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// Bk4/Ch3 The Approaching Calamity 
// Story: Love's Lost Decade 
// by Priceless911 
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Book 4/Chapter 3
The Approaching Calamity
Year 01, Month 07, Day 06
Cunningham was standing over a small cauldron as Zeil entered the room while rubbing his head in confusion. As Cunningham saw the now conscious changeling he smiled, “Well would ya look who's still alive. Welcome back laddie."
Zeil sat down at a table as he spoke with an exhausted tone, “What… happened?”
Cunningham continued to smile as he spoke with a sarcastically enthusiastic tone, “Ya lost lad! Spectaculously I might add. Ain’t seen a loss like that in years, so it was quite entertainin’.”
Still confused, Zeil rubbed his head as he tried to remember, “I did… strange… I thought… wait…” he remembered, “You saved me…”
Cunningham nodded, “Aye…I did. Why? Would ya rather be a splotch of paste on the ground?”
Zeil shook his head, “No… I just… wasn’t expecting it.”
Cunningham pulled out two bowls as he started filling the bowls as he replied, “Now what sort of teacher simply stands aside as his only student gets flattened by a bully? Ya got to give me more credit than that laddie.”
Cunningham trotted to the table and sat one of the bowls in front of his student as Zeil replied, “Sorry… I just… never mind… maybe I’m thinking too far into it.”
Cunningham gave Zeil a concerned look as he sat down with his bowl on the other side of the table, “You don’t rightly trust me, do ya laddie?”
Zeil looked into the food that was placed in front of him as he replied, “Sorry… it sort of comes with the territory. Trust isn’t something that I can give very easily. And… let’s just say the last trust I gave landed me with a few good friends lost.”
Cunningham could feel Zeil’s painful aura as he replied, “I s’pose I can understand that… seeing that you’re a changeling and all. Either way, eat up. Ya need your strength after having it literally hammered outta ya.”
Zeil looked down at the bowl as he asked, “What is it… it smells… pretty good actually.”
Cunningham smiled, “An old recipe, from me wife… spiced apple dumplin’s. Sweet and savery just like she wa-” He cleared his throat, “Well… ya know. I ain’t got much love for ya to eat, so I hope this will do nicely.”
Zeil dipped a spoon into the apple cobbler looking food as he smiled, “Well it certainly looks good, thanks.”
With that Zeil took a bit of the food as Cunningham spoke, “So… on that subject… I’m sure your wonderin’ about my warning right? How I told ya to keep your changeling self secret?”
Zeil nodded as he paused between bites, “Yea?...”
Cunningham continued, “Well I’m sure you’ve guessed that… this clan and your kind haven’t had the healthiest of relationships. You could say that they left a sort of bad taste in our mouths.”
Zeil nodded as he replied, “Yea… I could have guessed that.”
With those words, Zeil felt a since of pity for whatever reason the clan had to hate changelings. When Cunningham sensed this however, he felt a little confused as he replied, “Let me ask ya… what is your opinion of your kind?”
Zeil replied, “Well… how do you mean?”
Cunningham continued, “Ya ain’t said anythin’ ‘bout where ya came from… so I’m curious. Which hive would you say is yours?”
Zeil replied with a little disappointment in his aura, “I… don’t have one.”
Cunningham replied, “Ya don’t? Surely you got a queen don’t ya?”
Zeil shook his head, “No… I disowned my hive. I guess… you could say I’m a changeling without a queen.”
Cunningham was confused, nothing in Zeil’s emotions hinted that he was lying, and he had never heard of a changeling with no hive, so he replied, “So I’m assuming your opinion of them is less than fair?”
Zeil shook his head, “No… it’s fair enough… They cloak themselves in a disguise, then trick anypony they come across, all to steal that which is most precious to them, not even caring about who they hurt in the process. I can’t blame us all, but the queens I can, since it’s they who give the instructions. We workers and drone are bread to obey, drones may have a chance to disobey orders, but common workers cant.”
Cunningham nodded as he added, “Then we share the same opinion. In my harshest words, they are nothing but a two bit gang of thieves, and parasites. I’ve known piles of waste with more reliability. They threaten anypony they come across that they perceive as weak. And if they don’t get what they want, they do the unthinkable to intimidate whoever crosses ‘em.”
Zeil smiled slightly, “You seem to know us better than I thought.”
