Crossworld Between Harmony: Nightmare's Ascension

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// Story: Crossworld Between Harmony

// Chapter 11, Part 3 - Tempt to Memorize

// Author: Scarlet Reign

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Butler Wheler put the preparations into place without any loose ends. With the coming time when all the crystals and gems were gathered at once he would seal off the entrance, collapsing the tunnel and trapping all those that worked in the mines to their very doom. His plan, the master’s plan, was flawlessly without measure.

Yet, there was trouble brewing from the mines that he did not suspect.

Hollered sounds of distant cries were convincing enough that something was wrong. Wheler and his fellow butlers went to investigate the disturbance, but what he’d glimpse would be inconceivable. A gush of water spewed out of nowhere, washing and driving the miners and foot soldiers away. He and his butlers were safe when the water quickly turned to ice and rose from the outbreak stood a lone figure from the distant; it was Captain Hover.

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Outward in a blinding flash of light, Twilight Sparkle was spit out from one of her usual near-death experience and landed on a different place that she did not know or the surrounding measure. With the black stone she’d used to escape, she now faced another dilemma in which she pondered.

How would she return the artifact to the attrean?

With the golden feather lost beneath the bottomless pit of water, the violet mare wandered endlessly in the cavernous maze, unable to find her way back to escape or to return to her usual route. However, she still had the option to ignite the stone’s hidden potential once more if she so wishes be granted.

The idea of using the stone for the means of an easy escape shivered the very thought of it for she felt a grim disturbance of despair upon her first time with it. The red magical glow from her horn was adamant, unfazed and remained intact, but she could notice a slight hint of faint that was wearing down on her, almost as if her life-force was being spent.

Unaware of the stone’s dark abilities, Twilight was relieved nevertheless from escaping the massive serpents that was plunging for her. Why didn’t the attrean mention them guarding the stone? By her swift deduction, they were no ordinary creation as they were made up of shadow and smoke.

Lifting the black stone with her magic, she strided on to find the exit. Fortune smiled upon her sheer resilience, but a greater feat was far from over yet as the true test was now presented to the violet mare. Along the unsuccessful attempt for a clear passageway, a whisper, familiar upon her first encounter, started to seep onto Twilight Sparkle. The stone began to make its move.

The gray and faded feature of her appearance was rejuvenated, returning to her original colour, but she could feel the unknowable taint that was eating her alive. Ever since she touched and used the black stone, the violet mare began to feel very strange over a period of time, feeling as if the walls were closing in on her. As minutes drove on, the stone called out to her with sheer determination, gradually persuading her to embrace the power that she had now acquired.

However, as always, the patient and resilient Twilight Sparkle ignored the offer a countless time, shaking the thought of such precarious idea, but she struggled to focus ahead by the temptations of the stone’s generous proposal. It was persistent, it was relentless without question. Its dark voice told her of its worth to be a thousand times beyond mere gold and treasure. With vicious cunning, a directive line was said to her that made Twilight flinched and lose her balance. Her lost companions.

The stone could see and glimpse the deepest, darkest secrets that any soul had stored from within their hearts. It was easy to read as it toyed her mind: her dreams, her ambitions and the excessive guilt and fault, it had seen it all and added an incredible motion that Twilight would had a hard time to believe.

A forbidden taboo and knowledge to bring back the dead to life without any consequence.

Twilight stared blankly at the stone and was unconvinced on the offer that was presented on a silver platter. She’d studied extensively day and night of any known resurrection spell, none of which proved a great result. She fought terribly of the idea, using logic and acting valiant like any known professional would do, but when a gift, a chance, to repay a debt to the fallen heroes that she had caused would mean anything to the entire world.

The memories of the past and her emotion greatly took over her. How could the stone have the audacity to ascend the dead without any risk? A question, in sadly which, that Twilight didn’t paid any heed to that.

Her companions, the Guardians of Twilight Sparkle, the souls responsible for her trip to the human realm were gone from this world, fallen, by her foolish acts of choice. All of them had bravely given their life so that she could continue on battling Nightmare Moon and her darken scheme. The mistake of the companions’ death had cost gravely to this very day and  tormented her wherever she went.

She ached with intense pain as her heart couldn’t bear the guilt that was building upon her. She wanted nothing more than to undo the mistake that she caused so long ago. She desired for change and was hell-bent with desire to help her friends that passed on from this world. No amount of wealth or even a formal apology to the widows and victim’s relatives could make up for the magnitude of anguish that she’d caused them.

It was all her fault.

The stone glittered in brightness, reassuringly enough that it had gotten hold over her at last. Intended from the start, Twilight was now close to embracing the power, an acceptance that would be a fate worse than death.

