“Zecora, it’s Twilight,” Twilight called out, knocking politely on the wooden door of the zebra’s home in the Everfree. “Zecora, are you there?”

“Maybe she ain’t home,” said Applejack. “I’ll reckon she’s out again, gathering herbs and whatnot.”

Twilight squinted and peered at one of the hut’s foggy windows. “I think I see a light inside. I can’t quite make it out, but I it does seem like she’s home…”

“I figure she must be rightly busy with somethin’, then.” Hemming and hawing with her hat, Applejack took a glance through the window too. After a moment, she let out a disappointed sigh and popped the hat back on her head. “Ain’t no point in botherin’ her any further. We’ll just have to come back later.”

Twilight took a moment to think. “Maybe we should leave a note? That way, as soon as she can, she’ll—”

An exclamation from inside spoken in Zecora’s liquid-smooth accent interrupted her.

“I’ll need just a moment, my young Princess! I’m afraid that right now, my house is quite the mess!”

From inside come the sounds of big, heavy objects being pushed around. Applejack and Twilight exchanged a look when a particularly loud thump echoed through the forest, scattering a number of exotic-looking birds from their places in the trees. A little while passed before the sounds of movement quieted, and then the door to the shaman’s hut opened.

“Come in, come in! And don’t dare delay!” Zecora said, ushering in the two ponies. “The Forest isn’t safe, not even in day!”

As Zecora closed the door behind them, Twilight took a moment to glance around the zebra’s home. It was strikingly different from before: the fireplace was out and piled full of sand; the great black cauldron that normally filled up the center of the room was sitting, empty in a corner, unused; and a plethora of bottles that once held all manner of potions were emptied and hung upside down from the ceiling to dry.

Applejack whistled at the change in the room. “Doin’ a mite of spring cleaning, Zecora?”

“Forgive the clutter; I’ve some chores to do. For soon I’ll be traveling, for day or two.” Zecora said, pushing a set of ornate masks aside to give the ponies a place to sit.

“You’re cleaning up your brews, aren’t you?” asked Twilight. “It’s smart not to let magical potions go unattended,” she said with a nod.

“A fine eye you have, that much is clear. But I really must ask, what brings the two of you here?”

“Well, that’d be on my behalf,” said Applejack. “I’m afraid I’m gonna have to ask a favor of ya, Zecora.”

With a motion of her hoof, the zebra prompted her to continue.

“The thing is, it’s getting awful close to fruitbat season again.” The farmpony fidgeted uncomfortably for few seconds. “I was just wonderin’ if you knew of a way to keep the critters out of the orchards. Last year we darn near turned Fluttershy into a bat. I’m hoping something fierce that we don’t need to go through something like that again.”

Zecora turned her head up in thought. “Most of my ingredients are already put away, but I still have something that may help you today.”

Walking to a cupboard, she retrieved a little bag of powder and brought it to Applejack. “Mix to a paste with honey from bees,” she instructed, “then paint in a ring around the trunk of each tree. The paste’s smell is sure to make the bats drop, but fear not, the odor will not harm your crop!”

“Thank ya, kindly!” said Applejack, slipping the paper package into her saddlebags. “I’ll have Big Mac bring down a bushel for you.” She tapped a hoof on her chin. “Let’s see, today’s Wednesday, ain’t it? How ‘bout I send him on Sunday? Will ya be back from your trip by then?”

“Yes, I’m sure that date would be alright. I will only be gone for a day and two nights,” Zecora said with a nod.

“A day and two nights?” Twilight asked. Then something clicked together in the young alicorn’s head. “Oh! It’s the spring equinox isn’t it? You must be leaving for your kurudisha!”

Zecora beamed. “You surprise me with your knowledge and wisdom! How did you know of my Zebra tradition?”

“A few months ago I met a professor of anthropology at Canterlot. He told me a little bit about it, but I’d love to learn more!” Twilight nearly pranced with excitement.

“What’s a kuro-what now?” Applejack asked, befuddled.

