Rising Sunset

As I lay in bed going in and out of consciousness, I find myself focusing on a sound...no a tune, is someone singing? No, it was humming!

Mmm~mmmm~mm~mmn~m~m~m~

Mmm~mmmm~mm~mmn~m~m~m~

Mmn~mmn~mmmmn~mn~mn~

After about an hour of this I finally woke up properly, turning my head towards the song, a striped woman looked to be staring at the brew in her cauldron, her melody was simple but elegant, it took me a moment to realize I was Humming along.

Without looking in my direction the shaman said,

"Best not to toss and turn~
or its more scares you will earn~
from your second-degree burn.~"

"Thanks." I deadpan as I sit up ignoring her advice. Feeling a twinge of pain I examine my right side was bandaged up head to toe dulling the initial pain.

"So," I begin "Not to sound ungrateful but, where in Tartarus am I, and who are you exactly?"

The striped woman raised an eyebrow at that, then smiled.

"I suppose that is true~
I am Zecora a shaman of Everfree~
and this is my home as you can see ~
as well may I ask who are you?~"

And the rhymes continue.

I held out my good arm for a handshake "Shimmer, Sunset Shimmer."

Sitting down, she took my hand with a firm shake.

Laying back down and staring at the ceiling I ask, "So doc, what's the damage am I gonna make it."

Chuckling Zecora replies

"You will live~
following the advise that I give~
your burns will fully heal~
So long you remain still~
only then, the better you will feel~
it will leave quite the scar~
but that's all I can judge so far.~"

From under the sheets, I opened and closed my bandaged hand, it functioned properly but the joints stung with every movement. "Point taken." I said annoyed "Still it's rather boring just laying here, got any book I could read? Mine got soaked"

A book~
I could take a look~
though I'd doubt you'd understand~
they're in the tongue of my homeland~

"Language barriers have never really been an issue for me, any book will do," I stated bluntly as I hold out my hand.

Raising the other eyebrow Zecora turned to her book collection.

"I see~
I have books on Everfree~
plants from herb to tree~
which one will it be~"

"Yes," I say levitating a stool next to my bedside.

"Heh" Zecora chuckled.
"Enthusiastic, are we?~
Then I will leave you be~"

As Zecora picked a few books from her collection I noticed that there was one that after seeing it shook her head and put back, gonna have to sneak a look at that when I get the chance, black leather binding with a dark green stripe on the spine, remember that Sunset remember.

With a loud thud, Zecora put about seven books of various sizes on the stool, picking up the first book it was clearly in Zebracan which I can't read but luckily, I have the cheat sheet, as my spectral horn appeared I focused my magic into my eyes giving them a soft yellow glow, with a quick look at Zecora I saw her eyes open slightly in surprise, I've always loved that look.

"Multi-language translation spell." I answer her unspoken question "Like I said, language barriers have never really been an issue for me.

Opening the book, the Zebracan on the page morphed and rearranged into Equestrian in my mind's eye, and I could read it now; looking over all of the books I was happy that there was quite a bit of variety in the book, albeit with an obvious theme:

1. Arcane anatomy of star-touched, sky-riders, and earth-keepers.
   
2. The many mishaps with monsters.
   
3. Antidotes and anti-toxin.
   
4. Egg care for various creatures.
   
5. The bare necessities for dealing with bears.
   
6. How not to trip in the quicksand (a reference guide)
   
7. Daring do and the forgotten forest.

With the expectation of the last one, I didn't recognize any of these books although I do recall a book on the arcane anatomy of Star-dancers in the Caterlot capital library nothing on the other two bloodlines, fucking Canterlot entitlement.

"Thank you," I say as I turn back to the book.

Smiling Zacora returned to her cauldron.

Alright, I can get through this, with these books and a bit of bed rest I can get through this with no problem whatsoever.

"Oh, gods I hate this!" I quietly complain

It had been two weeks since I came into Zecora's care, the burns weirdly enough were the easy part, the salve Zecora made and later taught me to make soothed the pain and cleared off most of the burnt and dead tissue though Zecora says the scars will remain. Fortunately, scars are sexy, and failing that I can make them sexy; As for my ankle and shoulder, my ankle was put in a brace and I was fashioned a crutch to lean on if I wanted to move around the cottage, my shoulder was given similar salve to the burns but with the addition of some rather sour potions I had to drink, healing from inside and out according to Zecora.

The worst of it was the nonstop resting and not doing anything as I've read and memorized all of Zacora's books save for one however, the leatherbound book with the green strip was the only book Zacora would not take from her shelf I didn't push further for fear of her possibly hiding it, the only time I could read it was during the time Zecora went out for errands or hunting for supplies. I still haven't finished it either as I could only get a few pages at a time for fear of her catching me in the act as the translation spell required my full attention and I didn't want to be caught again reading books others thought I couldn't handle.

