Twilight Sparkle and Spike were taking a nice stroll through Ponyville, again on one of their dates. Sadly it seems that no one in Ponyville is there to also enjoy the wonderful sunlit day.

"Where is everypony?" Twilight asks.

"I have no idea Twilight," Spike matter-of-factly replies.

It was then that Pinkie Pie beckoned the duo over to a darkened Sugarcube Corner.

"Psst! Twilight, over here! Hurry!"

Of course since it was their friend, they jumped in and found the rest of the Harem plus Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash there. Applejack decided to explain what was going on.

"We're hidin' from her!" She exclaimed as she points out the window where they could see a zebra outside. The zebra then turned to look at them. The majority of them except Twilight and Spike all took cover.

Theme.

"Did you see her Twilight? Did you see... Zecora?" Apple Bloom trembled as she confided to one of her trusted sisters.

"Apple Bloom! I told you to never say that name," Applejack sternly and tersely replied.

"Well. I saw her glance this way..." Twilight began.

"Glance EVILLY this way," Pinkie corrected.

"... and then a bunch of you flip out for no good reason," she finished.

Applejack indeed flipped out for no good reason.

"No good reason?! You call protecting yer' kin no good reason?! Why, as soon as mah sister saw Zecora riding into town, she started shaking in her lil' horseshoes," Applejack blared.

Apple Bloom scowled, "Did not!"

Applejack continued nevertheless, "So I swept her up and brought her here."

"Ah trotted here myself!"

"For safe keeping."

"Applejack, I'm not a baby! I can take care of myself!"

"Not from that creepy Zecora."

It was at this point that the others started joining in on roasting Zecora.

"She's mysterious," Fluttershy started.

"Sinister," Rainbow continued.

"And spooooookyyyyyy!" Pinkie finished.

Twilight just groaned at this. She wasn't buying any of it until she saw proof.

"Twilight, yer' not buying any of this either are ya, right?" Apple Bloom asked Twilight.

"At the moment no."

That comment was enough to reassure Apple Bloom. Rarity then continued the comment chain.

"Just look at those stripes! So garish!"

Oh no she just did not say that. Twilight decided to clear up what Zecora was.

"She's a zebra," Twilight matter-of-factly stated.

Everyone else except for Apple Bloom and Spike replied, "A what?!"

"A zebra, and her stripes aren't a fashion choice Rarity, they're what she was born with," Twilight finished.

Rarity fainted... racist. Anyways moving on...

"Born where? I've never seen a pony like that in these parts, 'cept her!" Applejack continued the roast.

"Well she's probably not from here, and she's not a pony. My books say that zebras come from a faraway land. But I've never seen her in Ponyville. Where does she live?" Twilight asked.

"The Everfree Forest," Applejack matter-of-factly stated.

Pinkie Pie had made up a song about Zecora to which she then sang, but the author of this story was too lazy to type it. Twilight Sparkle then commented on how catchy it was. Still, Twilight was nevertheless not convinced.

"This so far is just a whole bunch of gossip and rumors. Now tell me, what EXACTLY have you seen Zecora do?" Twilight wanted the truth.

"Well... once a month she comes into Ponyville," Rainbow started.

Twilight began to mock with an "Oooooooo".

"Then, she lurks by the stores," Rarity continued after composing herself.

"Oh myyyyyyy," Twilight continued her mocking.

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

Twilight finished her mocking then tried to explain, "Good gracious! *ahem* Okay, I'm sorry. But how is any of this bad? Maybe she's coming to town to visit?"

"Yeah! Maybe she's trying to be neighborly!" Apple Bloom chirped.

"And maybe she's not lurking at the stores, maybe she's going to them, lurk-free, to do some shopping?" Twilight continued.

"Yeah! Everypony likes to shop. You know what I think?" Apple Bloom tried to begin... BUT...

"Hush and let the big ponies talk Apple Bloom," Applejack spoke.

Apple Bloom raged.

"Oh yeah? Well we both are dating Spike and he's younger than both of us, and ya don't say anything about that? Ah'm done here, come on Spike, lets go and have some 'small pony' talk," Apple Bloom jeered.

Apple Bloom and Spike then went to the back and started eating a cake and chatting about things in general, giggling at feeding each other pieces of cake. Applejack paid no attention although she just got SHREKT again. Rainbow Dash continued their conversation.

