Evenfall

by Yinglung

Chapter 9 – A Dream If Ever There Was One

The Mane Six and Spike was walking on the streets of Ponyville. Ponies gasped wherever they walked to, and hid behind stalls, bushes, or the doors of their homes. Parents frantically hid their foals. It’s as if the terrors from Tartarus were trotting up on them.

“I sometimes disliked rural backwoods, ponies here are so—” Twilight bit her tongue before she uttered words unsuitable for Spike’s ears. The other mares glared at Twilight, but they then too simply shook their heads.

A hooded figure trotted in front of the group at some distance. The figure had not noticed the mares and dragon behind them, nor did that figure seemed to care about the reactions from the ponies in Ponyville

“What’s with the fear and panic anyway? The town ponies did not even hide themselves up like that when they had heard Nightmare Moon returned!” Spike asked.

“… That’s quite an unseemly aspect in pony society, Spike.” Twilight said with some pain in her voice.

Spike was shocked at Twilight’s words. “What do you mean? Who’s that hooded pony anyway?”

Applejack said with some shame in her tone. “Uh, that’s Zecora.”

“She’s a zebra from faraway lands.” Fluttershy added.

“East Zebrica, if you could recall from the geography book I gave you a week ago.” Twilight said.

Spike scratched his head and made a clueless expression. Twilight saw his face and added, “… The one across the South Luna Ocean, remember?”

“Oh! Now I remember. Whoa, that’s quite some way from Equestria!” Spike exclaimed, “What’s she doing here?”

“We don’t know. Probably something to do with the rich and strange wildlife and magic in the Everfree. After all, it is a place containing materials worth studying for decades and more.”

Twilight explained. “In any case, it is her personal freedom to do whatever she wants. Equestria, as far as I know, do not directly administer lands within the Everfree. And she probably have cleared customs to enter the Kingdom anyway, I suppose.”

“So why are the town ponies so scared?” Spike asked with a quizzical look.

“Well, we Ponyvillians are afraid of Zecora. Most of us are not used to seeing creatures other than ponies here. Even Gilda earned more than a few glares when she was here. You Spike are an exception because you usually followed us around, so you might not have noticed it.” Applejack explained. “But Zecora… She was equine and somewhat like us, but yet completely strange.”

“She’s also a super secretive zebra, living in the Everfree and walking into Ponyville with a hood then promptly leave, once every month! Like a very punctual ghost!” Pinkie then howled and made scary ghost noises.

“Yeah, but not knowin’ about others is not an excuse to be insensitive. Even we haven’t realized until Twilight’s arrival.” Applejack said.

Twilight shook her head. “Well, you can say ponies are sometimes an easily scared and provincial bunch, who are quick to reject unfamiliar things out of hooves, without knowing that it might hurt someone. Some of them even harbored some vile discrimination against non-ponies. As far as I know, Zecora’s just digging for herbs and buying materials for her brews, nothing harmful.”

“If you all know this, what are you waiting for? Go talk to her and explain to the town ponies then!” Spike said.

“We can’t yet. Ponies here are also quite superstitious. They think that Zecora is a witch zebra and… uh, an evil enchantress, who curses ponies that cross her path.” Twilight replied. “We might be seen as… cursed if we just talked to her publicly as well. We need to find a quieter place first.”

Spike nodded, as they continued to follow the hooded Zecora around. The zebra eventually finished her works in Ponyville, and began to leave for Everfree again.

The group followed the zebra closely and trotted into the thick forest. That’s when Applejack saw her little sister Apple Bloom, also following the zebra from another side, hiding herself somewhat clumsily behind a tree.

She shook her head and smiled. She quietly moved towards the young filly, and sneakily touched the filly’s back with a hoof. “Boo!”

Apple Bloom let out a frightful yelp, but was quickly silenced by a hoof in the mouth. She turned around and saw it was just her big sister.

“Whew, don’t scare me like that, big sis!” Apple Bloom groaned.

“An’ what’s ya little rascal doin’ in here? Everfree ain’t no place for a little filly y’know?” Applejack smiled despite the disapproving words.

Apple Bloom was relieved that her big sister was not going to punish her. “Ah’m followin’ Zecora an’ see if I can dig up somethin’, since all other ponies said she’s evil. You said so yerself a few months ago, dontcha?”

Applejack slapped her own forehead with her hoof, and awkwardly offered, “Well, uh yeah, Ah guess Ah did say that. But Ah was wrong, that’s why Ah and my friends are goin’ to talk to her and try to make things right.”

