>At least you recognized the path you were on.
>You were near the field where you had first arrived heading to Fluttershy's house.
>Assuming that her house was past the lake next to the Everfree, you were definitely going the right way.
>You paused and looked around for Applejack.
>Nowhere to be seen.
>In fact there was no other creature in sight.
>As soon as you began walking, it started to pour out of nowhere.
>You were utterly drenched within seconds.
>Great.
>Although it could probably add a nice sympathy factor when you spoke with Fluttershy.
>Within a few minutes you reached a small stream.
>It rained the entire trip. You eventually stopped noticing it.
>Spanning the stream was a small bridge leading to a pleasant looking cottage.
>It was actually pretty scenic out here away from town.
>Just past the cottage was the Everfree Forest.
>You walked up to the door and knocked lightly.
>You heard the clopping of hooves approaching the other side of the door.
>"Yes, who is it?"
"Uh hey Fluttershy. It's me Anon. I was hoping you could help me out.
You heard the unlocking of many locks from the inside.
 
>Either she was paranoid or the forest was every bit as dangerous as you had been frequently told.
>The door creaked open as she peeked out from behind it.
>As soon as she saw you, her eyes opened wide.
>"Oh my. How did you get so wet?"
"It's been raining for the past..."
>The rain had stopped. You were already cold and soaked so you hadn't noticed its end.
"Uh... it was raining really hard up until now."
>She looked confused.
>"B-But it's been sunny all... I guess I wasn't paying attention. Please come in Anon. We'll get you dry and warm."
>You were relieved by hr invitation, and were again moved by her genuine concern.
"Thank you Fluttershy. I really appreciate it. I have to tell you though. I've done something pretty bad..."
>She turned to look at you, astonishment on her face.
>"What did you do?"
"I kind of accidentally burned down Applejack's barn."
>She gasped.
>"Oh I'm sure she's very angry. If it was an accident, then you can stay here as long as you need to. I mean if you wanted to..."
>This was both good and bad news.
>Good because you had somewhere to be.
>Bad because you had even more evidence that Applejack's retribution was most likely inevitable, and would probably hurt.
 
>She was definitely a tough p0ny.
>That much you had assumed when you met her.
>"Okay Anon. First things first. You need to get, um... undressed. I'll get you a blanket so we can get your clothes dry."
>Before you could even think that you had another Rarity situation on your hands, a rolled up blanket was tossed into the room and the door was shut.
>"I'm going to make us some food Anon. I'm sure you're hungry."
>As you stripped down and wrapped yourself in the blanket, you replied:
"I am, and I would be very grateful for anything to eat."
>You meant it.
>This level of kindness was more than you expected from any creature.
>You folded your clothes and stepped out of the corner you were standing in.
>You had tried to minimize the amount of floor you had gotten wet.
>It was the least you could do.
>You remembered both what Pinkie had said about bridges and how nice but fragile Fluttershy was.
>At least at this point, being courteous was an active choice you could make.
>Fluttershy knocked on the door.
>"I have a couple of salads for us, Anon. Are you d-d..."
"Decent? Yes."
>She entered the room.
>"I'm really sorry that you got so wet Anon."
"It's no one's fault really. I'm warm now though. I sincerely mean this when I say, thank you for your hospitality Fluttershy. You were the last p0ny I could turn to."
 
>"Oh anything you've done can be forgiven Anon."
>You couldn't help but to frown.
"I hope so. I also hope this latest incident with the barn blows over at some point too."
>"I'm sure Applejack won't be too mad. She's a sweet p0ny at heart, really."
>You nodded as you quickly ate the salad.
>It wasn't much, but it was better than nothing.
"Fluttershy, is there anything I can do to help you out? You know, to pay you back for your kindness."
>You figured it was time to try a different approach to your relations with the p0nies.
>"Well actually, I was just about to go feed the chickens. They're awfully hungry this time of day."
"I would love to help you. How many do you have?"
>"Oh only a few permanent residents. The rest come and go as they please."
>You had finished your salad, so you stood up and followed Fluttershy outside.
>The coop was behind her house.
>Your eyes scanned the area, making a mental note of its layout.
>She handed you a bag of dried corn and seeds.
>The two of you stood in the center of the yard and tossed the food on the ground.
>The chickens appeared from all over the area, congregating at your feet.
>There were a good fifteen chickens happily pecking away at the ground.
>"So Anon, do you like animals?"
 
