//------------------------------// // Chapter 2: The road less travelled // Story: Semper Paratus // by Eyes in the Dark //------------------------------// ,,,^..^,,, "Ah tell you whut, Granny Smith is too old ta give a stern talkin' ta that youngin' so ah guess ah'm have'ta do it for her!" A rather upset orange mare with a blonde mane known as Apple Jack paced inside the Ponyville library. Her usually cheerful demeanor had started to fall earlier in the day when her big brother, Big McIntosh, had mentioned two small shovels missing. What pony in their right mind would steal two shovels? One she could understand, hay she would have even lent them out but two? And then it didn't get any better when Apple Jack ran into a very frustrated Rarity who couldn't for the life of her find two very special make up brushes. Apple Jack began to get suspicious that the CMC might have something to do with the missing items since her sister 'had' mentioned the day prior that they were going off crusading. Of course, everypony just waved them on like usual. It wasn't until after lunch when the suspicions boiled over (and Apple Jack's temper) at Twilight's home, the Ponyville library. When she had knocked on Twilight's door, Spike let her in only to retreat back to his book sorting as she didn't look to be in a good mood. "Look AJ, the girls are just trying to find their special talent, when they get back we'll explain that how they went about it this time was wrong and not to do it again- problem solved!" Twilight's attempt to pacify her friend wasn't going so well. She sat back out of the way as Spike worked nearby. "Twi- it's not tha first time this here has happen'd, it's not tha second time this here has happened- when ah was a filly an' Granny Smith said something more than twiced, ah knew tha flank paddle was'ah comin' fer me! These fillies ain't got no discipline!" Apple Jack turned again and threw off her hat to stomp on it for good measure. "AJ you've always been so supportive of Apple Bloom and all the girls for that matter- you just need to blow off some steam so we can all think straight when the time comes." Twilight's thoughts were interrupted by Spike who was looking at a particularly old book with a concerned expression. "What is it Spike? Can't you see that Apple Jack needs my attention right now?" "Um, well, I need to show you this before I put it away Twilight..." The leather-bond book was nearly as big as he was. "Well, what about it? That looks like the book Sweetie Belle was looking through when I told the girls about Daring Do." Spike looked uncomfortable being so close to her when he needed to deliver bad news, "well, there'sapagerippedoutofthisbookandIdidn'tdoit..." He rambled off so fast that neither pony could understand him while holding up the book as shield. "What? Spike, if there's a problem just tell me," Twilight said with a bit of a chuckle at the dragon's antics. Spike glanced from Twilight to Apple Jack and back, "OK, there's a page ripped out of this book and..." "WHAT!?" "It-it wasn't like this yesterday Twilight I promise! I re-sorted the lower history sections just like you asked and they were all just fine!" Twilight's horn glowed purple and she levitated the book from Spike to in front of her so she could flip through it, "oh no, no, no no, NO! Somepony ripped the map out of this limited edition, first run, Castle of the Royal Pony Sister's history book!" She was nearly hyperventilating when Apple Jack paced back to her, her own anger temporarily forgotten. "Now sugar-cube, ah'm sure there's a good explanation fer this, ah mean maps in books jus' don't wonder off like shevels do..." Realization hit them both at the same time and both had panic in their eyes. Apple Jack muttered something unflattering under her breath which prompted Twilight into action. "We've got to go after them! Spike! We need to make a checklist for a search and rescue!" Twilight ordered while the little dragon just rolled his eyes and trotted over to a desk. "You're lucky I do all the writing to Princess Celestia Twilight 'cause I know I kept a checklist for just such an occasion!" Spike began to dig through a sea of scrolls and papers that flooded from an open drawer. Twilight didn't seem fazed that such a massive amount of stationary should not have been physically possible to fit there in the first place. "Found it!" Spike gave a grin and waved a page that was as tall as him. Twilight snatched it with her magic and started reading. "Ok, uh huh... that's makes sense- good, good. This will work Spike! Thank you!" The little green-eyed purple dragon gave her a graceful bow, "a pleasure to be of service!" Twilight put Apple Jacks' hat back on her head and gave her a push toward the door while levitating the scroll behind them, "com'on AJ, we've got some Cutie Mark Crusaders to find!" ,,,^..^,,, It had only been an hour before the group of mismatched travelers had to stop. The approaching storm was howling around them and Daniel's arms were getting sore from holding Sweetie Belle. The wind threatened to blow off his boonie hat and the girls were getting concerned from the lightning. They spotted a relatively protected spot where the ground rose slightly and a rock out-cropping the size of a small bus had jutted out of the ground. Daniel hurried them over to the leeward side of the rock for protection while he quickly began to setup his tent. Scootaloo and Apple Bloom knew that no pegasus ponies controlled the weather over the Everfree Forest and it was a time when they wished it wasn't the case. They huddled next to Sweetie while Daniel made quick work with practiced motions setting up the three man shelter. Sweetie was still delirious as he moved her inside and let the others follow in. Daniel glanced back outside and gauged the storm's arrival time with a close lightning bolt that made two of the fillies inside jump. He grabbed a couple of rolled up items from his pack, "alright, you girls just sit tight for a minute while I finish off the tent. We might be here for a whi-" Daniel's sentence was cut off by another bright flash and thunderous boom. 'Ok, that was a little close.' He ducked out quickly and placed the double treated rain-fly on the tent as well as setup the tarp just above it. But the shape of it was a 'V' to catch the rain. If they couldn't get to a water source, he would make one and the water spout at the end of the tarp could be funneled into his filter and then the camel bak. Daniel tied off a couple of guy-lines as the rain started to fall. He surveyed his work quickly and noted the rain moving through the tree tops. Not a moment too soon. Lightning flash again and the crack was instantaneous where it had hit a larger tree not 50 feet away. On entering the tent, Scootaloo and Apple Bloom visibly relaxed on seeing he was OK. "We thought that last one might have got you!" Scoots was saying over the sudden down pour. Daniel gave them a lopsided grin, "if you can hear the thunder after a close strike- it means you are still alive." Apple Bloom thought about that a moment, "doesn't make it any less scary though." Daniel had unzipped his pack down the side to get to his sleeping pad and bed roll; if they had to wait out the storm they might as well be comfortable. He answered Apple Bloom's comment as he laid out the bedding on the side and tried to make Sweetie more comfortable. "The thing is Apple Bloom; you have to learn that when something is dangerous and scary which part you can do something about. Just like lightning, it 'is' dangerous but to me not scary because I understand it and know it's not going to come after me." He moved them over to the bed and placed his pack on the opposite side. When satisfied they were comfortable, he began to take out his water filter kit and hooked up the hoses to his camel bak. The girls watched the procession as he continued. "There is a lot of power behind lightning and a lot of beauty too- when you see something differently than everyone else, it's no longer scary." Daniel's tent had 550 cord runners hooked through loops around the low ceiling for hanging items like a light or wet socks, nothing too heavy but it came in real handy at times. He hung the filter unit off to the side and unzipped the tent door just enough to place the pickup hose out onto the hanging tarp and secured it by passing the end in a plastic grommet. He gave the filter a couple of squeezes to get the water flowing and gravity took over the rest. "Ah guess that makes sense, ah mean, we've dun some purdy dangerous things lookin' fer our cutie marks but it was all fun." Apple Bloom could kinda see what Daniel was talking about but lightning still scared her. Daniel nodded at that and fished out his desert tan micro-fiber towel to dry off his arm where the rain had soaked his sleeve. Sheets of rain fell against the tent but the interior was dry and they were all glad for that. Daniel produced the LED lamp that he hung in the center and turned it on with a touch. This sparked all kinds of questions from both fillies as to how that was even possible. What little he knew of the science behind it he relayed to them in as simple a terms as he could. They kept referring back to some device that could store magical energy and be used for mechanical purposes like the flying machine that let Tank, Rainbow Dash's pet tortoise, fly around. Daniel had to laugh at the irony of that after Scootaloo explained who Rainbow Dash was. Another flash of lightning and Sweetie stirred and mumbled through pain-filled exhaustion. Scoots and Apple Bloom were nearby and trying to sooth her with gentle words and nuzzles. Well, Apple Bloom was. One thing Daniel picked up on throughout this ordeal was that Scootaloo had more of a tom-boy