Scales of Harmony
Chapter 8: Interlude- Facing thy Fear and becoming True
Previous Chapter Next ChapterAfter Discord’s departure, he drag his unconscious friends to the cave of Harmony and softly leave them on the ground. He lay near the Tree of Harmony to charge his strength from binding a Chaos Lord to a godly contract. He let his mind drift to subconscious as his body teleports to the realm of Harmony. When he woke up his reserves had instantly reached 20% of power. He examine his surrounding to find Harmony with two boys: one with spiky hair as it has three different hair colors dressed in a blue school uniform, black shoes, and a golden puzzle on his neck. While the other boy was a blue-haired individual with a school uniform with a red bandana labeled SEES written on it. They were chatting with one another with food provided, while watching a large screen of the sisters fighting what seems like Fausticorn at a large field. Emerl was confused by the event of a powerful mother facing her children before Harmony tapped his shoulder.
"Hey Emerl, what are you doing?" Harmony asked the robot while being surprise that he came early.
"Wait you're asking me that when one of the most strongest creature on the planet, who is a mom currently facing her daughters what seems to be a battle to the death." Emerl replied while being agitated at her priorities matters.
"Oh that well that's just Lulu's and Cellie's fear and regret combine into one force.” Harmony starts to explain before grabbing a bowl of Takoyaki. “Apparently they miss their mom and can't let go. Now they have to battle her if they want my fruits as well awaken their true powers." Emerl was confused by the true power statement while the mare shaped entity began to eat her food with chop sticks.
"Wait true powers and how does fighting their mom helps? Emerl questions the mare’s words.
"Originally alicorns gained their powers like any other super versions of a pony, yet Faust used a bit of the Master Emerald's power. It caused a reaction to her body that was slightly unexpected.” She began eating as a piece before continuing. “It permanently enhanced her body to a point that she couldn't stay on the planet without losing control of her new powers which can last a few millennium.” Her eyes pity the alicorn for the responsibility she had to do in order to master her powers. “It kinda sucked for her since she just wanted a normal life, but she made two fine daughters as a result.” The entity pointed at the screen of Luna and Celestia trying to avoid being hit from the larger alicorn’s blast. “Anyway, fighting for your love ones can be hard if you clutch onto the past, so I ask Atem and Nyx's seal bearer to create their shadows to see if they can pass that clutch.” They at first gained an opportunity to hit her only to hesitate and receive a blast to the face. “Sadly, it's not working out well and the sisters are slowly succumbing into despair." Harmony elaborated with a grim tone at the end before stuffing another piece of Takoyaki.
"Anything else before I become the Mario of the day." Emerl jokingly commented, yet his eyes was serious in assisting them.
"Well I wouldn't go there if I were you since one you will be part of a bet I have with Atem.” Harmony pointed out as she points at the tri-haired boy. “If I win I will get to join his club next week on Egypt and some place called Las Vegas plus a piece of him to use in any way or form. However, if I lose well I'm his slave for a month, but I have faith that the sisters will pull through." She pulled a mini banner with the chibi sisters labeled ‘GO! YOU CAN DO! YOU CAN WIN!’ Emerl sweatdropped at the childish cheering before focusing on his mission.
"Um I'll just go then."
Emerl was about to leave before a force stopped him. Atem apparently wanted words with the robot as he gave a come here gesture. Atem was a powerful person in a way, he has a lot of abilities to mess with people who vex him dearly. The result often lead to banishment if they mess with him or his allies. Emerl is wary of the fellow, since his soul is still human meaning this entity can cause problems to him. The millennium items can snatch his soul while imprisoning his body with a small chance of escaping. Emerl's soul and body are integrated to a point that one can regenerate the other, yet the soul takes a lot longer than the body to recover. Since the materials from the soul would have to merge with a medium. That is an equal amount of time with the body retrieving a destroyed soul. Then, it will take several decades for the medium to become in sync with the soul or basically Emerl has to retrain mastering the body from scratch. Emerl glance toward the blue-haired boy as he seem impassive to what's going on. However if someone were to watch carefully, he seems interested to find out a robot with similar sentiments as his friend.
