The Ziz and the Minor Princess
It was a sunny, late spring day in Ponyville when the local princess, Twilight Sparkle, decided to unveil her latest project: a statue garden, built in the shadow of her castle, that she'd been working on for the past several months with help from a colt named Chip Cutter, the local sculptor. Everypony gathered around in excitement; even the mayor was eager to see the fruits of their labor. The Cutie Mark Crusaders were perhaps the most excited, having been the ones to help Chip Cutter realize his talent for sculpting and earn his Cutie Mark.
"Thank you, everypony, for coming to see the reveal of the Ponyville Statue Garden!" said Twilight above the crowd.
"I set out to build this place in the hope of providing ponies a place to rest, relax, and most of all, learn. Inside, you will find statues of creatures from myth and legend, some of whom haven't been seen for ages, and some of whom you and I already have way too much experience with!" The crowd chuckled as Twilight scratched the back of her head, remembering every incident from Cerberus leaving his post in Tartarus to attacks on the village by the likes of bugbears, Ursa Major, and the Tantabus.
"This all wouldn't have been possible without the amazing skills of Chip Cutter here, so you can thank him for what you're about to see." Twilight tousled the mane of the little colt standing next to her, who smiled.
"Without further ado, we'd like to welcome you to our garden!" Twilight's horn blazed with purple light, and a large curtain separating the crowd from the little park fell to the ground. The townsponies oohed and aahed at the stonework creatures as they stepped along the cobblestone trail into the garden. Chip Cutter had done his work with great patience and care, so much so that the resulting statues almost seemed to come alive when you looked at them.
Among the lush vegetation and bubbling fountain of the garden stood sculptures of various creatures: a chimera, a hydra, a sphinx, a tri-horned bunyip and many, many more, all accompanied by informational plaques from Twilight. Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo happily trotted amongst the other visitors to look at the statues.
"Wow! Twilight, Chip Cutter! Great job, you guys!" Scootaloo said as they approached the CMCs. "This one looks almost exactly like Discord!"
Chip Cutter scratched his chin. "That's funny. I don't remember sculpting a draconequus…"
Suddenly, the stone-carved patchwork of animals sprung to life with a loud raspberry, eliciting a startled gasp out of Twilight. Discord laughed as he hovered in the air, remarking about how he "got" Twilight. Scootaloo just rolled her eyes.
"Hey Twilight?" Sweetie Belle called from across the way. "What's this one?" She jutted a hoof up at a large statue that towered over her, the centerpiece of the garden: it was somewhat griffon-like in appearance, but was altogether more avian, except that it possessed a long tail.
"I don't remember ya readin' us about this one durin' Twilight Time." Apple Bloom added as the Princess of Friendship approached.
"Ah! This creature is called a ziz, little fillies." Twilight recognized the beast from some very ancient texts Celestia had once lent her from the Canterlot Library.
"A what? A ziz? Like, Z-I-Z?" Apple Bloom inquired. "Pretty simple name if ya ask me."
"At least it's easier to say than 'draconequus'." Sweetie Belle added under her breath. Discord, sitting on a park bench with Lyra and Bon Bon, looked up from his newspaper, annoyed, but decided to let it slide.
"According to ancient tales, the ziz was said to be the most powerful flying creature in all of Equestria." Twilight proceeded to elaborate upon her knowledge of the winged beast. "Some could be truly massive in size, and fly for days, even weeks without resting. All creatures of the air bowed in deference when a ziz passed by, for they say that no creature ever achieved a truer mastery of the sky." Twilight gazed up at the towering statue, close to Discord's height, if not taller; as the sun cast its rays over the stone's chiseled features, she wondered what it would've been like to see a ziz in real life, if they even existed at all.
Far away from Ponyville, in the dreadful wilds along the edges of Equestria, in a cave high up on a mountain, there lived a ziz.
He was a proud and noble creature who was centuries old, but as far as could be ascertained, he was the very last of his kind. In all his long life, he had never seen another ziz: he had no siblings, remembered not his parents, and had no mate or children of his own. Instead, he had lived in this cave, away from the civilizations of ponies, griffons, and other lesser creatures, alone.
That sunny spring afternoon, the ziz strode from his cave, stretching and yawning after a long nap. His head was like an eagle's, with a powerful hooked beak, and a corona-like crest extending over his nape. His neck led into a strongly built chest, and from his shoulders extended two massive wings which glittered like gold in the sunlight. Both his fore and rear legs were birdlike, equipped with fearsome aquiline talons, but at the tuft of tailfeathers where an eagle would have stopped came a great, green, serpentine tail nearly twice his body length that writhed and coiled behind him like ribbons on a kite as he flew.
His sharp blue eyes surveyed his meager domain, a small patch of coniferous wilderness surrounding his mountainside home. With a mighty pulse of his wings and a push from his talons, the ziz leapt into the air, gliding down into the valley below before stopping at a crystal blue stream running through it. As he began to drink from the pristine water, he strained his eyes trying to make out his reflection, though all he could discern were his bright blue eyes, protruding beak, and, faintly, his crown of feathers as he brought his head closer to the waters.
