The Secrets of Harmony's Past, and Anarchy's Future
Such grand architecture, and beauty!
Both Dark and Bright one could not help but grow in amazement at the sight of this massive chamber, with nine crystals in the edge of a large sigil on the floor. Which surrounded the ethereal tree that sat in the middle of a platform fueled by the Sacred Tree's essence pouring from above. This trees branches clung to the roof where the essence was held, and absorbed the energy-converted substance, as its light shines throughout the room, and its power reaches into the shaft below, which the platform's central pillar reached to the bottom of. The center of the tree, however, was gone. The trunk almost seemed as though it had dissolved by a deep, blue energy field that filled its center. Yet, like everything else, they sensed there was more to it than appearances suggest.
The Dark One was the first to ask what all of this was. Avalor acted like he was surprised, but seemed coy in his enjoyment in the near childlike wonder of the beings who are supposed to be older than him. Funny how often irony works, isn't it? That was a thought kept to himself, before telling them that if they wanted to know more, then they need only follow him across the root-bridge, and gaze into the blue aura of the tree. Of course, being as enraptured by the sights around them, they certainly couldn't decline the offer. Once across the branching bridge, they both were able to see a deep, navy aura surrounding the area intended to be the trunk. At first, neither of them could see anything inside. Just an expanse of blue Quintessence, which was what Avalor referred to essence as when in energy form. However, that changed when the elk's horns lit up with magic, a hologram of a rune appeared at the bottom of his hoof, and upon placing it on the small crystal embedded in a dial between the roots, something emerged out of the Quintessence.
Something that, like the hollow tree, dwarfed all of the company in sheer size.
So many orbs on a bizarre mechanism. One of the few things mortals had created that The Bright One often told Dark One about. He also had a curiosity for this "technology", but this was by far different from what he thought of. The Greater Sun stood in the middle, surrounded by all these variously sized orbs that he recognized as planets. But not just planets: the celestial bodies they orbited, or orbited around them, or simply traveled through the depths of space. The answer had become all too clear.
They were looking upon an automatically rotating scale model of the mortal universe.
Ever curious Bright One asked what this was, and what it was really for. Avalor himself couldn't help but chuckle, and quip in good jest how the two being meant to be older than the universe - and himself - still knew so little. He asked both if ever they actually gazed upon the heavens through which they traveled, instead of simply journeying around. Everything in the Heavens of their universe could all be found here, in what was called "The Orrery", taking almost all of the room's space as it spun, and rotated in its clockwise motions. Moving as the Heavens themselves move. However, it was forged for the purpose of knowing when it would flow, and foretell of any cosmic events to come - even warn when the universal balance was disrupted. Suns, moons, stars, comets, meteor, black holes, and planets. The Orrery is the angle of Eternity, allowing for Avalor to keep a weather eye on all of creation.
For while Lugnum Harmonia is an anchor, holding all of Space together, Sacrum Aeternitas was the governor of Time. The Orrery helps Avalor know whenever something monumental, or catastrophic happens in the universe. And yet it was only the second half of it. After calling on another sigil in his hoof, which he referred to as a Travel Rune, the image of the very room they stood upon, which revealed numerous gates surrounding them - nine in all - leading to differing locations throughout this domain. He set the sequence, and the image of the bridged platform, to land in front of the one that bore the image of an hourglass. The key was set, and turned, the bridge rescinded into the platform, which turned in a complete circle, before the essence-made bridge formed in front of the very door on the podium. The Orrery Suddenly arose to level with the crystal in the center of the door, and the planetary orbs themselves repositioned themselves in perfect alignment. The Greater Sun shined with the white light of Lignum Harmonia itself, and channeled this light through all of the spheres into a single focal point. A beam of concentrated magic opened the lock surrounding the enchanted, iron gate, and allowed passageway.
