Jewel of the Jungle

Chapter 15

Zecora’s Cabin, The Everfree Forest

Due to the increasing popularity of my herbal remedies, I took it upon myself to set up a small stand within Ponyville’s market district. I kept it open from the time I finished my breakfast (which was usually around six in the morning) till about two in the afternoon. If anyone required further assistance or needed something that I did not happen to have in stock, I invited them to visit my cabin.

Thankfully, today did not happen to be one of those occasions. While I recognized the need to make money in order to support myself, I was eager to finish handling customers for the day and return to my cabin. The letter I received yesterday weighed so heavily upon my mind that it was impossible for me to calm down enough to achieve any semblance of sleep the night prior.

I was still cordial to all my customers, of course. But… part of me was simply going through the motions just to satisfy my daily quota. After yawning loudly, I turned the doorknob to my cabin and slowly shuffled inside.

I kicked off my sandals and set about getting more comfortable. Sun dresses were my typical outfit of choice because they required the least amount of effort to slip in and out of. As for today though, I chose to wear a tank top and shorts to the market just for a change of pace. I was actually quite surprised at how comfortable they were. The shorts contained some sort of elastic material that stretched around my waist, instead of using a button or zipper to keep them in place.

Pinkie informed me that they were called “gym shorts”. People supposedly wore them during periods of vigorous physical activity because they allowed a wide range of motion. Why anyone would want to exercise or swim while clothed was beyond my comprehension, but I chose not to question it. This happened to be one of the facets of Equestrian society that I would never come to fully understand no matter how it was explained to me.

After balling up my clothes, I tossed them into the hamper and grabbed a towel out of the closet. The way I saw it: a long, hot shower would serve to help relax my tensed muscles and clear my mind for a short period of time, at any rate.

As I drew near the bathroom door, I heard the distinct pitter-patter of running water. In my exhausted and distracted state of mind, I initially had not noticed anything peculiar when I entered the cabin. I mentally cursed myself for not noticing the sound earlier. Clearly, my instincts as a huntress had been considerably dulled since coming to Equestria.

I held my breath and opened the door as silently as I could. Relief washed over me when I immediately recognized that my would-be assailant was merely my husband taking a shower. Oh, what a sight it was! Even though he was in the process of drying himself off, I could see tiny beads of water still trickling down his abdomen.

I paused for moment in order to appreciate his muscled form. In that moment, I felt like a hungry lioness stalking a hapless gazelle in the tall grasses of the savannah. He seemed somewhat surprised that I was in the room with him, but he still managed to greet me with a sheepish smile. Taking that as an invitation, I licked my lips in anticipation and strode towards him.

“Hey Zecora. Ah umm—didn’t expect ta see ya back so soon. Ah was gonna surprise you and make lunch… but Ah wanted ta wash up first.”

I ran my fingers along the taut muscles of his stomach. “I certainly appreciate the gesture. However, I think that I appreciate your presence far more. I have missed you, my love.”

“I’m really sorry about that. The farm doesn’t run itself and with the weddin’ right around the corner, it’s damn near impossible for me ta find much time ta see ya. Don’t worry though! Mah sisters volunteered ta do all the chores for a while, and Granny said she’d tend the stills.”

Rather than tell him not to worry, I chose to let my actions speak for me. I gently cupped his cheeks in my palms and pressed my lips against his. He, of course, responded in kind but I took things a step further by mingling my tongue with his own.

I am uncertain how long we stood in the bathroom kissing one another, but it felt like an eternity before we broke apart. A soft moan escaped my lips when I felt him gently nibble his way along my neck and towards my ear. Once he was finished, I wrapped my arms around his waist and pressed my breasts against his chest. We were so close that I could feel the steady rhythm of his heartbeat.

A proud smile spread upon my lips as I felt his growing erection rub up against my belly. When I let out a girlish giggle, he suddenly became rather tense. Perhaps he was embarrassed by his arousal? Regardless of how he felt about it, the heat of desire stirring in my loins drove me to take further action. After taking a moment to get comfortable, I sat on my knees and began to stroke his shaft.

