Book 6/Chapter 2
Chosen…
Year 04, Month 01, Day 07
“What do you mean you won’t help me!?!”
Rafi stood meditating in perfect balance at the peak of an ice spire as he replied, “It’s as I said… this message isn’t one that I must pass.”
Standing on the mountain slop that sat under the meditating guide, Zeil replied, “Your my guide aren’t you?... Well?... I need guidance. I’ve been sitting in a cell for almost two days now, and this Zebra that framed me is still out there. If he isn’t caught soon, then they are going to charge me with murder.”
The confident zebra smiled, “You shouldn’t judge a book by its cover so needlessly. As you know, it’s the contents of its pages that matter in the end.”
Zeil gave Rafi a dull look as he replied, “Okay let’s take a look at its contents then shall we? His aura is that of a ferocious beast or demon or something, he poisoned me, he framed me for a mass murder and for all I know, he’s out there killing more. Unless you have any reason I should trust him I think my judgement is pretty much on point with this one.”
Rafi smiled at Zeil’s frustration as he replied, “That aside, this zebra may seem dark… and he is… but, There is more to this one than meets the eye, after all darkness is merely a form of magic, evil isn’t always its intent.”
Zeil replied with a skeptic look, “You know something about him don’t you?”
Rafi nodded, “I do… and I chose this… cool setting to calm you enough to ask about it.”
Zeil continued while ignoring the joke, “Who is he?”
Rafi smiled as he replied, “Why don’t you ask him yourself… after all…” Rafi’s expression became serious, “He’s coming for you.”
Zeil could feel the seriousness of his warning but before he could reply, Zeil opened his eyes as he found himself in his meditative position in the center of his cell.
As Zeil felt confused about Rafi’s warning, he could hear a loud commotion from the other side of the door leading to the rest of the guard post. Approaching the bars and staring at the door that exited the room of cells, Zeil listened as he heard some of what the guards were yelling outside, “Hold him back!” “He’s too fast!” “Kayla! He got Kayla!” “Kill that thing!!!” “What is he? He won’t stop!” “Stay away… STAY AWAY!!!”
Confused by the frantic yelling Zeil looked through the bars to the door as the door flew open as the Jailer rushed through and closed the door behind him before locking it in fear. As soon as Zeil saw this, he spoke, “What’s happening? What’s going on out there?”
As soon as the guard heard this, he looked at Zeil then rushed to his desk as he replied, “I have to get you out!... Something is attacking the post! I don’t know what it is, but I’m going to need your help to kill it.”
As the guard pulled the cell keys from the desk, he rushed back to Zeil’s cell as Zeil replied, “What is it?”
The guard franticly searched the cluttered key ring to find the right key before finding it and trembling in worry as he inserted the key into the cell’s lock, “I don’t know… it… it’s some kind of monster. It killed the rest of my comr-“
All of a sudden whatever was outside the room slammed against the door as the sound caused the guard to jump in fear as his reaction snapped the head of the key off in the lock as he looked at the now broken key in worry, “Oh no…”
With the beast outside clawing against the door, the guard rushed back to his desk as he pulled out a sword, drew it from its sheath, and readied it as he replied, “I’m sorry changeling… but it looks like this is up to me now.”
Zeil was too confused to reply, but as he looked to the door he was surprised to see that whatever was clawing at the door from the outside started to claw through as the center of the wooden door started chipping away to reveal sharp claws that were scratching vigorously to get into the room. Soon the door was clawed away enough as the wooden structure split in two as a solid black feral griffin pushed through the door before glaring at the guard with its unworldly red eyes, and an expression of sheer hatred. As Zeil looked at the beast, he felt completely confused at what his senses were telling him. Anyone who had ever been in the same room as a griffin could easily say that this was one of them, however the aura that the feral creature was giving of wasn’t a griffin at all, it was an earth pony. And to make it even more confusing, the creature which held an expression of sheer hatred or anger, wasn’t feeling any such emotion at all. In fact the emotion that the creature was actually feeling was one of incredible pain and misery that would make any lesser creature pass out from sheer horror.
As Zeil tried to understand all these strange auras that filled the room, the beast glared at its prey as the guard readied his sword, “You killed my comrades… YOU WILL PAY!!!”
