The Last Mage

The Last Mage

Chapter 8: Meeting Zecora Part 1

Yeah, it turns out that the whole problem with the dragon had only taken one day to resolve. Rarity was just really bad at tick-tack-toe. I mean really bad. I had stayed behind to keep an eye on Trixie, and to get to know her better. It had turned out rather well, she had still been a bit arrogant, or at least attempted to appear that way, but what was I going to do? She had been keeping up that facade for years. So I spent most of the day teaching her how to act normally. I.E. don't run around telling tales and boasting. Be sociable, and just try to get along with others. She was learning. Oh, and yesterday Twilight had her first slumber party. I didn't really join in anything, though I did pull Twi out of the way before she could be covered in pillows, though personally I think that scene made her look even more adorable.

Yep, two episodes worth of events in only three days, which leaves us here. We had just left the library, Trixie still sleeping. I had left a note to tell her what we were doing.

“Wow, what a gorgeous day!” said Twilight.

“Rainbow Dash must have gotten up early for once and cleared all the clouds away.” commented Spike.

“I bet all of Ponyville is going to be out enjoying the sunshine. What? Where is everypony?” asked Twilight, once she had noticed that there was nopony out.

“Is it some sort of pony holiday?” Spike asked her.

“Not that I know of.” she replied.

“Does my breath stink?” Spike asked, then belched a flame, sniffing the air to test if his breath did stink.

“Not more than usual.” said Twilight with a smirk.

“Is it... zombies?!” said Spike, a hint of panic creeping into his voice.

“Not likely.” I said. “I haven't seen anything that would indicate it.”

“You believe in something so childish as zombies?” asked Twilight, a hint of something in her voice.

“Believe in them? I've had to fight them before. Corpses given a rudimentary copy of life by the most foul of all magics; Necromancy.” I said, spitting out the word 'necromancy' with as much spite as I could. Twilight's eyes widened, realizing that something she had thought to be nothing more than a fictional being actually existed.

“Psst! Twilight! Spike! Istar! Come here! Come! Here! Hurry! Before she gets you!” came Pinkies voice. We saw here waving from the top half of Sugarcube Corner's door. That was only about five feet away. We jumped inside and Twilight groaned.

“Who?! The zombie pony?”

“Spike! What did I say? There are no signs of zombies. And I doubt that there are many if any necromancers in Equestria.

“Pinkie, what are you doing here alone in the dark?” asked Twilight, seeing as I had already reprimanded Spike about the zombies.

“I'm not alone in the dark.” said Pinkie as the rest of our friends and Applebloom stepped forward a bit. Twi gasped.

“Okay then, what are you all doing here in the dark?” she asked them.

“We're hidin' from her!” said AJ as she pointed out the window. There was a hooded pony digging at the ground with a hoof. Evil sounding music began to play when she looked up.

“Not helping.” I said towards the ceiling and the music abruptly cut out. They all looked at me with a look halfway between what they give Pinkie and a look that said, 'How the hay did you do that!?'.

At this point I just tuned them out while Twilight explained what a Zebra was. The crash that Spike caused in the kitchen brought me back.

“Spike!” yelled Twilight.

“Uh, sorry.” Spike said.

“The Everfree Forest just ain't natural. The plants grow...” Said AJ.

“Animals care for themselves...” added Fluttershy.

“And the clouds move...” said Rainbow Dash.

“All on their own!” they said in unison. At this point I burst out laughing.

“What the hay are you laughing at!?” said Rainbow, obviously thinking I was laughing at her.

“It's just that the Everfree Forest works exactly like my entire planet.” I told them with a grin. “Well, I'll see you girls later. I have something I want to take care of.” I told them and then walked out the door before they could protest. I headed in the direction of the Everfree. I saw Zecora walking ahead, and behind her, a poorly hidden Applebloom.

I followed. Down the path in the Everfree, and there it was. The Poison Joke field. Applebloom had the sense to use the path. I just cast a minor frost spell and walked over the, now iced, Poison Joke. I climbed a tree and waited. Soon enough the girls came running along, yelling to Applebloom to stop. And then Zecora's reply came.

“Beware! Beware, you pony folk! Those petals of blue are not a joke!” well that was enough for me. I knew how this played out, so it was back to the library to read for the day. Twilight came back later and asked how I was. I told her I was fine, and then asked how she was. She blushed and replied that she was fine too. And so we went to sleep.

The next day I awoke to the sounds of Twilight freaking out. Guess the Poison Joke finally kicked in.

“Twi, you okay?” I asked.

“No! I'm not okay! Look at my horn! I checked, double checked, and triple checked, every book on unicorn ailments we have!” she said. I walked over to her and began to stroke her back.

“Shhh. It'll be fine. This will all be resolved, but you have to do it on you own.” I told her. She calmed down and leaned against me. A few moments later she blushed and pulled away.

“Uh, sorry!” she said.

“It's fine Twi.” I responded with a blush of my own. Suddenly the door burst open and the rest of the 'joked' Mane Six came rushing in. Oh, this is going to be a long day.