Chapter 1
Outside the air is cold, the wind is howling through the sharp branches. The sky is dark and the roots of the tall trees cover the ground. Howls of an unknown beast can be heard echoeing and weaving through the trees. There come a rustling in the brush, silence blankets the forest as all the animals and beasts fall silent. The silence is lifted when Zecora, a very unique zebra, comes walking through the brush. Slung over her body is a brown leather satchel, with only the top of a phile peeking out from the mouth of the bag.
She walks along the faded pathway almost covered in dead leaved and overgrown vines. She pushes some branches aside and steps into a clearing. In the center of the small clearing is a big tree, with a door and some small windows, home sweet home. She apprached the door and gently pushed it open with her hoof, making sure not to disrupt the phile in her satchel too much. As soon as she sets hoof in the dim room, walls covered in old tribal masks, she removes the satchel and gently pulls the phile out and setd it carefully on an old wooden table next to a big brewing pot. She removes her hood and starts placing ingrediants into the boiling water.
She stirs the mixture until it reaches a dark green, she turns to the mysterious phile and pops the cork.
“With this phile my mixture’s complete, but what it will do is not known by me”
she yelled as she poured the white liquid fromk the phile into the brew. The dark green changed to a bright florescent neon green that lit up the whole room and the neighboring trees. The brightness dimmed, and the forest fell silent. She pulled out a small glass phile and scooped up a bit of the brew, after placing it safely on her shelf, she crawled into her bed, asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.
As soon as the sun rose, Zecora was already up and about, gathering her things to head into town, she had to pay a friend a visit. She draped her dark brown robes over herself and slung the satchel containing the small glass phile inside around her. She followed the same faded path as the night before, something seemed odd, the noises from the forest were’t echoeing ion the trees anymore, it was, silent. As soon as the silence was noticed, it was broken with the sound of an unknown creature lurking in the brush. She continued down the path and finally reached the edge of the forest, the sun shined and birds chirped. She put on her hood and continued to walk.
As she arrived in town ponies started to stare and mumble to one another. She lowered her head and continued till she reached a tall tree, almost like her own. She knocked her hoof on the door, and when it opened there stood a purple mare, but not just any mare, an alicorn.
“Oh hello Zecora, why are you here?”
The mare said with a questioned look on her face.
“Dearest Twilight, it’s your help I seek, I have a mysterious potion, here take a peek”.
Zecora removed the small phile from her satchel and handed it to Twilight. Twilight studied it closesly.
“Well, what is it?”
She asked.
“That’s an answer I do not know, but it has a strange and very bright glow”.
Twilight asked her
“Well what was used in the mixture?”
Zecora replied
“Some berries and leaves and a hint of flower, and the final ingrediant has an unknown power”.
A few hours fly by, and Twilight and Zecora are exhausted from reading to find a solution that can help.
“I’m sorry Zecora, we’ve read through all my books but not a single one containg anything about your potion. Why did you make a potion if you didn’t know what it could do?”
Twilight asked.
“You see my dearest pony friend, I made this potion to comprehend, the many sides of magical brews, but for know I have no real clues”
Stated Zecora. Zecora placed the phile back in her satchel and slung it over her.
“Sorry Twilight but I must go, but soon enough I’m sure i’ll get to know”
She walked out, pushing the door with her hoof. As she approached the tree line of the forest, she had an uneasy feeling fall upon her shoulders. She took a small step forward and as her hoof hit the grass there was a small bright flash in front of her. She shielded her eyes and waited for the dust to clear. When she peered up she could’t believe who had made their appearance. It was Discord, but in Zecoras mind all she wanted to know was, why was he here?
“Sweet, sweet Zecora I heard you have a potion with, unknown effects hmm?”
He asked.
“I do have a brew that much is true, but not for a second will i consider handing it to you”
Zecora replied with a serious tone.
“You see little Zecora, I can help you discover what it can do, but all you need to do is hand me the phile and i’ll be on my merrily way”
He said with a grin across his face. He reached for her satchel and grabed the top of the phile. Zecora tried to move out of the way but in the process the phile had opened and spilled on the two.
“See what you did, who knows what it’ll do! If i happen to perish then you will perish too!”
Zecora yelled with anger in her voice. She darted off into the woods, hoping she could find a solution. She burst through her door and started panicking, unaware of what might happen. She take sa few deep breathes and counts to ten.
“Why am I worried? I shouldn’t be. I’m sure it was harmless and nothing will happen to me”
She climbed on her bed and stared at the ceiling. She suddenly awoke to a terrifying scream. She rushed out the door only to find something that she, nor the princesses could explain. The world was different, like a dream of some sort. The only figure she could make out was one too familiar.
“Discord! What is this place? Look at me! Show your face!”
