Chapters Chapter 1 - The Name of the Exile
Chapter 1 The Name of the Exile
Zircon heard the leaves rustle softly as his hooves brushed past them, and his fur tingled as an air of ominous mystery covered him. He shuddered as the trees slowly began to drown out any light that may have made its way through the canopy, changing the bright day to almost pitch-black night.
He could only see the outlines of plants and animals as he stumbled blindly through the darkness, trying to catch a glimpse of the exile.
"H-hello?" he called nervously, his eyes darting wildly as if expecting something to jump on him.
There was only silence as he stopped walking.
"Is anypony there?!"
There was once again only silence in the forest, hanging over him like an oppressive blanket.
"Do not try to follow me, for there is nothing for you to see!"
These words echoed throughout the blackness, stunning Zircon and causing him to jump in fearful surprise.
"I-I just want to know w-why you were banished!" he called.
He heard no response and started to walk again. The undergrowth licking at his fetlocks made him shiver, as the plants had an odd texture that made him uncomfortable.
"W-why won't you answer?!" he yelled, wishing for a response.
Suddenly the ground beneath his hooves vanished, and he started to slide down a hill. He screamed as thorns tore at his back and branches whipped across his chest and face. When he reached the bottom, he felt a hoof touch him comfortingly. He looked up to see the silhouette of a zebra standing over him.
"Are you-?" he asked.
There was a moment of silence as the zebra cocked its head in thought.
"Yes, I am the one that you have been seeking, one who's mind has lately been reeling."
Zircon laughed lightly, "You rhymed!"
"I rhyme until I have paid my time."
He laughed again, this time harder and louder.
"Why?" he asked the zebra.
The figure only turned its head and sighed.
"Come with me, young one, for you appear to be hurt and that is not fun."
Zircon was immediately aware of the pain from the fall he just had. He winced as he tapped on a long cut that went across his chest.
"Are you going to help me?" he asked the zebra.
"I will help you, for in my heart I am still true."
Zircon did not bother to try and understand what that meant and followed the zebra to a small clearing nearby, where a tiny bit of light shone through. There was a stump in the middle of the area, which he was placed on. As the zebra started looking around for something, he finally got a good look at her.
"You're old," he said. "Your coat's so gray, and your stripes aren't very bright."
The exile stared at him and smiled.
"It is true that I am not as young as I would like, but it doesn't mean my skills took a bite."
Zircon looked at the rest of her and was surprised by her appearance.
"What's with your mane?" he asked, noticing that it was in a Mohawk, pointing skywards.
"It is a tradition I picked up while in another village, of a village of power and plunder and pillage."
Zircon blanked, and he wondered what all of those words meant.
"Why do you rhyme?" he asked. "Nopony else rhymes. Is it because you were banished?"
The zebra's smile faded, and she nodded.
"The mark of an exile is one of voice, one we uphold through our loyalty and choice."
Zircon only blanked again.
"What?" he asked, confusion on his face. "I don't understand."
There was a moment of pause, and Zircon finally realized that the pause was her trying to think of a rhyme.
"You can say it without rhyming," he told her. "I won't tell. Promise."
"It is not so easy to be an exile, you see, for rhyming is your mark and everypony who sees knows to run and to hide and to avoid my gaze, and leave me to wander for endless days."
Zircon absorbed the large sentence and thought about it for a moment.
"Please just tell me without rhyming!" he pouted. "I won't tell anypony!"
The exile pulled up a root from the ground and brought it over, chewing it up in her mouth. She spat out the now paste-like substance and rubbed it on Zircon's cut, which stung slightly, but was quickly replaced by a cooling sensation.
"Please!" he begged. "Tell me why! I won't tell!"
The zebra took on a look of defeat.
"I must rhyme because it is the mark of an exile to do so," she said, turning away. "I rhyme because it lets other zebras know that I have been banished from a clan. They won't accept me if they know that I did something bad to others."
"But what did you do?" Zircon asked, standing up.
"I'm sorry to say this, and I'm sure it's a saying you think is planned, but you, my friend, are too young to understand."
Zircon just let his jaw hang.
"What?!" he said. "All of you adults say that! Why can't I know?!"
A howl filled the air, and any thoughts about learning from the exile were destroyed.
"W-what was that?" he asked, stating to shiver.
"I think that we should run, for we have had our game of fun."
The zebra took off, and Zircon blindly followed, watching as she left the clearing and faded into the darkness.
"Wait!" he called out. "Where did you go?!"
He stumbled after her, tripping on roots and branches as he tried to find the exile. Suddenly, a hoof grabbed him and pulled him into a hollow tree trunk. He screamed, but a hoof was placed against his mouth and he fell silent. He saw the shape of the banished zebra and calmed down.
"What is it?" he whispered.
This was answered with another hoof being pressed against his mouth. A loud snuffling could be heard from behind the tree trunk they were hiding in, accompanied by frantic digging and snorts. Another howl graced the forest, and he heard the sound of rustling leaves.
As he stared out into the woods, he saw a pair of glowing green eyes. He breathed in to scream in fear, but a hoof clamped his mouth shut and he stayed silent. The eyes came closer, and the creature's silhouette became clearer; it was gigantic.
