Digital Equestria

A Zebra Far From Home

Matt lay with his back on the couch as Crescent lay on top of him. Their mouths connected in a passionate kiss. Their tongues were wrestling against each other. They broke from the kiss, but their tongues tangled around each other like a couple of snakes. Matt was quite enjoying his day off from work.

Once they caught their breath, they returned to their mouths locked up again. Crescent pushed her body into Matt as the hot make-out session continued. Crescent ground her hips against Matt's hardening member. Matt moaned into the kiss as he felt Crescent push her butt into his stiff crotch. He didn't know if Crescent was doing it subconsciously with estrus around the corner or if she was doing it on purpose. Either way, he had to stop her as he wasn't ready to commit to that part of the relationship.

He broke from the kiss and grabbed her ass, making her moan in pleasure. She looked down at him with a smirk and lust, "Grabby, aren't we."

"Crescent, I know what you're doing." Said Matt

"Oh, what's that?" Asked Crescent with lust dripping from her words.

"You want to make love, but I'm not quite ready for that step of our relationship. So, please stop trying to get me to have sex with you." Said Matt

Matt watched as the lust in Crescent's eyes became a look of pain, "Sorry, Matt, our make-out session caused my estrus to spark up."

Matt smiled as he ran a hand across her cheek, brought his face up, and planted a kiss on her lips. "I know, Crescent, but I promise that we'll make love when I'm fully ready to take the next step in our relationship."

Crescent smiled and kissed him before pushing Matt back on the couch and laying on his chest. Matt ran his fingers through her mane and down her back. She purred in happiness to his touch. Crescent looked at him as she moved her head towards him to continue making out when the front door opened.

"I can't even fathom why you thought going into the Everfree Forest was safe! And don't say that because you have Terriermon and Lopmon!"

Crescent growled as she and Matt looked to see Alice scolding Abby. Crescent and Matt sat up, and Matt decided to figure out what was happening.

"Ok, what's going on?" Asked Matt

Alice turned towards Matt, "Your sister decided to go into the Everfree Forest with Apple Bloom, Applejack's little sister, in pursuit of a zebra named Zecora. Luckily, we found them before they went too deep into the Everfree Forest."

"Please, she had us." Said Terriermon

Alice and Renamon glared down at the Terriermon, causing him to swallow a lump in his throat. He turned his gaze so as not to look at the two any longer as Lopmon shook her head.

Abby looked up at her brother, who had an angry look on his face. "Abby, head up to your room. We will talk later."

Abby nodded her head and walked up the stairs. Terreirmon and Lopmon followed behind her. Matt watched her until she disappeared and sighed.

"So mind explaining what happened." Said Matt

"Well, we were out finishing school shopping when we ran into Twilight and Spike. We then noticed the town was quiet, and the next thing we knew, Pinkie called us into Sugar Cube Corner. We found the rest of our friends and Apple Bloom hiding inside. They told us they were hiding from a zebra named Zecora. She happens to live in the Everfree Forest. Next thing we know, your sister and Apple Bloom were off to find Zecora." Said Alice

"Interesting to hear a zebra living here in Equestria. They usually live in Zebrica, a desert nation far from here." Said Crescent

"Are they dangerous?" Asked Alice

"Not sure. I have never met one in my life. I've heard that they live in tribes across the sands of their nations. I can't say if Zercora is dangerous since zebra and pony meetings are rare." Said Crescent

"Strange she desires to live in the Everfree Forest. It hardly seems like a hospitable place to live." Said Renamon

"Well, Zebrica isn't a hospitable place to live either. The heat the desert sun, pop-up desert storms, and worms that can swallow a pony whole." Said Crescent

Everyone looked at Crescent and shivered, thinking about a worm big enough to get a zebra or a pony.

"Well, if you excuse me, I have a sister to talk to." Said Matt

He walked up the stairs and looked at his sister's door. He knocked and heard her voice, allowing him inside. He opened the door and looked at his sister sitting on her bed with her head hung low. Matt sighed as he motioned for Terriermon and Lopmon to leave. They left the room, and Matt closed the door, walked over, and sat next to his sister. I hate when I have to do this.

"I'm sorry, I went into the Everfree Forest." Said Abby

Matt sighed, "Mind telling me why you decided to go into the Everfree Forest?"

"I went in with Apple Bloom after everypony pushed us away from being in the conversation. So, Apple Bloom and I got to talking. We decided to show them we could be brave, and off we went. I know it was wrong, but I didn't like being looked down on." Said Abby

Matt sighed as he put his hand on his sister's head, "Abby, even if everypony else was looking down at you, it doesn't give you the right to go heading into the Everfree Forest. What would have happened if a Manticore attacked you or something worse? You have Terriermon and Lopmon, but they might not always be by your side. You must remember that just because we have Digimon doesn't mean they will always be by our side. Do you know how Alice or I would react if something happened to you?"