"What about digging at the ground? You've got to admit that's weird," Rainbow matter-of-factly comments.

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

"Fluttershy, you fed innocent little worms to birds in Season 1 Episode 7," Twilight matter-of-factly states.

"Good point," Fluttershy replies.

"I am sure there is an explanation for everything that Zecora does. And if anypony here were actually brave enough to approach her, she would find out the truth," Twilight smiled, then looked at the rest of the Mane 6 just not doing anything.

"No one? Wow. Fine I'll go then," Twilight spoke.

Always gotta be the main character huh?

The rest of the Mane 6 suddenly agreed to go with Twilight to confront Zecora.

Transition to Everfree Forest here.

So Twilight and the rest of the Mane 6 left Apple Bloom and Spike to their little chit-chat and went on their way to the Everfree Forest. They of course found Zecora who was busy making her way back to her hut. She noticed the Mane 6 who were now standing in Poison Joke.

"Beware! Beware, you pony folk! Those leaves of blue are not a joke!" Zecora warned them.

"Y-you keep your creepy mumbo-jumbo to yourself, ya hear?" Applejack retorted.

The 5 of Twilight's friends started speaking things against Zecora. Twilight had enough of it. Of course Zecora was quite upset about it and gave them a glare. The 5 of them then retreated and galloped away for their life leaving Twilight alone. The 5 of them were confused as to why Twilight stayed.

"Where's Twilight?" Rainbow asked.

"*gasp* she's still there! It's too late to help her now!" Pinkie gasped.

They then went back to Sugarcube Corner and talked about all the spooky stuff that could be going on. Spike and Apple Bloom were not having any of it either, particularly Spike who found it down right offensive when he was also of different species.

"You know Apple Bloom, I can't believe our friends would act this way towards Zecora, I mean, even I'm of different species and yet 3 of them out there are dating me and this is how they treat another species?" Spike fumed.

"Ah know right! Just because we are different doesn't mean anything! Ah mean I'm very sure that Zecora was just trying to get supplies," Apple Bloom added.

"Yep, you got that right. I think since Twilight is still back there, she doesn't believe them also, well at least that's what I'm getting from what the 5 of them are talking about," Spike hoped.

Indeed Spike was right, Twilight was tired of watching her friends act in such a way, so she decided to approach Zecora. (And this is the part where I write super smarty to avoid having to rhyme.) Turns out Zecora wasn't as bad as her friends made her out to be. She was quite skilled in alchemy and it turns out she was going to Ponyville to try get a specific ingredient. Twilight apologized for her friends' behavior. Zecora then mentioned specifically that the plant that her and her friends were walking through was Poison Joke, and showed her the page in the book "Supernaturalist" that had the cure as well as information on the plant. Twilight then understood what Zecora's rhyme was all about. Twilight didn't want to give the cure to her friends yet since they needed to see Zecora for the wonderful alchemist she really is. Since there wasn't enough time left in the day to get all the stuff to cure Twilight, Zecora apologized and asked if Twilight could come back the next day to get the cure. To this Twilight agreed saying that she'll bring herself and two friends (Apple Bloom and Spike) along to talk some more, deciding that her 5 friends will have to say they want to go to if they want to be cured. They then said their farewells and Twilight made her way back to Sugarcube Corner to pickup Spike and go home. Her friends thought she was brainwashed when she spoke of how great Zecora was unfortunately.

The next day Twilight arose to find that she couldn't use her magic unlike her Prime Universe counterpart. She looked in the mirror and hoof-combed her mane so she could see her horn, what she saw in the mirror she just laughed at. Her horn was floppy and blue polka-dotted. Of course that plant would pick her main talent as her joke. She went downstairs to the living room where Spike just laughed at Twilight's joke. Of course Twilight had earlier told Spike about Zecora. Of course Spike believed her since she is his life-long friend and trust like that isn't just broken easily. It was then that the rest of the 5 plus Apple Bloom entered the library.

"Ahf beenf pfursed! Zthecora put a cursthe on me!" Pinkie exclaimed.

Twilight of course along with Spike just laughed at Pinkie Pie's joke. It was quite fitting for the one who talked a lot to be getting her tongue all weird. The next pony who trotted, or rather crashed in was Rainbow Dash.

