Appledashery

by Just Essay

By Any Other Neigh

“Why, hello there, Zecora!” Roseluck beamed from where she stood behind the stall of her open flower vendor in the middle of downtown Ponyville. “Traveling light, today, I see?”

“A very astute thing of you to say,” uttered the zebra through a calm smile. She trotted to a stop beside a flapping pegasus. “I decided to enjoy the fruits of the day.”

“Well, it's certainly beautiful weather for it!” Roseluck tilted her head up and winked at Rainbow Dash. “And we all know who to thank for it.”

“Heh...” Rainbow slicked her mane back. “Wait for it. One of these days, I wanna treat Ponyville to a wicked cool hailstorm!”

“Eheheheh... heh...” Roseluck gulped while a bead of sweat formed against her temple. “That's... n-nice...”

“This is certainly a marvelous floral array!” Zecora said, brightly gazing at the rows upon rows of delicious petals situated in the stand between them. “You must have toiled with much gardening to grow them in such a way.”

“Well...” Roseluck blushed slightly as she glanced aside. “It took a lot of work, to be sure. I've been having a problem with aphids lately...”

“Aphids are still infecting your lawn?” Zecora's muzzle scrunched. “I figured that this time of year, they'd be gone!”

“Well, for some reason, they seem to be lingering in my garden of all places. I've lost a lot of flowers to them.”

“Well, perhaps I should come up with a brew that would be most beneficial for you!”

“Really?” Roseluck gasped, leaning forward. “You could do that?”

“Why, I was experimenting with some ingredients this morning that I'm sure would provide you with—” Zecora stopped in mid-speech upon receiving a monsterous glare from Rainbow Dash. “Uhhhh...” She gulped and smiled nervously at Roseluck. “Tomorrow, I mean, would be a good time to work on a solvent. I fear that I am currently preoccupied at the moment.”

“Heeheehee...” Roseluck nodded. “You just enjoy your day, Zecora. I'd be blessed if you came up with something later this week. As for right now, would you like a tasty treat?”

“Oh, dearest Roseluck, you have my sincere gratitude. But I always save flower petals for science, not intestinal fortitude.”

“Pffft. My blue fuzzy butt, you do!” Rainbow Dash spun towards Roseluck and tossed her a pair of bits. “Two full-blooms for me and my friend.”

“Coming right up!” Roseluck dug into a boucquet and plucked two roses loose. “Crisp and de-thorned!” She tossed them at the pegasus. “Enjoy!”

Rainbow Dash caught them both, then handed one to Zecora.

“Uhhhhh...” Zecora blinked at the flower, then at the pegasus. “What am I required to do?”

Rainbow winked. “You're supposed to eat it.”

“But... but...” Zecora gingerly gasped the item in question, holding it in the crook of her hoof before her like it was a time bomb. “I've only ever tossed these into a bag or a tote, never through my mouth and down my throat...”

“Then you have no friggin' clue what you've been missing, girl.” Rainbow nodded. “Go on! Roseluck totally de-thorned them, remember?”

Zecora fidgeted. She leaned her muzzle forward and gave the petals a pensive lick. Almost instantly, her pupils enlarged. She glanced up at Rainbow Dash.

Rainbow Dash smirked.

Clearing her throat, Zecora took a deep breath, tossed the rose up, and snapped her jaws over it. She munched and munched for a good half-minute before swallowing. She stood still, her eyes hanging shut.

“Hmmm?” Rainbow cocked her head to the side from where she hovered. “Well?”

“It... it...” Zecora's eyes blinked open. “...it is like melting ambrosia bequeathing my stomach a miniature super nova.”

“Heeheehee... Is that a good explosion?”

“It is most certainly not bad,” Zecora said breathily. “I didn't know that such succulent tastes could be had.” She glanced up, her eyes darting to the rose in Rainbow's grip. She instantly winced and looked away.

Rainbow blinked. She looked at her rose, then smirked back at Zecora. “Heh... go on ahead, girl.” She tossed the flower at the zebra. “Knock yourself out.”

Zecora gasped, bringing her hooves together to catch the rose at the last second. “You... you are certain?”

“Yup.” Rainbow nodded. “It's fine. Besides, I had a large breakfast this morning anyway,” she lied.

Zecora took a deep breath. She smiled, then took a far more indulgent bite of the scrumptious morsel this time. Her ears flattened on either side of her monochromatic mane. “Mmmmmmm...”

“Heeheeheee!” Rainbow Dash hugged herself and flew backwards. “Wow! You can lead a zebra to roses, but you can't make her eat like that! Not unless you're awesome, that is...”

“Rainbow, please...” Zecora murmured between luscious bites. “...my brain is like melting cheese.”

“Hah! You don't say!”

Zecora gulped and smiled. “I speak to you honestly. Your kindly favors will be the end of me.”

“Let's test that, shall we?” Rainbow Dash motioned along and led Zecora down the street. “Follow me!”

“Not so swiftly!” Zecora struggled to catch up. “Where are you taking me?”

“There's something I've always wanted to try out,” Rainbow said, squinting courageously. “Though I'd rather die than attempt it with the rest of the girls.”

“And what is that?”

“Something that Rarity's really into,” Rainbow Dash said. “She calls it... nnngh... 'shopping.'”

Comments

[BabySkittleMonster]

“There's something I've always wanted to try out,” Rainbow said, squinting courageously. “Though I'd rather die than attempt it with the rest of the girls.”
“And what is that?”
“Something that Rarity's really into,” Rainbow Dash said. “She calls it... nnngh... 'shopping.'”

This made my day. If only the girls could trot in on them when Dashie is trying on some "frou-frou" dress or something... I absolutely adore your version of Zecora! She's always been an awesome character but you included an entirely new aspect of her I never even considered. In case I haven't made it blatantly obvious how much I love this story..:
I AM IN LOVE WITH THIS STORY! I WOULD QUITE HAPPILY MARRY IT AND SPEND THE REST OF MY DAYS WORSHIPPING THE VERY GROUND IT FLOPS AROUND ON IF IT WERE AN ACTUAL ANIMATE OBJECT WITH INTELLIGENCE AND/OR LIFE!

[Lightning Bearer]

I totally just had an image of Rainbow and Zecora walking through a mall, giggling, with shopping bags on their backs from stores with ridiculous names like Haycy's and Abercrombie & Hitch.

Also, this raises an interesting question of what Zecora does eat. The Everfree Forest isn't exactly a supermarket.

[zaponator]

That's some mighty cute zebra you got there.

[RoboRed]

*squeeee* Zercora munching on a flower!!

[YoshiFawful64]

It just struck me how Rainbow is telling Zecora to let go of her worries and just relax for once, yet she can't do so herself.

[The Danish Adonis]

She leaned her muzzle forward and gave the petals a pensive lick.

Well, there's a line you usually only see in clop.

... I know, i know. I'll show myself out.

[Metal Aura]

4537607 WHY ARE WE YELLING!?

That aside I'm concerned that RD has/is/will given/giving/give Zecora a strong addiction.

[Seraphimus]

4537607 I ship it. You and the story that is. i wish you much happiness in your life together.

[arancaytar]

“Pffft. My blue fuzzy butt, you do!”

Aaaaaand drink

[SnowOriole]

rainbow im glad youre having a great time with zecora but please FEED YOURSELF gosh