Abby began to sniffle and cry as she grabbed Matt's chest and cried into his shirt. Matt rubbed his hand through his sister's hair to calm her down. He pulled her tight into his chest as he let her continue to cry. He cooed at her to help her stop crying as he held her.

"I'm sorry, big brother. I never wanted to make you or Alice worry." Said Abby

"I know, little sister, I know." He said

Abby continued to cry for another minute as Matt held her tight. Once she was done crying, she pulled away from her brother's chest and wiped the last tears from her eyes. Matt smiled as he placed a kiss on her forehead.

"Now, don't think you are getting off scot-free, sister. I am grounding you for an entire week. Do you understand me?" Abby nodded at her brother. He smiled as he brought her into a loving hug. "And know that I'm never going to stop loving you."

"I know, big brother." Said Abby

Matt smiled as he held his little sister. He ruffled the hair on the top of her head, causing her to laugh.

"Now, you need to apologize to Alice for scaring her."

Abby nodded and left the room to apologize to Alice and Renamon. Matt realized that since they all had arrived in Ponyville, they had not seen another creature of Eques besides ponies. I wonder who Zecora is? Is she a good zebra or an evil zebra? And why does it sound like everyone fears her? And why does she live in the Everfree Forest? Maybe I should go and visit this Zecora? Matt got off his bed and went downstairs to get Cresent and see about finding this Zecora. He wanted to meet this zebra mare in person and see who she was exactly.

***

Cresent, Matt, and Guilmon marched through the Everfree Forest, looking for the elusive Zecora, the zebra.

"Why exactly are we looking for Zecora?" Asked Cresent

"The way Alice put it, everypony we know fears Zecora for being a witch. It's hard for me to believe she's all that dangerous. Alice made it sound like nopony had ever spent any time getting to know Zecora. It doesn't seem nice to me not to say hello to a neighbor even if they live in the Everfree Forest. Plus, if she lives here, maybe she has some clues on who is behind those black gears. Maybe we can use her insight to end their deeds finally." Said Matt

"I see the logic, but what if this Zecora is dangerous? I am not entirely battle-ready as I still have two weeks before I can even take flight, and the only Digimon we brought was Guilmon. Pony society has ever little when it comes to knowledge on the zebra." Said Cresent

"And why is that?" Asked Matt

Cresent shrugged, "Not too many ponies want to travel three months to walk around an unknown desert. Sure, I know of some ponies out there traveling with zebra herds, as most zebras are nomadic and travel the sands, never staying in one place. Plus, the rumors of large worms and dangerous dust storms don't make one want to visit the country of Zebrica."

"Is the entire society nomadic?" Asked Matt

"Most zebras are nomadic, but those that are not nomadic, follow a democratically elected president in the few civilized areas of the country." Said Cresent

"For somepony who has never visited Zebrica, you sure know a lot." Said Matt

"Princess Celestia requires all guards to understand, with whatever knowledge we have on our allies or those we trade with. As Celestia said, when we officially met, Eques comprises a wide variety of nations and creatures. Most other countries in Eques are either allies or trade with Equestria. But there are a few that Equestria does not trade with and/or see as a threat, such as dragons. Equestria has had very little to no good favor with dragons. Then there are the foxes of Judo. Equestria and the Judo foxes have had plenty of blood conflicts over issues." Said Cresent

"Hard for me to believe the friendship-loving ponies would not attempt to be friends with everyone. But I guess not everyone can be your friend." Said Matt

Guilmon stopped when he smelled something delicious in the air. He sniffed repeatedly, trying to pinpoint the smell's location.

"What you got, Guilmon?" Asked Matt

"I think I smell food." He said

Cresent and Matt sniffed the air. Matt could barely smell any form of cooking wafting across the air, but Cresent could smell what Guilmon had mentioned.

"He's not wrong, I do smell somepony cooking something."

Matt ushered Cresent and Guilmon to lead the way since his sense of smell wasn't as strong as theirs. The three of them eventually found a home made out of a hollowed-out tree. Tribal masks sat outside the tree. Matt placed his finger to his mouth as they sneaked up to an opening in the tree. The three quietly walked up to the tree and peered inside and found what looked to be a large black cauldron over a fire cooking a soup. Guilmon's nose flared as he picked up the smell of the food. He had to fight his urge not to simply bust down the door and gorge himself on the soup.

Matt eyed up the entire room. In the middle was the cauldron cooking up the soup. On the walls were shelves lined with bottles, flowers, tools, and plenty of tribal items. A few more tribal masks sat on the ground. The tribal items reminded him of African culture back on Earth.

"I wonder if this is her house." Whispered Cresent

Before Matt could respond he heard somepony knocking and turned to see Guilmon knocking on the door of the home.

"Guilmon, what are you doing?!" Exclaimed Matt in a whisper

"I'm hungry."

