“Aw, we’re so lost,” Shady said. “It’s all my fault, I just know it.”
“We’re not lost, Shady,” Gusty said. They walked alongside the bank of a stream, stepping through thick, green grass and blue flowers. “If we keep following this stream, it will lead us somewhere. Maybe even a town.” Gusty had a point. Maybe things weren’t as bad as Shady felt.
The forest was darkening as the sun dropped, but there was still enough light to see by. Insects and birds called, water rushed over rocks, and leaves rustled in a wind that didn’t reach down here. “Hey, have you thought up of a flaw for me to work on, yet?” Gusty said.
“Um, how about this?” Shady said. “You jumped into that portal without really talking it through. So maybe you’re a little impulsive?”
“Maybe,” Gusty said. “But some of the other ponies are really hesitant. Sometimes we need a pony who will take action. I don’t think I want to change that about me.”
“Alright, I’ll keep thinking,” Shady said. She noticed that the trees were starting to thin.
“Hey, I told you we weren’t lost,” Gusty said. The forest opened up to a clearing. Flowers grew everywhere, a different kind than what they saw in the forest. A wooden cottage, its roof draped with foliage, sat at the center of the clearing. “Finally, some civilization,” Gusty said.
“Do you think they’ll be friendly?” Shady said as they walked up towards the door. “They could be witches.”
“I don’t think so,” Gusty said. “Witches like mud, lava, and gloom; this place is too nice.” She knocked on the door. Shady leapt back when she heard some kind of animal snarling behind the door. But then there was a voice. It was too quiet to pick out the words, but it sounded like the voice was calming the animal. A few seconds later, a pony opened the door. She was a yellow pegasus with a pink mane.
“I’m sorry about that,” the pegasus said. “Harry is in a bad mood today.” Shady caught a glimpse of something large and furry behind the pegasus. Was that a bear??
“It’s no problem,” Gusty said. “Do you know the way to Dream Valley, or if not, the nearest town?”
The pegasus gasped. “You’re the pony they were looking for,” she said. “Is your name Gusty?”
“Uh huh. How’d you know that?”
“Your friends are looking for you,” the pegasus said. “Do you know Wind Whistler and Fizzy?”
“Sure do,” Gusty said.
“Excuse me, my name is Fluttershy. What’s your name?” She looked at Shady.
“Shady.” She stepped towards the door again, keeping an eye on the bear.
“Your friends seemed awfully worried about you,” Fluttershy said. “I know it’s late, but we should probably find them and let them know you’re okay.”
“Wind Whistler, worried?” Gusty said, laughing. “The world could be burning around her and she’d be as concerned as a rock.”
“Oh, but she was very concerned,” Fluttershy said. “She was afraid you might be in danger.”
“Yeah, right,” Gusty said. “Let me guess, she was like, ‘According to my calculations, Gusty has a 22.4% chance of perishing.’” She said it with a dry, detached voice that was… yeah, it was pretty close to Wind Whistler’s inflection. Even so, Shady couldn’t help but think that Gusty was being unfair to Wind Whistler. She wasn’t the most expressive pony in Ponyland, but she wasn’t heartless either. “Anyway, where can we find them?”
“Oh, um, I last saw them with Rarity,” Fluttershy said. “Let’s see if they’re still with her. Let me get some of my animal friends situated, and then I’ll show you the way.”
* * *
Fizzy let out a whinny as Wind Whistler pulled a bright blue quill out of her flank. “You need to be more cautious, Fizzy,” Wind Whistler said.
“I’m sorry,” Fizzy said. “They looked like bushwoolies!”
Fizzy and Wind Whistler had run into small, brightly colored creatures on the path. Fizzy had immediately approached, asking if they had seen Gusty. The creatures had said nothing in response, but they had shot dozens of quills at her. Fizzy whinnied again as Wind Whistler pulled two more quills and spat them out. “They did bear some superficial resemblance,” Wind Whistler affirmed. “But Applejack warned us there were dangerous creatures here. We should approach everything with caution.”
