Book 2 Temple of the Reformed
Chapter 1
Year 0, month 4, day 12
High up in the center of a vast mountain range sat a large temple filled with monks of every intelligent species the world had to offer. Outside, some wearing their matching white robes as they trained in many methods of self-defense, while inside the main building many more sat in a large hall in perfect rows and ranks as they were all trapped in a meditative trance. In the front of this temple, sat the temple master, an Ibex with a white coat, a long white beard and a grey rob. Next to him in two rows of four sat his most trusted decuples which consist of a grey minotaur, a yellow hippogriff, two grey griffins who were identical twins, an anthropomorphic lynx, a red earth pony and a powder blue pegasus, each wearing orange robes, and a shaved mane. With the mix of species from all walks of life gathered in meditation, nothing could be heard as the smoke and smell of incense seemed to be the only movement in the entire hall. Finally as the silence seemed impenetrable, it was eventually broken as the master of the grand temple smiled as he spoke, “Very well…”
Confused by the only sound to be heard in the room, the disciples opened their eyes and looked to their master as the elderly Ibex opened his crystal white eyes and spoke, “Serenity?”
Hearing her name, the blue pegasus stood up as she stepped in front of her master and bowed in a way that said she was ready for her instruction. As she waited the blind master made a curious face as he repeated, “Serenity?... are you here?... Step forward.”
The mare looked up at her master and gave him an annoyed look as the hippogriff sitting next to him whispered, “Sensei… her vow of silence.”
The blind ibex nodded, “Ah, I see… well… I can’t see, but I understand.” He looked in front of him, “Serenity I-” he paused as he leaned closer to the hippogriff, “Is she present?”
Serenity rolled her eyes as the hippogriff added, “She is sensei. She is standing right in front of you.”
The master added, “Where is her staff? Isn’t its purpose to allow those around her to know she is present?”
The hippogriff continued, “It is… but you recall it is forbidden to bring weapons into the main temple.”
The master asked, “Who may I ask, made such a rule?”
The hippogriff continue, “You did sensei…”
Feeling a little foolish the master nodded, “Oh… well… then it was a wise rule.”
Serenity rolled her eyes in hopelessness as the ibex cleared his throat and spoke, “Serenity… It appears we are to be visited by one who is lost. Go into the valley and seek him out?... If I’m right, he should be the zebra caught in a fight with the Sullen Ones.”
Understanding her task, Serenity bowed in respect before turning to the entrance as she made her way towards the large temple doors. As she trotted towards the doors, the master hesitated for a few seconds before asking, “Did she get all that?” the hippogriff nodded, “Yes Sensei she did.”
The Ibex nodded, “Good… ya know… we need to get her a bell or something. If she wasn’t so light on her hooves she would be easier to keep track of.”
The hippogriff nodded, “Sensei? We hold many lost ones here, and yet this is the first you willingly seek one out… may I ask why?”
The Ibex smiled as he replied, “We do not question the will of the universe. Our purpose it to follow its will. More so… when it calls upon one to help.”
The hippogriff asked, “The universe called upon you?”
The master smile seemed unsure as he replied, “We shall see…”
Down in the valley between the mountains, Zeil made his way up the trail that was lined with a thick forest of bamboo. As he continued in his zebra form, He paused when he started hearing the trickling sound of a stream. Going off the trail, Zeil traveled towards the sound until he reached a small clearing where a small stream of water was running down a cliff face into a small shallow pool that was barely a foot at its deepest. Approaching the crystal clear water, Zeil took out a small bowl as he scooped up some water and looked into it for cleanliness. When he saw it was clean, Zeil took a sip of the water and nodded as he mumbled, “Clean enough.”
Zeil then stepped into the shallow water as he made his way to the small stream before pulling out his canteen and holding it under the falling water. As the stream started filling his canteen, Zeil looked into the beauty that was the surrounding mountains. It had been a few months since he was able to escape the deadly charred landscape, and he was just now getting used to traveling during the day since the sun was no longer a danger to him.
