Bridle Gossip
Today, Starstream Sparkle, Red Blade, Twilight Sparkle, and Spike were seen walking through Ponyville.
"Wow. What a gorgeous day!" Twilight said.
"Rainbow Dash and Storm Flight must have gotten up early for once and cleared all the clouds away." Spike said as he was on Twilight's back.
"Yeah. They really outdone themselves." Red Blade said while looking up at the sky.
"What do you think, Starstream?" Twilight asked as she looked at her adopted brother.
Starstream was looking very sad as they were walking.
"Yeah. Great." he replied.
"What's wrong, bud? You look a little sad." Red Blade said.
"It's nothing." Starstream replied.
"Doesn't sound like nothing, bro." Twilight said. "Can you tell us please?"
"Yeah. We won't laugh." Spike added.
"Okay." Starstream said with a sigh. "I've just been thinking about Daylight."
"As in Daylight Shimmer?" Red Blade asked.
Starstream nods his head.
"I know her." Twilight said. "She use to attend Princess Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns with us."
"That's the one." Starstream said.
"Is that why you were sad?" Spike asked.
"Uh huh." Starstream replied. "Ever since I started learning the importance of friendship, I began to realize how neglectful I have been to Daylight."
"Well. You did always focused on your studies and practicing your magic." Red Blade pointed out.
"True. But looking back on those days, I feel really terrible about the way I've treated her." Starstream said sadly. "She probably hates me now."
"I'm sure that's not true, Starstream." Twilight said as she placed a hoof on Starstream's shoulder. "Daylight would probably miss you."
"You really think so?" Starstream asked.
"I do." Twilight said.
"Yeah. And if you have time to visit her in Canterlot, Daylight would be very happy to see you." Red Blade added. "So don't let your past actions get you down, bud."
"They're right, Star. And maybe someday, you and Daylight might get together." Spike said.
This caused Starstream's face to turn a little red.
"Sure. I guess." he said.
The group continue to walk through the town.
"I bet all of Ponyville is going to be out enjoying the sunshine." Twilight said before noticing the Ponyville empty. "What? Where is everypony?"
"Is it some sort of pony holiday?" Spike asked.
"Not that I know of." Starstream replied.
"Does my breath stink?" Spike asked before belching
"Not more than usual." Twilight replied.
Red Blade noticed a filly outside before her mother dragged her inside.
"I wonder what's going on?" he asked.
"Is it... zombies?!" Spike asked feeling scared
"Zombies? Be serious, Spike." Stastream said.
"I am." Spike said "It could be possible."
"Psst."
The group look to see where the voice is coming from. They look to see Pinkie Pie peeking from the doorway of Sugarcube Corner.
"Twilight! Spike!" she called
"Starstream! Red Blade!" Slapstick called as he also appeared by the doorway. "Come over here! Before she gets you!"
"Who exactly?" Red Blade asked.
"Could it be the zombie pony?" Spike asked.
"Cut it out, Spike. There is no such thing." Starstream scolded.
They then all head inside Sugarcube Corner. The room was completely dark.
"Pinkie. Slapstick. Why are you two alone in the dark?" Twilight asked.
"We're not alone in the dark." Slapstick replied.
The group look to see Storm Flight, Applejim, Forrest, Gem Trimmer, and Apple Bloom inside with them.
"Okay. What are you guys all doing in here?" Starstream asked.
"We're hidin." Applejim replied.
"From who?" Red Blade asked.
"Her." Applejim said as he points out the window
The ponies all looked to see a mysterious figure digging at some dirt. The figure then glanced in their direction, causing the stallions and Pinkie Pie to duck down except for Twilight, Starstream, and Red Blade.
"Is that why everyone isn't ouside?" Starstream asked. "It's because of her?"
"I'm afraid so." Gem Trimmer said with a nod.
"Did you see how evil she looked at us?" Slapstick asked.
"Nope." Red Blade said. "I don't see anything that makes her evil."
"Me too." Twilight said. "And you all flipped out for no good reason."
