My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic: A New Journey Together, Season 1

Chapter 10: Bridle Gossip

One bright, sunny day Twilight, Spike, and Storm 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, his voice calm but edged with tension. His eyes scanned their surroundings. "Let’s keep moving, but stay close. Something doesn’t feel right."

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.

"Unless we all missed the memo, I’d say no," Storm added, glancing around with a frown. "Even if there was, Pinkie would’ve thrown some over-the-top celebration to make sure we remembered."

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 revive Twilight 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.

"PSST!"

The three froze suddenly when they heard the sound. They 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.

"Pinkie?" Storm asked confusingly.

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 the heck 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.

"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.

*Main theme*

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

"Did you guys see her, Twilight and Storm?" The young filly asked. "Did you see… Zecora?"

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

Storm frowned at the sight, his protective instincts kicking in as Applejack berated the filly for what he deemed an innocent question. He stepped forward, his tone calm but with a hint of firmness.

"Why?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. "Is her name some kind of new taboo or something? Because unless I missed a royal decree, I don’t see the harm in asking."

"Well, Storm and I saw her glance this way…" Twilight replied, answering Apple Bloom's question.

"Glance evilly this way," Pinkie retorted.

Twilight just pushed her back a bit.

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

"Exactly," Storm nodded, gesturing toward the door. "I mean, I get the cloak—it’s got the whole ‘mysterious wanderer’ vibe—but otherwise, I don’t see why everypony’s acting like Nightmare Moon just strolled into town."

"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?" Storm muttered under his breath, shaking his head. Then, with a sigh, he added in a softer tone, "Look, I get wanting to protect your little sister. Believe me, I do. I’ve got two of my own, and I’d do anything to keep Aqua and Crimson safe. But scaring her into thinking the world’s out to get her isn’t exactly helping."

Applejack turned to respond but stopped, her expression flickering with uncertainty. Apple Bloom took the chance to stick her tongue out behind her sister’s back.

"She's mysterious," Fluttershy said, referring to Zecora.

"Sinister," Rainbow Dash added.

"And spooooky!" Pinkie said, with an ominous tone.

Storm and Twilight both rolled their eyes 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."

Storm nodded, stepping back to let Twilight take the lead, but then couldn’t help himself. "Exactly. And newsflash—those stripes are natural. Black with white stripes, or white with black stripes? Who cares? She’s not a walking optical illusion. She’s a living, breathing pony—or zebra, whatever—and that’s all that matters."

But Rarity wasn't paying much attention. As 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 Storms 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!"

Storm's eyes widened instantly as he realized this was no time for a ridiculous tune.

"Pinkie Pie, we don’t need a ridiculous song!" Storm warned angrily.

"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 just stared at Pinkie. While Storm just gave her an annoyed look.

"Wow…" Twilight spoke, unimpressed. "Catchy."

"Very convincing." Storm added.

"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.

"Then, she lurks by the stores," Rarity continued.

"Oh my!" Storm replied, same tone.

"And then, she digs at the ground," Fluttershy finished.

"Good gracious!" Twilight and Storm cried.

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, her tone sharp.

Apple Bloom’s ears drooped, her eyes narrowing in hurt and frustration. The bitterness within her gaze was unmistakable. "I am a big pony," she muttered under her breath, kicking at the floor with a hoof.

Storm, who had been quietly observing the exchange, stepped closer to her. He leaned down slightly and whispered just loud enough for her to hear, "You know, aside from Twilight, you’re the only one here acting like a grown-up."

Apple Bloom’s expression shifted as she glanced up at him, her sour mood lifting slightly. Storm winked at her, and she managed a small smile, grateful that at least one pony understood her.

Meanwhile, the other ponies continued debating, their skepticism toward Twilight’s reasoning evident.

"W-What about her digging at the ground?" Rainbow Dash pointed out, hovering in the air. "You’ve got to admit that’s weird."

Storm raised an eyebrow, his voice laced with calm sarcasm. "Rainbow, you poke the sprinkles on your cupcakes before you eat them. That’s weird, yet none of us think you’re evil."

Rainbow Dash narrowed her eyes and stuck her tongue out at him, blowing a raspberry.

"What if she's digging for innocent creatures?" Fluttershy proposed.

