The Element of Hope

It's been a few weeks since the defeat of Nightmare Moon and the reunion between Celestia, Luna and Moonshine. Moonshine was very happy to have her long lost Aunt back in her life and Celestia was happy to have her sister back after 1,000 years.

Now, Moonshine and Twilight were walking through Ponyville with Spike, Lycanroc and Rockruff. "So how's your Lycanroc doing?" Twilight asked.

"He's great. Strong too." Moonshine praised, rubbing Lycanrocs' mane. "Lycanroc.." he said in a deep voice. Rockruff barked happily at his evolved sibling. "Hehehe, Rockruff wants to be big and strong like him." Moonshine chuckled. Twilight and Spike chuckled too and the group entered Ponyville... only to find it empty. There was nopony in the street. A tumbleweed rolled across the area. "Where is everypony?" Twilight wondered.

"Psst... Twilight... Moonshine...!" the girls turned and they saw Pinkie waving at them from Sugarcube Corner, "Come on.. quickly!" Moonshine and Twilight looked at each other and shrugged. They walked towards Pinkie who grabbed them and yanked them inside. "Woah!" Moonshine yelped.

"Pinkie, why are you in here in the dark alone?" Twilight asked.

"I'm not in the dark alone." Pinkie said. Some lights came on and Twilight and Moonshine saw Applejack and the other girls inside along with Applebloom. "What are you all doing in here?" Moonshine asked.

"We're hiding.." Applejack said.

"Hiding?" Moonshine questioned.

"From.. them...." Rainbow said, pointing outside. Twilight and Moonshine looked through he blinds and they could see two more creatures outside. One was a pony like creature but it wore a brown cloak with a hood, only showing her striped legs. One leg had golden rings on it. The other creature was about 26 feet long and had a 45 foot wingspan. It was black as night and had ear appendages on its head. It also had some tail fins on it.. but one was missing! The two creature turned and looked with yellow and black glowing eyes

https://m.

The ponies gasped at the two of them turned around and looked. "Will you cut that out?" Twilight asked.

"Just look at those stripes, so ghastly." Rarity said. Twilight rolled her eyes. "She's a zebra."

"A what?!" Everypony exclaimed.

"A zebra. And those stripes aren't a fashion choice, Rarity, they're what she was born with." Twilight explained and Rarity fainted.

"Born where. I've never seen a pony or critter like that in these parks, except them." Applejack said with a shudder.

"Well, they're probably not from around her and she's not a pony. My books says that zebra's come from a far away land." Twilight explained. " But I've never read anything about a dragon like that one."

"I have." Moonshine said. "It's called a Night Fury.'

"Night Fury?" Twilight echoed. Moonshine nodded and she explained, "Night Furys' are very strong and very intelligent dragons. They are part of the Strike Class of dragons, so they have blazing speed and are very powerful. They're called the unholy offspring of lightning and death itself."

"Lightning and death!" Rainbow stated. "Now that's creepy." Moonshine rolled her eyes, "But that one doesn't look menacing at all." Moonshine saw the Night Fury looking at its damaged tail with a depressing look. "What's wrong with it?" Fluttershy asked.

"Without both of its tail flukes, it can't fly." Moonshine explained. The girls gasped softly, starting to feel bad for the dragon.

Rainbow on the other hand, "Pfft, how bad can losing half of your tail be?"

"How would you feel if you lost one of your wings, Rainbow?" Moonshine asked her with a raised eyebrow.

"... Okay, fair point." Rainbow stated.

"Where does she live anyway?" Twilight questioned.

"That's just it, she lives in... the Everfree Forest!" Applejack stated and Moonshine only gave her a deadpanned stare, "And...." she trailed on,

"The Everfree Forest just ain't natural. The plants grow..." Applejack added.

"Animals care for themselves..." Fluttershy added.

"And the clouds move..." Rainbow stated.

"All on their own!" they all said in unison and Rarity fainted again. Twilight and Moonshine rolled their eyes. "And that wicked enchantress Zecora lives there doing her evil... stuff! She's so evil I even wrote a song about her!"

Rainbow Dash grumbled, "Here we go.." and Pinkie started singing her song,

(Pinkie Pie)

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!

The ponies just started at Pinkie while she was breathing haevily, "Wow. Catchy." Twilight said. Pinkie smiled, "It's a work in process."

