ETRIGAN THE DEMON here again ,just like last chapter I want you to know that the poll for Phantom's pet is now up stop suggesting and start voting. I have many different types of pets including a dragon so cast your votes. We have three votes already, the animals you will find out when you vote. Choose wisely, the pet you want may not be the pet you get. Enjoy!


Episode 9 Bridle Gossip

Phantom's Pov,

"Wow! What a beautiful day!" Twilight said as we walked down the path.

"Yeah.", I said, "I bet the night will be even more beautiful."

"Rainbow Dash must have gotten up early for once and cleared all the clouds away." Spike said.

Chuckling, I said "Yeah right, this is Rainbow Dash we're talking about. There's no way she would get up early."

"Yeah, I suppose you're right Phantom." Spike said.

"I bet all of Ponyville is going to be out enjoying the sunshine." Twilight said as we reached town.

As we walked through town square, we no pony except for a strange pony wearing a hooded cloak digging at the ground.

"Where is everypony?" Twilight ask.

"I'm going over there to ask her." I said walking over to the pony.

"Um hello." I said

"Ah hello." She replies.

"Could you please tell why there is no pony out side today?" I ask her.

"That I am unsure of.", she said, "I came into town to gather ingredients for a soup I'm making from my home country, but every shop seems to be closed.

"And where is your home country?" I asked as she pulled back her hood.

"The zebra country." she answered.

My eyes widened.

"The Zebra Country?! I haven't been there in ages! They really do make good dishes." I said smiling.

"You seem to know a lot about the zebras, why is that?" she asked.

"When I was a young colt, we heard that the zebras were very knowledgeable about super natural occurrence's." I explained.

"That is true, why did you seek us out?" She asked.

"I was born with the ability to see and talk to ghosts. I have two cutie marks and two different magic abilities." I said.

"That is interesting." She said, thinking about it as we move to a table.

"So who did you see?" She asked, conjuring a couple of chairs.

I sat down, while explaining, "We meet a very intelligent zebra who had one daughter who was one of my first friends. She was called Zatarra and she could do unicorn magic without a horn." I said as she also sat down

I saw her eyes widen at my explanation.

"What was her daughters name?" she asked me.

I could see she was on the brink of tears.

"Her daughter name was Zecora." I said.

The next thing I knew, I was being hugged by her.

"Why are you hugging me?" I asked.

"My name is Zecora." She answered tears in her eyes.

My eyes widened and I immediately grabbed her in a hug, tears threatening to fall down my face as we hugged as old time friends, I idly wondered what Twilight was doing.


Twilights Pov,

Walking around, I wondered where everypony was.

"Maybe it's some kind of pony holiday?"Spike ask

"I don't think so." I said.

"Does my breath stink?" He ask, before shooting his fire in the air and sniffing it.

"Not more than usual." I said with a chuckle.

"Is it zombies?!" Spike said scare.

"Not likely." I deadpanned.

"Not likely, but possible." He said in a scared tone.

"Psst." said a familiar voice.

Looking over to Sugar Cube Corner, we saw Pinkie Pie.

"Twilight, Spike, come here! Come here! Hurry before she gets you!" She whisper yelled.

Running inside, we shut the door only to be in complete darkness. Before I could say anything a flashlight turned on.

"Who the zombie pony?" Spike ask shivering.

"Zombie pony!" Pinkie Pie said, shaking.

"Spike! There are no zombie ponies!" I said as he got off my back.

I started, "Pinkie what are you doing here alone in the dark?"

"I'm not alone in the dark." she said before making more light to show Applejack, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy and Apple Bloom inside as well.

"Okay then, what are you all doing alone in the dark?" I asked.

"We're hiding from her!" Applejack said, pointing out the window before gasping as we saw my brother talking to the strange hooded pony.

Looked over also gasping, "What is he doing?!" Pinkie Pie ask.

"He told me he was going to ask her if she knew where any pony was while walked around looking for somepony." I answered wondering why they are scared of a pony.

We kept watching before she looked over at us. I then saw my brother waving at me. Waving back, I smiled before turning to the others.

"Did you see her Twilight? Did you see Zecora?" Apple Bloom ask me.

"Apple Bloom! I told you never to say that name." Applejack yell.

"Well, I saw her glance this way, then I saw my brother waving at us." I answer.

"She glanced evilly this way." Pinkie Pie added.

"And then I saw a bunch of you flip out for no good reason while I waved back." I continue, ignoring Pinkie.