Smiling at the setting, Zeil looked down into the water below him as he saw his zebra reflection looking back. As soon as he saw his disguised form, Zeil’s smile slowly faded as he used his left hoof to hold the canteen while dipping his right hoof into the pool scooping up some water in it. As he looked into his reflection that was now in his hoof, Zeil turned his zebra hoof into his changeling one as he watched the water run through the holes in his hoof and back into the pool below. Reminding himself of his troubles, Zeil could only sigh in disappointment as he mumbled, “A drone without a hive… if it wasn’t me, I wouldn’t think it was possible. Can… I even call myself a changeling anymore?... and if I can’t… then what am I-”
Zeil’s mood was interrupted when he felt the water overflowing out of his canteen as he looked back to the water source and pulled it away from the falling stream. Seeing that it was now full, Zeil turned his right hoof back into its zebra form as he closed the cap on the canteen and put it back into his saddlebag.
Turning back to the direction he came from, Zeil mumbled, “Whatever I am… I’m alone now. Sonic is gone, Rafi won’t talk to me for some reason, and even if Princess Mira says she and the swarm support me, I'd rather die than accept their help. I guess… all I can do, is move fo-”
As Zeil made it past the halfway point of the shallow pool, he paused as he started to sense a presence around him. Knowing there was more than one, Zeil mumbled as he tried to identify them by the aura they gave off, “Five of them… a griffin… an earth pony… one-no… two minotaur, and a teenage dragon… But who are they… and what do they wa-”
All of a sudden, Zeil sprang into action as he jumped back as far as he could as three sharpened spears made from bamboo came down and stuck into the ground where he was standing. As Zeil landed in the shallow pond, Zeil paused as twelve more spears of bamboo fell down on him only this time, the spears perfectly impaled the ground around him leaving the shaft of each spear to lock both over and under his neck torso and flank as they locked Zeil in place and made it impossible for him to move.
Pinned and unable to move, Zeil struggled as his group of attackers revealed themselves by exiting the forest. Smiling at their accomplishment, the earth pony of the group stepped into the shallow water and approached his trapped foe. Confused, Zeil just held still in his pinned position as the earth pony approached him, took off his saddlebag and spoke, “Domo.”
With a gloating smirk, the earth pony turned back to the shore and trotted back as he sat the bag down as he and his approaching bandits started looking through their claimed loot. Knowing he was at a disadvantage, Zeil glared at the bandits as he spoke, “You chose the wrong changeling to rob.”
As the group looked back at him the earth pony chuckled as he spoke with a sarcastic tone, “Nani?”
At that moment, Zeil transformed into a large manticore as his sheer increase in size caused the bamboo spears to break apart as the group of bandits dropped the bag and backed away as one called, “Chenjiringu!!!”
As the group backed away from the changeling, Zeil wasted no time as he in his manticore form walked back to his saddlebag then transformed back into a zebra before picking up the bag and pulling out a potion. Cautious, the surrounding bandits readied themselves for a fight as Zeil quickly drank the potion and mumbled, “One… two… three…”
The group stood at the ready as one looked to the leader and spoke, “Nani datte- he just drank? Some kind of medicine?”
The Earth pony looked back and replied, “It could be a potion, Just be ready, Changeling or zebra, he has some skill to dodge those first few spears.”
Knowing the potion has taking effect, Zeil smiled as he replied, “Your right… I’m not as helpless as you think.”
The group of bandits looked at each other in confusion as the griffin in the group spoke, “Wait… now you speak our language?”
Zeil smiled as he shook his head and held up the empty vial, “Nope, but this allows me to understand it, and makes everything I say understandable to anyone. Even if the language is long dead.”
The leading earth pony shook his head as he drew a thin curved dagger, “That doesn’t matter, death sounds the same in every language. And that’s what awaits those who challenge the Sullen Ones.”
After saying that, every member of the group of bandits drew weapons as Zeil readied his stance as he replied, “So what you’re a gang of thieves? Kinda sad you can’t fend for yourself so you resort to stealing from others.”
Ignoring the insult, the earth pony looked at his dragon member as he smiled, “You take this one Charra, make him bleed.”
The dragoness that stood a few feet taller than her leader smiled, “With pleasure.”
