The other side of the river

by Foxgear

Rating: teen
Tags: Anthro, Slice of Life, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Zecora, Rarity, Big Macintosh
Length: 3901

Zecora has lived in isolation for the longest time. It was a life she enjoys, but one day, disaster strikes her home and she must come to face the fact she can no longer stay in the Everfree forest. So, she decides it’s time to move into town.

Zecora has lived in isolation for the longest time. It was a life she enjoys, but one day, disaster strikes her home and she must come to face the fact she can no longer stay in the Everfree forest. So, she decides it’s time to move into town. To put it simply, she buys a house.

But she also wants something else in this changed new life, perhaps a good neighbor too.

Published 2018-07-14 19:50:01 UTC
Last updated 2018-07-14 19:50:01 UTC

Chapter 1

My side of the River.
By Foxgear

Zecora stood on the edge of the swamp, licking her lips as she gazes down at the rare herb before her. Her toes squish in the mushy waters as she leans down to pick it. Her grey fingers pinching the stem carefully. She plucks the herb, placing it in the safety of her herb bag.

Her harvest successful she slogs through the murky waters, the water up to her thighs. Splashes from walking soaking her worn thong, but that was ok. Tis, for this reason, she wears the skimpy adornment. Spying another herb near a log, she carefully wades towards it, not wanting to disturb any unfriendly wildlife. Once in reach she extends her long-striped arms and plucks the herb, only to freeze!

Very, very carefully she pulls her right foot from the muddy marsh bottom, feeling the rough rocky scales of a crocodile below the water’s surface. Slowly she backs away, the eyes of the beast opening just above the water. What she had thought was a log turned into something much more dangerous.

Keeping her eyes on the beast she continues to wade to shore, only to freeze again her back touching the same scaly surface. There was a crocodile behind her too! The beast moved, it scales roughly scraping against her back, her bikini top coming undone and falling into the water, leaving her bare breast. Not that she cared. She was in fear for her life!

A shuttered breath escapes her, the crocodile behind her begins to swim away, it's clawed hooking her thong below the water’s surface. She let out the smallest of peeps! As the material was pulled against her skin, especially against her nether reign. She felt her body being pulled along with the beast. Quickly she reaches below the water frantically digging for the knot. Trying to undo it. But the string was leather, old, and wet. The knot held true. Her body jerked and the crocodiles stopped, noticing the resistance.

Pulling her knife from her bag she slashed down into the water, panic getting the better of her as she made a lot of noise, but the string was cut. She backpedals. Keeping her eyes on the two crocodiles whose attention she now had. Picking up the pace Zecora made for the shore, the beasts picking up their pursuit. She rises out of the water onto shore, naked and breathing fast. A root catches her heel and she falls on her back!

The beasts made a noise and charge at her! Their wide jaws snapping open for a big juicy bit of her flesh! Scrambling to a nearby tree Zecora grabs a low hanging vine and pulls herself up, just in the nick of time as the crocodiles angerly snap the air below her. She breathes a sigh of relief. Only to pat herself down and find her herb bag missing!

Looking down she spies the bag and so does the crocodiles. One happily takes it in its jaws, ripping to pieces. Making her entire morning a waste of time. The beasts seem content to simply leave it at that as they return to the murky waters. To be safe she waits a whole hour before finally jumping down from the tree. Only to regret it.

“EEEEK!” She seethes her left ankle screaming in pain. Looking at it, it was easy to tell it was sprained, possibly broken, given the purple and blue bruising. How did she not notice sooner? Well, it didn’t matter, she had no herbs or potions to treat it.

Hobbling on her good foot Zecora grabs her walking stick she had laid against a tree earlier this morning and her cloak, giving her some cover with the loss of her underclothes. Hurt tired, and generally unhappy with her morning she hobbles home. Wanting nothing more than to down a potion and lay in her bed for a bit.

Zecora could not believe the sight before her. Her home. The one she had sheltered in for years was destroyed! Sorrowfully she enters what remains of her main room. The roof had caved in, crushing almost all of her vials and shelves. Sadly, she picks up the broken remains of her “Welcome” Mask, none of the things she brought from her homeland survived the collapse.

Her bedroom was no better. Her bed destroyed, swamp water was coming out of her closet and out the hole in her wall, along with what was left of her clothes. She could only stand in despair, feeling as if the world was falling around her as the culprits marched over her muddy toes.

Termites.

Her home had been destroyed by termites. Guess that’s what she gets for living in a hollow tree in the Everfree forest.

Zecora stood naked, cold, and homeless as the rain begin to fall upon her through the hole in her roof. With nothing else but her cloak and her staff, she grabs the bag of gold bits she’s saved from selling her potions and makes the march towards Ponyville.

