"Slow down Zecora! I can't climb as fast as you!"

Zanizababa Colonies. South eastern Equestria.

Zecora swiftly leapt over large boulders with ease. Her young teenage body sweat under the desert sun, her gray fur glistening with the utmost beauty. She only wore a pair of Capri shorts, with sandals and a white tang top. Clothes given to her from the Canterlot ponies that has recently colonized the province near her village.

When she reached the top of the hill, she looked down to her friend yards away, and smirked.

"C'mon Zena! It's only a few more miles!" She called down to her.

"Miles!!" Zena squeaked. Zena wasn't as physically able as her athletic friend Zecora was. She was a village zebra, a virgin mare who spent more of her time trying to look pretty, and find a strong Zebra stallion, then actually exercising. But regardless, Zena was quite possibly the most beautiful mare in the village, unlike her tomboyish friend.

"I can't climb in these clothes! How can you!" Zena wore a pair of jean pants with a large tie dye T-shirt. Still clothes given to them by the colonists, but uncomfortable, and impractical for climbing. Zena truly had no fashion sense with this kind of strange clothing and footwear. No zebra did. Yet it deemed useful at times.

Zena struggled as she hefted her skinny body over large boulders to get to the top of the hill. The fur between the cornrows on her head was glistening with sweat. Zecora couldn't help but laugh. She loved to see her friend struggle with a simple physical task.

With on last extended hand, Zena pulled her self up to the top plateau of the hill. Zecora took her other hand and helped her up.

"Why...." Zena was gasping for breath. Her arms and legs felt like molten lead, and her lungs burned with every forced breath. "Why...why....are we up here again?" She slowly stood up. She wobbled a bit, but seemed relatively stable.

"You Kana Patû you already forget?" Zecora was still a little new to the English language that the pony colonists have started to teach. She practiced by speaking it as much as possible, but never failed to speak her native tongue in between a few sentences. "We are here to make our dreams come true."

Zecora and Zena have been friends for a very long time. Much of their lives they have spent together. Zena was always the pretty one while Zecora was always the strong one. Zena made dresses, and jewelry, while Zecora wrestled with and fought along side the zebra stallions.

Zena had hundreds of zebra stallions, even a few young colonist ponies that wanted her hand in marriage, Zecora never did.

"Well, can we take a break? My feet hurt like Gabfû has beat them." Zena rested on a nearby boulder, took off her sandals, and massaged her delicate feet. Zecora just scoffed and looked around. The evening sun was hanging low, and night fall was not far behind. Zecora better find what she's looking for, and fast.

"Okay, that's enough break for you. Lets go." Zecora waved an arm, and started to walk.

Zena sighed. She slipped on her sandals, and reluctantly followed Zecora toward a large canyon in the distance.

"This is a bad idea..." Zena muttered. Zecora stopped and turned around.

"What?"

"I said this is a bad idea. We shouldn't be doing this at this time of day."

Zecora just rolled her eyes. "If you wish to go home, "be my guest."
As the ponies would say." Zecora can easily go on this journey herself. She just brought Zena because she wanted to tag along at the hearing of "dreams coming true."

"But stealing the Shawmare's heart's desire flowers! That's forbidden! We could get in serious trouble!" For some reason, or probably because she was tired, Zena's moral code was finally kicking in as it do rarely does.

Zecora scoffed at her friend's warning. Zecora had made it her goal in life to become the greatest and most respected Shawmare in the land. But she lacked the knowledge. She wanted to be one so badly, and no one, not even other Shawmare, could teach her. They all told her the same things "too impatient", and "too stubborn." But a certain rumor caught her attention just days ago.

The magic properties of the rare Heart's desire flower.

Only the great Shawmare, Wueteku, medicine master of the canyon was a known grower of the flower. You can buy a pedal...for a small fortune. But Zecora had no money, nor anything to trade for it. But she going to get that forbidden flower no mater what!

"We must hurry, it will be sun down soon, and we must return to the village before the Tunang awaken in the night."

The Tunang, carnivorous beasts that prowls the pan at night. (Pan: open plain.) It would be wise not to wounder in their domain.

