Zebrabwe's Secretby GMSeskiiChaptersI - Centuries in the Past, but not ManyII - Winds of ZebricaIII - Port of DustIV - The CrabV - Zebrabwe RoyalVI - A Dark RoomVII - SasoriVIII - The Queen of ZebricaIX - A New Set of StripesX - Years in the Future, but Not ManyI - Centuries in the Past, but not ManyChrysalis sat on a throne of marble in the midst of her hive, glaring at the entrance to her chambers. All of her armored drones were standing as still as they possibly could, knowing that one wrong move would earn their Queen’s ire. The muffled sound of an explosion reached Chrysalis’ ears, prompting her to bare her fangs. “If they don’t stop her…” The drones said nothing. This disappointed Chrysalis; she had been hoping for an excuse to lash out. She spent the next little while pondering how, exactly, she could prompt a drone to react and thus justify an outburst. Actually, as Queen, she might not even need justification. Before she could act upon this realization, however, the main entrance was engulfed in a brilliant solar flame, revealing a massive armored alicorn. Her pastel mane swirled with its usual ethereal energy, mocking the tattered mess on Chrysalis’ head. “Celestia…” Chrysalis breathed. “We meet again…” “This is going to go as it always does,” Celestia declared, blowing the drones away with a simple burst of magic. “I really do have to make this harder for you,” Chrysalis grunted. “One of these days your magic will be useless against me!” Celestia smirked. “Then I’ll just find another way. Evil will never triumph.” “Never?” Chrysalis grinned. “I think you’re forgetting about all the other places I’ve destroyed. Imagine, if you will, a world without me or my brood. How many ancient nations would remain without my influence? How much competition might you have?” “I would much rather have competition than your scourge upon the world.” “And what are you going to do about it? Take me out again? We both know that doesn’t work. I just. Keep. Coming. BACK!” Celestia’s grin didn’t falter. “I am going to seal you in a volcano.” “...What.” “You heard me.” “Did I? I could have sworn you said you were going to seal me in a volcano.” “That’s right.” “That’s ridiculous. And my drones would find a way to get me out even if it wasn’t. They always do.” “That’s why I’m sealing them with you this time.” Chrysalis raised an eyebrow. “Really? Really? You don’t have the power.” “My power? Oh, no, it wouldn’t be mine. It would be…” She tossed an orange crystal on the ground. “This.” Chrysalis stared at it in disbelief. “Is that…?” “I have no idea what it is,” Celestia admitted. “But I know what it does. Have fun, I hope you get a nice tan!” Chrysalis shot the crystal with her magic. This turned out to be exactly what Celestia had wanted her to do. The crystal took control of Chrysalis’ own magic and, through her, the magic of the entire changeling hive. Chrysalis vanished in a puff of orange dust… reconstituting inside a red cavern just above a river of molten lava. “...Sassafras,” Chrysalis muttered. “Why does this always happen!? She didn’t even use an army this ti—” Her brooding was quickly interrupted by several hundred changelings falling onto her. “CURSE YOU CELESTIA!” Celestia did not hear her. She didn’t hear anything. After all, the hive was now completely empty. Deciding her work was done, Celestia encased the orange crystal in her magic and buried it in the ground where she hoped no one would ever find it. But, sometimes, even the Princess of the Sun engaged in a bit of wishful thinking. II - Winds of ZebricaThe South Luna Ocean was just as blue as any other ocean. Travelers who spent their lives traveling the seas might be able to tell the difference between them simply by tasting the water, but to most, there was no distinction from one ocean to the other. Once you were far enough away from land, it was just… blue. Endless blue in every direction. Rather drab and uninteresting when compared to the varied patterns offered by land. A single pale red airship drifted over these waters, seemingly motionless against the featureless ocean waves. Rest assured, it was moving along at a brisk pace, but the only indication of this was the wind brushing against the ship’s pointed front. Numerous fins sprouted off the main dirigible in crescent-like arcs, ironically giving the ship the appearance of a stylized sun from the front. The cabin hung from the massive ovoid, small, even for a ship of this size. Then again, it didn’t need to be very big, for it currently had only three passengers. Zecora the zebra sat in one of the six chairs behind the captain’s console, gaze directed through a window at the water below. Her face was tense, but level. She was thinking deeply about something none of the other passengers would have been able to figure out. Not that they were trying. “Aight, I got us on the course ya set,” the captain said, stepping back from the airship’s wheel. She was a yellow earth pony with a short red mane. “Don’t need t’ mess with it ‘till we see some land. I’m trustin’ ya that it exists.” “Rest assured, we will find our land,” Zecora said. “Though you might be disappointed by all the sand.” “As long as it don’t mess with my girl’s engine, we’re good with as much sand as ya can fit on my wrench.” “Do you not have many wrenches within your ship’s trenches?” “Yah. Wouldn’t be Torque Wrench without ‘em.” “It always amazes me how pony names come to be. Such truthful words before you’ve even grown into your herds.” “And ya rhyme every sentence like a mad poet,” Torque retorted. “I think we’re even.” “Thank you again for taking me on this voyage at the start, I was beginning to think home and myself would remain far apart.” “I ain’t never seen another zebra, must be real far away.” “You ‘ave never seen anozer zebra?” the third and final passenger gasped - a griffon who, somehow, was growing a mustache out of his beak. “You do not know what you miss!” “Well I’m talkin’ to one now, ain’t I?” “No, you are talking to a griffon.” Torque narrowed her eyes. “...Why are ya here again?” “I am GUSTAVE le GRAND!” “...Am I supposed to know who that is?” Zecora shrugged. “Know I do not, but my mind is so full, its memory can rot.” Gustave puffed up his chest. “I am ze great griffon chef! My delicate talons create only ze best pastries! Such as my legendary Eagle Eclairs!” “Eagle Eclair…” Torque tapped the ground with her hoof. “Hey! Ya were that bird sellin’ me that cookie that exploded in my face!” “T’was not a cookie!” “Oh, right, it exploded in my face, cookies don’t do that!” Zecora held up a hoof. “Please, this will be a long flight, engaging in a fight will only worsen our plight.” Torque rolled her eyes. “I can always throw him out. He can fly, he’ll be fine.” Gustave’s eyes widened. “Oh no no no no no! I ‘ave not engaged in ze wing exercises for… years. I would drown!” “Yipee,” Torque deadpanned. “The world would never recover from the loss of my confectionary genius!” “I’m goin’ out on a limb here and sayin’ ya ain’t world-famous.” “I… am going through a rough patch.” Gustave tapped his claws on the ground. “I seek ze legendary cooking skills of the Zebras to invigorate my own!” Zecora nodded. “Our delicacies are highly intricate, I’m sure our ways would be a good fit. Our inner spark drives our potions through our stomach’s motions. Food of many kinds light up our lives, with our magic we make the best with our knives.” “...So what you’re saying is I need to learn zebra magic?” Zecora facehooved. “Such a feat is impossible, but luckily the information is transposable. What we learn from cooking with magic can keep you from making food tragic. We can start now, if you wish, for I am no stranger to that kind of dish.” “What? A traveling zebra, master of cooking!?” “I learned before I began wandering. Now come with me, we must begin making our pud-” “Aw, Celestia, no!” Torque shouted. “Ya ain’t startin’ a cauldron in my girl’s cabin!” Zecora stared at her. “We’ll go with something simple to start. The humble sandwich is an easy art.” “Oh.” Torque tapped the ground. “...That’s fine.” “Sandwiches are peasant food!” Gustave hissed. Zecora smirked. “If you can’t prepare the simplest food well, then failure is where you are doomed to dwell.” Gustave gulped. “Sandwich. Sandwich is a good place to start.” “Make me some, will ya?” Torque asked. “I’m right starved.” “There will be enough for all, for the sandwich I make will be quite tall.” “...Now I’m really interested…” The airship continued onward into the light of the rising sun as its passengers learned the art of Zebrican sandwiches. III - Port of Dust“...I’m not sure this is a sandwich,” Torque said, examining the stack of greenery formed around bread. “Nonsense! It is magnifique!” Gustave twirled his mustache. “A true master at work with her craft!” Zecora smirked, tracing her hoof around the leafy exterior of her ‘sandwich’. “Would now be a good time to mention that I was not paying very close attention? The cooking of my kind comes from the spark of the heart, which sometimes means the ingredients do not play their intended part.” Torque cocked her head. “...How do you possibly make potions like that? Don’t they explode?” “Regularly, often, and painfully.” “How do you survive?” “Carefully.” Gustave blinked. “Did that rhyme with your previous set or… did it stand alone?” Zecora gave him a calm, understanding smile, but no vocal response. He shifted around nervously. “Uh... “ Torque glanced out the window. “Hey, I think we can see that port town ya were talkin’ about.” She jumped back to the airship’s wheel and started steering. Zecora looked out the window, finding that the land had snuck up on them. Already they were most of the way to the sandy shore of Zebrica: a land comprised mostly of sand with a few rivers and specks of green here and there. The only settlement she could see was situated to the side of a rather small river delta. This was the last place she had seen before she left her home: the port town of Xor. It was not how Zecora remembered it, to say the least. This wasn’t to say she hadn’t expected it to change—it had been an exceptionally long time since her departure—but it hadn’t changed in the way she predicted. It hadn’t grown much larger, but the simple sandstone buildings had been all but completely replaced with a smooth, brown material. She saw what she thought were smokestacks on many buildings, though none of them were spewing smog into the sky like those she had seen in Equestria or the Storm Islands. But Zebrica had no industry. Zecora knew this. She was fairly certain she hadn’t been gone long enough for a revolution of that nature to occur, either. “...What’s wrong?” Torque asked. “I am uncertain if it is an innate fear of change or if this really is uncomfortably strange.” She squinted her eyes. “I do not see any signs of Zebra life, this may be telling of strife.” “Am I still landin’ or what?” “Land,” Zecora said. “I must figure out what happened atop of this sand.” “Or not,” Gustave suggested. “We could carry on to greener pastures wiz no mysterious towns!” “I’m landin’,” Torque said, bringing the airship around. “I’m a little curious myself.” “W-well if you insist…” With the pull of a lever and a twist of some knobs, the airship descended carefully to the sand below. It was designed to land at airship docks or go for ocean landings, but Torque had determined the desert ground was soft and flat enough to provide a suitable landing pad. In the end, the front of the cabin sunk into the sand slightly, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. Torque popped the main door open. “Zebra and gentle-griffon, feast yer eyes on the sands of Zebrica!” A light wind blew minuscule grains of sand at them. “Ze ocean was better,” Gustave commented. “Aw, come on, this is exciting!” Torque held out a hoof and pointed at the sand dunes. “We’ve never seen this land before!” “It’s getting in my feazers.” “If you wish to learn our ways, sandy feathers will fill your days,” Zecora commented. “Come now, the town of Xor waits for us no more.” Before she could take more than a few steps, the sand erupted. Half a dozen Zebras rose, covered hoof to head in armor made from that unusual brown stone that had replaced most of the buildings. All six of them had a ring around their front left hoof that glowed with orange runic markings, and each ring had a pointed tip, not unlike an arrowhead. They were weapons. “Surrender your ship!” the lead Zebra shouted. “We don’t want to make this messy.” “T-t-take it!” Gustave blurted. “Wot? NO!” Torque Wrench pulled out one of her wrenches. “I’ll fight ya for my girl!” “An idiot,” the lead Zebra observed. “You should listen to your feathery friend.” “No, listen to me,” Zecora stamped a hoof. “This is not meant to be. I am Zecora, I stand above your aura. You do not have the right to give these two stress. Unless the world has changed more since I left in a way so deranged it reeks of national theft.” The Zebras stared at her in shock. “I wait, but not long. Tell me, where will you take this song?” “You’re… you’re with the palace…?” a female Zebra asked. “As I said, Zecora is my name. I was bred with a royal claim.” The female bowed immediately. “S-so sorry, your Majesty, I—” “Idiot,” the male interrupted. “Just because she’s talking like a royal doesn’t mean she is one. There are plenty of fakers out there.” He snarled. “Royals don’t come out this far.” Zecora raised an eyebrow. “Are you willing to take that risk? That your end will be so brisk?” “...No.” He lowered his leg. “But I’m also not just going to let you go. I want that airship, and I’m not going to let some possibly-fake royal tell me I can’t.” “You cannot take what is not yours, this airship is most definitely hers.” Zecora pointed at Torque. “Pfft, you think I care what she thinks is hers? She’s not a Zebra!” Zecora narrowed her eyes. “What has happened to this land while I have been gone that the first thing we see is a large con?” “Don’t know, don’t care. What I do know is that I’m taking you to Zebrabwe so ol’ Zo can tell me just how fake you are. Then I’ll get an airship and some money for turning in an imposter.” “And if I am real, a royal under the peel?” “Then I eat my hat and go home. Win-win.” “...Yer takin’ us all, ain’t’cha?” Torque asked. “Obviously. You could leave with the airship if I didn’t. Now, let’s move it, Zebrabwe’s a long way off, and I don’t like wasting time! Everyone into The Crab!” “The… Crab?” Gustave asked. “Yes. The Crab.” IV - The Crab“...This is The Crab.” Torque deadpanned. “Yep,” her captor responded. “I was expectin’... claws.” The “Crab” was a structure made of the same alien stone the houses were carved out of, except every surface was glowing with intricate orange runes. It was vaguely the shape of a semicircle with eight spikes pointing into the ground. Given the round joints within the spikes, it was reasonable to assume they were legs. The crab was effectively a moving house. Zecora stared at The Crab in disbelief. “When I left we had nothing like this, I find myself wondering what I did miss.” The lead Zebra snorted. “Don’t know, don’t care, get in the cargo hold. I’m getting you to Zebrabwe but I don’t want to look at your faces on the trip.” He gestured at a ladder that led into the back compartment of the crab. “Move it, squirms.” “C-can I stay out ‘ere?” Gustave asked. “I don’t know how to fly ze ship and I—” “Just get in, I don’t want any funny business.” Gustave gulped, nodding vigorously. He climbed up the ladder and entered The Crab, shivering the whole way. “I’m watchin’ ya,” Torque