The shadow stood tall and wide, with small thin shadows jutting out from the main body. It snorted and came even closer. Zircon's heart began to pound, increasing in pace as the shadow crept forward, the sound of snapping twigs and branches filling the air. It got within ten feet of them and sniffed the ground. It snarled, eyes peering right at him and the exile, then looked up as something else caught its attention.
It howled again and bounded off, leaving Zircon and the zebra alone. However, the zebra did not move until the retreating thuds from its running faded away. She tossed him from the hiding place and crawled out after him.
"What was that?" Zircon asked in fear and awe. "It was so scary."
"That was a timberwolf, a predator that paralyzes its prey with a look."
Zircon shuddered as he remembered the piercing green eyes.
"Why was it here?" he asked.
"The forest here are its hunting grounds, where it kills anything that makes a sound."
Zircon sat down and looked at the surroundings.
"Where's home?" he said.
"I do not know, but you have put on quite a show."
"You can not rhyme," he told her. "Just tell me."
The zebra sighed.
"I do not know where in the forest we are," she said. "I am lost just as much as you. We could try to find our way back."
"We're lost?" Zircon asked in disbelief, standing. "That's not good! Mom and Dad will notice that I'm gone and they'll be sad! They'll never find me because I'm lost in the forest!"
He started to cry, thinking about all of things that could happen.
"They could forget about me, or get another child, or they could become sad and not do anything!"
The zebra patted him on the back.
"It's okay, little one," she said. "If we are going to be with each other for a while, why don't we get to know each other? What's your name?"
Zircon sniffled and raised his head, "I'm Zircon."
"I'm Zecora," the exile said, wrapping a hoof around him lovingly.
"Why aren't you rhyming?" Zircon asked, wiping a tear from his eye.
"I'm not so I can talk to you better," Zecora said.
"But what if something bad happens because you don't do what you're supposed to?"
"I'll talk in rhyme from time to time. Does that to you sound fine?"
Zircon laughed and stood up.
"What will we do?" he asked.
"We will search the forest for a way out, and find your tribe without a doubt."
Zircon smiled and started to hop.
"Let's get started. I don't want to be away from home for too long!'
Zecora smiled as she stared at the happy colt. She felt a warmth fill her chest. She knew that this colt was happy, and was sure that he would go back home. However, she knew that when the forest got a victim, it never let the victim return to where they wanted.
Author's Note
Woot! Chapter 1!
Chapter 2 - Stories in the Dark
Chapter 2 -
"Do you know where we are?" Zircon complained for what felt to Zecora like the gazillionth time.
"I do not know," she said, already having fallen from her rhyming. "Stop asking me. The trees all look the same, so I can't tell."
Zircon sighed and let his head hang. They had been searching the forest for anything familiar for the past two hours. It was almost as if the forest was preventing them from leaving, holding them against their will until their time expired.
Zircon's hooves were aching, and his many cuts from his tumble down the hill were beginning to sting, making him very uncomfortable. Suddenly, Zecora stopped, and he collided with her.
"Why did you stop?" he asked.
"I have decided that we should take a break," she said, taking a seat on a nearby log, where light streamed in from a gap in the leaves. "Sit and rest."
Zircon gladly did so.
"So, Zecora," he said. "You seem like you know a lot about all the other zebra tribes. Are you an adventurer or something?"
"Oh, no, Zircon," she said with a faint smile. "I am just a healer. I traveled around the world to heal the injured. I journeyed to find tribes and towns that needed my assistance, and I gladly gave it."
"That sounds cool," Zircon said. "Do you have any good stories from when you went to all these places?"
Zecora thought for a moment, then spoke, "Do you wish to hear of the time when I was in the desert in Saddle Arabia?"
Zircon nodded, already eager to hear what stories the exile had to tell.
~
The sand that rubbed beneath her hooves was coarse and rough, wearing her already cracking hooves further. The light was intense and brought extreme heat to her body. She raised a hoof to block out the sun's rays and examine her surroundings.
Sand.
That was all she could see, stretching off in every direction, dotted with dark spots that she assumed to be cacti. A small breeze kicked up, and sand started to lift off from the ground, flying against the zebra's face, causing her to close her eyes.
The wind passed, and her eyes opened. She continued her arduous trek, clenching her teeth in determination. She was going to get through the desert to the town.
Soon, she found herself facing a glimmering speck in the distance. It was surrounded by a haze of heat, blurring any details of life. Her heart soared as she began to walk faster, quickly breaking into a sprint. The shimmering place grew larger, slowly becoming less hazy and misshapen.
It eventually came into focus, revealing a large town. The zebra laughed and ran at it, fueled by her desire to see another creature. She saw the sandstone buildings grow ever bigger until she was amongst them, a large smile crossing her face.
The town was filled with ponies, some buying things at the marketplace, some chatting, and others just having a walk. The zebra went up to one of the standkeepers.
"Do you know where the queen's palace is?" she asked in the area's dialect.
"It is in the center of town," the keeper said, pointing into the crowds. "You can't miss it."
