From Hell to Heaven

After the flash of light, I was swept into darkness. It felt as though I was being pulled through a tube at a water park, but it continually got smaller. It felt as though my body was being compressed, and my breath began to catch in my chest. I gasped for air, flailed to try and slow down, but could not stop. I had no idea what was pulling me or where I was. I strained my eyes, not even knowing if they were open for the darkness was so complete, to try and catch even a small glimpse of light. I sputtered, trying to breathe, and just as I let out my last breath of air before I believed death would take me, everything ceased.

I knew I was lying on a floor, yet there was nothing to touch. There was nothing solid below me, nor around me, yet I was not falling, so something must have been holding me in place. I believed I opened my eyes again, but still the darkness pushed in on me, suffocating. I lifted my head, and for the first time in what seemed like years, I bent at my spine and lifted my torso up. I was weak, and it took some effort, but with a few grunts I was sitting. Up, down, around, I had no sense of direction, but I knew that I was sitting. Where am I?

"Right where you wanted to be."

But where is here?

"The between to make your choices that will affect your new life."

What kind of choices?

"You will find out very soon my child. Very soon." I nodded to the voice in my head, feeling that it was all I had left, and what more could I do than trust it. So I waited, sitting there in the darkness, with only my mind to keep me company as I waited for what would come. I still don't know how long I sat there, maybe years, maybe eons, maybe mere moments. In that darkness, there was no time, no sound, no life. Just me, until something arrived.

In an instant, 5 beams of light illuminated 5 spots on the plane I was in. I sat in the middle, bare of all clothing. The other 4 pillars of light appeared in a semi-circle in front of me. Had I been on a clock, each beam would have been on 1, 3, 9, and 11 o'clock respectively. I could feel my cheeks heat up as I sat there nude, and I moved to cover myself up, but the voice in my head spoke calmly to me, "There is no need, even if you hide, they will see all. Here, there is no shame. You are to be shown, and reveal everything. Do not worry, no harm will come to you." The voice eased my mind, yet still the embarrassment stung at my pride. "Look up, they are here."

My eyes had been cast down at my body, and at the heed of my minds voice, I looked up. The yelp that came out of my throat made all 4 of the entities before me smile and laugh amongst each other. At the 9 o'clock spot stood the snakelike God of Chaos I had seen on the television in the hospital, Discord. In the beam at the 3 o'clock mark stood the black and emerald beauty of Queen Chrysalis. And upon the 11 and 1 o'clock stood the Goddesses that controlled all life upon Equestria, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. All 4 of them stood there, looking down at me, their laughter dying as their faces became serious. Princess Celestia was the first to speak.

"You have come a..." I instantly recognized her voice, and burst out, interrupting her.

"You're the voice that's been in my head!" She gave me a soft glare, one that caused me to turn my eyes down, but my gaze was directed back to her when she began to speak again.

"You have come a long way to be here. Yes, the voice you have heard has been my own. I have felt your plight, your anguish, and all of your sorrow. It has chilled me to the bone as your life has unraveled. From the time you were born, a connection was wrought between us. I did not know why at the time, but the purpose has come to light. You are to be a part of our world. I offered you the option, and you have taken it. Now is the time for you to make your choice as to how you shall begin anew and wash away the past that you have lived through."

Luna's voice was the next to resound out, echoing in the infinite and rattling me to the core. "Thou hath concerned us, and thou shall now calm all of our minds. Though we may be separate entities, our minds our own, as Gods of this world, we can feel each other." As she continued to speak, her voice calmed and became more of what I was, and still am, accustomed to. "The link you have shared, though strongest with my sister, has been shared with us all in one way or another. In your new life, you will come across us all no matter what path you choose. Prepare yourself and learn much in our world, for it will be a place you shall gain the opportunities to thrive or perish in."

Celestia nodded as Luna finished, and spoke once more. "You know of us because of another link that we share with another in your old world. We have given her the vision to see, but not join. She wished to share what we are, and where we live. It has changed the lives of many, and we have been able to see that through her. She had the option you had as well, to join us or to stay. She chose to stay. She will never have the choice again, it is only given once." Celestia closed her eyes as though sorrow crossed over her face, and I could almost feel it through the others, but once her stunning ocular orbs shone into my soul once again, the feeling was gone, and the topic was changed.

"Now comes the choice for you to make as to which of us you shall leave here with. You have seen what all of us can do, and what different types of creatures associated with us do. Should you come with me, you will have a power connected to the light. I do not know what it will be, but your magic will pulse through your veins to assist in keeping peace and order around Equestria. You will live with the ponies that I reign over and..."

