~Chapter Thirty~

The two mares stared one another down as the light above the canopy slowly grew, the dark clouds above dispersing and permitting the sun’s warm rays to warm the land once more. Spike glanced nervously between the two of them, his claws clasped together as his eyes darted from the Shaman that held him in place and the visibly enraged mare on the other side of the yard.

“Zecora…” Dimmed Star’s growling voice rumbled forth, her teeth clenched tight in an effort to maintain her temperament. Her teal pupils darted between the captive drake and the Zebrican Shaman who watched the dark mare carefully before turning to the drake in her grasp, passing on a reassuring smile in response to his uncertain expression.

“Hello Spike, it is good to see you. A visit, I fear, that has been long overdue.” The youngling looked up to the mare’s strong cyan eyes, a nervous tremble trailing down his frame as his claws gripped one another tighter.

“H-hi Zecora… um, you-... I uh…” Zecora chuckled softly at his nervous attempts to converse, before resting her free hoof upon his head in a comforting motion, the movement causing her multitude of golden jewelry to chime as they came into contact with one another.

“There is no need for you to fret, I will only be keeping you for a moment yet. Why don’t you go on inside, your friend and I have much to decide.” His heart tight in worry and no small amount of fear, Spike looked back towards his irate guardian for some form of assistance. Dimmed Star for her part was struggling against herself. Her anger at the Shaman for having separated the two of them like this was potent, but her worry for the drake’s safety and concerns of the unknown magic superseded her rage on a monumental scale. Breathing carefully, the dark mare gave the young wyrm an uneasy smile, nodding towards the home.

“Go ahead, Spike… Zecora just wants to talk, I’m sure…” Her eyes darted back to the silent zebra who only nodded in affirmation, her cheerful expression having remained unchanged as she softly stroked the scales upon the young drake’s head. A quiet pause took place as Spike watched the two of them worriedly, before finally relenting to the adult’s whims and moving to step within the confines of the small home, Zecora carefully releasing her hold on his tail once she could be sure he was moving in the right direction. However, just as the door was about to close, Zecora caught the edge with a hoof and gave the youngling a discerning stare.

“Oh and one more thing. Beneath the covers that I have sewn, if you would be so kind as to leave my patient alone.” Although her face was still smiling, Spike could read from Zecora’s eyes that she promised a most unpleasant outcome should he disobey. Nodding rapidly, he found himself unable to respond as his mouth suddenly felt dry and his heart pounded in his ears.

“Good, then we shall see you soon. There are some jade gem shavings beneath the cupboard you will see. Should you grow hungry, you may enjoy as much as you like, so please feel free.” With that, the door was closed and Spike found himself left to the silent space of Zecora’s home.

~ ~ ~

Breathing a sigh of relief, Zecora counted the seconds she needed to brace herself for the coming conversation, it had arrived far sooner than she had planned. Even worse, she wasn’t sure if she was up to it. Turning back to face the dark mare that stood beyond her home’s defenses was harder than it seemed, her heart aching as her eyes landed on the form of what had once been a dear friend. Pushing aside the dregs of her worry, the shaman stepped away from the door and down the few steps needed to place herself just before the simmering mare and her veritable lake of black tar that bubbled around her…

‘What?’ Blinking rapidly, Zecora found herself quickly stepping back as she stared at the mass of dark fluid that now encompassed much of her front yard, its boiling surface hissing as the greenery beneath turned to ash and small plumes of smoke seethed from beneath. A nervous tremor made its way through her body as she quickly locked eyes with the rather irate mare beyond the barrier. Her mind flashed back to the first time she had come across the… creature... that her friend had become…

~ ~ ~

“Hmm hm hmm hm, hmm hm hmm~” A soft tune hummed through the early morning air as Zecora strolled through the frequently used path towards her home. Several bags of herbs and roots were strapped to her sides beneath the worn cloak that kept the cool morning dew upon the leaves and grass from brushing against her fur, it had been a bountiful start of harvest. Her normal route had been all but run dry of anything useful, thus leading to the spiritual mare taking a more uncommon trail in search of the ingredients she needed for many of her usual potions and spells that the townsfolk of Ponyville would often purchase.

