• Published 29th May 2012
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Friendship, magic and pokémon - daniboyi



Ash accidentally ends in a new world with talking ponies, who can perform magic and fly.

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Chapter 12

Ash groaned in pain as he woke up next morning with a splitting hangover that felt like it was going to cut his head in two and crush the two pieces into crumbles. He opened his eyes and immediately regretted it as the bright light from the sun blinded him immediately and caused another wave of immense pain to go through his head. “Damn Celestia and her stupid bright sun…” He muttered angrily “Right now eternal night sounds like a blessing from the gods…”

He heard a soft giggle and opened his eyes and saw Pinkie standing in the entrance to his room, shaking with silent laugher and her eyes filled with mirth. “Not funny Pinkie…” He groaned “I feel like my head is going to split open…” Again he heard the familiar, yet still beautiful giggle, and despite his annoyance he smiled. He looked up and asked, ignoring the headache he had “So what happened yesterday? Last thing I remember was being at the pub with Big Mac. How did the dragon go?”

“Fluttershy managed to get him away.” She said with a bright smile and walked over to Ash.

“Fluttershy? You mean our little shy Fluttershy?” He asked, surprised.

“Yeah!” She said loudly, causing Ash to groan again as the headache hit him again “Ups… Sorry. Turns out she really don’t like her friends, or Pikachu getting hurt.”

Ash’s eyes widened and he immediately sat up in his bed, ignoring the jolt of pain that once again went through his head as he asked, slightly panicking over his best friend “Pikachu got hurt? Where is he?”

Pinkie immediately put two hooves on him and forced him down in the bed again as she said “He is over at Fluttershy’s house, she is taking care of all of your friends, except Pidgeot who wanted to stay with Rainbow Dash.” Ash let out a sigh in relief, happy that his best friends weren’t hurt or worse.

He looked up at Pinkie who smiled to him. She gently moved into the bed, now laying besides Ash and rested next to him. He smiled and wrapped a hoof around her, holding her close and asked “So what cause of chaos could I possibly have pulled off, while drunk yesterday?”

To his amusement and suspicion, giggled Pinkie like a little filly and said in an innocent voice “Nothing much. You passed out on the pub and we came in and woke you up…”

“Sounds like nothing happened…” He said with a smile, glad he didn’t embarrass himself.

“Oh yeah, and you kissed me passionately in front of our friends and Big Mac said Fluttershy was the cutest and most beautiful mare he had ever seen.” She said quickly, a big grin plastered on her face.
It took a few moments for Ash to comprehend what she said, but when he did, he groaned out and said “Never going to hear the end of this, aren’t I?”

She shook her head and said “Nope. But I’m more interested in what Big Mac did, you’re his best friend. Does he really like Fluttershy as in the lovey dopey way or was it just drunk stallion talk?”

Ash grinned widely, even through he had promised not to tell the secret was kind of already out and he said “Big Mac said last night to me that he really liked Fluttershy and has a crush on her, but is to shy to say anything to her about it.”

“Wow…” Pinkie muttered, a little surprised “Never would have guessed Big Mac, the most humongous stallion in Ponyville, to be shy!”

She ended up nearly yelling, causing Ash to groan and said.
“Headache Pinkie! Remember the headache!”

She blushed and muttered “Sorry…” She smiled to him and said “How about I kiss the meanies pain away?” And before Ash could protest, she had leaned over and giving him a huge kiss.
Suddenly, after a minute or two give your guess, Pinkie pulled back with a smile and said all out of the blue “So how are we going to bring Big Maccy and our dear Fluttershy together?”

Ash grinned evilly and said “And this is one of the reasons I love you Pinkie.”

At Sweet Apple Acres

A painful yelp sounded from Big Macs room as he woke up with a crazy headache. He looked around and realized he faintly remembered last afternoon. “Darn it…” He muttered, angry at himself for getting drunk. It was something that rarely happened, but when it did, he tended to break something and that never went all to well with his little sister Applejack or the family budget as they had to pay for whatever he broke. It was also at those times he wished he wasn’t such size as he was.

