Most ponies avoided the Everfree Forest, for good reason. In the majority of Equestria, ponies were nature's shepherds; they took care of the animals, plants and even managed the weather according to what was needed. The Everfree Forest, however, worked on a different set of rules. Weather was totally uncontrolled, unless you were paying attention to the clouds above the forest, you could be caught in a thunderstorm. Sadly, Twilight had not taken this into consideration.
“Spike, hop on my back!” Twilight yelled over the howling winds. “If we get separated, we'd never find each other in this storm.”
The purple dragon gladly hopped on the soaked mare's back, thankful for the rest. “Are you sure this is a good idea Twilight?” He spoke as he clung around her neck, trying to hold on as she sprinted through the forest. “Do you even know where you are going?”
“I have an idea...” Twilight thought of the ancient ruin from her first trip here, where she and her friends fought Nightmare Moon a little over a year ago. “Call it a hunch Spike.”
Twilight tore through the forest as fast as her legs could carry her, her hooves pounding along the wet grass and leaves on the forest floor. It had taken her group about 3 hours to reach the old castle last time, and she needed for cross the river again somehow. Suddenly, she heard a voice in the distance, but it was too far to make out. It sounded familiar.
“It's coming from over there!” Spike exclaimed, pointing to what looked to be a clearing not far from where they were. Twilight changed course and raced over, hoping to find somepony she knew.
“Do mine eyes deceive, or has Twilight Sparkle come to visit me?” Spoke a gray striped pony waring a hood.
Twilight instantly recognized the voice and manor of speaking, “Zecora!” She yelled out as she nearly plowed into the foreign zebra. “OH am I glad to see you!”
The mysterious zebra, Zecora was standing in the clearing wearing the trademark hood and cloak, a set of saddle bags were draped on her back containing what Twilight assumed were some of her homemade potions. “What brings out so far out of Ponyville? Hurry, come inside, if you will.” Zacora motioned to here house made of a hallowed out tree.
Twilight shook here head, “Sorry, but we don't have time, have you seen any of my friends around here?” Twilight gasped for breath as she asked.
“I'm afraid I have not seen a soul since morning,” Zecora shook her head, “Surely they must have taken the storm cloud's warning?”
As the words left Zecora's mouth, the rain let up, but thunder could still be heard in the background.
“I see...” Twilight hung her head, “My apologies Zecora, but the storm isn't going to stay calm for much longer, we must be going.”
Zecora smiled from under her hood and nodded in understanding. Twilight turned to leave. All of a sudden, throned vines erupted from the ground, blocking the only way back out of the clearing. Twilight jumped back, barely missing the sharp thorns as they rushed passed.
“What is this?!” Zecora gasped.
A thunder clap rang out, a wisp of dark blue smoke rose out of the vines. It sped towards Twilight.
Spike jumped off of Twilight's back, “Look out!” He dived into the frozen pony, knocking her out of the smoke's path.
The smoke continued on it's way, right into Zacora. “Wha-What is-?!” Zacora's words were cut off as she was lifted into the air, the smoke swirling around her.
“Zacora!” Twilight dashed to help her friend, but was stopped by a lightning strike at her feet.
“Mahahahahahahaha!” A disembodied laugh rang out, lightning struck the all around the area.
“AAAAAAAGGHHHHHNN-” Twilight could hear Zacora's pained scream from inside the vortex.
Slowly, the swirling slowed and lowered to the ground again. As it touched the ground, the smoke vanished, leaving only Zecora standing, her face hidden by her hood.
“Z-Zecora?” Twilight took a cautious step forward, trying to get a better look.
A laugh came from under the hood, “Hmeh heh heh heh...”
Spike fallowed Twilight, “Are you okay?” he asked cautiously.
Zecora's head lifted, revealing a set of glowing, yellow eyes, her face shrouded by shadow. “Hahahahahaha!” She cried out, lunging at Twilight. Taken off guard by the sudden attack, Twilight was knocked back a few feet, narrowly missing the vines and thrones behind her. “Twilight Sparkle, how nice to see you again.”
The dazed Twilight shook her head, “Zecora! Whats happened to you?” She picked herself up off the ground.
“Don't worry yourself over this one.” Zecora spoke, he voice other worldly. “She's fine in here, with me.”
“That voice!” Twilight thought as the recognition set in. “N-Nightmare Moon?”
“Ah, so you recognized me yet again, you always were the intelligent one.” She chuckled a bit. “Sadly, I don't have time for pleasantries, you're coming with me.” Zecora reached into one of her bags and pulled out a green vial, then threw it at Twilight. “Catch!”
Twilight jumped a foot to her left, dogging the vial as it shattered to the ground. A green vapor rose from the puddle of liquid at her feet. The smell made Twilight dizzy.
