Chapters Author's Note
Me tired. I sleep now.
A Welcome Intrusion
Near the edge of a rural community in the northern continent, two earth ponies stood at the bus stop. The younger of the pair was a colt with dark fur and a light blonde mane. The stallion beside him countered his aesthetic completely. His coat was pale as moonlight, his mane the hue of chocolate.
"I'm tired." the colt complained.
"Same here, bud. School starts way too fuckin' early. Now you know why I always crash before dark."
"When will it get here?"
"Soon. Just hang tight."
"It's cold. I wanna go home."
"Let's just try to have a good day for ma's sake. She's really stressed out right now."
"Okay..."
As if on cue, the bus pulled around the dirt path.
"Come on. We'll watch some DBZ when we get back."
The colt nodded. He followed his brother inside the oversized contraption. They took a seat in the back to avoid any unwanted attention.
Ian and Harmonic were the last two that needed to be picked up that morning. From their home, the bus headed straight for the city. It was far enough away for the brothers to get a quick nap in. As the teens approached the bus's exit, Ian felt a leg hold him back. Curious, he stared to the side. He was surprised to find a filly around his brother's age. She was impossibly strong for her stature. That fact alone stunned him in place.
"What's up?" he asked, trying to sound unfazed.
The young Pegasus handed him an envelope.
"Read this as soon as you can..." she uttered.
"What is it?"
"Something for you and your brother."
"Whatever you say."
Ian took the envelope, hastily evacuating the vehicle.
"The fuck was that...!?"
By the time the bus reached the primary school, Harmonic was already rousing from his slumber. He hoisted his book bag onto his shoulders, uncertain what to expect. For the time being, he followed his brother's advice, keeping his head down and concerning himself with his studies. Good behavior and good grades were all that mattered from here on out. From the distance, an unfamiliar face watched closely...
"I'll pay attention to the schedule and get close to him as soon as I can..."
The morning started off fairly slow. The children were refreshed on basic arithmetic and reading comprehension. Harmonic was a bit slower on the uptake than the others, but he managed to keep up for the time being. His scholastic struggles would soon be put to an abrupt end. Around noon, the students were given a free reading period to put their newfound knowledge to the test. They were allowed to pick one partner of their choosing. The filly made her move.
"Hi!" she said in the friendliest tone she could manage.
Harmonic, whose nose was already buried in a book about dinosaurs, looked up to see the girl overshadowing him. Her mane and coat resembled Ian's, though hers were arguably even more pronounced. She wore her bangs down over her eyes. A silver cross dangled around her neck.
"Hi..."
"Can I be your partner?"
"Okay..."
The new entity took a seat in front of the colt. She let him read long enough to expose her left eye. Without warning, she reached out and touched his hoof. The voice directed toward him was no longer that of a child, but a fully grown mare.
"Do you know me?" she questioned curiously, trying to reach him in a way he could understand. He shook his head, "It's okay. You'll remember in time. Until then, let's enjoy our time together...As innocents..."
Something about her words summoned familiar feelings of peace and security. It wasn't the first time Harmonic had been separated from his family for an extended period, but it was still frightening nonetheless. The supposed filly's words reassured him things would be all right. His anxiety began to melt away...
After lunch, Ian took study hall to read over the letter the girl had given him earlier that morning. He wanted to be skeptical of its contents, but his gut told him otherwise.
"You probably don't remember me, but you and I were good friends a long time ago. I don't really know how to explain this in a way that sounds believable, so I'll just come out and say it. You were my brother-in-law. Your brother was my husband. The two of you have lived this life before. It would take too long to thoroughly explain here, but to summarize, I rebuilt this world with one goal in mind. I wanted to see how your brother's life would've turned out with my influence tempering his resentments early on. A great deal of harm was once imposed upon him in his youth. With my power, I fully believe I can shape him into the man he always dreamed of becoming. I realize words alone are insufficient to prove my intentions. Underneath this letter, you'll find a photograph showing what we were like before."
Ian lifted the note, revealing the picture in question. He looked high and low for any signs of falsehood. He found none.
"The children you see are your nieces and nephew. Despite his strife, Harmonic proved himself to be a wonderful husband and loving father. The day I lost them, I feared I lost myself as well. That was the moment I came to understand the true extent of my own strength. Your brother offered me the love he himself so desperately craved. Now it's time to return his care in full, for I am..."
Ian lost all sense of his surroundings. His baby brother, a lover of the unseen. He gawked in amazement.
"Holy shit..."
