Fair warning, kind of a long chapter. Enjoy.

Lloyd didn't bother knocking and shoved the door to the library open with his head. Luna was standing and facing him ready to fight before she realized who her visitor was. "You are back." She said quietly, then she took notice of the pony on his back. "Why is Zecora with you?" She asked startled. "Is she alright?"

Lloyd walked and gently laid the mare down on the ground near the couch. "Oh, her name's Zecora? Odd." He paused for a second to get his breath. "Darkside was a step ahead, he got the book and set fire to her home so I would have to rescue her rather than chase him down. Clever little monster." He hissed the last words.

Luna walked over and gently nuzzled the sleeping zebra. "She appears to be alright, safe and alive at least." She said.

Lloyd sighed and looked back at the window. "She hasn't woken up since I got her out of the fire." He said shaking some soot that was still clung into his coat. "She's fine, healthy at least, she may come around any time. When she does you should tell her to go with the others at the suagarcube corner." He walked back to the window and pushed the door close.

"Why do you wish for me to tell her? Why not take her there now?" Luna asked stepping away from Zecora after pulling a blanket over her.

"I didn't want to leave you unguarded. Darkside left me in the woods, I don't know what he's up to." Lloyd suddenly jerked his head. "Have you seen Twilight or Rarity?" He asked.

Luna furrowed her brow at the brash way this colt was addressing her. She was a princess and deserved at least some respect from this outsider. The princess of the night however swallowed her pride and responded with a slight growl. "No, she hasn't returned why?"

"The little one that left earlier is back." He informed her. She could see now in the window his eyes were closed. "She left earlier but she's back now, just her though, no one else." He opened his eyes. "I hope that's a good thing."

Luna looked back on her sister before striding next to the colt. "What are you going to do?" She asked looking out the window with him.

Lloyd looked away from the glass at the alicorn next to him. "Pardon?"

"What do you intend to do about this monster?" She asked still not looking at him.

Lloyd sighed and let his ears droop. "I'm going to fight him, same as I have before. Try to heal what he's done, prevent any more damage, stop him for good if I can." He explained looking back into the library at the injured ponies. "I know you don't trust me, you have no reason to but I do have the best intentions, I am truly sorry about what I've brought on your world." He said hanging his head.

Luna finally looked down on the grey colt under his brown mane. It pained her to see some pony, even if he wasn't really one of her subjects in such misery. She gently laid a wing over him drawing his head up to meet her eyes.

"You have suffered much in your past. But you try to make the world better in spite of it." Luna looked away this time. "I can understand that."

Lloyd nodded and looked back outside. There was a long silence before Lloyd spoke again. "Twilight told me . . . about you. The nightmare moon stuff." He said quietly. He felt her wing shift pulling back from him. "You have nothing to be ashamed of. You've actually seen the worst you can do and came back." He looked at her from the corner of his eyes. "I admire that."

Whatever Luna was going to say was drowned out by a heavy thud. Lloyd was down and between Luna and the door before it even swung open. Every tensed muscle slackened when he saw the familiar mares. "Rainbow Dash! Fluttershy!" He chirped happily but his face fell dark when he saw their state.

Rainbow Dash had red in some of her fur, marks of cuts on her neck but seemed more sullen than wounded. Fluttershy however had red smeared through most of her coat. She hobbled weakly under Rainbow's careful care and her legs were all wrapped in white and pink bandages.

"Fucking hell what happened?" Lloyd asked even though he already knew the answer.

Neither mare spoke immediately as Rainbow Dash guided her friend to the couch. Lloyd moved ahead and arranged the pillows so that the yellow mare could rest comfortably. "T-thank you." She whispered looking down. Rainbow Dash nuzzled her friend and sat beside her.

"Are you alright?" Luna asked coming out of the stunned silence she had been in since they arrived.

Fluttershy responded with a weak nod. "We're better now."

"Where's Twilight and Rarity? Why aren't they with you?" Lloyd asked trying to be delicate.

"They went to the hospital after Pinkie Pie and Applejack." Rainbow explained not looking at him and instead gently stroking Fluttershy's mane. The yellow mare seemed nervous about the attention but still pressed against her friend.

"You let them go alone? Ugg." Lloyd groaned rubbing his head. "Why?"

"I had to go help Fluttershy." Dash said quietly but with plenty of anger. She was still cuddling with Fluttershy but her wings were shaking on her back.

"What the hell happened?" He asked again trying to sound delicate but failing.

