Author's Note

Edit: Now has some art!
So here we are again.

The group was captured and taken to the Alonne Knight Stronghold, but where is Babs? What will become of our heroes? Why did the chicken cross the road?

Actually I can answer the last one, he was trying to reach the "flock".

So, hope you all enjoy this next chapter and remember to read rate love and tolerate!

The Talk

As Loreane stood before Sir Alonne's armor and weapon unmistakable from any other, she could feel the danger around him. He had a certain might in him, a strength she could sense behind his masked helm. It was like looking into an apex predator and knowing you were the inferior prey. It was truly humbling for her to be in his presence. She looked down at her two unconscious friends then back to Sir Alonne.

“Fear not, for your friends will awaken soon,” He said waving his hand to his knights, making them leave.

The Fire keeper relaxed and knelt down to bow to the mighty knight.

“Sir Alonne, I am Loreane Fire Keeper of Lothric Firelink Shrine. Tis an honor to meet thee in person,” Loreane humble greeted him, before rising. “My friends and I were on our way north to the Crystal Empire when we were ambushed by your knights and…. Jackalope?”

Alonne nodded silently walking over to Loreane and offered her a hand. She stared at the hand for a second before taking it with her own. She then felt herself being lifted up by the powerful and tall man.

“I apologize for that. We can’t be too careful these days. Normally we would dart ponies or anything that comes too close and let them loose on the other side of the pass, or if they dangerous enough… dispose of them,” Sir Alonne said darkly.

Loreane gasped, clasping her hands over her mouth. He thoughts fell onto the now missing Babs wondering if maybe she had fought the knights and perished. Seemingly sensing her fears Sir Alonne turned to face the Fire Keeper.

“Fear not. Your little bronze friend is safe in the next room.”

Sir Alonne walked her over and opened a sliding door and stepped aside pointing with his hand. Loreane peeked inside to see Babs asleep in a white robe in a large tatami mat, clearly meant for someone of Sir Alonne's size, and way too big for the tiny silly. Babs was peacefully sleeping when she snorted and one of her tiny legs started kicking under the mat. Loreane snorted in laughter at the filly closing the door behind her.

“Thank you for not hurting her. She’s my student in training,” Lorenae explained sitting before Sir Alonne at his table.

The leader of the Alonne Knights nodded. “I see. How does her training go?” He asked.

“Well enough. I’m teaching her to fight as a Carim Knight would. She is fierce but brash and, well not very smart in a fight,” Loreane said, Alonne leaned forward resting his hands on his desk and listened.

Loreane then continued after looking at the side room once more.

“Babs is a brave soul, but she lacks discipline. She is brash and very foolish in her combat style. She leaves herself open to attack too often not thinking of how her armor and weapon work together. Between that and us trying to get to the Crystal Empire… things are tough.”

Sir Alonne said nothing. He stared at her, seemingly, and just waited. Finally he spoke after a brief silence.

“You wish to get to the Empire because of Lady Diana I assume?”

Loreane perked up.

“Yes! How did you know?” She asked.

Sir Alonne chuckled. “I have agents everywhere, just like she does. In fact meeting you was no accident. I’ve been watching you and your friends for sometime now. I think we can help each other out.”

“How? Whatever I can do I’d be glad to help the brave honorable Alonne Knights.” Lorene offered.

“A kind gesture. Very well, as you may have noticed coming back there were large spiders all over the place through our pass?” Sir Alonne asked.

Loreane nodded.

“I can tell you of a way to get to the Empire you speak of quickly and it would take less than two days,” He offered.

“That’s great! What do you want us to do for you though?” Loreane asked feeling happy at the news.

Sir Alonne's tone suddenly turned darker as he stood up and turned to face the window. He held his arms behind his back.

“If you go through, there’s a evil witch who dwells there controlling the spiders. If you traverse there I want you to kill her and end the spider menace. My knights and I have tried but ultimately failed in the end. We fatally wounded the witch, but she was too strong for us in the end,” Sir Alonne admitted, shame filled his voice as he spoke.

It was clear to Loreane that this failure to defeat his enemy and safeguard his people weighed heavily in his heart. Loreane knew the Alonne Knights were prideful by nature and their teachings. Such failure usually got a leader removed from his or her position. It was clear that Sir Alonne viewed his failure greatly and held it in his heart like a cancer that would never let go. She pitied him. She thought about Silver Spoon, Trixie, and Babs, and how she wanted to give them each the best chance they had against their changing world.

