Element of Faith

i own Fairy Wishes and Shadow. Everything else is Hasbro's. Leave me alone!

A week after the Slumber Party, I was walking in the Farmer's Market and buying some apples. The week had been a peaceful for the most part. Aside from a small matter concerning the beavers at Sweet Apple Acres.

Today, I had made sure to lock my Art Room because if somepony happened to walk in to make a request for a painting or re-decoration and saw that painting it might lead to something.

I was currently walking to Sugarcube Corner when I noticed a figure off in the distance.

A pony-like figure wearing a brown cloak.

“Fairy Wishes!” A voice whispered.

“Fairy Wishes!” The same voice whispered. Looking around, I noticed all the ponies were inside.

Not this again.

Finally, I saw Pinkie’s head popping out of the door. She was motioning for me to come inside.

This happens about once every couple of weeks. That cloaked pony came into town, everypony closed their shops for just about the whole day and anypony who went out was consider crazy.

I don’t see what the problem is. The creature looks a little scary I’ll give everypony that, but it doesn’t mean we should shun her!

Pinkie locked the door as I walked into the closed Bakery.

Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Fluttershy, Rarity were all inside.

“Do we really have to hide here everytime she comes to town?

Applejack nodded. It was a little hard to see with the darkness but I quickly adjusted to the lack of light.

“Course Fairy Wishes! We need ta protect our families from...from...whatever that is!”

Looking behind Applejack, I saw a young yellow filly. Her bright red was held back by a pink and red bow. Her golden eyes were filled with annoyance at the situation. Her little hooves were crossed over her chest.

“Applejack Fairy’s right!”

“Apple Bloom, let the grownups talk.” Applejack explained to her sister.

Every. Single. Time.

“Psst! Twilight! Spike! Come here! Come! Here! Hurry! Before she gets you!” Pinkie whispered.

Hoping Twilight would make them see sense, I waited for the purple unicorn and purple dragon to walk in.

After they were dragged in,  a flashlight was turned on. Scaring the two.

“Is it the zombie pony?!” Spike asked.

“Z-z-z-zombie?” Pinkie asked. Successfully scaring the dragon.

“Spike, there are no zombie ponies.” Twilight explained. “Pinkie, what are you doing alone in the dark?”

“She’s not alone.” I said, ominously.

“Ah!”

The closed shutters were moved slightly, enough to finally see but still pretty dark.

“Hey Twi, how’s your day going?” I asked.

“What are all of you doing in the dark?” Twilight asked.

“I was foalnapped.” I explained.

“We’re hidin’ from her!” Applejack pointed at the cloaked figure that had finally come into view.

She still looked pretty tall, the brown ragged cloak covered her body. Her face remained unseen. Her striped hooves (one of which held golden bracelets) poked out, one in particular began digging at the ground and as if it knew we were watching her, yellow eyes turned towards the Corner.

Creepy, but not fear worthy.

Everypony shrunk down, except me and Twilight.

On the other side of Twilight, young Apple Bloom used Spike as a hoof stool.

“Did ya see her Twilight? Did ya see Zecora?” Apple Bloom sounded more curious than scared, but the fear was still there.

“Apple Bloom! Ah told ya never ta say that name!” Applejack scolded.

“I saw her glance this way.” Twilight said, confused.

“Glance, evilly this way!” Pinkie warned.

“Zecora just looked at the shop mares. No need to get our tails in a twist.” I explained.

“Fairy, do you know what’s going on?” Spike asked me.

“Yeah, every couple of weeks Zecora comes into town but because everypony is so scared of her I’m dragged into a house and made quiet so I can’t go outside.” I whispered to the dragon as Applejack babied her sister.

“Ah’m not a foal! I can do thangs myself!” Apple Bloom yelled.

“Not from that creepy Zecora.” Applejack ordered.

“AJ, she’s probably trying to meet her new neighbors.” I tried.

“She’s mysterious.” Fluttershy whispered.

“Sinister.” Rainbow added as she flew over our heads.

“And spooOooOooOky!” Pinkie explained.

I facehoofed. Every. Single. Time.

