Hi, just a quick warning from the author- this chapter contains far more suggestive of themes than any other so far- if you are easily offended, read with caution. Then again, if you are, how are you still reading this story?

I awoke slowly, blinking at my strange surroundings. I was enclosed by what appeared to be tribal masks from the Plainlands, and more herbs than I'd ever known grew. I tried to get up, but my legs just couldn't hold me, and my side felt like a hamburger.

"Relax and lay here, pony friend- your wounds leave be for me to mend."

"Hey, Zecora. What happened? How did I get here?"

"The wolves, they came to me for aid. If I say so myself, I came through in spades. The foe used poison, bright and bold- but a mixture that I knew of old. I drove him off and brought you here, yet I find your defeat so queer. At our first meeting I sensed your power, so why were you bested and forced to cower?"

I sighed. "I… haven't trained in a long time. Everything's a little rusty."

"Old habits can be hard to break- to think I'd buy that excuse is a mistake."

"Ok, ok…" I breathed as deeply as my wounds would let me, bracing myself. "I'm recovering from a thousand year banishment. Princess Celestia is my mortal foe, who would have me killed in an instant if she knew where I am. I'm also constantly distracted by constant hunger and… other things… that don't exactly exist in the void. On top of all that, the town hates me, and I've heard that Filthy has some… …pictures… of my Derpy!" I paused to finally take another breath. "I know now the princess will find out who I am and I'll have to run… but you saved my life… you had a right to know the truth…"

"So you have chosen your first mare? How insatiable are you to at my flank stare?"

Oops… So she'd noticed me checking her out as she worked on some kind of paste. "Well, no… I mean, it's not like that… we're not actually together yet, and I haven't-"

"Explain no more, I understand. But come now, you must try to stand." So saying, she dabbed some paste on my flank. Gingerly, I got up, and found myself perfectly healthy again! Looking at my flank, I saw it was healed and whole.

"Thank you, Zecora. But, why heal me to then turn me over to Celestia?"

"Why turn you over to her wrath? That seems to me a darkened path. To simply betray a newfound friend is a very good way to meet your end."

I blinked. "That makes a surprising amount of sense. All right. This works well, I suppose- I'd intended to come speak with you."

"Oh? How so?"

"I know this hut wasn't originally yours- it was a base camp for two ancient explorers."

"Indeed, this I already know- they were the ones to the forest sow."

"How do you-"

"Traces of magic still linger here- some to my heart very dear. Like friends they were in my darkest day, when fear my Ponyville run away. I suppose that's why I'm drawn to you- your aura matches one of those two. I feel as if I've known you long, so you can do me little wrong."

"I see…" Is there even a proper response to that? I'm going with no and moving on. "Was there anything of theirs left in the hut when you arrived?"

"I do believe there was indeed- I stored them somewhere beneath the seeds." She bent down, digging through her bottom shelves. Did she have to stick her flank in the air like that? I could practically see her marehood! For a second, the thought that she couldn't stop me if I simply held her down and shoved in crossed my mind. Then I mentally slapped myself. She'd saved my life and not betrayed me to Celestia! Besides, I'd never forced a mare in my life- I was NOT starting now! "I cannot seem their things to find- the location must have slipped my mind." She turned completely away from me and bent back down. Oh, dear Luna! Could she bend over any further!? I shifted position so I wasn't as obvious. "Ah, here they are- I didn't have to search too far." She stood again, holding a small, watertight package I recognized. The package and its contents weren't high on my mind though. I'd been enjoying that view! "And now that is through, what sort of creature are you?"

I nearly choked on mid-air. "Unicorn, of course. Isn't it obvious?" I nodded slightly, emphasizing my horn.

"Yes indeed, but not of unicorn seed. Your magic suggests much more, what else have you in store?"

"….you're too perceptive for your own good, Zecora."

"I will take that as a compliment, but why are you so hesitant? I know already your ancient years, and of betrayal your deep, dark fears. What else is there to hide from me? There really is nothing I can see."

"All right, all right… Have you heard of Kelpies?"

"Talents at least duo, power of the water's flow. Infinite in variable form, usually colors of the storm. Magic is, above all, Chaotic."

I waited a few seconds. "You didn't rhyme chaotic."

She blushed deeply. "I find them erotic. Alas, the last died out thousands of years ago, much to my own deepest sorrow."

"You missed a telltale sign somepony is a Kelpie in hiding."

"What, pray tell is that- lay your knowledge on the mat?"

"A physical, water-based symptom. Mist rolling at your feet as you walk, breath that fogs in summer, Puddles wherever you sit-"

"A mane that is always wet! So simple, how could I forget! Wait, then you must be…" I nodded silently, that "chaotic" rhyme echoing in my head. "I never thought your kind I'd see!"