said, pointing her wrench at the Zebra. “Any o’ ya get out and try to mess with my girl and y’all got another thing comin’.” “That ship is going to be mine. And I will get it legally. Now move!” Torque and Zecora climbed up the ladder next. The cargo hold was surprisingly spacious, with only a few loose crates filled with food and supplies. There were narrow slits running along opposing sides that served as windows—not to let light in, for the orange runes provided more than enough to see, but to let the passengers know what lay outside. Right now, it was sand. Torque tapped her wrench on the edge of the wall, letting out a clang. “It ain’t metal, but it ain’t really stone either… What is this stuff?” Zecora scratched her chin. “I have no idea, but it’s not a member of crustacea.” “What?” Gustave asked. “Crab, blab.” “...I’m confused.” Zecora sighed. “I apologize for what I have gotten us all into, taken in by this ugly crew with a nasty brew. With any hope my words are enough to get us safely out of this cuff.” Torque nodded. “Are ya really some princess or somethin’? I trust ya, but I also think ya mighta been bluffin’ for our sakes.” Zecora’s frown deepened. “I am Sage Zecora Zo of Zebrabwe, a member of the royal family tree. Sent afar to learn of distant lands, wandering free, returning at last to tell of what stands beyond the dreary sands. ...I fear I have been away too long, for the land sings a new song.” The Crab lurched. Gustave let out a shriek as The Crab’s massive legs removed themselves from the sandy ground. As each spike moved, the intensity of the orange glow increased markedly, clearly showing the flow of energy as the mechanical beast moved. Each point caused miniature clouds of dust to rise up. At first, this was nothing more than localized puffs of dust, but as The Crab’s speed increased it became a constant churning cloud of desert ground. “Zis is wrong…” Gustave shivered. “We are not supposed to ride wizin animals!” “It’s not an animal… it’s a machine.” Torque tapped the wall with her wrench. “Not that I have the foggiest idea how it works, mind ya. Though if I have anythin’ to say about it I’m gonna know soon…” “I will assist to get the gist of this machine’s means to exist,” Zecora offered. “You do zat!” Gustave said. “I shall… sit. And do nozing.” “There’s a crate of terrible rations in that crate,” Torque pointed out. “Ya could make somethin’ out o’ that, right?” “Oh… oh, oui! This travesty must be remedied!” “Yeah, that’s right, make the food,” Torque chuckled as she smacked The Crab’s interior with her wrench again. “I’m not seein’ any access ports, but I’m no fool. I can work with this…” ~~~ The Crab trudged through the desert, caring nothing for stealth. Come and attack if you dare, the massive smoke cloud told the desert around. Nobody dared. The ride within The Crab wasn’t as rickety as one might expect, given how crazy the legs moved. The cabin leveled itself much of the time, using piston-like devices in the joints to keep the floor relatively flat. It was smoother than riding a camel but not as good as a properly used carriage. Gustav had managed to find a kitchen knife and was making several dishes out of the rations. He didn’t have many ingredients to work with, so much of his technique was focused on changing the overall texture of the brick-like food: cutting it into strips, cubes, shreds, and the like. He was currently testing it for noodle viability, finding that it made a passable spaghetti texture when boiled. That said, there was no seasoning to speak of aside from salt, and spaghetti was never a winner all on its own. “Seasonings…” Gustave poked his head out of the crate. “Do either of you have any kind of seasoning?” Torque pulled her head out of a hole she had made in the floor a few minutes ago. “Not unless ya want pony sweat. Gotta few bottles of that.” “I’m experimenting enough as it is.” “Then I’ve got nothin’ for ya. All that’s down here is a whole bunch of mechanical nonsense.” “It is not true nonsense, my engineering friend,” Zecora said. “It just has an unusual esoteric blend.” “Just unusual? Just? There’s no power source! At all! Ya said even Zebra voodoo potion whatsits needs a power source, and there’s nothin’ here! It just POOFS in from nowhere!” Zecora smirked. “And yet it follows the rules of enchantment, at least where there is no argument.” “Well, er, yes, you’re enchanting Zebra magic is clearly what made this thing, but… I don’t even know what it’s made out of!” She tapped the material with her wrench. “The only reason I could bust that hole in the floor is because it was already weak from a lot of wear and tear. It…” Torque grabbed her head with a hoof and forced herself to breathe. “Aight, aight… so it doesn’t make sense. It’s got no power, the material is unknown, and the magic’s a little funky. We just need to think a little harder.” There was a loud clang at the back of the cargo hold. Somebody was opening the door. Zecora quickly pushed a box over the hole and sat on it, whistling innocently. The female Zebra walked in, glancing at all three of them. “Boss’ paranoid. He thought you all went somewhere. Pfft. As if. A—” She noticed Gustave was making noodles. “Where in the seven pits did you find that?” “Made it from ze rations,” Gustave bragged. “Behold, noodles a-la-dire circumstances.” “...Are you a chef or somethin’?” “Yes. I am,” Gustave huffed. The Zebra chuckled. She took the noodles and sipped. “Absolutely terrible, like rations usually are, just wetter.” Gustave frowned. “Forgive me, I did not ‘ave much to work wiz.” “Who needs that?” She pressed her hooves together and swirled them around the edge of the bowl, prompting the soup to glow slightly. She grabbed a salt shaker and opened it, dropping the metal lid into her concoction instead of any actual salt. The brew flashed a blue color before settling on a pleasant rose-red tone. She took a sip and grinned. “That’s how it’s done, bird.” Gustave took a sip—and his eyes widened. “Wh… where did you get the berry flavor?” “Magic, bozo. Maybe learn it sometime, hmm?” “Griffons do not have innate enchantment abilities,” Zecora said. “The magic of the wind is more within their utilities.” “Then they shouldn’t be cooks, duh.” She left the cargo hold, closing the door behind her. Zecora sighed. “...Do not listen to her, not all can be as we are, I must concur.” Gustave sighed. “I am ‘ere to learn about your ways. Surely zere is a way to teach...?” “I do not know if I could teach an earth pony my craft. You could make an immense draft, of that I am sure, but I do not see you making brews pure.” “Zer—” “But the rules of the brew can be applied far and wide, that is true. I can teach you to chew and to see what will fall through.” “After we get out of this mess, right?” Torque asked. “Of course, I am not coarse.” “How long until we get to Zebrabwe?” She glanced out the slit, seeing only endless sand. Zecora shrugged. It would happen eventually. V - Zebrabwe RoyalZebrabwe was the pride of Zebrica, a massive city that stood as a testament to Zebra culture. Unlike the completely abandoned port town of Xor, this place bustled with Zebra life. Black and white stripes of all shapes and sizes ran through the dusty streets, laughing, playing, working, and doing things ponies might be thought to do. Granted, it all looked different: Zebras had an obsession with ornate earrings that hung down to their knees, the colors of the city were much more muted than a pony settlement, and every building was made out of the shiny brown stone. That last part put Zecora on edge. How could they have replaced the entire city since she left? The city was still big back then and it was even bigger now! A mystery she would hopefully get answers to soon. The Crab marched through the main street of Zebrabwe alongside other, similar vehicles. No two of the machines looked the same, many with different numbers of legs and overall body shapes. The only unifying elements were the materials, the orange glowing runes, and the walking mechanism. There were no wheels, despite a few personal zebra carts clearly displayed in the street. The Crab was one of the larger vehicles, but it was far from the scope of some of the gigantic monstrosities they could see. Zecora spied what she thought was a mobile hotel in the distance. “This is painful,” Torque winced. “Regulate your parts, Zebras! It’s easier t’ build a hundred of the same thing, don’t build all yer machines different!” “Zat would remove ze art to it,” Gustave said. “No doubt zese machines are like a fine dish…” “How’re they gonna get replacement parts?” Gustave shrugged. Zecora pressed her face to the slit, trying to catch a glimpse of the palace. Unfortunately, she was in the very back of The Crab, without a forward-facing view. They would arrive at the palace before she could see it. She wanted to see if they’d replaced it. She feared what it meant if they had. The Crab lurched—stopping. A moment later the back door opened. “All right, out! Let’s get this over with!” Zecora jumped out of The Crab, turning as quickly as she could to the palace. She was neither relieved or horrified, merely confused. It had not been replaced, but every surface had been covered with the strange material. Every spire, zebra statue, and royal crest was a shining brown instead of the dusty sandstone color that had dominated it many years ago. Modernization takes its toll… quicker than I ever could have imagined. Torque gasped in panic. “What is it? Have you been bit?” Zecora asked. Torque stared at the palace with a haunted look on her face “N-no… it’s… nothing…” “It sure seems like so—” Zecora was interrupted by the male Zebra lead. “Ahem! Yo, palace representative! I’ve got a Zebra here claiming to be a royal!” The Zebra standing in front of the castle cates raised one of her eyebrows. “You do not believe her to be loyal?” “She’s associating with a bird and a pony, that seems ridiculous!” The representative narrowed her eyes. “At least you’re being meticulous.” “...Purple.” The representative scowled, refusing to respond. “Just hurry up and resolve this so I can get my ship, then I can leave you and your dumb little speech pattern alone.” “Very well.” She turned to Zecora. “What name do you call your own?” “I am Sage Zecora Zo of Zebrabwe, a member of the royal family tree. Sent afar to learn of distant lands, wandering free, returning at last to tell of what stands beyond the dreary sands.” “You have been thought dead, great sage. We appreciate that you have adhered to the crown’s commands.” “Tell this galoot to keep his hooves off this mare’s ship, and let it be known that I protect these two to my last chip.” “It will be done before any can let out a pip.” Zecora nodded, turning back to the Zebra who’d tried to steal an airship. She raised an eyebrow. He chuckled nervously. “All… water under the bridge, right?” “We made a hole in the back of your Crab. That is the cost of your forsaken jab.” “You hurt the CRAB!?” “Do you wish for further retribution or will you be wise and accept this constitution?” He glared at her for a moment before running off, shouting expletives to the ground. She turned back to the representative. “Who is king, my little ‘ling?” The representative coughed. “It is still the Old King Zo, though he nears the end of what all sing.” “He will wish to see me to tell of what I see.” She nodded, indicating they should follow her. “...Shouldn't we get back to the airship?” Torque asked. “There is not time before nightfall. We shall sleep here to avoid the night traveler’s squall.” “Ah…” “After a meeting wiz a king, of course…” Gustave rubbed his talons together. “He will know ze true secrets…” Zecora shook her head. “Do not speak unless spoken to. He knows me but he does not know you. A non-Zebra will be highly unusual. We do not wish to trigger something cruel.” Gustave was suddenly quite terrified again. “A-ah…” ~~~ Old King Zo was definitely old. His stripes had turned gray and his beard ran all the way down to his hooves. His throne was made of precious gems glued together in a complex lattice, one of the few objects in the entire palace not covered or made out of the brown material. His crown, on the other hoof, was made out of it, though studded with gemstones of its own. Zecora bowed her head as she and her companions entered. “I have returned, my king, to tell of the songs they sing.” “Speak, lost sage To a Zebra of age Ringing true Of the world that we drew.” Zecora lifted her head. His voice is just as melodious as always. “I have found great darkness and terror. Beasts like the Storm King plunder without seeing their error. Magic is abused in many o’ land, and there are creatures within the grip of the dark hand. I will give you more in my journals, though you may find it dull, as it lacks the rhyming channels.” “I will see Book resting on my knee The darkness, the mess Your wise words shall confess.” “One more thing I would like to say, of the worlds beyond the way. For all the darkness and strife, it was Equestria that brought me life. Our neighbor across the sea, there are no creatures happier to be. Friendship, harmony, and a land always sunny. Warm, but not dry, empathetic, but not wry. If I found one ally in the world, it is they who unfurled.” “Thank you sage more to say on this stage?” Zecora nodded. “The world is different from that which I knew, what happened to change our nation’s brew? They attempted to take our ship, the machines are unlike all I’ve seen, and the faces of Zebrakind are mean.” The king shrugged. Zecora was about to ask him to elaborate upon this when he changed up his meter. “There have never been laws protecting others aside from my decree I protect those with you because they have helped us see But when you were here much was the same, we were zebras better than all To ignore them is folly, so you answered the call As for the machines, they come from below, amazing discovery. Through the drought they facilitated recovery.” Zecora opened her mouth to ask for more details. “I have spoken.” Zecora shut her mouth and bowed, turning around without another word. She dragged the other two out of the throne room. There, a guard was waiting, staring at them intently. “...What?” Gustave asked. Torque didn’t say anything—she was staring at the ceiling with wide eyes. “I will show you to your rooms, just follow my strut.” “Does he have to rhyme on me?” “Yes,” Zecora answered. “Don’t make him pressed, we should go rest.” VI - A Dark RoomTheir room had four beds, all of which came with royal quality sheets, mattresses, and even complimentary dinner muffins that sparkled with remnants of some blue magic. Gustave was completely taken in by the dish. “Absolutely magnifique… ze dates are seared just enough to bring out ze sugary delight, but not too much so zat zey are wrinkled. And ze magic… I cannot even begin to describe.” He poked a muffin and it let out a short electric spark. Zecora was only halfway paying attention to him. Her gaze was focused on the window, staring outside at the changing sky. The sun was setting, changing the atmosphere to a brilliant orange. She had always loved the desert at evening. However, her view was soiled by the highly reflective material. What even was it? She hadn’t even received a name from the King. Had he left it off for the sake of rhyme or some other reason? He really wasn't how she remembered. None of this was how she remembered. He claimed they’d always left the other races out but… had they? If Zecora was being honest, she couldn’t remember seeing a non-Zebra living in Zebrabwe, even