My Little Pony: The Light of Equestria Ch. 19

    Pinkie and Rainbow are escorted to the center of the village and right before their eyes is a sight they never expected: every zebra is there to give them the big welcome. There are bowls of the finest food prepared for them, and the sounds of drums and flutes begin to play and all get up and dance to the music that echoes throughout the night.

    “Oh My Gosh! A PARTY!!!” Yells Pinkie, who quickly joins the zebras dancing around the fire, “Come on Rainbow! Lets have some fun!!”

    “Uh…that’s okay…I’ll...uh…join you in a minute.” Rainbow assures and decides to sit down and watch instead. Although she is considered a guest now, she still does not completely trust the zebras…especially after all they have put Pinkie and herself through.

    Rainbow looks down at her legs and can still see the paint markings that was drawn on her; They still look cool, but wonders if they are still necessary to wear. Suddenly, a bowl drops right in front of her and some of the contents inside splash onto her face.

    “Hey! What was that for?!” She demands as she looks up at the familiar zebra.

    “A little something for you to eat, consider it a special treat.” Subira replies with a snort.

    “Well…thanks.” Rainbow thanks halfhearted as she wipes some of the food of her face. She then looks down and notices it looked like some kind of stew, mixed with plants, wheat, and who-knows-what-else.

    “What exactly…is this?”

    “Just try it and find out! I have more important things then you to worry about!” She remarks as she turns away and walks off.

    Rainbow growls and is fed up with that zebra’s attitude towards her. She wants to get up and confront her, but if she does, it might ruin the party and make Pinkie Pie upset. Rainbow brushes it off and decides to dig in.

    As Subira walks through and around the dancing tribe, she happens to run into Pinkie.

    “Come on, Subira! Join in! We are having SO MUCH FUN!!”

    Subira shakes her head and replies politely, “Perhaps later on, my friend. I having something else that I must attend.”

    “Okie Dokie Lokie!” Pinkie says with a squee, then returns to dancing with her new zebra friends.

    Rainbow is having a hard time with the food Subira gives her; She has to admit it is tasty, but nothing like the food back home. But since the cyan pony has not eaten a decent meal in the past few days, she can not be picky. As her face is deep in the bowl, licking every last inch of the zebra’s special stew, she hears hoof steps approaching her. She looks up, and with her mouth covered in stew, she sees two female zebras giggling at her.

    “What’s so funny?!” Rainbow Dash asks annoyed.

    One of them points at her face, to which the embarrassed Pegasus wipes her mouth clean once she realizes there is some food still on her face.

    “Forgive us, honored one. We meant no harm, only that it was a funny sight to behold.” informs the other mare.

    “Ehh…its cool.”

    The one on the left, with the short braids and cutie mark of a bolas, introduces herself first, “My name is Arjana, and this is my best friend, Leena.” The other mare, with the long hair and braided rope cutie mark, nods, “It is good to meet you. Is it alright if we join you?”

    Rainbow shrugs and simple answers, “Be my guest.”

    The two zebras sit down next to the Pegasus and smile, “So, how are you and your friend enjoying your welcome party?” Arjana asks.

    “Well, Pinkie seems to be enjoying herself a lot,” Rainbow answers as she watches her said friend bouncing and dancing all around, and taking a moment to enjoy the stew they made, “I guess I am to…its just…”

    Just what?” Leena asks curiously.

    “Well…no matter what I do, your leader does not seem to like us; Well, me more than Pinkie for some reason.” Rainbow sighs.

    Arjana and Leena sees how bad their guest is feeling and decides to explain a little about Subira:

    “We understand how you feel, but you must also understand that it is not just her that feels this way,” Arjana informs, “Zebras and ponies of all kinds have never gotten along in generations, despite that we are considered to be alike in many ways.”

    “Why is that? What did they ever do to us?” Rainbow asks.

    “It was not what we did…it was more of what THEY did!” Leena snaps defensively.

    “Leena…”

    “I’m sorry, Arjana...”

    “It’s alright. Let me answer Rainbow’s question,” Arjana convinces her friend with a smile, then explains the rest, “You see, ponies had always thought themselves to be…better, more superior to others creatures,” the zebra continues, “We zebras have always continued our traditional ways for thousands of years, while ponies only wanted more; they took what they wanted, and shunned other creatures, including us.”

