incountering the crazy zebra
The forest had gone wild. Everywhere changeling number 260514, looked giant dark thorns were after him. By the queen! Why did I have to be sent to the Everfree? Number 260514 searched for a safe place as if his life depended on it, because by the looks of it, it very well was. That’s when he noticed it a small hut, not even bothering to disguise himself he dove straight in. Luckily there was nopony there. Of course no one would live out in the forest! This hut was probably abandoned long ago, and got swallowed in by the growth of the forest.
The thorns thrashed against the hut several times, but fortunately not a single one got in. Relieved, number 260514 (don’t worry he’ll soon get a real name) found a cozy place to sleep out the madness, which was right under the bed. Never underestimate how one can find comfort in such odd places.
A couple hours later he awoke to quietness, it would seem the forest had returned to normal, well as normal as the Everfree could get that is. Now the changeling could return to his hunt for love from small animals. As he crawled out from under the bed he heard hoof steps, had this place actually been lived in? And did they just leave to go to town for refuge from the forest’s hissy fit? No time to think about that now, 260514 would have to don a disguise, but thanks to the panic he couldn’t visualize any pony he ever seen, so he had no choice but to make a disguise up!
Just as the changeling put up his disguise a zebra walked into the hut, surprised by the unexpected house guest the zebra gasped.
“You gave me quite a scare,
Didn’t expect anypony to be there”
The changeling now disguised as a grown white unicorn, with a messy red mane, and no cutie mark. “Well you see miss, I was just roaming the forest when things went crazy, so I came here for shelter, didn’t think anyl- anypony lived here, sorry.”
The zebra just smiled, didn’t seem it bothered her at all.
“Ah, now I see,
so brave you must be
to journey Everfree.
Though all that mess
could cause anypony distress.”
Surprised by the zebra’s way of speak, the changeling muttered to himself. “What is with all this rhyming?”
Concern now in the zebra’s face.
“Sir, are you Okay?
Perhaps you ought to stay.
One moment you stutter,
The next you mutter.”
“Well miss --- umm….. Well miss, I really don’t know what to call you.”
“If that is what you want to learn,
The name is Zecora, your turn.”
A name that was something the changeling forgot. Well he’d just have to make something up on the spot.
“Just call me Zen (thank you, letter number cipher). Well Miss Zecora, What is with all the rhyming?”
“ My constant rhyme?,
I can’t help but do it all the time.
Is that the reason for the stutters,
Along with the mutters?
That is quite rude,
I suggest you work on your attitude.”
The changeling now known as Zen, just had his curiosity peaked. “ I am sorry miss, Zecora was it? I didn’t mean to be rude, I’ve just never met anypony with such a unique aptitude.”
Catching that he had done started rhyming himself, Zen started to laugh. “Now you even got me doing it! You’re quite the interesting one Zecora, if that offer of me staying awhile is still on table, I’d like to take you up on it.”
Zecora took Zen’s last few sentences to heart.
“ No harm done
Our friendship has just begun.
As for the stay,
That would still be okay.”
“Thank you very much Miss Zecora, Well it appears to be getting late. Would you mind if I just crash here on the floor?”
Zecora was ready to answer, in what could only assume would have been her natural rhyming way. Before a word could escape her lips however, Zen had done collapsed. A slight giggle escaped her.
You have had a tiresome day,
Anywhere you sleep is ok.
The sun rose the next morning, The sound of birds’ song awakening the inhabitants of the small hut.
“ I trust you slept well,
By your snoring I could tell.”
“Well good morning to you to Zecora, now who is it being rude?”
“You should learn,
What you give you’ll receive in turn.”
Zen smirked at this. “Yes very well said, and since you have done helped me so much, I was hoping you would let me help you with your little problem.”
“ What do you mean?,
What problem have you seen?”
“Aha! There it is right there! Your bad habit of only speaking in rhyme. I believe it is probably caused by some kind of trauma from your past. Thus I would like to hear about your life so that I might help you overcome this issue.”
Zecora’s jaw dropped unable to believe what she heard.
“What do you think you are a psychologist?
A career nothing about you would suggest.
I see not even a spark
Of any such cutie mark.”
(Dang!, That’s what I forgot a cutie mark!) “A psychologist me? No, shoot I don’t even have my cutie mark yet. I’m just a good listener. It’s always good to have one of them around, just getting something off your chest, can be the best of remedies at times. Well wouldn’t you agree Zecora?”
“Sure, since you want to know,
This is my tale of woe...”
“Wait, Wait, WAIT!, Before we start that perhaps we should try some talking exercises? I’d go crazy if your whole story was told to me in nothing but rhyme so…”
“Hold on Zen,
Don’t try and tell me when.
If my story, you want to know,
Then I shall tell it in its natural glow!”
Zen forced a deep gulp. (By the queen what kind of mess have I got myself in?)