//------------------------------//
// Chapter six: Saying goodbye. 
// Story: Return of the Kezzerdrix. 
// by inum76 
//------------------------------//

Chapter six: Saying goodbye.

"Dad! Dad! are you awake?" Trooper while standing on a chair looked to his father as it seemed he was waking.

"Trooper! What happened?" Kindle moved his hoof over his head as he felt it aching and throbbed as he spoke.

Though it was hard for him to focus, He still wanted to question his son more. "Where is your mother? Did you both get out in time?"

Trooper dropped his head onto the bed and cried. "No! She is gone. I could not find her. I think that thing took her. I am sure of it."

Kindle's eyes went wide. "No! this can't be!"

Kindle laid his head back as the sadness and pain in his head took over. A swelling of emotions and a still pounding head made him pass out again.

The other four in the room took a step closer.

Flower walked up to Trooper. "We should go. Your father will need his rest."

Nurse Sweetheart, who was standing at the door, walked in. "She is right. The sedative I intend to give him will keep him out for the rest of the night. You can see him again tomorrow.

"I still need to check on him a bit more as well. He is lucky to be alive. He got one nasty concussion, and a fracture in his skull. That will take some time to mend. You can go."

Trooper hopped off the chair and walked out with the rest.

Flower looked over to Trooper. "You are going to stay with the rest of us tonight. You are not going home by yourself. I am glad you came to get us when you did. Your father is in bad shape. I don't know how you got out of this with just a bump on your head and a bloody lip."

Each of them stopped in the hallway the moment Trooper did. His eyes closed. He fought with himself not to cry more but failed.

He collapsed on the floor and wept.

Flower, Dazzle, and Plunk came around him as Lance watched while feeling the little colt's loss. It was everyone's loss.

Flower tried to console Trooper. "I am sorry Trooper. And I don't want to give up hope that Patty is still alive. There is still a chance she might have gotten away. She might find her way back to us."

Trooper while still crying did his best to speak. "I wish I could believe that. But you did not see that thing. You did see there was a blood spot on the wall behind where she was standing. And a trail leading out the window."

Trooper shook as he talked. "I don't think she got away, and I could do nothing to stop it."

He stopped and looked at Flower. "If you think there is a chance she did get away. I want to know for sure. I wish I knew. But I don't think she did."

Flower held him tighter. "I wish I knew too Sweetie. I loved her so much as well. She was my best friend for so long. I just hate to think she is truly gone. Not without knowing for sure as well.

"Oh, it just breaks my heart to think we have lost her.

"But know this. I will take care of you if she is gone. You are her son. That makes you so precious to me as well.

"Let's just hope she got away somehow, okay?"

Trooper just cried harder into Flower's chest while still wishing he could believe his mother was Ok, but feeling she was not. What he saw that night gave him no comfort in thinking his mother could have gotten away."

Except to Plunk, Patty was a very loved family member to each of them there. Plunk was still just as saddened and heart broken about it like the rest of them were. She did not get to know Patty very well, but the loss was there for her knowing she now never will, at least no longer in person.

Plunk thought of her situation with her own mother. She knew she still can make things right with her mother and see her at any time if she wished to. But Trooper has lost his mother altogether, and the two were real close.

This made her feel grateful that she still has her mother, even though she next to never sees her anymore, but also felt a great loss for Trooper, who did spend time with his mother and loved her.

None of this seemed right to Plunk. It was all very depressing to her.

A door in the hallway opened up as Derpy and Rainbow Dash entered.

The two of them stopped and stared at who is in front of them. It is Trooper and his extended Family.

The sight just tore into them both. They knew who it was the creature they fought with was carrying, and who they left behind to it. They remembered that they didn't even go to see if she was still alive.

That guilt crept into both of them. However for Rainbow Dash, when she saw Patty's body tossed aside, the body laid slumped in a horrible manner. 

Dash had a feeling Patty was well past dead. She still felt it was still not right not to have checked.

Either way both of them knew she would be dead by now. There was no use in denying that. And they had to tell him.

Lance was the first to spot them and asked about the gash on Rainbow's side. "Rainbow Dash! What in Equestria happened to you? Wait, let me guess. It was a big rabbit. Yes?"

Rainbow gave him a questioning stare. "How the hay did you- Oh, oh right. You heard of it or seen it yourself. Yes, we ran into it.

"We saw it carrying a pony on its back as well. We tried to fight it but then it got away. Aaa- before it killed us I guess.

"I was going to go after it, but Derpy convinced me that was a bad idea."

Derpy stepped in. "Something that is harder to say is... The pony he had was Patty Potter."

All five of the others in the hall looked to them both at that moment. This news hit them hard, Even though they all knew this was likely the case. It was still troubling to find out the truth.

Flower stood and cried. "No. Oh, Patty!" Lance went over to Flower to try to comfort her.

He grits his teeth wanting nothing more than to make this creature that took Patty away pay for it. He hated to see his family cry or to lose one of them.

Trooper got up and pulled away from Flower to run over to Derpy. "Did you get her back!? Is she alive?" Trooper needed to know.

Rainbow and Derpy hung their heads. Rainbow responded first. "No. From what I could tell she was already dead. Sorry- we did not get to her in time."

Trooper froze, then shouted out, "Mom!" He started crying again. "I will never see her again!"

Rainbow Dash sat down as tears welled up in her eyes and held her forehooves open. "Come here kid. I lost a dear close friend of mine to that thing as well."

Trooper saw the invite and hesitated.

Taking in a couple more breaths he asked, "Fluttershy?"

Rainbow nodded as her tears dripped from her face.

He could see just how saddened and hurting she was as well as him by all this. He moved in and accepted her comfort.

Rainbow winced yet again as he put his forelegs around her. Dazzle and Plunk wanted to join them but thought best just to let them have their moment together alone.

Plunk could not help but feel how amazing it was to see Rainbow Dash right here in front of her. It was so awesome to see her in person again.

Plunk felt Trooper deserved and needed this more. The moment just tugged at her.

Then she noticed Rainbow Dash bleeding along her side much as Lance did earlier. She blurted out with a gasp while pointing, "Rainbow Dash! You're bleeding!"

Trooper quickly lets go as Rainbow once again winced in pain. He could now feel the wetness of blood on his front leg.

Trooper gasped as well.

Rainbow glanced down to her side and gave a slight chuckle. "Ya, you noticed. I think it is time I get this thing looked at by one who can fix it up.

This moment with Rainbow Dash was not lost on Trooper. She has far more fans than just the other pegasi, mostly in Ponyville. She was seen as a town heroin and would be Wonderbolt.

Trooper thought to himself; Of course, she would try and fight that monster. She was awesome like that! 

Trooper warmed inside having not only have gotten to see her in person as well, but got held by her and in her time of her need too.

This made her seem more real than just some idle to look up to. Amazing barely described it for him. 

Though he also felt sorry for her getting hurt. He hoped he did not hurt her more when he hugged her. With the way she winced when he let go, he knew he did, and felt sorry for that.

Trooper spoke up to her. "Rainbow Dash, I'm sorry I hurt you."

Rainbow Dash forced herself a smile. "Don't worry about it kid. It's not that bad. I had worse."

Nurse Sweetheart came out of the room Kindle was in and saw Rainbow's bleeding side. "Rainbow Dash. Come with me right now. We have to clean and patch that up pronto.

"It looks as if you might need stitches as well. I will get the doctor for that after I clean you up. Come along now, so we can get this over with."  

