//------------------------------// // 22: A Jokes effect... // Story: An Equestrian Witcher // by OblivionShadow //------------------------------// A week went by and the wounds to Oblivion's body dwindled and the stitches were removed. Leaving open wounds in their wake as the skin healed and his fur grew back. He had been cleared to not need to have the wounds covered and was able to return to his normal activity, much to the doctor’s surprise. Oblivion informed them that he was able to regenerate and heal faster than was normal for most ponies. He walked into town with a book on his back, intending to return it to Twilight, with Sasa on his heels. He caught her and Spike as they were leaving and he set the book inside before joining them to go into town. He was trying to find Applejack anyway. She and Apple Bloom had gone into town but hadn’t returned to the farm yet. “It’s such a wonderful day. The sun is out and I bet that everypony will be out to enjoy it.” Twilight commented. Oblivion’s ears flicked. “Strange, I don’t really hear any ponies besides us. Least not in the near vicinity.” He replied to her. Spike stood up on Twilight’s back to look around as they stopped. “Does my breath stink?” He asked them and breathed out in their direction. “No,” Oblivion replied. “Not more than normal Spike,” Twilight told him as her eyes scanned around them. Spike suddenly crouched down on her back, his claws in her mane. “Could it be zombie ponies?” Oblivion looked at him. “What in the depths is a zombie?” Twilight looked at him. “A pony that is raised from the dead that eats brains. But that’s fiction. They aren’t real.” She informed him. “I have seen many kinds of monsters, but zombies are a new one. So I will withhold judgment on the validity of them.” Spike glared at him for a moment before Oblivion looked to Sugar Cube Corner. “Psst.” Twilight startled and looked to the black stallion, who pointed his hoof behind them. Pinkie was poking her head slightly out the door and motioning for them to come to her. “Get in here.” She said to them. The two unicorns walked slowly over to her and she grabbed their forelegs and pulled. Oblivion hissed as she pulled his right leg, which was still healing. The door slammed behind them. “Pinkie. What are you doing alone in the dark?” Twilight asked her. “It’s not just her.” Oblivion pointed out as his horn lit, showing the others as well. “So this is where you and Apple Bloom are.” He added as he saw Applejack and Apple Bloom. Rainbow gasped as the place was covered in light and grabbed a towel. She zipped over and covered Oblivion’s horn. “Rainbow. What are you doing?” He asked her. His voice was bland as he glanced up at her. She held the towel in place and looked down at him. “I’m saving you.” He jerked his horn. “Saving me?” He tried to pull away from the mare, but she held tight. “Get off me.” “Put out the light and I will.” She bargained. “Fine.” He let his aura fade and the mare let go. “Why are all of you hiding in the dark?” Twilight asked. “We’re hidin’ from her!” Applejack said and pointed out the window. Oblivion walked to the window and looked out as a pony in a brown cloak dug at the ground then looked to the window. He scoffed at the mares, except Twilight, as they all gasped and ducked. “Are you serious?” He asked them. Apple Bloom walked up to Twilight as Oblivion moved away from the window and back to the others. “Did ya see her? Did ya see her, Oblivion? Ya see, Zecora?” Apple Bloom asked of him. “I saw a pony in a cloak look at the window.” He started. “Then all of you freaked out.” Twilight finished. “She glanced this way… Evilly.” Pinkie said to them both. “So you all freak out for no reason then?” Twilight commented. “Ya call protectin’ yer kin nothing?” Applejack exclaimed. “Why soon as Apple bloom saw her she was shakin’ in her hooves.” “Ah was not.” The filly replied. “So Ah swept her up and brought her in here.” “Ah walked here mahself.” Apple Bloom argued. “Ya know, fer safe keepin.” “Applejack Ah’m not a baby. Ah can take care of mahself.” She kept arguing. “Not from that creepy Zecora ya can’t.” Her elder sister said to her. The filly looked to Oblivion, who shook his head at them. He went back to the window to watch the pony. “She’s mysterious,” Fluttershy replied. “And creepy.” Rarity toned in. “Sinister,” Rainbow said as she hovered. “And spooky!” Pinkie hollered out as she ducked around Oblivion, who side passed away from her. Twilight put her hooves to her face and gasped. Then looked even more unimpressed at the group. “Really?” The cloaked pony tossed back her hood and looked around, her eyes fell on the building and the mares were sent skittering as they gasped and ran. Twilight and Oblivion looked back outside. “Will you stop it?” Twilight yelped to them as they finally settled. Rarity hid behind Oblivion's tail as she looked out the window. “She has stripes! So garish!” Rarity cried out. Twilight rolled her eyes. “She’s a zebra.” “A what?" Rainbow asked. “A zebra. Her stripes aren’t a fashion choice, Rarity. She’s born that way.” The fashion-forward mare gasped and fainted. Oblivion caught her and set her on the floor gently. “Born where? Ah never seen a pony look like that.” Applejack said as she shivered. “I’m not sure where. But she isn’t from around here, and she’s not a pony. My books say that zebras come from a faraway land. Where does she live?” “That’s just it. She lives in the...The Everfree Forest.” Applejack informed her. A clap of thunder went out startling them all. Oblivion looked back at Spike who was getting into the cupboards. “Dammit to the Hells, Spike.” Oblivion hollered at him. “Sorry. I’m hungry.” He explained. Oblivion’s magic gripped a random cupcake and stuffed it into his mouth. Spike swallowed and panted as it had been blocking his airway. Oblivion's glare made him sit down quietly. The stallion snorted and looked back outside. “That forest ain’t