And so she was off, pushing her way through the ponies, getting many angry complaints and rebukes. She could hardly care as she neared her prize, a cylindrical tower that stood up into the sky, hanging over the town and its residents.
She went up to the large doors of blue painted wood and knocked. They opened, and a single pony stepped out. He was dressed in a black suit, despite the heat, and had an air of servitude.
"What business do you have?" he asked.
The zebra reached into her saddlebag and pulled out a yellowing letter, which she showed to the butler.
"Ah, the healer," he said, moving aside and waving her in. "Come in."
She left the outside and was greeted by cool. The large entryway was cold, quite against what she would have expected from a castle in the middle of the desert. She followed the butler through many hallways until she was standing in front of a giant pair of golden double doors.
They opened, revealing the throne room. The room was large in height, which made up for what it was lacking in length. At the end of the small area, the queen sat on her throne, which was made of carved sandstone. She stood and approached the zebra.
"You have heard of our blight?" she asked, her voice flowing like smooth silk through the zebra's ears.
"Yes," she replied, bowing before the queen.
"Rise. I assume that you have brought all of your supplies?"
"Most. However, there are some that I cannot fit in my saddlebag."
"What things are those?" the queen stepped aside and stared out of a window nearby.
"A cauldron for preparing my potions, and a mortar and pestle."
"Those things will be provided."
The queen stepped away from the window and gazed into the zebra's eyes.
"I pray that you can heal my daughter," she said. "She means so much to me."
~
Zecora finished her tale.
"Is that it?!" Zircon complained. "What happened after?"
"It is something that I said I would never speak of," Zecora replied. "I promised the queen that."
"Why did you have to promise?"
"There were a few complications that arose. I was forbidden to tell another soul."
Zircon sighed in frustration.
"How come every time I try to ask an adult anything they never say?" he asked. "Nopony wants me to know anything, like why you were banished."
"There's a story for that one," Zecora said with a smirk. "Would you like to hear it?"
"You're going to tell me why you were banished?"
"Yes. I might as well since it may be a while before you get back home, and your persistence to learn has swayed me."
~
The air was cold in the dark night, and the sky was dotted with many stars. A lone zebra was standing in front of a hooded figure, teeth grit and eyes narrowed, burning with ferocity.
"Don't think you can just sway their minds so easily!" Zecora yelled, her eyes narrowed at the pony. "You may be able to get the job done faster, but you cannot cure as many diseases as I can!"
"Who's says I need to be able to cure every disease?" the hooded pony said with a smirk. "The faster the job gets done, the more they pay. Besides, they'll come to me when they've heard about what happened in Saddle Arabia."
"Hah! Like you know what happened!"
"Oh, but I do! I know how you failed and how your failure did something that magic healing cannot. Your potions are susceptible to change if you put in one less gram than was intended, causing side effects that you cannot prevent."
Zecora grit her teeth.
"At least I care about healing and not just the money it brings me!" she spat.
"And does that make your cures any better than mine? I relish the money and I do my job. It's just that I enjoy the former much more."
Zecora pressed her face against the figure.
"Do not attempt to do my job. I can do it better than you no matter what."
"I will do your job, and you can't stop me. If you try, I'll make sure everypony knows what happened in Saddle Arabia. Nopony will trust you after that. In fact, you may even be banished for endangering all of your patient's lives and not letting them know of the possible consequences. You should know that the zebras here value safety and the knowledge of it. You'd be breaking that if I let them know. In fact, I may just tell them to ensure I don't have any competition."
The pony walked off, leaving an angry, defeated Zecora standing alone in the street.
~
The crowds watched in horror as the unicorn who healed the townsfolk spoke about Zecora, who was standing at the front, trying her hardest not to jump on the pony right then.
"... And she has been endangering your lives every time you get her to heal you! Her potions can have bad side-effects, and all it would take was her to mismeasure a single ingredient for you to die or worse. In fact, I have come to the conclusion that she has been here healing you to gain your trust and eventually kill you all in gruesome ways with a bad potion!"
The crowd murmured, and a few angry yells came from throughout.
"Would you want that kind of zebra in your town?! Do you want a killer to be the zebra you trust your lives in?!"
Large roars of assent came from the gathering.
"She should be banished for taking advantage of using your trust as a tool to kill you!"
Another roar.
"She should be banished!"
Zecora felt herself be pulled by magic onto the stage where the unicorn healer was standing.
"Here is the one who has used you! Take her away!'
Zecora felt herself get thrown into the crowd, and she felt hooves and teeth tearing at her coat, and she tried to fight back, but the masses overwhelmed her. She was picked up off the ground and thrown to the dirt. She winced as pain split through her.
"Take her away!"
Those words from the unicorn were the last Zecora heard before she was knocked unconscious by a flying hoof.
~
Zecora had tears in her eyes as she recounted the experience.
"That unicorn lied about you?" Zircon asked, well aware of the healer who had become prominent in the tribe as of late.
Zecora only nodded, turning her head away.
"That's a terrible mean thing!" he yelled. "Why would he lie about you?!"
