The crunch of dirt and gravel beneath Twilight's hooves was the only sound to accompany her as she trudged one of the Everfree's natural trails. She happened upon it shortly after she left the castle—left Sombra. Whether it was the work of a prowling manticore or a pack of timberwolves, it didn't matter to her. It would, eventually and conveniently, return her to the grove where the trees were adorned with Zecora's chimes.
It was only fair she pay her friend a visit. She spent the last week in recovery and, much to her shame, she hadn't once thought of the zebra. She rarely left the sanctuary of the library. She emerged only when she and Spike needed a trip to the market, or when she felt compelled to check on Sombra at the inn.
So, she would stop by, for the sake of her friend and herself. Celestia knew she needed the distraction. As much as she didn't want to leave Sombra all by himself all too soon, she couldn't help but feel she had overstayed her welcome.
Well, perhaps that was too negative a thought, but it was definitely for the best she leave the stallion to his own devices for now. She knew better than to force such an issue. No, he would open up only when the time was right, and not a moment sooner.
The tip of her horn brushed against the pointed bottom of a stone chime. Its whimsical knoll was welcomed song, and her body automatically turned in the direction of Zecora's tree. The warm glow of its lanterns cut through the forest's murk as easily as any streetlight and, as she neared, she caught a whiff of the exotic incense Zecora used to ward off dangerous beasts.
Still, Twilight stiffened when a branch snapped in the distance. “Zecora?” she called. “Is that you?” A monster so suddenly close, likely for the reason it knew she was already there, would launch an attack regardless if she made her presence known or not, and heavens knew she didn't want to cast a paranoid spell at a friend.
There came more noise. “Hello...?” replied a small, hesitant voice. The small, buttercream-colored body of a filly emerged from the brush. “Who's there?”
Twilight released a breath she didn't know she was holding. “Oh, Apple Bloom, you had me worried for a second!” Her brow furrowed. “Wait, what in the world are you doing out here all by yourself?”
Apple Bloom raised an eyebrow. “I was about t'ask you the same thing. I'm headin' to Zecora's. What're you doin'?”
Ushering the tiny pony towards their destination, Twilight replied, “I'm on my way there myself. But, you need to be more careful.”
“I am careful!” The filly reached into her saddlebags and produced a sizable square of burlap. It was sealed on all edges with white thread, and it bulged with contents unknown to the unicorn. “See? Zecora gave me this t'keep the critters away. It's full of... of...” Her face scrunched up. “... Ah, that fancy-smellin' stuff she likes!”
“Oh...” A nervous laugh made its way past the mare's lips. “Well, then, it looks like I owe you an apology!”
“Eh.” Apple Bloom shrugged. “Don't worry about it.” She rapped her hoof upon the door of the ornately-decorated home. “Applejack threw the same fit.”
“Come in, my dear,” sang Zecora's muffled voice. “I am here.”
They found the zebra seated at a table in the corner—nose-deep in a tattered book. Her eyes glanced in their direction. “Ah, what is this?” she hummed. “Not one, but two guests in my midst?”
Apple Bloom ran up to her. “Zecora! Zecora!” She threw her saddlebags onto the table, which caused a hoof-full of shiny red apples to spill out past the flaps. “I brought the apples ya wanted!”
The zebra gently closed her book and set it to the side. “Thank you, little one, these will help with your next lesson a ton.” She stood. “But, as you may have guessed, I need to have a word with our other guest.”
Twilight smiled. “Hey, Zecora.”
“Twilight Sparkle! How have you been?” She pulled the unicorn into a tight hug. “I would have prepared some tea, if your arrival I had foreseen.”
“Don't worry about it. It's just good to see you again. You wouldn't believe what happened to the girls and I recently.”
Chuckling, Zecora motioned for Twilight to take a seat, which the latter took with gratitude. “I heard some things, here and there, but do not be afraid to share. You battled a pony armed with dark magic—a fight that ended quite tragic.”
“Yep, that's about it.”
Apple Bloom pushed a small stool to the table, so she could sit next to them. “Yeah, yeah, yeah,” she huffed. “But, what am I supposed to do with these apples here?”
“We need only one, and we need it for the seeds. Those will be enough to suit our needs.” Zecora held up one of the fruits. She pulled in into halves without effort and its tiny brown seeds fell from the exposed core. “It's actually quite fortunate you had so many in your pack, as the rest of them will make a pleasant snack.” She handed the seeds to the filly, then she reached for the book she was reading earlier.
“Follow these instructions,” she warned, opening up to a specific page, “for do not doubt. You're aiming not for a tree, but for merely a sprout.”
Twilight gazed at the two. “Wait... What are you doing?”
Apple Bloom looked down at the seeds with a beaming smile. “Zecora's teachin' me how to make potions!” she exclaimed, bouncing to the other end of the room.
A hint of pride graced Zecora's features. “Since her sister was away, I took her under my wing to keep her loneliness and boredom at bay. And, despite your safe return to Ponyville, I plan to continue her lessons still.”
