The Origin's of Zecora

The Everfree forest was both terrifying yet intriguing. To Zecora it was a lush dense jungle filled to the brim with new potions and cures to be discovered. It also allowed her time to be alone and relax among nature with the rare and occasional visit from Twilight or her young new friend Applebloom. Today was more busy than usual, Applebloom insisted that Zecora helped her create a super growth serum for plants to kick start the next CMC's project to become gardeners. After that Twilight was going to pop in and discuss over her favorite batch of tea about a recent ailment that had befallen Fluttershy's pet. Ever since the mane six caught the poison joke so long ago her house had more and more visits. Not to say that she hated them, rather she was surprised to be suddenly having so many visitors. She put on the kettle and went off to pick fresh tea leaves for her lavender friend.

"Zecora?" Twilight stuck her head through the door to see if her striped friend was in. "Are you here?" Taking another step inside she realized the kettle was done boiling and magicked it off the stove. "Oh well I'll wait anyway." Twilight proceeded to take out a few books from the satchel that hung by her side.

"I am back from my walk. Lets brew tea and have our talk." She placed the leaves into the pot and settled down. Twilight closed her books and poured them both a cup before starting.

"Anyway this is about Angel, Fluttershy was too scared to come here so I'm helping her out." Zecora casually sipped her tea as Twilight continued. " Fluttershy says that Angel has become more violent and won't listen to her at all. Even her stare is starting to weaken."

Zecora let her tea settle as she thought silently. After a while she spoke. "Did the rabbit have limp in his hop. And pain that makes his ears flop? "

"Well he was more angry than usual, but he unlike last time he wouldn't hop away. What is it? Is it dangerous? What will happ-....." Twilight would have continued on if it was not for Zecora cutting her off.

"Listen well do not fret, I have the cure to cure her pet." She paused for a breath. "All he needs is to have a seat and rub some ointment on his feet."

"Thanks Zecora I knew I could count on you, so what do you need?"

"Its alright my friend, I have the ingredients to make the blend."

Pulling out her large cauldron Twilight watched gracefully as Zecora threw strange colored liquids and other strange ingredients into the pot. As she watched she heard her sing another chant as she worked.

Wow if someone was looking through a window they would seriously misunderstand.

After a while of brewing, Zecora scooped a vial of it into a makeshift case and handed it to Twilight. "Now remember this well, Spread over the wound for pain you must quell."

Twilight had grown used to Zecora's strange manner of speaking and understood it almost immediately. "Thanks Zecora I knew I could count on you. You always know what to do Zecora. See you soon."

With that Twilight finished her tea and headed for the door with medicine in tow. "Goodbye Twilight see you soon, prehaps visit me another noon." Zecora closed the door and relaxed on her self made cushion chair. Although she was pleased to help Twilight their parting words still lingered in her mind.

You always bring smiles to everyone's faces.

Zecora could only grimly smile at that sentence. The black and white striped equine sat still deep in thought.

You always know what to do Sis.

A single tear ran down her striped face. Quickly wiping it away she cleared the tea set and slung over her pouch.

No more time for the past. The sunlight does not last.

With that she headed out the door into the gloomy forest.

The African rain forest or the Tropic of Capricorn was often hidden from many pony scholars due to most ponies thinking that Marfrica had desolate and dry land. However large forests although beautiful compared to the deathly desert was filled with every creature strong enough to make their way here. Zecora silently dashed through the forest bush often stopping to hear for danger. Birds of all colors chirped silently in the high canopies. But ever so silently. Although so high up many creatures have adapted to climbing trees so no creature was safe.

"Birds high in the tree, sing your song and fly on free.

Help me find my prey, so my family can live another day."

Zecora sung softly to herself as she busied herself creating a trap. It was a simple contraption. When a creature stepped onto the trap, it would sink in stabbing the creature and trapping its paw. It was created so that it couldn't pull out its paw without severely scarring itself. This was taught to Zecora when she was only a filly and she never forgot.

Carrying on she spotted deep paw prints embedded in the muddy ground.

"My enemy is close I see, I must kill it before it finds me."

Slinking into the foliage she left no footprints in case another creature was tailing her. Hiding under the shade of a tree a large panther sat on the darkened floor licking at a carcass. Zecora spotted the traditional golden hoops that all of her tribe members wore easily as it glinted with a cruel tint of red staining its golden aura.

"Killer of the forest, your demise shall be the swiftest." Pulling out a thin pipe she slotted a colorful feathered dart into its nozzle.

Taking aim she slowed her breathing until it stopped. The world around her seemed to darken ever so slightly and it seemed that even the insects had stopped buzzing.

Fsst

That was all it took. The large feline leapt to its feet in shock. Spinning around it bit off the dart and snarled in pain. sniffing the air it smelt another zebra than the one that it just eaten it smiled with the prospect of another meal.

But Zecora had already vanished. Into the thick bushes she heard the panthers deep breaths. Apparently it took more than a tree frogs venom to kill it. Quickly skipping over tripping roots and ducking under branches she felt the panther getting closer and closer.

Waiting until the last second she dashed to the right narrowly dodging four sharp claws from ripping hole in her side.

Leaping over and under thick roots the large black beast of death ripped and clawed its way through anything. The poison didn't seem to be taking effect. Darting towards her path back she jumped over a bush with the panther inches away from her tail. It didn't get far. a snapping sound was heard and the roar of the panther scattered birds in all directions. Another dart flew out from the thick forest foliage and the beast stumbled into eternal stupor.

Zecora woke up. From the angle of the weak sun shining through her window she guessed it was seven in the afternoon. picking herself off the chair she busied her pack for another trip into the forest.