when she was young. Not a single one… Had she been sent out to learn of potential threats only, not of friends? It was more likely than she would like to admit. She placed a hoof on the windowsill and sighed. There had been no warm welcome, no celebration of her work. The only Zebra who had recognized her hadn’t been welcoming to her ideas. Was this all there was? Zecora shook her head. Enough of that. She could try again tomorrow, hunt down some of the lesser nobles that had an equal station to her own. It would be easier to make headway with them. She flopped onto her bed, stretching her legs. Before she shut her eyes, she caught sight of Torque shivering. She was wrapped up in all her blankets like a terrified cub in its mother’s fur. “Torque Wrench? What makes you clench?” “I’m… cold.” Zecora raised an eyebrow. Sure, Zebrica got cold at night, but the sun hadn’t finished setting yet, so it was still fairly warm everywhere. Torque sighed, looking at the ground. “Have ya ever… been in a Changeling Hive in yer travels?” “I have been once, briefly, but I do not dwell on it, chiefly.” “Don’t blame ya, places are terrible,” Torque looked up at the ceiling. “This place used to be one.” Zecora’s eyes widened. “W-what?” Realizing she needed to rhyme something with her surprised outburst, she sputtered over her next words. “That… goes against my gut.” Torque didn’t notice her struggles. “It’s got the right shape and everythin’. The spires, the ground… it’s all… exactly like it. ‘Cept dead.” She retreated further into her blankets. “Who in their right mind would carve up a Changeling Hive and live in it?” “Practical Zebras,” Gustave said, finishing his meal. “Why not use ze structures of your enemies?” “That makes sense to me,” Zecora said. “But it is the secret that should not be. I was a sage of rank high, why would they feed me a lie?” I lived here my whole life. Torque didn’t respond. Zecora wasn't sure if she was able to—she was staring at the ceiling like it was about to eat her. “...I shall create for you a sleeping brew, so you may tell those fears to shoo.” “Th-Thanks, Zecora.” ~~~ Zecora had learned to be a light sleeper on her travels. The wild beasts of the world hadn’t given her much choice: the night was filled with monstrosities that hungered for fresh meat. Her eyes flew open the moment she heard the scraping outside the door. That wasn’t a Zebra’s hoofsteps, it was far too sharp of a noise. She wasn’t sure what it was, but she wasn’t about to be caught off guard. She stood up in her bed, quietly. The scratching outside didn’t change, so she assumed she had readied herself without being detected. She had no weapons aside from her hooves and that suited her just fine. Whatever was out there would get a surprise if it tried to come in. Zecora was not wrong. But she had failed to consider the fact that she might be surprised. The door slid open, creaking softly in the night. Gustave shifted slightly but didn’t wake up. Torque was out like a light. Zecora was alone in seeing the shocking creatures that opened the door. They had four legs and a sharp knob in their foreheads that was too small to be a proper horn. Zecora’s first instinct was Changelings, which wasn’t that far off the mark. The creatures before her were clearly related, but they did not have the life in their eyes all intelligent creatures had. Their eyes glowed a soulless orange, and their carapaces were completely covered in the alien material. Numerous winding runes swirled all over their bodies, giving them the appearance of certain zebras who painted their bodies. There were four of them, and they moved like machines. Too quickly for Changelings, their steps far too light… They approached Gustave first. The lead beast lifted a pointed hoof, aiming for Gustave’s head. Zecora launched out of her bed, planting her hoof squarely on the lead monster’s skull. Instead of pushing the beast back, as she was expecting, the beast’s head came clean off, ringing like an old bell. The rest of its body collapsed, falling into several pieces, all of which were completely hollow. No flesh and bone to speak of within these monsters. Gustave sat bolt upright as Zecora tackled the second one. “What? What is zi—AUGH!” He dove under his covers as a third hollow beast attacked him. A conveniently placed pillow saved his hide. “Help would be appreciated!” Zecora muttered, finding that her new opponent was guarding its head far better than expected. “I’d rather not this beast be satiated!” Gustave continued to hide behind more and more pillows. With a sigh, Zecora managed to swirl around and kick the beast’s legs out from under it. The shell fell apart the moment it slammed onto the ground. Moving quickly, Zecora jumped onto Gustave’s bed and bucked the third monster in the chest, tossing it into a wall just as it managed to break through Gustave’s pillow barrier. “Th-thank you…” Zecora ignored him—there had been four. Where was the fourth? Standing over Torque, driving a hoof into her. “TORQUE!” Zecora shouted, dropping all pretense of rhyming. VII - SasoriTorque’s sleep spell was impressive, but enough noise and commotion could break it. The scuffle had already roused her slightly, and Zecora’s shout was enough to get her to open her eyes. She saw the not-changeling husk attacking her. Torque let out a scream so inequine it froze Zecora to the spot, sending chills up her spine. Torque released a flash of blue fire coupled with a burst of magic that tore the beast to shreds. When the fire was gone, what sat in the bed was not a pony anymore: black carapace, tattered wings, and blue eyes with a narrow pupil running through the iris. A Changeling, to be sure, though one larger than what Zecora had encountered. The Changeling-that-had-been-Torque didn’t attack, didn’t scream… didn’t even try to speak. She just looked at the four husk skulls laying around the room… and burst into tears. Zecora stared at the crying changeling, expressionless. “Torque” didn’t even notice—she was unable to process anything besides the empty Changeling husk heads laying on the ground. Carefully, Zecora began to remove the heads and place them out of sight. “What are you doing?” Gustave asked. “Why aren’t we running?” “Our friend needs help to stop looking like a sorry whelp.” “She’s a Changeling!” “Crying her eyes out. You should not doubt.” “But… but… but…” Zecora sat down at the foot of “Torque’s” bed, looking at her with calm eyes. The Changeling kept crying for quite some time. Every now and then, she would open her eyes, and there wouldn’t be any husk remnants—there would only be Zecora, looking at her calmly. In time, the Changeling carefully sat up and locked her eyes with Zecora’s. “...Why aren’t you running?” “You need your friends with you, that I am certain is true.” Gustave growled. “My griffon friend, not all Changelings seek an evil end. Many live alone in the world, in ways that would make their Queen furled.” “Love-stealing insects…” Zecora sighed, returning to “Torque.” “My dear, what has you steeped in fear?” “Isn’t it obvious?” She threw her hooves wide, still talking in the same accent as before, though with a slight buzz in the back of her throat. “Somethin’ did that t’ my fellow Changelings! Turned them into … those machines! I… It was bad enough this was a dead hive, but ya had t’...” She flopped back down onto the bed, trying not to cry. “Something rotten fills this castle that is causing us all this hassle. These dark runes are causing suffering on my dunes.” “I can feel it…” as she shivered, her carapace clanked against itself, giving off a rattling sound. “Beneath us, there’s… there’s somthin’ wrong.” Her angled horn lit up, shrouding the room in a blue glow. “I… don’t know what it is.” Zecora’s eyes widened. There had always been a unique magic about Zebrabwe, even when she was young… could it be more than just a natural background pattern? Focusing on the arcane energies beneath her hooves, she found herself wondering why she hadn’t bothered to check before. “We need t’ stop it,” the Changeling said, suddenly. “Go down there, put an end t’ whatever this is… doing. It ain’t good, I know that.” “How do we know zis isn’t a trap? Set by you?” Gustave pointed. “Look at me. I ain’t an ordinary Changeling!” “‘ow am I supposed to know zat?” “You’ve… never met one of us before, right, right…” She sighed. “I am Sasori. A Changeling Queen.” Zecora stared at her. “Chrysalis destroys all others, is that not true? So that they will not make the hive anew?” “It is,” Sasori said, frowning. “She… she tries to end us all. As far as I know, I’m the only one of us who got away.” “Zen why do you care of these ‘usks?” Gustave asked. “Zey are not your family anymore.” “They are still my people,” Sasori hissed. “I may not be able t’ nor want t’ rule, but I ain’t gonna let this horror stand.” “Neither will I,” Zecora declared. “I do not intend to let my homeland die.” “Are you crazy?” Gustave blurted. “Someone wants us gone. Instead of letting zem send more monster-insects at us, we should flee!” “It ain’t likely they’ll let us run,” Sasori sighed. “They have wings too, y’know, and now that we know their secret…” “Zen what do we do!?” Gustave waved his talons. “‘ow can we take zem on? Zere is only zree of us!” Zecora looked down. “Find the magic deep beneath the ground to end the tragic runes they have found.” “You don’t even know what’s going on down zere, ‘ow are we t—” Sasori lit her horn and placed her front hoof on the ground. Quickly, a hole opened up in the floor, taking them to the level below. “...What!?” “This is a Changeling Hive,” Sasori said. “Dead or not, I’ve got the juice to move it. We’re goin’ down.” She hopped into the hole. “Ya can come or risk flyin’ away. I won’t stop ya.” “I recommend following us,” Zecora said as she jumped into the hole. “I do not wish you to end up a pile of puss.” Gustave grimaced. He didn’t have to think long, however: he quickly grabbed his pack, made sure all the samples of zebra food and his own ingredients were within, and hopped down the hole. “Zis is a terrible idea.” ~~~ “Penny for your thoughts, why was ‘Torque’ the name on which you threw your shots?” Sasori lifted a hoof again, going deeper and deeper into the earth—far further than Zecora had ever thought the castle extended. “One of the first ponies I copied from a place called Hope Hollow. She had a talent for fixin’ things, I had a fascination with machinery, it just ended up workin’ out well. I’ve been Torque for years, wanderin’ the skies with my girl.” She gained a wistful expression on her face. “Chrysalis could never find me up there, and I’d never been so happy…” “Do you not get hungry from being so lonely?” “...Sometimes,” Sasori admitted. “I think I have a high tolerance. I can get all I need from simple, friendly interactions. No need for harvestin’. Maybe it’s part of bein’ a Queen, I dunno. Mother wasn’t exactly interested in teachin’ me, ya understand.” “Wait, ‘old it… ‘ave you been feeding on us!?” Gustave blurted. Sasori winced. “I… nothin’ active, merely ambient…” Gustave had no response beyond a huff. There was only silence after that as they kept descending. The further they went, the less Zebrican the construct appeared. All that remained was dead, unmoving Changeling halls, riddled with holes and complex twisting tunnels. Had they not been with Sasori, the tunnels would have been impossible to navigate. As it was the estranged queen could ask any wall to open, and it would. Zecora felt the magic in the ground increase the more they descended. Now that she was fully aware it was here, she found herself studying it. It didn’t quite feel like Changeling magic, but it was similar enough that Zecora was surprised she hadn’t noticed the connection when she had visited the living Changeling Hive. Then again, she’d been fighting for her life there… maybe she expected too much of her observation abilities. Something nagged at the back of her mind. She was missing something… Her thoughts were interrupted by the next drop. They had reached the bottom of the dead Hive’s basements, coming to a circular room filled with cobwebs and cave-like stalagmites. In the center of the room floated a small, orange crystal, shimmering with the light the husks and the runic machines had all over them. The ground was not stone, like the rest of the room, but rather the unusual material the group had seen everywhere up above. “The power source…” Sasori breathed. Zecora remembered how The Crab had been impossibly constructed. Here was the answer. “It seems my drones are even more moronic than I thought…” A reverberating voice called from the crystal. “You tell them to take care of one threat and they fail miserably…” “Threat? Why are we a threat?” Zecora pointed at herself. “This is my home, I give this nation all my tears and sweat!” “You are from the old way. You left before I showed them the light… and you returned with one of my SISTERS. It would have been simpler to just end you.” “...Sister?” Sasori asked, tapping the ground tentatively. A wispy magical essence projected from the crystal, taking the translucent form of a large Changeling. She was female and considerably taller than Sasori, but her eyes… while the husks’ eyes had glowed with power, this being had no eyes whatsoever. Nothing but black, soulless voids in a fleeting orange presence. “Yes. SISTER.” She pointed her head at Sasori. “I am Xie, the fallen Queen… and you are in the way of my revenge.” VIII - The Queen of Zebrica“R-r-revenge?” Gustave stuttered. “Quiet, bird, this doesn’t concern you,” Xie hissed, never looking away from Sasori. “This concerns HER and our MOTHER.” Sasori took a few steps back. “What do you mean?” “What do I think? You know what she does to us… no other Queens aside from her. She was the first born of the Plague Tree and she will never let another rise. I attempted to survive through mastery of magic. She turned it against me, locking me in this STONE, tormenting all those who followed me through the burning of my very soul. It was like FIRE, Sasori. FIRE!” “I’m… so sorry.” “You know nothing. YOU got away. Somehow.” “I just… ran off in the middle of the night. One of my brothers warned me. I never looked back.” “WEAK…” Xie hissed. “You should have challenged her. The maggot needs to learn her place…” “Yes. I wasn’t and ain’t strong enough t’—” “You speak like a backwater farmpony.” Sasori let out a mock gasp before jumping into a distinctly alien sounding voice. “Well, I never. Darling, a backwater farmpony? I must say, that’s quite inconsiderate of you. Perhaps we could discuss this over tea and crumpets and other fanciful things that make you stand out?” “You are revealed, there is no point in hiding.” Sasori dropped back into her usual accent. “It’s what I do, nitwit. This is my voice now, not for ye to mock.” “Inconsequential.” Zecora coughed. “I am sorry for interrupting your flow, but where is this going to go? We came down here to learn of the truth, and yet here we are mocking the youth.” Xie turned to her, frowning. “You are a blockade to revenge, traveling sage. Speaking of the friendship and harmony within Equestria… unacceptable. If we were to adopt your ways, we would become like the fool Celestia, sealing Chrysalis away, only for her to escape again and again, tormenting us continually. Chrysalis must END. And we will be the ones to make it happen.” “You do not speak for Zebrakind, we will all shout our own mind.” “Oh, will you?” Xie’s crystal flashed. Suddenly, Zecora dropped to the ground like a stone, eyes bright orange. “Here’s a little secret, Zecora. I