New to the Pondathon’s story?
Read this prologue first or read the previous chapter.

The magical boundary shatters.

Darkness spills into the Pond like opaque smoke. Shadowy fingers, like in Gen’s garden, reach forth and drain the greenery and life from the Pond’s flora. Drained, the plants wilt and slump, their energies stolen. A chill blankets over you too, and the courage you held onto gives way to despair and hopelessness. Is this the darkness’s doing? How can there be hope now…? What hope do you have against such power?

“Friends!” calls Xiaolong, as the darkness looms closer. With a stamp of her wooden staff, you feel warmth and hope swell in your chest, your mind clearing. “Believe in your friends, because they will protect you! Believe in yourself, because you are strong!”

Corporeal shadows emerge from the darkness. They have no face, no expression, but they have legs that carry them closer and hands that wield weapons as deep as the moonless night.

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New to the Pondathon’s story?
Read this prologue first or read the previous chapter.

Days pass, and you do not know what is crueler: the brutal wait for the battle ahead or the terrifying thought that an evil so cruel and immense is near.

Sprout bursts through the magical boundary, their cries of distress piercing the tense bustle of last minute preparation and fortification. “It’s here!” they shriek. “It’s almost here!”

The evil does not arrive like the earthquake or the deafening thunder that you had imagined.

The evil arrives with silence — and then a loud click.

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Welcome to the Pondathon’s Tutorial!

What is the Pondathon?

• The Pondathon is a co-operative and narrative-driven readathon where you read books and collect points to protect your friends from the encroaching darkness beyond the Pond.
• If you missed out on what the Pondathon is, you can read about when the evil was first discovered and information about the readathon at Pondathon: Prologue – Something’s Wrong…
• You can find the complete schedule for the readathon at Pondathon: Prologue – It’s Time to Fight and Protect.
• You can find information about the teams that you can join at Pondathon: Prologue – We Need You and Your Magic; Choose a Team!
• Sign up for the Pondathon and create your very own Pond character! You can sign up and find links to resources for character creation at Pondathon: Prologue – Join Us In Battle and Armour Up!

Here, you will find a basic outline of how the Pondathon will work as well as some answers to any questions that you may have.

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New to the Pondathon’s story?
Read this prologue first or read the previous chapter.

Ever since the Pond friends discovered that a destructive evil was on its way to the Pond, the Pond friends had been working tirelessly to prepare for the battle ahead.

You’ve decided on the team you want to join, but you aren’t quite sure what to do with yourself.

Xiaolong has been doing her best to manage all the forest sprites seeking refuge at the Pond and making sure that the magic of the Pond can sustain everyone. Gen has been working hard to prepare potions and magical herbs, Cuddle has been cooking and providing food to all the friends and forest sprites, Sprout has been strategising with the forces of nature outside of the Pond, and Varian…

“Mind if I join you?”
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New to the Pondathon’s story?
Read this prologue first or read the previous chapter.

The word ‘battle’ hangs heavy over the Pond. You have never known the Pond to be a place of conflict or struggle and you didn’t think – still don’t think – that your Pond friends would ever hurt even the most annoying fly. Xiaolong would probably try and make friends with it.

You get the feeling that the other Pond friends feel the same – you can see it in the way their shoulders slump, how their eyes fall.
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