Now, after the ray dissipated, Avalor guided the Elder Gods to that same door. The Bright One asked if such flare was really necessary to open a magical door, if that's what it was. Granted, she was amazed by the display of mystical power, but the process seemed a bit intricate. Avalor, however, made it explicitly clear that it was indeed a necessary precaution. For within these sacred halls, lies an even greater power than anything they could have imagined. He asked if they recalled him telling them of his purpose being the guardian of the Sacred Tree, and the Temple of Time, to which they replied yes. As they passed through an ivory, ribbed passageway, he explained that those were only small parts of his duty. His true reason for existence in this realm between realms was to protect the massive object, standing before them past the final doorway.
An artifact of unparalleled power over Time.
There, at the end of a looping-ringed floor as smooth as marble, with keys linked together as one spinning round, and around without end, was an hourglass of abnormal size. Styled similarly to all in the room, yet much grander than one would think at first glance. Once again, The Dark, and Bright One could sense tremendous power coming from this seemingly simple object. It held great significance in the cosmos.....and it somehow connected to them on a spiritual level.
Avalor called it "Clepsy'Duntur", The Cronus Sphere. Inside its eternally sealed cases were held the Eternal Sands of Destiny. This cosmic artifact was the source of Time, itself. With it, one would hold the power to reshape all of reality by reshaping the course of history in any way seen fit. And event which originally occurs? Can be drawn back to before it occurred, and set on a new course of history. The young can be made old, and the aged can regain their youth by the whim of whoever utilizes it. Even moreso is the Cronus Sphere's ability to reverse time itself, or accelerate it. With this, one can hold absolute control over Fate, itself. But only being of incredible, nigh-omnipotent power could utilize it. Aside from Avalor, only the Bahamut could utilize this artifact.
There is was: Bahamut. That alone was enough to obtain the curiosity of The Bright One. It was here she finally asked the question to which neither she, nore her beloved Dark One had answers to: what is a Bahamut. Avalor himself almost seemed surprised by this question, if only because he figured that they would have at least known their own species. But no: the dark one explained that all they knew was they were Light, creation, and life, and Darkness, death and Destruction given form, and sentience. It was all the two of them had ever needed to know, and it's all they actually did know. Though they admitted that each of them wished at least a little to know of their heritage. Most fortunate it was that they were saved by Avalor: because with him, and The Chronus Sphere, they could finally see, and learn what it means to be Bahamut, also known as The Elder Gods.
Tapping into the Cronus Sphere's power, the ancient stag began showing the duo an image of history rewinding itself. All of time itself began reverting to ages past - before The two Bahamut of Light and Darkness themselves were born. Before even the universe itself was born. In a flash of incredible light that overtook the room, all three were taken in ethereal form to the very beginning. To the time before time. Like in the universe they exist in now, there was only nothingness. The Source of All there was, Harmonia, was merely abstraction. Then, one day, in an immense burst of light, it expanded into something entirely new. By the will of the Source, itself, the aspect named Harmonia gave life to an entire universe. And in time, becoming Lignum Harmonia itself to act as the anchor which held all of creation together. Its other half, Sacrum Aeternitas, came into being to hold Time itself together, and work in unison with Lignum Harmonia to ensure all of existence remained whole in The Balance of Creation.
Much like their own, a universe that preceded their own began in Darkness, but then emerged Light - light AND harmony. And from this essence came the First Race. Beings of nigh omnipotent power that embodied the aspects of existence. There was fire, with Ice and Crystal together as one. There was also Earth, Water, Air, Metal, and Lightning. And every last one of these creatures were unique in appearance, and persona. But, the Bright and Dark One could easily sense kinship from these entities, all because they confirm who they were just by sensing it from them. THESE were the Bahamut, also known as Elder Gods. Grand, and intriguing as they were, Avalor soon revealed that they were only the tip to the claws. For while they may have seen seven of the Bahamut Clans who shaped, and formed the universe into what it was, there was a final species and clan who stood above them all. They were actually the inhabitants of the world Bright and Dark One found themselves summoned to: The Sacred Realm of Avalon. They were the guardians of Lignum Harmonia, who lay hidden WITHIN the world of Avalon, safe from the outer reaches of the universe, and the forces that would seek to harm The Source Tree of Harmony, and The Sacred Temple of Eternity, who housed the newly forged Cronus Sphere. Here existed the final three clans of Bahamut who protected the heart of all creation in their universe: the Bahamut of Space and Time who kept a watchful eye over The Cronus Sphere, and ensured history stayed its course as it was destined.
