//------------------------------//
// Chapter 11: Rhyme or Reason 
// Story: Get Him! 
// by TJHoofer 
//------------------------------//

Chapter 11: Rhyme or Reason


“Wha- What happened..?” 

Alex moaned as he started to regain consciousness. He had a hard time opening his eyes as he was bombarded with intense light. Luckily it gradually softened the more he blinked and tried to focus.  
He was lying on something flat that felt like wood. He felt painfully stiff, as if he hadn’t moved in ages, along with a splitting head-ache. “My head… Where am I..?”

He blinked several more times before finally regaining his focus. Slowly he pulled himself back on his feet, joints cracking painfully as he moved. He wobbled and staggered around for a bit before eventually finding his balance. 

“What happened? “How did I get here? There was that Cockatrice and…” Alex muttered before he finally remembered what happened. “Wait a minute! The Cockatrice! Applebloom! Twilight! Girls! Where-?” He looked around for them, but discovered he was not in the forest anymore. He also realized he wasn’t trapped in a jar. He seemed to be in some kind of hut.
“Girls..?” Alex was worried. He remembered being snagged and carried away by the Cockatrice, but he didn’t remember anything that happened after that. He did imagine hearing the faint sound of a rooster, but he wasn’t quite sure... 

He then looked at his new surroundings. He noticed the hut was a hollowed out tree, with scary looking tribal masks decorating the walls that seemed to echo with sounds of drums and howls of hostile natives from a jungle continent not that unfamiliar to him. A dream catcher hung on the door. Various bottles and exotic trinkets hung from the roof. On the shelves were all manner of books and in others were bottles, bowls, pottery filled with various herbs and potions. There was a bed in one corner and a large cauldron boiling over a small fire in the middle of the room. It made him feel uneasy for some reason.

‘What? Whose place is this? Wait! The weird decorations! The bottles of potions! The boiling cauldron!’ He quickly put the pieces together.

“This is the house of a PONY WITCH!”

He held his mouth shut as he realized he had been using his outside-voice. He nervously looked around for any signs of this ‘Pony Witch’ until realizing that was he utterly alone. While it did fill him with some relief, he knew it was only a matter of time before the ‘Pony Witch’ returned. Alex quickly climbed off the table and headed for the door.

“I don’t know how I got here or who lives here, but I’m getting the heck out!” Reaching the door, he discovered he was just small enough to fit through the crack. He dropped down and crawled under it. “I’ll take my chances out there!”

ROAR!

Alex quickly crawled back and ran away from the door. “On second thought… NO I’M NOT!!!” 

Alex had forgotten he was still in the Everfree Forest. If an orchard was hazardous to a guy his current size, a forest filled with mythological monsters was definitively no walk in the park. He was trapped.
‘This is bad…’ Alex thought to himself. ‘Trapped inside a Pony Witch’s hut in possibly the most dangerous forest ever and no sign of Twilight or the Crusaders. I wonder if they’re alright..?’

CRACK!

He suddenly heard a noise coming from outside. He quickly made his way to the window just above the bed, climbed it and peered out into the dark forest that was now covered in lightly dense fog. A dark, pony-shaped figure was moving out of the fog towards the hut, all hooded and cloaked.
As it got closer, Alex could just barely glimpse something that looked like a face beneath the dark hood. He finally got a good look as the figure raised its head.

Alex turned away and held his mouth as he mentally cried in revulsion. ‘I… I can’t…!’ He pulled himself away from the window, trying to shake off that ghastly visage. ‘That face… It’s HORRIBLE!’ 
He then eyed the boiling cauldron and gulped. Maybe this ‘Pony Witch’ had ‘saved’ him so that he could be the next ingredient for some insidious brew?

He bolted from the window, bounced off the bed and headed for the nearest shelf. Quickly scaling it with the help of a stool, he hid behind one of bottles just as the door opened. 

