Pony of the Twelve Signs

After an hour the group had gathered in town square with various pieces of equipment. Rarity was wearing some boots an autumn scarf and had a bag of what seemed to be sewing supplies on her back, Fluttershy had a small bag of food on hers, Applejack had grabbed her lasso, Pinkie Pie had a folded up contraption with her as well as balloons a lot of balloons, Twilight had packed the few books on magical theory that hadn't been completely ruined in the last 36 hours, Shining Armor had his black scarf, and Luster; who had very few items for himself, and Rainbow Dash had brought nothing. They had arrived in the town square at separate times with Twilight, Luster, Shining Armor, and Spike arriving first and undoubtedly drawing the attention of the ponyfolk of the town with the prince and the new pony. By the time the others arrived the crowd was quite sizable and after a few minutes of shooing the crowd separated with some grumbling and the hope that they would be in town later.

"Now. Everypony ready?" Shining Armor asked taking command.

Everypony nodded except Pinkie who was bouncing.

"Pinkie are you ready?" Twilight asked her.

Pinkie Pie nodded maintaining the bounce.
As they neared the Everfree Forest Luster spoke up.

"So who is this Zacora?" Luster asked.

"She's an Evil Enchantress..." Pinkie chanted.

"She's a Zebra." Twilight said over Pinkie

"She does evil dances and when you look deep in her eyes she puts you in trances..."

"She is usually very mysterious and speaks cryptically." Twilight translated.

"And what she'll do is mix up an evil brew and gobble you up in a big tasty stew. Sooooooo watch out!!!" Pinkie finished.

"Pinkie we've been over this she doesn't eat ponies!" Twilight turned to Pinkie with some annoyance. "She just likes to make potions."

"I know I just wanted to freak out Luster." Pinkie said after a squee.

"So she's a zebra that talks cryptically and has exceptional alchemical skills?" asked Shining Armor.

"She is still downright creepy to me." Applejack said.

"Well then I'll follow you guys then." Said Luster who was getting uneasy about the forest.

After walking what seemed like a lifetime Twilight stopped.

"What is it Twily?" Shining armor asked.

"Did we pass Zacora's dear?" Rarity asked.

"Well how am I going to put this... We're lost and the evil of the forest is stronger here." Twilight replied with some uncertainty.

Both Shining Armor and Luster moved up to her flanks protectively. They heard a rustling in the bushes behind them.

"What are you doing! I thought you were forest animals who needed shooing." Sounded a voice behind them.

The group turned to see the cloaked figure of Zacora behind them.

"You have strayed from the path. Follow me back to where you meant to go." Spoke Zacora.

"Zacora where in the forest are we exactally?" Twilight asked.

"Not here now now where the trees can hear."

"Then lead on, I don't like this place either." Shining Armor added.

After walking for about an hour Zacora led them to a large clearing with green grass and a large stump in the middle with a striped staff sticking in it. Zacora led them to the stump and promptly jumped up on to of the staff and started balancing.

"Sit you will be here a bit." Zacora commanded.

After everypony had found a comfortable spot in the soft grass Zacora started speaking again.

"So now that I have your attention I can be devoted to answering your questions."

"I'll start by saying we need some advice on how to control magic." Twilight said.

"What is it that you need to learn that you don't already know?" Zacora replied.

"I don't know what you mean." Twilight responded.

"I think what Zacora is saying dear is that we all have ways of controlling our magic that Luster cannot use." Rarity figured.

"Is that so..." Zacora looked over to Luster while maintaining perfect balance. "Luster I presume, what do you know about magic of the friends who've brought you here?"

"Before I answer what does this have to do with controlling my own magic?" Luster asked.

"What your friends do may help you. Now, continue."

"Ok then" Luster stood up, "I'll start with Twilight because I've spent the most time with her."

Luster glanced over to Twilight who was sitting next to her brother across from him.

"Twilight controls her magic with a simple theory 'practice makes perfect' and only after studying a spell for hours to a point where she has mastered it's theory only then does she try it and afterward she masters all the aspects of the spell by practicing and experimenting with it."

"Twilight even Luster knows your an egghead!" Rainbow Dash blurted out.

"It's no secret I like to expand and continue my studies, whether it's history or magical theory."

"Your observations of her were superb. Continue." Zacora commanded.

"Now I come to Shiny here..." Luster began.

"Hey!" Shining Armor shouted inciting a chuckle from the others.

