Something, something was pushing on my stomach. My hooves were no longer touching the ground. They were hung limply. I tried to open my eyes only to be blinded by light. Groaning, I squeezed them shut and put a hoof over my face. A little more aware of my surroundings, whatever I’m on, whatever was carrying me was alive. Fear took hold. I was going to get eaten, this was some sort of jungle predator, maybe even one of those ripper beasts that had attacked yesterday… or has it been longer? Does it even matter! Why didn’t it kill me first? Could it be I was being brought to its young to learn how to hunt?

My gruesome thoughts were interrupted when I felt a tugging on my mane. I was lifted up and slid off of whatever was carrying me, and gently lowered to the ground. My legs were too weak to support me. I just laid there, eyes still closed, not wanting to see my captor. I just wanted it to be over.

Minutes passed, yet nothing happened. Maybe it thinks I’m dead and it lost interest?

“Wake up little one. I mean you no harm.” I heard a voice, calm and soothing. Yet clear and spoken with an accent of those native to these lands. It was undoubtedly female.

No response forthcoming, I felt something prodding my sides, followed by the voice again. “Come on little one, I know you can hear me. There is nothing to fear.”

As much as I wanted to argue that point, curiosity got the better of me. I opened my eyes to behold a blur that loomed over me. It’s shape defined by sunlight. I had to blink a few times until my vision improved enough for me to see a zebra standing over me, a mare to be exact. The first thing I noticed were the striking green eyes that seemed to look right inside of me.

She had the typical black and white stripes that were the hallmark of her kind. Her long mane caught my eye, I thought zebras preferred to keep their manes cut short. Braided bangs were pulled back behind her ears. She wore a cloak with a pale blue gem inset in a clasp at her neck, which probably meant that it was a stealth cloak. Below the gem she wore a pendant in a shape of a wooden coin with markings on it.

She sat there, still as stone, while I observed. My jaw had gone slack from the strange sight before me. Her mouth moved and I flinched quickly closing my eyes. When I opened them again
she was smiling. The odd thing was that there wasn’t any malice in that smile.

“Might I know your name little one?” She said tilting her head.

“Mi-Mi-cough-keh. Mist” My throat felt raw and dry.

“Mist. Well, my name is Zaeryl. If you don’t mind answering. What is a young colt doing in the river? It is much too dangerous for swimming. The current is too strong.”

“I wasn’t… I mean, I fell in. I was trying to get back and got lost, I tripped and fell in.” I moved my tongue around my mouth to moisten it. My mouth was so dry that my gums felt cracked, and they would sting whenever I moved my lips.

“I see. And where were you headed?” I opened my mouth but quickly closed it. Was she with the Remnant? Would she take me to them or kill me on the spot? I was a runaway now. I had to be careful. If I say I got separated from my group and that I belonged to the Remnant she might take me to them, something I didn’t want. Then again, if I say I’m on my own, she might consider me fair game and either take me back to the Remnant anyway, for a reward if I’m worth anything, or who knows what she might do. I licked my lips.

“Wh-Who are you?” She seemed confused by my question.

“My name is Zaeryl. Did you bump your head? Is your memory unreliable?” She asked with concern.

“Umm… no. I meant…” This was not good! She began eyeing me with suspicion, but eventually the smile returned.

“I am not of the Remnant, nor am I of the Separatists. If that was what you wished to know.” Okay. That was scary! Can she read minds too? She could be lying. But why would she? The Remnant took whatever they wanted. She could have already killed me twice over. So I took a gamble. At best she’ll kill me, at worst… take me back to the Remnant or sell me to whomever.

“We were attacked…” I told her my story. Everything that had happened to me. Everything I could recall from the past day, and then I awaited for her to pass judgment.

“I see.” Her expression darkened. I couldn’t help but flinch and try to move away. She turned her head to look at the sky, not saying a word. Her eyes were sad.

“I am sorry. What happened to you... It was a terrible thing. The young should never have to witness what you saw.” She looked to her right, seemingly lost in thought. Then turned back to face me.

“My home is not far from here.” She hesitated, and there was a pause filled with uncertainty. “You could come with me?” Thoughts began buzzing through my head. Why? Is this a trick? Is she a witch or something? A cannibal intent on keeping me alive to have some fresh meat for later? I wasn’t in any position to resist. So why ask me at all? What would happen if I say no?

“Wh-Why?” I asked in a shaky voice.

“Why? Well I don’t think you would survive the night here in the jungle. It is a miracle that you are alive at all. Is it so hard to believe that I wish to offer aid?” I don’t know. Is it? I’ve never knew of kindness from zebras. When I didn’t answer she just sighted again and shook her head.

“Really, these are sad times we live in when even the young ones fear treachery from help freely offered.”
I looked down at my hooves and gave no reply. This made Zaeryl sigh, and then the Zebra that was neither Remnant or Seperatist placed her caring hoof on my shoulder.

“Perhaps I wish to atone for how you have been treated.”

I looked at her and considered my options. Stay alone in the jungle, or take my chances with Zaeryl? I nodded.

“Good.” She said smiling again. “Are you well enough to walk?” I slowly got to my hooves. My legs felt like water, and trembled with exhaustion as I tried to move. After a few clumsy steps, I felt Zaeryl bump into me gently. Her weight was supporting me, keeping me from falling.

“It is alright” Her gentle words served as a disguise for what happened next. I let out a squeak of panic as my hooves left the ground, and then I was lying on her back.

“Are you comfortable?” She turned to face me. I simply nodded, and then we began walking forward.

My hooves gently swayed as Zaeryl carried me. I dozed off a couple of times, dreaming that it was my father who was carrying me, and that I had imagined the whole attack, but when I opened my eyes I was still on the back of the mysterious zebra I had just met. She had said that her house was close, but it has to be at least an hour since our trip started. Taking the opportunity to look around, I realized that there was no way that I could find my way back to the river. Everywhere, just trees and bushes and shrubs. It was getting boring so I decided to try my hoof at starting a conversation

“So. How far is it to your home?”