am the hidden Queen of Zebrica. Everything that you are comes from me. Your unity didn’t exist until your ancestors took up residence in this lost Hive.” Zecora made no response. “It was my magic that brought you together. I gave you the power, the instinct to rule…” She leaned in, sneering. “The desire to go into other lands and spy. You may have been sent out before I had gained full control, but your mission was still MINE.” “We… have our own wills…” Zecora grunted. “There will be n—” “Stop talking,” Xie ordered. Zecora’s mouth slammed shut. Her eyes darted around in a panic. “Yes, see where you lie. I have spent CENTURIES feeling the Zebras’ magic, touching their minds. It was only a matter of time before I understood them well enough to control every last aspect…” She cackled. “There are no Zebras who can resist my call, now. You will do all I say. Punch yourself.” Zecora pulled her hoof back and hit her jaw so hard she fell to the ground, dazed. “It’s useless to resist. You will serve me, and you will be used to end Chrysalis. There will be no exceptions.” “W-why are you doin’ this?” Sasori demanded. “REVENGE, idiot!” “But you’re becoming her! This… this is exactly what she would do! Take control of others against their will, make an army, and attack!” Xie snorted. “You think I care? I just want her gone. Nothing else matters. Maybe I’ll eventually figure out how to control Changelings too, cover up that little rebellion weakness she’s always had to deal with. Then again, my machines might do that for me. Did you know Changeling carapaces can be enchanted by my magic? I thought my power existed just to torment me, but no…” The crystal flashed again, this time removing a chunk of the brown material from the ground. It broke into several pieces, reshaping into a familiar quadrupedal shape: one of the husks. Sasori lost all confidence. “Ya… ya monster. Yer makin’ machines out of Changelings?” “Just carapace grown from the long dead ground,” Xie said, dismissively. “There hasn’t been a living Changeling in this city for over a century. You are the first to see… and you REJECT what I have built! Do you not want to see her suffer?” “I do! But not like this! Not from the skin of our people! Not by the sufferin’ of Zebrakind!” “They’re better off for it anyway. I gave them machines of power in less than a decade! I power their industry! They will become a global superpower the likes of which the world has never seen…” “And ye won’t stop. ye’ll be just as bad as her.” “Fine. Reject me. I did send my husks to kill you, after all, might as well finish the job.” “You finish nothin’, vile villain!” Zecora shouted, jumping at the crystal. She punched it with her hoof, forcing as much of her magic into it as she could, cracking it—but not breaking it. Xie shrieked, lashing out with a magic burst. Zecora was thrown away, her mind once again foggy from the hit. “...I should have emptied her mind to me. I cannot afford to be careless.” She turned to Sasori, sneering. “Which means I can’t take any chances with you, either.” Sasori spread her wings. “I can take y—” Xie lit her horn, surrounding Sasori’s front leg with an orange whirlwind. With horror, Sasori saw her leg’s carapace change to a brown color, gaining more than a few orange runes inside. “No! No! I won’t!” “You will… I’m not sure how this works on living carapace, but I’m sure it isn’t pleasant…” Sasori let out a scream. She attempted to fire back with her own magic, but Xie’s barrier spell kept her crystal safe. “You will join me, one way or another…” And then a soggy pastry hit Xie’s crystal from behind. Xie blinked. “Is that… an eclair?” “An… explosive eclair, oui.” Gustave tugged on his feathers. “A WHAT!?” The eclair exploded. Not in a burst of fire and smoke, but in a torrent of pressurized frosting. Xie’s crystal was absolutely covered in the sugary paste, but her astral projection was completely unaffected. Xie blinked. “Was that supposed to do anything?” “W-well…” He swallowed hard. “Did you really think shoddy pastries would do anything to my magic!?” “Non non non non… but, er… shoddy pastries mixed wiz certain chemicals and a Zebrican electric muffin?” The frosting on Xie’s crystal began to spark with electricity. Xie’s empty eyes opened wide. “Wait n—” KA-BOOOOOOOM! IX - A New Set of StripesSmoke. Zecora smelled smoke. And something else that was burning… She was too weak to move. What had even happened…? Everything hurt, but she pushed past that. She forced her eyes to open… Sasori was standing over her, horn lit. Attempting some kind of healing spell? That might explain why Zecora was slowly feeling her faculties return to her. “..ecora…?” “Here, I fear…” Zecora mumbled. Everything still hurt, but she didn’t think anything was broken. Slowly, she rose to her knees and looked at Sasori. The changeling Queen had a tattered wing, a swollen eye, and the carapace on one of her legs had been replaced with the mutated material of Xie—though it wasn’t glowing orange anymore, it was blue instead. “Are you…?” “I can’t feel anythin’ in the leg,” Sasori admitted. “But I think it’s fine. It’s… my magic now.” She glanced at the Changeling husk on the ground. It wasn’t glowing any color at all anymore. “Her power has left everything else.” Zecora looked around at the badly singed cavern, seeing all the corrupted carapace returned to a normal, magic-less form. She saw some blackened crystal shards, but no sign of Xie. “Do we have Gustave?” “Over ‘ere,” Gustave called from his resting position behind her. One of his wings was bent at a painful angle. “I should ‘ave stood back…” “You saved the day with a wondrous display,” Zecora said. “You should take pride in what you have done, without your cooking skills we would not have won.” “It was zat crazy electric cupcake. I merely mixed ze ingredients togezer.” “The sign of a great chef is their food. When it saves lives there can be no feud.” Gustave let out a short laugh before leaning back, groaning in pain. An awkward silence fell over the three of them. “What now?” Sasori asked. “You go back to your airship, Gustave will learn what Zebras nip and sip. I will remain to help Zebrakind know what they may gain.” “You will do no such thing For a traitorous song you do sing.” Zecora was shocked to see the King walk into the room, a sour expression on his face. “My lord, forgive my insertion. This was a mission I could not bear to see as a diversion.” “Zebrica is no more You ended what I’ve been fighting for Stronger machinery To extend our distant scenery They lie dead in the streets Nothing without Xie’s powerful beats For this crime: banishment Go back to the lands where you were sent Ponies you hold so dear. Follow their ways, you’re not welcome here.” Zecora stared at him in shock. “My ki—” “I HAVE SPOKEN!” He shouted at the top of his aged lungs. He took a potion out of his coat and threw it on the ground, teleporting away. “...What happens if ya stay anyway?” Sasori asked. “Death,” Zecora said. She didn’t follow it up with a rhyme. “Are you…” “He is right, in a way, I have been corrupted by the pony day.” Zecora frowned. “He wanted a pact with Xie, to him it was not a lie. To bring Zebrica forth with great power, it was his desire upon every hour. I did not see it, my own folly. To be the hero I must take this volley.” Sasori nodded slowly. “Well, yer always welcome on my ship.” “And I will not stay wiz zese creatures if zey banish you,” Gustave declared. “You can teach me all I need to know.” Zecora smiled. “Thank you, what you say is true. Let us make the return journey. To Equestria, I plea.” “...Will ya be happy there?” Sasori asked. “In many ways, I was happier there then I ever was here.” X - Years in the Future, but Not ManyA yellowish mare with red locks tied up in a ponytail trotted through Ponyville, passing the Castle of Friendship by with only a quick glance toward its crystalline edifice. It was not the first time she had seen it, and it probably wouldn’t be the last, but it also wasn’t why she was here. This did not stop Princess Twilight Sparkle from seeing her and waving. “Torque Wrench?” “Er…” Twilight teleported right to her. “I didn’t think you ever left Hope Hollow! Why didn’t you let me know you were coming, I could ha—” Sasori let her eyes flash a brief blue. “Not that Torque. Sorry, Princess.” “A—oh, right, sorry. Are you… the one Zecora mentioned?” “Probably, though given how times are changin’, I wouldn’t be surprised if she found another willin’ to talk to her. Take care of yerself, Princess, ya got a good thing goin’ here.” “Thank you, Princess Sasori.” “Ain’t a Princess.” “Thorax—” “Can eat his own carapace,” Sasori snorted. “He’s got a good thing goin’, but I ain’t part of it.” “Right, right. Well, I won’t keep you. Zecora lives just down that path, in the Everf—” “I know where she lives, this ain’t my first time here.” “Oh.” “I even talked t’ ya once. Before ya got the wings, though.” Twilight froze, trying to piece together when this moment might be. Chuckling, Sasori left the Princess to her mental confusion. Trotting down the path to Zecora’s hut, she took a moment to smell the pollen in the air. No wonder Zecora had chosen to live here. The forest… it was so much more alive than the Zebrican desert. Especially these days. Zecora’s hut was where it always was: hidden just off the path and built into a large tree. She had redecorated since Sasori’s last visit, including a lot more masks and tribal markings. Sasori always found it strange that Zecora adhered to the decorations of the lesser tribes of the Tenochtitlan Basin, but the Zebra had never elaborated as to why. She knocked on the door. “Ah, Sasori! Come in, tell me your story.” The rhyming voice brought a smile to Sasori’s lips. She entered Zecora’s hut, but didn’t drop her disguise—she preferred it to her Changeling form, these days. “What news do you bring from beyond my eye’s ring?” “Not much, if I’m honest. I betcha’ve heard alllll about Thorax’s little thing and the new Changelings. I visited, decided it wasn’t for me.” “You have not changed your carapace to fit in with your race?” Sasori shook her head. “Nope. Still leg-holes under this. I lived like this just fine before, and I’ll do it now. Ain’t gonna change nuttin just because some bug discovered how to go all rainbow. Don’t get me wrong, Thorax’s great, and I’m thankful that he got me outta that mess way back when, but that little thing he’s got goin’ there? Geez, gimme a break.” “You may change your mind in time, and the rainbow colors you fear may be thine.” “That was messy.” “I am the only rhyming creature here, losing the craft is not something to fear.” Sasori raised an eyebrow. “But ya still got it.” “Yes. I still profess.” Zecora grinned. “...Oh for the…” Sasori shook her head. “...Not much really happened to me on that front. But I did stop by yer home recently.” Zecora frowned. “How was it? Did they quit?” “They’re not… gone. Zebrica’s still there. It’s just… not much to look at. Zebras seem happy enough, but it’s a dry, brutal desert. The royal family was replaced with another one—that still rhymes everything. So…” “My home is here, now. If I thought to go back I would not know how.” She smiled. “I have more friends here than ever before, their magic has gone to my core.” “Bah. You’re soft.” Zecora fixed her with a knowing smile. Sasori sighed. “...You have dinner?” Zecora nodded, gesturing at a cauldron. “Good. I’ll be back for that, and we can talk later.” She glanced out the window. “I have somethin’ t’ do before then.” “I am unsure… do you really think you should find her?” “She’ll find me.” Zecora nodded sagely, returning to her brew. Sasori walked out and headed right into the midst of the Everfree Forest. She chose a clearing with good rock to sit on. Lowering herself onto it, she closed her eyes and sent a burst of green magic into the sky. Chrysalis teleported in a moment later. “You… you are…” Sasori dropped her disguise. “Hello, mother.” “You lived…” Chrysalis growled. “Thorax has been more of a pain than I ever realized…” “I wonder how you let him slip through the cracks.” “He was no Queen.” “And t’ think another Queen had t’ dethrone ya...” Sasori chuckled. “It must be so embarrassing, watchin’ for a Queen, when it all came down t’ a King.” Chrysalis narrowed her eyes. “You would be a better leader than that whelp. Take it from him.” “Yer right in every conceivable way,” Sasori admitted. “He lacks motivation, doubts himself at every move, and is exceptionally soft. But I don’t wanna lead no more. I met the spirit of one of my sisters. Remember Xie?” “How could I forget?” Chrysalis let out a laugh that was a little too loud for a sane pony to be making. “Her punishment for rebellion was used against me.” “And tormented a lot of Zebras.” “Their fault for taking residence in my old home.” “Celestia’s for banishing ya with an artifact she didn’t understand.” “Your fault for fighting her.” Sasori raised an eyebrow. “How would ya know about that…?” “I have my ways.” “Had. Past tense. Ya have nothin’ now.” Chrysalis twitched. “I have enough.” Sasori checked her mutated leg—still glowing with the blue runes she had been given oh so long ago. “...Ya don’t have much more time, mother.” “Are you here to challenge me!?” “No. Ya have enemies that will do that for ya.” She fixed her mother with a glare. “I’m just here to let ya know yer not as powerful and wise as ya think. Ya were always going to be defeated. Some Changeling was always going to slip through yer web, it was just a matter of time.” Chrysalis stood, silent. Then she let out an aggressive hiss and teleported away. Sasori shrugged, transforming back into her Torque disguise. She flew back to Zecora’s, knocking on the door. “How did the reunion go? It was not very slow.” “We said what needed to be said,” Sasori said, taking a seat inside. “Zecora?” “Yes, what do you press?” “If yer involved when they finally deal with her…” Sasori’s eyes narrowed. “Don’t let them hold back.” Zecora did not respond. Sasori didn’t press further. “...Zecora? Why… don’t ya tell me about yer friends? And… why ya stay here for them.” Zecora smiled. “Let us begin with young Apple Bloom, whose ambition will surely be her doom…” ~~~ “Hope Hollow!” Gustave declared. “A wonderful town every time I visit! Zere are so many beautiful colors ‘ere, especially zese days, and you always have ze best tongues!” “...Wot?” Torque Wrench asked. “You understand, oui, Sasori?” The mare cocked her head. “Who th’ mire’s Sauce-Ori?” “...Sasori? Non, non, it is you! Do you not remember moi?” “...Buddy, yer th’ first griffon I’ve met.” “But Zebrica! Ze adventures across ze sands of Zebrica! Ze Changeling husks, and zat airship of yours you loved so much!” “I hate flyin’.” “Non! Zis is impossible! Zere must ‘ave been some kind of spell! Do not worry, Sasori, I will save you from zis curse!” “Oh, yipee, a nutter…” Torque Wrench groaned. “I shall go on zis confectionary quest to restore your great memo—” Torque Wrench hit him on the back of the head with her wrench. “Aight, we’re gettin’ ya to the crazy doc next town over, y’hear?” Gustave made no response, as he was out cold. “Glad to see yer on board with this.” Author's Note And this was written for THIS prompt: Did you guess it? In the future, there's a decent chance I go over the story and do some grammar edits. If I get a LOT of time, I may work on Zecora's rhythm, but I doubt I will. Hope you enjoyed this... rather trying story. It wasn't the hardest thing I've ever written, but geez do I need to stop trying to write zebras. -GM, master of illumination.
