Love's Lost Decade

by Priceless911


Bk4/Ch5 After Eden's Kiss

Book 4/Chapter 5
After Eden’s Kiss
Year ??, Month ??, Day ??

Zeil laid in a dark abysses with nothing around him but an endless void of silence. Suddenly the dazed changeling started to hear a mare’s voice, “I never thought one as wee as you, would hold so much courage against such a dangerous foe. Put that oaf of a husband to shame did ya? Hmm, I s’pose that’s why he liked ya. Your probably the only one who ever could.”
As Zeil opened his eyes he found himself standing in a black abys as he looked around in confusion before finally seeing who was talking. Standing less than ten feet away was a tall shire mare with a light tan coat, dark freckles on her face and plot, and a long red mane that was braided passed her shoulders. As Zeil looked at the mare, he started feeling his chest as he looked down and spoke, “The spike… it’s gone… so, does that mean I’m?”
The mare shook her head, “Nah wee laddie, you’re still alive and kickin’ as ya should be. That creature did a good number on ya, though.”
Zeil gave the mare a suspicious look, “You’re… Aria… right?”
The mare smiled as she bowed her head slightly, “Charmed to make your acquaintance wee laddie. It’s always a pleasure to meet me husband’s friends.”
Zeil looked at his hooves as he spoke, “So… if I’m alive… then why are you here?”
Aria replied, “I just wanted to speak with ya face to face. Ya see, me husband may be a dull witted oaf of a stallion… but he ain’t bad at heart… I know ya feel a little distrust in ‘em, after hearin of the Highland Hive incident… but he truly feels bad for it, he’s been beatin’ himself up over it for a year now. What I’m getting at is… I want ya to do me a favor and watch over ‘em while you’re there. Ya see, you may be learnin’ magic from him… but… he’s learnin’ something more important from you.”
Zeil asked, “Really? What?”
She smiled, “What indeed laddie?”
Knowing that there was a hidden message in her words, Zeil tried to speak while softening the news, “I'd hate to say it… but… Cunningham… He’s dead. I don’t know if you know or not, but… even if im alive… I won’t be seeing him again.”
The mare smiled as she turned away and replied, “I appreciate your honesty wee laddie, I do, but ya might want to recheck your facts a bit.”
With that said, the mare started trotting away as she slowly faded before vanishing from Zeil’s sight as all he could see was black.
Soon Zeil’s pain slowly returned as he opened his eyes to a sound of wood scraping against a dirt trail. Now Zeil found himself looking at the sky above as tree limbs moved by overhead. Realizing he was laying on his back, Zeil turned his head to see that he was now laying on a travois that was being dragged along the road, which easily explained the scraping sounds. As the travois slid along the ground, one of the two poles slid onto a rock as it raised the right side of the transport up slightly before dropping it back onto the flat road as the impact send a throbbing pain into Zeil’s bandaged wound as he cringed and grunted in pain. Hearing his cargo’s pain, the shire pulling the wheel-less cart smiled as he spoke, “Well look who finally woke up, it’s good to see ya survived laddie, though if this is how ya choose to end all your fights, then might I suggest findin’ a more peaceful way to resolve your disputes? Preferably one that doesn’t end with me dragin’ ya home afterwards.”
Confused by the familiar voice, Zeil looked to the shire as he spoke in shock, “Cunningham?... you’re alive?”
Smiling at his surprise, Cunningham replied, “I know right? Ain’t that somthin’? I don’t know much about it meself, but from what the Queen said, a deal was struck and all those killed by the dark alicorn were brought back from the dead, good as new.”
Zeil looked at the bandages that covered his chest as he spoke, “Then… why do I still have this wound?”
Cunningham chuckled, “Well… you weren’t lucky enough to be killed by em’ when we found you, you were unconscious and hanging from a glass spire on a wall like a framed painting. It was amazin’ enough that ya lived through that, but it took four of us to get ya down without making your already serious wound worse. Seems the dark alicorn really did a number on ya didn’t he?”
