The Dragonsblood Elixir

Twilight Velvet lifted a book off her daughter’s nightstand and sighed. "Look at this mess. You’d think Twily and Spike would clean up after themselves with all the things they’ve accomplished."

The Canterlot tower of Twilight Sparkle and Spike had seen better days. Books were strewn about, Spike’s toys were everywhere, cobwebs and dust had taken over, and the kitchen was a biohazard. Twilight Velvet and Night Light had dropped by to pick something up at Twilight’s request, but upon seeing the state of things… well, parents will be parents.

Night paused in his dusting. "I’m more surprised Princess Celestia didn’t keep it tidy for them. It is part of the castle, after all."

Velvet pursed her lips. "Honestly, that Celestia… She sends them off to Ponyville, but doesn’t bother to keep an eye on things here. I don’t understand her sometimes."

Night shrugged. "What's that book there?”

Velvet checked the spine. "It’s called ‘1001 Ways to Shed Your Pony Form’.” She opened it up and flipped through the pages. “I’ve never even heard of a book like this before... I can’t imagine why she had it, but this looks interesting!”

"Mmhmm." Night looked around the shelves. "I think I saw numerical titles over… there, by the staircase. Should be alphabetical knowing Twily.”

Velvet hadn’t heard amidst her furious skimming. "Goodness, these spells are advanced… well, advanced for us. I imagine Twilight wouldn’t have any trouble. If only she didn’t worry so much...” Velvet raised a hoof to her chin, still flipping through. “I wonder if there’s one in here we can manage?”

Night heard that familiar tone in Velvet’s voice. "Honey…”

“Come onnnnnnn~” Velvet hovered the book over to Night. “Imagine floating on the wind like a breezie! Or swimming in the ocean like a seapony! Or soaring through the air like a griffin!" Velvet’s eyes were gleaming now. "Haven’t you ever wondered what it’d be like? It could be so much fun!”

Night scrunched up his muzzle. He couldn’t read the text without his bifocals, but Velvet’s words dredged up long forgotten thoughts of decades long past: Pretending with his friends, reading fantasy tales, even a few occasional vivid dreams.

“I…” Night looked up from the book and into Velvet’s puppy-dog eyes. “I think we just learned why this place hasn’t been cleaned.”

Velvet giggled.

“Alright, let’s take a look.” He summoned up his reading glasses while Velvet floated the book over to a table. “Check the back for a power index. That should show if there’s something in our magic range.”

Velvet found it. The units of measurement were rather... archaic, but she was no stranger to spellbooks. She started with the easiest spell and did some quick mental math.

“Shoot.” Velvet’s ears drooped. “Even the easiest transformation is out of our league.”

Night peeked over her shoulder. The spell she was looking at was indeed beyond them, but then, his eyes were drawn to another listing, one marked with the word ‘Alchemical’.

"Hold on." Night took the book and read the entry. He flipped to the referenced page, and sure enough... “Well, well! Looks like we’re in luck, Honey—not all of these transformations are spell-based.”

Velvet read the starting paragraph. “‘Dragonsblood Elixir: While this draught requires unique and rare ingredients, it’s potency and stability have long marked it as the most effective alchemical transformation in the world.’ Oooooh... do you think it does what it says on the tin?”

Night was checking just that. "’...upon ingestion, turns the drinker into a dragon for a day.’ Certainly seems so."

"Perfect!" Velvet pranced in place. "Let’s try it! We have to! I can’t wait to—”

“But we’ll need to find an alchemist to make it.”

Velvet stopped mid-prance. “Oh… yeah. Good point, heh…”

Night marked the page and set the book in his bag. "I remember Twily sending us a letter about a friend she made in Ponyville. They might just be the ticket."

Velvet smiled. "A friend she made down in Ponyville, huh?" She nuzzled his cheek. "Mind narrowing that down a little?"

Night had to laugh at that one. “Her zebra friend.” He summoned his rolodex from his bag and began rifling through it. "Started with a Z, I believe… ah, here we are. Zecora: Notable skills: Master Alchemist, Wilderness Survival, Sage Advice. Background: Unknown. Status: Friendly."

