“So what do we got?” Rockwell said as he approached the two agents. He was covered in all manners of twigs and leaves. There’s also the occasional wolfsbane petal sticking at certain parts of his jacket. He continued to brush the stuff off his clothes as he trotted towards the other two.

Rocket and Foxtrot just stared at their fellow agent, probably pondering about what had happened to him. Both of them were wearing their standard issue glasses, partially concealing their confused reactions. Rocket was the first to respond to Rockwell, hovering towards him while inspecting his clothing, or what remained of it.

“What happened to you?” Rocket asked as he hovered around Rockwell.

“Is that the jacket I gave you last night?” Foxtrot added, now trotting close to the worn down agent as well.

“I added some personal touches. You like it?” Rockwell said.

“You’re buying me a new one.”

“You saw a timber wolf, didn’t you?” Rocket glided to the ground and lowered his glasses, revealing a pair of narrowed eyes.

“I passed by one. It seemed friendly enough.” Rockwell replied, seemingly unfazed by his colleagues scrutinizing him.

“You didn’t fight it, did you?” Rocket said, there’s a hint of worry in his voice.

“Why would you even ask that? I’m a peaceful guy.”

Foxtrot inched himself closer to Rockwell. The glasses concealed where his eyes were looking. But they seemed to scan every nook and cranny of his body, probably to assess what happened to him earlier. Once he’s done with his observations, his horn glowed and snatched something from Rockwell’s jacket with his magic. The camera focused the shot on what it was. It was a single wolfsbane petal, now floating in the air and covered with a sparkling grey aura.

“Wolfsbane petal.” Foxtrot showed the tiny piece to Rocket. “Rockwell killed it.”

Rocket looked back at Rockwell, now donning a small frown. “Dammit Rockwell, I told you not to do that. We’ve talked about this already.” Despite his reprimanding words, Rocket’s voice was gentle, firm but gentle.

“Look.” Rockwell raised both his hooves. “In my defense, I didn’t know wolfsbane would blow timber wolves up. I should know this. Well, I know it now. But before that I didn’t and I should have. I just thought it would repel them. That was supposed to be my intention, to repel them.”

“But then things blew out of proportion.” Foxtrot smirked.

“Guess you could say that.”

“We’ll need to discuss this over paperwork later.” Rocket said as he faced away from Rockwell. “But right now, let’s focus on these things first.” He pointed at the three towering objects before them. The camera quickly panned to where Rocket was pointing.

Standing a couple of yards away from the agents stood three giant logs of wood. Each log was adorned with giant carved horns that were securely tied on their ends. Below the horns were two large spears lodged at the side of the logs. The spears’ tips were tied with large pieces of rock that were neatly cut into the shape of a makeshift blade. And tied beneath those rocks were banners of purple shade with incomprehensible writings on it.

The camera observed that the three towers looked identical except for one thing, the gemstones that were placed on their uppermost parts. The gemstones took the shape of an orb and were sitting on metallic staffs that were kept in place by the same rope that held the horns together. The tower on the left side had donned a red colored orb and was emitting tiny bits of magic that quickly faded into the air. The tower in the middle had a green one that appeared to draw in a green aura into its gemstone. The third one on the right was colored violet and rapidly gave off waves of violet magic that faded just as quickly.

“Yeah I’ve been meaning to ask about those.” Rockwell stated as he continued to stare at the three towers. “What are those things anyway? They look like one of those totem pole things that the minotaurs bui-Oh. So that’s what you’re talking about in the letter.”

“It’s inspired by minotaur culture, that I can say.” Foxtrot said. “But I’m fairly sure that a pony built this. As far as I know, I don’t see any minotaurs running around in Everfree, let alone Ponyville.”

“Look at those gems above them.” Rockwell pointed a hoof at one of the orbs. “Could those be responsible for the strong concentration of magic in the forest? They look like they’re doing something with it to say the least.”

“Oh right, Rockwell.” Rocket faced him again. “When you said that the magic burned your vampire friend’s hoof in the letter, that’s what the humans also experienced before they started wearing the suits twenty-four seven.”

“Magic that affects humans and vampires, huh?” Rockwell hummed in contemplation. “What do you think is the connection here? I don’t want to be the detective in this group. I want to hear your thoughts about this.”

“That one does need a bit of pondering to answer.” Foxtrot replied. “I’m sure it’ll come to us eventually. But as for now, we need to find a way on how to get rid of these...things.”

