Rarity opened her eyes. Her face still pressed against the blanket laying on the bed in front of her. She cleared her throat as she wiped her eyes with her hooves. The sound of other ponies still snoozing was present in the room. She raised her head and investigated the room through her halfly closed, tired eyes.

Fluttershy was sitting next to her, still sleeping with her head on the purely white sheets of the hospital bed. She slowly got out form underneath Fluttershy's wing and stepped into the small bathroom that was attached to Sweetie Belle's Hospital room. She splashed some water into her face from the sink and looked up into the mirror.

"I look like I haven't slept in days.." she grumped as she looked at her reflection.

Her eyes looked heavy and tired, they even felt heavy in her head. "Come on Rarity.. Pull yourself together. Think. What is going on." her eyes started to get teary again as all of the emotions of the past few days shot back into her mind. "No! Calm down. You can't afford to lose yourself again. Now.. think with reason."

"How do I handle this. What must I do." she thought, unable to keep her mind straight, her thoughts jumping all over the place.

"Come on Rarity! There has to be something you can do. But What!? What!?" she said, desperatly trying to think of anything that could aid her. The door behind her slowly opened and a timid yellow pegasus walked in.

"Oh I'm sorry Fluttershy.. did my talking wake you up?" she said softly as she looked into the mare's eyes. Fluttershy did not respond. She merely looked back into Rarity's eyes. Her face was filled with compassion and care. It is amazing how much can be said with a single look.

Rarity nearly got lost in her eyes before she could regain her composure. Fluttershy walked closer to Rarity and hugged her tightly, Rarity returning the embrace. Her mind finally calmed down. A smile appeared on her face as she felt Fluttershy's warm embrace.

Now she was certain. She was in love. But all of that didn't matter right now. What mattered was that her life as she knew it was hanging by a thread. Ready to spiral down into the ground and no matter how desperatly she tried to think of what to do she was at a loss.

Fluttershy put her mouth up to Rarity's ear and softly whispered. "I'll get you through this.."

Even though Rarity knew that Fluttershy was just as powerless to act as she was she felt comforted by those words. Even though they sounded too hopeful there was a part of her that truly believed her words. It was like all of her worries melted away.

The six friends had gathered in the hospital room. The doctors had taken Sweetie Belle into another room to run several tests to check for any possible neural damage. Fluttershy and Rarity sat on the couch with their friends surrounding them, none of them really saying anything. Zecora was sitting quietly in a corner of the room reading some dusty tome.

Rainbow Dash looked around the room. She saw Pinkie Pie silently sitting on the floor with her gaze to the floor. "She has been silent ever since the accident.. It's not like Pinkie to act this way.. Even with all of this going on, she would try to find a way to cheer everyone up.." she decided to not pay further attention to her friend's odd behaviour.

"Damn this is just too awkward! Maybe I should say something to break the silence.. Maybe they need silence. I don't know! I'm not good with this stuff." Rainbow snapped at herself. "I gotta get out of here! the entire atmosphere is just too.. heavy."

"Guys, I'm going to get some food." she said as she stood up and headed for the door. She opened the door and tried to exit but bumped into someone causing both of them to fall to the floor. "Hey! Look where the hay you're going! You.. you.." Her expression turned form anger to amazement as she saw Princess Luna lie collapsed on the floor.

"That was highly uncalled for!" The alicorn said as she got back on her hooves and brushed the dirt off of her shoulder. "We have come to lend our aid to you in these desperate times!" She grunted at the pegasus.

Twilight quickly jumped up and ran towards the newly arrived guest. "Princess Luna! Why have you come to Ponyville!?" she said with surprised eyes. "and I thought you were done with the "We" thing." she said as she smiled awkwardly brushing the back of her neck with her hoof.

"By "we" I mean"

"It is good to see you my faithfull student.." Celestia said as she walked into the room. The six friends looked at the Princesses with disbelief. The sisters rarely visited Ponyville. She had a look of concern on her face. Celestia disregarded any pleasentries and moved over to Rarity.

"Twilight has informed me of your sister.. How is she doing?" The alicorn asked with concern, knowing far too well what it is like to lose a sister.

