//------------------------------// // Issue 14-A Stranger Comes To Town [Part 1] // Story: I Am Not a Charlatan! I Am Mysterio, Master of the Arcane Arts! // by The Quidam //------------------------------// Perhaps the day would have been unremarkable. It didn’t seem to even stick out to the ones who were traversing in such an unusual manner. Granted it might not seem unusual to see a moving vehicle to our own eyes, but here in such a place and with several factors involving the world, it was surprisingly intrusive to the status quo! Here was a big rig truck, albeit one that appeared less modern than our recollections, and it was pulling along a caravan of homely wagons through the trees. They were spaced widely enough for even it to get through. That made it one less obstacle to encounter unlike the plethora of others that one could find in the place known as Everfree Forest. No, for that, there were a few individuals whose job it was to deal with ensuring the caravan made it safely on its trip. Bo was the one who built the main truck, and thusly was the one who could properly drive it. Norah, while eager to have an opportunity to play with her noisy toys, was mostly stuck inside the cabin she shared with her sister for her safety and Bo’s piece of mind. Trixie was using their journey to reacquaint herself with her lost wagon, repairing her outfits as best as she could, and dusting off her old act in hope of impressing her new teacher now that she had some of her old equipment at the ready. That left it mostly up to a dragoness with hungry flames, a Diamond Dog that could wield three swords at once, and a powerful sorcerer taking most of the shifts in which someone defended their means of transportation. For the so-called sorcerer in question, it was a near cake walk compared to most of the things he had gone through since coming here. All he had to do was unleash a few clouds of his special mist or ‘summon’ a few frightful and powerful looking ‘summons’, and most of the predators would flee from their path. Then again, the methods of dealing with what the Everfree seemed to throw at them were easier for all of them to deal with. A few swipes from his swords made any beast back away in pain and converted any Timberwolf the swords-doggie came across into lumber. While most would advise against doing such a thing considering they had the abilities to fuse their pieces into a greater sized monster, it made them a bigger catch to the dragoness who would burn them with her plasmid breath and eat them. Ethan couldn’t help but notice how she discreetly asked the swords-doggie to keep attacking the bark created wolves to have them fuse. He would have found it funnier were it not the fact the last one they encountered was crying in fear as the dragoness kept chomping away at it bit by bit! He could swear that he saw her jaw unhinge a bit as she swallowed bigger chunks of it like a snake! He doubted he was the only one to see it, for Bo made certain that their dragon friend was well fed whenever they stopped to sleep, and Trixie was sure to have him sit between them as they ate. “Another thing to put down besides the food. See about getting more info on Dragons.” He mumbled as he wrote that down. “What's that you gots there, Boss Mysterio?” Norah asked as she hoped next to him. She had no trouble scurrying onto the roof he sat down on, and was certainly hoping that whatever he was up to would alleviate the boredom she had been building up on this road trip. Ethan was dressed up in his armor of Mysterio and was trying to ‘meditate’(aka check the systems of his tech). However, he found himself done with that chore and now busy working some things out on a piece of parchment. Alongside a list of numbers and names was supplies he would consider acquiring. Norah wouldn’t know this however as she was unfamiliar with that ‘hyooman-script’ he was writing in. “Well young Norah, I was just figuring out how much I need to repay your sister for what I owe her. Not just for the scrap, but other things I’ll need her help with to get done when we reach my residence. However, I realize that I still need to look into getting more supplies since I have more company than I was expecting coming over.” Mysterio, despite his heavy voice, gave a forlorn sigh as he told her his conclusion. “But to do that, it’s going to involve doing something I have been putting off for a while: Meeting the Ponies.” She may have been a pup, but even she could understand what that sigh meant. It was the sigh a person gave when they had to go apologize for something bad they did. Hearing that Ponies were involved only further confirmed in her young doggie mind that there was going to be trouble with that incoming. “Sound like it’s bad. How bads can it be?” “Remember what you did with Trixie?” He faced the young pup, who gave a nod. “Well some might say what I did to a few ponies I came across could be considered worse, despite what I meant by it had good intentions at the time.” Seeing the look the pup was giving him, and recalling that this was the one who placed an explosive collar on his new apprentice as she worked her debts in Clutter