"And now I wish to God that The earth would turn cold
And my heart would forget it's made of glass"

She felt amazingly good. A pungent taste lingered on her tongue but it was forgotten, swept away by the warm, floating feeling that coursed through her body. Erthë felt as though she was floating through the forest, head swimming with impressions; flickering light and drifting scents, colors swirling past in a blurry haze.

It had probably been a stupid thing to do. Uncle Badger had warned her that the effect of the weeping red flowers could be very unpredictable, had told her to only use them in an emergency. But wasn't that what this was? To be in a state of constant pain for day after day after day, unable to sleep or focus or stay still as the ache gnawed at her, nibbling away her sanity one second at a time... After enduring it for a week the filly'd had enough.

So she left the misty forest, went to the vast, sprawling meadows; a slow and painful march, the once fleet and elegant stride reduced to heavy limping by the severe injuries to the left front leg. And there, amidst the thistles, she found them. The red, brilliant flowers that cried white tears when damaged, flowers that could relieve her of agony but also curse her for the rest of her life...

Erthë was careful, took only one and chewed down the bittersweet petals. And waited.

And it had been bliss. Sweet, wonderful euphoric sensations had swept away the sharp stabbing in the leg until she could stand on it without feeling a thing. It was like being born anew, delivered from agony and unleashed into a world that was more beautiful than she had ever realized before.

Elated she had picked more of the flowers, picked them and bound them into heavy wreathes so that she could carry them with her. And as she left, the filly realized that she didn't want to go home. No, she couldn't go home, not now that she was feeling so good! Instead of west she headed east, towards the deep forests and the sprawling Threshold woodlands. She had her bow with her; she would practice with it again, find a secluded spot and stay there all day!

It was on her way to find such a place that she came across the two mares. One was familiar, the other not; but that was alright, she liked strangers too. With a dazed look on her face, eyes a little glazed and with a dreamy smile on the lips Erthë tripped along the path until she could stop, side by side with the gold and cream lady she had conversed with once, before her world turned grim and dark.

"Hello Rexanna!" she chirped, extending her flower-laden neck to brush noses with the unicorn. "How are you? I'm feeling goood, these flowers are amazing!"

She beamed at her, and at the stranger too; "Hi hi, I'm Erthë from the World's Edge, nice to meet you! Would you like one of these?"

Plucking a crimson flower from the wreath she extended it towards the dainty looking mare, her long tail curling lazily around the legs.

"And all the pretty tulips would disappear
And never disturb me again"