"No good reason, huh?" Applejim said. "You call protectin your kin no good reason? Ah had to carry mah sister Apple Bloom all the way here."
"Ah walked her mahself." Apple Bloom corrected.
"It's fer yur own protection, little sis." Applejim said.
"Ah'm not a baby, Applejim. Ah can take care of mahself." Apple Bloom protested.
"Not from Zecora." Applejim said.
"Zecora? Is that her name?" Starstream asked.
"Indeed it is." Gem Trimmer replied.
"She's mysterious." Forrest said.
"Sinister." Storm Flight added.
"And spoooooky!" Pinkie Pie added.
This caused Starstream, Red Blade, and Twilight to roll their eyes as they looked outside. The stallions, Spike, and Pinkie Pie took a look outside as well. They watched as the figure removed her hood to reveal that she has gray fur with black stripes and black and white mane. This caused everypony inside Sugarcube Corner to gasped.
"Knock it off, you guys." Red Blade said annoyed.
"Did you get a look at those stripes on her?" Gem Trimmer asked with a shudder. "It's so unnatural for a pony to have."
"She's not a pony. She's a zebra." Starstream corrected.
"A what?" the stallions and Pinkie Pie asked.
"A zebra." Starstream repeated. "And those stripes are not a fashion choice. She was born with them."
Gem Trimmer nearly fainted as he heard that.
"I remember reading somewhere that zebras come from faraway lands such as Farasi." Red Blade explained. "Compared to us ponies, the zebra tribe have a different culture and would speak in rhymes."
As the prince was talking, Spike snuck into the kitchen.
"That's interesting to know." Forrest said.
"Ditto" Storm Flight added.
"Where does she live?" Twilight aked.
"That's the scary part." Applejim said with a gulp. "She lives... in the Everfree Forest!."
Crashing noise was heard which startled the ponies.
"Spike!" Twilight scolded.
"Sorry!" the little dragon called.
"As ah was sayin, the Everfree Forest just ain't natural." Applejim said. "Plants grow."
"Animals tend to themselves." Forrest added.
"And the clouds move..." Storm Flight added.
"All on their own." Applejim, Storm Fight, and Forrest said together.
Gem Trimmer nearly fainted again, but composed himself.
"And that wicked enchantress Zecora lives there doing her evil... stuff! She's so evil I even wrote a song about her!" Pinkie Pie said.
"With some help from me." Slapstick pointed out.
"Oh boy." Storm Flight mutters with a facehoof.
Pinkie Pie then begins to sing her song
"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"
"Soooo... Watch out!"
Pinkie Pie finished her song while standin on her hind legs while panting heavily.
"Wow. That sure is... something." Starstream said feeling unsure.
"Thanks." Pinkie Pie said as she got off a table she was standing on.
"It's a work in progress." Slapstick added. "We might need to tweak the lyrics a bit."
"Never mind that." Red Blade spoke up. "So tell us what exactly do you see Zecora do?"
"Well. Once a month," began Forrest. "She comes into Ponyville."
"Oooh. Scary." Starstream sarcastically said.
"Then. She lurks by the stalls." Gem Trimmer added.
"Oh my." Red Blade replied in a fake dramatic tone.
"And then, she digs at the ground." Storm Flight added.
"Good gracious." Twilight said dramatically. "Okay, I'm sorry. But how is any of this bad? Maybe she comes to town to visit?"
"Yeah! Maybe she's just tryin' to be neighborly." Apple Bloom added.
"I'm with Apple Bloom on this one." Starstream said. "Maybe Zecora was only just trying to do some shopping and nothing else."
"What about the part where she was digging at the ground? You've got to admit that's weird." Storm Flight points out.
"Do you think she might be digging for some innocent creatures?" Forrest asked nervously.
"That's just silly. Why would she do that?" Red Blade asked with an eyebrow raised.
"It was just a thought." Forrest replied.
" I am sure there is an explanation for everything Zecora does. And if anypony here were actually brave enough to approach her, she would find out the truth." Twilight said.
