I kept my eyes forward as we crossed through town, Ponies were everywhere and all eyes were tracking me like a guided missile. Either with curiosity, fear or resentment, they watched us walk through the busy streets. Even when the few pegasus residents of this town flew overhead, I felt eyes on me from everywhere.

All the while, Twilight was carrying on like it was any other day, never mind that her charge was being looked on as an alien from the moon.

“Anyway we could take the side streets, or exit town without running into most of people-I mean, ponies of this town next time?” I could still feel eyes upon me even after leaving the last crowd behind. It wasn’t till we turned a right on another path; we did pass a crossroad sign and I lacked the thought to stop and look at which way we are going.

More or less, where are we going?

“Oh, don’t worry about anypony here in this town.” Twilight, almost-too-cheerfully, replied, completely dodging my question of course!

“They have heard of the creature in their town, but not a single one have seen it-”

“Till now…” I would only grumble because it wouldn’t be nice to straight up freak out some more over being discovered.

“Oh come now,” she gently nudged into me reassuringly, “The girls and I have made it so that anypony, either of our own kind or from countries abroad, we would only welcome them here as a friend and guest to our town!”

Eesh, you would make a good herald for town hall.
“Right, I guess you’re right Twilight, I guess I’m still fearing that what happened to me at the hospital would be just the same on the outside.”

“Riight, still think they should really review how they handled your-”

“-stay there?”

“Yeah…” she frowned faintly

“And besides, it should be me that needs to go over there to set things right.”

Dear god, I haven’t been in this world long and I already sound like them, guess their positive outlook on things has taken hold. I honestly don’t really want to go back there, again, to simply say something along the lines of:
’oh hey hospital ponies, sorry for acting like a shell shocked psycho a few weeks ago, no hard feelings right?’
That would go as well as meeting the president while wearing a toy bomb vest…

I looked back to see the town drop farther away into the distance and the forest ahead of us getting closer. Why does it look familiar? I hope it isn’t-

“Where are we going again?” I asked looking at Twilight who seemed to of snapped out of a thought-filled trance like I did.

“Huh? Oh, we are heading to a friend of mine, Zecora, she lives just near the thick of the Everfree Forest.”

Oh, oh no wonder the forest that is drawing closer looks familiar!

“Oh, Oh really?”

“Yeah and-” she paused and snapped a look at me, her face lit up with sudden shock, “-Oh blast it all, I had totally forgotten!” she stopped in her tracks, she glanced back at the Everfree once more before looking back.

“Th-This should’ve been something that could've waited till-” Raising a hand to her, she fell quiet abruptly. I know what she was trying to do, she was being quickly considerate that it wasn’t long ago that I crawled out of there.

“Twilight, It’s okay, It hasn’t been that long sure, but If you do know someone close to it, then there is someone that knows how to deal with what is wrong with me.”

Then again, if an Alicorn goddess of the night couldn’t just clapped her hooves and banish whatever the hell that thing was out of my dreamspace. Then, I can honestly say that there is probably no chance of curing me of this; but ah, hell, might as well give a shot anyway right?

She nodded at my words before turning back to walking towards the forest, “You are correct Jeff, that is why we are headed for Zecora’s place.” she was hesitant at first but her resolve returned then turned to continue walking towards the forest. I can tell this isn’t going to be an easy-going kind of day. Nodding at what we talked about I followed her onward.

As the first edges of the forest’s canopy came over head, I gazed at how different the trees here are compared to the trees around and near town (not to mention the park Rarity’s place sits in). Those trees, you can tell they have been taken care of. Trimmed and kept, kinda like domesticated plant life that is watched over by someone/pony while still giving them their space to grow naturally.

While here, even at the far edges of the everfree, These trees look like back home in Oregon: Wild, self-treating, and flush with a shade of life of their own. Unlike around here, outside, the underbrush of the Everfree are a messy collage of broken limbs, loose leaves, dead shrubs and broken chunks of bark that blend with the ground, creating natural mulch to provide nutrients for the trees, bushes, shrubs and everything else inbetween.

Yet, I don’t even want to get started on the wildlife that dwell in these woods, for I have already experienced it and I have yet to see any kind of wildlife outside the everfree, aside from birds that I can hear but not see.
Soaking in the dangerous but familiar forest landscape, the only sound was the sound of my boot steps and Twilight’s hooves coming down on the cluttered, ill-kept trail, crunching leaves and twigs as we moved on.