Before anyone could respond, Pinkie Pie started humming and singing her "spooky Zecora" song in the background. Storm groaned, rubbing his temples dramatically.

"Anypony got a pillow?" he asked rhetorically.

"To block out the nonsense?" Apple Bloom asked, her tone hopeful.

"No," Storm replied, narrowing his eyes at Pinkie. "To stuff in Pinkie’s mouth. Seriously, somepony needs to dial her down from a ten to, like, a five."

"Hey!" Pinkie huffed, pausing her song.

"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 perked up at Twilight’s words. Determination flashed in her eyes as she moved toward the door. "Well, ah’m brave enough," she declared. "Ah’m gonna find out myself!"

She turned to leave, but a hoof lightly tapped her shoulder. Startled, she looked up to see Storm standing over her, his expression calm but serious.

"I know what you’re doing…" Storm said in a low voice.

Apple Bloom groaned, bracing herself for yet another lecture. "Ah already know what you’re gonna say—"

But Storm’s lips curved into a smile, surprising her. "And you can count me in," he said confidently. "If everypony here needs proof, we’ll get it. Together. We’ll check out Zecora, figure out what’s really going on, and show them there’s nothing to be afraid of."

Apple Bloom’s spirits lifted instantly, her face lighting up with hope. "You mean it?"

"Would I ever let a friend handle something this big alone?" Storm asked warmly, ruffling her mane with a hoof. "Now, come on. Let’s do some real investigating."

The two slipped out of the shop before anypony could stop them. They hadn’t gone far when Zecora turned in their direction. Apple Bloom gasped, and Storm quickly nudged her behind an abandoned cart. They crouched low, waiting until the sound of hoofsteps grew faint.

Once the coast was clear, Storm peeked over the edge and turned to Apple Bloom. "Alright, listen up," he whispered. "If we’re going to follow her, we need to stay as stealthy as possible—light on our hooves. You track her, and I’ll handle getting us from one spot to the next. Deal?"

Apple Bloom tilted her head. "Think you’re quick enough for that?"

Storm gave her a sly grin, raising an eyebrow. "Apple Bloom, do you know who you’re talking to?"

The filly giggled, realizing her mistake. "Oh yeah…"

"Exactly. Now hop on," Storm instructed, crouching low so she could climb onto his back. "And whatever you do, don’t let go."

Once she was secure, Storm channeled his breathing style into himself and leapt into action. He bounded from house to house with practiced precision, keeping Apple Bloom steady as they followed Zecora out of Ponyville.

"Whoa…" Apple Bloom whispered, holding on tightly. "You’re like one of them fancy Wonderbolts!"

Storm smirked. "Well, I do have a knack for keeping ponies safe. Now focus—we’ve got a zebra to track."

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 raced out of the shop to catch up with the group.

(Scene changes)

Apple Bloom was still buzzing with excitement, her little hooves clinging tightly to Storm’s back as they quietly made their way across the rooftops. Her heart pounded in her chest, a mix of thrill and nervousness as they tailed Zecora from a safe distance. Storm’s movements were quick yet smooth, his focus unshakable as he maneuvered through the shadows.

"You really think she’s up to no good?" Apple Bloom whispered, her voice barely audible, but carrying a trace of doubt.

Storm crouched behind a chimney, pausing to scan the path ahead. His gaze followed Zecora as she continued toward the Everfree Forest, her pace steady and unhurried. He didn’t answer right away, his mind carefully weighing his words.

"I don’t know, Apple Bloom," he replied finally, his tone calm yet thoughtful. "But I do know one thing—jumping to conclusions never solved anything. Ponies are scared of what they don’t understand. If we want the truth, we need to see it for ourselves."

Apple Bloom nodded, her grip tightening as a determined smile spread across her face. "You’re right, Storm. Let’s figure this out together!"

Storm smiled back at her, then gave her a quick glance over his shoulder. "Hold on tight, kid. Things might get a little bumpy."

With that, he leapt to the next rooftop, his hooves landing silently as they kept their pace. Apple Bloom felt her heart race, excitement overtaking her nerves. It felt like an adventure straight out of a Daring Do book, complete with the mystery, the sneaking, and the thrill of discovery. For a moment, she even forgot why everypony had been so afraid of Zecora in the first place.

