The afternoon sun was setting slowly as Mystogan and Zecora made their way through the Everfree Forest, the rays of the sun peeking through the small openings of the trees shining upon the ground and their fur once they’d pass under them. Mystogan had to duck quite often so that he didn’t receive a branch to the face during their journey. The forest was nice and quiet except for the wind rustling through the leaves and the occasional sound of a creature or two announcing their presence. Mystogan had been here plenty of times on his own of course. But being here with another pony..it was actually pretty nice to have company in this place. Mystogan continued to gaze around the forest as he suddenly caught a whiff of something new. He stopped dead in his tracks which made Zecora nearly fall to the ground since she was leading him by the hand.”Hm? Is something the matter, Mystogan? You seem rather...preoccupied or something is on your mind.” she said as she watched him sniff about.

Mystogan took a few more steps forward, the sound of his heavy hoofsteps echoing through the forest as his eyes shifted around quickly. “That smell...bitter and smells of copper. I think something I need for a client is nearby.” he said as he suddenly started off in a light run, careful to avoid limbs and other things that might get in his way. “Wait, what is it?!” Zecora called out as she tried to keep up with the monster sized pony. Though, it wasn’t hard to keep track of him with his heavy hoofsteps both echoing through the immediate area and the trail of prints he left behind. The zebra wondered just what had the mountain stallion’s nose attention and made him run so quickly for it.

Once Zecora had finally found him in a small opening, she watched the stallion slide on his knees and quickly pull out a heavily black painted and covered jar and quickly but carefully picked a black and blue flower with a silvery center, placing it in the jar before quickly sealing it closed. He’d let out a sigh of relief knowing he acted quickly before any kind of bright light touched the plant before placing it in his satchel and standing back up to his hooves and turning back to Zecora. “Sorry about that. I actually need the petals from this flower for a client of mine. You see, despite its smell it actually makes any kind of food you prepare taste delicious when mixed with other basic ingredients. He had asked me to go and find one of these rare beauties. Turns out my luck is pretty good this afternoon.” he said before making his way back to the zebra’s side. “I have never seen such a flower before. In all my time of creating potions and remedies,I have never come across these…” she said as she did another little rhyme which made the stallion only smile at her.”They are called ‘Intangible Delights’. They can make even the most novice chef’s food taste like it was done by a grandmaster.”

As they walked through the forest back to Zecora’s home, the two of them started up a conversation about where Mystogan’s home was and what made him become an alchemist.”So, you come from the coldest and highest mountain of Equestria, yet I have never ever heard of any kind of pony like you. It is amazing that you even stand taller than the princess of the sun and that you are as thick and strong as a solid red oak.”. Mystogan gave a light snicker and shook his head in response, “Apparently my kind of have been quietly erased from all of Equestria’s history as I had found out while visiting the two royal sisters. After all, if the word of ‘warbred ponies’ got out in this day and age, things could get a little hot under the collar for all rulers. While they will never ever reach the top of the mountain where my kind lives, learning that one or two have descended to the land below might cause alarm. As we are not easily put down. Well...except if you wear me out to the point of hunger, then you certainly got me beat. Given the chance, I could eat the royal kitchen’s pantries clean.”. Zecora let out a rather amused and cute giggle as she reached up and gently patted the stallion’s tummy,”Oooh my. Well as big as you are, I'd imagine you wouldn’t even leave so much as a scrap of food left if it was served to you.”. Mystogan would simply nod in reassurance to Zecora’s assumption,”Indeed, so long as it is tasty, I certainly won’t say no. Though, would-be assassins might have an issue if they try to poison my food or drink. After all, you have seen my sense of smell and what it can do.” he said as he proudly puffed up his chest.

