Chapter 15
Jasmine Enchanted

Either you believe in curses or you don't. It's that simple. It's like believing in ghosts, aliens, and zombies. Some think they're real and some don't think they exist at all. However, when a team hasn't won a World Series in more than 100 years, it's hard to argue that team isn't cursed. I don't think the Cubs are cursed though. I just think they suck. 100 years worth of it. Jasmine is sort of like me. We don't believe in curses. The only thing Jasmine believes in is the power of fashion. She doesn't have time to bother worrying about silly curses. Unfortunately for her, that was about to change. You'll find out soon enough. It all began one morning in Ponyville. Jasmine was shown at the pond picking flowers and putting them in a straw basket. Jasmine was collecting them to use on the dress she was designing. Just then, an elderly unicorn wearing a clock approached her. She was angry for some reason. "What in blazes do you think you're doing?!" she burst out.

"Uh...collecting flowers?" Jasmine asked sarcastically.

"Those are my flowers!" the pony yelled, "I planted them! You have no right to take those!"

"Sorry, but this pond doesn't belong to anyone. Same for these flowers. If you didn't want ponies to take your flowers, you should've planted them by your house and not on a public pond," Jasmine replied sternly, "Now if you excuse me...I have a dress I need to be tending to." Just as Jasmine was about to turn around, the elder pony's horn began to shine.

"I curse you!" the elder exclaimed as she began to chant, "From this moment on...you will do anything and everything you are told!"

"Yeah, yeah...curse me all you want," Jasmine replied sarcastically, "I don't believe in silly curses anyway." With that, Jasmine left the pond while the elder pony continued to chant her curse. Little did Jasmine know her day was about to get really strange. The first instance was at Carousel Boutique when Jasmine was speaking with a customer. The customer started to complain that the dress she wanted to buy from Jasmine cost too much. At first Jasmine refused to lower the price, but when the customer told Jasmine to lower it, Jasmine did the unthinkable and agreed to the customer's offer. This was the first time Jasmine ever did this. However, Jasmine simply thought this was caused by the little amount of sleep she got last night and chose to ignore it. Sadly for Jasmine, these strange occurrences didn't stop there. The next instance was when Jester asked Jasmine to dress up as a clown to help him with a duo comedy act he was preparing to do for the elder ponies at the retirement home. Jasmine agreed to do it without a second thought. Even Jester was surprised she wanted to do this and that is why he didn't notice something was clearly wrong with Jasmine. Never in a million years would she ever want to do something so embarrassing to her image. As Jester and Jasmine were walking to the retirement home in their clown costumes, Summer had to do at least three double takes when she discovered the other clown walking with Jester was actually Jasmine. As the two of them walked away, it took Summer awhile to break out of the trance she was in after witnessing Jasmine in a clown costume. After going through the worst experience of her life, a disgruntled Jasmine headed back to Carousel Boutique thinking the worse was finally over. It wasn't. The third instance happened when Chary asked Jasmine if she could house her pets while she and her parents went to Fillydelphia for a few hours. Jasmine agreed right away. The next three hours involved Jasmine trying to control the hectic animals that were running amuck throughout the cottage. Eventually, Chary and her family returned to a ragged Jasmine. After she was thanked by Chary, Jasmine headed back to Carousel Boutique. Would the crazy events finally stop? Nope. Throughout the rest of the day, Jasmine experienced more crazy events in which she agreed to do. No matter what it was, Jasmine couldn't say no. It was at that moment Jasmine remembered the elderly unicorn she met in the morning and how she cursed Jasmine to do whatever she was told. Was it possible this so-called curse was actually real? At first Jasmine didn't want to believe it, but considering how her day was going, there was no doubt about it. She was indeed cursed. As quick as she could, Jasmine notified her friends to met her at Summer's house right away. Later on, at Golden Oak Library, Jasmine was shown sitting in the main room with Summer and the others.

"What's wrong Jasmine?" Melrose asked curiously, "Why did you call us here? You told us it was an emergency."

"Yes...I did," an embarrassed Jasmine replied, "It's because I'm...I'm cursed!" The others just stared at her with blank looks on their faces.

