Dark Souls: Saving Equestria.

Chapter One: The Beginning (Human Side)

The long march had worn them all down. They were not used to such things. There spirits were already beginning to fade, and they were not even in the accursed kingdom. It was party of four men. All in their prime. Yet, they looked like death had warmed over them. None of them looked happy about their current status. The man in front leading the party looked especially wore out.

“Shouldn’t we be waiting on those ponies Austin?” The man behind him asked.

“Well actually I got word they went ahead of us.” He replied.

“Do we really have to work with ponies? I mean what have they done for us or our kingdom.” The man in the very back of the line replied.

“Really Chandler? This curse is affecting everyone. Ponies, Humans and even beasts of the wilds. You know that. We need to help each other in these dark times.” He answered

“Ooo ya tell that to the enemies of our kingdom. I bet they already half way to the cure right about now, and we are wasting our time trying to help Ponies.” He said in annoyed tone of voice.

Austin just shook his head walking through the thick brush of the forest. It was almost unbearable. He was cutting, and swing with his greatsword to clear the tall grass. He was starting to wonder if that old woman in red had lied about this gateway.

“What do you think about all of this John?” Austin asked as he carved his way through the brush.

“I don’t really care. I just want to get this over with. I still cannot believe we were the ones who got cursed with Dark sign.” He said in worried tone.

Austin remain silent for the time being. He had no comforting words to give to any of them. He was only one with combat training. The rest of them were just normal people. They had families and friends.

“Thing are starting to get fuzzy for me…” Josh said finally speaking again. This words broke the silent. No one replied to comment. No one in the group wanted to think about it. The curse was melting everything away.

That was part of the Dark sign. It took away everything about yourself until there was nothing else. It effected everything not only human. Plants, animals and anything else that was alive. That is why they were sent here. This party of four was sent to find a cure but, that was only partly true.

They also sent away so they would not spend the curse to anyone else. Other kingdoms were doing the same. They sent their cursed to the very source. A gateway to a forgotten kingdom in a forgotten time. The rumors say that the dark sign oozes from the darkness of the pit, and all who bare the sign are drawn to this pit.

After finally make it through the thick brush. Austin spotted it. They line up against the edge. It massive hole in the earth. They looked deep within it. All they could see was a thick black fog. Austin just stood there for a moment looking at his men.

“Alright who going first?” Austin asked.

“Not it!” Chandler shouted.

“Not it.” John shouted as well.

“Not- Ooo come on….Dammit.” Josh said aloud looking into the pit. He rubbed his short orange locks nervously. He pulled down the leather googles on forehead, and clapped his hands together. He walked back a bit. He got into a full sprint, and went he got to very edge. He leap into the air. He hovered over the black smoke for a moment before getting suck in.

The rest of the group just watched. Hoping not to hear a heavy thud in few seconds. After a good minute. Austin let out a heavy sigh.

“All ashore, who coming ashore!” Austin shouted as he himself leap into the unknown darkness.

“Whelp I guess I lived a full life.” John said taking a step off the edgy.

“I swear if I make it home I am dethroning someone.” Chandler stated as he just fell into the pit.

Darkness consumed the surround the party. To them it felt like the fall was going to last forever. There no light, no sound, not even whimper.

Austin found himself laying on the ground, his body felt like someone had been beating on it. He pushed himself up from the ground. It felt wet. Again he was surround by darkness but, this time he could hear the groans of his men

“Alright sound off if you are alive.” Austin asked the darkness surround his vison.

A union of groans echoed outward back at him.

“Anyone got light?” John voice called out.

“Chandler, light a torch.” Austin sounded off.

“Ooo yes let me pull it out of my magically bag of wonder.” He replied sharply.

“I could do without the sarcasm.” Austin said

“And I could do without an Incompetent leader. But, I don’t think either of us are going to get what we want.” He replied

“I think I found something to light.” Josh jumped in. He felt around his bag. Pulling his flint and steel. He lit the torch. The open fire drew the rest of the party in like moths.

“Where are we?” John asked

“I have no idea but, first thing first let look for a way out of this cave.” He said as josh handed him the torch

Again he took the lead. The rest of the men followed behind. At first they all thought they were lost within the endless cave. They saw no life or light. Just darkness. They kept moving forward. There was no turning back at this point. Austin saw it first a light beaming behind a rock.

“John help me move this.” He said as He handed the torch to chandler. Then him and John got too left of the large boulder. They push it. It was heavy rock it took all of there might to get it out of the way. After that was done. The light flash into the cave blinding them all. As their eye adjusted, Austin walked out.

