The Pony From The Sky

It might be a little bit too late to mention this, but we found out where we landed in. Whatever power I used to summon us out of the crystal maze with that...thing inside had somehow teleport us both in Zebrica.

To make matters worse, I am informed by Chrysalis that they speak an entirely different language which would make communicating extremely hard to do. And this all started way too early in the morning. My head pound in agony as I groaned. It slowly passed before I focused on my surroundings again. Chrysalis looked back at me concerned written on her face.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just a minor headache." I reassured.

Chrysalis didn't seem to be too sure by that response, but she shrugged it off anyways. We were currently walking through a field of grass with rolling hills as far as the eye could see. The only visible landmark that prevented us from wondering aimlessly was a very worn out stone pathway leading off to somewhere.

"How far are we to the nearest place of civilization?" I asked Chrysalis.

Her thoughts seem to go elsewhere as her jagged horn lit up in a green glow. "Not far."

My hopes were brought up, but they were immediately crushed again remembering the language barrier.

"This was going to be a difficult first encounter."

I could see the first indications of civilization in the distance intersecting to the old stone path.

"I just hope that the zebras don't freak out."

Chieftain of Zobama 4:30 AM

"Sir, sir! There are ponies at the gate!" A messenger rushed into my hut screaming me awake.

Oh, how I hate early awakenings. Unfortunately, I don't have the luxury or the time to complain right now. I groan steering myself up from my dreamless sleep. I slowly positioned myself over the ledge of my comfortable bed rubbing the sleepyness from my eyes.

"What do you mean 'Ponies are at the gate?'" I asked almost regretting I even respond to him.

"That's just it, sir. One is an alicorn of the ponies."

My blood seem to run cold at that statement causing me to wake almost instantly. A full blooded alicorn heading into this small village? That doesn't sound right to me. All alicorns that I have read about were royalty to the ponies, and they were basically individual power houses to boot their threats of hostile takeover, if it came to that. I got up before putting on my Chieftain attire quickly bolting out of the hut.

It didn't take long to get to the gate made out of thick logs cut down by the nearest forest. I could tell a heated argument was happening just outside of said gateway. Closed of by several of our warriors to prevent the strangers from strolling on in.

"What's going on here?" I called out to any of the guards listening.

One turned their attention to me before saluting to show respect. "I'm sorry you had to get involved in this chieftain, but it's starting to get out of hand. Gumpa is getting increasing violent with-"

The warrior didn't get to finish his sentence before the soldiers around him start insulting the two ponies that were causing the newest problem. This was getting ridiculous.

I pushed my way through the warriors before turning around to face all of them. "Silence!" The shear volume of my voice seem to be startling enough to make the warriors fall silent under my command. "Let us not resolve this with violence, my warriors. We have been striving for peace for many generations to come. Don't let a couple of ponies ruin our reputation." I continued on.

The warriors seem to understand my logic so I decided to focus on the source of the problem: the unicorn mare and the alicorn.

At first glance, it didn't seem like they come here for anything formal if the torn up clothing on their bodies had any indication to go by. Focusing more on the alicorn, I could tell it was not Princess Celestia nor Luna that graced my presence. Recalling the urban legends of Equestria lessons, I remembered that tale of the Eternal Night that seem to cause the entire world to briefly panick.

I gulped nervously seeing the real thing in front of me: Nightmare Moon. She appeared to be exactly what the legends described her as. The unicorn mare stepped up to me before speaking in our native tounge:

"Hello, Am I graced with the presence of the village chieftain?" she asked.

Taking a better look at the unicorn mare, she has a green coat with a lime green mane to add to her beautiful jaden eyes. She had a unique presence to her that made her trustworthy in my mind. The details didn't necessarily matter to me at the moment.

"Yes, I am. What business do you have with my village?" I replied.

The Nightmare Moon spoke in a different language that was hard for me to understand especially since she was going a rapid speed. The green unicorn, however, spoke back to the alicorn in the same language. Nightmare Moon's eyes seem to widen understanding what was being said to her. The unicorn focused her attention back on me.

"I'm sorry for the interruption, chieftain. My name is Smooth Deal. I am the ambassador for Equestria to represent our newest alicorn: Nightmare Moon," I tensed up the horrible stories still fresh in my mind. Smooth Deal seemed to see this adding: "I understand that she has gained a reputation throughout Equis as being an evil tyrant, but I can assure you that she is not that kind of pony anymore. Celestia herself approves her seat on the throne, although being closely watched. You have my word she will not cause or start any trouble against you and your zebra warriors."

