Zecora rushed around her shop, grabbing spices and herbs from the shelves. She threw a couple of garlic cloves into her cauldron, and they exploded with a loud pop that left her ears ringing. She stepped back from the cauldron, blinking away the dizziness.

Then she heard something. A noise, like feet shuffling on the floor. Against leaves. And, a smell. Something that smelt soft, fragrant, but at the same time it smelt like it was dead. Not putrefying, in fact it was quite recent, but still enough for her to smell it.

She picked up a handful of sand, and doused the flame underneath the cauldron. As she pushed the door of her hut open, she saw a strange creature. It was like a pony, but it lacked fur. 'Do excuse me sir, you have caught my eye. You seem to lack fur, and I'm wondering why!' Zecora's eyes widened when she saw what stood before her.

It was a human.

__________________________

You turn around sluggishly, dropping the shovel into the small hole you have dug out. Before you stands a zebra, dressed in some sort of furry cloth. She has large, gold earrings hanging from her ear lobes, and an ivory needle runs through her nose.

'Hey.' Somehow you manage to get the words out, but they are muffled by your sobs.

The zebra looks down at Luna's body, resting peacefully on the floor. Your shovel lies nearby, inside the hole that is soon to be Luna's grave. Thinking about it makes you grit your teeth in a mixture of emotions. Anger, sadness, disappointment, and just trying to not cry on the spot.

'This is truly a fright! Is that the Princess of the Night?' You nod, and the zebra shakes her head.

'Yeah. She, she was executed just earlier. I'm giving her a nice burial.' You motion towards the roses next to Luna, and the small hole that is to be her burial.

Zecora shakes her head again, and bites her lip. 'Your situation is truly tragic, but I can help you with some magic.' She motions to her hut, and you have no choice but to go ahead. 'Bring your mare-friend. Today is not the end.'

You pick Luna up, and walk into the hut. A large cauldron stands in the middle, bubbling and boiling, and Zecora rushes past you. She throws some leaves in to the cauldron, and with her back to you, reaches out with her hand. 'Can you please get me that flask? The one that looks like a wine cask.'

'What colour?' You shift through multiple flasks, all that look like barrels of wine, but smaller.

'The one that is orange.' Zecora stops for a second. 'Ahh kak, what rhymes with orange?'

You smile slightly to yourself, but it quickly fades when you remember the task at hand. You pick up the small barrel and take it over to Zecora. She makes a sign with her hand, and you assume it to mean "pour it all in." So you do.

The cauldron bubbles, and then dies down. You poke your head over the side to look at what is happening, and Zecora yelps. She reaches for you just as the mixture bubbles and spews hot gas into the air where your face was a second ago. The mixture calms once more, and Zecora nods.

She grabs a bottle and a ladel, and starts to spoon the mixture into the small vial. Zecora places a cork on the vial, and shakes it up. The liquid turns a strange mixture of black. In one parts it is grey, others darker than the night, and others the colour of shade. But the strangest thing is the small slit of bright white in the center of the mixture.

'This will bring her back from the dead, pour it in her mouth, and hold her head.' You nod and grab the small vial. Moving sluggishly, you open Luna's mouth, and pop the cork off the bottle. You tilt the bottle forwards, and the black liquid oozes out, dripping into Luna's mouth.

You place her hands on either side of her face, her cold cheeks warming up at the touch of your hands. Zecora steps towards you, and places her hands just above Luna's chest. She closes her eyes, and starts muttering some words in a strange language that you can't quite understand.

Zecora swishes her hands through the air, drawing symbols of light that fade after a short time, and drift slowly towards Luna's eyes. They flare up when they touch Luna's corpse, and each time they grow brighter, and brighter, and brighter. Zecora turns to you.

'The spell is not yet done, but the next part will not be fun.'

You scoff. 'Nothing's been fun today.'

Zecora nods. 'Very well. Let's continue the spell.'

'Yeah yeah just get it done.'

'First listen to me. I warn you, the next part is not free.' Zecora pulls a emerald necklace out from between her breasts. 'This is my most prized creation, it will help finish the operation. The next part will require you to exchange part of you soul, and never again will you be whole.'

You chew you lip in thought. Fuck it. Anything for Luna. 'Do it. Just bring her back.'

Zecora turns to Luna, and places the necklace on her forehead. Zecora then turns to you, and places an emerald in your hand. 'Close your hand, clear your mind. And your souls shall be entwined.'

You do as you are told, and Zecora mutters more words. Your mind starts to swirl and go numb. You blink sleepiness away from your eyes, but find you cannot open them once closed. Your arms tense, then relax. Your toes dig into the carpet, and you grit your teeth.

Suddenly your vision sparks to life. You see a small filly, with blue fur, and a light blue mane. She turns towards you, and a large grin spreads on her face. 'Luna?'

'Luna?' The voice echoes, but it is not yours. You whirl around, and Celestia, or, a younger version, stands there. She stands with her arms out in front of her, and Luna runs towards her. She passes right through you, as if you are only a phantom, and the into Celestia's arms.

Another image swirls into your vision. Luna, older now, stands on a hillside, next to Celestia. Celestia points towards the moon, and waves her hand across, drawing an imaginary line in the sky. Luna nods, and traces the same line, but with more strain.

At first nothing happens, but then slowly, the moon starts to follow Luna's finger, being guided by her movements. The moon lowers until it is on the horizon, and then it dips away into nothing. Celestia smiles, and moves her own hand. The sun follows her hand.

Darkness. Nothing but darkness. A figure appears to your right, a guard with dark fur, heavily armoured. Another pony to your left. Light fur, heavily armoured. Celestia's guard. They charge at each other, swords clashing in the dim light. You walk past the guards, and they pay no attention to you. Of course they wouldn't. It's just memories,

You continue up, into what seems like a castle. It is worn down, and moss grows on the edges of the bricks. More guards battle inside the towers, swords clashing, armour breaking. You stumble past, and then you see them.

Luna and Celestia stand, face to face, swords in hand. Luna's wings flare out, and she lunges towards Celestia. Celestia pulls out an orb, and in a bright flash of light, Luna disappears. Tears pouring down her face, Celestia walks outside to a window, and looks up at the night sky.

The moon flashes bright, like the sun, but then fades to the normal colour. 'Forgive me Luna.' Celestia walks backs into the castle.

________________________

You snap awake in the hut, and Zecora douses your face with water. She smiles at you, and points behind you. You turn around, and are knocked down by some-pony. You recognise the blue fur.

'LUNA!' You pull her tighter, squeezing her tight against you. 'Oh thank god you're okay!'

She kisses you on the lips, laughing. 'But that's all thanks to you. Oh I love you!' You stand up and turn towards Zecora.

'Thank you. I, I don't know how to repay you.'

'Luna's life you have saved. Do not let it waste.'

'I promise.' You turn to Luna, and kiss her again. 'One thing. The part about my soul......'

'You'll understand when the time comes, and when it does, you'll need both thumbs.'

You raise an eyebrow. 'I ran out of rhymes, now get out, it's closing time.' Zecora smiles, and shows you the way out.

You walk back towards the castle, Luna hooked in your arm. She rests her head on your shoulder, and sighs. 'Thank you. I can't beleive you managed to do it.'

'Anything for you Luna.' You kiss her forehead. 'Come on. Let's go home.' You keep her in your arms, and together, you head back to the castle.

Author's Note

You really think I would kill Luna? Like, for ever? Just the thought makes me cry. Nearly done with this story, then I can move on to others. Oh, and for anyone wondering, "kak" means shit in Afrikaans (kinda obvious but watevs).

NOT FINISHED YET. We have one more chapter.

*clop clop*