Zeil laid back as he replied, “Osiris.”
“What was that lad?”
“He said his name was Professor Osiris.”
Cunningham continued trotting down the path as he gave a strange expression, “Professor? What did he fancy himself a supervillain in some cheap comic book?”
Zeil Replied, “He mentioned being a scientist working for the queen of Eden.”
Cunningham thought to himself, “Hmm… S’pose an experiment went wrong and caused him to destroy the kingdom. Either way I feel kinda jealous. The creature told me that I wasn’t worthy to know his name, then turned ‘round and told it to ya like you were some royal highness? I guess you’re lucky enough to be worthy.”
Zeil replied with an annoyed tone, “He impaled me and left me for dead remember?”
Cunningham nodded, “Ah… I guess lucky isn’t the word to use then… or is it?”
Zeil continued, “He called me a Titan… then bowed… it was… strange.”
Cunningham chuckled, “A titan? Are ya sure ya heard him right? And a bow? S’pose he just drop somthin’?”
Zeil rubbed his head as he replies, “I don’t know… after that it’s all a little… fuzzy. I remember him stabbing me, but nothing after that. Though I do remember him saying that he tried to make it non-lethal.”
Cunningham’s steps hesitated before continuing as Zeil noticed the pause in their movement as he asked, “What is it?”
Cunningham sighed as he replied, “Well… it’s about how he stabbed ya. Ya see you… weren’t supposed to survive that.”
Zeil replied in confusion, “What? What do you mean?”
Cunningham replied, “Lad… It been a week since we got you off that pike. And, we don’t know how long you were there… but when we got ya treated at the hospital… the doc said that you should have been dead.”
Zeil asked, “What? What are you talking about?”
Cunningham spoke, “Lad… Somthin’ kept you alive. Could have been the glass in that spike, your dark side or maybe even the queen’s good graces… but… the doctor that treated ya and I both agree that you should have been dead long before we help you.”
Zeil thought to himself as he mumbled, “Was it… Aria?”
Cunningham heard his words as he smiled, “S’pose she could have helped wee bit, that certainly sounds like somthin’ she’s do. Either way, ya lived through Eden’s Kiss just like the rest of us.”
Zeil continued looking at the sky as he asked, “Eden’s what?”
Cunningham replied, “Eden’s Kiss… that’s what the papers are calling this whole mess. Simply cuz it both started and ended all in Eden, so I’m assuming the creature ‘emself was born there.”
Zeil was surprised, “Wait… Ended? You mean the dark alicorn has been beaten?”
Cunningham nodded, “Beaten? From what I hear he was evaporated into particles less then sand… or whatever a volcano will do to ya… melt ya I guess.”
“But… how?... Who?”
Cunningham replied with a casual tone, “Some bigshot from Equestria, named Lightnin’, or Storm, or somthin’ along those lines. Rumor has it, he, an alicorn, a zebra, a few surviving ponies from Canterlot, and a small army of griffin launched an attack on the city of Eden, where our monster was stayin’. By the way… are zebra commin’ in Equestria?”
Zeil replied, “No not really.”
Cunningham thought to himself as he smiled, “Hm... interestin’.”
Zeil was trying to understand, “How… how did they kill him? That thing… it wasn’t mortal. You felt its aura too didn’t you? It couldn’t have been killed in any way that could kill the rest of us.”
Cunningham smiled, “Honestly lad… I’m not one to question these things. The creature is dead… and we are alive. S’pose the best we can do now… is head home and rebuild whatever he broke. As for you… You will need some time to recover. After all, you were impaled… it won’t be a, take two of these and call me in the mornin’ ordeal.”
Zeil Nodded, “Don’t worry, in about a week or so I'll be good to get back on my journey.”
Cunningham shook his head, “I don’t think you quite get it lad. Three broken ribs, a pierced back plate, a punctured lung, scraped artery, severe muscle damage, and that assuming the nerves that were severed still transmit feeling to that side of your body… lad… your gonna be down for a while.”