Rockwell continued to look at the towers with amusement. “The boys at M.A.D would have a field day when they see these.”

“Mad?” Rocket looked at Foxtrot, as if he’s seeking for an answer.

“Magical Artifacts Division. We used to call them M.A.D scientists, remember?”

“Oh right.” Rocket smiled as he gently hit his head. “How could I forget? Maybe my extended stay here in Everfree made me forget some things at HQ. Or maybe the magic’s gotten to me and it’s been messing with my memories!” He said the last part jokingly.

“Which brings me to another question.” Rockwell said, not wasting an opportunity for a segue. “Did the magic affect you in any way at all?”

Rocket and Foxtrot paused to think at Rockwell’s question, they then looked at themselves. Both their heads faced Rockwell in unison, their shoulders shrugged in sync as well.

“No, not really.”

“My horn usually had this tingling sensation when strong magic is nearby. But this one is an odd case. I can’t sense any of it at all.”

“And so am I.” Rockwell added. “Trotting here just feels the same as trotting through town. So I guess we can scratch the E.U.P off the list. The humans and Vampires? Still on top. Well, as long as no vampire wanders into the forest and if the humans would just keep on wearing that suit of theirs there’s really no harm being done here.”

“Rockwell, Rockwell...” Rocket placed a foreleg around Rockwell’s neck. “We’re not in the Bureau right now. We can be as efficient as we want here.”

Rocket’s words made Rockwell chuckle a little. “So what are you guys proposing we do? Axing it? Uprooting it? Burning it? I have a lighter.”

“It’s too dangerous to go head on without knowing what it is we’re dealing with here.” Foxtrot warned. He turned to look at Rocket. “I think we should consult her.”

Rocket immediately released his grip on Rockwell. He looked away from the group and started looking around the forest. The camera spied a small blush growing on his face. “Yeah. Let’s.” He began trotting into the deeper parts of the forest, the others followed.

“Her?” Rockwell looked at Foxtrot as they walked. This time he’s the one asking for an answer.

“Zecora.” Foxtrot replied plainly. “She’s the local shaman. She must know something about these. I suggest we ask her for some advice on how to get rid of those things.”

“Shaman huh?” There was amusement in Rockwell’s voice. “What class?”

“Class Three.”

Rockwell blew an impressed whistling tune. “Neat. I can’t wait to meet this mare...or griffon. She is a griffon right? You know, judging from her name?”

“It’s zebra actually.” Rocket corrected him.

Rockwell let out another hum. “A class three shaman from a far away land that’s residing in Everfree. Now that’s a gal right there.”

“Getting a bit too enthusiastic, are we?” Rocket grinned at Rockwell.

“It’s rare to see a mare of that calibre these days. I’m just curious. What, is she your marefriend or something?”

Rocket didn’t answer Rockwell’s question. But it did earn a snort from Foxtrot.

Rockwell’s ears perked up. “Really? Neat. Got one on my first try. Boy, I should start hitting the casinos sometime! Sorry about that though, didn’t mean to intrude in one of yours.”

“She’s not my marefriend.” Rocket answered flatly.

“But you do hold an interest on her.”

“For years.” Foxtrot added.

Rocket sighed at his colleagues’ teasing. “Let’s change the topic.”

Rockwell looked at Foxtrot as he slowly shook his head. “Typical BoS agent. They never learn, do they? So how far is her place again?”

“Not that far.” Foxtrot answered. “Just a stone’s throw from here.”

“I don’t know. You throw stones really far. It could be a mile for all we know.”

“Just a quarter mile and no more.”

“Quoth the raven.”

“Very funny.”

“Speaking of ravens.” Rockwell suddenly said. His face had a look like he just remembered something. “The mayor is behind all of this.”

Rocket looked at Rockwell with a frown. “Inkwell? Why?”

“For reasons not yet answered. Although we’d get em’ once I confront her later. Right now, let’s just dismantle her plans piece by piece.”

“Yeah.” Rocket softly said. “Let’s.”

“From what I can recall, that mare avoids anything requiring real effort ever since she took the position of town mayor.” Foxtrot remarked.

“She probably had her henchmare do this for her.” Rockwell shrugged. “You guys must know the mare, goes by the name of Blurry.”

“The assistant?” Rocket asked.

“And apparently, also the muscle.” Rockwell added. He grabbed the bomb that was resting on his back. “Whoa, it got heavy.” He muttered as he showed the crystalline explosive to the agents. “She made this contraption.”