"Y-Y-You came to visit Me? But why?" she asked in amazement as she looked into the princess's eyes.

"Because I know what it is like, I struggle with this every day." She said in a comforting voice.

Sweetie Belle Returned to the waking world, still unable to move but slightly aware of her surroundings. Her eyelids felt far too heavy to open. All she could do was lie there and listen to the voices that filled the room. They sounded muzzled but understandable.

"Doctor, have a look at this." The nurse said as she beckoned for him to come closer to the machinery. "Take a look at these results." she handed him a clipbord. The doctor looked at the results with a puzzled look.

"That's impossible. I've never seen such chaotic brainwaves.. The machine must be broken. The pony mind is physically incapable of such powerful activities." he sighed. "None of these results give us any viable information.." he turned his head to the motionless filly lying on the table. "Why are you sick.."

A second Doctor joined the conversation. A white unicorn in an even whiter coat. He sounded younger and less experienced than the other doctor. "We have to run more tests.." he said desperatly.

"Tests take time.. Treatment is quicker. This filly hasn't got the time to wait for tests." he said as he lowered his gaze to the ground.

"What about what that zebra said?" The nurse asked.

"I am not willing to believe that some mythical creature caused this!" The younger doctor said.

The older doctor shook his head. Unable to think of any explanation for the filly's sickness. "Why not.. We use unicorn magic to cure diseases and injuries everyday.. Besides, have you got a better explanation?"

"Magic I can see. Magic I can touch. This.. no. I won't believe this."

"That zebra spoke off a herb.. She said it could cure her.." The nurse said softly not wanting to anger the younger doctor.

"It's too risky! if we waste precious time waiting for this wondrous cure and it turns out to be false this filly dies."

"I have had enough of your antics doctor. I take risks, sometimes patients die. But not taking risks causes more patients to die, so I guess my biggest problem is I've been cursed with the ability to do the math." he said with a tone of conviction.

He looked at the chart containing the brain waves once again. "Perhaps.." He looked over at the filly and examined her head. "What is going on in there.."

Back in the hospital room Rarity tried to explain the situation to the princesses.

"They haven't been able to treat her ever since she entered this place.." Rarity said sadly.

"Why would that be?" Princess Luna asked. "There is no problem medical magic cannot fix."

The zebra, that had been silently reading in her corner for most of the conversation, closed her book and entered the group. "The doctors here ignore my cries but I know what's bringing this filly's demise." She said with a stern look.

The nurse entered the room carrying Sweetie Belle. She softly put her back in her bed and gave a comforting smile to the group as she left. Zecora and the princesses walked closer to the unconscious filly. "Things look grim, her time is running out but we may still save her from this darkened route."

"A plant you say? must be a very powerful one." Luna asked the zebra. "Magical perhaps?"

"I know only what I have been told. That it lies in a place of death and cold."

"And this will cure her?"

"Most likely.." She said sadly. "I have not seen it with my own eyes."

The group sat in the room silently for a few minutes but to Dash it felt like hours. Applejack and Pinkie Pie didn't really add anything to the conversation but they knew they had to be there for their friend. Even if just in presence. Luna sat next to her older sister putting a hoof under her own chin in contemplation. "Surely there are soldiers we could send sister?" Luna said as she turned her gaze to Celestia. This caused Rarity to quickly look at the princess with a look of hope.

"Soldiers are not fit for a task like this I'm afraid.. But maybe.. Someone else who is more capable of a journey like this. Someone who has proven time and time again that she can protect equestria and its citizens." She turned her gaze to Twilight Sparkle.

"Me!?" the unicorn yelled in disbelief.

"You would not go alone of course, I was reffering to The Elements of Harmony."

"That's insane!" Rainbow exclaimed.

"Rainbow! You are speaking to royalty!" Rarity snapped at her friend.

Celestia giggled. "That is quite alright, I know it may seem impossible but you and your friends have stood against the forces of nightmare moon and discord. Do not underestimate the power of The Elements."

"But I can't leave her side! Not now.." Rarity said.

Rainbow Dash and Applejack walked up to the hospital bed and looked at the wounded filly sweating heavily in her sleep. They looked at eachother with a look of determination. They silently nodded at eachother as if an agreement was made. "We will go." Rainbow Dash said with a stern look.

