Inscribing the runes into the slates was irritating.

A general list of the things needed to simply inscribe runes into slates went as follows: A good chisel, liable to cost you quite a bit if you don't go for the cheap ones or one that's 'gently used'; at least half a dozen spare slates, just in case of mistakes or cracks; the magical stamina to hold both the slate and the chisel, and the telekinetic finesse to manipulate the chisel in such a way to carve the runes into the slates.

You also needed a bowl of water to dunk the slates into to remove all the excess dust from them.

Getting the correct chalk for the rune circle she was planning to make? Even worse.

When it comes to summoning something, you want fine chalk if you want better, more predictable results.

If you don't particularly care how powerful it is, then you can use chalk that's been mixed with flecks of other soft stones or gravel, but this often ends up with either your house destroyed due to the size of the thing you're trying to summon, on fire, both, or a puny little runt for a familiar.

Finer chalks often cost an arm and a leg. While she does have a treasury, it feels disgusting to use something intended for governance and paying the servants for this purpose.

What she's intending to try, though, isn't anything involving a familiar.

It's reconstruction of a body via DNA and magical residue samples, along with several other things needed.

While the magic within King Sombra's horn was still active, it might not stay that way if she didn't act.

Working on the trigger spell was the easiest, she was perfectly capable of creating spell matrix cascades: spells that could trigger other spells.

Alchemical reagents for a poison, that would then be reversed into a healing potion?

Now those tended to be right bastards to get.

First off, most poisonous herbs are banned from the markets in an attempt to curb particuarly pissed off exes, abusive single mothers and ornery, money-grubbing heirs from poisoning ponies that just happened to be their cheating bastard of an ex, their unfortunate kid that's caught in the crossfire of a messy divorce and is being blamed for it or the (perfectly fine, if senile) people they're inheriting an estate or a large sum of money from.

Second, anyone that has to sell poisonous herbs (i.e: for pest species) has to have a license. Anyone without this is suspended from selling anything for a time while their criminal records and history are investigated.

Third, the black markets rarely had what you needed, and, oftentimes, would simply sell you a mixed herb pouch that *might* do what you wanted.

Twilight needed specific reagents. A dubious mix of herbs wouldn't suffice for this.

Fortunately, the Everfree isn't governed by her, and she's friendly with a particular Zebra that specializes in alchemy, potioncrafts and herbs.

Under the cover of the evening, with the sun setting and painting the sky a marvelous tapestry of orange, red, purple and fading into black, with the moon rising, with the stars lighting up the sky in small points, Twilight travels to Ponyville.

She's gotten practice in flying, enough practice to the point where she can make the trip to Ponyville in a little under an hour now.

And she still remembers the sleepy little town like the back of her hoof.

(A home away from home.)

She takes the path to the Everfree Forest, though eventually the cobblestones fade to packed dirt, and then grass. There is a pause, before she takes a deep breath, lights her horn, and trots in, ears swivelling for any threats that couldn't be seen.

She comes across a branch – the grass looks flattened nearer to the left side, so that's where she walks. It must have fallen down from one of the older trees, or perhaps it couldn't handle the weight of a large creature climbing on it.

Rustling nearby, and she merely assumes that it's one of the smaller creatures scurrying into a den.

Without much fuss, she makes it to Zecora's house — a hollowed-out tree, adorned with masks and potted plants hanging from the branches, with rope — and she knocks on the door.

(She misses Golden Oaks Library. It's usually at the back of her mind these days, but Zecora's house looks similar to it if you take away everything that Zecora used to decorate the outside.)

The herbalist answers the door, ears perking forward. "Ah, Princess Twilight. What brings you to my home on this very night?"

(She's picked up so many mannerisms from ponies...)

"Oh, nothing much, I was wondering if you had some particular herbs..."

"A herbalist, I am indeed! It would be rude of me to refuse a friend in need." Zecora chimes, quite happy to give her wisdom on one of the areas she specializes in. "Come in, come in; it's safe here from the forest's din."

Twilight enters, happy to be in the non-literal embrace of an old friend. While Zecora likely has some more gray hairs than she previously did, she also now holds more wisdom in her words.

She takes a list of herbs out, and shows Zecora.

"Now, Twilight, whatever could you need these for? You can always show unruly suitors the door."

"No, no, it's nothing like that," (Did Zecora know something about poisoning people?) "I'd like to see if I can create a poison, then somehow reverse the effects with certain spell matrices."

"Why not just make a healing potion, and save yourself the commotion?"

"What I'm trying to do is reverse death. Um, Fluttershy was asking me if there was a way." The lie slips out of her lips just as easily as Zecora constructs her rhymes.

Zecora gives her a perplexed look. "Surely dear Fluttershy wouldn't want to stop a process so natural; I do wonder if the statement you have given is factual."

"...I'm trying to revive King Sombra because there's a few loose ends, and an entire school of magic that I don't know much about," Twilight blurts out, looking at the floor in shame, one hoof rubbing her forearm, "I mean, think about it, if there's an entire school of magic that nobody but him knew about, surely it could be used for some good?"

The question makes Zecora's brows furrow. "The road to Tartarus is paved in good intention; and what makes you think that a King so mad would follow your diction?"

"I found his diary, journal, notebook thing in his study. Me and Cadence were exploring the Crystal Empire's castle, and we came across his study," Twilight pauses, "I looked in it, and I think that if I could just get through to him, then maybe we could make another powerful ally!"

"Dear Twilight, I mean this politely; but absolute power corrupts absolutely," Zecora hums, before turning away to get some herbs from her stockpile, "I will give you herbs for treating the unwell; but death is something I cannot cure, I tell."

"Not even with a potion designed to kill someone, reversed?"

"Extremely unlikely; now, let us see..." She spreads out the herbs on a table, "Everglow Seeds, for magical needs. Living Limpets, in case life forgets. I lack Hearts Desire, do you have any other thing to enquire?"

"...Wouldn't there be more?"

"Of course; but he will eventually be as fit as a horse." A wink with a smile. It's as if Zecora is saying that she'll figure it out herself.

Twilight smiles, confidence renewed. "Thank you, Zecora. Is there any way I can repay you for these?"

This makes Zecora stop for a moment, putting a hoof to her mouth to think. "Perhaps some herbal tea, most sublime; but you ought to give this one time."

"So, herbal tea that takes a while to steep, or do you want me to gift you something for Hearthswarming?"

"Hearthswarming? I do not celebrate; taking some time to perfect is more my palate."

"Got it. I'll add it to the list." Twilight grins, ears perking forward, before realizing what she's saying. "Oh, I- I mean the list of things to get done tomorrow."

A slight laugh from the herbalist. "Oh, Twilight, do not fret; what you meant, I get."

"Haha. I guess I'll be seeing you soon."

"Please do, please do; I hope I've given your mind something to chew."

"Of course." She shuts her eyes, smiling, before heading out of the house, placing the herbs in her saddlebags with her magic.

Zecora is wiser than she currently is. Some small, young part of her wishes she could be as wise as her.

Author's Note

oh good lord a second one
yeah so this one was pre-written
from now on it's entirely new stuff i think
also i thought it'd be a good idea to chuck zecora in. she's not a main character but she might make appearances here and there because she's often underutilized or weirdly offcanon in fanfics