One Human, Different Paths 'Dark Saga'

A cold, pitch black winter night was storming Equestria during this catastrophy. The trees were dead and the ground lost its natural color. Everything seemed so..... dead. Rhoe couldn't shake this feeling of dreadfulness as a frosty breeze flew right behing him, making him shiver a little. Luckily, he grabbed his jacket before leaving the library in that head-straight jump from the balcony.

Night was growing stronger and stronger as time flowed. Knowing this, Rhoe still decided to move forward.

According to Aeris, a magical spirit who is probably the only thing concious and alive who is following Rhoe, no one but him is capable of breaking this spell in a world known full of Nightshadows.In an attempt to change destiny, he has faced head-to-head every challenge (most of them) because he knew he couldn't fail. Not now, not in situation, not ever. Defeat meant the end of this world. Even if is sounds to cruel to be true, that's how it is.

Rhoe was sneaking at a high pace, avoiding to attract some Nightshadows.  These monsters weren't invincible as they looked, but Rhoe had absolutely no chance at defeating them. It would be foolish to face one, but there were more than one.

Curious to the population of these beasts, Rhoe asked Aeris to have the area scanned just in case. The friendly spirit accepted and scanned the area in the Everfree Forest and told Rhoe the results of the scanning. Apparently, there were at least 60 Nightshadows in the area, which shocked him so bad it almost made him weep in fear. It took 5 minutes for Rhoe to calm down.

As he proceeded deep into the forest, Rhoe stopped a moment. Something made him feel awkward. Something was wrong, and he looked around trying to find the source of this uneasiness in him. Nothing. Maybe he was imagining things. After an awkward silence, Aeris spoke.

Is something the matter, Rhoe?

"Nothing" replied Rhoe still looking at his surroundings, "I thought someone was watching me, but I can't find a logical conclusion to it."

Hold on, let me check around to see if there is anything unusual.

Aeris glided to the sky and did a quick check. As Aeris concentrated to find something, nothing appeared. It almost looked desolated if it weren't for the Nightshadows lurking in the shadows. By the looks of it, they were getting closer at a normal pace, completely unaware of Rhoe by the moment. If they didn't hurry, the nightshadows would catch up. Aeris was a bit worried by this and hasted back to where Rhoe was.

When Aeris arrived, Rhoe was looking at the sky, in some sort of strange pose Aeris never saw before. Rhoe was looking up, gasping for air as he grabbed his neck, shaking his forearms which almost looked like he was choking himself. However, Aeris's suspicions were correct. Rhoe was choking himself. Aeris looked in fear at him and hasted once again to his side. Somehow, the shadow's power overwhelmed Rhoe's will and possessed him. Aeris knew that something must be done, but due to his abstract appearance, Aeris couldn't even touch Rhoe. If this kept going, everything would be over.

No, no, no, no! This is bad! There's gotta be a way to help him. Think, think!

A sudden idea came to Aeris. It's risky, but there's no other choice. Aeris needed to possess Rhoe just like the darkness was doing and free him. By doing so, Aeris might not be avaiable to flee the body and thus, Aeris could dissapear since a body can only be possessed by one entity.

It's a risk I'm willing to take.

And with that Aeris entered Rhoe inmediately. As Aeris entered, he took a human form inside his mind (Aeris is neither a girl or a boy).

Aeris saw the surroundings and was petrified to see such dark place. The walls were covered to what it seemed to be a black, gooey, substance. Judging by Aeris's knowledge, that substance was the shadow's essence.

This is definitively a work of the Shadows.

Aeris ignored the surroundings and proceeded to find the darkness corrupting Rhoe. It didn't looked that promising, though.

Slowly, the darkness grew darker and darker, telling Aeris that Rhoe's life was slowly fading away. Aeris panicked and looked everywhere for the source of the darkness. With absolutely no luck, Aeris stopped and noticed how grim the area started to look.

Aeris could hear Rhoe's struggle from the inside. He was fighting with all his might, but it was futile. With a deadly, scary fading away of Rhoe's voice, he suddenly stopped. Nothing could be heard.

Aeris couldn't believe what just happened, it seemed so hard to believe.

Have I failed? Did I really let Equestria's only hope vanish from the face of the planet? The one thing I had to do and I failed horribly!