Wind Whistler was trying to be gentle, but Fizzy whinnied again as she pulled out the last quill. “That’s the last of them,” Wind Whistler said.
“Oh, good,” Fizzy said, sighing. “Those were painful to take out.”
“When we have the proper equipment, we should check for toxins and clean the wound in case of infection,” Wind Whistler said. “But currently our best course of action is to continue forward.” By now they were certainly closer to Zecora’s hut than Ponyville, and it was possible she could have some medical supplies.
They continued down the path in silence. The dire forest was turning Wind Whistler’s mood increasingly sour. Her analytical mind couldn’t stop thinking about all that could go wrong. The danger this forest presented to them was bad enough. Additionally, they still had no confirmation that Gusty was even in this area. For all they knew, the portal might have taken Gusty to an entirely different land. Even worse, it might have dumped her miles below the earth or miles above it. Thinking about the possibility that Gusty could be dead, and that they might never even found out what happened to her, Wind Whistler found herself on the verge of tears.
She steeled herself and blinked them back. She had to stay focused and not let emotions interfere with her decision-making. The chances of finding Gusty were best if Wind Whistler was functioning at peak capacity. “Are you alright, Whistles?” Fizzy said. She stepped gingerly. Her flank was starting to look red. But she was still smiling. That pony was tougher than she seemed.
“Look ahead,” Wind Whistler said coolly. “The path is overgrown with blue flowers.” They had seen blue flowers—presumably poison joke—several times so far. But now they covered the path. “We should follow Applejack’s instructions and not deviate from the path. Do you see where the flower patch discontinues? I’ll fly over the flowers, you wink out, and we’ll reconvene at that location.”
“Got it,” Fizzy said. With a flash of magic, she disappeared. Wind Whistler jumped and took off. She flew low to avoid the hanging branches of gnarled trees. With a flash of light, Fizzy appeared ahead of Wind Whistler, but not where she was expecting.
“Don’t move, Fizzy!” Wind Whistler called. She had winked into a little patch of bare ground, but she was surrounded by blue flowers on all sides.
“What’s up?” Fizzy said, standing rigid.
Wind Whistler came closer, and it became apparent that she had misinterpreted what she was seeing. Perhaps it was the shady lighting, but Wind Whistler had failed to notice that Fizzy had flowers in front of and behind her, but she could easily walk off to her left and continue down the path without touching a flower. There wasn’t much room where Fizzy was standing, so Wind Whistler hovered as she said, “I was mistaken. I thought you had winked into a patch of flowers.”
“Oh, did you mean that clearing farther ahead?” Fizzy said, pointing. “My bad.” She winked out again and reappeared farther along the path. Wind Whistler flew up to her and landed.
“I’m glad we traversed that without mishap,” Wind Whistler said. They continued walking quietly for a few minutes. If Wind Whistler’s estimate was correct, they would arrive at the hut soon.
“Are you okay, Wind Whistler?” Fizzy said. “You’ve been really quiet.”
“Is that unusual for me?” Wind Whistler said.
“No. But you seem down.”
“Perhaps I am.”
“Do you want to talk about it?” Fizzy asked.
“No,” Wind Whistler said.
“Why not? It’ll make you feel better.”
“I doubt that assertion. Expressing my concerns aloud would be no better than pondering them silently. In fact, I suspect it would make matters worse. I do not wish to dampen your mood with negative contingencies that may not have crossed your mind.”
Fizzy hesitated. “I guess that makes sense.” A large tree was visible right on the path ahead. It had a door and windows carved into it. A couple of skull-like masks waited outside, and vials hung from the tree’s branches by strings. The windows glowed with an eerie, green light. “Wow, that’s a little foreboding,” Fizzy said.