‘I’ll have to remember where that patch of thistle grows, it is not often that I can find so much in such a small alcove.’ The skip in her step spoke volumes of her excitement as she rounded a small oak and made her way over to a worn stump, one of many resting spots that had been selected over her time living in the Everfree. The sound of a Cockatrice’s cry could be heard through the trees to the south, but it was distant and Cockatrice were normally nocturnal hunters, she would have nothing to fear at this hour of the morning. Unstrapping the many heavy satchels that lay upon her back, Zecora set them alongside the wooden seat and dipped a searching hoof into one, fishing out a single cloth from one and opening it to reveal several colorful berries and flowers, a fruitful snack to restore her energy for the remainder of her trot home.

As she ate, Zecora closed her eyes and breathed deeply, the early crisp air chilled her to her very core, yet its refreshing nature left her feeling at peace and content with the promising start of a new day. The cries of the Cockatrice were oddly soothing, almost like a lullaby despite the early hours. Returning to her melodic tune, Zecora hummed and swayed herself left and right to the rhythm, sometimes pausing to allow the Cockatrice its own place in her impromptu concert.

That was until a vicious screech overtook the peaceful morning, sending the cries of birds into the air as the sound of something heavy slamming into the ground could be heard in the distance. Leaping from her seat, Zecora’s eyes watched the treeline carefully as her ears flicked to and fro, listening for any potential threats that could sneak up on her. Another thud and the sound of something cracking, akin to a tree being bent over, once more echoed through the air along with… was that laughter?

‘What in the name of the Goddess…?’ A throaty, manic cackle was now filling the air, its strange reverberations had at first lead her to believe there was more than one participant. Worry gripping her heart, Zecora galloped full tilt in the direction of the racket, her satchels and meal laying forgotten near the stump.

A trot through the thick underbrush of the forest had most certainly not been on Zecora’s list of things to do this morning when she had first set out on her usual route, but any thought lamenting this was lost in the myriad of concerns that flew through her mind as she sought the source of the conflict that was shaking the forest with each renewed screech and haunting laugh. Just as the shaman made to jump over a small brook, she was forced to jump away as something massive and green crashed through the quiet section of forest. Staring in shock, the stunned mare had to blink several times to make sure that what she was seeing was real.

It was as if the creature had leaped right from the old storybooks! An ethereal green body the size of a small home, moss and other greenery growing from the top of its back and the two great pincers in front. A deadly tail swung through the air, its sharp stinger seeking purchase on an imaginary foe as bright green venom dripped from the tip, an Everfree Scorpio! A near-extinct species from what Zecora could recall, although this particular specimen looked too small to be a full adult, despite its already impressive bulk. From what little was known, the celestial Scorpio’s were all but secluded to the badlands in the Dragon territory. Although this was a grand discovery, there were several things wrong with this particular specimen, like the fact that it’s left claw was missing the lower portion of its pincer, fluorescent green blood pouring from the gaping wound, or the myriad of fresh gashes that littered the celestial beast’s hard carapace, more of the creature’s life essence seeping from several that cut through the weaker parts of its carapace. The poor creature was panicked, trying to claw at something on its back while its great tail lashed out randomly, tearing down trees and decimating the landscape.

‘By the spirits…’ Zecora watched in both wonder and horror at the sight, the Scorpio’s terrified screech filling the air as it turned and she could finally see what ailed it. Her stomach churned with its contents as the source of the maniacal cackling came into view upon the back of the great beast. If the Scorpio looked as though it had been born from a fairy tale, then this… thing... could only have come from some poor soul’s horrid nightmare! Its form was vaguely pony shaped, but that is where any similarity ended as it’s wide jaws were split in a disgusting facsimile of a smile, sharp teeth the length of small daggers jutting out from the blackened lips. A long black tongue arched through the air as if tasting the very scent of the copious amounts of celestial blood that poured from the wound it had rooted itself in. A vile black fluid cacked the area of carapace around the foul thing, tendrils of the fluid rising and slashing at the exposed flesh of the wounded Scorpio, eliciting more pained cries.

