//------------------------------//
// Ch2 I Am Intrigued… 
// Story: Never Meant to Be 
// by Priceless911 
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               Using a staff as a crutch, Zeil stood in front of a mirror as he removed the final bandage. Once he saw that this one was healed too, he mumbled to himself, “they are all gone… well, all but the stitched cut on my back. And it was all done by that paste stuff. Two days and I'm almost back to normal. And with this new scar, I finally have a flaw to this form.”

As Zeil looked at the zebra appearance that he chose to take, he started turning himself to get a closer look. When it came to choosing a form, changelings would always focus on a flaw rule. Meaning that no matter their form, there was always a major flaw that could easily identify them as an individual. This way, they would bring less attention to themselves when they were being hunted by others. However, Zeil’s zebra form seemed to hold no flaws other than his cutiemark or as Zecora called it, a placement mark. Since he had never seen a male zebra before he just guessed by throwing characteristics together. A short, black and white mane that draped a little over his face. A short but straight tail wrapped in a simple cloth at its base. Slightly fewer stripes than he could see on Zecora’s face, and just for appeal, green eyes. With this appearance and the alibi he thought up just this morning, he knew he could easily hold out his disguise for at least two more days, which was all he would need to regain the rest of his strength. He could only hope that he didn’t say or do anything to reveal himself too soon. 

Just then, Zecora entered her home as she saw Zeil and smiled, “You’re up and standing, and so soon too. The medicine worked, it’s completely healed you.”

Zeil turned to Zecora as he shook his head, “Close, actually all my small wounds are healed. The stitching on my back isn’t completely healed yet. And my bones feel healed, but they are still very sore.”

Zecora smiled as she trotted to a chest and replied, “That paste will help, it is an ancient mix. For all wounds and bone, it will always fix. But the stich on your back… I'm confused to say, with you properly resting… that should have gone away.”

Zeil started thinking to himself, it was possible that the main reason that the stitching isn’t completely healed yet is because his changeling form is missing an appendage from that particular spot, but since Zecora was still unaware of what he was, he only shrugged his shoulders, “Well… maybe it was just too deep. Everypo… Zebra knows that the worse a wound is, the longer it takes to heal. And if that paste stuff speeds up healing it would still play by the same rules wouldn’t it?”

Zecora thought to herself for a second then replied, “The cut wasn’t deep, though wide enough to sew. But the logic you’re stating… I could assume so. Anyways, since you are up and about might I ask? Could you help me with completing a task?”

Zeil gave Zecora a curious look as he used the staff to trot towards her, “A task? What task?”

Zecora continued, “A mighty minotaur, strong and quite stress, has asked for a cure, to help his baldness. The potion is complex, with much in the recipe, but some of the ingredients, I do not have with me. I need to go out, and search the Everfree, but it should be all day… and… I'd like… the um… company…”

After her explanation, Zecora put most of her attention on getting her things together as a ploy to hide her blushing face. Still trying to ignore her flirting, Zeil replied, “Well I have been cooped up here for a few days now, so I would be happy to help you gather what you need. Although, you will have to excuse me if I slow you down. I am still a little sore and this staff is the only thing holding me up.”

Zecora smiled as she secured her saddlebag to her back and opened the door, “Don’t worry Zine, your pace is what we will make, plus no need to rush if there is nothing at stake. The ingredients I need, there are two on my list, a poison joke blossom, and some northern forest mist.”

Zeil had never heard of the ingredients before, but since Zecora seemed to know what she was doing, Zeil just nodded his head as he used the staff to follow Zecora out the door, “Well, if you know where they are, then I'll follow you.”

Just as the two had exited the home and started to trot around it, Zeil stopped and looked over at the thorn bush that he had fallen into a few days ago. He could see a small part of his severed wing sticking out the bottom. Though he was glad to see it was still there, he still couldn’t feel relieved since the wound on his back was closed and half healed. As he stood there Zecora stopped and asked, “Zine what’s wrong? Are you tired already? We can slow down, if you need the path to be steady.”

Zeil shook his head as he replied, “Oh… no it’s nothing, I thought I saw a bunny just now. I guess it’s just my imagination.” 

Zecora smiled, “A cute little bunny is very rare to see. They can’t survive well, here in the Everfree. This forest holds dangers, but through my time and experience. I’ve learned to survive through strength and resilience.”

