You and Herbert dash off to the location were the shouts are coming from. ''Do you think one of them had a rough landing?''

You turn towards Herbert. ''I hope not, But then aga.....Oh dear….''

The sight before you lets the previous statement seem like a joke.

You quickly run over to Akiza who is holding Korin in her hooves. He is screaming in pain.

Akiza panics as Korin starts to scream even louder. Akiza is barely able to talk, too shocked from the sight before her. ''Is this permanent?''

Even you stand by looking in shock at the sight before you. Although Northern Lights murder scene was much worse.

In the meantime Herbert threw his saddle bags on the ground and shuffles through them a bit. ''Where is that dammed thing, I know I took it with me!''

''Got it.'' Before Herbert can only turn toward the both of you, Akiza starts freaking out herself.

''Damnit Herbert! Stop messing around and help us!''

He looks at Akiza before pushing her aside. ''Please, give me some space.''

He looks at Korin's horn. ''I have never seen it this bad before.''

Korin's horn has cracks all over it, some bigger than others. The only thing keeping his horn together is the magic that's leaking out of the cracks.

''Korin, this will only hurt once. Akiza! Temayes! Stand back!''

Between bonechilling cries of pain, Korin manages to yell ''What are you planning?!''

Herbert places a hoof on Korin chest. He raises the glass bottle up high before throwing it at Korin's damaged horn.

A bright flash blinds Korin, but fails to reach Akiza and you.

Only seconds ago Korin was wildly swinging his hooves around. But now, they motionlessly lay next to him. Akiza is shocked by his sudden stop of movement. ''I..Is he?''

''Of course not. Just unconscious. I would never hurt a pony on purpose.''

Akiza, still confused as to what just happened. ''What did you put on?''

''Herbert picks up a shard from the bottle he threw ''It’s a mixture of crystal dust and purveyed phoenix tears. It has the ability to heal almost anything.''

Shocked after hearing this revelation, she tries to comprehend what’s actually going on. ''Bu..but..but why would you use it for Korin? We could have used bandages.

Herbert doesn't respond to the question, and instead lifts Korin up and sets him down alongside you. ''You think you can carry him? For at least a while.’’

You respond with a nod. 'Giving a speech about not letting your friends down would be a waste of time.' Herbert chuckles a little. As it seems, he is able to read your face like a book.

Herbert turns toward his saddle bags. In the rush to find the bottle, he made a mess of them. Luckily though, Akiza is helping with Korin.

After a few moments of getting everything sorted, Akiza seems to notice something Herbert and you forgot. ''So, where do we need to go?''

''East, alongside the forest border.''

Herbert seems to dislike the idea, as his first reaction is blocking your path. ''Tem are you serious? there was a reason he was banned.''

You ignore his words.

''And you know that reason was not a foolish one. What he did, was one thing. What he was planning to do was much worse.''

Finally you break the silence. ''He owns me a favor.''

Herbert is still not convinced as he keeps tying to come up with reasons why not to go. After a while he sees there is no changing your mind. ''Fine, don't make me regret this!''

Akiza stumbles up behind you. ''Sorry you guys.. I'm not used to carrying this much.''

''That’s no problem.''

At least you aren’t carrying a stallion on your back.'' Herbert tells her.

Akiza seems to have regained her calm as she is able to think straight again. ''Don't we have somewhere to go?''

''Yes indeed.''

Before too much time is wasted, the lot of you start to move alongside the forest border.

In the hours you have been walking, it has already gotten darker, as the sun is only two hours away from setting. Time was running out, but you wanted to get the most out of the day. Finally however, you give in to your senses. ''We should make camp for the night.''

The two ponies behind you seem to agree. Strangely, they seem to be more tired than you are, and you had to carry Korin around all day as well as your own saddle bags .

Herbert seems to pay more attention to the surroundings then you do. ''Should we though? In the middle of the plains? We would never get a fire started with this wind.''

Akiza seems to pay more attention to Herbert and you. As Korin's horn seems to be doing better. ''So the forest it is?''

''We need a plan, I will look for some water. In the meantime, you two set up the tents and get a fire started.''

Akiza puts her saddle bags on the ground. ''So how are you going to get the water back here?''