A small red songbird alighted on the opposite bank of the stream, staring curiously at this 'king of the skies.'
"Ziz, what are you doing?" She said in her chipper voice. "If you stare much deeper, you're going to tumble into the stream!"
He sighed. "In all my years, I have never seen another ziz, and I am... curious as to my appearance." The creature's voice was deep and booming, yet not at all unfriendly.
"Ziz, if you're so curious, why not fly across the land to the town with a statue made in your image? I just came from there, and I can say that it looks almost exactly like you." The bird twittered as she scratched in the grass for seeds.
The ziz raised a noble brow. "A statue? Of me? I must find this town, Bird! Give me directions!"
The bird's scratching became patterned, as if she were trying to draw herself a map in the dirt from memory.
"It's a looong way to the southeast, with the Everfree Forest on one side, past the foothills and farmer's fields..."
The ziz gave a hurried thank-you before rushing off into the sky. The diminutive red bird fluttered after him, just finishing her directions before she could no longer keep up.
"The town lies in the shadow of a great city on a mountain! You'll find it among fields of wildflowers, pink and white!"
After flying day and night for an entire week, the great ziz was relieved to come upon the city built into a mountain; he knew that Princesses Celestia and Luna ruled from there, but he didn't know the place's name. His eyes focused upon great fields of wildflowers in the valley below, and beyond that, a small town. He'd finally found the right place, but didn't wish to simply barge into the town unannounced. Instead, he chose to fly low above the flowery fields in search of somepony who could get him a formal introduction to the town's leadership.
Rose, Daisy, and Lily Valley were picking flowers for their shop that day, idly chatting and laughing amongst themselves. As Rose stooped to sniff at a particularly eye-catching blossom, she heard a loud whoosh and detected a shadow passing overhead.
"Girls, what was that?" Lily asked in confusion. Suddenly, the noise and shadow passed by again, accompanied by what sounded like "Excuse me!"
Daisy looked to the sky in horror; she'd seen the source of the disturbance.
"M-M-M-M-Monster!!"
The three colorful mares galloped off screaming, even as the ziz attempted to calm them. Perhaps, he thought, there would be more stalwart ponies about whom he could speak with, and so flew off to a different part of the fields.
Next, he ran into Amethyst Star, who also fled quickly, much to the ziz's dismay. Big Macintosh, who'd been out picking flowers for Sugar Belle, dashed off with repeated "nnnope"s. After a while, the ziz was starting to become irritated at the perceived spinelessness of the local ponies. At last, he spotted one lone equine attempting to flee, and with a great flap of his wings, closed the distance and pinned her to the ground. Upon flipping her over to face him, he was met with a cross-eyed gaze; the grey Pegasus mare whimpered in fear.
"Is there ANYPONY in this entire town with courage enough to converse with me?!"
"U-Um, I, I... I think Princess Twilight, um, might be willing to, uh, sp-peak with you, sir..."
"Well go and get her then, please!" The ziz released Derpy from underneath his talon and she flew off like a somewhat wobbly thunderbolt.
"ME?! What could he want with me?!" asked Twilight, both excited to meet a living ziz and somewhat frightened at the prospect.
"He asked specifically for you." Derpy replied, out of breath.
Twilight levitated her saddlebags onto her back before casting a glance back towards Spike and Starlight Glimmer.
"Watch the castle while I'm out, you two. Hopefully, nothing bad will become of this situation. Who knows? It might just be a good learning opportunity."
Truthfully, Twilight would rather have cut off her right forehoof than have gone out to meet an angry ziz alone, but she figured that bringing all of the Elements of Harmony with her might not be received in the best light by this visitor. On her flight towards the fields, her unprepared mind couldn't help but fear that the legendary detail of the ziz eating ponies, especially foals, might be true.
"If he eats foals, he'll want the good ones, I bet." The princess thought to herself. "Too bad he couldn't have Cozy Glow."
Upon reaching a bridge crossing the field's small stream, Twilight gasped at the marvelous sight of the ziz reclining in the grass. He turned his attention to her, rising to his feet while bowing his head in respect.
"Greetings, Your Majesty." It had been many centuries since the ziz had seen an alicorn, and he doubted that Celestia and Luna even remembered him, but he still held a respect for their deeply powerful species.
Twilight smiled and rolled her eyes at the formality. "Please, just call me Twilight Sparkle. I may be Princess of Friendship, but I'd much rather be... well, a friend." She became slightly nervous as the great form of the ziz approached her on the bridge.
"So, um..." Twilight popped her lips. "What brings you to Ponyville?"
"Is this the town where there is a likeness of myself made from stone?"
"Um... yes... this is the place."
"I would very much like to see it, then. I have never seen another of my species, and I have traveled far for this opportunity."
Twilight thought of what the townsponies' reaction might be upon seeing this massive feathered beast, with fierce beak and claws, striding into town. She decided it would be best to discuss the situation over with her friends and neighbors before she allowed a strange creature into town.
