//------------------------------// // Chapter 2: The zebra’s hut: // Story: The Cutie Mark Crusaders and the Change Brothers // by Nikolas //------------------------------// The three filly helplessly stood in the clearing, staring at the three unconscious Changeling. After he passed out, the brown colt too changed back to his original form. The chitin cover was brown like his coat in his pony form, but a little darker. His mane and tail was still blonde, just had a few holes in it. The horn on his forehead was not as big as the black changeling’s, the insect-like wings on his also weren’t seemed as developed as the green changeling’s. It suggested that, he don’t used his wings as often as the other changeling. "What do you think Apple Bloom, what do we do?" Asked Sweetie Belle. "I'm not sure, but I think we should tell about this to one of us sisters." Replied Apple Bloom. Sweetie said hesitantly: "Are you sure that this is a good idea? I don’t think that they would be very happy if we would show up in Sweet Apple Acres, with three Changeling." "Sweetie's right, I doubt that the ponys in the hospital would welcome them with open hooves." Added Scootaloo her own point. "Girls, we know nothing about them! Why are they here? Are other changelings too in the near?" Said Apple Bloom firmly. "If there were other changelings here, they would’ve helped them before. The manticore had almost devoured them, if this is some kind of trap, then it’s very risky!" Yelled Scootaloo loudly to her friend. "Then what we should do?! We can’t just take them into Ponyville! Ponies would immediately noticing them and then we should explain to them where we found themand why we want to smuggle them in! What should we tell them?! Well?!” Shouted Apple Bloom just as ardently. "Uh...girls?" Started o say Sweetie Belle. "What!" They shouted at the same time, and when they realized that they were still in the Everfree Forest they quickly grew silent. Then they quietly apologized to their friend. "What did you want to say Sweetie?" Asked Scootaloo apologetically. "What if we take them to Zecora? She surely will be able to help them, and if we tell her what happened, maybe she will have some idea." Said Sweetie Belle looking quizzically to her friends. "This is a great idea Sweetie!" Shouted excitedly Scootaloo then blushed and slightly softer continued, "I mean, I think this is a good idea." "Hmm... you're right, Sweetie Belle. "Said Apple Bloom thoughtfully: "Zecora perhaps the only one who would be willing to at least listen to us and to help them. Let's do it!" Cutie Mark Crusaders life-savers! Yaay!" They cried all at once, forgetting the dangerous forest around them and slowly carried the unconscious colts toward Zecora's cottage. Fortunately, during the rest of the way the Crusaders don’t met another danger. Nevertheless, it took a while before they reached the zebra’s hut. It had something to do with the three unconscious changeling colt who they had to carry. Knock knock! "Who are you my guest, introduce yourself will be the best.” Said a rhyming sound. "Hi Zecora! We are the ones, Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo! Can you let us in? We need help!” "Then let’s come in, I am sure that you have a story to tellin’.” said the Zecora and soon the door opened revealing the only zebra habitant of Ponyville. The appering figure has greyish coat with darker grey stripes, a mane of white and dark gray in color with a mohawk style. Her cutie mark is a spiraling sun symbol. On her neck and the right front leg she wore gold bracelets, in her ears a pair of gold earrings. Her blue eyes held ancient wisdom and kindness as she looked at the Crusaders. Zecora quickly spotted the three injured colts, then she directed her attention back to the fillys. She saw the concern and confusion in their eyes. Apple Bloom already opened her mouth to begin an explanation, but before she could say a word Zecora with a serious expression on her face gestured towards the three colts: "Bring them in, they need first helpin’, before we could converse anything." Then she went inward with the changeling trio on her back, meanwhile gesturing to the CMC to follow her into the hut, the Crusaders without hesitation, immediately followed the zebra. After laying down the three unconscious colts on a blanket, Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootlaoo watched in silence, as the Zecora grab a bottle or bowl from the shelves and put everything down on the table. After she checked, that she had everything she began to work. The CMC curiously watched while Zecora worked with masterly skill, in a bowl she began to crumble some dried plants into dust. She then took the bowls with the dusts, she poured water and other unfamiliar liquids into the bowls, and then skillfully mixed them with wood wands (for each bowl’s mixing she used a different wand). While she worked, from time to time she glanced towards the unconscious trio. After a few minutes later the zebra grabbed the three bowls in front of her, with a stack of bandages and a clean rag headed towards the three colts. With one hoof she grabbed the rag and dipped it into one of the bowls’s content, began to clean and disinfect the colts’s wounds. A few minutes later she grabbed the second bowl, which’s balsamic contents began to cover the changelings wounds. Roughly ten or fifteen minutes later, ending the treat she began to bandage the colts. After the bandaging ended, Zecora with thorough eyes started to examine the bandages for tightness and the condition of the colts. Then she gently raised the colts’s head and poured the content of the third bowl into their mouths. Then she gently put their heads back down. With her work completed she sat down on a cushion, and then quietly looked at the worried and curious CMC. "Will they be all right Zecora?" Asked Sweetie Belle, the concern was visible on her face. The other two did not speak, but from their posture and glances it was obvious that they too wanted to know the answer. "They will be fine, thank that you bring them to the hut of mine.” Rhymed Zecora. The fillys had let out a sigh of relief and began to smile. "Thank you for your help Zecora.” Said Apple Bloom. "I was glad that I could help to you, little ponys, but I think you have some interesting storys.” With this she directed her full attention to the Crusaders sitting infront of her. The Cutie Mark Crusaders swallowed in sync, then they looked at each other worriedly for a moment, before Apple Bloom took a calming breath and began to speak: "Well Zecora, it was so ..." Over the next hour Apple Bloom explained why all of a sudden they came to her hut with three injured changeling colts. She told her that how they could’ve not came up with an idea, how they could get their cutie marks, the idea, that they would come to her for help, their way in the forest, how they heard the colts cries for help, the clearing, the three colts, the manticore, how they had discovered the fact that the three were changelings. Then she told to Zecora their fight with the manticore that how they had beat it. Finally, their reasons why they decided to bring them to her for help instead of Ponyville. The other two fillys from times to times added a detail or their own opinions about the situation, but in most of the time they left their friend to talk. Once they had finished retelling the happenings they sat quietly and a little worriedly watched Zecora, waiting for her response. However Zecora’s face was completely blank as she mused about the CMC’s story, not giving away any kind of clue. After a few minutes spent in silence thinking, at last Zecora spoke: "This deed was dangerous and blind, but with a kind and valiant heart behind." The three looked down apologetically, but they raised their heads to Zecora’s praise. "But this is not all, I hope you are aware of the responsibility which upon you fall. What if they mean danger, they intentions could be whatever, what if they would hurt one of your sister’?" Asked Zecora. For this the Crusaders looked to the floor again. "Do you think it’s possible, that there are good changelings?" Asked Sweetie Belle uncertainly. "You saw their worsest face on the attacked wedding, but nopony could judge only for their deeds the whole race of changeling. The question is what will you doing?” Rhymed Zecora questioningly, then looked calmly at the Cutie Mark Crusaders. They looked at each other for a few moments, before Scootaloo spoke: "Well, if we want to know, we have to wait until they wake up." Then she crossed her hooves over her chest looking at the rest of those present, daring them to contest her opinion. But before anypony could’ve say anything else, one of the changelings’ eyelids quivered a few times and then, as if this were some kind of sign, the other two changeling’s eyelids too began to quiver. Then, in perfect sync they opened their eyes.