Within inches near to the succumbment of temptation, Twilight was then froze in her tracks, feeling something heavy around her neck. When she looked down to see what it was, she paused in startlement that she had almost forgot about.

It was a necklace, a simple and easy-to-buy trinket, but this what stopped her from any further attempt as she remembered something so long ago. An object that turned to memory would soon become a promise.

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Long ago, back when Twilight was still with her friends, an evil plan was revealed to them as they ventured over the mountain and to the farther reaches of rivers that no soul would dare or had never explored before. They were on a mission to stop Nightmare Moon, but a terrible battle was waiting for them that ended in tragedy.

The Blighted Plains, a molten and barren wasteland where the air was hazardous with thickened smoke and tremendous fall of volcanic ash without any end. They were almost victorious in their battle, but Twilight became reckless, cocksure at best,  risking her friend’s and many others in grave, mortal danger. They succeeded in stopping Nightmare Moon, but it came with a steep and heavy price.

All nine of her friends had face their certain demise, leaving Twilight Sparkle as the sole survivor of that fateful day. She would then later be saved by Captain Hover with dozens of the Soulus guards at his dispense in the aftermath. Though escorted safely, she couldn’t bear to forget for the guilt was too much to bear. She would forever bear that burden for the rest of her life.

However, before they departed to the forsaken place, before the nine were gone from her life, a gift was presented to her. Given by the leader of the nine, he and the rest bestowed upon her a simple necklace and in the center was a tiny stone of distinct hue of red.

“Promise me, Twilight,” the leader warmly said, placing the necklace gently around her neck. “Whatever happens, promise me that you’ll remember us as we were: a couple of merry fools who were so bent to follow an ambitious mare. Never look back, Twilight. Keep moving forward and succeed stopping the nightmare...

Twilight didn’t realize the importance of that promise till then when the leader was the last to die upon her forearms. She watched her friend fall right in front of her eyes as she was broken into tears. A great burden had been placed over her shoulder and the guilt that she carried, but when another had fallen, another rose up to claim their place.

The black stone struggled to keep Twilight Sparkle at bay, but the violet mare proved too much.

Twilight met new friends after that, even fewer in the following month. She strived forward on to the unknown future and never looked back of the past. She had a promise that needed to be kept, a promise that must be honored in memory of her fallen friends.

And this was the reason why she couldn’t let go and the reason why she had to decline the offer.

It was an answer that the stone didn’t like and hated her for it. It befell into silence as the cavern wall expanded and dimmed in utter darkness. The violet mare became startled on what was happening and with unease and overwhelming fear, she saw cracks from the darkness, crumbling like broken glass. Shadows began to faint, dissipating in smoke as young Twilight Sparkle began to realize what was really going. It was all an illusion.

The dome that trapped the violet mare shattered entirely of its structure, as the black stone had lost all of its attempt. It was almost assured in its bind, almost completely taking over the violet mare. It sensed a potential spark within her that was different amongst the rest. With its unnatural raw power and the violet mare’s extensive knowledge, they would be a force to be reckoned unlike any the world  had ever saw. But it had failed, along with the chance for a suitable host.

The stone’s constructed illusion dispersed, releasing Twilight from its entrapped spell. The only sight she now saw was the gallant clustering colours of crystals, glittering in stars. In front of the fading shadow laid a particular, familiar avian that was waiting for her.

“Remarkable,” the attrean said, applauding by her performance. “Very well done, little mare, you have surpass beyond my expectation. Resourceful, resilient, filled with a determine heart. I knew I sensed something the minute I laid my eyes on you.”

“You!” Twilight exclaimed, scornfully. “What are you doing here? Where am I?”

“Relax your tension, little mare, you are safe. Allow me to sate your curiosity.” The attrean explained that the black stone was a crystalforge, a refined made created from long ago and within the shell held a tiny gemstone with tremendous power. “But we were reckless. We didn’t know what we're up against when the black stone had a life of its own. Many have tried to claim the artifact, to control it.”

“And what happened after that.”

“...it didn’t end well. Most of their life force was taken completely by the stone.”

Twilight gulped, wondering what would happen if she accepted the offer.

“Once for sure that we have no hold over it, the black stone was locked away. Right in this very spot and underneath the mansion. None of my kind had able to succeed on controlling the stone, that is, until you came along.”

Twilight grunted in annoyance. She had almost risked her life just to amuse the attrean and she was getting tired of the charade. “Alright, I have done on what you asked. The question I wonder now is, would this save Geos?”

