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// The Zebramrillion 
// Story: Appledashery 
// by Just Essay 
//------------------------------//

	Rainbow soared out of the hut and zig-zagged her way excitedly between treetops.

“Okay okay okay...”  She grinned brightly.  “We could totally have lunch at Sugarcube Corner!  Or maybe go bowling in the west side of town!  Or... or... or...”  She gasped.  “Ghastly Gorge!  Ah jeez, Zecora!”  Rainbow spun around.  “You've not lived until you have seen Ghastly Gorge!  Why, the acoustics there are completely off the awesome chart!  I mean it!  They make hiccups sound like moons exploding—”  She spun around and froze in place, her wings drooping along with her facial features.  “...what are you doing?”

“Hmmm?”  Zecora paused in place, blinking.  She glanced down at the extra satchels hanging over her saddlebags.  “Oh!  Why, these are my bags for collecting herbs!  In case there are many plants along the way to observe.”

“You're...”  Rainbow Dash squinted.  “...gonna be collecting plants while we're hanging out?”

“Why... er... yes!”  Zecora smiled nervously.  “It is all for the best.”

“Zecora...”

“I would be quite remiss if an opportunity to improve my brews was missed.”

“This is shaman stuff.”  Rainbow folded her hooves with a frown.  “We are not doing shaman stuff.”

“Erm...”  Zecora fidgeted.  “I—I mean... we are not?”

Woosh!  Rainbow hovered suddenly in the zebra's face.  “Girl, this is about relaxing!”  She grinned.  “Letting loose!  Slipping the saddle off!”  She plucked and poked wincingly at the satchel on the mare's flank.  “Haven't you done enough friggin' work since the first day you arrived in Ponyville?”

“A shaman's work is never done.”  Zecora smiled bashfully.  “I assure you I will have much fun!”

“Uh huh.  Naw.  Buck that.”  In one swift move, Rainbow yanked the satchel off Zecora's back and tossed it through one of the wooden windows to the hut.

The zebra positively gasped.  “I... it... that...”  She gritted her teeth like she was giving birth.  “But Rainbow Dash, my dearest pegasus, what of the plants that might present themselves to us?”

“Ignore 'em.”  Rainbow folded her forelimbs with a glaring smirk.  “And enjoy the day.”

“But... but...”  Zecora was suddenly in a cold sweat, something nopony had the pleasure of witnessing before in person.  Her fetlocks rattled and she crouched slightly, as if the Everfree Forest Canopy was about to cave in at any moment.  “What of the brews I could be making if all foraging I am forsaking?”

“You'll have plenty of time another day.”  Rainbow Dash brought a hoof around Zecora's shoulder and gently guided her forward and away from the hut.  “I'm gonna learn you some Chillaxing 101, girl.”

“I... I am not certain I can perform 'the chill,” Zecora winced to say.  “Without my herbal tools, I feel positively ill.”

“And, for real, you gotta drop the rhyming.  At least for once.”

“Give up my syntax?”  Zecora turned to glare at the pegasus.  “I would much rather snort anthrax.”

“You know what?  I change my mind.”  Rainbow giggle-snorted.  “That right there just made my friggin' day.”  She lifted Zecora several feet and gave the two a winged boost over the nearest line of trees.  “Maredom, away!”

“Gaaaaie!”  Zecora's eyes flared wildly as she fought the wind with nervous little hoofie-kicks.

Rainbow giggled.