It was several months later and life in Ponyville went on like normal.

Apple Bloom continued her immersion studies with Zecora, who was greatly impressed with the level of her mastery.
When Apple Bloom first arrived at Zecora’s hut to start her training, the first shock was when the zebra told her as a sign of her apprenticeship and her status as a shaman, she had to have her mane cut then crop and bind her tail.
Zecora removed Apple Bloom’s signature hair bow. It was placed in a chest by the wall, as a sign of giving up her old life, the zebra explained. Then the zebra produced some shears, Apple Bloom stood there as locks of red hair fell to the floor. Apple Bloom wasn’t sure if she was going to cry or not.
The zebra then took a small bowl with some thick waxy substance, she dipped a hoof in it and then rubbed it throughout Apple Blooms mane, or what was left of it. Then a comb flew from a shelf and Apple Bloom felt it going through her hair.
Zecora then took some of the cut hair from her mane and bound the base of her tail. Then with the shears, Zecora cut about half of Apple Bloom’s tail hair off.
When finished, a mirror floated in front of Apple Bloom. To her surprise, it didn't look that bad. Her mane was a red copy of the way she’d always seen Zecora’s, as was her tail. Somehow it made her feel like a shaman.

Scootaloo worked hard to impress her hero turned mother at mastering the weather. And she proved to be an excellent flyer which gave her mother no end of pride. She was also showing promise with the magic that her other mother and Twilight were teaching her.

Silver Spoon was a joy to her students whenever she’d student-teach. She was loving to her students, patient and giving. Students couldn’t wait to go to class when Silver was doing her student teaching. She was also there for all her friends. She was the touchstone that kept the little group linked with them all going about in different directions with their lives. Silver Spoon made sure that all their friends stayed in touch.

Dinky continued to handle the library efficiently enough to free up Twilight to do more advanced studies and research. Also her mastery of magic impressed her mother to the point that she wished that Dinky would’ve been identified earlier so to go to Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns. But Celestia was still satisfied with Twilight’s tutelage and would reassure her that the extra schooling wasn’t necessary.

Sweetie Bell and Diamond Tiara continued to be an inspiration to all their friends and all ponies that knew them. They worked hard at their jobs. And while out in public, it was obvious how deep their relationship was and how great their love was.

Then there was Dawn…

She wasn’t yet ten years old and she was as tall as her eighteen-year-old sister Dinky. Her horn was noticeably longer, her wings were larger than the normal Pegasi of Cookie’s age as well. It was obvious because of her being an Alicorn her body form and growth was slightly different from the normal Unicorn/Pegasus/Earth Pony.
As to her magic abilities, her training at Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns, was more for control of her growing talents although she was taught advanced skills as well.
But her flying abilities were impressive.
However, she did have a mischievous streak. Twilight blamed this on Muffins who could be quite the imp. Once while Rainbow was giving some advanced flying lessons to Scootaloo, Dawn streaked by and performed a perfect sonic rainboom which nearly knocked the two Pegasi out of the sky.
She’d thought it extremely funny to have Rainbow and Scootaloo Dash chase her, but not quite catch her. She landed and the Dash’s tackled her and tickle her unmercifully.
They were a little jealous of her abilities but they also loved her greatly being that she was the child of their very good friends (and Rainbow’s secret lovers) Twilight and Muffins.
Rainbow had taken time at an early age to help train Dawn’s flying abilities, but Muffins was training her as well, Rainbow had discovered at an earlier time Muffins was an amazing flyer herself. It had taken no little skill to have snatched up Scootaloo at full speed when she was needed while Rainbow, Twilight and Pinkie were in the underworld.

Apple Bloom was getting used to the regimented day. Chores in the morning and evening, meals, meditation (which she found to be more enjoyable than she first thought) and lessons, practice and reading throughout the day. She also assisted her mistress when anypony visited for cures, healing or just to pick up some herbal tea blend.
Zecora was just as gentle and patient as before. However she was slightly more demanding of Apple Bloom but only because she knew that she could deliver more.
She was getting comfortable with the routine. Nothing out of the norm happened until one morning...

