This is the 15th chapter. I don't own the series of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic.
Bridle Gossip
On a bright and sunny day, Twilight, Mario, Spike, and Comet were taking a stroll through the town of Ponyville. It was a beautiful morning for the three unicorns and their dragon companion, having just taken a walk in the park with the three ponies side by side.
"Wow, what a gorgeous sunny day!" Twilight said happily.
"You can say that again." Mario nodded in agreement.
"Rainbow Dash must have gotten up early for once and cleared all the clouds away." Spike pondered aloud.
"I don't know about that." Comet said, skeptical. "But if she did then we should thank her for making it a nice day."
Even though, Spike looked up toward the clear blue sky while Comet is skeptical. No doubt on their minds Rainbow Dash really outdid herself when she felt like it.
"I bet all of Ponyville is going to be out enjoying the sunshine." Twilight replied.
But just as they entered town, they were met with the most unusual sight: All of the streets were completely bare and empty.
"Mom? Where is everypony?" Comet asked.
"Good question." Mario said.
As they look around, some ponies were shutting their windows while a little filly was quickly whisked back into their house by a nearby parent. This confused the three unicorns and Spike tremendously, neither one were certain as to what to think.
"You're right, Comet." Twilight said. "There aren't any ponies out here."
They walked around the town, hoping to find the answer right before them, but apart from the four not a single pony could be seen from miles.
"Is it some sort of pony holiday?" Spike asked.
"Not that I know of." Twilight answered.
"We don't know when the next holiday is gonna start." Mario added. "Pinkie might know."
As they pass the shop, they noticed all the windows were completely dark as if someone purposefully turned off all the lights.
"Umm." Spike asked sheepishly. "Does my breath stink?"
Spike gave out a loud belch, which made Mario and Comet cringe a bit.
"Not more than usual." Twilight remarked.
"And I didn't need to revive Twilight today." Mario added.
"Also, you definitely need some breathmints or something because your breath stinks." Comet told him.
The three ponies laughed as Spike gave them a glare. Then Spike grew fearful as, yet another thought crossed his mind as they walked behind a water fountain.
"Is it...zombies?" Spike asked fearfully.
"Uh...not very likely." Twilight said.
"Not likely...but possible?" Spike wondered.
"Spike, if we were to encounter any zombies, some pony would've warned us in advance." Mario stated, matter-of-factly.
"PSST!"
The four froze suddenly when they heard the sound. They looked around just outside of Sugarcube Corner. All of a sudden, Pinkie Pie waved her hoof from the upper-opened door and gestured them to follow.
"Twilight! Spike! Mario! Comet!" A voice of Pinkie Pie called.
"Pinkie?" Mario and Comet asked, confused.
It didn't take long for the four to realize it was Pinkie Pie, whispering to them.
"Come here! Come! Here! Hurry! Before she gets you!"
Not knowing what the deal was about, they quickly jumped over the lower half of the door and crept inside. Things seemed rather quiet for them till a bright light flashed in their faces, making Mario, Comet, and Twilight groan. Turned out Pinkie Pie shining the lantern toward them.
"Who?!" Spike called out. "The zombie pony?"
"Z-Zombie pony?!" Pinkie Pie answered, shakily.
"Spike! There are no zombie ponies." Twilight said.
"Pinkie, what the heck are you doing sitting alone in the dark?" Mario questions.
"I'm not alone in the dark." Pinkie Pie replied.
Instantly, the dark room lit up before their eyes. Mario, Comet, and Twilight gasped as they found themselves surrounded by their friends, even Apple Bloom, Applejack's and Mario's younger sister, and Apple Shine's aunt. Of course, Apple Shine and Comet were able to recover from that tree few days ago.
"Okay then, what are you all doing in the dark?" Twilight asked.
"Is there some sort of danger in town or something?" Mario questions.
"And who are you talking about?" Comet asked.
"Pinkie's...talkin' 'bout her." Applejack said, pointing at the window.
Mario, Comet, and Twilight followed Applejack's hoof, pointed towards the window. Before their very eyes, a cloaked figure walked outside. It came to a stop in the middle of the road, beginning to dig some sort of hole in the ground. The three unicorns made off to look but bombarded by the rest of the girls behind them. Poor Mario was pushed so hard, his face was smashed right into the window. He glared discreetly before prying his face off the glass and look out. In that moment, the cloaked figure turned and gave them a very mysterious glare. The ponies gasped in fright, except Apple Shine, while Mario, Twilight, Comet, and Spike looked understandably confused.
My Little Pony, My Little Pony
Ahhhh
My Little Pony
I use to wonder what friendship could be
My Little Pony
Until you all share this magic with me
Big adventure,
Tons of fun,
A beautiful heart,
Faithful and strong,
Sharing kindness
It's an easy feat
And magic makes all complete
You all have my little ponies
Do you know all you're all my best friends?
As all this was going on, Mario Star, Twilight Sparkle, and Comet Stardust felt taken aback by the stranger before their eyes. Apple Bloom soon rushed over to them.
"Did you see her, Twilight, Mario, and Comet?" Apple Bloom asked. "Did you see...Zecora?"
"Apple Bloom!" Applejack scolded. "I told you never to say that name!"
Naturally, Mario didn't appreciate seeing his younger sister being scolded for what he deemed an innocent question. Apple Shine feel the same as her uncle, but even she knew that her aunt is curious of the stranger named Zecora.
"Why?" Mario asked. "Is her name some sort of taboo or something?"
"And what is up with you all?" Comet adds with a question.
"Well, Mario, Comet, and I saw her glance this way..." Twilight replied, answering Apple Bloom's question.
"Glance evilly this way." Pinkie Pie retorted.
Twilight just pushed her back.
"...And bunch of you flip out for no good reason." Twilight concluded.
"I didn't." Comet and Apple Shine responded as Twilight and Mario gave the two foals a soft smile.
"True." Mario nodded. "I mean...I understand the cloak and all. But there's no reason to duck and cover against a fellow equine."
"No good reason?" Applejack retorted, pulling Apple Bloom close. "You call protectin' yer kin no good reason? Why as soon as mah sister and mah daughter saw Zecora ridin' into town, they started shakin' in their lil' horseshoes."
Applejack shook both Apple Bloom and Apple Shine about to make her point, leaving the two little fillies very dizzy.
"D-D-Did n-n-not!" Apple Bloom and Apple Shine protested, shakily.
"So Ah swept them up and brought them here." Applejack continued, tossing Apple Bloom and Apple Shine on her back.
"Apple Shine and Ah walked here ourselves!" Apple Bloom remarked.
"Fer safe keepin'!" Applejack finished.
Apple Bloom and Apple Shine were clearly annoyed by their own kin had been ignoring their comments the entire time.
"Applejack, we're not babies!" Apple Bloom replied as she and Apple Shine climbed off of Applejack. "We can take care of ourselves!"
"Not from that creepy Zecora!" Applejack shot back, sternly.
"And weren't you the one who's shakin' yer horseshoes?" Apple Shine questions with a glare. "Like Aunt Apple Bloom said, we walked ourselves!"
"Don't ya sass with me, Apple Shine!" Applejack shot back at her daughter.
"Overprotective much?" Mario remarked, shook his head.
Though, Mario felt sorry for Apple Bloom and Apple Shine, at the same time he understood where Applejack was coming from. Being an older brother of the Apple family, he'd do anything to protect his siblings, especially his niece.
"She's mysterious." Fluttershy said, referring to Zecora.
"Sinister." Rainbow Dash adds.
"And spooooky!" Pinkie Pie said with an ominous tone.
Mario, Twilight, and Comet rolled their eyes as they looked out the window. It was then Zecora removed her hood, revealing the back of her face. The rest of the ponies, except Apple Shine, gasped loudly.
"Will you cut that out?" Twilight asked with annoyance.
"What's the big deal?" Mario asks. "It's just her face!"
"Just look at those stripes!" Rarity called out. "So garish!"
