Chapter 1: Granted Asylum
Yes indeed, the dark sign brands the undead. And in this land, the undead are corralled and lead to the north; where they are locked away, to await the end of the world. This is your fate...
Deep in the bowls of the Asylum, echoes of the voices of the hollow are all around. Sitting in the corner of his bleak, rat and roach infested cell, a unicorn dressed in cloth and metal. The scraping of old rusted metal above him caught his ear, and a corpse fell to the ground in front of him. He looked up to see where it had fallen from, and saw an earth pony, fully armored, looking down at him before walking away.
Slowly he raised to his hooves, walking over to the corpse on the floor. Looking down at it, he noticed something clenched in it's teeth. A key. Using magic to levitate this key from it's mouth, he wondered what it was a key to. He turned his head to the cell door and began to wonder. He tried the key on the door. It turned in the lock and opened with a sickly clank.
Stepping out into the hall adorned with dim torches, he walked forward, pulling his broken sword into his teeth. Walking down the hall he saw a couple of hallows staring at the walls. He passed them with no heed, as they did not attack. He climbed a flight of stairs to a room filled with water, wading past another hollow sitting in the corner. He made note of the odd quiet as he waded the hall, and toward the ladder. The Asylum was almost never this quiet.
He climbed the ladder, and walked out into the open air. Taking a deep breath he smiled slightly, and saw a pile of tinder with a sword standing in it. A familiar and welcome sight. He kneeled and lit the bonfire with a spark from his horn. With the fire lit, he turned his sight to the large doors in front of him, bordered on both sides with gargoyle pillars. His face was stoic as he approached the doors, pushing it open with his shoulder.
He looked around the room, and saw another large pair of doors across the way, so naturally he continued. He walked past the pillars and across the sun lit room, when suddenly suddenly, falling from above, was a massive demon guarding the way out. He stumbled back, but kept to his hooves, giving a slight huff before gripping the sword hilt tightly in his jaws. The demon was massive and grotesque, standing on two shot, thick legs, wings that don't look lick they could lift it off the ground, and wielding a large club in his arms.
The demon leaped forward trying to crush him with the club, but he quickly rolled to the side and slashed at the demon with the broken blade. It did nearly nothing, and the demon prepared for another swing. The warrior would dodge, just being clipped by the massive weapon, and make his way around to the demons back. He thrust his blade into it, but still it had little effect, if any. The club swung around and he realized there was nothing he could do to the beast, so he decided to retreat.
Quickly scanning the room, he saw a small open door, and made a break for it. The demon leaped again, trying to prevent his escape, but the warrior rolled forward, making it through just before the beast's attack landed. The warrior looked back and saw the rusted metal gate had shut behind him. The demon walked away, as if he had never been there at all. Turning back down the hall, he descended the stairs, where another bonfire awaited him.
He lit the fire, and sat for a moment to rest. He felt the fire's light rejuvenating him and let out a sigh, dropping his sword from his teeth. It hit the stone floor with a clang and he looked around the small room. This one was also filled with water. Taking his sword, he stepped down into the water and walked over to the door. The stones were covered in a slimy moss under the water, which made his footing unsteady.
On through the door he started to make his way down another long grey hall, when an arrow dug into his side. He saw a hollow with a bow in his teeth standing at the end of the hall, drawing back the string for another shot. Ducking though a doorway, he took cover from the hollow, and crouched next to a corpse. He pulled the arrow out with his teeth, and winced as he dropped it on the ground. He looked at the corpse beside him and noticed the shield on his back.
Taking the shield, and levitating it in front of him, he held the blade in his teeth. He stepped out, and the hollow fired at him. Raising the shield, and charging forward the hollow turned and ran. Chasing him down the hall, he saw a sword stabbed into a corpse at the end of the hall. The hallow turned through a doorway down another hall, and the warrior dropped his broken sword, pulling it from the chest of the body before continuing pursuit. As he chased him up a flight of stairs, he turned to fire again, the hollow was bashed by the shield, and quickly slashed through the neck. He let out a short breath before collapsing, and exhaling slowly.
Breathing heavily, the warrior turned his head to sheathed his sword on his side, and placed the shield on his back. He let out a sigh, and looked at the corpse on the ground with pity. After a brief moment he continued walking down the hall. He turned to see the large door he had opened earlier over a balcony. He made his way forward where he saw two flights of stairs to his left. one up and one down. He started up the stairs when he saw something moving at the top. He quickly turned and jumped to the side as a boulder broke through the wall. Walking through the hole made in the wall, he looked to see a knight laying in a pile of rubble, the same one he saw before.