“We are almost there. It is deep in the jungle and hard to find for those who do not know the way. It is also safe. Zebras and ponies stay away for fear of the animals, and the beasts themselves avoid the plants that grow around my little piece of land.” Okay, I’ve got to take her word for it. She is the one living in the jungle after all.

“Are there others with you? I mean other zebras or ponies?” She didn't belong to The Remnant, but that did not mean she was alone.

“No. Just me. It is… quiet.”

“You live out here by yourself? No friends. Don’t you get lonely?” She hung her head. Great. I can’t hold a conversation for two minutes without sticking a hoof in my mouth. I wanted to apologize, but was cut off.

“Sometimes. I do have a friend, but he lives in a village a few hours walk from here. I visit him every month or so.” She nodded seeming pleased with what she said.

“Ah! Here we are.” Wiggling off Zaeryl’s back, I plopped to the ground and looked at my surroundings, though my attention was mostly on the Zebra mare. Zaeryl did not seem tired at all from having carried my useless rump for what felt like hours. True I was smaller, but my horn was already reaching her jaw. A few years give or take, and I would be taller than her.

With shaky steps, I entered a large circular area that was almost devoid of trees. There was only one extremely big tree that had been hollowed out.

This was Zaeryls house, and it was huge. It was a two story hut that seemed to grow out of the big tree. Its roof was a cone made from wood, but the cream colored walls were made from packed earth and clay, like most other village houses.

There were many flowers of every color imaginable. Red, purple, yellow, blue… and they came in many shapes as well. Circular, star shaped, cones, and one that looked like a mouth. To the right, I spotted a little garden with a small wooden fence.

As we walked closer to her home, I saw a pail of water beside the door and immediately went toward it. First a careful lick, then once satisfied it was safe to drink, I stuck my muzzle in and drank like I hadn’t had a drop in days. And for all I knew I didn’t. I heard the wooden door open as Zaeryl went inside, leaving me alone to drink my fill.

Sitting down, I sighed with relief, felling refreshed. The water in the pale had settled. Looking at it, I could see my reflection. I was a mess. You could barely see the grey color of my coat with all the mud and dirt that covered it. Like my coat, my mane was also gray, but a darker shade of gray that paled to an almost white near the ends. When I was little, and used to chase off after Amber in the evenings, Mom said I looked like a little cloud of mist zipping this way and that. I guess the name stuck.

“I miss you.” I whispered. Little drops were disturbing the reflection in the water. I wiped my tears and nose with a hoof. Even my eyes looked different, still brown with just a hint of red around the irises, but they were haggard and sullen.

When I opened the door and went inside, my nose was assaulted by a myriad of different smells. Some sweet, some spicy that itched, and some so downright strange that I couldn’t place them.

Her home was crammed full of all sorts of items. Colorful bottles were sitting on shelves alongside, wooden statues. There were carved wooden masks hanging from the walls, a table with leather bound books and scrolls, and a shelf full of books stood right next to the table. There were also many different pendants and necklaces either hanging off of hooks on the walls or resting on the table. To the far right, Zaeryl stood over a pot, stirring its contents.

She turned to face me, smiling, wooden spoon still in her mouth. “The soup is almost ready, just. One. More. Ingredient.”

My heart jumped into my throat. What did she mean, just one more ingredient!? And why is she looking at me like that?! With the fire burning behind her, her bright green eyes seemed to be burning too. A scary green glow! She wasn't going to eat me, was she? Cannibal zebra. That's just an old mare's tale to scare colts and fillies right? Right?! She just continued to stare at me, still smiling.

I was right she IS an evil enchantress who eats ponies! Somehow I managed to swallow my heart back in to my chest and stutter, “W-W-Wh-What is the ingredient?”

She turned her head to put the spoon back in the pot, and gave me a toothy grin before saying,
“Why…Carrots of course.”

Carrots!!! Wait. My mind was racing. Is that some zebra word for tasty pony flesh? My panicking was interrupted when Zaeryl pulled out a bushel of orange colored cylinder like plants with green leaves on one end out of her saddlebags and tossed them in the pot.

“You look pale. Perhaps you should sit down. The soup should be ready any moment now,” she said, pointing to a round table with three chairs placed around it.

“I just thought that when you said one last ingredient you meant… Well”

“Meant what?” Tilting her head she gave me a searching look. I just sat there and blushed, not knowing how to respond. She looked at me confused, but another smile slowly appeared on her face.

“Aaaahh… I see. Well you were right to be cautious. Among my kind I’m called a shaman, but we do not eat little ponies who misbehave.” I’m a moron.

“That is unless they look particularly tasty,” she added with a wink.

She brought two wooden bowls, and placed one in front of me, and the other across the table. She had poured the soup from the pot into a smaller cauldron, then filled my bowl and her own. I carefully smelled the brew, unsure of what to expect. The rich aroma of vegetables immediately made my stomach growl and remind me just how hungry I was.

She calmly sat across the table, blowing into the bowl in front of her, cooling her meal. I did the same, and took a careful taste. It was amazing! I glanced over to her, but Zaeryl was calmly sipping and occasionally munching on a carrot or some other vegetable, her thoughts elsewhere. What followed was not a pretty sight.

As I continued to eat with ever increasing gusto I made quite the mess. I had crumbs all over my face I even managed to get some in my mane. Only when I was leaning over the table, both hooves on either side of the bowl, my tongue still trying to scoop up any little bit that was left did I notice Zaeryl had stopped eating to look at me.

“Would you like another bowl?” The zebra asked me with an amused smile on her face and one eyebrow raised. I couldn’t help but blush and nod.

“Yes please.”

I had seconds and thirds. We talked while we ate. Well while I ate. She was doing most of the talking. I asked her about her family and why she chose to live alone.

“I had a… family once. But we had a disagreement. So I decided to leave.”

“You left because you didn’t agree with your family?” That was hard to understand. I mean I disagreed with my parents but I would never have left them… not by choice.

“They refused to see certain truths and I wasn’t allowed to express my opinion so I left.” She sighed as she looked out a window lost in her memories. Maybe I should change the topic.

“You said that you are a shaman. What is a shaman exactly?”

