//------------------------------// // Chapter 3 // Story: Facets and Reflections // by RandomGreymane //------------------------------// Facets and Reflections - Chapter 3 By RandomGreymane The path through the Everfree was relatively quiet, for some reason more subdued than normal.  After some time, they could see Zecora’s hut peeking through the trees. “Do you think she’ll have what we need?” Fluttershy asked as their view was once again obscured by trees and hanging vines. “Well I certainly hope so!” Rarity exclaimed, swatting at several bothersome gnats with her tail. “I mean the only other option would be to bother Twilight or, Luna Forbid!, the other princesses.” Fluttershy nodded as the path straightened out and they could clearly see the hut.  She noticed that the hut wasn’t at the end of the path per-se, but rather off slightly to one side while the path wound around it and continued further on into the forest.  She also noted several other paths connecting to the clearing that she hadn’t seen on previous visits. Without hesitation, Rarity walked up to the door and knocked soundly with her hoof. A rustling from inside was the most immediate response before the door opened and the zebra healer stood before them. “Welcome my pony friends!  My joy of seeing you never ends!  Please enter my humble abode, and your visit shall unfold.”  Zecora intoned as she stepped aside to let the two ponies enter. As she entered, Fluttershy noted yet another steaming cauldron in the center of the room. “Brewing up a potion as usual?” Rarity inquired. “Something along the lines of an insecticide I hope?” “The bugs and I have reached an accord, that much insecticide I cannot afford.” Zecora said with a grin on her face.  “Now to what do I owe the pleasure of this visit from my friends of measure?  And I thank you for the knock, Twilight enters always with a shock.” “Well even as a princess she needs some adjustments to her social graces.” Rarity replied. “We came because the whole town hates Rarity.” Fluttershy said quickly. “Er...I was getting to that my dear.” Rarity said.  Her gaze did a fair imitation of Fluttershy’s own stare so well that the pale pegasus cringed slightly before standing straight and taking an intense interest in one of the potion bottles hanging from the ceiling of the hut. “As I was saying...” Rarity continued. “There seems to be some sort of spell tied to me causing the town to well...for lack of a better word...ostracize me.  Ponies won’t talk to me and even have begun slamming doors and shutters when I walk too close to them.” “That is indeed a mystery.  A divination is required to see.” Zecora said with a hoof to her chin. She then stomped her hoof in a pattern of beats on the floor.  To the surprise of the visiting ponies, the cauldron (and the fire beneath) sprouted tiny legs and moved to the side of the hut as directed by a zebra hoof point.  When the cauldron was properly placed, Zecora stamped once again and the tiny legs disappeared. Fluttershy was fascinated and got down as close to the ground as she could.  From that vantage point she could see that the fire and cauldron rested on a flat stone disc that had shiny, copper-colored beetles beneath it.  “Are they hurt by the weight?” she asked. “Not at all my pony friend.  Their backs it does not bend.” Zecora replied. “The potion I gave them is quite advanced.  Their strength of leg and shell is much enhanced.” Rarity coughed politely. The cauldron now removed, a circle pattern was revealed where it had rested.  It was a complex arrays of symbols and lines in a language that was unfamiliar to either pony. “Zebrican I assume.” Fluttershy asked. “It is indeed my text of birth.” Zecora replied. “Southern dialect for what it’s worth.  We should not wait to begin.   Please, my friend, step within.” Zecora pointed to the center of the circle. With a little trepidation, Rarity stepped into the center of the circle and sat neatly.  Looking behind her she wrapped her tail around her to keep it within the confines of the design.  “Ready” she informed the healer. Zecora simply nodded and went to a nearby shelf to retrieve a small paint pot and a matching gourd.  Fluttershy was close enough to catch a whiff of the contents and wished she hadn’t.  Zecora then moved to a particular spot along the outside of the circle and sat in front of it.  “Please, my friends, refrain from speaking.” she said. “For this spell it’s your silence I’m seeking.”  The two ponies simply nodded in reply. Once finished speaking, the healer attached the gourd to the end of her tail.  Zecora then grabbed a small brush in her teeth and began to paint a design on the bottom of her left fore-hoof, humming as she did so.  Once finished, she moved to the right fore-hoof and continued painting.  Rarity noticed that the designs complemented similar ones in the circle and would complete them if combined. Presently Zecora finished her painting and carefully placed the brush back in the pot next to her with her teeth.  