Coulee, he hastened to correct himself. “That is to say, I memory wiped them because I was…worried they might tell someone who would think I was a bad guy without hearing me out.” “But it doesn't matter what you meants by it because they thinks you dids it just to be bad. Like that thing you saids, right?” Norah tilted her head as she recalled the lesson the so-called sorcerer imparted to her. “Exactly! But that doesn't excuse what I did.” He crossed his arms. “Still, there is the reason I have yet to properly introduce myself to other ponies and now I’m going to have to.” “I understand!” Norah nodded her little head, knowing how difficult ponies could be. “How’d you says you're sorrys?” “That's my biggest mistake, Norah. I have yet to properly apologize. You could say it is my biggest regret since coming here. It's why that's the thing on my to-do list above getting more supplies for my new guests.” He pointed to said act on the parchment before the tree line finally cleared. When they got through the last of them, he stood up as he caught sight of the thing they were heading for. “An item I’m going to have to soon correct since we have now arrived and you can perfectly see why ‘Castle Wonder’ needs help with someone of your sister’s caliber.” Norah gaped in amazement at the large structure they were driving up to. It was a big castle! Bigger than any building she ever saw in her young life. It was made of stone, had stained glass windows, and large doors, towers, and- And a large gaping hole as if a massive blast blew straight through it! It had plants and stuff blocking it like fixer-up tape, but it still looked like a thing from her fairytales and dreams! Sure it was rather junky, but it still was amazing in Norah’s eyes! It seemed Trixie and her Big Sis’ Darknut-friend were also impressed. They glanced here and there at the structure and were surprised at the castle’s existence. “So this is your so called castle?” Bo asked with angered bafflement. She was certainly not impressed to say the least. All this talk of Mysterio being a castle lord and this was what he had to show for it? Some run-down wreck that barely had a ceiling over it? Sure, it was grand, but considering how much restoration it needed, who was going to do it? Her and her kind? Already she was feeling irked at another act of possible bamboozlement. “I know, it’s a wreck. To be perfectly honest, I only recently acquired it. I haven’t been here in this land long to spruce it up that much.” He then tilted his head as he realized, “In fact, I think I have spent the longest portion of my stay here in this realm in your home, Bo!” Good grief! Now that had them all surprised to hear, especially him as he said it aloud. Trixie nudged the dragoness to ask if that was true. Tsavorite frowned as she confirmed it after counting the days spent here in her head. She’d definitely had her own tasks to get done once they entered the doors to ensure her Master’s place was suitable indeed! “That so?” Norah asked as she looked away from ‘Castle Wonder’. Unlike her Big Sis, she was amazed with the opportunity to be staying at a castle! It was like some of the stories she grew up listening to! Maybe she could be the princess of this story, except in real life because that would be awesome! “So how is this your castle then, Boss Mysterio?” “Why? Because I found it and so far, none have come to dispute my claim to it!” He placed his hands on his sides in a rather smug stance. “I’m sure even a child such as yourself knows the saying, ‘One’s shelter is their fortress’ so here is where I took shelter, and therefore it became my fortress!” “So ‘Finders Keepers’?” Norah asked with her understanding. Diamond Dogs certainly knew the ancient commandment well, especially due to it causing the Bandit Age to come about when Crunch—(Bless his Bark!)—was overthrown. “Exactly!” He snapped his fingers as he reached for the main door to open and entreat his guests to enter. “Why I can walk right through this door and nothing bad would come about-” =ROOOOOAAAAAARRRRRR!!!= He immediately slammed the door closed. If anyone could see his expression, it would be slack with owlishly blinking eyes. “Funny, I recall it having less Manticores before we left!” He opened it again, slowly this time, and saw that yes, there were a great deal of the scorpion tailed lions in there. The reason they growled was clear as they were forming a protective circle around their cubs. They probably were concerned that something was entering their domain uninvited. But rather focus on that, he was more fixated on the striped female figure crouched upside down on a single staff in the middle of the chamber. “Zecora?” He asked, getting the meditating mare to open her eyes and look at him. He certainly wasn’t expecting to come across her so soon, even less so surrounded by playful manticore cubs. “Well as my ears seem to burn!” The zebra spoke up as she began to contort her body into preparing for a leap. “I see Mysterio decided to return!” Well this certainly was a surprise! Mysterio greeted his past acquaintance with open arms. “Well, what are you doing here-?” -POW!