(Everfree Forest, Zecora’s hut, nine hundred and ninety second Celestial year, thirty second day of fall.)

“Mshauri Zecora. I finally managed to obtain some salamander oil, I’m finally ready to make the seers brew?” Spoke a lavender filly as she entered a small hut in the middle of the frozen and lifeless forest, as it would seem to the untrained eye. ‘I can’t believe it has already been two months since I started training, now it’s almost complete.’ A tear fell from her eye as she perused over her training in the arts of potion making. ‘After this I’ll be able to move on to the higher studies maybe even…’ She gasped internally. ‘Maybe even learn the ancient ritual of dream walking, and shadow sight. Huh, where’s Zecora?’ She looked around the hut her eyes piercing the darkness as if to see the shadows within. “Mshauri? … Hmm … I wonder where she could’ve gone.” She wondered aloud. ‘Well no sense in wasting time I might as well get these materials stored before they decay. Hopefully when she gets back I can finish my final potion.’ She thought giddily as she went to complete her task cleaning and filling the glass containers designed to contain the vile burning substance she had gathered from the lizards, she then stored them on the shelf where the rest of the substances she had gathered for the potion rested. Having finished her task she looked outside and noticed that it was still midday. ‘Plenty of time.’ She decided before trotting over to the fire pit in the center of the hovel and using her magic to place a teakettle on the rack to warm up, then laid next to the fire to relax and watch the flames as they licked the sides of the water filled container.

Just as the teakettle began whistling in completion the door to the hut opened, allowing a zebra entrance to the hovel. “Is that Tea, my eyes perceive?” The zebra nodded towards the kettle on the fire pit. Twilight deciding a verbal response wasn’t needed just looked over at the zebra and nodded yes. “It would be nice to have some spice. I see you have returned, what you seek have you earned?” Twilight nodded again and gestured with her ear and tail towards the book shelf. The middle row containing a mottled assortment of ingredients each being a vital requirement in the seers brew, on the farthest right corner was a small glass vial containing small shavings from a lavender unicorn horn. The zebra shaman remembered how painful it was for the unicorn when they had to retrieve that particular ingredient. ‘quick she is to learn these lessons, she has indeed learned her place in these matters but has also learned my potion skills fast. Now it is time to test and see whether she is worthy of the greater lessons. Though only zebra can be shaman by ability she is quite close.’ Flicking the thoughts away with the twitch of an ear she quickly trotted over to her student who was readily holding out the cup of jasmine thyme tea with a small dash of honey suckle to add sweetness to the fluid ambrosia, as Zecora found out when she tried the substance her student had hoofed her.

They sat there together for a few minutes not making a sound finally Twilight turned her eyes to Zecora and spoke. “I have accomplished my assignment and have found the ingredients now I understand the examination can begin now but I would rather wait for the dusk before beginning, is that ok?” she spoke calmly her quizzical eyes not once straying from the shamans.

Zecora nodded. “I see so you wish to wait, till sister bodies bait, the dusk of day and the dawn of night, so the potion is at its highest might.” The zebra nodded again, and then lay down next to the lavender foal nestled near the fire pit. “Let us train then, your magic we shall begin.” The zebra smiled at the lavender filly’s unease knowing full well what a sore point magic was to the filly however over the past few weeks the zebra had been able to convince the filly to use her natural gifts a little more often, at first the filly wouldn’t even light her horn to lift objects with her telekinesis. Zecora then decided to take matters into her own hands and decided to combine minor magic lessons with her lessons in the art of alchemy sometimes requesting the foal to use her magic to place an otherwise irretrievable ingredient into the specially designed container to hold it, other times it would be during their brief visits to the Zaurask swamp villages asking her to use her telekinesis to hold a few objects or cast a few simple spells to fix pathways deteriorated over time, sometimes to even carry her packs so she could enter the forest to gather medicinal herbs, and tea leaves.