Rarity noticed that she had not stopped humming the entire time and now the gourd rattled in a simple rhythm. Slowly, Zecora increased the volume of her humming as she started to sway slightly back and forth.  Soon the hum gave way to clear, but wordless, musical tones that filled the space of the hut.  Her tail kept time with regular shakes of the gourd. Does...does the hut suddenly seem bigger? Rarity thought to herself. Regardless, Zecora has a wonderful voice! Zecora’s voice rose to a crescendo as she lifted her fore-hooves above her head.  Her voice at it’s peak, Zecora slammed her hooves down into two matching circles in the pattern on the floor. Her eyes filled with a white light and Fluttershy shrunk back from the sudden electricity that crackled around the healer.  White fire burst from the circles and quickly spread through the design. In moments, Rarity found herself surrounded by a white glow from beneath and had to restrain her instinct to bolt for the nearest exit.  Come on girl. she told herself You’ve seen all sorts of spells before!  A little white fire shouldn’t concern you. Closing her eyes, Rarity forced herself to relax.  Opening them again and looking over at Fluttershy, she saw the pony shivering slightly.  With less effort than she thought it would take, she smiled reassuringly to help calm her friend. Zecora continued to sing wordlessly, the music growing steady and lower in pitch.  As time wore on, Rarity found herself swaying slightly in time with the sounds.  She also found herself oddly relaxed.  Her eyes drooped slightly as she continued swaying. Fluttershy stood transfixed.  Rarity’s smile had indeed calmed her fears enough that she became aware of the spell itself, not just the effect on her friend.  It was like the white flames that filled the design danced with each passing note.  I’m seeing music! Fluttershy realized. I’m seeing the music of the spell! Without realizing it she began to hum to herself in time with the notes. After some time, Zecora’s voice began to change.  The notes became shorter, less ethereal.  Eventually the light in the circle diminished, flowing back out of the pattern into Zecora’s hooves.  When it had completely vanished, and with a final flick of the gourd on her tail, Zecora closed her eyes and carefully removed her hooves from the spell diagram.  When she opened them again they contained no trace of the glowing whiteness that had been there earlier. Brushing the paint from her hooves, Zecora rose and glanced briefly at Fluttershy but didn’t say anything. “You may exit the design for a brief respite.” Zecora addressed Rarity. “I must mediate before providing insight.  Drinks reside upon the table.  Don’t consume any that have no label.”  Zecora then stepped to a nearby pillow, folded her legs under herself, and for all appearances fell fast asleep. Rarity stepped out of the design, watching her hooves to prevent disturbing the graceful curves and letters. Well that was rather different. she thought.  I don’t believe I’ve ever been so enthralled by a spell before... Fluttershy approached and put a hoof on Rarity’s shoulder.  “How are you feeling?” she asked. “You looked a little strange during all that.” “Oh dear I’m fine.” Rarity replied.  She smiled at her friend and continued. “I was just in-the-moment so to speak!” Fluttershy giggled slightly and withdrew her hoof.  “So now we wait.” she said, certainty in her voice. The tone took Rarity aback for a moment. “You’ve seen this before I take it?” “Oh yes!” Fluttershy exclaimed. “One time when something was attacking animals in the forest and she helped me figure out what it was!  We brought one of the poor victims here and she did the exact same thing.  I’ve never seen her move the cauldron though.  That was new!” “So how long did you have to wait for the answer?” Rarity asked. “Umm...” Fluttershy hesitated and shuffled her hooves a bit. “Well?” Rarity inquired. “...three..*squeak!*” Fluttershy responded. “Three?  Three what??” Rarity asked. “Three...days?” Fluttershy replied.  Her voice was so soft that Rarity barely caught the response. “DAYS!” Rarity exclaimed. “Darling I don’t have DAYS!” Fluttershy hid her head beneath her wings and shivered. With a sigh Rarity clamped down on her emotions.  Breathe Rarity.  Just breathe. she told herself. After a moment she regained her composure and lifted Fluttershy’s chin up with her hoof. “I’m sorry.” she said simply. “I’m sorry.  It’s not your fault.” Fluttershy paused, her eyes searching for something in her friend’s face.  Then she simply nodded and carefully folded her wings. Rarity smiled and turned to look back at the quiet for m of the Zebra shaman.  “It takes as long as it takes I guess.” she said.  Sighing she noticed the nearby table and motioned to Fluttershy with her head. “Thirsty?” she asked. “Oh yes!” Fluttershy replied. The two of them approached the table and began to carefully sort through the bottles placed there.  