Chapters The Everfree forest was both terrifying yet intriguing. To Zecora it was a lush dense jungle filled to the brim with new potions and cures to be discovered. It also allowed her time to be alone and relax among nature with the rare and occasional visit from Twilight or her young new friend Applebloom. Today was more busy than usual, Applebloom insisted that Zecora helped her create a super growth serum for plants to kick start the next CMC's project to become gardeners. After that Twilight was going to pop in and discuss over her favorite batch of tea about a recent ailment that had befallen Fluttershy's pet. Ever since the mane six caught the poison joke so long ago her house had more and more visits. Not to say that she hated them, rather she was surprised to be suddenly having so many visitors. She put on the kettle and went off to pick fresh tea leaves for her lavender friend.
"Zecora?" Twilight stuck her head through the door to see if her striped friend was in. "Are you here?" Taking another step inside she realized the kettle was done boiling and magicked it off the stove. "Oh well I'll wait anyway." Twilight proceeded to take out a few books from the satchel that hung by her side.
"I am back from my walk. Lets brew tea and have our talk." She placed the leaves into the pot and settled down. Twilight closed her books and poured them both a cup before starting.
"Anyway this is about Angel, Fluttershy was too scared to come here so I'm helping her out." Zecora casually sipped her tea as Twilight continued. " Fluttershy says that Angel has become more violent and won't listen to her at all. Even her stare is starting to weaken."
Zecora let her tea settle as she thought silently. After a while she spoke. "Did the rabbit have limp in his hop. And pain that makes his ears flop? "
"Well he was more angry than usual, but he unlike last time he wouldn't hop away. What is it? Is it dangerous? What will happ-....." Twilight would have continued on if it was not for Zecora cutting her off.
"Listen well do not fret, I have the cure to cure her pet." She paused for a breath. "All he needs is to have a seat and rub some ointment on his feet."
"Thanks Zecora I knew I could count on you, so what do you need?"
"Its alright my friend, I have the ingredients to make the blend."
Pulling out her large cauldron Twilight watched gracefully as Zecora threw strange colored liquids and other strange ingredients into the pot. As she watched she heard her sing another chant as she worked.
Wow if someone was looking through a window they would seriously misunderstand.
After a while of brewing, Zecora scooped a vial of it into a makeshift case and handed it to Twilight. "Now remember this well, Spread over the wound for pain you must quell."
Twilight had grown used to Zecora's strange manner of speaking and understood it almost immediately. "Thanks Zecora I knew I could count on you. You always know what to do Zecora. See you soon."
With that Twilight finished her tea and headed for the door with medicine in tow. "Goodbye Twilight see you soon, prehaps visit me another noon." Zecora closed the door and relaxed on her self made cushion chair. Although she was pleased to help Twilight their parting words still lingered in her mind.
You always bring smiles to everyone's faces.
Zecora could only grimly smile at that sentence. The black and white striped equine sat still deep in thought.
You always know what to do Sis.
A single tear ran down her striped face. Quickly wiping it away she cleared the tea set and slung over her pouch.
No more time for the past. The sunlight does not last.
With that she headed out the door into the gloomy forest.
The African rain forest or the Tropic of Capricorn was often hidden from many pony scholars due to most ponies thinking that Marfrica had desolate and dry land. However large forests although beautiful compared to the deathly desert was filled with every creature strong enough to make their way here. Zecora silently dashed through the forest bush often stopping to hear for danger. Birds of all colors chirped silently in the high canopies. But ever so silently. Although so high up many creatures have adapted to climbing trees so no creature was safe.
"Birds high in the tree, sing your song and fly on free.
Help me find my prey, so my family can live another day."
Zecora sung softly to herself as she busied herself creating a trap. It was a simple contraption. When a creature stepped onto the trap, it would sink in stabbing the creature and trapping its paw. It was created so that it couldn't pull out its paw without severely scarring itself. This was taught to Zecora when she was only a filly and she never forgot.
Carrying on she spotted deep paw prints embedded in the muddy ground.
"My enemy is close I see, I must kill it before it finds me."
Slinking into the foliage she left no footprints in case another creature was tailing her. Hiding under the shade of a tree a large panther sat on the darkened floor licking at a carcass. Zecora spotted the traditional golden hoops that all of her tribe members wore easily as it glinted with a cruel tint of red staining its golden aura.
"Killer of the forest, your demise shall be the swiftest." Pulling out a thin pipe she slotted a colorful feathered dart into its nozzle.
Taking aim she slowed her breathing until it stopped. The world around her seemed to darken ever so slightly and it seemed that even the insects had stopped buzzing.