"He only lied about me wanting to kill them all," Zecora said in a whisper. "But everything about me endangering their lives was true. He knew that the accident in Saddle Arabia wasn't enough leverage, so he had to make something up."
Zircon wrapped his hooves around Zecora in a hug.
"It's okay," he said. "He's a mean pony who lies and does bad things to others."
Zecora hugged Zircon back and felt a few tears roll down her cheek.
"Thanks," she said.
Chapter 3 - Out of the Forest
Chapter 3 Out of the Forest
Zecora let go of Zircon's hug as the sky started to change color, fading from blue to orange.
"It is getting late," she said, standing. "And we have still not found your home."
Zircon stood as well.
"We need to go!" he yelled, pulling on Zecora.
"Then follow me."
The older zebra started to walk, sticking close to Zecora's body. Any light that pierced its way into the forest was starting to disappear, being replaced by shafts of darkness.
"I'm scared," Zircon said as he clutched onto Zecora's hindleg, quivering. "It's so dark."
Zecora spotted a hole between two rocks in the wasting light and led Zircon to it.
"It is too late to find your way home," she said, ushering him into the small shelter. "We must stay the night here to avoid the creatures that prowl the forest during the night."
Zircon hopped into the depression and glanced around. Zecora followed him, leaving very little room to move. She settled down and laid her head on the dirt and snorted.
"Get some sleep," she said, holding one eye open to stare at Zircon. "Finding your home will be difficult if you are tired."
The young zebra sat down next to Zecora. He stared out into the forest, longing in his eyes.
"I want Mom," he said. "I want Dad."
"We will find them tomorrow when there is light to see by. For now, you should sleep."
Zircon looked for a few more seconds into the darkness, then set his muzzle down and sniffed. Zecora heard soft sobbing come from next to her, and she sighed lightly. The crying faded into nothingness as the colt fell asleep, and his even breathing was all that could be heard.
Zecora heard Zircon shift in his sleep, and a weight pressed down on her back. She crooked her head back to see his form curled up against her spine. She smiled, and she laid her head down next to his. She was soon asleep.
~
Crrrack.
Zecora's eyes snapped open as the sound tore through the quiet. She watched a shadow pass by their encampment, and she shuddered.
Crrrack.
The noise came again, and Zecora realized that it was not the sound of a branch snapping or anything else. It was a growl from an animal.
It was a growl unlike anything Zecora had heard before, something that resembled a stick being run across a piece of wood full of grooves. A heavy thud echoed in the air, and her ear twitched slightly.
Crrrack.
The noise grew louder.
Crrrack.
It was right outside of their sleeping area. The air was heavy as warm breath filled it. Zecora resisted the urge to cough from the smell.
Hrrack.
The growl was different this time, slightly louder. Zecora's ears rung as the sound went over a safe decibel level. The snuffling breaths receded, along with the growls. She exhaled a pent up breath, full of relief. Zircon shifted in his sleep next to her, and she almost laughed.
"How did he manage to stay asleep?" she whispered. "That was one loud animal."
~
A ray of light shot through the forest gloom, falling straight onto the face of Zecora, who twitched her nose idly as she opened her eyes. She blinked to clear her vision and took a look behind her, where she saw that Zircon was gone.
"Zircon?!" she yelled, darting up, hitting her head on the ceiling of the rock enclosure.
She ran from the space and looked around wildly, her heart pounding in her ears. A soft rustling came from behind her, and she turned to see Zircon come from behind a small bush.
"Oh, you're okay," she said in happiness.
"I just had to go to the bathroom," Zircon said with a smile. "I wasn't lost or anything."
"Well, we have to go," Zecora replied, patting him on the head. "We've got to get you back home."
"Actually, I've been thinking," he said, fidgeting. "And, what if I didn't go home? What if I ran away? It sounds like fun!"
Zecora laughed and smiled.
"I envy your youthful spirit, Zircon," she said. "But I think home is the best place for you."
Zircon looked slightly dejected, but he was soon back in his young energy.
"Then let's go!" he said with a hop, pressing himself on Zecora's side.
The two began to walk, their path lit by sporadic shafts of sunlight that streamed in through the leaves.
The forest was still; not a leaf moved, or a limb on a tree shifted. It was a moment of complete perfection that sent chills down Zecora's spine as she watched. The world seemed to be unbreakable, unable to be tarnished or tainted, settling an aura of calm over the zebra, relaxing her.
She paused for a second to drink in the area, smelling the crisp air and hearing small creatures chirp and snicker. It was almost if the world revolved around the forest and the things in it.
"Ms. Zecora!"
Zircon's outburst interrupted her euphoria, and she looked to the colt.
"Yes?" she asked the excited youngling.
"There's a way out!" he said, hopping around.
Zecora looked up and saw a large entryway of glaring light, shining like a beacon. She started to walk faster, desperate to leave the dark forest. Zircon followed, having to jog to keep up, and they burst from the trees into an open field.
Hooves flew to eyes as they were momentarily blinded by the brightness, unable to get a good view of anything.
"Who are y'all?"
The voice made the two jump, and when they grew accustomed to the light, they found themselves facing a pony wearing a Stetson with burnt orange fur and a silver mane. He was wearing a vest made of brown leather, covered in pockets.
