Firekeeper

Babs and Trixie waited for the Abyss Watcher to make the first move. It remained poised ready to strike but made no effort to attack them. After almost a minute of not reacting the ponies wondered if they misinterpreted the Abyss Watchers intentions, but they refused to let their guard down.

Babs was first to act. She stood back on her hind legs and raised her weapon overhead. She slowly slid her right leg forward and slowly stepped forward towards the armored warrior. She took great care not to make any sudden movements that would cause the Abyss Watcher to attack them. Then without any warning and with the speed of lightning the Abyss Watcher had lunged forward swinging his sword in a wide arc at Babs neck. Babs barely had time to duck as the swords razor sharp edge grazed her mane slicing a lock off. Babs reared her hind legs and gave a full force kick into the Abyss Watchers chest, using his momentum to flip him over her.

The warrior flipped with the double kick reaching with his dagger hand and used it to paulvault over Babs. Trixie was ready with her own sword and took a wide swing at him. However Trixie’s blade was intercepted when the Abyss Watcher swung his greatsword out as he flipped over Babs defelcting it to the side, and lodging it into the ground near Babs Seeds head.

The filly gasped, her pupils shrank to the size of pins, and she rolled away from the sword swinging her hammer around her to bring it up to a defensive position. Trixie scooted by her and threw out a massive fireball spell followed up by a stun spell from her horn. The fireball was dodged easily but the followup stun spell hit the Abyss Watcher straight in the chest sending him skidding across the ground. He used his sword to help anchor himself into place as he came to a halt.

Then as quickly as he stopped he was rushing Trixie and Babs again with sword and dagger poised ready to strike them down. Babs was first to react. With a mighty swing she twirled her warchime around her in a fashion not unlike a ballerina and gave a wide swing at the approaching warrior. He slid under the hammer driving his dagger into the fillys thigh, but her armor took most of the blow. She yelped in pain with each tug he gave of his dagger, but was unable to dislodge it from her thick armor. Babs growled raising her weapon over to crush his head under her. He ditched the dagger as the hammer came crashing down right where his head was, digging down in the ground a few inches.

Rolling to the side he used his now open hand to punch Babs in the cheek knocking her to the ground. The bronze filly gasped, the pain was intense, and she had to fight the urge to rub the sore spot on her cheek. Instead she bit her lip drawing a bit of blood and swung her hammer overhead ready to crush the Abyss Watcher she let out a loud chant, her hammer glowed, and she brought it down on him. The warrior tried to roll again but found he couldn’t. He then realized part of his cape was being stood on by Babs hooves weighing him down. Before he could react, his head was crushed under a blinding light that caused the area around them to bathe in radiance with a sickening crunch.

Trixie covered her eyes until the light died away and she looked upon the dead Abyss Watcher under Babs Seed’s hooves. The filly was panting her hammer lodged in the swampy water beneath where the Abyss Watchers head once was.

Babs was panting heavily. She gripped the base of the dagger in her thigh and haphazardly yanked it out. She winced as searing pain shot through her leg and blood spewed out from her yanking the weapon out. The Abyss Watchers body limply lifted until it fell from the blunt end of the weapon slushing back into the dirty swamp water. Trixie rushed over to help Babs sit down as the filly cast a minor miracle to mend her wound, though only temporarily.

“That smarts,” Babs complained.

Trixie helped her sit down as the miracle worked to mend her leg. Trixie frowned giving the filly an annoyed look.

“Maybe next time try smashing his head in sooner?” She asked with a hint of mock annoyance.

Babs huffed poking Trixie in the chest.

“Maybe if you helped me!” She said playfully punching her arm.

The two shared a short laugh as Trixie helped Babs back up. Their fallen foe lay on the ground his sword and dagger lay by his sides as his body partially sank into the boggy water beneath. The blood from him was mixed with the bog water and barely noticeable except as a slightly darker hue than the rest of the water. Trixie’s horn stopped glowing instantly and she felt an overwhelming sense of relief now that she is free from her magics will and bind. However this begged the question, why did her magic bring her here? What was so important for Trixie’s destiny that she was dragged out here to a swampy bog in the middle of a long forgotten forest?

The answer came swiftly as the Abyss Watcher’s body began to catch fire. It’s blood now worked its way through the water and to Trixie’s hooves. As the fire engulfed the body the fire extended quickly to Trixie, following the blood stained water to her hooves. Snaking through the water the flame made contact with Trixie’s hooves faster than she could react and quickly enveloped her body. Trixie was consumed by the flames as the began to spin around her like a cyclone of raging fire creating an area of heated steam that blinded Babs.

Trixie felt like her body was burning at its very core as the heat intensified creating an unusual sensation. At first it was totally agonizing pain, then it quickly dulled down to being dropped in boiling water level of pain, down further to a dull sensation. Then a soft voice spoke through the veil of fire and ash.

“I give my soul to you,” It said.

Trixie blinked feeling the fire burning inside her now turned into a soft warmth, like that of a blanket being wrapped around her. It was comforting and welcoming to her and she embraced it as the voice spoke once more.

