An eerie wind whistled and moaned through the unnatural trees surrounding the secluded path to Zecora's hut as if there were a hundred souls writhing and crying in torment. The blotted out light of the afternoon sun leaked through the treeline like dirt slipping through a thick film designed for sand, barely keeping the path illuminated for the two ponies moving through the anomalous forest.
According to legend, the Everfree Forest used to be a place of ascension, the birthplace of the first alicorns who had gathered enough magical power to transcend their species and unite the three magics together. Consequently, a magnificent castle was built, the same castle that had previously held the almost forgotten Elements of Harmony, to commemorate this spot. However, over time, the effects of such rampant and volatile magic manifested in strange plants, mythological creatures and an unnatural soul that held a firm grip over the wild forest to this day. The castle had been abandoned once the ponies began to notice the creatures crawling out of the deep.
A thousand years ago, the forest had been but creeping vines and twisting roots that jumped and moved out of the ground of their own accord, holding no true hostility, only unique in the fact that it lived on its own and created its own inhabitants. The magic of the forest was already laced with instability, but it had been predicted that it would eventually subside with time.
However, the first endless night took hold of the world as immortals clashed and fought, and the magic of the forest responded to this hatred in kind, transforming its nature to match as the trees grew thorns and thick thistles, the animals became carnivorous and bloodthirsty, and the soul itself was corrupted. The forest was forever dammed to be a place of evil, suffering and blinding darkness.
And here it stood a thousand years later, unconquered and feared.
“I'll never get used to this place...” Fluttershy whimpered as she tiptoed behind Twilight, cowering at every single snapping twig and rustling bush, “Even if we've been here so many times...”
“Well you live right next to the forest Fluttershy,” Twilight responded as she ambled further along the worn path, “Shouldn't you be somewhat accustomed to it by now?”
“Oh no, no, no,” the butter-colored pegasus answered while rapidly shaking her head, “The Everfree Forest is just too scary. I don't understand how Zecora can live in here! It's so...creepy.”
“C'mon Fluttershy. Have some confidence. You've faced a dragon before for goodness sake. This shouldn't be anything for you now,” the purple unicorn insisted, pausing to make sure the coast was clear and that there were no hidden poison joke patches waiting for them.
“No..even if I've done that. You never know what's going on in here. It's not safe at all,” Fluttershy said as she moved closer to the slowly advancing unicorn.
“Indeed. She's right. This place is not to be taken lightly, no matter how many times you have traveled this path,” Nightmare added, keeping her senses alert and extended for any possible assailants, “This forest is hatred, and it acts as such. Stay vigilant. I wouldn't want a simple timberwolf to take a bit out of either of your cute flanks...before me that is.”
“Twilight? Are you alright? You sort of tripped,” Fluttershy asked, suddenly combing over the purple unicorn's entire form, checking for bruises or cuts, “Your face is sort of red.”
“Fine. Fine,” Twilight waved off with a rapid hoof wave while mumbling darkly under her breath. “And why do I feel like I have a more dangerous predator around with me all the time anyway?”
“I'm sure that's just your imagination,” the black alicorn answered with a little, twinkling chuckle. Even now when she was warning her about being careful in the face of danger, Nightmare was still making jokes. Twilight sighed, but walked on, spotting the exotic hut up ahead that greeted the approaching ponies with strange tribal masks and suspended bottles that held strange, fermenting concoctions of extraordinary power.
Ignoring the normally outlandish appearance of Zecora's house, Twilight cantered up to the heavy wooden door and knocked three times. However, the mysterious zebra did not greet her with a traditional two verse rhyme. In fact, nopony answered her calls at all.
“That's strange,” the lavender mare stated, looking into the windows, noticing that the inside was pitch black. Not a single candle or torch was lit. “Maybe she's out on an errand in Ponyville?”
