Distant Worlds: Shards of Harmony

*Chapter 3: A Shard of Loyalty part 2: of Identity and Black Flames.*

A soft patter of rain could be heard from outside, not loud but enough to wake me up. I could hear the sound of running up and down stairs, most likely my little brother annoying his sister as usual.

Out of habit I got up walked downstairs and told them to shut up, people are trying to sleep. The silence that rang through out the house was deafening, it didn't take me long before my little sister screamed.

“Oh my god, I finally have my very own pony!” she nearly crushed me with that hug of hers, but what do you expect from an overexcited 9 year old little girl. Johnny, my younger brother was absolutely gob-smacked at the sight before him.

It didn't take long for the racket to wake everyone else up in the house. Dad came thundering down in a foul mood, which is typical of him considering he works night shift. I could've practically predicted what he would have said in the usual situation, but given the sight in front of him he simply mouthed a silent “what the fuck”.

Now here was an opportunity I could not pass up smirking at, the look on the old man's face was priceless. Instead of the normally indifferent look upon his face was a complete confusion, it was rare to see him like this and was nice to see him show a little emotion for once.

Another soft clopping of hooves made their way down the stairs. I greeted the sound with a “Good morning, Luna.” and she replied in kind. Ellen upon seeing Luna, began acting as if she was told she was going to Disney world, I mouthed a silent “I'll explain later” to Luna.

We all made our way into the living room, but before Luna could begin explaining what's going on Mom came in and greeted Luna and I good morning, but she referred to me by name which got everyone’s attention, bar Luna’s.

“How are you here if your still in a coma at the hospital?” Dad asked, confusion apparent on his face. I looked towards Luna.

“What is there is nothing but a temporary illusion, it'll fade within a week.” I guessed that answered the question but I made note to ask Luna about that later. Luna told a slightly altered version of what she told me, making it sound like she was sent to investigate these disappearances in our world instead of finding the humanity's Elements of Harmony.

The old man was unconvinced, but let it slide possibly coming to the idea Luna had her reasons, his gaze turned towards me. I considered the fact he had worked with horses in his youth I knew he would ask me about my condition. As if on cue...

“I can understand your a unicorn of all things now, but why are you a mare?” I turned to Luna for an explanation, as this was going to hit a sore spot for sure with the old man. Mom had a curious look on her as well.

“The spell I cast upon your son, changing her into what you see know brings out how a person sees themselves mentally in pony form.” I knew this was going to be taken the wrong way by the old man...

“So all this time, my stepson has seen himself as a woman?” I have to admit I never really given it much thought, the idea I was transgender on some deep subconscious level had me thinking if anything I felt a lot more comfortable in this new pony body than my human one.

The look on the old man's face was a grim one, but he kept whatever he was thinking to himself.

“So what's going to happen now?” I asked Luna, “Exactly one week from now, my horn should have recovered enough to allow us speak with my sister. In the mean time we are going to draw out your magic into a more personal form.” In my current condition, the most I could do was simple telekinesis.

“When do we start?” I asked “Immediately.”

An hour later, Luna and I sat in my old room. I briefly wondered how we would go about doing this.

“What we are going to do, is dive into the deepest part of your being and draw out your potential.” I allowed myself to get comfortable, and focused my magic. The next thing I knew I was floating down to a large blank platform in the middle of endless black void.

I landed safely I took in my surroundings there was nothing but myself, I took a few steps forward and noticed I was in my human form again. “Luna?” I cried, my voice still sounded feminine on closer inspection I realised that while I was human again, I was a human woman.

“Well it's about time you showed your true colours, Mark.” I looked around, trying to find where that voice was coming, it sounded like my old male voice but more twisted with a slight echo to it.

“Who are you?” I asked simply, “Me? I'm the part of you that you readily hide away from others, the real you!” It let out an insane laugh. “Every little thing that disgusts you, every betrayal, and every little lie that you have told yourself make up a part of me.”

A thick blueish black miasma oozed from the ground slowly becoming a very recognisable form, it was very clearly a mirror image of my male form, it's face covered with a simple grey mask only leaving it's gold coloured eyes visible.

“I am a shadow, the true self!” It introduced itself, it paused briefly, “I am fully aware of why your here, what you can do to me and who is helping you. Make no mistake I'm not happy with what has happened to us or what is about to happen, but the things to come you will need my help whether either of us like it or not!” I was surprised to say the least, “I take it this comes at a price?”

It nodded in confirmation, a twisted smile across it's features, “More like a limit, everything she teaches you will be yours to use as you please, what I offer on the other hand will only come when it's needed most. Now what do you value most?”

“My hopes and dreams, trust and loyalty, the people I care about!”

