The Seer of Truth

Chapter 1 – A Visit to the Zebra

It was late afternoon in Ponyville. The skies were clear, and everypony was outside enjoying the sun. Except for one pony, who was about to leave the warm sunlight of Equestria.

Apple Bloom passed by Fluttershy’s cottage and greeted the many critters that could usually be found in the yellow pegasus’ care. After she had said hello to most of the animals, the earth pony left Fluttershy’s cottage behind her and headed toward the foreboding darkness of the Everfree Forest.

As she stepped across the boundary that separated Equestria from the unnatural forest, the sun above seemed to disappear, and everything around Apple Bloom became draped in shadows. The little filly, however, was unaffected by the change. She had travelled this part of the Everfree Forest countless times, and she barely noticed the change in atmosphere. Dark, twisted branches swathed in cobwebs hung over the small pony, and yellow and green nocturnal eyes seemed to be peering hostilely at her.

Back at the orchard, Apple Bloom’s family was starting up on the Applebuck Season, the most important time of year for the Apple family. If they couldn’t get the harvest in, the family wouldn’t have anything to sell and would be low on funds for an entire year. Unfortunately, Big Mac had gone down with a fever. It was hardly a serious illness, but he would be bedridden for at least a week, maybe two, leaving Applejack the only able-bodied apple-bucker on the farm.

Apple Bloom, not wanting a repeat of last year’s Applebuck Season, had decided to go visit Zecora, the zebra who lived within the mysterious forest. The filly was hoping that her zebra friend would have some sort of remedy that would cure Macintosh’s ailments quickly.

A few minutes later, the large twisted tree which the zebra lived within came into view. Flasks of all colors and sizes hung in ropes from the branches of the tree, serving some unknown purpose. Above the entrance and nestled in the roots of the tree were strange masks of wood and leather that according to Zecora bid guests welcome. Apple Bloom could see light within the hollowed-out tree, which meant Zecora was home and not out collecting ingredients.

Apple Bloom went up to the wooden door and knocked. At the first knock, Zecora opened the door.

“Greetings, little Apple Bloom, what brings you to this forest gloom?” the zebra greeted the filly in her strange accent.

“How come y'always know when Ah’m here?” Apple Bloom asked, surprised at how quickly the zebra had opened the door.

“In this silent forest where we are, all sounds can travel far. I have lived here for many years and they have grown quite sensitive, my ears,” Zecora replied with a smile and let Apple Bloom in.

The interior of Zecora’s house was in a way much like the exterior. Many shelves were carved into the wooden walls, containing flasks, books and scented candles. Also inside were flasks suspended at the ends of ropes and a few masks adorned the walls. In the center of the room was a large fireplace with an enormous cauldron resting on top of it. In an alcove to Apple Bloom’s left was another fireplace made for smaller pots.

“Well, alright, Ah guess…” the filly said. “Ah came here t’see if you could help, Zecora. Mah big brother Macintosh ‘as a fever and it’s Applebuck Season. If he don’t get better soon, mah sister’ll have to buck all the trees by herself like she did last year. And tha’ didn’t end well.”

“The stallion of few a word has a disease incurred? You must detail, or my cure cannot prevail.”

“You mean, like, symptoms?” Apple Bloom asked, and the zebra nodded. “Well, his forehead’s all hot’n’sweaty and he keeps getting’ thirsty all the time. He gets dizzy if he stands up for too long. He complains ‘bout his stomach. Ah think that’s all Ah’ve noticed.”

“You are very lucky, my friend,” Zecora said as she went to some shelves in the back of the room, browsing her ingredients. “For that is fever I can easily mend.” The zebra went about setting a small pot of water to boil in the smaller fireplace and pulverized herbs that the filly could not name. “The cure is a simple brew, but for one day we must let it stew.”

“Gee, thanks, Zecora!” Apple Bloom smiled. “How come you know so much about plants and medicine?”

“My Maanalama I got with no trouble at all. I have brewed potions for as long as I can recall.”

