Sorry about the very very long wait for this new chapter... I went job hunting for weeks and weeks with no luck. I feel sad… but let's not beat around the bush. so here it is. Have fun :)

Disclaimer: I do not own MLP/Pokemon

Also this will be my new Scene breaker

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Ash
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These days have been worse than the day before it. I decided to give a letter to the school for a formal excuse to be absent for a while. Our first job in these lands and we already destroyed our reputation to thy job. Perfectly done Ashton. This type of speech is normal for us… but this type of speech is old as Twilight said, I can speak normally like this but our old speech is already stuck on mind and instincts.

I went to the doc to see if he was around but apparently he's not so I decided to walk towards town for some relaxation but as soon as I got there I saw nopony around. Something was wrong and I decided to look around but as further as I walked the longer the silence of the town became very eerie. Truthfully I do not despise ghosts and the like but that does not mean I like them as well. I went to Sugarcube Corner and peered inside but still nothing. This is not funny.

Suddenly my face transformed into a surprised look as I felt something cold at my back. I wanted to yell and attack but the suddenness of the moment caught me off guard. This kind of scare is not good for me. Especially not in my 'condition' right now. I struggle to get away but more cold things held me back and pulled me inside the building.

As soon as the things let me free I readied a fighting stance at the hidden assailant but…

"Dude! Chill. What's your problem?" this voice is "Rainbow?" she didn't bother answering back as they lit up a candle and I saw who's inside the building. Apparently it was the girls I'm most acquainted with along with one of my school students.

"Alright. What's going on here?"

"The evil enchantress is going to come." I groaned, hoping it wasn't the one I think they were referring to.

"The evil enchantress?" as soon as Twilight asked this, Pinkie started singing a song as expected of her

"Aren't you girls being a little too judgmental? Also I never expected AJ to be this scared" I laughed more than I should as I earned a glare from the embarrassed mare

"Look, I'll show you that this is nothing." Sighing mentally at the new information I got from them. I guess she wasn't joking when she said how the ponies were treating an outsider like her, but I'm also an outsider so I'll do my best to help her here.

I received protests from the group but I paid it no heed as I moved closer to the unsuspecting 'enchantress'

"BOO!" I spooked her as she yelped in surprise and looked my way and she saw me grin. And I think she rolled her eyes as she decided to continue her work but this only made me laugh some more

"So Zecora, What're you doing here? I thought you hated going here?" I decided to make idle chatter but I noticed other ponies looking this way from their houses

"I need this ingredient." She showed me the flower? She dug up "No time to be lenient."

"I see. It's for me isn't it?" she didn't say anything and only nodded "How long do you think will it take Zecora?"

"If all goes to plan, then by today it will be done."

"Thanks. Let me escort you back out of ponyville" she glared at me for a second and said "You'll make me look more evil than needed, even if your option is greeted."

"Just let me do this one favor okay?" she sighed and walked away. I took this as a chance for me to escort her. But now that I think about it, this make it look like I chased her away from the town. I groaned silently at my own stupidity.

As soon as she was on her way I turned to see the girls going towards me and Pinkie suddenly tackling me to the ground

"Are you okay?! Do you feel anything weird? Something stinging? Ringing? Hurting? Aching? Anything?"

"Pinkie. You're heavy." Ashton! Rule number one of understanding women *told by mother* Never talk to a woman about weight!

"Oh. Sorry Ash!" she only moved away so I could stand up but I seem to be glared at by Rarity but I shrugged it off.

"Well, it seems you girls are wrong about her and Ash is correct about you being judgmental."

"Guh." Oh no. Dizzy spell. I've been losing consciousness a lot these days. I'm trying my best not to crash down on the ground but alas. *Fhwomph*

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Twilight Sparkle
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"Oh no! Ash is going to get himself killed!" I wanted to rebut her but when it came to that stallion everything is possible.

"Relax. He'd be fine. He always was." I reassured them as much as I reassured myself

"Eep!" I looked for the noise and saw Fluttershy shaking in her boots if she wore any and I looked outside at why and saw the reason

Apparently Ash surprised the zebra and is now grinning at the zebra.

