Striped Tempest

The sky was dull gray, or was it more a fading blue, or perhaps a rippling flurry of colors? It was impossible to tell in the Everfree Forest. For many locals of Ponyville, this wooded region was seen as a dangerous, some say “cursed” area. But for a certain purple unicorn, she didn’t care. Walking through the few visible dirt trails that cut through the forest, like the veins of a massive beast, or monster of unknown size, Tempest Shadow made her way through the woods. She had heard that this area was full of timberwolves, but even as the unstable magic crackled through her broken horn, she knew she was more than a match for any creature here. As she continued to walk, she couldn’t stop but reflect upon what happened, and how she had begun this journey.

After the tragic accident that had taken her horn from her, as well as scaring her face, Tempest had fled her home. For years, she had gone through many different means in which she could try and get her magic back. Ranging from various potions, attachments, to magical experiments, and other means that had not only failed, but often cracked her already damaged horn further. Frustrated and desperate, she eventually turned to the service of the Storm King. She didn’t care how many ponies would suffer, or if all of Equestria would be dominated by what was little more than a deranged ape with a lightning staff. So long as she had her magic back, that’s all that mattered.

When she was betrayed, and turned on by her former employer, Tempest was now wallowing in melancholy. At first, Princess Twilight tried to aid her, but though they managed to stabilize her magic to the point she could somewhat use it. That wasn’t what Tempest needed to lift her spirits. Though personal and private, a somewhat hidden shame she had, the real source of her woe was that throughout the many years of her reckless self tampering to regain magic held a devastating side effect. Tempest was sterile, incapable of having foals.

At first, she thought she accepted this, but as the last couple years passed on, Tempest felt an urge, a longing to eventually start a family of her own. Though even if she wasn’t basically barren, most stallions were too intimidated by her; and the few who weren’t were either taken, or it would remind her that there was no point in having random sex with some stud if she can’t even bear a foal out of it. If not for Twilight, Tempest would’ve only continued to wallow in despair. The Princess of Friendship, having noticed the mare’s worries, through a long conversation, learned of Tempest’s source of worry.

This was why Tempest was making her way through the Everfree Forest, to seek out the one Twilight suggested she should meet. Zecora, the zebra hermit who lived deep in the forest. Though zebras were not known for magic in the way a unicorn might understand magic, their skills in alchemy were legendary, and what little could be called magic, their “rituals”, were another thing to consider. Twilight suggested Zecora, if not as a solution, then at least a direction Tempest could use. After everything she had gone through, the Princess wanted her to at least be happy.

As the many steps of her journey concluded in her mind, Tempest found herself in a strange place within the Everfree. A massive tree, in which a straw, thatch, and wooden hut had been carved and shaped into the long, thick roots of this tree. Surrounding it were a number of masks Tempest believed were zebra in origin. But what was even more strange about this area, was how quiet it suddenly became. There were empty bottles hanging from branches, but while she could hear at least some unseen birds, the sound seemed to become silent as soon as she got close to the hut.

“Well, that explains how she could live here.” Tempest commented to herself, looking around a few more times. Sighing, she approached the door. “Alright…let’s do this.” Knocking at the door, she awaited Zecora's arrival. After a few moments, the door opened.

Standing there was Zecora, a beautiful zebra who wore simple clothes that hugged around her body. Tempest had always been a head taller than the average pony, so when she met this zebra’s face, she was surprised to see that Zecora was just as tall as she was. It was strange, almost shocking as the mare looked this zebra in the eyes, rather than having to stare down at who she was speaking to. All of this contrasted with Tempest’s own attire. Though she discarded the mercenary armor that she wore in service to the Storm King, she still wore a durable pair of pants, sleeveless shirt until a tough but thin jacket. Zecora looked at her for a moment, almost as if to examine her before finally opening her mouth.

“Hello and welcome my dear.” Zecora spoke, her rhythmic voice only seemed to echo in the mare’s mind like a strange and mysterious sweetness. “What can I do to help you? For what brought you here?”

“I’ve come…okay, I’m here on a recommendation.” Tempest commented, realizing that beating around the bush wouldn’t help her. “Princess Twilight suggested you, and at this point, I’ll try anything.”

“I see, we'll come inside.” Zecora commented, gesturing Tempest to enter the hut. The inside was just as mystical looking as the outside, with a strong herbal smell in the air. Numerous dried herbs, leaves, and other plants hung, while small incense burned. “Now, what service can I provide?”

“Well…okay, I’m sorry, this is just really embarrassing.” Tempest sighed, shivering slightly as she worked up the courage to confess her worries to this zebra. “I’m…I’m infertile, and I want your help in fixing it.”

“I see, that is quite the inability.” Zecora replied, contemplating several possible options for a moment. “But I believe I have some means to aid in your fertility.” Tempest’s face almost beamed with a sudden flicker of hope.

“You’re saying you know a way? Really?” Tempest asked, leaning over the table a little as she was trying to believe this could be true. Her thoughts then caught up with her feelings, reminding her of being hopeful before. “I’ve tried everything else. Potions, artifacts, magics of all kinds, everything. What can you possibly do?”

“I understand your worries, but I shall do what means I have been taught.” Zecora commented, speaking with a calm and confident tone. “And I shall show you what I can do, that pony magic cannot.”

“Alright, I’m in your care.” Tempest sighed, wanting to believe this can work. “What would you need me to do?”

