“Aaah?”
“It is almost time, my dear Little Shade. This is a wonderful night. The night of your Naming! Not only that, but Everlasting Balance has granted me a Vision of Potential.”
“Hah!”
“You are too young to know its import. But in the coming moons, your Papa will take up the Weaving Tongue. Before then, I want you to hear this in the Popular Tongue. Your dear Uncle would be most annoyed if I didn’t give you this one chance. For one day, you will be one of the Four Aides. I have seen it.”
“Oooh! Mama? Grabah!”
“The ponies of Equestria these days know only the legend. The prophecy given by Starswirl the Bearded. One of the greatest of their Wise Weavers. They know only half of the story, as was his desire. Even now, I think it’s been simplified too much.”
“Gaga oooh ba!”
“Yes, my dear. It goes like this: ‘On the longest day of the thousandth year, four stars will reopen the door for the Moon. Once more she will come forth, to bring nighttime eternal and break the Balance.’”
“Oooh? Baaaaa…”
“Today, I tell you the rest, my dear Little Shade. I know not why the Everlasting Balance wishes me to tell an infant things of such import, but I am moved to do so.”
“Baaahahaha!”
“The second part of the legend, known only to the Keepers of the Stars and those who walk the Path, is this: ‘On the same day, six will come forth to save the Moon’s soul. In so doing, they will save all races and all peoples. And the Balance will come again upon the land.’”
“Gooo haha! Haha!”
“I’m glad you enjoyed it. Now, come, my daughter. It is time for you to be presented. To think that this tiny foal will help restore the Everlasting Balance to the world. My dear, you have the potential to do this. You will have the choice to do this. But I know your heart. And you will choose wisely, little Zecora.”
“Eee? Core? Ah?”
“Yes, my dear little one. Zecora.”
“It’s Zecora, isn’t it?”
Zecora looked up from her work on the great Baobab tree. It had been an amazing find, especially this deep in the Everfree. She hadn’t expected to find a piece of her home so far away from her people.
Even now, the alchemical brews reshaped the tree into what would soon be her new home. She carefully finished applying the paste to what would tomorrow be a window. Then she stood and trotted around the tree.
To her surprise, a small white unicorn mare stood in the clearing around Zecora’s new home. She looked rather out of place in the wilds of the Everfree Forest, with her neatly brushed brown mane, white cravat with a red tie and a pair of black glasses. Yet for some reason, the mare didn’t seem ill at ease.
Zecora found this rather surprising. After all, her attempt to make contact with the local town beyond the Everfree—a place called Ponyville—had ended up with slammed doors and fleeing ponies. That had been two weeks ago. She had yet to make another attempt. The last thing she wanted to do was terrify the poor ponies of this place. Even if the mere memory of those slamming doors had punctuated the loneliness in her heart. Still, she shook the melancholy thoughts away and tried to smile at her visitor.
“Yes, my pony friend, that is my name. I’m surprised to see another here, for this place is not tame.”
The unicorn seemed taken aback for a moment. A clipboard appeared at her side. She scribbled a note and it vanished in a flash of magic.
Then, to Zecora’s shock, the unicorn bowed to her.
“Forgive me, Master Weaver. I did not know of your station, or else I would have addressed you properly.”
Zecora’s jaw dropped open. What did ponies know of the ways of Weavers?
“No offense was taken, my bespectacled friend. Though that you would know what I am surprises me to no end.”
“I ask your indulgence, Master Weaver. I am Raven, Princess Celestia’s personal aide. I have been searching for you on her behalf, though I admit finding you here was not what I expected.”
Deciding not to mention the surprisingly closed-minded reaction she received in the local village, Zecora said, “I have found much wonder within this forest you call Everfree. There seem to be boundless miracles within every plant and tree.”
Zecora glanced at the small bundle of supplies Zerrin had left her, courtesy of her Uncle. A few ceremonial masks, an enchanted cauldron and several other items she would need to make a home here.
“After speaking with a Weaver from another clan, I have decided to reside here for a span. I did not ask the Sun about this arrangement, so I do hope I have not caused any estrangement.”
“No, of course not,” Raven said with a shake of her head. “You are welcome to stay in the Everfree Forest as long as you like. Indeed, Equestria itself owes you a debt it can never repay. But more personally, Princess Celestia and… and…” The unicorn coughed as if something was caught in her throat. “Princess Celestia owes you a debt beyond words.”
“There is nothing special in what I have done. I am simply happy to again see the Sun.”