Cunningham nodded, “Like I said lad… a bad taste. That’s what they left on this village.” Without taking a bit of the food he prepared, Cunningham leaned back in his chair as he continued, “Well, I’m glade you agree with me then… though… it makes me kinda regret what I just did.”
Zeil was confused as he started to take another bite of the food, “What you just did?... what do you me-”
At that moment, a thump was heard as Zeil looked at his right front hoof that was now lying flat on the table with food still in the spoon. Confused, Zeil tried to lift his hoof but as much as he tried, his hoof wouldn’t react to his command. Since it wouldn’t move, Zeil decided to physically move it with his other front hoof, however as he did, he quickly realized that it too was also laying limp on the table.
At this moment, Zeil realized that what Cunningham said was connected as he looked at Cunningham and started to speak, “Wait… what did yo-”
Before he could finish his sentence, Zeil’s head stated to feel heavy and his torso gave way as Zeil fell onto the table knocking the bowl of food onto the floor as he struggled to move, “What’s?... happening?...why can’t I move?”
Cunningham stood up as he replied, “Sorry ‘bout this laddie… but I’ve run out of patience.”
Cunningham started trotting around the table as he reached into the pocket on his patched cloak and pulled a small vial out. Not able to see his action, Zeil replied, “What do mean? What’s going on? What are you doing?”
Cunningham didn’t reply, instead he placed the vial down in front of Zeil’s face so that he could see the greenish powder as Zeil looked at the vial and spoke, “That?... I’ve seen that powder before… it’s a freezing spell isn’t it?”
Cunningham nodded as he picked the veil of potion back up and replied, “You know it?... good. Then I shouldn’t have to explain much. As you know this powder freezes others in place renderin’ anything plant or animal completely harmless. Only I’ve perfected it, it isn’t harmless anymore… it’s a poison. Now… it won’t freeze your muscles in place. It will actually paralyze ‘em. But it won’t stop there. First it paralyzes your limbs, then shortly after… your torso and neck. In less than a minute, it’s gonna render your transformation magic useless, so your ability to stay a zebra, will fail, and you will turn to your true self. sad to say… it won’t stop there… in about five minute, the potion will stop your heart and lungs… and I would say in about ten minute it would shut down your brain too… but by then you will have already suffocated… or… you would. See it has a strange reaction when mixed with apples. It pauses right after disablin’ your transformation… so you will change back to your true self… but you won’t die… not yet anyways.”
As Zeil laid helplessly on the table he started to get angry as Cunningham could sense the darkness build up as he added, “Now don’t take this too personally laddie, ya know your kind aren’t the most trustworthy, so just treat this as my way of insurin’ my safety in case you’re bad and trying to con your way into the village to conduct a few misdeeds. If ya answer me questions properly, then this will end in a few minutes with no harm to ya. But if you lie to me or ya turn out to be what I think ya are… I'll feed ya the rest of this veil, and be done with ya… so… wa-da-ya-say?”
Though he wasn’t sure of the offer, Zeil know he had no choice at this point so he just sighed as he replied. “Fine… ask your question.”
Cunningham smiled, “I appreciate your cooperation laddie, but I won’t talk to a mask. In less than a minute your ability to change will also be paralyzed, and you will turn back to your true form. Then when that happens, I'll talk. Face to face.”
Zeil sighed, “Fine.”
As he said that, Zeil’s body reacted the exact way that Cunningham had predicted. Without his control, Zeil changed back from his zebra appearance into his reformed changeling form. However, when Cunningham saw this, he could only take a few steps back in shock, “What? What is this?”
Acting casual, Zeil replied, “My true form… so ask away.”
Cunningham shook his head, “But… that’s not a changeling? What?... what are you?”
Though he couldn’t move, Zeil could still roll his eyes in irritation as he replied, “I am a changeling… but not like the others. Rather than feeding on love I choose to share it. Now, I don’t eat emotions anymore. I can still feel them and sense it, such as the confusion I sense in you right now, but I don’t feast on it anymore.”
Cunningham asked, “What, do ya eat then?”
If he could move his shoulders, he would have shrugged them as Zeil replied, “Normal stuff, oats, grain, fruits, I think we can eat some meats too, but I haven’t tested that out yet… I’m a little nervous to try.”
