Teaser
Sc. 1 - ext. Bog - DAy
FlutTERSHY
Thank you so much Zecora! I never would have found the crisscross moss without you!
Zecora
Of course! I know where it grows so it's not much to ask. Though retrieving it has been a difficult task--
Fluttershy
Oh, but the oxen visiting Sweetfeather Sanctuary next week will surely appreciate it! It really adds a shine to their coat.
Zecora
There we go. Now, that wasn't so tough. Fluttershy tell me, will this be enough?
FLUTTERSHY
Gee, I don't know, it's a pretty big pack, so maybe... enough to fill up this sack?
Oh my! You're rubbing off on me, Zecora!
FluTTERSHY (CONT'D)
Oh no, oh no, oh no! Zecora! Are you all right?
ZecORA
No need to fret, I only got wet...
ZeCORA (CONT'D)
At least now I can easily grab, all the crisscross moss there is to be had!
Fluttershy
What's happening to you?
ZECORA
Honestly, it's hard to tell, but suddenly I don't feel so well.
END TEASER
ACT ONE
Sc. 2 - INT. DOCTOR'S OFFICE - LATER
Dr. HORSE
All right, Zecora, let's have a listen to the ol' ticker!
dr. HORSE (CONT'D)
Hmmm...
FLUTTERSHY
Do you think it's serious, Doctor?!
DR. HORSE
Well, that wasn't a good sign.
Fluttershy
I can't believe a flower did this! I take back thinking it was pretty!
Dr. Horse
We're looking for any color, other than red—
Fluttershy
Whew!
Dr. HorsE (CONT'D)
It's just as I thought. I'm afraid you have a very rare disease called Swamp Fever.
ZeCORA
Tell me, Doctor, what should I do? I've never heard of Swamp Fever, mind you.
Dr. HORSE
Unfortunately very little is known about the disease, except, of course, its symptoms: change of coat, coughing bubbles, shock sneezing, confusion and the last stage...
Dr. HORSE (CONT'D)
The afflicted turn into the very trees that drop the disease spreading flower.
ZeCORA
Is there anything that can be done? For such a terrible conundrum?
Dr. HORSE
A cure has yet to be discovered. I'm sorry, Zecora.
DR. HORSE (CONT'D)
It's a lot to take in. I'll leave you two to discuss.
FluTTERSHY
Zecora, this is all my fault! If you hadn't been helping me get the crisscross moss, you wouldn't have gotten Swamp Fever! I'm so sorry.
ZeCORA
Fluttershy, you are not to blame. These things happen, all the same.
FluTTERSHY
I refuse to accept that! There has to be somepony who can help you.
ZeCORA
There's a healer of legend who never would fail. But I only know her from ancient folk tales. Mystical and masked, she came in the night, and cured everything from hoof cough to fur blight. What became of the healer, nopony knows, for she disappeared ages and ages ago.
FluTTERSHY
The Mystical Mask, of course! My parents would tell me about her whenever I was sick in bed.
ZeCORA
There's so many accounts of her power to heal, she can't just be a legend. I think she's real.
FluTTERSHY
If that's who we need to cure you, then I'm going to find her! And I know just the pony who can help!!
Sc. 3 - EXT. TWILIGHT SPARKLE'S CASTLE - LATER
Fluttershy
Twilight! Twilight! Twilight! Oh, I'm so sorry to bother-- are... are you cooking?
Twilight SPARKLE
Yeah, Spike and I are having a cook-off.
Spike (O.s.)
My cauliflower bites blew her sweet potato muffins out of the water!
TwilighT SPARKLE
I'm glad you're here, Fluttershy, because we are going to need a second opinion about that--
FluttersHY
They're both delicious. But... Zecora has Swamp Fever and there's no cure and it's all my fault and the only pony who can cure her is the Mystical Mask and I need your help to find her!
TwILIGHT SPARKLE
Uuuhh...
SpiKE
So what'd she pick? The cauliflower bites, right?
Sc. 4 - INT. TWILIGHT SPARKLE'S CASTLE - LIBRARY - LATER
Twilight SPARKLE
That's the last book on ancient ponies and still no mention of the Mystical Mask...
FluTTERSHY
Hmm, did we check the unabridged versions?
TwILIGHT SPARKLE
Yes. And the books on rare diseases, the books on rare plants and the entire section on bog habitation--
FluttersHY
Well, we might have to look through every book in the entire library, but I know we'll figure it out!  
Dissolve to:
Sc. 5 - Int. Twilight sparkle's castle - library - night
FluTTERSHY
Another dead end. Have you found anything yet, Twilight? Twilight?
TwILIGHT SPARKLE
Ah!
FLUTTERSHY
Goodness, are you okay?
