I sat down at the table and looked at the food infront of me. I am not a picky zebra, but I raised an eyebrow at the meal. Seth sat down and looked at everyone. "Sorry, I worked with what I could find. It was hard to find vegetation... Meat seems to be more prominent here."
"Well at least you and I are set..." Ganger said, picking the meat up in her magic.
"I didn't know changelings ate meat?" I said. She looked at me and the others and set the steak down.
"Something wrong, dear?" Rarity asked.
"I just realized that's probably pony or zebra meat..." I heard coughing and looked over at Seth. He spit the piece of steak out and threw it out of the window. The closed window. The sound of shattering glass was loud and gave me a headache.
"Well, shit. Sorry guys I just cooked what I could find." He sat back in his chair. "Looks like I'm going hungry..." I looked over at Ganger. She was glaring at the plate.
"I think we should tell him. And then we get out of this place."
"Tell who, what?" I asked.
"Zeta," Velvet started. I looked at her. "Do you remember what happened two weeks ago?"
"Not entirely." I shook my head. "I remember the zebras taking you and Ganger away." The others scooted away from me. I tilted my head and looked at my mane. I sighed and calmed down. "Sorry. After that, I only remember fragments."
"What were those fragments?" Asked Twilight.
"I remember escaping the cell and yelling for Velvet, seeing what those zebras did to her." I noticed I was shaking, and the others were looking at Seth. I looked at him and saw that one of his eyes were red. I closed my eyes and continued. "And seeing Ganger and pointing in the direction of Velvet. And...that's it."
"That's it!? You don't remember anything else!?" I jumped at the outburst and looked at who it was. It was Ganger. "All of the lives you ruined, zebras you've killed?! None of it!?" She yelled.
I shook my head. "No." I looked outside, at all of the destruction. "So I am responsible for the state of the village?"
"I'm sorry Zeta, but yes." Twilight said.
I looked down at my plate. "Then I'm sorry to say this, but they deserved it..."
"What!?!?" the ponies and changeling yelled.
"I have to agree, you know?" Seth said.
"H-honey?"
"Sorry Fluttershy, but here's how I see it: Velvet, you may not be alive if it wasn't for him. Ganger escaped on her own. She would have survived, but you were helpless. By killing them off, he prevented them from killing again."
"If I remember correctly, some got away. What about them?" Velvet asked.
"Well hopefully they're scared shit-less and wont do it again."
"Or they'll die in the desert..." I said coldly. "Good bucking riddance either way."
"When did you become so cold hearted?"
I started to say something but Seth stopped me. "From what I heard, you two are Zeta's first friends, right? Just think about it. I'd be- well I was the same way." He looked at the group. "Remember? The first time I died?" They nodded. Velvet and Ganger's eyes went wide. "It's the same thing. The difference here being, instead of a hydra, it was a village. He was just trying to protect you two. Unfortunately, he let his Demon control him." He looked at me. "You're lucky. Your Demon wasn't parasitic like mine."
"H-how do you know?"
He shrugged. "Because, you would be dead." He hit the table with his fist. "Now, in light of this, do we have a right to hate Zeta?"
"But how can we no-" Ganger started.
"I said 'hate'. You can be angry at him for doing what he did, but just remember why he did it." Velvet and Ganger reluctantly nodded their heads. The others seemed to understand where he was coming from. "Now shut up and eat, this is starting to put me on edge."
It's an hour after lunch. The others went their separate ways, I was told to stay here until the others, or atleast Seth, returned. The door opened and Twilight walked in.
"Is it only you?" I asked, with a raised eyebrow.
She nodded. "For now. No funny business or-"
"You have nothing to worry about Ms. Sparkle."
"I'm sure I don't." She cleared her throat. "I just wanted to know if you wanted to be treated."
I narrowed my eyes. "For what?"
"Your curse. The princesses might be able to help you the same way they help Seth."
"How?"
She smiled. "With a spell tha-"
"No..."
"...I'm sorry?" She asked, confused.
"There has to be a more natural way. If not, Then I live with it..."
"But-"
"I do not mean to came off as rude Twilight, but I refuse. I must conquer this curse on my own."
After a few seconds of thought, she slowly nodded her head. "I think I understand. Seth mentioned you might refuse so we were kind of prepared." She chuckled. "Anyway, the others should be in here shortly."
"And until then?"
"Well I'm...not sure." She looked down at the floor.
After a few seconds of awkward silence, I thought of something. "Where are you from?"
She picked up her head and smiled. "Ponyville, Equestria. But I'm originally from Canterlot."
"Are you friends with Velvet? She said she was from Ponyville."
"Well no actually." I raised an eyebrow. "More like acquaintances. She left before we had a chance to really hang out."
"I see..." The door opened and the others walked in.
"Everyone ready?" Seth asked.
"I believe we are. Zeta?"
"Ready for what?"
"We are leaving."
"But you used up the last bit of food!"
"We're going to use a long distance teleportation spell." Twilight said. "Rarity, Velvet, and I might be out of commission for awhile but with the amount of supplies we have."
"Is it safe?"
"For one unicorn? No. For two maybe. But with three unicorns, we have nothing to worry about." She smiled and nodded.
"Trust me sugar-cube, I'm not too sure about it either but it's the only option we have."