“Kurudisha,” Twilight corrected. “It’s the most important Zebrican holiday of the year. In zebra culture, the spring is the start of the new year. Everyzebra goes back to their hometown or village to celebrate!”

“That sounds rightly nice,” said Applejack. “Kind of like a big ol’ reunion.”

“It is the time for happiness, family, and cheer. To spend it with loved ones bodes well for the new year.” Zecora smiled.

“Oooh!” said Twilight, wings ruffling nervously. “I’d hate to be imposing, but would it be okay if the girls and I came with you this year? It’s just that I know so little about your culture, and I’d really like to get to know you better!”

“To take you with me isn’t so big of a task. To tell you the truth, I was hoping you’d ask!” Zecora giggled.

“Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you!” Twilight clapped her hooves happily.

“Wait on a moment,” said Applejack. “So if you were fixin’ to have us come along with ya, then why didn’t you just ask?”

“I have not a clue how your schedule goes. I certainly did not want to seem to impose,” said the zebra.

“The days around the spring equinox are considered a very personal and valuable time,” Twilight said, turning to Applejack. “It’s considered a little rude for a zebra to ask someone to do something that might intrude on their time with their families.”

“But to bring home a dear friend is a different story. I’d be more than glad to take you all with me!” The smile on Zecora’s face was as warm and inviting as her words.

“Oh, sugarcube, I’d be downright honored to come,” said the farmpony. “But I’ve got a heap of work ‘round this time of year. I’m real sorry, but I can’t drop all my responsibilities on Big Mac with hardly a moment’s notice. Wouldn’t be a bit fair.”

“Don’t you worry, Applejack; I understand.” Zecora turned to Twilight. “But will we be joined by the rest of your band?”

Twilight’s brow scrunched up as she thought. “Rarity and Fluttershy are still in Manehatten, so they won’t be able to make it. I’ll have to ask Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie if they’re up for it.”

Zecora sighed. “It’s a tragedy that we must leave so terribly soon. At the latest, your friends must be here tomorrow at noon.”

“Noon? Tomorrow?” Twilight’s eyes widened. “Oh wow. I’ll have to get home right away to start preparing. Ponyfeathers, I really should have asked you about this sooner.”

“Don’t worry, there’s not much you need to pack. Everything you need will rest light on your back.”

Twilight nodded, mental checklist at the ready. “Pack lightly, come tomorrow morning. Got it!”

The two ponies made their way to the door of the hut. Sensing their imminent departure, Zecora got up to open the door for them.

“Thanks a heap for the potion, Zecky,” said Applejack as she stepped out into the forest. “Again, I really wish I could have gone with ya on your vacation. It’s a darn-tooting shame. Maybe next year I’ll git some preparations done in advance, and then you can show me all about your family and whatnot. Sound good?”

“Sounds like something we ought to do,” Zecora agreed. “But for now, I bid farewell to you!”

“Catch ya later, sugarcube!”

“See you tomorrow, Zecora!”

The two ponies soon disappeared into the thick foliage of the forrest.

---

The next day, Twilight Sparkle arrived at Zecora’s just before noon. Her saddlebags were ladden with quills and ink, a journal, some spare boots, and a water bottle. Twilight was certainly excited—the mare could barely keep her hooves from shaking as she knocked Zecora’s door. A moment later, the door opened to reveal a Zecora with an ear-to-ear smile.

“Hello, Zecora!” chirped Twilight.

“And a hello to you too!” said Zecora, “But have you no friends with you?”

“Rainbow Dash had weather management duties today that she couldn’t reschedule quickly enough, and Pinkie Pie’s been planning a birthday party on Friday.” Twilight sighed. “They really wanted to come, though. I guess its just you and me.”

“While I am disappointed, I still count myself blessed. I’m most glad that you’re here, I must confess,” Zecora admitted.

“Huh? Why is that?” Twilight asked, blinking in surprise.