Zeil nodded his head as he trotted to Zecora and began following as the two went up the trail. As the two continued with Zecora leading the way, it wasn’t long before Zecora slowed her pace until the two were side by side as she asked, “I hope it isn’t personal, yet I'm curious you see. As to how long you were traveling since you met me?”

Working on his alibi Zeil replied, “Well I left home after I was banished for not getting my placement mark. So from there I traveled alone for a while till I reached Gryphus and met a family who would take me in. they were nice, but since griffin don’t have placement marks they couldn’t help me, so after about five years, I left on my own and became a nomad. Since then I have been traveling all over both the Griffin Kingdoms and recently arrived here in Equestria. Unfortunately, I am no closer to getting my placement mark. I’ve tried everything I could think of, but the only thing I was good at was defending myself, but even that wasn’t enough. I'm just about out of ideas now.”

Zecora looked down at the trail in disappointment as she replied, “So long with no home, and no placement mark to show. I admire your determination, and your willingness to go. I wish I could help, but my mark you should know, is from the magic I’ve learned, and my spiritual glow.”

Zeil nodded his head in agreement, as he replied, “I can tell. I’ve only been around for a few days, but with the potions you’ve brewed, and your long sessions of meditation. I could only assume you to be wise in your skills. I'm definitely impressed.”

Zecora blushed a little as she continued, “Well, I am skilled, but I wouldn’t say wise. I’ve learned most of my talent through countless tries. But keep at it, for time is all you need. And you’ll have your mark, and all that it’ll heed.”

Zeil smiled a fake smile as he replied, “Sure, I'll do that… thanks.”

As the two continued through the forest, it wasn’t long before they came into a clearing that was completely filled with a bluish glowing flower. As they entered the area, Zeil approached one of the plants as he asked, “What is this? I’ve never seen anything like this before.”

Zecora replied, “Take caution my friend, for we stand before a batch, of a mischievously powerful poison Joke patch.”

Zeil started to reach out to the plant as he mumbled, “Poison… joke?”

Before his hoof could make contact, Zecora quickly pulled him back as she spoke with a serious tone, “I said take heed, for this isn’t a joke, that cruel plant is a plague to many folk.”

Zeil gave her a confused look as he asked “Plague?... you mean it’s poisonous?... oh wait… that’s right it is called a poison joke isn’t it…”
Zecora giggled a little as she reached into her saddlebag as she replied, “Poison yes, though it will never kill. This plant uses magic to bear ill will. It will observe and asses, till it finds your quality. Then flip it around, to disturb your harmony.”

Zeil looked at the plant and mumbled very quietly to himself, “Flip around a quality… hmm… I wonder what it would do to a changeling…”

Zecora looked up at him as if she heard him talking to her, but when she did, Zeil looked back and shook his head, “Oh… nothing, just mumbling to myself.”

Nodding her head, Zecora looked back into her saddlebag until she found a small vial filled with a greenish powder. As she poured the powder into her hoof, she pointed it towards the closest poison joke as she blew the powder into the air as it slowly settled, and covered the peddles of the poison joke. Zeil watched in curiosity as the powder that covered the plant slowly absorbed into its surface and caused it to turn a murky gray. Zeil was amazed at what he just saw as he looked at Zecora, “What was that? Why did the poison joke change colors like that?”

Zecora pulled a glass jar from her saddlebag as she replied, “That powder will freeze, the plant in its place, so that it can be pulled from the ground, or even replaced. With time frozen, for this plant at the least, I can use the joke’s ingredient before its magic can be released.”

With that said Zecora pulled the poison joke from the soil as she placed it into the glass jar and closed the lid. Then carefully placing the jar back into her saddlebag she turned back to the trail as she spoke, “Our next ingredient is north. A good ways away, so we better hurry so we aren’t lead astray.”

As Zeil followed Zecora back onto the trail, he spoke, “That powder stuff… the stuff you used to freeze the poison joke… did you make it yourself?”

Zecora smiled as she nodded her head, “My pastes, my potions, my powders and gel, were made by me and each very well.”
Zeil continued, “That’s incredible, you made a gel to numb pain, a paste to heal wounds and a powder to freeze an object in time. To think that a po… Zebra could make such a thing is truly amazing.”

