The Mountain's Mystery (closed)

[Zecora]

It had taken a few days, but the pair had finally reached their destination. The great mountain was before them now, though it would probably take just as long to climb it as it took to reach it. Zecora looked up at rocky spire in awe. This had to be one of the tallest peaks in Equestria! Twilight had told her about her encounter the with the red dragon that used to roost here. Something may have drawn it here...along with the beast that had laid ruin to Ponyville. Regardless, this is where her first instinct had lead her.

Zecora was clearly brimming with determination.
“We have arrived although I must say, there is no telling of what ahead may lay!”
The zebra shot Yonder a gentle smile then turned and took the lead. Luckily, the mountain scaled up at a gentle, albeit rocky, slope, so their initial ascent would be fairly easy.

She was glad to have a companion with. Zecora hardly expected to find somepony who would join her so readily! The pegasus hardly lacked enthusiasm himself, though besides his eagerness to accompany her, she knew nothing about him. As they both ascended the rough mountainside, Zecora began to make smalltalk at her usual rhythmic pacing.
“So, Blue Yonder, why don't you tell me the reason you've come on this journey? You seemed rather pleased with the offer I made. Are you intimate with travels of such grade?”

[Deleted]

Traveling with Zecora was a real treat. Yonder found her rhyming to be very interesting - not to mention a sign of how clever she was. When you rhymed on the spur of the moment without even pausing to think of what words sounded like each other? That there was definitely a brilliant pony. Err, zebra, apparently. Yonder had never met a zebra before Zecora or little Gear Stripes back in Hoofington, but apparently there were some serious differences between them and ponies.

Zebra lands sounded a bit flat and dry for Yonder's liking, but Zecora's tales of her homelands included a lot of monsters. There was bound to be plenty of interest there! Yonder just had to visit sometime.

Right now, their current destination was anything but flat. Dragon Mountain rose out of the ground like a vertical spire, with only a winding, treacherous path for non-flying ponies to take to get to the top. Absolutely brilliant!

"Well, love, I'd say this is my first dragon-ish adventure," Yonder cheerfully replied, "But I've always had a love for this sort of thing. Spent loads of time in the griffon lands, sailing and getting in trouble with the unsavory types you'll find in the airways..."

Yonder...wasn't entirely keen on sharing his stint as an air pirate. It wasn't a part of his past that he remembered fondly, even if it had taught him the value of flying headlong into danger while howling like a madpony (a surprisingly useful tactic to take opponents off-guard!). But he'd had plenty of other adventures too! Some of his earliest sailing stories were enough to make your mane curl.

"Right then, just have to get over this one little hill...and then we face a cave that could contain loads of big nasty dragons! Shall we get started, love?" Yonder asked.

He grinned.

[Zecora]

It seemed that the pegasus was quite the traveler himself! Zecora had never been to the griffon kingdom herself. Admittedly, she knew very little about them. She had encountered so few of them across Equestria, and they were practically unseen in her homeland. Perhaps she would start venturing that way once this was all over.

Zecora gave Yonder a disapproving look. Maybe he was a little too eager. She was about to scold him for taking their expedition so lightly, but decided that it was harmless enough. Resigning with a sigh and a shake of the head, the zebra returned a smile instead.
“No travel made worthful is hardly that simple.”

After climbing for some time, the pair reached a bend in the path. The rocky trail was becoming increasingly treacherous, so the zebra took great care in rounding the corner. Once she did, a curious sight met her on the other side. The path, or rather what was left of it, has collapsed, leaving a wide chasm in its stead. Zecora tried to judge the distance...it looked much too wide to clear with one leap.

She approached the edge of the rift, then stopped suddenly. Something was off. An uneasiness began to creep over her. It was more than just a bit of apprehension though. It felt...sinister. Even if she could make the jump, she wouldn't want to now. Zecora looked back at her companion with concern, though he appeared just as cheery as usual.

“It appears that we will have to find another way as the path ahead has fallen into disarray.” The zebra failed to conceal her worry as she started to turn around.

