Author's Note

Even angels sin.

Altered Cycle

Eight years quietly passed by. With each day, Harmonic grew stronger, wiser, and kinder. He began to resemble the person Atmospheric once knew. This time, however, there was one key difference...He was at peace...

Harmonic celebrated his fifteenth birthday in a different manner than most. It was a small, simple gathering between him, his mother, Ian, and Atmospheric. They made tostadas for dinner and discussed their daily activities. Atmospheric could tell how much her lover had changed. Before, he would barely react when she touched him. Now he was the one instigating physical contact. It was time to reveal the truth: for his sake as well as hers. She led him outside.

Atmospheric listened to the leaves rustle as the breeze blew past them. Even though she had a general idea of what she wanted to say, it was difficult to put into words.

"What's up?" Harmonic asked.

"...It's been a long time..."

"Since what?"

"Since we were like this...Young...In love..."

"I don't follow."

"Did you ever wonder? About me? Where I came from? Why I knew you?"

"Does this have something to do with your immortality?"

"You know!?"

"I've known since we were kids."

"Why didn't you say anything?"

"It didn't matter to me. You wanted me around for a reason. The only thing I could never figure out was why..."

"You and I...We were married once before."

"Was all that stuff about reincarnation true?"

"Not reincarnation. Rebirth."

"Rebirth?"

"Eons ago, when my father's blueprint of creation was first set in motion, you were born under the same circumstances as now. Back then, you were so lonely...So engulfed by despair..."

"You're...An angel...!?"

"I loved you until the day I lost you. I missed how you would wrap your legs around me to make me feel secure and safe. I loved the way you looked after our children, always being there to comfort them when they cried or felt down. There wasn't a single part of you I ever lost faith in."

"I...I had no idea..."

"I couldn't bear the thought of living in an empty universe without you. I fell into a long sleep so I could await for your return. When the time came, I regressed to a childish form so I would have an excuse to be near you."

"So...What did you change?"

"Your brother and I stopped you from being abused by people you trusted, and I alone kept you from the fear of death."

"How?"

"When you were seven, there was a car crash that made headlines across the country. One of the victims was a little girl."

"You saved her...Unreal..."

"I had to make sure you reached a point where you could cope with the truth - where you could draw strength from it. Sometimes bad things happen. All we can do is learn and move on."

"Damn..."

"What I'm about to ask you is the most important thing anyone ever could. You must answer honestly."

"...All right..."

"Do you feel like I manipulated you?"

Harmonic made a pained face.

"Why would you even ask something like that?"

"I did what I did hoping you would love me like before. My reasons were selfish. I knew nothing was guaranteed."

"You're right. I don't love you like I did before."

Atmospheric's eyes fell to the ground. Resignation hung over her like a suffocating shadow.

"The reason is because..."

Harmonic knelt before her, gripping her hoof tightly.

"...I love you even more."

"You...Still love me...Even after all this time...!?"

"If saving people is your idea of selfishness, keep being selfish. They can remove 'til death do us part' from the vows, 'cause the reaper sucks at his job."

Atmospheric laughed involuntarily. The idea of suffering being reduced to a cosmic joke filled her with a hope beyond measure. It all made sense - why her father never objected to their union. His will exceeded the boundaries of the spiritual plane.

"Now that that's outta the way, we need to figure out a way I can repay you. You've done too much to go unrewarded."

Atmospheric cooed seductively.

"I've already thought about payment."

She pulled a condom from her pocket.

"Your renewed virginity should suffice."

"I've heard of second breakfast. Second virginity's a bit of a new one. Consider it done."

Through the darkness, in the light of the cross's reflection, a carving flashed across the surface: the carving of a name...