//------------------------------// // 1) Transformation // Story: A God's Masquerade // by Minotaur //------------------------------// Chauild sat near the beautiful waterfall, chalice full of golden drink. Bringing it up to his mouth, he took a large gulp. The nectar sloshed down his throat, satisfying his thirst. As soon as he set down the chalice, it filled itself yet again. In his home, nothing ever ran out or broke. Everything was designed with a god in mind – for that is what he was, a god. Even so, he was very young by the gods' standard. He was not yet considered mature enough to look over a world of his own, and so he sat in his home. When a god reaches a certain age, they are tested by the Elder Council. If they are deemed worthy, they are assigned to a certain world. There, they may or may not work alone. If the world is particularly full of conflict and trouble, more gods are assigned to look after it. Such is the case with Gaia, a world completely revolving around strife. It got so bad that Jehovah, one of the Elder Council, went to overlook it. Even with his experience and care, Gaia still was barely in balance. One small push, and it would all come crashing down; for mortals' hearts are fickle. Chauild wished that his time would come, for he had been waiting to become a true god as long as he could remember. His clan was one of prestige and honor, one of the oldest around. Its members all became famous for their deeds, and they held great influence in the heavens. That is why even a juvenile like Chauild was able to live in such a luxurious mansion. Little did he know, however, his life was about to change. His rudimentary detection spell alerted him to a strong energy approaching his manor. He stood up, and walked to the entrance of his home, curious as to who would visit him. Except for the occasional clan member coming to visit, he was left to his own devices. Most of this free time he would use to attune and practice his powers, which had already surpassed many of his peers'. While they were concerned with social interactions and petty gatherings, Chauild toiled away in the lowest chamber of his home. The sooner he could earn his birthright and join the upper echelons, the better. Once he arrived at the entrance to his manor, his visitor was revealed to be none other than Jehovah himself. Chauild gasped, before taking a deep bow to show his respect. Jehovah had simple clothing on, hiding the magnifigance of his form. He removed his sky-blue hood, revealing his well-muscled and radiant face. A large smile was seated there, as his love for all of life flowed out from it. His pure white hair and beard floated about, each single hair having more power than Chauild. Chauild held a deep, deep respect for Jehovah, for he knew how many aeons of practice and experience the wise god held under his belt. Excited to have such a figure of authority in his home, Chauild almost bowed again before Jehovah waved his hand in dismissal. Jehovah was always amused by Chauild's enthusiasm. Chauild wanted to be like him, to have that same power and influence. However, unlike others, he was set on earning it rather than stealing it. Gods aren't always good, for good would not exist without evil. There are those gods who exist purely to cause pain and evil, but they do not reside in heaven. No, once their intentions are discovered, they are sent to Gehenna, where they join the others. They are not assigned to look over worlds, but instead, they choose to haunt them. Jehovah's greatest enemy is Lucifer, who causes disasters and corruption in an effort to hinder Jehovah's progress. Wars between the gods were forbidden long ago, for they caused much destruction and death on every plane of existence. Many, many innocents died as a result of every one. “Greetings, Chauild. May I step in?” His very speech rumbled with power, the type able to create miracles or disasters with a single word. “But of course, Elder.” They walked back into Chauild's entrance hall, lavishly decorated with mystical gems and metals not found on the mortal planes. Some glowed in mystical colors, emanating magic. Chauild liked those the most, for they provided a nice source of magic for his studies. Jehovah picked a fitting seat and sat on it, Chauild doing the same shortly after. “Now, young one, I have come bearing a message.” Excited at the prospect of Jehovah's message, Chauild nodded. “The Council has deemed you almost ready to care for a world, even though you are much younger than most.” Chauild almost exploded from pure glee, causing Jehovah to laugh, tremors ready to erupt at his voice. “However, as you may know, there is a prerequisite. First, we shall test you to see if you are truly ready for such a privilege. We at the Council are truly impressed at your talent, and have designed a test we deemed fitting for you.” Of course, Chauild already knew of the test. He had read tomes upon tomes about the different tests gods had been put through, and