"I apologize for the wait, while it was unexpected, doing this was necessary." Delta said after he had crossed the bridge from the ruins.
"There is no need for you to apologize, my friend." Zecora said, raising her head to look through the leaves. "The day is still young, so we have much time to spend."
"I am glad you feel that way. Now, you said you were still missing some ingredients?"
Zecora nodded towards another path that branched off the one they were standing on..
"I apologize, but you will have to escort Gary out yourself." Delta said, looking at Church.
"Yeah, sure, have fun on your date." Church said quietly as he started down the path.
Delta nodded and began following Zecora down the path, going deeper into the Everfree.
"So what ingredients are we going to be seeking?" Delta asked after a few moments of silence. "Are we going to have to go into harms way like the others had when Grif was infected?"
"Worry not, there are no creatures we will have to harm or slay."
"Then what is it we are looking for?"
"Mostly plants, but we do not have to find them all in one day." Zecora said quickly, then started down another path. "First I need to go home and check on a few things, as well as prepare a few tools I must bring."
"Very well. I assume we will need jars to carry the items in." Delta agreed as he walked after her, quickly catching up to her side. They remained silent for the length of the trip, until they arrived at Zecora's hut. "Just out of curiosity, how long have you lived in this forest?" Delta asked as they entered.
"A number of years I have lived by myself in this forest, in this house, but I prefer living in an area that is as quiet as a mouse." Zecora chuckled as she pushed open her door, then instantly began looking for the tools she needs. "Many a times I have been tempted to move into Ponyville, but due to the sparsity of ingredients I don't think I will."
"Ah, you chose to be in the epicenter of the forest where you have equal access to everything, rather than live in an area where you could not get any work done. I admire that greatly."
"You do?" Zecora asked.
"Certainly. It is not often one follows their passion wholeheartedly. It is an admirable quality to have."
"Thank you."
"I simply wish York would have done the same."
"York?" Zecora echoed, then quickly broke eye contact with Delta. "Oh, he was the freelancer you were assigned to."
"Do not feel the need to apologize. It was a likely outcome for a bad situation." Delta shook his head.
"I see. What was it in life that he wanted to do?"
"He wanted to help people." Delta said simply. "That was why he became a freelancer. He wanted to protect people who did not have the means to protect themselves. By becoming a freelancer he hoped to do good things. That is sadly what led to his downfall." Delta said, and his eyes were unnaturally soft. "Had he not decided to help Allison in her time of need, he would have lived. Had I just..." Delta stopped, then smiled at Zecora when he saw her frowning at him. "Never mind that. The past is the past. What else do we need?"
Zecora watched Delta in silence as he walked around the hut, grabbing jars, labels and tow bags, one for either of them. Delta opened a the bag and began putting the items in them.
"Delta, I hope you do not blame yourself for your friends death." Zecora said, making Delta come to a stop. "I am sure he never blamed you, not even with his last breath."
"I know he would not. That is why when Allison offered to take me with her, I chose to stay with him in his final moments, even if I was supposed to perish when his armor shut off." Delta said dismissively.
"You chose to die by his side?" Zecora asked, mouth hanging open slightly.
"It's just part of what makes us human." Delta stated.
"I'm sure you doing that filled him with a sense of pride." Zecora said, bowing her head in a sign of respect.
"I am sure of this as well, Zecora." Delta said, bowing his head too, before looking back up to the bag of bottles. "Is that everything?"
Zecora nodded and put one of the bags on her back. She then turned to Delta and watched as he put on his own with his magic.
"I find it remarkable that in such a small amount of time you have become just as good at magic as I have at rhymes." Zecora said once he was done.
"It is easy once you know how." Delta said as Zecora opened the door and walked out. "So what about your family and friends? What led you to live here, rather than where your family was?"
"The answer to that I am not entirely sure. Perhaps I wanted to live in an area that was no longer impure."
"You do not like civilized society?" Delta asked curiously. "Why live near Ponyville then?"
"No, I do, which is why I live so close to one. But I prefer living as we did when we begun."
"By that I assume you mean you like fending for yourself, as nature intended?" Delta asked, to which Zecora reponded to with a nod. "Another admirable trait. Not many would even consider doing the same."
Zecora paused and began looking around, ears moving slightly as if trying to catch a sound.
"Is something the matter?" Delta asked, trying to look through the forest for any signs of a threat.
"I thought I heard something, but now I believe it to be nothing." Zecora shook her head hesitantly before resuming her path. "I am glad you've decided to stay and help me with my brewing and chores." Zecora said, not looking at Delta. "I used to not mind, but doing that alone is something I've begun to abhor."
"Not at all, you have been most generous with your help. Had you not done anything the chances of us having lived-"
"It is best not to think of the past in terms of what ifs. Instead, look at the things that have happened as gifts." Zecora said, smiling lightly at Delta.
"That is a wise philosophy, but unfortunately I have been programmed to look at and examine all outcomes of an event." Delta said, looking at a tree to his left. "For example, looking at that tree by itself I calculate all the things that go wrong, such as the tree falling down, either on top of us, on something else, or onto nothing. Or maybe a forest fire will start, and any animals living in it will be forced to retreat, or even perish."
"Hmm. I did not realize that your mind could not see anything but bleak." Zecora sighed. "Perhaps it would be best if we kept to the walk and stopped with the speak."
