Thiemo still had mixed feelings about the meeting with his daughter. He had suspected it would take longer for him to find her, but fate had decided to work in its own twisted ways. The random encounter at the barn, which was now just a rubble pile, went differently than expected. With her new friends and family behind her, the tension had been high. Aura’s heartbroken face still kept hammering at him as his brain took sadistic delight in reminding him.

Amaryllis, of course, noticed his bad mood. Even if she didn’t read his emotions, she could have surely been able to tell simply by the gloomy look he was sure was on his face. Because of that, his marefriend had decided to snuggle against him ever since they had entered the dark forest behind Ponyville. One the other hand, Lyra trailed behind them and flinched at every sound. “This is the Everfree. We shouldn’t be in here without preparations! Even when the Elements started their expedition to defeat Nightmare Moon, they prepared for days. Nopony dares to go in here besides that crazy zebra.”

The last comment by Lyra granted her Thiemo’s attention. “A zebra lives in these woods? Where?” He wouldn’t be surprised. In the few minutes they had been wandering between these dark trees, he had seen more unknown plants than on the whole planet combined.

“Ummm, Zecora is her name, I believe. She’s lives out here, searching for herbs and stuff. You don’t want to go to see her, do you?” Thiemo couldn’t hold back his laugh.

“I will give her the widest berth possible. She would probably…. I don’t even know what they do to deserters.” He wasn’t proud on it, but he had left the tribe for good reasons. One of them being that shamanism hadn’t brought him closer to find a way back home. The training also required a sacrifice. By all means did he believe in immortal souls, and he didn’t plan on giving it away. Especially not after seeing one.

“Deserters? Could you explain what that means?” Amaryllis asked, seemingly unable to make anything out of the word.

“It means to leave one’s country, or tribe in this case, behind for your own good,” Lyra explained. Immediately, the changeling looked at him angrily.

“You didn’t do that! Tell me that is a lie.” Somehow, he could understand that she didn’t like that thought. Deserting seemed to be an alien concept to changelings.

“They wanted me to bind my soul to become one with the nature. Everything I had back then was me… no Aura, no you, nothing. And even that I didn’t want to give up. I was a different man back then.” Amaryllis appeared to understand. At least until suddenly her head shot up and her ears swivelled around. “What’s wrong?” Thiemo looked around and saw that Lyra was doing the same. Her ears stood up straight, fixating on a noise he couldn’t hear.

“Something’s coming…” Lyra said quietly. Thiemo, annoyed that he didn’t know what was going on, closed his eyes and took a deep breath. In the moment he opened them again, he immediately regretted doing so. Everything was bathed in a blinding white light that seemed to burn his irises. Quickly, he held his arm in front of his face and clenched his teeth.

“What in the hell is that?” It didn’t matter; he had already answered the question for himself in his mind. He could see magic and nothing else. More specifically, the forest itself looked like one large magical object with the dimensions of a phoenix. Looking with his eyes at one of those birds was like looking into the sun. “Guys, what’s going on?”

Thiemo blinked slowly, but white patches took up most of his field of view. “T-Timberwolves,” he could hear Lyra stammer and felt how she was hiding behind his legs. His head spun around quickly, trying to search for their attackers until he found Amy’s hoof pointing at them. Slightly blurry, Thiemo noticed the shaped of an animal that accordingly looked like a wolf.

“Only a wolf. That shouldn’t be…” The bushes rustled. “Two. Still not too bad.” Of course a third one appeared as well. “I should shut up now. So… who’s taking which one?” Amaryllis swallowed loudly, but her horn glowed at the same time, ready to stand against their attackers. Meanwhile, Lyra made no signs of releasing his leg. Problem was that he couldn’t fight like that either. Without further ado, he kicked backwards, getting rid of the unicorn rather roughly. “Amy, I’ll take the two on the left. You take the one on the right, okay?” She nodded, and Thiemo immediately reached into the bag Celestia had given him. Around twenty sapphires were left in it - a number that was about to decrease. He took two pebble-sized gems into his hand and turned around to the two wolves he had targeted.

Thiemo still could not see them clearly but immediately saw that they were ready to jump on them. “Lyra, take cover when they attack.” He couldn’t see if she was nodding, his gaze still lying on the wolves. Slowly, he steadied his stance, but that was enough for one of his two targets to start the attack. Out of experience and Animal Planet, he knew that the first was only a distraction so that the second one could close in for the kill. He didn’t counter the attack; he instead rolled aside quickly and fired a blast of compressed air towards the second one. The wolf was hit mid-air and burst into a thousand pieces that were scattered across the ground.

