//------------------------------//
// Chapter 17: secret of the zebras 
// Story: A special request 
// by chaos2012 
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Applejack walked quietly along side Graylin down the path away from the market for a few minutes before she even looked up in his direction. When she did, she noticed that he was staring back at her as well. Quickly Turning away out of embarrassment, she finally broke the silence. "Hey, thanks for helpin' me back there."

Graylin just smiled at her. "No problem. I couldn't just leave you alone with him."

"Some of them other zebra did." She sneered back in response.

"I know. Sorry about that. Most of the zebras here will not get in Krelacks way when he wants something." 

Applejack perked up an eyebrow to that statement. "Why? Is he important or somethin'?"

Before he responded, Graylin turned his gaze to a small tavern that had several open stools on the street counter. "Why don't I explain some of it over a drink."

Applejack's mouth hung open for a moment at hearing that before she frowned. "Really? Ah just passed that big fella who wanted a drink, and now y'all askin' me for one?"

Graylin chuckled at her response. "I won't try anything funny. I just thought it would be nice to talk to you and help you understand this place since you are new here. If you feel uncomfortable at all, you can leave anytime you want. Promise."

Looking past him, Applejack stared at the bar for a moment before turning back down the street they were heading. The inn in which Zecora had said she was going to was in sight now. Seeing it wasn't far, she figured learning a few things weren't bad then. "Alright, just ONE drink." She emphasized with a hoof in the air.

Smiling, Graylin trotted ahead of her towards the counter. From behind, Applejack sat still as she watched him walk, the muscles in his legs rippling with every step he took. How his coat gleamed in the sunlight and-

"Whoa whoa whoa!" Applejack mentally smacked herself at what she was doing as she talked to herself. "Was ah just checking him out? What in the hay is wrong with me! Ah don't even know him!" She stopped her little rant as she watched him sit up in the stool, his toned body and clean look standing out amongst all the others around him. "But... He is much better lookin' than most zebras here. And so far he is pretty darn nice and- ah! What ah'm ah doin'!"

Shaking her head of those thoughts, she trotted up to the bar and took a seat next to him. Grabbing the drink that was poured by the bartender, she gave it a small sniff before taking a sip of it. To her surprise, it tasted almost like a mint styled drink. It was more sweet than most drinks she had tasted, and had less of a kick than her traditional sweet apple cider. She could tell that having several of these drinks wouldn't have given her a buzz, then again she was always a heavyweight when it came to drinks.

"This is pretty good ah gotta say." She said.

Graylin smiled and took a sip himself. "It's one of our top drinks here. Mint is a little harder to come by out here, but it is worth the little extra."

Hearing these drinks were more than normal made Applejack feel a little guilty, "Well if they are more, ah don't want ya to be payin' all this then. Ah can grab a few bits and-

"No no no..." Graylin responded, "I agreed to treat, so don't worry about it." He looked to the hat on her head and grinned, "If you want to repay me, I could just enjoy that hat for some time."

Applejack chuckled at his idea, "Sorry partner, but this is not fer bargaining. This stays with me."

Heh heh, alright. By the way, why to wearing that? That is a pony hat."

The breath got caught in Applejacks throat when she heard that. 'Shoot, he's gonna figure it out.' She thought to herself. 

It's... Uh, just a hat ah wear. Is it a problem?"

Graylin shook his head, "No, I don't have any problem with it. I just never see zebras wanting to wear that stuff. In fact, I think you look really good in it." He finished off with a smile and a wink.

'Oh gosh, he is flirtin with me!' She screamed in her head. while that Krelack had made her all uneasy, she couldn't help but feel a warm blush spread across her cheeks. quickly turning away, she grabbed her drink and took a mouthful to hide her redness. While she did however, she choked on some that went down her windpipe, causing her to cough up a small amount. Now her face had grown even deeper red from embarrassment as she turned back to Graylin, who only burst out in laughter at her expense.

Frowning at first, Applejack couldn't resist but start laughing as well. Both had a comical conversation for a short time before they got control of their giggles. After another sip, she shifted in her chair to look at her new acquaintance. "So, who is this Krelack anyhow?"

Lowering the drink from his lips, Graylin gave a small shrug. "If you consider royalty and being the son of the high chief, you can say he is pretty powerful."

Applejacks eyes widened to the size of dinner plates when she heard that. "S-son? He is the prince?"

"Only because of blood..." Graylin sneered as he took another drink, "he is a disgrace when it comes to ruling. The only reason he hasn't already become a full blown nutshell is because of his father, Chief Whiplash. He keeps Krelack in check."

