Auto-imported from derpibooru.org (1963752)

The morning sun shone through Zecora’s window, shedding light into her bedroom. Prince Bluebblood scribbled in his diary that he had brought from Canterlot. It was one of the few possessions he had brought with him through the forest, and as he wrote he was keeping his ears keen for Zecora’s hoofsteps. He couldn’t have the help snooping around his things, especially not his diary. It was not time to let the world know of his findings and so he continuously asked Zecora for favors just to make her leave the room. Time was running out so he had to write fast. A looming problem hovered over him, however…how would he get the diary back to Canterlot after the fact? Surely he couldn’t trust the zebra for it was clear something of the diary’s nature would explicitly interest her. Still, it was too early to consider such things. Time was limited, but he had enough time to prepare. He was huddled up on a makeshift bed that Zecora had made him out of spare blankets, soft moss, and dried grass. It was utterly appalling that he have to sleep on grass but he admitted that it was quite comfortable and warm.

"Zecoooraa!" A pristine voice laced with a light accent called from outside the zebra’s hut. Prince Blueblood lifted his head, recognizing the voice and he quickly tucked his diary back into a small bag. Rarity barged through the door.

"I’m so sorry to come so early, but I’m afraid I NEED more of that mud mask you lent me, it’s simply amaz-" Rarity gasped with mixed surprise and horror. "YOU!" For dramatic emphasis, she pointed a polished hoof at him. "W-WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE??!"

Prince Blueblood sneered, "None of your business, Madame uh-Who are you again?" He asked deliberately, knowing exactly who she was. Rarity noticed how sick he was instantly. When he breathed, there was a distinct wheeze, and his plugged nose certainly didn’t aid his nasty attitude. She also noticed how terribly thin he was.

Still, Rarity could hardly contain herself, "Oh, whatEVER! I could have gone the rest of my life without seeing your obnoxiously quaffed mane, which, if I may be frank, looks absolutely horrid! Now if you don’t mind, I’m here to see Zecora!" She turned away from him, nose up, and she nearly crashed into Zecora carrying a platter of warm food for Blueblood.

"Ah, Rarity. It’s so good to see you again!" Zecora sighed with clear relief through the tray of food. "You said you needed a mud mask? Please come this way." Zecora plopped the food out of Blueblood’s reach, and hurried to the back room with Rarity. She looked utterly exhausted and somewhat hysterical, and as she plucked ingredients from her shelf, she snagged a mortar and pestle.

Rarity put a hoof on her shoulder, "Zecora, wait, the face mask can wait." She sat her down, "Are you alright? Why in the world is Prince Blueblood here?"

Zecora breathed as she began fidgeting with herbs and salts, absentmindedly pounding a mixture together on the ground, "Celestia had him sent here because apparently someone made a threat against his life." Her voice lowered, "And his cold developed into pneumonia. I’ve nearly run out of everything trying to treat him, but he’s just not responding to anything."

"Oh my…that sounds serious, dear. It must be because you aren’t even rhyming."

"He’s beaten it out of me." Zecora sulked as she stirred a small pot of acrid viscous liquid.

Rarity wrinkled her nose at the smell, but asked with genuine concern, "Sweetheart, would you like some help? This is clearly taking a toll on you."

Zecora poured the liquid into a small wooden cup, and added some honey. "Actually, now that you mention it…I would really appreciate it if you could just, talk to him. Distract him, you know? So I can go out and gather more things."

Rarity smiled, almost a little too eagerly, "Consider it done!"

Continued in the comments

Upvotes at import: 41 | Stars at import: 25
Posted previously at: 2019-02-16T19:54:42