Forgive me if this has been discussed but why does Zecora continue to live in the Everfree Forest? Think about it: it's been established as an horrifically dangerous, wild, mysterious and unstable place filled with monsters, unusual plants and the aquatic equivalent of a Pony copy-paste command. Attempting to get in or out could result in being mauled, turned to stone or have her stripes replaced with a technicolour clash-coat by poison joke. And this is just what we've been shown. There could be chimera, dragons, wyrms, estate agents, centaurs just to throw off anyone paying attention. There could be a snake that arcs lightning. There could be a tree that drops bowie knives from it's branches. Maybe a kumquat that forces all those that approach to tell embarrassing truths in bouts of verbal diarrhoea. My point is that if you wouldn't live in a minefield, why would Zecora live in the middle of a forest like this? Well, maybe there's something in there. Well, I don't believe it's for potion ingredients. Yes, having ingredients sitting right outside and nearby is handy but wild monsters picking you off if they don't stomp on her house. Why not just live outside of the forest and dip inside when required? So, then it suggests Zecora has found something that she's willing to brave a dangerous, hostile environment for. Possibly sitting right on top of it. She could be on top of a mine or the fountain of youth or the source of the ultimate vanilla ice cream for all I know. I have no idea but it seems very important to sit in the middle of hostile territory. Or maybe she likes the privacy? Just thinking out loud.
I'm going to say the latter, she can do her work in peace. The writers kind of had to give her a house in the forest just to tie in with her debut appearance as a mysterious, evil enchantress. I doubt the ponies would have been as afraid or intimidated by her if she was given a home in the middle of Ponyville like the rest of them.
Maybe it reminds her of home. Perhaps she came from a heavily forested area and everyone lives in those kinds of houses. As for the dangers, I guess she just knows how to deal with all of it. She definitely has the knowledge of what's out there.
I'd like to see an episode where the mane six try to convince Zecora to move into Ponyville. Wether she would actually move or not, it would make a nice episode. When it comes to being a witch-doctor, Zecora is kind of a troll though. "My home is in Everfree, filled with dangers that would make you pee. Do you need my miracle cure? Then an unhealthy journey you must endure!"
Yeah but there's no fun in just thinking that. And having that attitude isn't very nice. Personally I'd say it's so she can get her ingredients from the Everfree Forest quicker, those from foreign lands she buys in Ponyville. Most ingredients can probably only be cultivated in the forest itself though. In Africa they have Boab Trees or something like that, you've probably seen them in the film Madagascar, but they're quite easy to carve out and turn into small homes. Maybe Zecora's bringing a bit of homelife to Equestria? I mean she's a voodoo lady, maybe she's used to harsh environments and stuff. The Everfree Forest isn't reaaally super bad where she lives.
While it's true that in Everfree plenty of dangers awaits thee, I think you'll find if you recall the ponies have no trouble at all. Every time they've sought her out they've found little trouble about. Even suffering from the joke's curse the ponies found nothing worse when an enchantress they did find only fears did stalk behind. To identify the parasprite Twilight rushed with all her might to find where Zecora's roomed. Only parasprites caused their doom. Another question I pose at you is the evil Nightmare Moon's Statue. In the Everfree on Nightmare Night, it was often a common sight to find children dropping sweets, not becoming creature treats. I could go on but, ironically, the examples escape my memory.
I'm going use some examples that have already been said now. Thinking of the character type she is practices voodoo which got her the name enchantress, now she is always making some kind of potion, soup or tea which causes weird looking smoke. Now say she lived in ponyville and went to the everfree for the things she needed there would always be ridicule. Even if she told everypony that there was no need for alarm, they would still think she was trying to curse somepony. Because she is different think racism which is a issue today still. When it doesn't need to be, also thinking of her character type those who practice voodoo in most movies or shows that take place near swamps is where they live. Now everfree is not a swamp but does have certain characteristics of a swamp. and Distant past pointed this out, every time the main six even applebloom went to see her no trouble, every Nightmare Night the kids would offer candy to the statue no trouble, and the only danger the mane six had in the first 2 episodes. Were a Hydra (Real), a Chimara (thorn in the paw not real danger), sea serpent (mustache was cut he was upset not real danger), and the bridge which was cut we can speculate Nightmare moon did and the shadowbolts (which was a Illusion). Which leads me to believe that the everfree isn't truly a dangerous place sure it houses timber wolves, and other creatures but who is to say they attack unprovoked. Most wild animals mainly attack after being provoked while yes some do attack with out being provoked. And saddlt at the moment that is all I can think of, i had other examples but they escape me at the present moment.
