A Touch of Gypsy Magic
"Fastah, Zigzag, fastah!" Truly called out in a panic, as she and the zebra galloped deeper and deeper into the mastificent forest. "We cain't risk those scaliwags catchin' up tah us!"
"Oh. don't worry about that, my fine friend!" the zebra whinnied, as they raced through the trees. "After looking for this long, thier search is at an end."
"Ah certainly hope y'all ah raight." The earth pony gasped out, as the two came to a stop. "Bhut raight naow we gotta find Moondancah, an figure out what we're gonna do naow."
"I already know what we're going to do, ladies." A voice from behind them stated, as a unicorn came trotting up behind them. "We're going to save Dream Valley, just like we always do."
"Ahhhh!" The two mares screamed hysterically, before seeing the white unicorn standing there.
"Oh Moondancer, it is only you!" Zigzag sighed in relief. "When we heard a noise, we thought we were through!"
"Haw did y'all fahnd us?" The perplexed pony asked. "The last we heard, you were down in the kitchen peeling onions."
"I was on my way back to the kitchen, when I heard the ruckus you two were causing." Moondancer admitted. "When you two made a run for it from those angry mares, I just followed you out here."
"Sounds like that was quite a hassle." Zigzag replied. "Have you discovered what's amiss in the castle?"
"Megan tipped me off, when I finally got the chance to speak to her." The unicorn replied, nodding. "Ladies, I think our friends have been mind controlled by that stupid teacher we've hired. I don't know how she's doing it, but I know she's doing it!"
"Mahnd control, we shoulda known!" Truly snorted in disgust. "We really shoulda seen this possibility comin, ya know! That's what we get for hirin' ah educator without a checkin' her resume first!"
"So now we know what it is, that has set our lives askew." Zigzag added, before asking. "But the million dollar question is; what do we do?"
"Mister Moochick is away on a journey, so we'll find no help at the mushromp." Moondancer thought for a minute, before looking down the path ahead of them. "Ladies, I think it's time we pay a little visit on Gypsy!"
"The Romani pony? Have ya'll gone plum loco!?!" Truly whinnied in shock. "Moondaincah, she's a witch! Ya'll know what those Roma do tah unsuspectin ponies they catch?!?"
"From thier cradles, young foals she steals." Zigzag agreed. "So that she can cook them, into her meals."
"Moondaincah, she's the fourth most powaful pony in the valleh!" The earth pony told her in a nervous tone. "Withaout Twailiaght or Majesteh or Mimic ta hold her in check..."
"We don't have any other choice!" Moondancer cried out in desperation. "I'd rather deal with an eastern witch cursing us all. than let that lying revisionist reprogram all our friends and family!"
"Ahll raight, Moony." Truly gulped, slowly trotting after the other two. "If ya'll say so....."
The three mares walked on in silence, trying not to think about everything that was going on back at the castle. But Moondancer couldn't get how she had seen her own daughter act, and was convinced that a stop had to be put to this evil afflicting the herd, no matter the cost. And with Queen Majesty currently away, it was up to and her friends to do it.
As the three mares trotted warily down the path, they quickly noticed the forest around them was changing. Darkness and shadow creped in, as the canopy of branches above blocked out the sunlight below. The mists began to rise around them, and a thousand creepy sounds began to emanate from the trees around them.
"Wow, ah nevah noticed haow creepy this paht of Dream Vahlleh could gait." Truly whispered nervously, as a screeching owl soared overhead. "Thaih's no way this could be nahtural."
"It's probably a few well placed illusion spells, to scare off any undesirables Gypsy doesn't want around her territory." Moondancer snorted. "After all, Roma ponies have a flair for the dramatic."
"I've heard Romani came from a distant land to the east." Zigzag replied, letting her Zebra accent fall away. "It is said a wise Mareharadjah sent their ancestors to Equestria as missionaries, to spread his philosophy of peace. Then they were stuck here after the fall of the old kingdom, and became traveling vagrants after the Confederacy formed."
"Ahnd they turned ta hexin' good ponies ta survive in these hear lands." Truly continued, trying to hide the fear in her voice. "Who knows what that ol' witch'll do ta us when she finds out we're heyah."
"Truly, please don't talk like that!" Moondancer scolded her. "We really don't need that kind of... thinking... right... now..."
The unicorn trailed off, and the ponies’ surroundings grew even more ominous. A fell wind began blowing through the trees, whipping the branches around, and chilling the mares to the bone. The spreading mist permeated al every air around them, obscuring their vision right in front of the mare's snouts. The three ponies huddled together glancing around at the shadowy forest around them.
Turn Back....turn back... A voice seemed to whisper on the wind, as unintelligible whispers seemed to come from all around them. Evil faces peered out at them from the darkness, grinning and scowling at whatever fate awaited these unfortunate ponies foolish enough to venture here. It was then that they heard what sounded like hooves approaching, and the three squinted to see though the endless fog.
