Quick A/N: I can not rhyme to save my life.

Chapter 23:
Ritual

“So she really lives in this place then?” I asked as Rainbow and I stood at a small distance from the Everfree forest, the dense trees standing close together with thick underbrush between them.

"She's still fairly close to the outskirts and I'm pretty sure she's got potions and stuff that keep the most dangerous stuff from approaching her house," Dash said as she lead me over to a small path leading into the forest. I could feel the depressing aura of the forest bear down on me as we entered, the strange feeling making me shiver, Dash noticed my discomfort. "Yeah, Twilight explained the feeling comes from the chaotic leftover of the magic used in the duel between Princess Luna and Celestia a thousand years ago. Apparently why the forest is so dangerous."

That got me to pale a little further though it did also bring up the question of why the princesses didn't intervene personally in the conflict against the griffins. Maybe it's because they would do too much collateral? I should ask them about it when I see them again.

"Sounds apocalyptic," I commented as we walked deeper into the forest. There were plenty of sounds around, birds chirping, small critters rustling through the plants of the underbrush, they were good signs as no sound meant a predator was close.

"Oh, by the way, if you see blue flowers, stay as far away from them as you can," Dash warned suddenly without elaborating further. I mentally shrugged, she knew more about this place than me after all.

"So how much further in do we need to go?" I asked as the trail became a bit better visible, the dirt clearly being trodden on much more often. Charms of sorts were hanging from the branches of some trees as well now, some giving off strange smells while others made the faintest of noises.

"Not far," Rainbow stated as she pointed at a tree that was full of charms and pots beside what looked like stereotypical African masks decorating the tree. The living space would have surprised me more if I hadn't already been inside Twilight's tree library.

"Looks cosy enough," I stated as I noticed movement through one of the windows. "And I think our zebra is home too."

"Well, that's good. I didn't really want to wait around until she got back." Rainbow raised a hoof and wanted to knock but the door opened right as she brought her hoof forward.

"Rainbow Dash, and a friend to me unbeknownst. With what is it that I can help?" The zebra in the door asked, giving a warm smile but looking just a little too forced to be genuine.

"My friend just wanted to ask some questions about something he's been seeing in his dreams, something you might be able to explain," Rainbow summarised while I took a small step to the side to glance past the zebra into the house. It was filled with more vials and herbs of all kinds, a large pot and table standing in the centre of the room with two steaming cups on the table.

So if there are two cups where is her other visitor?

"I fear you come at a time most inopportune, I am in the middle of a brew so if you could return later it would be a boon," Zecora replied. Before Dash could say anything I stepped forward.

"Of course, how about tomorrow around this time?" I inquired, fully intending to see her today regardless.

"That would be appreciated," She replied, missing a rhyme, stepping back, and closing a door.

"Come on Dash, we'll come back later," I said turning for the trail leading away from the tree-hut. The pegasus looked at me confused as she followed me.

"Alright, what's going on? Zecora was way too short with how she usually is," Dash hissed in a low volume as the house disappeared behind the foliage.

"She had a visitor and wanted us gone," I replied, pulling out a box of camouflage from my jacket. It was pony made and a little easier to apply to fur, hair, and feathers than my original had been. Dash also pulled hers out as she understood what I wanted to do. We rapidly applied the camouflage, helping each other where needed, checked both our weapons to see if we had enough ammo, and checked their functionality.

"Circle around and creep forward until we get sight of the front door?" Dash proposed the exact thing I was thinking about doing.

"Exactly," I answered as I covered the last patch of colour around the base of Dash's tail with green. "You're good. I'll take point."

We made a sharp ninety-degree turn off the path into the underbrush, keeping as quiet as possible as we circled around the house. We had to avoid the charms in the trees as we snuck closer, pointing them out to each other silently as hitting one of those would give us away for certain. Not long after we got close enough to get an obscured but good enough view of the front door of Zecora's house. Deploying my rifle's bipod from the foregrip I used the magnifier of my Colt to get a clearer view of the door.

Neither I nor Rainbow spoke as we simply waited for something to happen at the house, that something ended up taking no more than twenty minutes later as the door slowly opened and Zecora stepped out to check the surroundings. Unless she had super keen sight we were fairly well hidden. She seemed to be satisfied as she turned back and called for her guest...

