| Mena Stripes | |
|---|---|
| Kind | Zebra |
| Sex | Female |
| Occupation | Herbalist-trainee |
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Eyes | Moderate sea green |
| Mane | Striped Light gray and Dark persian bluish gray |
| Coat | Striped Light heliotropeish gray and Dark bluish gray |
| Hooves | Dark bluish gray |
| Cutie mark Divided star | |
| Voice | Kagamine Len(ka) |
| Owner | User:Bleck11 & User:MelodyCrystel |
Mena Stripes is a female zebra from "a faraway land" who resides in Ponyville.
History
Past
Mena Stripes used to reside in a faraway land together with her parents and younger sisters, where she was the only sibling who had yet to gain her cutie-mark. Being nevertheless contented with her existence, she helped her parents everyday with cultivating vegetables and selling them at the market. One day, she met a traveler who chatted with her about all the lands he had seen; making her feel a kind of homesickness she had never experienced before. While the following days passed, the zebra began to dream about leaving her home to discover other places just like this stranger. Mena sensed, that she had to find another path for herself as her current life wasn't directly enough – and that this new possibility would not be in the reach of her hooves if she would stuck forever to the habits of her family. Her family supported her wish, when she asked them about their opinion, and strengthened the impulse until she truly stood by her intention. When Mena started her journey, she finally earned her cutie-mark: An African-styled star – symbolizing the hope she put into this adventure.
After traveling to a few countries, eventually the zebra arrived Equestria. She fell instantly in love with the beautiful land and settled down into a place called Ponyville. There, she quickly befriended several ponies and a fellow-zebra named Zecora. Her new friends inspired Mena to develop interest into a new career – Herbalist – which turned out to be even better for her than the farming she was originally used to. Filled with enthusiasm, she wrote a letter to her family; confirming, that she had found the place she had been looking for.
It became in no time common for the young zebra to leave her house practically every day in order to visit her conspecific in the woods. They often shared stories about their homeland, while Mena helped Zecora there with the creation of potions as a back-payment for the lessons she gave her. The youngster was indeed eager to learn everything which the older zebra knew, since it really had gotten into her head to study as long as it would take in order to become a professional Herbalist. Her talent was clearly visible, but sometimes she had the habit to overdo things, wherefore she wasted occasionally ingredients. Zecora didn't mind that, however, since Mena replaced the missing herbs, flowers, leaves and other items always.
The oddest friend
The unicorn Requiem van Algol
When Mena wasted one fateful day once more a few herbs of Zecora, so that the stock had to be filled up with new exemplars from the Everfree Forest, she met while searching for the plants a pony she had never seen before. In fact, it was a unicorn – and a very beautiful creature, additional. Mena had trouble to suppress her fascination, when the stranger introduced herself with the charisma of a true lady as Requiem van Algol. (Although the zebra couldn't help but feeling like talking to a noble-stallion.) The Herbalist-trainee admitted shyly as a response to Requiems question, why she was alone in that large forest, that she had trouble with finding the herbs she was looking for. Her conversational-partner declared all of a sudden, that she would help her, which surprised Mena a lot since the unicorn didn't seem to be somepony who showed interest into the bagatelles of others. Thanks to Requiem, the zebra found the plants within one afternoon. Just before they arrived Zecoras house, the unicorn said goodbye to her – leaving Mena with a strange feeling inside of her stomach behind.
In the next day, the Herbalist-trainee was lacking in concentration, so that her mentor gave after a cracked beaker up and suspended her for now. When Mena was walking home as a result – hanging the head simultaneous in her depression – she bumped into another pony. Just when she was about to apologize, she realized, that she had pushed nopony else over but Requiem van Algol. Only looking at the beautiful face let Mena realize, that she had wanted to see the unicorn again, wherefore she quickly came up with an excuse for not seeing her. Claiming, that she currently had to to buy a new beaker from the market for Zecora since she just had destroyed one before, the zebra invited Requiem to join the little shopping-trip. Her odd-eyed conversational-partner stated, that she could use this occasion for buying some items, too, so she accepted the invitation.
Mena didn't know, why she was so lucky, but from now on she met Requiem every single day either mornings or in the afternoon. No matter, if that was fate or just accident: She was unspeakable glad about it. Especially, since she was even allowed to get to know the reserved unicorn with every meeting better and better. Soon, Mena learned, that Requiem was staying in the Castle of the Two Sisters, since she didn't care for buying an own home, when such an interesting building stood around that wasn't inhabited by a single soul. The unicorn also claimed to be a thief who was looking for some precious magical books, for which old scholars who would pay a generous price, but hadn't found them here nor in the Golden Oak Library. Mena wasn't sure if she could ever believe that criminal-part, since Requiems charisma was way too noble for an ordinary thief, but she pretended to acknowledge the unicorns career. As she trusted Requiem practically blindly, it would not even make a difference, when the unicorn should honestly steal properties of other ponies. In Menas opinion, the intelligent beauty was a good friend, and since even Twilight Sparkle as a smarty-pants had obviously befriended the odd stranger, too, nothing seemed to be wrong with Menas impression. Therefore, she enjoyed every trip with Requiem to the library as well as every other activity the unicorn was interested to participate in.
