Friendship is Magic: The Seventh Element

One bright, sunny day Twilight Sparkle, Spike, and Storm Shield were taking a stroll through the town of Ponyville. It was a beautiful morning for the two unicorns and their dragon companion, having just taken a lovely walk in the park with the two ponies strolling side by side.

“Wow, what a gorgeous day!” Twilight said happily.

“You can say that again,” Storm nodded in agreement.

“Rainbow Dash must have gotten up early for once and cleared all the clouds away,” Spike pondered aloud.

So it seemed to be as Spike looked up toward the clear blue sky. No doubt on their minds Rainbow Dash truly outdid herself when she felt like it.

“I bet all of Ponyville is going to be out enjoying the sunshine,” Twilight replied.

But just as they entered the town, they were met with the most unusual sight: All the streets completely bare and empty. As they looked around, some ponies were shutting their windows while a little filly was quickly whisked back into their house by a nearby parent. This confused the two unicorns and Spike tremendously, neither one certain as to what to think.

“What? Where is every pony?” Twilight asked.

“Good question,” Storm said.

They walked about the town hoping to find the answer right before them, but apart from the trio not a single pony could be seen for miles.

“Is it some sort of pony holiday?” Spike asked.

“Not that I know of,” Twilight answered.

“And Pinkie had me memorize every single one of them,” Storm added. “Including all the birthdays. But just to be safe, I better recheck my notes.”

Storm used his magic to pull out a marked up calendar book in his pack, flipping through the pages before stumbling upon today’s date.

“Hmm… other than the half birthday of some pony named Silver Spoon… nothing’s set for today.”

“Half birthday?” Twilight questioned.

“That’s Pinkie Pie for you,” Storm replied, putting his book away. “She’ll find any reason to schedule a party.”

As they passed by a shop, they noticed all the windows were completely dark as if someone purposely turned off all the lights.

“Umm,” Spike asked sheepishly. “Does my breath stink?”

Spike gave out a loud belch, which made Storm cringe a bit.

“Not more than usual,” Twilight remarked.

“And I didn’t need to give Twilight one of my revival mushrooms today,” Storm added.

The two ponies chuckled as Spike gave them both a glare. Then the little dragon grew fearful as yet another thought crossed his mind as they walked behind a water fountain.

“Is it… zombies?” Spike asked fearfully.

“Uh… not very likely,” Twilight said.

“Not likely… but possible?” Spike wondered.

“Little buddy, if we were to encounter any zombies, some pony would’ve warned us in advance,” Storm stated, matter-of-factly.

“PSST!”

The three froze suddenly when they heard the sound. The looked around just outside of Sugarcube Corner. All of a sudden, a pink hoof appeared from the upper-opened door and gestured for them to follow.

“Twilight! Spike! Storm!” A voice called.

It didn’t take long for the three to realize it was their pink party friend, Pinkie Pie, whispering to them.

“Come here! Come! Here! Hurry! Before she gets you!”

Not knowing what the deal was all about, they quickly jumped over the lower half of the door and crept inside. Things seemed rather quiet for our heroes till a bright light flashed in their faces, making Storm and Twilight groan. Turned out it was Pinkie Pie shining the lamp toward them.

“Who?!” Spike called out. “The zombie pony?”

“Z-Zombie pony?!” Pinkie answered, shakily.

“Spike! There are no zombie ponies,” Twilight said.

“Pinkie, what in Equestria are you doing sitting alone in the dark?” Storm questioned.

“I’m not alone in the dark,” Pinkie replied.

Instantly, the dark room lit up before their eyes. Storm and Twilight gasped as they found themselves surrounded by their friends, including Apple Bloom, Applejack’s younger sister. Of course Storm knew having spoken to the young filly at least a few times at the reunion. But other than that, he never had the time to get to know her what with all the shenanigans he’s been through.

“Okay then, what are you all doing here in the dark?” Twilight asked.

“Is there some danger in town or something?” Storm questioned. “An invasion? A plague? Another thousand-year-old villain released from captivity seeking revenge and world domination???”

“No…” Applejack shook her head. “We’re hidin’ from her!”

Storm and Twilight followed Applejack’s hoof, pointed toward the window. Before their very eyes, a cloaked figure walked outside. It came to a stop in the middle of the road, beginning to dig some sort of hole into the ground. The two unicorns made off to look but were bombarded by the rest of the girls behind them. Poor Storm was pushed so hard, his face smashed right into the window. He glared discreetly before prying his face off the glass and looked out. In that moment, the cloaked figure turned and gave them a very mysterious glare. The ponies gasped in fright, while Storm, Twilight, and Spike looked… understandingly confused.

*Deploy theme song here*

As all this was going on, Storm Shield and Twilight Sparkle felt taken aback by the stranger before their eyes. Apple Bloom soon rushed over to them.

“Did you guys see her?” The young filly asked. “Did you see… Zecora?”

“Apple Bloom!” Applejack scolded. “I told you never to say that name!”

Naturally, Storm did not appreciate seeing the young filly being scolded for what he deemed an innocent question.

“Why?” Storm asked. “Is her name some new taboo or something?”

“Well, Storm and I saw her glance this way…” Twilight replied, answering Apple Bloom’s question.

“Glance evilly this way,” Pinkie retorted.

“… And then a bunch of you flip out for no good reason,” Twilight concluded.

“True,” Storm nodded. “I mean… I understand the cloak and all. But otherwise I see no reason to duck and cover against a fellow equine.”

“No good reason?” Applejack retorted, pulling Apple Bloom close. “You call protectin’ yer kin no good reason? Why as soon as my sister saw Zecora ridin’ into town, she started shakin’ in her lil’ horseshoes.”

Applejack shook poor Apple Bloom about to make her point, leaving the little filly very dizzy.

“D-D-Did n-n-not!” Apple Bloom protested, shakily.

“So I swept her up and brought her here,” Applejack continued, tossing Apple Bloom back.

“I walked here myself!” Apple Bloom remarked.

“For safe keepin’,” Applejack finished.

Apple Bloom was clearly annoyed her own sister had been ignoring her comments the entire time.

“Applejack, I’m not a baby!” Apple Bloom replied, climbing off her sister. “I can take care of myself!”

“Not from that creepy Zecora,” Applejack shot back, sternly.

“Overprotective much?” He remarked, shaking his head.

Though Storm Shield felt sorry for Apple Bloom, at the same time he understood where Applejack was coming from. Being a big brother himself, he’d do anything to protect his little sister, Rose Gold.