" Hello Alan Gabriel, you do not need to fear me for I am a King of a peaceful era." The tri-haired boy assured the robot as sounded slightly calming to Emerl, yet it alarm him that he knows his human name.
"Calm down Alan,” The blue hair boy told the robot with a slightly silent voice. “we were all humans or special humans who had been forced to deal with the choices we made based on decisions outside our own.” He glanced at the mare who was handed a bowl of Takoyaki. “Plus, Harmony told us about you, though I don't know why you are hiding your true self. However, it's none of our business, since we have our own issues and you are not alone in these situation." The boy finishes before grabbing a piece of his treat. They settled down and discuss their with themselves, while enjoying their japanese style meals.
Emerl could feel betrayal that his long friend told his secrets to a bunch of strangers, but he reconsiders his anger as he listens to the experience beings. Harmony is not known to give info unless they can help with his partial loss of memory. They explain their background, which made Emerl feel grateful that Harmony was with him. The only thing Emerl could compare is the memory loss and the afterlife being trapped in the void for eternity. Emerl share more in common with the blue haired boy than the Pharaoh.
Atem was an Egyptian Pharaoh who had lost his memories completely, after being sealed into the very puzzle he is wearing for thousands of years. He was lucky to be found by an old man for his grandson unlocked the puzzle to his awakening. Ever since that meeting, the pair along with their acquired friends have gone on wild adventures involving an old power turn into a children's card games. They have defeated beings from the shadows to ancient gods as no challenge stopped the duo. However, the end had come for the Pharaoh to lay for rest, after he had discovered and repeat his experience from the past. The grandson who had grown to being a best friend had to face him in a game. If the Pharaoh wins he stays forever a spirit to the puzzle, however if he lost he moves on which the obvious happened as they gave it their all. Through his experience, the bonds with others had helped prevail the darkest of challenges even from himself. Emerl was confused by the game as he remembered playing the card game exactly like it, but it was called Yugioh. Atem tried to explain the process, but it was complicated and the heart of the cards didn't prove that point. However, it did gave the robot the idea that making mortal friends would be worth the eventual pain.
The blue hair boy refuse to tell his named, yet he preferred to be called Messiah. He was kid when he lost his memory after a incident involving a death god being sealed into his body. In addition, given a destiny to prevent the Fall on the last day of January 2010. It happened when he arrived to a town during the dark hour, which was the hidden hour of time during 12:00am. Upon his arrival he met a young boy who was the Death God in a child like form. The young boy asked him to signed a contract which Messiah agreed. After he signed the contract, the young boy disappeared without any trace. After filling the contract, Messiah have continued his life until a dark being attacked his dorm which awoken his power. The power was called persona which is a manifestation of a person's personality turned into a form and apparently tames shadows. Afterwards he had some weird encounters with a group called SEES who worked against a group of beings called shadows. These beings were created by the human heart and occurs at the dark hour or as they were told. He explains the times he shared with his group as they became friends and the bonds he made in the town. At the last moment he sacrificed himself to become a seal to prevent the Fall as well Erebus from causing the Fall to recur, yet at a price he is unable to see his loved ones even in death. Emerl felt connected by the fate. Messiah have given him an advice that he follow by. "I chooseth this fate of mine own free will" meaning whatever path a person chose it's their own responsibility to bear regardless of the outcome.
Emerl thought deep into the story and told himself that he can endure oblivion, if he made his life worth by being himself. He gained some small memories of his past as his human self had ignore most of his family and distant from his friends over the years. However, he was satisfied by rewards earned while being the first family member to head to college. Emerl felt like kicking his own ass, yet decided to release that stress by facing his soon to be opponent. Before he could head to the portal he was stopped again by Atem.