We all crowded around the window again, trying to catch a look at Zecora.

She pulled her cloak down.

Her mane style was mohawked, black and white stripes.

*GASP*

“Would you stop doing that?” Twilight insisted.

“Ah! Just look at those stripes! So garish!” Rarity groaned.

“She’s a zebra.” Twilight pointed out.

“A WHAT?!” We all asked her, sounding like a child’s play.

“A zebra. And her stripes aren’t a fashion choice Rarity. There what she was born with.” Twilight explained, getting in Rarity’s muzzle for a second.

“I told you!” I yelled at Rarity

Last time, Rarity said the same thing about Zecora. I for one, tried to explain it to her that maybe Zecora had as much choice in her coloring as we did.

Shortly after I yelled, Rarity fainted. Most likely at the crime against fashion.

“Born where? Ah never seen a pony like dat in these parts.” Applejack asked Twilight. “‘Cept, her.”

“Well she’s probably not even from here and she’s not a pony. My books say that Zebras come from a faraway land.” Twilight began. “But I’ve never seen her in Ponyville, where does she live?”

Here it comes.

“Thats just it. She lives in...The Everfree Forest!” Applejack yelled.

*BANG* *CLANG* *BANG*

“AHHH!” We all jumped from the loud noise, it woke up Rarity too.

“Spike!” Twilight yelled.

Looking back to the dragon in question, I saw Spike holding a cupcake and candy cane, standing in front of two pans in the kitchen.

“Sorry.” He apologized.

“The Everfree Forest just ain’t natural. The plants grow...”

I leaned close to Twilight, “Which they never do.”

“Animals care for themselves.”

“Which they never did before Fluttershy.” I whispered.

“And the clouds move!”

“Which they never did before pegasi.”

“All on their own!” Applejack, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy explained.

“Now you see my problem.” I explained to my newest friend “And great, Rarity fainted again.”

As if to see if I was true, Twilight looked over and saw the white unicorn across the ground.

“Just be glad Pinkie hasn’t showed you Zecora’s theme song.” I whispered.

“Theme song?”

“And that wicked enchantress Zecora lives there doing her evil...stuff!” Pinkie explained. “I even wrote a song about it!”

“oh.” Twilight deadpanned.

“She’s an evil enchantress, she does evil dances

And if you look deep in her eyes she’ll put you in trances!”

Looking over at the Apple sisters, Applejack was shaking like a leaf and Apple Bloom looked pretty unhappy.

Pinkie’s song went on a little longer.

To be painfully honest, this is not one of Pinkie’s better songs. But, it’s better than the last time she sang it I’ll give her that.

Taking the chance, I walked over to Rarity.

“The floor has dirt on it.”

With that, Rarity shot up from her state.

“SO! Watch out!” Pinkie exclaimed, standing on a table.

“Catchy as ever Pinks.” I told her.

“It’s a Work in Progress.” She explained.

Twilight rolled her eyes at us, walking around the room. “This is all just a bunch of rumors. So tell me, what have you actually seen Zecora do?”

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

“Scary right?” I asked Twilight.

“Very.” Twilight faked.

“Then...she lurks by the stores.” Rarity explained.

“The horror!” I pretended to faint.

“Oh my!” Twilight ‘exclaimed’.

“And then...she digs at the ground.” Fluttershy explained.

“Good gracious!” Twilight gasped.

“Whatever shall we do?!” I stood next to Twilight, shivering in mock fear. Apple Bloom stood next to us.

“Okay, I’m sorry but how does any of this bad? Maybe she comes to town to visit.” Twilight tried.

“Yeah! She’s jest trying’ ta be neighborly!” Apple Bloom yelled.

“Maybe Zecora doesn’t lurk maybe she shops! And the stores are closed whenever she comes to town because everypony is too scared of her to stay open.” I explained.

“Yeah, everypony likes ta shop. Ya know what I think...” Apple Bloom started before her sister got in her face.

“Apple Bloom, hush and let the big ponies talk.” Applejack explained.

While watching the poor filly trot off, I followed her. A plan to stop this nonsense finally coming to mind.

The others kept arguing as I walked slowly with Apple Bloom.

