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

By eventide, fair Carrot Top
Sold out of all her stock
She packed away her humble shop
Then glanced up at the clock

She heard the giant tower's bell
Ring out its nighttime song
She hoped that her young son was well
And nothing had went wrong

Then on the tower's final chime
Two young ones trotted in
Her son and Sweetie, right on time,
Came hustling through the din

Young Sprout looked flush and full of joy
Despite his failing health
The farmer welcomed back her boy
While counting out her wealth.

She thanked young Sweetie for her care
And kindness towards her colt
She really was a fine young mare,
A worthy young adult!

The bashful Sweetie gave a shrug
With humble, practiced grace
She gave young Sprout a tender hug
A smile upon her face.

And once the fond goodbyes were said
The farmer packed her load
Into her worn cart's rough-hewn bed
And set off down the road.

They left the bustling town behind
Their dark path lit by torch,
Then reached their home only to find
Someone upon the porch!

The night's gloom hardly did display
The stranger's shrouded face
But Carrot saw her coat was gray
And she looked out of place

As Carrot Top and Carrot Sprout
Pulled up into the farm
The little stranger shouted out
And swore she meant no harm

She said that she was here this day
To find her missing friend
For she'd been walking out this way
Before last evening's end

And only then did Carrot sense
She hadn't took the time
To contemplate this consequence
Of her enormous crime

She'd raise suspicion back in town
As more foals met their fate
Their searching eyes would all bear down
To come investigate!

This filly was the first to ask
But surely not the last;
They'd complicate the farmer's task
Of saving Sprout real fast!

And as the filly did recite
Her lost friend's age and name
Poor Carrot knew her kill last night
Was surely just the same.

So Carrot stood up straight and taut
And spoke both loud and clear
She lied and said that she had not
Seen any foal 'round here

The filly searched the farmer's soul
With sparkling purple eyes
And Carrot feared this simple foal
Might catch her in her lies

For her identity was clear;
Her daddy ran the bank
The silver spoon that stamped her rear
Denoted wealth and rank

Her glasses made her look the part
Of one with wits quite fast
In science, spelling, math and art
She never came in last.

At last the filly's gaze was through
She spoke in tones quite slow
That should the farmer find a clue
She hoped she'd let her know

Just then a voice came from the cart
As Carrot's sickly youth
Struck fear into his mother's heart
By calling out the truth

Young Carrot Sprout, so kind and pure
Did what was good and right
He told the filly he was sure
He'd seen her friend last night!

He told how she had just appeared
When twilight's hour was nigh
And how she'd heckled, mocked, and jeered
To make him hurt and cry

The filly gasped in disbelief
And glared at Carrot Top
The farmer's gut sunk down to grief
She knew this had to stop!

That nosy child could never know
What happened in the wood
And so she told the foal to go
And stay away for good

Reluctantly she went away,
But soon, called out the youth,
She'd come back another day
And figure out the truth.

So Carrot huffed and stamped the ground 
Then put her cart away
She turned her door's knob, cold and round
And turned in for the day

And while she tucked her son in bed
With soft, maternal care
He turned and asked, eyes full of dread
Just why she lied back there

He heard her give the bully hell
While he trembled in fright,
Why could she not remember well
What happened just last night?

She stroked his mane and told her sweet,
In one maternal coo
That sadly, lies and plain deceit
Were something grown-ups do

For she had not lied on a whim,
She told her sleepy foal,
She lied because she cared for him
With all her heart and soul

She softly sang a lullaby
To put her child to sleep,
And once he dozed, she gave a sigh
So ragged, long and deep.

She went downstairs to have a drink
And calm her battered nerves
She needed quiet time to think
Through all life's twists and curves

Yet as she sat down with a beer
And sunk into her chair
A noise outside did make it clear
That someone else was there

She growled and grabbed a candlestick
To see just who it was
And swore she'd shoo them off right quick
If they came without cause

And outside in her carrot field
Beneath the shroud of night
The stranger's form was soon revealed
In pale, soft candlelight

It was the filly from before,
The one who snooped and pried
She'd come to look around once more
And find some clues outside!

And when she spotted Carrot Top
The little filly froze
The farmer marched out through her crop
A short distance to close

She shouted at the little spy
For coming here tonight
But then the corner of her eye
Caught one horrendous sight:

The fearful foal was holding strong
Onto a muddy crown
That Carrot knew once did belong
To that young brat from town

Last night she left it on the ground
Like such a foolish lout!
And now this foal had come around
And found the secret out

The fearful filly squeaked and cried
And asked about her friend
And Carrot Top coldly replied
Her search was at an end

And forward then the farmer sped
Her candlestick held high
She struck the girl upon her head
Then dragged her off to die…