"Wait Alan, I want to make a deal."
"Okay hurry up I need to save a pair of alicorn before they become hollow shells." Emerl exasperated by the hold as he waited for the the ancient to speak.
"It's simple I will restore your full strength, yet you'll be handicap for the match." Emerl did not feel comfortable about the handicap part, yet time is on the essence.
"Will it cause problems when I fight this enemy?" Emerl question impatiently before noticing the princesses were barely hold on from the false mom.
"In terms of ability you will be able to perform the same as you always have, yet you'll lack a bit of power." Emerl thought he can deal with a small power withdraw as he accepts. Atem placed a spell on him which made the robot confuse until Atem answered. "Don't worry you'll be at full strength when you pass through the portal." The ancient pharaoh sat down and began to enjoy some of the food. The robot will never understand ancient beings behavior on relaxation before entering the portal. “Ten bucks says he’ll die in this match.”
“Like Alan would actually lose like that.” Harmony chuckled before shaking the ancient pharaoh's hand.
After Emerl pass through the portal to find himself in the field as he saw the false mother monologuing at the sisters. Before he could charge at the fake alicorn he felt a strange sensation as he examine his body only to find tan flesh instead of metal. He felt his body received a horn and winged which indicates he was a humanized version of a alicorn. Emerl or rather Alan was confuse about the sudden change and nudity until he remembered his priorities as he charge at the false alicorn and gave her a fireball in the face. She was pushed to a boulder which broke upon impact. Alan had a feeling that blast was weaker than he intended as he normally would push them further than that. The sisters only stare at their savior in confusion of his identity and form. Alan quickly snapped his fingers to direct their focus to him.
"Oi mares focus, we are being attack by a fake version of your mother and you two are snared by her words." Alan told the duo before they were looked at the being with suspicion.
"We do not know who you or what deformed alicorn birth you,” Luna exclaim in frustration while directing their horns at him “but don't you think we would know when our lives were about to be wept out of existence?"
"What the hell is stopping you from going full strength on her?" Alan question their battle as they look down in shame.
"She may be a fake, yet she isn't lying when she showed how cruel our ponies really are." Celestia explains as she grew angry from the visions. "The time we have guided our ponies to come in peace with one another and they have galled to use our generosity to manipulate others for self products."
"Quickly tell me what did she showed you that made both of you snapped?" Alan asked in hopes of dealing with mental blocks they were fortifying on themselves.
The fake alicorn raised up and flew up high as she prepared a magic blast. The trio dodged the attack, while Alan began to channel wind to charge at the fake alicorn who released some magic blasts. Alan was new to using his wings as he tried to manoeuvre away from the blasts, yet it only let him escaped a quarter of the blasts. He started to fall after the last blast landed a direct hit. Alan's mind was pumping with adrenaline, which his instinct guide his movement and charged at the fake alicorn. Falsicorn repeated her previous action, yet most of the blast miss and the few that hit. However, the attacks didn’t dismay the human alicorn’s charge. When the first fist hit her face, Alan channel earth energy into each fist as he began hitting her with a force that can break through steel.
He had performed a 20 hit-combo before he hit her downwards as she fell he quickly teleport below her and channel a lightning beam before she could react. It sent her through the air and crashed to the ground head first giving the group about 5 mins for her to recover from the attack. He quickly teleport where the sisters are located and noticed that approximately a quarter of his fuel tank is wasted from doing everything to the Falsicorn. The sisters were surprise and about to ask Alan question until he interrupted.
"I can't answer any questions, since we have 3 mins before the fake recovers from those hits and decides to take the kid gloves off.” Alan warn the duo with a stern voice as he went to explain to what they are facing. “Now this fake is called a shadow and this one was formed by the combine regrets and hatred you both have about yourselves and those around you." The duo felt like they were facing against a windigo made of darkness before wanting to know the plan to counter.
