Although Fluttershy knew where Zecora’s hut was located, she had a very difficult time getting there from her and Matthew’s home. From their home, Fluttershy didn’t know her way to a lot of places. Matthew’s injuries made it even more difficult to find it. Matthew could have climbed through the trees and gotten a great view from above, but he was stuck on the ground. Fluttershy refused to leave his side, so she couldn’t fly into the air and try to get a view. They continued through the Everfree Forest, until finally they found Zecora’s hut.

Matthew and Fluttershy hid behind a bush just outside Zecora’s hut when they noticed that she was out meditating. She seemed very focused, and it seemed like nothing could disturb her. But, Zecora had a way of knowing things, and easily managed to catch Matthew and Fluttershy.

“Hello there stranger, come forward, for I sense you present no danger,” she said. Matthew looked to Fluttershy and nodded for them to reveal themselves. They stepped out, and Zecora opened her eyes. She immediately recognized Fluttershy, but this new creature came as a surprise to even her.

“Could it be, Fluttershy, one who I thought had been lost to the sky. You have been away for so long, and I knew for certain something was wrong.” Fluttershy stepped up to Zecora and was greeted with a hug. Fluttershy was at first a little surprised, but she returned the hug.

“It really has been a long time Zecora. It’s good to see you again after all these years.”

“You have not changed one bit my friend,” she started, releasing Fluttershy. “I knew for certain you had not yet met the end. But, my friendly equine, who have you brought with you that is not so divine?” She was referring to Matthew.

“Zecora, this is Matthew, my… boyfriend.” She said boyfriend a little quietly, but Matthew didn’t question her about it. She rarely ever said that word, and Matthew knew it kind of bothered her a bit. “He is really hurt, and we were told that you could provide him with something to help heal him.” Zecora looked to Matthew.

“Matthew, no, it cannot be true. The one Celestia hunts for all throughout Equestria. I sense you are suffering great pain, from her hatred, that will not drain.” Matthew nodded.

“That obvious huh? Look, Zecora, I know that you don’t know me, and that you may not trust me, but I was told that you had not only something to heal me, but to aid me in my struggle as well.” Zecora looked at Matthew with a great amount of focus. It’s like she was reading his mind.

“I know what to do, for I have just the thing for you. Come, step into my abode, and we shall see what animal waits for you down the road.” Both Matthew and Fluttershy were confused, but it seemed as though Zecora trusted Matthew. Fluttershy helped Matthew inside, and he rested up against one of the couches in the hut. He was still in pain, and he could barely move.

“So, Zecora, what exactly do you have that can help me?”

“Matthew, what I have shall be a great boon for you. All you need do is wait while I brew.” Matthew nodded as Zecora got out a potion book. She started gathering ingredients, bringing them over to her cauldron and adding them to the mix. She started brewing together the mixture, and a color started to form. The mixture turned blood red, which made Fluttershy gag a little. Matthew held her close, shielding her eyes from whatever it was Zecora was making. After about 15 minutes, it was ready. Zecora dunked a bowl into the mixture and handed it to Matthew. He looked at it with distaste.

“So, um, what will this do exactly?” Zecora simply motioned for Matthew to drink. He looked to Fluttershy. She looked back into his eyes. She was so worried, and he could tell. He gave her a quick kiss.

“I’ll be fine, don’t worry.”

“I know. Just, please, don’t leave me. I love you.”

“I love you too.” With that, Matthew started to drink the mixture. It slid down his throat smoothly to his surprise, not being filled with chunks. But, Matthew knew the taste. It had the metallic taste of blood, matching its color. Matthew finished drinking, and he started to feel pain shoot through his body. He gagged a bit, and Fluttershy tried to help him. Zecora simply held her back.

“For this to work Fluttershy, he must see what awaits him in the sky.” Fluttershy just kept whimpering, as Matthew started to pass out. He felt his mind leaving his physical body, and before he knew it, he was out.