Fsst
That was all it took. The large feline leapt to its feet in shock. Spinning around it bit off the dart and snarled in pain. sniffing the air it smelt another zebra than the one that it just eaten it smiled with the prospect of another meal.
But Zecora had already vanished. Into the thick bushes she heard the panthers deep breaths. Apparently it took more than a tree frogs venom to kill it. Quickly skipping over tripping roots and ducking under branches she felt the panther getting closer and closer.
Waiting until the last second she dashed to the right narrowly dodging four sharp claws from ripping hole in her side.
Leaping over and under thick roots the large black beast of death ripped and clawed its way through anything. The poison didn't seem to be taking effect. Darting towards her path back she jumped over a bush with the panther inches away from her tail. It didn't get far. a snapping sound was heard and the roar of the panther scattered birds in all directions. Another dart flew out from the thick forest foliage and the beast stumbled into eternal stupor.
Zecora woke up. From the angle of the weak sun shining through her window she guessed it was seven in the afternoon. picking herself off the chair she busied her pack for another trip into the forest.
Trophies and Disappointments
Zecora entered Ponyville with her usual cowl over her face. Although Twilight had constantly told the denizens that she was simply a zebra and NOT an evil wizard many still was afraid of her. Nevertheless the bright sun was a great change to her lifestyle. In the jungle light often gets caught by the tall canopies and only small streams are able to slither into the dark floor.
Ponyville was busy as usual. Many were afraid but they didn't hide and run like before. They only ignored, but she could care less. Today was more important than others, she had recently been testing out moonshine, lucky for her Princess Luna's last visit to the old Canterlot castle allowed her to speak directly to the Princess about the strange narcoleptic substance.
Luna and Zecora had met once before. Although Luna was often in Canterlot in Mafrica the moon was a great and spiritual being with a goddess. Of course Luna's name was not the same. There they called her maan Meeting in the old canterlot castle was a great coincidence. Zecora often found higher levels of magic there thus more elusive plants could blossom. Luna had often liked the old castle so they ended up meeting and finding out their passionate love for alchemy and magic. After a few short visits Zecora eventually managed to find out how to create moonshine and process it.
If Zecora could learn how to create the perfect catalyst that could separate the moonshines sleeping agent and hallucination side effect then it was possible that she created a sleeping potion that could immediately calm or put to sleep anypony.
This would be a breakthrough in medicine that could allow immediate attention to dying ponies rather than wasting vital minutes for old aged potions to put the patient to sleep. She hummed under her breath as the cool air drifted through the town. She wandered from store to store looking for nothing in particular.
She didn't expect ponyville to have some of the ingredients she was looking for but there was always something exciting that spurred up inside her when she window shops. According to Twilight many young mares and fillies go through the same thing. Her thoughts were interrupted by a small filly with a bushel of bright red hair.
"Heya Zecora how ya doin?" The little filly looked up and smiled so wide it looked like her face was about to split in half. "Hello my little friend, just wandering in the market to find the perfect blend." Applebloom loved the way Zecora spoke. Although it was had to understand it was amazing how a zebra could think of rhymes as if it was a second language.
"You makin another one of em fancy spells?" Her eyes widened so much Zecora got worried. "Ooh ooh lemme help ya" The small mare quickly darted into the striped zebras pouch and fished out the shopping list. "Hey whats a ziggor fruit? Is it tasty?"
Zecora shook her head and smiled "To eat the fruit is not wise, for if you do you will see black in your eyes."
"Then why do you want such a silly fruit anyway?" She looked around in an attempt to sniff out spies "You makin a super secret potion?" Before Zecora could answer her thoughts were interrupted when her ears picked up a whisper behind her.
"Look there its the witch." A rather loud sounding mare whispered in an attempt to be secretive. Zecora's ears immediately flicked in annoyance. She lowered her hood until it shadowed her eyes and turned around slowly, her eyes glinting yellow from the sun. In almost a second the two ponies vanished muttering words of prayer.
Although she did not like to scare she always found her strange looks to be a perk rather than a flaw. "Woah how did ya hear that? Dem ears of yers must be great. Anywho I know a guy who sells crazy fruits. Maybe he has watchya lookin fer." Applebloom hopped forward delightfully leading the only zebra in Ponyville along.
Remeber my daughter. Listen to your mother Your ears must be great. Or you will suffer a doomed fate
Zecora's thoughts were shaken back to the present. Applebloom had enthusiastically helped out by going off to collect more firewood to heat up her cauldron. She mixed in her ingredients and started the water. Although the forest was dangerous Zecora had taught Applebloom the basics of how to defend herself so she was not worried. She made another cup of tea and waited.