"Oh, you... You're no hollow, eh? Thank goodness..." Said the knight in a tone that seemed sincere.
"I'm done for I'm afraid. I'll die soon, then lose my sanity." He said, and the warrior looked away knowing he was right, but also frustrated by his simple acceptance of his fate.
"I wish to ask something of you. You and I, we're both undead. Here me out, will you?" He seemed to be pleading in the calmest tone possible. The warrior looked back at him to listen closely to his words nodding in acceptance.
"Regrettably, I have failed in my mission, but perhaps you can keep the torch lit. There is an old saying in my family. Thou who art undead art chosen. In thine exodus from the undead asylum, maketh pilgrimage to the land of ancient lords. When thou ringeth the bell of awakening, the fate of the undead thou shalt know." The knight said as the warrior stared into his shut visor, it was emotionless, and his voice was somber. Sunlight shown onto him from hole in the roof, but his armor was so covered with dirt there was no shine.
"Well, now you know... and I can die with hope in my heart. Oh, and one more thing. Here take this. An Estus flask, an undead favorite. Oh, and this." He handed the warrior the flask and a small key.
"Now I must bid farewell. I would hate to harm you after death. So, go now. And thank you." He said, and laid his head back onto the rubble.The warrior looked at the key in his hoof and set it in his bag. Before he left, he looked at the mark on the knight's sheild, assuming it was his own cutie mark. A blue shield with a lightning bolt.
Turning and heading back to the stairs he headed down this time, and opened a door, that went back to the first bonfire. He sat by the fire, as his arrow wound began to close and heal. He looked up at the door to the demon, and saw the demon must have closed them. He walked over to the door, actually ready to fight the beast this time. But as he pushed at the door it didn't open. He must have locked it.
Turning and heading back up the stairs, he saw a hollow, he must have pushed the boulder down the stairs. The hollow rushed at him and he drew his sword. The hollow tried to slash at him, but he raised his shield and bashed him in the face, quickly thrusting the sword through the hollow. Falling to his knees, then to his side the hollow lay dead at his feet. The same look of pity returned to the warrior's face as he put his shield and sword away again.
He came to a door barring his way, locked. He let out a sigh, but then remembered the knight had given him a key. He pulled it from his bag and used it on the door. It opened with a click, and the warrior smiled... but then began to wonder... why did he have this key? He shook his head, it doesn't matter, must stay focused. He walked forward seeing a large portion of the asylum destroyed. He could see arches and pieces of wall from what used to be the east wing of the asylum. But before he could take in the scenery, two more hollows came out with swords in their teeth.
Galloping toward him, they raised their blades, and he raised his shield. Taking the brunt of both blows, he quickly slashed at both of them, hitting one across the right foreleg. The first one quickly attacks again, and the warrior parries it, and beheads the hollow. The second one catches him off guard and gets a stab into his shoulder, luckily his armor stopped most of the blow. Growling, the warrior turned and slashed at him quickly, cutting his leg again and his stomach twice. The hollow fell quickly and stayed down.
Walking to where they had come from, he saw an arrow coming and raised his shield. Another archer had been waiting around the corner. He moved forward with his shield up and this time the hollow didn't run. He quickly lopped him in half, and took a moment to breathe. Looking around, he saw a doorway in front of him, and a large open arch beside him. Seeing that this lead back to the room with the demon he hesitantly stepped forward.
Looking down over the balcony, he saw the demon below, looking up at him. He drew held his sword, sweat running down his brow as he saw it, as if it were ready for him. He stood there for a moment, gathering his courage when the demon leaped upwards. Apparently it's wings can lift it. It swung it's club, destroying the balcony, and he fell to the floor. Looking up at him, the blade clenched in his teeth, he spit it out to hold it with magic, but that also required he put away the shield.
Waiting until he swung, he dashed forwards, and came up behind it, stabbing strait into his leg. The beast shouted, circling around and smashing the club into the ground. The warrior slashed at his knee, and blood flayed out with the blade's movement. The demon, kicked him in reaction, and stepped back. Pushed back by the kick, he quickly recognized the hammer was coming down on top of him. That's when he got an idea. He jumped back and the club hit the ground. The warrior then jumped up onto the club and ran up the handle, stabbing the demon in the face. The demon shouted in agony as he flailed the club about wildly.
