A blade sinks into packed ash as its wielder collapses to a knee panting. Removing his helm his snowy white hair tied in a ponytail comes out soaked in sweat, beads of sweat rolling down his face as he stairs at the prone form before him, the Soul of Cinder. The embodiment of all those who extended the age of fire, formed into a single being. Master of sword and spell the Soul of Cinder was the ultimate embodiment of the age of fire, but as its embodiment its power faded as it fought.

Rising to his feet the warrior donned his helm once again, the helm had a Blade like fin on the crest , with a Distinctive T shape cut out on the face for the wearer to breath and see easily. His armor covered in old intricate designs with a blue mantle that covered his right shoulder, his left covered ina large similarly decorated Pauldron with matching gauntlets that reached his elbows. reaching his feet ash fell from the deep blue cloth and chain-mail covering his Thighs, his legs covered in thick plating, the feet of his armored boots having designs similar to that of human feet. Removing the sword from the ash exposed a large sharp blade that widened then narrowed an inch or two before the guard. the guard circular with a curve, the handle covered with several segmented leather bands and a sharp spike pommel, his left hand holding a Massive shield with a triangular shape, the shield when the point was resting on the ground reached up to his chest, the face of the great shield having a detailed depiction of a Great Wolf.

Passing the prone unmoving form of the Soul of Cinder the warrior walks over to a glowing Fiery red sword with a spiral blade protruding from a pile of ash and burning bones. staring at the sword he sees his goal a small flame hovering just above were the blade is buried into the ground, pulling out a white stone he writes a symbol and after a few seconds of waiting it shimmers then fades and a woman with a beautiful gown rises from the ring of light, her eyes covered by a silver crown, she lightly held her hands together in front of her at her waist.

"Dost thou wish for the age of fire to end Ashen One?" she asks in a soft, serene voice that brought a sense of calm for the warrior.

"Aye Fire Keeper, The Age Of Fire hath lasted to long, and must finally be brought to rest, tis time for the Age of Dark to Come." the Ashen One spoke in a heavy strong voice setting his great-shield onto his back and the gigantic sword beneath the shield upon his back.

"Very well, i shall do as thy command." the Fire keeper spoke calmly as she knelt by the sword and gently lifted the small flame as the Ashen one Sat beside her, hand on her shoulder, they both watched as the flames and the sun slowly faded and they were eventually shrouded in complete darkness.

"Ashen one,.. hearest thou my voice, still?" the keeper asked in a now timed voice the fire gone from her hands faded away.

"Yes Dear, I am here by thy side" the warrior spoke calmly as he aided the fire keeper to her feet, his right hand igniting into fire as he drew upon his knowledge of Pyromancy, the area around the two illuminated in the warm orange glow from his flaming hand, placing her hands on his shoulders as he touched his left hand to the hilt of the spiral sword they faded into mist and were taken away from the ruins of the battlefield were the Soul of Cinder and the ashen one battled over the fate of fire.

-The Firelink Shrine-

A mist formed around a spiraled blade in the middle of a room with Five monolithic thrones that towered over the sword. Each throne having the skull of a being all but one long sense fallen in battle against the Ashen One. The fire keeper and ashen one appearing from the mist as it dispersed, the Firelink shrine had torches everywhere to illuminate the darkened structure. A large man in strangely shaped onion like armor walked up to the two arrivals.
"so.. it is done, the age of fire is at long last over, and our future unknown." Siegward spoke in his proud sounding accent, his helm removed under his arm reviling his short hair and well groomed mustache, his face holding a look of uncertainty.

"Aye, it is my friend, i hope the carts and supply's are ready for travel?" the ashen one spoke as he stretched popping numerous joints over his body relieving his limbs of fatigue from his most recent battle.

"The carts are ready, and the supply's are secured... are you sure this is what we must do? i must say that I'm fearful of our future." Siegward spoke with a shaky voice griping the helm tighter with his hand and arm.

Removing his helm and holding it under an arm the ashen one places a hand on Siegward's shoulder giving a warm friendly smile, his mismatched eyes having a calm warmth too them, his right eye a bright burning red, his left a cold icy blue, his facial hair well kept though roughly trimmed to a thin beard. "Our Future may be Unknown, but when has it ever been anything but, this is merely a new time for us like any other, we must stick together and aid each other if we must continue forward my friend." the ashen one spoke to his friend hoping to reassure him and calm his nerves.

With a smile and a nod Siegward clasps a hand onto his friends shoulder.

"Thank you Devar, i may be nervous but i will stay by your side as you did mine, I believe Andre and Greirat found some good beasts to pull the carts instead of us having to pull them." Siegward let out a laugh at the avoided future they had of pulling the carts themselves finding the mental image of them dragging the carts along face buried in the dirt to be humorous.