"Well, you see..." Twilight began to twist the truth only slightly. "... it will be dark soon, and given that the statue garden is built in the shadow of my castle, detail on the objects within cannot be seen clearly. If you would like, I can wait and give you a personal tour in the morning." The sentence ended on an upturned note, almost as if Twilight were posing a question.
"I see you are a mare of good sense." The ziz replied. "I shall take you up on your generous offer, Princess Twilight. In the meantime, I shall nap here in the soft grass, and cool my tail in the little stream." Twilight then noticed the snakelike tail of which he spoke, the end of which glowed an orangish color.
"The end of my tail glows red-hot when I am angry or excited, and it is quite warm now." The ziz continued, plunging his tail into the water with an accompanying hiss and puff of steam.
Twilight bade her goodbyes to the ziz and departed for Ponyville. Upon her return, her friends had all gathered at the castle, and she filled them in on the situation. That night, a crowd of ponies gathered outside Twilight's castle as she and Mayor Mare delivered the news. Naturally, everypony was a bit antsy at the prospect.
"Is he gonna eat us?!" cried Apple Bloom from the crowd.
"No! No! I assure you that the ziz does not intend ruin or devastation!" Twilight attempted to calm them. "He is simply here to see his stony likeness in the garden!"
A mother in the crowed pulled her foal close. "A likely story! He's probably plotting to devour our children right now!"
Meanwhile, in his meadow, the ziz snored loudly under the moonlight in dreamless sleep.
"A lot of ponies say they're going to leave..." Cheerilee spoke up.
"Many of us can't afford to leave." Added Golden Harvest.
"What are we going to do?" Octavia wondered aloud.
"I KNOW!" came a cry from Bon Bon "Let's get rid of the statue! Then the ziz will have no reason to come to town!"
The other ponies in the crowd quickly took up the cause, clamoring loudly amongst themselves to gather supplies.
"C'mon, everypony!" called Berry Punch. "Grab your hammers and shovels! We'll bash that thing to pieces!"
Twilight quickly teleported herself between the mob and the statue they approached.
"WAIT, EVERYPONY! Don't you realize it will be IMPOSSIBLE to conceal from him that his image was destroyed during the night?! It'll only serve to make him angry, and THEN what will you do?!"
The ponies, some of which had already grabbed their bludgeoning implements, muttered Twilight's valid point amongst themselves. After some time, they reached a consensus.
"Very well, Princess." One of them said through a hammer in their teeth. "But don't think we won't take action if need be." The mob of ponies began to depart back to their homes, and Twilight breathed a sigh of relief. She would remain perched outside, watching over the statue until the sun rose the next morning.
As all the other ponies in Ponyville went about their morning business, the Friendship Princess was flying out to the flowery field to collect her charge for the day. The ziz was already awake, and his head perked up as the little equine approached.
"Good morning, Princess Twilight! I am ready to go to town!"
Twilight smiled, gesturing in the direction of Ponyville with an open wing. Though a creature of such grandeur did intimidate her, she was determined to at least give his friendship a chance; it's what Celestia would want her to do.
As the princess' hooves clopped into town, throwing up dust, behind her came the great fall of talons, practically kicking up a sandstorm on the dirt road. Ponies dashed off of the road and into houses, or pulled their foals close while seeking cover; the ziz noticed this, but simply regarded them from afar, his judgment silent for now.
"I hope you don't mind me asking," Twilight began, looking back over her shoulder "but I don't believe I caught your name yesterday."
"You know, I'm not sure I ever had one..." the ziz said to her "or if I once did, I've forgotten it. Calling me 'Ziz' would be as good as anything, I suppose."
"Very well, Ziz." Twilight said with a satisfied nod at the easy-to-recall moniker. "You'll be pleased to know that we're nearing my statue garden."
When the two winged nobles approached the assembly of stonework creatures, it didn't take long to locate the great stone ziz in the middle. Twilight was momentarily startled by the sudden movement of the ziz's tail, which he coiled beneath him like a snake to act as a chair so he could comfortably inspect the statue.
The ziz hummed in thought to himself as he regarded his stone image. First he tilted his head to the right, then the left, moving it closer and farther away to change the scope of the detail. He closed his right eye to view it with his left, then closed his left eye to view it with his right. He framed it with his talons, and posed next to it at various angles, comparing their respective features. After a while of gazing at his sculptured likeness, he turned and spoke to Twilight, who had been standing by all this time.
"It is, it must be, an excellent likeness! That breadth between the eyes, that expansive forehead, those massive jaws! I feel that it must resemble me! It is an admirable likeness, admirable! The old-time sculptor did his work with great care!"
Twilight chuckled contentedly. "I'm glad you think so. But this sculpture is no less than a week old. It was carved by my friend Chip Cutter over there." Twilight pointed a forehoof in the colt's direction, who was hiding nervously behind another statue. Very quickly, he found himself face-to-talon with the ziz, who was wholeheartedly shaking his hoof.
"Thank you, dear Chip Cutter! You have done your work well, and with excellent craftsponyship for one so young! Your statue brings me great joy!"
