The following morning started off much as the last two had. Swift and I had breakfast in the dining hall with Spike, although Twilight was there for a brief moment to scarf down some eggs and toast before disappearing again. When asked, Spike simply stated that the purple princess had been doing her best to study up on combat spells and other such things in preparation for the worst.

“Not like anything will happen around here we can’t handle,” he had said nonchalantly as he cleared our places, “Twilight and the others have been through the worst stuff possible and come out fine. I’m sure they can get through whatever this new threat is without any trouble.”

Swift and I had shared a knowing look as the dragon had left, knowing full well that this time, Twilight and her friends might not be strong enough to carry the day.

Swift had departed soon after, leaving me on my own with nothing to do as I wandered through the halls of the castle. I debated about grabbing some of my stuff from Twilight’s lab and doing something fun, but quickly discarded the idea. I was certain Twilight’s friends were just as busy preparing for the inevitable showdown with the necromancers as Twilight was, meaning they wouldn’t have any time to do anything with me.

It was at times like these that I felt next to useless, given the only prep I could do at the moment was strengthen my aura and practice my control for the more powerful skills in the book. This left me with no real goal other than to do as I pleased for the foreseeable future. And yet, as I walked past one of the many windows of the castle, my eyes were drawn out and towards the dark forest that lay behind the castle. Twilight hadn't said much about the land behind her home, other than it was filled with monsters and other dangerous things, and I was suddenly very curious as to why no one bothered to explore. It certainly looked mysterious enough to have a hidden treasure or two if one looked hard enough.

My mind set and my resolve clear, I turned back the way I had come and stopped at the armory for my sword. Mysterious forest or not, I wasn’t going to take any chances when I knew the zombies had been spotted walking in the direction of that very same forest not too long ago. I clipped my blade to my belt and exited the castle, walking around the base of the structure until I was facing the shadows of the forest.

I took a steadying breath before walking forward and into the unknown, feeling a chill run up my spine as the heat of the sun was blocked by the thick canopy. The trail I was walking on was well-trodden and wide enough for two people if they walked abreast, yet it wasn’t straight like one would expect of a man, er, pony-made trail. It wandered from left to right and even doubled back on itself several times to go around thicker vegetation. This led me to believe that this was a game trail, which meant I might run into wildlife if I was quiet and careful.

Further and further I walked, taking into account of the fact that I could no longer see the sun through the thick branches above me. Yet I wasn’t worried, given I had a reliable timepiece in my pocket with a full battery charge. It would be my guide when it came to keeping time.

As I made my way through the forest I was captivated by its wild and rustic beauty, so different from the ordered and tended flora I had seen within the pony civilization. In a way it reminded me of the forest back on Earth, where things grew according to their own design and whim. I stopped as I spied a patch of wildflowers off the left side of the trail, their bright blue coloration a stark contrast to the darker greens and browns of the surrounding plant life. I was tempted to pick one for Twilight as a gift, but decided against it. By the time I got back to the village it would have probably wilted, so I decided to pick one on the way back. It wasn’t like the field was going anywhere in any case.

Continuing on down the trail, I began to hear the sounds of water, along with the soft sound of someone singing. Curious as to who would be out here, I followed the noise until I came upon a clearing. Before me was a small waterfall that cascaded into a pool roughly the size of a basketball court. The water fell upon two massive rocks that jutted up from the pool, but otherwise the surface was unmarred by any visible obstructions. I looked left, seeing another patch of those blue flowers along the northern side of the pond, only for my attention to be drawn right by the soft singing I had heard earlier.

My gaze fell upon a figure wearing a grey cloak, her body covered from head to tail by the dull fabric. I could tell now it was a her by the tone of her voice, and I noticed the grey horn poking out from under her hood a she continued her humming. This meant that the figure was most likely a unicorn, and with the memory of the zombies fresh in my mind, I gripped the hilt of my sword and drew the blade.

The hiss of metal on fake leather must have been loud enough for the figure to hear, because she stopped her singing and chuckled softly, “You have no reason to fear me, young warrior. I am no threat to you.”

