Chapter 1: A Strange Forest Discovery
Chapter 1: A Strange Forest Discovery
The sunlight streamed through the ever-changing drifting clouds. The plants and trees grew and bloomed lazily in the light of the day, while amongst the forest floor the animals foraged and hunted in order to feed their kin. This is the Everfree Forest, a forest aptly named for the freedom found within its dominion. A forest filled with not only the most dangerous of perils, but also the most wondrous of sights. One of which was a most curious sight, a strange dwelling that lay within its depths, made from a hollowed out tree and decorated with an assortment of colorful masks and gourds. Drifting out of the strange house was the light harmonious melody of its resident's song as she went about her daily tasks.
"Maua mazuri yapendeza, ukiyatazama utachekeleahhh" Zecora sang as she stirred her newest batch of herbal remedy to sell in Ponyville's market. She stopped for a second to inspect her hard work "Ahhhhhh… my newest brew is almost complete." She beamed as she glanced towards a cake shaped clock that had she received from her friend Pinkie Pie, given to her so she would apparently always know when it's party time. It was close to half-past ten. "And just in time to sell on main street." She mussed to herself as she resumed her song and crossed the room towards the shelves where she stored all her ingredients. "Hakuna mmoja asiye yapenda, maua mazuri yapendeza-" she suddenly trailed off when she realised the bottle she held felt a little too light, curiously she opened the bottle and gave a glance inside.
"Hmmmm… I've seemed to run out of crushed hydra bark. If I don't get more now my brew will not be done before dark." Zecora murmured as she returned the bottle to its place on the shelf and glanced at her clock. It was now half past-past ten. Zecora adopted a meditative pose. "If I leave now I can get some in time and then be back to make sure that my brew is sublime" she nodded to herself and proceeded to her cauldron and reduced the fire below it. Once she was done she walked toward her door rack where she kept all her travel gear. She grabbed her travel bag and began filling it with things she would need. A canteen with some water for the heat, a small sack in order to carry the bark she collects and a knife to pry the loose bark from the trees and if worse comes to worse defend herself from the more monstrous creatures of Everfree. After making sure her cloak was secure, she inspected her house, closed the door and ventured out into the forest.
As she was trotting along the forest floor, Zecora made sure to keep a weather eye out for any threats. While the outer area of the Everfree was relatively safe, the deeper reaches of the woods where the hydra trees resided were filled with the more dangerous of the forests residents, and the camouflage that her cloak provided would only go so far. She stopped every so often to check the trunks of the trees that she passed by. She developed this way of getting around the forest when she first started living in the forest. She had found that it was all too easy for her to get turned around because of how dense the foliage got, and after the first few times getting lost she began leaving markings on the trees to tell her which way certain landmarks were to find her way around. After finding the mark that would lead her to the grove of hydra trees, she hastened along on her way.
After traveling for a fair amount of time, she saw with relief that she was coming up upon the familiar first signs of the hydra tree grove. Speeding up from her trot to a brisk gallop, it was then that Zecora realised that something was amiss. It was then as she neared the grove and she slowed to a stop to allow herself a moment of rest that she realised what was wrong. It was quiet, far too quiet for the Everfree Forest. Whether it be the sound of the wind as it blows through the leaves or the sound of animals as they went about their daily lives, there was always the sound of life thriving in the forest, but as she strained to listen for something; anything from the forest that would signal that it was just paranoia getting to her. To her disappointment and with growing apprehension she realised that there was absolutely nothing, almost as if time had stopped.
grew nervous at the unnatural stillness "Something is wrong with the forest this day" She noted with hesitation and fear "perhaps I should hurry along on my wa-"
*KRAK-KA-BOOOOOOOOOM!*
"BAHHHHHHHHH!" she screamed as she was abruptly thrown and sent tumbling violently along the ground, ending up slamming face first into a tree, head over hooves. Dazed and with a terrible ringing in her ears, Zecora fell away from the tree and painfully pulled herself into a sitting position. "Ohhhhhhh… what in the name of Celestia was that?" Zecora moaned as she regained her bearings and hearing, she glanced towards the direction of the grove. Instead of a grove of lush hydra trees, only a crater was left behind. "Well whatever it was…" she remarked looking out over all the uprooted trees and overturned earth "it knocked everything flat"
After picking herself up off the ground, she began testing her limbs for any injuries. Pleased that her limbs were still able to function she carefully walked over to inspect the crater, only to stop after a few feet when she had felt something under her hoof. "Huh?" She remarked as she lifted her hoof to inspect what she had stepped on, it was a red crystal of some kind. It was small, but it shone with a mystical mesmerising light. Entranced by its beauty she placed it in her bag and continued walking towards the crater.
Reaching the edge, she peered down only to find that there was some type of creature in the center. Curiosity taking over her she took out her knife to defend herself in case whatever it was she found is hostile and descended down, reaching the bottom she slowly edged her way closer to it. Whatever it was it appeared to be unconscious, seeing this Zecora decided it was safe to get closer in order to inspect it further. The first thing she noticed about it was its spiked, blonde hair that was matted to its head with sweat and speckled with blood. It was also tall, at least as tall as Princess Celestia if not a little taller and was wearing what appeared to be tattered black clothes that were slowly turning red. Zecora’s eyes grew wide and she gasped with realization, hastily using her knife she cut open the creature's shirt to inspect its wounds.
"Oh Celestia!" exclaimed Zecora, upon seeing the extent of its injury's. The number of cuts she found not only on its chest but also from those she could see on its arms and the growing stains on its pant legs had stunned her momentarily and immediately she knew that this was far beyond her level of expertise. She had to get it help, but it was far too large for her to be able to carry by herself. 'Well if I can't get it to help, I'll bring the help to it. But where to go?' Zecora thought as she started hurriedly pacing all the while racking her brain for options 'Ponyville General Hospital is much too far away and there is nobody who lives near the forest who would be able to help me with its injury's' Zecora's head snapped up as the answer dawned on her 'Wait! There is one pony that lives near who would be able to help!' Zecora smiled wide as she realised the obvious answer to her situation "Fluttershy!"
So with a plan set in her mind and determination in her eyes she took her cloak off her back, grabbed her knife and began to cut her cloak into strips. Using the strips as makeshift bandages to slow the bleeding and to buy herself some extra time, she gave the creature one last look over "Do not worry strange creature, rest assured" She said to it quietly "I will return and your wounds will be cured" rushing she climbed out the crater and galloping as fast as she could, began using her markings to find her way towards Fluttershy's cottage.
To Be Continued.
Authors Note: Well this is going to be the first story I have ever written. Make sure to leave a review and let me know how I'm doing.
