The Dark Soul

Twilight’s facilities slowly returned to her from the inky blackness that had covered her mind, a grown escaping her cracked lips as a burning sensation began to radiate from her shoulder. She could hear a voice speaking to her, but the words were murky and unclear in her present state.

Her eyes slowly opened, everything was a blurry mess of an amalgamation of colors. She blinked a number of times in an attempt to clear her vision, a shape slowly coming into focus.

It was the Knight from before, he was sitting not an arm’s reach away. He was not looking at her, instead he was examining his sword, running a small whetstone down the length of the sword’s edge, sharpening it.

‘He must care for that blade, it shines like a mirror.’ Twilight thought.

She attempted to move her body into a more comfortable position, but only the sound of stretching rope was the reward for her actions.

The sound alerted the Knight, he spared a parting glance at her, then he focused himself again on his work, running the whetstone along the sword’s length once more.

“You tied me up!” She said with a raised voice.

“Aye, that I did.” The Knight said plainly, not looking away from his work.

“Why? What are you going to do to me?” Twilight asked, a small measure of nervousness growing within her.

“Would you not bind a potentially dangerous individual?” The Knight said.

Twilight was going to retort, but then she remembered her attempt to blast the Knight with her magic.

“As for what will become of you, that is entirely dependent upon you.” The Knight said, looking up from his work to gaze at the mare.

“What do you mean?” Twilight asked.

“I shan't harbor a threat, nor do I hold a murmur of patience for a lier.” The Knight said, “If thou art either, I shall kill you myself.”

Twilight’s ears flattened at the decree, but she lowered her head, “I can see why you would see me as a threat because of my earlier actions, for that I’m sorry. I was confused and scared, I was not trying to harm you, I just wanted to get away.”

The Knight simply looked at her for a time, Twilight could feel his eyes scanning her looking for a tell. He sighed deeply then stood up, “Understandable.” He leaned down a pulled on the rope, untying it, “Where do you hail from, M'lady?”

She stretched her legs out a bit, only to retract her left foreleg, a rather deep cut in it started to bleed, she did her best to ignore it. She grabbed a piece of rope that was still draped across her with a hoof and moved it off of her.

“I’m from a place called Equestria.” She said while extending a hoof in greeting, gritting her teeth in a fake smile to keep from crying out from the pain of her wound.

Instead of a hand the Knight placed a dull green flask in her outstretched hoof.

“Drink.” He said simply.

Twilight looked into the flask, her reflection wavering in a golden colored fluid inside the flask. She brought the flask up to her lips, the fluid flowed into her mouth and she nearly spit it out when it touched her tongue, but she forced herself to swallow.

“Ugh... It tastes like ash. What was in that!?” She asked, handing it back to the Knight.

“An Estus Flask, an undead favorite.” The Knight said, putting it away.

“Why did you tell me to drink it?” She asked.

Instead of telling her, he simply pointed to her wound.

She looked and her eyes widened in surprise. The wound on her shoulder was slowly closing, the flesh melding back together until it looked as though it had never been there.

Before she could voice her question the Knight answered, “It contains the healing essence of the Bonfire, allowing one to take it with them.” He said, pointing at the nearby fire, the odd sword still sticking out of the ash at the base. The fire didn’t look natural, it looked almost like... water.

“This... Equestria, where is this land? I’ve shan’t heard of this land, nor have I seen a being such as yourself.” The Knight said. Then he stopped as he was about to say something else and he bowed slightly. “Oh, I’ve forgotten my manners. I am Aston, a Knight of Astora. An honor to meet you M’lady.” The newly named Aston said, reaching out a hand which she took. A small blush appearing at the title of ‘M’lady’.

“My name is Twilight Sparkle, but please, just call me Twilight. You don’t have to call me ‘M’lady’, I’m not royalty.” She said with a smile. She then answered Aston’s question, “I don’t even know where ‘here’ is. I didn’t travel here by my own accord. I was taken, kidnapped you could say, by... something.”

The Knight reached into one of the numerous pouches around his waist, and he pulled out the broken pendant, “Something to do with this, I presume?” Only now it was inert. He attempted to give it back to her, but she politely refused.

“Yes, but it’s not doing what it was before.” Twilight said.

“So you know not why thou art here? Stolen to this land by some unknown entity... A very odd set of circumstances you’ve found yourself in, no?” Aston said. “What do you plan to do?”

Twilight thought for a moment, “Find a way home, it’s the only thing I can do for now.”

‘You idiot! You don’t know anything about where you are. Where would you even start!?’ She thought. ‘Wait! Perhaps...’

“What is your purpose here?” Twilight asked Aston.

