Zecora’s house was built into the trunk of and old swamp tree. Hung on the branches by strings were bottles filled with potions and vials of unknown elicits. FlutterShy made her way to the door and knocked. When no answer came she tried looking behind the house. A stone bench sat up against the trunk of the tree, along with many stepping stones that seamed to lead off into the forest. Should she stay and wait? Would Zecora mind? FlutterShy decided to sit down on the bench for several minutes before she began pacing and getting anxious. She reached a hoof into her bag and pulled out a pack of her cigarettes. She pulled one from the pack and closed it back up, retrieving a lighter and puffing on the sharp mentholy taste.
Where had Angel been the past few days? She wondered. The little Rabbit had been disappearing more and more often lately. Often coming home late at night and just passing out on the sofa, without a word. She was worried, but he wouldn’t talk to her. Just saying he’s fine every time she asked, or at worst throwing a tantrum.
Fluttershy took a particularly long drag of her cigarette and help in the smoke. Holding back the coughs until she couldn’t take it anymore. She spat out the nasty residue and crossed her hind hooves while leaning on the tree trunk behind her. Her gaze shifted to the stepping stones and lingered there. Where did they go? She wondered. As se was doing so she saw a figure down the trail, it was Zecora returning with a small cart attached to her frame. She Smiled at fluttershy and took off the reigns of the cart as she reached the house.
“Hello FlutterShy how are you today. It’s always nice to see you come my way.” Zecora said.
“I’m um, I was actually um… wondering if you had any.”
The Zebra smiled and waved to her cart. “My dear Child. When I have I not been the grower of Equestria’s premier pot.” She went to fetch something inside the cart while Fluttershy put out her cigarette on the stone bench, making sure to save the butt in a small plastic bag rather then throw it on the ground like most ponies.
Zecora returned with a mason jar full of golden green nugs. The smell was intense, even through the glass FlutterShy could smell the plants strong scent. She handed over her last pouch full of golden bits to Zecora and the trade was made.
Zecora nodded her head and indicated for fluttershy to follow her inside.
“Normally I keep this supply for my personal stash. I find other strains not much better then gutter trash. Butt for your needs it will more then suffice. But be warned one puffand your control will be lost outright.”
“Oh Thank you so much Zecora!” Fluttershy said holding the jar at eye level. “I havn’t gotten the same feeling when I smoke, I’ve been chain smoking cigarettes to compensate.”
Zecora shook her head. “Beware the corporate cancer stick. It may give you relief now but it makes ponies very sick.”
Fluttershy blushed embarrassed. “I know they are bad, I just..Oh. I just wish I didn’t feel like I needed all this just to be a happy pony.”
“There are many roads to happiness when life seams to be a drag, But keep in mind tender Fluttershy you cannot find happiness in a bag.” Zecora answered. “Now Join me by the fire and break out that dope, I expect in a hour or so we will be off our rope.” The Zebra Rhymed.
Fluttershy took out a sizable nug from the jar and added it to zecora’s on the table. With practiced ease the Zebra mare cut up the nugs into fiber-like pieces. FlutterShy watched in silence as the master worked. When the bud had been prepared Zecora pulled out a ceramic pipe she had kept on the shelf next to her bed. The clay had been formed into the shape of a Zebra warrior, his right hoof reaching triumphantly into the sky. The bowl was in the centre of the zebra’s head, and it appeared the hood acted as a sort of carb to control the direction and pressure of air flow. The clay sculptures long looping tail was the mouth piece, to fluttershy it appeared as more of a work of art then a smoking device.
She watched Zecora load up the clay zebra with bud and close the head shut again. She turned the tail end toward herself and pressed her lips against the hole on the other end.
“Wait a minute, don’t you need a lighter?” Fluttershy asked.
Zecora laughed at her comment and spoke slowly in a foreign tongue. Fluttershy was confused and then jumped back as small blue flames sparked to life from the Zebra’s hoof. Fluttershy peaked from the safety of under the table to see Zecora inhaling deeply. The Flame was small and seamed to be under her control. She used it to perfectly burn the weed. The two glass eyes glew red from the combusting cannabis inside. Zecora leaned back in her leather chair and offered the strange pipe to Fluttershy. Fluttershy was afraid to handle it at first, fearing that she might ruin or break such an obviously treasured possession. But she wanted to get high like right now, so without another thought she twisted it around to have the mouthpiece face her. Zecora sat up and said those few strange words again. Fluttershy watched the flickering of the flame in front of her and wraped her lips around the mouthpiece, making sure to hold the card with her other hoof.
The smoke came into her waiting lungs. She was proud of herself at first, until it really started to hit her. She broke contact with the pipe and coughed up a storm. Zecora didn’t seam to mind, she just sat back giggling like a schoolfilly.
Once fluttershy stoped coughing she looked around at a changing world. Zecora strips seamed to vibrate in place and swirl together like a hypnotic circle of black and white. Her hut had been transformed from a modest living space with lots of personality into a jungle of both confusing, and oddly interesting shapes and colors. The masks on the walls seamed to jump out and speak to her in whispers. Even though she knew her zebra friend was sitting less then a yard from her she looked so distant, as if they were both sitting down at the ends of an extremely long table.
“Woah dude.” Was all Fluttershy managed to say.
“Shieeet I know right?” Zecora said.
“Z… Zecora?” Fluttershy said her eyes wide in surprise. “You didn’t rhyme!”
“Naw Dog I’m still ryhmin and shiet. Yous gots to have the herb to understand what we is sayin.”
“So I can talk Zebra now?” Fluttershy said confused.
“Nah. But you can understand what we is saying better. Its like poetry you see, it rhymes.” Zecora said as she filled up another bowl. The Zebra warriors eyes now looked set aflame burning with an inferno of Cannabis. Fluttershy wanted to cry, it was so beautiful.
