Prologue: The Curse of Hatred
Peace, love, laughter. How strange ponies are... to use it all so recklessly, so... in abundance.
It was a bright and sunny day in Equestria. Located in a small rural village within the eastern forests, ponies frolicked and laughed. They were filled with cheer, laughter, and love. Such days were all too common in Equestria. Most subjects wanted for nothing, and all the races who called the land home were united. Though this was a village of just ponies, it was well known that no ill will existed in the land of Equestria. Unlike days past where evil was a steady occurrence and often times world threatening, the younglings of today could barely even fathom the word. Selfishness would never be fully erased but such things were fixable, unlearned, and ultimately petty in the grand scheme of things. These were surely Equestria's Golden Days to be had.
A gathering in the village center was so full of life, as young couples touched muzzles and fillies played. Older folks sat on benches and witnessed the abundance of energy exuded, whereas many of the adults went about conversing. A giant lantern hung at the center, elevated by magic to keep the party alit. The architecture of the village seemed to be one of an abundance of smaller treehouses, all connecting to one another as well by hanging roots. A perfect natural wonder. Yet the village lacked nothing of technological advancement in this pony era. They had still the commodities known in places well visited such as Ponyville. A popular town.
As one old pony sat on a bench with a warm smile on his face, he couldn't help but notice a shrouded figure somewhat off in the distance. This figure seemed to merge perfectly in with the background forests, not seemingly hiding, but also not trying to make themselves known. This caused the old pony's eyes to widen, before he rose from the bench shakily, and started trotting his way over. Unbeknownst to the visitor.
The shrouded figure continued to watch; their appearance masked in shadow yet their vibrant turquoise eyes completely visible. They stood still as a statue, homed in on the ponies at the village center. Almost obsessively.
"Well, it's not often we have a mysterious youngling wander into our village. There's no need to be shy."
The shrouded figure's eyes snapped wide, before their gaze darted towards the source. An older pony who stood not far off. As the shrouded figure acknowledged him, their eyes calmed as they spoke, unveiling a softer natured feminine voice. Though it was raspy, tired. "A-Ah yes... shy. Perhaps I am shy. Would it be normal for me to go there?" The figure focused on the ponies at the center again, curiously. "I wish to go there. But... I cannot tell if it is the right thing to do." The shrouded figure looked to the older pony. "Can you teach me?"
This youngling spoke with such... oddity? The old pony couldn't help but let laughter escape him. "Oh child, you're a strange one. Teach you? Come along then, though my bones are old and frail so keep up!"
The shrouded figure did not understand the sarcasm, and simply nodded and kept beside him. The two began very slowly strolling further and further into the village. Ponies practically surrounding them now on all sides as they were all preoccupied with their own happenings. "Is it... always like this? Happy here? Laughter here?"
The old pony chuckled. "Yes child, though you would be hard pressed to find anywhere in Equestria unlike this. Perhaps besides the griffons! They are a stubborn folk, but their leader Gilda is hard pressed to change things due to the help of one of our greatest heroes! Rainbow Dash herself. Those two go far back, supposedly."
The shrouded figure listened intently to him, and then focused ahead once more. "Happiness is everywhere?"
The old man nodded, "Yes, though sadness never drifts far behind... these are mostly happy days child."
The shrouded figure nodded as well. "This is good... very good. I have... been 'not happy' a long time."
The old pony let out a light gasp, "A-Ah is that so? Child... that surprises me. What reason have you to be sad!?"
The shrouded figure lowered its head. "I know not." She paused, "Why are ponies so happy?"
The old pony pondered the question for but a moment, before glancing around at his fellow villagers then back down at the shrouded one. "Ah there are many reasons, but I'd have to accredit it to our wonderful leadership here in Equestria." He made a grand gesture, "The Princesses! We are so loved as subjects... and they have done everything in their power to care for us. The land is healthy, the conflicts resolved, and almost any sense of threat we've faced has either been dealt with or given up due to our princesses' tenacity." He began rubbing his chin some, "Though I would say the latter half is primarily due to our Princess of Friendship, Twilight Sparkle and her friends. Such a wonderfully talented mare." He smiled warmly, closing his eyes with a nod.
The shrouded one looked up at him. "Twilight Sparkle is happiness then? Princesses are happiness then?"
There was a moment of silence between the two, as the old pony pondered the question.
The old pony rubbed at the back of his neck, before looking gently towards the surrounding crown. "Well... it's complicated. Happiness is many things child. It is something one must find on their own but at the same time, it's much easier to find when the world which surrounds us is at peace. Happiness is now practically laced within Equestria's fabric. This is widely due to our Princesses efforts, especially Princess Twilight Sparkle."
The shrouded figure kept her focus now on the surrounding villagers. "Thank you, Mister."
The old pony smiled, looking down at the shrouded one before muttering. "Oh child, do not thank me."
