//------------------------------// // Chapter XXVII The Abyss // Story: Sir Alonne // by Lady Maria //------------------------------// As I sit up and rub my head I see Aracnoth wide eyed as Alsanna just staring in front of her dumbfounded. I got up and turned around to see what they were looking at and even my jaw dropped. In front of us where the Twilight and her friends with my whole split up army of Alonne knights, a giant man in golden armor and holding a huge hammer in the shape of a sacred bell chime. Next to him was what looked like a man holding a sword made of rocks that glowed blue like a pure magical beam, Next to him was 4 white knights and about gift black chared ones. I looked over to their right and saw a bunch of Ashin warriors and possessed armors I had created hundred of years prior. And finally there were a bunch of green mossy knights holding maces and scimitars. "Twilight?" I ask. "Yes Alonne?" She responds. "Why is there a whole army behind you?" I ask worried. "Because my friends and I went all through Drangleic and other lands to get help so we could defeat Manus's together." Twilight responds as the others nod their heads. "Well this is surprising..." I say as Alsanna runs up to the king with the ultra great sword and hugs him crying. As Alsanna and the Burnt Ivory King reunite I turn to the giant black portal and used my magic to direct it to Canterlot. As Alsanna and the Ivory King finished their reuniting emotional tear fest everyone got ready to move into the portal as I said my goodbyes to Aracnoth, "Aracnoth it has been an honor fighting by you're side I hope when all of this is over we can meet up again and just relax." I say smiling. "Indeed just be careful Alonne Manus is a dangerous being and shouldn't be taken lightly." Aracnoth says as I chuckle "Do not worry Aracnoth I won't take him lightly and I will give him my all." I say making Aracnoth brighten up as he hugs me then walks up the hill and out of Majula. I sigh as I signal for my army and the others to follow me into the portal. What we would find would scar us all for life... Meanwhile on the streets of Canterlot... Princess Celestia, Princess Luna and all of the Royal guard were fighting Citizens who had been corrupted by the abyss. Their heads were bloated, and their limbs were mutated horribly no one could even tell which pony was which. Manus's personal army was in Canterlot destroying it. His army was made of of undead and the general, a famous knight who traversed the abyss but never returned... Artorias the Abyss Walker! Princess Luna, and Celestia were now in a heated battle with the knight who was slowly and steadily overpowering them. "HHHHUUURGHH!" Artorias roared as he jumped into the air and landed on a guard that was trying to help his Princesses. The guard screamed in pain as Artorias impaled him and then flung the guard into the wall of a nearby house. Princess Luna growled and stabbed Artorias, only to make the great knight even more furious. "Sister we cannot hold him off forever he is too strong!" Luna shouts dodging Artorias and using her rapier to stab him several times as Artorias growls and kneeled down having darkness swirl around him. Luna gasped as she tried to stop Artorias from becoming stronger and more unstoppable. "LUNA GET AWAY FROM HIM!" Celestia yelled panicking as Luna was blown back by a shock wave Artorias produced and flew through a wall being knocked unconscious: "LUNA NO!" Celestia cried as she was Knocked onto her ass by Artorias. Celestia quivered in fear as she knew this was the end for her as she closed her eyes. But then she heard what sounded like the elements of harmony being activated. She looked over to see Artorias facing Twilight and her friends with a massive army of human like figures ranging from 6-12 feet in height. All of these warriors were armored to the teeth with huge weapons of all kinds. Then she was blinded as the rainbow death beam from the elements of Harmony hit her and Artorias. She heard Artorias give out a mighty roar as his screams echoed through Canterlot. The light vanished as Celestia saw Artorias not turned to stone but with his hands and knees on the ground coughing. I pushed my army aside and ran up to Artorias and used my magic to heal him. "Knight Artorias are you alright?" I ask helping him up. "Y-yes I thank you all you have freed me from Manus's grip." He says coughing and breathing pretty heavily. "Knight Artorias my name is Sir Hiroto Alonne I was you're apprentice a few thousand years ago." I say as Artorias's head jolts up and looks at me. "Hiroto is that really you?" Artorias asked examining my face which had not changed sense age twenty five. "Yeah its me I was corrupted by Manus's darkness as well but his daughter Alsanna made me immune to his influence and madness. This is the reason I look like a demon." I respond gesturing to my body that was half demon. "Well I want proof you are my apprentice, show me the Medallion I gave him." Artorias says as I take out my bottomless box and pull out a golden medallion that was in perfect condition and had several engravings