"Once I come back from my journey, I will tell you many stories." I excitedly told father as I jumped around.

He gave a hearty laugh as he roughly patted my head, ruffling my mane.

"Then, we will be waiting for your return. And when, you come ba-"

"She's not going anywhere until she passes her potions class! Or, you can forget about traveling around Equus, little lass!" Mother suddenly cut off father as she came out of the house with a mock frown.

"I've been putting much more practice in! The potions I am more than close to mastering!" I protested as father chuckled at the situation.

"Rest easy, my beautiful flower. We'll see, in the face of danger she will not cower." Father spoke happily.

Mother tried to keep a serious face, but she didn't last long as her expression cracked as father hugged her. "Alright, alright, I understand. Now, before it becomes night, get to the well before they disband." She eventually gave the command as I nodded and ran off.

Though, I turned around and grabbed a bucket I forgot beforehoof.

"Hmm." I slowed down a bit.

From a trot to a simple walk, I looked around the village. Something didn't feel right. I started to feel extreme unease as my pace slowed down even further. I physically lowered myself as my ears pinned themselves to my head. It wasn't just a fleeting feeling. It was more of a scream, a soul shattering shout to get my attention.

Feeling like I was being hunted down, I kept looking around the village. Familiar faces and familiar buildings. It's the same, isn't it? Or am I wrong? Is there some kind of monster coming? Is this how Remedy...

Remedy?

No, it's Floral.

It's absolutely Floral.

Right, it's Floral Green. My friend.

"You are being controlled, Zecora. Get out of this hold, and talk to Floral." I told myself as my mind started to clear.

Like a fog had been lifted, my thoughts quickly came back in order. The memories of my life rushed in as I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. I could feel the world around me warp, further proving to me that it was not real. Only when I had fully calmed down, did I dare to open my eyes.

I couldn't move.

My eyes were blurry, and I only saw glimpses of the ceiling of the treehouse through my eyelashes. Sounds were muffled and my sense of touch was almost completely absent.

"No, seriously. How the hell is that a plan a twelve year old should be coming up with?" Moon, I believe, was saying something, though she sounded upset.

I wonder what she is talking about.

"You saw, felt, what happened." I could only guess, Floral, spoke softly.

I feel a hint of guilt in his tone.

"Fucking hell." Moon gave a sigh. "I did think it was a bit weird since Luna and Celestia worried about Sombra for at least five years."

"But, you never asked?" Floral was a bit surprised.

"I didn't think I should press you, okay? It's your tragic story." Moon was definitely upset. "Did you really have to lie about the ass tattoo too?"

Hmm. I'm starting to faint again. How did this happen? What led me to become bedridden?

"I'm ....y I, .id it, ..om you. I didn't .ant ... to ..nd out." Floral said something, but his words were too muffled to hear properly.

"Zecora?" Moon suddenly asked.

Weird. Her voice is so, clear.

How am I-?

"Z!" Her shout interrupted my thinking. "Wake up!"

I'm injured, Moon. I should not get up so soon.

Wait, that didn't come out of my mouth.

"Wake up!"

Okay, I'm trying. Really, Moon. I really thought you were learning much from Floral. Don't be so impatient.

"Wake up!" She started to shake me.

Woah! Stop it! Seriously! Stop! I'm hurt!

"Zecora! Wake up!" I jumped from the sudden rise in volume. "Zecora! Are you okay? Just what, is your problem today?"

"I-wha?" I wasn't able to form a full sentence as I quickly looked around.

The wooden pony! Where is it?!

"Zecora, are you alright? Do you require air to set your mind right?"

Huh? Mister Dhangaa? What is he doing, here?

Here? It's, not the Everfree? This is, is this, Zebrat?

"Dear, do you need to take a break? A fatal mistake, I would not want you to make." Mr. Dhangaa spoke worriedly.

But. No, he. He didn't.

He taught potions, and, and he was. He wasn't. He isn't.

What? Just what is? Just what in Equestria!?

Why!? How is he!?

"Zecora, why don't you go to the garden for some fresh air? In fact, let us be completely fair." He announced and looked at all my classmates. "Have a free period today. Just don't cause any trouble, okay?"

Cheers erupted through the class as the others were more than ready to run out of the classroom.

"Ah! I will have to give homework! And make sure it's your own work! I can tell who made it. And who paid for it." He warned all of us and turned to the blackboard behind him.

I could almost feel the disappointment of the other foals.

Whilst all this was happening, I was slowly losing my mind as I recognized everything about this place. All the worn out furniture, including the blackboard that used to fall off at least twice a day and was eventually just placed on the ground. The leaves that had to act as windows due to all the bugs that kept flying into the room. the creaky floor that used to annoy any foal who wanted to cheat.

