Lore’s Tales
Episode 2: Mix and Match

Early morning dew covered the Everfree Forest as Equestria was blessed with a miraculous morning, Celestia rose the sun to warm the lands as she always has. The sunlight washed the trees with a warm radiant glow, and they reached the windows of a particular colt sleeping in his cottage. The sunlight landed on his face causing him to stir from his restful slumber. He opened his eyes, and gave a big, hearty yawn. He jumped out of his cot and started his day with eggs and a blueberry muffin as he has done most of his mornings. After breakfast he washed up and groomed his mane with a brush using his magic.

“Let’s see where I feel like exploring today.” He wondered over to his study, picked up a dart, and headed over to a large map on his wall that was labeled as “The Everfree Forest”. He closed his eyes and with his magic, he threw the dart towards the map making a low ‘thunk’ sound. He opened his eyes to see where he landed and was completely satisfied. “Alright! I haven’t been there before. I wonder what secrets I’ll uncover.” With a planned direction, Lore started to pack his expedition gear; a tent, kindling, small hatchet with a blade below the handle, some quills, ink, scrolls, rations, and climbing gear. He knew he could carry more than this, ‘but where’s the fun in that’ he thought as he strapped on his saddlebags. “Ok, looks like that’s everything!” he exclaimed as he looked himself over making sure he had everything he needed. Satisfied he headed out the door and locked up the cottage. He put his key in one of his pockets as he heard the sounds of a set of hooves lightly clopping, and approaching him.

“Um, excuse me, Lore? Um… Hi, it’s me, um, Fluttershy…” Lore turned to the shy mare, he couldn’t help but smile at her shyness towards other colts. “Greetings Fluttershy, What brings you here?” She tried her best to look at him but her head hung slightly causing her pink mane to cover most of her face. “Well, um, Twilight wanted me to come by and, um, let you know to keep an eye out for anything… strange.” Lore raised an eyebrow at this. “Strange? As in what way?” She looked towards him slightly gaining a little more composure as the conversation continued, “Well, I’m not sure if you remember the new pony which started living in Ponyville a few months back, um, I think his name was Smokey?” Lore shook his head having heard of the brown pegasus. “Well, apparently, um, one of his friends from Germareneigh, he, um, he recently appeared around the Everfree forest, like Smokey, but unconscious. He’s fine now, but um, Twilight wanted me to ask you to, um, keep an eye out for strange things like that.” Lore pondered at this for a short while, “Well, I haven’t seen anything like that lately. Where exactly was his friend found?”

“Oh, um, it was not too far into the forest, just to the side of the mane path. Maybe less than a minutes trot from the entrance.” Lore couldn’t wrap his head around this as his puzzled expression grew. “Hmm, normally monsters never come that close to the entrance especially this late in the year. Is there anything else about this that may explain him being unconscious?” Fluttershy only shook her head, “Not much else, it’s like he just got there and passed out.”

“Well, I’ll keep an eye out for any other ponies, Thanks for the heads up Fluttershy. Erm, by the way, what’s the colts name?” Fluttershy looked up to him and smiled, “Um, I think his name is Ticks. Well, I need to go Lore. Good luck on your expedition.” Lore nodded as Fluttershy flew off towards her cottage, leaving Lore to check over his map. “hmm, well, on the way to the area I’ll check the major paths for any signs of such ‘strange’ things. Maybe Zecora has seen something, she’s also on the way.” He pulled out a quill and ink well and made a few adjustments to his planned route. Once he finished he rolled up the map and put everything back in his saddle bags. He noticed where the sun was now and groaned “Aw horsefeathers, its almost 10 in the morning, I’ve wasted enough time, lets go!”

He broke out in full gallop into the Everfree forest. It was a few hours before he reached Zecora’s hut where she was found brewing a strange potion, as usual. “Greetings Zecora, I hope you are well?” he asked as he came in. She looked up and gave him a welcoming smile as he sat on one of her chairs. “Ah, Lore, It is good to see you, I am well, in every way. I see your on another expedition today.” Lore gave a small chuckle to her rhyming accent amused at her ability to speak in rhyme so easily. “Yes, I am headed to a new area I’ve yet to travel to.” He smiled as he pulled out his map showing her his planned destination. “Ah, So deep into the forest most avoid because of fear, you are a very brave pony, Lore, to travel to Green Sneer” one of Lore’s ears popped up at this, “Green Sneer? You mean this place has been named?” Zecora gave back his map and walked to her cauldron to continue her brew. “Why yes, there is a bit of legends that hold ties to that place. Tales of such dangers makes a pony’s heart race. Rumors of treasures long forgotten, protected by traps that grow weary and rotten. Tales of spirits that haunt those which trespass, but now are all gone as time took pass. Be careful my friend Lore, even though the spirits are no more, the area still holds many hostilities, even for a pony with your abilities.”