Chip Cutter attempted to speak a reply, but all that he emitted was a nervous jumble of sounds before collapsing unconscious to the ground.
"Will he be okay?"
"He'll be fine." said Twilight, somewhat nervously. She guided the ziz back to view his statue so that the CMCs could approach and safely remove the unconscious colt without notice.
"Well, dear Ziz, I am glad that our statue has your approval." Twilight said in her most polite tone. "But I hope that you'll excuse me for a bit; I was up all night without any sleep or food, and as you can imagine, I'm quite tired... would you, perchance, like something to eat?"
"Oh no." Twilight thought immediately after posing her question. "Twilight, are you crazy?! What if he wants half a dozen babies?!"
"Oh no, I couldn't, Princess." The ziz replied. "I never eat between the equinoxes. At the vernal, and at the autumnal equinox, I take a good meal, and that lasts me for half a year. I am extremely regular in my habits, and do not think it healthful to eat at odd times. But if you need food, go and get it! I believe I will return to the soft grass and have another nap."
With that, the ziz took to the air with a mighty beat of his wings, and went in the direction of the meadows. Twilight smiled and started to head inside her castle. The Elements had been watching from inside and confronted her.
"It doesn't sound like he'll be leavin' Ponyville anytime soon, partner." Applejack said.
"Some of the animals seem awfully scared of him, too." said Fluttershy.
"Twilight, what are we going to tell the townsponies if that monster keeps coming back?" Rarity asked nervously. "It'll be bad for business, I assure you."
"I don't know, girls. I don't know. I'm guessing that after a few days, the ziz will be satisfied with his inspection, and then he will leave... I hope and pray..."
But alas, the ziz showed no signs of leaving. He continually returned to Ponyville day after day, sitting in the statue garden and admiring his likeness. Twilight Sparkle took the opportunity to get to know him better, and they talked for hours on end about books they had read, things they had seen, and all the knowledge they'd accumulated. The ziz even managed to endure Discord for a little while, and they spoke of the olden days, when Equestria was young and there was still much in the world to be discovered.
At night, he would usually stay in the field by the stream, but some nights he would stay up so late reading with Twilight that he would fall asleep on the roof, her on the balcony. Spike would always come afterwards and throw a blanket over Twilight, but after the first time, he found out they didn't own enough blankets to cover the ziz. It was after one such literary binge that Twilight awoke to the sound of stamping hooves. Poking her head over the railing, she spied a large group of townsponies carrying torches and lanterns, pitchforks and sledgehammers. Shaking the sleep from her head, she teleported down in front of the masses to try and assuage their anger.
"SHH! Everypony quiet down, you'll wake the ziz!"
"We don't care about him!" came one of the voices. "We want him and that statue outta here!"
"And we don't care how we have to do it!" cried another, raising her pitchfork menacingly.
"He'll destroy our houses and eat our children!"
"That thing is going to kill us all!"
"Tear down the statue!"
"WHAT will that accomplish?!" Twilight said in her best imitation of the Royal Canterlot Voice. "If you anger him and try to run him off, he might actually become dangerous! He could retaliate by setting fire to Ponyville with his red-hot tail! It gets very hot when he's angry or excited!"
"Yet another reason why we don't need him around!"
The ponies were whipping themselves into a frenzy, ready to pounce at the slightest provocation. Pegasi were gathering rocks to throw at the ziz, and various other ponies started to move on the garden, bearing their cudgels and ladders. Twilight, trying to restrain her anger, cast up a large, magical wall in front of her castle, pushing the mob back with a gasp.
Calmly, she walked through the barrier and stood there, her head raised and wings spread.
"You will have to kill me before you harm my guest."
The mob of ponies stood there in tense silence, Twilight judging them out of half-opened eyes. They were mad, certainly, and fearful of the ziz, but at heart, nopony wanted to rise to Twilight's challenge. Slowly, in twos and threes at first, then in larger groups, the ponies gathered their things and turned back towards home. Twilight waited before they all left before deactivating her barrier and entering the castle to go to bed, trying to be quiet so as not to wake the ziz.
Little did she know, he had been awake, and had heard everything. Her bravery, her willingness to defend him... that was something he'd never seen before.
June 13th
The ziz has been visiting Ponyville for a couple of weeks now, and spends most of his time near me, a companionship I find, at times, to be somewhat burdensome. On the other hoof, I cannot deny that I derive much benefit and instruction from him. The ziz has lived for hundreds of years, and has seen much, and he has told me many wonderful things.
It is like reading an old book... oh but how many books would I have to have read before I would know a fraction of what the ziz does! He knows countless things about the earth, the air, the water... about minerals and metals, and growing things... the words of philosophers, and all the wonders of the world!
July 26th
The students at the School of Friendship have been enjoying their time off, judging by the letters I've received, but are excited to start school again next month. The ziz has sometimes watched me while I teach, and while I don't mind it much, I can't speak for the students.
