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Cutie Mark Crusader Treasure Hunters, GO!


Bramble Rose

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Sweetie Belle was really acting strange, and if finally dawned on the little colt that she wasn't herself. That had to be the fault of the Poison Joke. But he didn't have much time to think about it as she started dumping their supplies to make room for quartz she had.

[colour=#800080]“Ah wait,”[/colour] he quickly went to pick up everything the filly tossed out, putting it in his pack instead. Of course that made it a little heavier, but they couldn't just leave supplies behind.

As Sweetie started to fret about what they should do he sighed. If she wasn't thinking like herself then trying to be logical wouldn't work. He huffed trying to think of an answer, perking up just a bit when he got an idea. He quickly snatched up a rock and held it so she couldn't see.

[colour=#800080]“Wow! I found another one! Look at it sparkle!” [/colour]He quickly pocketed the rock in his saddle bag[colour=#800080]. “Look if we stay right here, we can probably find more. And then everypony else can catch up.”[/colour] If there was one thing he remembered being told by Wisp, it was to stay put when lost. He hoped if they stayed where they were at the rest of the group would find them soon.

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Sweetie Belle let out a gasp at Grim's discovery, spinning back around to face him. [colour=#800080]"Oh, that's a GREAT idea, Grim!"[/colour] She gave him a big hug, and kissed his cheek. [colour=#800080]"You're the best!" [/colour] The lil' filly wriggled happily, then settled down to start sorting her hoof through the thick, tall grass, trying to find more shinies hidden therein! That's how it worked, right? You cut down tall grass and found shinies? For some reason, that made sense to her.

It wasn't long before she found another shiny pebble of quartz! And a third! [colour=#800080]"Oooo, this is going great!"[/colour] she said happily! [colour=#800080]"Imagine how many sparklers I'll have if we stay here ALL DAY!"[/colour] And that's where she'd be when the rest of the fillies and colts caught up with them!
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  • 2 weeks later...

AppleBloomATTEMPT3final.png

OOC- Was waiting for Boss, but I was asked to go.

The Everfree forest was really getting a bad rap lately, seeing as most ponies avoided it. They considered it dangerous and scary, full of dangerous vegetation to kick it off. She had always heard of pony-eating plants and poison flowers and that was apparently just the start of it. You had scores of dangerous predators bopping around, ready to eat the unwary. Vicious manticores and hydras prowled the depths while scary deer-folk threatened to kidnap little ponies to their primal communities hidden in the deepest, darkest areas of the forest. But that all seemed like bullhockey. As far as Apple Bloom could see, the Everfree was less dangerous than the city park. Adorable bunnies hopped past roses of red while song birds tweeted above and sang their silly songs, cascading waterfalls and butterflies and multi-coloured happy face spiders dancing in the breeze as they put silly hats on the ponies who followed her. What was everypony so concerned about- this place was super awesome!

Speaking of super awesome, her friends were right behind her. She couldn't quite make out what they were saying, but it sounded like, "Yeah! Let's follow Apple Bloom! She's super smart and cute!" and, "Worp worp worp!" and, "Buy more apples! Buy more apples!", which was all either flattering or weird but she wasn't judging. She was still stunned that Scootaloo had found her cutie mark- she needed to hear that story- and the revelation about Snails- she needed to hear THAT story- but again, no judging. Sunrise and Snips were following close behind, yelling great words of encouragement as well. She had to bypass a few beautiful red roses on her way, but there would be time to pick some up to bring back to her big sis later. For now, she launched herself into the spot where Sweetie and Grim were. She went from a gallop to a trot for a few seconds, eyes down. The ground was like a rainbow!

[colour=#ff0000]"Ah found'em! Thar gonna be here any...moment...woah...Sweetie Belle, you look...woah!"[/colour] Apple Bloom was at a loss for words as she considered in enormous detail her fellow Crusader. She had seen her like this before...

gold_sweetie_belle_by_techrainbow-d5m9k8i.png

...But where'd she get the gold dust?

[colour=#ff0000]"Wow Sweetie Belle, yer super shiny!"[/colour] She said as something shiny and beautiful caught her eye. She turned to see...

mlp_oc___serenity_by_ethaes-d4i9c09.png

[colour=#ff0000]"Sweet Celestia, a Griffon!"[/colour]

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  • 3 weeks later...
Snips held back a laugh at the girly-looking Scootaloo stamping and trying to get control. She was right though, they really needed to regroup and move together. Thankfully, Sunrise stepped up and started trying to organize the foals.

