Warning: This chapter contains light shipping.
"Aargh!" A voice boomed through the thick foliage of the Everfree Forest "I can't see!" *THUNK* "SWEET MOTHER OF-" *CRASH* "DAMNIT ELEANOR!" *trip* "Sonova..." Brannon could not see a thing, after the explosion, his eyes darkened and no matter how hard he thrashed about, his eyes refused to work, even though he could feel his eyelids blinking. His arms had somehow become bound, his hands not responding. He wriggled around on the ground before shouting "HELP!" After a brief moment of his echo bouncing around his surroundings, A soft but somehow familiar voice replied from the darkness
"My my, you seem in quite a state. How have you become manticore bait?" A lyrical sarcasm in the voice
"Look, I have no idea. I can't see!" Brannon snapped
"Maybe with a bit of common thought, you can have your eyesight sought?" The voice became closer, and a flash of light nearly blinded Brannon, he had a hard time focusing his eyes without pain. "It was only some tough material, blocking your sight, now feel free to see the light.
"Ugh..." Brannon grunted as he opened his eyes "Could you maybe stop talking in rhy-" Brannon looked at the source of the rhyming, and instantly stopped his train of thought. In front of him was a zebra wearing jewellery and golden rings around her neck, her mane was done in a mohawk. She was holding his leather vest in her hooves, the vest being more then twice her size
"I-uh-what?" Brannon could not believe his eyes.
"It is not often, around this place, to see another of the zebra race. What are you doing, here alone, when you are so far from home?"
"I... Adventure... And what do you mean 'another zebra?'" Brannon stood up, and immediately fell over due to his center of gravity changing. He looked down at his body, he was grey with dark grey stripes along his entire body, all of his belongings either hanging loosely or gone. His hands replaced by hooves, and he had a tail! on his flank was an image of Hercules, but with a more equine body. His eyes widened and he began to step backwards, staring at his hooves, his mouth agape in shock.
"But... That's impossible.."
"Pardon me? you seem to be confused, are you telling me this is all an elaborate ruse? The zebra's eyes narrowed as she got a very serious look on her face.
Brannon blacked out
Brannon came to a few hours later, standing in a hollowed out tree, surrounded by who knows what? The zebra from before was nowhere to be found, and his belongings missing, Brannon started to panic. After nearly knocking over the cauldron in the middle of the room, dislodging a few masks and breaking a window, Brannon heard the front door creak open. In stepped the zebra from before, carrying a basket of herbs and some apples. The zebra looked around, Brannon hid behind the cauldron, before she dropped the herbs and began jolting her head around the room, looking for Brannon.
"What is this? Where could he be? Does one of my own not trust me?" Brannon peeked around the cauldron to see the zebra's head lower, her eyes drooping. Scared that he hurt her feelings, Brannon, being the softy that he is, slowly revealed himself from behind the cauldron. Upon seeing him, the zebras ears perked up, and she began to smile. "You worried me, for a while, my heart was racing more then a mile!
"I'm sorry, what?" Brannon cocked his head in confusion.
"Urm, please forget what i just said, my cheeks really are turning red... The zebra blushed, and returned to the herbs she had dropped earlier."You froze up earlier, I'm not sure why, but i was sure I could not say goodbye. I pushed you here, a tedius task, then gathered these herbs so your state did not last."
"Thanks, I guess... But might I ask where we are? I haven't a map of the area."
"My friend, we are near the town of Ponyville, in the Everfree forest, but before you depart, you might want to rest."
"Alright then, is there a spare bed around here?" Brannon looked around the room and saw a single bedroll next to one of the walls, his eyes widened and he looked at the zebra, who was nervously scratching her hoof against the ground
"I forgot there was only one bedroll, my memory sure has taken its toll... Perhaps I will just stay awake, after what happened, you might need a break.
"Thank you, I might be able to repay this some day, could I have your name?" Brannon asked as he lay down on the bedroll
"My name is not important, my fellow zebra, but for personal sakes, call me Zecora." Zecora smiled and began to exit the hut "I'm going to town, ill be back in a while, ill buy some food that might make you smile!"
"Wait what was that last part?" Brannon asked, but Zecora didn't reply, instead her cheeks became red before she rushed out the door. "Well that was a bit weird." Brannon said to himself before drifting off to sleep.
After what seemed like ten minutes, Brannon woke up to feel something heavy on his back, he looked and saw zecora resting her head on his body.
"Uh, Zecora?" Brannon gave her a prod, Zecora woke up instantly, before giving him a nervous smile while backing away. Brannon just stared at her awkwardly
"I'm sorry if that was a bit.. uncomfortable for you, you felt quite cold quite cold, the room was too." Zecora just retained her nervous smile, while Brannon just stared at her while walking towards the door. As he turned to leave, he heard a "Wait!" From inside. He looked back and saw Zecora in front of him, kneeling down on her front two hooves"Please don't go..." Zecora pleaded. Brannon was slightly confused.
"You aren't rhyming any more?" Brannon questioned, as she had only spoken in rhymes beforehand.