Foxtrot trotted closer to the bomb. “What’s that?” He said as he eyed the bomb curiously.

“It’s supposed to be a bomb of some sort. Blurry made this.”

“Are you sure about that?” Rocket looked at Rockwell, seemingly unconvinced. “Looks like modern art to me.”

“Trust me, it’s a bomb.” Rockwell kept the device back. “I got it from the henchmare’s henchmares. They said so themselves. I don’t know how it works though.”

“Well bombs usually go...boom.” Rocket smirked.

“I know that much. But before that, I don’t know where the detonator is.”

“We can inspect it once we’re inside her house. We’re here.” Foxtrot said as he pointed a hoof in front of him.

The camera panned on where foxtrot was pointing. A couple feet before them stood a tree house that glowed faintly in the middle of the forest. The tree house bore some similarities akin to that of Princess Twilights’ tree house library, albeit more tribal looking. The tree’s trunk was adorned with well carved colourful traditional masks that resembled the head of an unknown quadruped. And there were different colored bottles filled with Celestia knows what that were hanging on its branches. It was a peculiar sight, but it unsurprisingly fit in with the mystical forest’s surroundings.

“Good to know it’s Nightmare Night all year round here.” Rockwell said, subtly commenting about the house’s apparent spooky exterior.

“The same can be said about the entirety of Everfree.” Rocket said as he swiftly flew towards the tree house’s door. Once he landed at the entrance, he gave the door a knock. “Are you there, Z? It’s me Rocket.”

Rockwell and Foxtrot followed the pegasus as he continued to knock on Zecora’s door. Despite Rocket’s constant knocking, no answer came from the inside. But that didn’t stop him from continuing to rap his hoof at the wood’s surface.

“Z?” Rocket called again. “It’s Rocket. We have something important to discuss with you!” Again, there was no answer. “Strange.” He said as he looked back at his fellow agents. “She’s usually home at this time of day.”

Rockwell donned a sly smile. “Keeping track of her personal schedule, huh? That’s creepy.”

“I’m being serious, something’s not quite right here.”

“Then what do you propose we do?”

“Get inside her house without her permission.” Foxtrot said, joining in.

“Of course it is.” Rockwell said, maintaining his smile. “Not a good time to show your true colors though.”

“Can you please stop ganging up on me for a moment?” Rocket gave the two an unimpressed look. “Zecora could be in danger.”

“Yeah. And I’m staring at Mr. Danger right now.” Rockwell replied, doubling down.

Rocket just ignored Rockwell’s quip and looked back at the door. “I’m opening the door.”

“Oh you’d want that, don’t you? You dirty little thing you...”

Rocket only responded with a long frustrated sigh. He picked something up from his jacket with a hoof. The camera zoomed in on what it was. It appeared to be two small, slender pieces of metal with their tips bent into the shape of a hook. Rocket’s wings held the metal rods from his hoof and held them tightly. His wings then inserted the pieces into the door’s keyhole. The wings moved the rods delicately inside the hole until they made a clicking a sound. Taking it as a signal, Rocket twisted the doorknob and opened the door.

Rocket spent no time getting in, quickly pocketing his lock-picking tools. “Come on, let’s check for anything out of the ordina-Zecora!”

The two agents rushed into the house. The camera mare went into a sprint as well. The screen suddenly became shaky for a brief moment. But when it stabilized, it was presented with a cluttered up room. The interior shared the same design aesthetic as the outside but its colored masks and bottles were strewn everywhere. Books were lying around, a large pot was knocked down on the floor, and beside it was a struggling zebra mare that had her hooves and mouth tied up.

Rocket’s hooves moved like a blur when he untied the zebra mare. Once the bindings were removed from her mouth Zecora took a deep breath. “Thank you for saving me Agent Rocket. If it weren’t for you, death I would have surely met!”

“Who did this to you?” Rocket said as he brushed some clutter off her bamboo divan and made her sit there.

Zecora made herself comfortable on the divan. She stretched her legs to their maximum extent. She gave a satisfied sigh when her legs made a cracking sound. She looked like she was bound by those ropes for a long time, for which she could probably be. “It’s a thestral that calls herself Blurry. I believe she’s with the mayor, of which she is a lackey.”

Rockwell leaned in close to Foxtrot before saying something. “Correct me if I’m wrong,” He said in a low whispery voice, but not low enough that the camera couldn’t overhear. “But did she just rhyme four times?”

