Striped Tales

The Zebra continued to speak. "Our land was beautiful, rolling hills of pure green. It was a place were nature and civilization met and lived together in harmony." She smiled warmly as she remembered days when she would run through the open air market with her friends, laughing as they played tag. The group of four were suddenly drawn to a particular closet as they heard 3 little voices whispering harshly.

"Ow Scootaloo! Watch it! That's my hoof yer steppin on!" Whispered one filly as the closet began thumping. "Hey it isn't my fault you decided to to put your hoof before mine!" Shouted another voice as it grunted. "Girls! Girls! Quiet I think somepony's coming!" Urgently whispered another one as Rarity got off the couch and made her way over to the now jumping closet, undoing the latch with her magic. "Sweetie Belle!" She exclaimed stepping back as a marshmallow filly bounced out along with two others. "Applebloom! Now what in they hay were you doing in that closet?" Shouted Applejack as a Bee yellow filly tumbled out along with her friends.

Zecora just sat there chuckling softly, Zane turned to her and gave her a questioning look. "Friends?" He asked pointing to the three who were now staring at the group of adults with worry in their eyes. "Now why were you three in there?" Asked Rarity pointing to the closet. Scootaloo jumped up and exclaimed.

"Oh! We were trying to get our cutie marks of course!" Suddenly the three shouted in unison. "CUTIE MARK CRUSDADER NARNIA EXPLORERS! YAY!" They shouted as they ran back inside the closet full of fur coats earning an exasperated sigh from Rarity.

"I read then the chronicles last night and now they think that there are lions and witches in the wardrobes!" She said as she used her magic to pull three flailing fillies from the closet.

"Aww sis can't we try this one? Please?" Sweetie Belle begged, her emerald green eyes expanding in her head. Rarity was about to start reprimanding them when a lightbulb went off in her head. "Girls! How about you three listen to Zecora's story with us? I promise you it'll be fun!" She said turning back and giving Zecora a begging stare of her own.

The striped mare was struggling to contain her laughter at the crusader's antics but she lost it when Rarity gave her the stare. She began guffawing hard. "Of course, of course the more the merrier." She said as the three took their places on Rarity's sofa. The Zebra cleared her throat again, this time to be interrupted by a certain cerulean mare. "WOW! ZECORA ISN'T RYMING?" Shouted Rainbow Dash as she let herself in via window opposite of Applejack.

"Dagumit Rainbow ya can't just be lettin yerself in like that!" Called the peeved farmer as Rainbow rolled her eyes and took her seat next to Applejack. "Now that the great Rainbow Dash is here you may continue!" She said as she closed her eyes and put her front hooves behind her head. Everypony in the room minus Zane and Scootaloo gave the cobalt pegasus a half lidded stare.

Zecora cleared her throat again.....right as the shop door tinkled signifying customers. "Oh bother bother bother!" Shouted Rarity in frustration as she made her way downstairs. "Well these are definitely interesting friends." Said Zane chuckling lightly as the snow white and amethyst unicorn left the room. "Oh! Oh! Oh! What's the story Zecora? Is it the pony and the frog?" Asked Applebloom "no it's gonna be snow white and the seven griffons isn't it?" Asked Scootaloo right after Applebloom.

This prompted a facehoof from every adult minus Zane who was rolling around on the floor laughing. "These...these ponies." He got out before going into another fit of laughter. "Well good news everypony!" She said ushering in Twilight and Fluttershy who looked around the room, both of them blushing slightly.

"I was talking to these two and when they heard that Zecora was telling a story they were just dying to listen!" Exaggerated the fashionista. "Umm....that is...if you don't mind." Whispered Fluttershy hiding behind her mare. "Yes we are very sorry to intrude but....can we?" Asked Twilight, her  blush turning from pink to rose.

"Of course." Sighed the Zebra motioning for them to sit. Suddenly they heard knocking on the closet door as Pinkie, covered in snow rolled out of it. "Boy! You all would never believe what I have been through." She said shaking like a dog splattering water and snow everywhere. "And where might that have been exactly?" Asked Rarity as she struggled to keep away from the dripping wet mare.

"Narnia of course you silly filly!" She said with her signature pinkie smile, this earned three gasps. "SEE I TOLD YA SIS! IT WAS REAL!" Shouted Sweetie Belle jumping up and pointing at the closet.

"HEY! Aren't we forgetting somepony?" Asked a ticked Rainbow Dash as she pointed to a now chuckling Zecora. "Oh right...sorry dear." Whispered Rarity almost as meekly as Fluttershy.

"Now now it is quite alright, sometimes all good friends must fight. Am I right?" She posed it as a question raising an eyebrow. To this the mane 6 all nodded.

"Ahem. Gather round my little ponies to hear my tale. Be warned though it is not as happy as I make it entail." Rhymed the zebra, her tone dropping dangerously and taking a sad note. The zebra paused for a minute, her head hanging low as she cried a single tear.

"We're all listening Sugarcube." Said Applejack making her way over to the mare and putting a reassuring hoof to her shoulder. Zecora took strength from this act she spoke again.

"I was born a princess in the land of Zebra's my brother and I lived a happy life in the capitol. That was until the uprising." Her eyes closed as she remembered.