Taking a careful step to the side, keeping my blade at the ready, I replied, “And how do I know that you aren’t one of those necromancers summoning the undead to this forest?”

The mare chuckled, “Because I am a keeper of the faith, strange one.” She turned towards me and flipped back her hood revealing a set of lime green eyes and a straight white mane, “I guard the night with the blessing of Princess Luna and care for the innocent of this land with prayer.”

Still slightly wary, I took another step forward, making sure I had a clear line of action of I needed to attack or retreat, “Really, I didn’t know Princess Luna had a religious following. Care to tell me more?”

The mare nodded, “As you wish. My sect was created not long before Her Highness was banished from our world and imprisoned in the moon, yet we carried on her work as best we could in her absence. Yet it was not enough. Without our dear mother to keep the night at bay, the darkness began to encroach upon the light, spreading the horrors and suffering of black magic throughout the land. My sisters and I fought beside Princess Celestia and her followers and did our best to help, but we were turned away. The fear of Nightmare Moon was still too fresh, so we were forced into hiding for fear of being ostracized for embracing the night like the terrors we battled.”

I slowly lowered my blade, but didn’t sheath it just yet, “So now you’ve returned, to take part in the battle for good as your people did so long ago. Why not come to the castle and proclaim yourselves followers of Princess Luna? I’m sure she would accept you with open arms, or rather, hooves.”

She shook her head, “I am afraid that is not possible. The religious faiths of old are no longer relevant to the common pony in this day and age, such has Princess Celestia acted to push aside worship of herself and her sister. I wish it could be so, but I believe that we would be turned away just as we were before, if for different reasons.”

I figured that if this mare was a threat, she would have done something by now, so I sheathed my sword and walked up to her, sitting down at her side and gazing out over the water, “So now what? Are you going to fight the coming darkness by yourself, or are there more of you?”

If she was taken aback by my form or proximity, she gave no sign of it as she too gazed over the water, “My sisters and I are few in number, but what we lack in size we make up for in strength. We carry old magics within our bloodlines, passed down through the generations that allow us to battle the darkness on even terms, even though much of our history has been lost to the sands of time.”

I glanced at her sidelong, “Are your people Auramancers?”

She smiled but shook her head, “Oh how I wish we were. To have an ability such as that would surely turn the tide in this coming war, but sadly, we must resort to using more, unsavory methods to battle the terrors of the night.”

Slightly wary now, I leaned slightly back and rested my hand on my sword hilt, “Such as?”

She glanced at my hand and smiled softly, “As I said before, you have no need to fear me. If I was one of those you seek to fight, you would not be sitting here right now without at least a dozen corpses trying to rip you apart. But, to answer your question, we do practice necromancy, if for no other reason than to fight fire with proverbial fire.”

I kept my hand ready just in case, but relaxed my stance just slightly at her words, “I’m not sure I believe you.”

She chuckled softly, “It matters not if you believe me. We do what we all must to protect the innocent of this land, even if our views on how differ from one another.” She stood slowly, stretching her back, “It was a pleasant surprise to speak with a unique being such as you. Yet I have never heard of a creature such as yourself in this world. Tell me, where do you hail from?”

I stood slowly, stretching my back before turning to face the grey mare, “I’m from a land very far away. It’s not surprising that no pony has heard of us before, we didn’t even know you existed until I was magically transported into the castle of Princess Twilight. Suffice to say I was just as surprised as she and her friends were.”

She chuckled again behind a hoof, “I imagine that would be quite the shock for all of you.” She glanced up at the sky and nodded to herself, “It is getting on in the day, we should part ways for now and return to our homes. The Everfree Forest is calm in the day, but at night the monsters come out to hunt.” She reached into her cloak and pulled out what looked like a jade neckless, “Here, wear this to ward off the creatures that lurk in the brush, it will see you safely out of the forest.”

I accepted the carved stone, noting that it was hung from a thin piece of black twine and cut into the shape of a strange glyph. I slipped it over my neck and smiled at the mare in thanks, “I appreciate the gesture. Will I ever see you again?”

She smiled, “We might cross paths in the future. Take care, and good luck in the coming battles.”

