//------------------------------// // Episode 3 // Story: The Chatter Box Season One // by TRIBOT 4000 //------------------------------// Intro Music The screen fades in. Trochanter is sitting in his regular chair, smiling at the screen. Ms. Harshwhiney is in her own chair, although, this time, there's a cushion on it. Not only this but an uncharacteristic smile also adorns her face. Strange. "Hello, everypony! Welcome to the Chatter Box. I'm your host Trochanter the Changeling, Chanter for short. To my left here is my co-host Ms. Harshwhinny. How are you today, Dew?" She smiles and responds, "I'm fine, although the traffic was horrendous today. I swear, the cab service is both the most efficient and most dangerous service we have these days." Trochanter chuckles at this, "I hear ya. I miss the days when the worst thing you had to worry about was if there were monsters under your bed. However, that is not what we're here to talk about. Who's our guest today?" "A Miss Zecora of the Everfree. I am ashamed to admit that I have no knowledge of this... uh... mare? I'm guessing she's foreighn, from the name. It sounds oddly Zebrican." "Close. Zecora is not only of zebrican decent, but is a zebra herself. Talk about a twist!" Ms. Harshwhinney raised an eyebrow, "There was no twi…" "Zecora is a zebra, who lives in a small hut made out of a tree in the middle of the Everfree. Another thing you might find intriguing, is that she always rhymes while speaking. Quite amazing, isn't it? I like her style, I must admit." "..." "On this very time of day, I ask why you look at me that way." "You're rhyming." "Very true, I like your style, deducting things all the while." the sounds of facehoofing could be heard around the studio. Ms. Harshwhinney rolled her eyes and picked a file from the table before leaning back and speaking out loud. "It says here that she's actually been a resident there for some time. The ponies always ran and hid when she came by. It seemed they were frightened by the hood and cloak she wore and the strange design on her body, common to zebras." She lowers the file and looks at Trochanter exasperated, "What kind of greeting is that?! Are they mentally impaired or something? How does a whole town of ponies not know what a zebra looks like? This is ridiculous. I would have left the town without a second thought." Trochanter nodded, "I can understand your feelings. However, you can't be too angry with them. Consider the fact that zebras don't interact with ponies that much. In fact, the only ones I know of that spend any span of time in Equestria, besides Zecora of course, are the delegates for the Zebrican lands." Ms. Harshwhinney huffed "That doesn't excuse them for their treatment of her." Trochanter faced the camera, "Well, on that note, we are going to break for a commercial. Stay tuned to meet our guest: Zecora!" The screen fades out. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Intro Music The screen fades in, as it usually does, with a flicker, a click, and a strange little buzz. Trohanter and Ms. Harswhinney are both in their respective seats. Now, however, a zebra sits on the white coach between them. Her hooves and neck are adorned with golden rings, her man set in a type of mohawk. Trochanter is the first to speak. "Welcome back, everyone, to the Chatter Box. You're probably wondering who this beautiful young lady next to me is. Well, I'll tell you. It is Zecora, the zebra of the Everfree." He turns to said zebra, "How are you Miss Zecora? I really hope we don't bore ya." Zecora smiles happily, "On a day such as this, I must say, that I am having a wonderful day. I also thank you for your comment on my look, though I'll admit that your offer had me shook. I did not know something like this could exist. I hope you understand." "We get the gist." Ms Harshwhinney said, without a thought at all. But things became silent, like an empty hall. No voice was raised, no word was said, as Ms. Harshwhinney, annoyed, lowered her head. Trochanter chuckled at his co-hosts despair, before clearing his throat and scooting his chair. "So please Zecora, tell us all that you can, about the events in Ponyville, and of the ponies who ran." "Well, I'll do my best to tell the story. I hope I do not do so poorly." She clears her throat and then began, keeping each detail in perfect strand. She told of the princess who came to talk, and of the ponies who stood by and gawked. She told of the warning she gave to the others, of the poison joke she'd learned of from her mother. She spoke of the small one, who came the next