attitude than Apple Bloom, if that was even a possibility here. He sat cross legged by the vestibule and idly watched the water pour through the filter and in turn fill up his water pouch. Daniel dug out his mug again and slipped the hose to the mug to fill it with the fresh life-sustaining H2O. He drained it in a long pull and refilled it for the fillies who each in turn drank the full mug down without much thought. Sweetie had woke up long enough to drink but was soon resting fitfully again in mirror with the weather. The stone formation had been a Godsend at the perfect time as Daniel could imagine a storm like this spawning a tornado on flatter ground. The girls had taken the moment to rest and Daniel, having had a meager breakfast and no lunch, decided on an MRE. The US government had really improved them over the older C-rations from prior wars, the MRE or 'Meal-Ready-to-Eat' was grudgingly food but did offer the needed fuel for a body to work. Daniel had packed a couple of his favorites and beef-stew was the first his fingers touched. He separated out the tan pouches and fixed the water-activated heater with the stew pouch inside it. He had to briefly open the tent flap for a little water for the heater but he got more than he wanted when the tarp above decided to flap in a gust of wind and dump all its water onto his arm. Daniel cussed at the offending water logged sleeve of his shirt and reached for the towel only to have Scootaloo hold it up to him, already thinking he needed it. He blinked and accepted the towel instantly feeling internal turmoil at having said such a thing in front of them- maybe because they weren't human? No, he would need some time alone to figure that one out but for now decided on his reserve of quiet strength. "Appreciate that Scootaloo, a little wet outside." She smirked and pointed a hoof at the brown and tan packages, "what's all that about?" "This," he said holding up the containing bag, "is what is called an M-R-E, or meal ready to eat. I always pack a few of them for a quick meal." "There's a whole meal in there? It doesn't look like very much." Daniel saw that the heater was reacting nicely and he shoved it into the paper casing to keep it from melting the tent flooring. "Well, it depends on the kind of food you eat, doesn't it?" Scoots thought about that a moment and shrugged, "I suppose so; I guess I never really thought of it that way." And after a brief hesitation in which she caught Apple Bloom's eye, "what DO you eat?" He thought quickly on a way to address the topic without scaring them, if they were any kin to the horses back on earth they would be strict herbivores. A revelation that a meat-eater had saved their lives would be a little shocking at least. "This will take a few minutes to heat up so I'll give you an answer with a little back story Scoots," and Apple Bloom was listening too. "I've been in bad places before where I had only bugs and wild plants to eat, when I could find them. Mostly I like fresh fruits and vegetables, breads and pastas with certain sauces, cakes and fruit pies are high up on my list too. But let me tell you that my body is much different than yours and not just in good looks." Apple Bloom hid a snicker and Scoots just rolled her eyes. "If I told you the main piece of my diet would that change your opinion of me?" Daniel asked not meeting their eyes as he opened a tan plastic pouch that contained MRE trail mix. Scoots gave a small frown in thought but Apple Bloom beat her to the notion, "ah guess as long as yew don't say ya eat p-ponies... ya don't do ya?" Daniel had an inkling of his former self raise up and he was about to have some fun at their expense but shook his head and abated their fears, "no, I've never eaten a pony and don't plan to." Both audibly sighed of relief and he chuckled at that, "but..." and Daniel held up the trade mark brown plastic spoon that came in every MRE bag, "...I do eat meat." At that, Apple Bloom's face was the definition of unbelief mixed with horror; Scootaloo looked a little green at the idea too. "But why?!" "It's all in how it’s cooked I suppose and the fact that it is vital for me to have some at least every few days. Which brings up a good point thanks to you two. Had we not met, I might have been tempted to just eat some critter out their without knowing if it could think or speak." Daniel kneaded the hot pouch and flipped it over for a couple more minutes. "I'll have to be careful here in Equestria not to offend anyone-er, anypony... in your case." Apple Bloom slowly looked thoughtful at that, "well, ah know Fluttershy feeds tha bears fishes that come bah her house but ah'm purdy sure only Griffons and MAYBE a few pegusi eat fish too." Scootaloo gave a sour face at that and Daniel had to chuckle, "well, if you want something safe to munch on too, you can have these." He held out the trail mix bag and gave it a shake indicating what might be inside. Their ears perked at the sound and Scoots, being closest and letting curiosity get the better of her, gingerly reached a hoof out to take it. Daniel was awed at the sight to see that 'take' was a relative term. With her hoof held out perfectly, she balanced the bag without spilling a single raisin. Using her hooves in a manner that seemed to defy equine physiology, Scoots opened and peered into the bag. She dumped a bit into the flat of her hoof and blinked at the morsels. "What is all this? It smells...sweet." Daniel looked over what was in front of her, "there's sun dried cranberries, raisins, yogurt drops...hmm, those are peanuts and sun flower kernels..." Apple Bloom gave a look over Scoots shoulder and nudged her, "well, go'on- try it so ah I can have sum too!" Scootaloo gave another sniff before a quick lip lick and tossed the meager amount back into her mouth. She fished it around for only a moment before starting to chew. Her eyes got a little wider at the taste and the fact that she was indeed eating alien food! While making a 'yummy' sound she passed the bag to Apple Bloom who took a bit more in hoof and was soon in the same state of bliss as Scoots. "Wow, thish hain't bad hat all!" She said spraying a few crumbs with the words. Catching her faux pas, she covered her mouth with a hoof, "Ooops, sorry Scoots..." Scootaloo gave a huff and brushed the half eaten pieces of her side, "yuck Apple Bloom, keep the food in your mouth!" Apple Bloom giggled at that and passed the bag back. Daniel, on seeing the two fillies now had something to occupy them for a moment, checked his camel bak which was nearly full. He turned to Sweetie who was resting with closed eyes. He gave a little point and the two switched places with him before settling at the edge of the bed roll. Sweetie seemed to be resting and Daniel was no doctor nor did he have much experience with horses. Her breathing 'had' gotten a bit better and her heart rate, while still a little fast, seemed strong. The fact that he didn't even know what 'normal' was for them appeared a moment in passing. The wind had died a little outside and now the steady thrum of rain blanketed the area in a perpetual shower. He checked Sweetie's hoof again and it felt warm -good- that meant he didn't have the splint too tight to cut off the blood flow. The girls traded placed back with Sweetie as the smell of warm beef stew made itself known to the tent's occupants. Daniel carefully opened the stew pouch without spilling it and added a bit of salt and water to the mix. It always needed a pinch of salt and extra water. Daniel took in a breath of the stew before shoveling some into his mouth without pause. Just like he remembered it all those years living off the stuff. Scootaloo and Apple Bloom continued to munch on the trail mix without a word while he ate his meal. ,,,^..^,,, Five friends had gathered outside the Ponyville library in the shade while Twilight continued to fret over details. The pegasus ponies in charge of the weather had promised a nice day and it was all of that. Fluttershy had been sent earlier to fetch a certain rainbow maned mare only to return and fluster Twilight further that they couldn't leave on schedule. Pinkie had just finished a batch of quote "fantastilicious cupcakes" for their scary journey to the castle ruins of the Royal Pony Sisters. Pinkie, however, had gotten bored and decided to noisily sample one of the cupcakes much to the chagrin of the white unicorn with a purple mane standing next to her. "Honestly Pinkie! Must you be so unlady-like when you eat? And I thought you said those were for our trip?" Pinkie had been chewing with her mouth open and on hearing the rebuke, gave Rarity a sugary smile and stuck out her tongue to show a perfectly whole cupcake as if it had just come out of the oven. "Ah supposs' ah caun savf hit fwor wader," Pinkie's blue eyes cross to look at the cupcake and back at Rarity who cringed. "On second thought, just good ahead with that one Pinkie dear. No sense in having it spoil the others in your pack." Rarity forced a chuckle while giving her a look. Apple Jack grinned at her antics and noticed a familiar rainbow tinted streak heading their way. "Ah reckon we have everypony now Twi, here comes Rainbow Dash." The sky blue pegasus aimed right for the group on the ground and didn't slow down as usual, she instead gained speed and right when it looked like they all would collide- The sound of rubber tires skidding to a halt on pavement filled the air as Rainbow went from blazing fast to dead stop and hover in a matter of a couple feet. A snort escaped her nose in way that sounded like a semi-truck's brake system releasing. Apple Jack had to adjust her Stetson as the wind that followed the stopped pegasus threatened to blow it off. She grinned at her friends wide eyes, "what? I've been practicing my 'air' brakes maneuver, pretty cool huh?" Rainbow didn't let them recover for any remarks, "yeah I know, you don't HAVE to say I'm awesome..." "Fine RD, we ain't gonna say it," Apple Jack said nonchalantly with a bit of mischief in her eyes, "it's just too bad that humility hain't part of that trainin' session." Rainbow's voice stuck in her throat with a small strangled sound, but recovered quickly, "I'm the element of loyalty AJ! I didn't see ANY fine print that said I had to be humble too." As both Rainbow and Apple Jack continued their jabs, Twilight could only groan at their clowning around that was wasting precious time. ,,,^..