At first Cunningham assumed Zeil had transformed into this creature at will, however since this was the moment the potion’s effect would have kicked in, he decided to take it as it seemed as he replied, “Fine, That’s beside the point anyways. Lad…  I don’t know your game, and I can’t be sure I can trust ya. So I'll ask… do you know about the darkness in ya? That dark aura I’ve sensed on occasion.”
Zeil was surprised that Cunningham knew about his other self, nevertheless, he hid his surprise as he replied, “Yes… I do.”
Cunningham nodded, “Alright… then do ya know what it happens to be? Where it came from or why it’s there?”
Zeil sighed, “I wish I knew… but… my guide called it… Mara.”
Cunningham thought to himself as he replied, “Mara egh?... as is, the evil goddess from the Far East?”
Zeil was confused as to his point as he replied, “I was in the far east at the time… but it wasn’t a she, so, it wasn’t any sort of goddess. He just said in that part of the world that’s what he would be called.”
Cunningham nodded, “Then it’s Old Nick… or that’s what we’d call ‘em here.”
Cunningham trotted around the table out of Zeil’s sight as Zeil asked, “Then you know what it is?”
Cunningham replied as he trotted to his saddlebag, “In a since… the word means Devil, or Demon. I’m not sure what he meant by that, since there is only one true devil… though he was trapped in Tartarus many eons ago.”
Though Zeil from his current position couldn’t see Cunningham, it didn’t faze him as he replied, “Okay, so if there is a devil and this isn’t him, then what could it be?”
After Cunningham found what he was looking for in his saddlebag, he pulled out a vial with a clear liquid in it, then trotted to a bookshelf as he pulled out a specific book then trotted back to the table as he sat the book down beside Zeil, opened it up, and replied, “Well it could be a nick name for a sort of monster or creature of evil, but then again it would be a strange nickname for anypony to have, dark or no. Anyways… did you ever see this darkness face to face?”
If he could move his neck, he would have nodded as he replied, “See him? I fought him.”
After finding the page he was looking for, Cunningham smiled, “Fought him? How did ya fair?”
Zeil replied, “Well… I won… sort of…”
Cunningham chuckled, “Funny, the time we spent together would say otherwise, but judging by your emotions, I can tell you ain’t lying.”
Zeil was confused, “My… emot-”
Cunningham pointed at the page he was looking at as he interrupted, “This devil ya fought… did he look like this?”
With no way of lifting himself up to look at the book that was sitting flat on the table, Zeil sighed, “Yea… just like that… flat and lifeless like the cross section of an open book.”
Realizing the fault, Cunningham chuckled as he lifted the book and replied, “Looks like your building a sense of humor after all.” he pointed at the page, “I was talking about this, is this what he looked like?”
Zeil looked at the picture of the creature in the book, what he saw was an image of a tall beast like creature that had bat like wings, long claws on both his hands and feet, and coiled horns on his head resembling a Minotaur but much more intimidating in appearance. As Zeil looked at the large beast, he replied, “No… he looked nothing like that… basically, he looked exactly like a darker version of my… old self.”
Cunningham thought to himself, “A changeling? I always said that a changeling is like a… nah too easy.”
Zeil knew he was going to somehow link changelings with devils but to humor him he just replied, “What was that?”
Cunningham shrugged his shoulders, “Oh nothin’.” He closed the book, “Well if this ain’t him, then it ain’t any devil that I know of. So… what do ya s’pose it is?”
Zeil Replied with an unsure tone, “No clue… I was just warned to watch him closely.”
Cunningham nodded, “Fine… then answer me next question… why are you here? Why did you stop in this village of all places?”
Zeil replied with an annoyed sigh, “I told you already… I’m on the way to Equestria and I needed money.”
“Then why did you want to learn magic from me?”
“That was your idea! The only reason I agreed to it is because you were right. With all the time it is taking me to get to Equestria it’d be beater I learn a little extra otherwise why call myself an enchanter at- at…”
At that moment, Zeil could feel another headache coming, only this time without any ability to move, he could only cringe in pain as he laid on the table.
At first Cunningham assumed it was just an attempt to move, but since he was carefully sensing Zeil’s emotions for any hint of a lie, he could easily tell that the clarity in Zeil’s emotions had completely faded and was being distorted by the incoming headache. Seizing the opportunity Cunningham quickly trotted to his shelf as he spoke, “Oh no ya don’t…” He pulled out a small flask with a neon white potion inside as he opened the flask, drank the potion in one gulp and tossed it aside as he trotted towards Zeil and replied, “I’m gonna see this one meself.