Enraged the guard charged at the beast as he swung his sword with all his might, aiming carefully on the beast’s neck. However the feral griffin wasn’t fazed one bit as it reached out and caught the sword’s blade with its bare talon stopping it immediately while leaving only a small cut on the creature’s palm. With no hint of pain in its expression, the beast reached out with its other talon and grabbed the guard by the chest plate of his armor as the creature slammed the guard against the wall before pulling the sword from his talon and tossing it aside. Unarmed and pinned, the guard could only stare into the red eyes of the beast as the monster glared at his prey for a brief moment before pulling in the guard and biting right into his neck as the sharp griffin beak dug into the guards throat causing the guard’s body to go limp, as Zeil felt his aura vanish with his death.
As soon as the guard stopped moving Zeil felt worried, with the beast killing the only remaining aura in the building that Zeil could sense, he now knew that he was trapped in the station with a monstrous creature with only his cell bars protecting him. Slowly, the beast dropped the guard as it turned towards Zeil allowing the nervous changeling to get a good look at him. The griffin stood at the same height as normal griffin, while the feathers and fur on his coat were solid black and his eyes were glowing ruby red. Though there were no irises or pupils inhabiting the red field of the creator’s eyes, there wasn’t a need for them as Zeil could tell the creature was looking directly at him as it started growling at the last living thing in sight.
Nervous, Zeil backed away until his back was against the cold stone of the cell’s back wall. Then as if it were given an order, the creature charged at the trapped changeling as it slammed against the cell’s bars before reaching into the cell in a failed attempt to grab its trapped prey. As Zeil leaned against the wall he felt both relived and terrified at the same time. It was obvious that the griffin wasn’t smart enough to realize the bars kept it out. However, if this creature was strong enough to bite through a griffin’s neck and into vital arteries, then how long would it take for it to break through the metal bars of the cell? As Zeil waited with his back literally to the wall, he tried to think of ways to escape the cell, but it was no use, even if he managed to find a way passed the feral creature, the metal clasp that was around his neck and bolted to the floor below him would make it impossible to escape. No matter what he did, every option Zeil had ended the feral beast’s talons.
As Zeil waited with his back to the wall, the beast soon stopped reaching for him and started backing up and charging the bars before bashing its body against them in an attempt to break through. Seeing this only worried him more, however soon Zeil’s worry was deterred when he felt a strange warming sensation against his back. Confused, Zeil turned around and looked at the wall he was leaning against as he saw a strange greenish discoloration appearing on the center of the grey stone wall. Stepping back from the wall, Zeil watched as the lime green coloring started spreading across the stone wall. Soon Zeil’s attention was brought back to the griffin beast as a loud pop was heard when one of the griffin’s powerful charges managed to break one of the bar’s free as the now damaged obstructions allowed the griffin to reach further into the cell.
As the creature realized its progress, it took a moment to press against the bars and reach for Zeil again but still found its reach to be too short before glaring at Zeil and roaring ferociously in anger. Then without warning, a black spear made from woven wood vines flew passed Zeil and into the griffin’s open mouth as the force from the projectile pierced the back of the griffin’s throat and slammed it against the back wall before nailing it in place. Shocked to see the ferocious beast now pinned to the wall by a pike, Zeil looked back to the spear’s origin to see that the now green cell wall had a hole in its center where the stone seemed to be melting away. As the stone continued melting making the wall open up more to the outside, Zeil realized that this was his chance as he started towards his freedom, however as he did, the iron clasp around his neck stopped him as he looked back at the opposite end of the connecting chain that was bolted to the cell’s floor.
Annoyed that his freedom was just out of his reach, Zeil looked back to the opened wall, but as he did something else was there that caused him to back away from his freedom in worry. Entering through the melted cell wall was none other than the elder zebra as he stepped into the cell, looked at the immobile monster on the opposite side of the bars and spoke, “Calm yourself beast, this changeling will not be your prey on this day.”
That said, the cloaked zebra shifted his eyes to Zeil as he spoke, “Hold still, I’ll make it quick…”
Confused, Zeil could only feel even more nervous as he saw something very odd forming in the darkness of the zebra’s shadow. On the ground beneath the zebra’s hooves, a strange black vine seemed to emerge from his shadow as it slowly grew onto the chain connected to Zeil’s neck cuff. Slowly the vine started growing up the chain, towards Zeil’s neck as the trapped changeling’s worry slowly turned to fear.
Struggling to free himself, Zeil tugged at the chain in his last ditch effort to free himself, but it was no use as the vines finally reached his neck and made their way between the metal cuff and his throat as the worried changeling felt the vines grow thicker, as this action started squeezing the trapped changeling’s neck causing him to choke. As Zeil’s air was cut off, Zeil dropped to a knee gasping for air as the vines seemed to squeeze his neck tighter and tighter until finally a metal chime was heard as the cuff loosened entirely before falling to the ground at Zeil’s hooves. Free, Zeil gasped for air as he looked at the broken cuff that was now laying at his hooves realizing that the reason he felt the cuff tighten was because the vine was pulling the cuff apart until it broke under its stress. Confused Zeil looked back to the zebra enchanter as the zebra spoke, “Make your way north deeper into the forest. Do everything you can to avoid roads and the village. These… things, are everywhere.”