“Do you know what I think? Instead of lunch, I would much rather have you.”

“Ah swear you’re downright insatiable sometimes...” Macintosh mumbled.

“Well, that is only because I have such a handsome, loving husband to share my passion with. Are you saying that you do not want your wife to pleasure you?”

Macintosh hissed while I teased the tip of his head with my thumb. “That’s not—ok, fine! Ah admit it. I’m seriously pent up right now. Ah just haven’t had the time or the energy ta relieve mahself properly in the past few days. Ya gotta understand: the whole reason Ah came here was ta take care of ya for a while. Instead, here Ah am gettin’ mah knob polished. Ah guess… Ah feel a bit guilty.”

“Worry not, my love. There is nothing to feel guilty about. It makes me happy to do this for you.”

“Alright, darlin’. If that’s what ya want. Just… lemme pay back the favor, alright?”

I smiled. “That can certainly be arranged. Now, just relax and allow me to pleasure you.”

With the greatest of care, I grasped the base of his shaft, wrapped my lips around the head of his penis, and used my other hand to gently knead his balls in-between my fingers. Under normal circumstances, I would have fellated him at a rapid pace to ensure that he achieved a powerful and satisfying orgasm as quickly as possible. However, today I was feeling a bit more impish.

My lips slid up and down his shaft at what I imagine (for a man who had not released his seed in a few days) must have been an infuriatingly sedate pace. Part of me felt guilty, so I made sure to swirl my tongue along the sensitive patch of skin just below his head. I knew for a fact that he loved it when I did that.

It was quite difficult for me to keep his girth inside of my mouth for such an extended period of time because it made my jaw slightly sore. But I convinced myself that the discomfort would be well worth the effort. My plan was to bring him to the teetering edge of orgasm, pause for a few moments, and continue slowly in order to maximize his pleasure. If he was going to release his seed, I wanted him to do so inside of me.

I continued to suckle his penis for a few more moments, until I heard him whimper softly. Immediately thereafter, I felt his balls begin to grow taught betwixt my fingers. It was as sure a sign as any that he was approaching his limit. With a slick pop, I ceased my ministrations and left his manhood exposed to the open air once more.

He stared back at me with a confused and pitiful expression. I practically had to bite my cheek to stop myself from satisfying him right then and there. As much as it pained me to leave him unsated, I had to stick with my plan. With all the grace of a seasoned martial artist, I sauntered towards the bathroom door and struck the most seductive pose I could muster.

“You may repay the favor by following me into the bedroom~”

I tilted my head to the side ever so slightly just to make sure that I was putting some extra wiggle in my hips while I walked. I stopped about halfway to assess how Macintosh was receiving my impromptu display. Much to my delight, he was absolutely entranced by my backside and started to lick his lips. Satisfied with his reaction, I giggled like a love-drunk school girl and scampered into the bedroom.

Once inside, I crawled atop the covers and shamelessly presented my glistening sex to Macintosh. I shouted out in surprise when I felt him abruptly ram his manhood into me. In hindsight, I realized that I had basically given him an open invitation to do so, but… it was very jarring to be penetrated in such a manner. He immediately paused upon hearing my pained cry.

“Zecora? Are ya ok?”

“I-I shall be alright. Please, continue.”

Macintosh sighed. “I’m sorry, darlin’. Ah should have given ya a bit more time ta prepare yourself. Mah… urges got the better o’ me.”

Rather than reply verbally, I chose to answer him with silence so that he could reflect upon his action. But in all honesty, I was not nearly as upset with him as I appeared to be.

Macintosh’s entire body seemed to sag. “Zecora, ya can’t expect a sex-deprived man ta resist his beautiful wife when she’s practically shovin’ her lady-bits in his face. I’m sorry if it hurt but—”

With a mischievous giggle, I gyrated my hips forward and back, easing his length in and out of me as slowly as I could. Even though he had become distracted by my reaction, I could tell that Macintosh was still fully erect and eager to make love. Therefore, I repeated the motion several more times, and much to my satisfaction, he let out a grunt of pleasure. After that, he dug his fingers into my buttocks and began to do all of the thrusting himself.