As Cunningham approached Zeil, his body started to react to the potion as he started glowing before placing his hoof against Zeil’s back as a bright light was emitted that shined so bright, that the large shire had to shield his eyes.
A few seconds later, Cunningham lowered his hoof to see that both he and Zeil were standing in a faraway city. Surprised by his surroundings Cunningham looked around, He had never seen this city before, though he could tell by the large number of buildings and a large castle, that this was the capital city of some far away kingdom. The buildings weren’t that tall, but they were in great numbers, but something seemed odd. Most of the buildings were damaged as if something had shot through them leaving the structures still standing, but with large holes in them, and despite the cities obvious size, there were no citizens in sight. Confused Cunningham looked to Zeil to ask him about it, but when he saw Zeil’s combination of shock and worry, he could tell that the changeling knew where they were as Cunningham asked, “Lad? Where are we?”
Zeil replied, “C-Canterlot… We’re in Canterlot… but… what happened here?”
Confused Zeil looked at the damaged building and the empty streets as he continued, “Something’s wrong… this… this is Canterlot… but… Where is everypo-“
“Come my friends, we’ve no time to waste. I feel the danger’s not done, so we must make haste.”
After hearing both the familiar voice and rhyme, Zeil slowly turned towards the street to see Zecora, A dark blue Unicorn with a Black mane, and a pail mare with a pink and rose colored mane. As the trio rushed down the empty street, the stallion spoke, “Zecora, wait!” they stopped running, “Listen…”
They looked around as the mare spoke, “Niether… I don’t hear anything.”
The Unicorn nodded, “Exactly… it’s quiet, and the pillar if sand is gone. You think the fighting is over?”
Zecora shook her head, “I wouldn’t drop your guard, though the battle seems done. With the strength of this foe… I doubt we won.”
The mare replied, “You think the commander lost?”
Niether shook his head, “Commander Bolt is strong… but remember this creature is responsible for the Fall of Eden and the alicorns. Something like that can’t be beaten so easily.”
Zecora nodded, “I’d hate to admit it…but I think your right. As strong as the commander is… even he can’t win this fight.”
The mare spoke up, “But Twilight and her friends are helping too, then… the princesses and her army an-“
“Rose…”
The mare paused as Niether spoke, “I agree that we can’t give up hope. But… Even he said it himself, we weren’t ready for this.”
Zecora looked up the street as she replied, “Still though it’s quiet, my order still stand. To deliver you out of Canterlot, was Twilight’s command.”
Niether nodded, “I agree, let’s go.” He looked at the other mare, “You ready Roseluck.”
She nodded, “Sure, le-”
All of a sudden, the ground beneath them shifted drastically as everypony to include the observing Cunningham and Zeil fell to the ground as they looked around in confusion. As they looked around, Zeil looked up the mountain as he could see the mountain getting taller as Cunningham noticed the same as he asked. “Is, the mountain growing?”
Zeil looked towards the peak as he saw it drifting further from them as he replied, “No, The city is falling!”
Cunningham replied, “What but how is that po…” He and Zeil felt something as they both looked to the mountain’s peak, “That aura…”
Though they couldn’t see him, both Zeil and Cunningham could feel the aura of the dark alicorn from the earlier visions as Zeil’s expression became angry, “It’s him… he caused this… but… who… or what is he?”
Cunningham gave Zeil a confused look, “So…you don’t know then…”
Zeil looked back, “What? Why would I know wh…”
before he could finish his sentence, the angle of the city took effect as a loose cart started rolling down the road strait towards the fleeing trio. As the cart rolled towards them, Zeil reacted out of impulse as he called, “ZECORA WATCH OUT!!!”
As the trio fled, something strange happened, Zecora actually sensed his warning as she paused and looked towards him, which was also the direction the cart was coming from. As she saw the incoming obstacle, she called, “There I say! MAKE WAY!!!”
As the trio saw the incoming obstacle, all three tried to jump out of the way, however as they did, Roseluck was clipped on her hind hoof causing her to fall to the ground in pain. After she hit the ground, Neither called, “ROSE!”
As the blue unicorn saw to her wound, Zecora looked back in the direction she heard the warning from as she mumbled, “Zine?...”
