Early in the morning at Sweet Apple Acres, Applejack slowly opened her eyes. She sat up lazily, rubbed her eyes, and let out a big yawn.
Checking the time, she saw it was barely six o'clock, but it was already time to get up—after all, Applejack was a very hardworking pony.
She pushed open her bedroom door and stepped into the living room, only to be surprised to find that her cousin Bingtang Xueli, who was usually the last one to get out of bed, was already fully dressed and properly groomed.
To top it off, Bingtang Xueli looked just as surprised to see her.
"Who are you? What are you doing in our house?"
Bingtang Xueli asked with a puzzled expression. Applejack didn't bother to answer; she was already used to her cousin's occasional bouts of bizarre behavior.
She reached over to the coat rack, picked up her Stetson, and placed it on her head. At that moment, Bingtang Xueli spoke up again.
"Oh, it's just Applejack! Good morning, Applejack."
Applejack stared suspiciously at Bingtang Xueli, then slowly took off her hat.
"Hey! Who are you!?"
She put the hat back on.
"Oh, it's just Applejack! Good morning, Applejack."
She took the hat off again.
"Hey! Who are you?"
She put the hat back on.
"Oh, it's just Applejack! Good morning, Applejack."
Applejack rolled her eyes, deciding not to dignify that with a response. She simply asked Bingtang Xueli why he was up so early today, noting that this wasn't like him at all.
Hearing this, Bingtang Xueli instantly bristled. What was that supposed to mean, "not like him"? The early bird catches the worm, and a pony as diligent as Bingtang Xueli waking up early was completely normal!
"Going to see Trixie?"
Applejack hit the nail on the head. Bingtang Xueli didn't even bat an eye, launching into a speech about how helping fellow ponies was his unshakable duty, spouting grandiose platitudes about righteousness and morality at every turn.
"All right, all right, just go already." Applejack sighed in resignation. She had to hand it to him; Bingtang Xueli had a remarkable talent for talking absolute nonsense with a completely sincere face.
With that, Bingtang Xueli strolled off toward Ponyville, humming a cheerful tune: "Good fortune is coming your way, bringing joy and love."
Trixie had settled down in Ponyville. She had originally planned to continue her journey along the path of a traveling magician, but Bingtang Xueli suggested that they perform in Ponyville for a while first. Once Trixie's reputation spread beyond the town and she had saved up enough bits to buy a brand-new wagon, they could leave. Trixie thought it was a solid plan.
Applejack had even invited Trixie to stay at Sweet Apple Acres, but she politely declined. She really didn't want to impose on any more ponies, so she checked into a small inn in town instead.
Arriving outside Trixie's room, Bingtang Xueli knocked on the door. After a loud clatter from inside, a sleep-eyed Trixie pulled it open.
"Good morning, Trixie."
"Oh! Good morning, Xueli. What are you doing up so early?"
Trixie asked, stifling a yawn.
"The early pony gets the bits! Of course we have to get an early start. Get ready for the show!"
Looking at the overwhelmingly enthusiastic Bingtang Xueli, Trixie couldn't help but wonder why he seemed even more impatient than she was. Was he in such a rush for her to make enough money for a wagon so she'd finally leave?
She shook her head, banishing those stray thoughts, and tried to clear her mind.
"Fine, come on in. Let me get dressed and we'll head out."
When they reached the town square, to their utter bewilderment, not only had they not seen a single pony on the road, but the usually bustling square was completely deserted.
"I told you we came way too early. Look, none of the other ponies are even awake yet."
"Early? You spent over two hours getting ready! I was sitting on that bench so long I thought I was going to grow moss."
"Ahem! The Great and Powerful Trixie must naturally present herself to her audience in her absolute finest condition."
Trixie explained with a slightly flushed face.
"All right, all right, you're right. But it's ten o'clock already—normally all the ponies should be out and about by now, shouldn't they?"
Bingtang Xueli looked around, still seeing no sign of life anywhere. They decided to wander around town to figure out what was going on, eventually ending up right in front of Sugarcube Corner.
"Psst! Over here! Hurry up!"
Hearing Pinkie Pie's voice, Trixie and Bingtang Xueli hurried over to Sugarcube Corner. The moment they reached the doorway, a pair of hooves grabbed them and yanked them straight inside.
The interior was pitch black. Besides Pinkie Pie, all their other friends were there, and even Spike and Apple Bloom were present.
"What's going on?! What is happening?!"
Trixie asked in a panic, while Bingtang Xueli remained entirely unfazed—he was already used to his friends' occasional bouts of drama.
"Relax, relax, calm down, Trixie. Pinkie, what's going on? And what are you all doing in here? Are you planning a hit on someone?"
"A hit?" Trixie grew even more alarmed.
