Tears of Harmony

"Rarity, Applejack, I'm glad you're both here. The Cutie Map has found us a new problem to take care of, here, in this remote mountain village. Just the three of us are indicated, so let's get packing so we can get on our way!"

The realm of Tartarus was a horrible place, and it is with great trepidation that I write what little I will about it. Moondancer, the Pies, Sunburst, and myself had been interred in the realm for so long, we'd lost track. Every minute was a struggle for survival, every thing out to kill you. What few sapient creatures still interred within the other world, if also not trying to kill you, were trying to use you to escape for themselves. That we escaped is a miracle that I can barely comprehend, let alone explain. It took me a great deal of magical power, and the help of the few I managed to trick or force into helping us.

When we did escape, we were tossed asunder, across the vast expanse of Equestria. I emerged alone in a forest in the dead of night, a bright, full moon illuminating the night sky. Having known only the fire and hell that was Tartarus for so long it was such a shock to feel the cool night air. To hear the chirp of crickets and the cry of the evening cicadas. It was all I could do to remain standing in the face of such beauty, to take comfort in the peace and soft noises. I spent...I don't even know how long, just standing there, at a loss.

Eventually, however, I regained my composure, and set out. I had no idea where I was, but I knew I could not delay. My friends(the ones who had survived Tartarus, anyway) were out there, somewhere. I knew we all had to find each other as quick as possible, to begin our fight against Empress Twilight, although part of me wondered if Twilight and the Empire even still existed. I'd had no idea how long we'd been interred in Tartarus, after all. I needed info about the world, about the state of society(if any even still existed), and about events since the founding of the Empire.

Almost immediately, it occurred to me that I'd have to be terribly cautious about who I approached and where I went. An Alicorn such as myself appearing suddenly would cause a great stir if I happened upon a big enough village or town, or stumbled into a caravan or travelling pony. They'd undoubtedly ask about me, even share news of my appearance with friends or even the press. Word would swiftly travel, and I'd assuredly find myself the target of a hunt. If Empress Twilight caught wind of my reappearance she'd move heaven and earth to find me and kill me.

As I cantered through the bush and among the trees I became aware of a faint glow, soft and warm, some distance ahead of me. I knew it was some manner of village or settlement, and I slowed down, wanting to have time to evaluate it from a distance. It was dark enough, even under the full moon, that I'd be hidden from view, so long as I kept the noise to a minimum. I neared ever closer to the glow of the village, and I found it was rather small, a smattering of nine huts around a vaguely central cabin, the hamlet on the banks of a gently flowing river. The light was cast by oil lamps and candles, and I could see a few ponies sitting outside around a small table.

Part of me wished to rush out and introduce myself to the ponies living there, to ask them all manner of questions and get myself up to speed with the state of the world. This village was certainly far enough removed from any sizable town, being that it had no electricity, but I stayed my hooves, content to watch for the time being. From my vantage point, I could see a few tattoos and marks on the ponies I was watching, and it was easy to deduce they were tribal in nature. It seemed likely that they'd have no idea of the true nature of my being, but it wouldn't do to take unwarranted risks. The future of Equestria hinged on Empress Twilight having no knowledge of my return. At least, until such time it became necessary to reveal myself.

With that, my thoughts began to wander to just how I was going to achieve what I wanted to. My goal was simple; to cleanse Empress Twilight of her corruption and return Equestria to the state of Harmony and happiness it was meant to be in. The world that Twilight had created, this empire of subjugation and 'Manifest Destiny' as she called it, was a farce. It was a stain upon the good nature of ponies, and to know the crushing truth of how it came to be hurt me so very deeply. I'd had my own part in enforcing this vision, I was partially responsible, but now I had a better purpose, and I swore that I'd succeed, or die trying.

I turned my focus back to the small village before me. I'd considered the risks, and weighed them against the rewards. To get a feel for the state of the world, to have a chance at finding my friends, to get started on what I'd set out to do, all seemed to be worth the risk. A risk that I'd estimated to be very low, in any event. If things went south, I was confident that I could still remain undetected by the rest of the world.

All this in the mind, I stepped forward. The underbrush rustled under my hooves, and the villagers turned to look at the shadows of the trees. Idle curiosity turned to surprise, and then awe, as I emerged. I looked down at them as they sat, unfurled my wings and ignited my horn, and their eyes widened in shock. Suddenly before them was a living, breathing, Alicorn. I can only imagine how they must have felt.

