Seperated from his Mentor, Gabriel must follow clues left behind by Starswirl to reassamble a powerful magical devices that just might prove to be Equestria's only hope against the coming winter
Gabriel Walker has no place he could claim as home. His family has no love for him and he spends his time alone. So he jumps at the chance to learn magic from a wandering Wizard. When said Wizard invites him to come to his home town of "Equestria", Gabriel is more than eager to leave everything behind and find happiness somewhere else. But something goes awry and he is separated from his mentor Starswirl and lands in unfamiliar territory. With the help of the indigenous life-forms, technicolor ponies, he must find clues left behind by his mentor in order to assemble a powerful magical artifact that would allow him to leaves this alien world ... that is, if he even wants to. But unbeknownst to him and his new friends, an ancient evil arises in the north, threatening to blanket everything in snow and ice.
A dark night in an unspecified city on the eastern seaboard of the USA. In the distance, a storm was brewing. Lightning flashed, then many seconds later the low rumbling of thunder. The storm was still many miles away.
A young boy, no older than 6 or 7 years, sat on a swing in park, not far from the apartment building in which his home should be. He wouldn't call it a home though. Not since that woman came into their lives. During arguments between his parents, his birth-mother had screamed that it was a mistake to have had a child, how she regretted marrying his dad over one silly mistake.
That had hurt. He loved his mother. Apparently one-sided.
His father wasn't that much better. Their argument before and during the divorce was which one of them would be stuck with him. His father “lost”, his mother left with another man. He hadn't heard from her in years. Didn't expect to either. He cried back then. A long time … until his father “reminded” him he was a boy and boys should not cry. The scars were meant to remind him of that.
It was supposed to change with a woman in the house. A fleeting dream. He was happy at first, having a new mother, and in the beginning it could be called happiness.
The animosity became even more apparent after his sister was born only a year ago. Again he was happy at first to get a sibling, hoping that this time they could be a real family. That illusion lasted only days. After his step-mother and the new baby came home it was made it clear that he wasn't welcome anymore. The new child, a link between his father and his new wife, had made him obsolete. She even refused to give him food. After telling his father of this he was astonished to learn that his step-mother had already complained how he wouldn't eat the meals she made. Suddenly everything was his fault. At least he got food now, only until it was decided he could make food for himself. When his father took him to the side and told him not to ruin this new relationship.
He became an outsider in his own home. So he began to stay outside whenever possible. Usually only until the neighbors saw him, than he was quickly brought back inside. Couldn't have the neighbors speak poorly now, could they? When he started learning to read, he found solace in books . Seeing pictures of noble knights and happy families urged him on to improve his reading skills quickly. His step-mother reacted with disgust in no uncertain terms: she wouldn't care for him even if he were smart. The boy stopped caring months ago, though the words still stung, considering his father was in earshot and didn't respond. Too busy doting on his daughter.
That had happened this evening. He left the home with a book about a magician that left on a wondrous adventure learning about all kinds of animals. He had gotten the book from the public library. One of the ladies was sweet enough to lend it to him. Thus we find the little boy on the swings in a park just outside his apartment building.
Thunder woke the boy out of his musings. He hadn't seen the lightning. Unsure how far away the storm would still be the boy dreaded having to return home soon. He looked back to the building that was supposed to be home.
A flash of bluish light, much closer than the lightning should be, illuminated the boys back, casting a large shadow in front of him. He quickly turned around expecting to see where lightning had struck. Only a faint shape in the shadows of darkness could be found there. A “good” boy would have probably refrained from the action our young protagonist was about to take and instead scurry home. Alas he wasn't taught to be wary of strangers (in later life he would muse that maybe they wanted him abducted... only on darker days)
“Hello?” the boy cried out.
The strange shape moved, its owner probably startled being addressed, “my Apologies, young colt, pray tell, where is this place?”
The shape appeared to walk on all fours, vaguely resembling a horse. The boy squinted his eyes, hoping to better see the person and stepped closer, into a light-cone of a street lamp on the playground.
“Curious, nay ... marvelous, Thou art not at all what I had expected ... ,” the strange shape gasped and uttered.
“Mister, you talk funny … and why are you on the ground?”
“Oh, ooooh … wait but a tic, or a tock, and I shall show myself ...” answered the shape in the dark. A bluish light quickly expanded around the shape.
*Poof* a blinding light, then a puff of smoke.
