Over the next four days, Zecora tended to Skyward's wounds. The injured unicorn did her best to be unobtrusive and not make extra work for her caretaker, using her magic from time to time to help with chores when she was able to do so. With a constant dosage of potions and salves, her wounds began to heal up nicely, but some of them did leave faint scars. Her leg was still sore, but because it was a fracture and not an actual break, it was healing fast as well; Zecora's odd potions and salves did wonders to be certain. Skyward often told the zebra shamaness stories about her homeland, old legends and used her magic to create images to go with her tales. This evening, Skyward was preparing a few dried forest mushrooms to be ground into powder when there was a knock at the heavy wooden door.

"Zecora? Zecora? Are ya home?"

"Ah, is that Apple Bloom I hear? Please, come inside, my dear."

Alerted to the visitor, Skyward twisted her head around, dropping the mortar and pestle she held in her magic onto the work table and quickly began to move towards the back so she wouldn't be seen. The little pale olive filly with a red apple colored mane and tail, with a beautiful rose colored ribbon in a bow in her mane pointed at the retreating unicorn mare: Zecora had to fight a belly laugh at Skyward acting like a shy filly. "Zecora, who's that? Ah didn' know ya had visitors."

Skyward, not wanting to frighten the strange filly had retreated into one of the other rooms, but Zecora went in after her and pushed her back out again with a firm nudge to her flank, Skyward resisting at first, but the zebra mare gave her a stern look.

"Ah, you have met Skyward, I see. She is new to the Everfree. Skyward, go on, say hello. Apple Bloom will not bite, you know."

Skyward gave the zebra mare a 'are you kidding me' look before she moved towards the little foal. She had to smile despite her trepidation...the little one was truly an adorable filly.

"Hi there! I'm Apple Bloom!"

Skyward inclined her head with a gentle smile. "Hail and well met, Apple Bloom. I am Skyward."

"Well, its nice to meetcha Skyward! Oooh...what happened to you?" Apple Bloom pointed at Skyward's bandaged leg.

"I took a rather bad fall...thankfully, Healer Zecora happened to find me and I hath been here ever since."

Zecora stepped in, knowing Skyward likely didn't want to reveal too much to the little filly, even then, most of it would be confusing anyway. "Apple Bloom, tis almost nightfall/Does Applejack know you are here at all?"

Apple Bloom nodded her head. "Yeah, she sent me to ask you for help. Big Mac's sick and Dr. Stable is outta town, an' th' last train t' Canterlot left two hours ago. She woulda come here herself, but somepony had t' tend t' Big Mac."

Zecora nodded at Apple Bloom, and began to gather her things into a leather satchel. "Night is falling quickly; we must hurry then/The timberwolves will soon leave their den."

Skyward stepped forward. "I shalt come with you, Zecora. Thou hast told me of the dangers here in the Everfree Forest, and for the kindness ye hath shown me, I shalt defend us from harm on the way to Apple Bloom's home."

"Hm. One would normally advise against this, but you are no stranger to danger's kiss. At this time of night the timberwolves roam/And it is foolish to wander in the dark alone."

Skyward nodded. "Allow me to get my armor and weapons, and we shalt be on our way."

Apple Bloom blinked as Skyward moved behind a curtain and came over to Zecora, looking confused. "Armor? Weapons? Is she a guard from Canterlot?"

Zecora shook her head. "A different breed of warrior is she/wait till she comes out, then you will see. Come, help me gather what I need/To cure your brother's malady."

Skyward emerged about ten minutes later, in her chainmail armor and hoofcovers, and bearing her helm in her magic aura, her sword and shield on her back. The little filly turned around upon hearing the slight jingle of Skyward's chainmail armor, and stared with her mouth open and eyes wide as saucers.

"Woooooow..."

Skyward chuckled, unable to help herself, and gently pushed Apple Bloom's mouth shut with one hoof. "Ware thee do not catch flies, little one."

Apple Bloom blushed and rubbed the back of her head with one hoof. "Heh heh, sorry. Where'd you get that armor! An' that sword! It looks ah-mazin!"

"I earned it, Apple Bloom. The shield was a gift from my father. Zecora, do ye have everything thou need?"