It didn’t take long for it to get dark because of the dense of the trees. It was also not long when I felt something I wish I had forgotten; the feeling of eyes upon me, not ponies either. It was something that would more than likely be forever burned into my senses: The trees, plants, everything else gave me the feeling like they were all watching me as well. Not with timid-curiosity, but with that of angry hunger.

As if they remembered me and they were not done with me but I got out before they-

“Jeff?”
“Huh?” I snapped out of it right as a cheek met a thick branch, hanging right in the path way; It stung my brain back into reality with a sharp jab. Stopping, I checked to see if the stupid branch had cut me. Nope, just a nice scuff that’ll resonate for a while.

“OH, sorry, You just looked like you were off in the clouds for a minute there,”
“Guess I was.”
“Theen, you didn’t really hear what I was saying did you?”
“Nope, guess not, sorry for that.”

Twilight looked at me for a concerned moment with before continuing, “Why is it you run into something when you space off like that?”

“Beats me,” I shrug, “Can’t really say but, Coming even this far into this forest had a hand in it I guess.”

Walking along, I was able to catch up to her. It was getting darker by the second. I started to fish into my new trousers for that flashlight when she stopped again to glance at me.
“What are you looking for?”
“A flashlight or something, its getting dark in here.”
“Hold on, I got this.” she closed her eyes to concentrate. As she reopened them, her horn glowed with a light at the tip. It wasn’t blinding but it illuminated a purplish light about a good ten, twenty or so feet around us.

“There, carry on!”

Unicorns; huh, never thought that they would make good living flashlights…

Our trekking to this place brought us deeper into the woods, the deeper the darker apparently. As well the most despised thing I remember about this forest is the dull, unnerving silence. I wasn’t the best feeling in the world, at some point the brush shook somewhere near by and we both stopped to face the direction.

“Shit.”

“What? Who’s there!”

We both seemed to of held our breath for a minute or two before relaxing, well, at least she must’ve.

“It’s nothing, I hope.”

“You sure?” I kept my gaze in that direction, ready to dash at a moment’s notice, I maybe wearing new clothes but I still got my- wait…

“Jeff? Why are you holding your...hand like that?”

“Do what?” I snapped out of it and looked down at my right hand and It was hovering over where I had worn my holster long ago, where my High Point once hugged my hip. To have it again! I suddenly never felt so naked in my life ever since I lost my guns to this god forsaken place! However, I shouldn’t be like this, I don’t want to worry her anymore than I had so far.

“Sorry, habit I guess.” I let my hand rest at my side before looking at A concerned Twilight.

“You really had it rough in here, didn’t you?” she asked with a glint of sympathy in both her voice and face. I would be lying if I said I didn’t mind you, It was more than hell on earth if you can put it one way. Here, I would only determined that I do not want to be in here any longer than I need to.

“Are we close yet?” I asked, changing the topic, I didn’t want to talk about this place while inside it! The question itself did the trick in making Twilight look around us, she then started to look worried.

“This isn’t good, now that you mention it, we should be looking right at her hut by now.” She quickly looked into every direction probably hoping to find a pathway or something. I could only feel the worry starting to take a hold of me. I battled the thought of being stuck in this forest again as this time I have a local that can drag me out of it if it gets to bad in here.

However, that look of uncertainty didn’t make me feel any better.

“So, we’re lost aren’t we?” I asked flatly.

“Nooo, we should be close to Zecora’s right now.” she looked back at me confused or maybe flustered by the situation. I couldn’t tell, the light from her horn kinda distorted her face. I looked around again hoping to find any kind of trail marking or something to help her out.

Nope, nothing.

I could only stand there like a lump while Twilight started rambling on how it can’t be impossible for anypony to get lost so near the forest’s edge as well hoping to come up with some kind of direction to- what was that?

“DId you hear something?” I asked her.
“Hold on, and-” I hear the noise again, sounded like the brush shuttered somewhere.
“SHH! I heard it again.” she finally went quiet for a moment to look at me in puzzlement, then another noise off to the side somewhere caused her ears to twitch towards the sound. She looked.
“Jeff, I don’t think that- AHHH!” something jumped out of the brush in a snarling blur of dark gray as she reared up in surprise. another shot out from my left that damn near tripped me as it caught the side of a leg.