“I didn't see her come out of the forest today...” Fluttershy muttered, still looking around to make sure that everything was safe. Twilight slightly pushed on the door to find that it was unlocked. Slowly, it creaked open, and gingerly, they stepped in while calling for their zebra friend in case she had taken to an early bed time.
Magically lit flames suddenly manifested to light the ancient wicks of the torches and candles lying around the room, casting warm and clear light. Everything seemed to be normal. The black, iron cauldron sat in the middle of the room, cleaned and pristine as usual. However, the bed sitting in the back of the house was void of one zebra.
“Huh?” Twilight said, scratching her head in confusion, “Where could she be? She usually leaves a note on the door if she goes out to do something.”
“Maybe...maybe something happened to her!” the timid pegasus cried out as she dove to hide underneath Zecora's bed, imagining a stray cockatrice slithering up behind Zecora or a pack of hungry timberwolves hunting for her.
“That would be really strange. She knows this forest extremely well,” Twilight said as she began to look around for any possible clues that would lead them to a better conclusion.
Scattered vials and uncleaned bottles lined the shelves, carrying residue from past potions and stray petals from uncooked herbs. It looked like the zebra alchemist had been here recently.
“Fluttershy. You stay here. I'm going to have a look around real quick,” the purple unicorn ordered, and the timid yellow pegasus happily agreed, only warning Twilight to be careful out there.
Making sure to secure the door, Twilight walked out, examining the immediate surroundings for further clues.
“Hmm...If I were a strange, mystical zebra with alchemical, witch powers, where would I be?” Twilight questioned out loud as if actually voicing the question would help her solve it.
“The natural answer would be gathering herbs, but I have a bad feeling that something else is going on here. Look at those tracks on the floor,” Nightmare said, having noticed the pattern of hoofprints when they had first approached the house.
Twilight looked down at her feet, separating the new horseshoe prints from the natural zebra ones. They seemed to be leading to the back of the house, deeper into the forest. The purple unicorn followed the trail to the back until she was a ways away from the house. She noticed that the tracks seemed to get further and further apart as if Zecora had been running for something...or perhaps from something.
“What should we do?” Twilight asked, feeling a bit apprehensive about just jumping straight into the strange forest where tales of horror were often born. “Something really could have happened to Zecora.” Twilight was thinking about running back for help, but the longer it took, the possibility that something bad could happen increased. There was only one choice. “I'm going in.”
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It was suffocatingly dark, especially with the afternoon sunlight finally fading into night. There's a certain truth to the dark; when in it, everything becomes close, whether it be from the actual loss of sight that amplifies the other senses or the psychological feeling of entrapment that snares the mind and heart. Few have learned to completely trust the dark, and that is its nature. It is an unknown, a veil that hides the most beautiful sights or the most horrendous monsters.
Right now, Twilight felt that it was the latter of the two, and unlike how it usually is in the dark of one's room, there was noise everywhere from every possible direction: the snarl of a beast or the pitter-patter of a passing butterfly.
“It was nerve-wracking, and no matter how much she wished to laugh away her fears, the joy would not come. She was here in the middle of the most dangerous forest in Equestria looking for a friend in the dank dark, surrounded by a forest that exhumed evil.
“I really would not recommend this place for any romantic getaways mistress,” Nightmare quietly joked, drawing the first, soft chuckle from Twilight.
“I would have to agree wholeheartedly. This place is really giving me the creeps now,” Twilight admitted as she continued following the trail, her path lit by her dim hornlight. She had no clue how far in she was, but judging by the dense underbrush and lack of proper trails, the lavender mare could safely guess that she was nearing the outside perimeter of the old castle ruins.
“Shesh...what was Zecora doing so far out here?” Twilight complained as she crawled over a fallen and decaying log, grimacing at the unpleasant smell.
Suddenly, a low growl rippled through the natural ambiance of the forest, easily standing out among the sharp bird calls and clicking insects. The purple unicorn froze in place.
“Really mistress? Dinner isn't for a good couple of hours. How gluttonous of you,” the dark goddess teased, but her mistress whimpered only in response.
