Coltyn and Twilight entered his cart. Coltyn put the materials he gathered down and looked at the mess he left.

“Well I should clean up first,” Coltyn sighed.

“I’ll lend a hoof,” Twilight said with a smile.

Coltyn shook his head, “Thank you Twilight but I’ll take care of this.”

Twilight looked at him sternly, “I insist and will not take no for an answer.”

“I guess I can’t change your mind. There’s a broom in the corner. I’ll get the clutter picked up while you sweep up the broken glass.”

“Ok, let’s get started,” Twilight smiled.

Twilight began picking up the clutter on the floor while Coltyn headed to the back of the cart. Coltyn levitated a small bottle down and drank the contents. Coltyn concentrated, and a black aura radiated around all his wounds closing them without leaving scars and regrowing his fur. Twilight was impressed at the power of his potions but continued to clean up.

They worked for about an hour when Twilight heard the thud of a book hitting the floor. Twilight looked over to see Coltyn standing with his head hung to the floor, neighing softly. Twilight found a blanket and laid it on his back and looked at the book he had dropped. The book was called Perplexing Pony Plagues and fell open to an entry on Horn Rot, a disease that eats the magic core of a unicorn’s horn causing their magic to become weaker and in some cases lose it all together. Twilight was surprised to see all the notes written in the sidebar which referred to the cure and regrowing the magic core. Twilight gleaned that Coltyn had been working on a way to regrow a unicorn’s horn.

“What happened to make him dig so deep into this?” Twilight whispered.

“Must… fix… horn… great… sin… ,” Coltyn mumbled in his sleep.

Twilight looked at him and wondered what his disjointed rambling meant.

‘He must be trying to fix a unicorn’s horn but how is that a sin?’ Twilight pondered.

Twilight shrugged her shoulders and finished picking up the clutter on the floor. She wrote a note and left it on the table. She took her leave and left Coltyn to sleep.

***

Coltyn woke up to the horrible sound of pounding echoing through his ears. His bloodshot eyes, sore and heavy with exhaustion, made it hard to see as he peered around the still broken door.

“What is that pounding?” Coltyn bellowed, leaving his cart to find the source.

“Oh… sorry Coltyn. I was just hanging fliers for the Sister Hooves Social at the end of the week,” Applebloom said, shying away from Coltyn.

“Sorry. I shouldn’t have yelled at you. I’ve had a bad couple of nights and very little sleep.”

“It’s ok. I’ve finished up around here,” Applebloom explained. “Hey, what is it you do in there?”

“Oh, I study and mix potions,” Coltyn replied groggily.

“Do you think you could whip up a potion to get me my cutie mark?” Applebloom asked with wide puppy dog eyes.

“No, but I have some potions that allow the copying of other ponies’ talents and cutie marks,” Coltyn muttered, walking back into his cart.

Coltyn looked at the cart noticing that it had been cleaned up. He smiled and made a mental note go and thank Twilight for the help when he felt better. Coltyn went back behind his work table and lay down in front of the small pot-bellied stove. He heard hoof beats inside but the stress of the night before was still taking its toll and he fell back asleep.

***

Coltyn woke up, every muscle in his body hurt and all his joints were stiff. Coltyn shambled over to his tub and magically drew heated water from the large cauldron on the stove to the tub. He let the water fill to the brim covering his entire body. He floated a jar off the nearby shelf and sprinkled the contents into his bath. Coltyn closed his eyes - the sweet scent of the herbs filling the air with calming energies. The water slowly began to shift around him massaging his muscles, relaxing his tired body and rejuvenating it. Coltyn entered a trance as his strength slowly returned to him; the distant singing of birds and the soft breeze gently rustling the tree leaves aided in the calming aura allowing Coltyn to immerse completely in the healing herbal bath.

***

Hours rolled by and Coltyn was lifted from his trance when he heard hoof beats approaching. He was shocked looking out the small window to see the moon rising over the hill. Stepping out of the bath he drained the tub and began to dry as somepony knocked on his door.

“Hello. Coltyn are you here?” Rarity’s voice echoed.

“Yes, just a minute,” Coltyn replied, quickly running a brush through his mane. “How may I help you?” Coltyn said, entering the main room.

“I was wondering if you had seen my sister Sweetie Belle. She ran off on me and I need to find her,” Rarity explained.

“No I have been taking care of some other things. I did see Applebloom around here earlier maybe your sister is with her,” Coltyn said, the brush still working through his tail.

“Thanks Coltyn. It’s good to see you well, Twilight was worried about you.”