"Ugh, flying is much more difficult than I remembered, very sure it's a curse," Rainbow commented.

There was more laughter from the Spilight duo as Rainbow Dash's wings were on backwards, fitting that she is the type who likes to fly a lot. Next in was Rarity.

"I hate to say this, but I agree with Rainbow on this one," Rarity exclaimed.

Her mane was like that of a hippie. Quite fitting considering looks is all Rarity is concerned about. Twilight and Spike kept seeing hilarity the Poison Joke possessed and just cracked up. Lastly, Apple Bloom trotted in along with Fluttershy. Suddenly a voice could be heard but Apple Bloom's mouth was closed.

"I hate to say I told ya so, Twilight, but I told ya so!" Applejack yelled.

Applejack was tiny. Well looks like Apple Bloom is the bigger sister now. Anyways Fluttershy didn't want to speak. At least until...

"Good gravy, girl! What's wrong with you?!" Applejack exclaimed while jumping onto Fluttershy's back from Apple Bloom's.

It was then that Fluttershy spoke in a very deep manly voice.

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

Spike and Twilight could only crack up on the ground. Applejack just got served, she is tiny now and has to rely on Apple Bloom. Fluttershy on the other hand, before her voice wasn't noticeable, but well... now it is. Spike decided to come up with names for them.

"This is hilarious! We got: Harity, Rainbow Crash, Spitty Pie, Apple Teeny, Flutterguy, and... uh... I got nothing, I mean Twilight Sparkle is a hard one to work with," Spike commented, "But still you're my Twilight~"

Twilight then tried to explain to her friends that it was Poison Joke that did it to them, but none of them listened except for Apple Bloom. Twilight told them that she was going to go there with Apple Bloom and Spike to get herself cured. Applejack of course objected.

"Since when do you get to take mah sister along with you on adventures?!" Applejack high-pitched yelled.

"Sis', Ah trust Twilight, she took care of me during your episode during Applebuck Season and she's a good role model," Apple Bloom spoke.

"But still you're mah sister by blood!" Applejack exclaimed.

"Ah don't see it that way, family takes care of each other no matter their differences, like me and Spike, or me and Twilight, and with the way you treated me during my bonding time with Fluttershy as well as now with me being 'too young for this talk', Ah am just ashamed to call you mah sister!" Apple Bloom blared.

The whole room came silent. Applejack, being tiny, just fumed.

"FINE! Just go! Ah don't want to put up with this anymore," Applejack yelled.

Twilight's 5 friends then all left, Applejack taking a ride with Pinkie Pie, to try and use their own remedies to get themselves cured of the "curse". Twilight, Apple Bloom, and Spike were all left alone.

"Do you think what Ah said was too extreme Twilight?" Apple Bloom worriedly asked.

"*sigh* yes it was kind of harsh, but I think you said the right thing, Applejack was treating you differently just since you thought differently and also were younger, I mean we are dating the same dragon and not to mention you are older than said dragon," Twilight reassured, "just give her some time to realize that a one-track mind isn't going to help her in this situation."

"Thank you Twilight," Apple Bloom gave Twilight a hug.

"Alright, so we all set?" Spike asked.

"I don't see what we are waiting for, so let's go!" Twilight cheerfully replied.

They locked up the library and departed to meet Zecora, Twilight interested in more talks about alchemy since she was more of a magic pony, Apple Bloom excited to talk to another species, and the same could be said for Spike since he was already of a different species to begin with.

Twilight, Apple Bloom, and Spike then met Zecora, Apple Bloom being fascinated at how an "Earth Pony"-like species could adapt and use alchemy to make up for no magic while Spike was just intrigued by the culture of yet another species of creature that lives in Equestria. Zecora then got on with the cure and had the trio help collect the items while she put the stuff together. Twilight would have been cured... BUT...

Meanwhile, the Mane 5 all but totally failed at their efforts to rid themselves of the "curse". They all met in front of the Golden Oaks Library since it was now locked.

"So what do we do now?" Rarity asked.

"Well, for one Ah'm ready to just go and yell at Zecora to fix us of this curse," Applejack sneered, "all in favor?"

All of them said "I".