Rearing back, the Scorpio’s tail flailed dangerously, attempting to knock the creature from its back. What the dark monstrosity did next not only caught Zecora by surprise but left the Scorpio screeching louder than ever before. As the tail had swiped close to it, the creature had turned and in a blink, snapped its jaws around the length of the tail, leaving the top half to fall away to the ground below in a shower of its blood and venom. Giving a hearty laugh at the Scorpio’s plight as it screeched in pain and rage, the creature suddenly melted into the great carapace. Just as quickly as the battle had begun, it ended with what looked to be dozens of black spikes erupting from within the poor celestial’s body. Frozen in utter shock, Zecora looked on as with a final shudder and weak cry from its mandibles, the once majestic beast finally crumpled to the ground with a heavy thud.

“This is disgusting!!” The vile creature’s voice echoed from within the body of the Scorpio before it came sliding out of the side of the beast, leaving a trail of dripping black fluid and a dark stain upon the carapace that cracked and began to chip away. As the dark creature trotted away from its kill, it spat in disgust as it tried to cleanse its palette of the, apparently horrible, taste of the celestial beast. Slowly, the creature’s body began to shrink from its lanky form, the dark fluid around it seeming to soak into its hooves.

“What an unbelievable waste of time!” The creature, now in a form far more closely resembling a normal unicorn mare, shouted to the sky, her ire at the wasted hunt clearly visible by the expression on her face. Zecora watched the mare cautiously, her eyes slowly beginning to glow with a golden hue. This mare’s aura was foul, as though a sickness made manifest within her very being… Had she escaped from Tartarus? It was possible, as it was the only place she could think of that could birth such a thing.

“How can something that smells so delicious, taste so gross…” Grumbling to herself, the mare trotted away back towards the treeline, her irritation apparent given the expression on her face. As she faded into the shadows of the trees, Zecora slowly stepped out and into the open, approaching the downed carcass of the Scorpio and placing a solemn hoof against its hard shell.

“A sorrowful end to such a rare find, if only there were a remedy that could reverse time.” Giving a silent prayer for the creature’s soul to find peace, Zecora turned her gaze to the direction that the dark mare had wandered, her turquoise eyes shining with determination as she trotted after her.

~ ~ ~

The shaman had followed the dark mare until she reached Ponyville, and though she worried that the mare would become hostile upon entering the township, it seemed more likely that she actually lived there! Many of the ponies that worked the early morning shift in the market would give the mare careful waves and even the occasional smile. Nopony was panicking at the sight of a mare, covered hoof to mane in the fluorescent lifeblood of a celestial beast! The exact details were lost on her but further tracking found that the mare lived in the same library as her friend Twilight Sparkle, even the young Spike seemed happy to see her when he opened the door in greeting. It was the work of several days of observation and interrogating the patrons of the market before she finally discovered who the mare was, and consequently, who she had been.

The same dark fluid used to fell one of the hardiest species of the Everfree boiled and hissed a mere hoofsteps pace away from her. The only security that it would bring her no harm was the barrier that stood between them, although she was uncertain for how much longer it would remain. Glancing cautiously to where the invisible wall separated them, Zecora pondered over whether or not the stone would hold out for much longer, the sands of time were against her in the war of attrition.

“Are you going to say something, or just stare at me all damned day?” Dimmed Star’s growling voice finally roused the shaman from her thoughts, bringing her back to the current situation at hoof. Coughing lightly, a slight blush upon her cheeks, Zecora nodded to the mare with a light chuckle.

“Ah, yes, I supposed we should get started then-” A horrendous screeching, like the sound of a hoof on a chalkboard, sent the zebra’s ears to flatten against her head as she cringed at the horrible sound, eyes catching sight of a clawed tendril scraping against the wall of the barrier, its golden light rippling from the contact.

“What is this magic?!” Her voice and eyes demanding answers, Dimmed Star glared teal daggers into the eyes of the shaman. Bracing herself for any further surprises, Zecora huffed in annoyance.

“Not all magic can you safely endure, it took a great deal of time to make this method pure. Had you not ventured into the Everfree as much, then I would have never found the counter to your dark touch.” Glaring back into Dimmed Star’s eyes, the shaman held her ground, stomping a hoof to try and maintain a tougher facade.