“Alone was I, and in a strange place. But this lonely stranger you did embrace. You made me at home and befriended me too; I’d like to return this generous favor to you!”

“Oh… wow,” Twilight stammered, at a loss for words. “Thank you, I’d like that too.”

Zecora smiled. “Follow me, it’s almost time to go! Is there any last things that you’d like to know?”

“Yes, yes! I was wondering last night—how exactly are we going to get to your village in time for the equinox? Isn’t it supposed to happen tomorrow?” Twilight tilted her head curiously.

“There is a path to my home, open for only this week! In fact, it grows wider even as we speak.”

“Like, a magical path? Are you talking about a Zebra spell?” Twilight was all smiles as she magicked out her journal and quill to furiously scribble down some notes. “How does it open? Can you only take it in spring equinox? Or the fall one too? Is it very dangerous?”

Zecora laughed and produced a small clay pot from her bag. “To walk this path is no feat of derring do. Don’t worry, it’s simple; and now I’ll show you!”

Dipping a hoof into the jar, she took a pasty, red substance and smeared it in a line across Twilight’s forehead, right underneath her horn. Twilight almost jumped when it touched her—it felt like ice. There were little solid grains in the liquid that tingled and sparked against her skin.

“Oh, goodness!” she exclaimed. As she became accustomed to the sensation, the inquisitive part of her mind kick-started into full drive. “It feels really cold, so it must be soaking up magic. And these grainy bits, they must be Spellcaster’s Sand. Interesting that you’re using it directly in a some sort of magical balm.”

Zecora worked on while Twilight absently babbled; she drew lines below Twilight’s eyes, across her chest, and down each of her legs. When she was finished, she repeated the process herself before sitting down on the ground crosslegged with her hooves across her chest.

“Come, dear Twilight, we’re just about to start. Sit as I do; this is an important part,” said Zecora.

Twilight sat opposite Zecora, fumbling with her wings for a moment before simply tucking them at her sides. She returned her pen and book to her saddlebags facing Zecora and mirroring her stance.

“Is that good, Zecora?”

“Yes, your markings are perfect and your posture is good. Now in a moment I’ll send us right out of these woods.”

Twilight breathed deeply. Her insides were all knotted with nervous excitement as Zecora took the little pot and placed it on a small rock between them. There was silence for a moment as the zebra returned to her seat and closed her eyes. For almost a minute Twilight sat, tingling with anticipation.

“Kurudi nyumbani,” Zecora said, breaking the silence.

Twilight’s breath caught in her throat. The moment Zecora spoke, a palpable heaviness came down on the area around the two of them. There was a tightness in the around Twilight’s limbs, which vaguely gave the sense of being underwater. She stole a glance around, but there was nothing outwardly different about her surroundings.

“Kurudi nyumbani!” Zecora repeated loudly.

The crimson streaks that Zecora had painted on Twilight suddenly went from ice-cold to almost uncomfortably warm, as though somepony had wrapped a heating blanket around her. The air swirled around her in a way that was not at all how wind felt.

Kurudi nyumbani!

In a little burst of light, the little pot sitting between them shattered, flinging out a red mist that quickly filled the air. Twilight felt something loud happen, as if she were in a steel barrel that had a brick flung against it. A moment later, the red vapor shone brightly, sparkling as it melted away.

The first thing Twilight noticed was that she wasn’t under a dense forest canopy any more. A bright midday sun shone down on her; gone were the shadows of the woods. Blinking, she took a moment to adjust to the light.

When she opened her eyes again, she saw the village around her. Twilight realized that she had never seen a zebra stallion or foal in all her life, and now there were so many zebras walking, playing, and talking in a strange, exotic language. Nobody seemed to give much notice to the pair of them who had apparently popped into existence in the middle of the village square.

Twilight turned her head to Zecora, but the questions in her head crashed to a halt in a moment. All the lines of red across the zebra’s face and legs were alight with deep blue flames. Zecora smiled as she watched Twilight look down at her own legs, only to see the same thing.

