An injured Rainbow Dash is rescued by Zecora after a rogue natural
storm crashes her into the Everfree Forest. But with an even fiercer
storm on the horizon, will Rainbow Dash be able to recover in time?
Can they figure out how to tackle this tempest and keep it from
blowing Ponyville to pieces?

My entry into the "Hearth's Warming Care Package for Kiki" Fan-fiction contest. Didn't make the finals, but I was close.
~~~
After a long day in the fields, Applejack only wants to be able to eat her dinner and go to bed. The only problem, it's already occupied by a very ill Zecora. The Apples are famous for their hospitality, but when does Applejack have to draw the line?

The last believer in an ancient prophecy leaves all she knows behind to fulfill her people’s role, even if they have all long forgotten the promise they had made.

All to save the soul of someone who many believe will herald the doom of us all.

Original version winner of the "Most Controversial" Award for the March 2017 WriteOff!

Cover Art by OverlordNeon
Cover Text by Amber Spark
Zecora Glyph Mark by BlackGryph0n

Beta Reader & Editor Credits
Ebon Quill: Audio Director & Quest Designer on The Manehattan Project
Captain Croissandwich: Honorary Zebra Weaver
Corejo: Professional Nitpicker
Little Tinker: Master of Systems at Poniverse & Scripting Engineer on The Manehattan Project
Beltorn: Commenter-at-Large on FimFiction
Cursori: Reader of Many a Pony Word

Word Count: 14,000
Version: 4.6

After her little magic trick at the Fall Formal, Sunset Shimmer is not having the best night, and it's about to get worse: Principal Celestia just found out that Sunset has been living in the school clock tower. Now she has nowhere to live, and who's going to take in a teenager with personal issues that include recent demonic possession? No one normal, obviously.

But... maybe someone with a mohawk, a house full of creepy masks, and blue eyes that seem to see more than words -- or rhymes-- can say.

Winner of the Writeoff Association's February WriteOff, "Look, I Can Explain."

When Applebloom falls sick, Applejack asks Zecora if she can help. Unfortunately, Zecora needs to go back to her homeland to gather unique ingredients for the cure. Not wanting her to face the danger alone, Applejack insists she comes along. The land of zebras, though, only accept their own kind. So, what do they do?

This is not a sequel to 'Striped Like Me'.

Artwork credited to Alfa995.

Zecora is known to lead a peaceful existence, alone in the Everfree Forest, lending a helping hoof or advice when asked. But her story began in a very different way, long ago and far away, amidst silk, incense, blood and treachery.

Image source: Giulia Beck

Thanks to Meridian Prime and The Fool for prereading and editing.

Thanks to Quill Scratch for a last check.

Got featured on EQD!

Whenever Luna asked Celestia to build a snowmare with her, they never seemed to have the time.

And then their time together was lost for a thousand years.

Written for Pen Stroke for Jinglemas 2022.

Zecora, the zebra shamaness has lived in the Everfree Forest for some time, but has never gone beyond except for the sake of finding roots and herbs for her potions that her woods cannot supply. But upon making friends with young Apple Bloom and later Twilight and her companions, she has taken it upon herself to travel beyond for a time. Stopping at Sweet Apple Acres for a minute to speak with Applejack, she catches the eye of Macintosh. The stallion falls for Zecora at first sight and then does something very poorly thought out to prove himself to her...

My name is Ryan Chaser. I am currently the only human living in a world filled with sapient ponies. I have lived in solitude on this world for almost seven years now, and have so far been able to keep my life a secret. Recently, however, it is getting more and more difficult to stay hidden like I have. It's only a matter of time before something happens and my existence is revealed to the world. Though I am not certain of what their reactions will be...

Just a side note, this will follow cannon episodes from the beginning. This story also goes along the assumption that ponies are officially considered "adult" at a much younger age.

Chapters after 4 edited by: Mourning Zephyr

Big Mac is injured while bucking apples and seeks the help of the wise zebra Zecora, but then comes down with a sickness for which there is only one cure.
A poem writtten in the traditional English ballad form, with an ABAB writing scheme.
Illustration by the immensely-talented RusselH (aka The Last Gherkin) .