Quiet as a mouse, he watched as the hooded Pony Witch cantered inside. He could tell that the Pony Witch was a mare as she seemed to be mumbling a strange language. She cantered toward the table and let out a gasp as she stared at the spot on the table where Alex had laid just moments ago. Excited, she muttered something in her strange language and began to search the hut. Alex ducked behind the bottles just as the Pony Witch turned in his direction.
‘I have to get out of here! I’m done for if she finds me!’ He heard the Pony Witch rummaging through her belongings and saw her looking through cupboards and pottery. Alex could barely look at those black, soulless eyes.

The Pony Witch now began searching the shelves. It wouldn’t be long before she reached the one he was hiding in. He quickly climbed one of the bottles, forced its cork open with little noise as possible and quickly jumped inside, sealing it up in the process just as the Pony Witch made her approach. Covering his mouth and nose so to not make a sound, he found he was knee deep in some kind of green powder. He felt the bottle move as the witch was searching the shelf for him. He held his breath until the bottle finally stopped shaking and he heard her canter away. 

Realizing she had started her search elsewhere, Alex removed his hand and sighed with relief, inadvertently breathing in the powder that tickled his nose. ‘Oh no!’ He tried to suppress it, but he couldn’t.

“ACHOO!”

POFF!

The cork shot out of the bottle, followed by an eruption of green smoke that seemed to manifest itself into several small ponies that galloped around the room before dissipating into nothing. The attention stopped the Pony Witch dead in her tracks and she eyed the bottle with the green illusion powder.

Alex covered his mouth and silently prayed she hadn’t seen or heard that. Just then he felt the bottle move and he saw with horror the silhouette of a ghastly face staring into the bottle and right at him.

*SHRIEK!*

POFF!

Alex screamed so loud he caused the green powder to erupt from the bottle right in the Pony Witch's face, causing her to drop the bottle and sending Alex rolling away across floor.

Momentarily caught in a coughing fit, the Pony Witch accidently tripped backwards against several shelves stacked with bottles and urns filled with medicinal herbs, liquids and potions, sending them all crashing down onto the floor. 

CRASH!

Once she finally stopped coughing, she beheld the mess and exclaimed with a mixture of both annoyance and anger. 
Searching through the mess, she soon discovered that the bottle containing Alex had rolled underneath the table, coming to a complete stop as it hit one of the legs.

Alex pulled himself out of the bottle, staggered dizzily around for a bit and nearly hurled as he tried to stop the room from spinning. Suddenly the table was flipped aside and he found himself face to face with the Pony Witch. 
Overcome with indescribable fear, he tripped and fell helpless before the monstrous behemoth as she stared down at him with her cold, lifeless eyes. He braced himself and was ready to meet his Maker.

“Goodness! That was quite a fright! Thank Celestia you’re alright!” 

Then he fainted.

THUMP! 

*****

Close by, Twilight and the Cutie Mark Crusaders had finally made it down the cliff. They arrived at the location where the jar had landed.

“This is the place! Spread out girls! He must be here somewhere!” said Twilight, her voice nearly trembling as she assumed the worst. The fillies didn’t need to be told twice. They all searched high and low for Alex. “Find anything?”

“No, sorry...”said Applebloom sadly.

“ALEX? AAAALEEEEEX!” yelled Sweetie Belle.

“What are you doing?” asked Scootaloo bewildered. “He’s turned to stone! How is he going to answer?” 

There was a moment of awkward silence until Sweetie Belle finally realized and her ears dropped. “Oh yeah…” 

“TWILIGHT! GIRLS! AH FOUND SOMETHIN’!” Applebloom cried out. Twilight was the first to react and raced past Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo.

“Did you find him? Did you find Alex?” asked Twilight with a hopeful look in her eyes. That hope quickly faded when Applebloom showed her what she had found. Twilight gasped. She held in her hooves a piece of broken glass. Looking on the ground behind her Twilight saw more glass shards littering the area. Her heart sank as she imagined the worst possible scenario. She carefully trotted over the shards. Eyeing one of the pieces, she levitated it up to her eyelevel, tears welling up. There was no mistake.