Twilight Sparkle stared, transfixed, as the heatless little flames ate away the crimson stripes, leaving nothing behind.

“Wow,” said Twilight. “That was… Wow. Just, wow.”

Zecora chuckled and held a hoof out to Twilight to help her up. As the astonished pony took the offered foreleg, a stallion’s voice called out to them in a cheery high-class accent.

“Well, if it isn’t Zecora! I was wondering when you’d show up!”

“It’s so good to see you Ceecee! I hope you’re as excited for this year as me!”

A short, stockily built unicorn stallion briskly approached the pair. His coat was a dusty grey, and his mane was a golden blonde. He quickly notices Twilight, and smiles when he does.

“Princess Twilight Sparkle! It certainly is a pleasure to see you here. Zecora’s told me so much about you, it’s like we’ve already met!”

Twilight’s knees were still shaky, and her wits weren’t completely collected yet. She understood the stallion’s words, but they were foggy and hazy, as if spoken to somepony else.

“A pleasure too, uhm, wha-?” Twilight let out a confused yelp as the stallion firmly took her hoof and shook vigorously. She gathered herself for a few moments before saying, “J-just ‘Twilight’ will do…”

“First time a zebra’s blinked you, right? Don’t you fret, the grogginess will clear right up momentarily.” The stallion turned to Zecora. “Couldn’t you have warned the poor girl first, Zec?

Embarrassed, Zecora held a hoof in front of her face. “In my excitement I forgot to say! Twilight, I hope this doesn’t ruin your day.”

“Oh, no, no, I’m fine!” Twilight shook her head to clear it. Turning to the stallion, she introduced herself, “Pleased to meet you, I’m Twilight Spar— Wait, you knew that already.” She planted a hoof on her face. “Ugh, sorry, I’m not ‘all there’ yet.”

“Please, don’t worry yourself over it at all! Allow me to make my acquaintance!” The short little stallion beamed. “I’m Clear Cut, but everyone calls me Ceecee. I’m a jeweler by trade,” he said, turning to let her see the Mazarin cut diamonds on his flanks.

“That’s great! I have to ask, though are you from Canterlot? It’s just that you sound a lot like my dad,” said Twilight.

“Born and raised! But since then, I’ve moved my business to here in Zebrica.” Clear Cut motioned to the zebras around them. “Curious how these folk didn’t really have a way of cutting or polishing stones until I got here. If I had to hazard a guess, I’d say it’d be from a lack of naturally occurring deposits of gemstones here. I still have to ship most of my stones from Equestria.”

“That’s fascinating!” Twilight said, pulling out her journal and pen again. “Could you tell me how you know Zecora? That is, of course, if you don't mind me asking.”

“Not at all! I’m her brother-in-law,” Clear Cut replied with a toothy smile.

“Oh! Oh that’s wonderful!” Twilight’s face lit up like a light bulb. “You never told me you had a sister, Zecora!”

“My word, Zec! What other things have you been withholding from the Princess?” Clear Cut teased.

Zecora blushed and laughed. “It never came up, I swear this is true! I’d never keep any secret hidden from you.”

“Don’t be embarrassed, Zecora,” said Twilight. “I believe you. But I’d certainly love to meet this mysterious sister of yours!”

“There isn’t much mystery about her, ma’am,” Clear Cut replied with a twinkle in his eye. “She’s simply the most beautiful mare in all Zebrica! More gorgeous than all my little rocks put together!”

“How sweet of you!” Twilight giggled.

Zecora only chuckled and rolled her eyes. “Come now, follow me, dear! My home is not so far from here!”

---

Ceecee pushed open the door of a little thatch-roofed house. “Reeya, I’m back! And I’ve got some people here itching to see you!”

A zebra mare appeared from around a corner, her smile mirroring Zecora’s in width. Her legs were lithe and graceful, and her mane was combed down on one side. She had a spiraling glyph on each flank. Twilight couldn’t place for certain which of the sisters was older, but if she had to guess, she’d say Zecora was younger by a just a bit.

