The next few days were pretty simple for Midnight. He spent the next few days doing simple tasks and visits. He took regularly trips to Ponyville to meet his friends. Oracle went into town some days, but she was still nervous around other ponies. The other ponies in town had some slight tension, but they were kind to her no doubt. Oracle was surprised of how different they treated her since she was a filly. The past few days, Midnight spent most of his time around her. He liked her, but he had a feeling that was greater. But he had no idea what it was either. Oracle was aware of his increasing feelings, and just made it so she pretended not to notice the complete obvious feeling. One day, Midnight decided to do something nice for her. He was just entering the Everfree Forest with Lightning Strings and Sparkplug.

"Why are we here again…?" asked Sparkplug.

"We are here to find some nice flowers" said Midnight.

"Then why aren't we at the flower shop? They have tons of flowers there!"

"I want to find something exotic for Oracle…"

"You two seem to have bonded over the few days…" said Lightning.

"Well" Sparkplug said with a cocky smile, "At least one of them is…"

Midnight ignored their slight laughter and entered the forest. There were many plants, but not many flowers. There was only just a lot of everything else; trees, bushes, shrubs, the usual. They walked past Zecora's hut, but Midnight did not stop. Sparkplug and Lightning stopped and looked at it.

"Whoa…that's a funky looking house…." exclaimed Sparkplug.

"Yes, it is a very unique house indeed…" replied Lightning. "Midnight…who's house is this…?"

Midnight turned towards them, "Oh…that's Zecora's house. She's this zebra who is good at making potions and medicine and such…"

Without warning, Sparkplug bolted into the hut. Lightning and Midnight looked at each other before running in after him. Some smashed containers were on the ground with some liquid splashed everywhere. Sparkplug was looking through the shelf wildly, dropping one container as he moved. Midnight used his magic to prevent any more from falling as Lightning grabbed Sparkplug by the ear. He instantly started to stop and flailed, "Alright alright! I'm stopping! Just let me go!" Lightning dragged him out of her hut and threw him onto the ground. Midnight walked out but only had a few bottles still levitating.

"Man…you were such a tough guy before, but now you got held back by an ear tug?" said Lightning.

"Shut up!" shouted Sparkplug. He shot a streak of lightning out from his broken horn. For some reason, it strangely bounced off of Lightning and hit the bottles under Midnight's magic. They sparked and flew over the trees.

"Oh great job guys" said Midnight. "Well, now we just have to…" Midnight turned around and didn't see Sparkplug. Instead, he saw Zecora standing beside Lightning. Lightning looked to his side and nearly jumped back from the surprise. They all sided in unison and helped Zecora clean up. What they didn't know was that those electrified potions flew and broke onto a small patch of familiar blue flowers. The liquids combined and soaked into the ground. The one blue flower began to sprout taller and change to a different shade.

Midnight and Lightning left after they finished cleaning Zecora's hut. They forgot about the missing potions, so they said their goodbyes and went home. Midnight was slightly sad that he never found any flowers for Oracle. Maybe he should just go to the flower shop. The next day, Midnight woke up feeling very groggy. He got out of his bed and stretched his limbs. When he stretched his wings, he felt something different. They felt like he couldn't change their position as easily. He turned his head, seeing bright colors. He turned his head slowly back to its original position. His wings were all black, not pink or yellow. He ran over to the mirror he had standing beside her dresser. One look in the mirror and Midnight gasped. Instead of his menacing bat-like wings, he had large butterfly wings. They were mostly pink with yellow patterns. But, that's not the only thing that changed. His coat wasn't black and blue anymore, it was reversed. His coat was now red and white. The spikes on his head and neck were now small light blue flowers. The door suddenly opened with everyone else coming in. "Midnight!" they all shouted. "Are you…"

Rainbow Dash knocked into all of them and crashed into his wall. He stepped back so Rainbow could stay on the ground. She took one look at him, and started to crack up. Tears were beginning to form in her eyes as she held back a laugh. "Not…one…word…" said Midnight. Everyone else came in and stood up. Spike and Sparkplug looked like they were trying to hold back a laugh as well. The others giggled but Midnight was more focused on the three holding back a laugh. They couldn't take it anymore, and they all laughed out loud rolling on the floor. Midnight used his magic to stand them all up.