“Twilight? What is it?” asked Scootaloo. The three fillies moved closer to the piece Twilight was looking at. It was a lid. They had found the glass jar.

“But… Where’s Alex?” asked Sweetie Belle trembling. 

The ponies then eyed all the gravel and small pieces of rocks that lay scattered on the ground. If Alex was there, it was difficult to recognize him now. The fillies started to tear up as realization hit them. Applebloom had it worse.

“Ah… Ah didn’t mean it!” she wailed. “Ah- Ah didn’t want this! Ah mean he lied but… Ah didn’t mean for him to…” overcome with guilt, she sobbed until she felt Twilight foreleg pull her into a hug. 

“It’s okay Applebloom… It’s okay…” Twilight was crying herself. She never thought this could happen. She didn’t care for the Hoofbel anymore. She just wished she could’ve…

“HEY! Over here! I found something!” They all drew their attention to Scootaloo who spotted something on the ground. They all quickly cantered over and looked. There were hoofprints on the ground. The hoofprints of a pony… No. The hoofprints of a zebra!

“Those must belong to Zecora!” exclaimed Sweetie Belle.

Twilight suddenly had a glimmer of hope in her eyes. If Zecora was here, that could mean she found Alex. The only real question now was whether or not Alex was still in one piece. But if there was one thing she knew about Zecora, is that she seemed to have a remedy for almost anything. 
She knew this was a long shot, but right now she had two choices and the first was giving up and accept that he was gone. If there was a slight bit of chance that he was alright, Twilight had to make sure.

“Come on! Let’s follow them!” said Twilight as she led the way with the Crusaders close behind. ‘Oh please Alex! Please be in one piece! Please!’

*****

Alex slowly regained his consciousness as his nose tickled with the smell of sweet frankincense in the air. He felt strangely calm and relaxed, almost as if was waking up from a really bad dream. He rubbed his eyes as he slowly sat up, trying to remember what happened.   

“Long I was worried your recovery would take. I’m glad to see you’re finally awake.”

Alex’s eyes shot wide open and he beheld the hooded monstrosity in front of him. Now he remembered!

*SHRIEK!*

Alex let out a bloodcurdling cry. The Pony Witch backed away from table and shielded her ears. “Calm yourself before my vials shatter! Whatever in Equestria is the matter?!”

“Please!” Alex begged. “Don’t hurt me!” 

“By the Great Celestial Sheik! Did I just hear you speak?!” she exclaimed. She suddenly moved closer, which frightened Alex even more.

“Please stay away! I don’t want to be boiled!”

“What are these hurtful things you say? Why do you fear me in such a way?” She tried reaching out to him. Alex whimpered and recoiled, causing her to seize her advance and pull back. “Please dry those tears you’re spillin’ and tell me why you see me a heartless villain.”

Alex dried his eyes but still trembled, now confused by the sound of her gentle voice despite her ferocious appearance. 

“It wasn’t supposed to end this way! I only wanted to find Zecora!”

The confused witch blinked. “If it’s Zecora you wish to see, then look no further for she is me!” she smiled, although Alex couldn’t really tell.

Alex just stared at this monstrous figure before him. How was she able to speak like that without moving her lips? “I’m sorry but…  Zecora is a zebra and… and you don’t look anything like a zebra… ”

“What do you mean? A zebra I have always be-” she suddenly stopped talking and felt her face just before she facehoofed and groaned. “No wonder you’re upset! How could I carelessly forget?” 

Alex watched with confusion as she pulled back her hood. She then removed her cloak and Alex could now see she had a grey coat with dark stripes. She reached behind her head and removed the mask he just now could see she was wearing. 