I - Centuries in the Past, but not ManyChrysalis sat on a throne of marble in the midst of her hive, glaring at the entrance to her chambers. All of her armored drones were standing as still as they possibly could, knowing that one wrong move would earn their Queen’s ire. The muffled sound of an explosion reached Chrysalis’ ears, prompting her to bare her fangs. “If they don’t stop her…” The drones said nothing. This disappointed Chrysalis; she had been hoping for an excuse to lash out. She spent the next little while pondering how, exactly, she could prompt a drone to react and thus justify an outburst. Actually, as Queen, she might not even need justification. Before she could act upon this realization, however, the main entrance was engulfed in a brilliant solar flame, revealing a massive armored alicorn. Her pastel mane swirled with its usual ethereal energy, mocking the tattered mess on Chrysalis’ head. “Celestia…” Chrysalis breathed. “We meet again…” “This is going to go as it always does,” Celestia declared, blowing the drones away with a simple burst of magic. “I really do have to make this harder for you,” Chrysalis grunted. “One of these days your magic will be useless against me!” Celestia smirked. “Then I’ll just find another way. Evil will never triumph.” “Never?” Chrysalis grinned. “I think you’re forgetting about all the other places I’ve destroyed. Imagine, if you will, a world without me or my brood. How many ancient nations would remain without my influence? How much competition might you have?” “I would much rather have competition than your scourge upon the world.” “And what are you going to do about it? Take me out again? We both know that doesn’t work. I just. Keep. Coming. BACK!” Celestia’s grin didn’t falter. “I am going to seal you in a volcano.” “...What.” “You heard me.” “Did I? I could have sworn you said you were going to seal me in a volcano.” “That’s right.” “That’s ridiculous. And my drones would find a way to get me out even if it wasn’t. They always do.” “That’s why I’m sealing them with you this time.” Chrysalis raised an eyebrow. “Really? Really? You don’t have the power.” “My power? Oh, no, it wouldn’t be mine. It would be…” She tossed an orange crystal on the ground. “This.” Chrysalis stared at it in disbelief. “Is that…?” “I have no idea what it is,” Celestia admitted. “But I know what it does. Have fun, I hope you get a nice tan!” Chrysalis shot the crystal with her magic. This turned out to be exactly what Celestia had wanted her to do. The crystal took control of Chrysalis’ own magic and, through her, the magic of the entire changeling hive. Chrysalis vanished in a puff of orange dust… reconstituting inside a red cavern just above a river of molten lava. “...Sassafras,” Chrysalis muttered. “Why does this always happen!? She didn’t even use an army this ti—” Her brooding was quickly interrupted by several hundred changelings falling onto her. “CURSE YOU CELESTIA!” Celestia did not hear her. She didn’t hear anything. After all, the hive was now completely empty. Deciding her work was done, Celestia encased the orange crystal in her magic and buried it in the ground where she hoped no one would ever find it. But, sometimes, even the Princess of the Sun engaged in a bit of wishful thinking.
II - Winds of ZebricaThe South Luna Ocean was just as blue as any other ocean. Travelers who spent their lives traveling the seas might be able to tell the difference between them simply by tasting the water, but to most, there was no distinction from one ocean to the other. Once you were far enough away from land, it was just… blue. Endless blue in every direction. Rather drab and uninteresting when compared to the varied patterns offered by land. A single pale red airship drifted over these waters, seemingly motionless against the featureless ocean waves. Rest assured, it was moving along at a brisk pace, but the only indication of this was the wind brushing against the ship’s pointed front. Numerous fins sprouted off the main dirigible in crescent-like arcs, ironically giving the ship the appearance of a stylized sun from the front. The cabin hung from the massive ovoid, small, even for a ship of this size. Then again, it didn’t need to be very big, for it currently had only three passengers. Zecora the zebra sat in one of the six chairs behind the captain’s console, gaze directed through a window at the water below. Her face was tense, but level. She was thinking deeply about something none of the other passengers would have been able to figure out. Not that they were trying. “Aight, I got us on the course ya set,” the captain said, stepping back from the airship’s wheel. She was a yellow earth pony with a short red mane. “Don’t need t’ mess with it ‘till we see some land. I’m trustin’ ya that it exists.” “Rest assured, we will find our land,” Zecora said. “Though you might be disappointed by all the sand.” “As long as it don’t mess with my girl’s engine, we’re good with as much sand as ya can fit on my wrench.” “Do you not have many wrenches within your ship’s trenches?” “Yah. Wouldn’t be Torque Wrench without ‘em.” “It always amazes me how pony names come to be. Such truthful words before you’ve even grown into your herds.” “And ya rhyme every sentence like a mad poet,” Torque retorted. “I think we’re even.” “Thank you again for taking me on this voyage at the start, I was beginning to think home and myself would remain far apart.” “I ain’t never seen another zebra, must be real far away.” “You ‘ave never seen anozer zebra?” the third and final passenger gasped - a griffon who, somehow, was growing a mustache out of his beak. “You do not know what you miss!” “Well I’m talkin’ to one now, ain’t I?” “No, you are talking to a griffon.” Torque narrowed her eyes. “...Why are ya here again?” “I am GUSTAVE le GRAND!” “...Am I supposed to know who that is?” Zecora shrugged. “Know I do not, but my mind is so full, its memory can rot.” Gustave puffed up his chest. “I am ze great griffon chef! My delicate talons create only ze best pastries! Such as my legendary Eagle Eclairs!” “Eagle Eclair…” Torque tapped the ground with her hoof. “Hey! Ya were that bird sellin’ me that cookie that exploded in my face!” “T’was not a cookie!” “Oh, right, it exploded in my face, cookies don’t do that!” Zecora held up a hoof. “Please, this will be a long flight, engaging in a fight will only worsen our plight.” Torque rolled her eyes. “I can always throw him out. He can fly, he’ll be fine.” Gustave’s eyes widened. “Oh no no no no no! I ‘ave not engaged in ze wing exercises for… years. I would drown!” “Yipee,” Torque deadpanned. “The world would never recover from the loss of my confectionary genius!” “I’m goin’ out on a limb here and sayin’ ya ain’t world-famous.” “I… am going through a rough patch.” Gustave tapped his claws on the ground. “I seek ze legendary cooking skills of the Zebras to invigorate my own!” Zecora nodded. “Our delicacies are highly intricate, I’m sure our ways would be a good fit. Our inner spark drives our potions through our stomach’s motions. Food of many kinds light up our lives, with our magic we make the best with our knives.” “...So what you’re saying is I need to learn zebra magic?” Zecora facehooved. “Such a feat is impossible, but luckily the information is transposable. What we learn from cooking with magic can keep you from making food tragic. We can start now, if you wish, for I am no stranger to that kind of dish.” “What? A traveling zebra, master of cooking!?” “I learned before I began wandering. Now come with me, we must begin making our pud-” “Aw, Celestia, no!” Torque shouted. “Ya ain’t startin’ a cauldron in my girl’s cabin!” Zecora stared at her. “We’ll go with something simple to start. The humble sandwich is an easy art.” “Oh.” Torque tapped the ground. “...That’s fine.” “Sandwiches are peasant food!” Gustave hissed. Zecora smirked. “If you can’t prepare the simplest food well, then failure is where you are doomed to dwell.” Gustave gulped. “Sandwich. Sandwich is a good place to start.” “Make me some, will ya?” Torque asked. “I’m right starved.” “There will be enough for all, for the sandwich I make will be quite tall.” “...Now I’m really interested…” The airship continued onward into the light of the rising sun as its passengers learned the art of Zebrican sandwiches.
III - Port of Dust“...I’m not sure this is a sandwich,” Torque said, examining the stack of greenery formed around bread. “Nonsense! It is magnifique!” Gustave twirled his mustache. “A true master at work with her craft!” Zecora smirked, tracing her hoof around the leafy exterior of her ‘sandwich’. “Would now be a good time to mention that I was not paying very close attention? The cooking of my kind comes from the spark of the heart, which sometimes means the ingredients do not play their intended part.” Torque cocked her head. “...How do you possibly make potions like that? Don’t they explode?” “Regularly, often, and painfully.” “How do you survive?” “Carefully.” Gustave blinked. “Did that rhyme with your previous set or… did it stand alone?” Zecora gave him a calm, understanding smile, but no vocal response. He shifted around nervously. “Uh... “ Torque glanced out the window. “Hey, I think we can see that port town ya were talkin’ about.” She jumped back to the airship’s wheel and started steering. Zecora looked out the window, finding that the land had snuck up on them. Already they were most of the way to the sandy shore of Zebrica: a land comprised mostly of sand with a few rivers and specks of green here and there. The only settlement she could see was situated to the side of a rather small river delta. This was the last place she had seen before she left her home: the port town of Xor. It was not how Zecora remembered it, to say the least. This wasn’t to say she hadn’t expected it to change—it had been an exceptionally long time since her departure—but it hadn’t changed in the way she predicted. It hadn’t grown much larger, but the simple sandstone buildings had been all but completely replaced with a smooth, brown material. She saw what she thought were smokestacks on many buildings, though none of them were spewing smog into the sky like those she had seen in Equestria or the Storm Islands. But Zebrica had no industry. Zecora knew this. She was fairly certain she hadn’t been gone long enough for a revolution of that nature to occur, either. “...What’s wrong?” Torque asked. “I am uncertain if it is an innate fear of change or if this really is uncomfortably strange.” She squinted her eyes. “I do not see any signs of Zebra life, this may be telling of strife.” “Am I still landin’ or what?” “Land,” Zecora said. “I must figure out what happened atop of this sand.” “Or not,” Gustave suggested. “We could carry on to greener pastures wiz no mysterious towns!” “I’m landin’,” Torque said, bringing the airship around. “I’m a little curious myself.” “W-well if you insist…” With the pull of a lever and a twist of some knobs, the airship descended carefully to the sand below. It was designed to land at airship docks or go for ocean landings, but Torque had determined the desert ground was soft and flat enough to provide a suitable landing pad. In the end, the front of the cabin sunk into the sand slightly, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. Torque popped the main door open. “Zebra and gentle-griffon, feast yer eyes on the sands of Zebrica!” A light wind blew minuscule grains of sand at them. “Ze ocean was better,” Gustave commented. “Aw, come on, this is exciting!” Torque held out a hoof and pointed at the sand dunes. “We’ve never seen this land before!” “It’s getting in my feazers.” “If you wish to learn our ways, sandy feathers will fill your days,” Zecora commented. “Come now, the town of Xor waits for us no more.” Before she could take more than a few steps, the sand erupted. Half a dozen Zebras rose, covered hoof to head in armor made from that unusual brown stone that had replaced most of the buildings. All six of them had a ring around their front left hoof that glowed with orange runic markings, and each ring had a pointed tip, not unlike an arrowhead. They were weapons. “Surrender your ship!” the lead Zebra shouted. “We don’t want to make this messy.” “T-t-take it!” Gustave blurted. “Wot? NO!” Torque Wrench pulled out one of her wrenches. “I’ll fight ya for my girl!” “An idiot,” the lead Zebra observed. “You should listen to your feathery friend.” “No, listen to me,” Zecora stamped a hoof. “This is not meant to be. I am Zecora, I stand above your aura. You do not have the right to give these two stress. Unless the world has changed more since I left in a way so deranged it reeks of national theft.” The Zebras stared at her in shock. “I wait, but not long. Tell me, where will you take this song?” “You’re… you’re with the palace…?” a female Zebra asked. “As I said, Zecora is my name. I was bred with a royal claim.” The female bowed immediately. “S-so sorry, your Majesty, I—” “Idiot,” the male interrupted. “Just because she’s talking like a royal doesn’t mean she is one. There are plenty of fakers out there.” He snarled. “Royals don’t come out this far.” Zecora raised an eyebrow. “Are you willing to take that risk? That your end will be so brisk?” “...No.” He lowered his leg. “But I’m also not just going to let you go. I want that airship, and I’m not going to let some possibly-fake royal tell me I can’t.” “You cannot take what is not yours, this airship is most definitely hers.” Zecora pointed at Torque. “Pfft, you think I care what she thinks is hers? She’s not a Zebra!” Zecora narrowed her eyes. “What has happened to this land while I have been gone that the first thing we see is a large con?” “Don’t know, don’t care. What I do know is that I’m taking you to Zebrabwe so ol’ Zo can tell me just how fake you are. Then I’ll get an airship and some money for turning in an imposter.” “And if I am real, a royal under the peel?” “Then I eat my hat and go home. Win-win.” “...Yer takin’ us all, ain’t’cha?” Torque asked. “Obviously. You could leave with the airship if I didn’t. Now, let’s move it, Zebrabwe’s a long way off, and I don’t like wasting time! Everyone into The Crab!” “The… Crab?” Gustave asked. “Yes. The Crab.”
