//------------------------------// // Book Two: Chapter Nine // Story: Wishing Well // by Nobrains //------------------------------// Book Two: Chapter Nine They had been talking about you for what felt like hours now. You were still feigning your unconscious state quite effectively. In fact, you were quite impressed with yourself right now. It seemed all this time spending in life threatening situations had really upped your survival instincts. “I'm almost certain he was just wandering around the forest,” one voice said with a slight hesitation. Another voice cut through the air like a sharp sword. “I saw him going into the halls with a unicorn. They were up to something. Why are you so quick to dismiss this creature's guilt?” “You asked him a question, and then smacked him across the side of his skull with your spear. That's not how you get an answer you dolt. At least give him a chance to speak.” So they were divided regarding your guilt. Apparently the monastery you had delved into had been some sort of holy grounds for them. It added up quite well, considering the markings upon the wall being of a date lesser than the walls resided upon. Wherever you were, it was a lot warmer than the outside slosh you were stuck in earlier before your little trek of misery, so you had to assume you were in doors. You heard the crackle of fire as well. “Are we just going to wait until he wakes up or...?” “Oh I know how much you'd like to stab him in his sleep, but I swear, if you even try to do something like that, I will have your head.” “Whatever you say then.” You heard steps leave the area and it was silent, the fire the only thing you could hear. That didn't last long however, as whomever remained approached your spot on the ground. A light kick to the side of your body greeted you. You tried not to react, rolling over by the force of the blow. “You can cut the act now,” the voice called out. He sounded drained. You slowly opened your eyes, looking upwards into what the interior of what might have been a yurt. That kind of gave you a guess as to what was going on, but instead left you clueless. Well, that was until you saw the zebra looking at you with pale blue eyes. “Ahh, finally... sit up, will you?” The command was passive, but firm. You complied quickly and stood up. He handed you a small wooden cup full of some sort of dark liquid. You eyed it suspiciously. Turning it over into the cup. The hoof of the zebra caught you in the side, and you nearly dropped the cup. “Take the drink. It will warm your innards,” this time it wasn't passive. You weren't in a position to fight back, so again, you did what you were told. You took a sip and began to hack. It was hot and thick, but it tasted sweet, yet... grounded. “What is this?” You asked, finally managing to swallow it down. “Warm sap from the trees,” he stood back and smiled pleasantly, now beginning to pace through the small yurt. He came back to the fire that was in the center of the yurt, its smoke wafting up through an opening at the top of the tent. “I could make you more, if you wish.” You imagined putting more of that down your throat. Not without a few pancakes going with it, you promised yourself. “I think I'll pass.” The zebra shrugged, the rings on each of his ears jingling just the slightest. “I've done what I can to be polite, but now I need answers. What exactly were you doing wandering around on sacred ground? Lamar said he saw you wandering across the dead city.” Whoa, this must have been the source of the smoke you were seeing from up there. It turns out, they were looking right back at you. Creepy. Still, if you had known that that was their ground, you and Twilight might have stayed off it. Twilight... The sweet taste in your mouth was replaced by bitter resentment. As much as you liked the warmth, you had to get back out there. You were already beginning to grow antsy. “Hello? Still with us?” The zebra waved his hoof in front of your eyes, trying to recapture your attention. You spoke, your voice distant. “Oh uh sorry... we were looking for the place and-” “You were looking for the dead city? Why?” He looked to be becoming a bit impatient himself. “There was something there.. we were told to go there,” you really didn't want to let off too much, but you wanted to assure whoever this was that you weren't there to defile the land. “Somebody just told you? Who was it? Talk to me, creature!” He was right in your face now, demanding answers now. You backed up and eyed him angrily. You were so tired of all this, you weren't going to let somebody like this push you around. “I don't know, dammit! Give me a break!” He sighed and backed off, returning to the fire. “Of course you wouldn't know, led on by empty words no doubt, that's what some zebras here say to me everyday.” “Just who are you?” You asked. “I am the shaman of this tribe, or a witchdoctor I suppose. You haven't even looked outside, you are surrounded by yurts just like this one. This forest is our home, and you were walking right through it, right up to our most sacred of places.” He went over to where a small rack full of mortars were, likely filled with herbal concoctions. He looked through them quickly, before dismissing