The Immigrants

Another bright and sunny morning shined upon Ponyville, as Applejack prepared to work.

"Mornin', Applebloom." She said. "I'm headin' into the field."

"Alright," her sister Applebloom replied, "just watch for those mosquitos. They were all over me!"

"Heheh, 'tis fine. I'll just get the cactus juice." Applejack then went outside before mosquitos started following her. She opened her apple cellar, and brought out a bottle of cactus juice. She then opened it, and the mosquitos nearly instantly started flying away.

"Yeh, works like a charm." Applejack quickly smelled the scent, reacting in minor disgust. "Ugh, it's startin' to repel me, though. Horse apples, that juice is gettin' sour." She then rested the bottle, and went into the field to start bucking apple trees, when she spotted Dremsilyol picking some off the trees with his newfound magic, and placing them in a bucket.

"Hey! Dragon!" She yelled, running towards him. "Whaddya' think you're doin' with my apples?!"

"I am only doing what I said I was going to do today." Dremsilyol replied. "Twilight Sparkle assumed you needed help today, so I am here to assist in getting the apples off of the trees."

"Wait, since when did you start speaking mah language?"

"....Roughly three days ago. I do know your name, by the way, Applebloom, since Twilight Sparkle told me."

"Uh....I'm Applejack."

"Hmm? Ah, that is interesting. Is there another 'Apple' in the family?"

"Yeah, my younger sister in the house is Applebloom, but what in tarnation could she need help with?"

"I do not know, either. Twilight Sparkle was apparently busy with a task of her own, and writing an entire check list about it....Or was she having Spike do that? Ahem, anyway, I should go see what she needs help with." Dremsilyol then started walking off towards the Apple family's house. "Ah, I almost forgot, my name is Dremsilyol." He then continued on.

"Well, that was a strange welcome." Applejack said. "Also, did I just see him use magic? Ah well, doesn't seem to matter. Any friend of Twilight, I can tolerate."

Dremsilyol entered the house to see if anyone was home.

"Hello?" He asked, as he looked around. He then saw Applebloom, thankfully not frightened, as she saw him talk with Applejack just moments ago. "Ah, you must be Applejack's sister. Is there anything you need help with, young pony?"

"Yeah, sure, dragon." Applebloom replied.

"My name is Dremsilyol."

"That's a weird name. I'll just call you 'Draco'. It has a vibe to it."

"If you say so."

"Anyway, I just need help cleanin' mah room. It ain't much, just a few toys scattered."

Moments later, they enter Applebloom's room to see the interior. There were broken toys everywhere, the window was cracked, and clothes were completely scattered about.

"This is what you call a 'few' toys?" Dremsilyol rhetorically asked. "No matter, I can handle this, never the less. Stand back, I need room." He then used his staff to focus his magic, slowly lifting every scattered object.

"Alright, Applebloom, this is where I need your help. Simply tell me where certain things go."

"Well," Applebloom replied, "all mah toys go in the box by my bed, the clothes go in the closet over there, though you can just pile them up in the closet, in no kind of order, and the window...has a hole in it?! Quick, Draco, leave the room!"

"Gah, alright!" They then rushed out of the room, and Applebloom bucked the door shut.

"What happened?!" Dremsilyol asked.

"Don't you know what happens when your window is cracked?!"

"I cannot say I do..."

"Mosquitos can get in there!" Dremsilyol was briefly silent, making a slightly dumbfounded face.

"...Haha, please, Applebloom, I know you are a young and paranoid child, but something as minute as a mosquito?" They then paused, hearing a strange sound in Applebloom's bedroom.

"What's that?" Applebloom asked.

"Some sort of.....buzzing?" Dremsilyol then decided to open the door slightly, to see what was buzzing. As he did, a big bumblebee flew out of the cracked door, buzzing around to annoy Dremsilyol.

"Gah! Blasted bee, flying into my face!" He grunted. However, he notices something strange about the bee as it landed on him.

"Applebloom, look at this bee. Does anything strike it as 'strange'?"

"Yeah, it's got some sorta long pointy thing on its head, and not a stinger on its behind."

"Precisely, and- GAH! It......bit me?"

"Bees don't bite, silly, they sting!"

"But that felt nothing like a sting. It did feel like some sort of small needle, but the venom should have made it hurt more."

"Maybe it's a bee that learned to suck blood!"

"Ugh....I feel somewhat....woozy...."

"Maybe you should go rest somewhere."

"Very well....Oyy...."

Later that morning, Qobriiven and Rainbow Dash were having a quick race to see who was faster.

"I'm getting ahead of you already, Rainbow Run!" Qobriiven cheered.

"Rainbow Dash!" Rainbow Dash yelled. "And not for long, because I just have a slower start than you!"

"Work on that first, then we'll talk!"

"Why not now? I'm right next to you, now!" Rainbow Dash then flew somewhat faster than Qobriiven, as she began to tire out from flying so quickly.

"What's wrong, Qo? Ya tired?"