[Deleted]

Yonder's cheer didn't diminish as they walked along. Of course Zecora's disapproval of his attitude was a bit saddening...he might act like it, but Yonder had moods beyond 'happy-go-lucky'. Life was just more enjoyable if you went at it with enthusiasm, that was all!

At first, their hike was uneventful. But then they came across the collapsed part of the road...it had an ominous feel to it. Zecora was ready to turn around.

Spreading his wings, Yonder took to the air.

"It'd be sensible to see what caused this damage, don't you think?" he suggested, flapping his wings to hover over Zecora's head, "And the gap's not too wide...I could fly you across!"

Alright, so mainly Yonder just wanted to check it out. But his reasoning was still pretty good!

[Red Charge]

The Pegasus and Zebra were walking up the mountain with rather ease, until they reached a great chasm in the middle of their path. Unbeknownst to them however, they were not alone. A pair of flaming eyes observed them as they approached the edge a vicious snarl escaped the tough wooden lips of the monster as it stalked its prey. With a howl of fury it launched itself directly in front of them.

It was a Timber Wolf, but at the same time it wasn't. Instead of being a creature of earth smelling of mold and moss and made of simple wood, it was a burning effigy of burnt wood and flames.

---

BURNING TIMBER WOLF:

This creature has yet to be encountered or studied!

It is unknown how these creatures exist - Timber Wolves constantly aflame yet never falling apart. Instead of their regular earthy aura and moldy breath instead they are surrounded by flames and breath suffocating smoke. There is no touching one physically, at least not while alive as its fire is quick to burn.

Special effects -

Made of Wood: These creatures has a hide made of solid wood and as such physical weapons have a reduced efficiency against them.

Burning Hide: The Burning Timber Wolf is always on fire, as such any pony that is near it will suffer from the heat. Being stricken by a beast like that would also cause severe burns.

Smoke Breath: The Burning Timber Wolf can breathe smoke into the face of its prey to suffocate it, paralyzing their prey and causing damage to their lungs and stamina.

Danger level - Medium

[Zecora]

Perhaps Yonder made a good point; something unusual might have caused the wide chasm to form and was worth investigating. It didn't make her feel any less uneasy, though. “Alright, Blue Yonder, let us-” Before she could finish her sentence, a ferocious howl filled the air, and the flaming beast appeared before the two travelers. Zecora was familiar was timber wolves, but she hardly ever heard of ones being engulfed in flames, let along ones that lived through it.

She could feel the intense heat emanating from it. The zebra took a few paces backwards, attempting to put some distance between herself and the creature. The strange wolf had her more intrigued than frightened, however. How did this happen? Did this form of the species occur naturally? There was a certain beauty to the oddity in front of her. The timber wolf was hardly looking for her affection though.

“I don't think it's necessary to say, that you should stay out of the fire's way,” Zecora warned her companion with a hint of humor.

She rummaged though her satchel and quickly retrieved a glass vial, filled with a murky yellow fluid. It was a vile smelling substance, which Zecora had used it the past to drive off creatures with a keen sense of smell, like the timber wolf. Aiming for the beast, she flung the small tube at it, hoping it would produce similar results.

[Deleted]

Yonder barely had time to feel delighted that Zecora was open to investigating the area before the adventure he was looking for barreled onto the scene! A wolf! A wolf made of wood! Specifically a Timber Wolf.

Also, it was on fire. Lucky them, what a find! Yonder took Zecora's words of warning, not that he was planning to go with his initial idea of bucking the flaming beast in the face anyway, with a laugh.

"Pish-posh, my hooves could use some toasting!" he replied.

A glance around revealed what was at hoof. Rocks, always good for bucking into things. A great big hole to shove the beast into. Lovely weather...ah-ha! A fluffy white cloud at four o'clock high! Perfect! While Zeocora broke out something from her bag of herbs and tricks, Yonder flapped his wings and zoomed right for the cloud. Just a bit of wrangling, and he was shoving the cloud back in front of him in no time at all!

