If there was one thing Twilight had missed since leaving her home, it was being able to get a good night's sleep. Her journey thus far hadn't really allowed for many moments of comfort, which was understandable, but the downside to it was that she had always been left with a real lack of rest. That wasn't the case today, however, as she now found that she had enjoyed quite a long and peaceful slumber. Whether it was due to her injury, or perhaps the medicine Fluttershy had offered her, she couldn't say. All she knew was that, where her eyes at last cracked open, she felt more relaxed than she had since she first stepped beyond the walls of Canterlot. The rays of light pouring in through the window were a beautiful sight, and that, coupled with the softness of the sofa she'd been sleeping on, both worked together to create an air of peace for her.

"Good morning."

Twilight turned at the familiar voice, and sure enough, she saw that Spike was not too far away, offering her that same friendly smile he always gave her. He was not alone, however, as he currently sat around the nearby table, along with Rainbow, Pinkie, and her new host, Fluttershy. The four of them seemed to be sharing a bow of fruit, no doubt breakfast for the coming day. But, while this was a pleasant enough image, it did suddenly shake Twilight into realising one important fact. Something that caused her to immediately bolt upright, sitting up and looking to her companions with shock upon her face.

"Wait! What time is it?!"

To that, Spike shrugged his shoulders.

"Dunno. Nine, I guess?"

Frantically, Twilight started to move off the sofa, but, before she did so in earnest, she was struck with a sudden realisation. She found, to her surprise, that her foot no longer bore any pain, causing her to look down at it. Very slowly, she moved it about a bit, and found, to her delight, that the aches that had plagued her yesterday were now completely gone. It was evidenced all the more by the fact that the red patch upon her ankle was also no longer there. A sigh escaped her, and she turned, looking upon the meek, pink-haired woman at the table.

"Th...thank you."

For a few moments, Fluttershy said nothing, and simply avoided Twilight's gaze. But, after a while, she slowly looked to her and, in response to her guest's words, offered a small and welcoming smile. Raising both hands, the woman started making a number of gestures, while mouthing silently. Having been here a while, Twilight recognised that as being Fluttershy's sign-language. Unfortunately, the young mage didn't actually speak sign-language, and so took on a look of slight confusion. Fortunately for her, this didn't last long, as a sudden hearty chuckle caused her to turn to Rainbow, who smirked as she finally spoke up.

"She says, you're welcome."

Smiling again, Twilight looked back to Fluttershy, giving an appreciative nod, which was soon returned by the woman. With the knowledge that she had recovered, Twilight looked around for a bit, after which, she spotted her boots on the side of the sofa. Picking them up, she slipped them on, before then standing tall. She took a few moments just to test putting a little weight on her formerly-injured foot, and it wasn't long before she felt satisfied enough to be able to walk normally. Turning, she looked upon Spike, who was still very much engaged with his breakfast, having taken a bite out of a particularly large handful of berries. Walking up to him, the young mage finally spoke.

"So...what do we do now?"

Upon hearing that, Spike let out a deep sigh, slumping his shoulders slightly before looking to his friend.

"I...I have no idea, Twilight. I doubt we'll be able to find those guys who attacked us, so...I guess we just go back to plan A?"

Twilight considered that for a moment, then started to slowly nod in agreement.

"You're right. Looking for those brutes has only distracted us. We need to get back on track. Our goal is finding the..."

Immediately, Twilight halted herself, and she took on a look of uncertainty. Slowly, she looked up to Fluttershy, who, for her part, seemed confused by this behaviour. Twilight hesitated for a while, but was unable to say anything, as it was now Rainbow's turn to add her voice to things.

"I wouldn't worry about your little secret, Sparkle. She already knows."

Twilight, understandably, took on a look of shock at that, looking to Fluttershy soon afterwards., Their host, rather nervously, started poking the ends of her fingers together, all while trying to avoid looking to the mage. As for Twilight herself, she soon started to look back to Rainbow, frowning as she did so, which led to the ranger raising her hands in a defensive manner.

"Hey! I wasn't the one to spill!"

For a few seconds, Twilight seemed confused at that, only to then be struck with a look of realisation. Slowly, her eyes turned to her royal companion, and it wasn't long after that when she seemed to be looking to him with a great deal of annoyance. Spike, for his part, did his best not to look back to her, but, after feeling the weight of Twilight's stare on the back of his head, finally broke down.

"Alright! I told her! But don't go blaming me for that! We've already told everyone else we've met, so why stop now?"

Twilight considered that, then let out a sigh before rubbing her temples a little.

"Yeah...good point."

Here, she took off her glasses, taking a brief respite to clean them up a little with her pocket handkerchief, before then placing them upon her face once more.

"Regardless, we still need to find the Elements, and right now, we don't have a single clue to go on."

Leaning back into her chair, Rainbow folded her arms as she thought on that matter herself.

"You know...that old castle isn't the only ruin in our nation, Twilight. Chances are, you might find some clue in another place further down the line."

Raising a hand to her chin, Twilight nodded.

"True, but...do you know where we can find such a place?"

A cocky smirk crept onto the ranger's face, and as she leaned forward once more, she gave a nod in response.

"You bet! Some of my ranger friends told me about them a while back. It's pretty far though, so you'll need my help getting there."

To that, Twilight took on a look of slight surprise.

"You're...you're coming with us?"

Rainbow nodded.

