Errant Knightby OrkusChaptersUnto EternityWorld of StrangersHeavy RainMore ArrivalsUnto EternityThis forest... I presume it is called the one of Fallen Giants... was cloaked in a gloom of fog this morning, as witnessed by me when I awoke. My last memory before nodding off into dreamless sleep was the panicked visage I was given by a fool who had the audacity to strike at me with his pitiful dagger. I promptly struck him down with a swing of my sword, its durable blade cutting through him like wet paper, before walking up to and taking refuge beside this broken, dead tree, which resided in the center of a ruined courtyard. Undead, hollowed soldiers from a millennium after the time of Heide, but long before this one, clad in moth-eaten, dirt-stained grunt armor of what I presume to be infantrymen, pass by me and the ruins that surround us, walking in constant circles. Their sagging, rotted flesh and clothing matches their absentminded moaning and shambled lurching, resembling that of a drunkard who had himself too much ale. I bear no quarrel with these lost creatures. They have left me alone, and I do the same. We have something in common, with our hollowed selves being one such example. My armored body, though I presume to be tall and intimidating to behold to most when I am standing, is also worn from the many centuries of abuse. Sticking from my armor's thick, near-impenetrable metal carapace, are many arrows. Three stick out from my helmet, a few point from my chest, while most line, riddled like darts, along my white-caped back. I've earned them all, in both from the ones fired at me in life, and the ones undeath has brought me, courtesy of the occasional foolhardy bandit or adventurer. My sword, which I believe was an incredible work of craftsmanship back when I was alive, points blade-first to the ground, in between my sprawled legs, while its pommel-up side, complete with a curved crossguard, rests idly on my shoulder. Due to being made of the same, tough material as my armor, its blade has never dulled in the years I have used it, both alive or not. It is one of my last, recognizable possessions, and I cling to it with a special kind of fervor. I once remember a particular fool tried to steal it from me while I was in a position like this, thinking me dead, or too far gone in my hollowed state to know how to use it. He didn't live long enough to apologize. I continued my pursuit of sitting there, fruitlessly attempting to remember my past as I usually did, my only discernible reason for being. My head suddenly finds itself lifting as I sense something new coming from nearby, and I'm not disappointed by what I find. Just a few feet in front of me and my tree, was a bright, glowing, ovular shape of energy, an image of something coming from inside it, as if displayed like a window. The hollowed infantrymen didn't seem to notice it, and went on with their meaningless existences, rambling about through the fort's ruins like the empty shells they were, waiting for something to cross their paths to attack. After a few seconds, I noticed that it felt as if something was pulling me to it. It was a supernatural feeling, compelling me to approach the light like a moth to a flame. Finally heeding the alluring call at the realization that I now had a purpose, as simple as it was, I shake to life and stand up. My ancient joints creaked like snapping wooden branches, and my armor rattling as it once more was put to use. My ragged cape, its end long and intact, but heavily tattered, blew in the passing breeze as I gripped my sword between the fingers of my gauntleted hand. Then I approached the glow through the mist. Shambling forward, and pushing aside one of the smaller, pathetic hollows that strayed in front of me, my gait began to improve until my hunched figure was more alive. I approached the portal, and without a thought against it, I entered. The moment I did so, I left behind my dying world, and found a new one. As I enter, I find myself in a land of white. Endless white, as far as I can see. An entire void of white nothingness. An invisible whisper begins to rake through my mind, not mere moments after setting off into this bleak environment, repeating three words, in a voice that resembles nothing I've ever heard of before. Equestria... Harmony... Purpose. The whispers soon cease, but onward I travel through this void of white, the grating sound of my sword dragging on the ground behind me, never dulling. Whether I had been traveling through it for a few minutes or an eternity, I did not know nor care, for now I had a purpose. An uncomplicated purpose, but a purpose nonetheless. Forward. And so I went forward, walking, shuffling, and ambling, until I noticed something new finally take place. My surroundings had changed. What was once blank desolation, was now the entrance to a cave. Outside the entrance, I see a gully of stone leading to a sunlit forest, a blue, cloud-filled sky overhead. Detecting faint traces of light out of the corner of one of my helmet's visors, the one without two separate arrows sticking out of it, I turn my hunched, cloaked body to the source, and spied a glowing tree. Even with my condition, I see that it is no ordinary tree. Its hide appears crystalline, and it bears nearly a dozen branches, each one helping to form the round pattern of what appears to be a star. At the end of five of these branches, embedded in the crystal, lie gems of various shapes and colors, their individual tints leading to a star-shaped gem, fittingly encrusted in the center. It looked fairly harmonious, but after a few seconds of staring, I lose interest in the object, and turn back around, starting for the cave's exit. As I finished traversing the ravine, I found myself in the middle of a luscious forest, unlike where I previously rested before coming to this land. Where I once laid my body was a captured woodland, plagued by ruins from times before, but here there were only trees, bushes, and the grass below my armored feet. It was indeed a forest, everfree of turmoil and civilization. Everfree of conflict and depression. Everfree of cursed hollows, and unnatural aberrations. Everfree. I continue onward, leaves and twigs snapping below as I step on them. Eventually, I come to a small clearing. The clearing had only a single tree, small and skinny in build with a leaf-covered top, growing from the center, while the rest of the forest circled around it. As if drawn to a beacon, I trudge up to it. Upon reaching it, I ran my free hand across its light brown bark. Even with the armor enveloping my appendage, I can detect its age is great, yet it has not seen, or been in conflict of any sort. I turned my body around and sat it down on the dirt and grass in between and against the plant's roots, sprawling my legs out, and easing the grip on my sword. I lower my head, and let easy, but unneeded whisper-like breaths exit my mouth. And there I rested. World of StrangersA warm smell fills my nose, and I shudder into consciousness, albeit slowly. I look up, and the first thing I spy is the trees overhead, swaying to and fro as a strong gust of lively summer wind flies by their treetops, before slowly descending into a calm zephyr. Whatever small shred of sanity I had in my mind that still held admiration for anything was probably being affected greatly, now that this land had befallen my sight. The world I was in previously was reduced to nothing more than rotten, staled scraps being fought over to the last morsel by greedy children and pernicious cretins. This world on the other hand was new, for lack of a better term. It was brimming with freshness only life could provide. Even the birds with their songs, infinite in chorus and rhyme, sounded happy and content in the trees they sat in. Remembering why I awoke, I examined my surroundings with a lazy, but caring eye, before spotting the only object that could have performed such a feat. Beside me lied a white bowl with red flower symbols painted on its glass, its inside filled with a yellow, soupy broth. A small vapor rises from it, indicating that it was placed recently. I shake my head a single time, and lower it once more. Ever since I was beset upon by this hollowed state, food became meaningless. What was once one of many much-loved pleasures in life became naught but ash in my mouth. Tasteless. Insipid. Pointless. If whoever had put this before me did so out of the kindness of their heart, they were foolish or fallacious. Shifting my arm's position only slightly into a more comfortable state, I slouched over and reentered