“You’re welcome. Why do you say Twilight was worried? When did she tell you?”

“Two days ago at our spa session. It was a side comment but I see how she acts when her mind wanders and I am sure it’s you she is thinking about.”

“That’s interesting. Wait. Two days ago… how long was I asleep?”

“I don’t know but this is, from what I gather, the third day you didn’t show up at the library. I need to get galloping, talk to you later.”

“Yes, see you later Rarity,” Coltyn said, waving as Rarity galloped over to Sweet Apple Acres.

‘Two days I was passed out? That’s rather annoying, I had hoped to get ahead but now I’ve fallen behind,’ Coltyn thought, mending the broken door on his cart. ‘Might as well get some rest, next week will be busy.’

***

The sun rose on a beautiful Monday morning and Coltyn was readying to head over to Zecora’s to learn some new potion techniques, but first he had to visit Twilight. Coltyn teleported over to the library and knocked on the door.

Twilight opened the door with a smile. “Glad to see you’re well Coltyn.”

“Yes, I’m sorry I worried you. I just needed some rest.”

“So are you here to study some more?”

“No, actually I am going to be spending some time with Zecora and working on some potion making techniques.”

“Ok, well I’m just happy that you’re better.”

“Thank you. It’s nice to know someone cares. Well I have to get going, have a good day Twilight.”

“You too, Coltyn,” Twilight waved as Coltyn teleported.

***

Back at his cart, Coltyn hitched himself to the front and pulled it into the forest. On his way out of town he saw Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo heading toward the bowling alley. Coltyn thought nothing of it making his way past the field of poison joke and safely into the heart of the forest to a large tree decorated with many old artifacts from the zebra tribes. Coltyn noticed the tree home to be dark. Walking up to the front door he saw a note pinned to it.

‘Earlier today I have gotten a request for a mix, but I don’t have the herbs to fix. The matter is urgent indeed so I left some materials out for you to read. I shall return soon with a bountiful boon.’

Coltyn chuckled to himself. “She even writes in rhyme.”

Coltyn left his cart behind Zecora’s home and let himself in. As she had written there was a small stack of books along with a few notebooks. Coltyn picked up the top book labeled Tonics and Tinctures and set to reading. Paging through the books he noted some additional catalysts that he never thought of using. Zecora hadn’t returned from her foraging so leaving a similar note on the table, Coltyn set out to find some of the materials and mix up some trial potions.

Coltyn had been gathering some plants along with diamonds, rubies, and emeralds. On his way back to Zecora’s hut he ran into her in a small field of Amethyst.

“Hello, Zecora. How are you today?” Coltyn greeted her.

“I am fine,” Zecora said, noticing the book she had left out. “I see you’ve wasted no time.”

“Yes, I found some information that is worth testing. I was just on my way back.”

“Let us return to my home and look over those tomes,” Zecora said, leading the way.

Rounding the last tree as the sun reached its highest point in the sky Zecora and Coltyn stopped in shock. The door to Zecora’s hut was hanging open as was the door on Coltyn’s cart. They galloped to their homes to see what happened and what was missing. Coltyn surveyed his cart and discovered a potion base which could be altered depending on what was added. Zecora looked over her hut and couldn’t find the Heart’s Desire that she left out.

“Zecora, do you know who would have done this?” Coltyn asked, worried.

“I am sure I do, it must have been Applebloom. The youth had chipped her tooth and I told her of a mix I was brewing for a rooster and his chicks. She wants her cutie mark but she seems to lack the spark. She has used the Heart’s Desire and has left the mire.”

“This is bad, that plant was mixed with a potion base and caused the Cutie Pox Plague long ago. The cure I didn’t learn until later was hidden in a plant called Thorns of Deceit. Hidden within are seeds which hold the cure but I never figured out how to make them bloom.”

“Have no fear, my stallion friend, for I know how the Seeds of Truth to tend. The Seeds do indeed hold the cure, growing with words spoken, true and pure. It is unfortunate I have none in my home, as the location of Thorns of Deceit is unknown.”

“That is ok. I know where some grows. It’s where one of the greatest deceptions of history took place, the old fort in Everfree.”

Coltyn and Zecora gathered some supplies as it would be a long walk to the fort. The walk there was uneventful and the moon was climbing into the sky as they had made it to the fort. Coltyn and Zecora headed around the fort to the southern facing side. Coltyn and Zecora looked on in shock as the entire southern wall was overgrown with various trees and brush and mixed in was the plant they were looking for: the Thorns of Deceit.

