“Zecora she’s waking up!” A young voice cried. Flitter felt stiff as she awoke. She was lying on a bed, with a bag of ice over her eyes. Flitter tried to get up but a pair of strong hooves stopped her. Flitter was expecting a pony, but instead it was Zecora, the zebra that lived in the Everfree Forest.

“You must not strain yourself, young Flitter. Your time as a statue has left your body weaker.” Zecora uttered in her exotic voice.

“Statue? What happened to me? Where is everypony?” Flitter asked. Zecora gave Flitter a cup filled with a blue liquid.

“You stared down a cockatrice in your haste. Fortunately some young fillies found you before you threw your life a way, what a waste.” Zecora explained. A yellow earth pony filly appeared by Zecora’s side. It was Applejack’s younger sister, Applebloom.

“Zecora, how long is she going to be in bed?” Applebloom asked. “Ponyville has to have calmed down by now.” She looked back at the two fillies at Zecora’s dinner table, Rarity’s younger sister Sweetie Belle, and Rainbow Dash’s biggest fan Scootaloo, both of whom were watching the conversation.

“Don’t let me interrupt you.” Scootaloo said. Flitter took a sip of Zecora’s potion. It was rather refreshing though she couldn’t quite put her hoof on what the taste was.

“What was it you said I looked at? A cockatrice? Looked like a chicken to me.” Flitter explained. Sweetie Belle shook her head.

“Yeah we thought that too the first time we saw one.” The young unicorn explained. Zecora laid Flitter’s head back down on her pillow.

“Now get your rest, so that you can be back at your best.” Zecora turned to the other side of her home. Applebloom and Applejack’s older brother Big Macintosh, a large red stallion with a blond mane, was struggling to wrap bandages around his neck. Miss Cheerilee, a cherry colored earth pony and the fillies’ teacher, stopped him.

“Here, let me give you a little help with that.” Cheerilee took the bandages from Big McIntosh, and reached around his neck to wrap the bandages. Big McIntosh smiled at his sister and his friends, who were cringing at the sight of Big McIntosh and Cheerilee. It took the teacher pony a moment before she caught on.

“They still think there’s a thing between us, isn’t there?” Cheerilee whispered. Big McIntosh chuckled.

“Eeyup.” A loud groan rang out from outside. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle looked out the window, seeing a pair of zombie timberwolves scratching at the side of Zecora’s house.

“Yep, their still out there for some reason.” Sweetie Belle said. Scootaloo glanced back at her, dumbfounded at what she had just said.

“What do you mean some reason? They want to eat us!” She exclaimed. Zecora laid a hoof on Scootaloo’s shoulder.

“No wolves of wood can enter my home.” Zecora turned her head towards Sweetie Belle. “There is no need to be chilled to the bone.” Sweetie Belle set her hooves back onto the floor. She knew Zecora was trying to make her feel better, but sometimes the zebra was a little too out there for her. However her attention quickly turned to Flitter, who was trying to get out of bed.

“Hey now. You really don’t look like you can travel.” Sweetie Belle squeaked. Flitter smiled at Sweetie Belle before getting back on her hooves.

“I appreciate your concern. But I’m fine. Really.” Flitter winced in pain the second she finished speaking. Holding a hoof to her ribs, she took a deep breath before continuing. “I just want to find my sister. She…doesn’t deserve to be one of those creatures.” Zecora frowned.

“It is commendable you want to save your sister’s soul. But for now you must rest so your mind and body are whole.” Zecora reached a hoof out towards Flitter, but she gently pushed it away.

“Please. Cloudchaser is one of those things because of me. I have to fix this.” Flitter made her way to the door, but was stopped by a weak grip. Somehow she had failed to notice the elderly Earth Pony sitting in a chair near her bed. Granny Smith looked up at the scared pegasus.

“Mah granddaughter is out thar. But throwin’ mah life away wouldn’t reunite me with her any time soon.” Granny Smith let go of Flitter and just stared back for a moment. The frailty in the rest of her body did not hinder the intensity in her eyes, having drawn the attention of everyone else in Zecora’s house. “And neither will you.” The elderly pony stated bluntly. Big McIntosh folded his fore hooves, knowing what was coming next. Surely enough Flitter collapsed onto her haunches and took a deep breath.

“Your right. Your right there’s nothing I can do right now.” Flitter uttered with defeat. How can I be expected to do it on my own without being turned into a statue? Flitter turned back to Zecora. “Can you help me?” she asked. Zecora put a hoof on Flitter’s shoulder.

