As dawn approached, Twilight found herself walking the empty streets of Ponyville. Except for her hoof steps, her surroundings were completely silent.

She wasn't focused on where she was going... just one hoof in front of the other. Clip-clop, clip-clop! Even in the cold she hoped to find some peace of mind or perhaps distract herself with memories of better times... yet, despite her mental silence, she just couldn't think straight.

Normally the mare's mind would be focused on solving problems, moving from one step to the next, and -- when all else failed -- to an entirely new plan. Yet the unknowns were increasing each time something bad happened. Scootaloo, Apple Jack, and now Rarity all needed her help. Twilight looked up to the horizon and sighed... determined she would beat this.

On the other end of Ponyville, Fluttershy was awake, too... but she wasn't out wandering. The yellow mare stuck by her cottage with her nocturnal animal friends. She chatted with owls about the best ways to catch mice, then refereed a few races to keep her bats and snakes sharp and in shape. There was always something to do at Fluttershy's cottage, and it was because of that the yellow Pegasus always had something to work towards.

At 4:30 in the morning Twilight Sparkle had just herself... and her currently non-working, empirical ways of thinking. She was growing frustrated fast. Perhaps Rarity would still be at home had she acted on the signs she'd seen. Maybe Twilight should have pulled Rarity aside, sat her down, and said:

"Rarity, you're working too hard... I know you're just using it as a way not to deal with Sweetie Belle's death! You need help!"

Her thoughts came all but too little, too late. Frustrated, the Unicorn shouted what she should have done into the dawn air:

"Why couldn't I just talk to you!?!"

Her voice echoed throughout Ponyville, traveling upwards to the clouds where it woke a sleeping Pegasus...

"Twilight..." Rainbow Dash said, as she drifted from her cloud. She yawned hardily, scratching her chest with a hoof. "What in Equestria are you doing out here at this hour?"

Looking up at her friend, Twilight took in a breath:

"Rarity's in the hospital. I'm hoping she's just overstressed from everything that's been going on... and it's not something a lot worse."

Twilight bit her tongue before she said too much. Though Dash was her friend, she had enough to worry about.

Fortunately Dash didn't bite... or maybe she chose not to. Instead the cyan Pegasus yawned a second time:

"I was wondering what was going on. I've been kind of focused on Scootaloo lately... it's kind of hard to be there for everypony at once, even when Loyalty's practically your middle name. Along with what's been going on with Apple Jack, this is turning really ugly."

The purple mare looked up at her rainbow-maned friend, trying not to cry.

"Twilight, hey..." Dash said, extending a hoof to her friend. "Come on... It'll be okay! Things always have a way of working out for us, huh? ...right?"

Twilight opened her forelegs to Dash and embraced her in a warm hug. For a brief moment, all was silent and okay... Twilight had some pony to talk to that was going to tell her not to give up. That's just what she needed! ... then Dash showed her true feelings.

The Pegasus sighed deeply and squeezed in tight, breathing in a staccato-like fashion... as if holding back tears of her own she'd been trying to keep to herself. Twilight then did what she should have done hours before for Spike... she patted Dash on the back, whispering reassuringly into her ear what she needed to hear:

"You know, Rainbow... we've dealt with so much worse and gotten out in one piece. Maybe we can get through this, but we have to work together and to do everything we can."

Dash's face lit right up with a smile as she pulled away from Twilight and looked her into the eyes:

"Now that's the Twilight I know!"

Twilight genuinely smiled for the first time in nearly an entire day. They hugged again, just as tight as before. It was suddenly all so very clear to Twilight -- it was time to get the ball rolling again, even if that's all she could do:

"Rainbow Dash?"

Dash giggled:

"...uh, yeah, Twilight Sparkle?"

The two broke apart, looking each other in the eyes once again. The hope one saw in the other's eyes was stronger than ever, each feeding the other:

"Rainbow. can you get everypony together at the library in a few hours?"

"No problem, Twilight."

The purple mare drifted back home as the sun came up. She was there to check on Spike... heading upstairs, she found him snoring peacefully in bed.

Seeing her assistant laying there, all tangled up in his blankets, the Unicorn shook her head. Using her magic, Twilight was able to straighten his bed without actually waking him. Once finished, she gave him a tiny peck on the cheek:

"Sorry I yelled at you, Spike... I'm going to do everything I can for our friends. I won't rest until they're safe."

The drake turned over in his sleep and continued to snore, oblivious to Twilight's presence. He began to suckle his claw and grin... clearly he wasn't that upset anymore.

Satisfied with her assistant's current state, the Unicorn quietly crept back down stairs. She found a chair and sat in it. After a long day, she was finally relaxed...

"Hoo! Hoo!" A voice cried above the chair.

Twilight nearly jumped out of her fur. It was Owlicious... she knew that. She looked up at him and saw his eyes glowing in the faint light.

"Oh, Owlicious..." Twilight sighed. "Could you please get me my lantern, some parchment and a quill?"

The owl flew off without making a sound, coming back moments later with all she had asked.

Using her magic, she lit the lantern and grasped the parchment and quill:

Dear Princess Celestia,

Today I learned a lesson about hope.

Hope is something that a pony should always have, even when things look their darkest. It's a very powerful feeling and it can inspire your friends to do their best. Without hope, we get closer to allowing the worst to happen, and that benefits nopony.

You faithful student,
Twilight Sparkle