//------------------------------// // Gossip is Very Stupid, Especially When You Can Just Ask // Story: Marjoram // by Nekiyha //------------------------------// Several days later, Marjoram noted that the streets of Ponyville were empty once more, doors and windows locked. Marjoram sighed, but kept quiet while Spike and Twilight guessed at what could be causing Ponyville to be so deserted. Marjoram looked around, trying to see if he could spot Zecora's cloaked figure, but couldn't. Twilight scoffed at the idea that zomponies had taken over the town, and Marjoram couldn't help but do the same. We really should stop Spike from reading those horror comics before bed. “Psst!” Marjoram glanced at Sugarcube Corner, and noted the top half of the door was still open. Twilight stopped, and looked into the darkened building as well, “What?-” “Guys, come here!” Pinkie was barely visible in the darkness of the bakery, but she did gesture with a hoof. Marjoram couldn't help but roll his eyes, as Pinkie's stage whispers were almost at normal talking level. Twilight paused, sharing a look of confusion with Spike. Pinkie gestured again, “C'mon, before she gets you!” Twilight and Spike headed inside, but Marjoram rolled his eyes, “Where is she?” “Where's who?” Marjoram heard Twilight mutter. “Zecora!” Marjoram heard the high-pitched voice of Apple Bloom declare. “Hey! I told you not to say that name!” Applejack reprimanded. Marjoram had to stop himself from slamming his face into the side of Sugarcube Corner. Applejack, why are you promoting this? “Out there!” Pinkie pointed around the corner, to the main square. Marjoram went to go around the corner, but Pinkie grabbed him and pulled him inside, “What are you doing?!” “I'm going to go talk to her,” Marjoram stated dryly, “She might need more herbs.” “More herbs?” Rarity exclaimed, “You mean you've?-” “Given her some of mine? Because you ponies are too bigoted to accept somepony of a different race than you!? Yes. I did. Now, if you'll excuse me-” Pinkie spun Marjoram around, looking deep into his eyes, and breathing cupcake scented breath into his face, “You've been cursed!” “Curses don't exist!” Twilight rebuked, “They're fake!” Marjoram pulled away from Pinkie, “Creators you ponies are worse than I thought. Now, I'm going to go talk to her, since you ponies seem too chicken to do so yourself.” “I'm not a chicken!” Rainbow exclaimed, echoed by Applejack a moment later. Marjoram stood up, and opened the door, “Then prove it,” he sneered, exiting the bakery, and making his way to where Zecora was supposed to be. True enough, there she was, examining the stalls that had been abandoned when she'd entered the town limits. She spotted Marjoram, and lowered her hood, smiling brightly, “Marjoram, you bring my loneliness to an end! And, I see you've brought some friends?” Marjoram turned around, to find Spike, Twilight, and her friends standing some distance away. Marjoram couldn't help but smirk, and noted that some ponies seemed to be peering out from doors, and windows. “Yes, it seems I have. What do you need?” “Some more herbs for my brew, though I was hoping I wouldn't have to bother you,” Zecora replied, “I need them for my work, but everyone here seems to be a jerk.” “We're not jerks!” Rainbow protested, “You're just evil, aren't you?!” Zecora's teal eyes flashed angrily, but Twilight turned to Rainbow, “You don't even know this mare! What has gotten into you girls?” Rainbow looked taken aback, “Well, um-” Marjoram rolled his eyes, “I'll introduce you to some ponies, Zecora. We'll get this sorted out.” Zecora nodded, and followed as Marjoram led the procession to the supermarket. He knocked on the door, and when the top half of the door creaked open a little, Marjoram began to explain. (LINE BREAK) Marjoram sat on the steps of Sugarcube Corner, drinking a glass of water, and watching as the streets of Ponyville began to come alive, albeit cautiously. A lot of whispering, a lot of curious stares and glares, but at least Ponyville was moving. It had taken almost an hour of coaxing, bribing, explaining, and a bit of magic, but the ponies were now aware that Zecora simply wanted to help the ponies of Ponyville, not cook them into stew or use them in her 'evil' magic. How in the hell those rumours even got started, I'll never know. Marjoram noted dryly, wincing as the pain in his chest flared up. He rubbed at his chest absent-mindedly, trying to dull the ache that was always present. “You alright?” Twilight sat next to him, sipping on a lemonade, “We did a lot of walking.” “I'll be alright,” Marjoram replied, watching as Zecora bought some apples from Applejack, “I think we did some good today.” “Yes, thank you for that. I think you should write the letter for Celestia.” “Why?” Marjoram returned, “I didn't learn anything about friendship.” “You did. You learned its important to stand up for your friends, and that you need to sometimes have to tell your friends that they're wrong.” Marjoram blinked, “Twilight, I hate to tell you, but I'm not really friends with your friends. We're more like...acquaintances.” “Oh, come on! Don't be like that,” Twilight scolded, “You've got plenty of friends here.” “You, Spike, Celestia, Zecora. Maybe Rarity,” Marjoram retorted, “And Zecora is there because nopony else saw past the fact that she looked different.” “Than write about that then,” Twilight stated, “It's due by tonight.” Marjoram rolled his eyes, “Right. Like you can't write it.” “You should do it, it's your lesson.” “You're supposed to be learning about friendship.” “And I did, but I think you learned the most from this. Besides, didn't the Princess tell you that you had to make friends here, too?” Marjoram rolled his eyes, “Fine. But only because I'm apparently under orders to do so.” Twilight offered a bright smile, “It'll be fine. Celestia will be happy, you'll see.” Marjoram muttered something into his glass that made Twilight smack him upside the head with her tail. (LINE BREAK) That night, when Celestia and Luna were going through their paperwork, the tell-tale trail of green flame belched a scroll near Celestia's head. Luna started from the paperwork, still not used to the phenomenon, but went back to work when she realized what it was. Celestia untied the scroll, startled from her relaxed state when she recognized the penmanship, and began to read. Princess Celestia, I'm not asking Spike to write this, as he would likely edit it rather than send it in its original form. Apparently, the ponies here are more bigoted than I thought. If you didn't know, a zebra by the name of Zecora is living just inside the Everfree forest. Whenever she came into town, the ponies would lock themselves in the nearest building, and wouldn't leave until Zecora left. Of course, I discovered her last month and helped her. I then spent today introducing her to half the population of Ponyville today (I'm pretty sure your population estimates for this town are off. There seems to be fewer ponies here than I originally thought), and basically had to watch as the populace got used to the rhyming zebra. Twilight is making me write this, if you couldn't tell. I'm not pleased. Apparently I've learned a few things about friendship today she didn't want to write about. They are as follows: -standing up for your friends are important -judging people by what they look like is stupid -you sometimes have to tell 'friends' (read: acquaintances) that they are wrong (I'm a teacher, that's basically what I've been doing with Twilight and Spike for the last ten years) So yeah. Tell Sea Shores and Princess Luna I say 'hi'. I really don't like Ponyville. I really hate...damnit Your favourite, I'm sorry for being shit at writing letters. Especially to you. Creators save me, I'm too tired for this. Marjoram. Celestia couldn't help but laugh, especially where Marjoram had tried to cross out what he had written, and failed in doing so. Pulling out her ink, Celestia began to write a reply.