Swamp Fever · 5:53pm Aug 24th, 2018
Sometimes, a mare can go through some very scary things.
A few days ago, Fizzy, Gusty, Shady, Megan and I were out in the mastificent forest, hunting around for some flowers for Poesy's garden, When we came across a strange spotted flower growing on trees deep in the forest. We all made the fatal mistake of picking the flowers, and it wasn't long before we call came down with swamp water fever. Soon, all of our bodies were covered in spots, and we were sneezing out lightning. Dr Medicin, Wind Whistler, and nurses Tenderheart and Roseheart took care of us while we were ill.
Fortunately, we Ponylanders (and Megan as a human) have near-total immunity to swamp flower fever, and we soon recovered from our illness. But I have heard total horror stories about what this illness can do to Equestrian ponies and zebras (Zigzag is safe, due to Ponylnader blood), that Equestrian ponies are turned into trees by the spreading virus- how awful! I wonder how many of those abandoned villages- all surrounded by swamp flowers trees,- are actually surrounded by a forest made up of the ponies who once lived in them.
what a truly terrifying thought!
How is it that Ponylanders are pretty much immune to swamp fever? How did they develop the immunity?
4925030
There are many theories on this. One, the mix of non Equestrian genetics that makes up our DNA (oriental pony, hingistian horse, saddle Arabian horse, Clydesdale) under the theory that hybrids are stronger, with stronger immune systems. Another theory is the meat consumption, versus hay and oats, gave an immunity via a more varied diet. Or it could be something else entirely. We Ponylanders, along with the humanoid races, get sick from swamp fever, and have all the symptoms, but we've never turned into trees. AJ and Cheerilee are paranoid about gettign it though- AJ wouldn't go near her family for weeks when baby Applejack and Lightning came down with the disease.
4925034
Sounds like a good explanation to me. I suppose the Equestrians in your world could take some advice from the Equestrians in my Ponyverse, well some of them anyway, and eat meat!