Nigma and Chilly Quill walked alongside Xion around a bend along the edge of the Everfree, noticing the sign they had unfortunately hadn’t seen earlier. True to his word, Xion’s hut could be seen right down the second path, a simple wooden tent-like structure in between two large oak trees. There was a ladder leading to a hole in the left tree. Xion walked up to the door of his hut, opening it for the two. “Be welcome in my home, ponies. All are welcome who need a place to stay, without exception.”
Nigma smiled as Xion said his rehearse and well practiced speech. “You sound like a lot of ponies come here.”
Xion shrugged. “My herbal knowledge is well needed in hospitals that require antidotes that they themselves cannot acquire. I often find myself being the host of a doctor or two.”
Chilly Quill yawned. “That’s nice and all, but do you have anyplace to sleep while you two go about your business? I’m exhausted after trotting about the forest.”
“We wouldn’t have had to walk through it if you had bothered to pay attention.” Nigma said through grinding teeth.
Xion ignored the angry response, nodding towards a broad-leaf couch. “If you need to rest your mind and your hooves, I’d be happy to offer my couch to you.” XIon hadn’t quite finished his sentence before Chilly rushed over to the couch, falling asleep almost instantly. Xion resisted a chuckle as he turned back to Nigma. “Now what kind of herbs do you require, my friend? I hope that after all you’ve experienced in the forest, you haven’t forgotten what you’ve traveled here for.”
Nigma blinked for a moment before reaching into his saddlebag, pulling out Wild Mint’s list. “I never actually looked at the list yet but Chilly assured me that the only things that were left you could supply us with.” A loud snore came from the sleeping pony, making Nigma roll his eyes. “Of course with him talking all day I’m not sure about half the things he said.”
Xion grinned as he was handed the note. “Chilly Quill always had a habit of heavy conversation when the subject is of his interest. I often found it difficult to leave his shop because of that.” Xion scanned the list before nodding. “Mindless talking aside, he did make sure your journey wasn’t in vein. Everything you have left I have with me. I’m also the only one the would otherwise have such exotic plants.” Xion started wandering his hut, rifling through various cupboards and pots. “Tell me, child; why would you need such things? They’re certainly not going to be cheap, and it will be quite some time before I can gather up another supply.”
Nigma shrugged, almost unaware of what Wild Mint actually needed it for. “I think Mint is going to use it for some of his teas. With him, though, it’s hard to tell.”
Xion reached up into a high cupboard, wiggling his hoof to keep his balance. “Well I’m sure that Wild Mint would know what he’s doing if tea is involved. Anything revolving around herbal drink that pony seems to know better than the back of his hoof.”
Xion walked up to Nigma with four small sacks full of herbs, which he promptly put into his saddlebag. He pulled out his pouch of bits and payed Xion an amount they agreed on. Afterword, Nigma sat next to Chilly Quill, who was still sound asleep. “How long does it take for you to gather up these herbs anyway? You seem to have quite the supply and variety.”
Xion shrugged, poking his hoof into a pot. “It depends on the herb. The ones you requested take an awful long time, considering their rarity. It’s why I required such a large payment. It will be a few months before I can restock them.”
Nigma flinched. “I don’t suppose you’d be willing to set aside some every harvest for our tea shop?”
Xion smiled warmly as he tossed Nigma a fresh apple. “I would be glad to do so, Nigma. Those herbs I hardly use myself. I only kept a small supply in case ponies like yourselves show up in need of them.” Xion pulled out a second apple, taking a small bite out of it before continuing. “Besides, I’ve always wanted to try out Wild Mint’s tea’s myself. I’ve heard about them from everypony I come across in Ponyville but he’s never been in the mood to make a cup for me when I visit.”
Nigma snorted. “I don’t even hear much about his teas. People are always so vague when they talk about it.”
Chilly Quill twitched in his sleep as his horn sparked a bit. The others were too enraptured by their own banter to pay the anomaly much mind at first, but the sparks soon became larger than they could ignore. A brilliant light emanated from his horn as the two backed away in fear. Xion glanced over at Nigma, gesturing to Chilly’s horn. “I don’t suppose that this is natural for a unicorn?”
“Not that I’m aware of!” Nigma managed to say through staggered breaths.
The light grew brighter as Chilly slowly began to float in the air. Objects around him began to hover in circles as the sleeping pony began to be enveloped in his own power. Chilly tilted his head back as the bubble of energy began to suffuse the room. With a jerk though, Chilly simply sneezed and the power winked out as though it were preparing the ultimate power to purge his nose.
Chilly fell back onto couch along with all the items that had followed him up, startling himself as he woke up with a jolt. “What’s going on?” He said drowsily. “I was having a good dream!”
Xion frowned, walking up to Chilly and putting a hoof on his forehead. “You remember nothing of what just happened? You didn’t even have a nightmare?”
Chilly yawned, scratching his head. “I just remember jumping into a pile of fluffy pillows and waking up like I’d fallen off my bed again.
Xion walked off with a huff, going back to his apple. “I do not believe that was a simple reaction like it looked like. I hope you don’t mind if I as you two to leave.”
