The Master Alchemist

Prologue

The night air was smooth and flowing down the market square that still buzzed with activity, even in the torrential downpour. Electrical and magical lights shimmered, casting a deep orange glow over the stalls filled with items and foodstuffs of all sort and kin, and as the breeze picked up, smells of soups and noodles and exotic dishes wafted into the nostrils of the zebra. The sharp nose detected sweat, spice, and the scent of a thousand in Brezkirzar's main market. The black and white stripes were shaded by a cloak of black, and if she truly wished it, Zecora could have disappeared without moving more than an inch to her left.

That is, if she wouldn't have bumped Applebloom.

Her red-haired pony companion was similarly dressed, conveniently hiding her many weapons of melee and her cutie mark, a bubbling potion.

The alchemist and her young apprentice shifted through the crowds, silent as the night. Here, in Brezikirzar, species from all over the globe met and traded words, ideas, and, most importantly, goods. The greatest of those was fire spice, a mineral that, in its raw state, was more potent than a sword againts flesh. However, when refined, it became sweet, and was prized everywhere as a delicacy. The problem was, however, that fire spice came from dragons--or rather, anything the dragons burned. It became plain that it was not the easiest thing to obtain.

And so, it was very, very expensive.

Most fire spice came from Equestria, and was sold here, in Brezikirzar, where the material was more valued.  From there, it was exported to other places far around, and so the economies of the Earth shifted.

Recently, however, relations between Equestria and Zebraland had become strained. The caravans that sold their cargo here in Brezkirzar were being more frequently sabotaged by bandits. Of course, Zebraland's governement balmed it all on

Equestria, and had begun denying passage of caravans through the borders until the problem was solved.

And so, fire spice was now very, very, VERY expensive, and the inhabitants of Zebraland were becoming... restless.

Thusly, the rulers of Equestria had searched for a delegation to calm the argument, and Twilight Sparkle had suggested Zecora. Luna had seen the prudence of sending a native to Zebraland that was loyal to Equestria.

The present moment found Zecora looking towards a large building at the center of the city; the town hall. Eyes locked on the structure, Zecora did not notice the black pony in the way. Applebloom was examining the contents of a store, and was surprised to hear the thump of two bodies.

The pony pushed himself onto his thick back legs, and standing on two hooves, he was taller than most around him. A long white mane clouded his face, and the wide brim of his hat (complete with feather) shadowed the rest. Long boots reached half up his legs, and Zecora realized that when he stepped, he could choose whether or not to make sound. Just to complete, she also noticed the dark skin--not black, but rather a deep, dark purple hue.

In that second, the hat shifted, and Zecora rememberd. She remembered this pony-- this...

Voraloxle.