“And what will you give up in return? I suggest you think carefully.” I could tell a sneer was forming under that mask. It had point though what would I give up? It awaited my answer for what seemed like hours, I soon realised my answer...

“My gender, the male me, the old me! Everything bad that has happened in my life, happened because I couldn't accept who I really am!” I cried, “Yes!! That was the answer I have been waiting for all these years!! As you wish my mistress I am yours to do with as you see fit.”

It took a few steps towards me putting its hand on my shoulder, as it removed it's mask revealing a genuine smile upon its face before fading away.

“Here's to the world, the bonds we make from this point on will be forged with everlasting loyalty, together as one we will make this our pact!”

The blankness beneath me began glow and break apart revealing what looks like stained glass depiction of my true self surrounded by blank panels with the exception of one depicting a star and moon with a silver outline around it.

I extended my hand forward, reaching out...

“With the lies, hardships and betrayals bringing the world into flames, I will undo it all with the Lightning!” I grabbed the air as it became an ornate rapier in a flash of light.

I admit this all felt a little anti-climatic, guess I was fully expecting an all out battle in the centre of the mind or something...

I was engulfed in a flash of light, the next thing I knew I was staring at Luna. I took a moment to examine my appearance realizing I was back in my pony body. I had told Luna what happened but she dismissed the masked spirit as something normal for a human.

Over the week that followed I got me familiar with the magic Luna was teaching me, while I'm not a natural I got the simpler spells down easily but I have a lot trouble with the more complex spells. Luna did ask me why, I told her it was a little like a role playing game earning me puzzled look.

“It's a human thing, sort of like a story only your playing main role.” I explained, “I tend to favour supportive spells more than offensive ones.” It was true though, what I couldn't do with a sword or bow, I made use of defensive magic or spells that hinder my opponent.

“I see...” Luna give considered this for a moment, “So what offensive spells could you learn?” I honestly didn't know what to say really. “I would imagine a simple ranged spell would be useful, some sort of magical arrow maybe, so far you've taught me telekinesis, cloud walking, cast light, a magic weapon enchant, hush, lesser heal and force.”

“What about your own magic?” Luna inquired, I admit I haven't had much opportunity to use my own personal magic yet, “The most I can do is summon my sword, and my ability to seemingly go unnoticed.”

“I suppose we're as ready as we'll ever be then.” Luna sighed, I felt like I disappointed Luna a little. “I'm sorry...just give me more time to improve, please.” I pleaded, “I know you will Silent passion, you've only began to get used to having magic.”

“What will we do once that illusion fades? I mean we only have till tomorrow night before they start looking for me.” I asked, “Tomorrow night we will leave, I will ask my sister for advice. My magic has recovered enough to open a portal to Equestria, from there we will devise a plan to rescue those ponies.” I nodded in confirmation, “I have already sent word to my sister, I should warn you that this is a massive risk. There are things in the realms in-between that will attack us should we be careless, the spells I taught you will help you protect yourself.”

We both began preparing for tomorrow night, I didn't bother telling my family anything other than that I had to leave with Luna. I admit I didn't like the idea of leaving but time was running out with that illusion in place, and I can only do so much right now.

A few hours later Luna began to cast spell that would take us to Equestria, she explained that I would I have to deal with anything that came through the gate, as well the attention it will surely attract.

The sky began to crack and split apart. Luna and I cast the cloud walking spell, and galloped as fast as we both could towards the opening rift. Luna was right I did attract a lot of attention, I followed Luna through the seemingly endless crossroads...but something was wrong.

“Should the crossroads be shaking?” I shouted over the noise. “Behind us!! Just RUN!!”

SKKKKKKRREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!

The creature emerged behind us, I caught a glance of it...”SHIT!! That's Kalame'et!!” I recognised it from Dark Souls, “The hell is that thing doing here!!”

It roared as it shot black flames at us both, “Use it now!!” I knew that familiar voice. In response I summoned my sword, as Kalame'et began to catch up with us, “Luna!! Aim for the eye, Blind it!!” Luna shot a barrage of moonlit arrows, but couldn't get a direct hit on the pitch black dragon. All it did was get it to focus it's attention on Luna as it sped past me, roaring and howling preparing to turn Luna its next meal. I picked up my pace to catch up with the beast.

“FORCE!!” I cried, sending a shock wave of energy towards it wings knocking out of the air, buying us a couple of seconds to get ahead. It didn't take long for it to catch up to us...

“Silent passion! Ahead of us!” Luna shouted over Kalame'et's enraged roars, was that the Equestria? My thoughts were cut as Kalame'et was shot down by a fiery ball of white light as it knocked the dragon out of the sky. We both jumped out of the rift as it closed behind us.

“Sister!” Luna cried happily, I took one look at Luna's elder sister  “Praise the sun...” being the last words to escape my mouth before passing out from exhaustion.