“Appearances can be deceiving,” Wind Whistler said. “If Applejack trusts this Zecora, we’re probably safe.” Of course, it was a bit of a leap to trust a near-stranger like Applejack, but she had offered to help search for Gusty and to give them a place for the night. Wind Whistler stepped up to the door. She heard a voice inside, muttering some kind of rhyming chant. After a moment, she knocked.
“Could you wait a moment until I finish this phase?” the voice said. “If I do something wrong now, the brew will spew green haze.”
Wind Whistler waited at the door, glancing around. She jumped, startled. She thought she had seen something in the corner of her eye, something glowing. But it was gone now. “What’s up?” Fizzy said.
Before Wind Whistler could answer, there was a puff sound inside the hut, and the door opened shortly after. A zebra with brass jewelry and a swirling pattern on her flank opened the door. “I’m sorry for the wait,” she said. “I wasn’t expecting visitors this late.” Fizzy made a suppressed chuckle.
“Are you Zecora?” Wind Whistler said. “We were sent here by Applejack.”
“Ah, little ponies so far from home,” Zecora said. “There’s no need to continue to roam. You know my name, I see. Come inside and introduce yourselves to me.”
Fizzy laughed and said, “Your rhymes are so creative! I’m Fizzy.” They entered the hut and closed the door. A cauldron simmered in the center of the hut, lit by a green fire that appeared enchanted. An earthy smell wafted up from the cauldron. More masks decorated the interior, and dozens of herbal ingredients filled the shelves.
“My name is Wind Whistler. We are searching for a friend, a white unicorn mare named Gusty.”
“I’m sorry to say, I haven’t seen this mare,” Zecora said. “But you should also be concerned with Fizzy’s flank there.” Wind Whistler looked again. The whole area where the quills had hit her was red and swollen.
“Oh dear, the symptoms have worsened,” Wind Whistler said. “We encountered small, mammalian creatures with vivid colors and projectile quills.”
“Those would have been puckwudgies, for sure,” Zecora said. “Their poison is painful, but I think I have a cure.” She started searching through the many vials and jars in the hut. “It seems I’ve used up all my balm. I suggest you rest to keep the symptoms calm. I’ll be in the forest looking for ingredients. Hopefully I can make the antidote with expedience.” She grabbed a saddlebag and opened the door.
“We thank you for your assistance,” Wind Whistler said. “Please do keep an eye out for our friend.”
“Oh, but of course,” Zecora said. “I’ll look for that horse.” She closed the door. Fizzy gingerly walked to the bed in the corner and lay down. She was sweating.
“I apologize, Fizzy,” Wind Whistler said. “It may have been reckless of me to lead us into this forest. Considering that we may meet Twilight tomorrow, coming here may have been an unnecessary risk.”
“No, I think you were right,” Fizzy said. “This place is awful. If Gusty is out here, we need to find her fast.”
Wind Whistler nuzzled Fizzy affectionately. “You’re remarkably courageous for a pony whose behavior is so carefree.”
“Thanks, Whistles. You’re really caring for a pony who acts so stiff.” Fizzy closed her sparkly eyes, trying to rest. Wind Whistler’s anxiety was split between Fizzy and Gusty. While they were waiting, she paced just outside the hut, looking out for Gusty. She glanced back into the window frequently to make sure Fizzy was alright. She looked to be in considerable pain.
Wind Whistler heard a creature approaching long before she could see it through the thick foliage. Was it Gusty? Zecora? Another dangerous beast? It ended up being the zebra. “I found just what Fizzy needs,” Zecora said. “Just give me a moment to crush up these weeds.”
They entered the hut. Fizzy glanced at them, bleary-eyed, then laid down her head again. Zecora put a bunch of herbs into a mortar and started grinding with a pestle. They let off a pungent aroma that indicated they were probably in the Brassicaceae family. A few minutes later, she had a green paste. “Fizzy, you must awake,” Zecora said, tapping her. “I must warn you that this will sting, for your sake.”