Velvet rolled her eyes. "Right. So, we'll bring this to book to, erm… what was the name?”

“Zecora.”

“Bring the book to Zecora, figure out the details, and get some Dragonsblood Elixir!” A sudden thought made Velvet smile. “And if this works, we should see about getting enough to turn the whole family into dragons for Spike’s next birthday. Can you imagine the look on his face?”

Night kissed Velvet’s cheek. “I know he’d love that. First thing’s first, though: we need to finish up here so we can head down to Ponyville.”

Velvet nodded, looking about for a quill and parchment. “I’ll send Spike a letter to let him and Twily know. Heaven knows she doesn’t do well with surprises.”

The Ponyville Train Station was a far cry from Canterlot’s spacious hub. Not to say it was primitive or inadequate, but aside from the occasional event or whatnot, the only ones typically getting off or on were locals. Fortunately, Night and Velvet had visited enough times that nopony paid them much mind...

...but their hiking gear did get some funny looks.

“Excuse me,” Velvet said to a passing pony. "Do you know of anypony that regularly travels into the Everfree Forest? My husband and I are looking to visit someone.”

Carrot Top blinked several times. "Uh… I’m guessing you mean Zecora." She pointed to a path towards a forestside cottage. "Fluttershy might be able to help you, but just know she doesn’t do so well with strangers—”

Velvet and Night had already walked away. Carrot stared after them for a moment, a small voice insisting she’d seen them before... But she shook her head and went about her business.

Velvet and Night found Fluttershy’s cottage with little issue. Upon knocking, they saw her peeking at them through her bay window. Night and Velvet waved, and Fluttershy came over to answer the door.

“Erm…” Fluttershy stared like she was trying to solve a riddle. “Twilight’s… parents?”

Night smiled. "Nice to see you again, Fluttershy. Is this a bad time?"

Fluttershy meeped. “N-No, no! I just didn’t expect… e-erm, never mind. What brings you around here? Are you looking for Twilight or Spike?”

Velvet shook her head. “We’ll be dropping by later. We were actually hoping that you could give us directions to Zucchini’s—”

“Zecora,” Night hissed.

Velvet blushed. “I’m, uh… bad with names.”

But funnily enough, the flub seemed to put Fluttershy more at ease. “I’d be happy to help in that case.” She pointed to a tree on the edge of her property. It was marked with a symbol of a spiral sun, and just beyond, a smooth, even path led straight on into the Everfree.

“My animal friends made that so Zecora and I could visit,” she said. “It’ll take you right to her house, but make sure you don’t wander off it. The forest can be very dangerous.”

Velvet's eyes shined. "I heard there are cragodiles inside. Have you ever seen one? They say they can grow as big a house!"

Fluttershy’s face was blank for a second… before lighting up just like Velvet’s. “Oh, yes! A very sweet family of them lives around Froggy Bottom Bog. I helped their babies when they were sick with scale rot, and now I visit them once a month! I’d be happy to introduce you if you’d—”

“Stay on the path, got it!” Night steered Velvet away. “Thanks for the directions, Fluttershy! We’ll tell Zecora you said hi!”

“I wasn’t going to try and find one today,” Velvet grumbled under her breath. “I was just making future plans!”

“Stay focused on the present, honey,” Night murmured as they approached the tree. “We can put the safari on our calendar."

“Fine, fine…”

"E-Erm, nice seeing you!” Fluttershy waved at their retreating forms. “Be careful!”

Night and Velvet found the start of the forest path. They exchanged a few more hushed words, then vanished into the forest proper like they’d never been there at all.

Fluttershy stared after them for a long time. She chewed on her lip and rocked on her hooves, her gaze drawn to the looming crystal spire of Twilight’s castle across town.

Less than a minute later, Fluttershy’s house was locked up. Her forest friends were summoned, a note was left for Angel, and Fluttershy was flying on silent wings in the couple’s wake.

Zecora's home was… strange, but charming. It was built into a tree like Twilight’s old library, only the magic used had a denser, earthier feel than a unicorn’s. The sharp, heady smell of crushed flowers and mixed herbs wafted out of the windows. Colored bottles of all kinds hung like ornaments both outside and in—some of which were filled, some of which were labeled, some of which were neither. Colorful masks with elongated features were everywhere, and while most of them were mundane, a few were cleverly-disguised wards.