“These bags are full of powerful medicine, this zebra is quite skilled at her craft.” Zecora laughed again.
“I can't let he break many more of those, just one was enough to make me drowsy.” Twilight thought. Spike hadn't been so lucky, only managing to trip out of the way, landing face first in the puddle, he was out cold. Twilight used her magic to pick him up and place him on her back. “What do you want Nightmare?”
“You're the last piece of my puzzle Twilight,” She reached into the bag with her mouth again, pulling out another, blue vial, “Everypony is waiting for you at my castle.” she spoke past the vial in her teeth.
“So you kidnapped my friends?!” Twilight shouted in rage. She lowered he self a bit, spreading her legs to get a good grip on the ground. Twilight kicked at the ground a few times, signaling her charge.
Zecora chuckled again, “Ah, this brings back memories.” Her voice coming clear through a stuffed mouth.
Twilight took off running, determined to stop Nightmare, she lowered her head and prepared a stun spell she had learned a few years back, she hoped it would be enough to knock Zecora out without harming her too badly.
Zecora threw the blue vial at the ground in front of her, it erupted in a large cloud of smoke just before Twilight made contact. Twilight ran through the cloud, there was nothing there. Then, she heard the sound of another vial breaking, near her feet, the green vapor adding to the the fuzziness in her head.
“You little foal, you can not defeat me.” The sound was coming from above, Zecora had lept up to a tree branch at the last moment.
Twilight backed away from the puddle, “Another one of those and I won't be able to focus on casting another spell...” She prepared the spell again, this time mixing it with one of her levitation spells and a near by rock. She flung the rock at Zecora, pelting her in the flank.
The magic in the rock arked like electricity Through Zecora's body causing her to convulse in pain. She stumbled off of the tree branch.
“Ha, Gotcha!” Twilight cried triumphantly as she ran up to Zecora's motionless body.
Zecora's hood had fallen off, revealing her face, her eyes still a bright yellow. “Heh heh...” Her voice was strained, “You may have won this time, but I still have your friends.” The black smoke from earlier escaped from Zecora's mouth and flew off to into the night. Zecora's eyes returned to their natural, blue state. She let out a small moan and passed out.
Twilight quickly checked over Zecora's body to make sure no major damage had been done. Pangs of guilt rang through her as the adrenalin of the short battle started to wear off. “Oh please be alright Zecora... I'm so sorry.”
The vines retracted into the ground and the rain started again. Twilight decided it would be best to bring both Zecora and Spike inside the house for now.
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“Ungh...” A small moan escaped Spikes mouth, “Wh-where am I?”
“Oh Spike, you're awake!” Twilgiht said happily when she heard the small dragon's voice.
“Twilight? I thought...” Panic spread across Spike's face, “Zecora! Shewentcrazywhereisshe!?!” he cried in full panic mode.
Twilight looked at the ground and sighed, “She... She's alright, or rather, she will be.” She motioned toward the bed on the far side of the room. Zecora was asleep on the bed, a bandages warped around her mid section. Her breathing was pained.
“What happened?”
Twilight explained about Nightmare Moon's return, how she took control of Zecora, and how she was behind the disappearance of the other ponies. By the time she was finished talking, Zecora moaned and rolled over on her bed.
“What happened?” Zecora croaked, groggily. She winced as she tried to sit up.
“Easy Zecora, you fractured a couple of ribs.” Twilight rushed over to try to comfort the wounded zebra.
“Twilight? I remember the smoke... it had enveloped me like a cloak...” Zecora remembered.
“Yes, you were possessed.” Twilight told her, “Please, lie still, you are in no shape to be up and around just yet.”
“Possesed!?” Zecora shot up, a sudden burst if pain racked her body and she fell back on the bed.
Twilight ran a grabbed some pain medication she had found while looking for medical supplies in the home. “Here, take this.” She levitated a vial of potion towards Zecora. “It should help the pain.”
“Thank you.” Zecora popped off the cork on the vial and took a drink. “Twilight, if you'd be so kind, could you explain how I ended up in this bind?”
Again, Twilight explained exactly what happened. As she finished her story, she added, “Zecora, I'm so sorry. There wasn't any other way... please forgive me.” She has tears in her eyes.
“If you will permit,” Zecora said with a smile, “I feel I owe you quite a bit.” Thunder rang out across the forest again, the storm had picked up again.
Twilight frowned, “Do you think you will be alright by yourself for a while?” She asked, fully prepared to stay longer if she needed, “Nightmare has my friends, I need to-”
Zecora cut her off, “You have made your amends, go and save your friends.” She smiled and lied back on her pillow.
Twilight nodded, “Thank you Zecora, I promise I'll be back.” He troted over to the door, “Spike, we need to go.”
“Right behind you Twilight.” The young dragon said as he hopped up on the mare's back. The duo raced off toward the river.