"Well, I'm brave enough; I'm gonna find out myself." Apple Bloom muttered as she overheard what the unicorn mare had said.
And with that, the young filly quietly opened the door and snucked out of Sugarcube Corner. She gets a look at Zecora from a distance, but was forced to hide when the zebra looked in her direction. Looking at where Zecora is leaving, Apple Bloom begins to tail her while trying to keep out of sight.
Meanwhile back in Sugarcube Corner...
"Come on, guys. Don't you think you're overreacting?" Starstream asked annoyed.
"Well. I heard that Zecora eats hay." Slapstick says.
"Slapstick. We all eat hay." Red Blade pointed out.
"I was actually talking about the evil way she eats hay." Slapstick replied.
"There is no way you can eat hay evilly. You're just making stuff up." Starstream said in disbelief.
That was Applejim noticed somepony missing.
"Say. Where's Apple Bloom?" he asked.
Forrest then took noticed of the open door.
"Look. The door is open." he said
"She must have snuck out when we were talking." Gem Trimmer said.
"With Zecora out there with her." Storm Flight added.
"Sweet apple seeds! Applejack and Big Mac are gonna kill me if somethin bad happens to Apple Bloom." Applejim said with worry.
"Come on guys. Let's move out!" Red Blade said as he and the other stallions ran out. Starstream was the last one to leave.
"Twilight. Spike. Pinkie. Stay here in case Apple Bloom comes back." the light blue unicorn instructed as he follows after his friends.
"Will do." Spike said with a salute.
"Yes sir!" Pinkie added with a salute.
"Be careful, Starstream." Twilight called.
On the outskirts of Ponyville, Apple Bloom continues to tail Zecora from a distance. The little filly sees the zebra going into the Everfree Forest. Feeling a little nervous, Apple Bloom begins to walk through the forest. But just as she was doing that...
"Apple Bloom!"
Apple Bloom heard her brother's voice and looks to see the seven stallions behind her.
"You get over here right this instant!" Apple Jim demanded.
Zecora also took notice of the stallions as mist begins to surround her.
"Beware! Beware, you pony folk! Those leaves of blue are not a joke!" she warned in rhymes.
The stallions were actually standing on some blue flowers. Applejim then gets Apple Bloom on his back.
"Y-Y'all keep your creepy mumbo-jumbo to yourself, ya hear?!" he demanded.
"Yeah. If you're trying to scare us, it's not working!" Storm Flight added.
"Beware! Beware!" the zebra warned as she disappeared into the mist.
"It's you and your lame curse that should beware!" Storm Flight shouted back.
"As for you, missy," Applejim scolded his sister. "What were ya thinkin goin after Zecora? Do you have any idea what kind of curse she might put on you?"
"Just like in Pinkie's song." Slapstick said.
"There's no such thing as curses!" Starstream said.
"That's a lot coming from a magical unicorn like yourself." Storm Flight countered.
"Real magic comes from within. It's a skill that all unicorns and alicorns are born with." Starstream lectures. "Curses on the other hoof are artificial, fake magic. They're conjured with potions and incantations; all smoke and mirrors meant to scare."
"Yeah. Curses are nothing more than old pony tales." Red Blade added. "You're all overreacting!"
"Whatever. Come on guys let's go." Storm Flight said as he and the other stallions begin to leave the forest.
"Just you wait, Starstream and Red Blade," Applejim said to Starstream and Red Blade as he left with Apple Bloom still on his back. "You're gonna learn that some old pony tales might be true whether you believe them or not."
Starstream and Red Blade looked at each other before following after their friends.
That night in Ponyville, Starstream and Red Blade were fast asleep in the bedroom of the Golden Oaks Library. Starstream was struggling to sleep as he became haunted by Pinkie's song and the possibility of Zecora being evil. Then, morning came and Starstream woke up while stretching his front hooves.
"That was some dream." he said as he got off the bed. "Curses. As if."
He heads to a mirror near his bed and looks at his reflection. Starstream sees that his mane is a little messy.
"Maybe Zecora cursed my hair." he joked.