I had to do a double-take as I saw a yellow-eyed changeling with the same coloured back carapace step out. Motherfucker... Wait, yellow carapace, I'd bet that changeling is from the same hive as Cypher... but what are they doing here?

Dash let out a soft curse too as the changeling went up in yellow flames and a yellow pegasus mare with purple mane stood in her place.

"Know her?" I whispered.

"Yeah," Dash confirmed curtly.

"Shadow her from a distance, make sure it's really her and not just a temporary disguise," I ordered Rainbow. "Do not engage under any circumstance, if Celestia is negotiating with that hive an incident is not something we need. I'll have a chat with Zecora."

"Understood," Dash immediately started to back away from our observation position and back to the trail where the disguised changeling was making her way over to Ponyville.

I, on the other claw, was creeping forward, slowly making my way over to Zecora's house. The zebra was already back inside by the time I made my way up to the front door and knocked. I heard some movement from inside and waited patiently, my rifle laying on my arm in front of my chest. The door opened a little at first, only to be slammed shut again as Zecora and I made eye contact. I simply waited for a few more seconds as the door was opened again, now fully.

"So, can I come in now?"

“I do not presume to have much choice in the matter?” she stated tensely.

“I admit that I am very eager to ask my questions, and I'm willing to forego some of the ones about your previous guest if you would be so kind to answer the ones that I came to originally get answers to,” I stated diplomatically, Dash would hopefully figure out where the changeling resided anyhow and we'd probably have some questions for her too. Zecora stared at me for a moment but then stepped aside to let me in.

"Any drink I may provide?" Zecora asked as I took a seat at her table. I shook my head and showed my own water canister. Zecora herself poured a brew from a kettle and sat down across from me. "What is it you require of me?"

I snorted. "Rainbow was under the impression you spoke only in rhymes."

"I am not unfamiliar with modern Equestrian and it is not every day you sit across from a being with your capability for violence," she said tensely. "Word spreads fast, mister Grey."

"So it apparently does," I agreed, guessing I was one of the topics the changeling had discussed with the zebra, which honestly only increased my curiosity about her relationship with them. "But that is not why I came here, I require help with something that has been haunting my dreams."

"And your princess of choice could not help you with those night terrors?" Zecora inquired with a raised eyebrow.

Now it was my turn to raise an eyebrow, "She is capable of doing so? I wasn't aware... but it's not necessarily the nightmares themself that I need help with but deciphering something within them." I pulled out a sheet of paper upon which I'd drawn the pattern of chalk that I saw in my dreams pretty much every night. "This is the pattern of a ritual that I can see pretty much every night, I was hoping that you would know more about it."

Zecora took the paper and studied it, her jaw clenching and a quick but suspicious glance shooting my way. "Rituals usually consist of more components than just the chalk pattern. Could you describe the scene in your dreams?"

"The lines glow in this poisonous green colour while a zebra, quite a young one I think, is sitting in the middle of that pattern and-"

"What is the zebra doing?" Zecora asked, her eyes widening as she looked between me and the paper.

"She's... sinking a dagger into her heart," I replied as Zecora got up and started pacing around, clearly starting to connect a few dots that I would have no idea of even existing.

"That doesn't make sense... There has to be more!" she eventually said, looking over at me with wide eyes.

"A griffin confronts her, the exact words the zebra says to him before he decapitates her are 'A betrayal for a betrayal, that is the price you pay," I provided, Zecora practically started shaking, saying something in what was probably her native tongue.

"The griffin, tell me, what happens to him?" She demanded.

"He lights on fire, the green glow of the chalk lines becoming unbearably bright for a flash." Zecora took a step back and pressed her back against one of the walls next to a shelf full of potions, a whisper barely audible to me. She was silently repeating the word 'ishologu' over and over again. Before I could ask what was wrong she had her hoof around one of the bottles and hurled it over at me. Time slowed down a little as I brought up my claw to catch it out of the air but the thin glass of the bottle made it shatter within my talons and spray its contents all over me.

"Suka kimi!" she shouted as the liquid vaporised, the shock of the moment causing me to inhale the gasses. I felt something at my core start to burn terribly, my limbs losing their power as I collapsed to the ground. Strange chanting voices seemed to come from all around me, blurry forms were encircling me as I felt the burning sensation spread further. I was expecting there to be more pain as the burning spread throughout my entire body but, honestly, the sensation eventually morphed more into the feeling of electricity coursing through my veins.