"No good reason, you call protecting your kin no good reason and what is your brother doing talking to Zecora? Why aren't you saving him?" Applejack ask.

"While I may be the older of the two of us, he can handle himself just fine." I said.

"Anyway," continued Applejack, "when Apple Bloom saw Zecora walking into town she started shaking in her hoofs, so I swept her up and brought her here."

"I walked here myself!" protested Apple Bloom from Applejack's back.

"For safe keeping." finished Applejack.

"Applejack! I'm not a baby! I can take care of myself!" Apple Bloom said.

"Not from that creepy Zecora." Applejack said.

"She's mysterious." Fluttershy said.

"Sinister." Rainbow Dash added.

"And spoooooky!" finished Pinkie.

Looking back out the window, we watched as she take off her hood. I frowned hearing the gasps from behind me.

"Will you cut that out!" I said.

"Just look at those stripes, it's garish!" Rarity said.

"She's a zebra." I said.

"What?"exclaimed everypony else.

"A zebra and those stripes aren't a fashion choice, she was born with them." I explained turning away, before rarity fainted.

"Born where?" Applejack asked, "I've never seen a pony like that in these parts, except her. "

"Well, she's probably not from here, but if you want to know more about zebras you should ask my brother. He knows more about them than I do.", I said.

"Still, I wonder how Phantom know more about zebras than I did, but I do know she's not a pony. My books say that zebras come from a faraway land, but I've never seen her in Ponyville." I finished, looking out the window to see Phantom and Zecora hugging like they knew each other.

Everypony else looked where I was looking and gasped again.

"Where does she live?" I wondered ignoring their gasp.

"That's just it. She lives in the Everfree Forest!" Applejack exclaimed, before the house started shaking.

"Spike!" I yelled.

"Sorry." He said.

"The Everfree Forest just ain't natural." continued Applejack.

"The plants grow, animals care for themselves." Fluttershy added

"And the clouds move all on their own." finished Rainbow Dash and Rarity fainted again.

"And that wicked enchantress Zecora lives there doing her evil stuff!", Pinkie said, she's so evil i even wrote a song about her!"

"Here we go." Rainbow Dash said face hoofing.

She's an evil enchantress

She does evil dances

and if you look in her eyes

she'll put you in trances

then what will she do

she'll mix up an evil brew

and she'll gobble you up

in a big tasty stew

so WATCH OUT!

The song was so crazy I couldn't believe it!

"Wow, catchy." I said sarcastically.

"It's a work in progress." Pinkie told me.

"This is all just a lot of gossip and rumors, now tell me what have you actually seen Zecora do?" I asked before looking outside to see Phantom and Zecora had returned to talking.

"Well, once a month she comes into Ponyville," begins Rainbow Dash.

"Then she lurks by the stores," continues Rarity.

"And then she digs at the ground." finishes Fluttershy.

"Good gracious!", I say sarcastically, "okay I'm sorry, but how is any of this bad? Maybe she comes to town to visit."

"Yeah!" agrees Apple Bloom.

"Maybe she's just trying to be neighborly and maybe she's not lurking by the stores, she's going to them. Lurk free to do some shopping." I added.

"Yeah!" Apple Bloom agrees again, "everypony likes to shop."

"Phantom doesn't." I said quickly.

"Okay, nearly everypony likes to shop. Know what I think?" continued Apple Bloom.

Apple Bloom!" Applejack said, "hush and let the big ponies talk."

"I am a big pony." grumbles Apple Bloom.

"Oh what about digging at the ground? You gotta admit that's weird." Rainbow Dash said.

"What if she's digging for innocent creatures?" Fluttershy ask scare.

"I'm sure there's an explanation for everything Zecora does." I said ignoring pinkie singing her song behind us.

"And if anypony here, besides my brother, were brave enough to approach her, she would find out the truth." I finished.

No one, but me heard Apple Bloom declare herself brave enough to find out. Smiling inwardly, I knew that if Zecora really was bad, Phantom would protect her


3rd person pov,

Peeking out from behind the staircase, Apple Bloom watched the two chat seeing them. Turning to were she hid, "Come on out, Apple Bloom.", Phantom said, "we know your there. Come on I want you to meet my fillyhood friend, Zecora."

Walking up to them, Apple Bloom asked, "She's your fillyhood friend?"

"Eeyup!" Phantom said sounding like Big Mac.

