𝐀𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐥 || My Little Pony : FIM

A Judging Joke

Humming to himself, Astral Jade leisurely walked through the barren streets of Ponyville. The stallion didn't think much of it, but he got all the answers he needed when he saw the brown cloaked figure digging a hoof gently against the ground.

"Zecora! Lovely to see you again. How are you?" He greeted, trotting up to her.

"A pleasant surprise to see you, Astral Jade. Ignore the cloak, I simply wanted to stay in the shade." He saw her smile kindly from under the hood.

Whilst the majority of ponies in the town were quick to presume, run and flee from the Zebra without question, Astral had met her a year or so ago when traversing the Everfree one evening. She was kind enough to let him stay in her home until returning to his own the next night. He had tried to convince his friends that the Zebra meant no harm, but it was much harder than he thought.

"I am here once again, to collect the herb I cannot find within my den." Zecora explained.

"Ah. And once again Ponyville is so quick to judge." Astral scowled to himself, rolling his eyes.

Zecora hummed gently in acknowledgement.

"It seems I will once again have no luck, without that herb, I am indeed stuck." She sighed gently, but looked up with a smile. "Have a good day, perhaps they will accept me another time, someway." The zebra began to leave, heading back into the forest after giving a small wave and smile in Astral's direction. He returned it happily.

As the stallion went to walk away, he caught sight of Apple Bloom, Applejack's little sister, sneaking through bushes and corners after Zecora. He didn't intervene, instead he watched her silently, confused.

She went out opf sight, as did Zecora.

For the second time, he attempted to turn but was stopped by the sound of his name being yelled. Looking over towards Sugar Cube Corner, he saw the girls rush towards him.

"Astral, darling! She didn't hurt you did she?" Rarity questioned, standing beside him and looking him over.

"I'm....fine, Rarity." He raised a brow in her direction. "You mean Zecora? Why would she hurt me?"

"Cause She's an evil enchantress! She does evil dances! And if you look deep in her eyes-" a purple hoof slapped over Pinkie's mouth silenced the unfinished song.

Astral groaned to himself, narrowing his eyes with annoyance at the pink mare.

"Pinkie, for the last time. I'm friends with Zecora, she wouldn't hurt me. And if you all stopped believing those stupid rumours about her, then you'd see that shes a perfectly normal pony. Uh, zebra." He corrected quietly. Twilight seemed grateful that the tan stallion didn't believe in the ridiculous accusations everypony believed about Zecora without even knowing her.

"She could've put you in a trance, Astral! A trance to make you like her!" Rainbow exclaimed, face full of panic as she waved her hoofs around.

"I'm not under a spell, RD." He deadpanned.

"Enough squabbling! Astral, did you see Apple Bloom come out here?" AJ asked hurriedly, stepping foward.

"Well, yeah. She went that way, after Zecora." He pointed a hoof in the direction the light yellow filly had sneaked away only a few moments ago.

Applejack recoiled with dread clear on her face.

"Oh no!" She led the others towards the forest, with Astral trying to convince the mare that Zecora wouldn't hurt her sister, but failing.

The group reached a collection of blue flowers, lining up across them. Astral stood next to Twilight, a bored look on his face.

"Apple Bloom?" The orange mare called out, seeing the filly wander behind the zebra. "You get back here right now!"