"Wha-?" Zircon said, looking around. "This isn't home!"
Zecora only stood there, her eyes wide. She had not been rhyming for the past few hours, so her mind was blank. She needed to rhyme, to show that she was exile. It was her job.
"Well?" the pony asked, his accent now becoming painfully clear. "Y'all not gonna answer?"
"We have been lost in these woods," Zecora said, going off of her head, trying to find a suitable rhyme. "And I was trying to get this colt home if... I could."
The stallion narrowed his eyes and stared at the distressed Zircon, who was just staring off into the distance with a look of shock on his face.
"This isn't home!" he said again, dumbfounded. "Why aren't we home?!"
The pony looked at him and looked back at Zecora.
"What's he on about?" he asked, pointing a hoof.
"Well, he has been deeply concerned, for he has been lost after taking a wrong turn. I have been trying to take him home, but it appears we have found the wrong biome."
Wrong biome was right. The field they had arrived in after leaving the forest was filled with dry, cracked grass that broke under hoof, and the air sweltered in a dry heat.
"So y'all are lost?" the stallion asked.
"Yes, we are," Zecora said. "And it leaves on this colt a terrible scar."
"Then follow me," the pony turned and walked off. "And, stop your rhymin'. It's drivin' me buggy, and it's sure ta do the same ta the rest of the town."
Zecora grabbed Zircon's hoof and led him after the departing stallion.
"Where are we going?" he asked, looking up at Zecora.
"He is taking us to his town," she whispered. "He is being nice."
"But what about home?!"
"I'll ask about it when we get there."
Zircon fell quiet and waited as a small set of buildings formed.
"So," she said, dropping the rhymes from the pony's request. "Why were you out near the forest?"
"I do patrols to watch for anything that may leave," he replied, glancing back. "We have to protect our town from attacks."
"Why do you live out here?" Zecora asked. "There's nopony around."
"There once was. But, the forest starting creepin' up on us, and they left. Now, we're stuck in the middle of here without connection to the outside world. Surrounded on all sides by the trees, and every year they get closer. Soon we'll be in the forest as well, and it won't be good. Every once in a while a wanderer will come out and we'll get to know them. Then they'll go runnin' back in to never show up again."
"Why don't you try and go?"
"We've sent ponies out to go and try and find a new place, but they never come back. We've sent out groups of twelve, and only once has at least one come back, injured and near death. The forest don't want us to go, and we can't fight it."
The group became silent for a minute.
"How do you get food?" Zecora asked.
"We don't," the stallion replied. "As soon as the forest started catchin' up on us, we started to conserve food until we had generations worth of hay and other things. Now, with the forest blockin' off where we used to grow our crops, we've had to ration from our storage. It's been hard times."
They arrived at the outskirts of the village, where a small band of ponies awaited them, dressed similarly to the stallion.
"Who are they?" a mare asked, flicking her eyes at Zircon and Zecora.
"They're some travelers from the forest, Stardust," the stallion responded. "Don't glare at them! They're lost. The older one was tryin' to get the colt home. They're not just random wanderers. Where are y'all from anyways?"
"We're from Zebrica," Zecora said. "From the tribe of Seven Suns."
"Zebrica?!" one of the waiting party said, tensing up. "That's miles away! How'd y'all get lost so far from it?!"
"Miles?" Zecora asked in confusion. "But we were only lost for a few hours yesterday and we spent the night! How are we miles away?!"
"The forest likes to mess with ya," the stallion who had led them to the town said. "It'll send you to places it would take years to reach on hoof in a few hours."
"How do you know this?" Zecora asked.
"He's not actually from here," Stardust said, stepping forward. "He was lost in the forest after leaving from a town called 'Appleloosa.' We found him stumbling out and we brought him here. He didn't want to go back in; still hasn't said why, and he stayed here. He's proven his worth many times over, whether in be fighting off forest creatures trying to get the taste of pony flesh, or doing odd-jobs around town."
The stallion blushed, and he rubbed his mane absentmindedly.
"What are your names?" Zecora asked. "I got yours, but what about the rest of you?"
"I'm Whistle," an albino stallion said.
"Dust," the mare next to him said.
"Leaves," the stallion next to her said.
"And I'm Strike," the stallion who had brought them to town finished. "What are your names?"
"I'm Zecora," Zecora said. She pointed at the silent and awed Zircon. "And he's Zircon."
"Welcome," Stardust said. "You may be here for a while, so make yourself at home."
Zecora grabbed Zircon by the hoof and led him into the town.
Author's Note
Some new OCs to add to the collection!!
Chapter 4 The Patrol
The town was small. Okay, that was an overstatement. Miniscule would be the better word.
There were only a handful of buildings, each one spaced close together to conserve land. There were no signs aside from ones marking the rations storage and a bar. The ponies inside the town were all watching with cold eyes as Zircon and Zecora progressed, a sense of dread covering them.
"Zecora," Zircon said, looking up at her fearfully. "Why are they looking at us like that?"
"They're just not used to outsiders," Strike said from behind them where he followed with his group of friends. "Once you've stayed awhile they'll lighten up."
