Thunderspite dove after the falling saddle bag as fast as he could manage. He was lucky he had noticed it was missing when he did; another moment more and the satchel and the precious royal dispatch it contained would have been lost forever beneath the canopy of the Everfree forest, and Thunderspite would have never known what had happened. Even as it was, the satchel had quite a head start, and even diving as fast as he could, Thunderspite was not sure he would reach the bag before the bag reached the trees.
Thunderspite tucked himself into the most aerodynamic posture he could manage and redoubled his flapping, but the bag was still accelerating. Losing the royal dispatch was simply not an option. Thunderspite did not know what the message from Princess Celestia to Princess Twilight Sparkle read, but whatever it was, it was, the Princess had asked Thunderspite to hoof-carry it instead of trusting it to the magical ether of dragon-fire.
After a full twenty seconds of diving, Thunderspite had nearly caught up with the satchel, but the dense canopy of the Everfree forest was fast approaching. With one final burst of speed, Thunderspite caught up with the bag and seized it in his teeth. He flared his wings out, grunting with exertion as the force of the wind rushing past him threatened to rip his wings from their sockets. He was pitching up, but it looked as if the bottom of his arc was just going to scrape the canopy.
“Grrrgh!” Thunderspite grunted, the satchel still in his teeth. He quickly steered left, then right, then left again to dodge a few trees whose branches extended above the canopy. He at last managed to level his descent, and for a split-second it looked as if he was going to make it. Then, without warning, one of the trees swung a branch at him, as a pony might swat at a fly. Thunderspite did not have time to react, only to flinch as the thick branch slammed into him.
Thunderspite reeled, dazed, as he watched sky and earth and sky again tumble around him. He saw the satchel pass in front of him, and gathered his wits enough to pull it towards him before cocooning himself in his own wings. His body met hard with one branch, then another, then another. Then he was falling again, and managed just enough strength to roll and give one half-flap to slow his descent before he landed roughly on the ground.
Thunderspite lay where he was for a moment, watching stars dance lazily before his vision. After a moment, he regained his senses, and suddenly became aware of his body’s every complaint.
“Grrr!” Thunderspite growled, getting to his hooves. He drew his sword and charged at the first tree he saw. “Traitorous bush! I’ll cut you to splinters!”
“I say my friend, are you alright? You have fallen from quite a height.”
Thunderspite whirled to face the speaker, his sword at the ready. Standing just a short distance away was a mare, the likes of which Thunderspite had never seen before. Her coat was striped black-and-white, and her mane stood upright in a mohawk.
Zebra. The word came to Thunderspite’s mind, though he had never before seen one in the flesh. For her part, the zebra mare did not seem at all perturbed by his aggressive posture; her face showed only concern. A moment passed while Thunderspite pondered this unusual chain of events, and his anger cooled.
Thunderspite blinked, then sighed and sheathed his sword. “I think so,” he said, finally answering the zebra’s question. He examined himself, and for the most part he seemed unharmed, save a few scrapes and bruises. There was, however, a long laceration on his wing that was already starting to bleed into his feathers.
The zebra tilted her head to one side, giving the royal guard a thorough once over. “I do not mean to be impolite, but by chance, is your name Thunderspite?”
Thunderspite froze and looked back to the zebra suspiciously. “It is. How did you know that?”
The zebra smiled. “Your cutie mark gave me a clue. Your Ponyville friends speak well of you.”
By now, Thunderspite had picked up on the zebra’s unusual way of speaking, and suddenly one of Rarity’s letters came to mind, in which she had mentioned a zebra friend who lived in the Everfree forest, and spoke in rhyme.
“And you must be…Zecora?” Thunderspite said as he remembered the name.
The zebra’s smile broadened. “Zecora is my name; it’s true. It is a pleasure to meet you.”
“Yes.” Thunderspite said, distractedly. He located the satchel he had been carrying on the ground a short distance away, and examined it. It looked as if the strap had simply snapped for some reason, and the fastener was nowhere to be found. Grumbling at his bad luck, Thunderspite hastily tied what remained of the straps together with a square knot, then placed the bag back over his shoulders. As he did so, he looked upwards at the tree canopy for some way to take off again, but the foliage was much too dense. Thunderspite was also not sure he could trust the trees to not simply slap him back to earth, anyways.
