah can’t believe it. We gotta stay strong here at the farm. Big Mac, keep the perimeter secure. Apple Bloom, stay close to the barn and don’t wander off.”

The scroll feels heavy in your hooves. The infection is getting closer every day, and the weight of the situation settles over everyone.

What do you do next?

It’s late afternoon. You’re walking through the apple orchard with Applejack when you both hear strange, wet gurgling sounds coming from deeper in the trees. Some of the apples look rotten and dripping with dark fluid.

Applejack: stopping suddenly, ears perked “You hear that? That ain’t normal...”

She grabs her axe tightly, eyes scanning the trees.

“Stay close, sugarcube. Somethin’ feels real wrong out here today. Could be one of them infected ponies wanderin’ too close...”

The gurgling grows louder. Something is moving between the trees.

What do you do?

You wake up in the barn feeling extremely wrong. Your throat burns with unbearable thirst no matter how much water you drink. Your eyes feel irritated and your mind is foggy. Grayish patches have started appearing on your coat. You realize with growing horror that you’ve been infected by the Divine Swamp Fever.

Despite the brain fog and the way your body feels heavier, you force yourself to stand and stumble out of the barn, desperately searching for your friends while trying to fight the infection.

You (thinking): “I have to find Applejack... or Rarity... someone... I can’t let this take me completely. Not yet.”

Your legs feel unsteady as you move through the orchard. You cough violently, spitting out dark bile. The infection is progressing, but you’re still fighting it, clinging to memories of your friends to keep moving.

In the distance, you think you hear Applejack’s voice calling your name. Or is the fever playing tricks on you?

What do you do?

A message arrives from Sunburst in the Crystal Empire. Cadance is protecting Flurry Heart while keeping Shining Armor imprisoned underground due to his infection. Sunburst is helping watch over the young alicorn and reports that the infection has reached the outskirts of the Empire.

The letter warns that the situation is deteriorating rapidly and asks for any new information from Zecora and Twilight at Canterlot Castle.

Applejack reads the letter with a heavy sigh.

Applejack: “Things are fallin’ apart everywhere... We gotta stay strong here for the family.”

What do you do?

Rarity arrives at Sweet Apple Acres wearing a nurse’s outfit, looking exhausted but still trying to maintain some elegance. She’s been traveling between settlements, helping treat early-stage infected ponies and delivering supplies.

Rarity: sighing dramatically “Darlings, the situation is getting worse by the day. I’ve seen so many ponies in terrible condition... the bile, the rotting, the way they just... change. It’s simply dreadful.”

She checks on everyone, including you, with gentle but worried eyes.

Rarity: “Please be careful out there. I couldn’t bear losing any more friends to this nightmare.”

What do you do or ask her?

Disturbing reports come in from a passing traveler that Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash have both been fully infected. Their behavior has changed dramatically — Rainbow moving with unnatural speed, Pinkie’s laughter sounding hollow and wrong.

Applejack looks devastated as she hears the news, sitting down heavily on a hay bale.

Applejack: “Not them too... Rainbow was always so full of life... and Pinkie... Ah can’t believe it. This can’t keep happenin’ to everypony we know.”

The barn feels heavier as the reality sinks in.

What do you do?

It’s late at night. You’re on watch duty with Applejack and Big Mac near the edge of the orchard. The swamp mist is creeping closer than ever, glowing faintly under the moonlight. The usual night sounds are missing — replaced by an eerie silence broken only by occasional wet gurgling from the trees.

Applejack: keeping her voice low “Stay sharp, sugarcube. Ah got a real bad feelin’ tonight. Somethin’ ain’t right out there.”

Big Mac stands silently beside you, axe in hoof, eyes scanning the darkness.

What do you do?

A new dragonfire scroll arrives from Canterlot Castle. Twilight’s writing is more frantic than usual:

“The infection is mutating faster than we thought. Zecora believes the spores are becoming airborne in certain areas. Stay away from anypony showing symptoms — extreme thirst, red eyes, coughing. We’re doing everything we can here with Celestia and Luna, but we need more time. Please stay safe.”

Applejack reads it aloud, her expression grim.

Applejack: “We gotta be extra careful now. No wanderin’ off alone.”

What do you do?

Bon Bon pulls you aside behind the barn, looking terrified and exhausted. Her voice is low and shaky.

Bon Bon: “I’m losing Lyra... She’s not herself anymore. She barely eats, she’s always thirsty, her eyes are so red, and she keeps zoning out like she’s not even here. She said something about ‘the swamp calling her’ last night... I don’t know what to do. I’m really scared I’m going to lose her completely.”

She looks at you desperately, eyes pleading for advice or comfort.

What do you say or do?