thought himself ready for his own. “What is this test? Tell me, Elder, and I shall accomplish it to the best of my abilities. Must I slay an otherworldly demon? Find a lost artifact? I shall do anything you ask of me, Elder.” Jehovah smiled, and continued: “Your test is rather unique. We have picked out the world which you will take care of, but there is a slight problem. We have reasons to believe that an old renegade god has hidden himself there, away from the eyes of the Council. It took us many years to find him, but now we are sure that it is indeed him. If we send someone too powerful, he shall sense our presence and flee. That is why we need you, you are the most talented young god around, yet not powerful enough to instantly scare him away.” Chauild's eyes widened as he realized his task. He was to hunt down a renegade god, and bring him to justice. “That is not all, Chauild. There are three more conditions you must follow without fail.” “Of course, Elder.” “They are as follows: You must not, under any circumstance, kill him. Use whatever means possible to bring him to justice, but do not kill him.” Chauild nodded, understanding the severity of the first condition. If he killed this renegade god, he would be deemed as evil and cast down to Gehenna. “The second condition is: You shall be transformed into a mortal.” Unable to help it, Chauild let out a gasp. Although gods sometimes disguised themselves as mortals, never before have they been transformed. “What is it, Chauild? Are you incapable of doing this? If so, just tell me now. It will bring you no shame to refuse.” Furious at himself, Chauild shook his head. “No, Elder, please continue! There is no way I'd refuse!” “Very well. As I was saying, you shall be transformed into a mortal, your body molded to that of their kind. Do not tell them who you are or why you're there. Even stating your name could cause undue stress upon the world, for gods' names hold power.” Chauild nodded, as he already knew this. “The last condition is: You are to befriend the locals there. Learn all you can about them, their habits, and their culture. As you shall be in charge of this world, it will do you good to know all about it.” With a giant smile on his face, Chauild nodded yet again. This condition was extremely easy. Even if he hadn't been told, he still would've learned all he could about the world. Knowledge, Chauild knew, is the greatest form of power. However, the first part of the condition bothered him. “Elder, just one question. Why must I befriend the inhabitants? Would my job not be faster if I worked alone?” Jehovah looked at Chauild with curiosity. “Maybe, Chauild. Maybe it would be. But there is one thing you lack, which every proper god needs. You must learn to love and cherish the populace, and protect them from harm. If you lack love, then you shall fail as a god. Understood?” Love. Chauild was familiar with the word from his studies, but he had never encountered it outside of books. And now, an Elder was telling him he must learn to love. While Chauild likes a challenge, he was confused as to how one learns to love. However, he kept his concerns to himself. After all, he would hate it if Jehovah deemed him unworthy of becoming a true god. “I understand, Elder. When shall I leave?” “As soon as you gather your things. That's why I came here rather than sending an angel. This ritual will require large amounts of power, and could very easily fail if one isn't careful enough.” After he saw Chauild's worried look, Jehovah added, “No need to worry, for I am fairly careful.” Chauild knew that this was his one and only opportunity to prove himself. As such, he carefully thought about exactly what to take with him. He knew that taking the wrong items could result in a disaster, like if his magical chalice landed in the wrong hands. On the other side of the entrance hall sat a large mirror, swirling with clouds of color. It was not a true mirror, but rather a door of sorts. Chauild pressed his hand against it, and the mirror dissolved away. Some of Chauild's most prized possessions sat there, guarded by a door only Chauild could open. Quickly looking over them, Chauild picked out a few to take with him on his journey. After that, he dashed to his library and took a large tome, bound by the skin of Python. It held information on many magical spells and rituals that surely would help Chauild out. Jehovah looked over the things Chauild chose for his task. “Is this all? What have you decided to take?” With a slight amount of pride, Chauild looked over his collection. Picking up the old volume, he said, “This is a book passed down in my family, containing many spells only we know of. It is bound with the skin of Python, so it will never erode or be damaged in any way.” Next, he picked up a elaborately carved knife. “This knife was given to me by my mentor. It was carved from one of the teeth of Leviathan. It is incredibly sharp, capable of cutting through nearly anything