The Origin's of Zecora

Zecora entered Ponyville with her usual cowl over her face. Although Twilight had constantly told the denizens that she was simply a zebra and NOT an evil wizard many still was afraid of her. Nevertheless the bright sun was a great change to her lifestyle. In the jungle light often gets caught by the tall canopies and only small streams are able to slither into the dark floor.

Ponyville was busy as usual. Many were afraid but they didn't hide and run like before. They only ignored, but she could care less. Today was more important than others, she had recently been testing out moonshine, lucky for her Princess Luna's last visit to the old Canterlot castle allowed her to speak directly to the Princess about the strange narcoleptic substance.

Luna and Zecora had met once before. Although Luna was often in Canterlot in Mafrica the moon was a great and spiritual being with a goddess. Of course Luna's name was not the same. There they called her maan Meeting in the old canterlot castle was a great coincidence. Zecora often found higher levels of magic there thus more elusive plants could blossom. Luna had often liked the old castle so they ended up meeting and finding out their passionate love for alchemy and magic. After a few short visits Zecora eventually managed to find out how to create moonshine and process it.

If Zecora could learn how to create the perfect catalyst that could separate the moonshines sleeping agent and hallucination side effect then it was possible that she created a sleeping potion that could immediately calm or put to sleep anypony.

This would be a breakthrough in medicine that could allow immediate attention to dying ponies rather than wasting vital minutes for old aged potions to put the patient to sleep. She hummed under her breath as the cool air drifted through the town. She wandered from store to store looking for nothing in particular.

She didn't expect ponyville to have some of the ingredients she was looking for but there was always something exciting that spurred up inside her when she window shops. According to Twilight many young mares and fillies go through the same thing. Her thoughts were interrupted by a small filly with a bushel of bright red hair.

"Heya Zecora how ya doin?" The little filly looked up and smiled so wide it looked like her face was about to split in half. "Hello my little friend, just wandering in the market to find the perfect blend." Applebloom loved the way Zecora spoke. Although it was had to understand it was amazing how a zebra could think of rhymes as if it was a second language.

"You makin another one of em fancy spells?" Her eyes widened so much Zecora got worried. "Ooh ooh lemme help ya" The small mare quickly darted into the striped zebras pouch and fished out the shopping list. "Hey whats a ziggor fruit? Is it tasty?"

Zecora shook her head and smiled "To eat the fruit is not wise, for if you do you will see black in your eyes."

"Then why do you want such a silly fruit anyway?" She looked around in an attempt to sniff out spies "You makin a super secret potion?" Before Zecora could answer her thoughts were interrupted when her ears picked up a whisper behind her.

"Look there its the witch." A rather loud sounding mare whispered in an attempt to be secretive. Zecora's ears immediately flicked in annoyance. She lowered her hood until it shadowed her eyes and turned around slowly, her eyes glinting yellow from the sun. In almost a second the two ponies vanished muttering words of prayer.

Although she did not like to scare she always found her strange looks to be a perk rather than a flaw. "Woah how did ya hear that? Dem ears of yers must be great. Anywho I know a guy who sells crazy fruits. Maybe he has watchya lookin fer." Applebloom hopped forward delightfully leading the only zebra in Ponyville along.

Remeber my daughter. Listen to your mother Your ears must be great. Or you will suffer a doomed fate

Zecora's thoughts were shaken back to the present. Applebloom had enthusiastically helped out by going off to collect more firewood to heat up her cauldron. She mixed in her ingredients and started the water. Although the forest was dangerous Zecora had taught Applebloom the basics of how to defend herself so she was not worried. She made another cup of tea and waited.

"Alright mister firewood where you at." Applebloom spoke quietly to herself as she walked through the thick forest. Zecora had taught her well. It did not matter who faced her or when she knew how to get out of a pinch herself. "Any timeberwolves out there? Bring it ON." The small filly let out a shout and chopped a branch with her hard hooves. Of course challenging a timberwolf was not smart. But Applebloom knew they won't be around til the Zap apple harvest comes in.

She picked up her new smashed up tree branch and added it to the make shift sled. Placing the harness around herself she pulled the tightly bundled wood through the marsh.

Man its fun makin potions. Maybe I should become a witch doctor like Zecora She paused at the sudden epiphany. "Yea I could have a potion cutie mark!" she shrieked dashing off with fantasies of getting her cutie mark running in her head almost crashing her cargo of wood.

"Alrighty Zecora I got the firewood, lets get cracking." Applebloom dumped the large pile of firewood under the cauldron before lighting it and boiling the ingredients that Zecora had started to add in. "Hey Zecora do you think it could be possible if yer taught me how to be a witch doctor like yerself?" She looked at her mentor with hope brimming in her eyes.

"My dear filly, don't be silly. Being an alchemist is not so easy." She sang as she started to mix the concoction.

"Well can yer teach me how te be an Alcheminynist?" Zecora stopped stirring. She looked at the small red and yellow filly and smiled.

"Tomorrow we begin, the forest has many secrets within. Now hurry along dear don't be late. Or-"

"Gettin eaten may be mah fate. Got it Zecora see ya tomorrow." The small filly dashed out almost wishing the night was faster."

Zecora watched the small yellow blur vanish out the door and into the distance. Such a young filly would she be ready?

Muti muhande rui-ini

One i mathangu maguo

Magithaka na ruhuho

Na ithui nituthake na ruhuho

She sang under her breath. The potion was almost ready, adding in the final mixture she smiled thinking of Applebloom throwing stranger things into the pot to see the colors. That small filly loved the colors rather to what the actual use of the potion was.

Then she noticed something strange. It began to fizzle before suddenly dying down. Desperate to save it she added more moonshine to increase the density of the concoction. It didn't work. Not only did she waste all the moonshine she also failed.

The zebra let out a troubled sigh. Lighting a torch she cleared out the remains and poured them into her self created sewage system that led to Ponyville sewers.

"Today this potion I can't resume." She paused, then smiled " But tomorrow is for Applebloom."

She pulled over her blanket and faced the strange masks that she placed all over her house. It gave her both comfort and coldness at the same time. The black and white striped equine  closed her eyes and drifted off into deep sleep.

The panther was much to big for a filly such as herself to carry. Pulling out her ceremonial knife she stabbed the creature one last time and muttered a prayer. Skinning with your mouth was a disgusting business. But the village needed proof, working slowly praying to spill any blood she managed to scalp the black cat. Placing her prize in her satchel she left the carcass there and headed home.

The forest with all its dangers came all its beauty. The tall trees that seemed to stretch forever into the sky ending only with large leaves to soak up the suns natural goodness. Wandering around the forest was like Zecora's playground, to her it was her second home.

Her own village was in a clearing high up on a hill. This allowed both only one route to enter and multiple points that could watch for unknown predators or apposing tribe attacks. Trudging slowly up the natural stairway formed by fallen trees she headed up hopping nimbly from tree to tree. Shouts rang out through the village about her return and many other Zebras emerged from well built huts to surround the young filly.

"Zecora is back open the gate. Let us rejoice and celebrate."

They small champion pulled out the black silky fur of the panther and raised it with pride. "The beast is dead. We no longer are filled with dread." A roar of approval rose through the village. Zecora couldn't help but smile.

A single Zebra raised his hoof and the cheering stopped. The lone Zebra smiled and spoke ."This female has shown great power and skill. Be part of the tribe she will." The crowd stomped their hooves in approval and raised her high into the sky.

vroulik vegter

vroulik vegter

vroulik vegter

The chants and celebration could be heard through the forest. All in the village was proud, all but one.