Tears of Harmony

When I awoke, I was in bed. I'd thought I was dreaming, or hallucinating, but when I heaved, leaned over the side of the bed, and threw up, I knew I was lucid. My cloak was missing, and I didn't recognize the room, but I was alive and unrestrained. As I turned my head I realized it felt lighter, cooler, and I reached up to touch it, finding my mane completely gone. I looked down to inspect my tail and found my lower half covered by a blanket(how I failed to feel it first I'll never know), confirming I'd lost my tail as well. Whoever found me had at least had the thought to cover me, a fact for which I was grateful. I groaned, coughed, and rolled over to inspect the room. It had a tall ceiling and the bed was massive, sporting four posts at each corner and bearing silk curtains. Beyond a few dressers and a vanity the room was devoid of furniture, and I was a little alarmed. The room was a bit lavish, and I had to wonder just where in the world I was.

My head throbbed as I crawled out of the bed, and I felt utterly exhausted. I had no idea how long I'd been out, but I intended to find out. I put my hooves on the floor and immediately collapsed, my legs still too abused to support me. I ignored them and got back up, my legs trembling. My left hind leg muscles were too torn to use, so I dragged it behind me as I approached the vanity, and gasped at the pony who stared back. I was missing clumps of fur in a few places, I was utterly bald, my eyes were bloodshot, and my mouth had a bit of a mess around it from the vomit. I was a wreck, and I didn't know if I was living on borrowed time. I had no idea how many rads I'd received.

Thinking of the radiation brought me back to the tunnel, and I thought of Sixfour. I shut my eyes and fell to the floor, the tears returning. He never gave up, he was with me the whole way, and now he was lying dead in some underground trash heap, an unceremonious end for such a devoted friend.

I heard the door open and couldn't find the energy to look back, resigning myself to whatever and whoever had found me. I heard the individual gasp and the tell-tale clop of hooves revealed it was a pony. I groaned as they came around to face me, and I looked up at them. She was wearing tan robes and was purple-coated, her mane shaved away, making her horn seem longer than it really was. She knelt down before and wrapped her hooves around me, trying to get me to stand up. "Are you alright? Come on, let's get you up" she said, tugging at me. I was easily double her size, and I was exhausted. There was no way I was getting up.

"W-Where... Who are you..." I asked, my eyes heavy as sleep beckoned. The mare ceased her yanking and sat back, a worried smile on her face.

"Don't worry, Great One. You're safe. You're in the mountains. The Temple of Moonlight" the mare explained, and my heart jumped as I realized just who had found me. As I passed out again, I realized the kind of game I was going to have to play to stay alive, and wondered if Harmony was testing or punishing me in some way.

I was in the care of the monks I'd stolen my last soul gem from.