//------------------------------// // Chapter 14: Misunderstood (S1E9) // Story: The Elemental Manipulation // by GalaxyEmpire //------------------------------// Misunderstood One Week Later... The sweet rise of the sun makes every creature woke up from their bed, getting ready for their business as usual. Though since the return of Princess Luna. Many ponies have a day quite difference right now because some of them toke wait up for the night for example stargazing using a telescope at an open field. Camping at your backyard while watching the falling asteroids, so they could get experience to it, and who even what celebrate during the night, they can set up a bonfire. But for now, let's focusing on day time. For the heat of the sun provide food to the plant and tree and speaking of the tree, inside the Golden Oak Library on the second floor in the bed was Twilight Sparkle. Muttering while sleeping, there's a drool dripping off for her mouth as the beam of light shine towards the Unicorn eyes, forcing her to open up. "Augh..." She said, cover the window with its curtains but wasn't enough. Since its daytime, the heat rises, making the temperature in the room increase and while under the blanket, it rather hot now as she finally scoffed. "Stupid Celestia sun..." With a sigh, she gets up, yawning from her slumber and starts to think if she can ask her mentor to bring up the sun a little late, it's not like she called stupid or anything that disrespect but she always interrupts everypony comfortable doozy night. Stand up on the wooden floor, perfecting the blanket and the pillow, everything must complete in order. With a few stretch, she walk-downs the stairs and begins to trot the first floor. Upon arriving, she saw Spike eating a sandwich with peanut butter. She also saw fuming pancake next to the apple syrup waiting for the owner to consume. Looks to her that her breakfast. As the mare reached the sit that made of wood, seriously, every furniture is wood in this tree and another pony house as well. She felt like she missing one of her siblings, so she looks at her younger brother. "Spike, we're is Leo?" "Huh? Oh, he already out to do his assistance within this town." He replied, drinking a freshwater. This makes her shook her head and sighed, he didn't change at all since the first time he helping someone. Now to think about it, it was their mother fault for telling him that helping others can help you live longer, or makes you feel good and It creates a sense of belonging. Is prove to us that assisting someone can give us some purpose. "By the way, is he the one make me this pancake?" She asked. "Yeah, in his Wind form though. He's a good cook you know." He's right. Of all three of the elements, Wind is the best cooker of all thanks to their mother since she teaches him how to cook, especially bakery. He loves doing it, it's also the first time he wants to start cooking but only in Wind form which makes Twilight confused. He never split-back there so why Wind is the only has great skill of cookery. Frankly, she found out that splitting himself create a new body for the elements which mean they have they own body, and with own personal body it can affect something he discovers that led them to have different hobbies. After an hour of guzzling their breakfast and cleaning up the table, Spike then when to the kitchen, washing the plate while Twilight check her schedule of today, is Tuesday. "Spike! Do you want to take some fresh air?" "Really?! I mean, you always told me to do some chore like used to you know!" Shout from the kitchen. "I'm fine with it, as long as we can find Leo, we three can hang out at the park!" That's a good one, it been long since they hanging around like he says because she always busy with her studies at school and at the home place. Maybe this a chance to increase their relationship even more. "Why not, let's go!" Twilight was at front of the library door, waiting for the Dragon as he came out from the other room as he hops on her back, give the signal that he's ready. She opened the door with magic and began to search for their brother. "Hm. Where's is he?" Spike asked, squeezing his eyes for looking sight of a lion. "We search for him everywhere! I feel bad chill out without him." "Me too. But let see if our friends see him." The Unicorn said. A couple of hours has passed, and the duo seems to continue looking for the manipulation after their attempt one fail, so their rest at the park. Here, they walk on the dirt road, passing some house and bushes who seem so quiet right now as they enter the centre of the Ponyville. "Wow, what a gorgeous day." Twilight smiled looking up at the sky. The summer was not over yet but the breeze was cooler than usual. "Yeah, I