Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Fluttershy, Applejack and Spike had gathered in the Palace of Friendship and they had each of the things they had been instructed to gather. There was silence among them. They were all aware of the incident overnight.

"You think everypony is okay?" Fluttershy asks.

"I'm sure Twi and Rage are fine Fluttershy." Applejack says.

"He's a little late so what? My bet is he fell asleep on the train!" Rainbow Dash says with a chuckle. "I bet he's exhausted after all of that."

"I don't take the train." Rage's voice comes from the door as he walks in. "Sorry I'm late, I...had trouble sleeping last night..."

"It's alright. Did you get everything you needed?" Spike asks as the crimson alicorn joins the others. He nods and opens the pouch he had on his back with his magic. Out came two small glass vials with a red liquid and the brown sack that his father had given him.

"Did we all gather what we needed?" Rage asks. One by one the ponies took out the ingredients they had gathered and Rage looked over all of them. They had everything. The only thing left was to deliver them to Zecora.

Rarity gathered them into a bag and looked at Rage who had a concerned look on his face. "Rage, is something the matter?" She asks "You've looked upset ever since you got back here."

"I just…can't shake the feeling that this is all my fault." Rage says softly.

"Oh for the love of Equestria this again?" Rainbow Dash groans "Rage nopony blames you for any of this aside from you! Now let's get to Zecora's." She says putting the bag on his back.

Rage looked at her with a sad look. She smiled and eventually his frown turned to a soft smile. He nodded in agreement and she nodded back. "That's more like it." She says as the five reach the front door.

"Good luck." Spike says to them. "I'll be here when you return!" He waved as the ponies looked back and waved to him as well. He closed the door after they were on their way and sighed. "I wish I wasn't so useless…" he murmured.

The five eventually made their way to the path in the Everfree that led to Zecora's hut and the thick tops of the trees were barely letting any light through. Rage had his horn illuminated with a light spell so they could see.

"It's almost as if the forest doesn't want us to reach Zecora…" Fluttershy says softly as the shadows loomed even closer.

"It's just your imagination Fluttershy." Applejack says as Zecora's peaks over the crest of the small hill they were climbing. "See?"

"It definitely feels darker than it should be right now." Rarity says "I mean it's the middle of the day and it'd be pitch black if not for Rage using his light spell. Thank you by the way, it's almost like having a second Twilight around."

"Uhhh…thanks?" Rage replies with a questioning look.

"The Everfree is always weird. I'm sure we just got unlucky is all." Rainbow Dash says as they reach the door to the hut. "Besides, we're here."

Rage lifted a hoof and knocked. Almost as soon as he had put his hoof back down Pinkie Pie answered the door. "Ooo!" She squeals "You're back!" She cheers as the five enter.

Zecora was in the middle of setting up an empty pot. On the table next to it was the potion recipe. She looked over to them as she put a stirring spoon inside and smiled. The zebra looked at the ponies as they walked in.

"So do you have everything?" Pinkie Pie asks eagerly. Rage nodded and handed the bag with everything to Zecora. She took the bag to a table and laid it all out.

"It wasn't easy, but we did it." Applejack says.

"I just hope it's enough." Rarity says "I can't fathom what Twilight is going through…"

"We're lucky nopony else was infected." Rage says bluntly. "We were lucky to gather what we have."

"We have all we need. You have done well indeed." Zecora says after putting the recipe paper down. "Now it falls to me to help set Twilight free…"

"Is there anything we can do to help?" Rainbow Dash asks. The zebra shook her head as she began to grind up the flowers that had been gathered.

"We'll leave you to it, Zecora. Thank you." Rage says lowering his head in gratitude.

"You know I've been wondering something." Pinkie Pie speaks up. "Rage, if this comes from your world why don't you make it?"

Rage smiled and gave a chuckle. "Simply put, I am horrible at alchemy." He answers. "It wasn't something taught when I was growing up. It was seen as an ancient, useless pseudoscience."

"Sue do what now?" Applejack asks, tilting her head.

"It was…seen as ineffective and outdated." Rage says. "Mobius is…complicated to say the least…"

"I wish Sonic could be here." Rainbow Dash sighs.

"Speaking of which…where is he?" Rarity asks.

"He's remaining in Canterlot in case things go wrong." Rage answers. "It is my hope we'll be done by sunset but…if not and Midnight escapes, he will stop her."

"If he can't…?" Fluttershy asks with a worried squeak.

"Then hopefully Princess Luna will be able to get ahold of me." Rage sighs. "I'll go back to Canterlot and restrain her again…"

"Celestia's spell will hold up if it comes down to it. I know it will." Rarity says.