Rainbow Dash looked back down to Trooper and put a hoof under his chin. "Be seeing you around kid. Stay strong for me will ya?"

Trooper gave a nod. Then Rainbow followed the nurse into a room with Derpy tagging along.

A very small feeling of catharsis fell over Trooper. Rainbow Dash had just faced that thing and survived, and she did not seem shaken by that.

He knew she was hurting inside as much as he was over losing a good friend to her as he lost his mother, but she was not letting it stop her.

He felt the need to be just as strong as her, just like she asked.

He was now set to head out with the others back to his extended family's home. A home, that would be his for the time being.

~~~~~~

Twilight had gotten back from checking around to see if the guards have shown, and they haven't. She was not happy about any of this. What could possibly be the delay.

Twilight and the rest headed for Applejack's home to wait for Rainbow and Derpy to return hopefully OK. 

Twilight set the Stones of Harmony aside in an area inside where they would go unnoticed and undisturbed before settling herself down.

It felt like forever waiting for each of them.

Pinkie had not spoken a word. She just sat and stared at a wall as if watching the paint dry, even though it already was.

This gave everyone there much concern about her. There was little to no response from her as if the rest of the world was dead to her as well.

None of them knew what to say to her. Nothing came to mind by anyone that felt comforting to say.

Fluttershy was gone. Rainbow Dash took off, and no one knew if she would be back. There was a pony killing monster on the loose. And sleep was tugging on all of them tool. This was possibly the worst night ever. Thay each thought.

As everyone was settling in, and even Pinkie looked as ready as any to fall asleep. The exhaustion of the day and a long period of time in worry and sadness took hold. 

Spike and the other three little ones started to head upstairs to Apple Bloom's room for some sleep.

A knock was heard at the door. Each of them hoped it was Rainbow and Derpy.

Even Pinkie seemed to perk up a bit.

Applejack went to get the door. It was Derpy. She was there alone.

Twilight and AJ panicked.

Twilight started. "Where is Rainbow Dash!?"

AJ followed up with, "Don't tell us she done got herself killed as well!"

Pinkie, Rarity, and everyone else there sat looking with anticipation, hoping this was not the case.

Derpy gave out a big breath while everyone else was still holding theirs. "She is fine. Well, sort of."

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. AJ gestured to Derpy to enter. "Well come on in and tell us what happened then."

AJ and Twilight gave Derpy her space as she came in.

She laid out the events as she seen them. "And after Rainbow Dash got patched up with some stitches and healing salve to help, she was told to rest up there for the night so she could get a full recovery. So I decided to come here and let all of you know that she will be fine."

Twilight put a hoof on Derpy's shoulder. "You did good Derpy. I knew I was right about you."

She gave another sigh but in the forethought of why she got Derpy in the first place. "So the elements did not work. That means I still need to look for who can help make them work.

"But not right now. I am still very glad I went to get you just the same. You are as good of a friend as I thought you would be. I really wish it was you that was the key to reactivating the elements.

"We can't worry about that now though. Why don't you join us? We were just settling down to sleep."

Twilight and the rest worried about the news that a pony was taken right out of Ponyville. Any feeling of safety while in town was now lost.

Each here felt something would need to be done right away. But sleep would have to come first.

Twilight decided to go looking for it in the morning. It was safer to go looking at first light. Even if it meant looking for it in the Everfree where it disappeared off into.

Twilight suggested that they all try to get a good rest, they were going to be needing it in the morning.

Rarity pulled over the muffin bag and dug into it, then looked to Derpy. "But first, Derpy, would you like a muffin? I think you deserve it."

Rarity offered one to her with a grin.

Derpy's mouth dropped a little. "Would I!?"

She quickly went over to Rarity to take the offered muffin Twilight got for everyone earlier.  

Applejack gave a chuckle. "I could see somepony going gaga over a well made freshly baked apple pie, but never have I seen somepony get so excited over a muffin."

Derpy blissfully munched away just trying to enjoy the moment.

~~~~~~

As Trooper and the others has entered his new home to be for the time being, Dazzle went over to her mother and whispered to her. "Mom, I got to ask you something."

Flower stepped to the side as Dazzle followed. "OK, What is it?"

Dazzle looked around a bit then looked straight at Trooper. She turned to Flower again and asked, "Mom I don't want Trooper to sleep alone tonight. Can he sleep with Plunk and me in my room? Plunk can share my bed while Trooper takes the one made for Plunk on the other side. Would that be okay?"

It did not take long for Flower to answer, "Yes, that will be okay Sweetie. The way things are at the moment, I think it will be a very good idea. You are right, he shouldn't be alone tonight."

Dazzle gave her mom a smile then a small kiss. "Thank you Mom. I will go tell him. I am not sure if any of us can get any sleep after what happened, but he looks tired. I think we will head in now."

Flower smiled down at her. "That will be fine. Goodnight."

"Goodnight Mom."

Dazzle rejoined Trooper and Plunk. "Trooper you are coming with us."

Trooper looked confused. "Us?"

Dazzle gave a nod. "Yes, you are not going to sleep alone tonight. You will be joining Plunk and me in my room. You can use her bed while Plunk shares my bed."

Trooper felt too worn out to reason any argument and decided just to go along.

The three of them settled down. Plunk lay down next to Dazzle for a time before speaking to Dazzle in a whisper, "Dazzle. This isn't right."

Dazzle turned to Plunk and asked, "What do you mean?"

Plunk continued. "This is. I should be the one sleeping over there and him here with you."

Dazzle thought about this for a moment. "No."

Plunk asked, "What do you mean no?"

Dazzle continued. "I got a better idea. You and I scoot over and have him stay right here between us."

Plunk gave an, "Oh... Will that be alright?"

Dazzle gave a nod and a smile, "Yes... It will be better this way."

Plunk gave a nod of her own and scooted down to the end of the bed as Dazzle moved further to the top. 

Dazzle called over to Trooper. "Trooper."

After he looked her way Dazzle pointed to the spot on her right with her right hoof. Trooper was unsure about this. Though he decided to go along with this, as well.

He pulled himself up, turned around, and placed himself down in the middle of the other two.

Dazzle and Plunk scooted in closer to him and leaned against him some on either side. He just laid his head down and relaxed.

His mind full of the past few hours started to drift as his wrecked mind, and head took its toll on him.

He had to admit he felt, good with the other two at his sides as they were. He felt their warmth and presence. It helped him not to feel alone as well.

He new Dazzle would be with him, but for the first time he was truly grateful to have Plunk at his side also. 

He felt a little differently about her now. He did not wish to think too hard about it right now though. He just wanted to enjoy her and Dazzle's company and try to get some rest.

He was hurting both physically from the battering he took that knocked him out and left him bruised and bleeding while also exhausted emotionally do to feeling the loss of his mother to some monster.  

Both Plunk and Dazzle could feel him relax. Plunk felt happy to be with him yet sad for his situation. She for the moment wished to be what he had most need of.

Here was someone that has lost someone most precious to him. She felt the need to stay there at his side and be a comfort to him.

She went over her past question she had for herself on him. Did she love him? She thought of this more.

I did wrong to him, yes. I embarrassed him in front of Dazzle and Flower, and yet he is willing to lay down at my side, without question. I don't think that past moment of what I did is even in his mind right now. Though I will still talk to him about it later. Now is just not the time.