Apple Bloom sat up straight on her cot, a scream issuing from her mouth. No slow awakening from the sound sleep from honest hard day’s work. This was an awakening from a dream so real it was hard to believe that it was a dream.

She had seen her mother as a little filly. A stallion was abusing her. Defenseless, threatened and scared beyond anything she’d ever felt. As the stallion forced her to her knees, Apple Bloom’s perspective changed, she was now in her mother’s body. She felt the pain from the blows that the monster had inflicted. Then came the penetration from the monster’s ‘thing’. It was the pain of a virgin’s violation in a marehood too small for sex as of yet. Then came the demeaning act of being made to have oral sex with the stallion, the sickening feeling of him ejaculating in her mouth. She whimpered, afraid to cry out because of the threat of death. Although death might’ve been preferable to the pain and shame she was feeling now.

Then the perspective changed again, the stallion was the same but looked older, the pony changed as well. It was her friend Diamond Tiara, the stallion too large for her to adequately defend herself against, was slapping her around. Diamond spun around and with her hind legs delivered a kick to the monster’s face. It only stunned the stallion for a moment. Diamond tried to run away but the brute was too fast. He leapt to Diamond’s back, she fell flat on her stomach. The monster then took both of his front hooves and hit her at the base of the scull. There was a sickening snap! Diamond went limp, the light in her eyes went out. Apple Bloom could tell that she was dead. The monster only laughed and proceeded to rape her dead friend.

“No!” screamed Apple Bloom, the stallion turned and looked at her and smiled. It was the first time she’d got a look at his face, but the face she saw shocked her, it looked strangely like her own face.

Apple Bloom’s tears were pouring and she was suddenly awake.

Zecora appeared in the doorway of the anteroom Apple Bloom was using as her living space at Zecora’s hut. Zecora saw Apple Bloom sitting up on the cot, there was the look of pure fear on her face.

“Apple Bloom my student, I’m right here;

It was only a dream, there’s nothing to fear.”

Apple Bloom looked like she was trying hard to figure what to say and how to say it. Zecora was impressed, even with the stress of the situation, Apple Bloom was trying to meet the expectations Zecora had placed on her. Zecora walked over to her student, sat beside Apple Bloom and gently stroked her mane.

“It’s alright to speak plainly this time.” Said Zecora, reassuringly in pony.

To her credit, Apple Bloom still responded in zebra.

“Mistress, it was horrible! I saw the monster that raped my mother when she was little. I felt it and experienced the whole thing, the pain, the shame, and the fear! Then everything changed, I saw the same stallion, older. He was attacking Diamond Tiara.” Said Apple Bloom starting to cry harder.
“She tried to fight back. But, but, but…

HE KILLED HER!

Then he raped her anyway and just laughed. He laughed just like he did when he raped my mother! I could only think of how devastated Sweetie Belle was going to be! He turned to look at me but it was my face I saw!”
Apple Bloom grabbed Zecora and buried her face in her chest and cried uncontrollably. Zecora held Apple Bloom close. She started to chant a comforting song, the words were only half-recognizable to Apple Bloom. But it had its effect, a forgetful drowsiness moved over Apple Bloom.
Zecora gave a lingering kiss on her apprentice’s lips. She was surprised that even going to sleep, Apple Bloom put her forelegs around Zecora’s neck. Held her tight and returned the kiss with tongue and all.
“Asante bwana wangu na mpenzi wangu.1” said a drowsy Apple Bloom. The spell was almost acting like acohol and breaking down beariers in Apple Bloom’s mind.
“Wewe ni kuwakaribisha, mwanafunzi wangu nzuri, na upendo wangu,2”replied Zecora.
“Je, kufanya mapenzi na mimi?3 ” Asked Apple Bloom.
“Sisi majadiliano kuhusu hilo, mpenzi wangu mwanafunzi.4” said Zecora looking loveingly into her apprentice’s eyes.
They kissed again, but longer and deeper.
It was hard for Zecora to not go any further, it had been a very long time since she was intimate with anyzebra. Plus there were no rules that a master was restricted from having relations with an apprentice. But she had to make sure it wasn’t the situation or the spell.
Then it happened, with Apple Bloom embracing her place as a full protégéé and apprentice, a shaman medicine spiral appeared on Apple Bloom’s flanks. Zecora kissed Apple Bloom.
Zecora lay her student back on her cot, by the time her head was on the pillow, she was in a dreamless sleep
Then she left the room.