Herbert drops his own saddlebags, ''First, we need to find it. Then I will tell you, and you will get it with your magic.''

She mumbles a little, ''Makes sense.''

''Well i'm off.''

In the time it took Herbert to scutter off, Akiza has already started unloading the four saddle bags. You walk a couple of meters away, looking for something useful. You quickly find some rocks. Not only that, a few steps to the right there’s a tree, that by the looks of is has been lying on the ground for quite some time. 'These rocks are perfect for a fireplace, and that tree has enough branches to last us a lifetime.' You pick up some of the rocks and walk back. You put them in a circle and pile the wood up inside of it.

You notice Akiza is having trouble with one of the tents. ''Need some help?''

Akiza seems to be struggling with one of the lines. ''Nah, I just need to get this pole to stand still.''

You walk back to the tree picking up some more rocks and branches. Something strange catches your eye as you lift one of the rocks next to the tree. ''I cant use that here. Not now.'' You put your hoof on the ground and wipe it away. In the time that you were gone, it seems Herbert came back. You can already hear him going on about dinner.

You walk back to the camp.

''...And these berries are full of vitamins.''

''How is Korin?''

''Awake.'' The shout coming from the tent in the middle.

You pick up a couple of the branches and start on the fire. ''This will be ready soon.''

Both Akiza and Herbert respond with the same words. ''Good.''

The two hours of daylight have just flown by, as its now replaced by a pitch black night sky. Your camp on the other side, is well lit thanks to the campfire. ''You think this stack of branches will last the night?''

''I'm hoping it will, I don't want to head out too far from the camp.''

Akiza seems to enjoy the comment Korin just placed. ''What are you, afraid of the dark?''

''Well Equestria after dark can be sketchy.''

Herbert starts to laugh a little. ''Yeah, but that's only if you don't know what you are doing!''

Both Akiza and you seem to get in the mood as well as more jokes follow. You and the rest continue to make hours pass by like minutes. Not soon after, the fire starts to go out, no one paying attention to it anoymore.

You get up and walk towards the fallen tree. ''I will get the wood, I know my way around.'' You trail into the forest and stop at the fallen tree. The tree is not far from the camp, but far enough for nobody to hear you. You pick up a few branches as well as a large rock.

''Alright time to....'' You drop the branches and flail the rock at the bush behind you. Before it hits it target you are already behind it. The rock smoothly hits its target. It jumps up from the shock of being found. As soon as its exposed, you tackle it and end up holding a dagger at its throat.

''You are going to tell me everything I want to know, and if you scream I will cut your throat. Got that?''

It tries to ask some questions of its own, however, you are already ahead of him. ''How I spotted you? Easy.''

''I saw you as soon as we landed, but you didn't see us until later this day.''

The scene lasts for a couple more minutes before you see that this approach will bring no progress. You get off his chest, the dagger you are holding is still pressed against its throat. ''I did not expect to see a lone griffon out here… Anyway, you do not look like a scout at all.''

The griffon remains in silence. He points at the dagger, as well as his beak. ''Yes, you can talk.''

''My name is Gale the Whirlwind.''

You waste no time questioning him. ''With those clothes on you don't look like a griffon the guards described.''

''That's because i'm not with him, not anymore.''

''So you are a rebel?''

He looks away from you, his eyes seem sad. ''Freedom Fighter, I'm a freedom fighter. It’s a factions of griffons who didn't want war. The ones that did not follow him.''

You retracted the dagger, sheath it and put it back under your wing. ''You keep mentioning 'him'. Who is he?''

''The leader of the griffon army. Ray.''

''Are there others.''

''One.''

You turn and walk back towards the camp. Gale stops you. ''It’s better if you first take out the griffons that destroyed the factory.''

''Why?''

''Not everything they did were on orders.''

You turn back, silenced.

''I know where they are. They won’t stay there long.''

''Time?''

''Four days. On the fourth day, they’re gone.''

''More than enough time.''

''Your friends?''

''They will come as well.''

He turns towards the bush and says, ''I will be following you. I too have a reason for revenge.’’

''Trust?''

He simply says, ''Not enough.''

He disappears into the bushes. You pick up the sticks and walk back as well.

On your way back to the camp you see Herbert walking towards you. ''What was that all about?''

