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// Fireflies 
// Story: The Revenge of the Powerful One 
// by stack 
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CHAPTER 2: FIREFLIES


Trixie had followed the stranger for several minutes trough a path hidden with creepy shaped trees, the moonlight was disappearing as they were going further and Trixie could barely see were she was walking. “Seems that you are familiar with this awful place, may I ask your name?”, Trixie said in a confident and stoic tone while discretely glimpsed at the little space of mare’s leg that her robes didn’t covered completely, she noticed strange marks. The stranger remained in silence for a while, then, she turned around facing Trixie and spoke, “we are near my place, so stay quiet and follow the trace”, she said and turned around again, pointing something with her right hoof. 

Trixie couldn’t see anything at the direction that the stranger pointed, suddenly, a small dot started to glow followed by hundreds more, they where fireflies and they were making a trace that the stranger was following.
Trixie was so amazed that her face couldn’t hide an obvious surprise. As both followed the fireflies, Trixie noticed that they were on complete darkness except for the fluorescent light of the small insects. “You know where are you going, are you?, because if we are lost I’m going to…”, Trixie hadn’t completed the sentence when a light more brighter than the one of the fireflies started to appear in the distance. Both approached quietly.

When they were near enough to distinguish something, Trixie was surprised for the rare and picturesque home of the stranger. It was a tree of twisted shape with many bottles filled with colorful liquids hanging from its branches and ornamental masks scattered everywhere.

“Now that we are safe, I will tell you my name”, said the stranger calmly, “Zecora they call me and this is my home, feel free to enter and sleep all night long”. “I will, thank you; I’m Trixie by the way”. Both entered to the house.
Zecora unveiled her face as she asked, “so tell me young filly, what is your business in this forest, or are you just so silly?”, Trixie was a little surprised by Zecora’s aspect, but didn’t said anything about it and answered the question, ”it’s a long story, but, let’s just say that I’m a magician”. Zecora was clearly thrilled and quickly said, “UHUHU… so here’s another partner in the magic arts, please tell me, is there any knowledge you can grant?”. Trixie stared sadly at the ground.
“You see, my knowledge in magic is scarce, I’m more of an entertainer” said Trixie slowly. Zecora remained silent for a moment, then spoke, ”I see, knowledge is what you seek, if you allow me, I can teach you what I know, at a cost very low”. Trixie stared at Zecora with incredulity in her eyes.

”So, what can you teach me, and more important, what do you want in return?”, said Trixie proudly and impolitely. “The properties of plants and herbs I can teach you, to prevent diseases and ailments, and to gain strength from most of them, the only fee you must make to gain this, is to complete all of my training”. Trixie remained quiet, almost like considering the offer. “And what about powerful magic, can you teach me something like that?”, said in a slightly desperate tone. “I don’t think so “, replied Zecora seriously, ”from where I came from, there’s a powerful magic called voodoo, to bad for you that here is called taboo”. A long silence invaded the conversation.

Trixie started to remember how Zecora saved her from the chicken headed creatures. “That was amazing, I could barely stand against one of those monsters…if that knowledge can help me to handle situations like those, it might be wise to learn something from this pony”, she thought. “I think we have a deal Zecora, but I’m afraid that I can’t stay here much time, there is something I must do”. “Very well, I’ll teach you what I know, so be careful and start taking note”. “May I ask why you are teaching me for free?”, said Trixie curious. “It’s a tradition of my people that I must obey, to take an apprentice to all my knowledge convey”, said Zecora reassuringly. Trixie smiled slightly. 

“Ok, tomorrow I’ll start my training, you’ll prove me that my time I’m not wasting”, said Trixie in a cocky way, trying to imitate Zecora’s unique speech. Both laughed confidently as they laid respectively on two improvised hay beds and fell asleep.