[colour=#66cccc]"OK, Snips, Snails!"[/colour] She drew an X in the dirt with her hoof. [colour=#66cccc]"We'll meet here! Remember, here! You two go find Applebloom and bring her back!"[/colour]

Snips looked off in the direction the earth filly had run. "Great, more running..." he moaned to himself. "C'mon Snails!" he said to the taller colt, "We gotta get her before she tries ta' hug a manticore or sumthin'!"

The pair took off though the woods, making a point to avoid the poison joke. Snips almost immediately started panting again. Who knew adventuring involved so much running?? After a few moments, spotted a flash of yellow and red through the leaves ahead. "Apple...bloom... Stop!" he shouted, brokenly. "We... need... to stay... together!!"
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  • 1 month later...

Scootaloobanresize.jpg

Scootaloo was so stressed right now that she just nodded, Zecora..they needed to get to Zecora and have her fix this mess "Can we just go please!?" She whined, bouncing up and down on the tips of her hooves, ears pinned back, she wanted to be normal again and if this was poison joke then Zecora for sure would have a cure! She fixed the other ponies before! AppleBloom had told her the story, and right now Scootaloo would be nothing but over the moon with joy to be her normal orange self! Blank Flank or not! AppleBloom was acting weird, Sweetie Bell was acting w-

She spotted Snips's snickering expression and gave him a narrowed look before he left..Oooh he was in for it once she was back to normal! She'd dump sparkly luster dust all over his head!

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Sunrise Beach sighed as the other foals all seemed to panic in the face of weirdness. At least Scootaloo had stayed behind! Thank goodness that Sunrise was an *experienced* adventurer! Not that she'd ever faced anything nearly as weird nor as dangerous as the Everfree Forest, but she was sure she could handle it. Time for the older foals to take charge!

[colour=#66cccc]"Right! Like I totally got this"[/colour] she said, determinedly, and turned towards Scootaloo. [colour=#66cccc]"Like, when they get back here, we'll head off for Zecora's. I'm totally sure it'll only be a few minutes! Don't you worry, we'll, like, get this all sorted out and junk before you know it! But while we're waiting ... what's a Zecora, and how can it help us?"[/colour]

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Sweetie Belle looked up, started, as Apple Bloom came into the clearing, and quickly gathered together the small pile of shiny pebbles she had collected. "Apple Bloom!" she exclaimed, surprised, her hooves protectively around the small pile, and she started scooping them into her saddlebags quickly. [colour=#800080]"These are my sparklers! You can find your own!"[/colour]

She relaxed after she'd safely tucked her shiny stones away, and trotted up to Apple Bloom to give her a hug. [colour=#800080]"I was worried about you! Where did everypony else go? What happened with those spiders? Oh my gosh! Are they caught and trapped?! Do we need to rescue them!?"[/colour]
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When Applebloom suddenly stopped, Snips and Snails nearly ran past her. The pair tried to slide to a sudden halt, but ended up tripping over each other and landing in a heap. "Get offa me, Snails!" Snips complained as the duo untangled themselves.

When he finally got his bearings, he saw why Applebloom had stopped. Sweetie Belle was sitting on the ground with a pile of... rocks? What was she doing with rocks? The unicorn filly seemed like she was guarding the rocks, like a dragon guarding its hoard. She then gathered them all up into her bags before approaching Applebloom.

[colour=#800080]"I was worried about you! Where did everypony else go? What happened with those spiders? Oh my gosh! Are they caught and trapped?! Do we need to rescue them!?"[/colour]

Wait, what? She was worried about the spiders?? What in Equestria was the poison joke doing to Sweetie Belle? They REALLY needed to get to Zecora. Then, Snips had an idea. He didn't know if it would work on Applebloom, but if Sweetie was so concerned about the spiders...

