The Slumbering Servant.

It's been one week since the ursa incident. Most of the town had been repaired and things are returning to normal. Well, for what passes for normal in Ponyville, anyway. They were close to finding a new home for Scootaloo. A sweet couple agreed to take her in and all that's left to do before she moves in is to smooth out the details. Zakari also had a talk with Snips and Snails' parents, warning them to be on watch for possible depression.

Currently, Zakari was sitting on Twilight's bed, thinking. Lately, he has been feeling under the weather. He's been woozy, his skin has paled a little, he has little strength and low energy. He knew what the reason behind this was and dreaded telling Twilight and the others.

It was time to have the meat talk.

Or it would be if Zakari had the balls to tell them.

And that's why he's sitting on Twilight's bed, thinking of how to break it to his friends that he's really missing the taste of BBQ chicken wings. He knew the subject of ponies eating meat was...frowned upon, but he hoped they would understand that he was a special case.

He figures that Fluttershy would be the most understanding, seeing as how many of the animals in her care could be classified as carnivorous. She would understand that it's just nature taking it's course...right? When the time came, would she stick up for him?

He had different thoughts on how the others would react. Rainbow Dash is loyalty incarnate, she wouldn't turn her back on him. At least....that's what he hoped.

Pinkie would probably be traumatized, call him a monster and never speak to him again. Her hair might even go flat.

Applejack would tell him it's just plain wrong and to take that kind of thinking far away from town.

Rarity. She would most likely call him a brute or barbarian.

And Twilight... She was the one he was most afraid of offending. She was his closest friend.

His best friend.

With the others, it would hurt to have them dislike him, but with Twilight, that would be a cut too deep.

Back during his time, the whole eating meat wasn't an issue. While ponies were forbidden, the king and queen allowed humans to eat meat without repercussion. Zakari got up off the bed and headed downstairs.

No more stalling, just get it over with.

The ponies were all down stairs, waiting for Zakari. He asked Spike to go get them all and bring them to the library. They were not informed of why they were called and were starting to wonder.

"So, what are we all doing here?" Asked AJ

"Don't know. All Spike said was that Z wanted to talk to us." Responded Rainbow

"Z?"

"Yeah, we've been hanging out lately and one day I called him that. He doesn't seemed to mind."

"I think I know." Said Twilight.

"Well, don't keep us in the dark."

"Have you girls noticed how...unwell he's been?"

"He's been unwell?" Asked Fluttershy.

"Yeah, I've noticed." Said Dash "The other day, it seemed like he couldn't keep up with me....well, it's hard for anyone to keep up, but with him he seemed to be sluggish, like he was out of energy."

"Exactly! I've noticed that he seems to be suffering some kind of illness. Paleness, loss of energy, feeling sick to the stomach." Said Twilight. "I've asked him if he was alright and he said yes. But, I can tell...it's getting worse. I'm worried for him and I hope it's nothing too serious."

Zakari got off the final step of the stairs and addressed them. "Hello all, thank you for coming on such short notice."

"what's this about?" Asked Spike.

"Well, as you probably observed, I have not been all myself lately. My skin has paled, I have little energy, and I feel nauseous. The reason for this isn't actually an illness as you might guess, it's something else."

"what?"

"Humans are omnivorous. That means we can eat almost anything, but..."

"But what?" Asked Twilight.

"We have a preference...for meat."

They stayed quiet.

"And that's why I'm sick. Meat is high in protein, and my body is dire need of it. Without it, I'll continue to get sicker and...I could even die."

The group was silent for a moment, then Dash said. "Is...is that it?"

"What do you mean"Is that it?"

"I was expecting something different."

"Yeah,so was I." Said Twilight. "Was this what was bothering you?"

"Well...yeah!"

"Why would that bother you?"

"Because...you know...you're herbivores and eating meat it looked down on."

"Yeah, for ponies, but not other races."

"W-what?"

"yeah dude" Said Dash. "If you need to eat meat to live, we're not gonna hold it against you."

"Really?"

"Why would we? I mean, I was friends with Gilda and she ate meat. I've seen her do it. And I was fine with it."

"Well, what do you know."

"What?" Asked Twilight.

"Nothing, it's just...I thought of this going a very different route."

"Zakari, this is who you are. We aren't going to fault you for being you. You're a meat eater, it's in your nature. I don't see why you shouldn't be allowed to eat meat. You aren't gonna go around murdering ponies for meat are you?"

"What? NO!"

"So, you're going to stick to animals like fish and chickens."

"Yes!"

"Then I don't see a big issue."

"It's nature, the food chain." Added Fluttershy.

"So, you girls don't hate me?"

"Zakari, we could never hate you. You're our friend."

"So...I  can go get some meat?"

"Of course." Said Twilight.

He sighed in relief. "Oh thank God! I'm not gonna die of protein deficiency!"

"Well, actually Zakari, there are some plants with a decent amount of protein in them. You don't have to eat meat to-"

"Too late!" He ran out the door.