“Hmmm…” Her face scrunched up.Brow furrowed in concentration and eyebrows coming together as she thought of words to explain.

“I suppose what your stories tell of us aren’t completely untrue. We use our knowledge of the land, its plants and animals. We brew all kinds of potions and we have our zebra magic as well. But we do not come at night and take children from their mothers.”

“But I thought zebras couldn’t do magic? That’s why you use unicorns.” If zebras could enchant gems and use magic then why would they need unicorns?

“It is not the same magic. Your kind bends the magic that exists all around us to its will. You can do what zebras can’t. You focus your minds and cast spells instantly, move things around you just by thinking it. We zebras have to use chants and rituals to focus the energies of the world. What you do in seconds might take us hours or even days to accomplish and even then success isn’t guaranteed.”

“While only unicorns can perform magic among ponies, any zebra can work our magic. However it takes long years of study and with such little chance of success, few are willing to take this path.”

Tapping her chin with a hoof. She seemed to consider something.

“There are quicker ways, but the price can be terrible indeed. No one, neither zebra nor pony, should ever turn to the dark arts, for in the end they lead to sorrow and loss.” She would not speak more of the mater and since I finished my meal she decided to take me outside and show me a small river that’s close to her home where I can wash up.

Just a little ways away we found the river. It was as wide as six ponies and chest deep. Well it reached up to my chest, for Zaeryl it was more knee deep. The water was clear and cool. By the time I had washed and dried off it had gotten dark. It was time to retire for the night. She had no intention of letting me wander off somewhere in the jungle especially at night. I was to sleep at her home. I didn’t have anywhere to go anyway.

We got back to her house and I found a nice place to lie down. I stretched out on the carpet by the fire.

“What are you doing?” She asked and looked at me as if I completely lost my mind.

“Going to sleep.” Was I in the way? Maybe I should move to that corner over there? I looked up at her and she shook her head.

“No. Guests do not sleep on the floor. Come, and I’ll show you.” She beckoned me with a hoof, and I followed her up a twisting stairway to the second floor. The stairway had been carved into the tree, at the end there was a small hall with three doors. She led me to the furthest one and opened it.

The room itself was small, big enough to accommodate one pony.

“You want me to sleep here?” I couldn't believe it. She had to be joking. An actual bed with a pillow and a blanket. There was even a nightstand with some empty parchments, and a window.

“Why? Do you not like it? I could find more pillo-“ She never finished that sentence. I had already wrapped my hooves around her with tears streaming down my face. At first she tensed but then returned the hug.

“Thank you…” Was all I could whisper as we sat there. She started to gently stroke my mane.

Never. I would never have dreamed it possible to meet a kind soul in this world. She saved my life, took me into her home, fed me, and now this. Maybe I had died. But I knew I wasn’t dead. If I were then I would be with my parents, and Amber too.

When we finally broke apart, she looked at me and smiled. I could see moisture pooling at her bottom eyelids, she was on the verge of tears herself.

“I need to finish up a few things still, but if you need anything I’ll be in the first room just off the stairs. Good night and pleasant dreams.” She patted my head with one hoof and rubbed her emerald eye with another before she left.

I rubbed my own tears away, closed the door, and went to bed. It was strange at first. I was so used to sleeping on the hard ground with saddlebags for pillows that I was worried I wouldn't be able to sleep in this nice, comfy bed. My worries didn’t last long. I only missed looking up and not being able to see the stars. Maybe if I open the window I could steal a glance before I went to sleep. Wriggling out of the covers I pushed the drapes away and opened the window. Familiar lights greeted me. My friends. The only ones I seemed capable of keeping. Such a peaceful night. I struggled to keep my eyes open for a little while longer, but it was a loosing battle. I slid back under the covers just as exhaustion swept over me and carried me off to the land of dreams.

The sun’s bright and warm rays woke me. I didn’t want to open my eyes. I was afraid that I dreamt meeting Zaeryl and that when I woke up I would still be at the edge of the river, all alone. So I grabbed the blanket closer to me and tried to go back to sleep. Blanket? I lost my blanket and saddlebags when I fell in the river. I opened my eyes to find myself in the same room where I had gone to sleep. It wasn’t a dream! It actually happened! I got up and started to look around.

On the table underneath the window there were a few scrolls, they were full of zebra glyphs and I had no idea what they meant. The house was quiet. First door off the stairs, right? That was her room. The door was opened and inside was a larger room with another bed and table, but it also had a bookshelf filled with heavy books that had leather-bound covers. One such book was lying open on the nearby table. A candle half gone, its wax pooled underneath it. I went downstairs.

She wasn’t there either. Panic was setting in. Ok, she wouldn’t just leave, she lives here. Maybe she went to get some plants for her potions or something. I didn’t want to go outside. Who knows what might be out there. I peeked out of the windows, but only the trees of the jungle could be seen.

“What do I do?” Do I wait, but what if something happened to her? No don’t think that, she knows how to take care of herself. Alright I’m going out. I can probably rush back in if there’s anything dangerous out there.

“Slowly, slowly…” I muttered to myself as I opened the front door. Nothing jumped out to get me, there was just sunshine and grass out there. I found her by the garden. What was she doing?

Zaeryl was balancing on a stick. She was doing it upside down. On her head. Her face serene and eyes closed. One of her rear hooves was stretched out and the other bent at the knee. Her forehooves were pressed together.

“You should close your mouth, a bug might fly in.” I realized that my mouth was hanging open so I promptly closed it.

“What are you doing?”

“Meditating.” She said as if it were obvious and my confusion unfounded.

“Looks uncomfortable.” She just smiled and hopped off of the pole caching it before it fell to the ground and placed it behind her.

“Come. We must talk.” She patted the ground in front of her. I came closer and sat down.

“I have been thinking last night. Would you consider, that is would you like... ?” This was strange. Why was she so nervous.

“Would I like what?” Was she asking for help? Not sure how much I could do, but I owed her my life. And besides my parents and Amber she was the only one who showed me any kindness. I would help her anyway I can.

She looked at the sky uncertainly before taking a deep breath.