Matthew woke to find himself in a blue, cloud filled sky. He was lying on the ground, which was actually a cloud. He managed to pick himself up to his own surprise. He felt no pain or weakness. He looked around, but he saw nothing. He looked to his body, finding that he was unarmed, only wearing the lower half of his outfit. His hood, bear pelt, straps, weapons, and anything else that was on the upper half of his body was gone. All he had on were his ragged, cloth leggings and robe pieces.

“What the hell is all this?” he said out loud. He continued to spin around, and suddenly, an eagle appeared. It surprised Matthew as it flew over his head. Matthew’s eyes didn’t leave the eagle. Matthew’s instincts told him to raise his arm as a perch for the eagle. To his own surprise, it landed, and it didn’t even scratch his arm. He used his middle and index fingers to rub the chin of the graceful bird, but it flew off into the sky. Matthew decided to follow.

But, as he did, rocks and trees started to form around Matthew from nothing. These new structures were large enough for Matthew to start parkouring along them. The trees formed perfect structures that were all too familiar to him. He kept following the eagle as it flew higher into the sky. Suddenly, a giant tree formed. Matthew was taken back by the scale, but he climbed up. Finally reaching the top, Matthew found a large eagle’s nest, but no sign of the eagle.

“Where did you…” he started to say, but couldn’t finish when a giant eagle landed in the nest. It was double the size of Matthew, but it just sat on the edge of the nest. Matthew couldn’t believe his eyes. The eagle called out to the sky, and its call was returned. After the second call ended, the giant eagle turned its head towards Matthew. He jumped back as it did, bracing himself for anything. What the eagle did, Matthew didn’t exactly suspect. The eagle gripped Matthew in its talons and threw him over the edge.

To his own surprise, Matthew didn’t even start to scream or shout out. He just fell. At first he was flailing, but he soon started to just let his body fall. Suddenly, another eagle cried out. Matthew, who had been falling with his stomach to the ground, lifted his head up to see the eagle flying straight at him. He closed his eyes as the eagle flew right into him. But, Matthew didn’t start falling in another direction. The eagle bonded with Matthew, and disappeared.

Matthew continued to fall, but now, he felt a rush of power flow through his body. He opened his eyes, and they lit up. When the light faded, his vision was now crystal clear. From his many years of gaming, Matthew’s eyesight had deteriorated a bit. He didn’t need to wear glasses, but some things were quite blurred to him. Now, he found that he could see literally everything. When the clouds were normally just white blurs, he could now make out even the smallest shadows on them. The rush of power continued to flow through his body, and what came next was something Matthew never would have suspected.

His entire body altered, and he became an eagle. He flew through the sky with grace and speed that only an eagle could know. He didn’t even look to his own form, he just kept flying. Another tree soon formed, and Matthew changed back and landed on a branch. As he landed, he looked at himself. Had he really just changed into an eagle? Before he could answer himself, structures formed throughout the sky. He couldn’t reach them by conventional means, and he took this as a cue to use his newfound powers.

Matthew changed into the eagle once again, flying from one point to another. He could change from the form of human to eagle in the blink of an eye, and it didn’t feel unnatural. Matthew just felt his mind leave the body of a human, and take the body of an eagle. As Matthew flew to a more out of reach structure, he looked over his new form. He had brown feathers and dark yellow talons, sharp enough to rip out the heart of a bear. He landed and thought to himself.

'Ok, could my life resemble Assassin’s Creed any more than it already does?' He simply shook his head and chuckled as he continued to fly. He made one final landing, and another eagle flew to him. He held up his arm and it landed. Matthew rubbed its chin. The graceful bird expanded his wings to full span and cried out. It flew off, and Matthew started to feel his mind leaving this mystical world. Within moments, Matthew’s mind returned to his physical body.