Then there was the tenth clan, who guarded over both, and ruled over all the other clans, and lived in Avalon, itself, with whom The Bright One felt the strongest connection. For they were exactly like her in what their ultimate purpose was. These were the Elder Gods of Light, Creation, and Life. But Avalor explained that these Bahamut had another name for their race, which was translated to "Winged Guards of Light."
The Archangels.
And they most certainly were bright, and beautiful like she was. The Dark One easily saw where she got her beauty, and regality from. But something began bothering him. According to Avalor, and The Chronus Sphere, there were only Ten Clans of Bahamut in existence. But how does that explain his own existence, exactly? This was where things grew more serious, as he explained that there WERE once Bahamut who embodied everything he did. But he was the black sheep in that fold, because of the nature of these Bahamut. The elder stag asked if they knew of the Sins of Mortal Kind. Both admitted that they did, for better or worse. Well, as it happens, mortals were not the only beings with souls who could succumb to the corruption of these sins. Even the Bahamut were vulnerable to these dark aspects. But above all of them, there was sin that was the most evil, and destructive as it brought only ruin, and suffering to those affected by it.
This was the sin of Hatred: and it was hatred that gave rise to the cursed Eleventh rave of the Bahamuts. If they could be described as gods, then any who ever succumb to their own Hatred, risked allowing Darkness to corrupt them. Before The Dark One could make a dispute, Avalor explained that he agreed that Darkness itself was not evil: it was those who gave into the temptation, and desire for power The Darkness offered that gave it such harsh reputation. For Darkness is power unto itself, exactly as Light is also power. And either could lead to corruption. But for Bahamuts, it was different. If the darkness born of Hate took hold of them, then they would be forever changed into something evil, and wicked. Something that gave into its primal urges, and obsessive desire for power. And they inevitably learned that Essence, the life blood of all things and the conduit of the mortal soul - or immortal - was the greatest source of power imaginable. Thus these nigh omnipotent devils became known, and feared for hunting down, and consuming the essence of all who existed.
That was what it means to be Djinn.
And from all clans came the Djinn. There was no limit to how many could be born, or from what race they could emerge. Any Bahamut could become a Djinn..........who were the embodiments of Darkness, Destruction, and Death. Something which brought great pain to The Dark One's heart. Is he truly one of these unholy abominations? He always respected the balance of creation, and worked with the Bright One to ensure the balance was maintained because he understood what Darkness, Destruction, and Death's purpose was. These Djinn were just simple advocates of anarchy, and the opposite of what he himself stood for. And yet........could be possible he actually was one of them? That he held the potential to become like them? He no longer knew, and for the first time, after seeing what ultimately was his own kind, it made him feel an emotion he only felt when The Bright One was about to be struck down in their battle with the Malzalam: fear. The fear of becoming one of them, and corrupting his own purpose. That was something he couldn't ever live with, and he didn't want to.........but now it seemed all too possible.
Until he felt the warm sensation of his friend rubbing into his side in a gentle nuzzle.
Seeing her, and her concern for him warmed his heart. She could tell he was feeling conflicted about himself after this revelation. And now, all she wanted was for him to understand that as long as she was around, she would never let him slip down that road. He was the pure darkness, the one who destroyed when it was time, and who not simply brought death - he also ensured that those who joined it returned to the Aetherium when they expired. For the Aetherium is the life blood of the Cosmic Source, and where all life comes from. Thus, when they die, they go back to the Aetherium so that they may be reborn in a new life. That was part of the natural order of existence, and by instinct alone he understood it, even after he was just born. And he taught her what it meant to represent Creation, Life, and The Light. The six aspects exist, and coincide to bring balance to their universe. Thus did the two Elder Gods need each other to ensure they keep each other in check, and work together as they were destined to.