“I have told you what those of my kind do, but shamans aren’t just zebras who perform magic. We are also teachers. And when we find individuals with a certain… spark we take them to teach them of our ways. So that’s probably where the stories of us taking young foals and colts comes from. They are usually found alone and homeless, but sometimes we find them in villages, and though it is considered an honor, mothers don’t like being separated from their children. We do not take them without permission. Fathers on the otherhoof tend to be particularly proud should their offspring be chosen.”

“We give counsel and use our knowledge to help others. The village where my friend lives for instance. They remain wary of me yet often ask for aid. Whether it be for a potion to cure ailments or help with crops.”
She started scratching the ground with a hoof and took another breath.

“I wanted to know, would you like to stay with me and learn, be my student and… friend?” She hung her head not wanting to meet my eyes.

She wanted me to be her student? Why? “But I’m not even a zebra.” I said.

“True. At first I merely wished to help a lost pony. But the more time I spent with you the surer I became that there is something different about you. And I don’t think it’s because you’re a unicorn. It’s difficult to describe. It’s like there is something around you, hanging close to you. You wear it like a cloak.”

That... didn’t sound good. I looked about myself worriedly. I couldn’t see anything. Maybe it was just her. But there is more to this than her fulfilling her role as a shaman. She was lonely. We both were. I don’t believe there is anything remarkable about me, and I wasn’t sure just how good of a student I would make, but a friend?

I could definitely be her friend, and probably had been since the moment she found me. I was scared and suspicious of her, but something told me that she wouldn't hurt me. I could trust this zebra.

“I… Yes. I would be honored to be your student and your friend.” Her nervousness and anticipation vanished, and she beamed a smile full of white teeth at me.

“Good. Then we should begin. There is much to do, and you have a lot to learn.”

It will be seven weeks now, since my apprenticeship began. Zaeryl was teaching me to read and write zebra glyphs as well as teaching me their spoken language. I had picked up a few words while I was enslaved to the Remnant, but now thanks to Zaeryl I could actually speak zebra. I still tended to butcher their language, I had trouble with pronouncing some words and their grammar was hard. I’ve also been helping her with her potions. Gathering plants and learning which were safe and which were poisonous. There was this one plant in particular called Poison Joke. A long time ago before the war, it would play a joke on you, taking away your strengths or making you horrible at your special talent.

For instance if you are strong and tough it would make you weak and frail like an old mare and if you had a talent for singing it would take away your voice. That sort of thing. It wasn’t permanent and could be cured. But now it is deadly. If you touch it, it could make you so weak that your heart wouldn’t have the strength to keep beating or it would take away your voice by causing your throat to swell and cut off your breathing.

The magical radiation and dark magic changed everything. Warped nature. Before they attacked Equestria, the zebras tested their weapons. In the great desert to the west, in the jungles, on their own villages who didn’t share in their belief. I read a few books Zaeryl had on history. The Remnant. Before they became known as the Remnant, were called Caesars Legion. They were fanatical followers and while Caesar looked out for his people he was also beholden to them. And when they screamed for blood he had to answer and start a war that tore the world apart.

Today we are going to go visit her friend who lives in a village by the river. The exact same river I almost drowned in when I first met Zaeryl. I was a little scared but also excited.

The village was named Navarost after a shaman who led one of the free tribes out of the desert. After the shaman had passed away the tribe decided to stay rather than move on. That was one of the reasons Zaeryl was respected by everyone who lived there.

I mostly kept my head down and tried to be invisible as I walked closely to Zaeryl. The zebras there stared at me, but none approached.

We reached a small house with a sign written in zebra. It said; “Joram’s goods and services.”

The inside was filled with shelves holding many potions and all sorts of shiny metal devices.
A zebra buck looked up from the counter and smiled. “Zaeryl.” He frowned when he saw me, and began inspecting with curious eyes. "Finally chosen an apprentice?"

"This is my student Mist. Mist this is Joram. He owns this store."

“Welcome horned one! Any friend of Zaeryl’s is a friend of mine, especially her new apprentice.”

He welcomed me with a hug and comforting words that made me feel wanted, but it quickly grew obvious that he wished to speak with Zaeryl alone. I took the hint and began exploring his shop. The shelves had a lot of potions. Some that I now recognized as healing potions and antidotes. There were also a few weapons that I recognized as the type the Remnant guards had used, as well as some stranger ones that I had never seen before. I asked Joram about the strange weapons, and he said that those were magically powered weapons that shoot out beams of magical energy instead of bullets. I was in awe, never hearing about such things.

Zaeryl was drinking tea but Joram and I were drinking a dark reddish liquid that bubbled and tasted of carrots from glass bottles that had “Sparkle-Cola” written on them.

I liked Zaeryl’s teas but this was something I never tasted before. It was sweet and refreshing even lukewarm. I continued to browse through the store, my Sparkle-Cola levitating beside me. I took sips of it as I looked through some colorful books called magazines.

It wasn’t long utill Zaeryl’s business with Joram was done. I noticed Joram giving her a vial of dark blue liquid which she quickly put away in her saddle bags. I finished my drink and we started back home.

“Be sure to visit me again. You too Mist. And take care of yourself Zaeryl” Joram called out as we reached the door.

“So what do you think of Joram?” she asked me once we left the shop.

“I like him. He seems nice.” He was suspicious of me at first but then I probably would have been too if I was in his hooves.

“He is. The first time I met him he got lost in the jungle trying to find herbs to make potions. He was chased by beasts and almost fell into a pit. I helped him and we became friends.” She smiled recalling the event.

“It seems to me all your friends tend to get lost and you end up pulling their flanks out of trouble.” I said thinking about how she had found me.

“I believe you are right. Perhaps I should spend more time wandering the woods. Maybe I’d have even more friends that way?”

“What was in that vial? That blue one.” It was hard to believe that after all I had seen, there existed a potion Zaeryl could not brew by herself.

“It's medicine, and it is from a rare plant that dosen't grow in the jungles. Joram trades for it with the caravans that pass us by. In return I bring him the more local plant's and potions that he needs.. Just between the two of us Joram is a little… is a little clumsy, and gets lost easily.”

“Medicine? For what? For who?” I was confused now.