The ziz and I, dare I say it, have become good friends. We sit and talk in the garden while he regards his statue, and read on my castle balcony; sometimes, he even comes with me when I make charity appearances, though he's always sure to keep his distance from the crowds. He has told me much of the way the world used to be; apparently he knew Starswirl at one point, and a young Celestia and Luna! I shall have to probe him for more information on such things, and, indeed, write to Starswirl as well.
I occasionally find random gifts arriving on my doorstep: small things, like flowers, polished gems, or smooth river rocks. I think they might be from the ziz, but I've never brought up the subject. How curious... I wish there were a gift I could give him, as well...
August 31st
The ziz has been sleeping more and more lately, often right in the garden. In about a month, it will be time for him to eat again, and the townsponies are becoming concerned. Those who can afford to have moved away to other places, but the Elements and I have stayed put, though I'd be lying if I said we weren't mildly concerned as well.
I know I'll have to address the issue at some point... I just don't know when, or how... By Celestia, why isn't there an easier solution to this 'friendship' problem?
It was early September, and the first chills of autumn were riding on the air, though summer hadn't been wrapped up just yet. As Twilight was perusing the market by herself one afternoon, she was confronted by Amethyst Star, Trixie Lulamoon, and Octavia Melody.
"You know, Twilight," Octavia began "that it will soon be time for the ziz's semiannual meal..."
"And he's going to be very hungry after all the exercise he's gotten this spring and summer." Trixie added.
"What do you think I should do, exactly?" Twilight asked, sounding slightly derisive.
"We were thinking that you should leave town." Amethyst said. "The ziz has a close bond with you; if you go to the dreadful wilds where the ziz lives, then he might follow you and stay there."
"What?!" asked Twilight, taken aback. "Trixie, is this another power grab of yours?!"
Trixie scoffed. "No, Twilight! The Great and Powerful Trixie would never try such a thing again! I'm friends with Starlight, and she's friends with you, so if I betray you, it's like I'm betraying her!"
"We even talked it over with the Mayor, Twilight, and she agrees." Octavia said sadly. "As princess of this town, your highest duty is to save our lives..."
Twilight lowered her gaze... could they be right?
Twilight returned home late the next night, accompanied by the ziz.
"Would you perhaps like to continue our story from last time, Princess Twilight?" he asked almost playfully.
The alicorn yawned. "No, but thank you, Ziz. I've had a long day, and I'm quite tired tonight. I need my rest."
"Ah, but you've had a productive day at that! I'd say the students quite enjoyed their field trip to Appleoosa; I know I did."
She chuckled. "Yes, I suppose they did."
They were silent for a while as Twilight fiddled with the door key.
"You know, Princess, I'd say that my life, though it has seen much, has been enriched by knowing you." Said the ziz with a smile.
Twilight returned it. "I believe I can say the same, Ziz. Having met you, my life feels even more like a fairy tale!"
They shared a chuckle, and the ziz shared an old quote he'd learned, casting his gaze towards the stars.
"Each one's life is a fairy tale, written by the hand of God." The ziz inspected his own talons before turning a kind gaze towards his friend.
"Good night, Princess Twilight."
"Good night." she replied, entering her castle as the ziz curled up on her front step.
That night, she would sneak away without telling a single soul, bound for the dreadful wilds.
The next morning, upon being unable to find Princess Twilight, the ziz asked some ponies around town where she'd gone, but her friends didn't know she'd left, and everypony else said they knew she had business, but didn't know where.
"Hmm..." thought the ziz "this town relies on Princess Twilight for many things; it would be a shame if the town were to up and cease function without her... it does not matter so much about the garden or the castle, as nopony went there... but it is a shame about the school..."
The bell rang for Professor Sparkle's classes to begin. The students weren't quite sure what to expect, as they'd heard the headmare was out of town on business. The Cutie Mark Crusaders decided to investigate as well; besides, it wasn't often they got to sit in on a lecture.
Imagine their surprise when, crouched awkwardly behind a desk too small for him, was the ziz, his wings stretching from wall to wall in the classroom, his tail draped against the runners on the wall.
"Students, take your seats, please." He began, amidst the children's stunned silence. "It has come to my attention that your usual instructor is not currently available; therefore, I have volunteered to teach class in her place today. Now," his eyes scanned the nervous students "what subjects have you been studying?"
"Um, well..." Smolder piped up, with her even being slightly uneasy around such a large creature. "...we've learned the History of Friendship..."
"There was, uh... Magical Artifacts..." Sandbar continued.
"And Mythology!" Ocellus squeaked out from underneath her desk.
"Aha!" the ziz's crest perked up "My favorite subject! Since you mentioned mythology, why don't you name three mythological creatures, miss?"
The shy little changeling rose into her seat, though everycreature's eyes remained glued to the front of the class.
"U-Uhhh…" Poor Ocellus was nearly catatonic. "Th-there are... cockatrices... and... trolls... a-and..."
"AAAAAAAAAnd…?" the ziz said, circling his claw in the air in a coaxing motion.
"...zizes?" She finished with a small smile, not sure if she was questioning his very existence.