“I do this in the service of my lady, our destinies are intertwined they always were,” The voice said. “I and Sir Ioun Delaruz, and I am now your armor and sword. I pass my knowledge to you freely. Go forth and bring light to the darkness.”

Trixie didn’t understand. She knew the Abyss Watchers served Diana, Lady of Darkness, so why would one of her devote offer her knowledge and power? Perhaps these warriors weren’t mindless servants she once thought they were. As Trixie embraced the fire within, she began to learn of things she didn’t before. Nothing of substance in the way of history or that, but techniques for a unique form of fighting with sword and dagger along with a complement of magic.

OUtside Trixie’s mind the fire eventually snuffed out leaving only ashes and timbers in the air floating down as the steam slowly began to clear. Babs was cover her face to protect it from the uncomfortable steam, and once it the steam died down abit she removed her leg from her face and began scanning the area. She didn’t notice Trixie at first since she was still surrounded by steam, but once the steam cleared away from a powerful gust of wind she was in shock and awe at what she saw.

At first she didn’t recognize Trixie. Her attire was completely different than it was a moment ago. Her armor was now similar to the Abyss Watchers, leather armor with metal grieves and one armored front leg with decorative claws on it. Her sword was now a massive greatsword of the Abyss Watchers with a matching dagger, even her wizard hat was now a solid dark violet color with a hint of red that matched the large cape she now had flowing on her back. One distinct difference was a massive single star in the center of the cape with her cutie mark in the center. On her back was a massive shield lined with thick white fur.

Babs was wide eyed staring at Trixie’s sudden transformation. Perhaps the most distinct feature the mare now had was the faint glowing of being of fire throughout her body. It was as if her veins were filled with bright fire that made the glow deep red or bright orange colors giving the mare an eire glow.

“Wow,” Babs said nearly dropping her weapon. “Dats cool…”

Trixie looked over herself amazed at the armor and the massive weapons she now had. She used her magic to take hold of the massive sword, which to her surprise, was light as a feather compared to her previous sword. She tested the weight of the sword taking a few practice swings with it. Using her magic she kept the sword about a legs length away from herself swinging it to orbit around her with the swing always keeping it close enough to grab it with her hoof if she needed too.

“Wow, this thing looks so big, but it feels so light,” She said swinging the sword once more, but with a flashy spin around her.

Babs look at the sword in awe following its movements as trixie expertly made the sword dance around her with flashy spins and twirls that made the filly envious.

“Wow! That's cool! Can I try it, miss Trixie?” Babs asked reaching out for the sword.

Trixie nodded offering the hilt of her sword to Babs. Babs placed her own weapon on a patch of ground to not get it completely dirty as she gripped the sword hilt with her hooves. When Trixie got an affirmative nod from the filly she released the weapon from her magical grip giving it to Babs. What happened shocked both of them. Babs fell forward, the weight of the sword too much for her to handle digging the blade almost halfway into the soft ground below. Trixie tried hard not to laugh, and failed spectacularly.

Babs puffed and panted trying to lift the ridiculously heavy sword out of the ground. Babs tried with all her might, her body was tense, her head had a vein that looked like it would burst any second, and she bared her teeth as her shoulders rose with each attempt she made to pull the sword out. Finally after a few attempts, she gave up. SHe took her own weapon which felt light as a feather by comparison to Trixie sword and went to sit down on a rock and give herself a rest.

“Hah! That was cute!” Trixie said lifting the sword with ease and sheathing it on her back.

“Yeah, but that thing weighs a ton! How are you able to lift it so easily!?” Babs yelled.

The filly waved her forelegs so drastically she nearly fell off the rock. SHe waved her arms to regain her balance and reset herself on the rock, this time she used her hammer to brace herself.

“I don’t know,” Trixie said looking up at her. “But I do know this didn’t happen by chance. Fate conspired to bring us here. At least me. So, now that we’re done here we should get back to the others.”

“Or, we could just wait for them to reveal themselves,” Babs said pointing behind her with a hoof.

Trixie looked back at Babs with a confused look. Then she remembered she left Maud with Loreane, two very stubborn individuals, and she left them with Silver Spoon. She glanced back behind the rock and there behind a bush, clearly not hiding very well was Loreane, Maud, and Silver Spoon watching them. Trixie facehooved and sighed, gesturing for them to come out.

The trio didn’t move at first, but a stern glare and a hard cough from Trixie made them emerge from the brush. Both Loreane and Maud looked guilty as they emerged and Silver Spoon had a look that said, ‘I told you so’ written all over her face.

“Didn’t I ask you three to stay behind?” Trixie asked in a harsher tone than she meant.

Loreane and Maud looked down guilt clear on their faces as Silver Spoon walked up standing next to Trixie. She reached up and whispered something into Trixie’s ear which only seemed to make her angrier. Both Maud and Loreane looked away from her and each other as Trixie walked between both of them and glared at each one.

“We have a lot to talk about once we get back. For now we need to get moving,” Trixie said, walking past them. “Loreane?”