Although she couldn’t see him, Zeil was surprised as he mumbled, “What?...she he-“
“Love in its truest form… seems your hearts are connected laddie. I guess… you were tellin’ the truth the whole time.”
As Zeil looked back at Cunningham, he nodded, “I know… I di- LOOK OUT!!!”
As Cunningham looked in the direction that Zeil called, they saw a large tower toppling over as the rubble made from the falling debris tumbled towards them like a land slide. When they saw the debris, both Zeil and Cunningham shielded their faces however as they did, the rubble never touched them as a familiar voice spoke, “I never imagined that Zeil would invite a guest to our conversations… yet, I’m sure we both can agree that you were not invited… now were you?”
As the two stopped covering their faces, they found themselves standing in an empty abyss as Chief Rafi stood before them leaving Cunningham to reply, “Let’s just say… I needed convincing… so what about you? You got no aura, so… what are you?”
Rafi smiled as he lowered his head in a greeting manner, “My name is Chief Jumb Rafi. I am Zeil’s spiritual guide… and… as his guide… I have come with a grave warning.”
Zeil replied, “Warning?... first tell me what that was? How did Zecora hear me? What was that? It wasn’t a vision of the past, or of the future… so what was it?”
Rafi’s expression became uneasy as he replied, “That… was a vision of what was happening at this exact moment.”
Zeil was surprised, “Wait… you mean?...”
Rafi nodded, “Yes… Canterlot…has been destroyed.”
Recognizing the cities name, Cunningham spoke, “What of the royal sisters… the daughters to the king and queen of Eden?”
Zeil was surprised that Cunningham knew about the royal sisters as, Rafi replied, “At this time… they are no more.”
Zeil gave him a serious look, “I have to get there… I have to get to Equestria now.”
Chief Rafi spoke with a convincing tone, “And how do you intend on doing this? You’re still a long way from getting there and what destroyed the city is now on the move.”
Zeil tried to think, “There has to be a way… a spell, something… I have to get to Zecora… I have to save her.”
Rafi smiled, “I admire your devotion… but it is unneeded.”
Zeil was confused, “What do you mean?”
Rafi smiled, “Zecora survived the endeavor, and she will go on to survive the rest of this calamity.”
Cunningham stepped forward, “And what of that creature we sensed? What is it?”
Chief Rafi replied, “A dark imbalance… one that ended the city of Eden and brought the end to the alicorn race.”
Zeil and Cunningham were confused as Zeil replied, “What do you mean imbalance?”
Rafi sighed, “What did you learn while under the roof of the Ibex temple?”
Zeil replied, “Well, I learned inner peace, centering balance, an-“
“Exactly… Balance is everything in this world. Light and dark, day and night, Good… and evil.”
Cunningham replied, “Explain…”
Chief Rafi replied, “Something extremely good was created… in which case… something extremely bad came of it. And though she was unable to save the rest of the alicorn race, the queen of Eden was able to seal it away though… that act of good costed her, her own life.”
Cunningham nodded, “So…that’s how the queen of Eden died.”
Zeil was confused, “Queen of what?”
Cunningham explained, “The king and Queen of Eden were the titans that created the pony races. They are our deities, and their daughters, Luna and Celestia are the result of their love. They founded the City of Eden which was the last city of the alicorns. Sadly, it somehow vanished more then two thousand years ago.”
Rafi nodded, “Yes, and the evil responsible is now free. It destroyed Equestria and as we speak… it spreads to devour all life as we know it.”
Zeil asked, “What do we do?”
Rafi replied, “Journey south to the city of Perch. Then… hide. Doing this is the only way to see your survival in this crisis.”
Zeil shook his head, “No I have to get to Equestria. I have to save Zecora.”
Rafi replied with an objective tone, “Do not worry for Zecora’s safety. You must see to your own first.”
Cunningham asked, “And what of this darkness?... how do we kill it?”
Rafi replied, “You do not… that task is for another.”
Zeil asked, “Who? Who is going to destroy this darkness?”
Rafi smiled, “A dear friend, one who we must place our prayers in. Just know that you may face this evil before that happens. If you do though… you will not survive.”
Zeil asked, “Is there a way to fend it off or neutralize it to escape?”
Rafi shook his head, “No… all who face him will die.”
Cunningham asked, “So… run and hide… is that all we can do?”