“In all the excitement, I forgot what I was wearing. Now do you see? I’m not cruel but caring!” Zecora smiled warmly as Alex finally calmed down. 

Alex stopped shaking and stared at the unmasked zebra before him. She was sporting a Mohawk and was decorated with gold rings around her neck and left leg. There were rings on her ears and she had a cutie mark that was different from the others. It was a spiraled circle that kinda resembled the sun.
He breathed with great relief. “I was so worried… Forgive me, I thought you were a witch.” he laughed, realizing how silly he had been acting. He should’ve guessed it was an outfit, but he had let his imagination run away with him. “But… Why were you wearing that?”

Zecora glanced down at her outfit and giggled. “For suffering such an emotional strain, listen and I shall explain…” 

~***~

*TOLD IN STORYBOOK FASHION*

‘To help and heal ponies is my call you see, and I do so with happiness and glee.’

Zecora was happily mortaring some herbs when her door began knocking. A stallion with a runny nose and an icepack on his head had come seeking her aid. Coughing, he silently pleaded for her help.  Zecora smiled as she knew what to do.  
She served a fresh batch of medicine to the sick stallion, who instantly felt better after drinking it and gave her a hug.

‘But in time my supplies run dry, and often far I must venture to resupply.’

Zecora discovers that most of her bowls and bottles are empty. Rubbing her chin and looking out her window, she realizes she has no choice. She equips herself with a saddlebag and trots outside carrying a basket. 

‘But hungry beasts this forest shelter, so it’s not long before I helter-skelter.’

She trots calmly into the woods when suddenly she hears a roar and is quickly chased back to her hut by dark beasts and creatures of various sizes. She quickly gallops back inside and shuts the door with her back against it while panting. She glances out her window to see her hut surrounded.

‘To harvest my herbs in peace, their attacks I had to cease.’

Thinking about a solution to her problem, she suddenly eyes one of her masks on the wall and gets an idea. 

‘So I chose my favorite mask, and prayed it would do the task.’

The beasts stand ready to pounce as her door slowly opens. Suddenly they cower in fear and quickly run away as Zecora canters outside with her new disguise. With her problem solved, she happily braves the forest without fearing any danger. 

‘Cause if a scary monster they see, then alone they let me be.’

~***~

Alex blinked. ‘The scariest mask is her favorite?’ Her explanation however seemed to make sense. Her disguise worked as form of protection against anything that could see her as a possible meal ticket. If she looked more menacing and threatening than anything else in the forest, they wouldn’t dare attack her.

“So while my lotion cured your stiffness, I was away on ‘nature business’.” Alex was about ask what kind of ‘business’ she was referring to, but quickly decided against it as it sounded too personal.

“Wait… Stiffness..? You mean… I was stone? The Cockatrice really turned me to stone?!”

Zecora nodded. “A Cockatrice curse of stone is hard to brake, but with my ‘Motion Lotion’ it was easy as cake.”

“Motion Lotion?”

“It’s my latest brand of magical herbal lotion. It clears away stiffness AND puts you back in motion.” She giggled. She sounded like an ad campaign.

“Do you always speak in rhyme? Can’t imagine me doing that all the time…” Alex was quiet for a moment before he facepalmed. 

“I’ve encountered many creatures in the great Everfree. But you are indeed the strangest one I have ever come to see.” 

“My name is Alex. I’m not from around here. I am a human from Earth.” He then sighed, earning a confused and worried glance by Zecora. “I’m sorry… It’s been a rough day for me. And I’m not just talking about a Cockatrice’s turning me to stone- which by the way; thank you ever so much for saving me!”

Zecora smiled. 

“I’ve been through the worst day ever!” he continued. “I’ve been chased, bucked, shocked, dropped, locked up and even shrunk.” Zecora suddenly looked a bit surprised. “So yes… As you can tell, I’m not supposed to look like this…” He told her about the Poison Joke.

