Crossworld Between Harmony: Nightmare's Ascension

CHAPTER 1 - PART 2

Geos alone had witnessed a dreadful foe; one that would shake the very foundation of the empire itself. He’d stared straight at the monster's glare and long enough to describe the creature.

And what he saw was truly unbelievable.

Neither the enemies as to this date would ever compare the sheer magnitude that posed the threat to the world. Even the hartens would have trouble dealing with this foe.

The world had face a far greater danger that was similar to their ancient foes that they'd vanquished so long ago. The monster's strange and majestic form would be laughable by the eyes of the public, but if they could only see what Geos had experienced, then they too would understand how dangerous the world had become.

Geos couldn't believe that such a creature would exist, but he saw it as clear as bright of days as it was nothing more than a winged beast.

====

"Hey Geos, where the blights are you?"

It didn't took long for Maurice to notice the sudden disappearance of Geos as he quickly began his search. Still bummed out that the escape route was nothing more than a lie, Maurice was still determined to bring the remainder of his men out of the fortress, no matter what the cost.

"Darn it, Geos. No more playing games and come out already. There is no time fooling around when--wait, what's that?"

Maurice took notice something in the dark that was different amongst the rest. He then brought his lantern up front and saw one of the bookshelves was being opened all of a sudden. With his sword firmly grasped, he proceeded into the entrance. Inside, at first sight, he saw a body.

It was Geos.

When Maurice extended his lantern and focused the light, he saw the extent of his friend’s injuries. Approaching immediately to help him out, Maurice examine these strange wounds on both of Geos arms. From hands until to his shoulder Geos was covered in blacken stains unlike anything that Maurice had ever seen before. It appeared to be grossly inhumane that even the hands seemed to form like protruding claws.

Was Geos becoming like one of those...monsters outside? Maurice thought, unconvinced, as he shook his head on the fact that it was not even possible. He could see clearly that Geos skin and flesh was still intact, but his ability, to detect the energies of the world, disturbingly sensed the dead, empty force originating from him.

And yet, in the strangest way, he felt like he'd recognize this feeling before. Almost as if he was meeting an old friend so long ago.

There was nothing to be said from here on out. Geos had discovered the secret passage that the group could escape and Maurice would be a fool than to shoot him on the spot with him being corrupted by the unknown.

Maurice lifted his friend up to his shoulder and headed off back to the front entrance. He was not going to give up on him or anyone to their fate. If there was a chance that the doctors could fix Geos, to be able to cure him, then that's all it matters to him.

As Maurice, with Geos on his back, left the ominous library, above the silver light was a shadow with a terrible smile. She stood in plain sight on top of the wooden beams and vanished into the darkness. She felt sorry to the unfortunate souls. Almost.

====

Maurice right away felt an ominous presence that was creeping from the darkness. He turned around and saw plainly nothing. He slightly laughed out of it.

"Calm down, Maurice, you must be seeing things."

With his lantern lighting the path ahead, Maurice wandered from thought of the first time he met Geos. Everyone always stayed away from him in the academy since he belonged to a disgrace family that Maurice had heard about.

Maurice listened to the stories, the outrageous rumors, that encircled around him and his family. He could care less of the opinions that based around the Vaarkas. He was mostly concerned, however, of the younger generation.

It was a load of rubbish and pointless to argue the past. What was done could never be change, but time again it seemed like the new generation was doomed to repeat the same mistake, too blinded and stupid to accept the state of reality.

Earlier before their investigation to Ironcloud, Maurice was deeply appalled of the group that Magnus had selected. They were bunch of young misfits, glory mongers and egomaniacs who wanted to prove their worth. It was Magnus's way of testing their ability.

Maurice didn't see not a single ounce of worthiness in them to be called a Partishan. Although well-trained and disciplined, he could tell quite clearly that they only wanted the fame and glory for themselves. It made him questioned of the new generation until he met Geos.

There was a bit of commotion within the group about bringing a disgraced son into the mission, but none raised their defiance upon Maurice's judgment. So truly, by the state that they were in right now, he should have listened to them in the first place and not let Geos brought along into this dangerous mess.