It also helped that the two were beginning to realize how they were ascending beyond mere friends, and this moment only further cemented that they had indeed fallen in love. In fact, The Bright One was first to admit it as she held her beloved in her feathered wings, and rubbed into his chest. And he admitted it as well as he looked into her eyes with a bright smile, and rubbed muzzles with her as well. The two held each other in a winged embrace for some time, making Avalor smile gently at the display, and declaration.......but his smile went away when he considered the prophecy that would soon be revealed. And he feared how they would react to what he was about to show them next. In fact, as soon as they broke off their embrace, they asked what happened after the Djinn began appearing, and how the other Bahamut dealt with them. Avalor considered them perceptive, as there was indeed more to tell.
But he warned them both that what they were about to see was NOT for the faint of heart: for they were about to watch was how the universe of today came into being.........when the one they observed met its end in The Last Great War of Light and Darkness. an event recorded in the archives of Sacrum Aeternitas as "Ragnarok".
As it happens, the Bahamut and Djinn only clashed in tangent with the worlds the latter endangered. While the Ten Clans were wide-spread, and each of them were able to stand against the Djinn on their own, they were still dangerously powerful. Which is also why the Archangels hunted them down, and ensured they never rose again. For they not only feed on essence: they also feed on the aspects of Hatred, and Fear. Enough of any, and the Djinn can become a terrible, and powerful threat. Thankfully, they were all too wild, and rogue natured to ever utilize their numbers, and power in such a way. But that all changed when the Djinn were actually summoned by a primordial force. A force that came into existence at the same time as Harmonia. While Harmonia was the primordial force of Harmony, and Light who took the form of Lignum Harmonia to serve as a conduit between the living, and cosmic Source. But as is universal law, there is an opposite force to every force in existence. And in Harmonia's case, that opposite was the first, true Djinn who was the primordial force of Anarchy, and Darkness.
His name was Apophis, The Emperor of Darkness and All-Father of Monsters/Djinn
Supposedly, he existed before even Harmonia, and ruled over an entire universe of emptiness. The day Harmonia burst into life, and brought Harmony and Light, was the day he had created a nemesis for himself. For Harmony, and Light were the forces that weakened him. He hated the light, and the harmony which spread across reality because it brought a positivity that harmed his essence, which was pure negativity. Long had he sought to end Harmonia, or rather Lignum Harmonia, and return the cosmos to his rule of Darkness - but ever was he opposed by The Archangels, and repelled. Things changed, however, when he sensed the anger, and hatred that rose in the cosmos. It fueled him like no other force had before, and he found that he, in turn, could influence these emotions to an extent. But mortals were insufficient, when there was much greater prey to feast upon. Thus he began influencing the Bahamut, as well, and giving rise to the nefarious Djinn who embody hate, and spread fear. More than enough to make him grow strong. Strong enough to finally wage open war against his opposite. And thus, it was time to gather his monstrous children to him.
The worst of the abominable Fallen were those who had once been Archangels, themselves. Seven among them in particular had become something far more than any simple Djinn. These avatars of Darkness were Rage, Anger and Hatred incarnate, whose power over shadow rivaled their malevolent flames. They had become demon that had only been believed to exist in the realm of Middle-Earth, Arda, and Ea together in the same universe. Now, this universe had been given the curse of enduring the existence of the mightiest, and most terrifying of demons.
The Balrogs.
(Ignore the figure in the throne behind the group)
Their leader, Grothmor, was an especially ruthless, and powerful Djinn-Balrog who knew the art of war, and combat more than many of the other primal, and savage Djinn in their species ranks.