"Hey Sweetie Belle!" he called out. "The spiders... they... they are all back this way! If you hurry, you can... can... join in the party. Yeah! a party!"
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AppleBloomATTEMPT3final.png

The day was starting to draw down a little, but to Apple Bloom it looked like the sun was beating down tight on top of her. It was so bright! She had to squint even to see Sweetie Belle who was likewise shining like the sun, covered in gold as she was. The griffon flew away-

blue_jay_glamour.jpg

-which distracted Apple Bloom long enough for Sweetie to hug her. Her words were kind enough but the light! The blinding light of the sun and the gold-covered filly combined to blot her vision and then slowly but surely blind her. When Sweetie released the Apple filly, Apple Bloom tried to walk. Tried and failed, stumbling backwards into the rainbow-ground and falling on her back. Still blinded, she heard Snips and Snails approach-

"Tee hee hee!" Said Sails. Probably.

"Worp worp worp!" Said Snips. Probably.

- but did nothing but rub her eyes and fruitlessly paw at the ground. Finally after several moments a semblance of normality breached the insanity of her vision. She perceived a presence and blinked several times, each blink adding a shade of reality. Finally, she saw Snips-

pokemon_pokabu.png

[colour=#ff0000]"AHHH! HE TURNED INTA AN EVERFREE HYPNO-PIG!"[/colour] Apple Bloom screamed, cuffing him under the chin in a panic before scrambling to her hooves and reaching for the length of rope she had brought along. In a whiplash motion she launched the rope at his hooves or whatever it was pigs had and snapped them up, putting him on his back. She jumped at him, skillfully avoiding a bottomless pit that had appeared where Grim was,, who had in turn ignored the pit and was hovering above it mute, and tied him up. She then stuffed an apple in his mouth.

[colour=#ff0000]"Alright everypony, we're safe from pig-Snips an' his unstoppable hypn-otic spells,"[/colour] She took a deep breath, leaning down to pet his head,[colour=#ff0000] "dontcha worry pig-Snips, we'll getcha cured. If not- well, Ah'm real good with pigs! Ah have a whole farm of 'em! You'll be the happiest pig in all'f Ponyville!"[/colour] She finished triumphantly, looking over at 'Snails' and Sweetie Belle.

[colour=#ff0000]"Well Sweetie, looks like tha gang's all 'ere. Umm, Snails ha'sorted had a lifestyle change, so Ah'm thinkin' of namin' Snails...Glitter Shell! Sounds awful pretty. Whatcha think, Glitter Shell?"[/colour] She asked.

"Tee hee hee great idea Apple Bloom!" Snails Glitter Shell said. Probably.

[colour=#ff0000]"That's the ticket! Naw all we need is that silly filly Sunrise and we can get on with it! Good thing," [/colour]She sulked back from the BAKING HOT SUN, [colour=#ff0000]"Ah feel like tha sun's tryin' ta blind me!"[/colour]

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  • 3 weeks later...

Sunrise Beach made her way through the brush, circling around the patches of blue flowers that seemed to have everypony acting so weirdly. [colour=#66cccc]"Like Sweeeeeetie Belle! Griiiiim Taaaaales! Where are-" [/colour] She stumbled out of the bushes to find that the other ponies had circled around the other way, and they'd all ended up in the same place. Except Sweetie was acting really, really weird, though not as weird as Apple Bloom.

Apple Bloom wasn't even seeming to respond to what anypony was saying - like she couldn't even hear anypony, as well apparently seeing things that weren't there, or as far as Sunrise knew, even existed in reality. Now what was she going to do?!

Then the idea hit. It was a wonderful idea! It'd really bring them all together, she was sure! It was time for Sunrise Beach to be the hero, and not only to be the hero, but through being the most clever pony ever!

[colour=#00cccc]"Like, Scootaloo figured out where the radical treasure is!"[/colour] Sunrise Beach cried out, suddenly. [colour=#33cccc]"She thinks that the most awesome treasure will end up being at Zecora's! Wouldn't that just, like, rock?!" [/colour] Though she still had no idea what a Zecora was. No time for that, though! Sunrise threw her arm around Sweetie Belle's shoulders and leaned in close, whispering, [colour=#33cccc]"What kind of treasures do you think we'll find there? Shiny treasures? Like gems?"[/colour] She let go of Sweetie Belle and clopped her hooves together in excitement, [colour=#33cccc] "like, ruuubies? Or diiiiiamonds? Or Saphiresssss? Only one way to fiiiiind out!"[/colour]

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  • 3 weeks later...
Sweetie Belle looked askance at Apple Bloom as she started saying some wierd stuff, and reeled back as she suddenly started attacking their friends! What the ... ?

