//------------------------------//
// S1E10: Lost in The Everfree 
// Story: My Little Zombie: Friendship is Dead Season 1 
// by Nortes432 ft Spitfire 
//------------------------------//

	Rainbow and Spitfire approached the caravan, carrying Pinkamena's corpse. A wave of sighs and gasps rippled through the crowd, and Applejack rushed over to help them.
"Poor Pinkie." Applejack mumbled. "Gonna miss that sugar cube."
"Where's Twilight?" Rainbow asked.
"Where's Secret?" Spitfire added.
Applejack turned. "They haven't gotten back yet." She told them.
"Where are they, then?" Rainbow wondered to herself, looking at Spitfire.

Twilight stumbled over a branch. "Oomph!" She spat, getting up. "Where am I?"
"I think it's the Everfree Forest." Secret said, rushing to get beside her. "I think we're lost."
Twilight could barely see. It was too dark. She used her magic to illuminate her horn, creating a small lamp. She could barely see past her own hooves, but it would have to do.
"We are lost." Twilight confirmed. "I think we're in the middle of the forest by now!"


Intro


Time stood still in the Everfree. Every step seemed like an hour. Everything was dark, so telling time was difficult. They might have been lost for days, or lost for a minute. They couldn't tell. Twilight made sure to stay close to the stallion. She didn't know what could happen to her or Secret if one of them got separated.
"We should find Zecora's Hut. She knows her way around the Everfree Forest better than anypony I know." Twilight said.
"Finding a hut in this forest is like finding the exit." Secret said. The two followed the path that has been laid out for many years, but they were unsure which way they were going. "It's either this way, or the other way."
Twilight sighed and looked at him. "Don't have to be negative about it."
"Not negative." Secret protested. "Realistic." He hopped over a fallen tree.
Twilight rolled her eyes and followed him over. Secret stepped forward and froze. Twilight bumped into him. 
"Hey!" Twilight complained. "What are y-"
"Shush." Secret whispered. Twilight stopped talking, and heard a noise. It was getting louder. A crashing noise erupted, and then all sound stopped.
"That's not good." Secret whispered. The ground shook as loud steps hit the ground. Secret reached behind his back and grabbed the shotgun, but before he could get ready, the manticore tore through the trees and whacked Secret to the side. Secret flew into a tree, gasping in pain. "Oomph!" He managed before he hit the ground hard.
"Secret!" Twilight squealed. She turned and jumped back as the manticore attempted to hit her with his massive paw. She looked back up and fired a blast of magic into it's face, knocking it blindly backwards. Angered, she planted her hooves firmly in the ground. Ducking her head, she squinted her eyes and let out a snort of war. Scraping the ground with her front left hoof, she charged forward. Her horn illuminated with a bright glow as she powered her strike. Before the manticore could regain it's balance, Twilight leapt at it and blasted it in the chin with her magic. The powerful blow launched the massive creature back several feet, knocking over trees and the like before it was knocked unconscious by the ground collision.
Panting, Twilight lowered her head and sighed in relief. Quickly, a thought came back to her mind. "Secret!" She quickly remembered. She flickered her magic lamp back on and searched for him. Grunting, Secret stumbled into the reach of the dim lighting.
"Secret!" She rushed to his side. "Are you okay?"
Secret looked forward. "I'm fine, Twilight." He said. "Let's just keep moving." Twilight nodded and continued forward, Secret following behind.
It seemed like another day or two as they walked. They didn't talk once, it was just a long quiet tour through the forest. An object came into view. It was a big tree, and a dim light was illuminating from it. Twilight rushed to get to it.
"Don't leave me behind!" Secret called, struggling to keep up. Twilight slowed down and waited for Secret to get to her side, and she led him to the front door. 
It was Zecora's hut. The tall, twisted tree was littered with her native collection of masks and whatnot. Twilight knocked on the door. "Zecora! It's Twilight!" She called. There was a long pause. Twilight knocked again. "Zecora! We have an injury!"
After a long wait, the door finally swung upon. The zebra witch doctor stood at the door. "Ah, Twilight Sparkle, what a surprise. It's great to see you with my own two eyes!"
Twilight stepped inside, Secret close behind. "Oh dear, it seems that your friend who I do not know the name, has injured himself in the side and is in great pain!" Zecora exclaimed, watching the stallion's struggle. "Please do stay as long as you must, I will be able to heal his wound, I trust."
Secret nodded. "I would very much appreciate it." He said, collapsing on a mat. Zecora went to the back room to get her medical supplies.
Twilight sat next to Secret. "Are you okay?" She asked, tilting her head.
"Never better." He said, clenching his teeth in pain. 
Twilight reached for his cloak, but he grabbed her hoof. "I'd rather you not." He said to the mare. "It's just internal pain. It'll pass." 
Twilight sat next to him. "I'm sorry." She said.
"For what?" He asked. "For running into the Everfree Forest when being chased by the undead?"
"That." Twilight said, rolling her eyes. "And for not saving you earlier." She added.
"No need to apologize for that." Secret said, shaking his hoof. "You still kicked flank, regardless. I would've been manticore food if it wasn't for you." 
Twilight smiled. "Secret, why do you always hide your face?" She asked.
"I have my reasons." He said. Twilight looked at him funny, noticing that he was not looking directly at her.
"Are you lying to me?" She asked.
Secret snapped his eyes onto her chest. "Of course I'm not. What are you talking about?" He asked. She stared at him, but he seemed to not be phased. 
Zecora came back into the room. "If you do not mind me to wonder, but is there a way we could move to a place down yonder? Not to say that I wouldn't miss this place, but there has been too many growing dangers to face." 
Twilight nodded. "If you could lead us out of the forest, we could head back to our caravan and continue our way to Canterlot. We heard that it was a safe heaven."
Secret looked up. It's not like I needed these, anyways. He said, scratching his eye.