“Please do share me your tale. I would love to hear every detail.” Zecora listened as he gave her the short version of the story.  

*****

Having followed Zecora’s hoofprints, Twilight and the Crusaders could finally glimpse the light of Zecora’s hut through the fog. 

“Finally!” Twilight breathed with relief. “That took forever…”

“We would’ve gotten here faster if only you’d gone before we left.” Scootaloo narrowed her eyes at Sweetie Belle. 

“But I really had to go!” whined Sweetie Belle. 

“Come on!” yelled a determined Applebloom and lead the way with her friends and Twilight following close behind.

*****

“…and that’s pretty much what’s been happening to me.” Alex finished with a tired sigh.

Zecora had been silently listening to his story and now just sat there with a deadpanned look.

“Zecora?”

Suddenly, she started to snicker. That snicker evolved into a giggle. That giggle became a laugh and soon she roared with laughter. “I’m sorry, But you really made my laughter bubble! You poor thing, you’ve really been through quite the trouble!” She laughed so hard she nearly fell over. “Celestia’s strides! I’m splitting my sides!” 

Alex didn’t really find it all THAT funny.

Having finished laughing, Zecora finally composed herself, dried her tears and gave him a reassuring smile. “I may not be able to cure your cosmic misplacement, but I will relieve you of this herbal amusement.”

“Really? Thank you!”

“Alas, your patience it seems must be stronger, as you’ll have to remain small just a wee bit longer.”

Alex’s hopes dashed. “What? Why?” She gestured him towards the shards of broken bottles and spilled potions on the floor.

“Those bottles are what I needed for this remedy. Key ingredients they were for this flower’s trickery...”

Alex mentally groaned. He wanted to be big NOW!

“Don’t you fret little one. An hour I reckon it shall be done.” 

“An hour..?” It didn’t sound too bad... 

KNOCK! KNOCK!

“Zecora? Zecora, are you home?”

Zecora’s ears perked as she heard the familiar voice at the door. Alex heard it too and sprung up. 

‘TWILIGHT?!’ 

He was relieved that she was okay, along with possibly the Crusaders as well. But now he mentally cringed as he realized he was about to be caught yet again. 
He then noticed Zecora trotting over to open the door.

“Zecora! Wait-”

*****

“Do ya really think Alex is here, Twilight?” asked Applebloom as Twilight finished knocking on Zecora’s door.

“I don’t know, Applebloom. But it’s worth a shot…” Twilight said with a small sense of hope in voice. After a waiting a moment, Zecora finally answered the door.

“Twilight Sparkle! What a surprise!  I expected you sometime after sunrise. And Applebloom and friends! What brings you all to these forest ends?” Looking more closely, she saw the worried looks on their faces.

“Zecora…” Twilight began. “I’m really sorry for coming so late. But we have an emergen-”

“Is Alex here?” Applebloom budded in, pushing herself in front of Twilight.

“We’re looking for him!” added Scootaloo, who joined in followed by Sweetie Belle.

“To earn our cutie marks!” Everyone, including Twilight, frowned at Sweetie Belle. “What? We are! Oh! And to see if he’s safe! Squee!”

Twilight rolled her eyes and sighed. “It’s like this Zecora, we’re looking for…”

“A human with no hooves nor tail but hands, feet, fingers and nail. No mane and snout and screams with a girlish shout?” 

“Y-Yes!” She suddenly grabbed Zecora’s shoulders with her forelegs and shook her. “Is he still here? Is he safe? Is he still in one-?” 

Zecora smiled and politely pushed Twilight’s forelegs off her. “Yes Twilight, young little Alex is safe and un-petrified. He’s resting peacefully and satis-” before Zecora could finish, Twilight and the Crusaders had pushed themselves passed her and bolted towards the table.

“ALEX!!!” 

“-fied..?” Zecora finished and shook her head after she finally stopped spinning.

They all galloped up to the table, only to find there was no ‘Alex’ on it. 