The boy shielded his eyes with his hand while firmly grasping his book with the other. As his sight adjusted to the dark again he saw a man, presumably as old as his father, step out of the smoke into the light-cone of a street lamp. He was wearing what appeared to be a blue suit with a blue cape and he had the makings of a brown beard in his face. A dark blue hat covered the upper part of his face so the boy was unable to see his eyes. Around his neck hung a red crystal amulet.
Excitedly the boy shouted “Are you a magician? Was that a magic trick?” It had been awhile since he had been this exited.
“Yay and nay, dear Youngling! Yay, I am a magician, though I prefer the term Wizard, nay, t'is was no mere magic trick! T'is was a polymorphic spell I have developed! The first of its kind I might add.”
“Wow, no trick but real magic? That was awesome!”
“Of course no trick, I am called Starswirl, Wizard of the High Court, counselor to the Unicorn King, and Chief Researcher of Spells at the Academy of Wizardry … even if they choose to deny it”
“Incredible!”
“Why, of course I am ...” the man played around with his amulet
“I wish I could do magic … maybe then my family would like me ...” the boy's visage darkened, which didn't go unnoticed by Starswirl.
“What darkens thy mood, young one?”
“It... it doesn't matter, not if got to meet a real life wizard ...” the boy tried to brighten up by smiling, a poor attempt at a facade.
The sound of thunder rumbling brought rain with it, cutting the conversation short.
“I gotta go back home... Good bye, Mister Wizard!” the boy shouted while running back towards his home, pressing the book against his chest, the firm believe that Wizards and Magic were real!
Starswirl watched on as the boy ran towards some towers in the distance, a frown adorning his face due to thoughts of the troubled creature he had met. The rain started falling heavily now, but he did not run for cover. Starswirl had a reason to come here. Mostly to satisfy his curiosity, true, but also to search for ways to stop the coming winter in his homeworld.
Few shared his believe that the climate was changing. The Pegasi protested any such claims most strongly. But Starswirl had traveled far between the kingdoms and even towards the White Seas as well as the Edge Mountains. There he had encountered snow and ice, a marvelous experience, yes, but the cold weather refused to bow towards his magics, he doubted even Pegasi could control such winds and clouds. His countenance darkened as he remembered the frozen animals and the dead plants. What earth pony could stand against such forces when even his magics failed? Then there were the eerie howls, whispering to him of a dreamless sleep, until the end of time.
Tensions were already rising between the Tribes and food shortages would severely impact relations between them. Even the Unicorn King only listened half-heartedly to Starswirl, even if he was allowed to continue his research into new spells. Then he discovered a way to look into other planes of existence. Especially this plane, with its wondrous technology not run by magic, sparked his curiosity. If they could control the weather by means other than magic, the future could be secured. What he could learn simply by observing from afar was quickly exhausted. He couldn't even make out what the inhabitants looked like. His biggest problem was the lack of magical energy. Watching other dimensions was already consuming great amounts of energy, but travel between them proved to be on another scale altogether. It took him years to store enough magical force to open even a rift large enough to pass through, and possible back again.
This was his first trip to this world in particular and the bipedal sentient creature just now shocked him. Walking on two legs, no tail … how did they manage not to topple over? …
Another lightning strike and the low rumblings of thunder raised him out of hist musings. The initial Test proved successful. Travel between the planes was possible. Now all he had to do was return.
Starswirl glanced one last time towards the towers the young creature ran towards. The troubled face flashed before his mind's eye. A lump formed in his stomach. Any thoughts other than his immediate surroundings were pushed to the edge of consciousness. Back to work, Starswirl
Energy surrounded Starswirl's body as he went down on all fours. Another blinding flash of light and the man was replaced with a Unicorn Pony of similar color and apparel.
Once more he concentrated his magical energies, but instead of his horn glowing, the crystal around his neck started pulsating with a weak red light. An arc of red lightning sprang force and struck the air a few meters ahead of him, opening a portal, framed by red lightning. The crystal started losing color.
Almost out of magical energy, huh.
Once he trotted through the portal, Starswirl looked back towards the strange world he had just left one last time. He would have to return as soon as possible. The Image of the boy with his held hung low flashed before his eyes once more.
He pushed himself up on all fours only to fall to his side. At least his stomach was empty … well now it was. He rolled away from the oh so glorious mess he made on – apparently - a mossy floor.
As the vertigo dissipated, the spinning halted. Again he went on all fours before pushing himself off the ground onto shaky legs. This time he didn't topple over or empty his stomach again.
As the surroundings sunk in, he realized he wasn't quite where he expected to be. No grand white hall or towering pillars.