"Well what're we waiting for? We have to save Twilight, Apple Bloom, and Spike!" Applejack hopped onto Rainbow Dash and rode... her... out through the Everfree Forest.

Rarity stumbled over her long mane and tail hairs but nevertheless was able to get outside. Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie followed. The 5 of them marched through the Everfree Forest like a army. They stopped outside Zecora's Hut. It was only now that Rarity decided to make a comment on her mane's state.

"Oh... I look horrible!" Rarity whimpered.

"Plis place plooks horrible!" Pinkie spoke.

"Oh my. That place really does look horrible. Nice decorations... if you like creepy, that is," Rarity commented.

They then overheard Zecora speaking in her native language.

"Sthe sthtole my sthong! Shthe shtole mm mm!" Pinkie protested.

"She stole your song?" Rarity asked, "doesn't sound like it darling."

"Ah. Hmm... Pbth!" Pinkie then pleaded to Fluttershy to sing the song for her while she danced.

Fluttershy just sighed and complied, singing the full song while Pinkie danced.

"Ah don't know why Twilight didn't believe us though," Applejack asked.

They then overheard a line that Zecora spoke.

"Mmm! The perfect temperature for ponies, I presume. Now, where is that little Apple Bloom?"

They took it wrong.

"What if she already got Spike and Twilight? What if she's making Apple Bloom soup?!" Applejack worried.

That was apparently enough to send Applejack over the edge. She charged riding Rainbow Dash into Zecora's hut, causing massive mayhem. Zecora wasn't too pleased about this. She cursed a bit in her native language at what they were doing. She then managed to get a coherent sentence out.

"Ponies! What is this you... *crash* No! You know not what you do! You've gone and spilled my precious brew!" Zecora exclaimed.

"We're onto you Zecora. I didn't want to believe that you cursed us, but the evidence is overwhelming!" Rainbow yelled.

"You made me look ridiculous!" Rarity yelled.

"You made me sound ridiculous!" Fluttershy boomed.

"*Words that mean "You made me speak ridiculous!"*" Pinkie spoke.

Zecora fumed at the brashness and vulgarity these 5 ponies were presenting to her when she did nothing to harm them.

"How dare you! You destroy my home, destroy my work. Then rudely accuse me of being a jerk?" She blared.

"You put this curse on us, now you are going to UN-curse us!" Rainbow yelled.

"It is unwise to venture down this road. Your actions will make my anger explode!" Zecora continued.

"WHERE ARE OUR FRIENDS!" Applejack yelled at the top of her tiny little lungs.

Just at that moment Twilight, Apple Bloom, and Spike came back from another of their expeditions to gather the materials that Zecora asked of them. It can only be imagined how infuriated the three of them were when they saw Zecora's destroyed hut. Twilight even got to the point that she even questioned why she apologized for them if they were just going to do this.

"WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS?!" Twilight fumed so much that her mane almost caught fire literally, luckily Apple Bloom kept her calm enough.

"Twilight! Apple Bloom! Spike! Y'all are ok!" Applejack relaxed.

"And why wouldn't we be?" Apple Bloom sarcastically asked.

"Because Zecora is an evil enchantress who cursed us and was going to cook you up to soup!" Rarity exclaimed.

The four (Zecora, Apple Bloom, Twilight, and Spike) just laughed at their friends' naivety.

"But I told you it wasn't a curse, and I also already went to see Zecora once remember?" Twilight spoke matter-of-factly.

Zecora continued to explain.

"If you will remember back, the words I spoke were quite exact."

"It was a warning. About that blue plant. It's called Poison Joke, just like Twilight told you earlier," Apple Bloom explained, knowing the four of them had the upper hand.

"That plant is much like Poison Oak, but its results are like a joke," Zecora rhymed more.

"What is that supposed mean?" Applejack asked.

"It means that this plant does not breed wrath. Instead it just wants a laugh," the zebra continued.

"...Will somepony please talk normal?" Applejack, ironically the country pony, asked.

"What she's saying is that we all ran into the Poison Joke when we confronted her the first time. All the problems we had are just little jokes played on us," Twilight continued to explain.

"LITTLE JOKES?! Very funny, hardy har har," Applejack sulked.

The Mane 5 were slowly becoming convinced.