Velvet studied one of the mundane masks beside Zecora’s doorstep. “I wonder if this came from her home?”

Night knocked on Zecora’s door. “Possibly. I’m more curious if it means anything.”

"That one is merely meant for looks,” said a sultry voice within. A calm, matronly zebra opened the door with a smile. “I’ve been meaning to put it on a hook."

The flowery scent of dish soap crossed Night’s nostrils. The source was a large, empty cauldron beside the mare, its clean interior still dripping with water. “Zecora, I assume?”

Zecora nodded. “Welcome, guests, please do come in!” She stepped aside… and almost tripped over the cauldron. “Gah! Mind you do not bang your shin…”

Velvet and Night watched Zecora seize the heavy cauldron in her teeth. She started dragging it away one slow step at a time, grunting and muttering.

“Need a hoof?” Velvet summoned her magic. She lifted the cauldron with ease and dried off with a spell. “Where do you want it?”

Zecora stared at the dry cauldron, the magic enshrouding it... then smiled at Velvet and Night. “I think I know who calls you kin. The firepit, please—it’s just within.”

Velvet came inside and set the cauldron down amidst the ashen coals. Night followed after. “I hope you don’t mind us dropping in like this,” he said. “My name is Night Light, and this is my wife, Twilight Velvet.”

Again, Zecora looked between them with twinkling eyes. “These names do I know, and are an honor to hear. Never did I think I’d meet ones loved so dear. The resemblance is clear, and your habits alike—you’re the parents of Twilight Sparkle and Spike.”

Velvet put a hoof behind her head. “That obvious, huh?”

"Perhaps not to all, but to me there’s no doubt.” Zecora placed some fresh wood under the cauldron. “Your son has your spirit, and your daughter… heh, your snout.”

Night helped start the fire with his magic. "It seems we already know a little about each other, Miss Zecora. To cut right to the chase, we were hoping to enlist your alchemy skills."

Zecora raised an eyebrow. "T’is not often I get unicorns asking about that. It is typically when their plans have gone flat. Alas, no matter the trouble that might come one’s way, my alchemy can keep it at bay." She reared up, forehooves on the rim of the cauldron. "Do you have a sickness, a hex, or magical curse? My brews can fix it before it gets worse."

Velvet produced the transformation book and showed her the bookmarked page. "We’re looking to get two doses of this."

Zecora read the recipe over. “Ahhh, the Dragonsblood Elixir. A well-known draught.” She steepled her hooves, studying the two. “I’ve most of the ingredients, but one I do not. The blood of a dragon is required for this brew. I know this is no barrier for ones such as you… But tell me, once changed, what is it you’ll do?”

Night shrugged. “I guess you could call this a test run. Vel just wanted to see what it was like at first, but now we’re thinking of using it for Spike’s next birthday. Have us all be dragons for a day, or somesuch.”

Of all the reasons Zecora had been expecting, that hadn’t been one of them. “O-Oh. That’s… Goodness...”

"We won't hurt anything," Velvet added. "We might fly around or try breathing fire—somewhere safe, of course! But that’s all.”

Night nodded. "How much blood do we need? Not much, I hope.”

Zecora snapped out her daze. She went into her pantry, retrieved a clean vial, and brought it over. She raised a hoof to indicate the lowest bottom measurement.

“Oh, thank goodness.” Velvet let out the breath she’d been holding. "That's hardly even a drop.”

"So you’ll do it, then?" Night asked Zecora. "You’ll make us the elixir?"

Zecora gave them the vial. "For a cause such as this? I shall indeed! I will even supply the other ingredients for free... just promise to bleed Spike gentle as can be.”

Velvet smiled. "Of course. What’s more gentle than a mother’s touch?”

“Thank you so much, Zecora!” Night shook her hoof. "We'll be right back, so keep that cauldron going!"

Zecora waved them farewell, then turned her attention to filling the cauldron with water. "Actually, I was about to make some shampoo. After that, though, shall I make the brew…”