The other mares have joined Applejack from behind. Twilight said to the young filly, “Now that you’re here, Apple Bloom, you should join and follow us closely. Applejack would hate us forever if we lost you in the Everfree, won’t ya AJ?”

“Huh, that would never happen on mah watch. Now let’s go and watch yer steps, young’un.” Applejack said.

As the group again started to trail the mysterious zebra, Apple Bloom couldn’t help but ask. “Why are y’all so sure that Zecora’s not evil? Ah mean, isn’t that what all the ponies in Ponyville say?”

Twilight gulped, obviously she couldn’t say it was because of some weird ancient magic and foreknowledge, so she just said. “Uh, we did some investigative work ourselves by following her around and closely observing her. It turned out that she’s just shopping and digging around for her brews.”

“Brews? Is that made with… Gasp…” Apple Bloom’s eyes went wide.

“No, lil’ sis, that’s incredibly silly an’ insultin’ to Zecora to even suggest that.” Applejack cut her sister off. “Those brews are just natural remedies for different ailments.”

“Natural remedies, mm, that are good for herbal spas,” Rarity smiled.

Twilight was thinking direly for a bit-making scheme that did not look out of place for somepony like her, and she finally set her eyes on Zecora. She rubbed her hooves together and said with a big grin.

“And wonderful, shiny bits, if we can market it.”

“Hey Twi, I wonder who’s that righteous pony who told me that you have to rein in your greed?” Spike mocked the purple pony.

Twilight’s face turned a bright red, as the other mares laughed at her hypocrisy.

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The group has patiently followed behind the hooded zebra, and walked for quite a while in the Everfree Forest.

“Everyone look! A field of beautiful blue flowers!” Apple Bloom suddenly leapt forth and beamed.

Apple Bloom’s joyous cheer seemed to have reached the zebra’s ears. She turned her head back and warned. “Beware! Beware, you pony folk! Those leaves of blue are not a joke!”

But the ponies did not even wait for Zecora to finish her sentence to take action. Twilight grinded her teeth and casted a swift spell. The little sister of Applejack was tucked back by the purple glow so quickly, that Applejack was knocked back a few steps when she caught Apple Bloom.

“What were you doing, Apple Bloom? Those Poison Jokes are dange… well, not exactly dangerous, but it plays really mean jokes on you! Worse than those mean ponies that called you ‘blank flank’!” Twilight snapped.

“A—Ah’m sorry, missus Twilight… Is it really that bad?” Apple Bloom slightly flinched at the thought of being called that mean title.

“I’m sorry for bringing up the mean ponies, but yes! If you touch those accursed Poison Joke, it might, um, turn your every uttered word into ‘apple’!” Twilight said.

Apple Bloom imagined the situation. It would indeed be incredibly annoying if she could say nothing but ‘apple’, but she also couldn’t help but snicker at the sentence ‘apple apple apple apple apple’.

Twilight ignored the snickering young filly who obviously didn’t quite catch her seriousness, and turned to the hooded zebra. “Thank you, Zecora, for your kind advice.”

“You are very welcome, o Purple one! Poison Joke are hard to cure, once the deed’s done!” Zecora said.

“My name’s Twilight Sparkle, student of Princess Celestia. We would like to talk to you about many things. We’re very sorry that the ponies treated you like you were some sort of evil presence. We apologize for those prejudice and ignorance.” Twilight apologized for the group.

“Twilight Sparkle, your kindness is like the sun after a rain shower. Are there anything you need from dear ol’ Zecora?”

“Ah, I would like to know whether you speak Zezulu or Cowhili as your first language?”

Zecora was surprised at Twilight’s query, “Why would it matter to the purple pony, if Zecora speaks either Zezulu or Cowhili?”

Twilight smiled and simply said in Zezulu.

“Because this.”

Zecora gazed at Twilight for a while, then said bashfully.

“In fact, I can only speak Cowhili. I was born in South Zebrica, but I grew up with the cows near the sea.”

She then smiled at the purple pony.

“Twilight Sparkle, you’re no ordinary pony.”

Twilight simply smiled.

“I just want…”

Twilight suddenly felt something pulled at her side. She turned to find a curious-looking Apple Bloom, and a confused Spike.

“Oh dear, I forgot that some of us here do not know your tongue, Zecora. Maybe we shall revert to Equestrian for the time being, if you don’t mind?” Twilight said.

“I’m not at all troubled. In fact my knowledge of the old tongue is all muddled.” Zecora chuckled. “Why don’t you all come to my humble cottage, to share what we have in our knowledge?”

The group then followed Zecora to her hut inside the Everfree forest. Apple Bloom was amazed at Twilight’s linguistic knowledge, “Wow, missus Twilight, you are like a living multi-language dictionary!”