"She's a zebra." Mario, Twilight, Comet, and Apple Shine said firmly, looked at each other.
"You two know what a zebra is?" Twilight asked, earned a nod from Comet and Apple Shine.
"A what?!" The mares asked in surprised.
"A zebra." Twilight explains. "And her stripes aren't a fashion choice, Rarity, they're what she was born with."
"And it's natural for her to be 'black' and 'white' stripes, or vice versa." Mario adds.
But Rarity wasn't paying much attention, just groaned wearily and fainted.
"Born where?" Applejack asked. "Ah've never seen like that in these parts, 'cept her."
"Well, she's probably not from here, and she's not a pony. My book say that zebras come from a faraway land, but I've never seen her in Ponyville." Twilight explains, turns to Comet and Apple Shine. "How do you two know what zebras are?"
"We have zebras back in our world." Comet explains. "They're from a different continent called Africa. Though, zebras are very aggressive and bite any humans that seem too close."
"And zebras can form a herd by staying together while protectin' their youngins' from predators. Also, they communicate to each other by barking." Apple Shine adds.
"'Barkin'? Zebras bark?" Applejack asks, confused.
"Eeyup, zebras bark, like dogs do." Apple Shine confirms.
"Don't compare to zebras with Winona! She's nothin' like those zebras!" Applejack shouts sternly, causing Apple Shine and Comet startled.
Twilight and Mario understand what the two foals are coming from since there's a link to it about zebras, but the others were still confused. Twilight Sparkle decided to change the subject.
"But the question is, where does she live?" Twilight asks, comforting Comet while Mario comforts Apple Shine.
"That's just it." Applejack said ominously. "She lives in...the Everfree Forest!"
THUNDER ROLL!
Every pony jumped in surprised when Comet started clinging onto Twilight's hind leg and pressed his face on her flank while Apple Shine does the same by clinging onto Mario's hind leg and pressed her face on his flank. Apparently, Spike climbed off Twilight's back and snuck inside of the kitchen to have a snack. He had knocked down a pot and a frying pan to the floor when he grabbed a cupcake and a candy cane.
"Spike!" Mario and Twilight scolded.
"Uh, sorry." Spike called out from the kitchen, until Comet and Apple Shine let go of Twilight and Mario's leg.
"Sorry, Mom/Uncle Mario." Comet and Apple Shine said.
"Shhhh...It's okay, sweetheart. I'm right here." Twilight said, comforting her son with a hug.
"It's okay, I'm here, Apple Shine." Mario said, comforting his niece with a hug.
"The Everfree Forest just ain't natural." Applejack explains.
"What's so unnatural about the Everfree Forest?" Comet questions, wondering why the ponies were afraid of the forest.
"The plants grow..." Applejack told him, looking at the little colt.
"Animals care for themselves..." Fluttershy added.
"And the clouds move..." Rainbow Dash added.
"All on their own!" The three mares said together, slowly.
Rarity faints once more. But the dry look on Mario and Apple Shine's face says otherwise while Comet wasn't convinced at all since the two foals were from a different world because the clouds can move on there own, animals may or may not care for themselves, and the plants grow on there own.
"Yeah?" Mario said blankly. "And what's the scary part?"
"That wicked enchantress Zecora live there doing her evil...stuff!" Pinkie Pie adds. "She's so evil, I even wrote a song about her!"
Mario widen his eyes instantly as he realized this was no time for a ridiculous tune.
"Pinkie, I'm warning you!" Mario warned angrily.
"Here we go..." Rainbow Dash spoke apathetically.
Though, there's no stopping Pinkie Pie from singing.
Pinkie Pie (Sings):
She's an evil enchantress
She does evil dances
And if you look deep in her eyes
She'll put you in trances
Then what will she do?
She'll mix up an evil brew
Then she'll gobble you up
In a big, tasty stew
Sooooo...Watch Out!
Pinkie Pie stood on a table on her hind legs with her fore-hooves high in the air, her chest rising and falling as she panted heavily before them. When Applejack clearly shook over the song, much to Apple Bloom's annoyance, Twilight Sparkle, Comet Stardust, and Apple Shine just stared at Pinkie Pie. While Mario Star held his hooves over his ears, just waiting for the splitting headache to stop.
"Wow, catchy." Twilight said, unimpressed.
"Very convincing." Mario added, let go of his ears.
"It's a work in progress." Pinkie Pie replied, oblivious to the sarcasm.
"This is all just a lot of gossip and rumors." Twilight argued. "Now tell me, what exactly have you actually seen Zecora do?"
"Well..." Rainbow Dash pondered. "Once a month, she comes to Ponyville."
"Oooooh!" Twilight replied, dramatically and sarcastically.
"Then, she lurks by the stores." Rarity continued.
"Oh my!" Mario replied, same tone.
"And then, she digs the ground." Fluttershy finished.
"Good gracious!" Twilight and Mario cried.
Rarity frowned as Mario was clearly mimicking her. Eventually, the two unicorns gave their friends indignant looks. Apple Bloom, Comet Stardust, and Apple Shine also stood between Twilight and Mario, sharing the same face.
"Okay, I'm sorry." Twilight said normally. "But how is any of this bad? Maybe she comes to town to visit?"
"Yeah!" Apple Bloom agreed. "Maybe she's just tryin' to be neighborly."
"Or make some new friends." Mario adds.
"And maybe she's not lurking by the stores, maybe she's going to them, lurk free, to do some shopping?" Twilight suggested.
"Yeah!" Apple Bloom agreed. "Every pony likes to shop. You know what Ah think?"
"Apple Bloom! Hush and let the big ponies talk!" Applejack scolded.
Apple Bloom took great offense to what her sister just said. The bitterness within her eyes says it all.
"I am a big pony!" Apple Bloom muttered under her breath, not realizing Comet, Apple Shine, and Mario overheard.
"Aside from Twilight, you're the only one." Mario whispered to his sister.
Mario's words made Apple Bloom feel slightly better, knowing at least one pony was on her side. All of the other ponies, except Comet and Apple Shine, seemed unconvinced toward Twilight's logic.
"W-What about digging at the ground?" Rainbow Dash points out. "You've got to admit that's weird."
"You poke sprinkles on your cupcake, Rainbow." Mario retorted. "That's weird yet none of us think you're evil!"
Comet and Apple Shine snickered while Rainbow Dash gave Mario an annoyed raspberry in response.
"What if she's digging for innocent creatures?" Fluttershy proposed.
Pinkie Pie once again starts singing her song in the background; Mario looked rather annoyed with her antics.
"Any pony got a pillow?" Mario asked rhetorically.
"To block out the nonsense?" Apple Bloom proposed.
"No, to stuff Pinkie's mouth! That song is driving me crazy!" Mario yelled with annoyance.
"I'm sure there is an explanation for everything Zecora does." Twilight answered towards the accusation. "And if any pony here were actually brave enough to approach her, she would find out the truth."
Apple Bloom happened to be near the door the moment she heard that.
"Well, ah'm brave enough." Apple Bloom retorted. "Ah'm gonna find out myself!"
Apple Bloom turned to leave when she felt some pony tap her back. Apple Bloom looked up as Mario Star, Comet Stardust, and Apple Shine stood over to her looking down at her sternly.
"We know what you're doing..."
Apple Bloom groaned, expecting another firm lecture. But instead, Mario just smiled.
"Count us in! Besides, all these ponies want is proof." Mario said. "I think if we work together, we can investigate Zecora for ourselves and find all the proof we need. Come on!"
Mario's words brightened Apple Bloom's spirits, as she followed her older brother, her niece, and her friend, together they left the shop. They barely made it towards an abandoned cart when Zecora turned in their direction. Apple Bloom gasped as they hid behind the cart as quietly as they can. They waited till they heard the footsteps recede before peeking out.
"If we're going to follow her, we need to be as stealthy as possible." Mario whispered to the three. "And light on our hooves. Here's the plan: You track her, while Comet and I get us from one spot to the other."
