Prelude
Many are familiar with Equestria, but not its close southern equatorial neighbor Zebrabwe. Nor do they know of the tragedy that struck the nation of powerfully independent Zebras nearly twenty years ago.
" Princess Zecora, the people are in revolt! The dragons that descended upon us from the north have stirred up the flames of rebellion and discontent, covering the vastness of our land in shadow and smoke. They appear over towns and cities alike, taking what they desire and laying waste to all whom oppose them. They're coming for you, majesty." Zecora's loyal attendant Elnir told her.
" Whenever we drive one away many more decide to stay." Zecora mused, watching the lands before her Several smoldering dots on the horizon marked former cities and towns that had already been ravaged by the invading dragons.
" Princess, the revolutionary army has arrived, They demand your royal person, we can't hold them for long, several outlying provinces have had defectors join them. They are well armed and organized." A guard said, bursting into the antechamber.
" Let me speak to them before we slay, perhaps they'll listen to what I have to say." Zecora said, coming in from the balcony, heading towards the entrance to the palace.
" Princess, it's a lynch mob, they'll bind your wings, seal your magic and see you hang before they let you lead again. Please reconsider." Elnir said, following her.
" I'll not flee, you shall wait and see." Zecora said dismissively.
As she threw wide the doors of the palace the crowd of revolutionaries quieted and stopped pressing against the thin line of guards that had kept them from storming the stairs. Less than a dozen of the powerful guards remained in capable health, the others having been beaten within an inch of their lives, and captured or killed.
" My people, these dragons we fight, this night are on the eve of victory from your willful display of might." Zecora chided them.
" You're supposed to protect us! You're our princess, and you've failed us!" The leader of the revolutionaries, Kimber, accused her.
At this the revolutionaries surged forward, overwhelming the exhausted guards. The scene at the bottom of the steps appalled Zecora. She stepped back a couple of lengths before being roughly captured by these ruffians. Her palace guards had been handily defeated by these outlying deserters and farmers. They'd bound her and led her to her very own dungeons. Leaving her there while they planned their resistance against the dragonlords.
" They know not what they do. The nearest, Thorn will make of them a stew..." Zecora wept openly in her cell. Thorn the nearest and by far largest of the Dragonlords would've seen and heard the capital Bridledolas' fall.
" Princess, a trial in absentia has found you guilty of national neglect. Our sorcerers are awaiting you in the penal chamber." Kimber said, a couple days later. It was hard to tell except for the very slight variances in the light levels, now that darkness coated the land thicker than the grasses of the plains.
" Lead then, and do proud your men." Zecora said, following him out.
" The penalty as decided by the revolutionary court is that you shall be stripped of your wings, and your magical horn. To show all in our land that you've lost your right to rule. Additionally henceforth you are exiled to the northlands. You may only return if, and we mean only if you can defeat the Dragonlords. Failure is forfeiture of your life." A hooded zebra presiding over the observers stated.
" My wings and horn... surely your hatred knows no bounds when paired with your scorn." Zecora said solemnly.
The circle of sorcerers chanted, and when their voices reached a crescendo a bright light filled the room, and Zecora's horn and wings were gone. She no longer appeared an Alicorn, born to royal birth, to lead her people, but a common Zebra. Kimber's Men led her to the northern border, leaving her with a small wagon of carefully selected possessions and friendless.
Reader's Note: Part of my Origin saga that I'm compiling. I hope you enjoy this little trot into the unknown. My rhyming scheme has improved a bit I hope. This'll hopefully shed some light on my other stories. I wanted to start at the end. The next part will take us back to the arrival of the dragons.