- Zecora did leap from her perch on the staff she was balanced from. Yet her landing was not intended to be a soft one since it was purposely directed at the orb headed magician. He was knocked off his feet by the forceful blow of her hooves! “I would apologize for striking you Mysterio.” She stood on top of him with a hoof holding him to the ground in dominant posture. “But I feel the reason is something you know.” He just laid on the ground, not struggling for he had an inkling why the zebra felt the need to do it. “Let me guess…this is about my misconduct after ‘defeating the Red Drake’?” “I warned you of what would happen if you were a threat-” She then looked over her shoulder as she raised an indignant eyebrow. “You’re not helping your case with these dogs you have met!” The swords-doggie was previously standing next to Bo near the vehicle. Yet now in just a few moments, he proved he could easily get around the Zebra to raise a sword where her neck met her shoulder. It was an applaudable feat especially concerning that he didn’t seem to care that his actions where riling up the nearby manticores. “He’s only doing it because you have yet to prove that you’re a friend. And I like to think a friend would at least hear one explain themselves before striking out.” He started yelling out to the Diamond Dog. “Sheathe your blade! No need for that! She’s not wrong to assume I deserve a good hit for the matter she refers to.” The swords-doggie seemed to ignore that command. Not out of ignorance, but what he was seeing occur. The Zebra was subtle, but appeared to be gathering was looked like spiraling wind at her fingertips. How he wasn’t sure, but if she was about to unleash the gale-forced attack he was sensing, he would have to remove her head here and now. Such was his drive to ensure the safety of those he aligned with. “He’s not going to stop.” Bo said as she was about to step in, preparing a paw with her magnetite ability. That is, until her little sis stepped in. By stepping in, of course, she did it by jumping onto the Zebra’s back, piggy-back style and leaned her head to look at Zecora in the eye. “Please, ‘Stripey-lady’! Boss Mysterio isn’t a meanie! So I don’t think you need to be mean to him because he did somethings bad!” Norah barked as she gave her best ‘puppy-eyes’. It was an attack from direct range, and thus a hell of a lot more effective! “I am willing to hear his reasons why.” Zecora stepped off Mysterio slowly as the Swords-doggie removed his blade and sheathed it. “If only to not make this puppy cry.” “Thank you. I’ll try to keep it to the point, but first, let’s get everyone settled in.” Mysterio got back on his feet and dusted himself off. Giving a look around, he noted that his guest list he made earlier would now include a Zebra herbalist and a whole Manticore pride that he was more than familiar with. “Especially since it looks like we have quite the amount of catching up to do.” “Indeed, we both have our own tales to tell.” Zecora looked at the new members of Mysterio’s Cabal. She also gave a stroke into an approaching Manticore, showing off how tame it and others acted around these individuals in Castle Wonder. “As it stands, it appears your numbers will swell.” [}0{] It didn’t take that long to get both sides up to speed. Zecora caught them up with her recollections of how she came here looking for the sorcerer only to find these manticores he apparently domesticated claiming the territory as their new home. So far they kept everything else in the Everfree away, and all they seemed to ask is that they get more fish. Mysterio found the idea a bit ironic, but certainly didn’t mind the stroke to his ego that it provided. However, he kept it in check as he told Zecora of the events that she was not privy to and happened beyond these castle walls: of the Battle for Clutter Coulee against the Desert Ash, of the Interruption of Leopardon, and how his fame seemed to be spreading to the point of reaching the ears of Golden Nailed. That last one seemed to catch her attention most of all because Zecora swore in words not even his mind could translate. Fortunately, whatever tension the two parties had was broken by these recounting of stories and now they were easing themselves into their new dwelling with renewed enthusiasm. “Norah! Leave those cubs alone!” Bo barked out at the playful puppy. She was gathering luggage in hand and leading them to the stairs, but had to stop seeing that her Little Sis was finding her fellow tenants fun to roll around with. “BUT THEY”RE SO FLUFFY! LIKE STUFFED PLUSHIES THAT REALLY PLAYS BACK WITH YOU!!” She exclaimed as she held one up into a nuzzle. Other cubs were nuzzling into her back as they all found this new pup in their den a great change in their routine. The ‘not-prey’ Zebra certainly never was willing to play with them this much. “They could still poisons you! Ya get stung by one and guess what? Someone’ll have ta sucks out the poisons, and it’ll probably be me!” Mysterio was amazed at how well his guests took to the fact his castle was apparently hosting a manticore pride. The swords-doggie kept a cool hand on his swords but seemed aloof to the adults who would come