The Knight removed his helm, inadvertently letting her get a good look at him.

He had no fur, save for on top of his head, on which sat short but curly brown hair. He had a far off look in his eyes.

He seemed to find himself and he began to speak, “In my homeland of Astora, a legend is foretold. ‘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.’ I may not know my purpose in being here, but I know how to find it.”

Twilight sat for a time before speaking, “I have a proposition, Sir Aston.”

Aston raised a brow, “Hmm?”

“I know how to defend myself, and I also know a wide variety of helpful magic. Help me find a way home, and I will assist you in you quest.” Twilight said.

“I will take on no burden, no liabilities, if I take you, you’ll pull your own weight.” Aston said.

“It’s my only chance to find a way home. I’ll do whatever it takes.” Twilight said. The thought of her friends and her home in her mind.

“You’ll kill if need-be?” Aston asked.

Her mind flashed back to that undead attempting to kill her, and to Aston fighting the ‘Invader’.

“Yes.” Twilight said.

“Good, those hollows shall not give you a chance, their only purpose in their existence is to kill those not like them.” Aston said, putting his helm back on.

Aston stood up and began walking up towards waterway from where she had first met him, Twilight following close behind.

After a short walk up some rocky steps he stopped, holding out a hand to signal her to stop as well.

A short distance away was another hollow armed with a broken sword and a cracked round shield. It caught sight of her and Aston and began to shuffle towards the pair.

Aston gave her a look from behind his visor, gesturing towards the undead.

‘He wants me to kill it?’ She thought, slightly unsure of herself.

She steeled herself and prepared a simple spell. She aimed, and let the spell fly.

The blue ball of magical energy shot out of her horn, flew towards the hollow, hitting it square in the face. The hollow’s head vanishing in a mist of crimson and bits of flesh, the hollow fell to it’s knees, then to it’s back.

Twilight stood still, eyes fixed to the spot, unnerved at what she had just done.

The Knight appeared to see her discomfort and he placed a hand on the nape of her neck.

“Don’t think much about. We’re doing the poor souls’ a service.” Aston said, “They are not human anymore, not even animals. We are freeing them from an eternity of torture.”

She just nodded, and kept repeating the Knight’s words in her head.

Another undead came running at them as Aston stepped forward. Aston simply slammed the pointed tip of his crest shield into the hollow’s face, caving it in and spattering the tip of the shield with blood, the shield hit with such force that the hollow was now stuck to it and Aston had to kick it off. It fell to the ground unmoving.

They made their way up to what Aston told her was an aqueduct. Another hollow advanced on Aston and took a swipe at him, he moved to the side dodging the blow by a hair and grabbed the hollow by the throat. He hoisted the hollow up with only one hand, surprising Twilight with his strength and tossed it to the ground, his armored boot coming down on it’s face a moment later, it’s head bursting open and covering the Knight’s leggings with blood and brain matter. Twilight wincing at the display.

Aston then walked up another flight of stone stairs leading to a door that would let them into the waterway, he went in and she heard him curse and crash to the floor and there was a splash of water.

She hurried to help him when another undead, this one wielding a battle axe, jumped from a hiding spot. Thinking fast she called up a magical barrier to block the blow, the shield hugged her form and glowed a bright purple as it almost shattered under the strain. She pumped more energy into the barrier and then let the spell keeping the energy bound fall and it all exploded out, the hollow was blown back and a spell to the chest sent it over the edge. Twilight breathing heavily from the exertion.

“Twilight?” Aston called from inside the waterway.

She looked over just in time to see him come out if the doorway to the waterway, a massive... rat over his shoulder which he promptly tossed off the edge. The rat must have been what made him fall because the cloth over his chest was soaking wet from the water and torn from it’s claws, revealing the armor underneath.

“I’m fine Aston.” she said as she came up the stairs.

“Good. Come, I’ve cleared the way.” Aston said with a nod.

The pair traveled down the waterway until they reached another door, that led to some more stairs that led them to a roof with two undead on top of it.

Aston parried his attacker's blow then stabbed the hollow in the chest which fell back, but Aston lost his balance and fell with the hollow. The second bringing it’s sword down on his back.

“Aston!” Twilight yelled as she charged a spell that blasted the hollow in half, coating the roof in blood and gore. “Aston, are you ok!?” She yelled as she ran up to him.

She heard a grown as Aston got up to his knees. She could see that the fabric across his back had been cut from the attack, thankfully the armor had taken the blow albeit with a new dent.

She was about to sigh in relief when another hollow tossed something out of the corner of her eye directed at Aston. Knowing better not to underestimate the projectile Twilight picked Aston up with her magic and moved him out of the way, the ball hitting the spot Aston had just occupied and an explosion of flames was the result.