The more normal thing to do would be to put the cloud over the flaming wolf and squash the water out manually, but apparently this area wasn't scheduled for a raincloud today. Still, clouds were plenty damp on their own, which was why Yonder's plan was to shove the cloud into the beast instead! Those flames would definitely be doused then!

[Red Charge]

The single minded Timber Wolf charged at Zecora, seeing its other target fly in the air, Zecora's stink sap did nothing to deter the burning Timber Wolf, as smell of its own smoke filled its nostrils. It charged forwards at Zecora, about to pounce when Yonder's cloud caught it on the side.

However, in nature the ever-burning fire surrounding the timber wolf was magical, the cloud was not able to douse it completely, but just enough for the timber wolf to be greatly weakened, and enough for it to be vulnerable to melee attacks. Without the risk of being burned, Yonder was able to deliver a solid kick to the beast, detaching its head from it and causing it to collapse into still burnt wood, the magical fire must have been dependant on its life force, as it died down with the creature.

[Zecora]

It was a direct hit! Zecora silently cheered to herself, though her celebration was cut short as the beast continued to charge forward, undeterred by the solution. Blue Yonder took to the sky, leaving Zecora to face the charging creature head on. She scanned her surroundings, searching for something to take advantage of. Her time was limited, however, and the flaming wolf was quickly upon her. She braced herself for its attack, though it was hardly necessary. The pegasus swooped back with a cloud, dousing the creature then smashing it to bits.

Zecora had to admit, she was impressed. He may be a bit too bold, but that stallion was sure a quick thinker. “Well done, Blue Yonder, I am certainly glad you came along. There could more of them nearby, so let's not linger for long.”

She went and investigated the corpse of the fallen timber wolf. The fire that consumed it before had disappeared, though there must be some trace of what had caused the curious flames.

[Deleted]

Direct hit! Yonder whooped as he heard the sizzle of flames mixing with water. The poor cloud evaporated in moments, but the job was done: now the flames were doused enough that Yonder had no worries about bucking the timber wolf with full force!

Knocked his bloody block off, even! While Zecora went to investigate the fallen body, Yonder trotted over to where the head had rolled.

"Glad I came along too!" Yonder replied, "Be a poorer world if a flaming beast made a meal out of you, love."

Hmm, maybe he could save the teeth as a souvenir? Bringing the head home to mount on a wall wasn't an option as Yonder was currently without a place of his own. And of course, there might well be more of the fiery wolves around. They needed to keep moving.

"Now then, fancy a ride across the gorge? Should give us some space away from this fellow's friends."

[Zecora]

Looking over the creature's lifeless, and now headless, body, Zecora noticed a peculiar thick, red substance splattered across it. It looked like blood, but it didn't seem to come from any wounds on the beast. Perhaps this was the cause of the strange fire it emitted. She decided not to dwell on the matter. Pulling out a crude knife, Zecora collected a sample of the stained hide to study later.

Curiously, the zebra began to dig into the rocky earth with her hooves. She noticed Yonder eying the wolf's skull and gingerly scooped it up, placing it along with the rest of the wooden remains into the shallow grave.

“Leaving the body of a timber wolf unburied can bring misfortune to those who leave its spirit not freed,” Zecora explained with a knowing smirk.

The feeling of unease still washed over Zecora when she approached the chasm, though this time she felt confident enough to cross. The zebra turned to Yonder and nodded.

“If you're ready to go ahead further, I'd like to take your previous offer.”

[Deleted]

Well, so much for a souvenir, Yonder thought wryly as Zecora buried the beast's head with the rest of it. He wasn't as sure about curses and spirits and what-have-you, but he wasn't the spiritual pony of their little duo so Yonder's opinion didn't count for much.

"Whatever you say, love," Yonder replied, choosing instead to help Zecora pile dirt over the Timberwolf's corpse.