with ease.” Lastly, he picked up a small amulet. It wasn't as elaborate as the rest of Chauild's possessions or house, but it still had some rustic grace. A small, red gem was set into the middle, with a symbol inscribed on it. “This is also a relic passed down in my family. I was told that it belonged to the founder of our clan, who partook in the first God War. I'm not sure exactly what it does, but it calms me when I hold it. I wouldn't go anywhere without it.” Jehovah feigned surprise, acting as if he hadn't known exactly what the items were the second he had seen them. Still, he was caught off guard by the amulet. He hadn't seen that amulet in a long, long time. Since the first God War, to be precise. “Are you ready now, Chauild?” He nodded his head to answer Jehovah's questions. Scooping up his most prized possessions, he dropped them into a small bag. They all fit perfectly, despite the bag not looking big enough to hold them. The bag had been magically manipulated to be able to hold anything. It was very rare to find an item of that caliber, as spatial manipulation not only took extreme skill but also extreme patience. One such bag could take many, many years to craft. “Stand where you are. This will hurt.” A large, white circle sprang up underneath Chauild. It glowed white, power radiating from it like heat radiates from a fire. Chauild was frightened at first, as any would be when faced with that much raw strength. He then calmed himself, as he trusted Jehovah. New lines began to trace out from the original circle, forming ornate patterns and shapes. The circle began to glow even brighter, but Chauild forced his eyes to stay open and spectate the whole ordeal. This was an amazing chance to see how the truly powerful used magic, and he wasn't about to let it slip past him. Eventually, the lines stopped sprouting out, and Chauild knew that the ritual was reaching its completion. Now, the real magic was about to start. A spear of light shot out from the circle and stabbed through Chauild's heart. It felt as if something had truly pierced his body, and the light burned away at his flesh. Chauild knew that it was all part of the ritual, but couldn't help squirming a bit. Suddenly, another spear shot out at him. This time, it went through his leg. The same burning agony washed over his body, and Chauild almost collapsed. More and more spears continued to shoot up and pierce Chauild's body. Eventually, they were the only thing supporting him. He'd lost all the strength in his legs long ago, and would've collapsed if not for the spears. A final spear of light rose out of the circle. Unlike the others, this one was slow and its movements were deliberate. It went higher and higher, before turning around and pointing directly at Chauild's head. It shot forward and Chauild lost consciousness. “Awaken, Chauild. It is over. The ritual worked.” Chauild slowly opened his eyes, to find that things looked different than before. He could see much more now, a wider range of vision open to him. He also felt different, his entire body tingling. “Rise, and witness your new form.” Complying with Jehovah's request, Chauild stood up. Or he tried to, to be specific. He found himself incapable of standing on two feet, falling over every time he tried to rise. “Elder, this body feels strange. I can't stand up.” Jehovah pondered this, then snapped his fingers. A mirror formed out of thin air, presenting itself before Chauild. While looking at his reflection, Chauild gasped. He no longer had feet, as his legs ended in what appeared to be hooves, as did his hands. Slowly, he realized his problem. “You turned me into... Pegasus?” “Nay, Chauild. You are not Pegasus, you are what is known as an alicorn now. I have instilled you with basic motor control, so you should be able to stand. Do it, I cannot send you before I'm sure you can survive there.” Noting the fact that he was now a quadrupedal, Chauild tried to stand again. After several failed attempts, he succeeded, albeit with shaky legs. “This new form is strange, Elder. How shall I write now, without hands?” Jehovah smiled at Chauild's primary worry, a very scholarly one at that. “Use your magic, Chauild. Do you feel that strong force emanating from your forehead?” Chauild checked, and felt the force his Elder was describing. He also took a look at it, and found a horn where the power leaked from. “What is that, Elder? It appears to be some sort of horn. Why is it leaking magic?” “Chauild, that is your next task: Stop leaking magic from your horn. If you continue this, the renegade god will be able to detect it upon your arrival.” “Understood!” Try as he might, the magic continued to flow out from the horn. Gritting his teeth in frustration, he tried to cast a spell upon it, only to find that nothing happened. “Elder! I'm incapable of using magic!” “Nay, Chauild. You're simply trying to use it like you're in your old form. Gods can radiate magic from our whole bodies, but alicorns