(2)
The Ponyville Marketplace was still stirring with activity, even in the late hours of the morning. The start of the day was pretty fair; cool breezes swept into the valley towns as high cumuli hovered above. Ponies of all sorts filled the market place, from Earth ponies, unicorns and to pegasi. Quick trades and transactions were taking place all around the square as business unfolded. Foals were no where to be found since school was still in session, so the adult mares and colts all came out to buy the products they needed. From baked goods, fruits, vegetables, tools, utensils, services, to just about anything a common pony could want could be bought here at the right price. Haggling was a key trait when browsing the markets and was the reason why most ponies even come to the square in the first place.
As Zack entered the market place, wandering ponies took notice of him. Even though his presence in the town was known to the village folk, ponies still were afraid to approach him or even talk with him. He wasn’t displeased by this fact, he had plenty of pony friends who didn’t think he was weird at all so he ignored the nervous and strange looks other equine gave him. Zack noticed that in the center of the village square where the town hall was, pegasi and unicorns worked together in setting up decorations for this year’s Summer Sun Celebration. For the first time ever, Ponyville was going to host the largest festival in Equestria; they had been preparing for weeks in advance to set up the mass decorations and party assortments to host Princess Celestia and the rest of the Equestrian party goers.
Zack began to make his way through the crowds of equine towards the utilities stand. The further Zack walked into the center of the market place, the denser the crowds of ponies became. Pegasi eased over the crowds by hovering a short distance above them while unicorns had it made by being able to levitate their purchased items. Though Zack didn’t have too much of a hard time squeezing through the shoppers, he was the tallest by far around and could see over them after all.
Zack spotted a familiar face in the crowd and waved out to her. Rarity was standing outside of her own boutique business, making transactions with her customers.
She called out, “Why hello, Zachary. How’s it going, darling?”
“Pretty good, so far,” he replied, not stoping for a moment. Rarity gave a friendly wave back and two continued on with their day. A local mare over at her own concession stand stopped Zack and tried to wave him over.
“Howdy, Zack,” she shouted out to him. Zack turned and smiled, now being able to see who was yelling his name. He made his way over to her apple stand and shook the mare's hoof.
“How’s business today, Applejack?”
“Oh, it's here going pretty smoothly. I have Applebloom help’n me out ta’day.”
Applebloom turned and greeted Zack, “Howdy there, stranger! Would ya like ta buy an apple?” As she elaborated, she began to balance a ripe red apple atop her head. “Straight fresh from good ol’ Sweet Apple Acres. The tastiest, and most nutritious, AND ‘appliest’ apples in all of Equestria! Ten bits a sack, my good sir!”
Applejack cut in, “Applebloom! Zack is a special customer of ours!” She turned and apologized to him, “I’m sorry there. Apples on the house for ya, good friend.” She grabbed a small sack of apples with her teeth and gestured it over to Zack.
“That’s kind of you,” he said sweetly, “but I’d rather pay for these since you worked so hard to grow them and buck‘em down.”
Applejack muffled with the bag still in her mouth, “Na-na, tak’ it. On ta’ house!”
Zack took the bag from her teeth and replied, “Well thank you. Have a nice day, you two. Oh, and I’ll be done with that new wagon chassis of yours very soon! Don’t you worry!”
“Thanks, and you too Za–” Her attention was diverted when she saw that she had another customer. So she went over to the pony and began to talk business with him. When Zack was sure that Applejack wasn’t looking, he bent over next to Applebloom and slipped her some bits for the apples.
He patted her on the head and whispered, “Don’t tell your sister!” The two smiled before Zack parted ways.
As he rose back upward, he had a sudden dizzy spell overcome his senses. He played it off as just getting up too quickly as he stood for a moment overlooking the crowd and trying to maintain his balance. A sudden surge of pain shot through his brain as he shook his head in response to the uncomfortable feeling. He shut his eyes tightly, feeling the pulsating effects of the strange dilemma going on with his body. He opened his eyes and a flash of light obscured not only his vision, but all of his senses it seemed. For a split second, he got a glimpse of the previous sight he was just looking at; but it was ravished in fire and in billows of smoke. A ringing sound of screams overwhelmed him and flashes of lightning flared beyond the burning village. The sight seemed as if a nuclear warhead struck Ponyville; Zack was overcome with terror at the intense sight.
As soon as he blinked again though, everything seemed back to normal. He found himself home again, back in the marketplace, as if nothing happened at all. The crowds of ponies appeared to be acting normal and his vertigo seemed to have dissipated.
