After making it out of the forest, my hooves were killing me from all of that walking, so I flew to Town Hall instead, Once I got there, I pressed a button on a keypad with a speaker. Soon, I heard Mayor Mare speak through it.

"State you business here", she said.

"Mayor Mare", I said, "It's Glitter". I could hear her squeal a bit from excitement.

"Just a minute", she said, "Colgate! Let him in!" I waited and a few seconds later, a blue mare opened the door.

"Hello, Prince Sparkle", she said.

"Greetings", I said, "I'm here to see Mayor Mare".

"Follow me please", Colgate said, letting me in. I followed her up several stairs, and soon reached a door. Colgate opened it and I saw Mayor Mare doing some paperwork and sipping herbal tea. "Ms. Mayor?" Mayor Mare looked up and saw me. She nearly jumped out of her seat.

"Prince Sparkle!", she said.

"Greetings, Mayor Mare", I said, "May I speak to you in private?"

"Of course you may!", Mayor Mare said, "Colgate, get out!" Colgate rolled her eyes and left, while I sat in one of the chairs in front of Mayor Mare's desk. She sat down in front of me, smiling big. I could sense her excitement. "So, what is it, your highness?"

"Well, I need you to hear me out, completely".

"Of course, of course".

"OK. It's about the zebra that usually visits here, Zecora". Mayor Mare's smile dropped to a frown.

"Oh...", she said, "What about her?"

"Everypony here keeps calling her evil", I said, "And I don't really appreciate it".

"Well, there isn't anything I can do about that".

"Come on, Ms. Mayor. I don't find that positive. I spent four hours with her, and she isn't evil at all. She just comes here to get supplies to make cures".

"I'm sorry, Prince Sparkle. Unless Zecora herself comes to me, I can't do anything about it". I sighed. The answer was clear. I wanted to try to persuade her, but it wasn't normal for a Prince of a whole world to argue with a mayor of one city. I got up from the table.

"OK", I said, "I understand. You have a nice day, Ms. Mayor". I turned around, but before I could take a step...

"Prince, wait!", Mayor Mare said. I turned back around.

"Yes?", I said.

"Please stay here for a while! I've always wanted to talk to you, and the fact that you're standing in my office is making me excited! I beg of you to stay! Please stay!"

"OK OK OK. Calm down before you make a puddle. I'll stay for a bit". She squealed like a filly. I have a lot of fans, but Mayor Mare was a very big fan. And I bet that she has something that has me on it, like a mug or a poster. I sat back down in the seat.

"Would you like some tea?"

"Sure". She quickly poured me some tea. I sipped and sat back in my chair. "So... what do you want to talk about?"

"I want to know EVERYTHING about you!"

"Everything?"

"EVERYTHING!!!!!!!!!"... your highness".

"Well, ask a question".

"How old are you?"

"Sixteen".

"Is being a royal a lot of work?"

"Usually".

Two hours later...

She asked me question after question, over and over again. I didn't get annoyed, and she definitely wasn't either. She could ask me questions until Equestria came to an end. After two more hours of questions, I decided to leave.

"Well, Ms. Mayor", I said, "I gotta go now. It was nice to get to talk to you".

"Indeed!", Mayor Mare said, "I really hope we get to do it again sometime!"

"Me too". I stood up and turned to leave, but was stopped again.

"Prince, wait!", Mayor Mare said again. I turned around.

"Yes?", I said.

"Will you sign my collar?" She grabbed a pen and held it out to me. Yeah, definitely my biggest fan.

"Umm... OK". I took the pen with my magic and signed my name into her collar big enough for anypony to see it. She squealed again, this time louder.