“The Seeds of Truth are found at the plant’s heart but I’ve no idea where to start,” Zecora said looking into the tangled mess.
“I think I see a way in but I think it best if you wait here. I don’t like the feeling I’m getting and I don’t want to get you hurt,” Coltyn said, pulling out a rope and tying it around his waist. “Here, if I tug three times go ahead and pull me out. I’ll take care of any injuries later.” Zecora nodded, taking the rope into her mouth.

Coltyn looked into the mess seeing only a small opening and as he cleared the initial growth he disappeared. The thick vines constricted the path making every step an effort to not get cut. Coltyn pushed through even as the path seemed to get tighter and avoiding the thorns was impossible. Coltyn felt every needle-like thorn cut his flesh and it seemed that the plant was closing in on him.

***

Zecora stood at the entrance that Coltyn went through slowly feeding the rope out. Soon after he went in, she noticed the thorns start to shift as if they were alive. She knew something was wrong and as she went to pull on the rope, two thorns severed it and closed tightly so no pony could enter. Zecora worried for Coltyn’s safety. It was obvious that this plant was more than what she’d expected.

***

Coltyn felt the rope go limp and tugged on the rope only to feel no resistance. He pulled on the rope only to find the cut end. “Horse apples!” He exclaimed, removing the rope from him and continuing to the heart of the plant. The thorns continued to shift unnaturally while Coltyn continued on, so that even the thorns he thought he missed ripped into his flesh.

Coltyn stumbled out of the tangled mess covered in gashes and cuts from the thorns with blood matting his coat. He walked into a small clearing which at the center grew a large, thick, black, thorn covered trunk which reached up ten feet before branching out its vines into the woods. Coltyn approached slowly keeping his eyes scanning for danger. Coltyn had only gone a few feet when movement from the corner of his eye got his attention. The impact of one of the vines hitting him sent Coltyn rolling. He heard the cracking of a rib as every breath was painful but he quickly got to his feet as more vines attacked him. The vines grew thorns and Coltyn tried to dodge them but he was not successful as several of the vines buried their thorns deep into his flesh. Coltyn coughed up blood, staggering to his hooves as the vines wrapped around is back hoof pulling him up into the air.

Coltyn shook his head trying to see where he was being dragged. His vision focused on the maw of the plant. Its digestive enzymes poured from the sharp thorns which were staggered and bent slightly inward to give it maximum holding power. In the back of the maw was the glimmer of three little seeds. Coltyn knew that these had to be what he was seeking. Focusing his magic, he grabbed the seeds and ripped them from the creature. The plant let go shrieking in pain which caused the limbs to open a path out. Coltyn stashed the seeds and galloped as hard as he could out back toward Zecora.

***

Zecora paced about the area where Coltyn entered, worrying that he may be in danger. She perked her ears and watched as the thorns quickly withdrew into the darkness of the woods. She trotted into the edge where he had entered and could hear distant galloping. Coltyn came into view and she breathed a sigh of relief until she noticed the look of panic on his face. She opened her mouth to speak but Coltyn called out upon seeing her.

“Run now! Talk later!” Coltyn ordered, side stepping a thorn trying to impale him.

Zecora, seeing the danger, turned tail and ran. Coltyn caught up to her and they galloped hard and fast all the way back to her hut not looking back. Zecora and Coltyn finally slowed as her hut came into view, looking back they didn’t see any sign of pursuit.

“You must have encountered great distress because you look an utter mess,” Zecora gasped, looking over the wounds on Coltyn’s body.

“It is nothing I can’t fix. I just need to get to my cart,” Coltyn said, falling to the ground exhausted staring up as the sun’s rays shone through the trees.

The adrenalin was wearing off and the pain overcame him. He lay on the ground with every panting breath sending a wave of pain through his body. Zecora quickly went into her hut to find some potions to help heal his wounds. Coltyn slowly got his breathing under control and focused on his wounds, replacing and knitting the broken bones and closing all the gashes and cuts.

Zecora came out of her hut with a renewal potion to see Coltyn covered by a dark aura which was mending his wounds. Within minutes all the cuts, bruises, and broken bones had mended.

“You have unnatural healing speed for such a normal looking steed,” Zecora explained, raising a curious eyebrow.

Coltyn had never let anypony know of his healing abilities. “You can’t tell anypony what you saw,” Coltyn stated, standing up. “I don’t need a bunch of ponies looking to me for instant healing and quick fixes.”

“I can your reason comprehend, but why hide such a gift to mend?” Zecora asked, offering the potion to Coltyn.