The grey teenage dragon stepped forward and readied her staff, but before Zeil could say anything, the dragoness opened her wings and darted across the surface of the water at high speeds towards her target. Surprised by her speed, Zeil was barely able to track her movements as the fast dragon approached him swinging her staff horizontally in an effort to hit him in his face. As Zeil saw the action and dodged her attack, the dragon wasted no time as she swung her staff again this time to his hooves as Zeil also saw this attack and jumped in the air over the staff. Impressed but annoyed, the dragoness tried three more times to try and strike him, but like before Zeil managed to duck under the first, step away from the second and jumped back to dodge the third. As he landed down into the water behind him, Zeil felt something tap his back hoof as he looked out the corner of his eye to see what it was.
Now angry, the dragoness lunged at Zeil and tried again to hit him in the face with a horizontal swing. Only this time instead of dodging the attack, Zeil only took an extra step back as her staff colligated with the shaft of one of the bamboo spear that he dodged earlier. Seeing the obstacle, the dragoness held the staff in place as she released her weapon with one claw and swung at Zeil with her sharp claws exposed. Although Zeil was able to see Charra’s shift from armed to unarmed combat, he was only fast enough to raise his hoof in an attempt to protect his face as her razor sharp claws dug into his arm and threw him to the ground with one powerful slash. As he hit the shallow water, Zeil tried to pick himself up but before he was able to, the dragoness pinned his neck to the bottom of the water with her staff as she held him in place, deep enough for him to have to look through the water to see her, but shallow enough for his muzzle to breath over its surface.
Stuck and unable to move, Zeil laid in the water as his bleeding arm started clouding it as the earth pony called, “Hold him there!”
Pausing, Charra held Zeil down as he watched the blurry image of the approaching bandit leader as he stepped next to his subordinate and smiled, “For a second there I thought you had come from the temple. Your movement were on pare with plenty of the Sensei’s warriors… but you’re body hesitates with worry, you’re not at peace at all…. Are you? Too bad, you would be a profitable addition to our group, but I don’t accept those who can’t fight.”
He looked at his dragon companion and nodded, “Smother him…”
With an evil smile on her face, the dragoness with her left claw still pinning him down with her staff, placed her right claw over his muzzle as she made sure she covered both his nostrils and mouth so he couldn’t breathe. With this, the pinned changeling started struggling from his lack of air as he tried to free himself from the dragon’s grasp.
Smiling at their victim, the gang of bandits watched as their target struggled for air, however their victory was cut short when a blunt stock of bamboo flew out of the forest and hit Charra across her face with enough force to knock her unconscious as she was pushed to the ground releasing Zeil to pick himself up while gasping for air. Leaning against the standing bamboo spears, Zeil tried to catch his breath as the gang of thieves quickly turned their attention to their surrounding as a strange metal rattle-like chiming was heard echoing through the bamboo forest around them. As soon as the sound was heard the group of bandit’s expressions became worried as the griffin in the group spoke, “Boss… it’s a monk.”
As the chiming rattled every second, the now nervous earth pony replied, “I know it’s a monk! Who is it?”
The group continued looking around in worry as the griffin looked back, “I can’t tell, you think it’s one of the disci-”
Before he could finish Serenity fell in from above as she landed behind him wielding a staff that had a thin golden ring at the tip of its shaft with many smaller rings linked on it. Before the surprised griffon could turn to his attacker, the silent mare swung her staff bashing the shaft just below the rings against the griffin’s face as the single hit delved enough force to both throw him, and knock him unconscious. As soon as the group saw her, one of the minotaur yelled, “IT’S SERENITY!!!”
Smiling but not saying anything, the skilled mare jumped back into the bamboo forest behind her and vanished as she started chiming her staff again to every second passed making it impossible to know where she was with the echo of each chime. As the group looked around in worry, the same minotaur panicked as he yelled, “Forget this!”
As he turned to the closest bamboo plant and made an attempt to flee into the forest. However as he approached his only means of escape, he paused suddenly before a gold gleam was seen cutting through the bamboo as the shaft of the gold ringed staff bashed the minotaur in his face knocking him to the ground and unconscious just like the griffin mere moments ago.
As the Severed bamboo stalks started falling, the earth pony called to his only remaining bandit, “We can’t win against her! RETREAT!!!”
