The rise of Celestia's sun marked a new day in Ponyville. All of the ponies of this little town awoke and started their days. This was no different and Golden Oaks Library where a pair of unicorns and a baby dragon started their days as well.

"So...anything special planned today?" asked Twilight.

"The girls and I and going to try and spruce up the Castle of the Two Sisters." answered Sunset.

"That sounds interesting." mused Twilight.

"You can come." offered Sunset.

Twilight sadly shook her head.

"I doubt the girls would approve." noted Twilight.

"Look, I can talk to them..." began Sunset.

"I'd rather not have such a mess." replied Twilight.

"Are you sure?" asked Sunset dejected.

"Yeah.' answered Twilight.

Spike noticed the sour attitude in both mares.

"Well, I was planning on reading through my Power Ponies comics." revealed Spike.

"That's nice." said Twilight.

"We can read it together." offered Spike.

"I don't think I will be able to, but thanks for the offer." said Twilight.

"I understand." said Spike.

"Spike, why don't you go with Sunset." suggested Twilight.

"Why?" asked Spike worried.

"It'll be more fun than being stuffed up here." answered Twilight.

"I'm more than happy to stay here!" exclaimed Spike.

"It's fine Spike. I'll be happy to relax here." said Twilight.

Spike gulped nervously.

"If you say so." said Spike reluctantly.

Breakfast passed the the trio had a little more time together. Finally, it came time for Sunset and Spike to depart. Spike wanted to stay, but Twilight continued reassuring him things where fine. He finally realized Twilight wouldn't stop until he relented so he did just that. The duo departed and Twilight waved to them until they where out of sight. Twilight then walked back inside and crawled back into her bed.

("Alone at last.") cooed the mysterious voice.

"I'm not alone if you're here." noted Twilight.

("I meant we're along together.") explained the voice.

"Oh joy." replied Twilight sarcastic.

("Don't you like our conversations?") asked the voice.

"No in particular." answered Twilight.

("That's a shame, because I do enjoy this.") revealed the voice.

"Good for you then." said Twilight flatly.

("Do you know why?") asked the voice.

"No clue." answered Twilight, flatly.

("As a scientist, I thought you'd be more interested.") mused the voice disappointed.

"I am a tad interest." admitted Twilight.

("That's more like it!") declared the voice.

"So...why do you enjoy this?" asked Twilight.

("It's interesting to see the real you.") answered the voice.

"I have no clue what you're talking about." replied Twilight.

("Then you need me more then ever.") stated the voice.

"I need you like a hole in the head." grumbled Twilight.

("How aggressive.") cooed the voice.

"I'm not in the mood." stated Twilight.

("What's wrong?") asked the voice sympathetically.

Twilight rolled her eyes.

"Take a guess." answered Twilight bluntly.

("I'm hurt.") said the voice.

"Oh the horror." replied Twilight sarcastically.

("Have you figured out the reason I'm here?") asked the voice.

"No." answered Twilight.

("You must figure out.") said the voice.

"Why?" asked Twilight.

("You'll know.") answered the voice.

"I'm not in the mood for riddles." sighed Twilight.

The unicorn thought for a moment.

("You're going to see Zecora.") noted the voice.

"How did you figure that out?" asked Twilight.

("I'm sure you'd love to know.") answered the voice teasingly.

"Dammit." said Twilight flatly.

("Such language.") said the voice, with mock chastisement.

"Will you leave me alone so I can visit Zecora?" asked Twilight.

("So can pretend to be your friend.") replied the voice.

"Zecora told me she doesn't hold my actions against me!" declared Twilight.

("Of course she'd say that to your face.") said the voice.

Twilight shifted her eyes.

("You know I'm right.") said the voice.

Twilight remained silent.

("She's only pretending to be your friend. Just like the others.") said the voice.

Twilight began to hyperventilate.

("You can trust me.") said the voice gently.

"It can't be true!" cried Twilight.

("You know it is!") cried the voice.

Twilight shook her head and left the library.

"I can't believe it." said Twilight.

("Deny it all you want. You cannot avoid the truth.") replied the voice.

Twilight shook her head desperately trying to shake the voice away. twilight slipped through the town, but a few ponies did notice her. Twilight did not care as she ran into the Everfree Forest. Twilight wandered through the forest nearly walking right into Poison Joke. She realized that without magic her horn is useless so it didn't matter if she walked into it. Still, Twilight decided to avoid the Poison Joke and arrived and her destination. She knocked and waited before the door opened.

"Twilight Sparkle, you are somepony I am glad to see. But, I do not know why you can to visit me." said Zecora.

"I need somepony to talk to." stated Twilight.

"I shall not pooh-pooh. Come in and I shall listen to you." replied Zecora.

Twilight entered the abode and they sat down.

"If you wish, I can offer you tea. If you desire something else, then please tell me." said Zecora.

"Tea is fine." said Twilight.

Zecora poured her tea into a cup for Twilight.

"This tea is fresh from the pot. So it might be hot." noted Zecora.

Twilight blew on the tea and drank it.

"It's delicious." said Twilight.

"To the Hayseed Swamps is where I went. That is where I got this tea that is peppermint." explained Zecora.

"I love peppermint tea." noted Twilight.

Twilight took a sip of tea.

"I really needed this." noted Twilight.

"That I can tell. You do not look well." mused Zecora.

"I guess I should start talking." sighed Twilight.