Starstream attempts to use his magic, but find himself unable to.
"Huh?" he puzzled.
He moves his mane aside, only to see that his horn has become limpy and soft by the touch. There were also some red spots on it. Seeing this made Starstream scream before looking at someone behind him. He turns to see his best friend Red Blade only that his red mane has now become blue. Seeing each other caused the unicorn and the alicorn to scream. Twilight Sparkle and Spike came bursting into their room.
"Starstream! Red Blade! Are you two okay?" Twilight asked.
"We heard you screaming." Spike added.
"Look at my horn!" Starstream yelled as he points at it.
"And look at my mane!" Red Blade added as he showed his blue mane.
"Oh my!" Twilight said feeling shocked.
"They sure look messed up!" Spike as he tries to keep himself from laughing.
"This is not funny!" Starstream yelled. "Something happened to us and we need to find out what!"
"Don't worry, bro. I'm sure there are some books that can help us out." Twilight assured.
"Well what are we standing around here for." Red Blade began. "Let's get to it!"
A few minutes later, they were searching through every book to find a cure, but they found nothing.
"Ugh! None of these books have a cure!" Twilight complained.
"There's got to be an explanation for this." Starstream said as he touched his horn. "Could it be an illness or maybe an allergy?"
"It's a curse!" Spike spoke up.
"Spike. I'm talking about a real explanation." Starstream said annoyed.
"What about this one?" the baby dragon asked as he holds up a green book.
"'Supernaturals'? Spike, the word supernatural refers to things like ghosts and spirits and zombies, which are as make-believe as curses." Twilight said. "This book is just a bunch of hooey!"
"I don't know, Twilight." Red Blade said. "Maybe Spike might be on to something. I mean what else can describe our conditions."
"Ith a pfurse!"
"A purse? How could it be a purse?" Spike asked confused.
The ponies and dragon look to see that Slapstick has entered the library only that his tongue had become swollen with purple spots on it. They gasped at this.
"Slapstick. What happend to you?" Starstream asked.
"Ith wath Zthecora! Sthe put a cursthe on me!" Slapstick said while spit came out of his mouth.
"Hey, say it, don't spray it." Spike said as he wiped some spit off his face.
Suddenly they heard some crashing noise and they turn to see Storm Flight hitting a window of the library.
"Ow! What Slapstick is saying-ow! Is that-ow," Storm Flight said as he bumped into the window and then a wall. "Zecora put a-ow curse on us!"
Twilight used her magic to open the door to the library to let Storm Flight in. The blue pegasus zoomed in and crashed into a book shelf and got trapped under a ladder.
"What's wrong with you?" Red Blade asked.
"What's wrong? I just woke up this morning and I found my wings upside down." Storm Flight explained. "I can't even fly straight without crashing into something. And it's all that zebra's fault."
"I have to agree with him. Look at my fur."
Twilight, Starstream, Spike, and Red Blade look to see Gem Trimmer coming inside. They were startled to see that the white stallions fur has become shaggy.
"Well I hate to say ah told ya so, you two, but ah told ya so." Applejim said in a high-pitched voice.
The three ponies and dragon gasped as they saw that Applejim had literally shrunked in size. He was on Apple Bloom's back so that he can be seen.
"Applejim. You're so small." Starstream said.
"Ah know." Applejim said. "It's a curse, I tell ya! A curse!"
Red Blade then looks to see Forrest coming inside the library.
"What about Forrest? He looks okay to me." he pointed out.
The stallions all look to see that Forrest does indeed look normal.
"You're right. He doesn't look cursed." Gem Trimmer said as he try to blow some hair away from his face.
"Forrest. Are you alright?" Starstream asked.
Nervous, Forrest shook his head without saying anything.
"Is there something troubling you?" Starstream asked.
Forrest nod his head.
"Well, what is it?" Red Blade asked. "We can't help you if you don't tell us."
Forrest shook his head again.
"You're not going to tell us?" Starstream asked.
Forrest nods his head again.
"Yes you will tell us, or you won't?" Red Blade guessed.