"He signed my collar!", she said, as if she were talking to her friend, "Glitter Sparkle signed my collar! I'm never taking this off again! Thank you so much, your highness!" She bowed in front of me, kissing my hooves. That made me feel very uncomfortable, because I thought you were only supposed to kiss a Princess' hooves. Anyway, I waited until she finished with her teenage-fantasy stage and walked out quickly. She wanted me to stay, then she wanted me to sign her collar. If I had stayed any longer, she probably would have asked me to cut off my mane so she could wear it like a wig.

~~~~~~~~~~

After getting out of Town Hall, I went back to the library. I wanted to strangely go back to Zecora's, but I resisted the urge. I don't know why I wanted to see Zecora again, even though I had just seen her four hours ago. I guess she's a good friend. Anyway, I walked into the library and locked the door behind me. I could see Spike, in the kitchen, sitting at the table, having a big plate of gemstones. I walked over to him, smiling.

"Hey, Spike", I said, sitting in the seat next to him and patting him on his back, He swallowed what was in his mouth, looked back at me, and smiled.

"Hey, Glitter", he said, hugging me, "How was your date with Twilight?"

"It wasn't a date, Spike", I said, pulling the baby dragon out of his seat and into my lap, "Twilight and I just had lunch. We're just friends".

"Yeah yeah", Spike said, "You know you like Twilight".

"Yeah I do as a friend".

"Twilight and Glitter, sitting in a tree-" I cut him off before he could finish.

"Spike, if you finish that, I will tell Rarity how you feel about her". Spike gulped and decided to drop the act. I knew Spike would want to hide in his room if I did that.

"OK OK... I'm done". He quickly shoved a handful of his gems into his mouth, as if to keep himself silenced.

"Good". I pet the scales on the top of his head.

"So", Spike said, swallowing the gems, "I'm not teasing, but is there anypony you seem to like?"

"No", I said, I haven't gotten to know most of the ponies here". I looked away. "But... Zecora sure was nice..."

"That zebra?"

"Yeah. We spent some time together and made some potions. She sure is a good friend".

"Cool. Well, Twilight is up in her room, pacing the floor. She's confused about what the others told her about Zecora".

"*sigh* Let me guess: 'She's evil', 'She eats ponies', 'She's creepy'".

"Yep".

"Well, I'll go talk to her. You enjoy your gems". I placed him back in his seat.

"You don't have to tell me twice!" He dove into his gems, while I walked upstairs. Sure enough, Twilight was pacing circles around her bed. She had been doing it for a long time too, because the floor she was pacing on was caved in, as if it were a hallway.

"Twilight?", I said, trying to get her attention. She kept pacing the floor, mumbling to herself. I knew I wasn't going to get her attention, so I grabbed a copy of "Obscure Unicorn History" with my magic and dropped it on the floor, a loud noise ringing out. Twilight jumped and looked over my direction.

"Glitter?", she said.

"Yes?", I said. She sat down on the bed, relaxing her tired hooves. I walked over to the bed, sat down next to her, and draped my wing around her. "Are you OK?"

"I'm confused", Twilight said, "Everypony keeps saying that Zecora is evil, but I don't think she is".

"Of course she isn't", I said, "If she ate ponies, do you think I would be sitting here right now?"

"I know, Glitter", she said, "But, it's just so confusing. I-" I placed my hoof over her mouth before she could finish.

"She isn't evil, Twilight. She's kinder than Fluttershy. I spent time with her, and she's innocent. Plus, she said that I'm the only pony that has talked to her".

"Really?"

"Yes. Trust me, she's fine".

I could sense the relieve in Twilight as she relaxed, leaning against my side. I sat there for a while, letting Twilight catch her breath. After a while, I asked her if she was OK. She responded with a deep breath. "Twilight?" I looked at her to see that she had fallen asleep. I smiled as I placed her in her bed. Seeing her sleep, I felt tired myself. But my bladder said otherwise before I laid down. I went into the bathroom, peed, and washed my hooves. After that, I went back into the room and laid down next to Twilight. I rolled over and went to sleep.

~~~~~~~~~~

I woke up a few hours later when I felt something shifting next to me. I opened my eyes to see Twilight, tossing and turning heavily.

"Twilight!", I said, waking her up. Her eyes snapped open and she started breathing heavy.

