Distant Worlds: Shards of Harmony (uncut and extended.)

Everything's gone to hell since people started disappearing, rumour has it that the people just vanished overnight with these horse like creatures in their place. Some of mankind hasn't treated these 'Ponies' to kindly, it was all over the news...It's been that way since my best friend Solaire went missing over a month or so ago, Jay had been the bearer of the news. Solaire's mother and younger brother Andre were devastated, we all were...

Ever since Solaire vanished the disappearances seemed to be happening more often and humanity seemed to be getting more violent to the unfortunate victims. Human or not what kind of person would allow such cruelty, the news reports had covered murder, rape, abuse and what was just plain torture of creatures that looked confused and frightened.

I really didn't want to see the images of those ponies covered in bodily fluids, lacerations, broken bones and some looked like they were torn apart by some sort of animal.

“Tch. It's shit like this that makes me sick.” I said to no one in particular, switching of the TV. I sat in the living in my run down apartment. I wasn't exactly well off money wise but I managed, besides it was nothing a little DIY couldn't fix and I kept it as tidy as I could.

Ever since people started disappearing, the world has just gone to hell it was as if humanity changed for the worse overnight, like that spark of goodness was gone. Even my friends and family were effected by this change at one point.

The living room was dim, that damn light was going again...I watched the clear night sky wondering what was happening to this grey chaotic world.

“Help...please...” I could have sworn that this was the voice of the wind, but I was inside after all. The gentle voice was faint like it was some distance away. I don't know what go into me but I grabbed my jacket and headed out.

I soon found myself at the nearest park, it was one of the few places that still had any beauty in this part of town. The chilling autumn breeze blowing the earth coloured leaves was a wonderful sight compared to the greys that seemed to consuming the town.

“Help...me please...anyone...” I followed the heart breaking sobs and pleas for help into a deep part of the woodland portion of the park. I could of thrown up at the sight in front of me...

A beaten and broken midnight blue pegeasus unicorn, lay tied to an old oak tree. It's wings looked broken and it's horn looked like it was snapped clean off. You could smell the blood from the cuts across it's body and the stench of bodily fluids that must have been a few day's old was overpowering. I took a step forward snapping a twig on the leaf covered ground, alerting it to my presence.

“A-are...you here to help us?” It asked in it's gentle feminine voice. I could see the fear in it's clear blue eyes.

“Yes I am.” I reassured her, “Hold on I get you out of this rope.” I pulled out a small utility knife from my jacket pocket and began to cut away at the rope, I had to reassure her again I wouldn't hurt her with it.

“Your not like the others?” She asked,

“No. To do something this cruel to any living thing makes me sick to my stomach.” I replied, I soon had her out of the rope, “C'mon I'll get you out of here.”

We were about to leave, but sadly the person responsible came back to have his 'fun' with the injured alicorn. The monster towered over me in both height and mass, his face reminded me vaguely of a cross between a baboon's arse and something unpleasant that's just been stepped in.

“Run!!” I yelled, she hesitated for a moment and ran as fast as she could with her injuries.

“So...Your the son of a bitch responsible for this?” I taunted, the man growled, given his shabby appearance and dumb expression he must have been one of the local thugs.

“Ya little shit, ah'll fuckin' kill ya fer interrupting mah time wiv mah toy.” It spoke in a low growling voice thick with the local accent.

“A toy?! God your a sick fuck.” I dodged his lunge, and kicked him in the back of the head.

He cursed harshly under his breath. Next thing I knew he grabbed my arm, yanked it out it's socket and threw me in to the tree. The impact was shortly followed by the gigantic fist rammed into my chest, cracking some of my ribs judging from the loud snap.

“Fuck...!” I cried and wheezed in pain.

“Afta ah've delt wiv ye, ah'm ganna find mah toy and ride 'er like the horse she is.” The thug grinned evilly, what followed was a size 10 boot stamping me into the ground face first, I heard the snapping of one of my arms and legs as beating left me half dead. The last thing I heard before blacking out was as single gun shot and the sound of sirens.