That did not matter to Twilight though, because the moment her magic touched Aston he let out a scream, not of surprise, but one of agony, long and loud, and he didn’t let up until she dropped him to obliterate the undead who tossed the firebomb.

“Aston are you...” Twilight’s words died in her throat as she looked at the Knight.

He was writhing on the ground, his armor... smoking.

‘But... the firebomb didn’t hit him, why...’ Twilight’s thoughts were interrupted as Aston got up to his knees once more, using his shield as a support he pulled out the estus flask and drank heartily.

She moved close, “Aston... are you ok?”

He slapped her across the face, though thankfully not with his shield, so hard that her head snapped back and her legs wobbled.

“You little wretch! I’ll have your head for that!” He screamed getting up, only to fall to a knee. His armor stopped smoking.

“No! Please! I didn’t know that would happen!” Twilight said backing away from Aston until she hit a wall.

He took another drink from the flask, “That burned like a pyromancy...” the point of his sword on her neck, “What in the name of the gods was that.”

“It was a telekinetic spell! I swear! I only wanted to move you out of the way of that firebomb, I only wanted to help! Please Aston... don’t...” Twilight pleaded, tears in her eyes.

She could hear his grip tighten on his sword, “Damnation.” The sword fell away,”Beast of burden, I shan't give thee another chance. Think with prudence, or I shall end you.”

“Aston, I’m sorry.” Twilight said. She could see his shoulders drop a small measure.

He sighed, “No, tis I who should be sorry. I acted without restraint.” He handed her the flask and she drank the remainder of it’s contents. “Twas an accident meant in good meaning, and I did not act in a way befitting a Knight of Astora. I am in your dept M’lady.”

Despite herself, Twilight let out a small laugh, “I told you not to call me ‘M’lady’.”

They moved to the second floor of a nearby building and were walking across a narrow walkway when she heard a deafening roar, a moment later she felt Aston grab a tuft of her mane and yank her back into the building just as a massive dragon landed on the walkway. It then took of with a roar.

Aston looked at her for a moment, “Debt repaid, would you not say?”

She nodded, “Was that a dragon?”

He shook his head, “A drake. Gwyn, Lord of Sunlight killed the dragons with the other primeval lords.”

Twilight’s interest peaked, “Who are the others, how did they do it?”

“The other Lords are Nito, the first of the dead, and The Witch of Izalith. The rest of the tale can come later.”

They moved to the roof, finding only a crushed hollow on the roof, it’s organs in a pool around it’s body, along with some destroyed battlements.

Twilight looked to the right and saw two hollows, these ones move heavily armored and better armed than the ones they’ve been fighting. She nudged Aston and pointed to the pair. Aston advanced on one and charged with his shield up, Twilight’s magic projectiles already slamming into the other undead. Aston slammed into his target, the force knocking the undead to the ground, Aston’s sword plunging into it’s chest a moment later.

“What’s down there?” Twilight asked, pointing to a staircase blocked off by boxes.

He suggested they go look and Twilight used her magic to move the boxes, what they found surprised her.

Another sain Human.

“Well... I think I’ve finally lost my marbles.” The Human said as he saw Twilight. He was sitting cross legged surrounded by an amalgamation of odds-and-ends. She couldn’t see any of his features do to his cloth wrapped head.

“Get behind me.” Aston ordered.

“Oh well I see you two are real,” The human let out a mad cackle. “You’ve not gone hollow either. Well then you're welcome customers.” The Human said while running a hand over his ‘wares’.

Aston looked at Twilight and moved forward, “What are you selling?”

“A bit of everything! I only trade for souls, nothing else.” The merchant said.

‘Souls! What in Celestia’s name!’ Twilight thought.

Before she could ask what he meant Aston asked her something, “How well can you throw?”

“What?...Umm, Pretty well I guess. Wait why?” Twilight said.

He ignored her and grabbed a bundle of small knives, along with a hooded black leather cloak with dozens of small metal plates woven into it.

He walked up to her, “Put this on lass. There’s pouches on the inside for the knives. I’d say that will do more to protect you than just your fur.”

She did as Aston told her, simply too bewildered to object. He turned to the merchant and held out his hand, and she watched in amazement as what looked like white smoke traveled down Aston’s arm and condensed into a small ball of what now looked like white fire in his hand.

“I trust this will cover the gear?” He said, disgust coating his voice.

“Oh yes.” The merchant said.

The ball floated to the other Man's hand then turned back into mist and was absorbed by his body.

“Thank you kindly.” The merchant said as they left.

Twilight looked at Aston, “You’ve better explain what just happened.”