“Zecora! You’ll make an old nag of me, yet!” the mare said, approaching the trio. “It’s like ages have past since the last time we’ve met.”

The sisters shared a warm nuzzle that was full of chuckles.

Clearing his throat, Ceecee motioned Twilight to come in closer. “Twilight, this is Shireeya, my lovely wife! Reeya, meet Princess Twilight Sparkle, a friend of Zecora’s. We were talking on the walk over, and, my oh my, is she a riveting conversationalist!”

Twilight smiled sheepishly. “Oh, thank you,” she said. Turning to Shireeya, she extended a hoof in greeting. “A pleasure to meet you, Shireeya!”

“My greetings as well, go out to you!” Shireeya replied, warmly. She took the offered hoof turned the gesture into a hug, instead. “Now tell me, is there anything I can do?”

“Oh, it’s okay!” Twilight giggled at the sudden embrace. “Zecora’s showing me around for the next couple of days. I feel bad for not knowing enough about zebra culture, so your sister’s agreed to show me all about kurudisha.”

“Oh good, if it were me the tour would be a chore!” Shireeya laughed, “I’m afraid when I start talking, I can be quite the bore.”

“That’s nonsense, dear,” Ceecee said, planting a kiss on his wife’s forehead. “You’ll always be the most fascinating thing in the world to me.”

“It warms my heart to know that you care,” Shireeya smiled, “But the truth is, I lack Zecora’s, um, dramatic flare.”

Twilight laughed and clapped her hooves! “Oh my goodness! Did she tell you about how she does a little gig every Nightmare Night? It’s absolutely terrifying, and the foals love it!”

Shireeya giggled behind a hoof. “I heard of it, but this gives me the biggest scare: When she puts on her cloak and yells, ‘Beware, beware!’”

Twilight clutched her sides, laughing. “Yes, yes! She did that once when we were walking through poison joke! We thought we were being cursed!”

Shireeya cackled with laughter, stomping her feet. Zecora just rolled her eyes and made it a point to pretend to ignore the two giggling equines.

Attracted by the commotion, an aged zebra stallion descended a flight of stairs. There were wrinkles around his eyes and nose, and his mane was done in long braids that reached his shoulders. “Who is this lovely young zebra I see? Could it be my little daughter has returned to me?”

“Baba!” Zecora exclaimed, running into the old stallion’s arms.

“Binti yangu,” he said, running a hoof through Zecora’s mane. “It’s so good to see you, child.”

When they broke their embrace a moment later, Twilight stepped up to introduce herself. “Hello! I’m Twilight Sparkle, one of Zecora’s friends from Ponyville, but you can just call me ‘Twilight!’”

“All your adventures together, she has related to me. Who could have known my msichana would befriend royalty?” The old zebra barked out laughter.

“I’m just glad to know her!” Twilight chirped. “You have a wonderful daughter, mister, um…?”

“Bentugo is my name, but I admit that I’d love; if you’d just call me ‘Baba,’ like everyone already does!” The old stallion said with a twinkle in his eye.

“Okay, then, Baba,” she said, trying the new word on her tongue.

“Mr. Bentugo is something of an elder for this village,” Clear Cut explained, “The people here look up to him like a father, hence the nickname.”

“Oh I see,” Twilight said, taking down a few more notes. “Well, Baba Bentugo, I’m very pleased to make your acquaintance!”

“As you ponies like to say, I am pleased as punch.” Bentugo replied. “But come now! It is nearly time for lunch!”

Shireeya smiled. “It’s an old zebrican classic: roasted sugarcane! Along with Zecora’s favorite, sweet-stewed plantains!”

“Sounds delicious! I haven’t eaten much all day,” Twilight admitted. After a moment, she said, “You guys go ahead, I’ll be right with you in a moment.”

Sensing something wrong, Zecora hung behind while the other three strode into the dining room, laughing and joking. She took took placed a reassuring hoof on Twilight’s shoulder.