Zeil nodded, “Fine… then I'll give it a month… no longer.”
Cunningham smiled as he shook his head in hopelessness, “Impatient, a good enchanter does not make laddie. You’re gonna be down for a a good long while… but in the meantime… I can teach ya what I know about magic, and perhaps you can help the clan with our little… Tolerance issue. I regret what we did a year ago, but… the rest of the clan don’t, so… we should work on that. And while we are at it… ya might wasn’t to find ways of controllin’ your anger a bit. Time to heal, brings many lessons to learn, some greater than others.”

Year 02, Month 11, Day 05
(1 year and 4 months after Eden’s Kiss)

The McHolt Clan were gathered around the small fighting stage at the top of the hill waiting patiently. As they waited, Cunningham, McNess, and Zeil were standing to one side as Cunningham spoke, “Are ya sure ya want to try again laddie? If ya keep this up then you will never fully recover.”
Zeil replied, “I beat loach in a one on one fight and you agree that I’m recovered enough to leave… that was the deal right?”
Cunningham nodded, “Aye, but it’s only been three days since ya last fought ‘em. What’s to say he wont best ya again.”
Zeil replied, “He aimed for my wound last time. It may be healed on the outside but it’s still sore.”
McNess replied, “Course it’s sore… I keep tellin ya to let it rest but ya keep pushing yourself to heal and that’s why it’s taken so long.”
Cunningham added, “Ya can’t regrow that many muscles and bones overnight, and there ain’t any potion that can properly heal them without letting them rest for at least a few months. That said, your gonna have to learn to live with your actions. Pushing unhealed muscles will only make ‘em worse, so if ya want to win ya either have to wait a little longer or learn to get over the pain.”
Zeil nodded, “That’s why I’m here again… I'll push through the pain… and I'll win.”
Cunningham and McNess gave each other un unsure look for a brief moment before looking back as McNess spoke, “Pushing pain isn’t the best way to get over it lad. Even if ya push passed it, that wont make this a win for ya.”
Zeil replied, “I still have to try… For Zecora… I cant wait any longer.”
McNess started to reply, “But that ai-“
Cunningham interrupted, “Win or lose… Watch that anger o’ yours. You remember what I told ya ‘bout it?”
Zeil nodded as he replied, “Each time I get angry, it gets stronger.”
Cunningham nodded, “Aye… and if it gets too strong… it might take control.”
Zeil replied with a serious tone, “It won’t… I’ll see to that.”
With nothing more to say, Zeil stepped out into the middle of the small arena as Loach stood there waiting for his opponent to get ready. As Zeil trotted into the arena, McNess Looked at Cunningham and spoke, “Are you gonna just let him destroy ‘emself like this? It’s this reason that he’s been here for almost a year and a half.”
Cunningham replied, “He’s mastered all I have to teach him in magic, but he still needs training in self-control. I figure the best lessons for that, are ones of failer. If he keeps losing he will learn eventually, that’s why I made that deal with him in the first place. Win against Loach and you can leave, Kinda motivating if I say so meself.”
McNess sighed, “Aye… but I doubt this will help him learn anythin’.”
Cunningham smiled, “Ya that worried for the lad Chief?”
McNess nodded, “Aye… the changeling had grown on me, I'd hate to see him turned to paste cuz ya made a foolish agreement with ‘em.”
Cunningham smiled, “He’s tougher then ya give ‘em credit for… What worries me… is what might happen, if he actually wins.”
As soon as Zeil and Loach were in the center of the arena, Loach spoke, “Still pickin’ fights ya can’t win laddie? Well changeling, come at me then.”
Zell nodded as he replied loud enough for all to hear, “It’s a Clan Challenge!...”
Loach smiled as he called in response, “Challenge accepted!”
Cunningham nodded as he spoke next, “Then a challenge we have… you two, state your rules!”
