Seeking Truth - Ch.1 - Zecora
Radiant sunlight streamed in through the windows of Zecora's house and landed right on the face of the Gryphon that had fought for its life last night.
He woke up when he felt the heat of the sunlight on him. He turned his head so he could open his eyes but dreaded having to do so, knowing that all that would greet him would be the hard insect covered forest floor, and his own broken body that he would have patch up himself. Eventually he stopped trying to avoid the inevitable and opened his eyes.
"This is not the Everfree forest." The Gryphon thought to himself.
He was resting on a bed that looked like it was made out of materials from the forest. He was also covered in a thick blanket made of fur.
The Gryphon looked around the room and recognized the Zebra decorations hanging on the walls. There wasn't much in here though, just the bed, the decorations, one window, a desk, and a nightstand.
The nightstand made the Gryphon pause, his sword was on top of it, and the rest of his equipment was on the floor in front of it.
"I wonder If my savior is trustworthy, naive...," He said reaching out to retrieve his sword. "or just stu.."
The Gryphon stopped mid sentence when he saw his arm. It turned out that whoever had rescued him wasn't so naive after all. They had tied his arms, and most likely his legs as well, to the bed and drugged him so that he would lose all feeling in his limbs, making it impossible to lift them
The sound of the door opening caused him to snap his head up. Well, It would have if he had not been drugged. A Zebra walked it carrying a tray of food. She set it in front of the Gryphon's sword, hiding it from view, then trotted over next to the bed.
"Fond of your weapons you have proven yourself." The Zebra said as she saw his limb arm hanging out trying to reach his sword. She glared down intimidatingly down at the Gryphon and continued. "But in my company, this will prove hazardous to your health."
"Sorry." The Gryphon said.
The Zebra stopped glaring at him and smirked. "What is your name?" she said.
"Seeker, Seeker de Anon, and you are?"
"Zecora is my name. Not one attached to much fame."
"Nice to meet you Zecora, I assume you're the one who moved me here."
"Moved you and healed you my young Gryphon friend. If not for my care, you may well have met your end."
Zecora threw back the blanket so that Seeker could inspect his injuries. The first thing he noticed was that his midsection was wrapped up in bandages, with a pad under the wrappings on his right side. The rest of his body didn't have much on it. Just some dirt, and a few bandages here and there.
Zecora explained to Seeker that all the major damage was on his right side, where the Manticore threw him against the tree. Three of his ribs were broken, and the rest were cracked. His right wing was sprained but it would heal quickly. The rest of the injuries were only a few cuts and bruises.
"Now Seeker, would you please say, why you are in Equestria this fine day."
Seeker was hesitant to reveal too much information to this strange Zebra. He was thankful that she had saved him, but it was obvious that she didn't trust him at all. Still, it was foolish to act like you had a full house when your opponent could see all your cards.
"I'm a scholar from the Gryphon Republic. I'm here in Equestria on my own business."
"What business?"
"I'm looking for information about a magical artifact."
“What kind of artifact?”
Seeker sighed. “A very old bracelet that is of great personal value to me.”
“You said you were a scholar?”
“Yes.”
“Where did you study?”
“What?”
“Where.” Zecora asked getting even closer to the Gryphon. “Did. You. Study?”
“Dair University!”
Zecora suppressed a smile before letting up on the Gryphon. She had already gone through his possessions while he was asleep and found his Passport, and a strange bracelet that must have been the artifact he was talking about. That, coupled with the way the Gryphon had acted during her interrogation, she realized that there was no way he could have been an assassin.
Zecora relaxed now that she knew Seeker was a simple explorer. However, a part of her had actually been hoping to find out that the Gryphon really was an assassin, at least then she would have know weather or not her past was still hunting her.
"I believe you are honest, and good in your quest. Now, how about you eat, then continue your rest."
"No offense Zecora, but I think your going to have to feed me."
Over the course of two weeks, Seeker's wing and cuts fully healed, and his ribs mended to the point where It didn't feel like a knife was being stuck into his side when ever he moved, but not well enough to the point where they could be un-bandaged.
Aside from Physical wounds, Seeker's and Zecora's time together healed some major emotional wounds the two of them had been harboring.
Seeker was able to unload the frustration and despair he felt from having failed his quest. He had been in Equestria for 2 months but hadn't learned a thing about the artifact he had with him, and since the Zebras and Gryphons had been allies for over a thousand years, Zecora finally had someone to talk to who actually understood her and her customs.