Nigma tensed, feeling like he was just slapped. “I thought we were welcome in your home. What have we done wrong?” He normally didn’t feel like arguing with people during matters like this, but it was unfair to be removed due to an accident that did no harm.
Xion tossed another apple towards Chilly, who caught it absently. “Do not mistake my request. I am not too fond of wild magic like your friend demonstrated. Power must always be contained, otherwise bad things happen. I do not wish my house to be endangered by a mistake.”
Chilly and Nigma nodded with a slight disappointment. They left Xion’s house without another question, pausing only when they had exited the hut to thank the Zebra. “I must thank you as well.” He responded with a nod. “I do not expect you to understand my fears, but I am grateful that you honor them. Tell Wild Mint that I will visit him sometime after you two open your shop.”
Chilly and Nigma walked back into town mostly in silence, brooding over the sudden exit they were forced to make. Nigma had hoped to learn more about the kind Zebra, being the only one he had seen in this world yet. Chilly was more concerned about his nap being interrupted, his horn sparking as he sniffled. he
Nigma glanced nervously at Chilly’s horn, distancing himself from the sparks as they shot out. “Why is your horn doing that? I didn’t think we sparked unless we were sick?”
Chilly sniffed, rubbing his nose experimentally. “I don’t feel sick. I just have a runny nose is all.” Even as he said that though, he sneezed again and shot out a beam of light.
Nigma frowned feeling Chilly’s forehead. He felt normal despite everything. Maybe his horn was just acting up? “I think you should head home and take some medicine. Maybe you just had too much excitement today.” Another sneeze followed, this one sending off a small cloud.
“You’re probably right.” Chilly said, yawning. “I’m not used to doing so much in one day.” He began to stumble away from Nigma, heading in what looked like a random direction.”
Nigma grabbed Chilly by the tail to stop him. “Where are you going? I thought your house was down the main street?”
Chilly shook his head. “I’m actually closer to the residential than the commercial district. This is a shortcut. Trust me.”
Nigma didn’t want to leave the pony alone but admitted that he would know more about getting about town than he would. Besides that he needed to get back to Wild Mint and see how the cleaning was going.
Nigma said his goodbyes and watched Chilly walk off, flinching when the pony sneezed out bubbles. He wasted no time getting though town back to the shop, pausing only at Crabapple’s to say hello and put in an order for a new bed. He knew Rose wouldn’t mind sleeping on the couch for a while but sooner or later they were going to need a third bed. He thought against buying anything else for the spare room. Rose would want to have it furnished to her own interests.
With the order place Nigma walked back to the shop, pulling out his list as he approached the door. As he unfurled the paper he thought he heard a crackle off in the distance but ignored it and continued to read. Satisfied that he had gotten everything on the list, Nigma nodded and walked into the shop, shouting that he had returned.
He was greeted by a shriek from up above. “Would you just hold still for a moment?” Mint growled. I’ve almost got you out!” There was a creak of wood panels and another shriek, which Nigma realized was Rose Wind.
Nigma glanced up and found the two ponies on the ceiling. Rose had reverted to her changeling form at some point and had gotten her horn jammed into the ceiling. Wild Mint was completely upside down and yanking her by the waist in an attempt to get her out. How Mint was on the ceiling was a mystery, but Nigma could swear he could see plungers on his hind legs.
Nigma backed up as he heard a squeal from the wood and watched as the two fell onto the floor. He grinned as the two looked up at him, both rubbing their heads. “So what did I miss?”
Rose groaned as she used her magic to go back into her usual disguise. “You don’t want to know.” She trotted over to a dropped feather duster and fluttered off, resuming a long forgotten dusting job.
Nigma glanced over at Wild Mint but was answered with a shrug. “It’s a long story. Did you have any luck on your end?”
Nigma nodded, pulling the various bags and pouches of herbs. “These should last us a while until we make enough money to buy more. I sorta lost Chilly on the way back, by the way.”
“Oh that’s fine.” Mint said, dismissing the issue before he could hear the rest. “Rose and I managed to get a little bit done while you were away.” Nigma glanced around at the still dusty room and the pile of wood scraps. From what he could tell the only thing that had been touched was the bar in the back.
A sound came from upstairs and Nigma drowned out Mint, who had himself gotten distracted and had started arguing with Rose. He walked upstairs and into his room to find that the statue of Discord had begun to glow. “Oh it’s about time someone heard me!” Discord said, static flowing though like the connection wasn’t good.
“It’s good to hear from you my lord.” Nigma said, smiling at the statue. “Where are you at? No doubt somewhere far off an fascinating.”
An image began to materialize over the statue, showing Discord’s upper body. “I’m somewhere fascinating alright! What have you been doing to Ponyville?”
Nigma frowned, glancing out the window. Nothing seemed wrong with the marketplace. “I don’t understand what you mean.”
Discord scowled. “Well take a look for yourself.” The image blurred for a moment but settled on a bird’s eye view of Ponyville that made Nigma scream. Half of the residential district had been consumed in a bowl of energy, the dome sparking and flaring with fire. Horrific shapes that Nigma couldn’t pin names to wandered the streets, consuming the populace or destroying buildings. In the midst of the nightmare, Nigma could hear the dim echo of someone sneezing.
NIgma slammed his head into the nightstand. “I only left him for a couple minutes!”