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Zecora has located a table
with the best lighting she was able,
and now is sorting through a pile of ferns,
each frond of which she gently turns
to inspect the bright green leaf's
vermillion-spotted underneath.

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In a booth somewhere nearby
Is Alexander Sandhu (Fry)
Counting a pile of dominoes
To see how much the number shows
Nought to six and six to nought
The answer counted, duly sought

A gust from the back door brushes her hooves,
dislodging the latest fern, which moves,
riding the breeze, to young Sandhu's booth
and fetches up against the foot of the youth.

It startles the boy who jumps up with a flinch
Disrupting the dominoes lined up to the inch
But no need at all to have terror or flight
Just the innocent brush of the pteridophyte.

"My apologies, child, if I made you start.
The wind seeks to blow my supply apart."

Fry stares at the creature majestic and bold
With her elegant mane and her necklace of gold
And he picks up the fern with its spiral of fronds
Like the delicate plants in the puddles and ponds

"What are they for?" asks the innocent child
"Do they grow in the house or outside in the wild?"
Runs his fingers along the soft frills, in a trance
As the breeze wanders on, catching ferns in a dance.

Zecora employs her hooves and tail
to ensure that no more ferns away will sail.

"I collected them in the woods where I dwell,
although I grow some plants in a garden as well.
I'm an herbalist; many plants do I use
in medicines and helpful brews."

"My dad's a doctor." says the boy
Matter of fact not a matter of joy
He says that science has protested
'Herbal cures' are just untested.

Zecora, however, is quite glad
to hear this info from the lad.

"Indeed? Does he come here as well?
To confer with him would be swell."

"He does." Fry says emphatically
"He helps to run the infirmary
But not right now, I think that maybe
He's at the hospital with the baby."

"Indeed? Has your family grown of late?
My congratulations! This is great!"

"Yes." Fry says. "He wasn't expected."
A brother's a brother and still needs protected
"He came to us sooner rather than later
So he has to spend time in an incubator."

"Ai! My sympathies for the situation,
and the best of luck on his incubation.
I would offer a helpful tonic, but the fact
is I do not know how primates would react.
No unnecessary risk, whether small or great,
should be taken on an infant in such a state."

"We aren't allowed." the young boy said
"To put things in or touch his head.
Dad says it's for his own protection."
Of course it's there to stop infection.

Nod. "He sounds to be at a delicate stage.
Best to leave him until well and of a greater age."

"Do you have a sister or a brother?"
Questions asked, one after another.

"I have two of each, whom I miss very much;
though I am far from home, we keep in touch."

"How do you touch from far away?"
He tilts his head a little way.

"We send letters, and packages of care.
The pegasi fly them from here to there."

"I know you don't have the same leg as us."
Fry says "But what please is a Pegasus?"

"A pegasus is a pony with wings.
I hear human worlds do not have such things?"

"Not," Fry says, "Far as I know.
But we might not see where they go."

"You are very wise not to assume,
though they are often not subtle as through the sky they zoom."

"I have to go." the boy declares.
"Mum's home soon, she's getting éclairs."

"I am glad we had a chance to meet.
Run along and enjoy your treat."

"Hey Zecora. What'cha got?"

Of course she knows what it's for. What else would Zecora do with it, other than eat it, brew it or grow it?

"Good day to you, young Scootaloo!
I did not realize you came here too.
This is a fern whose common name
is known in your parts as 'dragon's flame'.
You can tell it by the shape, and the bright orange
of the sori, or clusters of sporange.
It likes damp spots; these were by the river.
It is useful for ailments of the kidneys and liver
as well as for spells of purification
and, like its namesake, communication."

Edited 2014-08-14 13:27 (UTC)

"Yup! I do!"

Pause.

"So are ya brewin' it?"

Doesn't sound like it's for eating, and Zecora found it, so growing's sort of been eliminated.

"I will be doing so, certainly,
once I check each frond for quality."

"Can I help?"

Apple Bloom didn't get a potion cutie mark, but Scootaloo might.

"Of course! You would earn my appreciation.
Check for spots, insect bites, and discoloration."

She was more hoping to do some actual brewing, but...

The fronds are given a verrrrrry keen look.

"Like that there?"

It might be a spot.

"Very good! A spot indeed.
Remove that pinnule and proceed."

How does one remove a pinnule?

Hmmm.

Maybe that fork that's lying over there will get it off.

Zecora has scissors, should she need,
but is interested to see how the filly will proceed.

Well she hadn't thought about using scissors, so the fork will do.

"Urrrph. Urrph."

The fork is dropped.

So is the pinnule.

She thinks.

"If you will accept my advice,
the leaflet may be better severed with a slice."

Oh.

She picks up the scissors.

It's tricky manoeuvring a pair of sheers between one's hooves.

"Did I get it?"

"The next leaflet over, I fear.
I can still use it; give it here."

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