Zecora nodded again and spoke”I also can’t imagine how you’d get so large and strong. Most beasts like that tend to have meat in their diet as well..did you..?”. Mystogan simply nodded to her question she didn’t need to finish. “I am an omnivore, yes. Let’s just say...we did what we had to to make sure we survived before our kind started evolving to be able to live comfortably in the harsh conditions. That did include cannibalism as an extreme last resort. Thankfully, that time was a couple centuries ago. While we still eat meat, we do not feast on ponies of any kind. Sop you or anyone else doesn’t have to worry about losing a limb.”. Zecora let out a sigh of relief when he had explained that to her. She smiles up at him again before he asks her about her homeland.

“I come from a far away land myself. It is a land that is rather hot year around with a tropical climate. Not very many trees but lots of tall grass.”. Mystogan placed a hand on his chin and then snapped his fingers as he had read about such lands in the books he had read while staying with Twilight. “Aaah, so more of a savanna. I have read about those lands briefly. And it would make sense that your birthplace is there. As I also read that it is mostly populated by zebras. So my question to you is why did you decide to come all the way over here? Looking for a better place to live I suppose?”. Zecora nodded as she stopped to look around at all the beauty the forest had to offer.”Indeed, it is very vibrant and colorful here in this land. And so many opportunities for my trade. Though, I do miss my family at times. I get letters from them every now and then.” Mystoagn nodded again as he listened to her”Well, perhaps you and I could go see them sometime. After all, I left my home to learn more about the other lands surrounding mine. I’d be more than happy to accompany you. You just let me know when you want to take the trip.” Zecora’s eyes lit up with absolute happiness at Mystogan’s words. She took hold of his hand and squeezed it tightly with a look of hopefulness in her beautiful blue eyes. “R-Really? You’d take the long journey with me back and forth..?” Mystogan gently closed a hand around her and simply nodded, :Of course I would. I wouldn’t ever give my word and turn back on it.”. Zecora jumped up and down on her hooves like an excited little school filly before wrapping her arms around his waist in a hug, “Oh thank you thank you! It has been so long since I have gotten to see my family.! And I know that they will be happy to meet you as well!”. The stallion chuckled and nodded in agreement to her assumption.

As they continued on their journey to Zecora’s home. Mystogan suddenly came to a stop and pulled Zecora behind him. Something was extremely wrong here in this part of the forest. No breeze, no sounds from any animals at all. Zecora nearly fell once Mystogan had pulled her behind him,”Mystogan what in the-!”. Mystogan put his arm out in front of her with a sharp “Sh!” as he listened carefully, his ears twitching at the faintest sound, then he heard it in the distance. Something was barreling towards them and it sounded large. Judging from the hoofsteps it was a creature on all fours. It suddenly came out of nowhere, leaping over them both and running a few meters away from them before turning to confront them. It was a monstrous sized deer-like creature with large antlers, but was covered in vegetation and had bark like natural armor and burning ember eyes that stared at Mystogan with intent to kill.

Zecora gasped as she knew exactly what this creature was. “Doneigada, the forest guardian!” she shouted before the creatures charged straight for the mountain stallion. Mystogan did the only thing he could do to prevent the guardian from getting through him. He plants his hooves firmly into the ground and grabs at the antlers of the charging beast, making contact quickly as the stallion slid back, but still maintained his footing. Mystogan grunted loudly as he was having trouble keeping the beast from going any further than him.”Zecora, move! Get somewhere safe!” He shouted.

The guardian snorted and huffed as he and Mystogan were in a deadlock,”Hajakaribishwa hapa, mchafu! Umekuja kuiba rasilimali za msitu huu wa thamani na sitakubali!” (“You are not welcome here, defiler! You have come to steal the resources of this precious forest and I will not allow it!”) he said in a loud, bellowing voice. Mystogan growls low in his chest before letting out a mighty yell as he shifted the creature to the right and tossed him on his side from the force that the guardian was using against him. Two things that Zecora noticed about the guardian is that not only did it speak, but it also spoke in her language. Perhaps if she spoke to him, it might help calm things down. “Mlinzi wa msitu tafadhali acha hii! Yeye hayuko hapa kusababisha shida yoyote! Ninamuelekeza nyumbani kwangu! Ni hayo tu!”(“Guardian of the forest please stop this! He is not here to cause any trouble! I am guiding him to my home! That is all!”). However, it seemed that her words fell on deaf ears as the guardian still remained focused on his target.