"Hello, my little ponies, I am..." I paused, not wanting to admit to my identity as a Princess, or reveal my true name. "A friend," I finally answered. "I am an envoy of Harmony, and a friend of all creatures of this world. I come to you seeking aid, and shelter" I told them, their eyes still wide, their shocked gazes unwavering. I wondered if they could even understand me.

My fears of them speaking some manner of tribal dialect were put to rest as one, a Unicorn stallion, rose from his seat and approached, bowing before me. His female Pegasus counterpart did the same, and after a moment both rose to look up at me. "The Wisest will wish to see you, Great One" he said. They turned and beckoned me to follow them, the three of us cantering towards the modest cabin in the center of the hamlet. The Unicorn ascended the steps and hesitantly rang the bell mounted to the door. As late as it was, I imagined he was reluctant to disturb the rest of their elder, but my arrival(and presence) no doubt served to assuage his fears.

After a short wait the door opened, and the elder's tired smile gave way to the same surprised expression I'd received from the first two at the sight of me standing at the bottom of the steps, looking up at him. He bowed as my compatriots stepped aside, and it wasn't before I told him he could rise before he did so.

"A true Great One," the elder stated. "We are beneath your presence, but we will rise to meet it. We can only wonder what has brought you to us, but even the Wisest would be remiss to question the will of the Great Ones."

I shook my head. "It isn't like that," I assured him. "I am here to ask for your help. Certain...events have transpired, and I find myself without shelter or kin. Any aid you can provide would be so very much appreciated."

"Of course. Please, come inside at once. Weave, Tobrus, I ask that you both come inside as well. It is not often that one gets a chance to speak with a Great One, and so it would not be wise to pass along the opportunity" the village elder said. With this we all ascended the steps and entered his home, and I closed the door behind me.

Once inside the elder quickly put on water for tea, and we sat at a long communal table, the elder taking the largest chair at the head of the table, myself and the two ponies from outside by him, across from each other. They all looked at me, and I smiled sheepishly. I may have been a Princess(at least, supposed to have been one), but to them I was just an Alicorn. That fact alone filled them with admiration and respect. Had they known the truth, they probably would've joined me in my mission.

"I am the Wisest of All. I am the guiding light of this commune. To my left are Weave of Wicker," the elder said, nodding to the female Pegasus, "and Tobrus Plains." The Unicorn stallion tilted his head to the right, and his Pegasus friend did the same to the left, their heads touching. I was sure the gesture was a tribal display of respect.

"We are Joined" the two said in unison, and I took that to mean that they were married. They were all so trusting, it filled me with pride. This was the true nature of ponies. Smiling and happy, living under the warmth of Harmony. Not pressing their hooves into the backs of the other races while they looked to the heavens above.

"I am Flurry Heart" I said honestly. I knew I could not reveal too much, but I would not lie to them. That is what separated me from Empress Twilight. I would just have to be careful about what I said. "As I told Weave and Tobrus, I come in search of shelter. A few friends have gone missing, and I myself am a wayward soul. I must find them quickly; there are dark forces at play, who will search us out to the ends of the earth if they get wind of our--or my--arrival" I explained, which was all true enough.

"We will certainly provide all that we are able to, Great One" the Wisest assured me. "I will give you my bedroom, and we will meet your every desire."

"Surrendering your own bedroom will not be necessary," I said with a smile, my hoof raised. "A guest room will suffice, but I am grateful to you for the offer of help. Time is short, I'm afraid."

The Wisest nodded and turned to face Weave and Tobrus. "You two may return home. For the time, I will do all I can to help the Great One in finding her allies. Reflect on this blessing; it is a true gift." The two did as told and left with a scrape of wood on wood and the tapping of hooves on oak, the cool night air briefly gusting in as the door was opened and then shut again. Now it was just me and the elder, who turned to me with a smile.

"To have been graced with such an occasion, well... It is not something I'd have ever thought I'd see. My forerunner, and his forerunner before him, and so on, told me the legends of the Great Ones. It is my earnest hope that you succeed in evading or defeating this great evil, and that you find your friends" Wisest said.

"Thank you, my little pony. For now, I think I would like to turn in for the evening. I will begin my search tomorrow, without delay, but it has been...a very long time since I'd had a proper night's rest" I explained.

"Of course. At once, oh Great One" the elder said, turning and rising from his seat. It took him close to half an hour--and repeated assurances that everything was to my liking--to get everything in place, but at long last he left me to myself and I climbed onto the modest bed, staring outside the window at the pale moon as it hung in the night sky, slowly ambling along as the heavens rotated. I stared, and quietly contemplated to myself.

And never once slept that night.