in it. Artorias examined the medallion looking for certain scratches and markings he put in it, "Yeah this is the medallion I gave you..." He says accepting that I was his student, and good friend long ago. "Artorias I'm going to go put a end to Manus and sense I have his daughter's dark powers I can defeat him and use dark spells to counter him properly." I say as Artorias looks at me as he narrows his eyes. "I'm coming too." He says as I chuckle. "Just as I remember you Arty now hold still." I say using the same spell on Artorias as Alsanna did on me making him immune to the darkness and Manus's corruption. I signaled for my guards to wipe out the corrupted ponies and hollows, I then looked back to Artorias, "Arty can you show me the way to the portal you came in from the abyss?" I ask as Artorias nods and signals for me to follow him as he runs in the direction of the portal. We turned several corners and wend down about a dozen alleyways before coming to a blackened area with one of many small portals: "Come on Hiroto through here!" Artorias says as he walks through the black mist as I follow after him. Aracnoth approached Drangleic castle holding a torch as he was drenched in rain. Aracnoth killed off some royal soldiers that stood in his way as he came to a stop as he saw Shanalotte standing on the platform before the stairway looking up at the castle. Aracnoth approached Shanalotte and spoke, "Shanalotte?" He calls out. "Bearer of the curse you're soul has grown incredibly strong. In order to put the darkness to rest for good you must light the First Flame for the last time by sitting on the Throne of Want. But my master Aldia will be waiting for you please defeat him and link the flame." Shanalotte says as Aracnoth gives a small smile. "Do not fret Shanalotte I plan to link the flame for the last time and make light last forever." Aracnoth says as Shanalotte smiles. Aracnoth turns around and walks up the steps to Drangleic castle. As Aracnoth reached the top steps two Mastidon warriors came to life and started attacking Aracnoth. Aracnoth scoffed as these weak beings were no match for him. With one swipe Aracnoth cut both giants in half walking by them like nothing had happened. Aracnoth was determined to relight the First Flame and he wasn't going to be stopped. Aracnoth turned to his left and killed one royal soldier then killed the one on the right making their souls power the golems. The golems picked up the bowl like statues and pulled them up making the doors of the castle open. The other royal soldiers didn't even bother with Aracnoth because he was so powerful. Aracnoth turned to his right, and went down the hall cutting the Syan knights down. He then turned right again and opened a door. He went inside and massacred the two royal soldiers in there then walked to the latter and slid down it. Aracnoth came to another small hallway and wend down it coming to a door. Aracnoth pushed it open and saw another door and walked forward pushing that one open. In front of him was a bonfire, Aracnoth put his hand out lighting the bonfire and resting at it. Aracnoth got up and exited the room and turned to his left and saw a huge twenty foot tall door. Aracnoth put on the ring Aldia gave him and walked to the door as it started to open by itself. As it was all the way open he walked forward and down the shoddy stone steps. As he walked on this path for several long minutes he eventually came to the fog wall. Aracnoth took out his black witch staff and casted a few miracles, multiple magic buffs. With his blade glowing with lightning he put his hand out and walked through the fog... Artorias and I came through the portal and walked into a thick darkness. I could see about five feet in front of me as I squinted to try and see where the hell to go. I looked to Artorias as he signaled for me to follow him as he walked down a slope leading downwards. As we walked through the abyss not one hollow was there Manus had left himself completely unguarded! I laugh as we walk down another slope but then I saw black misty ghost like things that ranged in different sizes. Some of them were as tall as me as others were up to my waist and as small as my boots. Artorias gave one slash killing the sprites as the ones who were left alive fled. I shivered as I looked at them they were creepy they felt like humans but weren't. I eventually brush the thought off and follow Artorias as we go deeper and deeper into the chasm. Eventually we reached a area with a small bridge that led to a fog wall. Artorias clenched his great sword walking forward as I followed right behind him. As I reached his side we both put our arms out and walked through the fog. As we came out the other side we were on a ledge. The ground started to tremble as there was a loud rumbling sound as darkness started rising from the pit. Then I saw Manus's huge deformed hand grab me as I was pulled down into the pit. Artorias jumped down after me with his sword at the ready... (And this is the Manus father of the abyss fight intro just imagine Sir Alonne and Artorias there instead of Iron Tarkus.)