"You called us here just to tell us you're cursed?" Skyline asked sarcastically.

"Yes," Jasmine replied with a sigh. She then began to tell everyone about the elderly unicorn she met near the pond in the morning and how the pony put a curse on her because of how she told the elderly unicorn's flowers. After Jasmine was done, an awkward silence hung it the air. It was Skyline who finally broke it.

"A curse which forces you to do anything you're told? Very interesting," Skyline said in a mischievous tone, "Jasmine...act like a chicken." In response, Jasmine stood up and started to mimic a chicken. Everyone immediately burst out laughing. "Ok now...act like cat!" Next Jasmine was shown mimicking a cat. After a few embarrassing commands later, Skyline finally stopped as he was now kneeling down on the floor with his ribs aching with pain after laughing so much.

"Are you quite done yet Skyline?!" Jasmine asked angrily.

"Yeah...I'm done," Skyline replied as he wiped a tear of joy from his left eye.

"Well I'm really glad you had your fun at my expense!" Jasmine yelled, "Now can we please figure out how to get rid of this stupid curse?!" After hours upon hours of looking through book after book, the ponies were unable to find out anything regarding Jasmine's curse.

"Let's go visit Zecora," Summer said, "There's not anyone who knows more about curses than her. Hopefully she can help us." The ponies were then shown leaving Golden Oak Library and making their way to the Everfree Forest. Along the way, Skyline gave Jasmine a few more commands. One which featured Jasmine jumping into the river in the Everfree Forest and acting like a duck. This brought Skyline to be slapped across the face by a bright red Jasmine. Skyline didn't dare try telling Jasmine to do anything else after that. When the ponies arrived at Zecora's shack, they knocked two times and then went inside, only to find Zecora already had a guest. It was none other than the elderly unicorn who put the curse on Jasmine.

"You!" Jasmine shouted as she ran up to her, "Get rid of this curse this instant!" As Jasmine began to vent her frustration at the elderly unicorn, Summer and the others approached Zecora.

"May I ask what all this ruckus is about?" Zecora asked as she continued to watch Jasmine argue with the elderly unicorn. After Summer explained the situation, Zecora let out a sigh. "So that's it."

"Is that pony your friend Zecora?" Chary asked.

"She isn't just my friend...she's also my teacher," Zecora replied, "Her name's Hokus Pokus. She's the one who taught me everything I know." Meanwhile, Jasmine and Hokus Pokus were still fighting.

"Give me one good reason why I should get rid of the curse?" Hokus Pokus asked sternly.

"I'm warning you!" Jasmine yelled as her horn began to shine, "I've already had a horrible day...don't force me to add murder to that list!"

"You don't have the guts girl!" Hokus Pokus shouted as her horn also started to shine. Summer quickly interjected before their fight reached it's climax.

"That's enough you two!" Summer exclaimed, "This needs to stop now! Until it is...neither of you are leaving this house!" With that, Summer turned around and headed back to Zecora and her friends. It took awhile for Jasmine and Hokus Pokus to regain their composure.

"I'm...I'm sorry for taking your flowers," Jasmine said in an apologetic tone.

"Apology accepted," Hokus Pokus replied, "I'm also sorry for placing that curse on you. Let me get rid of that for you dear." After taking a few steps back, Hokus Pokus activated her magic as she closed her eyes and began to chant something under her breath. About five seconds later, the light on her horn went away and she opened her eyes. "There...the curse is gone."

"Thank you! Thank you so much!" Jasmine cried out happily, "I'm free! free! Finally free! Sweet freedom at last!"

"I will also allow you to pick my flowers...for a price that is," Hokus Pokus said with a smile. In the end, all was forgiven between the two ponies. Hokus Pokus even taught Jasmine the curse she placed on her called 'Forceful Obedience'. Jasmine used it on Skyline after they left the shack while no one was looking. Did Jasmine eventually take away the curse from him? Yeah, but not after a couple of days because during those days Jasmine was just having too much fun watching Skyline try to figure out what was wrong with him. Since that day forward, Skyline never once dared to ridicule Jasmine. Skyline knew what was in store for him if he did.