"This is all just a lot of gossip and rumors. Now tell me; what exactly have you actually seen Zecora do?"

"Well... Once a month, she comes into Ponyville. Then, she lurks by the stores. And then, she digs at the ground." Rarity explained.

"Okay, I'm sorry. But how is any of this bad? Maybe she comes to town to visit?" Twilight suggested. "And what exatcly does the Night Fury do when it comes to Ponyville, exactly?"

"Well... nothing much really." Rainbow stated.

"Do you see the dragon every time you see Zecora?" Moonshine asked.

"Actually, the dragon appeared before we began seeing Zecora." Fluttershy explained. "Wonder why?"

"Well that destroyed tail fluke might have something to do with why it came here." Moonshine stated. Moonshine looked through the blinds again and she saw the dragon trying to fly but it kept falling down onto the ground with a dejected expression on its face. "Why are you so worried about that dragon anyway, Moonshine? It's bad news." Rainbow stated.

Moonshine looked at Rainbow Dash, "Because, my books says a down dragon is a dead dragon."

"Dead?!" The girls exclaimed.

"If the dragon can't fly then it can't get away from predators or hunters." Moonshine answered. "The Night Fury won't survive unless it can fly again."

"But how are you gonna help it fly again? Make it a new tail fluke." Rainbow suggested before she started laughing.

"Exactly..!" Moonshine exclaimed, stopping Rainbows' laugh.

"WHAT?!" All the ponies, except for Appleblooom exclaimed.

"I can make him a new tail fin." Moonshine stated. "I've read about making prosthetic during my studies."

"But Moonshine, what if it attacks you?" Fluttershy cooed in worry.

"You can't judge someone based on how they look." Moonshine said, heading for the door, "Just watch." she was about to exit when she noticed a small filly missing, "Hey, where'd Applebloom go?"

Applejack and the girls looked around and saw the filly no where to be seen, "The doors' already open!" Rainbow exclaimed.

"And Zecora and that dragon critter are gone!" Applejack added. "Applebloom must have followed them!"

"We've gotta get to her, fast!" Rainbow said and the girls rushed out of Sugarcube Corner. Moonshine, Lycanroc and Rockruff were the last ones to leave. "Ready to help a dragon, guys?" she asked them.

"Lycanroc.."

"Ruff..!"

Moonshine smiled and three followed the six mares to the Everfree Forest.

Inside the forest, Applebloom was following behind Zecora and the dragon creature. She gulped nervously until she heard Applejacks' voice, "Applebloom!" she gasped and turned to see Applejack and the others standing in a field of blue flowers. "There you are, Applebloom." Moonshine called as she and her pokemon came along. They were about to step into the blue flower field when the Night Fury gasped and bounded over and snatched Moonshine away from the flowers. "Woah!" the dragon got her away from the blue flowers and Zecora stated, "Beware! Beware, you pony folk! Those leaves of blue are not a joke!"

"Y-you keep your creepy mumbo-jumbo to yourself, ya hear?" Applejack called to her. Pinkie and the others called to her as well as Twilight rollied eyes. Zecora vanished into some fog calling, "Beware.. Beware..." Zecora stated.

"Yeah, back at ya, Zecora! You and your lame curse are the ones who better beware!" Rainbow exclaimed. Applejack turned to Applebloom, "And you! Why couldn't you just listen to yer big sister?"

"I...I..." Applebloom stammered.

"Who knows what kind of nasty curse Zecora could have just put on you?" Applejack scolded.

"You guys, there's no such thing as curses!" Twilight pointed out.

"Well, that's interesting to hear coming from Miss Magic Pants herself." Rainbow scoffed.

"My magic, real magic, comes from within. It's a skill you're born with. Curses are artificial, fake magic. It's conjured with potions and incantations; all smoke and mirrors meant to scare. But curses have no real power, they're just an old pony tale." Twilight explained.

"Just you wait, Twilight. You're gonna learn that some pony tales really are true." Applejack stated.

"Well I believe Twilight and you shouldn't have been so hard on Applebloom, Applejack." Moonshine stated.

"What?" Applejack stated.

"Applebloom just wanted to try and get to know Zecora before jumping to conclusions like somponies." Moonshine stated, eyeing the Mane 5.

"What do you mean 'jumping to conclusions'?" Rainbow asked.

"I mean you're making assumptions based on gossips and rumors which is not the way to get to know somepony or creature." Moonshine explained.

