Somehow, the stars seemed clearer, here. Luna stared up through the destroyed roof of what used to be her and Celestia’s home. It seemed like an age ago now. In many respects, it was, though at times, Luna would half-expect to wake up, and she’d still be in her bed in the palace as it was in the old times, and the whole business with the Nightmare would be just that, a nightmare.
But Luna knew that such a thing wasn’t true. It had happened, and she was largely responsible for the destruction of her own home. Coming here had reminded her of that. Celestia had protested. She didn’t want Luna coming here, to the site of her betrayal, but Luna had slipped out when Celestia wasn’t looking. She needed to know, to see what had happened. As Luna wandered around the ruins, lost in her memories, she failed to notice the clop of hooves on stone until it was almost too late.
Whirling around, Luna found her horn pointed at a zebra mare.
“State your business,” said Luna, her horn charging up with a spell, “you are intruding upon what was our home.”
“It was not my intention to disturb you in your home,” said the zebra, “though you need not worry, for I am on my own. I sensed something in the ruin was amiss, though I could leave, should you wish to reminisce.”
Luna’s eyes narrowed as she pulled the meaning from the zebra’s rhyme. She had obviously seen or felt the burst of magic from Luna’s teleport here, and assumed that something was happening.
“Forgive me,” said Luna, deactivating her horn, “I am still adjusting, as it were. This place holds many memories for me, and I needed to relive them.”
“I shall then take my leave,” said the zebra, bowing her head, “though perhaps when you are done, you would wish for some tea? I have many a brew, and I would be honoured to share one with you.”
Luna stared for a moment, unsure of how to respond to the offer. Not even the nobles of Canterlot would ever want to have the Princess of the Night in their home, as fearful as they were of her. That this zebra would freely offer was a strange thing.
“I do not normally drink tea,” said Luna, “but you are different. At the very least, I would like to know you. Where do you live?”
“I reside here, in the forest. It is here that my abilities are at their strongest. Should you wish, I would wait for you, as the paths through the Everfree are hard to view.”
Luna paused, considering the offer. Though she was familiar with the Everfree from her day, it was likely that things had changed in the time between now and when she was last here-such was the nature of the forest.
“That would be...helpful,” said Luna. As the zebra turned to leave, Luna called out once more. “I realised that I did not get your name.”
“Zecora is my name, though I feel I do not need to ask you the same. You are Princess of the Night, Luna, who rules the stars and moon with all her might.”
With that, Zecora trotted out to the entrance of the castle ruins, and Luna returned to her memories. The zebra was interesting, certainly. It had been aeons since Luna had visited the old Zebra lands, even before her episode.
From what she could remember, they had a strangely alluring culture. Perhaps she could ask this Zecora to explain some of it, though to find a zebra outside of their lands was a rare thing, and there was something that deeply intrigued Luna about Zecora.
Perhaps she would have to make her visits here a regular event.