Rafi nodded as he turned away, “Heed this warning, let nopony face this threat, alone or in groups. He cannot and will not be defeated by any mortal power. Though… for one such as you Cunningham… he may be your redemption.”
With that said, Rafi vanished, as both Zeil and Cunningham awoke from their vision and were back in Cunningham’s home. Thinking over Rafi’s comment, Cunningham placed his hoof on his head as he spoke to his still paralyzed friend with a serious tone, “Zeil…”
Zeil tried to move but couldn’t as he replied, “Yea?”
Cunningham asked, “This Rafi… you trust his words? Ya don’t s’pose he made this whole mess up did he?”
Zeil couldn’t shake his head but he still replied with a tone that gave the same answer, as he spoke, “No… Everything Rafi says is always truth. He has never lied to me before… and I doubt he would now… especially with something this serious.”
Cunningham nodded, “Then… I must address the clan.”
Cunningham trotted to the table as he closed the book that was on the table then started gathering his things as Zeil spoke, “Wait… are you going to let me go first? You trust me now right? So cure me of this spell.”
Cunningham gathered his things then trotted back to the table as he replied, “Don’t worry lad, the spell should wear off in twenty minutes or so. By then just meet me and the clan at the pub. I'll need your help to explain exactly what’s going on. As Cunningham finished putting together a saddlebag Zeil replied, “What do you mean? Isn’t that flask right there in front of me the cure?”
Cunningham saw the small flask of liquid he pulled out earlier with the book as he smiled, “Oh, I almost forgot.”
With that, Cunningham picked up the flask, opened the top and splashed the clear liquid onto Zeil’s face as Zeil flinched at the unexpected action before speaking, “Hey! What is that?”
Cunningham replied, “Just a wee bit of holy water. Ya said somethin’ about a devil earlier so I just wanted to test and make sure you weren’t him… looks like ya passed laddie. Ya didn’t burst into flame when the water touched ya so I guess you’re in the clear. Then again, after speaking to that Rafi fella, I couldn’t be too sure.”
Cunningham placed the now empty flask back on the table as he put on his saddlebag and spoke “Remember laddie, the pub as soon as you can move. And I'd pack you a bag while you’re at it we’ll be leavin’ right after the meetin’. Perch ain’t a close city, so we need to cover some ground and soon.”
With nothing more to say Cunningham left the home as he closed the door behind him leaving the paralyzed changeling to speak, “Wait! You can’t just lea- an- and he’s gone… great…” he sighed in irritation, “Well… I guess I'll just wait till this wears off then… and… the water is making my nose itch… perfect.”
Thirty minutes later, Zeil in his zebra form, trotted into the village pub as he was surprised to see the entire village crammed into the same room. As he made his way through the herd, Zeil could hear the confusion in the clan as they spoke amongst each other. “What do ya suppose this is all about?”
“Don’t know, Cunningham called this meeting ‘emself. Seems like there was somethin’ important to have all businesses shut down for.”
“Aye, he had the fear of the devil in ‘em. Something spooked ‘em good.”
“And what bodes badly for the black druid can’t be good for the rest of us.”
Never hearing Cunningham referred to by that name, Zeil decided to continue through the herd till he reached the bar, however as he reached the bar, McNess took one look at him and spoke, “You… be grateful Cunningham can vouch for ya… otherwise I wouldn’t let trash like you into this place.”
Confused, Zeil replied, “Wh-what?...”
knowing that Zeil’s species was a secret, McNess sighed, “Don’t cause no guff and there won’t be no guff… I’m watching ya closely… wee bug.”
Confused by the hostility, Zeil tried to ignore the bartender as Cunningham entered from the back room as immediately every shire looked to him as one called, “Hey Cunningham! What’s this all about?”
Another called, “Aye, what did ya drag us all here for?”
Cunningham climbed onto the bar to get a good view of the herd as he called, “McHolt Clan! I hate to say it… but somethin’ is comin’… so… we best get go’n”
McNess spoke up, “What do ya mean?”
Cunningham replied, “Lads! One year ago Aria gave her very last prediction. She said that on the annual week of hear death two would be known. One evil and one good.”
Trying to piece together the message, Loach called as he pointed to Zeil in an accusing way, “And what is that stranger then? He appeared here this week, and we all know this is the week we destroyed the Highland Hive!”