"What part of this is funny?!" shouted Midnight.

"Let me think…everything!" replied Sparkplug.

Midnight was furious right now but he took note of everyone else. All of his friends each had something wrong with them. Twilight's horn was covered in purple spots and soft. Rarity, at least he thought it was Rarity, had raggedy hair that made her look like a mop. Pinkie Pie's tongue was covered in purple spots and seemed swollen, preventing her from putting it back into her mouth. Applejack was standing on Twilight, because she was barely three inches tall! Fluttershy seemed fine at the moment, but something was probably wrong. He looked over at the three laughing. Rainbow did not have control over her flying, constantly crashing into stuff. Spike had purple spots all over him, but nothing else seemed wrong. That is, until he burped. Instead of fire, bubbles came out. He continued to laugh, but he burped constantly. Bubbles were now surrounding him. Sparkplug's mane and tail was now completely standing out, creating an afro-like style. Midnight started to laugh at Sparkplug, but static began to charge off of it. They all finished laughing, Spike burped bubbles one last time, to finally talk about the situation.

"Does anyone know what's going on?" Midnight asked.

"I think it was that Zecora you talked about yesterday!" shouted Sparkplug. "Maybe she cursed us from messing up her shack! Or maybe one of her potions caused this!"

"Sparkplug, no potion caused…wait! What do you mean you messed up her shack?!" shouted Twilight.

Lightning ran through the group and was out of breath. "Guys…entire town…weird symptoms…strange spots…wait…" has said between breaths. He took one look around and smiled. But, his gaze landed on Fluttershy. He walked over to her and bowed, "Hello Madame, I am Lightning Strings. But you can just call me Lightning. What is your name…?" Fluttershy blushed but did not speak. Everyone else knew but Midnight, Sparkplug, and Lightning. Rarity nudged her, "Go on my dear, speak! It doesn't matter what changes you have."

Changes…? She seems fine… What changes could she possibly…?

"Hello, my name is Fluttershy…" she said but in a deep voice. It sounded like it should have came out of a big hefty mare. It sounded nothing like her usual sweet and quiet voice. Midnight laughed a little, but Sparkplug lost it. "My voice isn't usually like this…" she continued. "But…thank you for being so…uh…sweet…"

Everyone was introduced briefly. "Midnight, you asked what caused this" said Twilight. "What caused this is a plant known as Poison Joke."

"Poison…Joke…?" Midnight asked.

"It causes a random effect to anypony that touches them. It's like, it wants a joke. But, that's what I don't get. No one here has touched the plant…did they?" Everypony shook their head no and Twilight sighed. "Well, at least we know where to get the cure…"

"I'm sorry Twilight…but do not waste your time…" said Rarity. "I have already went to the Spa and ordered that luxurious bath…but nothing happened."

"The bath didn't work?!" Twilight exclaimed. "Then where can we get a cure…?"

He room was filled with silence, except for the short moment when Spike burped bubbles. Then, everypony shouted it as once, "ZECORA!" They all ran through the door except for Rainbow Dash; she crashed into Midnight's ceiling before she flew through the door. Applejack was hanging onto Twilight's mane along the trail. Eventually they reached Zecora's hut, but the door was shut. Twilight knocked on the door with her hoof. "Zecora…are you here…?" she asked. Everypony heard a soft crying from behind the door. But, only Midnight recognized who it was. He ran up and knocked Twilight out of the way, "Oracle…it's me! Are you alright…?!"

"Midnight…?!" the voice replied, confirming his guess. "M-Midnight…I'm not myself…I don't think…"

"Listen Oracle, I'm out here with everypony else. No one here is normal. I'm probably the one that is messed up the most. Please, we need to speak with Zecora…"

The door cracked open, but her eyes were only visible to Midnight, "Alright…but I want you to see me first." Midnight turned to the others, he saw it in their eyes that they understood. Midnight walked in through the door. It was kinda dark, but the windows put some light in. "Oracle…where are you…?" asked Midnight. From the shadows, a pony tail came into the light. At first he thought it was Zecora's, but it wasn't the usual black and white striped tail. This tail was mainly green with a blue highlights. Midnight wondered whose tail this was. The tail shifted out from the light, and two faded eyes revealed themselves. They were Oracle's.