“But… Where is he?” asked Twilight confused.

“He’s not here…” said Scootaloo as she jumped on the table. 

Sweetie Belle looked under the table. “Not here either.”

“Zecora?” Applebloom quietly asked as Zecora joined them. Zecora rubbed her chin and wondered as well.

“Flown the coup he appears I reckon. Strange, he was only here just a second…”

Twilight was about to question Zecora before she caught a movement in the corner of her eye. A flipped over cup was slowly moving across the floor. Curious, Twilight slowly stepped over to it and lifted it with magic.

Alex, trying to sneak himself passed Twilight and the Crusaders, suddenly realized his cover had disappeared. He looked up and saw Twilight staring at him with an unreadable look. 

“Ehehe… Hi?”

Twilight’s face brightened and her eyes welled up with joy. “ALEX!”

‘Oh no…’ Alex watched helplessly as Twilight used her magic and levitated him off the floor, bringing him close to her face.

“Alex! I can’t believe…” Twilight cried. “Sniff! I’m so relived you’re…”

“ALEX!” Applebloom suddenly dove towards Alex and grabbed him in mid-air. She landed on the floor and skidded to a stop as she hugged him. “ALEX! Ah’m SO sorry! Ah’m so glad yer alright!” She cried while nuzzling him. “Ah thought ya were… We all thought ya were…”

“It’s okay Applebloom!” Alex replied, fighting Applebloom’s hug as she was nearly crushing him. “I’m alright! I’m sorry for tricking you before…” Applebloom released him from her hug and dried her tears. 

“It’s alright… Sniff! Ah know why ya did it, and Ah forgive ya if ya’ll forgive me fer sayin’ those bad things to ya.”

“I forgive you Applebloom…” Alex couldn’t help but hug Applebloom back. He then felt Twilight’s magic again and was lifted up in the air towards her.

“ALEX IS OKAY! ALEX IS OKAY! YAY!” cheered Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo as they jumped and skipped around them.

“You really had us worried, Alex. But you’re safe now and so is my Hoof- I mean, that is…” She pursed her lips. “You’re safe. Squee!” Twilight simply said as she smiled nervously. Alex crossed his arms and frowned. Twilight sure was worried about him alright. 
“Thank you so much for saving him Zecora! You can’t imagine how relieved we are. I’m sorry if he caused you any trouble.”

“It has only been a pleasure. No trouble of any nature.” Zecora smiled. “It warms my heart to see you all so cheerful. I’ll admit this whole thing has made me warm and tearful.”

“Then if there are no more concerns, I guess we’ll just take him back to Ponyville now. I think he’s had quite enough excitement for one day.” Twilight smiled.

“WHAT?!? Zecora no! She’s gonna-!” Alex’s screams of protests were quickly muffled as Twilight out of shear panic quickly levitated a bottle she found on the floor and immediately sealed him inside with a cork. 

Her little action made Zecora curious and she now looked questionably at her with a frown. Alex’s muffled screams inside the bottle intensified and faint knocking could be heard. Twilight’s eyes nervously darted back and forth between the bottle and Zecora. “Ehehe… He’s… He’s thrilled to go back with me. Squee!”

Zecora just stared at her, tilting her head to the side with a look of suspicion and disapprovement in her eyes. Twilight nervously eyed the bottle again. “Um… It’s protection, against the creatures of the forest. Wouldn’t want him to get caught and wind up in some monsters’ belly, right?” she laughed as she playfully nudged her. Zecora just silently stared at her. “I swear Zecora, I’m not-!” Zecora suddenly raised her hoof and Twilight went silent. She then lowered it and spoke.