Sir Alonne turned to face Loreane again. She looked up seeing the sun reflecting off his armor as he spoke. “I and a few of my knights will go with you. You’ll need us to navigate through there. Help us kill the witch and we’ll help you get to the Empire and assist you however we can.”

“Why would we need a guide though?” Loreane asked.

Sir Alonne sighed sitting cross legged taking his sword in his hand, Sir Alonne recounted his tale as he inspected his sword.

“Equestria was a world of relative peace and kindness. Deep under this light and playful world is the dark layers of the world's before,” He said unsheathing part of his blade. “My swords has slain countless foes and beasts alike. I’ve defeated dragons, kings, empires and kingdoms for my people. All for their protection.”

“Do you know where you are?” He asked offering his sword to Lorenae.

Loreane shook her head taking the massive blade. She could barely hold it in her hands as she looked into the exposed part of the blade.

“High above us is a Firelink Shrine of the second age. Below us far in the chasm is Blighttown, and even deeper than that is the Demon Ruins. The witch lived just beneath Blighttown and guards the path to the Crystal Empire. To get there you’ll need to get past her. To do that you must eliminate her.”

Loreane looked down at the blade seeing the reflection of herself in it. Sheathing it she thought long and hard about what to do next, then she realized she should consult her friends first before making a decision. Giving the sword back to Sir Alonne Loreane said, “I must confide with my friends first. I won’t do anything that they don’t want to do especially if it’ll endanger their lives, Sir Alonne.”

The knight bowed to her slightly.

“It is wise for a leader to always make the best decision for her people. You are very wise for your age Fire Keeper,” He said kindly. “Very well, speak to them and stay the night. I’ll await your answer at first light.”

After a polite bow Loreane picked up Silver Spoon and Trixie and carried them over to the next room where Babs slept. Still snoring and snorting Loreane stifled another chuckle as she set Trixie and Silver Spoon under the mat beside Babs. She herself lay at Trixie’s side running a finger through the mare's mane. Trixie’s lips curled ever so slightly into a smile a the touch. The azure amre then scooted closer to Loreane like a blind moth to a flame and nestled against her soft bosom. The human smiled kissing Trixie’s forehead and shut her eyes allowing herself to rest until they all awoke.

A few hours later Loreane awoke when a tiny bronze hoof poked her cheek. She huffed rolling over on her other side when the hoof started poking her other cheek. Grunting Loreane got up and yawned, stretching her arms overhead.

Rubbing her eyes Loreane looked over to see Silver Spoon sitting next to her with a big smile on her cute adorable face.

“Hey Silver Spoon, how are you?” Loreane asked rubbing her tired eyes.

“Well enough. Babs and Trixie are busy down stairs trying to get our gear back, but some knight named Alonne won't give them back until we talked to you apparently?” Silver Spoon said in wonder.

Loreane rubbed the grey fillies mane affectionately, picking her up and cradling her in her robed arms.

“Come then little one. Let’s go talk to our friends.”

So the two walked through the fort and into a courtyard where, sure enough, Trixie and Babs Seed were practicing their skills against one another. Trixie was standing on her hind legs with a fireball in one hoof and a flaming whip in the other grinning at Babs. Babs was back in her armor tapping her hammer shaft on the ground with a steady rhythm. The chimes on her hammer jingled once with every tap she made with her hammer which sent a wave of chills down Loreane’s spine.

Several knights, staff, and Sir Alonne were standing by watching the two mares faceoff. Trixie didn’t move a muscle, she was perfectly calm and still. Babs however was beginning to lose her patience, evident by the rhythmic tapping increased pace shortly after.

As with her usual habit Babs lunged forward with all the speed she could muster, swinging her hammer overhead and down on Trixie. The unicorn easily dodged to the side and kicked the filly in the butt sending her face first into the ground, but not before Trixie wiped her rear with the flame whip making Babs yelp as she fell. Everyone bellowed in laughter at the fillies clumsy display.

Babs growled glaring past her rump at Trixie, who was smirking at her. Babs saw Silver Spoon giggling in Loreane’s arms. Blushing from her folly and embarrassment Babs quickly recovered and charged after Trixie. Babs swung her hammer down at Trixie, who again, sidestepped out of the way harmlessly. Trixie then jumped ready to land on the head ot the hammer, but unlike last time Babs was ready.