The sounds of crushing waves echoed in his ears. As he looked down seeing nothing but, sheer rock for miles. He took in the new surroundings. They were not in their world anymore. This place felt so difference. The air was heavier, and there presence that Austin could not shake from his mind.
The rest of the party came out. They had the same look on their face. They knew this was beginning horrors. John tapped against Austin shoulder. It snapped it out of his trace as he looked over to where John was pointing.

“It is a village.” John said.

The village was a little far away. It was hard to make out all the details. But, it looked old and broken by time itself. The village itself was nothing more than old stone houses. The only noticeable feature it held was a black obelisk in the center of town.

“Mmm maybe we can find a place to rest there.” Austin said with just hint of optimism

“Or filled with our worse enemies from other kingdoms.” Chandler stated, crushing sentiment.

“Well it is either that or we jump off the cliff. I am going with the village.” Austin said carefully walking forward against the cliff road.

They followed him down the path to village. There were only six building in the area. It looked very much abandon. They didn’t see anyone or anything for that matter. Until something came out of the shadows of one of the building.

It was stallion, in black hood. It covered most of his body, and face. He had red skin and bright blue eyes. He approached the travelers calmly. Austin eye him up as the rest of the group watched carefully. They were nervous. The rumors of this curse land had them all scared.

“Ooo look fresh meat been a while since I seen anyone come through here. Then again that just means more business for me.” The hooded stallion said aloud. Austin took charge meeting the stallion.

“My good sir, we mean you harm. We actually looking for a group. Have you seen a group of mares come through here recently?” Austin asked him.

“Hmm….. I have not seen mares pass through here in months.” He stated calmly.

Austin looked a little confused by his statement. He looked back at men. Chandler had the “of course they have not” look on his face. The others were not paying much mind to talk. They were just taking in the rest of the village.

“Alright has anyone passed through here recently?” He asked.

“Well there was this strange pair that came through about week ago. It was a stallion and a wolf. I think the wolf was actually a part of the church. Beside them you guys are the only ones who have come here.” He said calmly.

“Do you know where we can get some new weapons and armor? We got plenty of gold.” John asked.

The stallion looked confused as he just stared at the men for a moment. “Wow….you guys are new. Around here your gold is worthless. You see undead like you guys, have the power to absorb souls. Those souls are currency in this kingdom or what is left anyway.

The more souls you have the stronger you become. It also how you keep yourself from going all brain dead on us. You also need Effigies.” He said

“Ooo well that great we lugged this gold all the way down here for nothing.” Chandler said shaking his head.

“Please tell you at least know what an effigy is.” He said calmly.

Austin reached behind him pulling something out of his back pocket. It was a wooden figure of some kind with a black hole through the shoulder. He present it to the stallion. “You talking about this thing?” He asked

“Yup that would be it. But, you guys are going to need lot more. Went you dead which you will. You have to use one of those to become human again or you will become hollow. Now I like you guys so I going to help you out. Plus if you guys bite it I am back to square one with no customers.

You guys need souls. Go to forest. It used to be old training ground for soldiers. It got easy pickings for soul farming. Just some weak undead soldiers. Plus it will give you guys some skills in combat which…I see you need badly.” He said calmly

“Where is this forest?” Chandler asked

“There main path a little passed the village. You cannot miss it. The road will fork make sure you go to left. Also little warning don’t go to deep into the forest if you large structure getting closer to you….run, quickly. Also rest at the bonfire.” He said turning around to walk back into the building.

“Why?” John asked

“I guess I have to explain that as well. Went you die, your body will always reform at the last bonfire you rested at.” He said disappearing into the black of the stone house.

“What is your name?” Austin asked.

“Come back alive with souls, and I will tell you.” He shouted from the darkness

The group fell silent. It was a lot to take in all at once. They knew what they had to do. This would be there first combat against the hollowed. None of them were looking forward to it.

They all sat around the bonfire. It was an old looking sword that was stabbed into the ground. It was sound by ashes and flames. The flames warmed their souls. It was strange for the first time since they had been cursed. They actually felt a little warm inside. They rested their bodies. They all used to be friends. Yet no words were said between them at this very moment. They all having a moment of reflection.

They were trying to remember. They memories of their old life were starting to melt away. This place was draining them slowly they felt it the moment they entered. It was something dark that poison the land, and they would be the one to face it.

Author's Note

Please leave some comments about the story. I love getting feed back. If you think I need to work on something. Don't feel bad about telling me. I am writer. I need to know what I am doing wrong so I can fix it. Or do it better.