The unicorn sighed having agreed after a few weeks arguing about the subject she realized that magic was as much a part of her as the zebra’s natural ability with potions, she sighed again attaining inner peace after accepting what happened in Canterlot, her thoughts becoming clear and her mind at ease under the careful guidance of the shaman. “Alright Mshauri I am ready what should we try first.”

Zecora smiled, her apprentice having attained solace from her troubles under her masters careful guidance over the previous two weeks, she noticed the unicorn having almost no hesitance in using her magic, calling upon her inner abilities, and allowing her power to flow. Slowly but surely her young student became better and more accepting of her magic. “I taught you well, on the past we do not dwell. The future we seek, with rushing beat. Your first challenge is certain, light the candles in the circle.”

Twilight quickly illuminates her horn and calls a small spark of energy to the tip forming a soft yellowish red flame, then she pushes it forward to the center of the sphere, immediately separating it into several spheres of smaller flame which then she disburses upon each candle at exactly the same moment, lighting all of the candles respectively, she then wills the candles to burn towards a foci above the central candle. All this done as the zebra shaman observes carefully watching the unicorn for any hesitance or delay and is pleased by the accuracy and dedication the foal put towards her work.

“You have done well, my pupil. Now you must connect the embers, with water.” Continues the zebra having seen the task completed many times before she watched as the lavender unicorn carefully condensed the moisture in the air into a fluid which then she attached carefully with the flames and connected at the central foci of the warm energies Twilight then knowing the next phase of the spell summoned forth dust from the floor and formed it into a solid rock which she then melted around the burning liquid and condensed into a clear glass, the unicorn not even struggling as she accomplished a task that would have unicorns of Starsworl’s caliber straining at the edges of their abilities.

‘O joy now comes the final part.’ Snarked Twilight as she pulled in and orb of air and summoned two other orbs one of light and one of shadow, she then slowly entered the first orb into the reaction between the fire, water, and earth. Adding air to the mix she quickly pulled all four elements towards the focal point above the central candle effectively snuffing all the candles in an instant, she gazed contemptuously towards all three of the orbs and reminisced over the last few times she had tried to accomplish this specific part. ‘If it isn’t the shadow it’s the light and vise versa, why is this part so difficult!? Well nothing gained if nothing tried, right? Right!’ she looked towards her mentor who nodded calmly for her to begin the final phase of the spell. Twilight sighed and then cautiously looked between the orbs floating within her magenta aura then her gaze came upon the urn of salamander oil she had obtained just the day before, immediately it dawned upon her. ‘No wonder I couldn’t do it! Wow there’s still so much to learn. How could I be so dense… It seems so simple now that I think about it rather than one orb at a time both at the same time, but how?.. Ok I think I have it.’ Twilight softly began siphoning the orb of light and the orb of shadow into each other, the reaction was immediate, and the orb in between them being formed acted as a sort of null space where light and shadow do not exist it was to the point where she could see nothing except the trails of energy tapering into the space and the subtle ripple in the air telling of the existence of an object unable to be seen by the naked eye.

The orbs of light and dark now depleted into the orb of null, she quickly tethered a connection between the orb and the elemental sphere she had created earlier and slowly started siphoning the power from the orb of null. The results immediately became noticeable when the sphere began to fluctuate becoming brighter and darker at random intervals then as she neared the end of draining the null orb into the elemental base sphere, it began to shimmer and flicker in random colors eventually becoming stable as the last of the null orb was drained into the elemental sphere. As the remaining energy from the orb of null finished flooding into it, the sphere sparked and flashed instantly and started floating on its own, Twilight slowly let it go as it proved to remain stable and lacked any hint of deterioration she looked between it and her mentor a grin spreading on her lips as she realized what she had just finished. “Yes, yes, yes. Mshauri did you see that? I finished it I can’t believe it what next Zecora what’s the next step?” Twilight energetically hopped around overjoyed by her success, not a care in the world that is until the shaman spoke.

