The plan was moving along nicely. In the span of a few weeks, the two heads of TEK had found their first member and had him regularly training with Celestia to be fit for duty. In the meantime, Jet and Shade continued to search for their next recruit between their cover jobs and spending time with their friends, both new and old.
Both sat in the living room of Shade's house as they discussed their next move.
"So, where do we find our next recruit, Jet?"
"We need to find somepony who knows about nature. Sure we each have our own degrees of knowledge regarding plant life, but it's not our expertise."
Shade got to thinking from Jet's specific description.
"A plant-life expert you say?"
"Yeah, in case we get missions out in like a jungle or forest or something."
After flinching a bit from the mention of "forest," Shade started thinking harder, cross-checking his memory banks from what and whom he knew. Soon he found their answer.
"I think I may know somepony."
"Shade, you know we can't recruit Fluttershy."
Shade was both shocked and offended by the assumption.
"What? No! Jet I'm talking about another pony. Or rather, another zebra."
Jet displayed a quizzical look.
"You mean like that zebra that the others told us about? The one they thought put a curse on them?"
Shade looked Jet dead in the eyes, pure assurance evident in his own.
"I mean exactly that zebra, Jet."
_____________
Shade led Jet rather slowly through town to the location of their next possible recruit. Jet still had a few questions, and Shade wasn't giving many answers.
"So why exactly are we searching for this particular zebra again?"
"Because she fits your criteria perfectly."
It irked Jet just how vague Shade was being right now.
"And... how do you know that exactly?"
"I... knew her a long time ago. Back in my time in the Everfree..."
Jet's ear perked from this information. Now he was getting somewhere. He also better understood why Shade was taking his sweet time leading them to their next recruit's location.
*He almost never talks about the Everfree. I'm surprised he hasn't blocked it from his memory by now. One of these days I'll get him to talk to me about what happened.*
Once the path to the Everfree Forest was well within sight, Shade stopped abruptly.
"As you may recall, she lives within the forest itself. I'm pretty sure her hut is the only one that would be there, so it shouldn't be too hard for you to find her, especially if you get an aerial view."
"'Too hard for me to find her?' You mean you're not coming with me?"
Shade shuddered a bit as past memories crept back to his mind. He shook his head before responding.
"I... I-I can't..."
Jet wasn't having it.
"C'mon, Shade. It's been like three years. You're far more stronger than you were then."
But Shade was already leaving, heading back into town.
"Where are you going, bro?"
Shade stopped and slowly turned to face him.
"I... I need to run... far away... Can't go back there... to that place..."
Shade's stammering trailed off as he turned away and shut his eyes.
"Shade..."
Shade only shut his eyes tighter and hung his head, traumatizing memories already flooding his mind. Before Jet could protest any further, Shade teleported away.
"Great... Shade, you'll get there some day. I guess I'll just have to give you some more time to face your fear."
And so, Jet started off on his path to the Everfree Forest alone.
_____________
Shade reappeared back in his home. After taking a moment to get himself back together, he lied back on his bed, thinking to himself.
*What is wrong with me? Why do I always feel so consumed with fear every time I see that place?
Shade thought of how he felt so alone, how he felt so helpless and isolated. He didn't enjoy it at all.
*I don't ever want to feel like that again... I don't want to be alone ever again. My days of isolation are over. I have a whole group of new friends now. It's time I start spending time with them.*
Shade took some more time to get himself together before getting back up. Then he went to his desk to write a message to each of his friends, telling them to meet him at the park whenever possible. After sending each one with his warp beam, he left to head to the park.
_____________
Jet only walked along the entrance path to the Everfree Forest for a short time. He soon took to the skies where he felt more comfortable, and could get a better view of the forest area to find the home of their next recruit.
*What did they say her name was again? Zecora or something? Probably should've asked Shade before he disappeared...*
As Jet cruised above the Everfree, he noticed how strange the weather started to feel the farther he traveled through. Everything felt off... unnatural in a way.
*This is weird... Pegasi are always in tune with the weather and the wind... here, it feels so... foreign...*
Just when Jet thought he had found the location of this "Zecora" he was searching for, he felt the wind pushing harder against him from the front. Too hard. He found himself losing control of his flight, and then he was caught in a windstorm, surrounded by dark clouds from the Everfree Forest.
*Can't... control this... windstorm... Can't... hold on...*
Soon Jet was sent spiraling down out of control, crashing through branches, bushes, and finally onto the forest ground. Jet was stunned for a while, sore all over, but he got to his hooves eventually. Then he noticed what he was standing in.
"...Crap..."
Poison Joke was EVERYWHERE. All around him. And his wings were too sore to fly up and over all of it. He just had to trot through it and accept whatever effect would result. As he started finding his way to the zebra's hut, he felt something wet dripping down his face. He stopped for a second as he wiped it and observed what it was.
*Am I... crying?*
Jet couldn't believe it. Crawling? In HIS skin?
*Great. Poison Joke turns me into Jet Cry. This is no respectable image for the head of a secret society of protection!*
Eventually, Jet reached the hut. After many futile attempts to dry his eyes, he knocked on the door. Soon afterwards, a grey zebra answered, a puzzled look quickly taking her face upon seeing the "crying" stallion.
"I'm not crying, poison joke did this to me. Are you... Zecora?"
The zebra seemed a little more confused now, but she answered nonetheless.
"I am the one you are looking for. May I ask what brings you to my door?"
Jet seemed satisfied now. At least now he was making real progress again. He smiled as he responded.
"We have much to discuss."
Zecora let Jet into the small hut, and he stopped to examine the place.
"Whoa, *sniff* you have a lot of potions and herbs in here."