Zecora handed Fluttershy the pipe and stood up for a moment to retrieve something from her many belongings. She took another long drag of the pipe and practiced blowing smoke rings. They were not very good but she was at least vaguely getting the shape right. Zecora returned with a flask of some purple viscous liquid Fluttershy could not quite identify right now. Whatever it was Zecora pulled out two shot glasses and pored a small amount into each one. Pushing one glass towards Fluttershy herself, and picking up the other with her own hoof Zecora indicated for them to bump glasses which fluttershy did with righteous might.
Without a second thought she downed the strange drink in one gulp. Feeling bolder then her normal timid self would ever act. It was amazing how she could feel so different by just inhaling some ground up flowers. If conciousness was nothing more then complex systems of chemical interactions. Then what else could she introduce to her equation, and what results would she find? These questions and more lingered in her mind until the alchohal kicked in.
Zecorra’s hut was suddenly and horrificly ripped away in a tornado of colors. Fluttershy found herself disembodied, but still aware. She felt the heat of three shining suns that seamed to pierce her with the heat of their rays. She felt like she was spinning in circles that took her laps around the solar system. She tried to focus when she felt something tap her shoulder, only registering a moment later. Zecora was here to and she was smiling.
“Zecorra whats going on?” Fluttershy said, still looking around her for the celestial bodies that had been following her.
“We drank the drink of muh people.” The Zebra said, her stripes seamed to come off and smack fluttershy in the face with each syllable she used.
“So is this like a holy vision?” Fluttershy asked, dipping her head to avoid incoming stripes.
“Maybe.” The Zebra said and turned away.
Eventually after many bowls and strange conversations, Fluttershy decided she best travel home before it got too dark out. Zecora offered to follow and they were off into the Everfree forest stoned off their plots, with purp drank to boot.
The next day Fluttershy was feeling much better. Her experience in Zecoras hut had calmed her anxiety down immensely and she was feeling back to her old self. She passed by Sweet Apple Acres on her way into town and waved to applebloom and her friends who were playing some sort of game in the top of an appletree.
She made her way to ponyville proper and then to the marketplace. To her delight she found Rarity bargaining with on of the vendors.
“Oh Please dear, don’t insult my intelligence. This is obviously a shade of dark blue and couldn’t possibly be considered a violet. And as such I am only willing to pay two bits per sheet.”
“Hey my prices are set. I don’t make them up that’s just company policy.” The Stallion said.
“Couldn’t you be a chivalrous stallion and lower the price for a poor mare striving to make it in the cut throat fashion industry?” Rarity pleaded with her best impression of puppy dog eyes.
“No. Its five bits a sheet for any sheet of fabric.”
Rarity turned her head up as if disgusted and whimpered a “HMMPH” before giving up on her venture. When she turned around she saw fluttershy approaching and her attitude changed. “Oh dear fluttershy! So lovely to see you out on such a beautiful day.”
Fluttershy smiled. The two ponies mingled in the marketplace for a bit. Rarity apparently was working on an order from one of her Manehatten clients. She had been having trouble with inspiration for the order, and had decided to take a break and shop around for supplies.
“I’m sure you will make those dresses the best you can make them.”
“I Know. I just feel like no matter what I do it will never be enough to satisfy myself. Oh FlutterShy if only you knew what it was like to be your own worst critic.” Rarity said dramatically, raising a hoof to her forehead.
Fluttershy gave her a sideways look, which Rarity seamed to ignore. Fluttershy was suddenly reminded of what she was supposed to be doing.
“I’m going by Twilight’s House, do you want to come?” FlutterShy asked.
“Hmm, I really would love to. But I should be at home working on that order. I’ll see you tomorrow at the spa for our weekly get together darling.” Rarity gave Fluttershy a quick hug before departing for carousel boutique. Nice, Fluttershy liked hugs.
Fluttershy soon found herself at The Golden Oaks Library. Twilight always had a logical solution to problems, for better or worse. Or at least the knowledge to solve them. It was time Fluttershy started to take care of her own problems.
Fluttershy knocked on the door several times and waited for a response. From inside she thought she heard hoofsteps. Twilight appeared from behind the door, the unicorn wore a confused look on her face.
“You know the first floor is a library right? You don’t have to knock to come in Fluttershy.” The purple mare said.
“I’m sorry. Um I came here to borrow a book.” Fluttershy said hiding partially behind her mane.
“Then you’re in luck. Because I have this place memorized.” Twilight said ushering her friend in. “What kind of book are you looking for?” Twilight asked.
Fluttershy wondered how she could put this. “Um I need a book about Psychoactive drugs.” She said flatly.
Twilight’s eyes widened in alarm. Clearly not expecting this answer. “Um let me see what I have.” Twilight went directly to a particular shelf in the library and removed a book after a quick glance over.
“I don’t mean to intrude or anything but could I ask what this is for?” Twilight said. “It’s just not something I would think you were interested in.”
“Oh I’ve always had an interest in the biology of the mind. Drugs effect on consciousness and perception of reality is all a part of that.”
Twilight smiled and stamped the bookmark to check it out. “I never took you for the academic sort Fluttershy. We should have a debate sometime.” Twilight said in a cheerful voice. “Although my studios of neurology and biochemical engineering are a bit rusty.”
“Its probably because you spend so much time studying friendship Twilight.” Fluttershy shrugged.
“Yeah, Princess Celestia isn’t very encouraging of anything that doesn’t have to do with magic or friendship for some reason. But she wont tell me, just groom me for a destiny I don’t fully understand or consent to.”
“Its basically Rape Twilight.” Fluttershy admitted.