“For your success, congratulations I must suppress, for the next step, is sadly a guess.” Zecora continued quickly as Twilight instantly sobered at the serious tone in the shaman’s voice, and calmed down taking a seat. “Your soul you must partake, and piece some into that which you have made.” Twilight complied by summoning forth from herself a shimmering white substance without difficulty, which she then slowly siphoned into the shining rainbow colored sphere, gently floating above the floor, softly turning on a vertical axis.

Without warning the orb fanned outward spreading as if on a flat horizontal surface and spun faster then immediately as it spread over Twilight, it instantly curved over her but rather than touching her it began encircling her like a pet its body formless yet with a form. ‘Like a donut.’ She thought, immediately the elemental miasma formed into a cylinder which then encircled around her and attached both ends forming into a loop slowly gyrating around her. Twilight looked to her mentor.“What is this?” She asked, pointing at the strange substance with a hoof, its glowing surface pulling away from the probing appendage.

“That young student is a staff, learned its creation from the Zaurask.” Zecora leaned forward and studied the miasma closely. “It is a strange creature created from the elements and given sentience through the users soul. Think of it as a Physical extension of your will a representation of your magic through ritual. Today you have finished a spell that if you succeed in creating your potion in you can begin your training in the arts that I have learned, however theses are not abilities you learn from me, but the Zaurask you must search for your mastery.”

“Wait what!!!?” Twilight exclaimed. “let me get this straight. You mean to say you learned all of your special powers from the Zaurask?” the zebra nodded calmly looking straight into twilights violet eyes. “OK then what’s your plan once I finish learning potions with you? Am I still going to be your student?” Twilight asked hopefully.

The striped shaman chuckled before she spoke “Dear Twilight your fears be set to rest, Your mentor I shall remain. Though you learn under a separate teacher, my knowledge you shall gain, our connection strong it shall remain. Seek my knowledge when you need it. Now for the test , shall we do the rest?” inquired the bequeathed shaman.

Twilight looked at her mentor and nodded her thanks. “OK then I gue… Wait it’s that time already?!!” Zecora nodded towards the unicorn. Twilight quickly pulled the blinds on the window to the side with her magic and looked outside to see the bits of sky she could see through the Everfree canopy tinged red with the setting sun. she didn’t even notice the physical miasma mimicking her movements. “Per Cinerim.” She swore under her breath, gulped then continued. “Alright the first part of the brew involves a petal of moonflower ground into dust, some of the poison from the spike beasts, along with ground manticore’s stinger, mixed in wyvern venom paste.” She spoke her monologue as she completed the tasks grabbing the required materials from the shelf and mixing them into a small bowl.

Zecora nodded. “you are doing quite well, what is the next task pray-tell?” the zebra spoke encouragingly to the unicorn.

Twilight smiled calmly remembering carefully the next steps in the potions process.“Next is to make a separate mixture of magic imbued serpent scale, mixed with corrosive basilisk saliva and salamander oil.” The lavender filly looked between the two mixtures, one glows a soft swirling white, the other a bubbling dark magenta. She then looked at the shelf with the remaining two ingredients remembering how difficult it was to retrieve just the first one let alone the other but somehow she managed to find them both luckily within the same month. The first object was a bright cream white crystal it glowed brightly like the sun, the second was a pure milky white stone its surface completely smooth and unblemished it glowed a soft white next to its fiery counterpart. She took the two mixtures and mixed them into the cauldron. The concoction was still bubbling, even without a flame from underneath, the lavender filly slowly brought the crystal and stone over to herself. “Final phase, hold the sun crystal above the mixture while rotating the moonstone around the edge of the concoction, as the sun sets the moonstone should be mixed into the solution alongside the sun crystal at the same time.”