“That's fantastic!” Twilight's tail almost began to wag in her excitement. The very thought of somepony so young taking an interest in alchemy—in any form of magic—was exhilarating. “May I watch?”
The filly nodded. “Yeah, sure, I don't mind.” She then shot a glare at the mares which, given her size, wasn't all that threatening. “Just gimme some peace 'n quiet, so I can concentrate!”
Twilight and Zecora, of course, complied and they watched with great interest as Apple Bloom went about setting up for her assigned project. She took a clay pot, already filled with loose soil, into which she dropped one of the apple seeds. She then, for the moment, abandoned the pot. Instead, she snatched a mortar and pestle off the corner table.
Afterwards, it became obvious Apple Bloom had spent a great deal of time in the humble home. She seemed to know where Zecora kept everything; after a few glances at the book, she moved quickly between drawers and cabinets—grabbing ingredients into the crook of her left foreleg. Twilight recognized a few of the items she tossed into the mortar: a fiddlehead, a sprig of glasswort, and a sprinkle of what she guessed were fish scales.
The resulting mush ended up in the cauldron with a bucketful of river water. Apple Bloom was careful as she stirred it. After a minute, when the mixture turned red and she took a second to consult the book, a purple-spotted mushroom and a pinch of salt—at least, Twilight assumed the substance was salt—were added.
A pink cloud of magic erupted from the cauldron with a loud poof, but the filly continued to stir. It wasn't for another few moments that she felt the mixture was complete. With a ladle, she dribbled some into a glass bottle.
For the moment of truth, she carried the bottle to the pot, and she let a single drop fall onto the seed.
To Apple Bloom's credit, she was astonishingly patient as the next few minutes passed. The bottle remained clenched between her teeth. Her intense stare tried to bore a hole into the pot.
Twilight bit down on her hoof, while Zecora looked on with an impassive gaze.
The tension split when a sprout finally erupted from the seed. It wasn't a large sprout, but it was a sprout nonetheless. Apple Bloom certainly thought it a success, as it had her bouncing around the pot shouting, “Yes, yes, yes!” at the top of her lungs.
Zecora smiled, turning to look at Twilight. “I knew there was no need to fear,” she said softly. “This is not the first time her talent's shone clear.”
At the sound of “talent,” Apple Bloom turned her head to look at her flank. To the filly's disappointment, it was as blank as ever. “Shoot,” she grumbled, lowering her head in dissatisfaction.
That got a laugh out of both Twilight and Zecora. “Don't be discouraged!” the former soothed. She stood and approached the child. “What you did just now was amazing, Apple Bloom. Don't let yourself think otherwise.”
“Thanks, Twilight...”
The mare placed a comforting hoof on her back. “You'll get better. Zecora will make sure of that.” She smiled. “But, if you need a little extra help, I'm more than willing to lend you a hoof and any book you may need!”
Zecora strolled up beside her. “Your skill will continue to grow from here,” she said. “It will grow greater, should you decide to lend Twilight your ear.” Gently, she cupped the head of the sapling in her hoof. “You've done very well, my dear.”
Apple Bloom stuck out her chest in pride. “Darn tootin'!”
Twilight snickered. “Well, good luck with the rest of your lessons. I need to get myself back to the library.”
“Wait, what about the party?”
“Huh? What party?”
The filly tilted her head. “Pinkie's throwin' a bash for the new feller who just moved into town. Now that I think about it, I remember my sister and the others askin' where you were. How long have you been out here, anyway?”
Zecora raised a brow at Twilight, who recoiled slightly at the look, then immediately returned her attention to her apprentice. “If you would be so kind, Apple Bloom, a book I need you to find.” She gestured to one of her shelves—one at the far end of the room. “It's the only one with a green and battered spine, so you'll find it just fine.”
“Got it!”
As Apple Bloom left them in peace, Zecora walked Twilight to the door. “It was good to see you, my friend,” she said. “It's a shame our time together is at its end.”
Swallowing, Twilight mustered enough energy to smile. “Same here, but if everyone's looking for me, then I shouldn't worry them.”
The other mare nodded. “Though nothing's wrong, you've been away for far too long.”
“Yeah...” Truth be told, Twilight felt guilty about her lack of knowledge regarding one of Pinkie Pie's parties, especially if it was being thrown for someone new to the community. But, it wasn't as though she meant to be absent. She had a good reason—not that she could tell anypony the reason.
She came to the quick conclusion that the only way to rectify the situation was to get to Sugarcube Corner as quickly as possible.
“Thank you for your time, Zecora, but I have to get myself to a party!”
Zecora smiled. “Enjoy yourself, Twilight!” She shielded her eyes in time to avoid the bright light of Twilight's teleportation spell. She then stood there, silent for a moment, before she turned her attention elsewhere. When the time is right, perhaps you'll speak to me of your plight.