It took minutes of him talking to the zebra before he showed the way out escorting her at every step

And then Pinkie then soon ran towards the area Ash and the zebra was going to and the others went as well so I followed

As soon as we got there we saw Ash waving away towards the zebra and Pinkie suddenly tackled Ash

Also Ash told Pinkie the mare taboo number one. Weight. But it doesn't bother Pinkie at least though Rarity however glared as hard as she could at him which makes it weird.

"Guh." *Fhwomph*

We looked at the noise and saw Ash heaving very hardly and groaning on the ground in pain

"ASH!"

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Ash
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"Great, this nightmare again. Hurry up mind and get this over with." The same place, same structure, same death, same coffin, same ponies… wait someone's missing

"Looking for somepony?" Who was that?! I looked around searching for the voice

"Thy efforts to find us are fruitless. Unless we wanted to show ourselves to thee then thou may never find us."

"Who art thou?! How art thou here?! Why art thou here?!"

"We govern over the dreams of our people, Our job is to remove nightmares and give back dreams. Thus we are also able to visit thy dreamscape."

"Sorry to burst thine bubble however tis' is no simple nightmare."

"We know Ashton. We know." The voice decided to show itself and I saw who it belonged to.

"Lu…lu…" I didn't want anyone I know to learn about this. Especially not her since I did promise to be her best friend as well as I told her I wasn't hiding anything

"Ash. We want... I Want answers. Please." She looked at me slightly glaring. I guess she likes archaic and old speech considering her age and her predicament of before. But this isn't the time to think about this.

"Alright. Let's talk. So what do you want to know?"

"What is this nightmare?" straight to the issue. Just like her sister this made me chuckle a bit but I stopped and got to the point

"This is a premonition." All I got was a confused look from her

"A... premonition? As in the event where one could see what would happen in the future?" I nodded and as I did, she looked around the area

"Then how did this happen? Or why would it happen?"

I told her about the reason and she looked down as soon as I did

"So I was the whole reason behind this?" she was shaken up so I decided to speak up

"Lulu!" I caught her attention "Don't ever blame yourself like that! This was my own fault and mine alone!" she didn't look too happy about it but she decided to let it go

"Then tell me why did you lie about this?" she wasn't looking at me and continued to look at the ground

"I didn't want to worry everyone." I said as honestly as I could

"and hurting everypony about your sudden loss is okay?" I looked away

"You did not think this through did you?" I sighed

"Why are you so mature right now unlike most times?"

"I'm at least a thousand years old, and I am also a princess. Now next question."

"Can you fix this?" She worriedly looked at me but I reassured her with a grin in my face

"Of course! The plan is already set in motion."

"You aren't lying to me this time?" She could be so adorable at times and I couldn't help myself and I put a hoof on her head as I ruffled her mane a bit

"Hey! I'm older than you! You know?!" even her childish attempt at stopping me is adorable.

I stopped and looked at her "I'm not lying to you this time. I promise." She then suddenly smiled and looked at me

"then I shall believe your word for it then. However if you die. I will never forgive you." I nodded and the nightmare soon ended.

It's great. I felt as if a weight has been lifted from me and I feel lighter right now as if I was floating.

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Meanwhile
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"See?! The evil enchantress cast a hex on him!" Pinkie exclaimed "we need to get her to stop this whatever she did to Ash!"

"Let's not be hasty girls. We could be getting ourselves in a lot of trouble if we don't prepare."

They all talked to each other as they completely forgot about the little filly with them until Applejack notice her little sister missing

"Has anypony seen Applebloom?" they looked around the building but found nothing until Pinkie looked at the window

"I see her."

"Where?!" The worried sister yelled out

"Right there silly" Pinkie pointed outside just to see the filly running towards somewhere.

"Where is she going?"

"I don't know but I think it has something to do with this." Pinkie handed her a little slip of paper with the words 'Gonna help Ash.' The words themselves were confusing to the mares in the room but Applejack instantly knew what the note meant and told the others.

They wasted little to no time at all taking care of the ailing Ash and telling Spike to what to do before going after the little filly. Destination, Everfree Forest.