For a while, the zebra was in secret jealous of Twilight, because Requiem payed lots of attention to the unicorns studies, so that Princess Celestias priced pupil earned regard in things which Mena would never be able to accomplish. Yet, she regretted this sentiment always and didn't let it become visible for her friends, as their shared time was way too precious for the Herbalist-trainee. Furthermore, Menas newest companion seemed to feel not like a true friend for the unicorn, as she didn't want to be mentioned in the friendship-reports that were often written for Princess Celestia. She obviously even feared to appear within these texts, but refused to explain, why she was so afraid about it. Mena was curious about Requiems reason, but after her third innocent try to get the information had become a failure, she questioned the topic never again. Still, she couldn't grow out of her silent jealously.
The situation changed abruptly, however, when Twilight turned out to be a princess. To Menas surprise, Requiem was obviously not happy about the brand-new alicorn-state, as she stepped practically never out of the Everfree Forest in order to meet/congratulate the newest princess. In fact, the unicorn stayed only in the woods when she didn't need something specific from Ponyville. Mena tried often to persuade her friend for a shopping-tour or a meeting in the library, but all attempts ended in a failure. Meanwhile, she heard not rarely from Twilight, how the alicorn missed the visits of the 'thief' and wondered about the unicorns reasons to avoid her. Spike, who had somehow took a great fancy to the 'criminal' despite the fact that she liked it to banter him, was also sad about her permanent absence.
When a few weeks had passed, the zebra couldn't watch the sad situation any longer. Although she had tried to not push Requiem, now it was time for informing the beauty that their dear smarty-pants wanted to see her implicitly again. Additional, she suggested a meeting between the two brainiacs. The unicorn responded, that this was be a stupid idea, yet Mena countered with the mentioning of Twilights sorrow as well as the fact, that no friendship-report would ever be again a danger for Requiem. There was no reason to be stubborn, since Twilight was still Twilight; despite her new title and wings.
Because it happened seldom, that Mena acted so insistent, her telling-off was a success: Requiem decided to give that new princess on the very same day a try. After that, the zebra had trouble to wait patiently for the evening, since the unicorn had promised her to report on the outcome. When her friend came finally back to the Castle of the two Sisters, Mena pestered her with questions before Requiem could even open her mouth. Sighing, the beauty reassured her, that the meeting had been indeed a positive experience as well as the insight, how much Twilight truly stuck to her given personality. Then, she explained for Mena, that she – thanks to some hazard/good luck – had befriended another pony. Rejoicing in that fact, since the reserved beauty needed several friends in Menas eyes more than urgently, the Herbalist-trainee asked about the identity of this new companion. To hear, that nopony else but Princess Cadence had joined Requiems small list of relationships, made Mena unbelievable proud, since she was in secret convinced of getting to know Requiems past finally via the help of the lovely Cadance – who was after all a friend of Mena.
No longer withdrawn
The zebras enthusiasm became soon ruined, as Requiem showed lots of frustration after a trip to the Crystal Empire. Although her friend had often demonstrated interest into that kingdom, probably she hadn't find there what she had been looking for. Which resulted now in suppressed dissatisfaction. Mena talked with Twilight plus Cadance about it and came soon to the conclusion, that this frustration had to be a sign of earnest boredom – triggered by the certainty, that it must be annoying for a criminal to play a goody-goody pony without getting at least now and then a treasure into someones hooves.
Therefore, the three ponies researched for a challenge fitting Requiems high intellect in order to let her forget that seemingly monotonous life she owned for a while. Indeed, they discovered the saga of a lost magical artefact, which was allegedly able to cure every illness. Believing, that such a treasure must be very valuable – especially when somepony could sell it for a good price – the three told Requiem the story of this artefact. The thief reacted delighted about the possibility and agreed to check this promising adventure out.
Mena – being undeterred by the disadvantage of her state as a zebra – joined Requiem just as Twilight and Cadance did. In secret, the Herbalist-trainee wanted to have as much quality-time with her favorite friend as she could get, even if that would mean to shine only half as bright as the two alicorns. While Twilight scored already with an idea, where exactly the treasure could be located, and was just like the Princess of Love capable of performing spells, Mena was determined to get a chance in order to prove, that she was at least a reliable companion who wouldn't even let her friends in troublesome situations down.
They went into a system of tunnels, where the princesses unlocked several seals through their magic, which caused a new way to appear. Requiem and Mena, however, solved some puzzles as well as riddles in this new tunnel, so that a magical door with several pretty ornaments in the end of that way opened. Behind the door lay a huge cave with a wide abyss in the middle. A small, wooden sign-board stood next to a stony bridge which led to the other side of the never-ending black, where a treasure-chest revealed the location of the treasure they had been searching for. On the sign-board, however, were spidery letters written: Every living creature who crosses the abyss will be temporarily punished with losing its advanced powers.
While Twilight and Mena studied confused the writing, Cadance stated enthusiastic, that there was no need to walk directly over the abyss. Before somepony could ask her to wait a moment, the alicorn was already moving – alias rushing directly into the barrier that suddenly appeared over the giant hole. The princess injured her horn a little bit, but luckily she stayed apart from that unharmed. Via this experience, Twilight decoded, that the abyss had to be crossed with the use of bridge, although it was not for sure how the mentioned punishment would look like.
