Quentin and the six mares walked through the Everfree Forest, on their way to Zecora's home. After about fifteen minutes of walking, they finally came to a hut. The hut was a large, hallowed out tree. On a high branch four, different colored bottles hung from ropes. There were two windows on both sides of the old, brown door that led inside.

It was a truly mysterious, yet creepy place. "So, this is where Zecora lives?'' Quentin asked both in awe and a bit creeped out.

"Yep, creepy huh?'' Dash smirked, nudging Quentin.

"No kidding,'' The nervous stallion gulped softly.

"Don't worry Quentin, Zecora is really nice and really wise. I'm sure she can give us some way to help you get home,'' Twilight said kindly.

Quentin smiled at this, but Applejack looked down sadly. "Yeah, that'd be jus' great,'' she thought to herself sadly.

"Well let's go in,'' Twilight said.

Thy all followed her to the door, and she knocked on the door. The door opened and the eight walked in. They immediately were in a large, round, one room dwelling. In the center was a large, black cauldron over a crackling fire. Along most of the room were shelves and cupboards that held various pots, books, jars, and strange artifacts. On the walls, different African-esque looking masks decorated them to give the home an even more mystic feel.

Across in a good space of the room was a single mattress with a cheetah covering and a small, stone table was near the cauldron. Above, a few thick branches hung from overhead, with vines intertwined on them. Quentin was so wrapped up in the surroundings that he failed to notice the zebra on the other side of the room.

"Welcome, Twilight Sparkle and friends of mine. What brings you here to my home of wood and vine?'' Zecora asked, with a welcoming smile.

Quentin blinked a few times at the sudden rhyme with a confused look on his face. "Yall don't worry none. She tends ta do that,'' Applejack whispered, seeing his expression.

''Hi Zecora, we're sorry for disturbing you,'' Twilight asked politely.

Zecora shook her head and laughed. "Twilight Sparkle worry not, for I was just making a brew in this pot. A trick of the eyes, can it be? Or is it a new face, new friend that I see?'' Zecora asked, her eyes falling on the lone stallion.

Quentin smiled kindly, but shyly. "Yup yur eyes ain't foolin ya Zecora. This is our new friend Quentin,'' Applejack introduced Quentin, patting his back.

Zacora walked over to Quentin. "Why hello Quentin, meeting you I'm am glad, my name is Zecora.''

"Hello Zecora, it's great to meet you,'' Quentin waved friendly.

"The pleasure's all mine, you're sweet as a lark, yet I feel an aching lingering in your heart,'' Zecora said, frowning at her last words.

Quentin's face fell somberly. "Yeah, well I guess you can say that,'' he said softly.

Twilight looked at me sympathetically and then to the zebra.

"Yeah, well that's kinda the reason why we came here Zecora,'' Twilight started to explain as Zecora listened.

Twilight then started to explain to her the downhearted Quentin's situation, about being from another world, about being a human, and trying to find a way back. When the explanation was over, Zecora had wide, surprised eyes, her jaw agape.

"A human, from another world you spoke. I must say, this must be a joke?!''

They shook their heads. "See that's exactly what we said. At first we couldn't believe it either, but then Twilight used her magic to read Quentin's mind and found out that he was telling the truth, and we were all like "SAY WHAT'' and -'' Pinkie Pie said quickly and crazily.

"And is why we came seeking for your help Zecora,'' Rarity butted in.

Zecora looked at her visitors in disbelief, but then nodded in understanding. "Help you I'll try, for your new friend too, but I ask what could I do?''

"W-Well we came to see if maybe you know of a way to maybe help Quentin get back to his own world,'' Fluttershy spoke softly.

"Yeah, so do you have any freaky spells or something that could do the trick?'' Rainbow Dash asked.

Zecora's face fell sadly and she shook her head. "Many spells in my possession I got, but a spell to send you back home I do not.''