“Is there something wrong, my dear? Please, tell me; you have nothing to fear.”

“Oh, its nothing. It’s just that it seems like everyzebra here is so close with everyzebra else,” Twilight explained. “Like when we were walking here, it looked like everyone knew you and Ceecee. I’m just getting used to it, I guess.”

Zecora smiled encouragingly. “You should relax, Twilight; have fun and make friends! It is tomorrow night when the real fun begins.”

“Yes.” Twilight nodded. “The equinox is tomorrow.” The young alicorn smiled. “I really can’t wait for it.”

Side by side the two friends trotted into the other room to join the others.

---

The rest of the day passed in a pleasant blur. There was talking, laughing, and story-swapping into late hours of the night. Twilight caught glimpses of Ceecee and Shireeya shyly stealing kisses, and she laughed when Bentugo told her old zebra tales, complete with his hilarious impressions of dragons and diamond dogs. Zecora cooked a spicy, honeyed dessert that filled Twilight right up and made her wish for more.

In so many ways it reminded her of her own family, with Shining Armor, Cadence, and her parents. Through it all was a powerful sense of this precious, limited time that this household chose to share in joy. The universality of the happiness permeated and soaked into every conversation they had, and by the time Twilight made her way to the guest bedroom, she was pleasantly exhausted—both physically and emotionally.

The much of the next day was spent in an anxious excitement. Zecora showed Twilight where they were preparing the evening’s celebrations. Scores of young zebras were working hard setting up an earthen stage of some sort in the clearing next to the village. To the side, a longhut was prepared for the village-wide feast after the night’s festivities.

Finally, at sunset, the village gathered to celebrate kurudisha. A crowd gathered around the stage, circling it with a herd of zebra eager for the start of the main event. They chatted excitedly as Zecora lead Twilight through the crowd by the hoof, finding a good spot to sit near the front.

“Wow,” said Twilight, looking across the gathred zebras in awe. “Wow, this is amazing. There’s just so much energy here!”

The deep blast from a horn cut off her thoughts. Zecora excitedly pointed to the stage in front of them.

“The kurudisha performance is just about to start! I’m terribly excited—be still, my heart!”

Unto the stage stepped forward a tall zebra male. It took Twilight a moment to recognize Bentugo; he was dressed in brilliant, orange robes and an elaborately ornamental headpeice, carved from wood and laden with beads. The torc on his chest was golden with rubies set in it.

“Wanagu. Binti yangu.” he said. His voice was powerful—demanding and strong. The crowd fell into complete silence, and anticipation hung thickly in the air.

Turning, Bentugo faced the other side of the crowd. Again, he called out, “Wanagu! Binti yangu!”

And this time, the crowd responded, “Baba, sisi kusikia wewe!” The sound of so many zebras speaking as one was awe-inspiring, deafening!

Twilight looked around her. She could see Zecora, Shireeya, and even Clear Cut joining the united call.

Bentugo swept a leg across the crowd, pointing to each zebra sitting before him. “Wanagu, binti yangu, kuwakaribisha nyumbani!”

The audience erupted into applause, cheering wildly and without restraint. Twilight turned to Zecora and asked over the sound of crowd: “What did he say?”

Zecora smiled and answered simply, “He welcomed us home.”

Two zebra stallions and two zebra mares in traditional costume stepped forward to join Bentugo on the stage. As an ensemble of drummers beat out a rolling rhythm, they danced around each other and spun around Bentugo.

Zecora pointed to them, one at a time. “The stars and the heavens—that one is Anga. The fate of each creature: his name is Hatma.”

Anga wore a dark, flowing headpiece that reached down to her knees. Her eyes shone like diamonds from the holes cut in her mask. Turning this way and that, her shawl caught the light of the setting sun and the nearby torches, glinting and sparkling from the myriad of little gems set into the fabric.