Eventually, Zecora’s path led her deep into the Everfree Forest. Storm and Apple Bloom stopped at the forest’s edge, where the towering trees loomed like silent sentinels. Apple Bloom hesitated, her gaze fixed on the dark, winding path ahead.

"Don’t worry," Storm said, his voice low but reassuring. "I’ve been here before. Stick close to me, and you’ll be fine."

Apple Bloom gulped but nodded, trying to match his calm resolve. With Storm leading the way, she took a deep breath and followed him into the forest. The shadows grew thicker as they ventured further in, the faint rustle of leaves and distant animal calls adding to the eerie atmosphere. Despite having the Element of Courage beside her, Apple Bloom couldn’t stop her legs from trembling slightly.

Storm noticed her unease and offered her a quick glance. "Hey," he said softly, "nerves are normal. Just keep moving forward, one step at a time. Courage isn’t about not being afraid—it’s about acting even when you are."

Apple Bloom smiled at his words, her steps growing a little steadier as they pressed on. They followed Zecora from a safe distance, careful to stay out of sight. Storm’s sharp eyes caught every detail, every movement, as he guided Apple Bloom through the forest.

They didn’t get far when Storm abruptly stopped, raising a hoof to signal Apple Bloom to halt. Just ahead was a patch of strange blue flowers, their vibrant color standing out starkly against the dark forest floor. Something about them made Storm uneasy. He didn’t know why, but he trusted his instincts.

"Stay back," he said quietly, stepping cautiously around the flowers. He kept Apple Bloom close, guiding her around the patch with deliberate care. Once they were clear, he glanced back at her. "No touching, no sniffing, no nothing. Got it?"

"Got it," Apple Bloom replied, her voice a whisper.

Once they were at a safe distance, they turned their attention back to Zecora, who had just stopped further down the path. Storm stepped forward, his voice clear but calm as he called out, "Excuse me!"

Zecora stopped and turned toward them, her movements slow and deliberate. Beneath the hood of her cloak, her piercing eyes studied the two ponies who had followed her. Storm and Apple Bloom stood their ground, even as the intensity of her gaze sent a shiver down the filly’s spine.

"You must be the one called Zecora, right?" Storm continued, his tone polite but firm.

Zecora remained silent for a moment, her expression unreadable. Then, with a slow nod, she acknowledged him.

"Great!" Storm said, offering a small, disarming smile. "Sorry for startling you. We saw you in Ponyville earlier, and we were just wondering—"

"Apple Bloom?! Storm?!"

The sudden voice made Apple Bloom gasp, and both she and Storm froze in place. Storm’s expression quickly shifted from surprise to irritation as he recognized the voice all too well.

"Oh, you have got to be kidding me," he muttered under his breath, his ears flicking in agitation.

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, his voice steady but firm. "You don’t listen to a single word she says—"

"As fer you!" Applejack snapped, cutting him off with a glare that could pierce steel. But Storm didn’t back down, meeting her gaze with one of equal intensity. "Just who do ya think you are, puttin’ my little sister in danger like that? Who knows what kind of nasty curse Zecora could’ve put on the both of you?!"

"Just like in my song!" Pinkie chimed in enthusiastically.

Before she could launch into her tune again, Storm let out a frustrated groan. "That’s it," he muttered. Without hesitation, he bonked Pinkie lightly on the head, enough to stop her but not hurt her.

"OW!" Pinkie yelped, rubbing her head as she pouted at him.

Storm glared at her sternly, his patience clearly worn thin. "Pinkie Pie, one more verse about that song, and you’re on cupcake probation for a month. Got it?"

Pinkie gasped in horror, her eyes wide. "Not my cupcakes!" she cried.

"Then zip it," Storm said, his tone sharp but not unkind. Pinkie gulped nervously and nodded meekly.

"Got it," she said quietly, sinking back into the group.

"You guys, there’s no such thing as curses!" Twilight shouted, her voice cutting through the tension.

Storm turned back to Applejack, his expression serious but defensive. "Do you really think I’d put Apple Bloom in serious danger?" he shot back. "Your sister was actually doing something brave—trying to understand what’s going on—while you’re the one acting like a scared filly!"

Applejack flinched slightly at his words but quickly masked it with a scowl. She turned away, stepping into the patch of blue flowers without a second thought.

