//------------------------------// // Chapter 13 (EDITED) // Story: Friendship isn't just Magic, it can heal hearts too // by Raumo //------------------------------// A scheduled storm. I have been here a little over 3 months, and I still get surprised! I roughly kicked off a loose branch of the tree I was in. Perhaps it was a little too hard, as it went flying and nearly hit a pony. "Sorry," I called out. He nodded at me. They miss one small downpour and they schedule a storm? I don't get it. I jumped out of the tree. Looking up, I saw no other loose branches. The others were beginning to disperse, so I started to jog off to the library. As I was passing the bridge to Fluttershy's cottage, I saw her trying to corral a loose squirrel. I quickly ran over to her. As I did, the squirrel crossed my path, so I quickly reached down and scooped him up. Fluttershy ran over and I quickly handed her the squirming animal. He quieted in her arms. "Shouldn't you be inside?" "Oh yes. This one got scared though when I mentioned the storm and panicked, so I had to go after him." As she spoke, it began to drizzle. "Better hurry, it's starting to rain and it's going to get worse quickly." She turned to go, then turned back, "Will you be okay? If you can't make it back, you can stay here." I was about to decline when lightning flashed and she glued herself to my legs. "Well, it looks like I'm staying with you." We quickly ran into her home. I froze as I looked at all the animals around me. They stared at me warily, sensing the danger I could pose to them. I eyed the bear warily. Fluttershy may think I give off a protective vibe, but I can also give off a dangerous vibe, and most of these animals are prey. "Uh, Fluttershy? I don't think this was a good idea. I pose a real danger to these guys." She looked at the animals, then at me, "Will you hurt them?" I answered slowly, "If they attacked me or surprised me, yes. Otherwise, no." "That's what I thought." She then turn to her animals, "This is Alex guys. He may seem scary, but he won't hurt you or me. In fact, I consider him my big brother. Just make sure he knows you're coming and nothing bad will happen." They calmed at her words, but still gave me a wide berth. "Now how about that tea I offered you when we first met? Would you like some now?" "If it's not too much trouble." I slowly moved further in and sat next to her fireplace hearth. To my surprise, one of the bunnies gently hopped up to me. "Uh, hi little bunny. What do you need?" It actually pointed to itself then me. "You, uh, want me to hold you?" It nodded. Panic flew through me. How do I hold it? What if I break them? Fluttershy sensing my panic came over and picked up the bunny. "Hold out your arms." I did so. She then placed the bunny there and arranged my arms. "There now you can hold her and pet her at the same time." I nodded in thanks. I looked to the bunny and then at Fluttershy. "Not that I am ungrateful she trusts me to hold her, but why?" The bunny, uh, spoke. Fluttershy translated, "She is one of the ones in the group that Applejack was corralling not too long ago. She remembers being terrified, and your voice calming them down. She is very grateful." The teapot whistled. "Oh, the water is ready. Do you have a preference?" "I like chamomile." I actually don't really care what I drink, but I don't want to accidentally drink something poisonous if I say I don't have a preference. They then spent the evening and night with pleasant talk and food. When it was time to sleep, Alex slept on the lounge, Fluttershy upstairs. The bunny stayed snuggled into Alex the whole time. He feared hurting her in the night, but he slept peacefully. The next morning, he thanked the bunny, telling her that was the best he slept in awhile. She rubbed her furry cheek against his smooth one, and hopped on her way. Alex said goodbye to Fluttershy, and walked to the library. There he learned that he had missed a sleepover and some drama. Frankly he was relieved he missed it. (A few day's later) Where is everybody? It's too quiet. Twilight commented on the beautiful weather. "It's beautiful, but where is everyone?" They looked around at my question. Spike asked, "Is it a pony holiday?" "No," replied Twilight. Spike asked more questions, each with a negative answer. We were passing Sugarcube Corner when a 'psst' sounded out. I immediately looked to my right and noticed the opened door. All the rest of the town's doors were shut. Pinkie whisper yelled out, "Twilight, Spike, Alex come