When Maurice returned to the front room and laid Geos at the side he then stretched his aching muscles and pressed his stiff neck. "Blighted nightmare, either you've been growing fat, or I'm growing soft and old," he stated in a gasp of breath and then packed his equipment. "Bah, it doesn't matter right now, I suppose. Once we get out of here, you and I need to discuss your diet."

As Maurice finished with his backpack, "Alright everyone, time to move out. Pack your gears and get ready to move out. We got a long way heading home from this blighted...place."

In the instant, words quickly turned to silence as Maurice stumbled upon a horrible sight. There were large traces of blood all across the floor and bodies of the fallen victims of Maurice's group.

Shocked and traumatized over the lost of his group, Maurice now then realized that he and Geos were the only people left alive in this desolate place. He took further steps away from the slaughter and was quickly armed to the teeth. He prayed that this...monster was still not around so that he could carry Geos back to the library.

Whatever what was coming he must preserve no matter the cost. He had faced many challenges before in the Scarlet rebellion and many hardened foes that he'd slain in the name of the king-savior. He would, and shall, survive this horrible event and emerge, once more, as the victor of this round.

As Maurice was about to lift his unconscious friend, the minute that he took another step forward a shadow appeared from behind and had heard the most dreadful sound in his entire life.

"Hello, old friend."

Maurice stood frozen in the instant when he recognized the voice from the darkness. He felt like he was being hit by a cannon ball as he couldn't believe his ears. He grimly knew that his chances of survival were dashed and was now unsure if they could manage to escape this damnable place.

With his saber on the left and the pistol at the other he deeply breathed in for the very last time and replied just before he faced his fate, "Hello...Ederf."

Maurice swiftly turned to meet his maker and felt his muscles being tensed by sheer force of desperation and fright. He stood face to face at the large body of darkness that came alive on its own, growing bigger by the minute. He could already hear its inhuman voice, bringing much pain to his ears. Its sharply eyes, that appeared moments after, burned deep into Maurice's soul as it descended towards to him.

Maurice cannot describe how he felt at this moment and deeply regretted of not finishing him off when he had the chance so long ago. There was no second chance to make up for his mistake and no time for second thoughts.

He raised his pistol up high and aimed between its monstrous glare.

*bam*

====

The cold, dead silence of the once mighty place had a terrible effect on people. It would leave almost anyone to the point of madness and everyone that garrisoned in Ironcloud were either missing or dead.

The group that were sent to investigate the silence were gone, slaughtered by the wicked monsters just outside from the shrine. All that was left in the wake was Geos and Maurice, and Geos had entered into a dreamful state.

Geos now stood upon the memories of his teenage past, the bitter sorrow of why he came to be. During those goodly days of life, Geos was a carefree soul who despised greatly of war. Sure he would imagine of great heroes and bold feats of rescuing damsel-in-distress, but not the real deal at all. He was too much of a coward to take someone's life.

All in the comforts of home with his stingy and traditional family, everything changed in the instant when they received news about their uncle's betrayal in the following years of the Scarlet rebellion. At that very moment, Geos life was turned for the worse. Their family stripped of prestige and wealth to a commoner life.

For the rest of the remaining years after the end of the rebellion, Geos life and purpose of his existence were nothing more than a tragic story. So much responsibility was placed upon his shoulder to restore the honor of his family. He'd only wished to be away from such curse, but no matter how hard he tried to escape this grim reality of a world he would always return to the role of duty and discipline. What a life.

Geos stood at a another place, unfamiliar from his surrounding. It was cold and pitch black and he was completely lost until a ray of light beamed downward at the strange, blue little creature.

Curious, Geos moved towards for a closer look and saw that the animal was an equine, or something else, but unlike anything that he had seen before; apparently due to the fact that the beast had a horn and wings attached to it.

The beast lied on the ground. It had cuts and bruises all over its body. Did the creature had a fight with someone? And why was Geos dreaming about this rather kind of stuff? So many questions and so little to be answered.

Unsure on what to do at this matter, Geos couldn't help but to feel sorry for the animal. By the look of its state, he could only describe that the blue animal had suffered tremendously. He then decided to approach the creature a bit further and heard a strange sound. Was the equine crying?