When she arrives at the town she hurriedly rushes to the one person that could help her. Standing outside the fancy home of one Rarity Belle, she knocks on the purple door. Rarity answering promptly.

“Hello, Oh Zecora! How nice to see you!” The lusciously cheery woman greeted. “Can I help you with something or is my order done?” Her voice trails off as she notices her state of dress. “Perhaps a hot shower is in order? You look awful darling.”

“That would be appreciated,” Zecora spoke hoarsely, forgoing her rhyming as she opens her cloak to reveal her naked form. Rarity’s cheeks went flush as she covers her mouth. “I’m afraid I have found myself lacking in proper wear.”

“I see, yes. Please come in, hurry before someone spots you!”

Once inside Zecora indulged in Rarity’s shower. Using much hot water and various shampoos. She was being greedy and spoiling herself, but she couldn’t help it after the day she had. Once done with her cleaning she exits to find a black and white string bikini waiting for her in the bathroom. Rarity knew her well. She puts on the skimpy attire, the material soft and new, possibly made of silk. It gave her chills. She has never known such luxury.

Traveling downstairs Zecora amused herself by preening through Rarity’s racks of clothes. Touching and smelling the material, it was all soft and smelt lovely. She pulls a simple black Tee shirt and pants from the rack, just as Rarity enters the store.

“Is there something else I can help you with today, Zecora?”

She smiles at her friend, holding up her picked items. “I want pants. And skirts and shoes, I want…” Zecora licks her lips, a feeling binding up inside her. A feeling of want. “I want clothes. Normal clothes. Clothes like you wear.” Choking up Zecora holds up her bag of gold and drops it on the table. “I want a house, here in town, I want to be part of a community again. I’m tired of living alone in the woods.” With little regard Zecora embraces Rarity, telling the fashionista of her trails today.

Rarity smiles hugging the sobbing zebra woman and patting her on the back. “Don’t worry. Things will work out. I know someone who can help too, but feel free to say as long as you need.”

Several weeks later

“And here we are Ms. Zecora, our first stop of the day. Apartment 303, please look to your heart's content. I apologize for the mess, the family has yet to finish moving.” The home realtor, Flipper, said presenting the third story apartment to her. It was a medium abode, taking up one-quarter of the whole third floor, each floor containing four apartments total. She steps inside, wrinkling her nose at the smell. The family living here didn’t clean very often and she had lived in the woods. “I’ll be out here, please call me if you have any questions.”

She nods waving at the realtor as she walks into the kitchen area, the first room from the doorway. Something sticky sticks to the bottom of her sandal, making her bawk with disgust at the sight of some unknown food anchoring her to the tile floor. She crosses her arms against the silk blouse Rarity gave her and kept away from the walls less another sticky surprise awaits her. She’d hate to dirty the new clothes Rarity custom made her. She must say she was sold on the jeans the unicorn girl made, very comfortable.

Stepping around the table, food and old dishes still on it, she pokes her head into the living room, where a TV, two couches, a coffee table and lazy boy took up all of the room. Toys lined the floor making it was a treacherous journey. Especially with the Legos all over the floor. She declines to enter. Flipper looks frustrated, his back half turn as he whispers harsh words into his cell phone. Mostly talking with the owners of the apartment. He was on the cusp of cussing them out for the mess when they were supposed to have cleaned for the viewing.

Going to the other entryway, which leads to the hallway where the bedrooms and bath where Zecora travels to the first door and opens it. Finding the bathroom. It was a tight fit and a family for four was supposed to be living here, so she could see why they wanted to move. It would be nice enough for her though. Closing the door, she peeks into the bedrooms the first door belongs to the kids, the room divided with a line and a bunk bed in the middle, the bottom bunk blue and the top pink. From the size of the beds, it was clear the kids were pre-teens. Another reason to move to a larger space with a developing boy and girl. Finally, she enters the parent's room.

The parent's room was slightly bigger, but the king size bed made quick work of it, the wife’s dresser took up one side of the room and the closet. On the husband’s side was a small dresser split in half, with the labels work and formal on the drawers. She shuts the door and returns to the entrance, Mr. Flipper looking embarrassed.

“Am I save to assume we should move on to the next home?” She nods curtly, Flipper sighing heavily, seems she was not the first he’s had trouble selling the place too. “Alright, well, I think the next home will be more to your liking!”

A quick trip in Flipper’s car brought her to one of Ponyville’s residential districts. They pull up to a single-story house with a garage. Mr. Flipper looking much more excited to show her this house.

