Prologue: An old friendView OnlineStriped TalesPrologue: An old friendApplejack spotted the Zebra well before she came within earshot. "Zecora! Howdy! What brings you down to these parts?" She asked as the Zebra approached the apple stand. "Applejack greetings my friend! I've come to enjoy the day before it ends." Rhymed the zebra drawing an amused grin from Applejack. An ta think, we thought she was some kind of enchantress. She thought as she gazed into the mare's gentle eyes seeing the azure blue in a new light. "Say Zecora, ya never did tell me an the girls bout where ya came from." She said remembering the zebra's sudden appearance a few years back. "I never did tell? Deary me that is not very swell." Said the Zebra speaking in tongues. "Ah! Zecora! What brings you back to town again? Oh never mind that I actually could use your help with a new dress line!" Said Rarity appearing behind the two surprising them both. "Oh come now you two off to the boutique!" Spoke Rarity while nudging the laughing zebra in the right direction. "Oh me oh my I didn't expect such attention from you guys." Laughed the zebra. "Well yer gonna have to get used to it." Sighed Applejack who of tagged along after Rarity half insisted half forced her into it. The three mares however were unaware of the stranger watching them from afar, a dusty brown cloak hiding all of his facial features. ========================================================= "It still surprises me to see you all smiling so happily, where as I can still remember a time when you all ran in fear at my very sight." Smirked the Zebra. Currently the three were seated in Rarity's living room within the boutique. "Zecora darling we are so sorry for that! We just....you know..." Rarity trailed off as Zecora raised her hoof. "Scared by my sight I know, A zebra isn't normal here you know?" She marveled at the whole of it all. These mares who had shunned her for so long were just scared by her appearance, it was understandable seeing as how they've never seen a zebra but it still struck some part of Zecora's heart. "My friends, I feel it is time that I share my story with you not in rhyme." The Zebra spoke in a heavy tone as she prepared herself, it was about time that they knew to. "It's okay if you don't want to tell us sugarcube, we'll understand, we're your friends ain't we?" Applejack asked in a gentle tone. "It is because you are my friends I feel you should know, how I got here from the land I once called home." Sighed the Zebra, all those memories she had kept hidden away started to surface. It was about then that they all heard the doorbells of the store chime as a customer made his or her presence known. Rarity got up from the couch she was seated on with a groan. "Oh bother and just when it was getting good!" She said quickly casting a shy glance at the zebra in hopes she didn't offend her. Zecora only smiled back at her. With great relief that she didn't offend her new guest Rarity made her way downstairs to greet her new guest. "Welcome to Carousel Boutique! Where everything is chic! Unique and Manufiqe!" She said recanting the motto by heart without even opening her eyes. The stranger smiled and threw back his hood revealing the surprise underneath. ================================ Zecora had been siting on the couch opposite to Rarity's when she heard the gasp. "What in the hay is goin on down there?" Asked the farm pony as she made her way over to the staircase only to be greeted by a tackle courtesy of a rushing Rarity. "Z-Z-Zecora! I have here a guest who says he knows you and...oh bother just see him for yourself." Gasped Rarity who was still on top of Applejack. "Umm..miss? Is everything okay up there?" Asked the stranger from downstairs. Zecora felt her jaw slacken and eyes widen. "It couldn't be." She whispered, apparently Applejack had heard her as she struggled to get the fashionista off of her. "Ya know him?" She asked quizzically. "Zane? Do my ears deceive me?" She rushed over to the banister and looked down, sure enough staring back at her were those bug topaz eyes and stripped fur. "Zane my brother how long it has been! I fear it has been too long since I last saw you grin!" Shouted Zecora as she practically slid down the banister. Into the laughing zebra's hooves. "Zecora, still rhyming I see! I didn't expect you to be all the way out here!" He said hugging her closely. They were interrupted as Applejack whistled. "Well don't that beat all?" She asked, quickly silenced by a hoof to the ribs courtesy of Rarity. "I'm terribly sorry for my friends rude behavior, please come inside and make yourself at home. Any friend of Zecora's is a friend of ours." She said in her usual overly polished english accent. "Why thank you kind mare, I'm so happy that my sister met ponies like you." He spoke in a highly distinguishable accent, a slight slur at the end of his sentences as well as a small rolling of the tongue and over pronunciation of his S's gave the native ponies the impression that he wasn't from anywhere nearby. "So where did ya come from stranger? Ahm kinda surprised to see more Zebra's around these here parts." Spoke Applejack breaking the ambient silence that soon followed the stallion's ushering. "Ah Applejack straight to the point I see! Very well it's a rather long story." He started but was soon interrupted by his sister. "Zane If I may so ask, may I please have the honor of recanting my adventures in the past?" She asked, to this he smiled and nodded. She took a deep breath and started, surprising everypony there when she spoke. "As you know I wasn't born in Equestria, my brother and I were born in a land across the deserts of Appleoosa.' It is there that my story begins. She started as the room grew quiet, as if the very walls urged for the story teller to continue.