A voice behind him asked, “Are ya okay there, Zack?” He turned to see that Applebloom had asked him that question. Her eyes showed concern as she titled her head in confusion to his odd behavior.
Zack replied, “Ya... just a little dizzy, that’s all...”
“Noth’n that an apple can’t fix,” she replied with a beaming smile over her face.
Zack softly chuckled and added, “Heh... ya...”
He waved a quick goodbye as he turned back and started walking towards the utilities vendor again. Feeling better already, he shook off the strange and quick vision and increased the speed of his pace. As soon as he was about to get in line at the utility vendor, he accidentally bumped into a cyan pegasus.
Before realizing who it was, Zack pardoned, “Oh, I’m so sorry! I didn’t see you!” As he turned to see who it was, he realized it was none other than Rainbow Dash.
She hopped up in the air and replied, “Ha! Well hey there, Zack. It’s no biggie, really! I’m a tough mare.”
Zack smiled and said, “Oh, I know. I just didn’t see who I bumped into.”
“That’s cool. Well hey, I’m going to get me some lunch! Practicing aerial maneuvers all day makes a working pegasus hungry. You wanna come?”
Zack scratched the back of his head, “I don’t know, I have a lot of work to catch up on...”
Rainbow Dash stressed, “Are you sure? If it’s money you’re worried about, I got you covered, bro!”
“No, it’s just–” he stopped abruptly, another sudden pain flooded his mind. He closed his eyes to try and suppress the stinging feeling in his brain. As he opened his eyes, he had another wild and violent vision occur as quick as the last. He witnessed in a first person perspective something that made him cringe and gasp. With the destroyed and fiery remains around him, he witnessed a heavily damaged Rainbow Dash in front of his eyes. He was choking the life out the poor, blue mare with one hand. With the other hand, he reached over and began to pull one of her wings off. The tearing of flesh and muscle soon flooded his ears with the blood curdling screams the mare produced. Torrents of blood, feather and muscle ran down his arm as he felt his own strength pulling against the wing, as if he was preforming the action in that very moment. He shut his eyes as tight as he could in disbelief before opening them again. Zack found himself frozen still in horror back in the middle of the marketplace. Rainbow Dash gave a quizzical look towards the human as she searched for the right words to say.
“Uhh, Zack? Are you okay? You’re as pale as a ghost right now... I’ve never seen you like this before in my life.” Zack was indeed petrified in shock as to what he just witnessed. Even if it was only for a moment, the false vision felt so real to him. He looked around once more to see if everything was still okay.
After an awkward couple of silent seconds, he responded, “I... I should go... I’m sorry.” He walked past Rainbow Dash and quickly made his way to the vendor, making sure he got what he needed and left. Rainbow Dash turned to watch Zack leave at a frantic rate of speed. She turned back around with a disappointed look on her face.
He finally made his way over to the utilities vendor and grabbed himself the new hammer he wanted. He slipped behind two other ponies in line at the checkout line and patiently waited his turn. His foot shook with the eagerness to go back home as he watched all around in caution of another vision. The shoppers in front of him were going through the line and it was finally his turn to pay. He stepped up and took out his bit purse.
“Twenty-five bits, correct,” Zack asked, already with the bits in hand.
The cashier grumbled and replied, “Fifty bits for you, pal.”
Zack seethed, “Fifty bits? The price on the counter says twenty-five bits and that’s what I’m paying!”
The owner leaned over and fought back, “It’s my shop! I make the prices and I says it’s fifty bits! Take or leave!”
Zack’s anger built up inside of him, he shook his fists in rage. A sudden urge overcame his body and he let loose his fury in front of the owner. He slammed his fists down on the counter as hard as he could, cracking the table beneath him. The owner stepped back in shock as Zack’s anger grew.
Zack bellowed with a slightly warped voice, “Twenty-five bits, you damn fool!”
“F-fine,” the frightened store owner cried out. “Dear Sweet Celestia, it’s free for all I care!”
Zack’s anger soon subsided in a blink of an eye. He had no idea where those emotions had come from. He was usually a very patient and kind individual, but something snapped inside of him just then. Something he just couldn’t control took over his body and made him explode in rage. He took the hammer in hand and slowly walked away in fear for himself. He turned to see that he had gained nearly everyone’s attention in the market place. Ponies gasped in shock as he looked over at each of them. He slowly made his way out of the market place and quietly walked back home with his sack of apples and free hammer.