True it came very handy when he worked at the farm and was a blessing when things needed to get moved, but when he was drunk it was a true curse as he got careless drunk and a careless Big Mac tended to forget his own size and break most things he got in his hooves. He looked around and was happy to discover he at least woke up in his own room.

He heard a short laugher from the doorway and looked up and saw his little sister Applejack standing with an amused smile.

He groaned lightly and asked “What did Ah break this time?”

Her amused look got brighter as she said “Luckily you didn’t break anything this time Big Mac.” He let out a sigh in relief and lay back in his bed, not wanting to get up. He looked up again and glared mildly at Applejack, while ignoring the headache he had.

Applejack noticed the glare fairly quickly and asked with a minor frown “Why the glare Big Mac?”

“Why didn’t ya tell me yesterday about that darn dragon?” He asked a little harsher than intended, but it had worked well since Applejack looked down at the ground in a little shame and muttered.

“Ah just didn’t want ya to worry…”

He sighed, at least happy it wasn’t because she didn’t trust him that she didn’t tell him the whole truth and said “And what to ya think I was when I learned from Ash that ya and yer friends had gone off chasings dragon all on yer own?”

She lowered her head a little more and said in honesty “Ah’m sorry Big Mac… Ah just thought it was better that way… Can ya forgive me?”

He smiled gently to her and said “Always.” And she immediately went over and hugged him tightly with a smile. Happy that they had time for one of these rare sister brother moments. With all the work on the farm and with her spending time with her friends, they rarely had time to really talk like a brother and sister anymore.

After a few seconds pulled Big Mac and smiled to his little sister as he then asked “So what happened last night? Ah kind of can’t remember.”

This earned him a chuckle from Applejack and she answered “Not much, found ya and Ash unconscious on the pub and took yer home after Ash had kissed the daylights out of Pinkie in front of us all.” She snickered at the memory and Big Mac couldn't help but laugh either, as he could picture the funny scene.

“Did ah do anything?” He asked with a hint of worry.

To his dismay laughed Applejack harder and said “Bet ya flank ya did. You must have been really drunk, because just before we left, ya walked over to Fluttershy…” She didn’t notice he paled at the name and continued “… And said ya haven’t seen a cuter and more beautiful mare in ya life and gave her a kiss on the cheek. Blushing beat red did the girl.”

She looked at Big Mac and to her surprise saw him with his face buried in his hooves as he muttered “Me and ma big idiotic mouth…”

She wondered what he meant by that, when it suddenly hit her, she stared at him for a moment before she asked carefully “So ya really like Fluttershy in that way?”

He groaned silently and nodded. Silence followed and he looked up, expecting to see disgust and disbelief in the expression of his sister, but was surprised when he saw a warm smile as she said “So when are ya going to tell her without being drunk?”

He felt his hearth drop into his stomach as he stuttered “A-Ah can’t… S-She will just laugh at me and A-Ah’m sure she hates me after what Ah did yesterday…”

Applejack chuckled softly and said kindly to him “Big Mac. I don’t think Fluttershy is even capable of the feeling hatred. Sure she can get angry if ya hurt her friends or animals, but never hate. That is just not Fluttershy. Ah am sure she will either accept those feelings ya have for her or kindly decline and still be the friendly mare she have always been towards ya.”

He looked up with a grateful smile and asked uncertain “Ya think she likes me too?”

Applejack smiled encouraging to him and said “Let me put it this way. If she didn’t even notice what fine stallion that have taken a liking to her, Ah would be slightly insulted on ya behalf.”

Big Mac smiled to his oldest younger sister and felt oddly encouraged in this whole thing. For the first time in many months he actually felt like he could tell Fluttershy of his feelings towards her…

At Fluttershy’s place

Fluttershy in her couch with a cup of steaming tea in front of her, while she thought over what happened last night with a small blush on her cheeks. She remembered that Big Mac had gone over to her and said she was both the cutest and most beautiful mare he had ever seen and even kissed her on the cheek. She blushed even more scarlet red as the realization hit her head on. A stallion had told her she was beautiful, a stallion had kissed her, even if it was on the cheek.