"How do we beat an enemy who knows everything about us?" Celestia question with a bit of despair in her tone.
"Celly the enemy we are facing only knows the actions of the past, yet it doesn't determine your future." Alan answered with a smile only to confuse the two alicorn.
"What do you mean by actions of the past? " Luna question while her mind was being clog by guilt.
"This being is everything from your buried past given a form. How else do you beat something born from your buried past?” Alan tries to elaborated his plan noticing their behavior aren’t at their usual best. “You reveal the truth and show who you are as you accept the past and use it to make a grand future. However, that future could only go far if we focus on the present and waste this bitch to Tartarus."
"How do you know if we or ponykind deserves a good leader?" Celestia asked releasing a bit of her shell along with Luna.
"Simple you take a chance with the good that remains and try to expand on it. Besides my race have done worse, yet we still believe in some good." Alan answered with a genuine grin as the sisters grew confuse on race, yet decide to help this new friend.
The shadow had release a dark aura indicating she is through playing as she teleport to Alan and used an enormous magic blast in point blank. Luckily, Alan channelled Steel(combine water mix with fire and earth) to endure the hit, yet he was still sent to the air. Falsicorn appeared above to hit him with her hoof as Alan intercept and counter the attack by grabbing her hoof and throw her downward. The sisters began their strategy as Luna buck the shadow alicorn in the face and Celestia teleports to where she intercept and performed a series of hoof and magic strike combination. She landed a 25 hit combo on the shadow before she sends the shadow to Alan. The human alicorn smirked about the sisters cooperation began to channel fire to his hands and feet. He launch a combination of punches and kicks which landed 27 hits as each hit burn the shadow. The shadow blocked the last hit before she returned a combo of her own to the humanized alicorn. He could only defend as each hit were equivalent to rock shattering strength. After performing 12 hit combo on Alan she released a final hit that broke some of his ribs as he crashed down to the ground. The shadow was about to crash dive the humanized Alicorn until Luna interfered by launch a powerful magic blast, while Celestia went to heal all that she can.
Alan only felt pain from his new body being unable to handle the usual strikes that his old body could endure, yet he thought of his options while he laid on the ground. After he felt most of his body healed he could only think of one idea which he will hate to use. However, it will open the sisters’ eyes if he tried something noble and stupid. He woke up before his first sight to be Celestia's eyes filled with worry and concern.
"Hey Celly, how bad is it?" Alan question the severity of his injuries.
"You have several broken ribs, a punctured lung, your body is still bruised, and you have a broken arm. I was able to heal the bruise and lung, yet your bones are still broken." Celestia informed while Luna was trying to evade fire.
"I meant the fight since my injuries shouldn't be your concern,” Alan told the sun alicorn before showing gratitude for her help. “but thanks for what you can to help."
"Luna is stalling the shadow for at least 3 mins before she gets overwhelmed, so I want you to stay here while Luna and I handle her." Celestia demanded with a strict motherly tone.
Before Alan could retort Luna crashed in front of the duo as the shadow is smirking up in the sky. Celestia was ready to defend her comrades until Alan held his free arm to Celestia telling her to wait. He painfully got up and checked on Luna who recovered enough to stay awake.
"My mares there is no easy way of saying this,” Alan pointed out as their situation was bleak. “but we are screwed unless we can do some heavy damage."
"You are the only one who can land the finishing blow as Luna and I distract the shadow." Celestia said with a smile grin appearing on her face.
"Don't worry sir Alan we can do it if we work together." Luna mention with a confident grin.
"I'm touch girls I've grown attach to you two like siblings, yet I want to say please let go after what I'm going to do." Alan declared as he teleport before they can question his statement.