The bus picked up the students in reverse order that afternoon. The younger children left campus first. They were assigned worksheets tailored to their unique experiences. On the ride home, Ian briefly acknowledged Atmospheric, punching the area of his chest where his heart was located. Her words struck him. The Pegasus nodded in understanding. The stallion settled next to his brother.
"A little birdie told me you met a cute girl today."
"Birds can talk?"
"You never know. Better keep her close, man. Things are about to get a whole hell of a lot more interesting."
Author's Note
This chapter delves a bit into dark subject matter, but the ending's a lot more hopeful. Read at your own discretion.
The first Grains
Atmospheric continued assisting Harmonic with schoolwork over the course of the week. She used any opportunity available to get close to him, fawning over him as he continued to grow and improve academically.
"He's so cute when he's concentrating. Am I...falling in love with him all over again...?"
Her heart began to beat faster. The white in her face was replaced by a deep crimson.
"So this was how Yuri felt about Alice...I'm his Dark Seraphim..."
During the bus ride home on Friday, Atmospheric tracked the brothers down. She flew above the bus to avoid detection by the other students, landing just outside the back of their house. She waited outside for a while, finishing her homework to pass the time. Once she was sure Harmonic wouldn't notice, she knocked on the door.
"Wassup, stalker?" Ian cracked.
Atmospheric chuckled, though admittedly she felt uneasy about having to take such extreme measures.
"I wasn't paying attention to the bus route the other day. Sorry."
"Gotcha."
"Can we talk?"
"I kinda gotta help with Harmonic's homework right now."
"It won't take long."
"Guess I can spare a few minutes."
"Thanks."
Ian settled beside Atmospheric on the swing set in the front yard. He was admittedly curious to hear what she had to say.
"Lucky we were the only ones here right now. Mom would've flipped if you showed up without calling first."
"So I've heard."
"What'd you wanna talk about?"
"You were curious, weren't you? About the letter?"
"Now that you mention it."
"There's so much to unpack I'm not even sure where to start."
"Start with whatever you think is best."
"Do you know why I wanted to find him early?"
"Not a clue."
"Once you left, he was completely alone for the better part of eight years. All he had was your mother, and they weren't as close as I wished they could've been."
"Why'd I leave?"
"You became a father not long before you finished high school. It led to a lot of tension between you and your mom. You walked out after an argument on your eighteenth birthday."
"Jesus..."
"You have to know, Harmonic never blamed you for what happened. It was just the wrong place at the wrong time under the wrong circumstance."
"I already figured that. He never struck me as the type to hold a grudge."
"He loved you more than you could ever possibly know. Once you were gone, he was completely lost. He couldn't relate to the kids at school, nor could he relate to the adults who were teaching him in the harshest possible ways. He was left to come to his own conclusions about the meaning of life. Those conclusions nearly led him to a self-imposed execution."
"I had no idea..."
"When I met him, he was teetering on the edge of death's door. All he needed was someone to listen with an open heart and an open mind."
"Can you give me specific examples of what happened?"
"Two of your friends molested him between the ages of five and six."
"Please tell me you're joking."
"Why would I lie about something like that?"
Ian sighed.
"Oh, my god..."
"The perpetrators were more methodical than your typical blunt force cases. They used to trickery and deceit to get what they after. To make matters worse, one of them tried to bribe him into assaulting a girl who was visiting at the time."
"I'm afraid to ask."
"He didn't fall for it."
"I knew you had it in you, bro..."
"Your brother has a strong moral compass, even if it's hard to maintain sometimes. I believe me being here will make it easier for him in the long run."
"Considering you could probably break every bone in those dicks' bodies in a fraction of a second, I'd say he's definitely in good hands...I mean hooves...Whatever."
"He confessed to me before he passed that he enjoyed the sensations during the time the molestation was going on. It was a source of great shame for him for a long time."
"I'm glad you told me. Now I can make sure it doesn't happen again."
"We."
"Right. We."
"To tell you the truth, I was worried about changing history while waiting for him to be reborn, but I don't care anymore. Even if the world were to burn to ashes around us, as long I have him, I couldn't care less."
"You're the real deal, ain't ya?"
Ian rose from the swing, stretching his legs and back.
"I'm sure there's more to the story, but I think I have enough to go on for now. I should get back inside."
"Give him a hug for me. He needs to know we're looking out for him now more than ever."
"You don't gotta tell me twice."
"I'll come back soon so we can all spend some time together."
"Don't forget about ma."
"I won't."
"Later."
"Godspeed."
The ponies saluted each other before parting their separate ways.
Author's Note
Now that the dark shit is out of the way, I can focus on developing the relationship between Ian, Harmonic, and Atmospheric. I noticed Atmospheric's speech patterns are kind of mixing formal English with youthful dialect. Kind of makes for an interesting internal dynamic. Might stick with it if I can make it flow smoothly enough for the story.