“Psst, Apple Bloom.” The filly looked up at me, “Wanna try and earn a cutiemark in peacekeeping?”

After sneaking out of the shop and following Zecora, every once in awhile we would hide behind a tree of house but we kept going. We followed her thru the park, the town and finally ending up at the Everfree Forest.

“Come on Apple Bloom, we can do this.”

The small yellow filly nodded. At first it was safe, but soon enough we ended up near a field of blue flowers. I noticed Zecora making great care to avoid them.

“Bloom, we can’t touch the flowers. Try walking around them.”

We got about two feet in.

“APPLE BLOOM! FAIRY WISHES!”

Horesappales. It’s AJ.

Turning around, we saw six mares each in varying states of anger.

Mostly directed at me.

“Yah get back here right now!” AJ yelled from behind some of the blue flowers.

“Beware! Beware you ponyfolK! Those leaves of blue are not a joke!” Zecora yelled before running off into the newly formed mist.

Not needing anymore advice, I tried to find the way back to the group. As slowly as possible.

“Ya keep yer crazy mumba jumba ta yerself ya hear!” Applejack yelled while picking up Apple Bloom. The others voiced agreements.

“Mares, come on. We’re both fine.” I tried.

“Beware! Beware!” Zecora’s voice rang in the forest before disappearing.

I was still trying to sneak away, I was thankfully behind them all when...

“Fairy Wishes...” A familiar voice started.

Turning around, I saw AJ giving me a harsh glare.

“Yes AJ?” Her green eyes stared at me with the angriest eyes I have ever seen.

“Ya put mah sister in danger.” She said flatly.

“Danger? I don’t see any danger. Do you mares?” I asked the other five. “Because I don’t. Do you Apple Bloom?”

“No. We were just tryin’ ta-”

“Apple Bloom, that is enough!” Applejack yelled. “Why couldn’t ya jest listen ta yer big sister?”

“Ah-Ah-Ah” Apple Bloom muttered. My ears flattened, I’m in such trouble.

“Who knows what kinda nasty curse Zecora coulda just put on you!”Applejack explained. Noticing I was about to touch a flower, I moved

Zecora may be creepy, but I won’t discard advice.

“Just like in my song! She’s an evil enchantress! With the dances! And the trances!”

“Mares, there are no such things as curses.” Twilight explained.

Rainbow flew thru the flowers towards Twilight.

“Interesting to her from Little Miss Magic Pants herself.” Rainbow laughed while poking Twilight’s horn.

When Rainbow backed off, I stared at my friends all surrounded by the blue flowers while I tried jumping out of the field.

“My magic, real magic, comes from within. It’s a skill you’re born with. Curses are artificial, fake. It’s conjured with potions and incantations All smoke and mirrors meant to scare. Curses have no power. just an old ponytail.”

*GASP*

The ponies turned to me.

Being the Element of Faith, means that I tend to lean towards having faith in things. Ponylore, stories, seaponies, flutterponies, wishing on a shooting star, Santa Hooves, the Easter Pony, Cupid, Tooth Flutterpony.

And curses.

“H-h-how can you do that?!” I asked Twilight, still trying to avoid the flowers.

“Do what?”

“Just-Just-Just disregard something like that!?!” Twilight looked at me with confusion.

“Fairy Wishes, it’s true. Curses are-”

“LALALALALALALA!” I yelled, covering my ears with my hooves. Squeezing my eyes shut to avoid the false truth Twilight was trying to give me.

Finally, I decided to run. The risk of touching the flowers was becoming too much and I needed to run.

The next morning, I woke up bright and shiny as ever. Today, I was determined to talk with Zecora. I had a book to return to the LIbrary so I had to drop that off first. So, having an apple from the Acres I ran towards it.

Then I heard the noises. The gaping hole in Twilight’s wall.

When I walked in, it was what could be the...

Greatest thing ever.

Rainbow Dash was flying and crashing all over the place! Rarity had dreadlocks! Pinkie’s tongue was big and polka dotted! Applejack was tiny! Twilight’s horn was all droopy and polka dotted! Fluttershy...looked the same.