"Glitter?", she said, blinking her eyes several times.

'Yeah", I said, "You OK?"

"*sigh* Nightmare. Nothing more".

"OK". I then noticed that her mane was very tangled and nappy. "Your mane is a mess. Would you like me to comb it for you?"

"If you don't mind". She levitated her comb over to the bed. I took it with my own magic and began combing her mane. Despite how messy it was, I could comb it easily. "Thanks, Glitter".

"No problem, Twilight".

"Hmph... maybe Zecora cursed my hair". I giggled at the joke.

"Yeah". I brush the front, seeing something not usual. Her horn was limp and had several blue spots. It looked like a baby worm. "Umm... Twilight?"

"Yes?"

"What's going on with your horn?"

"Hmm?" She levitated a mirror over to herself, seeing her horn. She jumped out of the bed and screamed.

"Or maybe she cursed my horn!" She started grunting, trying to levitate something, but it didn't even light up. "I can't use my magic!" Before we knew it, somepony bashed through the door. Pinkie Pie was there, her tongue covered in blue spots and hanging out of her mouth.

"Pinkie?", I said, "Are you OK?" She tried to talk, but couldn't open her mouth and her tongue started moving, trying to comprehend with what she was trying to say. In the process, she started spraying me with her saliva. "Say it, don't spray it!"

"Pinkie!", Twilight said, "What happened to you?"

"Pllat plapplen ploo ploo?", Pinkie said. Before Twilight could say anything, something crashed through the window and collided with Twilight. It was Rainbow Dash, who was flying very sloppy. She flew back into the air, only flying in imperfect circles.

"Help me!", she said, her voice slurring, "I'm out of control!" She crashed into a bookcase.

"Well, I hate ta say I told ya so, Twilight", a high-pitched southern voice said, "But I told ya so!" We saw Applejack and Applebloom. Applejack was on Applebloom's back. What wasn't normal was that she was bite-sized, as if she had just shrank. But as bad as it was, it was a little funny. A few seconds later, Fluttershy walked in, along with something covered in nappy hair. I couldn't believe my eyes. It was Rarity, who looked like a swamp monster.

"Rarity?!", I said.

"I know, I know!", she said, a bit of drama in her voice, "I look horrid!"

"But Fluttershy looks normal", Twilight said. Fluttershy shook her head.

"What's wrong with you?", I asked. She didn't answer. "Is it bad?" She nodded. "Would you care to tell us?" She shook her head. "So, you're not going to tell us?" She nodded. "Yes, you're not? Or yes you-?"

"Good gravy, Fluttershy!", Applejack said, getting annoyed, "Just tell us what's wrong!" Fluttershy sighed.

"I don't wanna talk about it", she said. Her voice was very deep, as if she were a female version of Barry White. I couldn't help but laugh, putting the situation together.

"No offence to anypony here", I said, "But this is hilarious! Look at this, we got, Hairity, Rainbow Crash, Spitty Pie, Appletini, Flutterguy, and..." I stopped when I got to Twilight. "Uh... I got nothing. Twilight Sparkle? You can't really joke that one".

"Ha ha, Glitter", Twilight said, "Anyway, does anypony know what happened?"

"What do you think, Twilight?", Rainbow Crash said, "Would I know how I started flying like this?" She flew up again, only to crash into another bookcase.

"Plaplora plid plis!", Spitty said.

"Pinkie's right!", Appletini said, jumping off of her sister's back and onto a nearby table, "I told y'all she's evil!"

"How do you know for sure that she caused this?", I said.

"Why are you taking her side, your highness?", Hairity said.

"Because she's not evil! How many times do I have to say this?!"

"He does have a point", Twilight said. She looked at her limp horn again. "Then again..." They started talking negatively about Zecora. While that happened, Applebloom tapped my hind leg. I looked down at her.

"Yes?", I said.

"This is all my fault", she said, "If I hadn't tried to leave, this wouldn't have happened".

