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// 8: Reaching Out 
// Story: A Series of Continuous Events 
// by JDeck306 
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A light appeared to flicker to life in Celestia's mind, and, after she wiped away her tears, she got up and started moving around, looking for a Guard to send a message to her sister back at the Palace. Banana looked at her with wonder in his eyes, seeing the usually graceful Princess almost stumble over her own feet as she hurried back inside the Centre.

Banana slowly got up and followed the Princess back inside, being careful to not put too much pressure on his limbs, and found Celestia talking with a pair of Guards. A moment after he entered, the younger of the two Guards raced out of the Centre, and Celestia asked Banana to follow him to Light's room, for she had an idea, but it would require her sister's help.

In her eagerness, Celestia raced past Light's room, and wandered the hallways for a moment, while Banana carefully walked towards where Light was. A little while later, Celestia appeared from behind the corner, looking very confused, and found Banana gently smiling as he gestured to the room just down the hall from where the others were.

Celestia shyly smiled and blushed, and together, they quietly entered Light's room, where they startled a nurse, checking up on Light, who had still not woken up. They politely greeted the nurse and asked if it was alright for them to enter, for they were wondering how Light was doing. The nurse obliged and said she'd finish up checking the Kirin's vitals, and would head out after.

Both Banana and Celestia thanked the nurse and took a seat next to Light's bed. After the nurse left, Banana asked what Celestia was planning to do, and why she sent a messenger to the Palace. As Celestia started to explain, a bright flash in the room startled them, and when they blinked, they found Luna standing in the room, carrying Light's backpack she brought from the Castle.

The two sisters greeted each other with an embrace, and Celestia thanked Luna for getting here so quickly. Luna admitted she hadn't thought of this idea before, and wondered why she didn't see it, but Celestia eased her self-doubt. The evening had been very hectic, and they had been busy with many other priorities, so it wasn't surprising both of them overlooked this.

At that moment, Banana quietly spoke up, and asked what the Princesses were discussing, as it seemed important. As Luna grabbed a chair and walked over to the side of Light's bed, Celestia explained that Luna would try to enter Light's mind via their dreams to try and get in contact with them. However, this was only an idea, and she wasn't sure if it would work.

After Luna took a seat, she asked Banana and Celestia to be quiet, for she had to focus. She would do her best, but she couldn't make any promises. Celestia and Banana looked on, and wished Luna the best, as she focused her magic, and bright lines formed around her horn, converging into a bright beacon on its tip, from whence more thin magic tendrils formed, slowly moving towards Light.

When the tendrils reached Light's head, Luna opened her eyes, which now burnt with a heavenly glow. At least, this is what Celestia and Banana saw. Luna herself had entered the Realm of Dreams, where she could see the way into the dreams and minds of all creatures. The magic tendrils had reached Light, and allowed her to directly connect with the Kirin's mind.

Where she found herself, however, was not in the mind of Light, but just before it, as the door that would allow her to enter was blocked. Luna tried the handle, forming a key to unlock the door, moving aside what was causing the blockage, and even gently knocking. Finally, she carefully cut through the barricade with her magic, making a hole just big enough to fit through.

As she ducked and entered Light's mind, she found their essence alone in a dark area. As she approached, she called out to Light, who was startled at her appearance, and replied:

"Your Highness...? What ar- Why hav-... How did you get here?"

Inside of Light's mind, it was dark, different than what Luna had seen the first time she entered their mind. She had been here before, but Light had been unconscious for a while, and Celestia, nurses and Doctors were as of yet unable to wake them up. The Princess of the Night stood in front of Light and greeted them, though they were startled by her appearance in their mind.  

Walking towards the Kirin, Luna lit a torch from her horn, allowing her to see Light through the darkness in their mind. She offered her hoof to help Light to stand up, to allow them to talk on level ground. Light confusedly looked at Luna, even more graceful in her appearance, now that they were in the Realm of Dreams, wondering how she got here.

Luna explained that it took some effort, but she managed to break through the barricaded doorway to Light's mind, where they hoped they could get in contact with the Kirin. Before Luna could continue, Light shook their head and asked her to halt for a moment, for they were confused about many things, such as where they were in the Waking World, and who had asked Luna for help.

