//------------------------------//
// S01E09 Bridle Gossip 
// Story: My Little Pony: Friendship is Overpowered (Season 1) 
// by ocalhoun 
//------------------------------//

"I am sure there is an explanation for everything Zecora does. And if anypony here were actually brave enough to approach her, she would find out the truth." Twilight glanced out through the window again. "You know, I think it's time that happened." She focused her magic on the Zebra across the street, calling up a teleportation spell.

With a flash, Zecora appeared in the center of the group. Her eyes opened wide.

Everypony except Twilight screamed. Zecora screamed.

Twilight patiently waited for the screaming to stop.

Finally, it did stop. Pinkie kept going a few moments longer, but also stopped once Rainbow shoved a hoof in her mouth.

Now in silence, the ponies and the zebra stared at each other. For a long, tense moment, nothing happened.

"Do you ponies know where I could get some heart's desire?" Zecora asked, eventually. "My usual source for that flower was destroyed in a terrible fire."

Silence reigned again as the ponies all glanced to each other.

It was Fluttershy – of all ponies – who spoke up. "Um... well... I'm pretty sure the flower sisters would have it." She winced and hunkered down, but kept talking. "They have almost every kind of flower there."

"Is it the shop across the street with flowers on the door? They do not seem to be open anymore."

"They're probably just scared." Applejack backed up a little as she spoke.

"Right." Twilight nodded. "Come on, we'll go there with Zecora and talk some sense into them."

"Those ponies? They're the scardiest ponies around!" Rainbow dash flew up overhead.

Twilight looked up at her out of the corner of her eye. "You were pretty scared a minute ago, too, but that was easy enough to overcome."

"What?" Rainbow crossed her hooves in front of her chest as she hovered along. "I... I wasn't scared. I was, uh, just being protective of my friends!"

"Right." Twilight smiled and shook her head.