The sun had reached the edge of the sky and began to cross beyond vision as the moon began rising, at that exact time of twilight, the lavender mare swirled the crystals into the mixture the effects were instant the potion immediately began bursting forth a thick fog out onto the floor, its essence ever shifting in random images never staying one image long enough to be discerned by the lavender mare. After a few minutes the entire hut was filled with the inert gas covering the occupants but leaving them unscathed. Twilight watched as the images played randomly her eyes opening wide in wonderment and jumped in surprise when Zecora spoke from the other side of the mist. “Congratulations you have mastered a craft that few have succeeded in. As your final potion I shall read to you this prophecy accrued by the brew.”

After a couple seconds Twilight heard a crashing sound from the other side of the hut. She took a step forward and asked. “Mshauri?”

The ethereal mist began to clear after a few minutes and the sight Twilight received was disconcerting to say the least. She spotted her mentor underneath a pot fallen from the shelf above her, just as she was about to say something the zebra stirred. She groaned a little as she got back up. “Something must be amiss, for the portents they do resist. Your future is clouded and unclear, unknown whether it’s here or there.” The zebra sighed. “The portents gave me quite a fright that was quite a sight.” The zebra finally standing on steady legs walked over to one of the gilded mason jars and pulled out a glowing cream white flower its pedals curling out from a rosy peach core. She then walked over to Twilight and layed the glowing flora before her. She took a short walk over to her old trunk and opened it to pull forth three more items which she hoofed over to Twilight, and was about to thank the zebra before the shaman continued. “I have taught you all I can, this gear you will have, as remembrance of your path, journymare Wisp.”

Twilight gasped at the upgraded title the ‘staff’ swirling midair expressing her emotions embarrassingly. “Thank you Mshauri I will not forget this. O and its ok that you weren’t able to use the potion I kind of want to let the future play out and surprise me.” The shaman nodded acceptance of the filly’s wishes, her eyes widened a little knowing the wisdom it takes to not wish to know the future before it happens. The lavender filly examined the four gifts respectively, a wyvern hide cloak, hydra scale saddle bags, and a new willow wood journal bound in wyvern hide, the final item the flower. ‘What is it?’ She quirks her head at the final item wonderingly. “Mshauri what is this?” she picks up the flower with her magic to present it the ‘staff’ forming into a question mark above her.

Zecora looks up at the flower and smiles knowingly and speaks to the filly. “That my young pupil is the Anasgiah, or life shield as it is known. It is a rare flower that grows within the eastern wilds. The Zaurask were kind enough to gift it to me from the stock they retrieved. I feel it is time to pass it on, hopefully you will have no need.” The zebra smiled at the unicorn’s dumbfounded look the ‘staff’ gently floating above the unicorn, occasionally jumping in an expression of the unicorns feelings.

Twilight sputtered. “Wait Anasgiah?” She shook her head again and looked at her mentor. “You mean the Anasgiah, as in the flower of life, one of the rarest plants in or near Equestria?” all the zebra could do was nod. “Oh my gosh. Thank you, in my travels I hope I will not have to use it. Thank you again Mshauri Zecora for the traveling gear. I will do my best to keep them safe.” Twilight bowed her head to the zebra in thanks and reverence then placed the precious flower into a glass container in her saddlebags. “I’m ready to go if you so wish.” Twilight spoke the ‘staff’ above her head spinning erratically in excited circles.

Zecora chuckled seeing her students carefully controlled emotions blatantly playing out above the oblivious mares head. She quickly composed herself before speaking. “As journeyer I suggest your first destination be Tal’I’neck.” Twilight’s ears perked at the name of the village as the zebra continued. “There you will learn magic and skills to assist in your progression, they can also help you control your ‘staff’.” Only then did Twilight look up and notice the gyrating motion of the ethereal mass and immediately pouted at it realizing that the creature was showing off her emotions and copying her actions.

“Really?!” Exclaimed the lavender filly, Zecora just chuckled at Twilights predicament. “Zecora it going to be like that the entire way to the Tal’I’neck?” The foal complained to her mentor as the globules mass spiked in the lavender filly’s agitation glowing in soft blues and oranges. The zebra only nodded conformation to the filly’s increasing annoyance. “Ughh… Fine I’ll deal with YOU…” she spoke pointedly glaring at the ‘staff’ above her. “Later, alright Mshauri everything’s together and ready for the journey, I guess this is good by… for now.” She opened the mahogany entrance to the hut and exited out into the forest her phantom miasma companion following through as she leaves.

