Crossworld Between Harmony: Nightmare's Ascension

CHAPTER 3

On a dark and stormy night. In a place far, far away beyond space and time. There came a magical land of Equestria, and on top of the spire, in the capital of Canterlot, lied a majestic princess, looking above at the starless night. A saddened princess, who'd lost the only thing that was precious to her than life itself. And that was her little sister, Luna.

For what had been liked a couple of weeks seemed almost an eternity for her, and she grimaced of the situation at the other realm, the newly discovered world that was beyond space and time. A place where Twilight dwelled right now, in fact. She could hope only that her faithful student would be alright for if something were to happen to her then she would not know what to do next.

Today was a grim and gloomy eve just like before and the day before that. The princess was completely drenched by the pounded rain and shivered by the terrible coldly breeze. But it didn't matter to her. Nothing was far so great than to fail her sister twice in a row.

The princess entered back inside the spire and descended towards to the royal hall. The rain outside was heavy and pounded like falling rocks. Darkened clouds hovered the sky, preventing the warm rays of the sun, as well as the stars of the night that peer into the harmonious land. The inhabitants were quite worried that something had happened with the princess. Even the nobles were bothered by this and demanded an explanation of the rather unusual, endless drought.

However, the nobles didn't get any, and the princess simply confined herself in the castle with an exception for a few and loyal subjects that she'd selected.

In the hallway, as the princess wandered through the path, she quickly caught a couple of the servants, cleaning the fine pottery works and well-painted portraits. When the servants saw the princess they simply bowed down in respect before they darted to their work. The princess couldn't help but felt unease whenever the subjects were staring at her. It was almost as if they were afraid of her even though she was a kind and noble ruler.

When the princess looked at the servants, before they darted off somewhere else to do their cleaning work, they had nothing to be afraid of. They were just the cheery bunch of ponies without a care in the world. It was kinda refreshing for the princess that, in such a gloomy and miserable weather, they were still some smiles to be about and it placed a smile on her face. But only for a moment.

The princess had reached her destination and stumbled upon a large blue door. The guards noticed and bowed before the princess, entering at a pitch black room. Promptly after the guards sealed the door firmly shut and tight, the princess casted a spell that suddenly gleamed the entire room in a bask of light. But not just the remarkable warmth of the mighty sun, but rather the cold, silent silver moonlight that her little sister was in charged for the task, and that was to raise the moon.

Not everypony knew the state of the kingdom that posed for the princess. Not everypony, except to only a few, knew the state of Luna's condition. For in this very room, at the middle where sapphires and amethysts glittered above in imitation of the starry constellation, was a lonely, golden glass casket and a sleeping little sister who couldn't wake up.

The princess stood near to Luna's casket, staring sadly at her dear little sister. She could still see the wound as bright as day. That precarious, hideous wound that Luna bore. It was a very large cut in the center of her stomach, with an ominous, dark green colour. The princess thought that the injuries would be curable, but when the doctors tried to restore Luna back to health, she knew that this was no ordinary cut.

Whatever methods being attempted proved to be in vain or even stopped altogether for fear that Luna's condition would worsen. Even the princess, with a millennium of experience in the fields of magic and vast untold knowledge of crafts and arts, was overwhelmingly stumped by this incurable disease. She sensed that the wound was somehow enchanted, but at the same time did not have the presence of magic. By what she could describe, it felt all too natural.

Even though they were unable to restore Luna to the prime conditions of health, they were other ways to prevent the wound from spreading even further. When the doctors examined the cut they told the princess that it was...eating her, gradually draining her very life-force until there was nothing left. And with that, a casket was constructed.

Crafted by the best artisans from across the land, along with the best and brightest of enchanters, they created a permanently sealed casket that would give Luna enough time before her probable demise as well as a search for a possible cure. Although the glass casket worked, to which the princess thought it more than a coffin, there was no telling how long the casket would hold. At the very instant, she could see green veins protruded across Luna's body and closer to the head.

They were running out of time.

There was a brief knock by the door and the room suddenly went pitch black. Light slightly cringed and seeped into the room where the guard's large shadow covered over the princess. "Forgive of my intrusion, your majesty, but you have a meeting with your daily appointment at the throne room.

The princess wiped her tears away, not wanting any pony to see her weakened state, and faced the guard with a calm and demeaning manner. "Thank you for the notice." She said, smiling. "I'll be there shortly."