natural.” Applejack shook as she spoke. “Gods forbid.” Oblivion toned in, his voice flat. Twilight giggled. “The plants grow.” “Animals care for themselves.” Fluttershy quietly added in her two cents. Rainbow lowered herself to the floor. “The clouds move...” “All on their own.” The three mares intoned together. Rarity fainted again as she came around. Oblivion laid her down again, with a shake of his head. “And that wicked Enchantress Zecora lives there doing her evil...stuff! She’s so evil, I wrote a song about her!” Pinkie added in. “No,” Oblivion said to her as he looked back over his shoulder. “Here we go.” Rainbow deadpanned. ‘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?” Oblivion’s magic clamped the mares jaws shut. “As I said...No.” “Thank you Oblivion.” Twilight thanked him as she looked to the other mares. “I can’t believe all of you. This is nothing but gossip and rumors. What have you seen Zecora do that be evil?” “Well, once a month she comes into town,” Rainbow said her voice quivering. “Oh, frightening.” Oblivion deadpanned to her. “Then she lurks by the stores.” Rarity finally spoke up as she got up from her fainting spell. “Oh no,” Twilight said in a fake voice. “Then she digs at the ground.” Fluttershy supplied the last reason. “Good gracious!” Twilight tried to look scared but then failed deliberately. “Okay fill me in. But none of this is bad. What if she is just coming into town to visit?” Apple Bloom moved to stand by the purple unicorn. “Yeah. What if she’s just bein’ neighborly?” Applejack pushed her aside. “Apple Bloom. Let the big ponies talk.” “Ah am a big pony.” She said to herself. She looked up at Oblivion as he watched the mare outside. He looked over as she opened the door and walked out. He started to follow but stopped when some pony tugged his tail. “Oblivion ya said ya know curses.” Applejack said to him. “True.” “Tell Twilight that they are real!” She told him. “A curse is a malevolent spell, Applejack. Their purpose is to inflict pain or suffering onto another.” He replied. “They aren’t real,” Twilight said to them. Oblivion flicked his ears. “I have cleansed enough of them to disagree. Perhaps here they are far rarer. But I have yet to even get a whiff of one here. So I am inclined to say that until I see the evidence of one I will say that they are rare.” He compromised. “What if she is digging for innocent creatures?” Fluttershy asked. Her voice shook as she spoke. Twilight snorted at him. “Anyway, I am sure there is a reasonable explanation as to why she acts as she does. If any of you had the courage to talk to her I'm sure you would find that I am right.” The well-read mare said to them. Pinkie leaned forward. “I hear she eats hay.” Twilight groaned. “Pinkie I eat hay, you eat hay!” “But I heard it’s the evil way she eats hay.” Pinkie said. Oblivion started for the door, but a hard yank on his tail stopped him. He hadn’t realized that Applejack still had a hoof-full of his tail. He glared back at her. “And you are yanking on my tail why?” “Ta keep ya safe.” She explained. He snorted. “From what?” “From Zecora. Yer not fully healed. She might get ya.” Oblivion barked a laugh and pulled his tail from her grip. “You must be kidding. Even at my worst, that little mare can’t hurt me.” “Yer not healed.” She said again and reached for his tail. Oblivion side passed away from her and started for the door. “You can stay in here and act like fools but I am going out there. Especially since Apple Bloom is already out there.” He said and opened the door. “What?” Applejack started for the door and he opened it as they all followed. Sasa grumbled as she went out the door with him. They reached the edge of the forest and ran further in. Oblivion looked at the blue flowers around their fetlocks and snorted at the odd smell. Sasa sneezed and backed out of them. “Apple Bloom! Ya get back here this second.” Applejack hollered. The filly startled and looked back. Oblivion's magic covered her and lifted her into the air. He set her on her elder sisters back. “Beware. Beware, you pony folk. Those leaves of blue are not a joke.” Zecora cried out to them. Oblivion listened and looked down at the flowers. ‘Leaves?’ “Yeah, right back at ya Zecora!” Rainbow yelled as the zebra vanished. Oblivion backed up out of the flowers, due to the smell. “You! Why didn’t ya listen ta yer big sister?’" Applejack scolded Apple Bloom. “But I...I...” Apple Bloom stammered. “Who knows what kinda curse she coulda put on ya.” Applejack went on. “There is no such thing as curses,” Twilight shouted to them. “That’s rich, coming from miss magic pants herself.” Rainbow taunted. Twilight huffed. “My magic, real magic, comes from within. It’s a skill that one is born with. Curses are artificial, fake magic. It’s made with conjured potions and incantations, basically all smoke and mirrors, nothing real.” “I hate arguing with you, but that’s not all true Twilight,” Oblivion said to her. She turned a glare to him. “Not right now, Oblivion.” He snorted and turned to leave. “He’s right Twi. You’ll find that some things really are true.” Applejack said as she followed him. They got back to the farm and Applejack looked to him as Apple bloom ran off. “Hey.” She reached out and poked his hip to gain his attention. “Hmm?” “Could she have cursed us back there?” “No. It requires anger or at the very least malicious intent. That was no curse. It sounded more like a warning.” He started but stopped when Applejack waved a hoof at him. “Nah. She was tryin’ ta curse us.” She said as she ran off. He shook his head and looked to Sasa. “It was a warning. Sounded like she meant those flowers around us.” “All I know about those is that they stank.” The cat said as she wrinkled her nose. “I agree.” He looked up as Apple Bloom and Applejack began to argue again. “Gods below.” He said as he went to them. Oblivion awoke and opened his eyes. He found himself looking at the