"Very good!" The ziz said, nodding, accompanied by a sigh of relief from Ocellus.
"Since you mentioned zizes, I'd like to know what you've been learning about my species. We'll start with the student at the tail of the class, heheh." The ziz patted Apple Bloom's head with the tip of his tail, which reached all the way near the back of the room, where the CMCs were sitting. Apple Bloom gulped nervously, but began to recite what she could remember anyway.
"You, sir, have the head, wings, and claws of an eagle, and the tail and heart of a dragon!" She quickly whipped her head around to speedread from a textbook that Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo were holding open while laying in the floor.
"You symbolize courage, and wisdom --- AND leadership... uh..." Apple Bloom muttered under her breath as she read more to herself "... and you like to eat ponies." She gave that last sentence her most winning smile, as if to say "I tried, please don't eat me."
The ziz could tell she'd had help, but decided to let it slide because the CMCs were so gosh-darn cute.
"I can tell that you are not in the habit of reciting regularly, why is that?"
Sweetie Belle nudged Apple Bloom from behind, reminding her she needed to answer the question. Instead of saying "I'm still in Cheerilee's classes" or "Technically I work at this school", she blurted out the first thing that popped into her mind, which was:
"I... simply don't choose to take the effort?"
Scootaloo facehooved with both hooves, and Sweetie Belle nearly fainted like her sister.
"You ought to be ashamed of yourself." The ziz replied calmly. "You could be a marvelous student with a speaking voice like that, if you only chose to apply yourself. Practice at home with your sister, Professor Applejack. If you are not at the head of the class in two days' time, I shall know the reason why. Now, all of you, go home; study your books, and do whatever Professor Sparkle would normally have you do... class dismissed."
The students cheered quietly amongst themselves after just having the quickest class ever. And sure enough, two days later, Apple Bloom was reciting at the head of a class she wasn't even enrolled in; Applejack couldn't have been more proud.
The ziz left the schoolhouse after all the classes were done that afternoon.
"Now, all I have to do is visit the poor and tend to the sick."
Sitting underneath an autumn-colored tree on Ponyville's outskirts was a middle-aged stallion, idly kicking rocks with his forehooves. The ziz approached him from the sky quietly enough to avoid startling him. Other than the manner in which he was sitting, the ziz thought, he didn't seem that down on his luck, and he certainly wasn't injured.
"Tell me, friend, do you have a trade?" the aerial master inquired.
"Well... I'm a stocking weaver." Said the stallion. "But I don't weave much anymore."
"But... how do you feed yourself?"
"Princess Twilight brings me food."
The ziz picked him up by the nape of his neck and set him on his hooves, his feathered brow furrowing.
"There will be no handouts to those who can provide for themselves! You will go into town and ply your trade as everypony else!"
The stallion dashed off in the direction of Ponyville on shaky legs. The ziz gave himself a satisfactory nod.
"The poor have utterly disappeared! They just needed motivation! Now, I must tend to the sick."
The bedroom door slowly creaked open, revealing a weak-looking Pegasus mare nestled under the covers; she shuddered slightly in fright, but quickly realized that the ziz meant her no harm.
"Um... how do you do?" he said in a soft voice. She flashed him a demure, blushing smile as he brushed a bit of mane from her face. The mare felt comfortable in his presence, and the close proximity of his body heat was a nice change of pace from her fever chills.
"Herbal tea should do the trick." He said after appraising her condition. "Nopony ever thinks to use herbs like these... this one is even thought to be a weed if it's in your garden..." The ziz brought the herbs to boil in a water-filled teapot over the fireplace. "...just goes to show you that it's what's on the inside that counts."
After drinking of the herbal tea, the mare's condition slowly began to improve.
"Thank you, Mr. Ziz..." she said between coughs, her voice already becoming stronger. The two shared a smile.
About a week later, the Elements of Harmony approached the town hall, aware of some sort of bustle going on within. It was a chilly evening, so they were donning some warmer attire; Applejack had a light denim jacket, and Rarity wore a shawl and feathered hat. Pinkie Pie bounced along in a toboggan and scarf, while Rainbow Dash flew above Fluttershy, who was wearing similar attire.
"Hey Fluttershy! Check out these awesome new socks I got from this guy in town. Pretty cool, huh?" Rainbow Dash said, cocking her eyebrows.
They were striped in the colors of the rainbow, and nearly reached her torso. Fluttershy blushed brightly.
"They're um... they're very nice, Dashie…"
"Now quiet, y'all." Applejack said as they approached the doors. "If the Mayor's a-speakin', it's got ta be important."
Applejack pushed aside the heavy doors easily; above the din inside, Mayor Mare slammed her hoof down like a gavel on her podium.
"Order, ORDER, everypony! I will have order!
The town hall was flooded with ponies clamoring over what to do about the ziz's inevitable hunger.
"We've got to send somepony to go talk with the ziz, and see if we can't find a solution!" said Octavia. Next to her, Vinyl Scratch nodded in agreement. She opened her mouth to add to that statement, but was quickly cut off by Mayor Mare.