The guard slightly bowed and gradually closed the door. The room was eternal as the blackest of night. No more of the glittering stars of amethysts and sapphires. No more of the cold silver moonlight. The only source of light at that very moment was the warm radiance of the topaz light, radiating from the princess's horn.

"Farewell, my dear little sister. I shall soon see you by tomorrow." With a painful goodbye, Princess Celestia walked out of the door and exited the lunar room. As the last light darkened the room, the only thing that remained was the ominous green glow of the lonely casket of Princess Luna.

====

Geos didn't know where or what he was doing, but in the end he would see it all. The start of a once beautiful nightmare. And he was the main attraction.

On an unfamiliar spot, Geos stood on a platform where thousands of observant eyes gazed right towards him. The crowd roared and cheered for his next, and what might be probably his last, high performance. All eyes were on the stage, Geos' finality before departure. He was on the spotlight, the main attraction of the show, and his eyes ached by the bask of light.

Bewildered completely from his surrounding, Geos shortly then heard the announcer's voice. "Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls, may I present the main event! Our grand hero, who have risk thick and thin for your entertainment, will make his final debut before his candles are out. Let's give a round of applause to Geos Vaarka, the hero of the empire!"

An invisible crowd clapped in a high amount of volume that ringed Geos ear. He winced by the sound of their frolic happiness and begged for them to stop. When he dropped down to one knee, the announcer then proceeded on with his persuadable speech. "Ah, a man who doesn't take time, ladies and folk. We wouldn't want him to be waiting now would we?" The crowd laughed. The announcer silenced the audience and steered at the red curtains. "Feast your eyes upon this you goodly folk. May I present another special guest that would participate Geos performance? And...open up!"

With a gesture of the announcer's hand, the red curtain progressively unfolded to reveal...nothing.

As Geos thought behind the curtain, a pain unlike no other scorched deep into his chest. He violently coughed and closed his mouth. Blood spilled into his fingers, and when he saw it wasn't the color of red, but rather the dim shade of black. Dread won the young, impulsive man, and when he raised his head back at the curtain for his finality...a bell suddenly sounded.

Geos had woken up from his hellish nightmare, dazed and confused. The bell towers outside rung several times before the deep sound of gong had ceased to silent. He found himself lying on a couch; an expensive couch to be exact with a ridiculous amount of decor.

While Geos examined to be some kind of office, with fancy style of nobility and grace, he soon tried to understand the nightmare that he had experience. Yet no matter how hard he tried the blacken dream was all a blank to him. Either that he didn't want to remember or something was entirely a mystery to him. The next thing that he tried to recall was how he had come into this room in the first place? It didn't take long to guess that he was in the mansion of councilor Deshu, one of the four important figures of the council, and reporting to him about a serious threat that decimated the forces of Ironcloud as well as his team.

The last time he remembered was in the councilor's study room and then after that was...

At the exact moment, Geos quickly came to realize before the door from behind gradually opened. A maid appeared with a silver tea set and placed them on the table. "Good evening, sir." she applied the cup and poured him some tea. "I hope you don't mind, but I cannot help but to see you in a miserable state in such manner. Must have been an awful when travelling so far away and come back as a different man. Care for a lump or two?"

Geos paused and felt the extraordinary heat rising up to his face. "T-two please." He quickly stammered, trying to avoid her luscious eyes.

The maid warmly smiled at the soldier and said her goodbye as she leave him with his drink. And after that the room was utterly quiet. Geos was almost sure that it would be the creature, a coloured mare with large and ridiculous eyes, that was at the doorway. He sighed with extreme relief to convinced to himself that the entire ordeal was nothing more than a fantasy; a dream to be exact.

Worried for nothing, Geos sipped his tea which he found the bitter taste to be quite extraordinary to relax his nerve. When he glanced up front, he instantly saw on what appeared to be large and ridiculous eyes. It was no dream. It was a real deal. The mare sat at the opposite side of him and he literally chocked in his own drink.

"Hey, are you alright?" The violet mare gazed with concern.

Geos wasn't hallucinating by the slightest. He could really hear 'her' voice that was coming from this...pony. "I don't know what's worst." He stated, shook his head and looked at the mare before his head drooped down. "Either the drink has some strong stuff in it, or I'm just losing my mind?"

The violet mare didn't know what to respond to that, but her friend from aside, with a cup of velvet tea, did. "My dear fellow, you are not dreaming, nor the drink has any strong stuff. Except of the bitter taste of course which I do mostly enjoy." Deshu chuckled. "Yet you have every right to be a shock by this."

