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Description
With Zecora back in town Twilight was ready to try another angle to get to the bottom of what is afflicting Applebloom in my Equestria dreamscape. Having no success with traditional Equestrian medicine or magic link and with a pressing need to understand Applebloom's condition Twilight and the Apple family were willing to try something more unorthodox if it produced real results. Note to all my watchers. If you are expecting paragraphs of zebra rhymes in this posting you will be sorely disappointed. My brain did conjure up some of that rhyming dialog for this dream, but for the most part it just threw in the towel. I may be imaginative but my subconscious is not wired that way.

Now in Ponyville Zecora is one of the recognized local experts when it comes to all things related alchemy and apothecary, but the zebra mare also possesses a deep knowledge from her homeland of magical creatures and beings of the spiritual realm. Until recently Twilight had been willing to lump any stories dealing with "paranormal" beings in the same category as zombie and sea ponies. Amusing bits of fiction, but of no great scientific worth or merit. However events of the last year have forced Twilight to think outside of her comfort zone enough that she is now not willing to dismiss some of these events and stories in the same off-hoof fashion as before.

With permission from the Royal Sisters, Twilight gave Zecora a security briefing on what Twilight knew of the events surrounding myself, Petina, The Lord of Shadows, Applebloom's abduction, Paynes Grey and Sunrise link and the book called The Kingdom Shadows, my death as unicorn and rebirth as a pegasi, and the ultimate destruction of the Lord of Shadows at Everfree Castle. Of course Zecora was already familiar with the last incident since her hut is located in the Everfree Forest and it had sustained quite a bit of damage when the old black, ugly and feathery went up in a nifty little fireball link . The zebra found the briefing very informative and more than just a bit disturbing. At least now she he a more complete understanding for why a sizable portion of the Everfree Forest suddenly went up in a thunderous, fiery explosion link than what the local newspapers had reported. She also was alarmed by the idea that Applebloom may have brought a hitchhiker back from there when she was freed. Therefore Twilight had very little trouble enlisting her aid to help solve Applebloom's condition.

Zecora insisted on not only speaking with Applebloom's doctor but that she be permitted access to all of the little filly's test results and medical records so that she could review the data that had already been collected concerning the patient. She reviewed all the telegrams and correspondences that Twilight and the staff had had with experts outside of the area. Much to Twilight and hospital staff's surprise Zecora had a much broader grasp of Equestrian medicine then what they had imagined. She Interviewed the Apple family to get help her build a more complete profile of Applebloom's personality before and after the abduction. Finally she insisted on interviewing Petina and I so she could get my side of the story directly from the horse's mouth so to speak. Now there were several questions Zecora asked that Petina and I simple were unwilling to answer and when pressed for a explanation we simply said that it was the princesses wishes that we not discuss the topic without permission from them. The zebra grudgingly accepted that and went on to the next set of questions.

All in all it took about three days for her to wade through all the paperwork and conduct her interviews. When it was all done she had formulated a plan of attack in her mind. First off she met with Applebloom in her isolation room at the hospital. Now since her return from the Kingdom of Shadows Applebloom has been rather evasive and unwilling to spend time with not only her family but her close friends, and classmates. This attitude had not improved since her extended stay at the hospital had begun. Therefore the staff was very interested when the little filly actually showed some interest in talking to the zebra while she recovered from her latest ordeal. With the little filly's recently dislocated right hind leg on the mend, both her and zebra mare started taking strolls around the hospital grounds and having little picnics under trees scattered around the grounds.

Since her last attack Applebloom has not had any more episodes of seizures and the night staff had noticed a drop off in the occurrence of nightmares from the little filly. Her right hind leg was still very sore, but with supervision she was now being allowed to move, if a bit slow, around the hospital while under observation. Her appetite had improved some although she said that most things still tasted funny. However she had developed a craving for dark leafy green vegetables like spinach, something she had not liked in the past. She was becoming a voracious reader and was plowing through the book cart's selection at an almost Twilight-like rate. She had also begun requesting books from the town library on a wide variety of topics. Many of them are not the kind of thing that little foals usually find of interest. She also had started reading the Ponyville Express and the Canterlot Courier from front to back every day.