“Now if you don’t mind, a civil discussion I had hoped to find. I do not want this to see a violent end, especially from one so dear as a friend.” The two mares continued to stare each other down for a moment longer, before Dimmed Star finally relented, seeing that her anger would get her nowhere in this conversation. Something within the depths of her heart ached for it to go further, but she pushed the urge down, her concern for Spike keeping her grounded for the time being.

“Fine, we’ll do it your way, for now…” As she spoke, the Ink that had surrounded her slowly began to seep back into her hooves, leaving behind a devastated landscape. Mourning the loss of her yard and no small number of her ornaments that were no longer visible, Zecora sighed in acceptance. At least she hadn’t attacked the barrier again outright, the stone may not have held a full onslaught.

“Thank you, I do appreciate the gesture, though I do not mean to pester.” Dimmed Star’s eyes rolled in annoyance, a low growl in her throat.

“Whatever, will you just take down the shield now?” That shaman’s eyes carefully traced the mare’s body, searching for any signs of hostility.

‘She hasn’t harmed anypony in town that I know of… but I have also drawn her anger by keeping her from the ones she loves…’The tension in the air slowly grew thicker as Dimmed Star’s impatience grew more visible, the fur on her neck bristling if only slightly as the dark mare’s glaring eyes stared venomously into her own. Swallowing thickly, the shaman deemed it would be more beneficial to steer the conversation towards something the mare would care more about, or more specifically, some-filly.

“I shall consider your request, but first, isn’t there something more important you wish to ask? I’m sure there was a reason you would rush to enter my home, and I’m certain it wasn’t to collect an overdue tome.” Raising an eyebrow, Zecora angled her head just enough to nod towards the great tree, her eyes never leaving Dimmed Star’s. The dark mare’s own expression changed rather quickly, surprise evident in her features as her attention now snapped to the treehouse itself.

“Scootaloo! Is she okay!?” The sudden change in her demeanor was a bit startling, to say the least. Especially after having been witness to a fraction of the dark mare’s more volatile temperament.

“She is safe, of that, you can be certain. But her condition is…,” The sharp look that the dark mare shot in her direction regarding the filly’s condition quickly made the shaman rethink the wording of what came next.

“... Improving… It will take some time before she can return to Ponyville, I cannot take a risk in moving her for a few days as she heals.” Despite her attempts to keep the situation calm, Dimmed Star still seemed to be visibly struggling to maintain her form.

“How… bad… is she…?” Sighing dejectedly, Zecora shook her head in slight defiance.

“I am sorry, truly, but even I cannot be sure. For some of the damage, I could find no cure. Her fever has hardly taken a rest, but I can assure you that I am truly doing my best. In this I ask that you take heed, please give me the time and space that I need.” Dimmed Star glared at the tree home beyond the shaman, her eyes straining to see past the wooden surface, to see something that would disperse her worries and anxiety. Gritting her teeth, the slight taste of her Ink in her mouth, she turned back to the striped mare with a small nod, her frame slumping in defeat as her ears fell back.

“How long?” At that moment, Zecora’s eyes flashed with her golden magic, giving her the slightest glimpse past the raging dark aura that had been all but consuming her form. There, in the heart of that terrible storm, a soft glow of a warm light could be seen. Breathing a sigh of relief, a genuine smile grace Zecora’s lips.

‘At last, some proof that all is not lost. Perhaps there is salvation, even if it has a cost…’

“Four days at the least, perhaps even five should the fever choose not to subside. But after that, she will need much support… I fear the wounds run far deeper than my initial report.” Dimmed Star seemed to contemplate the response, her face twisting from one emotion to the next as she seemed uncertain whether to be angry or depressed at this news.

‘I should have torn that bastard apart on my doorstep!’

“Now, that discussion aside, I would love to hear the tale that led poor Scootaloo into the forest to hide.” Glancing up from her thoughts, Dimmed Star scoffed at the striped mare’s rather irritating glare.