“Well, Apple Bloom, actually my friends also know a lot of languages, including your big sister.”

Apple Bloom’s mouth opened at the surprising information.

“I also taught Spike some. If you are interested at learning more, you’re always welcome to borrow some books at the library. I can also offer you lessons in my free time.”

Apple Bloom balked a bit at the idea of having to read some boring books, so she just offered an awkward smile to Twilight. That’s when the group finally arrived at the hut.

“Enter my humble abode, where the scent of my brews flowed!” Zecora invited the group inside her hut.

The hut was basically a hollowed out tree house, similar to Twilight’s tree library. Vials and bottles of potions hanged from the branches, and tribal decoration like large masks adorned the side and the front of the tree.

The group went inside to find a room filled with yet more flasks and masks. “So what is that the ponies want to discuss, in this room where there are nine of us?”

“Wise Zecora, we simply want to introduce you properly to the town folks. I believe that most ponies in Ponyville are not prejudiced by natural inclination, and you are just poorly understood. We are out to make friends, and if you would be so gracious to forgive the ponies’ past mistakes, we would be most grateful.” Twilight said.

“You have extended a hoof of peace, I agree that the misconception shall cease.”

“Thank you Zecora, for yer forgiveness.” Applejack said for the native Ponyvillians.

“Indeed, thank you. There are two more things that we want to ask of you, Zecora.” Twilight added.

“Speak forth my friend, this zebra shall patiently attend.”

“First, I want to ask if you still have any connection to your native lands. I come from the royal capital of Equestria, and I would be pleased if we can establish some sort of correspondence with Zebrica.” Twilight asked, in hope that Zecora could provide some useful connections.

Unfortunately for Twilight, Zecora merely shook her head and said. “From the lands of sunrise I’ve long gone, any connection I’d built I’ve long withdrawn.”

The mares were slightly disappointed, as they had hoped that Zecora might have some foreign background that might aid in their quest in Equestria, without upsetting the local hierarchy.

“No problem, Zecora. Then I have a proposal that might be… mutually beneficial.” Twilight smiled as she unthinkingly clasped her hooves like a stereotypical merchant, earning a roll-eye from Spike.

Zecora was slightly surprised by Twilight’s sudden proposal, but she nevertheless asked, “What does Twilight want to trade, from what Zecora has made?”

“I am very interested in the herbal mixes you’re producing in your hut. I myself also study the making of potions and brews, but obviously lacking in comparison to a master brewer like you.”

Twilight flattered the zebra, who smiled at her praise. “So I would like to, let’s say, make a contract with you, to regularly produce ready-to-use potions for ailments and herbal remedies. Besides, bath mix is in chic in bigger cities, so we would like to have some of that as well.”

“Forgive this zebra for being calculating and practical, but what would you offer for my service in capital?” Zecora was glad that she might have a steady stream of income, which would allow her to interact with the ponies in more convenient ways. But she had to know what price Twilight offered first.

Twilight deliberated for a while, and said, “Around 15 golden bits for each bottle of potion depending on its strength, use, and raw materials. Herbal remedies, 5 golden bits per dram, again subject to the particulars. All flexible of course.”

Zecora’s eyes widened slightly. This was a fair enough offer, a bit generous even, consider that Twilight had also given her almost free rein to tack on extra cost depending on the difficulty of the brew. But still, she wanted to try if she could get more out of it.

“Zecora’s amenable to your offer, but certainly you’ve got a bigger coffer?”

“You’re a tenacious negotiator, Zecora,” Twilight grinned, “Very well. For the sake of our new friendship, I will raise the base offer for each items by 2 bits.”

“Your deals are fair, Twilight. I’m pleased that you’ve seen the light.” Zecora smiled, “Now what about the bath mix, which you asked the zebra to fix?”

“Ah, bath mixes… you wouldn’t believe it, Zecora, but some rich ponies would pay up to 100 bits for a hoof-ful of high-quality mixes.”

The number caused Zecora’s eyes to go wide again.

“In any case, we should aim for a wider market and sell the mixes to different tiers of customers, so perhaps if there are three levels of quality, let’s say common, high, and exquisite, I could offer 10, 30, and 50 bits per dram respectively.”

“… Hmm… Twilight, you are a pony with extraordinary bit-making acumen, I wonder what you’re doing as a mere student?” Zecora couldn’t help but make a joke at the purple pony’s expense.

Twilight blushed again. ‘Why does everyone seem to hint that I’m some greedy small mind today?’

She coughed, “… Thank you for your praise, Zecora. So what say you on my offer?”