Chapter 1: Gather roundView OnlineStriped TalesChapter 1: Gather roundThe 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.
Chapter 2: A land of city and sunView OnlineStriped TalesChapter 2: A land of city and sun(A/N: Hot damn I almost forgot about this thing whatevs enjoy) "My land was one growing, an untamed jungle, a growing city." She spoke in her non-rythmic voice. "It was a melting pot, with open-air Bazaars and shouts from the merchants displaying their wares." Zecora smiled as she remembered. =================================================================================== "Na na! Can't catch me!" Taunted a much younger Zecora as she raced through the bazaar. "No fair! You had a headstart!" Said a black zebra with yellow stripes. "It's not my fault your so slow Yambi!" She laughed openly as she ran, the stalls and scents passing and blending underneath the hot sub-saharan sun. The merchants called out their wares as the foals played a game of tag through the large open-air market. "Gotcha!" Said Zane taking Zecora by complete surprise as he jumped out from a pot that was hidden in an alley-way just off of where Zecora was sprinting. "Oooo no fair Zane! That's the 5th time!" She said seething in frustration. "Well then try harder!" He said sprinting down the alleyway. Zecora sighed as she closed her eyes and began counting. "One!.....Two!.....Three!-" The little filly stopped counting as the grand clock located within the sprawling market rang, signaling that it was noon. "Oh no. Oh no,no no!" Said the little filly, her ears deflated and her tail shot between her legs like a dog as she sprinting through the market to her home. "Zecora! Late for your lesson again?" Joked Yambi running alongside the filly, a teasing smile on his face. "Oh shut it." She said nudging him playfully. He laughed a bit as they ran. "Hey! What's the hurry?" Asked Zane jumping down from the roof of small square clay house above them. "Zane! We're late! Father's going to be angry!" Said a scared Zecora, she looked at her brother with her large discus eyes causing both boys to laugh hard. "Father's never that hard! You need to lighten up!" He teased as they ran, the Bazaar thinned out as they entered the city proper, the large mortar houses and buildings looming and blocking out the sun giving some protection to the denizens below. "Join me brothers and sisters! Together we can rise up and gain new lands for our growing children!" Said a herald as they passed through an especially crowded street. The herald was dressed in all black, a sun hat covering his face from the harsh saharan sun. The three foals wrinkled their noses as they passed by. "Ugh it's those pestering Wutse again! When will they realize that our people are fine with what they have?" Questioned Zane, the oldest by abut 2 years. He shook his head in a disapproving manor as they turned and found themselves on a street lined with houses on massive hills. "It's fine! Everypony has his or her own opinion!" Pipped Yambi from the side, even though he was the youngest of the three he was the wisest and often most thoughtful of the trio. "It's fine as long as they don't try anything." Huffed Zecora younger who was older than Yambi by a year but younger than Zane by about 2 years. "Here! Finally!" Sighed Zecora as the gates to their house came into view. "You three! Your father has been asking for you non-stop! Were you all playing in the market again?" Asked the sole guard at the front of the gates, a large black stallion with a single white stripe running from his right eye across his snout. "Uche! Could you please not tell papa that we where in the market? Please?" Begged Zecora, her eyes grew to enormous sizes as she did her puppy stare. He sighed with a chuckle. "Of course I will, only if Zane agrees to help me with my scooter again, it's been acting up recently." He said musing at his own problems, at this notion Zane's ears perked up. "Of course will!" He said eagerly, a huge smile spread across his face. Uche laughed a bit as he opened the gate. "Run along now! Your father will be angry if he finds out you've gone down to the market." He said whipping the sweat away from his face with his other hoof. "Thank you thank you thank you thank you!" Shouted Zecora as she dashed through open gates and up the large green lawn surrounding the house. "Let me guess, you three where in the market again?" Asked their