The Rise of Passion

Zecora leaned back in her seat, sipping at her tea. "I see, you wish for both strength and control. A common, but not very noble goal."

Gallus had, in the vaguest terms he could come up with, told Zecora the truth. He'd fallen in with a group of friends that, while dangerous, had helped him on his personal journey to being recognized as a great and powerful gryphon. Not through the use of shortcuts, but by helping him become what he claimed to be. They would make him more powerful, and then he would be more powerful. He needed the potion to keep Sandbar from trying to pull him away from them, though, because the risks were great. Gallus had no trouble admitting to Zecora that the methods being employed could potentially lead to his death if he wasn't careful, but he was ready for that, and willing to face the consequences for his actions.

"I know it's not the most altruistic course of action, but if I don't take steps to make my dream a reality, they're going to wither away. I don't want to wake up in ten years and find myself a househusband, cooking and cleaning for my lawyer wife and gossiping with my book club about adventures in print. I want to have the adventures that other ponies want to put in print for those book clubs! I want to make something of my life, do something notable, prove to every single one of those arseholes that I'm not..." Gallus swallowed hard. The more he opened up, the more obvious his frustrations became.

"Go ahead," encouraged Zecora, "finish your thought. Tell me what it is that you are not."

Gallus sighed and took a swig of the tea Zecora had poured for him. "I'm not worthless. I'm not a replacement, standing in for when the real hero of Griffinstone will step forward. I want to know that I'm not just a stand-in, and that the work I put in will not just be forgotten when a gryphon with better breeding steps forward. I don't want to be lost to history."

Zecora nodded and set down her cup. "Now we come to the heart of the matter. You don't want your hard work to shatter. While this is still a selfish desire, I can now safely say I understand your ire."

"So you'll help me?" asked Gallus hopefully.

Zecora smiled and nodded. "You were honest with me, so I'll help you find a way to the goal that you have in mind. Before that, however, you must do something for me. I can't just give everyone things for free."

"Of course not," smiled Gallus. "I wouldn't dream of refusing to compensate you. How much?"

Zecora chuckled and stood up. "Most ponies buckle whenever I ask. I don't want your money, I'm giving you a task."

Gallus stood up and placed his claw over his chest. "I'm not afraid to do a bit of work. Whatever it takes."

Zecora beckoned him to follow her. Through a cloth hanging on the back wall that was heavier than it looked, another room appeared. This one had a lot of shelves, filled with bottles and baskets, ceramic pottery and wooden boxes. At the back of the room, a clay stairwell led down below. Zecora grabbed a small, clear tincture from a shelf, then continued down the stairs.

The basement was adorned with twisted roots, and lit by glowing flowers from vines adorning the walls. As they moved further into the room and the natural light grew more and more faint, the white of Zecora's body began to glow blue in the flowerlight.

Through a veil of vines sparkling with buds, they came into a bedroom. Zecora held up the bottle, previously clear but now glowing green. "Drink this now and let us see what it is you can do for me."

Gallus took the bottle and looked to Zecora. As her lips parted to show her smile, her teeth began to glow, as did the whites of her eyes. Taking a deep breath, he pulled out the stopper, and swallowed the solution in one gulp. It tasted spicy, and as it settled in his stomach, it felt much warmer. That soon spread to his claws and paws, and even his wingtips. "What was that?"

"A special mix. Now look at yourself. There's a mirror against that shelf."

Gallus walked across the room to where the mirror was. His beak was glowing orange, despite being yellow. Most of his feathers had darkened, but certain feathers were tipped with a glowing pattern, almost giving him a scaly look. There was also a bright red cone protruding between his legs, which he closed as he turned to Zecora. "My feathers and beak are glowing." He looked down. "My claws, too. Is this what's going to help me win over Sandbar?"

Zecora shook her head. "You'd look like that with the draught or without. That is not what this is all about. I'll help you achieve and realize your wish, but first, I must have my own tail swish."

Gallus stood silently for a moment. "I don't follow."

Zecora took a few steps closer and put her hoof on his shoulder. "That EEA rep called me a witch, and barred my from the school, that son of a bitch! There are students in there that require my help; my herbs and remedies, and dried leaves of kelp. I wish the best for them, really, I do, but my hooves are now bound, stuck like glue. You can make me feel good about myself today, or you can refuse my help, and just walk away."

"You deserve to feel good about yourself," assured Gallus, wrapping a claw around her wrist and moving her hoof to his chest. "You're willing to help me; just tell me what it is you need me to do."

Zecora leaned forward and kissed him square on the beak. The way her tongue shot into his mouth shocked him. He'd heard tell of it before, but he wasn't expecting it here. "For a good stretching and pounding, my marehood begs. Tell me I'm worthwhile with that thing between your legs." She turned and sauntered over to the bed, lying on her back and spreading her legs as wide as she could, inviting him in with a small glowing trickle running down her labia.