Come and Catch Me

I looked at the horse in the hut. Well, I say horse, but I guess zebra is closer. She was wearing a torn up old hoodie, and a pair of distressed jeans. I did a minor double-take at her hair that was styled into a large mohawk but put it down as her being a punk witch. Which was honestly the coolest thing I had seen so far, so I was cool with it. She also had gold rings around her neck, in a sort of ascending series of chokers. One had a minor glow as she began to speak again. "Well, you have spoken once before. What caused you pain, outside my door?"

Oh right. She had saved my life. I shoved my paranoia into a corner of my head and tried to bury it for a bit. I tried my best disarming smile. "Yeah, sorry about that. Picked a fight with a manticore, but after I won I got careless. Stung myself on his tail. Then I had Tucker here look for a Deus Ex to save my life." I began petting Tucker's head, causing many an excitable bark to come from him. I smiled down as he began the happy little trot dogs do when they're excited.

I looked back to Zecora as she glanced at me and my dog. "A simple tale with a simple end. I'm glad it's not alone you fend." She made a look at Tucker and turned around, facing a large cauldron. Dipping a ladle in she filled up a small bowl and held it towards me. "Though the poison's effect is quickly fading, a sip of this would ensure its failing."

I nodded and slung back the small bowl like a shot glass. I grimaced at the taste. If you can bear with me for a moment. Imagine someone made a completely average veggie stew. Then, finding it wanting, they dumped in raw cough syrup. Whatever horror just entered your mind was accurate, and I was very glad I slugged it down. I shuddered as I looked down. I let out an annoyed huff. Right, still totally naked. I let out an awkward cough. "Hey, uhhh, you got my clothes and stuff somewhere. I'd kinda prefer to be not naked."

The zebra nodded. "Your clothes are clean in my bathroom. Just open the door with the resting broom." I smiled at her and looked over the room. Indeed there was a door with a broom beside it, so I opened her up. I gave a silent prayer of thanks as I saw a modern looking bathroom behind the door. I closed it behind me and grabbed my clothes off the sink. I found my pistol and holster resting under the clothes. After doing my business and dressing up I felt much more human. I stood tall and checked over my pistol. It had a few dings, but if the Russians knew anything, it was reliability. As a bonus, my old white hat had escaped the bloodstains that ruined my other clothes. I spun my pistol around my finger once and wiped it off with the sleeve of my jacket.

I walked out of the bathroom to Tucker sitting primly at Zecora's hooves. She was in front of a small stove, flames licking a metal pan. I moved to a table in the center of the room and sat down. "I'm decent now. Thanks for patching me up." I didn't feel right, getting patched up without a way to pay for it. "Is there anything I can do? To repay you I mean."

Zecora let out a sing-song laugh at that. "Repayment for kindness given is such a silly idea. No, that manticore sting was a gift from Gaea. With it, I can make many more cures. So consider it payment for that poison of yours." She turned around and sat across from me, bringing the pan to the table. "I am Zecora, the potion witch. Who are you, whose skin I had to stitch?"

I smiled and leaned back. I didn't need to grandstand after she saved my life. "I'm Peter. Peter Buck." I held out my hand, and we shook. I flashed her a smile. "So, do you still have my claw? I was gonna make me a new knife."

Zecora nodded. "Indeed, I assumed you might need if for such. I hope you don't mind that I cleaned it a touch." I was about to ask as she reached to a nearby counter and pulled out my claw. It had been grafted into a bone white handle, giving it a nice grip that fit smoothly in my hand. I'll be honest, that knife alone was worth more to me than any damn antidote. It was beautiful.

"I don't know what to say. This is a piece of art, I can't take it." I placed it back on the table, handle towards Zecora.

She smiled and pushed it back towards me. "Nay, I think you will find it fills your needs. Now come fix a plate and see where that leads."

I nodded and grabbed the empty plate in front of me, before scooping the chili looking mix into it. I then grabbed her plate and fixed her a serving before smiling down at her. "Thanks for all this. Really." I sat down and took a bite. It was pretty good. The nice, homey food anybody who lived on their own eventually learn how to make. "I'll admit, I'm kinda lost out here. I'm pretty far from home."

Zecora nodded. "Of that, I have no doubt. Like you, I was once a lost little lout." She took a bite and nodded. "If you find yourself alone and lost, Ponyville can keep you out of this biting frost."

I shrugged. "Well, you're the first thing to understand me." I took another bite as we simply ate quietly for a moment. After a few more bites I decided to break the silence. "I mean if they have a need for a general handyman I could do that. And I used to be a soldier, so I could do some fighting I guess. I just doubt I'm really employable."

Zecora smiled. "Well, while I cannot speak of the jobs in town, I have a friend who will help you with her crown."

I nearly spit out my food. "You know royalty?" I shook my head. "Never mind, I'll take your word. If she'd willing to host me while I set up I won't say no, but it doesn't get around my language barrier."

Zecora smiled and removed one of the gold bands from her neck. "I too have an issue with these ponies speech, a thing like this will keep you from their foreign screech."

I picked up the hoop. I slid it up my right arm until it was almost to my shoulder. It stayed without falling and I nodded. I then looked myself over. "Do you think they'll be fine with my look. I think they may take exception to it."

Zecora paused before nodding. "For this, I can make one more gift for you. She began to move to a room that I assumed was a closet. She walked out with a long cloak and a wooden mask. "With these on you will seem like the average pony. With all that we can be sure they won't flee."

She passed them to me, and I threw the cloak on. The mask was a nice pony mask. With the hood up it would be all you could see. I dropped my hat on the table and covered my face. The mask was surprisingly open, but it killed all my peripheral vision. It was better than some masks I'd worn though. I nodded to Zecora. "I will pay you back for this kindness ma'am. We may not know each other well, but I am a man of my word. I will leave my hat here as proof." I picked up the knife and rested it in the cloaks pocket.

Zecora gave me a smile. "My kindness is freely offered, but I feel like in you it shall be rightly answered. Stay on the path and you shall reach Twilight's home, though be warned, you may have to wait, she likes to freely roam."

I nodded and bowed deep, before exiting the hut. I gave out a short whistle which caused Tucker to scramble out from his hiding spot under the table. With a final wave, I walked out. I turned to the clear path and began to walk. I turned to Tucker as we walked. "So buddy, what's the odds of us getting home?" Tucker tilted his head as we walked before his tongue lolled out in a doggy grin. "Yeah, you're a ton of help huh?"