Geos raised his head at the councilor. "Who...what?"

"Allow me to explain." The violet mare interrupted, which she could feel the uneasy stare from Geos as he moved back in a distant. "Upon your situation we are aware upon the plight that staining in your thoughts. We also quite aware that the incident in fortress Ironcloud was rather horrific and for that we apologize for your ordeal. Yet, although safe and well-protected under the ranks of the Soulus guards, the nightmare is far from over." The violet mare then placed her hoof in her chest. "This is why I am here. To help solve this problem."

Geos couldn't help but not to understand the words that the violet mare had said, which annoyed her greatly to the extent. This made Deshu laughed and clapped his hands out loud. "Oh, I knew that would not work." He expected in utter amusement. "You really had got to stop with these formalities, my dear or you'll destroy him completely with such dramatic speech of yours."

The violet mare harrumphed. "It isn't dramatic. This is how royals do where I come from."

"But you're not. You're in Soulus. And in Soulus we do things differently here. Although, I think it's because your appearance leaves a mark to unexpected guests. It is quite understandable for everyone to be literally surprise by this."

"Which I still don't understand why everyone react so violently about it. I mean, sure, this isn't the first time that happened to me, but I will like it better if they know about me instead being cooped up in this mansion."

Deshu had to agree with Twilight to some sort of degree, and it would make his job easier at a long run. "I understand for your concern, Twilight. I really do. But please, a direct confession to the entire world? Where did you come up with that? Your mentor? It's an idea of a hopeless cause when the world cares to put a sword without a second thought. You know very well that the world isn't ready for--"

"Umm, excuse me, good sirs?"

The two sidetracked with their debated discussion that they literally forgot about Geos, whom he was now more confused than ever. Both stared each other for a moment and burst out in a heartfelt laugh. "It seems we have carried away with our bickering." Deshu added.

Twilight giggled. "I agree."

Deshu smiled at the mare and then cleared his throat. "You must be wondering Geos as to what's going on around here or why is there a pony in my office? Allow me to give you a brief summary. You may want to have another set of tea before we go..."

Indeed it was a brief and sudden explanation that Geos couldn't believe his ears. It would take more than tea to understand any of it. The violet mare, known as Twilight Sparkle or to another term, Lumena, was sent from another realm beyond a place called Equestria; the land of multi-coloured, talking and intelligent ponies. The reason for her appearance right here and now was to stop a serious threat that spearheaded across the empire. The creature of the night: Nightmare Moon.

No matter how ridiculous and vain the names were, Geos thought they were just that: ridiculous and utterly the dumbest, most preposterous names that he had ever heard in his entire life. Who would name a villain Nightmare Moon in the first place? Sounded more like a name from a children book?

Nevertheless, Geos digressed that notion as this 'Nightmare Moon' was truly horrific and diabolical in nature that he shuddered to thought about it. The explanation continued on with Twilight as she told him about the situation that they were in.

"So far we have manage to stop Nightmare Moon and her accomplice from taking ground, but soon they would take the opportunity in the festival that is coming less than a week. We tend to believe that you may know their next move."

"Next move?" Geos said, confusingly. "I have never even heard the name of this creature? How do I know where or what operation they will be at?"

That was the question that Twilight and Deshu were about to find out. Like a signal, Deshu carried out a small chest from his cabinet and placed in the middle of the table. The chest had a dark blue color with an intriguing design of plantlike vines that was made out of gold.

Geos pondered of the contents inside the chest, but strangely enough he heard a faint whisper in his left ear. He turned to the source only to found no one in sight. The councilor then equipped with a heavy set of gloves and gradually opened the lid.

The strange whisper began to grew loud  in both of Geos ears. He quivered with unbearable unease until he saw at last the cause when the councilor held it out from the chest. It was a tiny blue crystal, no, a gem to be exact, glowing in an unusual light. It was even more unusual for Geos because, in his very own eyes, saw a fainted figure within the gem.

Geos coiled in distant for he knew what it was.

"You know, I have always wondered why such a beautiful piece could be such a threat to us all? In all such elegance, I wanted to feel its coldly surface; the sharp edges and its entirety with my bare hands." Deshu stared intently at the beautiful object. "Do not be afraid, Geos. This small piece of item would not hurt you. By now you start to hear its whispers, correct?"

Geos simply nodded, hesitant of the councilor's action.

