Apple Bloom's eyes slowly creaked open. The site of motion-blurred tree canopies far above focus, and she became rather confused with herself. “Wh-why am I moving? She questioned within her head. She looks down, and notices her fore-hooves are bounded by a rope. “Why are my darn hooves tied!” She yelps out in anger. Suddenly her movement stops, and she finally realizes that she had been on the back of a large creature. The afraid filly lets out a blood-curdling scream and rolls off of the back of her unknown assailant.
The being turned to face Apple Bloom, who is panting in sudden fear as if her heart was pounding out of her chest, and gave her an agitated gaze of anger and soullessness. This creature seamed to be not equine or native to this land. It had long, furry brown legs that seemed to be Equestrian, thus having hooves. However the upper body seemed very odd. There was no fur, just baby smooth tannish skin that lead up to two long protruding appendages with star shaped endings and a head upon it's bustling shoulders.
“Hey mister... s-sorry... Um I'm just going to be going now!” Apple Bloom stated, as she she began to trot away with an anxious, fake smile that masked how scared she was.
She suddenly found herself laying in cold, earthy ground as the rope that she was bound by caused her to trip.
He snarled numerous curses in a different, foreign language to his captive.
“W-what did you say?!" Apple Bloom cried out, unable to understand what he said.
The frightening beast pulled upon a rope that lead to Apple Bloom's bindings, tightening them, and digging them deep into her skin so it cuts off blood circulation.
She began to grind her premature teeth in pain, “Owwww! That really hurts!” She yelped out.
The alien-like creature pulled and continued to drag Apple Bloom through the morning forest, and streams of barely visible light poke through the tall oak trees to light there way.
The entrance to the Everfree was of a non-ordinary appearance to Applejack. A darkened, gloomy mist was shrouding the area for miles.
“Well, that sure is awful odd for this here ol' forest...” She said with a confused facial expression. “Well, Luna told me to see Zecora! So that's what this here mare is going to do!” Applejack galloped down the trail, and into the mysterious treeline.
As she wandered down the trail to Zecora's, she thought about the dream she had. “I wonder why all that strange gas was in my dream, it was just wrong. I need to really lay off the cider from now on.”
She began to hear the bubbles from the swampy ground pop around her, and the dragonflies buzzing about, circling the creepy, and seemingly supernatural labyrinth of trees. Ahead, she could see Zecora's obscure hut. “That zebra sure knows how to pour the chill on my darn bones!” She announced with a frightened face. As she approached the door of the hut, she overheard Zecora doing the usual.
“Without it my special brew will never be finished by it's due, I need my worm's wart now before my the time runs out!”
She was rushing around, collecting what she could to make one of her steaming creations. Applejack poked her head in through one of windows, and watched as she worked one of her seemingly-maniacal stews of green liquids and apothecary ingredients.
“Hey there Zecora!” Said Applejack, waving her hoof to the black and white equine.
“Who is that from behind I hear with my very useful set of zebra ears...“ The confused zebra responded.
Zecora turns around to notice Applejack within the window of her tribal home. "Why, it's the element of honesty! What brings you to my little home with such little modesty.”
“May I come in Zecora? I have a question to ask yall'." Applejack questioned
“You may come in my dearest Applejack, just don't expect to find what what you need while clearly having a panic attack.” Zecora gave an strange giggle, then continued to stir her brew.
Applejack looked down and noticed her body was shaking in fear. It seems that her worry for her younger sister has been lingering dormant in the back of her mind. She quickly stood tall and stopped her excessive trembling. “Oh, yeah.. hehe... sorry bout' that. Anyway, Have you heard about some organization called “The Cauldrons” Zecora?"
Zecora quickly dropped the ladle from her gritting teeth and looked up with the surprised, and confused marbles within her skull. “Why, where have you heard of such a legend, It was to me they had disappeared with an eternal and strong vengeance... Long ago they were, an organization from a past time. They would go around with their black magic, making everything painful and tragic.” Zecora looked down into her brewing pot, watching as whirlpools of ingredients flowed in an everlasting current. The bubbling sound of the boiling broth filled the air.
“Well Zecora, who and and what are involved in this organization.”
“I have said all that I know, and you now must take your leave of my place and go.” The seemingly displeased zebra gave Applejack a squint. “This is something that not even I may speak of Applejack, and it is time that you go now before your world goes into a painful blue and black.”
Applejack shivered in fear and confusion, she backed up to the door as Zecora looked up in concern.
“I don't want you getting hurt dear Applejack, leave this be until someone makes their brutal attack. You will never find these illusive beasts on your own, so leave it be until they are fully shown.” Applejack walked out with a frightened mindset. She ran back down from which she came as fast as she possibly could. The dead eyes of Zecora shew her displease and anger towards Applejack, making her want to get out of the forest as quick as possible.
Zecora looked into her cauldron and smirked. “Eye of a newt and cinnamon...” She added the ingredients. She then observed as the matter turned into batter. “Open the portal and jump in!” She announced as she plunged into her concoction of green swirls and strange fluids.
The zebra, covered in a green, slimey substance fell into a dimly lit room from some sort of portal in the ceiling. The walls were patterned with torches, in which had green flames dancing in a mystical pattern. A piercing, deep voice echoed throughout the room.
“Zecora...... My dedicated spy, what news do you have for me?.”
Slowly, more and more torches appeared until the entire room was illuminated in an eerie glow of green. A throne, seemingly made up of translucent material stood before her. And sitting on this throne, was a tall being of immortal ability. “My lord, it seems that one of the 6 elements knows we have surfaced again... and I fear that they may search the entire Everfree to find our southern playpen.”
“Ha. Ha. Ha.” He sarcastically laughed out. “You seem to not understand. The Southern Cauldron's camouflage is top notch. They will never, ever find that place.” Arion kicks some of the dust beneathe him into the air, and with his deep, echoing voice that sounds rather, ghastly, he commands Zecora. “I want you to gather up our members and bring all of them here now, Use the incantation I taught you to send a message to all of the other Cauldron Dwellers.”
Zecora nodded to her leader. She pulled out a vial of an odd, purple fluid and threw it upon the floor beneath her, shrouding the area in a vile smoke that when cleared, Zecora was nowhere to be found.