"You have been spending to much time around Big Mac." Apple Bloom said chuckling.

Sighing he turned back to Zecora.

"So the Everfree Forest huh?" He asked.

"Indeed Phantom." She replied.

"Have you avoided the poison joke?" he asked.

"Yes and I even collected a sample for an antidote. Oh! I have to go.", She said, "goodbye Phantom and young filly."

"Her name is Apple Bloom." Phantom told her.

"Well then, goodbye then Apple Bloom." Zecora said.

"Goodbye Zecora! I'll see you later, okay?" Phantom call out as she left.

"Nice to meet you Zecora!", Apple Bloom call our as well, "good bye!"

As Apple Bloom wave, Phantom looked to see the others.

"Hey Apple Bloom, I think the others realized you were with me." He said.

"Apple Bloom! What were you doing talking to that evil Zecora phantom?!" Applejack ask.

"Talking to her." Apple Bloom answer.

"But she could have taken you." Applejack said.

"No, Phantom would have protected me." Apple Bloom pointed out.

"What were you doing with her?" Applejack ask, turning to Phantom.

Only to see him give her a dirty look before walking back to the library, but not before telling Apple Bloom to not let them know anything about what they were talking about.

"Well, how rude." Rarity said.

"Why did he look at me like that?" Applejack ask confused.

"It's not my place to say. You want to know, ask him. I'm going home." Apple Bloom said and left.


The next day, Phantom's Pov,

I walked up to Sweet Apple Acres to pick up Apple Bloom. I had agreed to take her to see Zecora yesterday. Passing Big Mac in the fields, I callout, "Good morning Big Mac!"

"Eeyup!" he called back.

I passed Applejack and saw her look at me, but I just ignored her. I couldn't forgive for what she said about Zecora yesterday. Knocking on the front door, I smiled as Granny Smith opened it.

"Good morning Granny Smith! Is Apple Bloom ready?" I asked.

"Good morning Phantom! Yes, she's been jittering all morning waiting for you." She answered.

"Hey Phantom!" said a little cream coloured blur as she zoomed out of the house."

"Good morning Apple Bloom. How you doing?" I asked with a grin.

"Big sister's been really confused as to why you looked so angry at her.", Apple Bloom said, "she kept bugging me as to why, but i kept my word and didn't tell her a thing."

"And for that, I'll get you something from sugar cube corner before we leave." I said, proud of her.

"Yay! Thanks, Phantom!" She said.

"Anytime." I replied before heading off, not realizing a certain orange pony was following us.

At Sugarcube Corner,

"Good morning Miss Cake." I said walking in.

"Good morning Phantom.", She replied, "what will it be Apple Bloom?"

She pointed at a certain cake and I brought myself one too, paying the correct amount of bits.

"Thank you Miss Cake." I said.

"Thank you Phantom, will we still see you tomorrow?" She said and ask.

"Yes Miss Cake.", I said. "I'm always ready and after I'll be helping Big Mac with the apples."

"You usually do that with Applejack." Miss Cake said.

"Well, I'm not too happy with her right about now. Give it a few weeks.", I said, "well, see you tomorrow, Miss Cake!"

"See you tomorrow Phantom." She said as we left.

I took a bite out of my cake and my eyes widen.

"Wow! Apple Bloom, you really know how to pick a good cake." I said as the flavours exploded on my tongue.

"Thank you.", Apple Bloom said, "this is my favourite cake in the whole of Ponyville."

Finishing off the rest of our cakes, we left Ponyville to see Zecora not noticing the 5 other ponies following us.


The Everfree Forest 3rd person Pov,

As they walked through the Everfree Forest, Phantom said hello to the ghost from the first time and asked directions to Zecora's hut, forgetting to do it yesterday. Thanking him for the information, he was glad. He picked up plant pots before he left he was hoping to score some poison joke for pranks when he got back. As they reached the blue plant, he lifted Apple Bloom on his back.

"What's up Phantom?" she asked him.

"Just trying to not let you touch the blue plants." he answered.

Reaching the other side, safely, he pulled out some of the pots and placed a couple of flowers in each one. One for Zecora and the other for himself. Picking up the pots, he started to move when he felt something against his chest. Looking down, he saw it was a rope tied into a lasso. Growling, he turned to see Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash. He knew Twilight wouldn't have been there because he told her everything about him and Zecora. Looking at where they were standing his growl turned into a smirk. Putting them to sleep, he teleported each of them to their respective homes before continuing his journey to Zecora's.