window to the outside. He rolled over and ran into Sasa. “Sasa...” He stopped at the wall of black fur in front of his snout. “Oh...” He sat up and found himself looking down at his own body. “Sasa!” He yelled. Her body jerked at the shout and she jumped off the bed. She landed heavily and spun to the bed. “Chosen...” Her eyes fell on...herself… “Look down.” He commanded. She followed his command and looked down to find a pair of black legs ending with clawed hooves on the floor under her. “Oh no...” She said aloud. She sat down and clamped her...hooves over her mouth as Oblivion’s voice came out of her mouth. She stared back at her own body, which now housed Oblivion. “Chosen...” She whispered to him. “Yes?” “What happened?” She whispered to him. Oblivion jumped off the bed and landed in front of her. He sat down and spoke to her. “It would appear that we have had our consciousness switched. I do not know of any magic that is strong enough to mess with me at the very least.” “I agree.” “Don’t talk out loud. It’s strange enough talking to myself.” He asked of her. “Right.” She spoke to his mind as before. “What do we do?” “We find out what in the flaming Hells is going on. You stay by me and do not speak.” He added as he went to the door. Thud! He stopped when he collided with the door and found himself sitting on his haunches. A snort sounded behind him. “Don’t you dare…” He said to her. “Hahahaha!” She burst out laughing and sat back on her rump, holding her sides. The door flung open and Mac looked in. “What in tarnation happened?” “Do not ask.” Oblivion said. He sighed when he realized that he could not be heard. He spun around to face the laughing pony and swatted her in the face. “Ow.” Sasa yelped and sat up straight. “Sorry, Chosen.” Oblivion clenched his jaw and turned to Mac. The roan reached out and rubbed his hoof over the cat’s forehead. Oblivion cringed and moved out from under the hoof. “Ya’ll okay, bro?” Oblivion spun to look at the pony. “Yes.” He heard his own voice say. “Ya sure? Ah never heard ya laugh like that.” “Gods below!” Oblivion yelled and turned to Sasa. “Move.” He ordered. Sasa stood up and moved the pony’s thin body around Mac. The roan looked confused as Oblivion swatted at the pony’s heels. “I’m going, I’m going.” “Stop it.” He said to her. She went silent and waited by the kitchen table as Oblivion reached the bottom of the stairs and glowered at her. She put her head down and tried to look smaller. Oblivion sat down and looked to her. “Okay, this is no curse that I know of. Anypony who has the ability to swap us needs to be addressed. Any ideas of who it could have been?” He questioned her as she sat down by the table as well. “I’m not sure. No pony has enough magical power to alter anything about you. Least none that I can think of. As the...” She went quiet as he growled. “You’re speaking out loud. Try not to blather things out.” He reminded her. She put her hooves over her mouth and nodded. Mac was staring at them when Sasa flicked her ears. Oblivion looked toward a sound coming from upstairs. As far as he could tell it was screaming, but it was shrill and squeaky. Sasa started to open her mouth, but Oblivion shook his head. She stayed quiet as he stood up and went upstairs as the sound died out. He pushed open Applejacks' bedroom door and walked up to the bed. The scream went out again but stopped abruptly when he approached. “Sasa! Yer a sight fer sore eyes!” He looked down and his eyes landed on a mouse-sized Applejack. She scrambled over the quilt and up to him. “If you think our situation is funny, you’ll die upon seeing Applejack.” He said to Sasa through their connection. “Okay, pretty girl. Ya gotta get me ta Oblivion. He can fix this crazy hex Zecora put on me.” Applejack said as she jumped to land on his snout. He ignored the fact that he was being called a female for the moment. He held still as she climbed up his face to stand on the top of his head. He turned and went down the hall to join Sasa and Mac in the kitchen. He walked slowly down the stairs and sat down in front of Sasa. “Oblivion!” She squeaked. “Y'all need ta fix this. Use yer magic!” Sasa stared at her and a grin went to her muzzle. She put her hooves over her mouth as she began to laugh. Applejack stared at her as she walked down the cat’s nose and stopped at the end of it. “Control yourself, Sasa.” Oblivion said to her. He would have said more but he felt something pushing against his mind. He went silent as he focused on it. “Sorry.” She said. Applejack blinked as she stared at the black pony. “Oblivion?” “Just tell her that we appear to have been affected as well.” He advised the feline. He shook off the odd feeling and looked back to the group. “I would love to Applejack. But I can’t.” Sasa said to her. “Why not?” She looked away and swirled a hoof on the ground. “Well, Oblivion and I have been affected by whatever this is as well.” She explained. “I am Sasa.” Applejack sat down heavily on Oblivion’s snout as she processed what she had heard. “Wait, so yer in Oblivion’s body?” Sasa nodded. “And he’s in...” She paused and looked back to the face of the cat. “Yes,” Sasa told her. “Oh, wow.” Mac snorted and sat down. “So yer bodies got switched?” Sasa nodded. Laughter escaped from Mac as he held onto the table. “What’s goin’ on?” Apple Bloom came downstairs, hearing the laughter from her sibling. Mac calmed and looked to the filly. "Well, look on the cat’s nose.” He instructed. She followed his instructions and saw her elder sister sitting on Sasa’s snout, looking bewildered. She blinked in surprise as Mac went on. “And Oblivion and Sasa got switched.” He said through a laugh. “What do ya mean?” She asked. She went up to Sasa, in Oblivion’s body and looked to him. “He means that I am Sasa and am in Oblivion's body, while he is trapped in mine,” Sasa explained, with Oblivion’s voice. Oblivion focused once more as a feeling went over