Zeil felt even more confused as he replied, “Wait… you helped me? But I thought y-”
Before he could finish, Zeil was interrupted by a horrid gurgling sound as both he and the zebra enchanter looked to the griffin beast that was nailed to the wall as the creature reached up and grabbed the spear protruding from its mouth and throat in an effort to free itself. Confused Zeil looked at what should have been a fatal wound as he spoke, “Wh-what? But… how is it still alive… its spine should be severed… that should have killed it…”
The zebra gave the beast an angry look, “You haven’t seen anything yet…”
At that moment, the immobile beast realized it couldn’t pull itself free as it slowly shifted its eyes towards the dead guard who laid on the ground below him.
As the beast looked at his previous prey, a strange red haze seemed to emit from the creature’s eyes as it slowly hovered towards the dead guard then entered the body through the wound left on his neck. Confused, Zeil started to feel the guard’s aura return however it wasn’t the aura of a griffin that took its place, it was an earth pony’s aura as it was joined by emotions of extreme pain and misery identical to the beast nailed to the wall. Then the guard’s coat and feathers slowly changed from their normal white and tan coloring, to a charred black. Struggling, the dead guard picked itself up, before opening his now ruby red eyes and shifting them towards the two enchanters in the cell. As Zeil watched the dead guard return to life, he mumbled, “You… you got to be kidding me…”
The zebra looked at their new threat as he spoke with a casual tone, “There… now you’ve seen everything.”
Zeil could only stare in complete shock at the new threat as he spoke, “What… are they? Their aura… it’s identical… as if they were the exact same… creature.”
More black vines started growing from the Zebra’s shadow as the stranger replied, “I’ll tell you later… right now… you need to do what I said and run before more show up. As we speak, they are attacking the village and creating more of these things, under his command.”
As the growing vines weaved themselves into a second wooden spear, Zeil replied, “His? Who?”
The Zebra took the new wooden weapon as he replied, “I’ll tell you later, for now go, and remember to keep your guard up, As soon as it’s dropped, they will dive in from above. And… they always go for the throat.”
Zeil was conflicted as he replied, “Bu-”
The zebra gave Zeil an angry look as a feeling of incredible danger emitted form the zebra as he replied, “I SAID GO!!!”
At that moment, the resurrected guard charged at the bars slamming himself against them and popping another bar free from its base. Seeing that the zebra was serious, and the creatures were now closer to harming them, Zeil decided to do what he was told as he rushed out of the new opening in the jail cell and started running deeper into the forest.
As Zeil fled the scene he traveled along the edge of the village however as he did, he could hear horrifying sounds coming from the middle of the village as the thick canopied forest echoed with the screams of the fleeing, yells of the angry, cries of the dying, and roars of the beasts causing it all. Remembering what the zebra had told him, Zeil decided to leave the village and travel deeper into the forest though since the canopied forest blocked out any view of the sky, it was impossible for him to tell which direction north was so Zeil decided to just choose a direction that was away from the village.
As Zeil traveled further and further from the village, the sounds of the chaos that was taking place started to get fainter until the dark forest once again became a silent realm of darkness. As Zeil realized he was far from danger, he decided to stop and rest at the base of one of the many towering trees that covered the night sky from view. As he rested Zeil mumbled, “What is going on? These things… what in the world are they?… and that zebra. What does he have to do with any of this?”
As he thought to himself he started to remember what the zebra had told him, “Okay… keep your guard up, as soon as its dropped, they dive in from above, and they go for the thro-“
As he repeated the warning, Zeil immediately felt the aura of something falling from the canopies above as he quickly rolled his body over causing him to fall onto the ground on his back as he raised his right hoof to guard his neck as the falling feral beast tried to bit his neck only to dig his sharp break into Zeil’s fore arm as the failed attack caused damage to Zeil’s unprotected arm. As the monster’s beak dug deep into Zeil’s arm, the changeling screamed in a combination of anger and pain as the beast soon realized he missed Zeil’s neck before picking Zeil up buy his arm and flinging his head before releasing its prey as Zeil was tossed across the area before hitting a tree about twenty feet from where he was attacked.
