Author's Note

Hey there everyone! So I know alot of people love Dark Souls as a whole but on e of th ebiggest problems it has is its lore. Most of it is just speculation so much of this fic whilestaying as true to the lore as possible, WILL be changed to fit my story as needed. Now, for those of you who aren't familiar with the series her's a few terms for you to know so you don't get lost.

Yes, these are very watered down for the die hard fans out there so bare with me please!

Firekeeper: A person who tends to the fires that link the world together and assist heroes in their quest as guides.

Ashen One AKA Unkindled: the name of the undead who has the power of fire within and has the ability to rekindle the flame that gives light to the world.

Now for some last minute headcanon: Firekeepers have no eyes but can see through a magical sense to detect life through the natural flames or magic within living things. Thus though they have no eyes Firekeepers can "see" in a sense and have their other senses to go off of.

Betrayal and Arrival

The Unkindled walked over the kiln of the First Flame and looked upon the dank darkening skies above. Her armor clanked at her sides as she dropped her long spear to the side and reached upon the dying flames with her hand. The gauntlet hand was hesitant. For a long while the Ashen One stood, silently, and waited while pondering.

The smell of ash and burned wood lingered upon the air she breathed. Had she not been undead the ash and smoke would have clogged her lungs and blackened her heart with bile and dust. Truly any living thing not adapted for this land would perish swiftly.

Still pondering, the Ashen One withdrew her hand letting it fall limply to her side. The steel gauntlet she wore was a trophy she claimed in the early stages of her adventure clanked to her thigh plate. Now, as she stood there pondering, the Ashen One wondered just what was the point in all this? Was there no hope to create an everlasting flame so no more would have to give their lives needlessly?

What was the purpose of life?

For the Ashen One, it was to rekindle the dying flames, but was not the after she wanted.

Seeking aid the Ashen One turned to a bright sigil that lay upon the ashes. Written in the old words, the sigil was the calling sign of the Fire Keeper who resided within the Firelink Shrine. The Ashen One glanced over the bright sigil taking her gauntlet hand once more and stretched it out over the bright runes over ash and soil.

For she had an idea.

From the sigil and bright light illuminated the area close by with blinding light. The light cleanse the darkness for a brief time only to be engulfed once more by darkness. Above the sun faded and the light of the land slowly dwindled to towards nothingness once more. From the light came the Fire Keeper.

The blind woman slowly arose as she formed from ash and cinder. Her form taken and her medallion of the Firelink shrine dangled from her neck rested upon her bosom. Her robes of black and blue were covered in soot and ash. Her hands while well kept were filthy and covered in what was once dirt, now they like all else were covered in ash.

Though blind she could sense the presence of the Ashen One nearby and knew what was to be done. She promised the Ashen One, should she call upon her she would take the Ashen One’s place as the link to the flame and rekindle it with her unsoiled body.

Turning to the flame within the kiln the Fire Keeper mouthed softly to the Ashen One, “You have called for me. As promised I will take thy place as the kindle to the flame.”

Her pace was slow but dutiful and made no hesitation as she approached the flaming sword within a rocky bonfire. It was like most of the others but this one was different. For the coiled sword within was the oldest of all the flames within the world. The link to the first flame.

It humbled the Fire Keeper to take on such an important duty, and filled her with hope and a bit of excitement. Behind her followed closely by the Ashen One, the Fire Keeper tread purposefully to the flame. There she stood within and inch of the rocky spark guard and knelt beside the coiled flames. Feeling it’s warmth the Fire Keeper reached and took the flame within her grasp.

Like magics of old the flame sought her out but refused to burn her until she gave a sacred oath to the flame. She felt the warmth of the flame within her hands and held it close to her bosom allowing the flame to take her body and burn it to light the fire anew. The Ashen one watched silently as the Fire Keeper chanted slowly to the flame, while the Ashen One drew her spear and held it within her gauntlet covered hand. The Fire Keepers lips were dry and the air tasted as it smell with ash, dust and bone as she chanted onward, delivering the sacred oath.