him. His eyes widened as he realized what he was feeling was an emotion that he had not felt in over a hundred years. His mind clamped down on the feeling and it raced as he went over the possibilities. “How did...Oh no. When we were switched I have her emotions. She still seems to have her own...no, it’s just her normal. Oh, Gods below.” The filly startled and looked to the feline. “Oblivion?” He gave a slow nod to avoid unseating Applejack. Her eyes widened and she sat down heavily. “Are ya gonna be like that forever?” Fear crept into her voice as she looked between them. “No. I don’t think so. We just need to find a reversal.” Sasa said. Apple Bloom stood up as Oblivion set Applejack on the fillies back. He reached for the stallion, pulled his mane, and dragged him outside. “Ow. Chosen?” He released her and rounded on the pony. “We must fix this.” He stated. She paused and looked at him. His voice had a hard edge to it that shocked her.“Why? Aside from the obvious.” “I have not had emotions in over a hundred years.” He informed her. She paused then her eyes widened. “Oh no.” She looked to the now pacing cat. “Okay. We should go to Twilight. She might have an idea. How could this have...?" He stopped and sat down. “That zebra did not curse us. Of that I am certain.” He began to pant and suddenly he growled. “Oh no.” Sasa watched him and jolted in surprise. “Breathe, Chosen.” She said to him and walked over to him. She put a hoof on his chest as he pulled in the air. “What is...?” “Panic attack or anxiety." She explained. He focused on his breathing and forced his racing mind to halt and focus. His eyes closed as he let his mind go blank for several minutes. He opened his eyes to find that Sasa had been joined by the Apple siblings. He stood up and started for the front gates. “Where ya goin’ Sa...Oblivion?” Applejack squeaked. “Twilight,” Sasa explained as she walked behind him. Apple Bloom trotted to catch up as they walked toward the library. Oblivion focused on his current goal and refused to pay attention to the emotions biting at his mind. He refused to acknowledge them due to him no longer knowing how to truly handle them. He saw the library looming in front of him and he headed for the door. “Chosen, wait,” Sasa yelled to him. He paused as he remembered that he did not have his magic. He waited as Sasa used her hooves to open the door for him. They were greeted with a small form of chaos as Twilight and Spike appeared to be going through the books. He waited as Sasa and the others walked in behind him. “Twilight,” Sasa said aloud. He heard his own voice as it caught the purple unicorn’s attention. She spun around and Sasa snorted a laugh. Twilight’s horn was limp on her head and was covered in blue spots. Oblivion bit down on the laugh that hit him and pushed it down. Sasa was not too controlled. She laughed behind a hoof as Twilight’s frantic gaze fell on the black unicorn. “Oblivion! I’m so glad you’re here. You can fix this, right?” She said to him as she walked up to the stallion. Sasa controlled herself and shook her head. “I’m sorry, Twilight. I can’t.” “Why not?” She shrilled. “I don't know how to use Oblivion’s magic,” Sasa replied. “Just tell her, dammit.” Oblivion sniped at the pony. “Our minds have been switched. You are speaking to Sasa, not Oblivion.” She explained in a rush. Twilight stared. “Oh no. Spike keep looking!” She spun and went back to her books. “Stay calm, Chosen.” She said to the angry Witcher. Oblivion turned away from them and focused on pushing the emotion back once more. “Gods dammit.” He said as he closed his eyes to focus. He looked up as the door opened and Pinkie came inside. He stared at her before shaking his head. Sasa chuckled at the pink mare. Her tongue was swollen and could not be fit into her mouth, so it dangled like a dog when it panted. It was covered in the same blue spots as Twilight’s horn. “A pfurse.” She said. Spit flew off her tongue as she tried to speak. Spike turned to her and giggled. “A purse?” Twilight had turned to see her exuberant friend. “What in Equestria happened to you?” Pinkie tried to speak through her tongue. “Zecora. She put a fpurse on me!” Spike cringed as spit flew onto him. “Oh nasty. Say it, don’t spray it.” He yelped. A loud thud startled all of them and Oblivion had to close his eyes for a few moments once more. “Gods, this is exhausting.” He complained. Sasa nuzzled him and looked to the window. Rainbow crashed into the wall, repeatedly. “She said.” Thud. “Ow. Trying to...”Thud. “Ow...a curse.” Thud.“ She put a...Ow! Curse on...Ow! Us.” She yelled at them as she hit the wall of the library. Pinkie reached up and opened the window for Rainbow to come in. She crashed face-first into a bookshelf and fell to the ground, books landed on top of her as she recovered from the impact. Her limbs were tangled in the ladder that Spike used for shelving the books. Oblivion glanced over to her and found that reason for her trouble flying due to the location of her wings. They were low on her sides, almost on her belly, causing her to fly upside down. “I’m afraid that I have to agree with her.” Rarity spoke up as she walked in. Oblivion cringed at the state of the mare. Her hair was drawn into long dreadlocks that nearly dragged the ground. She had to keep her head up or the dreadlocks in the front of her face would drag the ground. Twilight and Spike cringed as well and Sasa chuckled again. Applejack chose that moment to pipe up from Apple Blooms back. “Ah told ya Twilight! It’s a hex!” “It is not.” Sasa groaned. “How can you be so sure, darling?” Rarity asked, pushing her mane out of her eyes with a hoof. “Oblivion is an expert on curses and all things that fall into that category. He says it is not a curse due to there being no malice or evil intent. It is not a hex or anything like that.” Sasa explained. Oblivion turned around as Fluttershy walked in and stayed out of the