Valiant Heart's jaw hung open, his eyes staring off into the small crowd of ponies before him. Red June eyed him with concern as they sat aside one another atop one of the exterior barn's hay packets, their nine friends having pressured them into getting some fresh air before properly explaining the situation. As Valiant continued his hearty breathing, June silently thanked them for their insistence, before taking a long and comforting breath of the orchard's familiar scent as it wafted through the sizeable, open doors. Illusion remained paused midway through his explanation, allowing them the proper time to react, then, as Red June began gently rubbing Valiant's far shoulder, continued in his speech.

"Mother, Aunty, and the Elements departed yesterday," he elaborated. "They had a plan to act, but we didn't receive many of the specifics before they sent us here, carrying a message to their mothers. We do know that they're heading to the Crystal Empire with the intent of ridding it of the fog, but that's it. No further intelligence has arrived. The best we can do for now is await their return."

Valiant continued his hard breathing, but eventually slowed to a calmer rate as Red June gently massaged his shoulder. Starburst furrowed her brow slightly at her older cousin. "What were you doing down here, off-duty?" she questioned, raising a stern brow. "And without letting me know you would visit beforehand?"

"Sorry Star," Valiant said, attempting to maintain his calmer disposition. "June and I had been planning this vacation for a while, and we just wanted a little... time to ourselves--without any familial interruptions."

Starburst pouted, but allowed her eyes to soften as she traced them along her cousin's sullen visage. Del stepped backward toward the open barn doors.

"I'm-a head outside for a while," he explained. "Got a few more apples to go 'fore I can call the day finished."

He exited the barn, stepping quietly out into the afternoon sun. Turquoise followed, as did Nidra, while the rest continued their watch over Valiant Heart. His head lay downcast, staring at the hay covered hearth below. Red June watched with equal concern, and brought her head to rest against his, to which Valiant responded in kind. Starburst gestured forward, but stopped, biting her lip in bashful confusion. Anthea, sitting beside her, leaned to her side.

"I'm sure he just needs some time," the pink pony commented in a light whisper. Starburst bit down harder, then, pivoted her neck back and made for the door. As she did so, a large crash sounded ahead, complemented by a modicum of what seemed to be many glass and metal instruments banging dramatically against one another. Starburst ran out, followed closely by her friends, and observed the surrounding orchard. There, on the dirt path lining the fence of the orchard, sat Zecora's cart; it's front wheels busted and its interior housing a hefty amount of bottles and flasks among other odd items. Del and Turquoise had already breached the fence, examining the spokes of the broken wheels with Zecora standing close beside them. Nidra stood at the opposite end of the cart, gazing over its contents with a perplexed expression.

"Zecora?" Starburst breathed.

"Ah, my little friends," started Zecora in her rhythmic fashion. "Such a pleasure to see you again. Unfortunately, I cannot find time to spare--I must return to my home, if these two are willing to bring me there."

Turquoise nodded as Del continued observing cart.

"You were carrying all this weight around from the Everfree?" Del questioned. "No wonder the wheels broke."

"What is most of this stuff?" Nidra commented from the back. "It's all very... strange."

The others worked their way around and over the fence as well, gaining a better view of the stacked materials inside.

"Ah," began Zecora. "These ingredients in my cart, strange they are indeed--However, I believe in their powers, we will soon have need. Surely you sense it, a presence in the air--The animals of the forest, forecasting despair. The trees all seeming to cower and bend--It gives me great fear, Equestria... may be at an end..."

Valiant clenched his eyes shut. Starburst stammered her weight. Everypony went silent. Zecora scanned the gloom before her.

"Ah, then you know something more, that much is clear--Do not yet lose hope, do not fear what is near." The zebra trotted toward Valiant, placing a hoof under his chin and lifting it to a more dignified pose before turning to address the others; still forlorn in their expressions. "There is something we can do, though I am still uninformed--If you provide your knowledge, perhaps a remedy can avoid this storm."