She screamed. Discord turned and to Zecoras surprise he looked frightened, her angry expression fell to a face of pity.
“Discord what did you do? Is all of this a product of you?”
“As much as this place charms me with it twisted ways, no. This place is too wicked for even me.”
He said. He paused for a moment and looked away.
“Who could create such a place full of fear? So wicked it even brings Discord to tears.”
Zecora said as she approaced the bright blue river, shimmering in the light of the setting sun. Zecora and Discord are startled as they hear a loud echoeing voice shouting.
“I see I have some guests, but first I must ask, why have you come and disturb my land?!”
Zecora replies to the thundering voice
“We came here only by mistake, by a mystery potion that only I have been known to make”
A sillouette of a pony rises on the peak of the cliff.
“A potion you say? That recipe has been lost for centuries, how couldn you know anything about it?”
Zecora steps forward.
“I had no idea it would take us here, to a land twisted and full of fear”
The sillouette pony steps into the light, revealing his white coat and grey mane, his blue eyes glistened in the light.
“Twisted? Why thank you young lady I appreciate the compliment. I am Hysteria, the proud and powerful ruler and creator of this heavenly land on which you stand”
Zecora replied with a frightened voice.
“No, No this can’t be true. Centuries ago Celestia banished you!”
Hysteria stomped his hoof and shouted.
“She banished me here! To this land of darkness! There wasn’t a single organism until I came along! I had to create everything here. I used to be Celestia’s star pupil until she banished me here!”
Discord replied, still frightened.
“But why would she banish you?”
Hysteria turned his attention to Discord.
“You see, everything was all fine and dandy, but one day while experimenting with my magic, I had discovered some long lost spells, I was so eager to show Celestia, but when I did she just frowned and told me to never use the spells again, for they could do serious harm. I paced in my quarters and though why would she want these spells kept a secret? I disobeyed Celestia and decided to show these spells to the town. Thats when things got out of hand, Celestia wasn’t pleased and deemed me a hazard to Equestria, therefore she banished me to this land, where I can do as much harm as I possibly want”.
Zecora looked at Discord and then back to Hysteria. Before she could say anything Hysteria blurted out.
“And now that I have you two, I can really see why those spells are kept a secret”
He made a field around Zecora and pushed Discord into a tree. With Discord unconcious and Zecora trapped in a field of magic, Hysteria laughed, and apprached Zecora. His face was only inches from Zecora.
“Awww whats wrong honey bun? can’t move?”
He laughed some more. Zecora shouted.
“Let me out of the magical dome! Let us go free and return us home!”.
Hysteria stopped laughing and looked at Zecora.
“You think it’ll just be that easy? Well you thought wrong Zecora, you and and your friend are stuck here, Forever”
Zecora looks up towards the top of the field as sparks flicker from the top. A bright flash lights up the area as a bolt of electricity strikes Zecora down. She lets out a loud cry as she collapses.
Hysteria lets the field down and glares at Zecoras motionless body. He looks back over to Discord, still laying unconcious by the tree. Hysteria softly says to himself
“They shouldn’t be a problem now”
As he turns away and walks over the hill, out of sight. Hours go by, Zecora’s hoof twitches slightly and she slowly bats open her eyes. Her body, still in pain, feels numb and she’s unable to move. She struggles with all her strength to get up but it’s not enough. She lies there as a tear rolls down her cheek, in the corner of her eye she sees movement by the tree.
“Discord are you awake? I don’t now how much of this land I can take”
She says with the last of her strength. Discord opens his eyes and looks at Zecora, noticing her in pain in the grass.
He rushes to her and says
“Zecora?! Are you okay?!”
With sadness in his voice. Zecora looks at him.
“To tell you with truth i’m in serious pain, just leave to perish in this drizzling rain”
She says as another tear rolls down her cheek. Discord looks at her as he sheds a tear.
“No Zecora, not like this. I won’t let you go, we’re in this together and we’re getting out of here together”
Zecora smiles over her pain.
“You aren’t so evil when you’re shown anothers pain, but we can’t stop Hysteria for he is too insane”
“Come on Zecora you have to get up, you’re the only one who can get us home. I, I really need you”
Discord says as his eyes water.
“There is a potion that could help me rise, but you must find the ingredients hidden within these lies”
Zecora says to Discord with a serious tone. Discord looks up and wipes the tears.
“What do you need? What am I looking for?”
“The only ingredient is a flower of blue, without it we can’t make the brew”
She says in pain. She rests her head on the ground as Discord hurries into the treeline. Minutes go by, but the minutes feel like hours. Discord arrives in a hurry and drops the flowers by Zecora.
“Will these do? Are they the right flower?”
She smiles.