She felt sorry for him. She regrets her past actions with him even more. She even regret her past thoughts on him also.

I tried to use him. He had no idea what I was thinking. I didn't even know what I was thinking. But do I love him?

She looked over at him some. She felt him getting calmer.

She lifted her left wing up and over his back as she leaned in closer again to him, hoping that this would be okay.

He did not flinch or respond to this other than seeming to get settled down a little more. She was glad of this.

She could feel his warmth. She did have feelings for him, but it was different now.

The past desire she had was mostly gone, replaced by concern for him and a wish to protect him. A wish to make him happy and for him to be as calm as he seems now. She realized she did love him, but it was not the same as before. It felt stronger than before, and it had next to nothing to do with an attraction to him or a desire for his affections. It was purely love for him as she felt for Dazzle.

Plunk thought more and got worried.  

I can't think like this... He is just my friend, and he is hurting too much to make a fuss over me being here like this now. What I feel, It's not the same anymore though. But if he still does not feel the same way about me, I will just have to let it go, and enjoy that I have him with me like this now. I can't question and worry about any of it right now. What I have to think of is what he needs. For the moment that is some comfort for him, not for me. That is what is most important right now.

She felt herself get more relaxed as she felt him continued to do so too. She felt good that she can be here for him in this way, and wished that this is how it will always be. To be at his side.

Dazzle could feel Plunk's state of mind relax too. She could feel Plunk's wing partly touching her back as well. Dazzle hoped the three of them would truly be okay together. She felt they would.

She now thought about Trooper more. She thought about Patty. She thought of her gift.

A gift Twilight and Plunk called it. Perhaps it is. Plunk is right. I did use it to save her. And Twilight told me it helps me to see a problem others can't see. I have been crying over having it for so long. If I didn't and used it instead, none of us might have lost Patty. I might have been able to know what was going to happen before it did like I did with Plunk, And Trooper and I would still have his mom.

Dazzle felt like crying, then quickly stopped herself. She felt she had done enough crying, and it would not do anyone any good. And if she did now, it would only upset Trooper also. She did not want to do that too him.

She thought more about what she didn't do, and what she possibly could do for him. She can't bring back Patty for him, but she could help find what took her. She has the gift, and she has a link to that thing.

She felt the need to try and expand that link to see if she really can find it. When she did she instantly regretted it.

Dazzle caught an image from the creature's perspective as he was for the moment enjoying a feasting on a dead pony.

Dazzle could see and feel him feeding on the remains of Patty. Any resolve she had to remain calm was completely shattered. She quickly flinched from a backlash on trying to close the connection and failed.

She jumped back standing on her bed and had her back to the wall. She was unable to keep herself from crying anymore.

Her mind filled with the thoughts; It's eating her! That filthy thing is eating Patty at this very moment! 

She tried hard not to speak of what she was seeing. What she could see was Patty in the clutches of the beast. Her lower half from the waist down was all bone mostly picked clean of her flesh. Leg and thigh bones dangled off the pelvis held by the exposed portion of her spine. The ground was a mess of red and littered with uneaten parts such as the skin, tail, hooves, as well as other unsorted indescribables.

The creature lifted the upper body as he bit into an upper shoulder and ripped back hard. This torn off the upper right leg as it dangled out of his mouth.

He then grabbed the leg with a claw and stripped meat off with his teeth. He tossed the rest of the leg aside to finish it later.

Now he was after the ribs. Using a claw he split the skin and stripped that off exposing the meaty flesh underneath. He scraped at the ribs with his teeth and savored the tender meat he peeled off. It was cold but still tender and juicy.

Dazzle could feel this feeding and the taste of blood and meat as if she was the one eating Patty.

The pungent smells was more then enough to make her feel nauseous. It sickened her to know what it was like to eat another pony like some savage cannibal.

Dazzle squirmed with every sickening tasting she could not stand. She could not prevent herself from experiencing this. She could even feel the beast's pleasure in the taste of the meat while it filled her with revulsion.

She held back as hard as she could from screaming. She tossed her head and body side to side in a slow but sporadic writhing as if trying to escape from the moment. Though she could not.

She gave some hum like murmuring do to her discontent and struggle to keep control of herself.  Her senses were held there forcing her to experience all of it.

The worse thing about this is, she loved Patty dearly. Patty has always been understanding and kind to her. To feel herself eating Patty was not the way Dazzle wished to last remember her, or how she wished to have last seen her.

To Dazzle, this was beyond horrible. It was far worse than when she last saw Fluttershy's remains.

Dazzle's breathing got heavier and quicker to the point of hyperventilating.

She felt the creature tear into under Patty's ribs with his muzzle and rip out Patty's heart and lungs.

Dazzle felt the beast's delight in eating the heart separate. He chewed on it as the heart burst and gushed blood into his mouth, then he swallowed it in pieces, consuming it like the heart was a delicacy to him.

Dazzle fell back down onto all fours as she struggled with her emotions while she shivered and cried harder. This was an intense moment for her. Having felt herself devourer Patty's heart, she fully lost it and collapsed on the bed while shaking and sobbing.

Trooper and Plunk quickly turned their attention to Dazzle, the moment she first stood up. Trooper saw the same look planted on Dazzles face the moment Dazzle called Plunk to stop at the park. That same look of terror as though she just saw someone die right before her. Only now, she looked much worse, as though she was struggling against what she could see and was loosing.

He was not sure what to do about this, or what to do for her.

Plunk saw it too. She told Trooper, "Help her! This is no nightmare! We have not been asleep long enough for her to have been dreaming, and I never saw her like this while waking from a nightmare. This is way different!"

Trooper got up and grabbed a hold of Dazzle after she came down and was curled up sobbing to herself. He called to her. "Dazzle what is it! Say something!"

As Trooper touched her the link faded, and Dazzle could not see it anymore. Her mind was pulled back into the room.

Dazzle turned to Trooper with wide tearful eyes. She tried to look past him. She did not want to see his face nor look into his eyes. Trooper could see her still struggling with her thoughts.

Dazzle could not ignore him for long do to his persistence to get her to focus on him.

For a moment, she did look at him. Her lips quivered then she closed her eyes and cried some more. Trooper tried harder to get her to focus on him again. "Dazzle. Speak to me, please. What happened!"  

Dazzle looked at him again and deep into his eyes. She felt shame at what she saw and was afraid to say anything.

After, she shook her head very slowly. She did not have the heart to tell him what she just witnessed.

She did tell him, "You don't want to know. Trust me. It is better if you don't."

Dazzle had no desire to share with anyone what she saw and felt, especially not with Trooper. She put a hoof on Trooper's shoulder and said, "I will be fine, just give me a moment,"

She said while practically out of breath. "I just did something very foolish. That is all. But I will be fine. Let's just go back to bed, and forget about this." Dazzle worked to bury what happened to her deep into her mind. She never wanted to ever think of Patty like that again.

Trooper had asked, "Are you sure you are OK? That didn't look normal. You saw something bad. Real bad, didn't you? You can't hide that. You don't look fine, not one bit."

Dazzle nodded. "I did see something, and it was real bad. But I am fine now. Really. I just need some rest. We could all use some rest."

Dazzle laid back down and patted the bed beckoning for him to do the same. She did her best to smile at him to reassure him that she was okay, though she was not and he could see that.

Her heart was pounding hard, and she was having a hard time getting calm again. She was still shaking some and Trooper could see it. As he held her he could feel her heart ponding and her shaking.