Fluttershy knocked one onto the floor accidentally and saw a label fall off and float down into a crack in the floor. “Oh my!” she said. “Rarity this one had a label but it fell into a hole in the floor!” Selecting a bottle for herself, Rarity replied “Well then I guess it’ll just be a surprise to whomever drinks it.” Zecora DID say that we could drink anything that had a label on it. Fluttershy thought.  Be confident ‘Shy!  One of your friends wouldn’t steer you wrong, least of all Zecora!  She’s just not that kind of zebra! Rarity opened her drink and looked over just in time to see Fluttershy down the entire contents of her bottle in one gulp.  “Taste good dear?” she asked as she took a sip of her drink. Tastes like grape. she mentally noted. “It tastes wonderful!” Fluttershy responded. “Just like cool spring water!  It was even carbonated!  The bubbles are tickling my...” Fluttershy suddenly scrunched up her face and quickly turned away.  Rarity was about to ask what was wrong when her friend let out a sneeze out one of the round windows in the hut. “Are you all right dear?” Rarity inquired as she looked over her friend’s head and out the window.  Fluttershy only YOU could sneeze bubbles. she thought to herself. “I’m fine.” Fluttershy replied as she rubbed her nose with the side of her hoof.  “I was SO thirsty all of a sudden that I just don’t know what came over me.” “Well no harm done it seems.” Rarity replied as she finished her own drink and set the bottle in the nearby crate containing empties.  Fluttershy followed suit. The talked briefly but eventually Fluttershy yawned and Rarity guided her to another one of the pillows near Zecora.  The soft breath of the zebra didn’t change as Fluttershy curled up nearby and was soon fast asleep. Rarity went to another nearby window and looked out. If I could only figure out what’s going on I could do something to fix it. she thought.  Hopefully Zecora will help me with that.  But if she can’t... Rarity paused and a million images and thoughts suddenly ran through her mind. If she can’t, she continued to herself, I’ll just have to find another way.  I can’t give up!  I just can’t. Turning away from the window she noticed a third pillow making it’s way across the floor towards her. “What the buck?” she said. The pillow stopped just short of reaching her, and a large group of copper colored beetles emerged from beneath it and moved in the direction of the cauldron before disappearing into a nearby hole in the wall. “Well I can take a hint.” Rarity said with a wry grin. She dusted the pillow with her hoof and curled up on it and soon all the equine occupants of the hut were engaged in the slow rhythmic breathing of rest. Rarity opened her eyes to find herself standing on a star among inky blackness.  Looking around in concern she noticed Fluttershy asleep on a similar star nearby. What the hay is going on here? she thought.  Fluttershy is here but nopony else.  For that matter where is ‘here’ anyways? “Fear not my friend all is well, this place contains nothing fell.” said a familiar voice from the darkness. “Zecora?” Rarity asked. “Where are we?  What is this place?” “In the realm of dreams you do reside.  In my hut asleep our bodies do abide.” Zecora continued. Rarity was mildly confused. The voice seemed to come from the darkness all around her.  “All right then...” she replied. “What happens now?” In response the darkness around her shimmered and twisted.  Gradually, as if being pressed in from outside, it took on shapes.  Softness gave way to distinct lines, Rarity could suddenly smell dirt. With a final twist, Rarity found herself standing in a dimly lit cavern.  Fluttershy remained undisturbed on the floor besides her, still asleep. “’Shy!” Rarity said as she poked the pegasus with her hoof. “Fluttershy!  Wake up!” “Your friend for now must remain sleep.” Zecora said as she stepped out from the darkness. “Your dreams alone you must keep.” “So we’re in my dreams then?” Rarity asked. “Could use a coat of paint...perhaps some curtains...” Zecora smiled.  It was then that she noticed the zebra looked different.  Slightly taller, and her mane and tail were adorned with gold bands and tied with ebony wood. “Here lie the answers you seek.  But truth is not for the weak.” Zecora cautioned.  She waved a hoof and torches flared one by one until a tunnel before them was illuminated.  It stretched out further than Rarity could see. Well you came to Zecora for answers. Rarity mentally remarked. No turning back now. Zecora motioned towards the tunnel.  Hesitantly, Rarity took one step forward, then another, then another, until finally she and Zecora were walking side by side. They walked for quite some time.  Rarity was about to ask where they were going when she saw that the darkness at the end of the tunnel was getting gradually lighter.  Eventually the light ahead started to pale the torches. Finally they reached the end of the tunnel.  Against the wall was a large stone arch that glowed.  The opening of the arch was filled with white mist. “This is the door to events past.” Zecora said. “Ancient stone infused to last.” “And obviously I’m supposed to step through it?” Rarity said with a slight tone of irritation to her voice. “The answers you seek lie within.  