A Dream Met...

by Jon bucker

A Promise:

I slowly started regaining consciousness; I lifted my hand slowly from my side to the front of my face. I wasn’t dead...? my mind wasn’t operating very well on account of everything that happened, I just started going over myself. I lifted my head to look at my wound but then I realized that my shirt wasn’t on, on top of that, all the blood that was on my body was cleaned. And to my surprise my wound was covered in bandage wrap.
I lowered my right hand carefully onto my wound, the pain was still searing, but I didn't feel any ridges sticking out, the timberwolf teeth weren’t there anymore and it felt like there was some gel or something on it.
I dropped my right arm limply back to my side and then the next thought crossed my mind, where was I? I started looking around the room, but my vision was still too blurry to see straight. I lifted my good arm and wiped my eyes until they focused.
I was in a room lying on a thin mat that kept me off the ground. The room was covered in shelf’s littered with bottles of all shapes and sizes, I wasn’t quite sure where I was Intel I saw some tribal masks lying around. I dropped my head back down; it took to much energy to hold it up. So that’s where I was, I was in Zecora’s hut. Was she that figure that I saw?
I tried remembering back but with little luck my vision was just too blurry back then, but that’s who it probably was. With what energy I could muster up I forced myself to sit up, I was out of breath just from doing that, I have never felt this weak before.

Then the door to my left opened, it was a black and white striped zebra wearing gold earrings and other jewelry of the sort, holding a wooden mixing bowl. It was Zecora.

“Ahh there is no mistake, you are finally awake.” she rhymed with a firmilar accent.

I probably would of been more excited to see her but I had nothing left. There were some questions going through my head but I didn’t know which one to start with, my mind just wasn't there, so I decided to start with a simple one. I started talking but I was still trying to catch my breath. “Zecora... was that you... who I saw? and you brought me here?” I asked

She smiled nodded. “Yes that was me indeed, for I am always there to help a pony in need.” she said, walking towards me

I chuckled breathlessly. “But... I’m not a pony...” I said jokingly

Zecora chuckled herself. “That is true, which leads me to my next question, what are you?” She asked

“I’m a human... my name is Jonathan...” I said. I tried to keep it short; I didn’t want to have to go through the long explanation on how I was from another world and the elements of harmony and all that. Not because I don’t want zecora to know, I just don’t have the energy to explain. But thankfully she left it at that.

Then she passed me the wooden bowl. “Here, drink this tell there is no more, then your body it will start to restore.” she said

Her rhyming was really different to listen to, but it could be followed. I grabbed the bowl with my right arm and look inside. It didn’t look very good and it had a bad smell to it. I trust in zecora in what she’s giving me will help but I would at least like to know what I’m putting in my body first. “What is it...?” I asked

“Its Zecokera rout made into a brew, a name I can almost relation to. Regenerate blood cells at twice the rate, but at the amount you lost you will have to wait in your physical state.” she said

“How long?” I asked

“Six hours after noon, but if you put pressure on it, four more tell the moon.” she explained

It took me a sec but I understood; this was something I really need so bottoms up I guess. I lifted the bowl up to my mouth and tiled it. It tasted like it smelled, it was terrible but I forced it down like she asked. When it was all gone I passed the bowl back to her, she smiled and sat it on a table off to the side and then started going through the bottles on the shelves.

“Now that you have tried my concoction, I must ask how you got that lesion?” she asked

I didn’t mind explaining that much to her, besides she practically saved my life, she has a right to know. And thankfully my breath had finally caught up to me, although I still have to pace myself as I speak. “Me, Applejack and Applebloom were going for a night walk alongside the edge of the forests...” Zecora’s interest peaked and turned to me when I mentioned Applebloom.
“A timberwolf jumped out in front of us, we instantly turned and started running in the other way but two more jumped out there... Applejack yelled to run left and we did, but I guess bloom panicked and ran into the forest... When me and applejack noticed we ran in after her, when we found her the timberwolves had her corned agents a mounting side, they were about to kill her... so I attacked." I said with no emotion
"By the time I took out the first timberwolf... I told Applejack to grab bloom and get out of their, she was a bit hesitant but did... By the time I took out the second one I started to get a bit ahead of myself... and that’s when the third one came in and bit my shoulder...
It was a miracle that I still won but even after I did it wasn’t over... the wood started glowing and I knew what that meant so... I started running and then that’s when you found me.” I explained