Applejim leaped on the table near Forrest.
"Fer cryin out loud! Out with it!" he demanded. "What's wrong with ya?"
Forrest was silent for a minute until he begins to speak.
"I really don't want to talk about it." he spoke in a female voice.
This caused Spike to burst into laughter.
"This is hilarious!" the baby dragon said. "I mean look at all of you! I have got to come up with some good names. How about: Shaggy Trimmer, Klutz Flight, Spitstick, Apple Tiny, Forrest Girl, Blue Blade, and... uh... I got nothin'... Starstream Sparkle. I mean seriously, I can't even work with that."
"Oh ha ha ha." Starstream laughed sarcastically. "This is no time for jokes, Spike. We have to figure out how to undo all those changes that have happened to us. So start looking for a book that has a cure."
"Sure. I'm on it." Spike said as he walks off.
Storm Flight then freed himself from the ladder.
"Well, since it's obvious on who's responsible for this. I say we pay Zecora a visit and get her to undo this curse." he said.
"It's not a curse!" Starstream said feeling a little irritated.
"I'm with Storm Flight on this one." Applejim said. "We need her to take this hex off of us."
"It's not a hex either!" Red Blade yelled.
This prompts the seven stallions to argue with each other. As they were talking, Apple Bloom begin to frown.
"This is all my fault. If I hadn't followed Zecora in the first place, none of this would have happened." she said as she heads to the exit. "I just gotta fix this."
Applejim then noticed his little sister leaving.
"Now where does she think she's goin." he wondered.
Applejim leaps into Apple Bloom's mane without her noticing as the young filly left the library.
Meanwhile back at the library,
"Look Starstream. I don't care what you and Red Blade say." Storm Flight said. "It's time we pony up and give that zebra a piece of our mind. Who's with me?"
"Ah am-pft!" Slapstick answered.
"So am I." Gem Trimmer added.
"Uh. Yeah. I guess." Forrest added.
"What about you, Applejim?" Storm Flight asked before noticing he's gone. "Applejim?"
"He's gone!" Forrest yelled.
"Oh no! Did one of us step on him?" Gem Trimmer asked.
The ponies all checked their hooves looking for an orange smear, but didn't see anything.
"Or maybe sat on him?" Red Blade asked with worry.
The ponies all checked their rumps, but nothing was there.
"Maybe he's in Gem Trimmer's hair." Storm Flight suggested.
"I'll check." Slapstick said as he searched
"Whoa!" Gem Trimmer said as Slapstick goes through his hair trying to find Applejim. "Really Slapstick. Haven't you heard of personal space?"
"Sothy about that." Slapstick said as he continued searching, but not before tripping on a book.
"Apple Bloom is gone too." Twilight pointed out.
"She must've gone after Zecora." Storm Flight said.
"Then we better go after her before she gets into more trouble." Red Blade said.
"Come on guys. Let's move out!" Starstream said as he and Red Blade rushed outside.
"Slow down please. I can barely see with all this hair in my eyes." Gem Trimmer said as he heads out the door.
"Let's move, Slapstick." Forrest said
But before he and Slapstick can head outside, Storm Flight was flying upside down before hitting the floor.
"Uh. A little help here, fellas?" he asked.
"Oops." Forrest said. "We gotcha Storm Flight."
He and Slapstick helps Storm Flight up.
"Thanks." the blue pegasus said as he begins to fly outside but not before hitting the doorway. "My bad."
As he flew out, Slapstick and Forrest begins to head out.
"Are you coming Spike?" Forrest asked.
"Spike won't be going anywhere until he finds a cure." Twilight said. "I'll make sure of that."
"Uh yeah. What she said." Spike said as he begins to search through some books.
Meanwhile, Apple Bloom was seen galloping into the Everfree Forest.
'I sure hope ah can find her.' she thought.
"Stop right there, missy."
Apple Bloom stops in her tracks as Applejim emerged from her mane.
"This is as far as you'll go. Now turn around and march that flank of yours back home right now!" the cowpony demanded.