The blue animal didn't bother to notice Geos as he sat side by side with the creature. He was a complete and utter fool to be doing this, but since it was only a dream he stroke gently of its messy, soft and elegant mane just the heck of it. It seemed that his action would definitely work for the blue equine leaned onto his lap and was able to calm for a bit.

Oblivious on what to do next, Geos then randomly asked. "Why are you crying little one?"

The blue equine looked up and stared straight with its innocent eyes. Geos had never saw such a beautiful sight. It was if he could see the stars. "Everyone hates me," it replied, wiping away its tears with its hoof. "No one appreciates me for what I have done for them. Why are they so cruel and blind to see my work?"

The sound of its voice was definitely female to Geos deduction. "Don't say like that. I'm sure somebody like you the way you are and your work. Even though I have no idea what's this animal is talking about. Blast this crazy dream of mine.

The equine paused for a moment to what Geos had said, but inevitability she turned her head away. "No, you are wrong. No one will like me, love me for what I am. No one will notice the things I have done for them. Selfish, selfish they all are. After all my work for my beautiful night."

"Your.... night?"

The equine pulled away from Geos lap and stood in defiant. She then slammed her hoof. "It's not fair! Why does she deserve the praise that I don't? Why must I suffer while that wretched sister of mine gets all the attention?" Geos couldn't find any words to answer for he truly didn't understand of her situation. Was this really a dream? It felt almost too real for him.

The blue equine shouted with a vindictive rage to her sister, to her subjects and basically to everything in the world. Her language were unintelligible from this point on, but Geos was glad that he didn't hear the rest.

Geos steadily pulled away, slightly intimidated as he soon noticed a change from her voice. It wasn't anymore the sweet and gentle tone, but more of a menace. He could clearly see her appearance was starting to change as well. Her mane and coat grew dark from her hate and Geos was utterly afraid of its grim transformation. The equine then turned around to face him and smiled evilly with her sharp, pointy teeth.

Geos was utterly paled with fear.

"You will love me, right?" the equine asked. Her gentle eyes that Geos saw from earlier turned cold and pale. "You will not leave me like the rest of those degenerates, will you?" She then started to walk towards to him. Geos took several steps back. "Why are avoiding me? Don't tell me you're afraid of me?"

A perverse energy manifested itself from the ground and around the dark equine. It then consumed the equine entirely in a pool of darkness and the small ounce of light blackened out.

Geos was vulnerable in the dark, unsure on what will happen next. In a long and uneasy silent, a faint purple glow emerged at the corner of his eye. He swiftly turned at the source and was quickly blinded in an overwhelming ray of light. Shielded his eyes from the light, it eventually faded out in time and he had the chance to look. Grimly, he was horrified to what he saw.

A spectral mist of reformed flow of energy surrounded the equine. Its blackened wings spreaded out like it was the celestial of death and eyes as sharp that would pierce the very souls of man.

Flabbergasted with a grim realization, Geos recognized that this creature was from the library and he could feel the sense of danger. He shook his head in a terrible fright and dashed as far away from the monster. It's hideous, darkened features were definable as it followed him with blinding speed.

Geos cried out for help and ran at an endless darken path, but eventually he would always return...in front of the monster's warmth.

"At last...you are mine."

====

Geos body jerked and gasped in fixated gaze. He would likely to scream at the very bottom of his lungs but he found himself too exhausted to do it. With one eye opened, he checked around to be in the front room of the shrine. He didn't know how he got here, but there was little time to think about when he saw large traces of blood...and a body.

The lantern was toppled next to the body that still burned bright in the darkness. Where was the rest of the group? Where was Maurice? Geos stood up and felt his legs were about to collapse. Both mind and body were groggy from his surreal, adventure trip to dreamland, but was it really a dream or something more than that?

Geos proceeded to the body and felt a cold chill running down from his spine. The person was definitely one of the group. But who was he? He turned the face-down body around and his eyes stared in bewilderment.