    Rainbow Dash is finding this hard to believe. But when she thinks on it more, she comes to realize that there is truth in their words: she recalls those stories that were told and even reenacted of the Three Tribes, and how they treated the other before the founding of Equestria. Perhaps the pegasi, unicorns, and earth pony’s dislike of the other was not just among themselves, but various other creatures as well.

    "You seem to be lost in thought, Rainbow Dash. Are you well?” Leena asks.

    “Huh? Oh…yeah. I was just…thinking…” Rainbow feels a little guilty as she ponders more on why zebras and ponies never got along.

    “Don’t feel so sad. This is a happy night; A night that we celebrate on your accomplishment in the trials,” Arjana insists.

    “Forgive me for asking, but I don’t understand how you and the other zebras can all be so happy and ignore the fact that Equestria is falling into Darkness,” Rainbow Dash wonders, “Aren’t you worried?”

    Both Arjana and Leena chuckle a bit and shake their heads in disagreement, “A little, but we do not let it make us sad. We enjoy the time we have before we take action against any dangers.” Leena explains.

    Arjana adds in, “We dance almost all night long, we share many laughs, and tell great stories to keep us strong and full of joy. It is the way of all Zebras.”

    Rainbow takes another glance at all the zebras dancing around the fire, and couldn’t help but admire them and what they have. “Can I…ask you two a question?”

    “But of course! You are our guest and may ask to your heart’s content.” Leena acknowledges.

    “Well, I would like to know more about your tribe; its culture and everything. I know so little and feel like I should learn more while Pinkie and I are here. Can you two tell me more?” Rainbow Dash asks politely.

    Arjana and Leena look at each other and then turn to the rainbow maned Pegasus, “We would love to!”

    Rainbow smiles and is ready to hear more, but not before Leena asks something first. “While we talk, may I…braid your hair while you listen?”

    Rainbow Dash looks at the zebra and raises an eyebrow. She didn’t like ponies touching her hair, except on certain occasions. “I…don’t know about that…”

    “Pleeeeeease…” Leena pleads.

    “You might want to let her. It is her special talent after all,” Arjana implies in a whisper.

    Rainbow Dash sighs and nods her head. She is not into such things but hates to refuse a new friend, “Alright…just please nothing too girly and weird.”

    “Don’t worry. I have a way of knowing what everypony wants in a hairstyle, and I think I have figured yours out, Rainbow.” Leena reassures.




    For a while, Arjana explains in great detail on the culture of the zebras; From the herbs and potions they can make and use, the trials that young fillies and colts go through to advance into adulthood, and much more.

    As Rainbow Dash listens, Leena continues to braid her mane, from her head to her tail. She uses small ropes to hold the mane in place. Though all this feels very “girly” to the Pegasus, she also finds it very relaxing. Rainbow only hopes her other friends will not find out about this, or it would make her look like a big softy.

    After a few hours of partying, the great fire shrinks down into a smaller one. The zebras are exhausted from all the dancing and gather around the fire to rest. Pinkie Pie on the other hand has a lot of energy left, but is a little sad when it comes to an end, “Awwww…and we were having such fun…” she complains.

    “The time of laughter and fun must draw to a close, for we must discuss the danger that has arose.” Subira announces as she appeares from out of nowhere.

    The startled Pinkie jumps but then smiles, “How do you do that, Subira? I mean I’ve seen your sister do that. Are you going to show us how you appear and disappear in the blink of an eye? Huh huh huh? Are you, are you, are you?!”

    The tribe leader shakes her head and asks the hyperactive pink pony to sit with the others. Pinkie sighs and joins the other zebras. Rainbow Dash and her new friends, Arjana and Leena, joined in. Pinkie cannot help but giggle a little at Rainbow’s new braided mane, even though it does look pretty neat.

    “Whats so funny, Pinkie Pie?! I like it!” Rainbow defends her hair and the work of her friend.

    “Oh silly, I like it too. I just thought you were not into that sort of thing. I mean, I’ve tried to braid your mane and do your hooves for you in the past, and you always said it wasn’t cool.”