"Out of shape, do not get bent. To me, you can freely vent." offered Zecora.

Twilight nodded graciously and took a deep breath.

"Everypony hates me." sighed Twilight sadly.

"There might be something that I've miss. Because, I do not understand why you would think this." said Zecora.

"Because I betrayed Equestria! Because I invaded Equestria! Because I murdered and enslaved innocent ponies!" cried Twilight emotionally.

"Twilight, do not get down. I can undertsand why you frown." said Zecora.

Twilight took a moment to remain calm.

"Sorry for the outburst." whispered Twilight.

"It is quite alright. Your anxiety must be at a height." replied Zecora.

"Thanks." sighed Twilight relieved.

The unicorn took a moment to compose herself.

"How do I know if ponies truly forgive me?" asked Twilight.

Zecora thought for a moment.

"That is not an easy question for me. But, it seems you feel the forgiveness you've gotten is phony." mused Zecora.

"I don't mean to offend you..." began Twilight.

"My hide is not thin. With me, the facts you do not have to spin." said Zecora.

"Right now; you, Spike and Sunset are the three who have forgiven me." noted Twilight.

"I believe you have another in store. Princess Celestia, who was your mentor." said Zecora.

"I can't face Celestia after what I did." replied Twilight sadly.

"You are filled with guilt. Inside of you, it has built." noted Zecora.

"Exactly." confirmed Twilight.

"What about your sister - in - law and your brother? Or perhaps your father and mother?" asked Zecora.

"I could never face my family after what I did." answered Twilight sadly.

Twilight looked longingly into her tea.

"My parents didn't visit me in prison." added Twilight hurt.

"Your relationship has a great strain. I could never imagine this much pain." said Zecora sympathetically.

Twilight rubbed the back of her neck with her right leg.

"I feel like the ponies who say the forgive are lying to my face." confessed Twilight.

"That muse be hard for thee. But, I wonder if that includes me." wondered Zecora.

Twilight's silence spoke volumes.

"I understand Twilight. Considering your plight." said Zecora.

Twilight was relieved to hear this.

"I'm just so stressed." sighed Twlight.

"You have allowed this stress to stew. Be careful or it will consume you." warned Zecora.

"I'll remember that." replied Twilight.

"I need to know why. That is, the reason you think other ponies would lie." noted Zecora.

"Nopony in their right mind would forgive me after what I did." said Twilight sadly.

"My lack of hate for you shall not wane. Yet, I do believe I am most sane." replied Zecora.

("She's lying.") said the voice.

"Go away." hissed Twilight.

"From my own home, I cannot flee. But, I do not understand why you request that of me." said Zecora confused.

Twilight slapped herself with her right leg.

("Well done.") chuckled the voice sarcastically.

"I wan't that to you." said Twilight.

"What you tell me must be true. For, if not at me then that comment was directed at who?" asked Zecora.

"Myself." answered Twilight lying.

Twilight tried to stay calm as Zecora looked for signs of deception.

"A web of lies you do not weave. You story, I do believe." said Zecora.

Twilight let out a small sigh of relief.

("Lying comes natural to you.") cooed the voice.

"My words are chosen careful, I do not lib. But, perhaps there is another pony willing to forgive." began Zecora.

"I did bump into Minuette and she seemed not to hate me." mused Twilight.

Twilight then remembered something in her conversation.

"Oh, have to talked to Lyra?" asked Minuette.

Twilight shook her head 'no' to answer.

"She's said she wants to talk to you." noted Minuette.

"According to Minuette, Lyra heartstrings also wants to talk. But I don't know why." revealed Twilight.

"Here is what I would do if you I where. Go ahead and talk to her." said Zecora.

Twilight nodded and finished her tea.

"Thank you Zecora." said Twilight grateful.

Twilight left and headed back to Golden Oaks Library. She had made up her mind up what her next move was. Once she returned, Twilight found an anxious Sunset Shimmer and Spike. They had been looking for her and they where relieved she was back. Spike noted he was afraid a mob of ponies had lynched her while they where gone. Sunset and Spike explained how they had been sucked into Spike's comic and became the Power Ponies and Humdrum.

"Geez, that must have been some adventure." mused Twilight.

"It honestly felt to much like a cheap story gimmick." shrugged Sunset.

"Not to mention the fact you girls sucked at your powers felt like a cheap way to create drama." added Spike.

"So...what did you do?" asked Sunset.

"I had tea with Zecora." answered Twilight.

"That's great to hear!" beamed Sunset.

"Yeah. I didn't think you'd leave on your own." agreed Spike.

"I had to get out. It was driving me crazy." sighed Twilight.

"What was driving you crazy?" asked Sunset.

Twilight took a moment.

"Should I tell them?" asked Twilight to yourself.

("Go ahead then we'll have plenty of time together after they've had you committed.") said the voice.

Twilight let out a sigh.

"The boredom. Just a bit of Cabin Fever is all." answered Twilight.

"I could see why." replied Sunset.

"I feel better now." said Twilight.

Twilight headed for her bed.

"Dammit Twilight, you're hiding something." thought Sunset concerned.

Author's Notes:

A/N: That is where we'll end this chapter. I hope you enjoyed the scene between Twilight and Zecora. Man, you need a thesaurus when writing for Zecora. Next time, Sunset and Twilight talk then Twilight visits Lyra and Bon Bon. Please review.