by and sniff him before moving along. Bo seemed to get a wider berth due not so much to her size, but rather that her barks established she was the pup’s parental figure. It might have given her a respectable glance from the pride females but if anything, the Diamond dog ignored them beyond ensuring they weren't going to pounce. Bo overall seemed unconcerned with the pride and only answering his question why with a quick scoff and how, “The manticores that came by the Golden Nailed Den were bigger than these kitties!” That was certainly some food for thought! His other guests seemed to lack any fear at the sight of the animals after seeing how tame they were as well! Obviously, Tsavorite had nothing to worry about being a dragon. The manticores backed off as far as they could to give her space seeing as she was definitely higher in the food chain. Trixie was still a bit skittish, yet still amazed at how her teacher had the power to have not just one, but this whole pride see him as their owner. That still left him as apparently, the pet owner of all these cats for each of the adults to his surprise came up to him with a lowered head as if to be scratched and show their fealty. It drew his concerns as to if this was due to over exposure to his mist, or something else he did to domesticate them, but that was something to concern himself with later. After scratching the head of a pride mother, and motioning her away, he noted how “Say Zecora, when is the next time you planned on going into town for some supplies?” “…As soon as we settled our dispute I planned to go.” The zebra stated as she raised an eyebrow. “Why it matters to you, I wish to know?” Mysterio just gestured around with his hand at his ‘entourage’ conveying that it wasn’t just Tsavorite and him anymore. “As You can see, I’m hosting more guests than I expected to, and will need to gather some things to properly accommodate them. Definitely need to get some more food items, as cooking stuff we can make do with what we brought in the caravan. Still, I would need to get more and where would be better but a marketplace?” He folded his arms into his cloak as he faced her seriously in his domeed helm. “I recall you mention a pony town you occasionally traverse to for goods. So I ask you, Zecora, would you mind being my guide into town?” Zecora had to contemplate that. Mysterio was not ignorant of her treatment having told him a bit of it before. Yet having her be the one to lead him to the ponies was a big gesture in many ways. That, and he himself would be meeting the ponies, which as he explained was something that he was more than hesitant to do. “Of all the companions here to see, the one you pick to travel with is me?” Zecora asked. He nodded his head, “It makes the most sense. Trixie seems hesitant to set into that nearby town for reasons that are her own. That leaves Tsavorite, but..” A rumble echoed from the dragoness’ stomach, to which she embarrassingly blushed and apologized to everyone. A few manticores backed away as if afraid they might become the means to satiate it. “I’d rather she properly sates herself in the treasure chamber than accompany us. No doubt bringing a dragoness who’s ‘got the rumblees’ would cause a panic to the town.” He’d laugh, but even he knew that wasn’t a joke to make considering who it involved. “Plus, the walk alone would give us a chance to discuss our own issues.” “If only the choice made less sense.” Zecora sighed as she could find little to argue with. “I have nothing much to add to my defense.” “So you’ll do it?” “Just prepare yourself and we’ll be on our way.” She relented with a groan under her breath. “Hopefully Ponyville will be ‘less empty’ today.” “I got everything I need.” He pulled out a pouch that jingled with the winnings from his games with the Golden Nailed gals. Turning to Tsavorite, he charged her with keeping the order while he was away. “Tsavorite, I’m leaving you in command of things here while I’m gone. So how about heading to the treasure room and getting yourself settled while showing everyone what their future payments will look like after giving what we owe?” “By your will, Master.” She bowed, while holding her eagerness in check. It wouldn’t be proper to express how delighted she was at the thoughts of being in charge and returning to her hoard. Nor lick her jaws at the future taste of gems and other treats. That wouldn’t be proper at all! “Treasure chamber?” Norah yipped eagerly. “It better be full of shinnies! I ain’t going to be rebuilding this pile of rubble for frees!” Bo grumbled. Mysterio gave a wave of assurance. “Oh don’t worry about that, Bo. That’s going to be more of Trixie’s job.” “WHAT?!” The unicorn shouted in alarm at that news. Her witch’s hat actual stood up into a straight point as she shouted her surprise. The sorcerer merely shrugged. “You’re my apprentice. Are you surprised that I’m going to have you do some hard labor as part of your education’s cost?” And with that he walked out of the castle. Leaving a group of smirking dogs and a dragoness at the sight of her gobsmacked expression. [}0{] The two figures walked the forest path in silence. Fortunately