"I have no idea what they're doing," Twilight Sparkle spoke up. "I was dragged in here not too long ago myself. So, why are you all hiding in here?"
"We're hiding from *her*!"
Applejack pointed out the window. Every pony rushed to the window, parting the curtains just a crack. Outside, a figure in a gray hooded robe was using her hooves to dig around in the dirt.
Suddenly, the figure turned her head directly toward them. Every pony and the baby dragon—except for Twilight and Bingtang Xueli—shrieked in terror and ducked beneath the windowsill.
"Look! Twilight! It's Zecora!"
Apple Bloom shouted excitedly, but Applejack immediately slapped a hoof over her mouth.
"Apple Bloom! We told you never to say her name!"
Everyone began chiming in about how mysterious and terrifying Zecora was, leaving Twilight blinking in utter confusion.
Twilight rolled her eyes in speechlessness, then peered back out the window. The other ponies immediately crowded around again.
Outside, Zecora pulled back her robe's hood, revealing her black-and-white striped mane and grayish-white coat.
Everyone's eyes slowly drifted toward Bingtang Xueli, who also happened to have a black mane with a few subtle white stripes.
"Your relative?" Applejack asked.
"Did you get word from back home?" Twilight asked.
Hearing this, Bingtang Xueli nearly blew a gasket. Was this coat-color discrimination, or what?!
"What do you mean, my relative?! Aren't you from my hometown too, Twilight? Remember? She's a *zebra*!"
"A zebra?!" gasped the ponies, minus Twilight.
"I've read about them in books. Zebras come from a very distant land, but I've never seen one in Ponyville before. Where does she live?"
Twilight shouldn't have asked. The moment she did, everyone panicked even more. Applejack claimed she lived in the Everfree Forest, and the ponies all chimed in about how terrifying the forest was and how Zecora must be up to no good in there. Trixie was so scared she curled up into a ball, while Pinkie Pie burst into song at the height of the drama:
"She's an evil sorceress, dancing wicked and bizarre! If you stare right in her eyes, you'll be driven up to par! What else will she do? Brew a wicked stew, boil you up in a pot, and eat you through and through! So, watch out!"
Applejack and Trixie were shaking with fear, while the other ponies stared blankly at Pinkie Pie. As for Bingtang Xueli—
He was rolling on the floor laughing hysterically.
"Hahahahaha! Oh man, I can't breathe, I'm dying, hahahahahaha!"
"Look at our poor cousin, he's been scared out of his mind," Applejack whispered with lingering dread.
"Oh, please. Ignorance is truly terrifying. But Twilight, you don't actually believe the stuff they're saying, do you?"
Twilight declared that as a high-ranking intellectual, she certainly didn't believe in baseless rumors. Bingtang Xueli nodded in agreement, then pulled out a chalkboard from somewhere unknown along with a piece of chalk. Declaring that he, the omni-learned Bingtang Xueli, was about to broaden their horizons, he proceeded to lecture them on what zebras were actually like.
"Zebra tribes live on a completely different continent from Equestria. They don't have princesses, and they aren't unified under a single ruler; they live scattered in clan groups. Their magic is different from ponies'—it's closer to that of Earth Ponies, but with distinct differences. Their magical ability manifests primarily in the brewing of potions. I visited the zebra tribes a year ago; they're warm and friendly, though their chieftain is a bit of a blockhead. And they're herbivores. They don't eat ponies."
"But—" Pinkie Pie tried to interject, but Bingtang Xueli cut her off.
"No buts! Let's go over and say hello to Zecora. She's a guest who's traveled a long way, and we can't let her think this is how Equestria treats visitors."
With that, he marched straight out of Sugarcube Corner, and the other ponies cautiously followed behind.
Bingtang Xueli walked right up to Zecora. She hadn't expected any ponies to approach her and froze in surprise for a moment. Then, Bingtang Xueli bowed and said, "As-salam alaykum marhaban, Sabah al-khair."
Hearing this, Zecora was startled for a split second before quickly recovering, bowing back, and replying, "As-salam alaykum marhaban, Sabah al-khair."
The other ponies stared in absolute incomprehension. What on earth were these two babbling about? Just as their faces were filled with question marks, Bingtang Xueli and Zecora both straightened up.
"Sorry, that's literally the only phrase I know," Bingtang Xueli said with a smile. "I'm Bingtang Xueli, nice to meet you. I haven't seen a zebra in two years."
"And it is a pleasure to meet you as well," Zecora replied warmly with a smile.
"Don't just stand there, come on over!"
Bingtang Xueli called out to his nervous friends. They crept forward hesitantly, though Twilight Sparkle looked thoroughly thrilled.
"Was that the zebra language you were speaking just now?"