Instead it was dark and it smelled of damp wood … and – a new smell - vomit. Resisting the urge to throw up again, he unsteadily moved to the nearest tree to lean against it and get his bearings.
Trees and foliage covered what appeared to be ruins. The moss covered a stone floor, hiding strange symbols.
Taking a deep breath and steadying himself, Gabriel made his way towards the closest of the symbols in the ground and removed moss and overgrown weed with a stone he picked up. After he uncovered quite a bit of the stone floor he stepped onto a rock to get a good look. A five-pointed star surrounded by a five-meter circle with unknown symbols covered most of the ground. The pool of vomit in the middle removed most of his doubt that the circle was where he had arrived.
Gabriel removed the the crystal necklace from his neck and held it in his hand. He closed his eyes and mumbled “Revelentur,” a word of power he had learned from his mentor.
At first only the crystal started shimmering with a faint green glow, which quickly escalated into a faint beam of greenish light. Gabriel aimed the beam towards the uncovered pictogram and a bluish mist became visible. At the center the mist was thickest. Gabriel trained the beam of magical light onto the pillar of smoke in the center of the five-pointed star, following it upwards, where a swirl of bluish mist, tinged with but the faintest traces of red, slowly dissipated into the atmosphere.
He was so absorbed in his investigation that he realized neither the movement in the forest nor the rustling of the leaves as an unseen creature stalked through the thicket. The creature turned its green-yellow eyes towards its future dinner and slowly crept closer until …
A growl. A sudden impact.
Gabriel was left disoriented by the attack. Nevertheless, he quickly managed to get to his feet and survey his surroundings, keeping the crystal-necklace in his right hand at the ready, while his left hand slowly made its way to his belt-pouch.
Another growl from his right, and another lunge from his unseen opponent. But this time he was ready. Without visually conforming his enemy, Gabriel raised his right hand to his side and bellowed “Proteges!”
With a the sound of a glass-window breaking the unfinished green-glowing semi-sphere burst into hundreds of little pieces, but it had served its purpose. The assailant's attack had been deflected, sending it crashing into the ground with a loud thud. Its momentum caused it to skid with a scraping sound until its movements were stopped by a tree with a loud cracking noise.
Only now could he take in the sight of the peculiar creature that was attacking him. While it had the form of a large four-legged creature, possibly a dog or a wolf, it wasn't made out of flesh or even bone. Its muscles appeared to be wood, its skin and fur were tree-bark. It rolled back on all fours and slowly stood up, shaking its head from side to side. Its eyes snapped open and the green-glowing orbs in its wooden skull fixated on Gabriel. The growl it emanated spoke volumes of its dissatisfaction. Saliva, or possibly tree-sap, driveled from its mouth onto the ground. A smile formed on Gabriel mouth when he saw the smears of what once was his stomach contents in the creature's path.
Another growl pulled him out of his reverie. Now was not the time for that! He had to devise a strategy to beat this strange creature before it sunk its wooden fangs into his flesh. A quick sweep of the ruins revealed no safe options for retreat. So he had to fight it.
The wooden wolf crept closer, poised for another attack still focusing its glowing-green eyes on Gabriel. Gabriel on the other hand assumed a defensive position with his crystal-necklace grasped firmly in his right hand. His left hand pulled a small vial, filled with a brown-orange mixture, out of his belt pouch. He focused on the creature, readying the spell from earlier, and locking eyes with it.
Gabriel blinked first, and the creature pounced on him. “Proteges,” he shouted again, only this time moving slightly to the right and stepping forward. The attack was deflected again, but this time it caught itself seemingly in mid-air and landed on all fours, quickly turning around. Gabriel had used this chance to run towards an opening between two trees, but the creature quickly ran after him.
Instead of running past the trees, Gabriel jumped from a half a meter away towards one of them, took another step on it when his left foot connected with the bark and used as much power as he could muster to launch himself up and away, towards the direction he came from. This, the creature had not expected, as it tried to stop itself skidding over the mossy floor, following its supposed prey with its head, before crashing into yet another tree. Gabriel absorbed the force of his jump via a roll while landing and managed to stand up facing the wooden predator, vial in hand. He drew back his arm and threw the vial towards the crashed creature. The wolf's gaze followed the trajectory with half closed eyes, and Gabriel could have sworn that it opened them wide just before the vial crashed into the ground right in front of it, bursting into tiny fragments. He couldn't be sure because he pulled his cloak over his body and made himself as small as possible. The vial smashed into the ground and broke into pieces, then the contents rapidly expanded in a fiery explosion.