“Your Maana-wha’? Oh, your Cutie Mark…” Apple Bloom said with some sadness in her voice. She turned to look at her very bare flank. “How’d ya get your Cutie Mark anyways? Ah’ve heard tons of stories from ponies all over Ponyville, but Ah’ve never asked you.”

Zecora poured the pulverized herbs into the pot and a small cloud of red erupted from the boiling water. “My story is hardly worth pursuing. I have always liked the task of brewing. My craft is not so odd, you must understand. It is quite practiced in my homeland.”

Zecora finished adding the ingredients to the concoction and put a lid on the pot. She picked up a small pouch containing powder of a red ochre color. The zebra went outside, and Apple Bloom followed, curious as to what the powder was for. Once outside, Zecora went to one of the large wood and leather masks that welcomed visitors. When she was facing the ornament, she blew a small portion of the powder onto it.

The mask was covered in a red haze for a moment, but when the haze lifted, the fungus that had clung to the leather was gone. After being treated with the powder, the mask looked completely new.

“Cool!” Apple Bloom exclaimed. “That powder makes your masks seem brand new! How does it work?”

“Highly poisonous is the dust of manticore’s scales,” Zecora explained. “Used properly, it can remove time’s trails. New my relics certainly are not, but this treatment helps a lot.”

“So, how old are those things?” Apple Bloom asked, gesturing at the second mask which Zecora was now treating with the powder. “Ah always thought they was only a few years old. But if you use stuff like tha’ powder, there’s no telling.”

“They were gifts from my father and mother. These three and that other,” Zecora gestured at a fourth mask inside the house. “They are all that I have left of my land. To lose them I could not stand,” the zebra added in a sad tone.

Apple Bloom did not know what to say. Zecora was obviously suddenly struck by a bad case of homesickness, and the filly could think of no way to cheer up her friend. After some time’s silence, Zecora spoke. “Apple Bloom, dusk is nearing. You should go before creatures start appearing. Tomorrow you may get the brew. I am glad to have helped you.”

Reluctantly, Apple Bloom left Zecora’s house after thanking the zebra. She wanted to cheer her up, but she couldn’t think of any way to do it. Hopefully she would think of something tomorrow when she went to get Big Macintosh’s medicine.

“Greetings, my favorite filly!” Zecora greeted Apple Bloom when she arrived at her house the next day late in the morning. “I regret the way we parted yesterday, really,” the zebra apologized, but Apple Bloom waved her off.

“Don’t be,” she said. “Ah understand. You must get really homesick sometimes. Ah can’t imagine being so far away from mah home. It’s only natural you get a little sad once in a while.” The filly went inside and Zecora closed the door. “You know what Ah think would help? If you told me a story of your homeland.”

The zebra was silent for a moment, deep in thought. “I cannot say I grieve for leaving there, but for the events that drove away this mare. There is a story that I would wish to impart, but it is not for those who are faint of heart. You are still but a little filly. To tell you would be quite silly.”

“Ah ain’t little!” Apple Bloom protested. “Ah don’t get scared easy, you’ll see! Ev’rypony were scared o’you, but Ah weren’t!”

Zecora was still skeptical, but Apple Bloom widened her eyes and stared at the zebra with her trademark puppy eyes. After half a minute, Zecora sighed. “Fine. If for a few minutes you will hold, my story to you will be told.”

Apple Bloom waited as Zecora lit the wood in her central fireplace. The large cauldron that stood upon the fireplace was for some reason already full of water which slowly began to boil. When the water was simmering, the zebra kicked sand onto the fires and extinguished them. She then tossed a few herbs in the cauldron, and the water turned a bright green.

The zebra took a sip of the green liquid, and the black silhouette of a hut appeared in the water, contrasting the green around it. Zecora added a light sprinkling of white powder, and the image clarified, gaining colors and details. After half a minute, Apple Bloom felt like she was looking through a window at a world vastly different from her own.