darkness. "So, what do you think it is, Fluttershy?" Pinkie Pie asked her friend, as the two ponies walked through the forest. The yellow-furred pegasus to whom Pinkie was speaking to was wearing a small pouch over her body, containing something the pink mare suspected was nothing of too much interest. Fluttershy shrugged. "I don't know. It looked like it was dressed in what knights used to wear in the old days, but it's not a pony. It's so... strange." "Hmm... suspicious!" the pink mare agreed, placing a hoof to her chin. "How strange are talking here? Could it be that varghulf thing everypony in town is talking about?" "It can't be. Varghulfs look like giant bat monsters from what I've heard, and this thing's shape isn't like anything I've seen before," she replied in her soft voice. "It's not a dragon, it's not a diamond dog, and it's certainly not a chimera, but it is gigantic. Almost the size of Harry!" "Your bear? Whoa!" Pinkie exclaimed. "Are you sure it's okay that the others aren't with us?" "It didn't seem to notice me, even when I came back and placed a bowl of fresh soup in front of it. I think we'll be fine," Fluttershy said back in an atypically confident voice, as she pushed back the thin branch of an oncoming sapling. "But what about that bat monster? What if it sees us?" "I still think that Silver Spoon was fibbing about what she saw in the woods a few days ago, but we shouldn't worry about that thing either," the pegasus spoke back, pulling something with a strong, musty stench out of her pouch pocket. "I brought a clove of garlic with us, just in case. Twilight told me varghulfs can't stand garlic." Pinkie wafted the stench of the vegetable away from her nose with a hoof as the two continued on, passing by bushes, brush, and a great many trees, both big and small, before coming to a small clearing. Walking only a few feet into the flat glade, Pinkie spotted a large, alien figure residing near the only tree in the area. It sat by the tree, its helmeted head lowered, completely motionless, save for the white, ragged cape it wore over its plate armor and chain mail-covered body, which flowed freely in the wind. One arm rested on an upright knee, while the other drooped on top of its other, crossed leg which lied fully on the ground. Not one piece of flesh was exposed on it for either of them to see. As Pinkie Pie got a better look at it, Fluttershy trotted forward, and looked at the now-cold bowl she previously left for it. "Huh. It hasn't touched the soup," she said in a tone of unexpectance. "No creature can resist the smell of my soup. If it's not eating, then... I hope the poor thing's alright..." "Are you sure it's even alive, Flutters?" Pinkie inquired, walking closer and noticing the multiple arrows sticking out of its body. She was answered by a strained, ghostly sigh that came from the knight, startling Pinkie enough to cause her to jump back with a yelp. "Yep... it's alive..." she chuckled, nervously. Fluttershy rolled her eyes with an amused expression as she set about to work. As she did so, Pinkie's expression changed back to curiosity, and she began to examine the knight once more, stepping fairly close to it in the process. "Hello? Can you hear me, Mister Knight-thing?" the earth pony suddenly asked again, but this time to the armored figure, garnering only silence for a response. "Hello? Helloooo? HELLOOO-" "Pinkamena Diane Pie!" Fluttershy shouted in a small whisper, tugging Pinkie back by her mane with a hoof. "Don't try to wake him! He could be very ill. If you wake him, he might start to move, and that's the last thing I want from such a poor creature." "Oops. Sorry, Fluttershy..." she apologized. For the next several minutes, Pinkie Pie continued to silently observe the being as Fluttershy went on preparing another meal for the creature, taking each ingredient out of her satchel. After noticing something, with a surprised gleam in her eyes, Pinkie spoke up. "Hey... it has a sword," she pointed out. "Hmm... he could hurt himself with that thing! I'd better take it..." I feel myself awakening as I sense a disturbance. I quickly lift my head and spy a pink shape, one of its finger-less forelimbs stretched out and attempting to grasp at the hilt of my sword over my shoulder. Responding in kind, I raised my left hand off of my thigh and grabbed the being by its arm in a quick but solid, powerful grip. The creature lets out a cry of fear as my fingers clenched tighter around its foreleg. Seeing now it was just a harmless being, not unlike a deer or some other creature unworthy of my attention, I decide to let go, and my hand slowly opens back up before falling limp by my side once more. The creature, bearing a very human, feminine expression, clearly looks shocked as she retracts her hoof, while another, yellow figure enters my field of view, running up to the pink one with a look of concern on its face. Getting a better look now, I see that both appear very... what's the word... ah yes, equine in shape, though their sizes are small. I see them now, apparently speaking to one another in a language I find rather familiar, though I cannot properly discern. Their voices are indeed female, and as far as I can remember what the sound was like, very human. They continue with their claptrap, stopping only to sneak the occasional glance in my direction. Seeing how both were of no threat, but neither of any true importance, I began to slacken my demeanor, though I stayed awake and on guard, in the event the two decided to pull something on me. The knight went back into its relaxed position, appearing to nod off once more as its head lowered. Pinkie Pie looked to Fluttershy and chuckled, nervously. "I... guess I shouldn't have tried to touch its sword," she spoke. "Are you okay, Pinkie?" Fluttershy inquired again. The pink mare flashed her friend a shaken smile. "Yeah, I'm fine, but that thing's hand felt so... cold. Brrr!" she replied, hugging herself and shivering for emphasis. "That metal's super frigid. Like ice!" "At least he didn't hurt you," the pegasus said in relief. "You shouldn't go touching other people's stuff, you know." "I know, I know... I just though he was too weak to use it. Boy, was I wrong, hehe..." Pinkie laughed slightly, feeling her hoof again and remembering the amount of strength the creature used when it held it. "Hey, do you think we should go tell the others about him?" "Sure," she agreed. "Maybe Twilight will know what he is, and where he's from." After speaking, Fluttershy picked up a small blue bowl filled with minced cucumbers, chopped-up carrots, fresh lettuce, and other leafy greens with her mouth, and placed it in front of the creature. Looking at him directly, she kneeled down slightly, and gave a warm smile. "I'll be back tomorrow with something else, okay?" she said in a friendly voice, unknowing if the knight heard her or not, as she pushed the bowl closer to him over the grass. "If you don't like salad... well, I guess I can bring something else over." With a nod, Fluttershy stood back up, and walked over to Pinkie Pie. They both gave a sure look to one another before walking off, back in the direction from whence they came. The lack of voices speaking in front of me told me they were gone. Once more I lifted my head and looked around, but saw nothing, save for my surroundings. Looking down, I saw that one of the two creatures had left behind another bowl, only instead of a brothy substance, it was now filled with leaves and vegetables, I presume. Another needless and futile attempt to appease to me. Had I cared at all about the situation, I may have even shaken my head in disgruntled dissatisfaction, but instead I let it fall, ready to resume my slumber... until something caught my eye. A small, brown shape, not even a fourth the size of the the two equines previously, came bounding up to where the bowl of food, tree, and I laid. It looked like a small, furred creature with long ears on the back of its head. It wasn't a prowling, half-starved kobold, no... it was smaller, and a great deal less pathetic and wretched in appearance. Wait, I know what this creature is... it's a... rabbit. Yes. An ordinary coney. The rabbit hopped up to the bowl and sniffed its contents as I watched. It looked around, cautiously making sure that no predatory creatures were there to interrupt this feast. When it saw me, its roving, black eyes stopped for a brief moment and its ear twitched in apparent bemusement of my form, then went back to scanning around before coming to a conclusion that there was nothing to worry about. It looked