“It’s a double-edged sword,” Coltyn said plainly. “I am blessed in that I will not die but cursed with eternal life. Trust me, I’ve known too many times why death could be a welcomed blessing,” Coltyn explained somberly, a tear forming in his eye.

“Did you find the solution to our needs, the three special magic seeds?” Zecora quickly asked, changing the subject.

“Yes,” Coltyn said, lifting the seeds with his magic. “These seeds will cure Applebloom but we must hurry she probably is gaining cutie marks pretty quickly,” Coltyn said, with a sense of urgency.

Zecora nodded and Coltyn placed the seeds in her side bag and the two headed for Ponyville.

***

Coltyn and Zecora entered Ponyville to hear the screams of the locals who had barricaded themselves in their homes, leaving Twilight and Applejack standing in the middle of town as a tumble weed rolled by them.

“I thought I had removed their fear the last time I visited here, but doors are barred and shutters shut; guess I should have stayed inside my hut,” Zecora said, walking up to AJ and Twilight.

“Zecora! Coltyn! Applebloom has cutie pox,” Twilight said, obviously distressed.

Zecora and Coltyn looked over seeing Applebloom working out a calculus problem on a chalkboard.

“We were on our way to see if either of you knew of a cure,” Twilight explained.

“But magically you both are here,” AJ said, turning to Zecora. “Was your zebra sense tingling?”

“My zebra sense did not bring me round it was a special flower I needed found,” Zecora explained.

“It seems that while Zecora and I were out somepony had taken the rest of her ingredients, not to mention a potion base I had mixed,” Coltyn narrowed his eyes at Applebloom who was lifting a dumbbell with her tail.

Zecora walked up to Applebloom. “Applebloom, what do you say? Did this flower just walk away?”

Applebloom mumbled as a set of sponges appeared on her causing her to run and clean one of the windows of a nearby house. Not wanting to catch the cutie pox the ponies inside donned Haz-Mat masks. Twilight and AJ looked truly worried as Coltyn smiled.

“We have a cure which is hidden in the seeds of truth,” Coltyn explained as Zecora pulled out the seeds from her bag.

“Well then give ‘em to her quick,” AJ exclaimed.

“These seeds must be planted in the ground. With the truth they will grow and the cure is found,” Zecora explained.

AJ and Twilight looked at each other confused. “Come again?” AJ stated.

“The seeds of truth do hold the cure but one must speak words true and pure,” Zecora clarified, narrowing her eyes at Applebloom.

“Well then let’s get to it,” AJ said, knocking the seeds into the air and planting them. “Alright they’re planted, now somepony tell the truth!”

Coltyn and Zecora looked at Applebloom and waited for her to finally admit her crime as she tap danced past Pinkie Pie who was sitting on the entrance to Sugarcube Corner. A tornado mark appeared on Applebloom’s flank and she started to spin wildly. Zecora and Coltyn just waited while AJ and Twilight were getting more worried and desperate.

“Somepony! Anypony!” AJ hollered, while the rest of the townsfolk hid.

“Yesterday, I told Mrs. Cake that I only ate two corn cakes but I really ate three,” Pinkie exclaimed.

Twilight and AJ were hoping that this would cause the seeds to bloom but nothing happened. They then looked at Pinkie a little shocked.

“Ok, six! I ate six corn cakes!” Pinkie shouted, hoping the seeds wouldn’t see through the lie.

Twilight and AJ looked at the soil covering the seeds, but still nothing happened.

“Make it stop! Oh, make it stop!” Pinkie cried.

Applebloom was still spinning like a tornado as she yelled. “Ah, I can’t stand it anymore! It’s me, I admit it! I didn’t earn my cutie mark, they’re all fake!”

Applebloom stopped spinning, sprawling on her stomach before she got up and began to tap dance again. Coltyn and Zecora looked at where Applejack had planted the seeds while Twilight and AJ dropped their heads to the ground to watch as the dirt began to shift.

“I figured that the heart’s desire would help me get what I wanted most. So when Zecora left her hut I took one of Coltyn’s basic potions and put the rest of the heart’s desire in it,” Applebloom admitted.

The seeds burst forth a stem and opened purple pedals with a white bell flower inside. Coltyn and Zecora smiled as the rest of the ponies looked on in wonder at the plant. Applebloom chomped the flower, and moments after she swallowed, it the excessive cutie marks began to vanish from her. Applebloom looked at her blank skin as her friends Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle ran to her side.

“Applebloom,” Sweetie Belle squeaked.

“Are you OK?” Scootaloo asked.