"Oh yeah... prove it!" Rainbow challenged. The Night Fury dragon came over to Nightshade and warbled at her with a curious look on its face. "Hey there, big fella..." she cooed, reaching a hand out to it. The Night Fury purred and placed his snout onto Moonshine's hoof. "There we go..." The Night fury warbled at Moonshine and nuzzled her. Moonshine turned to the girls who were jaw dropped. "I arrest my case.." Moonshine smirked before she walked away with her pokemon and Night Fury in tow.

Moonshine was walking back through town with the Night Fury in tow, "Don't worry boy. I'll make a new prosteic fin for you. Then, you'll be able to fly again. How does that sound?" The dragon roared in joy and playfully tackled Moonshine, licking her face. "Hahahaa...!" Moonshine laughed. "Okay, okay, I get it."

The next monring, Moonshine was sleeping in her room with the Night fury, Lycanroc and Rockruff by her bedside when...

"MOONSHINE!"

"WAH!" Twilight's cry sent Moonshine jumping out of bed and scaring her pokemon and dragon friend awake. Twilight came into the room and Moonshine gasped, seeing her horn covered in blue spots and droopy, "What happened to your horn?" she asked.

"I don't know but there;s something wrong withe girls too." Twilight stated.

"Huh?" Twilight lead Moonshine downstairs where she saw a tiny Applejack, Rainbow's wings were upside down, Rarity;s fur and mane were completely tangled, Pinkie's tounge was out of her mouth, covered in blue spots too and Flutershy.... seemed fine? "What's wrong with Fluttershy?" Moonshine asked.

"I don't wanna talk about it." Fluttershy said in a deep male voice, much to her shock.

Spike, on the other hand, was laughing. "This is Hilarious! Look at all of you! We got: Hairity, Rainbow Crash, Spitty Pie, Apple Teeny, Flutterguy, and... uh... I got nothin'... Twilight Sparkle. I mean seriously, I can't even work with that."

Twilight sarcastically laughed too, "This is no joke, Spike. Now start looking for more books so I can find a cure!"

"I think we'll find a cure to this curse at Zecora's place!" Rainbow said, trying to flying with her upside-down wings.

"It's not a curse!" Twilight dismissed.

"I agree with Dash! We'll go to Zecora's and force her to remove this hex!" Applejack exclaimed.

"It's not a hex either!" Twilight added. Moonshine and Applebloom, meanwhile, looked at each other. “Oh this is all my fault.” Applebloom said.

“No it’s not, Applebloom.” Moonshine reassured.

“You really think so?”

Moonshine nodded, “I think it has something to do with that plant they all stepped into yesterday. But... I have to make sure.” Moonshine then quietly walked out of the library while the girls were arguing with each other. Lycanroc, Rockruff and her dragon noticed her leave and followed after her.

In the Everfree Forest, Moonshine was walking with her pokemon and dragon in search of Zecora’s hut. Rockruff had picked up her scent from yesterday and tracked it to a large hut in the forest. “Woah...” the hut had some bottles hanging from some of its branches and it looked really big. Moonshine came and knocked on the door.

The door opened and Zecora looked at Moonshine.

“Ah, one of the other ponies from the day,
Quite strange to see you in here I must say.” Zecora spoke.

“Hi Zecora, I’m Moonshine and this is Lycanroc and Rockruff and I believe you already know the dragon.”

The dragon warbled at Zecora.

“Ah yes, the Night Fury; so strong and true
And I see it has become good friends with you.”

Moonshine nodded. “Yeah. Can we come in? I wanted to ask you something.” Zecora nodded an fallowed the group of four to come into her hut. Inside there were shelves filled with potions and bottles along with some masks as well as a small cauldron in the middle of the room.

“Now what is the problem you have spoke of
Perhaps your friends had caught a small cough?” Zecora asked.

“It’s more than a cough. Zecora. They all seemed to have these weird happenings occurred to them. Applejack is tiny. Rainbows wings are upside down. Rarity’s fur is tangled. Pinkie’s tounge is large and blue spotted, Fluttershy’s voice turned deep and Twilight’s horn is covered in blue spots and droopy. I think this all has something to do with that plant they all stepped in yesterday.”

“What you’ve concluded is right
That plant known as Poison Joke
Ponies think this plant causes much fright
But it’s unlike Posion Oak, but it’s results are like a joke.”