guess Rainbow Dash got up early for once." Spike snarked from his perch on Twilight's back. "I bet all Ponyville is gonna be out enjoying the sunshine.” Twilight smiled. In the main streets, towards the shops, they noticed a surprising lack of ponies in the streets or around the stalls. "What? Where is everypony?" She asked surprised. "First Leo and now this?" The Drake turned to ask. "Is it some sort of pony holiday?" "Not that I know of." "My breath stinks?" He said, check his breath. "Not more than usual." "Is it... Zombies!?" He freaked out a bit. "Uh, not very likely." "Not likely? But possible?" "Psst!" Somepony called out. "Spike... Twilight...come here." hissed a voice. The duo blink noticing Pinkie Pie in the shadowy doorway of the shop. "Hurry, before she gets you." The sibling when into Sugercube Corner with Pinkie closing the door afterwards, making the entire room dark until Pinkie takes out a lantern. "Who?! The zombie ponies?" The Dragon asked. "Z-Zombie ponies?!" The pink mare said a little scared as Spike holds on to Twilight's neck a little tight. "Spike! There are no zombie ponies." She reassures him as he let go of his sister and gets off of her. "Pinkie, what are you doing here alone in the dark?" "I'm not alone in the dark." She said and moved the blinds covering the window, allowing some light into the room, revealing the other members of the Mane Six along with Apple Bloom which surprises Twilight. "Okay then…what are 'all' of you doing here in the dark?" Twilight corrected. “We're hiding from her.” Applejack pointed out the heavily curtained window to a figure at the far end of the street. The figure wore a brown hooded cloak and was stamping the ground with one hoof as she looked around. Her gaze ran over Sugarcube Corner, her amber eyes glimmering under the hood. Twilight blinked as all the others suddenly dove for cover away from the window when the figure looked their way. Neither of her or her mind looked very happy with the rest of the group. "Did yah see her? Did yah see Zecora?" Apple Bloom asked peering over the top of Spike's head. "Apple Bloom ah told yah never to say that name!" Applejack snapped. "Well I saw her look this way," Twilight admitted. "Look this way evilly you mean?" Pinkie Pie corrected. Twilight continue. "And a bunch of you flip out for no good reason." “No good reason?” Applejack snorted grabbing Apple Bloom in a foreleg” Yah call protecting yer kin no good reason? Soon as Apple Bloom saw her coming into town she started shaking in her little horseshoes.” “Did not.. ah didn't even see her afore yah shoved me in here to hide!” Apple Bloom fussed. “So ah swept her up and brought her here.” “Ah walked here myself!" "For safekeeping." "Applejack ah ken take care of myself ah ain't a little foal!” “Not from Zecora yah ain't!” "She's mysterious." Fluttershy pointed out. "Sinister." Rainbow Dash pantomimed. "And Spooky~!" Pinkie Pie added. Twilight blinked before looking out the window again. In the distance, Zecora seemed to be getting tired of wandering around the abandoned town. She pulled off her hood, her ears perking up to listen for any sign of life, gold jewellery dangled from her ears as she looked around the town, her white fur marked with grey stripes and a Mohawk rose from her head. The rest of the group had gathered around Twilight to look out the window again, collectively gasped as the hood was pulled back. "Will you cut that out!" She snapped. "Just look at those stripes! So garish!” Rarity scoffed. "She's a Zebra," Twilight stated. "A what?!" The collected gasp sounded again as the lavender Unicorn rolled her eyes. "A zebra and her stripes aren't a fashion choice Rarity, they're what she was born with." She explained which make Rarity faints over dramatically. "Born where? I've never seen a pony like that in these parts 'cept...her!" Applejack said. "Well she's probably not from here and she's not a pony. My books say that zebras come from a faraway land but I've never seen her in Ponyville. Where does she live?" "That's just it, she lives in...the Everfree Forest!" Then suddenly... *BOOM* Came to a loud boom sounding from the kitchen which soon turned into a clatter of pots and pans. "Spike!" Twilight scolded to the young dragon who had snuck into the kitchen while she was busy explaining to her friends. "Uh, sorry." He apologises. The same ponies who say something to someone there didn't want to greet with are telling about how the forest is ain't natural. Some, say the plant grows, the wild animal and the weather uncontrolled by themselves. Once again, Rarity faints over dramatically. The conversation goes on, telling everything they know about what Zecora being doing all this time, all of it doesn't have good