Rainbow Dash, flying just above the flowers, pointed a hoof at Twilight and Storm with a smirk. "Well, that’s rich, coming from Mr. and Mrs. Magic Pants over here!" she quipped.

Storm blinked, his face twisting in confusion. "That insult doesn’t even make sense!" he shouted after her, throwing his hooves up in exasperation.

"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 stared blankly at her, clearly unconvinced. Rainbow hovered behind them, mockingly mimicking Twilight’s words with exaggerated gestures. Storm, catching sight of her antics, picked up a small rock with his magic and flicked it at her flank.

"Hey!" Rainbow yelped, spinning to glare at him.

"Quit clowning around, Dash," Storm said flatly. "I don’t have time to deal with your stand-up routine."

Twilight gave him an appreciative glance, but the group didn’t wait for her to finish before turning away and walking off. Applejack, however, stopped to glare back at them.

"Just you two wait now," Applejack warned. "You're gonna learn that some pony tales are true."

Storm groaned and stepped forward, his frustration bubbling to the surface. "Look, I’m all for believing in the impossible and unexplained. But Zecora didn’t do anything to us! You’re just too stubborn to admit when you’re wrong!"

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

Storm’s eyes narrowed, his voice rising in annoyance. "Or else what, Applejack?!"

Applejack paused, looking like she wanted to retort, but instead let out an aggravated groan and stormed off into the distance.

Storm shook his head and sighed deeply. "Pathetic," he muttered.

Twilight, looking equally frustrated, just sighed. "Let’s just get back to the library."

"Yeah, good idea," Storm said, his voice softening. "We’re wasting time here."

He stepped back from the blue flowers, his horn glowing faintly as he teleported himself over the patch. Twilight tilted her head, giving him a curious look as she walked around the flowers.

"Why didn’t you just walk through the flowers?" she asked.

Storm hesitated for a moment, his expression thoughtful. "Something about them feels… familiar," he said slowly. "My mom told me about flowers like these a long time ago, but I can’t remember what."

Twilight raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Remember what, exactly?"

Storm shook his head. "I’ll try to figure it out when we get back," he assured her. "For now, let’s focus on getting some answers—real ones."

(Scene changes)

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.

(Scene changes)

When morning finally arrived, and the rooster crowed, Twilight groggily sat up in her bed. Her mane was a chaotic mess from a restless night of tossing and turning. She barely had the energy to yawn when the door opened, revealing Storm levitating a breakfast tray with his magic. The tray held a steaming cup of tea, a plate of pancakes, and a small vase with a single daisy.

"Morning, Twi," Storm said cheerfully, stepping inside. "I brought you some—" His words trailed off as he got a good look at her.

His eyes widened in mock horror. "Whoa! You look like you got in a fight with a whirlwind. And lost."

Twilight groaned, rubbing her temples. "Ugh… what a dream… Curses, schmurses."

Storm chuckled as he set the tray on her bedside table. "Still stuck on yesterday?" he asked, his tone softening. "Let me guess, nightmares about spooky zebras and blue flowers?"

Twilight nodded, slumping against her pillow. "Yeah, I guess everypony’s paranoia got to me more than I thought. It’s silly, isn’t it?"

"Heh, yeah. Silly things, silly dreams," Storm replied, his tone light. "But I guess when everypony around you is acting like the sky is falling, it’s hard not to let it creep into your head a little."

Twilight gave a small smile but winced when she caught sight of her reflection in the vanity mirror. Her mane stuck out in every direction, a frizzy disaster. She blinked at herself, then let out a small gasp. "Whoa! Maybe Zecora cursed my hair."

Storm stepped closer, putting a hoof to his mouth in mock horror. "Oh, sweet Celestia!" he exclaimed dramatically. "You’d better look up that big book of curses and see if there’s a cure for bedhead! Otherwise, we might have to quarantine you!"

He burst out laughing, unable to hold his act together, while Twilight rolled her eyes and grabbed her brush. Despite herself, she couldn’t help but giggle as she started taming her wild mane.

As Storm settled down, Twilight froze mid-brush, her reflection catching something odd. She gasped loudly. "Or she cursed my horn!" she squeaked in fear.