Pieces of wooden wolf rained down on Gabriel, and after a few seconds he stood up and brushed wooden chips and dust from his cloak, before checking the contents of his belt poach. He only had four of the vials of exploding jelly left and no idea if there were more of these wooden wolves or any other predators still around. He cast one last look towards the smoking remains before turning around, facing the pictogram in the center of the ruins again.
While investigating the immediate surroundings, this time Gabriel kept wary not to be surprised by another unwelcome visitor. That was why he immediately reacted when he heard the sound of wood scraping along the floor. His gaze was once more drawn towards the smoking husk further away. His eyes widened and he involuntarily let out a gasp. The pieces of wood began rolling towards the remains and slowly the husk was regaining its previous form. Soon enough the green-glowing orb flashed back into existence as well.
“You have got to be kidding me …”
◊ ◊ ◊
A purple unicorn was reading through a huge book on a pedestal. Every now and again her horn glowed with a purple shimmer and one of the pages in the book turned on its own. By the speed she was “consuming” the tome, “Alchemical Uses of Everfree Mushrooms” seemed to be a real page-turner.
“Uh, this sounds interesting,” she said, tearing her gaze away from the book towards quill and parchment on a desk not far from where she stood.
Her horn shimmered with purple energy once more, but no pages turned themselves this time, both quill and parchment levitated towards her, landing on what little space remained on the pedestal.
“Now where is the ink ...” Twilight Sparkle looked left and right before shouting, “Spiiiiiiiiiiiike ...”
“Yes Twilight?” A small purple dragon came running out of the kitchen, wearing a cute frilly apron.
“Where is the ink? I'm trying to copy a recipe for Zecora and I need ink to write ...” “ Well maybe you could just take the whole book ...” Spike whispered while making his way over to the desk.
“It's right here,” Spike said while opening one of the drawers, lifting a bottle of ink out of its depths.
Twilight magically yanked the Bottle of Ink out of his claws, “That's my number One assistant!”
The little dragon's cheeks flushed red, “I'm almost done with dinner”
“Oh, okay, then I'll go and ask Zecora about this recipe before ...” Twilight began.
“Oh no you don't,” Spike interrupted, “I worked hard on this, you can go after dinner!”
Twilight was stunned by the little dragon's outburst. Nevertheless she agreed while chuckling. She copied down the recipe and levitated the filled parchment towards her saddlebags hanging at the door. After dinner she would go to see Zecora in order to ask her help with the recipe.
◊ ◊ ◊
Gabriel looked down on the remains of the wolf while breathing heavily. Twice, it resurrected, three times he turned it into smoking debris. He had used one more of his vials filled with exploding jelly, leaving only three. With the help of the magical crystal he had launched it fifteen meters high, hoping gravity would do the rest. When this bore only temporary results again he set fire to it, reluctantly. While Gabriel never seriously harmed anyone or anything with magic before this day, he was especially hesitant on setting any creature, even wooden ones, on fire. The wooden wolf appeared shocked at first, then proved to be a lot more dangerous on fire, before finally succumbing.
When the remains started shivering, a precursor to its reformation process, Gabriel shouted to no one in particular, “oh, come on! I used fire! Your wood! At least stay charcoal or something!”
He had had enough. The fight only served to rob him of more energy. A look at the crystal in his hand revealed that a had turned from green to yellow. He could probably mix up another batch of exploding jelly, he had enough ingredients in his Satchel, the drain on his magical amulets was also negligible, but if his amulet ran out of energy, it would probably take days and a rather complicated procedure in order to recharge it. It didn't help that he felt silly having to dance and chant around the bloody thing in regular intervals while recharging.
Once more looking at the smoking remains, it seemed like time was slowly rewinding. Burnt timber returned back to its previous state. It was interesting to watch, but Gabriel knew he had little time before things would get dangerous. As if to underline this fact, he now heard a not-so-distant howl, then another, and another.
“Oh, so your friends are coming to join the barbecue … I'd better not be here when they arrive”
Time was running out, Gabriel knew that, he had to find a safe place and fast. Still he hesitated. This place was important. Sparing a quick glance at the reforming wooden predator, Gabriel once again jumped onto the rock, a piece of what once was a wall, and took a cellphone out of his satchel and turned it on.
The wolf was about halfway reformed when Gabriel heard the satisfying ping. He quickly aimed the camera of the phone at the pictogram carved into the ruins and took several snapshots, just to be sure.
He glanced at the wolf again, it was about a quarter of the way finished.