Requiem suggested to forget the treasure, but the three ponies insisted on finishing their adventure properly. After all, they as her friends wanted to cheer her up with this trip – and if they would obtain the artefact, her mood would surely light up. The thief didn't insist after that speech on leaving, which made Mena relieved plus unspeakable happy as she hoped more than ever before for sign of real trust from her friend. Not, that Requiems past was the most important part of this beauty, but it was something which mattered when it came to her personality – and therefore, it was something the zebra wanted to know.
Twilight and Cadance decided to cross the bridge, while Requiem and Mena should wait for their return. Whatever it was that protected the treasure – spell or curse – they would erase it and reach the other side of the abyss. After the princesses had done the first steps, suddenly their appearances changed: Twilight lost her wings and Cadance her horn. Apart from Requiem, everypony was negative surprised, that this kind of trap had negated their alicorn-status – leaving the younger pony as an unicorn and her former filly-sitter as a pegasi. The zebra wondered how her friend could not show any wonderment, but as she was just as (minimal) indignant about the meaning of the warning alias the unfairness in this riddle like the two princesses, she didn't think twice about it. Despite the frustrating side-effect, the currently-no-alicorns continued their way over the bridge.
As she was just a regular being who couldn't be negated like that, Mena came up with the idea to follow them in order to guarantee their success. But when she moved the first hoof, suddenly a storm rose from the depths of the cave – preventing the zebra as well as the ponies on the bridge from making a single step. The harsh wind threatened to push the princesses into the abyss, so neither Twilight nor Cadance could move their legs in this situation.
Fearing in secret, that the storm had been caused because of her fault, Mena tried to come up with an idea how to rescue her friends. As she was so absorbed in thought, it startled her, when Requiem suddenly walked with a determined facial expression to the bridge; obviously approaching the princesses. Twilight recognized her doing and shouted through the storm, that she should go back, but the unicorn ignored that. When she had reached them, both princesses begged her to stop, but she simply responded, that she was no living being at all.
While that statement confused Mena plus the currently-no-alicorns, Requiem marched over the rest of the bridge as if it was a promenade. And if there were any other traps, the unicorn did obviously not activate them. In the moment when Requiems hooves touched the other side of the cave, the storm calmed down and the princesses regained their alicorn-powers. While she opened the treasure-chest, Mena and the princesses approached her with great bewilderment. Twilight asked, what she had meant with the statement, that she would be no living being – something, that Mena probably wanted to know even more than the past of her friend. Sighing, Requiem suggested to leave the cave and the tunnels, before she would answer to Twilights question.
Back on the surface, the moon and stars were already visible. Requiem asked while looking at them, if Twilight believed like everypony the obvious fact, that her second name would be inspired by the twin-star, Algol. The alicorn questioned the meaning behind that sentence instantly, which caused Requiem to grin – therefore, Mena assumed, Twilight must have looked through her intent. Before she could also say something, the beauty revealed the true meaning of her name – that it was a reminder for the most important pony she had ever met; Algol Lullaby.
Twilight suddenly realized, that Requiem was definitely no ordinary pony. As the alicorn was interested of the history of magic, she knew this name from a specific story – the tale of Etude Meteor; the magician who had almost conquered life and death with his knowledge of black- plus white-magic. Mena had never heard of this before, so she listened attentively, when Twilight explained that Algol Lullaby as Etudes assistant had lived long before Star Swirl the Bearded. That assistant, however, died together with the mage in an experiment, so it was not possible for Requiem to have met her once. The only possibility was, that Requiem had used a time-spell in order to visit Algols era – which would negate the unicorns statement to be not skilled with magic. However, since she had uttered in the cave to be 'no living being', Twilight had meanwhile realized, how much the unicorn must have fooled everypony – even her, Cadance and Mena. Requiem looked at her three companions and nodded simply.
Mena was in secret shocked, but as she was meanwhile so used to see in Requiem the thief she pretended to be, giving up on her friend didn't cross her mind. While the princesses were speechless, the zebra stated that she did not want to believe in the idea of Requiem being a liar. Her firmness surprised Requiem, who admitted, that not everything had been a facade. In fact, she thought of the three ponies right in front of her as friends – although she couldn't use friendship in general, since she was in the strict sense not allowed to live together with them. Confused, the alicorns and the zebra asked her, what she wanted to explain with these phrases, so Requiem declared that she was a pony from the past; an 'undead' who still walked on earth.
The unicorn told Mena and the alicorns her full story – her true identity, the very first. She was aforesaid Etude Meteor – the pony who had been so close to becoming a conqueror of life and death. 'He' told them about the time 'he' had spent with Algol Lullaby; how 'he' lost because of his own fault 'his' beloved friend who rescued 'him' from accidental death – and ended up in her body when 'he' unsuccessfully tried to exchange 'his' life for hers. All this information over-strained Mena a lot, but the sadness in Requiems face and voiced convinced her of the truth she spoke.
Since she couldn't undo her mistake until now, Requiem was still searching for a way to bring Algol back – and so, she asked the three ponies to inform no pony about her secret, since she feared to be hold up by Celestia and Luna if they should ever learn about her plans. After all, she wanted to do something impossible or rather forbidden, which the alicorns wouldn't tolerate after Etude Meteors former fail.