Under normal circumstances, Macintosh liked to set a steady, rhythmic pace but this time he was fast and frantic. I typically did not enjoy making love when it devolved into animalistic humping, but today I could make an exception. This was about allowing my husband to alleviate his sexual frustration and experience as much pleasure as possible. Besides, the feeling of him stirring up my insides had long since banished any residual pain.

I gripped the bedsheets tightly, curled my toes, and panted in exertion. The first true orgasm I’d had in days surged through me like a wild electric current. The near constant pressure of my walls as they squeezed Macintosh’s manhood made me contort my body in all manner of strange, but enjoyable positions. It did not take long before he was right on the verge of releasing his seed, for I felt his head begin to flare inside me.

With one final push, he plunged into me deeply and cried out my name. In that moment, I felt his hot, thick semen fill my belly until a few errant globs started to drip down onto the bedsheets. When his orgasm finally subsided, he slowly coaxed his length from inside me; we rolled onto our backs, and took a moment to catch our breath.

While we were lying next to one another, I could not help but notice that even after filling me to the brim with his seed; Macintosh’s penis still seemed fairly erect. Just for good measure, I gave it a gentle poke and smiled when my suspicions were confirmed. The flames of passion had yet to extinguish in my belly, so I was quite eager to initiate a second round of love-making.

“Such stamina you possess, my love,” I whispered while peppering his shaft with kisses, “I would be remiss in my duty as your wife to ignore your manhood while it is in such a state. Allow me to take care of it for you~”

Rather than allow Macintosh to contradict my assertion, I crawled atop his torso and squeezed my thighs against his hips in order to keep him in place. Next, I grasped the base of his shaft and carefully lowered myself onto it until he was completely inside me. As soon as I was certain that his penis would not slip out, I began to pump my hips up and down slowly in a continuous motion.

Gone was the frantic pace that we had set from before. Now, it was all about enjoying every little moment of pleasure that was shared between us. My favorite part about being on top was the fact that I could clearly see my husband’s face and all of his expressions. In that moment, my eyes locked onto his and I bent down slightly so that I could run my fingers through his hair. He responded in kind by cupping my cheeks and pulling me into a long, passionate kiss.

Much to my delight, Macintosh decided to focus his attention on caressing my breasts once he broke away from our kiss. I let out an involuntary squeak of surprise when he began to gently roll my nipples in-between his fingers. Waves of electric pleasure radiated from my chest all the way down to the tips of my toes while he continued his ministrations. With as sensitive as my body felt, I could no longer bear to hold back my impending orgasm.

I braced my hands against my husband’s shoulders and started pumping my hips at a frantic pace. It was not long before the distinct sound of Macintosh’s balls slapping against my rump filled the room. With a deep, throaty moan, I clenched my legs around him and allowed the pure, unadulterated ecstasy of my orgasm overwhelm my senses. Only a few moments later, I heard him grunt loudly, which was inevitably followed by the warmth that I felt in my belly as he filled me with his seed for the second time today.

Utterly exhausted, I slowly dismounted my husband and wrapped my arm around his torso. He happily accepted my embrace and then I took it upon myself to nestle my head in the crook of his shoulder. For what could have been hours, we simply enjoyed the warmth and comfort of each other’s bodies. We absolutely reeked of sweat and sex but neither one of us were terribly concerned about it while we cuddled. I very nearly fell asleep… until the specter of my estranged father reared its ugly head.

“My love, I apologize for interrupting this wonderful moment but… there is an important matter that weighs heavily upon my mind.”

Macintosh placed a gentle kiss upon my forehead. “Easy there, darlin’. Go on and tell me what’s botherin’ ya and I’ll see what ah can do ta help.”

