Words Left Spoken
Zecora the zebra lived in a hut on the edge of the Everfree forest. As per her reputation, she was well-versed in unusual potions and spells. One such potion she used to communicate with her sister Zerona, who still lived in the savanna of Zebranna, across the great ocean. Zecora peered down into the cauldron of glowing green brew, her sister’s face glimmering through the enveloping mist.
“So, Zecora, how do these ponies treat you?” Zerona joked, “I hope they don’t plan to cook you and eat you.”
“Hush now, Zerona, you know that’s not true.” Zecora replied, “Cannibal ponies are thankfully few.”
The two sisters were interrupted by a harsh knock at the door.
“Just one moment, Zerona. I hear someone knocking.” Zecora said, “Please don’t drive them away with your incessant mocking.”
Zecora trotted over to the door and opened it. Her unicorn friend, Twilight Sparkle of Ponyville, gave a smile.
“Please do come in, Twilight. Make yourself at home.” Zecora announced, “I can speak with my sister through magical foam.”
“Hey, Zecora.” Twilight responded, stepping inside, “I just wanted to invite you to Fluttershy’s surprise birthday party that Pinkie…who else...is throwing.”
“A party sounds fun. I’ll be sure to be there.” Zecora said, “Zerona, my zebba…my friend Twilight, the mare.”
Twilight peered into Zecora’s cauldron and saw Zerona staring back at her.
“A unicorn friend? Nice to meet you, young pony.” Zerona greeted, “At the edge of the forest, Zecora gets lonely.”
“Nonsense, Zerona. I like the seclusion.” Zecora answered, “I can focus on things without frequent intrusions.”
“Zecora, my zebba, I’ll speak with you soon.” Zerona concluded, “But for now I must sleep by the light of the moon.
”
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt your conversation.” Twilight observed, “I guess I’ll be going now. See you at Fluttershy’s party, my zebba.”
Twilight started to giggle at her last remark until Zecora shot her a stern glare.
“Dear Twilight, perhaps you don’t know what you’ve said.” Zecora explained, “But tis a sensitive subject upon which you’ve tread.”
“Oh, ‘my zebba’?” Twilight pondered, “But you zebras say it all the time.”
“For zebras, ‘my zebba’ is a term of endearment.” Zecora continued, “But when ponies say it, we do not like to hear it.”
“If zebras can say the ‘z-word’ all the time, then ponies should be able to say it, too.” Twilight argued.
“Twilight, we have feelings about such a word.” Zecora replied, “If you respect us, you will heed what you’ve heard.”
“But that’s a double-standard!” Twilight countered, “If the term ‘zebber’ is hate speech, then so is ‘zebba’. It’s the same word, for Celestia’s sake!”
“We have taken the word and shaped our own use.” Zecora answered, “It’s a way to fight back against its abuse.”
“Just because hundreds of years ago, some evil ponies used to enslave zebras, means that only zebras can use the z-word?” Twilight complained, “My ancestors never owned a zebra as a slave.”
“Why would you want to call me a ‘zebber’?” Zecora asked, “You have no good reason. Not now, not ever.”
“I was only joking, Zecora!” Twilight shouted, “I didn’t know that saying ‘my zebba’ was the worst sin somepony could commit!”
“Twilight, calm down, and please hear what I say.” Zecora responded, “Just don’t call us ‘zebba’ and we’ll all be okay.”
“Fine, whatever.” Twilight huffed, still upset, “I guess I’d better go now.”
“I know it’s a difficult thing to discuss.” Zecora said, “But speciel matters can cause quite a fuss.”
“All I’m saying is that it’s a bit hypocritical for zebras to call each other ‘zebba’.” Twilight concluded, “And there are plenty of ponies that agree with me.”
Zecora gave a disheartened sigh that she and Twilight had to have such an unpleasant conversation, but within zebra culture, zebras did in fact have ‘z-word privileges’. They had redeveloped the term ‘zebber’, a term of hatred and disdain, into ‘zebba’, a term of friendship. Unfortunately, it still caused discordance between zebras and ponies.
Twilight began to trot out of Zecora’s hut, when a certain pink pony burst through the door and starting bouncing around in circles.
“Party! Party! Party!” Pinkie shouted in glee, confetti spontaneously sprouting from thin air, “You’re so invited to Fluttershy’s party! Are you going, Zecora? Please tell me you’re going!”
“Yes, Pinkie, I’m going. Don’t get so excited.” Zecora said, “I do try to go out when I see I’m invited.”
“Pinkie, can I ask you a question?” Twilight spoke up, “Do you think it’s okay for anypony to say ‘zebba’?”
Pinkie stopped dead in her tracks and gave a dramatically long gasp.
“Twilight!” Pinkie scolded, “You said the z-word! That’s speciest!”
“It’s not speciest just to say the word!” Twilight argued.
“It is kind of fun to say, though!” Pinkie observed, “It just kind of rolls off the tongue! Zebber! Zebber! Zebber!”
Zecora dropped her jaw in disbelief and rubbed her eyes with her hooves.
“That’s it! Get out! I’ve had quite enough!” she ordered, “I won’t go to your party and put up with this stuff!”