But I held my laughter in, the shock really helped with that.

“Aha! This is hilarious! HAha! Look at all of you! We have... Harity, Rainbow Crash, Spitty Pie, Appleteenie, Flutterguy, and... Twilight Sparkle, I mean, seriously. I can’t even work with that.” Spike explained.

“Harity...” I whispered.

“Fairy Wishes! It’s you!” Looking over at the purple unicorn, I felt whatever resistance I had break.

“HAHAHAHA!” Collapsing onto the floor, I began to laugh at them all.

“We know, we look ridiculous. But... you don’t.”

Still laughing, I began to mutter all the names Spike made. Even came up with one for Twilight.

“Twilight Squiggle!” I shouted. Spike’s face turned to hysterics, realizing it was a good nickname.

“This isn’t a joke! Spike go find more books to find a cure!”

“Those leaves of blue are not a joke.”

Weird, I could’ve sworn I just heard Zecora.

Looking over at Rainbow, I saw she finally unlodged herself from the ladder.

“I think we’ll find the cure at Zecora’s place!”Rainbow yelled.

Wait... these leaves of blue are not a joke.

“It’s not a curse!” Rainbow crashed again.

This seems like a big joke, and if the leaves aren’t a joke then that means it’s effects are like joke-like.

“Ah I agree with Dash!”

Rainbow was right. The cure is with Zecora, not because she cursed us.

But because she knew the plant.

Walking over to the only pony that thought nice about Zecora, I offered Apple Bloom a chance to try and find Zecora again.

After a long run, I heard a voice squeak.

“hold it right there!”

I skid to a stop, causing Apple Bloom to do the same. Then, I saw a small orange pony climb out of Apple Bloom’s red mane.

“Turn around now!” Appleteenie order

“No.” Apple Bloom cheered.

“What!” Appleteenie yelled.

“Ah’m yer big sister and Ah’m tellin’ ya two ta get back ta Twilight’s!” Appleteenie screamed.

“Big sister?” Soon enough, Appleteenie was wrapped in my magic. “You’re no bigger than my paintbrush.” Looking around, I saw a nice branch to keep Appleteenie busy for awhile. “So, until we’ve talked to Zecora Appleteenie. I’m gonna have to ask you to stay right here.”

Appleteenie gave me an angry glare, and then started ranting.

“Come on Apple Bloom. I can tell the others aren’t too far behind.”

The two of us ran for a little while longer, we tried path after path until finally finding what I was sure to be her house. How was I sure you ask? It was the only home in the Forest. It was like Twilight’s in that it was made from a tree. It was surrounded by various masks and bottles.

*knock* *knock*

Apple Bloom and I waited a moment, the sounds of hooves soon came to the door.

The door opened, revealing the cloaked figure only without the cloak. Her face was a little more pointed, she had blue-green eyes and a mark the shape of the sun on her flank from what I could see.

“Hello Miss Zecora.” I greeted.

“Howdy Miss Zecora.” Apple Bloom greeted.

“Oh, now what is this I see? Two ponies that braved the Everfree.” Zecora said.

“What? Oh! Yes.” It took me a minute to get the rhyme. “My friend, Apple Bloom, and I would like to talk to you about something.” But I saw a weird glint in her eye. “Not like that! It’s about those blue flowers.” Her eyes widened.

“So it seems those ponyfolk, walked right in the Poisoned Joke?”

Apple Bloom and I exchanged glances. Poison Joke, it fit. We nodded at Zecora.

“Please come in to my humble abode, for some kindness must be shown.” Zecora backed away from the frame, letting us into her house.

It was small, more bottles of various colors on the walls, more of those masks and a big black cauldron.

“Tell me Young Pony I know the name of young Apple Bloom, but what is the name for you?” Zecora asked as I calmly sat on a bench near a small table.

“Fairy Wishes, but you can just call me Fairy.” Carefully leaning towards Zecora, I asked. “Can you help my friends?”

The zebra walked over to a small book nearby.

"Of Poison Joke I know the cure. But your help is needed for sure." She explained whole turning the pages in the green book.