She sighed and lay on the couch once again and thought about the one secret she had held from everypony she ever knew.
She hadn’t dared to tell anypony, she was scared they would laugh and say she was not worthy of such thing… Of course she knew she was being ridiculous and her friends would never do that, but the fear still lay there, just waiting to strike. There was a few time she had been close to telling Rarity about her secret, but she always ended in changing the sentence in the end…

Her secret was she had a huge crush on the big stallion named Big Macintosh. She attained that crush after her first week in Ponyville, where Big Mac arrived at her house to buy a pet for Applejack and after a while he found Winona, a small dog that was overly excited and happy all the time. In those few hours, even through he barely spoke, except with an ‘Eeyup’ or a ‘Noope’ she had gained her crush on him. It was just his gentle nature and his nice way to live and the fact that each time he smiled it sent a spark of electricity down her spine.

So of course now she was mortified over last night, but also very confused, slightly happy and also a little sad. Mortified because of the words he spoke to her and the peck on the cheek, confused over why he would say such thing to her, a simply pegasus who could barely fly, happy because she thought it might meant he liked her, like she liked him and sad because it might also just be words spoken of a drunken stallion who has barely any control over what he says.

She sighed and laid her head on her forelegs, deciding she would go for help to somepony and she knew just the right pony to help her.

A few minutes later

“S-So that is why I need your help Rarity…” Fluttershy ended nervously as she had just told her not so well big secret anymore. She looked up and saw Rarity looking at her surprised, before her eyes lit up in a spark and she let out a happy squall as a small filly who just had received her favourite pet.

“I’m so happy for you Fluttershy! You have finally found the stallion in your life!” She said with stars in her eyes and a wide smile.

Fluttershy blushed even further than she already did and stuttered “O-Of m-my l-l-life…?”

Rarity smiled and nodded excited “Trust me when I say Fluttershy. You have fallen deeply for Big Macintosh.” Fluttershy let out a tiny squeak and blushed again.

Rarity smiled warmly to her friend and put a hoof around her shoulder and said “Come one here Fluttershy, I will tell you about what to do when you have fallen for somepony and how to get their attention.”

Fluttershy looked mortified as she was dragged away by Rarity.

A few days later

Ash woke up early morning, when the sun just had raised over the skies. He smiled and awoke Pikachu, who laid next to him as he said “Come on Pikachu. We have to get breakfast and then I have to tell the rest of the team something important.” Pikachu nodded, still very tired and yawned, before lifting his body of the bed and jumped down on the floor. He ran out of the room and down towards the kitchen. Ash heard a voice saying “Hello Pikachu. Is Ash up yet?”

Ash guessed Pikachu must have nodded, because not many seconds later, walked Pinkie in with a smile and over to him. She leaned down and kissed him lovingly on the lips. He kissed her briefly back and said “Good morning love.”
She smiled brightly as he called her that and kissed him again, this time a little longer. She pulled back and said “Let’s go down and have some breakfast.”

Ash nodded with a small dazed smile and followed Pinkie downstairs. They were met by Mrs. and Mr. Cake, who was sitting and eating their breakfast, Mrs. Cake with her normal morning tea and Mr. Cake with his strong morning coffee he needed to wake up too.

Ash walked through the town on a particular nice and warm day, with Pikachu running next to him. He smiled down to his friend and asked “So what are you up for today buddy?” Pikachu looked up at his best friend with a smile as he ran next to him and said “Pika pi. Pikachu! Piki pi!”

“Ok let’s go visit Dash for a change. Maybe she has something for us to do and then I can give Pidgeot a little needed air time, while I’m at it.” Pikachu nodded with a smile, before looking around, trying to spot some of there friends.
He suddenly frowned a little and cried out “Pika! Pi Pikachu!” Ash looked at Pikachu with a raised eyebrow, before looking around and said with a little surprise in his voice “You’re right Pikachu… Everypony is gone… Where do you think they could have gone on such a nice day?”

He then heard a voice behind him calling “Ash!” He turned around and saw Twilight walking towards him with a smile, he smiled back as she asked “Have you seen anypony today?” He shook his head in response and she sighed and said “I wonder where everypony could have gone on such a nice day as this…” And looked up in the sky clear heaven.