"Think you can move fast enough?" Apple Bloom asked.
"In case you forgot, I'm a martial artist." Mario told her. "And Comet still has a long way to go, but he can keep up."
"Oh yeah..."
"Now, you and Apple Shine climb on. And whatever you do, don't let go."
Mario placed Apple Bloom and Apple Shine upon his back, before he and Comet zipped from house to house, which the little colt uses speed magic, as they followed Zecora out of Ponyville. Back at Sugarcube Corner, the other ponies were still arguing.
"You ponies are being ridiculous!" Twilight snapped.
"Well, I heard Zecora eats hay." Pinkie Pie said sternly.
"Pinkie, I eat hay, you eat hay!" Twilight retorted indignantly.
Pinkie Pie just glared at Twilight Sparkle. Though deep down she knew Twilight was right, she was unwilling to admit she was wrong.
"Yeah, but I heard it's the evil way she eats hay." Pinkie Pie retorted back.
"Hey! Where's Apple Bloom?" Applejack asked, looking around and knew some pony else is also missing. Her daughter is missing. "Oh no! Apple Shine! Where's Apple Shine?"
"Comet? Comet?" Twilight called her son, but no respond. "Where's my son?"
"The doors open!" Flutterhsy points out.
"They went outside!" Rarity exclaimed.
"And Zecora's still out there!" Rainbow Dash added.
"That silly lil' fillies." Applejack sighed. "Ah told them to stay put!"
Looking around again, Applejack noticed not only were Apple Bloom, Apple Shine, and Comet missing, but some pony else was too.
"W-Wait just dog-gone second! Where's Mario?" Applejack asks.
"You don't think..." Pinkie Pie wondered.
But before Pinkie Pie could finish, Applejack snorted through her nostrils.
"Wait til Ah git my hooves on mah brother!" Applejack growled angrily.
Applejack galloped out the front of the shop, seeking to find the three ponies, including her daughter.
"Spike, you stay here in case Apple Bloom, Apple Shine, Mario and/or my son come back." Twilight instructed.
"Will do!" Spike replied.
With that settled, Twilight Sparkle raced out of the shop to catch up with the group.
A few minutes later, Zecora made her way deep into the Everfree Forest. Mario, Comet, Apple Shine, and Apple Bloom managed to successfully tail her from close behind. They looked about as they stood by the entrance of the forest. Just being at the foot Everfree Forest made Apple Bloom and Apple Shine nervous. Comet Stardust have been into the forest once, but only because he ran into the ruins of the Castle of the Two Royal Sisters.
"Don't worry, Comet and I have been there before." Mario assured the two fillies. "Just stay close to me and you'll be okay."
Apple Bloom and Apple Shine stared down toward the path, standing tall as she, Apple Shine, Comet, and Mario bravely entered the forest. But despite having the Element of Courage next to them, Apple Bloom still gulped nervously as they tailed Zecora from a few yards away. They didn't get very far when both Comet Stardust and Mario Star stopped the two fillies as they stopped a patch of blue flowers just in front of them.
"Why'd ya stop us?" Apple Bloom asks.
"I read about these flowers in a book called 'Super naturals'." Comet explains. "They're called Poison Joke. One touch from these and a small, yet funny, change will happen."
"Like what?" Apple Shine inquires.
"I don't know." Comet answered. "It's different every time."
"Good eye, Comet." Mario praises the colt.
They then looked up to see Zecora, moving in a pattern, not touching the flowers.
"See. She knows what they are." Comet continues. "Let's get around this without touching them."
They nodded as they started going around the flowers, but were stopped when they heard voices.
"Apple Bloom! Apple Shine! Comet! Mario?!"
Apple Bloom gasped as she, Apple Shine, and Mario froze in place. Mario couldn't help but groan in irritation along with Apple Shine.
"You four get back here right now!" Applejack ordered.
"We're fine, sis!" Mario called out. "I've been looking out for them!"
Comet just won't listen and kept on following Zecora which it got Twilight shocked.
"Comet!?" Twilight called her son with a gasp.
Comet suddenly saw Apple Bloom, Apple Shine, and Mario stopped, but he tried to catch up to Zecora by following her.
"What do you think you're doing?!" Twilight shouts. "You're going to get stuck out there and we're gonna have to get you before something worse happens, or if somepony else does!"
Comet kept on trying to catch up when Apple Bloom, Apple Shine, and Mario noticed the little colt is ahead of them. Twilight is starting to grow more furious.
"Get back here!" Twilight demands. "I said get back here now!"
Comet continues to catch up.
"Stop!" Twilight shouts, causing Comet to stop which he knows his mother is angry. "If you take one more move, mister!"
Comet is about to make his move, but Twilight continues.
"No! D-Don't you dare!" Twilight said, saw her son near the path. "If you go near that path towards that zebra...! Are you listening to me?! Don't go near her!"
Comet then tripped and fell on the ground with a grunt, causing Twilight to gasp.
"Comet!?" Twilight called him furiously.
Zecora then stops and looked past them. She noticed the six mares were in the midst of the blue flowers.
"Beware! Beware, you pony folk!" Zecora warned them. "Those leaves of blue are not a joke!"
The others, minus Twilight, looked very indignant. Comet suddenly saw Applejack running towards them, tried to warn her, but Applejack just ran right through the flowers. She then picked up Apple Bloom up and over her head, and Apple Shine on her back.
"Y-You keep yer creepy mumbo-jumbo to yerself, ya hear?" Applejack shouted.
The others, not including Twilight, Mario, Comet, Apple Shine, or even Apple Bloom, began to speak over each other telling Zecora off.
"Oh brother!" Twilight sighed.
"Beware!" Zecora enchanted. "Beware!"
And just like that, the mist engulfed Zecora right before their very eyes...and then she was gone.
"Yeah, back at ya, Zecora!" Rainbow Dash said, flying beside the Apples and Mario. "You and your lame curse are the ones who better beware."
Apple Bloom, Apple Shine, Comet, and Mario glared at Rainbow Dash until Applejack grasped their attention.
"And you two!" Applejack snapped, toward her sister and her daughter. "Why couldn't you two just listen to me?"
"I...I..." Apple Bloom stuttered.
But the moment Applejack stared them down, Apple Bloom had completely lost her courage.
"It's because yer overprotective and unreasonable!" Apple Shine argued her mother. "You don't listen to a single word she..."
"You better watch that tone of yers, young filly!" Applejack snapped, turns to Mario. "As fer you! Just who do ya think you are? Puttin' mah little sister and mah daughter in danger like that!? Who knows what kind of nasty curse Zecora could have put on the four of you?"
"Just like my song!" Pinkie Pie points out.
Pinkie Pie began to sing again, causing Mario to roll his eyes in annoyance.
"You guys, there's no such thing as curses!" Twilight shouts.
"Do you really think I'd bring Apple Bloom, Apple Shine, and Comet out here if there really was any danger?" Mario retorted defensively. "Our sister, my niece, and my godson were actually trying to get to the bottom of this nonsense, while you're the one acting like a scared filly!"
Applejack said nothing as she made her way through the blue flowers. Rainbow Dash flew just above the flowers toward Twilight, maintaining eye contact with Mario, who still stood outside the flower patch.
"Well, that's interesting to hear coming from Mr. and Ms. Magic Pants themselves!" Rainbow Dash remarked, pointing at Twilight's horn.
"That insult doesn't even make any sense!" Mario shouted.
"Our magic, real magic, comes from within." Twilight explained calmly. "It's a skill you're born with. Curses are artificial magic. It's conjured with potions and incantations; all smoke and mirrors meant to scare. But curses have no real power, they're just an old pony tale."
As Twilight spoke, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Fluttershy looked blankly at her. Rainbow Dash flew behind the three ponies and mock-talked Twilight's words until Mario threw a rock at her, which made her yelp before glaring at the unicorn stallion. In the end, they didn't let Twilight finish before they turned and walked away.