Rainbow Dash bared her teeth glaring at Lloyd and Fluttershy pulled back closer to her mare friend. "Your monster happened." Dash snapped angrily. "He attacked Sweet Apple acres, me, Fluttershy," The blue mare's eyes left Lloyd's and he caught the droop in her whole body. "and big mac."

Fluttershy turned and wrapped Dash in her own embrace now, laying her wings over her while her bandaged legs wrapped around her neck.

Lloyd couldn't look and stared at the floor. He felt the anger Rainbow Dash had, but at the moment her sorrow was overcoming it. He knew enough from just the injuries, he had gone after Fluttershy, of course he did. Lloyd could tell those two were a couple so of course Darkside picked up on it and went after poor Fluttershy, tortured her to make Rainbow Dash hurt. Lloyd hoped that was all he did but he knew that just torture wouldn't have this effect on them. They had seen their own evils now, which would haunt them.

Lloyd slowly walked to sit before the two Mares. Fluttershy peeked out hesitantly and curious while Rainbow Dash glared angrily. "I'm sorry." He whispered. "I'm so sorry for all that he did to you. I wish I could have stopped it, I really do." Lloyd sucked back the flood of emotion that was threatening to sweep him away. "You are alive though, and so are your friends, that's the important part, and you have each other." Lloyd managed a smile as he looked up. "You don't know how wonderful that really this."

Fluttershy smiled back though weakly and she winced at the movement but Rainbow's glare never relented. She slowly pulled away from Fluttershy standing on the floor face to face with the grey colt. He held her fierce red eyes, all the anger and sadness in them. He deserved it all and never looked away but right when she opened her mouth she was interrupted.

The room erupted in a brilliant clap of sound and flash of blinding light. Lloyd fell back and tried to shield Rainbow Dash from the light that had appeared just behind him. The light began to fade and he saw the source was not a threat. "What the hell?"

Four ponies were on the floor now who had not been there before. Twilight stood, if only for a moment in the center before collapsing with a sigh. Rarity was there was well and the pink one, Pinkie pie and Applejack. Even in only an instant Lloyd could see things were bad, very bad.

"Oh shit." He mumbled.

Pinkie was horrid, her bright pink fur was darker, dimmer, and coated in blood from the lacerations across her body and face. Cuts were deep across her flank and sides, several smaller cuts on her legs which were still dripping some blood. Two large holes were driven into her legs, one seemed serious since it continued to bleed and she kept it raised favoring not using it. Her mane, which was curly and poofy as cotton candy before was flat and dead, stained with blood and matted up in places. Her face had cuts across her muzzle and one across her eyes that had only just spared the eyes themselves but nonetheless she didn't have the same happy air he had seen before. She was broken, something Darkside could do too well.

Rarity had the worst of it, not her but the one on her back, Applejack. Rarity's white coat was stained red but Lloyd knew right off it wasn't her blood. The orange mare on her back was unconscious her whole body limp over her friend's back. The first clear problem was that she was no longer orange, almost her whole body had blood in it still wet and dripping. Her mane, once tied was splayed across her and the blond hair had also been tainted red. Her leg was the worst, one of her forelegs was twisted and snapped, the bone could just be seen in the muscle and blood while she had cuts and signs of deep bruises across her whole body. Bits of shiny glass stuck out from all over leaving dozens if not hundreds of smaller superficial cuts along her whole body. Blood was flowing freely from a deep penetration of her side, a wound he had seen Darkside inflict before, though blood was also pooling from a hole in her chest, smaller than the other one but this one was over where her heart should be, and it looked deep.

"Pinkie Pie! Applejack!" Rainbow Dash yelled and bolted past Lloyd to help her weak pink friend before she collapsed in Rainbow's hooves.

"Lloyd . . ." Twilight's weak voice came over. "Applejack . . . help her." She panted.

Lloyd didn't wait for Rarity and bounded over to her checking Applejack. His blood froze.

She was dead.

A quick touch of his power told him that she was gone, her life drained. "Tw-Twilight, She's . . ." He tried to speak but he felt sadness griping his heart too tightly, his lungs failing to give him air as he looked on their desperate pleading faces.