"That we will most certainly do, Octavia. You two!" She jutted a hoof towards the back of the room, where Starlight Glimmer was standing with Discord. Derpy, hovering nearby, slowly inched away nervously.
"You two will go and talk to the ziz!"
"We'll go along too, Mayor." Added Rarity. "It seems only fitting that the Elements of Harmony go and speak on Twilight's behalf."
"How did I get roped into this?" Discord asked indignantly. "Nothing that happens in this town is any of my business! Let me know when the ziz reaches Chaosville, and I'll assemble the town council!" Several smaller Discords in judicial robes and powdered wigs flashed into existence on his shoulders, and one on Starlight's head.
"Come on, Discord, please come and help us?" Fluttershy asked kindly.
"Ngh… OH, alright..." He responded.
"Yeah, Discord, pull your weight around here for once." Starlight thought internally.
The ziz was reclining in the garden, looking over his statue contentedly in the last rays of the sun, when the pack of ponies, plus Discord, approached him.
"Excuse me, Ziz?" Starlight spoke up, and the beast turned his head towards her. "I'm Starlight Glimmer, Twilight's student? I live in this castle with her and Spike, and I..."
"Ah, yes, Twilight has told me many good things about you, Starlight Glimmer." The ziz replied.
"Did she tell you about how Starlight and I are old 'Saving Equestria' buddies?" Discord threw an arm around Starlight and produced a photo album of the adventures of Starlight, Trixie, Thorax, and himself.
"She summarized." The ziz said with a blank expression. "Is there something I can do for you all?"
"Well," Starlight began "it's just that... you're going to be hungry soon, and..."
Applejack interrupted with her own idea, a far more tactful one than Starlight had in her head.
"We would love to prepare a splendid dinner for you on equinox day!"
The ziz raised an eyebrow, his interest piqued.
The farmpony continued. "We can prepare for you the most luscious fall crops, crisp breads and pastries, freshly-caught fish, if you'd like, and anything your heart could possibly desire!"
Pinkie Pie leapt into the air, producing a shower of confetti. "I'll even make my super-duper special Summer Wrap-Up CUPCAKES!"
The other ponies smiled and nodded in agreement at Applejack's idea... that is, until Discord threw his two cents in.
"And if none of that pleases you..." he shrugged "...perhaps we could direct you to the orphan asylum."
Everypony froze.
They all stared in wide-eyed, slack-jawed horror at Discord. He looked around confusedly at them as if to say "What?"
"DISCORD, WHAT THE F-" Starlight started to blurt a very unfriendly retort before being interrupted by the ziz's earthshaking roar.
"...fudge..."
The ziz's eyes became ice-cold as he stared through the souls of those present.
"From what I have seen of the ponies of this town, I do not think I could relish anything which was prepared by them. They appear to be all cowards, and therefore, mean and selfish. As for eating one of them, old or young, I could not think of it for a moment."
His towering form grew more imposing as his voice grew more solemn.
"In fact, there was only one creature in the whole place for whom I could have had any appetite, and that is the Princess Twilight Sparkle, who has gone away. She was brave, and good, and honest... and I think... I should have... relished her..." In the right light, it could've been said a tear was in the corner of the ziz's eye.
Discord murmured into Starlight's ear. "In that case, I wish we had not sent her away into the dreadful wilds."
"WHAT?!" Came the cry of all six ponies, plus the ziz.
"Oh come on, Starlight, I thought you knew!"
"What do you mean?!" Roared the ziz at the draconequus. "Explain INSTANTLY what you are talking about!"
"Seconded!" yelled Rainbow Dash.
Discord wrung his hands nervously. "Well, I uh... the townsponies and I... we sent Princess Twilight away into the dreadful wilds... in the hopes that you might be inclined to follow her..."
Before the Elements of Harmony could berate Discord themselves, the ziz let out a furious roar even louder than the previous. He leapt into the air with a great pulse of his wings; Discord, so shaken by the experience, turned himself into a pile of dust when the gust hit him.
"Miss Starlight, I don't feel so good..."
Starlight angrily stomped on the pile of dust that was Discord's face.
"Ow..."
The ziz flew back and forth over Ponyville, the tip of his tail lighting up the night sky like a meteor's streak.
"ATTENTION! EVERYPONY! A meeting in the Town Hall! RIGHT NOW!" He roared again, and those ponies who were already in the town hall shivered with dread as he, Starlight and the Elements took to the stage, all of them very upset. Spike, having been informed of the situation, was backstage, weeping with worry for Twilight.
The Elements stood static, glaring at the population of the town, as the ziz paced back and forth across the stage, his tail lightly scorching the boards as he passed.
"I have had a contemptible opinion of you" the great beast spoke "ever since I discovered what cowards you are, but I had no idea that you were so ungrateful, selfish, and cruel as I now find you to be." His voice was so deep and filled with anger that some foals began to weep in their mother's arms.
"Here was your Princess Twilight, who labored day and night for your good, and thought of nothing else but how she might benefit you and make you happy! Yet as soon you imagine yourselves threatened with a danger, for well I know you are dreadfully afraid of me, you send her off, caring not whether she returns or perishes, hoping thereby to save yourselves!"