IV - The Crab“...This is The Crab.” Torque deadpanned. “Yep,” her captor responded. “I was expectin’... claws.” The “Crab” was a structure made of the same alien stone the houses were carved out of, except every surface was glowing with intricate orange runes. It was vaguely the shape of a semicircle with eight spikes pointing into the ground. Given the round joints within the spikes, it was reasonable to assume they were legs. The crab was effectively a moving house. Zecora stared at The Crab in disbelief. “When I left we had nothing like this, I find myself wondering what I did miss.” The lead Zebra snorted. “Don’t know, don’t care, get in the cargo hold. I’m getting you to Zebrabwe but I don’t want to look at your faces on the trip.” He gestured at a ladder that led into the back compartment of the crab. “Move it, squirms.” “C-can I stay out ‘ere?” Gustave asked. “I don’t know how to fly ze ship and I—” “Just get in, I don’t want any funny business.” Gustave gulped, nodding vigorously. He climbed up the ladder and entered The Crab, shivering the whole way. “I’m watchin’ ya,” Torque said, pointing her wrench at the Zebra. “Any o’ ya get out and try to mess with my girl and y’all got another thing comin’.” “That ship is going to be mine. And I will get it legally. Now move!” Torque and Zecora climbed up the ladder next. The cargo hold was surprisingly spacious, with only a few loose crates filled with food and supplies. There were narrow slits running along opposing sides that served as windows—not to let light in, for the orange runes provided more than enough to see, but to let the passengers know what lay outside. Right now, it was sand. Torque tapped her wrench on the edge of the wall, letting out a clang. “It ain’t metal, but it ain’t really stone either… What is this stuff?” Zecora scratched her chin. “I have no idea, but it’s not a member of crustacea.” “What?” Gustave asked. “Crab, blab.” “...I’m confused.” Zecora sighed. “I apologize for what I have gotten us all into, taken in by this ugly crew with a nasty brew. With any hope my words are enough to get us safely out of this cuff.” Torque nodded. “Are ya really some princess or somethin’? I trust ya, but I also think ya mighta been bluffin’ for our sakes.” Zecora’s frown deepened. “I am Sage Zecora Zo of Zebrabwe, a member of the royal family tree. Sent afar to learn of distant lands, wandering free, returning at last to tell of what stands beyond the dreary sands. ...I fear I have been away too long, for the land sings a new song.” The Crab lurched. Gustave let out a shriek as The Crab’s massive legs removed themselves from the sandy ground. As each spike moved, the intensity of the orange glow increased markedly, clearly showing the flow of energy as the mechanical beast moved. Each point caused miniature clouds of dust to rise up. At first, this was nothing more than localized puffs of dust, but as The Crab’s speed increased it became a constant churning cloud of desert ground. “Zis is wrong…” Gustave shivered. “We are not supposed to ride wizin animals!” “It’s not an animal… it’s a machine.” Torque tapped the wall with her wrench. “Not that I have the foggiest idea how it works, mind ya. Though if I have anythin’ to say about it I’m gonna know soon…” “I will assist to get the gist of this machine’s means to exist,” Zecora offered. “You do zat!” Gustave said. “I shall… sit. And do nozing.” “There’s a crate of terrible rations in that crate,” Torque pointed out. “Ya could make somethin’ out o’ that, right?” “Oh… oh, oui! This travesty must be remedied!” “Yeah, that’s right, make the food,” Torque chuckled as she smacked The Crab’s interior with her wrench again. “I’m not seein’ any access ports, but I’m no fool. I can work with this…” ~~~ The Crab trudged through the desert, caring nothing for stealth. Come and attack if you dare, the massive smoke cloud told the desert around. Nobody dared. The ride within The Crab wasn’t as rickety as one might expect, given how crazy the legs moved. The cabin leveled itself much of the time, using piston-like devices in the joints to keep the floor relatively flat. It was smoother than riding a camel but not as good as a properly used carriage. Gustav had managed to find a kitchen knife and was making several dishes out of the rations. He didn’t have many ingredients to work with, so much of his technique was focused on changing the overall texture of the brick-like food: cutting it into strips, cubes, shreds, and the like. He was currently testing it for noodle viability, finding that it made a passable spaghetti texture when boiled. That said, there was no seasoning to speak of aside from salt, and spaghetti was never a winner all on its own. “Seasonings…” Gustave poked his head out of the crate. “Do either of you have any kind of seasoning?” Torque pulled her head out of a hole she had made in the floor a few minutes ago. “Not unless ya want pony sweat. Gotta few bottles of that.” “I’m experimenting enough as it is.” “Then I’ve got nothin’ for ya. All that’s down here is a whole bunch of mechanical nonsense.” “It is not true nonsense, my engineering friend,” Zecora said. “It just has an unusual esoteric blend.” “Just unusual? Just? There’s no power source! At all! Ya said even Zebra voodoo potion whatsits needs a power source, and there’s nothin’ here! It just POOFS in from nowhere!” Zecora smirked. “And yet it follows the rules of enchantment, at least where there is no argument.” “Well, er, yes, you’re enchanting Zebra magic is clearly what made this thing, but… I don’t even know what it’s made out of!” She tapped the material with her wrench. “The only reason I could bust that hole in the floor is because it was already weak from a lot of wear and tear. It…” Torque grabbed her head with a hoof and forced herself to breathe. “Aight, aight… so it doesn’t make sense. It’s got no power, the material is unknown, and the magic’s a little funky. We just need to think a little harder.” There was a loud clang at the back of the cargo hold. Somebody was opening the door. Zecora quickly pushed a box over the hole and sat on it, whistling innocently. The female Zebra walked in, glancing at all three of them. “Boss’ paranoid. He thought you all went somewhere. Pfft. As if. A—” She noticed Gustave was making noodles. “Where in the seven pits did you find that?” “Made it from ze rations,” Gustave bragged. “Behold, noodles a-la-dire circumstances.” “...Are you a chef or somethin’?” “Yes. I am,” Gustave huffed. The Zebra chuckled. She took the noodles and sipped. “Absolutely terrible, like rations usually are, just wetter.” Gustave frowned. “Forgive me, I did not ‘ave much to work wiz.” “Who needs that?” She pressed her hooves together and swirled them around the edge of the bowl, prompting the soup to glow slightly. She grabbed a salt shaker and opened it, dropping the metal lid into her concoction instead of any actual salt. The brew flashed a blue color before settling on a pleasant rose-red tone. She took a sip and grinned. “That’s how it’s done, bird.” Gustave took a sip—and his eyes widened. “Wh… where did you get the berry flavor?” “Magic, bozo. Maybe learn it sometime, hmm?” “Griffons do not have innate enchantment abilities,” Zecora said. “The magic of the wind is more within their utilities.” “Then they shouldn’t be cooks, duh.” She left the cargo hold, closing the door behind her. Zecora sighed. “...Do not listen to her, not all can be as we are, I must concur.” Gustave sighed. “I am ‘ere to learn about your ways. Surely zere is a way to teach...?” “I do not know if I could teach an earth pony my craft. You could make an immense draft, of that I am sure, but I do not see you making brews pure.” “Zer—” “But the rules of the brew can be applied far and wide, that is true. I can teach you to chew and to see what will fall through.” “After we get out of this mess, right?” Torque asked. “Of course, I am not coarse.” “How long until we get to Zebrabwe?” She glanced out the slit, seeing only endless sand. Zecora shrugged. It would happen eventually.
V - Zebrabwe RoyalZebrabwe was the pride of Zebrica, a massive city that stood as a testament to Zebra culture. Unlike the completely abandoned port town of Xor, this place bustled with Zebra life. Black and white stripes of all shapes and sizes ran through the dusty streets, laughing, playing, working, and doing things ponies might be thought to do. Granted, it all looked different: Zebras had an obsession with ornate earrings that hung down to their knees, the colors of the city were much more muted than a pony settlement, and every building was made out of the shiny brown stone. That last part put Zecora on edge. How could they have replaced the entire city since she left? The city was still big back then and it was even bigger now! A mystery she would hopefully get answers to soon. The Crab marched through the main street of Zebrabwe alongside other, similar vehicles. No two of the machines looked the same, many with different numbers of legs and overall body shapes. The only unifying elements were the materials, the orange glowing runes, and the walking mechanism. There were no wheels, despite a few personal zebra carts clearly displayed in the street. The Crab was one of the larger vehicles, but it was far from the scope of some of the gigantic monstrosities they could see. Zecora spied what she thought was a mobile hotel in the distance. “This is painful,” Torque winced. “Regulate your parts, Zebras! It’s easier t’ build a hundred of the same thing, don’t build all yer machines different!” “Zat would remove ze art to it,” Gustave said. “No doubt zese machines are like a fine dish…” “How’re they gonna get replacement parts?” Gustave shrugged. Zecora pressed her face to the slit, trying to catch a glimpse of the palace. Unfortunately, she was in the very back of The Crab, without a forward-facing view. They would arrive at the palace before she could see it. She wanted to see if they’d replaced it. She feared what it meant if they had. The Crab lurched—stopping. A moment later the back door opened. “All right, out! Let’s get this over with!” Zecora jumped out of The Crab, turning as quickly as she could to the palace. She was neither relieved or horrified, merely confused. It had not been replaced, but every surface had been covered with the strange material. Every spire, zebra statue, and royal crest was a shining brown instead of the dusty sandstone color that had dominated it many years ago. Modernization takes its toll… quicker than I ever could have imagined. Torque gasped in panic. “What is it? Have you been bit?” Zecora asked. Torque stared at the palace with a haunted look on her face “N-no… it’s… nothing…” “It sure seems like so—” Zecora was interrupted by the male Zebra lead. “Ahem! Yo, palace representative! I’ve got a Zebra here claiming to be a royal!” The Zebra standing in front of the castle cates raised one of her eyebrows. “You do not believe her to be loyal?” “She’s associating with a bird and a pony, that seems ridiculous!” The representative narrowed her eyes. “At least you’re being meticulous.” “...Purple.” The representative scowled, refusing to respond. “Just hurry up and resolve this so I can get my ship, then I can leave you and your dumb little speech pattern alone.” “Very well.” She turned to Zecora. “What name do you call your own?” “I am Sage Zecora Zo of Zebrabwe, a member of the royal family tree. Sent afar to learn of distant lands, wandering free, returning at last to tell of what stands beyond the dreary sands.” “You have been thought dead, great sage. We appreciate that you have adhered to the crown’s commands.” “Tell this galoot to keep his hooves off this mare’s ship, and let it be known that I protect these two to my last chip.” “It will be done before any can let out a pip.” Zecora nodded, turning back to the Zebra who’d tried to steal an airship. She raised an eyebrow. He chuckled nervously. “All… water under the bridge, right?” “We made a hole in the back of your Crab. That is the cost of your forsaken jab.” “You hurt the CRAB!?” “Do you wish for further retribution or will you be wise and accept this constitution?” He glared at her for a moment before running off, shouting expletives to the ground. She turned back to the representative. “Who is king, my little ‘ling?” The representative coughed. “It is still the Old King Zo, though he nears the end of what all sing.” “He will wish to see me to tell of what I see.” She nodded, indicating they should follow her. “...Shouldn't we get back to the airship?” Torque asked. “There is not time before nightfall. We shall sleep here to avoid the night traveler’s squall.” “Ah…” “After a meeting wiz a king, of course…” Gustave rubbed his talons together. “He will know ze true secrets…” Zecora shook her head. “Do not speak unless spoken to. He knows me but he does not know you. A non-Zebra will be highly unusual. We do not wish to trigger something cruel.” Gustave was suddenly quite terrified again. “A-ah…” ~~~ Old King Zo was definitely old. His stripes had turned gray and his beard ran all the way down to his hooves. His throne was made of precious gems glued together in a complex lattice, one of the few objects in the entire palace not covered or made out of the brown material. His crown, on the other hoof, was made out of it, though studded with gemstones of its own. Zecora bowed her head as she and her companions entered. “I have returned, my king, to tell of the songs they sing.” “Speak, lost sage To a Zebra of age Ringing true Of the world that we drew.” Zecora lifted her head. His voice is just as melodious as always. “I have found great darkness and terror. Beasts like the Storm King plunder without seeing their error. Magic is abused in many o’ land, and there are creatures within the grip of the dark hand. I will give you more in my journals, though you may find it dull, as it lacks the rhyming channels.” “I will see Book resting on my knee The darkness, the mess Your wise words shall confess.” “One more thing I would like to say, of the worlds beyond the way. For all the darkness and strife, it was Equestria that brought me life. Our neighbor across the sea, there are no creatures happier to be. Friendship, harmony, and a land always sunny. Warm, but not dry, empathetic, but not wry. If I found one ally in the world, it is they who unfurled.” “Thank you sage more to say on this stage?” Zecora nodded. “The world is different from that which I knew, what happened to change our nation’s brew? They attempted to take our ship, the machines are unlike all I’ve seen, and the faces of Zebrakind are mean.” The king shrugged. Zecora was about to ask him to elaborate upon this when he changed up his meter. “There have never been laws protecting others aside from my decree I protect those with you because they have helped us see But when you were here much was the same, we were zebras better than all To ignore them is folly, so you answered the call As for the machines, they come from below, amazing discovery. Through the drought they facilitated recovery.” Zecora opened her mouth to ask for more details. “I have spoken.” Zecora shut her mouth and bowed, turning around without another word. She dragged the other two out of the throne room. There, a guard was waiting, staring at them intently. “...What?” Gustave asked. Torque didn’t say anything—she was staring at the ceiling with wide eyes. “I will show you to your rooms, just follow my strut.” “Does he have to rhyme on me?” “Yes,” Zecora answered. “Don’t make him pressed, we should go rest.”