The shrouded figure began lowering its hood, allowing her features to be unveiled in the sun.
The old pony continued to smile, before that smile turned to subtle horror and shock. "U-Ugh!"
The shrouded figure grinned up at him, eyes squinted with absolute glee. The whites of her eyes seemed dried, almost cracked as the turquoise pupils were fogged like a cloud on a rainy day. Her mane dried and lacking life, an almost sickening gray. Her coat pure black, as a twisted horn protruded from her head. "Then I'll thank the Princesses." Her horn started to glow, as a gray cloudy aura spewed forth, shooting straight into the sky.
The old pony cowered, as suddenly all the villagers gasped looking up towards the sky and spread into a panic.
Almost like a whirlwind the gray magic spread and surrounded the entirety of the village, entrapping everypony inside with no escape. The once shrouded figure held her forehooves to the sky, grinning menacingly as she felt she finally understood. As she was practically standing, it could be seen her figure was withered, almost skeletal in appearance. Her magic continued to spread, soon reaching out to scattered villagers like tendrils grasping at their prey. Every pony they touched would send them into a trancelike state, before dropping down to the floor unconscious. Meanwhile the shrouded one continued to grin with glee upwards. For they are my happiness.
The Princesses will surely bear the weight, of what my magic brings.
Author's Note
Thank you for joining me in this story. I hope you enjoy it, dear reader.
Chapter I: The Empty Princess
Flurry Heart stood front and center upon a grand crystal stage. She exhaled slowly, before letting out what seemed to be finishing remarks. "And that is why you newest graduates of Crystal Academy must be unafraid. For your futures are bright and unbreakable, so go forth and remember, even if you feel you falter, your Princesses will ALWAYS be here to help light the way!" She leapt into the air and spread her wings, her horn exuding a vibrant crystal glow. "Goooooo, graduates!" Then, there was nothing but an awkward silence.
Flashes spread throughout the audience as they all held up the newest piece of Equestrian tech. Technology developed by Princess Twilight Sparkle and Princess Luna, known as the dream box. They all captured Princess Flurry Hearts pose in the moment, as many of the ponies in the audience conversed with one another in mutterings. One mare stating, "Look at this girl, I got her right as she spread her wings! Pretty great huh?"
Her friend responded, "Nice! Very nice! This'll look great on Instadream."
10 more seconds. Princess Flurry Heart remained suspended in the air, maintaining her smile and pose almost perfectly as if it were rehearsed a hundred times over. After the seconds passed, she descended back down to the stage and then smiled warmly, waving at all the now departing graduates. "A-And uh! Make sure to submit any inquiries you might have to the Crystal Empire Flurry Resource group! I read every single one!"
As the graduates departed, most were preoccupied on their dream boxes. However one ensured to respond to Princess Flurry Heart, "Thank you Princess! My friends will be so envious of that shot! You're the best!"
Flurry Heart waved and smiled awkwardly, "O-Of course! It's no issue."
Two other graduates soon ran up towards the stage, right past the guards who didn't seem to mind. Actually, they almost reacted as if there were no possibility of danger, almost bored doing their jobs. Even Princess Flurry Heart didn't realize the common breach in protocol, perhaps... she'd gotten used to it too at this point. The two graduates were right upon Flurry Heart, filled with excitement as one stated. "P-Princess, might we get a dream shot? I-If your schedule permits it of course. No issue if not!" They each gave her begging puppy eyes.
Flurry Heart blinked a few times, before looking out towards the rest of the departing graduates and noticing none of them were looking back any longer. They all were too preoccupied on their dream boxes. Flurry looked back to the two who remained and gave them a kind smile. "Uh, sure. It's no problem! Bring it on in!"
They each gasped as the one who spoke before cheered, "Yes yes yes! You always were my favorite Princess!" They then each got on one side of Princess Flurry Heart and held up their dream boxes, giggling all the while. Soon enough, the boxes flashed a blue light signifying the capture of the memory. They then looked it over, ensuring to show Princess Flurry Heart the product as well. "What do you think Princess? Groovy huh?"
In the shot Flurry Heart was smiling with clenched teeth and squinting some due to the flash. She blinked a few times before giggling a bit nervously. "Heh heh, uuuh yeah. Very cool! So uh, is there anything else I can-"
But before she could finish the graduates were already trotting off, still filled with excitement they got their shot. "Oh oh this is gonna be so awesome! We got PERSONAL shots with the Princess. This is gonna be a hit on Instadream. I'm sure the rest of the class is gonna be like, 'Uh wow that's a fake shot' hahaha, just you watch!"
As they were practically out of ear shot at that point, Flurry Heart finished... to herself. "Do." She glanced down, solemnly. She then looked to her guards at the edge now who were practically falling asleep. She sighed, and made her way over to them, lowering her head some. "Come on guys, let's head on back to the castle now."