With that the two dashed for separate tree lines as the earth pony ran by Zeil’s saddlebag and scooped it up before reaching and vanishing into the bamboo thicket. As the remaining bandits vanished into the forest, Zeil struggled to hold himself up as Serenity stepped out of the forest and into the open. As he looked at the pegasus who saved him, Zeil felt slightly relieved, “Th-thanks… I guess I owe you one…”
With no expression on her face, Serenity started to approach Zeil as he looked at the wound on his arm. All three of the dragonesses claws had cut deep bleeding gashes in his arm as Zeil turned to look at the unconscious dragon before speaking, “So… what now? Should we kill them?”
Unamused by his suggestion, Serenity raised the staff up and used the pommel of the shaft to tap him in his chest with a small amount of force as Zeil was pushed back slightly as he looked back and replied, “Hey… what wa- what was tha- that-”
All of a sudden Zeil started to feel his heart race as his head started feeling heavy and his sight started to fade. Confused by the unexpected dizziness he felt, Zeil tried to focus on Serenity as he tried to speak, “What… did you do?... to-”
Feeling too weak to finish, the dizzy changeling fell to the shallow water beneath him, and lost consciousness.
Hours later, Zeil opened his eyes to find himself laying on a futon in the middle of an eastern themed room. As he sat up, Zeil rubbed his head as he tried to remember, “Wha- what happened?...”
As he rubbed his head, the sliding door to the room opened as Serenity took a step in and taped her staff on the ground making the rings chime once. Seeing this immediately jogged his memory as Zeil scooted back and replied, “Y-you! What did you do to me? Where am I? Are you even on my side or what?”
Serenity didn’t reply, instead she just stood there giving him an emotionless stare as he asked, “Um… can you talk? Do you even understand me? I don’t think that translator potion wore off yet… then again I don’t know how long I’ve been out.”
Serenity didn’t respond, instead she only took a step to the side and gestured out the door in a way that said follow me. After making the gesture, Serenity stepped out of the room and waited as Zeil started to pick himself up. However as soon as he did, he could only cringe at the pain in his arm as the changeling looked to his wound to see that his arm was completely bandaged. As he looked at his wound he started rubbing it as he mumbled, “Great… and me without supplies to treat it… I better not g-”
Seeing that he wasn’t following, Serenity taped her staff against the ground again making yet another chime as Zeil sighed to her interruption, “Alright, alright I’m coming!”
With that, the annoyed changeling tried his best to trot with his wound as he followed Serenity out the door.
As soon as Zeil stepped into the temple plaza, he stopped in shock as he saw a collection of creatures from all over the world as they all trained in the center of the large complex. Amazed, Zeil watched as the mix of griffins, ponies, hippogriffs, small dragons and a large assortment of anthropomorphic animals trained using everything from staves, batons, wooden swords, even their own appendages. As Zeil marveled at the skill that each fighter was preforming that was far beyond even his abilities, he was snapped out of it when he heard the chiming of Serenity’s staff as he looked to see her giving him and annoyed look since he wasn’t following her. Realizing what he was doing Zeil quickly caught up to Serenity as she continued leading him across the complex towards the main temple. As they continued Zeil looked at Serenity and asked, “So… what is this place?”
Serenity didn’t respond, seeing this Zeil spoke again, “Why did you bring me here?”
Serenity replied with the same silence as before as Zeil sighed, “Well… your one for conversation, aren’t you?”
Ignoring his words, Serenity continued leading him through the complex as they neared the large temple at the far back of the facility.
As they approached the main temple, Zeil marveled at the temple’s size as Serenity trotted off to the side and placed her staff on a small rack meant for weaponry. After placing her staff on the rack, Serenity looked at Zeil as she gestured to the rack. Seeing this Zeil shook his head, “Weapons? No… everything I had was taken by those bandits.”
Showing she understood, Serenity nodded as she approached the two massive doors leading into the temple. As she placed her hoof against the doors to open them, she hesitated as she turned to Zeil one last time and put her hoof in front of her mouth as if she was shushing him, or telling him to be quiet. Understanding that she wanted him to be quiet once they were inside, Zeil nodded as he replied, “Okay… silent as a mouse… got it.”
With that, Serenity gave him a confirming nod as she turned back to the large doors and pushed them open.
