Aspects of Herbs and Rhymes

Eleanor/Zecora's POV.
I could finally feel my muscles as I started to open my eyes. Everything was badly blurry, so I grabbed my glasses, and put them over my eyes. The bridge of my glasses didn't fit over my nose anymore. Did they shrink or something?

*Ugh* My head... What hit me?

I rubbed my head and sat up to find myself in a familiar lavender and cream room, full of plushes and dvds.

My younger sister's room. How did I get here?

I rubbed my throbbing head in pain, "What hit me?"

I gasped. My voice! It was deep with an African-esque accent. I leaned over and looked my legs. My clothes still fit, but my feet were hooves and covered in light grey fur and dark bluish grey stripes. I felt something move underneath me. I sat up and a zebra tail moved away from my butt. I grabbed and felt the muscles and bones inside it. It was my tail.

"This is who I woke up to be?" I asked, looking at my hands, Then shouted in frustration, "You've got to be kidding me!"

"Oh good, you're awake." A familiar voice spoke from the other side of the room.

I looked at see it was a short and stout teenage girl, with shoulder-length blonde hair and blue eyes of an ocean after a storm. Peachy skin, compared to my own former pale skin.

Samantha. My younger sister.

She glared at me, "Since you're awake, you can tell me who you are and what have you done with my sister, Ellie."

My eyes widen, "Can you not see with your own eye? Ellie is the person as I." I silently growled. That made no sense!

"That made no sense." Sam told me, then walked closer to me, "I'm not gonna ask you again. Where is Ellie?"

"I am Ellie!" I told her, "I can prove it's me."

"Go ahead." She told me with a sharp glare.

"Your original name was meant to be Samantha Ellis Carter." I explained, "Your favorite color is blue. You have an e-vape in the bottom draw of your bedside drawer and..." I whispered this in her ear, "You have a crush of Discord."

Sammy looked at me with wide eyes. Only I could know this stuff. I introduced Sam to My Little Pony during Season 3's Keep Calm and Flutter On. Sam fell in love with the character and asked me who he was.

What surprised me was that I wasn't speaking in rhyme. And my voice was back to its normal medium, smooth-but-raspy tone.

"Ellie?" Sam gasped, "But, how did this happen to you? What happened to you? Are you hurt?" She asked.

"A little sore, but I'm alright." I answered, my voice returning to Zecora's tone, "For it all happened last night." I explained, "I was in my room, with little detail, I went to my computer to check my email. From a group, a letter I received, if that's very hard to believe. A YouTube link I clicked upon, I watch the clip without a yawn."

"The changes began without my aware, until the tail I beware." I wagged my tail for emphasis, "The pain surged and everything was a blur, the ears. The muzzle. The hooves. The fur." I rubbed my throbbing head, "I stepped back, not knowing how to tread, then I slipped and hit my head."

Sam giggled, "Serves you right for not looking where you're going."

I glared, "You try walking with hooves, and see if your mobility improves!"

My sister cleared her throat, "Well, with all joking aside..." Then asked, "How are going to explain this to Mum and Steve?"

I looked my dark bluish grey hands. My ears drooped. Sam had a point. How am I going to explain this to my mother and step-father? How will they take it? Will they be able to understand this is me until I can fix this? Will Mum be able to tell it's still me under all this fur?

My hands balled into fists of frustration, "I... I don't know, Sam."

Sam gave me an uneasy smile. I raised at brow. She doesn't do that unless she knows something I don't.

Realization hit me like a bolt of lightning. My ears perked up and my eyes widen in shock, "They know, don't they?"

Sam nodded, "Steve found you laying in the bathroom, near the tumble dryer. We thought you were in bed, so Steve put you in my room." She explained, "Mum told me to keep an eye on you, if you tried anything weird."

I face-palmed and shook my head with a smile. Leave it to our parents to think things through.

"Right now, Mum is eating breakfast and Steve's gone to work." Sam finished, then suggested, "Maybe we can explain this to Mum first, then Steve?"

I thought for a second. Mum is smart and has a good head on her shoulders. If she can believe that her eldest daughter has turned into an anthropomorphic zebra, but is still her on the inside, then I have nothing to worry about.
I looked at my sister and nodded.

Sam smiled and took hold of my hand. She helped me to my hooves. I struggled to keep my balance, but regained my composure within five seconds. I took a few unsteady steps, until I got the hang of walking on hooves. It was similar to walking on my toes, when I was younger.

"Whoa." Sam smiled.

"This isn't as easy as it looks." I answered, "I should've tried reading that furry book."

It's not like it sounds. It's a drawing guide on anthropomorphic animals, or furries. I bought the book for inspiration for my stories, but the cover was always enough.

My legs gave in and I was about to fall, but Sam was able to catch me and put my arm over her shoulder. We exit the bedroom and walked down the stairs. In the living room, Mum was eating cereal, watching one of her favorite wrestling events.

"Hey, Mum. Guess who's up and walking." Sam spoke up.

Mum turned to us. Her hair was a silvery-blonde, her eyes like Sam's, but more sapphire. Her skin was light peach. You can say Sam inherited more from our mother than I have. She wore a white t-shirt under a light red blouse and black pants. Formal, but casual.

She sat up from the grey sofa and walked up to me. I was taller than her, sadly. Mum stood at 5 foot 4 inches. Sam stood 5 foot 1 inch. Steve stands 6 foot 3. And I used to stand at 5 foot 8. Now, I stand at 5 foot 10. It's embarrassing being the tallest girl in the family. Why didn't I become a giraffe?

Mum looked at me, "Since you're awake, you can start answering some questions." Then she started asking, "Who are you? What are you? How did you get into our house? Are you a criminal? What have you done with Ellie?"

Her questions aimed up to the last one. I rubbed my temple, as my head still throbbed from last night.

Sam decided to answer, "Mum, this is Ellie." Then explained, "She became like this last night, after watching a video clip on the web."

"It was sent to me." I answered.

Mum looked at Sam then looked back at me. I sighed and whispered something into her ear that only I knew about her. Thank goodness I wasn't talking in rhyme, otherwise this wouldn't make any sense.

Mum's eyes widened at she threw her arms around me. Hesitantly, I hugged her back. I may not be a fan of being touched, but she's my mother. I have to make a few exceptions!