“She’s mysterious,” Fluttershy said, referring to Zecora.

“Sinister,” Rainbow Dash added.

“And spooooky!” Pinkie said, with an ominous tone.

Storm and Twilight groaned as they looked out the window. It was then Zecora removed her cloak, revealing her face… or at least the back of it. The rest of the ponies gasped loudly.

“Will you cut that out?” Twilight asked.

“What’s the big deal?” Storm questioned. “It’s just her face!”

“Just look at those stripeS!” Rarity called out. “So garish!”

“She’s a zebra,” Storm said firmly.

“A what?!” The rest of the ponies asked in surprise.

“A zebra,” Twilight explained. “And her stripes aren’t a fashion choice, Rarity, they’re what she was born with.”

“And it’s natural for her to be ‘black’ with ‘white’ stripes,” Storm included. “Or was it ‘white’ with ‘black’ stripes? I can never figure that part out…”

But Rarity wasn’t paying much attention. But instead, she just groaned wearily and fainted.

“Born where?” Applejack asked. “I’ve never seen a pony like that in these parts, ‘cept her.”

“Well, she’s probably not from here,” Twilight answered. “And she’s not a pony. Zebras come from a faraway land. But I’ve never seen her in Ponyville.”

“Neither have I,” Storm shrugged. “Where does she live anyway?”

“That’s just it,” Applejack spoke ominously. “She lives in… the Everfree Forest!”

*THUNDER ROLL!*

Every pony jumped in surprise. Apparently, Spike climbed off Twilight’s back and snuck into the Sugarcube kitchen to help himself to a snack. He had knocked down a metal tray to the floor when he grabbed some snacks.

“Spike!” Storm and Twilight scolded.

“Uh, sorry!” Spike called out from the kitchen.

“The Everfree Forest just ain’t natural,” Applejack explained. “The plants grow…”

“Animals care for themselves…” Fluttershy added.

“And the clouds move…” Rainbow added.

“All on their own!” The girls said together, slowly.

Rarity fainted once more. But the dry look on Storm Shield’s face said otherwise.

“Yeah?” Storm spoke blankly. “And what’s the scary part?”

“That wicked enchantress Zecora lives there doing her evil… stuff!” Pinkie added. “She’s so evil, I even wrote a song about her!”

“Oh please no!” Storm protested loudly.

“Here we go…” Rainbow spoke apathetically.

Apparently, there was no stopping Pinkie from singing.

Pinkie (Sings):
She's an evil enchantress
She does evil dances
And if you look deep in her eyes
She'll put you in trances
Then what will she do?
She'll mix up an evil brew
Then she'll gobble you up
In a big, tasty stew
Soooo...Watch out!

Pinkie stood on a table on her hind legs with her fore-hooves high into the air, her chest rising and falling as she panted heavily before them. While Applejack clearly shook over the song, much to Apple Bloom’s annoyance, Twilight Sparkle just stared at Pinkie. While Storm held his hooves over his ears just waiting for the splitting headache in his skull to stop.

“Wow…” Twilight spoke, unimpressed. “Catchy.”

“It’s a work in progress,” Pinkie replied, oblivious to the sarcasm.

“This is all just a lot of gossip and rumors,” Twilight argued. “Now tell me, what exactly have you actually seen Zecora do?”

“Well…” Rainbow pondered. “Once a month, she comes into Ponyville.”

“Oooooh!” Twilight replied, dramatically and sarcastically.

“So eeeevil!” Storm added similarly.

“Then, she lurks by the stores,” Rarity continued.

“Oh my!” Twilight replied, same tone.

“That fiend!” Storm added.

“And then, she digs at the ground,” Fluttershy finished.

“Good gracious!” Twilight cried.

“Oh, what a world!” Storm added.

Rarity frowned as Storm was clearly mimicking her. Eventually, the two unicorns gave their friends indignant looks. Apple Bloom also stood between Twilight and Storm, sharing the same face.

“Okay, I’m sorry,” Twilight spoke normally. “But how is any of this bad? Maybe she comes to town to visit?”

“Yeah!” Apple Bloom agreed. “Maybe she’s just tryin’ to be neighborly.”

“Or make some new friends,” Storm added.

“And maybe she’s not lurking by the stores, maybe she’s going to them, lurk free, to do some shopping?” Twilight suggested.

“Yeah!” Apple Bloom agreed. “Every pony likes to shop. You know what I think?”

“Apple Bloom! Hush and let the big ponies talk,” Applejack scolded.

Apple Bloom took great offense to what her sister just said. The bitterness within her eyes said it all.

“I am a big pony!” Apple Bloom muttered, under her breath.

“Aside from Twilight, you’re the only one,” Storm whispered to her, winking.

Storm’s words made the filly feel slightly better, knowing at least one pony was on her side. All the other ponies seemed unconvinced toward Twilight’s logic.

“W-What about digging at the ground?” Rainbow pointed out. “You’ve got to admit that’s weird.”

“You poke the sprinkles on your cupcake, Rainbow,” Storm retorted. “That’s weird yet none of us think you’re evil!”

Rainbow gave Storm an annoyed raspberry in response.

“What if she’s digging for innocent creatures?” Fluttershy proposed.

Pinkie once again started singing her song in the background; Storm looked rather annoyed with her antics.

“Any pony got a pillow?” He asked rhetorically.

“To block out the nonsense?” Apple Bloom proposed.

“No… to stuff in Pinkie’s mouth! That song is driving me absolutely bonkers!”

“I’m sure there is an explanation for everything Zecora does,” Twilight answered toward the accusations. “And if any pony here were actually brave enough to approach her, she would find out the truth.”

Apple Bloom happened to be near the door the moment she heard that.

“Well, ah’m brave enough,” Apple Bloom retorted. “Ah’m gonna find out myself!”

Apple Bloom turned to leave when she felt some pony tap her back. Slowly she looked up, as Storm Shield stood over to her looming down at her sternly.

“I know what you’re doing...”

Apple Bloom groaned, expecting another firm lecture. But instead, Storm just smiled.

“Count me in! Besides, all these ponies want is some proof. I think if we work together, we can investigate Zecora for ourselves and find all the proof we need. Now come on!”

Storm’s words brightened the filly’s spirits, as she followed the older unicorn and together they left the shop. They barely made it towards an abandoned cart when Zecora turned in their direction. Apple Bloom gasped as they hid behind the cart as quietly as they could. They waited till they heard the footsteps recede before peeking out.

