*Note. In my dreamscapes Zecora rarely rhymes. Probably because I suck at it when I'm awake. So no constantly rhyming zebra for this posting.*
The morning was bright and clear in my Equestria dreamscape, but Stone Mane couldn't help but feel there was a veil of shadow that hung over the forest that him and Applebloom were now heading into.
The colt had been aware that the Apple family lived near the edge of the Everfree Forest, but it's one thing to talk about around the dinner table of the farmhouse. It was another thing to be now trotting into depths of said forest. A place where the shadows seemed unnaturally dark under the boughs of trees that seemed to only grudgingly permit their passage.
For her part Applebloom seemed to be unfazed by the gloomy nature of the forest. "Just stay on the trails, and don't go a wandering off inta the woods. If ya do that ya will be fine. I reckon I've been ta Zecora's hut dozens of times now. That said it ain't wise ta be out in the woods after dark. Or when them Timber Wolves are acting up. Or in cases when…"
The filly then proceeded to spend the next few minutes telling the colt about the numerous critters, dangers, pitfalls, and general perils that the Everfree Forest held. By the end of it the colt found himself staying much closer to his guide.
After heading down numerous trails that got progressive smaller and less traveled the 2 foals found themselves on what looked like to Stone Mane to be nothing more than a glorified game path. In fact he colt was starting to wonder whether Applebloom's warning about staying on the trails really mattered when it seemed like the forest was effectively devouring the one they were currently on.
Finally their journey ended when they stepped out of the forest's gloom and into a small clearing. After the constant shadowy gloom of the forest Stone Mane found the glare almost blinding. When his eyes finally acclimated to the increased luminosity he was amazed to see in front of him one of the most fanciful and alien of homes. There in the bulging, swollen trunk of willow tree was the home Applebloom's instructor. Zecora the alchemist.
The filly picked up her pace and soon the 2 foals were standing under the branches of Applebloom's teacher. The limbs of the tree/hut were festooned with a bewildering array of flasks, bottles, and bundles of vegetation and funguses drying in the summer sun. It filled the air around the tree with a complex collection of pungent and spicy smells.
Hanging over what appeared to be the only door to the hut was large wooden mask. It was ornately carved, but the art style was alien to the colt's eyes. It reminded him of some drawings he'd seen in history books that spoke of the kingdoms of the Southern Continent.
Having seen this numerous times Applebloom trotted straight up to the door and with a front hoof reached up for a large hollow gourd hanging from the door by a cord. She proceeded to rap it several times on the door. It made a series of oddly sharp, distinctive *clonk* sounds that reverberated about the clearing.
As the echo faded from the clearing the front door swung open. Stepping out into the morning light was the zebra Zecora. There was substantial community of zebras in Baltimare so Stone Mane had met them thousands of times, but there was something special about the mare now standing before him. She seemed to move with an effortless grace and whatever her age was she possessed an exotic beauty to her. The mare's expression was that of peaceful calm. Although the colt noticed that her dark emerald green eyes were carefully assessing him as she stepped out.
"Good morning Zecora!" The filly spoke up first. "I'm a here fer my next lesson! Thank ya so much fer giving me this chance ta learn! Oh! And let me intraduce ya ta a very special pony ta me. This here is Stone Mane!"
A knowing smile slowly spread across the mare's face and the colt suddenly found the her stare very intimidating. "Oh ho! So this is colt who you've spoken so much of! Mmm. Yes. I can see why he caught your eye!" As the mare stepped further out into the morning light the colt suddenly noticed the numerous gleaming bronze hoops adorning her neck and right front leg.
"You wear leg and neck weights!" The colt blurted out. The zebra nodded her head.
"Yes. That they are, but they are also symbols of the training I've undergone and completed and the seniority I've obtained."
"A form of rank?" Asked the colt.
"One could think of it that way." Replied the zebra as she began to circle the colt. Instinctively Stone Mane found himself going to attention. "But they also represent something more abstract than simple rank. They're symbols of both the physical and philosophically trials I've undergone."
"Yeah!" AB chime in. "Zecora here is a master of Shik-ka-lam!"
"That's Shik-ka-lim." The zebra corrected her student. "It means The Swirling Wind in the language of my homeland."
The colt cocked his head to one side. "What is it?"
Zecora grinned. "You shall soon see! Now Little Bloom, let's begin the lesson!"

To be continued.