“Shit!” I spun around to not catch the blur right away. Then they slowed down to reveal themselves.

Wolves, regular wolves; Judging from their size, Timber wolves. Wolves, always fucking wolves in dark forests like the Everfree. There wasn’t just two of them either, just a minute later three more of these dogs came stalking through underbrush. Each of them ravenous and growling at us.

We saw them as threats, they saw us a food; screw that noise! Sadly, being without a weapon of all the times! I could only back up towards Twilight as she faced the three that faced her while I stared down the other two.

“Well, shit, now what?”

“I don’t know, normally these wolves would be near Fluttershy’s house, not sure what they are doing here and watch your mout-” one of them lunged forward with a snap of it’s jaw. She lifted a fore hoof before stomping it back down at it.

“I think my mouth is the least of your worries at the moment.”

“You think?!”

“No, just guessing here sweetheart. Any ideas by the-” I wasn’t paying attention when something leapt at me.
I felt maybe all of the wolf’s eighty or so pounds of body as it tackled me to the ground.

I held up a arm as it’s jaw clamped down on my sleeve. Like a trained german shepherd, It yanked and shook its head to drag me as well possibly try to break my arm. I could feel teeth trying to dig through the fabric of my jacket. Why, oh why does this madness happen to me?

I pulled with all my muscle against the hungry, four-legged attacker but it wasn’t working not one bit. I could feel myself sliding across the dirt when I herd the ground shift near my head.
“DUCK!” I glanced up before snapping my head to the ground as I saw a purple leg shoot a back hoof that connected against the wolf. It let go, taking a chunk of my jacket with it though.

It landed back into the brush as I scrambled back to my feet. Man I feel useless without something to at least swing at these muts.

Twilight had a struggle on her own when the trio of wolves started encircling her but she backed up (nearly against me mind you) and she raised her head, “Time to go you pesky wolves!” her horn glowed a brighter tone before she shot what looked like a magic missile from her horn. It missed but it was enough for them to back up and scatter away from her, unlike what she demanded, they didn’t move at all.
“Or not…”

I on the other hand had no current method of killing or shooing these dogs away from me. Another wolf lunged forward to nip at me but I stepped back to kick at it. No hits on either side there.

“Go home dogs!” calling out to them, which of course did nothing but just made me sound more pitfiully helpless.

These wolves reformed their pack and encircled us, these wolves really acted differently than the normal wolves I’ve known about, unlike those wooden wolves weeks ago. We could only ponder on when these wolves were going to move in for the kill. However, I heard something else somewhere in the brush. Great something bigger is headed this way.

Then I heard what sounded like someone calling out in another language, I heard a quick crash in the brush, hear a grunt then something came hurling out from darkness then heard glass crashing into the ground close to us. In the second it hit the ground I looked at what it was before being blinded by a bright flash of light.

The wolves yelped and whined from the surprise, then another bottle came crashing down, making an ear ringing bang that made the wolves coward away from us then something or someone came bursting from the brush off to our right.

It was another pony, or at least I could tell from the four legs and head hidden under a cloak. Whoever this was, came running into our clearing ramming into one of the wolves at full gallop before coming a sliding stop. The wolves turned their attention from us to their new prey.

Shouting something else in that language, she sounded african in my mind, before twilight tugged at my damaged jacket to make me step back with her. When we got out of the way, the newcomer shot a powerful kick into a wolf sending it back into the brush, it yelped as it vanished from view. The others started to attack at once; when one of them leapt at her, she dropped low but her hood was caught by a paw in the process. knocking it off her head, it revealed a black-n-white striped head complete with a short black mohawk. Wait, black and white pony?

Is she a zebra?!

Watching this Zebra looking coolly at the rest of the wolves, she rolled her shoulders to bring around a staff from behind her back before taking a stance to grip the staff;

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The Zebra took a spread leg stance to stand completely on two hooves as she took the staff in her fore hooves. Like a martial artist, she twirled the staff till she held it with one hoof, gesturing to the wolves with the other, beckoning the animals to test her might.

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When she stood, the wolves encircled her before two of them attacked. One went low at to snap at her back hooves while the other ran up to her side to jump at her. She responded with fluidy: taking the staff, she swung wide at the jumping wolf then redirected a jab at the other. Clacking one on the side then hitting the other on the muzzle.