way. Rainbow looked at the black stallion before she spoke. “So did you get cursed to talk about yourself in the third person?” Sasa rolled her eyes. “No. I am speaking for him since he is trapped in my body. I am Sasa.” The ponies all blinked at them then they looked to the stoic cat beside the black Unicorn. “Oblivion, darling?” Rarity looked at him. He nodded. “Oh my. Well, that does explain a few things.” “Yeah, Oblivion doesn’t laugh,” Spike commented. Oblivion felt his emotions spike and he closed his eyes, to calm them once more. Sasa nuzzled him as he opened his eyes to look at the mares. Twilight wore a look of concern. “Are you okay?” “I’ll be fine.” He replied. “He says he will be fine. Both of us will be happier when this is reversed.” Sasa informed them. “Well just fix it already. You have magic Obli...oh.” Rainbow started but caught on after a moment. “Well, damn.” “Yes. If I knew how to use his magic I would have ended this charade already. But unfortunately, my skill with true magic is severely limited. I can’t even get his horn to alight.” Sasa informed them. “Only he can truly use it.” “You have used it before. When you fought back the Ursa Major and the dragon.” Twilight replied. “That wasn’t magic. I can pull magic from him to make myself stronger, but I can’t manipulate it. You might be thinking of my ability to Blink. Correct?” Twilight nodded. “That’s a teleport, isn’t it?” “No. Not really. A teleport can send a pony or others to a new place. If I keep working with it and if Oblivion chooses it can do more, but at the current level it is not possible. Plus, it has a very short range, about 3-6 feet. Whereas Oblivion can teleport long distance due to his magical strength.” Twilight nodded. Rainbow stayed in her place tangled up with the ladder. “So can he pull the magic from you then?” Oblivion sighed and shook his head. Spike suddenly burst into laughter. “This is hilarious. All of you are hilarious. Spitty Pie, Hairity, Rainbow Crash, Apple Teeny, Flutterguy, Oblivion Switch, and...” Spike looked thoughtful, as the mares glowered at him. Sasa growled at him. “I got nothing, Twilight Sparkle...Nothing.” “Haha! Hilarious Spike.” Twilight said to him. Oblivion snarled at the new name. He kept his new emotions in check by ignoring them. Though that only worked part of the time. ‘We need to fix this.’ He stated. ‘Before this drives me insane.’ He turned to the door and walked out of it. His mind went over how to find the mare. And decided that following his nose was the best option. The Witcher walked in silence as he made his way to the Everfree. He walked around the blue flowers, the more he thought about it the more he was thinking they had something to do with the current situation. He focused on tracking the zebra, so as to keep his emotions in the back of his mind. ‘Gods, will I be glad when these are gone once more.’ The Witcher tracked the mare to her home. He stopped to have a good look at it before he approached it. It was another house that was built from a tree. The branches were gnarled and reached into the higher branches, entangling among them. He looked to the front door and advanced on it. He stopped in front of it, remembering that he did not have the magic to open it, and rapped his paw on the door. It opened to show the zebra who stared at him. He sat down and waited for her to respond. “What pleasure do I owe, this creature of the wood?” ‘What the hells?’ He stared back at her. ‘Oh Gods, she speaks in rhymes.’ He raised a paw and wrote a message in the dirt with one claw. “I am from Ponyville. I had my mind swapped with my companion. Is there a way to reverse this?” The zebra came out of her home and turned to look at the message. “You walked through Poison Joke. Its blooms though are not a joke.” He nodded. “True enough. Is there a reversal?” She nodded. “I must inform you that some of the ponies I was with believing that you cursed them. While I know it’s foolish they will be more difficult to convince.” He advised her. “Yet you come alone, why come on your own?” He grimaced at the rhyming but let it go. ‘I am a Witcher. Curses are something that I know about and are able to discern them.’ “Then I thank you for your keen mind, now let us begin a cure for your misplaced mind.” She rhymed and started inside. Oblivion's ears flicked and he looked back at Apple Bloom came up to him. “Whatcha doin’ Oblivion?” He waved his paw across the ground and wrote out a message to her. “Finding a cure. What are you doing here, little one?” “The same thing.” She told him. He stood and shook himself free of dirt and walked into the house with the filly on his heels. Sasa looked to her side and stopped upon realizing that Oblivion was gone. She looked around them and saw nothing of The Witcher. “Chosen?” There was no reply to her call as she tried to reach him through their mental connection. She could sense him but he did not reply. He was pushing back his emotions and that was hampering her calls to him. Since it was her body, her communication depended on her state of mind and his magic. “Twilight?” She said to the unicorn mare. “Yes, Obli...Sasa?’ “Oblivion is gone.” She said, worry in her tone. The purple mare stopped her searching and looked around. “Oh no.” “Apple Bloom and Applejack are gone too.” Rarity noticed. “Oh no. They went to Zecora.” Sasa said to them. “Why?” “Why not? She is the only other pony who might know of a way to help.” Sasa reasoned to them. “Then that’s where we need to go. Spike stay here and look for a cure.” Twilight said as she walked out the door with the others. “How is he doing?” Sasa was quiet. “That bad?” She didn’t reply, simply broke into a trot as they went to the forest. The black unicorn broke into a lope as she followed the signature from Oblivion. They reached a house and stopped as they looked at it. Sasa trotted up to the window and saw Oblivion laying on the floor beside a cauldron. Her eyes widened and she whinnied in distress. Twilight came up to her and gasped. “Oblivion!” She whispered. The mares all gathered around and looked inside. “Nice décor. If you love creepy.” Rarity observed with a shudder. They watched as she walked around the cauldron singing. Spitty suddenly jolted "She Sthe sthtole my sthong! Shthe shtole mm mm!” “She stole your song? Pinkie that sounded nothing like your song.” Twilight said to her. She nodded and looked at them. She lunged and gripped Flutterguy’s hooves in her own and whimpered. Flutterguy sighed and opened her mouth to sing. She’s an evil Enchantress And she does evil dances And if you look deep in her eyes She will put you in trances “If you do not stop her from singing that ridiculous song, I will!” Oblivion yelled to the cat. “Stop singing!” Sasa yelled. Flutterguy stopped and shrugged at Pinkie who looked annoyed. Sasa looked into the house as Oblivion stirred and stood. “Chosen! You’re all right.” She breathed in relief and danced on her hooves. “I’m fine.” He walked to the door, opened it and came around to them. Zecora paid him no attention as he moved. “What in the God's name are all of you doing outside?” Sasa parroted his question to the mares. “We came to save you!” Flutterguy called out. “Save me? From what?” He asked and Sasa said it aloud. “From Zecora, dear. You appeared to be injured on her floor.” Rarity explained to him. He shook his head. “You mares are far too quick to panic. Even in this form do you truly think she could hurt me?” He asked them, through Sasa. Twilight looked at him as he sat down. “So you’re all right?” He nodded. “Why did you leave the library?” “We were getting nowhere, so I chose to go to Zecora. She gave us a warning before so she should know something. Turns out I was right.” He explained. “Hiya every pony!” Apple Bloom hollered, startling them. “Yeehaw!” Applejack sitting on Rainbows belly flew through the open door. Oblivion heard several loud crashes from inside, then a splash. “No!” He yelled and spun to go back into the hut. His paws landed in fluid and he looked down at it. “Dammit to the Hells!” The others came inside and looked to the destruction around them. The masks from the walls had fallen and the cauldron had been spilled all over the floor. Oblivion stood in it and snarled. Sasa walked up to him and put a hoof on his shoulder. She was surprised to feel him shaking under her hoof. It took only a moment for her to realize that he was holding onto his rage by a thread. She looked up as Applejack jumped up from the crash site and stood on Rainbows back. “We got ya now! Ya, turn us all back right now! Ya cursed us all...” She didn’t get to speak any further as blue flames coursed over the feline in the room. Oblivion roared in anger and the mares all went silent. “You foolish little mares! You would condemn some pony that you do not know simply because she is different.” He roared at them. Much to every ponies shock, they could hear him. “You fools. She was creating the antidote!” He whirled on them and began pacing, his paws splashing through the spilled brew. “Zecora was warning us about that blue flower we stood in yesterday. It’s a plant called Poison Joke and what happened to all of us was no God's damned curse.” He raged at them. “If any of you were intelligent enough to listen, you would know that.” Sasa shrunk back at the flames that poured over him. The Witcher was beyond her reach as he raged. She hunched down and whimpered as the flames flickered over him. She could hear him panting as he stopped speaking and the flames began to pull back as they all stared at him. Zecora had backed up as far as possible, same with the others. Apple Bloom hid behind the door and waited for him to calm down. The Witcher panted as the strain from the events of today caught up with him and he flopped down to his belly and closed his eyes. “Gods below.” He muttered to himself. ‘This is why Witcher’s do not have emotions. We can’t handle them on top of everything else that we are.’ He thought to himself and stood up. He walked slowly to the door and left them behind him. Apple Bloom peeked out from the behind the door as he went by. They all stayed silent for a minute after he left and it was Twilight who spoke first. “He’s right.” She looked at Zecora. “I am so sorry.” Spike trotted in, a book under his arm. “Twilight...I...What's wrong?” “Oblivion let us have it,” Rainbow said from her place on the floor. “Huh?” “I never knew he could get that angry with anypony,” Twilight said. “He was helping Zecora make the antidote fer ya'll.” Apple Bloom said. “He had to go run around quite a bit ta get some of the ingredients that were too dangerous for me ta get, while Zecora got the rest of the brew ready.” Sasa sighed and stat up. “So he was resting when we showed up?” The zebra nodded. Sasa put her head down and sighed. “What have we done?” Twilight walked up and set a hoof on her shoulder. “Can you call him back when we finish the brew?” Sasa looked at her and nodded. “He should be the first one we use the antidote on.” “I agree. We ruined his effort and I'm not surprised that he was upset now that I think of it.” Rarity admitted. “How can we help Zecora?” Twilight asked. The zebra smiled at them and nodded. “Mix a new brew I certainly will, I am missing one herb from Ponyville.” “But whenever she comes to town everypony hides.” Apple Bloom pointed out. Sasa stood up and made for the door. “Sasa?” Twilight called out. “We have a town to educate. If I have to break down doors to get that plant she needs I will. I refuse to leave my Chosen to suffer if I can fix it.” She vowed and walked out the door. Twilight and the others caught up to her as she marched into town. It took time but the ponies finally calmed and allowed Zecora to get the plant she needed. The Ponyville day spa allowed them to use one of their soaker tubs to make a large amount