As he hit the tree, Zeil quickly griped his bleeding arm as he looked back to see the griffin approaching him slowly. With his hoof wounded and nowhere to go, Zeil felt worried that this was the end as the beast approached its cornered prey while growling in anger. As the griffin approached, it raised himself onto his hind paws as it roared ferociously in a final show of dominance over his prey, however as he did, a wood spear immediately protruded out of his chest as he looked back to see the cloaked zebra had caught up and stabbed him from behind. Before the Griffin could react to the attack, the skilled zebra used his lodged weapon to toss the griffin over his shoulder as the griffin was thrown off the weapon and away from Zeil before hitting one of the many thick trees in the area. When the griffin hit the tree, the zebra darted towards him as he approached the stunned beast before lunging his weapon into the creature’s eye, nailing the beast against the wooden tree just like he did the one back at the guard post. As the griffin tried to react to the subduing attack, the zebra released his spear, jumped back away from his foe, then swung his hoof in a slashing motion as a strange invisible blade decapitated the pinned creature leaving both a strange cut marking in the tree below the beast’s neck, and the still moving head hanging above the cut.
Shocked at what he witnessed, Zeil could only stare at the zebra as he saw water dripping from the enchanter’s hoof as he spoke, “That… that was elemental magic wasn’t it? Water blade?”
The zebra looked back at Zeil and he nodded, “Yes… Cunningham taught you well.”
Zeil was confused, “What, but how do y-“
At that moment, the creature’s head which was still moving and nailed to the tree tried to snap at the zebra as the dark enchanter looked back at the biting head and replied, “I’ll tell you… but not here. For now, we need to get back to my camp. We will be safe there from these… things.” he pulled damp bandages from his saddlebag and tossed them to Zeil, “For now wrap your wound in this. It will make it heal faster.”
As Zeil caught the bandages, he noticed the dampness in them and a distinct smell as he replied, “This potion… is this?...”
The zebra nodded, “It’s a healing potion for flesh wounds. If anything it will close your wound before it becomes infected.”
Zeil gave the zebra a distrusting look as the zebra sighed, “If I wanted to kill you I would have done that back at the inn. Right now I need you alive, so just trust me alright? I’ll explain more when we are back at the camp.”
Though he still didn’t trust the zebra, Zeil knew that the bandages were safe as he wrapped the bandages around his wounded arm cringing as the cold damp bandage laid across his stinging wound. As Zeil did this, the zebra enchanter approached the severed head of the immortal beast as he looked the still growling creature in its remaining eye as he spoke, “You can see me… can’t you? Now, you know who I am and what I can do… So if want me, come find me… And we can talk.”
Although Zeil paid more attention to treating his wound, he still felt confused as the zebra turned away from the creature as he spoke, “Let’s go… my camp is up this way… stay close.”
Zeil Shook his head as he finished wrapping his wound and replied with a frustrated tone, “Oh no… First, tell me what’s going on here! What are these things? And why were they acting that way? And while you’re at it, tell me why that one is still alive despite the fact that it’s a severed head hanging from a spear that is nailing it to a tree through its eye!?!”
The Zebra smiled at Zeil’s frustration as he replied, “If any others witnessed everything you have, they would say that they are… well… Zombies.”
Zeil gave the Zebra a dull look, “Zombies…” he paused for a moment before shaking his head, “Nope…”
Zeil turned away and started leaving as the zebra spoke, “And where are you going?”
Zeil replied without turning around, “I’m out… living dead is where I draw the line.”
The Zebra sighed before replying, “I said others would say that they were zombies… I didn’t say that that’s what they are.”
Zeil paused before turning back to the zebra, “What?”
The Zebra replied, “I said they aren’t zombie. First off, zombies don’t exist, second this isn’t something created by some virus or bioweapon. These things were created purely by magic.”
Zeil was confused, “Magic?”
The Zebra nodded, “Yes… Magic. They don’t act out of impulse they are under control by somepony who manipulated a forbidden spell in a way that disrespects all forbidden magic and laws.”
Zeil replied with a skeptic tone, “What kind of spell?”
The Zebra turned towards the woods as he replied, “I’ll explain more… but only after we get to the camp. I have a spell brewing that needs tending too and if we wait too long I will miss my chance to add the next ingredient.”
With that said, the unknown zebra made his way further into the woods as he started trotting back to his camp. Though Zeil was unsure about the idea, he still felt safer following the cloaked zebra then to take his chances with the monstrous beast that were now terrorizing the forest. So with his wound now bandaged, Zeil limped behind as he and the zebra enchanter made their way further into the woods as he spoke, “By the way… that thing bit me back there… I’m… not going to turn into one of them… am I?”