>Choose your words carefully.
"I do. I've had cats and dogs for pets in the past. They made good companions when I had no one else."
>She looked at you with sympathy.
>"What do you mean? Were you alone?" She looked away. "I know what that's like."
"I have been for a long time. I'm sure you understand then, just how important animals can be to the lonely."
>She nodded sadly and looked down.
>Damn. You hadn't meant to make her sad. Not everyone was as emotionally detached as you made yourself be.
"But you have many friends. I know for a fact that Twilight thinks highly of you, and you and Rarity go to that spa pretty often, right?"
>She turned to you smiling now.
>"And I know Twilight really likes you Anon. And for what its worth, I l-like you too. Maybe not like Twilight does, but you are a nice p0ny."
>Despite being called a p0ny again, that was nice to hear.
"It's worth a lot to me actually Fluttershy. Thank you again."
>She nodded happily and the two of you wordlessly continued feeding the chickens.
>Nothing else needed to be said.
__________________________________________________
>You are now lying on Flutteshy's couch deciding whether or not to betray her trust.
>After spending the rest of the day helping her with her various chores, you were having a real mental debate.
 
>She hadn't been kidding when she said that she was a busy mare.
>It seemed like half of the animals in Equestria relied on her in one way or another.
>She had been so painfully nice to you.
>That was why you were having such trouble making your decision.
>You were hungry.
>That small salad hadn't been enough to sate your hunger.
>Hell it barely touched it.
>You considered going to the bakery, but it was a long walk and it was pretty late.
>You would rather wait a couple more days in Fluttershy's sanctuary before facing Applejack.
>Every few minutes you heard a gentle clucking from just outside the window.
>Fucking chickens.
>They were tempting you.
>There were so many of them and their number wasn't precisely watched...
>But Fluttershy... you didn't know how she would take it if she found out, animal lover that she was...
>It would be risky and mortally abhorrent of you, your mind said definitively.
>But you were so hungry whispered your stomach...
>You gave in.
>Slowly you stood up and crept to the back door.
>Quietly you opened it and slipped out.
>You made your way to the coop and surveyed the selection.
 
>You chose a plump hen just inside the coop, cooing softly in her sleep.
>Even the fucking livestock was cute here.
>You grabbed the chicken and ran like hell to the forest.
>As you ran away along the treeline, the chicken began to make a fuss, possibly sensing the immenent danger.
>You broke its neck and the squawking was cut off.
>Fucking stone cold.
>The deed was done, no going back now.
>You would just act like nothing happened.
>Easy enough.
>Eventually you reached a depression into the forest leading to a small clearing hidden from view.
>Perfect.
>Covering your quarry with your shirt on the grass, you went to look for firewood along the forest's edge.
>You were careful not to actually go in.
>After collecting an armful of accessible branches that you broke off from the trees you made your way back to the center of the clearing.
>You stacked them, and went about de-feathering the chicken.
>You made a makeshift spit, carefully arranged the wood, and skewered the bird on a stick.
>Getting the fire started was the hardest part. Eventually you ripped a piece of your shirt off, set fire to that, and tossed it into the firepit.
>You began to slowly turn the spit as you smelled the chicken cooking.
>Fat from the chicken dripped into the fire and sizzled upon contact.
 
>Instinctively, you licked your lips.
>Why did something so wrong have to smell so good?
>Wrong? No.
>No one would ever know.
>Just then you heard a rustling in the brush behind you.
>It could be a p0ny or a wild Everfree creature.
>Either way you were pretty fucked.
>You turned to see a hooded figure approaching the lit area around you.
>You grabbed a flaming stick from the fire and stood as fast as you could.
"Stop right there. What do you want?"
>The figure spoke in a melodic voice:
>"Drifting through my home a smell did come.
>I came to see if you would share some."
>The stranger resembled a p0ny, but one of them sure as hell wouldn't touch meat. What was with the rhyming too?
"Next to me, come have a seat.
All I've got's a bit of meat."
>You could definitely rhyme too.
>"Your kindness, I think, I'd like to enjoy,
>but I suspect a predatory ploy.
>Prove to me that you won't bite,
>and I'll join you in this fire's light."
 
>Alliteration too?
>Clearly a female, and a damned paranoid one at that.
>She must live in the forest itself.
"I've eaten my fill of plants and bread.
Surely you can trust all that I've said.
Dine with me and you will see
I can be pleasant company."
>You gestured to the space beside you.
>She laughed.
>"Your verse I see, can change its form.
>I too can be free from the norm,
>though it opens me to scorn
>from those to which I was born."
>With that, she removed her cloak and sat beside you.
>A zebra.
>With tribal ornaments and jewelry at that.
"The sight of you, to me, is a wonder.
To not hear your tale would be a blunder."
>You handed her a drumstick from the newly cooked chicken.
>"Your taste for flesh tells me you
>are a stranger here as I am too."
>She pulled a strip of chicken from the bone and swallowed.
 