The firekeeper jumped at the sound of her name and ran beside Trixie with the rest of the ponies at her heels. “Yes?” She said walking beside Trixie.

“What’s the fastest way to the Crystal Empire from here?” Trixie asked.

Loreane looked around taking in the sight of the nearby tower and the massive bridge that once ran across the sky far above. Time had not been kind to this place. Even though it was derelict before she died Loreane knew this place was in worse shape from what she heard before ,but the towers still stood and they were the key to getting their bearings. Each had a distinct place around the bridge, when this place was still a forest and a stronghold of the Followers of Artorias the towers marked the north, south and west regions of the stronghold, which meant-

“Let’s head this way, deeper into the stronghold,” Loreane said walking towards the first tower near. “From there we need to head into the strongholds main gate, into the catacombs, and we should end up in the Crystal Empire territory.”

Trixie nodded as Silver Spoon groaned. “Ugh! More trudging in duty, moldy, disgusting places?! Can’t we go someplace more clean, or pretty, and less dark and deadly?”

Loreane sympathised with the filly. She wasn’t fond of such places either, but they were the quickest way to get where they needed to go. Babs walked beside Silver Spoon nudging her playfully on her side. Silver Spoon smiled and nuzzled Babs back making her blush and look away, but she stepped closer to Silver pressing her body against hers slightly as they walked. Trixie and Loreane smiled at the closeness of the two fillies.

“Cute, aren’t they?” Loreane asked to Trixie.

“Hmm, yes they are,” Trixie said, giving Loreane a harsh glare afterwards. “But don’t think this makes up for what you two did!”
Loreane sighed wearily. “I’m sorry I broke my promise to stay behind, Trixie. However, I refuse to let you face any danger alone.”

Trixie smiled at that. She knew that Loreane and even Maud meant well coming to watch over them. She was still upset they willingly put themselves in danger after being injured, but then again the minor miracles they had seemed to sufficelty patch them up so she wasn’t too mad about it anymore.

“By the way, I like the new look,” Loreane said pushing Trixie’s new helmet over her eyes playfully.

Trixie grinned under the rim of her hat and adjusted it back up with a glow of her magic. As they walked past the first tower they made careful movements not to disturb the ghru. Their numbers were massive and any alarm would leave them overrun in seconds in the swamp. Sure it had lots of trees, but the ghru could be among them resting, waiting for the signal to pounce. To hasten their journey the group cut through the tower was built around a massive tree. Loreane wasn’t at a phased by this, but the ponies were in awe, even Maud took some time to look at the monumental edifice before her.

They continued on past several obstacles including a few well hidden spiked traps. Maud of course ended up just walking through them and her own natural durability along with her stonelike armor made easy work of the simple spike traps. Loreane was amazed by the pony’s durability, it made her a bit jealous but it was an amazing feat all the same. Of course not to be outdone in front of Trixie Loreane used her fire spells to turn several traps to dust, displaying amazing power and control over her pyromancy. Babs and SIlver stayed out of it thinking the two other females in the group had it under control while Trixie shook her head at their showboating attempts to impress her.

This continued as they made their way past a second tower and just beyond that was the large gate to the inner sanctum of the stronghold. It was two larger stone doors elaborately decorated with designs of events long past. The coming darkness and the final battle the great wolf and the Abyss Watcher shad here before they became Diana’s servants, along with several other events that Loreane wasn’t familiar with. Judging by them and what she knew about Equestrian history these other events must have been after the Age of Darkness and Diana’s rule. On either side of the doors was a massive stone wall that was clearly a fortress at one point but was now shambles of its former glory.

Whole sections were missing, holes were all over the towers, one tower was completely turned to rubble, and the skeleton of a dragon lay over the far right corner of the wall. Its massive bone wing stretching over the doorway to the inner part of the stronghold like a triggered mouse trap.

“That doesn’t look ominous at all,” Silver Spoon said with a heavy dose of sarcasm.

The group silently nodded and approached taking care to keep an eye on the figures above them. Once they were at the doors they realized the figures were more Abyss Watchers looking down at them. No weapons drawn, but simply observing them. Odd behavior they thought but at the same time Trixie already explained what happened when she fused with the last Abyss Watcher she found. This made Loreane worry about what Diana had in mind. She as a sly manipulative person even in the best of times, but now that she was aware of just what Diana is capable of she felt more cautious than she ever did before.

As they entered the stronghold the Abyss Watchers jumped into the trees disappearing from view as the group made their way up a long overgrown path. There was a cobblestone path but it was heavily covered in moss and overgrown vegetation that it was barely visible. For several minutes the group just walked up this seemingly endless path until the came to a large area littered with old weapons all over the place. It was as if a battle happened here and all the fallens weapons were places up like tombstones for them just before a set of doors that were built into the side of a mountain. The doors were of similar design to the first set, but were far less damaged.

Again the doors were already open and a sense of dread overcame the group as they slowly and cautiously drew their weapons and walked inside, unsure of what to expect inside.