But Apple Bloom just smiled and simply said. "No."
"No!?" Applejim said in disbelief. "You can't ignore a direct order from yur big brother. Now do what ah say!"
Applejim bucks Applejim off her head and grabs him with her teeth. She then sets him on a branch.
"Sorry, Applejim. But you ain't my big brother anymore." Apple Bloom teased smugly.
"You can't leave me here!" Applejim protested.
"Don't worry. I'll come back fer you after I find a way to fix this mess." Apple Bloom said. "Just hang around while I do that."
Apple Bloom then runs off while laughing.
"That's not funny, little sis!" Applejim yelled. "You better come back here right now or you're grounded! I'll tell Applejack on you!"
But Apple Bloom was out of sight.
"Aw ponyfeathers." sighed Applejim. "Now what do I do?"
The six stallions were racing into the Everfree Forest.
"Hurry men! We got to find Apple Bloom and Zecora!" Red Blade yelled
But as they were running, Gem Trimmer tripped on his hair and hit the ground.
"That's easier said that done." Gem Trimmer said as he picked himself up. "I can barely see."
"I gotcha, Gem Trimmer." Red Blade said as he used his magic to levitate Gem Trimmer on his back as he was running.
"Thanks, Red Blade." Gem Trimmer said gratefully.
"Don't mention it." the prince replied.
Storm Flight was flying in the air, but was a little clumsy.
"Keep it together Storm Flight." he said. "Just try to fly steady. Uh oh!"
He ended up crashing into a bush and into a tree which snaps in half while he lied on the ground in pain. Applejim then came out of his mouth.
"Storm Flight! Thank Celestia, you're here." he said "There's not a time to waste."
Applejim begin to make a make-shift lassoe and puts it on Storm Flight's muzzle.
"What are you doing?" the pegasus asked.
"Ah got to get to Zecora's and rescue my little sister. And ah need a ride." he said as he got on Storm Flight. "Giddyup"
"Hey, I didn't agree to this." Storm Flight protested.
"Quit yer complainin and start flyin." Applejim said.
"Alright alright." the pegasus said before he begins to fly but ends up flying in the wrong direction.
"Other way, Storm Flight." Applejim said.
"Sorry." Storm Flight said as he flew the other direction.
Meanwhile, the other stallions came across a mysterious hut.
"Is this where Zecora lives?" Starstream asked.
Gem Trimmer moves up his mane as he looks at it.
"Oh my. This place looks horrible." he said.
They then begins to look through a window to see the interior.
"If Rarity was here, she would definitely complain about the décor." Gem Trimmer said.
"It definitely is creepy that's for sure." Forrest said.
Then, Zecora came through the door with a bottle in her mouth. The stallions gasped as they watched Zecora pour purple spheres into a boiling pot while chanting in some kind of native language.
"What is she saying?" Red Blade asked.
"Sthe sthtole Pinkie's sthong!" Slapstick said.
"She stole Pinkie's song?" Gem Trimmer asked.
"Uh huh." Slapstick said with a nod.
"That doesn't sound like Pinkie's song." Red Blade.
"And your point?" Slapstick asked.
"Now do you believe us, you two?" Gem Trimmer asked Starstream and Red Blade. "We saw all those terrible things."
"I don't believe that. True we've seen scary looking masks, heard confusing incantations, and see a great big bubbling cauldron. But that doesn't mean that Zecora is bad." Starstream said.
"She might be just making soup. That's all." Red Blade added.
They look to see Zecora tasting the liquid in the pot.
"Mmm! The perfect temperature for ponies, I presume. Now, where is that little Apple Bloom?" Zecora asked.
"Or maybe she's going to make Apple Bloom soup?" Starstream asked in fright.
The ponies all gasped at this.
"Now now. I'm sure that's not the case." Red Blade said. "No need to lose our heads."
This caused Gem Trimmer, Slapstick, and Forrest to scream.
"Bad choice of words, bud." Starstream said to his friend.
Suddenly, Storm Flight and Applejim were zooming towards the hut.