"Just you two wait." Applejack warned. "You're gonna learn that some pony tales are true."
"Wow, there was something like this on my world." Comet said.
"Really?" Mario asked. "What is it?"
"Racism." Comet answered, remembered something in his world.
"Racism?" Twilight repeats. "What's that?"
"Certain appearance makes certain people uncomfortable." Comet explains. "People on mine and Apple Shine's world don't hire certain people due to skin color or origins of their countries. And it seems that the others are doing the same thing to Zecora."
"Wow. That's...actually a good example." Twilight said surprisingly, turns to her friends. "You five aren't giving Zecora a chance to explain herself."
"Twilight!" Pinkie Pie said, getting in her face. "She's...an...evil...enchantress. Who does evil dances. And when you look into her eyes, she will put you in trances."
"Stop it, Pinkie!" Twilight snapped. "Did any of you even ask what she does?"
"And I'm all for believing in the impossible and the unexplained." Mario adds. "But I never sensed any threat here! You're just too stubborn to admit when you're wrong!"
"...You stay away from mah sister and mah daughter or else!" Applejack shouts.
"Or else what?!" Mario yelled back in a dangerous tone, dared her to finish that sentence.
Applejack was about to reply, but groaned in frustration and went off. As Applejack went away along with the others, Mario shook his head.
"Ugh, pathetic." Mario remarked. "It's like they say: Fear of something you don't understand will only cloud your judgement and common sense."
"You can say that again." Twilight sighed, turns to Comet as she uses her magic, lifting the colt in the air and placed on her back. "And as for you, I think you had enough curiosity and excitement for today. We're going back home to the library."
Mario then uses his magic, zapped himself over the large patch of flowers. Twilight looked at him quizzically, wondering why he'd teleport like that.
"Why didn't you just walk through the flowers?" Twilight asked.
"There's something off about those flowers." Mario told her, knew what those flowers are and not telling her. "Master Wu told me about this long ago, but I can't remember."
"Remember about what?" Twilight asked curiously, but Comet knew what he's up to.
"I'll try to find out when we get back." Mario lied, but not telling her.
Soon as Mario and Twilight headed on home, Comet spoke.
"Mom, I'm sorry for going out there." Comet said with an apology. "I just wanted to see if Zecora wasn't who you thought she was."
"It's okay, sweetie. I'm not mad. I was afraid I would lose you, but for now, I'm just glad that you're safe. But you're still in trouble for going out there, but I forgive you." Twilight said, kissing her son's muzzle. "But you're lucky that Mario is with you. Next time you try to do something like that again, ask me, okay?"
Comet nodded and then as he hugged his mother's neck and nuzzled her mane. Twilight smiled warmly and patted his hoof with hers. Mario shook his head with a smile, had a feeling that Twilight forgives her son instead of scolding him like Applejack did. However, Twilight is a bit protective of her son whenever he's in danger.
Later that night, Twilight was sleeping next to Comet, who's snuggled up against her. She was trying to sleep, but everything that had been going on made sleeping for her rather difficult. In her dreams, the words she heard from both Zecora and her friends tormenting her mind.
'She's an evil enchantress, she does evil dances!' Pinkie Pie chanted.
'Beware! Beware!' Zecora warned.
'If you look deep into her eyes, she will put you in trances!' Pinkie Pie continued.
'Yeah, was that supposed to scare us?!' Rainbow Dash said.
'Wicked, wicked zebra!' Rarity said.
'...it's a curse!' Fluttershy remarked fearfully.
'Then what will she do?' Pinkie Pie asked.
'Just you two wait now.' Applejack repeated. 'Some pony tales really are true.'
'Then she'll gobble you up in a big, tasty stew! So...watch out!' Pinkie Pie concluded.
Zecora begun to laugh menacingly.
But Comet kept holding Twilight for comfort as he started singing in his sleep.
Comet (Sings):
Deep in the meadow
Under the willow
A bed of grass
A soft green pillow
Lay down your head
And close your eyes
And when they open
The sun will rise
Here it's safe, and here it's warm
Here the daisies guard you from every harm
Here your dreams are sweet
And tomorrow brings them true
Here is the place where I love you
Twlight Sparkle opens her eyes, looking at Comet, who's been singing in his sleep as she smiled while listening to the song.
Comet (Sings):
Deep in the meadow, hidden far away
A cloak of leaves
A moonbeam ray
Forget your woes, and let your troubles lay
Then again it's morning, they'll wash away
Here it's safe, and here it's warm
Here the daisies guard you from every harm
Here your dreams are sweet
And tomorrow brings them true
Here is the place, where I love you
Here is the place, where I love you
Twilight couldn't help but smile warmly of that song as she kissed him on the forehead.
"I love you too, Comet." Twilight whispered to her son as she went back to sleep.
When morning arrives and the rooster crowed, Twilight was sleeping a bit well after hearing that song last night which it got her calm. Though, her mane was messy.
"What a dream...Curses, schmurses!" Twilight said with a yawn, smiled at Comet snuggled up against her soft and warm fur chest. "I remember now, Comet sang that song in his sleep. Probably a special song for him when his old parents sing it for him."
Twilight then kissed his forehead and nuzzled him, waking him up. Comet shrugging while he was waking up, opened his eyes and smiled at Twilight, but got surprised when he saw her mane.
"Uh...Mom?" Comet asked.
"What is it, Comet?" Twilight asked.
"Have you...ever seen your mane?" Comet asked, nervous to ask when he noticed something underneath her mane.
"What? What do you..." Twilight was about to ask before looking in the mirror. "Whoa! Maybe Zecora cursed my mane."
Twilight laughed as she brushed her mane back into place, until she gasped, as what she saw next gave her a sudden shock. Her unicorn went limp and was covered in blue polka dots.
"Or she cursed my horn!" Twilight squeaked fearfully.
Comet just widen his eyes, saw his mother's horn all flopped and dotted. He knows how it really happened yesterday.
They spent the rest of the morning seeking a reason for the sudden change of Twilight's horn. But the efforts to find a remedy of this surprising predicament have been fruitless. Comet, however, was the only one who knows the real answer. He tried to get his mother to listen, but Twilight is too busy looking for answers while panicking.
"Mom!" Comet called her. "You should really..."
"No-no-no-no-no!" Twilight panicked. "None of these books have a cure! Ugh! There has to be a real reason for this! An illness? An allergy?!"
"A curse!" Spike called out, reading the book.
"I said a real reason." Twilight retorted. "Something that points to something real."
"How about this one?" Spike suggests, showing the book to Twilight when she read the cover.
"Supernaturals?" Twilight read aloud. "Spike, the word 'supernatural' refers to things like ghosts and spirits and zombies, which make-believe curses. This book is just a bunch of hooey!"
"Mom?" Comet asked.
"But what if you're wrong, Twilight?" Spike asked. "What if this really a-"
"A pfurse!"
A voice, with a very strong lisp, called out from behind.
"A purse?" Spike asked in confusion. "How could it be a purse?"
They all turned around and spotted Pinkie Pie, with her tongue completely swollen and covered in polka dots, much like Twilight's horn.
"Pinkie? What happened?" Twilight asked, worried.
"Pee pah Zthecora!" Pinkie Pie answered, spitting. "Sthe put a cursthe on me!"
While Comet used a barrier to block the spit, Spike got drenched.
"Hey! Say it, don't spray it, Pinkie!" Spike retorted.
Then they heard the sound of some pony thumping outside of Twilight's window. They turned and saw Rainbow Dash crashed again.
THUD!
"Ow...Oh! She's..."
THUD!
"...trying to say-ow!..."
THUD!
"...Zecora..."
THUD!
"Oh!"
Rainbow Dash stumbled before bashing her way through the door and crashed right into a pile of books upon the ground. The next thing they knew, Rainbow Dash found herself stuck in Twilight's ladder.