"Girls. look out!" Moondancer shrieked pointing out into the darkness with her hoof. "There's somebody over there!"
From the shadowy mists, three `ponylike figures began to emerge. The trio of visitors seemed to rattle and shake as they approached, and it only took a few minutes for the ponies and zebra to actually see why.
"Friends we must now run!" The zebra yelled in surprise. "Our visitors seems to be SKELETONS!"
"AHHHHHH!" The three mares suddenly took off running, three animated pony skeletons in hot pursuit. Moondancer pushed braches out of the way as the galloped, as the other two kept looking back. As the fleshless horrors closed in on their frightened prey, the three distracted mares ran into a large tree that seemed to come out of nowhere.
"Ugh!" Truly grunted, as the three slammed into the hard wooden surface. Suddenly stopped in their tracks, the ponies and zebra looked on in horror as a large cloud of smoke convalesced in front of them.
"FOOLISH MORTALS!!" the disembodied voice roared. "HOW DARE YOU VIOLATE THE SUBLIME SANCTITY OF MY DOMAIN!"
"W-hat the hay is thait?" Truly asked in horror, as a dark emerged from the darkness and smoke. A ring of flames shot up around the terrified equines, and the two skeletal beasts bowed to the pony who suddenly materialized.
"YOU HAVE TRESSPASSED ON THE DOMICLE OF THE MIGHTY UNICORN, GYPSY!" An orange mare with glowing white eyes and angry expression loomed over them. "AND FOR THAT SIN, YOU MUST PAY THE ULTIMATE PRICE!"
The demonic looking pony roared with laughter, what looked like lightning firing from her hooves.
"Thais is it!" Truly cried out, hugging Zigzag in fear.
"We're doomed!" The zebra wailed, hugging the earth pony back.
"I am Glory, council mare of Queen Majesty's court!" The mare yelled at the terrifying-looking mare in defiance. "I demand to speak to Miss Gypsy Tarot, on a matter of utmost importance!"
"Queen Majesty? Royal councilwoman?" The mare with the tambourine cutie mark's eyes suddenly stopped glowing, and she came back to all fours. "Vell, vhy didn't vou zay zo?"
With a clap of her hooves, the unicorn made the shadows, the skeletons, and the flames all vanish. All that was left behind was a well lit, clearing in the forest, with a quaint little wooden hut at the center. "Zorry about ze illuzion zpell. Please, come inzide! Und ve'll zort evryzing out, darlink."
As the orange unicorn trotted into her abode, the three mares outside collapsed with a sigh of relief.
...
The interior of Gypsy's hut was decorated with colorful treasures of the east. Colorful batik tapestries hung from the walls, and incense poured out from two golden braziers hanging from silver chains on either side of the room. The Romani pony had served each of then piping hot chocolate in a silver cup, then retired to the back to prepare.
"Do you really think this crazy mare can help us?" Zigzag asked, looking around at the creepy decor. "At our arrival, she made such a fuss!"
"She's ah onleh hope naow, Zig!" Truly snorted, taking a sip of her chocolate. "If Moondancah thinks she cain halp, well then I'm gonna give her a chance!"
"A very vise decision, darlink." Gypsy announced proudly, trotting back into the room. " Now, I vill zee if I can help vou get to zee bottom of ziz Zun Zhimmer zituation."
Clad in a veil and golden coin headdress, the orange unicorn sat down next to the scowling Moondancer. The slightly prudish white unicorn didn't really care for this oriental temptress. Sultry and seductive, Gypsy's exotic beauty put even the great legends of the harmony bearer Rarity's looks to shame. Gypsy smelled of spices and oriental perfumes, and even a glance into her lightly painted eyes could melt the heart of any stallion (as her sole visit to Dream Castle had attested). Every mare who got near Gypsy felt... inadequate next to those long legs, and perfect curves of the Roma pony's flank.
Moondancer would have to remember to keep this woman away from the castle once her husband got home.
"Gazer round, my dear mares, und join hooves." Gypsy began to wave her hooves over dark orb in front of her. "Ve must concentrate, for I am not getting a clear picture on zee crystal ball."
"I might have a reason for that, Gypsy." Zigzag replied candidly, cocking an eyebrow. "That's not a crystal ball you have there... that's a bowling ball."
"I... knew zat!" The orange mare looked down, and quickly tossed the obsidian sphere with three holes in it aside. "I must remember not to let zhat mare Surprise come out, und vizit my tent again." She grumbled, levitating the real crystal ball from underneath the table. "Now gazther round zee table, und vatch as zee true tale of Zun Zhimmer unfolds!"
As the four ponies closed their eyes, the translucent orb on the table began to glow...