“Now I know the first location left a bit of sour taste, but this house I know is clean. There’s no furniture, but the stove, refrigerator, washer, and dryer, do come with the house. They're a bit rustic but functional. And the backyard is large enough for a garden or two. I know that was on your preferred list. I should mention the apartment does have a garden area on the roof, but it’s locked for residents only. And a lot is extra, but enough of that. I’ll let you go explore.”

He sure was chatty. Or maybe she was being too mute. Since the destruction of her home, she hasn’t spoken much. Maybe she was still getting over the huge change her life was taking, maybe she was being too rash trying to find a new home so soon, but she was feeling guilty about living with Rarity and Sweetie Belle. Rarity’s home was a getting a bit cramped with the three of them living above the boutique.

Entering the small house, the first thing that popped out to her was… how small it was. The living and the kitchen were the same room. There was a small space where one could put a table, but it would crowd the kitchen. Carpet and tile separate the two rooms, in the corner between the wall and carboards was the bathroom. The sink, toilet, and shower all rather cramped into the small room, but again it would be enough for her. Stepping out of the bathroom she wonders over to the heater system, a tall wall of vents that went to the top of the ceiling. From there she enters the bedroom, a single long narrow room. The width was maybe fifteen feet, while the length was the entirety of the house, so maybe thirty feet or more if you included the closet. She shuts the door.

The laundry room was a small entryway on the east side of the kitchen, a door leading out front and another leading into the garage. Inside the garage were a lot of shelving and a little workbench. It was a lot of extra space if she decides not to by a car. It would acquit for making potions. Walking to the back door of the garage she steps out into the sunlight, smiling at the large backyard, there was even a small bench and a brick grill on the patio.

“I think…”

BARK!

Zecora looks over the row of trees separating her from the neighbors. A frown sullying her smile. As not one, not two, not three, but four dogs begin barking on the other side of the trees. The ones living in the house quickly come and bring one of the smaller dogs inside, but the other three big dogs continue barking and barking and barking. For a full solid minute, the barks continue and they never stop. She about faces, slams the door and marches back out to the car.

“Ok, third house it is,” Flipper says awkwardly. The dogs still barking as they driveway. They drive outside of town traveling about two miles towards Sweet Apple Acres and then come to a stop. Tucked between the surrounding Apple trees was a white two-story stucco house. “Here we are, house number three, I will warn you there may be a few repairs still needing to be done, but it is a move in ready. This is a four-bedroom, two bath home all on a seven-acre plot.”

She nods stepping out of the car and approaches the house. Vines were growing up one side of the house, there were a lot of windows too. Strolling around the house while Flipper unlocks the door Zecora was pleased with the amount of open space.

“Where is the property line? We border the Apple’s orchards correct?” She shouts so Flipper could hear her. The sound of the front door opening as he shouts back a reply.

“If you’ll come with me, there’s a better vantage point to view the property.”

Glancing upwards Zecora saw there was a patio on the second floor. Finishing her stroll, she enters the front door, which was connected to a mud room with a spartan shower and sink.

“This is a mudroom bath, the former owner was a farmer, it’s fairly obvious why he would want a shower for when he came in from work. There’s another bathroom is near the master bedroom, much nicer as you can imagine. Come, let me show you the kitchen.”

Zecora follows him deeper inside, her breath catching at the sight of the kitchen, it was huge! “Wow…” She utters unconsciously.

“Yes, the wife of the home had a flair for hosting dinner parties for the family. The kitchen is fully stock with up to date oven, refrigerator, dishwasher, and freezer. To the side, through this door is the washer and dryer, the washroom is small, but out of sight if you wish it to be. As you can see there is an island here too, capable of seating six, and extra space for a full-size table if you wish it. The home is a very open design.”

“Indeed,” She replies, stunned by the décor.

“The living room is connected to the dining room, more then half of the first floor is all one room as you can see. “Over here is the master bed and bath with a guest room on the other side of the washer room. Both rooms are very spacious.”

At Flipper’s invitation Zecora peeks inside the master bedroom it was huge! At least three times the size of her old room and there was a walk-in closet too! The main bathroom was nice too, it even had a big tub and shower combo, she could appreciate that. The guest room was empty, only slightly smaller than the master room and it also had a walk-in closet.

“I should mention the owner was very fond of walk-in closets, all the rooms have them. This room would make a nice guest room, office, or child’s room if that is in your future.”

“I would feel more inclined for a potions room,” Zecora mumbles, the mention of children crossing her mind in a more pronounced way then it has before.

Flipper held up his hands. “Whatever you desire. Let’s go upstairs.”

“Yes, lets.”

