Chapters The Life of Cocoa Crystalroot
"Fly faster you miserable runt!" Turmeric Bolt yelled at her daughter as they flew over the Everfree Forest. Turmeric Bolt was a Pegasus the color of turmeric, save for only one red splotch over her mouth. Her mane was long, and had green and yellow stripes streaking down it. Her cutiemark was a star made of turmeric spice shooting across her flank. Along with that, she had dark green eyes and a fiery temper, so when her most recent foal had been born odd, she exploded with rage.
"I'm trying mum! I really am!" Her daughter, Cocoa Crystalroot, sobbed back, flapping her wings as hard as she could. Cocoa had been born odd, as said before. Turmeric had bought potions to make her pregnant instead of just getting pregnant the natural way. This potion, however, went wrong. Cocoa was a Pegasus, but not a normal one. She was a Crystal Pegasus, mixed with a zebra, making her a terrible flyer, because both Crystal Ponies and Zebra couldn't fly. Cocoa had redish brown fur, with peachish colored stripes, along with a bright green mane and tail. Her eyes were also bright green, and she was a blank flank. It never occurred to Cocoa that a cutiemark was important, so she didn't care.
"Come on, mum, give her a chance! I know you can do it, Cocoa!" Cinnamon Thunder, Cocoa's sister, shouted. She had fur the color of cinnamon, a brownish orange mane and tail, with bright blue eyes, and a box that said "CINN." with cinnamon spice piled around it for a cutiemark. She got her cutiemark when she figured out she was good at "The Cinnamon Challenge."
"I already gave her too many chances!" Turmeric screamed, and bucked Cinnamon in the face, making the blue - eyed pony crash into a nearby rock face. As she slid down it, unconscious, so did blood. She hit the ground and lay motionless. While Cocoa looked in horror at the sight, she didn't notice her wings begin to lock up. Turmeric smiled.
"Good bye, runt!" She cackled, as Cocoa looked at her in pure confusion. She then caught on and gasped.
"MY WINGS!" She yelled in terror as she began to plummet toward the dark forest beneath her. She tried to unlock her wings, but nothing was working. "No, this can't be the end!" She whispered as she cried. No filly my size could ever survive this fall , she thought expecting death. She then smashed into the ground, becoming unconscious.
"Hmmm, where is that flower?" A voice said as Cocoa began to wake up. She groaned from the pain in her left wing.
"Who....? Who are you?" She asked when she saw a zebra in front of her. For some reason, Cocoa wasn't afraid. The zebra was a light grayish white, with lilac stripes and amber eyes. Her black mane and tail swished about as she ran to the other side of the room, picked up a glowing light blue flower, and said:
"I am Zazoo! Now who are you?" The zebra, who was a girl, answered.
"Cocoa Crystalroot." Cocoa replied calmly.
" What were you doing in the Everfree Forest alone, young Cocoa?" Zazoo questioned. Cocoa explained her story to Zazoo. "An interesting tale you have shared with me, Cocoa, but though you were abandoned, you are not alone!" She continued.
" What do you mean?" Cocoa asked.
" I am here for you, young one." Zazoo answered kindly and hugged Cocoa. "Now let me fix that wing for you."
"So, you'll take care of me?" Cocoa asked. Zazoo nodded.
"Of course! No filly should ever be left alone, especially one as special as you!" She exclaimed. "I sense you have magical properties somewhere in you. Perhaps they're coming from your Zebra and Crystal Pony heritage." She continued as she inspected Cocoa's wing.
"Does that mean I'm sort of like an Alicorn? My sister said she saw one raise the sun when she ran away from home, and what are Crystal Ponies?" Cocoa said, obviously interested in this topic.
"In a way, I would say. Crystal Ponies are beautiful ponies, most commonly earth-dwelling, that contain strange magic properties." Zazoo replied. "Ahhh, it appears your wing is just sprain. A bit of a miracle! When falling from the sky, many end up breaking their wings!" She exclaimed.
"So I'm lucky?" Cocoa asked. Turmeric had never called her lucky, so this was new to her.
"Yes! Yes you are! Lucky and rare you are!" Zazoo exclaimed joyously. "Now, back to more professional matters, eat this." She said to Cocoa, holding up the flower she had been looking for earlier.
"Why?" Cocoa asked.
"This flower should help your wing mend faster." Zazoo explained.
"Oh!" Cocoa exclaimed, and gobbled up the flower. "Ewww! That tasted disgusting!" She yelled after she finished eating.
"Most herbs don't taste very well!" Zazoo chuckled.
"So that's what herbs taste like? No wonder sis said she didn't like them!" Cocoa exclaimed. Zazoo chuckled again.
"You do not no much about the outside world, do you?" She asked. Cocoa shook her head.
"My mother made my sis and I stay in home all day and only let us out for flight practice." She said forlornly. Zazoo frowned.