Zecora nodded with a smile.
"In my hut I have many potions and elixirs alike. Now please, tell me why you've stopped at my home tonight."
She said as she constantly walked around the hut, grabbing things and pouring them into a massive pot in the middle of the floor.
I'm here because I want to *sniff*-"
"Please, let me first take care of that poison joke, come to this pot and give your head a soak."
Jet did as he was told and walked over the green liquid-filled pot. He was at first hesitant, but he eventually complied and dipped his head into the liquid. Once he pulled his head out he felt his flow of tears cease.
"Hey, thanks a lot!"
Zecora nodded in acknowledgment.
"Now that your tears have finally dried, perhaps why you are here you can now describe."
*Dang, this zebra's got some mad rhyming skills.*
Jet thought to himself before sitting down to explain the reason for his visit.
"Yes. My name is Jet Fly, and you already know my friend Shade Vortex."
The mention of that name brought a wide smile to her face.
"Oh yes! Shade Vortex is an old friend. His life I once helped defend. He stayed with me for a while before moving along to his next trial."
"So I've heard. Because he knows you so well, he suggested you to be a part of an organization known as TEK: the Taskforce of Equestrian Knowledge. TEK is assigned specific missions from the Princess to handle situations that the Elements of Harmony either can't handle, or are too busy to handle. I suggested we needed a nature and wild life expert, and Shade immediately mentioned your name."
Zecora sat down as well, appearing dumbfounded and confused for a second, and Jet realized that her brain was having difficulty trying to soak in all the information she had just heard.
"Yes yes, it is a lot to take in all at once, but the truth of the matter is, Equestria is in danger. There are tons of monsters and evil beings out there that threat to tear Equestrian society apart. TEK is the only thing standing between the safety of the public, and utter discord. I'm only trying to do my part to help. So is Shade and hopefully others in the future. We could really use your plant-life, healing, and medical expertise."
Zecora seemed to understand somewhat better the gravity of the offer. Jet could almost see the gears turning inside her head as she sat in deep thought.
"Ever since I came to this place, ponies have ran from me with great haste. But if I can protect the ponies that call it home, then the fact that I belong I can truly make known."
"Then is that a yes?"
Zecora nodded.
"Yes! Thank you so much! I know Shade will really appreciate this. Look, I'll be back later with Princess Celestia to give you the run down of TEK and our missions. How does that sound?"
"To me that sounds pleasing, so I guess I shall see you this evening."
"Definitely. Bye!"
Jet row and turned to open the door to the hut, flying off in Ponyville's direction.
Zecora watched him fly away before returning to her work. She had a lot to think about for the next few hours.
Jet was currently on his way back to Ponyville, this time flying a little closer to ground. No way was he dealing with this forest's crazy weather again. As he flew barely above the treetops and got closer to Ponyville, Jet noticed an intriguing sight below: Shade, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy, all heading into the Everfree.
*Now that's odd. Just earlier today Shade wouldn't go anywhere near this place. Wonder what he's doing here now, along with some of our friends? Guess I'll go see what's up. Better change direction first and come from behind them, so the others don't know about my whereabouts in the forest.*
___________
"You doing okay Shade? You're kinda lagging behind. "
Rainbow Dash looked to Shade, who was just barely keeping up with the group, moving at a slow, nervous pace.
"I don't like this..."
"Don't you worry there, sugarcube. We're right here with ya."
"Applejack's right, Shade. You'll be just fine."
Shade felt slightly better. Somehow, Fluttershy always found a way to reassure him. He always loved that about her.
Suddenly, however, a nearby bush rustled. Startled, Shade let out a small scream before firing an energy blast right at the bush, which immediately ignited and became half-burnt with smoldering blue flames.
"Geez, Shade, it was just the wind!"
A bit embarrassed, Shade eased up and his ears flopped down.
"Sorry, Dash... sorry guys..."
Applejack on the other hoof was a bit confused.
"How'd ya even do that?"
"...Just one of the tricks I picked up over the past few years."
It wasn't much of an answer, but Shade wasn't really trying to go into details right now.
"Hey, what's going on over here?"
The four ponies looked up to the fifth voice descending upon them. Rainbow Dash was the first to address him.
"Jet? What are you doing here?"
"I, uh, saw you guys earlier heading this way. Wondered what was up."
Shade gave a slight, secret nod to Jet's cover story. Fluttershy chimed in with the explanation.
"Oh, we were just helping Shade overcome his fear of the Everfree Forest!"
Jet looked around the area before responding.
"...By leading him directly into it?"
Shade sighed.
"It was Twilight's idea. I, uh, talked to the others about my problem... Twilight said the best way for me to overcome my fears was to 'face them head on. Dash, Fluttershy, and Applejack were kind enough to accompany me.'"
Jet smiled, glad to hear his friend was finally doing so.
"Well I'm just glad your finally working to solve it, and getting help in fact. Mind if I tag along?"
"Be my guest."
The five of them then continued through the forest, and much to Shade's surprise, nothing bad ever happened.
*Probably just because it's late noon. At night it's a different story...*
As they traveled, Jet and Shade had stayed a distance back for awhile to discuss their mission progress.
"I take it you found Zecora?"
"Yeah. I gave her the basic run-down, and we agreed I'd meet back with her tonight with Celestia for her final answer."
"Good. I think I'm starting to feel slightly less terrified of this place, so I guess I'll join you. I would feel more safe with Celestia there too."
"Great. It's settled then."
Jet and Shade started to move back up with the others with their secret discussion concluded.
"Hey Shade."
"Yeah?"
"Zecora's got mad rhyming skills, bro."
Shade agreed with a chuckle.