Thunderspite turned back to the Zebra. “Ma’am, it was a pleasure to meet you, but I am on a mission of the utmost importance, and I must be on my way immediately. Do you know of a clearing nearby where I might take…off?”
Thunderspite trailed off, because the zebra named Zecora had suddenly stopped smiling, and was walking towards him with a severe expression on her face. She looked Thunderspite up and down, then made a slow circle around him, as if taking in his every detail. When she was done, she stood before him again and looked deep into his eyes, as if searching for something. This went on for a long moment, but then Zecora’s smile returned.
“A clearing, yes; I know a place. You’ll be on your way post-haste. But first we should repair your wing. That cut looks like a nasty thing.”
Thunderspite looked back to his wing, which was now dripping blood. For the first time he also realized the wound was also stinging, and he wondered if whatever plant had caused it was poisonous.
“A potion and stitches will be needed. Infection is certain, if left untreated,” Zecora said.
Thunderspite sighed. For every minute wasted here. Night Helm and Wraithsbane ventured anther mile into the vast Equestrian wilderness. But he really did need Zecora’s help finding the clearing, and if his wing got infected that would only delay the mission further.
“You are very kind to offer. I would very much appreciate your assistance,” Thunderspite said.
Zecora smiled. “Then come with me, my Thunderspite. One of my potions will set you right.”
* * *
After a short walk, the pair arrived at Zecora’s cottage, built into the hollow of an ominous-looking willow tree. Zecora led Thunderspite through the low door, then pointed to a couch at one side of the room. “Have a seat right over there, and your damaged wing we will repair.”
Thunderspite removed his sword, armor, and helmet and set it by the door, then took a seat. Zecora was already bustling around the cottage, humming to herself as she gathered ingredients from her neatly arranged shelves. As she did so, Thunderspite busied himself looking around the strange home. Every wall was lined with shelves, and every shelf held jars and vials of all manner of herbs and potions. Higher up, on the sloping roof of the cottage, there were masks and other strange artifacts Thunderspite couldn’t identify.
After a few moments, Zecora returned, carrying a tray with various implements. “Now let me see that injured wing. I warn you, this mixture here may sting.”
Thunderspite extended his wing outward, resting it on the back of the couch, and watched Zecora get to work. As promised, the mixture from her mortar stung as she rubbed it into the wound, but the stinging was soon replaced by a warming numbness. Then, she set to work with her needle and thread, expertly stitching his flesh back together with her teeth.
Thunderspite watched in silence for a few moments as Zecora worked, humming to herself as she did so. Eventually, she spoke.
“As your broken wing I fix, tell me: how did you meet the six?”
“Oh…” Thunderspite did not especially feel like going into details. “It’s a long story…suffice to say I wouldn’t be where I am today without their help. I owe them everything.”
Zecora nodded, knowingly. “For resolving problems, they have quite a knack. Now tell me, what do you think of Applejack?”
Thunderspite was taken aback by the question. “Applejack? Why do you ask?”
Zecora shrugged. “Of all your friends, she seemed most the most fond. I thought perhaps there might be….a stronger bond.”
Thunderspite got her meaning, but it was not a subject he was interested in discussing with a pony he had just met. “Yes, Applejack is a good friend,” he said flatly.
“Friendship is magic, my royal flier. But sometimes a friendship…catches fire.” With a wink, Zecora cut her last stitch. “Now, just one more thing, and we are through. Just have a sip of my magic brew.”
Thunderspite took the vial she offered and took a small sip. It tasted terrible, but he could immediately feel its effects. He looked down at his wing, and watched it close itself right before his eyes. The stitches Zecora had put in place just a few seconds before came tumbling out of his flesh, just a knotted bit of string.
Thunderspite flexed and tested his wing. The pain was gone completely, and there was not even a scar remained where the wound had been. “Thank you, Zecora.” Thunderspite said, his appreciation genuine.
Zecora smiled. “I am glad that I could be of aid; it is fortunate that we met this way. But if I can delay you a moment more, there is something else I have in store.”
Thunderspite began donning his armor. “I’m sorry, but I’ve been delayed too long already. My mission is of the utmost importance.”
“Ah…just a moment longer, if I may. Then I will send you on your way.”