"Yep. Like I said, rangers fight for this nation, and if these Elements are as important as you said, then I guess it's my duty to help. Besides..."

Slowly, the ranger took on a more serious look, and she briefly glanced towards Pinkie before continuing.

"...like a certain someone once said to me...I didn't do my job well enough, and because of that...someone's home was destroyed."

Pinkie, like Twilight, looked to her with surprise, understanding full-well what she was talking about. As for Fluttershy, though she had stayed out of this for the entire length of the conversation, she suddenly started to take an interest in Rainbow's words, looking to her and focusing on her in a way that she had not done since she'd arrived. Slowly, Rainbow looked back to Twilight, speaking up once more.

"My negligence has left a black mark on my record, and if I follow you, then it's more than likely I'll be able to find those guys."

Though Twilight was, admittedly, taken aback by this sudden forwardness by her ranger companion, she nevertheless soon developed into a more appreciative look, giving her blessing for this by way of a brief nod. However, before she had the chance to say or do anything on the matter, Pinkie stood up from her chair, looking down to Rainbow and speaking up herself.

"Oh yeah? Well, for your information, little-Miss-ranger, I plan on being the one to deal with those meanies, got it?"

The way she'd spoken, it was hard to say if her tone was playful or serious. But, even so, it did the trick, as Rainbow looked to her with a raised eyebrow. One look at the older woman's face, and it was clear that she'd meant that, so, after nothing but silence between them, she cracked a smirk. Slowly, Rainbow got out of her chair, and, for some reason, offered Pinkie her hand.

"Tell ya what. If we find em...we'll beat em up together."

Pinkie looked to the offered hand, then up to Rainbow's still-confident face, before starting to crack a smile herself. With her own hand, she clasped Rainbows, and together, they shook on this new arrangement. Twilight, having stood and stared at this, then looked to Spike, who promptly shrugged his shoulders at the whole affair. Giggling slightly, the young mage placed her hands upon her hips, looking out to all of her assembled companions.

"Alright then...time to get to work."

Rainbow nodded to that, but, before she could do anything, was halted from taking even one step forward, as she suddenly felt a tug on her arm. Turning, she found, to her surprise, that it was Fluttershy, who, as usual, was looking rather nervous about something. Raising an eyebrow, Rainbow spoke to her forest-dwelling friend.

"Flutters? What is it?"

All eyes were suddenly on the meek woman at the table, which, naturally, caused no end of concern for her. But, after taking a sudden gulp, she looked to Rainbow, bearing a look of resolve that none had seen on her since arriving in this place. Standing up, she looked Rainbow right in the eye, before starting to make a number of gestures with her hands. Rainbow stood silent, watching carefully at every movement, every gesture that was being made before her, and it was clear form her expression that she understood every silent word being given to her. After almost a full minute of nothing but watching, Rainbow took on a look of worry, glancing up to Fluttershy's eyes.

"No...no! I can't let you do that!"

Fluttershy frowned, but before she could reply, Twilight spoke up.

"Um...what? What is it?"

Rainbow glanced in her direction, but only briefly, as she then resumed looking to Fluttershy before speaking.

"She...she wants to come with us."

Naturally, Twilight, and everyone else for that matter, looked to the pink-haired woman with shock. But as for Rainbow, her face was more serious.

"Fluttershy...you've never strayed too far from this safe place. Out there...it's dangerous."

Fluttershy's expression softened, and she once more resumed her sign-language. Rainbow, as before, watched, and as time went on, she let out a sigh.

"I...I know you think I can protect you, but...but I still don't want you putting yourself at risk."

Fluttershy narrowed her eyes, giving yet further gestures, to which Rainbow frowned at.

"Yes...but why do you have to do it?"

Here, Fluttershy gave no gestures, and no other indication of what her motives might be. But, just for a moment, there was a flicker in her eyes, as she looked to something behind Rainbow. The ranger took on a look of confusion, but, seconds later, looked over her shoulder, to what Fluttershy had been looking at. And she saw, to her confusion, that it was Pinkie. Needless to say, the former tavern-lady looked quite confused herself, but stayed silent as Rainbow looked back to her friend. After a while, however, Rainbow's expression was one of realisation, as she spoke up once more.

"Alright...I understand, but..."

Fluttershy raised a hand, halting her friend from speaking any further, and then continued to give her silent signals. Rainbow watched, and in time, her expression softened. When Fluttershy finally stopped, Rainbow looked deep in thought for a while, before finally breaking out into a smile, albeit a small one.

"I guess...I really can't stop you, can I?"

Fluttershy, giving a small smile herself, shook her head. Silence fell over the entire group, and for a time, all there could be seen was Rainbow and Fluttershy staring at one another. Then, at the end of it all, the ranger let out another deep sigh, giving her friend a nod. Fluttershy's smile widened at that, and she looked on as Rainbow turned to Twilight.

"Sparkle...if it's okay with you...she would like to journey with us."

Twilight stood in silence, looking from Rainbow, to Fluttershy and then back again. For a time, she said nothing, instead looking to Spike. However, like her, he too had no real clue what was actually going on here, and so shrugged his shoulders yet again. Twilight stopped for a moment, thinking on all of this, before, at the end, exhaling deeply. She looked up, smiling slightly to Fluttershy, who smiled right back, before giving her answer.

"In that case...welcome to the group, Miss Fluttershy."