I know, I know. It's part of the introduction of the character and such but I'm talking from the level of the logic of the world itself. Why would she continue to live in there when it's like that? Hmm...Interesting. I kinda imagined her homeland would be a savannah but she could be a woodland mare. And, I'm not questioning whether she knows that she's doing but why she bothers. Steve Irwin could handle snakes but he didn't sleep with them (to my knowledge). Heh, heh, heh. I'd get copyright on that. Also, it would be fantastic if they stumbled onto...I dunno, a jewel mine that's full to the brim and they convince her to move out? I dunno, might be a nice greed lesson in there. Hmm... Could do, I guess. After all, some people actively buy yellow or pink cars so there's no accounting for taste. Maybe monsters are just her thing? Hmm, that's pretty interesting. I didn't know that titbit. But it doesn't explain location unless she was aiming for solitude or the Everfree is less dangerous than we've been lead to believe. Again, why not just sit outside the forest and walk inside? Unless your making potions near constantly, why not live closer to your grocery shop and stay out of the inconvenience? But thinking that she just likes it seems interesting, really strange of her but could be true. OK. We've just proved that the Everfree Forest's reputation has been fluffed up quite a bit. Or maybe timbre-wolves are attracted to unconvincing acting and the smell of apples. Either way, it's not everything it's cracked up to be. Hmm...Poetic's thoughts too. Seems reasonable, but why slap bang in the middle of...well, an only occasionally dangerous forest of mystery. Yeah, maybe she does just like her huts and plays music really loud. Yeah, seems about right. The Everfree Forest looses it's ability to frighten when you really think about it. Maybe there's a path through it?
I just assume her divination powers make it where the elements of EFF (Everfree Forest) don't affect her like it does the ponies. Seems like in Magic Duel, Twilight didn't have as much trouble as prior cause the powers increased that it is easier for her to stay in there. Of course Flutter also went there with not much of a problem. I mainly assume she just have the magic to ward off the dangers, where the ponies don't have as much *shrugs*.
Now I pose this question to Tyro, Do we really want to know why Zecora lives where she does? Because one of the charms of a character is mystery why does a character do this, why do they do that. It gives us questions to ask about a character in a show or in a book, that we seek answers from the show hoping it explains the character. If we were to figure out why she lives in the Everfree Forest, it would lead to more questions and answers, that we think are right and it could kinda ruin the character. Especially if we were correct in dissecting character, but same time it would be kinda a good charm if it proved us wrong. My point is the show is still running we have S4 to look forward to. who knows maybe Zecora gets her own episode. Which i hope and I hope Luna gets her own song *crumbles up picture of Celestia* and maybe a duet with Celestia. And maybe we might get more seasons after 4. We don't know whats come and don't want to know everything about Zecora. She is my favorite after Luna (Luna being #1 best pony) But I wanna keep my question about her open. well I think I rambled on enough I hope I gave somepony some food for though.
I don't understand the question. A dark, mysterious forest filled with dangerous wildlife? That sounds like a paradise!
So, Fluttershy in bangles and hangs out with manticores instead of rabbits? That could make sense. Although, is that the 'why' or the 'how' she lives there? Hmm, it's perfectly possible that magic power repels animals. Maybe Fluttershy is like the 'Slobbering-Gigantic-Ravenous Monster Whisperer' and repels animals with pure Passive Energy. Like a more active possum defence. Hmm...I would like the threat of knowing about Zecora's reasoning for living in a supposed zone of death. I kinda think about this one moment in Gravity Falls where Stan Pines walks down late at night, pushes a button on the vending machine and opens up a secret door leading under the Mystery Shack. We're only shown that, clearly indicating that there's ulterior motives for living in Gravity Falls. I guess I've drawn a link between the two where a possible episode could be based around that premise. There's a few possible clues from what can be gleamed from what we know and the vaguest tantalising hint of what could be down there. So, yeah. More world building please. My personal tastes of neighbourhood dictate that I can walk outside and not be eaten alive by the varieties of carnivore of increasing size as well as being able to trust that wondering through the local area will not result in something whimsically quaint like altering my gender or turning me into Larry King. I understand that traffic is non-existent so you can get around as fast as you can and there's no-one to complain about your loud music or sunbathing nude. Plus, when you've got young ones around, there's nothing like letting them play around the giant venus fly traps. It's so good, they'll only need to play there once. I'm just not the type to fight my way out of predators' stomachs on a regular basis. The free exercise isn't appealing. Hmm...It's possible. Anyone else had John Cleese say that line from Rat Race in your head too? "I can live anywhere I like. I'm an eccentric!" It's possible that she's just a little nuts. Even so, it seems a lot of effort to go through and wouldn't it be cool if they addressed and created a mystery about her and that Boab Tree. Heh. Again, cheers for that Poetic.
several reasons. the forest is home to many flora and fauna not found common in the rest of equestrian forests and are rare at best in those places, some of these would make for great ingredient opportunities, such as the bark that might shed from a timber wolf when they brush against something also she probabably knows a few potions that when applied to herself or her home, or even the bracelet/anklet thing she wears on one leg, then this potion would ward off most predators magicly, sorta like how you can increase the strength you have on your armor in some rpgs by applying upgrades/potions. she is from the area of their world that is very much like our africa so she is used to places that have dense forests, as well as open areas but perhaps her own peopel, her own zebra tribe may have been located in a more dense jungle area and so she is already used to living in the jungle and wants to continue being in tune with nature that way