“What?” He didn’t have enough time to analyze what had just occurred since the first wolf scampered around for another attack, jumping on the human who was still lying on the ground. He shot another blast purely on instinct. It had the same result like the first, only that Thiemo got slightly hit by the remains this time.

“Everything alright?” Amaryllis came over to him. Looking behind her, he could see that only pieces of her wolf were remaining as well. “Did it bite you?”

“No, everything’s alright,” he assured her and stood up. “What were those things? Not normal wolves, that’s for sure.” He rubbed his eyes. Slowly but steadily, he could see more clearly in the dark forest around him. He searched the ground for the remains but only found leaves, small branches, and twigs.

“Timberwolves,” Lyra said again from behind him. “We have to go! Now!” Thiemo looked at her, confused.

“Why? We have defeated them; there’s nothing…” Interrupted by Lyra’s hoof pointing where their opponents had just stood, Thiemo turned around. He saw some branches floating over the ground by themselves and forming a familiar creature. “Timberwolves… Now I get it. You stupid ponies and your puns. Magical wolves out of wood. Why did no one tell me?” Annoyed, he stepped over to the construction and threw the used sapphires aside before brushing over the silvery bracers around his right lower arm. When his fingers left it, they were followed by a streak of black magic. Eagerly, he reached into it, pulling out his loyal staff, Protes, as Luna called it. “So, let the games begin.” He grinned, and the weapon went down on the first, half-assembled wolf.

“I hope you know what you are doing, Tia. Especially pulling poor Lulu into that doesn’t look like a good idea to me.”

“You know as well as I do that we have to do something. I already lost a sister to them. I won’t make the same mistake twice. I was friendly, took them in, and how did they repay me?”

“You know there are always two in an argument, right? And don’t think I don’t know what game you’re playing here.”

“You made the last turn; I just used the pawn you threw on the board.”

“Then you should watch out. Not that this pawn turns out to be a knight that could bite you on your lovely flanks or anything.”

“A mere human. Nothing more. Even if he has a few more tricks than the rest of them.”

“If you say so. I just have to repeat myself in telling you that you’re creating your own problems. Total harmony is a doom to this world just like total chaos. I would know something about that.”

“Whatever, Eris. I know how to handle the humans. Unlike Luna, I do not plan to fall in love with one.”

With the third blow, the last of the three wolves slammed back on the ground again. They weren’t even fully reconstructed this time. “These things smell. I mean you can hear them, and I should really have smelled them. What kind of predators are these?”

“They aren’t rebuilding themselves?” Lyra asked while prodding one of the branches with her hoof. “How did you do that?”

“This staff sucks in magic. The staff can transform into bracers… or was it the other way around? Doesn’t matter. That’s what I hit you with in the bath before pushing you away. The plan was that you were supposed to remain there and play the victim. Anyhow, you should have felt the effects of this weapon. It sucks in magic of all kind. Here we have magical creatures.” He pointed at the remains of the wolves. “Here we have an anti-magic-hammer. Simple as that. If it’s magic, I can destroy it.”

“Maybe you should check if your staff is not broken then.” Lyra pointed behind him, and Thiemo sighed again.

“Really?” The wolves began reconstructing again. It was then that the scales fell from his eyes. If the whole forest was magical, then there was more than enough magic to replace what they had lost. “Maybe we should…” He didn’t get any further as a green mist began to filter out of the brushes.

“Stay no longer at this place! Come with me at a quick pace!” he heard a deep female voice shouting.

“Wonderful, the cavalry…” Thiemo knew the rhyming of the shamans and alchemists of the zebra tribes. For him, it was just a nuisance; for them, it was reflecting their inner harmony to the outside. He never really listened, something for which he had felt Zarni’s cane on more than one time. “But for once, I agree to follow that,” he added as he saw the wolves slowly approaching through the mist.

They turned around and ran into the direction where the voice had come from. They went through plenty of hedges and bushes covered with thorns, passing trees that looked as though they wanted to snap after the group the second they got a chance. Finally, they reached a small clearing with a lake. They had only ran for a few minutes, but the wolves still seemed to have lost them, something Thiemo noted when he caught his breath and looked back. Instead the zebra stepped out of the woods. “A human, a changeling, and a pony - what an unusual sight. I hope my sight is right. What brings you in this dark forest? So rarely does anyone come here to take a rest.”

Thiemo looked closer at their new acquaintance. She wore many neck rings out of gold, symbolizing that she was a well-trained alchemist. Gold was the greatest goal for alchemists, and it was even rarer here on Albion than on Earth. Her thick earrings, on the other hand, could just be fashion jewellery. Aside from her Mohawk, the tribe mark on her flank was what next caught his attention. Unlike ponies, zebras did not get cutie marks but had the mark of their family. Meeting a member of the tribe that had trained him was just very bad luck - nothing new for Thiemo.

