For who knows how long, all my world was was black and silent. No voices, no sounds of nature. As silent as the grave I was most certainly in after my fight with the forces of Darkness incarnate. So, imagine my surprise when I heard this: "I don't know, princess. It's a miracle he survived, seeing as how he's from a more humid worked than ours, and his suit lost nearly all of it from the damage. We should thank Harmony he's in a coma." I barely heard it, but still heard it.

"The doctor is right, sister," I heard. "You saw the damages his armor incurred. 'Tis a miracle he survived fighting those. . .shadows, or whatever they were. Right now, we can only hope he makes a quick recovery. The others would be, and are, demoralized with him unable to do anything. He is the one who led the attacks that freed Ponyville, Cloudsdale, and us."

"We all know that, Luna," a third voice said. "But until he recovers, it'll be up to us to lead them. He's been out a week, and the army is ready to move on Manehattan."

Manehattan? The resistance isn't ready for that, even with our numbers and allies. My network said it is defended by Discord himself. I know he could have stopped me when I saw him at the tree, but it's Discord, he may have been saying that just to make me trust him. We wouldn't be ready to hit there at all until after all the bearers were free, which meant the Empire liberated. Needless to say, they were screwed if they went with the attack.

"Then I suppose it's a good thing I'm one for dramatic entrances, then, Mau'ual," a fourth, familiar voice said before my sight had something new.

The sight was a gray skinned, earth pony mare wearing a white dress that went to her ankles. She was as tall as Celestia and Nightmare, and had rainbow hair-actual rainbow hair, unlike Celestia's northern lights like hair- that was long enough to reach her shoulders, had it not been flowing in an unfeelable wind. "Harmony," I said in my mind, recognizing her instantly.

"Indeed," she said with a slight head bow. "I'm sorry this is how our first meeting came to be. Well, the first one where you know what my preferred form is, anyway."

"Not your fault," I said. "I suppose you are the reason I'm still alive?"

"That, and some quick thinking on Fleur's part," the goddess replied. "The more she does, the more I believe my choice in making her an alicorn is correct."

"Noted," I said. "Why are you here, exactly, Harmony, if you do not mind me asking?"

"Well, you see," Harmony said, "as you know, I can't resist a god prophecy-each one Celestia and Luna know of are from me-but the major ones, I give only to a select few, and right now, you are one of them."

"Great," I muttered. "That cliche."

"Yes, well, I'm a sucker for that kind of stuff," Harmony said. "Anyway, here's the prophecy: When Equestria has fallen six times at once, one hundred and twenty moons shall pass, and ten demons-one born of light and enveloped in darkness, one born of darkness and enveloped in light, one bred from birth to be a warrior, one who had been betrayed, one a summoner, one a general, one a living shadow, one from times past, one who has lost all his family, and one a solider of science- shall rise, and through their efforts, Equestria will either rise, or perish."

"And it doesn't rhyme why?" I asked.

"Couldn't think of a rhyming version of it," Harmony said, shrugging. "Though I will say this: they will have a part in helping you free your Equestria."

"Good," I said. "Support will be welcome. When will I meet them?"

"That, I can not say," Harmony said. "All I can say is that you will meet parts of the group when you need to, not before. I can also say you'll wake up the day the resistance nearly fails in Manehattan."

"And the last moment cliche, as I call it," I muttered. "Allows for epic shit and entrance, but also could lead to great tragedy."

"Which is why you'll have support of one of my champions for that one," she said. "You'll meet him then. I recommend you let him battle Discord, I gave him some of my energy, just enough to make it to where Discord can't use his abilities against him. Directly, at least."

"Noted," I said. "Anything else I should know?"

"Simply that Rarity and Pinkie have arrived, and have been placed with Applejack and Rainbow Dash:Rarity as a medic, Pinkie as the cook."

"I guess that does fit them well," I said. "Is that all?"

"For now, yes," Harmony said. "I shall see you at a later date, then." And with that, she just vanished.

I'm going to hate the day when I wake up, won't I?

Canterlot- a week earlier

"-and you are willing to give me command of these. . . Taken of yours, as long as I kill the resistance leader?" Dainn asked Oryx.

"Indeed I am," Oryx said. "And, if you are able to, I will be able to give you something in return. A true goddess for you, perhaps?"

Dainn opened his mouth to say yes, but was surprised when his mouth said, "No. I am quite content with the solar and lunar cunts, or at least will be when they are recaptured."

"I suggest you watch your wording," Oryx said. "I am from a different version of your universe, and that world's Celestia is my daughter. Even if that is not the case here, I will not stand for her being called anything but a respectful title or her own title, which she chose for herself. Actually, if you or your kind treat any female under my rule as you treat those under yours, I will make you regret it. Am I clear?"

"Yes," Dainn said. "And you have my thanks for offering assistance to the Caribou, King Oryx."

"I do not need your thanks," Oryx said before he disappeared in a green flash, leaving only he Caribou king, still wondering why he hadn't taken the offer of yet another goddess.

Author's Notes:

Celestia being Oryx's daughter came from the titles of the tree wizards from the Taken Blight quest step on Earth, which was, for all three Daughter of Oryx.
Also, a small hint at what's to come: I always liked tragic villains. You know, those who have to do what they do, even if they don't want to, or have no control over their actions, but still try to fight it.