One of the guards blinked a few times before shaking his head, "H-Huh! Wha? Is it over?" He rubbed the back of his neck, looking to the now empty stadium in surprise. "You'd think we'd get used to these things considering we head them at least twice a week! Maybe you can changeup your speech a little now and then Princess?"
Flurry Heart shrugged and sighed, eyeing the ground now. "I doubt they'd really notice anyway."
Back at the castle, Princess Flurry Heart laid on her bed as she too roamed on her own dream box. With one cheek resting on her hoof with half closed eyes, she seemed to be focused on one page in particular. Upon her screen was the verified instadream page of Princess Twilight Sparkle. She was followed by over a million ponies but was barely active despite being the co-creator of the product. A mere 67 posts was all she had. Flurry scrolled regardless, down to the very first one. It was a memory of her Aunt Twilight meeting Lady Applejack in Ponyville for the first time. A perfectly encaptured memory, pulled from a perspective once thought impossible, almost as if it were something out of a tv series. The caption stated, 'I was so clueless back then, ugh!'
She scrolled up a bit with her expression unchanging, finding another shot of her Auntie Twilight and her friends now facing off against the immortal Discord. The caption now read, 'Always the jokester, this one.'
With that Flurry Heart sighed and scrolled back to the top, she stared long at the 'message dreamer' option beneath her Aunt Twilight's picture. There was a moment of frozen time for Flurry then, as she just solemnly laid in her bed and stared at the message option. Eventually she flipped over her dream box and then climbed out of bed, soon going over to her window and leaning atop the ledge and peering down at the sights below.
Young fillies and colts frolicked in the castle courtyard peacefully. Many citizens strolled without a care in the world. The setting sun in the distance was gorgeous, as it emphasized the crystal mountains in view. The valleys and rivers which hung upon them signifying nothing but beauty and natural wonder. Such a perfect sight.
Yet for Flurry Heart, a pinch of remorse coursed through her. She looked to those mountains and wondered. I could go explore them, I could be gone for days... years even. But, would there still be any reason needed for me to return? She looked back down at the streets. Do my subjects truly even need me here? She glanced back at her dream box. Does my family even need me here? A slight moisture tainted her eyes. Do you... Auntie Twilight?
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!
Flurry Heart flinched, thrown off by an unexpected knocking at her door. "Y-Yes?!"
A voice ushered through, "Apologies Princess, it was a rare occasion and one I thought you should be aware of. We had a citizen submit an emergency request to the Flurry Resource Group. When inquired about why yours in particular, the citizen stated that she knew you were, uh..., widely available due to the nature of your day to day tasks compared to the queue of your mother. We looked it over and.... I believe this may be a little too-"
The door flung itself open then as standing in the doorway was a guard. Princess Flurry Heart already upon him as she peered at him with wide almost hysterical eyes. "A request came through... for me? You're certain?"
The guard nodded nervously. "Y-Yes Princess... but as said I believe we should inform your mother and Prince Shining. I looked over the details of this request and such a thing is... impossible, in today's age."
Flurry Heart practically ignored him as she stated, "Let me see the request. Do you have it on you?"
The guard blinked a few times before nodding and pulling out a dream box, unveiling it to Princess Flurry.
Flurry Heart snatched it up, before peering down at it almost hungrily. She noticed it was a captured moment and squinted. "A captured moment? W-Who submitted this?" She glanced back to the guard in confusion.
The guard nodded, "A family member of the capturer. She states she's the cousin of the sender."
Flurry Heart nodded and focused back on the screen. "One of our subjects I presume?"
The guard nodded again, "Yes Princess. Another reason she went through us primarily."
Flurry Heart nodded again too before pressing play on the captured moment. "Well, let us see what this... is?" Nothing but silence hung in the air between the two as they bore witness to what was happening on screen. Nothing but screams of violence and thrashing could be heard. Princess Flurry Heart was practically stunned.
Within the captured moment, ponies of a distant village thrashed angrily and were pummeling one another. It was almost abhorrent violence, hatred the likes of which she'd never seen. Bruises, anger, destroyed homes and fires. It was an alien sight for Flurry, something she felt she couldn't even fathom since she was a mere filly.
The guard was sweating profusely now before he gulped. "P-Princess it's alright if you're scared. I'm sure your mother will know what to do, as will Prince Shining. But we must make haste before this gets too out of ho-"
Princess Flurry interrupted him. "We shall go investigate this ourselves. Let me grab my crystal sword."
The guard froze in place before muttering, "W-What?"
Princess Flurry peered at him nervously, shaking... but not with fear. Excitement. "Let us go on an adventure."
Do my subjects even need me here? Does my family even need me here?
Do you... Auntie Twilight? And laying on her bed still was her dream box, still on her Aunt Twilight's page.
Author's Note
If you made it this far, firstly thank you, secondly, I hope you enjoyed.
I plan to update every few days, likely twice a week so please stick around! 