of the brew needed. Twilight looked at Sasa who nodded her understanding. “Chosen?” She called out to him. “Yes?” “Oh good you answered. I was worried you would be...wait...you didn’t answer before. Are you all right?” “I’m fine. What do you need?” Sasa bit back any further questions. “We worked with Zecora to create a new batch of the antidote. We are at the spa.” “Very well. I’m on my way.” He replied to her. “He’s coming.” She reported to them. The mares all nodded and sat back as they waited. Several minutes passed and they all looked to the doorway as Oblivion walked through it. Sasa jumped up and nuzzled him, she led him onto the platform above the pool. He looked down at the greenish liquid and blanched. He yelped as Sasa pushed him into the water and jumped in after him. His head broke the surface as he looked around him, water dripping off his fur. He looked to the side and found the tiger looking back at him. He looked down and found his hooves in the water. “Thank the Gods.” He said as he sighed. Sasa rumbled and splashed him with her paws. He cringed out of the way and teleported out of the tub. He looked up as Lotus and Aloe started drying his mane and fur with towels. He allowed them to dry him off and teleported the binding in his mane to wrap around his fetlock, to avoid his wings showing. The mares all watched him as he sat down and allowed himself to be handled. “Are you all right, Chosen?” Sasa asked him as she crawled out of the tub. “Yes. That will never happen again.” He vowed. “Well, now we know to avoid that plant.” She told him as she sat down by him. The mares all clamored into the tub and gave excited noises as the jokes were removed. Sasa nuzzled his shoulder and purred at him. “Any reason for the affection?” He asked her. “Just glad that you are more comfortable.” She explained. “I should apologize for losing my temper. That was untoward.” He replied to her. “No. There is nothing to apologize for.” She said to him. He glanced over to her, questioning. “You attitude was deserved. Apple Bloom told us about your working to get that brew correct. Anypony would have been upset. You had every right to lose your temper. No pony was upset at you for it. But I am curious. Why did you react as you did about Zecora?” He startled and Lotus muttered an apology, thinking she had hurt him since his wounds were on that side. “I know what it’s like to be in her hooves. Being judged for what you are instead of who. A Witcher is always hated and used. Then thrown away when they finish with us.” Sasa was quiet. She knew that Witcher's were not treated well but hearing more details from him upset her and explained his attitude. She remained at his side as they finished drying him. The black stallion stood up and shook out his mane and tail of any lingering water. He heaved a sigh and sat back down. Sasa tilted her head to him. “I’m fine. Simply tired. I do not miss having emotions. They're exhausting.” He informed her. She chuffed at him and nodded. “It can be.” She looked back to the mares as they laughed and splashed each other. Twilight jumped out and dried off before trotting up to Oblivion. “Are you all right?” She asked him. “I’m fine.” He replied. Twilight nodded and a smile stretched over her muzzle. “It’s good to see you back in the right body. I’m so sorry about earlier.” “Earlier?” “When we treated Zecora so badly and ruined the antidote you were helping to make.” She explained. “Oh. Yes, that was upsetting. Already forgiven Twilight.” He said to her, with a dismissive wave of his hoof. She blinked. “You were so angry before.” He looked away for a moment before explaining. “That was due to being in the body of another. Because the body I was in was not a Witcher I ended up having emotions again. I have not had those for a very long time. So it was...startling to have them again.” “That’s why you were like that?” “Among other factors yes. But that is the main one. I was angry, that’s true. I also understood how it felt to be in Zecora’s hooves. Treated the way she was simply because no pony wished to understand. A Witcher is hated, used, and then thrown away when not needed. So I understood it more than any other.” Twilight sat down and looked to him. “I’m sorry.” “It’s fine.” He interrupted. “I’m not upset about it.” “But you were.” She reasoned. “For a short amount of time, yes.” He agreed. Twilight glanced back to the others as they chatted. “We should have been more understanding. You’re an expert on curses and monsters. We should have listened to you.” “It happens. It’s difficult to change perception when it’s as ingrained as it was. They were convinced that they were correct and no pony was going to convince them otherwise. Knowing about curses and saying that they are, in fact real did not help.” “Still. You are a very knowledgeable pony and we should have all listened to you.” “In the future, you will. Learn from your mistakes and move forward.” He said as he looked past her to the others and then back to her. “You’re a very smart pony, Oblivion.” “Sometimes.” He admitted to her. “Or maybe just stubborn.” She said with a giggle. “I am that as well.” He said to her. Twilight laughed as they all laughed at Applejack, who was stuck in a bucket of water that they had put aside for her so as not to drown in the larger tub. Oblivion stood up and teleported himself to the farm. “Gods, that was exhausting.” “Oblivion!” Mac ran up to him and waited for a reply. Oblivion waited for him to continue, then realized what the other stallion was waiting for. “It’s me, Mac.” “Thank Equestria. Ah, need yer magic fer a minute.” He said and led the other stallion to the side of the barn. A large hole with a wagon stuck in it greeted them. “What the Hells did you do?” He asked Mac, who looked sheepish. “Ah fergot ta set the brake.” He admitted with a grimace. Oblivion groaned and his magic covered the wagon, pulling it free with the barn