One wolf retreated the other wobbled from the stun. The remaining wolves ganged up on her but she was faster than them. With more fluid motion of her staff, she smacked one across the flank, jabbed a second in the chest, then smashed one into the ground with a well placed strike on the head.

When the dust settled, she remained on her two hooves while two wolves laid unconscious the rest whimpered in retreat. She then slid the staff into the scabbard across her back before returning back onto all fours.

She took one look at us both shaking her head but still held a smile belonging to a parent who just saved her kids from a surprised danger.

“Marafiki zangu, mimi kuona kwamba, wamepoteza njia yako.” She spoke to us with a polite but mocking chuckle. Twilight frowned in flustered Embarrassment. She must've been trying to do this kind of thing on her own, not sure why, it would of been smart to have sent a note ahead or something now thinking about it.

“Zecora,” she sighed as she approached the ass-kicking Zebra.

“You know I’m still learning your country’s language.”

“So, this is Zecora,” I thought quietly looking noting that now I can add Zebra’s to the list of sentient beings in this world.

“Be that is Twilight,” the Zebra greeted the Unicorn with a friendly hug at last before the Zecora turned towards where she had emerged from,

“Yet, strayed from the path to safety you have,” She mused, “And future advice, stay close to the forest edge would be more suffice.”

“Huh?” I was lost by the jumble of words she just spoke and I thought me speaking engwish was bad.

“She means, we shouldn’t of followed this path so deep into the forest.” Twilight translated with surprising ease, then again, I wouldn’t know how long she had to listen to Zecora talk like this.

“And, I think you’re right, next time I’ll just send a letter in advance.”

“All is fair, yet avoid these ever changing woods for any who dare shall be bait for what hides inside, as any will only be suffocated by the new darkness that resides.”

‘New darkness’? I doubt there isn’t anything new in there other than poor little me crawling out of there like an injured bettel. I looked between Zecora and Twilight before glancing off into the surrounding woods. I don’t think when she means darkness as an obvious observation of how dark it is. Probably something else she is talking about.

“You’re right,” Twilight finally spoke after some moments of deep thought, having known her for this long (which hasn't been long mind you), that she is one of those deep thinker types. I can only wonder why she would be anyone-anypony special to this community aside from the elements thing she and the other girls have mentioned to me.

“I wouldn’t know anything on this new development either, but, I would like to put out one major fire before tending to another so to speak.”

Zecora Instantly looked at me, it wasn’t a look of scorn but one of stoic curiosity, “I see twilight; could this be the blundering creature of thunder?” she asked. It was a little dark aside from Twilight’s horn, I could feel the eyes look me up and down as if determining if i’m a potential threat or something else.

“A creature of such strange thunder, yet, it does not seem to have anyway to make it?”

“Pardon me but what thunder are you talking about?”

“Yeah, what are you talking about Zecora?”

She looked like she was about to say something when she paused to look around.

“As bleak as this place could be, we shall return to my home so we may speak in peace.”

“You are right, let’s get going before something else shows up.”

“Agreed.”

We arrived at Zecora’s Hut within minutes in comparision of getting lost before hoof. While on the way, I took note of how much the edge of the Everfree has indeed changed, ever since Jeff had appeared the forest has been acting strange.

Not sure if he and the forest are related in the change but I have read tomes that had explained that the Everfree forest has gone through rare but vicious spurts of changes. Such as the trees would, more or less mutate from one breed into different breeds or the wildlife would make sudden massive migrations from the forest and towards a different one. However, those migrations would be violent and “run” over anypony that would be in it’s way.

A shiver ran down my back as the memory of Father telling me a story of one such migration, that ended in a battle between wild animals and two of Equestria’s Legions.

Let’s just say that Ponyville had to be rebuilt and lives were lost that day.

Even Zecora had changed, but her tribal home hasn’t changed a bit, aside from a few new weapons sitting on wall pegs. As well a few new masks hanging everywhere of various new paint patterns.

Especially the one above the front door before going inside. With deep red dual strips going down both sides over the eyes and down the cheeks. Boar tusks jutting out the edges of the mouth adorned in dark green, yellow and teal strips of cloth complete with fur in the similar fashion of a lion’s mane. Whatever would she have this one up for?

And I have not seen her fight before if not at all, even the unique bipedal stance she fought with was completely new to me, she was very impressive in combat. I have to write this down! I opened one of my saddle bags and my Tome of notes floated before me.