Loach replied first, “No magic, and no changin’ into something other then what ya are right now… don’t think I'll forget what I’m facin’ here.”
Zeil replied, “Agreed, My rule… fight till one can’t fight anymore. No killing.”
Loach nodded, “Agreed!”
Cunningham nodded, “Terms accepted, now choose your weapons!”
Loach called, “Give me my maul!”
Zeil called next, “My hooves are weapon enough.”
Feeling like the challenge was getting personal, the village oohed at Zeil’s confidence as Loach replied with an unimpressed tone, “Was nice knowin’ ya laddie.”
At that moment, a large war hammer fell into the ring as Cunningham replied with an unsure tone, “If you say so lad… Loach, Retrieve your weapon then as soon as you’re ready, you are free to begin.”
Loach nodded as he slowly trotted towards the maul as he spoke with a cocky tone, “last chance to give it up, ya almost had me earlier in the week, but I won’t be underestimatin’ ya this time. I’m rather busy today so, I’m gonna end this one quick.”
As Loaches reached his maul Zeil replied, “It will end quick… only I'll be the one to end it.”
Loach reached down for the maul as he replied, “Found a bit of confidence did ya?... good that will make it easier,” he grabbed the hammer’s shaft, “WHEN I BEAT YA!”
Making each movement assist his momentum, Loach picked up his maul and charge at Zeil as fast as the large weapon would allow as Zeil expected the charge and waited for his foe to get into rang. As loach approached Zeil, he took one massive horizontal swing as the large weapon flew towards Zeil’s head as the changeling ducked down leaving the gust of air following the weapon to be the only thing to hit the fast changeling’s face.
With the weapon’s weight and momentum speeding up his movements, Loach spun completely around in the direction of his swing before bringing the weapon up over his head and reusing the mauls forward motion the increase his power as he tried a second swing, this time vertical in an attempt to smash his smaller foe. Also seeing this attack, Zeil jumped out of the way as the large weapon slammed against the ground as the concussion could be felt by every shire witnessing the attack. As soon as Zeil landed from jumping out of the way, he took the weapons sudden stop to his advantage as he quickly turned around and Lunged towards the large hammer before Loach could lift it again. Loach tried to lift his weapon, however before the hammer could be lifted an inch from the ground, Zeil landed on the weapon’s shaft just below the hammer’s head as he vaulted off the weapon towards his foe before turning around and using all four hooves to kick the large shire in his face as hard as he could. With the attack catching him off guard, loach released his weapon as he stumbled a number of steps away as Zeil landed next to the maul and immediately cringed in pain over his own sore muscles.
Although none of the spectators, nor his opponent saw Zeil’s cringing expression, Cunningham saw all of it as he mumbled, “He’s still feeling pain from his year old wound… so… can he overcome it?”
Trying to hide his pain from the spectators around him, Zeil quickly changed his expression as he looked back to loach as the large shire stopped stumbling before putting his hoof over his face and feeling the blood that started dripping from his nose. As the shire looked at the blood in his hoof, he could only smile menacingly as he spoke, “Good hit lad… but it’s gonna take more than that to beat me.”
Zeil stepped closer to loach’s weapon, “I know…” he stomped down on the hammer’s shaft as the base of the shaft snapped off from the hammer’s head. After doing this, Zeil noticed that the way the wooden shaft had broken left it with a natural spike on one end, so with no intention of wielding a lethal weapon, he picked up the shaft and held it on the pointed end like a club as he continued, “That’s why I’m going to need this.”
Seeing that his broken weapon had now become a blunt weapon for his foe made Loach smile as he replied, “Well… get on with it then.”
Zeil glared at loach as he replied, “With pleasure.”