them for not having anything he wanted. “Why did you want me?” You realized you were now the one asking questions. Perhaps you were more in control of the situation than you thought. “I just wanted answers to the questions I asked was all,” the witchdoctor said. “But I also likely saved your life. You'd be surprised how close to frostbite your claws were out there unprotected in this queer weather.” You looked at your hands, turning them over and over. You were delirious out there likely, distraught and hurt. You weren't actually surprised to hear about how much at risk you were exposed to the elements. The signs of a simple cold were already starting to show, as you felt congestion within your chest, and that was just great. Wouldn't stop you from getting to Twilight though.... except for whatever that shadow thing was... “And the unicorn you were with... who was she?” He pressed on, once again pulling you back into reality. “My friend, but the darkness took her-” “What did you say?” He rushed across the yurt in front of you, his eyes strained with sudden horror and fear. “What did you say? Tell me!” “There was a darkness under the monastery! It took her, left me out in the forest! I don't know why it wanted her! But now I'm alone and she's gone and-” The witchdoctor ran out of the tent leaving you alone. You heard him calling out, trying to get everyone's attention. You stood up and poked your head outside into the chilly air. It was still snowing to no one's surprise. He was not kidding when he had mentioned all the yurts. There was dozens of them, and you couldn't believe they just stayed secluded so easily. A place this big, you were surprised you hadn't stumbled into them before. The witchdoctor was standing around, getting other zebras clad in rings and chains to come to his attention. They all eyed him with skeptical eyes. “Everyone! Everyone! Please, this is urgent!” They all shuffled lazily towards him. He frowned, seeming unhappy with how they were all handling his exasperation. It was then that he mentioned something you didn't understand, but got all the locals rushing over to him, shouting about in confusion. “Kalahiri! Kalahiri! It is here! It is back! It's coming true!” The witchdoctor shouted again and again as zebra after zebra flooded into the group forming around him. “We're doomed!” One zebra shouted, being forced quiet by his peers. One zebra pushed out from the throng, his face covered in black paint, his eyes fierce with red. He had the look of some sort of tribal warrior you might see in the days of the Native Americans prominence back on earth. He went right up to the witchdoctor and poked him in the chest with his hoof. “What do you think you're doing getting my zebras all frenzied and panicked? I ought to have you sent back your yurt with one of your rings pulled right off by my own teeth.” The shaman zebra removed the hoof from his chest calmly. “I mean to inform, not to panic my fellows.” The black painted zebra looked around at all the others surrounding them, looking as scared as could be. “I don't think you did a very good job of that then, witchdoctor.” “Regardless, I have a reason for this, and I will explain,” he walked by him, and looked to the crowd. The black painted one grumbled and looked in your direction, catching you peeking out of the yurt. His eyes darkened, and you pulled your head back into the tent, suddenly afraid. You went back to the spot where you had awoken and sat. Somehow, you had never felt as unwelcome as the second you were spotted by the red eyed zebra. You felt like you had done the right thing, slipping back out of sight. You tried to listen to what the witchdoctor was saying out there, but couldn't make out a thing. One thing was certain though, he really roused the crowd with that thing he said. Kalahiri... that sounded like some sort of Indian food. Well, at least to yourself. To them, it was some sort of horror. It had to be, since he ran out of the tent quickly after your mentioning of the shadow. Maybe if you got a chance to ask, you would see about learning a bit more. In truth, you were half expecting that zebra to come in, just to get to you. He never came though, and you sat there, worried that you were still wasting time. Yet, you felt like you were stuck here. You weren't sure you could just sneak away either, and would you even survive out there? You stared at the fire, thinking all this over until the witchdoctor came in, the sound of the crowds outside dying off slowly. He seemed drained, and didn't even bother to acknowledge you. He went over to the fire to warm himself and closed his eyes for a long moment. “Uhh-” you said, wondering just what was up. “Is everything okay?” “No, Kuulu, it is not. It seems that my suspicions have been confirmed...” He had not opened his eyes yet, but took a deep breath. Wait.. what? “What did you call me?” You asked. He smiled, and you felt him looking at you, despite his covered eyes. “It is the name of the one who would unleash the Kalahiri, whether by knowledge or unsuspectingly. “I didn't set anything free,” you explained. “We were just looking for something...” The witchdoctor frowned. “For one such as you, I'm quite surprised