Some people thought that the overall nature of a person’s home served as a central testament to his nature and personality. If his home was filled with only basic commodities, for example, then he either preferred to live simply or could only afford those things. Others didn’t think quite as deeply, preferring to think along the lines of, “Oh, that’s such a well-kept house!” or “Ugh, how did it come to such a state!” but were usually polite enough to keep their mouths shut.
Nearly every newcomer, regardless of which camp they belong to, would be stunned if they came across this hallway. The very first thing that would spring to mind was how everything, from the walls, to the carpet, to the ceiling, to even the lights, were all generally in the same color scheme: from black to blue. The second thing that they would notice was, despite its enormous size that could fit an elephant, the hallway was completely devoid of activity. That wasn’t odd in of itself, but when it was combined with the color and the size, it created a classic atmosphere of hopelessness, mystery, and oppression.
Not that Head Keeper Oyzarc Nxhad really cared what people thought of the hallway, because chances were, they wouldn’t even have a chance to think anything, much less scream, if they saw it. He traveled down this corridor so many times that it felt like an eternity. It’s a too-often used cliché, but when you take into consideration that he could see time just as easily as an ordinary mortal could see space, then that saying ‘it felt like an eternity’ now possesses much more meaning. But this trip was special.
Two towering statues made out of an unknown metal stood completely still on either side of an equally imposing door. If one of these statues were to be taken out and put on public display, depending on the times, people would either worship it as a god, or revere it as a national hero, due to its size. However, as Nxhad approached the entrance, both of the ‘statues’ suddenly turned their heads towards him and said, “State your identity and business.” Remaining unfazed, he inserted a rather plain card into a slot at the base the right statue’s foot. “Authenticating…” the statues droned on. “Identity confirmed. You may proceed.”
With surprisingly little noise, the enormous doors opened outward. Nxhad hurried through, only to be stopped. The hallway in front of him was identical to the one he just left. He then sighed. He knew what was going on, and he didn’t have time for games. Focusing his power through his fingers, he bellowed the spell, “PIXOSELD!” The ‘hallway’ in front of him shimmered and wavered until, like a mist, it finally disappeared. What replaced his vision was, in contrast to the starkly lit corridor behind him, a highly illuminated room, the source of which was a massive holo-projector.
Though again, Nxhad didn’t care for aesthetics, especially not at this moment with him feeling quite irked. Quickly flying around the projector, he honed in on the magical signature of his invisible attacker, who wouldn’t be capable of being seen from ordinary eyes, Nxhad guessed. Grabbing onto him, he felt a bit surprised when he felt no struggle coming from the previously unseen interloper. That surprise quickly turned into more disgust when he recognized the heavily cloaked person before him.
“What do you think you’re doing, Umbrae?” he hissed angrily but quietly, as to not to disturb the Prophet who was in the next room over.
Even beneath the cloak, Nxhad could see Umbrae smiling placidly as the Hand of the Prophet spoke in a condescending tone, “It was quite simple what happened, Head Keeper. I was sitting here, meditating, when I detected an intruder into this space.”
“Liar,” thought Nxhad. First of all, besides himself and Umbrae, the Keeper didn’t detect any other presences. And secondly, as the Head of the Destroyers, Umbrae knew damn well about his weekly visits to the Prophet.
But before he could retort, Umbrae held up a gloved hand and said in a maddeningly calm voice, “Before you start to complain in my ear, I didn’t necessarily mean an intruder into the fortress. I meant it more along the lines of my meditation,” putting emphasis on the last four words.
Nxhad clinched his fists in a supreme effort to contain his rage. Dealing Umbrae is like wallowing through a swamp, both in politics and in his personality. In theory, the Destroyers were formed around the concept of a division that wasn’t burdened by bureaucracy, and so could respond to emergencies faster and in kind. In practice, ironically, this resulted in the other divisions, mainly the Keepers, being dumped in a lot more bureaucracy as the Destroyers don’t have to account for themselves, so the others have to pick up the slack as they have to file official reports of what happened.
It certainly didn’t help that Umbrae was, well, him.
“You know what, forget it. I don’t have time for your chicanery,” he spoke bitterly.
Umbrae’s smile then grew into a grin. “Well then, my fellow Head, before you start condemning my methodology, why don’t you check your pockets?”
Nxhad grew alarmed at this statement and his hands reflexively went to his sides. Sure enough, the pouch containing all of his key-cards was gone. He should be even more angry at this point, but instead, he found inwardly laughing at himself for how he blindly walked into that mistake.
“Of course,” he thought. “It’s a classic trick. The artist gets his target emotional about something so that he or she don’t pay attention to their surroundings, and while they don’t, he or an accomplice makes his move.”
“Just give it here, Umbrae.”
“Ah, ah. First say the magic word.”