"I just... just don't go..." She tried to get as close to Brannon as possible, he felt a bit uneasy.
"I... Have to go find my friends..." Brannon tried to gently shake Zecora off his leg, she wouldn't budge.
"Please... I haven't seen another zebra in so long, and the other ponies are scared of me..." Zecora began to tear up. Brannon just sighed.
"Fine...I guess it couldn't hurt to- WOAH!" Brannon yelled as he was tackled by Zecora in a hug "Easy Zecora. I can still get hurt."
"I'm sorry..." Zecora loosened her grip a little bit.
A few minutes later, Brannon was lying on the bedroll, with Zecora sleeping on top of his back, So he had time to think. He had always been shunned because of his race, he was banned from places he wanted to be, like a library. he loved knowledge. But he was exiled from society as an outcast, forced to get by doing menial tasks like lifting logs and shoveling horse dung for minimal wage. If Eleanor and Kent hadn't come along, he probably wouldn't be alive. Here, he was somehow a zebra, and according to Zecora, still an outcast, but now he had someone to relate to. Sure, it was a talking zebra, but when your parents were different species, not much surprised you.
"I thank you for making my day, feel free to leave. I'll be okay." A soft voice came from Zecora's half-awake mouth.
Brannon gave a small nod, then slowly shifted himself so Zecora's head could lower down onto a pillow without waking her up completely. After she was fast asleep, he walked out of the hut, and followed Zecora's directions to Ponyville. He passed a few trees that looked like they were almost screaming, and some blue flowers, which something instinctively told him to avoid.
Upon reaching the outskirts of Ponyville, Brannon looked around and saw some of the windows slam shut, and some ponies rushed indoors. He now knew what Zecora was talking about when she said the other ponies didn't like her. While he trotted through town, he could see some ponies staring at him through slits in their curtains and windows, it made him feel uneasy. As he continued through town, he eventually came across the market, and saw an orange pony wearing a stetson trying to sell some apples to another, as soon as the customer saw him though, he ran away, leaving the orange pony confused. The pony heard Brannon coming, and gave him a quick glance before returning to the stand.
"Hey Zecora" The orange pony muttered and began counting the gold in her hand
"Uhh, I'm not Zecora" Brannon said, confused
"Then who are y-" The pony stopped as she got a proper look at Brannon.
"I'm Brannon, pleased to meet you." Brannon extended his hoof towards the pony, who placed her hoof on his nervously
"A-Ah'm Applejack. P-Pleased ta meetcha...." Applejack nervously scratch her hoof with her other hoof.
Brannon was curious, "Is something wrong?" he asked, hoping to find out why all the ponies were hiding.
"N-no, aint nothin' wrong with y'all. The town just feels a bit uneasy, what with the rumors goin' round..."
"Rumors?"
"Well somepony told somepony, who told somepony else who told apple bloom who told big mac who told granny smith who finally told me, that male zebras.... Eat... Other ponies..." Applejack started to back away.
"Hey, why would anyone think that?"
"Ah don't know, but.. now ah have to get back to the farm..." Applejack gave a nervous smile, and tried to pull the apple cart away, but she couldn't do it. "The blasted thing's stuck." She sighed, before finally asking "Could you give me a push...?" Brannon laughed, then picked up the entire cart off the ground without a sweat, much to Applejack's surprise
"Wanna lead the way?" Brannon jokingly asked. Applejack nodded and began walking towards edge of town.
"So... What brings you to Ponyville, Brannon?" Applejack asked
"Looking for a few friends. Not much else."
"Oh really? Would Zecora be one of them?"
"No, you wouldn't happen to know a Kent or Eleanor, would you?"
"Can't say ah do. What do they look like?"
"I have no idea."
Applejack gave Brannon a weird look before returning to the path ahead. After a short period of time, a large farmland filled with apple trees came into view, with a big red barn in the middle.
"Alright, Y'all can set the cart down next to the barn, and thanks for th' help."
*CRUNCH*
"Woops" Brannon chuckled "I think you might need new wheels."
"Naw, they were due for a replacement anyway." Applejack Laughed a bit. "Y'all aint half bad, Brannon."
"Thanks, its nice to be complimented for once."
"Now what do y'all mean by that? Surely Y'all can't be serious about nopony thankin' ya?" Brannon sadly nodded his head in response. "Now tha' right there is ridiculous. Say, you're strong right? How would y'all like a job at sweet apple acres?"
"I'd love to. But uhh, where do I start?" Brannon looked around the farmland
"Well, you and Big Macintosh can get applebuckin', if you need help, ah'm sure he'll be glad to give a few pointers. HEY! Big Mac! Ah Gotcha somepony to help with the applebuckin'!." Soon after, a Red stallion with a yolk around his neck walked from behind the corner
"Ye' wanted to see me sis-" Big Macintosh stopped mid-speech after seeing Brannon "Uhh.. Hi there." Big mac got a worried look on his face
"You must be Big Macintosh. Glad to be of help" Brannon reached out for a handshake, but Big Mac just ignored him.
