"Twilight. Are you sure you know where we're going? It's almost night now, and I don't want to be in the Everfree after dark," Fluttershy said, ducking another branch as she followed after the alicorn.
Ahead of her, Twilight sighed. "I know, and I don't want to be out here either. But we're close now. I just know it."
Fluttershy rolled her eyes. "That's what you said an hour ago. Are you sure this place is even real?"
Twilight heard the annoyance that had crept into her friend's voice. It finally made her stop for a moment. "No, Fluttershy. I don't know. To be honest? I never believed this story, to begin with. But after hearing from Sunset about almost the same thing in one of her games, I just have to know."
Fluttershy's ears fell. She didn't know the pony in question very well, but she did trust that Twilight probably knew better than her. "And if this isn't real?"
Twilight looked ahead into the forest. Her spirits rose as she saw a break in the trees. "There's a clearing up ahead. The story says the grave is in one. If this turns out to be nothing? Then we can go home. I know when I'm defeated, and this was nothing but a story."
Fluttershy smiled as they continued on. That sounded nice, even though she felt bad for Twilight if this all turned out to be for nothing.
When they cleared the tree line, however, neither pony was prepared for what awaited them.
All around them, swords stood planted in the ground. As they walked forward, they could see that they were not all the same either. Earth pony, Pegasi, and unicorn designs mingled with ones even Twilight could not recognize.
"Why would anypony do something like this?" Fluttershy asked, unable to keep the fear from her voice.
Twilight shook her head. "I don't know. And not all of these come from the same era. Some of these are recent, while others go back to the Three Tribes Era." She stopped to look at one in particular. "And this one? This is not pony-designed. Nor even minotaur. It almost looks human. But that's impossible."
Fluttershy was surprised by this. While warfare had always been more for Rainbow Dash, she understood enough of it that this shouldn't be possible. "But. Humans have never existed in Equestria. Or this world."
Twilight nodded as the mist began to clear. "I know. So how..."
Before she could say more, however, both she and Fluttershy felt their mouths drop at what was revealed before them. A grave marker, larger than any they had ever seen before, stood before them. In front of it stood a greatsword of tremendous size.
Twilight shook her head in disbelief as they walked up to it. "It is real. This is it. This is what the legend spoke of." She leaned in and scratched her chin in thought. "This is definitely a human sword. But I do not understand. How did it get here?"
Fluttershy, though, gulped as she looked up. "Um. Twilight," she whispered, trying to get her friend's attention, but Twilight paid her no mind.
"And the story mentioned a great grey wolf guarding the grave. But where is it? There's no sign there's ever been one here," she said, walking around the sword several times.
Fluttershy finally had to grab Twilight's head. "Twilight!" She whispered louder, before pointing her at the top of the grave. Twilight's eyes widened in shock and fear at what she saw.
A large grey wolf stood there, snarling down at them. In its eyes, there was a glimmer that seemed to suggest that this wasn't just another dumb beast though, as it jumped down, causing the pair to back pedal as fast they could. Growling, it came up and seemed to study them for a moment,
Fluttershy gulped as the wolf sniffed them. "Don't move. Maybe he will let us go if we promise to never come back?"
Twilight wasn't so sure of that but did as she was told. After a moment, though, the wolf's eyes widened in surprise, before he backed down and gave them room, standing protectively before the grave. To the shock of both mares, the wolf soon grabbed the greatsword in its mouth. flipping it around so that it held it in a left hoofed way.
Twilight blinked. "I don't understand. How can it hold the sword like that? He almost seems to know how to use it."
"Indeed, young one. Sif knows how to use my sword. Quite well in fact," a new voice said, startling Twilight and Fluttershy, as a revenant appeared next to the wolf. To the surprise of the two, the wolf seemed quite happy to see the undead creature. The revenant himself was clearly human, wearing ornate yet still functional armor. His left arm hung limp at his side, showing that it had been broken in some way in the past.
Twilight finally found her voice, but it was easier said than done. "Who are you? What are you?"
The man, for he was clearly male nodded slightly. "I am Artorias the Abysswalker, one of the Four Knights of Gwyn. You have met my friend and companion Sif."
Twilight wracked her brain. None of those names she had read about. "I do not know any of those names, and I have read most of our world's history. I think."
Artorias nodded. "You would not have. For we are not of this... Strange world."
Fluttershy's ears fell. That wasn't fair. She tried not to look at Sif, who even now still remained on guard against them. "Um. Is he always like this?"