As soon as the massive doors opened wide enough to let air escape, the smoke and smell of incense slowly emerged from the room as Zeil looked to see a large number of meditating monks inside, and just like the training monks outside, they ranged from almost every type of intelligent creature the world had to offer. As they continued down the center of the room, Zeil and Serenity started to approach the alter at the front of the room where the master Ibex was meditating with seven disciples sitting in rows on each side of him. As they approached the master, Serenity stopped and looked at Zeil as she held out her hoof to him, then rocked it over to the master as if she were introducing the two silently. After doing this, Serenity trotted to the only empty cushion on the alter as she sat down and joined one of the rows of disciples making each row perfectly even. Confused Zeil looked at the meditating Ibex master, then back at Serenity as she gestured her head to the master as if she were telling him to say something.
Seeing this Zeil looked at the old Ibex as he cleared his throat and spoke, “Um… excuse me? Are you who I have to talk to?”
The master opened his eyes and looked towards his voice as he replied, “Oh… I um… I wasn’t expecting anyone… um… who are you? I don’t recognize your voice.”
Seeing his host was blind Zeil hesitated before replying, “I’m um… M-my name is Zine…”
The master smiled, “Ah… I see, you’re the lost one. Strange, I instructed Serenity to lead you here once you ‘ve awoken… it’s not like her to neglect her instruction.”
Confused Zeil looked at Serenity as she placed her hoof on her face with a hopeless expression as Zeil looked back and replied, “You mean the pegasus who saved me? She’s right here…”
the Ibex smiled, “Oh… that’s right, her vow of silence.” He looked to where Serenity was sitting, “Apologies… I hope he wasn’t too much trouble for you.”
Serenity bowed her head slightly but didn’t reply as the master looked back at Zeil and spoke, “So… Mr. Zine… I now know the name of the mask. But perhaps you should reveal your true self.”
Zeil felt confused, “Wh-what?... but… how?...”
The Ibex master smiled, “It is true that my eyes hold no such gift as sight… but I don’t need such amenities to know that your appearance and name are not what they seem to be. So please… reveal yourself.”
Zeil felt uneasy, as he looked at all the disciples who stopped meditating and were watching him closely as the master held his hoof out, “Please… this is a safe sanctuary… within these walls judgment is not passed by one’s appearance. Here… actions are what passes one’s judgment. So… if you please…”
The ibex held out his hoof as if he were giving permission as Zeil could only give a bracing sigh before transformed into his changeling form as all the monks who had also ceased their meditation, started whispering amongst themselves. Hearing their muttering but unable to hear it if was a positive or negative reaction, Zeil held his form as he looked to the master who smiled, “There… now… your true name?”
Zeil gave him a determined stare as he replied, “My name is Zeil.”
The master smiled, “Zeil… and from what land do you hail from?”
Zeil hesitated, he knew he was basically from the changeling kingdom, but with his current situation with his race, he felt he didn’t have the right to say so. So he could only sigh as he replied, “I don’t know… I guess I came from the Land of the Black Sand.”
The Ibex smiled as he spoke, “Very well… Zeil of the Black Sand. For what reason have you sought us out?”
Zeil though he missed something, “What? I didn’t seek you out… if anything you sought me out and I should ask you that question.”
The Master smiled, “And yet, you are the one here with questions.”
Zeil gave him an annoyed look, “The only question I have is, why am I here?”
The master nodded, “That my friend, is the ultimate question.”
Feeling he was getting nowhere, Zeil sighed, “Look… I appreciate the help with those bandits and all…”
“The Sullen Ones…”
Zeil nodded to the master’s corrections, “Yea, them… but I have a long journey ahead of me, and now that I had my supplied stolen, it’s only going to get harder. So if you aren’t keeping me here against my will, I’m just going to go.”
Zeil turned around to leave as the master spoke, “Aren’t you wondering why Chief Rafi hasn’t spoken to you in a while?”
Zeil paused as he slowly turned back to the Ibex and replied, “What? how?...”
The master smiled, “You did not travel through this valley out of sheer whim… you were led. The universe led you down this path so that we may assist you with its task.”
Zeil felt completely confused as he replied, “Task?...”
The master smiled as he used a cane to pick himself up as he started trotting closer and replied, “Yes… a task. Fate has a plan for most of us… and for a select few, it is in need of assistance. It led you down this valley, to this very temple, so that we may assist you in speaking to the one who has the answers you seek.”
