The Zalem Witchcraft Trials

This story takes place before the control of the sun and the moon, before there was ever equality in pony society, before nature was controlled by others, and before the unicorn race was known. The town is governed by a town law that was established long ago by earth ponies. The town this takes place in, is known as Zalem. It is small and is only inhabited by little pegasi and mostly earth ponies. At this time the names of ponies ere different and did not use the same style as today. In total there are only about 9 houses, all spread across the town. The climate is relatively cool with cloudy skies.

In entered a teen aged stallion. Coming in a small candle lit room with old furniture. He was a light brown with a charcoal black mane and tail.  The walls seemed to be made of wood that had turned a dark brown over time. His father was at his sisters bedside, who was placing a blanket on his sister head.

“Father! Father!” He cried. “Is my sister well?” He sat next to him, a worried look on his face.

“Yes, yes. She seems just right now, but she has yet to come for supper.” He reassured. “You have gotten my letter then I suppose?”

“Yes, though I expected it more urgent then this. She seems healthy to me.” The son expressed.

“It may seem that way…” The father looked at his son, “Though she has been like this since yesterday.” He said.

“Pray tell father? Do you mean to tell me she ate not yesterday?” The son asked.

“She did, though not as herself… she always stood erect, with her eyes parallel to the wall, not ever opening her mouth but to eat, what little she ever did.” He explained with a passive tone.

“And what of the servant Taitana? Where is she this day?” He asked.

“She should be arriving soon; I had sent her to collect more fire, for the room has gotten quite cold.” He stated.

Taitana is the servant of the Trocter house; she has been so ever since Apple Gail was sent out for “disobedience”. The son secretly loved Apple Gail, and did not like the replacement his father had made.

“I worry of her father…” The father looked confused. “Taitana is not a normal mare”

“I know this, though we must judge her not, It is in her culture to wear that dark hood.” He answered, believing he knew what he was referring to.

The door leading to the outside opened, letting in the winter breeze. Taitana entered pulling in a sleigh containing a stack of fire wood. She closed the door behind her.

“Speak of the devil” The son whispered to himself.

“Night sir” Taitina said nodding. “Here is the fire wood you requested from me”. She looked directly at the son eyes; he stared back at hers, and saw for the first time that she had dark maroon eyes.  “And who might this be sir?” She asked shifting her attention to the father.

“Why this is my son, Gruff Trocter, you had met before with him, have you not?” He asked.

“I believe we did sir; though it might have only been brief.” She answered sitting down next to the fire place, which only had a small ember lighting it.

“Yes, but that does not matter now. We must worry of the young and ill right now,” He looks at his daughter still lying asleep in bed. “We have this one to attend to-”.

“DID YOU DO THIS TAITANA!?” Gruff exclaimed.

She fell back on her hooves as though the mere shouting had pushed her on her back.

“GRUFF TROCTER!! How dare you raise your voice at her!?”

“I saw you…over at the woods, you were glowing like some sort of…some sort of WITCH!!” He claimed, disregarding what his father had to say.

“Taitana is this true?”  The father asked her with concern.

“No…this never… I-”

“DON’T LIE TAITANA!! I saw you! You closed your eyes saying ‘this one will be a little difficult’ “he mocked. “Then you started glowing yellow from your head, there is NO possible way a normal mare like you would ever glow like THAT in any way! What you were doing to those girls they…they all seemed to ENJOY the wrong you did them! And I stood there behind the bushes, FEARING for my life! Gruff claimed once more.

“Taitana you know what must be done to those doing witchery in the town of Zalem. They must face the rope; though I will for you in court for as long as I must.”

There was a silence in the room.  Everyone looked at each other in a pause. For a moment gruff wanted to speak but was cut off by his conscience.

“Now then, gruff would you go to the town and gather the ingredients for a well-deserved pancakes and fritter, your dear sister Mary”.

“Yes, father…as you wish”. He said marching his way out the door.

“Taitana…come…” He asked passively. She walks towards him with caution.

“What were you doing in the woods?” He asked.

“I-I was just setting up a fire for the girls we-we were having a camp out until we all got scared by a sound coming from the bushes”.

“I see…now then, I would have you seen out. I cannot have any bad name come to me or my family”.

“Of-of course sir…” She leaves with a concerned look.

John stood alone in the room reflecting on what just happened. He stood by his daughter staring blankly at a wall…

“A witch…”

A pitchfork, a scythe…there is the barn at the edge of town, which was owned by George Burros whom had built it long ago.

George Burros is a very old stallion. Very strange for someone to be at his age, living to your 90s, like this stallion had done, was unheard of. He was small, and frail. Over time his hair had grown winter-white, and had his vision impaired to the point of complete blindness.  He was with his daughter in the kitchen; His daughter was making him supper.

“Do you want any eggs with your bread father?” Elisabeth asked.

“Yes…please” He said hesitating.

“Heh, I knew you would say yes,” She smiled “so I had already made you some” She gave him the plate.

“Many thanks my dear” He said.

“No trouble father, anything for you” She said reassuring.

Elisabeth Trocter was young and in her 30’s much like her spouse John. She was a Pegasus but was not always comfortable flying.  She always had a semi-smile look on her face, which indicated she was hopeful and serious. She has been taking care of her father since she’d moved in the town of Zalem with John about 10 years ago.

“So how have you been sleeping father? Have you been feeling better?” She asked.

“Ehh…As healthy as a horse, my dear” He said.

“That is good. Have you heard anything about my dear son in law John?” He asked.

“Yes, I hear he had just made his 1500th sale at his shop in town”

“Anything else?”

“No, that’s all I’ve heard about him since I last visited…” She paused. “Why do you ask?”

He stood sitting, staring at the wall. And in a quiet voice he said. “I do hope he is alright”

“Of course he is…though he has a temper that I am afraid of”

“My thoughts exactly” He finishes his food and picks it up from the table.

“I’ll get that father” She said going toward him.

“Thank you my dear”

There was a burst at the door. The two became startled.

“Elisabeth! George! Are you two in here?!” A mare asked.

“Yes we are,” Elisabeth said poking her head out to see who was there. “Did you have to break off the hinges?”

“This is an emergency! Hail is at the Trocter house!” She exclaimed.

“Hail! As in, the witch professional!” She asked.

“Yes! Him!” She said.

“Thank you for bringing this to my attention,” She looks at her father, whom had a concerned look. “You stay here and make sure you lock all the doors and windows”.

“Of course. Be sure to return once you have finished”.

She shut the door on her way out. The door creaked shut. George put his plate in the sink. He left for his bed slowly and with little haste. He sighed as he lied down on his back. He paused for a long while…

“I know that stallion…and I do not trust him…”