Of Things to Come
“Phew! What a day.” remarked Harmony.
After it was time to lock up the cafe for the night, Harmony was ready to head back home and enjoy a little rest. She flew high up into the air, and headed one her way to her cottage, which rested a little ways just outside of Canterlot. Her friends had tried to convince her a few times to move into town, but Harmony was perfectly happy living where she was. After all, she preferred the quaint and quiet confines of a cottage to an apartment in town any day. It wasn't long until the moss-covered roof of her cottage came into view, Harmony swooped down and landed upon the doormat, and stepped inside.
The inside of Harmony's cottage was very lovely, with its wood-paneled floors (the same kind like in her cafe), the green striped wallpaper, and the many personal and prized possessions that took up most of the space. Harmony set her saddlebag on a hook by the door and called out, “I'm home!” The pattering sound of paws reached Harmony's ears, as her pet jacklope, Tempo, bounded down the stairs to greet her.
“Hello, Tempo.” Tempo leaped up high and landed in Harmony's arms. He nuzzled her her chest affectionately, being careful not to accidentally scratch her with his antlers. “Okay Tempo, that's enough.” laughed Harmony. She set the butterscotch-colored jackalope onto the floor and headed in the direction of the kitchen. “I need to get dinner ready.” Tempo gave a nodded understandingly and hopped over to the spring green loveseat, to wait until dinner was ready.
Harmony couldn't help but smile a little to herself. Tempo had always been such a loving, well-mannered jackalope, especially toward her.
Maybe I'll give him a little something extra for dinner tonight, for being so well-behaved. She thought.
As she entered the kitchen, Harmony got out the lettuce, alfalfa, rampion, and arugula, and washed them off before putting them onto the cutting board. She chopped them up, tossed them into a bowl, tossed it some more, adding a few tomatoes she had, and split the salad into two bowls. She set hers onto the table, and set Tempo's on the floor, but not before adding some croutons to it (which he loved to have with his salad).
Harmony then called out, “Alright Tempo, dinner's ready.”
In less than a second, Tempo went for his food bowl, and began to happily eat up the leafy greens. Harmony chuckled a little, and proceeded to eat her salad too. She then recounted her day to her jackalope. “It was fairly quiet today.” she said. “Mrs. Charm placed in an order she wants me to deliver to her tomorrow, and there was this one pony who just came into town.”
Tempo looked up at her and cocked his head to the side, wanting to know more.
“I didn't catch her name, but she certainly seemed like a nice enough pony. But I don't think I'll be running into her anytime soon. She seemed very occupied with her trip.” Harmony then decided to change the subject, and went on to tell Tempo about her lunch with Razzaroo and Kimono, and how both of them were doing well. By the time she was almost done, she and Tempo had finished off both their dinners. “So all in all, I'd have to say it was a pretty good day.” Harmony concluded.
She took the two bowls and placed them into the sink to wash later. She trotted into the living room where Tempo was waiting for her, holding up a book for her. The cover sported the book's title, Robin Hoof and His Merry Stallions. Lately Tempo had taken an interest in hero stories, and insisted on having Harmony read them to him every night. Harmony sat on the loveseat beside Tempo and cracked open the book.
“No, where were we? Ah, yes, we were on the part with Robin going off to see Mare Mareion.” Harmony cleared her throat, and read the book in a clear voice to Tempo. After a couple of chapters or so, Tempo nodded off and now slept in a curled ball. Harmony closed the book and smiled lovingly at the jackalope, petting his fur. She let out a long yawn, and decided it wouldn't hurt if she rested her eyes for a little while. She laid down, and curled up with Tempo, and closed her eyes, and soon, she was fast asleep.
"Hello?! Is anyone there?! Anypony?!" Harmony couldn't tell where she was, only that it was a void of darkness, as far as she could see. Her own voice echoed back to her, and so far there were no indications that any other ponies were around. Panic began to rise inside of Harmony, she didn't know what was happening or what she was doing in this strange place. Then, a voice from behind her spoke up, a familiar sort of voice.
"Do not be afraid, Harmony." it said. Harmony spun around, and saw her cutie mark, a butterfly with frilled iridescent wings, floating before her. Harmony could feel like it was calling to her. Her cutie mark then started to fly away from her, deeper into the darkness.
"Wait, don't go!" shouted Harmony, as she chased after it. She wasn't sure exactly where it was leading her or why, but she felt somehow like it was important that she did. After awhile, another light came into view. Harmony's cutie mark disappeared, and a new image floated before her. An image of little crystal heart inside a delicate snowflake. "What is this? What are you trying to tell me?" demanded Harmony. Nopony answered at first, but then the familiar voice whispered into her ear.
"Soon Harmony. Soon, you will be needed, and you must be ready for when that happens."
"Ready? Ready for what?"
The voice just let out a melodious laugh, and the image began to disappear.
"Wait! Don't leave yet!" Harmony lunged forward, trying to grasp at the image, her eyes opening wide. "DON'T LEAVE!"
Tempo let out a surprised cry and fell backward on the loveseat. Harmony breathed heavily, finding herself back on the loveseat in her cottage, safe and sound. "It was just a dream." she sighed in relief.
She looked over at Tempo, who dusted himself off and hopped toward her, resting a paw on her hoof and giving her a concerned look. Harmony smiled sweetly at him and said, "It's alright Tempo, I'm fine. I just had a really crazy dream, that's all." But Tempo didn't look entirely convinced, so Harmony picked him up, and began to carry him upstairs. "Come on, let's get to bed and try to get some more sleep."
Harmony entered her bedroom, and set Tempo on one side of her bed, while she slipped under the covers on the other side. "Good night Tempo." she cooed, kissing his forehead lightly. "See you in the morning." Harmony closed her eyes, and pretty soon, she drifted off into a dreamless sleep.
It wasn't just Harmony however, who was having strange dreams. In her royal bedchamber inside Canterlot Castle, Princess Celestia was having another one of her visions. As the Princess of the Day, Celestia had the gifted of visions, which allow her to glimpse into the future or to see signs of things to come. However, there were limits to this gift. Like how she had no control over when the visions come to her or how much of the future is shown to her. They simply come and go of their own volition. And tonight's was no different.
In her vision, Celestia saw a place unlike any she'd ever seen before. It was wide open and hazy, and yet, it was also warm and it gave a sense of safety and security, like being wrapped in a mother's arms. But there was something else. Or rather, somepony else, in the midst of this strange place. The image of the pony shifted in and out, like a mirage, making it nearly impossible to make the pony out. Celestia concentrated, trying to see the pony before the vision ended. Then, her eyes widened in shock.
No. she thought. No, it can't be. It's not possible!
The vision ended, and Celestia awoke, she sat bolt upright in her bed. "That vision." she muttered. "It couldn't have been real, and yet, my visions haven't failed me before." She turned her head toward the window, and saw that the moon hung high in the sky. She let out a sigh. "I'll have to wait until morning to tell Luna. But, if what I saw was indeed true, then it must be looked into further." And, with great difficulty, Celestia went back to sleep, her thoughts filled with the vision and what it could mean for all of Equestria.