//------------------------------// // Prologue: The End of Fire // Story: Legacy of the Darkmoon // by Randablitz //------------------------------// Kiln of the First Flame, Damien’s P.O.V I finally arrived at the Kiln. The place where Lord Gwyn had linked the Fire long ago, and the Lords of Cinder who came thereafter. I felt a twinge of fear sweep over me as I was alone for this fight. Anri went hollow after I helped her defeat Aldrich, Siegward passed away after our fight with Yhorm, Sirris passed on after our fight with the Twin Princes, defeating Midir to lay the ancient dragon to rest, and Patches helped me defeat Halflight, Spear of the Church, and I defeated Gael, who had persisted since the Age of the Gods to find the Dark Soul. I gripped my Lightning Lothric Knight sword tightly in my right hand as I remembered those who had fought beside me and it only emboldened me as I slowly walked towards what looked to be an open field of swords impaled in the ground, and I saw a lone figure sitting in front of a bonfire, but as I got closer, the figure stood up, pulled out the Coiled Sword and began to run towards me. The figure appeared to be armor in the form of a skeleton, with a crown on the back of the helm, and it also looked melted as if it had been here since the beginning. It lunged at me, and I instinctively brought up my shield and blocked the strike. I rolled forward after it tried to strike a second time, but it missed and I managed to land a solid thrust and rolled away. I began to get into a rhythm of blocking an attack or two before taking a few swings at the figure, but I also suffered a few hits here and there. Then after a few minutes it’s weapon changed into a spear-like weapon and I evaded the charge and began attacking and dodging as needed, then the weapon changed again, this time it had a curved sword and a Pyromancy Flame and it began hurling fireballs at me, which I dodged and attacked as much as I could without running out of stamina. The figure then changed its weapon again, this time to a Sorcerer Staff and it blasted Soul Stream, but I dodged it and attacked relentlessly. I had been hit a few times, but nothing a little Estus couldn’t heal. I could have used my Soothing Sunlight miracle, but I didn't have a Hidden Blessing, or Ashen Estus to replenish my magic, so I had to play conservatively if I wanted to win this fight. I had thought the being was finally defeated when I saw it collapse to its knees, but then it plunged its sword into the ground and a fiery explosion erupted around it causing me to retreat. The figure began to charge at me again to grab me, but I dodged away and began my assault once again. I got hit with a lightning miracle, and I had to use two out of my three remaining Estus Flasks to heal myself, and I in turn, switched to my Filianore's Sacred Chime and hurled my own lightning back and now I was out of Estus, but I was very fortunate to have only a couple of hits left to finish this fight. I dashed forward and performed a leaping stab and then slashed with my blade until the figure fell to its knees, bowed its head and disappeared leaving me alone with its soul. I immediately used a Homeward Bone to return to Firelink Shrine to purchase the Sunlight Spear miracle, and the armor of the Soul of Cinder to pay homage to my opponent. "Thou were a noble foe, and I shall wear thy armor to honor thee," I said as I made my way to the shrine bonfire. I then returned to the Kiln and summoned the Fire Keeper and she cradled the fading flame in her hands and darkness was quickly settling. I heard the Fire Keeper ask me if I could still hear her voice, I nodded in reply, but since it was so dark, she couldn't see it. I closed my eyes relishing in my victory and the new age to come. "Perhaps the new age will be a beautiful one, free from this dreaded curse. I wish you were all here to see this my friends, after all our sacrifices, we finally ended Gwyn's curse upon the world, at least for the time being. I said to myself as I began to drift off to sleep. As I slept I felt like I was being summoned to assist another Unkindled, but it didn't feel the same. "Am I being summoned elsewhere? I asked myself as I felt my form slip through the various cracks of reality as the summons was still sending me to my duty as a Blade of the Darkmoon. Equestria, Everfree Forest "Whomever has beckoned me, I shall serve thee if by my life, or death I will be thy dispenser of justice in the shadows." I said as I sat up from the bonfire that seemed to have followed me to this new world. "Where am I?" I asked as I looked around the unfamiliar forest I found myself in. "Wherever I am, I hope there is some form of civilization so I may find information of my new dwelling. For what good is it to wander blindly in a strange new world?" I said as I set off towards the setting sun. I heard growls coming from the nearby trees, and I prepared myself for whatever creature would try to kill me. Out of the bushes a wolf-like creature jumped out and on instinct I raised my shield and the creature bounced off allowing me to slash at it twice, causing the Lightning infused into my sword to take effect and it causes the creature to lie on the ground motionless. "I know there's more than one." I thought to myself as my assumption was correct and one was lucky enough to break my guard and pin me to the ground. I thought I was done for, but then I heard something that sounded like a sorcery being prepared to be cast. Then I saw a dark blue beam hit the creature pinning me down and the creature exploded. "Keep away from him mongrels!" A most decidedly female voice said. I heard the sound of hooves on the ground and stop near me. I looked up at my savior, and saw a beautiful equine-like woman who had a horn coming out of her forehead, wings coming out of her back, her mane and her tail looked like the night sky, her fur was midnight blue, and her eyes ocean blue. She also wore a modest dark blue dress that had a symbol of a crescent moon surrounded by a black spot. She knelt down next to me, "Art thou alright?" she asked in a concerned tone. "I'm fine." I replied as I sat up to face her. "What is thy name?" she asked as I stood up and retrieved my Lightning Lothric Knight Sword, Ethereal Oak Shield, and Filianore's Sacred Chime from the ground. "My name is Damien Flamel." I replied. "Who are you?" I asked her. "Our name is Luna, we are the Princess of the Night in Equestria." Luna replied. "Where dids't thou come from? We haven't seen anypony of thy kin here." Luna said as she stared at me in wonder. "I come from a land called Lothric, I am a human, in case thou art wondering." I replied as I looked around the forest to make sure we were alone. "What was thy occupation, thou looks as if thou art a knight and a bell ringer." Luna said as I put my chime away. I chuckled at her observation. "Did we say something amusing to thee?" Luna asked defensively. "I was a cleric, but I wear armor because Lothric was a very dangerous place to travel." I said to calm her. Luna then saw my sigil pronouncing my loyalty to the Blades of the Darkmoon covenant on my left shoulder plate. "What is that sigil on thy shoulder?" Luna asked. "That symbol means I have pledged myself to the Blades of the Darkmoon covenant." I replied proudly. Luna's face lit up with a smile. "Thou art a lover of night?!" she asked gleefully. I shrugged. "I suppose, a Blade of the Darkmoon is a person who is summoned to assist others slay Dark Spirits who dare to invade their realm." I replied. Luna seemed to ponder my words, I could tell she was planning something. "Would'st thou like to come with us to our castle Damien?" Luna asked. I nodded, "Let us depart from this forest." I said as I walked up to join Luna. Little did I know that I had just met my new leige and perhaps my next great adventure had just begun.