//------------------------------// // Chapter 1 // Story: Unnatural: A Tale of Metal and Magic // by soothsayer //------------------------------// Trees fled the setting of the sun as their shadowed souls crept along the walls of the simple hut, cuddling his strong form. Ivy jealously clung to cobble walls doing her best to keep its aloof lover from finding solace in the shadowy embrace. The two played out the scenario almost every day before they comprised and shared their lover; later becoming lovers themselves. The hut himself was ordinary but solid. Perhaps that was why the ivy loved him so much. She was intricate and often histrionic; whereas he was stoic and enduring. The ivy hated sharing her one true love with the shadows. Secretly she harbored a strange fascination with the ever changing shadows that bordered on obsession. Nature was ever a fascinating subject and it was all he had for company for many years. Not that trees and animals didn't make good friends because in all of his life he had never found better friends. They were not afraid of him the accepted him as what he was and they never judged him for his eccentricities. Inspire of all his woodland friends that made him feel wanted he couldn't deny his wanting. He wanted to be like everypony else but that was something that was denied him from the very start. The cream colored unicorn toiled away at his small garden. Pulling up a young thistle with a swift yank he eyed the little intruder, ever so slightly wincing at the pain that dug into his hoof. It broad blades were unassuming yet it edges held a sharp danger. Of all the weeds that tried to retake the once wild ground thistles were one of the worst along with thorns, briers, and poison joke. Thistles along with some types of thorns often held some redeeming qualities, like medicinal purposes and tasty berries. Briers were simply a pain and poison joke- was no laughing matter. Toiling away pulling weed after weed he finished just as the sun sunk below the horizon. He would have worked long after sunset and into the night had he not caught a glimpse of a flicker of light in the distance. Dropping onto his belly he watched the little light as it made its way just beyond the limits of his eyes sight. It slowly crossed the little brook that lay down just southeast of his hut. Gulping he hoped that what ever creature carrying the light wouldn't see his earth toned hut in the failing light. The light came to an abrupt halt. His back legs gave a nervous twitched as they prepared to make a hasty escape. Five years he had been here. Five years he enjoyed his isolation. Five years was an incredibly long time to be without the company with which he could converse. He hated being alone. He hated running whenever somepony discovered him. He hated being mocked and shunned. More than anything he hated that he didn't have the courage to face that hatred and endure until somepony saw him for who he was and not what he was. The air tickled his coat as he rushed forward not registering he that he was even moving until he stood face to face with the torch bearer. Moments passed and neither ponies spoke as they looked each other over. One was a cream colored unicorn stallion with a wildly long mint green mane and tail. His muzzle was sharply defined as if it was cast of steel, the only thing giving his face any softness was his warm brown eyes and humorously small goatee. The other was a fierce looking mare with a gray and black striped coat. Her mane was styled in a tall black and white mohawk. She cocked her head side ways, "I do not believe we have met, a friend I may be to you yet" Shaking his head at the old speech pattern he glared at her in disbelief. The universe was a strange thing, it oddly sent him ponies that were as strange as he was every few lustrums. Pawing nervously at the ground, he looked away. "Think, think darn you! Say something or she will leave you like all the others." he thought. "Do not be shy, there are few ponies as un-judgmental as I." she said as she held out her hoof in greeting. He eyed her hoof and slowly raised his own hoof. The two hooves hung their for the longest time but soon the gravitated toward each other meeting with a muted, "Clop". He looked back at her as his lips stretched into a slight smile, "My name is Elmwood Birch!" The mare returned his greeting with a polite smile, "Zecora is my name. When two strangers meet nothing will be the same. And I am glad to see, that I am not the only one who makes their home in the Everfree". "She lives in the Everfree just like me and she keeps calling me friend. Perhaps she is strange enough to not be afraid of me. Who am I kidding! I'm a freak," thought Elmwood. Lost in thought he started to bite his lip. "I hate to cut this chance meeting short, but I have a mission I can not abort," stated Zecora as she looked too the north. "I have never seen you before and I know this part of the Everfree very intimately perhaps I can help you and your quest, umm, mission thing." nervously spat Elmwood. "Looking for the herb Wolves-bane or Monkshood, I would be happy if help you could,". "Follow me," he said as he headed north. The pair walked a short ways along the path until they came