“You’re sister would want you to live, which is not what this path will give.” Zecora moved her hoof from Flitter’s shoulder to her chin, gently moving Flitter’s head up to her eye level. “I can however, help you make your new life better.” Flitter’s eyes widened before pushing Zecora’s hoof away.

“I don’t want a ‘new life’! I want my sister.“ Flitter collapsed to the ground. Though she held her hooves over her eyes, she could still feel Zecora, Granny Smith and the three fillies looking down on her. “I want my sister.” Applebloom lowered her head.

“Me too.” She uttered. Scootaloo looked at Sweetie Belle, who was just standing there. After a quick jab to the ribs from Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle spoke up.

“Um. Yeah me too. We all want our sisters too.” Sweetie Belle chimed in. Flitter pulled back her hooves and looked up at the three fillies.

“What are you doing?” Flitter noticed Cheerliee approaching her. The teacher pony held out a welcoming hoof, expecting Flitter to take it. Flitter’s heart started pounding as she finally stood up on her own. “Why are you all being so nice? I don’t know any of you.”

“I believe what the fillies have been trying to tell you is that what your feeling is not exclusive.” Cheerliee held her hoof to her chest and let out a big sigh before continuing. “Your right about one thing. We don’t know you. But that doesn’t mean we don’t know what you’re going through. So many of my little ponies are gone. Fresh faces that had whole lives ahead of them taken away.”

Flitter’s face darkened as Cheerliee started to tear up. Foals don’t deserve it either. She thought to herself. With her old bones creaking with each movement, Granny Smith stepped out of her chair. Oh boy, here it comes.

“Ah lost a child and a thar super special somepony years ago.” Big McIntosh and Applebloom sighed in unison, this particular topic one that they never want to talk about.

“Stop it! Tell me how is this helping!” Flitter exclaimed, finally losing her patience. “So you lost ponies you cared about. You at least still have others still alive! But without Cloudchaser…” Flitter wanted to keep speaking, but the sad glances from others made her stop. “I’m…. alone. Don’t you get it? I’m not like you. I’m alone.”

“Nope.”

Flitter raised her head. How she didn’t notice a stallion as large as Big McIntosh trot towards her was beyond her. She started to quiver as Big McIntosh just stared down at her with ferocity in his eyes. Part of her was expecting the large stallion to strike her, or at the very least say something harsh. Here it comes.

“You are not alone.” Big McIntosh uttered. Flitter blinked repeatedly, feeling both glad to hear those four wonderful words, but on the other hoof she still felt empty. After taking a long sigh, she looked around at the others.

“No pony will replace Cloudchaser.” She looked at the three fillies, all of which had their ears draping down in response, with a heavy look looking at her. “But… I’ll try.” Sweetie Belle was the first to respond.

“See? I told you she would come around eventually.” She looked at Scootaloo, who replied with a shrug.

“Well of course. I mean what kind of pony wouldn’t think that.” The young pegasus said, rather unconvincingly.

The warm rays of light from the sun poked through the trees, shining down on a trio of zombie timberwolves. While the warm rays of light from the sun were shining over Ponyville in the distance, the weather of the Everfree Forest had other plans. Dark rain clouds loomed over the area that surrounded Zecora’s home. The zombie timberwolves ignored the rain as it started to pelt down on their wooden bodies. Zecora and Flitter were the first to look out the window and notice.

“It’s like they don’t even feel it.” Flitter muttered. Zecora shook her head, placing a hoof on Flitter’s shoulder.

“Filling their bellies is the only concern of the undead. The lack of any other need is why they fill us with such dread.” Zecora looked up into the sky. She knew the Everfree would be bringing lightning down momentarily. “There is however, a way to avoid a grizzly fate. Using the undead as lightning bait.”

Why do I feel I’m not going to like this? Flitter stepped out of the way as Zecora reached for a small wooden bowl filled with bits of powdered metal.

“Open the window.” Zecora asked. Flitter blinked, expecting the mysterious zebra to say something else so that she would be able to rhyme as usual. When she didn’t, Flitter just shook her head and followed the order. With a light toss of the bowl, Zecora released the metal into the rain. Flitter’s eyes widened as the metal powder coated the timberwolves despite being completely soaked by this point. “Now we wait for the sky to bellow.”

Oh there it is.

The three fillies joined Zecora at the window. “Ah don’t see what this is supposed to do…” Applebloom began to say, but was quickly silenced by the booming sound of thunder. One that was loud enough to make both Sweetie Belle and Flitter to jump in surprise. Following the thunder came a bolt of lightning, striking the timberwolf. Though the zombified monster showed little reaction initially, a few seconds later it collapsed to the ground in pieces.