Still on top of the rock, Gabriel scanned the skies, hoping to find any signs of life, civilized life, that could possibly offer him safe haven. A trail of smoke rising from among the treetops offered that slim hope. He heard the howls again, this time closer. He wasn't sure what would happen first, the revival or the arrival of the others. He had to buy time, but how? Gabriel heaved a sigh and hung his head while squatting on the rock.
Inspiration hit.
He looked back towards the almost reformed wolf and then back again towards the rock. Slowly a plan developed and a wicked smile appeared on Gabriel's face.
Twilight had just finished dinner. A delicious ensemble of seafood lasagne and fresh salad. Spike had taken it upon himself to learn different styles of pony cuisine and this was his first attempt at Pegasi cooking. Today was Twilight's first taste of seafood, and while she did have reservations at first, it proved to be delicious. She had to make sure that on her next weekly check-list she'd include a thank-you gift for her number one assistant. Then again, Spike would know immediately if she were to include it on any of her lists. Surprising him would be better. But how could she make sure not to forget the present if she didn't put it on any checklist? While debating the pros and cons, Twilight arrived at the edge of the Everfree Forest. She could just try to fly towards Zecora's now that she had wings, but they proved hard to control during Rainbow Dash's flight training earlier this week.
A distant roar of thunder deep within the Everfree forest squashed any idea of flying over the trees. Her initial attempts of flight were not impressive anyways. Twilight hadn't seen any clouds on her way, but she hadn't really paid attention to her surroundings in any case. Better be quick, Twilight thought and marched onto the path through the forest that would lead her to Zecora's hut. It wasn't that far in anyway, so walking would be fine.
Meanwhile in her hut, Zecora had also heard the supposed thunder. No longer stirring the soup in her couldron, she peeked out of her window. Having lived in the forest for a long time, even if only at the outskirts, she knew the sound she heard was not natural thunder. Also there was no humidity that foretold storm over the Everfree. “I wonder what could have caused that sound, if there's no storm coming 'round?”
Zecora looked back at her cauldron and resumed her cooking.
◊ ◊ ◊
Three Timber wolves emerged from the trees looking for their comrade that alerted them. The beasts started sniffing the ground, searching for any foreign scent.
A yelp startled the creatures. In unison they looked up and scanned the area. Another yelp and the sound of wood scraping stone drew their attention towards a large stone, pinning one of their own underneath. Its attempts to free itself were in vain, the stone proved to heavy and allowed no escape.
The three wolves approached their trapped brethren. One of them picked up speed and slammed against the stone. It gave way, only little bit. Enough for the beasts to realize that it might just work.
One after another, the beasts slammed against the rock, moving it ever so slightly. They were so focused on their work, they did not see the two small vials filled with a brown-orange liquid on the top of the stone inching closer to the edge with every body-slam.
Once more two of the wolves slammed against the rock and ultimately, the two vials fell off the edge. On of the wolves watched with interest before they broke open on the ground. It tilted its head while the trapped Timber-wolf's eyes widened.
The other two hardly had time to register before the explosion consumed them all. This one larger than before.
◊ ◊ ◊
The explosion heralded the end of his would-be pursuers. For a time, at least. Gabriel smiled, and almost tripped over an enormous tree root.
Better pay attention! he thought.
He wasn't sure how far away exactly the source of the smoke was, or even if it provide sanctuary, but he had no other leads.
So he ran towards the smoke.
◊ ◊ ◊
Twilight had arrived at Zecora's hut when she heard the sound of thunder again, only this time much louder than before. Judging from the sound, the storm shouldn't be very far off. If she weren't in such a hurry, she might have realized that there was no lightning and certainly no rain.
Zecora on the other hand was far more aware of her surroundings. The sound she had heard now was definitely no thunder. Still it seemed far enough away not to warrant any alarm. If it weren't for the fact that the sound this time was of a far greater magnitude than before. Just as Zecora was trying to make up her mind about whether or not to investigate, the door to her hut opened up, revealing the silhouette of a purple Unicorn, nay Alicorn.
“These wings suit you well, my dear Twilight! Seeing you like this, fills me with much delight.”
Twilight blushed at the compliment. “I just wish I could get used to them more quickly. I keep sweeping my books from the shelves every time I look for something in particular. And don't even get me started on flying …”
“I'm sure there's much to hear, but why have you come, my dear?” Zecora had long since learned that it was a wise idea to stop Twilight before she picked up steam on her ramblings.
“Oh right! Actually I found this recipe in one of my books, Alchemical Use of Everfree Mushrooms, and I was wondering if you know of it?”
