It was a beautiful day in Ponyville, a fact that Twilight had noted moments before being pulled inside Sugarcube Corner by Pinkie Pie. A few minutes later, Cassandra arrived.
“Konichiwa, Minasan,” she said. She was fluent in Japanese and many modern & ancient languages, “I just got back from translating some old documents for the Princesses.”
“That’s really cool” said Twilight admiringly, “What did they say?”
“They spoke of a cataclysmic snowstorm that happened many millennia ago and nearly wiped out the pony species.” They ponies all gasped and she continued, “But you’re never going to believe this; the cause of it all, was pony racism. Anyway enough about me, what have you all been up to?”
“We’re scared of the zebra because she’s different than us.” said Applejack, trembling
“You’ve got to be kidding me” said Cassandra. But the ponies were already out the door, chasing after Applebloom who had escaped. Cassandra rolled her eyes and followed them.
*****
They chased her to the Everfree Forest and Zecora said “Beware, beware the poison joke.”
“It would do you good to be a little less cryptic” replied Cassandra.
“She’s put a curse on us!” exclaimed Applejack, “That’s it, ah’m gonna go shoot me a zebra”
“It’s not a curse” said Cassandra, “if you had any awareness of your surroundings, you’d see that you were stepping in Poison Joke.
“What’s that?” asked Twilight
“It’s a flower that does odd but harmless things to you when you touch it. The remedy is pretty standard and easy to make.”
“Wow” said Twilight, “I wish I was as well-read as you, Cassandra. Also I wish I was as good at magic and friendship.”
“You have many good talents” replied Cassandra, “For instance you’re really good at cleaning up an ink spill; I’ve never spilled my ink so I have less experience with that.”
“I’m glad that’s over with” said Fluttershy. As they were walking home, Applejack bumped into Cassandra because she had no spacial awareness.
“God damn it, Applejack!” she exclaimed “Now look what you’ve done, you got the Poison Joke on me!”
“Turribly sorry” said Applejack, “Ah was thinkin’ about Braeburn an’ zoned out.”
*****
The next morning, Cassandra woke up and found that she was indeed cursed! She found not one, not two, but three split ends in her tail! It was understandably hard to forgive Applejack, but she resolved to do so. Truly she had gone through character development.