“For this zebra the sorting will be trivial. I’d be glad to make this deal official.” Zecora nodded.

“Uh, Zecora,” Applejack interjected. “Our farm produces a lot of apples and apple-related products. Ah wonder if any o’ those would be useful in your brews and remedies? If so, we can cooperate. Ah can even offer equipment, space and mah hooves if ya need them.”

Zecora thought for a moment. “I might indeed add to my brews some apples. Let me check my stock and ask you for some barrels.”

Pinkie also beamed. “Oh oh, Zecora! I have something as well! I bake all kinds of sweets and cakes in Ponyville, cupcakes, scones, cheesecakes, you name it! It makes my heart leap with pure joy to see ponies enjoying my baked goods! I wonder if you have some formula that will, say, make food taste better… and stronger? Like, make sweet food really sweet and sour food really sour?”

“To the cheery pink pony I say, the answer to this question is ‘yea’.” Zecora smiled, “Fermenting cassava roots with the distills of night soil, and gently in the brew we broth and boil; yields a white powder as shiny as crystal white, which makes your tongue filled with taste every bite!”

Apple Bloom was a bit disgusted. “Eww, gross! Zecora, do you really mean it when you want to add, uh, meadow muffins into foods?”

Before Zecora even answered, Applejack turned to her sister and said. “Silly Apple Bloom, Zecora don’t mean just addin’ dungs into our food, she’d extract some of the useful stuffs from it first. If there’s no useful stuffs in manure, why do we add them to our fields, hmm?”

Apple Bloom’s jaw hanged slightly open, that’s when Rarity chimed in as well. “Zecora, dear, Fluttershy and I would also like to buy some bath mixes, not for resale, but for our own use. There’s a spa and bathhouse in town, we might be able to use them not only in our homes but also there.”

Zecora nodded and trotted to gather a few bags of bath mixes for Rarity. Twilight gestured to the rest of the group. “Well, it’s time everyone, we should go back and introduce Zecora properly this time, with our total support and my blessing as the Princess’s student.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The group eventually made it back to the town late in the afternoon. At the group’s behest, Zecora had removed her hood this time. Ponies still fled or hid in their steps, some even fearful that the heroes of the Summer Sun Celebration had been enchanted by the evil zebra.

Twilight sighed and tried her best to maintain a smile. They then visited the shops originally closed to Zecora, and tried to buy the brewing materials. They arrived at the flower shop, where they found the frightened Rose, Daisy and Lily Valley, hiding and clattering their teeth behind closed door.

Twilight forcefully knocked on the door, “Ponies, we need to talk.”

The other two mares still won’t come out and see Twilight, but Daisy stuck her head out in an unsure expression, “… Yes?”

Twilight gave a relieved sigh, and said. “Well…”

The ponies, Zecora and Spike trotted all around town and tried to explain to as many ponies as possible that Zecora was not someone to be feared or hated. Many ponies, although visibly uncertain, were willing to reach out to her after some effortful explanations.

For some ponies, Twilight had to slip in a few deal sweeteners or even bits outright in order to persuade them to try to accept Zecora, an act that made herself a bit uncomfortable and Zecora somewhat awkward. But fortunately, there were also some ponies, especially the young ones, that were more than ready to just accept Zecora as she was. Snails and Snips were delighted and wanted to see the ‘extreme’ brewing in action, causing the mares and dragon to laugh out loud.

Still, to the dismay of Twilight and other mares, there were some unreasonable ponies, some vicious even, who were eager to curse and call names upon seeing the face of the zebra, and refused to listen whatsoever. Twilight passionately argued for Zecora and then apologized to the zebra, who reassured the group that she was used to that and she didn’t mind.

A somewhat bizarre experience was had in the residence of Filthy Rich. Although his daughter, Diamond Tiara, all but scoffed at the ‘weird stripe pony’, he himself was greatly impressed by Zecora’s products. Upon hearing that Twilight already drafted up a comprehensive production and marketing plan and made a deal with Zecora, he immediately offered to chip in. Twilight instead offered to cut him a portion of the profit if he provided his resale network, which he gladly accepted.

Filthy Rich even praised the Princess’s student as one of the youngest and brightest entrepreneur in Equestria. She gulped in embarrassment, although she also wondered if he’s just buttering her up for a better deal or wanting to get close to her since she’s close to the Princess.

As the day drew to a close, Zecora bid the mares and dragon farewell. “Thank you for today o kind mares and dragon, you teach me that luck and kindness might simply happen.”

“You’re welcome, Zecora. We still have a long time in the future where we can meet and chat.” Twilight smiled.

