My Little Smosher: Friendship Always Wins! >> (SMOSH/MLPFIM Crossover)

Chapter 20>> A Run-In With Zecora

"Everfree Forest. Here we go." said Twilight, having a saddle bag wrapped around her. She was about to take her first step with her hoof into Everfree Forest's territory. 

"Twilight. Are you sure about this?" said Ian, with a nervous smile. He cowered down in fear, going behind her.

"Sure, I am. You and Anthony were near a lake when you got here. If it's true, that very lake can be a portal. It could lead to your dimension. We don't know for sure? But we have to try and find out. Or we will never know." said Twilight, leading the way into the forest. 

"Ian. There's no need to be afraid. We are all here with you together as friends." said Fluttershy. "We will protect each other."

"And have each other's backs." said Rainbow Dash.

"Plus, Discord is here." said Fluttershy, reassuring Ian so that he wouldn't be afraid. "He's one of our strongest fighters. There's no need to worry."

"Yes. I am here." said Discord. "Nothing can stop me with my chaotic power." 

"Okay. Thanks, Fluttershy and Discord." said Ian.

"Anthony, do you know where we are at?" asked Applejack. 

"I don't think we are there yet." said Anthony. "I remember being farther down in the forest." 

"Farther down the forest? That doesn't sound too far." said Rarity. "That is past Zecora's place."

"Zecora? Who is that?" asked Ian. 

"She is a zebra who specializes in making potions and cures for things. She is the only one in Ponyville that lives in Everfree Forest." said Rarity. "She can be quite helpful. She also has a thing, where she rhymes.. every time she speaks." 

"Now, that I am slowly remembering. I think we did pass by a house when we left the forest." Anthony mentioned. "I already know who Zecora is, with my knowledge from my world. Even though, me and her have never officially met before."

Everypony kept on walking, while Anthony Padilla and Rainbow Dash both flew up with their wings, looking out for any danger up ahead. "Hey, Anthony." said Rainbow, putting her hoof over her forehead. She squinted her eyes to get a better view. "Take a look at this." She pointed. 

Anthony flew down to the spot where she pointed to. "Hey. There are small pieces of chipped wood? And bark from a tree?" he looked down at the wooden pieces that were scattered onto the ground. "These must be from the timberwolves that me and Ian were running away from. You sure have a nice catch to spot things, Rainbow."

"Ha, it's no big deal. I am happy to help you Anthony." said Rainbow. 

Ian was standing on the ground. He was minding his own business, when his pony shadow started to move away from him on its own. The shadow then grew huge and then kidnapped him. Ian's voice was muffled, and so was his screams. His body was being held back by this evil shadowy side of his. This happened in a matter of seconds. No one noticed that he got dragged away by it into a cave. 

Anthony's pony ear then raised up. "Huh?" He stopped flying, but was still in the air. 

"What's wrong, Anthony?" asked Rainbow, stopping to go by his side. "Why did you stop flying?"

"Yeah. Is something wrong?" Spike looked up to Anthony and Rainbow. 

"This is going to sound weird, but I am getting a bad feeling about something." replied Anthony. "At least, that's what my pegasi body is telling me. And so are my ears, they are ringing."

"Hey, everypony. Not to be a burden or anything on this trip. But..." said Discord. "I don't see Mr. Ian Hecox anywhere. Do you think this has something to do with him? Should we be concerned about this?"

Pinkie Pie gasped in horror. "Discord is right. Ian is gone! He is nowhere to be seen. He was near me and Fluttershy, some seconds ago."

"Oh no. What do you suppose happened to him?" said the worried-Fluttershy. "I am getting worried about this. No one just disappears off in Everfree Forest. Not without a trace, unless something stopped him--"

"I know Ian. I have been best friends with him, since we went to school together." said Anthony. "He would never disappear off on his own, without telling me where he went to. Something here isn't adding up. We must go look for him."

"ANTHONY! HELP ME!" Ian's voice shouted from a distance.

"Hey that was Ian's voice! That means he is still near by us! Let's go help him! I think something bad happened to him." Anthony flew off to the direction of a big cave. "I can hear him. It's coming from this cave."

"I'm going with you!" shouted Rainbow. She flew off after Anthony, so did Twilight, Spike, and Fluttershy. Discord, Pinkie, Starlight, Rarity, Applejack followed them too by running after them.

"IAN!" Anthony gasped. "What in the hay is that thing!?" He pointed to the large evil shadow that was tying Ian up as a prisoner. "Why is there an evil-looking shadow near you?"

"I don't know Anthony!" said Ian. "But I'm scared! I don't know what it is going to do to me or you? I have no clue, what it is capable of doing? Please, you got to save me. Help me, man. You can't leave me out here to die! Not when we haven't even got back home yet! I don't want my last place to be in a spooky cave with this creepy looking-thing of a shadow monster."

"Don't worry! I'll save you!" Anthony kicked the shadow and tried punching it but it didn't work no matter how much he tried. "It's no use! Attacking it doesn't help! What do we do?"

Rainbow and the others entered the cave. "Ian!" they said in unison.

"Are you alright, sugarcube?" asked Applejack. 

"No! I'm not! Does it look like I am okay to you, Applejack!? This is a scary experience for me." said Ian. "My shadow is trying to get me?"

"Anthony. What is that thing?" Starlight asked Anthony, pointing to the large shadow monster. 

"I don't know what it exactly is?" Anthony said.

"It doesn't look exactly like a shadow pony to me." said Twilight. "But it's still a shadow?"

A hooded 'pony' walked into the cave. A brown cloak was hiding her face. "That is because it's not one. In this case, you better run. It is a shadow of a damaged ego. It can be a very great evil."

"Wait, I know that voice." said Fluttershy, walking up to this cloaked figure. "It's Zecora."

The ponied-figure took their cloak off to reveal their face. It..in fact was the zebra Zecora.