A Riddle by Nature

Chapter 5: Who are we Really?

“…after reviewing security tapes from the apartment building, the police discovered that some form of mutant was present at the time. The C.I.A., having no alternative, has stated that they will be searching the surrounding countryside, and possibly the entire state, to discover the whereabouts of these creatures.” I shut the TV off as quickly as possible and looked at Ashley.

Instead of crying again she had put on a stern face and returned to her tomboy demeanor. “All right soldier, we’ve got enemy forces inbound and limited provisions. I need options and I need them now”.

I was shocked but I replied, “I have the power of poison joke…” I paused before continuing, “…and a potion that will give them a stroke.”

Spitfire, no, Ashley stroked her chin and said sighed, “Huh, it’s drastic but we may have no choice if they find us.”

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. “Ashley taking on the government would be quite a feat, may I suggest that we make a retreat?”

Ashley turned to me with anger in her eyes. “ZECORA! I know you’re not one for violence, but we are under attack here. As Captain of the Wonderbolts I am ordering you as a citizen of the sovereign nation of Equestria to do as I command!”

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. “Captain of the Wonderbolts? Your name is Ashley, not Spitfire you dolt!” Now she was getting really mad.

“Zecora, now is not the time for your-” I cut her off and slapped her across the face.

She fell over but got up quickly and shook her head, “David what is wrong with you? And why are you looking at me like that?”

I hesitated, not wanting to scare her but I just sighed and said, “Ashley you just became Spitfire, mind and personality all in its entire.”

She stared at me, “That’s impossible but…I can’t remember anything and…oh what’s happening to us?”

I thought to myself for a second. “I think I can help you figure that out, but it will be dangerous without a doubt.”

She looked at me worriedly. “H…how dangerous? What is it?”

I looked away.“It is what’s called the remembrance potion, but I don’t have the ingredients to set it in motion.”

She sighed, “Well that’s fine since we need to get out of the state before the C.I.A. show up.”

I rolled my eyes, “You do realize that we can’t drive so out of state how shall we arrive?”

Ashley smiled deviously and said. "Oh,  don't worry I've got an idea."

Turned out Ashley’s idea was to hitch an old wagon to my back, load our supplies onto it and hike across country. “Tell me why I have to pull this cart I’ve been doing this since our new journey did start.”

Ashley, who was trying to fly at the time, said, “I told you a Pegasus can’t pull a cart like this for long. But a Zebra can.”

I grumbled to myself, “Well somepony is acting quite boastful perhaps that will wear off, well I can be hopeful.”

At that point Ashley was trying to figure out flying so she flapped her wings and launched herself into the air. “Yaaaahhhh...” She went up and tried to steady herself but all she managed to do was stay in the air for a few seconds before hitting the ground hard. "…Ouch!"

It was an hour later and I had mixed up a special potion to fix Ashley’s cuts and bruises, no broken bones thankfully. “You should count yourself lucky Miss Spitfire for if you had gine and flown any higher, you may have broken one of your wings and I don’t know how to fix those things.”

She started, “Zecora don’t talk like that I have complete faith in your...NO!”

I jumped as she screamed. “Why does this keep happening? Ze…David you said something about a memory potion, do you really think it can help us?”

I looked toward the sky, which was growing darker. “Help us sort our minds I think it could, but drink it I don’t know if we should.”

Now she just looked confused. “Alright rhymes are one thing but if you start talking like an oracle I will buck you to New York! Now talk normal!”

I rolled my eyes, “Look what if -and hear me out- we are ponies inside not just out.”

“What?”

I sighed and explained, “When Discord attacked in the very last scene he cast a spell, I don’t know what it means. It started out five score divided by four but after that I remember no more. And five score divide by four is twenty-five and that's how long we've both been alive. And with that odd little spell he did banish, Zecora and Spitfire at that point did vanish.”

Ashley thought to herself for a moment. “Wait are you saying that we might actually be Spitfire and Zecora? As in the actual characters? From the actual show?”

I sighed again, “Yes, I believe that to be true but now I must tell you what the potion could do. If we were to drink it -and I now think we should- we might become ponies completely, for good.”

Ashley gritted her teeth. “What does that even mean?!”

I looked straight into her eyes. “The potion would give us our memories lost…and make us the characters of Miss Lauren Faust”.

Ashley paused for a second, “Wait…your plan is to give us Zecora and Spitfire’s memories? Wouldn't that kill us or something? What if their memories overpower ours?”

I looked down. “Well if we are these ponies true then it would be the right thing to do. For if we keep them locked up in our minds.” I choked, “I just can’t do something so unkind.”

Ashley sighed “Your right.” I looked at her, confused. I thought that she would be more hesitant about the idea, or furious at me for suggesting it. "It's not our place to sentence two ponies to a fate worse than death."

I smiled, “Well I’m very glad that you agree but to find the right herbs, it won’t be easy.” I laid out the herbs and spices I had with me. “If I’m to get the herbs we need I’ll need a very rare plant indeed.”

Since I had driven very far, very fast yesterday so it only took about six hours for us to reach the nearest town I knew of that would have what we needed. Rockford, Illinois. Even though it was still dark out when we reached the town Ashley convinced me to wait until the next night to sneak in and find what we needed. I used that time formulate a cunning plan that could not possibly fail, I was going to rob the botanical gardens.