The timberwolves stalked Andromalius and the mysterious figure as they walked through the gloomy forest, but the citrus scent kept them at bay. They howled and growled, and yet they could do no bite. The hell stallion still kept an eye on them despite the throbbing pain in his leg, which hinted at infection already at work. The only thing he could hope for was that ponies or someone else came up with antibiotics and ways to clean the wounds properly, otherwise he faced a certain death, for an equine with three legs wouldn't walk very well, let alone gallop or even trot. In this dark forest with its many carnivorous inhabitants, it would be especially dangerous.

Andromalius had no idea where he was led, for the forest seemed infinite and the same everywhere around him. No road could be seen, and the remains of infrastructure that still fought the flora were seemingly chaotic: a tree grew around a lamp post, another tree had stone tiles and rocks in its bark, and similar oddities. Entangled in the roots of one of the trees, a sign was visible; only three faded letters could be seen, making a word seemingly completely out of place - sun.

After what seemed like an eternity of walking in circles, the two reached what looked like a decorated thick tree, which turned out to be a house. Randomly colored bottles and masks were hanging from the branches, and a relatively small door was in the base of the trunk. Hazily, the hell stallion stumbled inside the tree-house and collapsed on a bed as soon as the mysterious figure pointed it out for him. It groaned under his weight, bending and creaking, but managed to withstand him. The figure took off her cloak and hung it on a hook, revealing herself to be a zebra. The hell stallion rested on the bed with his eyes closed, although the pulsating pain prevented him from falling asleep from exhaustion.

"The maws of wolves are unclean and pungent," the zebra said, "Cleaning your wounds is certainly urgent."

The hell stallion nodded weakly, and the zebra moved a stool to the side of the bed. A few pristine white sheets and a bucket of clean water were soon ready, and she began tending to his wounds. She used the water and some sheets to clean the dirt and the blood around the bite marks first, then she stood up and went to rummage through one of the shelves. A small vial with clear liquid inside was found, and the zebra returned to Andromalius.

"Now, please, hold still," she said, carefully placing the vial nearby, "I cannot allow this medicine to spill."

The zebra removed the cork from the vial and carefully made a few drops fall into the wounds of the hell stallion. He hissed in pain as he felt like his leg was stabbed multiple times. A bubbling noise came from the wounds, and the zebra quickly wiped with one of the clean sheets.

"It's like... I was stabbed with a fork..." Andromalius tried to lighten the mood. He winced immediately after as the pain spiked once again.

"This painful sensation you feel is the result of wounds starting to heal," the zebra explained, "This medicine is expensive and rare, but in case of timberwolfwolf bites, using it is better than facing last rites. No money has worth the moment you are underneath earth."

"Thank you..." the hell stallion nodded, letting out a sigh when the pain began to fade, leaving nothing but a tight and tingling sensation. He rose slightly and looked directly at the zebra, "But... who are you?"

"Zecora is my name," she finally introduced herself, "Unlikely that you heard of me, for I don't strive for fame. But I certainly did hear of you – in these parts, you seem to be completely new. However, the rumors spread quickly, not even evading the lazy; but certain things are, hopefully, clearly made-up and crazy."

"I know that..." he let out a small sigh, "I'd say some are not true, but I don't know if you'll believe me..."

"For all things, one must always deeper look," the zebra replied, "For it is not wise to judge a cover of the book. Anyway, aren't you supposed to be in Canterlot, fighting alongside Princess Luna against the Sun Worshippers' devious plot?"

"Um..." he blinked, unsure of what to say. How could Zecora know anything about the political intrigues of Canterlot?

"They have already attacked you twice," she continued, "Wouldn't you want for them to pay the crime's price? It's clear they want to remove both of you, so you two worked to make their plans askew. But now I hear of an explosion and fiery rain – so, why did you go here by a small train?"

"I got into a trap, and I'm accused of doing something I... well, I did do, but I didn't know that it was a crime or that I was led to make it." Andromalius replied honestly, "I... had to run and stealing a train was, uh... the best thing, seemingly... that I could do at the time."

"But if you stayed, wouldn't Princess Luna be able to provide aid?"

"I don't think she could do anything at that point..." he let out a sigh, "Anyway... how do you know about the train?"

"A vow I made not to talk of whom here came," she shook her head, "But they asked me to assist you in this situation dire, for it was possible for you to the realm of dead retire."

"Thank you for help, Zecora," he said, "Sorry I didn't say it right away..."

"To forget it is completely alright, you simply haven't yet rested your mind," she let a small smile appear on her face, "In any case, it's time I gave you another medicine, which, I warn you, has horrible taste."

