Within Sugarcube Corner, seven ponies and one dragon were peering out of the window watching the four beings outside digging at the ground. After getting hot, Zecora off her head to cool down. Multiple gasps rang out inside the building.
“Just look at so stripes. So garish.” Said a unicorn mare.
“She’s a zebra.” Said another unicorn.
“A what?” Called the others.
“A zebra. And her stripes aren’t a fashion choice Rarity, they’re what she was born with.” Said the mare.
“Born where? Ah never seen a pony like that in these parts, ‘cept for her.” Said one of the Earth pony mares.
The ponies within the bakery were the Bearers of Harmony. Twilight Sparkle, Rarity Belle, Applejack Apple, Pinkamena “Pinkie” Diane Pie, Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy. Twilight Sparkle, the faithful student of Queen Celestia, Goddes of the Sun. She was a unicorn mare with a deep purple, blueish-white mane and tail, golden glasses and a blue scarf. She had golden eyes and freckles. Her mane was tied back in a messy bun. One of the things that really stood out about the mare was the markings on her coat.
Unicorns, if they have vast amounts of magical potential, hold markings on their coats. Twilight’s markings appeared at the same time she obtained her Cutiemark. It was one of the reasons Queen Celestia took Twilight on as a student.
Next up, Rarity Belle. Ponyville’s main unicorn fashion designer. She’s an albino unicorn. Her eyes are a vibrant red, though she wears contacts that make her eyes a blue hue. She lives and works in Carousel Boutique with her little sister, Sweetie Belle. Rarity’s a bit of a diva, though she’s a good mare. Her goal is to surpass her mother, Cookie Crumbles. Equestria’s number one fashion designer.
Up next, Applejack Apple. She’s an Earth Pony and is one of the residents of Ponyville’s Apple family farm, Sweet Apple Acres. She’s a massive mare. In terms of height, she reaches, Arctic’s chest. Applejack is the middle child of the Apple’s at Sweet Apple Acres. She has an elder brother, Big Macintosh, and a younger sister, Applebloom Sugarbee. Applejack is a hard worker, always in the orchard Applebucking. She can be quite stubborn and it can get her into trouble. She’s working on not letting her Apple Family Stubbornness get the better of her, though, it’ll be rather difficult for her.
Then, there’s Pinkamena “Pinkie” Diane Pie. The tiny enigma of the group. Pinkamena, or pinkie, is a small Earth Pony. Just slightly bigger than a filly. Though, she’s a rather strange one. Able to do multiple strange things that just seem to defy any and all laws of the world. Despite that, she’s a very cheery mare who lives and works at Ponyville’s bakery, Sugarcube Corner. Pinkie’s also Ponyville’s number one party planner and is very proud of it.
Up next, Rainbow dash. A Pegasus mare from Cloudsdale. Rainbow Dash is an athletic mare who works at Cloudsdale’s Weather Factory. She’s also a bit of a daredevil, always performing some kind of new trick or stunt. She too is quite small. Though she is bigger than Pinkie. Her biggest goal is to become one of the members of the Wonderbolts.
Finally, there’s Fluttershy. Fluttershy is a hybrid. She’s a mix of a Deer and a Pegasus. She lives on the outskirts of Ponyville near the Everfree Forest. She’s a very quite and shy mare upon first meeting, but given time, she’ll open up. She has a love for animals and tends to any and all wounded or sick animals. It’s also best to not let her kind and gentle nature fool you. When Fluttershy gets angry, she’ll prove that she’s quite strong and fast. Strong enough to rival the mighty Applejack and fast enough to rival even Rainbow Dash.
The two others there were Applebloom Sugarbee and Spike the Dragon. Applebloom, the younger sister of Applejack, is an Earth pony filly. She often works with her siblings at Sweet Apple Acres doing whatever she can to help out. She doesn’t yet have a cutie mark, so she alongside her two friends, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo Skipper, gave rise to the Cutiemark Crusaders. The three fillies are on a mission to obtain their cutie marks.
Lastly Spike the Dragon, or Spike Sparkle, is a small baby dragon. He was hatched thanks to Twilight who had quickly become his elder sister. While he is Twilights little brother, he’s also her number 1 assistant. He’s also an honorary member of the Cutiemark Crusaders. After Applebloom and her friends created the Cutiemark Crusaders, Spike was asked if he’d like to become an honorary member, which he gladly accepted.
As the six mares talked about Zecora, Applebloom was looking out the window just observing the four outside.
“They’re all bein crazy. Ah’m sure Zecora’s just tryna be neighborly. And maybe those three are friends of hers.”
As she kept watching she noticed one of the figures take off its hood. It was Arctic who had done so. Applebloom gasped slightly. She had never seen anything like him before. Although she was a bit afraid, she was also curious. Applebloom’s curiosity got the better of her and as the four began to walk away, she slunk outside and followed after them.
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“Lady Zecora, does this happen often whenever you come into this little village?” Glacious asked as the four made their way back into the Everfree Forest.
“Indeed it does.” Said Zecora. “Tis why I usually send young Tree Hugger to get things we may need from Ponyville, but even then, nopony even wants to be around her, for they know she is with me.”
“So, how do you two ever get anything you need from Ponyville?” Arctic asked.
“Well, I usually just snatch it up. Of course, I leave Bits for what I take, I just do it when nopony’s really paying attention. It’s not right, but it’s the only way we can get something we may need from Ponyville.” Tree Hugger said.
“M..maybe ah could help?” Said a voice.
The group stopped and turned around to see a small filly behind them. It was Applebloom. She had followed after the two, making sure to stay as hidden as possible. As she hid she also listened in on their conversation. Hearing about their plight made her feel quite sad, even a bit guilty. So, she plucked up courage and made her presence known.
“Oh dear, a young Filly. What are you doing here young one?” Said Glacious.
Applebloom gazed at Glacious. She could quite clearly see that the mare before her was big. But being this close to her made it even more apparent that this mare was gargantuan. The other tall creature came up to just beneath her chest.
“Oh uh, well.” Applebloom struggle to cobble together a sentence as she was a bit too stunned to speak.
“Impressed huh?” Said Arctic gaining Applebloom’s attention. “My mother’s crazy tall. It’s so cool, isn’t it?” Arctic asked with a light chuckle.
“Yeah it is. She’s taller than you are an’ yer super tall! And did ya just say mother? Yah look like no pony ah’ve ever seen.” Applebloom said.
“That’s because, young one, my son here is no pony, for he is adopted. He is a member of another race entirely.” Glacious said.
Applebloom was a bit surprised to hear this. Her curiosity grew more and more. Now she really wanted to learn more about them. Though, she knew her sister, Applejack, would protest her getting to know the four strangers. Just then a voice sounded out. Applebloom groaned slightly. She knew all to well who that voice belonged too. Applejack was coming for her.