Aeris looked depressed while believing it's actions doomed the world by failing to save Rhoe. Aeris sat down and took the face to where the flexed knees were positioned (of course, in the position everyone does when hope is absolutely lost). Everything seemed to be consumed and spoiling rotten. Soon after, everything went black.

Meanwhile, in the outside, Rhoe's body was standing still with his eyes completely black and his head tilted upward, motionless to any sudden change. The forest seemed to be awfully quiet, considering the fact that monsters were everywhere. Nothing happened for the next minutes and Rhoe's body remained in the same position. Soon, a rustle was heard nearby. At least 4 Nightshadows appeared as they approached Rhoe. If he still was alive, the Nightshadows would have torned him apart, but since he practically became the same as them, they took him to a nearby fortress where he was taken and held to what it seemed to be a trophy room. Other ponies were there as well, but none were his friends or anyone he knew. He was still looking up. There was nothing to avoid the end of the world and soon everything seemed doomed. That was until a small light showed from Rhoe's wrists.

The light was coming from what it seemed to be a pair of bracelets, the same bracelets he had from his family. As the light glowed, inside Rhoe, something was happening.....

As Aeris was sitting down in the same position as before, the place was completely dark.  The only thing that wasn't a dim object was Aeris. The spirit was sulking in-between the legs thinking of how the world Aeris once knew was completely gone.

Good job. Aeris. It's all over....

Aeris mumbled some foreign words as the spirit sulked even more.

If there was a chance to fightback, I would... *sigh*

When Aeris sighed at the thought, a small light bursted into the area, revealing itself as some sort of spirit. Aeris was impacted by this, staring at it like the world depended on it.

I thought I have seen all kinds of things in this world. Clearly, I was wrong.

Aeris got up from the floor as the unknown entity finally perfectioned a wolf shape. The light vanished in an instant and the spirit could be seen perfectly. It looked like a golden wolf with white eyes staring at Aeris, unaffected to the strange encounter. The new individual tilted its head sideways, almost as it was curious to see Aeris. Aeris was dumbfolded by this unusual presence and against all odds, he stepped nearer to the it.

As Aeris walked right into this being, the wolf got into a battle stance, performing what it looked like to be a defending territory tradition. You know, the thing when beasts see you coming and beat the shit out of you when passing the invisible line they marked. Take a guess of what is that line made of. That's going directly to your imagination.

Anyways, both remained still, looking in the eye, trying to win by intimidation. The same look beasts give to mark respect among others, as part of the survival chain. It's a natural instinct we all carry with whether you are a human or a spirit.

Time flew while the two of them still looked at each other. Aeris could feel the pressure given by the wolf. It was a powerful pressure, something Aeris witnessed in a few occasions by some ponies whose strength, both mental and physical, surpassed others with ease. The silence broke up when Aeris spoke.

Who are you?

The spirit may have remained as a wolf form, but Aeris knew that it could talk just like everyone. However, the wolf remained silent, unwilling to answer Aeris.

I'll say it again. WHO ARE YOU?

The wolf suddenly moved towards Aeris with a enormous speed and Aeris protected itself from anything the wolf was going to do. Indifferent to what Aeris originally thought, the wolf actually was smelling Aeris. Our ally was shocked by this sudden change of scene, first it was going to attack and suddenly it stops to smell Aeris? This felt really weird as Aeris thought that maybe this spirit was accidentally trapped Rhoe's body without any intention to do so. Or maybe not. But who knew. Who knew what was going to happen next.

"Hello"

What? You can talk? I mean, I knew you could, but... Why didn't you talk before?

"Excuse me if I was rude to you" said the wolf as it sat down, "but I wanted to make sure your heart was balanced. In other words, I wanted to check if you were a-"

Good guy?

"Precisely" replied the wolf.

I believed my aura gave a relaxing, trustful atmosphere to anyone around me.

"It certainly did" admitted the spirit.

Then why is it-

"Through previous encounters with other mystical beings, that I met after my death in the real world, I discovered there were some hiding some kind treacherous killing intent inside a warm, acceptable environment." explained the wolf as he looked inside Rhoe's mind.

..... I.... never thought that was possible.

"That's because your spirit was blessed with protection I'm unaware of." explained the wolf. "This blessing avoided contact with any kind of evil, treacherous, cold-hearted, or any kind negative personality spirit."

It's seems too true to be real. But I'm puzzled. How do you know this anyway? And what's your name? I feel like I can't just call you doggy.

