"Where is everypony?" Shining Armor asked. His head shifted as he looked back and forth, scanning the empty streets.

After breakfast and chores, he, Twilight, and Spike had all gone to do some shopping. Normally at this time of day, the street were crowded with busy ponies bustling about their business. Today, for some reason, the streets were empty. The entire time they had been walking, they had not seen another pony out. Although they have seen some shutting doors and windows.

"Is it a holiday?" Spike asked, looking around.

"No," Twilight answered. "And I would know. I have all the upcoming holidays marked on my calendar."

"Of course you do," Spike said, rolling his eyes. "Is it my breath?" He let out a burp, a burst of green dragon flame escaping his mouth with it. Before it completely faded, the young dragon leaned forward to sniff at it.

"Spike," Shining said, "I don't think you could be offensive enough to send the whole town into hiding if you tried."

"Maybe there's...." Spike let out a gulp and moved closer to Shining Armor, "zombie ponies."

"Zombies don't exist," Twilight said. "Well... as far as we know anyways. I mean there are stories about ponies who were able to reanimate the dead, even though they're fiction. There are also some true stories about ponies that were trying to find immortality. In theory, if those attempts went wrong, I suppose it-"

Twilight Sparkle stopped talking when Shining Armor placed a hoof over her mouth.

"I think that's enough of that for now."

"Shining," a voice called out. It sounded like someone was trying to shout while whispering. The three of them looked around, trying to find the source.

"Twilight," the voice called out again. The sound seemed to come from Sugarcube Corner.

"Spike," it called out once more. There was a sign of movement during the stage whisper, but the bakery was too dark to see who it was.

"Over here!"

The three looked at each other for a moment, trying to figure out what was going on. Shining took a deep breath and headed toward the dark doorway first, Spike and Twilight not following far behind. Before they could figure out what was going on, the three of them were grabbed and disappeared into the darkness.

Shining Armor gave his head a shake as he came to his senses. He channeled magic through his horn, creating a faint rose colored light. Standing directly in front of them was the grinning face of a blue-eyed poofy-maned pink pony.

"Pinkie Pie?" he asked. "What are you doing here alone in the dark?"

"I'm not alone," Pinkie answered.

Shining Armor looked at her a moment before looking around. He put more energy into his horn, making it glow brighter. In the faint light he could now see that there was also, Rarity, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, and Applejack with Apple Bloom behind her. Twilight perked up at the sight of her friend, heading over to her.

"Okay," Shining said as he looked at the faces of the other ponies, "so what are you all doing here in the dark?"

"We're hiding," Fluttershy answered. "From..."

"Her!" several of them whispered together, pointing at the window.

Shining Armor got up and started walking toward the window. Twilight turned to Apple Bloom.

"What's going on?" Twilight asked.

"Mah sister is being weird," Apple Bloom replied, looking over at Applejack.

Shining Armor looked out the window. Standing in town near some of the shops was a figure about the size and shape of a pony. It was hard to tell too much specifically since it was covered in some sort of traveling cloak. The figure pawed at the ground, pushing at the dirt and digging. The figure suddenly stopped and turned around. Shining Armor was only able to catch a flash of yellow before being pulled back by the gasping mares behind him.

"Did you see her evil glare?"

"I saw her turn to look this way," Shining answered, moving to get back up. "Who is it?"

"She's a strange pony," Rainbow Dash said.

"Who nopony knows," Pinkie Pie added.

"And she's said to be a powerful witch," Applejack said.

"They call her..."

"Zecora!" the five of them called out at the same time.

"She also looks so strange," Rarity said as she moved back to the window. Shining looked out at the figure again.

Zecora had resumed digging. Once again she stopped, this time taking the hood down. The figure had a coat white with black stripes. The mane was sticking up in a mohawk, and gold rings shined from around her neck.

"I mean black and white," Rarity continued, "how outdated."

"She's a zebra," Shining Armor stated.

The five mares all turned to look at him curiously. Spike, meanwhile, slowly backed up toward the doors for Sugarcube Corner's kitchen. Twilight perked up, looking at her brother. A grin spread across her face before she started slinking for the door.

"I've never seen one before," Shining continued. "I've only read about them in books. They come from a faraway land."

"But she's strange," Rainbow Dash nearly shouted.

"And creepy," Fluttershy added.

"And evil," Pinkie Pie said. "I'm even writing a song about it."

"Here we go," Rainbow Dash groaned as Pinkie Pie started

"That's enough!" Shining Armor shouted, feeling his face heating up. "I can't believe you. I thought you were better than this." He turned to Pinkie Pie. "Especially you. I mean you're supposed to be friends with everypony in Ponyville, but you don't even get to know..." Shining stopped talking as he looked out the window.

During the conversation, Twilight Sparkle had snuck out of Sugarcube Corner. She now ran up to Zecora, looking at her with wide-eyed wonder.

"Wow," Twilight said. "Are you really a zebra? I've never seen one before. What are you doing in Ponyville? Or in Equestria for that matter? Are there winged zebras? Zebras with horns? What about potions? Why haven't I seen you in Ponyville before?"

"A great many questions you have asked me," Zecora replied. "Even if I had caught them all, answering them would not be easy. You must have a very kind heart, although others will think approaching me was not smart."

"Twilight!" Shining Armor shouted as he ran up to his sister. "What have I told you about pestering ponies with questions." He turned to look at Zecora. "I'm sorry if my sister..."

But she was gone.

"Come on," he said, turning back to his sister. "Let's get Spike and head home. I don't think we're going to get any shopping done today."

Twilight watched the horizon where Zecora had ran off. She then gave a nod and started back toward Sugarcube Corner. Her ears drooped as she walked.

"I wanted to learn about her," the filly said with a pout.

"Well..." Shining shifted. "Maybe we'll get another chance some time."

The two of them stepped back in to Sugarcube Corner, four pairs of eyes were watching them. Applejack was looking around, her face shifting with worry.

"Where's Apple Bloom?"