Dazzle knew this experience she just gone through, would haunt her for the rest of her life. And it was plain to both Trooper and Plunk that whatever happened to her was quite disturbing. Disturbing enough that she obviously did not wish to share it.

The three lay back down as they were before. But Trooper could feel Dazzle's fast beating heart pounding and her body shaking still, even without hin holding her anymore.

Trooper thought on what Dazzle told him. I did something very foolish, and you don't want to know, as he remembered.

He knew of Dazzles power of foresight. He wondered as to what is was she was doing or saw. He asked himself, what was it that would keep her from telling me? Then a thought hit him, Mom. Did she see Mom?

It was not something he would wish to know of if it was what he now thought she might have seen. If it was, he could fully understand her reaction and response to him asking about it. He did not wish to think about it either.

So he let it go as she asked him to. He wanted her to have a chance to calm down as she was trying to do. 

He knew what ever Dazzle went through was something very upsetting and was not going to recover from it easily. So he was going to give her what she needed to try, and that meant letting it go, and not asking her anymore about it. If she wished to tell him, she would.

Trooper looked over at her and seen she was still crying. She did not make a sound and kept her eyes shut. Tears were still falling down her face, and she shivered at times.

As bad as Trooper felt over losing his mother, he felt just as bad over what he could see of Dazzle and did not fully know what she was suffering through. He scooted closer to her and tried to relax hoping that in time she could as well. In time, she seemed to.

Plunk leaned in close to Trooper on his other side once more. Placing her left wing over him again hoping that this would still be okay. He did not seem to mind just as before, so she kept it there and rested against him that way.

In time, exhaustion took the three, and they finally slept. As they did Flower cracked open the door to sneak a peek in. In the moonlight, she could see the three all snug together on Dazzle's bed while looking deep asleep.

She gave a moment for herself to think of how precious the three of them looked together. She closed the door carefully so as not to disturb them.

Flower and Lance had stepped out for a bit to look at the stars and remember Patty together in silence. 

Neither Flower nor Lance had any idea of what just happened to Dazzle. They did not hear a thing from inside. So when Flower went in to check on them, she thought everything was fine.

Flower thought of a time earlier in the day she was standing in the hall as she is now. She had been eavesdropping on Plunk and Dazzle while the two talked together.

She knew of what the two discussed with one another. After, when she felt they were done talking she scampered away quickly into the kitchen to look as if she had been busy in there. Just to hide that she had been listening in on them.  

From what she saw in there tonight she reasoned that must have been the result of Dazzle and Plunk's little talk.

She knew her little Dazzle had an odd way of thinking sometimes. But it did make sense. At least to her it did. Flower decided to leave this situation alone and see how and if it would all work out.

As with Patty, Flower envisioned the day, Trooper would one day marry Dazzle. So, what does this mean if Plunk is now in the picture she wondered? She gave herself a momentary little snicker. She had her long past memories she thought of.

If only those three knew of the times I had with Patty and Kindle back in the day, even when Lance was not around. She smiled to herself at this. Then her mood got grim.

Patty... I am truly going to miss you... And there is going to be so much in your son's life I wish you were here to see and be a part of.

I will see to it that he does have a good life with loved ones to watch over him.

She finished with tears in her eyes. We will all make sure both Kindle and Trooper will still have a happy life with us somehow. Goodbye my True True Friend.

She left with a heavy heart for her room where she asked Lance to wait for her. She cried to herself the whole way there to him. And continued to do so as she lay next to him.

~~~~~~

In the morning, Twilight and the others were woken up by Applejack. Applejack had gotten up earlier as she always did and made a quick morning breakfast. Enough for the whole gang.

Twilight reasoned that it best not to let it go to waste, rather than heading out immediately like she wanted to. And she thought it was a good idea to eat now while not knowing when they will have another chance in the day.

After each had their fill, they headed out.

Twilight told them that she was going to check out the train station and see if the guards have arrived yet. She was surprised not to find even one walking around town, or looking for her at her library.


She would meet up with the gang again in the Hospital.

To her frustration, the guards had not shown up. The conductor told her that the train has been late yesterday sense the afternoon. It left for Canterlot and had yet to return.

Twilight was quite irate about this but did not know what to do about it. She reasoned the train would get here when it can. She felt the need the let the Mayor know about this if the Mayor did not know of it already.

~~~~~~

Back at Dazzle's home she woke up screaming again. Both Trooper and Plunk jumped to their hooves.

Trooper turned and knelt back down to Dazzle. Plunk hopped down and moved in front of her on the other side near the top of the bed.

Trooper held onto Dazzle and called to her like before. "Dazzle!"

Dazzle's eyes were already open and turned to Trooper.

Dazzle slowly calmed down and took a deep breath. Trooper and Plunk stayed by her as she came too. 

Flower and Lance rushed in. Both breathed a sigh of relief to see all three of the youngsters were okay, and nothing else was in the room but them.

Flower went to Dazzle and placed a hoof on her cheek. "Another bad dream hunny?"

Dazzle nodded. "Yes, it was much the same as before. Though it happened in the forest rather than in a cave. I will be okay. I think I am getting used to this, not that I like it any or am ever too."

Dazzle did not wish to say, but what happened to her last night was far worse than any of her past nightmares, and felt more real. Because it was that real. After that, her last dream did not feel as disturbing and quickly went away as nothing more than a bad dream, rather than a lasting night terror.

After a very short and simple breakfast, Trooper and the rest went heading out to see his father.

On the way out Lance separated to see the Mayor first. He wished to know who was in charge of doing something about the problem at hoof. Something Flower neglected to tell him. He had no reason to think she knew and did not bother to ask her.

Rainbow Dash had proved to him last night that taking this thing on was not going to be an easy task. 

Something would have to be done soon he thought. He intended to be a part of the effort.

The central office was open. Lance walked in and greeted the Mayor. "I see you have a rather large critter problem. I take it someone has been put in charge of dealing with it.

The Mayor glanced at him while going over some papers. "Yes, I have been informed Twilight Sparkle is in charge of the matter.

Lance frowned. "Your joking, right? You have the new young librarian looking into this?"

The Mayor was not amused by his tone or question. "No. The Princes, Celestia has assigned her protégé to handle this. Not I.

"Twilight Sparkle is no mere librarian either. You should know this much about her by now. Calling her that is like calling Celestia a mere delegator.

"I have seen what Twilight can do personally. Since she has been here, she has helped and improved this town. She saved this town from a few disasters. She had even organized an orderly Winter Wrap Up. She is now in charge of that also.

"She just so happens to like reading. Well, a lot. So, she lives as a librarian only to occupy her time while here until needed for something more important. Something that requires her attention.

"I was informed by the Princess to give to Twilight the library upon her first arrival as a place to stay. Twilight was informed of this as well before she came. But she is no librarian, even thou she plays the role of one for our little town while here.

"I feel in time, she may even run this town. Or that the Princess has much bigger plans for her. Such as sending her to far off lands as an ambassador or something else important like that.

"As a pupil and assistant to the Princess, she deserves your respect. Do I make myself clear?"

Lance cleared his throat. "Aaa, Yes. Cristal clear. Now that I think about it, I have indeed heard some of the stories surrounding her. Some of it from my wife and daughter. Do to what you said I am no longer surprised at what I was told she can do."

The Mayor continued to look over her papers. "Good. Now if you don't mind I have things to catch up on."