Applebloom seemed to be very interested in learning more about zebra culture and zebra magic and Zecora's homeland. Applebloom has always liked Zecora, and the mare has said that the filly might have potential as a alchemist, so with permission from the Apple Family and the hospital staff Zecora proposed that Applebloom come and stay with her for a couple days as a change of scenery from the boring hospital rooms and corridors. So early one late autumn morning Applebloom was discharged from the Ponyville hospital and into the zebra's custody. On purpose Applebloom's family was not there when she left. The trip to Zecora's hut was slow and pleasant and there were numerous stops along the way to answer some question about a plant, animal, or aspect concerning the Everfree Forest. Zecora had brought lunches for them, so around noon they stopped under a large tree in the forest and partook of refreshments. Because of the lazy pace it was not until mid-afternoon that they arrived at Zecora's hut. After a bit of rearranging of belongings, the zebra had made a pleasant cot for her guest to sleep in. The rest of day was spent just chatting, cooking dinner, and making some potion stocks for customers.

Now Zecora was not just interested in playing house with Applebloom. She wanted to try and gain an understanding of what might be effecting the little filly. However direct tests, examinations, and interviews had failed to bear any fruit. So the zebra's plan of attack was not to observe Applebloom, but instead observe the environment around the little filly and see how it responded to her. But Zecora was certain that if the little filly knew she was being observed the test would fail. So she had to observe her covertly and yet throughly. Throughout the next day the zebra kept a close eye on the little filly as she helped her harvest and organize stocks of herbs for winter drying. After cleaning up from lunch Zecora decided to try a technique from her homeland called the Singer's Path. It is a method used by shamans in Zecora's homeland to discover what is troubling a patient's mind even when the patient doesn't know. It is a form of free association chanting/ singing which usually causes the patient to drop into a trance-like state. Once in this state the shaman will attempt coax out what is bothering the patient by careful changing and inserting words or phrases into the chanting then observing how the patient responds or replies to the new information. It can be a deliberate and staged act in which the patient knows they are embarking down the Singer's Path, but in this case Zecora decided that she would try to lead Applebloom to the Path without letting her know it was happening.

So as they were preparing another batch of potions Zecora softly started singing. At first the little filly didn't even notice her singing, but eventually curiosity caused her to stop what she was doing and she came over and stared at the zebra. "Whatcha singing there Zecora?" Asked the earth pony. "Oh it is a popular song from my lands little Applebloom. Would you like to learn it to?" "Oh yes I would!" Exclaimed the little filly. Smiling the zebra began leading the little filly through the opening parts of the song. After about five minutes of this she started adding silly nonsensical words to the song which made the filly giggle in delight. "Oh Applebloom your singing is such a delight it makes my heart glow so bright!" Smiled the zebra. She then started to encourage the filly to start adding her own words to the tune and they swapped back and forth with one adding their own lyrics and words to the song and the other responding to what the last one had said.

About half and hour into the process Applebloom was slowly starting to relax and fall under the spell of the song. She stood still with her eyes closed and slowly swaying to the ever evolving shape of the song. Her words and phrases were growing more random and spontaneous. For Zecora the trick was of course not falling under the spell of the herself and still being able to direct the patient. Therefore Zecora was very happy when Applebloom suddenly sang out. "Black is the raven who rules this land. Upon his throne of night he makes his demands! Shadow Mother guards the gate that protects his lands. Foolish is the pony who resists his reign. All they will gain is bitterness and pain!" The little ponies voice had taken on certain ominous quality to it. Taking a chance Zecora decided to try something. Remembering a part of the alien chant that Applebloom had written in her school paper the zebra began reciting it in front of the little filly.