"You misunderstand, I do not see everything in terms of how they could go bad. I see both the good as well as the bad. Take that same tree for example. It provides life for the beings of this world. Both the ponies, as well as the creatures in this forest. In a way, without that tree some may not live, and without it the world would be in a significantly worse state." Delta explained, then looked through the leaves of the branches above him, catching glimpses of the sun's rays. "It is the acceptance of all outcomes that I think to. If you ignore all the bad things that could happen then you live recklessly. The good does not outweigh the bad, nor vice versa. By accepting both, I live as one should. Peacefully, accepting of what life gives out, no matter how good or bad the end result is." Delta looked to Zecora and she noticed a small glimpse of helplessness in his eyes. "The whole world could crumble, but there would be no use mourning as there is nothing one could have done to prevent it. As is life. A series of events that no single being can be held accountable for."
"That is why we live life as we see fit, rather than worry about the end of it." Zecora said with a nod of understanding.
"In friendlier terms than mine, but precisely how I feel." Delta said, smiling at her.
God damn this arc will be difficult. Have to try and write smartly as well as rhyme constantly.
Well, at least you made a good point with this one.
Zecora must be a bitch to write.
Brilliant. I think you nailed Delta perfectly. I absolutely love hearing philosophy discussions and Delta would deffinately have a fascinating one being the pure embodiment of logic. Great chapter.
I wanna see them in a relationship. There isn't enough of zecora in fanfics these days
SWEET! Delta X Zecora? I can dig it.
this wasnt a very funny chapter
This is my out take on life...
"Mine is 'kill shit'"
Why do I even bother?
Wtf, I was gonna be the third comment, then when I refreshed the was all these other people! Haha anyways great story. And have fun rhyming.
Zecora paused and began looking around, ears moving slightly as if trying to catch a sound
hes starting to rhyme outside of zecoras speach 0.0
1126143 Rhyme Dictionary =D
1126246 Do you mean Rhyming Becktionary?
1126270 Yes.
1126166
A certain up and coming clop writer digs it as well
1126166is that a black dynamite reference?
DAMMIT I SAID INTERCAUSE!
Delta wares on everyone eventually. Let's see how long it takes Zecora.
It is hard to see them NOT in a relationship with how they talk like that sometimes. But a good chapter nonetheless. I can definitely relate to having trouble with rhymes back when I was doing my first fanfic
Thinking about all possibilities made my head ache to the core
good job man. Gonna be interesting to see how these two play out.
Both Delta and Tucker have double helix marks though different 5 bits says Tucker says along the lines of mine is better. everything about me is better bow chicka wow wow. and then he is in the hospital for a week.
This is just one of those chapters that makes stop and think.
Nice chap dude.
1127474
I never will understand men
Call me an optimist but I tend to see the good outweighing the bad in life.
Despite logic, it also depends on an individuals perception
1127535
You never new his dog was named Haley?
1127926
Shh, I was tired and did not sleep (PS - I don't sleep).
I had just watched the following video before checking fimfic.
[youtube=7dWk8SM0GLs]
1127932
Covering up inadequate knowledge with even worse trolling attempts since 1864. Dont worry, I didnt get much sleep either.
1127938
1864... what does the Pope publishing the encyclical Quanta Cura have to do with anything?
1126085
roflrazzi.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/funny-celebrity-pictures-you-can-do-eeeeeeeet.jpg
1126085 I'm good with rhymes. I could write Zecora's dialogue for you.
1128473
That depends young one, what is it you seek?
To become friends with Darkwing, or to be famous for a week?
1129411 I just offer my services wherever required. To become widely famous, I don't really aspire.
i.imgur.com/gv8kO.jpg 1127981
it's... not finished?!
WHAT.
1127560
>Implying you're not a guy.
>Username is 'War'.
>Avatar from Darksiders.
Seems legit.
1129418
Shit's about to go down.
I sure as hay won't be wearing a frown.
1132894
I'm a fangirl dude, I love darksiders, and the name wasn't taken, besides, you guys use the names of the female ponies in the show when your the oppisite sex, so what does it mater?
1127560 its alright we do it on purpose, see if you understood what we meant or what we thought you would shoot us on sight
1132991
it only matters if you let it, point it out and it bites back...
i like War more than i do Death
but i cant wait to see Fury
the whip should be a interesting weapon to play
Delta x Zecora!
2584692 yes.
2584692. IKR!
I have a feeling that delta has more compassion then he's letting on.
Aaauughhh, WHY?! WHY MUST YOU DENY ME MY DELTORA?! I always felt the most sad for Delta and Theta, and all I want is for them to be happy. Sigma, Gamma, and Omega can go to hell for all I care. I just want Tex to find a quiet, happy life, Church to learn to love outside his programming and be happy with Twilight, Delta to learn compassion and happiness from his relationship with Zecora, and Theta to find someone who will comfort, trust, and care for him. Can at least three of these four happen, PLEASE?!
I'm really impressed with how Delta's character in this is. The compliments mixed with logic really makes him more realistic and likeable; much more than the cold, emotionless logic practiced by the Decepticon Shockwave.
Out of all the relationships in this fic, why does this one seem the most random?
5149962 Because Zecora and Delta are the only characters you least expect something wacky, crazy, or insane to happen from them. You can expect from what everyone else does because it's memorable.