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In no time at all the girls were able to catch up to a far area in the forest as Applejack carried her sister using her mouth and reprimanded her for her obviously dangerous decision of going to the forest alone and without supervision but their lesson were abruptly when a figure showed itself upon the group with a loud voice saying

"Beware! Beware oh, Pony folk, those leaves of blue are not a joke!" the figure then walked away leaving the group aghast at the suddenness of the figure as they decided to step away from the forest itself.

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On their way to the library with Applebloom in tow they soon found out that their friend was nowhere to be found, they were going to find out where he was but Spike already told the group that

"He went away to get some sleep." The group were still worried but if the prince could move on his own, then he must be fine for the moment.

They decided to put the issue on hold and get some rest after this tiring day

Going on their own separate ways with Fluttershy going to her cabin near the woods, Rainbow Dash to her cloud-house, Twilight in the library, Rarity going towards her home carousel boutique, Pinkie bouncing her way towards sugarcube corner and finally the apple siblings heading towards the apple farm

"Yer in big trouble once Big Mac finds out about this." the poor little filly could only wait anxiously at the events to come

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Ash
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"Do you really think this act as wise?"

"I am not in the mood to argue Lucario."

"I understand. I wont push this matter any further but remember that the aura can't help you forever." He stood up and walked away from me after healing me with his aura

"I understand Lucario, and thanks for everything you've done for me."

"Stop talking like that Ash. You make it seem as if this is the end! Remember, your life in this world is a new beginning for you. You should rest." He's right.

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The Next Day
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A lot has happened today. Lot of unspeakable secrets, one of which must never be known to anypony except the ones who have known it initially.

Needless to say I was one of those who knows what exactly happened

I felt fine this morning so I decided to do a little warm-up exercise when I noticed a letter near my bedding.

All the letter had written in it was the words

'This is urgent!

-Twilight Sparkle'

Well at least this explains the bright light from my sleep yesterday.

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Ash
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They must already know about this attrition of mine I sighed at the thought great the girls are going to have a harder time to trust me... again. I sighed again

Well, Here goes nothing. "Hey Twilight, what's the matter... what's going on here?"

"Hey Ash help me a little here." Spike called me out but I don't think I can concentrate right now. Twilight's horn was covered in blue spots and was flopping like jelly, Pinkie has her mouth cover in the same blue spots and she couldn't speak normally, Rainbow Dash has her wings on the wrong way and she keeps crashing everywhere because she still tries to fly, Rarity... or I think that's her? suddenly had a change of looks, Applejack became small... as in really small, lastly, Fluttershy is... normal.

"What exactly happened here?" I eyed everyone worry, wonder and a little amused at the sight

"pell plou plee pit wap plam plem ploo plen plee plent ploo plet!" she looked at me wondering if I got what she said... truthfully however,

"Pinkie. I did not understand a thing you said. Any better explanation please?" Pinkie pouted at me but what else could I have done? I really couldn't understand a word she said!

"Well Ash, the girls went after Applebloom when she went after the strange pony, they caught up with her, the strange pony cast a hex on them, or at least that's what Pinkie and the others believe and lastly they came here like this!"

"Thanks for the recap Spike... but I don't see anything wrong with Fluttershy."

"Well you see, Ash, It's like this, I nicknamed the girls with their 'curses' except Twilight since I still haven't found a witty remark." the girls shot him a glare, must be connected to whatever names he called them

"Really now? Mind telling me what those names are?" and instantaneously the glares were directed to me

"Well there's Appletini, Hairity, Spitty Pie, Rainbow Crash-" He was stopped when I suddenly guffawed, of course earning me a very harsh glare from the said pony

"It's not funny Ash!" her denying like this just made me laugh more and it took me a good couple of seconds before my laughter died down to small snickers

"Actually RD... It is." she growled at me. SHE ACTUALLY GROWLED AT ME "It's just a joke RD, relax a little."

"And Flutterguy." Spike finished his sentence to help me in trying to diffuse the situation needless to say, it got my attention.

"Wait, run that by me again?" I asked him with confusion evident on my face

"I mean Fluttershy, She's called Flutterguy because of her... 'hex'" he air quoted the word as he told me.

