//------------------------------// // Chapter XXIII The shaded woods // Story: Sir Alonne // by Lady Maria //------------------------------// As the others comforted me I picked up the scorching Iron scepter and gripped it hard in my hands. I feel horrible my rage blinded me and now because of that my only friend was gone. Maybe this was how he felt when he killed me all those years ago. I couldn't let this get to me I had to man up plus I look stupid when I'm crying like this... "Lets go we need to continue we can't waste time here." I said as I sheathed my sword, and got up off the ground then putting the Iron scepter and the Iron crown in my bottomless box. I then lead everyone down towards the primordial bonfire. As we gathered around the fire Aracnoth lit the flame as he keeled down and teleported us to Majula... As we got back to Majula I ordered what was left of my pony soldiers to return home. They were hesitant at first but then tried to convince me to let them stay. I challenged them to do a training exercise I taught my Alonne knights to do. Not one of them could do a single thing that they were suppose to do. I then ordered my Alonne knights to do the task and every single one of them did it in under a minute. I started tapping my foot, "Well not one of you ponies could do anything in that exercise but all my Alonne knights did and they did it in under a minute." I said as the ponies looked down in shame: "Go home now that's an order." I said as the ponies lowered their heads and walked through the black portal back to Equestria. "Sir Alonne don't you think that was a bit harsh embarrassing those proud soldiers like that?" Fluttershy asked as I looked at her with a stern face. "No they were weak and now that I have my personally trained knights and they are a lot more trained then those fools." I said as I scoffed remembering how easily they were knocked around: "Plus I prefer human like soldiers over ponies. The reason is that I know the human anatomy and can heal someone properly if need be. Also those ponies were stubborn when they were suppose to do as I said." I say as Fluttershy nods understanding why I sent them home. "You guys do what you need to do we're leaving Majula in a hour." Aracnoth said just as I thought the same thing. For the next hour Twilight and her friends rested, and hung out while Aracnoth upgraded his equipment, and restocked his supplies. I however just Reinforced my equipment to the max and had my Katina's durability increased, and like that the hour passed in what felt like mere minutes... "Alright guys pack it up were going to the Shaded Woods!" Aracnoth shouted as everyone packed up their things and followed Aracnoth and I as we moved north towards the Shaded Woods. As we came across a building with a man resting against the rock I send Aracnoth to talk to him. Aracnoth persuaded the man who I would come to know as Benheart to join us in our quest to defeat and kill Manus. "Guys I would like to introduce you to Benheart of Jugo." Aracnoth said as everyone else said hello, "Benheart this is Twilight, that's Pinkie pie, that's Rainbow Dash, that one there is Apple Jack, that is Rarity and Finally this is Fluttershy." Aracnoth said leaving me out knowing that I like to personally introduce myself. "And I Benheart of Jugo am Sir Alonne. I am master samurai, I have build several kingdoms with my bear hands along side throneless kings and queens, and I commanded a army of five hundred Alonne knights before drangleic was even founded." I say as Benheart blinks in surprise. "Well you have a number of accomplishments that not even I could match up to." Benheart chuckled as I laughed lightly as well: "I should warn you there is a statue up there blocking the way and it looks to human to be a man made one. I think the girl was turned to stone." Benheart said as he pointed to a woman holding onto a switch that was frozen in stone. "Do not worry I got this guys." Aracnoth said as he went forward and unfroze the woman. For a few minutes he talked with the woman then came back to us: "Sir Alonne send one of your knights to escort this young woman back to Majula." Aracnoth said as I signaled for one of my soldiers to guide her back to Majula. About five minutes later my soldier came back and we were now ready to set off again. We trekked forward, and continued our quest. After opening the gates to the shaded woods we were assaulted by several undead and one basilisk. After killing them we went forward and killed about seven to ten hollows before reaching a bonfire. Aracnoth lit the fire and then we continued and went into the shaded woods. We entered a area that was completely shaded over. I had everyone stand on their toes and make sure to take not of the slightest movement. Out of the corner of my eye I saw a white cloaked silhouette. I sprinted forward and then unsheathed my blade and swung it. I felt the hollow's body split in half as I cut through it. I had the others go forward as I took care of the two other cloaked hollows. As I followed the rest of the group back up the stairs and to the bonfire they were resting at. Lucatiel sighed as she laid back and drank some estus. I waited about five minutes before we left and continued forward again. We rushed through the area killing the lion knights that got in our way. We walked under a ruined archway and up a hill as we came to a fog wall. I took a deep breath then sighed I put my hand out into the mist then walked trough followed by everyone else. I came in to see a woman buried in sand from the waste up. She had a long curved spear and was practically naked. She started to cast magic then shoot souls spears at me. I Dashed forward then shoved my katana through her chest. She hissed before retreating underground then coming back up revealing her true form. She had the upper body of a human female and a lower body of a scorpion. Twilight started to shoot what looked like several purple soul spears at the woman. Amazingly they all hit and caused the beast to stagger. Aracnoth went forward and used his greatsword to smash her exoskeleton. Twilight's other friends used their weapons to slowly kill the beastly woman. We continued to battle her for about fifteen more minutes before I laid the final blow and killed her... Back in Canterlot... Princess Celestia sighed as she looked out the window and to her setting sun. She was worried on how the elements of harmony were doing and more importantly how Sir Alonne was going to pull this off. He had sent back her ponies and only three fourths of them returned the others were KIA. Shee could feel Manus's darkness corrupting the rest of the world. Soon Manus would be upon her kingdom and without Sir Alonne or the elements of harmony here no one could stop him not even her...