Forgotten Fire: The First Spark

        The air was cool and still. The gentle buzz of night surrounded the sleeping filly. Her body was still, but her mind was overflowing with her emotions and fears. The flames had died down long ago, but the pain of abandonment was still burning her. She didn't know why the fire hadn't burned her alive; she didn't care. She just closed her eyes as tightly as she could and shut the wold out. It's the only thing she could do.

For hours she slept. She missed the sun reclaiming the sky. She missed the cheers from every pony in Equestria celebrating the return of Princess Luna. She even missed her sister running over to her and doing everything she could to wake her, all in vain. Everything was gone, so she slept.

She wasn't sure how long she had lied there, burying herself in her own misery. All she knew was that this wasn't where she had lied down. This place wasn't the pile of ashes that had once been her house, nor was it the familiar forest that had been her home for all her life. There were clay walls built up around her, with strange masks hanging from them, and a large cauldron sitting in the middle of the room. It took her reddened eyes to adjust to the new landscape, but as soon as her world came into focus, fear gripped her heart. She bolted to her hooves, ready to run out of the door she was still trying to find, when a smooth and kind voice whispered, "Do not give into your fright, I assure you that you will be alright."

Out of the shadowy door frame appeared a Zebra, or at least, Ember thought it was a Zebra. She had never actually seen one, but she was sure of it, because of the stripes. The Zebra was wearing a dark-brown cloak with the hood pulled up. After pushing the hood off, Ember could see that the Zebra's neck was covered in strange golden bands, and so was her front hoof. She had a ring in her ear, and her mane was standing straight up. Ember couldn't believe how strange this creature looked.

"Where am I", Ember asked. "What am I doing here?"

"I saw that you were in distress, I figured you could use a rest."

"I was fine where I was, I don't need your help," she replied angerly. "Who are you and what do you want?"

"Zecora is who I am, and I must help you, in any way I can."

Ember looked away, anger in her eyes. All of her sadness had been replaced by hatred for this Zebra. Ember just wanted to get out of this hut and go into the forest; she didn't know where, just someplace other than here.

"I know the darkness that is in your heart, but please do not let it tear you apart." Ember turned her head towards the Zebra, confused. "Please just listen to what I have to say, then you can decide if you want to stay."

As the moon rose into the darkening sky, Zecora told Ember that she was sorry for what happened to her family, that if she needed any help in any way that she would help, and that Ember could stay with her for as long as she might need. As they talked, Ember began to warm-up to Zecora, and she accepted her generous offers, figuring that she still needed a home. They kept talking until the sun was ready to rise, and Ember felt happy, actually happy. She pushed and feelings of her family deep within the recesses of her mind. Now, Zecora was her family, and she was happy.