Zecora blushed at the complement as she replied, “It’s not so amazing as you make it to be. It’s just my talent, and what makes me happy.”
When Zeil noticed her blush, he realized that he was complementing her too strongly. So he cleared his throat as he continued, “well… I can’t say it’s something that should be overlooked, but I have to say, I…”

All of a sudden, Zeil silenced himself as he started to hear growling coming from the brush that lined their trail. Both the real and fake zebra stopped on their path as they watched a Timberwolf emerge from a bush and stand between them and their trail. As Zecora looked around to see if the Timberwolf was alone, Zeil braced himself for a fight as he held the staff he was using at the ready, “What in the world is that?... some kind of… log dog thing?”

As Zecora confirmed that the timberwolf was alone she slowly reached into her bag as she kept her eye on the growling timberwolf. “That’s a timberwolf, the canine of the trees, and a monstrous beast, who hunt down ponies.”

Zeil Replied, “Great… so I'm assuming he won’t bypass us since we are zebra… right?”

Zecora pulled another vial of powder from her saddlebag as she replied, “Your assumptions are right, but th…”

Before she could finish, the timberwolf charged at the two with its teeth showing as Zeil held the staff in a manner to fight back. However, before the creature could get close enough, Zecora pushed Zeil out of the way and tossed the small glass vial onto the ground in front of them as the vial shattered against a rock and sent the powdery contents into the air between the them and the attacking timberwolf. Ignoring the small puff of smoke between them, the timberwolf continued its charge until the powdery substance hit the unsuspecting predator’s face causing it to stop immediately. Confused as to what the powder was, the timberwolf started rubbing its paws over its face trying to rub the powder away. However before the creature could remove the powder, the timberwolf backed up as it started to gasp for air. Less than a second later, the timberwolf took one big gasp before sneezing with one massive force that caused the predator to fall apart where he stood.

Completely confused of what he just witnessed, Zeil stood there looking at the pieced of the Timberwolf as Zecora grabbed his hoof, “We must embark; this is only a brief state. He will reassemble, so we better not wait.”

Trying to keep up with Zecora, Zeil hurried past the disassembled timberwolf as the two hastily passed their obstacle and continued through the forest as fast as his sore muscles would allow.

A while later, as the two seemed to reach a safe distance from  where they left the timberwolf, Zecora stopped first as she spoke through her exhaustion, “I think… we are safe… at least for a while. We seemed to leave it, at almost half a mile.”

Also winded Zeil replied, “Yea… I didn’t realize he would fall apart like that… ya think a beast like that could learn to pull himself together quicker.”

With Zeil’s pun in her mind, Zecora started laugh at his words as Zeil joined in on the laughter, not just at the pun, but at the thought that they escaped with little to no danger involved. As the two laughed it off, Zeil looked ahead and slowed his laughter to a stop as he could see another clearing ahead. As his curiosity peaked, Zeil slowly started trotting towards the clearing as Zecora slowly followed while smiling at her friend’s curiosity.

As Zeil entered the clearing, he could see a cliff that overlooked a large portion of the Everfree Forest. As he looked into the distance, he could also see Canterlot on the horizon as Zecora trotted behind him and spoke, “Of the places in the forest, this one is my favorite. So I thought it’d be nice, for you to come see it.”

As Zeil looked over the forest, he could see the sun setting as the area around him started to become dark with the twilight dusk. As the area became dark, Zeil looked back at Zecora and spoke, “It’s nice and all… but why is this your favorite? It seems no different from climbing to the top of a tree or something like that.”

Zecora trotted past Zeil, approached the edge of the cliff, and picked up a small pebble as she replied, “That’s because, there is more to show. For what makes this place special, will come from below.”

Waiting a few more seconds for the sun to set further over the horizon, Zecora stood still as Zeil trotted towards her and stood beside her as he looked over the cliff, “Below… ok I see a small pond… and a few trees… but not much else.”

Zecora smiled, “With the light of the day, that is all you will find, but come to the dusk, and more will come to mind.”

Zeil gave Zecora a confused look as she tossed the pebble over the edge and watched it as it fell to the ground, and hit a tree with a wooden knock. Shortly after that, the tree immediately lit up with bright small lights as thousands of fireflies flew out of the tree and swarmed the area below, lighting up everything on the ground. As the fireflies flew below, Zeil stood in awe as he watched the ground below light up as if it were city lights being viewed from a tall tower. With each firefly, making its own actions below, one particular fly flew up to the edge of the cliff and started flying around Zecora as if it knew she was responsible for waking them. As Zeil watched this firefly dance around Zecora, his focus went from the firefly, to the soft peaceful smile that Zecora gave as she watched the firefly circle her once before returning to the rest below. 