As she turned to go I held up my free hand, “Wait!”

She paused, glancing over her shoulder at me, “Yes?”

I gave her a two-finger salute, “The name’s Sarah, Captain Lovegood to my friends in the Corps.”

The mare nodded, “A pleasure to meet your acquaintance, Captain. You may call me Moon Song.”

I nodded, “Until next time then, Moon Song.”

She smiled before turning away, “Until next time.” She began humming her song again as she vanished into the undergrowth, leaving me alone in the clearing as the soft gurgle of the waterfall bubbled through the air.

I glanced up at the sky and saw that I still had a few hours left before it really started to get dark, so I simply walked through the brush instead of running. Besides, it would only make things worse if I got turned around in this forest, knowing now that there were things best avoided at night. As I made my way back to Ponyville, I came across the patch of flowers again. Thinking they might be a good gift for Twilight and Swift, I walked up to the edge of the field and reached out to pick a few.

“Beware, beware the flowers of blue,” a voice called out from my left, “they have been the bane of more than a few.”

I turned and saw what had to be the most bizarre thing I had seen yet in this world. Standing on the trail was an honest-to-goodness zebra, with gold loops around her neck and foreleg with a large pair of earrings of the same metal. Over her back was a brown cloak, and in one hoof was a carved walking stick with a few more rings of gold at either end.

My hand left the hilt of my sword, if slowly as the zebra mare walked up, “Who are you?”

She smiled as she approached, “I am Zecora, maker of potions, the arts of healing and fortunes are my devotions.” Her gaze traveled up and down my body, “You are a strange one, this is true, perhaps you could tell me about yourself over a hot brew?”

Slightly taken aback by the sudden offer of food, I stood up to my full height and raised one eyebrow, “Why would you offer me food, shouldn’t we be getting out of this forest before nightfall?”

Zecora smiled and shook her head, “You do not need to worry about the frightening dark, my home will protect us with its strength and its bark. The creatures of the night, do not tread where we go. Come, let me show you to my little grotto.”

Slightly hesitant, and more so confused by the apparent rhyming zebra in front of me, I did what any slightly adventurous person would do. I followed her back down another path and into a clearing that reminded me of some African voodoo shaman. The tree itself looked like it was carved out into a building, while masks of all shapes and sizes littered the trees and bushes surrounding the clearing. Vails of glowing liquid hung from nearly every branch, and I had to duck slightly to fit as she led me through what looked to be her front door.

Inside was what looked like a complete home, with a cot off to one side and several shelves along the walls. A firepit was placed directly in the center of the room, with a massive cast-iron cauldron filled to near bursting with a bubbling green fluid on top of it. If the masks and vials outside hadn’t sold the shaman idea, the inside of Zecora’s home certainly did.

The zebra removed her cloak and walked into the main room, tossing her staff to one side with practiced ease as it came to rest perfectly against the wall. I smiled at the display of skill, knowing it must have taken months or even years to master even that little trick. However, I was pulled from my musing when Zecora dipped a pair of clay cups into the brew and then passed one to me.

She lifted hers in what I could only call a toast before sipping it gently, “To friends we make, old and new, and to the lessons we learn, tried and true.”

I chuckled softly and sipped my own drink, my eyes widening in slight surprise at the flavor, “This is really good. What did you put in this?”

She smiled as she sipped her own tea, “The leaf of the Pomboya makes a potent brew, it carries the strength of a meal without needing to chew.” She took another sip before leveling her gaze upon mine, “You know my name, yet I do not know yours, the mark of a stranger is often best left outdoors.”

Taking the not-so-subtle hint, I smiled before speaking, “My name is Sarah Lovegood, although my friends call me Sarah.” I indicated the pot with one hand, “Did you make all that for just yourself. Or were you somehow expecting company?”

Zecora shook her head, “Brews can have many uses, if one knows how. Yet this one cannot see the future, just taste good right now. My skills as a shaman are vast but raw. I am in training abroad to master my craft, according to zebra law.”

I sipped my tea again, taking in all of this with wide eyes, “So new shamans must go to other countries to continue their training once they get to a certain level?”