Jumping down, the warrior managed to drag the blade across it's back. The demon filled with rage, swinging in wide arcs and breaking everything in the room, even the pillars. The warrior, was able to dodge most, but one swing actually hit him, and sent him strait into a wall. He gasped for air and tried to breathe steadily, levitating an Estus flask from his bag, and healing his wounds. The demon turned to him, and tried to crush him like a bug, but he lifted his blade, and plunged it into the beast's chest. It shouted one last time before dropping to it's knees and falling forward. The warrior rolled out of the way and pulled out his sword from the demon, and as he did, the demon's side ripped open, spilling it's stomach onto the floor... but also a large key.
Sheathing the blade, he levitated the large key over and figured it must be for the large doors. So he walks over to the door, and sure enough it fits. He turns the key, and it unlocked with a loud clank. He pushed the heavy doors open, and saw a hill with more of the broken structure on the other side. He walked forward and saw the hill was covered with graves. The climb up to the hill's peak was steep, but short, so he made it up quickly. Coming to the peak he walked up to the ledge and stood, looking out onto the horizon.
Only in legends is it stated, that one day an undead shall be chosen to leave the undead asylum in pilgrimage to the land of the ancient lords.
Taken, swept up by the claws of Philomena, and flown to the land of the ancient lords, Equestria. She takes him, and drops him off at the place known as the butterfly grove just outside of Ponyville parish. Where the butterflies dance around the bonfire. He comes to see the the first of those he would meet on this journey. One cranky old donkey.
"Well now, what do we have here? You must be new here." The old donkey said in a tone that would suggest he wasn't so happy to see him, sitting and looking as if he could barely move that heavy armor of his.
"I come from the asylum, on pilgrimage." Said the warrior, walking up to him.
"Let me guess, you're chasing that old legend right? You're not the first..." The donkey said, looking back at the fire and rolling his eyes.
"There have been others then?" The warrior asked, but received no answer.
"Look kid, there ain't no salvation here. You'd have been better off rotting in that asylum... but it's too late for that now." Said the donkey, and the warrior seemed set back at his crass response.
"It'll keep me from hollowing, so that's enough for me." Said the warrior, and the donkey smirked.
"Well then, let me help you out... There are actually two bells to be rung. One is up north, in the old schoolhouse, the other's down south near Fluttershy's cottage. Ring them both and something will happen, brilliant right?" The donkey said, and the warrior nodded in understanding.
"It's not much to go on, but I got a feeling you won't let that stop you." Said the donkey shaking his head.
"Go on now, get going. That is why you came here isn't it? To this forgotten land of the dead?" He chuckled unenthusiastically. The warrior took that as a hint to leave, and simply nodded, turning to the north. He started to walk, but before he left for Ponyville, he saw a unicorn sitting over by the road. He went over to the unicorn, and he smiled.
"Hello there. I believe we are not yet acquainted? I am Blueblood. Have you business with us? If not I'd prefer to keep a distance if possible..." Said the white coated unicorn, turning his head to push his hair back behind his ear.
"Very well, if that is what you wish then so be it." Said the warrior, getting a distinct impression of this 'Blueblood' not liking him... or maybe his kind.
"I realize it may sound harsh asking that you keep our distance, but it is not meant in ill will.... Here take this as a token of... peace." Said the unicorn, levitating a copper coin to the warrior.
"An odd gift of peace." Said the warrior, quirking a brow to Blueblood.
"Oh, I know, how about this as well then? I have to await my companions here anyway, so what if I were to teach you some miracles? Would that please you?" The unicorn asked, and the warrior felt the sentiment of peace must be genuine... even if he did not know how to cast a miracle.
"I would like that, yes." Said the warrior, smiling and nodding his head.
"Very well then, but first a convenient with the lords." Said Blueblood, and bowed his head. The warrior did so as well, and a light enveloped his horn.
"Now I shall share my miracles. Only, their ultimate effectiveness, will be determined by your efforts and your faith." Blueblood said, and opened up a book with the miracles listed in it. Force seemed simple, but effective, so he decided on that one.
"Force, that would serve me well." Said the warrior, pointing with his hoof. Blueblood then shuts the book and puts it away. Without a word his horn glows and causes the warrior's to as well.
"There, you have learned force. But remember, it's effectiveness relies on your faith and effort. Goodbye warrior." Said the unicorn, with a nod of his head. The warrior nodded as well, and turned to walk away. Headed for the Ponyville burg.