Then as the words left her mouth ended, the flame moved like it was being tugged by some unforeseen force. Drawing itself to the Fire Keeper like flame to a trail of oil, the flame slowly reached from the keeper's hands and flowed into her bosom resting within her, igniting a burning sensation within her. There was no pain, but a sense of warmth and promise. For the Fire Keeper it was a most thrilling experience, she had purpose other than tending to the dying flame. It filled her with joy. For the first time since she was born she truly felt alive.

Reveling in this new intense feeling, the Fire Keeper was met with another sensation…

Pain.

From behind her the Ashen One drove her spear through the keepers back and pierced its long blade through her chest tearing the cloth of her robes open. The Fire keeper gasped crying out in pain as her body was pushed forward. Feeling like her back would give away at any moment the Fire Keeper struggled to look back at the Ashen one. The warmth and joy she felt from the flame died out leaving only unimaginable pain and misery. A hellish torture. She had been inches away from happiness only to have it taken from her by betrayal and cold hard steel.

“A-a-ashe-en One… why?” She gasped coughing up a slug of blood. “As-sh-shen One, does though… I do not… understand… why?”

The Fire Keeper barely managed to choke out the words through her sobs and the immense pain she was enduring. She coughed again, the blood from her chest flowed freely down her robes to stain the ash beneath her as she clutched her wound as the spear was ripped from her.

Feeling weak her body gave in and she fell upon the red stained ash. A resounding thud echoed across the barren wasteland as the Ashen One looked upon the fallen Fire Keeper, silently watching. From the ground the keeper reached for the Ashen One struggling to keep conscious as the blood pooled out beneath her.

“Ashen… One… please… help me…” She begged.

Through her sobs the Fire Keeper pleaded to the knight before her. Never expecting such a betrayal. To her surprise the Ashen One walked to her, and the Fire keeper felt hope that perhaps it was all truly a misunderstanding.

“Ashen One-”

Before she could weakly mutter out her next words a armored boot pressed against her head. Her face now digging into the ground. She struggled against the boot as she breathed in the ash burning at her lungs like a thousand needles stabbing at her chest.

Then as she felt the coldness and calmness of death, the Ashen one reached to her open wound and gently slid her armored fingers deep into her open wound. The blood ran down the dirty silver gauntlet until half the hand was within the keepers open wound. Then without warning the Ashen One’s hand drove itself out and with it the power she once held within her, the fire of the kiln.

Just as this happened the Fire keeper screamed out loud feeling unbridled pain that far surpassed her previous calamity. She struggled reaching for the gauntlet and held onto it with all her might trying to take back the flame from the Ashen One’s grasp, until an armored boot kicked her chest winding her, for she was still among the few living that retained her humanity.

She struggled reaching for her betrayer and deceiver who strode away with the flame in hand. Cradling the flame the Ashen One took the flame in her hand and smashed it within her steel grasp letting the cold forged steel snuff out the flame and with it the light of the current age.

“Ashen One… why?” The keeper asked, her voice sore choked by dust and her sobs. “Does thou truly intend to doom the world to darkness?”

Feeling betrayed and hateful to the one she helped the Fire keeper crawled to the snuffed out bonfire to see the Unkindled waiting for her. The armored figure looked down at her through her armored slit in her helmet and knelt beside the dying keeper.

“Ashen One?”

Gently reaching for her, the Ashen One lifted the Fire Keeper and placed her on the bonfire and let her rest there as the blood flowed over the smoldering ash.

From the silence the Ashen One took a small red orb and placed it within her hand. She then slipped her steel helmet off letting it fall to the ground, sinking into the ashen earth.

“Don’t worry Fire Keeper. It’ll all be over soon.” The Ashen One's words seemed so calm and forthcoming it put the Fire Keeper on edge. “Don’t struggle. It’ll hurt at first but I promise you when you return you’ll carry the fire to a new light, and thus bring an everlasting flame to the kiln.” The Ashen One proclaimed.

She rested her gauntlet hand over the Fire Keeper’s chest feeling her soft bosom and then took the symbol of the shrine from her.