She nodded, “The Zebra Tribes are far away, although the ponies have made me welcome during my stay. The friends I’ve made are true and strong, it is no wonder why I feel that I belong.”

I got flashbacks to the support and help I had received since my own entrance into pony culture, “I know what you mean.” I sipped my tea again, enjoying the smooth flavor as it rolled over my tongue, “If you don’t mind me asking, what’s with the whole rhyming thing? I’m sure no one expects you to talk like that all the time.”

Zecora thought about it for a few moments, “It is hard to explain right off hoof, although it might be easier to give visual proof.”

She stood up and walked over to the pot, setting her cup on the rim as I stood to follow her. She waved her hooves over the brew several times, sprinkling in powders of various colors before a thick fog began to rise from the liquid. I watched as shapes began to form in the mist, taking on the likeness of several zebras gathered around what looked like a cauldron similar to Zecora’s.

“My people are connected to the land by a sacred bond,” Zecora narrated as the mist changed to follow her words, “a magic that flows through our words, rather than horn or wand. We speak our desires and the land provides, giving its gifts to the powerful and wise.”

The mist shifted to show an aged zebra with a younger by her side, “Knowledge is passed from mother to foal, to teach the next generation with one simple goal. Heal those who are ill, and protect from dark magic, and to warn of the fates that fall most tragic.”

I was left in awe as the smoke twisted and turned to narrate her story, showing zebras battling monsters while others battled disease. Yet it all came back to one simple thing. They were there to help, without anyone having ever asked them to do so. They were like the Peace Corps back home, volunteering for costly and sometimes dangerous missions for no other reason than because they could. My respect for the zebra next to me skyrocketed, and I rested a hand over her shoulder as she lowered her forelegs to the ground.

I smiled at her, hoping to convey my respect, “That was a wonderful tale, and I want you to know that I’m glad to have met you. Perhaps we could speak again once this crazy stuff with the necromancers passes over.”

Her face darkened as she glared at her brew, “Ah yes, the magics of the forgotten past, the forces of darkness are gathering and approaching fast.” She looked up at me, “What role do you play in this deadly game? I cannot imagine it would be for the glory or fame.”

I shook my head, “I’m in it because Discord wanted me to fight for the ponies. Apparently I’m the only living Auramancer in this world because Discord decided to snatch me from the jaws of death on my own world. If it weren’t for him I’d be dead, although given what he dragged me into I might end up dead again anyway.”

Zecora’s eyes widened at my words, “You possess the power of molding your soul?! Please, share with me this power, for it has been a dream of mine since I was a foal.”

I nodded, holding up my hand, “Alright, but only because you asked nicely.”

I flared up my aura, creating a wash of blue flames over my hand and wrist as I held it out for her to see. Zecora’s eyes widened even further, and she slowly reached out to touch my hand with her hoof, as if afraid it would vanish if she made contact. As soon as she touched the azure flames, she gasped and pulled away. I immediately snuffed the aura and reached out to help her, but she waved me away with her other hoof.

“I am alright, do not worry about me.” She said, slowly lowering her hoof to the floor while taking several deep breaths, “It was simply a rush of power, to feel and to see.” She smiled as she walked up and hugged me, taking me by slight surprise, “Thank you for sharing your gift, it was a true treat. I could not imagine a better pressent, or a better friend I could meet.”

I gently returned to hug, “You’re welcome. If you want you could stop by Twilight’s castle at some point. I’m staying with her until I can think of a way to get my own place. I’d be delighted if you would come over for tea sometime. Maybe I’ll make some for you next time around.”

She stepped back and nodded, “That would be nice, to visit a new friend. But the hour draws late, and the day is at its end. You must make haste, if you wish to leave. The forest is dangerous, and the trails’ twists can easily deceive.”

I stood and walked over to her door, “Thanks for the tea Zecora, it was nice to meet you.”

She waved as I closed the door, leaving me alone in her clearing as I tried to remember the trail we had used to get here. Picking the one that was thickest, I made my way through the dimming light, keeping a tight grip on my sword in case any of the monsters I had heard about decided to show up. Yet the amulet around my neck glowed with a soft green light, indicating it was doing as Moon Song had said, keeping the monsters at bay.