“Yes Discord, these will do. You have no idea I thank you”
Before Discord can reply, Zecora says
“Now place the flowers in the rain, then pour the water on me to relieve the pain”
He nods and does as he’s told. He places the flowers in a puddle and lets the water absorb the nutrients. He scoops the water and pours it on her side. He says to her.
“There you are Zecora, I did what you said. Feel any better? Can you get up?”
Zecora smiles and bit and nods slowly.
“Just give me a second to rid the pain, I still have so much strength to regain”
Discord watches as Zecora slowly rises to her hooves, her legs wobbling as she is still weak.
“Now Discord, we must get home. Hysteria must perish for striking me within that dome”
She takes a step but her leg buckles. She catches herself and rises back up. She collapses again and faints, Discord rushes up and tries to shake her awake. When he fails, He breaks off some tree branches and forms a small shelter above her, shielding her from the rain.
As the sun rises and the rain has cleared, Zecora’s eye open slowly. She gets up, her strength fully regained, and looks around for Discord. She hears a rustle and turns in fright, only to see Discord step out of the bushes.
“Discord, what is this shelter you have made? Built over where I had once laid”
Discord looks at her.
“I couldn’t see you suffer”
Zecora smiles and gives him a hug.
“Now come on Discord we must get free. Now lets go up the hill so we can see”
They make their way up the hillside until they reach the top. Zecora looks along the horizon and spots a building in the distance.
“There is where Hysteria must be, He must pay for what he did to me”.
They wander through the forest towards their destination, Zecora picking up ingredients periodically. Discord broke the silence.
“Zecora, whats with all the stuff? What are you planning on doing?”
Zecora looks back
“Oh it’s nothing, just a few things, this walk would be easier if I had some wings”
Zecora stops under a large tree.
“We should stop and rest for the night, We’ll continue at the breaking or light”
Discord sets up shelter out of branches for the two of them. With Discord fast asleep, Zecora can’t sleep. She sits by the fire and look over to Discord.
“I’ll get you home, safe and sound. Even though after I might not be around”.
The sun has risen, Discord and Zecora have their things all packed and are headed on their way. Zecora pushes some branches aside, and reveals a tall brick wall. They made it.
“Here we are, our ticket back. But the knowledge of Hysteria is what we lack”
Discord spots a window and points.
“There, I could boost you up first before I climb in”
Zecora nods as Discord lifts her up to the window. She nudges the glass open and slowly climbs inside, Discord right behind her. She kreeps dow the hallway, a faint voice is heard in the distance. Zecora stops and looks back at Discord.
“Discord, things might get bad, but I wanna tell you you’re the best friend i’ve ever had”.
Discord looks at her with a smile, and they continue down the hall. They stop at a door, the voice of Hysteria can be heard on the other side. Zecora bucks the door open, Hysteria jumps and glares at them with a furious look on his face.
“How are you here!? You were left for dead!”
Zecora answers
“So you thought you left me dead, tell us how to get home or else i’ll buck open your head”
“Ha! Because you’re so destined to get home, i’ll tell you. You see that phile over there? It contains the potion for you to get home”
Zecora grows an angered expression.
“Give it here or face our wrath, give it now or i’ll take the aggressive path”
Hysteria laughs ans says
“Fat chance, what’re you going to do?”
Zecora pulls out a pouch made of leaves and tree bark.
“Inside contains a deadly brew, one brew that will truly end you”
Discord looks at her in shock, not knowing where or when she made it. She charges Hysteria but he throws her back, her phile slides across the room. As she lay there in pain she looks at Discord and signals him to go for the phile to get home. He looks at Hysteria and runs for the phile. Discord get a grip on it but as he does, Hysteria throws him back, the phile falls to the floor shattering.
“Ha! you morons! Now your chances are gone”
Zecora gets up and charges Hysteria, slamming him to the wall. As he lay there in pain, Zecora grabs her phile and looks at Discord.
“You must go, there’s enough for one. Lick up the brew and relax in the Equestrian sun”
Discord looks at her with sadness in his eyes.
“But Zecora!”
She looks at him, a tear down her cheek and nods. Discord runs over and licks up the brew. He notices as he starts to slowly turn transparent. Zecora looks back at Hysteria.
“Now, it’s time for your terror to stop, now watch, as your creations drop”
She picks up the phile and tosses it in the air. She looks at Discord one last time, a smile across her face and a tear in her eye. He reaches out to her but before he could, there’s a bright flash and an booming noise. Discord was gone before the flames could reach him.
6 years had gone by, and Discord had gone back to the spot he had returned from Hysterias cruel world. There in the grass was a pile of the same blue flowers Discord used to heal Zecora, one for each year that had gone by.Discord sits next to the flowers all day, remembering what she had done for him, for his life.