“No. I won’t let him bait me again,” thought Nxhad. Swallowing his pride, he said, “Please.” He had the slight satisfaction of seeing Umbrae’s grin dim a little, but then it was quickly reversed back into its former state as the Head Destroyer tossed the pouch over to him.
“As you wish, then. On a more personal note, I might suggest that you address that constant angst you got going. I don’t think our beloved Prophet will take too kindly to that.” And with those words, Umbrae vanished. Nxhad scanned the area and didn’t detect any magical signatures.
Nxhad continued across the room to an entrance on the other side, his anger abruptly gone. Now that the Keeper thought about it, what had him so tense? Was it the fact that the Prophet inexplicably placed Equestria on the highest priority list, with no explanation? It happened so suddenly, too. Just a few months ago, he announced on the loudspeakers the presence of Equestria, and just as suddenly wants it on Level 5 reconnaissance, the highest level there can be which demands as much secrecy as possible. What’s further baffling in cases like these is that in Level 5 reconnaissance, it’s are always coupled with one or all of the following: espionage, sabotage, or assault. At least one level in one of those categories. Yet the Prophet did none of that. Not that Nxhad dared question his motives.
Pushing these questions out of his head momentarily, Nxhad continued to the door. A template stood attached to the wall on the left of the door. He approached it and placed his right eye into it. “Please hold still.” A whirring noise appeared in Nxhad’s ears as he waited for the scanner to authenticate the digital codes that are embedded in his metal eye. “Codes are confirmed. Please continue to hold still while they are updated.” Nxhad felt a sudden need to itch behind his neck, which, when you were in a metal body, made it only more aggravating. Was it a result of nervousness? Possibly.
“Update completed. Welcome, Oyzarc Nxhad. Would you care for some refreshments?”
Nxhad, for the first time in a while, smiled. “You know full well that I don’t need any food or water for this body, right, computer?”
“Affirmative,”
Nxhad chuckled. He honestly can’t tell if this is some pitiful attempt at humor or if it’s genuinely following its programming to be as helpful as possible. “Is Nihil currently in his sanctum?”
“Affirmative. I’ve informed him of your arrival.”
Nxhad took a deep breath. It’s time to get this over with.
Upon entering the sanctum, one would immediately see 6 differing colored lines emerging from the other end of the room, arranged in a hexagonal fashion. As they get closer and closer to the throne, they would get increasingly darker in complexion until they were all black. The throne itself was made from the same material as the rest of the fortress, but what made it stand out from the rest of the was the fact the entire architecture of the fortress was designed in such a way that it would look like it would converge into a single point, namely the throne. It wouldn’t matter where you were in the fortress; all of them converged to this centerpoint. That, combined with the lines, made for a particularly hypnotic display.
Perhaps the most frightening aspect of the room, however, was reserved the throne’s sole occupant.
Standing at over 8 feet, he was a giant among most species. It wasn’t size alone that made him intimidating, though it helps quite a bit; it’s also a dark aura that constantly surrounds him wherever he goes. No, dark isn’t quite the right word for this. It’s more like a consuming aura that threatened anyone who comes within sight of him.
Another fact about him was that he is never seen outside of his armor. Everyone thought that it was some unspoken rule, until a certain event happened. One of the newly minted Enforcers, whose name was Ixon, eventually found about this unspoken rule, and his curiosity got the better of him. One day, as the Prophet was taking an evening stroll in his gardens, Ixon was one of the assigned Enforcers to one of the entrances. Just as he was about to ask, the truth-speaker said, “I know about your need, and I don’t see any problem with the pursuit of knowledge.” And so, Ixon approached him and took a peak inside his visor. Immediately upon seeing inside the helmet, he collapsed into a catatonic state. To all of the stunned onlookers, the Prophet merely replied, “He wanted to fulfill his thirst. I obliged in it.” And he ordered them to clean up the mess.
Nxhad took a deep breath as these memories of the reports and more flooded his mind and only served to fill him with even more reverence for his prophet. This was providence. This was the one known as Nihil.
As he felt Nxhad approaching down the hallway, Nihil still couldn’t believe the change that had occurred in him, even after all this time. Once one of the personifications of chaos, Nxhad sowed discord and war as easily as one might breathe. That wasn’t to say chaos is bad. There were good kinds and bad kinds of chaos. This Nxhad definitely qualified as one of the bad kinds. His reign continued until Nihil came along and introduced him to the Truth. Now instead of laughing at mankind’s own follies, he was instead fussing over minute details to make sure nothing goes wrong. It sometimes made him paranoid.
“What reason do you have to be afraid of him?” he asked himself.
And it was true. Throughout his church’s history, there hasn’t been a single reported failure as long as the people wielding the Truth avoid those who have been chained to others, so to speak. It doesn’t matter who it was; drunkards, warlords, warlocks, demons, or even devils, if you were convinced in your own ability and didn’t care what other people think, then you were prime targets for the Truth.
