Title:           Chapter 9: The Everfree
Author:          CookieSfh
Pastebin link:   http://pastebin.com/KUUcvk9A
First Edit:      Wednesday 15th of June 2016 07:56:53 AM CDT
Last Edit:       Last edit on: Tuesday 21st of June 2016 07:44:07 PM CDT

>As Twilight finishes up with her breakfast, you try to play with your mane.
>Both Spike and Twilight watch in enjoyment as your mane refuses to be toyed with.
>First you try to hug it, but it simply shifts out of your grasp.
>Then you try to punch it, but it absorbs the hits and goes to the back of your head.
>So now, your endlessly chasing it.
>The two giggle at your antics before your able to catch it, which ends in it morphing itself onto your back again.
>But you just want to fuck off.
>All big and fluffy yet you can't touch it.
>At least not for too long.
>"I see your having fun Anon, but we need to get going."
"Ok."
>Getting up from floor, you dust yourself off and follow Twilight out the door.
>She gives you a bright motherly smile before you both head out the door.
>While you're walking through the streets, Twilight pats you with her wing, getting your attention.
"Yes, Twilight?"
>"What was all that back at the castle?"
"Hmm... I am not sure. The passage of time in this world is... interesting."
>Twilight looks puzzled, but wants to leave it to you to figure out.
>She couldn't understand what you might be going through, but she's hopeful that you will get used to the world around you.
>And she's right to do so.
>Even though your needs are being supplemented...
>Something has started... to eat...
>And it needs...
>You don't have what it needs...
>And you don't know what it needs.
>You could guess like what you did moments ago, but it the solution doesn't seem cleared this time.
>You decide that it's best to wait out the pain.
>The best you can do.
"Where are we going, Twilight? This isn't the usual path towards the school."
>"Oh, we aren't going to school today Anon, I was curious if a certain some pony could help me with something."
"A certain some pony?"
>"Yup, and I'm sure your 'voices' are gonna love her. She's all about the ancient times."
>This peeks your interest.
>A pony in the ancient times?
>What might this lead to?
>As the two of you head past the many shops and stores, the two of you wonder into what looks to be a path protruding out of Ponyville.
>The vine shrubs don't add to the pleasantries either.
>The two of you make it through the jungle path and into a plain forest terrain.
>The amount of shade is uncharacteristic for the setting of this world.
>Where is this?
>"Alright, were here."
"Hmm?"
>You look at the direction Twilight points at and see a weird lit up tree with windows and bulb-ed decorations all around the branches and outer walls of the trees.
>And from the looks of it, something is being brewed inside, as steam comes from one of the upper windows of the house.
>"I figured that if any pony could understand your hardships, it would be the a pony into customs. So what better pony than my good friend Zecora! Cmon, I'll introduce you."
"Alright."
>So you follow Twilight to the wooden hut and let her knock on the door.
>"Yes, what is it?"
>"Zecora, it's me, Twilight."
>Some steps are heard and the door opens up to show an exotic striped pony.
>"Ah, Twilight, so glad that you could come to visit, and who might this little pony be, casting such a savage visage?"
>"Oh, this is my new son, I believe that you can help me with him." Zecora gives looks at her with a crazy glare, but it soon changes when Twilight gives a pleading gesture of help.
>Zecora lets out a sigh. "I suppose I can help your kin, but why come to me for such help, old friend?"
>"Well..." Twilight tries to think of a way to elaborate it, but can't think of any, so she comes clean. "My son, Anonymous, suffers from these voices in his head, so I wanted to know if you had anything that could maybe help him."
>Zecora ponders it for a moment, and a light-bulb sparks inside as her eyes open wide. "Ah, if a mental remedy is what you seek, then I will have a look at what I keep.
>As Zecora looks through her stuff, Twilight tries to fill her in on more information. "Er-well actually, its more than that. There may quite possibly be uhm... dark... beings involved... hehe..."
>And Zecora immediately stops in her tracks. "I lost my voice to the darkness long ago... tell me Twilight, what do you know."