"Midnight…you have to promise me that you won't be afraid of me…" she said. "No matter what things appear to be…it's still me…"

Midnight nodded, and the eyes blinked in response. Oracle stepped into the light, showing what this strange thing did to her. Basically, the Poison Joke whatever did the same effect to her as it did to him. Where ever her coat was, was now replaced by feathers. But these feathers were identical to the ones that was her tail. Her unusually colored mane now consisted of feathers. Her tail was a normal pony tail. Everything else about Oracle was normal. She seemed to be in tears, but she stepped back when she looked at Midnight. Then, a smile stretched across her face and a giggle escaped. Midnight blushed and moved one of his claws against the ground in a circle, "I said I was changed too…"

Midnight opened the door for everyone else, and they all filled the room. They were surprised by Oracle's new looks but ignored her for the moment. They asked where Zecora was, but Oracle said she had no idea where she was. Suddenly, the door swung open, causing Spike to be crushed from behind. Zecora was now inside but she was panting. Spike wobbled back from behind the door, letting out one last burp of bubbles before collapsing over.

"Zecora…where have you been?" asked Twilight.

"Pleh ot yaw a wonk I eveileb I. Pley ot deen on si ereht, dneirf ym Thgiliwt" she said.

Everypony stepped back. No pony could understand her.

"What in the hay did she just say…?" said Applejack, now tangled in Twilight's mane.

"Please dear, slow down…" said Rarity.

"Maybe she is speaking in her native language…" said Sparkplug.

Zecora shook her head wildly, "Kaerf deriah-yzzuf uoy teiuq eb dluohs uoy! Kaeps ot thguat saw I who ton si siht!"

"I beg your pardon?!" shouted Rarity.

Pinkie Pie jumped around the room, muffling something. No pony could understand her either. She grabbed a mirror and carried it over. She pointed to Zecora and then to the mirror. Spike woke up but he was still dazed, "What's Pinkie trying to say?" She kept doing the same thing, pointing between the mirror and Zecora. Lightning stepped in, "I believe what our hyper young friend is saying that Zecora is talking backwards."

Zecora nodded as fast as she shook her head before. Midnight has never seen her act like this. Obviously she wanted this gone as much as anypony else.

"If she's talking backwards, how are we supposed to understand her?" asked Fluttershy.

Twilight's eyes widened and she turned to Spike, only to be burped in the face with bubbles. "Spike, you think you can write down what Zecora says?" Spike pulls out a paper and quill, and burps once more. He walks over to Zecora, ready to write down her scrambled speech. "Oh…you also might want to write the words from right to left…" said Lightning. Spike was confused, but Twilight and Lightning seemed to have the same idea. Spike nodded, burped once more, then turned to Zecora.

"Dnuos dna efas eb dna elpmas a eveirter ot deen uoy, dnuora emit siht eruc a tnaw uoy fi. Niag ot ti desuac gnihtemos, nosaer nwonknu emos rof. Niap reggib neve na si ti emit siht tub. Kao Nosiop, tnalp railimaf yrev a si sekoj eseht fo esuac eht."

Spike wrote down every last word, and gave it to Twilight. Twilight thanked him, but she was also burped in the face with bubbles. Twilight groaned but used her magic to hold it up to the mirror. "Alright" she started, "She said "The cause of these jokes is a very familiar plant, Poison Oak. But this time it is an even bigger pain. For some unknown reason, something caused it to gain. If you want a cure this time around, you need to retrieve a sample and be safe and sound.""

Everypony in the room gasped at what she said, but at the same time, everyone else is confused. "What do you mean something caused it to "gain"?" asked Twilight. A crash outside was heard, it was Rainbow. Everypony helped her up and she pointed in a certain direction, "Uh guys…you should see what's over there…"

Everypony ran in that direction quickly. But, some giant leaves blocked the path. Midnight clawed his way through the leaves by fluttering harmlessly in the air. Some ponies laughed, and by "ponies" he meant Sparkplug, as he was slicing through the leaves. Past the leaves, was a giant plant stem. At the top of the stem, was a giant bright blue flower. It seemed to glow brightly as it emitted something through the pistils.