"Why do you do that? Rhyme, I mean. Even if your sentence got interrupted, you just rhyme the next one."

Zecora sighed deeply. "All power comes at a cost- can you say there's nothing you have lost?"

I shuddered as my nightly vision of fire and screaming overwhelmed my senses for a moment. "I understand… I apologize for my lack of thought. But, back to what we were saying… Yes. The whole truth…" I took a deep breath again, then stood tall, going ali and spreading my wings wide. "I am SkyTear Cascade- Artisan, Blademaster, Explorer, Speaker of the Elements, Master of Chaos, Praetori Nocturnus, and the last living Kelpie."

Zecora was staring at me, looking a little strange. "I thought your name was Lantra? One pony, one name- a good mantra."

"I… chose another name I was once called, to avoid Celestia's eye."

"Far be it from me to judge. Your character is too strong to nudge; your magic so familiar to me that years of friendship need not be. Your race as strong as any sword… What is your desire, my lord?"

I blinked once- I must have heard that wrong. She kept watching me, expectantly. A few seconds passed with us simply blinking back and forth. Finally, I realized I needed to say something. With some quick thinking, I settled on something that would express my absolute disbelieve, while simultaneously stunning her with my incredible intellect and banter abilities to help her overlook this awkward silence.

"What?"

….sometimes, nothing goes as planned.

"Despite want, you did not take me when I tempted you. Your soul is completely honest and true. In power and skill, you will one day be great as you were. That and my time with your magic my decision has spurred."

"Decision?" Oh yeah, definitely showing off that intelligence… I sighed internally.

"Yes. I will be your first mare in your returned life. You spoke of herds before, not 'a wife'."

"Whoa, whoa! I didn't agree to this!" What on earth was going on!? In my confusion, I realized her eyes were completely glazing over. What in the wide world of Equestria was going on!?

"I have the power to choose my stallion, let me do it in my fashion. I want someone with more strength than me- you are the first I've yet to see."

"But… we don't know… I mean… We don't have feelings for each other. Not that I'm not attracted to you, but I mean-"

"Speak for yourself on lack of feeling. Remember, my time with your essence has meaning. And when I grew up, unknown mates weren't casual. You're older, so why do you find it unusual?"

"Well, I mean it was normal in my era too… Celestia was being actively courted before the death of the king by suitors she'd never met… I've just always had feelings for a mare before I would have even considered taking her as a special somepony…"

"Worry not- I will serve you in any way. It will be my pleasure to do as you say."

"Zecora, get up. There's something affecting you. On top of that, this is unbecoming to a mare of your power. Show your head."

"Yes sir." She started moving forwards towards-

"Wrong head! Look at me!" My eyes met hers- now completely glazed over. "Zecora, get ahold of yourself!" I focused on the frazzled energy field buzzing around her and tried to siphon it off onto myself. Oh, sweet baby Luna's tears! So much sexual energy… I fought it off, forcing the thoughts and feelings down by stopping all possible chaos in certain areas to keep them useless. Slowly, the glazed look mostly faded.

"Oh, I've been such a fool- finding someone like you has made me act like a tool."

"Like me?" I could barely speak through the focus this was taking.

"You are the first stallion with more power than I. That alone can make me sigh. And a kelpie to top it all off- you're my dream stallion every time I get off. To top it off, it has been many years since a stallion's moans have rung in my ears."

"But the subservience?"

"In my culture, the mark of a good mate. But to me, there's much more at stake. I've always been the one ending up on top- with a mate like you, I'd want that to stop."

I waited, but she didn't continue. "But, what about what you said… Do you still mean to-"

"To be your first mare? Indeed- for your permission I do not care. I am now yours."

"I, um, that-"

She smiled slightly. "Go ahead, release both our tensions. Leave both your hesitation and confusions. We can discuss further when this is through, so do what you've been wanting to." She turned away again, bending low. I blinked at her for a few moments, my mind roiling. Then, with a slight shrug, I let go of my focus. If she insisted…

Ok, hopefully you all actually enjoyed this chapter... I reworked it several times, but it only ended up worse with each time, and I'm sick and tired of writing in rhyme!

Don't worry, this is *not* turning into a story of Lantra just doing every mare in the town. He will likely end up with several as mates, but that is *not* the main focus of the story. Hopefully the next chapter will be up soon, it's also fully written out, and is one of Seth's. The one after that is also written, and I *think* the one after that- they just have to get typed in.

I don't own MLPFIM, or else season 4 would be out by now.