back to the bowl, and hastily began to eat, each foodstuff messily crunching between the coney's incisors. While the harmless thing ate, I could feel myself as I slowly fell unconscious once more, until all my senses could feel was uncolored nothingness... Heavy RainBy the time night fell upon the land, a heavy rain had encroached onto Ponyville. The black clouds from above blotted out the moon and stars like an extinguisher to a candle, leaving extremely wet darkness in its wake. The only light to appear in town were the multiple lampposts lining the edges of the streets, their individual, yellow glows faintly illuminating their surroundings. Through the thick drizzle, a non-pony, upright, and very obtuse shape passed along the empty street, alone. The rain pattered off of its wide, round, tan-brown armor and equally wide and round helmet, the shape of which could only be described as looking like an onion. Held onto with one hand and hoisted over its shoulder was the blade of an enormous zweihander sword, while gripped in the other hand was a small, round, outwardly-indented shield with a large, metal protrusion poking out from its center, made as much for piercing the enemy as it was for defensive purposes. The figure continued on by its lone self, the sound of stone and gravel below its armored boots being pushed downward or aside, jiggled loose by the water from the falling rain and moved by the sheer weight it currently felt. It wasn't long before the being came upon the impossible-to-miss shape of Twilight Sparkle's castle. The magnificent structure sprang up from the ground, and the creature couldn't help but whistle in an impressed manner at its size. Without another thought the figure walked up to the large, golden entrance, reached out a gauntleted hand, and knocked on the door. When no reply came, it sighed in a tired, male voice, and knocked again. When this failed as well, he tried to pull on the handle of the door, then tried pushing, but it would not budge. He quickly gave up and started to walk a few dozen feet off in the direction he just came from. "Ho-hum... what is one to do?" he spoke in a tired voice, the sound partially muffled from behind its helm, after coming to a stop. Lifting his gigantic greatsword up, the creature turned it about and planted its tip into the ground, before strapping his shield behind his back, next to the long sheath for his sword. After folding his arms, the vaguely knightly figure's shape slackened, and a loud snoring noise began to erupt from him mere moments after, falling asleep in the middle of the downpour while still standing up. "This is... the only word I can find for this is strange," Twilight Sparkle spoke, as she looked at the drawing she was given. It was a hastily scribbled, one-dimensional shape of an armored figure with noodly limbs, a smiley face in front of its helmet, a party hat on its head, and the words "swish-swish" written next to a sword held in its hand. Twilight and her friends were currently inside the throne room of her castle, and for the last three hours they had been discussing what the creature Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy witnessed could be. The sudden rainstorm going on outside had arrived before any of them could follow Fluttershy into the woods, and they all decided against doing such a thing until the weather lightened up. "Remember Twilight. My drawing skills may portray the thing as looking a teensy-weensy bit... off," Pinkie Pie spoke with a small laugh. "The thing was wearing a great helm of some sort on top of its armored body, but not one suitable for ponies to wear," Fluttershy went on, pointing to the top of the drawing. "A great helm not made for ponies? Hmm..." Twilight said as she rubbed her chin. "I remember from my time in the human world that humans were shaped just like this, and while I was in the library at one time, I saw a picture of several human knights in one of the history books. The one closest to looking like this was a member of an ancient organization called the "Teutonic Order," but it's just... off. The clothing is different, the size is a tiny bit larger than what I've seen, and the mannerisms are most queer and unnatural... I'm sorry, but I just don't know what to think." "Maybe it came in from another universe?" Pinkie asked again. "Wait... what if it came from a universe full of undead creatures and evil monsters that want to eat you and take your soul, but instead you have to beat them and take their souls instead! That sounds like an awful place to live in..." "As "plausible" as that sounds Miss Pie, I'm going to have to disagree," Rarity spoke. "I bet it's a creature from the Plaguelands," Rainbow Dash wagered. "In Daring Do and the Claw of the Orium Dragon, Daring Do remembered encountering giant, living statues of that size and shape down there." "I hope we can find this out soon," Fluttershy said in a weary tone. "I think I'll go home and go to sleep now, if that's alright with you girls. I'm tired." The pegasus hopped out of her throne and started for the door, before quietly slipping out of it. Her friends each looked at each other with equally worn-out expressions. "Well... it is late..." Spike agreed from where he sat on his smaller throne next to Twilight, before rubbing his eyes. "I think Fluttershy is right," the alicorn princess said, as she patted her assistant on the head. "Let's talk for a few more minutes and then get some rest. I'm sure all of our heads will be clear in the morning." It wasn't long after Fluttershy left that the rest of her friends decided to join in on her example, and left Twilight's castle for their own houses. The only shape to carry an umbrella through the downpour as the four ponies exited the crystalline keep was Rarity, who held the dark blue object up in a magical grip just above her head. "It's just so weird," Rainbow Dash spoke as she took to the air, and flew a few feet above the ground next to her friends. "It's foreboding..." Rarity agreed. "How peculiar that Fluttershy discovers a creature like that, right after Silver Spoon claimed to see a giant monster running around in the outskirts of the forest." "I know, right?" Pinkie chuckled. "But since this clearly isn't a giant bat-creature, did the pony that saw the monster mistake it for something else? Or... was what she saw an actual giant bat-creature, and we have two creatures on the loose?" "Even if we have a couple of monsters running loose, I could more than easily take on either of them by myse-" Rainbow Dash found herself interrupted from her cocksure boast when the four suddenly came upon a tall, round, wide silhouette in the rain, standing before them in the middle of the road like a wall. Before Rainbow could do anything else but stare at the armored mass, it let loose a loud, rumbling snore. "What in tarnation...?" Applejack inquired in surprise, her eyes squinting to get a better look. "MUTANT ONION!" Pinkie screamed, pointing out the vague shape of its pointed head before diving behind Rainbow Dash. "Now, now... just hold your horses there sugarcube," Applejack spoke, raising a hoof to silence the hyperactive pink mare. Once this was completed, she gave another questing look to the creature, and slowly walked up to it. "Just what the hay is this thing?" "It looks sort of... like a knight. And it's fashion, while unique, is certainly odd," Rarity spoke as she examined the material the shape was wreathed in, as it rocked back and forth on its legs, still dead asleep as indicated by the boisterous snoring that its continued to make. "Um, Pinkie... is this what you and Fluttershy were talking about?" "No. The one we saw had different armor, and he was waaaay bigger! Plus he didn't have a shield thing, and his sword was a little smaller," Pinkie responded, as she leapt in front of the being with a much less fearful expression. "Hello?" she asked, poking the protruding belly armor with a hoof before her friends could stop her. "Can you talk, onion-knight-guy? We have questions! Lots of 'em!" "Mhmmm... mhmmm?" the figure yawned, shuddering to life as his head lifted and arms unfolded. "Oh-hoh! Forgive me, I was absorbed in thought." The visored helmet looked around, and reeled back slightly when he finally spotted the four ponies standing before him through the thick rain. "Hm?" he said again, wondering out loud. "I've not seen miniature horses speak before. And I could swear on my honor as a knight that I heard a voice as well. Hmm..." "Um... we did speak," Rainbow Dash said. The creature took a step back in unexpected