The Zebra replied as he continued leading the way, “That is the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard. They can’t make you one of them till they kill you.”
Zeil nodded as he replied with a tone that showed his confusion, “Oh… um… okay…”
With that said, the two continued quietly through the forest towards the zebra’s camp.
After a few minutes of traveling, the forest entered a small clearing with a small camp already set in the middle. The camp seems slightly more then simple since there was a campfire sitting in the center with a small cauldron hanging over the fire by a hook. Along both sides of the fire sat two logs that were set specifically to be a type of bench. Behind them was a small one pony tent that looked like it had been used for the last couple of nights. As Zeil entered he could see a potion boiling over the fire as the Zebra looked into the bubbling brook and put his hood down, “Ah, just in time for the next addition.”
Sitting down at the bench closest to the cauldron, the zebra pulled a small vial from his saddlebag as he opened the container and poured in a small amount of what looked to be hair from an unknown creature. Still cautious of the zebra enchanter, Zeil sat on the other log just across the fire from the zebra as something caught his eye. Laying between the fire and the log he was sitting on was a small dagger that seemed as if it was discarded. As Zeil saw the blade, he assumed it was dropped or forgotten by the zebra while the enchanter was setting up the camp but rather then bringing the dagger to the Zebra’s attention, Zeil decided to leave it where it was in case he would need it to defend himself should the enchanter turn out to be what he seemed.
As Zeil sat watching the zebra tend to his potion, he started to get irritated. After arriving at the camp, Zeil expected the Zebra to explain what was happening around them, instead the old stallion only sat next to the cauldron making the potion and paying no attention to Zeil at all. Slightly annoyed, Zeil finally broke the silence, “Well?...”
The Zebra spoke without looking up, “If you think this is a stew, you’re wrong. It’s a potion, and it’s not meant for you.”
Zeil replied with an annoyed tone, “You said something about a spell that created those things right? Well?... Out with it!”
Elder Zebra sighed in irritation as he looked up and replied, “Seriously… there is no respecting your elders in this day and age.” He looked back at the potion, added another ingredient, and continued, “The spell that was used to create those things is a forbidden one. Number three in the most forbidden spells of all of Zebrica. To mention its name or what it does is considered a capital crime and is punishable by death… but considering what you’ve witnessed… I think I can tell you. The spell he used, or in this case altered is called the Curse of Resurrection.”
Zeil was confused, “Resurrection? You mean like, bringing somepony back from the dead?”
The Zebra nodded, “Yes… it is a very difficult spell with three very important laws that must be followed before conducting it properly. First, you must have remains of the one you wish to return to this world. Second, the one you wish to return must have died by unnatural means. Bringing one back who died by illness, or age would only return a dying life to this world. They must be either victims of accident, or to a grimmer extent, murder.”
Zeil didn’t understand as he shook his head, “That doesn’t make sense, I was told that there isn’t a way to bring life back from the dead.”
The Zebra smiled, “A lesson told to you by Rafi correct? Yes, he is right. We in this world are born with one life and one life only. Once it’s gone, that life will never return to this world. However, this spell incorporated a loop-hole which falls onto the third law of this spell. In order to bring one back from death, the caster must share his life. In other words, once the victim is returned, should one of you die, you both will. That’s what makes it a curse. To bring back the dead, you will forever risk your own life.” His eyes shifted from the potion to Zeil as he continued, “But the enchanter who caused this mess, broke this law. He manipulated those poor creatures at a point that trapes them between life and death forcing them to live in an eternal agony that is neither living nor dead. You felt it when you sensed their aura didn’t you? You sensed both the pain that they were continuously feeling, and… you also sensed the aura of the spell caster responsible for that pain. The earth pony who dares to insult a curse so disrespectfully.”
Mentioning Rafi was the last straw as Zeil gave the stranger an angry look, “Tell me who you are? What’s is your roll in all this, and how do you know so much about me?”
The Zebra smiled as he replied, “My name… is irrelevant. It won’t change anything, nor will it benefit you in any way that helps the situation. If you must refer to me at all, then refer to me as my title. The Mage.”
Zeil gave the stranger an untrusting look, “Mage?”
The stranger nodded, “Yes, the Mage.”
Zeil replied with a confused tone, “So… you’re a mage of some sort?”
The Zebra shook his head, “I’m not just some mage… I’m The Mage. I am known as The Mage of Zebrica.”