As she put her hoof on their shoulder, Luna reassured them that they were safe, and everyone else was doing well too. After they teleported away, it took Celestia and a group of Guards a while to find them, and after they did, they were brought to the Medical Centre, where they were right now. Celestia and Banana were in the room too, as Celestia had asked her for help to contact Light.

Light averted their eyes after hearing that Banana was present in the room, and asked in a defeated tone if Caff was present as well. Luna replied that Caff wasn't there, but she was in the Medical Centre, also being treated for her injuries. Light closed their eyes and took a deep breath, and sat back down, clearly ashamed about something.  

The darkness appeared to tighten its grasp on Light's mind, and Luna had to increase the brightness of the torch to be able to see Light, who had turned away and laid down, facing away from the Princess. She tried to reach out, but Light said it would be best for her to leave, as they feared how much harm they could do, if they couldn't control themselves.

Tears formed in Luna's eyes as they continued: "Remember the first conversation we had in my mind, about the visions I had? Had I not gotten out of there, I don't know how much harm I could have caused." She walked around the Kirin to come face to face with them again, feeling reinvigorated to help Light. She stood tall and shone her torch even brighter than before, and said:

"I know. I know all to well how you feel now. But do not let it control you. Remember, I saw what you saw as well. It is why I reached out. The fact that you managed to prevent harm rather than cause it is clear proof of your strength and your good heart. Celestia and I will do everything we can to help you get out of this state, and your allies will be glad to help."

Light's eyes briefly lit up with a warm glow, dimming the darkness surrounding them, before their gaze dropped downwards and the realm darkened again when they remembered Caff. Could they ever forgive themselves for what they did to her? Luna appeared to be losing her focus, as her torch dimmed and started to flicker. Quickly, Light shot up, and asked what they could do from in here.

To this, Luna replied in a strained voice that she would use the tonic to heal the ones that were hurt, and from there, everyone would wait and see how they could continue. Her form started to flicker as Light paced back and forth, trying to think of a solution. Their amethyst eyes lit up in a beautiful array of colours, and said they knew what to do, but they could not explain now.

"When you get back, I'll explain. Heal the others!

And... give my apologies to Caff and her sister, when you see her. I'm sorry. I truly, truly am..."

After these last words, Luna's form disappeared, leaving Light alone in the darkness of their mind, though now, it was slightly less dark.

Luna awoke from her visit to Light's mind, breathing heavily and staring blankly out in front of her. As tears formed in her eyes and she averted her gaze downwards, Celestia and Banana, who had kept a watchful eye on her while she was speaking with Light, raced to her side to help her, placing a glass of water next to her and covering her with a blanket.  

Whatever she had witnessed while in Light's mind, the things she discussed with her, the effort it took to stay with them, it all had been too much for Luna. Over the years, she had seen many things when wandering the realm of dreams, but seeing close to nothing, barely anything more than darkness and an empty void, was, evidently, significantly worse.

Stuttering and with a quiver in her voice, Luna thanked Celestia and Banana for their help, and said she would need to take a moment to recover, for this action had cost her a lot of energy. Tears formed in her eyes as she yawned, and she felt herself slipping away to sleep. Struggling to stay awake, she spoke quickly to Celestia, and mentioned the vial of tonic still in Light's bag.

As Luna closed her eyes, she swiftly fell asleep, with Celestia and Banana only just managing to catch her before she fell off her chair. As Celestia gently moved Luna to an adjacent bed, Banana wandered over to Light's bag that Luna had brought with her, and found the tonic she mentioned. Celestia told him to be careful with it, as there was not much left of the powerful potion.

After Celestia had tucked Luna in, she looked back at the small Unicorn and bade him to take a few drops of the tonic, for she knew it would heal his injuries. Banana grabbed a small spoon and carefully poured out a few drops, noting the potion smelled metallic. At that moment, as Banana took the potion, Luna quietly whispered something in her sleep, saying 'Heal the others...'.  