Twilight horn was enveloped with magical aura, and a scroll levitated out of her saddlebags. Zecora's followed the parchment, and, after it landed on her table , started to read.
“This recipe is strange indeed. Its purpose eluding, I must concede”
“Really? The book wasn't clear on what the potion was for either, so I hoped you knew something”
“While its purpose does give me pause, I should be able to find out what it can cause”
“That would be helpful. I don't think Spike would let me test another Potion on him again after that Sparkling Scales Disaster last week ...”
Before Zecora could react to this revelation, a sound drew her attention outside. Something was closing in on her hut from deeper parts of the forest. Even if her dwelling was warded against such intrusions by several potions and decoctions spread around her hut, wariness filled her chest.
“Please be quiet, my dear! Something strange draws near!”
No sooner had Zecora said that, her door swung upon violently and a tall creature standing on only its hind-legs entered her hut. It was wearing a long dark coat, covering a bandolier, carrying a satchel. Strangest of all was a crystal, pulsating with an almost orange light, hanging from his right ... appendage?
It hadn't registered them yet, its gaze focused on the outside, presumably watching for pursuing predators, which the Everfree Forest provided in bulk. It closed the door without looking inside.
Not even saying hello, quite the rude fellow!
Twilight narrowed her eyes, the creature seemed familiar, like she had read about it a long time ago, but the memory was just outside her reach. She was wary of it though. It didn't appear to be a Diamond Dog or even a Minotaur.
It uttered a few grunts and noises before turning around. When it finally saw them, its eyes widened in shock. It raised what appeared to be claws, holding a crystal, filled with magical energies . Twilight took no chances, the gesture seemingly offensive, and blasted the creature with magenta energy from her horn.
The creature was struck dead center by the blast and crashed against the now closed door. It had stopped moving.
“Do not concentrate on the Crystal, t'is only a medium! Instead imagine the energy in front of thee”
A youth sat cross-legged on the floor with his eyes closed. A crystal, resting on his palms, pulsated with a green glow. Away from him, partly covered in shadows, sat a man, he looked to be in his 30s, and watched the boy while giving pointers.
“Good, good! Now compress the energies, form them with thine will!”
One meter in front of the boy greenish smoke slowly gathered.
The youth concentrated. Sweat sprouted on his forehead. The green smoke started to swirl. Slowly it began to condense in the center of the cloud.
“Yes, now mold it like … like … delicious dough!” The man's stomach grumbled as if on cue.
The boy's eyes snapped upon, unsure of what he heard. The swirling stopped and the green smoke dissipated into the air.
“Hoho … perchance not a good example? ...” the man stood up and moved out of the shadows while chuckling to himself.
“T'is would be a good time to take a break and partake in some food, what think thee, Gabriel?”
The man arrived at the satchel he had arrived with, and begun rummaging around in it. The boy stood up, and dusted of his pants.
“Hm … a daisy sandwich … or better yet, a hay-burger” he mumbled to himself.
He produced a delicious looking apple and held it up high, as if he just discovered some great treasure and lifted it out of a chest. The only thing missing was a musical score, something like dadadadaaaa!
“What's a … hay-burger?” Gabriel asked. He wasn't sure whether he had heard the wizard correctly, but was slowly getting used to his unusual speech patterns.
“Never mind, here have an apple!” The wizard tossed the apple towards Gabriel .
After barely catching it, he rubbed it against his T-Shirt before taking a bite. He was now 11 years old and the wizard started teaching him magic one week ago.
“Starswirl, how long are you going to stay?”
The wizard looked at an amulet he was carrying around his neck. It bathed his hand in a weak orange light. Gabriel tried to get a good look at it, but couldn't from his position.
“Not long, I'm afraid. Methinks, only a week. … A fortnight seems to be the longest I can keep the portal open” Starswirl seemed to say that last sentence to himself He stuffed the amulet back into his shirt and began looking for something else to eat in his bag..
Almost immediately after blasting the strange creature with her magic bolt, Twilight widened her eyes in surprise. She wasn't certain why exactly she had done that.
“Your powers certainly did grow, but why did you attack it, though?”
“I-I really don't know! Something just felt so-so wrong. Do you think I hurt it bad? “ Twilight had her eyes wide open while lightly biting her lower lip. When she saw the creature's chest rise while taking breaths, her expressions softened. Her curiosity overrode her concern. “What do you think it is?”
“I have never seen such a creature, maybe you should ask your teacher?”