Maurice lied on the cold, stave stone with palish eyes deeply wide open. It filled them with much shock and fright. His suit of armor was covered, stained and smudged entirely in his own blood and a large gaping hole was presentable in the middle of his chest. There was a terrible experience in his face before his death. So much fear. So much hate within those deadened eyes. Was it torment, regret?

But it didn't matter anymore. There was nothing to be said for the dead.

Geos breathing had gone frantic and felt his emotion was turning out of control. He was now the last person alive in the entire fortress of Ironcloud and must dealt the horrors that remained in the darkness. Traumatized and shocked with an overwhelming doubt, Geos had no words to express over the lost of his mentor and friend. He'd thought that Maurice would be the last to survive this blighted place, but it seemed even the best could not hold out on his own.

Another question came into mind. What chance did Geos have?

Pressured, Geos ominously heard the sound of broken glass and a thumped on the door. Vile skeleton-hollows resumed their attempt and breached through the blockade entrance. Hundreds of them as far as Geos could see poured in into the shrine with all the horror and all the dangers in sight. The blackish stain that infected the bones of the fallen soldiers were clearly visible to him and the transformation of their newly skin-flesh was nearly complete.

Geos stepped away from the precarious horde and forced to leave the corpse of Maurice behind. There was nothing that he could do. He'd managed to gather whatever's left of his friend, grabbing in a quicken haste of gunpowder and his dagger. As the hollows advanced at the target, Geos darted to one of the rooms, but was immediately stopped to notice a dozen of grim violet eyes that glowed in the dark.

The situation was very grim. Trapped and surrounded by these horrid monsters, Geos then directed himself to the stairs, but was quickly cut off by these two hollows that blocked his only chance of survival. It was true that Geos was a coward, yet he was desperate enough to risk it as he charged straight at them.

The first hollow responded by swinging its broken blade, following the second with a fiercely thrust of its spear. This was the moment when Geos would fail at this attempt along with his shorten life. But it didn't.

Geos parried the blow of the first hollow by holding his sword straight in the direction to the second. He then dodged the tip of the second hollow's spear where he drove his blade through its darkly flesh. Its terrible scream wailed in agonizing pain and strangely dissolved into dust. The first hollow readied to strike from behind, but Geos was quick and gave a clean cut to its head.

As the last hollow succumbed to dust, Geos was bewildered by the rather coming event. Why the two hollows dissolved upon contact of his blade? Once more, so many questions that left unanswered.

The stairs was cleared in his path and Geos rushed upstairs while the hollows pursued in their chase.

====

In the hallway the area was pitched black. With only the lantern, that he took from Maurice, lighting the path ahead, Geos was in a dangerous path toward his destiny. A destiny that he dared not want to go.

At the end of this investigation, Geos would learn that there was something far worse than death, as well as life.

Trembling with absolute fear, Geos blindly continued walking at the darkened hallway. What horrors would he find that was far worse from below? What sorts of monsters that still lurked in the night? Deeply in thought, he'd wished to return to the comforts of home and all the goodness of the world. He wanted to return to how they were before.

But fate was not kind to no man and Geos knew that he would never have his decent life.

The hollows that pursued Geos stopped their chase once more, similar to the actions in the front entrance from earlier. The footsteps of the dreaded hollows faded and Geos could only hear the unease and unbearable silence of the dark. A lot of questions was stirring in his mind; a sense of curiosity was in order: Why did the hollows stop? Was this their plan along to lead him upstairs?

For several minutes, Geos continued walking through the hallway on what appeared to be endless. His mind throbbed intensely with pain and by the time he could no longer proceed any further strange illusions began to appear before his very eyes.

Several types of ghostly equines, with multiple types of color, played and worked beneath the warmth of its deviant rays of the sun. Their expression, by what Geos could guess, were joyous and peaceful under a particular shadow that flew over him. He quickly looked up, but could not tell what it was until the creature descended to the ground.

The creature was a winged-horn equine. Its gentle, white and snowy coat had a certain glow by the sunlight while its mane wriggled lively in a different sets of color. Its posture and how it presented itself demanded respect as the equines bowed before to the creature.

It felt very strange for Geos to be enchanted by a horse, but he couldn't help but to sense a need of protectiveness that surrounded the animal. As he was getting used to the scenic place, all of a sudden, the illusion began to fade.