“How bad is it?” A voice asked,

“Broken right arm, dislocated shoulder, several broken ribs, crushed pelvis, damaged spine and a broken jaw...he was beaten enough to the point of a coma.” the doctor replied.

“When will he wake up...?”

The doctor shook his head, “Days, weeks, months or at the worse years...I can't say really, he's lucky to be even alive.” The voice began sobbing,

“My baby boy how could someone do this to you...”

The hospital was silent, aside from the footsteps of the staff that worked there on the night shift. One by one each nurse and doctor fell into deep sleep, as the soft clopping of hooves was heard approaching the room I lay comatose in.

“This must be it.” A gentle voice whispered, the clopping got louder as she entered the room. She took a moment to examine my comatose and broken body. “We're sorry this had to happen to you, because of me you were nearly killed by that monster.” She said to my still form, “Our sister said we should return such kindness and bravery, but...there is a condition. If we help you...you cannot go back to how you were before...” She explained crestfallen, “We are truly sorry for what happened...and for what is about to happen...”

The remaining part of her horn began to glowed gently, illuminating the room in a bluish hue.

I could feel myself getting warm all over, as the injured parts of my body began to repair itself, something felt a little off though. It was like everything was changing as it healed, as if it was being torn apart as it became something new.

Hands and arms snapped back into place, and fingers melded together. Legs and feet doing something similar as they twisted into their new shape. The feeling of something plush and warm covered my body as it healed, something felt wrong between my legs...as if something was being pulled back into my body. I could feel my face and ears being pulled as I felt a slight shrinking feeling as my skeleton cracked and twisted into it's new size and shape.

Even though I was unconscious, I felt smaller, softer, lighter and curvier...but at the same time I felt warmer and something inside me pulsing gently like I was at peace with myself in both body and mind.

I woke up to find myself in my own bedroom back home, “Oh dear god, what a strange dream...” I said in slightly higher more feminine pitch, “The hell's up with my voice?” I asked in confusion. I got out of bed and fell straight on the floor as I tried standing. “What the hell is going on?” I looked down at myself and found I had...hooves? “Alrighty then I'm officially frightened now.” I panicked,

I did my best to walk on all fours towards the mirror and found myself a bit taller than my desk, meaning I now stood at roughly 3ft 11 inches in height. I gazed into the mirror and saw a unicorn with light blue fur, bright blue eyes and a dusty blonde coloured mane and tail with a some sort of mark depicting a old console controller across a pen drawing a line upon my flank.

“What the fuck...?” I exclaimed, I turned around to examine my now ponified body, and went crimson when I saw my...erm...marehood hiding itself behind my lazily swishing tail.

“Note to self:get some clothes to cover nether regions...” I said to myself embarrassed. I took a few steps backward from the shock of my reflection.

“What's happened to me?” I heard the sound of muffled clopping of hooves against the carpet,

“We see your awake and well now.” I turned to see where the familiar voice came from.

“Your that pony from the forest, then all of that really happened.” She nodded,

“Yes we are indeed that pony, and it's all true we're afraid.” I frowned,

“Then wasn't I beaten into the ground? How come I'm like this?” I asked pointing to myself with one of my forelegs. The alicorn took a moment to get comfortable on my bed,

“We are responsible for your new form, needless to say it was better than the alternative.” She explained with an utmost serious look, “You would have been comatose for years.” I sighed, it was that bad...”Your body was damaged beyond repair, so we transformed you as way of saving your life considering you saved mine.” She examined me, and with an amused look in her eyes, “We expected to find a unicorn stallion when we cast that spell on you, but you changed into a unicorn mare. We're sorry but I can't help but wonder why?” I blushed a little, “The spell we cast brings out the true you in a manner of speaking, we must imagine this is something you've kept deep inside you locked away for whatever reason.” I nodded reluctantly,

“Yeah, I guess I've kept that part of me locked up.” I admitted reluctantly

“Do you have a name?” She asked, I nodded,

“It's Silent, but as I am I don't know anymore this feels like I've been stripped of my identity.” She gave an understanding nod,

“Well where we're from, ponies often take names that are meaningful to us. Given that you've kept this side of you quiet and the kindness you showed us in that forest, we guess Silent Passion would be a more fitting title, don't you agree?” I nodded, I honestly liked the sound of the name.

