As Eris got up and floated the dirty dishes into the sink, she noticed a letter lying on the desk in her study. She walked over and opened it, curious. "Oh, it's from Lone!" She exclaimed, reading the first line. "I forgot he could do that." She read the rest of the letter, admiring the neatness of the timberwolf's writing, before turning to Thunder. "Apparently word of our marvellous town must have spread!" She said, happily. "There's a zebra mare waiting just outside the portal, hoping to live here, and apparently she talks entirely in rhymes!" She bounced up and down a bit, excited by this news. "So can we go meet her now, or do you think we should check up on the town first?" She asked, beaming at Thunder.
"We shoudl go with her first, then show her around and we can help while we do it." Thunder said smiling, also exited by that. Their town was getting bigger! Yay!
They teleported down to the portal, and then stepped though. They were greeted on the other side by Lone, standing there grinning at them. "Ah, so you received my letter I assume? Splendid! Well Ma'am, your potential new subject has set up camp just over there; I shall fetch her for you." As soon as he said it, he ran off towards the tent... ----- The zebra had slept four hours, as she did every night, and spent the rest of the time observing the timberwolves, and checking her potions and equipment. She spotted the Alicorn and the strange hybrid creature as soon as they stepped out of the portal, watching them through a small hole in her tent. She nodded as Lone came for her, and followed him back to the portal. She knew alicorns were dangerous, and was unfamiliar with the other creature, so decided to step lightly until she could find out more. She bowed as she reached them. "Lady Eris, it is good to meet you at last; I have heard many great things about you and your land, these last few days past."
Thunder nodded to Lone and gave a small nuzzle to Eris as they waited for the zebra. When the zebra appear, he asmiled to them. "Welcome." He said happily to her.
Eris shook herself, a little taken aback by the zebra's bowing. "Um, yes! Indeed, welcome to your new life in Discordia!" There didn't seem to her to be anything dangerous or undesirable about the zebra, and she really did talk in rhymes! She motioned for the zebra to step through the portal, and then followed her. Once inside, she realised she still didn't know the zebra's name. "Oh, where are my manners; What should we call you?" She asked, turning to look at the zebra. "Zawadii is my name," The zebra replied, "And being your faithful subject is my aim." Eris blushed a little at that. "Ahem. Yes, well...all I ask is that you accept me and my realm for what they are, and never betray either of us, beyond that, you are a free mare. The town you will be living in is this way," She said, gesturing down the road, and starting to walk.
Thunder smiled. She indeed talked in rhymes, and Eris seemed to like it. He loved seeing Eris happy and smiling. "Come." He said to Zawadii... hard name. "Mind if I call you Zawi? Itbis easier to remember." He asked her as he lead them to the town.
The zebra nodded as they walked along and smiled at Thunder's request. "Of course, my language can be difficult to get right; I assume you are Thunder Shield, the famous knight?"
"Indeed I am, my friend." Tbunder said smilong to Zawi as they walled. They soon arrived to the town.
Eris smiled as she looked around at the town; everything seemed fine, there were no fires, or ponies running around screaming. "Well Zawadii, this will be your new home, for as long as you wish to stay," She informed their new guest, "There should still be a few free houses, and you are free to do what you wish, as long as you do not seek to do harm to my realm or any in it. But I'm sure Lone has already told you all of that. Thunder and I are going to see how the other residents are doing now, but we'll try to talk to you again before we leave." She turned to leave, then thought of something. "Oh, here, take this," She said, conjuring up a miniature kumquat tree and handing it to the zebra. "Think of it as a house warming gift. Oh, you're going to love it here, I'm sure!"
Thunder smiled to the zebra. "Enjoy your new life in here." He said smiling before he took Eris.forba walk around the town, looking for anypony that might need help.
The zebra smiled and waved as they left, holding her kumquat tree, then went to find a free house. Her targets seemed very innocent and naive, far more trusting than she had imagined; obviously they did not realise they had incurred the wrath of Celestia. This job was going to be far easier than she'd hoped... ---- As they walked around, it seemed most of their residents had settled into their new home quite happily; most had grown to accept the strangeness of the place, as Eris had hoped they would, and she had been in a good move since their arrival, so they had had nothing but clear blue skies and warm nights. One mare asked about pets, and so Eris conjured her up a shape-shifting puppy, which she seemed delighted with. Soon, Eris felt they had seen to everypony in town. "Unless you think there's anything else we need to do, let's see how Zawadii's getting on, then go home, shall we?" She asked, smiling and giving Thunder a kiss on the cheek, after making sure nopony was watching; she didn't want them to fear her, but they didn't want them thinking she was a big softy either.
Thunder smiled and nodded and kissed Eris back once they were alone "Lets go then. " he said smiling. He was happy that the ponies were happy in there, this was going better than expected!
Eris gave him a quick hug, before finding the house the zebra had picked, and knocking on the door. A few seconds later it opened, and the zebra smiled warmly at them. "Ah, Lady Eris and the knight Thunder! I must say, this town is a wonder!" The zebra enthused. Eris beamed. "I'm glad you like it, Zawadii; the other ponies seem to be settling in nicely, and I hope you will too."
Thunder hugged Eris back and gave her a kiss in her cheek. At the house, hebsmiled after seeing Zawi happy. "I'm glad you think that." He said smiling to her. "If you meed anything, just ask us next time we are here." He added
"Thank you, you are very kind; getting here has eased my mind. I have travelled strange lands for many years; at times it nearly reduced me to tears! But now that I'm here I have cause to smile, and I think that I shall rest a while." Eris grinned, made unreasonably happy by the zebra's rhyming. "Well, we won't bother you any longer then, but we will try and return in a few days." She waved her goodbyes, and then headed out of the town with Thunder. "I like her," She said, still grinning.
Thunder smiled to her. "Good bye Zawi." He said smiling, then followed eris. "I thought you would say so." He said smiling to Eris, gently nuzzling her when nopony was watching. "She speaks in a funny way, yet interesti.g I might say." He said, making a rhyme.
Eris giggled at his rhyming and poked him playfully in the side. "You're silly~" She said, before kissing him happily.
Thunder kissed her back happily as they exited the town, heading back home. "I knew you would like it~" he said, regarding his rhyme
