Sealed Fox: Lunar Sage

"CHAPTER 1: THE PRESENT DAY"

Green for the link, black to stop.

Written by HB_DS2013

Part 1Edited Proofread by 8542Madness

PART 1

"Instrumental is this test, potential in alchemy you have. " Zecora commented as she added the herbs onto the brew. "This has been passed down from mentor to apprentice for many generations, this salve."

"Wait... what kind of salve is it?" Apple Bloom inquired.

"Made from Hearts' Desire and chamomile dust, it is capable of fostering trust." The zebra took a quick glance toward her window and said, "Gather the herbs before sunset, but watch the timberwolf threat."  She gave the lemon-coated filly a basket and a blue amulet before sending her apprentice off into the depths of the forest.

Thick trees and the pitch-black darkness surrounded the filly with trepidation, with every step forward was a crunch on the forest floor. She gave a long sigh as she trotted about in the darkness and tried not to think about the fate that befell her parents.

Ah cain't believe it. At this rate, ahm gunna be gettin an alchemy cutie mark! The filly thought and did a double take before continuing in her mental monologue, cringing at the musky scent. The last thing I want to try is Rainbow's cooking. Ah dun think it's possible to even set oatmeal on fire.  She shuddered and cringed at the memory while trying to keep herself focused.

[Apple Bloom's Memories, One Year Ago, Golden Oaks Library]

"You think alchemy exists!?" Rainbow Dash raised an eyebrow at her friend. "Alchemy is just a more complicated way of mixing things."

"Alchemy is more than 'mixing things', Rainbow. Alchemy is a science aimed at transmuting two or more objects." Twilight answered, then frowned at Rainbow. "Cooking, on the other hoof also involves mixing two or more objects to create a meal... like oatmeal.

"Like what!?"

"For example, it is impossible to set oatmeal on fire." Twilight frowned once more, then slowly turned towards me with a tired look.

"Heya, 'Twahlaht. Rainbow." I greeted the two with a cute grin. "What choo 'talkin 'bout?"

"We were talking about my terrible cooking skills." Rainbow answered plainly.

"Well, what brings you here, Apple Bloom?" The lavender mare spoke with a questioning tone.

"Do yah have any books 'bout alchemy?" I inquired.

"Alchemy cutie mark?" Both mares tilted their heads in confusion.

"Ahve bin workin with Zecora so long, that ah maht git mah cutie mark in alchemy." I squealed with joy and leaned closer to the lavender mare with a smile on my face so wide it kin cut offa mah face.

"I don't think I've seen you with an interest in books before." Twilight commented. "I thought you were into carpentry."

"Me too. But ah did better potion-makin than patchin' up Sweet Apple Acres." I replied. "I'll still patch up Sweet Apple Acres every now and then, though."

"If it means having to improve your skills, then okay." Twilight grinned at Rainbow, who responded with a glare.

"Oh, come on! My cooking's not THAT bad!"  Rainbow complained.

"There's a reason why I never let you cook in the library." The librarian deadpanned." At least Applebloom has more potential-"

***

"It shouldn't be too hard..." The filly mumured. "I hope this torch will last me the entire trip to the potion ingredients and back home."

With a basket on her back, she procured herbs needed for the potion, ignoring the Poison Joke nearby, chuckling at a memory of Applejack and her friends' experiences. Needless to say, poison joke is not to be underestimated.

Fostering trust... fostering trust... Apple Bloom wondered and sighed. "It doesn't make any sense at all."

Her comfortable silence was suddenly broken by a loud crack from the floor, alerting the filly of several shadows. Applebloom backed up slowly until her hindhooves felt wood... and heard a snort. Her pink bow flared up like wings while chills ran down her spine from the musky scent.

She turned around slowly and lifted her head at a pair of glowing square eyes and flinched. Applebloom gradually lifted her head and was greeted by a snort and a loud roar. Her heart began to beat rapidly. Either way, being timberwolf food is not a great way to die.

Apple Bloom breathed heavily while cantering away from the eyes. Her hooves tripped over a root and landed on her face. Wincing from the pain, she pulled herself into a fetal position and groaned softly. It was only some time ago that she realized that they were the very same pack that devoured her parents, according to her older siblings. Not too far from her, the basket rolled over, spilling its contents onto the ground. Upon lifting her head, the entirety of the pack loomed over her, and had only enough energy to scream before blacking out.

