Seeing the crowd assembled before her house, Zecora took a deep breath and opened the door. Stepping out into her yard, with Coal at her side growling his displeasure, Zecora met the angry group. With one hoof raised to the sky, she spoke in a loud voice, “What is this my eyes do see? Why does everypony come to me? Most times, you fear the Everfree, and yet this is where you come to be. Be silent, there! You’re much too loud! I cannot hear when you talk as a crowd!”
As the throng became quieter, Big Mac began to move toward Zecora, the group parting as a wave before his massive shoulders. Cradled gently in one foreleg was the still form of a small colt. Zecora looked into the big stallion’s eyes and saw tears brimming there.
“This li’l’un needs yer help, ma’am,” Big Mac said softly.
Turning quickly, the healer stepped back into her home, motioning for him to follow, where she prepared a small cot. Big Mac laid the pale colt on the bed as gently as he could, then stepped back. Looking out the door, he motioned for the foal’s parents to come in.
The Grimes walked inside, too upset to talk. Twilight Sparkle following them in and told Zecora that, sometime before dawn, the three colts had vanished from Sweet Apple Acres. When the Grimes found out their colts were missing, everypony on the farm began to search. When no sign of them was found in the area, Applejack had to run to town to look and to recruit more ponies to help search.
Just before sunset, the searchers found this colt, the youngest of the three, named Buddy. Unfortunately, there had been no sign of the other two colts. Although dirty and scratched, his physical appearance seemed to be okay, except for a lump on his forehead. It was the blank stare in the little one’s eyes and his total lack of response that made everypony very afraid.
Glancing at Coal, Zecora met his eyes and gave a nod. The dark dragon walked to the door and out into the yard. Just beyond the center of the clearing was a large circle. At the center was a pile of branches, with stumps scattered around it. Nearing the brush pile, Coal stood erect. As the curious crowed watched, he flexed his strong, young wings. Arching his back and neck, the dragon gave a small growl and looked up into that bright moon. A moment later, fire shot from Coal’s mouth, igniting the brush, as his eyes danced and sparkled in the light from flames. Turning, he then eyed the crowd for a moment before walking to the edge of the clearing and beginning to slowly circle the tree line, scanning for danger.
Knowing that he could be no help inside the house, Big Mac went out to those gathered in the yard. Dividing the ponies into several groups, they made plans to go in several directions to hunt anew. Many who had searched all day were in need of a rest. Gladly, they sat beside the fire that the little dragon had provided for them, renewing their energy so they in turn could continue the quest.
Back inside the house, Zecora’s deft hooves gently prodded and felt the foal’s little body. After giving both parents a mild sedative to help them calm down, she fed small spoonfuls of broth with medicine into the young one. Zecora had never spoken of it to anypony before, but some of the secrets passed down from one generation to another of the healers were powerful magic. Not only were they taught so assess their patients for injuries, but sometimes the gifted ones could also see into the minds of their wards. Although she would deny it or downplay it if asked, Zecora was the most gifted in her family’s history.
Knowing that mothers need to feel they are actively helping to heal their children, Zecora gave Mrs. Grimes, whose name was Meg, a basin of water with herbs to soothe the cuts and scratches. The mother’s hooves began soothing and cleaning her colt’s little body, her actions helping to heal her own pain.
Needing to concentrate for the next step of healing not only little Buddy, but his parents as well, Zecora quietly picked up the grubby blanket that the foal had been clutching and stepped into the quiet darkness of her bedroom. Sitting quietly on her bed, Zecora held the cloth near her heart. Chanting quietly the words her Bibi had taught her so long ago, Zecora closed her eyes, willing the magic to begin.
At first, all she could see were flashes of light, and then, slowly, she saw images forming. Knowing that the sounds and images she now experienced were those young Buddy had experienced the night before, Zecora inhaled deeply of the scents on the blanket she held. Focusing, the pictures became clearer…
Nate was calling softly to his brothers. “Buddy, Troy, come on if you’re going with me. If you aren’t ready in one minute, I’ll go without you.”
Groggily, the two younger colts slipped out of bed and silently followed their brother outside. In minutes, the three colts were down the lane, setting out on their adventure. Nate was telling his brothers how the fillies would see them all as heroes when they found out about this trip to the ruined Castle of the Two Sisters. Bobby really craved the approval of his older brothers, but didn’t understand why Nate cared about what fillies thought.
Their trip went fine until they left the wide, country paths and set hoof inside the Everfree Forest. Nate was, of course, trying to be brave, but Buddy knew that they were all afraid. Several times, they heard twigs snap in the trees around them, making their fear increase. Twice, the brothers saw glowing, red eyes looking at them between the branches. Buddy was so afraid now he began to softly cry.
Suddenly, there came a crash in the brush in front of them. The branches parted, and a tall, dark stallion glared down at the colts. “What are you doing here?” thundered the stallion. The colts turned and fled the way they had come. Bobby, nearly crazed by his fear, tripped and fell, hitting his head. His world faded into darkness.
Opening her eyes, Zecora walked quickly to the yard where Big Mac and his team were preparing to renew their search. Raising her voice, she announced, “Big Mac, heed me, come and hear. Return to the place we all do fear. At the Two Sisters’ Castle shell, find a dark stallion who does there dwell. Beware the dark red, glowing eyes—I fear the colts have been their prize.”