Appledashery

by Just Essay

Just a Spoonful of Zebra

"Y'know, Zecora..." Rainbow Dash rocked back and forth on the stool with all the strength her numbing muscles could allow her. "I couldn't help but notice that you and Noir seem to be hanging out a lot lately."

"Hmmm..." Zecora smiled, stirring a broth on the other side of the hut. The sarosian in question was absent, which is what allowed the liberal conversation to begin with. "Well, Rainbow, naturally we've been an exceptional pair. We must work together so long as there's danger in the air." She looked over her striped shoulder. "Don Canter and his minions nearly roasted Noir in a fire, and now we have to deal with Aatxe and his dragon ire."

"Yeah, but you just healed Noir that one time," Rainbow said. "And he's got—like—tons of shadowy bat pony friends all throughout Equestria. He could totally hang out with them... in their humble, rustic cottages in the middle of a forest."

Zecora chuckled merrily.

Rainbow smirked. "But he keeps coming back and asking for your help."

"Well, it's quite simple, Rainbow my friend. Upon my shamanistic talents he must depend."

"I know you're good at what you do, girl. But it's gotta be more than that." Rainbow waggled her eyebrows. "The dude could get explosive materials from anywhere in the kingdom, and most of those sources waaaaaaaay less sparkly clean than you and your supplies."

"I do believe his affinity towards me is not exclusive," Zecora remarked. "Your impact on his life has been exceptionl, if not intrusive."

Rainbow held a hoof over her chest. "You're saying he sticks around your place just because of me?"

"You're an inspiring pony, Rainbow. All of your allies, Noir must be happy to know."

"Stop spinning the spotlight around, girl," Rainbow said. "A stallion's a stallion. Don't tell me part of you hasn't wondered."

"I keep my mind on my tasks and he does so likewise. Somewhere, a solution to fending off Aatxe patiently lies."

"Uh huh... whatever you say..." Rainbow leaned forward with a grin. "Ever seen a bat pony blush?"

Zecora laughed so hard, she nearly spat into the soup. She spun from the bubbling concoction with a twisted smirk. "Rainbow, honestly! Do you or do you not want me to treat your atrophy?!"

"I'm just saying, girl..." Rainbow chuckled, leaning back. "It wouldn't hurt to have a coltfriend who stays up all night!"

"You entertain a thought that is most unreal," Zecora said. She returned to the broth, stirring liberally. "Besides, there is only one soul for whom I pine with great zeal."

Rainbow slowly nodded. "Pine... with lots and lots of sap, I bet."

Zecora sighed quietly through her nostrils.

After swallowing a lump down her throat, Rainbow said, "Zecora... we're friends. So please understand that I don't mean this in a bad way. But... but all that happiness you feel whenever you look at Big Mac... or think of him... or even dream of him... well..." She bit her lip. "... ... ... haven't you ever stopped to realize that—just perhaps—it's all you?"

Zecora continued stirring in silence.

"I mean... it's not like the two of you have ever stopped to talk to one another. Heck—you barely ever make eye contact! And... I guess, as stallions go, he'd be a super great beau and stuff. But... uh..." Rainbow smoothed her bangs back, her eyes trailing the edges of the hut. "...you're just so awesome, Zecora. You're cool... you're exotic... you're friggin' smart as Tartarus! Heh... all of that wealth of... wealth has gotta pool up some wicked cool energies. And maybe that's just what fills you up so much with joy, y'know? What if..." Rainbow chewed on the edge of her mouth. The next few words came in a breathy murmur. "...what if the pony you've always loved has simply been that? The pony you've always loved? And that flutter in your heart... the thing that keeps you awake at night... that urge to cry and sob and laugh and scream all at once... is all you. And shall forever be you. And in the end, you'll always have you... even if you'll never have... erm... you might never have... uh..."

A wooden bowl dropped before Rainbow Dash, full of steamy broth.

Rainbow blinked at it, then looked up at Zecora. "Done already?"

"No... and yet—yes," Zecora said. "But it wouldn't hurt to test."

"But... eheh..." Rainbow fidgeted. "Usually it takes you longer to whip up a brew for my muscles. Not to insult you or anything, Z, but what if it's undercooked?"

"It's not your muscles that have me worried," Zecora said. She chuckled as she made her way back to the main pot. "For the sake of your heart and soul, have I hurried."

Rainbow frowned. Nevertheless, she picked up the warm bowl. "I'm not rambling because I'm crazy."

"I know you're not, my friend. Either way, the potion will help you in the end."

"Potions can't fix everything," Rainbow said. "And that goes for making it as much as drinking it, girl."

"Rainbow Dash, I know the futility of my affection," Zecora said, her tone bland. "And yet, I cannot fathom trotting in a different direction. Sometimes the need to love is more important than mutual affection and the fruits thereof."

"Would you believe me if I said 'been there, done that?'"

"I would, my dear friend, if I had evidence that your pursuits came to an end." Zecora smiled gently, stirring and stirring. "We are all learning as we are living, and to deny that is to risk the world no longer turning. I know that you are concerned for me, but you needn't worry. My heart may belong to someone, but my body isn't in a hurry. There may come a time when everything goes south, but I would much rather learn the truth from his mouth."

Rainbow Dash fidgeted in her chair. "...it's an addicting feeling, isn't it?" She frowned. "But it only lasts for so long."

"Same with the potion, Rainbow."

The pegasus blinked at that. No other words were said for a while. Finally, as the silence wore on, Rainbow eventually caved in, taking the first of many sips. Zecora hummed an ancestral tune, going pleasantly about her tasks until the entire broth was finished.

Comments

[Sharp Quill]

Just a Spoonful of Zebra

Riff on Just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down... (Mary Poppins)

"Same with the potion, Rainbow."

Forgot to rhyme?

[zaponator]

Remember when there was a big concern about the potion causing hallucinations?

Anyway, Rainbow is continuing to be a little more open than usual. Maybe it was that last (bat-shit insane) adventure in particular, or maybe it's just a culmination of everything up to this point, but she has grown. Sure, she isn't truly opening up just yet, but she's at least revealing snippets of herself to Scotoaloo and Zecora. As minor as it is, that's progress.

[Lightning Bearer]

And here I thought that Zecora might be growing closer to Noir and at least be considering feelings for him. But I suppose that would be too easy. At least by this story's standards.

[HopelessRomanetic]

Does Zecora even know that Flutters and Big Mac are together?

[314]

Nocora. I ship it.

[Mister Saxon]

I'm really waiting for when the hallucinations become a major problem.

[Bulbajer]

The good ship Zechnoira returns to port after a long journey at sea...

[RoboRed]

5974736
You know...I'd completely forgotten about that...

[Sam the Anti-Ninja]

5974689 Or else she didn't forget and dropped the rhyming to convey seriousness and emphasize a point. Can't imagine why she'd want to, though. The rhyming does a good enough job of that.

[Sharp Quill]

5975205 No, and RD lacks the guts to tell her.

[PropMaster]

This chapter could be a story by itself. Gotta love that character interaction.

[arancaytar]

"Y'know, Zecora..." Rainbow Dash rocked back and forth on the stool with all the strength her numbing muscles could allow her. "I couldn't help but notice that you and Noir seem to be hanging out a lot lately."

Eee, Dashie noticed as well.

... Aw