"So I'll once again be different... A human living with ponies and all sorts of animals..." I interrupted again, but this time with only a whisper. My heart sank as I began to think what the ponies would say, how they would look at me, how they would shy away from me, as they did the zebra Zecora, and would probably continue for much longer.

"No, you will not be different. As I said, this is for you to erase your past. Based on whom your choice is to leave with will also dictate what you shall look like. Whomever you choose, you will have 1 of 5 possible outcomes for a body. An Earth pony, as you have been accustomed to, a Unicorn with a talent for magic that is marked by your horn, a Pegasus with the ability to fly but posses no magic, an Alicorn with both the ability of flight and magic, or a creature of chaos that will only be determined by Discord should you choose his path. Each of the other 3 will tell you what they have to offer in their own paths for you. As I was saying, you will live with the ponies that I reign over and will interact with them. Much of how you lived before will be similar, awake during the day, and sleeping at night, using any and all of your talents to assist the ponies you meet on a daily basis and to create bonds with others and fix those bonds that have been severed. The difference is that you will be working with me, and the outcomes of your actions will have a much grander effect than in your world." She turned her head towards Luna, her effervescent mane still swirling even though no wind could be felt.

Luna nodded at her sister, and spoke as well, still keeping to her softer voice."Should you choose myself, you will obtain a power of the Darkness. Your power shall, as with the Light, work in ways to assist keeping peace across Equestria. The difference is it won't be in the eye of the general populace. What you will do will not be seen, nor recognized. You will see the difference you make, as will I, but no mention of it will be made. You will work in the shadows, in the darkness, keeping those safe who tread during that time." She gave a soft smile to me. "It is not always easy, and it can get lonely, but I will be there with you, along with those that work with me. You will not be alone, but it will be difficult knowing that those you help will not see it." Her eyes then turned away from me and to Discord, who smirked and sent a wink at Luna, who rolled her eyes.

"I, as you know, am Discord. I am the creator of Chaos and the end of everything that is known. What you know is true, and what you don't is as well. All is the same, yet completely different. Join me, and you will revel in the creation of chaos and destruction of structure. You will work to break down the society, laws, and rules that the Princesses have brought upon this land. You will be able to harness the Chaos and bend it to your will, creating situations that drive creatures insane, will be able to twist their minds and thoughts and turn friends into enemies, and enemies to friends. Birds will walk, snails will fly, anything you wish will be a reality. Creating nothing will never be in your grasp, but creating everything and destroying it all will be a daily ability." My mind reeled as I listened to him. To be able to cause disruption in the lives of those who may want to cause me harm, to put me down, to disrupt my own life as people had before. It intrigued me. Discord gave me the thumbs up as he watched my mind worked, and then gave a deep, sarcastic bow in the direction of Chrysalis, who looked at him with a murderous glare and then looked to me with a malicious stare that never left my memories.

"I am Chrysalis, and I am the creator of Evil. Hate, malice, anger. All will fill your body as love will never be a part of you. The only joy you shall receive with me is to cause pain and agony. To suck the life and the love from others, debilitating them into a state where they can be nothing except a living corpse will be your goal. You will have eternal vengeance upon anyone and everyone. All those in your past have created memories that will stay with you. I will give you the power to see their hearts in everyone so that you may exact the revenge you so dearly desire. Every life that you obliterate that stands in your way will just be them. You will stand by my side, wreaking havoc across the land. We will trick people and cause Chaos as Discord does, but with mutilation and horrors that the weak wretch at when even imagining it." Her gaze returned to normal, but still smouldering with a gentle burn of hatred. She looked at Celestia from the corner of her eye, holding her head high, and Celestia knew it was her turn to speak.

"Now that you have heard us all, do you understand what is to happen?"

"I do... Do I have time to think?"

"Yes, but not forever. If you cannot voice your option, your heart and soul will give it for you. Allow your mind some time, for even if you choose one that is not right for you, your actions after leaving may tilt you. You have a choice, and always will. Some will be easier to break than others, but it is always there. Think now, and give us your answer. We do not wish to force anything upon you, but our roles still need to be filled in our world as it cannot exist forever without us. Think quickly young one, for your life needs to begin." She smiled, as they all did, even Queen Chrysalis gave a small smirk, even though it seemed like a snarl. My mind began to race as my decision began to form in my head.

"I know who I will go with."

"We await your response."

"I shall go with..."