surprise before regaining his composure. "So the land I came upon is full of talking horses, hm? Well, I must admit I've seen stranger. At least you're not some new form of terror that has come to try and kill me." His head suddenly tilted questioningly to the side, as his hand wrapped tightly around his sword in a cautious display. "You are not here to perform such an act... correct?" "Why would we?" Applejack asked. "We're a peaceful kind of ponyfolk that like to treat others with politeness," Rarity continued. "Not barbarity." "Well then, jolly good!" the knight said again, loosening his grip on the weapon. "I am Siegmeyer of Catarina. To be quite honest to a few pleasant creatures like you, I've come into quite a pickle." "What kind of pickles are we talking here?" Pinkie Pie spoke up. "Pickled cucumbers, pickled beats, pickled... onions?" "Hrm... I last remember thinking of my daughter, then I remember waking up in a shallow grave below several feet of dirt, under the ground of a place known as Ash Lake. After unburying myself, I noticed a bright, white light coming from above me, and a most perplexing voice. When it finished speaking, I was there one moment..." He snapped his fingers for emphasis. "...and with a bright flash, now I'm here! Quite the unfortunate series of events, you see..." "Wowzers," Pinkie began again, turning to her friends. "Should we go back and tell Twilight about him?" "Nah," Applejack replied. "It's almost midnight, and I'd be willing to bet my hat and then some that Twilight's in bed already. We should try tomorrow morning." "Yeah..." Rainbow Dash agreed with a giant yawn. "I'm beat." "I do not wish to be a burden, but do one of you have someplace I could bed down for the night? Or, at the very least, until this cursed rain dies down?" Siegmeyer inquired. "I have a barn," Applejack suggested. "You can rest there for the night I reckon." "Ah! You have my gratitude, horse," the knight thanked with a bow of his head, as he pulled his zweihander from the ground, and hefted it once more over his shoulder. "We're ponies, Mister Siegmeyer. And call me Applejack," the earth pony corrected, as she took her hat off and quickly wringed the water out of it. "Very well, Applejack. Lead the way!" "Well then, I guess this means goodnight girls. See ya all later," Applejack spoke again as she and the outlandish character began to head in the direction of Sweet Apple Acres. "See you all in the morning!" Pinkie waved goodnight with a hoof, as she started in the direction of Sugarcube Corner. Waving back and shouting their own good-byes, Rainbow Dash and Rarity went their own separate ways, determined to get out of the storm as soon as possible. More Arrivals"I'm tellin' ye, we're not in Drangleic anymore," Benhart spoke to the masked swordswoman next to him. "The tree's are greener, I dorn't see any undead, and there's not a monster to be seen." "I still think this is an illusion of some sort, or at least something to do with teleportation," Lucatiel replied, as a soggy leaf was crushed under her boot. "We were both having a drink in Majula, we both fell asleep in our chairs, and we both woke up in the middle of... here." "If that is the case, 'en I'm willing to bet that damn hag cursed us or somethin'. She always gave me the willies," he went on, muttering about a merchant the two knew as he shifted his enormous, teal-bladed bluemoon greatsword onto a more comfortable position on his shoulder. The two warriors, long since having become stalwart allies with one another from past adventures, had been arguing like this since they both awoke that morning, underneath a large tree of some sort. Without so much as a word against it, the pair had ventured into the forest that befell them, but to their astonishment, spied no beings that wished to do them harm. "What's that o'er yonder?" Benhart suddenly spoke, pointing to a nearby clearing with a single tree as something shiny and unlike their green surroundings catching his eye. They both approached it, and saw it was just a Heide knight sitting by the tree's trunk. Lucatiel let out a mildly small snigger escape her lips from behind her steel mask. "I told you we were still in Drangleic," she said, bumping him on the shoulder. Benhart rolled his eyes and scratched his gray beard in reply while he decided to investigate the knight. "Strange things, these Heide knights," he said, as he kneeled over on the damp grass to inspect the slightly larger being a little closer, using his large sword as a crutch. "They've been 'round longer 'en most undead, but they're not full hollows. If they were, he'd be attackin' us on sight. Can't imagine what the poor, lost sod's thinkin' 'bout. If I were a bettin' man, I'd say he's trying to remember who he once was." "I'll never understand this undead curse," Lucatiel sighed, as she ran a gloved hand underneath her mask, where a scar-like patch of green flesh rested on one side of her face, forever reminding her of her own problem. As Benhart stood back up, they both turned their heads to the sound of footsteps "Do ye hear that?" he asked, turning to his companion. "Sound's like trouble," the warrior of Mirrah replied. "Let's hide this out and see who they are." Quickly running back from where the knight sat, the two jumped behind a pair of bushes and shrubbery. They both carefully peeked through the foliage, and saw a yellow shape emerge from the cluster of trees in the background. Benhart made sure that his glistening blade was behind enough of the bushes to not be seen. "Heavens above!" he mumbled. "Just what in Jugo is 'at?" "Have you never seen a horse before?" Lucatiel inquired back, gaining a grumpy, but amused look from him. "Though I must admit, I've not seen one of that shape ore size before. This one even has wings, like the pegasi I've heard about in old stories. I thought they would be taller." "I know what a horse is," he chuckled. "But that... that in't a horse." "I think it's... saying something..." she spoke again, watching as the creature placed down what appeared to be a bowl of some sort, and open its mouth to the Heide knight. "And is it me, or it attempting to-" "GOTCHA!" a loud voice shouted from behind them, interrupting Lucatiel. "Gah!" Benhart bellowed in surprise, turning about and swinging his greatsword in startled reaction. The massive blade cleaved through bushes, branches, and the truck of a tree in a single thrust, narrowly missing a bright blue shape with a rainbow trail following it. The figure flew high in the air as the cut-down tree began to fall and make a thundering noise as it crashed, before looking down at the pair. It looked like the creature they were just looking at, only a different color. "Hey, wow! Wow! Watch it! It was only a prank!" the blue pegasus spoke, putting her hooves out in a sincere manner. Benhart only looked as if he was about to swing again when Lucatiel took notice of his action. "Benhart! Stay your blade!" she spoke, putting her hand out to calm him whilst drawing a conclusion before he could perform another attack. "Easy for ye to say!" the aged warrior replied, pointing to the creature while he looked back to her, his expression showing that he was still recovering from the scare. "Whatever the heck that thing is nearly cause my 'eart to skip a beat!" "I... I didn't know you didn't like being scared," the pegasus spoke. "Sorry about that." "Who are ye?" Benhart inquired, as his muscles eased, and let the tip of his sword slowly drop to the ground. "And what do ye want?" "I'm Rainbow Dash, and I'm a pony," she replied. "I just wanted to start some fun. Who are you?" "Benhart... of Jugo," Benhart nodded, hefting his weapon over his shoulder again, and using his other, free gloved hand to move his helmet slightly. "Lucatiel of Mirrah," Lucatiel spoke, tipping the long, front brim of her hat in respect, whilst keeping one hand at the sheath of her Mirrah sword just in case. Rainbow Dash let out a laugh. "Ten bits says that neither of you are from Equestria," she wagered, before flying slightly past the bushes they were previously hiding behind. "Bits?" Benhart mumbled to his companion. She only responded by raising a finger to her lips to shush him. "...You're just like that "Catarina" guy we met yesterday," Dash went on. "If you follow me, maybe we can get some answers for why you're here." She started to fly away, toward the yellow creature by the Heide knight that both now knew was a "pony," who had sensed the commotion, and was looking their way. "Benhart..." Lucatiel whispered, before the two began walking forward. "I... don't think we're in Drangleic anymore..."