At Zecora's Phantom's pov,

As we arrived at Zecora's, I smiled at the familiar decorations. Walking in we saw zecora pouring spice into her cauldron.

"Ah Phantom, Apple Bloom, you're just in time. I just finished making some of my mother's soup."

My eyes brightened at those words.

"Zatarra's soup was well known and well liked among the zebras. Just wait until you try this Apple Bloom, it is incredible!" I said.

"Really?" she ask.

"Yes, zebra dishes are very delicious.", I exclaim, "and Zecora's mother made the best soup in the zebra homeland.

"Oh wow!" Apple Bloom said couldn't wait to try it.

"Oh that reminds me, Zecora, I got you something here. It's a couple of plants of poison joke. This way you don't have to go out to get samples." I say handing her the pot.

"Oh, thank you Phantom." Zecora said, "this will help me greatly. Oh, the soup is done. Here try it and tell me how it is."

As we took a sip, my eyes became stars and I could see Apple Bloom was trying her hardest not to just slurp down the whole thing.

"Just like you mother's." I say.

"My favorite cakes have nothing on this!" Apple Bloom said as she finished.

"You said you were working on an antidote for the poison joke?" I ask.

"Yes." Zecora said, "but the shops that have what I need are always closed when I go to get something."

"What do you need?" I ask, "I'll get it for you.

"Bubble bath." She said.

"Why bubble bath?" I ask confuse.

"I have found that the only way to cure poison joke is soap and water." She said.

"That's interesting.", I said, "well, we'd better go before Big Mac and Granny Smith get worried. I'll bring some bubble bath next time I visit.

"Thank you Phantom, it was nice seeing you after all these years." She said giving me a hug that I happily return.

"You too Zecora, you too. I'll see you in two days.", I said getting ready to leave, "good bye Zecora."

"Good bye Phantom." She said.

"Good bye Zecora!" Apple Bloom said.

"Good bye Apple Bloom." Zecora said.

Leaving, I wondered what effects the poison joke would have on the others.

The library,

I woke up feeling good, before i heard some 5 familiar voices and one high pitched hard to hear voice. Looking down stairs, I saw Rainbow Dash with her wings on her stomach, Rarity with her hair so ridiculous I can't describe it, Apple Bloom struggling not to laugh, Pinkie Pie with her tongue somewhat swollen with blue dots on it, a tiny Applejack and Fluttershy who seemed to have nothing wrong with her and Twilight, like Apple Bloom, was struggling to keep from laughing. Spike, however, wasn't even trying to hide it. I too, was trying to keep from laughing as I listened to their conversation.

"See Twilight? I'll bet Zecora hypnotized Phantom into putting us to sleep then while we lay there, she cursed us before having Phantom drop us off at home.", Applejack said in a high pitched voice, "see? I'm small, Rarity's hair is out of control, Pinkie can't talk for once, Rainbow Dash keeps crashing into stuff and Fluttershy hasn't said a word all morning, not even to her animal friends!"

"What happened to you Fluttershy?" Twilight ask

Fluttershy simply shook her head and didn't say a word.

"Good gravy Fluttershy, what's wrong with you?!" Applejack shouted from the bench.

"I don't wanna talk about it." Fluttershy said in a deep stallion voice that did it.

The flood gates broke for me, Spike and Apple Bloom as we all feel to the ground laughing. Which was very painful to me as I was upstairs, but I was laughing to hard to care.

"Would you quit that!" Rarity shouted.

"Okay! Fine.", I said as my laughs died down, "I should probably leave anyway. I'll see you tonight Twilight."

"You too, Phantom." My sister said.

"Come on Apple Bloom I want to show you how to make cakes." I said as we left, we didn't notice a small orange pony jump into Apple Bloom's tail.


3rd person Pov,

"Where is he headed off to?" Rainbow Dash ask, trying to get the ladder off her neck.

"Didn't you know? He likes to help around Sugarcube Corner and Sweet Apple Acres once a week. Preferably when Apple Bloom doesn't have school." Twilight said.

"Really?" Rarity ask.

Pinkie Pie nodded because she still couldn't speak.

"Maybe he could help me make dresses sometime." Rarity said.

"Well, you'll have to ask him.", Twilight said, "but first we should find a cure for your problems."

"How about this?" Spike ask holding up a book.

"Supernatural Cures.", read Twilight, "no Spike, the word super natural suggests that it's magical. This book is a bunch of hooey."