“While in my care, Alex told me quite an interesting tale,” Twilight gulped “…most about a persistent mare with powers that made him pale.” Twilight recalled when she first met Alex. She mentally scolded herself, admitting that meeting could’ve gone better. 
“He then told me of meeting a friend in darkness that made his hope rise, only to find that hope was filled with lies.” Twilight’s human form! It haunted her mind as she remembered how she used it to trick him. She hung her head low. She had never felt this bad before. 
Zecora then suddenly seemed to smile a bit. “But he also told me of a brave unicorn risking all to face great danger, risking life against a monster to save a filly and her tiny passenger.” Twilight’s ears suddenly perked. She raised her head and was utterly surprised by this. 
“You are a good friend with both magic and charm. I know you too well to believe you would do any creature harm.” Twilight breathed a sigh of relief. “And while I do trust that your intentions are pure, it is Alex’s trust that you need to ensure.”

“And I will!” said Twilight. “Believe me! Once all this is over, I’m going to make this right. I Pinkie swear!”

Zecora smiled some more. She then heard more knocking coming from the bottle. “While I’m sure Alex disapproves, I know he’s in good hooves. But finished with him I am not, as he is still in such a binding knot.”

“Yes, the Poison Joke.” Twilight agreed. Getting Alex to his old self was top priority. “You’re right, Zecora. Just give me the antidote and I’ll restore him once I get him back to Ponyville.”

Zecora shook her head. “Alas, his current state he is stuck, as I’m currently out of stock.” She showed her the broken bottles and Twilight seemed to understand what she meant. “Time I need to harvest the cure. Come back in an hour, it’ll be ready for sure.”

"An hour?" Twilight wanted to get Alex back to Ponyville NOW! She didn’t like the idea of going back through the forest again, but it appeared she didn’t have much choice. “Very well Zecora. I’ll just take Alex back home and keep him safe there while I return back here for the antidote.”

“Are you certain little Alex will remain in your care? He did tell me you were not the only mare.”  

Twilight laughed. “Believe me Zecora. My friends may be out there searching, but they don’t know I already have him. Hay, they don’t even know I’m here.” As Twilight said that, Zecora suddenly seemed to notice something quickly duck down outside the window behind her. It was too fast for her to reckognize, but she did notice the color... 

“Hm...” Instead of saying anything about it to Twilight, Zecora just smiled and silently chuckled. “While I am aware of the Ponyville sillies, I was actually referring to three little fillies…”

Twilight stopped laughing. Realization hit her as she saw the Cutie Mark Crusader standing behind her, waiting impatiently with the look of hope in their eyes. Looking at the bottle in her possession, she knew what they were thinking. She pondered for a moment on what to do before she noticed something on the shelf next to her. She then had an idea and levitated something from the floor. 

“Zecora, can I borrow this?”

*****

After a while, the four ponies finally exited the forest. It was refreshing to finally see the sun again. 

“Good to be out of there…” Twilight sighed with relief, trying to ignore the fact that she was going to have to venture in there again later.

“That was really exciting.” said Scootaloo. “Probably worth a cutie mark!”

“Ya mean like, a ‘Human Rescuer’ cutie mark?” asked Applebloom. The fillies eyes gleamed.

“CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS: HUMAN RESCUERS! YAY!”

Twilight nearly dropped the bottle as she grimaced and rubbed her ear. “Girls…”

The Crusaders lined up and looked at their flanks with excitement, only for nothing to happen.

“Aww…” Sweeite Belle groaned.

“Cheer up, Crusaders!”  yelled Scootaloo. “Our mission to earn our Human Expert cutie marks is still on!”

“YAY!” cheered Sweetie Belle and Applebloom.  The three fillies then rushed up in front of Twilight and formed a line side by side, smiling with expectation. Twilight was silent for a moment before realizing what they were waiting for.

“Now? But girls, wouldn’t it be wiser to have him stay with me until Zecora’s finished with the antidote?”

“Eenope!” answered Applebloom.

“He’s our human, Twilight! Besides, you said you’d help!” said Scootaloo.

“A deal is a deal!” said Sweetie Belle.