Adjusting the Stetson on her head, Applejack thought about what she had done; she had rejected the attempts of a prince. Not only that, judging from what she was hearing, this zebra was even worse than that Prince Blueblood of Canterlot Rarity had the experience of spending an evening with. "Has this Krelack always been this way?"

"Ever since he was attacked by a group of ponies? Yeah, he has been like this." Graylin let out a small chuckle after that.

"What? Ponies attacked him?" Applejack Gasped at that, but when Graylin turned and stared her right in the eye with a stern gaze. His eyes were filled with a mix of sorrow and anger that sent chills down her back. "Wh-what is the matter?"

"You don't know the story?" He asked. Seeing her shake her head, he continued. "Seven years ago, Krelack and several other zebras were on a scouting mission outside our land across the Dragons Eye. They were looking for special ingredients that that land possesses that we don't. While they were out, a group of ponies ambushed them. After a long fight, two of Krelacks soldiers were killed before they finally stopped the attackers."

"Oh mah gosh..." Applejack gasped. She then realized what Zecora said earlier about zebras not trusting ponies. Now she understood it was because of this."so that is how he got that scar, right? He had to fight off them criminals?"

"Oh he got a scar from those ponies, but he wasn't defending himself." 

Applejack was really confused now, "Wait, what? Ah thought ya just said they were attacked."

"That is the story that nearly every zebra here knows, but that is a lie; Krelack attacked them to loot them. The ponies fought back to protect themselves. Like I did say, two zebras were killed in the conflict, and Krelack used that as a perfect alibi for his actions." 

"But... How would you know that?"

Graylin glanced over to the bartender to make sure he wasn't listening, "Because I was there. I just became a soldier when I was told to follow along with Krelack and his group. I just caught up with them when I saw them attacking them..." He paused to take a deep breath as he remembered the incident, " I still remember the look on that mares face, the fear in her eyes when he..." He didn't want to say anymore.

Applejack sat still as she saw the emotions of the zebra in front of her come out. She could tell that he was being completely honest with her with everything he was saying. "If it is the truth, why doesn't no zebra know 'bout it?"

"It is my word against the next in line for the throne, who do you think the city will believe? I had to make a deal with him that if I kept my mouth shut, he would keep me as a soldier. Trust me, it isn't like I want to, but he knows I am a good warrior."

"Why are ya tellin' me then?"

A small grin spread across Graylins muzzle. "You aren't even from around here, and already have a bad taste for Krelack. I figured his true face would let you see who he was." 

Applejack chuckled at that. "Well, that was a good talk, but ah gotta get goin' now." Hopping off her stool, she turned to the inn down the road, "ah'm stayin' there, so ah can walk alone now."

Graylin gave a nod in her direction. "Alright then. Be careful now. Perhaps we will see each other again sometime." 

"Heh heh, perhaps. And... Thanks again for earlier." 

Graylin stood up and trotted over to her, "No problem. Always good to help and..." He paused as he stared at her intently, causing her to take a step back.

"Uh, y'all ok?" Applejack asked.

"Your eyes. They look like..." Graylin turned to the ground as he thought to himself. "Never mind, I thought they reminded me of..."

"Mah eyes? What would mah eyes remind ya of?"

Graylin waved a hoof in the air, "Never mind, don't worry about it. I was just thinking of... Something in the past. I have to get going now." He turned and began to trot away before turning back to her with a smile, "Listen, I don't want to sound like I'm coming on already, but I was wondering that if you are going to be here tomorrow night if you were going to the festival here."

Applejacks eyes widened hearing him asking her out to the festival. Was he asking her out or just as friends? She couldn't tell, but she felt herself blushing again. "Uh, ah uh... Not sure if ah'm gonna be here." She turned to go inside the inn but stopped at the door and looked back. "If ah will be here, ah can meet ya there. Alright?"

Tilting his head, Graylin thought for a moment before turning up to her, "To make it easier, we can meet up at the bar again tomorrow evening around dusk."

"Uh.. Yeah that will be good. I am just gonna get goin' and- oomph!" 

Applejack stumbled back a step after she walked blindly into the side of the building missing the door, bringing another chuckle from Graylin and more blushing from her. "Heh heh, ah'm gonna go now. Bye."

After she walked inside, Graylin trotted back down the road towards his home. He couldn't help but feel somewhat happy with meeting her here. As he thought about her, however, he had a nagging feeling at the back of his head. "What was that all about earlier? Her eyes... They looked just like that pony all those years ago." Thinking it over a little more, he just figured he was just retelling the story and his mind was playing tricks on him.