She looked at one of her shelves again and soon found a small bottle with a muddy red liquid inside. She uncorked the bottle, and an earthly yet unpleasant smell entered the room.

"What is that?" Andromalius asked, making a grimace as the smell reached his nostrils.

"A mould liquified," Zecore replied, "Bad it tastes and has a horrible smell, but by drinking it you will sooner get well."

The hell stallion hesitantly nodded, used his magic to grab the bottle, and then downed it in one swift motion, trying to ignore the smell. As it traveled down his throat and into the stomach, he let out a few coughs and fought the urge to throw up. Thankfully, he was soon fine, and only a bitter aftertaste was a reminder of the medicine he had taken. He breathed deeply a few times before relaxing on the bed, his eyelids drooping. The pain-relief had finally came, and he felt nothing but a tiring numbness in his body.

"I suggest you rest, close your eyes," the zebra told him, taking the empty bottle and placing it on the shelf with other emtpy vials and vessels, "Exhaustion of mind and body is the struggle's price."

Already nodding off to sleep, Andromalius completely surrendered himself to the real of dreams, and soon he was in deep slumber. His wounds, cleaned and taken care of, were already healing, and healing quickly. When he woke up, he wouldn't even see the scars.

Princess Luna sat up in her armchair, her eyes open wide. A few hours had passed since she fell asleep, and even slumber brought her no rest. Something awoke her before she could benefit from her sleep, and it was a knock coming from the door. For a moment, the alicorn sat there silently, her mind slowly and painfully waking up.

"Your majesty," a few knocks sounded again, and a voice of a guard spoke, "The demolishion squad returned with news."

"O-of course," Luna shook her head and blinked, forcing the gears in her head to turn, "I shall... hear them soon. They are... shall be in the throne room, yes?"

"That is correct, my princess," he replied, "But may I ask... are you alright?"

"I have been sleeping, but 'tis alright, I must hear the news myself," she finally stood up and stretched, "I shall be there in five minutes. Please, notify my sister of that."

"I will, your majesty," the guard said, and soon the sound of his steps faded away.

Luna let out a deep sigh and collapsed back into the armchair, resting there for some more time before forcing herself back up. A yawn escaped her maw, and she rubbed her eyes with magic to help herself wake up faster. She jumped a few times, forcing her body to warm up and ready itself. She stretched deeply as well, and soon her mind was working flawlessly.

Her hooves clicked against the floor as she exited her chambers and made her way to the throne room. Her posture and gait were stiff, her eyes looking directly ahead, and yet her thoughts were wild, jumping from one thing to the next. Did Andromalius survive? Was he merely knocked unconscious and was now being transported to the dungeons? Or was he simply obliterated in the explosion with not a thing left of his body? Or... did her plan succeed? And if it did, where was Andromalius now?

She didn't notice how she reached the throne room, and the doors opened before her. Princess Celestia was already there, sitting on her throne, and a five-pony squad of demolishioners stood before her. Luna swiftly made her way to her own throne and sat down, anxiousness in her body.

"Report, please," Celestia spoke, signaling for the squad leader to lay out the events.

"The bridge is destroyed, your majesty," he spoke, "The train was also destroyed, and now firefighters are trying to extinguish the flames around the site - the coal in the cart caught flame and covered the majority of the site immediately after the explosion."

"What about the demon?" the solar alicorn pressed, "Was he found?"

"We believe he perished in the explosion," the squad leader replied, "But the majority of the site is still in flames, we can only say for certain once everything is extinguished. No body was found so far."

"Were there any problems before the detonation?"

"We were attacked by timberwolves, and one of our squad members stepped in the Poison Joke on accident. He's now being treated," the stallion reported without missing a beat, "I believe one of the charges did not detonate immediately, but the force of the explosion was sufficient."

"No one could've survived that explosion, your majesty," another squad member added, "Trees within twenty meter radius are bent outwards, and the closest trees to the explosion broke."

"And even if he did survive the initial explosion," the squad leader continued, "He wouldn't survive in the Everfree. The timberwolves are very active this time of the year. He wouldn't be able to get far."

"Very well," Celestia nodded, "I understand how dangerous it is in the Everfree. I won't send any of you there, but I'd like to establish patrols around the entry points of the forest for at least a week," she looked at the Captain of the Royal Guard by her side, who nodded in response, Aerial patrol should also be established, but, as we know, even flying above the forest can be dangerous... therefore, all patrols are to be done along the perimeter, twenty meters away from the forest. Your job here is done, demolishioners."

The squad bowed and soon left the throne room. Once the doors closed behind them, Celestia turned to her sister.

"What should we do now?" she asked, "The demon could still be out there, plotting..."