“You are far too humble, Master Weaver. You and the actions of three others like you saved Princess Luna. The four of you…” She smiled wryly. “And Starswirl the Bearded.”
Zecora cocked her head. “So the vision had spoken true? Of Starswirl’s plans, no one knew?”
“Not even Princess Celestia.” Raven slowly shook her head. “Between the two of us, she wants to both hug and strangle that old coot. From his confession, he set all this up just after Luna’s banishment. For a thousand years, Celestia’s been working toward a single moment… the salvation of her sister. And…”
Raven lifted her glasses in a field of light red magic as she wiped tears from her eyes.
“And you were a part of that. Her Majesty wanted to come herself… but she… she doesn’t want to leave her sister…”
Zecora lifted a hoof with a smile. “I understand, my unicorn friend. Celebration is natural at such a parting’s end.”
“I want you to know that if you ever need anything—anything at all—simply ask. Princess Celestia can never repay her debt to you… but she will try with all the power at her disposal.”
Zecora paused for a moment, wondering just what she could do with the favor of the Equestrian Princesses. However, the thought was fleeting. With her life’s Path now complete and the Everlasting Balance restored… she had decided on a new path for her life. There was so much wonder within the Everfree Forest. She knew her work as a Weaver in this place would benefit all races in time.
In the end, the Path was the same… it was about helping others, be they pony or zebra, griffon or dragon. She had saved one and in so doing, perhaps saved others, if Starswirl’s vision was true. But that didn’t mean her journey was complete. Despite what some of her people thought, the Path never ended.
“I thank you, friend Raven, for your words most kind,” Zecora replied with a smile. “But I have no thoughts of compensation in mind. I have set my path on exploring this place, and I will do it for the benefit of every race. Instead, I ask something of you in return… I wish one day that I may meet them to learn.”
“It will be some time until Princess Luna is strong enough to see anypony.” Raven smiled. “But I’m sure you’ll be among the first she sees. You opened the door even knowing what it could cost.”
“I agree that great could have been the cost… but had I not acted, what then would have been lost?”
Raven choked back another sob. Then, to Zecora’s utter surprise, the white unicorn galloped up and wrapped her in a hug. Zecora wasn’t sure what else to do, so she hugged her back. She found she enjoyed the sensation. It had been a long road. A lonely one. A necessary one. But at that moment, she realized that while she may be alone… she was no longer lonely.
The unicorn eventually pulled back with a tear-stained smile and adjusted her cravat.
“Forgive me, Master Weaver. It has been… an emotional time for us all.”
“There is no need for titles with me, my friend. If you call me Zecora, it would not offend.”
“Zecora, then,” Raven said with a smile. “Then I will leave you with my eternal thanks… and the thanks of both Princesses. Please, again, if you need anything, only ask.”
“But of course, though now there is nothing I need, save to study the wonders about us, which are grand indeed.”
Raven nodded, adjusted her glasses again and made to leave, only to pause at the edge of the small clearing around Zecora’s future home.
“If I may ask, Master Weaver Zecora,” Raven said, stressing her title somewhat. “I have always heard rumors of those that follow the Path. Why did you do it, knowing what it could unleash upon Equestria… or upon the world? You could not have known about the Elements of Harmony or the Princess’s student.”
Zecora nodded, more to herself than the mare.
“Many misunderstand what it is to walk the Path, for they always feared its potential wrath. No, the Path’s end goal had something much greater in store: something to strive toward forevermore.”
“And what was that?”
Zecora looked around her. Through the canopy, she could see a tiny sliver of the old observatory where she had heard Starswirl’s words. If she looked northeast, she could see a bit of a turret to what she now knew to be the Castle of the Two Sisters.
She returned her attention to Raven. “That the Path has always been about hope. No matter the scars… and no matter the scope.”
Raven smiled once more and nodded. Zecora could see the understanding in her eyes. Zecora was sure Princess of the Sun and the Princess of the Moon would understand as well.
Raven departed through her own path into the forest. Zecora did not worry after her, for any aide of one of the Princesses of Equestria would be formidable indeed. She returned to the growth of her new home, but her thoughts remained on the Path.
In the end, all paths were walked for that most unique of treasures, something that couldn’t be brewed, enchanted or bottled. Something that lived in the hearts of every breathing thing in this world.
It was the purpose of the Everlasting Balance, what the ponies called Harmony.
Zecora began to hum the ancient lullaby her mother had sang to her when she had been a foal, the same tune often sang by her Uncle and even dear Zuila.
The Path has always been about hope. No matter the scar and no matter the scope.
Zecora went back to her work, smiling as she hummed.