When Babs saw Trixie jump up Babs smirked at her. With all her might Babs lifted her battle chime hammer up and brought all its force up between Trixie’s legs. The alonne knights cringed as the bells of the Carim hammer chimed as the shaft made contact to Trixie crotch. Trixie let out a high pitched scream, and everyone watching from the knights, ponies, and Loreane cringed. Some looked away as if they could feel the pain themselves as Trixie was huddled overhead by Babs and landed on the ground behind her like a limp ragdoll.

Loreane ran over to Trixie who had her legs crossed and the from arms between them as she nursed her sore nethers in tears.

“Trixie! Are thou, okay?” Loreane asked setting Silver Spoon down and coddled the blue mare.

Trixie looked up weakly and tried to smile. “Hey, Trixie will be fine... Please get Trixie an ice pack….”

As Loreane assisted Trixie, Silver Spoon glared at Babs who had a smug grin on her face from her victory.

“That was mean of you,” Silver Spoon said coldly.

Babs waved it off with a whimsical wave of her hoof.

“Don’t worry about it. Trixie’s fine! She’s tough!”

“Not the point Babs,” Silver Spoon scolded her. “You could have seriously hurt her. Friends don’t do that to friends.”

*Sigh* “Fine. I’ll go say I’m sorry.”

Babs turned her chime hammer over and placed the head on the ground with a loud thunk. She walked over to Trixie and knelt down beside her, the blue mare glared at the filly making her smile sheepishly.

“Hey, um, sorry for the cheap shot…” Babs appologized awkwardly

“Trixie hates you.... So… much now…” Trixie groaned.

Babs chuckled when Loreane came back with a bag of ice. Trixie used her magic to apply it to her sore crotch. A sigh of relief overcame her as Loreane pet Trixie mane and ruffled Babs.

“I’m glad you’re alright, Trixie,” Loreane said helping her up.

“I really am sorry, Trixie.” Babs said.

Trixie smiled and put the filly in a playful headlock and ruffled her mane. Babs giggled fighting back and struggling to get away from Trixie only to find herself being tickled by Silver Spoon on her belly.

After the playful banter was over Loreane sat beside the group and decided to talk to them about what Sir Alonne offered to her. After explaining the situation and what happened the group seemed torn between trusting them and going the planned route they had in mind beforehand.

“That’s sounds like a problem,” Trixie said.

“If we go through this… Blighttown, we’ll be able to get to the Crystal Empire quicker?” Silver Spoon asked. “Sounds like we’d waste more time fighting than actually getting there.”

“But it would take less than a day possibly if we go through Blighttown.” Babs added.

LOreane raised a hand to silence the foals.

“The problem with Blighttown is what lies within. Undead make their homes there. There are dark denizens that you have never seen before, and the journey will be perilous no doubt, But Sir Alonne said he’d offer assistance if we did this and helped him kill the leader of the spiders that plague them” Loreane said, letting everyone let the information sink in. “Alternatively, we could go the way we were going and take the safe route to get to the empire, but if we do that Sir Alonne won’t help us at the empire.”

So what do we do?” Trixie asked.

“First we need to resupply ourselves and prepare for the frozen tundra. Then we get something to eat and then decide,” Loreane said.

A series of stomach rumbles confirmed the food portion of the plan instantly. The group gathered up and went to a local restaurant and ate some of the local cuisine. After they ate the group took a while to wander around the small town to see it and give them time to discuss things. As they returned to the fort they approached Sir Alonne who was in the forts archery range with a massive longbow that was as tall as he was.

A single servant stood by with a towel and more arrows while he drew back one arrow with his massive bow. He took a deep breath through his helmet and released the arrow, which flew across the range with lighting speed striking the target over 100 yards away dead center. The group watched as he gave the bow to the servant pony who bowed politely and left. Sir Alonne then turned to face his guest and approached them, taking his arms behind his back.

“So, Fire Keeper have you and your companions come to an agreement for my proposition?” He asked.

What should the group do?

A. Go through Blighttown: Assist Sir Alonne and save a day or two and get his help possibly.

Or

B. Take the original route that might take longer but is safer, Sir Alonne won't help.