Starring Stripes - 1

There’s a mare who lives alone, deep in the forest on the outskirts of town. She’d lived there for many years without anyone knowing, eventually becoming the subject of vicious rumours about her work. A witch who’d curse the unknowing citizens of the town. While she was smart enough to do so – the reality was that she was not so malicious.

Her name is Zecora, and you are one of her few real friends. You’d met her during one of her supply runs into town and got into an illuminating conversation about making medicine using the plants you can find around town. You’re something of a loner yourself, in the sense that you usually try to do everything yourself. Leaky roof? You’ll fix it yourself. Sick? You’ll concoct your own medicine

The second one is dangerous, you’ll admit.

But your home is well kept, and your coin purse is always full. It’s amazing how much money you can save when you do things yourself. Even better – you can rent out your skills to anybody looking for them. One day you might be filling in at a bakery, the next you’ll be assembling furniture.

You meet her every so often at the market. You take a bit of time out of your day to speak with her. It was during your regular back and forth with Zecora that she floated a strange idea. “A good sign for you my human friend, I wonder for you, will the stars bend?”

“Hm, astrology?”

The zebra snickers, “Among one of many ways, but only mine will avoid dismay. Come to my shack late tonight, stare at the sky and gain insight.”

“Sounds interesting. What brought this on?”

“A feeling of ill I foresee for you; I hope to avoid your face turning blue.” But she just said it was a good thing a second ago.

“I usually make my own medicine you know.” She nods. “But if you insist. I’ve always wanted to see your home anyway.”

“The forest bares many threats, before you leave settle your debts.”

You laugh. Something that most ponies in town don’t know is that Zecora likes to tell a joke or two in her rhymes. They can get pretty morbid. It’s a nice change from how… nice everyone is. “I think I’ll be fine Zecora, I’m debt free.”

Her tail flicks to the side. She pulls out a paper map and hooves it to you. It’s crude, but the landmarks make it clear that it leads to her home. “Many ponies fear the Everfree, you alone may find my tree.”

“Alright, seems easy enough. I don’t think any of those monsters will want to mess with me anyway.”

“A striking figure your body casts, let us see how long it lasts.”

Forcing it a bit there Zecora. Sometimes her rhymes were less than sensical. In her own (lyrical) words, it’s part of their culture for shamans to rhyme in speech. As many of their incantations require it, it’s drilled into them from birth. The shaman life is passed down from generation to generation along with all of their knowledge and possessions.

Zecora is not a traditionalist by any means. The shaman was usually a tribal leader - responsible for looking after the old and infirm and warding away evil spirits, which in Equestria and the wider world are very real and very dangerous. Her self-isolation was one of the biggest mysteries about her. You suspect that she has such a strong fascination for the Everfree and the knowledge therein, that she cast away tribal life to seek out answers.

“A curious mind is the strongest weapon, steel your thoughts so they will not deaden.” That was one of the first things she ever said to you. It stuck out in your mind for some reason. It was emblematic of everything she spoke about and stood for. She was opened minded in a way that nobody else was. She didn’t scream or run away when she first saw you, and she listened to your mad ramblings about the wonders of modern technology with a smile on her face.

“I’ll see you there.”