wall. He repaired it and set it aside as his magic covered the wall and a flash of azure flame repaired the damage. He looked at Mac and shook his head as the roan looked sheepish and started to move the wagon back into its normal place. “Ya gonna go ta Canterlot on Saturday?” He hollered. Oblivion nodded and waited for the other to come back to him. “I always do. I appreciate the understanding and you giving me Saturdays off.” “No biggie. Ya got a life outside the farm and that’s fine. ‘Sides, ya got other friends.” Mac informed him and patted his shoulder. “Would be kinda cruel ta keep ya working all the time.” Oblivion shrugged. “If it was needed then I would understand but I thank you none the less.” The roan nodded and left him where he stood. Oblivion inhaled and released as his body ached and a tired groan escaped him. He walked over to his usual tree and allowed himself to collapse under it. He laid down and closed his eyes, glad that he was back to normal. Having emotions again had been a shock and not one he was looking to repeat. He considered the effects of having those once more but chose to push the thought out of his mind. The unicorn was quiet as he heard Applejack, Apple Bloom and Sasa coming back toward the farm. He remained in place as they neared him. “Chosen.” Sasa loped over to him and nuzzled his cheek. “Ya left so quick ah was sure ya were still angry.” Applejack said as she neared him. “No. Simply tired.” He replied. “Ah have ta admit, Ah like ya better this way.” Applejack said to him. He opened one eye and looked to her. “Yer scary as all hell when yer angry. Ya keep that held back all the time?” “No. Normally I have no emotions. So keeping it held back is very simple. When I was swapped with Sasa her body has emotions so they were there without me truly knowing it. So what happened was an effect of the situation and my own frustration.” Applejack looked at him in response to his explanation. “So yer emotions are just gone?” “No, they were removed. I told you a Witcher is made. The Trial that created me destroyed my emotions.” He looked thoughtful for a moment. “Correction, I have some emotions just none of them are very strong.” He closed his eyes and relaxed once more. Apple Bloom trotted up to him and prodded his shoulder. He cracked open one eye and glanced to the filly at his side. He could see the ball on her back and immediately knew what she wanted. “Damn.” He commented. “I got her.” Sasa reached a paw up and batted the ball off the fillies back and off to the side. “Sasa!” Apple Bloom yelled and chased after it. She bounced it back and the cat sent it rolling once more. Oblivion closed his eye once more and sighed as he laid quiet. Applejack gently put her hoof through his mane. The Unicorn opened his eye once more to look at her. She was stroking his mane and staring at the ground. “Applejack?” He said her name and raised his head. She startled and stood up. “Sorry. It’s...uh...nuthin’...” The mare turned and fled. His horn lit and picked her up, bringing her back to him. He set her down as he sat up. “What is it?” “Ah wanted ta say Ah’m sorry bout not listening to ya.” She said to him. “Why do I not believe you? Applejack you can’t lie. You’re terrible at it. What is actually on your mind?” He questioned her. She fidgeted as he waited. “Ya were pretty frightening.” He startled. “You were afraid of me?” “Yeah. Ah never seen ya like that. Come ta find out ya don’t have that emotion normally so how come?” She paused as he shifted. “How come it was so strong? Or how come I couldn't control it?” “Both?” She said to him. “It was as strong as it was because I couldn’t control it. I have been a Witcher for over a hundred years AJ. Over a hundred years of not having emotion. Think of that for a moment.” He advised her. Applejack looked thoughtful. “Oh. That would be a bit upsettin’ wouldn’t it?” “Now imagine you suddenly have them again. All of them. At the same time.” He said to her, forcing her to contemplate his actions. Applejack grimaced and looked to him. “Exactly. It was very...overwhelming and unwanted. Do you recall the times where I had to turn away from everypony?” She nodded as she thought back. “Ah just thought ya were annoyed.” “Not really. I was trying to get the emotions under control once more. I was pushing them back to avoid having them attack me once more.” “Attack you?” “Sasa referred to it as an attack. I think it was a panic or anxiety attack. I was unsure how to handle them and that uncertainty only made things worse. So I was having to push them all back and try not to let them run rampant. That snowballed and eventually even I lose my temper.” He admitted. Applejack nodded. “Sorry bout all that. Ah shoulda listened to ya. Yer an expert on monsters and curses. Ya would know if it was a curse or not.” She said to him, a small smile played on her muzzle. Oblivion nodded. “Even if I had been able to reach all of you would you have listened? Consider how unwilling you were to listen even when I told you that curses were real but not common here.” Applejack cringed and nodded her understanding. “Ya make a good point.” She admitted. “Are ya feelin’ okay?” He tilted his head at her question. “How do you mean?” “Ya seem a bit worn out is all.” She told him. “I see. I am a bit worn but nothing to worry about.” He admitted to her. “Now Ah know yer okay. Tryin’ ta make things about ya not too bad.” She said with a laugh. “Perhaps.” She stood up and smiled at him. “Thank ya fer explaining it to me.” She said to him. He sank back to the ground with a nod to her. “It won’t do me any good if you’re frightened of me.” Applejack nodded to him and started for the house. “Gonna eat dinner with us?” He shook his head and she smiled as she turned and went into the house. Apple Bloom and Sasa were still playing off to the side as Oblivion sighed and relaxed once more. His body relaxed and he allowed his mind to wander.