Geos was snapped back into reality to met the walls and the entire hallway covered in a foul, blackish slime that poured profusely in a terrible spill. The environment was very uncomfortable for him. Blighted hell...what in Savior's name is this?

Horrified and shocked, Geos sprang to his feet and ran as fast as he could while ignoring the grotesque display from every corner. He closed his eyes shut, telling himself repeatedly that everything was a ceaseless dream of his imagination. He could swear that the black slime had a mind on its own.

When at his most vulnerable, Geos heard a strange sound that was over ahead. It sounded faint, unrecognizable, but it was a sign that he was getting close. And he was right.

At the end of the hallway he found a sealed door where the source of the sound was at the other side of the room. He listened to that peaceful, serenaded violin that echoed the halls and was already entranced by such talent. But there was no time to be distracted.

If this was correct and that the person responsible for the death of so many lives was beyond at this door, then Geos may had the chance to prevent this catastrophe from spreading. It could be his chance to redeem his family's honor.

Geos prepared his pistol, using whatever's left of the gunpowder he snatched from Maurice. Along with the sword firmly gripped, he then slammed the door and broke it wide open with a pistol aimed at the target. The music then suddenly came to a halt.

Inside the room was filled with priceless artifacts, relics from every corner of the empire that dated back from ancient times. All of these fragile antiquities were stored behind on glass shelves that reminded a nation how wondrous and terrible the past they really were. But now, they're nothing more than piles of worthless scraps.

"How do you like my music?" a voice called out to Geos. "It's been a long time since I played an instrument. How wonderful it is to feel the melody, the sound to bring such colors to life...but I guess nowadays you see few artists that could compose such beauty."

Geos eyed at the robed-hooded stranger with a violin in his hand. He firmly advanced his position, ever so cautious with his surrounding.

The stranger then slightly sighed. "I take it that you are man of arts?" he then turned his head and gently smiled. "Tell me, what do you think of it? Is it perfect? Does it need a bit of improvement? I always tend to ask these stuff when I'm nervous. Say, are you a musician yourself?"

Geos didn't said a word and remained vigilant on the target.

"...silence, I guess that's understandable," the stranger then placed his violin aside and met eye to eye at the young man. "Well, if you are not here for music then I guess you're here to--"

*bam*

====

*bam*

The barrel of Geos gun leaved a trail of smoke as the target collapsed upon impact from the hot iron ball. He wasn't going to take a chance for the stranger to act. He despised of killing, but if that someone was the main reason for the death of his group, the entire garrison of Ironcloud and the only friend that he ever had then it wouldn't be right not to leave the person alive.

Geos quickly discarded the pistol and walked towards the body with a sword in hand. He plummeted deep to the stranger's chest for good measure, finding the blood of his very first kill splattered all over his face and armor.

Emotion rushed into the rookie's face and when all such hate and anger departed in his system he felt a tremendous dread in his heart. He should be happy and even relieved that he had delivered justice for the fallen soldiers and his departed friend. And yet, why does he feel that it wasn't the case. A grim thought came to realize if he made a mistake. What if the stranger was just a victim, a survivor who'd lost all hope and that the only way to cope the insanity was to play his instrument?

Geos relinquished the blade where it still planted on the stranger's chest. He could feel his mind racing, along with his heart that was about to explode at any moment. What had he done to deserve this? Why was Geos still alive while so many could not?

He covered his head with both hands, squeezing tightly with incredible force. He then muttered to himself, hell-bent towards insanity. "Why me? Why am I alive? What am I doing here?"

The room suddenly began to darken around him. The black liquid slime oozed through the wooden cracks.

"I feel nothing, I feel so lost"

A large shadow formed behind of Geos.

"Am I going crazy? Am I seeing things?"

Grim purple eyes stared at the terrified soldier.

"Who are you...who are...you?"

The stranger's body was missing.

"...who am I?"

So much that was yet to be answered. So much questions that couldn't sate his desire. Geos stood out in the open, defenseless to what came next. He felt a sting, a throbbing pain, that circulated over his chest. His mind went blank like an open canvas and eyes wide open.