The zebra nodded her head, carrying saddlebags and a sturdy staff in one hoof. She locked the door behind them as they traveled through the darkening woods...Skyward lit her horn to light the way, and kept her ears cocked for any odd noises.

"So...how long have ya been here, Skyward?"

"Roughly about...five days, almost. Zecora has been very kind to share her hearth and home with me. I owe her a great debt."

Zecora smiled gently at her unicorn friend. "Friendship is all one asks/And you aid me even with the simplest of tasks."

Skyward smiled as they approached the exit to the Everfree that led to Ponyville, but upon hearing a snap of a twig she spun around, bringing her sword and shield to bear. Zecora pushed Apple Bloom behind her, watching Skyward for cues. Skyward cocked her ears, taking a deep breath of the strange air, waiting. Watching...

"...We should keep moving. Ware, however...the forest likely has eyes," Skyward muttered as she slowly backed up, mindful of her leg. It was all but healed, but it ached from time to time.

"Why doesn't she turn 'round, Zecora? It prolly was jest a bunny or somethin'," Apple Bloom asked Zecora, who looked down at her. "In the Everfree/One can never be sure you see."

"Zecora is right. It is never wise to turn your back when danger is present, Apple Bloom. Aye, it could have been just a bunny. But, if tis proven to be something else..."

But nothing showed itself as they exited the forest. However, Skyward took one more look back and spotted a pair of leering green eyes staring at them from the shadows of a huge thicket. Skyward glared and pointed her sword at it, and it faded away. She sheathed the blade and continued after the others. Apple Bloom walked ahead, while Zecora fell back a bit to let Skyward catch up.

"Skyward, is your leg troubling you? I have some pain numbing leaves you can chew."

"Tis not my leg, but I thank thee all the same. Neigh, there was something following us. Something big with green eyes. I know not what it was, however."

Zecora turned and eyed the forest behind them. "Likely a timberwolf one would think/Make an easy meal of us all in a blink."

Skyward snorted, a dangerous gleam in her eye as she glowered back at the forest. "Not whilst I am here."

They crossed through Ponyville...Skyward would have liked to see the entirety of it since she had heard so much from Zecora about it, but they had a job to do. The scent of sweet apples touched their noses when they came out of Ponyville and down the road quite a bit to Sweet Apple Acres. The smell of fresh apples on the near autumn breeze brought tears to Skyward's eyes...it reminded her acutely of home. She bit her lip harshly as she passed through the gates with Zecora, and stopped, rubbing her eyes with one hoof briefly, sniffing a little before she continued towards the huge red barn she could see in the distance. All around her were towering apple trees, laden with luscious fruit aplenty, ranging from red to gold to orange to green...

Apple Bloom had run ahead directly to the barn-house, but Zecora waited for Skyward, and put a comforting hoof on her armored shoulder.

"I know you miss home/But remember here you are not alone."

"I am grateful for thy friendship, Zecora. Truly, I wish there was something one could do to repay thy kindnesses thou hast shown me. Tis only fair."

Zecora chuckled and was about to reply, when golden lamplight flooded the barnyard and got their attention, as did the voice of a country born mare.

"Hey there! C'mon in an' make yerselves comfortable!"

Skyward removed her helm when she stepped inside after Zecora and looked around. The inside of the house had a homey, cozy feel to it, much like Lon Lon Ranch out in Hayrule Field. It looked every inch a country home--home woven rugs, pictures on the walls, a rustic, homey feel to the entirety. She inhaled, scenting apples, spices, corn and hay, and brushed away a tear, reminded so much of her own home in Fiador Village. The mare that had yelled a greeting was a orange colored earth pony with a long blond mane and tail, wearing a rancher's hat, and she had a trio of ripe apples as her cutie mark.

"Zecora, Ah cain't thank ya enough fer comin' at such short notice. Ah'm so sorry ya had t' come at this hour."

"Tis no trouble for a friend/Your brother's troubles I will mend."

"Hey, who's yer friend here?"

"This is Skyward, from a land far away. With me, she has found a place to stay."

"Well, any friend of Zecora's is a friend o' mine. Welcome ta Sweet Apple Acres! My name's Applejack. And of course ya met my sister, Apple Bloom."

Skyward bowed her head in response. "The honor is mine, Applejack. You hath a lovely home here. It almost reminds me of my own home."