^,,, Once the down pour on the Everfree Forest had reduced to merely an annoying drizzle and the crew had reviewed the map once more, they decided it was nearly time to move. Much to the relief of her friends, Sweetie awoke from lucid dreams long enough to cry about them and take a couple thankful mugs of water. Her leg twitch made her body go steal rigged from pain but it only lasted a moment. Daniel had cautioned her about moving it at all and while he cleaned up the remnants of his meal, Scoots made herself useful by rolling up his sleeping bag and doing a fair job of it. He was impressed that hooves could be so versatile as to even tie the elastic straps with a little help from Apple Bloom. Once Daniel had the filter kit and camel bak stowed, the rest of the odds and ends were quickly absorbed into the backpack. The two fillies moved outside after Daniel and Sweetie to spy the sopping forest around them. Even with the relatively protected ground around the tent, mud and water puddles littered the area. And not wanting to lay Sweetie in the mud, the girls stood shoulder to shoulder to let him lay her on their backs while he took down the shelter. Once the tent was relatively free of mud, Daniel retrieved Sweetie Belle and they began to walk through the mist that was still falling. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo tried as they might to avoid the puddles but it was only moments before they splashed each other with dirty water. Daniel stayed far enough back to steer clear of the two playing but the trees overhead would occasionally dump water his way after a shake from the wind. Nearly thirty minutes later, the girls felt they had enough of the mud puddles and Daniel smirked to himself at 'hind-sight' always being 20/20. Both fillies had mud patches on their sides and their legs were soiled up to their chests giving them almost a camouflaged look. Scootaloo and Apple Bloom made a face knowing they would need a bath. Daniel seized the opportunity to get them talking again and felt the topic was appropriate. "So this Zecora you were talking about," Daniel said stepping widely over a puddle, "how well do you know her?" Both the girls looked at each other in mild surprise and back at Daniel, how could they have forgotten to fill him in on Zecora?! Scoots gave Apple Bloom a grin and nodded for her to start, she was the one after all that got her introduced in Ponyville. "Well, ah suppose we've known her for 'bout three and ah hafe years now. When Zecora first came ta Ponyville everypony was afraid of 'er." And that's how Apple Bloom's first story of the zebra started. From what she was recounting as they walked, Zecora was first thought to be an evil enchantress and Pinkie Pie even made up a song about it. Daniel had to smile at the filly's intentions when she snuck away to follow her into the Everfree Forest after all the ponies had a run in with a particular blue flower named 'poison joke'. "Ha! And I thought poison Ivy was bad..." Daniel exclaimed after a pause. "Poison Ivy? Ah've never heard of that before." She looked around at the surrounding flora. Daniel grinned shrewdly, "you might not have that particular Ivy here Apple Bloom, sorry. Now uh, you were saying?" "Well, after all tha mix ups got fixed, all tha girls had ta do in tha end was take'a bubble bath!" The stories continued with Scootaloo and helped pass the time. Zecora was quite crafty when it came to helping Twilight defeat a certain jealous unicorn named Trixie and even helped show Apple Bloom a little patience when it came to 'earning' her cutie mark. With a little playful banter, Scoots told how Apple Bloom had tried to force her cutie mark with a flower called Heart's Desire. Apple Bloom clammed up during the story and Daniel could see she was a bit embarrassed by it being talked about. "I suppose all these adventures aren't a complete loss as long as you continue to learn from them. A quote back where I'm from says 'those who do not remember history are doomed to repeat it'." Daniel smiled at the two as they nodded in unison. Daniel could just barely see his watch around the outline of Sweetie and while the clouds above still hid most of the sun, it felt like late afternoon to early evening. They all walked in silence for a while with only the occasional roll of thunder in the far distance to indicate the storm had moved on. Scootaloo was the first to perk up at the area that she recognized and Apple Bloom was soon bouncing beside her and pointing. "Look Dan, here's some of tha poison joke ah told ya 'bout!" They gave the plants a wide birth and Daniel mentioned that they really were quite beautiful. But it was also his experience that most colorful things back home were poisonous or deadly. The techni-colored ponies being the exception here. ,,,^..^,,, Twilight had been leading the way along the forest path for the better part of the hour while the other mares fell in behind with quiet determination, well, all except for Pinkie. The light pink pony with a darker pink poofy mane and tail bounced toward the rear of the group with seemingly limitless energy. She would stop every so often and look at a bug, stick, rock, or bush with fascination only to exclaim "I feel like we've been here before!" Rarity and Apple Jack gave up trying to convince her that they actually 'had' been here before; many times in fact. Pinkie would tilt her head and look deep in thought before bright blue eyes would dawn and she would remark on yet another trip they had taken to see Zecora or find the CMC or ... Rainbow Dash had been brooding the entire time since she couldn't fly up above the tree line and scout ahead. The weather wasn't the best for flying so she grudgingly flew just above the group with fore-hooves crossed over her chest to show her irritation. And Pinkie Pie wasn't helping. Dash exhaled loudly as Pinkie said the same phrase again. "For the tenth time Pinkie, you feel like you've been here before because you 'have' been here before!" Pinkie looked up at an exasperated Dash, "well, duh frowny-wowny. Sometimes it helps to remember where I've been if it's important to where I'm going and if where I'm going isn't where I've been before it will be super duper important so I'll know what to expect!" Dash groaned and AJ glanced up at her friend, "ah reckon it can't be all bad RD, ah mean, at least we ain't lost with Pinkie's opta-opto...optomiss-" "Optimism?!" Rainbow automatically offered the tongue tied cowpony. "Yeah, 'that' fancy word! Ah overheard Rarity usin' it tha other day an' thought ah'd give it a go." Apple Jack stated matter-of-fact, proud to almost say the whole word her first time. Rarity hadn't interrupted and merely rolled her eyes at their antics. Twilight hadn't been entirely paying attention to all their talk but was noticing something around them. Some of the bushes and brush at head height had been cut back on purpose. When she paused, the others collided in a heap since they had only been paying attention to Pinkie Pie over the last few minutes. "I wonder what could have caused this?" Twilight eyed a nearby bush with sudden interest. Rainbow gave up, "not you too Twilight! It's. A. Bush!" Twilight wasn't impressed and merely explained, "no, no, not the bush itself but what happened to it. I think Pinkie might have the right idea after all." Almost all the voices strained in unison, "you do?" Twilight rolled her eyes and pointed a hoof at the cut-away flora, "Yes in fact. Pinkie wasn't just looking for things along the trail but 'changes' in those things that deviated from normal." "There's a method in my madness!" Pinkie gave a wide grin and ate a cupcake as her prize. "Apple Jack? Take a look at this and tell us what you see." Twilight moved to the side so AJ could look. She took a look where Twilight had pointed and didn't honestly know what she was supposed to be looking for. But slowly it sunk in and Apple Jack made a thoughtful sound. "Huh, why ah reckon somepony came through here with ah set ah prunin' shears or maybe ah machete." She looked a little closer at the squared off pieces and how they lay. AJ knew a thing or two about farming and knew all about trimming hedges and trees... "Ah mighty sharp tool bah tha looks of it too but," she looked from one side of the path to the other, "nopony in their right mind would blaze ah trail 'this' wide out here in tha forest!" Twilight nodded in agreement, "nopony indeed AJ," and she took a breath before continuing, "and I didn't want to startle you girls but I don't believe we're following a pony's trail. Every so often I've been seeing these rather strange prints in the ground but the recent rain has nearly washed them all away." "What do you mean Twilight? Like a bear or other such creature?" Fluttershy's voice was barely above a whisper as she now looked around on the ground for the prints too. "I'm not sure Fluttershy, I'll need more information to draw any conclusions but if I had to guess..." Rainbow Dash's yell cut off Twilight from her musings and all the ponies looked in her direction. "Hey you guys! Over here! There's some