(A/N: Hot damn I almost forgot about this thing  whatevs enjoy)

"My land was one growing, an untamed jungle, a growing city." She spoke in her non-rythmic voice. "It was a melting pot, with open-air Bazaars and shouts from the merchants displaying their wares." Zecora smiled as she remembered.

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"Na na! Can't catch me!" Taunted a much younger Zecora as she raced through the bazaar. "No fair! You had a headstart!" Said a black zebra with yellow stripes. "It's not my fault your so slow Yambi!" She laughed openly as she ran, the stalls and scents passing and blending underneath the hot sub-saharan sun.

The merchants called out their wares as the foals played a game of tag through the large open-air market. "Gotcha!" Said Zane taking Zecora by complete surprise as he jumped out from a pot that was hidden in an alley-way just off of where Zecora was sprinting. "Oooo no fair Zane! That's the 5th time!" She said seething in frustration. "Well then try harder!" He said sprinting down the alleyway.

Zecora sighed as she closed her eyes and began counting. "One!.....Two!.....Three!-" The little filly stopped counting as the grand clock located within the sprawling market rang, signaling that it was noon.

"Oh no. Oh no,no no!" Said the little filly, her ears deflated and her tail shot between her legs like a dog as she sprinting through the market to her home.

"Zecora! Late for your lesson again?" Joked Yambi running alongside the filly, a teasing smile on his face. "Oh shut it." She said nudging him playfully. He laughed a bit as they ran. "Hey! What's the hurry?" Asked Zane jumping down from the roof of small square clay house above them. "Zane! We're late! Father's going to be angry!" Said a scared Zecora, she looked at her brother with her large discus eyes causing both boys to laugh hard.

"Father's never that hard! You need to lighten up!" He teased as they ran, the Bazaar thinned out as they entered the city proper, the large mortar houses and buildings looming and blocking out the sun giving some protection to the denizens below.

"Join me brothers and sisters! Together we can rise up and gain new lands for our growing children!" Said a herald as they passed through an especially crowded street. The herald was dressed in all black, a sun hat covering his face from the harsh saharan sun. The three foals wrinkled their noses as they passed by.

"Ugh it's those pestering Wutse again! When will they realize that our people are fine with what they have?" Questioned Zane, the oldest by abut 2 years. He shook his head in a disapproving manor as they turned and found themselves on a street lined with houses on massive hills. "It's fine! Everypony has his or her own opinion!" Pipped Yambi from the side, even though he was the youngest of the three he was the wisest and often most thoughtful of the trio. "It's fine as long as they don't try anything." Huffed Zecora younger who was older than Yambi by a year but younger than Zane by about 2 years.

"Here! Finally!" Sighed Zecora as the gates to their house came into view. "You three! Your father has been asking for you non-stop! Were you all playing in the market again?" Asked the sole guard at the front of the gates, a large black stallion with a single white stripe running from his right eye across his snout.

"Uche! Could you please not tell papa that we where in the market? Please?" Begged Zecora, her eyes grew to enormous sizes as she did her puppy stare. He sighed with a chuckle. "Of course I will, only if Zane agrees to help me with my scooter again, it's been acting up recently." He said musing at his own problems, at this notion Zane's ears perked up. "Of course  will!" He said eagerly, a huge smile spread across his face.

Uche laughed a bit as he opened the gate. "Run along now! Your father will be angry if he finds out you've gone down to the market." He said whipping the sweat away from his face with his other hoof. "Thank you thank you thank you thank you!" Shouted Zecora as she dashed through open gates and up the large green lawn surrounding the house.

"Let me guess, you three where in the market again?" Asked their father, a large white and black stallion with softer lines racing along his body, his mane was two types of silk, both black and white. He had caught the duo heading up to what the family called 'The study' for their afternoon lessons. "Of course not!" Said Zecora with fake cheer, her ears quickly wrapped themselves around her head signaling her lie. The large stallion sighed and chuckled a bit. "It's all fine, just so long as you don't stay around the Wuste, they are a bad bunch if I do say so myself." He said shuddering a bit.

"We won't we promise!" the trio shouted as the ran up the marble stairs to the study, the smell of incense was heavy through the large house giving it a homey feel.

"Sorry Imama!" Said Zecora opening the door slightly to reveal an elderly grey and white mare balancing on a stick with only her head. "No problem at all children do not fret! Your Imama here just won a bet!" She said jumping down from the stick. To this Yambi raised an eyebrow. "A bet?" He asked, Imama chuckled heartily.

"A bet with your father to see where you are, and I was right so he must take a fall." She said smirking evilly. Zane gave an involuntary shudder. The last time he made a bet with Imama she ended up forcing him into a chicken suit as they toured the newly opened market in the Northwest of the city.

"What are we studying today Imama?" Asked an excited Zecora. Imama was a wise mare and would usually tutor the children when either School was out for StableMaster Holidays or if there was nopony else to do it. Today was the latter. "Today we shall be learning of healing salves and plants which are best for them." She said walking past the three, she motioned them to follow as the group descended the stairs. "I wonder where we're going this time." Chuckled Yambi, Imama was known to take the children on random 'field trips' during her session.

"We are going to the edge of the desert today!" She chirped as they walked through the streets.

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"What are we looking for again?" Whined Zane as he stared at a particularly spiky olive colored plant. "You are looking for the Abjale, a black plant that heals all that ails." She said, her voice smooth and silky as she balanced again on her stick. They where on the outskirts of the fledgling city which met the harsh desert, in this region  plants used in Apothecary supplies where abundant here.

"Is this it?" Asked Zecora setting down a long pole shaped cactus looking plant in front of the elderly mare. Imama opened an eye and smiled jumping down. "And tell me little one what does it do?" Asked the mare in a quizzical voice, Zecora puffed out her chest. "It's juice heals, cuts, bruises, and generally all light wounds." She recited with her eyes closed.

"Ugh can we go now?" Moaned Zane who was never much for botany or any of the type, claiming it was 'witch doctor stuff'. "Oh Zane we went over mechanics just over a week ago! Don't you know? Each to their own!"  Said Yambi scolding his sibling.

"Very well children it is time to depart, it seems little Zecora's taken after my heart." She said affectionately nuzzling the little filly who returned it.

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The thee walked through the city as the sun began to set. The strong spices and scents of traditional Zebran cooking filled the air as the artificial lights came on. Zecora followed along next to Imama as the two followed along behind Yambi and Zane. Zecora shivered a bit as the temperature dropped back down to normal in the absence of the blazing sun. Overhead the group could hear shouting and clanging as the workmen built into the night.

"Can you feel it Zecora? Our land is growing, with the help of the Stablemaster and my little ponies." Rythmed the elderly mare as the two walked onwards. Zecora only leaned it a bit further and brushed up against the mare's back for comfort. Looking down the elderly mare saw the filly wobbling as the day's activities finally caught up. She giggled a bit as she lifted the filly on her back.

"Goodnight Imama." Said Zecora very softly as she closed her eyes, her mind and body slumping as sleep embraced it.

"Goodnight my child, fair dreams to you. May you dream of concocting strong potions and brews." Chuckled the elder as she nuzzled the sleeping filly who let out a little squeal.

[A/N: Imama=Grandma]