“I like that name, it's a pleasure to meet you...erm.” She gave a soft chuckle,

“We are Princess Luna.” She introduced herself.

“I have to ask Luna, what brings you here in the first place?” I asked,

“Things haven't been going well in Equestria, portals to this world have been opening all over and creating all sorts of chaos. According to our research into the matter our worlds seem to be fusing together, in fact not to long ago our sister rescued someone from this world whom fell into a collapsing rift of all things!” Luna explained, “More so if we don't do something to stabilize the situation both this world and Equestria will suffer such horrific amounts of damage, but to do that we need the Elements of Harmony of this world.”

“Elements of Harmony? Good luck there, this place has nothing but chaos since people have been disappearing.” I scoffed,

“Can you tell us more?” Luna inquired, I nodded.

“I think it's better your see for yourself. Follow me.” I led her into the living room and switched on the TV.

The news reporter explained that more people have vanished and the end result wasn't pleasant, Luna looked horrified at what she was seeing happen to the ponies that had been found by the cruelty of humanity some people were showing lately.

“H-how can somepony do this, it's naught but horrific!?” the princess looked on in disgust, “And this has been happening because people have been vanishing and ponies found in their place.” I nodded,

“It's not just that people have been acting strangely as if the worst of their personalities have been brought out, and I think the people that vanished are the ponies they're torturing.”

“Isn't there anything we can do about this?” Luna asked,

“I guess if we found the Elements of Harmony of this world, everything would go back to how it was.” I suggested, after all if all this was linked then solution was obvious. Luna gave a hefty sigh,

“In our current state we'll not be able to accomplish much, we would have to travel back to Equestria before we make our next move but that would take another week before we would have enough magic to send us both there.”

“How come?” I asked,

“With my horn broken, my magic is severely limited it took a lot just to transform you.” Luna explained, “And sadly the illusion we cast will give out in another week before they come looking for you.” So that's why no one came looking for me...

”We could always go to my parents, this chaos doesn't seem to be effecting them. I'm sure they would help us out.” I suggested.

“Yes that does seem to be the best course of action right now.” Luna agreed, “It would be best if we left at night though.” It made sense, I don't think either of us want to end up like those ponies on the news. “If you don't mind Silent Passion, we need to rest.” Luna gave a sigh, “It'll be a month before my horn can be repaired and my wings in less time.” A curious look painted my features,

“A month? You mean the next full moon?” Luna nodded,

“An alicorn and unicorn's horn will repair itself over time but it repairs significantly faster when exposed to magic.” I looked thoughtful for a moment,

So why can't I use magic to speed the repair up?” I had a valid point, since I am technically a unicorn now, but Luna shook her head in disagreement.

“While yes you are a unicorn now, but you don't know how to use your magic nor will the magic you do have will be enough. The attempt alone would surely kill you, we would imagine only my sister or her student could preform such a deed.” Luna explained. I decided to change the subject,

“I suppose I should know my limits of my new body then?” I asked, Luna looking a little more comfortable now nodded in agreement.

“As an unicorn, your body will naturally draw upon magic from nature around you and the some have access to unique magic based upon their individual talents which is usually indicated by their Cutie mark such as my own.” I gazed upon Luna's flank at her moon Cutie mark.

“I take it that’s why you need a full moon then?” Luna nodded and then continued,

“Considering you are now for all intents a mare now...” I turned beet red, knowing where this conversation is going and gave a small groan...

Over the course of the night Luna told me everything about a mare's body, and of what Equestria was like. I almost slapped myself when I found out she was royalty in Equestria. In turn I told her what I knew about human society and about myself, my family and ambitions.

I could tell humanity had left a bit of a sour taste in both our mouths, given the fact I tended to stay away from other people and my ability to go unnoticed was well known amongst the friends I did have. Eventually we decided that we would visit my parents the next evening considering we would have less trouble travelling at night.