They Talked about Griffinus, the continent that was home to The Gryphon Republic and Zebra Kingdoms. Since Zecora had been away from her home for years, Seeker was able to tell her about all the major events that had happened in her absence, and since Seeker was still adjusting to Equestria, Zecora was able to fill him in on a lot of information about the country he hadn't known about.
On the final day of the two weeks, Seeker and Zecora discovered something they had in common that finally solidified their friendship. They had both faced discrimination while in Equstria, something that no pony either of them had ever met knew anything about. It was easy for Seeker to talk about, he had only been in Equestria for a few months and hadn't been affected by anything major. Zecora however, had been away from her home for years. She told Seeker about how hard it was for her to survive when she first arrived in this strange country, about how she was forced to live in exile because no pony would even talk to her, and about how the ponies had treated her like a witch after she had finally found sanctuary in the Everfree forest!
She Started to rant and rave, incredulous at the world for putting her through years of isolation. Eventually her anger faded to sadness and she started crying into the Gryphons shoulder. They stayed like that for the rest of the night and eventually fell asleep. As they did, they felt the weight of their emotional baggage leave them, and they were finally able to fade off into the dream world peacefully.
The next day was the beginning of Seeker's third week with Zecora, it was still early in the morning with sunlight only half streaming through the forest, and many creatures were either falling asleep or just waking up. It was on this day that Seeker decided to tell Zecora exactly why he was looking for information on the bracelet artifact.
Zecora had already told Seeker that she went through his possessions. And he told her that he understood, especially since he seemed so dangerous at the time. At first it hadn't bothered him, but now, after Zecora had been so kind to him, Seeker felt that she deserved to know just why he was here.
"Zecora?" he said as she finished applying new bandages to his injury.
"Yes Seeker?" She replied finishing up.
"The reason I need to find information about the bracelet is because, I think It will tell me where I came from."
"You came from the Republic, Is this not true. What other home could have birthed you?"
Seeker sighed as he continued. "The Gryphon Republic is my home, and yes I've been there all my life. But, my parents didn't give birth to me." Zecora was now sitting down in front of Seeker, clearly interested in hearing more.
"They found out they couldn't have children, so they started wishing for one. On the very first night they did, they said that a storm of lights appeared out of nowhere next to the house, they flew out to It and found me there, a newborn Gryphon with this bracelet..” Seeker held up his bracelet in front of him. “Hanging around my arm."
Zecora smiled and shook her head, then stood up. "A child of magic is what you are. Not the first, and not the last, certainly by far."
Seeker eyes widened and he jumped up, ignoring a sting of pain in his side. "Wait! You know where I came from?"
"My word Seeker, calm yourself dear. I do not have the answers you seek I fear."
"Oh." Seeker said, feeling his hope being replaced with despair.
"However, there is a young Pony nearby who is very wise. Go to her, and the answers to your questions may be revealed to your eyes."
Zecora told Seeker everything he needed to know about Twilight and the rest of Ponyville. She gave him a note that would ensure Twilight could trust him, and a map that would lead him safely out of the forest.
After a few minutes of preparation, Seeker came out of Zecora’s house wearing the same equipment that was on him the night he had fought the Manticore. As he walked up to Zecora to say goodbye, he noticed that she was looking at him strangely.
“What?” he asked. “Is something wrong?”
Zecora bit her lip and looked off into the distance before saying. “No my friend, nothing is wrong. You just remind me of a foe I haven't seen in very long.”
“Foe, what do you mean?”
Zecora looked back toward the Gryphon who had shared a major secret of his with her, she knew it would be wrong if she didn’t do the same.
“I did not leave my home of my own free will, But instead forced to flee by enemies who I believe hunt me still.”
“Wait, What!” Seeker said suddenly becoming alarmed. “Zecora, What did you do?”
The Zebra simply closed her eyes shook her head. “That story I will tell you once you have finished your quest.” Zecora went to the young Gryphon and embraced him in a quick hug before adding. “Farewell Seeker, and may your luck be at its best.”
The two separated and Seeker launched himself into the air then started flying in the direction indicated by Zecora’s map. As he glided through the sky along with the morning sun and a few white clouds, Seeker was confident that he was finally on his way to the end of his quest.