Sweetie swiftly leaped to action! literally, she leaped across the intervening distance, slammed into Apple Bloom, and tumbled over forest floor with her friend before coming to a stop on top of her, pinning her down. She brought her face down close and frantically asked, "Apple Bloom!? What are you doing? What's wrong?" She looked up towards the others with a worried expression.

Wait... shinies?! All those shinies! But... Apple Bloom .. but ... shinies! But ... Apple Bloom ... but ... shinies! The lil' filly was horribly torn ... till she realized, "WAIT! Do you think Zecora might be able to help Apple Bloom?! Let's GO!" Ahhhh... she could help her friends AND get shinies. Life was good.
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"AHHH! HE TURNED INTA AN EVERFREE HYPNO-PIG!"

Before Sweetie Belle even had a chance to respond to Snips' silly party suggestion, Applebloom suddenly shouted at him. Confused, Snips looked back over his shoulder. "Huh? Who turned into a pig?..." he said, bewildered. That was when the rope tightened around his pasterns. Snips fell over to his side, and he was quickly immobilized by the farm filly. As Applebloom shoved an apple toward his mouth, Snips shouted out, "Wait! Applebloom! I'm not a MMMPH!!"

Thankfully, Sweetie Belle tackled Applebloom before the delusional filly could do anything else to him. Snips looked to Snails for help, but the taller colt seemed to think the whole thing was hilarious. Snips stared at his friend hatefully. He'd get even with Snails, somehow...

One pony, at least, was still tying to get control of this craziness. Sunset's suggestion seemed to have reached Sweetie. They really did need to find Zecora to correct what the poison joke had done to the Crusaders, Applebloom especially. That's when Snips realized that he had NO idea where Zecora lived. In fact, the only pony that knew the way to her hut was... Applebloom. If Snips could have face-hoofed, he'd have given himself a headache...

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  • 1 month later...

first post as Scootaloo!

It was bad enough that Scootaloo had become this... thing. Granted she looked a little like Rainbow Dash but definitely not cool like her. The worst thing was that formerly orange filly was thinking unnatural thoughts like tea parties and makeovers and dressing up in ribbons and bows! Yuck! She had to find Zecora fast or else she might remain the weird looking overly girly pony!

Her friends were no better off as Sweetie Belle was obsessed with collecting "shinies" and worrying about spiders getting hurt while Apple Bloom was imagining things.

"Come on girls! We need to go to Zecora's to get cured and..."

The filly put her hooves over in mouth as her eyes went wide. Her voice... it sounded... pretty!

"NOOOOOOOO!"

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Sunrise Beach could only double face hoof at the entire situation. At least all of the foals were on the same page though, which was a start. The sooner they reached this Zecora's place, the sooner the cure for whatever those "poison jokes" did to Applebloo and her two crusader compatriots can be found. "Like, alright everypony, we are off to Zecora's place for, uhhh… shinies, and to cure hypo pig Snails and Scootaloo's uhh… blue period, yah!"

Sunrise beach walked over to Snips and whispered into the short colt's ear, "look, just be excellent about this and go along with the whole hypno pig thing, at least until we like, get them cured and junk. It's like the only way okay?" Sunrise Beach grabbed a lassoed rope from one of the saddlebags that was meant for emergency cliff climbing and tossed it around Snails neck. "Have no fears girls! For I have, like, caught the totally bogus, grodie hypo pig, and will take him to the place of the great Zecora!" Sunrise trotted by Snips and again whispered, "sorry about this dude, just until we are there alright? Thanks for being so totally cool about this."

"Say Applebloom, can you, like guide us to the adobe of Zecora now things are like, cool again?" The sooner, the better, she needed her friends normal again or they'll never find the treasure!

"Now, hypo pig, let's go!" Sunrise tugged on the rope with her teeth, hopefully she managed to convince him to go along with this crazy performance, she could make it up to him later.

Somehow.

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Everything was turning up Apple Bloom, even the things that weren't on account of everypony else being so helpful. And now Scootaloo in her new cutie marked form had found the route to the treasure? Soon they'd find cures for everypony who had been harmed and soon after that, they'd find the treasure! She still thought today would

be the day they'd get their cutie marks. After all, Scootaloo was already sporting a mighty fine butterfly cutie mark and it was only a matter of time until they all got their very own cutie marks, all thanks to this wild adventure in the Everfree! All eyes and hypno pig ears were on her. Or in the case of Sweetie Belle and her super golden body, right on top of her!