“Awesome! But how did that work?” Scootaloo asked. Zecora nodded as she started to walk to the rack where she kept her cloak.

“They need a brain to move around. Without it the undead quickly go back down.” Zecora explained, throwing her cloak over her body. Applebloom glanced at the door before returning her gaze to Zecora.

“What are ya doing?” she asked. Flitter’s eyes widened before leaping to the ground, holding Zecora’s forehooves.

“Don’t go out there! Not without me!” Flitter begged. Zecora’s expression didn’t change. She gently pushed Flitter’s hoof away and nodded.

“There will be no abandoning. I shall search ahead for a path before you can start following.” Zecora explained. Flitter looked into Zecora’s eyes, finding herself at a loss for how to feel. There was so much strength and reassurance in the zebra’s voice. Once Flitter was out of the way, Zecora bolted out the door, becoming soaking wet within seconds. The remaining timberwolves slowly turned in her direction. Watching from the open door way, Applebloom had to squint to see the approaching timberwolves through the rain.

“Zecora look out! Thar right on top of ya!” Applebloom cried. Zecora remained where she stood as the timberwolves made their way towards her. Applebloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle exchanged glances.

“What is she doing? She’s going to get eaten!” Sweetie Belle started to tap her forehooves against the floor of Zecora’s home. “We got to do something.” Before anypony could stop her, Applebloom bolted outside after Zecora.

“What are you doing, young filly! Don’t go out and do something silly!” Zecora warned, holding out a hoof towards her. The zombie timberwolf lowered its saliva filled maw closer to Zecora. Groaning with frustration at Zecora not doing anything, Applebloom leapt on top of the zombie timberwolf’s head. The undead beast started shaking its neck, leaving Applebloom unable to do anything accept hold on tighter. By now Big McIntosh and Cheerliee had joined Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle at the doorway.

‘I can’t look.” Cheerliee held a hoof over her eyes.

Big McIntosh gritted his teeth. And after a quick “Nope.” He stomped outside, ramming into the zombie timberwolf, breaking it apart into several pieces. Zecora’s eyes widened as bits of wood started flying.

“Get back inside! Your yoke….”

BOOM!

Zecora and Applebloom were flung back as another bolt of lightning came down from the sky, striking the metal on Big McIntosh’s yoke. The large stallion wobbled before loosing his footing, and collapsed to the ground unconscious.

“Big Mac! Come on Big Mac! Ya need to get up!” Applebloom cried, shaking his fallen form. Zecora noticed the pieces of wood start to pull themselves back together. “Zecora help!”

Zecora reached into her cloak, puling out another hoof full of the powdered metal. “Once your brother is inside I ask you to stay. Or else he may be the one who will have to pay.” She explained. Applebloom’s heart sank as she looked back at Big McIntosh.

“Alrighty. Ah’ll do it.” Applebloom finally said. Zecora smiled, then tossed the powder off into the distance, drawing more lightning away from her home. Then Zecora did something that took Applebloom completely by surprise. Zecora slipped under Big McIntosh’s fallen form, stood up tall with the large stallion on her back.

“Please hurry!” Cheerliee turned to Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle. “Children, step back, give Zecora some room.” The two fillies quickly lept out of the way as Zecora and Applebloom re-entered her home. Letting Big McIntosh slide onto the floor, Zecora started rubbing her now sore back.

“What your brother did was very brave. But now it’s his energy he must save.” Zecora said, as she had to take time to catch her breath. Flitter turned her eyes away from Big McIntosh to Zecora, enamored with what she just did.

“Ah suggest ya get yer keester out of the way. I want to see mah grandson.”

Flitter let out a little yelp in surprise, having not expected an old pony like Granny Smith able to sneak up on her the way she did. She held a hoof to Big McIntosh’s forehead before smiling.

“He’ll be a’ok. Big Mac is just stunned. He’ll be back on his hooves in no time.” Granny Smith reassured. The tension felt by the other ponies quickly dissipated. It was Applebloom who was the first to notice Zecora leave, closing the door behind her. “Ya ain’t going anywhere, Appleloom.” Granny Smith said.

“Wha? Don’t worry about little ole me.” Applebloom reassured. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle stood by their friend’s side.

“You bet. We won’t be letting Applebloom out of our sight.” Scootaloo added.

“Count on us.” Sweetie Belle added. Applebloom glared at the two. This wasn’t like other instances when they were simply making something up to make older ponies believe something they wanted to hear. They really meant it.