Zecora paced on the dirt floor of her tree, with a hoof in her muzzle. My mind is filled with lead, and it is almost time for Apple Bloom to go to bed. Stepping out into the forest, a distant scream of a filly echoed out from the darkness and a chill ran through her spine in response.

If dear Applebloom is dead, then the timberwolves will have reason to dread. With only a small pouch of green dust equipped and a strong desire to rescue her dear apprentice from the Forest, Zecora then cantered off into the darkness...

PART 2

In the darkness of the Everfree Forest, a pair of golden eyes glowed and a tower of neck rings chimed, warding away any other timberwolves that dare come close. Apple Bloom slowly lifted her head and groaned softly, the rest of her voice obscured by the low growls of the pack. Her life was about to end when all of the timberwolves were suddenly enveloped in a blue mist.

Sniffing the air, the timberwolves turned around and whimpered as if a higher presence frowned upon them. To ponykind, the Everfree Forest was unnatural. The sun and moon moved on their own, plants and animals took care of themselves and the weather also operated on their own. But... it was also as if there was something stronger than all of them, save for the Ursa Major.

All of the timberwolves felt a burning sensation and a crackling sound intensified, howling in pain as the embers ate away at their bodies. Apple Bloom averted her gaze for fear her eyes may be burnt from the light illuminating the depths of the Forest. Time seemed to slow as the howling intensified, the equine shape trotting closer. The chime of neck rings jingled, and the golden eyes briefly flickered. Lurching forward, Zecora fell to her knees as a blue mist escaped from her body, briefly coalcesing into a fox-like aura before entering Apple Bloom's amulet.

"I am glad you are alright." Zecora gave a relieved sigh. "Did the timberwolves bite?"

"Ah don't think so." Apple Bloom's left hindhoof seemed to be fine, but winced trying to stand up. "Ow."

"I take it back. But at least you are not a snack." She chuckled softly and noticed a basket with some trampled herbs nearby, frowning at the wasted effort, then gave another relieved sigh at her apprentice. With a quick nod, Zecora lowered herself and motioned Applebloom to climb on her back.

****

Still left in the pitch-black sea of trees, Apple Bloom flinched when the amulet started pulsing with a dark blue aura. Zecora found herself wrapped in the same dark blue aura until her hooves felt a distortion in space. Pulling back briefly, her eyes took note of the various talismans taped around the trees, all of them having been written in runes and in a language she did not know. And yet, her days in the Everfree Forest acquainted her to this presence.

Upon stepping through the portal, Apple Bloom and Zecora were greeted by the soft crunch of grass and a stone fox statue holding a dark blue ball with its vulpine maw, imbued with an ancient magic from a distant time. The two found themselves awed by the leaves falling gracefully from the trees, bathed in moonlight.

"What is this place?" The lemon filly inquired.

"This glade I found some time ago, long before the Poison Joke woe." Zecora answered.

Pulsing slowly in sync with Apple Bloom and Zecora, the amulet on the former's neck resonated with the orb, held by the fox statue's jaws, both of them in a dark blue aura.

"The darkness of the Everfree touches not this hallowed sanctum." Zecora commented solemnly. "Time is frozen, but we can hear its silent anthem." She trotted closer to a fox statue in a dynamic pose, its paws spread wide while its two of its four tails shot skyward and its size to be slightly larger than an Ursa Minor. Upon a closer look, the orb had an area with a diamond-shaped indent. Another quick glance towards Apple Bloom's amulet, then at the indent put two and two together.

Giving the vulpine statue an affirmative nod, Zecora trotted closer and her body was quickly wrapped in a leaf swirl. Applebloom watched in concern as her mentor was lifted into the air, her blue eyes slowly shifting into a bronze yellow. She watched as the dark blue flames covered her mentor and drew back in fear, the orb on the statue's mouth pulsing with increasing frequency.

Before she can cover her eyes from the harsh flames, the entire glade became wrapped in a dark blue light and the ground beneath them trembled. Straining under the immense power given to her, Zecora's eyes shifted into a golden yellow color and the flames were released skyward, manifesting into a massive pillar that can be seen all the way from Manehatten. The trembling stopped once the resulting energy receeded, robbing the alchemist of her energy and dropped to the ground with a loud thump.