Pinkie’s hair instantly deflated and her eyes welled with tears. She gave her downcast Pinkamena glare and slowly trotted outside. Twilight gave an almost equally disappointed look and followed behind her, shutting the door.
“This accidentally placed ill will,” Zecora lamented, “is why I don’t live in Ponyville.”
Later that evening, Twilight had Spike compose a new letter.
Dear Princess Celestia,
Today, I learned that there are fundamental cultural differences between ponies and zebras that even the magic of friendship cannot undo. There are just some words that are so unfriendly and hateful that they should never be uttered, even though friends of the same species can say them all the time and they become the magic of friendship. A confusing lesson, indeed.
Your faithful student,
Twilight Sparkle
“Say, Twilight.” Spike observed, “I think the lesson here was that if you really love and respect your friends, then you’ll respect their wishes, no matter what species they are.”
“You know, Spike.” Twilight replied, “You’re alright, sometimes. For a dragon.”
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i.imgur.com/KRibI6a.png
>MFW Zebba
i.imgur.com/6C4mJat.jpg
Not bad. Not bad at all. It could use some work, but I really like the premise.
Okay.... didn't know she HAD a sister... lets keep reading.
I didn't know that was a place, nor a location in the show.
B-but... Ponies don't eat meat.
Since when did they do this? This is NOT WW1
So, i'm guessing zebber is like the N word? Seems legit.
As someone who once used a politically incorrect word (completely unintentionally) I find this kind of funny. I do think that Zecora was completely right, though: regardless of Twilight's thoughts, Zecora clearly thought of it as a slur from the mouth of a pony and Twilight should have respected her wishes and not used the term.
As for the ending line... Well, the show is pretty racist against dragons anyways, so it didn't really surprise me.
In short, good job!
3678213
Hey,
To answer most of your comments, I intentionally took several liberties with the setting, and my stories aren't necessarily set in the show canon Equestria. Also, this is sort of a troll story.
I made up a sister since the show doesn't give much background on Zecora. I'm sure other fanfics do, but I don't know what the accepted "fanon" is on Zecora and the zebras.
I made it up. I don't know if there is a fanon zebra land.
Most ponies don't....some do...
I took more liberties with Equestria's past. In my "head-canon", Equestria had a civil war in which enslaved zebras were liberated and migrated back to their homelands. (I may write a fic about this.)
The whole story is a metaphor for the real life controversy. Hope you liked it.
3678280
Thanks!
Glad you liked it! 
3678190
Thanks!
Do you have any suggestions?
3678338
Well, still, ponies do NOT eat meat. Don't mention about any other fanfics, or anything else. still, nobody likes a troll story.
3678344 No, thank you for the talent!
3678345
It dives too quickly into the situation of the 'z-word' being bad. Maybe add in a bit more explanation about why that is so offensive. Also, the part about relating the zebras to the African American culture was clever but unnecessary. You could have used a less sensitive and controversial reason as to why the z-word was bad.
Despite that, it really shows promise. Keep up the good work!
3678355
Ponies, and horses for that matter, in real life can eat meat though so I don't see why that's that big of an issue.
And using a blanket statemnent about no one liking troll stories? False. I find them enjoyable myself and not being Odysseus I have never gone by the name no body...how curious.
3678111 You must have a gold account to view this image?
I see what you did there. Two thumbs WAY WAY up!
3753528 Thanks! I really appreciate it and thanks for the fave!
th07.deviantart.net/fs70/PRE/f/2014/003/8/3/disappointment_png_by_zutheskunk-d70l7a6.png
I laughed at the concept of the story taking place involving zebra's but I believe Lyra gets my point across!
I've actually had that very argument with some brown individuals before XD Yes, I say brown, because they are indeed brown :P most at least
That aside... RACISM IS FUNNY!... to me this is because I find it hilarious that people give a SHIT!... honestly, I don't care if someone is racist at 'me'... I may be white but, 'white' being a 'race' means that white people get racism too... rather, tan, pink, off-white people XD Funny enough I really don't even understand half of the stuff that is 'racist' towards white people... It took 5 years for someone to tell me why 'honky' was derogatory XD
Honestly, Racism can be just as innocent as normal speech =P It's the tone and intention of the person 'behind' specific events of racism... I mean, I think brown people smell funny... I don't mean any offense by it, it is just my experience that they smell different...some smell very bad honestly, some smell like way too much axe deodorant... this is probably just because of the area I live in... Don't even ask... my nose has a mind of it's own and won't listen to me tell it not to smell!... bottom line, I can say that while honestly speaking from experience, it's not aimed at the entire race, nor spoken with malicious intent to put someone down... of course, were I to tell someone of this experience to their face, they'd probably try to hit me... BECAUSE HUMANS ARE LIKE THAT!
Oh Zecora, you crazy zigger
It is a bit unbelievable that Pinkie Pie would know a slur against zebras considering she didn't even know what a zebra was a the start of season one.
I liked this story because of the letter in the end.
6073946 Truth be told, I haven't seen Zecora's debut episode in its entirety, so I didn't know about Pinkie Pie. But thanks, I'm glad you like the story!
Argh... Twi you b*****g imbecile.
7034455 Eeyup.