Humani Victoria

Chapter 27~ Not Out Of The Woods Yet

"It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves."

                                                                             ~William Shakespeare

A rainy wind tore at Jason's clothes and hair, his boots dug into the wet sand and pushed forward despite the hurricane force wind. It was dark, pitch dark and Jason couldn't see anything, it must have been nighttime but Jason couldn't see the stars or the moon through what must have been dark clouds coating the sky. The only light visible to him now, was a single beam of white light that rotated around at the top of a tall wide lighthouse atop a cliff which Jason was walking up towards. Yet, he didn't know why.

The wind screamed in his ear, it screamed words too, voices of people he knew..

"I'm so sick of you Jason!"

"Give up Pony-friend thing!"

"There's no point son! Stop wasting your energy! Your not getting anywhere!"

"Stop being so stubborn!"

"Turn back!"

Jason ignored them and kept going.

Sand turned to rock and suddenly Jason recognized this lighthouse. Somewhere, somehow he had seen it before, not just another lighthouse that looked the same, but this specific lighthouse. He reached it and leaned against the wet stone that it was made of. Next to him was a large wooden door, he pushed against it and met resistance... Somehow the hurricane had gotten inside the lighthouse and was impeding his progress but he pushed harder still.

That was until he heard an echoing voice call his name. Before he entered he turned around and saw the once dark clouds part to reveal a full moon. As he stared, the moon got brighter and brighter until it blinded him completely and turned his vision white as he felt himself fall backwards into a soft mattress and a blanket cover over him.

His vision cleared and he opened his eyes.

Goldenoaks Library, Ponyville, Equestria, Wednesday, 27th of February, 6:37am, 2206 AC

Jason awoke from one of the more restful slumbers that he has had in the past week, ever since he left Canterlot the nightmares had gotten less frequent and they almost always ended like the one he just had, a full moon, Luna's voice, and Jason awaking feeling much better.

He sat up in his bed and looked out his window, a full winters moon sat in the clear night sky, accompanied by bright stars, Jason grinned out at them.

"Thanks Luna, you're the best," He said to the night and he swore he saw the stars twinkle back at him.

Well and truly awake now, Jason decided he might as well get up. He swung himself out of bed and quickly got dressed. Boots, blue pants, white collars ,shirt, brown long coat and a scarf that Rarity had made him for winter. He strapped on his knife and gladius and then quietly opened his door and tip-toed through the hall and down the stairs, while Twillight and Spike were still asleep. Apparently ponies didn't have Daylight Savings Time.

Things had been rather chilly between Jason and Twilight lately, the rest of the Mane Six had managed to forgive him in varying levels of speed. But Twilight had taken the deception to heart, perhaps it was because her own mentor had lied to her as well? Perhaps it was because so much of the history she thought she knew was wrong? Or maybe because she thought Celestia might be hiding more from her?

Jason had to admit, she may have a point on that last one.

He stepped outside. It had snowed in the night so Jason's boots crunched into three centimeters of snow. A cold breeze bit at him making Jason grateful for his scarf and warm clothing. He trudged into the night, not really feeling like doing his usual morning run. In reality, Jason wanted company but everyone was either asleep or not in the mood to talk to him.

Instead, Jason found himself at the edge of the Everfree Forest. Fleetingly, he thought it was probably a bad idea, but he was too out of it to really care. He entered the forest's edge and as he walked, the snow got slightly deeper, the tree branches blocked out the moon and suddenly it became very, very dark. Jason heard movement in the dark, some large form moving through the woods rapidly, twigs snapped and leaves rustled, the beast leaped out of the woods and next to Jason, rubbing against his leg with an affectionate purr.

"Hullo Sebastian," Jason said with a grin, scratching behind the Manticore's ear.

Sebastian purred affectionately and patterned along next to Jason as he strolled further and further into the forest, any fear he might've had here have gone now. Jason was reasonably confident that Sebastian would scare off most of the other creatures in the Everfree, as long as they avoided the centre, from Jason understood that's where the most dangerous creatures resided.

Suddenly the Manticore that he had been petting, dashed out right in front of him. Sebastian looked at Jason with his earnest eyes, like he wanted him to follow. Jason raised an eyebrow at that but followed none the less, Sebastian seemed to be sticking to the path anyway. Deeper and deeper they went into the dark woods and Jason began to worry that this Manticore was leading him right into the lair of some greater beast.

The sky was beginning to lighten when Jason entered a small clearing, a small wooden hut sat in the middle of the clearing. 'Hut' being a loose words as it appeared to be a very craggy old tree with a door on the front, that wasn't the strangest part, a mask of some sort was hung over the door and bottles of unknown content were tied to the tree's branches and swung gently in the breeze.

Sebastian laid down by the door, panting more like a dog than a cat. Jason patted him on the head and approached the door, he knocked politely but no answer came, instead the door simply creaked open as if inviting him in.