Zecora went out to meditate. As she was expecting, her spirit guide appeared to her. They spoke to each other in her mind.
‘It has begun Zecora,’ said Dahood, ‘your apprentice has great potential. It’s good she’s the first of her race to learn your people’s ways. This dream is her ‘vision’ awakening. It’ll be her first and perhaps greatest trial.’
‘So what she’s seen is real, the past and future?’ thought Zecora.
‘Yes,’ replied the spirit guide, ‘her mother’s memories come through her connection with her mother, she’s a product of her body and so the memories were passed on at a very deep level. But she’s starting to be able to tap into the flow of time.’
‘So she really did experience her mother’s violation?’
‘Yes.’
‘What of her friend’s attack and murder?’
‘Time is like bread,’ said Dahood. ‘The loaf of bread is the shape it is because it has been formed and baked. The shape was chosen by the baker.

That’s the past, unchangeable.

But the future is like the dough unbaked. It’s still bread, but it has yet to be shaped and will not be shaped until the baker is ready to bake it. At that time the baker will choose the shape based on what has happened up to then. Everything is there that can happen. But the slightest thing can change the future.’
‘Do you always speak in metaphor my friend?’ thought Zecora with a smile.
‘Yes,’ said Dahood, Zecora could feel his smile, ‘it makes me sound wise.’
Then his tone changed;
‘She will be faced with a situation which will test her dedication to the teachings. She must be reminded she has devoted herself to helping others. Force and violence is only in self-defense and as a last resort. Killing is to be avoided, except perhaps in the defense of ones in your care.
Revenge is never to be tolerated, ever. Not only because it’s counter to the teachings, but moreover, it’s a path to self-destruction. In my time there was a saying;

When seeking vengeance, you first must dig two graves.

Make sure when she’s confronted, as confronted she’ll be, she acts in the shaman way. The sin of patricide must not be committed.’
‘You can’t be a healer and yet harm others,’ thought Zecora.
‘Exactly,’ returned Dahood.
The spirit guide paused, then continued.

‘Also, you need to make sure that your own feelings for your apprentice are shared by her without you shepherding them. The bond between Shaman and apprentice can be a deep one and lovers are not unheard of. But it must come with mutual consent.’
‘You saw that,’ thought Zecora.
‘I saw that,’ said Dahood, there was no condemnation in his voice.
‘I really have been wanting to do that for some time,’ said Zecora in her mind.
‘Don’t worry about it,’ said Dahood, ‘it’s part of nature. And she is a lovely and attractive pony. I wish you all the best. Just take it slow.’
‘I will Dahood,’ replied Zecora.
Zecora felt her guide smile while he faded away. Zecora remained in meditation, but it was hard to totally clear her mind. She was feeling Apple Bloom’s soft lips in her mind.
‘Jamani!5’ thought the zebra, ‘am I really feeling this way for a pony? But Apple Bloom is so sweet and attractive. Her spirit is as great as any zebra.’
Thoughts like this continued until the sun came up and was time for she and her apprentice to start the day.