Before Matt could respond to Guilmon, Cresent tugged his shirt and pointed back to the window. He turned his eyes back to see an anthro zebra come walking into the room. She had the standard zebra black and white stripes. She stood at 5'9" with Cyan eyes. She had a mohawk mane with the same zebra stripe pattern of her fur. Her tail even had the stripping as well. She had a set of gold rings around her neck and right hoof and a large gold ring hanging from her left ear. She was wearing a brown loincloth and a stripe of brown leather attempting to hold back her EE-cup breasts. Both items of clothing barely left anything to the imagination.

Cresent and Matt ducked down and turned to Guilmon as the door opened. She turned down to Guilmon and smiled as he looked up at her and tilted his head.

"Hello, little dino, what brings you here? Are you lost, my friend, or just want to play? I didn't expect a dino today!"

"Food."

Matt rolled his eyes at Guilmon's comment.

"I see, have you come alone this way, or did some company choose to stay?"

Guilmon turned his head to see Matt and Cresent. Zecora followed Guilmon's eyes and found Cresent and Matt. They both got up trying to act normal.

"Can I have some of your food?" Asked Guilmon

Zecora smiled, "I see I've drawn a merry throng, Come in, dear guests, where you belong! The food's close now, no need to roam, So make yourselves at home!"

Guilmon didn't hesitate to go right inside after Zecora moved out of the way. As Matt and Cresent proceeded inside, Matt was surprised that Zecora seemed to speak in rhymes. Sure is a strange way to speak? Matt and Cresent walked inside and down the step that led to the main room. Matt felt quite at home in the cozy hollowed-out tree. Reminded him of Twilight's home, but with way fewer books. Zecora had stepped away as Guilmon stared into the pot looking at the green liquid that gently bubbled inside. He licked his lips as Zecora turned with a few bowls. Her ears flicked as Guilmon's stomach let out a low growl.

"Rumble, rumble, what's that sound? Your tummy's craving, all around! For cooking, it pleads, 'Let's start the fun!' A yummy meal is about to be won!"

Guilmon tilted his head as if his brain was having a hard time processing what she said. But he watched as she gave him a bowl filled with soup. He looked at the bowl and then at the cauldron.

"That's not food?" Asked Guilmon

Zecora handed Cresent and Matt their bowls before turning to Guilmon, "This ain't no broth, no veggie stew, no bowl of comfort, clear and true. That's not soup, my friend, I say, but a potion for a brighter day!"

Guilmon shrugged before bringing the bowl to his mouth and began to slurp without any manners. Matt again rolled his eyes.

"Thank you Zecora for the meal."

"No issue, my friend," Zecora declared with a smile, "I'm glad to share, it's worth your while. But tell me, just out of curiosity's hold, what brings you this way, to my humble abode?"

"I wanted to say hello to the zebra of the Everfree that everypony fears."

"Well, here I am, a sight to see, do you fear me? Maybe a little, agree? I might be mischief, I might be fun, But watch me close, 'til the day is done!" Zecora said with a smile before giggling.

"I see nothing scary about you at all. Your home is cozy and nice, and you have freely given us a meal. So, what brings you into Ponyville that causes everypony pony to run and hide?" Said Matt

Zecora motioned for them to sit, which everyone did, "I trot to town, with basket light, for herbs of green, to make things right. I search the stalls, with happy stride, but everypony seems to quickly hide."

"So you come to Ponyville to buy herbs to make your potions." Zecora nodded as she took a sip of the soup in the bowl. "Do you know why everypony runs and hides when you come into town?"

"I do not know why everypony flees, like leaves scattered by autumn breeze. My heart feels a little bit low, where did they all go, I don't know!"

Zecora's ear laid down slightly showing her sadness.

"Do not take this the wrong way, Zecora. But I think the fear comes from them not knowing who you are. I mean, you come from the Everfree, a place ponies of Ponyville are told to fear. So, I bet everypony fears you because of our natural fear of the Everfree." Said Cressent

"Seems wrong to me." Said Matt

"Was Princess Celestia or the ponies of Ponyville any different when you and your friends arrived? Princess Celestia locked you into the dungeon and ponies kept their distance from you for the first week or so after you arrived. Everypony fears the unknown until it is known." Said Cresent

"I guess that's true." Matt turned back to Zecora, "You mentioned potions. Do you like to brew potions then?"

"In cauldrons deep, my world resides, where bubbling brews, my heart confides. With herbs and roots, and mystic might, brewing potions is my life's pure light. From dawn's first blush till evening's call, I mix and stir, embracing all. A splash of this, a pinch of that, my bubbling craft, where I am at! So let the fumes and vapors swirl, potion brewing is my world!"

"So, that's what your cutie mark means?" Asked pointing to the spiral that sat on her rump with triangles sitting on the largest part of the spiral.

Zecora nodded her head, "So what brought you to Ponyville?"

She turned to Cresent, "I sought a life outside my desert home. Where sand stretched wide and I was left to roam. The sun beat down, a constant, fiery guest, and yearned for green, a vibrant, leafy crest."

"Interesting, I would have never thought that a zebra would want to leave their home or their tribe." Cresent looked around her home, "But I see you brought your home with you."