"Incoming!" Storm Flight yelled.
They crashed through Zecora's hut causing the zebra to yell in her native language. Storm Flight then begins to fly over the place.
"Steady, Storm Flight." Applejim yelled as he held the rope.
"I'm trying." replied Storm Flight.
Zecora watched as Storm Flight begins to crash into several part of her hut while yelling in her native language. The stallions then bursts into the hut.
"Hold it right there, Zecora!" Starstream yelled.
Applejim lassoed Zecora's ear, leaps onto it, and begins to wrestle it, but had no effect. Zecora took notice of the stallions
"Ponies! What is this you..." the zebra said
Her words were interrupted when Storm Flight flew in and knocked over the cauldron while spilling the brew that was in it.
"No! You know not what you do! You've gone and spilled my precious brew!" Zecora shouted.
"Oh really. I didn't want to believe that you cursed us, but after what we've seen. I'm starting to feel convinced." Starstream said.
"You made me look ridiculous." Gem Trimmer said.
"You made me sound ridiculous." Forrest added.
"You made me speak ridiculous!" Slapstick added with his tongue still out.
"And my horn is ruined!" Starstream complained.
"And my mane is blue!" Red Blade complained.
"How dare you! You destroy my home, destroy my work, then rudely accuse me of being a jerk?" Zecora asked angrily
"You're the one that curse us and now you will uncurse us!" Storm Flight said as he points at her.
"It is unwise to venture down this road. Your actions will make my anger explode!" Zecora warned.
"Then tell us what have you done with Apple Bloom!" Starstream demanded. "You better talk before I lose my patience!"
But before things could escalate, Apple Bloom came in the hut with a saddlebag.
"Zecora! I think I found all the things ya asked for." she said before noticing the big mess. "What in Ponyville is goin' on here?"
"Apple Bloom. You're alright!" Applejim said with relief.
"Course ah am." Apple Bloom said. "Why wouldn't I be?"
"Because Zecora put a curse on all of us." Starstream said.
"And she was going to cook you into soup." Red Blade added.
This caused Zecora and Apple Bloom to burst into laughter.
"What's so funny?" Red Blade asked.
"Did those silly fillies finally get in yer head? You know there's no such thing as a curse." the little filly said.
"You mean this wasn't a curse?" Starstream asked.
"Of course." Apple Bloom said. "It was all just a misunderstandin."
"If you will remember back, the words I spoke were quite exact" Zecora said.
Flashback
"Beware, beware you pony folk. Those leaves of blue are not a joke."
Flashback end
"I don't understand." Starstream said.
"It was a warnin'. About that blue plant. It's called Poison Joke." Apple Bloom explained.
"Poison Joke?" Red Blade asked.
"That plant is much like poison oak, but its results are like a joke." Zecora explained.
"But what does it mean exactly?" Applejim asked.
"It means this plant does not breed wrath. Instead, this plant just wants a laugh." Zecora said.
"Can someone please translate? I can't understand what she said in rhymes." Applejim said.
"I think what Zecora is saying is that when we ran in the Everfree Forest to save Apple Bloom, we ran into the poison joke." Starstream explained. "All our problems are just little jokes it played on us."
"Little jokes? Very funny." Applejim grumbled.
"Okay. So Zecora didn't cursed us. But what about the cauldron?" Storm Flight asked.
"And the chanting?" Forrest asked.
"And let's not forget the creepy décor." Gem Trimmer said.
"Treasures of the native land where I am from." the zebra explained. "This one speaks 'hello', and this 'welcome'"
"Doesn't look very welcoming to me." Gem Trimmer said.
"The words I chanted were from olden times. Something you call a nursery rhyme." Zecora explained.
"But what about the brew in the cauldron?" Starstream asked. "We thought you were making Apple Bloom soup."
"Lookie here, Starstream. That pot of water wasn't for me, it was for all these herbal ingredients." Apple Bloom said as she points to a book. "The cure for poison joke is a simple old-natural remedy. You just gotta take a bubble bath!"
Starstream and Red Blade both looked at what's in the book.