I, may be hallucinating.

"Zecora, great job with the acting. Really convinced him to be understanding." One of the foals came up to me.

"Uhh-" Before I could figure out how to reply, I turned to face the foal.

What?

He? She? I couldn't, actually tell. They? They were more like, a base design, of sorts. There wasn't a single thing that could distinguish them from any other zebra.

I took a look around again. Instead of searching for something, I was just taking in the details.

The foals, they're the exact same. It's, of course. I don't remember my classmates from my first grade, I was too focused on my studies to form friendships.

"Think you can help me with the potion? Just the part about erosion." This foal was still speaking to me.

"What was that about? I was a bit, out." I barely understood his question as my mind was just reeling.

"The, "Fury of the flames". To make that one, it takes brains."

Fury of the flames?

Hah?

That one?

For a class that seems to be elementary, why is the homework such high difficulty?

Fury of the flames. A potion notorious for its extremely difficult brewing process, and also its highly dangerous effects. Upon contact with air, a single vial will raise a mountain of fire, swallowing all that comes in contact. For all intents and purposes, it's something that's not allowed so easily. So, why?

"Ah, she's over there. But, she needs a little air." I heard Mr. Dhangaa speak.

Looking at who he was talking to, I froze over completely. Mother and Father.

Oh.

So, that's what it was.

That's the reason I'm under this hallucination.

To bring out anger? Or did you wish for despair.

Well, whatever your plan was, it will not work.

I am, not, one to fall to an illusion so easily.

"If you understand, let me be. Or, your end will not be so easy." I spoke as calmly as I could as I turned around to the foal that spoke to me.

I could barely contain myself as I rose from my seat and looked at them, no, it in the eyes. A puppet, a doll with a good mask, that's all it was.

Is this what my friend has been going through? Bearing such pain and emotion with a stoic face that almost none could see through? With his silent, yet strong facade. Always helping others despite being in so much pain himself.

Just, thinking about it makes my blood boil in anger. To make a friend of mine suffer so much, I will make sure to stop this monster.

"What are you speaking of? Haven't you acted enough?" The foal asked me, as it looked a bit afraid.

I stayed silent as I glared at it. Despite the million thoughts trying to distract me, I could only focus on one.

How do I kill it?

Well, that's no real question. I'll just do it as quickly as possible and wake up first. It's simply a puppet, and it will feel no pain. So, a slow death is nothing but a waste of time.

"To this, I'm not so new. I'm going to kill you." I finally lost control, barely being conscious enough for my actions.

If I don't let off any steam, I'm more than sure I would lose my temper and act without thinking. Well, not like I would call this thinking.

"Eh?"

It barely reacted before I grabbed its head and bashed it into the corner of my desk. Blood spattered as the world instantly became distorted. All color drained out, except for the green that came from its eyes.

Without waiting, I pulled its head back and smashed it into the corner once again.

*Crack*

I heard its skull crack open as the world shook.

I felt the blood splash onto my face, yet I stared without any emotion except anger as I smashed it once again.

"Do you not wish, to see your family?" It finally spoke with its real voice.

Its voice was layered, like several different voices spoke at the same time.

I became even more infuriated at the question. If it can see through my memories, it should know exactly what it did wrong. So, without answering, I bashed it again.

*Plat*

I finally let go as the head was busted open. I could see its brain had turned to mush as parts of it fell out. I almost barfed, feeling disgusted as I felt something starting to rise from my stomach. Maybe my anger helped, but I barely held myself back from vomiting everything.

Looking through the distorted world, I eventually turned to my parents. Looking at them standing there, so peaceful. So calmly as they stared at me with such affection. I was only made more wrathful as this being dared to smudge my image of them. It dares to taint my memories of them with such disgusting behavior. And all for what? A moment's satisfaction perhaps? Whatever it may be, it shall not walk away at the end of all this, I will make sure of it.

"So, angry. Yet, you're the cause of the accident. Or, was it even an accident in the first place?" Its voice echoed through the space.

I didn't listen to its words and carried on. Walking out of the classroom, I was met with a simple work station. Plenty of different materials were laid out, as well as simple equipment to craft a potion. Then, that glass vial. That single vial, that had the tiniest of cracks at the very top. Or at least, that's what I believed. No matter how many times I thought about it, I never made a mistake. I may have been wrong, but it is impossible to prove anything at this point.

"Go on then. You know what to make, don't you? Everything that's laid out should be, exactly, as you remember it."