“It is for me.” What! Was she sick? But she doesn’t a look sick. Her muzzle is dry, she’s as healthy as she has ever been. How can she be sick?

“What kind of sickness do you have? Why didn't you get any medicine earlier?! Why didn’t you tell me!” I had seen many ponies fall to disease. I couldn’t loose Zaeryl too. I need her.

“For this reason right now. I didn’t wish to worry you.”

“Well I’m worried now!”

“I know, and I am truly sorry. I was a fool thinking I could hide it from you. I have been taking this medicine for years now. It helps slow it down but can’t cure it” She looked down at me sadly.

“Can’t cure what exactly?” Zaeryl taught me a lot about poisons and diseases. Where a cure could not be found the Zebra would develop ways to slow down the effect. Ways that could give you months, and in some cases even years.

“Taint.” She said solemnly.

Oh no… I stood there, frozen. The taint is the product of dark magic. Necromantic magic. I’ve read about it. You can’t cure it. It is the opposite of life. It twists, corrupts and kills. In some cases if you are exposed to an incredibly high concentration of taint, like magical radiation, it might kill you then bring you back to life. And force you to spend eternity as a rotting corpse until someone or something puts you out of your misery permanently. Some have actually sought this out. To live eternally, they didn’t care what it did to their bodies. But while their bodies might live forever their minds won’t. The decay continues until all that is left is a rotting husk of what you once were.

I was still standing, rooted to the spot, when she put a hoof around me.

“Don’t be sad. I won’t be dying anytime soon.” She urged me on, and we continued trough the jungle. My hooves felt numb and there was a lump in my throat. Zaeryl. I don’t want to lose you too...

“Thanks Joram. See you in two weeks.” I waved to the shop owner as I was leaving. I’ve gotten Zaeryl’s medicine and was ready to head back. Some zebras said greetings, one would just look at me with a scowl.

Well it has been two years since I became Zaeryl’s student some zebras have gotten used to me, some didn’t, those who did even approached me to ask how Zaeryl and I were doing.

A year back she started having fevers and coughing fits once every few weeks and couldn’t make the usual trip to the village, I insisted that I should go get her medicine and trade with Joram, since she needed her rest. I told her that I would be careful and that I would take her cloak. If I run into trouble I’ll just go invisible and sneak away. After about an hour of persuasion she finally agreed to let me go in her place as long as I took her gun with me just in case. I turned the weapon over with my magic, inspecting it. A silenced 10mm pistol. I never knew she had one.

For some reason that one scowling zebra made my mane crawl. If he still thought me dangerous or suspicious… well there wasn’t anything I could do about it. Every time I came here I only talked to Joram and mostly stayed to myself.

With the medicine tucked away in my saddlebags I started off for the jungle.

I knew the way now and exactly what parts to avoid. But you always have to be careful. The jungles were full of all kinds of dangers. I had to back track about a hundred meters and go around to avoid a carcass of some poor animal that was being ripped apart by a pack of wild dogs. All the while cloaked and thankfully I had rubbed on an ointment that covered my scent. I stopped when I heard a growling sound, then carefully moved behind a tree and tried to make as little noise as possible.

Out of the bushes came out a ripper beast. Its red eyes searching left and right as it lumbered trough trampling the smaller vegetation underneath it.

I barely breathed as I waited for it to move on. Ripper beasts don’t have the best eyesight, but their hearing and sense of smell is incredible. Keeping my breath slow and steady I observed it from behind the tree. For a moment it turned it’s head to me. Our eyes met. My heart was in my throat. Slowly it turned its head away and started moving back into the jungle. When I was sure that it had moved far enough away I continued home.

It was getting darker. I could almost see the stars in the sky. So I decided to pick up the pace.
I heard a rustling sound to my left I wasn’t sure if I had imagined it. Then I heard it again. The cloak made me invisible and didn’t limit my vision, but it did muffle sound. I pulled back my hood to listen more carefully. Something was definitely there. I spotted something black and white hiding just a few hooves away to my right, in the bushes by a tree. A zebra!

“Show yourself!” I said in zebra. That must have surprised my stalker, Because I heard him curse and mutter something about ”horned demon”.

The zebra came out. He was tall and wearing leather armor with shiny metal shoulderpads sewn on it.

“Who are you?” I asked still in the zebra language. He seemed to consider me for a moment then started moving towards me. With each step he seemed to grow taller, a hoof larger than Zaeryl for certain.

“Come with me and I won’t kill you. I’m taking you to the Remnant where your kind belongs.” His every word dripped hatred and disgust. Right and they will probably reward you for it too. No way I’m going back.

“I don’t want any trouble, but I’m not going anywhere with you.” He didn’t even flinch, he just swung his head and drew out a machete he had sheathed at his side. My magic went for the pistol and before I realized I had it pointed at the zebra.

He stood still, surprised again. We just stared at each other in silence. I could just pull the trigger and kill him. The gun was silenced and we are in the middle of a jungle, the animals and insects would eat his corpse, nopony would ever know that I killed him. But I would know, could I just kill him?

Sensing my hesitation, the zebra lunged at me, and expertly swatted my gun away from my magical grip. He tackled me to the ground, cold hatred shined in his eyes as he brought the machete in a downward arc. He had me pinned down, all I could do was twist feebly and move my head away. The metal found flesh.

My right shoulder burned as if consumed by fire, and I screamed. I could already feel the warm wetness spreading over my chest and down my back. He wrenched the blade free, I screamed again as it went out. He was aiming for my throat now.

I tried to move, to get away. My entire right hoof felt numb my shoulder a point of searing agony and my head felt as if it would burst.

I managed to move away a little. He tried to shift his weight to stay on top, but thanks to my blood spilling over my chest that area was now slick and he lost his balance. His left hoof slid to my right side. I wildly reached out with my magic to grab anything around me. It found a rock and immediately grabbed it. I swung it around, hitting the zebra in the jaw and causing him to drop his machete. He staggered back. I turned to my hooves with a groan and tried to run away before collapsing, just a few hooves from where I had been. There was no way I could run, my right leg was useless.