Rebound
After her conversation with Ian, Atmospheric reflected on something Harmonic told her during the original timeline. As a colt, he was able to bounce back much more quickly from emotional distress. She wondered how she could extend this trait into his adolescence and adulthood.
"I'm already working to remove one obstacle, and between me and Ian, the other's no longer an issue. I guess all I can do now is just be there for him. Fear not, my love...I'll be there soon..."
The following Saturday, Atmospheric returned to Ian and Harmonic's house. Harmonic looked up at his brother with a curious expression.
"It's cool, man. I invited her here."
"Okay..."
"You guys wanna play some Street Fighter," the elder stallion inquired, "I bought snacks."
"Can we play Mortal Kombat, too?" Atmospheric asked.
"You know the fatalities?"
The filly nodded.
"Nice."
Atmospheric followed the brothers inside. She was fascinated to learn the kitchen was the first room in the house. Ian led them to his room. She pulled Ian aside, allowing Harmonic to pass. She mouthed a vital warning.
"This is where it happened. Be on guard from here on out."
"I gotcha."
Ian set up the console while Harmonic and Atmospheric picked out their resting places. Atmospheric pulled a plastic case from her jacket pocket.
"I brought a CD for us if you want to listen to it."
Ian retrieved the disc, curious about what style of music it was.
"12 Stones?"
"You guys are into Linkin Park and stuff like that, right?"
"Yeah. They're pretty cool."
"Go ahead and pop it in."
"On it."
Ian powered on his stereo. He finished setting up the system and opened his copy of Hyper Street Fighter 2: Anniversary Edition.
"Who's your favorite character?" he asked Atmospheric in particular.
"Ryu. Yours is Ken, isn't it?"
"How'd you know?"
Atmospheric tilted her head in Harmonic's direction. Harmonic gazed between them in confusion.
"Right, right. How 'bout you, bud?"
"I don't know..."
"His is Shun from the Alpha animation."
"Don't think he's seen that one yet." Ian cautioned.
"I know." the Pegasus replied coyly.
"How...?" Harmonic asked.
"Guess I'm just lucky."
Atmospheric winked at Ian. Though the stallion failed to see the action through her mane, he sure as hell felt it. She was building his brother's interest through her understanding of the colt's psychological profile. The stallion smiled.
"Dang, she's smooth. I gotta step up my game."
Ian won most of the rounds between him and Atmospheric, though she was able to adapt to his strategy towards the end for an impressive comeback.
"You got skills. Respect."
"Ready to bow down to the new queen of fighting games?"
"Nah. I'll get you back."
"Why don't you teach Harmonic how to play?"
"Sure he won't throw a tantrum when I whoop his ass?"
"I don't think so. There's more important things in life than winning..."
"Deep."
Atmospheric passed the controller to her future groom.
"Don't be mad if he wins. The effort's what counts. Fall in love with failure, and victory will follow."
"Somebody's 'bout that grindset." Ian teased.
"I'm living proof, aren't I?"
"True that."
Later in the evening, Ian and Harmonic introduced Atmospheric to their mother. During dinner, the Pegasus adopted her childish persona to avoid raising suspicion. If necessary, she could reveal her true self at a later date. For now, it was best to keep things simple. Ian and Harmonic saw her off just before sundown. Before she left, she gave Harmonic a peck on the cheek.
"I'll see you at school." she said sweetly. She swiftly vanished in the distance.
"Somebody's got a girlfriend!" Ian prodded.
"Shut up..."
Impressions (Intermission Chapter)
Author's Note
Just to clarify, the general timeframe of these early chapters is set around autumn of 2002. Time won't start moving ahead much until after the next chapter. I already have the next major plot event planned out. Grab your snacks, folks. This is gonna be one hell of an adventure.
Impressions (Intermission Chapter)
Harmonic reconnected with Atmospheric the following Monday. They briefly spoke outside the school doors.
"Hi..." the colt greeted nervously.
"Hi."
"Ian wanted me to ask you a question..."
"What?"
"He never asked who your favorite Mortal Kombat character was..."
"Either Liu Kang or Kung Lao. I know your favorite, too."
"I don't have one..."
"Not now, but when we're grown up, your favorite will be Raiden."
"How do you know...?"
"I know because I'm your best friend...Or was..."
"Was...?"
"I know it's hard to understand right now, but you'll understand when you're older."
"Why...?"
"I dunno. Kids just can't understand grown-up stuff."
"Okay..."
"Let's go before we get in trouble."
