"Zecora. What are you doing here?" Twilight asked, seeing Zecora in the cave with her and her friends. 

"I came here to be of guidance. To help your new friend. I saw that this shadowed-one took him away. So I followed him and all of you. For, there is a cure of this that I can lend." said Zecora. 

"So, you're telling us that this isn't a shadow pony?" Applejack asked. 

"Yes. That is correct, Applejack. But this creature is a shadowy one, still." replied Zecora.

"Zecora. I believe we haven't met yet." said Anthony. "Hi. I'm Anthony Padilla." Anthony shaked his hoof with Zecora. "My friend Ian Hecox, is the pony that is being held captive by that shadow monster. As you can see here." He then pointed to Ian and the shadow.

"Hey. Ms. Zecora." said Ian. "I'm Ian. Anthony's best friend. Can you please help me here? And make it quick? Please?"

"Sure, Mr. Hecox. I will. In due time." said Zecora. 

"All I know is that, this isn't an ordinary shadow. I tried hitting it, but it doesn't work. So we can't attack it." said Anthony. "Do you have any ideas to stop this thing? And do you know what this shadow-thing even is?"

"I am going to save us some time by not rhyming now. But I do know what this shadow monster is. I have read an ancient legend of it. And Anthony is right, that it can't be stopped with ordinary attacks."

"What kind of shadow creature is it?" asked Rarity. "And if it can't be stopped with normal attacks? Then, what can it be stopped with?" she asked Zecora. "Our divine timing is at play now. If we don't act fast, who knows what it could do to Ian and the rest of us? I rather.. not even consider thinking about what kind of horrible things that it can do." 

"This shadow monster is called, 'The Shadow Unknown'. It was originally Ian's normal shadow. But it has become like this, because of the hidden magic that lies in some ancient roots in Everfree Forest. Those roots can enchant anything. In this case, it mostly has turned evil because of something that is a part of Ian's ego. A part of himself that he does not want to come to an acception. It could be from any situation that he is not telling us. Perhaps, a secret? A doubt? It's something that he knows deep down that he has to face. Therefore, it has affected his esteem. It has caused him to have negative thoughts about himself that have grown into this shadow of a low ego." explained Zecora. 

"So, it's something negative inside of Ian? That he doesn't want me or any of us to know about?" asked Anthony. 

"Yes. Precisely." replied Zecora.

"I never knew that Ian had some doubts inside of him?" said Fluttershy. "He always seemed like a confident colt to me."

"I'm not sure what it is? But we have to find out?" said Starlight. 

"You don't think, that it has anything to do with Anthony?" asked Spike. "I'm not necessarily putting the blame on him. I am just saying this as a suggestion. It could be a situation to do with him?"

"Ian! Quick tell me what's bothering you! What's wrong!?" Anthony shouted to Ian.

"No! I'm not telling you anything Anthony!" Ian shouted back at him.

"Come on! Dude! I just want to help you!" said Anthony. "Isn't that what best friends are for?"

"Yeah. But this is too embarrassing for me to say to you!" Ian said. "I don't want to tell you! I refuse to!"

"IAN!" Anthony shouted. "For.. CELESTIA'S SAKES! JUST TELL ME! TELL ME ALREADY! What is bothering you? Does it have to do with me?"

Ian blew a raspberry with his tongue. He then rolled his eyes at Anthony and quickly gazed away from him. "WHAT!? NO!" He nervously laughed. "Why would it have to do with you? Why would I be mad at you or something--"

Anthony then rolled his eyes and sighed. "I'm right. It does have to do with me. Doesn't it?"

"W-what!?" Ian tried playing it off like it was nothing bothering me. "No! Of course not!"

"Ian. I can tell when you are lying to me. You roll your eyes and laugh in a nervous tone. And you try so hard to cover it up. Which is what you are doing right now." Anthony glared at Ian with a serious gaze. 

"Fine. You got me, Anthony. It does have to do with you." Ian admitted the truth. 

"What is it?" Anthony asked Ian. "That has got you feeling that way? Come on, Ian. You have to spill it. Just spill it in front of everyone!"

"Okay! Fine! ANTHONY! I just can't accept that you are a brony! I don't want to face the truth that you are into My Little Pony and this world of Equestria that we are in. I can't accept your friendships with Discord, Rainbow, and the others here. Because I'm your best friend. It made me felt really left out in all this chaos. Because I've never been a fan of any of them. I felt like I had nothing in common with you anymore. Since we would always do everything together, even with running Smosh. I just can't accept this part of you. It just doesn't feel manly to me. It feels too girly for me. Even though, we argued about this, before we got sent here. When I was trying to take away your pony collectibles and everything else..." said Ian. 

"Ian." said Anthony. "I'm sorry that you felt that way, with feeling left out. But you are my best friend. You always will be. And I loved making content of Smosh with you. Over the years, we have seen each other grow so much. I will never stop being friends with you, bro. But I am going to be a brony, regardless of what you say to me about it. I will never leave the fandom of it behind me, not when it's gotten me here today." He looked over to the Mane Seven female ponies, plus Spike, Discord, and Zecora. "I never thought that I would get a chance to meet any of them. It has been such a journey being by your side. I would never throw away our friendship to the side. Not, when it's been built.. so much with time."