Shortly after their battle with the hydra Silver Spoon was helping Babs with her wounds, while Trixie and Loreane spoke with the human spider hybrid.

“Trixie thanks you for your invaluable assistance,” The unicorn said with a polite bow.

“I too agree with Trixie,” Loreane bowed too. “Had you not come when you did who knows what might have befallen us and our quest. Thank thee.”

The creature giggled, holding a hand daintily over her lips. Her dark toned skin shimmered like it had a layer of moisture all over with the exception of her spider half, which was lined with veins of fire and what appeared to be lava for blood where one of the legs was missing.

“Don’t worry. After the little one saved me from those terrible undead, I couldn’t help but feel indebted,” She made a gesture towards a massive scar on her thorax and her missing leg. “ I’m Queelara of the Demon Ruins. Who are you?”

Trixie was the first to respond. Trixie offered her hoof which Queelara stared at for a second before she recognized the gesture and shook the hoof in her dainty hands.

“I’m am Trixie Lulamoon. Magician, thelanthrpoist, and apprentice to Loreane, the Firekeeper,” Trixie said.

Queelara nodded taking her hand back and offered it to Loreane.

“I assume the Firekeeper is you?” Queelara asked.

“Thou assume correctly. I am the Firekeeper of the Lothric Firelink Shrine and tend to its flame.”

Loreane frowned looking at her gloved hand. Gripping it tightly as the memories of her betrayal came full force and fresh in her mind. Then an image of Diana and a kind cheerful smile, hiding behind it was nothing but malice and deceit, at least in Loreane’s mind.

She was brought out of her thoughts when Trixie nudge her side. Trixie had a concerned look on her face but a reassuring smile from Loreane put Trixie at ease. *Insert more*

Both looked to see a very excite look on Queelara. The hybrid was bouncing in a very Pinkie Pie-ish manner. Toothy grin, big smile, bouncing like she was on drugs and hyped up on sugar, and ready to burst at any moment.

Then she shrieked out loud in a cheerful tone, “Wow, another Firekeeper! I can’t believe it!! I thought my mother was the last one!! That crazy bitch from Lothric went all around the world killing them all and here i thought there was no more!! WOW!! You must be really strong orr smart to stay alive this long with that psycho out there!”

The words came out of her mouth so fast and loud that Silver Spoon and Babs nearly jumped out of their fur and readied to fight. Seeing nothing of concern around them they glared at Queelara who was blushing from her outburst.

“Heh, heh… sorry. I’ll be quiet now,” she whispered hiding behind her hair.

After everyone calmed down, and Babs walking a perimeter to make sure nothing bad was sneaking up from the swamp, the group found a nearby bonfire that wasn’t there before. It was very near where the hydra fell in battle, and the ponies were muttering quietly to themselves about it.

“Where did it come from?” Babs asked looking at it from afar.

Silver Spoon shrugged. “Maybe it magically appeared?” She suggested.

Babs shook her head. “Nah, that’s dumb.”

“What?! Well, you’re dumb!”Silver Spoon said back, clearly offended by Babs comment.

The bronze earth filly glared back at the grey counterpart and butted her head to hers. “Yea? Yo’us the dumb one!”

Silver pushed back grinding her teeth. “Yeah, well, I…, you, at least I’m not a muscle headed idiot who charges recklessly into battle.”

As the words sank in Babs narrowed her eyes and shoved Silver Spoon with her hooves. Silver Spoon pushed back nearly toppling Babs. Before they could go on Trixie used her magic to separate them from and put each of them on either side of herself. When both tried to go around her to get to the other a stern silent glare ended their quarrel before it escalated.

“That’s enough you two,” Trixie hissed.

Loreane and Queelara both wandered up to the bonfire, ignoring the fight nearby, and together lit the bonfire. The lighting of the bonfire was always quite a sight for Trixie, who was the only one paying attention, since Babs and Silver were trying hard to not look at each other. Trixie watched the fire erupted from the lifeless bonfire. Ash and sparks fluttered high above the fire that erupted in a flash form the coiled sword in the pile of ashes. The flames danced around the soiled sword for a few seconds, giving Trixie a sense of relaxation.

Once the fire was lit Loreane and Queelara both clasped their hands together and silently prayed. ONce their prayer was done the bonfire intensified in glow brightening the area up greatly. Once this was done the group settled down nearby the fire and setup for the night. The camp was very makeshift. The tents were cheap as they came, but would serve the groups needs. While they set up Loreane and Trixie set up a few magical wards to warn them if anything came near the camp. Once satisfied they were sufficiently covered the two rejoined the group to find Babs and Silver Spoon still sour moods. Queelara sat between them smiling happily like nothing was wrong with the world. SIlver Spoon was busy polishing her bow, and Babs was cleaning the blood off her hammer.