Mena was the first one to assure Requiem of her discreetness, since she wanted to support her friend whenever she could. It didn't matter for her, that the unicorn was an 'undead', because friendship was more precious than the 'species' to which a single creature belonged. Cadance luckily shared Menas opinion, because Requiem had to be a generous pony when she wanted to bring her friend back even if this would mean the end of her life. The Herbalist-trainee was in secret more than glad, that the Princess of Love felt just like her, since she was after all Celestias adopted niece and because of that normally loyal to the older royal sister.
Twilight, however, couldn't promise to share the unicorns secret, as it seemed so unreal to her, that somepony could give up such powers of black and white magic plus a serious kind of immortality. It scared Mena a little, when Requiem responded untypical angrily for her calm nature, that she would love it to trade everything she possessed off for getting Algol back. To see her smiling face again and to listen to her beautiful voice. But as she was unfortunately stuck in the body of her friend, she had to sacrifice also her own existence in this world for allowing Algol the continuance of her life. Requiem stated finally, that she was no fan of the immortal sisters, since immortality was not natural and forced creatures to outlive all their friends – being the most cruel 'gift' which existed in this world. She – even as Etude Meteor – had never sought for it, because she believed more than every other pony into life and death. Hearing this speech caused Twilight to trust Requiem again; causing her to promise the unicorn her reticency, which relieved Mena deeply who had already feared the worst-case-scenario.
Living with a 'zombie'
Although everything returned to normal after their adventure was over, the zebra felt more connected than ever to her favorite alias best friend. Requiem had truly let her as well as the two alicorns in, wherefore the proof for their friendship was more then recognizable. While the unicorn was sadly not ready for informing Spike about her past plus refused to meet / become friends with Rarity and the others, because she was determined to make no other friendships as an 'undead' as well as wanted still to undo her mistake from the past, at least she supported Twilight now properly when it came to magic and did Mena the favor of helping their neighbors more often. Also, the unicorn translated sometimes ancient texts for Cadance, because the princess knew no other pony who was as skilled as her with the old language, which pleased Mena a lot since she was always allowed to accompany her 'undead' friend.
When the magician accepted for the first time ever an invitation to a sleepover from Mena, she admitted casually, that the zebra remembered her very much of her friend Algol, wherefore she would now try to consider Menas wishes more. Hearing these random words made the Herbalist-trainee speechless, because she rejoiced in her mind even more than Pinkie Pie would do. Other ponies might be jealous of the friend who Requiem wanted to bring back even with the cost of her life, but Mena felt honored to have a similar importance. Yet, she felt some kind of pang in her chest since the moment Algols name had been used, which she didn't understand even after cudgeling her brain for the whole day about it. As clueless as she was, the zebra decided to simply ignore this pang and focus instead on preparing for the greatest event of this months; the sleepover. Although she overdid the preparations just like her training with Zecora (which she realized only when everything was already in her house), Requiem luckily didn't mind the hills of sweets and salty-snacks when she arrived late in the evening. Together, the two decided to eat as much as they could and donate the rest of their candies tomorrow for the school-ponies.
Just one week later after that sleepover, Requiem suddenly vanished into thin air. She was neither in the Castle of the two Sisters nor in the one of Twilight Sparkle, which was also empty as the alicorn and Spike had left for helping their human-friends in this other world. Mena was worried, that the unicorn had abandoned the Everfree Forest alias Ponyville amongst her personal duty forever, since she couldn't imagine this reserved pony to join the Princess of Friendship in order to complete a task which involved strangers. But there was nothing she could do alone, which was why she had to wait until Twilight returned home.
For this day as well as the following one – without any clue of Requiems whereabouts – the Herbalist-trainee focused within her helplessness on her exercises with Zecora. She made despite her sorrow some remarkable progress, but wasn't happy as she couldn't share it with her best friend. When Twilight returned in the evening of that second day, the zebra went to the princess just in the moment her return was official – hoping, that her friend might know something about Requiems disappearance. And indeed, the alicorn plus Spike could answer Menas question: The magician had decided to help Twilights friends, which was why she had accompanied her. Additional, she had meanwhile befriended these humans as well as Sunset Shimmer, too, so that she stayed for now with them in order to enjoy these new friendships a little while longer plus watch their newly achieved magic. Mena was glad about this positive information, but sulked in secret about the fact, that Requiem hadn't informed her about the plan to support Twilight. She also wondered inwardly, if she would ever be able to compensate the lack of magical talent – this inborn magic, that mattered obviously a lot for Requiem.
It didn't feel right, to join the unicorn subsequent in this other world, wherefore this possibility didn't come to her mind. Mena waited in lieu of therof patiently for the return of her best friend. Everyday, she spent lots of time in Twilights castle – reading two large tomes in order to stick to her studies even outside of the Everfree Forest. Also, the zebra dipped now and then into a reference-book for botanists, since she had become curious for the domestic flora in Equestria. Perhaps, it wouldn't be a bad idea to study botany next, since she started to miss the work from her families home.