The rest of the room started agreeing with the question as Zeil felt confused, “Highland…Hive?”
Trying to dodge the subject, Cunningham replied, “This lad is my student. At first I was concerned that he may very well be one or the other. Though as of this mornin’ I found that he is neither the good nor bad.”
McNess Replied with an untrusting tone, “Then what exactly is he, pray-tell?
Cunningham smiled, “I’m glad ya asked.” He looked down at Zeil, “Come on up here laddie.”
Feeling a little confused, Zeil climbed onto the bar and looked over the herd who only stared back in confusion as Cunningham spoke, “Alright now… show them who ya are.”
At first Zeil felt concerned about revealing himself when he was warned before, but considering what was coming he decided to comply as Zeil looked back over the herd and changed into his changeling form. As Zeil stood in his reformed state, the herd could only look at him in confusion, as one called, “What is he? Looks like a beetle.”
McNess called in anger, “He’s a Changeling! Ain’t he?”
As soon as that was said, Zeil started to feel nervous as a murderous hostility radiated from the herd as they all stared at him in anger before Cunningham called, “Now now lads. He ain’t a changeling per-say. He’s what I’ve dubbed, a Reform!”
The rage from the herd turned to curiosity as one asked, “A Reform?”
Cunningham nodded, “Aye…he’s a very unique creature from the changeling kingdom. He is similar to a changeling, only he don’t eat emotions like the rest of ‘em.”
Another asked, “Then what does he eat?”
Annoyed that the conversation was going off track, Zeil replied, “That doesn’t matter now, what matters is that the darkness is coming! And he’s bringing nothing but death in his wake.”
All of a sudden there was a loud slam as McNess pulled a large battle axe from under the bar and dropped it next to Zeil’s hooves on the bar as he spoke, “If he brings death, then we’ll force feed it back to ‘em.”
The room cheered as another shire called, “Aye! We got the Black druid on our side! We can take on anythin’. Just like he showed those changelings last year what happens when the McHolt clan are threatened.
The room cheered again as Zeil looked to Cunningham as the druid replied, “Hate to say it lads but this ain’t gonna be like last year. Those changelings died cuz they picked a fight with a foe they couldn’t best. If we do the same this year… then it’s us who will meet our end.”
McNess argued, “We ain’t one to give up our home without a fight Cunningham.”
“Then you will die fighting! For a pointless hill with shacks and grass.”
Everypony in the room stopped cheering in shock as Cunningham looked over the clan, “This creature… he ain’t like anythin’ we’ve face before. In fact… I have reason to believe he is responsible for the death of two titans.”
The room went silent as one spoke, “Titans?”
Cunningham nodded, “Aye… this is the creature that destroyed Eden, and brought death to the alicorn race… and with em’, the king and Queen of Eden. And to make the matter worse, he laid waste to Canterlot and killed the daughters too.”
McNess spoke, “The royal daughters?...”
Cunningham nodded, “Aye… they too have fallen to this dark creature.”
One of the shire in the herd called, “How could you know that? The royal sisters rule in a kingdom far from here! Nearly a colt alive who could travel there and bring back news in less than a few hours.”
Cunningham smiled as he nodded, “Aye that’s true, but thanks to the skills of me student, I witness the fall meself. This creature is comin’. And he aims to kill everythin’ in sight.”
McNess called, “And how can we trust this student o’ yours? Who’s to say he didn’t bring the darkness ‘emself?”
Cunningham looked at Zeil and smiled, “I thought the same at first…but then, I was reminded that not all strangers are untrustworthy. I trust the lad, so I hope you will too.”
The clan looked at one another and nodded in agreement as one replied for the group, “Well if the clan druid trust him, then we’ll follow your lead. If we shouldn’t fight… then what should we do?”
Cunningham trotted to the axe that was sitting on the bar he was standing on as he kneeled down, picked it up and handed it to McNess. After his brother in-law took the weapon from his hoof, he stood backup as he looked over the herd and spoke, “Starting as soon as this meeting ends, we will leave the village and head in different directions. I don’t want anypony to travel in a group any larger than four and you should avoid heavily populated areas like villages and cities.”
McNess asked in confusion, “You want us to leave the village?”
Cunningham nodded, “The darkness seeks to kill everything, he will look for towns and homes. The best bet for survival is to travel elsewhere. And if we travel in a group that’s too hard to hide, then it’d be no better than hiding in the center of a city.”
