In the deep delves of the dark and dank Everfree Forest lives an unexpected occupant; a zebra who has made home where no pony else normally dares to tread. There the zebra lives her life in peace, brewing and mixing exotic remedies and cooking agents. Her name is Zecora and she is very much a private zebra, an unusual trait for her kind, and she flourishes when the air smells of freedom. But this day was not to be spent alone, as she expected a visitor.

The door knocked and Zecora was fast to answer the call. Skipping her way to the door, she was excited beyond measure opened the door with an wide, hearty smile.

"Come in, come in, my dear. The tea's been boiled and I have awaited you here," Zecora sang.

In through the door came the lavender unicorn, Twilight Sparkle, carrying a parcel with her. Zecora gave Twilight a welcoming bow and presented her with a chair by the table.

"It took me some time to convince Pinkie Pie not to follow me, but I think I let her down easy. I knew you were excited to know this book had made its way to my library, but, wow, you're more worked up than I'd imagined you ever being," Twilight said.

"Oh why, I can't even hold myself, to think I will finally be able to put that book on my shelf. Such stories from my young time, I even sometimes forget to rhyme!" the zebra giggled.

"I'm sorry for taking a sneak peak at it before packing it, but may I ask: what material is this made of? I couldn't quite figure it out."

"Bark, my friend, from my home land. The scribes would carve them for time to withstand. And this is a particular text I've followed since small, to think that finding one here in Equestria..." Zecora said, not able to finish the sentence in her usual way.

"Wow, you're right. You really must be excited."

Twilight placed the parcel on the table and undid the wrapping with her magic. An easy task for a unicorn. Inside the wrappings laid an thick, dark bark book. On top of the book was a note Twilight had added herself. The note said: Happy Birthday, Zecora.

Zecora produced two cups and poured up her home made herbal tea. She admired the quality the book had maintained and barely let her eyes off it.

"Say, I can't read the content, and so I was wondering..."

"The book, itself, is the documentation of a zebra named Jua, who travels the world to see its inhabitants. He would always entertain the colts and fillies back home with his stories, and always bring specimens with him for the folk to look at," Zecora explained. "Oh, I forget to rhyme, again."

"And this is a nice piece of nostalgia to you?" Twilight asked.

"Yes, and no. You see, this is a revised edition, from Jua's latest journey. And I had been hoping to read it in a hurry."

"Well why don't you read it to me?" Twilight suggested.

"Oh I'd love to, but it's the latest chapter which I seek. You don't mind?"

"Not at all. And hearing you speak normal is actually quite entertaining," Twilight joked.

"Well I won't be able to rhyme anyway as the text is in my mother tongue. So I guess this is as good a time to stop trying to rhyme," Zecora said and giggled.

Zecora opened the book and hastily flicked through the pages until she found what she was looking for. As she did she recounted all the chapters' names in her own tongue before translating the final one for Twilight to understand.

"The slavers; a journey in the horses' land. Oh my."

"The what-now?"

"The horse slavers, the great slavers... the word slave recurs in the pre-text, here 'mtumwa'. Just north-east of Equestria, beyond a great mountain range on the ocean, a week's sailing."

Zecora paused unexpectedly. Her enthusiasm had gone completely and her mouth was left agape.

"Wait, slavers. Has there been nothing like that before?" Twilight asked.

"No, just intriguing accounts of different cultures, lack thereof, or very grand, and the discovery of empty lands." Zecora flipped back and fourth between a few pages before continuing. "I don't think this will be a pleasant story."

"Well read it anyway, then you'll know."

"Dare I?" Zecora thought aloud. "Okay, let's see here."

"It doesn't just end there does it?"

"No, just the end of the page," Zecora said, "this is actually a little scary, but I suppose we are of age."

"I guess I am a little bit desensitized," Twilight sighed. "So he found a 'thing' that actually enslaves horses? Wow, I thought they were a rare sight here in Equestria, and that makes me wonder a bit where they all are."

"Here, next page."

"Why does he write like that?" Twilight asked.

"This book is not his whole account. Jua would take notes, carve figures and tell the rest by mouth. On bark we have limited space, so we use it to aid our stories face-to-face."

"So this is just a brief mention of things he wants to make sure he remembers?"

"Correct. Though maybe not so direct."

"I don't mean to be rude, but is there anything more interesting than his brief mentions of small matters? Something bigger perhaps?"

"You are right to be confused by this text. But do not think bad of what might come next. You may miss out of important clues, and then the only one to blame is you."

"You're rhyming again, I was beginning to miss it. Then why don't you give that a good read and we'll talk about it when I come over next time, okay?" Twilight suggested.

"I wish I could be there now to hear Jua tell this tale. Perhaps, as you say, reading his notes becomes quickly stale," Zecora sighed.

Twilight finished her tea and made her way to the door. Zecora kept going through the pages and before Twilight had time to exit, Zecora stopped her with a 'wait'.

