//------------------------------// // Prologue // Story: When Harmony Reigns // by Static Shock //------------------------------// She walked slowly through the forest, careful not to trip on any of the roots that had overgrown the path she was trying to walk. Low-hanging branches protruded from the bushes and trees surrounding her, and she had only the moonlight to help her keep on track. What seemed like hours, maybe even days went by as she kept walking. Landmarks she had passed previously started popping up again, and she started questioning her sanity as she kept walking. The path doubled back on itself frequently as it wound through the forest, and she couldn’t help but wonder if it was even going anywhere at all. But finally, a light shone through the trees beyond, and she knew she had found him. The forest had fallen still, only the occasional sound of a twig snapping underhoof breaking the silence. It had startled her, at first, but she pressed on. Progress had been slow, but her resolve to track him down had held true. She crashed through the first layer of what forest stood between her and her destination, stamping flat those bushes that proved to stubborn to be pushed aside. Thorns buried themselves in her hooves, but the light grew closer, and for a split second she thought she heard the faint crackling of a fire. Another layer of brambles gave way, and the crackling grew louder. She crashed through the final layer of brambles, and into a crudely assembled campsite. A worn, flimsy tent stood at the center of the clearing, with a crackling, fierce fire by its opening. A crudely assembled fire pit held the campfire. A bitter, angry-looking unicorn stood beside the tent, the shadows the fire casted on his face only worsening his already vicious scowl. The light of the fire danced across his face, enhancing his every feature. His coat, normally a dark shade of grey, now appeared orange. His eyes, usually a slightly brighter shade of blue than hers, now mirrored the fire and matched its ferocity. “What are you doing here?” The conversation hadn’t even started yet, and he was already angry at her. She wasn’t sure why she had expected any different, after all the trouble she’d been through to find him. “I’m taking you home,” she answered firmly. He scoffed, the idea of going home with her amused him, it seemed. “I’d like to see you try.” She simply sighed in response, moving to sit by the fire. It cracked loudly as it licked at the logs that fueled it, illuminating the forest around them. A pleasant warmth radiated from it, easing her muscles. She’d spent months trying to find him, and now that she finally had, all she wanted to do was rest. "I'm not here to fight you. You're coming home with me, and we're going to talk about this," she said sternly. "I'm not going anywhere. I am comfortable here. My beliefs are my own, and well-respected at last." "Well-respected? You've had to isolate yourself!" she scoffed. "This is madness!" "Madness?" he laughed. "No. Chaos, maybe, not madness." She smiled. "Chaos, of course," she said as she slowly approached him. "What are you doing?" he asked warily. "I'm doing what I should've done when this all started. This has gone on for long enough." Her horn started to glow a faint red as she spoke. "Stay away from me!" he yelled, as he tried to run. Much to his annoyance, the unicorn's magic was no match for her own, and she had no troubles keeping him restrained as she approached. None of that would have been very troubling to him, if it hadn't been for that smile. It wasn't friendly, happy, or anything he'd ever seen on her before. It was determined. She was now but a leg's length away, and bent her head slowly. Blinding red flashed before both his and her eyes as her horn touched his, and for a brief moment she thought she had succeeded. "Think again!" a voice screeched out of nowhere. The sound pierced her ears, drilling into her head as if unrestricted by physics. "What have you done" the voice continued, pounding in her skull as she struggled to remain conscious. "I was happy! I was alone, and for the first time in forever, I wasn't bound by petty morality or peace! You ruined everything!" "No, please! she cried, "I didn't mean for this to happen! We can still fix this!" "You've done enough! the voice cried. "It's my turn now!" Her headache faded, as did the world around her. Only the voice seemed to remain, as if stuck to her. She tried to move, but her body didn't respond. "Oh, you're not going anywhere! the voice screeched again. "Please! Just let me help you!" "No. Let me help you!" the voice cried out one last time as her legs buckled beneath her. "It's time I showed you just how wrong you really are!"