Dawn promised a new day once again. The constant feeling of anticipation was bursting through my chest as I rose out of my unmade bed after a night of mostly uninterrupted slumber.
The dream was still present in my head, Luna’s words still rung in my years, yet I did no try to make sense of them at this moment.
We were far from Everfree but today we would commence our path towards retribution. Today, everything was on the line and our intervention in the poisoning of the tree of Harmony would mark an important victory for Equestria…For the world.
~
We were gathered in a large room to eat breakfast; the table before us contained a vast variety of food, both exotic and familiar. Each of us took a serving that would surely provide us with the energy we needed throughout the day.
Everypony seemed awake for once, equally as prepared as me. Stuffing ourselves with waffles and various types of fruits; we engaged in conversation to make final preparations for the day to come.
“As you know, today is crucial in the reanimation of Equestria.” Shining Armor greeted us with these words; confidence was evident in his voice. We needed confidence more than anything else today. “We need to move quickly if we are to get to the Everfree forest before nightfall. The meal provided for you will bring you the nourishment necessary for the day ahead. It is essential that you eat as much as you possibly can; we have no room in our bags to back food.”
A voyage to Ponyville meant saying goodbye to my best friend and mentor, Apple Bloom. I would have really wanted her to come along for the journey but I knew that she was better off in Ponyville with her family. She had promised us to provide food for Ponyville so that everypony would be kept from starvation. After all, the infection was bound to strike Ponyville again as unpredictable and swift as a thief in the night; turning the blessed land into a wasteland like Canterlot. Knowing Apple Bloom, she wouldn’t let that happen.
I wouldn’t let that happen as well, as long as I’m still alive. I would never let anything happen to Apple Bloom and Babs Seed; the ones that had cared for me for so long. Not as long as I could do anything to prevent the inevitable.
~
We were ready to leave for Ponyville, the guards guiding us once again with their carriage. They would lead us to the Everfree forest and wait for us to come back. As far as Shining Armor knew, this was only a routine check up on the forest, making sure that nothing was disturbed.
He was about to get the surprise of his life.
Nopony knew about my nightly visitations by the celestial entities that fed me with knowledge of the coming days. Danger awaited us as we trotted through hell’s gates.
~
Upon arrival, we said our final goodbyes to Apple Bloom as she trotted off into the mid-day sun. Everypony, without exception would miss her; I would most likely miss her the most.
“I sure will miss that wonderful mare.” Unity sighed at the thought of Apple Bloom’s help during her difficult training. She hated to see her teacher leave so abruptly; it shattered her heart but it didn’t dare affect her spirit. She will need it.
“Me too…” Surprisingly, Starshard spoke these nest words. She never showed much interest in Apple Bloom but here she was, mourning her as if she was lost.
It had been a long few days; I guess everypony had grown attached to the kind mare.
“Wait!” Scootaloo screeched, trotting through the fields as fast as she possibly could to catch up with her old friend.
They spoke for a couple of minutes and I could see them hug in the distance. In that instance I felt awful for them, it must have been depressing to spend their fillyhood trying to earn their cutie marks and never receiving the gift of destiny. It was hard to believe that at one point, everypony had a cutie mark…
She trotted back to the back of ponies that patiently awaited her arrival, tears running down her gorgeous purple eyes like waterfalls of misery. I walked up to her and hugged her as tight as I possibly could, holding back tears of my own as her torrent flooded my coat, damping it until it was completely drenched. It could have lasted seconds or minutes but time was irrelevant as long as Scootaloo was comfortable.
I couldn’t bear to see anypony depressed. I had been that way throughout most of my fillyhood, I knew that only agony came from this sentiment. It was more important to me that everypony else was happy than my own wellbeing. I didn’t care what would happen to me, I would do anything for my friends.
~
Disharmony had taken its toll on the already ominous forest that fit its title; letting wild beasts roam in its exotic garden of discord.
Everfree was a sight to behold, trees rocketed towards the mid-day sky as the blazing sun began its descent; the moon threatening its pursuit.
We had wandered in the forest for had seemed like weeks, examining our surroundings to try and spot any sign of evil that lurked in its depths. Like the abyss, what we would encounter was unknown to us; we had to be on the lookout for the very wild beasts that threatened us with our lives.
The Sun was no longer in our sight, camouflaging itself behind the overgrown, towering trees. Nightfall was unavoidable at this point; we would have to quicken our pace.
~
Although it was mid-summer, the breeze warned us of an early fall. Leaves were segregated from the trees like we were from society in a forest that felt like it was a portal to the underworld.
Shivering from the sudden, unexpected breeze, we seek shelter in a rockier part of the Everfree forest.
This place looks familiar…
We trotted closer and closer to the promise of warmth.
I know this place!
We had now arrived, heading down a set of rocky stairs that seemed particularly unsafe for ponies; especially fillies like us.
Taking each step cautiously, we arrived to the cavern below where we would spend the night. Dusk was filtering out the day. The Moon had begun its reign. Once again, Luna had the stage to herself.
Lanterns grasped firmly in our mouths, we entered the strange cavern to see if we could turn it into a resting place. We found more than a place to sleep. There it was; standing still before us as it reigned over its throne.
The Tree of Harmony.