Chuckling Devar walks up the stairs were everyone else is waiting to begin there journy, Seven carts repaired thanks to Andre and Greirat they brought the carts back to shape for the long trip ahead of them. Orbeck providing light for each cart, a ever-glowing orb of light at the Corners of each cart. At the front of each cart was a glowing blue Crystal Lizard, Two dozen small Crystal Lizards around the larger ones scuttling around with light taping sounds with each step.

Walking up to his friends with Siegward and the Fire Keeper by his side he and his Onion friend began to help loading supplies onto the carts that had not been loaded yet. As they loaded the Supplies one of the lizards began thrashing around, until a giant of a man walked up and with a single blow of his massive hand sent the Crystal lizard to the ground, dazed. the Giant of a man berated the animal as he forced it back to place in front of the cart then proceeded to strap the beast into its harness.

"Calm ye self beast, the journey will begin soon." the large man spoke lightly patting the lizard on the neck its blue crystals glowing a bit brighter.

"Trouble with the beasts Andre?" Devar asked slightly amused by the way his old friend calmed the large animal.

"no Devar, theyre just anxious to begin." Andre spoke calmly, lifting a large crate of Tatinite shards under each arm and set them In the middle cart.

After about an houer of makeing sure everything they had was loaded onto the carts Devar, Cornyx, and Karla stood shoulder to shoulder both hands aflame with pyromancy as they faced the now darkened Fire link shrine, and as one the 3 pyromancers raised both hands high each holding a gigantic ball of flames, a disk of fire formed around the spheres and together they threw the pyromancys at the shrine's interior, the explosion of fire and power shook the shrine to its foundations then less than a minute after the spells were cast the shrine began to crumble and fall, marking the final chapter of the age of fire for all time.

Devar walked up to the front cart and hopped on, the fire keeper sitting in the back on a bed of cloth, reaching up she slid off her tiara and set it into a small box, her eyes finally seeing on there own without the tiara to blur or dim her vision, Her eyes fully a shade of Sapphire blue that got brighter towards the pupil which was a black dot. she lay back on the small bed on the back of the cart and for the first time in a long time drifted off to sleep. with the crack of a whip in the air all the carts lurched forward and the journey of the undead began, leaving behind the ruins of the fire link shrine as they sett out into the unknown darkness.

Time...Time has little meaning with no sun, no moon, no stars. As the Small group of undead traveled through the darkness time seemed to pass in unknown amounts. Every now and then they would travel in silence and other times they would talk and be sociable, though there wasn't much to talk about. When they would stop to rest they would spar against each other to keep there skills up, and the fire keeper would build a temporary Bonfire for them to rest around. Siegward would make estus soup for them all to enjoy as they rested and talked, but eventually they would continue their journey. The way they spoke among each other changing greatly as time passed becoming different from the old speech they used before.

It felt like years they had traveled, and it took all the effort of the undead to continue forward, but as they went forward they began to see shimmers in the distance, stopping the carts they readied their weapons, prepared for battle they waited. As Minutes passed Devar and Orbek began to walk away from the carts. As they moved away they saw the shimmering light was getting closer until Devar reached a hand forward and touched one, feeling only rock he pulled out a metal torch and lit it illuminating the wall of a cave. They looked around, and curious Orbek launched a brightly glowing crystal spear the way they came, illuminating a cave that went on and on till the spear and its light faded and the magic dispersed.

"How long have we been in this cave?" Asked Orbek baffled and confused as he looked to Devar and the others hoping someone had an answer. They all looked among each other looks of confusion on their faces hoping for answers that never came.

"How could we have not noticed the mouth of the cave? Have we been so absorbed in going forward we never noticed it?" asked Orbek hand on his chin in thought trying to remember how far back it may have been.

As confusion rose they all began to ask questions until no one knew who was asking what, the cave echoing each question the echos overlapping further muddying each voice. A single voice roared out "SILENCE!" Bringing everything in the cave to silence again. Devar stood among them torch held up to illuminate the group.

"Everyone calm down, I know we've been traveling a long time, but we cant turn the carts around in this cave, all we can do is move forward." Devar spoke sternly to the group, looking around at them confusion and small amounts of fear on their faces. Devar had changed out of his heavy armor into something lighter and more comftorble, gloves a thick brown leather legs a similar with thick metal knee plates, and a coat with Copper plates covering his torso with a mantle made of silvery metal scales covering over his shoulders, fur covering around his neck for comfort.

"Before we continue i think we should rest for some time, get some sleep and clear our heads." Spoke the fire keeper from the back of the lead cart her voice calm and reasuring. everyone nodding in agreement they began to lay out furs and bedrolls as the Fire Keeper built a bonfire in the middle of the group.