Storm blinked, confused. "What?" He turned to look at her, his eyes going wide as he saw her horn. It was limp, flopping to one side, and covered in blue polka dots. "Whoa!" he exclaimed. "Okay, now that’s new."

(Scene changes)

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 book is just a bunch of hooey!"

"Hey," Storm cut in, raising an eyebrow. "Whatever happened to that golden rule about not judging a book by its cover? You were the one who taught me that, remember?"

Twilight groaned and glared at him, her patience clearly wearing thin. "I’m not in the mood for one of your lessons right now, Storm!"

"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 bubble 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.

Storm arched an eyebrow, unable to resist a quip. "And here I thought that’s just how you normally fly."

Rainbow glared daggers at him, her face flushing with irritation. "Very funny, Storm," she grumbled.

"I thought so," he replied with a smirk.

"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 hate to say I told you so you two! But I told you 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 nodded silently, her mane falling over her face.

Storm frowned, his voice soft but concerned. "Whatever it is, you can tell us. We just want to help."

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.

"Whoa," Storm said, blinking in shock at Fluttershy’s deep voice. His surprise was genuine, but his tone stayed calm. He didn’t want to embarrass her further, even if the situation was admittedly bizarre.

Spike, on the other hand, had no such restraint. The little dragon snorted, then burst out laughing. "This is hilarious!" he wheezed. "Look at all of you! We’ve got: Hairity, Rainbow Crash, Spitty Pie, Apple Teeny, Flutterguy…"

As Spike pointed at each pony, he earned irritated glares from everyone except Fluttershy, who just hid her face in embarrassment.

"…and…" Spike paused, staring at Twilight’s limp, spotted horn, clearly struggling. He sighed in defeat. "… I got nothin’. Twilight Sparkle. I mean, seriously, I can’t even work with that."

Storm smirked, stepping up beside him. "How about Twilight Flopple?"

Spike’s face lit up. "That’s genius!" he said, chuckling as he and Storm shared a laugh.

Twilight rolled her eyes, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "Ha-ha, very funny, you two."

Storm grinned but quickly softened his tone. "Alright, alright, I’ll stop. But you gotta admit, Twi, it’s kinda funny."

"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.

While everypony else bickered, Storm stood quietly beside Apple Bloom. His focus shifted from the chaotic scene to the little filly, who stood apart from the others, her head hung low. He frowned, stepping closer.

"What’s wrong?" he asked gently.

Apple Bloom sniffled, her voice trembling. "This is all my fault," she said sadly. "If I hadn’t followed Zecora in the first place, none of this would’ve happened."

Storm’s expression softened, and he crouched slightly to meet her eye level. "Hey," he said, his tone calm and reassuring. "It’s not your fault, Apple Bloom."

"But it is!" she insisted, her voice breaking. "If I hadn’t gone after her—"

"No, it’s my fault," Storm interrupted with a sigh. “Still…" He paused, glancing toward the others. "I don’t think Zecora is to blame. Something in the Everfree Forest caused this, and I think I know what it is."

Apple Bloom looked up at him, her eyes wide. "You do?"

Storm nodded thoughtfully. "Yeah. Maybe the others are right about one thing: Zecora might have the cure. If we want to fix this, we need to go to her and find out."

Apple Bloom straightened up, determination flickering in her eyes. "Then let’s go!"

Storm smiled at her spirit but quickly added, "Hold on, I think I know exactly what those blue flowers are, and I’ve got just the thing to help us get past them."

"You really do?" Apple Bloom asked, her voice hopeful.

"Yup," Storm said, nodding confidently. "Now let’s move, kiddo. We’ve got work to do."

Apple Bloom nodded eagerly, her spirits lifted as Storm collected his saddlebag. Together, they slipped out of the library.

As they left, Applejack narrowed her eyes, watching them from atop the table. "Now where do those two think they’re goin’ this time?" she muttered.

Before they could get too far, Applejack made a quick dash and leapt into Apple Bloom’s red tail, clinging tightly to stay hidden. Neither Storm nor Apple Bloom noticed.

(Scene changes)

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.

"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!"

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.

(Scene changes)

Meanwhile, Storm 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!"

Both froze, glancing around, but they couldn’t see anyone. That was until Applejack popped out of Apple Bloom’s mane, her tiny frame standing as tall as possible.