Matthew’s eyes shot open to find himself lying on the couch. Fluttershy was sitting on the floor next to him, and Zecora was sitting over by her table. Fluttershy noticed that Matthew had awoken.

“Finally you’re awake. What happened? And, what’s happened to your eyes?” Fluttershy asked, which only confused Matthew. Matthew only raised an eyebrow in response. Fluttershy asked if Zecora could bring over a small mirror. When Matthew looked in the mirror, he saw that the whites of his eyes were now a light shade of gold, and the green of his eyes had become black, matching his pupils. He now had the eyes of an eagle, but did he still have the powers? Matthew examined himself, and he tried to will himself to change. In a flash, Matthew changed into his new eagle form. Fluttershy jumped back in surprise, while Zecora simply smiled and nodded.

“It seems your journey was a success Matthew, the power of the eagle has certainly found you.” Matthew simply let out an eagle’s cry, and he changed back to his human form. Fluttershy looked at him in amazement.

“So, you can turn into an eagle now?”

“Yeah, I guess so. Although, just now, I felt myself getting a little weak, but in the dream, I didn’t feel that effect. Zecora, what gives?” Zecora closed her eyes and spoke.

“The power of the eagle is not to be used wrongly, for the effects can hinder you strongly. Exposure to the power for too long can make everything go wrong,” she answered. This really did seem too familiar to Matthew. This was literally the exact same thing as the Assassin’s Creed 3 DLC. Not only did he have the outfit, but now he had the power of the eagle. But, he didn’t care. This would certainly aid him in taking on Celestia.

Matthew suddenly realized that he was standing, but he felt no pain at all. He felt his chest to find that his ribs were no longer broken, and that his burn marks were gone. He had been fully healed, along with gaining the power and senses of the eagle.

“Just, wow. Not only do I now have some kickass powers, but I’m also back to my top condition. Zecora, I don’t know what was in that potion, but whatever it was, it sure as hell helped me. I can’t thank you enough. I only wish I had something to repay the generosity and kindness that you’ve shown me, a stranger.”

“It is reward enough to know that I have done good. Giving me you happiness and thanks is more than you should.” Zecora truly was an amazing zebra. Matthew turned to Fluttershy.

“What do you think?”

“I think it’s amazing. You can turn into one of the most graceful creatures around, and now you’re fully healed. This is just amazing,” she responded. He knelt down and brought her in for a tight hug. “I love you Matthew.”

“I love you too Fluttershy.” The two of them embraced each other for about one minute. As they released, they both turned to Zecora and thanked her once again. They decided that they would leave. Being as close to Ponyville as they were put them in danger. They thanked Zecora once more as they walked back through the forest.

Matthew took this time to try out his new powers. He flew through the forest with little to no trouble, but using the power as much as he was definitely proved to be hazardous. Landing on one branch, he decided to lower himself down to the ground and rest. Fluttershy went to his side.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, it’s just that I think I’m using the power too much. Zecora even said that using it too much can be dangerous. I plan on training myself to use this more effectively. Don’t worry, I’m fine,” he said, and he kissed her on the cheek. She smiled, and they continued walking home.

Arriving at their house, it had gotten pretty dark out. Before leaving Zecora’s, they had been provided with a day’s worth of food. Matthew and Fluttershy ate their dinner inside, and they quickly went to sleep afterwards. They shared their dreams once again. They now saw each other at the Grand Galloping Gala. They watched themselves walking through the Canterlot Garden, as well as performing one of their favorite songs together. Finally, they watched Rainbow Dash performing with the Wonderbolts. She performed a Sonic Rainboom, and in that moment, Matthew and Fluttershy shared a kiss as the rainbow spread across the night sky. These dreams that Matthew and Fluttershy were having were the things they wanted the most, but they would remain what they were in the first place. Dreams.

Author's Notes:

Hey look at that, I made another reference to Assassin's Creed. Well, now you know the kickass power Matthew gets. However, there is still more to come. Next up, round 2.