This made Deshu grinned with amusement. "The strange voice beyond the gem. A very irritating title at the long run that I have to say. I mean, at this close range I still cannot hear its whisper; only the eerie sense of queer within that perfected jewel. It sent shivers down my spine knowing that there such things in exist today after the decree."

After the end of the Scarlet Rebellion, the Soulus council, along with permission of the Savior-emperor, had officially decreed that all those who bore the Shards of Heart, must be relinquished immediately and permanently destroyed all throughout. The method to destroy a gem was complex and was sent to the Partishans with great precision. A simple smash with a hammer or any blunt weapons would not be efficient, for, once the gem is shattered, would sent a powerful energy that would destroy the user and the folk around. Think more like an explosive, waiting to be detonated by careless hand. The secrets that the Partishans use was still a mystery as known to date, but you could see 'coloured' smoke rising from their chimneys that the deed was accomplish.

"I apologize, good sir, but I do not understand. What has it got to do with me?"

"Well that's the tricky part." Twilight pointed out. "And the most challenging. You see, we are not going to do with it, but rather, it is you that must do instead."

Geos blinked. "Wait a minute. Are you saying that I must..."

"That's what Twilight is trying to say," Deshu stood close to the frightened soldier with the gem close to him. "Congratulations, mister Geos. You now have the honour to hold this marvellous jewel."

====

Geos shot wide eyes open on what they had asked him to do. What they 'proposed' for him to do. He directed his gaze for a moment at the tiny, blue stone to hear once again the irritable whisper that called out to him.

It was rather strange that neither of them could hear the voices from the stone, otherwise Geos was about to lose the very senses of order and sloped down to insanity.

There was a moment of disbelief that made Geos shook his head and had easily thought they were nothing more than a joke, a frivolous game, to check if his mental mind was still strong enough to reason and/or logic.

Unfortunately for Geos, that wasn't the case as he wouldn't be standing in present before the councilor. If this was a joke then he would have a good chance in line for comedic role.

Words weren't near to describe by the extent that Geos was troubled in. At that instant, he pleaded, in his own mind, to reconsider this foolish order. He would do anything: a new, degraded position to the farthest reaches of the empire or a command to scrub every boots of the guards.

Geos would follow to the letter...except for that.

"I know what you are thinking." Deshu easily guessed the young soldier's thoughts. "I wouldn't risk in the world to touch...this with my bare hands as you are very well aware the nature of what the accursed gem could do." He then gently placed the piece at the table. "Yet here I am, asking you to do it. There was not on this earth that any soul would dare hold it. Yet here I am, asking of you to grasp a what seem as a harmless piece of rock."

"You do not need to worry about it, Mr. Geos." Twilight added. "If this goes out of...hand then we are here by your side if something bad would happen. You have our word."

Why did Geos felt like he was getting dragged into some sort of story that he couldn't turn away? He could feel in his bones that a horrible adventure had opened before him and into the road alongside the violet pony.

In truth, Geos was the one who had to risk it. They weren't the ones who were about to hold a precarious gemstone in the palm of their fingertips...or hoof.

After a deep long breath, Geos had no choice but to follow the command that was given to him. At first, he hesitated in several attempt before he managed to muster the courage and held the sapphire with only just two fingers.

So far nothing has happened to him yet.

Slowly, but assuredly, Geos advanced to three to four fingers until he clutched his entire hand. He squeezed tightly of the gemstone into a rounded fist and waited nervously for it to take its effect.

The first known signs happened just after five minutes when Geos felt a cold sensation that surged through his entire right hand. A blue, eerie glow appeared that spread to his entire arm where it quickly made its way to Geos thoughts.

Strange and peculiar memories from unknown origin opened to him. Memories that didn't belong to him but to someone else. It was a sudden occurrence of a place, a person and the lost chapters of the years. Chapters that felt more like a story from beginning to end.

They were the tales of a man, a woman and everything between that shared their life with love and kindness. It was a tale about a humble family. A refined family where they left their homeland to seek anew and found a fortune. But to all such tales not everything turned out to be a happy one.

Geos saw the horror where the wife was murdered in cold blood. A bandit ambushed the lovely couple upon the empty streets that forever scarred the husband. Lost without his beloved, he was driven to madness in search for the wife's murderer.

That was the last time that Geos saw the mad husband before everything went to dark. He could see such beauty and horror that the sapphire had shown to him. Yet there was one more thing that the gem had to reveal.