“Yesterday, I received a letter from my mentor. In it, she mentioned that my father was ousted from his position as chieftain during a coup. While there was relatively little violence, my father managed to escape before he could be taken into custody. What worries me most is that no one knows of his current whereabouts.”

“Wait, back up a second. Your pops was a chieftain?! Why didn’t ya ever mention this before?”

I felt my cheeks redden with shame. “Macintosh, please understand that it was never my intention to deceive anyone, least of all you! I simply wanted to put my old life behind me and forge a new identity for myself here in Equestria.”

“Why though? If ya were a chieftain’s daughter, surely things couldn’t have been that bad.”

I sighed. “Most people would assume that, but such was not the case for me. From the very moment I was born, my father decided that I needed to be a worthy successor to all that he ruled. Even though he was the High Chieftain of Zebrica, it did not change that fact that he was a cruel, selfish man. More often than not, he would manipulate the people and events around him just to suit his own needs. Sadly, I was not exempt from his machinations either.

“Throughout my entire childhood, I was instructed on anything and everything that would help me to become proper chieftess. When I finally grew old enough to experience my first moon blood, my father sent me off into the forest to begin training with the Hunters. Despite being a woman, my father wanted me to become strong and hone my martial skills. After all, a good ruler must understand how to protect herself and her people during times of war.

“Eventually, I came to appreciate their ways and ended up adopting them as my own. From time to time, I would journey back to the village and trade the ingredients I found in the forest for supplies. My passion for herbalism began in earnest when the village Mganga, Nimwae, started teaching me about the useful properties of the plants and fungi that I delivered to her hut.

“I was quite content with the direction my life was going. That is… until my father decided to summon me back to the village after ignoring my existence for nearly a decade. When I arrived, he chastised my lifestyle and informed me that I was to be wedded to another chieftain’s son so that he could formally cement an alliance between our people.

“Never in my life had I felt such outrage! It was not his place to trade me away as if I was some kind of commodity! Unfortunately, I had no choice but to comply with the arranged marriage because he had threatened to harm Nimwae if I refused. When I finally summoned the courage to tell her what happened, she told me not to worry about my father and arranged my passage to Equestria.”

Macintosh let out a heavy sigh. “That’s one hell of a story. Ah never knew how complicated your situation was before movin’ ta Equestria. But I’m glad ya talked to me about it. Although, I’m confused about one detail: why are ya still worried about your old man?”

“My father may have been ousted in the coup, but he had access to vast amounts of wealth. With how paranoid he was, I have no doubt that he kept a hidden cache stowed away for emergencies. It is well within the realm of possibility that he used some of it to book passage to Equestria with the intent of exacting his revenge upon me.”

“Is he that obsessed with revenge that he’d drop everthin’ just to come after ya?”

I felt my chest begin to tighten. “I am… afraid so. There were many amongst my people who saw my departure as an open act of defiance against his tyrannical rule. That was never my intention, but he may have interpreted it that way as well.”

It was at that moment when I felt something break inside me. All of the anxiety, stress, and fear that had been building up inside me since yesterday, suddenly burst forth like a summer flood. I hugged Macintosh tightly whilst I heaved shuddering, choking sobs into his chest. Why did things have to be this way? The only thing I had ever desired was to have a life that I could call my own. Was fate so cruel that it would not allow me to enjoy this one, simple thing?

Macintosh gently brushed his fingers through my hair. “Shhh. It’s alright. We’ll think of somethin’.”

“But what can we do?! No one has any idea where my father is. He could already be in Equestria at this point!” I croaked.

“A close friend of mine happens ta be a bigwig in the EMS. If you’re feelin’ up ta it, we could take a quick trip ta Canterlot and see if he’d be willin’ ta spare some agents ta keep an eye out for your old man.”

“Do you truly believe that he shall be able to keep us safe?”

Macintosh placed a soft kiss upon my cheek. “I’d trust that man with mah life, darlin’. Besides, you’ve got me too. So long as I’m around, ah won’t let that bastard lay a finger on ya. That’s a fact.”

