Stories of the Stars: Wolfsbane II

The young mare with wavy hair approached the old deer sitting at the bar. The deer had many mechanical body parts, including an eye and a leg, having tinkered herself with some of the parts and replacing them with things that weren’t meant to be used for this, such as a big crystal for her hoof, that wasn’t at all shiny due to all the dirt stacked on top. Still, the deer’s one good eye was immense and purple, and looked like it was piercing all through you, seeing all your insides and thoughts, as well as everything behind you and outside the house. 

Despite all that, the ponies in the town got pretty used to her. After all, she had been there since any of them could remember, and they all knew she held no ill intentions. The mare pulled out a bottle from behind the counter and poured a glass for the deer, who gulped it down her throat in the blink of an eye. The mare smiled, pissed, but didn’t say anything. 

The radio was playing a nice swing tune, the voice of the mare filling the room with beautiful chords.

The door opened, a warm breeze blowing inside, bringing a few grains of sand with it. A stallion entered the room, his hooves trotting completely off the beat. He had grey hair and tired eyes. He sat down next to the deer.

“Huuuh??? What do ya want, ya old fart? Ya never sit next to me unless ya want something from me!” The deer waved her healthy hoof at him, nearly hitting him in the head.

“WHAT A NICE WELCOME YOU’RE GIVING ME YOU STINKY HAG! I LET YOU LIVE OFF MY BACK LIKE A LEECH MY WHOLE LIFE AND THIS IS WHAT I GET???” The stallion shouted back at her.

The mare behind the counter frowned, clearly annoyed, trying to hold it in, as if that was a common occurrence.

“HHEEE? LIKE A LEECH YA SAY? YA’LL WOULD BE LONG VULTURES FOOD IF IT WEREN’T FOR ME! YOU AND YOUR CLAN AND THIS WHOLE CELESTIA FORGOTTEN HOLE OF A TOWN!” The deer replied, screaming as loud as she could.

“YOU REALLY HAD TO KISS THAT FISH TO BECOME A PAIN IN MY ASS FOR ALL ETERNITY, DIDN’T YOU?” The stallion screamed back, just to be hit in his head with a bottle by the mare who had left the counter. His head slammed on the bar. In the short period of silence, the mare on the radio sang:

I heard from legends and crystal balls

Sun gave warmth to the great and small

I saw the smiles good old ray put on their face

It ain't too much to want gentle grace

 After a short time, he got back back up just as annoyed and loud as before and shouted again at the deer:

“GAAH YOU REALLY LIVE TO MAKE IT HARD FOR ME, DON’T YOU?”

“Hahah, can’t help it sugar, that face ya’re making when ya’re mad is priceless!” The deer brushed off her angry face with a laugh. “How may I help you? I really hope you’re not here for what I think ya are, but considering the way ya look at me…”

“Sigh… There is no good news I’m bringing, Wolfsbane. The fields are empty, the barns are empty. The heat is killing everything. We did all we could, no results.”

The deer’s face darkened.

“I guess that time’s come, isn’t it? I’ll give it to ya, my last drop of potion. But this will be the last time ya’ll be able to rely on me for this. Cause it’s done, I ain’t got no more of it.”

* * *

The two of them stood next to the fields full of dead grain.

“Once this drop hits the ground, you will be indebted to me forever. Regardless of how long I stay here, you and your descendants will be obliged to show me hospitality and give me food. I have given my everything to you. I have no more potions, the magic of my homeland is gone.” The deer spoke, holding a small bottle above the ground.

The stallion nodded. The deer tilted the small bottle, a small drop falling from it. From the point where it hit the ground, the grain started reliving. The lively green spread all over the fields with an unbelievable speed and beauty.

The deer turned around.

“Next year I’ll leave. There is nothing left for me to do here, nothing I can help you with. From now on you'll have to find an actual solution to your problems. I’ll head back to the land of the Everfree. Perhaps under all the pollution and death I’ll be able to find drops of chaos magic that allows the plants I need to craft potions grow. Or perhaps I’ll find trails leading to old friends. Don’t wait for me, there’s no guarantee I’ll ever be back.”