After hearing Luna's words, Celestia pensively looked around, trying to think of which 'others' she meant. At that moment, exactly when Celestia realised, Banana noted he felt much warmer and more comfortable, and began to glow ever so slightly. After his glow wore off, he checked under his bandages, finding no remains of the burns he had sustained, which greatly confused him.  

With no time to think, Celestia ran out of the room, calling back to Banana to follow her, and to bring the tonic with him, as she ran to the room where the others were. Startled by her sudden appearance, Nox, Harvest, and Decaf and Caff, still in the arms of her sister, looked at Celestia in confusion. When Banana reached the room Celestia started to explain what had happened just now.

Luna was present in the Centre, and had spoken with Light in their dreams, where they told her of a special tonic, the same tonic that had healed Celestia just a few days prior. Currently, she was asleep, but in her sleep, she mumbled about healing the others. The tonic was powerful, and even a few drops would completely heal all of their injuries.

Though the group was sceptical, Banana confirmed this claim, as he took off the bandages on his arms, showing that there were no remaining scars on his arms or his body, after taking just a few drops of the tonic a moment ago. Hearing this, Decaf looked at her sister and smiled, for if the tonic worked as they claimed it did, perhaps it could help her recover from the memory of the Nirik, too.

Banana grabbed a couple more spoons and poured out a few drops onto each of these, gently levitating them over to the others. After they all took the potion, the room became slightly brighter from their glow. Nox and Harvest were especially glad to be relieved of their burns, never having felt this feeling before. When they stopped glowing, they asked what to do now, and Celestia said:

"When Luna wakes up, I'll ask her to speak with Light again, to ask what to do next. I think they need your help, too."

After the tonic had run its course, Nox, Harvest and Caff found themselves able to walk around again without so much as a single moment of annoyance or pain. Overjoyed at the fact the pain had subsided, Caff embraced her sister and thanked her for staying by her side, as Nox and Harvest embraced each other as they heartily laughed, and smiles appeared on Celestia and Banana's faces.

Their smiles faded rather quickly, knowing that Light was still unconscious, and they weren't sure if the tonic would work on them. As they were thinking about how to help Light, Caff suddenly spoke up, and wondered what was in the tonic, for she felt more energised, and wondered if it contained caffeine. Banana shrugged and said he didn't know, for there were no listed ingredients.

After hearing Caff's comment, Celestia paced back and forth for a moment, trying to formulate a plan for what to do now. Since the moon was high in the sky and the time had just passed midnight, she figured it was perhaps best to head back home and rest, and to return in the morning. Luna was asleep, and the others were healed, so, for now, there was not much more they could do to help.

There was one more thing that Celestia wanted to try, which was to give some of the tonic to Luna. Though she was asleep, if the tonic did give her back her energy, it could allow them to speak with Light again, giving them the good news of everyone's recovery. After Celestia laid out the plan to the others, she headed back to Light's room with Banana, and left the others to discuss.

After arriving back in Light's room, Banana looked at Celestia, who walked over to Luna and gently shook her awake. Entering Light's mind had cost her a lot of energy, and she struggled to stay  awake as Banana poured out a few drops onto another spoon. If this did not work, they would put the tonic back in Light's bag, and try contacting them again in the morning, after a night's rest.

Banana looked back at Celestia, who solemnly nodded, and he handed Luna the spoonful of tonic. Since they were unsure whether or not this would work, they did not expect too much as Luna took the tonic, and they waited for anything to change for the Lunar Princess. Luna's dark, flowing hair glowed with beautiful colours, which, moments later, faded from view again.

After the glow faded, Celestia and Banana held their breath, hoping for the best. Just as Nox and Harvest entered the room, Luna opened her eyes, and found her strength had returned, and her fatigue vanished. She got up and embraced Banana and Celestia, and thanked them for their help. After their embrace, Luna noticed Harvest and Nox standing in the doorway, and moved to greet them.

Harvest nodded politely towards Luna as Nox happily embraced her mother, both relieved to see their loved one was alright. Luna looked around and asked, in a lighthearted tone: "Where is the young Pegasus? Light bade me to give a message to them." Harvest nodded and led Luna back to the room where Caff and Decaf were, politely greeting the two Pegasi as she entered.