evidence because no ponies want to talks to her. Sigh in annoying, Twilight realises she forgetting something. "Girls, have you seen Leo this lately?" She asked. The fashion pony gasped. "Oh no! You mean he still out there?" "Alone!" The shy one shouted. "And Zecora still out there!" The Rainbow mare cried. "There's he is!" The party maker shouted out and tapping her hoof on the glass window as everyone rushed toward it with Spike wearing a saucepot on his head. As soon as the group see him, all except Twilight gasped in horror. Early Before it Happens... Leo confused right now, he being out like an hour and already finished making breakfast for his sister so he doesn't make his little brother work hard. The atmosphere around Ponyville seems to be a bit weird right now, not many ponies are out actually. Wait, scratch that, everypony isn't out to enjoy this sunny morning. He thinks back for the past few weeks, is sure that he and Spike when to Canterlot with much of ponies trotting around and in the place are the same as well with a little conversation with Princess of the Night before doing some job to fulfil. Why? This makes the Lion wants to find the answer for this mess, but the question is where to find first? Luckily, a figure weird a brown cloak stamping on the ground, creating a hold in it. He recognises the ponies...or the zebra. "Zecora!" Shouted the Cub, getting the attention from her. "Ah, Leo, is being a week now. How were you doing?" "Doing great actually! What are you doing here? This is the first time I see you in Ponyville." "Well, I was looking for some herbs for my potion, but sadly, the store closes every time I came here and nopony was around to help me." "Then why dig the ground though?" He asked. "I was looking for a rare ingredient that in the ground since it's an extraordinary one is gonna be hard to find." "Pawesome! How many? Can I see it, please?" Zecora could only chuckle for his childish. "Well, sure, look here." She set aside her cloak to reveal a light brown saddlebag, she opens up the lit to see an all different kind of herb, plants, an ingredient he never saw before and some small colour bundle. He astonishing by her hard work and will salute for sure, but there's no space now, which he notices it. "Uh, Zecora, there's not much space now, maybe we should go back to your hub in the meantime," Leo suggested. She looked inside her bag, he's right. The zebra nod and before she was about to close the saddlebag, one of the bundle fell off of it and heading straight down to earth... *POOF* "What in the world?!" The manipulate coughed as the bundle let out powerful green smoke, into they trout making them harder to breathe in the area. "*COUGH* I'm sorry, Leo! That was a smoke bomb, it *COUGH* uses to escape from trouble situation, I forget I still have it." She said, tried to use her hoof to give in some fresh air but didn't work. "Yeah, but why green? Should it be Red for more fiercely?" "Hm, that's a good one." "Hold on!" ELEMENT WIND!! Leo transforms into Wind form before he spinning around creating a gust that became larger and larger until he releases it. Whirlwind Blasts!! He let go huge blue tornadoes, it gathers all the smoke up till it faded away, with the last coughs from the Zebra, they finally breathe the fresh air. Though somewhere, someone just gasped. "Fuh, glad that's done, let's go to your hub, I wanna see what it looks like." He said, clearly doesn't hear the voice. "Very well, follow me." The duo March on heading to the Everfree Forest, while not notice, a small filly sneaky away toward them. Back to Twilight... "Didn't you see what she does?!" Rainbow Dash shouts at Twilight. "For the last time Rainbow, it's not what you think!" "Zecora hypnotise him! I just knew it!" "How can you be sure if it?!" "You saw it, I saw it, everyone saw it! She's evil!!" "Guys! Have you see Apple Bloom?" Spike said, looking around for the filly. "The door's open!” Fluttershy gasped. “They must have gone outside.” Rarity gasped. "And Zecora's still out there with Leo on her side!" Rainbow Dash cried. "I told that silly filly to stay put!” Applejack wailed. "You guys being ridiculous! I'm sure Leo is alright and calm down, okay? Everything will be..." Twilight frowned as the others rushed out of the building leaving her and her brother behind. "...fine. Right, okay, let's go, I need to see it with my own eyes and some explanation too." The Dragon smirked, climb on his sister back as the pair of them rushed out of the shop, chasing after the others. Back to Leo... "Bleh! Are you sure is just a smoke bomb? Cause it tastes like my big bro sweat." He joked. "I've insured you it is, I created those for safety manager." As the duo was in the forest, their pass by the