“Oh, most definitely,” replied the attrean. “I had no doubt that this piece would secure the blight that’s been tormenting him. After all, we created them in the first place.”

Twilight was baffled by the last sentence. “What do you mean by them?”

The attrean’s smile slightly dropped as it raised its arms at the crystalline view. “All of it, my little mare. We created them. The crystals are of our doing.”

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Up from the air and on the attrean’s back, Twilight was holding on to her dear life, slightly fearful of falling down hundreds of feet below. The black stone was well-secured, covered tightly in sordid rags. The attrean refrained from touching the artifact, unable to bear to hold it even in the slightest for it would mean the death for the avian.

“I still don’t understand all of this. Care to explain how you created these crystals in the first place?” Twilight called, slightly shouting from the heavy wind that was blowing directly on her face.

“It is very simple, little mare, very simple,” the attrean lowered slightly at the sea of crystal. “Each piece had a single gem and each colour had a certain affinity to the elements of nature: red, blue, green and white. Either light or dark colour, they’re tied to the affinity that presented them...

Water. The elegance of scorching ice and merciful stream.

Fire. Destructive yet graceful; masters of their fiery fury.

Earth. The patient, the secluded and the hardened stone.

And Air. Thunderous might and the ascent of lightning.

...we created and constructed them to bring balance upon this world. But so in our every goal lies a hidden hint of greed and the lust for control.”

“What happened?”

“There was disagreement between our kind which resulted in fighting amongst us.”

“That is terrible.”

“Oh please, don’t take this to heart, little mare. Our troubles were long since answered and done,” the attrean ascend higher above into the incredible height. The avian sadly smiled.  “We had made our mistake and it had cost us dearly. I am the last of my kind, little mare. Feeling alone without anyone to care and cherish is more cruel than death. Hold on tight, we’re nearly there to our destination,” And with the attrean gliding to the final descent, added. “I’ll bet your friend is dying to see the result of our progress.”

======

Twilight was amazed by the sheer form of crystals that created the place, guessing it must have taken years to  build to what it was today. The spiral caverns they descended were gorgeous and she couldn’t take her eyes off from the gemstones that were within the crystal structure. Lying on the very bottom, she saw Geos in the distance, lying still on the diamond altar.

“So tell me,” she asked, her curiosity got the better of her. “If you made these crystal shards, then you must have an affinity to this element.”

“Indeed I do.” corrected the attrean and that was all of it.

“...well, are you going to tell me about it?” Twilight pondered.

“No and never. What difference does it make?” the attrean replied with a submissive tone. “Our kind were many things, maybe even more, but we had our chances and we threw it all away of such potential. But if you really must know, then you only need to observe.”

“That really isn’t helpful at all, you know..” She retorted.

“Hehe, you are very wanting, little mare. Even a little selfish if you could say to point. Let’s end of this discussion shall we, there’s nothing to gain or to know the grand importance of me. Nothing more than a foolish bird who lost its wing.”

They made a safe landing on the crystalline ground with the stone safely caried by Twilight. The body of Geos remained as it were, but a pool of purple streams began to pour out of him. His time was almost over.

“Are you sure that the stone would help with the problem.” Twilight asked, still unsure of the attrean’s plan.

“You must believe that it would work. Put an amount of faith in me, little mare, and you would see that there is more to you than meets the eye. It harnesses far more capable than your accursed enemy of yours.” The attrean began to set into motion as the diamond-made altar sparkled by human contact. The rookie’s fainted body was almost consumed into darkness, falling into the possession of a part of Nightmare Moon’s control.

“Twilight, would you please magically place the stone above Geos.” The attrean kindly asked, getting ready for the implantation. Its golden, distinct feathers suddenly turned to a grim coloured hazelnut; a familiar style to a griffin. Its redden eyes now glared at the unconscious human, lifting both of its talon and creating a tremendous power of light in its grasp.

Twilight was slightly stunned by the power that was manifesting over the attrean. She uncovered the dirty rags to only find herself surprise of the sudden transformation. The stone shattered into considerable pieces, but it left something along the making: a tiny gem, shrouded in an eternal marvel of black. She felt unease that a single piece could solve the problem, unknown to her that a part of Nightmare Moon laid dormant within the rookie.

She placed the gem as instructed above the rookie, using her magic to keep it afloat and within inches of him. It was then the gem sparked with intensity that dispelled Twilight’s magic. Worrisomely in dread, she began to take notice of the gemstones, countless of them in their colorful glee within the crystal wall, had faded and darkened of all such luster and life. To her realization, the gemstones’ power were manifesting all at once upon the black gem and the attrean’s echoing voice was chilled with vibe that she watched and listened silently of its unintelligible incantation. Staring straight at the black gem and floating all on its own, she thought she’d heard its darken whisper, only to be lost by the avian’s deeply voice.