"Ah guess y'all better get started!" Applejack pushed Brannon and Big Mac towards the orchard, Big mac led him towards a nearby apple tree
"First thing you gotta do is turn around, then you gotta kick the tree with your back legs. like this" Big mac turned around, then kicked the tree with his legs, shortly after a rain of apples came from the branches. Big mac led Brannon over to the next tree "Your turn."
Brannon walked up to the tree and did as instructed, instead of apples falling down, however, the entire tree snapped from where he kicked it. Big Mac dropped the hayseed he had in his mouth. "My bad..." Brannon laughed nervously.
"Maybe you should go to the bigger, older trees..." Big Mac pointed to the direction of the older, larger trees. Brannon apologized before heading over.
Brannon now realized what the mark on his flank meant, it must be something that states what you are good at in the form of a picture, and his was strength. He walked up to the biggest looking tree, and attempted to rip it out of the ground. It was a cinch, he held the entire tree in one hoof, before looking over and see Big Macintosh staring at him, mouth open wide. Brannon grinned and put the tree back where it belonged. He tried again to 'Applebuck', but hit the tree with his front hoof rather then kick it. the tree shook, and all the apples fell out of the canopy. He smiled and proceeded to 'buck' the trees for around half an hour, before a familiar voice came from behind one of the trees
"Hello" Zecora poked her head out from behind a tree trunk "I hope you are having a nice day, are the ponies treating you okay?"
"What? Oh, hey Zecora, I'm doing fine. Thank you." Brannon smiled.
"Thats good to hear, i came here out of fear...
"Fear of what?" Brannon started to think about what she could be talking about.
"Just something small, dont you worry, if i tell you, i might be sorry. Zecora started biting her lower lip.
"Come on then Zecora, I'm sure you can trust me." Brannon put his arm over Zecora
"I don't know what to say, something's bothering me, maybe you cou- oh to hay with it..." Zecora stopped rhyming, grabbed Brannon's head and gave him a large kiss. when she stopped she continued "I.... I'm sorry..."
Brannon, still red from blushing, tried to comfort her "It's... It's fine Zecora... Even if you came on a little.... Fast... It doesn't make me hate you at all."
Zecora's ears perked up "Really? I'm... Glad..." She stopped and gave Brannon a little nuzzle. To which he nervously chuckled. Brannon lay down, he needed a rest anyway. Zecora rested her head on his back like earlier in the day. Brannon smiled a little and enjoyed the farm surroundings. he had been exploring the forest's with Eleanor and Kent for a long time, so a change of scenery was nice. Instead of snarling wolves or big spider webs, there were chirping birds and the sound of wind through the branches. He was prepared to snooze off, when Applejack wandered up to him, not looking where she was going, she slammed straight into a tree.
"Sweet mother of Celestia... ouch!" Applejack said to herself, before shaking it off. "Brannon, I got your payme-" Applejack paused as she saw Zecora resting on Brannons back. "nt... Well... Here you go.." Applejack dropped a small pouch before slowly trotting off, looking back only once with a confused look on her face. Brannon opened the pouch, and saw some gold coins inside. Looking closely he saw an imprint of a unicorn with a long flowing mane.
"uhh.." Brannon mumbled to himself
"They're called bits, the currency of this land." Zecora spoke up. "If you plan on staying, I suggest becoming a bit more accustomed to their ways."
"Thanks... Maybe I should get going on trying to find my friends.."
"Would one of your friends happen to carry a stick with gems attached to both ends?" Zecora asked
"Yes? Have you seen her?"
"I saw her walking into town on the way over. Maybe ask around?"
"Will do. Thank you very much Zecora." Brannon gave Zecora a small peck on the forehead before running to town. Zecora blushed and smiled.
Brannon ran towards town, it was about a mile away. He reached the outskirts when he saw a rainbow explosion in the sky, followed by different coloured flaming rocks fall to the ground. He knew it could only be done by Eleanor. It was the teams way of finding each other if they ever became separated, which was not often. As he was getting closer and closer to the source of the explosion, he was stopped again, this time, by a small yellow filly with red hair and a bow tie.
"What in the world? You could have been hurt, kid!"
"Wow, you're a zebra arn't you? Do you know Zecora? My names Apple Bloom by the way, You might now my sister Applejack! Do you know her too? Hey, you cutie mark looks awesome, can you tell me how you got it?"
"Woah there kid, enough questions. Yes I know Zecora, yes I've met your sister. Now if you will excuse me, I have to-"
"And what about your cutie mark huh? How did you get that?"
"Well.. I guess I've always had it.."
"Aww, you aren't any help. Say mister, do you want to come and help me and my friends get our cutie marks?"
"Well.. Not really.."
"GREAT!" The filly grabbed onto Brannon's tail and began tugging "You can come with us to the clubhouse! And if the others want to we'll even make you an honorary cutie mark crusader!"
"But I-"
"Come on lets go!"
"Fine." Brannon was getting sick and tired of being interrupted. "But it better not take too long."
Brannon gave one last look at the town before reluctantly walking away, back towards Sweet apple Acres.