Lore gave a hearty chuckle, “I appreciate the words of warning and wisdom Zecora. But I’ve handled many dangers in my life time. I’d doubt a rundown ruin would give me too much trouble.” Zecora shook her head “Oy Lamie, Lore your just as proud in your abilities as any other, but being too proud is my bother.” Lore only grunted at this comment. “Zecora, have a bit of faith in me. After all, I am the one who mapped more of the Everfree than any other pony.” Zecora shook her head and opened her mouth to continue the argument until Lore raised his hoof to stop her. “There is another reason why I wanted to stop by. Apparently a new pony is living in Ponyville, Smokey apparently knows this colt. Ticks is his name and he is from Germareneigh like Smokey. The thing that makes this odd is he was found near the path to the entrance of the Everfree forest unconscious. Not much else was noted about this, like he just straight up passed out heading out of the forest. Now, I’m not a doctor, but ponies don’t just pass out for no good reason. There were plenty of rest sites along that path so it couldn’t have been exhaustion. Can you keep an eye out for anything strange that might relate to this? I’m not sure exactly what this is all about but… it just seems too familiar to ignore.” Zecora stopped what she was doing with eyebrows raised. “familiar? As in what way? This happened to you before? Is that what you say?” Lore shook his head. “No, I’ve passed out before, but it was normally when I was in trouble or exhausted from a long day. Plus, I can’t help but… never mind, forget that last part”

Zecora walked up to the table and sat with Lore, very interested in this. She never heard Lore speak like this before. “Lore, is there something on your mind? You can tell me, talking to a friend is easier than hiding, you’ll find.” Lore looked away, he wanted to tell her, but he also didn’t want her to think he was crazy either. “Well…” he began “…I never tell anypony this. It’s too weird I’m afraid others may think I’m crazy.” Zecora leaned in with a ‘try me’ look on her face. Lore let out a sigh; he had to tell somepony about this, might as well be Zecora who may know a thing or two about this. “I’ve had a weird feeling every time I head through that entrance. There’s something about that area that strikes me as… Off. I really felt it when Smokey came around, and now that Tick’s came around I can’t shake this feeling to save my life! Like a sort of Déjà vu, this whole situation. I don’t know, what do you think Zecora?” the zebra was deep in thought about this, she seemed to him like she never heard anything like this before. “Perhaps, Lore, you and these two ponies share a connection of some kind. What kind of connection is up to you to find.” Lore sighed, “Perhaps.” Lore took notice of the time and got up quickly, “Oh! Sorry Zecora, I’d better head off before it gets later than needed.” Lore was about to head out the door when Zecora called out to him, “Here, take this container of herbal mix, It is for when you need a quick fix. From infections to a broken limb, this will fix any pony up on a whim.” Lore took a small gourd that had some sloshing liquid inside. “Thanks Zecora, I may need this.”

Lore set out towards the area as he planned, he kept on trotting through the forest until the sun started to set. He took notice of this and started to set up camp. After he finished pitching his tent and lighting a small fire he began to set up a small circle of torches around the campsite to ward off any predators that might’ve wanted to visit him. Satisfied with his work he wiggled into his padded blanket and started to lull into a deep sleep.

Lore was suddenly awoken as he heard something crashing into his campsite. Alarmed, Lore quickly tried to cast his QT spell (he calls it a Quick Thinking spell. Mainly because it speeds up his perception, reflexes, and thought process by about 10x to that of an average pony). But he couldn’t cast it in time as something shot a net over him pinning him down, but it didn’t just hold him down, it gave him an electrical shock which stunned him. Unable to move or use magic he just laid there and watched as an equine figure approached, but something was off. This wasn’t a normal pony, it wasn’t a pony at all. It was completely made of metal with green glowing eyes. Lore watch on in awe and horror as the mechanical equine approached. Lore winced as it started to speak. “Intruder detained. Intruder class recognized; OC Pony. Initiating OC Pony capture sequence.” Lore felt a rush of that familiar feeling as soon as the mechanoid said OC. He’s heard of OC before, Why does it seem so familiar? He couldn’t put his hoof on it, well he couldn’t put it on there before he was shot with a dart. He felt woozy and the night sky started to fade from his vision. The last thing Lore remembered before passing out:

“What is an OC Pony?”

End of Episode 2 Mix and Match; Part 1

Chapter Notes:
Strange things are happening in the Everfree forest, as always.This time Lore is in hot water as a mysterious device has captured him! Will he survive? What is planned for him? Who are Smokey and Ticks? Find out in the next part!

As for Smokey and Ticks, Some of you may think that they sound familiar, and there is a good reason for that
For those who missed it, they are from one of my friends fics called Life as a Pony. Go over to his fic and see what's up with Smokey and Ticks.