''I will have my revenge. Now, I know where to go.''

''So you got something out of that.. Good. Let’s go.''

Herbert and you walk back to the camp. Korin and Akiza are glad to see you as the fire had started to die down.

Korin looks over at the moon and then back towards you, ''So for how long do you want the fire to go? We need some sleep as well.''

You put some more sticks on the fire before answering the question. ''An hour max, its already late.''

Hours pass by as if they were minutes. Not long before the moon is right in the middle of the sky, your friends and you are walking toward your tents, turning in for the night.

'It seems the others are already asleep, I'm not hearing any noises.' You pull your blanket up some more before you close your eyes and try to fall asleep again.

For twenty minutes or so, the noises of the forest seemed to have stopped. Your group, however, seems to be a different story. The silence of the forest is broken by a loud noise and shouting.

You rush out of your bed, swinging your tent open. Once outside, you see both Korin and Akiza crawling out from underneath the pile of junk that used to be their tent.

Without too much time gone to pass, Korin and Akiza get their stuff from their tent and walk to you.

''Get your stuff and come in, the both of you.'' They come in right after you, knowing how stubborn Korin can be about accepting charity. You’re glad he came inside without resistance.

''So what happened?''

Korin points upward to his still broken horn, ''It exploded.''

You start to laugh a little. ''Didn't Herbert tell you not to get excited?''

Korin blushes and responds. ''Well… Akiza was trying to make me feel better.''

You turn your head toward the mare standing next to him. ''I can see that she was interrupted mid way…''

She looks at you surprised, ''How can you tell?''

''It’s not raining outside, and yet somehow your panties are soaked.''

She looks down at her crotch. Her head shoots right back up. Her head quickly turned from blue to the darkest shade of red you have ever seen. ''NO no no.. Tem, Korin, don't look, I… Korin.. we.....were. I… just...'' She quickly turned around and bumped in to Korin causing all the supplies that both pony's were carrying on their backs to fall off and knock Akiza and you over.

While trying to catch as much as he can, Korin fell down as well, forgetting he was the one carrying most of the heavier stuff.

Akiza quickly gets up from her fall only to be knocked down again by Korin who is still trying to catch everything. She lands on top of you as you are trying to get up yourself. As Akiza wonders what actually knocked her down, she totally forgets that she is sitting on top of you. Still confused, she looks around for what might have hit her. Thanks to her soaked panties however, you now have a perfect sight at her marehood.

''Uhhm…. Akiza....can you.''

She looks around, rubbing her head. For some reason, she isn’t noticing you. ''My head.. hurts.''

You tug at her shirt. ''Akiza, can you get off me?''

She looks down at you and sees that you have a perfect sight at her crotch. ''WHAAAAA! Don't look!'' After she screams, she shoots right up. Too bad for her, you still have a part of her shirt in your hoof. Because of the forceful and sudden jump, the shirt she is wearing comes off as the few buttons keeping it together give way. The shirt comes off without a problem, even her arms give way fairly easy.

In the meantime, Korin has gotten back up, looking at the scene you two are putting up.

Akiza places a hoof over her crotch, ''Can you guys please stop looking at my panties?!'' The only down side about her sudden outburst is that she has yet to notice that her shirt is no longer on. The one weird thing both you and Korin know about Akiza Lazuli, is that when she is angry or is trying to make a point she has the habit of jumping around. What normally is not a problem for the blue mare, but in this case there was no worse time to make her point.

While still jumping around and complaining about how careless Korin is and how clumsy you are, Korin picks up her shirt from the floor and holds it up before throwing it right in front of the blue mare.

''Why did you have take all the stuff in one go..Why.. Korin, what's that?''

She looks at the cloth slowly hitting the ground. After taking a better look, she sees that it is in fact a shirt, and after staring at it for a few more seconds, she realizes it’s not just any shirt. It’s hers. Once again, her face turns red as a tomato. She quickly snatches the blanket from your bed and wraps it around her body, covering up her breasts.

This scene reminds you of how you and Northern lights met for the first time. You take you eyes of Akiza and look to the goggles next to your bed.

Author's Note

Well after about for ever this chapter is done!

I'm finally able to use my weekend to write my story again, as it seems my school has 'Calmed down' in terms of homework.