I looked at Fluttershy's direction and noticed as she visibly cringed at my stare "Uhh, Fluttershy mind explaining to me what he meant?" she looked away sadness in her eyes evident, but she suddenly looked at me with a pleading look as if saying 'Please don't laugh'

Whatever this is, is going to be unexpected and funny... but I don't want to hurt her so I'll try my best. "Okay, I promise I won't laugh." I nodded to her and she nodded back as she took a breath of air

"My voice changed." Okay, This is hard, openly berating myself for smiling at her predicament isn't going to help, the only thing that could salvage this was some talk.

"It's just your voice Fluttershy, You're still the kind hearted pony I know. You're still you." The teary eyes she had from me smiling at her turned to astonished and she smiled at me

She nodded and smiled "Thank you."

I then noticed their stares shift to me and before I got the chance to say anything Twilight beat me to it.

"What about you?"

"What about me?" I asked back wondering what she meant

"You fell unconscious yesterday! What happened to you?!"

"Oh, That!" I clapped my hooves as I remember "It's nothing, I'm just tired these days." they looked at me, not believing my words but before any of them could ask about it "I need to go somewhere, I'll see you girls later." I waved at them and ran as fast as I could, I could here them calling back, but I didn't look back Sorry everyone for lying like this to you.

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I journeyed on towards Zecora's hut and as soon as I got there, she showed me in and told me that the anti poison brew was almost over but there was a catch

"It's a bath type anti-poison? What does that even mean?"

"It's very simple really, things you need to do are steps of three."

"Okay, what are those steps?"

"Step one is to create, step two and three is to bathe." I wanted to ask more but that is pretty simple alright

"Simple enough, so when will it be ready?"

"It will soon be ready, please let yourself free."

I don't see a reason to argue as fatigue once again come back so I decided to rest my body

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"Ash, it is time for you to awaken, it is time for your medicine."

"What time is it?" I groaned as I stretched

"You've been asleep ever since your trip, it is safe to say, that hours were spent as you lay."

I took my place and rested at the pot "You know, if I didn't know you better, I'd think you were trying to eat me" she pouted

"You know better than I, that what the ponies say are all a lie."

but before I could say anything a loud crash resided and another crash from straight across the room

"Let go of Ash!"

"Huh?" we both looked at the yells and the groaning coming from the crash across the room

"Woah!" I was surprised when said crash came hurdling towards the pot I was in as it spilled the insides of the pot including me and then feeling a magic pull me away must be Rarity, Twilight's horn can't do anything right now from Zecora whom suddenly yelled out

"No! You know not what you do! You've gone and spilled my precious brew!"

"We're onto you Zecora! I didn't want to believe that you cursed us, but the evidence is overwhelming!"

"You made me look ridiculous." Rarity cried out

"Really? I thought you wanted an image change" I chuckled as she glared at me

"You made me sound ridiculous!" Fluttershy looked at me if I was going to make a comment. No Comment.

Pinkie made incoherent noises and after a while she somehow was able to speak normally, for a while at least "You made me speak ridiculous!"

"Pinkie, you always speak ridiculous." she looked at me gasped

"pleah, plut plot plike plis! Plee?!" she pointed at her tongue with her hoof as I groaned at her reasoning

"You ruined my horn!"

"I'm angry but this in not the time, now if you please leave this abode of mine?"

"You put this curse on us and you will uncurse us!"

I groaned and yelled out "There is no such thing as a curse!" every pony in the vicinity looked at me with surprise in their eyes

"Ash, she did something to us, you can't just say there's no curse."

"Twilight, this is not a curse. Zecora we have no time left, please explain."

"Remember the words I said back, those words I said were quite exact."

"Beware, beware pony folk, those leaves of blue are not a joke."

"That's a warning towards your group Twilight, remember the flowers?" they widened their eyes remembering the exact plant

"They're called poison joke, frankly I don't really know what they do, but looking at you girls, I'd say they're just LITTLE jokes thrown unto you."