"Of course. Whatever we can do." They were my friends, and as much as I liked Harity, she needed to go.

"It shrunk mah sister. And Ah'm gettin' her back!" Apple Bloom stomped her hoof on the ground.

Zecora modded at us, she even smilied.

"The cure to this is a special bath, mixed with herbs you can find in that." She pointed a hoof at the Everfree Forest.

"Sounds simply enough." I added.

"You are the first ponies to come in my home, thank you Fairy Wishes and Apple Bloom."

"No problem Zecora."

Zecora smiled and turned to Apple Bloom. "Little Apple Bloom, there is a list of things I need. All of which, must be taken with speed."

Writing a quick list, Zecora hoofed the list to Apple Bloom.

"The forest is too fierce for one small, so leave with Fairy Wishes for if you fall." Zecora added before grabbing a nearby purple bottle.

Nodding my light brown head, I turned towards Apple Bloom.

"Come on, who knows how long we have, til our friends wreck the plan."

As we slowly walked out, I heard Zecora laugh at my small attempt to rhyme.

What? I'm an artist not a poet.

"You sure you grabbed two hoofful a of the roots?" I asked Apple Bloom as the two of us walked back to Zecora's.

Her yellow head bobbed up and down.

"Sure as sugar! Ah also got six of the leaves Zecora asked for." Bloom explained.

"Great! I made sure to her a little extra pu-"

*CRASH*

My ear twitched, the sound was faint but I heard it.

"Zecora." I muttered, using some magic to lift Apple Bloom onto my back. "We need to hurry!"

Running thru the forest, I tried as hard as I could to get to Zecora's and as fast as I could.

But I was too late.

The nice bed she had was tarnished. Broken glass was everywhere. The cauldron was spilled over with a green liquid. The once filled shelves were empty and those masks were broken.

Five and a quarter mares stood in the center.

‘Warning. Anger Levels Over-heating'

"Bloom. Earmuffs."

Quickly complying, the yellow filly covered her ears with her hooves.

Trotting next to Zecora, I faced Twilight.

"Explain." My voice was cold and emotionless but I tried hard to keep my fury away from my eyes.

"Zecora put a hex on us. I didn't believe in it at first but then we saw her-." I held up a hoof.

"Twi, your my friend. The orange mare wrestling another riend's was is Apple Bloom's sister. Tell me what this looks like from Apple Bloom's eyes." They all looked at the filly with her hooves stil over her ears.

*gulp*"She sees her big sister under a curse because of Zecora?"

Face hoofing, I turned to Zecora.

"It's not a curse.”

"If you remember back, the words I spoke were quite exact." Zecora explained. I motioned for Apple Bloom to take off the muffs and come forward.

"It was a warning."

"About the blue plant, it's called Poison Joke." Apple Bloom explained.

"That plant is much like Poison Oak, but it's results are like a joke!" Zecora explained, laughing at the end.

"What in the hay does that mean?" Appleteenie asked.

"It means after you mares decide to play in the leaves, the plant devised to play a joke on you. All your problems are just little jokes it played on you, save for me and Apple Bloom." Hugging the filly next to me.

"Little?! Jokes!?!" Appleteenie yelled.

"Okay fine, but what about the cauldron?" Rainbow Crash asked.

"And the chanting."

Woah. Now I get Flutterguy.

"And the creepy decor." Harity explained.

"Treasures! From the land where I am from. This one speaks 'hello' and this 'welcome'." Zecora explained.

"Not welcome at all. If you ask me." Harity mumbled.

"The words I chanted were from old pony times. Something you call a nursery rhyme." Zecora explained.

"An the cauldron held the cure for Posion Joke that Apple Bloom and I finished getting the ingredients for." I motioned at the book. "It was a bubble bath."

Twilight walked over to the book. "But all tge other books I had didn't have the cure in!"

"Here is the book you see. Too bad you lack it in your library." Zecora explained, closing the green book revealing a strange shaped plant.

"Actually... I do have this book but the title was so…"

"Weird?" I tried. Twilight nodded, making the horn bounce. "Twilight, sometimes you just have to look past the odd cover and see something for what it is. Whether its an odd book title or a zebra who lives in the woods. HWFH."