“I’m great and I’ve never been happier to be a blank flank,” Applebloom smiled seeing her friends. “But I’m awful sorry I lied, especially to you gals,” Applebloom said, lowering her head. “I was just so desperate for my cutie mark I just got carried away,” Applebloom admitted, her friends smiling. Applebloom walked up to Zecora and Coltyn. “And I’m really sorry I snuck those flowers and potion away from you two. Why I wouldn’t blame ya if ya never wanted me to come by again.”

Zecora smiled as she lifted Applebloom’s head. “Now don’t be silly you are always welcome my little filly. With each mistake we learn something new, growing up into a better you,” Zecora stated.

Twilight and Applejack looked at Applebloom smiling and AJ gave her a wink as Zecora departed.

“I’m just glad that we could fix this and there are no permanent complications,” Coltyn stressed the seriousness of her meddling.

Twilight turned to Applebloom. “Applebloom would you mind writing to Princess Celestia and telling her what you learned?”

“I’d be happy to Twilight. Spike!” Applebloom called, the little dragon speeding over.

“Ready!” Spike exclaimed, quill and parchment in hand.

“Dear Princess Celestia,” Applebloom dictated as Spike wrote. “Waiting for what your heart desires can be really hard and you might try to take a short cut. But this dishonesty never works because you didn’t earn what your heart desires. The only cure is being honest with yourself and others and that is something that every heart desires.”

As Applebloom finished Spike rolled up the scroll and with a bit of fire sent the message off to the Princess. As Applejack went to talk to her sister Coltyn turned to Twilight.

“I have some things to get in Manehatten and I will be gone for a while,” Coltyn said, almost sad to leave. “Here,” Coltyn pulled out a small box. “This is a message box. I would like to keep you updated on my travels.”

“That’s very generous of you. We won’t forget all you helped us with and I look forward to your letters,” Twilight said with a smile.
Coltyn departed as Applebloom finally seemed to learn the importance of patience. Coltyn was just to the edge of the forest when he heard the sound of a filly, following him.

“Hey Coltyn,” Applebloom called. “I know you’re probably mad at me but could I ask you some questions?”

“Of course but why are you heading into the forest?” Coltyn wondered.

“Well I was hoping to get a lesson in potion making but, umm… what did you mean by permanent complications?” Applebloom asked, warily.

Coltyn’s ears perked as he recalled the events in his mind as he continued to Zecora’s. “Long ago two unicorn colts went to school at Clover’s School of Magic and Potions. One was a potion maker with a cauldron cutie mark while the other was a blank flank. The blank flank seemed to excel in many areas of magic and eventually started to become a talented potion maker. His rival couldn’t stand this blank outdoing him at what was his talent. So one day the potion maker stole a rare ingredient from the teacher’s storage. But when he went to sour the blank’s potion there was an accident and the ingredient fell into his own cauldron, instead. The teacher summoned the nurses, but it was already too late, as the potion blew up in the young pony’s face, changing him forever.”

“So somepony can be really good at something and still not earn their mark?” Applebloom asked.

“Yes, in the case of the blank, he was in school for the second year which was unusual for a blank to make it a year without getting their mark. However, it wasn’t until his rival returned and the news of HER predicament spread. The ponies the potion maker use to call friends and allies began to bully her. One day the blank saw this and stepped up to defend her. The bullies turned their attention to the blank, insulting him, and calling him names, but it didn’t work. The blank didn’t back down, and when the bully’s horn lit – preparing to cast – the blank did the same. The conflict broke out and the blank defended the filly with all his strength. The bullies had lost by the time the teachers arrived and they were sent to the medical wing to heal.

“The teachers took the young colt to see the headmaster but he turned to his former rival saying, ‘to protect and defend.’ With that statement a tingle on his flank let him know that he figured out his place in life and the first pony to see it was his former rival.” Applebloom was entranced by his story and didn’t even notice that they had reached Zecora’s. “Well, I have business in Manehatten so I will see you later,” Coltyn said, walking to his cart.

Applebloom just stood there running the scenario over in her mind. “Maybe I should think things through more before trying something I’ve never done. And maybe sometime you could teach me about potions?” Applebloom asked, shyly pawing at the dirt.
“You’d have to promise not to try anything on your own until I say you’re ready,” Coltyn warned.

“Oh no, I won’t! I promise!”

Applebloom knocked on Zecora’s door and when the zebra called out a welcome, stepped inside. Coltyn sighed as he hitched to his cart and with a flash of his horn he and his cart were gone.