Which means if the visions he received of Equestria were to be believed, then this whole quest could completely fall apart.
“Report, Keeper Nxhad. Do we have confirmation of the human in Equestria?” rumbled Nihil in a voice that seemed to simultaneously come from the body and yet come from the room at once. It was like listening to an echo, only as the sound reverberated throughout the room, the reflections become their own sources, until it was impossible to tell where the original source of the sound came from. And yet, through much self-control of the speaker, the voice doesn’t become deafening.
“Yes, Enlightened One.” Nxhad then reached behind himself and pulled out a datacard and inserted it into a nearby slot. With that action, an image of the human appeared surrounded by decrepit ruins.
“We received this image of him at 2232 hours yesterday from one of our orbiting probes. We would have tried a closer inspection, but due to the nature of Level 5 reconnaissance, we voted against that. As of yet, we don’t think the local populace or the authorities are aware of us.”
“Mmmm. What is his status given from what you saw?” inquired Nihil.
“Let’s see: his heart rate and breathing appear to be stabilized, his limbs appear to be well within reasonable boundaries, so no fractures or bruises. And I didn’t see any blood anywhere, either on the ground or on the person. So all in all, the teleportation appears to be a complete success, with him in perfect health and the local populace in the dark. The only abnormality is that we don’t know ANYTHING about him!” Nxhad suddenly shouted.
In the tense silence, Nxhad silently cursed himself for his slipup. It’s just that there were so many unusual things about this. The human, Equestria, the announcement, the…
“What I’m about to tell must not leave this room, as it is dangerous knowledge,” said Nihil, cutting into his inner ramblings. Nxhad started. He did not expect this, especially not here.
“Do you remember the basis upon which this entire organization is founded?” asked Nihil.
Nxhad nodded. It was basic knowledge. “We were blind to fact that we were architecting our own destruction, or else we knew but didn’t care. We would have continued down this path had you not come along. You showed us a vision of the destruction that would become of us had we continued down this path. It didn’t matter who it is or how much power you’ve got; once you have free will and sentience, you cannot escape evil’s touch. However, just as you were there to grace us with the Truth, you were also there to present us with a plan to end the vicious cycle. And that was how this organization started.”
“You even went so far as to abandon your names and take on your current ones, even though it wasn’t necessary,” added Nihil. “But all of that is now in jeopardy due to a particular magic I’ve discovered on Equestria. They go by the names of the Elements of Harmony. They are fruit born from the Tree of Harmony, and each one is a physical representation of Loyalty, Kindness, Generosity, Honesty, Laughter, and finally Magic. What makes them take top priority over everything else is that they have the potential to make you…” at this Nihil hesitated.
Nxhad still kept his mouth shut.
“…unsee the Truth, to put it bluntly.”
“What?” The outburst would have been stronger, but Nxhad was too stunned to have the energy for anymore volume. For anything like that to exist was blasphemy, pure and simple. “Permission to speak freely, sir.”
“Permission granted.”
“If these artifacts are as dangerous as you claim them to be, then why are we limited to just reconnaissance? We’ve got enough fire-power here to easily destroy even galaxies. What’s stopping you?”
“For several reasons. One; it would take an incredible amount of power to destroy the Elements; even if the whole world were to be destroyed, the Elements would still remain. Two; even if they were to be destroyed, only their physical forms would be, not their essences, and they would be thus reborn, rendering all that effort useless. And lastly, I don’t want Monad and her Allies to discover them, hence all the secrecy.”
“Alright. But of all the people to send, why him? As I recall…”
Several days earlier
I awoke to the literal ice-cold sensation of water being poured onto me. My eyes flew open and found them staring into a rather impassionate face, only made out of metal instead of flesh. It was like you can see the individual tendons of the muscles as he flexed them. And his eyes, again, should be mechanical, and thus life-less. But they somehow manage to be that and yet full of expression.
And right now, even though the rest of the face betrayed no emotion, his eyes were full of frustration.
“State your name and occupation, human,” he said in a controlled voice.
At that statement, I snapped out of my daze and realized the horrible situation I was in; for one thing, all four of my limbs were bound in chains, so that means that this was an interrogation.
And two, I had absolutely no idea the answers to either of those questions.
In a fit of panic, I frantically searched the room for any clue that might solve my conundrum. My interrogator mistook this as me searching for a way to escape and in a flurry of motion, pulled out an electric prod and stabbed my chest with it.
“YAAAAAAAAARGH!”
Have you ever been electrocuted? Well, first imagine a fire, like one you would keep in your house in the fireplace. Now, imagine one of your friends dares you get as close to the fireplace as possible without burning yourself. Even without making contact, the energy put forth by the fire would be fear inducing.
