Skystriker: seeking Aspects

Last one. Now to head back to Zecora’s so she can finish up with the overgrowth potions. I just hope we don’t hit any poison joke patches with it this time. I slipped under a few large low hanging vines before flying past the poison joke field, landing neatly on Zecora’s doorstep.

“Zecora, I got everything you listed.” The young zebra sage opened the door, nodding in appreciation.

“The places they go, you know to.”

I cocked my head. “You know, I’ve known you for almost two years now, and I still don’t know what you’re saying half the time.” I reached the section of shelves in the room and began placing the various plants gathered in their proper places.

“I do not mean to lose your thoughts, for such has made many worse acts.” She stated apologetically as she began stirring at the cauldron.

“Well you’ve got that right. Remember what happened last time?” We both shuddered as we remembered when Zecora had told me to put in the wrong amount of a highly volatile compound of poison joke, tree saps, manticore venom and distilled rays of sunshine, resulting in multicolored splotches that had rendered us both unable to move through the Everfree unnoticed for several weeks, as well as scattering many of our carefully gathered ingredients.

I pulled a large vial out of one of my saddlebags, placing it neatly on a shelf.

“I got you some more manticore venom. What is this particular potion is supposed to do?”  I leaned over, looking at the brew in curiosity.

“Potions are not alone brewed, though often they are what is brewed.”

I sighed as I finished putting the things away. “I know, but we were making a batch of overgrowth potions when I left, but that’s not any stage of overgrowth potion in the cauldron right now.”

“This is true, the potion is done. This is a tea to aid your concentration.” She held the large stirring spoon out to me as I approached.

“Just mine? Who’s coming over?” I hopped up, balancing on my tail as I began stirring the mix. I might be far older than Zecora, but I had spent far more of that time searching the forest and northern tundra on an endless quest, while she had spent much of her life cultivating the skills needed as a shaman and sage of her people.

“That is not the only reason you have need for concentration.” Zecora tossed a few herbs into the pot before pulling down a ladle and transferring it into a large gourd jar. I shrugged at the statement.

“I wonder why they think I’ll need it then. Ninety-nine to one they’re right, but I wonder why.”

“I do not know. The forest spirits speak wisdom in vague words.”

I nodded. “I am starting to think that I need to travel the forest. As I stand, my talent has a lot of unrealized potential.” I left out the fact that I had done that before, before I had fully realized my talent, thus being unable to accumulate as many aspects as I could have.

“Perhaps you will, perhaps not. We shall see what the future brings.”

Zecora turned back to the cauldron, carefully cleaning it out so as to prevent any contamination for the next project. I took my leave, detouring to the reflection pool, a large, perfectly still pool of water with a large white stone along the bottom. Zecora used the pool to commune with the forest spirits and for meditation.

I only used it to meditate now, since moonbeams had long ago become nearly impossible to gather, ever since the moon became blighted about thousand years ago. I looked over the white stone that now served no purpose but adding to the calming aura of the place.

I wasn’t sure what meditation let Zecora do, it let me assess all my aspects, of which I had very few, and carefully analyze what I could do with each one. It annoyed me that I had so many just outside my reach. What seemed like dozens of aspects that I needed to see the creature only a little longer to gain. They all drifted just beyond my reach, bumping at the edges of my mind, taunting me with their presence.

I carefully reached out, searching each aspect, tallying their abilities. Manticore: Flight and strength. Zebra: Camouflage when in forests and grasslands. Phoenix: flight, fire resistance, rebirth. Lizards, assorted: wall climbing, camouflage in their standard habitat, Plus chameleon allows for color changing. Timber wolf: regeneration beyond belief, and potent night vision. Stronger, but not by much. Hydra: acidic spit and possibly the ability to grow extra heads, though I’d rather not test that. Pegasus: cloud walking, flight, impact resistance. Unicorn: telekinesis and simple spell casting.

I sighed; it was a small collection of Aspects. It would suffice for now, but I would have to gain more if I ever hoped to understand my talent. The wind whistled through the trees, cutting through my trance as something spoke, a deep, ancient voice that spoke of wisdom and peace.

“Go, Search.” I spun, scanning the forest around me for whom or whatever had spoken. There was nothing to see, the forest spirits are invisible after all, but my instincts were those of a warrior and thief, every sound could be an enemy, or somebody to relieve of a few choice items.

“Who said that?” The wind rushed through the trees, but little else happened. I stood and began walking slowly away from the pool, heading towards my home. I’ll need to add another layer of overgrowth to my home, my healer’s kit, my weapons, and some food. Hope I didn’t forget anything important. I should probably finish my project before I go.

I ducked under the thick thorn hedge that grew all the way around my home, then using the aspect of the phoenix I flew over the ring of snapdew that grew around the inside of the hedge. Landing inside the thorned dome I called home, I began gathering what few things I would need as I traveled the forest and surrounding territory. A healer’s kit, fully stocked with potions and salves that could heal anything short of death, my bow I disassembled and packed into my saddlebags, stashing it carefully next to my arrows. I contemplated brining my sword, but decided against it. It was awkward to carry and use as a quadruped, and compared to my previous skill, it was almost painful to compare to the skill I had had –quite literally- in another lifetime.

I slipped off the moonlight cloth I wore, looking it over carefully for holes. The old thing was well worn, and while there were no holes, it was in no shape for another long dangerous journey, especially not one involving hunting for aspects. I turned to my loom, slowly and carefully sending the shuttle that held the last of my moonbeams through the flaxen sunshine, making sure not to tear either. I smiled as I looked at how much I had finished. I should be able to start working on this by the end of the day. Tomorrow, I should be able to finish making myself new change of clothes. *I knew most ponies don’t wear them, But I’d rather not go out in the Everfree without this. The moonbeams and sunlight wove together perfectly, forming a shimmering cloth, stronger than adamantine and finer than silk. I wasn’t exactly sure how such fragile fibers made such hard material, but it had saved my hide more times than I could count.*

Three hours later, just as the sun began setting on the horizon, the weave was done. I lifted the fabric off the loom carefully. For now it would be fragile. But now, I was working on a time limit. In twenty four hours, it would be impossible to cut or pierce, so I had to get started. I looked through my various shelves, cupboards, etc. for my scissors and a needle. I began carefully cutting the cloth, almost meditatively to prevent any mistakes. It took far longer to cut it this way than normal methods, but I didn’t have to try again while doing it.

I set the scissors down, then put each piece away, careful not to disturb a single strand. Each piece was ready to be sewn together, but night was drawing near and I needed to be able to focus when I began sewing. So I lay down on the far side of the clearing from my projects and went to sleep.