"Little?! When I get my hooves on you Ash, I'll show you little!" I chuckled but then felt a twinge somewhere around my chest area as I looked at Zecora

"Running... out... of... time... Zecora!" and I soon lost consciousness again

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Twilight Sparkle
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"Ash? Ash?!" he suddenly dropped down on the ground unconscious like most days this week, and if I looked closely Zecora was coming here fast

"We have no time, we must hurry! There's no more time scurry!"

"What... What's going on?!"

"He is poisoned to a deadly degree, and that is the reason to hurry!"

"Po... Poisoned?! Wha... How?! When?!"

"I've no time to explain! If you don't want to help then getting in my way you must refrain!"

~ (\_/) ~
Ash
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I feel like I'm floating in the darkness, the same feeling as the time when I was in my last moments back on earth...

I guess this is it... this is as far as I could go... Forgive me everyone...

"You are not allowed to give up! You gave your word!"

but it's impossible for me... Lulu, I'm sorry, I really am...

"Do not give up! The elements of harmony are still trying to help you, so you re not allowed to give up hope! Listen!"

'sh... As... Ash! Wake up! You have some explanation to do!'

This voice...

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"Guhh.. Twi... light?" my eyes were still trying to cope with the sudden assault of the light when I suddenly felt a trickle on my chest, when my eyes started seeing fine that's when I saw all the girls in the room, crying

No more blue spots, no more unruly hair, no more little sized pony, no more inverted wings... just tears...

Even the normally happy and cheery Pinkie and her fur were flat with tension and sadness, the tears in her eyes... it hurt me the most, after all, when the one that represents laughter isn't laughing, but crying? That's when you know, that you've made a mess, a very big troublesome and dangerous mess.

"Hey girls, what's with the rain drops?" I joked, but only received a scowl from Twilight

"This isn't the time to joke!" I winced, I sensed heat coming from her as I saw smoke rising slowly from her body

"Uhh Twilight? You seem a little heated... need to cooldown?"

"Ash, don't make me repeat myself." smoke rising out of her body, and her icy tone of voice were all I need to know that now is the time to be silent

"After the effects of 'Poison Joke' were cleared away from ourselves, I checked for your vitals... your whole body was on the process of being burned out, if things would have continued, there's no doubt you would have died! YOU almost DIED Ash... please tell me you have a good explanation for this... please?" her icy tone vanished and was exchanged with sobs, soon the others also followed suit and looked at me

"I couldn't... I didn't want to tell you..." I looked down on the floor, avoiding their glares

"How would you have reacted if I just suddenly went up to one of you and say 'Hey, remember that manticore from the first time we met? well it seems I got poisoned and am currently dying'... How do you expect me to tell you that?!" I yelled out, angry not at them but at myself, the circumstances could have been better, the timing was just a little off.

"You could have trusted us!" I only shook my head

"Zecora already found a way, I just needed some time."

"Time? some time?! Ash can you even hear yourself?! We were seconds... SECONDS away from losing you... didn't you think how hurt we, your friends, would have been if you died?!" Twilight seemed to be the only one talking, seeing as they all shared the same sentiments

"I did... I did think about that situation..."

"THEN WHY?! Why didn't you-" I cut her off as I yelled out

"Because you'd have been hurt more if I did!" they were thrown back at what I said

"What..."

"What do I mean? Twilight, you only have been living the life of being happy... All of you are living with being happy... I wasn't... back then, back from the world I was from... I lost people who believed in me... I lost comrades in arms... Thousands of them, I even lost MY best friend, thank the aura that Lucario is still with me, but that's not the point. The point is, I know how painful it is to lose a loved one, to lose a friend, to lose a family... I've even been harrassed by people who blame me for the death of a family or friend... I... I just didn't..." I couldn't continue as the tears I've been holding back came rushing out of my eyes as if a dam broke

A few seconds later, I continued "I just didn't want you to experience the loss, and the pain of thinking 'if only I...' that's all... I didn't want you to blame yourselves for something that I did, wholeheartedly. I live to PROTECT, that is my way, that is the way of the aura. But that way causes emotional pain unimaginable... I just didn't want that to happen... to any of you... if you were hurt from my actions then please... forgive me..." I looked down once again and closed my eyes

Forgiveness is easy to beg for, but very hard to give, I understand this... and as a few moments passed... not one pony in the room talked, Zecora excused herself seeing as this was too private for her and she gave us all the time we need to sort things out... but this silence is deafening... I couldn't stand this anymore.