Zecora nodded and examined the area. All of the ponies looked physically tired, but their eyes were sparkling and alive.
"Why is everypony so tired?" she asked, looking back at Strike and his group.
"Not having enough food takes it's toll," Dust said from the back. "We barely have enough to keep alive."
Zecora turned her head away then turned back.
"How come you don't look like them?" she asked.
"We get to eat a bit more so we can do our job," Whistle said, shaking his white mane. "Without the extra food, we'd probably die while patrolling."
Zecora nodded slightly and put her attention back onto the rest of the town. She looked at the ponies walking, and saw how their posture sent their heads drooping ever so lightly, just enough to be noticed.
"Everypony looks so sad," Zircon commented. "Why?"
"With our food shortage, it makes for hard times," Stardust said, her eyes tinted with a small layer of sadness. "It's tough on everypony."
Zircon pivoted his head around to see the wooden buildings that lined the street.
"What are we going to do?" he asked. "How long are we going to stay here?"
"I don't know," Zecora asked. "I guess until I can find a way to get you home. So, Strike, how does your patrol operate?"
"It's pretty simple," the stallion replied, stopping in his tracks. "We pace our area of the border and watch for signs of movement. If anythin' happens, we have signals to call each other for back-up."
"That sounds fun!" Zircon said. "Maybe we can go with you one day!"
Strike laughed and tussled with Zircon's mane.
"Maybe," he said with a smile. "Now, who wants to have a drink?"
Zecora shrugged and followed him to the saloon, where a few ponies sat across from each other at tables. Music was playing from a piano in the corner, and mild chatting filled the air. However, that all stopped when they noticed Zircon and Zecora. The music stopped playing, the ponies stopped talking, and an air of distrust and malice descended upon the room.
"Hey!" Strike said, stepping forward. "These are some zebras from way out who got lost in the forest. They're going to be here for a bit until they can get back home, so be nice to 'em!"
The group walked up to the counter and Whistle stepped forward.
"Hey, Tequila!" he said. "Can we get the usual for everypony?"
He waved back at his friends and Zecora and Zircon. The pony turned and poured a bottle of liquid into seven glasses. He handed them all out.
"Wait!" Zecora said before Zircon took a sip. "He's not old enough to drink!"
"The water's in low supply," Leaves said. "But the alcohol is not."
They went over to a large table where they all sat down.
"So, what's the name of the town?" Zecora asked.
"There was never an official one," Stardust said. "When town was first created, the pony in charge of running the town was shot before he could decide, and the whole thing was forgotten as the forest crept up on us. I like to think of it as 'Deathville,' because we're all sentenced to die here."
Zircon shuddered in his seat. He sipped the drink he had and laughed.
"It tastes funny!" he said, smiling.
"Who runs this place now?" Zecora asked. "Is there a leader or a mayor or what?"
"We've got a sheriff," Whistle said, pointing a hoof at the only pegasus in the saloon. "His name is Trueshot."
"Can we meet him?!" Zircon blurted out, his drink half empty. Zecora took it away.
"Okay," she said, placing it down beside herself. "I think that's enough for now."
"Sure we can meet him," Dust said, taking a long gulp of her glass. "It just depends on if he wants to be met."
"I'll take 'em," Strike said, waving a hoof at the rising group. "We don't need seven ponies crowding around him."
He stood, along with Zecora and Zircon, and walked over to the table, where the stallion sat, staring deeply into a mug of beer. His ear twitched as they approached, signaling the fact that he heard them.
"Hey," Strike said, getting close to the table. "I got a pair of zebras that wanna meet you."
He gazed upwards to look at the two, and his eyes ran over them, deducing their worth with calculating vision.
"Hello," he said, locking eyes with Zecora, who met it with similar steel.
"Hi!" Zircon said with a smile. "Is it cool to be the sheriff?"
"I wouldn't say 'cool,'" he replied, still not moving his gaze. "I'd say more of a serious monotony. Not that much happens around here. That's why I like it."
"Mon- monoto- monotony?" Zircon asked in confusion, trying to think. "What does that mean?"
"It means 'the same.' It's a life of straight-backed loyalty that I can't give up. Not like I want to give up."
"What's your name?" Zecora asked, not breaking her gaze from the sheriff.
"Trueshot," he said, staying stiffly locked with Zecora's eyes.
Zircon hopped up and said, "Nice to meet you, Trueshot!"
This made Trueshot blink and he turned his head away from Zecora, grimacing.
"So, why'd you want to meet me?" he asked.
"I didn't," Zecora said. "But Zircon here did. I'm sure he has questions."
"What kind of questions?" he asked, bracing himself for the tidal wave.
"Were you born here?" Zircon asked, catching the sheriff off guard.
"Oh, well, no," Trueshot replied. "I was actually born in Cloudsdale."
"Where's that?" the colt asked, cocking his head.
"It's a long ways out," the sheriff said with a sigh. "I would go back, but these ponies here appreciate my help, and I can't just leave them to die."
"Why don't you visit home?" Zircon asked. "You can go for a little bit and then come back!"