"Creepy," Jason said to himself. "Hello? Anyone home?"

Of course no answer came, so Jason let himself in. The inside was an odd view: a large black cauldron sat in the centre, the walls were decorated with many masks and bottles hanging by strings, there were shelves full of potions and jars of different herbs and even small creatures, from frogs to insects to things Jason had no name for. Even as he closed the door, he noticed something strange; a Dreamcatcher, now that was something he hadn't seen in a while.

Jason stepped over the cauldron and peered inside, there was some sort of green liquid swirling around, it smelled foul and caused him to quickly recoil back. It was then he heard a noise, done by a sort of constant humming like from a machine... Or a person, it was coming from a small room that was separated only by a thin cloth.

Jason stepped through the cloth and into a small room and was met yet again with another odd sight, these were becoming so common they were loosing their oddity. Laying on the floor with a small mat under her was a zebra mare, she wore jewellery, good bands around her left front legs, earring, and even rings around her neck which was strange. Her mane was striped and styled into a mohawk, and on her flank was a swirl design with several triangles pointing in different directions around it.

She was also humming, her eyes closed and a serene look upon her face. Jason was only guessing but he thought she might be mediating, although he hadn't ever heard of a Pony doing that before... On the other hand she was a zebra not a pony. Jason sat down across from her on a spare mat, him waiting patiently as he felt like it would be rude to interrupt.

He didn't have to wait long, incidentally the mediating Zebra heard him come in as she stopped humming and opened her eyes to reveal piercing blue irises that seemed to look right through him.

"What sort of creature do my eyes see?" She asked through a thick accent. "One that has come uninvited into my homely tree."

"Uh, my name's Jason, I'm a human," Jason answered. "Who are you? And if you don't mind my asking, what are you doing in the middle of the Everfree?"

"Tell of humans I have never heard, to sooner learn of you I would have preferred," the Zebra said. "Zecora is my name although you may find it lame, as to why I am here that's because of the herbs and plants, I fear."

"So your an alchemist then?"

"You could call me that but it would only be part of the fact."

"...Ookay then," Jason said. "So... Uh... Not to be rude, but why are you speaking in rhyme?"

"Ah, a good question so I will give you a confession," Zecora said. "You asked me if I was an alchemist and I said yes, but to much greater powers I will confess."

"Greater powers?" Jason asked in confusion. "I don't understand, what does that have to do with-"

"Not all zebras speak in rhyme, for that would take too much time," Zecora explained. "But for those who seek the powers of a Witch, then speaking in rhyme can heavily enrich."

"So speaking in rhyme gives you power?" Jason asked.

"Magic works in mysterious ways, but the power it gives me will amaze," Zecora said. "But enough about me, I'm curious about you, don't you see?"

"Uh, okay, what do you want to know?"

"How did you come to find this place, that is home to my little base?"

"Well I was lead here, by a manticore named Sebastian," Jason paused. "And I just realized how ridiculous that sounds."

"Ridiculous it may be, the fact that it is truthful is key," Zecora said. "The beast clearly wanted you here, perhaps because of something you fear?"

"Something I fear? But I'm not afraid of anything." Said Jason unconvincingly

"Are you not? A lie I think I have caught," Zecora said with a smile. "Tell Zecora of your ills, I promise I will not run for the hills."

"Well... I..." Jason stuttered, he felt like he shouldn't tell some random Zebra about his dreams, but for some reason he felt like she could help him.

"I've been having nightmares, bad ones, usually they were all the same but this one was really different," Jason said. "I didn't see much as Princess Luna pulled me awake before I could get further than I was."

"What was so different about this dream? Was it something that made you scream?"

"Well no, the difference here was I was outside during a storm and there was a lighthouse, I wanted to get to the lighthouse, I don't know why."

"Have you seen this lighthouse before? Where did it stand? On a cliff, or the shore?" Zecora asked.

"It was on a cliff," Jason said. "And... It did seem familiar, somehow, but it could also be just any old lighthouse."

"Dreams are never so clear," Zecora warned. "Let me explore your dreams for you fear."

Zecora rose from her mat and beckoned for Jason to follow her, she lead him back into her hut proper and over to her cauldron. The green liquid was still there and as Zecora approached it began to glow and stir as if her mere presence sparked life in it.

"What's in there anyway?" Jason asked, peering into the cauldron.

"This is my magical brew, used for using my powers anew," Zecora answered. "Now let me peer into your mind and see what sort of future I shall find."

Jason stood opposite of her with the cauldron in between them, Zecora began waving her hooves over the liquid with it frothing and moving with her, she began talking in a language that Jason didn't recognize. The room became dark like the sun had gone behind a cloud.

"Show me what plagues this man," Zecora chanted, closing her eyes and swaying back and forth. "And I shall help him with all the powers of my clan."