"What…is that…?!" exclaimed Midnight.

"I believe that is the giant Poison Joke flower" said Lightning. "I do wonder though, what caused it to go this big?"

Midnight landed on the ground, but something pierced his claw. He lifted his claw, to reveal a broken piece of colored glass. There were several more pieces of different colors around. Midnight grabbed it and held it up, "Look familiar Sparkplug?" Sparkplug looked embarrassed but everyponies attention was focused on the giant plant.

"Well, now all we have to do is retrieve a sample from the flower" said Oracle.

Midnight began to fly up, but Twilight tugged on his tail, "Wait…Zecora also said something about safe and sound. Maybe this plant is dangerous…" Midnight nodded and floated back down. Rainbow Dash crashed into the trees beside them but suddenly busted out from the treetops, "What?! This plant is not dangerous! I'm going to get that sample!" She charged for the top but crashed into the side of a petal. She fell to the ground surrounded in blue pollen. Everypony ran to her, but started to smile when they looked at her. Rainbow Dash, on the other hand, got up with no trouble and her wings were free.

"Hey guys!" she exclaimed, "I can control my flying now!"

Half of the group burst into laughter, creating confusion to Rainbow. Rainbow looked at herself and screamed. Her colors were switched. Her mane was blue while her main coat was rainbow striped. She looked at everypony with anger, "It's not funny!"

Lightning walked out of the group and walked beside the only ones not laughing; Midnight, Oracle, Rarity, Fluttershy, and Twilight. "It seems that the plant's effects are now increased and anypony that touches it can't get close."

"What we need is somepony that will not be affected by the Poison Joke to get the sample" said Twilight.

Rarity walked up to the stem, then reared back and kicked the stem. Everypony else stepped back from her. "I don't care what this horrible plant does to my fine appearance" she said, "Anything but this horrid hair will suffice."

The pollen fell on her, immediately changing her symptom. The ponies laughing stopped, but took one look at her and laughed even more. "What on Equestria is so funny know?!" she asked angrily. She looked down at herself, and then her eyes went wide. She screamed at the top of her lungs, shattering some eardrums and cracked Oracle's glasses. Instead of having raggedy hair, Rarity now had no hair. Her mane, tail, and wondrous coat were now bare. Her pale pink skin was now showing. She started to cry and ran off. Midnight wanted to go after her, but they needed to get a sample. Lightning's face expressed an idea as he ran off into the forest. Midnight and the others stayed there for a while until he came back. The one puppet they met before, Stormstrike, was now beside him.

"Stormstrike, we need you to get a sample from that flower" said Lightning.

Stormstrike nodded and floated up along the stem. The pollen hit him, but nothing happened. Midnight was glad Lightning had those puppets; otherwise they would have never got the sample. Stormstrike came back down with a piece of pollen in his mouth. Everyone ran back to Zecora's and hoped for the best. It took about a couple of hours, but Zecora pulled off a miracle and showed exactly what her cutie mark is. Not only did she come up with a cure for them, but she also came up with something to shrink the Poison Joke flower. The group got the cure and everyone turned back to normal. Rarity was so relieved about having her hair back. Even Oracle seemed glad to have her large feathery tail back. Everypony else in town got the cure as well. At the end, Oracle and Midnight were walking down a path. The sun was setting as Midnight explained what happened.

"I can't believe this all started from you trying to look for flowers…" said Oracle.

"Yeah…I was trying to…find some…for you…" Midnight replied while blushing.

Oracle simply nodded as they came onto his house. They said their goodbyes and Midnight walked into his house. He offered for her to come inside, but she didn't want to at the moment. Midnight closed his door and Oracle walked away. She stopped for a moment and looked back, "How big of a crush does he have on me…?

Author's Notes:

You want to see what Midnight looks like after the effects of Poison Joke? http://artgazer12.deviantart.com/art/I-ve-Been-Poison-Joked-290320303