Zecora watched as the fireflies continued dancing in the light of the rising moon. As she did, Zeil couldn’t help but smile at the peaceful expression on her face. Something about the way she looked with the soft shade of the fireflies light captivated him. He didn’t know how to describe it, but seeing her at peace like this made him feel at peace too. It was as if all of his worries, his injuries, his wing, Queen Chrysalis, and even the fact that he was in a kingdom that now despised his kind, had just, melted away with the sunset leaving only he and Zecora in its place. As Zeil continued looking at Zecora with a peace filled smile, Zecora looked back and noticed him watching her. Feeling awkward, both Zecora and Zeil looked away from each other and blushed as Zeil tried to break the awkwardness of the moment, “Beautiful… the sight I mean… I'm not… um… well…”

Trying to find the words, Zeil cleared his throat as Zecora tried to do her part in killing the awkward moment, “My Favorite place…I told you so… well… I um… perhaps… we should go…”

Rubbing the back of his head and still blushing Zeil replied, “Yea… you’re right… um… what was next on the list?”

Zecora cleared her throat as she opened her saddlebag and pulled out a list, “Next will be, the northern mist, Then we should be finished with this list.”

Hopeful that he wasn’t blushing anymore, Zeil turned back to Zecora and replied, “Okay… so where do we get this mist?”

Trying to forget the awkward moment they shared, Zecora replied, “Not too far, just beyond the next tree. But watch your step, as you follow me.”

With a slightly uncomfortable look on her face, Zecora turned and trotted off the trail they just arrived from as she moved bushes aside to continue in the direction she needed to go. Zeil followed closely, however his mind wasn’t on where they were going, but on the moment they had just a few second ago. He didn’t know what it was, but the feeling felt very familiar, but as he thought about what it felt like, Zeil could only shake his head as he mumbled to himself, “That’s impossible… there is no way in Chrysalis’ domain that this feeling could be my own.”

A few seconds later Zecora emerged from the brush as she stopped at the edge of a clearing. As Zecora held her ground, Zeil emerged from the brush too as he looked into the empty landscape which was clouded in so much mist that they couldn’t see the ground beneath their hooves. As he looked through the mists, Zeil continued trotting as he spoke, “So this is the northern mists? It’s so thick you could cut it with a kni…”

Before Zeil could continue, Zecora held out her hoof in front of him as she spoke, “Step lightly Zine, for this mists bears no trust. And the actions it plays are all unjust.”

As Zeil looked at Zecora with the intent to ask what she was talking about, Zeil noticed something odd about the ground in front of him. As he took a closer look at where his next step would have been, Zeil was surprised that his next step would have ended him up at the bottom of a thousand foot drop. As Zeil took a step back in surprise, he spoke, “And just as I thought I had this place figured out… the Everfree forest surprises me yet again.”

Zecora nodded her head as she reached into her saddlebag, “Yes this forest is full of numerous danger, and no matter how long I'm here, they continue to get stranger.”

Zeil looked at Zecora as she pulled two flasks from her saddlebag. The first flask was completely empty while the second had a cerulean blue liquid inside. Next, she pulled a dropper out and placed it into the flask with the liquid. Curious as to what mystical potion she pulled out this time, Zeil watched closely as Zecora filled the dropper with the blue liquid then held it just slightly over the second flask as she carefully placed one drop of the potion into the empty flask. As the drop hit the bottom of the flask, it immediately started bubbling as if it were boiling inside of a metal pan. Shocked and curious, Zeil watched as the bubbling liquid started to evaporate before creating an unusual vacuum inside the flask as Zecora held it out and watched some of the surrounding mist as it was pulled into the flask and settled where the drop of potion used to sit.

Confused and amazed at the same time, Zeil watched as Zecora waved the flask around allowing the miniature vacuum to pull in a suitable amount of mist until the empty flask was completely full of the moisture from the very air around them. When the flask was filled, the vacuum stopped sucking in mist as Zecora put a small cork into the flask to seal it shut. Then she looked through the flask as she shook it around and spoke, “This should be all we’ll use, and tomorrow we’ll attain more if we choose.”

Still shocked at what he saw Zeil asked, “What was that stuff you put into that flask first? And how did it create the suction?” 

Zecora smiled, “It was a complicated mix, made from wind and dew, it will create a vacuum and pull all items through. However, it’s strong and won’t easily stop. That’s why I limit it, why I used one drop.”