"I will not take too much of your time," Luna said, and continued: "but I bring to you a message from the Kirin, Light." Decaf stepped towards her sister for support, as Caff took a deep breath and prepared herself, and Luna spoke: "They want to apologise. They cannot imagine the fear you felt when you saw their Nirik form, and they are truly, truly sorry you witnessed it."

A tear formed in Caff's eye as she took in the message Luna gave her. Decaf prepared to catch her sister, expecting her to respond poorly to the message from Light, but Caff did not fall. A small smile appeared on her face, and she moved to embrace Luna, and thanked her for giving her the message. While Decaf was still doubtful, seeing Caff with a smile on her face warmed her heart.

After Caff let Luna go, she asked them to give a message back to Light:

"When you see them again, give them my thanks. Goodness knows they deserve some positivity."

Luna returned to Light's room, and took a seat again next to Light's bed again. Banana and Celestia made sure to stay more alert, as just a little while ago, after Luna had entered Light's mind, she had spent all of her energy, and she nearly fell off of the chair she was sitting on. Had it not been for Celestia and Banana managing to catch her, she would've gotten hurt.

Luna took a deep breath and relaxed. She had not recovered all of her energy, but the tonic was potent enough for her to attempt to enter Light's mind once again. Before focusing her magic, she verbally repeated the good news she would bring the Kirin, which was that the tonic had worked its magic and had healed everyone, as well as the news that Caff accepted their apology.

Now, the focus would go back to Light, and trying to help them regain consciousness. Celestia and Banana moved their chairs to Luna's sides as she started to focus her magic again, making sure to support her should she faint again. At that moment, the others entered the room just as Luna's horn and eyes glowed with a heavenly, bright glow, which lit up the entirety of the room.

Moments later, bright, magic tendrils emanated from Luna's horn again and found their way to Light's mind. The sight of these tendrils stunned Caff and Harvest to silence, and they carefully stepped towards Celestia to ask a question, before being stopped by Decaf and Nox. Whatever questions they had, they would have to hold them for later, no matter how curious they were.

When Luna entered the dream realm again, she found the barricaded door to Light's mind she had broken down before, and entered into Light's mind. This time, when she entered, she found that the colours and brightness of their mind were fluctuating, possibly indicating turmoil in their thoughts. As she walked on, Luna had to close her eyes often, for the light bothered her.

Approaching the centre, Luna found Light's conscience, sitting peacefully in the centre, but whether this was genuine peace or a facade, she did not know. She politely greeted the Kirin, who did not turn around as they greeted her in return, and gestured her to take a seat next to her. After she took a seat, the Kirin took a deep breath and asked how everything had fared.

Luna replied positively, saying that the tonic had worked and healed everyone. It even helped her awake again, since she fell asleep after leaving Light's mind before. Light smiled and thanked her for her help, and moved on to what they hoped would help to awaken them. However, they were unsure whether or not this would work, and did not even know how to pass on the information they held.

Feeling confident of her power, knowledge and wisdom, Luna replied that whatever it may be that Light hoped would work, she would most likely know already. Light looked back at her incredulously, and sighed. They continued, as they stood up, and focused their magic, the likes of which Luna had not seen before. Light neared their horn to Luna's horn, and after a spark, Luna's eyes brightened.

After taking in Light's knowledge, Luna took a deep breath and asked how this was possible. She had practiced magic for hundreds, if not thousands of years, and it was highly unlikely there were still practices unknown to her. Light smiled and said they would explain later, but now, they needed to return, and give the spell, which they had just passed on to her, to Harvest.

Before Luna could respond, she felt her form flicker, as Light waved her goodbye with a gentle smile. They wished her the best and hoped to see her again soon, and with these last words, Luna opened her eyes, finding herself in her seat again, next to Celestia and Banana, who had grabbed her in case she fell again. Luna took a deep breath, and spoke aloud:

"Harvest Duran... Light requires your assistance.'

Harvest was completely stunned after hearing Luna's words. How could he, a Kirin, who did not have any experience in practicing healing, medicine or anything of the sort, help somecreature regain consciousness? He started stuttering and stammered his words, the responsibility being too much for him to bear, and to save himself from distress, he ran out the room and headed outside.