orange ribbon tied around a couple of trees!" They all followed Rainbow's voice to a small clearing no bigger than the group. It was also cut back like their path but this was a much larger oval. A patch of the ground had been cleared for what the girls could only guess was a tent of some sort and there was a fire ring but nothing burnt to show there was ever a fire. Rarity had taken note of the ribbons and placed a hoof on one to pull the material closer. "I say Twilight; this isn't any type of material I'd ever use." Rarity looked thoughtful for a moment and shook her head, "why this ribbon isn't even fabric! It's stretchy and simply clashes with everything here! Look at how tacky it is, it sticks out like a sore hoof." Twilight considered the trees positions and the height of the ribbons. She was quite sure now that nopony she knew of would tie them so high up. And why two? "Apple Jack, let's see our map. I need to know our exact position. Rainbow Dash? Can you take peek above the trees and get a heading for North? Oh, I sure hope I'm wrong..." "Well, whut in tarnation has got you so nervous all'ah tha sudden Twi?" AJ and Fluttershy held open a large map of the Everfree Forest and the outlying areas. Pinkie was inspecting another rock when Rainbow came back down through the trees and pointed a hoof in the direction of North. Twilight positioned herself with the map and looked up at the ribbons. Her ears drooped at the one fact she hoped wasn't true. "Those ribbons are markers for East and South and this is, or was, some-'thing's' campsite!" She paused and bit at her lip when the girls gathered a little closer, "and if the direction remains constant, then whatever made this site is headed for the ruins of the Royal Pony Sisters!" There were a few gasps and questions thrown Twilight's way. But two things they ended up agreeing on quickly; they were losing sunlight and they needed to get to the ruins fast. Rainbow Dash literally threw caution to the wind and braved the air above the trees while the rest took off at a gallop down the freshly cut path that lead to the ruins. They hoped they wouldn't be too late. ,,,^..^,,, Hope. So much of it was based on seeing this one anomaly among the forest trees that all three travelers breathed a sigh of relief when it came into view. The little that Daniel knew about Zecora and where she lived was summed up by the stories Scootaloo and Apple Bloom had told him to pass the time as they walked. The rest, well, he was now piecing it together. Her hut was actually built into a stocky Centenarian tree, or what might have passed loosely as such. The robust above ground roots gave that part away but to Daniel it looked too...purposefully planned. On spying the slight clearing around the base and approaching the front proper, Daniel had to pause to take it in. Multiple small colorful bottles hung from thick branches and he eyed the ceremonial masks placed in the ground to the left of the hut and the one above the door. The first impression of just the hut itself screamed 'witch doctor' but early on Apple Bloom assured him it wasn't the case. Daniel's reflection was noticed when the girls got almost to the door but saw he wasn't with them, "what 'er ya waitin' for Dan? This is Zecora's place, we're safe now!" Apple Bloom's comment roused him and he adjusted his hold on Sweetie Belle, her head slumped gently into the side of his neck. He considered his options quickly, never being one without a plan or at very least an exit. Up to that point Daniel had only conversed with and known the fillies- how would an adult react to him? Especially one that wasn't the norm... "Go ahead and see if Zecora is home girls, I'd rather stay back a ways and let you break the news easy." They both mentioned again that he had nothing to worry about and if anypony, their own words, would understand an outsider it was Zecora. Scootaloo knocked a hoof against the door while calling out urgently for her to open up. Daniel was mildly surprised when the Zebra opened the door and stood looking at the fillies with a smile. "On my doorstep two soiled Ponyville friends I see, but what of Sweetie Belle, why not three?" Both fillies started to talk at once but looked at each other quickly and then over their shoulders in Daniel's direction. Zecora's gaze shifted slightly from the two crusaders to behind them, was she supposed to look for somepony? From the shadow of the tree grove an outline moved just enough to register. If it had been still, Zecora might have missed it. Mud colored canvas wrapped around two trunks stood straight and even on the ground. Further up she noted the white outline of the third Cutie Mark Crusader she had just inquired about. Something sent a chill up her spine when her eyes determined that she was being held in place by some-'thing'. More canvas and cloth of earth tone continued upward and ended in a most peculiar perch of foliage that could have passed for a well trimmed bush. To Zecora, Daniel must have been a sight. To simply materialize from the woods, her mouth hung slightly open until Apple Bloom's words drew her back. "Zecora, we just had ta bring Sweetie here first. If it weren't fer Daniel ah think she might have died!" Apple Bloom was on the verge of tears again when Scootaloo added her piece. "Please Zecora, Dan's a nice human and he's carried her all the way from the ruins. Can you help us?" On hearing the girl's plea, Daniel took a couple of steps forward of the dripping water from the trees. The revelation that the zebra Zecora spoke in couplet rhyme threw him at first but his confusion was nowhere near what she was feeling. He could see the indecision on the zebra's face clear enough through his sunglasses, but she broke the look from him and back down to the fillies. "I am honored you would bring her here first but of what aid may I give so her ailment is reversed? And how did you two come by this human man that carries poor Sweetie with strong but gentle hand?" "She's in a lot of pain Zecora, s-she b-broke her leg trying to run from t-the timber wolves! Daniel beat them all and saved us!" Scoots was trying her best but at the mention of those terrible wolves, she began to tremble. Zecora looked back at the towering human now another few steps closer than he was before. She could see the wrap on Sweetie Belle's leg and could see the anguish in her friend’s eyes. But what unnerved her more was she couldn't see 'Daniel's' eyes because of the shades. Was he watching her? Studying her words and movement? Zecora steeled those thoughts and turned again to the fillies. "Go inside and I'll see what I can brew with healing plants and a few words too!" Her words were light to the girls and with a nod, they moved past her without much haste. She was now left with the hulking figure and she swallowed nervously. "If you truly mean them no harm and wish to help Sweetie Belle in your arm, bring her now inside my home and escape the dampness of this dome." She cast a hoof upward indicating the still dripping water from the overhead trees. Now it was Daniel's turn to feel nervous. Did she just invite him into her home? Just like that? He watched her turn and step back inside and Daniel looked around as the trees, shaking in the wind, dropped more water on him and Sweetie. Although he wasn't sure the rain was all done for the day he didn't want to risk it by staying outside either. He stepped toward the open door and gave a sigh before passing through. Daniel had to bend over slightly since the door was a bit small for him in any case. But holding Sweetie made it more difficult and he merely scraped his backpack on the door frame instead of his head. Zecora had waited just inside and once he was clear of the door, she shut it with a hoof. Scootaloo and Apple Bloom were seated nearby at a small table fidgeting and looking miserable as Zecora looked over Daniel and Sweetie with some thought. Finally she motioned toward her bed, "Please place her there upon my bed while I make some medicine she can rest her head." Daniel's eyes went from Zecora to Sweetie and giving a small nod moved over to softly lay her on the leopard skin blanket that covered the small bed. Was that 'real' leopard or just some sort of print? Daniel wasn't sure and pushed the notion from his mind. Sweetie stirred and pain creased her face as a small sound came from her. Daniel's battle-hardened heart ached for the unicorn and in that moment couldn't, for the life of him, understand why. Daniel slid off his pack and laid it against the wall by the bed and carefully took a knee next to Sweetie, "Sweetie? Dear, you're safe now," his hands went to gently stroke her mane and she stirred at his touch. "Da-Daniel? Are...are we at... Zecora's?" The small tired voice caused Daniel's world to blur. He didn't care that he was in this crazy upside down world at the moment, he wasn't worried that he was in a hut built into a tree in the middle of the 'hundred acre woods'- all he wanted in that small instant was for Sweetie to be comforted. A sad smile tugged at the corners of his mouth as he continued to stroke her purple and pink mane. "Yes, Sweetie, we're at Zecora's and she's going to help you. Just rest...just rest." Behind him, Scootaloo and Apple Bloom were watching and listening to the exchange. Zecora had also paused in her preparations to consider the human's tone with the broken filly. Daniel reached up to remove his floppy hat and sunglasses now that most of the light in the home was by candle. He could see the three from the corner of his eyes watching them and he heaved a sigh. Zecora did not expect such a sight when Daniel turned to face her and the fillies seated at the table. The girls were used to his appearance but the zebra on the