"She slapped us all with a-ow-curse!" Rainbow Dash finished.
It was then Comet, Twilight, and Spike noticed that Rainbow Dash's wings were completely upside down which it's no wonder she had a hard time flying.
"I'm afraid I have to agree!" Rarity said.
When Rarity came in, every pony got a look at her and their eyes went wide. Rarity blew some of her new shaggy, draped mane and fur hairs out of her face. Spike, Twilight, and Comet yelped in surprise.
"I hate to say I told you so, Twilight! But I told you so!"
The next voice sounded very squeaky which it belongs to none other than Applejack. She was now tiny and she's on Apple Bloom's back just to even get to the Golden Oak Library in one piece. The three gasped at the sight.
"It's a curse, I tells ya!" Applejack shouts.
Comet sighed, walked over to Apple Bloom, Apple Shine, and Mario.
"Couldn't convince them either?" Comet asked.
"Y'all have no idea." Apple Bloom said. "Apple Shine, Mario and Ah have tried talkin' ta Applejack, but she kept on tryin' ta get me and Apple Shine ta do what she says."
"It's like we're talkin' to a stubborn old goat." Apple Shine states, causing Mario and Comet to snicker.
"Don't think Ah didn't hear that, young filly!" Applejack scolded her daughter, turns to Apple Bloom. "Apple Bloom, get me to the table!"
Apple Bloom sighed and walked over to the table. Applejack then jumped off of Apple Bloom's back and looked over to Twilight. Mario and Comet noticed Fluttershy was here as well.
"Fluttershy seems to be just fine." Comet said.
He gestured a fore-hoof straight toward Fluttershy, who just sat quietly the entire time.
"Yes, there doesn't seem to be a thing wrong with her." Rarity added.
But as Mario and Comet observed Fluttershy, they can clearly tell she looked insecure...or at least more than usual.
"Fluttershy? Are you okay?" Twilight asked.
Only Fluttershy just looked away.
"Is there something wrong with you?" Twilight asked again.
Fluttershy silently nodded in response.
"Fluttershy? Is it your voice?" Comet asked.
Fluttershy turns to the little colt and nodded in response.
"Please, tell us. We're your friends." Comet pleads.
Fluttershy only turns away which neither of the unicorns are getting anywhere with her.
"Yes, you're not, or yes you will." Twilight asked.
"Good gravy, girl!" Applejack snapped. "What's wrong with you?"
Fluttershy looked away, but reluctantly the words emerged.
"I don't want to talk about it." Fluttershy answered, in a deep male voice.
"Whoa." Mario said in shock. Spike snorted and burst out laughing.
"This is hilarious!" Spike laughed. "Look at all of you! We got: Harity, Rainbow Crash, Spitty Pie, Apple Teeny, Flutterguy..."
As each pony was pointed out, Spike earned an unnoticed annoyed or irritated glare.
"...and...uh..."
Spike stared at Twilight's limp horn and sighed.
"...I got nothin'...Twilight Sparkle. I mean seriously, I can't even work with that."
"Seriously? You can't come up with a clever name for Mom?" Comet asked in annoyance. "Especially with her horn flopping around like a spaghetti noodle?"
"Flopping?" Spike asked, thought out loud. "Flopping...Flop...Flopple! Twilight Flopple!"
Spike and Mario then started laughing. Comet, Apple Shine, and Apple Bloom looked away, shook their heads. Comet suddenly slammed his hoof on Spike's head while Apple Shine kicked her uncle in the rear, making Spike and Mario yelped.
"This isn't funny, you two!" Twilight shouted. "Now start looking through more books so I can find a cure!"
Spike and Mario groans as they walked away. By then, Rainbow Dash stood upon the ladder to pull her head out.
"I think we'll find a cure to this curse at Zecora's place." Rainbow Dash proposed.
"It's not a curse!" Twilight snapped.
"I agree with Dash!" Applejack said, standing on the table. "We'll go to Zecora's and force her to remove this hex!"
"It's not a hex either!" Twilight yelled.
Every pony were arguing over what to do, except for four ponies and a dragon. Mario walked beside Apple Bloom, Apple Shine, and Comet while Spike kept searching for answers. When Mario turned to the three foals, their faces were sad.
"What's wrong?" Mario asks.
"This is all mah fault." Apple Bloom said sadly. "If Comet, Apple Shine, and Ah hadn't followed Zecora in the first place, none of this would have happened."
"No, it's my fault." Mario told his sister with a sigh. "I'm the one that let you four go after her, but I still don't believe Zecora is to blame. Something in the Everfree Forest caused this...and I have a good idea what it is. Maybe they're right..."
"About the curse?" Apple Bloom asked.
"He mean's Zecora having the cure." Apple Shine told her.
"We've just gotta fix this!" Apple Bloom spoke, determined.
"Then let's get going." Mario proposed.
"But what about..."
"Don't worry about Applejack, I'll deal with her myself." Mario told her. "But right now, this is the right thing to do! C'mon! But first, we gotta stop at Sweet Apple Acres. And Comet and I know what these flowers are."
"You mean the Poison Joke?" Apple Bloom asks.
"The very same." Comet nods, turns to Mario. "Is there a reason why we're heading there?"
"Because I have a perfect way for us to get past it." Mario answered. "Follow me."
The three foals nodded, as Mario collected his saddlebag and together, they headed out of the library. However, their attempt to leave did not go unnoticed.
"Now where do those four think they're goin' this time?" Applejack said quietly.
She quickly dashed across the table and jumped into Apple Bloom's tail. Neither of the four saw her as they left the library, went to Sweet Apple Acres, and made their way toward the Everfree Forest.
In the meantime, the rest of the group were too busy arguing to notice. Rainbow Dash is still having trouble keeping herself airborne in a stationary position.
"I don't care what you say, Twilight." Rainbow Dash argued. "It's time to pony up and take this fight to Zecora. Come on girls. Are you with me?"
"Ah am-oft!" Pinkie Pie said.
"And I as well." Rarity answered.
"Uh, I don't know." Fluttershy replied wearily. "Seems awfully dangerous."
Spike giggled to himself, unable to keep a straight face due to Fluttershy's 'bass tone'.
"How about you, Applejack? Applejack?"
It was then they noticed that Applejack wasn't there.
"Pf-she's gone-pft!" Pinkie Pie exclaims.
"Aah! Or some pony stepped on her!" Rarity cried out.
They all checked their hooves, but not a single trace of Applejack was there.
"...or sat on her?" Twilight added fearfully.
They checked their rear ends...still nothing.
"Rarity's hair!" Rainbow Dash proposed.
Pinkie Pie began searching, much to Rarity's discomfort.
"Oh! OH! Pinkie, what are you doing?" Rarity exclaimed. "Ah, really. Ah! You ever hear of personal space?"
Pinkie Pie had just finished her search, only to come up empty-hoofed.
"Nopthe!" Pinkie Pie answered.
It was then Twilight noticed something else.
"Apple Bloom, Apple Shine, and Comet are gone too!" Twilight exclaimed, then grew irritated. "And so is Mario..."
"I bet they went after Zecora." Rainbow Dash assumed.
"Well we better go find them." Twilight declared. "Come on girls!"
The girls then tried to leave, but they're have problems.
"Oh dear." Rarity grunted, the hair over her face. "Oh, this is unseemly. Auuaah!"
Apparently, Pinkie Pie stood on one of her hair strands, preventing Rarity from moving. Pinkie Pie stepped off so Rarity could move again. As for Rainbow Dash, she had been hovering upside down and couldn't flip over.
"Hey, a little help here?" Rainbow Dash called out.
"Oopise! Sorry!" Fluttershy apologized.
Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie managed to get Rainbow Dash upright...only for her to zoom ahead and crash into another wall.
"OW!"
Fluttershy was about to follow the group when she saw Spike reading the same book Twilight brushed off earlier.
"Uh...Spike? Are you coming?"
Spike's eyes widen as he chuckled nervously.