"No, no! I can keep going....hss......hss.....I can....ugh..." Qobriiven then started losing control, and falling downwards. However, Rainbow Dash did not have to save her, as she landed on a cloud, panting with most of her body deadweight.

"You alright, Qo?"

"Yeah....I guess, being a reptile, I just don't have as much stamina."

"You know, you don't have to keep flapping. If you build momentum, you can glide through the air, and just keep your wings straight. You know, like a bird. Heck, it'd probably be easier with your tail fin thing you got there."

"Alright, I'll keep that in mind. In the meantime, I think I need some rest."

"Right, I'll go check the weather schedule." Rainbow Dash then zoomed off.

"Whew....I really do need a breather. That race was pretty long, and I only have so much stamina in me- OW!" She felt a sharp pain on her back, and noticed the strange bee biting her.

"AH! BEE, BEE, BEE, BEE!" Qobriiven jumped, and flew off.

"Bees. I HATE bees! They're so annoying.....Um, is it me, or did that bee sting not hurt? In fact, did it even sting me? I'm gonna go see how Rainbow Doo is holding up." As Qobriiven continued flying casually, she noticed she was getting a little bit slower.

"Huh? I can't be tired, I don't feel tired anymore. Althouugghh, II doo feeel sloooweeer....."

Elsewhere, Dremsilyol was seen resting on a hay bale.

"Hay is for horses, Dremsil." Applejack said. "What's your problem?"

"I just feel like my mentality fell." Dremsilyol replied.

"You mean you feel like you got a headache?"

"That, and I think my speech pattern is out of whack."

"What does that mean?"

"It means I'm talking more differently."

"Alright, so does that imply you're getting dumber?"

"No. It only means I'm not talking the same as I always do."

"Heheh, now you're REALLY speakin' my language."

"Well, this is just great."

"Faaaaatheeeeerrrr...." Said a deep, but familiar voice.

"That's funny." Dremsilyol said. "It sounds like Qobriiven." He got up from the hay bale, and went to see who it was. "It IS Qobriiven. Wait....What in the world...?"

"Faaaaatheeeeerrrr...." Qobriiven said, with a lower, slower tone of voice. "Whyyyy aaaaarrrrree yyyyoooouuuu sssssoooooo fffaaaasssssttt......?"

"I think it's more along the lines of 'why are you so slow'?" Applejack asked.

"Yeah," Dremsilyol continued, "you're speaking like a snail covered in molasses. Wait....Did I say that?!"

"Yyyyyeeeeessss yyyyoooouuuu ddiiiiddd." Qobriiven replied.

"Well, this is awkward." Applejack said. "I'm gonna go get some help, you two stay here!" As she left, both of them replied "okay."

Meanwhile, Twilight and Spike were investigating a strange epidemic, with a magic bubble around them. Applejack came galloping towards them.

"Twilight! Twilight!" She yelled, as Twilight opened her bubble to let her in.

"Alright," Applejack continued, "first off, why do you have a magic bubble around ya? Second, what's with all the bees? They don't fly anywhere in Ponyville except at the flower shop. Third, Dremsil and the other lightning weevurn thing are acting strange..." Applejack then realized what was going on around her. "....as well as everypony else. Seriously, everyone's actin' funny, and have blue dots....on them...."

"Starting to put the pieces together, Applejack?" Twilight asked.

"These ponies are all infected with poison joke!" Spike replied. "I've never seen such an epidemic!"

"Have you found out the cause?" Applejack asked.

"I have a theory..." Twilight replied, staring at a bee on her bubble.

Later, back at Sweet Apple Acres, Twilight was using a magnifying glass to look at one of the bees, with Applejack, Dremsilyol, Qobriiven and Spike all watching in curiosity.

"So, Twilight," Dremsilyol asked, "what's your thoughts?"

"I might have figured it out." Twilight replied. She then noticed the cactus juice bottle still lying on the table where Applejack left it. "Applejack, what's in that bottle?"

"Cactus juice." Applejack replied. "Why?"

"Well, then I know what all this is. Mosquitos are everywhere, there's a poison joke epidemic, bees with blue spots on them are biting instead of stinging, that's it! These 'bees' are all mosquitos! They must've sucked the nectar of some poison joke before biting everypony.....and dragon, which turned them into bees!"

"Hold on," Dremsilyol interrupted, "what's this whole 'poison joke' thingy? What's it do?"

"It makes bad jokes when you touch it. All we have to do is find Zecora, and-"

"ZECORA?!" Dremsilyol and Qobriiven shouted.

"Um...Do you know her?" Twilight asked.

"Heck yeah, we do!" Dremsilyol said. "She's a world-wide trader! She used to go ANYWHERE in the world to trade items, stopping at our country the most for some good stuff, such as potion ingredients and flawless jewels. How do you think she has all those items?"

"Ssshheeee aaaaalllsssooooo hheeelllpppeedd uuuuusss ttoooo lleeeeaaarrrnn wwhheeeeerrrree tttooo ffiiiinnddd ggeeeeemmssss." Qobriiven said.

"Interesting." Twilight responded, curious to know more. "Zecora used to trade? And she knew your language?"