Hatma was tall and lithe. He wore a necklace of dark red quartz carved into chevrons and points. The mask he wore was long and curved, like the beak of an owl or an eagle. Fiery leggings sewn with feathers flapped and waved as he lept this way and that, with a predatory anger in each step.

“The earth that sustains us; she is called Dunia. The winds and the rain: we call him Mvua.”

Dunia was garbed in verdant, flowing lengths of cloth that trailed behind her and hid her legs as she walked serenely across the stage. Against her forehead was set a deep, green emerald that hung from a gold-chained net that clasped around her entire head.

Mvua was clothed in blue-grey, and his face was covered in dark make-up. White and blue streamers were tied to each of his legs, dancing through the air as he swept from one side of the stage to the other. As he lept and twirled, he let out a continuous, excited chant. Pa-ta-pa! Pa-ta-pa! He his voice was like rain on a grassy field.

Suddenly the four of them each took a corner of the stage, facing outwards to the audience. The drums ceased and the audience quieted down. The performance began, and Zecora leaned over to translate the strange and beautiful words for Twilight.

---

---

By the end of it, Twilight was calling out with the audience just as loudly as the rest of them. The repeating chorus from the hundreds of zebras gathered still rung in the air, even after the last line. Even as the crowd thinned out, leaving to the longhut for the feast waiting for them, she quietly said the words one last time: “Bora maisha; mengine ni majaliwa!”

Clear Cut and Shireeya made their way to Zecora and her, smiling and with hooves around each other.

“Oh, everyone, that was so amazing,” Twilight gushed. “Wow, that was really beautiful! I can’t… I can’t even begin to describe it in my own head, let alone take notes of it!”

Clear Cut laughed. “It’s really something else, isn’t it? This one’s my sixth, and I’ve already learned every word.”

“Bora maisha, mengine ni majaliwa,” Twilight repeated. “Do you happen to know what that means? Zecora kept that bit untranslated.”

“Oh Zec, you and your dramatic flare again,” Ceecee chuckled.

Zecora only shrugged and smiled. There was a faraway look in her eyes, and Twilight knew she was still lost in that moment of shared passion.

“It’s an old Zebrican proverb,” said Ceecee. “Absolutely beautiful. It doesn’t quite translate, but roughly in Equish, it means ‘Life is the best gift; the rest is extra.’”

“Wow,” said Twilight, at a loss for words. The little alicorn slumped down and sat on the ground, overwhelmed by the message of the play she just watched. Turning her head up, she laughed and laughed from the joy of it.

Shireeya giggled. “I do believe that somepony is in a good mood. But let’s hurry now, least we miss out on the food.”

Clear Cut ran his hoof through his wife’s mane and kissed her again. “Wise, wise words, love. Come on! We don’t want to be stuck at the back of the line!”

Zecora helped Twilight up to her feet, and the four of them followed the others to the longhut.

---

The stillness of the Everfree was broken abruptly when a red flash threw crimson smoke all over the small clearing that sat next to Zecora’s home. Two figures emerged from the burning vapours, lines of red on their coats burning and melting away.

Twilight Sparkle checked all her saddlebags and assured herself that everything had made the trip unscathed. Zecora smiled and watched the alicorn fumble around, still not entirely accustomed to the post-jump grogginess.

Finally, Twilight straightened her bags and made eye contact with the zebra shaman.

“I hope that was a trip you will long remember,” spoke Zecora, “To me, you are as close as a family member.”

“Thank you so much, Zecora,” Twilight said, for the umpteenth time in the last few days. “I can’t wait to tell the girls all about it. And I’ll drag them along next year if I have to!”

Zecora chuckled. “That my dear, might cause quite the brawl. But tell me, Twilight, what did you think of it all?”

Twilight’s eyes darted side to side, the gears in her head spinning. She wanted to say something to show Zeocra how amazing, wonderful, terrifying, and awe-inspiring the whole thing was. Finally, her eyes made their way back to Zecora’s curious, hopeful face.

“It was magical. Just magical.”