Lance was getting annoyed at being dismissed like this. "Look, I have shown up to help out okay? So I didn't know Miss Sparkle all too well. Give me a break. I have been out of town for some time. So, other then the library where else might I find her?"

The Mayor looked back up to him, leaned to one side and gave a sigh. "I am sorry Lance, I am just under a lot of stress.

"Do to this threat on our town, we have had one dead young mare just out of town, one other taken directly from our town and dead as well. And at least three other ponies hurt.

"One of those hurt is Rainbow Dash, are resident head of the weather team, and trainee for the Wonderbolts. If that thing was able to hurt her, this is not good for any of us.

"Another hurt is one of are important resident Master Blacksmiths, Kindled Flame. That is not good for our little town either.

"On top of all this I had to close the new park we just opened. And the guards I have been informed of that are supposed to be here yesterday, has yet to show.

Lance stated, "I know much of this already. Most of who you described are family. Patty was the one taken. She is, was, a very close friend and seen as family to mine, and I intend to avenge her."

The Mayor gave a nod. "OK. So as for where you can find Twilight, You can try at the Hospital.

"Twilight came here this morning to tell me she is going to see Rainbow Dash, a friend of hers that was administered there last night.

"Next Twilight will be off to look for this killer monster rabbit today. You might find Miss Sparkle visiting Miss Dash at this time if you hurry. She left here not long ago."

Lance remembered Dash. "Oh, yes. I saw Rainbow Dash come in last night. So, Twilight is friends with Rainbow Dash? I guess Twilight does get around in this town.

"Thank you. I will leave now."

Lance Gave a nod to the Mayor then left for the Hospital hoping to find Twilight there.

Lance remembered where Rainbow Dash's room was from seeing her go in last night. He headed for it after checking in and announced that he wished to see her.

He was pleased to be informed that Twilight and a few others were already here to see Miss Dash. He was less pleased when he was told to wait. 

He complained at the desk about this. "I can't I am supposed to see both of them and now."

He was hoping this statement of emergency would let him pass. To his relief, he was given the OK.

Dazzle caught a glimpse of her father pass by Kindle's room through the window and followed to see what he was up to. She saw him walk into Rainbow's room. She stood at the door and looked in to find out what was going on.

Dash perked up as she saw him come in. "Hay! Lance. Checking in to see me as well? Good thing you did. I'm going to be out soon," Rainbow said with a grin.

Twilight interjected. "No, you are not. I was told those scrapes were deep, and you may need the rest of the day to heal up properly. Even with what they got here they can't work miracles. You need to get better before you do anything else.

"Now I am not going to scold you for rushing out last night, as foolish as that was. I can't blame you for being that upset. However, we could have done this together if you stayed a little longer.

"For now I want you to be at your best. For that, you need rest."

Rainbow folded her forelegs and gave a pout. "I am not that bad off. And I got plenty of rest last night. I want to be there when the rest of you go after that thing. You are going after it?"

Twilight gave a sigh. "Yes. We are."

Lance interrupted. "That is what I am here for. I came to help you get that thing. It killed family, and I can help. Fighting such things is what I was trained to do. So I wish be going with you to find it and kill it."

Twilight nodded to him. "That is good. We can always use the assistance Lance."

She frowned. "I was told by Celestia not to kill it however. Still, after all it has done I can't just let that go. I want it dead as much as the rest of you.

"We need to be on the same page with our intentions. We can't be second guessing each other. So I think it best we work together to bring it down. It is the safest way to go about it. If we try to mess with it in an attempt to capture it. It would have a better chance of getting away or hurting one of us.

"Celestia put me in charge of seeing to the protection of those in Ponyville from it. It's intentions to hunt us, even here within our homes puts me in a spot as what to do. We have to do something about it as soon as possible. And that would mean killing it.

"I would like to wait till Celestia's guards show up and for Rainbow Dash to get better. But we might not have the time. It is morning, and it might be out hunting for more of us now. So we have to go look for it now.

"It is good that you are coming with us, seeing that Rainbow Dash is going to wait here while we do that." 

Twilight gave a glance back to Rainbow with a frown. Rainbow gave a grumble.

Twilight posed for a moment. "I don't like the idea of us splitting up to go looking for it. It is the best way to cover more ground and lessen the chance of it going around us as we search. But it would make each of us more vulnerable to an attack by it if it went for any of us during the search.

"I would hate to see it do to another one of us as what it did to Rainbow Dash, or worse what it did to Fluttershy and Patty.

"If only I had some idea of where it might be."

At this, Dazzle came running in. "Twilight I think I can help. I might be able to feel for where we might find it if I try real hard.

"I don't want to. I have been trying my best to block it out. I don't like feeling it in my head.

"But I am far more afraid of what it will do if I don't help though.

"I feel if I didn't try to block it out as I have been doing, we might not have lost Patty or even possibly Fluttershy. I feel that is partly my fault. I might have been able to see it happen before any of it did. That is, if I was not feeling sorry for myself that I could feel it at all, and doing nothing about it but cry.

"I want to go with you to look for it. I might be able to help lead you to it. I can't be hiding from what I can do anymore. I need to do this! I have to help!"

Lance lashed out. "No! I am not having you out there! You are going to stay with your mother and be safe."

Dazzle pleaded with her father. "Daddy, please! None of us is safe while that thing is running around out there."

Tears formed in her eye. "Have you forgotten that it took Patty right out of her home. I could never forget it, nor forgive that thing for taking her from us or what it did to her."

She trembled some at that thought and her memories of what happened last night. "The same could happen to me as well. I am not safe here! None of us is. If you want me to be safe, you will take me with you and the others where I would have more protection from all of you around me.

"I would be safer with you, Twilight, and the others then sitting at home waiting for it to get me with no help around. Mom, Trooper, and Plunk would be there with me, but you know they can't handle that thing. 

"Besides I feel I am meant to do this or be near it again, and that scares me. It is best I am with you, if and when that happens."

That last bit about knowing that she would be near it again she lied about. She knew it was a possibility, and still could happen, but she didn't know for sure.

What she did know is that none of the others there could tell if what she said was true or not. Except for Pinkie, who Dazzle gave a quick glance over to when she thought about that.

Pinkie looked back at Dazzle while looking confused. Dazzle hoped Pinkie was just playing at being ignorant if she did know of Dazzle's little lie.

Dazzle did not like lying to her father and felt guilty about it after glancing at Pinkie.

She also felt it was important enough to make her father see it was that important she did go with them, even if it meant lying to him to convince him of it. "And I insist on helping. It killed Patty! We both lost family to that thing, and I don't want to lose anyone else.

"I owe this to her, and Fluttershy, as well as everyone hurt by losing them.

"This thing has been giving me nightmares as well, and I want all of this to stop. I must go. I might have a connection to it for a reason. And if there is a reason for it, this might be that reason. So I am going."

Lance shook his head. "Your mother is right. Not only has your magic gotten stronger but you have gotten more stubborn as well. And at times you do sound more like an adult then a little filly.

"Well, I can't see anything against your argument... Okay, you can come with us. But your mother is coming too. She will be at your side. And when I tell you to run you leave with her. OK?"

Dazzle moved up to her father and hugged him. "Thank you Daddy."

Lance nuzzled her. "I swear, you change and grow up so much each time I come back. I feel one of these days I am going to come home to find you have already married and me missing it. I should probably cut back on my trips so that I can spend more time with you.