“That...that wasn't me,” she murmured, scrambling to her feet and picking up the pace. The faster she found Zecora, the better after all right?
Then, a venomous hiss abruptly sliced through the forest noise, setting Twilight's hairs on end, the electric shock traveling all the way to the base of her tail.
“At least tell me that was you...right?” Nightmare said with an increasingly nervous laugh. She didn't like where this was going at all; her mistress' body was hers too.
Twilight didn't even oblige the resident goddess an answer and surged forward, only looking ahead where the tracks could barely be seen. She was beginning to breath a little harder, the stress combined with her heavy running slowly exhausting her. The purple mare hoped that whatever was following her would give up.
All of a sudden, she found herself bumping in a warm body, and Twilight tumbled down to the ground in a mess of tangled limbs.
“Twilight, why in Equestria's name are you here? Surely you know that there is much to fear,” a characteristic voice rhymed, and the lavender mare gasped as she jumped to her hooves.
“Zecora! Are you okay? We came up to your hut, but you weren't there. So we got really worried, and then I started looking for you. And then it got really, really, dark...”
“Calm yourself dear Twilight for I am mostly fine. A gash or two and an hoof sprain are the injuries I define,” the zebra answered, struggling to her feet, prompting Twilight to quickly lend her support.
“What happened to you?” Twilight asked, noticing the haggard expression that hung on her friend's face, “It doesn't look like you're fine to me.”
“Ahh yes. My defeat I must admit. The beast I sought I could not outwit. A few days time, I have searched hard, but I'm afraid Ponyville I could not guard,” Zecora groaned out, shifting her weight onto Twilight who finally got a good look at the condition of her friend.
“What does this crazy zebra do? Slay monsters? Look at her!” Nightmare exclaimed in shock, “It's not just a gash or two. There are probably a couple dozen of them! They are all pretty deep too. Her mane looks like it's been singed and burnt, and there are a few bruises on her side too.”
“Zecora! What in Luna's name have you been doing out here?!” Twilight cried out in worry as she began to slowly trudge back towards the healer's hut where there would be medicines to treat the injured zebra.
“An ancient beast here has nested, a dangerous foe until bested,” she muttered, her voice wavering as she coughed violently. Twilight frowned. It had to be something pretty strong, but what could do this sort of damage to Zecora, especially since the zebra herself was pretty strong.
Suddenly, a sharp snapping sound struck them, halting their slow retreat, and Twilight could feel the sudden temperature drop in the area around them.
“Um...what did you say this beast was?” the purple unicorn squeaked as she began to crawl silently towards the house, squinting into the darkness, trying in vain to catch a small glimpse of any approaching enemies.
“A mixture of nature with claws of steel. More than one head, all are real. A venomous end that hisses and bites with a head in front that burns on sight,” Zecora answered cryptically, not really answering Twilight's question outright. The purple unicorn sighed, forgetting that Zecora liked to speak mysteriously.
“Claws? Venom? Burning? Don't tell me...” Twilight began before an abrupt and somehow sinister “baaaa” cut her off.
“Heads of four, one in back, three in front. It hides in stealth during the hunt. A lion. A dragon. A demon goat. And the back blackened snake that aims for the throat,” she finished.
“A chimera,” Nightmare concluded in shock as two roars, one hiss and a bleat echoed around the trees. It was here. “Run Twilight! Run!”
The purple unicorn didn't need telling twice, because she was already speeding away, crashing and smashing through the thick underbrush and surging through the dense jungle. Yet, the sounds never stopped as the heavy beating of leathery wings followed the panicking unicorn through forest, rock and water. This was its maze, and she was the mouse.
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Faster. Faster. Faster. That was the constant mantra that Twilight chanted in her head as she ran blindly through the Everfree Forest, levitating the now unconscious zebra behind her. However, her stamina was failing her; she wasn't a stellar athlete after all, only just healthy enough to be medically approved by a doctor. Thus, she didn't have the endurance or speed to outrun such a dangerous predator for long.