here. Get in here before she gets you." We jumped through the door. Can't believe that actually worked for me and I didn't break anything. The group was revealed and they explained they were hiding from some stranger. Mysterious, yes. Sinister, no. Neither is she spooky. Really girls? At least Twilight's not buying into it. They gathered around the window again. A zebra? So there are other equid types here. The Everfree forest? Oh nice, perhaps I can learn more about it today. If she lives there, can I? Pinkie sang a song about her. Yeah, that is catchy. Too catchy, going to have that in my head all day now. As Twilight spoke of gossip and rumors, I slipped out the door. No reason for me to stay. Might as well find out what she is like myself. She was headed back to the Everfree. I caught up with her just as she reached the edge. "Miss Zecora?" She looked at me and then continued walking. I raised an eyebrow at her accent as she spoke, "Many places I have been. You though, I have never seen within." "Uh, no. I'm new here. Came to this world 3 months ago. Missed the past few time you came, probably because I was studying. Learning of this world." I followed her. "Ah, that I now see. What do you want with me?" "Nothing really. Just making sure you weren't dangerous to the ponies." She isn't. Just different. She was about to answer when Applejack's voice sounded out, "Applebloom, you get back here right now!" Zecora and I both looked back. I saw the little filly behind us. Darn, how did I miss that? Zecora then spoke, "Beware, beware you pony folk. Those leaves of blue are not a joke." She then slipped into a rolling mist as the others yelled at her. I looked at the blue plants around us. Then at the group. Oh dear. They're right in the middle of it. This stuff looks a lot like poison oak, just blue. I don't remember reading about this in my studies. So are they going to get some weird rash? As they lectured Applebloom and Twilight explained about real magic, not curses, I tried to find a safe way out. As I scanned the area I noticed there was a clear ring around the plants. I followed it. "Hey Mr. Rider?" Applebloom called out. "Just Rider is fine little one." "Okay. Rider, why are you taking the long way around?" "Just avoiding the plants Zecora was talking about." "What plants? She was trying to curse us!" Pinkie cried out as they left. "Sure, sure." Yeah, no. That night I woke with a silent gasp from another nightmare. I sighed and rubbed my face tiredly. Just hearing an accent can trigger a specific nightmare. Lovely. i got up and tried to forget the memory of shimmering sand, fire, gunshots, and screams. As I once again headed to the balcony, I heard Twilight tossing in her bed. Oh Twilight. Why are you letting their words get to you? It's not like you. You usually only deal in facts. I shook my head as I reached the balcony. I stared at the night sky. For some reason it was comforting. My body relaxed as the dream finally left me. I decided to forgo a workout. Perhaps a walk around instead. I walked back into the library later to find it a mess. "Someone has been busy," I commented. "Alex! Is there anything wrong with you?" She turned and asked. I stared at her horn. "Alex!" "Sorry, Miss Twilight. No, nothing's wrong with me. Not any more than usual." "Oh what is this? What happened to my horn?" "Oh I don't know, maybe a plant." "Alex, this is serious." "I was being serious. Somewhat." My mouth kept twitching as I stared at Twilight. I then turned to Spike who was holding a book. There was some sort of plant on the cover. Oh. Maybe the blue plant is in there. "Spike. May I have that book?" He handed it to me. I read silently. A book on natural remedies and cure-alls that are simply super. The title is a nice play on words. Poison Joke? That is what Zecora was talking about when she said no joke. To tell or not to tell. Pinkie came in a started going on about curses again. Okay, that's it. I'm not telling them. Then Rainbow Dash crashed in, followed by the rest. Fluttershy looked normal, but she was in the plants, so she had to have something. Applebloom looked normal as well, but she never touched the plants, so I knew she was normal. When Fluttershy talked, I started coughing to cover my laughs. Twilight turned to me, "Alex are you okay? Is something wrong with you and you just found out?" "No, I'm fine." I stated between cough/laughs. I met Spike's eyes, then just started laughing with him. "This is hilarious!" Spike exclaimed. "Look at all of you