Unto EternityThis forest... I presume it is called the one of Fallen Giants... was cloaked in a gloom of fog this morning, as witnessed by me when I awoke. My last memory before nodding off into dreamless sleep was the panicked visage I was given by a fool who had the audacity to strike at me with his pitiful dagger. I promptly struck him down with a swing of my sword, its durable blade cutting through him like wet paper, before walking up to and taking refuge beside this broken, dead tree, which resided in the center of a ruined courtyard. Undead, hollowed soldiers from a millennium after the time of Heide, but long before this one, clad in moth-eaten, dirt-stained grunt armor of what I presume to be infantrymen, pass by me and the ruins that surround us, walking in constant circles. Their sagging, rotted flesh and clothing matches their absentminded moaning and shambled lurching, resembling that of a drunkard who had himself too much ale. I bear no quarrel with these lost creatures. They have left me alone, and I do the same. We have something in common, with our hollowed selves being one such example. My armored body, though I presume to be tall and intimidating to behold to most when I am standing, is also worn from the many centuries of abuse. Sticking from my armor's thick, near-impenetrable metal carapace, are many arrows. Three stick out from my helmet, a few point from my chest, while most line, riddled like darts, along my white-caped back. I've earned them all, in both from the ones fired at me in life, and the ones undeath has brought me, courtesy of the occasional foolhardy bandit or adventurer. My sword, which I believe was an incredible work of craftsmanship back when I was alive, points blade-first to the ground, in between my sprawled legs, while its pommel-up side, complete with a curved crossguard, rests idly on my shoulder. Due to being made of the same, tough material as my armor, its blade has never dulled in the years I have used it, both alive or not. It is one of my last, recognizable possessions, and I cling to it with a special kind of fervor. I once remember a particular fool tried to steal it from me while I was in a position like this, thinking me dead, or too far gone in my hollowed state to know how to use it. He didn't live long enough to apologize. I continued my pursuit of sitting there, fruitlessly attempting to remember my past as I usually did, my only discernible reason for being. My head suddenly finds itself lifting as I sense something new coming from nearby, and I'm not disappointed by what I find. Just a few feet in front of me and my tree, was a bright, glowing, ovular shape of energy, an image of something coming from inside it, as if displayed like a window. The hollowed infantrymen didn't seem to notice it, and went on with their meaningless existences, rambling about through the fort's ruins like the empty shells they were, waiting for something to cross their paths to attack. After a few seconds, I noticed that it felt as if something was pulling me to it. It was a supernatural feeling, compelling me to approach the light like a moth to a flame. Finally heeding the alluring call at the realization that I now had a purpose, as simple as it was, I shake to life and stand up. My ancient joints creaked like snapping wooden branches, and my armor rattling as it once more was put to use. My ragged cape, its end long and intact, but heavily tattered, blew in the passing breeze as I gripped my sword between the fingers of my gauntleted hand. Then I approached the glow through the mist. Shambling forward, and pushing aside one of the smaller, pathetic hollows that strayed in front of me, my gait began to improve until my hunched figure was more alive. I approached the portal, and without a thought against it, I entered. The moment I did so, I left behind my dying world, and found a new one. As I enter, I find myself in a land of white. Endless white, as far as I can see. An entire void of white nothingness. An invisible whisper begins to rake through my mind, not mere moments after setting off into this bleak environment, repeating three words, in a voice that resembles nothing I've ever heard of before. Equestria... Harmony... Purpose. The whispers soon cease, but onward I travel through this void of white, the grating sound of my sword dragging on the ground behind me, never dulling. Whether I had been traveling through it for a few minutes or an eternity, I did not know nor care, for now I had a purpose. An uncomplicated purpose, but a purpose nonetheless. Forward. And so I went forward, walking, shuffling, and ambling, until I noticed something new finally take place. My surroundings had changed. What was once blank desolation, was now the entrance to a cave. Outside the entrance, I see a gully of stone leading to a sunlit forest, a blue, cloud-filled sky overhead. Detecting faint traces of light out of the corner of one of my helmet's visors, the one without two separate arrows sticking out of it, I turn my hunched, cloaked body to the source, and spied a glowing tree. Even with my condition, I see that it is no ordinary tree. Its hide appears crystalline, and it bears nearly a dozen branches, each one helping to form the round pattern of what appears to be a star. At the end of five of these branches, embedded in the crystal, lie gems of various shapes and colors, their individual tints leading to a star-shaped gem, fittingly encrusted in the center. It looked fairly harmonious, but after a few seconds of staring, I lose interest in the object, and turn back around, starting for the cave's exit. As I finished traversing the ravine, I found myself in the middle of a luscious forest, unlike where I previously rested before coming to this land. Where I once laid my body was a captured woodland, plagued by ruins from times before, but here there were only trees, bushes, and the grass below my armored feet. It was indeed a forest, everfree of turmoil and civilization. Everfree of conflict and depression. Everfree of cursed hollows, and unnatural aberrations. Everfree. I continue onward, leaves and twigs snapping below as I step on them. Eventually, I come to a small clearing. The clearing had only a single tree, small and skinny in build with a leaf-covered top, growing from the center, while the rest of the forest circled around it. As if drawn to a beacon, I trudge up to it. Upon reaching it, I ran my free hand across its light brown bark. Even with the armor enveloping my appendage, I can detect its age is great, yet it has not seen, or been in conflict of any sort. I turned my body around and sat it down on the dirt and grass in between and against the plant's roots, sprawling my legs out, and easing the grip on my sword. I lower my head, and let easy, but unneeded whisper-like breaths exit my mouth. And there I rested.
World of StrangersA warm smell fills my nose, and I shudder into consciousness, albeit slowly. I look up, and the first thing I spy is the trees overhead, swaying to and fro as a strong gust of lively summer wind flies by their treetops, before slowly descending into a calm zephyr. Whatever small shred of sanity I had in my mind that still held admiration for anything was probably being affected greatly, now that this land had befallen my sight. The world I was in previously was reduced to nothing more than rotten, staled scraps being fought over to the last morsel by greedy children and pernicious cretins. This world on the other hand was new, for lack of a better term. It was brimming with freshness only life could provide. Even the birds with their songs, infinite in chorus and rhyme, sounded happy and content in the trees they sat in. Remembering why I awoke, I examined my surroundings with a lazy, but caring eye, before spotting the only object that could have performed such a feat. Beside me lied a white bowl with red flower symbols painted on its glass, its inside filled with a yellow, soupy broth. A small vapor rises from it, indicating that it was placed recently. I shake my head a single time, and lower it once more. Ever since I was beset upon by this hollowed state, food became meaningless. What was once one of many much-loved pleasures in life became naught but ash in my mouth. Tasteless. Insipid. Pointless. If whoever had put this before me did so out of the kindness of their heart, they were foolish or fallacious. Shifting my arm's position only slightly into a more comfortable state, I slouched over and reentered darkness. "So, what do you think it