He sat down cross-legged, set his staff next to him, and clenched his fists before holding them together. “Greetings, Master,” he said and bowed his head slightly. Alchemists were not to be trifled with.

In the corners of his eyes, Thiemo could see her doing the same. She sat down on the ground and placed her hindlegs together so that her legs formed a circle while her forehooves touched. “I too present my greetings. What gives me the honor of this meeting?”

“My name is Simba, Master.” Thiemo saw how Lyra tried to intervene but she got stopped by Amaryllis. “We are just passing through, searching for the old ruins that are in this forest.” The zebra seemed to ponder his words before she nodded.

“Keep to the northwest. That is how you will reach your destination the best. Cross the bridge down at the river if you do not want to shiver. Many paths lead to your destination, but through these woods you should wander with caution.” Sometimes it was hard to understand their rhymes, but Thiemo understood the warning that she gave them. They could go the way she mentioned, but she wasn’t guaranteeing a safe journey. He bowed his head again and stood up, ending the conversation. “One thing I have to ask, my spring. Why did you abort your training? No totem you call your own, yet the way of the shaman you know.” Thiemo looked at her for a few seconds, afraid that she might do something. Instead, all she did was calmly sit there, her eyes still closed.

“I don’t believe in any gods. Not Celestia, or Luna, or any others out there that are getting praised as gods. Even nature is not a god, and I will not leave my soul with it.” Zecora nodded and dug a little hole in the ground.

“Maybe the gods are not as real as one would think,” she covered the hole with both her hooves, “but at their powers, we can’t just blink.” Slowly, she set her hooves aside, and Thiemo saw that the hole was filled with water. Without sapphire, without magic, it was an impressive task. It came close to what Celestia did with the tea. “Someone who gives something from his own will rarely stand alone. Take the guidance of the elements; maybe you will see the faults in your arguments.”

For a short moment Thiemo stopped and thought about her words. His companions, meanwhile, looked clueless at each other, but he didn’t expect them to understand what Zecora was talking about. “No thanks. Blind faith never brought me anywhere. Still, thanks for the directions.” He turned away and picked up his staff where he brushed over a few runes. Like a snake, it coiled around his arm until it took the form of the plain silver bracer.

“Good luck on your travel to far away, for I hope the next time we will meet in a different way,” they heard the zebra calling after them as they disappeared between the trees into the direction she gave them.

“She just made water! That’s incredible. Even very powerful unicorns need years of study to be able to do so,” Lyra raved. Something she did ever since they left from Zecora’s.

“It was just ground water,” Thiemo argued, annoyed that the unicorn could not seem to shut up. “She said herself that a river was nearby. That most likely causes a high ground water level. Her hooves covered the hole as it slowly filled. I’m a shaman; I know a few things about magic.” Lyra raised an eyebrow. “Okay, yes. Of course you also know about magic, but that was just a trick. Done!” Again, the green unicorn wanted to say something, but Amy stepped in front of her and shook her head. Thiemo was tense, and it was hard not to notice. The wolves were a good way to blow off some steam but had proved too dangerous in the end.

They marched onwards along the path they had finally found. The dark forest didn’t look quite as claustrophobic now, a feeling Thiemo had felt since he realized that basically half of his talents were utterly useless here. It was as though he was blind on one eye. Slowly, he realized why the ponies were so scared of this place. Even Thiemo felt uncomfortable here despite being in worse places. Nevertheless, he didn’t get around to increasing his pace. Luckily, this was no problem for the ponies at his side.

Aside from Lyra, who still flinched at some of the noises that came out of the woods, they reached the river Zecora had mentioned with no more interruptions. After Amy told them she could hear the water running, they ran the last meters. “Ruins. A better description she couldn’t have given us,” Thiemo declared.

On the other side of the river was a myriad of old grey stones, which, in the state it was in, surely just randomly formed something like walls. The former windows were covered by spider webs and ivy, showing nature’s claim. “The castle of the royal pony sisters. Here they found the Elements,” Lyra explained. “They say that Celestia and Luna lived here before Eris took the power.”

“Eris was in charge once?” Thiemo and Amaryllis both asked at the same time.

“Thousands of years ago, shortly after the founding of Equestria. We were still at peace, but nopony could settle the succession of the government. In the chaos that followed the death of the founders, Eris appeared. She took over the land and pushed it into even greater chaos. Eventually, Celestia and Luna appeared together with the Elements. They banished Eris into stone and took her place.” And now Eris was a counsellor? Lapdog? She must be up to some mischief, and Thiemo wasn’t keen on being a part of that. But this mission was not just in her interest but also in Celestia’s. He hated to be a pawn, but it was better than spending rest of your life on the edge of the board.