>Twilight looks surprised, and figids a little. "I-uhm..." But before she could say anymore, Zecora beckons you both into the shack.
>Looking around the place, a cauldron is placed in the center of the room, cooking what appears to be her breakfast.
>Books lie all over the ground and many varieties of potions lay untouched on the shelves.
>Reminds you of Twilight, except with painted masks.
>"So you say that these voices are of the dark lord's work, but I see no influence or a devil's perk."
>"A devil's what-now?"
"She means that I don't show nothing that involves the voices."
>Zecora perks up. "You can understand what I am saying? Tell me young one, what game are you playing?"
"I don't know why you speak in such tones, but I will show you the prove."
>Zecora looks at you in curiosity, and then in bewilderment as you focus on your hoof, transforming it to tentacles.
>"By the holy light's begone from thee! You will never take the spirit from me!"
>You turn your hoof back to normal as Twilight tries to calm her down.
>"Zecora! Relax, he means no harm. He's just showing you that what I say is true." Zecora takes it all in.
>She takes a deep breathe, and then sighs a heavy tone. "I am deeply sorry Twilight, but nothing in this world compares to the dark I see in him. You were right to come to me, the cleansing must begin." But Twilight stops her from moving.
>"Wait Zecora, I don't know what that might do to him! I just want you to keep the voices out of his head. Not purify him all together." Zecora hesitates, but listens.
>"Alright Twilight, I will listen, but I believe that something in this riddle is missing."
>"What do you mean Zecora?"
>"I mean that my tribe has come long and far, but never have I felt a presence this dark."
"What experiences do you have with the elden, Zecora?"
>Zecora starts to fill with doubt and regret, but she tells you what she believes is meant to be heard. "Long ago, my tribe experimented on dark magics not meant to be toyed with, and as a result we were the once that regretted it. Families were lost, lives were torn from reality, and as lucky as I might be... we should have never driven ourselves to such fallacies..." Twilight was feeling sorrow in every word she spoke.
>"Zecora... I'm so sorry your kind had to go through that." Twilight hugs Zecora, which brightens the mood, but it doesn't fix the problem at hand.
>"Thank you Twilight, you care for me so. Now let me take care of the one that you know."
>Zecora looks at you and stares into your eyes.
>So you stare back.
>Is there a point to this?
>"Hmmm... yes I see it..."
"What?"
>Zecora comes up to you, and gently takes one of your ears, trying carefully not to cause harm.
>And with it, she whispers softly into your ear. "The void... it calls to me..."
>Your eyes flare up and your senses multiply, causing you to wince at the overwhelming words.
>And Twilight intervenes. "Zecora, what are you doing!?" but Zecora calms her with a hoof to the air.
>"I was simply testing the waters, and I can say for sure that Anonymous here is too deep to bother."
>"What do you mean?"
>"What I mean is that even if I tried to purify him as before, their hold would stay strong forevermore. What I spoke is a mantra of worship, and Anonymous grew in strength, quite unfortunate."
>"So are we going to find a way to quell the voices?"
>"I'm afraid that the best we could do, if anything at all, is to see what comes of it overall."
>Twilight grew disheartened by this, but Zecora reassured her. "We may not be able to help your dear son, but do not worry, for he is 'the one'." this gets her attention.
>"'The one'? What do you mean Anon's 'the one'."
>"Anonymous appears to have everything under control, so even if he were to lose his mentality, he would most likely stay as one whole."
"How... do you know this?"
>"Through ancient texts and filled scrolls, I read what could be you, dear foal. 'The Chosen' it called throughout my tribe, though no one possessed the void, not even I." And then she looks at you with a serious demeanor. "You are the one the prophets foretold, and now we must wait for the inevitable to unfold."
>Huh... she actually started to sound like one of the voices for a second.
>Though she needs more work on her riddles.
>But that wasn't important.
>"Zecora, I don't know what this whole prophecy thing is, but if there is anything I can do to stop it, please tell me." Zecora was saddened by Twilight's expression. Twilight really didn't want whatever was going to happen to you, to happen at all. With a guaranteed chance of it happening, she could only think of prolonging the inevitable.