"Please help her!" The Pink pony yelled from Rainbow's legs. It was a miracle she was awake let alone standing but Rainbow held the pink pony back as she tried to pull free. "Please! I'm sorry! She was trying to help meee!" Pinkie sobbed into Dash's chest

Lloyd ground his teeth and looked down gently brushing the mane from her face. Applejack's eyes were closed, a deep lash over her eye cutting deep and several other marks on her delicate freckled face. She didn't stir, there was no life in her, not anymore. He could hear Pinkie wailing near him and Rarity looked up at him with pleading eyes, begging for some hope for her friend. Tears leaked from her eyes as she begged.

Fluttershy was lying over the cushions crying silently as she looked at her friend on Rarity's back in Lloyd's hooves.

"Lloyd," he turned to see Rainbow Dash looking over Pinkie. "Please, help her." She said quietly seemingly unaware of the tears in her eyes.

"How long?" His question made them jump a little confused as to what he was saying or to who. He looked up his eyes angry and fierce on Pinkie. "How long has she been like this? Now!" He demanded.

Pinkie shook in Dash's grip but her friend squeezed tightly to assure her. "N-not long. M-maybe ten minutes."

Lloyd lowered his head to the ground, his face narrowed in thought. "Over here." He commanded moving to a clear spot on the floor, shoving cushions and books out of the way. "Set her down here, right here!" He barked to Rarity who complied hesitantly, gently laying her friend down with her magic and Lloyd's help. "Back up, give me some space." He ordered shooing Rarity back.

The white unicorn obeyed more in fear than anything. This sudden change in the colt was freighting. He had turned so hostile and rude but he was leaning over Applejack taking deep breaths. With a sigh he placed his hooves on her chest and leaned on her.

The familiar golden glow seeped from his coat drifting over Applejack. The golden light shone brightly, becoming less of light and more like transparent golden water flowing over the two ponies.

Twilight managed to get on her feet and looked around. The rest of her friends were all here watching Lloyd over Applejack. Rainbow Dash had pulled Pinkie with her and Fluttershy on the cushion and the three were huddled together with Rarity slowly moving to stand with Twilight. It made her happy to see Fluttershy was alive and aside from the bandages, well. She pressed against Rarity and looked over to see Princess Luna behind them watching intently. Now that she was closer she could see Lloyd's lip's moving and hear briefly the words he was whispering.

"Cmon Applejack." He said so quietly they would not have heard if not for the deathly silence of the library. "You're strong, I can feel that. You're always strong. You always fight for you friends, willing to give yourself up for them. I know that kind of attitude. Me and you have something in common." He pressed harder on her chest. "You're a selfless girl, strong and selfless, but right now I need you to be selfish. I need you to help me help you." The light grew thicker around them creating a physical veil around them.

"You're so strong Applejack." He continued whispering, like he was cooing a child. "So strong, so selfless, so valiant and brave. Your stronger than this, stronger than him. I see you sacrificed yourself for Pinkie, to save her. What a great girl." He praised the apple bucker as the light grew from his back taking on a new form. "I see you've always been honest, always stayed true and done what's best for others before what you wanted, saved your friends, fought with them, so great, so nice." The light from his back condensed and the whole group awed as wings made of golden light twice Lloyd's own size furled around him and Applejack gently brushing over the still farmer.

"I need you to remember all that Applejack, all that good you've done, the good you can do, all that strength you've yet to show off." His voice grew louder and Twilight could see something that made her heart skip. The hole in Applejack's side was closing, healing in front of her, the skin puling closed. The hole in her chest was sealing closed as well and her broken leg was twitching, the bone vanishing and being replaced with skin. "Show me the light you have Applejack, show me all that strength, show me who you are. Come on!" He yelled striking down with his hooves.

The light erupted out stunning the other ponies in the room before being sucked back by a great wind back to the pair before them. The light flew into Applejack's chest, her whole body convulsing as Lloyd held her still on the ground. His wings fanned out nearly knocking the group over before they evaporated like dust in the wind and were pulled back to the orange mare in his grasp.

Lloyd have a huge gasp and screamed in pain his own body shaking and convulsing but no one dared interfere to help him. Twilight could only stare in awe and fear as he clenched his whole body tightly and looked down, the last of the light fading and entering Applejack.

Still the farmer didn't stir.

"No." the quiet whisper came from her side and Twilight knew it was Pinkie speaking without looking up. Twilight knew they were all crying again, tears fell to the floor as Lloyd lay over their friend huffing deep breaths.