>"Long has it been since chicken I ate.
>Our meeting must be one of fate.
>Across the seas, from my ancestors' land,
>Where much is given with open hand.
>For eating flesh we have no taboo,
>as long as they don't think like me or you."
>Twilight had told you of other lands, but nothing specific.
>It was admittedly fascinating to meet such a well traveled creature.
"To meet you then, of that I'm glad.
My relations here have been quite sad.
What do you know of the world we are in;
to see its end where would I begin?"
>You handed her some more chicken as you ate some yourself.
>All that trouble, and you were too distracted to properly enjoy it.
>It was still wonderful, and you regretted not grabbing two of the noisy birds.
>"Which end do you mean?
>The finish or the purpose unseen?"
>She was grinning wider now, clearly interested in the conversation.
 
"This place exists, and I am here.
My questions unanswered, I often fear.
What of this world and why am I in it?
Is it a game and how do I win it?
Speak your wisdom from your fresh view.
What are strangers like us to do?
To live, to die, faces to the ground,
or up, always up, where stars abound.
I sense in your rhymes a hint of reason,
which in this place seems out of season.
Speak truth new friend, what do you know?
Please tell me this before you go."
>You couldn't help allowing her mysterious smile to spread to your face.
>She thought about what you had said as she finished her chicken.
>She pointed to your fire.
>"This night, for your flames, will not be survived.
>unless their strength is quickly revived."
>Shit. The fire was almost out.
"Wait here please."
 
>You ran to the treeline and ripped out every plant you could reach and ran back to the fire.
>As you returned, you saw that your guest hadn't moved.
>You tossed the brush on the dying fire and smoke started to seep into the surrounding area.
>Your guest sniffed the air, drawing a hearty laugh from her.
>Fucking greenery. Should've grabbed more sticks.
>"That smell, to me, brings back a haze
>Blurred memories and wasted days."
>You sniffed the air.
>Why Miss Mary Jane. Fancy meeting you here.
>You shared your guests sentiments.
"This smoke, as well, do I recall.
Faded but present, broken mind and all.
Bittersweet was our love, Miss Jane and I.
To say we were not close would be a lie."
>"Then you know the ways of this troubling plant.
>Without it you can, with it you can't."
>You laughed.
>That was one way of putting it.
"Let us then the smoke ignore,
and start where we stopped before."
>You removed the last of the chicken from the bones and gave her half.
 
>"This world is filled with secrets untold.
>If you find the threads, the tale will unfold.
>There are those to whom your quest would harm,
>dangerous questions, to them, alarm.
>Order is fragile, and they think it must be kept.
>silence to those, who over the line, have stepped.
>Perilous it be, to think and seek.
>That's why the many remain so meek.
>Perhaps the answers have been deemed to bleak.
>That's why the sisters prefer their subjects weak."
>You sighed.
>Most worthwhile answers were bleak, but that made them no less worth knowing.
>You were beginning to feel somewhat unfocused.
"My past is partial, but there remains
a desire to know, regardless of gains.
I have questions many, and daily growing,
the answers are few and there's no way of knowing.
What is lie and what is true?
Who should I trust, pink, purple or blue?"
>She looked at you sympathetically.
 
>"To those of us who think and wonder much,
>reliance on others can be a crutch.
>The choice is and will be yours alone;
>Be careful to whom, your trust, you loan.
>Jaded I see now, that you are.
>Your mind is filled with many a scar.
>To me it seems, direction you lack;
>All that you do, you can never take back.
>Choose wisely and spend your time the same way,
>regardless of choice, a price you will pay.
>Against primal instinct, you must give.
>Create for yourself and the idea you will live."
>By this point you were too stoned to comprehend what she was saying, let alone hold your own with verse.
"All this talk, and I still don't know your name."
>"I am called Zecora the black and white
>P0nies fear me and avoid my sight.
>My thanks to you for listening to me
>I hope that one day you will see."
>With her last line fading into the silence, she disappeared back into the trees.
>Though puzzling, her answers were surprisingly straightforward.
>You would think more about what she had said when you were again clear of mind.
>For now you watched the dying fire, high, useless, and without much motivation.
>Too familiar for comfort.