VI - A Dark RoomTheir room had four beds, all of which came with royal quality sheets, mattresses, and even complimentary dinner muffins that sparkled with remnants of some blue magic. Gustave was completely taken in by the dish. “Absolutely magnifique… ze dates are seared just enough to bring out ze sugary delight, but not too much so zat zey are wrinkled. And ze magic… I cannot even begin to describe.” He poked a muffin and it let out a short electric spark. Zecora was only halfway paying attention to him. Her gaze was focused on the window, staring outside at the changing sky. The sun was setting, changing the atmosphere to a brilliant orange. She had always loved the desert at evening. However, her view was soiled by the highly reflective material. What even was it? She hadn’t even received a name from the King. Had he left it off for the sake of rhyme or some other reason? He really wasn't how she remembered. None of this was how she remembered. He claimed they’d always left the other races out but… had they? If Zecora was being honest, she couldn’t remember seeing a non-Zebra living in Zebrabwe, even when she was young. Not a single one… Had she been sent out to learn of potential threats only, not of friends? It was more likely than she would like to admit. She placed a hoof on the windowsill and sighed. There had been no warm welcome, no celebration of her work. The only Zebra who had recognized her hadn’t been welcoming to her ideas. Was this all there was? Zecora shook her head. Enough of that. She could try again tomorrow, hunt down some of the lesser nobles that had an equal station to her own. It would be easier to make headway with them. She flopped onto her bed, stretching her legs. Before she shut her eyes, she caught sight of Torque shivering. She was wrapped up in all her blankets like a terrified cub in its mother’s fur. “Torque Wrench? What makes you clench?” “I’m… cold.” Zecora raised an eyebrow. Sure, Zebrica got cold at night, but the sun hadn’t finished setting yet, so it was still fairly warm everywhere. Torque sighed, looking at the ground. “Have ya ever… been in a Changeling Hive in yer travels?” “I have been once, briefly, but I do not dwell on it, chiefly.” “Don’t blame ya, places are terrible,” Torque looked up at the ceiling. “This place used to be one.” Zecora’s eyes widened. “W-what?” Realizing she needed to rhyme something with her surprised outburst, she sputtered over her next words. “That… goes against my gut.” Torque didn’t notice her struggles. “It’s got the right shape and everythin’. The spires, the ground… it’s all… exactly like it. ‘Cept dead.” She retreated further into her blankets. “Who in their right mind would carve up a Changeling Hive and live in it?” “Practical Zebras,” Gustave said, finishing his meal. “Why not use ze structures of your enemies?” “That makes sense to me,” Zecora said. “But it is the secret that should not be. I was a sage of rank high, why would they feed me a lie?” I lived here my whole life. Torque didn’t respond. Zecora wasn't sure if she was able to—she was staring at the ceiling like it was about to eat her. “...I shall create for you a sleeping brew, so you may tell those fears to shoo.” “Th-Thanks, Zecora.” ~~~ Zecora had learned to be a light sleeper on her travels. The wild beasts of the world hadn’t given her much choice: the night was filled with monstrosities that hungered for fresh meat. Her eyes flew open the moment she heard the scraping outside the door. That wasn’t a Zebra’s hoofsteps, it was far too sharp of a noise. She wasn’t sure what it was, but she wasn’t about to be caught off guard. She stood up in her bed, quietly. The scratching outside didn’t change, so she assumed she had readied herself without being detected. She had no weapons aside from her hooves and that suited her just fine. Whatever was out there would get a surprise if it tried to come in. Zecora was not wrong. But she had failed to consider the fact that she might be surprised. The door slid open, creaking softly in the night. Gustave shifted slightly but didn’t wake up. Torque was out like a light. Zecora was alone in seeing the shocking creatures that opened the door. They had four legs and a sharp knob in their foreheads that was too small to be a proper horn. Zecora’s first instinct was Changelings, which wasn’t that far off the mark. The creatures before her were clearly related, but they did not have the life in their eyes all intelligent creatures had. Their eyes glowed a soulless orange, and their carapaces were completely covered in the alien material. Numerous winding runes swirled all over their bodies, giving them the appearance of certain zebras who painted their bodies. There were four of them, and they moved like machines. Too quickly for Changelings, their steps far too light… They approached Gustave first. The lead beast lifted a pointed hoof, aiming for Gustave’s head. Zecora launched out of her bed, planting her hoof squarely on the lead monster’s skull. Instead of pushing the beast back, as she was expecting, the beast’s head came clean off, ringing like an old bell. The rest of its body collapsed, falling into several pieces, all of which were completely hollow. No flesh and bone to speak of within these monsters. Gustave sat bolt upright as Zecora tackled the second one. “What? What is zi—AUGH!” He dove under his covers as a third hollow beast attacked him. A conveniently placed pillow saved his hide. “Help would be appreciated!” Zecora muttered, finding that her new opponent was guarding its head far better than expected. “I’d rather not this beast be satiated!” Gustave continued to hide behind more and more pillows. With a sigh, Zecora managed to swirl around and kick the beast’s legs out from under it. The shell fell apart the moment it slammed onto the ground. Moving quickly, Zecora jumped onto Gustave’s bed and bucked the third monster in the chest, tossing it into a wall just as it managed to break through Gustave’s pillow barrier. “Th-thank you…” Zecora ignored him—there had been four. Where was the fourth? Standing over Torque, driving a hoof into her. “TORQUE!” Zecora shouted, dropping all pretense of rhyming.
VII - SasoriTorque’s sleep spell was impressive, but enough noise and commotion could break it. The scuffle had already roused her slightly, and Zecora’s shout was enough to get her to open her eyes. She saw the not-changeling husk attacking her. Torque let out a scream so inequine it froze Zecora to the spot, sending chills up her spine. Torque released a flash of blue fire coupled with a burst of magic that tore the beast to shreds. When the fire was gone, what sat in the bed was not a pony anymore: black carapace, tattered wings, and blue eyes with a narrow pupil running through the iris. A Changeling, to be sure, though one larger than what Zecora had encountered. The Changeling-that-had-been-Torque didn’t attack, didn’t scream… didn’t even try to speak. She just looked at the four husk skulls laying around the room… and burst into tears. Zecora stared at the crying changeling, expressionless. “Torque” didn’t even notice—she was unable to process anything besides the empty Changeling husk heads laying on the ground. Carefully, Zecora began to remove the heads and place them out of sight. “What are you doing?” Gustave asked. “Why aren’t we running?” “Our friend needs help to stop looking like a sorry whelp.” “She’s a Changeling!” “Crying her eyes out. You should not doubt.” “But… but… but…” Zecora sat down at the foot of “Torque’s” bed, looking at her with calm eyes. The Changeling kept crying for quite some time. Every now and then, she would open her eyes, and there wouldn’t be any husk remnants—there would only be Zecora, looking at her calmly. In time, the Changeling carefully sat up and locked her eyes with Zecora’s. “...Why aren’t you running?” “You need your friends with you, that I am certain is true.” Gustave growled. “My griffon friend, not all Changelings seek an evil end. Many live alone in the world, in ways that would make their Queen furled.” “Love-stealing insects…” Zecora sighed, returning to “Torque.” “My dear, what has you steeped in fear?” “Isn’t it obvious?” She threw her hooves wide, still talking in the same accent as before, though with a slight buzz in the back of her throat. “Somethin’ did that t’ my fellow Changelings! Turned them into … those machines! I… It was bad enough this was a dead hive, but ya had t’...” She flopped back down onto the bed, trying not to cry. “Something rotten fills this castle that is causing us all this hassle. These dark runes are causing suffering on my dunes.” “I can feel it…” as she shivered, her carapace clanked against itself, giving off a rattling sound. “Beneath us, there’s… there’s somthin’ wrong.” Her angled horn lit up, shrouding the room in a blue glow. “I… don’t know what it is.” Zecora’s eyes widened. There had always been a unique magic about Zebrabwe, even when she was young… could it be more than just a natural background pattern? Focusing on the arcane energies beneath her hooves, she found herself wondering why she hadn’t bothered to check before. “We need t’ stop it,” the Changeling said, suddenly. “Go down there, put an end t’ whatever this is… doing. It ain’t good, I know that.” “How do we know zis isn’t a trap? Set by you?” Gustave pointed. “Look at me. I ain’t an ordinary Changeling!” “‘ow am I supposed to know zat?” “You’ve… never met one of us before, right, right…” She sighed. “I am Sasori. A Changeling Queen.” Zecora stared at her. “Chrysalis destroys all others, is that not true? So that they will not make the hive anew?” “It is,” Sasori said, frowning. “She… she tries to end us all. As far as I know, I’m the only one of us who got away.” “Zen why do you care of these ‘usks?” Gustave asked. “Zey are not your family anymore.” “They are still my people,” Sasori hissed. “I may not be able t’ nor want t’ rule, but I ain’t gonna let this horror stand.” “Neither will I,” Zecora declared. “I do not intend to let my homeland die.” “Are you crazy?” Gustave blurted. “Someone wants us gone. Instead of letting zem send more monster-insects at us, we should flee!” “It ain’t likely they’ll let us run,” Sasori sighed. “They have wings too, y’know, and now that we know their secret…” “Zen what do we do!?” Gustave waved his talons. “‘ow can we take zem on? Zere is only zree of us!” Zecora looked down. “Find the magic deep beneath the ground to end the tragic runes they have found.” “You don’t even know what’s going on down zere, ‘ow are we t—” Sasori lit her horn and placed her front hoof on the ground. Quickly, a hole opened up in the floor, taking them to the level below. “...What!?” “This is a Changeling Hive,” Sasori said. “Dead or not, I’ve got the juice to move it. We’re goin’ down.” She hopped into the hole. “Ya can come or risk flyin’ away. I won’t stop ya.” “I recommend following us,” Zecora said as she jumped into the hole. “I do not wish you to end up a pile of puss.” Gustave grimaced. He didn’t have to think long, however: he quickly grabbed his pack, made sure all the samples of zebra food and his own ingredients were within, and hopped down the hole. “Zis is a terrible idea.” ~~~ “Penny for your thoughts, why was ‘Torque’ the name on which you threw your shots?” Sasori lifted a hoof again, going deeper and deeper into the earth—far further than Zecora had ever thought the castle extended. “One of the first ponies I copied from a place called Hope Hollow. She had a talent for fixin’ things, I had a fascination with machinery, it just ended up workin’ out well. I’ve been Torque for years, wanderin’ the skies with my girl.” She gained a wistful expression on her face. “Chrysalis could never find me up there, and I’d never been so happy…” “Do you not get hungry from being so lonely?” “...Sometimes,” Sasori admitted. “I think I have a high tolerance. I can get all I need from simple, friendly interactions. No need for harvestin’. Maybe it’s part of bein’ a Queen, I dunno. Mother wasn’t exactly interested in teachin’ me, ya understand.” “Wait, ‘old it… ‘ave you been feeding on us!?” Gustave blurted. Sasori winced. “I… nothin’ active, merely ambient…” Gustave had no response beyond a huff. There was only silence after that as they kept descending. The further they went, the less Zebrican the construct appeared. All that remained was dead, unmoving Changeling halls, riddled with holes and complex twisting tunnels. Had they not been with Sasori, the tunnels would have been impossible to navigate. As it was the estranged queen could ask any wall to open, and it would. Zecora felt the magic in the ground increase the more they descended. Now that she was fully aware it was here, she found herself studying it. It didn’t quite feel like Changeling magic, but it was similar enough that Zecora was surprised she hadn’t noticed the connection when she had visited the living Changeling Hive. Then again, she’d been fighting for her life there… maybe she expected too much of her observation abilities. Something nagged at the back of her mind. She was missing something… Her thoughts were interrupted by the next drop. They had reached the bottom of the dead Hive’s basements, coming to a circular room filled with cobwebs and cave-like stalagmites. In the center of the room floated a small, orange crystal, shimmering with the light the husks and the runic machines had all over them. The ground was not stone, like the rest of the room, but rather the unusual material the group had seen everywhere up above. “The power source…” Sasori breathed. Zecora remembered how The Crab had been impossibly constructed. Here was the answer. “It seems my drones are even more moronic than I thought…” A reverberating voice called from the crystal. “You tell them to take care of one threat and they fail miserably…” “Threat? Why are we a threat?” Zecora pointed at herself. “This is my home, I give this nation all my tears and sweat!” “You are from the old way. You left before I showed them the light… and you returned with one of my SISTERS. It would have been simpler to just end you.” “...Sister?” Sasori asked, tapping the ground tentatively. A wispy magical essence projected from the crystal, taking the translucent form of a large Changeling. She was female and considerably taller than Sasori, but her eyes… while the husks’ eyes had glowed with power, this being had no eyes whatsoever. Nothing but black, soulless voids in a fleeting orange presence. “Yes. SISTER.” She pointed her head at Sasori. “I am Xie, the fallen Queen… and you are in the way of my revenge.”