is, Fluttershy?" Pinkie Pie asked her friend, as the two ponies walked through the forest. The yellow-furred pegasus to whom Pinkie was speaking to was wearing a small pouch over her body, containing something the pink mare suspected was nothing of too much interest. Fluttershy shrugged. "I don't know. It looked like it was dressed in what knights used to wear in the old days, but it's not a pony. It's so... strange." "Hmm... suspicious!" the pink mare agreed, placing a hoof to her chin. "How strange are talking here? Could it be that varghulf thing everypony in town is talking about?" "It can't be. Varghulfs look like giant bat monsters from what I've heard, and this thing's shape isn't like anything I've seen before," she replied in her soft voice. "It's not a dragon, it's not a diamond dog, and it's certainly not a chimera, but it is gigantic. Almost the size of Harry!" "Your bear? Whoa!" Pinkie exclaimed. "Are you sure it's okay that the others aren't with us?" "It didn't seem to notice me, even when I came back and placed a bowl of fresh soup in front of it. I think we'll be fine," Fluttershy said back in an atypically confident voice, as she pushed back the thin branch of an oncoming sapling. "But what about that bat monster? What if it sees us?" "I still think that Silver Spoon was fibbing about what she saw in the woods a few days ago, but we shouldn't worry about that thing either," the pegasus spoke back, pulling something with a strong, musty stench out of her pouch pocket. "I brought a clove of garlic with us, just in case. Twilight told me varghulfs can't stand garlic." Pinkie wafted the stench of the vegetable away from her nose with a hoof as the two continued on, passing by bushes, brush, and a great many trees, both big and small, before coming to a small clearing. Walking only a few feet into the flat glade, Pinkie spotted a large, alien figure residing near the only tree in the area. It sat by the tree, its helmeted head lowered, completely motionless, save for the white, ragged cape it wore over its plate armor and chain mail-covered body, which flowed freely in the wind. One arm rested on an upright knee, while the other drooped on top of its other, crossed leg which lied fully on the ground. Not one piece of flesh was exposed on it for either of them to see. As Pinkie Pie got a better look at it, Fluttershy trotted forward, and looked at the now-cold bowl she previously left for it. "Huh. It hasn't touched the soup," she said in a tone of unexpectance. "No creature can resist the smell of my soup. If it's not eating, then... I hope the poor thing's alright..." "Are you sure it's even alive, Flutters?" Pinkie inquired, walking closer and noticing the multiple arrows sticking out of its body. She was answered by a strained, ghostly sigh that came from the knight, startling Pinkie enough to cause her to jump back with a yelp. "Yep... it's alive..." she chuckled, nervously. Fluttershy rolled her eyes with an amused expression as she set about to work. As she did so, Pinkie's expression changed back to curiosity, and she began to examine the knight once more, stepping fairly close to it in the process. "Hello? Can you hear me, Mister Knight-thing?" the earth pony suddenly asked again, but this time to the armored figure, garnering only silence for a response. "Hello? Helloooo? HELLOOO-" "Pinkamena Diane Pie!" Fluttershy shouted in a small whisper, tugging Pinkie back by her mane with a hoof. "Don't try to wake him! He could be very ill. If you wake him, he might start to move, and that's the last thing I want from such a poor creature." "Oops. Sorry, Fluttershy..." she apologized. For the next several minutes, Pinkie Pie continued to silently observe the being as Fluttershy went on preparing another meal for the creature, taking each ingredient out of her satchel. After noticing something, with a surprised gleam in her eyes, Pinkie spoke up. "Hey... it has a sword," she pointed out. "Hmm... he could hurt himself with that thing! I'd better take it..." I feel myself awakening as I sense a disturbance. I quickly lift my head and spy a pink shape, one of its finger-less forelimbs stretched out and attempting to grasp at the hilt of my sword over my shoulder. Responding in kind, I raised my left hand off of my thigh and grabbed the being by its arm in a quick but solid, powerful grip. The creature lets out a cry of fear as my fingers clenched tighter around its foreleg. Seeing now it was just a harmless being, not unlike a deer or some other creature unworthy of my attention, I decide to let go, and my hand slowly opens back up before falling limp by my side once more. The creature, bearing a very human, feminine expression, clearly looks shocked as she retracts her hoof, while another, yellow figure enters my field of view, running up to the pink one with a look of concern on its face. Getting a better look now, I see that both appear very... what's the word... ah yes, equine in shape, though their sizes are small. I see them now, apparently speaking to one another in a language I find rather familiar, though I cannot properly discern. Their voices are indeed female, and as far as I can remember what the sound was like, very human. They continue with their claptrap, stopping only to sneak the occasional glance in my direction. Seeing how both were of no threat, but neither of any true importance, I began to slacken my demeanor, though I stayed awake and on guard, in the event the two decided to pull something on me. The knight went back into its relaxed position, appearing to nod off once more as its head lowered. Pinkie Pie looked to Fluttershy and chuckled, nervously. "I... guess I shouldn't have tried to touch its sword," she spoke. "Are you okay, Pinkie?" Fluttershy inquired again. The pink mare flashed her friend a shaken smile. "Yeah, I'm fine, but that thing's hand felt so... cold. Brrr!" she replied, hugging herself and shivering for emphasis. "That metal's super frigid. Like ice!" "At least he didn't hurt you," the pegasus said in relief. "You shouldn't go touching other people's stuff, you know." "I know, I know... I just though he was too weak to use it. Boy, was I wrong, hehe..." Pinkie laughed slightly, feeling her hoof again and remembering the amount of strength the creature used when it held it. "Hey, do you think we should go tell the others about him?" "Sure," she agreed. "Maybe Twilight will know what he is, and where he's from." After speaking, Fluttershy picked up a small blue bowl filled with minced cucumbers, chopped-up carrots, fresh lettuce, and other leafy greens with her mouth, and placed it in front of the creature. Looking at him directly, she kneeled down slightly, and gave a warm smile. "I'll be back tomorrow with something else, okay?" she said in a friendly voice, unknowing if the knight heard her or not, as she pushed the bowl closer to him over the grass. "If you don't like salad... well, I guess I can bring something else over." With a nod, Fluttershy stood back up, and walked over to Pinkie Pie. They both gave a sure look to one another before walking off, back in the direction from whence they came. The lack of voices speaking in front of me told me they were gone. Once more I lifted my head and looked around, but saw nothing, save for my surroundings. Looking down, I saw that one of the two creatures had left behind another bowl, only instead of a brothy substance, it was now filled with leaves and vegetables, I presume. Another needless and futile attempt to appease to me. Had I cared at all about the situation, I may have even shaken my head in disgruntled dissatisfaction, but instead I let it fall, ready to resume my slumber... until something caught my eye. A small, brown shape, not even a fourth the size of the the two equines previously, came bounding up to where the bowl of food, tree, and I laid. It looked like a small, furred creature with long ears on the back of its head. It wasn't a prowling, half-starved kobold, no... it was smaller, and a great deal less pathetic and wretched in appearance. Wait, I know what this creature is... it's a... rabbit. Yes. An ordinary coney. The rabbit hopped up to the bowl and sniffed its contents as I watched. It looked around, cautiously making sure that no predatory creatures were there to interrupt this feast. When it saw me, its roving, black eyes stopped for a brief moment and its ear twitched in apparent bemusement of my form, then went back to scanning around before coming to a conclusion that there was nothing to worry about. It looked back to the bowl, and hastily began to eat, each foodstuff messily crunching between the coney's incisors. While the harmless thing ate, I could feel myself as I slowly fell unconscious once more, until all my senses could feel was uncolored nothingness...