Starburst furrowed her brow, looking below herself, then straightened her back and positioned herself beneath one of the cart's tugs. "Let's get going then," she advised. "Turquoise, carry the other side. Wrap it in your wing or something; I can't have you carrying it too high up."

As everypony watched in stunned silence, Starburst hopped the tug onto her back. She shot them a defiant look. "Yes, I know," she stated bluntly. "I'm short. Let's just get going."

Canterlot Castle's infirmary proved eerily silent as Twilight awoke atop one of its white cots. The image of her friends leaning over her slowly came into focus as she blinked away the blurry miasma.

"Ya alright there sugarcube?" questioned Applejack, a tentative note of concern in her voice. "You really had the worst of it back there."

Twilight shut her eyes a moment, reliving the fog's assault; how it ripped through her horn and maliciously severed it from her skull, then, how she had to watch it consume the Crystal Empire's defensive wall. She raised a hoof beneath her eyes. "No, I didn't," she responded. "I really didn't."

Fluttershy rested herself beside her and rested a reassuring hoof atop her shoulder. Rainbow punched her hooves together.

"So when are we gonna get back out there?" she asserted. "We need to do something to help everypony. If we go now, maybe we can free them, Crystal Empire and everywhere else too!"

"I'm afraid you can longer be of assistance," stated Celestia, entering the room through the far door. She took stock of the room, then briskly trotted to Twilight's cot, and brought her into a single hoofed embrace. "I'm sorry, my student. I'm so sorry." Twilight rested her head against Celestia's chest. Luna awaited beside her, ensuring all held their attention to her.

"You are all to return to Ponyville, straight-away," Luna stated. The room bristled.

"You can't just send us back!" Rainbow Dash reeled.

"With all due respect, your highness," Rarity stepped forward. "This matter concerns all of us."

Celestia breathed deep. "We have done enough to you," she breathed. Her eyes held shut. Her front leg gripped Twilight closer into her embrace. She forced her jaw to move through the next few words. "I'm afraid you'd just get in the way. My sister and I have created a new plan to combat the fog. It does not involve any of you. You won't be needed."

Rainbow motioned forward. "But--"

"And surely," Celestia continued. "You have somepony waiting for you at home? Somepony waiting for your return? Somepony who needs you to be there for them?"

The Mane Six all stammered looks amongst each other, reconsidering their children and homes. Celestia raised her head to them.

"You need to be with them now. Reassure them that everything will be okay. We will remain here and stop the fog."

Celestia looked to her sister, who nodded back assuredly. Twilight lifted her head from Celestia's breast, attempting to dissuade her oncoming tears. Celestia rose in kind. "Come now. We'll escort you to the station."

Celestia and Twilight's friends gathered around her as she slowly rose from her cot, staying close by her side as she managed to slowly trudge out the infirmary. They walked through the Canterlot streets, the guards forming a light wall around the group as onlookers raised their heads from the cafes to the boutiques and libraries. They ascended the station steps, the train laying stationary in wait for them; its doors already open with no other passengers boarded. Two guards stood at opposite ends the nearest doors, lifting their hooves in salute to the approaching group. Twilight broke slightly from Celestia's support, ascending the train's step alongside her friends. She leaned against them, Applejack offering her back as a counterweight as Pinkie and Rainbow Dash held her steady. She gazed up and out over Canterlot, gradually lowering her vision to the Princesses below.

"Princess..." she spoke, heavy fatigue draining her voice. "Will you... Will... Everyone here be okay...?"

Celestia smiled morosely. "My faithful student, you have grown so much--and still have yet to grow further. We will ensure you have the chance to do so."

Twilight stifled a short laugh, much to the surprise of her friends. "Princess, I'm not... your student anymore. And as your fellow princess..." she breathed hard for a moment, rediscovering her breath before continuing. "I can tell you... you still have a lot to learn..."

"Yes," grinned Celestia. "Yes we do."

The two shared their morose smiles, then watched as the train doors shut, and the engine began to pump its way to Ponyville.

Author's Note

This one's probably a bit rougher than the others, so I may edit it more later. Also, "friend" and "again" totally rhyme, I swear.