“Oh... so that plant just played a few tricks on them.” Moonshine realized. Zecora nodded.

“Is there someway you could help them, Zecora?” Moonshine asked her. Zecora nodded and she went to her small bookshelf and she pulled out a book, “This holds the answer you seek,
Go on and take a peek.”

Moonshine flipped through the book and she found a remedy bath that would cure the effects of Poison Joke. “Thanks Zecora. Could you try and make the cure for my friends?” Moonshine asked.

“Making the cure; that I will,
But I am missing an herb from Ponyville.” Zecora said.

“So that why you were digging your hooves into the ground yesterday?” Moonshine questioned, getting a nod from the zebra. “... And what about the dragon? My friends said that it came here befor you arrived.”

“The Night Fury was injured in a crash
And it’s left tail fin was badly torn
When I arrived, I had no choice but to put the tail fin in the trash
Since then, his spirit has been worn.” Zecora explained, bringing a sad expression onto the Night Furys’ face.

“Hey, don’t worry, boy. Remember I’ll make you a prosthetic fin.” Moonshine reminded. The Night Fury smiled and nodded at her. “Now about this herb in Ponyville. I believe I can help you with that.” Moonshine smiled.

Meanwhile, the girls were still arguing about what to do about Zecora whole Twilight was searching her books for a cure. “No no no no no! None of these books have a cure! Ugh! There has to be a real reason for this! An illness? An allergy?!”

“A curse!” Rainbow exclaimed.

“I said a real reason. Something that points to something real.” Twilight deadpanned.

Spike the found a green book, “How about this one?”

"Supernaturals"? Spike, the word supernatural refers to things like ghosts and spirits and zombies, which are as make-believe as curses. This book is just a bunch of hooey!”

“But what if you're wrong, Twilight? What if this really is a-“ Spike started but was cut when they heard Rainbow exclaims, “Zecora’s back!”

“What?!” The girls exclaimed.

“And she’s got Moonshine with her!” The girls all gasped and raced outside of the library and they indeed saw Zecora and Moonshine, her pokemon and dragon companion. The girls came up to the pair, “Moonshine! Get away from her!” Rainbow exclaimed.

“Yeah, she put this horrid curse on us.” Rarity added, blowing some of her fur out of her face.

“Zecora didn’t put a curse on you.” Moonshine replied.

“Then how do you explain this?” Twilight asked, pointing to her horn.

“It’s because of that plant you all steeped in yesterday. It’s call Poison Joke and it played jokes on you all.” Moonshine explained.

“Huh?” The girls asked. Spike then came up with the same book from before, “She’s right. Twilight. The book you said was a load of hooey actually has the plant, the effects and the cure for it.” He showed Twilight and the girls the page and the girls realized they had been wrong all along.

“I.. I’m so sorry, Zecora. I had the answer the whole time if only I bothered to look inside.” Twilight said in a disappointed tone. Zecora chuckled.

“Next time you should take a second look,
And not judge the cover of the book.” Zecora advised the girls, who looked remorses for their actions.

“Zecora’s gonna make you girls a remedy bath to help cure the poison Koke but she needs an herb from Ponyville.” Moonshine explained.

“I think we can help with that.” Twilight grinned.

Soon, the girls were at Ponyville Spa taking a drop in the remedy bath. Moonshine was relaxing with her pokemon and dragon friend.

Dear Princess Celestia,
My friends and I all learned an important lesson this week: Never judge a book by its cover. Someone may look unusual, or funny, or scary. But you have to look past that and learn who they 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.
Your faithful student,
Twilight Sparkle

The remedy bath cured the girls of their Poison Joke effects and they all dried off before going over to Moonshine, “Moonshine, we’re sorry we didn’t believe you before.” Twilight apologized.

The other girls gave their apologies too. “It’s okay, girls.” Moonshine smiled. The Night Fury nuzzled her, “So what are you gonna name this fella?” Applejack asked.

“Hmm.. I haven’t really thought of a name.” Moonshine replied. The Night Fury then opens its mouth revealing pink gums, “Huh? No teeth?” Twilight stated.

“So he’s Toothless?” Rainbow added before teeth popped out from his gums. “Woah!”

“Retractable teeth, amazing!” Fluttershy gasped.

“Toothless.... that’s a good name for him. Toothless it is then.” Moonshine declared. Toothless warbled at her and nuzzled her with a smile on his face while the girls watched with smiles of their own.