for them, nothing was impeding their way. Yet either one almost wished something would occur if only to break the monotony and lack of noise beyond the occasional natural chirps of birds and bugs. They needed a way to break the silence, and it came in the form of Mysterio nearly losing the list he was checking over in a bout of fog (not the type he conjured, but a natural haze that seemed to engulf them). Zecora thankfully caught it in a breeze that seemed to deliver it to her hand. Giving a quick glance, she found that she had no way of knowing what it said due to the script it was written in. “Thank you.” Mysterio said as she handed it to him. “Best to keep a better grip for we are nearing the town. Even though I do not know what is written down.” She nodded as she resumed her walk. Mysterio looked at the numbers, things to do, and items to gather. But there was still one other thing he was writing down that he felt he needed to let off his chest, especially before they stepped into this town of Ponies. “Zecora. Are we still friends?” The Zebra stopped her pace at that question. Mysterio continued. “I’d understand if you said no. I doubt you would be after hearing what I did to those ponies, or told you I was capable of doing with everything you heard about Clutter Coulee.” She said nothing and for a while he was afraid she was going to declare him her enemy. Instead she turned to him and with a serious glance spoke her mind. “For what happened there and for why I would give you leeway. But if I said we were not, would that lead to your dismay?” She asked. “Honestly, if you weren’t my friend, Zecora, I don’t know what I would do. And this goes beyond your knowledge and wisdom in the healing arts and living in this forest filled with danger.” “Oh?” She leaned on her staff curious. “How so?” “Well you’re someone I have placed my trust in. Not just for helping me to save Tsavorite’s life, but to know that you’re out here to keep me in check.” He gave a light chuckle at that as if the thought of a zebra coming to kill him if he turned out to be evil was funny. Perhaps it was. “If it came down to it, I don’t think you would hesitate to end me. Heck, I don’t think anyone would in this whole world.” That deepened the frown on the zebra’s face. “That is not something you should say with such snide. It almost seems that thought fills you with pride.” “Maybe it does. But even so, it feels more heavy with everyone I meet. Like take this list I was making before I was noting the things I needed to get.” He pointed out the section at the top, which if she could read had a list of names. They were divided into two categories with one being at least three times as long. “Here’s the people I’ve met, and wouldn’t you know it, it seems that most of them are prepared to treat me like a threat in one way or another. I’ve got fewer friends than I can confidently list, and the world appears to be turning into a force that wants to go after me.” She raised an eyebrow at that. “So is this why you wished for me to come and chat? There is not much I can do about that.” “No. If anything I wanted your opinion of how to approach things with the ponies. I know I’m going to need their help soon. I can feel it, especially since I’ve seen what other races can be like in this realm.” He recalled how messy things got with Desert Ash and how they could soon be worse with Golden Nailed possibly on their hunt for him. Even though he was victorious against something like the Red Drake, Leopardon, or the swords-doggie, he was becoming more dependent on luck to bail him out despite his clever plans. He knew he needed more that blind chance to keep himself going, or else he was in for a world of pain. “My home life may have been different, but I’ve been down this road before, and I can tell you that I don’t like where it stops. Clutter Coulee is just the start, and I get the feeling it’s going to get more twisted the further down the path I go.” There was a deeper undertone to his words at that. Zecora could see it through Mysterio’s inflections and gestures. Even though his head was a glassy sphere, she could see he had a sorrowful expression in a manner of speaking. Yes, he was a character who may be crafty and had dark intentions, but in that moment, she couldn’t help but to feel a hint of pity for him. “…My suspicions of your intentions have increased. But I can still say we are allies at least. Tsavorite seems well treated and fed. The others’ wellbeing is a good sign I read.” Zecora nodded her understanding. Surely if those who stuck close to him being in good states had to be proof that he was still good at heart, or at least not as malicious as she feared. “As for the ponies, I cannot speak in their stead. However, from here we must move carefully ahead.” Mysterio felt a bit relieved that Zecora was giving him some benefit of the doubt. He would have work to do to solidify her trust, but at least she gave him a starting point. Yet his relief gave way to caution as he noticed his traveling companion removing her cloak and took out a bottle with some sort of oil or tonic inside. He hadn’t realized it, but under it she was wearing