"And I think the family could use my help around here do to some of the changes and things that happened here. I love you so much my little sunshine. We will get this thing and end this nightmare for all of us."

Rainbow Dash sprang out of bed. "Oh, ya! Now that is what I am talking about. Just what I wanted to hear. Let's get this thing together!"

Twilight scolded her. "Get yourself back to bed! Lance is coming with us, and I don't want to see you get hurt again while pushing yourself in your condition."

Rainbow Dash gave a stretch and cracked her back. "Nope. Not this time. I am telling you Twilight I am good to go. I will have them put some fresh bandages on me, and I am out of here.

"I am coming with you, and we don't have time to wait around or argue about it. We have a way to find it, and I feel like getting this done and over with now.

"Besides how can I be with you if you insist I stay while you go now to look for it?

"Look, you did not have to see the look on Troopers face when I had to tell him I saw his mother was dead. It killed me inside having to do that. I have got to do this. For Trooper, for Fluttershy, for myself, and for everyone. I am going Twilight. I am not sitting this one out."

Twilight gave out. "Fine... Get yourself looked at and rebandaged. We will be waiting for you outside."

Rainbow gave a hoof pump and Twilight a big smile. "Oh, yeah! You got it. I will be out before you know."

The group headed out as Twilight got a hold of Nurse Sweetheart and told her Rainbow Dash is looking to check out.

The nurse who saw to Rainbow Dash earlier thought for a moment knowing that was not the best of ideas. But they could not make her stay if she wished to leave.

It was not like Dash was in critical condition.

Nurse Sweetheart spoke to Twilight. "She only had a bad scrape, as deep as it was that should hold for now, so long as Rainbow Dash took it easy for a couple more days."

Nurse Sweetheart headed for Rainbow's room to give one final inspection of her scrape and have it rebandaged for travel before letting her go.

As the rest went outside Lance went to talk to Flower. He entered Kindle's room with Dazzle. Kindle was awake.

Kindle was laying his head to his left side looking at Trooper as the other two walked in. He turned his attention to them. "So come to see me after all?" he finished with a grin that quickly faded. "What have you been up to?"

Lance dropped his head slightly. "I am headed out and I am taking Dazzle and Flower with me. The Three of us are teaming up with Twilight, who is leading a group set on finding that creature that took Patty.

"We intend to find and kill it. Dazzle has a gift we all know of that could help us find it, she feels she can do this, so she is coming along."

Lance quickly looked to Flower. "Flower you will be coming along to stay at her side."

Flower looked in horror. "Not our little girl! She can't go!"

Lance holding a frown looked at her. "I don't like this any more than you do. But I already talked to her about it.

"She, as you have told me can be very persuasive. Let's not bring it up again. She is coming, and I need you with her. Okay, hunny?"

Flower gave herself a moment as she grimaced. "I guess if you feel that is best. I will come with you. But what about Trooper and Plunk? Are we to leave them here? I think they should stay here with Kindle."

Lance looked over at them then to Kindle. "Well old friend. You feel up to looking after them for a bit?"

Kindle rolled his head facing up. "I am stuck here for the moment. Not much more I can do. They can stay here and keep me company for the time being. Good luck out there."

Lance gave a sly grin. "When have I ever left anything up to luck. I intend to make sure this outing turns out successful. Even if I have to kill it myself.

"We have Twilight with us who I know is quite the spitfire when she has to be and has what it takes to back up her convictions. She even has a group of her own she trusts.

"One of them happens to be Rainbow Dash. Miss Dash and Miss Sparkle seems to be eager to get this started. And that is after both of them fought with it once already. Neither one is backing down for a chance to have another go at it. I can do no less. I will grab my armor and lance, and then we all head out."

Lance turned to leave. Flower and Dazzle followed.

After getting outside Lance saw Trooper and Plunk running out after them. Trooper yelled out, "We are coming too. Where Dazzle goes we go."

The two stopped in front of Lance and Dazzle.  

Lance spoke firmly. "I believe I can speak for your father when I say No! You are not ready, so you are not coming."

Trooper held his head low, but did not move form that spot.

Lance was less than happy about this. "What were you able to do when it took your mother?"

Trooper looked up with tears in his eyes. 

Lance knew he was now getting to him. "It hurts doesn't it? How do you think your father feels? Do you want me to have to come home and tell him his little colt is gone too?

"If, I was unable to protect you? It would kill him inside, far more than he is hurting now. He may not even want to continue living himself if he lost you both.

"Would you want to do that to him? That may be the price to pay if you insist on coming."

Trooper hung his head down lower in defeat. "I- I understand. I will stay."

Lance's voice was still solid and stern. "Good. Go back to your father. He needs you now and to know you are safe, more than ever."

"Yes, Sir." Trooper turned to go back in. After a few steps, he glanced over to Dazzle.

Moving swiftly he went to her and gave her a hug. "Be safe Dazzle. I want to see you come back from this."

Dazzle squeezed him tighter. "I will, as soon as I can. I want all of us to come back safe." Trooper lets go to leave for the final time.

Lance glanced over to Plunk. "That goes for you too. I am not your father so I can't say to you what you should do. I can think better and protect Dazzle and Flower better if I don't have to worry about you as well. So Go!"

Plunk followed suit behind Trooper, but not before giving a hug to Dazzle also. "I- I Wish I could go with you, but your father is right. Find that thing then come back to us. I will wait here with Trooper.

"Him and I have lots to talk about I think. You know what about." 

Dazzle nodded. 

"I feel I am ready to talk to him about it. Would you rather I wait till you come back?"

Dazzle shook her head. "I would like to be, but I think the two of you can talk more freely without me. And I trust you.

"It will also give Trooper something to keep his mind on while I am away. He is going to need as much support as he can get right now. I think the talk might help.

"His father will be there as well if you wish him to be around to know what he thinks. I can tell you this, Trooper and Kindle are a lot alike. And I think it would do Kindle some good to know Trooper has another very close friend. 

"Kindle could use some good news as well right about now. I think it would do him some good as well to be a part of what you and Trooper have to say. If you don't mind."

Plunk sagged a little. "I would rather talk to Trooper alone. But I guess it would not hurt to let Kindle know about what is going on. That is if Trooper is up to it.

"He may wish to talk to me alone as I do. I think we will anyways."

Dazzle smiled a little. "If the two of you wish to talk alone, that will be fine. I will not be around to say otherwise. Speaking of which, I got to go."

Plunk finally went back in after Trooper.

Twilight said without much enthusiasm. "I guess we are ready to go then, so let's go."

Everyone turned to the direction of Fluttershy's Cottage.

Part way Lance told Twilight, "I need to take a short detour. I would like to get my armor and lance."

Twilight nodded in agreement. "Go get your things and we will wait right here for you." Lance then departed.

Twilight addressed Derpy. "Derpy are you grabbing Dinky and heading home?"

Derpy looked to Twilight questioningly. "Do you want me too?"

Twilight thought for a bit. "Well no. Not if you intended to stay with us. I did get you to help us. Mostly to see if you would be the one to help reactivate the Elements. But I see you have already been helpful to us in other ways. I don't intend to send you away now."

Derpy gave a smile. She was happy that she could be seen as helpful and wanted around still. "Thank you, Twilight. I think I will stay with the rest of you. Like I said before, I want to do what I can to protect Dinky. I feel I can do that better If I am helping all of you stop that thing right now.

"I know I can't do it on my own if I run into it myself. I feel better if I am with you if I do have to face it again. And I want to be a help you as well."