Zecora swayed back and forth a few more times before she froze for a moment and her eyes snapped open, her blue eyes were gone and replaced with the same glowing green of the liquid she was chanting to.

"Zecora?" Jason asked worriedly, more than a little freaked out.

"Reveal to me the artifacts that are lost," Zecora chanted, her voice was not her own and was replaced by a wheezy tone that echoed unnaturally. "And show me what mountains I must cross."

Jason heart was thumping hard, he broke out in a sweat and his body screamed to run and rouse the nearest angry mob to come and perform a witch trial. But he found himself trapped in her otherworldly gaze, all traces of Zecora were gone at this moment, it was this power that was speaking to him.

"You shall go to a land of ice and snow," she chanted. "And find the treasure of a dreadful foe."

"To a greater journey your findings will lead, and godly blood will come to bleed.

Visions of the night will come to pass, and the ground beneath you will be but glass.

Three of a key shall lead to six ,so hold on tight for a ride of tricks, but these items you seek are out of reach, so listen to what these words shall teach.

Two will live, two will die

Some will laugh, others will cry.

One shall surrender, the other is blind.

All shall perish, none shall thrive.

And more than one have lost their mind.

From the past this menace comes, marching in to the sound of drums.

All he desires is the taste of spite, his revenge will come through the night.

The cause of your sorrow will be discovered, but years will pass and your heart has not recovered.

Contend your will with a machine of time, and the bells of fate will undoubtedly chime.

Gods of the past come forth and fight, but will surprise all when its on the side of the light.

The road will be long, the journey tough.

You'll have to be strong, to get far enough.

Your heart will be cold, your mind will be set.

The future you hold, is filled with regret.

You must keep the darkness at bay.

Lest the colour within us fade to grey.

The end may not be beautiful, ideal, or glorious.

But at least you shall be, if anything, undoubtedly victorious."

Jason stood in shock and terror as the glow faded from the cauldron and Zecora's eyes, she blinked and the glow was gone, her normal blue eyes were back and she seemed to return to this plane of existence.

"My mind had darkened I fear, from my mouth what did you hear?" She asked.

"Y-you were talking, but it wasn't your voice, you said... It sounded like..."

"Like I was telling the future?" Zecora asked and Jason nodded. "I know, because I feel like I need a suture."

"B-but none of that made sense!" Jason said, still very terrified.

"Prophecies rarely do even though it may seem blue," Zecora said. "In my mind I saw ice and snow, what thus means I do not know."

"But what about my nightmare? The lighthouse?"

"I see snow and you see light," Zecora said. "I think you should seek these places outright."

"Seek? But I still have no idea where either of them are! Besides, why would I go looking for a lighthouse and some random arctic tundra?"

"In the end it is your choice, but if you refuse this path I doubt you will rejoice."

Jason shook his head, this was way too much to process in one go, he needed time to clear his head and think about this.

"Look, thanks for your... Help, I think I'll head back to town now," he said.

"You are tired and weary I can see," Zecora said, Jason assumed she was trying to comfort him. "But I still hope that you will eventually come visit me."

"Yeah... sure."

Zecora followed Jason to the door. Outside, Sebastian was rolling around happily in the grass, completely unaware of the magical bullshit that had just gone down. Jason walked over to him and stroked his mane, Sebastian purred and rubbed up against Jason's leg.

"This creature has bound itself to you," Zecora said from the doorway. "I was wondering if you knew."

"Bound himself? What do you mean?" Jason asked.

"For your protection he shall strive, he shall follow you around and keep you alive," Zecora answered.

"It's never straight forward with you is it?" Jason asked, shaking his head.

Zecora laughed and gave him a knowledgable wink, while Jason gave a wave goodbye and started strolling back towards Ponyville. The words of Zecora's prophecy spinning around in his head.

To a greater journey your findings will lead, and godly blood will come to bleed.

Godly blood? Well, there's only two kinds of people I know of who could fit that

All shall perish, none shall thrive.

See that? That sounds absolutely horrifying.

Jason shook his head clear, he needed to talk to Celestia about this, Twilight could probably help too. Jason exited the Everfree, giving Sebastian a goodbye scratch behind the ears and leaving him to do whatever manticores do when no ones looking.

Dawn had long since broken, and many ponies were going about their morning routine, some gave Jason friendly waves and other averted their eyes and closed their shutters. Jason arrived at Goldenoak's library, he immediately heard running hooves and Twilight run into the main hall with a panicked look and a piece of parchment held in her magical grasp.

"Twilight I need to talk-"

"Pack your things, Celestia's summoned us to Canterlot," Twilight cut in.

"What now?" Jason said with a scowl. "Can't she wait a week?"

"Apparently a Lost Artifact has been located," Twilight said, shoving the parchment over to Jason. "We're going to Stalliongrad."

You shall go to a land of ice and snow, and find the treasure of a dreadful foe.

Well, that explains that part.