other hoof. She quickly stringed a group of words in her native tongue and Daniel smirked, guessing there might have been a curse word or two in there. To Zecora, his fur-less face, none existent muzzle, small nose and flat ears were quite a shock. But what really got her skin to crawl were his eyes. To her, she could tell a lot about an individual from their eyes and Daniel's was no exception. Although small and seemingly not as expressive at the time, Zecora could still see the pain in them. Not from physical pain but a cold calculating hunger, something truly unworldly. The moment was brief but had a profound effect on the zebra and she went back to her small bowl with a purplish liquid inside. Daniel was allured watching her make the concoction without having hands. Zecora would pluck a vile of this or a small bottle of that and dash a small amount into the bowl only using her mouth to move many of the items around. From a brown burlap bag she produced a minty-green plant which she balanced on one hoof long enough to crush it between both fore-hooves while recalling another, kinder line in a different language. While she finished her brew, Daniel took a minute to drink in the sights inside her home. Many more of the colorful African masks hung on the walls while even more ornate bottles adorned the area by thin cords. An entire wall was packed with bottles, containers, sacks, and small glass jars of which he could only guess at the contents. Daniel had the mental image of a class 'B' horror flick come to mind where such things would have been labeled 'Toad toe nails', 'Elephant ear wax', or 'lizard's lips'. The giant iron pot in the center of the room framed the area nicely if this had been the home of the great 'Madam Mim'. Daniel had been looking over the well worn caldron when Zecora gently cleared her throat much closer to him. He looked startled at first for not hearing her approach but corrected himself and stood up straight. Zecora had the small bowl carefully balance on the underside of a hoof and motioned for him to take it. "To heal her broken leg here is quite remote but for the pain I offer this antidote. You have the hands to hold her steady, if you wish to help, the potion's ready." Daniel looked down at the mixture that vaguely resembled purple neon paint and gingerly took it in his hand. Zecora moved over to the bed and beckoned him over with the bowl. On seeing the exchange, Scootaloo and Apple Bloom also followed Daniel to the bedside. He sat down on the edge and the frame creaked under his weight. He switched hands with the bowl and sat so he could cradle Sweetie Belle against his side. "Sweetie? I need you to wake up for me OK?" She roused slightly and pushed her cheek into his side with a whimper. "Come on now Sweetie, I need you awake enough to take some medicine that Zecora made for you." Daniel, as carefully as he could, was trying to prop her up enough to get the bowl to her mouth. Zecora had moved her pillow to Sweetie's side so keeping her upright was easier for him. A strangled sighed escaped her, "i-it just...hurts sooo baaaddd..." and her words turned to cries again as Daniel held her close. "Shh, I know Sweetie, I know... I have the medicine right here when you are ready dear." Daniel's light hug made her wince slightly and her eye fluttered open to spy the bowl in his hand scant inches from her face. She gave a stuttered sigh and saw Zecora nod toward the wooden bowl. "O-ok, I'll t-try some." Daniel never had children before and never thought he of all people could be so tender when it mattered most. He held Sweetie against his side and brought the liquid to her lips while tilting it for her to drink a bit. When she didn't make a face, he encouraged her to drink the whole thing if she could. After a breath and some lip smacks, Sweetie drank the rest down with relish. Daniel nearly chuckled at the sight of a 'child' actually liking to take their medicine. "Mm, thash gouud..." Sweetie's words slurred together as a content smile crept onto her short muzzle. The brew worked quickly to not only quell the pain but also relax her to the point of falling completely asleep. Zecora offered a hoof to take the bowl away and Daniel caught sight of her transfer it to her mouth as she stepped away. 'Such an odd way to have to do things without hands.' "Now that dear Sweetie is lying in rest perhaps I can properly attend to my guests." And with that, Zecora brought out a couple of thick towels for Scoots and Apple Bloom to dry off on and even, after a small hesitation, offered one to Daniel too. He took the towel from her mouth with a lopsided grin, "thank you Zecora, it seems you are a great friend to these little ones." As Daniel dried off a bit Zecora sat by the table and regarded him with a tilt of her head. "These three little fillies I'm come to know quite well although very few visit me here where I dwell. I guess my home is far from the beaten way where ponies try not too far to stray but when they do they will usually find a cup of tea and friendship kind." Daniel smiled in mirth at the zebra's constant rhyming and the nonchalant way she used it. Scootaloo and Apple Bloom had been uncharacteristically quiet during the time where Sweetie Belle was more or less sedated. Once they had finished toweling off and Zecora had brought over some water in wooden cups for the girls, she asked for the full story. After a moment of indecision where neither of them felt they should go first, Scoots finally remitted and began the story at their club house. Daniel had heard a good amount of the tale but he listened intently none the less as the two fillies took turns recounting the events to Zecora who, in his opinion, was taking it all quite well. She would ever so often interject with a thought or glance at Daniel when the story shifted to include him. There was something in her mannerisms that made him curious though he couldn't quite put his finger on it. Zecora had gotten up to fetch the girls a second round of water while they finished the story and offered Daniel some too but he politely declined. He didn't know the source of said water and doubted they would have much in the way of health standards. There was no way of telling what micro-organisms called the local water holes home. Once the story ended with present company, the question was posed on what to do about Sweetie now that she was resting. Daniel spoke up for this and made it a point that she get to a doctor as soon as possible. Zecora shrugged and merely spoke of the hospital in Ponyville and that 'he' would have no trouble taking Sweetie there. But that was the rub- per se- Daniel reasoned that just walking into an unknown place with a hurt filly might have the wrong result. Especially after hearing how the townsponies treated Zecora those first few times. It was Zecora's turn to grin thoughtfully at the idea and finally admitted it would probably be a bad idea. So, shortly after and with Daniel's help, Sweetie Belle was carefully placed on Zecora's back and she would take the CMC's into town while he stayed back at her hut. Of course right before they left, the zebra had spied Daniel taking out his tent and was preparing to setup behind her home and she stopped him. With only token resistance to being invited to stay the night indoors, Daniel agreed to it and watched the group disappear down a trail that led away from the heart of Everfree. The low hanging sun gave away the hour and Daniel smirked at the turn of events and what brought him to this point in his 'vacation'. He went back inside the hut and cleaned his boots before he could track mud everywhere in the home. With his tent now set beside his pack and his boots off at the door, Daniel took a seat back on the bed and sat in silence while he awaited Zecora's return. He spied the Dream Catcher on the backside of the door and considered it for a moment before his thoughts became nearly loud enough to hear- Daniel had some thinking to do. ,,,^..^,,, Across the Everfree Forest, six well known ponies had been scouring the ruins of the Royal Pony Sisters in search of clues for the CMC. They were getting frustrated by the lack of broken, burnt, smashed, or otherwise destroyed hints that the three fillies had even been there. That is until Apple Jack found what was left of the timber wolves. Needless to say, there was some concerned discussion to follow once some much smaller hoof-prints were found among the strewn sticks and wood bits. "There is something wrong with this scene," Twilight finally noted after tuning out the arguing mares over the next course of action, "why didn't the timber wolves get back up?" The question hung in the air and it drew the attention of AJ and subsequently Rainbow Dash who knew what happened with them from a run-in before. "Wut 'er ya sayin' Twi? That somehow these timber wolves 'er straight up dead?" Apple Jack moved around the pieces eyeing them as if they might jump up and grab her. Twilight had moved over by another pile at a tree and was examining a rather nasty gash on said tree, "I'm only suggesting that something very odd happened here girls and from the hoof-prints we found might have very well involved the Cutie Mark Crusaders... and some'thing' else!" Now everypony was looking at Twilight. "W-what do you mean Twilight? Are you saying whatever it was that made that trail we followed was here with the fillies?" Rainbow had swooped over to Twilight's position and was trying to see whatever it was Twilight was looking at. "If I didn't know any better, and AJ would probably be able to tell us again, but I'd say this fresh mark on this tree was caused by an axe." She pointed a hoof at the indication on the trunk and Apple Jack gave a nod over her shoulder to confirm it. "An' judgin' bah the depth of tha cut," AJ rubbed a hoof under her chin in thought, "this had ta be ah mighty swing. Hay, I don't even think ah could git an axe that far in ah tree in one go." "Twilight, I hate to be the bearer of bad news but don't you think we might be just a teensy bit over our heads here? I mean, not that the elements of harmony couldn't handle a few ghastly timber wolves but this," Rarity pointed at all the timber wolf pieces thrown all over the area, "I should think we at least need the actual elements with us so we could use them if needs be." "Com'on Rarity! We've got the biggest 'guns' in Equestria right here!" Rainbow did some shadow boxing while hovering in mid-air. Twilight looked thoughtful for moment before agreeing, "No, Rarity IS correct. If our mystery guest truly is following the fillies, we should at least have the elements ready for defensive measures." Rainbow huffed and had to grudgingly agree too, "fine Twi, so are you just going to zap yourself back to Ponyville for them, 'cause like, Princess Celestia is probably going to setting the sun before too much longer." "Not a bad idea RD and its 'teleport', not 'zap'." Rainbow rolled her eyes at being corrected even when it was a good idea, "whatever!" "Alright girls, hang tight here for just a few minutes while I retrieve the elements. This shouldn't take too long." Twilight's horn glowed faintly before flashing and removing her from their midst. ,,,^..