Applebloom stood outside Zecora’s cottage, waiting for her mentor of several years to open the door. “Miss Zecora!?” She shouted for the upteenth time. “I’m here for mah lessons! Are ya there?”
 
Zecora jumped, turning her gaze away from her son as he ate some rice from his bowl. Anansi looked up and past his mother, at the door. He could smell a pony, a familiar pony smell.
 
“Mother?” He said, regaining the zebra’s attention. She gave him a loving look before turning back to the door.
 
“A-Ah, yes, of course, my dear Applebloom.” She called out, lifting Anansi out of his high chair so that he could float on his own. She wipped his face clean as she continued. “Just give me a moment to clean up the room.” Anansi scowled as his mother began pushing him to his room, like she usually did when guests came over.
 
“Mother, why are you inviting in a pony?” He demanded, scowling past the mare at the door. Despite not seeing the hybrid, Applebloom shivered, looking around at her surroundings. “She speaks with respect but I know she’s a phony.” Zecora sighed patiently. She had to be careful with her son.
 
“Anansi, did you forget the rules again?” She stated, staring down at the cub. “You are to remain unseen when?” Anansi’s scowl deepened. He never pouted like other foals.
 
“…When guests arrive…” He grumbled, looking away. When Applebloom knocked again, he gave his mother a hopeful look. “But mother, just one other that is alive?” Zecora stomped a hoof.
 
“No, you are not to use your powers!” She said, her tone ending any protest the cub would have had. At the sad look, Zecora sighed. Besides, I already allow what you do at night hours. Anymore, and you’ll unleash mayhem…” With a look that any child would know as ‘this is final, she finished with. “I’ve given you my instructions so obey them.” Anansi stared up at his mother, hoping she’d let him test his abilities on the filly outside but he knew she wouldn’t.
 
“…Yes, mother.” He grumbled, disappearing in a puff of smoke, much like his father. Zecora stood there for a minute, saddened by the thought of her cubs fathers and how his absence might lead to complications for him. But another knock dragged her from those thoughts.
 
“Miss Zecora?” Applebloom called out again, confused at the long wait. Seconds later the door opened to reveal the older zebra mare. Her smile as welcoming, though a little sadder than usual, greeted her.
 
“Ah, my apologies, young Applebloom, thank you for waiting.” She said, stepping aside to let the young mare in. “Now, please come in, we have potions we should be creating.”
 

 
“Oh darn, we’re out of dried peach grass.” Applebloom reported from the top of one of Zecora’s shelves. “Didn’t you say you were going to pick some up later?” She asked, looking back at the mare below.
 
“Ah yes, but I have a lot to do.” she sighed tiredly, like Applejack did after a full day of working in the field. “When rearing a child, hours are few.”
 
“Child?” She echoed, frowning. Did Zecora have another foal she was mentoring?
 
“Ah?! I-I mean, um, I did collect some of the grass the other day!” She stammered, focusing on the cauldren of pinkish goo that bubbled and turned. “It grass is in the other room, I just forgot since my mind was in a bit of disarray.” Applebloom frowned as she jumped down, not all that convinced by the mares words. Still, they did need the grass to finish this potion, so she decided to go anyway.
 
Applebloom wandered into one of the backrooms, the darkness of the space not even phasing her. She was used to the darkness. Apparently some of the ingredients in Zecora’s potions weren’t safe in the light so she stored them in dark rooms. As her mind wandered, she failed to notice the pair of eyes following her.
 
What was Zecora hiding? She didn’t have a foal. Had she had one, Applebloom would have noticed. She hadn’t been pregnant and there were no signs of a foal anywhere in the cottage so what was-
 
“Oh dear, what to do?” A small voice sighed, sounding as if it was in a terrible play. Applebloom turned around to see a strange pony. No, wait that was not a pony. Ponies didn’t have horns or yellow eyes or lion paws. This was-
 
“W-who are you?” The small draconequues just smiled- no smirked.
 
“Mother said not to be seen but then you appeared out of the blue.” He walked forward, using all fours and staring at Applebloom with those creepy yellowed eyes. She walked backwards, stopping only when her rump hit the wall. “Mother might get angry at me for not following instructions at all, but she can’t be mad if you have no memories to recall.”
 

 
Zecora was waiting for Appleblooms return, trying to think of an excuse for her slip of the tongue when she heard a scream. She instantly ran to the other room, fearfully knowing what had happened but hoping it was something else. Please let Applebloom to have just fallen from a shelf. Perhaps she had dropped a box on her head?
 
Zecora ran in to see just what she had thought she’d see. Anansi sitting beside the young mare with a satisfied smile on his face. He looked absolutely overjoyed as he stood beside the mare, who was bleeding out of her nose, ear and mouth.
 
“Anansi…” She chocked, stunned into stillness. The cub didn’t seem the notice.
 
“I told you, mother, that I would get better. She might be upset but I didn’t break her.”
 

 
In a previous post, I mentioned that Anansi had done something to Applebloom that he insists was a complete accident. Zecora doesn’t believe him and after this, locks him in his room whenever she has a guest. Anansi could leave but his mother told him to stay and he follows his mothers instructions. Even so, he finds great satisfaction in using his powers on others. This pass time would later lead to a large scale event that would result in Anansi being chained and forever bound in the Everfree Forest.
 
Note: Anansi, in this picture, has used his powers for the first time. While he hasn’t killed Applebloom, he did very nearly lobotomize her. She won’t ever remember this incident but has a deep fear of Zecora’s cottage and tends to remain outside it when they get together.