"My name? My name is Emil, nice to meet you." greeted Emil.

Emil!?

Is something the matter? asked Emil.

...... It's nothing. I remembered someone called Emil, but I thought it wasn't you.

"Really?" asked Emil query of this situation, "Who is this Emil you are talking about?"

Well, personally, I don't know him. It's this guy Rhoe who does. Emil is Rhoe's little brother actually.

Aeris showed Emil around the mind, although Emil already figured it out. Aeris explained what happened, the incident in the library, the Nightshadows, the shelter in the woods, everything about the incident. Aeris knew that Emil was aware of this, but there was something Emil in which the spirit didn't become acquainted of. Rhoe's consumption.

The moment Emil heard about the individual Rhoe,which Emil knew and was the reason the spirit appeared, memories came back like a train going through a wall of barricades. They appeared one after another, non-stop, torturing the poor being with both positive, yet negative emotions.

Emil suddenly dropped the wolf head looking at the floor, like something has struck the being

.... I won't ask about that. stated Emil.

Oh, sorry! Did I made you uncomfortable?

"No, not at all. It's just a memory that came to my mind in a flash." clarified Emil., "I usually have these kind of flashs, but I'm pretty sure that my mind is working properly."

......... I know I'm just a stranger you just met, but don't try to hold back.

"......"

....I have been wondering for a while now.

"...Hm?"

As a spirit, I risked myself to enter Rhoe's body trying to save him. But why are you here? Surely you must have arrived by mistake.

Emil looked away, as if it was trying to avoid the question. Aeris tilted its head irresoluted by this. The spirit knew it was something deep. Maybe it was for the best not to know. That would be if Emil hadn't spoke.

"I actually came on my own".

Aeris became even more confused by this. Why would Emil come in the first place? What does Rhoe have to do with him? Maybe it was because it was the last thing alive? In either case, the doubt was still on loose.

"You see, I happen to be related to Rhoe". Aeris was dumbfolded by this. Related...?

I'm a close family to him. You could say I'm his guardian angel. Aeris inmediately realized who this individual was. It none other than Emil himself, Rhoe's younger brother.

If t-that's t-the c-case... then you must be-

"Why yes. I'm indeed Rhoe's younger brother" revealed Emil as took his human form.

That's Not Possible! H-How? I never heard of this before.

"Perhaps not here, but it is possible in the human world" clarified Emil.

Uh.... Care to explain?

"You see, when I died in that fire Rhoe tried desperately to pull me out of, my soul left my body where I meet my creator. Upon meeting it, which of course it has no gender whatsoever, it asked that I was allowed to do what my heart desired to and I pleaded to head with my brother to act as his guardian angel, knowing how devasted he would be. The creator allowed me to do because deep down in the world, the creator knew it was the necessary thing to do."

When you mean the creator, you mean a god that created everything in your universe, right?

"Precisely.However, it's hard to explain. Since all of us are so different, when we die, we end up having an unique experience in the afterlife, so therefore, others might experience looking at the beliefs in their own personal way. As for me, being a christian, I met with what would be God. The point is, ever since I passed away, I have been looking over Rhoe, protecting from any harm. The only thing I couldn't protect him from was from himself. Slowly, he started to become more and more depressed being all alone even when I was there spiritally. He wasn't into religion as I was, so the thought of me being there with him never crossed his mind."

I guess he had it rough.According to some rumors about you humans, I've heard that there are humans that when their lives are really tough, there are three likely cases known to happen. Suicide, Insanity, and moving on. Of course, these cases can vary depeding on the person, but that's not the point. The point is that Rhoe's loneliness made him shut to other people, thus he never experienced what would life could have been if all of his family actually made it. Poor guy... You two must have suffered a lot.

"We did".revealed Emil thinking of the tough moments he and Rhoe went through. "We really had a really tough time. But even though we had a tough time on Earth, there was something that I believed was the source of my strength"

I'm guessing that was family, right?

"Yes. I always knew that Rhoe and my parents were watching me, protecting me, watching how I enjoyed life. Especially Rhoe. He dedicated his life for me to have the most normal possible living I could. That was really inspiring. I always wanted to be like him. Strong, dedicated, caring , loyal and always looking to do the right thing, whether it caused problems or not. He is shy around woman and his temper usually got the best of him, but not everyone is perfect. Rhoe showed me what does a true brother is, what family is capable of when there is a problem, any kind of, and that they are there for you anytime you need someone" flattered Emil.