Zecora seemed a bit surprised at that story; but after the moments past a warm smile made its way to her lips. “Those two ponies you must have affection, for risking your life for their own perfection.” she said

I nodded, I didn't go into explaining how much, I think risking your life said enough. My mind started drifting off to that moment when me and applejack were staring at each other, the promise... My train of thought was broken by a sharp pain in my shoulder, even though the pain hasn’t stopped it will spike every now and then.

And then I felt like asking. “How bad was it?" I asked bluntly, Zecora raised an eyebrow. “I mean... I know that when the timberwolf bit me, some of its teeth came out. But I don’t know how many...” I asked. I wasn’t really focused on how many there was all I knew is that it hurt, a lot.

Without saying a word zecora walked out of the room, a few seconds later she came back with a wooden plate, she sat it down beside me. “When I brought you here I see to have found, three timberwolf teeth inside your wound. But they extant of you injury was moderate, no broken bones you are very fortunate.” she explained

I was shocked on the timberwolf teeth, two of them were about the same size only about the length and width the tip of my middle finger to the first joint. But the third one was the size and length of my whole thumb; I couldn’t believe that was in my shoulder. No wonder it hurts so badly.

But that was at least some good news, besides major blood lose, to hear that it didn’t break bones was comforting. If it had I can't imagine how long it would take to heal. Then I remembered something from an episode and started to worry. “Wait... If the teeth are here, won't the timberwolves come looking for them?”

Zecora shook her head. “Normally yes. but that is not the case, for I put something on them so they will not be able to trace.” she said

Well that was a relief, have to admit I got really worried. I don’t think I could handle another brawl with them Intel I get better. But then I remembered the gel or whatever it was that I felt on my wound when I woke up. “What is that stuff you put it? when I woke up and felt it; it felt like a gel or something.” I asked

She smiled at herself at her own creation. “A highly concentrated Aloe Vera extract, on your wound it will have a major impact. For a lot of ponies show affection, to the plant that heals and prevents infection.” she said

I think I knew what zecora was talking about. Though I don’t know about concentrated, but I remember my mom saying she was trying to grow Aloe Vera, but she said it was a lost cause thanks to the ground not being fertile enough, it was mostly clay.
My mind again continued back to when, me and applejack were staring at each other, the promise... it was like it was hunting me and I couldn’t forget it, not just because it’s a promise but also that I wanted to make it back to them and let them know that I’m alright. “Zecora? thank you for everything but I have to go, they others are probably looking for me...” I said. I was just about to try to push myself up, I don’t know where I was going with that this, I barley had enough strength to sit up, I don’t know how I’m going to manage to get up, but I had to at least try.

Zecora though raised her hoof and stopped me, and shook her head. “Those ponies will wait tell sunrise, go through the woods at night could lead to a horrible demise.” she said firmly as a warning

“Zecora please, I made a promise... don’t ask me to break it...” I pleaded

She gave me an understanding look. “I’m not asking you to break anything, but postpone tell morning.” she said

I sighed. I guess zecora was right, the others would wait tell it was safe and I’ve already nearly died as it is. I’m actually somewhat glade that zecora stopped me. Going out there now in my present state would be a death sentence. But I still don’t like the idea of postponing a promise and waiting, but I guess al just have to live with that.

I lowered myself back down a bit before speaking. “Alright zecora, I'll do what you say and get some rest... But can you please wake me up before sunrise so I can leave at the crack of dawn...?” I asked if she could give me that much.

