Zecora (Friendship is Magic): Difference between revisions

|gender =[[Sexes| Female]]

|nationality = [[Farasian]]{{*}}[[Equestrian]]

|residence = [[Zecora's HutCottage|Cottage]], in the [[Everfree Forest]]

'''Zecora''' iswas a [[Zebra]]zebra who liveslived in the [[Everfree Forest]]. nearOnce [[believed to be a wicked and ill-natured enchantress by the citizens of {{FIM|Ponyville]]}}, [[Equestria]]Zecora was in truth a highly wise, compassionate, patient and whimsical mare who cared deeply for those around her. She was known to speak in rhyme.

Zecora grew up in [[Zebrat]], the capital of her homeland of [[Farasi]]. Like her future friend {{FIM|Twilight Sparkle}}, Zecora was a rather introverted child, spending more time reading than playing games. That changed when she befriended another young Zebra, [[Marini]], and her [[Abada]] and [[Kelpie]] playmates [[Cactus Rose]], [[Crystal]], [[Dust Devil]], and [[Medley Brook]]. The six youngsters grew close, and enjoyed such activities as ''[[Ogres & Oubliettes]]'' [[LARPing]]. They were also classmates under the tutelage of Ms. [[Alegre]], one of whose lessons would later irrevocably alter Zecora's life.

Upon hearing that Zebras, unlike Abada and Kelpies, possessed no magical abilities or potential, Zecora became determined to gain magical skills. She studied the subject ravenously, and was surprised to learn of [[Mage Meadowbrook (Friendship is Magic)|Mage Meadowbrook]], who defied Alegre's statements that only {{FIM|Unicorn}}s could learn magic. Zecora also took to speaking almost entirely in rhyme, having apparently learned that it was typical language for spells. This was to the chagrin of her five friends, whose responses to her aspirations varied but in general expressed little or no hope that she could achieve her goals. As Zecora later recalled, they would often tease her; eventually, Zecora left home with no intention of ever returning.<ref name="C|FIM|89">{{C|FIM|89}}</ref><ref name="C|FIM|90">{{C|FIM|90}}</ref>

As a new batch of cure required an herb only to be found in Ponyville, the eight new friends returned together. Twilight and the others soon convinced their neighbors of Zecora's true character, and she was able to produce the cure at the [[Ponyville Day Spa]].<ref>{{CAR|FIM|Bridle Gossip}}</ref> Zecora was soon a welcome member of the community, with Twilight in particular seeking her out on occasion. These visits included an unsuccessful search for help with an infestation of [[Parasprite]]s,<ref>{{CAR|FIM|Swarm of the Century}}</ref>, and a planned visit while Twilight was on the Everfree Forest on business.<ref>{{CAR|FIM|Stare Master}}</ref>

When [[Cranky Doodle Donkey]] and [[Matilda]] were married, Zecora was among the guests at the ceremony.<ref>{{CAR|FIM|Slice of Life}}</ref> Discord's antics later affected her again when Twilight, believing he had bewitched the rest of the Mane Six, asked Zecora for an antidote. Though skeptical of Twilight's suspicions, Zecora gave her a potion; she also confessed to Spike that one cooking in her cauldron at the time was purely for visual effect.<ref>{{CAR|FIM|What About Discord?}}</ref> In an [[Changelingverse|alternate timeline]] created by the actions of {{FIM|[[Starlight Glimmer}}]], Zecora's [[Changelingverse Zecora|counterpart]] served as leader of a village on the Everfree Forest.<ref>{{CAR|FIM|The Cutie Re-Mark}}</ref> Back in the proper timeline, Zecora was among the attendees of the first [[Winter Moon Festival]]-, and participantshelped indeal with the ensuingunexpected battleappearance withof a [[Tarax Hippo]].<ref>''[[Princess Luna and the Festival of the Winter Moon]]''</ref>

As the two worked together, a sense of comradery developed through both of them being different from their pony friends and neighbors, as well as separated from others of their respective species. In the process of trying to find a cure, Zecora fell ill, and Spike determined that both she and the ponies had eaten contaminated hay. He was thus able to assist the [[Canterlot Disease Corps]] in restoring everyone, including Zecora, to health. Grateful for their shared adventure, he and Zecora determined to spend more time together.<ref>{{C|FF|21}}< name="FF21"/ref>

On another occasion, Zecora supervised the Cutie Mark Crusaders as they experimented with potions, only for Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle to cause some minor explosions.<ref>{{CAR|FIM|On Your Marks}}</ref> She later observed as Rainbow Dash unwittingly spread a [[Dreary]] epidemic around Ponyville, before intervening by sending in Rainbow's pet tortoise [[Tank]].<ref>{{C|FIM|41}}</ref> The Cutie Mark Crusaders later sought her out for help when the Mane Six were corrupted by [[Dark Water]].<ref name="C|FIM|43">{{C|FIM|43}}</ref> Zecora returned to Ponyville with them, where they joined up with Spike and Princess Luna. Learning that Spike had been unaffected by the Dark Water, Zecora determined that he might be key to developing a cure. <ref>{{C|FIM|44}}</ref>

Using Spike's scales, Zecora created a working antidote, which was soon used to reverse the Dark Water effects on all of Ponyville. She later examined the [[Darkwater Springs]], and determined that their effects were the result of magical pollution, which she counteracted with a potion.<ref>{{ name="C|FIM|43}}<"/ref> Fortunately, not all of her encounters with the Crusaders would prove so harrowing; on another day they introduced her to new friend [[Gabby]], a [[Griffon]] who helped Zecora with one of her brews.<ref>{{CAR|FIM|The Fault in Our Cutie Marks}}</ref>