Gotta think about mah brother. If they’re actin’ like this imagine what Applejack would do? Applebloom thought to herself. The thought of Applejack turning into a clingy mother figure again was too much.

This path was clearly wrong. What have I brought myself upon? Zecora asked herself. Although she had cleared the rogue clouds with out running into anymore zombified creatures, that didn’t change the fact the Everfree was still as dangerous as ever. Twice the ground had given way under Zecora’s weight, both times happened within the same minute.

“Help…”

Zecora closed her eyes, and held her forehooves together. The tiny voice rang through her ears again; trying to determine which direction it was coming from.

“Somepony? Anypony?”

Zecora’s ear’s perked up as she heard a saliva-filled snarl, followed by the small voice scream.

Time is of the essence. A young one requires my presence. Zecora took off at a gallop, leaping over a fallen log and kept going until she reached a small chasm. Down below she spotted a little unicorn filly backed into the side of the wall, along with an older unicorn mare lying on the ground next to her as a zombie pony approached.

“Somepony! Mommy!” The terrified filly cried. She shut her eyes and curled up next to the older mare. She found herself shaking as the sounds of the zombie ponies were getting closer and closer. However instead of the anticipated attack, she heard bones break and flesh tear. Slowly the filly turned her head back and opened her eyes. Zecora stood facing away from the two stepping one of the zombie pony’s head. The other lying immobile on the ground with a hoof print stomped into its skull. The filly started shaking the mare. “Amethyst! It’s Miss. Zecora! We’re safe! Amethyst!”

“Young filly! You must keep your voice down. If bring attention to the undead still around.” Zecora explained, putting a hoof on the filly. The filly wiped her eyes.

“Your right. I’m sorry. It’s my sister. Amethyst Star. She’s hurt.” The filly explained. Zecora inspected Amethyst’s neck. “She wasn’t bitten! Honest!” Zecora tried to lift Amethyst off the ground, but stopped when she screamed in agony. A sharp rock had penetrated Amethyst’s side, leaving a pool of blood that started to seep around the rest of the wounded unicorn’s body.

“It would seem you speak the truth, but her wounds still need to be tended to.” Zecora reached around Amethyst’s back, feeling a broken spine underneath her skin. “I will take you to Ponyville, where she can be safe, as will you.” Zecora pulled Amethyst off the rock. The shriek that emerged from Amethyst’s muzzle was louder than louder than a dragon’s roar.

“Stop! You’re hurting her! If we go to Ponyville she won’t make it!” The filly stood her ground in front of Zecora. “I won’t let you take her!”

Zecora sighed. “Here, in the Everfree surrounded by undead, all you will find is bloodshed. Is that what you want? Is that the choice you believe is clever? But if you do this, little filly, you will regret it forever.” The filly stood there, and Zecora waited for her response. Finally the filly plopped onto her haunches, hitting the ground hard.

“I just want Amethyst to wake up.” She said. Zecora picked up Amethyst and put the wounded mare her back. With a nod to the filly, Zecora started walking away, with the filly following behind.

“Of course, I can’t spend our time together just calling you filly. Remind me, your name I’ve heard before, is it Dinky?” Zecora asked. Dinky hesitated before just saying “yes”.

A zombie earth pony tried to reach out towards Trixie. Of course it couldn’t get very far since the lower half of its body had been torn off. As for why Trixie didn’t just stomp on its head and end it there, she didn’t understand. Why am I not killing this thing? She looked around. Much of Ponyville was clear, with a few zombie ponies wandering around the houses. She also wasn’t the only survivor out of the castle, some of which were killing similarly broken zombie pony bodies.

“Thunderlane!” Trixie yelled. Thunderlane flew towards Trixie and landed next to her. He stuttered at the sight of the broken zombie pony before speaking up.

“Um, why aren’t you…well…”

“Who was this pony?” Trixie asked. Thunderlane looked at the zombie pony.

“Why are you asking…?”

“Just answer Trixie’s question! I want to know!” Trixie locked her jaw. The zombie pony snarled again. “I wasn’t asking you!” Trixie snapped.

“Junebug. Her name was Junebug. I admit I didn’t know her that well but I guess being turned into one of these things is something I wouldn’t want to happen to anypony.” Thunderlane explained. Trixie didn’t respond right away, finding herself lost in thought. Thunderlane put a hoof on Trixie’s shoulder. “Miss. Trixie?” Trixie shook her head and pushed Thunderlane’s hoof off her.

“Don’t call me ‘miss’.” Trixie snarled as she stomped onto Junebug’s head. “If you believe it is better to be dead than undead, then you are a much happier pony than Trixie.” The magician wiped her hooves against the grass.

