//------------------------------// // Subject 205: Zebra Lands VI // Story: Interviews With Equestrians // by Jmaster49 //------------------------------// On the other side of the city… The zebra mare was tough, that was for certain. She wasn’t going to be brought down so easily, but I had to do all that I could for the sake of stalling her. Flash Drive had a plan to carry out, and we didn’t need someone like her to ruin it. With a swift kick, I tackled her to the ground with my weight forced atop her. It was a hefty struggle, but I needed her to stop and listen to me. “Rrgh! Mate, don’t you see what’s going on?! You’ve been brainwashed! Fooled into thinking that you have to enslave and put those who are not the same beneath you! Is that really the way of the zebras?!” I was unable to hold her there for much longer. Kwaade used her lower body strength to forcefully flip herself--and me--upwards. In turn, I found myself launched into a nearby tree. WHACK! “You want to know the real reason?” she took a step forward, “We are afraid of them. Hybrid ponies have combined strengths of zebras and regular ponies that can be easily abused. Only by suppressing those strengths can we live in peace!” I groaned as I slid to the ground. One of my wings had been bruised by the impact, but I didn’t let that stop me. “And how do you know that, eh?” I spat and slowly rose to my hooves, “How do you know anything about a species that you’ve tried to constantly put down? You’re no better than Grogar himself…” “You fool...he will liberate this world!” she shouted back at me, “Once he finally takes control of that mare known as Cozy Glow, he will properly resurrect and give us what we have always desired!” How barmy. This was a literal deal with the devil if I ever saw one. I had numerous questions that couldn’t possibly be answered in the short amount of time that I had on hoof. As much as I wanted to deny it, this mare had lost her marbles at this point. There was no saving someone who was so deeply entrenched in an ideal that they would willingly harm others. Part of me knew that Pale and Drive wouldn’t be happy with what I was about to do. But for the safety of the innocent folks here, she had to be restrained, and this entire establishment “...If you can’t see the errors of your own ways…” I cricked my neck back, then forward, “Then perhaps it’s better to show you.” Kwaade laughed at me in response. “Haha! How foolish! There is nothing you can show me that will ever make me give up my home to some worthless fools that can’t understand how the consolidation of power works!” That was it. I had gotten her riled up enough to start throwing more and more words of hatred towards me. It was the perfect sort of bait attached to my proverbial fishing line. I chuckled, and flew into the air. A demonic, fanged grin grew wide on my batty face. “Alright then ya bastard. If you’re so keen on proving me wrong, then come at me!” I started to fly towards the main area of the town square, away from Kwaade’s original goal of town hall. And it worked. The zebra couldn’t resist her own emotions, and sped after me. “GET BACK HERE, COWARD!” Perfection. I thought I had this in the bag. That was...until… SHING! “HALT!” About two dozen South Zebrican Zebra guards appeared from the bushes, and surrounded me. “On the ground!” one of them shouted, “Now!” Damn...this wasn’t what I had planned. But I had to make the most of it. So long as they didn’t know that Flash was here, then I could take this in stride. “Hmph. Not so tough now, are you little bat?” Kwaade teased. I didn’t say anything in response. All I did was lie down on the dirt. Hang on, bruv. It’s gonna take me a bit longer. In the square… After I listened to Zecora’s little idea, I had to admit, it was very risky. The mere concept of a complete takeover seemed plausible. But to actually go through with it? Dear lord… “...So we’re not going to have them flee the place?” I asked as I watched Zecora prepare a fire pit. She spat out the flint, and glared at me. “Like it or not. This is their home. A place that they should be free to roam. If we must fight for their sake, then it’s only a fair decision to make.” Then she turned her head to the crowd of hybrid ponies that gathered here. They were all resting soundly for what seemed like the first time in forever. “As helpless as they are, fighting alone will only get them so far,” she glanced up at me, “Flash Drive. I know that you are strong. Fight with me and win back this land so they may live safe and long.” When she put it like that, it made a lot of sense. I watched as the fellow hybrid ponies slept soundly. Families, friends, loved-ones. All had lost so much over the way this land had been governed. So you know what? I would do it. For the sake of my own family, friends, and mates back home. This land was going to turn its ways around. “Count me in, Zecora,” I said with a nod, “Set off that smoke signal. Tomorrow morning, we’ll rally your troops and bust down the walls of this deplorable state.” It was time for war.