>But Zecora thinks of the hope Twilight might have for you. Such a young colt already doomed to such a fate. Zecora could only fathom the despair that Twilight felt at this moment. "Perhaps... there is a way, a potion of purification, if I may."
>Twilight double-takes. "Really! Wait, I thought you said there was nothing we could do." but Zecora corrects her.
>"Yes indeed, my hooves are tied, but that does not mean we cannot try. Into the forest we must go, but beware for danger lies below." Twilight thinks for a second if this would all be a good idea. See wanted to save you, but she didn't know if you could handle the Everfree just yet. Even a princess such as herself had trouble in this forest, who knows what would happen if you went into the forest.
>You were indifferent.
"What do we need from this forest, Zecora?"
>"First, we will need the teeth of a manticore, a ferocious beast that roams in this thorn. Then, a single drop of dew from the plumpious flowers, a plant so bright, the light can last for hours. Thirdly, we will need the eyes of the cockatrice, a draconian creature with a chicken's head and feet. And finally, we will need the living essence of the timber-wolf creatures. Guided by the clouds influencing their features." Zecora goes to one of her shelves and pulls out a book with a monster's outlined face on the front.
>Giving it to Twilight, she looks back to you with worry overtaking her.
>And both do not know how you fair in combat, as their doubt increases around you.
>"Anon, are you sure you're gonna be OK? Though I'm not sure if I could handle all the creatures alone, I do know what they rely on to beat their opponents." But you brush her off.
"I can easily handle anything this forest has to offer. If what Zecora says is true, these creatures are most likely remnants of my power."
>"That may be true, but what will you do when one of these beast comes for you?"
"If power of mine remains here, then I will be able to absorb the creatures power, turning them back to whatever creature they originally were." and Twilight seems to really like your idea.
>"You could do that? That would be... would be... amazing, wonderfu-" but Zecora cuts her excitement short.
>"Yes, if what your son says is true, then he could purify the forest through and through, but what good would that do if we plan to cleanse these voices? It would only intensify its noises."
>Twilight backs off and thinks for a second, and quickly nods in agreement. "Yeah, I don't think absorbing all that chaotic energy would help in any way, but it would be an option that we could go."
>You wonder how much energy this forest might have.
>If Zecora is worried that you won't be able to handle the power, she is contradicting her statement from before.
>Your thoughts are cut short by the other.
~Ash sa's addan, pol'oatless~
>You ignore the omen and listen as Twilight and Zecora discuss the best course of action to shut out the voices in your head.
>You should be taking this seriously... but...
>Something is being released into you.
>Some type of sedative...
>Wait...
 
 
 
>Looking behind you, a tentacle has been hit by a five darts covered in some green slime.
>The moment the first one hit, you weren't able to feel anything due to the numbing agent.
>Morphing your legs into a mass of tentacles, you make individual eyes out of each for every window.
>As Twilight and Zecora look through supplies for the trip, you look out all the windows.
>The tentacles are tiny enough that they don't notice both of your legs moving across the floorboards and onto the walls.
>Hmmm... right wall second window.
>A fig...
>You look up and see that the tentacle's been shot out, its eye falling to the ground from another dart.
>Both of them turn to face you with bewildered looks as you transform your body back to its normal state.
"Someone is watching us."
>"Anon, what in the world was-" Twilight is cut off by Zecora, who picks up the shot eye and looks at the blow dart.
>"Hmm... this isn't any ordinary venom. This isn't from any 'native' creature in this kingdom." Zecora closes all the windows and proceeds to take a book from under the wood floor.
>Taking off the hollow plank, she takes out a book called 'foreign monsters and myths'.
>"It seems that the rogue outside of our doors, is using a slime like nothing before." Twilight walks up to her questioningly.
>"Slime? What do you mean?" Twilight remembers how bad slime can be, but she never heard of a venomous one.
>"A rare occurrence among woodland slime. If born in a snake's nest, can inherit certain aspects of the ones they stay with in time."
