An intense heated struggle occured to remove the mask from Trixie, victory of which was attained with, surprisingly, a party popper Pinkie Pie had. It had caused just enough of a distraction for the ponies to pile on her, and rip the mask off of her face, thus reverting her back to normal. Knowing she was beaten, yet again, she vanished in another puff of smoke. Casting it aside for the moment, the ponies had FINALLY made it to Zecora’s house in Everfree Forest. Once Twilight Sparkle had explained everything that had happened, Zecora agreed to not only watch over the mask, but also put it in a secure area where no-one could put their hooves on it again.

Relieved, Twilight and the others headed off for home, knowing that the mask was with someone who they could trust. Someone whose mind would not be as easily manipulated by the mask, and would not give in to temptation…

Or so they thought… for Twilight’s story and the mask’s infamous glow had sparked Zecora’s curiosity, and, seeing as the night was still fairly young, and as she was certain she could maintain control even while under the mask’s influence, she figured just ONE time trying it wouldn’t hurt…

Not for very long… maybe a minute or two… or ten… or an hour…

“In the past I have been described as an ‘Evil Enchantress’ in song…
Well, why not go back to Ponyville, and… play along…?”