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// In Which Our Intrepid Heroine and Her Chimeric Companion Meet with a Zebra 
// Story: The Princess that Equestria Never Had 
// by rillegas08 
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"So, to Zecora's hut then. Care to board the Discord Express?" At this, Discord held out his bird claw toward a lopsided train car that had been a tree only moments before.

"Couldn't we just teleport?"

"Oh, don't be too uptight, Twilight. This train car is nearly as fast as teleporting, and much more fun! I don't know where Zecora lives, however. You'll have to give directions."

Twilight sighed and got into the train car as Discord teleported into the conductor's seat, a conductor's hat suddenly appearing on his head. She told him how to get to to Zecora's and soon they were getting near it. She warned Discord about the blue poison joke plant and how it played jokes on those who came into contact with it. "When my friends and I went through it, my horn became floppy so I couldn't use my magic, Rarity's hair got messed up, and Fluttershy's voice got really deep."

"Hmm, sounds like they took away something that was dear to each of you. Not to worry, Twilight. I can simply cover them up." At this the Discord Express stopped. He took a bag of black seeds and threw them ahead of the train toward the blue plants. Soon black, thorny vines sprung up in their place, laying flat on them. "Ta-da! Plunderseeds. That should keep the poison joke away for a while."

"I hypothesized that the effects were a result of an allergic reaction, but now that you mention that, I'm wondering if the poison joke can somehow detect what each pony's most proud of. Here's her hut."

They approached a large, gnarled tree about the same size as the Golden Oak Library. It looked creepy, but Twilight knew that inside the scary exterior was a warm interior decorated with many odd potions, ingredients, books, and decorations, all indicative of Zecora's nature as a shaman. The decorations - large ceremonial masks hanging from the ceiling and a dreamcatcher hung on the door - appeared to be mementos from the far-off land which used to be her homeland. Twilight stepped off the Discord Express and knocked on the door.

"Zecora? Are you in there?"

There was silence for a few moments, then the zebra spoke, her low voice muffled by the door.

"Somepony knocks on Zecora's door
When all others lie afraid on the floor.
Who is brave against Nightmare Moon
To seek assistance from Zecora's boon?"

"Zecora, my name is Twilight Sparkle. My cutie mark is disappearing, and I need your help."

There was a click as the door was unlocked and opened a little.

"Hurry, Twilight Sparkle, do come inside
Before the Mare takes another ride."

Twilight and Discord hurried inside, and Zecora closed and locked the door again before turning to her two guests.

"Neither of you have I seen before;
How can I help Twilight and Discord?"

Twilight told the zebra the quick version of what's happened: the spell that made her wish to not be born come true, what happened to her friends, her disappearing wings and cutie mark. She also told of the time in her world when Apple Bloom got the cutie pox by mixing a potion using Heart's Desire, and how that was resolved with the Seeds of Truth, and asked if there was a way to get her cutie mark back before it completely disappeared.

Zecora thought for a moment, and gave a slight nod.

"Your wings have gone, and three stars as well;
Three left, and a big one at risk from your spell.
Six spikes of white and a purple star
Should leave apart, as they currently are."

"Are you saying I've got fifteen hours until it completely disappears because the white lines are individual pieces? That's a relief. But what about when it's completely gone? What happens then? Do I disappear immediately? Do I have another hour and a half before it's too late?"

"The length of time I can only guess,
But you must, regardless, fix this mess!"

"If I were to have the potion that Applebloom made, would it bring back my cutie mark long enough if I can't fix it in fifteen hours?"

"I don't know the potion your filly friend made,
But there's one similar which to you may aid.
The main ingredient is Heart's Desire,
But more amethyst flower I still require."

"Discord can get them quickly, right?"

Discord smiled and clapped his hands in feigned excitement. "Oh, goody, I can be useful!" His smile turned into a less joyous and more serious expression, crossing his arms. "But you have fifteen hours. Why the hurry?"

"The sooner we get the potion, the sooner we can get back to my friends, and the sooner we can defeat Nightmare Moon so that you can have more freedom to cause chaos."

"Hmm, an attractive proposition. These wouldn't happen to be what you're looking for, would they, Zecora?" He held out his lion's paw, which now held several purple flowers. Zecora came closer, inspected the flowers, and, after expressing gratitude, took them in her mouth and started mixing the ingredients in a bowl. Discord turned to Twilight. "Wouldn't asking me to make the potion be faster than asking for the flowers?"

"Probably, but fifteen hours is a long time to begin with, and the potion might extend that length of time."

"So why are we here in the first place? Wouldn't this be wasting time?"

"Not necessarily. Fluttershy's had her digging creatures dig tunnels all throughout Ponyville, and they're currently digging the tunnel to Zecora's hut, which we can use to get back to Applejack's barn, which then can be used later on for other needs. They should be getting closer any time now."

They waited as Zecora worked on the potion, during which time there was a soft knock on the door. Twilight peeked through the window and was glad to see Angel. She hurried to the door, unlocked it, and reunited with the bunny.

"It's good to see you again, Angel. We should hurry before Nightmare Moon has a chance to see us." Angel nodded "Where's the entrance to the tunnel?" Angel hopped to the large ceremonial mask resting on the largest root of Zecora's tree, slipping behind it. Twilight risked using her magic, shining a dim light behind it. Sure enough, there was an entrance to the new tunnel behind it, curling under the root. Twilight smiled. "Good job, Angel. When Fluttershy gets back, I'll be sure to let her know that I said you could get an extra treat. If she says it's all right, that is. She knows animals better than I do, after all." Angel smiled, but frowned slightly, not disagreeing with her final statement.

Suddenly there came a cry coming from the west, a cry of anger and embarrassment. "You foal! You think you can outsmart me?" exclaimed the bellowing voice of Nightmare Moon. Angel scurried underground and Twilight hurried back into Zecora's hut, locking the door quickly behind her. Zecora doused the lights and covered the windows. Evidently they'd heard it too.

"Nightmare Moon discovered she's been guarding a clone instead of the real me!"

"Twilight Sparkle, you have been bold and brave.
Take this potion when your cutie mark you crave!"