She nodded. I smiled and lowered myself back down to the mat slowly to prevent less pain. When I was laying down zecora walked out of the room and was about to shut the door, but there was one more thing I wanted to say. “Zecora...” she paused and looked back to me. “Thank you...” I said smiling warmly

She smiled back. “You’re welcome Jonathan, Intel the morning all see you than...” she said and then shot the door. I closed my eyes and passed out, this time on my terms.

Threw the night I kept having flash backs on the timberwolves in my dreams. But every time I got to the part were me and Applejack were staring at each other, it restarted, the promise... I don’t know how me and applejack connected minds or if she even heard me, but either way I made a promise... and that continued for the rest of the night.

Zecora kept her and of the deal and woke me up before sunrise, I thanked her for that. I was actually able to get up and walk around without any help. I felt a lot better than I did the night before, but I still didn’t have much energy, my strength was still greatly less than half but it was enough so I could walk. I just had to pace myself.
After I got my shirt on, which was very hard and extremely painful with my shoulder, I noticed there was a big hole on the shoulder part, so big I could see all the bandage rap underneath. I guess when the timberwolf bit me and I pulled forward it tore it. I didn’t even notice, everything just happened so fast. I don’t think rarity can fix this and I don’t think she’d even want to. The shirt was still stained with my blood, but I saw it as a memory.
I walked into the main room in Zecora’s hut, more bottles, masks and her cauldron. I looked out the window, it was still pretty dark so there was some time to kill. Zecora wanted to give me more medicine, they weren’t anything extreme like last night, and thankfully they didn’t taste as bad as they other.
One of then she said was to help with the pain for my shoulder but it would wear off. And some others were just some vitamins which I really needed. Zecora offered to walk me as far as to the edge of the forest, but I respectfully declined, I felt like this was something that I had to do along. Thankfully she understood.
She did tell my though witch way to take to get out of the forest, and also to stay away from a blue flower. I thanked her; I already have an injured shoulder, I didn’t need poison joke to. During that morning me and zecora grew kind of close, but when someone saves someone else’s life I guess that’s kind of what happens, but it was still nice. We spoke about simple things of each other and she even showed me a few natural remedies.

The sky started brightening and I was just getting ready to leave, but before I did I wanted to thank zecora for everything. “Zecora, I can never thank you enough for what you did for me, if you hadn’t found me and helped me, I would have died... The kindness and generosity you should me I will never forget, I will forever be grateful. thank you...” I said smiling warmly to her in a vary appreciative and respectful tone.

She smiled at that. “Thank you isn’t necessary Jonathan it is what I do, but it’s still nice to hear the thankfulness I heard from you.” She said cheerfully

We walked up to the door and she opened it for me. I was about to go when I remembered about something. “Zecora is it alright if I keep the teeth from the timberwolf? I liked to keep it as a reminder.” I asked

She chuckled. “I thought you might ask, so I went ahead and did a little task.” she said

A task? “What do you mean?” I asked

She pointed her head back into the house, I took a couple steps away from the doorway. She walked over to a cabinet and opened a drawer, She pulled them out but kept them hidden in her hoof, she grabbed my good arm gently and placed them in my hand. But she made them into a necklace, she had the big tooth on the bottom and the two smaller ones she somehow tide them slightly higher on either side and it was all held together with a strong thick black string, it actually looked kind of cool. “I can’t believe you made this for me... thank you.” I said cheerfully

We walked back ever to the door, I walked out and looked at the darken forest around me. I trued back to zecora to say goodbye. “Goodbye zecora, I'll never forget you and what you what you did for me. Thanks again.” I said cheerfully waving to her.

She waved back. “Goodbye Jonathan and before you go, my door will always be open to a friend that I know.” she said, it made me feel good knowing that I could call zecora friend. She waved one last time and then shut her front door and went about her business.

I looked back to the forest, well here goes nothing... I lifted my right hand and placed it on my shoulder, it hurt but keeping pressure on the wound helps with the pain. I found the path that zecora had machined and started walking...