day, and helped make the cure that would take the jokes all away. She told of changes, that were made for each one, and how, despite herself, she found it quite fun. When had Zecora finished, one could hear hooves clop for her, and if one looked closely, could see a joyful tear in her fur. "Wow." Trochanter said, "That was amazing. I already knew everything that had happened, but that right there was amazing. Do you rhyme like this for any particular reason or does it just come naturally?" Zecora took a sip of water before answering. "No, it's simply something that we did back in my home. Not all zebras did this, but we were not alone. Some do, some don't, but it matters not. After all, ponies are known to sing a lot." Ms. Harshwhinney smiled before grabbing her clipboard, "Touche. Now then. the first question is 'Why haven't we seen any representatives from your Homeland yet; haven't they made any contact with Equestria?'" Zecora nodded, "Yes, they have made contact, however, being social with ponies? Never. Most zebras consider your land to be filled with strange things, like walking on clouds, using your horns, and possessing some wings. Some fear the ridicule, which I received for a time, and some considered your lands to be filled with grime." Trochanter tapped his chin in thought, "Poor soul must have experienced Detrot first-hoof." Ms. Harshwhinney gave a knowing glance before going back to her clipboard. "Next question: 'Why did you leave your original place of living and settle down in the Everfree Forest? It doesn't seem safe.'" Zecora lowered her head slightly, and lost her smile. "You don't have to answer if you don't want to. These are optional." "No, no, it is fine. Just something on my mind. I left home for family reasons, and to this day, some call it treason. I was betrothed to one, but I loved another. One not accepted by father or brother. They banished him to location I do not know, so I spent many years in desert and snow to search for the one that I loved, but I fear death has taken him above." There was a moment of respectful silence before she continued, "Because of this, I decided to leave home, and venture outwards all alone. I chose the Everfree for the privacy, and because of home it reminded me. As long as one is careful, there is nothing of which to worry. The forest can be calm, and not a place of fury." As Zecora finished, Trochanter prepared to say something, but was interrupted by the zebra, "Also, my name is spelled with a 'k' in my homeland." Silence reigned over the studio for minutes. No one dared to speak. This revelation had put everyone off track. Not only had Zecora Zekora not told how her name was truly spelled, further proving that the letter 'c' is a useless letter, but she also did not rhyme her sentence. Trochanter came to the rescue though. "I must admit that I personally find it grand." Ms. Harshwhinney rolled her eyes. "Anyways, thank you Miss Zekora for joining us today, but I'm afraid we haven't anymore time left." "I had a wonderful time, it was quite fun. It's nice to tell my story to someone." trochanter smiled and then looked at the camera, "With that said, tune in for our little conclusion after the commercial." The screen fades out. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Intro Music The screen fades in. Trochanter and Ms. Harshwhinney sit in their respective seats. Zekora is no longer present. "Welcome back everyone." he turns to his co-host, "So, Ms. Harshwhinney, what are your thoughts?" "Honestly, I found it quite educational." She responds, "It also put a lot of things into perspective, such as: maybe Equestria isn't as open as we think it is." Trochanter shook his head in thought, "I disagree, but only for one reason. Just consider that many of the zebras don't actually want to come to Equestria. Why would you ever want to leave your home?" "What if your home isn't the nicest place?" Ms. Harswhinney responded, "Like Zekora experienced." "I don't mean to say that she shouldn't have left, but if everyone leaves, how do you solve the problem? If you everyone just leaves, that's not going to make things better for your home. How long has it been since she's been home? Maybe things are better now." "I doubt it. I don't care what species you are, everyone is stubborn about things like this." "That may be so, but still..." a hoof signaled from the side of the camera. "Unfortunately, that's all the time we have today. Please tune in next time for The Chatter Box. Until then, keep chattering. Bye!" Outro The credits play and the screen fades out.