are limited to their horns. Think of that horn as a limb, and try again.” Taking Jehovah's advice into consideration, Chauild tried again. He imagined that his new horn was his old arm, and tried to shut off the flow to it. To his delight, it worked. “A quick learner as always. Congratulations are in order, young one, for you have proven yourself ready for your test.” “Elder, I have some questions before I leave!” Jehovah let out a small chuckle. “But of course, Chauild. I knew you would.” “What is the name of this god I'm to find, and what's the name of the world?” “The god forsake his name along with his identity when he turned renegade. He has none now, unless he crafted a new one for himself. As for the world, it is called Equus by the natives. You may name it anew once you become its caretaker.” “Understood, Elder. I'm ready to go.” Jehovah raised his hand, and white light surrounded Chauild's new body. His consciousness slipped away as he felt himself be teleported. Growl. Chauild shook his head, and awoke to see several wolves growling at him. Their fur looked different than the wolves Chauild had seen in books. It appeared to be textured like timber, and had the same colors as timber. Quickly scrambling to his feet, Chauild cleared his throat. “Greetings, residents of Equus! I have no intentions to harm your kind! I simply ask for your friendship and love!” The wolves continued growling and inching towards Chauild, who was confused. “Maybe I am being too pushy? I don't know the right way to interact with them! If only I spared more time for social interaction in the heavens...” One of the wolves jumped forward and snarled, baring its teeth at Chauild. Chauild gasped, thinking that he understood the meaning behind it. “It's their form of a greeting! It must be proper etiquette to respond the same way!” Chauild lunged forward at the wolf, baring his teeth as well. He summoned the most ferocious snarl he could, and let it loose upon the wolf pack. The one who had jumped forward at Chauild slowly backed off, its teeth still showing. The rest of the wolves surrounded it. Chauild snarled at them yet again, and they backed up even more, before turning tail and running off, whimpering all the while. “Did I do something wrong? I was sure that they were trying to greet me, too.” Depressed over his failure, Chauild walked off, sulking. He walked through the woods, taking note of everything and anything he could. The color of the trees, the smell of the forest, the color of the water, he noted down everything in his mind. Although he was still sad that he failed his first interaction with the inhabitants of Equus, the forest cheered him up. He had never seen a forest before, outside of books and scrolls. They trees swayed gently in the wind, and birds chirped in the background. All of the noise had been overwhelming at first, but now Chauild was starting to enjoy it. His ears twitched, and he reached up to touch them. They weren't where he expected (on the side of his head), but rather, they sat on top of it. They were long and felt like they were covered in short fur, which surprised him. A quick check later, he found out that his whole body was covered in this fur. It felt extremely soft to the touch, much like the fabrics of his old home. While feeling the back of his neck, his hand ran into his mane. It as well felt extremely soft, but he found that it had a slightly different feel. Subtle, like the difference between glass and tile, but still present. Determined to find out exactly what he looked like now, he walked off in the direction of a nearby pond. Chauild stood above it, peering down at his image. His whole body was covered in a coat of light gray fur, except for his mane and tail. He was surprised to find that he also had a tail, and swished it back and forth. Just as Jehovah said, he had full motor control, even over muscles that wouldn't exist in his old form, like the muscles around his tail. His mane and tail matched perfectly, being platinum grey with red highlights. Red eyes matched the crimson in his mane perfectly, and blinked back at him in surprise. They were much larger than he had expected, several times larger than his old ones. To Chauild's relief, he found his bag sitting on his side, much like a saddle. He tried to reach it to check on the contents, but started spinning around as his back legs moved too. To his annoyance, he still didn't have 100% control of his whole body. Gritting his teeth, Chauild imagined the bag floating over to him. As if it was mocking his efforts, the bag sat in place. He remembered what Jehovah told him, and imagined his horn being an arm. Magic leaked out of it, a tendril reaching out and wrapping around the saddlebag. He managed to float it up slightly, before it promptly came crashing back down on his rump. With a yell, Chauild smashed his hoof into the ground, more pain shooting through him as his hoof hit a rock. “Maybe I'm not as ready as I thought I was.”