I made it out of the forest without any issues, although as I walked into the front doors of the castle I was met by a more frightening creature. It was brown, had an ice-blue mane, and was currently staring me down with the fiercest glare I had ever seen coming from a pony. The monster was none other than Major Swift Blade, with a pacing Twilight behind her who had yet to notice my entrance.

“Would you mind explaining to me where it was you were all day?” Swift asked in a complete no-nonsense tone, “We were worried sick about you and now you just show up like nothing happened? I’d expect better from a member of the military than to simply go AWOL without telling anypony where she had gone. Now, where did you go?”

I straightened my back and walked right up to her, “I was going for a walk in the Everfree Forest. Thought it might be important to know the lay of the land right behind the most important building of the entire city. Given that was where the zombies were headed, it was safe to assume that we might have to face them coming from that direction. Therefore, I was doing recon to get lay of the land.”

“And you didn’t think to tell anypony you were leaving because?” Swift asked as Twilight turned to face us, “You have everypony worried sick that something had happened to you. What if one of the necromancers had attacked you? You would have been all alone with no backup and no way of calling for help.” She reared up and smacked me on the side of the head with a hoof, “Think before you act, or I’ll be forced to put you under constant surveillance to make sure you stay safe.”

I rubbed my head with a hand, returning the favor to the mare with an open palm to the ear. She yelped before growling, bending her legs like she was about to pounce on me. I bent my legs in preparation of a fight, only to have my body engulfed in a familiar magenta aura.

“Both of you stop it.” Twilight said as she held us up with her magic, “This is no time to be fighting amongst ourselves. Now, Sarah, while it was a good idea to scout out the terrain, it was foolish to go running off without telling anypony. Now say you’re sorry for hitting the Major.”

“But – ” I froze as Twilight fixed me with an icy glare. I sighed before tuning my head towards Swift, “Sorry for hitting you in the head. I should have thought things through before running off.”

Twilight nodded, turning towards the earth pony with an expectant expression.

Swift grumbled under her breath before speaking, “And I’m sorry for hitting you in the head, even if you deserved it.” Her body shook as Twilight jerked her around a bit, “Alright! Alright! I’m sorry! It wasn’t necessary to hit you over the head when you clearly understood the errors of your actions.” She turned a narrowed gaze to Twilight, “Happy now?”

She nodded, “Very.” She released us from her grip, turning towards me, “Now, mind explaining why you were gone the entire day? It couldn’t have just been exploring that kept you inside the Everfree Forest.” Her eyes widened as she seemed to think of something, “You weren’t attacked by Timberwolves or a manticore, were you?”

I shook my head, much to their collective relief, “I just ran into a couple of new friends along the way. We talked for a while before I came back here. Not much else to it.”

Twilight’s expression brightened, “So you met Zecora? How was it meeting a non-pony for the first time?”

I shrugged, “The rhyming thing kind of threw me for a loop at first, but it wasn’t all that bad. She made me some nice tea and we talked a bit about her home before I left. Although, she wasn’t the first pony, er, zebra I came across in the forest.”

Now I had both mare’s attentions, “Who else did you meet?” Twilight asked, “Nopony else lives in the Everfree but Zecora.”
“Apparently someone else does, because I ran into a mare by the name of Moon Song before I ended up running into Zecora.” I pulled out the amulet that she had given me, “She even gave me this neckless to ward off the monsters until I could get home.”

Twilight leaned in to inspect the amulet, only to suddenly gasp and rip it from my neck with her magic. Before I could react, she blasted it with a beam from her horn, reducing the jade totem to rubble on the floor. A puff of sickly green smoke escaped from the shards before their glow faded, leaving behind nothing but gravel.

Twilight began frantically scanning me with her magic, and I held up my hands as she jumped up and inspected my neck at very close proximity, “Whoa, where’s the fire Twilight, and why did you destroy the amulet?”