Luna was still weakened from her visit to Light's mind only moments ago, and she had to remain seated, with Celestia, who embraced her with her wings, and Banana, who had just grabbed her some water, at her side. Neither Caff nor Decaf was very familiar with this Kirin, and they did not deem themselves capable to help him overcome his doubts.

Add to that, Caff, who was still slightly distressed because of her view of Light and her memory of the visage of the Nirik, was still being comforted by Decaf, who was very protective over her little sister and wanted to prevent stressing out Caff too much again, since it had been less than an hour since she asked for her sister's help in calming her down.

Before anyone could think any further, Nox had stood up and left the room, heading to the café, where a different Pony, who wore an eyepatch and had a neatly trimmed beard, was behind the counter, serving a couple of friends, who were seated there, some drinks and keeping the peace. Taciturn noticed Nox walking towards the group, and Violin and Eclipse turned around shortly after.

The few Ponies that were present calmly and warmly greeted her, glad to see she was alright. She worriedly asked them if they had seen Harvest, who had run away just now. Taci placed down their cup, stood up, and asked Nox to follow them, for they, too, were worried about Harvest. They told her that Harvest ran outside while breathing very heavily and with tears welling up in his eyes.

They led Nox outside of the Centre, where, after a few moments of looking around the area surrounding the building, they found him sitting on a bench a few streets away trying to dry his tears. Taci stayed back a bit while Nox walked up to Harvest and took a seat next to him. Before she had the chance to say anything, he hugged her tightly, and apologised for running away.

The fact that an old friend of his, whom he had only recently met again after a very long time, was counting on him to help them out of a very serious situation, was too much for him, and he had to take a moment to clear his thoughts. Nox embraced him back and together, they just sat for a moment, while Taci swiftly headed back inside for some hot drinks for the three of them.

After a little while of sitting quietly, and after drinking the tea and coffee that Taci had brought them, Harvest stood up and politely thanked Nox and Taci for their help. While Taci headed back to the café to continue reading their book, Harvest headed back to the Centre, and asked Nox to be at his side as he tried to help Light, to which she agreed with a smile.

Together, Nox and Harvest got back to Light's room where they were met with concerned gazes by everypony present. Celestia looked at Harvest and kindly and gently asked him if he was alright, since he appeared very distressed a few moments ago. Harvest gave her a smile and looked at Nox as he said he was alright, thanks to the help of his friends.

After saying this, he walked over to Luna, who had written down the knowledge Light had given her on a piece of paper, upon which were instructions on how to use the spell, which was written in an ancient language he did not understand. He chuckled nervously and walked over to Light and focused his energy. Gently placing his hooves on Light's chest and forehead, he started, repeating the phrase:

'Galad, lasto beth nîn, tolo dan nan galad.' *¹

The present group held their breath as they awaited the result of the ancient spell, hoping that it would work. As Harvest repeated the phrase a great many times, with varying intensity yet no result, their hope for Light's awakening slowly faded. A myriad of thoughts passed through Harvest's mind and he couldn't figure out what to do, if this spell should fail.  

As his doubt grew and his worries increased, he stepped away from Light, lest he overextend himself. He lowered his head and took a seat, fearing for his friend, and the reaction of those they care for around him. Nox sat by him and embraced him, comforting him as he lowered his head onto her shoulder and tears started forming in his eyes.  

The group was silent, concerned for both Harvest and Light, and looked amidst each other in confusion and worry. After an eternity of silence, only broken by the quiet, heartbreaking sobbing of Harvest into the shoulder of Nox, who was trying her best to hold herself together as well, Celestia suggested to everycreature to get a good night of rest, as it was very late at night.

Not needing to hear Harvest's answer, Nox nodded her head towards the Solar Princess, who had gotten up to assist Luna, though she wanted to remained seated for a while. One by one, the group left the room, and headed towards the café, where they met the others, before heading out of the Centre to their places of residence. Eventually, only Luna, Celestia and Banana remained.