"Would you like me to show you the world then?" She asked. Cocoa scratched her head.
"Hmmmmm...." She thought. "Sure!" She exclaimed. Zazoo smiled.
"Then tomorrow, we go to Canterlot!" The zebra yelled happily.
"To Canterlot!" Cocoa shouted, equally as happy. "Wait, what's Canterlot?" She asked. Zazoo laughed.
"Oh dear child, you have a lot to learn!" She exclaimed. "Much more than I thought!"
The Life of Cocoa Crystalroot
After walking for about a day, Zazoo and Cocoa finally arrived in the town of Canterlot. The moon gleamed high in the sky. "Wow! I've never seen so many buildings in one place before!" Cocoa exclaimed, eyes wide. Zazoo chuckled.
"Well, I'm glad you like it so far, but there is much more to do then just stare." She said. Cocoa cocked her head.
"What else can I do? It doesn't look like anypony's awake." She asked.
"That is true, but I have a friend that I'd like you to meet." Zazoo replied to the filly. Cocoa smiled.
"Ok! That sounds fun to me!" She exclaimed. The two walked down the street they were on until a small, white house came into view. Zazoo knocked on the door, and it opened, revealing a unicorn mare with bright yellow eyes. Her lilac fur and pale green mane combed neatly. Her cutiemark was a bundle of lilac flowers.
"Zazoo! What brings you to Canterlot? And whatever it is, why so late at night!" The mare asked, welcoming her friend in. "And who is this?" She smiled, pointing at Cocoa. The filly tried to hide behind Zazoo's leg because she wasn't used to the attention, but the Zebra made sure she stayed out in the open.
"This is Cocoa," Zazoo said, adressing the little pegasus who was trying to hide her face with her wings. "And Cocoa," The Zebra continued and the filly finally gave up trying to hide. "This is my friend Lilac Breeze." She introduced. Lilac Breeze extended her hoof for Cocoa to shake, and the filly cautiously shook it.
"Nice to meet you, Cocoa!" She smiled warmly. She looked to Zazoo. "Please explain where she came from though." She whispered to the Zebra as she walked into the house, Cocoa trailing after. The Zebra nodded as Lilac closed the door. Lilac's house was actually very comfortable even though it was small. Surprisingly, it even had a second story! As soon as everyone was settled in, Lilac spoke. "So, Zazoo, start explaining!" She requested. Zazoo smiled at her friend's "right now" attitude.
"I'll explain once everyone is introduced." She chuckled. Lilac looked confused for about five seconds before realizing who she'd forgotten. Her eyes grew wide.
"Oh my gosh! I can't believe I forgot about her! I'll get her now!" She shouted and ran up the stairs. Cocoa looked up at Zazoo.
"What was she talking about?" The pegasus asked. Zazoo smiled.
"You'll see!" She answered as Lilac came racing down the steps. Soon after her mother, Lilac's daughter came trotting down.
"Hi everypony!" She smiled and waved. Like her mother, she was also a unicorn.
"Cocoa, meet my daughter, Dark Warsong!" Lilac announced as the filly trotted over to Cocoa.
"Hi, Cocoa, pleased to meet you!" The Dark Warsong said politely.
"Nice to meet you too!" Cocoa smiled, deciding these ponies wouldn't hurt her. Lilac sighed.
"You two go upstairs while I talk to Zazoo, ok?" She asked. The fillies nodded and Dark led the way to her room. Once inside, she closed the door.
"Do you want to go exploring?" The unicorn asked. Cocoa cocked her head.
"What's that?" She asked. Dark smiled.
"It's probably the most fun game ever! I play it all the time with my friend Stella." She said. "Since my mom usually doesn't come to check on me when Zazoo's over, I sneak out of the house and explore Canterlot! All I need to do is teleport!" She explained. Cocoa was interested.
"You can teleport?!" She asked, amazed. Dark nodded.
"I found a book on it and studied extra hard. The only bad thing about it, is that I have no clue where i'll be teleported to, but I guess that just adds to the fun!" She exclaimed.
"Ok! I'll go exploring with you!" Cocoa smiled. Dark beamed.
"Ok, brace yourself!" She instructed, and her horn glowed, a shower of sparks cascading down. Then there was a loud bang, and everything went black. "Uhhh, I think I focused to hard." Dark grumbled as she got up. Cocoa smiled.
"I think you did fine!" She said, struggling to get up. "Where did we get teleported to though? It looks sorta like The Everfree Forest outside.....But it couldn't be! Only Zazoo and I live there!" Cocoa exclaimed in confusion. Dark walked over to her. "Maybe we're in a weird dimension where lots of ponies live there!" She suggested. The two fillies then herd a giggle. They looked over to see a small blue filly with light blue hair. She wore a small black crown on her head and her cutiemark was a crescent moon.