Opened the book were I had left off, Quill and ink, aaand notes!

As I transcribed what I seen I began pondering on the “thunder” Zecora kept mentioning. Peeking up, I tuned my ears back in on her talking to Jeff and she describes the thunder to be heard in random, rapid sounds that at one point changed in pitch and volume.

“Huh, Sounds like gunfire.” Jeff thought aloud. He has my attention now, Gunfire? What the heck is gunfire?

“More accurately, That was me making that thunder.” He air quoted thunder, “You may of heard me fighting off monsters with my Colt rifle, then my HP later on as I had ran out of ammo for the rifle.”

“Hmmm, These things that sound like weapons, how curious they are.”
“Yeeah, Jeff you haven’t mentioned anything like these Colts and HPs.”

Jeff folded his arms while looking at the empty caldron in the middle of the house. Probably thinking for a time before he looked between the both of us, Zecora, after resting her staff against the wall near the door; had walked towards one of the shelves full of bottles but she had paused from that to look at Jeff.

“So the rifle, is a Colt LE-nine-zero-one, chambered in the three-oh-eight winchester round, which I mainly use for my trips into the woods to hunt for game if me and the boys can find any.” he began, “I carried only seven twenty round magazines, only because twice our hunting trips had turned into a gun battles with other hunters trying to go after the same game.”

“Game?”

“Wildlife, Zecora.”

She nods before turning back to the wall of bottles and jars, she must of wanted to look for something, not sure what maybe ingredients. However, what an interesting object Jeff was mentioning.

“Anyways, ever since the December SNAPs riots, A lot of people had turned to hunting to get their fresh meat. So there had been many times You read about gunbattles between groups of hunters over deer herds or other wildlife, there had been fatalities in other states but in oregon there had only been a few severe injuries resulted of those battles.”

“The more I hear about your home, the more I dislike it.” I noted aloud. I only felt sorry for Jeff. Here stands a human, who comes from a country whose citizens have to fight each other for food and now, displaced into our world somehow, has to go through the process in getting accustomed to what is probably all Alien to him.

“Trust me, my country has been at war with Terror for nearly eighteen years, so you can see the stress and strain on everyone back home.”

“War on Terror?”

“Ehhh, that’s another story, anyways!” he cleared his throat, “with all that aside, The HP I mentioned is the Browning, Hi Power, Mark three, something called a pistol, something smaller than the rifle but still can pack a punch up close.”

“Another weapon you wield for hunting?”

“Yeah, but I wear it on my hip in a holster so I can keep my hands free.”

“I see, So Jeff, What exactly did you, fight, out there?” my quill froze on a blank space to write it all down. I noticed his eyes glanced down at my tome and smirked while slowly shaking his head. I looked apologetically back at him with a shrug. I think he might be getting used to me pulling this book out or something for he didn’t look annoyed at all this time.

“Let’s see, those wooden wolves or dogs, they kept coming at me for a few days at random, but what was worse of it was this massive lion with wings and a scorpion tail.”

“Sounds like you fought a manticore,” oh my godess, how did he…

“Is that what it's called?” He looked confused but surprised, “That thing was so fuckn’ scary to fight.” He shook his head.

“How did you? With these 'guns’ you talked about?” Now I'm curious, how did this human fight something big like a manticore by himself and win?

“Well, yeah, but it was taking three-oh-eight like bee stings but it wasn't after it got me first before it fled.” His expression shifted to someone drifting into thought.

“A being of bravery I see, tis a shame that you have lost the objects of magic.” Noted the rhyming Zebra, she collected two jars of something by their carrying straps then walked up to the cauldron, she stopped to look at Jeff briefly.

“Oh, sorry,” he stepped to the side letting Zecora pass. She propped herself on the side of the massive cast iron pot. She balanced one on the side while opening the other to pour its contents into the pot.

I didn't see it at first but the second jar slid then almost fell to the ground but Jeff was quick to catch it. “Got it!” He then stood, looking at the jar.

He looked curious but probably didn't think to ask as he handed it to Zecora who had been watching, she took it with a thankful nod before dumping its contents inside.

“But, yes, it does suck that I lost the guns to this forest, one them was hella expensive and the other was a hand-me-down that was a birthday gift to me from my Aunt.”

“that is a shame Jeff,” now that only added to his current predicament, he lost not just his weapons, but objects of sentimental value. Poor human…

I noticed that he was watching Zecora as she went to work putting more ingredients into her cauldron.