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Zecora closed the door soon after her student’s departure ‘Alone. Not as I would’ve expected it to be. Hopefully when she returns from her journeying amongst the Zaurask she will know her path.’ The elder zebra sighed calmly gazing upon the door as if expecting the young encourage able filly to return immediately. “I shall see thee when you return may your journey be enlightening and swift young child.” With those words of hopeful wisdom she turned in for the night as her young journeyer began her trials amongst the Zaurask, her companion a ‘Mage Staff’ floating alongside its master as both guardian and shadow.

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“Ok, let’s see here its currently night and Zecora’s hut is north east of here so looking at this map the village of Tal’I’neck should be at least a two days of direct travel west of here.” She spoke quietly to herself as she walked along the forest floor as she studied a map of the Everfree she had copied during one of her visits to the Zaurask with Zecora. “From the looks of the area I should expect to arrive there within three to seven days.” She looked around carefully at the plant matter seeing the grasping vines of the choke berry bush she knew the estimate was well founded as she continued west towards her destination. She gazed at the scenery along her path gathering herbal ingredients for both food and tea, living off the forest as she continued her ingredients being both a traveling snack and a meal for morning. Having lived in the forest for a few months she had realized how beautiful it was and how to fully appreciate its dangers and mysteries. ‘I’m surprised, when I first entered this forest I was scared and almost died at the paws of one of the manticores, friendly sort they are. I guess I have changed alot since then.’ She reminisced with a smile as she passed a cave tree similar to the one she slept in her first night past the borders of the Everfree.

She looked at the base of the tree for half a second, long enough to see markings telling that the tree was occupied by both a spike runner and a girmal, she decided better than last time and continued trotting through the brush and around trees her woods pony ship honed by both trial and error as she practiced alongside her master, allowing her to see dangers long before they become a problem.

Nearing dawn she watched as the forest brightened from deep shades of blue and brightened into tinges of lavender, magenta, violet, cyan, and rouge. Seeing the creatures of day waking from slumber and happily greeting the pony passing by, the lavender filly decided to take a small rest before she continued grabbing several chamomile leaves, a hoof full of lichen berries, and a blood briar rose, then nestling herself within folds between a tree’s roots, she boiled the former into tea and mixed the latter two into a small container. She sipped the chamomile tea as she watched the contents of the small container turn a bright blue as the rose diffused into the berry juice her mind clear now from the tea she took the mixture and drank it taking care not to swallow any of the pulp. Almost immediately she felt her energy reserves return however she decided to rest in the crook of the tree and watch as the sun finished its assent and happily stared at the small creatures before her watching as they frolicked in the light, a pair of girmals with their white coats and sharp fangs hopped up to her, curiously looking at her and her ‘guardian’ with their strange rabbit like eyes, then they hopped off to investigate another item of interest before their next meal.

Twilight deciding she had rested enough stood up popping a lichen berry in her mouth and continued along her way watching as the forest slowly transformed into a swamp the creatures impressed her as each new encounter was as unique and interesting as the last. She looked upon the waters and the paths seeing the quick sand and the tell tale signs of water hunters and walked around the said dangers preferring the safe paths to the faster more risky advances a more rash less humble personality would take. She looked at the bog plant life and watched as the creatures lived their lives within the swampy depths of the Southwestern Everfree. She studied the plants noticing many that she could use to produce remedies for both the flue and the cold. She watched with joy as the forest continued to surprise her with each new encounter she ate her lunch of lichen berries and wild blackberries she came across while walking around a small patch of quicksand.