"We understand if thou wilt not forgive me, it is too high a burden after all, sorry for the inconvenience... and thank thee for thy help..." I stood up on all for and walked to the door but was then stopped in motion when I felt magic holding me down, I looked back and it was both Rarity and Twilight that was stopping me

"Where do you think you're going?"

"We understand that we are not welcome here anymore and have found it wise to leave thy presence alone."

"Why are you talking like that?"

"We also understand that, we are not forgiven and as such, means that we are no longer worthy to be thy friend, so forgive us." but then a bright flash appeared in front of me that forced me to close my eyes but as the light soon faded Twilight was now in front of me, holding my head with her hooves and forcing me to look at her

"You're right. We haven't forgiven you yet. You told us, you promised us, that there will be no secrets, but that doesn't mean we aren't friends anymore! Is that how much we mean to you?" she sadly asked me and I panicked

"NO! Heaven's no! You... All of you, are all very precious to me! I would never forsake you, I just thought... that I wasn't worthy to be your friend anymore..." I looked away, but then soon felt fur against mine as I saw Twilight hugging me

"We don't forgive you for keeping secrets from us, but we forgive you for everything else... We're friends, and nothings going to change that Ash... Nothing." the girls then followed suit and even though I did not usually join their group hugs... this was one that I felt I needed... I couldn't hold myself any longer again as I thanked her

"Thank you... thank you all..." I cried

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A few moments have passed since then, when Pinkie suddenly walked up next to me, her mane still flat and straight, and her face devoid of happiness

"Let me change Rarity's promise." her tone was bone-chilling and somehow even scary so I did the only thing I could and that was say "okay" and nod

"From now on, you will hide no deadly secret involving anypony and especially yourself... are we clear?" I nod again

"Do you promise?"

"I promise." this moment was not like the previous moments I had with the pink mare, this was a very scary experience that tells me if I don't do what she says... I may very well be back on the brink of death

"Pinkie promise?" her tone turned another degree icier as I felt myself colder than before but I still had to question "Pinkie promise?"

"It's a promise, that shows that no matter what, you'll never break it... if you break it... I pinkie promise you that I will know you did... if you promise then repeat after me." she did a series of weird motions and I copied them, albeit rather clumsily

"I forgive you." Her mane and tail then went back to it's previous and normal state of fluffiness as she hugged me with tears and sobs coming from her, I hugged her back

"Never do this again... I'd hate to lose a friend, especially one who tries to understand me..." I brushed my hoof to her mane to try and calm her crying down as I nod and said "Of course Pinkie... I'm sorry about everything..."

Another few moments passed when Rainbow Dash suddenly intervened and told me

"So... me and the girls talk about it and the only way for us to forgive you... is if you drink this." she handed me a glass full of blue liquid, also worthy of note was that Zecora was brewing something from the pot

"Uhh... was Zecora a part of this?" they nodded and Zecora grinned, I do not like that grin... "What's in this anyway?"

"It's a secret, now are you going to be a stallion and drink up? or are you going to be a coward?"

"Can I say no?"

"Do you want us to forgive you?" I nod "Then you can't say no."

"Alright, give me the stupid glass of 'weird' liquid and let's get this over with..." I groaned as I took the glass away from her and stared at her... this is really weird... what is this?

"... One... two... THREE!" I gulped it down trying not to taste it but when I was halfway there, I found the drink to be quite delectable and sweet

"Hey... this isn't so bad... It's actually sweet and yummy... tell me, what is it? Really?"

The girls went on snickering into full blown laughter and I could even see Zecora chuckling herself

"Whatever..." I said as I finished off the drink

"Hey, Ash..."

"What is it now Rainbow?"

"You just drank 'Poison Joke'"

...

...

...

"WHAT?!"

And soon there after, laughter were heard throughout the forest and even when we were going back home... I hate this day the most...

Well, I finally finished this... I hate job hunting... anyways what do you guys think?

R&R everyone... it helps :)