In the evening of the next Monday – just when Mena placed the books back into the shelf – her friend finally stepped through of the Crystal Mirror. Being moved by the moment, she swallowed all frustration down, which had been developed in the last week, and welcomed the unicorn with a huge embrace. Strictly speaking, Mena didn't expect Requiem to be aware of the heartache she had given her, since the beauty was despite her intellect not good with emotional stuff, so she kept her negative feelings in check for the sake of their friendship. Because of her assumption, however, it was stunning to hear suddenly an apology from the unicorn. Requiem assured her, that she hadn't planned to help Twilights friends; that it had been just an impulsive decision – and that she was sorry for not even leaving a note in the Castle of the two Sisters nor Menas house. All of the zebras unlovely emotions were blown away in an instant, which caused her to hug Requiem once more with a huge smile on her face.
In the following days, Mena recognized Twilight to act a little depressive, but whenever the zebra asked her about the reason for that, she denied her almost-depression vehement. Twilights five best friends noticed that behavior, too, so they bombarded the princess with questions until she finally spilled the beans: She missed the old library; her haimish home in Ponyville. When the five decided to furnish the castle with personal things, so that the alicorn would feel at home, Mena was eager to support them via with bringing all uncountable items along which they had in mind. However, she overexerted herself with this task, so she ended despite up in the doctor's office. The medico checked her and diagnosed an earnest muscle rupture in her left flank, wherefore he ordered the zebra to stay for the next three days at home. Additional, he forbade her to walk greater distances plus reproved her for not lifting / carrying heavy items until the next month. Mena wasn't convinced of the injury's severity, but as her joking around didn't change the doc's opinion, she acted well-behaved alias did what he had ordered.
When Requiem look her up just after noticing Menas unusual behavior to not leave her house, the zebra explained embarrassed the whole situation for her friend. Shaking the head, the beauty mumbled in disillusionment how typical that was for the zebra, before she promised to keep Mena every day company until she was allowed to leave the building again. These words made the injured Herbalist-trainee extremely happy.
In the last day of her confinement at home, Requiem visited her just like the other two days before, but this time was different. Before, the unicorn had shown her brightest side for Mena, while now she looked like something terrible had happened. The zebra questioned worried the reason for that long face, but was surprised when the respond sounded not even half as horrible as she has expected. The truth was, that the alicorn had invited the magician to stay in her castle instead of the Castle of the two Sisters, which bewildered the later now as she didn't want to risk meeting Twilights pony-friends.
Mena stated, that the chance was very tiny to meet unwillingly in such a large castle another pony, while there would always be access to the giant library the building offered. With that heavy point, she hit of course Requiems intellectual nerve, so that she persuaded the unicorn successful to accept Twilights request. But before Mena could admit, that she was also personally glad about the invitation, since her friend stayed now also in Ponyville, Requiem surprised her with an unexpected condition. She only wanted to move, if Mena would often stay overnight with her in the castle. Dazzled by this condition, the zebra agreed only with a nod, although she would actually freak out with joy if her head could work properly.
The fatal wish
Two weeks later, Mena studied together with Requiem in the evening a few new books which had been delivered to the castle's library. As it was a huge bunch of paper-accumulations, the two of them read for several hours random pages; reaching nighttime sooner than expected. When the zebra took a look at a 'door-stopper' about magic, she wondered, if there existed for her a way to support Requiem. She even imagined, how it would be if she was a unicorn instead of a zebra. The 'undead' reacted unimpressed to that statement, since she was glad about Menas inability to perform magic. Requiem explained, that she – as she was in charge for Algols fatality – could not bear it to risk the health of another important pony again just because it could be helpful. Mena was able to understand this opinion instantly, but she was nevertheless convinced of the higher chances which the use of an assistant would mean. Requiem shook her head resigned and focused again on the curse-book which she currently analyzed.
Mena felt like a fool to be always handicapped when it came to magic, but she still wanted to talk with her friend, so she changed the topic quickly. Her excuse was an article about Nightmare Moons magic, since she and Requiem had never before talked about this strange creature which had befallen long ago Princess Luna and then – as a replacement – Rarity. Mena asked the 'undead', what she thought about this being; if she felt dread like everypony else. At first, Requiem just raised her brows, but then she negated the idea of being afraid like all the others, since she was her very own Nightmare. Mena reacted with shock, which amused her friend a lot who supposed it was self-evident to think like that. In Requiems opinion about herself, she was not good, in fact, as she would do many things in order to be successful. Mena was totally indignant to hear such things, wherefore she preached of Requiems positive sides; determined to let her see the light. But this didn't seem to work properly, because her friend persuaded her to go to sleep instead of agreeing with her.
However, even if the unicorn didn't want her help, Mena couldn't get that wish out of her head. The wish to gain own magic for helping to make the magicians dream come true. More than ever before, the zebra wanted to be her assistant – the one who could make sure that both Algol and Requiem would stay in this life. In this night, she even dreamed of that imagination.
After that rebuff of the last evening, she didn't talk with Requiem anymore about the topic, but the idea itself became an obsession a fortiori the following days passed. In order to conceal her thoughts, Mena read often a book about mystical creatures and some sprites plus spirits instead of tomes about magic, but only because she hoped to find an optional way through finding a magical creature that wasn't a pony. Maybe another being would support her, since the Princess of Friendship was probably also not happy about Menas wish...
