Princess Twilight Sparkle touched down on the ground, breathing in the deep scents of the Everfree Forest. After she had become a princess, and after the whole "Tree of Harmony" gig, she hadn't any time left for herself, meaning she could no longer go to the Everfree to meet her good friend, Zecora.
Why, it was Zecora herself who had helped the princess with her magic skills, and helped her when the Everfree was attacking Equestria.
So it was finally time to pay a visit to the zebra.
Twilight Sparkle was excited to see Zecora after so long, particularly because they would have a lot of things to talk about since their last encounter. Zecora was always interesting and always gave you a lesson and was filled with amazing stories (whether real or made-up, she always made them amazing).
The walk through the Everfree was much shorter than the purple princess expected, although there were some things she had to dodge on the way to Zecora's home.
For example, the mysterious Poison Joke that they had encountered the first time they met Zecora, back when they thought she was an evil zebra who wanted nothing but bad to happen to the humble ponies of Ponyville.
Her wings almost became entangled in the green vines swinging from the treetops as Twilight flew above the Poison Jokes and the other hazardous plants found in the Everfree, until finally a tree home appeared over the horizon.
Twilight sighed in relief as she made her way to Zecora's entrance, knocking promptly on the door.
She heard a loud crashing noise coming from the inside, and finally a rumble as Zecora opened the door, a smile on her face.
"Zecora!" Twilight greeted the zebra.
"Princess Twilight Sparkle, you came! I almost thought our meeting was a game. I'm so glad to see you, can't you tell? Our last meeting was shorter than a farewell."
The two embraced, pulling each other in to a warm hug. Zecora welcomed the princess inside and showed her to a seat. Zecora pulled another seat in next to Twilight and handed her a cup filled with a delicious herbal tea as she sat down.
"Zecora, it's so nice to see you again! How are you doing?"
"Ah, doing well is correct. But the Everfree I must protect. There's been rumors going around that this forest is not safe and sound. Beasts leaking in, they keep telling me, and yet I stay, guarding the Everfree.
But have no fear, my friend Twilight, I will be just all right."
Twilight gasped. "That's terrible, Zecora! What type of beasts? Maybe Princess Celestia can-"
"No, it cannot be done! Things like this are no fun. Let me stay here and do what I can, for of destroying the beasts I am no fan. But what you said is untrue, but of course, nopony ever told you."
"What? What do you mean-"
"The Windigoes are the ones of which I speak about, tearing up part of the forest with just a tip of their snout."
"Windigoes? I know about those! It says so in the Book of Equestria-" Twilight started, then was cut off by Zecora.
"The Book is very incorrect! With that you have been very misled. For the ponies of Equestria only came into par when they came here from afar."
"Wh...what are you talking about, Zecora?"
"In order for you to know the truth, it's up to you if you want to be sleuth. I can tell you the story of how we came to be, but do you really want to see?"
"Yes!" Twilight said immediately. She was interested now, and nothing could stop her from knowing.
Finally, Zecora stepped up to a big pot, pouring in some herbs, and a small green mist rose off of it.
"This pot will illustrate as I speak, but I must warn you, this is not for the weak."
Twilight nodded.