The passage went deeper than ever before within the sapphire surface and into the heart of its core. There Geos stumbled upon a massive creature with devilish, golden eyes. It then glared at the young guest and greeted him in a persuasive tone.

This was then that Geos came to realize that unmistakable voice. It was the one that whispered to him; it was the voice from the stone.

Just seconds after that, the creature zoomed towards to Geos, and when it entered to his body a sudden snap of power was released. Right in front of Deshu and Twilight, they saw the cold wind being conjured up from Geos hand and froze the entire table.

Twilight hastily responded to prevent such disaster, but Deshu soon stopped in her track. "Patient, my dear. Let us see what will happen next."

Geos hand burned with an overwhelming sensation that he could challenge the entire world. But there was something wrong that he couldn't achieve. Something that halted him from doing such wicked and terrible deeds. Eventually the power from the gemstone swiftly faded and was reverted back to its dull, normalcy state.

"Geos..." Deshu said with a calm and steady voice, unfazed by what had transpired in his office. "What did you see in the stone? Did you see what kind of man he was?"

Geos stared at the councilor in cold, bluish eyes. An effect caused by the gemstone. When his eyes gradually returned to the original color of black, he responded with a nod. "No. I couldn't recognize him. Everything is so fuzzy after that. I barely manage to remember all of it."

The answer was as much suspected and Deshu sighed in disappointment. He then persisted with another question. "What about a symbol? Do the couple have any significant item that they could relate to?"

Geos looked utterly confused. "How did you know about the-"

"Don't interrupt me, Mr. Geos. Now answer the question."

Twilight was little concerned at Deshu's sudden change of tone as Geos shook his head. "Nothing out of the ordinary, goodsir. I didn't see anything by what you...wait," he paused briefly. "There was something that I remember...a bird of some kind. Yes, there was a bird outside from the couple's window and they have it engrave on their banner."

"What kind of bird?" Deshu impatiently asked. "What color does it have?"

"I think it was red of some sort, but I'm not sure, goodsir."

Deshu pondered by the description and rubbed his chin. "A red bird...a robin perhaps? Cannot recall anyone having that sort of description except the nobles. But who would use a robin as an emblem--" Deshu interrupted his sentence to realize of one known family. "It couldn't be. I'm sure that...no I must be joking myself. But could it?"

There was no way that Twilight or Geos suspected when the councilor's face grew in a bright color red. His response was grim and reacted so furiously that the two were slightly intimidated by his temper. Although the councilors were known for their patience with a clear and calm manner, it had to be something terrible to break Deshu's nerve.

"My dear, Twilight." Deshu hastily said with a hint of immense anger in his tone. "Would you be so kind as to lead Geos to the captain? I am sure that his talents would prove most excellent upon the task at hand."

"Are you sure about this?" Twilight asked. "Isn't the decision a bit rush on your part?"

A cold smile had shown around Deshu's face that made Twilight twitched with unease. "None at all, my dear. I'm sure this good fellow here would be an asset to the team and the hunt for this, 'Nightmare Moon' stuff. Although it would resolve in my conscience to cross out the list of known suspects, I am rather curious if we have found a collaborator of this disturbance of peace."

"But what if--"

"Now please, my dear. Hush-hush. Don't make me say it twice." Deshu stated to the point. "You have your orders. Follow them through as plan. I'll notify the captain when you guys arrive."

Twilight didn't utter a word of response and bowed in obedience. She had never seen Deshu so fired up before like that. What could possibly be that provoke the councillor's fiery temper? There was a moment where she was tempted to ask, but she knew quite well that in this world, a simple question would get you killed. There was more to Deshu behind his kind and cheerful expression, and she wouldn't dare to see the other curtain.

It didn't take long for Geos to notice that he had overstayed his welcome. Already felt the tap from his leg by Twilight, he gradually exited the office and out from the mansion where a carriage awaited for them in destination to the barracks.

Deshu looked out from the window as the carriage rolled away from his view. He didn't expect them to be involved in the conspiracy. It had been a long time since he remembered. The businesses and contracted deals that he and, his partner, had profited for all these years. "Was it really possible? Could Joaris have already known? Surely he wouldn't dare to break the agreement?" He was annoyingly irritated for an answer, but all he could do now was to sit and wait.

As the bells started to ring, Deshu handedly started his meaningless chores of paperwork. And truthfully, he was getting tired of the same old task.