The girls walked farther from the village towards the great Shawmare's hut on the edge of a canyon. Zecora was edgy, her mind filled with excitement, fear, and curiosity. What will she do when she gets her hands on that flower? Will she just automatically gain Shawmare powers upon consuming? That's what the rumors interpreted. Though Zecora was not one to follow rumors, but she'd give anything to achieve her goal.

The walk was perilous. The Pan was an unforgivable land of packed soil, thorn trees ,and tall grass. Their village was by the great river, a nutritious land that bears fruits, trees, and wildlife. But here, where the Zebra ancestors once roamed, was now a harsh land that was home to the Tunang.

"Zena! Look!" Zecora crouched behind a bushel of tall grass, and gestured Zena to follow. She pointed at a grand tree, coverd in thick branches if hooked thorns. But like a rose bush, the true danger of the majestic tree was hidden by the awe inspiring plethora of radiant colors. Flowers of many shades of bright colors grew upon the branches of this majestic tree. The tree of the Heart's desire.

Zecora stared wide eyes at the tree through the under brush. She couldn't believe it was so close. Her dreams becoming the greatest Shawmare in the land only a few yards away. She stared at the large plant, struck speechless by its beauty. Zena's blood however turned cold. She knew that if the tree was here, Wueteku was not far away. If Wueteku were to catch them....
Zena shivered at the thought.

"C'mon! Lets go!" Zecora leapt from the tall grass, to impatient to see if the coast was clear.

"Zecora! Wait!" Zena trailed after her.

Zecora ran to the foot of the grand tree. The mighty trunk was so thick, three stallions could not wrap their arms around it whilist their hands connected to each other. It's bark, dark brown, nearly charcoal and peeling from the constant beating of the sun. Zecora wasted no time. She jumped onto the great trunk, and started to shimmy up the tree.

"Zecora...!" Zena hissed, trying to keep her voice low. "Get down! We'll get caught!!"

Zecora just ignored her, continuing to scale up the trunk, flaking off bark as she did so. The magic flowers grew at the top, only the ripest may work upon consumption.

"Zecora! Come down ! I think I see someone coming!!!" Zecora was too busy looking up at the branches above to hear her friend's warning. Only the flower could she hear.

Her impatience will ultimately be her down fall.

She finally reached a thick branch, covered in lush red flowers. All she needs to do is pluck it, and eat it just like that. Everything she could ever want was hers! Zecora's mouth began to water as she reached for the fattest, juiciest looking pedals on the end of the branch. So close....so close!!!

"Zecora!!!!"
BOOM!!!

Zecora was ripped off the tree by a forceful wind. She was just a centimeter away from her dream. She topple to the ground, screaming, yelling, shouting. He branches cracked, and broke under her weight as she plummeted back to earth. Zecora braced her self for the impact, but instead felt herself fall on a cushion of air.

Zena screamed at the sight of what was happening. Green, gnarly, ghost like fingers made of whispy smoke held Zecora a few feet above the ground. They tightened their grip on the young zebra, causing her to yelp in pain.

"Thieves who plan to steal my flowers, must be aware that I have special powers."

A deep, and menacing native voice came from a robed figure. Thick green smoke flowed out form under her, generating the claw like hands that were now lifting Zecora into the air. Zecora struggled, but the ephemeral force that bound her was unbreakable.

Zena was struck speechless. She froze in place at the fear of facing the Shawmare's wrath. Her name was Wueteku, or, "she who speaks with spirits." An elderly Zebra, but never should you underestimate her power.

"Young children like yourselves give up your lives. For the magic seed, the mind it drives."

The Shawmare pulled Zecora closer to her. Zecora looked into her bright yellow eyes. She tried to contain her fear, but knew all to well what a punishment could be for stealing, especially from a Shawmare. The green smoke pulled tighter and tighter. Zecora couldn't breath as the smoke suffocated her. At this point Zena was already running. She flailed her arms in the air, and ran towards home, never looking back.

"Zecora. Ever since you were born, I knew you to never waste. But in your goal, to achieve it, your life may be waste."

Wueteku was beyond angry. She was angry at this impudent child to try and steal from her, and disappointed at how low Zecora has stooped.

"As punishment for your crime. For the rest of time you shall rhyme!"

Zecora went wide eyes as another pair of green hands sprouted from behind the Shawmare's back. She tried to scream, but was silenced as one hand yanked her jaw open and the other rammed down her throat.