"It echoes in my heart, a solemn plea, this was my fate, it was meant to be."

"Fascinating." Said Cresent

"How long have you been living here, Zecora?" Asked Matt

"Two years and counting, that's my time here, filled with adventures, banishing all fear! I've explored the corners, learned the lay of the land, this place feels like home, it's just so grand!"

"I find it strange to live in the Everfree Forest, but each his own." Said Cresent

"It seems sad that you have been here for two years and ponies still fear you." Matt chewed the inside of his cheek before an idea came to his mind. "How about I introduce you to our friends? If they get to know you, we can then introduce you to the rest of Ponyville. So that way, ponies will understand who you are and you can shop for your herbs in Ponyville without everypony running to hide."

"Great idea, Matt. If everypony sees us with you, Zecora. We can help them understand that there is nothing to fear with you."

Zecora smiled, "Thank you, my friends."

"But before then," Guilmon showed his empty bowl. "Can I have more please?"

Zecora smiled and took Guilmon's bowl and got some more soup for him. The four of them continued to talk as Matt and Cresent got to know Zecora the zebra and how they would introduce her to their friends and eventually all of Ponyville. Eventually, the night was beginning to fall, so Matt, Cresent, and Guilmon decided to get back to town. Matt had asked Zecora about the black gears, but she had no information for him about them. But she said she would keep an eye out if she saw anything. The trio said goodbye to Zecora and made their way home.

After making it home, the trio went up to Matt's room. He opened the door to see Gomamon out cold sleeping on his bed alongside Patamon. The two woke up to acknowledge their tamers before going back to sleep. Guilmon found his bed and fell right to sleep. Matt and Crescent pulled the covers across the bed before getting inside and covering themselves up. Matt spooned Cresent and it wasn't long before both of them were fast asleep.

***

The DigiDestined, their Digimon, and Cresent were making their way to talk with Twilight about Zecora the zebra. Matt explained to the others about Zecora and who she was. He planned to take them and the others to see Zecora personally and finally help Zecora fit into Ponyville.

"Man the way Pinkie spoke about her, you think she was an evil witch looking to rule over Ponyville." Said Alice

"Interesting to see a zebra living in the Everfree Forest seeing how ponies fear it." Said James

They all soon reached the library for Twilight. Matt had decided to recruit Twilight first and use her to recruit the others since Twilight was still new to Ponyville. Matt opened the door to the library only to get nailed in the head with a book before he could even say a thing. Alice caught him before he hit the dirt. Matt held his nose as he felt a nosebleed beginning. Spike came running to the door to pick up the book and looked at the group as Matt held his head back trying to stop the flow of blood.

"Mind explaining why I got hit with a book, Spike." Said Matt

"I think it would be better if you saw." Said Spike

The group came into the library to see books all over the floor. The shelves look disheveled as Twilight ran from section to section scanning the spins of the books before taking one out, skimming it, and then tossing it to the ground muttering something under her breath.

"Is it reorganizing the library today?" Said James

"she's been like that since she woke up this morning. She trying to figure out what's wrong with her horn." Said Spike

"What's wrong with her horn?" Asked Matt

Twilight turned and saw everyone in the library as she held another useless book. "When did you all get here and what happened to you, Matt?"

"Only a few minutes ago and you hit your boyfriend with one of your books." Said James

Twilight panicked and ran over to him and began to check his nose, "I didn't break did I."

Twilight looked to be on the verge of tears, but nobody noticed that instead keeping their eyes on Twilight's floppy horn. James snickered under his breath, making Twilight turn her attention to him.

"What's so funny?" Asked Twilight

"Oh you know, that nowadays we have pills for that." James snickered again as well as Spike in the background

Alice walked up and hit James in the arm and glared at him. He began rubbing the spot that Alice hit keeping his gaze away from Alice's.

"What's up with your horn Twilight?" Asked Alice

"I don't know. I was working on my mane this morning after having an odd dream about Zecora cursing me. When I noticed my horn was all floppy, which isn't natural. And I swear if anyone else makes a pill joke again, I will zap them once I can use magic again."

Everyone knew that was a threat, "now if you all can help me find a way to cure myself that would be great."

Everyone began to dig through the books and look through the shelves. Twilight ran off to the bathroom and came back with some tissue paper, which she shoved up Matt's nose. She kissed him on the cheek and went back to being frantic. After Matt got the bleeding under control, he decided to help out as well. He scanned the spins of the books that Twilight hadn't thrown to the floor yet and a book with a green spine. He pulled it from the shelf and held it in his hands. He felt like he had seen this book before, but could not remember where.

"How about this one Twilight?" Asked Matt

Twilight turned and looked at the title of the book, "Supernaturals, Matt that's about ghosts and spirits. That's not going to help me with my horn."

Matt raised his eyebrow and was about to tell Twilight to look at the book again, when a voice broke out, "ah pfurse"

"Purse, why do we need a purse?" Asked James

"Pinkie!" Everyone turned to see Pinkie standing in the door with a swollen tongue which made her unable to say the correct word. Everyone in the room let a little snicker at Pinkie's situation. "What happened, Pinkie?"