"At least we wont have to worry about rain now." Cornyx spoke with a chuckle. everyone laughed abit at that as the warmth of the bonfire reached them once it was complete. Siegward passed out bowls and began brewing his delicious estus soup which he served out once finished. they ate in relative silence, eating until the soup was drained, then lay down to sleep, Siegward keeping first watch for some time before waking Devar for his watch.

As some time passed Devar looked down the cave, having heard something come from further ahead, standing up he walked ahead, a round decorated shield made of iron On his back a soft blue aura flowing from the shield into him. A large metal pole with decorative etchings along its length held in both hands with a long smooth inwardly curved blade on the top. A shorter similar metal pole on his back though lacking the blade. He stood ready, seeing a shadowed figure moving closer, Tightening his grip on the scythe as it began to let off a faint white glow, small white snowflakes coming off the blade.

From the darkness numerous figures fairly short came closer, a faint shimmer coming from them. as the figures entered the light they were Black short horses, covered in Chitinous plates, spears visibly attached to a harness over their Body. Once in the light they stopped as Devar griped the second pole on his back and brought it down as a glowing ethereal scythe blade formed at the end, mist coming from its surface. This caused the equines to take a step back as Devar adjusted his grip on the main scythe holding it further back closer to the bottom a bit before he clanged the blade against the stone surface of the ground waking his allies as a metallic echo reverberated through the cave.

Cornyx walked up and stood behind Devar a short distance as both his hands began to emit flames. The fire keeper griping a crystal bell in both hands. Andre picked up one of his smithing hammers in each hand keeping back next to the carts and the fire keeper. For several long minutes they stood and waited ready for a battle Devar at the front twin scythes held apart in a wide stance.

As the moments passed the equines acted first. Several of them charged forward spears brandished as devar leaped over their blades slashing the main scythe across the 3 black equines slicing them clean in half, seeing 3 more charging he adjusted his footing and slashed across them with the ethereal scythe, their bodies collapsing to the ground heads rolling away. Looking to the side several more of the equines had rushed passed him at the others before the air in front of them flowed with fire into a small ball before it exploded between them blasting them apart and reducing several of them into ash.

The charge stopping as the rest of the equines looked among each other nervously, a larger one walked behind them and let out a chittering screech causing the remaining 20 equines to charge. Devar deftly slashed with his blades killing a couple, most of them going after Andre and the firekeeper, as they neared Andre swung a single hammer, splattering 2 of the equines across the floor, their heads pulverized into paste as the fire keeper spoke silently towards the bell before a gigantic blast of white light erupted from her scattering most of the equines leaving them dazed and battered unable to fight. as they writhed on the ground the larger of the equines glared at the group its horn glowing brightly for a moment before her eyes widened as a massive beam of blue light slammed into her sending her flying back.

Devar looked back to see Orbeck Grinning as he lowered his staff, Devar walked to the fallen equine who began to try and crawl away as he walked closer menacingly, the till the only light illuminating him were the faintly glowing blades of his twin scythes. Once he was at the equine he brought the point of the larger scythe up to the equines neck as it whimpered out "P-please don't kill me." its words stopped him as he glared at it.

"Why did you attack us?" Devar growled out bringing the blade of the scythe behind the equines neck the edge lightly toutching its chitin.

"W-we were running from the equestrians, they're hunting us! Please were all that's left of our hive!" The equine pleaded as loud clacking began to echo from further ahead in the cave which caused the equine in front of him to start tearing up.

Devar thought for a moment, they had been running from another group called equestrians, being hunted till they were all gone and in their fear attacked the undead's group due to their rush.

Moveing his blade aside he knelt down and held out a hand which the equine placed its hoof in and he helped her up bringing her to the carts. the equine looked on in sadness at the dead Equines scattered around the cave dead, of the 30 that were with her, 15 were still alive but wounded and unable to do much. once all the living equines were placed in carts were the fire keeper could begin healing them Devar, Andre, and Siegward moved ahead of the carts, Devar wielding his great blade and dagger instead of the twin scythes, Siegward in his armor now with his own great blade in hand, Andre standing behind them his dual smith hammers tightly held as they awaited the other group to come.

-Fire Keeper-

The fire Keeper was Not too skilled with healing spells though thanks to Devar she hand learned enough to use the lesser healing spells. as Devar, Andre and Siegward waited she healed the wounded equines who were mostly cowering at her toutch, the larger equine was first as she brought the bell over the equine gold light began to flow from the bell into the equine, who watched on curiously.

"What manner of creatures are you? i have never seen anything like you before in Equis." the equine asked as she watched her injured chitin slowly close and mend itself.

"We are human undead, from lands far far away, we have been traveling for so long we lost all sense of time only moving forward. and what are you? In our lands we have never met talking horses before." The fire keeper asked focusing on the spell that was slowly healing the equine.

Letting out a scoff the equine spoke "I am no horse, i am a changeling, more specifically the changeling queen... or was until my hive was nearly wiped out by the ponys." the queen spoke sadly, eyes tearing up.