"Not again." He whispered. "Not like this. I have lost too many to this bastard! Not again, not like this! Come on!" He yelled, again slamming his hooves into her chest one more time. This time they all watched in awe as Applejack's whole body arced off the ground. The mare gasped and wheezed for a moment sucking in air in one huge gulp, coughed and breathed again. The orange mare opened her eye, only her right eye, the left one still carrying a slash over it. Her eye fell on the colt above her, panting in exhaustion and then to her friends.

"G-girls?" she whispered.

Pinkie shot across the room wrapping her forelegs tightly around her friend crying. "AJ!" She screamed sobbing.

Applejack was panting but still managed a weak smile and to wrap her forelegs around her friend, even the one which had been broken but now was mended. "It's alright Pinkie. We're alright." She whispered.

Lloyd panted and stepped back but only ended up falling over on his side breathing heavily and shaking.

"Lloyd?" Twilight asked stepping next to him briefly, but he waved a hoof dismissing her.

"I'll be fine, just *cough* weak right now. Look after her." He said lying on the ground trying to breath.

Twilight reluctantly went over to her friends who were crowded around Applejack patting, stroking and hugging their farmer friend. Applejack was back, talking and cuddling with her friends.

"It's okay Pinkie." She continued to comfort the party pony. "Ahm alright, see?"

Pinkie continued to cry into Applejack's chest while the weak mare held her. Rarity pulled a blanket or two and some cushions for them. She left to get some water to help clean up the ponies while Fluttershy hobbled over with a first aid kit in her mouth asking timidly to help Pinkie. The party pony didn't want to leave Applejack but didn't argue with the help from her yellow friend. Luna stood near the other ponies, standing strong with a beaming smile.

Rainbow Dash slowly and quietly walked over to stand next to Lloyd but didn't look at him. The colt was sitting up now watching the girls run about happily.

"Is she gonna be ok?" Rainbow asked without meeting his eyes.

Lloyd nodded. "She'll live. I healed all the serious wounds, she just needs some help and to recover, like we all do."

"So there's nothing else you need to do for her right?"

"Nope, it's on her now."

"Good."

Crack!

The entire room jerked around to see Lloyd hit the ground and roll on his back, Rainbow's hoof raised. Before anyone could do or say anything Dash jumped, stomping on the colt's chest knocking all the wind out of him.

"This is your fault!" She screamed in his face slamming her forehooves across his face while she pinned him down. "It's your fault this monster is here!" A sharp hoof clipped his muzzle drawing blood. "Your fault he hurt Fluttershy!" The next blow rattled his teeth cutting his gums. "Your fault he hurt Applejack!" She raised both Hooves and slammed his whole head into the ground. "Your fault he killed Big Mac!" She screamed hammering his head and wrapping her hooves around his neck slamming him into the ground. Tears were streaming out of her eyes as she yelled and shook him. "Why?!" She demanded. "Why?!"

Twilight wanted to stop Rainbow, she was being so violent and attacking him but, she couldn't bring herself to actually move. What Rainbow was saying . . . it was right.

Rainbow's blows slowly died off in strength smacking his muzzle a few more times before she stopped and laid over him huffing in air.

"Is that it?"

Everyone felt the chill creep up their spines at the icy cold voice Lloyd spoke in. He looked up at Rainbow and held her eyes with his bloody gaze, showing no pain, or fear, or anger. He shoved up and threw the Pegasus off of him. He stood up when he was free and spit a glob of blood on the floor.

"Are you finished?" He questioned again. "Sure you don't want to hit me some more." To every ponies shock the colt whipped his own hoof across his face cutting into his skin. "Maybe bash my head in some more?" He raised his head and slammed it down into the floor making them all wince.

Slowly the grey colt raised his head looking into Rainbow Dash, into all of them. His brown mane hung over his face obscuring some off the blood that leaked out of it onto the floor.

"You don't have to tell me this is my fault." He said in a low hiss though not in anger, at least not at the mare who had attacked him. "I've known that for longer than you know. You can hit me all you want but there isn't a damn you thing you can say or do to me that I haven said or done to myself." He took a second to sigh and flipped his mane back exposing his bloody face. "To date, including those I know of here, Darkside has taken seven million, six hundred twenty thousand and forty three lives. I have each name written in my book so I will never forget them."

"I made this monster, I let him loose in the world and I've done all I can to stop him." He looked away. "And I've failed. This is my fault, I know that, you have every right to hate me and you should." His eyes found Rainbow's shaking orbs. "But I ask you this, save that hate. When this is over, when he's beaten, I will lie down at your feet and accept whatever punishment you want of me. I'll end my own life if you want, but NOT until he is beaten." Lloyd stepped close to Rainbow Dash. "All I ask is you give me the chance to atone for what I've done before you punish me. Can you give me that?" He asked with a straight unyielding face.

