At her home in the Everfree Forest, Zecora stood over a pot of boiling brew. She looked down into the bubbles and breathed the steam in deeply.

"Though it's bitter as an end, I do not wish to see them again." Behind her stood a taller zebra. He had shorter hair and a few piercings in each ear.

"Do not fight. Do not fuss. Please come home and live with us." He said. The zebra pawed at the ground and held his gaze, but Zecora refused to turn from her pot. A sloppy bubble popped near the surface of the thick potion.

"I will not try to deny it. When you left, it caused a riot!" the zebra exclaimed. He took a step closer to the Zecora. She turned to see the zebra. He was another ambassador from her homeland. Another puppet sent to persuade her to go to back for political reasons. The zebra tried harder, exclaiming,

"You were our best but the battle's won. There's no more war I swear it's done! Please come back. We miss you so-"

"Do you think that I wanted to go?" Zecora snapped. "Do you think I wanted to leave that place? I thought I left without a trace but still you visit! Still you come! Why? Do you think I'm a bum? Or are you lying? Is this a trick? Who paid you to act so sick? I refuse to go back. By now you must know that I say what I mean and I mean no!" The zebra looked hurt. He shuffled back and turned.

"It won't be a nice visit next time,"he said "let's see if you're silly rhymes can keep away a darker magic. If you don't come back now, the end will be tragic." Zecora snorted and stomped her foot. She eyed the zebra's back. He walked out of the front door and turned, trying on last time. Genuine concern marked his face.

"The Elders think that you stole a book. They say you ran because you're a crook. If what they say is true, keeping it is selfish of you. The book can bring love and harmony. If you give it up, you can be left alone:free."

Zecora shut the door in his face.