Applejack and her brother sat beneath a tree on a fine summers day perhaps a week or three after the debacle that had been her first real "date" with Zecora. They'd had a few more--for the most part, far less disastrous, except for an incident involving Cutie Mark Crusader Cupids which meant Appleloom was still grounded--and things were going well.
It was lunch time--and they were awaiting a little treat that had been promised them by the striped marefriend, who was even now making her way up the path towards them, carrying a basket. She set it aside once she arrived, giving Applejack an affectionate nuzzle.
"Hey Zecora....oh! You can settle a bet for us. " Applejack said with an answering little nuzzle. The zebra raised an eyebrow at this. "I keep tellin him it's obvious, so he should just go an ask'er out. He say's it aint. Tell me, who does Big Mac like?" The big red stallion in question was rubbing his forehead, looking more than a little annoyed with his sister.
Zecora laughed. "Nyonda, I barely need to try
It's obvious he pines for Fluttershy." She said with a little smile, using the little petname in her own language she'd given Applejack.
Big Mac grumbled at this. "Ahh...whatever. "
Zecora and Applejack chuckled at the stallions shyness concerning the yellow pony, while Mac sought a way to change the subject. He gestued to Zecoras saddlebags. "What was the thing ya wanted us tah try?" he asked.
"Oh! I hope you enjoy this treat!
Though it might seem a bit hard to eat.
It's from my home land
And there, very much in demand." SHe said grandly, flipping open a pack and carefully pulling out what seemed to be a dark blue, fuzzy rock, or a giant nut of some sort. She gave it a practiced smack against the ground, splitting it with a loud crack. It spread open to reveal a goopy interior, smelling vaguely odd. Not unpleasent, but somewhat odd.
She offered a half each to Applejack and Big Mac, who took them and studied them a bit dubiously, before giving them a tentative taste.
"...Well, hay, this don't taste half bad a'tall." said Applejack in surprise. "Kinda odd, lahk a lime or lemon but not with nearly the bite." She licked out a bit more of the goop, smiling.
Zecora chuckled.
"They taste even better atop a cake.
Ahh..though the faces you make
Must be much as my own, when I first saw an apple,
And...." She trailed off blinking in confusion. "...I must confess, this is quite a mess. I did not think ahead....now I've lost my mental thread. What...rhymes with Apple?" she asked quite seriously, seemingly perturbed somewhat.
She was greeted with a short stretch of silence at first.
Then Big Mac made a slightly strangled noise. Both Zecora and Applejack gave him an odd look. He looked at them, and made the noise again.
He smiled at them, chewing his wheat thoughtfully, and said,in his normal laconic fashion, "Chapel. " Before turning to walk away. He made it almost ten whole steps before he began to crack up at the poleaxed expression they'd both given him at that.
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A/N: I had to add this after it sprung into my head. XD
Again big thanks to Maskinos for editing this for me
I may come back to this couple in the future--for now, I'm done with them, mostly because Zecora is remarkably hard to write. XD
I don't plan on stopping tho--the fanfic bug has bitten me, and right now my goal is to ship EVERY ONE of the mane cast with a background chara.
...
I have the feeling I'm digging myself a hole, but I'll stick with it.
Also thanks to Choopa for putting a "zecora x someone" fanfic request as your xmas gift for the initial idea!
All of this and my upcoming fics are your fault. =P