“If we’re going to follow her, we need to be as stealthy as possible,” Storm whispered to her. “And light on our hooves, very important. Here’s the plan: You track her, while I get us from one spot to the next.”

“Think you can move fast enough?” Apple Bloom asked.

“In case you forgot, I’m a unicorn.”

“Oh yeah…”

“Now climb on. And whatever you do, don’t let go.”

Storm placed Apple Bloom upon his back, before lighting his horn before teleporting them from house to house as they followed the Zebra out of Ponyville. Back at Sugarcube Corner, the other ponies were still arguing.

“You ponies are being ridiculous!” Twilight snapped.

“Well, I heard that Zecora eats hay,” Pinkie said sternly.

“Pinkie, I eat hay, you eat hay!” Twilight retorted indignantly.

Pinkie just glared at Twilight Sparkle. Though deep down she knew Twilight was exactly right, the party pony was unwilling to admit she was wrong.

“Yeah, but I heard it’s the evil way she eats hay,” Pinkie retorted back.

“Hey! Where’s Apple Bloom?” Applejack asked, looking around.

“The door’s open,” Fluttershy pointed out.

“She went outside!” Rarity exclaimed.

“And Zecora’s still out there,” Rainbow added.

“That silly lil’ filly,” Applejack sighed. “I told her to stay put!”

Looking around again, Applejack noticed not only was Apple Bloom missing, but some pony else was too.

“W-Wait just a dog-gone second! Where’s Storm?”

“You don’t think…” Pinkie wondered.

But before Pinkie could finish, Applejack snorted through her nostrils.

“Wait til I git my hooves on him!” Applejack growled angrily.

She galloped out the front of the shop seeking to find the two ponies.

“Spike, you stay here in case Apple Bloom and/or Storm come back,” Twilight instructed.

“Will do!” Spike responded.

With that settled, Twilight Sparkle raced out of the shop to catch up with the group.

<>

A few minutes later, Zecora made her way deep into the Everfree Forest. Storm and Apple Bloom managed to successfully tail her from close behind. They looked about as they stood by the entrance of the forest. Just being at the foot of the forbidden place made Apple Bloom nervous.

“Don’t worry, I’ve been here before,” Storm assured her. “Just stick close to me and you’ll be okay.”

Apple Bloom stared down toward the path, standing tall as she and Storm bravely entered the forest. But despite having the Element of Bravery next to her, Apple Bloom still gulped nervously as they tailed Zecora from a few yard away. They didn’t get very far when Storm Shield stopped Apple Bloom as he spotted a patch of blue flowers just in front of them. Though not sure why, he looked uneasily toward the plants as he slowly led her around the flowers. Once at a safe distance, they look up toward Zecora.

“Excuse me!” Storm called out.

It was then Zecora stopped and turned around, finally realizing that she had been followed. Before her eyes, somewhere beneath the hood of the cloak, there was a unicorn and a filly standing before her.

“You must be the one called Zecora, are you?” Storm continued.

The Zebra just stared at the two for a moment, not uttering a single word to either-one. Slowly she nodded her head, the closest to a yes as they could get.

“Great! Sorry about startling you there. But we saw you come into town earlier, and we were just wondering—”

“Apple Bloom?! Storm?!”

Apple Bloom gasped, as she and Storm froze in place. It didn’t take long to recognize that all-familiar voice.

“I’m busted,” Storm sighed.

They both turned around, as Zecora looked past them. There before their eyes, Applejack and the rest of the ponies stood before them, right in the midst of the blue flowers.

“You two get back here right now!” Applejack ordered.

“We’re fine, A.J.!” Storm called out. “I’ve been looking out for her!”

It was then that Zecora finally spoke.

“Beware! Beware, you pony folk!” She warned. “Those leaves of blue are not a joke!”

The others, minus Twilight, looked very indignant. Applejack scooped Apple Bloom onto her back.

“Y-You keep your creepy mumbo-jumbo to yourself, ya hear?” Applejack shouted.

The others, not including Twilight, Storm, or even Apple Bloom, began to speak over each other telling Zecora off.

“Oh brother!” Twilight sighed.

“Beware!” Zecora chanted. “Beware!”

And just like that, the mist engulfed the Zebra right before their very eyes… and then she was gone.

“Yeah, back at ya, Zecora!” Rainbow said, flying beside the Apples and Storm. “You and your lame curse are the ones who better beware.”

Apple Bloom and Storm glared at the cyan Pegasus until a certain farm pony grasped their attention.

“And you!” Applejack snapped, toward her sister. “Why couldn’t you just listen to yer big sister?”

“I… I…” Apple Bloom stuttered.

But the moment Applejack stared her down, the little filly had completely lost her courage.

“It’s because you’re overprotective and unreasonable,” Storm argued. “You don’t listen to a single word she…”

“As fer you!” Applejack snapped, cutting him off. “Just who do ya think you are? Puttin’ my little sister in danger like that? Who knows what kind of nasty curse Zecora could have put on the both of you?”

“Just like in my song!” Pinkie pointed out.

The party pony began to sing again, as Storm rolled his eyes before conjuring up a pillow and stuffed it in Pinkie’s mouth.

“You guys, there’s no such thing as curses!” Twilight shouted.

“You really think I’d bring Apple Bloom out here if there really was any danger?” Storm retorted defensively. “Your sister was actually trying to get to the bottom of all this nonsense, while you’re the one acting like a scared filly!”

Applejack said nothing as she made her way through the blue flowers. Rainbow flew just above the flowers toward Twilight, maintaining eye contact with Storm, who still stood outside the flower patch.

“Well, that’s interesting to hear coming from Mr. and Mrs. Magic Pants themselves!” Rainbow remarked, pointing at Twilight’s horn.

“That insult doesn’t even make any sense!” Storm shouted.

“Our magic, real magic, comes from within,” Twilight explained calmly. “It’s a skill you’re born with. Curses are artificial 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.”

As Twilight spoke, Pinkie, Rarity, and Fluttershy looked blankly at her. Rainbow flew behind the three ponies and mock-talked Twilight’s words. In the end, they didn’t let Twilight finish before they turned around and walked away.

“Just you two wait now,” Applejack warned. “You’re gonna learn that some pony tales aretrue.”

“I’m all for believing in the impossible and the unexplained,” Storm shot back. “But I never sensed any threat here! You’re just too stubborn to admit when you’re wrong!”

“… You stay away from mah sister or else!” Applejack shouted.