He let out another great roar of frustration, shaking the very rafters of the building, as well as its foundation.
"Now, I had conceived a great liking for that young mare, and had intended, in a day or two, to go and look her up. But I have changed my mind about her. I shall go and find her, but I shall send her back here to live among you, and I intend that she shall enjoy the reward of her labor and her sacrifices! And IF, when your Princess Twilight comes back to you, you do not bow yourselves before her, put her in the highest place among you, and serve and honor her all her life, beware my terrible vengeance!"
He slammed his fist hard into the stage, almost breaking it asunder.
"There were only two good things in this town: the Princess Twilight, and the stone image of myself in her statue garden. One of these you have sent away... and the other I shall carry away myself."
The curtain behind the ziz had caught fire from the tip of his tail. As the Elements rushed to put it out, the ziz leapt forward into the crowd, with countless ponies screaming and backing up. With two great bounds, he had busted through the doors and launched himself into the night sky once more.
He flew like a flash to Twilight's statue garden, locating the great stone image of himself. He tore at it with his claws and tail, grunting mightily, until, at last, he pried it loose from its foundations, and carried it off into the northwest, roaring all the while, his red-hot tail trailing like a wrathful beacon through the night sky.
The next morning, out in the dreadful wilds, Twilight plodded along slowly, positively exhausted from both walking and flying for many, many days. The loose gravel of the cliff she traversed scrambled away with each fall of her hooves and walking stick. Finally, her body could take no more, and collapsed at the edge of the great drop.
She was falling asleep, but just before she could roll off to her death in the mists below, the great talon of the ziz caught her hindleg. Weakened and half-starved, she wasn't very heavy, even with her saddlebags and stick. He carried her back to his cave, at the mouth of which sat the great statue, before flying to a nearby marsh to procure roots and herbs which he well knew were strengthening and beneficial to ponies, though he'd never tasted them himself. After eating these, Twilight Sparkle was greatly revived, and sat up and listened while the ziz told her what had happened in the town.
"Do you know," he said when he'd finished "that I have had, and still have, a great liking for you?"
"I am very glad to hear it." said Twilight with her usual politeness.
"I am not at all sure that you would be," said the ziz "if you truly understood the state of the case... but we will not consider that now. If some things were different... other things... would be otherwise..."
He was silent for a long while, as Twilight warmed herself by the fire and drank of a water pot he'd brought her.
"Lie down and have a good sleep."
Twilight, relieved of her fears, lay back and dropped into a doze, which renewed her strength. When she was sound asleep, the ziz took her in his arms and carried her back to the flowery field outside of Ponyville. They arrived just before daybreak, and as the rosy dawn peaked over the horizon, the creature laid down the princess on the soft grass where he himself used to rest, along with her saddlebags and walking stick. She was just barely awake, and could hear him speaking to her.
"I have lived... a good, long life... and I want you to do the same."
After laying her things down next to her, his beak gently planted a kiss on her cheek, and he looked deep into her half-open eyes.
"Nothing loved dies."
With that, the ziz took to the air and flew back in the direction of his home, never to be seen again.
When Twilight Sparkle made her appearance among the citizens that morning, the enthusiasm and cordiality with which she was received were truly wonderful. Her friends threw her a massive welcome-home party in the castle, one which Pinkie would talk about for the rest of her days as one of her crowning achievements. Everypony was anxious to do all that could be done for the princess' health and comfort. The ponies crowded around when she made announcements, so much so that the best seats were rarely available, and the School of Friendship saw its record attendance numbers spike, as clearly, there were a lot more ponies, not to mention a certain draconequus, which could stand to learn a thing or two still about friendship. Countless years passed by, and Twilight and her friends were subject to more prestigious honors as they continued to save Equestria from vile foes; before Twilight herself died at a ripe old age, she even got to rule the nation alongside Celestia and Luna.
During the first years after her return from the dreadful wilds, the ponies of the town looked up to her as a mare to whom they were bound to do honor and reverence, but they often also looked up to the sky to see if there were any signs of the ziz coming back. However, in the course of time, they learned to do honor and reverence to their Princess Twilight without fear of being punished if they did not do so.
But they never need have been afraid of the ziz, and it was a good thing that they never found this out.
The autumnal equinox came around, and the monster ate... nothing.
If he could not have his Princess Twilight, he did not care for anything else.
That fateful day, his head pounding, his vision blurring, and his legs shaking, he collapsed at the mouth of his cave.
So, lying down, with his eyes fixed upon the great stone ziz, he gradually declined, and died.
If you should ever visit Ponyville, you would still see the great menagerie of little statues scattered about the garden, but the great stone ziz that was at its center is gone.
Author's Note
"Each man's life is a fairytale written by God's fingers." --Hans Christian Andersen
"Nothing loved dies." --Kirk Judd
The Griffin and the Minor Canon -- written by Frank R. Stockton
Happy Nightmare Night!