“Princess Celestia … you're right. But I get the feeling I should know what it is ... Oh, if only I could remember where I've seen it before …”
Twilight closed her eyes and tried her best to remember why this alien creature seemed so familiar to her. Even though Diamond Dogs and Minotaur seemed similar she was certain she had never seen this particular creature. Maybe a mutant? No no no. Maybe she had read about it before? A small spark ignited in her subconscious. Yes, she had read about it before, if only she could remember when and where, which book and what it said.
A small cough snapped Twilight out of her thoughts. She looked at Zecora who shook her head, then moved to look at the strange creature again.
It clenched its eyes while arching its back and slightly opened its mouth, revealing its teeth. Twilight guessed it was in pain, perhaps her attack had caused some internal damage. Once more Twilight turned a worried gaze towards Zecora.
The Zebra nodded and started to throw different herbs into what once was supposed to be her dinner.
◊ ◊ ◊
Voices raised Gabriel out of the memory of his first lesson with Starswirl. That was so long ago. At least five years. Starswirl gave him a means to escape his miserable everyday life by teaching him magic.
He had been grateful.
Honestly had Starswirl asked, Gabriel would have followed him immediately. Thinking back, it was probably what he wished for, even back then.
Especially now.
Perhaps things would have worked out differently. Perhaps his father would have finally cared about him, if he were to suddenly disappear. Perhaps his half-sister would …
No, he couldn't start thinking like this. Things happen. They were history now. No way to change them. Not even with whatever magic and spells he had learned.
When he tried to move, intense pain shot throughout his back. A small groan escaped his lips.
He briefly wondered why. Images of two strange four-legged creatures in a hut, filled with weird masks on the walls and a smoldering cauldron in the center, flashed before his eyes. Then the purple one lowered her head, aiming at him … with her horn? A unicorn? Then a blinding flash of pinkish energy.
His eyes snapped open and he tried to stand up. Another flash of intense pain quickly negated any such thoughts.
With his eyes now open he could see what appeared to be the roof of the hut he had previously entered. Turning his head from left to right, careful not to move to fast, lest he aggravated whatever injury he had, Gabriel took in his surroundings. There were those creepy masks again. Tribal, possibly african.
Then he saw one of those … horses again. It was that Zebra. The other one didn't seem to be around. He thanked whatever deities he was supposed to thank in these parts, unsure whether they even had any.
The Zebra looked weird. Not so much because she was a Zebra, living in a hut. Not even because of that Mohawk it had.
What freaked him out was the fact she was brewing something in her cauldron, muttering in a sing-song voice he didn't understand.
Instinctively he searched for the crystal that allowed him to use magic. Panic rose when he realized it wasn't in his hand. As fast as he dared, his hand moved to his chest, hoping he had put it around his neck. It wasn't there either.
Only now did he realize he wasn't wearing a shirt anymore. The bloody horses had undressed him. He wasn't sure whether to feel extremely upset or downright disgusted. He grabbed the blanket that was covering the lower half of his body and slightly raised it. A sigh of relief escaped him when he realized the horses had at least allowed him the small dignity of leaving his pants on.
While looking down on his body, he noticed a small irregularity on his chest. Purple cracks adorned the area above his heart. That was where the Unicorn's attack had hit him. Cautiously he touched one of the cracks on his skin.
A slight tingle. The feeling of static electricity. The cracks contained energy.
Upon closer inspection they were pulsating in rhythm with his heartbeat.
The sound of a wooden ladle hitting the metal cauldron forced Gabriel's attention towards the Zebra.
She hadn't realized he was awake yet, merely stopped stirring whatever concoction she was working on. Her gaze was fixated on the the bandolier on the table. His meager possessions laid spread out next to his shirt and navy blue overcoat. His satchel was also opened, its contents spilling onto the table.
The Zebra's focus was his last vial containing the exploding jelly. She studied it intently before lifting it up in her hooves and walking towards one of her candles.
His jaw almost touched his chest. How did she … with no hands?
His eyes widened when realization hit what the Zebra was planning to do with the vial. She was probably only innocently trying to examine its contents against the candle light.
Bad idea!
“WAIT!” He shouted while propping up his Torso on his arms. Again intense pain flared through his back and he had to wince.
◊ ◊ ◊
Zecora was so startled with the sudden outburst that she almost dropped the vial. Juggling it with both her hooves twice, she managed to safely catch it on her third try. Exhaling a long breath, she grinned sheepishly while turning to her “patient” who had fallen back onto his back, expressing his pain quite clearly. She hadn't understood what it had said, the urgency of its tone enough to stop her action. She carefully put the vial of brown-orange jelly back onto the table before trotting over to her patient to take a look at the creature.
