Voyage For A Sparkle

I shiver like mad as I lay curled up in my sleeping space back in the den. The harvest is the only time we get to spend outside. After they collect all the bulbs we farmed, they force us back here in the darkness until the next day. I am cautious not to lay on my back. The pulsing agony may have finally stopped, but the slightest amount of pressure will bring it right back. I can hear the rest of my group faintly whispering far off in their own private corner of the den, and I'm far too distracted with finding a way to stay warm to care. So far, staying as close as I can to the soil, legs bunched together and the heat from my breath seems to be working somewhat. If only I could force myself to sleep so that tomorrow would come faster. "Hey--" I jolt and painfully roll over to whomever is speaking to me. Everything is pitch black aside from the smallest, faintest ray of moonlight shining down from the tunnel leading back to the surface. "Don't be scared. It's just me." I remember the voice, it's the newly recruited mare to our group. Realizing who it is, I settle back down. "Come with me for a moment, I want to show you something." I listen to her crawl away until she is revealed by the ray of moonlight. "Over here, come!" she urges in a whisper. Like a curious child, I follow her instruction and lean into the moonlight so that she can also see my face.

"How is your back?" she asks. "Feeling any better?" I look off to the side, unsure of how to answer. "Not to worry, just give it some time. . . You wouldn't happen to have a name, would you?" I shake my head. "I figured not. Well, my name is Passionette." I tilt my head in confusion, puzzled by the name. "I know what you're thinking, and the name is indeed mine. My mother and father gave it to me when I was born." She nervously chuckles. "You probably think I sound crazy, and you'll think I'm even crazier if I . . . N-Never mind. Perhaps I should've kept quiet about this--" She turns away to leave, but I impulsively rest my hoof on top of hers, completely invested in whatever else she has to say. I've never heard of a concept such as a mother or father, and hope she may shed some more light on what she means. She takes one look into my eyes, and returns back to her position. "I take it you want to hear more, and you don't think I'm crazy?" Excitedly, I nod my head. "Well, that's quite a relief. I just feel like I need to share this with somepony in case something were to happen. Now, where was I. . ? Oh, yes! What if I were to tell you that a life existed way before all of this? A life where the sky was a rich blue, and the ground was covered in bright, healthy foliage. Back then, there was no farming for these disgusting bulbs, no overseers to control you; and your home wasn't beneath the ground they walked on. Can you imagine it? Go on, close your eyes, and try to imagine the world as I speak it." I quickly shut my eyes, waiting impatiently for her to share more details of this world.

"Now," she begins. "You're standing on a path, and around you is a long stretch of lush, green grass. The air is warm and comfortable, and the sun, the source of all this light and warmth, hangs up in the bright-blue sky. It might be a bit difficult to imagine, but try your best. Now, you're walking down the path, and up ahead is a village. A village made up of comfy, clean cottages. You stroll through the village, and come across many of its inhabitants: ponies just like you and I. None of them are sad, in pain or anguish; but happy. They're smiling, laughing, sharing stories with the ponies closest to them. Some of them even notice you, and wave to you; welcoming you." As the scene plays out in my mind, I can't help but smile with joy. It all seems like a dream, a dream that's too good to be true. "Some of them approach you. They want to greet you, get to know who you are, maybe even become your friends. They tell you that you're free to live here as long as you like. You'll have a cottage of your own, plenty of food and warmth; but most of all, the friendship of anypony you may meet. . . What do you think? Would you like to live here?" I can feel a tear drip down my cheek as I open back up my eyes to see Passionette, and I nod my head, still entranced by what I had just experienced. "I knew you would; and I promise you that all of that--and more--existed a long time ago. . . You're probably wondering how I know all this, and the answer is: memories. They used to be faint, almost indistinguishable; but over time, they began to come clearer. Which is why I'm afraid." Her voice begins to whimper as she leans closer to me. "I fear that the more I remember, the more the overseers will grow suspicious of me. I've been doing my best to hide my thoughts when I'm in their presence, but it's becoming unbearable. I'm not sure how much longer I'll last before they know, which is why. . ." she takes a breath to help ease the stress that's overcoming her. "Which is why I must share something with you so very important."

Passionette's voice grows more serious in tone, and I readily lend her my full attention. "There was a princess: The Princess of Friendship." Passionette grabs hold of a twig from the ground, and uses it to draw the shape of a horned, winged pony in the soil. "Her name was Sparkle, and her symbol was of a six-pointed star." She draws the star directly above the mare, then begins to draw even more objects branching off from it. "Alongside her, were her fellow Elements of Harmony: the guardians of the land. I cannot remember their names, but I do recall their symbols. The butterfly, for the Element of Kindness. The apple, for the Element of Honesty. The balloon, for the Element of Laughter. The diamond, for the Element of Generosity. The cloud and lightning, for the Element of Loyalty. Then, the star which stood for the Element of Magic. Together, with the sheer strength of their friendship, were able to ward off any evil that threatened their kingdom. Until they were met with something they could not overcome, which is why the world I had you envision has been replaced with . . . this. However, Sparkle is somewhere out there. Somewhere far beyond this island. If somepony could find her; find the missing guardians. . . Maybe all this can be undone."