Trixie sat opposite of the three with Loreane at her side. Trixie shivered from a chilly wind that blew by and immediately was pulled by two powerful arms. She was confused at first but quickly realized she was pulled onto Loreane’s lap. With the cape the human woman was wearing, that Rarity made her, Loreane unlatched it and covered herself and Trixie with it like it was a blanket. Trixie immediately felt warmer, but not from the cape. Her cheeks burned red as she felt Loreane’s breaests press against her back making Trixie go stiff.

Trixie could feel the beating of her heart. It threatened to burst from her chest as she nuzzled back into Loreane’s chest. Trixie’s nose nuzzled up to Loreane’s cheek. A gently nuzzle later and Loreane kissed Trixie’s lips while gently caressing the with her fingers.

Silver Spoon watched from the other side feeling faint from the subtle signs of passion. Babs made an audible *gag* sticking her tongue out. Silver Spoon swatted the bronze filly in the back of the head, one could swear the sound was that of hollow wood. Babs eyes rolled in a daze and Queelara giggled sitting next to the fillies. Silver Spoon leaned back into Queelara’s body, feeling a fond warmth coming from her. Babs, now shaken out of her daze, glared at Silver Spoon and leaned back into Queelara as well.

Instead of warmth the bronze filly suddenly burst into flames from her back. With a girly shreik Babs jumped up trying to pat the fire off her. When that didn’t work she ran in circles screaming and flailing her arms up and down as Silver Spoon stared in shock at the sight of the blazing fireball filly. Babs then ran straight for the water of the Ash Lake and jumped in before Loreane could stop her. The blazing fireball now gone, and only a faint sizzle from the water showed where Babs made her way in.

Then seconds later, and a few held breaths, the young filly came stomping out of the water. Completely drenched, her armor charred black on her back, Babs had a deep pouty face on her mug as she stomped towards the group, and clearly didn’t care if she woke the of the dark.

A few seconds later she stomped past Silver Spoon and Queelara over to Trixie and Loreane. She wrapped herself in Loreane’s cloak to both warm up and dry off. She sat close to the bonfire glaring at it and shivering.

“You alright, kiddo?” Trixie asked hugging her.

“Yea,” Babs replied glaring at Queelara. “Dumb, stupid, fire bug… thingy.”

Once the words left her mouth Queelara’s smug grin turned into a frown. A swift nudge to her side and she looked down at Silver Spoon who was looking up at her. She looked, disappointed.

“That was mean of you. You can’t go around burning others like that,” She said.

Queelara tilted her head. “Why not? It’s kill or be killed out here. I made that mistake once already. I won’t do so again.”

Saying this Queelara showed her severed leg and Silver Spoon sighed.

“I’m sorry what happened to you, but you should know we aren’t your enemies. I don’t mind having you as an ally, but you need to be nice if you want to stay with us.”

“Who said anything about staying with you?” Queelara asked crossing her arms over her chest. “I mean, it’s not like I like you or anything, but I - I just thought I’d repay you for saving my life. That’s it.”

Hearing this Silver Spoons lip curled. She then leaned into the larger body of Queelara and rubbed against her. Queelara blushed huffing indignantly, meanwhile Babs stared hatefully at Queelara. Her anger was so strong her fur dried almost instantly as she steamed over Silver Spoons reaction to Queelara. Having enough Babs laid down and rolled over pretending to go to sleep, and SIlver Spoon only shook her head at the bronze filly.

“Stupid.”

Soon afterwards Trixie yawned too.

“Well, Trixie suggests we all get some sleep. We have to find Alonne tomorrow.”

With that said Trixie curled up in Loreane’s arms and nuzzled her breasts. Using them a soft pillows. Loreane held Trixie in her arms and quickly drifted off into a deep sleep. Silver Spoon rested against Queelara who didn’t take her eyes of the grey pony. Resting on her legs Queelara was ready to sleep when Babs came stomping by and shoved herself next to Silver Spoon.

The two glared daggers at each other when Babs suddenly pulled off her upper armor and discarded it. Confused by this Queelara watched as Babs then took hold of SIlver Spoon and gently rested her grey head on her chest. With a cocky smirk Babs surreptitiously glanced up at Queelara who was fuming and deep red in her cheeks.