As Applejack walked away, Storm just shook his head.

“Tsk, tsk, tsk, tsk, tsk, pitiful!” Storm remarked. “It’s like they say, Twi: Fear of something you don’t understand clouds all rational judgment and common sense.”

“You can say that again,” Twilight sighed. “Let’s just get back to the library.”

“Sure,” Storm nodded.

Using his magic, Storm zapped himself over the large patch of blue flowers. Twilight looked at him quizzically, wondering why he’d teleport like that.

“Why didn’t you just walk through the flowers?” She asked.

“Something about those flowers make me reallynervous,” Storm answered.

“Now whose being irrational?” Twilight joked.

“Ha-ha, very funny!”

<>

Later that night, Twilight tried to sleep in her bed. But everything that had been going on made sleeping for the poor unicorn rather difficult. In her dreams, the words she heard from both Zecora and her friends tormented her mind.

“She’s an evil enchantress, she does evil dances!” Pinkie chanted.

“Beware! Beware!” Zecora warned.

“If you look deep into her eyes, she will put you in trances!” Pinkie continued.

“Yeah, was that supposed to scare us?!” Rainbow said.

“Wicked, wicked zebra!” Rarity said.

“… it’s a curse!” Fluttershy remarked fearfully.

“Then what will she do?” Pinkie asked.

“Just you two wait now,” Applejack’s words repeated. “Some pony tales really are true.”

“Then she’ll gobble you up in a big, tasty stew! So… watch out!” Pinkie concluded.

Zecora begun to laugh menacingly.

<>

All through the night, Twilight tossed and turned. When morning finally arrived, and the rooster crowed, Twilight felt exhausted. Even her own mane was messy from the restless sleep. Storm happened to walk in levitating a breakfast tray in his magical grip.

“Morning Twi, I brought you some…”

His words stopped the moment he noticed how tired and ragged Twilight looked.

“Whoa!” Storm gasped. “You okay?”

“Ugh… what a dream…” Twilight said sleepily. “Curses, schmurses!”

“Still thinking about yesterday?” Storm asked.

“Yeah, I guess so,” Twilight nodded. “Guess every pony kind of got to me a bit. It made me have a nightmare. Silly huh?”

“Heh, yeah,” Storm chuckled. “Silly things, dreams…”

It was then Twilight noticed her messy man, as she gazed upon her reflection from her vanity mirror.

“Whoa! Maybe Zecora cursed my hair.”

Storm played along, acting horrified at the sight.

“Oh sweet Celestia!” He said dramatically. “You’d better look up that big book of curses if there’s a cure for bed head!”

Twilight knew Storm was teasing, but she laughed as she brushed her mane back into place. As Storm settled himself, Twilight gasped in shock. Before her very eyes, her unicorn horn went limp and was covered in blue polka dots.

“Or she cursed my horn!” Twilight squeaked fearfully.

“Okay, now this is getting old and out of…”

The moment Storm looked up, he saw that Twilight’s horn was indeed floppy and dotted. His eyes widened in horror.

“That’s new!”

<>

They spent the rest of the morning seeking a reason for the sudden change to Twilight’s horn. But the efforts to find a remedy of this surprising predicament have since been fruitless.

“No-no-no-no-no!” Twilight panicked. “None of these books have a cure! Ugh! There has to be a real reason for this! An illness? An allergy?!”

“A curse!” Spike called out.

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

“How about this one?”

Spike held out the book he picked up for Twilight to read the cover.

“Supernaturals?” Twilight read aloud. “Spike, the word ‘supernatural’ refers to things like ghosts and spirits and zombies, which are make-believe curses. This books is just a bunch of hooey!”

“Hey! Whatever happened to not judging a book by its cover?” Storm asked.

“I’m not in the mood right now, Storm!” Twilight glared.

“But what if you’re wrong, Twilight?” Spike asked. “What if this really is a—”

“Ah pfurse!”

A voice, with a very strong lisp, called out from behind.

“A purse?” Spike asked confused. “How could it be a purse?”

They all turned around and spotted none other than Pinkie Pie, her tongue completely swollen and covered in blue polka dots much like Twilight’s horn.

“Pinkie? What happened?” Twilight asked worried.

“Pee pah Zthecora!” Pinkie answered, spitting. “Sthe put a cursthe on me!”

While Storm used a magic shield to block the spit, poor Spike got drenched.

“Hey, say it, don’t spray it, Pinkie!” Spike retorted.

Then they heard the sound of some pony thumping outside Twilight’s window. They turned and sure enough it was Rainbow Dash herself.

*THUD!*

“Ow… Oh! She’s…”

*THUD!*

“… trying to say—ow…”

*THUD!*

“… Zecora…”

*THUD!*

“Oh!”

Rainbow stumbled before bashing her way through the door and crashed right into a pile of books upon the ground. The next thing they knew, Rainbow found herself stuck in Twilight’s ladder.

“She slapped us all with a-ow-curse!” Rainbow finished.

It was then Storm, Twilight, and Spike noticed that Rainbow’s wings were completely upside down. It was no wonder she seemingly had a tough time flying.

“And here I was thinking that’s how you fly normally,” Storm joked.

Storm’s joke received a death glare from the cyan Pegasus herself.

“I’m afraid I have to agree,” Rarity said.

When the fashionista came in, every pony got a look at her and their eyes went wide. Rarity blew some of her now shaggy, draped mane and fur hairs out of her face. Spike, Twilight, and Storm yelped in surprise.

“I’ve heard of ‘The Shaggy Dog’, but this is—” Storm began.

“Don’t… even… say it!” Rarity hissed.

“I hate to say I told ya so!”

The next voice sounded as if some pony inhaled too much helium. Seemingly the case since the voice belonged to Applejack, only now she was no bigger than a standard sized apple. She had to ride Apple Bloom’s back just to even get to the library in one piece. The three gasped at the sight.

“It’s a curse, I tells ya!” Applejack shouted.

“But Fluttershy… seems just fine!” Twilight said.

She gestured a fore-hoof straight toward the yellow Pegasus, who just sat quietly the whole time.

“Yes, there doesn’t seem to be a thing wrong with her,” Rarity added.

But as Storm observed Fluttershy, he could clearly tell she looked insecure… or at least more than usual.

“Fluttershy? Are you okay?” Twilight asked.

Only Fluttershy just looked away.

“Is there something wrong with you?”

Fluttershy silently nodded in response.

“Well… would you care to tell us?” Storm asked.

Fluttershy neither said anything nore made any gestures.