"Gulk!!!" Zecora gagged as the alien object slithered about in her mouth, thrusting, twitching. Her insides felt like they were on fire as the hand scrapped around inside her soul, and sticking an ugly black curse to it. When the deed was done, the hand pulled out of the choking mare, and dropped her to the ground. Zecora gasped and wheezed, trying to spit out the horrible feeling left in her throat.

"You ugly spawn of a goat! I swear I shall slice your throat!" She cursed, but quickly clamped her hands over her mouth.

Wueteku looked down to the young mare. "You wished to be a great Shawmare. But I'm afraid that is not possible." Wueteku was no longer rhyming...
"You are too impatient, and you lack the true motivation."

Zecora was outraged. She wanted to yell and scream, but knew she would rhyme each time.

"But I am not one to break dreams."

Zecora was on the verge tears, all she ever wanted, gone in the blink of an eye.

"I will teach you the ways of the Shawmare." Zecora's ears perked up. She looked from the grind up to Wueteku, eyes full of hope.

"But you will never unlock your true power because of your impatient nature, but give your loyalty me, and to shall be what you have always wished."

The morning sun above the thick canopy of the Everfree forest has risen, and glowed brightly in the sky. Fred was on the verge of consciousness as his groggy mind pulled from slumber. For a second he forgot where he was, but soon, the memories of last night crashed upon him like a plane wreck were the tail tapped the jetstream wall upon landing. But it was a pleasant crash. But he barely new Zecora, yet after that intimate night they shared, he felt like he's known her since childhood. He can feel he dreams, her desires, her fears, and ambitions. All loving parts of her soul that swam around in his koi pond of a heart.

After adjusting his eyes to the light, he noticed Zecora was not on the mat by his side. He felt a sense of dread that something may have happened to her, but that feeling was soon alleviated as the aroma of stir fry salad filled his nose.

"You have awoken. That is good." Zecora stood by the large stove near the side wall of the tree house. She as still nude, and her rear end facing the now wide awake Fred. "You were very tired. I cannot blame you for you have been through so much, and have done so much in such little time."

Zecora was smiling every time she spoke. How wonderful it was to speak like a normal mare again. It's been so long since she enjoyed the sound of her own voice. Fred smiled nervously, face flushed, as Zecora turned facing him, holding a pan of steaming veggies. "You need food to build your strength."

"Uh...thank you." Fred tried his best not to stare at her lower lips. But then again why? But the again again, he's never done anything like this before. To him, Zecora was his first..wow, did that feel a little weird.

Zecora sat cross legged again by his side, spreading her thighs in a mater most arousing. She placed the pan of vegetables in between them for them to share. At first, Fred couldn't see how he was gong to eat it from the pan like that, but then he saw Zecora just scoop up a morsel from the cooled pan with her hands. Fred followed, and took a bite. It tasted awesome.

"I knew my cooking was good, but I had no idea it had Such an affect.." Zecora smiled as she looked down at Fred's erected spire. He just now remembered he too was not wearing clothes.

He stutters for words, why does he feel so embarrassed? Why does he feel so uneasy about this?

Zecora took another small morsel of veggies and popped it in her mouth. Fred did the same, not breaking eye contact untill the dish was picked clean of residue.

"I've only met you...yet we..." Fred tried to say something to help his awkward feeling, but Zecora, as if reading his mind, silenced him with a finger on his lips.

"Ssshhh. I understand. Somepony must be waiting for you in Ponyville." That truly wasn't it. The truth was, Fred may not have had much sex in his life, but he did have great respect for mares. As a prince, he didn't need to, but his mother taught him otherwise. Fred feels it is his obligation to take responsibility of his affairs with a lover if he ever had one. It was his duty as an honorable male to wed the mare of his dreams and live a long happy life. But.....

Zecora is not a changeling princess. She is not of royal blood, or even a changeling. She would suffer if such a relationship as this continued...

So instead of telling the truth, like a changeling will ever, he nods his head, agreeing with her reasonable statement. Zecora wasn't a hot headed teenager anymore. She's wise enough to understand.

"But don't get me wrong." Fred assured. "What we did was most definitely not nothing... I would never just use you like.."