Quite some time passed before I was composed enough to leave the warmth and comfort of my bed. However, having my husband close at hand, offering his love and support, did much to strengthen my resolve and spur me into action. So, after we cleaned up and got dressed, the two of us decided to take the next scheduled monorail to Canterlot.

Aside from the curious onlooker here and there, our journey to the Ministry’s headquarters was relatively uneventful. All of the books that I had read during my childhood described Canterlot as a place filled with grand and wonderous architecture. Indeed, we passed many buildings of the like while on route to our stop, but such was not the case when we finally arrived at the district that served as the epicenter to all of Equestria’s ministries.

The Ministry of Security’s headquarters was a veritable bastion of concrete, granite, and steel. And unlike the diverse array of styles colors from the previous districts, the drab greys and blacks of the building’s exterior made my skin crawl with a prickling sense of unease. But Macintosh reassured me that such a thing was normal for structures that housed the apparatuses of the governance because it was cheaper to use dull colors for their construction. Despite knowing this, I still felt uncomfortable as we walked through the entrance.

Unlike the décor of the building, the receptionist greeted us warmly and bade us to take a seat on one of the many velveteen chairs arranged in the waiting room. Macintosh asked me if I wanted something to drink while we waited and I agreed. He then walked over to a lighted, rectangular device that depicted a steaming beverage of some sort. After inserting some coins into a tiny slot, I was astonished to discover that the machine had produced two freshly brewed cups of coffee! My husband chuckled when he handed me my cup and noticed my mystified expression.

“Ah forgot that you’ve never seen a vendin’ machine before. They’re basically automated tellers that ya put money in ta and they spit out food, drinks, or snacks. It ain’t as good as the stuff you’d get in an actual restaurant, but it’s more convenient.”

I took a sip from the cup and closed my eyes. “Ah, I see. Will the wonders of Equestrian technology ever cease? Thank you for the coffee, Macintosh. It will help keep my mind focused.”

“I’m sorry it’s just some crappy vendin’ machine coffee instead of the good stuff.”

“Fret not, my love. I have tasted far worse than the likes of this brew.”

We sat next to one another in comfortable silence for about the next twenty minutes, until the receptionist ushered us up a flight of stairs and into a large office. Upon the oaken door was a solid gold plaque that read: Commissioner Shining Armor, Canterlot Metropolitan Police. Equestrian Ministry of Security.

A man about Macintosh’s age sat behind the desk, adorned in a stylishly cut grey uniform which included silver piping along the shoulders and a corresponding insignia patch that depicted a bucking stallion enclosed within a triangular shield. His neon blue hair was cropped in a short, professional style that I had seen many soldiers emulate. After shuffling some papers, he got up from his chair, removed his tortoise shell glasses, and greeted Macintosh with a firm hug.

“Mac! It’s great to see you, buddy! But why did you decide to come visit me at HQ?”

My husband returned the embrace but frowned. “Likewise, Shining. I’m afraid we’re here on official business.”

“Hello there! My name’s Commissioner Armor, but you can just call me Shining. What’s your name, ma’am?”

I bowed slightly. “Greetings, Shining. My name is Zecora and as my husband stated, we are here to humbly request your assistance regarding an important matter.”

“Mac, you sly dog! You never told me you got hitched. And she’s a Zebrican to boot! Who knew you had in you to catch the eye of such an exotic beauty! But seriously though, congrats. I wish the best of luck to the both of you.”

Macintosh rubbed the back of his neck and chuckled. “Thank ya kindly. Now, as for the reason we’re here. Are ya aware of what’s been goin’ on in Zebrica recently?”

“From what I understand, they’ve been taken off the belligerent list due to a recent change in leadership. But there’s a pretty high-profile perp still on the loose. The embassy sent out a dossier on him a few weeks ago. Goes by the name of Zecoomba. Wait… you don’t mean—”

“Eeyup. Zecora’s his one and only daughter. Since Zebrica is so far away, ah wouldn’t normally worry too much about her safety. But considerin’ the vast resources her pops had access ta, he could be anywhere right now.”

