The Strength of Bonds

      I awoke to the sounds of several books hitting the floor. Groaning I began a blind trek up the basement stairs, opening the door proved to be a mistake as a rather large tome forcefully struck the top of my muzzle resulting in me falling down the stairs. Groaning louder caught the attention of my teacher.

“Ram? What happened to you this morning,” she said trying to beat around the bush.

“Book…nose…stairs…pain,” I croaked out as I struggled to my hooves.

“He he he…sorry about that, I’ve just been so frustrated lately.” She grumbled. “Spike is there anymore of the relaxant left?” she called.

“Nope you used it all last night to try to get to sleep…again,” he called back with a teasing tone. I couldn’t help but smile at the thought of Twi downing basically anti energy drinks in her attempts to quell her own mind.

“Twilight, why exactly where you up all night for?” I quizzed.

“Just that stupid box that the Tree of Harmony spit out, I haven’t found anything in this entire library about it,” she said as her tone slowly grew as her frustrations boiled over.

“Twilight calm down, let’s just head over to Zecora’s to get some more of that relaxant. Maybe she knows something about the box?” I said trying to give her some hope.

“Actually you might be right Ram, she did have that weird potion too, it stands to reason that she might know something about the box too!” she exclaimed bouncing in place at the prospect of learning something new. We began our trek towards the Everfree Forest when I began to fell a strange presence.

“Twilight? Do you feel that?” I asked visibly shaking.

“Fell what?” she asked confused.

“I can feel this dark presence, here; use a mind share spell to see if you can feel what I do,” I looked at her, she saw the fear in my eyes and decided to at least give me the benefit of the doubt. As her horn touched mine I saw her eyes go wide as she felt the presence. She recoiled in a reaction that could only be one of pure fear. As I continued to look into her lavender eyes I noticed something odd, under the fear I saw a torrent of emotions. There were three that stood out to me; disbelief, recognition, and anger, pure rage.

“Twilight you know something don’t you?” I prodded.

“Yes, unfortunately I recognize the presence that is plaguing you,”

“What? What is it?” I asked excitedly. “Finally some answers!” I thought I she began to speak.

“The feelings that plague you are something I haven’t seen in a long time. They are from an evil that I helped destroy over a year ago. I thought he could never manifest again but… the being that plagues you is none other than King Sombra himself,” She said sternly. This caused me to stop in my tracks.

“That’s… impossible… you destroyed him,” I breathed

“I thought that too but apparently we were wrong,” she deadpanned.

“Should we be worried? I mean he is the lord of fear itself,” I said with strain in my voice.

“No we shouldn’t,” she deadpanned  “Even if it is him he would still be too weak to be able to inflict any major damage,” she said confidently “Along with that we still have Cadence and Shining Armor with the crystal heart to deal with him,”

“That seems like a sound conclusion,” I said with my nerves settling slightly. We continued to the forest in silence. Pausing only momentarily to say hi to Fluttershy before we entered the forest. Zecora’s hut wasn’t far in but Twilight still wanted me to stay close to her. I didn’t object as we maneuvered throughout the paths in the forest. Having to detour every once and a wile to avoid some Poison Joke.

“Nasty plants,” Twilight whispered under her breath.

“I think we’re here,” I said with a slight twinge in my voice.

The hut was a tree that had been hallowed out and decorated to seem like there was something terrible that lived here. As we entered strange smells and sights filled my senses but before I could ask a very smooth cadence interrupted my thought process.

“Ah princess what brings you to my space,” she said noticing me “as well bringing as this unfamiliar face,”

“Hello Ms. Zecora my name is Ram Card,” I said outstretching a hoof.

“Your aura is warm yet cold, I wonder what powers you truly hold,” she said a bit confused from the contact.

“Well to answer your question Zercora I need some more of the relaxer that you have,” Twilight said

“You when through an entire bush in a week and yet still more you seek?”Zecora quizzed, concerned about her friends health.

“Don’t worry Zecora alicorns are immune to the effects of addiction…just not the actual effects of the substance,” Twilight chided.

“Well if it’s your biology you can share in the fruits of my herbology,” she said confidently.

“Oh and Zecora,” Twilight called after her, “My student and I have a question for you about the box the Tree of Harmony produced a few days ago”

Looking back at the box the zebra placed a hoof on the box and said, “In this mix a second six must be kept at your side if you are to find out what’s inside.”

“A second six? What does that mean?” Twilight asked herself

“I couldn’t tell you Twilight, maybe we should run it buy everyone else? See what they think,” I said confidently.

“I couldn’t agree more Ram. Thank you Zecora,” Twilight chirped.

“By Zecora, it was nice meeting you,” I said as I followed my teacher out of the hut.

“See you soon you two, let me know what you plan to do,” she said happily as the two left her home.