As Zecora held out the flask, Zeil looked at the liquid as he spoke in curiosity, “That’s incredible… you really are something you know that Zecora. I never knew somep- Zebra like you was capable of so many marvels of nature.”

Zecora blushed slightly as she replied, “What can I say, it is my skill. To mix, max, and brew, any potion at will. Any ailment, any hope, any worries can be fixed, with most of the brews, and potions I mixed.”

As Zecora and Zeil turned back to their trail and began trotting back to her home, Zeil hesitated as he asked, “Um… Zecora… I was wondering… I know you created a paste that can heal wounds… but would you happen to have anything that could… um… reattach limbs?”

Zecora gave Zeil a confused look as she replied, “That is a strange question that you ask of me, especially since you have none missing, or none that I see.”

Zeil quickly tried to explain, “Well um… ya see, there is a pegasus I know who lost a wing a while back, and I was wondering if there was a way it could be reattached… or possibly grown back?”

Zecora though to herself as she replied, “To regrow a wing… I don’t think it to be true. I’m sorry Zine… but I can’t help you.”
Zeil sighed in disappointment as he replied, “Oh… alright… thanks anyway.”

Feeling a little nervous about asking, Zecora looked at the ground and spoke, “I'm… might I ask, this friend that you wish to assist, would it happen to be a mare friend?... Somepony you miss?”

Zeil blushed as he replied, “Oh…. Um… no… ya see… it is… um… a friend from the griffin Kingdoms… he um… lost his wing in battle and, um… I wanted to see if there was a way I could help him. You know… cuz flying was his life… or something like that.”

Although she tried to keep it as unnoticeable as possible, Zecora sighed in relief as she replied, “He must be some friend, for you to try and fix. But nothing I know will help. No potions nor mix.”

Zeil smiled as he replied, “Well, let’s just say, he and I are practically the same. Nevertheless, I appreciate y…”

All of a sudden, Zeil was interrupted by the howl of a timberwolf as one stood on the trail ahead of them. Assuming it was the same one from before Zeil readied the staff as he sighed, “Great… this thing again... you got any more of your sneezing stuff?”

Zecora nodded her head as she tried to reach into her saddlebag without bringing attention to herself. However as she did, something in the brush beside them caught Zeil’s eye as he turned his head to get a closer look. When he realized what he saw, Zeil yelled “LOOK OUT!!!”

At that moment, a second timberwolf jumped out of the nearby bush as he sprinted towards Zecora in hopes that he could get her before she could use her powder. However as the timberwolf closed the distance and lunged at his unsuspecting prey, Zeil pushed Zecora out of the way as they both fell down and out of the timberwolf’s area of attack. As Zecora and Zine hit the ground, Zecora dropped the flask of powder causing it to shatter as it hit a rock and spread onto the ground without floating into the air. As the two picked themselves up, Zeil cringed with pain as Zecora looked at the broken flask, “That’s not good, that’s all we had. With nothing to fight with… this situation is bad.”

Ignoring his soreness, Zeil stood up and held the staff at the ready as he spoke, “Stay back… I can handle them.”

Zecora looked at Zeil and spoke in worry, “Zine don’t! We must find a way to flee. We need a safe route back to my tree.”

As the two timberwolves circled, their trapped prey, Zeil thought up a plan as he looked out the corner of his eye at Zecora and spoke, “Zecora…close your eyes…”

Thinking she heard wrong, Zecora quickly turned back to Zeil with a surprised stare as he explained, “I can fight them…, but I need you to close your eyes… I'm um… I can’t fight when I'm being watched… I know it sounds weird… but it’s just a critical flaw I have.”

Zecora tried to reply, “Is this a joke, I'm i…”

“Zecora please this is no joke! This is serious! I know it’s strange, and I know a time like this isn’t the best time to close your eyes, but I'm asking you… if you have any amount of faith or trust in me, then you will do as I asked and close your eyes…”

As Zecora looked at Zeil, he turned completely to her and stared her in the eye as he continued, “Zecora… Please… Trust me.”

Seeing the Seriousness in his eyes, Zecora nodded her head as she replied in worry, “I do trust you, and I’ll so as you ask, but take need to the danger you bask.”

With that said Zecora turned around, put her hoof over her muzzle and covered both eyes. Seeing that Zecora did what he asked, Zeil turned back to one of the Timberwolves as he replied, “Thank you Zecora… now remember, don’t look until I say… no matter what you hear.” 