"Pee pah Zthecora! Sthe put a cursthe on me!" Said Pinkie

Spit and slobber went everywhere as Pinkie spoke.

"Hey watch where you're talking, Pinkie. I do not want to be covered in a shower of spit." Said James

"And can you repeat what you just said?" Asked April

Before Pinkie could repeat herself, the sound of something hitting the tree echoed in the room. Everyone turned to see Rainbow hitting the side of the tree. She kept trying to talk with them and get inside at the same time. But she missed and hit the tree every time she went for the door. Eventually, she was able to hit the door and flew inside. Everyone watched as she crashed into a pile of books and got her head stuck between the rungs of Twilight's ladder.

"Pinkie is saying that Zecora slapped us all with a curse." Said Rainbow getting to her feet and beginning to get the ladder off her as Pinkie nodded her head in agreement.

"I am afraid so, darlings." Everyone turned to see Rarity covered from head to hoof in dreadlocks walk through the door. She huffed to push them out of her face so she could see.

"Damn Rarity, didn't think we were into dreadlocks." Said James

"Trust me, darling, this is not my style. I woke up this morning with my fur and mane looking like this. And not to mention, it's hard to see anything with the way my mane is." Said Rarity

"I hate to tell ya Twilight," everyone turned to see Apple Bloom walk in but, she motioned for everyone else to look at her head where a tiny Applejack sat. "But I told ya so, Twilight. It's a curse, Zecora cursed us all." Before anyone could say anything, the last of the mane six, Fluttershy entered the room.

"Let's all calm down here. Something is wrong with everypony, but clearly, Fluttershy doesn't seem to have been affected and she was with you when you encountered Zecora." Said Matt

"Yes, Fluttershy and Alice seem to be both fine after encountering Zecora yesterday." Said Rarity

Everypony turned to Alice, "Yeah don't look at me, I feel completely fine." Then everypony turned back to Fluttershy who was holding Gatomon and hiding behind her mane.

"Well, Fluttershy, are you ok." Fluttershy adverted her gaze from Twilight and said nothing. "Is there something wrong with you?" Fluttershy nodded her head up and down. "Would you care to tell us?" Fluttershy once more hid her face behind her mane." So, you're not going to tell us what's wrong." Fluttershy nodded her head up and down. Applejack sighed bounced off her sister's head and ran over to Fluttershy. "Yes you're not, or yes you will?"

"Good gravy, girl! What's wrong with you?!" Said Applejack in her high-pitched voice

Fluttershy sighed, "I don't want to talk about it."

Everypony was stunned when Fluttershy spoke in a deep masculine voice. But the silence was soon broken by laughing from the humans, Cresent, Spike, and the Digimon. Fluttershy immediately regretted speaking and hid behind her mane with Gatomon giving James a death glare as he continued to laugh.

"This is hilarious!" Spike laughed a little before continuing, "Harity," pointing to Rarity. "Rainbow Crash," pointing to Rainbow. "Spitty Pie," pointing to Pinkie "Apple Teeny," pointing to Applejack. "Flutterguy," pointing to Fluttershy. "And...and...I got nothing for Twilight. I mean I have nothing for Twilight's floppy horn. But still, this is great."

Twilight growled under her breath at Spike's comment before glaring at her herd mates who were both recovering.

"Enough!" Everypony turned to Twilight, "This is not a laughing matter. Something is seriously wrong with us and we need to find a cure for it."

Rainbow finally broke herself from the ladder she had been stuck in and lifted herself into the sky trying to get herself to hover, but it was hard for her to do so, "We need to find Zecora and have her lift this curse." Rainbow then began to fly back and forth in the library making everypony dodge her she bounced around the library, attempting to get her flying under control.

Twilight felt her eye begin to twitch, "This is not a curse!"

"I agree with Rainbow, we find Zecora and have her remove this hex." Said Applejack

"This is not a hex either!" Exclaimed Twilight

Soon everypony was beginning to argue about whether this was a hex or a curse and that they needed to find Zecora to remove it. In the chaos of the yelling and arguing, Abby made her way over to Apple Bloom.

"This all our fault, we hadn't run after Zecora they wouldn't look like they do." Said Apple Bloom

"I am not sure, it was Zecora. My brother said he and Cresent spent time with her and discovered she's a good zebra and not how Pinkie described her." Said Abby

"But everypony is blaming her for what's happened to them." Apple Bloom paused before thinking of a solution, "I know our siblin's won't let be happy with us. But we need to find Zecora before they do and have her help us solve their issue."

Abby paused thinking about the talk she had with Matt when she first went after Zecora with Apple Bloom. Sure, she was already grounded, but she knew she needed to get Zecora's help before everyone went after Zecora believing she did everything to them. It would certainly mess up her brother's plan to help introduce Zecora to Ponyville, so ponies would no longer run and hide when she came into town. Abby looked over at her brother trying to calm the situation. I am sorry, Matt, but I have to do this. She looked down at Terriermon and Lopmon knowing they had her back.