Ah, and now she wanted to cross the chasm! Yonder took a look around, studying how the chasm was shaped. Hmm...right, that would be just the trick he needed for this to work. A spot on the far side that was lower, versus a higher spot on this side, with a clear run-up to it. He could get plenty of momentum and even with an adult mare to carry, it would be a quick trip over.

"Right then! Here's my plan, love: you sit yourself on my back, and I'll get a running start! Should be able to get over in a tic!"

Just to be safe, Yonder pulled out a coil of rope. A sailor through and through, he never went anyplace without some rope.

"A bit of rope to secure you in place, and it'll work wonderfully! Shall we get started?" Yonder added, grinning.

[Zecora]

So the plan was to clear the chasm with herself tied to his back? It seemed reasonable enough and the stallion appeared to be a strong flier. Plus, the thought of soaring through the air sounded absolutely thrilling. Zecora chuckled to herself. It seemed some of the pegasus's enthusiasm was starting to rub off on her!

The zebra nodded and carefully climbed on top of Yonder's back. She took a deep breath, readying herself for the leap ahead.

“I am ready, Blue Yonder, so let us take flight. I place my trust in you that this will turn out all right.”

[Zecora]

The pair took to the air and Yonder effortlessly cleared the distance over the chasm. The experience was so brief that Zecora barely had time to let go of her breath, but that moment was exhilarating! She had traveled by many methods before, but flight was a new experience for her. They had reached the other side unharmed, upon which Zecora carefully dismounted the pegasus. “A most wondrous way to travel, and one that you've done safely. To say I haven't done this sooner is certainly a pity.” the zebra commented, appearing rather pleased.

The two travelers continued their ascent, the mountain path continuing to spiral and twist in all sorts of ways. As they drew closer to the top, the uneasy feeling began to creep over Zecora again. It hadn't gone away since they reached the strange chasm, but the sensation was growing stronger with every step. It was becoming oppressive, like there was a weight on her chest. It couldn't just be the altitude that was making it so hard to breath, could it?

The zebra motioned to her companion to halt. “When we first arrived at the chasm, I was filled with sudden apprehension. As we climbed, there was only an increase in this feeling of tension." Zecora explained. She was clearly concerned, the shaman repeatedly jostling her golden bands as she tried to convey her concern. ”It may be worthwhile to commune with those that we may bring alarm. Forging understanding could help us avoid potential harm.”

Zecora etched into the rough earth with a hoof, scribing a large symbol similar to the one on her flank. Pulling a flask of a fine, powdered silver out of her satchel, she lined the edge of the etching with its contents. “The strengths of silver are vast and are no mystery as it's the element most in tune with body's energy.” She looked over her work and gave a satisfied nod. It always seemed more difficult to reach a spirit in an area she wasn't familiar with, but she had to try.

Zecora stepped into the symbol and knelled onto it. She closed her eyes, pushing out the sensations of the world around her. Her breathing steadied, slowing to an steady but alarmingly low rate. The zebra lost herself in the void, looking to fill herself with the answer she sought. Zecora had no perception of the time that had pass, but for the pegasus watching it had been an hour until his companion stirred again. Her eyes suddenly opened and she quickly, but clumsily, pulled herself off the symbol. The zebra laid sprawled on the ground, desperately gasping for air. Her body temperature had skyrocketed and she had broken out in a sweat. Whatever force had overcome her before had clearly increased in intensity. As Yonder approached her, Zecora turned to him, only able to speak in a worried whisper. “Please, I beg of you, we must go! This mountain looks to bring us woe!”

After the pair returned to the base of the mountain, Zecora promptly apologized to Blue Yonder. She had taken him all the way out here, only to have them turn around when they were so close to the goal. The zebra pulled out a sizable amount of bits, insisting to compensate the pegasus for his company, after which she parted ways with him. Had following her first instinct been a mistake? No, the presence of something had clearly tainted that mountain, though she had been unable to push further to find out what. Perhaps she wasn't meant to know. Either way, she could not dwell on this discouragement. Even if she had left with more questions, there were still many places in Equestria that Zecora could seek her answers.