Zecora leaned in and gave him a small kiss to quiet him.

"It is not of your actions that harm me. But it is of the intention behind them. Your heart burns with passion, much like my own. It was only your heart telling you it was right, and from what I have learned, your heart is pure, and rings true."

Fred cringed on the inside at that. Never forget....he's a changeling. A deceitful race not known for their honesty.

Zecora stood up, and placed the empty dish inside the faucet bin. She turned and looked at Fred. She smiled, and he nodded, knowing what to do. He jumped to his feet, and searched through a duffle bag of his to the right. He picked his favorite out fit,the gray muscle shirt with the black skinny jeans, and quickly slipped them on.

"I just want to thank you for everything. The luggage, the wolves... " Fred slipped on one of two of his only pair of synthetic leather shoes.

"Think nothing of it." Zecora said , waving a hand. "You have given a greater gift hen I can ever repay you with."

"That reminds me.." Fred was now fully dressed, and preparing his luggage. A small bulge still in his groin for Zecira was still stark naked in front of him. "Why were you rhyming before?"

"When I was young, I committed a crime that was very awful. I was punished for it."

"But you if you didn't do that, you never sold have become a Shawmare like you always wanted." Why did Fred say that!?

Zecora gave him a strange look. "T-that's correct.... If I ever would have tried to steal the...then I would never had..." Zecora regretted her crime, but never did she regret learning from Wueteku. "But, how did you know I...?"

"Lucky guess?" Fred quickly cut her off. It was just too strange to think that he dreamed about her life without even knowing her, or even her culture. How could he have known unless he peered into her soul?

"You are lucky." Zecora smiled. "Which is why I made you this."
She takes a necklace from the wall, and shows it to him. "This is a charm made from the teeth of the timberwolf that was lodged into your arm." Fred noticed that the bandage was gone, and his arm healed.

The necklace was woven with cactus sinew, decorated with four wooden, sharpened teeth. He took it gently in his hands, admiring the craftsmanship. "It is a symbol that will protect you from harm." Fred tied the sinews around his neck. It looked really nice on him, a unique piece of jewelry just for him.

"May I ask one more thing before you leave?"

Fred looked at her. Her nude form standing befor him, holding a small vial of white liquid. "May I keep a few of these?"

He honestly was okay with it, but...should he tell her what it is? Nah..... Fred nodded and Zecora leaned in for a hug.

"Come and visit me any time." She cooed into his ear. Her large nipples were pressing against the fabric of his shirt. She wrapped her stripped arms around him, layed her ear to his chest, and listened to his heart beat.

Thump. Thump. Thump. Such a heart, a heart that beats with love and compassion.

Ponyville. Sunday brunch.

"Fluttershy dear, are you alright? You've been so....distant."

Fluttershy snapped out of her hazy daydream. The muggy air of the hot summer sun has left her slightly drowsy even if it wasn't even noon yet. She gave her head a shake to wake her self up, her long pink hai swaying to, and fro.

"I'm sorry Rarity. I didn't sleep much last night..." Rarity gave her a look of concern. It alway worried her to see Fluttershy in anyway depressed. It was their weekly meetings at the Gaza cafe that Rarity began to notice Fluttershy's strange behavior for the past month. By the visit, Fluttershy would look sicker and sicker. Maybe it as a cold that clung on to her for too long? Too much stress? Though to Rarity, that was unlikely.

"Have you talked to a doctor?" Rarity asked, adjusting her sun hat. Fluttershy blushed a little.

"Oh...it's nothing. I don't want to waste their time." Fluttershy tugged at the nape of her T-shirt. She was feeling a little over heated. Maybe it was a bad idea to sit in one of the outside tables.

"Fluttershy, I assure you it's not nothing. You should seem medical attention. You're not yourself anymore!" Rarity pleaded. She cared for Fluttershy so much, but it can irritate her to no end how much Fluttershy cares for everything else. Always taking everything into consideration.

Truth was, Fluttershy was not an insomniac. She was fine, and perfectly healthy until the start of this month of July. She's tossing, and turning at night, experiencing cold sweats, nausea, and a burning feeling in her nethers. She had an idea of what it was, but was much to embarrassed to talk to a doctor about it. But Rarity had an inkling, she can read her friend like a book.