Twilight rolled her eyes but smiled. “You’re right girls. A deal is a deal.” She levitated the bottle over to them and placed on Applebloom’s head. “Just don’t open the bottle until I come back with the antidote or else he might escape.” 

Applebloom gently shook the bottle, and heard noises coming from inside. “He’s ‘n there alright!”

“Then let’s go!” yelled Scootaloo.

“CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS: HUMAN EXPERTS! YAY!”

With the bottle perfectly balanced on her head, Applebloom quickly jumped into the trolley with Sweetie Belle as Scootaloo pulled them towards their clubhouse, their cheers echoing as they disappeared from view. 

When they were finally far enough away, Twilight lit her horn and another bottle identical to the first suddenly materialized. “A deal is a deal…” She smiled slyly, gently shaking the bottle as muffled yelling emitted from the inside. 
“…But NOT a ‘Pinkie Promise’.” She giggled as she trotted away, unaware at that moment a shadow popped out of a nearby bush and quietly followed her. 

*****

It didn’t take Twilight long to reach the library. While she hated herself for having fooled the Crusaders, she convinced herself the Hoofbel was far more important. She looked around for any sign of her friends, rushed inside and locked the door. She didn’t notice two bright blue eyes watching her from the bush next to her door.

“Spike? Spike, are you in here?”

“Hey Twilight…” Spike called from upstairs.

“Oh good… Hurry down here Spike! I have him!” She placed the bottle with Alex on her desk. Spike waddled down the stairs. “Spike you won’t believe the ordeal I’ve been through. I’ve just been to the Everfree Forest and…” Twilight was surprised to see him. “What happened to you?”

Spike was covered in sticky syrup and chicken feathers. “Applejack…” he moodily said, spitting out a feather.

Fighting the urge to laugh, Twilight coughed and composed herself. “I see… Well anyway, we now have Alex back, safe and sound.” She pointed at the wobbling bottle. “Now all we need is the antidote from Zecora, so we need to get going.”

“That’s great Twilight!” cheered Spike. “I’m sure glad it’s almost over and- Wait… Go? Go where?”

“Back to Zecora of course, and you’re coming with me.”

“WHAT?” Spike couldn’t believe his ears. “You just came back from the Everfree Forest, and now you’re going back again?”

“The antidote wasn’t ready yet.” Twilight unlocked the door and trotted outside. 

“But why go back? Can’t we just go and ask for some from the Spa Ponies?”

“I already tried that on the way here but they were all out. Everything they had in stock had been used for some kind of emergency...” 

Spike didn’t like the idea of being dragged into the forest again. He then looked at the bottle with slight concern. “Are we just gonna leave him like that?” 

“Relax Spike.” Twilight smiled reassuringly. “He may be sealed in, but it’s not airtight. I’ve made sure he won’t suffocate.”

“But do I really have to go? Can’t I just stay here and keep an eye on him?”

“Even if he somehow manages to escape, I believe he would much rather stay here and wait for us than wander around Ponyville in that condition.” Twilight then levitated Spike and placed him on her back. “Besides, there is nothing to fear from the forest now, now that I have my latest Cockatrice repellent. How’s your crowing?” 

“My ‘what’ now…?”

SLAM! CLICK!

To make certain no pony entered the library during her absence, Twilight made sure to lock the door. Once done, she and Spike quickly left for the Everfree Forest. 
As soon as they were gone, Pinkie Pie popped out of the bush. She stuck out her tongue as she pressed her eye against the keyhole and eyed the bottle as it wobbled and jumped around on the desk.

“Target located… Giggle-Snort!”

Pulling her eye out of the keyhole, she rummaged through her mane and pulled out a hairpin. Giggling, she went to work on the lock. She nearly worked her hoof off before she finally managed to unlock door.

CLICK!

“Yes!”

Before she could barge in however, a shadow suddenly passed over her and she quickly leaped back into the bush as a familiar cyan pegasus made her descent towards the library…