"I have confidence in the words of the demolishion squad," Luna replied, "Spreading our resources to catch him would certainly be our undoing, considering it would weaken our position here in Canterlot. We have yet to apprehend his accomplices, assuming he had them. We should divert our attention to it immediately – the... demon, alive or not, is no longer an issue. The Everfree Forest will swallow him either way. Alone, confused, hurt by the explosion, he hath no chance."

Unless he managed to survive thanks to her plan. However, this is the part she left unspoken. She knew not if Andromalius was immortal or merely just another being among many susceptible to death, but there was always hope. If his body - or the brutalized remains of it - weren't yet found, hours after the explosion, then perhaps he indeed lived. Her own squad had yet to return, which was both good and bad news. She had to resist the urge to assume without sufficient evidence.

What was worrying, however, was her sister's view on this whole situation. She was unusually ruthless in her pursuit of harmony and safety for her subjects, very unlike Celestia Luna knew from a thousand years ago. When the sisters had just taken the throne, the solar alicorn was eager to change the criminals for the better; she saw good in many, and although she had her limits, she was willing to go further than most just to find the truth about someone's guilt or innocence. However, it all changed after all these centuries, and changed for the worse.

"Very well, then we should aim our efforts at the possible conspirators inside Canterlot," Celestia nodded in agreement, "Whatever they were - or still are - planning, it threatens our safety and the safety of our subjects."

"Certainly, and my investigation hath already been commenced," Luna replied, "Someone had to remove the guards to allow Andromalius to pass so far... or the guards were replaced with the corrupt ones. I'm certain I have a lead, and I shall notify thee if I achieve anything with it."

"Alright, but don't exhaust yourself, sister," the solar alicorn said, looking at her sister with worry, "You aren't getting much sleep, are you?"

"Rest is for the accomplished," Luna stood up, "I have work to do, and it must be done before anything bad happenth. The conspirators must be uncovered, brought to light, and judged for their actions. And until this judgement is done, we cannot allow ourselves to rest, for it is a threat to us and the whole of Equestria."

Celestia wanted to disagree, but Luna's words held truth, no matter how hurtful it was to hear. This wasn't how the princess of the day imagined their reunion would be; she wanted to go on something that was foreign to her for many years - a vacation. No time would be enough to spend with her sister after the thousand years she had spent on the moon, but any time would be better than none. And yet, this chance to be a family for once, a pair of siblings relaxing together, seemed out of reach.

The solar alicorn knew not of the true conspirators Luna spoke about, she knew not that Andromalius had no part to play in it, but for now, unknowingly, she was helping to uncover the real evil plan within Canterlot. The lunar alicorn knew it, and hoped it would come to light so that the truth finally finds the one in dire and yet unknowing need for it.

As Andromalius lay asleep and healing, Zecora put on her cloak and sneaked outside her house, locking it from the outside. She carefully walked through the gloomy forest until she appeared in a small clearing devoid of any crooked trees or thorny bushes. To an untrained eye, the clearing would be empty: only grass and flowers were visible. However, if one pays enough attention, they would be able to see a few suspicious rocks. One wouldn't easily tell what was suspicious about them, however.

The rocks moved and turned into a pair of thestrals covered in camouflage. They stood upright and looked and the zebra, question in their glowing eyes.

"Andromalius is fine and healing," Zecora said, "To notify the princess of this, you should now be leaving. His wounds are clean, infection gone – by morning, he will be good and done. I will provide him the much needed aid, and of this forest he will soon learn to not be afraid."

"Thank you, Zecora," one of the thestrals said, giving her a nod, "Princess Luna also has a personal message for him – give him this medallion once he awakens. And I hope you will not tell of this to anyone until everything is sorted out."

"Secrets I can keep, my maw will be shut," the zebra nodded, placing the medallion in one of the inner pockets of her cloak, "No matter who comes to my lonely hut. As strange as Andromalius looks, I never judge covers of books. He speaks like a regular person, one that had his life significantly and suddenly worsen. Lost and falsely accused, he was obviously for evil plans used. Secluded in the forest, away from pony folk, and yet I hear of all the different talk. Having helped a teahouse and an unfortunate baker, he certainly is no troublemaker."

"I'm glad you trust us despite the situation," the thestral nodded in gratitude, "We will report about all of this to our princess as soon as possible. Farewell, Zecora."

"Good journeys to you, servants of night," the zebra bowed politely, "Safe and quick, may be your flight."

Author's Notes:

This was quite a thing to make because of all the rhyming. Some rhymes might be poor as it is my first attempt at rhyming and writing Zecora specifically, but I hope it's good. Tell me what you think!