“And earn bits?” Spike helpfully added.

“Spike! I—I’m done with all your mocking!” Twilight galloped after the gleefully fleeing baby dragon. The group watched in slight shock, but then burst into a cheerful laughter.

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“Alright Twi, I promise I won’t say you’d become, uh, bigger because you’re so greedy again. Now don’t be all frowny.” Spike grinned as he scratched his head.

Twilight said. “You said it yourself, Spike!”

Spike then cleared his throat and asked, “Um, this time it’s serious, Twilight, but what do need all the bits for? Isn’t the stipend from Canterlot and the wage you received as town librarian more than enough for our daily lives?”

Twilight turned and watched out of the windows.

“Spike, I…”

Twilight had always deeply worried about having to tell Spike about her encounter in the Ivory Tower. She figured that she couldn’t tell Spike that they needed bits because they were out hunting for future villains, because it would raise the question of how the knowledge came from. But she could at least imply that the bits could be used for bigger, more long-term changes.

She sighed. “… You remember that I once said I moved away from Canterlot, because I want to do things on my own, right?”

Spike nodded. Twilight then continued, “No matter what we’re going to do, bits are going to be useful. Now Spike, this is different with merely lusting for more wealth, because we do have plans to do bigger things in future, in and out of Ponyville and Equestria.”

Spike raised an eyebrow and asked suspiciously. “And those plans of yours might be…?”

Twilight gritted her teeth and said, “… We want to build a better world, Spike. I’ll not be shy and I will admit that I possess good magical talent, and so do my friends with their various abilities. Eventually, we want to rise above the citizenry and change things… from a higher place.”

Spike’s eyes slightly widened as he thought about what Twilight’s just said.

“Obviously, Spike, there is a long, long way to go. Don’t think much about it for the moment, and don’t think anything silly. Think of this just as storing hay for the winter, hmm?” Twilight tried to reassure Spike.

Spike gulped and said. “Okay, Twi… By the way, do you need to write a friendship report?”

“Oh right,” Twilight said, “Thank you Spike, for your always timely reminder.”

“So what are you going to write, the joy of making bits?” Spike jested.

“What have you just said, Spike?” Twilight glared at the dragon, who raised his arms in capitulation. “We, of course, are going to write about Zecora… although…”

“Although what?” Spike asked.

Twilight sighed. “Um, the Princess and I might disagree on some specifics regarding the treatment of non-ponies in the Kingdom. So we better be careful in our wordings.”

Spike could not believe what he’d just heard. “You disagree with the Princess?”

“Yes, Spike, I do. Perhaps it’s time that I tell you that Princess Celestia, however kind, wise and powerful, is not infallible. She is but a pony herself, and she could make mistakes, just like how her negligence back then caused Luna to corrupt and rebel.”

Spike gasped, but Twilight continued. “I have a moral duty to uphold my beliefs about what’s right or wrong. But Celestia… She could be very stubborn. After all, her way has worked, in her eyes, for a thousand years and more. That had made her reluctant to change the way she ruled her kingdom. Not that Equestria is a bad place to live, but it could have been better, much better, and not just for ponies, but griffons, dragons, zebras, and all other living creatures.”

Twilight thought of something when she uttered the word ‘creature’ as she winced slightly. “… And I, and my friends, intend to make it so.”

Spike stared at Twilight and went speechless for a long while. He eventually said, “I see, Twilight.”

“Please Spike, I… this wish of mine is one of my biggest secrets, and I haven’t told anyone not involved other than you. Princess Celestia would not like it if she knows. So please, under no circumstance, tell the Princess or others about this, I beg of you.” Twilight kneeled on the ground and leaned in on Spike.

The dragon gulped, and slowly nodded. “I will never betray your secret to others, Twilight.”

“Thank you Spike, now let’s write that letter to Princess as my homework this week. I will phrase it so that it is not directly related to pony prejudice.”

“Dear Princess Celestia,

My friends and I all learned an important lesson this week: Never judge a book by its cover. Someone may look unusual, or funny, or scary. But you have to look past that and learn who they are inside. Real friends don't care what your cover is; it's the contents of a pony that count. And a good friend, like a good book, is something that will last forever.

Your faithful student,
Twilight Sparkle”

Spike wrote the letter with the quill quickly as Twilight dictated, but his mind was filled with a hundred thoughts. He automatically sent in the letter via his magic breath with a largely unfocused mind.

Twilight looked at her dragon, and sighed. She hoped that it would come a day that she could tell the dragon the truth of her experiences.

Comments

[ferret]

grubbed her hooves

[hmaf43]

They going to become god of new world lol