"Turn around right now, the both of you!" Applejack ordered, her voice sharp.

Storm raised an eyebrow, then turned to Apple Bloom with a sly smile. "Did I hear something… squeak like a mouse, Apple Bloom?" he asked casually, winking at her.

Apple Bloom bit her lip, trying not to burst out laughing. "Maybe," she replied, her voice trembling with suppressed giggles.

"Storm!" Applejack shouted, puffing herself up. "I thought I told you to stay away from my sister!"

Storm’s playful demeanor shifted as he narrowed his eyes, his expression hardening. He stepped closer, looming over the tiny Applejack with an air of authority.

"Let’s get one thing straight, Applejack," Storm began, his tone calm but firm. "No pony bosses me around—especially when I’m trying to do the right thing. I get that you’re protective of Apple Bloom; I’m a big brother, too. But being protective doesn’t mean you get to dismiss her or treat her like she doesn’t have a voice. She’s capable of making decisions, and you need to respect that."

Apple Bloom nodded emphatically, a determined look on her face. "Mmm-hmm!"

Applejack, however, was having none of it. "I said both of you turn around at once!" she snapped.

Storm snorted, shaking his head but maintaining a calm smile. "Seems somepony still won’t listen," he said, glancing at Apple Bloom. "What do you think, Apple Bloom? Should we turn around?"

Apple Bloom grinned, catching on to his playful tone. "Nope," she replied simply.

Applejack’s jaw dropped in shock, and her tiny frame practically trembled with frustration. "That wasn’t a suggestion! Now turn around right now, missy!"

Apple Bloom tilted her head and smiled sweetly. "No."

Applejack sputtered. "No?! You can’t ignore a direct order from your big sister! Storm’s obviously a bad influence on you!"

Apple Bloom giggled as she flicked her head, sending Applejack airborne. The tiny mare flailed helplessly before Apple Bloom caught her in her mouth and carefully placed her on a nearby tree branch. Applejack’s hooves scrambled for balance as she realized she was now stuck.

"Sorry, Applejack," Apple Bloom said, looking up at her sister. "But Storm’s right. You’re the one acting like the little sister right now. Guess I’ll have to be the big sister for a change!"

"And since you’re on a well-deserved time-out," Storm added, smiling, "we’ll just be on our way."

"Goodbye!" they both said cheerfully before walking off.

"Apple Bloom! Storm Shadow! You come back here this instant!" Applejack shouted, her voice echoing through the forest. "I’m gonna tell Big Macintosh on you!"

Storm paused, looking back briefly before smirking. "Big Mac? Oh no, not Big Mac! How will I ever recover?" he said mockingly.

Applejack groaned, realizing how petty she sounded. She slumped against the branch, muttering to herself. "Aw, pony feathers…"

Storm and Apple Bloom snickered as they continued through the forest.

"You know," Storm said with a smirk, "sometimes your big sister acts about as smart as a sack of peanuts."

"I HEARD THAT!" Applejack’s voice shouted from behind.

Storm and Apple Bloom burst into laughter as they arrived at the clearing filled with the blue flowers. They both stared at the patch of Poison Joke with cautious expressions.

"So," Apple Bloom began, glancing at Storm, "this stuff you brought is supposed to protect us? Are you sure it’ll work?"

Storm smirked, levitating a small vial filled with a green, thick liquid. "Don’t worry, Apple Bloom. This right here is stinkweed honey—perfect for keeping us safe from these flowers."

Apple Bloom wrinkled her nose. "Stinkweed? That don’t sound very safe—or pleasant."

"It’s not pleasant," Storm admitted with a chuckle. "But it works. My mom learned about it from a monk in Saddle Arabia. She always said they had remedies for just about everything, even tricky plants like this."

Apple Bloom gave him a deadpan look. "Saddle Arabia, huh? What else did she bring back? Magic rugs and flying camels?"

Storm chuckled, giving her a playful nudge. "Hey, don’t knock it until you see it. They’ve got some amazing stuff there."

He popped the cork off the vial and poured the substance over his coat, the pungent smell of onions wafting through the air. Apple Bloom gagged slightly but held her ground as Storm handed her another vial.

"Your turn," he said.

Apple Bloom reluctantly poured the sticky liquid over herself, wincing at the smell. "Ugh… this smells horrible!" she groaned, pinching her nose.