One week later, she found in the late evening finally a perfect creature within the middle of the book-pages. It was a nameless dragon-spirit who was said to grant one wish per person. There seemed to be no limitations for the uttered desires – the ghost was practically like a jinn of the lamp, who could do everything as long as nobody expected from him to take a wish back. The text about the spirit referred above all to the place where aforesaid creature should be located – not that far away from Ponyville. For a moment, Mena imagined how much she would enthuse Requiem with that discovery, but then she remembered the last week, wherefore she decided to keep her plan a secret until she was successful.
In the next early morning, Mena went while the dawn rose into the direction of a specific rock-mass where the dragon-spirit was supposed stay. The text had described the home of the spirit to be located within a natural labyrinth alias some ravines, so she had scheduled several hours for the search. However, she nevertheless hadn't left a note for Requiem, since her friend hadn't done that before, too, and since Mena was often for a while not at home in order to stroll through the Everfree Forest, which was why she didn't even expect the unicorn to be worried about her.
When she arrived the rock-mass, it was a child's play for the zebra to climb across the stone until she found the sought-after ravines. Although she was clueless about the exact location of the spirit, Mena was convinced of being lucky, wherefore she started good-humoured the search. While presumably hours passed, the Herbalist-trainee walked randomly through the natural corridors – calling for the dragon-spirit with her sweetest tune in order to not scare the unknown ghost away with her visit. She knew after all from Fluttershy, how anxious some creatures could be when they didn't knew one, which was why gingerliness was more than essential.
Just as Mena was about to turn around a corner, she heard a soft voice asking politely who she might be. While she slowed her movements down, she introduced herself and stated that she had been looking for a dragon-spirit with the power to make wishes come true. The voice responded then friendly, that Mena had now found what she must have searched since a while – and indeed the zebras eyes discovered a pretty little figure behind aforesaid corner; floating gracefully in the air like a dragonfly. The spirit was smaller than her, yet larger than a filly, and transparent enough that she could see through his red-colored body. Mena couldn't help but finding this being adorable, as he looked like an innocent boy with his sweet face and infantile body-features.
The boy asked her softly, which wish he should fulfill for her, and she couldn't stop herself (because of his cuteness) from jabbering without dots and comma. Mena told him, that she had a close friend who was a first-class-magician; a friend who needed urgently help with some earnest problem although she didn't accept backup from others; how much Mena wanted to support this unicorn but was without magic useless; that she wished only for the magical power which was necessary in order to assist a true first-class-mage. He listened patient to all her words – and when she stated, that she was ashamed of talking his ears off as a mere stranger, the little dragon smiled charmingly. He assured her to understand her feelings, as he wanted to be helpful for an own good friend, and stated that she could stop worrying about the thought of being useless.
Then, the little creature pointed with his right wing at something that was for Menas eyes invisible; between him and her. The boy asked her to place her hoof on this specific point, which she did immediately and without questioning his request. It startled the zebra a lot, when suddenly a wall appeared from close to scratch – a dark-red barrier that surrounded the boy completely. Before she could say anything, the dragon explained, that some evil ponies had imprisoned him here as some kind of punishment for his actions as a benefactor. He couldn't break free alone when nopony wished for anything, since his powers came mostly from the wishes of his protégés. The dragon-spirit stated, that his force became stronger a fortiori the power of a wish was, so he was in fact helpless like a baby without some support. Just the same way as Mena was, when she wished for gaining magic but was bound to her state as a zebra.
The Herbalist-trainee was moved through their similarities – moved through his comprehension considering her situation, so she wanted to know if she would help him, too, when she begged him to make her wish come true. He smiled and placed his claw on the other side of the barrier, so that it lay practically on Menas hoof. The boy addressed her as 'his dear' and said, that she would do him the greatest favor she could ever imagine. Encouraged by his words, Mena uttered finally her wish to gain just all the magic needed in order to support a first-class-magician.
Suddenly, a malicious grin spread over the dragons face – simultaneous, his wings became large plus switched from red to dark-yellow color; glowing instead in a dark-red light several seconds later. It was scary to see, how he closed his eyes in obvious satisfaction about the power her wish seemed to give him. Only now, the zebra realized that he wasn't the goody-goody she had him expected to be. Mena wanted to run away as the light of his wings suddenly flowed through the barrier and reached out for her, but her body didn't move anymore. As if he had paralyzed her via the indirect touch of her hoof and his claw, she felt completely stuck as well as recognized a pull into his direction. The eyes still shut, the dragon-spirit smiled content and dissolved into light, too, when the one of his wings surrounded her. Without real physical contact, he choked Mena until her consciousness vanished amongst a mixture of enormous panic and the intense satisfaction her body felt in the moment that purest magic ran through all her cells.
Possessed
When Mena awoke, she wasn't really Mena. Her mind was conscious, yet she didn't feel like she would be in charge of her body. She didn't control her shaky legs nor the new wings she suddenly possessed; she was also not telling her altered tail what to do. While her grown body in Celestias size stood up on its own and her head turned a little so that she watched her changed appearance with shock, the whispering voice of the dragon-spirit asked her, if she liked what she saw.
A little indignant, Mena answered in the same telepathic way (as she couldn't move her lips), that she hadn't wished for that. Additional, she asked him what he had done to her; why she could do nothing else but to think. The spirit answered softly, that he had given her all the power she had wished for. But as she hadn't uttered that she didn't want him to take advantage of her wish, he had decided to take her pretty body over.