Before reaching his doorstep, the mail pony was at his mail box delivering some bills. She saw Zack and gave a warm smile over at him. She took the mail out of the box was ready to hoof delivery it to him as he approached.
“Here’s your mail, sir,” she said with joy. Zack passed by her, without making eye contact, and grabbed the mail out of her hooves.
“Thank you, Derpy,” Zack said in an unsteady voice. He quickly opened his door, slammed it shut and locked himself inside.
All day and night, Zack worked tediously on the new wagon chassis he promised Applejack. He had to perfect the wagon just right, leaving no weak spots in the metal frame. After his fourth attempt, he soon took a breather and sat himself down on a nearby stool. His shirt had been removed as sweat dripped down his soaked hair and chest. He reached over to unscrew a pouch of cider he had and gulped down the remaining refreshment. The hammer he had bought was already showing signs of decay as he leaned back and inspected it. He looked over at the clock on the far side of the wall, the time was now eleven thirty-three, he should have been in bed an hour ago.
After finishing the pouch, he bent over and ran his fingers through his sweat-drenched hair. The heated anvil he worked over only made his cooling down process harder as he tried to ignore the heat it gave off. He began to think over what had happened in the market place, those graphic and violent visions he had. Then he connected the dream he had last night to today’s events. The pieces were coming together in Zack’s head. The visions were getting worse and he had to get help.
He heard a sudden tapping at the front door all the way from his forge. He sighed with annoyance thinking that it was Pinkie Pie. As he wiped his face with a dry work towel, he began to make his way to the door.
“Coming,” he yelled out as hopped off of his stool and made his way to the door. As he unlatched the lock on the front door and pulled it open while venting his annoyance, “For the last time, I don’t have time to play with you today Pinkie P–”.
He stopped when he realized who was at his doorstep. It was not the pink pony he was use to, but an old friend that brought a warming smile to his face. Valiant Steed, holding a cooler box underneath his wing, smirked at Zack’s worn out appearance.
Valiant suggested, “But perhaps you have time for an old friend...” Zack moved out of the way to let Valiant Steed in.
He shut the door behind the pegasus and said, “Let me get washed up. I stink from all the work I’ve been doing all day." He waved his arm out over his living quarters as he continued, "Make yourself at home, please.”
“Oh, I intend to,” he said whilst looking around his abode. Zack made his way up stairs and quickly washed the sweat off of him. He cleaned himself with soap, dried himself off and got into his lounging attire Rarity had made for him in the past. As he made his way down stairs, he found Valiant on the back porch, rocking in one of Zack’s over-sized rocking chairs. Zack opened the screen door to the back deck and sat himself down in the rocking chair next to his pegasus friend.
“So,” Valiant started, “How’s the ol’ ‘Hero of Equestria’ doing these fine days?”
“Pretty well for myself... if you would have given me a head’s up before coming, I would have prepared. I have a pretty big workload stacked up for me and if I would have known you were coming I would have–”
Valiant waved him off, “Oh please, don’t sweat it... Damn, I haven’t been to Ponyville in a long time...” He reached into the cooler he had brought and pulled out two Canterbury Brandies. He popped the caps off of both of them with his teeth and handed one to Zack. He grabbed the brandy and took a swig of it, never having tasted brandy before. It had a sort of sweet, blueberry taste to it as he swirled it around in his mouth before swallowing. It left a nice, warm feeling down his throat and into his stomach as he took in a breath of Summer air.
“Very nice purchase, V,” He congratulated as he set the cold drink down on the porch floor.
“Thank you, good sir.” Valiant then pulled out from his wing a smoking pipe and began to fill the chamber full of sweet smelling tobacco leaves. He pulled out a match box and then lit the pipe, taking a few huffs of the smoke before blowing it out into the night air.
“I didn’t know you smoked?”
“It’s an old habit... an old pal of mine use to smoke. He said ponies don’t smoke tobacco anymore, just bubble pipes these days. Though as a smoker of both, I’d say tobacco smoking relieves far more stress than blowing bubbles... Of course, he never wanted me to smoke..." his eyes fell over the pipe's bowl as he breathed out, "...oh well...”
Zack changed the conversation, “So, what has the Princess been ordering this Six Star General of Harmony? Any interesting adventures or missions?”