^,,, Zecora gave a sigh as she exited the Ponyville hospital and stood to the side of the door once out on the street. Ever since the elements of harmony helped her integrate into Ponyville she had much better receptions when coming to town for visits. But there were still those that gave her clipped answers, short replies and forced smiles. She wasn't a pony and it was glaringly obvious in the daylight. Zecora smiled warmly at the late hour and knew that once Luna brought out the moon and cast Equestria in gently darkness that she would become another shadow moving along the streets and byways. At that point, the ponies would only regard her as another passerby- and something less intimidating. Just moments earlier, Nurse Redheart was rather glad to see Zecora when she arrived with Sweetie still asleep on her back and two very tired looking fillies close behind. The nurse had quickly taking charge of the young white unicorn and had a doctor in to see to her leg shortly after. Scootaloo and Apple Bloom ended up crashing out on the sofa in Sweetie's room while the nurse spoke with Zecora on the side. Zecora had inquired of the whereabouts of any of the elements of harmony and Nurse Redheart made some inquests on her behalf but nopony seemed to recall seeing the mares since early this morning. They both thought it odd that a hurt filly would show up without at least one of the girls in the thick of it too. Zecora told the nurse on the way out that she would stop by the library and leave a note for Twilight to come by the hospital. The Ponyville clock tower chimed out 7 pm and in equal clockwork fashion, the sun quickly dipped below the horizon in the distance only to be replaced oppositely by a bright and luminous moon. Zecora's eyes gazed upward as she walked and noted how Princess Luna literally painted the navy blue night sky with thousands upon thousands of stars and heavenly bodies. Like a master artisan, Luna's work never failed to impress the zebra each time she saw it and only had to wonder if Daniel's kind enjoyed the night sky as she did- or did they even 'have' a night sky... Zecora nodded thoughtfully at a pony couple on the street and they returned a pleasantry her way. She continued along until she was within sight of the library and noticed the light from windows indicating somepony was there, or at the very least Spike was. A brilliant flash of purple radiated out of every window of the huge tree a moment later and Zecora drew an eyebrow up at that. No doubt her pony friend Twilight Sparkle had something to do with it. She stopped at the door and gave it a couple knocks before anything happened. Zecora could hear Twilight shouting to Spike who groaned loudly at her and eventually ended up opening the door just a crack. His single peeping eyeball grew wide and he opened the door further, "Zecora?! W-what are you doing here so late?" She spied Twilight rushing back and forth among the book shelves and pointed a hoof her direction, "I have news to give to Twilight that is most dire and was hoping to deliver it before you both, for the night, retire." Spike looked over his shoulder at the frantic unicorn, "she's not making much sense right now..." He scratched his head with a claw and frowned, "uh, something about needing the elements for a defensive strategy, and a monster after the cutie mark crusaders and..." Zecora's smile and a raised hoof stopped him from continuing, "I know now why she is filled with such fright and perhaps after my report Twilight will sleep better this night." Spike opened the door for her to come in, "it would be a first if 'that' is the case! I can count on both claws how many times she's slept a whole night since we came to live in Ponyville." Zecora and Spike watched with concern as Twilight rushed here and there, having already taken out the elements and them following her around in a light purple aura- she was currently flipping through a book with haste. "Spike! I NEED the Tobin's Guide to Mystical Monsters and Obscure Pony Lore before I can head back!" She tossed another book aside before levitating another off the shelf and running past both him and Zecora without noticing either of them. "Twilight, will you calm down a minute? Somepo-" "This is no time to be calm Spike, the girls could be in great danger and I have to get back to them with the elements of harmony!" Twilight again rushed by them without actually seeing who was standing there. Spike crossed his arms in front of his chest and huffed smoke through his nose, "if you would take a moment and LISTEN to what I'm saying there's-" "Spike! You aren't listening, 'this' is an emergency and nopony in Ponyville will convince me otherwise!" And with that she turned around to see why Spike had been rooted in the same spot, "...and 'listening' is what I do..." On seeing Zecora waiting next to Spike she had a lapse in thought and her hold on the elements flickered out. They fell straight for the floor but she caught them in the last second and moved them to her side, "...best." Twilight gave them a nervous little laugh and blush while Spike drew a scowl at being ignored, "I was trying to tell you Twilight that Zecora is here to give you some important news!" Zecora took a step forward before Twilight could interject, "if the cutie mark crusaders you wish to see, a part of the day they have been safe with me. And in the Ponyville hospital they now find rest because today's adventure was quite the test!" Twilight's mouth hung open slightly at 'that' news and even Spike turned to look up at the zebra as she continued. "The monster you fear is not such at all but rather a traveler who had a close call with timber wolves whose thoughts were on only to feast on young fillies that journeyed too far to the East." Twilight shook herself and set the elements down on the round table in the center of the room, "well I... I suppose this changes everything." She looked from the elements and books back to Zecora and Spike, "but why are the girls in the hospital? And how do you know this 'traveler' didn't have something to do with the girls having to be at the hospital in the first place?!" Zecora's expression softened, "the story they told me could not be a lie for the traveler I have seen quite close up is why. He awaits my return to my home where he abides so he's out of the weather which the forest provides. Perhaps tomorrow following a much needed break you might come for a visit after you wake?" Twilight had truly been stressing over the missing fillies and she was sure that the rest of the girls were starting to wonder where she was too. She gave them both a wane smile, "I guess I 'was' over reacting just a little-" Spike threw his little arms up at that, "a little!? I've lost count how many times you and the others outright ignore me or brush me off when there is something more pressing." Twilight hung her head some at the remark, "oh Spike, I know that's something I need to work on- can you forgive me?" Spike rolled his eyes at Twilight giving him the 'pouty look', "ugh, fine. But mark my words Twilight, one day you might not be able to ask so easily." He seemed to relent and started to pick up the books she had haphazardly tossed about. Twilight was about to ask what he meant by that last remark but decided to let it drop for now. Zecora had watched the conversation unfold and turned her attention to Twilight as she approached. "So Twilight, now that you know the truth what are your intentions concerning the youth?" "Well, I should probably get back to the others and I could just teleport everypony over to the hospital so we can check up on the fillies. And I don't believe I've made any lists for tomorrow yet so I can put a visit with you and the 'traveler' as first thing. When would you like to meet up?" Zecora scratched her chin with a hoof and moment and shook her head slightly, "I will be up with the first morning's light but as for my guest I cannot say forthright." Twilight nodded and drifted over a quill and parchment to scribble a note on it, "so at breakfast it is! And I'll leave myself a note so I won't forget." Zecora bid Twilight and Spike a pleasant night and left the two to clean up the library. She made her way out of Ponyville and down a dark but familiar path that led her home. Home to an unknown that patiently awaited her return. After Zecora stepped out and Twilight had again apologized to Spike she teleported back to the ruins to retrieve her friends. Twilight had a time quelling their many questions when it came down to moving them all back at once. She had to quite forcefully ask them to be quiet while she concentrated on the spell. In a brilliant flash of light that momentarily startled the wild animals around them, the six mares were on their way back to Ponyville and the hospital. ,,,^..