Alan reappears above the shadow using his free arm he gripped the alicorn’s horn while he focus a large amount of energy onto his body. The shadow sensing this tried to get the insane human alicorn off, yet she felt her body unable to move. Alan channelled a bit of electricity into her muscle forcing the shadow to take the incoming attack. The sisters were horrified that their new friend is going to sacrifice his life to make they remain safe as they cried for the Human Alicorn. He only gave a sad smile at the duo before he unleashing the attack. A sphere of energy surrounds the alicorns while Alan released an enormous rainbow explosion that decimated miles of land.
After the explosion the sisters only saw the burning charcoal of the human alicorn. Celestia tried to heal him only to find he had no pulse as they cried over the dead body. The sisters have seen some ponies pass away as the rule of nature, yet they have never lost someone in combat. They knew his sacrifice was for their safety as the sisters mourn for the lost of friend.
Before the sisters can continue to mourn a dark energy formed as the false alicorn has risen without any injuries from the previous fight. Celestia widen her eyes in horror as Luna grit her teeth in rage, while the shadow only laugh to the negative emotions displayed. She flared wings and release a powerful aura of energy with an killer intent flowing through the air.
"Well another subject you could have saved my useless daughters and the fault lies with you two. If only you two can slay me, yet with your pitiful strength you might as well die for your dear mommy." The shadow mocked in a twisted motherly tone as she laughed at their state.
The shadow's laughter has awoken a hidden spark in the sisters as they close their eyes to focus towards expanding that spark. It’s power overflows their bodies by the celestial forces that represent their mark, which glowed and began a metamorphosis. Celestia began to confront their monster.
"Silence you false creature, you maybe right that ponykind is slowly decaying to evil, yet there are still good." Celestia's mane glowed white as her coat change to orange when she declared this. "I will be a fool to let that good fall to the likes of you"
"We may have fail by letting the orphans enslave by diamond dogs because of the nobles we protected, we failed to realize the random murders made by the inequality in our land, and we failed to protect those we care," Luna's mane darkened to an absolute abyss as her coat became crimson while she continued. "yet we will be damned if we would not attempt redemption for the mistakes we made."
They both opened their eyes to find that their colors changed: Luna's two green eyes are changed into two snow orbs that can seek the truth by it's powerful gaze. Celestia's violet eyes converted to crimson orbs that foretell power to destroy. Their eyes frightened the shadow as she squirm by the omnipotent presence that the sisters were igniting from their bodies. Before the shadow could move she was brought toward the sisters as she felt like a foal toy ready to break. She felt her wings being pulled apart as both sister glared at the shadow with a cast of judgement they began ripping her body apart as dark ooze flowed from the injuries. When only the head remain they wanted to say their last words towards the shadow as it deformed into a black blob.
"Shadow we like to say thank you for awakening our true resolve and power which we may not be able to return the favor.” Celestia expressed in a sad smile at the being's fate knowing it was just following a purpose. “However if your halves of ourselves ever reform back we shall welcome you."
"It's true that after killing you it will not end the truth that we learned and restore the mistakes we made,” Luna informed with pity in her eyes that such a creature was formed from themselves. “yet we shall embrace the change as we try to understand more instead of leading into the disasters of that formed today."
They both fire a beam of magic to exterminate the black blob before the sisters began to transform back to normal. They looked at Alan with sorrow and were planning to make a honorable funeral for his sacrifice. When they noticed his body formed back into a robot, which the sister were shocked that their new friend was the guardian from the cave. Before they can continue their observation, the guardian suddenly woke up and spook the sisters as they screamed from the shock that their friend came back from the grave.
"Holy Hell, I am not doing that shit again." Emerl exclaimed in slight headache and migraines crawling up to his head.
"How are y-you alive we checked your energy and everything it was gone?" Luna stuttered by the robot’s sudden revival.
"Well I was actually dead for awhile until I notice my soul didn't returned back to my body" Emerl explained while holding his head a bit before his systems cleared any the symptoms.
"Um Emerl when a creature dies it stays died, yet I question why your soul is among the living?" Celestia clarified their question as she wants a better answer than that.
