//------------------------------//
// Canto III 
// Story: The Song of the Mandrake Queen 
// by Tavifag 
//------------------------------//

Young Sweetie gathered up her friends
And shared the plan she’d made
To satisfy her lofty ends
She needed both their aid

And when she told them what to do
To help the colt in need
Both Apple Bloom and Scootaloo
Quite happily agreed.

The kindly trio set about
Preparing their campaign
They crafted slogans they could shout
To maximize their gain

And when the sun’s first golden ray
Came heralding the dawn
They set out quick and seized the day
Their fundraiser was on!

They knocked on every single door
Hit every merchant’s stall
“Save Carrot Sprout!” they did implore
To ponies great and small

And soon they found, to their surprise,
Bits filling up their cart
For Sweetie, with her big, sad eyes
Could melt a frozen heart.

And when the day was growing old
Their fundraising was done
They marveled at their pile of gold
That gleamed beneath the sun

Triumphantly, the fillies went
To Carrot Top’s chateau
They laughed and sang with merriment
Their hearts were all aglow

For nothing in this world contends,
As all can plainly see,
With bringing hope to downcast friends
Through generosity.

They knocked on Carrot Top’s front door
And showed her their surprise
The farmer’s jaw dropped to the floor
And tears came to her eyes

The fillies told her of their quest
To help her save her son
She quelled the sobs within her breast
And deeply thanked each one.

Soon Sweetie’s friends excused themselves
They had somewhere to be
And Carrot Top ransacked her shelves
To find her finest tea

The farmer and the filly sat
And sipped at their hot brew
They laughed and had a lovely chat
As good friends often do

Soon Sweetie went up with a smile
To visit Carrot Sprout
And Carrot Top worked for a while
To count the money out.

She counted stack by golden stack
More than she’d ever seen
The sheer amount took her aback
She felt quite like a queen

But as she counted, she felt fear
Arising in her soul
Could even this cash see her clear
To pay her bill in full?

At last she set the money down
And choked up, lost for words
The alms of the entire town
Could not pay off those birds.

Sure, she was close, but not quite there
Just what was she to do?
To save the young colt in her care
Her options now were few.

When Sweetie went home for the day
She smiled and stroked her mane
She did not have the heart to say
Her efforts were in vain

And once young Sprout was tucked in tight
Both safe and warm in bed
His mother stole into the night
To walk and clear her head

She did not care as she went ‘round
It all was just the same
She cast her gaze down at the ground
And wandered without aim

But soon she gave a frightened gasp
And looked up just to see
That she was in the forest’s grasp
This was the Everfree!

The woods beyond her house, she knew
Were dangerous at night
For monsters slithered, sneaked, and flew
And sought some prey to bite

She did her best to keep her cool
And head back to the east
She prayed she wouldn’t meet a ghoul
Who’d have her for a feast

She thought she saw the forest’s edge
When something caught her ear
A strange voice coming from a hedge
Called out, both loud and clear

“Oh please my child, please hear my rhyme,
I do not mean you harm
I’ve watched you now for quite some time
Down on your carrot farm…”