That said, Zeil charged at Loach as he swung his new weapon diagonally as Loach dodged the weapon’s first attack. Leaving no hesitation in his attack, Zeil swung again this time vertically, then horizontly as the large shire dodged both attack just like before. As Zeil continued his assault, Loach started mocking his foe with each dodge as he spoke, “Come now laddie, ya can’t be slowin’ down now… we were just getting started. If ya keep swingin’ like that, your never gonna beat me… then you’ll never see your lass again… though… it probably won’t matter too much more anyways.”
Zeil tried to ignore the taunting, but it didn’t stop him from replying as he swung again horizontally, “Really? And why is that?”
This time, Loach made no attempt to dodge the weapon, this time, he only raised his right hoof up leaving the thin club to hit his forearm as loach held the weapon there and replied, “Cuz it’s been over a year lad… no mare would wait that long for anypony. Face it… by now… she’s moved on. She’s forgotten ya and found another.”
Zeil replied, “No she hasn’t.”
Loach replied this time with an evil grin, “Who you tryin to convince lad? Me? Or yourself?...face it… she’s moved on, and is probably in the arms of some other young stallion who swept her off her hooves while you were away.”
Zeil started getting angry, “You’re wrong…”
Leached reached across with his left hoof and grabbed Zeil’s weapon Locking it against his right hoof as he continued, “Am i? No stallion is worth waitin this long for laddie… and if she is as fair as ya say? Then your old news, and she won’t be there for ya when you get back. But… then again… is she even worth tryin?”
Suddenly, Zeil’s anger took control as he replied, “Yes… SHE IS!!!”
At that moment, Zeil did something that nopony, not even Cunningham expected he would do. Zeil used Loach’s grip on the club as an anchor as he lifted himself off the ground like climbing a rope as he swung his hind hooves up and kicked the large shire’s right elbow as hard as he could as the sheer impact alone dislocated the limb causing loach to scream in pain as he released the weapon and grabbed his now limp arm. After releasing Zeil’s weapon, Zeil allowed himself to fall onto his back as he swung the weapon horizontally taking Loach’s hooves out from under him as the screaming shire fell to the ground with nothing slowing his fall. After hitting the ground, Zeil rolled back onto his hooves as he jumped onto Loaches torso and raised the weapon up over his head, only instead of swinging it like a club as he did before, Zeil exposed the sharp wooden stake as he brought it down as if he were going in for a killing strike. Seeing this, Cunningham stepped forward as he called, “ZEIL!!!”
Everypony in the area went silent, as they watched in shock as Zeil brought down the stake and dug it into the ground right next to Loach’s head leaving even the large shire to silence himself in fear that his life was ending. As everypony stared at Zeil, the zebra disguised changeling released the stake leaving it imbedded in the ground as he spoke with a terrifyingly casual tone, “Zecora… is everything to me… weather she waits for me or not isn’t the point. The point, is that I finally get to her… and tell her the truth. I don’t know if she will accept me… I don’t know if she will even want to see me after leaving without a words… but… she still deserves the truth… and… I plan on giving it to her through my own words. So say what you want… but get this straight, you will never be able to name a single thing on this earth, that is worth more than she is. And I will get to her… even if I have to literally go through you. You got that?...”
At that moment, Zeil gave Loach a glare that was unlike any he had givin before, it was a look that made his last words seem more like a goal, then a threat. However, with no intention of continuing the fight, Zeil stepped off his defeated foe as he looked to Cunningham and McNess, “Well?...”
Still a little shocked with what he just witnessed, Cunningham hesitated for a moment before Looking at McNess, “Ugh… Chief?”
McNess snapped himself out of his shock as he called, “This match is decided, Loach can’t continue to fight with a broken hoof so… Zeil is the winner of the challenge!”
Zeil smiled with pride, but there were no cheers from the surrounding herd. In fact, everypony witnessing the fight was still frozen in shock as Zeil spoke, “Now, if you will excuse me… I have a bag to pack.”
With that said, Zeil started trotting away as the rest of the herd rushed to Loach to see to his wounds. Doing the same, Cunningham approached Loach as he kneeled down and looked at his dislocated arm, “It’s alright laddie, it ain’t broke, just limp.”