Heavy RainBy the time night fell upon the land, a heavy rain had encroached onto Ponyville. The black clouds from above blotted out the moon and stars like an extinguisher to a candle, leaving extremely wet darkness in its wake. The only light to appear in town were the multiple lampposts lining the edges of the streets, their individual, yellow glows faintly illuminating their surroundings. Through the thick drizzle, a non-pony, upright, and very obtuse shape passed along the empty street, alone. The rain pattered off of its wide, round, tan-brown armor and equally wide and round helmet, the shape of which could only be described as looking like an onion. Held onto with one hand and hoisted over its shoulder was the blade of an enormous zweihander sword, while gripped in the other hand was a small, round, outwardly-indented shield with a large, metal protrusion poking out from its center, made as much for piercing the enemy as it was for defensive purposes. The figure continued on by its lone self, the sound of stone and gravel below its armored boots being pushed downward or aside, jiggled loose by the water from the falling rain and moved by the sheer weight it currently felt. It wasn't long before the being came upon the impossible-to-miss shape of Twilight Sparkle's castle. The magnificent structure sprang up from the ground, and the creature couldn't help but whistle in an impressed manner at its size. Without another thought the figure walked up to the large, golden entrance, reached out a gauntleted hand, and knocked on the door. When no reply came, it sighed in a tired, male voice, and knocked again. When this failed as well, he tried to pull on the handle of the door, then tried pushing, but it would not budge. He quickly gave up and started to walk a few dozen feet off in the direction he just came from. "Ho-hum... what is one to do?" he spoke in a tired voice, the sound partially muffled from behind its helm, after coming to a stop. Lifting his gigantic greatsword up, the creature turned it about and planted its tip into the ground, before strapping his shield behind his back, next to the long sheath for his sword. After folding his arms, the vaguely knightly figure's shape slackened, and a loud snoring noise began to erupt from him mere moments after, falling asleep in the middle of the downpour while still standing up. "This is... the only word I can find for this is strange," Twilight Sparkle spoke, as she looked at the drawing she was given. It was a hastily scribbled, one-dimensional shape of an armored figure with noodly limbs, a smiley face in front of its helmet, a party hat on its head, and the words "swish-swish" written next to a sword held in its hand. Twilight and her friends were currently inside the throne room of her castle, and for the last three hours they had been discussing what the creature Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy witnessed could be. The sudden rainstorm going on outside had arrived before any of them could follow Fluttershy into the woods, and they all decided against doing such a thing until the weather lightened up. "Remember Twilight. My drawing skills may portray the thing as looking a teensy-weensy bit... off," Pinkie Pie spoke with a small laugh. "The thing was wearing a great helm of some sort on top of its armored body, but not one suitable for ponies to wear," Fluttershy went on, pointing to the top of the drawing. "A great helm not made for ponies? Hmm..." Twilight said as she rubbed her chin. "I remember from my time in the human world that humans were shaped just like this, and while I was in the library at one time, I saw a picture of several human knights in one of the history books. The one closest to looking like this was a member of an ancient organization called the "Teutonic Order," but it's just... off. The clothing is different, the size is a tiny bit larger than what I've seen, and the mannerisms are most queer and unnatural... I'm sorry, but I just don't know what to think." "Maybe it came in from another universe?" Pinkie asked again. "Wait... what if it came from a universe full of undead creatures and evil monsters that want to eat you and take your soul, but instead you have to beat them and take their souls instead! That sounds like an awful place to live in..." "As "plausible" as that sounds Miss Pie, I'm going to have to disagree," Rarity spoke. "I bet it's a creature from the Plaguelands," Rainbow Dash wagered. "In Daring Do and the Claw of the Orium Dragon, Daring Do remembered encountering giant, living statues of that size and shape down there." "I hope we can find this out soon," Fluttershy said in a weary tone. "I think I'll go home and go to sleep now, if that's alright with you girls. I'm tired." The pegasus hopped out of her throne and started for the door, before quietly slipping out of it. Her friends each looked at each other with equally worn-out expressions. "Well... it is late..." Spike agreed from where he sat on his smaller throne next to Twilight, before rubbing his eyes. "I think Fluttershy is right," the alicorn princess said, as she patted her assistant on the head. "Let's talk for a few more minutes and then get some rest. I'm sure all of our heads will be clear in the morning." It wasn't long after Fluttershy left that the rest of her friends decided to join in on her example, and left Twilight's castle for their own houses. The only shape to carry an umbrella through the downpour as the four ponies exited the crystalline keep was Rarity, who held the dark blue object up in a magical grip just above her head. "It's just so weird," Rainbow Dash spoke as she took to the air, and flew a few feet above the ground next to her friends. "It's foreboding..." Rarity agreed. "How peculiar that Fluttershy discovers a creature like that, right after Silver Spoon claimed to see a giant monster running around in the outskirts of the forest." "I know, right?" Pinkie chuckled. "But since this clearly isn't a giant bat-creature, did the pony that saw the monster mistake it for something else? Or... was what she saw an actual giant bat-creature, and we have two creatures on the loose?" "Even if we have a couple of monsters running loose, I could more than easily take on either of them by myse-" Rainbow Dash found herself interrupted from her cocksure boast when the four suddenly came upon a tall, round, wide silhouette in the rain, standing before them in the middle of the road like a wall. Before Rainbow could do anything else but stare at the armored mass, it let loose a loud, rumbling snore. "What in tarnation...?" Applejack inquired in surprise, her eyes squinting to get a better look. "MUTANT ONION!" Pinkie screamed, pointing out the vague shape of its pointed head before diving behind Rainbow Dash. "Now, now... just hold your horses there sugarcube," Applejack spoke, raising a hoof to silence the hyperactive pink mare. Once this was completed, she gave another questing look to the creature, and slowly walked up to it. "Just what the hay is this thing?" "It looks sort of... like a knight. And it's fashion, while unique, is certainly odd," Rarity spoke as she examined the material the shape was wreathed in, as it rocked back and forth on its legs, still dead asleep as indicated by the boisterous snoring that its continued to make. "Um, Pinkie... is this what you and Fluttershy were talking about?" "No. The one we saw had different armor, and he was waaaay bigger! Plus he didn't have a shield thing, and his sword was a little smaller," Pinkie responded, as she leapt in front of the being with a much less fearful expression. "Hello?" she asked, poking the protruding belly armor with a hoof before her friends could stop her. "Can you talk, onion-knight-guy? We have questions! Lots of 'em!" "Mhmmm... mhmmm?" the figure yawned, shuddering to life as his head lifted and arms unfolded. "Oh-hoh! Forgive me, I was absorbed in thought." The visored helmet looked around, and reeled back slightly when he finally spotted the four ponies standing before him through the thick rain. "Hm?" he said again, wondering out loud. "I've not seen miniature horses speak before. And I could swear on my honor as a knight that I heard a voice as well. Hmm..." "Um... we did speak," Rainbow Dash said. The creature took a step back in unexpected surprise before regaining his composure. "So