Convinced of her victory Babs nuzzled Silver Spoon and laid her chin atop the soft white braided mane. Queelara growled trying to relax. How dare that bronze filly compete with her? Her mind raced as she thought of ways to undermine Babs, only to hear Silver’s voice constantly nagging at her to be nice.

Why did it bother her so much?

Had Silver Spoon saving her life really meant that much to her? Sure, she thought the grey horse filly was cute but that was it, right? It couldn’t be anything else. Absolutely not!

Convinced of that Queelara finally managed to find sleep after several minutes of dozing in and out before sleep finally overcame her.

*Elsewhere*

Deep in the dark roots of the Ash Lake, Diana was hard at work climbing a complex series of roots, trees, cliffs, and steep branches trying to reach her destination. After assisting Loreane and her group with the hydra from afar. She held a worn map in one hand and used her free hand to climb a steep branch.

The map was something she requested from Anri and on it as a complex series of instructions that lead deep into the trees of the Ash Lake. Passing by an old stump Diana glanced around. She was within a large root system that was barely lit by the sunlight from above. She pulled out her map and looked at it to try and get her bearings. I’m close. With a content sigh she rolled up her map and shoved it back into her pocket and looked at the stump nearby.

She thought it a most of stump. It was wide, at least twenty feet in diameter, and with a root system that was ten times as wide and more shaped like a birds nest than actual roots. Even odder was the stump looked like it was cut from just above the base and have a strange almost diamond shape. Diana looked over the odd “tree” and touched it with her metal gauntlet hand. It had a leathery feel, soft and flexible but very stiff at the same time.

With a shrug she turned to leave the tree and continue onward when a peculiar sound hit her ears.

A deep guttural breathing.

Looking around Diana couldn’t find the source of the breathing. She drew her farron greatsword and her dagger and readied herself in her legion combat stance. Putting the sword straight forward, she rested the dagger over her arm holding the greatsword and looked around the immediate area.

A low rumble echoed around her as the tree began to unfold from itself from behind her. Quick as lightning she spun around ready to strike, but held her blade steady. Upon the stump stood tall and proud one of the world's greatest biological wonders, and Everlasting Dragon.

“By the gods, I didn't know they still existed,” She said, sheathing her dagger. “What a wonder. Why isn’t it attacking me?”

In her mind many questions arose from seeing the strange creature. She had heard tales of the everlasting dragons. Their scale were stronger than any steel or stone. They lived forever by their scales. They were hostile to all humans supposedly, though this one proved otherwise.

She shook the thoughts and questions out of her head as the dragon stared down at her blankly. Putting away her sword Diana slowly stepped away from the dragon, careful not to turn her back on it out of fear it would attack at any moment.

Then from somewhere around her a deep voice chuckled.

“You’ve committed grave sins my friend,” it said chuckling.

Diana drew her sword again and swung behind her. For a moment a black mist was where her blade struck, but quickly evaporated to nothing.

“Ho, ho, ho! So close yet so far! Yet another sin to nearly add to the pile you’ve accumulate over the years! HA!”

“Damn you! Show yourself coward!” Diana yelled at the taunting voice.

FRom the shadows of the tree, behind the dragon, came a man in black clothing and a crown moran like a mask. He had sickly pale skin and a smile both kind and sinister. He held his arms wide open giving Diana the idea he meant no harm. Had she not been so paranoid of course Diana might have bought into the gesture as such. Keeping the man at sword's length she approached him slowly.

“What do you want from me?” Diana asked the man.

With a deep laugh the man replied, “What I want is irrelevant. You seeketh I. For your soul is weighed by your sins.”

Diana scoffed stabbing her sword in the ground. She slipped her hand around the handle gripping the leather against her gauntlet as she glared at the man.

“What would you know of me?” She asked.

“Oh? You misunderstand. I know little about you personally, or rather, I know enough about you through your sins. I am Oswald of Carim, a follower of Velka,” The man said with a overly exaggerated bow.

Reluctantly Diana bowed, albeit half heartedly.

“I am Diana of Londor, Lady of the Dark, and ruler of the Abyss Watchers.”

“Oh, I know who you are Lady Diana. Andre spoke very highly of you, Oswald said, much to Diana’s surprise. “But, the question remains, do you wish to be absolved of your sins?”

“First off, my sins are my own business not yours. Second, I’ll have to have a long, loooooong talk with Andre about keeping his nose out of my personal business.”