"You're in The Royal Palace, sillies!" She laughed. Cocoa and Dark were awestruck. The filly was an Alicorn! "What? Don't just stand there like that! Aren't you going to tell me your names?" The blue filly asked. "Mine's Princess Luna!" She introduced herself, smiling happily all the while.
The Life of Cocoa Crystalroot
Cocoa and Dark still stood frozen. Luna wove a hoof in front of them. "Hello? Are thou not going to tell me your names?" She asked. Dark shook herself.
"I'm Dark Warsong." She said before bowing to her princess. Cocoa suddenly realized she should do the same.
"I-I'm Cocoa Crystalroot." She stuttered before bowing. Luna giggled.
"Wonderful!" She exclaimed happily. "You may rise." She added, realizing her subjects were bowing. Cocoa and Dark were surprised that they weren't scolded for being here. Suddenly, a voice called out.
"Luna? What's with all the noise?" It asked. Dark, Luna, and Cocoa turned. standing before them was a tall Alicorn with a flowing pink mane and tail. Dark and Cocoa immediately bowed.
"Tia!" Luna exclaimed upon seeing her sister. "I found these two fillies. They say their names are Dark Warsong and Cocoa Crystalroot." She explained. Tia nodded.
"You can rise." she said kindly to the two fillies. "Now, could you explain how you got here by any chance?" She asked.
"One of my teleportation spells." Dark explained, hanging her head. Tia frowned. She put a hoof on the dark filly's shoulder.
"You make it sound as if it's a bad thing, when it's really not. Why?" She asked. Dark looked up.
"It shows how terrible my magic is!" Dark exclaimed sadly. Tia smiled.
"Actually, it shows how good your magic is." She began. "You live in Canterlot; teleporting from there to here would require a high-level magic spell." She continued. Dark looked thoughtful.
"Really? I just read a spell out of a book I found." She said. Tia looked interested.
"What book?" She asked the filly.
"I think it was called The Art of Magic: Teleportation and Potions ." Dark answered after a moment of thinking. "It was by somepony called Love Clove Crystal, I think." She continued thoughtfully. Tia had never heard of anypony named that, but the book didn't seem terrible, so she decided not to question further. She then looked to Cocoa.
"I've never heard of you; where do you come from?" She asked. Cocoa looked confused by the question.
"I don't know." She admitted. "But now I live in the Everfree Forest with Zazoo." She continued. Tia understood. She decided Cocoa was probably from one of the mysterious Badland Tribes, but was either exiled or outcasted, as the tribe ponies were said to call it.
"What was that!?" Lilac exclaimed, hearing a loud crash come from upstairs. "Dark, are you alright?" She called to her daughter. No reply. "Dark!?" She asked louder. Still no response. Zazoo got up.
"I have a bad feeling about this; We should go check on them." She suggested. Lilac agreed.
"You're right; Let's go have a look." She forced a smile. The two mares walked up the steps and walked into Dark's room. Due to size restraint, they had to duck to get in. They didn't see Dark or Cocoa; Only a scorched spot on the floor. Lilac knew what had happened the moment she saw it: teleportation. "Oh dear," she started. "Dark's been using teleportation again!" She cried. "She could be anywhere!" She continued.
"Then we should check everywhere." Zazoo reminded Lilac that they should probably start looking for the two missing fillies. The earlier, the better. The two mares walked outside.
"Dark? Cocoa?" Lilac called. Zazoo's ear flicked.
"Do you hear that?" She asked her companion. Lilac nodded.
"It sounds like.....Hoofsteps!" She exclaimed hopefully. The two mares ran in the direction of the sound. They stopped to see Princess Celestia and her sister Princess Luna, levitating Cocoa and Dark with their magic. Lilac and Zazoo bowed.
"You can rise." Celestia sighed. The two mares did as they were told. "We thought you might be missing these two," She explained. "Luna found them at the castle." She continued before putting Cocoa and Dark down.
"Thank you, Princess!" Lilac exclaimed, happy to have her daughter back.
"You have my thanks as well." Zazoo agreed as Cocoa ran up to her. Celestia nodded before she began to prepare a teleportation spell to get back home faster.
"Thou should come back and play!" Luna called before she and her sister were teleported away. Lilac looked to her daughter.
"What did I say about teleportation?" She asked sternly. Dark looked down.
"Not to use it." She sighed the answer before yawning. Zazoo tried to change the subject.
"I think these two may need a nap." She said. Lilac looked to Zazoo and agreed.
"Zazoo's right; You two need some rest." She ordered. The four walked to Lilac's house and Dark quickly ran up to her room and leaped into her bed. Cocoa followed, but grabbed up a blanket and curled up on the rug nearby instead.
"Goodnight." Dark yawned. Cocoa shut her eyes.
"Goodnight." She yawned back. Once she was asleep, her dreams were filled of the events that had taken place after she and Dark teleported to the castle. As she was dreaming, however, she remembered something: what had happened to her sister!?