“Long story short, her father was a repugnant piece of filth and her mother was a useless bag of flesh and bones, no seriously she was dead when I got there. Both are now laying lifeless in the mud and I’m sorry to say I didn’t get the satisfaction of tearing them apart myself… well, mostly…” A wicked grin split Dimmed Star’s features as she remembered the many tortuous things that Scootaloo’s father was put through before he succumbed to his wounds. His screams would be lulling her to sleep for the next month at least! The sound of Zecora clearing her throat to gain her attention quickly brought her back to the present, now huffing at the disapproving eyes of the shaman.

“They may have wronged her in many ways, but they were still her parents and she no doubt loved them in her own way. Your anger, though just, has left the poor filly alone, how exactly do you intend to tell her that she no longer has a home?” Blinking in surprise, Dimmed Star stared back over at the treehouse in wonder and worry. An orphan…? Was that what Scootaloo would be from now on? Thoughts of the filly going away to Canterlot or Cloudsdale to live in an orphanage or some random foster home invaded her mind…

“NO!” Slamming her hooves against the barrier, Dimmed Star roared her denial as Zecora stepped away, her eyes watching the barrier carefully with a heightened level of concern. Grinding her teeth together, the dark mare allowed herself to be pushed away by the shield's forceful shove, placing her several paces away once more.

“I… I wasn’t sure what I would do when I found her… but I wasn’t going to just leave her to die! And I’ll be thrice-damned to Tartarus before I let her go to some random pony that could hurt her again! ” Dimmed Star growled out, her teal iris’ glaring at the shaman who watched her carefully. After barely a few moments had passed, Zecora’s smile returned and she nodded approvingly.

“Knowing that, I can trust that she would be safe to leave with you, when she is ready, that is what she will do. However-” Holding up a hoof to stall the dark mare’s questioning gaze, she gave a small nod towards the barrier’s edge.

“On that day, I will only release her, once you have passed through the barrier undeterred.” Confusion quickly overtook Dimmed Star’s features as she looked to where she knew the shield to reside.

“What are you-” A muffled cry echoed from within the treehouse behind them, startling both mares as they immediately looked to find Spike rushing from the door, his eyes panicked and tears streaking down his cheeks.

“Z-Zecora! She woke up! I-I didn’t mean to!” Zecora’s eyes widened as she darted towards the home, a curse from her homeland slipping through her clenched teeth. Dodging out of her path, Spike ran straight through the barrier and into Dimmed Star’s arms, his cries buried in her chest.

“Spike, Spike look at me, what happened?! SPIKE!?” The whelp wheezed into her, refusing to speak despite the dark mare’s desperate pleas for information.

~ ~ ~

As the door closed in front of him, Spike found himself alone in the small home, the scents of the many herbs, spices and potions assailed his nostrils.

“I hope Zecora knows what she’s doing…” Sighing quietly, his emerald gaze traced the confines of the living space, curiously staring at the many different and unique decorations that were hung up on the walls and ceiling.

‘I wonder where she gets all this stuff, or does she make it herself? Could she make me one?’ Chuckling, he began to make faces at one of the masks closer to his eye level until its large empty eyes slowly began to eat away at his confidence.

‘On second thought, maybe not…’ As he nervously stepped away from the object, the young wyrm began to wander the home, taking a lap around the cauldron at a sedate pace. As he rounded the large pot near the back of the living space, he found himself frozen in place as his sight landed on the mound of blankets that covered the bed. Anxiety began to fill his stomach as he watched the covers rise and fall with a slow, steady breathing.

‘Beneath the covers that I have sewn, if you would be so kind as to leave my patient alone…’ The shaman’s warning crossed his mind even as he stepped a bit closer towards the bed. The smell of makeup and sweat was heavy here, causing him to breathe a bit shallower to prevent overloading his senses. Looking back over towards the door, he struggled with himself as he fought to decide on the right course of action. On one claw, he respected Zecora and trusted that she had good intentions but on the other, he and Dimmed Star had spent what felt like hours chasing Scootaloo’s trail through the Everfree in desperation. Standing on the tips of his back claws, the young drake attempted to crane his neck to see over the edge of the bed, the smallest bit of orange fur was only just visible, giving him the courage he needed to go for broke.