"Nothin' at all, Sweetie Belle! Why, y-" Apple Bloom began just as Sweetie Belle heard about Shinies. heck yeah there'd be shinies. And cutie marks! Everypony seemed to be glossing over that, but she was no doubt most excited about that prospect. She got up and dusted herself off, shaking free of the cobwebs in her head. For a moment after the tackle she could have sworn that Snips was just Snips and not some sort of hypnopig. She looked back and yep, he was back to his hypnopig self! But that wouldn't last long. They'd be at Zecora's in no time! Apple Bloom hefted Snips onto her back and started galloping.

"Alright everypony! Ah'll lead us ta Zecora and we'll get our treasure, save'r friends, and get our cutie marks!"

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  • 2 weeks later...
From his trussed up position on the ground, Snips glared at the ponies around him. This is what comes from hanging out with fillies, he thought to himself. Why him and Snails could have found that treasure already! He then looked at his so-called 'best friend,' who was still laughing at him, and changed his mind. He shifted his glare to Snails, trying to meet the taller colt's eyes. He tried to say 'Untie me, bug brain!' but all that came out around the apple in his muzzle was, "UHUH MUH BUH BUH!"

Snips was still struggling with his bound legs when Sunrise approached him. Finally! Sunrise would untie him, right?

"Look, just be excellent about this and go along with the whole hypno pig thing, at least until we like, get them cured and junk. It's like the only way okay?"

Wait, what? WHAT? She wanted him to STAY this way? Before he could grunt out a negative, the filly had looped yet another rope around his neck. Despite Sunrise's whispered apology, he gave the filly a death glare.

Then, Snips had a thought. Duh, he was a unicorn! OK, maybe he wasn't the best at magic, but he could at least try to get these ropes off that way! He closed his eyes. focusing on his horn, then trying to focus on the ropes. There! He felt the ropes, and tried pulling. Almost... almost... But then, he felt himself being tossed onto somepony's back. His magic fizzled out. Opening his eyes, he found himself staring into Applebloom's bow. The earth pony was galloping off into the forest again, but with him as an unwilling passenger.

Were all fillies crazy?
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  • 3 weeks later...
Sweetie slipped up next to Sunrise. Was she going crazy, too? Why did everypony seem to think Snips was a Hypnopig? "Ummmm..." she murmured worriedly, "You know that he's not a -" She started to say, then cut off as she let out an *oooo!* of excitement and hurried over to pick a flower that was gleaming with a perfect coat of mist that caught the sun perfectly. Even after she picked it, it seemed to maintain the mist. "A fogbloom!" she chirped, "It's so shiny!" Into the pack it went.

Off in the distance, the helpless laughter of dozens of Prankder Spiders echoed from the forest, as they watched the chaos amongst the foals. Sweetie glared off towards those spiders, who were rolling amongst the branches - or falling off the branches and yet not stopping their laughing even after a drop to the ground. She stuck her tongue out at them, and then promptly got distracted by another shiny stone. "Oooo, a real dazzler!" she chirped, and tossed it into her saddlebag to join the rest.

Sweetie found herself looking at the rainbow-maned blue pony after that ... "Scootaloo?" she asked, finally, brows furrowed - guessed mainly becuase that was the only foal not currently present. "Is that you? Wow, your mane looks really pretty!" She followed along after the others, trotting alongside Scootaloo as they journeyed towards Zecora's.
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scootalobannerLux_zps79c43853.png

Scootaloo wondered if this was some bad dream, hoping that any moment now she would just wake up in her nice bed and everything would be back to normal instead of her being this... thing. Or maybe Princess Luna would come and help her with this nightmare like she did before! Well there was one sure way that she knew how to tell if she was dreaming or not. Grabbing a nearby stick she gave her blue flank a poke. If it was a dream she wouldn't feel it.

"Ouch," she squeaked in her girly voice realizing that this was actually happening, "Oh this is too weird!"

What prevented Scootaloo from having a nervous breakdown was watching her friends. For some reason Apple Bloom started to call Snips a Hypno-Pig, whatever that was!

"Um... Apple Bloom? I don't think that's..."