As such, when the electricity hit me, it would be much worse than if my entire body was consumed by flames, because the water in the body would at least combat the flames. Here though, the water was assisting in the damage.
After about 5 seconds, my tormentor withdrew the pod and said, “I’ll ask you again; state your name and occupation.”
Feeling scared, confused, and badly damaged, I blurted out, “I don’t know anything! I don’t know my own name, I don’t know if should know this place, I don’t know…”
“Stop.”
I was surprised at the sudden shift in tone in his voice. Whereas before he just barely on the verge of shouting, now it was much more quiet but somehow more authoritative.
He spoke softly. “So you claim lack of knowledge on any subject, including your own name?”
I nodded dumbly, not sure how to respond.
He then sighed. “I see no lie in your eyes. This certainly complicates matters.” He proceeded to produce a key and unlock my restraints.
I was further confused. “Huh… Why are you releasing me?”
He then smiled and said, “What makes you think I’m doing that? No, it would have been quite difficult for you to drink this with your hands tied.” He gestured toward a single drink that lay on the sole table in the room.
“What is it?” I asked.
“Something that I would rather you not make too difficult for yourself, if you please.”
I gulped, catching on immediately to what he meant. “Before I do this, can I have one question?”
He nodded. “Proceed.”
“What’s your name?”
Again, there was a noticeable shift in how my interrogator’s poise. I mean before he was military and rigid, but as soon as I asked the question there was a sudden fire in his eyes; not anger, more like passion.
And in his answer I detected the same passion.
“I am The Head Keeper Oyzarc Nxhad, the ever-stable Foundations of the Church of our beloved Prophet.”
I took a deep breath in order to calm myself. “Just take the drink and everything will turn out better,” I told myself.
I did just that and almost immediately felt the senses fading from consciousness before that gave out.
“Subsequent medical scans confirmed his claims; he had amnesia. But before we could continue with any more sessions, you issued the order to our division to cease all attempts to get his memory back.”
“I remember. I also remember you fuming at a possible security breach being sent to a high priority location, with no explanation as to how he discovered this fortress when even Monad couldn’t.”
Nxhad winced slightly as he heard the soft rebuke concealed in Nihil’s previous statement. Still, he pressed on. “Still, sir, at the risk of repeating myself, why him?”
Nihil remained silent for a bit of time. Finally, he answered, “All I’ll say this: this human is special.”
Nxhad suppressed his reflexive frustration at that answer. Trust is a precious foundation from which all organizations need; without it, it inevitably crumbles. There must be a reason for why Nihil is keeping information from him, and he’ll trust Nihil’s judgment on that.
“Yes, my lord. Is there anything else?”
“Actually, I do have one question. As a personification of chaos, you could have chosen an infinite different number of physical forms, seeing as you were not limited to them. The problem was, once you chose one, you’ll remain trapped in that form unless you perform an out-of-body ritual. So, why that form?”
Nxhad smiled. “Most metals I’ve come across can be described as, well, life-less and dead. True, they are quite unyielding, but they are also not growing, unchanging. If anything, they deteriorate over time. This one, in addition to being an inherently powerful metal, somehow doesn’t possess those weaknesses. I like to think of this as an analogy to our own situation.”
Nihil cocked his head a bit to his right. “Explain.”
“Well think of it. We were clinging to our strengths and statuses as if they were the most important in our lives, and coming up with various reasons as to why we should keep them, like, ‘I need this to protect the things I care about!’. Things like that. That changed when you came along, and miracles of miracles, somehow gave the Truth to a previously life-less hunk of metal, so to speak.”
Nihil’s voice became a bit sad in his next statement, “You do recall the entire objective of this church, right?”
“Yes. And I’m willing to see it through to the end.”
If he could, Nihil would have smiled. “You never cease to amaze me, Head Keeper. To allay your fears of the human, I’m granting you permission to watch over him at your convenience.”
Nxhad breathed a sigh of relief at that and said, “Thank you, sir.”
Nihil nodded. “Dismissed.”
Nxhad then clutched the left part of his chest with his right hand and said, “May the circle be broken,” and then left.
Sometime after Nxhad left, Nihil called out, “I know you were eavesdropping on the whole exchange, Umbrae. Show yourself.”
Slowly, a black-hooded figure emerged from behind the throne. “I still can’t believe a former god of chaos is now Head Keeper. If that’s not irony, I don’t know what is.”
Nihil’s voice hardened. “Don’t mock him, Head Destroyer. You’re already walking on a fine line as it is.”
Umbrae visibly stiffened at that last command and said just as stiffly, “Yes, sir.”
“Either way,” continued Nihil, “now that we have confirmation of him in Equestria, courtesy of Nxhad, your mission can now start.”
“Yes, my lord.”