“So… you’re not going to tell us?” Twilight asked.

Fluttershy nodded again.

“Twilight, what if… whatever caused this… made her lose her voice?” Storm suggested.

Fluttershy rapidly shook her head again.

“So… you didn’t lose your voice?”

Fluttershy shook her head sadly.

“Then… can you tell us what happened?”

Fluttershy nodded once more. But judging by the expression Twilight’s face, it seemed neither unicorns were getting anywhere with Fluttershy.

“Yes, you’re not, or yes you will?” Twilight asked.

“Good gravy, girl!” Applejack snapped. “What’s wrong with you?”

Fluttershy looked away, but reluctantly the words emerged.

“I don’t want to talk about it,” Fluttershy answered, in a deep male voice.

“GAH!!!” Storm screamed.

So taken aback by the sudden change in Fluttershy’s voice, Storm jumped into Spike’s arms. The little dragon wobbled a bit before letting Storm hit the floor on his back (“Ow!”). Despite his annoyance over Storm, Spike snorted and burst out laughing.

“This is hilarious!” Spike laughed. “Look at all of you! We got: Hairity, Rainbow Crash, Spitty Pie, Apple Teeny, Flutterguy…”

As each pony was pointed out, Spike earned an unnoticed annoyed or irritated glare.

“… and… uh…”

Spike stared at Twilight’s limp horn and sighed.

“… I got nothin’… Twilight Sparkle. I mean seriously, I can’t even work with that.”

“Polka-light Sparkle?” Storm proposed.

Spike stared at him blankly, while Twilight was more annoyed than ever.

“That’s just sad,” Spike remarked.

“It was the best I could do!” Storm protested.

Twilight just laughed at them, sarcastically.

“This is no joke you two!” Twilight protested. “Now start looking through more books so I can find a cure!”

Spike and Storm groaned, as they walked away. By then, Rainbow stood upon the ladder to pull her head out.

“I think we’ll find a cure to this curse at Zecora’s place,” Rainbow proposed.

“It’s not a curse!” Twilight snapped.

“I agree with Dash!” Applejack said, standing on the table. “We’ll go to Zecora’s and force her to remove this hex!”

“It’s not a hex either!” Twilight yelled.

Every pony were arguing over what to do, except for two ponies and a dragon. Storm merely stood beside Apple Bloom, while Spike kept searching for answers.

“What will we do? What’ll we do?” Storm asked frantically. “What are we going to—oh, who am I kidding?! Urgh! I tell ya Apple Bloom, this is just sad. I just know the solution’s just staring us in the face and they’re missing it.”

But when Storm turned toward Apple Bloom, her face was just sad.

“What’s wrong?”

“This is all my fault,” Apple Bloom spoke sadly. “If I hadn’t followed Zecora in the first place, none of this would have happened.”

“No, it’s my fault,” Storm sighed. “I’m the one that let you go after her, but I still don’t believe Zecora is to blame. Something in the Everfree Forest caused this… and I think I know what it is. Maybe they’re right…”

“About the curse?” Apple Bloom asked.

“No!” Storm shook his head. “About Zecora having the cure!”

“We’ve just gotta fix this,” Apple Bloom spoke, determined.

“Then let’s get going!” Storm proposed.

“But what about…”

“Don’t worry about Applejack; I’ll deal with her myself. But right now, this is the right thing to do! C’mon!”

Apple Bloom nodded, as Storm collected his saddle bag and together they headed out the library. However, their attempt to leave did not go unnoticed.

“Now where do those two think they’re goin’ this time?” Applejack said quietly.

She quickly dashed across the table and jumped into Apple Bloom’s red tail. Neither the young filly nor Storm saw her, as they left the library and made toward the Everfree Forest. In the meantime, the rest of the group were too busy arguing to notice. Poor Rainbow Dash especially had trouble keeping herself airborne in a stationary position.

“I don’t care what you say, Twilight,” Rainbow argued. “It’s time to pony up and take this fight to Zecora. Come on girls. Are you with me?”

“Ah am-oft!” Pinkie said.

“And I as well,” Rarity answered.

“Uh, I don’t know,” Fluttershy replied wearily. “Seems awfully dangerous.”

Spike giggled to himself, unable to keep a straight face due to Fluttershy’s ‘new voice’.

“How about you Applejack? Applejack?”

It was then they noticed that Applejack wasn’t there.

“Pf-she’s gone-pft!” Pinkie exclaimed.

“Aah! Or some pony stepped on her!” Rarity cried out.

They all checked their hooves, but not a single trace of Applejack was there.

“… or sat on her?” Twilight added fearfully.

They checked their back ends… still nothing.

<>

Hmm… *Peers closely*

*SLAP!*

OW!!!

Show some respect, man!

<>

“Rarity’s hair!” Rainbow proposed.

Pinkie began to search about, much to Rarity’s discomfort.

“Oh! OH! Pinkie, what are you doing?” Rarity exclaimed. “Ah, really. Aah! You ever hear of personal space?”

Pinkie had just finished her search, only to come up empty-hoofed.

“Nopthe!” Pinkie answered.

It was then Twilight noticed something else.

“Apple Bloom is gone too!” Twilight observed, then grew irritated. “And so is Storm…”

“I bet they went after Zecora,” Rainbow assumed.

“Well we better go find them,” Twilight declared. “Come on girls!”

The girls tried to leave, but there were difficulties.

“Oh dear,” Rarity grunted, the hair over her face. “Oh, this is so unseemly. Auuaah!”

Apparently, Pinkie stood on one of her hair strands preventing Rarity from moving. Pinkie stepped off so Rarity could move again. As for Rainbow, she had been hovering upside down and couldn’t flip over.

“Hey, a little help here?” Rainbow called out.

“Oopsie! Sorry!” Fluttershy apologized.

She and Pinkie managed to get Rainbow Dash upright… only for the Pegasus to zoom ahead and crash into another wall.

“OW!”

<>

Apparently, Rainbow doesn’t have the common sense to just walk…

Nope!

<>

Fluttershy was about to follow the group when she saw Spike reading the same book Twilight brushed off earlier.

“Uh… Spike? Are you coming?”

Spike’s eyes widened as he chuckled nervously.

“Uh… gotta stay here and look for a curse,” He answered, reading the book.

<>

Meanwhile, Storm Shield and Apple Bloom entered the darker areas of the Everfree Forest in search of Zecora. They had stopped to scan the area when they heard a squeaky yet authoritative voice.