"Why, thank ya kindly, Skyward. Um...what's with th' armor?"

Zecora held up a hoof, catching the earth pony's eye. "That is a tale best saved for later/Right now, your brother's troubles are far greater."

Applejack blinked at Zecora, sensing there was more to that than met the eye, and nodded slowly...this was a story clearly not meant for little ears, meaning Apple Bloom in particular. The zebra shamaness went upstairs to check on her patient, and Skyward sat on the rug in front of the stove, wincing a little as she stretched out her leg. Applejack came to join her, and blinked at the sword and shield on the other pony's back. She was a farmpony, but she could tell that those weren't toys Skyward possessed. She was curious about the newcomer, but Zecora was usually a good judge of character. Still, she wanted to see if Skyward was trustworthy or not. She had a pretty odd accent and the way she spoke....almost like how Princess Luna would speak...archaic in nature.

"So...what's your home like, Skyward? Ya said it was like mine?"

"Aye, but we live in a hollowed out tree. Yours is much nicer."

"Ya live in a tree? Like Twilight does?"

Skyward cocked her head at the earth pony, not recognizing the name and wondering if this too was a markless pony considering Applejack had only said part of a name. Then again, the pony in front of her had her mark and had only one name herself....odd to be sure.

"Twilight?"

"Oh yeah, yer new to Ponyville, right? How long d'ya plan on stayin'?"

"...As long as Zecora will allow it. I am a guest in her dwelling, after all."

Applejack regarded the unicorn closely. Skyward clearly had some muscle on her...not a lot, but some to show she was a hard worker for sure. Or was that because of training? She didn't carry that beautiful looking sword and that heavy shield for looks. Well, she'd get the whole story once Apple Bloom was in bed.

"What ails thy brother? Is he well?"

"Ah wish Ah could say he was. He stayed out in th' rain like th' stubborn mule he can be an' sure as sugar he got sick."

"....I pray thy brother does not have chillcore. That sickness claimed my mother when I was four seasons old."

"Ah'm right sorry to hear it, Skyward. But whut's chillcore?"

"Chillcore is a sickness that afflicts the lungs. Ye cough and wheeze, struggle for breath as if thee were drowning. Eventually, ye begin to cough and spit up blood, and eventually, the afflicted dies. If caught early, it can be healed. If late..."

Skyward's ears drooped and she looked pensively into the fire, and Applejack put a hoof on her armored shoulder. "Ah'm sorry, Skyward. Ya miss her, don'cha?"

"Aye. Every day. I wish she was here now."

"Well, what ya described sounds pretty bad. I hope Big Macintosh don' have it. He's been coughing up a storm ever since last night."

"That is usually how it begins..."

"Fear not, his sickness is not that severe. A few days of bedrest, and he will be in the clear."

Both mares looked up to see Zecora coming down the stairs. She approached Applejack and held out a medium sized jar. "Make sure he takes this, morning, noon and night. Three days of this, and he will be all right."

"Thank ya kindly, Zecora. Why don' ya'll stay th' night, it's late as it is. Speakin' a'which: Apple Bloom, its bedtime!"

"Awww, sis! I wanted to get t' know Miz Skyward better."

"She'll be here in th' mornin', don't ya fret. Now off to bed with ya, missy."

Skyward hid a chuckle...oh she remembered well being that age and being told to go to bed. Apple Bloom waved at them before she trotted upstairs...hearing a door close, Applejack turned to the other two and cocked her head.

"So whut's the big secret, Zecora? Ah'm guessin' it has a lot to do with ya, Skyward."

"It does, Applejack."

"From another land entire does Skyward hail/Yet how she arrived here, now THAT is truly a tale. Her shield, her armor, her sword you see/Her home is much like the Everfree. When she told me her story, I could scarce believe/But she is honest, to honor she does cleave."

Skyward removed her shield from her back and turned it around to show Applejack, who trailed a hoof over the strong metalwork, gazing at the three golden triangles and the crimson alicorn on the azure field. "Zecora, if Ah didn' know ya as well as Ah do, I'd say ya went plumb loco...but...yer tellin' the honest truth, aren't ya?"

Both mares nodded their heads, and Applejack pushed back her hat, looking at Skyward, who regarded her with a calm expression. "So...where are ya from, Skyward?"