Concerned beyond belief for his friend, Banana could not keep himself from weeping as he did not avert his gaze from Light, hoping by a miracle that they would awake again. Celestia encouraged the two to leave and to try again later, and Banana got up, ready to assist Luna. However, against the wishes of her sister, Luna focused her magic dangerously quickly, and sought to find Light.

Luna ran through the broken barricade of the door and met Light again, hopefully not for the last time, though she feared it could be so. Out of breath, with her form constantly flickering and fading, she reached Light again, who looked at her with compassion in their eyes. Luna could only just manage to hold back her emotions as she apologised to Light for failing to help them.

In return, Light gently put their hoof on Luna's shoulder and gently smiled, and reassured her, saying that they understood, and that they would have patience. The spell would require a lot of effort to pull off, and Harvest, being as young as he is compared to others like the Princesses and themselves, would need to take a while to practice before he would be able to cast it properly.

After she took in what Light meant with their words, Luna looked back at them in confusion, and, in a mix of anger, fear and grief, unable to hold back tears, Luna spoke in her Royal voice and demanded the Kirin explained. They replied that when they awoke, they would explain everything, but for now, she needed to rest, and that they would speak with her again soon.

Before Luna had a chance to reply, she awoke from the Realm of Dreams, out of breath and with a splitting headache, close to falling over, were it not for Celestia and Banana managing to catch her. She fell to her knees, only just managing to stay conscious, and asked for water, and Banana grabbed a large flask and gave it to her, which she drank in one go.

Carefully picking up her little sister, Celestia tightly embraced her, and, with teary eyes, expressed how concerned she was for her, and reprimanded her for being so reckless. Luna took a deep breath and embraced Celestia back, and after a moment of silence between the sisters, Banana, who had stepped out of the room, suggested to them to leave for now, to return later.

"I know that Light is counting on us, but we mustn't let ourselves be ruled by fear and doubt. We will figure this out."

Smiling at the small Unicorn, Celestia and Luna stepped out of Light's room and closed the door. As they turned the corner, they heard a familiar, magical sound coming from whence they came.

After hearing the tunes of magic, Banana stopped for a moment and turned around to look at the door to Light's room, when he thought he noticed a shadowy figure through the glass of the door, after which he blinked, rubbed his eyes and looked again, shaking his head, blaming his fatigue and overwhelming concern for Light for the image he saw, or the image he thought he saw.  

Looking back at the small Unicorn as a bittersweet smile grew unto her face, Celestia, with Luna still leaning on her sister's shoulder, gently called Banana over, and, after he had trotted over quickly, walking on the other side of Luna to support her, offered him to stay at the Palace, assuring him he would be a welcome guest, and extending the invitation to his friends, as well.

The tall Solar Princess was fair in her stature and pure in her heart, and her voice sounded almost musical, sounding through the streets with beautiful tones, and after Banana gazed upon her, only just managing to see her glowing radiance and flowing hair from the other side of the Lunar Princess' body, admitted to Celestia that he would need a moment to think about her offer.

She replied that he could take all the time he needed, and, even if he should refuse, the offer would remain true and the doors to the Palace would be open to him and his friends, and he would be welcome at any time, be it early in the morning to join the Princess of the Day for the break of Dawn, or late in the evening, after the sun has set, to walk alongside the Princess of the Night.

The small Unicorn smiled after hearing the Princess's words, and shifted his focus back to helping to support Luna as the three of them continued walking towards the Palace, which they reached quickly, where two Royal Guards took over the duty of supporting Luna from Celestia and Banana to her chambers, allowing the two a moment of calm before heading to their respective chambers.

After wishing Luna a good night and hoping for her that she recovered well, as she was gently being lead to her room, Celestia and Banana bade each other a good night, with many concerns still flowing through their minds and fatigue catching up to them rapidly, and retreated to their own personal chambers, where they hoped the events of the day would not interfere with their rest.

The following morning brought with it a beautiful clear day, driving away the night and leaving the events of the preceding evening behind in the past, and after Banana woke up and refreshed himself, he headed downstairs with renewed energy and winged speed, finding both Celestia and Luna in the Halls at the table, enjoying their breakfast together after a night of restful sleep.