“What are you doing if I may ask?” He looked into the pot before pulling back quickly holding his nose. “ And why does it stink?”

“The base of a potion of calming.” She replies, “Once already the creature of the everfree forest has received such foul concoction yet still suffers a blight of unordinary qualities. I shall concoct another to continue the struggle.”

“Shall i get water?” I asked as she finished explaining.

“Yes.”

“Once already? What do you mean?” the human asked puzzled, “All I can remember is how many times I was out of consciousness.”

“Then a conscious receiving of such an aweful foe creation for unconscious treatment.”

Only i would remember what she is making as it was I that helped administer this ugly brew. Well, it was me that gave it to hi m while he was in his micro comas.

When she started the cooking fire, added more water and started adding more ingredients; Zecora worked fast to create the-what did she call it?

“So what are intending to use this for?”

“Should I tell him Z?”

She nods towards me with that sly smile of hers. I really don't, BUT, I will so this poor human will not panic when the shamare gives him the potion.

“Tell me what exactly?” I cock a brow at Twilight before glancing at Zecora who was just grinning at whatever mischief was in brewing in her head.

“Well,” she grimaced slightly before looking at me, “Zecora is brewing a potion of magic detection, however…”

“Wait, couldn’t you just cast something like that and what? See if I'm still cursed or something?” It didn't make sense to of dragged me all the way out here, almost getting us killed to just get something that sweet Twilight, a magical unicorn mind you, to just cast the same thing.

“That there is the problem,” she sighed, “Currently, I can only detect curse magic in objects and faintly on living beings, sure i have studied curses as well everything else, buuut…”

“But what?

“This curse, the one affecting you, is-”

“Well? What is it?”

She, looks away with a face of saddened pensiveness. That did not fill me with dread at all, not, one, bit.

“Fear not brave creature,” Zecora spoke finally, “A sudden mystery will be solved with the feature of this creation of harmless magic.”

"So, you are saying that at least this Shit wont kill me, but why are you two not telling me anything more than that."

Both girls went quiet after that, not a real good sign. With a defeated sigh, i watched in agitated silence while the zebra shamare went to work. Of, course it didn't take no longer than some minutes after the tense silence fell upon the room.

With deft hooves, she produced several bottles of this stuff. Then, she came over to me with a goblet, made of smoothed wood, filled to the brim with this stuff.

“A slight pain and unsettling feeling is all would be felt while taking a faithful swig of this foreboding brew.”

I looked at her then at the cup, the back at her again. “Wait, now!? You want me to take some of this green shit now?” i pointed to the cup; she only replied with a smile as she placed the cup into the same hand.

“Jeff,” i felt a soft hoof on my shoulder, “you got to believe me that I have tried everything else and Zecora’s brews are all that can get through without harming you anymore.” Not sure if it was the touch, Twilight’s voice or my ‘fuck-it’ button was finally pushed but i quietly stared into the cup’s contents.

It looked like a thick, warm smoothie of various greens and herbs but reeked with something along the lines of microwaved pepto bismol.

Grimacing, i looked up at Zecora then over my shoulder to twilight then back at this cup-o-medicated-death.

“Well, down the hatch!” I shrugged before knocking the drink back, like a double shot, the cup emptied in a split second. The taste hit my senses like a bus; foul, chalky, with hints of what must've been ginger, garlic and an awful blend of various veggies.

I found a chair to sit while i felt this ooze hit my stomach, “God, you better be right about this Twilight because that was nasty!”

“Well, it wasn't no apple sarsaparilla that's for sure.”

“oh you’re funny; but now what, We wait?”

“That is all we can do…”

“Oh great, waiting for a bomb to go off-ahh-ohh..”

Then the aftertaste came, it had bitter burn of syrupy Nyquil that, unfortunately, numbed my tongue but the sharp bitter taste was still there.

I just periodically contorted and squirmed as my mouth tried to shake the taste out of my mouth like a dog trying to clear his mouth of peanut butter.

“Blach, how in the hell, did you come up with this idea? Glah!” i covered my mouth finally, just gritting the discomfort.

“Recipe that came from many a shapony before me and before them,” Zecora chimed in, i think i'm starting understand her more clearly after listening to her rhyming talk for such short amount of time, “come, stand, see what becomes of those who ingest this ancient tradition.”