Loach looked at Cunningham as he spoke out of pain and anger, “Oh great idea Mr Smarty-pants. Make ‘em angry he says. It will motivate ‘em he says… I hope you’re happy after seeing what that got me.”
Cunningham checked the movement of his wounded arm as he replied, “I am, thank ya. And ya only have yourself to blame for that one. I said make ‘em mad… but you chose to push ‘em over the edge.”
Loach spoke in a gloating manner, “Well parden me for not knowing the scale that showed where he would go from angry to stark ravin’ mad!”
Cunningham stretched his arm out as he replied, “Well, it worked didn’t it? You wanted a good fight and ya got it. Sides, it ain’t like he was gonna kill ya.”
Loach gestured towards the broken hammer shaft that was sticking out of the ground as he replied, “What do ya think that is? A toothpick?”
Cunningham didn’t reply, instead he only gave Loach a dull look before jerking his arm back into place as Loach screamed in pain as Cunningham smiled, “Feel that?... means you’re still alive.”
McNess approached as he spoke, “Cunningham… I’m all about givin’ changelings a second chance now… but are ya sure ‘bout Zeil? What he did a second ago… that ain’t the way he usually fights.”
Cunningham nodded, “I know… cuz it wasn’t him fighting. It’s getin’ stronger as he does… this isn’t good, but I may have a temporary solution to his problem.”
McNess asked, “Will it help? I’ve come to like the wee laddie, I’d hate to see him fall to… well… himself.”
Cunningham replied, “It will, but… if the thing in him is growing at the same pace as he… I wonder if he will ever overcome it.”
Back at Cunningham’s home, Zeil was busy packing his saddlebag as he sorted out all the potions that he had made for his journey. As he packed, he couldn’t help but continue thinking about the words that Loach was said during their fight. As he thought about it, he started to worry that it was actually possible that Zecora could have moved on without him. As he thought about this, Zeil looked across the room at the glass incased poison joke that sat on the shelf. With worry in his step, Zeil started approaching the preserved plant as he slowly reached out and placed his hoof firmly against the glass. Soon his worry was dispersed as the blue plant quickly changed to a bright glowing gold as Zeil smiled at what the plant’s transformation meant. Seeing the smile, Cunningham spoke as he entered the home quietly, “There… are you convince now laddie? Loach’s words may have been harsh, but you know as well as I that true love such as yours will never fade… not even now after the long time you spent apart. She still loves ya lad, that joke wouldn’t glow if she didn’t.”
Zeil smiled as he took his hoof off the glass leaving the poison joke to slowly turn back to its original blue color, “I know… I… just had to remind myself.”
Cunningham approached the joke as he stood next to Zeil and spoke, “I casted this spell the day after Aria died… I hoped with all my heart that when I held it, it would turn gold and glow. But then… when it didn’t… it only assured that… she was gone. And… our love with her.”
Zeil shook his head, “No… She is gone, but your love still remains. She’s just holding it for you, till you two are together again. That’s why the Joke can’t find it.”
Cunningham smiled as he placed his hoof against the glass, only this time the joke didn’t react as the Druid replied, “Did she tell you that?”
Zeil shook his head, “She didn’t have to.”
Getting back to his task, Zeil turned away from the shelf as he started gathering his things again. As he did he spoke, “So… how was Loach? Will he live?”
Cunningham chuckled, “He will, though I think ya killed his pride for a bit… Ya kinda went overboard out there lad.”
Zeil shook his head, “I didn’t… He did…”
Cunningham nodded, “Aye… I felt it too. The first I’ve felt his aura so strongly.”
Zeil nodded, “Usually when he takes control he only talks a big game… this time he controlled my actions. If I hadn’t realized it and jumped in at the last second… then loach would be dead.”
Cunningham nodded in agreement, “Aye, but you still managed to stop him before that happened.”