With Zecora covering both her eyes, Zeil stepped between her and the first timberwolf as he laid the staff on the ground and smiled menacingly, “You timberwolves chose the wrong zebra to mess with.”

As the Timberwolves continued circling the two, Zeil braced his hooves as his body slowly began changing in front of the Timberwolves. First Zeil’s irises on his eyes changed from green to red as two horns started growing from his head. Then Zeil reared up onto his hind hooved as his front hooves slowly changed into hands, triceps, and biceps. As this happened, both timberwolves stopped circling and watched in confusion, as Zeil’s light and dark gray stripes slowly changed into a dark blue as his muzzle became less narrow and his height quickly rose to nearly ten feet. Before they knew it, the Timberwolves watched in intimidation as what they assumed to be a zebra slowly transformed into a Minotaur.  Feeling uneasy and worried about what they just saw, the Timberwolves stood still as Zeil smiled and spoke, “Now… Who’s first?…”

The Timberwolves looked at each other in confusion, and then as they looked back, the timberwolf behind Zeil charged as he set his sights on Zecora. However, as the timberwolf lunged forward and opened his mouth to dig his fangs into her torso. Zeil quickly lowered his arm between the two as the timberwolf bit down and locked his jaw into the tricep of the muscular Minotaur doppelganger. With his jaw locked onto Zeil’s arm, the timberwolf looked Zeil in the eye as Zeil momentarily cringed in pain, then with a confident smile, Zeil spoke, as he looked the Timberwolf in the eye, “My turn!”

Using the timberwolf’s locked jaw against him, Zeil picked up the timberwolf with the arm that was in his mouth, then flung the canine over his head as he slammed the beast into the ground causing the predator to shatter into pieced with the impact. As Zeil looked at the disassembled Timberwolf that was at his feet, he pulled the broken timberwolf’s fangs from his arm and smiled at the one remaining timberwolf, “You think you can do better… let’s just see your try.”

The last remaining timberwolf stared at his foe in fear as he quickly turned back to the forest and fled to safety. As the remaining timberwolf vanished into the darkness of the forest, Zeil looked at the blood running down his tricep as he quickly transformed back into a zebra. Luckily, since his minotaur tricep was much larger than his zebra hoof, the wound greatly shrunk as he turned back to Zecora and spoke, “Zecora… you can look now.”

As Zecora opened her eyes, the first thing she noticed was the pieced of the timberwolf on the ground beneath them. Then when she saw his hoof, she spoke, “They seem to be beaten, but your hoof, it looks hurt. We must wrap it up now, before it’s exposed to any dirt.”

Zeil looked at his wound as he replied, “Don’t worry Zecora… it’s just a little nibble. Its fine… we better head back before the other one returns with friends.”

Trying to act as if the bite was no big deal Zeil tried to continue without his staff, down the trail and passed Zecora, however as he put pressure on that very hoof, he let out a pain riddled grunt as Zeil fell to the ground cringing. Quickly rushing to his staff then back to him, Zecora picked Zeil up and spoke, “Tough as you act, you would be great to lead, but your ignorance to your safety, that’s what could greatly impede. We will get you back, and fix you up fast. Luckily your wounds are shallow, and will not last.”

Zeil smiled as he took back the staff and replied, “Yea… good thing I'm better than I thought… Anyways… thanks for trusting me and closing your eyes… I know that was a little hard to do given the situation… and I know that it’s sad that I can’t fight while being watched… but it means a lot that you trusted me.”

Zecora helped him trot alongside her as she looked away and blushed, “I… believe in you… I can’t say I know why… but something in your eyes, said that you wouldn’t’ let me die. I know it sounds silly, but I feel happy when near… I mean… with you… I have nothing to fear…”
As Zecora tried averting her eyes and blushed, Zeil could feel her feelings yet again, only this time, they were much stronger then before… and for some unknown reason… this didn’t make him feel uneasy like it used to. instead, he could only feel continent in her feeling for him. He didn’t know why… he just could.

Miles away Just outside the Canterlot Castle, Shining Armor trotted past a formation of Royal guards as one of his soldiers rushed to his side, “Your majesty! A convoy arrived from Hallow Shade. And with them, four changeling captives.”

Prince Armor put his hoof on his chin as he mumbled to himself, “More changelings… just how many are still in Equestria?”

The guard asked, “What shall we do with them your majesty?”