The gems were confluencing upon a single piece and spreading out of control in violent clashes. But the attrean didn’t stuttered or even flinched for it continued on with the spell. The black gem sputtered brightly and erupted in tremendous darkness. Twilight was overwhelmed soon after when a purple fade began to appear out from the rookie’s chest and to her surprise she stared directly at Nightmare Moon. “W-what? This cannot be?”

A part of nightmare battled against the foreign invader, constantly resisting the black gem’s progress. Yet it proved mightily better, spreading its true darkness over nightmare and with tremendous force, the gem quelled any known resistance and dug deep within the rookie.

The dark energy seeped and planted within Geos, binding and trapping the nightmare that stained him. The gem lowered gradually onto his chest, sinking from within as his flesh began to mend the wounds and covering. The mark of nightmare, the veritable symbol of Nightmare Moon, was no longer visible as it faded from existence.

“It is done,” said the attrean as its brown feathers returned to its golden hue. The gems from the wall returned to their originality, bringing back their colour of life. The crystal altar collapsed and scattered in bits with the attrean holding the young rookie. “The succession is complete. The trouble is now over.”

“Oh no, it isn’t!” The attrean glanced aside to see Twilight acting on the defensive. It could see its horn glowing in fiery red. “You’d lied to me. That was Nightmare Moon that I definitely saw. What is going on around here, why is Nightmare Moon inside of him?”

“...that I do not know...”

“What?

The attrean sighed, feeling the moment of time to sit right now. “That accursed beast had split a part of her inside of the young human, that is true, but I do not know the reason of her intention. Right now, the black gem has suppressed from further corruption. You do not need to worry. He is safe.”

“Still, it doesn’t give explanation why she would do such a thing. To put a part of her soul to another. That’s inconceivable.”

“Indeed, but the best advice that I could give is better to leave things a mystery, temporarily. I have others things that I must ask of you, Twilight Sparkle.”

The violet mare slightly backed away, intimidated by its advance.

“Before you leave this place to the outside world,” the attrean then placed the rookie on the ground and clasped gently onto her hooves. “Promise me that no one, not to a single soul except you, must never know of my existence. From dawn and dusk and the crosslands from afar, never tell anyone that I ever existed.”

“But...why? I do not understand why I have to--”

“Promise me, Twilight, swear to me that you would keep your word in bound,” the attrean declared, slightly filled with distraught and sadness. “The world must never know that one still remains. It would only bring disorder and chaos to many. For this, I had come to beg for your solemn oath.”

Twilight looked deeply into its eyes that it was serious. She didn’t want to decide of course, unsure why she had to keep the attrean’s existence a secret. But in the end, she smiled at the avian and gradually nodded. “I promise,” she pledged. “None shall know that you exist. You have my word for it.”

For a long time, the attrean had never heard such good news in its life. “I thank you, Twilight.” said the avian in great relief. The air felt easier around the attrean, snapping its talon that engulfed Twilight and Geos in an incredible light.

Twilight jumped by the sudden surrounding. “What is the meaning of this?”

“Your grandeur exit; for you and your friend.” The attrean looked above to glimpse the spiral caverns heights were coming apart. Chunks of crystals and gems were falling like rain as a large piece smashed the diamond altar. The avian hadn't moved an inch, feeling the tremendous freedom that burdened the avian. “My duty is complete. I have done my task,” he turned back at Twilight with compassionate gaze. “Thank you, Twilight. Thank you...”

“No, wait, don’t do this stop--” Twilight tried to raise out to the avian, a defiant response, but the light that surrounded them rose tremendously and they vanished from the scene. The crystal cavern continued on its self-destruction, collapsing everything of any known evidence.

“At last...I am truly free,” the attrean looked upward, smiling greatly. “Geos, I do not know what would happen next, but I know that your task would be far greater than ever before. You have gained a priceless treasure. A memory of our forgotten race. As I promise I would deliver your salvation, but in so doing of the consequence of my action, it would risk you and even the accursed beast, Nightmare Moon herself, to an ultimate demise. Such a burden that you now bear within you. I pass on this blessing and a curse to you as the sole guardian of the gem. May you live further and death be swift to your ascension. If this is the price to pay for my defiance and the result for peace to this realm...then I have no regrets whatsoever.”

With a relaxing release, the attrean gradually closed its tired eyes, embracing the peace that it deserved so very long as the falling debris consumed everything of its path.