Blood trickled down his feet as he saw his own blade pierced right through him. "You should be more careful with a stranger like me, rookie. Cause you'll never know what comes back to return the favor."

The sword yanked out from his chest as Geos knelt to the ground. His hand covered the precarious wound and felt nothing but a sense of overwhelming pain for the stranger smiled with amusement.

"Now, now, you can't pass out just yet," the stranger added as he dragged the face-down Geos to the balcony. "The fun is just getting started. You have something that she desires and you wouldn't want to miss the finale."

Geos could barely hear what the stranger had said, and much to his dismay the world suddenly turned against him. He stared upward at the balcony, minding away from the wound that he received. It wouldn't matter to him in the long run. He was already dead. And yet, as they were just outside, he could almost swear he saw something at the nightly sky, shining in the darkness? Was it a star or was it something else?

"There, this is what the doctor ordered. A nice view and our pleasing crowd. Come on, up you go." the stranger quickly lifted the wounded Geos to his feet. Geos refused to cooperate, but that only made the stranger's hideous smile even wider. With much physical persuasion the stranger directed Geos to gaze down below the square. And what Geos had saw truly terrified him.

From the once glorious fortress to the now barren ruin, the fallen soldiers, possessed and transformed into hideous monsters by the blacken muck, had gathered around by the hundreds, staring at the balcony with their grim purple glow.

Their transformation, caused by the black slime, were like a new skin for the dead soldiers, shaping them into new forms of creatures unlike the world has ever seen before. Armor, weapon and whatever remained of their former selves were discarded with nothing left but their self-composed attire.

"Do you see now, rookie do you see the result," the stranger proclaimed. "This is the result of your empire's weakness, the corruption, lead by foolish leaders who doesn't have the guts to make the right decisions. You believe that the oh so incredible king could stop this and that his...subjects...would try to stop me. You'd be right and wrong on that part."

The stranger grabbed Geos by the sleeves and lifted him off to the balcony. "You will be wondering if this is the end for you and that all that you know will fade into nothing. Fortunately, you are wrong on that part as she requires you to live a bit further. In other words you are going to live. Tell your officers and whatever that's in charge of your little operation," he brought down his hood and stared straight eye-to-eye. Geos could barely had the strength to get a good look of his face and the only thing he noticed was his palish eyes. "cause the nightmare is about to begin."

With the stranger's final words, he let go of his hand, and watched, as Geos fell into the bottom below.

====

The hours went by as the musician stood idly at the balcony, playing his musical instrument with the moon as his audience. His hand motioned with precision, hitting the softly mark while passionately giving it all in a terrific display of control.

Music came back to life in the once glorious fortress, bringing a deep and tragic melody. The ruin building was empty and desolate. No survivors, no corpses, nothing. Just him, his music and a special friend which he quickly took notice.

"I seem to anger you somehow," the musician sneered impetuously. "Did my music disturb your beauty sleep in some way? Why won't you come out and show yourself from this hiding nonsense before I come in there and force you into the light."

At a moment of silence, a dark purple mist slithered from inside the room and gathered at the balcony to emerge its form. Taking a shape of an equine, she opened her catlike eyes and responded bitterly towards the musician. "I see that your attitude is still need of improvement. Such a rude little creature you are."

"Thank you. I take my reputation very seriously and your complaint is dully noted...like the rest that you've been complaining."

The equine harrumphed by his annoyance. "Enough with this bigotry of nonsense," she angrily shouted and slammed her hoof. "Are the preparations ready yet?"

"All is according remarkably well if I say so myself. Now nothing stands between us and the prizes we seek. The only thing left now is the signal from the other end. I hope the deadlines are met."

"Yes...let's hope that this ally of yours proves a worth to my satisfaction. We cannot have any failure on this one."

The musician slightly laughed, which made the equine even more angrier. "You worry too much. I'm sure everything would be fine after this. Since we'd dealt the current situation, our goal is crystal clear, wouldn't you say...um, hello?" He slightly glanced and found that the equine had left.

The musician gave out a slightly sigh. “Oh Nightmare Moon, why you are so random sometimes.”