“Uh… Scootaloo?” As quietly as he could, Spike whispered to try and rouse the sleeping filly from beneath the blankets. Despite Zecora’s words to leave the filly alone, he couldn’t help but worry for his friend. If he could just talk to her, then he could tell Dimmed Star that everything was okay and they could all go home! No response came however which only served to push the drake further.

‘I’m not gonna let Star down!’ Quickly making his way towards the bedside, Spike grasped ahold to the wooden frame. After several trying attempts, he managed to pull himself up to the side of the bed, his tail extended out for balance as he wobbled on the edge of the frame.

“Hey Scoot, we were-” Spike’s voice caught in his throat as his reptilian gaze landed on the visage of his friend, the state of her health now in full view. With a yelp of shock and horror, his grip relaxed too much and he found himself falling from the bedside, collapsing to the ground and knocking over a nearby trash bin. The contents spilled out before him, his eyes locking on to the mass of bloodied bandages and ruined clothe. Desperately crawling away from the mess, the sound of something above drew his attention.

“Ghu-...ik-...ug-...” Scootaloo was nearly sitting up in the bed, her hooves reaching for something unseen above her. The wet cloth that had covered her forehead and eyes had fallen away, revealing the tear-filled orbs beneath as they shook in fear and agony. Her mouth hung open as she fought to speak, to scream, to make any sound that could escape from her heavily bandaged throat, the small red spots on the cloth slowly growing larger the more she tried. Horrified at what he had done, what he had forced his friend to wake up to, Spike turned away and bolted for the door, yanking it open and running as far away from the guilt as he could.

~ ~ ~

Eyes darting towards the open door of the shaman’s home, Dimmed Star made to step forward, before being abruptly reminded of the golden barrier that quickly pushed her further away with Spike still clutching tightly to her barrel. A growl in her throat, she clenched her eyes tight and brought a hoof around the back of the young drake, lifting him off the ground enough for her to carry him as she turned and galloped through the treeline as best she could with three legs, back towards town.

“Damn it all!” There was nothing they could do, the filly was in Zecora’s hooves and the only option left for her was to wait… A single tendril of Ink lashed out from the side of her barrel, cleaving a large tree to its core as she screamed in frustration while she ran. As her form faded in the distance, turquoise eyes watched from one of the windows to the shaman’s home, a small glint of golden light flashing in their center.

Author's Note

Twilight/Dimmed: "Where is/he!?!?"

Applejack: "Woah now! Ah know y'all are upset wit' how long he's been away, but y'all can't go an' tear em' up anymore! The fans're sick of it!"

Twilight: Growling vehemently"Oh, I'm not gonna hurt him, I promise"

Dimmed Star: "Physically anyways..."

Applejack: "Ah heard that Dimmed Star!"

Pinkie Pie: "Besides, he has a really good reason this time you guys! Zecora's rhyming is hard enough! He had to call in the expert and everything! Oh, plus there's the whole 2020 being the start of a bad sitcom based around the apocalypse."

Twilight: " The expert? Who could he have called in to help him with rhyming, it's not that hard! Besides he has a whole crew of test readers and a proofreader to boot, I'm sure he could have gotten it out sooner."

Applejack: "Well, he got somepony called Whispering Shadows or sumthin, don't think ah'v ever met em' before."

Someplace secluded

Shaded: "Oof, thanks so much for the help, it's been such a pain trying to sort this rhyming thing out."

Whispering: "It's fine, you can give me a call anytime you need some help. Now, don't forget to call tomorrow, we need to keep in touch with all this virus nonsense, you're family is worried about you."

Shaded: "Yea I know..."

Whispering: "Good, love you son."

Shaded: groans in embarrasment "Love you too mom."

Shaded Blood does not own MLP: FIM or the Equinox ponies. A special thanks to Kuunlehti for proofreading and editing! Also a special thanks to Neonyoshi, Umbra Animo, Morior (Discord) and Ancientarchdemon (Discord), for Test reading and providing great Feedback! A special Thanks to Whispering Shadow as well for the MUCH needed assistance with Rhymes! If you are enjoying the story, leave a like and comment, also don't forget to follow for blog updates. The link to the Discord, Twitter and Facebook pages will be below!

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