Zeil sighed in disappointment, “That’s not good enough… one second late is the difference between life and death now. I held onto this vow I made for two years… if I fail now, before I’m even half way back to Equestria… then… how am I supposed to look Zecora in the eye?”
Cunningham smiled as he trotted to a drawer and pulled out a few small flasks filled with a silver potion, and an envelope. With the items in hoof, Cunningham trotted to the table where Zeil’s saddlebag sat as he laid out the potions and spoke, “I’ve been testing a few solutions out that may help you. So fare since we still don’t know what we are dealing with, all I have are these.”
Zeil approached, “What are they?”
Cunningham replied, “If I’m right, then by taking one of these every time ya feel that creature in ya, you can neutralize him enough to remain in control. Though, there is a problem. Ya see, these potions are potent enough that your body realizes your taking them, so in time it will fight back.”
Zeil was confused, “Fightback? How?”
Cunningham replied, “Well let’s just say, ya take one today and it works without a hitch. In a month, it will be less effective, and three months even more so. But give it about four or five months… and you won’t be affected at all.”
Zeil picked up the potion as he replied, “So… I'll be immune to it in five months?”
Cunningham nodded, “Or sooner… it depends on how well your body tries to fight it. And seein’ that you’re just now getting over a serious injury, it could be less.”
Zeil gave the potion an unsure look as Cunningham saw this and replied, “It’s your choice lad… I can’t control what you do from here on out. But, I would like to know that you made it to your lass with your conscience intact.” He handed Zeil the envelop next, “This is the recipe to make it… its very complex… but considering who taught ya how to mix potions… ya should fair well with makin’ it.”
Zeil smiled as he took the letter from Cunningham however before he could reply, the envelop started to glow a bright gold as Zeil looked at it with confusion as Cunningham smiled, “Oh… and I managed to give ya a golden joke leaf too. So that if ya ever worry that your lass has forgotten ya, you can give yourself a reminder, to get off ya lazy plot and keep movin’.”
Zeil smiled as he placed the letter in his saddle bag then turned to his teacher before putting his hoof out, “Thanks Cunningham, for saving my life, for teaching me magic… for everything.”
Cunningham bro-hoofed him as he replied, “Thank you lad… for showin’ this clan that not all changelings are bad, and… for givin’ me a chance to make up for my sin.”
Ready for his journey, Zeil put his cloak on and put the hood up as he trotted to the door opened it and spoke one last time, “Well, if you ever find yourself near Equestria, feel free to stop by, it should make for an interesting visit.”
Cunningham nodded, “I will, but only if ya introduce me to that lass of yours. I'd like to know which mare had the patients to fall for an oaf like you.”
Zeil nodded as he replied, “Well, see ya later Cunningham.”
With that Zeil closed the door as Cunningham smiled before sitting down at the table. As he sat down offspring who was sleeping in the corner of the room woke as it looked to its master and squawked loudly. Seeing this, Cunningham smiled, “Oh, you’re hungry ain’t ya? Guess it’s about time to fee ya then.”
As he stood up, the Druid mumbled, “Things are gonna be quiet around here with the lad and his devil gone.”
As he mumbled those words, Cunningham paused, “Devil… wait…”
Curious, the druid stopped what he was doing as he approached his bookshelf and pulled out an older book before flipping to a page and looking at the image of the devil that he had shown Zeil one year ago. As he looked at the demonic beast he mumbled, “Why didn’t I notice it before? The lad said that Osiris called him a titan… it can’t be a coincidence… can it?”
Cunningham trotted back to the table and sat down as he continued mumbling to himself, “A dark creature, that could bring death… and a hero that would bring life… could it really be Osiris and that Bolt pony? Or… could Zeil had been one and the same.”
Cunningham closed the book and mumbled, “I wonder… what can prevent death when death is curtain, what creature could hold that kind of power, and… what ya s’pose he wants with a changeling.”
With the book closed Cunningham continued pondering his theory as he ran his hoof along the title of the story as it read, The Legend of the Titans.