A mare stepped forward, “And what about the wee ones? Together with me of oaf a husband we make five.”
Cunningham nodded, “Foals travel with both parents. Even if the numbers are too high. We must always think of the wee ones after all.”
Still arguing the decision, McNess spoke up, “What if we assemble the clans? With their help we ca-”
Cunningham interrupted, “It’d be a waste. By the time we assemble them, one would have already fallen to the creature. And within the next day… the rest of us will follow.”
Still arguing, McNess tried to continue, “We can’t abandon our village… Aria would wan-”
“Aria would want her favorite brother to heed her last words. Those words were the last memories of her… I wouldn’t forgive myself if they were wasted.” He looked over the herd, “The Chief was a good mare, sister and wife. And she wouldn’t care if we abandon the village to keep the clan alive. After all, she placed us first in every matter. As will I as the clan druid, and as her widowed husband. We will return once this matter is passed. Then, whatever rubble we find in its stead, we will rebuild. We will keep her memory alive by heeding her warning. All I ask… is that you lads trust in me, as we all did her.”
The Clan looked amongst each other as Loach stepped forward, “Aye, I trust ya Cunningham, just as I always have.”
The rest of the clan started nodding in agreement as they each replied with words that showed they all agreed. “Aye, we’ll do what we can.” “That’s right, the clan will survive.” “We’ve been through worse, we can manage leavin’ for a quick holiday.”
Cunningham smiled at the clan’s support as he looked down to McNess as he smiled, “And you brother… will you do as I ask?”
McNess sighed as he replied, “Aye… I will… but don’t think I didn’t catch that favorite brother comment. I’m her only brother after all.”
Still standing on the bar, Cunningham bro-hoofed his in-law as he looked back over the clan and called, “Well? Let’s get too it! If the first group is ready to go then do so… I meself will be leavin’ right now. So I suggest you all do the same. Survive McHolt Clan, not for me, but for the chief.”
With that said, Cunningham climbed down from the bar as he looked back to Zeil and spoke, “So lad… are ya ready to go?”
Zeil turned back into a zebra as he too climbed down from the bar as he replied, “I am… but I want to ask you a few questions. First off, what’s with this… Black Druid stuff. If it’s what I think it is, then I need further explanation.”
Smiling casually, Cunningham replied, “I'll tell ya on the way, its gonna take us a couple of days to reach Perch.”
Zeil was surprised, “A couple of what?”
McNess approached as he spoke, “Then let’s be off… I’m goin’ too.”
Cunningham shook his head, “As much as I'd like that, I can’t allow it.”
McNess was surprised, “What? But why?”
Cunningham replied, “Where I’m going isn’t for you… the lad and I have to complete a task, something that… we have to do alone.”
McNess replied, “Your goin’ to Perch right?... so you off to warn the king… aren’t ya?”
Cunningham replied, “Not sure… all we know is that a guide has instructed us to the capital. So, far be it for me to ignore a spirit.”
McNess gave him a confused look, “Spirit?”
Cunningham continued, “Either way, I'll need you to look after the clan. If something should happen, I want you to lead them once this calamity is over. The lad and I can see to the task on our own.”
McNess gave Zeil an untrusting look as he replied, “Are ya sure you can trust him? Reform or not… he’s still a changeling.”
Cunningham replied, “The lads been honest enough to trust. I think, givin’ the trouble we are in… we can afford to risk it.”
McNess replied as he gave Zeil a dirty look, “If you say so… then, I'll do as you ask. But somethin’ does happen to you. Then I'll make sure what remains of the clan will hunt him down, and do with him, what we did to the Highland Hive… Weather he is responsible or not.”
Not liking the threat, Zeil replied with an angry look, “I won’t be… and if you try, you better bring more than just a petty threat.”
While Zeil and McNess gave each other dirty looks, Cunningham could since Zeil’s second aura, as he smiled and replied, “Carful laddie, that anger of yours could get you into another fight rather easily” he looked at McNess, “Don’t worry brother, I guarantee the lad is harmless… ya remember his encounter with Loach after all. If he acts up, I'll just have to take ‘em down meself.”
McNess sighed as he replied, “Just watch yourself. And… this creature. What if we do come across it? What then?”
Cunningham replied with a serious tone, “Run… hide… and prey it don’t find ya.”