blue flower from the side, Leo notice her concern about something, so he asks. "What wrong Zecora?" "Nothing much, but please don't touch those flower!" She pointed out to that bloom. "And why? Because it was no joke." "Really? Then we should put a sign or something that will keep from anyone for safety then." "And there more to it, young one." She said, looking at the lion. "The reason why I came to Ponyville is to find-" "Leo?" Said a child's voice. They turned to see a filly with a big red ribbon on her head, is Apple Bloom, and she looks worried by just looking at her face. "I-Is that you?" "Apple Bloom? Yes, it is me, why'd you feared about?" The earth pony sigh in relief, she smiles. "Thank celestia y'all right. Ah thought you been mind control by Zecora." This makes the lion confused. "Huh? Mind control? What are you talking about? And since when Zecora hypnotist me?" He looks at the zebra, replies by shook her head. "Well, the things is that we though you-" "APPLE BLOOM!!" "-Drat, they caught up..." Apple Bloom grumbled ducking down to the ground but there's no cover to hide her body so it is useless. What heading they ways is his sibling and his friends, though with an expression that not happy to greet. "You get over here right now!" Applejack shouted running into the flowers with the others and scooping Apple Bloom up off the ground and putting her behind her back before she turned back to glare at Zecora. "What have you done to our friends, huh?!" "Woah, Applejack. Don't shout like that toward Zecora, she not doing anything to me." Leo said, standing before her. "Wait, did you guys fear about her?" "Yeah, she's an evil enchantress and us though she controls your mind." Pinkie points out. "First of all, hilarious she can't do that. Second, she told that zebra is a potion maker that are for illnesses that can heal you better than most medical treatments. It so helpful and could cure nearly every illness that some creature around the world want to ask the zebras for a potion help with any illness they may have." He explained. "Is that you or her making you forced to do it?" Pinkie asked. "No, Pinkie. Zecora's not evil and minds controller, she just wants to find rare ingredients for a potion to make." "I'm impressed Leo, I didn't know zebras we're experts in the potion." Twilight complaints. "Thanks, sis, but now I think she needs to good for making a cure for the illness right now." He looked at the zebra as he blinks his eyes at her. "Because somepony just got an illness." "Ah, yes, but I do need some ingredients to make the cure." "Don't worry, I'll here to help!" "What cure? And who's having an illness?" Rarity asked. "You guys." "What?" The ponies are in confused. "Those blue flower you step on, it's called a poisoned joke. That plant was much like poison oak, but its results will be like a choke." Zecora smiled. "What in the hay does that mean?" Applejack glared at her. "It means this plant does not breed wrath, instead, this plant just once a laugh." "What? Can someone else translate that?!" "What Zecora trying to say is that flower you guys stepping on will make fun of you guys," Leo explained. "Fun of us? Are you sure about this? Or Zecora trying to mess with us?" Rainbow replied. A growl coming from the lion seems like they don't believe it just now, however, that gives him an idea but requires all of the Mane Six to do it. "Hey, Zecora. Why don't you go home and tomorrow I will get the ingredients for this cure since the store close today cause someone needs to be taught a lesson if you know what I mean." He stares at the zebra as he gives a wink. "You said don't touch the flower, so I think you should ready the antidote." She gazes at him for a moment, then at the group, before she gets it what he means. "Very well then, I will take my leaves and prepared it." And with that she left the area, leaving a bunch of ponies and a single dragon confused. During that, the cub ran toward them with all of his might before he leaps into the air, pass by all of those poison jokes and land on the other side. "Oh, Applejack." He called out to the farm pony. "Please, stop being so stubborn towards Apple Bloom, believe me, you will going to get into trouble one of these days." He leaves the group, back to the Ponyville for waiting the next day. The Next Day... In Spike and Leo room, they can hear screaming from their sister upstairs. "Twilight?! What's wrong?" Spike got up quickly and ran to the stairs while Leo got up on his bed. "Woah, this morning and already with screaming?" He sighed and got off, grabbing his bandana and follow his brother to the other floor. "Maybe I'll ask Apple Bloom to help me since she seems to like to believe Zecora so might wanna talk to her first."