With this step it must begin.” Zecora replied.  The zebra bowed to her friend, then sat on the ground, closed her eyes, and began to chant softly. Rarity turned to face the arch.  In the mists she thought she caught glimpses of friends and family, half-remembered events, then the mist smoothed and was clean white. “Well it’s now or never I guess.” She said to herself and stepped through the archway... ...and found herself on the other side.  Through the arch she could clearly see Zecora seated on the tunnel floor.  Reaching a hoof back the mist hardened beneath her touch. Well, no going back. she thought. Steady girl that’s not what we came here for.  Onward! Turning away from the arch, she started down the tunnel.  With each passing step she felt a familiarity with the surrounding. It’s almost like... Rarity’s thoughts were cut short as she passed into a large cavern room to find it occupied by Diamond Dogs. “Oh buck me.” Rarity said under her breath.  She stopped just inside the doorway to the room. Much to her surprise none of the dogs paid her any attention whatsoever.  “Curious...” Rarity remarked to herself as she moved further into the room. The Diamond Dogs appeared to be going about their daily business.  Rarity saw them trading, discussing certain tunnels, even cooking food.  My! she exclaimed internally, still slightly afraid of being noticed. When I was underground last time I didn’t see more than just the miners.  But these... She stopped as she passed a small section ringed off with stones and painted in bright colors.  Children! Rarity thought.  I...I never thought that there might be children down here.  I mean...I guess that makes sense...but it’s so much more real seeing it! One small puppy, a girl by Rarity’s observation, approached her caretaker and tugged on his pants. “Why does Curl-Tooth get a gem and I don’t?” she asked. “Well Needle-Teeth,” the dog explained. “A while back there used to be many many gems!  So many that we could give everyone a gem of any color they liked!  But then the white pony came and took all of them.  Curl is older than you so he got one before the rest were taken away.” The little girl sniffled. “I want a gem.” she said.  Rarity could hear the tears being held back as a lump in the young one’s throat.  She herself had experienced the sensation more than once in her life. “There there Needle.” the caretaker said as he patted the child on the head. “Someday there will be enough gems for all.” “Stupid white pony!” the girl said as she kicked at one of the nearby stones surrounding the play area. The caretaker lifted the child off the ground and held her close while humming softly. Stupid white pony. Rarity’s mind echoed. Not enough for everyone. Rarity could do nothing for a bit.  She sat on her haunches and just stared at the children playing and the caretaker.  The refrain of stupid reverberating in her head. Slowly, a mist rose up around her until her view of the play area was obscured completely.  She felt her eyelids grow heavy and soon her head began to dip.  Attempting to stay awake she snapped her head up and suddenly found herself in Zecora’s hut, Fluttershy still asleep on the pillow next to her. She glanced around and noticed that Zecora was awake and observing her with a slight tilt of her head.  “The waking comes with a start, as the visions do depart.” “No kidding.” Rarity said as she put a hoof to her temple.  “My head feels like Sweetie Belle and her friends have been rummaging around in it!” Without speaking, Zecora unfolded herself and retrieved a small bottle from a nearby basket.  She handed it to Rarity and motioned her to drink. Rarity cautiously took the proffered drink and proceeded to down it in a single gulp. Well it can’t make my head feel any worse. she thought. In moments her head felt like it was in a vice.  She blinked her eyes against the pain. “What...” she started to say but the pain was suddenly gone.  In fact she felt considerably better.  She eyed the zebra with some annoyance.  “That was dirty pool.” she said.  Zecora just laughed in response and returned to her previous resting place. “The visions can cause one to swoon, mists in the head like a balloon.” Zecora stated, a smile on her face. “The bitter drink it calms the soul, the body though it takes it’s toll.” Rarity stretched, each of her joints popping. I really must do more yoga. she remarked internally before stopping herself. Those children...in the vision...  “Was what I saw in the vision real?” she asked. “Reality is a most fleeting thing,” Zecora replied. “The vision though...the truth it brings.” Taking that in, Rarity simply nodded. “Thank you.” she said.  Leaning over a bit she tapped Fluttershy on the shoulder. “Wake up please.” she said softly. Fluttershy yawned and stood up. “Are we done here?” she asked. “Did you find out what you wanted to know?” “We are done.” Rarity confirmed. “As to what I wanted to know...that’s a different story.  Come along dear we have much to do!” Fluttershy bowed to Zecora as the two left the hut.