"Something could happen while I'm gone," Trueshot rubbed his brown and near-black mane. "And I don't want anypony I know here to meet some terrible end."
"Why are you here?' Zecora asked. Learning that he was from Cloudsdale had peaked her interest. "Why would you come here from Cloudsdale?"
"I needed to retire," Trueshot said, scowling. "And I saw this place while flying over, looking for a good place to go. It looked so peaceful, and peaceful was what I wanted after my time as a guard. I was only here a week before there was an attack from the forest. I helped fight, and the townsponies named me sheriff. I grew attached to them, and now I'm stuck here to die with them."
"Do you go on the patrols?" Zircon asked. "You look like you could fight!"
"I do patrol," he said, standing. "And it seems as though there may be one coming up. I'll have to get ready. Maybe you'd like to come?"
The last statement was just a joke, judging from the small amount of sarcasm and mirth in his voice, but Zircon's eyes grew wide.
"I'd love to come!" he said.
Trueshot stopped in place and looked at the colt.
"That may not be too wise," he said.
"Aw!" Zircon pouted. "I want to go!"
Trueshot watched the colt's eyes grow bigger and start to fill with tears.
"Alright," he said, looking away from the gaze. "You can come. But, we're not going to let you get too close to the border."
~
The air was hot and still as the group of three walked out of town. The three were Trueshot, Zecora, and Zircon, off to patrol the western border of the forest. The former was weighted down with a wooden bow strapped across his back, and a few quivers slung on his shoulders.
Trueshot's burnt yellow fur was slightly rippled by a small breeze, and he narrowed his eyes at the hazy tree line in the distance.
"I pray that this day is quiet," he whispered, glancing at the two zebras behind him.
When they arrived, Trueshot stopped and stared into the forest, peering into every corner he could. After he was satisfied that there was nothing, he started to walk along the edge.
"Stay back a few feet," he told Zecora and Zircon. "I can't have any accidents, especially with newcomers."
The zebras followed Trueshot down the line, with Zircon watching the trees with a form of hesitant fear.
"Why do you use a bow?" Zecora asked, looking at the weapon on the sheriff's back. "From what I saw, most of the ponies use blades."
"Maybe my cutie mark will tell you," Trueshot replied, not tearing his eyes from the forest.
Zecora glanced at his flank. An arrow was on it, soaring in flight with wind trails streaming off of it. The tip of the arrow was steel, and it seemed to be almost real.
"I see," she said.
"I have a question for you," he said, taking a look at Zecora. "How did you end up here?"
"It was me," Zircon said. "She was banished and I wanted to know why, so I followed her into the forest to ask her. But we got lost and now we're here."
He hung his head in shame.
"Banished?" Trueshot asked, stopping his walk and turning to look at Zecora. "Why were you banished?"
"A certain unicorn was telling the tribe lies about me," she replied. "Well, mostly lies."
"Things like what?"
"I can't tell you some, but a lot was about me abusing the trust of the zebras to kill them with a potion of mine."
"Potions?" Trueshot asked in genuine interest. "You are a potions master?"
"Yes," Zecora said. "I heal others with my brews."
"We could use a healer around here," the sheriff said, continuing his walk. "Lots of ponies always getting sick. We don't have any unicorns around here with their healing magic."
"I would help, but I'd need the supplies to craft the medicine, and I don't have the time. I do have to get Zircon home."
Trueshot stopped as a rustle came from the forest. He grabbed his bow and expertly notched an arrow. He stared into the darkness, a bead of sweat forming on his brow. A rabbit hopped out from the undergrowth, and he let his aim fall.
"Now," he said, turning around to cover the area he had not scouted yet. "Where are you from?"
"We're from Zebrica," Zecora said.
He nodded in slight surprise, but it was quickly done.
"That's a long ways out," he said. "I can imagine why you'd want to get him home."
Crack.
The sound of thunder clapped through the sky, and Trueshot looked up to see gray clouds forming overhead.
"You may want to get back to town and find shelter," he said, looking at the two zebras. "I'll finish my patrol."
Zecora nodded and grabbed Zircon's hoof.
"C'mon," she said. "Let's go back to town."
Another thunder clap filled the air, and Trueshot shuddered.
"Another one of those big ones," he said, turning back to the forest. "We're in for a long night."
Author's Note
Thanks to dartmaul15 for letting me use his OC Trueshot.
Zircon heard the chants from outside, cries of anger and rage.
Under eternal sky we banish thee!
He walked over to the door and pushed it open.
Whether you fall in happiness or misery!
He was shoved away by a forceful hoof, and he fell to the dirt as his father closed it and stood in front of it.
You've committed crimes of a level so great!
Zircon shut his eyes as he heard a staff clang down on hard wood.
That any redemption will be too late!
Zircon stared into the darkness as the chanting became a roar, and the sound of the staff striking wood became deafening. He curled up into a fetal position and shivered as the noise became even louder, making his ears ring and his head pulse.
"Make it stop!" he yelled as he covered his ears, crying.
The screams became one wall of sonic assault, burning through the night, and sending Zircon into hysterical sobs. He felt a comforting hoof, and he looked up to see the silhouette of his father standing over him.