"It isn't your fault, Applebloom", I said, "But, I'm going to go see Zecora, before they get to her". I walked out of the room without being noticed. Once I got outside, I flew as fast as I could to Zecora's to let her know about this.

~~~~~~~~~~

After getting through the trees in the forest and avoiding Poison Joke, I made it Zecora's Hut. Without even knocking, I walked in. I saw Zecora fall over off of a stick she was on. She must have been meditating.

"Have you gone mad?!", she said, rubbing the front of her head.

"Sorry, Zecora", I said, using my magic to lean the stick against the wall, "I came here because I have a problem".

"A problem you say? Is it causing you to have a bad day?", Zecora said.

"Not really", I said, "But it might for the ponies you saw yesterday. They all have irregular conditions happening to them, and they think that you cursed them".

"*sigh* Accusing me for their conditions? This happens every day, every one"

"Well, I don't think you did it. The only clue I found was that two of them had blue spots on a specific part of their body".

"Blue spots? Oh, I know what's going on. They must have touched Poison Joke yesterday, making their lives very wrong".

"I knew it. There was something strange about that". Before we could say anything else, there was a knock at the door. I opened it and saw Applebloom. "Applebloom?"

"What a surprise. Another pony before my eyes", Zecora said.

"Umm... hi Zecora", Applebloom said, "I think Prince Sparkle already said what I was going to".

"In that case, we need to make a cure. A small brew should work for sure".

"OK", I said, "What do we do?"

"There are some items I need that are not in this room. I would like you to go search for them, Dear Applebloom".

"Gotcha!", Applebloom said. Zecora gave Applebloom her saddlebag and a list of ingredients. Applebloom walked out after I warned her about Poison Joke.

"Now", Zecora said, "Glitter, you and I must start mixing the brew. Because if we fail to finish, the Poison Joke will seep in and their lives will be through".

"OK", I said, getting a bit excited about getting to help Zecora mix another brew, "Let's do it!"

Thirty minutes later...

Like it was last time, helping Zecora make a brew was great. At that point, I was adding a yellow liquid to the cauldron, she she was stirring with her ladle.

"Make sure you pour very slow", Zecora said, "Unless you want the cauldron to blow". I nodded and kept pouring the liquid, while she started chanting something in her own foreign language. But then, I could see Twilight and a few of her friends outside the window, looking on. I didn't make direct eye-contact with them, but I enhanced my hearing again and listened to what they were saying, while watching them at the corner of my eye.

"Se Ploe ply plong!", Spitty said.

"She stole your song?", Hairity said, "I don't think she did". Spitty nodded and looked at Flutterguy with puppy-dog eyes. Flutterguy sighed and started singing Spitty's song about Zecora. Even though I still didn't like it, it sounded more on-key and on-beat than Spitty's way of singing it. "Your song is terrible. She seems to be saying something".

"Everypony calm down", Twilight said, "She probably isn't doing any harm. Maybe she's just making soup". Zecora finished stirring and chanting, placing the ladle back on its hook on the cauldron.

"Now, where is that Applebloom?", she said. I could hear Twilight's small gasp.

"Or what if she's making Applebloom soup?", Twilight said, very worried. They all looked at each other worried, and then screamed. I deactivated my enhanced hearing and focused on the brew. Before we could wait for Applebloom, something crashed through the door. Rainbow Crash was flying completely out of control, Appletini trying to control her. The other ponies had walked in also. I hit the desk, staying on the floor while the two completely trashed Zecora's hut. Appletini threw a lasso onto Zecora's ear and wrestled it. Once again, that was funny. Zecora started yelling in her own language.

"Ponies! What is this you-?!", she said, before she was cut off when Rainbow Crash flew into the cauldron, spilling the mixture everywhere. She gasped. "No! You know not what you do! You've gone and spilled my precious brew!"

"We're onto you, Zecora!", Twilight said, "I didn't want to believe you cursed us, but the evidence is overwhelming!" I walked to the back and sat down at the table. You never want to get in the middle of a cat fight, even if they are friends.

"You made me look ridiculous!", Hairity said.

"You made me sound ridiculous", Flutterguy said.

"Phe pfuh pfuh pfound puh-pluh-pli-plus!", Spitty said.