"Huh?" They all asked.

"How Would Faith Help."

"Oh." The others grumbled.

"Zecora, I'm so sorry. I had the a cure the whole time, if only I had bothered to look." Twilight explained.

"Maybe next time you will take a second look and not judge the cover of the book." Zecora pointed out.

Bloom and I giggled.

"Zecora, could you be kind enough to mix a second batch of the herbed bath?" Twilight asked.

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

"But whenever she comes over, all the stores are ‘mysteriously closed’." I added.

"Oh! I think we can help with that." Twilight Squiggle bargained.

Once the nine of us got back to town, the shops were closed again. Twilight and I walked into the Flower Shop and explained to Daisy and Roseluck that Zecora wasn't evil and that it wasn't a curse.

Soon after getting the flower, we all went to the spa to convince Aloe and Vera that we needed to borrow the large tub so we could use the cure. After another round of explaining, they agreed to help.

As Zecora and I started making the cure, we both laughed as I explained the nicknames from Spike.

Once everypony was good and cured, I heard Twilight writing the letter to Princess Celestia.

Dear Princess Celestia,

My friends and I learned an important lesson this week. Never judge a book by its cover. Somepony may look unusual or funny or scary but you have to look past and learn who they are inside. Real friends don't cars what your cover is, it's the contents inside a pony that count and a good friend, like a good book, is something that will last forever.

Your Fairhful Student,

Twilight Sparkle

PS- Fairy Wishes also would like to point she learned the lesson before, but was glad to learn it again.

After getting home, I walked around my house and made a daffodil sandwich for a late lunch. Remembering the day's course, I chuckled.

"Harity. I will never let her live that down." I said to myself.

"Let who live what down?" Came a voice from behind me.

"AAAAHHHHH!" I screamed. I ducked below my dining room table, closing my eyes

"Fairy it's Shadow!" The voice said.

I stopped screaming and cowering. Squinting my eyes open I locked my lilac eyes with yellow cat-like eyes.

A Batpony was in my house.

"Shadow?" I asked warily.

The black stallion lowered himself down to show himself to me. His short silver mane was messy around his black fur. Yellow slit eyeballs filled with humor stared at me. On his back I could see the bat wings. They were folded but you could still tell they were bat. His cutie mark, thought unseen, I remembered to be a grayish eye mask to show his skills at hiding. He was really good and hide ‘n’ seek if memory served.

Over his chest was a dark blue vest, most likely he liked the fabric or he needed something for the cold.

"So, like what you’ve done with the place." He joked.

I punched his shoulder angrily and crawled out from under the table.

"Don't scare me like that! What are you doing here?" I asked him happily.

Rubbing his shoulder jokingly, his smile showed of his white teeth.

"I heard you lived here. And that you Bear an Element of Harmony."

Heat rushed to my cheeks.

"Yeah. What about you?" I asked.

"Same old same old."

"That bad huh?" Shadow shrugged.

"We'll it couldn't get worse." I gave him a glare. "Sorry, I thought I would surprise you here. Get to know before I have to go."

I laughed.

"You always could get a laugh outta me." I walked over to the living room.

"You can stay the night if you'd like. I'm sure ponies would be fine with you staying here."

"Yeah. A strange creature walks into town and they'll throw me a party!" Shadow said grimly.

"Pinkie might actually do that. I even got the invite to Zecora's tomorrow. But trust me Shadow, after today ponies will know not to judge a book by its cover.

Harity. Hehehe

Shadow stared at me with hopeful eyes.

"One night." He said.

"One night… once a month so we don't drift apart again. Deal?" Another smile grew on the batpony's face.

"Deal." With hoofed bumped as to seal it.

"Now get some sleep. Unless you actually are nocturnal?" I joked as we both went to our new rooms. "That's the bathroom Shadow. Your room is the next door."

"I knew that." He lied.

"Yeah, uh-huh. Good night Shadow."

He opened the door to his right, and walked in.

I fell asleep quickly. Finally knowing what happened to the pony who helped me get my cutiemark.