“I’ll keep ahold of this until you return. Until then, rest in eternal flame Fire Keeper.”

With her words flown to the winds the Ashen One lit the red orb which erupted in flame. The blazing heat seared the gauntlet and burned the leather palm sending a burned flesh type smell up in the air. The Ashen One took the orb and placed it on the keeper's chest. The wound instantly seared shut as it burrowed into her chest like a worm to the earth.

Screaming and crying the Fire Keeper gripped her chest rolling in the bonfire as the burnt wood caught fire once more and slowly began to burn her alive. Thus the keeper of the flame learned the true pain that fire could have. She felt her clothes burn away exposing her body to the flames.

She rolled in it all covering her naked body with a layer of burned flesh, dust, ash, and charred wood fragments as the flames consumed her slowly, but surely. The Ashen One watched on as the Fire Keeper's screams died to nothing and eventually her body went limp in the rotted earth. For an hour the flames seared through flesh and bone until nothing remained of the Fire Keeper but a small warm pile of dust, that dust then blew into the wind and flowed with the currents over the land as the Ashen One lifted her helmet from the darkened earth.

Sliding her helmet on she turned to face the barren wastes now covered in complete darkness. Whispers of ancient evils speaking the old words echoed around her. Many would have trembled in fear, but the Ashen One was within her element, nothing frightened her since she was a child.

Drawing her spear she walked within the darkness unhindered by the ruined land about her. Darkness was where she was born and it was here she’d die eventually, but for now she would tend to the kiln.

Meanwhile far away the ashes of the Fire Keeper swept over the darkened lands never coming to rest upon the earth below. On and on the ashes flowed through the world as it changed and life began anew, and for six and a half thousand years the Fire keepers ashes flowed through the world until it became full of new fauna and flora.

The age of man had long since passed and gave rise to a new species that would populate the world. And for the next two and a half thousand the ashes of the Fire Keeper flowed until they came to rest on a bountiful land within a weeping willow. Once there the ashes flowed into a open hole in the bark and there sprouted a green plant pod that grew for the next twenty years. Then as the pod neared its end within the safe confines of the weeping willow something within stirred. Within the green pod a hand sprout out covered in a slick layer of plant residue.

Within its confines the Fire Keeper awoke feeling light headed. Her memory was hazy and she had no idea where she was. Try as she might she couldn’t breath. She struggled against her prison flailing her arms and legs against the soft squishy walls.

Finally after what seemed like an eternity to her her arms punctured the outer layer of the pod revealing the light from outside of the darkened pod. She struggled to free herself from the pods sticky grasp while gasping for breath.

Finally after a lengthy struggle the Fire keeper fell free from the pod onto the earth below. Still blind the poor naked woman struggled to get her bearings. Through her sight she would sense the life nearby and energy within the earth itself to help her travel around, but in this world teeming with life the keeper found it hard to distinguish what was alive from the nonliving elements around her.

Feeling disoriented and her mind still hazy, the Fire Keeper stumbled about like a child taking its first steps through the weeping willow trying to find an exit. She was surrounded by the hanging vines covered in thick green leaves. Her bare feet meshed against the soft green grass and slid on the sleek hard bark of the tree. All her existence all she knew was ash and stone to feel the abundance of life around her baffled the young woman.

“What a strange world, Ashen One, where hast thou sent me?” She asked looking about.
She then felt her face feeling the crown of the keeper she wore was missing and kept her eyelids shut.

“Perhaps I shall find suitable cover for thine eyes later. For now I must find out where I am.”

Continuing on the Fire keeper walked through a dense forest following a creek to her left. The sound of water was not foreign to her ears, but to hear it in such abundance drew her to it like a curious child.

“Water?”

She queried leaning over the running river she placed her hands in the cool water. The cool liquid ran through her fingers adding an element of freshness she did not expect. Feeling her mouth was dry she drew some water, cupping it in her flawless palms. She drew the water near her soft lips sipping it gently as thorough it would fall through her fingers should she move too fast.