TwilighT SPARKLE
I'm fine. Fluttershy, you know that I want to help Zecora. But I think we'd be a lot better at it if we got some sleep. We've been at this for hours.
FluTTERSHY
Oh, I'm so sorry! I didn't realize how late it had gotten!
Twilight SPARKLE
No problem. I'll grab you a pillow and--
FLUTTERSHY
Oh, no no no, I meant you should sleep. I can't rest until Zecora is healed!
TwILIGHT SPARKLE
I understand how you feel, but I still think we'd have more luck if we tried again in the morning.
TwILIGHT SPARKLE (CONT'D)
Just promise me you'll take a break soon.
FluTTERSHY
Mm-hmm.
TwILIGHT SPARKLE
Good night Fluttershy.
Sc. 6 - INT. TWILIGHT SPARKLE'S CASTLE - BEDROOM - DAWN
TwilighT SPARKLE
9 by 13 inch pan...
FluTTERSHY
Twilight!!
Twilight SPARKLE
Non-stick pans!!
SpIKE
What's all the commotion in here, ladies?
FlUTTERSHY
Sorry! But I figured out who the Mystical Mask is.
TwILIGHT SPARKLE
You did?
FLUTTERSHY
All I had to do was cross-reference a book about masks with another book on ancient Equestrian healers, then use a third book to translate it all from Old Ponish and there it was! Zecora was right! The Mystical Mask wasn't just a legend. The Mystical Mask was MAGE MEADOWBROOK!
TwILIGHT SPARKLE
The ancient sorceress from Hayseed Swamp? We studied her at Celestia's school. Are you sure?
FluTTERSHY
Absolutely! Mage Meadowbrook wasn't just a sorceress, she was also a healer and back then, healers wore masks so they wouldn't get sick themselves!
TwILIGHT SPARKLE
Fluttershy, I am so incredibly proud of you for using your research skills to figure this out! But... Meadowbrook lived ages ago and... Didn't she disappear?
FluTTERSHY
Mmhmm! But if we go to Hayseed Swamp, maybe we can find something she left behind. Something that could lead to a cure!
TWILIGHT SPARKLE
It seems like a long shot, but I guess it's possible--
FluTTERSHY
We have to try! I've got our route all planned out and on the way we can check up on Zecora and then-
TwILIGHT SPARKLE
Whoa, whoa, whoa. We're leaving now?
FluTTERSHY
Of course! Every second we spend waiting, is a second Zecora is coughing bubbles!
TWILIGHT SPARKLE
But Fluttershy, you haven't slept. And that's a long journey.
FluTTERSHY
There's no use trying to talk me out of this, Twilight! We've got no time to waste!
TWILIGHT SPARKLE
Can we at least grab some breakfast?
FLUTTERSHY
I packed cauliflower bites.
TWILIGHT SPARKLE
Aww. No sweet potato muffins?
SpIKE
I.. uh.. ate them all. They were actually really good.
END ACT ONE
ACT TWO
Sc. 7 - INT. ZECORA'S HUT - LATER
FluTTERSHY
...and that's when I realized the Mystical Mask was actually Mage Meadowbrook!
ZeCORA
That's marvelous, Fluttershy! I am quite impressed. While you're gone on your journey I'll try not to be-- worried.
FluTTERSHY
Oh no! Zecora, you didn't rhyme! You must be getting worse!
ZeCORA
No, no,no - not at all. Something, something-- ball?
FluTTERSHY
That's it! We have to go now!
TwILIGHT SPARKLE
Lead the way, Fluttershy!
Sc. 8 - EXT. HAYSEED SWAMP - LATER
TwilighT SPARKLE
So... where do you think Meadowbrook lived?
FLUTTERSHY
I'm not sure. Maybe there's somepony we can ask.
TwILIGHT SPARKLE
I think we might be the only ponies here.
FLUTTERSHY
Wait. I recognize that tree!
SC. 9 - THE CROOKED TREE - LATER
Fluttershy (CONT'D)
Yes, this has to be it! It's just like the illustrations of her home!  
TwILIGHT SPARKLE
Anypony who lives in a tree is okay by me.
Fluttershy
Well, if the doorway is sealed up, we'll just have to dig our way in. Back up, Twilight, I don't want you to get hurt!
TwILIGHT SPARKLE
Oooor we could try the handle...
FlUTTERSHY
It really blends in with the bark...
TwiLIGHT SPARKLE
Easy to miss.
Sc. 10 - INT. CROOKED TREE - CONTINUOUS
FluTTERSHY
Wow, it looks like this place has been abandoned for years.
FluTTERSHY
Twilight! Look! It's the same kind of lily pad that gave Zecora Swamp Fever!