^,,, Daniel's contemplations since Zecora had taken the fillies back to Ponyville were at the same time daunting and challenging. He had noted the time when the zebra left and hoped to figure the time-distance to the town by her return. In the meantime, Daniel had inspected the leopard print blanket on the bed and found it to indeed be fake. While honestly a scary close match, the edges where the two fabrics were stitched together gave away the design. "Why would a talking zebra have something like this to sleep under in the first place..." The question was rhetorical and Daniel didn't expect an answer since he was the only person there at the time. But other things had been nagging at him since he found out he was no longer on the 'Earth' he knew. In fact, how that was even possible lead to even more questions that just gave him a headache. Daniel stepped closer to one of the round windows and considered his reflection in the thin pane. He reached out a finger and touched it. Yes, it did seem solid but very thin. Daniel's hand went to his face and he touched the beginnings of his beard in thought. After a moment, he dug out his electric shaver and began to cut off the offending stubble. The technology was out of place there in Zecora's hut, the constant 'brrrrr' of the battery powered shaver stole Daniel's peace and he could only focus on completing the small task. Of course, his reflection could only help him so much until he had to take out his signaling mirror to finish his face. With that small detail out of the way, he began to weigh in his options. Zecora had appeared friendly enough if not a little leery of him at first. Maybe she just wanted to get the young ones away while help could arrive? What kind of 'help' would come after him? Daniel's thinking on worst case scenarios seemed to deflate his spirits. He had honestly believed that this Zecora wanted what was best for those little girls- fillies...whatever. Daniel went back to his pack and reached in the side for a smooth familiar box and once his hand found it, drew it out. The white box with red lettering was worn from repeated use but still held together. He sat down on the floor and pulled out his revolver and thumbed open the cylinder. One shot had been taken in defense in this crazy place and Daniel drew out the spent .357 casing. He eyed it for cracks or damage before opening the white box and finding an empty hole to place the brass in. Another soft-pointed cartridge was taken out and replaced into the pistol for five full loads again. Daniel regarded the box beside him and a finger absently traced the remaining brass. He highly doubted if Mr. 'Winchester' had alternate worlds in mind when first developing rifle and handgun ammunition. A sudden change in light outside brought him quickly to his feet and what he saw through the window made him remember little Apple Bloom's words, "...an' Princess Celestia moves tha sun an' her sister does tha moon!" With his pistol in hand, he stepped outside just in time to see the sun hurry below the horizon through the trees in the distance while in the opposite side of the sky the moon, bright and full, rose several inches into the air in a matter of seconds. He was trying to fit all that into some frame of reference that he could parallel, something comparable but the only sane thought that repeated to him was 'movie magic'. With the forest now shrouded in sudden nightfall, Daniel was less inclined to stay outdoors- now that he had the option. As he re-entered Zecora's home he noticed only a couple candles lit from earlier and decided a couple more might not hurt. He didn't see anything like matches lying around so with a shrug he used his butane lighter. "That's a little better." He thought aloud and took a moment to actually see what was in front of him. A bed tucked into the corner, shelves with different odds and ends, fruit hanging in a basket, the small knickknacks that seemed to litter the area... it was a home. Daniel looked down at the .357 magnum in his hand and deliberated on it and its reason for existing in the first place. The black oily complexion and simple mechanics that enclosed such a weapon that weren't meant to be real here. He holstered the pistol and replaced his box of ammo but not before an idea occurred to him. He hadn't had any dinner and he doubted Zecora would have much in the way of food he dared try, but what about tea? He took out his MSR camp stove and set it up on the small round table and also retrieved a double Ziploc'd bag that contained a few precious spices and 12 pouches of Lipton's tea bags. Daniel took out a couple of the bags and set them aside and looked at his setup. "...maybe she has a small pot or tea kettle..." Daniel's footfalls were silent due to his socks and he had thought about taking them off as well but decided walking around barefoot in someone's home might not be proper here. He paused in that thought and laughed out loud at the absurdity of it. The three little fillies he helped didn't wear 'shoes' as it were and neither did Zecora now that he thought about it, unless those were 'horseshoes'. He heaved another chuckle at the mental image of Zecora taking off her 'shoes' at the door and hanging them up on the wall. Daniel spied what looked to be a small kettle and picked it up carefully. Now seeing that it was, in fact, empty- he pulled off the lid, looked inside, and gave it a sniff. While it might have just been big enough for 3 or 4 American-sized mugs of coffee, it was definitely for tea. It had a fresh tea leaf fragrance and subtle undertones of... mint? He paused at that and had to wonder if she might have added a little 'something extra' to her tea. The inside was stained a honey-oak color and Daniel ran a finger around it. It felt like metal and discounting the stains, was surprisingly clean. He shrugged and brought it over to the table where he filled it two thirds of the way full of water, placed in the tea bags, set the strings to the side and closed the lid. The knob on the lid was a hard wood and well worn from... Daniel brought the kettle closer to a candle and he shook his head at a notion and withdrew a small round of wood from his cargo pocket that he had saved from earlier. Indentations of teeth marks on the lid knob were nearly identical and the oddly placed 'handle' of the kettle itself was more than enough to convince him that these 'ponies' indeed used their mouths for many things. "When in Rome I suppose..." Daniel primed his stove and clicked the piezo ignitor while adjusting the fuel mix. With a small 'Fwoosh', the stove sparked to life and he smiled at the dancing blue flames around the burner. That little stove had been through hell and high water, twice. It had never let him down and never failed to boil water or cook a meal. And one of the things he really liked about the stove was its multi-fuel design. The orifice nozzle could be swapped out for not only cleaning, but with another nozzle that let the user burn just about anything that was both liquid and flammable. He set the kettle on the top and looked at his watch, "Oh, let's see here- 10 minutes 'ought to be just ri..." Daniel was roused from his thoughts at a sound from outside the hut, the steady 'hiss' of the stove made it hard to hear at first but it got louder the closer it came. He could almost swear it was a song- but in another language. ,,,^..^,,, Zecora had made much better time on the way back since she wasn't carrying an injured filly. That and the fact that even for her, the Everfree Forest was no place to be in alone and after dark. She often sang or hummed a tune while walking the path home and this time was no different. Her native tongue took over for her and instead of a rhyme; it was a beautiful song in verse. OK, so it still had some rhymes in it but Zecora knew that nopony in or around Ponyville would know that. The song she recalled was eerie in tone and word, speaking of time in youth when spirits of great birds would carry the children to a secret mountain while asleep and there, teach them the mysteries of the world. It was a song that held great meaning to Zecora because it was one that had shown her that she would leave her ancestors and family to travel- as if in search of that secret mountain. With her mind alight in the moment of song, she failed to realize just how close she had gotten to her hut and in turning a corner saw the light through the windows and a shadow looking out at her. Daniel's outline moved away from the glass and Zecora found that her voice had left her and in the place, silence that flooded her with the memory of what was inside her home. She pushed away dark thoughts once at her own door and rested a hoof against the worn wood. She took a breath and pushed it open expecting to find... Well, what she saw wasn't at all what she was expecting. Daniel had lit a few more candles offering ample light, was sitting cross legged at her table and was regarding her tea kettle on top of some sort of device that held a blue fire. It wasn't the scene of disaster she had just conjured up- Daniel hadn't thrown anything around, there were no messes (that she could see) and things were generally quiet. Save for that constant 'hissing' sound that made Zecora's ears perk up. A smile found its way to her muzzle and she stepped inside and closed the door behind her. Daniel looked so different now that he was more eye level with her. She quickly checked her hooves at the door to ensure she wasn't tracking anything in and saw an oddity next to the wall- two in fact. Daniel's hard outer coverings he wore on his hind legs were sitting there cleaned and tidy. The strings that laced them up were tucked inside and by the looks of them had seen a lot of use. Zecora looked back over at Daniel who had a curious grin on his flat face and he motioned with one 'hand' for her to join him. She let out a nervous breath she didn't know she had been holding and stepped over to the table and sat back on her haunches opposite him. She watched his eyes looking back at her for a moment before she looked down at the device sitting on her table. To her it was a mix-match of shiny and worn metals, tubes with thin braids of metal that formed a weave. At the end of the tube was a dull red container as big around as her hoof but longer and had two very small knobs protruding from it. 