simple wraps like Tsavorite used to wear before taking to donning Bo’s hand-me-down overalls. She started to rub the mixture down her legs and other parts, and while Mysterio averted his gaze to give the mare some privacy at how…thorough she was massaging her bare skin with it, he couldn’t help but wonder why. “What's ahead of us, Zecora?” He prepared a holo-cube as if to fling it at something that might jump out at him. As far as he could tell, there was nothing of note besides the flowery field a head of them. Could something live in them that was deadly like a snake? “One of the most chaotic flora nature can invoke. For here is a field of the terrible Poison Joke!” And that was when the sorcerer first saw the source of some of his life’s next escapades. If he only knew that such a beautiful flower would be capable of so much discord he might of made it his mission to burn every bulb he found. [}0{] Elsewhere, two other figures were trotting into Ponyville. But they were no mere visitors, but rather two of its newest in habitants. After what felt like months of waiting when it was merely days, Twilight Sparkle found herself trotting into town with a tired drake on her back. “You know you're too old to be doing this, right?” She asked her returning number one assistant. Said assistant gave a lazy yawn. “Sorry! I'm not the one who sent a letter about having to take the first train out of Canterlot in the morning.” He said as he looked over her shoulder. “Speaking of which, why did the letter smell like burnt toast-?” Twilight immediately interrupted that question with the first thing she could think of, “Wow, what a gorgeous day!” It seemed to work for Spike spoke out his agreement. Today's weather seemed especially nice with how clear the sky was and how not even one cloud seemed to block the sunshine.“Rainbow Dash must have gotten up early for once and cleared all the clouds away.” “I bet all of Ponyville is going to be out enjoying the sunshine.” The Purple Unicorn smiled as the town came into view. Only, the moment it did there was something missing that made her a bit perturbed. “What? Where is everypony?” Never had the town looked so empty. About this time the markets and stalls would be at least settled and getting customers. Yet not so much as a filly was seen on the roads or even the windows of buildings. What made it stranger was that whatever ponies they could briefly glimpse immediately shut their doirs and barred their window shutters. Spike had to ask if there was some reason he missed due to being out of town, “Is it some sort of pony holiday?” Twilight Sparkle shook her head. “Not that I know of.” “Does my breath stink?” He gave a quick belch of flame to be sure, but nothing of note came from his whiff. “Not more than usual.” Twilight tried to joke, but the silence and lack of other as the two strolled on was keeping her from feeling the humor. Spike suddenly burst into panic as a thought suddenly came to him. “Is it... zombies?!” The unicorn sighed as she couldn’t believe the notion would even be made. “Uh... not very likely.” Spike didn’t like that choice of words at all! “Not likely... but possible?” It was at this point they were passing by Sugar Cube Corner. The place’s interior was very dark and they thought that meant it was closed for the day. However, a familiar voice called out to the two quietly from the darkness. “Psst! Twilight! Spike! Come here! Come! Here! Hurry! Before she gets you!” Before the two could say anything, a pair of pink hands popped out of the darkness and pulled them inside. Only one pony could do such a thing, and in just a moment of adjusting to the lack of light, only to get hit in the eyes with a flashlight’s beam, Twilight recognized her friend with the pink poofy mane. Spike hastened to look about him, searching for this hidden female assailant. “Who?! The zombie pony?” Pinkie Pie gasped in fear at the suggested threat. “Z-Zombie pony?!” Twilight Sparkle had about enough of this confusion. “Spike! There are no zombie ponies. Pinkie, what are you doing here alone in the dark?” Pinkie Pie huffed with her arms crossed. “I'm not alone in the dark.” She gestured her flashlight around to emphasize her point. As her eyes adjusted to the dark, Twilight saw that her party-loving friend was right! Surrounding them was Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Applejack, and her little sister Apple Bloom. The owners of Sugar Cube corner, Mr. and Mrs. Cake peeked carefully from the door that led to the kitchen. Seeing all these ponies suddenly appear in the shadows elicited a gasp from the unicorn who then asked, “-Gasp!