Gateway to Harmony

Gateway to Harmony

Chapter 13: Facing Inner Demons

Written and Edited by RobertBel98

[System reboot activated]… [Taking system diagnostics]…

Life support systems online… Neural inhibitors online… Defensive systems online… Weapons systems online… Repulsors online…

[Testing nanite response… nanites are fully active]… [Scanning for internal damage… no interior damage reported]… [Status of user designation: Robert Bellitto]…

Life signs… Critical… User in danger… Insufficient oxygen supply... Sealing all exterior vents...Putting suit on lockdown... Stirring interior oxygen reserves… Exterior vents sealed… Releasing reserve valves in 3…2…1…

[Scanning vital signs]…

Heart beat: Zero beats per minute… Circulatory systems critical…

[Suggested method of re-animation]…

Immediate defibrillation… Accepted… Charging…  Discharging in 3…2…1…

[Secondary vital scan]…

Heart rate: 67 beats per minute… Status: Normal…

[Re-animation success]… [Robert's status… unconscious]… [Recommended course of action]…

Immediate awakening… Accepted… Stimulating neural systems in 3…2…1… Process success…

_____

I was awoken to a surge of electricity trailing throughout my spine. After a brief muscle spasm due to the surprise charge, I begin to let myself calm down. Opening both eyes, they are met with a vision of empty black. Before my mind could start processing the situation, the familiar monotone voice of Andrew, my on board AI, echoed into the helmet piece.

“Oh thank goodness that worked. Hello sir, how are you feeling?”

“Great…just *sigh* great. Andrew, would you mind telling me what in the hell just happened?”

“Well, I am not exactly sure myself, sir.  The Nano-suit just completed a full system reboot moments ago, and all existing data before that is… corrupted. All I can tell you is that some unknown energy wave caused the immediate shutdown of all of the suit’s systems, including me.”

“Well that’s just great.  Can you at least tell me why the nanites have the suit on lockdown mode?”

“One moment, sir, I will check the recent data logs.” After a few moments the AI’s voice returned through the helmet’s speakers. “It seems that the suit commissioned a complete lockdown of all exterior ports due to… insufficient oxygen supply? That is rather odd. Why would there be an- oh my.” The surprisingly worried sounding tone slightly panicked me.

“Andrew… what is our current location?”

“Uh… sir, I think it would be best you see for yourself. Just… don’t panic. I assure you it is perfectly safe-” I cut him off there.

“Andrew, unlock the God damn visor.”

“…as you wish, sir.” There was a slight whirring sound as the heads up display came to life. Moments afterwards, a *click* sounded at the peak of the visor, followed several more *click*’s around the perimeter of the panel. The nanites making up the face plate slowly melted away, almost as if being washed of the helmet’s front. The outside world was now visible, only… it was not any world I was seeing.

“What…the…fuck.” The sight before me was not an unfamiliar one, but it was first time seeing it from such a… exposed perspective. In front of me in all her glory, was the vast emptiness of space. Millions of stars twinkled in the black, creating small glints on the transparent plate. Absolute silence reigned, leaving me to just lay there undistracted, staring in awe at the sight. Wait ‘lay’ if I am no longer on that planet, then… where was I? This prompted me to glance down. Below me was a form of white powder. The substance surrounded me. Looking back up, I caught a sight that confirmed my belief. White hilltops appeared in the distance, rock formations jutting out randomly on the lunarscape. Turning to my left awaited the floating blue orb that was the world I resided on only moments ago. I was able to pick out the individual land masses until being cut off by a shroud of darkness encompassing half the planet.

“Sir, as impossible as it sounds… we have somehow been transported to this planet’s moon. I have no solid hypothesis as to how this happened yet, but I have a ‘hunch’ it was most likely linked to that unknown energy signature I detected before being shut down.”

“Yeah, most likely,” I say softly. Still bewildered by that fact I had somehow achieved teleportation.

“Sir, I understand your confusion, and most likely your *ahem* mild hysteria. Although, we have some pressing matters to attend to. The most important being our limited air supply. I estimate the on board tanks to only last us another three hours at most.” This fact shakes me from my stupor, taking on a more determined attitude.

