By the time Sonata's shift was up there was no need to pick someone else because the others had already started waking up. Slowly they came down, moaning and groaning, rubbing their backs, hips, and what nots, hobbling along more like women in their eighties as opposed to teenage years. A few had scratches on their faces, most had scratches on their arms, all had dark rings under their eyes. On the whole they looked liked a group of zombies.

"Whoa! You guys look horrible!" Sonata exclaimed.

"`scuse me dear; what's your name again?" Shimmer asked weakly, rubbing her head.

"Sonata."

"Oh, ok. Sonata, shut up!" Shimmer snapped.

"HEY!" Sonata began to protest.

"Easy every pon . . ., I mean body," Twilight said through her own discomfort. "We have a real enemy to face yet. We don't need to turn on each other."

The others mumbled in reluctant agreement. Then Apple Jack asked, "So now what?"

"Well, we're in no shape to fight," Twilight began to explain. "Rarity, as The Healer; can you get us up to a hundred percent?"

"I'll try," Rarity answered back in enthused.

"Alright. Once Rarity does that Fluttershy can get the animals to act as advanced watchmen. They'll be able to spy on Chrysalis unseen and let us know long before they get here so we can prepare. As soon as we know they're on their way we'll take cover and power up. Rarity; I want you to stay back. Anyone get's hurt, you go to her immediately to get healed. If she fights and gets hurt or killed, then we're effectively done for. As long as she's ok we can keep coming back. No matter what happens; no one gets near or in that pyramid. Understand?" Twilight looked around and everyone agreed. "Ok, Rarity; do your thing."

Rarity went up to each one and touched them. She started with Twilight, then Sunset, Sparkle, Shimmer, Fluttershy, Adagio, Apple Jack, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, and finally Sonata. At first Twilight felt immediately better; but as each one got touched it took longer and longer for them to feel better and Rarity looked noticeably weaker after each one.

"Twilight, look at Rarity," Sunset whispered. "She's not doing too well. This could be a problem if she gets someone too wounded."

"I know," Twilight whispered back; full of concern and trepidation. "We'll just have to play it by ear and see what happens."

Twilight then addressed everyone again after they had all been touched. "Ok then; we brought some food along so everyone eat up. Nothing too heavy but enough. We're going to need all the energy we can get."

They went and got the back packs they had hidden and got what they had brought: fruit, cheese, water, a couple sandwiches, Pinkie and Sonata had chocolate milk and a couple of candy bars. They were all silent as they ate. They morning was crisp and cool, a low mist hung over the frosted ground as the early morning sun cast its golden light over everything. It was quite beautiful. In another time it would have been awe inspiring. Today though, only a few took notice of it and the ones that did only did so in passing. They were too lost in their own thoughts to give any credence to the scenery around them. After they were done Fluttershy gave the call out to all the local animals to keep watch for Chrysalis and her men and to let them know as soon as they saw them.

"Ok then," Twilight said, not sure what to do next. "Anybody want to say anything?"

Rainbow Dash got up and Apple shot her a worried look. Rainbow put her hand up to calm Apple's fears and then spoke. "I..., I . . . , I want to fight for myself. I promised Scootaloo I would kill the people who killed Apple Bloom. I want to kill Aria for killing Soarin. I want to kill all of them for me, for my revenge; . . . but I can't. These sons of witches won't even allow me to do that. I, humph , I have the world, the universe, everything resting on my shoulders. Even in fighting and killing them, it can't be for me, it has to be for that. I hate it. I really, really hate it. It's like they've stold so much from me - my friends, my boy friend, my rock; and now vengeance.

"I don't know where I'm going with this. I don't know what my point is or even if I there is one. I just need to say what I gotta say and get it out. I . . . I look at some of you and see everything you've lost as well and you seem so unaffected by it. And Apple Jack here," she pointed to Apple, " I mean, my god, she's on her way to sainthood. I want to be angry and bitter and strike out of hate but I can't because I have too many people counting on me. I have to fight for them, for their tomorrow, for their friends and lovers, family members. I feel cheated but I know I can't even feel that. I just have to go out and be the good soldier."

Sunset got up and hugged Rainbow. "I feel the same way but I also know that by fighting for others I am honoring Val's memory. I'm honoring all of their memories. If we devolve into acting out of simple vengeance, then we're no better than those we fight against. If this cup is one from which we must drink; then we have to do it for others. We have to do it because it is the right thing to do, the only thing to do. If we do that, we turn this poison into holy water. Does any of that help?"

Rainbow shook her head. "No but I understand what you're trying to say and I appreciate it."

Sunset started to say thank you but was cut off by Fluttershy. "They're coming."