“Because that amulet was trying to corrupt your body with death magic!” Twilight cried as she ripped my shirt off and began inspecting every inch of my upper body, much to my embarrassment, “That thing was pumping you full of necromantic energy in an attempt to turn you into a death knight. The only reason I can think of that it wasn’t working was because your Auramancy was canceling it out before it could take root.” She seemed satisfied with her inspection and jumped off of my body, leaving me to slip my shirt back on with beet red cheeks, “If I hadn’t taken it off, then I don’t know what would have happened to you. Your powers seemed to be holding it off, but I don’t know for how long.”

“Wait a minute,” I said slowly, “you mean to tell me that Moon Song gave me that amulet in order to turn me into some kind of half-dead soldier?” Twilight nodded ad I growled under my breath, “I knew there was something fishy about that mare. I just couldn’t figure out why I thought there was something wrong about her.” I stomped my foot against the crystalline floor, “And I could have destroyed one of the necromancers before the war even began if I had only listened to my instincts! AARRGG!”

Twilight walked up as Swift stepped in on my other side, both resting their hooves against my legs as I shook with controlled rage, “Sarah, it’s not your fault.” Twilight said slowly, “Anypony could have made the same mistake.”

“Yeah,” Swift added, “nopony’s perfect. At least now we know that they’re in the Everfree. All we need to do is wait them out and they’ll come to us.”

I took several steadying breaths to calm down, looking at my two closest companions with gratitude, “Thanks guys. I hope you know that I’m not mad at you. I’m just frustrated that I let that bitch get away.”

They nodded in return, “We’ll get them next time.” Swift replied, “Just you wait. I’ll bet she’s quaking in her horseshoes knowing that you’re out there waiting to take her down.”

I smirked, “Better, she doesn’t even know I’m an Auramancer. She’s probably standing in some clearing, waiting for me to show up at her beck and call, only to realize hours later that something went wrong.”

Swift burst out laughing at the image I had created, “Oh that’s priceless. Oh, how I wish I could see the look on her face.”

Twilight shook her head in amusement, “I think it’s been a long enough day for all of us. If you girls don’t mind, I’m going to head to bed. I was up for most of last night and I don’t think skipping another night’s sleep is a good idea.” She walked up the steps towards what I assumed was her room, calling a quick goodnight over her shoulder as she left.

Swift glanced up at me and smiled, “Shall we retire for the night as the Princess suggested?”

I nodded, hiding a yawn behind a hand, “Yeah, after all that adventuring I could use a good night’s sleep.”

Swift bumped my hip with her own, “So was she good looking?”

I glanced down at her in confusion, “Who?”

Swift smirked, “Moon Song. Was she good looking?”

I rolled my eyes, “Grey fur with white mane and lime green eyes.”

Swift recoiled like I had hit her, “Ouch, not what I would hope for in color palette.”

I chuckled as I opened the door to my room, “Not exactly easy on the eyes for me either. Well, see you in the morning Swift.”

She tossed me a quick salute, “See you in the morning.”

With that I closed the door and got undressed, climbing into bed after turning off the magical lights. I slept like a rock through the entire night, and I woke the next morning feeling more rested than ever. I had a feeling it might have something to do with the tea Zecora gave me, but until I got some more I couldn’t be sure. Until then, I had some preparations to make. After all, my little gettogether with Lyra and Bon-Bon was the next day, and I wanted to make sure I looked my best for the, um, date. I shivered as I climbed out of bed, but not from the cold morning air.

“What have I gotten myself into?”

Author's Notes:

Hello everypony, I'm back with another chapter for all of you lovely ponies!! Now, just so you all know, I've been horrendously busy with work up until the end of last week, so I haven't had time to post chapters like I would want to and I've been bogged down trying to get ready for collage at the end of the month. So sue me, I'm too busy to make chapters for all of you!!

But not anymore! More chapters shall be on the way once I can get my brain in gear!! Celebratory cider from Sweet Apple Acres will be in supply!

Now that we have that out of the way, what did you think of our villain? Was she good, bad, or somewhere in between? Also, how well did I do Zecora? Be honest with me because I know my rhyming can be half-baked at the best of times.

Comment, leave a like, follow if you wish, and as always, I'll see you all next chapter,
Shadow Quill, Messenger of the Moon.