Chapter Text
STAGE 1
LASTS 3-8 DAYS
NOT CONTAGIOUS
SYMPTOMS ARE VERY SIMILAR TO A COMMON COLD, SO IT IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO TELL IF THE RECIPIENT IS TRULY INFECTED
NOTE: IF THE RECIPIENT WAS BITTEN, THERE WILL BE SWELLING AROUND THE BITE
STAGE 2
LASTS 4-6 DAYS
NOT CONTAGIOUS
RECIPIENT'S COAT LOSES COLOR AND THEIR SKIN BEGINS TO STING. IN SOME CASES, THE AREAS AROUND THE HOOVES AND CUTIE MARK START TO BLEED IN THIS STAGE.
CUTIE MARK, EARS, NOSE, AND HOOVES BECOME IRRITATED AND ITCHY
(FOR UNICORNS AND ALICORNS, THE HORN ALSO BECOMES IRRITATED)
MANE AND TAIL START LOSING COLOR
STAGE 3
LASTS 5-7 DAYS
(LASTS 10-15 DAYS IF BITTEN AND NOT EXPOSED TO SPORES)
CONTAGIOUS BY BITE
CUTIE MARK FADES COMPLETELY AND IS REPLACED BY AN OPEN WOUND. THIS WOUND CONSTANTLY BLEEDS AND WILL NOT STOP UNTIL RECIPIENT IS OUT OF BLOOD.
RECIPIENT'S COAT BEGINS TO BURN AND THE SKIN STARTS TO ROT. IF RECIPIENT WAS EXPOSED TO SPORES, THIS BEGINS NEAR THE NOSTRILS AND HOOVES, BUT IF THE RECIPIENT WAS BITTEN, IT STARTS AROUND THE BITE. IT EVENTUALLY WILL SPREAD THROUGH THE ENTIRE BODY.
RECIPIENT'S HAIR (MANE AND TAIL) STARTS TO FALL OUT.
NOTE: FOR ALICORNS AND UNICORNS, THE HORN BEGINS TO TURN BLACK AND THEY LOSE CONTROL OF THEIR MAGIC COMPLETELY. FOR PEGASI AND ALICORNS, THE FEATHERS ON THEIR WINGS BEGIN TO FALL OFF.
STAGE 4
LASTS 5-7 DAYS
(LASTS 10-15 DAYS IF BITTEN AND NOT EXPOSED TO SPORES)
CONTAGIOUS BY ANY PHYSICAL CONTACT
RECIPIENT'S BODY HAS BEGUN TO DECOMPOSE.
RECIPIENT'S COAT, STARTING AT THE HOOVES AND EARS, BEGINS TO EMIT BLACK FLAMES. DESPITE HOW THEY LOOK, THEY ARE ACTUALLY VERY COLD TO THE TOUCH AND COULD CAUSE FROSTBITE OR HYPOTHERMIA TO AN UNINFECTED.
FOR ALICORNS AND UNICORNS, THE HORN BEGINS TO EMIT FLAMES, ASWELL
THE RECIPIENT CAN NO LONGER CONTROL THEIR BODY. THEY ARE NO LONGER OUTWARDLY CONCIOUS, THOUGH THEY CAN STILL THINK FOR THEMSELVES. THEY CANNOT SPEAK IN THIS STAGE.
SKIN AROUND WHERE THE CUTIE MARK USED TO BE ROTS, EXPOSING THE PONY'S BONES AND MUSCLES
STAGE 5
LASTS 6-8 DAYS
CONTAGIOUS BY ANY CONTACT
EXPOSURE ALSO CAUSES HYPOTHERMIA, CAUSING THE IDENTIFICATION PROCESS OF THE INFECTION TO BE MORE DIFFICULT AS THE SYMPTOMS OF HYPOTHERMIA OVERPOWER THE SYMPTOMS OF A STAGE I OR STAGE 2 INFECTION.
RECIPIENT'S BODY HAS FULLY DECOMPOSED. HOWEVER, THE SPORES TAKE THE SHAPE OF THE RECIPIENT.
IF THE RECIPIENT IS AN ALICORN OR PEGASUS, THE WINGS FALL OFF. IF THEY ARE A UNICORN OR ALICORN, THE HORN FALLS OFF. IF RECIPIENT IS CURED AFTER THIS STATE, THEY WILL NOT REGAIN THEIR HORN OR WINGS.
RECIPIENT IS NO LONGER CONSCIOUS.
THEY ARE STILL CURABLE IN THIS STAGE, BUT THE INFECTION WILL HAVE LONG LASTING EFFECTS AFTERWARDS. THESE EFFECTS MAY INCLUDE BRAIN DAMAGE, SKIN CANCER, OR A COMATOSE STATE.
STAGE 6
LASTS 3 DAYS
CONTAGIOUS BY ANY CONTACT
CONTACT IN THIS STAGE ALSO CAUSES HYPOTHERMIA
THE SPORES BEGIN TO REPRODUCE. THEY LOSE
THE SHAPE OF A PONY AND START TO 'MELT'
THIS PONY IS NOW UNCUREABLE
STAGE 7
THIS STAGE IS PERMANENT. THE SPORES BEGIN TO SPREAD AND CONTINUE TO REPRODUCE, NOW STRONGER DUE TO CONSUMING THE POWER OF THE PONY. THE PONY IS DEAD, AND THEIR CORPSE NO LONGER REMAINS.