Twilight had one last burst of speed to use, and she desperately hoped that she had run far enough to burst out of the forest.
With a running leap, she crashed through the trees, utterly spent, hoping that she had thrown the beast off her trail.
Groaning, Twilight barely managed to open her eyes, and despair filled her as she noticed that she had only made it to the famous Nightmare Moon statue that lay only a few minutes away from Ponyville by walking.
“Of course...” the purple unicorn groaned as she tried to gather any last dregs of energy that hid within her. The adrenaline was wearing off now, and the after effects were really showing. Nothing in her body would respond to her, and she was literally unable to move.
Then the air picked up as the heavy sounds of beating wings filled the air; it had found her. The mythical beast burst out of the foliage, its four hungry heads eyeing the two helpless mares that lay on the ground like an offering to a god. Twilight weakly turned her gaze towards their attacker, silently screaming at the ghastly creature that was about to gobble her and Zecora up.
It stalked closer, savoring the thrill of the chase, its appetite only increased by it. All four mouths opened in anticipation as the large leathery dragon wings twitched and shuffled in place. Twilight got the feeling that this beast would not be like the manticore and give her a friendly lick. It be more of a gigantic bite.
All of a sudden, it lunged, four pairs of sharp teeth primed and ready for dinner.
By reflex, Twilight conjured up a small shield at the last possible moment with the rest of her power, causing the chimera to smack all of their faces on the barrier, repelling them back. It was the only defense she could conjure up. Attacking a chimera with magic was unwise, its draconic, mixed blood shielding it from most magical attacks. However, it didn't matter. Twilight's world began to spin and blacken as the backlash of casting such a powerful barrier ripped through her body. The strong pink barrier flickered and finally dissipated as the darkness began to take her underneath the statue of the dream goddess.
But before surrendering to unconsciousness, Twilight's ears jumped to one last sound, a declaration, a promise.
“I will protect you Twilight.”
Late Christmas gift to everyone! Please enjoy!
Feeling much better now, so writing sessions are in full effect.
Hint hint - Might be a Monday update for everyone! Or at least a January 1st update.
Yay update time to read but if the other chapter are anything to go by "dis gona be good"
the statue came to life? badass.
my bet is between Fluttershy, Nightmare, and Luna (the last only because of their location near said statue and Nightmare because she's a ghost.goddess thing and screw logic, these are ponies)
Ohh so good
I think that nightmare moon has fused with the statue of her and is going to go all rage and kill the manticore
And why does the chimera have wings??
And will you kill it in the traditional way with the spear with lead on the end?
Oppps I meant chimaera
Gah... The suspense...
lolwut that was great
Oooh nice
"Who said that last line"
Nightmare Moon of course ._.
I mean, she's able to control Twilight's body at will. It would make sense that she's able to bring her own consciousness in the 'front' and control the body completely (with her own power reserves, magical at least), in case Twilight is unconscious.
Awwwwwww... Nightmare really does care.
as always, this chapter did not disappoint. hope you update again soon! freaking cliff hangers...
1872461 Although the pictures of classical chimeras I have seen didn't have wings either, I think they can be written up to it being part dragon
Also, Luna.
Luna???
Well this is your story so you can change as much as you want but please please please do use some of the mytholge about the chimera like how Bellerophon killed it WAIT could it be that the voice is pegasus called Pegasus as in the PEGASUS? No that wouldnt work.......
Looks like I will have to wait and see.
LUNA! Luna said it!
nightmares spirit moves to statue......... to protect her mistress the irony there would be great. but proly she takes control i doubt a chimera even fortified agenst magic can withstand the magical powers of a godess.......
Why Nighty said it ofcourse!
Not sure if Luna, Moony in Twi's body, or Moony in the statue.
Could be extra fun if it's Luna and she notices who has a time share in Twilight's body.