The book in question was probably the largest in the collection which made me happy, there was no title or author as far as I could tell, whoever wrote this was a genius going over several details about potion-making ingredients and their effects on each other during the initial brewing including recommendations for posable replacement ingredients and the altering effects thereof, the only thing stopping me from fully grasping these instructions were mainly due to my lack of knowledge in potions as most of my studies were in casting magic as opposed to crafting, guess I'll have to change that.

After the third week, my ankle was finally healed enough for me to be able to walk albeit slowly.

after what felt like the longest errand run Zecora ever took she came back with what looked to be a twisted branch of wrapping paper, I was going to question her about it until she held it to me, putting it into my hands she gestures me to open it.

As my eyes open wide, Zecora says,

"This staff is perfect if I must say~
to help you make your way ~
leather and bone with a gem heart~
to help you with your arcane art~"

My mouth agape I stutter. "A magic focus, my own staff?" Zecora nods. "ww-wwh-whhh why?"

I've seen your skill~
despite your refusal to stay still~
your need for knowledge is strong~
so I ask you to come along~
become my apprentice I humbly request~
so that after your rest~
you may fill your need~
to learn study and read~
even if your answer is no~
the staff is yours to take~
for a great mage you will make~
no matter where you go~

For what felt like a solid minute I stood there dumfounded by the offer I couldn't speak, examining the staff it was clearly made from a twisted black oak branch, not from the Everfree, the leather bound skull looked to be equine in nature I almost want to say kelpy in origin but I wasn't sure, no thanks to the two of the limbs wrapping around the skull, making it look as if it has elk horns but what really caught me off guard was the largest hunk of amber I've ever seen embedded in the center of the skull.

After another minute I sputter, "I... I don't know what to say."

"A friend from Cantorlot gave me chores~
the runes you'll carve to forge a bond~
making it more than the common wand~
and turn the staff truly yours~".

For the second time today I stared blankly at Zecora doing everything in my power this time to not panic, as I look to the staff then back to her

All I could say was. "I'll think about it just give me some time."

"Welp" I think to myself panicking,

"My decision is clear~
I'm getting the hell out of here.~"

...Oh Tartarus, now I'm speaking in rhymes.

She visited someone from Cantorlot no no no if my name came up it would only be a matter of time before they find me.
Gathering what supplies I could, I look into my bag the clothes I brought were...not for travel tight jeans, a thin leather jacket, and some elevator high heels, no extra underwear or socks? Gods this is embarrassing, "Really ran by the skin of your teeth ay sunset."

Looking out the window Zacora hasn't come back; I rumage through the closet to see what's inside a few cloaks, boots, along with some simple pants and shirts not my style, but beggars can't be choosers, putting on the travel clothes I was unsurprised to feel that they're a little too baggy and the shoes too big for me but taking a few extra socks should help with that.

Checking again in my bag I still have my compass; the bottled waters are spent but can easily be refilled in the well. My books though ruined were still readable so those stayed. looking up at the ceiling I take a few of the common potions I recognize from the potion book, these should be useful.

I turn to the potion book on the shelf picking it up, I've already memorized all the other books but not this one, I think to myself. "I've never read anything like this before Zebracan potion-making far exceeds anything I've read in Canterlot, not even the books I took from Celestia's restricted section." I press the book to my forehead in frustration. Zecora has been nothing but helpful to me, clothes and potions are one thing but...

"Wait a minute?" I realize.

Looking over the binding there's no author engraving, maybe it's on the inside, flipping through the first few pages nothing then flipping through the back my jaw dropped.

"The-these are blank...did Zecora write this?" taking a closer like at the pages these are definitely handwritten none of the other books are like this; looking over her desk I see notes to potion combinations and several hypotheses on the various effects of different potions have on different kinds of creatures and bloodlines.

This isn't just Zecora's notebook this is HER personal work, she's studying the Everfrees' flora and fauna and as far as I know, no one in Canterlot has or will ever take their studies here, leaving all description up to superstition or old wives' tales, pathetic.

I put the book back on the shelf. even if I took it now, it's incomplete and would serve me better to let Zecora finish this, I can always come back later when it's done. I leave ten bits on the bed with a written apology and head off to the forest.

I wish I could stay longer but it's better I travel if I stay in one place for too long there's a higher chance Celestia's agents will find me and I can't have that not now I'll need more power to stand my ground if I ever have to face Celestia again.

Not caring which way I go, I pull out my compass and two pebbles from the ground focusing my magic, creating a frequency between them and... there, I hide one pebble near a marked tree I've seen Zecora use from the window and one in the compass.

"Alright location set, and now to get the hells out of this stupid forest." I whisper

Still healing ankle be damned I started running.