Fluttershy and Rarity were appalled. "Rainbow.. no.. it's far too dangerous. I don't want you getting yourself injured or worse for me!" Fluttershy said.

Pinkie Pie, who had been silent the entire day, got up on her hooves and walked over to Rainbow and Applejack. "I will go too." she said. None of her friends had ever seen her this serious about something. "She must have been really worried about Sweetie Belle.." Rainbow thought.

Twilight heeded to Celestia's plan and took her place next to her friends. "So will I." she said with a look of courage but that courage disappeared as soon as her mind started to process it all. "But princess, no one has been to the north in years. It's a dangerous place.." she said.

Celestia wanted to give her student courage but she knew she was right. Luna however was caught in a deep mental struggle. A war with herself. "Perhaps.. Maybe this is what I need to do.. " she lifted her gaze from the floor, gave her sister a reassuring smile and looked at the Elements of Harmony. "I will join you." she said happily.

"But why can't I go with you guys Twilight!?" The baby dragon whined as he clinged to his caretaker's legs in an attempt to stop her from packing.

"Spike! Let go of me! You can be such a nuisance." She said as she pulled her legs out of the dragon's grasp. "I told you already. It is far too dangerous for you up there and I need someone to take care of Owlicious while I'm gone." she gave the dragon a stern look of dissapproval.

"Fine!" he yelled as he crossed his arms in frustration.

The unicorn returned to her packing. She took several magical scrolls and tomes from her library and stashed them away in her bags. "Lets see.. Illumination spell.. Check! Fire.. Check! Haste.. Check! This is going to be so interesting Spike! Who knows what kind of ancient magic we might find out there!" she said happily as she skipped around her library looking for several books to read when boredom took over.

She thought back at her father's words. “The universe is full of magical things my dear Twilight! Patiently waiting for our wits to grow sharper!” she smiled as she heard her father's voice in her head. "I do miss you father.. every day.." It was her father that had sparked her interest for magic at a young age. To her he was like a beacon of wisdom and courage. A beacon that she could always draw power from when her own might was insufficient.

She walked over to a guilded chest at the end of her bed. She opened the chest and pulled out a silken, purple robe. The robe was lined with silver, glistening in the moonlight shining through her window. Several stars were depicted upon its surface. She cloaked herself in her familiy's heirloom and looked outside.

"To the north!" She yelled happily.

Rainbow ran through her cloud home. Searching for anything she might need on her mission. she was fast, determined, and most importantly Awesome! Adrenaline rushed through her veins. "Finally no more sitting around! It's time to take action! It's time to take matters into our own hooves!"

She only packed the necessary. She didn't need to bring any warm clothes. Years of working as a weather pony had made her somewhat resistant to cold. She was strong, Fast, and of course, most importantly Awesome! Nothing could stand in her way!

She squealed in joy as she thought of all the awesometastically adventures she and her friends were going to have. "And even the princess is coming!" she said giddily. "God knows I don't mind.. I mean, the girls are nice to be around and all but I could use some more.. attractive company.."

"Woah! Woah! Calm down Dash! That's your princess, show some respect."

"Damnit brain! I told you to be quiet! besides, it doesn't hurt to just look.."

Back at The Canterlot Palace Luna was standing over her dressoir. Selecting certain items that she felt she would need on her journey. Celestia stood besides her with a look of worry. "Are you sure about this Luna..?" she said as she put a hoof on her sister's shoulder causing the alicorn to drop her hasted fidgeting and turn her head to Celestia.

"Don't you see it sis!? This is what I'm meant to do! It all makes sense now!" she said happily. "And besides, they are going to need help. You said it yourself."

"But.. you and I both know what dangers lie hidden there.." a small tear formed in her eye. "What if I lose you again little sister?"

Luna looked her sister straight in the eyes. "I can handle myself, I promise. It's not like you can't rule over Equestria by yourself. You've done so for a thousand years." Luna suddenly noticed that her voice was filled with anger and spite.

"Luna..." Celestia said sadly. She could no longer fight back her tears.

"Sister.. I'm so sorry.. You know I have forgiven you.. It was for my own good.."