A Strange New Land

22 years ago a zebra herbalist was messing with her ingrediants, creating an unstable potion she hoped would increase the prowess of her tribe's warriors. She added some poison joke extract and the solution exploded, sending her flying out her tent. She stood up and quickly made her way to the tent to find a baby laying in her cauldron. She was confused, as it was not a creature she had ever seen before. It's skin was white and bare, yet it had some sort of fur on it's head. In order to save the baby's life the herbalist said she would raise it to follow their ways if she could. She did. That is the story of how I was born. My name is simply Arvac, as my mother, the herbalist, named me.

***

I was walking through the Everfree Forest one day searching for berries I was told would be lying here. I stood tall, almost three times as tall as a normal zebra. I wore a vest and pair of pants I wove with my own hands of fresh grass the day before. I crouched under a low hanging branch pushing it up slightly with my spear, when I heard a low growl. I dived forward into a roll landing on one knee out of instinct. I looked behind me where a manticore's tail had peirced the ground where I was standing. Buck, I thought to myself standing and putting my spear across my body electricity coursing through it from a ruby embedded in the shaft. The manticore stepped into my veiw. It charged me again its tail darting out in front of it at me. I jumped at it, the tail whizzing passed my head, and jabbed me spear at the monster as it roared. My spear went cleanly into its mouth coming out the back of its neck. The monster slammed into me as electricity roasted it's insides.

I grunted in pain as the monster landed on my chest, its blood flowing over me. With a grunt of effort I pushed the Manticore's heavy body off me. I retrieved my spear just in time for a strange zebra with a necklace curling up her neck to step out in front of me.

"Vel'bol inbal dos xunor?!" She called.

"What," I asked never having heard this language before.

Her eyes brightened at my use of the zebra tongue and she said in the same language, " What have you done, to this creature that hurts none?"

I raised my hands to my ears dropping my spear, "No! No rhymes teller of stories, please no! Storytellers give me splitting headaches when they speak in rhyme!"

The zebra looked at me quizzically then nodded, "I am... sorry warrior... this is... difficult to do as I have not spoken in rhymes... in some time." She was obviously having trouble speaking without rhymes.

"It's ok, my tribes storyteller had the same habit. As for the manticore," I picked up my spear, "It attacked me so I defended myself."

She nodded, "I understand the need. What is your name warrior?"

"I am Arvac, as my mother named me," I gave her a bow, "May I ask you your name, tale speaker?"

"I am Zecora... I am no storyteller, but... an herbalist."

I nodded straightening, "Is there somewhere I may wash the creatures blood off?"

She nodded, "There is a lake near, may I ask why you visit here?"

"I am foraging for food for my tribe. I need to get back after I wash."

She nodded, "Ok, follow me to where you can wash your body."

"Rhymes..." I groaned to Zecora.

"Sorry..." She said to me.

We walked for about five minutes before arriving at a crystal clear lake. I stripped off my shirt and pants and stepped into the water. I didn't want to return to my tribe covered in blood. I walked knee deep into the water then dived in. I came up after a few seconds my shoulder-length black hair had undone itself from the braid I put it in and was plastered on my face. I washed in the water for about ten minutes before I grabbed my clothes and washed them as well. I got the blood out of my vest and pants after about half an hour then hung them over a tree branch. I looked over at Zecora who studied me with interest.

"What... are you?" She asked me.

"Dunno. I know I'm not a zebra, but I was raised with Zebras my whole life so I identify as one."

"It makes sense to adopt the species of which you were raised. Tell me why are you and your tribe so far from the zebra lands?"

I sighed, "We were being chased by a flock of manticores on the border and were forced to flee. They chased us a long way and we got lost. We found once more how to return to our homelands, and we stopped outside this forest to make camp."

She nodded, she was a gorgeous mare and was wearing a couple of leather saddle bags. She reached into one bag and pulled out a potion with her mouth, "Here drink this, and you will understand the people of this place."

I looked at her a little skeptically, "Why do you carry that around with you?"

"I ncase I meet somepony like you."

I nodded, "Ok." I grabbed the potion with my hand and popped off the stopper. I took a drink of the velvety fluid.

She nodded just as a large unicorn stallion came out of the woods taking a threatening stance.

I looked at him grabbing my spear from where it lay. I looked at the white stallion in gold armor, "Who are you?"

"Tlun Tealcin Ky'ostal!" The stallion shouted.

I looked at Zecora and she nodded to the Stallion. I looked back at him, "What?"

"Are you deaf? I said I am Shining Armor! I was asked by the princesses to come investigate a Manticore that was killed by an unkown creature in this area. I am fairly sure I found... him?"

"Yes I am a male, and the manticore attacked me. I merely defended myself pony."

"Come with me, I need to take you to the princesses as by my orders. I see you are intelligent so I doubt they will keep you for study," Shining armor said to me.

"No. I need to return to my tribe as soon as I finish washing." I responded.

"I'm not going to convince you am I?"

"No." I said gripping my spear a little tighter, preparing for a fight.

Shining Armor stepped towards me his horn glowing. I felt myself go weak and I dropped to one knee leaning on my spear. I tried to talk but nothing came out. I saw Zecora and the stallion talking; I didn't hear a word. My vision went tdark and the last thing I saw was Shining Armor trotting towards me.

***

I woke in a room with large windows and a bed. I had a blanket over my still naked body and there was a dresser next to me. I sat up and looked around trying to remember what had happened. A mare a bit taller then me with a long rainbow mane flowing from an invisible wind walked into the room. I stared at her in awe, she was simply stunning.

"H-hello?" I said in awe.

She smiled to me, Her perfect teeth sparkled like daimonds in the light, "Goodmorning. I trust you are comfortable?"

I nodded to her, "Wh-who are you?"

"My name Is princess Celestia, And you are Arvac are you not?"

I nodded, "Yes, but how di-" she interrupted me.

"Zecora told me. She is here if you wish to see her."

I nodded, the stupor the mare's appearance had put on me finally wearing off, "Yes, please... it will be nice to... see another zebra."

She nodded and left. I stood up and looked out the window. I gaped at the sprawling metropolis I saw.

"Amazing it is, Canterlot always takes my breathe as well."

"Is that where we are Zecora? Canterlot?"

The zebra mare nodded, "Yes indeed, Canterlot is where the princess's reside."

I snorted, "Thanks for not rhyming, though it is a strange habit for an herbalist."

"My mother and father were both storytellers in my tribe, thus from them I learned to rhyme."

"That makes since I guess," I turned and looked at her, "So why am I here? I need to get back to my tribe. Our chief is sick, and I am next in line to succeed him! Zecora I need to get back to them."

"I understand Arvac, but I cannot help you get back," She rhymed her eyes seeming to look off into the distance.

"Zecora, what do you mean you can't help me get back?" I asked taking a step towards her.

"I cannot get back myself." She responded.

I sighed sitting on the bed in defeat, "Can I at least get some clothes?"

"I will see what I can do my friend," She said to me. She left, pulling the door closed behind her.

When she left I took the beds blanket and wrapped it around my waist. I then sighed laying on my back in thought. What am I going to do? I need to get to my tribe, but I have no way to get there. I sighed over my problem, trying to think of a solution. I promptly fell asleep.