"It’s supposed to smell bad," Storm replied, grinning. "That’s how you know it’s working."

With the stinkweed honey covering them, the two walked through the Poison Joke patch, unaffected by the mischievous flowers. Apple Bloom glanced around nervously, but when nothing happened, she let out a relieved sigh.

"Well, I guess this stuff really works," she admitted.

"Told ya," Storm said with a wink. "Now, let’s get to Zecora and see if we can fix everypony else."

As they left the patch behind, the faint sound of Applejack’s grumbling reached their ears. Storm smirked. "Remind me to grab her when we’re done. Wouldn’t want her stuck up there too long—she might start making friends with the squirrels."

Apple Bloom giggled as they pressed on

(Scene changes)

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.

"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.

(Scene changes)

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 saddle 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 Shadow.

"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 (and she was smelling nice and clean from Storm's stinkweed honey).

"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 tensely. "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."

Storm nodded, his tone calm and reflective. "I thought I recognized it from my studies on unusual plants years ago. That’s why I felt uneasy around it and why I teleported over it instead of walking through."

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 retorted. "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 that fillies find Storm attractive is quite a feat."

Storm blinked, then let out a chuckle as the girls giggled. "What can I say? I guess I’m the one ingredient everypony wants," he teased, shrugging playfully.

"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."

"But I tried to find a cure in all books and couldn't find anything." Twilight recalled as she looked at the book. "What book has this natural remedy?"

"Here is the book, you see?" Zecora replied, showing Twilight the book's cover. "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.

“Well would you look at that.” Storm said mockingly. Needless to say, Twilight felt silly… and ashamed.

"Uggghh, 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.

"And about her being an evil enchantress, who exactly started the rumor around Ponyville stating that she comes once a month?" Storm asked with a stern look as he glared at the six girls, who looked scared at him for a moment.

Then...

"It was all Pinkie's fault!" Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Rarity, and Applejack shouted as they pointed at Pinkie, who looked sheepishly.

Storm glared at her unamusingly.

"Alright, Pinkie." Storm said sternly. "Considering for the trouble and panic you caused in Ponyville, no cupcakes for two months!"

"Two months?! Arth you serio" Pinkie Pie spluttered fearfully before she was cut off my Storms glare.

“Want me to make it three months?” He asked threating. She just gave up and hung her head in shame.

"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.

"What?... 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, but it didn't affect him.

"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! And calling me as dumber as a sack of peanuts!"

She was so busy laughing that she didn't notice that Storm was smirking at her. Applejack then stopped laughing when she saw him still smirking.

"Wait! WHAT?!" Applejack screamed in exasperation. "Why aren't ya getting affected by the poison joke?!"

Storm then dusted himself off as he was pretty much still normal.

"Because I'm wearing a special protective substance." He answered with a smile.

The girls, minus Apple Bloom and Zecora, sniffed him and plugged their noses in repulse.

"Why do you smell like stinkweed honey?" Twilight asked with a disgusted look.

Storm just shrugged with a smile. "It's a little something my mom taught me in the healing arts. Apparently, this stuff has a protective coating that gets rid of the poison joke when you wear it. I managed to make a batch last night."

Then he turned to smirk at Applejack, “Guess who still a dumb pack of peanuts” who just looked very indignant of being outsmarted… again.

"Oh pony feathers." Applejack cursed again.

(Scene changees)

It wasn't long before they all headed back into town. 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 and Storm 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.

"And we promise that Zecora is not evil." Storm added.

(Scene changes)

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 remedy 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 Shadow

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 took her bath inside a bucket… only now her back end was stuck inside of it. It was actually Storm's idea for 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. That's when Storm came in after taking a nice shower. He smelled so sweet the girls couldn’t help but smile.

"Wow, Storm." Twilight said, happy her friend smelled so sweet. "You smell really good."

"Thanks, my mom's lavender flower shampoo makes a great cure too." Storm said as walked to the staircase before he stopped. "I hope you guys have learned a valuable lesson about today's events."

"Yes." The girls chorused together with a smile.

Applejack had something to say as she looked very embarrassed.

"Look, Storm. I just wanted to say how sorry I am. I just wanted to make sure Apple Bloom-" Applejack tried to explain, but Storm cut her off.