Valiant leaned back, looking up into the night sky and spoke calmly, “Nope. Lots of paper work, lots of rallies and parades and crap like that. They don’t want someone like me going out into the field anymore, they want younger Royal Guards to do the dirty work nowadays. Now I just sit around in war rooms and discuss strategies... like Equestria is going to war anytime soon...”
“It has been relatively quiet and peaceful for the past few years, hasn’t it?”
“Too quiet if you ask me... Not enough going on for anything exciting to happen. Zack, I’m thirty-two years old. I’ve been a Royal Guard since I was eighteen... I met you when I was twenty-six... so fourteen years I’ve been a guard... longer than my father before he passed. I’m getting older and I’m definitely feeling the effects of time on me. Sooner or later I’m not going to be doing any missions at all... but enough about me...”
Zack took a swallow and asked, “So how’s Celestia.”
“Fine and dandy as always... been leaving a lot recently, going places she tells no one else. It’s none of my business or anyone’s business anyways.”
“Ahh,” The two sat in silence for a few moments enjoying the night air around them. The town was quiet around this time, so they enjoyed it. It was much like last night, calm breezes, cool air, these Summer nights were highly enjoyable for Zack as he closed his eyes and rested, listening to the rocking of the two chairs. Valiant took another tote from his pipe and crossed his hooves behind the back of his head. Zack opened his eyes, breaking away from the deep thoughts he was having.
He looked over towards his friend and stated, “I think I’m going to leave Ponyville for a while.”
The pegasus looked over with a raised eyebrow, “Really? What for..." A sly smile soon formed across his face, "Another adventure, perhaps?”
“I might leave and go away on a vacation... I might leave for a very long time perhaps...” Valiant stopped rocking realizing that Zack was serious.
He asked, “Where? When?”
“Far away... Away from everyone... To find answers and to stay away from the ponies... I don’t know if I’ll ever come back... and soon, maybe even tomorrow I’ll leave. Who knows?”
“Oh, you can’t be serious? Ponies love you here... What about Pinkie Pie?” Zack stood up and crossed his hands behind his back overlooking the night sky from his porch.
He sighed and replied, “Something’s happening to me, Valiant. I need answers. It’s a long and confusing story for me to tell you what all is happening to me. But just believe me when I say I have to leave for the sake of everyone's safety.” Valiant got up from his chair and stood next to Zack on the porch.
He then suggested, “Maybe Princess Celestia can help? ...Maybe you should just stay in Canterlot for a while, just like old times...” Zack didn’t respond, he only gazed off into the night, deep in thoughts that frightened his very being. Valiant began to rummage through his saddle bag he had under his wing and pulled out two scrolls. He hoofed one to Zack and he took it out of his hoof.
As Zack unrolled it as Valiant imparted, “I came here to give you this... from Celestia herself. It’s another mission, a small one, to get you back into the swing of things. She says you needed one and was originally going to give this mission to a small brigade of Royal Guards, but then decided you would be best to handle it. It’s not a far off trip either, you won’t be going to Appleloosa, or the Icicle Mountains, or anywhere like that. Just here in the Everfree Forest.”
After Zack finished reading the scroll, he rolled it back up and said aloud, “Relocating locals, eh?”
Valiant nudged, “Nothing Zack can’t handle, right?” He then handed Zack the second scroll and added, “And here are his rights that need to be read aloud to him before relocating him.” Zack took both the scrolls and placed them at his side.
“I guess I’ll start tomorrow then.”
“It would be the best thing to do.”
As the two friends finished their drinks, they parted ways once more. Valiant flew back to Canterlot and Zack went back inside. Before heading to bed, he opened the near by window in his living room and whistled out into the open air. A sudden flapping could be heard outside as Zack stepped backwards to get out of the way. His pet thunderbird, Nox, swooped in through the window and landed on his nearby perch. Zack usually let Nox roam free during the day and allowed him to come in at night. His pet nuzzled Zack’s chin as he petted the bird. He reached over and blew out the candle, darkening the room. As he stepped out of the living room, Nox gave out a loud squawk.
“Goodnight, Nox,” Zack said in response and made his way upstairs.
He began to set out his clothes for tomorrow’s trip. He thought that he had everything ready for the confrontation when he realized he had completely forgotten something he had cherished for so many years. He made his way over to the closet and took down a large chest he kept on the highest mantle. With a small, round key he kept on the same key ring he kept his house key’s, on he opened the large chest. Its insides revealed the one thing that rekindled old memories from his first visit in Equestria. His weapon of choice, The Prevailer.