//------------------------------// // When Noirry Met Zechhy // Story: Appledashery // by Just Essay //------------------------------// "I must admit, your absence gave me a sliver of hope." Zecora trotted back and forth across her hut, carrying various medicinal ingredients. "With the ailment, I figured, your body had learned to cope." The zebra smiled as she poured the material into her pot, preparing a fresh brew. "But, perhaps, your senses are merely acclimating. Maybe it's all a matter of proper pacing." A pause. "In spreading out your doses, I mean. After all, you're not a machine." Silence. The zebra's striped brow furrowed. She turned and looked over her shoulder. "Rainbow Dash... my loyal friend?" Rainbow slowly snapped out of it. She tilted her head up, gazing across the hut at the shaman. "Hmmm?" "Is it... more than your body that is on the mend?" Zecora asked. "Oh... I'm... getting better! Totally!" Rainbow smiled nervously. Zecora's eyes narrowed. "That is not the question that I asked. Be honest with me—or must I resort to sass?" "Heh... no need for the sassy zebra girl schtick with me, Zecchy," Rainbow said. "I just... uhm..." She gulped. "Came back from vacation. Lots of doing nothing... followed by doing everything. Eheh... you know how it is." "No." Zecora shook her head. "I do not." Rainbow bit her lip. "Alas, my brew should hit the spot." Zecora turned to the pot and began to stir a ladel with her hooves. "Your job, your hobbies, and all that... you should soon be able to do in ten seconds flat." The zebra bray-giggled, smirking from earring to earring. "Surely, you get the joke!" "Oh yeah..." Rainbow winced when she wasn't looking. "I get it... alright. Pretty funny, Zecora." "Echhh..." Zecora frowned at herself as she stirred harder. "Egg white without the yolk." A sigh. "I suspect Noir is rubbing off on me. I get all of the serious... and none of the funny." Rainbow raised an eyebrow. "Depends on who's doing the rubbing." Zecora nearly fell into the pot. "But hey... you guys get your laughter in." Rainbow said with a shrug. "So it's all good." Zecora glanced over her shoulder. "Is that a fact?" It was her turn to waggle an eyebrow. "And precisely how would you know that?" The only thing tingling in Rainbow Dash's body was her spine—and it wasn't a pleasant sensation. "D'uhhhhhhhhhhm...." The door opened and Noir walked in. "Mrmmmfff..." The cloaked sarosian carried a wad of dirty roots in his muzzle. He spat the items out into a tray and wiped the soil from his lips. "There you go, Zeeks. Took me three hours, but I managed to fine ten shoots of crystal briar." "Ahem..." Zecora swished her tail in Rainbow's direction. "Hmmm?" Noir lowered his hood... and it was only then that his slitted eyes registered Rainbow Dash's presence. His velvet coat took on a rosy hue. "Erm..." "'Zeeks'?" Rainbow Dash grinned devilishly. "It's... erm... well..." Noir fidgeted. "I suppose you could say a term of endearm—" "Nopony else is allowed to call me such," Zecora spoke in a nearly growling tone. Her ears drooped, and she apologetically exhaled: "I would appreciate your confidence very much." "Heh... the secret's safe with me." Rainbow folded her numb forelimbs with a smirk. She glanced over at the stallion. "So... what's your bedroom name? 'Count Hunkula?'" "Ahem..." Noir stood straight and tall. "Rainbow Dash. I can see that you're still requiring medicinal assistance." "And I can see that you can't see for crud when you're next to the zebra you've got the hots for." Zecora laughed merrily. Noir glared her way. "Do you find this amusing?" "Hrmmm—heheheh..." Zecora brushed a hoof over her mohawk. "And you do not?" She winked. "Dearest Noir, either live a little or live a lot." Noir sighed. He gazed calmly at Rainbow Dash. "In all seriousness, I do hope you are getting better." Rainbow ignored the numbness. "In all seriousness, I'm glad you give a flying feather, dude." "I don't suppose..." Noir's eyes narrowed. "...that you have had any run-ins with you-know-who?" Zecora glanced at the two in mid-stir. Rainbow exhaled. "No. Can't say that I have." She gulped. "Unfortunately." "I see." Noir nodded. "Then perhaps he's stayed true to his word." "I wasn't worried about anything after I saw him last." Rainbow fidgeted. "Well... you know what I mean." "I know enough," Noir said. "And thanks to you, the shards are in safe-keeping." "Does... uhm..." Rainbow glanced at Zecora. "...Zecchy know about—?" "I know the name of the home that Noir roosted in as a foal," Zecora boldly said. "There is very little by now that we haven't shared—both in mind and in soul." Rainbow gulped. "Oh..." "But worry not, dear friend," Zecora added with a smile. "Your secrets are safe with us in the end. And—might I add—my respect for you has increased tenfold." She bowed her head slightly. "In both the light and shadow, you have lived courageously and bold." "It's... not as heroic as I'm sure Noir has made it sound," Rainbow said sheepishly. "Don't worry," Noir droned. "I filled her in on every foolish mistake and risk you've taken in harboring a miniaturized chaos lord." Rainbow glared. "Jee. Thanks." "And in your own unique way, you've allowed Equestria to exist another day." Zecora winked. "Our beloved Rainbow may not be graceful, and yet you give us more and more reasons to be ever faithful." "Yeesh..." Rainbow hugged herself. "I came here for a pick-me-up, not an inflate-me-up." "Hmmmm..." With a subtle smirk, Noir turned towards Zecora. "Do you need any special ingredients from the shed for Rainbow's brew?" Zecora nodded. "The key is by the door. Just one jar of enchanted seeds—nothing more." Rainbow squinted. "You have a shed?" "Very well." Noir leaned in to nuzzle her. "Your friendship—as always—inspires me." He trotted off. "Say... uh..." Rainbow Dash lifted up. "Noiry-kun. Could I... have a moment? To chat?" Noir and Zecora both paused to glance at him. "It's about... y'know... saving-the-world stuff." Noir eventually nodded, gesturing out the door. "By all means." The two glided out together. Zecora paused in stirring, glancing worriedly at Rainbow's limbs. Then, with a quiet sigh, she returned to her concoction.