Sif seemed to relax slightly as Artorias laid a hand on him. "That will depend. Why are you here? If you come seeking power or harbor evil in your heart, neither of you will ever leave this place alive." He gestured all around them. "Around you are those who came with ill intent or evil in their hearts. Only two have ever left this place alive. One who called herself Princess Celestia and her sister."
Twilight blinked in shock. She hadn't expected that. "They've never mentioned anything like this to me." She bowed, motioning Fluttershy to do the same. "And we mean you no harm, ser knight. We came seeking the truth to the story about this place. I did not believe it myself, but I was wrong it seems."
For a moment, Artorias did not respond. But finally, he seemed to lower his guard, as did Sif, who returned the sword to its resting place. "I feel the truthfulness in your words young one. It has been too long since ponies or any other came as you have."
Twilight sighed in relief, motioning Fluttershy that it was safe. At least for now. She still had so many questions, but it was Fluttershy who beat her to one of them as she looked at Artorias' left. "What happened to your arm?"
Artorias looked at it, seemingly lost in thought at something. "It was shattered in battle against Manus, Father of the Abyss. I sacrificed my great shield to protect Sif here, for he was much younger than he is now."
Twilight again wracked her brain, and again found nothing. A recurring themed it seemed this night. "Why do I not know these names?! I can't take it anymore!"
Artorias smiled, the mares knew he did, even though they could not see his face. "They do not exist in this world, it seems. For which I am grateful. It is corruption from which only death can release one. In the end, it corrupted me as well. But a hero, though they did not give a name, bested me in combat, freeing me and preserving my honor. When next I awoke, I was here, as was Sif."
Twilight looked again at the wolf. She could see the bond there. A love that reminded her of Applejack and Winona in a way. Her ears lowered as she thought more of this. "You are bound here. For whatever reason, you are stuck here. I can't imagine Princess Celestia would not try and help you."
He nodded. "Yes. She did. Several times. But to no avail. What force brought us here, I do not know. Sif can leave to hunt but always returns."
Fluttershy sighed in relief. That was a weight off of her shoulders, as she looked at the wolf as well. He did indeed look well-fed. "Are we trouble for being here? I'm so sorry if we are."
Artorias shook his head, and even Sif seemed to smile. "Nay, young one. Only the very foolish or corrupt seem to find their way here. To find ones so innocent is refreshing. But it is better that this place remain a story as you say it is. Return to your homes. Let this be something the two of you share."
Twilight looked back the way they had come. The sun had set by now, and she could not see very far into the Everfree. Just perfect.
Sif, however, seemed to know what she was thinking for he padded up to them, before motioning them to follow. Artorias nodded. "Sif will show you to the edge of the forest. That path leads to the nearest settlement. I am sure you can find your way home from there."
Twilight and Fluttershy shared a nervous look, but what other choice did they have? Bowing once more, the two followed the grey wolf back down the path they had come before. Once did they look back, but the clearing had vanished into the trees once more.
Perhaps it was because it was shorter than they had first thought it was, or maybe it was the feeling of safety following after Sif, where even the usual night sounds of the Everfree Forest were silent, but soon, the pair could see the treeline once more.
A few moments later, they found themselves outside the forest once more. In the distance, they could see the lights of Ponyville, and Twilight could just make out the lights of the Castle of Friendship.
Turning back, they saw that Sif had already turned to leave. But Fluttershy soon flew over and gave him the biggest hug she could. "Thank you," she whispered. Sif definitely smiled this time as he turned around and licked the Pegasus, before padding off into the darkness and was soon lost to sight.
Twilight smiled as she stretched her wings. "Well. This night did not go as I expected it to. But I think it was worth it. I am going to be having words with Princess Celestia and Princess Luna about this in the morning."
Fluttershy shot her a worried look as they headed for the town. "Now, Twilight. They probably didn't tell you for a reason. Let Artorias rest in peace. I don't think Sif takes much pleasure in killing anyone who finds the grave. He seemed too gentle."
Twilight nodded. "I know. But I can't help it. Maybe they know more than he told us. If they have been there several times as he said."
Fluttershy could understand that, and as they came to the edge of town, and parted ways with a hug, she couldn't help but wonder more herself. And as she came to her cottage, and set about her night chores, she heard a wolf's howl from deep in the Everfree.
The sound brought a smile to her face.
Author's Note
Just a silly idea I had. I'm on a bit of a Dark Souls binge at the moment. This idea came about after watching the fight against Sif in Darkroot Garden. Even more so after saving him in Chasm of the Abyss. I cried I admit. I'm a dog lover, and it isn't fair that you can't skip the fight 😥ðŸ˜.