Skyward lit her horn, and the farmhouse decor and furnishings faded away to reveal clouds...lots of white, fluffy clouds. It almost felt as if they were flying, descending through the clouds as quickly as they were.

"I come from a land called Hayrule. Here, things are vastly different, as thou can see..."

The clouds parted, showing rolling green hills that stretched as far as the eye could see. There were smatterings of tree stands here and there, and rock outcroppings. The center of the field held a massive white and slate blue castle, surrounded by a gigantic white stone wall, a bustling town could be seen within the walls confines. Going closer revealed grand manses in one sector, a busy market in another, a large park in yet another area, foals playing and prancing about in the soft grasses, their parents watching them closely. Blue clear rivers cut through the huge field...to the west, lay a great canyon that led to a widespread desert. To the north was a huge mountain range, with a great volcano at its peak. To the east was the source of the rivers that flowed through the field, a great waterfall and a spring within the walls of the cliffside it fell from. To the south was a massive forest, lush and green with life and fertility, and they began zeroing in on it.

"My home is here, in Shadowleaf Forest. This is the village of Fiador, where I was born and raised."

Skyward continued her story, showing her village and her ways of life. The training she endured, how she was accepted as Zelda's protege. She even showed who the enemy was, Ganondorf's cruel visage smirking in a sinister manner as a translucent image of Hayrule consumed in flames appeared behind him. She displayed the terrible war they had been fighting, the battle with the two nags she had been in, and how her banishment had gone. By the time she was finished telling her tale, Applejack was positively floored.

"Well stick an apple in mah mouth an' roast mah rump. Yer really not from aroun' here."

Zecora nodded her head at Applejack, her mien somber. "Return to her land she most desires/To stop a spark before it becomes a raging fire."

"I saw 'im...th' one ya called Ganondorf. He's th' reason yer all worked up in a tizzy, right?"

"Tis' putting it lightly, Applejack. He is the whole reason why Hayrule is in turmoil. He has been trying to take Princess Zelda's lands and her throne for years--yet my Princess feared he desired the keys to the Sacred Realm all the more so. And I fear he may have succeeded, especially after what those damned nags did to me..."

The farmpony scratched her head, regarding the Haylian mare. "Seems t' me ya may want to talk to Twilight. If anypony would know about this, it would be her. Or Princess Celestia, even."

"But one does not simply approach a princess..."

Applejack laughed, giving her a wicked grin. "Ya sure 'bout that? Seems t' me ya put one over those guards pretty good!"

Skyward smirked impishly. "Tis' not my fault if they are incapable of looking behind them. Golden Marble learned that in the last exercise we had."

"Golden Marble?"

Skyward conjured an image of the earth guardspony, and Applejack raised an eyebrow. The stallion in question was well muscled, and quite good looking too. He had an easygoing, joking manner about him. "Hoo-wee. That stallion's almost as big as mah brother!"

"Golden Marble earned his name and his mark for bucking a piece of white marble clean in half in the Strength of Din competition ten years ago."

"So...ya haven't earned yer mark yet, so by Haylian customs, yer name isn't completed?"

"Aye, tis is the way of it. I wonder if I will ever find mine..."

Zecora put a hoof on Skyward's back, giving the Haylian unicorn a comforting smile. "You will find your mark, never fear. Perhaps you will find your destiny here."

The cuckoo clock suddenly began to chirp, and Applejack looked up, blinking. "Whoo, look at th' time! Sure flies when yer havin' fun. C'mon, I'll show ya to the guest rooms."

Applejack led them up the stairs and showed them to two rustic but cozy looking guest rooms--apple themed wall paper, maple desk, chair and bed frame, and the chest of drawers and framed mirror were also made of maple. The beds looked so soft and comfortable--soft looking linen sheets covered by an apple red comforter with big fluffy pillows with hoofsewn cases and shams, each with a big red apple in the center.

"Ah'm gonna head off t' bed mahself after Ah check on Big Mac. See ya both in th' morning!"

Once she was alone, Skyward removed her armor, helm, and hoofcovers, placing her shield close by and keeping the sword close within hoof's reach. She curled up in the bed, looking up at the darkened ceiling for a long time, before she finally drifted off to sleep.