the land I came upon is full of talking horses, hm? Well, I must admit I've seen stranger. At least you're not some new form of terror that has come to try and kill me." His head suddenly tilted questioningly to the side, as his hand wrapped tightly around his sword in a cautious display. "You are not here to perform such an act... correct?" "Why would we?" Applejack asked. "We're a peaceful kind of ponyfolk that like to treat others with politeness," Rarity continued. "Not barbarity." "Well then, jolly good!" the knight said again, loosening his grip on the weapon. "I am Siegmeyer of Catarina. To be quite honest to a few pleasant creatures like you, I've come into quite a pickle." "What kind of pickles are we talking here?" Pinkie Pie spoke up. "Pickled cucumbers, pickled beats, pickled... onions?" "Hrm... I last remember thinking of my daughter, then I remember waking up in a shallow grave below several feet of dirt, under the ground of a place known as Ash Lake. After unburying myself, I noticed a bright, white light coming from above me, and a most perplexing voice. When it finished speaking, I was there one moment..." He snapped his fingers for emphasis. "...and with a bright flash, now I'm here! Quite the unfortunate series of events, you see..." "Wowzers," Pinkie began again, turning to her friends. "Should we go back and tell Twilight about him?" "Nah," Applejack replied. "It's almost midnight, and I'd be willing to bet my hat and then some that Twilight's in bed already. We should try tomorrow morning." "Yeah..." Rainbow Dash agreed with a giant yawn. "I'm beat." "I do not wish to be a burden, but do one of you have someplace I could bed down for the night? Or, at the very least, until this cursed rain dies down?" Siegmeyer inquired. "I have a barn," Applejack suggested. "You can rest there for the night I reckon." "Ah! You have my gratitude, horse," the knight thanked with a bow of his head, as he pulled his zweihander from the ground, and hefted it once more over his shoulder. "We're ponies, Mister Siegmeyer. And call me Applejack," the earth pony corrected, as she took her hat off and quickly wringed the water out of it. "Very well, Applejack. Lead the way!" "Well then, I guess this means goodnight girls. See ya all later," Applejack spoke again as she and the outlandish character began to head in the direction of Sweet Apple Acres. "See you all in the morning!" Pinkie waved goodnight with a hoof, as she started in the direction of Sugarcube Corner. Waving back and shouting their own good-byes, Rainbow Dash and Rarity went their own separate ways, determined to get out of the storm as soon as possible.
More Arrivals"I'm tellin' ye, we're not in Drangleic anymore," Benhart spoke to the masked swordswoman next to him. "The tree's are greener, I dorn't see any undead, and there's not a monster to be seen." "I still think this is an illusion of some sort, or at least something to do with teleportation," Lucatiel replied, as a soggy leaf was crushed under her boot. "We were both having a drink in Majula, we both fell asleep in our chairs, and we both woke up in the middle of... here." "If that is the case, 'en I'm willing to bet that damn hag cursed us or somethin'. She always gave me the willies," he went on, muttering about a merchant the two knew as he shifted his enormous, teal-bladed bluemoon greatsword onto a more comfortable position on his shoulder. The two warriors, long since having become stalwart allies with one another from past adventures, had been arguing like this since they both awoke that morning, underneath a large tree of some sort. Without so much as a word against it, the pair had ventured into the forest that befell them, but to their astonishment, spied no beings that wished to do them harm. "What's that o'er yonder?" Benhart suddenly spoke, pointing to a nearby clearing with a single tree as something shiny and unlike their green surroundings catching his eye. They both approached it, and saw it was just a Heide knight sitting by the tree's trunk. Lucatiel let out a mildly small snigger escape her lips from behind her steel mask. "I told you we were still in Drangleic," she said, bumping him on the shoulder. Benhart rolled his eyes and scratched his gray beard in reply while he decided to investigate the knight. "Strange things, these Heide knights," he said, as he kneeled over on the damp grass to inspect the slightly larger being a little closer, using his large sword as a crutch. "They've been 'round longer 'en most undead, but they're not full hollows. If they were, he'd be attackin' us on sight. Can't imagine what the poor, lost sod's thinkin' 'bout. If I were a bettin' man, I'd say he's trying to remember who he once was." "I'll never understand this undead curse," Lucatiel sighed, as she ran a gloved hand underneath her mask, where a scar-like patch of green flesh rested on one side of her face, forever reminding her of her own problem. As Benhart stood back up, they both turned their heads to the sound of footsteps "Do ye hear that?" he asked, turning to his companion. "Sound's like trouble," the warrior of Mirrah replied. "Let's hide this out and see who they are." Quickly running back from where the knight sat, the two jumped behind a pair of bushes and shrubbery. They both carefully peeked through the foliage, and saw a yellow shape emerge from the cluster of trees in the background. Benhart made sure that his glistening blade was behind enough of the bushes to not be seen. "Heavens above!" he mumbled. "Just what in Jugo is 'at?" "Have you never seen a horse before?" Lucatiel inquired back, gaining a grumpy, but amused look from him. "Though I must admit, I've not seen one of that shape ore size before. This one even has wings, like the pegasi I've heard about in old stories. I thought they would be taller." "I know what a horse is," he chuckled. "But that... that in't a horse." "I think it's... saying something..." she spoke again, watching as the creature placed down what appeared to be a bowl of some sort, and open its mouth to the Heide knight. "And is it me, or it attempting to-" "GOTCHA!" a loud voice shouted from behind them, interrupting Lucatiel. "Gah!" Benhart bellowed in surprise, turning about and swinging his greatsword in startled reaction. The massive blade cleaved through bushes, branches, and the truck of a tree in a single thrust, narrowly missing a bright blue shape with a rainbow trail following it. The figure flew high in the air as the cut-down tree began to fall and make a thundering noise as it crashed, before looking down at the pair. It looked like the creature they were just looking at, only a different color. "Hey, wow! Wow! Watch it! It was only a prank!" the blue pegasus spoke, putting her hooves out in a sincere manner. Benhart only looked as if he was about to swing again when Lucatiel took notice of his action. "Benhart! Stay your blade!" she spoke, putting her hand out to calm him whilst drawing a conclusion before he could perform another attack. "Easy for ye to say!" the aged warrior replied, pointing to the creature while he looked back to her, his expression showing that he was still recovering from the scare. "Whatever the heck that thing is nearly cause my 'eart to skip a beat!" "I... I didn't know you didn't like being scared," the pegasus spoke. "Sorry about that." "Who are ye?" Benhart inquired, as his muscles eased, and let the tip of his sword slowly drop to the ground. "And what do ye want?" "I'm Rainbow Dash, and I'm a pony," she replied. "I just wanted to start some fun. Who are you?" "Benhart... of Jugo," Benhart nodded, hefting his weapon over his shoulder again, and using his other, free gloved hand to move his helmet slightly. "Lucatiel of Mirrah," Lucatiel spoke, tipping the long, front brim of her hat in respect, whilst keeping one hand at the sheath of her Mirrah sword just in case. Rainbow Dash let out a laugh. "Ten bits says that neither of you are from Equestria," she wagered, before flying slightly past the bushes they were previously hiding behind. "Bits?" Benhart mumbled to his companion. She only responded by raising a finger to her lips to shush him. "...You're just like that "Catarina" guy we met yesterday," Dash went on. "If you follow me, maybe we can get some answers for why you're here." She started to fly away, toward the yellow creature by the Heide knight that both now knew was a "pony," who had sensed the commotion, and was looking their way. "Benhart..." Lucatiel whispered, before the two began walking forward. "I... don't think we're in Drangleic anymore..."