you'd think that it could be that simple. Kuulu, nothing is ever so incomplex.” “And what do you mean by that?” “It means,” he began, finally opening his eyes. “That you shouldn't just look at recent events. What else have you done in this land, Kuulu?” Well that makes things a bit more clear, but you had already taken care of what you thought you had caused. The hellspawn were nowhere to be found... that wasn't something of their origin, was it? It couldn't be. “It will come to you, I'm sure,” his voice was comforting, but you couldn't help but feel like he wasn't telling you outright for a reason. It was then that another zebra came in from outside. It wasn't the black painted one you had feared would come in, but it was a young one, likely on the verge of become a full fledged adult. He took one look at you, and rushed over to the witchdoctor, nervous as could be. “You asked for me, witchdoctor?” His eyes were full of electricity, the naivety within them strong and constant. You knew those eyes would grow weary and plain, sooner than later. You wondered what your own eyes looked like right about now. “Ah, yes. Avorak, would you mind keeping an eye while I make a trip up to the dead city?” He seemed stunned by the task. “Of course! But why must you leave to the dead city so soon? We will most likely need you here, now that we know Kalahiri is free once more.” “That is precisely why I must leave, young one. I must take Kuulu there, he alone must see what has happened, through our eyes, and his own.” He gestured towards you, a stone straight look upon his face. Avorak looked at you with wide eyes. “He is Kuulu? How can you keep him here? Surely he must be punished.” You might have taken offense to that, but you really couldn't get over the fact that they wanted to bring you back to the monastery. This might be the chance you needed to get to Twilight. Maybe they were both still down there... festering. “When do we leave?” You suddenly asked. “As soon as Lamar and his escort arrive,” the witchdoctor answered, moving over to his rack of motors. He retrieved one small bowl and brought it over to the fire. “This could be anytime from a few minutes to an hour. The war chief tends to have little grasp on time. In fact, we all do, for we are clawless,” he shook his hoof and laughed. He stopped when he realized he was simply returned a quizzical from you. The witchdoctor took the bowl he was holding and tossed whatever was in it into the fire, causing the fire to roar and turn blue for a long moment. You watched with wide eyes as a strange scent filled the room. It almost smelled like lavender, which was about as pleasant of a smell as one could enjoy. “To calm the nerves while we wait,” the witchdoctor explained. Eventually, Lamar came, and it was indeed the pony clad in black face paint along with a few of his warriors. You were once again the subject of a dirty look as he came to the witchdoctor. “I assume you and Kuulu are ready to leave?” “Surely, let me just make sure Kuulu is prepared appropriately,” he went over to a small chest to the side of the rack that contained the herbal substances. He pulled forth a short cloak, clearly made for a zebra. He brought it to you. “It may not be much, Kuulu, but anything that could suffice better than your current garb alone.” Couldn't argue with that. The second you were ever able to get a jacket here, you would be one happy camper. For now though, this light undersized cloak would have to suffice. “Now, Kuulu,” Lamar began, focusing his attention on you. “You aren't going to be a liability for me and my zebras, will you?” “N-no, sir,” you answered with complete honesty. He nodded. “Good. Then let's be on our way.” Wow, you thought he would have been a lot angrier than what he sounded like. Guess you got off lucky, especially with this label they've given you now. Kuulu. What a silly little name. You once again poked your head out of the opening of the yurt, and once again you felt the coolness upon your face and wanted nothing more than to be warm. Unfortunately, you were pushed out by your zebra companions and any hope of retreat into warmer climate was gone. They pushed you ahead of the rest. “You're not going to leave our sight, Kuulu,” Lamar said, his tone sounding final. “Where would I even go?” You questioned as you left the camp, the rest of the tribals watching you from the comfort of their tents. Those prying eyes... “I don't know, Kuulu, but I don't need you causing more trouble than what you've already done,” you felt a jab in your back, a reminder from him to you that he was breathing right down your neck. Led along down a slightly traveled path, where the snow was packed in by hooves, you began to ponder exactly what you had done. Was it just in your natural habit to screw everything up for everyone? It seemed that way, but the way they were speaking, it sounded like you had unleashed that shadowy wave that had taken Twilight away. That was impossible. You couldn't have. You had righted your wrongs back at Canterlot, why were you suddenly to blame for all of this? All this blame could be taken with a grain of salt for all you cared, though. It was time to take this with a grain of