Fizzy looked up. “Huh?” she said.
“Zecora has a remedy,” Wind Whistler said. “But it’s going to sting.”
“It can’t be worse than how I feel right now,” Fizzy said. First Zecora wiped off Fizzy’s flank with a wet cloth. “That wasn’t so bad,” Fizzy said. She squeaked as Zecora applied the paste to the wounds, and her body tensed. Zecora put paste in all the wounds, then she wrapped Fizzy’s flank in bandages. “Thanks, Zecora,” Fizzy said.
“You should rest here for the night,” Zecora said. “Between the remedy and sleep, you will recover your might.”
“If we do not return to Sweet Apple Acres, Applejack may become concerned and decide to search for us,” Wind Whistler said. “I don’t want to put her at risk, as well.”
“Applejack is a calm, knowledgeable mare,” Zecora said. “She will not endanger herself. My hut is small, but I can share. Traveling now will be bad for Fizzy’s health.”
“Very well,” Wind Whistler said. “But we must set out early tomorrow for a rendezvous with Applejack, Rarity, and the others. They have a friend who may be able to find Gusty through the use of magic.”
Zecora started moving things around to make more floor space. She let Fizzy keep the bed and laid out matts for herself and Wind Whistler. Zecora shared some food with them, and soon they were all asleep.
* * *
“Are y’all gonna be comfortable in here?” Applejack said.
“It’s a lovely room,” Shady said. “Thank you so much for sharing.” Fluttershy had taken them to see Rarity, who had forwarded them to Applejack as the last pony who had seen their friends. Applejack had let them use her little sister’s bedroom.
“Y’all ain’t the guests I was expectin’ to house,” Applejack said. “Of course, y’all are welcome too, but I hope Fizzy and Wind Whistler found Zecora.”
“I wouldn’t worry too much about them,” Gusty said. “Wind Whistler is smart, and Fizzy’s magic is pretty strong.”
“Really?” Applejack said. “Fizzy didn’t strike me as the magical type.”
“What makes you say that?” Gusty said.
“Ah, nothing much,” Applejack said. “Just, the most magical unicorns I know, Twilight and Starlight, are both a might studious, and Fizzy seemed a little… distracted? Come to think of it, Twilight and Starlight are both wound up tight as a clock, too. Does anxiety have something to do with magic…?” She shook her head and said, “I hope y’all sleep well. Yer friends are probably just staying at Zecora’s. I’ll be a bushel of hay if they ain’t back here tomorrow.” She exited the bedroom and closed the door.
Shady and Gusty had to share a bed, but it was fairly spacious, and much better accommodations than Shady had expected considering that she was lost and alone in a forest earlier today. “Well, goodnight, Shady,” Gusty said, turning her back to Shady. “If Wind Whistler and Fizzy were here earlier, they’ll definitely come back. We’ll find them, and then we can find a way back home. So you can rest easy.”
“Thanks, Gusty,” Shady said. Seeing Gusty so positive really did help her feel better. “Hey, um… I think I thought of something for you to improve on.” She had wanted to say so earlier, but she didn’t want to out Gusty’s flaws in front of Fluttershy, Rarity, or Applejack.
“Oh?” Gusty said. “What is it?”
“Sometimes… you say stuff that’s kind of mean,” Shady said. “The way you made fun of Wind Whistler, for example.”
“Well, it’s true,” Gusty insisted. “Wind Whistler doesn’t feel anything. But I guess… that doesn’t mean I have to make fun of her for it. Yeah, I see what you’re saying. Okay, I’ll try to be nicer. I was trying to encourage you today to help you be brave. Was it helping?”
“Yeah, it definitely was,” Shady said. “Thank you. You’re a good friend.”
“Thanks, Shady,” Gusty said. “If that’s all, I’m going to sleep.”
“Goodnight,” Shady said, closing her eyes.