They all looked at her in disbelief. "R-Really Zecora, you don't have ANY?'' Quentin asked desperately, but Zecora just shook her head solemnly.

"I'm sorry Quentin, but this is true. I have no spells that could possibly help you. I have read many book outside this hut, but one on interworld travel, anything but.''

Quentin just looked at her despairingly looked down sadly. Everyone looked at the colt with sorrowful expressions and Applejack comforted him.

"It'll be ok sugar, we'll, we'll think of somethin,'' Applejack reassured softly.

Quentin said nothing. Twilight looked at him sadly and turned to Zecora.

"Zecora, there must be something that could give us even a clue on to help Quentin get back to his world?''

Zecora thought deeply and then sighed in discontent. "There is nothing I can think of to help, you see. For I didn't think it was possible of others worlds could be. I didn't think humans actually existed you see. We told stories in my native land, of brutes and savagery.''

The six ponies looked at each other with shocked expressions, while Quentin was taken aback by the comment.

"Wait a minute. I'm not a brute or a savage. I don't want to hurt anybody, I just want to get back home!'' Quentin responded rather defensively with furrowed eyes

At this Zecora looked at the stallion with a surprised look, but then merely chuckled, ''Please do not fret young one. For I was just stating where my knowledge of humans begun. For a very kind and gentle spirit within you I see, and I believe your new friends here can agree.''

The six ponies and baby dragon nodded with soft smiles. Although Quentin was grateful for their support, it hardly did anything to lighten his spirits and he sigh while looking away, disappointed.

"I'm sorry for striking a nerve you see, but I have no spell or knowledge to get you home. Please forgive me,'' Zecora added with a regretful frown.

"Well back square one,'' Dash sighed.

Zecora then smiled softly. "Worry not Quentin, there might be a chance. An answer that can make your heart sing and dance.''

Quentin looked at Zecora, his eyes widening with hope as the others leaned in intently.

"The answers you seek, I can't access, so why not ask our beloved Princess?'

The others gasped. "THE PRINCESS?!" they cried in unison to which Zecora calmly nodded, taking a sip of some unknown drink.

Quentin looked at the six who gave each other questioned looks until Twilight spoke. "We'll we would defiantly like to ask the Princess, Zecora, but...but the thing is, we don't know where she is,'' Twilight said softly and sadly.

Zecora's eyes widened in shock. "What?! Could it be, our Princesses nowhere around. What does this mean, has an answer been found?!''

"Oh, we didn't mean the Princess was in danger!'' Twilight said quickly. "She and Princess Luna had left. I don't know where, but it's possible that they're not even in Equestria anymore.''

Zecora couldn't believe what she was hearing. "But why, why so?''

Twilight sighed and began to tell Zecora about the letter Celestia had sent and why she and her sister had left. When the story was done, Zecora sat in silence.

"So, our Princess had experienced a dire vision she did. So she left to find the truths that it hid,'' she asked softly and the others nodded.

"Do ya know what this could mean Zecora?'' Applejack ask in her southern accented voice.

Zecora closed her eyes and lowered her head slightly. "The meaning of these visions I do not know, but I am glad that the Princesses decided to go.''

The eight visitors all stared, listening closely as Zecora continued. "Visions happen for a reason, this I know. And one such as this can't be ignored so.''

The ponies nodded understandingly, as did Quentin. Twilight looked at her friends, then back to Zecora.

"Thanks Zecora for your help,'' she said, politely bowing her head.

"Of course my friends, coming here with a task, if I can be of further service, you need only to ask.''

"Right, thanks Zecora,'' Dash said. "C'mon guys, I guess we should head back.''

The rest all nodded and said their goodbyes to Zecora when Twilight suddenly turned back around. "Oh and Zecora? Do you mind if you don't tell anypony about all of this. The last thing we want is to start a panic,'' Twilight asked.

Zecora chuckled softly. "Of course Twilight Sparkle, this will not be revealed. It is, how you say it...my lips are sealed.''