- Okay then, what are you all doing here in the dark? Applejack was the one to answer. The normally strong and tough mare sounded surprisingly nervous at how she pointed with a shaking finger out the window at the reason they were all hidden in the dark. “We're hidin' from her!” The ponies gasped and hushed one another as Twilight looked outside to see what was out there. There in the middle of the street was a crouched and hooded figure digging in the ground for something. From what little she could see of her this figure seemed to have a darkened coat of fur and patterned stripes of their arms. A hint of golden jewelry was seen on one of their wrists. Before she could scan for further details, the figure perked up as if they realized they were being watched and turned her head towards them. The other mares hurried out of sight in fear, but Twilight caught sight of their eyes. She could swear they glowed with a yellow light! Apple Bloom was the first to speak out their worry. The young filly was dressed in a simple green button up shirt and had blue jean shorts. Jumping on Spike’s back to get a better look at the purple unicorn as she hastily asked, “Did you see her Twilight? Did you see... Zecora?” Applejack chided her sibling at saying her name aloud as if it was invoking an evil spirit! “Apple Bloom! I told you never to say that name.” Twilight Sparkle merely shrugged. “Well, I saw her glance this way-” Pinkie Pie popped next to her with a poke as if to correct her. “Glance evilly this way.” “…And then a bunch of you flip out for no good reason.” Twilight Sparkle finished, not understanding what was going on. Applejack seemed especially furious at that choice of words. She wrapped an arm tightly around Apple Bloom as she spoke out, “No good reason? You call protectin' yer kin no good reason? Why, as soon as my sister saw Zecora ridin' into town, she started shakin' in her lil' horseshoes.” Apple Bloom was certainly shaking, but only because her strong big sister was ruffling her head and rocking her in her embrace. She could only dizzily defend herself with a simple, “Did not!” Applejack seemed to not hear her, as she then placed her over her shoulder as if to illustrate her point. “So I swept her up and brought her here-” Apple Bloom struggled out of her sisters grasp until she could get back onto the ground. “I walked here mayself!” “For safe keepin'.” Apple Bloom shook her head as she crossed her arms in annoyance. “Applejack, I'm not a baby! I can take care of myself!” Applejack thought otherwise as she spoke with a stern look. “Not from that creepy Zecora.” Fluttershy agreed. “She's mysterious.” “Sinister.” Rainbow Dash gestured with her hands as she hovered in place above. “And spoooooky!” Pinkie finished with a long howl. Twilight Sparkle just groaned at this. Seeing that her friends had clearly lost it fearing one mare, she decided to look out the window again. Only, everyone decided to join her as she suddenly felt as if she was being pressed against the glass. Ignoring her discomfort, she saw that yes, this ‘Zecora’ person was still digging in the ground for something. At least, until she stopped and removed her hood and revealed more of her physical features that included a black and white striped mohawk (of all manestyles!), golden necklaces, earrings, and that her stripes were also upon her face as well. Everyone but Twilight gasped in surprise at her reveal. Twilight Sparkle let out a huff of annoyance at their reaction. “Will you cut that out?” Rarity seemed a bit appalled at the mare’s appearance. “Just look at those stripes! So garish!” Twilight Sparkle just looked at the rest of them with a confused eyebrow. “She's a zebra.” Everyone but Twilight questioned aloud, “A what!?” “A zebra, and her stripes aren't a fashion choice Rarity, they're what she was born with.” Twilight explained. Rarity fainted. Apparently, the thought of being born with such a mane and coat was too much for the fashionista. Applejack was the first to ask, “Born where? I've never seen a pony like that in these parts, 'cept... her!” Twilight Sparkle only shrugged, “Well, she's probably not from here, and she's not a pony. My books say that zebras come from a faraway land. But I've never seen her in Ponyville. Where does she live?” Applejack shuddered as the others gave their own tells of being disturbed by what she had to say. “That's just it, she lives in... the Everfree Forest!” -KaRash!- A resounding crash that sounds like a thunderclap echoed into the room as everypony let out a startled shriek. Twilight found the source of the noise to not be weather induced, but instead be caused by a certain drake trying to sneak treats from the kitchen when nopony was looking. Only his efforts caused the equipment to scatter over the floor. Twilight Sparkle huffed at her assistant’s lack of manners and courtesy at the act.“Spike!” “Uh, sorry.” The drake looked sheepish, especially seeing the reactions of the owners of Sugar Cube Corner nearby. Carrot Cake had his wife, Cup Cake in a particularly tight embrace at the sudden noise. “It's all right.” The plump blue mare with a cream-like red mane said as her started to pick up the scattered items. “Just be more careful dear.” Seeing that the two ponies and drake were getting the kitchen back in order, Applejack continued her point, “The Everfree Forest just ain't natural. The plants grow-” Fluttershy added, “Animals care for themselves-” Rainbow Dash flew in close, “And the clouds move-” “All on their own!” The three mares finished saying together. Once again, Rarity found herself fainting. Apparently the mare couldn’t handle their description so soon after Zecora’s revealed truth! Pinkie