"You ruined my horn!", Twilight said. I could see anger in Zecora's eyes. I think she had had enough of being accused for things she didn't do. Plus, she was already upset when the brew we were making was spilled.

"How dare you!", Zecora said, anger burned inside her, "You destroy my home, destroy my work, then rudely accuse me of being a jerk?!"

"You put this curse on us!", Rainbow Crash said, "Now you're gonna un-curse us!"

"It is unwise to venture down this road", Zecora said, "Your actions will make my anger explode!" Her and Twilight locked heads, as if they were about to start fighting. I also had enough of this, so I finally stepped in.

"ENOUGH!", I said in the Royal Canterlot Voice I had gotten from Auntie Luna. I didn't use it much, but it always was fun to use it. I scared everyone in the hut, making them look my way. "That's enough of this! For the tenth time, Zecora isn't evil! She wasn't making that brew for a negative reason, she was to help you!"

"Zecora", Applebloom said, who had just came back, "I think I found all the things ya asked for". She saw what was happening and was confused. "What in Ponyville is going on here?" Appletini gasped.

"Applebloom!", she said, letting go of Zecora's ear, "You're OK!"

"Why wouldn't I be?", Applebloom said.

"Because Zecora is an evil enchantress!", Twilight said, "Who cursed us and was going to cook you into soup". I placed my head in my hooves.

"If one more pony says that about Zecora", I whispered to myself, "I swear someone's going to the dungeon". However, both Zecora and Applebloom just laughed, making Twilight confused.

"Oh, Twilight!", Applebloom said, "Did those silly fillies finally get into yer head? You know there's no such thing as a curse".

"Applebloom, Sweetie", Twilight said, "You can't just stand there and tell me this isn't a curse".

"Then maybe I can", I said, standing, "This isn't a curse Twilight. Maybe Zecora could tell you what's going on".

"If you will remember back", Zecora said, "The words I spoke were quite exact".

"It was a warning about that blue plant", I said, "It's called 'Poison Joke'"

"It is much like Poison Oak", Zecora said, "But the results are like a joke".

"What in the hay does that mean?", Appletini said, still on top of Zecora's head.

"It means that this plant does not breed wrath", Zecora said, "Instead, this plant just wants a laugh". Appletini rolled her eyes.

"Will somepony please talk normal?!", she said.

"I think what she's saying is when we ran to save Applebloom", Twilight said, "We ran into the poison joke. All our problems are just little jokes it played on us".

"Little jokes?!", Appletini said, "Very funny!"

"OK, fine", Rainbow Crash said, "But what about the cauldron?"

"And the chanting?", Flutterguy said.

"And the creepy decor?", Hairity said.

"Treasures of the native land where I am from", Zecora said, "This one speaks 'hello', and this, 'welcome'" I actually wanted to know about the masks too, and now I do.

"Not welcome at all if you ask me", Hairity said, looking at a mask with a snake-like mane.

"The words I chanted were from olden times", Zecora said, "Something you call a nursery rhyme". I saw a very guilty look on Twilight's face.

"But, the cauldron, the Applebloom soup?", she said.''

"Look, Twilight", I said, jumping back in, "That cauldron full of water wasn't for Applebloom, it was for those herbal ingredients. The cure for Poison Joke is a simple, old natural remedy. You just have to take a bubble bath".

"But I tried to find a cure in all of my books", Twilight said, "And couldn't find anything. What book has this natural remedy?"

"Here in this book, you see", Zecora said, closing the book and revealing its title, "Supernatural Illness Cures", "Sad that you lack it in your library".

"Actually, I do have this book", Twilight said, "But I didn't look inside because the title was so... weird".

"Haven't you ever heard the saying, 'Don't judge a book by its cover'?", I said. She ignored me and ready what the book said. "I... I... I'm so sorry Zecora. I had the answer the whole time. If only I had bothered to look inside". Zecora laughed.

"Maybe next time, you will take a second look", she said, "And not judge the cover of the book". I just said that!

"Zecora", Twilight said, "Would you be kind enough to mix up another batch of the herbal bath?"

"Mix it up, I certainly will", Zecora said, "Yet, I am missing an herb from Ponyville".

"But whenever Zecora comes to town", Applebloom said, "All the shops are mysteriously closed".

"Oh, well, I think we can help you with that", Twilight said. Everyone, including myself, walked out of the hut.

