Water Lily's Story

Water Lily and her brother had been living in Zecora's hut for a while now. They each had their own small beds and were happy living in the hut, especially Lily. She listened eagerly when Zecora taught her the best ways to solve problems, and she was becoming wise like her. Zecora taught her important things about the Everfree forest, too, such as which plants were dangerous, what animals to stay away from, and how to outsmart them. Cattail was teaching Lily to fly, and she was learning pretty well.

Plants were becoming a passion of Water Lily's. She liked to fly off into the forest with Cattail and look for any beautiful plant she could find. Then, she would take it back to Zecora's hut and replant it in the small garden she had made nearby.

When Water Lily wanted some quiet time by herself, she went to a little peaceful pond by the garden and sat by the water's edge, listening to the sounds of the forest and the pleasant sound of Cattail's music. Today she was thinking about her life. She wondered if she was going to live in the forest forever. She hoped so; the thought of places outside the familiar forest frightened her.  Her thoughts were interrupted by a jarring noise erupting from the sky. Crackle-BOOM! Snap! CRASH! Lily gasped. She stood, shaking. A tree not too far away had been struck by lightning. She had seen lightning in the forest many times before, but never this close.

Boom! She heard thunder again; this time it was even closer. She darted into Zecora's hut. The wise zebra and her brother had heard the noise too. He threw down the bongo drum he had been playing. Zecora yelled, "Do not fear! Just get out of here!" How can she come up with rhymes at a time like this? Lily wondered. She and Cattail had been told by Zecora that it was dangerous to be inside a tree with lightning close by. The three rushed out of the hut.

Lily looked around them in despair. They were flanked by tress on all sides! She flew behind the hut where there was a ditch.

"Get down here!" she hollered, her fear turning into a frustrated panic. Zecora and Cattail joined her in the big hole in the earth. By this time, rain was pouring outside, but plants stretching over the ditch shielded them from most of the rain. Lily peered through the leaves at the sky. CRACKLE-CRASH! "It's getting closer!" she cried. Cattail pressed his shoulder against hers. Zecora said nothing; it was useless when the rain was so loud. She winced as another flash of lightning came. CRACKLE-CRASH-BANG! The young ponies screamed; it was the closest it had been yet. Lily shook as she gazed up at the hut, terrified of what she might see.