“Stop right there!”

Though they froze, they still looked about but couldn’t see any pony. That was until Applejack popped out of Apple Bloom’s mane.

“Turn around right now, the both of you!” Applejack ordered.

But rather than retort, Storm Shield gave Apple Bloom a sly smile.

“Did I hear something… squeak?” Storm asked sarcastically, winking.

Apple Bloom bit her lip to avoid laughing.

“Storm! I thought I told you to stay away from my sister!” Applejack protested.

Storm narrowed his eyes as he loomed toward Applejack, an angry look formed upon his face.

“Let’s make one thing perfectly clear,” Storm proclaimed loudly. “I don’t care how strong you are Applejack, no pony… I repeat… NO PONYBOSSES ME AROUND! You may be older than Apple Bloom, but that doesn’t give you the right to act like whatever she says doesn’t matter!”

“Mmm-hmm,” Apple Bloom hummed in agreement.

“I said both of you turn around at once!” Applejack said angrily.

Storm snorted, but just smiled.

“Seems some pony still won’t listen,” Storm told Apple Bloom casually. “Should we turn around Apple Bloom?”

Applejack was agape and now furious.

“That wasn’t a suggestion! Now turn around right now, missy!”

Apple Bloom just smiled and what she said next was direct and to the point.

“No!” Apple Bloom replied simply.

“No?!” Applejack spluttered. “You can’t ignore a direct order from your big sister! Storm is clearly having a bad influence on you!”

“He-he-he,” Apple Bloom giggled.

She tilted her head and Applejack went airborne. The young filly caught her older sister in her mouth and positioned her on a nearby tree branch with no means of escape.

“Sorry Applejack, but Storm is right,” Apple Bloom replied. “You’re acting like a little sister at the moment. I’m the big sister now!”

“And since you’re on time out till you’ve learned some sense, while we can move freely…” Storm added with a smile.

“Good-bye!” They both said.

Storm and Apple Bloom walked away, leaving Applejack stranded.

“Apple Bloom! Storm! You come back here right this instant!” Applejack shouted. “I’m gonna tell Big MacIntosh on you!”

But it didn’t take long for Applejack to realize how petty that last remark was… or the fact she had been ignored and sat on that branch all alone.

“Aw horse feathers!” Applejack muttered.

<>

Meanwhile, the rest of the girls charged straight into the Everfree Forest. Twilight Sparkle herself led the group.

“C’mon girls!” Twilight called out. “We’ve got to get to Zecora’s. Hurry!”

Unfortunately, Rarity tripped on one of her hair strands and tumbled into some mud and loose leaves.

“Ooh… Ah-ah-ah!” She groaned, getting back to her hooves. “Easier said than done.”

“Hey, wait for me!” Rainbow called out.

Poor Dash still tried to fly properly, but all she could do was scream and yell ‘ow’ every time she bashed, smashed, and crashed about the trees. Until at last, the cyan Pegasus was left dazed atop some bushes. It was then she felt something shuffle inside her mouth until… Applejack popped out. Apparently, Rainbow happened to crash into the same branch Storm and Apple Bloom left her on.

“Rainbow! Thank Celestia!” Applejack sighed. “There’s no time to lose! I need to get to Zecora pronto!”

Applejack grabbed a collection of twigs and vines to make a horse tack, clipped it into Rainbow’s mouth, and sat upon the girl’s stomach.

<>

*Turns toward the other author*

Don’t… even… think about it…

<>

“Giddy-up pony!” Applejack commanded.

“Ex-CUSE me?” Rainbow asked indignantly.

“YEE-HAW!” Applejack cried out.

The miniscule cow pony kicked Rainbow’s stomach sending her into the air, putting her body at Applejack’s command.

“What the…”

Then they took off… in the opposite direction.

“No, Rainbow Dash!” Applejack cried. “Other way!”

However, even Applejack’s commanding nature couldn’t control a Pegasus with inverted wings and a distorted navigational system.

<>

Finally, the rest of the ponies made their way towards the location of Zecora’s hut. Apparently, the Zebra lived in a modest little tree house right in the heart of the forest. Twilight, Pinkie, Fluttershy, and Rarity stood just outside of what they assumed to be her front yard.

“Oh! I look horrible!” Rarity complained.

“Plis place plooks horrible!” Pinkie replied.

The party pony lifted a hair strand from Rarity’s line of vision to help her see.

“Oh my. That place really does look horrible. Nice decorations… if you like creepy.”

The ponies peered inside and saw Zecora working around a cauldron filled with some green substance. The ponies gasped as Zecora began to speak into it using her native language.

“Sthe sthole my sthong!” Pinkie complained. “Shthe shtole mm mm!”

“She stole your song?” Rarity asked.

It was surprising to the ponies Rarity even understood the pink pony at all.

“Oh Pinkie,” Twilight replied. “It doesn’t sound anything like your song.”

“Pinkie glared, before noticing Fluttershy nearby.

“Ah. Hmm… Pbth!” Pinkie whimpered, with the puppy-dog plea.

Fluttershy sighed, then began to sing Pinkie’s song while the pink pony performed gestures. With her altered voice, Fluttershy sounded like a toy speaking on the final juices of its battery.

Fluttershy (Sings):
She's an evil enchantress
And she does evil dances
And if you look deep in her eyes
She will put you in trances
Then what would she do?
She'll mix up an evil brew
Then she'll gobble you up
In a big, tasty stew
Soooo...Watch out...

“You saw those terrible things,” Rarity pointed out. “Now do you believe us, Twilight?”

It wasn’t much longer for Twilight to feel more and more uneasy. Seeing all the items in Zecora’s house, she released a sigh.

“Scary looking masks, confusing incantations, and a great, big bubbly cauldron,” Twilight observed. “Everything is pointing to Zecora being… bad. Or… what if Zecora is just making soup?”

It was then they heard the zebra say something inside as she took a sip of what was inside her cauldron.

“Mmm! The perfect temperature for ponies, I presume,” Zecora spoke. “Now where is little Apple Bloom?”

“Or… what if she’s making Apple Bloom soup?!” Twilight wondered.

<>

“What if she’s making Apple Bloom soup?!” Twilight repeated.

But the other ponies were too shocked to even answer the question.

“Wait… what about…”

Twilight then spotted a lone sadly bag sitting near the back wall… with Storm’s cutie mark on it.

“Such a strong young colt of sort,” Zecora remarked. “What a tasty treat for one so short.”

