Chapter 1: A Stranger at the Door
The Everfree Forest was completely silent.
Zecora stopped what she was doing and look intensely at the ancient tribal masks that adorned her walls. The artifacts, usually silent and decorative, were trembling as if in fear. It was a very bad omen. Zecora grabbed a pouch of a special herb, went to her cauldron and poured it in before taking a long drink of the brew. She focused intently on the world around her, soaking in every detail from the massive tree her home was formed from to the smallest insect scuttling up her window. Time slowed down as she shut her eyes and turned her focus inwards.
Slowly, but surely, the truesight came to her, its warmth washing over her body. Opening her eyes again, she was glowing with the light of her aura. The ground, trees, and sky had disappeared, replaced by darkness. Besides her own silver-blue glow, however, the only light close to her home came from the insect on the window. This could not be right. She slowly turned around, looking as hard as she could into the distance for any form of animal life. She looked towards Ponyville and was relieved to see the distant, bluish auras of the town’s inhabitants. Whatever the danger was, it had nothing to do with the small town.
She turned her eyes toward the deepest part of the Everfree. Off in the distance, several hundred yards away, was a tall light of... it was a type of aura that she had never seen before. Auras tended to color themselves based on the actions of the individuals, but never had Zecora heard of a pony possessing an... Unspeakable...aura. Then again, it didn’t carry itself like a normal pony. From this distance, it looked like a Diamond Dog, standing on its two hind legs. It was definitely coming towards her hut.
She mentally calmed herself. There was no need to panic. Whatever this creature was, she had taken an oath to honor all living creatures. If it came to visit her, she would not deny it entrance, and if it proved hostile she had several sleeping potions on-hoof. She closed her eyes and let the truesight wash out of her body, chilling her to the bone as it departed. That was the most unpleasant part of taking the potion, but one that could not be helped. There was always a price to be paid in magic, even if it was a benign as discomfort.
Zecora opened her eyes and began to prepare some defenses, just in case they were necessary. She took off her bracelets and opened a secret compartment that, with a flick of her hoof, could launch a poison dart with accuracy. She had hoped she’d never need it, and still did, but it might be of use today. She removed the dart from its casing and, very carefully so as not to get any on herself, dipped it in the most potent sleeping potion she could find. It was a mixture of crushed Golden Root Flower, Azaperone, and water that had washed over the petals of Heart’s Desire for good dreams- a very powerful sedative that could knock out even the most aggressive of patients. Every Zebra herbalist had a small supply, but Zecora had never needed to use it before. She carefully reloaded the dart and peeked out her window.
Whatever this creature was, it was faster than she had anticipated. She didn’t think that preparing the dart had taken so much time, but the creature was now almost at her door. Zecora felt something she hadn’t felt since she had left her tribe: dread.
The creature knocked on the door.
Did she dare answer? How could she? The creature’s aura had the Unspeakable Color, but surely that didn’t mean anything. It was just another species, and each species had its own peculiar blend of aura. Ponies and pony-like creatures were bluish-silver, the Diamond Dogs were grey, monsters were blood-red, and the Alicorns were pure white. Surely this creature’s Unspeakable aura was just the mark of it’s kind, and nothing to be held against it.
The creature knocked again.
Celestia, why did it have to be her? Why couldn’t this beast have gone to another zebra’s home? Granted, there were very few living this deep into Equestria, but she hadn’t been the only one to leave the Tribal Lands! Couldn’t this nightmare have fallen on somepony else?
The creature knocked one more time.
It was no use. Zecora plucked up all her courage and spoke.
“If you wish to enter, you shall not be blocked. The door you face is never locked.”
As the door handle turned, Zecora became more and more frightened. Had she just let a horrible evil into her home? No. Even if she had, it was too late to go back now. She had invited it inside. That was the threshold, and she had crossed it.
The door swung open. In the door frame was... a belt?
“Gah! This door is too small!” The creature roared as it ducked down through the door. It’s voice was harsh and annoyed. As it stood to its full height, Zecora got a good look at the creature that had filled her with dread from a distance.
It was a cat, though unlike any cat Zecora had ever come across in all her years in the Everfree. Its green eyes and brown-furred face were certainly feline, as were its long claws and fangs, though it was considerably taller than anyone Zecora had ever known, possibly even taller than Princess Celestia. It had an orange mane and was wearing what seemed to be a deep red velvet dress lined with... was that animal fur? Zecora tried not to think about it. Around the cat’s waist was a gold belt, made of several orbs chained together, and on its arm were golden bracelets, similar to her own. She wondered just how similar they were. This cat was terrifying, yet it carried itself not like a Diamond Dog, as she had suspected before, but more... regal, if that was the word. Whatever this creature was, it radiated power and fear.
“What’s your name?’’ The cat practically snarled. Zecora shrunk back in fear. Her people had legends of demons that came to take ponies to the underworld. Was this beast her demon? It would explain the Unspeakable aura. She prayed to Celestia it wasn’t before responding.
“
Yes, I am Zecora, of the Zebra Mane. Tell me, demon, what is your name?” The confidence and steadiness in her voice surprised Zecora. It was the polar opposite of how she felt inside.
“Demon? HA!” the creature laughed, “And here I thought that nobody respected me! No, pony, I am not a demon, though I have an... assistant... who can change his shape at will. Now, I’ve heard that there is a good herbalist in this forest. I’m guessing that’s you?” Zecora blinked. That was the last thing she had expected the creature to say.
“Indeed, some say I am... why is it you ask, ma’am?” This creature was female, wasn’t it? Zecora hoped that she hadn’t just made another horrible, horrible mistake.
“Ma’am. There’s a title I haven’t heard in a very long time.” She- yes, Zecora could now see the cat was definitely female- chuckled. “I used to be a sort of herbalist myself, but my production facility was destroyed. Now, I wander from place to place. Is there any chance I could stay here tonight?”
Author's Note
I wrote this story a long time ago, but I figure I might as well pick it back up again. If this story gets a lot of positive reception, I'll continue it, but I'm not entirely sure if I will. Still, thought I might as well put it out there for you guys to see.
That said, fair and constructive criticism is very much welcomed. I'm still pretty new at writing fiction, so tips, tricks, or typos you see would be useful. Thanks!