"I think we should confront Zecora and force her to release Phantom from her hypnotism, but that can wait until he gets back." Rainbow Dash said.

"Whatever.", Twilight, "just stay away from that plant next to his bed. He says he wants to try something with it."

Fine." Rainbow Dash groan.


Phantom's pov,

The minute we were out of ear shot, we immediately burst out laughing, drawing attention from ponies walking nearby.

"That was hilarious!" I said through my chortles.

"Yep!" Apple Bloom agree from beside me.

"How did it happen, though?" She ask, when she could.

"Ah, the blue plant I made sure you didn't touch yesterday is called poison joke. It's a plant that causes something funny for each pony who touches it's leaves. I brought back a couple to see if I can turn it into a potion or powder to use in my pranks. Anyway, they were standing in it which made them like they are now." I explain.

"Wow! Can I have one?" She asks me.

"When you get your cutie mark.", I told her, "now let's go, I can just hear the ingredients wanting to be used for a cupcake.

As we walked to Sugarcube Corner we were still chuckling too hard to feel the pony in Apple Bloom's mane, thinking about what she just heard.

"Now you see Apple Bloom, the trick to making great cupcakes is to use the essence of flavor. Now focus concentrate imagine you are holding it in your hoof, or magic depending on the pony. Now put it in the bowl, now we mix it up with the rest of the ingredients, when your done mixing put fill the tray only half full per hole we get more cupcakes with more flavor, now put it in for ten minutes, after waiting ten minutes they were sure to be ready, now take them out and let them cool." I explain to her and watch over her.

She took the two trays out of the oven and put them on the stove. After letting them cool for 30 seconds, I picked one up and started frosting it. After i was done, I started decorating them hearts stars cutie marks and even the princesses heads.

"Now I am done.", I said, "here try one.

"I watched her eyes widen and a tear drip down her cheek as she took a bite.

"This is the best cupcake I have ever tasted!", She said, "can I take these back to the farm with me?"

"Sure!", I said, "I have enough bits for cupcakes for the entire apple family.

Walking to the counter, I call, "Miss Cake, I would like to purchase the cupcakes i made today."

"There's no need for that." she said.

"But I insist, here 20 bits for the lot of them." I said.

"Okay then Phantom, see you next week." She said and hand me the cupcakes.

"See you next week, Miss Cake!" I said, neither of us saw an orange pony jump out of Apple Bloom's mane and run towards the library.

Sweet Apple Acres,

"Hello Granny Smith, have you seen Applejack yet?" I ask.

"No, I haven't seen her all day.", She replied, "I was thinking she went out during the night. Why? Do you know where she is?"

"Yes, she should be at the library with the others and I know she was here last night and she was here this morning, unfortunately she was just really small." I explain.

"Why was she small?" Granny Smith ask me.

"She and the others, except Twilight, ran into some poison joke. Phantom knows how to fix it, but he wants Applejack to apologize to Zecora first." Apple Bloom said.

"Yes you told us about that. Don't worry Phantom, we haven't told Applejack." Granny Smith said with a wink.

"Thank you Granny Smith. Here we brought cupcakes I made at Sugarcube Corner." I said and we bring out the bag.

"These are really good Granny, they are my new favorite cake." Apple Bloom said.

Taking a bite, Granny Smith's eyes widened and she seemed full of energy.

"These here cupcakes make me feel 20 years younger." She said.

"Ah, the essence of flavor. It has a different effect for every pony the effect. I felt was so incredible it's how I started doing jobs around here and Ponyville.", I said smiling at the memory, "well I better get started. Apple Bloom, why don't you show Granny Smith how to get the essence of flavor? Just remember only trusted ponies should be allowed to know the secret."

"Okay Phantom, come on Granny do we have what we need to make muffins?" She said walking into the house.

Chuckling I walked into the orchard, ready to start bucking.


The library, Applejack's Pov,

As I run back to the library, I thought about what I had just heard and seen. Cupcakes so delicious they made Apple Bloom shed a tear. Not even my best batch of muffins could do that and this poison joke is what's made everypony so strange. I'm going to have to talk to Twilight about this. Reaching the library, I was about to go under the door when it opened and a set pink hoofs stepped out.

"Hey, Pinkie Pie!", I yell just loud enough for her to hear me, "can you go back inside? I want to say something about this curse."

Nodding she turned around keeping the door open for me. Walking in I see everypony walking back into seats. I was lifted on to the bench by Twilight.