'Much too small for a pony to operate', she noted to herself. Daniel politely cleared his throat and nodded toward the kettle. "I hope you don't mind that I used your kettle to brew some tea. I should have asked first..." She looked over the kettle but saw nothing amiss except for the thin strings hanging out of the top. Steam was starting to form around the spout and she smiled, "such a thing would not make me upset, while I was away I'm glad you did not idly fret." Daniel had to grin at that, "I'm glad you've been so helpful through this whole ordeal and I guess now that everything is calmed down a bit, I should introduce myself seeing how you invited me into your home after all." He took a breath in disbelief that he was making an introduction to a talking zebra... "I'm Daniel Hopkins, you can call me Dan for short if you want and I'm presently on vacation in uh, Equestria..." He automatically held out his hand to her in an expectant gesture. She looked at the outstretched appendage and decided to take a small gamble at the meaning, "I am Zecora to my friends and those that know me best, I'm pleased to make your acquaintance and I hope your vacation is now less stressed." Zecora extended a hoof and watched in rapt fascination as Daniel's hand shook it in greeting. The instant they touched, Zecora was acutely aware of something about this strange being. His hand was warm and the grip, gentle but it was the contact itself that sparked an odd sense in her. At his release, the feeling abated like the waves of an ocean drawing back into the sea. Daniel had felt it too but simply chalked it up to his fatigue for the day. To him, it felt like a rush of static passing his side. As if he had just scooted across a plush carpet and was about to touch a door knob only to have the sensation disappear in an instant. He flexed his fingers subconsciously at his side, "thanks Zecora, and yes, hopefully the rest of my vacation will be a bit more relaxing." With the ice broken, they began to idly chat while waiting for the tea to steep. Zecora had to laugh at the fact he liked tea and knew how to properly brew it. Daniel took the jest in stride and mentioned that he never left home without a few bags of it. It's antioxidant properties and natural caffeine notwithstanding, it came in quite handy when all that was available was water. As Daniel turned off the little stove, Zecora inquired of that item next as she got up for a couple of cups. He explained how it worked and why they were such a great piece of equipment to carry when traveling away from the conveniences of cities and home. Zecora was familiar with pressurized lamps and could understand the concepts well enough. When Zecora offered to pour the tea, it was Daniel's turn to watch spellbound as she nimbly gripped the kettle handle by her mouth and dispensed the hot liquid with ease. His shrewd grin hid a remark and instead offered her some sugar from his pack. While Zecora declined and stated she liked tea without sweeteners she had to comment thoughtfully on the individual pouches of white sugar Daniel took out and dumped into his cup. "It makes carrying it a lot easier when you only need a couple packets and not a whole bag." Zecora sipped her tea and looked down at her cup in hoof with great interest, "the things you carry, though small, are amazing, and this tea you made is definitely worth praising!" He chuckled light-heartedly, "all I did was heat the water Zecora, and the company 'Lipton' actually did all the work." Daniel showed her the tea bags and she asked if she could keep the spent pouches. Of course to that request Daniel gave her a couple of the unused bags from his backpack as well. They both continued to chat and drink the tea until it was nearly gone and Daniel have given a mighty yawn. Which to Zecora's dismay and Daniel's mirth made her yawn widely too; such idiosyncrasies transcended worlds it seemed. "This has been quite the enjoyable night and in our first meeting I believe we've done alright. But what do you say we call an end to such pleasantries that made us both a friend." Daniel gave a stretch and looked at his watch, "yeah, calling it a night sounds good." He tossed back the dregs of his tea started to take down his stove, "would you mind if I put up my tent outside your place for the night?" Zecora's laugh and a wave of her hoof stopped any rationalizing he was about to use, "Oh Celestia herself would be rather sour if I turned a guest outside at this hour! No such manors I would dare display so within my home I'd ask you to stay." Daniel was taken aback by what she just said. And not just slightly- this...zebra trusted him 'that' much to offer her roof on the first day. He didn't see any deceit when he looked into her large turquoise eyes, Daniel had to force his gaze away and he tapped on the fuel can attached to his stove. He realized with striking comprehension that he could get lost in those depths if he wasn't careful. "I'm a little, uh... speechless Zecora," he ran a hand through his hair as awkwardness stole away his collected thoughts, "I mean, I am prepared to sleep outside so you can have your privacy..." Zecora only shrugged at his attempted deflection, "many nights I have had without a single guest so the least I can do is to offer you rest. Take it or leave it, it's all just the same- so the choice becomes yours and in it no blame." Daniel nodded and gave her a lopsided grin, "I suppose I'll stay... as long as you don't snore." They shared another laugh as Daniel helped her clean up and Zecora finally made her way to her bed. But instead of getting into it, she shocked him yet again by taking out a spare blanket and pillow for him from under it. Daniel thanked her unnecessarily and fixed his pallet on the floor next to the table. Augmented by his own bedroll and feather down sleeping bag, the floor became a less inhospitable place. Zecora didn't have much to do in the way of bedtime routines so Daniel grabbed his toothbrush bag, headlamp, slipped into his boots and stepped outside from the confused look she gave him. He clicked on the light and finished his nightly hygiene task without pause. The forest around the large tree was serene and not entirely alien feeling as he tucked his kit into his cargo pants pocket. After a brief scan of the area with and without his light, and seeing no glowing yellow eyes, he found a conveniently placed tree that was far enough away for a little privacy. Once he was done and convinced he wouldn't wake up in the middle of the night having to pee, Daniel retreated back inside the hut where Zecora had blown out all the candles but one. He slipped off his boots once more and put his brushing kit away in his backpack quietly. Zecora had already climbed into bed and was neatly under the covers with just her neck and head showing. Such an odd sight that made him reflect on reality. Zecora was a living, breathing creature of intellect and knowledge. She had a personality that Daniel enjoyed to be around and she had shown him a trait that he would not readily give his own kind- trust. Daniel gave a stretch and yawned, she looked like a large stuffed animal under the covers and her 'Mohawk' mane splayed out on the pillow gave the scene a surreal feel. He peeled off his shirt and laid it across his backpack within easy reach. He decided to leave his cargo pants on out of respect and modesty but it instantly occurred to him that neither Zecora nor the fillies had been wearing any sort of covering. He blew out the last candle and let his eyes adjust to the sudden darkness. Daniel didn't want those thoughts to be on his mind as he settled on the floor so he chose to focus on the sounds and smells around him. He was pleasantly surprised to find there wasn't any odor he could definitively say was 'horse-like'. Zecora's home reminded Daniel of a craft store back in the states where his mother would take him as a little boy. Oh, he still liked to visit those stores but never really bought anything besides a few drawing pens or pencils. Daniel tried to pick out those things he could remember- spices, dried wood, tea light tarts, potpourri... a relaxing smile came to his face as he closed his eyes. He stretched again and put his hand behind his head as he laid on his back, a few frogs croaked somewhere out in the woods and the wind blew from time to time. Zecora's steady breathing signaled she was long gone to the dream world. Dreams... huh, Daniel would have never thought his trip would have ended up like this. And in the next moment before drifting off himself, he smirked at the one thing he forgot to pack... his camera.