>"So it's a snake-like slime creature?"
>"Perhaps. Anonymous, if you run into our little friend outside, make sure to bring them to me to decide."
"I will do it."
>Before Twilight can question her, Zecora nods and gets Twilight's attention. "Time runs low dear friend, hurry and collect the ingredients before the day comes to an end."
>Twilight bites her lip, but gives her a confident smile. "Don't worry Zecora, we'll take care of the intruder and the ingredients, don't worry about a thing."
>Zecora walks back to her cauldron while Twilight suits up with the supplies needed for the day.
>As the saddlebag rests on her back, she hovers a miniature saddle towards you with similar pockets and bags.
>So you move your head to the side to move your fluffy mass, making room for the saddle on your back.
>"There, all set. You ready to head out Anon?"
"Yes. Let us go to collect what we need."
>The both of you walk out the door and out into the wilderness and Twilight turns around. "Goodbye, Zecora!"
>"Good tidings, Twilight Sparkle!"
>And now the both of you head down a path away from Ponyville.
>Deeper into the forest.
>A good time to ask Twilight what is needed.
"Twilight, what does a manticore look like?"
>"A manticore? It's sort of like a combination of three creatures. A lion's head and body, a scorpion's tail and stinger, and a bat's stretched wings." Twilight stops for a second to think to herself, then relays the idea to you. "Hmm... most of the stuff Zecora listed off would most likely be found at night, so how about we look for that manticore first, since they aren't nocturnal."
"A good plan. Let's mo-... another dart?"
>Looking at your rear, another tentacle has blocked the sharp projectile, inserting more of the venom into you.
>An audible 'tch' is heard as a few bushes to the left rustle.
>You try to head after it, but Twilight stops you with her hoof. "Anon, we will get our chance, don't worry. Let's head towards that mountain over there, manticores tend to like the rocky terrain."
>You'll listen to her for now.
>Though you really don't want to take another dart.
>Heading through the bushes and shrubs of the forest, the trees start to dissipate around you as the rocky terrain becomes more and more visible.
>Looking around, you see no sign of a pursuer.
>You suspect that they will wait for you to return to the forest.
>"Don't worry Anon. With all these rocks and boulders, there's no way they can follow us. They'll just have to wait."
>Her confidence and well-rounded figure hasn't changed, though she is breathing a bit more heavily than before we started.
"Lets go further into the mountain, I'll be able to track the manticore from there."
>"Sounds good. If we catch it by surprise, maybe we won't even have to fight it."
>You nod and start to jump and scamper through the rocky landscape while Twilight uses her wings to traverse the area.
>That's when you see it.
>A bridge connecting two cliff faces together.
>And sleeping at the other side is a manticore.
>You weren't expecting it to be that big, but you'd be able to handle it.
>You look at Twilight, which still has her confident smile on, and nod to her to show your legs changing.
>All four of your legs have turned into spring-like tentacles, causing your walking to be near silent.
>The true challenge will be the bridge.
>Taking your first step onto the bridge, it creeks and extends to your weight, making the manticore's ear twitch, but doesn't show any signs of waking up.
>A few more steps and... nothing.
>But, the next step contained a crack, and a regular hoof would have made just as much noise as the platforms you have on just now.
>The sound echoed throughout the entire canyon you were above, making you cringe.
>And making the beast wake up.
>Stretching out and smacking its lips, the manticore looks around for the intruder.
>But it can only see Twilight from across the bridge.
>Her eyes grow wide, but before she can yell, the beast gives a mighty roar to try and scare her away from the bridge.
>With nothing to do, she sits herself down to observe, confusing the manticore.
>It looks around the general area around it, wondering what the pony might be watching.
>And now she's started to giggle, making it furious.
>Moving its paw, it prepares to slam the ground to prove some sort of dominance in the area.
>Or perhaps to scare away anything that might be hiding.
>It hoists itself into the air, propelling itself with its wings, ready to clear the area.
>And then, a loud thud is heard across the forest.
>Everything lays silent.