"What... Did... you... DO?!" I managed to growl as I managed to gather my strength and get back onto my paws. I gave a moment of pause though as I saw the look of unbridled terror on the zebra's face. Taking a good breath, I noticed the faint smell of ozone in the air. My mind becoming less hazy as the chanting and blurry forms receded, giving me enough control of my mind to see what had happened around me. The entire room was in tatters, bottles lay shattered and shelves were broken apart, burn marks all across the wood. "TELL ME!" I shouted as I turned back to her, only for lighting to start arcing between the feathers of my wings, some of the sparks shooting into the ground.

"P-Please!" Zecora was hyperventilating as she was nearly breaking down in tears.

My anger slowly died down, finding it hard to really stay so mad at an individual so clearly afraid of me. Stepping forward I took a seat next to the zebra, placing my talons onto her back. "I really do not want to hurt you, Zecora, I just really want to know what the hell that ritual was."

"It was a summoning..." Zecora whispered after a while as her sniffing stopped. "A-A forbidden ritual, one that should not have been known by a young shaman as you describe."

"Summoning of what?" I inquired, feeling the zebra shiver under my claw.

"Ishologu," She simply answered.

"I fear I have no clue what that is," I replied.

"A demon... in Equestrian it would be called the lightning bird," Zecora elaborated, her eyes still firmly shut.

"And you think I am that demon." It wasn't a hard connection to make, hell, looking around the damaged room made me think that there was some truth to that statement. "I do not know if the ritual went wrong but I am pretty sure that I am not some demon. Hell, I am pretty sure that ritual is what pulled me out of mine and into this world in the first place."

"The ritual... no..." Zecora finally opened her eyes and looked up at me, still they were full of fear but there was clearly more going on behind them as she started to theorise. "The body may have been finished but the soul not yet drawn into it when the ritual was interrupted..."

"So instead another soul was pulled in instead," I guessed, Zecora nodding in confirmation. The implications were staggering. "So if my soul was pulled from my original body and pulled into this one... what would have happened to it?"

The silence I got in reply was all that I needed.

My legs became weak again as I squeezed my eyes tightly shut, tears forming in their corners. I died... My human body actually died... There's nothing to go back to... Letting out a choked sob I dropped to the ground, an immensely powerful wave of nausea wracking my body. Time became a blur for a bit as if this was true then everybody that I'd ever known thought I was dead... which, for all intents and purposes, I was. I slowly felt a hoof brush against my feathers, a quick look revealing a conflicted Zecora sitting next to me.

"I am sorry," I stated, trying to get back up.

"Nay, it is me who should apologise," Zecora stated as she actually helped me up. "I may not have been wrong about the nature of your body but I think I was about that of your soul."

"So these 'thunderbirds', or isho..."

"Ishologu," Zecora provided.

"Yes, them. What are they?" I asked, wiping away some tears. "You said demons but that can't just be it, right?"

Zecora scowled. "The stories make very clear they were terrible beings of remarkable endurance that grew in strength as they killed..." I thought back when I'd guided Twilight and Rainbow to Manehattan, I'd taken some serious arrow fire there though I was under the impression the rapid healing was due to the expertise of the ponies.

Maybe there was more going on in the background that I know nothing about... Though I have been on the warpath too lately so that may have increased my strength?

"...That bottle of poison which you breathed in is many times what is required to kill a manticore. I usually use tiny amounts to protect myself when roaming the forest."

That's a comforting thought... definitely got stronger from all the action in between then... good thing Dash wasn't here next to me then... I shivered at the last thought. "So they are very resilient. What else?"

"As I stated, they are considered demons for a reason. Fallen shamans would sacrifice a part of their soul to create the entity, such damage to the soul inevitably leading down even darker pathes, and those shamans would eventually all turn to murder and destruction," Zecora explained. "And if one of those shamans was killed and the entity got loose of it's restraints..."

"It would go on something akin to a rampage," I stated, Zecora nodded. "And the fact I don't have a shaman attached to me made you think I was going to act just like that, hence your aggressive reaction."

"Yes..." Zecora looked away.

"Water under the bridge, we didn't exactly get off on the best terms," I said comfortingly with as much of a chuckle as I could manage, looking around at the damage done. "I should figure out how in the world I did that lightning thing so I don't accidentally hurt somepony."

"That would be advisable," Zecora agreed.