Twilight nodded then smiled also. "Okay, together then."

Lance came back shortly with his gear. Armor, a lance, and a pack with a few of his travel items.

Twilight asked Dazzle, "So, which direction do we take?"

Dazzle as Twilight expected pointed in the direction they were already heading. "That way I think. I feel we must go that way."

The walk was slow going. Everyone was now on edge. They came to the clearing of what was once Fluttershy's home.

Twilight moved to the burial site. The rest gathered around.

Tears started to well up in Twilight's eyes, as well as the others. Twilight did not know what to say. She stood there trying to give herself the will to leave but found she couldn't. She dropped to the ground pawing at it.

She gave herself a moment then decided to speak. "Oh, Fluttershy. I am so sorry."

She broke down in front of everyone. The other girls huddled around her. With tears flowing, she tried to speak again. "I wish I could fix this. I wish I had been there for you. I wish I had done something more about all of this sooner. And I wish I could say it was all my fault and take the blame and guilt, but that won't help things.

"I can't change the past. I must set this right somehow. I know you would want all of us to carry on. But it will be very hard to do so without you. You meant so much to me. To the rest of us. Far more than you would ever know.

"We will all miss you deeply. Goodbye, my friend."

Twilight tried to stand. She felt she never wanted to leave that spot. Shaking and sniffling. The other girls just as grieve stricken, wanted to say there piece.

Rarity was the first. "I know you liked pretty things, and had a taste for fashion just as I. You have even collected some of the dresses I made for the others. I felt it funny you liked them so much. Though you never showed yourself off in any of them. Only on special occasions would you wear the one I made for you.

"I admit I had been jealous of you. I felt I could never match your natural grace and self-reserve. I wish you had appreciated not just how pretty but how all out beautiful you were, inside and out. Then again, I think you did.

"Our time spent together at the spa was a joy. I knew you did not go to just make yourself look good. For you, like me, it was a time to relax with a friend and share some small talk as well.

"If you only knew how much I appreciated you for that. Your beauty went far beyond your looks. You had a beautiful spirit, few could ever match. You touched my heart far more than my envy, and I will always be grateful to have been your friend.

"I will miss you so much. Goodbye, my beautiful friend."

Applejack started to speak. "I know we were never the closest of friends. I always appreciated your honesty. You were always one to count on in a pinch. Who else could I turn to whenever I had critter problems.

"You where a right smart gal. Ya always seemed to know what to do with them. And if ya didn't, you would figure it out, better than I could.

"I did argue with you at times about your methods. But you was thinking about how to settle things and make it good for everyone, not just me and my farm.

"To tell the truth, I am going to miss seeing how kind you where to everything and everyone. You was like a little ray of sunshine on a cloudy day. Everything seemed like all was going to be so much brighter when ever you came to help out.

"I wish I wasn't so dang busy to have spent more time with ya. That is one thing I am going to miss as well. The time we spent together and the time we could have had. Goodbye, my light in the dark. I will miss you."

Pinkie pie leaned in and spoke with a squeak. "Flutters." She struggled to say more but began to shudder and sob.

The rest where feeling her pain of loss and gave her time. After a moment and choking back some of her tears she tried again.

She spoke at a near whisper. "You... You were always so shy. You where not one to stand out in a crowd. Yet you knew how to make others happy and you loved to do so like me but in your own ways.

"I am so going to miss your smile most of all. It was soft but full of life and joy. I could see just how happy you were when you were happy.

"I knew you were sometimes sad to. I loved having a chance to make you smile when you were feeling down. I know I was not always good at it. I think I did joke around a little too much when all you needed was some space.

"I just wanted to see that smile of yours. And now I never will again."

Pinkie buried her head into Twilight's side. Crying out with all she had. "Why? Why did this have to happen?" The others cried with her. Time seemed to pass. Pinkie pulled herself up again. "Goodby, my friend. I will miss your sweet smile the most." She broke down crying again. 

Twilight held her close with one hoof to try to comfort Pinkie though her and everyone else there felt they needed it just as much.

Rainbow Dash spoke out loud, but with a shaky and an uneasy voice. "Fluttershy. You know I am not good with this sort of thing. So I am just going to go right out and say it.

"You were one of the most bravest ponies I have met. Sure you did not like to show it. But deep down you proved yourself without a doubt countless times when it mattered. It was hard for you. It's not how you wanted to be, but you were.

"You loved the peace and quiet. You were at home with nature. Yet you were willing to lend a hoof to those that needed it most. I never saw a pony so at odds with one's self.

"You were one of the most kindest, and most bravest ponies around. Yet you were afraid of a lot of things, mostly what others might think of you. I know, I get the same way myself sometimes. Okay, a lot more than I let on.

"I know I spent much time sticking up for you, when you would not do so for yourself."

Tears fell without any restraint now. Rainbow Dash's voice went more to sputtering gasps as she found it hard to speak.

"I looked up to you. I seen in you what even you did not see in yourself. I so much wanted you to know it takes much more courage to stare what scares you in the face, and take control of your fears as you have. Mostly when you really needed to, more than some ever could.

"It also would not be you to let such a thing go to your head as I do. You were one of the greatest, and you always stayed modest and true to yourself. Not a boastful and arrogant show pony as I have been.

"You were fun to hang with. You got for me the coolest pet. We had some fun times. Didn't we?

"That is what I am going to miss the most."

She stopped for a moment, having a hard time with her own words while thinking about that time, feeling some of her past words where not quite what she wanted to say.

While feeling a little upset with herself. She spoke up more clear and with more conviction. "To Tartarus with all this bravery bull. It's not about that. I just loved hanging out with you. You were fun and funny to be around, and a long time friend, a true friend to me and the others. And that's all that mattered."

She went quiet again for a moment, then spoke more softly. "Goodbye, my True True Friend. I too will miss you."

Rainbow looked to the others. "Can we go now? I don't want to be here anymore. It hurts too much," she stated with her voice shaking again while swallowing back some of her sadness.

The others nodded in agreement, but held still as one other moved forward to Fluttershy's resting place. Derpy.

"I don't know the others as you have known them. I would never try to take your place. Your place is with them. Seeing that you can't anymore. I will only try to fit in, and do what I can for them, for you.

"Like me, you kept to yourself a lot. You knew what it was like to be different.

"You were always kind to Dinky and me. You let her play with your animal friends while under your supervision and protection. You never let anything happen to her.

"You were like a sister to me when I needed one. A close friend. Someone, I could count on to listen or just spend some quiet times with.

"I will try to be as good of a friend to your other friends as you were to me. I can't be what you were to them. But I can be there for them just the same. Your friends are my friends now. And I will try not to let them or you down. 

"I will miss the most how well you helped Dinky and me to be happy, and how you never made fun of me like some have. You have a heart of gold. The best kind around. Goodbye, most beloved Fluttershy. May you rest well."

As Derpy looked to them, the others got up and went to her. Twilight spoke first. "I know you can see we need you. We will do our best to help you feel welcome.

"We don't expect miracles from you, but seeing you are willing to be there for us as you said, that will be enough. The rest we will work out together as we get to know each other better.

"Friends don't let friends down. As long as you stick with us as things get hard, you will never let us down. And we will do our best to not let you down as well."

Derpy nodded in agreement. "Thank you, Twilight. I am with you no matter how it turns out. Knowing how you have been there for Fluttershy, I know you will be there for me, as friends too!"