“Pssst! Twilight. Ash! Over here.” A voice whispered from the doorway. They turned and saw Pinkie had the door opened to Sugarcube Corner. They walked over to her a little confused why she was hiding indoors, but as soon they were in arms reach, she grabbed them both and forcefully pulled them inside the house.

Ash groaned lightly as he got up from the floor and asked out in the dark room “What are you doing Pinkie? It’s really not like you to be inside on a beautiful day as this?”

“Yeah.” Agreed Twilight “What are you doing hiding here alone?”

“Alone?” She asked with a confused look and said “I’m not alone.” And with that the darkness cleared a little and all of their friends were revealed.

Ash rolled his eyes in amusement and asked “Ok, then what are you all doing in here in the darkness on a beautiful day?”

“We were hiding from her!” Applejack said in a surprisingly scared voice and pointed out the window. Ash and Twilight curiously walked over to the window and looked out to see a hooded figure walking into the town. Suddenly they felt all of their friends had surrounded them tightly and looked out of the window with them. He frowned a little, wondering why they would hide from the stranger, but decided to wait and see.

They all watched as she walked into the town and looked around, before she gave a small sign and weirdly enough began to dig in the ground with her hooves. All the girls, except Twilight, let out a gasp and Ash didn’t know if the stranger had noticed, because she looked directly in their direction and Ash must admit the hood had a scary effect as it made her eyes glow in a yellow light. She finally pushed the hood down and revealed her light and dark grey coloured fur and mane, her mane, unlike other ponies, went straight up into the air and was striped in a darker and lighter form of grey. Ash eyes went wide as he recognized the animal as a zebra. He looked around and saw his friends was looking scared as before and said “I don’t really see what is wrong here…”

Applejack looked at him, like he was crazy and said “How can ya not see it? She is not from around here. Ah have never seen a pony like her before.”

“Yeah. Just look at those stripes. Most unpleasant.”
Just as Ash was about to say it, interrupted Twilight him with saying “She’s a zebra.”

“A what?” They all asked, confused.

“A zebra. They come from a faraway place. I just wonder what she is doing her in Equestria… And her stripes aren’t a fashion choice Rarity. They are what she was born with.” This caused Rarity to faint and Ash to roll his eyes in slight annoyance over her antics.

“Still… That doesn’t explain why she lurks around the stores like that, and the creepy digging in the ground!” Pinkie said.

“Maybe she is just visiting town? Shopping?” Twilight said with a testing smile.

“What about the digging at the ground?”

“M-Maybe she is digging for innocent creatures…” Fluttershy mumbled, surprising Ash a little as she had kept quiet for so long.

“Yeah!” Stated Pinkie, who was somehow convinced she was as evil as said “She is so evil I even wrote a song about her!” Suddenly she began to jump around in the house as she sang.
“She’s an evil enchantress.
And she does evil dances.
And if you look into her eyes she will put you in trances! ...”

Ash didn’t hear the rest of the song, as he quietly left the room, wanting to speak with the mysterious and ‘oh so evil’ zebra, before judging her. He stepped outside in the refreshing sunlight again and let out a happy sigh and began to walk towards the zebra with Pikachu following right behind him. Never once had his friends noticed he had left and it was maybe for the better, as they all, except Twilight, would maybe attack her for no reason with their views about her.
He was a few feets behind the zebra, when she turned around and looked right at him with her sharp eyes. He didn’t move a nerve and smiled at her and said “Hello. My name is Ash Ketchum and I haven’t seen you before. What is your name?”

Suddenly the zebra smiled brightly to him and said in a rhyme, surprising Ash a little
“Ah. Finally somepony who is polite.
I was almost afraid, to get some help, I had to use might.
Zecora, for your question, is my name.
Herbs and natural healing is my game.”
Ash looked at her a little confused and asked “You’re looking for help? What can I help you with then?”

She smiled kindly back at him and continued her rhyming, answering his question
“I need some herbs for my knowledge to be grown.
But sadly those herbs are only sold in this town.
And as you can see.
My appearance alone causes fear and panic to spree.”