“That’s her schtick.” Foxtrot whispered back. “She speaks in rhymes.”

“She speaks in rhymes?”

“Yeah.”

“What a turn off.” He made this one softer so as to not let the person they’re talking about hear it.

“Why did she tie you up here?” Rocket asked when Zecora finally settled herself on the seat.

“The mare needed access to some magic books of mine. So she tied me up when I stated my decline. I tried to resist her but it was futile. I couldn’t keep up with her in a fight, she was just too versatile.”

“I believe we should keep our chat here short.” Rockwell whispered again. “I fear she’ll run out of rhymes.”

Foxtrot only responded with a grin as he slowly shook his head.

“Why does she want your books?” Rocket asked again.

Zecora looked at the messy room before replying. “The mare has concocted a terrible plan. And it’s to eradicate all four groups in the evilest way she can!”

“Who are these four groups?”

“The aliens, ghosts, werewolves, and vampires, Agent Rocket. If she isn’t stopped, it’s doom they would’ve met!”

“It’s official. She has run out of rhymes.” Rockwell jokingly concluded, softly still.

“Funny as it is, it’s still pretty serious.” Foxtrot replied, just as softly.

“I know. One can only rhyme so far and not squeeze your brain dry.”

“I meant the eradication of the four groups.”

“Oh that.” Rockwell smiled shyly, hoof scratching the back of his head. “Yeah, yeah, that is pretty serious. And here we are thinking that only humans and vampires are affected.”

“See?” Even with the glasses on, it’s clear that Foxtrot gave Rockwell a look that screamed ‘I told you so.’ “Mystery solved.”

“How is she going to wipe out all four Z?” Rocket asked again.

Zecora pondered for a moment before answering. “Judging from the books that are missing, I think I can narrow it down to something that involves magic gathering and corrupting.”

“There’s a place not far from here that stands three giant totem poles. All three had gems on them that seem to mess with the forest’s magic.”

“And what color are these if I may ask? I don’t know if you know, but each gem color has a designated magical task.”

“I think it’s red, green, and violet, right guys?” Rocket looked back at the two agents for confirmation. Rockwell and Foxtrot simply nodded in response.

Upon realizing that there were more ponies inside her home, Zecora quickly got up from her seat and turned her attention to them. “Forgive me for not noticing you, agents. It appears that being bound for a long time made me forget about my hospitality. As we continue our discussion, would like me to serve you tea?”

“No thanks. We’re leaving shortly anyway.” Rockwell said, earning a disappointed look from the pegasus.

Rocket looked back at Zecora. “So what do those colors mean, Z?”

“Enhancing, harvesting, and manipulating respectively.” Zecora began. “She’s making malleable magic and she’s making it quickly. This magic can be adjusted to only eliminate a specific type of creature. And those specific types are the four groups I’m sure. In getting the magic, those were just the means. And I must admit that those orders weren’t short. But in utilizing the magic she needs a separate device, like a bomb of some sort.”

“Some sort of bomb you say?” Rockwell said as he got close. He showed the zebra mare the crystalline device, quickly pulling it from his back. “Do you mean something like this? Blurry made this. So this must be it.”

Zecora inspected the strange looking explosive. She had her hoof gently prodding the device, like she’s trying to sense what’s inside it. “These crystals charge themselves when the malleable magic is nearby.” She looked at Rockwell with a look of warning. “If this is set off, any selected target within a hundred yard radius will certainly die.”

“Hundred yard radius.” Rockwell repeated what Zecora said, probably to keep the number up in his mind. “You said this thing self-charges, is this why it got heavier when I entered Everfree?”

Zecora slightly nodded in response.

Rockwell let out a small chuckle. “Whaddya know? I just armed this bad boy.”

“You better be careful with that.” Foxtrot warned.

“Relax.” Rockwell placed the device on his back again. “I don’t even know where the detonator is.”

It’s probably the gradually increasing weight that caused this, but the crystal bomb just slid itself off of Rockwell’s back. He tried to catch it and so did the others but it happened very quickly. The device hit the floor with the orb touching the surface first. A clicking sound can be heard as the rod in which the orb was resting on pushed itself back into its crystalline body.

A purple light filled the entire screen, followed by a loud exploding sound.

Author's Note

Writing Zecora is no cake walk. I don't think I want to write her again. Thank you for reading.