“Think nothing of it lass, help me up would you?” Aston said, holding out a hand.

Twilight nodded an affirmative and moved to his side. She had to move a hoof to the side to keep herself from falling over as Aston grabbed at her cloak and hoisted himself up. The knight was covered in gore and blood, though there was little either of them could do about it. Aston gave the massive corpse a kick for good measure and started across the wall towards where it came from.

“Wait! What if there's more of them?” Twilight asked.

“Doubtful lass, if there was another it would be here already. These beasts art not ones of strategy nor subtlety.” Aston replied as he began walking to the tower.

“Oh... that makes sense, I guess. Have you fought them before?” She asked the knight.

“Not one of that breed, but I’ve fought their ilk once before. I’d rather not speak long of it, ‘tis a tale that brings sour memories of friends lost.” Aston said, his tone sullen.

Twilight simply nodded, giving the knight his space. She had learned not to push things with the Knight, it would come on it’s own.

Aston’s voice reached her ears, “Been meaning to ask something of you lass.”

“Hmm?” She simply replied.

“Do you know why your magic reacted the way it did when it came into contact with my armor?” Aston asked.

She stopped and placed a hoof to her chin in thought, “I’m not entirely sure but I have an idea, could you take off one of your gauntlets?”

The knight looked at her for a moment, considering the request, before wordlessly removing the piece of armor.

Twilight told him to trust her as she called up a telekinetic field around his hand, smiling as nothing happened out of the ordinary, she then picked up the gauntlet and immediately dropped it as it began to smoke.

Aston picked up the piece of armor once it stopped smoking and put it back on.

“A revelation, lass?” He asked as he descended the stairs in the tower.

“No.” She said sadly, “I have no idea what could be causing this.”

The knight chuckled, “We should find ourselves a mage, a man knowing of the sorceries would be able to help.”

“I would like to see how your magic works in relation to mine.” Twilight said eagerly.

“Yes, I’d wager you’d have a grand time boiling in my armor.” Aston said dryly.

The knight spared a passing glance to the left and was met with a long bridge that connected to another part of the burg. The bridge itself was covered with hollows and charred corpses, the masonry blackened and burned. He broke his gaze and looked to the right finding a small flight of steps going down to a large balcony overgrown with greenery.

Aston chose to check the balcony for anything useful, beckoning for Twilight to follow. She moved to his side, but bumped into him as he suddenly stopped. She was about to speak when his hand moved to cover her mouth.

Standing not far in front of them was another individual, Aston apparently just now noticing the lone figure.

The figure’s back was turned to the pair, and had yet to acknowledge their presence. Aston used his hand to signal Twilight to move back and hide behind a nearby wall.

The Human was a mountain of a man, clad in heavy looking armor, his arms and the upper portions of his legs covered in chainmail. Over his chest were thick metal plates with white fabric over it, his shoulderblades shrouded in a animal fur that had been dyed a vibrant green. Atop the man’s head sat a iron helm, a crimson feather attached to the side. Resting nearby was a large round shield with an odd symbol painted on it, a visage of the sun with a face at the center and red rays coming out of it. A sword rested in its scabbard at the man’s waist.

‘That symbol, is it something of religious significance?’ Twilight wondered.

Aston was a fair distance away when he returned his sword to it’s place in it’s sheath, producing a soft ‘click’ as the hilt met the scabbard.

Upon hearing that the individual turned to face Aston with surprising quickness for a man under such a burden, a hand on his sword’s grip, but after a moment of examining Aston his hand fell away.

“Ah, hello! You don’t look hollow.” The man said to Aston, his voice sounding almost... jovial to Twilight.

“Far from it.” Aston said in confirmation.

Aston slowly walked up and extended a hand to the man, which he took and shook happily.

“I am Solaire of Astora, an adherent of the Lord of Sunlight. May I trouble you for your name?” Solaire asked.

“I am Aston, also of Astora. I trust what brought me to this land also brought you?” Aston said, seemingly happy to be talking to one of his kinsman.

“You are a man of Astora? How truly wonderful to talk to a kinsman. Alas I’d wager we are here for different reasons, my friend.” Solaire said.

“Hmm? How so?” Aston asked.

Solaire turned to look at the horizon, “Now that I am undead, I have come to the great land, the birthplace of our Lord Gwyn, to seek my very own sun!”

‘What?’ Twilight thought.

Aston for his part simply looked at the man.

Solaire laughed, “Do you find that strange, Knight Aston? Well you should! No need to hide your reaction my friend, I tend to get that look all the time.”

“I will admit that sounds of a strange conviction.” Aston placed a hand on the man’s shoulder, “Strange, but an honorable one.”

“Haha! So I didn’t scare you away, hmm? Well then, in that case I have a proposition.” Solaire said.

“A proposition?” Aston asked.

“Aye, the way I see it our fates appear intertwined. Two honorable men of Astora crossing paths in this land brimming with hollows. Can that be just mere chance? Why not assist each other on our path?” Solaire began.

Aston nodded, “That is a pleasant proposition Knight Solaire, it would be an honor to fight by your side.”

“This pleases me greatly! Here, take this.” Solaire pulled a white stone from a pouch and gave it to Aston, “This land is perilous, and fraught with danger, even the flow of time itself is convoluted. The fabric shifts and wavers, relations shift and obscure. There’s no telling how long your world and mine will stay connected, but, use this to summon each other as spirits, cross the gaps between worlds and engage in jolly cooperation! Now there are others engaged in this, but I am a warrior of the sun! Spot my signature by it’s golden aura, if you miss it, you must be blind.” The knight said with a chuckle

Aston laughed as well, and beckoned Twilight out of her hiding spot.

“Knight Solaire, this is my wayward companion. She was stolen here by some shadowy limb and I happened across her, saving her life. She is looking for a way back home.” Aston explained.

Twilight pulled down her hood and smiled at the knight, extending a hoof in greeting, Solaire knelt and took it.

“Hello Knight Solaire, I’m Twilight Sparkle. It’s an honor to meet you.” She said.

“To you as well Miss Sparkle, any confidant of Knight Aston is one of mine.” Solaire said, apparently unfazed by her appearance.

“Thank you Knight Solaire. I have a question if you’ll humor me.” Twilight began.

“Why of course! What would you like to know?” The knight said.

“You said that time here is convoluted, could you explain further?” Twilight asked.

“I will try... ah! Imagine that this quest that Knight Aston and you are on is a individual string in a rope, a single path if you will. Others walk on the rope, just on different strings. Some are ahead of you, others behind. With some working towards different goals and others the same as your own. Sometimes these strings cross and allow others to jump into your string, but they cannot stay because it is not their path to walk. Does that help clear things up?” Solaire finished.

“Yes, that helped very much. Thank you.” Twilight said.

“I am glad.” Solaire said.

“As am I. Knight Solaire, it truly has been an honor but I fear we must continue on.” Aston said.

“Very well. I will remain here, to gaze at the sun. It truly is a marvelous body, like a magnificent father! If only I could be so grossly incandescent.” Solaire said as the pair walked away towards the bridge.

Author's Note

A big thanks goes out to Haerdalas & LunarArmor for pre-reading this chapter. Couldn't be done without you two!