Chapter Five – Pinkie Pie

Crazy was usually a good thing. Pinkie got called crazy on a daily bases. She never took it as an insult, because she loved being crazy. The best part was when even she didn't know what was she was going to do next.

Tonight was not the good kind of crazy. And Pinkie Pie certainly did not like not knowing what was going to happen next. If only she had convinced Frostburn to come to her party earlier in the day, she wouldn't have dragged her friends into this big mess.

Zecorah's hut sat in the distance. The very presence of the hoofprints raised a thousand questions for Pinkie. She sincerely hoped Frosty was there to clarify.

"You think he just wandered to Zecorah's place?" Rainbow Dash asked, breaking the silence.

Twilight shook her head. "His footprints were a clear path here. Frostburn knew where he was going."

"That pegasus told me he didn't have any friends." Pinkie said, irked. "Now I find out he's known Zecorah this whole time!"

"Slow down Pinkie." Twilight said. "They may not even know each other. But then…" She trailed off lost in thought. Somewhere nearby timber wolves howled. "We should go inside and see Zecorah."

"You scared?" Rainbow asked with a smirk.

"Aren't you?" Pinkie asked. Her Pinkie sense kicked in. An all over shudder.

"Oh no." Twilight said. Rainbow looked shocked. All three knew what a shudder meant.

Something completely unexpected was about to happen. A real dosey.

"Let's get inside." Rainbow suggested.

Allowing herself a smirk, Twilight replied, "You scared?" Pinkie shuddered again. Dash actually nodded.

Without anymore hesitation, the three trotted up to the door to the hut of their zebra friend. Zecorah was still awake, a faint glow from inside told them that much. Pinkie raised a hoof, and knocked on the door, hoping Zecorah would answer. Movement was heard from the other side of the mahogany.

"Who is there, knocking so late? A housecall at this hour is not great!" The familiar rhyming voice called from the inside.

"Zecorah, its Pinkie! And I'm here with Rainbow and Twilight. Can we please come in?" Pinkie said.

The door was quickly unlatched and opened. "Ah, my friends from Ponyville. Let you in, of course I will!" Zecorah stepped aside to allow the three ponies in. Pinkie zoomed right by Zecorah, expecting to see Frostburn somewhere inside. Rainbow Dash was just as fast. Twilight was more reserved, and walked in politely.

Zecorah's hut was everything they remembered it to be. The exotic decorations hung on the walls, symbols in the zebra's native language covered the scrolls she kept open, tonics lined the shelves and the smell of mahogany was powerful.

Surprised to say the least, Zecorah spoke as Pinkie rummaged around looking for Frostburn. "I am glad to see you three here, but visiting in the middle of the night is a little queer."

"Sorry Zecorah, but we've been looking for a pony that's gone missing in the Everfree forest, and then we found hoofprints leading to your hut." Twilight explained, looking around. "We were kind of hoping he'd be here."

"I haven't given up yet." Pinkie declared, poking her head into some of Zecorah's pottery. "Frostburn! You in here?"

"You won't find Frostburn in this place." Zecorah told Pinkie as her head came out of the pottery. "He left with a great haste."

All three ponies were stunned by Zecorah's revelation. "What do you mean, he left?" Rainbow asked, peeved. "Did we seriously miss him?"

"The pony of ice and flames stopped by. Then left, almost as soon as he said hi."

"Pony of ice and flames?" Twilight repeated, confused.

"Zecorah, do you know Frostburn?" Pinkie asked.

"He and I met in years past. Sadly a friendship would not last." Zecorah admitted.

"Zecorah, we have to find him. Can you tell us what you know?" Twilight said.

"My old acquaintance asked for the direction, to leave this forest's lack of protection. I pointed him to the west and told him that way is best. You may catch up to him soon, with the light from the moon." The zebra relayed.

"Then let's go!" Pinkie cried. The three turned to leave. "Thank you Zecorah!" the party pony called back.

Zecorah called out, "My pony friends don't yet go. There is one more thing you need to know!"

The three friends skidded to a halt, crashing into one another at the doorway.

"Well what is it then?" Rainbow asked disentangling herself.

"Long ago, Frostburn warned me he was under a curse and for ponies who stayed around him, the danger became worse!"

"A curse?" Twilight said, skeptical. She had dealt with supposed curses before, and ruled them out as illogical.  She began wondering what could be afflicting Frostburn, and why he considered it a curse.

"That must be why he doesn't want friends." Pinkie said. "That's just horrible! We've got to help him."

"What exactly was this curse?" Twilight said, still in denial.

"That was a topic he never talked about. It's up to you three to draw it out. Do not fear being too rough, that pegasus' guard is very tough." Zecorah said.

"Rough, got it." Rainbow said.

Pinkie was hit with another shudder, her sixth sense warning her of impending unexpectedness. This time it lasted longer, giving Pinkie more information. When it ended, Rainbow and Twilight eyed her, eager for an update. "Girls, I think know where the dosey is going to happen. Sweet Apple Acres!" Pinkie said.

"Frostburn must be headed in that direction." Twilight deduced.

"I'll see you there!" Rainbow Dash said, and launched herself into flight to chase after Frostburn.

"Rainbow, wait!" Twilight yelled too late. The cyan pegasus was gone before anypony in the room had blinked. "We have to go." Twilight told Pinkie. As they ran out, Pinkie turned to Zecorah one last time.

"Thanks for everything." She said.

"It was not trouble, my friend. Now find Frostburn, and put this mystery to an end." The zebra said, waving.

Pinkie nodded, shuddered again, and ran out. Next Chapter: Don't Buck with My Apples Estimated time remaining: 3 Hours, 7 Minutes