Fluttershy (CONT'D)
I wonder if Meadowbrook was looking for cure for Swamp Fever too. Do you think she found it?!
TwILIGHT SPARKLE
I hope so. But let's not get ahead of ourselves--
Twilight SPARKLE (CONT'D)
That's exactly what I'm talking about. You're making your excited squeaking noise--
FluTTERSHY
Uh, I wasn't making my excited squeaking noise.
TwiLIGHT SPARKLE/fluttershy
Ahhhhhhhhhh!!!
Cattail
Y'all can stop screaming now.
CatTAIL (CONT'D)
Didn't mean to scare ya. I do that a lot...
TwILIGHT SPARKLE
Scare ponies? Or rock creepily in the dark?
CATTAIL
Well.. Both, I s'pose. Name's Cattail. Pleased to meetchya!
FluTTERSHY
Likewise, but um, may I ask, why are you in Mage Meadowbrook's home?
CatTAIL
Oh, I take care of the place.
 
CatTAIL (CONT'D)
I ain't much of a cleaner. But from what I hear, my kin weren't either, so I doubt they mind a few cobwebs in our ancestral home.
FluTTERSHY
You're related to Mage Meadowbrook?!
Fluttershy (CONT'D)
Oh my goodness, Twilight, we did it! Not only did we find Mage Meadowbrook's old house, we actually found one of her descendants!
TwiligHT SPARKLE
Honestly, I would not have guessed it.
Cattail
So, you lookin' for some kind of cure, huh? Well, now, I know Meadowbrook was known to always be writing in her journals. If she had the cure you want, I reckon that's where it'd be. Come on! I'll show ya the library.
TwILIGHT SPARKLE
Library? Now we're talking!
TwILIGHT SPARKLE (CONT'D)
Oh. Well, libraries come in all shapes and sizes.
FlUTTERSHY
This is good! It'll take us less time to go through everything.
FLUTTERSHY (CONT'D)
"Today my mom made me eat peas. Peas are yucky." Aaand, we can probably skip this one. Unless she found a cure when she was a foal...
Twilight SPARKLE
"I met a colt today. He pulled my mane so I put a frog on his head." Also not helpful. But I do kind of want to see where it goes--
Sc. 11 - INT. MAGE MEADOWBROOK'S TREE - later
FLUTTERSHY
Wait, listen to this! "Today, I tried again to brew an un-sniffle elixor..."
Sc. 12 - INT. MAGE MEADOWBROOK'S TREE - flashback
Fluttershy/meadowbrook (v.o)
...and I finally got it right!
Meadowbrook's MOTHER
Meadowbrook, I think it's time you had this.
MEADOWBROOK
My very own healer's mask... You think I'm ready, Mother?
Meadowbrook'S MOTHEr
What caused this?
Meadowbrook (V.O.)
Mother calls it "Swamp Fever". We've been trying to find a cure, but it hasn't been easy.
Sc. 13 - DISSOLVE TO LATER:
MEADOWBROOK (V.o.)
The fever's spread like wild fire. I fear if we don't find the cure soon, everypony will be in grave danger...
Sc. 14 - INT. Mage meadowbrook's tree - dissolve to later
Sc. 15 - EXT. BAYOU SWAMP - night - FLASHBACK
MEADOWBROOK (V.O.)
With mother sick, I didn't think I'd ever find a cure, but staring at those cursed flowers today-- I saw something...
meadowbrook
Flash Bees!
MEADOWBROOK (V.O.)
I realized the flower's poison didn't affect the Flash Bees and if they were immune to Swamp Fever, their honey could be the cure!
MEADOWBROOK (V.O.)
But they were so aggressive defending their hive, I didn't know how I was going to get it!
Meadowbrook
Here goes nothing.
Sc. 16 - INT. Mage MEADOWBROOK'S TREE - lATER
Meadowbrook/fluttershy(V.O.)
Today I cured Mother and the rest of the bayou...
Sc. 17 - INT. MAGE MEADOWBROOK'S TREE - BACK TO SCENE
Fluttershy
...It was the greatest feeling I've ever experienced and I promise to dedicate my life to curing ponies all over Equestria.
CaTtail
And she did just that. Right up till she disappeared without a trace.
FluTTERSHY
So all we have to do is find those aggressive flash bees and get them to give us their honey! Of course, it doesn't say how she did that...
FluTTERSHY (CONT'D)
What? Is my mane messy? I know I haven't slept in a while but--
FluTTERSHY (CONT'D)
Oh no! I've caught Swamp Fever!
END ACT TWO
ACT THREE
Sc. 18 - INT. MAGE MEADOWBROOK'S TREE - BACK TO SCENE
Twilight SPARKLE
Are you sure these are necessary?
FluttERSHY
What?
Twilight SPARKLE
I said, are you sure these are necessary?