"Uh...gotta stay here and look for the cure." Spike answered, reading the book.
Meanwhile, Mario Star, Apple Bloom, Apple Shine, and Comet Stardust entered the darker areas of the Everfree Forest in search for Zecora. They had stopped to scan the area when they heard a squeaky yet authoritative voice.
"Stop right there!"
Though they froze, they still looked around but couldn't see any pony. That was until Applejack popped out of Apple Bloom's mane.
"Turn around right now, the four of y'all!" Applejack ordered.
But rather than retort, Mario Star gave the three a sly smile.
"Did I hear something...squeak?" Mario asked sarcastically, winking.
Apple Bloom bit her lip to avoid laughing, but Comet and Apple Shine just burst out laughing.
"This isn't funny, you two!" Applejack shouts, turns to her brother. "Mario! Ah thought Ah told you to stay away from mah sister and mah daughter!"
Mario narrowed his eyes as he loomed towards Applejack, had enough of her being overprotective.
"Let's make one thing clear, Applejack." Mario proclaimed with his low angry tone. "I don't care how strong you are, no pony...I repeat...no pony bosses me around! You may be older than Apple Bloom and Apple Shine may be your daughter, but that doesn't give you the right to act like whatever they say doesn't matter!"
"Mmm-hmm!" Apple Bloom and Apple Shine hummed in agreement.
"I said the four of you turn around at once!" Applejack said angrily.
Mario snorted, but just smiled.
"Seems some pony still won't listen." Mario told them casually. "Should we around?"
Applejack was agape and now furious.
"That wasn't a suggestion! Now turn around right now!"
Apple Bloom and Apple Shine just smiled and what the two fillies said next was direct and to the point.
"No!" Apple Bloom and Apple Shine replied simply.
"No?!" Applejack spluttered. "You can't ignore a direct order from me! Mario is clearly a bad influence on you!"
"You're in no position to boss us around, Applejack." Comet said.
Apple Bloom tilted her head and Applejack went airborne. Apple Bloom caught her older sister in her mouth and positioned her on a nearby tree branch with no means of escape.
"Sorry, Applejack, but Mario is right." Apple Bloom replied. "Yer acting like a little sister at the moment. Ah'm the big sister now."
"Good one, Apple Bloom." Comet adds with a laugh.
"And since you're on time out till you've learned some sense, while we can move freely..." Mario added with a smile.
"Good-bye!" They said.
Mario, Apple Bloom, Apple Shine, and Comet walking away, leaving Applejack stranded.
"Apple Bloom! Apple Shine! Mario! Comet! You come back here right this instant!" Applejack shouted. "I'm gonna tell Big Macintosh on you!"
But it didn't take long for Applejack to realize how petty that last remark was...or the fact she had been ignored and sat on that branch all alone.
"Aw pony feathers!" Applejack muttered.
Mario smirked as he, Apple Bloom, Apple Shine, and Comet walked through the forest.
"You know, sometimes Applejack is as dumber as a box of rocks." Mario said to the three.
"Or better yet, an addle-pot and a yellow belly." Apple Shine said.
"AH HEARD THAT!" Applejack's voice shouted from behind.
Mario Star, Apple Bloom, Apple Shine, and Comet Stardust snickered to each other.
Soon they arrived at the blue flower patch as they look at it with concern.
"So, this stuff is supposed to help protect us from those blue flowers?" Apple Bloom asked curiously. "Are you this will work?"
Mario smirked and he held a vial with a green substance.
"Don't worry, the stinkweed honey is a substance for us to be safe from it." Mario assured.
"But where exactly did you learn how to make it?" Comet asked his godfather.
"Nya picked it up from her travels in Saddle Arabia." Mario answered as the two fillies and a colt gave him a deadpan look. "They have a lot of valuable stuff to buy too, you know."
Then, Mario pours it on him, Apple Bloom, Apple Shine, and Comet Stardust as they smelled like stinky onions. Apple Bloom tried not to throw up, kept her focus as they wandered through the flowers unaffected.
Meanwhile, the rest of the girls charged straight into the Everfree Forest. Twilight Sparkle led the group.
"C'mon girls!" Twilight called out. "We've got to get to Zecora's. Hurry!"
Unfortunately, Rarity tripped on one of her hair strands and tumbled into some mud and loose leaves.
"Ooh...Ah-ah-ah!" Rarity groaned, getting back on her hooves. "Easier said than done."
"Hey, wait for me!" Rainbow Dash called out.
Poor Rainbow Dash still tried to fly properly, but all she could do was scream and yell 'ow' every time she bashed, smashed, and crashed about the trees. Until, Rainbow Dash was left dazed atop some bushes. It was then she felt something shuffle inside of her mouth until...Applejack popped out. Apparently, Rainbow Dash happened to crash into the same branch Mario, Apple Bloom, Apple Shine, and Comet left her on.
"Rainbow! Thank Celestia!" Applejack sighed. "There's no time to lose! I need to get to Zecora pronto!"
Applejack grabbed a collection of twigs and vines to make a horse tack, clipped it onto Rainbow Dash's mouth, and sat upon her stomach.
"Giddy-up pony!" Applejack commanded.
"Ex-CUSE me?" Rainbow Dash asked indignantly.
"YEE-HAW!" Applejack cried out.
Applejack kicked Rainbow Dash's stomach sending her into the air, putting her body at Applejack's command.
"What the..."
Then they took off...in the opposite direction.
"No, Rainbow Dash!" Applejack cried. "Other way!"
However, Applejack's commanding nature couldn't control Rainbow Dash's inverted wings and distorted navigational system.
Finally, the rest of the pones made their way towards the location of Zecora's home. Apparently, Zecora lived in a tree right in the heart of the forest. Twilight, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Fluttershy stood just outside of what they assumed to be her front yard.
"Oh! I look horrible!" Rarity complained.
"Plis place plooks horrible!" Pinkie Pie replied.
Pinkie Pie lifted a hair strand from Rarity's line of vision to help her see.
"Oh my. That place really does look horrible. Nice decorations...if you like creepy."
The ponies peered inside and saw Zecora working around a cauldron filled with some green substance. The ponies gasped as Zecora began to speak into it using her native language.
"Sthe sthole my sthong!" Pinkie Pie complained. "Sthe sthole mm mm!"
"She stole your song?" Rarity asked.
"Oh Pinkie." Twilight replied. "It doesn't sound anything like your song."
Pinkie Pie glared before noticing Fluttershy nearby which Twilight and Rarity decided to cut off.
"GIVE IT A REST ALREADY!" Twilight and Rarity exclaims before Fluttershy sighed with relief.
"But still, you saw those terrible things." Rarity points out. "Now do you believe us, Twilight?"
It wasn't much longer for Twilight to feel more and more uneasy. Seeing all of the items in Zecora's house, she released a sigh.
"Scary looking masks, confusing incantations, and a great big bubbly cauldron." Twilight observed. "Everything is pointing to Zecora being...bad. Or...what if Zecora is just making soup?"
It was then they heard Zecora say something inside as she took a sip of what was inside of the cauldron.
"Mmm! The perfect temperature for ponies, I presume." Zecora said. "Now, where is that little Apple Bloom, and that Apple Shine, and...Comet Stardust?"
"Or...what if she's making Apple Bloom, Apple Shine, and Comet Stardust soup?!" Twilight wondered.
But the other ponies were too shocked to even answer the question.
"Wait...what about..."
Twilight then spotted the lone saddlebag sitting near the back wall...with Mario's cutie mark on it.
"Such a strong young colt of sort." Zecora remarked. "What a tasty treat for one so short."
Zecroa had just implied she had already eaten Mario Star.
"WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!" The ponies screamed.
It was then Rainbow Dash arrived with Applejack in control of her...sort of.
"Ah'm comin' for ya, Apple Bloom! Apple Shine!" Applejack cried out.