I stood there stiff analyzing the situation. Being a small village didn't help matters as news like this didn't travel too fast. My mind dashed her word as nothing but lies to cover up Nightmare Moon's true intentions. My eyes narrowed at Smooth Deal, but she didn't falter smiling at me, inviting me in. I then sighed resting my suspicions.

"I'll take your word on that, Smooth Deal."

The warriors around me seemed a bit shocked I would believe ponies' word. But if one thing is true about them, then they are speaking the Great Spirit's honest truth.

She smiled at me. "May we come in then?"

I hesitantly nod my head ushering her in the gate. My warriors made room for the two ponies to come in. They carefully walked into the village. I could see the two ponies speaking in their native tounge to each other probably exchanging new information with each other, but that still didn't settle my nerves. They are ponies after all. I'll need to keep a close eye on each of them.

I couldn't believe it. Chrysalis managed to get us in. I was sure that my presence would have ended up escalating the fight into total war. Instead, they led us into the village and we settled into a relatively large hut.

I turned to Chrysalis, aka Smooth Deal, surprise clearly on my muzzle. "How did you get us in?" I asked.

Smooth Deal smirked lying back on her hay styled bed. "Let's just say that you are lucky to have me. Zebra folk are very superstitious in the paranormal. They don't take kindly to evil spirits either."

I raised an eyebrow at her not sure how to respond to that. "Do they see me as one?"

"Considering that you held the world into an almost eternal night state, I would say that is very accurate." Smooth Deal replied.

Chrysalis' comment made me wince. I had no idea my actions would effect other species on this planet. For that matter, I didn't remember even learning about any other species other then the ponies of Equestria. Was Luna really that clueless?

"Thanks Chrissy." I said politely.

Smooth Deal nearly froze at the nickname I gave her while I chuckled to her dismay. I felt like taking nap anyway, so I just ended up staring up at the roof of the hut wondering where we should go from here.

"Chrysalis, how many sapient species are there still around?" i asked staring at the domed room. I could hear Smooth Deal shuffle in her hay bed getting comfortable.

"How many? Too many to count. The ones I know of are Dragons, Griffins, Hippogriffs, Sea Ponies, Unicorns, Pegasi, Earth Ponies, Yaks, Changlings...... I guess you can say that Equis is filled with all sorts of life," she shifted again in the hay bed. "And maybe more species of all sorts of live outside of Equis too. Judging by how different Shadow Faze seems to be even though he is a unicorn."

"True."

I could feel Smooth Deal staring directly at me. We lied there in silence as my mind slowly drifted peacefully to sleep.

Screaming.

I woke up with a start and shiver running down my spine. I got out of bed realizing it was either night time still or too early in the morning. Either way, it was dark out. The scream came to mind. To my right, Chrysalis was still fast asleep. "Must be a heavy sleeper."

I opened the hut flap before noticing something was different about the village. It looked so erie in the dark. Not a soul stirred out from their huts.

Nightmare~

That voice. My eyes widened hearing it behind me. I sprinted forward avoiding something that was about to graze my back. Turning around, I saw something that would make zombies look good. A distorted blob of a red crystal substance was there in the moonlight. It had a deformed mouth and hollowed eyes staring back at me with malevolent intent.

I needed to wake her up. "How did you find me Rufusdraco?" I growled continuing to back up while to red crystal substance gaining ground to me.

It smirked. "So he wasn't ignorant in revealing the truth to you. Yes, I am Rufusdraco. The fabled crystal of red,"

"Fabled crystal of red?"

"But enough with the introductions. I've spent too much time in scheming to have you ruin my chance." The blob grew bigger before two claws shot out of the mass of melted red crystals. It smiled again preparing to end me.

A green beam of concentrated magic shot in the thing's back side being able to propel the creature over a few feet. Smooth Deal stood where the thing was staring at me.

"Come on!" She cried out.

We wasted no more time in running. The thing roared in anger now managing to wake up to residences in the village.

Surprisingly, they were ready for the attack. The guards fetch spears then a moments notice before setting up a defensive perimeter around the vile creature. Rufusdraco growled in annoyance looking at the feeble metal spears pointed his way. He touched one of the spear before it engulfed itself in red crystal. The guard dropped it in fright of its power stepping back.

"You vile creatures disgust me."

I looked to my left seeing the chieftain approach Rufusdraco. He had a sheathed sword on his right side. The creature seemed to be amused by this zebra's bravery giving its full attentuon to him. "Vile? I would say I am a cleanser of parasites living on the planet's back. I'm just the exterminator."

The Chieftain unsheathed his lengthy sword revealing a unholy white blade in the dark. It shined to the point it hurt to look. I heard the creature wailing in agony before the light dimmed to a bareable level making the smaller details known. The blade consisted of strange runes all over the blade itself with smaller runes coding its handle. The creature's hollowed eyes widen in what I could tell was fear.

