Hey, Dude, Bro! Check This Out!

As my eyes slowly opened to present me with blurry vision and yet another bout of the worst headache imaginable, I once again realized that I was not sitting on the same surface I previously was. In fact, I wasn't sitting at all.

I was lying down on a bed. And as my vision finally cleared up enough to let me properly view my surroundings, I realized that I wasn't just on a bed. I was in someone's home.

I sat up and was not surprised to find that that action simply made it worse than it had been, but like I said, I was used to this sort of thing.

I began to look around at all the things in the room. It was surprisingly less like a room, and more like a tent or hut of some kind.

It had within it several strange items. From totem masks and decorative horns to bottles filled with several different, and no doubt odd, liquids. But even with all this around me, none of it took my attention like the large black cauldron in the center of the place.

It glowed like fireflies in the dim light of the candles in the room, and bubbles floated out of it every now and then.

Either I was kidnapped by the wicked witch of the west or something was very, very wrong here.

"Ugh...where am I?"

"Ah, I see you are awake. I was just wondering how long it would take."

I nearly had a heart attack.

"Who's there?! Answer me!" I looked around, and into my vision came a zebra. It was standing on its hind legs and carefully stirring the pot of boiling whatever-it-was with a spoon. I noticed it was holding the spoon with its hooves. It turned its head to look at me over its shoulder.

"Relax, oh weary traveler, please calm down. It is I who carried you from your place on the ground."

Wait, what?

"So wait. You helped me?"

"Indeed. I carried you on my back and brought you here that way, for if you had stayed out there, you would not have lasted a day."

"So this is your place? Here in this hut?"

"Why yes it is, sir. Though the forest I do roam, I will always call this hut, my home."

I looked around the place and couldn't help but say, "Aha! Witch doctor!"

"I go by many names, one of them you have spoken." She places a bowl in front of me, gesturing for me to eat. "But my true name is Zecora- And no chewing with your mouth open!"

She cuts herself off mid sentence to point a hoof at me and point out my mistake.

I quickly close my mouth and eat properly, laughing to myself at the fact that I now have to eat with my face in a way.

I chew and swallow. "Sorry ma'am I must've forgotten my manners."

"It is of no concern, I simply noticed it, now please continue eating, before it goes wasted."

I do as she said, not wanting the food to go cold while we sat talking. Then, I remember something she said.

"you said your name was Zecora right?"

"Yes, zecora is my name. Now would you do me the honor of telling me the same?"

"Oh of course I can. My name is..." I trailed off. I had to think about this. 'Ok so, based off how I now look, and if this zebra's name is anything to go by, I can be pretty sure this is Equestria. And if that's the case, I can't tell her my real name. Human names sound weird here. Let's see...'

"...You can call me Bronze Feather."

"Well met, fair pony. Now, it is of your travels you will tell me. Why were you wandering in this forest? Are you not aware of the dangers within it?"

"Oh, sorry. I'm lost. I have no idea where I am right now."

"That, my friend, is plain to see. You are in the Everfree."

"You know, if you keep rhyming like that, someone might just make you famous."

"Whatever are you talking about? I am not one to try and stand out."

"I'm telling you, it might happen. Now, you said I was in the Everfree? That would mean Ponyville is...where?"

"If you wish to leave this location, I could lead you to your destination."

"Well, then lets go! What are we waiting for?"

"Hold on, my eager friend. To, you, my aid, i must lend. You still have bruises from your fall and I have not tended you at all. You must stay here for the night. In the morning, it will all be alright."

I put a hoof to my chin. What she said made sense. Perhaps it would be best If I spent the night here. I most certainly had no idea it was this dark before. And I did still kind of hurt.

"you've got a deal, Zecora."

And with that, I slept, immediately passing out on the spot as soon as my head hit the pillow. I never realized I was this tired. But maybe stress accumulated over several days will do that to you.

She slept as well, though I don't know where. I just hope this bed doesn't mess up my hair. Great, now she has me rhyming.