"Alright mister firewood where you at." Applebloom spoke quietly to herself as she walked through the thick forest. Zecora had taught her well. It did not matter who faced her or when she knew how to get out of a pinch herself. "Any timeberwolves out there? Bring it ON." The small filly let out a shout and chopped a branch with her hard hooves. Of course challenging a timberwolf was not smart. But Applebloom knew they won't be around til the Zap apple harvest comes in.
She picked up her new smashed up tree branch and added it to the make shift sled. Placing the harness around herself she pulled the tightly bundled wood through the marsh.
Man its fun makin potions. Maybe I should become a witch doctor like Zecora She paused at the sudden epiphany. "Yea I could have a potion cutie mark!" she shrieked dashing off with fantasies of getting her cutie mark running in her head almost crashing her cargo of wood.
"Alrighty Zecora I got the firewood, lets get cracking." Applebloom dumped the large pile of firewood under the cauldron before lighting it and boiling the ingredients that Zecora had started to add in. "Hey Zecora do you think it could be possible if yer taught me how to be a witch doctor like yerself?" She looked at her mentor with hope brimming in her eyes.
"My dear filly, don't be silly. Being an alchemist is not so easy." She sang as she started to mix the concoction.
"Well can yer teach me how te be an Alcheminynist?" Zecora stopped stirring. She looked at the small red and yellow filly and smiled.
"Tomorrow we begin, the forest has many secrets within. Now hurry along dear don't be late. Or-"
"Gettin eaten may be mah fate. Got it Zecora see ya tomorrow." The small filly dashed out almost wishing the night was faster."
Zecora watched the small yellow blur vanish out the door and into the distance. Such a young filly would she be ready?
Muti muhande rui-ini
One i mathangu maguo
Magithaka na ruhuho
Na ithui nituthake na ruhuho
She sang under her breath. The potion was almost ready, adding in the final mixture she smiled thinking of Applebloom throwing stranger things into the pot to see the colors. That small filly loved the colors rather to what the actual use of the potion was.
Then she noticed something strange. It began to fizzle before suddenly dying down. Desperate to save it she added more moonshine to increase the density of the concoction. It didn't work. Not only did she waste all the moonshine she also failed.
The zebra let out a troubled sigh. Lighting a torch she cleared out the remains and poured them into her self created sewage system that led to Ponyville sewers.
"Today this potion I can't resume." She paused, then smiled " But tomorrow is for Applebloom."
She pulled over her blanket and faced the strange masks that she placed all over her house. It gave her both comfort and coldness at the same time. The black and white striped equine closed her eyes and drifted off into deep sleep.
The panther was much to big for a filly such as herself to carry. Pulling out her ceremonial knife she stabbed the creature one last time and muttered a prayer. Skinning with your mouth was a disgusting business. But the village needed proof, working slowly praying to spill any blood she managed to scalp the black cat. Placing her prize in her satchel she left the carcass there and headed home.
The forest with all its dangers came all its beauty. The tall trees that seemed to stretch forever into the sky ending only with large leaves to soak up the suns natural goodness. Wandering around the forest was like Zecora's playground, to her it was her second home.
Her own village was in a clearing high up on a hill. This allowed both only one route to enter and multiple points that could watch for unknown predators or apposing tribe attacks. Trudging slowly up the natural stairway formed by fallen trees she headed up hopping nimbly from tree to tree. Shouts rang out through the village about her return and many other Zebras emerged from well built huts to surround the young filly.
"Zecora is back open the gate. Let us rejoice and celebrate."
They small champion pulled out the black silky fur of the panther and raised it with pride. "The beast is dead. We no longer are filled with dread." A roar of approval rose through the village. Zecora couldn't help but smile.
A single Zebra raised his hoof and the cheering stopped. The lone Zebra smiled and spoke ."This female has shown great power and skill. Be part of the tribe she will." The crowd stomped their hooves in approval and raised her high into the sky.
vroulik vegter
vroulik vegter
vroulik vegter
The chants and celebration could be heard through the forest. All in the village was proud, all but one.
Applebloom sped into the Everfree forest like a large yellow ball of fury, in two hours she had finished all the farm chores much to the surprise of her siblings. The night hadn't been easy either, Applebloom tossed and turned for hours on end wishing for Celestia to raise the sun earlier than usual. If Luna had heard that, the next Nightmare Night would be awkward.
"Alright Applebloom this may be yer big break." She hummed the CMC theme song under her breath as she dashed deeper and deeper into the forest.
Zecora had been awake for the past hour. Preparing all that was needed to train an apprentice Witch doctor was not an easy task. But she was not about to let her enthusiastic student down. Right on schedule she could see a small dust cloud slowly moving towards her.