I looked back, the zebra had recovered, rage flashed in his eyes as he charged at me. Blood ran down his mouth as he ran. I probably knocked a few teeth out as well. I tried to crawl away. Hoof-steps growing louder as he drew nearer. I looked around and saw the bloody machete. I grabbed the hilt with my magic and drew it close to me. Holding it tight between my fore-hooves I turned around. He was on top of me, but his eyes, blue eyes, no longer showed rage. They were wide with surprise. Surprise and fear. I felt blood drip from his mouth onto my face and more dripped down the handle of the machete and onto me.

I heaved the body off of me and pushed it to the side, machete still embedded into its chest. I tried to wipe the blood off my face, but only succeeded in making more of a mess. I was on my hooves now, well three of them anyway.

I just killed somepony. The thought struck me, and I retched. He was lying there still. Too still. I was shaking, numb and hollow that’s how I felt. I took a life. I was just defending myself, but what if he had a family? Then I’m no better than the zebra that killed my parents. I tried to throw up again, but nothing would come out, my stomach has already been emptied. I couldn’t look at those eyes anymore, I had to go away or I’d go insane.

I found the pistol not far away, I put it back in its holster and started to limp away.

My head was spinning, my shoulder ached and I was cold. I just wanted to sleep. Maybe laying down to die wouldn't be so bad. I was a murderer now, and the world was already full of those. One less would be an improvement. How was I supposed to face Zaeryl now? How could I look her in the eye?! She believes in helping others not killing them! Zaeryl that’s it, her medicine she needs it. I can’t die now. I have to bring it to her first. She’ll probably kick me out, but I have to bring it to her.

But where do I go? The forest looked all the same to me. I couldn’t remember the way I’m supposed to go.

I looked at the trees, they all looked the same. My gaze followed the thick trunks upwards to their canopies. Above them I saw stars glimmering in the dark sky. A few of them seemed to shine a bit brighter one just next to the other. Maybe it was because of the blood loss, but as I went, more of them seemed to light up almost forming a zigzag line that went to one directions. I followed it and soon heard the sound of rushing water.

It was the little river that passed by Zaeryl’s home. I was close now so I quickened my pace. Limping faster and eventually I entered the clearing. Why was she outside? She should be in bed.

She saw me. First she moved slowly smiling, but her face quickly changed to one of fear and she started galloping towards me. I noticed that the ground was for some reason rushing up to my face. The world went dark.

My head hurt, my shoulder was aching, but the feeling in my right hoof had returned. I tried to rise.

“Easy, easy now.” Zaeryl said as she put a hoof on me to keep me from moving.

I looked around. I was in my room. My right shoulder was bandaged and so was my right leg all the way down to the hoof. The blood was washed off, but why do I still feel stained? Maybe the stain was on my soul? She had a relived smile on her face. Not for long I thought. Not after I tell her what I had done. Tears started to roll down my cheeks.

“Are you in pain?!” She asked worriedly. I shook my head and told her everything.
She was silent for a long time. Then she spoke.

“What you did was terrible.” She said. I just nodded. I knew. Maybe it would have been better if I told her the moment I got back? Then she could have just let me bleed to death.

“But there was nothing you could do. You were just defending yourself. But you were silly to believe that I would cast you out.”

“But I killed him. He could have a family…” I didn’t want forgiveness or understanding.

“Yes he might. You are still young, but a time will come when you are required to take a life again. Maybe more. In self defense or to protect others.” What was she saying? That I was going to kill again?

“But…” I tried to protest she just lowered her hoof to my lips. And I closed my mouth.

“As long as you understand that with every life you take you are not just ending what they are but also what they might become, be it good or evil.” I just nodded. I understood what she meant.

“I understand but why does it have to be this way?”

“Once. Long ago I wasn’t. Killings were as rare as sea dragons. But now… Times have changed.”

She was silent for a moment then spoke again.

“That is why, once you are healed, I will start training you in zebra hoof to hoof combat.” Zebra hoof to hoof?

“How do you know hoof to hoof?”
She didn’t answer right away but considered the question. This probably meant that I wouldn’t like the answer.

“Before I became a shaman I was a Remnant assassin.”
I think I just blacked out there for a moment because there is no way I heard that right.

“Sorry. You were a what…?”

“An assassin for the Remnant. The reason why I’m no longer one now is because I couldn’t keep doing what they wished.” She sighed, for a moment she looked a lot older.

“The endless war and killing. I couldn’t do it anymore. The horrors and suffering they brought your kind.” She shook her head. “Unforgivable.”

“Then what was the point of the war? What led to it and why do they still act like this?” I asked.

“The point?” Zaeryl chuckled, but it was a laughter filled with bitterness. “War has no point. It has no winners either. Only has survivors.”

“As to why it begun? That depends on who you ask. Ask the ponies and they would say ‘We are just defending ourselves’. Ask the Remnant ‘We must fight to protect the zebra way of life from the horror that is Nightmare Moon!’ they would cry.”

“But that makes no sense Princess Luna was freed from Nightmare by the elements of harmony.” I said remembering the stories and later reading it in an old book which I was surprised to find In Zaeryl’s home. She believed that all knowledge was important.

“Yes. The elements. The six mares which later formed the ministries. Always know that with the right words and the right tools you can make others believe anything. The war went badly for my kind. We had lost our Caesar. The ponies were developing new weapons to combat us, each one more terrifying than the last. Seeing no other option and fearing extermination we used the megaspells. And we destroyed the world. I can only imagine the horror we inflicted on the ponies, but we fared no better. Ours were a people divided. The Remnant still wanted to fight, to avenge their Caesar and to either kill or conquer all ponies so that they need never fear Nightmare again. Many zebra felt that the Remnant had failed, and blamed them for the many lives lost during the war. They proclaimed their own Caesar and are now called the Separatists. And a civil war broke out. Meagaspells were used here against our own.”

Her voice was full of grief and anger while she spoke. When she calmed down she continued.
“And the greatest number of zebras just wanted to get back to their lives. They blamed no one and grieved over the loss of zebras and ponies alike. They became known as The Free Tribes.” She finished. This was a lot to take in.