father, a large white and black stallion with softer lines racing along his body, his mane was two types of silk, both black and white. He had caught the duo heading up to what the family called 'The study' for their afternoon lessons. "Of course not!" Said Zecora with fake cheer, her ears quickly wrapped themselves around her head signaling her lie. The large stallion sighed and chuckled a bit. "It's all fine, just so long as you don't stay around the Wuste, they are a bad bunch if I do say so myself." He said shuddering a bit. "We won't we promise!" the trio shouted as the ran up the marble stairs to the study, the smell of incense was heavy through the large house giving it a homey feel. "Sorry Imama!" Said Zecora opening the door slightly to reveal an elderly grey and white mare balancing on a stick with only her head. "No problem at all children do not fret! Your Imama here just won a bet!" She said jumping down from the stick. To this Yambi raised an eyebrow. "A bet?" He asked, Imama chuckled heartily. "A bet with your father to see where you are, and I was right so he must take a fall." She said smirking evilly. Zane gave an involuntary shudder. The last time he made a bet with Imama she ended up forcing him into a chicken suit as they toured the newly opened market in the Northwest of the city. "What are we studying today Imama?" Asked an excited Zecora. Imama was a wise mare and would usually tutor the children when either School was out for StableMaster Holidays or if there was nopony else to do it. Today was the latter. "Today we shall be learning of healing salves and plants which are best for them." She said walking past the three, she motioned them to follow as the group descended the stairs. "I wonder where we're going this time." Chuckled Yambi, Imama was known to take the children on random 'field trips' during her session. "We are going to the edge of the desert today!" She chirped as they walked through the streets. ============================================================ "What are we looking for again?" Whined Zane as he stared at a particularly spiky olive colored plant. "You are looking for the Abjale, a black plant that heals all that ails." She said, her voice smooth and silky as she balanced again on her stick. They where on the outskirts of the fledgling city which met the harsh desert, in this region plants used in Apothecary supplies where abundant here. "Is this it?" Asked Zecora setting down a long pole shaped cactus looking plant in front of the elderly mare. Imama opened an eye and smiled jumping down. "And tell me little one what does it do?" Asked the mare in a quizzical voice, Zecora puffed out her chest. "It's juice heals, cuts, bruises, and generally all light wounds." She recited with her eyes closed. "Ugh can we go now?" Moaned Zane who was never much for botany or any of the type, claiming it was 'witch doctor stuff'. "Oh Zane we went over mechanics just over a week ago! Don't you know? Each to their own!" Said Yambi scolding his sibling. "Very well children it is time to depart, it seems little Zecora's taken after my heart." She said affectionately nuzzling the little filly who returned it. ============================================================================================ The thee walked through the city as the sun began to set. The strong spices and scents of traditional Zebran cooking filled the air as the artificial lights came on. Zecora followed along next to Imama as the two followed along behind Yambi and Zane. Zecora shivered a bit as the temperature dropped back down to normal in the absence of the blazing sun. Overhead the group could hear shouting and clanging as the workmen built into the night. "Can you feel it Zecora? Our land is growing, with the help of the Stablemaster and my little ponies." Rythmed the elderly mare as the two walked onwards. Zecora only leaned it a bit further and brushed up against the mare's back for comfort. Looking down the elderly mare saw the filly wobbling as the day's activities finally caught up. She giggled a bit as she lifted the filly on her back. "Goodnight Imama." Said Zecora very softly as she closed her eyes, her mind and body slumping as sleep embraced it. "Goodnight my child, fair dreams to you. May you dream of concocting strong potions and brews." Chuckled the elder as she nuzzled the sleeping filly who let out a little squeal. [A/N: Imama=Grandma]