With that said Diana turned to leave. With her hand firmly gripped on her sword she pulled it with the twisting of her body and swung it to her side. The motion was strong enough to make her cape flutter like a gust of wind blew past.

“If you leave, you’ll never see your love again.”

The words rang in Diana’s ears, stopping her dead in her tracks. She glared back over her shoulder at Oswald who didn’t seem aware to the weight of what he said. Then, as fast as lightning, Diana was on him with her sword at his throat. To her surprise Oswald made no attempt to dodge or flee. He simply stood there smiling.

“Well, Lady Diana? What will it be?” He asked politely.

Grunting Diana drew back her blade and continued to glare at him. She shouldered her greatsword and put her weight on one leg and leaned slightly.

“What exactly do you mean? What are you offering?” She asked.

OSwald smile grew. “I can offer you absolution for your sins. Although, your sins are many, and the cost will be great. What sin do you wish to be absolved of? I hear there is a lady warrior with a fondness of a Firekeeper of Lothric. Is that true?” Oswald asked.

So that was Andre’s game! Diana thought in shock. That sly old, sentimental, old fool! In truth Diana couldn’t blame him. She did ask him for a way to solve her problem with Lorenae, and Andre said he spoke to a close friend about it. He even said that this person could, ‘absolve the problem.’ Was this man, Oswald of Carim the person Andre spoke of? Guess there’s only one way to find out. She thought.

“Yes, I wish to absolve my deepest sin. I wish to be reunited with my beloved Loreane, the former Firekeeper of Lothric's Firelink Shrine. Can you do this?”

Hearing her request Oswald looked up into the sky. He held his hands together and spoke softly. A dark black flame slowly formed around him, making Diana step back cautiously. The flame intensified as it snaked out and surrounded Diana.

As if some force held her in place, Diana couldn’t move out of the way as the dark flames circled around her and Oswald. For a moment she thought it was some sort of attack, then in the blink of an eye all her memories and thoughts of Loreane came to the forefront of her mind. Her eyes glowed bright white as did Oswalds. Time went backwards from the present in her mind going back through the age of darkness Diana lived through, and bother her and Oswald saw many things.

A raven as tall as a mountain over a snowy peak.

Pilgrim on a pilgrimage through darkness.

Then they came upon the thought that set it all in motion.

Diana’s betrayal of Loreane at the Kiln of the First Flame.

Just then the flames erupted around them both and the white glow of their eyes turned deep blood red. Then the flames exploded outwards around them, The everlasting dragon didn’t flinch as the flames harmlessly went over its body like nothing.

Then on the ground both Diana and Oswald collapsed on the ground. Diana was overcome with a feeling of fatigue, her body ached, and her head felt like it was about to split in two. Oswald however seemed no worse for wear.

“He, he, he, heee. You are indeed full of sin. The cost will be great, but the question is is this sin worth the cost?” He asked curling his lip.

Diana stood up on her shaking legs, trying to balance herself.

“What will it cost me to, absolve me from this weight?” She asked him.

With his sinister smile growing by the second threatening to split his face Oswald replied calmly, “For you, 991000 souls.”

Diana thought he was crazy. That was a lot of souls. Had she not spent the last few millennia collecting souls such a cost would have been out of her reach. Yet, it was still costly for what she needed right now. But Loreane is worth every soul I have. She thought sadly.

“Very well Oswald. I’ll pay. What do I do afterwards?” She asked, offering him the necessary souls.

The black clad man took the souls and placed them in his own soul carrier. Then he bowed politely and stepped back once offering a few words before fading away into thin air.

“The cost has been paid, all you need to do is wait. For there is no sin I can not absolve.”

With his words spoken he was gone. No trace of his in sight. Diana glanced once around to see if he was still around. When she found no sign of him she gave one last look at the everlasting dragon. The beast still hadn’t moved from it’s perch and remained still. A silent sentinel in this hostile word. Like a king with a kingdom of ash and water. With nothing left for her here Diana turned and left without another word, hoping she made a worthwhile investment.

Author's Note

Too much?

I didn't think so.

So, with everything that happened so far I have but one question for you my loyal and dedicated readers. Do you think I add too many characters to the story? Or maybe not enough? Let me know what you think and what do you want me to do next? Ultimately the goal is to get to the Crystal Empire, but I want to hear what you want my readers.

If i like what i read I might add it to the upcoming chapters, otherwise hope you enjoyed the chapter and let me know what you think! See any errors? Let me know too! Read, rate, love, and tolerate!