Before Scootaloo could continue with her overly girlish voice, she watched as the earth pony hefted the "Hypno-Pig" onto her back and took off. Oh this was something the Crusaders were going to remember for a long time and yet would hope to forget! Scootaloo's attention was then redirected towards Sweetie Belle who was collecting practically every rock and twig she could find. Why, if the filly could, she'd probably take the whole forest with her in that bag!

"Y... you like my mane? Why yes I am a pretty pony aren't I..." Scootaloo said before putting her hooves to her mouth. Did she really say that she was a pretty pony?

"Oh no! It's getting worse! I'm calling myself.. pretty, and I'm liking it! We have to get to Zecora's fast before we stay this way."

She grabbed Sweetie Belle by the hoof, daintily but still forcefully, and began to pull the pony in the direction towards Zecora's, hoping not to waste anymore time for the filly looking for "treasure."

Zecoralux_zps9639adbb.png

In the peace and quiet of her hut, Zecora sat on the ground, her rear legs crossed and her fore hooves up in a meditative position. With her eyes closed she listened to the stillness of the forest around her as the stress of the day disappeared. Then her ear twitched as she heard a sound in the distance. It wasn't a bird's song or an animal. It sounded like a young pony calling out.

"What is this that I hear?" Zecora said as her eyes opened, "Is a young pony approaching near?"

The zebra got back on all four hooves, stretching a little, before stepping out of the door to see if there were any ponies at her door. As the sounds came closer, she could tell it wasn't one voice but several, and they somehow sounded familiar.

"Though I do not see them with my eyes, these ponies must be close by."

Ans so Zecora waited to see who these ponies were and if they needed help.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Sunrise Beach looked over at Sweetie Belle, who despite her own bizarre behavior, was sane enough to realize Snips was just another local colt from Ponyville instead of the dreaded Hypno Pig, if there was such a thing that is; Sunrise was pretty convinced it was something Applebloom made up whole cloth. She didn’t want to acknowledge the truth too loudly though, just in case it would panic the bow wearing filly. She leaned in closer and whispered to Sweetie, “like, I know and junk, but Applebloom is convinced that he is. Like, once we get to Zecora’s and junk, we can totally cure her and everything will be..” Before she could finish explaining, Sweetie Belle’s undivided attention suddenly refocused on one of the ordinary forest flowers next to them as if Sunrise no longer existed. Ugh! They could not get to this Zecora’s place fast enough!

It was fortunate the turquoise filly didn’t have to wait long as a large, distinctive tree slowly came into view. This one was decorated with various colored bottles and jugs hanging by the vines. More unusual though were the large, painted faces that stood about. Sunrise vaguely recognized them as she remembered a few similar masks hanging up in various locations on the Gallopocas Islands when she was much younger. The dead giveaway that this was a home though was the front door, which had standing in it… Oh My Luna, a Zebra!

Sunrise had seen zebras before, but only a few times and only when she was a wee foal. The rather enigmatic species would occasional ply along the Gallopocas Islands from their nearby homeland of Unyasi to trade various items with the local ponies. She had never even spoken to one though, and was genuinely surprised one lived here, in the Everfree, given she never seen any in Equestria proper before. Still, the others must know her as they kept referring to the stripped equine by her name. “Oh.. Like, uhhh, hiiiiii… Like umm..”, Sunrise’s eyes darted about, unsure how to explain things, hoping only that this Zecora was as friendly as the others implied. “Like, we er, need help, my friends here, they ran into this really groady blue flowers and now they’re all like, crazy and junk! Can you help!?”

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HappleBloomBanner_zps996468fa.png

Apple Bloom beat a heavy path in the Everfree Forest to Zecora's hut, her breath starting to catch her in slightly smaller intervals. First there had been the race to the rendezvous before they even entered the Everfree and that was after she had a bad dream to start off the day. Then they had ran around the Everfree in abject chaos and the poison joke had turned the trip into even more of an adventure! Now they made time to Zecora's a tail wag short of a tempest. Apple Bloom charged hard, happy smiling floers lining the path to Zecora's. Despite Snips, the Hypno Pig, on top of her sucking in his little piggy air, Apple Bloom was moving fast and free towards the hut. In fact, it was open. And Apple Bloom was having such a good time runnin' that she forgot to stop.

