//------------------------------// // Chapter 3: 02 // Story: Abyssal Redemption // by SCP Pinkamena //------------------------------// Abyssal Redemption I Have A Golden Ticket... "My King..." Artorias said, bowing in Gwyn's presence. Gwyn laughed lightly before addressing the young hunter. "Artorias," He said with a smile. "I have heard many stories about you. How you are the head of the clan in the forest, and that you have made friends with a wolf pup. Alvina has told me that you are the highest in your ranks as well, and I just couldn't help myself." He gave the King a confused look, before he caught a thought that he wanted only wish was his imagination. "You don't mean...?" "Ah, yes my boy, I do. Welcome to the ranks of the Silver Knights..." *Beep... Beep...* "So...what is it Twilight?" Spike asked as he looked at Artorias' prone form. Twilight only shook her head, as she was for a loss of words. Not long after Luna had been purified, she took one glance at him and backed away, refusing to look at the beast. Celestia was no worse for wear, threatening it if it had harmed Luna. After she quickly explained that the Element's had it hit both him and Nightmare Moon, Celestia seemed to calm down, if only just. When she suggested that one of them take the creature, no one really opted to the idea, until Twilight perked up and volunteered. Now, Artorias lie prone on her basement floor. His sword, she discovered, was eaten by something she had never saw before. The blue sludge in the blade refused to come off, but looking at his once broken arm, she saw some of it dripping down. Taking a cotton swab, she gently rubbed the goop, and what happened shocked her. The sludge, if she could call it that, swallowed the whole cotton swab, which was impossible considered she was trying to get a sample the size of a bit. "Spike, hope your taking notes..." She said as she continued to study. The tassel on his helmet was once a bright cerulean, but it appears to be faded by the same material corroding the sword. After the Elements had hit him, a primeval scream was heard throughout the forest. They all assumed it to be from Artorias. His breathing was stable, but yet all the cuts, and more importantly the stab, should all say otherwise. When Nightmare Moon had stabbed him, it was once through his belly, then a second and third time in his chest. Any normal being, barring dragons, would've been dead in seconds. This being on the other hand... "Spike, do me a favor and bring me the sharpest knife we have..." Twilight said to Spike, who only gave a concerned look before dashing off to the kitchen. When he came back, she took the knife from his grasp and set herself up on the same machine he was on. "This machine is calibrated to record the feeling of the one hooked up to it," she said as she positioned the knife to her foreleg. "So... if I just give it just a little push..." she said as she yelped in pain as the knife punctured her skin. The machine beeped and recorded waves that showed that she received the pain. "Okay... That's how my brain responds to the pain, but him?" She said doing the same thing, but his results showed nothing like hers. In fact, he didn't receive the pain at all. "Extraordinary..." she mumbled. Spike on the other hand quickly rushed to get band-aid for Twilight's cut. "You know, you're really irresponsible sometimes..." he said. The beeping of the machine started to quicken and they both looked at the knight who was shaking on the table. "Again!" Gwyn yelled as he launched from his position. Artorias, the rookie Silver Knight, held his shield up to block the Great Lord's attack but came up to slow as he was thrown from his position on the sparring ground. "You'll never be a knight, let alone a Silver Knight if you keep loosing your balance! This isn't the forest anymore, boy!" He said delivering a fierce kick to his shield, knocking it away. Gwyn's greatsword came flying with all his strength, but the young Artorias rolled away in time. Seeing that Gwyn's back was open, he made an attempt. Gwyn launched a hand out and stopped the sword in it's tracks. "You are learning young one..." He said breaking the sword in his grasp. "But you still have much to learn." He sheathed his own sword and began walking away until he felt a small pebble peg the back of his head. He turned to see the young Artorias with his helmet off, tears stinging his eyes and his broken hilt in his hand. "Don't you dare walk away..." he said with in his most commanding voice. "Don't you DARE! Walk away..." He gripped his broken sword with both hands and threw his shield down. "I have come to far to just have you leave on me... I refuse to admit defeat to you! Silver Knight's are not defeated... only lost in battle..." Gwyn looked at the ferocity in the boy's eyes and began to laugh. "You really take that saying to heart don't you... Fine. Ornstein!" Gwyn called and the Black Knight Ornstein appeared at his side. "What is it my king?" "Give this boy one of your swords... He wishes to spar some more and his weapon unfortunately broke." He explained and Ornstein gave him a questioning stare. "My king, why would this rookie knight need a one of the Black Knight's swords? Yes, I see the plight of having a broken blade, but my king--" "Are you questioning me, Ornstein?" Gwyn said very calmly. Artorias saw Ornstein shiver at the Great Lord's glare. It amazed him, to see a Black Knight tremble was unheard of. Ornstein cleared his throat and presented Gwyn his sword. "It's not for me, Ornstein." "Of course." he said turning to Artorias and presenting the sword. The sword was unlike anything he had seen. It's design was not like that of the Silver Straight Sword, but rather had a more promising look of death on it. The blade started thin, but ended broader much like a greatsword, a weapon he was familiar with. With a flick of his wrist, Artorias tossed the blade from his right to his left. "This time, I wont hold back." "Interesting... Left handed swordsman? Those are few and far between! However..." He trailed off as he took his sword from his right hand into his left as well. "I can play the same game too..." His blade danced between his fingers before he bounded towards the Silver Knight and quickly swiped. Artorias, quick and confident, did something unheard of at the time. He raised his right arm, and preformed a parry on the Great Lord. Ornstein gasped in shock as did the other Silver and Black knights. Gwyn held the most shocked face of all, for he had no idea what to expect of this young Silver Knight. Artorias took the black knight sword and thrust toward the Great Lord but stopped short and instead struck him with the pommel, sending him to the ground with a small gash on his forehead. Artorias held out a hand towards the Great Lord and smiled. "You're much to sluggish." The Great Lord blinked, and laughed out a hearty bark. "I must be if you could down me!" Taking his offered hand, he pulled himself up as he pulled Artorias down, lightly stepping on him, and proclaimed his victory. All the while, a shadow lingered in the dark, silver dagger ready, and a gold sword thirsting for blood...