Zeil tried to understand, “You mean… Chief Rafi?”
The ibex stopped just a few feet from Zeil as he replied, “Yes… your spiritual guide. A part of you has restricted his guidance for some time now. And so… you are here so that we may grant access to him.”
Zeil was confused, “A part of me? I’ve been meditating with every hope of seeing him for months now… how could I be restricting him?”
The master smiled as he raised his cane and waived it over Zeil’s head, “That’s because your meditating with too much in here…” he lowered the cane and pressed it against the horn on Zeil’s head, “And not enough in here.”
Feeling the unusual press against his horn, Zeil rubbed his horn as he replied in confusion, “My horn?... but… I don’t have magic here like unicorns.”
The master gave him a confused look, “What? Your horn?... wait…”
The master took one more step towards Zeil as he waved his cane over the changeling’s head trying to find something there. When he found nothing but air, he lowered the cane and waved again as he taped it against the side of Zeil’s face. Feeling the contact Zeil rubbed his cheek, “Hey… easy with that thing.”
Trying one last time, the master laid the tip of his cane against the ground and ran it over until he found Zeil’s hoof. Then after finding the changeling’s hooves, he ran the cane up until he felt the debit in his hoof as he rubbed the cane around in it and spoke, “Oh… your… you’re not reformed?”
Zeil was confused, “Reformed?...”
The master tried thinking to himself, “This is most irregular… you’ve accepted love into your life and yet, you hold your parasitic form… but why?”
Zeil could only give the Ibex a confused look as the master called, “Shangri-La!”
With that call, a monk who was mixed in with the rest of the room stood up as he flew over the herd and landed next to the master. As soon as Zeil saw the monk he was surprised, the creature that approached had the same aura as a common changeling, but his appearance was something completely different from any changeling he knew. Rather than being cobalt with greenish wings, and holes in his hooves, this changeling was slightly taller with a lime green body, no holes in his hooves and strange gemlike orbs in his chest. Not to mention the large wings that closed flush with his body and trailed behind him like a tail when closed.
Seeing the strange imitation of his own kind, Zeil spoke, “What, are you?...”
The reformed changeling spoke, “My name is Shangri-La I was once like you… but I abandon my swarm many years ago.”
The master added, “Shangri-La was once here to infiltrate the temple and steal our love. But once he found that we had always known what he was, and supported him nonetheless, he decided to learn our teachings, and in time became reformed once he found how to accept love instead of taking it. Now, He resided here not as an infiltrator, but as a friend.”
Shangri-La nodded, “I renounced my queen and left the swarm. I felt it was better to feel love then it was to take it.”
Zeil nodded, “Small world… but… how did you change into… this?”
The master of the temple smiled, “This is the form of a changeling who accepts, rather than takes. But why haven’t you taken this form I wonder?”
Zeil shrugged his shoulders, “How should I know… I didn’t even know something like this was possible.”
The master smiled, “Then we should see…” He looked towards his disciples, “Students, pack us a bag. We will leave for pool in the morning.”
Zeil was confused, “Wait wait wait… I didn’t say anything about staying. I have a long journey to make and I can’t waste any of it staying in one place.”
The master smiled, “Then you should only stay a few nights. Nevertheless, you must regain your connection with your spiritual guide. Without his guidance, your journey will end in failure.”
Zeil was curious, “How are you so sure? What do you know about Rafi?”
The master smiled, “He spoke to me… he asked for my help, and wants me to get through to you. But if you have been wanting to see him, and haven’t?... then perhaps getting through won’t be enough.”
The master with his disciples following, trotted passed Zeil as he spoke, “From this moment on, you must refer to me as Sensei… I am the master of this temple and now… your teacher.”
As the Ibex left the temple Zeil tried to stop him, “Wait a second! What if I don’t want to stay?”
The master smiled as he replied, “You have every right to leave if you please… then again, I and the rest of us already know that this is what you want… even if you don’t.”
Although Zeil didn’t like the answer, he knew that the old billy was right. He didn’t know how the Ibex knew about Rafi, nor did he understand what was happening in this temple, but if the wise master truly knew how to help him speak to Rafi again, he was willing to hear him out. Even if he didn’t know if this old goat was truly trustworthy or not.