Hyacinth, a unique zebra-okapi hybrid, was six years old, cuddled up next to her mom's warm flank. The young filly lived with her zebra mother deep in the Everfree Forest, away in a hollowed-out tree. "Tell me a story, Mommy!"
Her mother, Zecora, smiled. "A story to you, I shall tell. I hope it finds your memories well." She trotted over to a jar etched with spirals and curls. Then the zebra dipped her hoof inside and grabbed a handful of powder. With a mysterious grin, Zecora blew on the powder, and the deep voice of a male okapi sounded throughout the room.
"The Tale of Runny the Bunny. Once upon a time, there was a little white bunny. His name was Runny." Images formed from the magical dust, accompanying the story.
Impatiently, Hyacinth blew away all the pictures. "I want a real story! A story for grown-ups!" Her eyes formed a defiant glare.
Seeing the want in her daughter's eyes, Zecora frowned slightly. If she wanted a story, then maybe it should impact her a lot. But what if it was too heavy for her? It could afflict her with insomnia, paranoia, or worse. There was the prophecy, though...
The zebra sighed. "All right, my dear, come close and hear." As Hyacinth followed eagerly, Zecora blew onto another pile of the story powder. The okapi's voice started again.
"The Current Era. Once upon a time, there were six friends. Each was different in their own way, but they all came together because of the Magic of Friendship. However, this beautiful bond could not last. A draconequus, named Discord, gave way to his evil, chaotic feelings and wreaked havoc for the citizens of Equestria. The six friends stood against him, but Discord attempted a single, powerful spell that cost him his life. This spell inserted seeds of hatred in the six friends' minds. Soon, they turned against each other, each leading an army of similarly bewitched ponies.
"Only one pony was not affected. Twilight Sparkle, being an alicorn princess, could resist the spell and tried in vain to hold the broken nation together. With the other princesses dead from the force of the spell, she could not get help. When it seemed all was lost in Equestria, a traveling okapi delivered a prophecy: One unaffected by the curse / Shall save Equestria, for better or worse / All of the six, she will meet / But never will she proclaim a defeat. Reached by this prospect of a hidden hero, Princess Twilight continued her efforts. Someday, the hero will rise. And someday, the suffering in Equestria will cease. But, to this day, nopony has ever had the courage to unite the six friends once again."
With starry eyes, Hyacinth stared at the remnants of the fading story dust. "Mommy? Do you think I could be the hero?"