Storm cut her off gently, raising a hoof with a kind smile. "I know, Applejack," he said softly, placing a hoof on her shoulder. "I get it. You love your sister and want to protect her. But there’s a fine line between being protective and being overbearing. Sometimes, you gotta trust her to handle things on her own."

He gave Apple Bloom a wink, and the little filly grinned back proudly.

"That being said," Storm continued, his tone shifting slightly as he smirked, "I admit I might’ve been a bit hard on you earlier. I probably shouldn’t have made you feel like you weren’t as smart as me… even if you can be a little stubborn sometimes."

Applejack smiled at his honesty, her expression softening. "Thanks, Storm. I appreciate that."

Storm nodded but casually added, "But now I finally understand how you feel all the time."

Applejack’s smile faltered as her brain caught up with his words. "Wait… what?"

Storm was already heading for the exit, throwing a smirk over his shoulder. "Good talk, AJ," he called as he began walking out. "I’ll see you later!"

Applejack’s face turned red as the realization hit her. "Wait a second! STORM!" she shouted, leaping out of a nearby bucket and charging after him.

Storm calmly turned his head as Applejack sprinted toward him, her hooves pounding the floor. At the last second, he teleported with a crackle of magic, reappearing just outside the spa.

CRASH! Applejack collided with the door, landing flat on her back in the hallway. As the rest of the ponies burst into laughter, she lay there with a groan.

"One of these days… one of these days boy… BANG! ZOOM! YOU'RE GOING TO THE MOON!" Applejack shouted as the girls and Zecora laughed heartily and hilariously.

As the laughter echoed through the spa, Twilight and the others couldn’t help but grin at Applejack's antics. The image of the proud farm pony, still stuck in a bucket and fuming, was too much for them to bear without cracking up.

"You sure you're alright, Applejack?" Twilight teased, wiping a tear from her eye.

"Aw, shucks, I’m fine," Applejack huffed as she got to her hooves, shaking off the water droplets. "But that Storm… one of these days…" she muttered, her face still a deep shade of red from a mix of embarrassment and playful frustration.

Zecora, watching all of this, shook her head with a knowing smile. "A lesson learned, a bond grown tight, when laughter flows, the heart feels light."

"You got that right!" Pinkie Pie bounced up. "Nothing like a good prank, a little spa time, and an enchanted curse to bring friends closer together, am I right? Huh? Huh?"

Fluttershy giggled softly, her sweet voice still a pleasant relief. "It's nice to have everything back to normal."

Rarity sighed dreamily, adjusting her mane. "I have to agree with Fluttershy. After all that madness, a day at the spa was just what the doctor ordered."

"Yeah, no kidding!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed, cracking her neck. "And after all that, I think a nap is in order."

Twilight smiled, watching her friends bask in their restored selves. But her gaze drifted toward the doorway where Storm had exited. She knew he wasn’t one for extended spa days or lounging, but he had always been there when they needed him most.

"Well," Twilight said softly, "I’m glad everything worked out. We may have learned the hard way that judging someone too quickly can lead to misunderstandings… but at least we got through it together."

"A little teamwork, some stinkweed, and a dash of magic," Rarity mused, running a hoof through her freshly conditioned mane.

"And the right amount of smarts," Apple Bloom added, hopping over to Applejack with a proud smile. "I reckon Storm’s right. We gotta find balance between being protective and giving ponies space."

Applejack smiled and nodded. "Yer right, sugarcube. I reckon there’s a lot we can learn from all this."

Zecora nodded sagely, her eyes shining with wisdom. "Indeed, the heart’s true strength does show, when we give it room to grow."

As the girls gathered together to dry off and finish their time at the spa, Applejack made one last glance at the doorway. Even though Storm had teased her, she knew deep down he meant well. A smirk crept back onto her face.

"That boy sure knows how to push my buttons," she muttered under her breath, "but I gotta admit… he’s a good friend."

The rest of the day was filled with light-hearted banter, playful jokes, and the bond of friendship growing even stronger. Outside, the sun finally began to break through the last of the storm clouds, casting warm golden light over Ponyville. Though there had been misunderstandings and mishaps, there was no doubt that everypony had learned something important.

And as for Storm? Well, he might just want to keep an eye out for Applejack's next prank…