"My soul was suppose to return my body whenever it separates as both of them can retrieve each other, but something stopped it which has to be a seal and a special kind as well." Emerl explains as he search for something that wasn’t suppose to be on his body.
"A seal? " Celestia asked
"Yeah certain seals can stop me if they are based by gods or close to the entities as my body will accidentally channel many versions of the same god which can enforce the seal to being more potent." Emerl elaborates as he found and destroyed the dead seal.
"Is that the only way to stop you?" Celestia asked with interests of this weakness.
"Well there maybe other ways, yet sealing is the main way to cause some hell." Emerl clarified before he sat.
" Um Emerl or Alan what was that form you were earlier?" Luna asked with curiosity of his human form.
"Just call me Emerl when I'm like this and Luna that form was a humanized version of you species." Emerl replied with a feeling he should avoid this conversation.
"So a human is a naked primate that only has fur on his head, while having so little to hide it's privates." Celestia asked in a deadpan tone while raising an eyebrow uncertain about the species.
Emerl could glow red as he elaborate. "Well we are evolved version of the primates capable of speech and better mindsets which similar to your kind except violent at times."
"Well poor shame that such a violent species has small privates." Luna pointed out which made the robot eye widen at declaration before glaring at her.
"Oi we can last longer in bed than you equine species." Emerl retorted with pride for his former species.
"I doubt a creature with a small part can last one second." Luna arrogantly mocked the robot who only gave an arrogant laugh. “What’s so funny fool? Finally realized ponies are better than humans!”
"Actually we can at least last 2 minutes in bed." Emerl declared with a serious tone which made Luna paused. The robot enjoyed the surprised expression her face as she shut up about his species.
'I wonder if one of my subjects would test a human endurance.' Celestia thought as Emerl can tell by her expression.
"If you try to bang a human he or she will die by the incompatibility." Emerl informed the two.
"So what are compatible to a human." Celestia question with even more curiosity on humanity.
"Humans are usually only compatible with themselves of opposite gender to make a child,” Emerl answered before crossing his arms before adding more information. “yet people have tried other things which only a human can satisfy another human well ."
"Aha that means our kind is better for being compatible with other species ." Luna declared with pride.
"Excuse me princess, not my fault your kind wants to risk genetic problems and deformity." Emerl agitatedly commented.
'How did we lasted this long conversion on sexual intercourse' Celestia thought as she facehoof by the ridiculous of the conversation. She decided to remind them of their priority in the manner. "Can we focus on getting home or at least back to stopping Discord."
"Oh yeah, I made deal with.... shit I died." Emerl muttered noticing the seal he created was destroyed.
"Who did you made a deal with ?" Luna question the robot.
"I made a harmonic deal with Discord to prevent extended casualty which broke when I died" Emerl inform the two with a sadden tone.
" What happens now? " Celestia asked worried for her subjects.
"We go back to Sync Heart and pray to Harmony to restore back the deal." Emerl suggested while wondering how they will get back.
A giant portal was made after the declaration as it sucked them in.
Next Chapter: Chapter #6 A Team is Form and Lightning Cyborg has come Estimated time remaining: 11 Hours, 38 MinutesAuthor's Notes:
I know I basically made the sisters what they should be to some, while others will say really. I thought hey if an overpowered alicorn got enhance by the Master Emerald to god-level to kill a chaos god abomination and if she birth childrens regardless of the mate. What would help birth when t's time to settled down? You would get one or two semi-deities alicorn with a lot of hidden potential that requires something to awaken it.
I made Emerl to embrace a bit of his own Humanity as he learns a valuable lesson on having flesh again as well not to worry about the past.
I will need a revision on this one so I will like some comments on which lines to channge. If more than a line( plot, idea, or flow of it) PM me.
I have nothing against any of the rude statements.
The deal Emerl is talking about is still active, yet his seal is located somewhere else.