“So whose fault was it? The zebras or the ponies? What do you believe?” I asked.

“I believe… that the truth lies with both sides. And who knows, you might be the one to uncover it.”

“Oh… And what do we have here?” She said pointing to my flank. What I don’t see anything. Just a smudge. I tried rubbing it, but it wouldn’t come off. Just a black patch. Could it be a bruise? No there is more. A star adorned the middle of the black smudge. No way! I got my cutie mark! But what does it mean? A seven point star on a black cloud. I asked Zaeryl.

“A star with seven points is often believed to guide lost ponies home and help them find their way through life as well.” Awesome!

“Mist! Mist! Are you in there!” I let down the quill I was using to copy some scrolls to look up at the window. Was that Joram? What was he doing here?

I went down stairs and outside and sure enough there was Joram.
“What are you doing here is something wrong?” Joram rarely comes all the way out here to Zaeryl’s house unless some villager is dying and none of his potions can help.

“I… Zaeryl… she…” He was terrified and on the verge of tears.

“Zaeryl’s not here she want out to the grove to meditate she’ll be back in a few hours. Is there any way I can help?” There was this old tree in a grove she found somewhere deep in the forest two years ago, she even showed Joram and I where it is should anyone of us need a safe place to rest. It was a strange place filled with flowers and basked in sunlight every day, it was strangely peaceful. The gnarled tree in the middle would stand like a silent sentinel and ward of any beast that dared enter and disturb its peace.

“I… just… come with me.” He turned and started off to the jungle I had no choice but to follow. The last time he was this upset a young foal had been attacked. I had to stay and keep her alive until he fetched Zaeryl. That rescue had finally turned the whole village around, now everyone greeted me and actually welcomed me with smiles. They started calling me the horned healer. I’ve never seen Zaeryl so happy or proud.

His hooves were tearing up the ground, but I had no trouble keeping up with his pace. I thought back four years ago when I got attacked by that zebra in the jungle. How different would it have been if he attacked me now. He had been as big as Joram, and now I had grown a good hoof taller than the both of them. I still have the scar on my right shoulder, but it healed nicely. Only a thin line remained. My magic has gotten stronger too, and with Zaeryl’s training I wouldn’t have had to kill him. I could have just disarmed him. But you cant change the past.

“Joram you’re really starting to worry me. What’s wrong?”
He didn’t answer he just kept running. I noticed that we were heading for the grove and not his shop in the village.

When we finally reached the grove Joram slowed down walked to the tree and then stopped and started sobbing.

“What’s wrong Joram talk to me.” I asked when I reached him. And he just cried. I looked around and saw Zaeryl by the trees roots, resting.

“Oh good you’re still here. Something spooked Joram pretty bad, but he won’t say a word. Maybe you can get him to calm down.” I asked as I approached her. Then I noticed it. She was still. Too still.

“Zaeryl! Are you alright Zaeryl??” I placed a hoof on her shoulder and shook her to wake her up. Like a worm gnawing through the dead flesh of a corpse, a thought crept in to my mind. I had come to a realization. Jorams sobbing confirmed it.

“NO! NO! It can’t be, you can’t be dead! You got better! You can’t!” I was a fool. For years now she was getting worse. Her coughing fits would cause her to hack out globs of blood, she had a fever almost every day. When it all stopped a month ago I believed that she had gotten better! No one survives the taint for long.

“Please Zaeryl wake up, please.” I was holding her limp form tightly in my hooves as I rocked back and forth continuing my litany. I was shaking now, and cursing both the stars and the heavens for taking yet another loved one from me.

Is this how it is always going to be? Would I keep loosing loved ones until there was nothing left of me? I refuse to live in a world like that.

I felt a hoof touch me. It was Joram. His eyes were bloodshot and puffy from crying, my own were probably even worse. My throat was raw and my hooves felt stiff, yet I was still holding Zaeryl’s body. It was cold now, and I gently lay her down on the grass.

Joram had stripped big pieces of bark from a tree. We used them as shovels to dig a grave for her by the roots of the gnarled old tree, so that it could watch over her and make sure that no beasts would come and disturb her rest.

We went back to Zaeryl’s house in silence.

I made us both some tea, but neither of us took more than a few sips. We sat in silence until Joram cleared his throat.

“She… Left this for you.” He said as he gave me a piece of paper. It was a letter written by Zaeryl.

Dear Joram

“We both knew that this day would come, I have been feeling it for some time now. My dear old friend, we have been through a lot you and I, you have been the first to openly welcome me and give me your friendship, and for that I am eternally grateful. I shall miss you dearly. Please don’t be sad, everything must come to an end, and I have lived a long life. It would be a lie if I said I had no regrets, so I won’t say. I’ve done many things, vile and terrible, and I know that I can never be forgiven. But there is one thing that makes me proud or should I say one pony. Thanks to whom I can face my end with peace of mind and joy in my heart. Mist.

Now Joram I ask that you stop reading, the rest is not meant for your eyes.


Mist.


Mist... This is harder to write than I would have expected. I shall miss you most of all. You are an amazing individual. You are brave, kind and caring. And while I can’t take credit for that, I can be proud of what I thought you. You have a sharp mind, you quickly adapt and learn in whatever situation you may find yourself in, but remember that there is always room to learn more. That is why I leave to you my home and all the knowledge stored within its walls. May it always be a sanctuary to you and a safe place where you may rest. I have also left another gift for you, Joram is holding on to it for now, but I have instructed him to give it to you after I… pass away. I am a shaman and even though I have taught you the knowledge of the land, you should choose your own path, I believe that you are meant for a different life than the one of a shaman and that you can do more good out there, in the world.

We have known each other for six years now haven’t we? Too short a time, how I wish to see what you will become, but it is not meant to be. In the time we have come to know each other I have come to care for you a great deal. Even though I never had a true family, if you would allow me the honor, I would dare say I loved you like a son. Watching you grow. Even for a short time as it was, these six years have been the happiest of my life.
I shall always be with you and thank you.

My eyes were dry and burning but now new tears flowed again.