It's been well answered in the comments so all I'm going to say is; "I hope it's Luna, that would be awesome."
mentioning the statue feels kinda redundant unless it serves a purpose, so it's probably nightmare possessing the statue, although; why didn't she say "mistress"? could be that she's serious and thus goes with her actual name instead of her petname...nightmare should come up with a real petname for twi, something lecherous of course...
Oh jeez, cliffhanger much?
I do hope you update soon.
It's obviously Fluttershy
to be frank, Twilight is almost certainly going to end up with 1 of 2 ponies here, as she wants to love the night, either Luna or Nightmare Moon. So I guess either Luna or Nightmare Moon, but leaning to Nightmare Moon saying this (50/50 for who she ends up with).
Due to the critical nature of Twilight's status it may be possible that Nightmare Moon attached to the back lashed magic energy, and from there affected the physical movements of the statue via a telekinetic force. Therefore Nightmare Moon could have taken a physical form through the statue. However, Nightmare Moon requires the psychic energy of Twilight's dreams in order to maintain form so the likely hood of Nightmare Moon staying in a statue is impossible.
1872459 I DEMAND YOU READ MY ANALYISIS. JUST CLICK ON THIS>>1873727
sh*t just got real.
Why didn't Twilight teleport herself and Zecora back to her house the moment she found her? She wasn't low on magic then.
1872339 EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
I think one of those 'something's should be a 'someone'/
It's either Luna or Nightmare. In any case.......
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1872339
YES!!! I love this fic!
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"I will protect you Twilight," declared Alondro as he stepped through the rift in space and time and held off the chimera with the sheer force of his manliness. "And now for epic power attack." He pointed at the beast with one finger, "Cero Oscuras." A beam of horribly dense black energy flecked with poisonous green vaporized the creature instantly.
Please with his work, Alondro gave an approving nod as he said, "Damn, I;m such a badass!"
Twilight just blinked. "Uhm... wut?"
1874788 Ah man, now I know what's gonna happen next chapter!
It is either nightmare or fluttershy in my mind
Either way there will be alot of this
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Hoping Fluttershy or Luna.
Could be herself if Nightmare took control of her body.
Y'know... I'm kinda' hoping this turns into a MoonLight fic.
I'm hoping for some Nightmare moon and Twilight shipping.
i like the humor and action so far. i can't wait to see how this all tuns out.
Zecora tried to defeat Chimera, come on, I can understand that she somehow developed a ways to live in everfree forest peacefully, but it is good enough she can survive, do not make her some sort of super powerful beast hunter, it is OP.
As for Nightmare Moon, it is nice to see she will fight for good side this time.
I'm thinking Luna. She IS in the character list. I also believe that this is going to remind up twiluna
1872477
Why thank you very much, but I am a mere disciple. I have much to learn of course! It does make me very happy that you view me as such, however.
1873861
Pure distance. Nearing the outskirts of the old ruins is a ways away from Zecora's hut and Ponyville.
1881021
Oh don't worry. I am safely, hopefully, possibly, AVERT YE EYES! going to spoil the fact that it is NOT Zecora.
Also! Update is slightly delayed to tomorrow due to partying, New Years and Borderlands 2 Lan parties.
Happy New Years everypony!
> Christmas gift
> Ends like that
You know what a gift is, ya?
Caught up in a little school work (holiday work ugh....) and some scholarship stuff...update moved to Tuesday.
Zokra is a bad ass Sorry, spelledit the way the subtitles on my t.v. does, I mean Zecora anyway, I hoping it's Fluttershy though it's odd she her come off as protective against any creature unless they threathen......you know what, never mind. Anyway.
GODDESS VERSES MYSTICAL CREATURE
ROUND ONE
FIGHT!
"Merely a flesh wound" - Zecora
1976105 But dad, why are you in the forest?
2105331 LOLZ!!!!!!!!!!!1
Nightmare Twilight?
CLIFHANGERS!!!!!!!!!!!!! NOOOOOOOOOO
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