"Lest one or all of us die." Seth said. The others gave him a dirty look. "Well? Whatcha waiting for girls?"
"Right!" The three unicorns said, as their horns started to glow. The air started swirl around as the glow grew in intensity. it wasn't long before i felt like we were in a vortex. Their horns were almost blinding to look at. There was a loud sound and then everything went black.
"Zeta?" I slowly opened my eyes. "You okay?" I blinked a few times. It was Velvet.
"Where am I?" I looked around. I was in a bed in a fancy room. "Did the spell work?"
"You're in Canterlot. We're home Zeta!"
"You're home I was exiled from mine." She frowned. "But you know what?"
"What?"
"The plan was to make this my new home." I smiled.
"I'm glad you remember our goal." She turned towards the door. "Come on, Breakfast is almost ready." I got out of the bed I have been laying in, and followed her.
When we reached the dining room, I saw the others. The ponies and Ganger were sitting quietly around the table. Seth was siting closest to the Princesses and talking with them. Seth looked over. "Ah and here he is."
"Hello Zeta. My name is Celestia, and this is my sister Luna."
"Pleasure to meet you." I bowed.
"Seth has told us everything." I froze. "I have suggested the same spell we used on Seth, but Twilight said you refused."
"It is true." I said, slowly standing up.
"I see... Would you like to stay here or go to Ponyville?"
I tilted my head. "Where are my friends going?"
Celestia smiled. "I think that answered my question."
"You must be hungry." Luna said. "Eat, I'm sure you will find it to your liking."
I sat down and looked at my plate. It did look pretty good. I started to eat, but noticed the others were staring at me and stopped. "What's wrong?"
"We just want to see if you like the food. That's all." Said Celestia.
I raised an eyebrow and sniffed the food. It smelled weird. Like it had an acidic scent to it. Only one thing came to mind. They were trying to poison me! "What is the meaning of this?" Everyone raised an eyebrow and looked at the princesses.
"What are you talking about?" Asked Luna.
"I have been around many herbs and plants to know these leaves are poisonous! What reason have you for this?"
Seth glared at Celestia. "Princess? Is this true."
She looked around nervously and sighed. "Yes." Everyone, even Luna gasped. "But I have reason to do this."
"Before you start," Said Seth, pulling out a knife. "You remember our agreement?"
She nodded. "Yes Seth, I do." She looked at everyone. "You all remember 'Seth's Revenge'?" They nodded. "I decided that it would be best if we never had in incident like that again."
"So you turn to assassination?!" Luna yelled. "This is much unlike you sister."
"Anything to protect this country!"
"Enough!" Seth yelled. "Just remember Celestia, you are in favor of this." She said nothing and nodded. "Very well."
"What are you-?" Luna tried to ask.
"For the New Lunar Republic!" And he slit her throat.
We all just looked at the scene, until I notice them all staring at me again. "WAKE UP!!"
I woke with a start and looked around. I was in the dinning room. The others were staring at me with concern. "Are you okay Zeta?" I heard Celestia ask. I glared at her and sniffed my food, nothing was wrong with it. "Did he just glare at me?"
"I think so sister." Luna said.
Seth chuckled. Must've had a weird dream."
I shook my head. "Yes, I did. What happened?"
"We're not sure... You looked at your plate and you passed out." Said Luna. "Are you sure you are feeling okay?"
"I am now. Thanks for your concern." I took my fork and began to eat along with everyone else.
After we were done eating we got on the train to Ponyville. It was an uneventful and boring ride, but it gave Velvet, Ganger, and I a break from walking everywhere. We told Ganger to change into a pony before we left the train. She caught on and changed into a unicorn.
When the train pulled up I saw a changeling, a small dragon, and three young fillies waiting. I assumed they were waiting for the others. The doors opened and we exited the train. Sure enough the three fillies ran toward us. The changeling and dragon came shortly after.
"Rarity!" The white one yelled and a squeaky voice. "
"Applejack!" The yellowish one yelled in a weird accent. I might be safe to assume she Applejack's sister.
"Rainbow Dash!" The orange one yelled. she might be her sister as well.
"Hi Spike." Twilight said to the dragon. "How's the library?"
"Just fine!"
"Good." She smiled at 'Spike' and looked at the other changeling. "Hi Match!"
"Hey girls! I'm glad you all got back safe!" She hugged Twilight.
She chuckled. "The girls and I brought you back something we think you'll like." I looked at the other girls. They all had big smiles on their faces.
"Oh really?" She tilted her head.
"Yes, really." Twilight chuckled. The girls moved aside to reveal a disguised Ganger.
"Hey." Ganger said.
Match looked really confused. "I'm...sorry, not to be rude but do I know you?"
"You could say that." Ganger said with I sly smile. And then she changed back. "How ya doing Match?"
Match froze and her jaw dropped. Tears started to form as she ran to her friend. "Doppelganger, you big idiot!" She hugged Ganger tightly. "I thought you were dead!"
Ganger hugged her back. "I thought the same about you, Match. I missed you."
"I missed you too. So much."
I couldn't help but smile at the reunion. And then I felt something tapping my leg. I looked down and saw it was the white filly. "Yes little one?"
"I was just wondering...um...if you knew Zecora?"
My jaw dropped. "Aunt Zecora is alive!?"
"What!? She your aunt?!" Everyone said.
And thus begins my new life in Equestria.