“Thank you again, but I really must be going.”
As he donned his helmet, Thunderspite turned to leave, but was startled to find Zecora blocking his path. How did she… Thunderspite did not even have time to finish the thought. Zecora, her face only a few inches away from his, smiled as she blew a hoof full of blue dust right into Thunderspite’s face.
Thunderspite reeled, coughing. As the dust cleared, he reached back to draw his sword. “How dare you! I’ll…” Thunderspite never finished his sentence, nor finished drawing his sword. In an instant, his body froze solid, and he found himself completely unable to move.
Thunderspite panicked at his sudden immobility. No matter how hard he struggled, his muscles would simply not respond. The only thing he was capable of moving were his eyes, which darted around and glared angrily at Zecora.
Zecora sighed. “Apologies, my royal flier. But your full attention I do require.” With that, Zecora set about dragging Thunderspite across the floor, panting and grunting under his weight. After short trip to the other side of the cottage, Thunderspite was set back on his hooves facing a small round table. A moment or two passed while Zecora bustled around the cottage, out of sight from Thunderspite’s frozen vantage point. Then the room went dark as Zecora drew the curtains closed. When Zecora returned, Thunderspite saw her gently set a cloth-covered object down on the center of the table, then sat down across from him.
“Now pay close attention, my dear Thunderspite,” Zecora said. She slowly lifted the cloth, exposing a crystal ball on an ornately carved stand. “…and we will see what truths we may bring to the light.”
Zecora recited some incantations in a strange language. The crystal ball began to glow brightly, illuminating the room. Inside the ball, Thunderspite could see swirling clouds that occasionally seemed to coalesce into something solid. Zecora studied the swirling shapes within for a few moments, then looked up at Thunderspite and spoke.
You are courageous and strong, my dear Thunderspite
But also warmhearted and kind
But I see in your heart an unspoken plight
And a tempest of doubt in your mind
You have taken an oath which you cannot betray
But two masters nopony can serve
You owe each a debt which you cannot repay
For the redemption you do not deserve
Your beloved was taken by the agents of dark
Many foes have you slain in her name
But you fear in your heart you still carry the mark
Of the monster that day you became
You hope to go also to that long resting place
Where at last you may lay down your fight
You seek now to hasten the end of your days
And in death with your love reunite
But you will not come soon to the end of your path
For your presence is needed here still
Your road through this life is not over by half
And your purpose is not yet fulfilled
Your life's greatest battles still wait to be fought
Before it's conclusion you reach
There are many lessons you have yet to be taught
More still that you have yet to teach
You have much to do to amend for your wrath
For your transgressions you still must atone
Though heavy your burden and crooked your path
You shall not walk it alone
Though dangerous and grim is the path you must tread
Your companions will help see you through
Follow your heart and you can't be misled
For the magic of friendship will guide you
The crystal ball stopped glowing, and the room was again plunged into darkness. After a moment, Zecora covered the crystal ball, then put it back from wherever she got it from. She opened the drapes, then appeared again in front of Thunderspite.
“And now, Thunderspite, you may go on your way. Good luck, and heed what you’ve learned on this day.”
With one last smile, Zecora blew another hoofful of the blue dust. The dust swirled around Thunderspite, completely obscuring everything around him. After a moment, Thunderspite regained the use of his limbs. An instant later the dust cleared, and Thunderspite found himself standing outdoors, just outside the boundary of the Everfree forest. In the distance, he could see Ponyville, it’s few spires and tall building rising above the rolling hills. The satchel and the rest of his gear were with him.
Thunderspite cursed as he released the hilt of his sword. “That zebra is just a little too meddlesome for her own good,” he muttered to himself.
“Thunderspite!” a familiar voice shouted from above him. Thunderspite looked up and saw Rainbow Dash streaking down towards him from the clouds. She landed in front of him, and the two quickly slapped wings in greeting.
“Good to see you, pal,” Rainbow Dash said. “I’ve got the gang all rounded up; they’re waiting for you at the library. We got worried when you didn’t show up this morning, so they sent me to look for you. Where’ve you been?”
Thunderspite looked behind him, to the Everfree forest. “I was…delayed.” He looked back and shook his head. “It doesn’t matter. We should go; there’s no time to lose.” With that, the pair took to the sky.