"Thank you Twilight.", I said, "now I was getting a ride back to the farm in Apple Bloom's mane."

I yelled so everyone can hear me, "I heard something, Phantom said that this curse isn't a curse, but an effect of touching poison joke."

"What on Equestria is poison joke?" Rarity ask, still trying to keep her hair out of her eyes.

"I don't know, but what I do reckon it has something to do with Zecora." I said, "I suggest we follow them tomorrow.

"Agree." Everypony said.

"Where should we stay the night?" Fluttershy ask.

"I'm not going out there looking like this!" Rarity said.

"I need to know when their on the move and i don't want to hide in Apple Bloom's mane anymore." I said.

"So it's settled.", Rainbow Dash said, "we stay the night."

Everypony nodded as I notice Twilight beam.

'Oh right, me and Rarity forgot to tell the other about the sleepover we had.' I thought and face hoof myself.


The next day, Phantom's Pov,

I woke up feeling pretty happy, I was heading off with Apple Bloom to help Zecora today.

"Good morning Twilight.", I said, "I need to pick up a few things, then I'm going to pick up Apple Bloom, then I'm heading off. I'll see you later tonight."

"And between you and me, nice choice to bring some poison joke home with you." She said whispering the last part.

"Thanks. Alright, see ya sis!" I call.

"Later bro!" She calls back.

I picked up the bubble bath like Zecora asked and a few herbs and some spices and a couple of packets of tea. The zebras back in the homeland loved tea and they got me enjoying it every now and then as well. Not noticing the 5 figures following me, I went off to pick up Apple Bloom. Walking up, I noticed Big Mac waving at me. Stopping for a moment, I waved back before he went on with his apple bucking. I knocked on the door and waited for Apple Bloom. The door opened and I was nearly tackled by a flying cream blur with a bow.

"Are we ready Phantom?" Apple Bloom asked me.

"Yup, now let's go, just remember to avoid the poison joke. I don't need to give you a bath today." I exclaim.

"Well I'm sure Zecora wouldn't mind." She said.

"Well maybe not, she's been wanting to test her theory and if you do it she won't have to do on herself. I still don't want to though. Who knows what will happen to you. Maybe you'll start talking all fancy like." I said.

She thought about it, before we both burst out laughing.

"That would be hilarious to see." She said

I was about to reply when I heard a noise that sounded strangely like a snicker behind us. Turning around, I saw nothing and shrugged it off. As Everfree Forest weirdness continuing on, I wondered how the others were doing with their curse. Snickering, I nearly walked into a tree. Turning the corner we ran into the dreaded poison joke. Placing Apple Bloom on my back like last time, I used my magic to move the leaves so they didn't touch us. Getting to the other side, we walk into Zecora's house.

"Well here you go Zecora, bubble bath, some herbs and spices and here some tea." I said, placing the objects on the shelf.

"Ah Phantom, you always know what I needed.", Zecora said, "Hm, one last thing to make mother's famous soup, peppermint would you please go get some?" "Sure Zecora, come on Apple Bloom, we could see what else they have while we're there." I said

"Sure." She said getting on my back.

"Hold on tight." I said and teleport back to Ponyville.


3rd person view, the others,

Keeping Rarity's hair out of her eyes let them cross the field of poison joke without touching any. As they reached Zecora's hut, they looked in the window to see her pouring spice into her cauldron then she started chanting a song in a different language. Leaning forward, she tasted the soup.

"Perfect nearly ready. now I wonder where Phantom and young Apple Bloom are?" She said.

"She must be planning to eat them." Rarity said gasping.

"Not if I can help it." Rainbow Dash said, flying upside down.

She crashed into the door and started flying all over the place. Zecora looked on in horror as Rainbow Dash destroyed her house. She felt a tiny lasso grab her before seeing a tiny Applejack grab it.

"What have you done to Phantom and Apple Bloom?" She ask, still wrestling the ear.

Unfortunately, due to Rainbow Dash destroying everything, Zecora didn't hear the question, only the others bursting into the room ponies.

"What?!" started Zecora before getting cut off by Rainbow Dash knocking over the cauldron.

"No you know not what you do you have done and spoiled my precious brew." Zecora said surprise.

"We're onto you Zecora! Now where is Phantom and Apple Bloom?" Applejack said from Zecora's head.

"How dare you you destroy my home, you destroy my work and you accuse me of being a jerk." Zecora said angrily.