The zebra had just implied she had already eaten Storm Shield.

"WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!" The other ponies screamed.

It was then Rainbow arrived with Applejack in control of her… sort of.

“I’m comin’ for ya, Apple Bloom!” The mini orange pony cried out.

Rainbow bashed through Zecora’s door, screaming as she swirled and crashed about inside Zecora’s hut. Zecora shouted toward the Pegasus in her native language.

“Whoa there, easy, Rainbow Crash!” Applejack retorted.

The cow pony tried to gain control of Rainbow, but to no avail.

“Oh!” Zecora gasped.

The rest of her words were misunderstood since they were in her native language. Rainbow just screamed, zipped, and crashed about, smashing hanging objects while Zecora kept speaking in her native tongue. The rest of the girls stood just outside her door.

“What have you done with Apple Bloom?” Twilight demanded.

“No! No!” Zecora cried out.

She continued to speak in her native language, completely ignoring Twilight’s demands while trying to get the wild Pegasus to stable herself. Applejack grunted from all the crashing and Rainbow’s screaming, before lassoing one of Zecora’s ears and attempted to hoof wrestle her… to little effect. Zecora just looked confused, before noticing the four ponies standing nearby.

“Ponies! What is this you…”

Before Zecora could demand an explanation, Rainbow Dash screamed and knocked over the cauldron with a crash landing.

“No, you know not what you do!” Zecora said. “You’ve gone and spilled my precious brew.”

“We’re onto you Zecora!” Twilight said firmly. “I didn’t want to believe that you cursed us, but the evidence is overwhelming!”

“You made me look ridiculous!” Rarity accused.

“You made me sound ridiculous!” Fluttershy said, in her deep voice.

“You made me speak ridiculous!” Pinkie added, in an incoherent tone.

“You ruined my horn!” Twilight finished.

“How dare you!” Zecora spoke angrily. “You destroy my home, destroy my work. Then rudely accuse me of being a jerk?”

“You put this curse on us, now you’re gonna uncurse us!” Rainbow demanded.

“It is unwise to venture down this road,” Zecora replied, calmly yet stern. “Your actions will make my anger explode!”

“Where is Apple Bloom?” Twilight demanded angrily. “And WHERE’S Storm?!”

Twilight and Zecora literally butted heads, as if about to engage in a fight. Suddenly, two familiar ponies appeared outside the front door.

“Sorry we’re late Zecora!” Storm called out.

“I think we found all the things ya asked for,” Apple Bloom added.

They stopped when they saw every pony in the house and the mess.

“What in Ponyville is goin’ on here?” Apple Bloom asked.

“Looks like the Flying Accident was here,” Storm remarked.

He then saw Rainbow Dash, completely crashed on the floor and couldn’t help but chuckle.

“Well speak of the devil!”

Apple Bloom stifled a giggle. Applejack gasped upon seeing the two in the doorway… but mostly Apple Bloom.

“Apple Bloom! You’re okay!” She exclaimed.

“Why wouldn’t I be?” Apple Bloom asked curiously. “Storm’s been protecting me the whole time.”

“Storm!!!” Twilight exclaimed. “You’re alive!”

“Of course, I am!” Storm smiled. “Why wouldn’t I be okay? Or alive for that matter?”

“Because Zecora is an evil enchantress who cursed us and was gonna cook up Apple Bloom into soup!” Twilight exclaimed.

Apple Bloom, Storm, and Zecora stared blankly toward Twilight… then laughed loudly.

“Oh Twilight,” Apple Bloom chuckled. “Did those silly fillies finally get in yer head?”

“Every pony knows there’s no such thing as a curse,” Storm added.

“Apple Bloom, sweetie,” Twilight said, nervously and tense. “You can’t just stand there and tell me this isn’t a curse.”

Twilight gestured towards the other ponies for emphasis. But Apple Bloom and Storm merely walked toward Zecora, standing on both sides.

“This isn’t a curse,” Apple Bloom replied.

“Nope!” Storm shook his head. “No curse at all.”

“If you remember back, the words I spoke were quite exact,” Zecora reminded.

<>

*Flashback*

Beware, beware you pony folk. Those leaves of blue are not a joke.

*End Flashback*

<>

“It was a warnin’,” Apple Bloom explained. “About that blue plant. It’s called poison joke.”

“I thought I recognized it from my studies in unusual plants years ago,” Storm added. “That’s why I felt uneasy around that plant and why I preferred teleporting over them instead of going through. But of course, even when I told you about it you never take me seriously.”

Twilight stared blankly, trying to process what was going on.

“That plant is much like poison oak,” Zecora said. “But its results are like a joke.”

Suffice to say, Applejack did not understand anything that was going on even while hanging over Zecora’s ear.

“What in the hay does that mean?” Applejack asked.

“It means this plant does not breed wrath,” Zecora answered. “Instead this plant just wants a laugh.”

But Applejack just glared.

“Will some pony please talk normal?” Applejack asked irritably.

“I think what she’s saying is that when we ran in to save Apple Bloom and Storm, we ran into the poison joke,” Twilight explained. “All our problems are just little jokes it played on us.”

“Little jokes?!” Applejack reported. “Very funny…”

Clearly the cow pony had just about enough ‘small’ humor for one day.

“Okay, fine,” Rainbow spoke. “But what about the cauldron?”

“And the chanting?” Fluttershy asked.

“And the creepy décor?” Rarity added.

“Treasures of the native land where I am from,” Zecora answered, pointing toward two masks. “This one say’s ‘hello’, and this ‘welcome’.”

“Not welcoming at all, if you ask me,” Rarity remarked.

“The words I chanted were from olden times,” Zecora continued. “Something you call a nursery rhyme.”

“But the cauldron… the Apple Bloom soup?” Twilight asked frantically. “Storm being tasty?”

“I meant not tasty to ‘eat’,” Zecora answered. “But the fact fillies find Storm attractive is quite a feat.”

Storm just smiled, striking a pose till he saw Pinkie batting her eyes at him. Storm rolled his eyes, while the other girls chuckled or snickered at him.

“Lookie here Twilight,” Apple Bloom pointed out. “That pot of water wasn’t for me, it was for all those herbal ingredients. The cure for poison joke is a simple old-natural remedy…”

Apple Bloom picked up Applejack into her hoof.

“You just gotta take a bubble bath.”

“Here is the book, you see?” Zecora added, showing Twilight the book. “Sad that you lack it in your library.”