“So, what are we waiting for? The destination is over there.” With that, Thiemo stepped on the first plank of the old wooden bridge, only to hear some creaking. The next moment, a few pieces of wood fell down into the rapid stream below them, his feet hanging in the air. “Amy?”

“Yes?”

“Could you fly us over? I don’t trust this thing.” Without further ado, the unicorn and human climbed on the changeling’s back and crossed the river. Since Lyra needed longer to climb off her back again, Thiemo was the first to stand at the large old door and opened it.

“Hello? Do you have some time to speak about our Lord and Saviour—” Still halfway in the door, he felt something leaning against his back first and then something cold on his throat.

“Finish that sentence, and it will be last thing you’ve ever said, human,” an unknown, hoarse-sounding voice ordered him.

“Hawky! What are you doing?” Thiemo saw a white pegasus mare rushing over from the shadows. Her long pink mane was tied together to two pigtails, each reaching down at one side of her neck to her legs. “Take down the knife. Is that how you greet new friends?”

“Heart, in case you’re blind: that is a human—” A loud bang interrupted them, and the room was brightened by green light as Thiemo and his captors were thrown forward. From the floor, he saw a grey pegasus rolling over the cold stones, but she caught herself in time and hissed with bared fangs while unfolding bat wings at her attacker.

“Leave my friend alone!” he heard Amaryllis shouting.

Thiemo stood up slowly and again and stepped between the two mares. “Okay, ladies, there’s enough of me for all of you. Can we try to talk about it first?”

“Shut up!” was the reply from both of them.

“For once, I think a human’s idea is good,” the white pegasus threw in.

“Thanks. My name is Thiemo.” He reached out his hand as a greeting.

“Iron Heart. The pleasure is mine.” She returned the greeting.

Thiemo looked at Amy and his aggressor, both hissing at each other. “Do you think we should intervene?”

“Hawky is just very temperamental. I’m sure they will become good friends soon.” Thiemo saw Lyra peeking in through the entrance and watching the scene.

“One question though. What is she? I thought I knew all the different pony races.” Hawky, as Iron Heart called her, was a grey pegasus mare, but with clear traits he had only seen from dragons. What was more unusual, or at least spoke against such a kind of relation, was her size. She was at least a head smaller than Lyra, making her look like a young adult. What he only noticed now were her golden, reptilian eyes. They stuck out very clearly here.

“Oh, she’s a thestral. She has dragon blood in her veins.” Thiemo just nodded, not wanting to pursue that line of imagination his brain wanted to take.

“Anyhow, that there in front of your friend, the larger one, is Amaryllis, and the unicorn over there in the door that still is unsure whether she should enter or not, is Lyra,” he introduced his otherwise occupied companions.

“Oh good, then you’re our mission after all. I was afraid for a moment I might have to knock you out and throw you in the dungeons. It was said you were only two, but now you show up here as three. Well, no plan survives first contact with the enemy,” Heart said with a laugh. “Everything’s clear, Hawky. They are our mission!” she shouted over to her colleague. “Then one more time.” She turned at Thiemo again, who looked down at her with raised brows. “I’m Iron Heart, cadet of the Royal Guard and medic. This is my friend, Captain Night Hawk of the Night Guard.” Apparently, Celestia and Luna had spared no effort in finding the two biggest psychopaths for this mission.

“Very well.” Thiemo clapped his hands. “Where are we going next?”

“Oh, not very far.” Iron Heart ran across the room and pulled out two saddlebags out of the shadows, both filled with so much stuff that Thiemo wondered if they had just robbed a bank. She threw one over to Night Hawk, who finally back off of Amy and strapped the heavy bag on her small body. At the same time, Amaryllis stepped at Thiemo’s side, visibly proud of herself, and snuggled against his shoulder. Lyra had, by now, also found the courage to join the rest of the group.

“We leave the Everfree Forest heading north, wander around Canterlot Mountain, and take our first stop at the small and lovely Sunny Town. It’s in the Lost Forests.”

“You heard the mare!” Hawk snapped. “No time to lose; we’re late already. You can talk like scandalmongers when we’re on the way.”

“Why do I have the feeling that Sunny Town won’t be sunny at all,” Thiemo said to himself when he left through the door into the Everfree again.

Author's Notes:

Thanks to Gron for translating this chapter.
Special thanks to JBL for proofreading and editing.

And sorry that I hit "publish" to early ;)