It was getting dark. I convinced Joram to stay the night here at Zaeryl’s… my house. It felt so weird I don’t think that I can ever accept this as “My house”. I would always think of it as Zaeryl’s home. It’s funny but I thought that being around all her things would make it harder for me,but it actually made me feel better. These were her books, ones that she wrote herself and the carvings, statues and pendants all reminded me of her. In a way it made me feel like she was still here with me.

Joram left in the morning and reminded me to visit his shop before I leave. I told him about the letter. He agreed that the life of a hermit shaman wasn’t for me, but also made me promise that I would come and visit him whenever I happened to come by.

He also said that he would check up on the house once every month and tend to the gardens. I told him that he could help himself to any of the herbs that he needs. And that he could stay in the house if he wanted. He accepted the offer of harvesting herbs but declined entering the house, saying it reminded him of her and that it hurt too much.

After a light lunch I did some last minute cleaning. Putting away books and finding a small wooden case in which I placed her letter. I put the case in a compartment underneath the bed in my room. I moved from the guest room into Zaeryl’s. It had all of her books, some of which I was reading all night last night before falling asleep.

When I finished everything I had planed I went to visit the grove before heading to Navarost.
I was surprised when I came to the village to find them in mourning. Zebras were looking at me with worried and sullen faces. My first thought was that someone was hurt. However, that wasn’t the case as a young filly approached me and offered me her condolences in zebra. Others quickly followed suit. More than twenty zebras stood in line to offer their sympathy for my loss. Being her student meant more than I knew at the time. Since she took me on as a student she was my guardian and we were considered family by the villages standards.

I finally reached Joram’s shop where we shared a drink, alcoholic this time, it burned like fire but at least it temporarily filled the emptiness I felt, and we talked some more.

“Did she ever tell you how she got it? The taint I mean?” Joram asked. No she didn’t. I never thought to ask her, but now I was curious. I wanted to know who was responsible.

“It happened on the same day she left her family The Remnant. She was ordered to go with a squad and eliminate a Separatists outpost that was causing trouble. What they found there…” He closed his eyes and shook his head.

“Some Separatist got his hooves on dark magic and was working on creating a megaspell of his own. Thankfully he was nowhere close to making it, but he did manage to create a lesser taint talisman through some dark ritual. He was testing it on captured ponies.” He stopped to take another drink then continued.

“The Remnant moved in and wiped them out. But some ponies still remained alive. They were all fillies and colts, Zaeryl wanted to help them. Her commander didn’t care. He said they were tainted and would die soon anyway, they would be of no use. They got into an argument. Since neither could convince the other the commander decided to shoot the fillies and colts. There were five of them. He managed to shoot three before Zaeryl shot him. The squad turned on her, but she was better than all of them. She brought them all down one by one. The taint touched her when she entered the chamber to destroy the talisman. She got the two fillies that were alive and got out of there. They died within a week. And The Remnant figured that she too would die soon, so they never sent anyone after her. She showed them just how strong she was. She lived for another twenty years. Helping good folk and causing trouble for both Remnant and Separatists.” His voice was full of pride as he spoke.

"Have you decided where you are going?" He asked me while looking over the map. There were many villages to choose from. I moved my hooves over the map to show him.
"Yes. West of Navarost. Then, once I get to Sumaj we will see."

He nodded and downed what was left of his drink, got up and brought back a case.

“Let’s see how it fits you.” He said as he pulled out a black armored suit, the kind I saw elite Remnant wear. It had a holster on the left side for a pistol and a lot of pockets for ammunition and potions. In the box there also was the silenced 10mm pistol Zaeryl gave me. I put it in the holster. The armor was skin tight but offered full mobility. Kevlar plates covered the chest and shoulders as well as the ribs and flanks. It had a high neck collar made of thicker fibers that seemed to form several V shapes that went into each other but never touching. It had sleeves as well that went down to my joints, they too were covered with Kevlar plates. As added protection steel plates were sewn on top of the shoulder and chest ones and painted black.

“I had to adjust its size because you are bigger but… I do good work.” This was Zaeryls old armor I thought. She must have been planning this since that day I got attacked. The suit was painstakingly readjusted to fit me without losing any of its benefits. Joram even managed to add a few more plates for added protection. I owed both of them a lot.

“It fits you perfectly.” He said with a smile looking me over and checking the straps to make sure everything was in order.

“This is from me. May it keep you safe and give your enemies pause.” Joram said as he gave me a zebra rifle, it had been cleaned and oiled and was ready for use.

I looked back at the case and saw Zaeryl’s stealth cloak as well. I put it on. The neck collar of the suit was designed so that the clasp of the stealth cloak can pass through two loops and rest perfectly centered around its wearer’s neck. I put the rifle under the pale blue cloak in a holster on my right side. Joram also gave me some spare ammo and a few healing potions which I distributed in the pockets. I packed my saddlebags with food, herbs and anything else I might need, filled the canteen with water.

“Thank you Joram, for everything.” He smiled and patted me on the back.

“You can thank me by staying alive. Good luck.”

Saying my farewells I looked to the sky and while the sun and moon should never share it at the same time. The sun still rises in the east and sets in the west. And that’s where I’m heading. To the west, where my story begins.

Footnote: Level Up.

New Perk: Zebra Brew Rank: 1 – Growing up and learning the ways of the shaman paid off. You know which plants can be turned into what potion. You can brew lesser healing potions and salves and antidotes to most common poisons out there. As long as you have a fire, water and something in which to brew.

Quest Perk added: Zebra Hoof to Hoof Combat Rank: 1 – You are trained in zebra close quarters combat. And while you lack the zebras or earth ponies physical strength or endurance to truly excel in the deadly art. You know the forms, stances and your reflexes are honed. You are not helpless in a close up and personal fight.

(Thank you Kkat for making such an awesome story and world in which other ponies like myself can play and let loose our imagination. Somber deserves thanks as well. For proving that side-stories can be just as amazing and unforgettable as the original. Special thanks to Damhoof, Mentidabrony and Isphone for helping me edit and sort out the convoluted mess I've made out of Mist's story. Thanks also go to DamnfoolBrony for working his magic and helping me set up the perks. Oh and very special thanks to Lauren Faust!)