salt, because a unicorn far more important than your pathetic self was in danger. You began to pick up your pace. “Whoa, whoa. Kuulu, where do you think you're going?” You turned back to them. Damn, you could see your motivation really set in there, you were about to leave them all in the dust. Lamar came rushing up to you, his look fierce. “You think you can just leave me and my party? Just run off ahead? I should have you be made an example to others, I should-” “War Chief, he's in my custody, not yours,” the witchdoctor calmly trotted up to you just as Lamar was about to poke you in your belly with his hoof. Lamar didn't look too frightened by the witchdoctor, but backed off regardless. “I lead this tribes warriors. I don't think the clan chief would argue too much if Kuulu was punished for his crimes already, especially if it was me performing the punishment.” “That's all well then, but until you get permission from the clan chief, I'm afraid you cannot harm him,” the witchdoctor looked at you. “You will behave yourself, won't you?” You tiredly nodded. All this distrust between their people alone was enough to make you think that in the end, you were going to end up on a pike in the middle of their village sometime. Of course, you could just keep telling yourself you've been in worse situations. For the remainder of the trip, you knew you were likely going to get yelled at if you even bothered to turn around, so you just kept going where they told you to, without answering back. If only they knew you were on their side besides the witchdoctor. Then again, he hadn't really said anything that really implied he understood where you were coming from, he just gave you a name and sent you along with the rest of them. The familiar pillar presented themselves, but this time something felt off about them. You understood their contrast against the snow, but something else seemed to be giving it all a dark hue. This was clearly ill in nature, and even the witchdoctor pointed it out, tapping his hoof along a fallen pillar. “Kalahiri has indeed left its mark here.” Upwards you went, nothing seeming any better, but all the omens in the world really wouldn't have stopped you or these persistent zebra. You hardly knew anything about them, but here they were guiding you back up to the place where the other half of you had been taken away, claiming you should see what you had potentially caused. The sound of water could suddenly be heard. You had been keeping your eyes on your feet the whole way up, so not to miss a step, so when you heard the sound you stopped. “Kuulu, you're really pushing your luck now,” Lamar commented from behind. “Don't you hear that?” You asked, trying to keep an ear on the rushing water. It was getting more intense. “Hear what? What are you playing at?” It was drilling into your brain now. It was coming down. You all had to get out of there right now. You couldn't hear anything else now. “Turn around! Go down! Go down!” “Are you as insane as the stories tell, Kuulu? I knew I should of ran you through. I won't make the same mistake agai-” He looked up the pathway behind you, his eyes growing wide. “Kalahiri! It's coming down! Turn back!” Little did you know, the others had already seen it, and it was simply just you and Lamar up there in the midst of it all. His obliviousness was going to be the death of you. You bolted right by him. “Hurry the hell up!” “You don't tell me what to do, Kuulu!” But he did indeed heed your advice, galloping down beside you. You were going down fast, and the shadowy substance from before could be seen washing down the hills every time you looked back. Apparently, you had both been going too fast. Lamar began to trip over himself, bumping you and causing you to flip forward. This zebra chief was really trying to put you out right now, wasn't he? No, he wouldn't have tried to kill himself in the process as well, you knew that much. When all was said and done, you were sure you would be the one with some choice words for the other. You collided with the steps hard, spinning out and onto the snowy exterior of the hill, catching a few of the outreaching branches that pressed into the steep hillside. Of course, that couldn't be the end of it. Apparently, Lamar had made sure he would follow after you, pummeling into your back, making your descent to the flat snowy forest floor all the faster and more painful. You rolled out a few more times when you got to the floor, and sent all the snow on the ground flying every which way. Almost wanting to cry, you lugged yourself upwards, turning to the hill you had just fell down. The darkness was still coming and you hastily looked around for the zebra that had just put you through a world of pain. He was rolling over in the snow, trying to get up himself. He was saying something undecipherable, likely of unflattering origin. You rushed over to him and pulled him up. He didn't say a thanks, but simply ran by you, trying to join back up with the party that was now a group of shadows amongst the trees. You yourself couldn't hope to keep up with the main party on your own, but Lamar seemed to know what he was doing, and despite him practically just leaving you for dead, you