"I want to ask though, why would I take the form of a griffin? I would assume 'thunderbird' and 'griffin' to certainly be different things."

"Perhaps it is the template the young shaman used, or the change happened when the ritual was interrupted by the griffin. I cannot say as I am not exactly familiar with the exact inner workings of the ritual."

Hmm, alright... I wonder what that zebra meant with betrayal though... I guess I'll have to wait to see what the princesses figure out.

"This has been a rather informative though... I'm going to need some time to to let this sink in," I admitted as I stood up and walked over to my rifle that lay among the debris of the table, glad to see at least it had survived. "If you require any funds to replace any of this don't hesitate to inform me, I'm terribly sorry for the damage."

"I shall see what I need, thank you for the offer," Zecora replied as I made for the door only to stop as there was one more inquiry I needed to make.

"The changeling, is she going to be a danger to anyone in Ponyville?"

Zecora's eyes went wide but quickly shook her head. "Nay, she is no danger to anypony."

"Then I'll leave her alone. I'll be in and around Ponyville for at least the next few days, maybe longer." Turning, I walked up to the door and left, I needed someplace quiet to think.

Wind blew through my feathers as I looked out over Ponyville from Rainbow's balcony, the crisp higher altitude air flowing through my lungs. The sun was slowly lowering to the horizon, colouring the sky various shades of red. Rainbow hadn't returned yet which was a bit of a concern but I was willing to give her a little more time before I'd go out to look for her. Honestly I was still extremely rattled from the revelation at Zecora's, and probably would be for quite a while longer. As for the nature of my body I'd probably keep it hidden until I figured out how the lightning worked.

And then there's the revelation that my human body may have just... died...

I was so deep in thought that I didn't even notice Rainbow landing next to me until she poked my side. "...Are you even listenin- whoa!"

I jumped, suddenly facing Rainbow before settling back down while trying to get my breathing under control. "Sorry, I have some things to think about."

"Yeah, no shit," Dash said as she took place next to me. "I take Zecora knew about that ritual thing?"

"A very large part of it, yes," I replied as I wrapped a wing around Rainbow, the pegasus leaning into me. "So what did you find out about the changeling?" I asked, changing the subject.

"Well... I observed her from a distance, mainly sticking to clouds, but... She really just acted as she usually does. Even saw her clean her house out," Dash exclaimed unbelievingly.

"Hmm, I guess I'll take Zecora's suggestion then," I replied.

"And that is?"

"Leave her alone."

Rainbow Raised an eyebrow, looking at me with surprise. "You... can't be serious? What if she's replacing the real Indigo Parasol?"

"I am, and I don't think she is. For one I don't believe Zecora would be working with her is she had done that, and two, I am sure she will seek us out after Zecora tells her that she's been made," I explained.

Dash scowled. "Right, I'll take your lead then..."

I let out a deep sigh as she reluctantly agreed, pulling her closely against me and laying my head on top of hers. The two of us sitting there and watching the sun disappear fully below the horizon.

"So... with what Zecora told you, do you think it'll help you to get home?" Dash inquired carefully, I could hear the hesitation in her voice as she clearly was conflicted about the subject. Of course she wanted to help me see my family again but she didn't want to lose me either.

"No..." I replied, swallowing the lump that immediately formed in my throat. "...And I don't think it will be possible either."

"What?!" Dash exclaimed as she pushed me away in shock. "You can't seriously be giving up, right?!"

I squeezed my eyes shut. "Dash... If what Zecora and I theorised is true, my human self had to die for me to get pulled here." Dash paused at that. "There may be nothing to return to."

"Jack..."

"Please, just... give me a day or two, ok?" I asked of her.

"I'll hold you to that," she threatened in return, poking my chest.

Opening my eyes again, I let out a yawn. "Mind if we go to bed? I am very tired after everything that's happened."

"I bet. I'll see you up there, hotshot." She placed a quick peck on the side of my cheek and stepped back inside, my cheeks turning a little more rose coloured. If I can't go back... than maybe I'll make something of my life up here.

Author's Note

Three days three chapters?! Madness!

Hopefully this idea isn't too far out there, it's been something I had been toying with for a while and I think I could make it work.

Anyway, I've got a splitting headache from the vaccine. I should go to sleep soon.

Remember that comments are like authors' food, we gain energy from them. Constructive criticism is welcome.