Prince Armor replied, “Throw them in the dungeon with the rest. Then notify Princess Luna. We need to do something before these parasites attempt a second attack on Canterlot.”

Sensing tension in his voice, the guard asked, “Um… your majesty?... are you alright? You seem a little… angry.”

Shining Armor turned back to the formation as he replied, “Sorry, let’s just say that forgiving the changelings for what they did is impossible for me.”

“Shining Armor!”

Shining Armor looked in the direction the familiar voice came from as he smiled “Twily! I wasn’t expecting you back anytime soon. Did you just get here?... It’s the middle of the night.”

As his younger sister Twilight Sparkle approached she replied, “Well Spike didn’t tell me that I received a letter until later today so I left as soon as I could.”

Shining Armor gave her a concerned look as he replied, “I see… the princess wrote you a note?... what did she tell you?”

Twilight replied, “She told me about the changelings that where captured in Equestria, and asked me to help get rid of them. So… how many have been found so far?”

Shining Armor sighed in disappointment as he replied, “Ten… one in Trottingham, Two in Manehattan, one in Las Pegasus, Two in New Foalraines, and four in Hallow Shades.”

Twilight thought to herself, “Hallow Shades… so more were found in the town closest to Canterlot… this isn’t good.”

Shining Armor looked at his sister as he replied, “I didn’t want you and your friends to get involved with this one… why would you come here?”

Feeling a little offended Twilight replied, “Um… first off, my friends aren’t involved… it’s just me. And secondly, I came because I was told that my brother might be too emotionally involved with this. Princess Celestia asked me to come so that I can help you while keeping you from doing anything too drastic.”

Shinning Armor turned back to his soldiers and replied with an annoyed tone, “I'll be fine… I don’t need my baby sister watching over me. I can handle them without help.”

Twilight recognized his annoyed tone as she replied, “Shining Armor, I know that what she did to you was bad… but that’s no rea…”

Shining Armor turned to Twilight and replied in anger, “Bad?... BAD!?! She manipulated me and used me to get into Canterlot! That changeling made me responsible for nearly losing the kingdom! Princess Celestia is still weak from the attack and it’s all her fault! Queen Chrysalis and her changeling parasites deserve a punishment far worse than anything I could ever do!”

With an anger-filled expression, Shining Armor turned back to his troops as his expression made them feel slightly intimidated. Seeing his frustration made Twilight sigh as she replied, “I know you still feel guilty, but if it wasn’t for you and Cadence, she and her changelings would still be in control of Equestria. You should be grateful that your love was strong enough to defeat her.”

Shining Armor looked at the ground in anger as he replied, “It’s still not enough… I want to see them pay for what they did.”

Twilight put her hoof on his shoulder as she continued, “And that is one of the reasons I'm here. You’re letting your anger get the best of you. Listen, Spike and I have been doing research and I think we found out where the changelings kingdom used to sit. It’s an old kingdom that sits almost on the complete opposite side of the planet. It’s called the land of the black sand. It isn’t much but I think the best thing we should do to get rid of the changelings is by sending them there through a magic portal. Its fast, it’s safe, it gets them out of Equestria and it’s probably where Queen Chrysalis went to after she was casted out of Canterlot.”

Shining Armor looked back at his sister as he asked, “And this will work?”

Twilight nodded her head, “It should, I’ve already learned a spell to open a portal to this place. All we have to do is put them in and then they will be out of our hair."

Shining Armor thought to himself, He didn’t like the idea of sending the changelings home without any form of punishment first, although, the idea of sending them as far as they could possibly go didn’t seem like a bad idea. So, he could only look at his sister and smile, “Ya know Twily, that sounds like a good idea. Let’s go tell Princess Luna this plan, then we can test it out on the changelings we have in the dungeon. The sooner they are gone the better.”

As Shining Armor and Twilight started trotting into the castle as Twilight replied, “Sounds good, so where is my new sister-in-law? Is she asleep?”

Shining Armor shook his head, “No, she went to Cloudsdale to speak to a few witnesses who claim they saw where the changelings fell after the attack on Canterlot. Princess Celestia on the other hoof went to see The Griffin King about a particular artifact that they found.”

Twilight looked at her brother in curiosity, “An artifact?... what does it do?”

Shining Armor smiled, “It disables the changeling’s ability to transform. If we can get ahold of this artifact, then it will make our search that much easier. Then we can find and capture every changelings still in Equestria… no matter where they hide.”