It took sharp breaths while clenching its eyes tightly shut, gnashing its teeth, several of them appeared quite sharp, while trying to touch its back, it tried to slowly roll onto its side.
She was surprised its chest wasn't more of an issue, the scars of the magical blast should have burned quite severely. Magenta cracks, looking more like veins, radiated outward from where Twilight had struck the creature. Hazarding a guess, the creature's body seemed to be trapping the magical energies within. For what purpose, she had no idea. Her expertise lay in potions and natural remedies, not Magic. Twilight would likely find it very interesting, once she returned with a certain Pegasus.
Having found a position on its side which apparently didn't cause it any more pain, the creature's breathing normalized. The tension left its face.
“To give you some needed relief, that, my brew should easily achieve”
Zecora walked back to her cauldron to inspect her work, unsure whether the creature had understood or not. More often than not, even fellow equine seemed unable to understand her, and at least they were speaking the same language.
She looked over her brew, stirred a few more times, and happy with the results, transferred some of the liquid into a bowl.
Now how could she make the creature drink it?
◊ ◊ ◊
Gabriel was breathing more easily, now that he had found a position that did no cause intense pain. He would have preferred it if the Zebra would still be ignorant of his awakening, but the situation demanded he intervene. An explosion in the hut, moreover right in front of the Zebra's muzzle, would have likely caused quite a bit of trouble.
Finally managing to open his eyes again, he could see the Zebra looking at him intently, before moving back to the cauldron and pour some of the bubbling liquid into a bowl. The action was taken with its mouth this time. While seemingly more natural than using the hooves, the sight still unnerved him. Horses using tools. He must have arrived in quite a strange place.
The Zebra's gaze shifted between Gabriel and the bowl a few times before she cocked her head slightly to the side.
Don't tell me she expects me to …
Before he could finish the thought, the Zebra placed a spoon into the bowl and, carefully carrying the bowl with her teeth, moved towards him. Stopping in front him, she placed the broth-filled bowl close to his face. The stench of medicine entered his nose and he almost coughed. The Zebra balanced the spoon on her hoof and carefully blew on the hot broth.
The gesture was universal, easily understood. Any mother would probably done that for her child. He had seen his step-mother doing it for his baby-sister. He wondered if his mother had done something similar for him as well. He had no memory of it. He expected that people seldom do. He hoped he had merely forgotten.
Any thoughts of resistance melted away. He allowed the Zebra to spoon-feed him the broth. Warmness started to radiate from his stomach. After a few mouthfuls his pain lessened considerably.
Probably some form of natural painkiller, Gabriel thought. Gingerly he straightened his back and and sat up. A dull pain persisted but at least he could manage to stay seated. The Zebra smiled at him, nudging the half-emptied bowl towards him with her muzzle. He thanked her, somehow sure she would understand the gesture, before lifting up the bowl and feeding himself.
◊ ◊ ◊
Zecora moved back, quietly, trying not to startle her 'guest', then began to watch it intently. When it started using the spoon to feed itself, she chuckled. Obviously it had some intelligence, apparently even little sense of etiquette, not much though, considering how rudely it burst through her door.
The soup was made to act as a painkiller as well as a healing potion of sorts. It wasn't as effective as she might have hoped, as she observed her 'guest' wince every now while lifting the spoon to its mouth. But at least it seemed to be able to move a little bit.
Zecora looked at the door.. Twilight had left in order to get Fluttershy. While she realized that Fluttershy had a hoof for working with animals, Zecora started to doubt whether the shy Pegasus would be able to use her abilities on her 'guest'. It wasn't that she doubted Fluttershy's abilities. She just wasn't certain anymore if her 'guest' could be classified as an animal. It appeared to be sentient, possibly even sapient. It covered itself with clothes, the material foreign to her, and, as mentioned, it appeared to have rudimentary etiquette.
A knock on the door told Zecora her other guests had arrived. The current one widened its eyes and started looking around for something. It focused on the table, presumably having located whatever it was searching for. Zecora followed its gaze towards the crystal it had grasped before being downed by Twilight. She wasn't sure, but it appeared to emit an orange glow while her 'guest' had held it, but now it was just like any other crystal.
“Come on in, I would like for Fluttershy to begin!”
The door opened up. Twilight walked in, magically dragging a cowering, shivering yellow mass behind her.
It appeared that Fluttershy was as frightened as ever.