Harmonic nodded and followed his bride-to-be inside. Much as Atmospheric wanted to lean close to him, she refrained from doing so in public. There'd be plenty of time to get close and personal later.
"Tell your mom I said thanks for dinner the other night."
"I will..."
Author's Note
"Take me down there. Share your secrets. Break the boundaries into pieces. Just say on the way down you'll wave to me."
Beginning Anew
As the days became colder, Harmonic and Atmospheric grew closer. Gradually, she began to reintroduce him to the music, books, movies, and games they consumed their first go around. Harmonic's hesitancy shifted towards intrigue. Who was this girl who had suddenly taken a shine to him? He felt like he'd met her somewhere before. The question was, where, and more importantly, when...?
On the day of Halloween, Ian hitched a ride with one of his friends from school. They picked up Harmonic and Atmospheric and drove them to a local pizzeria. On the way there, his friend noticed something perculiar.
"Don't you think they're gettin' a little too close and cuddly back there?"
"She's got a major crush on him," Ian explained, "They've been friends for a long time. Guess she's into the dark handsome type."
"You can tell him," Atmospheric voiced, "Harmonic's asleep."
Ian looked behind, interrogating her with his eyes. She nodded in silent confirmation. The stallion turned back around. He rubbed his mouth, knowing full-well his friend wouldn't believe him.
"You're familiar with reincarnation, right?"
"You're tellin' me one of 'em's somebody from a past life?"
"It's a bit more complicated than that. Apparently the three of us have lived this exact same life before - same time, same place. What's different now is the sequence of events."
"Three?"
"Atmospheric's different from us. She's not exactly...Mortal."
"Now I know you're yankin' my chain. This is a prank, isn't it?"
"No prank here, man."
"You really expect me to believe that?"
"No. I don't that's why I brought proof."
Ian held up the photo Atmospheric gave him during their first meeting.
"That's a fake."
"Already checked. It's legit."
"How the fuck is that possible!?"
"She's..."
Over dinner, Ian's friend took a closer look at the picture. His skepticism crumbled away in a hail of dust.
"Unbelievable..."
"What's wrong?" Harmonic asked.
"...Nothin', man. You're brother was just showin' me something."
"Believe me now?" Ian grilled.
"Got no choice. Talk about surreal..."
"Curious enough to stick around and see where it goes?"
"Definitely."
Ian mouthed a question to Atmospheric.
"Is he one of the guys that did it?"
Atmospheric shook her head. This particular friend was trustworthy. Her response set the earth pony's mind at ease. Harmonic listened intently to the music over the speakers. It was one of the metalcore bands Atmospheric recently exposed him to.
"Not bad for a first date, huh?" she ribbed. Harmonic froze in place. His face turned a dark shade of red.
Author's Note
Writing this is bringing back memories I'd almost forgotten entirely. Talk about a blast from the past. More like a Hadouken or X-Buster to the face.
Understanding
By the time Harmonic's fifth birthday rolled around, Ian and Atmospheric began teaching him martial arts techniques to improve his health. It was difficult for him to understand at first, but through their guidance, he was eventually able to emulate their instructions with relative ease. The years of Harmonic's assault passed without incident, freeing Ian to complete his education. After his brother found employment through an electric company, Atmospheric became Harmonic's primary companion. Before she could devote herself to pursuing their future, there was one order of business left to take care of...
On the night of July 5th, 2005, Atmospheric disappeared to an undisclosed location. She watched from the rooftops as those below shifted between buildings. At eleven o' clock on the nose, she spotted the car she was looking for.
"Better make this quick."
The moment the driver disappeared from view, she disabled the vehicle's security. She crushed the keys upon removing them from the ignition.
"Sorry, Matt. This is for your own good..."
With her job done, Atmospheric returned home...
Atmospheric stayed home from school the next day. Harmonic found her waiting for him by the shrubbery.
"Are you okay? They said you were sick at school today."
Atmospheric tackled him in a tight embrace. He felt her tears seep into his shirt.
"What's wrong...?"
"Nothing. I'm just happy to see you."
"Me too. Let's go inside."
"Yeah..."
Harmonic grabbed a few snacks from the refrigerator. He and Atmospheric talked for a while while he finished his homework.
"How's Ian doing?"
"Okay, I guess. He works late."
"Does he like his work?"
"I don't know."
"Maybe I can stay the night one of these days. We can catch up then."
"You'll have to ask mom."
"I figured."
"Ian bought me a memory card so we could play while he was gone. You wanna play when I'm done?"
"Sure."
The pair went silent. Atmospheric reflected on everything that had happened. Now that she could experience life from the beginning with the one she loved, she would miss these days when they were gone...
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...