The zebra was appalled, but he seemed to notice her sentiment, because he declared that she with her naivety could be glad for not being the victim of a real criminal. He wouldn't do her any harm nor erase her mind, so she should just relax and enjoy the grandiose force her body owned now. Indeed, she recognized the magic the spirit had given her, as it was like a drug within her veins. But nevertheless his doing was not correct, which she told him forthright. His reaction was minimal impressed – more amused than anything else, before he pointed satisfied the destroyed barrier out. Surprised by this accurate fact, Mena wondered how powerful her wish had been to grant the spirit so much strength. He answered pleased, that her wish had been the strongest he had ever heard alias sensed – a wish so full of longing and passion; mixed with pureness and love, that he doubted to gain ever again so easily energy. Not more than a whisper, he admitted that he was jealous of the friend who Mena wanted to support.
She couldn't do anything else, wherefore she wanted to know why he thought like that. The answer was unexpected simple to comprehend: Because all of his own friendships had ended in a disaster, so that only his sealed master was left. The dragon-spirit was nowadays only bound to a dangerous Wyvern who ate ponies up when he felt like doing so, yet it was the only creature who cared for him. Which meant, that he would now use his new powers in order to free his master – as he had no other purpose in life.
Mena wanted to argue with him about this nonsensical reason, but something took the attention of her altered, now dark-yellow ears. They noticed a tune... A familiar voice. Requiem. Somewhere in her direct near, her friend shouted Menas name – telling her, that the ravine was dangerous and that she shouldn't visit it alone; asking, where she was. It surprised the zebra deeply, that the unicorn was searching for her, and strong guilt-feelings arose within her as clear desperation echoed within the full-throated call. She wanted nothing more than to run to her friend. Nothing more but apologizing for having worried the magician so much. She could tell, that Requiem was tired alias exhausted through the sound of her raspy voice – she must have been looking for Mena since forenoon; maybe morning. This meant, resulting, that the Herbalist-trainee mattered truly for her – even without magic – so it was more than necessary to end the mages search.
But her body wasn't hers anymore. Her hooves didn't move a single step. Instead, her lips moved on their own, while the dragon-spirit imitated Menas sweetest voice perfectly. He told Requiem with aforesaid tune, that 'she was over here', and above all, the ghost ordered the unicorn gently to come to 'her'. The zebra protested against his doing, although he ignored her this time completely. When she stated sulking, that her friend was too intelligent as if she could fall easily for such a dirty trick, the dragon responded easygoing to let this mage prove at first the good impression Mena had of her.
Just a short moment later, Requiem turned around a corner. Skepticism all over her pretty face before she even saw anything. And when her eyes found the zebras altered body, the unicorn petrified instantly and eyeballed distrustfully everything including the dzilla-neck-rings which the dragon had placed around Menas long neck when changing her appearance. While Requiem studied her, the dragon-spirit stated lowly within the zebras mind, that her friend was a real beauty – and although Mena was angry with him, she couldn't help but agreeing with it. Suddenly, the unicorn said that 'she' wasn't Mena – and wanted to know, who or what 'she' was. The usually pleasant voice was in this moment full of venom; frightening the Herbalist-trainee a lot while it seemed to impress on the other hand the dragon-spirit. He murmured telepathically, that this friend was definitely a smart one, and commended Mena for her good liking when it came to friends.
Using the zebras body, the dragon-spirit chuckled softly before he responded, that the unicorn must be the close friend of Mena here. He told Requiem, how Mena had raved endless over the friendship she owned with a specific magician – and that she had explained insistently how much she wanted to help that companion with some earnest problem. He even divulged, that the zebra had wished for nothing else but the magical power that was necessary to assist a true first-class-mage. So, 'she' had just fulfilled this plea – although the way of doing so might be not the one which Mena had expected. But well, physically, she had now lots of power and was capable of performing magic. She had just no longer control over her own body.
Mena was embarrassed or rather ashamed to the core while the dragon-spirit gave Requiem all these piquant details. Above all, it was done with her own voice... But while she was busy with her shame, she recognized nevertheless, how the eyes of her friend widened in anger. Wrath, to be more clear, and also hatred like Mena had never seen in this beautiful face. It was not like the zebra was too naive for grasping the darkness within the unicorn – she was just not used to see it in such a visible variation.
While the zebra was distracted through this alarming view, her body – ruled by the dragon-spirit – reacted on its own as Requiem suddenly fired a large pale-golden beam at it. The ghost dodged the attack with a shock-wave of dark-red magic; laughing simultaneous as if he was mocking the unicorn. Mena wanted to kick the cruel beast as a punishment, but when the spirit pitied the magician abruptly for having such a 'blue-eyed friend', she felt the urge to choke the stupid ghost who dared to deride her now as a means to an end after he had shown before no cattiness. For her, it was obvious: The dragon-spirit provoked Requiem for fun in order to see, if the strong mage was indeed what Mena saw in her. This might sound absurd at first, but he acted towards Mena even now nicely; while her body wasn't hers anymore, so this was the only logical reason why he taunted her friend.