VIII - The Queen of Zebrica“R-r-revenge?” Gustave stuttered. “Quiet, bird, this doesn’t concern you,” Xie hissed, never looking away from Sasori. “This concerns HER and our MOTHER.” Sasori took a few steps back. “What do you mean?” “What do I think? You know what she does to us… no other Queens aside from her. She was the first born of the Plague Tree and she will never let another rise. I attempted to survive through mastery of magic. She turned it against me, locking me in this STONE, tormenting all those who followed me through the burning of my very soul. It was like FIRE, Sasori. FIRE!” “I’m… so sorry.” “You know nothing. YOU got away. Somehow.” “I just… ran off in the middle of the night. One of my brothers warned me. I never looked back.” “WEAK…” Xie hissed. “You should have challenged her. The maggot needs to learn her place…” “Yes. I wasn’t and ain’t strong enough t’—” “You speak like a backwater farmpony.” Sasori let out a mock gasp before jumping into a distinctly alien sounding voice. “Well, I never. Darling, a backwater farmpony? I must say, that’s quite inconsiderate of you. Perhaps we could discuss this over tea and crumpets and other fanciful things that make you stand out?” “You are revealed, there is no point in hiding.” Sasori dropped back into her usual accent. “It’s what I do, nitwit. This is my voice now, not for ye to mock.” “Inconsequential.” Zecora coughed. “I am sorry for interrupting your flow, but where is this going to go? We came down here to learn of the truth, and yet here we are mocking the youth.” Xie turned to her, frowning. “You are a blockade to revenge, traveling sage. Speaking of the friendship and harmony within Equestria… unacceptable. If we were to adopt your ways, we would become like the fool Celestia, sealing Chrysalis away, only for her to escape again and again, tormenting us continually. Chrysalis must END. And we will be the ones to make it happen.” “You do not speak for Zebrakind, we will all shout our own mind.” “Oh, will you?” Xie’s crystal flashed. Suddenly, Zecora dropped to the ground like a stone, eyes bright orange. “Here’s a little secret, Zecora. I am the hidden Queen of Zebrica. Everything that you are comes from me. Your unity didn’t exist until your ancestors took up residence in this lost Hive.” Zecora made no response. “It was my magic that brought you together. I gave you the power, the instinct to rule…” She leaned in, sneering. “The desire to go into other lands and spy. You may have been sent out before I had gained full control, but your mission was still MINE.” “We… have our own wills…” Zecora grunted. “There will be n—” “Stop talking,” Xie ordered. Zecora’s mouth slammed shut. Her eyes darted around in a panic. “Yes, see where you lie. I have spent CENTURIES feeling the Zebras’ magic, touching their minds. It was only a matter of time before I understood them well enough to control every last aspect…” She cackled. “There are no Zebras who can resist my call, now. You will do all I say. Punch yourself.” Zecora pulled her hoof back and hit her jaw so hard she fell to the ground, dazed. “It’s useless to resist. You will serve me, and you will be used to end Chrysalis. There will be no exceptions.” “W-why are you doin’ this?” Sasori demanded. “REVENGE, idiot!” “But you’re becoming her! This… this is exactly what she would do! Take control of others against their will, make an army, and attack!” Xie snorted. “You think I care? I just want her gone. Nothing else matters. Maybe I’ll eventually figure out how to control Changelings too, cover up that little rebellion weakness she’s always had to deal with. Then again, my machines might do that for me. Did you know Changeling carapaces can be enchanted by my magic? I thought my power existed just to torment me, but no…” The crystal flashed again, this time removing a chunk of the brown material from the ground. It broke into several pieces, reshaping into a familiar quadrupedal shape: one of the husks. Sasori lost all confidence. “Ya… ya monster. Yer makin’ machines out of Changelings?” “Just carapace grown from the long dead ground,” Xie said, dismissively. “There hasn’t been a living Changeling in this city for over a century. You are the first to see… and you REJECT what I have built! Do you not want to see her suffer?” “I do! But not like this! Not from the skin of our people! Not by the sufferin’ of Zebrakind!” “They’re better off for it anyway. I gave them machines of power in less than a decade! I power their industry! They will become a global superpower the likes of which the world has never seen…” “And ye won’t stop. ye’ll be just as bad as her.” “Fine. Reject me. I did send my husks to kill you, after all, might as well finish the job.” “You finish nothin’, vile villain!” Zecora shouted, jumping at the crystal. She punched it with her hoof, forcing as much of her magic into it as she could, cracking it—but not breaking it. Xie shrieked, lashing out with a magic burst. Zecora was thrown away, her mind once again foggy from the hit. “...I should have emptied her mind to me. I cannot afford to be careless.” She turned to Sasori, sneering. “Which means I can’t take any chances with you, either.” Sasori spread her wings. “I can take y—” Xie lit her horn, surrounding Sasori’s front leg with an orange whirlwind. With horror, Sasori saw her leg’s carapace change to a brown color, gaining more than a few orange runes inside. “No! No! I won’t!” “You will… I’m not sure how this works on living carapace, but I’m sure it isn’t pleasant…” Sasori let out a scream. She attempted to fire back with her own magic, but Xie’s barrier spell kept her crystal safe. “You will join me, one way or another…” And then a soggy pastry hit Xie’s crystal from behind. Xie blinked. “Is that… an eclair?” “An… explosive eclair, oui.” Gustave tugged on his feathers. “A WHAT!?” The eclair exploded. Not in a burst of fire and smoke, but in a torrent of pressurized frosting. Xie’s crystal was absolutely covered in the sugary paste, but her astral projection was completely unaffected. Xie blinked. “Was that supposed to do anything?” “W-well…” He swallowed hard. “Did you really think shoddy pastries would do anything to my magic!?” “Non non non non… but, er… shoddy pastries mixed wiz certain chemicals and a Zebrican electric muffin?” The frosting on Xie’s crystal began to spark with electricity. Xie’s empty eyes opened wide. “Wait n—” KA-BOOOOOOOM!
IX - A New Set of StripesSmoke. Zecora smelled smoke. And something else that was burning… She was too weak to move. What had even happened…? Everything hurt, but she pushed past that. She forced her eyes to open… Sasori was standing over her, horn lit. Attempting some kind of healing spell? That might explain why Zecora was slowly feeling her faculties return to her. “..ecora…?” “Here, I fear…” Zecora mumbled. Everything still hurt, but she didn’t think anything was broken. Slowly, she rose to her knees and looked at Sasori. The changeling Queen had a tattered wing, a swollen eye, and the carapace on one of her legs had been replaced with the mutated material of Xie—though it wasn’t glowing orange anymore, it was blue instead. “Are you…?” “I can’t feel anythin’ in the leg,” Sasori admitted. “But I think it’s fine. It’s… my magic now.” She glanced at the Changeling husk on the ground. It wasn’t glowing any color at all anymore. “Her power has left everything else.” Zecora looked around at the badly singed cavern, seeing all the corrupted carapace returned to a normal, magic-less form. She saw some blackened crystal shards, but no sign of Xie. “Do we have Gustave?” “Over ‘ere,” Gustave called from his resting position behind her. One of his wings was bent at a painful angle. “I should ‘ave stood back…” “You saved the day with a wondrous display,” Zecora said. “You should take pride in what you have done, without your cooking skills we would not have won.” “It was zat crazy electric cupcake. I merely mixed ze ingredients togezer.” “The sign of a great chef is their food. When it saves lives there can be no feud.” Gustave let out a short laugh before leaning back, groaning in pain. An awkward silence fell over the three of them. “What now?” Sasori asked. “You go back to your airship, Gustave will learn what Zebras nip and sip. I will remain to help Zebrakind know what they may gain.” “You will do no such thing For a traitorous song you do sing.” Zecora was shocked to see the King walk into the room, a sour expression on his face. “My lord, forgive my insertion. This was a mission I could not bear to see as a diversion.” “Zebrica is no more You ended what I’ve been fighting for Stronger machinery To extend our distant scenery They lie dead in the streets Nothing without Xie’s powerful beats For this crime: banishment Go back to the lands where you were sent Ponies you hold so dear. Follow their ways, you’re not welcome here.” Zecora stared at him in shock. “My ki—” “I HAVE SPOKEN!” He shouted at the top of his aged lungs. He took a potion out of his coat and threw it on the ground, teleporting away. “...What happens if ya stay anyway?” Sasori asked. “Death,” Zecora said. She didn’t follow it up with a rhyme. “Are you…” “He is right, in a way, I have been corrupted by the pony day.” Zecora frowned. “He wanted a pact with Xie, to him it was not a lie. To bring Zebrica forth with great power, it was his desire upon every hour. I did not see it, my own folly. To be the hero I must take this volley.” Sasori nodded slowly. “Well, yer always welcome on my ship.” “And I will not stay wiz zese creatures if zey banish you,” Gustave declared. “You can teach me all I need to know.” Zecora smiled. “Thank you, what you say is true. Let us make the return journey. To Equestria, I plea.” “...Will ya be happy there?” Sasori asked. “In many ways, I was happier there then I ever was here.”
X - Years in the Future, but Not ManyA yellowish mare with red locks tied up in a ponytail trotted through Ponyville, passing the Castle of Friendship by with only a quick glance toward its crystalline edifice. It was not the first time she had seen it, and it probably wouldn’t be the last, but it also wasn’t why she was here. This did not stop Princess Twilight Sparkle from seeing her and waving. “Torque Wrench?” “Er…” Twilight teleported right to her. “I didn’t think you ever left Hope Hollow! Why didn’t you let me know you were coming, I could ha—” Sasori let her eyes flash a brief blue. “Not that Torque. Sorry, Princess.” “A—oh, right, sorry. Are you… the one Zecora mentioned?” “Probably, though given how times are changin’, I wouldn’t be surprised if she found another willin’ to talk to her. Take care of yerself, Princess, ya got a good thing goin’ here.” “Thank you, Princess Sasori.” “Ain’t a Princess.” “Thorax—” “Can eat his own carapace,” Sasori snorted. “He’s got a good thing goin’, but I ain’t part of it.” “Right, right. Well, I won’t keep you. Zecora lives just down that path, in the Everf—” “I know where she lives, this ain’t my first time here.” “Oh.” “I even talked t’ ya once. Before ya got the wings, though.” Twilight froze, trying to piece together when this moment might be. Chuckling, Sasori left the Princess to her mental confusion. Trotting down the path to Zecora’s hut, she took a moment to smell the pollen in the air. No wonder Zecora had chosen to live here. The forest… it was so much more alive than the Zebrican desert. Especially these days. Zecora’s hut was where it always was: hidden just off the path and built into a large tree. She had redecorated since Sasori’s last visit, including a lot more masks and tribal markings. Sasori always found it strange that Zecora adhered to the decorations of the lesser tribes of the Tenochtitlan Basin, but the Zebra had never elaborated as to why. She knocked on the door. “Ah, Sasori! Come in, tell me your story.” The rhyming voice brought a smile to Sasori’s lips. She entered Zecora’s hut, but didn’t drop her disguise—she preferred it to her Changeling form, these days. “What news do you bring from beyond my eye’s ring?” “Not much, if I’m honest. I betcha’ve heard alllll about Thorax’s little thing and the new Changelings. I visited, decided it wasn’t for me.” “You have not changed your carapace to fit in with your race?” Sasori shook her head. “Nope. Still leg-holes under this. I lived like this just fine before, and I’ll do it now. Ain’t gonna change nuttin just because some bug discovered how to go all rainbow. Don’t get me wrong, Thorax’s great, and I’m thankful that he got me outta that mess way back when, but that little thing he’s got goin’ there? Geez, gimme a break.” “You may change your mind in time, and the rainbow colors you fear may be thine.” “That was messy.” “I am the only rhyming creature here, losing the craft is not something to fear.” Sasori raised an eyebrow. “But ya still got it.” “Yes. I still profess.” Zecora grinned. “...Oh for the…” Sasori shook her head. “...Not much really happened to me on that front. But I did stop by yer home recently.” Zecora frowned. “How was it? Did they quit?” “They’re not… gone. Zebrica’s still there. It’s just… not much to look at. Zebras seem happy enough, but it’s a dry, brutal desert. The royal family was replaced with another one—that still rhymes everything. So…” “My home is here, now. If I thought to go back I would not know how.” She smiled. “I have more friends here than ever before, their magic has gone to my core.” “Bah. You’re soft.” Zecora fixed her with a knowing smile. Sasori sighed. “...You have dinner?” Zecora nodded, gesturing at a cauldron. “Good. I’ll be back for that, and we can talk later.” She glanced out the window. “I have somethin’ t’ do before then.” “I am unsure… do you really think you should find her?” “She’ll find me.” Zecora nodded sagely, returning to her brew. Sasori walked out and headed right into the midst of the Everfree Forest. She chose a clearing with good rock to sit on. Lowering herself onto it, she closed her eyes and sent a burst of green magic into the sky. Chrysalis teleported in a moment later. “You… you are…” Sasori dropped her disguise. “Hello, mother.” “You lived…” Chrysalis growled. “Thorax has been more of a pain than I ever realized…” “I wonder how you let him slip through the cracks.” “He was no Queen.” “And t’ think another Queen had t’ dethrone ya...” Sasori chuckled. “It must be so embarrassing, watchin’ for a Queen, when it all came down t’ a King.” Chrysalis narrowed her eyes. “You would be a better leader than that whelp. Take it from him.” “Yer right in every conceivable way,” Sasori admitted. “He lacks motivation, doubts himself at every move, and is exceptionally soft. But I don’t wanna lead no more. I met the spirit of one of my sisters. Remember Xie?” “How could I forget?” Chrysalis let out a laugh that was a little too loud for a sane pony to be making. “Her punishment for rebellion was used against me.” “And tormented a lot of Zebras.” “Their fault for taking residence in my old home.” “Celestia’s for banishing ya with an artifact she didn’t understand.” “Your fault for fighting her.” Sasori raised an eyebrow. “How would ya know about that…?” “I have my ways.” “Had. Past tense. Ya have nothin’ now.” Chrysalis twitched. “I have enough.” Sasori checked her mutated leg—still glowing with the blue runes she had been given oh so long ago. “...Ya don’t have much more time, mother.” “Are you here to challenge me!?” “No. Ya have enemies that will do that for ya.” She fixed her mother with a glare. “I’m just here to let ya know yer not as powerful and wise as ya think. Ya were always going to be defeated. Some Changeling was always going to slip through yer web, it was just a matter of time.” Chrysalis stood, silent. Then she let out an aggressive hiss and teleported away. Sasori shrugged, transforming back into her Torque disguise. She flew back to Zecora’s, knocking on the door. “How did the reunion go? It was not very slow.” “We said what needed to be said,” Sasori said, taking a seat inside. “Zecora?” “Yes, what do you press?” “If yer involved when they finally deal with her…” Sasori’s eyes narrowed. “Don’t let them hold back.” Zecora did not respond. Sasori didn’t press further. “...Zecora? Why… don’t ya tell me about yer friends? And… why ya stay here for them.” Zecora smiled. “Let us begin with young Apple Bloom, whose ambition will surely be her doom…” ~~~ “Hope Hollow!” Gustave declared. “A wonderful town every time I visit! Zere are so many beautiful colors ‘ere, especially zese days, and you always have ze best tongues!” “...Wot?” Torque Wrench asked. “You understand, oui, Sasori?” The mare cocked her head. “Who th’ mire’s Sauce-Ori?” “...Sasori? Non, non, it is you! Do you not remember moi?” “...Buddy, yer th’ first griffon I’ve met.” “But Zebrica! Ze adventures across ze sands of Zebrica! Ze Changeling husks, and zat airship of yours you loved so much!” “I hate flyin’.” “Non! Zis is impossible! Zere must ‘ave been some kind of spell! Do not worry, Sasori, I will save you from zis curse!” “Oh, yipee, a nutter…” Torque Wrench groaned. “I shall go on zis confectionary quest to restore your great memo—” Torque Wrench hit him on the back of the head with her wrench. “Aight, we’re gettin’ ya to the crazy doc next town over, y’hear?” Gustave made no response, as he was out cold. “Glad to see yer on board with this.” Author's Note And this was written for THIS prompt: Did you guess it? In the future, there's a decent chance I go over the story and do some grammar edits. If I get a LOT of time, I may work on Zecora's rhythm, but I doubt I will. Hope you enjoyed this... rather trying story. It wasn't the hardest thing I've ever written, but geez do I need to stop trying to write zebras. -GM, master of illumination.