I wordlessly reached for a stalk of grass. I had only made that potion because I was curious. It was a simple act, just a thought on how well I could do it.

"Just make it one more time. You've seen my powers, and what I could do. So, just one favor, and I'll bring them back."

The process was familiar to me. I had repeated this process hundreds, thousands of times. I gave the excuse, that I was trying to perfect it, but it's a lie. I was only confirming my doubts. I wanted to make sure, I wanted to be absolutely certain that it was because of a faulty equipment, and not, because of my lack of skills. Only then could I sleep at night.

"You're doing good. Soon enough, you'll see them to be just fine."

I stopped for a moment as I felt two presences behind me. Their gazes seemed to be burning a hole in the back of my head as I kept my emotions in check. It was hard, my tears were forming as they dripped down without any control.

Truly, it's truly disgusting behavior.

I've learned a few things whilst making this potion over and over. It was around the time I started to make my own recipes. It was a bit difficult to believe at first. A brew that could bring such devastation, was only a single plants different than a healing potion. The process was so similar, so ridiculously familiar that I had to recheck again and again. To think that a brew that brings destruction is so close to another that protects life. The line was thinner that I ever thought.

"Be happy, you are helping a great cause. To stop great evils from harming others. Soon, you will se-"

"You don't actually read minds, only able to blind. Using such atrocities for your own benefit, for a good being, you're not a good fit." I cut if off calmly as I approached the last step.

Exactly nine point seven six grams of volcanic ash, only added after you've poured the rest of the concoction into the vial. Of course, I didn't reach for it. Rather, I bit my tongue. Opening my mouth as the metallic taste filled my mouth, I let a single drop fall into the beaker that held the rest of the brew.

"What!?" The voice asked as the world began to shake. "You are making a mistake! You're being fo-

It was an illusion, and I felt nothing as I focused.

"As a friend of mine would say. Fuck off." I stated before proceeding to drink the potion.

My mind felt clearer than ever as the world seemed to dissipate. I took the beaker away from my mouth, finding out that it was a wooden bowl. The equipment I used, they were all roughly made, barely able to make the standard. How did I even make the potion with this?

Hmm, I definitely made too much of it. There's at least half of it left.

Well, it's still a healing potion.

Ugh, my body. Really, what happened?

"AAHHHHH!" I suddenly heard a guttural scream.

"FOR FUCK'S SAKE! HOLD IT HARDER! BLOOD'S SPILLING OUT OF IT!" Was that, Moon?

Almost stumbling down, I moved my creaking body to check out the situation.

"IF I HOLD IT ANY HARDER, I'LL BREAK HIS RIBS!" That's, I don't quite recognize that voice.

"HOLY SHIT! FOUR OF THE BEST SPELLCASTER MY ASS! WHY DON'T NONE OF YOU KNOW ANY HEALING SPELLS!" Moon was yelling again.

"THE WOUNDS ARE TOO DEEP! OUR SPELLS AREN'T WORKING!" Looks like panic is at an all time high if even the Prince is yelling like that.

"WASN'T HE JUST FINE AN HOUR AGO!? WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED?!" Gilda, seems to have joined in.

"WILL YOU ALL JUST SHUT YOUR TRAPS AND PUT MORE PRESSURE ON THE WOUNDS!?" Floral silenced the crowd and took control, like he always does.

"Augh."

I groaned and barely stopped myself from falling down. My body, it's too injured still. I'm not sure what happened, but I'm very certain I have internal injuries. Keeping the potion at a position I wouldn't spill by accident, I slowly went around the treehouse. If only I could've gone through the tree itself to get to the other side.

"Hey?" The word came out more like a croak as I barely held myself from falling down by propping myself against the tree.

All eyes turned to me.

"Zecora?" Floral spoke first.

I looked through the gaps and saw Shining Armor on the floor with several dozens of different cloths beings pushed to stop his bleeding.

Knowing my consciousness was about to fade soon, I simply held up the bowl. Well, as much as I could anyway. It was barely raised by about a hoof before I lost strength. Thankfully, Floral is not an idiot like the rest, and caught me quickly.

"Thanks, Z. Now, take a rest." I heard his muffled voice before I finally fell asleep.

Author's Note

Sorry this one took a bit longer. I was watching Arcane, and got a bit too sad. Either I was much more emotional than I thought, or that show really was just that heartbreaking.

Anyways. I hope you like the Zecora chapter. Also, ain't no way in hell I would've ever written the whole thing in rhymes. That would've mentally killed me, and it would've taken me about a whole month to connect it together.

So, see you next time!