"Well, ya in?" Asked Apple Bloom

Abby nodded her head and the two young girls began to slip out of the library while everypony was busy arguing with each other. Expect their escape was noticed by two ponies. First was Applejack who muttered under breath about where those four were going. Thanks to her smaller size, nopony noticed her as she jumped from where she was onto Apple Bloom's mane. Cresent was the second one noticing them leaving the library. She decided to follow them as well, to ensure they were safe, even if she was still healing from her wounds.

She motioned for Patamon, atop her head, to stay quiet as she slipped out of the library and ran after the two young girls, knowing they were going to look for Zecora.

"Enough!" Everypony turned to Rainbow who was trying her best to hover and not crash into the walls of the library "I say we go to Zecora and force her to make us better. Whether this is a curse or a hex. She's the one that turned us into what we are currently. So, she can currently revert us to normal. So who's with me!"

"Ah am-pft!" Said Pinkie with spit going everywhere

"I am in darling, I do not want to be Harity any longer than I have to." Said Rarity

"I don't know, it seems dangerous." Said Fluttershy

James and Spike snickered a little, causing Gatomon to give them both a death glare.

"Who cares if it's dangerous, we need Zecora to cure us. What about you, Applejack." The library was quiet as everypony waited for Applejack to respond. Rainbow spoke back up, "Applejack did you hear me?"

Again the library was quiet as everypony looked for her.

"Where's Applejack?" Asked James

After a quick search nopony could find her.

"Pf-she's gone-pft!" Said Pinkie

"At her size, what if somepony stepped on her!" Exclaimed Rarity

Everyone checked their feet and saw no squished Applejack.

"What about Rarity's hair, she is practically a walking mop." Said James

"Mop, did you call me a walking mop!" Rarity exclaimed before feeling Pinkie invading her privacy and searching her. She pushed Pinkie away from her feeling her face going red with embarrassment. "That's enough Pinkie, please give me my personal space."

"What if Guilmon ate her?!" Exclaimed Rainbow

Everypony turned to Guilmon who looked at them all and titled his head, "Guilmon did not eat Applejack. Guilmon knows the difference between food and friend."

That's when Twilight realized that Apple Bloom, Abby, Terriermon, Lopmon, Cresent, and Patamon were all missing from the library.

"Not to mention that Apple Bloom, Abby, Terriermon, Lopmon, Cresent, and Patamon are missing as well." Said Twilight

That was when Matt realized his sister and her Digimon were no longer in the library. He could feel a migraine coming on but relaxed a little knowing that Cresent went after them. But it didn't ease him completely since she was still recovering. She's going to get an earful from me when this is all over with.

"I bet they all went after Zecora without us." Said Rainbow

"I only think that applies to Apple Bloom, Abby, Terriermon, and Lopmon. Cresent disappeared to go after them with Patamon." Said Matt

"You see calm for a guy whose sister just ran back into Everfree Forest." Said Alice

"Oh, I'm pissed, but I know she's safe with Cresent following them alongside their partner Digimon." Before Matt could speak with Twilight again, he saw them all running out of the library. After Twilight and her friends were gone, all that was left was a mess-filled library, the humans, their Digimon, and Spike.

"Well, there they go. Should we catch up to them?" Said James

"No point, by the time we catch up, they will have found Zecora and probably gotten the entire issue solved." Said Matt

"You think." Said April

"Yeah," Matt then looked down at the book he held that he attempted to get Twilight to read. Supernaturals: Natural Remedies and Cure-alls That Are Simply Super. He recalled that Rarity mentioned that Alice was with them when Zecora cursed them. He turned to his friend, "Do you recall where everypony was standing when Zecora 'cursed' our friends?"

Alice closed her eyes and pondered the thought, "When we caught up to Apple Bloom and Abby, Applejack picked up her sister and Twilight used her magic to give me Abby. I remember the girls were standing in a field of blue flowers and Zecora saying, 'Beware, beware you pony folk. Those leaves of blue are not a joke.'"

"That's a strange thing to say to curse someone." Said James

Matt looked back down at the book before flipping it open. Something about Zecora's words seemed to point to the answer. He flicked the book until he found an entry talking about a blue flower in the Everfree. "I think I found something."

Everyone pilled around Matt to look at the book, "It says here that the flower is called Poison Joke. A flower that resides in the Everfree Forest that when somepony inhales the spores of the flower, will be transformed into a practical joke. The flower is meant to give all of those around the pony a good chuckle. To remove the effect of the flower is to bathe in the below herbal compound to reverse the effects of the flower."