Unknown to anyone the Elements of Harmony stones cracked then crumpled to rubble where they sat. Moments after the stones crumpled more into dust, then the dust magically blew away into the air.

Rarity took a step to Derpy. "Needles to say, but I think Twilight put that quite eloquently for the rest of us. I am sure none of us will expect you to fill in for or replace Fluttershy, None of us would want you to.

"But I am sure you will find a way to fit in nicely just the same while just being yourself.

"It will be as much of our responsibility to help you fit in, and feel welcomed by us, and be there for you and understand your needs. This, will not be all on you to try to fit in. We all will need to play our part.

"I will miss my talks with Fluttershy, but I am sure we could spend such time together. If you have it to spare to come talk with me from time to time.

"I think that will help us both out, seeing we both liked to relax and chat with Fluttershy. Who knows, it could be fun for the both of us too as well."

Derpy smiled at that. "I think I would like that. But I would also need to have something for Dinky to do."

Rarity nodded. "I don't see a problem with that. I use to have my talks with Fluttershy at the spa. We could do so at your place. A place Dinky already knows well.

"I might be able to pull Sweetie Belle away from things to come over. As the two of them are young unicorns, they will have that much in common.

"Sweetie Belle can be a little bit much at times, but she will never be mean to Dinky. I am sure the two of them will keep each other company and busy as we have our talks."

Applejack felt like throwing her two bits in. "I heard ya say how Fluttershy let Dinky play with her critters at times. I know it's not quite the same, but I guess ya could come over and visit the farm and let Dinky play with Winona and some of the other farm critters.

"She could also get to know Apple Bloom. Apple Bloom might even introduce Dinky to her two other friends. Rainbow's adopted sister Scootaloo, and Rarity's sister Sweetie Belle, who Rarity already mentioned.

"Together they put together some kind of exclusive club they call the cutie mark crusaders. The three of them are as thick as dry mud but not as flaky. I am sure they would love to have her join in. That is if Dinky doesn't mind playing in the mud and getting dirty, as they tend to at times.

"Those three girls get into everything with that crusading of there's for cutie marks. It might be fun for her to get involved. I am sure the four of them would make fine, maybe even great friends.

"I am guessing Apple Bloom, and the other two would be itching to add another member once I tell them about Dinky. What do yea say?"

Derpy thought on this. "It sounds a little much for my little Dinky all at once, but yes, it does sound like a fine idea.

"I will have to ask her what she thinks of it first. I am sure she would love the idea. New friends might be just what she needs. Thank you, Applejack. It will give us a chance to know each other better as well."

Applejack smiled. "Now see, that's just what I was thinking."

Rainbow Dash stepped in. "Well Derpy, you have proven you got my back. And that's good enough for me. I think things will be fine between us.

"You caught up to me pretty quick when you came looking for me. So I know you got some speed. Fluttershy was never up to flying much. She was a more down to earth pony. So maybe you and I can hit the sky together some time.

"I won't push you to fly like me. Next to no pony can fly like me unless you happen to be a Wonderbolt. It would be nice to have a flying partner just for some casual flying though. You know, to help keep one's wings from getting stiff."

Derpy nodded. "I am often busy with both Dinky and my mail duties. But if it works out that Dinky starts to spend more time with the other three girls, I am sure I will have plenty of time to go out flying with you then.

"I would rather see her out having fun with friends anyway. It would be nice to see Dinky out more with some friend, instead of cooped up at home waiting for me, those time that she does.

"Carrot Top watches her for me at times. It's not the same as having friends near her own age.

"I can always keep an eye on her from the sky so long as we don't go anywhere too far way, at least to start with. As she gets older I will worry less."

Derpy looked over to Pinkie who had her head low and was leaning against Twilight. Pinkie looked up and gave a half hearted smile then back the way she was. Pinkie spoke but calm and slow. "I'm not feeling all to Superific right now." She finished with a frown.

Twilight seen this and spoke for her. "She will come around. Just give her time."

Derpy looked to Twilight. "It's OK. She does not need to say anything. Pinkie is friends with all the ponies in Ponyville. I can only imagine what I would feel like if I lost Dinky, I am sure that is just how Pinkie is feeling right now. I know you are all hurting from this loss as I am. Pinkie most of all. I will give her all the space she needs. But I will try to be the friend she wants and needs when she is ready."

Pinkie surprised both Twilight and Derpy by rushing over to Derpy in a warm embrace. "Thank you Derpy, Thank you for understanding. I will be OK. Just not right now." Pinkie let go slowly.

Derpy put a hoof on Pinkie's shoulder. "I know you will. And we have some unfinished business in the Everfree still to deal with. So it is not yet over. Not till we do something about what took away our friend and Trooper's mom."

Rainbow Dash stood up on her rear legs and slammed her two front hooves together. "Right! Now your talking. Let's go get that thing. For Fluttershy and for Patty Potter."

Twilight looked over to Pinkie and was feeling unsure of her state of mind. She felt Pinkie might not be up to this. "Pinkie I think it is best if you were to stay in Ponyville. Till this is over."

Pinkie Exploded! "What!"

She quickly turned to Twilight, stood up on her rear legs and put her two front hooves down resting on Twilight's shoulders while looking down at her, right into Twilight's eyes. "You are not doing this to me! You hear me!? I am not some little filly.

"I am not being left behind to wait and see if any one of you does not come back alive. You can't do that to me!”

Pinkie suddenly had a worried look on her. “You are going to need me.”

Then she got serious again. “You can bet on that! I am going! That is finale."

Applejack said with a slight but half boastful chuckle that showed she did not want to sound too cherry. "Well, she's a all fired up, so let's get that big varmint all ready."

Everyone else nodded and said. "Yes!"

To Twilight there was something that showed on Pinkie's face when she said "You are going to need me." That had stuck in Twilight's mind. It was Concern. As well as something else she could not quite put her hoof on.

Pinkie had a way of saying somethings as if she knows more than what she was saying or even saying things she shouldn't know at all. It told her that for some reason Pinkie must come. Though from only her words and the look she gave at that moment, there was no way of knowing. Twilight felt that some how, it was important.

The group moved back to the path that lead to the Everfree Forest. As they walked along the path the wind had changed and picked up speed. Twilight could feel it. The circle had been reforged. She felt the power of the elements once again.

Rainbow Dash asked. "What the hay is going on?"

Twilight turned around. A single gleaming sparkle shined in her eyes. "Girls. I think we are back in business." 

As she finished. Each of the five girls including Derpy lifted into the air and a bright light flashed around each of their necks with one over twilight's head.

The light faded into the pendants and Crown of harmony. All with one newly formed pendent for Derpy, a silver looking single bubble locked in the bindings.

After the six came back down, everyone there had a look at it. Twilight said "I think that makes it official. You are now definitely one of us Derpy."

The six girls huddled together. They shared in their grief over Fluttershy once more, then in their new bond with each other.

Derpy, not in her wildest dreams thought she could ever be part of such a strong bond with others as this. She felt good.

She also felt momentarily saddened that she had lost a close dear friend to gain five new ones. She would not trade Fluttershy for this, but what she has now, is good, and she would make the most of it.

They each gave out a deep breath as they readied themselves again for what was to come. But now feeling stronger and more sure. Even Pinkie managed to bounce back to her old self. That Twilight felt was a good start.

All of them turned back to the entrance and made the move into the Everfree Forest where a possible death waited for any of them.