It was getting dark almost night when she came across a peculiar sight her curiosity piqued she stopped and looked at the ruins of an ancient structure the foundation still holding up four walls almost completely intact save the northern wall which looked as if it had sustained damage from a large projectile. She stared inside the gaping hole In the wall seeing the inner damage through the shadows and spotting a large round stone which she suspected was the main cause of the damage within the tower. She looked deeper within the shadows noticing minor signs of the occasional inhabitants of the abandoned construct. She decided after a few minutes of investigation that it was safe to enter, and decided to walk in through the shattered opening rather than chance the front aperture being trapped. As she entered she saw signs of combat and battle a broken shaft here and there a rusted axe embedded in the wall above the skeletal remains of a long dead pony with its head clear on the other side of the door with a small black stain on the ground in between, telling the story of a gruesome but quick death.

As she passed through the portal further into the ruin she saw even more signed of battle from a small circle of mangled skeletal remains to the moss covered remnants of pony shaped scorch marks on the walls, her demeanor calm having seen such ruins before from her visits to the Zaurask and occasional adventures into the ruins with her mentor to gather potion ingredients such as filed unicorn horn and Pegasus feathers. She grew used to the ruins after a few visits realizing that there really was nothing to fear from the deceased, as long as she paid her respects to the past and forgotten.

She looked upon the bodies and noticed that all the Pegasus feathers had rotted long ago due to the moist air within the swamp land however there were a few unicorn skeletons perfectly preserved over the past thousand years or so. She realized she wouldn’t get much of an opportunity like this again along her trip and stay with the Zaurask she pulled out a sharpened blade from her pack only to find the swirling miasma that followed her had already completed the task the was about to set herself to and held all three of the unicorn horns before her. “Thank you.” She spoke quickly to the entity as she grasped the horns with her telekinesis and placed the fragile objects within her saddlebags. The swirling miasma that followed her did a quick victory spin having been recognized by its creator and then set to watching its master again in hopes that it could accomplish another task for her. Twilight looked upon the floor and towards the quickly darkening sky ‘I guess I should call it a day, the energy poultice won’t last forever, and I don’t know when i’ll come across any other Vampiric Rose bushes.’

with a nod of confirmation to herself she set to work quickly having already checked the ruin for living inhabitants she set about with a wind spell clearing the skeletal remains sending them to the outer edges of the second room as she quickly set up a small canvas tent on one of the walls, using her traveling cloak as a makeshift mat to keep off the cold stone floor, laying her saddlebags to the side within the tent. She stepped out of the tent and cast a few detection wards in case of intrusion within the abandoned building besides her and her creation, then went back inside to rest for the night.

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“Ughh... Morning already?” Twilight complained as she dragged herself grogley out of the makeshift tent with her saddlebags in hoof. she opened the side pocket of one of her bags and quickly perused through its contents, decisively pulling out a few ingredients for breakfast. “Well at least i have the makings for an omelet.” she murmured silently to herself as she summoned a small magical fire to simmer the eggs over as she drowsily woke up, she looked up to see the swirling miasma as it slowly bobbed above her.

She glowered at it “Do you have to be so visible all the time?” She asked the swirling mass not expecting it to answer, instead the miasma started forming itself over and changing color to match her traveling cloak, leaving Twilight confused as it finished blending in to the pattern of the cloak perfectly camouflaging itself. “well that was unexpected.” She spoke softly before shaking her head to remove the distraction, as she packed her gear back into the saddle bags, she looked over the room one more time before heading to the main entrance disabling her detection wards with but a thought pulling the mental strings that held them woven together.

The lavender filly gazed upon the bodies of both the would be attackers and the pitiful defenders. sighing in contempt at the complete wast of life that war brings. her own mind bringing her back to the day in canterlot only a few months ago, and her recent accomplishment in overcoming that particular mental obstacle, in her path to enlightenment. she looked into the eye sockets of the guard pony still wielding a spear even in death attempting to defend the dilapidated ruin his remains dwell within.