"That's strange" Starstream pondered. "Me, Red Blade, and Twilight tried to find a cure in every book we've read in the library."
"Yeah. What book has the natural remedy?" Red Blade asked.
"Here is the book, you see? Sad that you lack it in your library." Zecora said as she closed it to show the cover of a familiar plant.
"Say. Isn't that the same book that Spike was holding earlier?" Starstream asked.
"As a matter of fact, it is." Red Blade said. "But we didn't bothered to look inside because the title was so weird."
"Supernaturals: Natural Remedies and Cure-alls That Are Simply Super" Starstream read the book before looking at Zecora. "Zecora. We're so sorry. We were wrong to accuse you of doing something bad. I also can't believe I was so blind to see that we had the answer to our problems all along if we had just looked into that book."
"Maybe next time you will take a second look, and not judge the cover of the book." Zecora said with a chuckle.
"I guess we all learned that lesson the hard way. Right guys?" Red Blade asked his friends.
"Uh huh." the stallions said in unison.
"Zecora? Would you be kind enough to mix up another batch of the herbal bath?" Starstream asked.
"Mix it up I certainly will. Yet I am missing an herb from Ponyville." Zecora said.
"But whenever Zecora comes to town, all the shops are mysteriously closed." Apple Bloom said.
"Hmmm. I guess we'll have to fix that." Red Blade said.
Back in Ponyville, Daisy, Rose, and Lily Valley noticed Zecora, Apple Bloom, and the seven stallions coming in.
"Look Rose! How awful!" Daisy yelled.
"The wicked enchantress has cursed them all." Rose added
"The horror, the horror!" Lily yelled.
The ponies all panicked and hide in their houses. Starstream and Red Blade head over to one of the buildings and knocked on the door. Daisy answered it still a little fearful.
"Excuse me, Daisy. We need to talk." Red Blade said.
"And before you say it, no she is not a wicked enchantress." Starstream assured.
Starstream and Red Blade were able to clear things up with everypony as they all explained that Zecora is not a wicked enchantress at all. Zecora was then given some herbs so that she can complete her remedy. The ponies were then at the Ponyville spa where there are in a large tub full of water with the cure. After washing themselves, they were all back to normal. Zecora and Apple Bloom all poured the green herbs into the water.
"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." Starstream recited.
"But you have to look past that and learn who they are inside. Real friends don't care what your "cover" is; it's the "contents" of a pony that count. And a good friend, like a good book, is something that will last forever." recited Red Blade.
"Your faithful student and son, Starstream Sparkle and Prince Red Blade." they recited.
"Miss Zecora, I would love to get the recipe for this bath. It's simply luxurious!" a pony named Lotus Blossom said to the zebra.
"Hey, where's Applejim? Applejim!" Apple Bloom called.
The stallions all begin to panic wanting to know where he is.
"Over here, little sis!" Applejim called.
They all look to see Applejim now back to his regular size and his flank stuck in a bucket.
"And I sure ain't small no more." he said.
Twilight Sparkle, Rarity, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy all came in.
"Hey guys. I see you're all back to normal." Twilight said.
"That's right, sis." Starstream said. "And it was all thanks to Zecora."
"Yeah. The cure really did the trick." Gem Trimmer said. "I really looked horrible with all that shaggy fur on me."
"I know how your feel, dear cousin" Rarity said. "I would be terrified if I had unkept fur on me."
"Well I for one am glad to speak normally again." Slapstick said. "I might not be much of a chatterbox like Pinkie, but it did feel awful to talk with a swollen tongue all the time. It was the worst."
"I know." Pinkie Pie said. "Good thing that never happend to me."
Fluttershy then flies up next to Forrest on the edge of the tub.
"How are you feeling, Forrest?" she asked. "Are you alright?"
"Never better, Flutters." Forrest said with his voice now back to normal. "I'm just glad to be back normal."
"So are we." the stallions all said.
The ponies all laughed as they enjoyed their time at the spa.
That was the latest chapter in my My Little Pony story. Hope you enjoy.