Mystogan drew his sword quickly and started circling the beast slowly as he readied himself for any attack that might occur. His eyes focused on the guardian’s before the guardian suddenly summoned thick vines from around the forest floor to try and tie Mystogan’s arms to prevent him from moving or attacking. While the mountain stallion struggled and the guardian charged for ready to gore him, Mystogan broke free of his confines and leapt into the air with a push of his wings, returning back down with a thrust of his sword that penetrated the guardian’s armor, but not enough to cause any pain as it was quite thick. The guardian tried to toss him off by bucking around, destroying nearby trees and rock that covered the immediate area they were in, thankfully missing Zecora each time.

Mtsogan held on for dear life as one hand took hold of the antlers while the other held onto his sword’s hilt with the blade still buried in it’s armor. The stallion had to think quickly. There was an opening in the guardian’s armor right behind his neck where the spine was connected to the skull. A proper stab there and it would be a killing blow. But as soon as he got his sword out of the armor and prepared to strike, Zecora shouted to him. “No! If you kill him the forest will slowly die without his magic and presence! We need to find another way!”. Just as she says that, a vine comes out of nowhere and hits Mystogan right in the face, causing him to fall off the guardian and drop his sword a good couple of meters from his reach. He quickly rolls onto a hoof and knee as he sees the guardian charging for him again. “Damnit!” he shouted as he quickly reached into his satchel and pulled out a jar of fine grey powder. He throws it directly at the face of the guardian and watches it shatter upon impact before rolling out of the way. "Choke on ash, you bastard!" he shouted.

The guardian started bucking wildly again and thrashing his head about as the powder seems to have blinded him. Mystogan took this opportunity to grab his sword and grabbed his zebra friend as well, tossing her on his shoulder as he tried to get as much distance from them and the guardian as possible. The sound of the guardian’s roars and stomping getting further and further away as Mystogan charges forward. Getting them as far away as possible and as quick as his legs to carry them.

Once they finally made it to Zecora’s hut, Mystogan sat the zebra back onto her hooves and walked over to the nearby pond that was next to her home. Immediately he began to clean off his wounds, as some of the vines had left cuts on his face and body, wiping them clean and starting to bandage them up quickly as quite a few of them were very deep. Zecora watched the stallion doctor himself up with such quick and precise movements. She’d be lying if she said she didn’t want to be the one to make him all better, though. “What the hell is that damn beast’s problem with me?! I come in here time and time again to get ingredients for my alchemy and now all the sudden he wants me dead?!”.

Zecora came up to Mystogan’s side and placed a gentle hand upon his upper arm where there were no injuries, gently rubbing it to try and calm him down. “He will not find you here. I made a pact with him to leave this place alone, no matter what. I..am sorry you had to deal with him. It may be because you took such a rare flower from the forest, that he saw you as a threat to its ecosystem. But I promise you are safe here.”. Mystogan was quiet for a few moments before letting out a sigh and gently placing his hand on top of hers. “I..am just glad I could keep you safe, Zecora. I heard you speak the same language to him, but it seems your words did not reach his ears. I must have taken something quite special if I made him that angry.

Once he had cleaned and bandaged all his wounds, She simply takes his hand and leads him into her hut. “Come with me, Mystogan. I will get you something filled and tasty to eat and take good care of you tonight. Please.” She said as she led the large stallion into the hut. It was going to be a rather small fit, but at least there would be shelter. By the time this happened, the sun had set, and it was now night. And the day would come again tomorrow.

Author's Note

For those wondering about the language I picked, it is swahili. I think it fitted quite well.

May the darkness grant you peace.