"Kitak, Kaltrau enta enta kowrook. Greteval greteval slaykor rrrranh!" Chanted zebra. Applebloom responded. "Hrgrall enta chaka strike vor kowrook kaltrau!" Applebloom started reciting new lines with greater and greater speed is if it was her native tongue. Her voice was now harsh cruel sounding like the sound crows make squabbling over a kill in the forest. Zecora stood silently as the room suddenly became very cold as if the very warmth of the hearth was being sucked into the depths of space. She knew not what type of magic she was beholding but it had a dark and cruel quality to it that she felt in her very bones. Except for Applebloom's chanting the room had become strangely quiet as normal sounds of the forest around the hut went deathly still.

It was at this point that Zecora noticed an even more alarming thing. The shadow underneath Applebloom was rippling and squirming like black tendrils. These tendrils were extending and searching. Any other shadow they came into contact with they would join and branch out from there. Then one of the tendrils brushed against her own shadow and she suddenly felt like something had chilled the very marrow in her bones. Backing away from the probing tendrils Zecora decided that this little experiment had to come to end now, but she still did not want to let Applebloom know that she had been examining her. She needed something to interrupt the earth filly's song. Careful to avoid any of the black tendrils she picked up a large spoon that she had been stirring a potion with and dropped onto the floor. The large hardwood spoon clattered harshly off the hearth stones around the main fire pit.

Instantly Applebloom stopped singing, and the shadow tendrils snapped back as if they were attached to spring wound reels. Her shadow returned to its normal appearance. Confused the little filly looked around. "Are we done singing?" asked the earth pony. "Yes Applebloom we are through, for we have much to do if we are to eat our dinner soon." Zecora sweetly said. "Now would be a good filly and go get me a bucket of water from the well?" Applebloom smiled and then trotted out the hut. Zecora watched the little filly as went out the door with the bucket in her mouth. Softly the zebra alchemist muttered. "Oh great spirits of my ancestors. Please help me save this one from a cruel end" Shaking her head she started making dinner. To be continued

Description
With Zecora back in town Twilight was ready to try another angle to get to the bottom of what is afflicting Applebloom in my Equestria dreamscape. Having no success with traditional Equestrian medicine or magic link and with a pressing need to understand Applebloom's condition Twilight and the Apple family were willing to try something more unorthodox if it produced real results. Note to all my watchers. If you are expecting paragraphs of zebra rhymes in this posting you will be sorely disappointed. My brain did conjure up some of that rhyming dialog for this dream, but for the most part it just threw in the towel. I may be imaginative but my subconscious is not wired that way.

Now in Ponyville Zecora is one of the recognized local experts when it comes to all things related alchemy and apothecary, but the zebra mare also possesses a deep knowledge from her homeland of magical creatures and beings of the spiritual realm. Until recently Twilight had been willing to lump any stories dealing with "paranormal" beings in the same category as zombie and sea ponies. Amusing bits of fiction, but of no great scientific worth or merit. However events of the last year have forced Twilight to think outside of her comfort zone enough that she is now not willing to dismiss some of these events and stories in the same off-hoof fashion as before.

With permission from the Royal Sisters, Twilight gave Zecora a security briefing on what Twilight knew of the events surrounding myself, Petina, The Lord of Shadows, Applebloom's abduction, Paynes Grey and Sunrise link and the book called The Kingdom Shadows, my death as unicorn and rebirth as a pegasi, and the ultimate destruction of the Lord of Shadows at Everfree Castle. Of course Zecora was already familiar with the last incident since her hut is located in the Everfree Forest and it had sustained quite a bit of damage when the old black, ugly and feathery went up in a nifty little fireball link . The zebra found the briefing very informative and more than just a bit disturbing. At least now she he a more complete understanding for why a sizable portion of the Everfree Forest suddenly went up in a thunderous, fiery explosion link than what the local newspapers had reported. She also was alarmed by the idea that Applebloom may have brought a hitchhiker back from there when she was freed. Therefore Twilight had very little trouble enlisting her aid to help solve Applebloom's condition.