Applebloom could make out the hut in the distance. Already waiting for her was her new mentor, she stopped inches away from crashing into the small hut with a big smile plastered on her face. "Alrighty Zecora lets get movin." She pulled a mock salute and waited in attention.
Zecora smiled. "The training will be hard, so listen well and do not get off-guard." She placed items in front of Applebloom. It was a strange husk from a fruit that Applebloom had never seen before. Along with it was vines and tree branches neatly bundled onto a pack " What are we usin the vines fer?"
Zecora shook her head. "All in due time. For now let us go. There is far to climb."
The two equines equipped their respective packs and headed into the depths of the Everfree forest.
Deeper into the forest Applebloom could feel the dank and humid air stick to her mane, Zecora undaunted carried on using her tail to flick away insects and an occasional parasprite. They had been trekking for only a few hours and Applebloom could feel the hill get steeper and steeper.
"Now Applebloom, we must make haste. More sunlight we must not waste." Applebloom sucked up her remaining strength and trudged up the hill. "This is nuthin compared to carrying apples on, the, farm." She assured herself with a soft whisper under her breath.
Zecora had saw her new student struggle and slowed down. She could not help her, if she was to learn she would do it traditionally.
Eventually the hill reached its peak. As the got closer to the top Applebloom could see strange flowers and plants of all shapes and colors growing on the hill top. "Woah" upon seeing the vibrant colors painted on the hill, all her fatigue was gone. Zecora simply smiled under her breath and placed her pack down.
"Today my pupil we must learn of flowers. pay some heed for they hold many powers." She daintily picked up a blue flower carefully by the stalk.
"This as you know is the poison joke. The stalk is the only thing you must stroke." She pulled out a strange contraption. It resembled a claw but with a small vial attached to the bottom.
"You must use this to extract the sap. Be careful, we do not want a mishap." Applebloom searched her own pack and Zecora taught her the many tools that were used by Ecologists and Witch doctors alike. Applebloom ate up the information with both theory and practice. By the end of the day she was able to test which plants were poisonous how deep she had to deep in order for her to safely extract a root from the ground without destroying it.
As the sun started to set Zecora pulled out a small smooth stone that faintly glowed a light cerulean hue. "This a moonstar. When under the night it will glow very far. " Zecora threw the stone deep into the dark forest. Sure enough the stone grew brighter and brighter as the surroundings got darker and darker. "Cool" Applebloom muttered under her breath as she walked along side Zecora with her new moonstar necklace hanging around her neck.
Applebloom's trip into the forest brought forth new experiences that she would treasure for ever. Princess Luna's night sky lit up with tiny stars or bio-luminescent insects in the trees. Zecora gave a small smile looking at her new student marvel at the night sky with such enthusiasm.
The walk back to the hut was uneventful, Applebloom unpacked and cleaned her kit and waved goodbye to her mentor before leaving for the farm. Zecora looked on as the bundle of yellow disappeared into the horizon.
"For one so smallshe wishes to learn so much, carry on my apprentice pray you don't fall." She carried on smiling until Applebloom disappeared completely. The striped Zebra closed her doors and went inside the small hut in the forest.
"Where have yer been missy." Applejack was not pleased that her little sister had been coming home at extremely late times.
"Ah was in the forest wit Zecora silly. Ah thought ah told yer."
"Well the forest is dangerous, I don't want yer to be mauled by wolves or worse." Applejack paced back and forth in thought.
"Sis its alright Zecora's been teachin me how to survive in the forest, I'll be fine." The moment those words left her lips she saw Applejack flinch at the word teach.
"Don't tell me yer still afraid of her?" Applebloom felt sadness well up in her heart. "After all she has done fer yer you still don't trust her do you." She felt her head go dizzy from anger.
"Now look here Applebloom I ain't afraid of no pony." Applejack's words fell on deaf ears as her sister ran out of the house with tears showing her trail.
Ah dang nabit
It wasn't too hard to find Applebloom, easily her sobs could be heard inside the family barn and so Applejack entered with caution.
"Lil' sis?" Applejack called out into the darkness.
"Go away" Came the reply
"C'mon now ahm sorry fer not trustin her but." Applejack searched the darkness until she found the small filly bundled up in a haystack. "I just don't want anythin bad ter happen."
She reached out and hugged her little sister. "Git off me I ain't no baby." But despite her struggles the orange pony with legs of iron held her grip.
"Look sis, I just don't want you to leave until you're ready." The struggling stopped and Applebloom gave up with a huff.