"Yep. It means 'Peace be upon you, hello, and good morning.' That's literally all I've got," Bingtang Xueli shrugged.
Before long, everyone was chatting comfortably with Zecora. Though they had been terrified at first, they quickly realized she was a wonderful zebra and swiftly became friends.
Back inside Sugarcube Corner, everyone happily munched on the cupcakes Pinkie Pie had brought out while chatting away. Meanwhile, Bingtang Xueli sneaked over to Zecora's side and whispered in her ear:
"Do you happen to know how to cure Poison Joke poisoning?"
Though she had no idea what he was up to, Zecora nodded to indicate that she did.
Bingtang Xueli grinned from ear to ear. He cleared his throat and announced to all the ponies:
"Hey friends, I know a place in the forest with an absolute sea of gorgeous flowers. Who wants to go check it out together?"
While the idea of a beautiful flower field sounded exciting, the mention of the Everfree Forest made the ponies hesitant.
But Bingtang Xueli quickly assured them that the spot was completely safe and devoid of any monsters.
Of course it was monster-free—every monster in the forest knew Poison Joke fields were no laughing matter, so no animals ever lingered nearby.
Zecora caught on to what Bingtang Xueli was planning, but she didn't say anything. Poison Joke wouldn't actually harm the ponies, and since she knew how to cure it, she figured she'd let him have his fun.
Led by Bingtang Xueli, the ponies and Spike soon ventured deep into the forest. When they stood before the sprawling ocean of blue blossoms, the ponies gasped in awe.
The sea of flowers stretched endlessly, seemingly melting into the blue sky. A gentle breeze swept across, sending rippling waves of blue through the petals like an ocean tide. Each blossom was vibrant, their blue petals shimmering brilliantly under the sunlight.
The ponies eagerly trotted into the flower field. When Apple Bloom tried to follow, Bingtang Xueli stopped her.
He quietly explained the effects of Poison Joke and outlined his master plan, prompting Apple Bloom to immediately decide she was staying put.
Meanwhile, the ponies frolicking inside the field noticed Zecora, Bingtang Xueli, and Apple Bloom lingering at the edge and repeatedly called for them to join.
Bingtang Xueli initially thought about hanging back and just admiring the view, but Applejack knew her cousin far too well.
"You look awfully guilty. Is there something wrong with these flowers?"
Bingtang Xueli didn't want his plan ruined. Gritting his teeth, he took a step forward—it was just Poison Joke, what's the worst that could happen?—and waded right into the field.
Zecora shook her head, signaling that she would stay outside. The ponies didn't think much of it since they had only just met her. Apple Bloom declared that her nose felt tickly and she didn't want to smell the pollen, preferring to keep Zecora company instead.
The ponies laughed and played in the flower field, having the time of their lives. Bingtang Xueli soon pushed all thoughts of Poison Joke out of his head—he was already in the middle of it anyway, so worrying about it was useless!
After playing to their heart's content, everyone said their goodbyes to Zecora. Bingtang Xueli reminded everyone to meet up at the library tomorrow morning, and then the ponies all went their separate ways home.
After performing with Trixie all afternoon, Bingtang Xueli returned to Sweet Apple Acres at dusk. After eating dinner, Apple Bloom sought him out in secret.
"Cousin, when is that Poison Joke stuff supposed to kick in?"
"Tomorrow morning when you wake up! Just wait and watch the show!"
"Wait, didn't you go into the field too, Cousin?"
"Don't worry, I'm kind of curious to see what happens anyway."
And so, night fell, and the ponies drifted off to a peaceful sleep.
The next morning.
Applejack slowly opened her eyes. She felt a strange sensation: why was the ceiling so far away? And why was her blanket so huge?
Assuming she was still half asleep, she rubbed her eyes, sat up, and looked around—only to discover that everything in the room had become impossibly gigantic.
It was then she realized that the world hadn't grown bigger; she had shrunk.
As Applejack stood there wondering what on earth had happened, a piercing shriek echoed from outside the bedroom door. Dropping all other thoughts, she leaped off the bed and, through sheer grit and determination, finally made it out into the hallway.
The moment she stepped into the hall, she saw Apple Bloom standing outside Bingtang Xueli's room, staring inside with her jaw literally dragging on the floor.
Applejack sprinted over—a journey that took her a good five minutes at her current size—and shoved Apple Bloom a few times. Apple Bloom didn't budge, remaining transfixed in horror at the scene inside. Puzzled, Applejack scrambled past Apple Bloom's legs and looked into the room.
The moment she laid eyes on the figure on the bed, her own jaw dropped with a resounding *clack*.
"That Bingtang Xueli is just the absolute worst!" Rainbow Dash fumed. "I *knew* he was up to no good."