Ash sighed and rubbed his forehead with a hoof and said “Then I apologize for my friends and town folks reactions. I really can’t see the logic in being afraid of somepony you don’t know, but I guess rumours can get to far sometimes…” He looked up and asked “Where do you live by the way? I haven’t seen you anywhere near Ponyville before?”

“That answer might be one of the causes to such rumour to spree.
You see. I live in the forest called Everfree.” She said with a smile.

Ash raised a slight eyebrow and said “That is slightly unusual… But I can see why you live there as you use herbs a lot and the forest got many of those…”

“A smart young mind I seem to have found.” She started her rhyming with a grin.
“And one who keeps his judges down on the ground.”
Ash shrugged and said of handily “Just never saw the reason to judge without facts.”
“Another smart trait to possess.
Sadly many ponies still need this kind of mind to access.” She shook her head and sighed. Ash couldn’t help but agree with Zecora, while he looked back at the house and saw, not to his surprise, each of his friends standing in the window looking at him talking to her with horror in their eyes, except Twilight who looked proud at him, Pinkie was the one who looked worst, she looked pale and her eyes was widened in terror and worry. Ash felt a little bad about bringing this kind of worry on her, but knew sometimes you had to do what was right, and not what was easy. This time it was right to prove that Zecora wasn’t evil or an enchanter, just a medical zebra who lived in the Everfree forest, because of the natural supplies of herbs and plants.

She looked up at him and smiled as she asked carefully “Would you like to visit my humble hut?
I swear the route I take is safe and creatures of danger, we meet will not.”

Ash looked at her with a smile and said “I would be honoured to be shown your home Zecora. You lead the way. If you can wait a second I will just inform my friends of this.” Zecora nodded with a smile and Ash turned and walked back towards the house.

He knocked on the door and it was immediately opened and once again he was dragged inside within a second by a pink blur. He was suddenly on his back against the floor with Pinkie sitting on top of him with panic in her eyes as she said “Ash! Are you ok?! Did she do anything to you? Why aren’t you answering! Did she enchant you!? OH NO! Ash has been encha…” She was silenced as Ash wrapped his hooves around her and pressed her into a forceful kiss, the only way he knew to shut her up for at least a few minutes.

As he released her and stood up again, leaving her sitting on the floor with a smile and a dazed look, he turned to the others, who looked at him with worry, or in Fluttershy’s case, blushing over the kiss he gave Pinkie. He cleared his throat and asked “Ready to listen?” The others nodded. He smiled and began to speak “First of all you have seriously misjudged Zecora. She is not evil or an enchantress or whatever rumour there goes around with her. She is not enchanting ponies and making soup out of them.” He looked clearly at Pinkie, who had snapped out of her daze as he began to explain, she looked a little surprised, but kept listening. “While it is true she lives in the Everfree forest, it is not because she is evil, but because of the herbs and plants that grows in the forest. Zecora works on potions who have medical purposes. She has invited me to visit her home. Any of you wants to come?”

Pinkie stood immediately up and said “I’m coming with you!”

“I think I will join you too.” Added Twilight “These medical potions sounds interesting and maybe I can learn something new in there.”

“Ah think ah join ya.” Said Applejack, even through you could easily see the nervousness in her eyes.
The rest of the group politely declined. Rarity just didn’t want to go into the forest. Rainbow Dash was busy with her moves and her training and Fluttershy was scared of the forest and was also busy with her critters and animals. The group of four ponies nodded and left the building. Outside they found Zecora waiting with her travelling cloak hanging from her shoulder and down her body. She had a kind smile as she said “So you are the friends Ash spoke of so well.
It’s a delight to meet you. But let’s go, we shouldn’t stay to long and dwell.” The others nodded in agreement and followed her out of Ponyville, obvious to the many shocked stares they got from ponies inside their houses.

After a half an hour, they reached the edge of the forest. Twilight looked at it a little nervous and couldn’t help but ask
Zecora “How do you even live in there? Most ponies are terrified to go in there even for a few minutes, let alone live in there all the time.”

Zecora smiled, not minding the question and answered in her typical rhyming “To live in the Everfree is not an easy life.
But for the herbs and plants in the forest. It is a task I will gladly strife.” Twilight smiled and nodded in understanding.