Upstairs was odd. The two upstairs rooms were in the hallway right at the top of the stairs, but the hallway kept going, leading to what looks like a common area where the glass doors reveal the second story patio. An interesting design.

“Both upstairs rooms are the same size as the guest room, the extra space was for the family’s children to play, while the patio was for the parents. That not all though, if you’ll follow me.” Flipper opens the door to the patio. The view breathtaking as the patio overlooks the trees, a small river visible in the distance. “That river is the property line. Where the trees are thinner is your side, while where their thicker and obviously growing apples are the Apple’s side. You couldn’t ask for better neighbors.”

She smiles, “Indeed, this is a wonderful place. But I must ask about the costs.”

“Yes, the costs. Now, I did my best to fill out your list and keep your budget of $70,000 bits. The apartment was well below your budget at a $6,600 yearly lease, plus unities and other things. The second only slightly below budget at $60,000 bits. This house here is slightly over budget at $78,000 bits. If you don’t want to keep the washer and dryer, oven, dishwasher, etc. Then the price drops to $69,500, but then you have to go buy your own stuff. Not to pressure you, but the appliances are top of the line, well cared for and to buy them all new would be $10,000 bits or more, if you want to keep them, you get them all for $2000 bits less then they would be retail. Again, not going to force you, just giving you your options.”

“Thank you, Mr. Flipper, could I have a moment to myself?”

“Take your time, I’ll be downstairs.”

“Thank you.”

Striding up to the balcony Zecora looks out over the property that could be hers. It was small when compared to the Everfree, but anything would be. There was enough room to grow her own herbs and such, it was quiet and away from town, yet close enough to walk to with little trouble. Still $8000 bits. She had the money. Rarity had urged her to have at least $80,000 ready, but to try and go lower. From her time living in the Everfree she managed to collect a staggering $100,000 bits, most she put in the bank. She never much cared for money when living free in the forest. Now money would have to be more of priority, she’d have to commercialize her potions. This place was the best location, but to lose nearly 80% of her collected bits in one go. That was a hard blow.

“I guess I could survive in the second…” Her thought trails off as she catches sight of the big and muscular Big Macintosh across the river picking apples. His big beefy chest on display as he removes his shirt completely unaware of her spying eyes. Her tongue instinctively runs across her lips as she enjoys the view. A deep suppressed desire is awakened inside of her as she gazes longingly at the stallion of stallions across the way. How long has it been since she’s felt the hot weight of another against her? Too long really and he would be her neighbor, plenty of chances to… have relations. “I think I can call this place home.”

She all buts runs downstairs, surprising Flipper as she still had the hungry gaze of Mac in her eyes. “I’ll take it.” She declared.”

Two Weeks later

Big Mac was hard at work spraying the trees for harmful insects. The summer’s heat beating down on him hard through the gaps of the trees, the humidity soaking his clothes through. With a heavy sigh, he sets down by the river bank his spray tank abandon for the most part as he splashes water from the river on his face.

“You look like you could use a drink?” The familiar voice of their new neighbor said. Mac looks up to see Zecora wading through the shallow creek bed with a pitcher of lemonade and a basket of treats. He felt a blush come on as she wore only a black and white striped bikini. She had probably been sunbathing again. A hobby he wouldn’t have thought she indulged in, but he sees her up on her patio topless nearly every day.

“I wouldn’t turn one down,” He drawls as Zecora plops down beside him, her wet thigh touching his as she hands him a glass and some brownies she’s made. “Tell me how they taste, I tried a new recipe again.”

He takes a bite, warm chocolate melting in his mouth as he devours the fresh brownie. “Amazing again Zecora.”

“Good, maybe next time I’ll try my hand at sandwiches.”

“Sandwiches?” Mac chuckles. “You're just after my heart isn’t you.”

Zecora flicks her hair off her shoulder, it certainly has gotten longer since she moved. It was still in a mohawk, but she has started to let it grow down her back, it was sexy he had to admit. His own shyness starts to get the better of him as Zecora’s breast press against his arm, her lips just a hair’s breath from his ear.

“And what if I am?” She whispers. She suddenly stands up, giving him a good view of her ass. “Maybe next time, you’ll come to my side of the river? You can leave the basket in the usual spot or bring it back yourself. I’ll see you later, Mac.”

He watches her strut through the thigh-deep creek and up the other side. She casts one last look at him, a look she’s done about every time she’s brought him something these past two weeks. Her bait and hook. And this time as he finishes off the last brownie and lemonade he steps into the water after her.

Hook, line, and Sinker. He was on the other side of the river.

Author's Note

Just a quick one shot