The Golden Oak Library was currently a scene of utter, chaotic madness. Rarity's mane and tail hung limp like a dirty mop; Rainbow Dash's wings had somehow grown down to her lower belly, and as she tried to fly, she crashed clumsily into everything in the library; Pinkie Pie's tongue had grown enormously, dragging out of her mouth covered in blue spots while she babbled incoherent nonsense; Twilight and Trixie's horns drooped limply, speckled with blue spots—though since Trixie's horn was already blue, it took a close look to notice. Fluttershy hadn't changed much physically, but the moment she spoke, her deeply masculine, baritone voice made everyone cringe.
As it turned out, not only ponies found this hilarious—dragons did too.
Spike was rolling on the floor in stitches, having the time of his life.
Zecora had already arrived at the library early that morning, and she was the one who explained to the bewildered ponies what had happened.
"Wait, Spike went into the Poison Joke field with us too! Why isn't he affected?"
Twilight asked, baffled.
"A dragon's natural scales provide strong resistance to magic," Zecora explained. "Though Spike is still a baby dragon, the magical toxicity of Poison Joke has no effect on him."
Hearing Zecora's explanation, Spike beamed with pride, declaring that this was just proof of his mighty dragon heritage.
All the ponies agreed that Bingtang Xueli was despicable and deserved a thorough beatdown to vent their frustration—except for Trixie, who innocently suggested that maybe it was just a prank and they didn't need to resort to physical violence. The other ponies quickly corrected her, explaining that since she was new, she didn't understand: Bingtang Xueli practically *craved* getting beaten up; if he went a single day without it, his whole body got itchy. Besides, they weren't beating him up—they were just helping him "condition his body and limber up his joints."
While Trixie stared blankly, trying to process the concept of "body conditioning," a familiar wave of laughter echoed from outside, growing closer by the second.
Then, a grinning Apple Bloom pushed open the door. Strapped to her back was a miniature Applejack. Needless to say, everyone immediately recognized this as the work of Poison Joke, but unlike the other furious ponies, the tiny Applejack's face wore a brilliantly radiant smile.
She cleared her expression, cleared her throat, and announced in a cheerful voice:
"Everyone, settle down! Today I'd like to introduce you all to a new pony—my cousin, Bingtang Xueli!"
Apple Bloom stepped aside. Standing in the doorway was an Earth Pony mare with a graceful figure, a snowy-white coat, and a black mane threaded with delicate white stripes. Her grayish-blue eyes still held a watery sheen, though they seemed completely devoid of life.
"Ha."
He—no, *she*—let out two dry, lifeless laughs. Though completely devoid of emotion, the melodious, feminine voice was so enchanting it felt like some sort of beautiful music.
Following those two awkward laughs, the room erupted into explosive, uproarious laughter.
"Hahahahaha! Now I can finally say 'girls!'"
That was Twilight Sparkle.
"Xueli, you are an absolute stunner now! I am definitely going to make you the prettiest dress ever, hahahahaha!"
That was Rarity.
"It's okay, Xueli. At least you can practice singing in a soprano range now."
That was Trixie.
"I wouldn't mind swapping voices with you, actually."
That deep, gravelly voice belonged to Fluttershy.
"*Dhalcuwkxobdakjdhajjsjxhsj!*"
That was Pinkie Pie, spitting a shower of drool as she babbled a string of incomprehensible nonsense.
And Rainbow Dash.
Wearing a wicked grin, she trotted right up to Bingtang Xueli and threw a hoof around her neck.
"Hey, Xueli, didn't you always tease me about being a mare-lover? Well, guess what! I totally am!"
"Haha, Rainbow Dash, you love joking around. I was just joking before too—wait! What are your hooves doing?!"
"Rainbow Dash loves pretty little fillies like you! Come here, let me check and see if your development is completely normal!"
"No! Stop it!"
"Let me check!"
Bingtang Xueli practically bolted over to Zecora, grabbing her hooves in a tight, desperate grip, looking at her with an expression of absolute, sincere pleading.
"Please! Master Zecora, save me! Save my dignity! Save my masculine honor!"
The other ponies, however, casually remarked that being like this wasn't so bad, and maybe staying that way for a few days wouldn't hurt.
Still, after much begging and pleading from Bingtang Xueli, Zecora eventually led them all to the town spa for a herbal bath.
Though, it is worth mentioning that the moment Bingtang Xueli transformed back into a stallion in the herbal bath, the mares promptly chucked him right out of the building.
"You guys don't even wear clothes normally anyway!"
Even so, he was utterly thrilled. His masculine honor had finally returned. He just couldn't help mourning that pretty floral dress Big Macintosh had supposedly prepared for him.