Without any warning, the spirit let Menas body rose into the air; destroying with a huge output of spiritual magic the rocks above both quadrupeds. Requiem jumped behind the ghost plus attacked the spirit once more, although her current exhausted state rendered her energy powerless. Synchronous, she demanded shouting from the spirit to give the zebra back; to give HER Mena back. Being addressed as Requiems property embarrassed the Herbalist-trainee a lot, since she had never heard something like that from her friend before.
The ghost, however, acted still cruel towards the unicorn. He enjoyed the way how Requiem made concessions to 'the naive girl', since an obviously skilled magician like her had not to waste her time with befriending an 'unimportant, striped pony' without any signs of magic. Just when he had spoken these mean words with Menas lips, the zebra yelled at him telepathically how he could dare to trample her friends feelings like that. The ghost responded easygoing, that he was yet not convinced of the unicorns motives, since his words had been true – and Menas own wish suggested this impression, too.
Via Menas voice, the spirit told Requiem that he wouldn't leave this body without some back-payment, which frustrated the Herbalist-trainee very much as she couldn't imagine how such a trade-off should look like. One last attack of the exhausted Requiem followed as an answer to the statement – and again the spirit negated it laughing, before he flew simply away; leaving Menas powerless friend behind. The zebra struggled with all persistence she had against her moving wings, but it was useless; she couldn't stop the dragon-spirit. She couldn't even cry, although she felt like breaking out in tears.
Personality
Mena Stripes is very nice plus would always try to help anyone who needs some support. She has great respect for her home cultures and dislikes therefore anyone strongly who makes fun of it. Being a little naive, she doesn't recognize instantly mean-spirited beings when they pretend to be harmless, but on the other hand she can see even the tiniest light in the heart of another creature. The young zebra has strictly speaking a distinct sense of goodness as well as honor, which makes her very protective in consideration of her friends. Sometimes, she keeps nevertheless her thoughts to herself – either in order to hurt noponys feelings or because she's ashamed of the things which flow through her head. For the curious Mena, it's always wonderful to learn new things, which is one of the reasons why she can't get enough of stories from the antiquity. Her curiosity plus enthusiasm end occasional in exaggeration, however, which is mostly recognizable in her Herbalist-training in which she wastes ingredients in the moment her elation takes her over. As she is very romantically minded, the Herbalist-trainee dreams of creating the perfect love-potion that will show the truest feelings of two ponies for each other.
Relationships
Mane Six & Spike
Mena encountered Twilight and her friends when she first arrived in Ponyville, and is shown to be good friends with them since. She also likes Spike a lot, who enjoys spending time with her especially because of Menas fascination for dragons.
Zecora
Mena has a great relationship with Zecora since the moment they befriended each other. She idolizes her talent as a Herbalist plus treats her like a big sister. Therefore, the older zebra teaches Mena everything she knows, although the enthusiasm of the youngster causes often the waste of ingredients.
Princess Cadance
Because Cadance is somepony who enjoys spending time with others as an ordinary girl and not as a royal, it took not much time for Mena to befriend the alicorn when she was visiting Twilight for the first time in Ponyville after she had married Shining Armor. Since then, the two 'birds of a feather' love it to chat with each other about their families plus friends and try every possibility out in order to create new twosomes.
Requiem van Algol
When the zebra searched one day in the Everfree Forest for some specific herbs which she hadn't anymore in stock, she met casual a foreign unicorn who introduced herself as Requiem van Algol. The beautiful mare was interested into helping Mena with her task, so the two of them spent a whole afternoon together. Since this moment, they are friends and get to know each other with every day a little bit more. In fact, the Herbalist-Trainee can consider herself as Requiems closest friend, because she shares with her more thoughts and fears than she does with every other pony. Additional, the zebra is one of the few personalities who is aware of Requiems true self – a stallion called Etude Meteor from ancient times – plus the 'undead' state of the unicorns undesired borrowed body. Although they are no trivial facts, these things don't scare the kindhearted zebra, who believes blindly into her special friend. She knows, that Requiem wants to leave this existence behind in exchange for the life of her good friend of the past – Algol Lullaby, but she hopes to find a way to let the magician nevertheless stay in this world, as she has in secret deeper feelings for her/him.
Quotes
Mena: “U-Uhm, Zecora...? I think I have... overdid it again... Hehehe... He... Uhm...”
-To Zecora while admitting another waste of ingredients
Mena: “Oh come on, there is no reason to be stubborn. Twilight is still Twilight. Despite her new title and wings. She's still the smarty-pants plus bookworm we are used to.”
-To Requiem while convincing her of Twilights steady personality
Mena: “Would I also help you... if I begged you to make my wish come true?”
[the spirit places his claw indirectly on her hoof through the barrier that imprisons him]
The dragon-spirit (smiling): “My dear, you would do me the greatest favor you can ever imagine.”
-Talk with the ghost who has the power to fulfill wishes
The dragon-spirit (whispering telepathically): 'Do you like what you see, my dear?'
Mena (a little indignant): 'I haven't wished for that! Not at all...! And as we're talking about it, what have you done to me? Why can I do nothing else but thinking?'
The dragon-spirit (softly): 'I gave you all the power you wished for. But nobody uttered, that you wouldn't want me to take advantage of your wish. So, I decided to take your pretty body over.'
-Talk with the ghost who possesses the control over Menas altered body
Gallery
