//------------------------------// // Let me tell you a story... // Story: Shades of Grey // by The Usurper //------------------------------// The solitary hollow tree stood in the middle of the Everfree Forest, a few leaves dangling loosely off its branches. The rest were buried under the pile of snow that coated the ground in a thick white blanket. Besides being the only hollow tree in the entire forest, it was also the only one in the vicinity that housed a resident within its wooden confines. A lone zebra trotted around inside the tree, arranging various herbs and picking a few of them to add to the boiling concoction that sat in the centre of the room. With every ingredient that was dropped into the black pot, the mixture proceeded to change its colour into a variety of hues until at last, after the final herb had been introduced to the contents of the cauldron, it settled on a orange-red shade. “At last, I’ve made my concoction right, to combat the cold of winter’s night.” The zebra smiled as she relished the heat that emanated from the pot. “I need neither fuel nor wood, and last for many days this should.” A knock at the door caught the zebra’s attention, and she turned around to see a grey unicorn filly with a brown mane poke her head into her home. “Come in young pony, you have nothing to fear, for the cold has been pushed out of here.” “Thank you, Miss Zenith.” The filly responded, closing the door behind her as she entered the tree. “Now, as in the warmth you bask,” Zenith began as she sat down next to the filly, “what brings you here, if I may ask?” “I was trying to get my cutie mark in wilderness survival.” The filly glanced back at her blank flank, shaking her head sadly. “It didn’t work.” Zenith laughed. “Your antics remind me of my ancestor’s past. She knew fillies back then, who were adventurous and fast.” She looked out of her window, and the snow that lay beyond the warm zone of her abode. “Back in her day, this forest was cursed, with dangerous creatures that killed to eat first.” The filly shuddered. “I’m glad this place isn’t so dangerous anymore. Otherwise, being lost in the middle of the Everfree Forest might not be as safe as it is now.” Zenith looked out of her window and caught sight of the sun setting in the distance. “Well, you will be here for tonight. At least you’ve got my cauldron’s light.” Her mouth curved upwards slightly. “While you’re here and we both have nothing to do, would one of my stories interest you?” The filly took in her surroundings, finding nothing to entertain herself for the night. “I suppose it would be better than just sitting around and staring at each other.” Zenith stood up. “Excellent. Now listen young filly, to this very old tale, of an ancient kingdom, extremely frail. The world long ago, quite different it was, ruled by two leaders with so many flaws.” The unicorn cocked her head curiously. “You mean the world wasn’t the way it is now?” The zebra nodded. “Things have changed, quite true, for the nation of today, is different, and different it will stay.” “Listen to my story, young foal. This is quite different from your life free of cares.” Zenith rose up onto her hind legs for dramatic effect. “This is the story... of monsters and mares.” “Who wins in the end?” The filly asked suddenly. Zenith smiled at her. “In the end, the mares win. How can you triumph with nothing but sin?” “So if I know the ending, what’s the point of the story?” The filly asked impatiently. “The story is not so simple, don’t be silly. Do not ask these questions, young filly.” Zenith turned away deliberately, preventing the unicorn from seeing her face. “The question should be, for my tales that I share...” “Which ones are the monsters... and which ones are the mares?”