"That magic is not possible in this world. Damn him!" Rufusdraco fumed in anger.

"The Great One blessed me with this blade to strike down vile evil such as you. Die with Grace, creature." The Chieftain said raising the blade.

He swiftly struck the creature with the blade as it screamed in agony before cracking in the golden light. "This....is not over.....zebra! I.....swear it!"

Rufusdraco easily then shattered into a thousand pieces before the red crystal substance disintegrated into nothing shortly after. I was relieved to know that the creature was finally gone.

"This is the third time I had to deal with this thing," he looked at me. "And it was after you of all beings."

"Y-You can speak Equine?!" Smooth Deal exclaimed shocked.

The cheftain smiled at her remark. "Of course. I have to in order to speak in political matters. You two are clearly not a threat though. The Great One spoke it so."

The villagers mummered to themselves in their own language about the Great One. I was confused though. "Who's this Great One you are talking about?"

The cheftain seem to be satisfied with my question. "Come, I have much to show you." Smooth Deal and I looked each other for a second before following the strange zebra into his hut.

Unlike the other huts in the village, his was easily the biggest and more spacious than other huts. He lead us to a table and gestured for us to sit. We obliged to his gesture. He sat across from us looking quizzically scanning our expressions.

"Now, to explain the Great One we'll need to go back before the Empire existed. Back when evil reigned surpeme."

We listened intently before he started. "Long ago, Equis was in a constant state of chaos and bloodshed. Everycreature hated each other and to make matters worse, the Dark Lord took advantage of this to enslave the entire planet to his whim."

"Wait, who is the Dark Lord?" Smooth Deal asked.

The zebra grimaced remembering the monster. "The Dark Lord was once a monster of true evil, destroying and enslaving any being that got in this way of universal domination. He is said to have been the devil before the devil himself. Even the most evil demons whimpered in fear at stallion's presence."

Happiness returned to him a second later. "However, his reign did not last forever. The Great One came. His light was so strong and pure not even the Dark Lord could withstand against it. The Great One drove him and his evil forces out of Equis for the Dark Lord never to return again. Til this day, the Great One's light protects those that follow him."

"If this Great One is that special, how come we have never heard of him before until now?" I asked intrigued in the new culture I am learning.

He sighed sadness taking hold of him. "Unfortunately, many beings of Equis as forgotten or has doubted or denied in the existence of the Great One. Even now, only a few Zebra tribes still believe in the Great One thanks to the development of the Empire up rise."

It made sense in a way. Last time I remembered, from the history books, the Emoire has been around for five hundred years and growing still. It even became a known superpower that has its own grip on the world of Equis. The Empire of Zebrica has been known to not be friendiest toward "outsiders" making it difficult for them to deal with foreign governments.

"Thankfully, this village is not apart of the Empire. Welcome to Zobama if I hadn't said it already." The cheftain said.

Smooth Deal eyes widened in surprise. "Zobama, the Village of the Forgotten Arts?"

"So you ponies haven't forgotten about our little village yet I see."

"Forgotten Arts? What Forgotten Arts is that implying?" I asked.

The cheftain didn't speak. Instead, he grabbed his sword before unsheathing it. The zebra closed his eyes before the runes lit up on the blade once more. The same golden light danced along the edge of the blade before it was expelled out of the metal object. It appeared as if it slithered out into the air itself.

However, unlike magic it had a calming aura to it causing my muscles reflexively to relax as the snake shaped golden light slithered around Smooth Deal and I. "The aura you feel is the foundation of every being's core. This is what drives every creature with mystical powers that any force ever created. The Great One blessed us with this gift and we use it for the good for everybeing."

I stayed silent watching the amazing display of this strange power, but strangely, it was familiar. It felt like the same energy that I used in the crystal labyrinth. My eyes widen in realization while the zebra chieftain smiled warmly.

"It seems like Nightmare Moon has unlocked this ability unconsciously. I can feel it radiating off your very essence."

"I....Well...." I didn't know what to say. The zebra's expression hardens.

"But it needs to get stronger. It is not powerful enough at the moment to destroy evil yet. With training it will get better."

"Are you....offering to teach me the forbidden arts?" I asked thoroughly shocked.

"Of course, not just anyone can unlock the gift like it is nothing. If I let you go without asking I wouldn't be a proper teacher of the forbidden arts now would I?"

"I suppose not..... I would like to study the forbidden arts with you." I said.

The zebra's expression brightens. "Excellent! You may call by my name Master Jullboi."

And so begins the day where my life becomes that more interesting.