FLUTTERSHY
YES! I won't risk infecting you or Cattail.
TwiLIGHT SPARKLE
What you can't risk is getting any sicker.If you don't rest, your symptoms will only get worse.
CattaiL
You really should rest up before going up against those Flash Bees. They are nasty critters.
FlutTERSHY
You don't know this about me, but I'm pretty good with animals. And besides, Dogtail--
CaTTAIL
Cattail.
FLUTTERSHY
--Zecora is counting on me. I have to help her just like Meadowbrook helped her mother and all those bayou ponies long ago.
TwilIGHT SPARKLE
But Fluttershy, as much as Meadowbrook took care of other ponies, I'm sure she also took care of herself!
FluTTERSHY
You're not going to change my mind, Twilight!
caTTAIl
For being sick, she sure is strong...
Sc. 19 - EXT. BAYOU SWAMP - LATER
Cattail
The Flash Bee hive is just up yonder -
TwILIGHT SPARKLE
Are you sure you don't want me to come with you?
FluTTERSHY
No, it's too dangerous, Twilight. Besides, I've already gotten one friend hurt. I won't let it happen to another.
FlutterSHY (CONT'D)
Okay, Fluttershy. You can do this.
FluTTERSHY (CONT'D)
Mind over matter!
FlutterSHY (CONT'D)
Hello, flash bees! I was hoping I could get some of your honey--
 
FlutTERSHY (CONT'D)
Oh, I see. You don't let others have any. Well, I'm sorry, but I really need it.
FluTTERSHY (CONT'D)
I didn't want it to have tocome to this but I'll just have to use... The Stare--
FluTTERSHY (CONT'D)
Ah! You really are aggressive--
FluTTERSHY (CONT'D)
Oh dear.
Sc. 20 - INT. MAGE meadowbrook'S tree - THREE DAYS LATER
FlutteRSHY
What happened? Where am I?
Twilight SPARKLE
I'm so glad you're okay! You're still in Meadowbrook's tree.
CaTTAIL
You fainted but Twilight shot some magic up and caught ya. It was crazy.  
FlutterSHY
Goodness gracious!
FluTTERSHY (CONT'D)
Have you heard from Zecora? Is she okay?
CaTTAIL
We got word your zebra friend has started sprouting leaves.
FLUTTERSHY
She's already turning into a tree? I thought we'd have more time.
TwILIGHT SPARKLE
Actually, you've been asleep for three days--
FluTTERSHY
Three days?!
TWILIGHT SPARKLE
You were asleep so long, we were afraid you wouldn't be able to move when you woke up, but thankfully you'd just wore yourself down.
FluTTERSHY
Oh, dear. We have to get back to the hive. I've wasted so much time--
Cattail
Now hang on there, Fluttershy, those Flash Bee critters are tricky.
TwilIGHT SPARKLE
Cattail's right. I can't even use magic to calm them down. We'll have to find another way to get the honey--
CATTAIL
We've tried everything from disguises to things I won't even speak of--
TwILIGHT SPARKLE
He’s been through a lot these past three days.
FluttERSHY
Wait... disguises...
FlutterSHY (CONT'D)
That's it! I know how she did it! I know how Meadowbrook got the honey!
Sc. 21 - EXT. BAYOU SWAMP - LATER
FluTTERSHY
This is how Meadowbrook got the honey from the Flash Bees.
CaTTAIL
She threw a mask at 'em? I wouldn't recommend that.
FluTTERSHY
No. The male bees aren't aggressive around the queen bee and this mask has the same stripes that she does!
TwILIGHT SPARKLE
Fluttershy, that’s brilliant!
FluttersHY
There's no time to waste.
twiLIGHT SPARKLE
Hooves crossed!
Cattail
Oh golly, I can't watch!
FluTTERSHY
Mind over matter!
FluTTERSHY
Twilight!! It's working!!
Sc. 22 - INT. ZECORA'S HUT - LATER
twILIGHT SPARKLE
I think she's cured now, Fluttershy.
ZeCORA
OhhI do feel fine, but this honey is divine.
FluTTERSHY
Oh you’re rhyming again! Welcome back my friend!
ZecORA
Thank you Fluttershy, for all you endured. If not for you, I would not be cured.
FLUTTERSHY
If it wasn't for me, you wouldn't have been sick in the first place!
ZeCORA
Regret is not what you should feel, because on this journey, you've learned a great deal.
FluTTERSHY
That's true. I certainly learned that if you don't take care of yourself, you won't be able to take care of anypony else. In fact, if I had rested - like Twilight suggested all along - maybe I would have thought to use Meadowbrook's mask sooner.
Dr. HORSE
Please tell me you found the cure...
FADE OUT! THE END.