In time, the Djinn's number grew to nightmarish length, and they had become an army to rival that of the Archangels. So much anger, so much hatred in the hearts of these omnipotent beings. What a feast it was for the evil Apophis. An abundance of corruption that mere mortals could NEVER have provided in even a single century. And the fear these Djinn instilled as they terrorized the universe was simply to die for. Needless to say, Apophis had laid claim to the spoils of such negative essence, and it was more than he could have ever dreamed. His power had reached its Zenith, and his children had grown in power and number.
It was time to end the Age of Harmony, and Light.
But he would require a form that was more suited for combating his enemies. A physical form that would be fueled by his immense, new power, and would make him the first Bahamut of the Darkness. An elder god whose purpose is to consume, and end all life, and light in existence. The balrogs themselves inspired the creation of the form he would take which would crush the Archangels, and any Bahamut that stood in his way. In time, he devised the ultimate, perfect form for his conquest, and domination of Avalon. A dragonian form that would make all tremble in fear, and all of the worlds quake. And all would be swallowed by the darkness........in the shadow of his wings. For now, Apophis would truly embody the aspect of Darkness, Death and Destruction.
He had become The One, True World-Breaker, and Devourer of Light.
Thus began the Great War that saw the entire universe brought into chaos, and anarchy. The Bright and Dark One were both horrified to see how this evil, abominable demon destroyed the very balance the Bahamut were sworn to protect. For The Dark One especially, it was unnerving to see a distorted version of himself leading the hordes of darkness, and hell on such a coordinated warpath. Moreso when he killed the Elder King of the Archangels, which inevitably escalated the war to heights unimaginable, until eventually.........the Djinn launched a direct assault on Avalon. It was very fortunate that this was in the past, because it pained The Bright One to see them tear, and burn at the beautiful forests that surrounded the land. Worst of all was that it was done for amusement. As was the killing of any unfortunate mortals caught in their path. But time was wasting, and the dark horde had a target. The place in Avalon they sought was its great, and mighty kingdom. A city built upon a mountain, with a castle at the very top. Its most defining features were both the long, and straight causeway leading to the watchtower of the kingdom, and The White Tower that stood in tis center. Even for a Bahamut, this city was of godly stature. For an invading force, who knew that this kingdom was the gateway meant to guard the entrance to Lignum Harmonia, itself, the castle that held the tower would be misleading. Because, much like a gate, it hid the true entrance to The Sourcetree of harmony behind it in the forested region upon the cliffside of the mountain the city was built upon. A fact that made The bright, and dark one wonder if they were actually in that region, and the forest there had simply grown more colossal over time. Does that mean the mysterious city was still there? If so, they never had a chance to see it.
Not until now, when Apophis, and his horde emerged from their path of destruction to a grand field of green, and life. And there, standing like a massive beacon of purity, strength, and heart was The Sacred City. The home of the Archangels, and the gateway to the hidden realm of Sacrum Aeternitas. A seat of power for those who wield the light, and bastion against all this who would dare seek harm upon the treasured realm. It would be here that the fate of all existence would hang in the balance and the final conflict would be waged.
Here, in Minas Mor'Caeli.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To be continued
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Hey Kahnac, i just wanted to check if you're going to finish this story before The Light of Harmony's Hope.
Also, do you think you could make links for the pictures in the Harmoniaverse stories that seemed to have been removed?
10066384
Thank you for addressing the picture issue, as abrupt as you are. But if you don't mind, please stop asking me to get back to work on stuff i'm not working on yet. With all due respect, I decide when I work on my own fanfics. I'm on my own timetable, and noone elses
Okay, and sorry. I didn't mean to be abrupt. I only asked out of curiosity.
Anyways, good luck on your stories! I'll be sure to read them!😇👍
10066841
It's alright. Just please try, and remember to use tact when asking someone something. Because the way you say or ask someone always leaves an impression. And if you aren't careful, it could be the wrong impression. Trust me when I say I know. So consider this friendly advice for future reference.:)
And thank you for your support. I'm curious to read your thoughts on the epilogue chapter I wrote.