Zeil gave the Mage a confused look as the Zebra saw his confusion and nodded, “You haven’t heard of me?… Not surprising since you’ve yet to reach Zebrica, so allow me to explain.” He waved his hoof over the brew as two hot coals from under the cauldron popped out of the fire and rolled into the ground next to the camp fire. “What did you learn while staying in the Ibex Temple?”
Though he still wanted an explanation of how the zebra knew him, Zeil was still curious of the lesson so he replied to the question, “Balance… The world revolves around it.”
The Zebra nodded, “Yes… and how did your encounter with the dark alicorn prove that lesson?”
Zeil replied, “That when the world becomes imbalanced it finds ways to equal itself out. Sometimes in the most destructive ways possible”
The Mage nodded, “Very good, the world need balance to function properly. Day and night,” He raised his hoof over the first coal, “Light…” All of a sudden the glowing red coal changed colors as it began glowing white, then the zebra moved his hoof over the second coal, “And Dark.”
At that moment, the second coal which also started out glowing red changed colors to emit an eerie black glow as Zeil marveled at the strange change in appearance. As Zeil looked at the coals the Zebra continued, “As the world evolves, so too does the very balance. Light by a little amount, and dark to even it out.”
As he said this, a flame appeared over each coal as the fire emitted the exact same colors as the coal beneath it. As the flames grew the zebra continued, “As time progresses, we soon find a problem. If both light and darkness is continuously equal then with every joyous event of each day, comes an equal event of misery. So… the moment a solution was deemed possible. The enchanters of Zebrica sought an opportunity. One amongst them was born with darkness inside him. And rather than casting him aside as they did prior, they decided to use him.”
At that moment, the black burning coal split in two as the second part of the coal popped off and rolled a few inches from the others before changing from its eerie black glow to a strange green color, complete with a flame to match.
Amazed with the strange reaction Zeil looked upon the large white coal and the two smaller coals as the enchanter continued, “With one using darkness for good, the balance can be maintained while keeping the world slightly better. Should any form of the darkness rise up against the light, the other darkness can combat it using its own darkness as a deterrent. This is what The Mage of Zebrica represents. Darkness for good, but darkness none-the-less.”
Zeil was confused, “Wait… can darkness be good? I thought all darkness was bad and all light was good.”
The mage replied with a serious tone, “Light… dark… this merely describes the type of magic that is being used. Whether it be good or bad?... well…”
The zebra waved his hoof over the coals towards the campfire as the three coals regained their red color before rolling back into the campfire and mixing amongst the flames. “Well… that is a lesson for another to teach. I’m not qualified to tell you that one.”
Although Zeil was annoyed the zebra didn’t explain it further, he was used to getting only half answers from this zebra as he replied with an annoyed tone, “Fine… so to sum it up, you’re an enchanter who used dark magic. But… for good… right?”
The mage nodded, “Yes… I am the only enchanter who is accepted to use such magic… however, upon becoming a mage I was banished from Zebrica as is the custom. To maintain the balance, I cannot be amongst those who could sway me to the light. Or so they say… honestly, I think they feel uneasy around me and need a reason to get rid of me.”
Zeil continued, “So… Mage… how do you know me so well?”
The mage smiled, “I know you, more then you even know yourself. After all, you’re just that predictable.”
Feeling a slight hostility in his tone, Zeil replied, “Really? Somehow I doubt that.”
Smiling in a smug way, the mage continued, “Is that so… You were hatch a changeling in the land of the black sand to Queen Chrysalis and her former king. As a grub, you witnessed the fall of the Marble Oasis and when your queen felt there was no surviving there anymore, she and her swarm set out to seek a new hive, and a new home.”
Zeil tried to act unamused as the Zebra looked down to the potion and continued, “After a number of years of traveling, she finally found a place to establish her Changeling Kingdom, in a land just outside of Equestria. And though she found a place, she feared for her hives continued food source, so she decided to set her sights on the large pony kingdom. Then… who to volunteer in infiltrating that kingdom, then her most loyal of drones…” He shifted his eyes up from the cauldron and continued with a hostile tone, “You…”
Feeling uneasy, Zeil replied, “Alright… so wh-”
The mage interrupted with a tone that seemed like an accusation of guilt, “You graciously volunteered to enter the kingdom, fool the poor ponies who thought themselves safe, then seek out an opportunity to sneak your queen into their homes. And all to steal… what they cherished most.”
Hearing the hostility angered Zeil as he replied, “I followed my orders, as was my du-“
The zebra interrupted again, “You went in and tried to steal the most precious from those good and innocent ponies who did you no harm. That attack wouldn’t have happened if not for your perfidious nature to act like a pony then stab them in the back… some of them quite literally.”