“That’s certainly true. And from what I read in the dossier, he sounded like your stereotypical paranoid despot. Are you afraid that he might try to harm Zecora?”

I slowly nodded in agreement. “Even though my mentor was the one who arranged my passage to Equestria as a refugee, my father became enraged by what he saw as a direct act of defiance against the marriage he had arranged for me. I am afraid that he will not rest until he sees me suffer for what I did.”

Shining let out a long sigh. “Officially speaking, the only thing I can really do at this point is distribute an APB to all of the major ports in Equestria and tell everyone to keep their eyes peeled for anyone who matches your father’s description.”

Neither of us could hide our disappointment upon hearing Shining’s response. The commissioner must have noticed our forlorn expressions because he walked over to me and placed his hand upon my shoulder as a gesture of comfort. When I finally managed to meet his eyes, a boyish grin had spread across his lips.

“Unofficially, the EMS already has an agent stationed in Ponyville. Her real name is Sweetie Drops, but she’s currently using an alias in order to maintain her cover. I’ll let her know that you two might be a potential target for our perp. She’s one of the most experienced agents we have. I promise that you can trust her to keep you safe.”

I jumped out of the chair and hugged him with all of my might. “Spirits bless you, sir! You have no idea how much this means to us!”

Even though I was quite comfortable with showing physical affection, I may have hugged Shining Armor far longer than was strictly necessary. Upon hearing him attempt to clear his throat several times, I released him and went back to my seat with a slight blush coloring my cheeks. My husband settled on a firm handshake to thank his friend while I apologized profusely for my embarrassing breach of decorum.

Shining laughed. “Don’t sweat it. I’m always happy to help citizens in need. Especially when they happen to be my best friend and his wife. I’d appreciate it if you guys would keep the hug part between the three of us though. My wife probably wouldn’t be too happy to hear about it.”

I assumed the commissioner must have been referencing the woman depicted in the picture that sat upon the edge of his desk. She was adorned in a silky blue gown, complemented by a matching set of sequined slippers. The woman’s purple, pink and yellow streaked hair cascaded down to her shoulders while the cerise hue of her eyes seemed to radiate an aura that was equal parts graceful and mischievous at the same time. In my own humble opinion, I felt that she was strikingly a beautiful woman.

Macintosh chuckled in agreement. “Eeyup. Knowin’ Cadence, she’d probably make ya feel guilty as hell and then try ta trick ya into buyin' her dinner or somethin'. How’s she doin’ by the way?”

“Still the ray of sunshine I fell in love with. Although, we haven’t spent much time together lately because of her radio talk show and all of the duties I have to attend to here in Canterlot. I was thinking that we could take a vacation to reconnect and unwind, but I don’t have a clue where we’d go…”

I reached into my satchel and presented Shining with a pamphlet. “Fleur de Lis originally suggested Plage de Sable Blanc to me. Macintosh and I had an absolutely lovely time during our visit. Perhaps, you would be interested in going there as well?”

Shining took a glance at it and rubbed his chin in thought. “Hmm. One of those fancy Prench resorts, huh? Well, it’s not like we can’t afford it. I’ll look it over with Cadence and see if she’s interested. I—ah—hate to rush you guys, but I’ve still got a lot of paperwork to catch up on.”

“No problem, Shinning. We need ta head back ta Ponyville and get things set for the weddin’ and whatnot. Ah guess I’ll talk to ya later then. Let us know how your vacation turns out.”

Shining nodded. “Will do. Have a safe trip back and try not to have too much fun on your wedding night, ok?”

Both of us shared a knowing laugh at his comment while we exited his office. As we made our way back to the monorail station, I took hold of my husband’s arm and rested my head against his shoulder while we walked. Even though I was still concerned about my father, I left Canterlot with the knowledge that we were both in good hands.