"There is more to this chapter than I saw before. A carving of the creature, here, showing us their every feature."

Twilight nearly flew back to Zecora's side and glanced down onto the bark book. There was a primitive sketch of a zebra stood next to a horse. Next to the horse an elongated bipedal shape. Like a stick with clawed forelimbs that did not reach the ground. It also had a face, with a perpetual smile but misshapen teeth as if partly canine. The eyes were small and narrow, and the figure had no immediately recognisable resemblance to any animal Twilight could think on top of her head - save for perhaps those diamond dogs, but this creature had neither ears nor tail, and its legs were straight, it was completely straight standing.

"Wow, now that is interesting. And this Jua is always honest?"

"Never has he told a lie, why he would rather lay down and die. He would always account the from to where for anypony who would want to go there. But I suspect this time he remained vague, even he would not want his-..."

"Yeah- I think I get the idea. Only a week? Why have I never heard of these things before?" Twilight asked herself out loud.

Twilight would ponder upon this for the rest of the day.

---

Home again since long ago, Twilight had a quick catch-up on her newly arrived inventory. Books to replace the damaged ones, books she had not had before, books so she would have extras to spare. It was then she came upon a startling anomaly. Amongst the boxes signed for her address laid a carton that did not belong. The carton was the saved wrapping for a family-sized treat, and clearly belonged in a recycle bin. However there was a strange taped-on note labelled 'Bacoltermann', but no address.

"Twilight can't we just deal with all this tomorrow? It's been a really long day just going through the invoice and the accounts," Spike complained.

"You go, I want to take a look at this one," Twilight answered.

"Oh, that one. Yeah, some scribbles that's all."

Twilight's interest peaked and she rapidly unpacked the contents onto the floor. She skimmed every article numerous times before noticing an interesting thing. The sketch was similar to the carving by Jua. The text came under the following heading.

"And finally some concise writing!" Twilight cheered.

The drawing mentioned was nowhere to be seen.

"Wow. Okay, now I am kind of excited. So there is actually a chance that they have come to Equestria."

"Who's come to Equestria?" Spike asked.

"I didn't tell you. When I was at Zecora's today and delivered that book she told me about a zebra name Jua who travels the world. He discovered uncharted lands north-east of Equestria where a strange animal that 'enslaved' horses rules," Twilight explained.

"Enslave horses? That's a bit, much," Spike remarked with clear scepticism. "I will believe that when I see it."

"Here, Spike, look. It looks something like this, I think," Twilight said and quickly drew out on a piece of paper what she recalled from Jua's carving, and added a boat for it to stand in.

"Dynamic. I really like how the waves splash around him like he was some sort of cliff," Spike said sarcastically.

"Hey, it said here it was sailing in a boat, okay. Appreciate a little creative freedom."

"Well I don't think it helped any pony achieve any credibility. I mean, c'mon, who could take any pony seriously with that as a reference?" Spike asked.

"You already looked through these?"

"Well, duh, I thought I made that clear."

Twilight gave Spike a frown, but kept on browsing the scattered pages.

"There is no mention of where this took place or when. How am I supposed to use this information without such important data?"

"How about not? Twilight, you are busy enough as it is. You should just get some sleep instead," Spike suggested as he left for bed.

"Yeah, you're right. I guess I just feel a little guilty for removing myself from Zecora so readily."

"How long did you sleep last night?" Spike asked.

"Enough, just had to look through these papers again. Clearly something is missing, but I don't know what."

"Not at all, then? Huh. Figures."

"Spike what happened to that carton? I thought I put it aside, but now I can't find it."

"How important could it be?"

"I might have left a page in it, I must find it now. Quick-quick-quick!"

Twilight's eyes were bloodshot from lack of sleep. Something had sparked her desire for knowledge. But what?

"Twilight, what happened?"

"Big Macintosh came by this morning in a hurry; says Winona was taken by a strange creature and now they have no idea what happened to her. But I think I know who did it!" Twilight informed in a hurry.

"And what does that have to do with this - what did you call it? Wight?"

"When I went over to ask about the incident Applejack said she glimpsed a horse retreating from the scene, on it was something she didn't know what it was. But I think I do!"

"Well I wonder what that might be. How many guesses do I get?"

"No need, because I think I know where to go. I will be going to the Trottingham Waterfront and do my own research there! Oh, I haven't been this worked up since that time travel incident so long ago," Twilight exclaimed

"And we all saw how well that turned out."

"I will be the first one to admit that I took matters too far then, but I have since learnt restraint. Tonight I sleep and head off tomorrow. I could not leave without first speaking to all my friends first. And I most certainly will not make a fool of myself should my plan not go so well. If I find nothing, then there is nothing, and I will return home right away," Twilight assured Spike with a grin. "I will be gone three days, max. Promise."

"Well I won't hold my breath," Spike grunted. "I will go and make breakfast."