Zecora insisted on not only speaking with Applebloom's doctor but that she be permitted access to all of the little filly's test results and medical records so that she could review the data that had already been collected concerning the patient. She reviewed all the telegrams and correspondences that Twilight and the staff had had with experts outside of the area. Much to Twilight and hospital staff's surprise Zecora had a much broader grasp of Equestrian medicine then what they had imagined. She Interviewed the Apple family to get help her build a more complete profile of Applebloom's personality before and after the abduction. Finally she insisted on interviewing Petina and I so she could get my side of the story directly from the horse's mouth so to speak. Now there were several questions Zecora asked that Petina and I simple were unwilling to answer and when pressed for a explanation we simply said that it was the princesses wishes that we not discuss the topic without permission from them. The zebra grudgingly accepted that and went on to the next set of questions.

All in all it took about three days for her to wade through all the paperwork and conduct her interviews. When it was all done she had formulated a plan of attack in her mind. First off she met with Applebloom in her isolation room at the hospital. Now since her return from the Kingdom of Shadows Applebloom has been rather evasive and unwilling to spend time with not only her family but her close friends, and classmates. This attitude had not improved since her extended stay at the hospital had begun. Therefore the staff was very interested when the little filly actually showed some interest in talking to the zebra while she recovered from her latest ordeal. With the little filly's recently dislocated right hind leg on the mend, both her and zebra mare started taking strolls around the hospital grounds and having little picnics under trees scattered around the grounds.

Since her last attack Applebloom has not had any more episodes of seizures and the night staff had noticed a drop off in the occurrence of nightmares from the little filly. Her right hind leg was still very sore, but with supervision she was now being allowed to move, if a bit slow, around the hospital while under observation. Her appetite had improved some although she said that most things still tasted funny. However she had developed a craving for dark leafy green vegetables like spinach, something she had not liked in the past. She was becoming a voracious reader and was plowing through the book cart's selection at an almost Twilight-like rate. She had also begun requesting books from the town library on a wide variety of topics. Many of them are not the kind of thing that little foals usually find of interest. She also had started reading the Ponyville Express and the Canterlot Courier from front to back every day.

Applebloom seemed to be very interested in learning more about zebra culture and zebra magic and Zecora's homeland. Applebloom has always liked Zecora, and the mare has said that the filly might have potential as a alchemist, so with permission from the Apple Family and the hospital staff Zecora proposed that Applebloom come and stay with her for a couple days as a change of scenery from the boring hospital rooms and corridors. So early one late autumn morning Applebloom was discharged from the Ponyville hospital and into the zebra's custody. On purpose Applebloom's family was not there when she left. The trip to Zecora's hut was slow and pleasant and there were numerous stops along the way to answer some question about a plant, animal, or aspect concerning the Everfree Forest. Zecora had brought lunches for them, so around noon they stopped under a large tree in the forest and partook of refreshments. Because of the lazy pace it was not until mid-afternoon that they arrived at Zecora's hut. After a bit of rearranging of belongings, the zebra had made a pleasant cot for her guest to sleep in. The rest of day was spent just chatting, cooking dinner, and making some potion stocks for customers.

Now Zecora was not just interested in playing house with Applebloom. She wanted to try and gain an understanding of what might be effecting the little filly. However direct tests, examinations, and interviews had failed to bear any fruit. So the zebra's plan of attack was not to observe Applebloom, but instead observe the environment around the little filly and see how it responded to her. But Zecora was certain that if the little filly knew she was being observed the test would fail. So she had to observe her covertly and yet throughly. Throughout the next day the zebra kept a close eye on the little filly as she helped her harvest and organize stocks of herbs for winter drying. After cleaning up from lunch Zecora decided to try a technique from her homeland called the Singer's Path. It is a method used by shamans in Zecora's homeland to discover what is troubling a patient's mind even when the patient doesn't know. It is a form of free association chanting/ singing which usually causes the patient to drop into a trance-like state. Once in this state the shaman will attempt coax out what is bothering the patient by careful changing and inserting words or phrases into the chanting then observing how the patient responds or replies to the new information. It can be a deliberate and staged act in which the patient knows they are embarking down the Singer's Path, but in this case Zecora decided that she would try to lead Applebloom to the Path without letting her know it was happening.