Zeil became angry as he held his silence as the Zebra continued, “Then… despite all the loyal effort you placed in your queen. She failed you… and the resulting action from her failer sent you tumbling through the Everfree Forest sheering away every bit of dignity you had left while also removing your wing in the process.”
Zeil was starting to get even more angrier as he shifted his eyes to the dagger in the ground, then back at the mage as the elderly zebra continued after adding a smug smile to his face, “You lost it all… then… like your kind are known for… you sought another opportunity to take advantage of another innocent soul. You played the wounded zebra to the one mare who didn’t know what was happening in Canterlot. You lied as she welcomed you into her home and treated your wounds. Then you continued to toy with her heart as if it were your clueless little plaything, like putty in your hooves, am I right?”
Zeil became enraged as he tried to reply calmly, “Shut up…”
The Zebra continued, “You played with her emotions… you manipulated her actions and who knows what you would do to her if you had stayed.”
Zeil replied with anger, “I loved her… I wouldn’t have done anything to hurt he-“
“Funny way of showing it!… you never even told her the truth. If you truly loved her, you would have at least done that mu-“
“SHUT UP!!!”
Zeil’s words echoed into the forest as the enraged changeling stood from his seat and glared at the zebra in anger as the mage smiled, “Oh… and why should I?”
Zeil breathed deeply in his anger as he tried to calm himself down as the zebra chuckled, “Well… looks like my spell worked then… Good, we don’t need that pesky darkness within you getting involved.”
Still angry but confused, Zeil replied, “What? What are you talking about?”
The zebra smiled, “The night before last in that tavern, I placed three spells on you. The first was a simple sleep sedative, not really a spell at all if you ask me. The second was an invisibility spell meant to make you invisible for about five hours, enough time to elude the creatures that attacked the tavern that night. And the third was something unique, something that would only pertain to those like you and me. It was a spell meant to neutralize and subdue your darkness.”
Zeil calmed down as he replied, “What?”
The zebra gestured to the dagger in the grass as he spoke. “You knew that weapon was there the whole time and yet despite how enraged I made you… you didn’t go for it even once. Back at the Mc Holt Clan Loach the shire you faced only mention Zecora, and you nearly killed him on the spot. If the darkness still had a hold on you, you would have gone for that dagger and then for my throat. Not that it would have worked… I’m not so easy to kill. Needless to say I released you temporarily from the control of your other self, so you will have complete control of your anger until it is deemed time to… deal with him again.”
Zeil was shocked that the zebra was right. Even now that he had a few seconds to calm down, Zeil’s hooves were still trembling in anger at the zebra’s words, but he didn’t even reach for the weapon. He looked at it briefly, but didn’t even attempt to plan a method of attack on the mage in front of him. Zeil could only look at the mage in complete confusion, as the mage smiled and continued stirring the potion, “Despite that though, I apologies for my words… I simply had to be sure. I understand you loved that mare, and I feel it was an injustice that you were casted so far from her before even getting the chance to tell her the truth. But don’t worry, you continue on this path and you will see her again, but your decisions along that said path can decide how this story truly ends. Happily or tragically… though nowadays… I can’t tell the difference between the two anymore.”
Zeil felt uneasy, the Zebra knew everything about him, even things that others who knew his story didn’t know. Feeling nervous, Zeil started to ask, “How do you kn-”
At that moment, Zeil’s words were silenced as a loud popping sound came from the cauldron of boiling potion followed closely by a long hissing sound. As the sound was heard the zebra looked back to the potion and smiled, “Good, time to add the last ingredient for the night.”
With that, the zebra reached for the small vial that was hanging around his neck as he removed the small bottle from the cord it was hanging from before looking into the red contents that could be seen through the glass container. As he looked into the liquid, a strange but deep feeling of sadness befell the Zebra mage as Zeil felt confused by the aura. With a heavy sigh the zebra continued looking into the vial as he mumbled quietly, “Till death do us part… and beyond.”
Although the mage said those words quietly, Zeil still managed to hear them clearly as the mage preceded to pull the cork from the vial and poured the dark red liquid into the brew.
Though Zeil was clueless as to what the red liquid was, it soon became clear as the potion slowly emitted a thick red smoke as Zeil looked to the zebra and spoke, “Blood?...”
The mage ignored Zeil as he took a step back from the potion as a large mushroom shaped puff of smoke barreled out of the cauldron as the red spoke gathered about ten feet over the brew before slowly taking a more distinct shape. Slowly Zeil watched in awe as the large cloud of red smoke slowly took a form with large bat like wings and a slender lizard like body as Zeil mumbled, “It’s a blood dragon?”