Rainbow Dash bashed through Zecora's door, screaming as she swirled and crashed about inside Zecora's hut. Zecora shouted Rainbow Dash in her native language.
"Whoa there, easy, Rainbow Crash!" Applejack retorted.
Applejack tried to gain control of Rainbow Dash, but to no avail.
"Oh!" Zecora gasped.
The rest of her words were misunderstood since they were in her native language. Rainbow Dash just screamed, zipped, and crashed about, smashed hanging objects while Zecora kept speaking in her native language. The rest of the girls stood just outside the door.
"What have you done with Comet, Apple Bloom, and Apple Shine?" Twilight demanded.
"No! No!" Zecora cried out.
Zecora continued to speak in her native language, completely ignoring Twilight's demands while trying to get Rainbow Dash to stable herself. Applejack grunted from all the crashing and Rainbow Dash's screaming, before lassoing one of Zecora's ears and attempted to hoof wrestle her...the little effect. Zecora just looked confused, before noticing the four ponies standing nearby.
"Ponies! What is this you..."
Before Zecora could finish demand an explanation, Rainbow Dash screamed and knocked over the cauldron with a crash landing.
"No, you know not what you do!" Zecora said. "You've gone and spilled my precious brew!"
"We're onto you, Zecora!" Twilight said firmly. "I didn't want to believe that you cursed us, but the evidence is overwhelming!"
"You made me look ridiculous!" Rarity accused.
"You made me sound ridiculous!" Fluttershy said in her deep voice.
"You made me speak ridiculous!" Pinkie Pie added, in an incohorent tone.
"You ruined my horn!" Twilight finished.
"How dare you!" Zecora spoke angrily. "You destroy my home, destroy my work. Then rudely accuse me of being a jerk?"
"You put this curse on us, now you're gonna uncurse us!" Rainbow Dash demanded.
"It is unwise to venture down the road." Zecora replied, calmly yet sternly. "Your actions will make my anger explode!"
"Where's Apple Bloom, Apple Shine, and Mario?!" Twilight demanded angrily. "And WHERE'S MY SON?!"
Twilight and Zecora literally butted heads, as if about to engage in a fight. Suddenly, a familiar four ponies appeared outside the front door.
"Sorry we're late, Zecora." Mario called out.
"Ah think we found all the things ya asked for." Apple Bloom added.
They stopped when they saw every pony in the house and the mess.
"What in Ponyville is goin' on here?" Apple Bloom asked.
"It looks like the Flying Accident was here." Mario remarked.
He then saw Rainbow Dash, completely crashed on the floor and couldn't help but chuckle.
"Well, speak of the devil."
Apple Bloom, Apple Shine, and Comet giggled. Applejack gasped seeing the four in the doorway...mostly Apple Bloom and Apple Shine which the three foals were smelling nice and clean from the stinkweed honey.
"Ma!" Apple Shine called her mother.
"Apple Bloom! Apple Shine! You two are okay!" Applejack exclaims.
"Why wouldn't we be?" Apple Bloom asked curiously. "Mario's been protecting us the entire time."
"Mario!" Twilight exclaimed. "You're alive!"
"Of course, I am!" Mario smiled. "Why wouldn't I be? Or alive for that matter?"
"Mom?" Comet asked.
"Comet Stardust Sparkle! What could you possibly thinking?!" Twilight gasped. "I told you not to go in the forest without asking permission! Do you have any idea how worried I was?!"
"Mom, no! You don't understand!" Comet exclaimed.
"Oh, I understand alright!" Twilight cuts him off. "Because Zecora is an evil enchantress who cursed us and was gonna cook you four up into soup!"
Apple Bloom, Comet, Apple Shine, Mario, and Zecora stared blankly toward Twilight...then laughed loudly.
"Oh, Twilight." Apple Bloom chuckled. "Did those silly fillies finally get in yer head?"
"Yeah, everypony knows there's no such thing as a curse." Mario added.
"Comet, Apple Bloom, Apple Shine, sweetie." Twilight said, nervously. "You can't just stand there and tell me this isn't a curse."
Twilight gestured towards the other ponies with emphasis. But Apple Bloom, Apple Shine, Comet, and Mario merely walked toward Zecora, standing on her side.
"It isn't a curse." Comet said to his mother.
"Nope!" Apple Shine shook her head. "No curse at all or any of the hocus pocus."
"If you remember back, the words I spoke were quite exact." Zecora reminded.
Flashback
Beware, beware you pony folk. Those leaves of blue are not a joke.
Flashback ended
"It was a warin'." Apple Bloom explained. "About that blue plant. It's called Poison Joke."
"After Comet explained about that plant yesterday, I've conducted some research about those plants." Mario added. "That's why Comet and I felt uneasy around that plant and why I preferred teleporting over them instead of going through."
Twilight stared blankly, trying to process what was going on.
"That plant is much like poison oak." Zecora said. "But its results are like a joke."
Needless to say, Applejack didn't understand anything that was going on even while hanging over Zecora's ear.
"What in the hay does that mean?" Applejack asked.
"It means this plant does not breed wrath." Zecora answered. "Instead this plant just wants a laugh."
But Applejack just glared.
"Will some pony please talk normally?" Applejack asked irritably.
"I think what she's saying is that when we ran in to save Apple Bloom, Apple Shine, Comet, and Mario, we ran into the Poison Joke." Twilight explains. "All our problems are just little jokes it played on us."
"Little jokes?!" Applejack retorted. "Very funny..."
Clearly, Applejack had just about enough 'small' humor for one day.
"Okay, fine." Rainbow Dash spoke. "But what about the cauldron?"
"And the chanting?" Fluttershy asked.
"And the creepy decor?" Rarity added.
"Treasures of the native land where I am from." Zecora answered, pointing toward the two tribal masks. "This one says 'hello', and this 'welcome'."
"Not welcoming at all, if you ask me." Rarity remarked.
"The words I chanted were from olden times." Zecora continued. "Something you called a nursery rhyme."
"But the cauldron...the Apple Bloom, Apple Shine, and Comet Stardust soup?" Twilight asked frantically. "Mario being tasty?"
"I meant not tasty to 'eat'." Zecora answered. "But the fact that fillies find Mario attractive is quite a feat."
Mario just shrugged as he chuckled amusingly as the girls giggled as well.
"Lookie here, Twilight." Apple Bloom points out. "That pot of water wasn't for me, it was all for those herbal ingredients. The cure for Poison Joke is a simple old-natural remedy..."
Apple Bloom picked Applejack up into her hoof.
"You just got to take a bubble-bath."
"But I tried to find a cure in all books and couldn't find anything." Twilight recalled as she looked at the book. "What boook has this natural remedy?"
Zecora motioned Comet with the book she was looking for.
"Here is the book, you see?" Zecora replied, showing Twilight the cover of the book. "Sad that you lack it in your library."
"Supernaturals: Natural Remedies and Cure-alls That Are Simply Super." Comet read the title. "Did you read that part of the title?"
Comet then levitated the book over to Twilight, who read it. Twilight's eyes then widened, and then she covered face with a groan.
"I should have paid more attention to the text." Twilight said, sighed. "What does the Poison Joke look like?"
Comet then opened the book with his magic, and looked through the pages of the book and found the right page. He smiled and showed the page to Twilight.
"Like we were trying to tell you: that Poison Joke you and the girls stumbled on yesterday." Comet said. "It also showed us the side-effects of that plant and how to find the ingredients for the cure."
"Think about it, the Poison Joke takes the traits yer proud of away." Apple Shine explains. "Like Twilight, she's proud of her magic her horn wobbles around like a wet noodle. Rarity is proud of her mane, tail, and her fur coat she's like a shaggy pony."
"Then you got Applejack who is known for being big and strong, she now like the size of a mouse." Mario adds. "Rainbow Dash is an excellent flyer, her wings now hanging in the opposite body."
"And then you got Fluttershy speaks in her calm soft voice, it made a sound like a bass singer." Comet adds. "Not to mention Pinkie Pie likes to talk a lot, her tongue swollen up she can't speak very well."