“Such pure clean water,” She said, curling her mouth to a small smile. “Never in my life have I tasted such a clean source before. No dust, no ash, no cinders… What a strange land I’ve fallen in…” She then gasped.

Her minds slowly began to clear as images of her betrayal filled her heart with fear. She dropped the water and grabbed her shoulders with her hands. Her head shot back and forth trying hard to find and sense of the Ashen One nearby. Then she sensed it. Something was nearby.

Not land, plant, or hollowed, but a living creature.

She walked to the source of life like a moth to the flame seeking it out as a beacon through this strange world she did not recognize.

She heard a rustling from beyond the dark veil where her eyesight failed her her ears and other senses made up for it. The sound of hooves clopping caught her attention. Focused on the sound she stopped her advance leaning on a tree and began to listen intently. A faint creaking could be heard alongside the clopping of hooves.

This brought a smile to her face, “Perhaps thy fortunes have turned for the better.”

She closed in on the sound hearing the creaking of the wood and wheels as she approached. As she approached the sounds suddenly stopped and she dropped to the ground like a cat. Her palms lay flat against the earth in a small mud puddle as she lowered her chest into the mud in order to hide herself among the brush. She was scared unsure of how the people or things she found would react.

To her relief the sound of a feminine voice called out to her through the brush, “Who goes there! Show yourself!” It said with a confident tone.

Feeling a strange sensation from the voice the Fire Keeper slowly emerged from the brush and exposed herself to the one who spoke. To her surprise she found it was a small unicorn pulling a large wagon behind it. The little equine glared at the young woman its aura feeling hostile at her making the Fire Keeper stand cautiously and unmoving. Then to her surprise it spoke.

“Who are you? For that matter, what in Celestia’s name are you?” She asked feeling agitated.

The Fire keeper crept slowly through the brush feeling with her feet until she could make sense of her sight with all this life.

“I-I have no name. I am simply known as the Fire Keeper.” She replied to the unicorn with modesty. “I ask for thy assistance. For I am blind you see and have trouble traveling,” She paused to feel herself unclothed suddenly feeling very conscious about herself. “-and I have misplace thy garments some time ago and require new ones. Perhaps I could travel with you?”

Though her hopes lied with this little equine the Fire Keeper was wary of it and it’s hostile aura. She could sense great magical potential within this creature and decided it would behoove her to partner with it rather than fight it.

The unicorn considered it for a moment tapping her chin. After a few tense minutes she unhooked herself from her harness and walked over to the Fire Keeper. She could hear the sound of the hooves approaching her. Her senses barely making out the little equine as it draped something around her. Feeling a large piece of cloth the keeper realized it was a cloak of some kind.

She gave the unicorn a kind smile and a polite bow. “Thank you. What is thy name fair traveler?”

The unicorn stayed put not moving a muscle. It eyed the Fire Keeper with great interest. Never before had she seen such a creature. Now fur except for its mane of platinum blonde. It was slightly taller than her by two feet. It was truly a strange creature that perhaps she could make use of.

“Fear not traveler, for you are in the presence of the Great and Powerful Trixie! Traveling showmare and magician-”

As the unicorn continued to rant on the Fire Keeper hung onto her words. *Magician*. She looked upon the unicorn feeling like this equine was perhaps a godsend to her, but what this Trixie said to her next brought a chill throughout the woman’s body.

“-and Trixie must say you have lovely eyes!” The mare seemed to boast with a hint of envy behind her voice.

The Fire Keeper laughed placing her left hand over her lips as though Trixie told a funny joke. The unicorn simply stood dumbstruck by the woman’s laugh.

“Oh, miss Trixie, you are mistaken for I have no eyes.” The Fire Keeper replied.

Trixie just stared at her like the woman had just grown a second head. Unsure of what she meant Trixie endeavored to pry at the woman’s words as she guided her to her wagon and lead her inside.

“Trixie doesn’t understand. Why the hay are you laughing? You do have lovely eyes.”