When the form was complete, the smoke made dragon opened up its wings as it quickly darted down towards the mage before rapidly banking around as it circled the entirety of the campsite. Zeil watched in amazement as the smoke made dragon circled the camp a few more times before flying towards the mage, stopping right in front of him, and hovering in the air as the zebra and the dragon made perfect eye contact. As the apparition hovered before the mage, Zeil felt something odd. The Dragon, though made entirely out of smoke gave off a very faint aura. The aura was too faint to identify its species, but there was something very familiar about it, as if Zeil had felt that same aura before.
As Zeil tried to figure out where he had felt the aura before, the dragon gave the mage a concerned look as the mage replied, “You don’t like it… I know, but it has to be done.”
The dragon looked down with a conflicted stare as the mage nodded, “It’s alright, I already came to peace with this… We both have and… I’m ready to join you.”
The dragon looked back at the mage with an unhappy nod as he spoke once more, “We always knew it would come to this… but it’s not in our hooves anymore… It’s in his.”
The mage gestured towards Zeil as the dragon looked at the clueless changeling before looking back at the zebra and nodding in agreement. Then the mage spoke to the dragon one last time, “Go… I’ll see you soon.”
With that the dragon thrusted itself upward one last time as it flew strait up before doing a backflip and diving back into the potion as the smoke made creature vanished into the brew. As soon as the smoke vanished, the boiling brew turned from its groggy red color to a milky white. After the potion finished changing color the mage pulled the cauldron from over the fire as he sat it aside to cool.
With the zebra setting up his seemingly finished potion, Zeil asked, “That ingredient you added… that was blood wasn’t it?”
The Zebra nodded, “It was… good to know that Cunningham taught you about blood sacrifices.”
Zeil continued, “Whose blood was it?”
The mage replied, “Whose did it feel like? You felt its aura didn’t you? What did you feel?”
Zeil replied, “I don’t know… I sensed it, but… I can’t tell who, or what it was? But I could tell just by both your and its emotions… that is was someone close to you.”
The mage nodded, “Yes... that was the blood of a deceased zebra mare… just as the spell called for. The blood… of my wife.”
Zeil could feel a sad emotion in the mage as he spoke, “Your wife… How did she die?”
The Zebra’s dark aura started to return as he replied with a slightly hostile tone, “I didn’t kill her if that is what you assume.”
Feeling a demonic aura fill the air, Zeil immediately felt nervous as he replied, “N-no I didn’t mean it by that… I was just curious… you said the blood was from a deceased zebra, I didn’t mean anything by it.”
Noticing Zeil’s worry, the mage nodded as he replied, “Sorry… she passed about three months ago by natural causes… and the wound is still fresh. I doubt my heart will ever heal. At least, not until I finish here.”
The mage pulled a glass cone-shaped flask from his saddlebag as Zeil replied to his explanation, “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to-”
The mage interrupted as he opened the small pointed vial, “Its fine… you’re not the only one who has trouble controlling your emotions. Sometimes, I loose myself too.”
With the flask opened, the zebra rubbed his hoof around the rim of the now cooled cauldron, then made the same action around the rim of the flask as the white milky potion magically filled the cone shaped vial from the bottom to its top. Curious Zeil asked, “Okay… so… a blood sacrifice for this spell… what does the spell do?”
The Zebra replied as he closed the flask, “That, I cannot say, not till it’s finished. It still requires one more ingredient.”
Zeil asked, “Really? What ingredient?”
The mage put away the potion into his saddlebag as he replied, “It isn’t your place to know… that is… not yet. But on that subject…” He gave Zeil a serious look as he pulled a strange brown package from his saddlebag and laid it on the ground, “Zeil… I am the Mage of Zebrica. There is only one mage every generation and in order for one to become a mage he must have darkness within him, and must be chosen by the previous mage. I was chosen by the mage before me, as was his before him… and as the cycle continues… I… shall choose you.”
Zeil was shocked, “Wh-what?”
The mage replied with a smile, “Congratulations Zeil of the Black Sand… I have chosen you, to become the next mage of Zebrica.”
Zeil didn’t know what to say as he replied, “Wh-why me?”
The mage and replied as he unwrapped the package to reveal a leather bound spell book as he replied, “Because I need your help to destroy the one responsible for breaking a law of magic. This book, Holds the very spells that only a mage can perform. And this earth pony disgraced its very legacy. So… I’m going to need your help to continue the cycle and bring an end to this creature’s miserable life. For once his life ends, so will mine.”