"I hope so…" Rage agrees.

"Let's let Zecora focus." Applejack says "I'm sure she's got a lot of work to do."

"I'll stay here and wait." Rage says simply. "As soon as it is done I will rush straight to Canterlot with it."

"How long do you think this will take?" Rarity asks Zecora.

"It will take most of the day. I have no quarrels if you stay." Zecroa answers as she places the bag of mana powder in a bowl.

Rage looked at the bowl and nodded "If you need help don't hesitate to ask." He says as Zecora begins her work.

The zebra was focused on the potion. Rage, Pinkie Pie and Rarity had all stayed with Zecora. Pinkie Pie had been helping Zecora with the potion however now it was at a point where it had to set.

Rage and Rarity were helping organize a few things that Zecora had on her shelves. The zebra was assisting as well while Pinkie was playing with some balloons.

"So…have you ever had to do this for any of your friends back home?" Rarity asks Rage as he placed some jars of various powders on a shelf and hopped down.

"Not like this." He answers "I've had to use a spell on a lesser affliction in the past but…it didn't work on Twilight."

"You mean that spell you used back in the Crystal Empire when we first met?" Rarity asks "The one you used on The Crystal Heart?"

"No. That spell is only good for cleaning dark magic off of things. I doubt it'd work on her. Even if it did, I'd have to venture back to Dark Mobius to do it." Rage sighs.

"So…you have to cast it on whoever caused it…?" Rarity asks.

"As far as I know." Rage answers "…and I am in no shape to go back there right now. It takes a toll on me…"

"I won't pretend like I understand any of this but Rage, you need to stop acting like you're alone in this." Rarity replies.

"I can't-" Rage starts to argue but he was stopped by her placing her hoof to his mouth.

"Ah! No. I don't want to hear your excuses. You have friends Rage! You do us more harm by keeping quiet than you would if you'd just say something." She says sternly "You also need to learn to relax."

"Rarity…" Rage sighs. He shook his head, unable to think of anything to say. He smiled and chuckled "I don't understand why you're all so willing to leap headlong into danger behind me…"

"You're overthinking it." Rarity sighs as Zecora approaches the two.

"It is done." Zecora says handing a pair of bottles to Rage. "This will see Twilight's ill undone."

Eagerly Rage took the bottles and looked at her in joy. "Thank you!" He exclaims before he looks at Rarity.

"Two bottles…? Is there something special we need to do?" Rarity asks, looking at Zecora.

The Zebra shook her head. "The recipe is made for two. Now the rest is up to you." She says.

"We are in your debt." Rage says "Thank you."

"You are too kind. I hope you will keep me in mind." Zecora says as she walks the two to the door.

"We will." Rage says with a nod. "Goodbye for now."

The zebra waves at the two as they walk away. Into the Everfree, they wave back until they are out of sight. Once they are Rage and Rarity focus their sight forward.

"So…what do you plan to do with the other one?" Rarity asks. "Save it in case this happens again?"

Rage shook his head. "No…I have an idea on what to do with it." He says looking at it.

"So…how does it work? You just give it to Twilight and she's cured?" Rarity asks.

"That's what I understand." Rage nods "The faster I get it to her the better too…"

"Don't be hasty." Rarity says "It's late, you think maybe you should rest first?" She asks as they make it back to Ponyville.

"We only have until the full moon Rarity." Rage says. "I can't afford to wait."

"The next full moon isn't for a while Rage." Rarity says looking to the rising crescent moon.

"I know that." Rage shakes his head. "But I can't bear the thought of Twilight being in that dungeon any longer than she already has been."

Rarity sighs "You're awfully stubborn you know that?" She says. "I just thought it was something we all should be there for…ya know?"

Rage stopped and looked at Rarity, he felt a pit open in his stomach. He realized how inconsiderate he was being and sighed. "You're right…I'm sorry." He apologized "In the morning we'll get the others and head to Canterlot together then."

"Sounds good to me." Rairty agrees. "Good night Rage." She says as they part ways.

Rage returns to The Palace of Friendship and opens the door to the emptay entry hall and he walks in and carefully closes the door behind him. He made sure to be as quiet as possible as he walked towards his room.

He placed the two bottles into the top drawer of the dresser which was otherwise empty and walked over and crawled into bed. He looked at the wall for a few minutes, his thoughts on the last few days and on what this could mean for his other friend. Eventually he felt his eyes grow heavy and shortly after he was unable to keep them open and ultimately he fell asleep.