Twilight smiled as she stepped out through the main entrance into the bright day side of the everfree her cloak shimmering in the light while covering her saddlebags. he birds in the air chirping a merry tune, she smiled even more brightly as she noticed the foliage she had ignored in favor of watching her entrance to the building, she gazed upon three bushes of wild blackberries which she quickly packed a few servings into her saddle bags for later as she crossed through the swamp. she looked upon the waters watching for anything suspicious, she gazed upon the foliage seeing hints of recent travel then with the routs firmly ground out she quickly consulted her map to see which path she would take. Finding a suitable path she quickly traversed across the water logged ground over to a somewhat fresh patch of blood weed, its signature crimson shafts standing out in the murky atmosphere of the surrounding wetlands. The weed started bending at her approach its spear-like tips preparing to strike, Twilight quickly glanced upon the stalks and noticed a few ripe seeds which she picked with her magic as she sidled around the plant, the immediate area around it being safe from underfoot dangers.

Besides the rare Blood Weed she found the rest of her journey on the third day uneventful as she reached the edges of Zaurask tamed territory the immediate area around her, having been cleaned of the usual dangers to the unwary, and the creatures calmer to the point of coming down to curiously watch the strange purple Unicorn, as she traverses deeper into their part of the Everfree. ‘I’m near.’ Twilight mused silently, noticing the change in the small creatures behaviour towards her presence. after an hour or so of traveling she noticed further signs of Zaurask presence, plants harvested that would otherwise have been ignored, sigils and runes carved into the trees, and finally a stone pylon inscribed with wards and words of wisdom. Trotting up to it she noticed that was nearly covered in an ancient moss, its image marred by years of abuse however its images remained visible as the day they were chiseled into the ancient stone.

Twilight carefully spoke out one of the ancient runes to herself silently, having barely grasped the Zaurask pictograph system she read the sentence carefully. “Tal’I’nek... ,and a sundial its shadow permanently pointing at three o'clock?... OH i get it three o'clock is not a time but a direction hmm?... maybe if i inscribe it into the ground the point facing north... ok now the shadow? Ok so Tal’I’nek is north east of here. and by the look of the shadow,” Twilight snuck a glance at the small shadow of the original pictograph. “It’s two miles north east if I’m right about the rings in the image.” she looked in the direction the impromptu compass was pointing and noticed it led into one of the many bogs within the wetlands. ‘I think i’ll go around.’

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After making it round the pond as she realized later on when she slipped into the murky waters, Twilight began heading through the foliage again only to make three steps before a voice intruded from the shadows. “So it seems the young hatchling has left the nest, I’m impressed, thought it would have taken, months to break out of the shell, surrounded as you were.” The shadows hissed mockingly as she paused.

Twilight smiled knowing the originator of the voice. “I see you’ve done well since we last met monitor Azon.” The lavender filly replied with a soft laugh. “My master Zecora has decided my formal training with her is complete and I have reached journey status, I also see you have left Fledgling status how’d you manage that?” Twilight Queried, as the Zaurask watcher slowly pulled herself out of the brush and into Twilights view.

“Twas a simple matter journier Phléasc, I was able to impress Kaya Zree when I proved my sharp eyes and skills with a bow during the hunt. They accepted I was ready to move on, apologies for making this short, I am still on watch, hopeful that you find what you’re seeking. Continue following the trail to Tal’I’nek, if Silvina greets, tell her ‘Chiral roots have regenerated’.” He finished before quietly disappearing back into the underbrush.

“By Azon, be ever watchful.” The lavender unicorn spoke as her friend blended back in with the shadows, and then continued trotting along the path seeing the cairn markings covered in years of algae and moss growth guiding her path as she traveled the rest of the way to the Village of dreamers. After a few more hours of walking she noticed the carns and the path becoming more regular and clear eventually within the mist a shadow formed off a slow dip in the shadows, as she came upon a wooden construct, its wooden supports holding ancient lengths of oak above the semi motionless bog beneath. as she reached the structure she looked upon one of the wooden supports and read the inscription. Tal’I’nek, (Knowledge through Dreams.) she had arrived.