Apple Bloom ran directly into a wall, slightly to Zecora's right as she sifted to avoid Sunrise who had stopped like a normal pony. Apple Bloom fell to the earth, the hypno pig rolling off of her casually. Her head rolled for a second before she shot back up, looking over at Zecora- she too had decided to change her look up, in all green with a shaved mane. Well, Apple Bloom wasn't gonna judge. Her life, her choices, even if they hurt her eyes something fierce. Or it could just be her crashing, either way her eyes hurt.

"'Ey Zecora! Ah like yer new look. Why'd ya decide ta go all green, though? Looks, uhh, nice. Yeah, nice," Apple Bloom chuckled, motioning back to the hypno pig.

"Poor Snips was turned inta a hypno pig bah the poison joke! Heck, all'm have somethin' weird goin' on. Thank Celestia we're normal, right Sunrise?"

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Sweetie Belle smiled happily as she saw Zecora's cottage coming into view. "What's wrong with bein' a pretty pony, Scoo-" she cut off as her eyes widened, spotting Zecora herself.

She hurried forward, her little hooves churning. "Oh, Zecora, Zecora!" she cried happily! "Oh, thank goodness! You just *got* to help Apple Bloom, you've just *gotta!*" she cried, clutching at Zecora's leg. "And Scootaloo too, she seems really unhappy! Kinda!" Her voice kept cracking in her excitement, while the little blue-coated filly slid the leg bracelets down Zecora's leg. "They got affected by poison joke, and you have the *prettiest* shinies!" she cried, as she worked to pull off all of Zecora's leg bracelets and stuff them into her saddlebags. "I heard that you're the *only* one who knows how to solve it, and how do you get those necklaces on and off cause those look really tight but they're *such* sparklers!"
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Snips bounced uncomfortably on Applebloom's back as she galloped through the forest. The bouncing was keeping him from focusing his magic, so he could get out of this ridiculous position. He'd tried simply biting though the apple in his mouth, but his widely spread jaws just couldn't seem to get an purchase on the fruit. So instead, he sulked. Well, at least Sunrise had been right about one thing: Applebloom was finally heading towards Zecora's place. At least, that's where he hoped the confused filly was going...

Finally, the forest cleared a bit. Snips looked over Applebloom's head, and saw a cottage built in a tree. It wasn't all that different from the library in Ponyville, just smaller. He sighed in relief when he spotted the white and black striped form of Zecora at the door. Applebloom was headed right for her. But... she wasn't stopping! "Afulblm! SHP!!" he tried to shout around the apple.

But, it was too late. The yellow filly ran headlong into the side of the hut. Snips was jolted sharply as Applebloom dropped to the ground. He rolled off of her, his chin hitting the ground. This painful hit had the benefit of finally making his teeth slice though the apple. Spitting away the the apple, Snips looked up plaintively at the stunned zebra. "Miss Zecora, please help us get rid of this poison joke! I dunno what Applebloom is going to do next!"
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Scootaloo took off running, or more like merrily skipping, towards Zecora's hut. Her attempts to find treasure seemed to have ended in disaster! Now all she wanted to do was to go back to who she was, not this weird and yet strangely cute creature she was now. The filly didn't know how exactly Zecora could help as she did not interact with the zebra much like the other Crusaders. Sadly Apple Bloom, who was the most involved with meeting the zebra, had gone out of her mind seeing things that were not there! And Sweetie Belle seemed to be attracted by shiny objects so she could not help. It was up to the now pretty pony and her fellow ponies not affected by poison joke to stop this.

She got to the hut in time to see Sweetie Belle trying to steal one of Zecora's rings and Apple Bloom saying that the zebra had somehow turned green!

"Apple Bloom, Zecora isn't green. And Sweetie Belle, stop trying to take Zecora's rings."

The filly then stepped up to Zecora, trying to figure out what to say.

"Um... Zecora? This is Scootaloo. I know i don't look, sound, or act like her but you have to believe me! We were Crusading and Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and I walked through some pretty blue flowers and then I became... cute! But I don't want to be this girly pony. Please help me!"

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Zecora's suspicions were true about ponies coming to visit. The first was a unicorn filly who although not meeting her before the zebra could tell something was wrong.

"This is not a good sight, you say someponies are not acting right?"

Suddenly in came Apple Bloom carrying of all things a colt on her back and then saying that the Zebra had turned green.