"Give it up buddy it's a good nickname. Now as I was saying." Luster spoke up again. "Now Shiny here only uses magic when necessary and in large bursts, larger than even Twilight's. He does this by storing his magical power in his brain using it as a form of temporary storage it also has benefited his mental development a little giving him better judgement the longer he holds it in. Another benefit to his method is that he can release it in a massive wave of energy and in his particular case most of his spells are shields of some kind."

"Neat trick isn't it Luster but your missing one thing I cannot store offensive magic I can only store defensive and mundane magic." Shining Armor added.

"Good good now what about Rarity?" Zacora asked.

Luster paused for a moment and glanced over to Rarity and noticed the one thing about her that didn't seem right.

"What is it dear cat got your tongue?" Rarity asked getting nervous about his long pause.

"No, no it's just your trick is a little hard to figure out I haven't witnessed you use magic yet but..." Luster lost himself in his thoughts.

"But what?"

"Correct me if i'm wrong but your boots were clean when we got here right?" Luster asked.

"Yes but what does this have to..." Rarity said but was cut off.

"So you expect me to believe that your boots stayed clean through all that mud and dirt! Haha I know your trick you don't cast spells often because you are constantly using magic!"

"So your saying she 'enchants' things?" Twilight asked curious.

"In a way she like me cannot store her magic so she just uses it constantly so she won't get any outbursts by doing simple things like making her boots dirt-proof."

"Very good Luster for a moment I thought you were hot air and buster." Zacora said in a kind of rhyme.

"One thing Zacora how do you know so much about magic when you yourself cannot use it?" Twilight asked.

"When I was a little one I read
for fun."

"Like what!?!" Pinkie interjected.

"Many histories did I read one was of the old unicorn creed."

"What's the unicorn creed, if you don't mine my askin?" cut in Applejack.

"Long ago before peace rested between the ponyfolk a mighty queen ruled over the land. So corrupted by power was she that her body had changed into a grotesque bug-like shell...."

"Um sorry to interrupt but what is grotesque?" Spike cut in apologetically.

"Oh Spike it means disgusting or repulsive to look at." Twilight answered him.

Spike looked at her curiously obviously not getting it.

"You'd not want to look at her." Said Twilight opting for the simpler answer.

"Oh I get it now... Go on Zacora."

"Though she was no longer her beautiful perfect form she could prolong her life by sucking up all of the love in the empire. Slowly one by one the unicorns of the land became as deformed as she was. Their skin was black, their eyes were green, and their teeth were fanged. After 4 years of this three Unicorns from all walks of life in the empire made a pact called the Unicorn Creed to always oppose the monsters that had once been good friends. These Unicorns were Queen Moonbeam, Retainer Golden Hill, and Lord Silva."

Zacora took the moment to pause here and take a deep breath. Luster looked up at the sky and found that it was night. He had been so engrossed in the story that time had slipped by.

"Zacora I know y'all are tellin us a mighty fine tale but migh we git ourselves a bite to eat?" Applejack asked after her stomach growled

"Suit yourselves the night is young and my story is not yet done."

"Thank you." Fluttershy said with everypony's agreement.

Applejack got up and grabbed her saddlebag and proceeded to give everypony 2 apples each. When asked for something to drink Zacora pointed them to a pool of fresh water on the edge of the clearing. Luster was sitting on the edge of the clearing, had never spent the night outside of a city or town was awed by the beauty of the night sky. He barely noticed when Shining Armor walked over and sat next to him.

"You know I've never seen them this bright either."

"Says the guard who is always cooped up protecting royalty."

"Who says I'm not."

Luster glanced over at Twilight who was laughing with her friends and then looked back to Shining Armor.

"You don't mean?"

"Yes I do, sadly, I don't know how to break it to her." Shining Armor looked down as he said it.

"You're her brother I'm sure you'll find a way."

Shining Armor looked over at Twilight.

"I hope so Luster, I hope so."

They both looked up at the stars again just in time to see one shoot off in the distance.

"Hey what are you two little sneaky quiet pies doing over there Zacora's got a story to finish!" Shouted the unmistakable voice of Pinkie Pie who had set up some glowing balloons to light the clearing.

"Well better go and listen, this is to help you, you know." Shining Armor said getting up, "I just hope I am not over thinking my duties."

"You aren't." said Luster getting up, "Let's finish the story."