~~~~~~~~~~

Several hours later, Twilight and her friends got cured and went home. Zecora was known around Ponyville, and no one feared her anymore. And I'm sure that makes her feel so much better. I was walking back to Zecora's hut again after a few cupcakes with Pinkie. Once I got there, I knocked on the door.

"Enter", Zecora called. I opened the door with my magic and walked in. Zecora looked at me and smiled. "What a pleasant surprise. It is Glitter Sparkle before my eyes".

"Hey, Zecora", I said, "I figured you would want help cleaning up". Her hut was still trashed, and she was barely making any progress cleaning it.

"I would, as such", Zecora said, "Thank you, very much".

Zecora and I spent about an hour cleaning the hut. I set everything back to the way it was and cleaned up the spilled liquid, while Zecora went into Ponyville and replaced the bottles that were damaged and/or spilled during that incident.

"Well, that's everything", I said.

"It was nice of you to help, young royal one", Zecora said, "Cleaning my hut was you was actually fun".

"I'm glad it was", I said. Zecora yawned.

"I seem to be tired from this unusual day", she said, "Maybe I should hit the hay". I looked down, trying not to blush as an idea came to mind.

"Zecora?"

"Yes?"

"Say no if you want to, but I was wondering if I could stay the night here tonight. It would be nice". I was starting to regret asking her that. But instead, she just smiled.

"That really would be nice", she said, "As long as I get to rest my sleepy eyes".

"Hmph... I don't snore", I said, "If I did, my mom wouldn't let me sleep with her". Zecora chuckled lightly. "So, should I sleep on the floor or something?"

"That is not necessary. You may sleep in my bed, next to me". My face went bright red, and I couldn't stop it.

"Oh... uh..."

"You look like you don't feel right. I don't not mind, and I will not bite".

"Umm... OK..." Zecora got into her bed and scooted over, letting me get in next to her. I got into the bed and covered myself with the comforter. For several minutes, I just laid there, my hooves behind my head. It made me feel very funny laying next to Zecora in her own bed. I closed my eyes and started to drift off.

But then, I felt something on my chest and stomach. I opened my eyes and looked down, seeing Zecora laying her head on my chest, one of her front legs on my stomach. I couldn't believe it. Zecora was cuddling me?!

"I hope snuggling with you is alright", Zecora said, "It get's a little cold in the middle of the night".

"Th-that's... f-fine", I said, trying very hard not to sound nervous. Zecora blew out the lantern she uses as a lamp, making the hut completely dark.

For a few minutes, I couldn't sleep, because feeling Zecora's soft body on me was making me feel even funnier. But Zecora was fast asleep, judging by her soft and steady breathing. Right then, I was struggling hard to find out why I felt so funny around Zecora. I like the way she talks and her accent, I like helping her mix her brews, and I simply like being around her. Why did I like being around Zecora so much? She wasn't Mom, she was just a zebra friend. Why? As I slowly drifted off to sleep, my mind pieced together a reason why I liked being around her so much, and I knew it would make me beat myself up for a long time.

Could it be that I was... in love with Zecora?

Author's Note

I had to use the episode "Bridle Gossip" to help make this chapter. By the way, if anyone knows who makes the subtitles for Netflix, slap him/her in the face, because they can't spell Zecora's name right.

IT'S SPELLED "ZECORA", not "ZAKORA"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Next chapter: My Love For Zecora/My Confession