to a large water oak, then they cut down hill into a small hollow. Darkness had fallen and the moon light filtered through the canopy. The came to a stop where the two hill on either side of them smoothed out the earth wrapping around the roots of a hickory thicket. Little purple flowers had settled the land around their roots. "My friend you have done good, so quickly helping me find these beautiful specimens of Monkshood." she quipped as she pranced forward and began to gently prod the plants looking for the best ones. "Why do you need Monkshood. There are far less dangerous herbs that have the same medicinal effects," he asked as he walked forward wanting to get a better look at her at work. "Its medical purposes are well understood, learn more about its magical properties we could." she answered as she placed the first of many of the odd plants into her saddle bag. "Researching magical properties requires magic, and don't take this wrong but you're not a unicorn." questioned Elmwood. "Active magic unicorns alone posses. Magic can also be coaxed from leaf, root, bark and stem by an Herbologist." "Herbology?" "Herbology is the study of the magical and medicinal properties of all flora, a skill any pony can learn with even a passive magical aura." She answered as she finished her work. Zecora turned around and saw the doubtful look in his eyes. Rolling her eyes she walked over to him. She noticed he wasn't really looking at her. He sat there caught up in his own thoughts. Flipping her tail she gently smacked him on the end of his muzzle. He quickly snapped out of his thoughts and shot her a confused look. "Some ponies do not believe until they see with their own eyes, so how bout I come show you my skill around five." she giggled. "She hasn't run away, yet. She want to show me how herbology works." Deep in his chest he could feel his heart start to beat faster. "She wants to see me again. I shouldn't be this excited about seeing her again. I'll just end up getting hurt over this and I'll regret it later. Screw regret, its been over five years since I've even talked to anypony. Even if this does turn out to be another lynch mob scenario I can't miss the opportunity to feel like I'm normal," He thought. "That sounds great! I'll fix us a small dinner. How does tea and soup sound?" he said excitedly. "A dinner with you tomorrow would be great, I cannot wait." "Aroo" howled a timberwolf off in the distance. A small shiver made its way down Zecora's spine. Elmwood cocked an ear toward the direction of the sound trying to judge the distance. "We need to get out of here. It isn't close but I don't want it coming any closer." said Elmwood as he pushed his muzzle against Zecoras stifle. The mare let out a little squeak. His eyes fell on her face and he noticed a slight blush on her cheeks. Nervously he gave her a sheepish grin. "I didn't mean-" he started to apologize when she cut him off. "I take no offense at your pushing me, but a safer place we must be." she answered quickly. The two hurried back towards Elmwood's hut, Zecora leading the way. He tried his best but his eyes kept drifting back to her plot. Every time he became aware of what he was looking at he would quickly avert his eyes. "This is just great! The first pony that I have been around in a long time is not only nice but also quite beau..., sexy," Looking back over her shoulder she noticed his preoccupation with her plot, "Do not be so embarrassed by your wandering eye falling on my plot, I myself think it is as the more modern ponies would say, hot!" She said trying not to laugh. "Aroo" another howl tore at the night sky. Despite the danger of the night, Elmwood decided to through caution to the wind as a playful glint started to shine behind his brown eyes. Picking up his pace he craned his neck forward and quickly nipped the spot where Zecora's tail met her bottom. She let out a loud gasp at the playful assault. Laying her ears back she glanced back at him only to notice he was beside her; no he was passing her, and he was laughing. It was infectious and she soon began to laugh too. They raced each other only slowing down as the came upon his home. The slowed down to a fast trot and then to a slow walk. Their breath was labored and the coats were slick with sweat. And they didn't care. His sides ached from the sudden cardiovascular activity. It had been sometime since he had done anything at a fast pace and his lack of exercise had caught up with him. Elmwood heard Zecora take a deep breath as she strolled up to him, "You have given me a pleasant evening that was fun, but too my home I must run." Elmwood gave her a longing look. "Today turned out to be great, why does she have to go now,". "I'll see you tomorrow then," he sighed. Quickly she reached over to him wrapped a foreleg around him and pull him into a half-hug. His head drooped and he nervously started reaching around her shoulder to return it when she pulled away. "Why don't you-" he muttered as she pulled away and started to galloped away. Tears tried to claw their way into his eyes and a dull ache infected his heart. "I hate this. Just as I'm starting to loosen up and have some fun, away she runs. Oh crap! I'm starting to rhyme now,".