“Firstly, I will need to examine your body, it’s nothing much.” Zecora explained, calmly getting uncomfortably close to the mare. “But I will, with consent, be required to touch.”

“I…alright…just get it over with-” Tempest didn’t get a chance to answer as Zecora’s hand groped at one of her breasts. The zebra’s touch was so rough, palming and pressing the unicorn’s breast, only to then do the same to the other one. “Do you really need to touch me like that?”

“Sorry to cause a shock, but this is for your health.” Zeocra answered, keeping her eyes on Tempest’s body as she spoke. Moving her hands more and more, she was moving all over the unicorn’s curves. “To get the proper assessment, I would need to go in depth.”

Zecora continued to rub and fondle the mare. Her hands were so smooth, and yet the way they groped and squeezed at her, it was almost sending a shiver through Tempest’s spine. It wasn’t that she was getting turned on by this, no, that couldn’t be the reason. Zecora was just really good with her hands, and it was hard to deny that part of it did feel good. At the very least, a warmth was beginning to grow in Tempest’s midsection, as her nipples were getting hard, and thighs were fidgeting a little. But eventually, the zebra stopped altogether, pulling her hands away.

“Now, I have good news, as well as bad for this endeavor.” Zecora explained, looking at Tempest’s eyes, rather than the rest of her body. “The good news being, though faint, you are not completely infertile. But for the bad, there is only a small chance left, and it will eventually become a now or never.”

Tempest was a flurry of emotions. Was there a chance? Could Zecora succeed where so many others had failed? The ideas of what she could do, it was becoming more and more for her. Even so, a blush ran across Tempest’s face as she tried to consider what Zecora could even ask of her. Was she going to just dose her with impossibly strong fertility potions, and she could just fuck some random stallion? Could that even work? Hope and worry, joy and doubt seemed to swell and blur within the unicorn.

“Oh yeah? Well that’s just so easy, isn’t it?” Tempest replied, sarcasm stuck heavily to her voice. “Cause it’s just going to be a cakewalk to find a stallion in time before my only chance is lost!”

“I understand you feel cheated.” Zecora sighed, remaining calm, and yet there was a seriousness in her voice. “But please, sarcasm is not needed.” Getting up, she walked over to one side of the hut, near a kitchen-like area. After a moment, she returned with a couple cups of steaming tea.

“Sorry, I’m just so stressed.” Tempest sighed, taking the tea. “It’s just…it would take far too long for me to find anyone who could help me. And even then, there’s no guarantee.”

“This is something I have wondered about. Why is it that pony sex and conception is filled with so many complications.” Zecora commented, taking a big sip of her tea, followed by a small sigh of comfort. “While my people, our procreation comes with more compensation.”

“What do you mean?” Tempest asked, raising a curious eyebrow. “I know there’s gonna be somewhat of a difference, but how different can it actually be?”

“For starters, in my culture, a mare of breeding age can simply find any stallion for a one and done.” Zecora replied, almost blushing a little as if thinking about such an activity. “After that, rather than a single family, all the young are raised in the village as one.”

“So it takes a village to raise a foal?” Tempest asked, to which Zecora nodded her head. “That’s…that just sounds…I’m sorry, but I don’t think I have words for it.”

“I understand. For us zebras, this is simply the way.” Zecora replied, smiling softly as she took another sip. “Because there are no burdens or obligations, spouses are not even pressured to stay.”

“I see…well, regardless, I don’t think I have the luxury of going to your homeland.” Tempest replied, drinking more and more of this tea. The warm liquid was soothing, feeling a sense of relaxation slowly coursing through her. “But Ponyville isn’t exactly full of eligible stallions.”

“Oh yes, Ponyville is a well and good place. But lacks the strong stallions you’ll need.” Zecora replied, finishing her drink. “For your condition, only the strength of zebra seed will help you breed.”

“Which is even harder.” Tempest sighed, finishing her tea as she rubbed her forehead in frustration. “Ponyville doesn’t have a single zebra…well, other than you. So if I specifically need a zebra stallion, then I’m fucked.”

“Do not worry, and do not fear, for your salvation has not yet been denied.” Zecora commented, smiling a calm and almost soothing expression to the mare. “I believe I have a service that I can provide.”

“Really? Even after all this, you believe I have a chance?” Tempest asked, feeling that flicker of hope fill her a little bit again. “What can you possibly do?”

“Well, I’m sorry to say, it will come as a bit of a surprise.” Zecora explained, seemingly nervous about something, whatever it was she was thinking about. “But for now, I will need help gathering the supplies.”

Getting up, Zecora walked over to some of her shelves. Grabbing at several jars, containers, bottles, and otherwise strange looking containers. Watching for several minutes, Tempest sighed a little before getting up herself. Walking over to the zebra, she stood beside her for a few moments until she decided to say something.

“Well, do you need help with anything?” Tempest asked. “I know you’re gonna help me, but I don’t want to sit around doing nothing.”

“I appreciate it, and it would help put things on track.” Zecora replied, pointing towards her front door. “I’ll need you to fetch my wagon, I'll keep it around back.”

Tempest nodded and headed towards the door. Though part of her was skeptical that any of this could work, part of her was also very hopeful. Maybe this was it, maybe she could finally get what she wanted. Whatever strange magic, ritual, or potions Zecora could brew, she didn’t care. All that mattered to the unicorn was getting pregnant with a foal, and if this zebra could do it, then she didn’t care what she would need to do for it.