"So what they all think is a curse is a joke caused by a flower." Said James

"I guess that's why I wasn't affected, because I never got close to the flowers. Something felt off about them when I first saw them." Said Alice

"So, if Twilight hadn't pushed away this book then they wouldn't have run off to go after Zecora thinking that she cursed them." Said Spike

"I guess it is true what they say, 'Never judge a book by its cover.'" Said Matt

Matt closed the book and looked at the cover again and it clicked that he saw it in Zecora's house as well. She mentioned that she was working on a potion for someponies in need. I bet she was making it for Twilight and her friends. But she said she needed a few more herbs to complete it and would look to get them in the morning. So, Twilight and the others should be cured by the time they reach Zecora's if they don't mess anything up when they get there.

"Well, now what?" Asked James

"Well, I need to get the library back together before Twilight Flopple comes back." Said Spike

"Who?" Asked James

"It was the only name I could think of for Twilight. Not my best for sure." Said Spike

"No reason for you to do this all alone Spike, let us help out." Said April

Spike smiled as the humans and Digimon helped Spike get the library back together. Alice turned to see Matt had walked outside. She followed behind him to see him staring down at this Digivice. She stood next to him before speaking, "I was surprised by your comment about not going after your sister."

Matt sighed, "Oh, I want to go after her, but I trust Cresent to get to them first. Even though Cresent is still wounded, I know she can put up a fight." Matt reached back pulled his Digivice off his pants and stared at it, "But I also know that my sister is meant to for bigger things since the day we woke up here with our Digimon and these Digivices. I have this feeling that if I continue to baby her and attempt to defend her, she will never grow. And if she doesn't grow she will never be able to Digivolve Terriermon and Lopmon to their champion forms." He passed again to look at the device in his hand before turning to look at his Digimon. Alice peaked back at hers as well. "The Digimon seem to Digivolve when we are in danger to protect us. So if Abby is never in danger, then I feel that Terriermon and Lopmon will never learn to Digivolve and if that happens they will be unable to help when we encounter more and more powerful enemies." Matt attached his Digivice back to his pants before peering off to where the Everfree was, "I hate to say it, but I cannot shelter my sister from all danger. She will have to learn to defend herself, so that she can use that strength to help Terriermon and Lopmon become stronger much like we will have to do to Digivolve our partners as well. Because I have this feeling that we have only just begun down this path before us.

Alice smiled at Matt's comment before leaning in and giving a kiss on the cheek. He blinked with surprise as he looked at a smiling Alice, "That's the speech of a leader. And I have the same feeling that I cannot baby her as her sister figure. We both need to be more of a teacher than sheltering protectors. I know that it will be hard for us both, but I have the same feeling that if we shelter her, then she will never grow as a DigiDestined and that puts her in greater danger."

Matt smiled and hugged his friend before James called out for them to come in and help them get the library back in order. The two smiled before entering the library, but before Matt went inside, he turned his head to where the Everfree was. Stay safe sis. He turned back and walked inside to help clean up the library and to think of a punishment worthy of his sister for running off again.

***

Apple Bloom, Abby, Terriermon, and Lopmon walked through the forest looking for the home of Zecora. After entering the forest, they both heard Applejack's high-pitched voice telling the four of them to stop. Apple Bloom didn't listen to her sister and instead put her on a branch and left with Abby and her Digimon. Abby turned back to where they left Applejack, "Was it a good idea to leave her there?"

"She'll be fine. My sister is stronger than she looks, even if she's small. Anyways, she would only get in the way of us finding Zecora." Said Apple Bloom

"Do you think Zecora can help us?" Asked Abby

"I'm not sure, but she's the only one who can help us." Said Apple Bloom

The four of them continued to walk through the forest unaware of Cresent and Patamon who were following them from the shadows. As a lunar guard, she was taught to use the shadows to stalk her enemies and spy on them. She had been taught how to move without making a sound whether it was via her wings or her hooves. She watched as Terriermon stopped and turned to where she was. He tilted his head as he had felt they were being watched, but said nothing. He then turned and ran to catch up to the group. Crescent continued to keep the shadows as she tracked them.

"Do you think everypony noticed we left the library?" Asked Abby

"I would assume so since Applejack was hitching a ride with me." Said Apple Bloom

"Then we should hurry to find Zecora." Said Abby

Before all four of them could pick up the pace. Cresent appeared before them. The group stopped and looked up at the bat pony.

"Where do you four think you're going?" Said Cresent

"Cresent, what are you doing here?" Asked Abby

"I saw you and Apple Bloom sneak out of the library. So I decided to follow you to make sure you four didn't get into any issues." She turned her gaze to Abby, "I thought you had a conversation with your brother about going into the Everfree. Did you simply decide to ignore your brother's words?"

"I know, but I am willing to take my brother's anger and disapproval of me to help our friends get better since it was me and Apple Bloom that caused the issue our friends are having, even if it is funny."

Cresent sighed as she chewed the inside of her cheek. She knew she should return the two fillies home, but she also knew that Zecora might have a remedy to cure Twilight and her friends. Matt forgive me.

"I'll take you two to see Zecora and see what we can do to help her get a cure for the others. Then after we get the cure, cure Twilight and the others, you are both going to face your siblings and take whatever punishment they give you for running into the Everfree Forest."