"Fluttershy....are you...in your heat cycle?" Rarity asked, lowering her sunglasses to look Fluttershy in the eye.

Fluttershy said nothing. She couldn't say anything. Only try to hide her face with a lock of her mane.

"It's nothing to be embarrassed about. We all have them, some worse or at different times then others."

Fluttershy brushed her long yellow fingers through her hair. This was definitely not something she wished to talk about in public.

"I know that there is hardly enough stallions here to be considered lawful. It's such a tough time for mares here..."

"Can we not discus this here." Fluttershy said politely. But Rarity didn't hear her.

"Rarity?" Fluttershy asked. Rarity's stunned silence worried her. Was she being to assertive? Did she offend her?
"Rarity?" She said again in a whimper.

Rarity was too stunned to speak. She was locked in sight with something over yonder. She slowly takes off her glasses and lips the words "Mother of Celestia". Fluttershy turned around and craned her long elegant neck. "What are you..." She gasped as she saw it.

Off in the distance...he walked.

With the stride of a gentleman, and the pose of royalty, a stallion walked into town. The sun shined no brighter then the sparkles in his long black mane. The very earth wept at the luster of his light tan fur. Upon his neck, a necklace of sharpened wood. Who was this stallion that just waltzed into town? Who was he to walk with his muscle shirt and his skinny jeans, and capture the stare of ever mare that saw him?

A mare with golden hair and mane, and a carrot cutie mark awaited her coffee. The waitress came and poured the contents of the container into her mug. The coffee how ever overflowed out if the mug as the waitress continued to pour, her eyes entranced by the mysterious stallion. The other mare was too dumbfounded by him to even notice that the coffee was spilling over the table.

Two mares sitting at a lunch bar were happily ordering their lunch. The one with the navy blue hair asked the waiter for the salad. The other with mint green fur, and pale hair was about to ask for the tomato special when her words caught in her throat. Her golden eyes grew wide as she gazed upon the new stallion in town. She even went as far as to twist her neck to avoid breaking eye sight of him as he walked by. But as he disappeared behind a building, and she looked back to the table, the other mare gave her an angry look. In a return, the mint mare gave her a sheepish smile.

Near farmers market, another mare was looking amongst the various fruit stands. She picked through a particulars apple stand that a young farmer mare with orange fur, and blonde hair owned. "We got the finest apples this side of the hill!" She said, the apples freshened being true to her word. The other mare took a few ripe apples, and put them on the table for purchase. "That'll be..." The farmer mare froze in place. The one buying the apples waved a hand in front of her eyes to get her attention, but to no avail. The farmer mare, along with several other available mares were love struck by the drifting stallion.

Why are they staring? Fred thought. Am I wearing my shirt inside out?
Zecora showed him the path from the Everfree forest into Ponyville. So far, it seemed like a very nice town. Quiet, relaxing, calm. A great place for a not-so-needed-vacation. His mother wrote an address into his hand so he wouldn't forget. He took a look, and blew a sigh of relief at the fact the ink didn't smear.

Tulane lane. 34528, Ponyville Equestria.

It was the address of his newly purchased vacation home, curtesy of his mum. It was a secluded country home on the edge of town. It was two story, and a front window over looking a beautiful flower store full of beautiful roses. Chrysalis said the key was under the mat, now to just put down his luggage and....

"Hershey?"

A small timid voice whispered behind him. Fred froze, and turned around. A mare stood behind him, her arms pinned to her sides as she looked him straight in the eyes. Her face, an expression of disbelief, and possibly shock. She wore a long green turtle neck sweater regardless of the heat with a pair of burgundy leggings that matched her hair. This mare...this mare looked familiar....

"Is that you... ?" The mare was almost scared of who was before her, but Fred. Fred was petrified with fear.

Those green eyes, that red mane. That smell of roses.

It was that mare in the picture. The one that stood next to his nobody.

"You're....alive!"

Author's Note

Finally!!! Update!!!
I apologize for the delay. Stuff had happened but has been resolved. Next chapter will come much sooner.

In fact...

Tune in next time! Is Fred's cover already blown!? Has he been found!? And just who is...king Garthon!?
Keep on reading for the next installment!!

Chapter five:
The cream of the crop.