"Ok, fine. But what about the cauldron?" Rainbow started.

"And the chanting?" Fluttershy continued.

"And the creepy decor?" Rarity finished.

Zecora explained to them of course.

"Treasures of the native land where I am from. This one speaks 'hello', and this 'welcome'," she pointed out two of the still intact masks.

"Lastly, that soup?" Applejack asked.

"Well, that pot wasn't for Apple Bloom, it was for all these ingredients we got. The cure for Poison Joke is a simple old-natural remedy. You just got to take a bubble bath!" Spike finished off clarifying everything they wanted to know about Zecora.

"Ya see friends, we're clearly alright, and Zecora was just trying to help us. In fact, it's just sad that all the Ponyville folks don't think highly of her compared to Spike who is also of an even different species," Apple Bloom spoke.

Applejack finally clicked.

"Ah'm so sorry sis' I shouldn't have doubted you and Twi' earlier, to make it up, me and the rest of us will clean up the mess we created in exchange for the remedy, we don't deserve to get such a thing fer' free after messing up a whole lot of priceless artifacts. And also sorry Zecora for doubting you," Applejack apologized for the Mane 5.

"Apology accepted dear pony friend, but please be sure the mess will end," Zecora accepted the apology. (Ugh I rhyme so terribly.)

The Mane 5 then cleaned up Zecora's hut and then restored it to top notch condition.

"Alright girls, thank you for following through with your word, now the problem here is that every time Zecora tries to come to Ponyville for a exclusive herb for her brew, in this case the one for Poison Joke, all the stores are mysteriously closed," Twilight explained to the Mane 5.

"Oh, I think we can help you with that," Fluttershy manly proclaimed.

All 9 of them shared a laugh at that. They then trotted all into Ponyville accompanying Zecora. Twilight trotted up to one of the vendors and said that they needed to talk. The Mane 6, Spike, and Apple Bloom then went throughout Ponyville with the Mane 6 still in their "joked" states and redeemed Zecora's reputation for her. The last stop they took was at the spa where, with all the ingredients for the bubble bath, they prepared a nice big tub of warm bathing vat with said ingredients. The Mane 6 then all jumped into the bath and found themselves cured relatively fast. Apple Bloom and Spike along with Zecora decided to join them since the ingredients are refreshing for the body as well. Pinkie Pie was so ecstatic to finally be able to talk again that she...

"Oh, my gosh! 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 'ehhhh'! It was the worst! Don't you agree, Fluttershy?"

Fluttershy, with her normal voice back finally...

"...yes."

All of them shared a laugh and were happy that everything had been settled and fixed.

Dear Princess Celestia,
Today, my friends learned a very important lesson: Don't judge a book by its cover. A pony may look funny, unusual, or scary. But you must learn to look past that and learn who they are inside. Real friends don't care about your "cover", it's the "contents" that matter. And a good friend, similarly to a good book, is something that will last forever.
Your faithful student,

Twilight Sparkle

It was now later in the evening and Zecora had went back to her hut to relax and wind down after being able to meet new friends. Applejack felt really bad for what she said to her younger sister, especially right in front of their shared drakefriend. Spike wasn't too happy about it either.

"Ah'm sorry little sis', is there any way Ah can make it up for you?" Applejack asked.

"Oh! Ah know! Can we have another sleepover at Twi's? With the Harem?" Apple Bloom chirped.

Applejack and Rarity of course were a bit unsettled by that, but nevertheless agreed to it, since both were in the wrong about Zecora earlier. Twilight just squee'd, happy to be able to have another chance at a sleepover but this time with 100% fun all the way through rather than what happened on her first one. Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie understandably were a bit flushed at that statement that Apple Bloom made.

That filly sure knows how to be very blunt sometimes.

Awwww I want to join!

Apple Bloom saw their faces.

"Rainbow and Pinkie? You can join too ya know," Apple Bloom matter-of-factly stated.

"Yay! Thank you, thank you!" Pinkie and Rainbow both hugged the small filly.

Rainbow squee'd.

"Yeahhh I have a soft side, don't tell anyone Apple Bloom," Rainbow got serious.

Apple Bloom just laughed and zipped her lips with her hoof. They then had a good sleepover and good night's rest.

It had been an interesting day indeed.

End Theme with Credits.