Twilight saw the cover, remembering how she brushed it off when Storm and Spike proposed for a look inside. Needless to say, Twilight felt silly… and ashamed.

“Actually, I do have this book,” Twilight admitted. “But I didn’t look inside it because the title was so… weird. Supernaturals: Natural Remedies and Cure-alls That Are Simple Super. I… I… I’m so sorry, Zecora. I had the answer the whole time, even Storm suggested I should look at this book… and I ignored his advice. If only I had bothered to look inside.”

But rather than disappointed, Zecora merely chuckled.

“Maybe next time you will take a second look, and not judge the cover of the book,” Zecora replied.

The ponies bowed their heads to the ground, the zebra’s words sharing a double meaning. Apple Bloom and Storm chuckled before sharing a hoof bump in agreement.

“Zecora? Would you be kind enough to mix up another batch of your herbal bath?” Twilight asked humbly.

“Mix it up I certainly will,” Zecora answered. “Yet I am missing an herb from Ponyville.”

“But whenever Zecora comes to town, all the shops are mysteriously closed,” Apple Bloom added.

“Probably due to the reasons you’re all here in the first place,” Storm concluded.

“Oh well… I think we can help you with that,” Twilight offered.

“But before we do… Oh Storm!” Applejack said, in an overly sweet tone.

“Yes?... ACK!”

Storm was taken by surprise when a flower struck his face and splattered its pollen all over it. He looked and noticed that… Applejack threw a poison joke flower at his face, its pollen still on his nose.

“OH… NO!!!” Storm groaned with dread. “A.J., what have you—"

SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

Unlike the other infected ponies, the effects of the poison joke took immediate effect and Storm’s entire body inflated till her literally resembled a pony-sized balloon.

“I picked that up while I was riding Rainbow Dash,” Applejack chortled, laughing. “Serves ya right for defyin’ me n leavin’ me stranded on that tree branch!”

Soon the others laughed as well, even Zecora. Storm just looked indignant as he floated a few feet in the air, somewhat grateful he didn’t just float up, up, and away.

“I was only defending Apple Bloom!” Storm protested, over the laughter.

He turned toward the little filly, who fell on her back laughing. Storm groaned to himself with a long frown on his face.

“Aw horse feathers!”

<>

It wasn’t long before they all headed back into town. But since Storm couldn’t move on his own, Applejack tied her lasso to his tail to pull him along. Storm was grateful Apple Bloom held the rope despite Pinkie’s protested to do so instead. As they approached some ponies in town, they gasped in horror.

“Look Rose!” Daisy cried. “How awful!”

“The wicked enchantress has cursed them all!” Rose exclaimed.

“The horror, the horror!” Lilly Valley added.

The ponies screamed in panic as they rushed back inside their homes. Twilight headed toward the house where one of the ponies lived, lightly knocking on the door. The pony peeked from the side of her door fearfully.

“Daisy, we need to talk,” Twilight said.

<>

With everything cleared out, Zecora was given the herbs she needed to complete the remedy. The ponies were now at the Ponyville spa where a large tub was constructed so all the infected girls could take a bath. Rarity and Fluttershy were already reclining in the water, as Twilight dove under to cleanse her infected horn. Pinkie cannon-balled into the water, crashing into all three, but curing her swollen tongue in the process as they all laughed. Rainbow, having already taken a dip, helped Zecora and Apple Bloom deposit the remaining remember into the bubble bath before Rainbow joined the other girls for a relaxing dip. And later that day, Twilight wrote a letter of their entire experience…

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 really 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 students,
Twilight Sparkle and Storm Shield

While Twilight and her friends enjoyed their bath, one of the proprietors of the spa, Lotus Blossom by name, approached Zecora.

“Miss Zecora, I would love to get the recipe for this bath,” Lotus Blossom said. “It’s simply luxurious.”

Zecora smiled when Apple Bloom realized something.

“Applejack! Hey, where’s Applejack?!” She asked worriedly.

The other ponies gasped and exclaimed frantically, as they splashed about trying to find her.

“I’m right here, little sister,” Applejack called out.

Her voice and size had returned to normal, since she taken her bath inside a bucket… only now her back end was stuck inside of it.

“I ain’t tiny no more!”

The others laughed at the funny sight.

“Oh! I have never felt so lovely in all my life!” Rarity exclaimed.

“Oh, my gosh!” Pinkie exclaimed, as she surfaced from underwater. “I never realized how horrible it is not to be able to talk. I mean I love talking so much, and when I couldn’t talk anymore, my tongue was all ‘ehhh’! It was the worst! Don’t you agree Fluttershy?”

Rainbow gritted her teeth, covering her ears as Pinkie babbled. But the others turned toward Fluttershy, who just smiled.

“Yes,” She replied softly.

Her sweet, lovable voice returned while all the ponies laughed. Suddenly, they heard a loud knocking outside the room.

“HELLO! IS ANY PONY HOME?!?!”

Storm Shield was stuck floating outside the door.

“WHEN DO I GET MY BATH?!?!” Storm bellowed. “COME ON GIRLS, THIS ISN’T FUNNY!!!”

“Did you hear something?” Rainbow asked out of the blue.

“I didn’t hear nothin’,” Applejack replied with a smirk.

“For crying out loud, I was only defending Apple Bloom!” Storm shouted, behind the door. “I just wanted Applejack to listen to her more because her sister is smart and capable of being useful if you give her a chance! Come on, Applejack! I don’t want to stay this way forever!!!”

“Okay, okay, point taken, sugar cube!” Applejack replied, sighing. “I guess Storm’s been punished enough. Zecora does a shower work just as well as a bubble bath?”

Zecora nodded as Applejack grabbed a squirt bottle and filled it up with the bath water. Applejack left the room, once she got the bucket off her flank, while the other ponies listened from inside the room.

*SQUIRT!*

"(blub)(blub-blub) Applejack! (blub-blub) What in the name of Celestia are you..."

*POP!*

“WAH!!!”

*CRASH!*

Storm’s landing shook the ground, as the other ponies flinched. Applejack casually came back into the room, the now empty squirt bottle in her grip and a smile on her face.

“He’s back to normal,” She reported.

<>

Outside the room, Storm laid on his stomach in the hallway. He had to admit he did learn something else that day… two in mind, actually. One, he ‘hated’ balloons. And B… when a pony like Storm tries to one up a girl, especially Applejack… you never win.

“Back to normal she says,” Storm said woozily. “One of these days… one of these days… BANG! ZOOM! YOU’RE GOING TO THE MOON!!!”