"It's okay," he whispered. "It'll be over soon."
Zircon grabbed his head and focused on the tears falling down his face. The noise soon began to fade away, slowly becoming one with the silence. He raised his head and sniffled softly.
"What happened?" he asked.
A hoof ran through his hair.
"There was a bit of a problem," the father said. "And somepony has to leave. They'll be gone by tomorrow, and it will be much quieter then."
"Who was it?" Zircon asked, gazing into his father's eyes. "Who has to leave?"
"A healer who has been around for a long time," the father turned away and stood.
"Why does she have to leave?" Zircon stood as well, wiping the remnants of tears from his face.
"You wouldn't understand."
"Why not?" Zircon stomped his hoof.
"You're too young."
The father left, leaving Zircon to stand there pouting, wondering why he was never allowed to know about anything the adults did.
"It's not fair," he said, huffing angrily.
The door to their hut opened, and his mom came in, shivering from the cold outdoors.
"Mom, Dad won't tell me about why they banished that zebra!" Zircon said.
"And he's right not to," she replied, patting him on the head. "You're too young to understand."
Zircon just let his jaw hang in defeat as his mom left to go talk to his father.
"I'm old enough to understand," he pouted, scuffing his hoof on the ground.
As the sound of mulling zebras started to return to the air, Zircon went to his bed, which sat in one the hut's corners, away from his parent's. He slid in and watched as his parents whispered quietly to one another in the darkness.
"I'm so glad she's finally going to leave," he heard his mom say faintly. "She's been pushing against the grain for a long time now."
"I know," his dad answered, sneaking a few glances at Zircon. "But she was good at what she did. The tribe will do fine without her, but there are some things only she understood how to fix."
"But with the unicorn we don't need her," the mom took an anxious step forward. "Her 'zebra magic' and 'potion brewing' is pointless. She's just an outcast now, and her exile is for the best."
The father decided to leave it be and got in bed.
"Let's just leave it," he said. "It's fine."
Zircon closed his eyes and was quickly asleep.
~
Zircon cracked open his eyes as a hoof poked him lightly. His mom stood over him, staring him down.
"Get up!" she said happily, a slightly crazed look of relief on her face.
He clambered from bed, confused.
"Why are you so happy?" the young zebra asked, clearing the blurs from his eyes.
"Oh, it's nothing," she said, breathing deeply. "It's just that the exile is about to leave. I think that she deserves it after what she's done."
"What did she do?" Zircon asked, hoping to catch her off guard.
"You're too young to understand," his mom replied, tapping him on the muzzle with a grin. "Now, you're going to have to stay here while we go and attend the leaving party."
Zircon's face twisted into confusion.
"You're throwing a party for her?" he asked. "Why?"
"No," his mom said with a small laugh. "A 'party' also can mean a group of zebras who are sent to meet or say goodbye to somepony."
The young zebra's face shifted to understanding.
"Oh!" he said.
His mom chuckled and patted him on the head.
"Stay safe!" she said as she left the hut, waving him goodbye. "Thank heavens that stupid 'healer's' going to be gone." He waved back, not hearing her last words.
When the door closed, the colt placed his head on the ground and sighed.
"Why am I never allowed to know about anything?" he moped. "I'm not too young. I can understand."
I wonder why they banished her? Zircon thought, beginning to pace. Maybe she killed somepony. Maybe she did something really bad, like she hurt another zebra. Maybe she angered the leader! Maybe she... uh...
He could not imagine anything else that would have to make her leave, so he stopped running ridiculous scenarios over in his head and sat down.
I hope she deserves this. I hope she wasn't banished because somepony doesn't like her very much.
He stood and went over to the small curtained window of the room. He pulled it back and saw nothing but the empty grasslands that the tribe sat upon, and the forest looming in the distance. As he stared into the blank pastures, he saw a lone zebra walking among them.
That must be the one they exiled, he thought. I wonder if I could ask her why she was banished before she goes into the forest.
And so he did. He hopped through the hole, only just small enough to make it through. He landed with a slight thud.
"Here we go," he said softly, breaking into a sprint, chasing after the zebra.
He ran through the fields, feeling the tall grass brushing against his face, tall enough to hide him from any eyes who were watching the zebra leave.
He saw a glimpse of the exile's gray coat.
"Hey!" he called.
He heard a shuffle, and the sound of running hoofsteps.
"Hey!" he called again.
He stopped to catch his breath, and he heard the retreating hoofsteps slow as well. He gulped in large amounts of air and closed his eyes for a moment.
"Why won't she stop?" he asked himself. "I just want to ask her question."
He started running and heard the zebra start running as well.
"I want to ask you a question!" he yelled, trying to keep up.
Soon, the grass parted to reveal the forest, where the exile was entering at a full gallop.
Darn it, he thought. I don't want to follow her in there.
He turned to leave, but his curiosity overcame him.
"Oh, I just have to know why she's been banished!" he said, fidgeting anxiously as he stared into the forest's darkness.
He gulped.
"I'll go in, and then I'll come back out as soon as I ask her," he promised himself. "I don't need to stay for too long."
He took a cautious step forward and walked into the forest.
