Doctor Whooves - Part 3: Discorded

Zebras and Magic

The Doctor, Black Mist, and Derpy walked through the Everfree forest, all side-by-side.

"Why are we walking through the creepy forest?" asked the Doctor, who was on the right, and whose coat, mane, and tail had grown darker.

"We're going to meet with a zebra named Zecora," Mist replied, who was walking in the middle of the group. "She comes from a far-away land and is very knowledgeable and wise. Twilight thinks that she may be able to help."

"Isn't Zecora supposed to be evil, and, stuff?" Derpy asked in a shaky voice from the left.

"That was a misunderstanding Twilight and her friends cleared up a little while ago." Mist answered.

"How reassuring," Derpy replied.

"Did you say 'zebra'?" the Doctor asked.

"Yes, I did," Mist replied.

"Amazing," the Doctor said. "This zebra is also able to talk, I assume."

"Of course," Mist replied, sounding a bit confused. "But Twilight says she only speaks in rhymes."

"Fascinating," the Doctor said. "Do all zebras talk in rhyme?"

"I'm not sure. Zecora is the only zebra around here."

A few moments later, the three ponies came to a stop in front of a small hut. Mist walked up and knocked on the door. Shortly after, the door opened. Standing there was a zebra.

"What is this I see?" Zecora said in an accent. "New ponies that have come to visit me?"

"Hello Zecora," Mist said. "My name is Black Mist, and this is Derpy Hooves and Time Turner. We have a problem, and Twilight Sparkle said you might be able to help us."

"It is nice to meet all of you," Zecora replied. "Come inside and I'll see what I can do."

They all walked in and Zecora shut the door behind them. They had entered a large, round room. In the center of the room was a cauldron, and decorating the walls were strange masks. There were also shelves lined with vials full of different ingredients.

"I have helped many, it is true," Zecora continued. "Now, tell me, how can I help you?"

"Well, Time Turner here is... changing. His mane used to be brown, and his coat was more tan. He has also been having this ear pain, and has passed out a couple of times."

"You say he has been turning grey? What is it the doctors say?"

"That's the weird thing, the doctors can't find anything wrong with him. Also, there is something else. I have this ability; I am able to establish mental links with other ponies. I can feel their emotions, see their memories, things like that, but when this began, the mental connection between us was broken somehow, which has never happened."

Zecora thought for a moment, then said, "This problem you have is unique, but, I fear, I don't have the solution you seek."

The other ponies sighed, disappointed.

"But do not lose hope just yet," Zecora continued. "I know someone who can help, I bet. The answer you seek may be at hand, for I have someone visiting from my homeland. The knowledge he holds will never fade, so I'm sure he can come to your aid."

Just then the door to the hut opened and in walked another zebra. He looked a lot like Zecora, but his mane was shorter, and not as neat. He also had a single earring in his right ear. His cutie mark looked like a scroll.

When he saw the ponies, he smiled. "Hello, friends," he said in the same accent as Zecora. "My name is Tafari, I am a friend of Zecora. I do not believe we have met."

"My name is Black Mist," Mist replied. "This is Time Turner and Derpy Hooves."

"It is good to meet you all." Tafari said.

"Excuse me sir," the Doctor said. "I couldn't help but realize you aren't speaking in rhymes."

"You are referring to the pattern of speech that Zecora uses, I assume. Well, that is not the way all zebras speak, only Zecora. It is one of the things that make her special."

"Interesting," the Doctor replied.

"I bet Twilight would think so," Mist said.

"Tafari, these ponies have a problem that seems to evolve," Zecora cut in. "It is something that I don't know how to resolve."

"Tell me your problem, and I will tell you if I can help." Tafari said to the ponies.

Mist then explained to Tafari what was happening. As he explained, Tafari's smile faded. When Mist finished, Tafari began to think. After a few moments of silence, Derpy asked "Well, do you know what's going on?"

"I do not know much about this, but, then again, no pony really does. What I do know is it is a form of powerful dark magic, an ancient, chaos magic. I have seen something very similar once, a long time ago. First, the pony begins to go through physical changes, manes and coats changing colors. Then, they go through mental changes; they become more aggressive, rude, violent. Basically, the pony goes crazy, they begin to hurt the ones close to them. They become a completely different pony. It is usually a very quick process, so I am surprised your friend has lasted this long. Then again, I can tell there is something different about him." Tafari turned his head towards the Doctor. "You are different, are you not?"

"Well, is there any way to reverse it?" Derpy asked, worried, not giving the Doctor a chance to answer.

"I am afraid there is not, as far as I am aware." Tafari replied. "But if you do not find a way to stop this process, you could lose your friend forever."