The Fire Keeper starred in the direction of the unicorn. Unsure of what she meant the woman decided the unicorn must have been mistaken and went on to explain this to her as kindly as possible.

“I can assure thee that is not possible. Long ago I gave up my eyes to become the Fire Keeper and thus have no eyes from which to cast sight upon the land.” She said slowly to the unicorn, sitting down on a cold wooden chair. “Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it. Trixie's confused though, what is a Fire Keeper? Where are you from? Why are you out here in the Everfree Forest by yourself?”

The Fire Keeper sighed. Resting her head in her hands she thought back to the Ashen One and her subsequent betrayal at her hands. Feelings of frustration, sorrow, and even anger lingered their way into the woman’s heart as she thought about that fateful day.

“Tis a long story, miss Trixie.”

“Trixie has time. Would you like some tea?” The unicorn asked stepping away to the back of her wagon. “It’ll help pass the time. It’s almost night time anyways, so Trixie was going to stop soon.”

Tea, now there was a commodity the Fire Keeper hadn’t had the luxury of in some time. Feeling a slight sense of guilt she decided to accept the mares generosity. Heaven knows she’d need it until she was able to get around on her own without much effort.

“Tis would be nice. Thank you miss Trixie.” The woman said, bowing in Trixie’s direction.

Trixie chuckled lightly so much that the Fire Keeper was sure she just imagined it. She could hear Trixie struggling to get a fire started nearby. The sound of stone and flint rang in the Fire Keeper’s ears and she chuckled lightly at the frustrated moans from a disgruntled mare.

Finally after a good minute of fighting an endless battle to start a fire the Fire keeper decided it was time to offer her services to the mare. After all what good was a Fire Keeper if they could not tend, banish, or create a flame? Slowly the woman rose from her seat and inched with greater elegance than before, she swiftly made her way to Trixie who was fiddling with her cast iron stove.

The mare was shocked to see the Fire Keeper up and about.”What are you doing? Trixie will have this obnoxious fire started in a moment!” Again she struck the steel and flint creating sparks but no fire.

“Tee hee, perhaps I could be of service, miss Trixie?” The Fire Keeper offered as the mare bent down to put more kindle wood in the stove.

“Trixie doesn’t need help starting a fire.” She replied haughtily to the Fire Keeper. “Trixie is merely delayed because of the quality of the wood!”

The Fire Keeper shook her head, her kind smile never faltering, and gently she used her hand to guide Trixie to the side. She then reached into the stove and touched the wood. She took a small branch of it off and gave it a long sniff. It was some kind of dark oak. The smell of the wood was that of a freshly cut batch. Dried by still partially alive so it’d last longer. Strong bark and very thick.

“Miss Trixie, I can assure you there is nothing wrong with this piece of wood.” She said as she turned to face Trixie sensing the mare next to her and placed the wood back within the confines of its iron cage.

“Allow me.”

The woman put her hands over the wood and held them together. She focused on a simple fire spell with was a basic to all who dabble in pyromancy. A small jet of flame snaked out of the Fire Keeper’s hands and danced to the wood, and Trixie watched in awe, as the flames danced over the wood as though it was a living breathing being.

The fire grew in size and intensity as the flames began to dance about and the embers quickly fluttered about. The Fire Keeper took hold of one member and held it within her grasp.

A familiar sense filled her as she reminisced about the world she was from. She smelled the smoke and felt the warmth from the fire. A world of fire, smoke, and ash. How she missed these old smells. It only served to remind her of the Ashen One. Thus made her frown and dropped the ember which withered away to nothing in the air.

Trixie all the while watched in awe, completely intrigued by the show of even the simplest of pyromancies.

“Wow. How did you do that?” Trixie asked the woman.

“Tis but a simple spell from my homeland of Lothric. A simple pyromancy spell for even those who only dabble in the arcane arts.” She said to the unicorn recovering from her shock. “Would, thou like to learn it?” She asked hesitantly.

What should Trixie do?

A.Learn pyromancy

B.Don’t learn it fire is beneath Trixie!

C.Eat ice cream instead.