"Yep." Dremsilyol replied. "She knows lots of languages. And she's HERE?! We thought we'd never see her again!"

"Yes, she is here, and we need to find her, so she can make the cure."

"Shouldn't you've written it down?" Dremsilyol asked.

"Admittedly, yes, but even then, we don't have the right ingredients."

"Well, let's go, everypony....and dragon," Applejack yelled, "let's hope Zecora's in town today."

"You need not look throughout the town," a voice interrupted, "I do wish that you do look down."

"Why's that, Zecorrrrrr-" Twilight asked, before seeing Zecora. She then asked,

".....What happened to all your...stripes?"

"Yeah," Applejack said, "you're completely black, like the Black Stallion of old-time Canterlot."

"The less we know how the poison joke connects to that," Zecora replied, "the less you'll actually laugh hard at the fact."

"Either way," Dremsilyol said, "we're hoping you have the cure ready. How'bout it?" Suddenly, Applebloom screamed at the top of her lungs, being heard in her own bedroom and making everyone jump.

"Who's screaming?!" Dremsilyol yelled.

"That was my sister!" Applejack also yelled, before rushing to Applebloom's bedroom.

"What's wrong, sis?!" Applejack continued, before giving a dumbfounded look.

"Mah hair's turned into a giant flower!" Applebloom replied.

"....Gee, that's takin' 'applebloom' to a new level. Where's your bow?"

"It turned into the pedals!"

"Well, make like a plant, and stay there. We're gonna be gettin' rid of these mosquito bees." Applejack then ran out of her house to see what the others were doing.

"Ah, Applejack," Twilight called, "you're back. Listen, I know a way we can get rid of the mosquitos. We just have to place open bottles of cactus juice throughout all of Ponyville."

"What?!" Applejack replied. "But I don't have enough in one bottle!"

"Which is why we need as many bottles of it as possible. Sorry, if that means not having any while you work later."

"...Alright, alright, you can take as much as ya need. As long as it means I don't shrink again from gettin' bitten."

Soon after collecting all the cactus juice, everyone set out to place a bottle within each acre of Ponyville. It eventually works, and the bee-like parasites started flying off into the forest. Everyone starts to celebrate as a result of their success.

"Yes!" Twilight yelled. "They're all gone! No more bees OR mosquitos!"

"That was awesome!" Dremsilyol cheered.

"Hey!" Yelled Rainbow Dash, as she just arrived. "That's my line! Hey, what was so awesome for YOU to say it, anyway? And why's Qo the speed of a butterfly?"

"I'll talk about it later."

"Wwwweeeeeellllllll, tttthhhhhaaaaaatttttt'ssssss nniiiiiiicccceee," Qobriiven said, "bbbuuuuuuttttt wwweeeee'rrrreee sssttiiiiiilllllll nnnooooooottt ccuuuuurrrreeeddd......."

"Yeah," Dremsilyol said, "what IS the cure for poison joke?"

"Well, you really just have to take a bath with certain herbs-" Twilight said, before being interrupted by Dremsilyol.

"ALL YOU DO IS TAKE A BATH?!"

"With certain herbs....Yes."

"........Okay, then, let's warm up some water, and cut some grass!"

"Hold on one second, my draconic friend," Zecora said, "everypony else needs one on their end."

"Alright, alright. Since we've got an entire town to cure, I suggest forming some sort of line. Just a quick question. Could Qobriiven and I go first?"

Eventually, almost everyone, including the dragons was cured, with only a small line left to wash away the effects of the poison.

"Goodness me," Qobriiven said, "it feels GREAT to talk normal again!"

"Heheh, you dunno the half of it." Dremsilyol replied humorously.

"You! Red dragon!" A familiar voice yelled, marching up to Dremsilyol.

"Yes?"

"You took my fire ruby the other day! I would like it back now, please!"

"Calm yourself, Miss...?"

"Rarity..."

"Rarity, I only took it because I thought you were offering it. You held it out as if you were trying to give it out."

"Besides," Twilight intercepted, "he needs it to use magic."

"It's okay, Rarity," Spike said, "he can have it. It was originally mine, anyway."

"Well," Rarity said, "alright. Just don't break it."

"Please," Dremsilyol replied, "I know well not to break something I need."

"Good. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to get my hair fixed from the poison joke." Rarity then trotted off to take a herbal bath.

"Truly, there is more Qobriiven and I need to learn about this country." Dremsilyol said. "It seems, at this point, that anything can happen." Suddenly, he noticed Applebloom, her hair still a flower, next in line.

"Ah, Applebloom. I am glad you finally arrived."

"Yep, I'm here!" She replied.

"Go on, then. Get that flower off of your head." Applebloom then left to take a bath.

"Well," Twilight said, "this was quite the day."

"It must have been, if it brought you to say that. I just hope those mosquito-bees do not have any effect on the local wildlife."

"No need to worry. Zecora told me the effects of poison joke wear off after about a week."

"Well, that is certainly good news." With that, everyone let out some relieved laughter.