Only Dash could see with him so close the water in the corner of his eyes. The way his face shook and quivered as he waited for her response. Rainbow Dash was unaware of her friends leering from behind, even as she gave a single slow nod without any words.

Lloyd too nodded silently and the two had reached some manner of understanding. The colt looked over and suddenly his eyes fell on Applejack. Soon every pony's eyes were on the orange farmer who was looking at Rainbow Dash, her eyes dripping tears. "W-what did y-yall say bout –Macintosh?" She stuttered quietly, disbelief across her pale face.

Rainbow hung her head looking at the ground. Everyone could see the way she trembled under her friend's gaze. "I'm Sorry AJ." She whispered. "Big Mac, he . . . we were trying to get the fillies away and . . . Darkside he. . . He tried to fight him but . . .but . . . I'm sorry." She sobbed dropping her head to the floor. "I'm sorry I couldn't save him."

Applejack quivered and trembled in Pinkie's hooves as the party pony tried to console her but the farmer began to cry, tears dripping off her muzzle as she dug her head into the blankets and cried her brother's name. The others all joined Rainbow Dash and Applejack silently sobbing and mourning with their friend's loss.

Lloyd stood without tears, he watched the ponies crying and felt his own heart ache. That's another one for the book. He thought. When is it gonna end? He walked past the ponies silently and found the ornate chest on the floor. He had been in this room before, in this situation, he knew what to do.

The colt carried the chest over and dropped it in the center of the ponies with a loud thud on the hard floor. They all paused their sobbing to look up as he opened the chest revealing the elements within. "Take them." He said firmly. "Use them. You hate this monster for what's he done. Stand up, stop crying, this isn't how it ends. This story ends with him destroyed not us crying. There will be time to mourn who we've lost, but not now." He pushed the chest forward to each of them. "I need you to help me end this."

The whole group stared at the brash colt as he lectured them, even Luna seemed to be capitulated by his words. As his words died into silence no pony moved, no pony cried anymore either. It was Twilight who broke the silence pulling away from her friends she stepped forward and used her magic to lift the elements from the case. One by one the necklaces floated to their respective bearers. Rainbow's lighting, Rarity's diamond, Fluttershy's butterfly, Pinkie's balloon, and Applejack's apple.

Each of her friend's accepted their element with radiant smiles as the golden necklaces latched around their necks. Finally Twilight lifted the tiara from the case and placed it on her own head, the jewels giving a small glow as each of the ponies stood tall with them.

Lloyd for once cracked a full smile. "Beautiful." He whispered.

Luna smiled from her position, a gentle curve of her lips over the elements before her. "Celestia would be proud." She said to herself.

"Alright, first things though," Lloyd said walking over to Applejack. "We need everyone in top shape." He slowly raised a hoof to her face. "May I?"

The farmer slowly nodded regarding him with the utmost scrutiny but allowing his hoof to touch her face. The familiar golden glow seeped from his hoof and flowed over the farmer's frightened face. The light moved with purpose gathering over her eye before plunging down like a spike.

"Ahh!" the mare screamed jumping back. "What the hay was . . ." Her yelling ended when she realized she was no longer only seeing half the room. Gently she reached a hoof up and brushed over her right eye. The skin was still rough over the skin around it like a scar but her eye was open and clear as day. "I-I can see." She said quietly. "I can see again."

Lloyd smiled and stepped back letting her friends look on at the new eye while he suppressed his trembling cough and controlled his weak legs. That was stupid. The voice in his head chided. You can't go wasting power on stuff like that.

It wasn't a waste, I need them in top shape.

She could have fought without that eye.

But not as well.

The voice was silent after that letting him enjoy the scene of happy girls hugging their friend. Rainbow Dash seemed more hesitant to reach out to her friend but Applejack pulled the Pegasus to her and assured her while the usually strong mare cried into her friend's mane.

Lloyd turned to Pinkie sitting patiently near them and smiling at the heartwarming hug the two shared. "Pinkie," He asked gaining the bubble gum mare's blue eyes. "May I?" He asked holding up his hoof.