“Well I better get of my ass then, and get working on a plan.”

“Actually I would not recommend over-exertion as that could hasten the depletion of oxygen. Although I do agree we formulate a plan on how to acquire a sufficient supply of oxygen, which unfortunately is rather unlikely due to that fact we are currently located in the vacuum of space, or we can look more into the unknown form of energy that supposedly brought us here.”

“I think I’ll take the latter.”

“I also believe that is-” The AI was cut off mid-sentence.

“Andrew, is something wrong?” There was no response. “Andrew, respond!”

“Sir, I am detecting some form of energy buildup due south of our position!”

“Do you have an estimated distance to the anomaly?”

“Yes sir, the buildup is located roughly… two meters south of your position, oh dear.”

“I swear you do this just to piss me off.” I snap while turning around. What was waiting for me, I did not expect.

“Hello, Robert. It is wonderful to finally meet you face to face.” That voice. It was the voice that has haunted me ever since arriving in Equestria. Now, I finally saw its true form, and it once again took me by surprise. Instead of the demonic hell spawn I had formulated in my mind, there stood what looked like… a pony. The mare adorned a flat black coat. Save for a single section of purple fur on her flank witch contained an image of a crescent moon. Her mane and tail were almost identical to another mare I had come to know. Luna. Her mane blew in a constant flowing motion. Gazing into it one would think they were staring into the dark expanse of space. The most noticeable feature she had would have to be her eyes. The reptilian irises stared directly at me, letting me lose myself in a pool of green and blue. On both her sides laid two large black wings. Both folded neatly inward. A top her head was a long sharp horn, sharing the same color as her coat and wings. All things considered, she indeed was not the demon I thought her to be, or at least didn't look like it. She was actually... quite beautiful.

“H-how are you here.”

“The moon is my domain. While within its boundaries I can take on my true form. It is actually quite refreshing to be in my own body once again.”

“Are you the one who brought me here?” I ask assertively.

“Well, yes and no. It was your own energy that brought you here, I merely guided you. What happened would have happened even without my presence, but you should count yourself lucky I was here.”

“And why, might I ask, is that?”

“The buildup of magical energy in your body became too much for your form to take. It needed to release some of that energy either willfully by your part or… forcefully.”

“Wait, whoa… what do you mean by 'magical energy'. That just sounds stupid. Last time I checked, humans can’t use magic.”

“In your world that may be true, but here magic is a law of nature. Just like gravity. It affects all beings it touches, including you, but we have gotten off track.  That buildup of energy when released could have done anything, from a harmless illumination spell, to an explosion that would level all of Canterlot. I simply took that energy, and borrowed it, then used it to cast this teleportation spell.”

“Why bring us here though. I doubt you just brought me here so I could get a look at your 'true form' and a quick lesson on magic.”

“To answer your first question, I had no way of being certain it would bring us here. However it is rather fortunate that it did.”

“Why is that?” The black mare trotted over, speaking to me as she passed by.

“That is the answer to your second question. You are right, I did bring you here for a purpose. I wish to show you something.” I still held my guard while voicing my response.

“Why show me here, why not when you were busy fucking torturing me in my dreams.” The mare takes on a somber expression before speaking.

“I am fully aware of my actions, and that they were somewhat cruel. Although right now you need to put aside whatever thoughts you have had of me prior.”

“Why should I! You have done nothing but cause me pain and suffering since coming here. Why would I ever listen to you?!” That stops her in her tracks. Turning to face me the mare sports a look of pure hate.

“Because… it is my nature, I can help it as much as you can help being human.” Letting her words sink in my mind is flooded with even more questions. What does she mean her nature? Why does she seem so… compassionate all of a sudden? So far I have taken her as nothing but a dark entity, a spirit only here to cause me pain. Yet, now she almost seems… human.

“Alright… I’ll go.” The mare nods before continuing on with me in tow.

“Prepare yourself Robert. You are about to see the story of how I came to be. The story… of Nightmare Moon.”