"I hope we don't run into any Timberwolves," Fluttershy quivered as she and her friend trudged through the Everfree forest.
"Don't worry," Applejack assured her. "If we come across those critters, I'll take care of 'em."
They approached the zebra's tree and knocked on the door.
"Who is coming to say hi?" Zecora asked as she opened the door. "Why, it's dear Applejack and Fluttershy. Won't you come in with me and have some tea?"
She poured them both a cup of tea, which eased their nerves a bit.
"It is wonderful to see your face, now what brings you here to my place?"
Fluttershy was too nervous to speak, so Applejack explained for her. "As you may have noticed, Discord's back."
The zebra narrowed her eyes and stomped her hoof on the table. "I am fully aware that creature's in town, when I came to find my hut upside-down!"
The southern pony glanced around at the mess of broken bottles and turned over furniture. "Yeah, I can see that. I'm sure you heard of his...demands?"
Zecora nodded. "News in Equestria travels fast, that it just so happened to have passed my ear that Discord has said...he would like a mare to wed?"
"That is correct."
"And if he doesn't get a bride by tomorrow, he'll hurt the princesses," Fluttershy added, fiddling with her cup. "And I...well..."
Applejack finished. "Fluttershy's thinkin' of being that mare."
Zecora looked at the pegasus with wide eyes. "Is that so? You wish to go?"
"Yes," she muttered. "No. Maybe? Oh, I don't know!"
"I keep urgin' her not to," Applejack said, "but she thinks she's the only one who can do it! That's why I brought her here, Zecora, so you can talk some sense into her."
"Perhaps I can help lift your spirits up," Zecora said, holding out her hoof, "but first, I will need your tea-cup."
Fluttershy handed Zecora her empty cup and the zebra studied the tea leaves carefully. "For such a long time, I see, you have been most unhappy." The pegasus hung her head. "You are haunted by your fear, the very creature that brings you here."
"You can tell all that from her tea-cup?" Applejack marveled.
"But look!" Zecora showed the cup to Fluttershy and pointed to a picture of the sun that was made by the leaves. "In your future, I also see great happiness, and this is if you go with the draconequus."
"What?!" The southern pony grabbed the tea-cup. "How could she possibly be happy with Discord?!"
"He may not be an angel from above, but perhaps all Discord needs is some love."
"Love?! That varmint? Now I know you're makin' this up!"
"You mean..." Fluttershy stammered. "He just wants some pony to love him?"
Zecora shrugged. "I could be mistaken, but I assure you if this path were taken, no harm will be brought upon you. Yet it could be that Discord is unhappy too."
"I hadn't thought about that."
Applejack slammed her hoof. "Because there's no way in the wide world of Equestria that a creature like him could ever...!"
"Do you not remember what you thought of me," Zecora interrupted, "when you came crashing through my tree? Were not your judgments of me wrong, yours and that of the massive throng?"