"Oh I'm okay silly." She smiled. Lloyd however still reached out and tapped her head. Strands of gold light flowed from his hoof seeping into the holes in her legs already covered in bandages from Fluttershy, and the covered lash over her face. The wounds snapped shut with fresh skin and fur covering them but the process made the pink mare yelp. The pink one blinked rapidly and looked at herself her face slowly rising as she noticed the lack of injuries she had only moments ago.

"Thank you Mud head!" Pinkie squealed grabbing the grey colt in a tight hug.

"No problem." He said removing her from himself. "Just please don't call me mud head. Lloyd, that's my name." He smiled and gently poked the bouncy mane. He had wanted to do that for way too long.

Lastly he turned to Fluttershy. Rainbow glared at him but her eyes were less fierce with the red puffy mark of her tears. "Fluttershy," He asked quietly making the mare look away. "I can't heal you as well, but I can help with the pain."

"Oh t-that's ok. You don't have to worry. I don't want to be a burden." She whispered quietly. Lloyd reached out a hoof but didn't push any further.

"I want to help Fluttershy, please?" He asked lowering his eyebrows.

Fluttershy slowly peered up and reached out her own wrapped leg, placing her hoof in his. Strand of golden light crawled over his leg to hers and gently brushed over the yellow mare making her squeeze her eyes shut and squeak in fear but the brushing light was gentle and seemed to only brush the pain from her legs. She opened her eyes to see Lloyd smile and step back.

His steps were unsteady and the colt soon stumbled over and fell on his haunches holding his head. "Whoa, took more out of me than I thought. I'm fine." He assured holding up a hoof to Twilight and Luna as they came near him. "Just give me a second, and then we need to move."

"You are going to face him?" Luna asked from behind him.

Lloyd turned to meet the princess. "Yes." He said firmly. "The sooner the batter, I don't like leaving that monster loose, especially with my book."

"Darkside has the book?" Twilight said from behind him standing with Rarity and Fluttershy.

"Book? Is that bad?" Rarity asked, using a wash cloth to clean her coat of the blood as well as Pinkie's, Fluttershy's and Applejack's.

"Yeah, it's real bad." He said turning back to them. "I need that book. It has a lot of my own power in it, it's where my power comes from." He looked away at the wall. "I don't know if he can even use it but if he can we might be in trouble. Regardless, I need that book back and we need to stop him before he decides to let all hell loose on your town."

"Then we'll defeat him." Twilight said strongly. The others stood as well. Applejack stood with Rarity and Pinkie on either side of her but stood on her legs firmly. Rainbow Dash stood next to Twilight and Fluttershy, the later hesitantly brushing against her blue friend but none the less joining the group.

Lloyd smiled again, a bit of pride in his heart. You didn't get them. He thought to himself.

He gave a strong cough to gain all of their attention one more time. "Luna, I hate to ask but . . ."

"I will remain here with my sister until you return with news of his defeat." She said cutting him off.

"Okay." He nodded. "Twilight, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Please," He held out his hoof. "Join me in sending this bastard to hell."

One by one a purple, white, pink, orange, yellow, and blue hoof laid over his own. Six smiling faces looked back at him.

"Alright. One last thing." He said the golden light shrouded from his back showering all the ponies in the room, the glow laying over their coats before vanishing away. None of them could feel anything and looked back quizzically.

"Uh, what did yall do?" Applejack asked looking herself over.

"It's a spell to protect you from Darkside's power. As long as you stay close to me now he can't control you again." Lloyd explained.

"Oh, that's nice." Fluttershy whispered.

"So how do we find this creep?" Rainbow Dash asked leaning on her hind legs and boxing the air.

"He has my book, I can sense the book." Lloyd walked past them all to the window he had made his home. He closed his eyes and stood still for a moment. No one saw the tiny wave that left his body but they all saw his eyes shoot open. "He's close."

"How close?" Twilight asked.

Lloyd was already to the door. "Very. In town. Come on, let's finish this." He called leading the way out the door. Rainbow Dash was first out behind him followed by Applejack and Pinkie pie. Fluttershy was out next with Rarity leaving Twilight with Luna in the house.

Twilight turned back and trotted to Celestia gently pressing her lips to her mentor's forehead. "We'll get him." She whispered before turning to Luna. "Please take care of Spike too princess."

The princess of the moon nodded and urged the unicorn out. Twilight chased after her friends Luna stayed behind and watched the purple unicorn and the other bearers leave. In her mind she hoped for them all, but she had no intention of leaving this spot until she knew they were all safe.

A groan made her turn into the library.