"You did this to us and now you're gonna undo it." shouts Rainbow Dash.

"It is unwise to follow down this road, your actions will make my anger explode." Zecora warn her.

"Where is Phantom and Apple Bloom?!" Rainbow Dash asks pushing her head against Zecora's.

"Zecora! We got what you needed, your mother would...be..." Phantom's voice trailed off as he and Apple Bloom looked at the destroyed house.

"What have you done?!" He shouted at the others.

"Saving you from her spells." They answer confused.

"How dare you accuse Zecora of hypnotizing me! I know she would do no such thing!" He yelled.

"But she's an enchantress." They said.

"No she's not!", He yelled again, "all zebra's have a natural understanding off the supernatural and the weird and Zecora has been my friend since fillyhood!"

Looking down at the cauldron, his eyes widened.

"And you knocked over her mother's soup!" He shouted again his eyes turning green.

"But..." they tried to say.

"No buts!", yelled Phantom, "I want you to apologize to Zecora and clean up her house right now or I will not help her create her antidote for poison joke!"

As their eyes widened, they hurried about cleaning up everything until it was exactly the way it was supposed to be.

"That's better.", Phantom said, "now to get rid of the effects of poison joke, take a bubble bath. Now I want you to leave me and Zecora alone for the next 2 weeks or else the poison joke comes back!"

Teleporting each of them home he dropped them off and went back to Zecora's.


Two weeks later, Phantom's pov,

I was visiting Zecora discussing things over a cup of tea, Twilight was with us well and she and Zecora got along just fine. Then we heard a knock. Opening the door, we saw all of my friends carrying a new cauldron.

"We wanted to say sorry for jumping to conclusions." Applejack said back to her full size.

"We wanted to do something to make it up to you. Pinkie wanted to throw a party, but we didn't think you would want a party with only us, Phantom and his sister there, so we got you this new cauldron." Rarity said her fur coat and mane back to normal.

"And I accept your apology." Zecora said smiling. As they looked over at me they saw me smiling warmly at them for the first time in two weeks, before being tackled by all of them, Rarity included as we lay there I thought, I could never stay mad at you no matter how much i might want to."

"Good thing I got a note ready for Celestia." Twilight said.

"Well then, let's hear it." I ask.

Dear Princess Celestia,

My friends all learned an important lesson this week: Never judge a book by its cover. Someone may look unusual, or funny, or scary. But you have to look past that and learn who they are inside. Real friends don't care what your "cover" is; it's the "contents" of a pony that count. And a good friend, like a good book, is something that will last forever. And turn out this friend happen to be an old friend of my brother.

Your faithful student, Twilight Sparkle.

I smile, They note was a good lesson.

"Wait, a minute." Rarity said, "when me and and Applejack slept over at Twilight's and Phantom's a few weeks ago, she told me that he didn't have any friends."

"That was my mistake." Twilight said, "I forgot that Phantom has explore Equestria then me and he made one friend."

"It was so long ago, I didn't realizes that I was talking to Zecora when I saw her." I said.

"How did you two met?" Pinkie ask.

I frown at that.

"When I ran from Canterlot, after doing something horrible to my sister." I said sadly.

They other were surprise at that and Twilight hug me. She too remember what happen.

"Why? I mean f you what too." Fluttershy ask her voice back to normal.

"It a story for another time." I said not wanting to talk about it now.

Ok, we are still sorry for how we treated your friend." Applejack said.

"And I already forgive you. Zecora's home treated me the same way until I told them that I can see and talk to ghosts." I said.

"Really?", Rarity ask, "They treated you differently because you were a pony?"

"Yeah. But let not talk about it. I just what to spend time with my old and new friends." I said and we all hug.

One day, I will explain it to them but for now. It was the time to be together.


Yes, it's me ETRIGAN THE DEMON. I would once again like to say that the poll for Phantom's pet is on my profile, you have all had great ideas but only a few made it on there, so please head over and vote, but choose wisely the one you want might not be the one you get. Also I think there's a poll on Phantom Fan 21's profile for pairings, so go check that out. Thank you for reading. I'll see you next chapter.

This is Phantom Fan 21, what Etrigan said is true, there the poll up on his homepage for the Pets and poll for the pairings on mine. So please cast you vote for that one too. I already know how many votes there are, so you got to put them on it. I place my own vote as well. Plus I give a hint to a filler chapter that I might start one day. Please review.