Abby and Apple Bloom nodded their heads and agreed to her terms. She turned around and motioned for them to follow her as she led to them Zecora's house. After arriving the group told Zecora about Twilight and the others and Zecora told them that she had been working on a brew to cure them, but was missing some much-needed herbs for the potion. But they were only sold in Ponyville, and she was unable to buy them due to everypony running off when she arrived in town. The group agreed to get the herbs for Zecora and ran back into town.

While they were in town, to buy the herbs, Twilight and her friends were stalking through the Everfree Forest to find where Zecora lived. Gatomon used the trees to spy ahead and finally said she spotted what looked to be a hollowed-out tree ahead that had lights coming out of it. The group soon found Zecora working over a cauldron that they thought was a soup made to cook Apple Bloom and Abby. Led by Applejack riding Rainbow Dash, they bashed into Zecora's home and wrecked it. As they began to confront Zecora about Apple Bloom, Abby, Terriermon, Lopmon, Cresent, and Patamon came back with the ingredients needed to complete the brew only to find the room trashed and the cure all over the floor.

Apple Bloom and Abby helped calm down Twilight and her friends letting them know that they were infected by Poison Joke, a plant that turned them into a walking joke. The cauldron, they had tipped over, was the cure that would return them to normal. After apologizing for their actions, Zecora showed them the book that held the cure and Twilight realized it was the book that Matt attempted to show her. After clearing up the air, Zecora stated that she would need more ingredients from Ponyville to finish her brew and cure the group. Twilight led the charge back to Ponyville where she was able to acquire the ingredients for the cure and then Rarity took them to the Ponyville Spa where they used Aloe and Lotus's tubs to bath in the cure and be free of the Poison Joke.

Once free from the joke, everypony went their separate ways. Abby swallowed the lump in her throat as she headed home to face her brother.

***

Matt sat on the living room couch flicking through the Supernaturals: Natural Remedies and Cure-alls That Are Simply Super book. He found it interesting how many different plants existed in Equestria, what they did to the body, and how to cure them. He flicked another page as the door opened. He turned his gaze to see Cresent, Patamon, Abby, Terriermon, and Lopmon enter the room. Cresent gestured for Abby to speak with her brother. She nodded and went over to him as the rest went upstairs.

She sat next to her brother. She stayed quiet as her brother flicked another page of the book. Abby looked up to see it was the same book that Zecora used to cure Twilight and her friends. She then watched as her brother closed up the book and gave it to her. She stared at the cover, confused as to why he had given her the book. I would have thought he would have exploded on me by now.

"Let me guess, Twilight and the others went to Zecora and probably did something dumb and she then showed them that book and told them they had been infected by Poison Joke. And if Twilight had stopped to look through it, she would had a cure to her and her friend's problem and not assumed that Zecora 'cursed' them." Said Matt

"Yeah, that's pretty much how it was." Said Abby

"I am never going to let Twilight live this down. I guess everypony got cured?" Said Matt

"Yeah." She paused as she put the book on the table in front of her before turning to look at her brother. "Are you mad at me for going into the Everfree again with Apple Bloom?" Matt didn't answer her, "I know you're mad, but I did it because everypony thought that that Zecora had cursed or hexed them instead of being level-headed. Apple Bloom and I knew we were the cause of all of this, so we decided we had to fix it." She paused again as she looked at her brother, who eyed her, "I am sorry, brother for worrying you. I accept any punishment you give me for breaking your trust in me not to go back to the Everfree without you or somepony else."

The two siblings sat in silence before Matt smiled picked her up and placed her on his lap. He ruffled her hair as he smiled down at her. She smiled and giggled as she lay against his chest. "I am mad, sis. But I am also proud to see you do what is right while everypony else wanted to believe in something wrong. I know I baby you a lot, but that's because I care deeply about you and I don't want to lose you. But I also know I cannot stop you from growing up and becoming your own woman." He smiled as he looked down at his sister and kissed her on the head, "You're growing up in front of my own eyes and it's hard for me to accept that. It's hard for me to accept that I cannot protect and shelter you forever. I cannot protect you from being a DegiDestined and helping protect those around us with our Digimon. I have this feeling that you will have to grow strong outside of my protection if you are to go down the path fate has put before us. But that doesn't mean you can throw yourself into every dangerous situation without thinking first and without help. I am not sure what the future holds for us, but I know you will have to fight your own battle without me."

Abby smiled at her brother. He smiled back and ruffled her hair again, "As for your punishment, we will handle that tomorrow. For now, head upstairs and jump into a shower. I also want you to say sorry to Alice and thank Cresent for watching over you." Abby nodded her head upstairs as Matt watched. He leaned back against the couch and stared at the ceiling. I hope I am making you proud Mom and Dad. I know you want me to protect her, but I know she'll have to fight her own battles without me. I can only hope that you keep an eye on us both.

Matt closed his eyes and sighed before heading upstairs to get ready for bed.