"I do not know what you've seen, but my body certainly has not turned green."

Then Sweetie Belle, who appeared normal, tried to explain to the zebra what happened while mentioning something about shinies. Zecora felt a tug and looked down to see the filly trying to pull one of her gold rings off her hoof.

"I see that you like shiny things, like perhaps my golden rings. I know that you aren't feeling fine, but I must insist those rings are mine."

The colt named Snips, who was unceremoniously unloaded from Apple Bloom's back and purged the apple that was in his mouth spoke about the Crudasers being infected by poison joke.

"Three ponies infected in the wood? This is not very good."

One final pony entered the hut. She was very strange looking, one that was a type that she never saw before. It was like that pony was from an entirely different generation! She introduced herself as Scootaloo which made the zebra's eyes go wide.

"Scootaloo? Is that you?"

The zebra realized that time was of the essence before the infected ponies caused more problems.

"Everypony come in here, for you all have nothing to fear. For poison joke has infected some of you, some worse than others it is true. I will make you all a remedy, a bath for you three. And once you take a little soak, you will be free of the poison joke."

And so Zecora began to gather the ingredients, hoping that the three Crusaders could be cured soon.

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Sunrise Beach watched as each of the other foals pleaded with Zecora to help; it was obvious even in their Poison Joke induced state that they still trusted the zebra enough to believe she could rectify the situation. What did throw Sunrise off, as if the day's events weren't strange enough, was the zebra's need to say everything in rhyme. She didn't know much about zebras or their ways, but the little turquoise filly never recalled any of the stripped equines speaking in such a manner, although the accent was familiar. The good news outweighed any weirdness, as it sounded as if Zecora knew what to do to help her friends, thank Celestia.

As Sunrise cautiously followed inside, she turned to Snails and began to pull the ropes free that secured him, figuring now they are here, it was safe to drop the "hypo pig" facade. "Like, thanks for being like, er, a good sport and junk. Is there like, anything I can do to help make it up?" Hopefully he wasn't going to be too upset over the ordeal, or worse, ask for a kiss or something similarly coltish.

Before she had the last of the ropes off the stocky unicorn colt, it suddenly dawned on Sunrise that maybe they shouldn't tell the zebra exactly why they were out in the Everfree. There was treasure and adventure involved after all, and as an adult, she may want to spoil their fun by sending them back home, or worse, escorting them back home. Lame! Sunrise lit her horn and the rest of the rope began to glow, still partially wrapped around Snails. "Look, huh, like, don't tell her about the map and treasure sure, 'kay? We like, don't want adults laming up our plans by making us go home, they like, never understand."

He may be part of their company, but he was still a colt, so she wasn't sure if he was entirely trustworthy. As for the others, hopefully they'll be too busy getting cured to accidentally blab their super secret plans away.

Hopefully.

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Wait, what? What was Zecora talking about? She had turned green. She was as green as grass. Greener than grass. Greener than anything she had thought possible. Greener than green! But if she didn't see it...and the hypno pig squeals seemed to take on a more pleading tone as well. Sunrise then started to unravel the rope- why would she do that? But it was dangerous! Right? Right? He was a hypno pig. Unless he wasn't. But he was! His little hypo eyes and his little but cute hypno tail! But Sunrise...and Zecora! Apple Bloom's brain couldn't register this. Sharp pains shot out and she sat down, rubbing her temples. Okay, so, poison joke. And they all had it, so what had happened to her? She had assumed that she had not been hit by a curse and instead everypony else was. And everypony else WAS hit. But was she too? And why did it all seem like...gahh, this was so much easier before the green zebra contradicted her.

"But you ARE green...Ah think...Gosh,did I ever wake up from my nightmare?" Apple Bloom pondered, still rubbing her temples. There was less shadow monster chases and her friends turning into sparkles- though Sweetie did seem obsessed with the concept now that her mind turned to the subject- but this would just be run of the mill nightmare stuff, wouldn't it? You go about your day and just hope that you wake up but nope you were dreaming. Once or twice that had happened to her and the day that followed was always weird as it threw her perception off entirely. But how could she be sure she was awake? She had already run into the wall and nothing changed. That left only one option!

She smacked herself and she smacked herself hard in the face, sending her to the ground. Slowly, she pulled herself up. Okay, she was awake.

"So...uhh, yer not a hypno pig?"

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