"When I left the farm big Mac and Granny were terribly sad and I don't want yer to leave before you should." Applejack gave a soft smile and Applebloom wiped her tears. "Alright alright ah promise not ter leave until I get mah cutie mark ok?"
"Thats fine by me." The two sisters held their hug for another ten seconds before leaving for bed.
The air in the hut was not musty or smelly due to its amazing architecture of forcing air to constantly flow out through the top. The young tribe zebra sat opposite a small shriveled old Zebra who was busy chanting strange phrases into a fire.
"You are the one I can trust, tell me how to defeat Zecora, I will grind her to dust."
"For one so young you are filled with so much hate, if you kill her, you will change your fate."
"Then die she must not, very well in prison she must rot."
The old witch doctor frowned into the fire before adding more wood to it.
"She will be chosen as a witch doctor, you must be the one to be her proctor."
He paused to gather her breath.
"Should she be chosen wrong, in this tribe she does not belong."
The young prince zebra smiled to himself as the fire crackled and spat as if to join along in the fiendish scheme.
"Today be the day that our young Zecora be the shaman, ." The crowd applauded with both praise and awe, It was the first time a shaman was a mare instead of a stallion.
"Let us rejoice, for our new shaman was nature's choice." The celebrations lasted for several days before Zecora was allowed to take up her job in her new hut.
The day of a witch doctor was simple, nothing Zecora hadn't trained for or was unsure of. It was to simply heal or to exorcise possessed tribeponies should it be needed. The problem would be the end of week soothsaying in which she simply had to predict something. It was risky and dangerous, the drugs she would have to take would cause her to have delusions and she would be closely watched by others to see what the future holds. Although it hadn't happened yet Zecora felt that something was going to go wrong.
Neesa Neesa Neesa
Neesa Neesa Neesa
Neesa Neesa Neesa
Giley Ho
Giley Ho
Zecora chanted and muttered as her tent was emptied for her to focus
Neesa Neesa Neesa
Neesa Neesa Neesa
Neesa Neesa Neesa
Giley Ho
Giley Ho
She closed her eyes as her supervisor stood in his heavy mask watching for signs of trouble. "Outside you go, for I this ritual I cannot show." The supervisor nodded and left outside.
In the shadows the prince hid with a small flask of strange syrupy liquid. It was a type of hallucinogen and an aphrodisiac. He waited until the guard left the tent before pulling out his weaponry. One simple poison dart was all it took for the supervisor to fall into a slumber lasting many hours. Making quick work of hiding the body he was quickly summoned back into the tent wearing the kit of a guard.
"I require the potion." She paused to take a good look at her guard. "Why are you wearing a hoeschen?" Realizing he hadn't taken off his camo suit he hurriedly gave her the potion and left. Zecora didn't have time to worry about why her proctor was wearing leggings, she calmed herself and went back to meditating.
Immediately the potion took effect. Zecora fell into a slumber and her supposed guard stepped inside and closed the tarp. A witch doctor would not be disturbed until she was done so that mean all the time in the world
"Zecora the mare so bold. You seem rather cold." He smiled and licked her face. She shook in reaction but did not stir. He smiled. She was all his now.
"Now now do not fret, I dont like my ponies to be done just yet." He removed a burning stake from the fire and gently pressed it against her face leaving three deep scars that would live with her forever. He smiled at her twist of agony and dumped the wood away.
"Now then Zecora do not fret, I like to have my ponies wet." Her muffled screams were to only the ears of the sleeping guard outside who was too deep in the world of rest to reply.
"Now then listen to my voice, attack the neighboring tribes will be your choice." Being too drugged to disagree Zecora simply bowed her head in pain.
"Listen when I speak." He prodded her once more with the hot stake in her cutie mark. I didnt think you had such weak physique." Zecora moaned silently through her gag as her captor smiled. His worst adversary was in his hands and crying. She had taken the title of Shaman from him and it was time to take what was his.
Zecora was still unable to properly register anything. The drug simply clouded her vision and motor skills and she believed that all that was happening was simply a delusion.
"You will send the tribes into war." He smiled. "And the name Zecora will be lost forever more."
Zecora awoke with a start. It was daybreak and her head and body was filled to the brim with sores and bruises. She was told before hand that being in that state could cause self harm unintentionally. She walked out of her tent and headed for the main hall.
"Why must we go to war. The other tribes never harmed us before."
The council was in a buzz of conversations and debate. Their soothsayer spoke of pain and fire. What was worse was that the visions included the other tribes fighting.
"The visions are never wrong before. Very well we will go to war."
Over the next few years, the sound of darts and metal clashed in the deep forests of Marefrica.