Pie took this as the opportunity to bring up her own points to the conversation. “And that wicked enchantress Zecora lives there doing her evil... stuff! She's so evil I even wrote a song about her!” Rainbow Dash groaned, as she knew how Pinkie’s songs tended to go. “Here we go...” And thus the pink pony broke into quite the dance routine as she jumped onto a table and started to sing her song about the dark truths of Zecora: She's an evil enchantress She does evil dances And if you look deep in her eyes She'll put you in trances Then what will she do? She'll mix up an evil brew Then she'll gobble you up In a big tasty stew Soooo... Watch out! She huffed and puffed as she finished the song, and gazed to see the others’ reactions to her performance. A lot of blank stares of astonishment seemed to be the majority’s feedback. Twilight Sparkle stood out from the others as she applauded ironically with a slow clap of her hands. “Wow. Catchy.” Pinkie Pie merely shrugged, not getting the sarcasm. “It's a work in progress.” The purple unicorn tried to bring their conversation back into a focused direction, “This is all just a lot of gossip and rumors. Now tell me; what exactly have you actually seen Zecora do?” Every mare pondered a bit before saying their pieces. Rainbow Dash was first. “Well... Once a month, she comes into Ponyville.” Twilight theatrically motioned her hands. “Oooooh.” Rarity ignored her as she added, “Then, she lurks by the stores.” Twilight Sparkle once again added dramatical sarcasm with a, “Oh, my.” “And then, she…digs at the ground…!!!” Fluttershy started to say as she gazed out the window, only to have her eyes vividly widen by a greater margin at what she was seeing. “Good gracious!” Twilight was losing her patience at this line of thought. It was just too ridiculous. As far as she could tell, Zecora hadn’t done a thing to warrant this much fear. “Okay, I'm sorry. But how is any of this bad? Maybe she comes to town to visit?” Before anypony could go into more details of Zecora’s past incidents, Rainbow Dash noticed her fellow Pegasus was no longer facing the window. Instead, the yellow mare was seated in a corner, holding her head in her hands and looked as if she was terrified. “Fluttershy, what’s up?” The other mares stopped and looked at their friend, seeing that she was certainly more distressed that she was a moment ago. “Yes Darling, are you alright?” Rarity asked as she approached her. She knew a thing or two about fainting spells, so she could tell the poor mare was trying her best not to undergo one. “You’re looking awfully pale.” Pinkie zoomed up right to her face as she looked her over, before proclaiming her official diagnosis to everyone. “It’s Zecora’s enchantress stare! She’s gotten to Fluttershy already!” “No, it’s not that.” Spike noticed what had Fluttershy so entranced. Having finished helping to clean up the mess he made, and seeing Fluttershy look at something outside, he came to the conclusion that maybe it was something she saw that had her so shaken up. “So you girls say Zecora comes once a month, right?” “Yeah, give or take a few days or so, why?” Applejack asked. “Does she come alone?” The young drake asked as he pointed with a worried eye out the window. “Because there’s someone else walking up to her.” “WHAT!?” The mares shouted in alarm as they all piled closer for a better look. Zecora seemed to be saying something, but what it was they couldn't hear from their indoor location. Then again, even if they could read lips they would still find their attention drawn on the individual who was even stranger looking than the Zebra. “Who’s that ghastly figure?” Rarity asked. His outfit seemed so fashionably abhorrent! Even with a pearl for a head, it didn't balance the clash of green and purple with strange etchings through it. “Never seen him before!” Applejack declared knowing that she would recall seeing anyone looking as oddly out of place wandering Ponyville. “You have.” Fluttershy quietly spoke as she hugged herself in an effort to prepare them for the bombshell to drop. “Huh?” The other mares in her friend circle asked as one. Twilight, being a well-educated mare didn't need much consideration to what the yellow pegasus meant. “That’s-!” She started to say, but Fluttershy immediately nodded with a grimace that ceased her speaking process. Her mind immediately was reviewing a checklist for what she should do. “Who is it?” Apple Bloom asked. The young filly has no idea who this was and even she knew about Zecora. Fluttershy answered her, as well as filling everypony else on who this stranger was. “That person is somepon-…someone we’ve all met before. Someone who I don't think you'll be willing to treat nicely. But I still remember him from that shiny and round head to his billowing purple cloak.” Oh she knew today was taking a turn now that he had come back into their lives. With a breath she said the words that would make these already troubled mares even more jittery: “That’s Mysterio!” “THAT's HIM!!???” The mares exclaimed together. Perhaps the day would have been unremarkable, were it not for the stranger who strolled into town. [TO BE CONTINUED…]