"Whoa...that's a lot to take in." Rainbow Dash states shockingly.
"All of this wasn't a curse, it's just a poisonous prank." Comet said with a smile.
"Are ya sure that it wasn't a curse?" Applejack asked. "How do you we know that Zecora wasn't the one who planted them?"
"Would you stop blaming everything on Zecora?!" Comet shouted, had enough. "You're not giving her a chance. You're all just racist jerks!"
"And y'all aren't willin' to give different creatures a chance!" Apple Shine adds with anger. "Even though they're smart as us!"
"Listen, you two!" Applejack shouted. "You don't get to..."
"APPLEJACK!" Mario shouted, interrupting Applejack and getting her attention. "Comet and Apple Shine were right! You all never given Zecora a chance to explain her odd behaviors!"
The other ponies, minus Apple Bloom, Apple Shine, Comet, and Mario looked at each other, though about what they said, and then looked down to the ground, ashamed.
"You know, you're right." Rarity said. "We've all been weirded out by her looks and strange behaviors; we didn't see who she has on the inside."
"We were just too afraid to talk to her, thinking she was a wicked mare." Fluttershy said.
"Maybe next time you will take a second look, and not judge the cover of the book." Zecora replied with a chuckle.
"Listen, we're all sorry for not getting to know you." Twilight apologizes. "Ponies around here were afraid of you because of your appearance and your oddly strange behaviors."
"My appearance and odd behavior may be strange." Zecora said. "But it is no reason for ponies to be long range."
"Is it common thing for zebras to talk in rhyme?" Comet asked when Zecora looked down at the colt.
"I am the only one who speaks in rhyme." Zecora answered with a smile. "But it seems I'm not the only one whose appearance is different this time."
Both Comet and Apple Shine bit their lower lips, knowing what Zecora means.
"They weren't always like this." Mario said, vouches for the two. "They were once humans from another world. They came looking like this because of the Maternity Flower that got Twilight and Applejack pregnant in an instant, after making a dying wish."
"I know what you are talking about, Mario." Zecora said. "You refer to the flowers, granted the wish of a dying souls, and making any female species give birth."
"You know about that?!" Twilight asked, shocked.
"I've studied all artifacts and things attracted." Zecora explains. "But the flowers power cannot be extracted."
"We are well-aware of that, Zecora." Comet said. "And that's why Apple Shine and I got a second chance to live, to have a better life here in Equestria."
Zecora confirms with an understanding when Twilight comforts Comet and Mario comforts Apple Shine.
"Zecora? Would you be kind enough to mix up another batch of your herbal bubble bath?" Twilight asked.
"Mix it up I certainly will." Zecora answered. "Yet I am missing an herb from Ponyville."
"But whenever Zecora comes to town, all the shops are mysteriously closed." Apple Bloom added.
"Probably due to the reasons why you're all here in the first place." Mario concluded.
"Oh well...I think we can help you with that." Twilight offered.
"But before we do...Oh Mario!" Applejack said, in an overly sweet tone.
Comet used his magic to lift the Poison Joke that Applejack secretly got it from the patch which she didn't know that the little colt manages to caught it. Mario turns around when Applejack was looking for a Poison Joke.
"Looking for this?" Comet asks with a sly smile, showing the Poison Joke as he used his magic to incinerate the plant. "Nice try."
Mario and Apple Shine smirked at Applejack, who just looked very indignant of being outsmarted...by a child.
"Oh pony feathers." Applejack cursed again.
It wasn't long before they all headed back into town. As they approached some ponies in town, they gasped in horror.
"Look, Rose!" Daisy cried. "How awful!"
"The wicked enchantress has cursed them all!" Rose exclaimed.
"The horror, the horror!" Lilly Valley added.
The ponies screamed in panic as they rushed back inside their homes. Twilight and Mario headed toward the house where one of the ponies lived, lightly knocking the door. The pony peeked from the side of her door fearfully.
"Daisy, we need to talk." Twilight said.
"And we promise that Zecora is not evil." Mario added.
With everything cleared out, Zecora was given the herbs she needed to complete the remedy. The ponies were now at the Ponyville spa where a large tub was constructed so all the infected girls could take a bath. Rarity and Fluttershy were already reclining in the water as Twilight dove under to clense her infected horn. Pinkie Pie cannon-balled into the water, crashing into all the three, but curing swollen tongue in the process as they all laughed. Rainbow Dash having already taken a dip, helped Zecora, Apple Bloom, Apple Shine, and Comet deposit the remaining remedy into the bubble bath before Rainbow Dash joined the other girls for a relaxing dip. And later that day, Twilight wrote a letter of their entire experience...
Dear Princess Celestia,
My friends and I 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 really are inside. Real friends don't care what you '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.
Your faithful students,
Twilight Sparkle and Mario Star
P.S. I'm sending these photos of Comet to Mom, Dad, and Shining Armor. I was hoping if you would send them.
While Twilight and her friends enjoyed the bath, one of the proprietors of the spa, Lotus Blossom, approached Zecora.
"Miss Zecora, I would love to get the recipe for this bath." Lotus Blossom said. "It's simply luxurious."
Zecora smiled when Apple Bloom realized something.
"Applejack! Where's Applejack?!" Apple Bloom asked worriedly.
The other ponies gasped and exclaimed frantically, as they splashed about trying to find her.
"I'm right here, little sister." Applejack called out.
Her voice and size had returned to normal, since she took a bath inside the bucket...only now her back end was stuck inside it. It was Mario's idea.
"I ain't tiny no more!"
"But yer being rear ended, Ma." Apple Shine said with a laugh.
The other ponies laughed at the funny sight and Apple Shine's joke.
"Oh! I have never felt so lovely in all my life!" Rarity exclaimed.
"Oh my gosh!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed, surfaced from underwater. "I never realized how horrible it is not to be able to talk. I mean I love talking so much, and when I couldn't talk anymore, my tongue was all 'ehhh'! It was the worst! Don't you agree, Fluttershy?"
Rainbow Dash gritted her teeth, covering her ears as Pinkie Pie babbled. But the others turned to Fluttershy, who just smiled.
"Yes." Fluttershy said softly.
Her sweet voice returned while all the ponies laughed. That's when Mario came in after getting a nice shower. Twilight came out of the tub and approached Comet with a smile.
"Comet?" Twilight called her son. "I'm actually proud of you, sweetheart."
"You are?" Comet asked.
"You helped the ponies get to know Zecora and see her for who she really is." Twilight said. "Just like when we got the town of Ponyville to meet you and Apple Shine and get to know the both of you."
Comet smiled, hugging his mother while Apple Shine hugged her uncle. Applejack managed to get the bucket off of her rear end, approached to her family.
"Look, Mario. I just wanted to say how sorry I am. I just wanted to make sure-"
"I know, Applejack." Mario said with a smile. Applejack smiled back. "I know you just wanted to keep Apple Bloom and Apple Shine safe. I gotta admit, I did get a little hard on you and act like you're not smart as me, especially when you get too stubborn."
"No worries, sugarcube." Applejack assures him, turns to her daughter. "And Apple Shine, I sorry fer being overprotective. I just want ya to be safe."
"Ah know, Ma." Apple Shine said with a smile. "Ah know ya mean well, but both Apple Bloom and Ah were with Uncle Mario when we're tryin' to Zecora and find out. But sometimes, you've got to swallow yer stubborn pride and hear us out."
Applejack was taken aback of what Apple Shine is telling her which it got her surprised, but knew that her daughter is right. Applejack smiled with a chuckle, hugging Apple Shine.
'Comet/Apple Shine sure is a special foal. I'm so lucky to have him/her as my son/daughter.' Twilight and Applejack thought.
The other ponies, including Zecroa, smiled at that heartwarming sight and seeing how much Twilight and Applejack really cared for Comet and Apple Shine.
That's it for the 15th chapter.