    “Yeah…well…zebra styles are WAY cooler!” Rainbow Dash claims proudly.

    “Okay, Dashie. If you say so,” Pinkie smiles big for her friend, who returns one herself.

    “When you two are done, we’d like to get this show on the run!” Subira interrupts.

    Both ponies and the rest of the zebras become silent when the tribe leader speaks. She takes in a deep breath and looks all around at those she considers to be her family; Every hunter, gatherer, weaver, and herbalist that sits before her eyes. There is much that needs to be discussed and heard, but Subira turns to her guests first.

    “You know of what has come forth to darken our home, and how far it will travel and roam. We zebras know much on this as well, so with what you have seen…please tell.”

    Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie look at each other, then stand up, They turn to face every zebra sitting around the fire, and with their right to speak, the two mares tell them everything that transpired…








    It takes only half an hour to explain all that there is to tell: the demon centaur Tirek had invaded Equestria and claimed Canterlot and all major cities as his. The Everfree Forest fell to the Darkness as well, along with the zebra herbalist that lived there. The six little ponies, who are the wielders of the Elements of Harmony, separated to seek out help from other creatures…and this is what led Rainbow and Pinkie here.

    Subira takes a moment to let all that she hears sink in. Although she already knew much of what was discussed, to hear that her sister is now a minion of the Darkness, hurt her deep inside. “I felt it once and said it could not be, but the only one I was fooling, was me.” Subira sighs as a few of her hunters try to comfort her.

    “You…felt it?” Rainbow asks out of curiosity.

    One of the hunters speaks up, “We see and feel much all around us, and when there is the slightest change in the wind, the behavior of the creatures all around us, and the mighty thunder that strikes, then something evil…has come.”

    “So you sense things through wind and such?” Pinkie asks, who is given a nod, “Cool! Sounds just like my “Pinkie Sense.”

    “Perhaps...” Another zebra guesses, “But what matters now is that we have noticed the changes, especially in the storms above us…and we must decided what action must be taken.”

    Subira finishes her grieving for her dear sister and speaks again, “Fighting back is the action we must take, for our very freedom and way of life is at stake.” The tribe leader reaches into her pouch, pulling out some powder, and throws it into the fire, causing it to rise, “The Dark Demon has returned and now seeks revenge upon all. He must be stopped, or the entire world…will fall.”

    As Subira speaks, smoke rises from the fire and forms a terrifying shape: a head with two large horns, with its eyes darker than the night. Every zebra gasp at what they ssee.

    “What do we do, Subira?” asks one of the fillies nearby who hides herself in her mother’s embrace.

    “The friends of our honored guests are already gathering more aid, from our neighbors all over the land, so you need not be afraid.” Subira informs, whose gaze moves to the two ponies, “If other creatures are to gather in one place, then we must make our way there, at a fast pace.”

    Rainbow Dash flaps her wings and rises into the air, “My friends told us to meet them in Appleloosa, which is a ways to the west from here.”

    Subira nods, “Then that is where we must go. But along the way, I will tell you of things you must know.”

    “What kind of things?” asks Pinkie Pie.

    “I will only tell you along way. For now, I take a small group and leave the rest in charge while I am away.” Subira announces to her apprentices, who bowed with respect; They will lead and watch over the village in Subira’s absence.








    After gathering what is needed, Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie bid farewell to their zebra friends and joined Subira and a few other hunters to start their journey to Appleloosa. It will take some time to get there, but the zebras happen to know a faster way.

    “So, what was it you wanted to tell us about, Subira?” Rainbow asks as she flies above the others as they gallop.

    “I am sure my sister told you the tale, about the Champion and how he and his allies would prevail? Against the Darkness and its Master, the Light triumphed and prevented disaster?”

    Rainbow nods in agreement, “Yes, she told us…but what of it? That happened a long time ago. We are just following the same idea: gathering allies and taking the fight to Tirek, right?”

    “I am afraid there is more to this story, something that may interfere with our changes at glory.”

    “What do you mean, Subira?” Pinkie Pie questions.

     The tribe leader sighs and decides it is time they hear the truth. She starts to explain as they make their way to Appleloosa, where their friends are all waiting.