What’s that supposed to mean? Thunderlane remembered Trixie had run away from Ponyville in shame twice before. The worst Thunderlane ever had was a bad case of the feather flu. “I don’t know what to say.”

“When did Trixie ask you to?” Trixie turned away from Thunderlane. She pulled at her cape, feeling hot under the collar. “It’s Trixie’s problem and Trixie will deal with it myself.” Trixie added.

“But Princess Twilight said….”

“I know what she said!” Trixie tossed her hat to the ground and stomped on it. Trixie can handle this. If she can so can Trixie. Thunderlane blinked multiple times as he watched Trixie walk away.

“Hey Thunderlane, could you lend a hoof over here?”

Thunderlane started hovering in the air as he saw Cloud Kicker approaching with Zecora and Dinky. “Coming.” Thunderlane called back. He flew towards Zecora, and together with Cloud Kicker he lifted Amethyst off the zebra’s back.

“D-don’t hurt her.” Dinky stammered. Cloud Kicker reached over with a free hoof and gently patted Dinky on the head.

“You have nothing to worry about. We’ll get her some help. Blossomforth and the others should be back from raiding the hospital.” She replied. Thunderlane then turned to Zecora.

“Miss. Zecora. Could you take Dinky to the castle? We have other fillies and colts there.” Thunderlane suggested. Zecora readjusted her cloak.

“As do I in my own home, and they need to be brought here as well. Allow me to do this and I will join you, along with Applebloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle.” Zecora said. Once again, Cloud Kicker found herself smirking.

Figures those three are still alive. Certainly going to be a load off Applejack and Rarity’s minds.

Trixie, Thunderlane, Cloud Kicker, Big McIntosh, and Zecora had gathered in the castle library. Of course because of the original library’s destruction the castle’s shelves were bare. Zecora had brought some herbal tea for the others to drink, though she was the only one who still had some left in her cup. Trixie looked at the basket by Zecora’s hooves and tossed it and the slips of paper inside to the ground.

“This is a waste of time.” She argued. Cloud Kicker scoffed.

“How? Asking everypony to vote on who’s in charge makes sense. Doesn’t it?” Cloud Kicker retorted.

“Makes sense to me.” Thunderlane agreed.

“Eeyup.”

“A wise decision to be made. Tell us Trixie, what about this is making you afraid?” Zecora asked.

“Trixie never said she was afraid! What Trixie is saying is without her here no matter who is put in charge your townsponies will not take them seriously!” She argued.

“You mean Princess Twilight?” Thunderlane asked. Trixie rolled her eyes.

“No Trixie refers to Photo Finish, of course I am talking about Twilight Sparkle! You are not the power of this town! None of you are! And you’ll be taken about as seriously as that pegasus with the funny eyes.” She started to pace back and forth as the others just watched. “Does anything Trixie says make sense?”

“Nope.”

“Ugh! And you! Can you say anything other than ‘eeyup’ and ‘nope’! It’s getting old!” Trixie snapped. Big McIntosh lowered his brow and approached Trixie. He naturally towered over the magician, his shadow covering her entire body. His size started to unnerve Trixie until she started sweating.

“Here it comes.” Cloud Kicker muttered under her breath.

“You’re not acting very polite.” Big McIntosh muttered. Trixie’s eyes widened as the large stallion continued. “If you don’t change that attitude it’s you that no pony will be able to trust. That is what will kill other ponies.” Big McIntosh moved back to the seat he had previously been sitting in, leaving Trixie gob smacked.

“Wow.” Cloud Kicker flapped her wings in excitement. “Hardly anypony gets to hear you talk like that Mac. Maybe the townsponies should put you in charge.” She suggested. Big McIntosh simply shook his head.

“Nope.” He said back. Thunderlane finished shifting through the papers.

“Well the Townsponies made their decision.” Thunderlane mentioned. Cloud Kicker and Big McIntosh returned looks at Thunderlane in anticipation. “And they’ve picked Zecora.” Trixie’s jaw dropped to the floor.

“Are you kidding me? What did I just say about…” Trixie started to argue, but the thought that Big McIntosh would get in her face again shut her up. Zecora finished her drink.

“If the other ponies believe I am qualified to lead, than I shall. Perhaps through my actions I can gain Trixie’s trust, and become her pal.”

Author's Note

And that was the Zecora chapter. I admit coming up with her dialogue wasn't easy since I'm not a natural rhymer, so if you found any issue with it, I am sorry. God forbid I write Zecora in such a way her dialogue sounds less like Zecora and more like *shutter* Rhymey.