Just before they entered Zecora turned to them and asked with a serious expression “Now, before we enter I must know.
Is this your first time in Everfree or do you know the flow?”

Applejack looked confused by her choice of words and asked “Pardon me ma’m?”

“I think she means if we know how to deal with the forest and what can happen in there…” Twilight said thoughtfully.
Applejack smiled gratefully to Twilight and then turned to Zecora and said “We have been in here once or twice, but we aren’t all familiar with the forest at all.”

Zecora nodded and said in a voice that left no argument “Then follow me, I will lead us to my hut.
But remember, touch nothing of which I say you must not.
Many dangerous and poisonous plants of alarm.
Just lays and wait to bring ponies harm.” The group nodded, clearly not wanting to be poisoned. Ash wrapped a hoof around Pinkie, who happily leaned into his embrace. She wasn’t nervous, the forest didn’t scare her at all actually, but Ash was nervous for her well being and she knew it would help for his nerves if she just let him embrace her. They all walked into the forests debts.

In a matter of ten minutes they were deep into the forest, walking along with the many dark trees around them as Zecora went on and explained to the curious Twilight what different plants and herbs did.
“That one of there cures headache if brewed correct,
but will cause sore throat if eaten direct.” Ash heard Zecora said as she pointed towards a yellow and red flower that was gently standing on the forest ground, looking peaceful and innocent.

But Ash’ mind was somewhere else as he noticed a bright blue, beautiful flower patch near them. He looked at them and smiled a little, thinking he would give one of them to Pinkie. He noticed the others were a little ahead and went over and picked up one with his teeth. He then ran over to Pinkie. He lightly poked her on the side, she turned to look at him and saw the flower he held. He smiled to her and mumbled with the flower in his mouth “I thought you would like this flower.”

She smiled to him and said “That’s sweet Ash.” She kissed him lightly on the cheek, before accepting the flower.

Suddenly a voice behind them yelled out “What are you two doing with that flower of blue!
Didn’t you listen when I told you not to touch anything unless I gave permission to?” Pinkie dropped the flower in surprise and looked at Zecora with wide eyes.

“What’s the harm…?” Asked Ash nervously “It’s just a flower.”

“Poison Joke is the name the plant goes by,
and I will not lie.
When touched by any living pony,
the pony will be offer of a prank most loony.
By tomorrow morning, you two will be offer from a prank,
I have the remedies for a cure, but two days it will take quite frank.”

Ash looked shocked, he understood what she basically meant to say was ‘Plant causes pranks to happen to ponies who touches it and I can only give a cure in two days.’ He turned to Pinkie and looked sad as he said “I’m sorry Pinkie… I didn’t know that it would be a prank flower I gave you…”

She smiled brightly and giggled as she said “No worries. I think it will be super duper fun to see what kind of prank the blue flower can pull on us! I can’t wait until tomorrow!” Ash smiled a little, happy that she wasn’t mad at him for practically causing a prank to fall on her, even if it was an accident.

Zecora sighed and said “I think I have to cut your visit for now,
To prepare a potion I need full concentration and a natural flow.
In two days I will give you the cure,
to end this prank you have to endure.”

Twilight nodded with a sigh and looked at Pinkie and Ash and said “Come on, let’s go back to Ponyville… It’s going to be a big day tomorrow if the poison joke is half as bad as Zecora says it is…” Ash and Pinkie nodded with a smile and followed Twilight on the patch towards their homes.

Later that day was Ash lying in his room at Sugarcube Corner, thinking about what could possibly happen to him and Pinkie tomorrow. He heard the door open and looked up to see Pinkie standing there, he looked at her and asked “Is there anything wrong Pinkie?”

She smiled gently to him and said “Nothing, just excited about tomorrow…” she looked a little nervous and asked “Can I sleep in here? I would like to wake up and see what prank you got first thing in the morning.”

Ash just smiled to her and removed the covers and let her slide down next to him. He put a foreleg around her and pulled her a little closer, she laid her head on his chest and quickly fell asleep. It didn’t take long, before Ash too was asleep.