Her visitors chuckled a bit at this and Twilight gave a grateful smile and a nod and they left the hut. It was about five minutes after the group started walking when Spike suddenly blurted out happily.

"Great, this mean Quentin's not going home!''

"SPIKE!'' the six ponies cried, giving the purple dragon disapproving looks.

Spike looked around puzzled and held his claws up in defense. "What? I meant in a good way. I mean, now we can hang out with Quentin some more.''

Quentin just looked down in thought, a sorrowful look upon his face.

"Spike maybe now's not the time,'' Twilight said firmly. Quentin was really hoping to find something.''

"Twi's right. It'd be nice to spend some more time with Quentin, but if he wants ta go home, who are we ta stop him,'' Applejack said firmly, though in truth, she didn't really want him to go just yet.

"Girls it's ok,'' Quentin finally spoke up.

The others ceased their talking and looked at the stallion.

"Quentin whatever do you mean? Of course it's not ok, we still haven't found a way to get you home,'' Rarity said with a downtrodden gaze.

"Yeah, you're still so sad and mopey. I wish you can stay longer, but if it'll put a smile on your face, then so be it,'' Pinkie added sadly but then happily.

The others nodded in agreement, but Quentin just chuckled. "Thanks guys, you all are so kind and generous,'' he began smiling. "But I can't help but feel bad about this.''

"What do you mean Quentin?'' Fluttershy asked with a bewildered look.

"I mean, I asking you all to help me like this while your two rulers are nowhere to be found on a mission to prevent a possible threat.''

Applejack just smiled softly and nudged him. "Aw shucks Quentin, it aint no trouble at. Somepony was in need, and we gladly offered to help, an we still willin to.''

The others agreed. "That's right. There's no way that we're leaving any friend of ours hangin!'' Dash smiled toughly, putting an arm around Quentin's shoulders. He couldn't help but smile gratefully at their willingness to help him.

''None of us will. We'll get you home Quentin, I promise,'' Twilight said adamantly.

Quentin looked at each of them and they smiled and nodded. He didn't know what to say.

"Wow...thanks girls,'' he said softly. "But I want to help you out now.''

''What do you mean?'' Spike asked, perplexed.

"I mean, I want to do all I can to help you figure out the mysteries of these visions and to help find your princesses. Helping others should always come before asking others for help.'' Quentin said with a determined smile.

The others were shocked about his responded and Applejack smiled warmly at the stallion.

"So if it means to help you guys, I'm willing to stay at least until we find your princesses. And besides…'' Quentin then stroked his pendant around his neck and closed his eyes briefly before opening then again.

"I may not have found a way to get back home, but if I just keep my chin up and never lose faith, then I know things will turn out for the best.'' Quentin then ended by giving a wink at Applejack. Putting his forelegs around her and Rainbow Dash.

"If its ok with you guys that is?''

They cheered instantly. "YEE-HAW, that's jus' apple-pickin great!'' Applejack cried happily.

"Ok, OK? It's better than ok. It Superdupercaliwonderlisous OK!'' Pinkie squealed, bouncing all over the place.

"It certainly is, you're a very wonderful person Quentin,'' Rarity said gracefully, giving him a hug which Quentin happily returned.

"This will be so exciting,'' Fluttershy said happily, but softly.

"BUCK YEAH that's what I'm talkin about!'' exclaimed Dash, zooming happily into the air and finally next to Quentin. "I can't wait to hang out and to show you all of my best moves!''

"That's really kind of you to offer help in your situation Quentin. We very much appreciate it,'' Twilight smiled, bowing her head.

Quentin just smiled and nodded, but then his stomach rumbled loudly. He laughed sheepishly.

"I guess I'm a little hungry, do you think we can have some lunch?''

The others happily accepted and they made their way through the Everfree Forest and back towards Ponyville, happily along with their new friend.