Apple Bloom was already preparing the morning meal for her mistress and herself. Zecora watched her from the doorway. She kept finding herself focusing on Apple Bloom’s flanks.
But Zecora was also happy that Apple Bloom, like all the Apples, was such a good cook. Zecora could put together potions and brews to do just about anything. Her herbal tea blends were to die for. But when it came to food, her cooking could sometimes turn a vulture’s stomach.
As Zecora stood there, lost in thought, she felt the embrace of her student.
Apple Bloom kissed Zecora.
“I'm sorry about last night. I should haven't have acted the way I did,” said Apple Bloom in zebra.
“It’s alright my student, nightmares can be unnerving,” replied Zecora.
Under conditions like this, Apple Bloom had learned that in private and not in a learning environment, it was alright to speak zebra but not in verse.
“That isn’t it,” said Apple Bloom, “about me being so forward. But I can’t help it. For a long time, I’ve found you attractive. I guess I should’ve kept it to myself.”
Zecora looked into her student’s eyes. She didn’t see lust or deviance. She saw an honest attraction and feelings.
“I think we should talk about this,” said Zecora, “breakfast can wait.”
Apple Bloom was concerned as she walked out into the front room and had a seat on a cushion in front of the zebra’s ‘Teaching Chair’. But Zecora went toward her bedchamber.
“I think in here would be more comfortable,” said Zecora.
Apple Bloom’s smile was as large as her teacher’s.

Apple Bloom and Zecora were on Zecora’s bed, embracing and basking in the afterglow of lovemaking.
“I know that this is probably too late to ask,” said Apple Bloom, “but have we broken any rules or the spirit of the shaman way?”
Zecora kissed Apple Bloom deeply then spoke;
“No my darling student,” said the zebra, “our magic is based on nature. And there is nothing more basic in nature as sex and love. A mistress and student are supposed to be close, absolute trust. And who would you trust more than a lover?”
“Were you and your master lovers?” asked Apple Bloom, snuggling closer. Her hoof was tracing the stripes of the zebra’s coat. Zecora was getting a thrill from this.
“In my case, it would’ve been odd and unnatural,” said the zebra with a chuckle, “Kin’la, my mistress was a great and powerful shaman, but she was also my mother.”
Apple Bloom snickered as Zecora chuckled.
“I guess that would be creepy,” said Apple Bloom.
The zebra smiled and nodded.
“We better get our day started,” said Zecora, looking into Apple Bloom’s eyes.
Suddenly Zecora felt a hoof at her marehood.
“Maybe one more time before we do? My darling mistress,” asked Apple Bloom.
“One more time, my love,” said the zebra.
Apple Bloom didn’t get to say anything. Zecora’s tongue was in her mouth and the zebra’s hoof was exploring Apple Bloom’s marehood.

Later that day, Zecora and Apple Bloom talked about Apple Bloom’s dream and the meaning. Zecora said that there was a good chance she would meet her father, it was inevitable.
“Mistress,” said Apple Bloom, “I have no father, what was done in the past is past. Nothing I can do will ever change that. No, there is one thing I could do. I have to forgive him, but nothing else except pity him that he will never really know peace.

On making the right choice, Apple Bloom receives her cutie mark. It is the sun disc spiral of a shaman with an apple superimposed.
To celebrate, Zecora gives Apple Bloom her first dzilla neck ring. As a sign of completing the first part of her apprenticeship. They celebrate Apple Bloom’s advancement and have a happy evening, drinking a homemade beverage from Zecora’s native land (Kaffir beer).

The next day, after Zecora taught Apple Bloom how to make a hangover remedy, they made a trip to Sweet Apple Acres. Zecora felt it was only proper to talk to Apple Bloom’s mothers about the new relationship between their daughter and herself. To the thrill of all, Applejack and Rarity were beside themselves with the news.

Author's Note

1 Thank you my master and my love.
2 You're welcome, my beautiful student, and my love.
3 Will you make love to me?
4 We will talk about it, my darling student.
5 Damn It!