Rhoe sure was a great example. It's a shame he is no longer with us...

"That is why I'm here".

Aeris was taken by surprise at this comment. It wasn't Aeris expected to hear. Aeris believed it was because Emil wanted to spend some time with him even when he wasn't technically around. After all, he is his brother in the end. It was a bit concerning that Emil remembered all of his past memories, but that's was something Aeris didn't wish to get involved.

"Aeris" called out the brother.

Aeris snapped back into reality as the spirit looked firmly at Emil again.

Yes? 'Wait, how does he know my name? I never- ....He must have heard it when I was with Rhoe.'

"I need you to do something for me." requested Emil while he getting into what it seemed to be a magic spell of some sort spirit usually use.

What's that?

"Take care of Rhoe for me"

Aeris blinked twice as Emil started glow into a golden aura.

What does that mean!?

"That means I'm leaving Rhoe to your care. I'm using all of my power to vanquish the darkness that consumed him". said Emil meanwhile the aura grew stronger and stronger.

How do you know that will work!? WE both know that spell is really risky, not to mentioned we never heard of any spirit that has done something like that!

"I may be gone, but- urgh.., who knows. It's better to- guh.... do something than standing- grr... around. Besides, there is-oomph!, something I gotta do. I just can't- GAHHH, do nothing and watch everything we- URGH! worked up so much die like that!". Aeris somehow saw Rhoe's form standing next to Emil. Aeris thought those two really looked like each other.

.....Alright. I'll take care of him. Hasty decision to leave to me, don't you think?

"Well. you are the only one-GUH... around capable of so. Besides, he trusts you."

Heh, got that right. You know? You really are like him.

Thanks, please look out for him.

Will do. I better leave before this gets nasty.

"Good- urg... idea..." agreed Emil. "And Aeris?"

Yes?

Tell him that I thank him for all the things he has done for me. Tell him I love him and that I'll always be there just like Mom and Dad. requested Emil.

IGladly.

With that Aeris left the body to avoid getting in the range of the attack. Once Aeris got out of Rhoe's body he noticed how they weren't at the same spot as before. Aeris believed that something brought them here, but the spirit didn't know how. Aeris looked back at Rhoe's lifeless body as the light in his bracelets glowed ever stronger than before. Aeris figured out that light was Emil, where he came from.

Slowly, Rhoe's body began recovering his original colors, his dark eyes were slowly fading away and soon Rhoe came back to senses. Rhoe's eyes opened as he gazed into the dungueon he was. Suddenly, he looked everywhere unknowing of where he was. It was a surprise both didn't know about the place, but that didn't matter to them.

Rhoe! You are back! Thank Celestia, you are okay!

"Hey there Aeris" greeted Rhoe.

I thought you were really gone... I tried everything to save you...

"I know. Soon after you were focused on the scanning, from that same bush I heard rustle, the darkness jumped at me, trying to devour my will. I tried to fight back, but as soon as it beated my will, I thought I messed. That's where you come in" explained Rhoe

Wait, you actually saw everything?

"You bet. Including him. Heh, he sure grew to be a great kid after all." said Rhoe looking a bit sad about something. Then that sadness became tears.

"He didn't have to do that! I didn't know he... I...I never thought that.... Now... he is gone spiritually as well..." said with tears rolling in his face, trying to not think about what happened.

..................

"But he is right," Rhoe added while wiping the tears of his face, "We can't be standing doing nothing. We can't fail now. If I cry right now, it won't bring him back."

Even though Rhoe couldn't see Aeris, Rhoe knew Aeris was smiling in contempt at this. The two of them got of this statue standing moments ago and Rhoe was stretching to recover the nervous system of the body since it was completely still in an uncomfortable position for some hours.

"Haha... I really am grateful Emil. In the end you were the one who saved me...I won't let you sacrificed be in vain." murmured Rhoe.

What was that?

"N-Nothing. Just talking to myself."

...Okay. I won't ask anymore. Now let's find out where and what is this place.

"Agree" confirmed Rhoe.

Rhoe looked to his bracelets and thought about a certain individual. He embraced the bracelets and they took off once they got prepared. The world couldn't wait for another day of delay, it's up to them to end this reign of terror. The world's last hope weighs in the shoulders of two beings....