So as they were preparing another batch of potions Zecora softly started singing. At first the little filly didn't even notice her singing, but eventually curiosity caused her to stop what she was doing and she came over and stared at the zebra. "Whatcha singing there Zecora?" Asked the earth pony. "Oh it is a popular song from my lands little Applebloom. Would you like to learn it to?" "Oh yes I would!" Exclaimed the little filly. Smiling the zebra began leading the little filly through the opening parts of the song. After about five minutes of this she started adding silly nonsensical words to the song which made the filly giggle in delight. "Oh Applebloom your singing is such a delight it makes my heart glow so bright!" Smiled the zebra. She then started to encourage the filly to start adding her own words to the tune and they swapped back and forth with one adding their own lyrics and words to the song and the other responding to what the last one had said.

About half and hour into the process Applebloom was slowly starting to relax and fall under the spell of the song. She stood still with her eyes closed and slowly swaying to the ever evolving shape of the song. Her words and phrases were growing more random and spontaneous. For Zecora the trick was of course not falling under the spell of the herself and still being able to direct the patient. Therefore Zecora was very happy when Applebloom suddenly sang out. "Black is the raven who rules this land. Upon his throne of night he makes his demands! Shadow Mother guards the gate that protects his lands. Foolish is the pony who resists his reign. All they will gain is bitterness and pain!" The little ponies voice had taken on certain ominous quality to it. Taking a chance Zecora decided to try something. Remembering a part of the alien chant that Applebloom had written in her school paper the zebra began reciting it in front of the little filly.

"Kitak, Kaltrau enta enta kowrook. Greteval greteval slaykor rrrranh!" Chanted zebra. Applebloom responded. "Hrgrall enta chaka strike vor kowrook kaltrau!" Applebloom started reciting new lines with greater and greater speed is if it was her native tongue. Her voice was now harsh cruel sounding like the sound crows make squabbling over a kill in the forest. Zecora stood silently as the room suddenly became very cold as if the very warmth of the hearth was being sucked into the depths of space. She knew not what type of magic she was beholding but it had a dark and cruel quality to it that she felt in her very bones. Except for Applebloom's chanting the room had become strangely quiet as normal sounds of the forest around the hut went deathly still.

It was at this point that Zecora noticed an even more alarming thing. The shadow underneath Applebloom was rippling and squirming like black tendrils. These tendrils were extending and searching. Any other shadow they came into contact with they would join and branch out from there. Then one of the tendrils brushed against her own shadow and she suddenly felt like something had chilled the very marrow in her bones. Backing away from the probing tendrils Zecora decided that this little experiment had to come to end now, but she still did not want to let Applebloom know that she had been examining her. She needed something to interrupt the earth filly's song. Careful to avoid any of the black tendrils she picked up a large spoon that she had been stirring a potion with and dropped onto the floor. The large hardwood spoon clattered harshly off the hearth stones around the main fire pit.

Instantly Applebloom stopped singing, and the shadow tendrils snapped back as if they were attached to spring wound reels. Her shadow returned to its normal appearance. Confused the little filly looked around. "Are we done singing?" asked the earth pony. "Yes Applebloom we are through, for we have much to do if we are to eat our dinner soon." Zecora sweetly said. "Now would be a good filly and go get me a bucket of water from the well?" Applebloom smiled and then trotted out the hut. Zecora watched the little filly as went out the door with the bucket in her mouth. Softly the zebra alchemist muttered. "Oh great spirits of my ancestors. Please help me save this one from a cruel end" Shaking her head she started making dinner. To be continued