followed after. He turned back and cursed in his language again. “Be gone, Kuulu! I don't want you anywhere near me!” You shook your head, beginning to break into a sprint after him. He was still far ahead, and you knew you couldn't keep up with something on four legs with your measly two, but if you had learned anything, it was that you just had to keep pushing yourself. And you did. You kept up with him the majority of the way, cutting through tree after tree. You could see every bit of your hot haggard breath before you, and you were sweating despite the temperature, but you kept up. Something began to bother you though. You turned around once, looking to see if the substance was still trailing after you and Lamar. Nothing, nothing but trees were behind you now. “Wait!” You called out after him. Surprisingly, he stopped and turned around. What had been bothering you must have been tearing at him as well. There was still nothing chasing after you, and it was now just you alone in the forest. He scanned the area, looking around in all directions as you walked up to him. “Why would it stop chasing us?” He asked, his red eyes strained with apprehension. “I don't know,” you simply answered. “Maybe it just retur-” You were immediately tackled to the ground by the war chief. He bashed his hoof into the side of your face once before pulling you upwards until your nose was against his snout. “What game are you playing, Kuulu? I can leave you just like how I found you: dying in these woods. Tell me why you're doing this.” “I'm not doing anything! Get off of me!” You pressed your hand into his face, pushing him back. “Stop accusing me of shit I didn't do!” He tried to throw another hoof, but you pulled your head back just in time to avoid it. You threw him off with a quick jerk, and he rolled once into the snow before immediately coming back onto his legs. You hurried to your feet and threw your arms up. If things were going to resort to this, then you had no choice but to defend yourself. Before you two could even move another step, a figure ran in between both of you, telling you to cease. “Lamar, the clan chief will hear about this!” “Damn you, Witchdoctor. You coddle this horrible being like it did nothing wrong. You called him Kuulu yourself before any of us.” “I may have, but he was not directly responsible.” That was it. “What have I done? What did I do this time?! Somebody, please tell me!” You weren't going to beat around the bush anymore. You were tired of this enigmatic bullshit you were fed by everyone since you had gotten here. You wanted answers, you wanted them now. “If you do not know, then it is not in my right to tell you,” was the answer you received. “AHH!” You wanted to throw yourself at something now, you were so mad. Everything was falling apart, what was the point to all this? You told yourself nothing was going to stop you from getting to Twilight, but here it was. “Calm yourself Kuulu,” the witchdoctor advised, moving to you. “You don't understand! I've lost everything that mattered to me.. I can't even-” you screamed in pain as you felt a kick to your shin. You fell to your knees. The witchdoctor stood over you now, his voice thundering. “You will calm yourself, lest you wish to pay the price.” You remained quiet, returning to your feet. Suddenly, Lamar wasn't the most frightening individual amongst the group. Speaking of group... “Where... where did all the others go?” You asked, wondering why it was just you three. “They had separated from me, wanting to head back to the village as quickly as possible. It is wise that we return there as quick as possible ourselves.” Lamar growled. “They were assigned to keep you safe, not leave you alone in the forest. I will have them punished for this insubordination.” The witchdoctor closed his eyes, his patience beginning to run out again. “You would punish us all at some point in time, war chief. This is why you were not made to guide this tribe.” “I don't care what you think. This tribe left the native land centuries ago to get away from zebras like you! You and your... mystical... m-” “Why they left had nothing to do with our brothers and sisters. Your ignorance knows no bounds, Lamar. It is a baffling phenomenon you’re even War Chief.” “ENOUGH! I am done! We will return to our village, and all who have stepped out of line will be punished accordingly,” Lamar was practically spitting flames as he pushed past the witchdoctor, whose face was practically chiseled marble set in a single unamused expression. You followed them both silently, not wanting anymore conflict. You could be hated, spited, whatever, you just wanted to make progress in whatever direction was positive, and this was your best bet. “It should be just around here...” Lamar said, jumping over a puddle of icy mud. “Right about-” he suddenly fell silent. “What is it?” The witchdoctor said, trotting up to his side. “Oh... no...” Jogging over to the two, you looked out to see what was just a smoldering patch of blackness smeared across a clearing. The village they had hoped to return to had been wiped away. That was where the darkness had gone. “Kalahiri has begun...” the witchdoctor whispered behind a shaky breath.