I stood and followed her gesture towards a mirror in the room. Nothing fancy other than my pale face looking back at me while the unicorn and zebra watched me. I stood there for a few minutes all the while taking in my own image.

My hair now looks like a month old buzz cut growing back out. Some stubble growing in. My eyes were slightly sunken in but didn't look as bad as they last time i looked at a mirror.

Looking further down i can actually take a better look at the work Rarity did throwing my new clothes together. She did an impressive job patching my jacket back together, aside from the chunk the stupid wolf took out of the sleeve. My new pants looked like a crossbreed of my old jeans and old time trousers. Not too bad but the buttons will get in the way in the future i think; the shirt was simple as simple can get, thin, natural white cotton. Soft and breathable, i kinda like it.

Sadly, my expensive interceptor boots did meet a gruesome fate and had to be replaced with these simple brown leather slip-on boots. Didn't expect her to wipe these into existence but she did.

I looked back up to my face once more, while counting the healing scars on it,

“yah know, i don't think it’s going to work as fast you think.”

“Uhh, you sure?” Noticed Twilight point at the mirrors them i looked at myself again.

Nothing new aside from a faint glow coming from my- “wait, what?-” I squinted at a noticeable glow from the side of my neck. When i reached up to feel it i noticed the same thing on my hand. Gasping, i backed up to look at both of my hands. They started to glow too.

“Is it supposed to do this?” I then felt a cold, painful, burning sensation shooting all over my body.

“Yes.”

“Oh no, Jeff!”

“Do not interfere, any tampering would cause an interference to you as well.”

The feeling was intense and getting progressively more so as i stumbled a bit then wrapped myself in my arms as i cringed at the burning around me. I felt like i was in front of a raging inferno, skin going hot, my insides were on fire and no to mention, when i looked up at the mirror, my face was glowing brighter.

Not thinking clearly, i started ro removed my coat, then the shirt. Every movement felt very painful and everything was so intense that no sound could pass through my vocal cords.

Once off, i slowly stood upright as the burning was causing my muscles to spaz out, and i looked at the mirror.

I looked like volatile stuck out in the sun. What wasn’t covered by clothing was glowing, not a red hot orange, but several colors of dark purple, dark green, blue and red. The trippy part was my skin had become translucent, all my insides was illuminated in this interchanging shades of colors all had a neon style brightness to them. I could see through my muscles and pin point where all my organs were located, all pulsating at a increased rhythmic rate.

Obviously black symbols or glyphs were pulsating at their own rate, but not just a bone or a muscle, but everywhere!

“Wha, does, th-this, m-mean?” My shaky voice finally worded, “does, th-this mean, M-My wh-whole body I-Is-” i slowly turned my whole body towards the ladies as they had moved closer.

“Yes Jeff, your whole body…”

I felt myself free fall for a split second then found myself leaning against someone.

“I got you!”

I couldn't tell with my eyes shut but i must've leaned up against Twilight as i could feel her cool coat against my burning skin.

“Look, its starting to fade, almost over Jeff.” I understood that but i couldn't move i just buried my face and waited for the worst to be over.

After everything a dulled down to what felt like a fever. I finally lifted my head up,squinted at the light in the room for a moment or so before I Glanced over at Twilight who’s eyes were fixed on the mirror. I slowly turned to look at it too.

My body had indeed gone back to normal, aside from the healing scars on my torso; but, a thin plume of steam emanated off the exposed portion of my body as sweat must of fought a short, losing battle against the heat. Then i started to cold sweat profusely. I continued to lean against her before my legs gave out and crumbled to the ground, she dropped down to continue to hold me up, she even used her magic to prop me up temporally before gently resting me back down against her side, or shoulder i think it was.

“It is done, severe this is, very little i know of how to cure this bizarre blight.” A gloomy zecora admited from somewhere in the room.

I stayed silent as i buried my face in my arms and her coat. Not sure if it was because of what i just went through, o i have had enough of this torture, or the comfort of this pony but I felt something different, a faint tinglling feeling around my eyes before i felt water form around the corners. A lump in my throat turned into a sob, then my face knotted up and lips started to shiver.

"I, I'm not just, just-" i choked, "-my whole body has been...cursed!-"

Quickly, i felt the mare shift under me as i then felt an arm wrap around me.

Author's Notes:

I'm back!
And im determind to continue this story even if im typing from a phone!