guys. Harity, Rainbow Crash, Spittie Pie, Flutterguy, Apple Teeny. He turned to Twilight, "Uh I got nothing." I controlled my laughs, my shoulders shaking still. "This is no joke Spike. Look for more books, so I can find a cure. Alex stop laughing. This isn't funny." Twilight looked at me sharply. "I have to disagree." A controlled grin on my face. Rainbow then spoke up, "I think we'll find a cure for this curse at Zecora's place." "It's not a curse." Twilight and I spoke at the same time. She looked at me, "You agree." "Oh I know it's not a curse. It's something simpler than that. I'm not telling though." As I spoke, I grabbed my bag and slipped the 'SuperNaturals' book in it. Then placed the bag on my shoulders. As they argued, I watched Applebloom slip out and Applejack hitch a ride. I silently slipped after them, unnoticed by the rest. Just as Applebloom reached the forest, Applejack's voice sounded out. She noticed me at the same time. She then ignored her sister's orders and put her in a isolated spot. Looking at me, she spoke, "Are you here to stop me as well?" "Nope." I smiled encouragingly at her. "Come on. I think you'll find Zecora different than the rumors imply." She followed me. We found Zecora's home. As Applebloom talked with Zecora, I looked around. Interesting place she has here. Wonder how she contends with the forest everyday I heard Zecora explain about the poison joke and how it loves to have a laugh. Oh it had a laugh alright. So did I. She then explained that she was making a brew, that would remedy the situation. Applebloom left to get some things Zecora asked for. Zecora then turned to me, "Curious of me you are. That is why you have come so far." "Indeed. I like to get to know things on my own. I listen to others, then make my investigation, then come to a conclusion. I find you are harmless to the other ponies. You just live differently." She nodded in agreement to my words. A while later, Rainbow crashed in. As Zecora yelled in alarm, I tried to see if I could stop Dash, but she was going too fast. As the others busted in and the cauldron spilled, I sighed. As Twilight spoke of evidence, I facepalmed. "Twilight, I can't believe it that you, of all ponies, would believe this. This is not a curse. Applebloom is fine." I said exasperated. "Then how come we're like this? It only happened after she spoke to us and I don't see Applebloom anywhere." "She was warning you, not cursing you." "Then where is Applebloom?" "Right behind you. What in Ponyville is going on?" Applebloom replied looking around Zecora's home. I answered before Twilight could. "The others apparently got to Twilight. She thinks Zecora is an evil enchantress who has cursed them and tried to do something to you." "You can't stand there, look at us, and say 'It's not a curse', was Twilight's reply. Applebloom went on to say just that. Then she and Zecora explained about the poison joke. "Alex is right, she tried to warn you." Then Zecora went onto explain her home, chant, and the cauldron in answer to their questions. Then the remedy was revealed to be in a book. "Oh, I do have this one. Spike tried to show me, but I rejected it because of the title." Twilight said sheepishly. "A book of natural remedies and cure-alls that are simply super", I said with her. She turned to me, "You knew?" I took out the book from my bag. "Oh. That's why you said it is something much simpler. Why didn't you just tell us?." "Well, I wasn't expecting you to go all confrontational and believe it was a curse. I wanted you girls to see who Zecora was for yourselves, not jumping to conclusions based on fear and rumors." "Why didn't you jump to conclusions?" "Before I came, I was a spy. I make my conclusion when I have a satisfactory amount of facts. Rumors and suppositions are not enough. If possible I talk to my target as well. After talking to her, I knew she was just different, not dangerous or evil." Twilight sighed. "I'm sorry Zecora. I had the answer the whole time, I just couldn't look past the cover. Would you be so kind as to mix up another batch of the herbal bath?" Zecora said yes, but she was missing an ingredient that only Ponyville could provide. We returned to town and explained the situation. Zecora was now welcomed. As I watched them return to normal, then laugh together, something I don't believe I have ever truly felt flowed through me: contentment. I feel content watching them. They may be crazy sometimes, but they're wonderful. Perhaps I won't try to move to the Everfree after all.