"Im sorry, if it means anything you have my sympathies, What is your name if you dont mind me asking?" the fire keeper asked trying to change the subject, the clopping getting louder.

"My name is Chrysalis, and what is your name?" Chrysalis spoke, looking more nervous as the cloping got louder, no longer hearing just the echos.

"I...I do not remember my name, i have gone by the title Fire Keeper for so long my name has faded from time." The Fire keeper spoke her voice cracking slightly as she became upset at not knowing her own name were all her friends knew theirs.

-Devar-

Standing at the ready with Siegward at his side now wearing his armor. They watched silently as a line of white ponys similar in size to the ones they had just fought walked up into the edge of the light. The golden armor on them shimmering as they formed a line from one side of the cave to the other. A Purple equine with a mane of 3 different shades of purple silently moved between the armored equines and stood in front of the line a calm look on its face, hers if the features were to go by after hearing Chrysalis.

"By order of The princesses of equestria, We ask that you turn over the changelings at once." She spoke sternly, eyes locked on the undead.

"Why should we hand them over to you, who have seemed to hunt them down till these are the last of their species?" Devar demanded tightening his grip on the hilt of his sword and his dagger, his eyes locked with the purple pony.

Looking shocked she stuttered a bit before finding her words "We haven't hunted the changelings to extinction, most of them abandoned her after she showed she was unwilling to accept a new life, a new change for her species." she said, seeming less authoritative than before, and looking more upset than anything.

"how can we believe you?" Devar asked as his mind began to think once again on the past events, while trying to see any lies within the purple pony's words but found non.

"we have a New Changeling representative here as our hope was to bring them in peacefully." She stepped to the side and a tall multi colored pony or changeling came forward beside her, it had orange moose like antlers and a very beetle like look to its outer body, this changeling though was brightly colored and smiled warmly.

"Hello, my name is Thorax, King Thorax, and well as twilight said i was hoping to arrest them without loss of life, though... i think that may be behind us." he spoke, his last words sounding broken as he looked to the fallen changelings.

"Why did she not accept a new position for her people?" Devar asked relaxing as he felt no urge for battle that usually came when someone became a threat.

"She wanted to remain how the changelings used to be, they fed off emotions, and if fed off for too long could cause permanent emotional damage to the one being fed off of. I didn't want that, so i have been slowly helping my people learn a new way of life that didn'1t rely on feeding off only a fiew emotions from a fiew beings, but many emotions from many beings, which would cause less harm to those around us and allow for a better coexistence with many others in the world." thorax spoke, his heart calling out hoping that devar and his friends would hear them out.

"If you would give us a moment please my friends and i must discus this first." Devar stated as he looked to his onion friend next to him, even with the helm he knew Siegward was conflicted somewhat though which way he was unsure.

The Unded gathered at the front of the cart line, and began to quietly talk among themselves, most of them were on the side of the ponys, mainly from the fact that even when rushing, the changelings didn't have to attack, and if what the New Changeling king said was true, the might have used their group as food while running. After several minutes the made their decision.

Walking back as the others got back on their carts Devar walked up to "Twilight" and "Thorax" his weapons set in his cart besides a simple blue hilted sword on his hip, set in a deep blue scabbard. "We have come to a decision, we will turn them over to you, but from their injuries they cant be moved too much so we are going to keep them on one of the carts, and before i forget, how long is it to the end of the cave?" Devar queried as they must have come from out of the cave at some point.

"Its about a 25 minute walk back to leave the cave, though if we could ride on your carts it could go by in 10 minutes at the most." Twilight said as she looked up at the undead man, who nodded and motioned for them to climb onto the carts that had space. and once loaded up they set off, twilight and Devar seeking to each other trying to find out information on each others people and were they came from, though twilight seemed horrified about what Devar told her of his old home.

After roughly 8 to 10 minutes there was a light growing in the distance, it was bright and warm, seeming to call them forward. A minute later the darkness the undead had known for who knows how long was instantly replaced with bright light and beautiful colors, large green trees, flowing tall grass and great snow capped mountains as far as the eye could see.

Twilight giggled at seeing the expressions of awe that the group of undead had on their faces looking at everything all at once. and she spoke with a bright tone "Welcome to Equestria"

End of Chapter 1

Author's Note

For better clarification, Devar's main Gear is the wolf knight chest and gauntlets, the farom helmet , his leggings are the iron dragon slayer leggings from the ringed city DLC, the wolf knight great shield, farron Great sword. His secondary setup is the Follower chest assassin gloves, Nameless knight leggings, Friede's Great Scythe and Eastern Iron Shield with a simple infusion.

And for anyone who would like to come up with a nice name for the Fire Keeper would be great as i feel she needs a proper name in this story of new beginnings.