As he politely greeted the Princesses, who greeted him in return with a smile, Banana moved over to the table, upon which were set a great variety of fruits and freshly baked bread, with many toppings of all sorts, the nigh unimaginable magnitude of which coming close to overwhelming the young Pony, as he struggled to choose what to choose for breakfast.

The trio of the Princesses and young Banana were joined soon after by a number of friends, among whom were Harvest, who still clearly appeared distressed and disappointed over his inability to help Light the previous night, and Nox, who was walking near, and, after greeting her mother, aunt and others, took a seat next to, Harvest, verbally expressing her concern for his well-being.

Fortunately, allowing themselves a night of rest, especially after an intensive and busy period, rife with stress and perilous situations, helped them recover immensely, and every single creature, who had been present in the Medical Centre the previous night, managed to enjoy their breakfast, and was completely restored of energy after finishing their breakfast. Afterwards, Celestia thanked them all, and said:

"I know we all have many concerns and fears about a great many things, but together," she continued, after looking at Banana, "we will manage to figure this out."

The magic tunes that Banana heard were not imagined by his mind, as the Green Unicorn, for the first time in many years, gracefully stepped out of a small portal that he made, transporting himself into Light's room only mere moments after the Princesses and young Banana had left, as they had been unable to help Light recover from their state, and promised to try again tomorrow.

Unable to sleep, tormented by his dreams and memories of eons past, Boom spend the night awake, lacking the strength to close his eyes, not wishing his mind to wander far to paths that he does not dare speak of, and had been busy preparing a number of items, for, to those he held dear, he would, one day, wish to tell his tale, and wanted to be freed of his burdens.

So, through many sleepless nights and countless days of travel throughout this land and beyond, he found and kept items dear to him, be it gifts from friends of old, medicine from great healers whom he had helped, or his own experiences, memories and actions, written in a book for others to read, for though he wished for them to know, he could not bring himself to tell them directly.

Now, with no eyes upon him, and the Observer, whom he feared would find him, busy elsewhere, he prepared himself, once again, for travel, though, where he would go, or when he would return, of this, he was not yet certain, and, deep in his mind, he was torn, as one part of his mind wished to quell his feelings and be done with his past, though the other part longed to feel the pain.

This longing for pain, however, was not wholly evil, nor did it truly wish to make him suffer, for though the pain, bound to many memories and sins of his past, was devastatingly difficult to deal with and carry throughout his travels, he still kept it, as he felt it was important for him to remember everything he had done, and everyone that he had ever met and loved, or hurt, in his life.

Nevertheless, after he stepped into Light's room, the portal closed, and, realising the portal was quite loud, fearing the ones who had left may return and find him, he put up his cloak and swiftly dove to the side, hiding in the shadows in the corner of the room, and stayed out of the light for a time, until he was absolutely certain that none would return, and he breathed a sigh of relief.

He moved over to Light's bedside, and, from the satchel he was carrying, he pulled out a number of items, among which were a book, another vial of tonic, darker in colour than the golden potion he had given before, and a key, which appeared old and rusted, yet holding the memory of a once great, mighty and powerful lord, and placed them in a small bag next to Light on the nightstand.

After placing down these items, and writing a note - which he knew would tell Light from whom the bag was, even with little writing upon it - he carefully opened the door and looked into the hall of the Centre, making sure there was absolutely nobody around to notice him, and, after turning back to look at Light once more, with tears forming his eyes, he left their room, and stopped.

His mind was still thoroughly fighting with itself over his next actions, and though one part wanted to move on, he knew he couldn't, so he cursed himself, turned back to their room, and wrote upon the note he had left a spell that, when cast, would let him know whenever he was summoned, should this ever happen, which he doubted, remembering Light's words to him, outside of the Centre.

He finally left their room and headed out of the Centre, and, before leaving the city, he caved in and listened to his heart one final time, and headed towards the Palace, which he swiftly reached, after stealthily traversing his way through the streets of Canterlot, in time to see Luna gently led away, and the young Banana and radiant Celestia bow to each other and disappear from view.

A bittersweet smile appeared on his face, followed by many tears, and he put up his hood and headed out of town, not knowing when or if he would see his dearest friends again.