//------------------------------//
// Meeting of the great leaders 
// Story: Walker of the Abyss 
// by lunarstallion 
//------------------------------//


Lordran, Firelink Shrine


The chosen undead was tired. After a long and arduous battle against Seath, a legendary scaleless dragon, he warped to Firelink to gain some semblance of rest. The crestfallen warrior that always sat on a pillar near the bonfire was gone, possibly attempting to end his torment himself. The chosen one didn't much care for him in the first place, but was glad he wasn't here. Silence is what he needed now, and the world seemed as if it would give it to him.

The world, however, had different plans, as the primordial serpent Frampt saw the warrior simply basking in the fire's heat. "Chosen undead, have you completed your task that has been laid before you?" Frampt asked, knowing the truth, "Because you know that it is necessary for the future of this world that the fire be kindled."

"And how will that happen, Frampt?" The chosen undead asked, in a rare bout of speech. "You've told me that all I need to do is gather the four lord souls and offer them at the altar, simply so I can succeed lord Gwyn and inherit the flames. What then? Will the world simply become a better place? Will all of our problems simply cease to be, and all of the demons will return to whatever realm they once came from?"

"I'm sure something will be worked out with the demons-"

"No, Frampt, nothing will be worked out. The demons will still be running free, the world will still be broken, timelines will still be skewed, and the only thing that will change is Gwyn will die, and I will apparently rule over this new world." He paused to take a breath, and look at the stunned serpent. "This world is cursed, Frampt. Not the curse of the undead, not simply a curse that can kill, but a curse that sends this world into torment. Ever since fire was discovered beneath the ancient dragon's feet, giants and humans alike have constantly been fighting over one thing or another. I'm beginning to think that we can only wait until the day the earth dies, and we all perish along with it."

Frampt shook his head, "Nevertheless, warrior, you cannot know any of that to be true unless you defeat Gwyn, and take his place in the fire. Perhaps it will not fix everything as you said, but there is always a possibility that sacrificing yourself will fix the world, and all that is ailing it. The only way you may tell is through the doors behind the altar."

The chosen undead sighed, standing from his position at the bonfire. "Whatever, serpent. I have three of the four lord souls, so I must continue going. Farewell, Frampt. I shall see you again soon."

With those parting words, the chosen undead ran towards the catacombs, aiming to obtain his fourth and final lord soul.





Artorias and Luna pressed ever onward, allowing themselves to be lead by the Abyss' inhabitants, slowly but surely making progress though this dark and desolate place. Every once in a while, Artorias would stray from their intended path, just to test and see if Manus would be paying attention. Every time, without fail, a humanity creature would pop out of the darkness, its white eyes looming over his head.

After what he assumed to be a good ten hours of walking, he could hear Luna panting behind him, clearly winded from their endless trek through darkness. Turning back, he regarded her weary state with a critical eye only a warrior could gain through years and years of battle. What he saw wasn't pretty. "Perhaps you should return to the surface, Luna. You don't appear to be in any condition to do battle against the evils of this place."

Looking up into his helmet, Luna steeled her tired gaze and shook her head. "Nay, sir Artorias, we shall press on 'till we can walk no more." Luna began forward yet again, but was stopped by an armored hand. Looking up once again, she addressed the knight angrily. "I understand thy worry, Artorias, but I assure you, I will be fine. 'Tis been far too long since I have done anything so dangerous, I'm afraid that I have grown a little soft..."

"I understand, princess." Artorias reached into his item bag, "But allow me to assist you." Holding his hand out, he gave her two items that she gingerly took in her hooves. One a green moss type plant that seemed to glow with energy. The other, a small white bone that appeared to be composed of pure magic. "Eat the grass, then crush the bone beneath your hoof. It will help, I promise."

Nodding, Luna took the strange magical plant into her mouth and ate it, immediately receiving its magical benefits. "Amazing! I feel invigorated once again! What was that curious plant?"

"It was a green blossom. A few leaves of that, and you will have stamina enough for ten grown men. Now, princess, the bone?" She nodded towards him, giddy and glad that she can continue.

Upon breaking the bone, Princess Luna was immediately swept away in magical dust, taken back to wherever she considered home.

"I truly am sorry, Princess Luna. You were an excellent companion," Knight Artorias spoke to the empty darkness around him, slowly drawing his sword from its sheath, "but this is a quest I cannot allow any other to partake." With a shout, he began sprinting with incredible speed in a random direction, immediately encountering and slaying three humanity sprites.

'I must find him quickly, lest he gains more power and begins his siege on the surface.' Running into what he assumed was the horizon, Artorias swung his sword in front of him expertly, never slowing, never stopping.

Whatever horrors Manus has conjured up this time, Artorias knew he would face them, or truly die trying. He would not allow himself to be corrupted yet again, and would not allow Manus to do to this peaceful land what he once did to Oolacile.





At the surface camp, Celestia and the Elements were organizing evacuation efforts as smoothly as possible. Nopony was told exactly what was going on, or how dire the circumstance. They were allowed plenty of time to pack, although few did, seeing that Princess Celestia herself was organizing the efforts. Upon seeing her outside their door, most of the ponies on Ponyville would immediately sprint out of their homes, joining the rest of the evacuated ponies.

A few hours after she had sent the Wonderbolts away with their messages, the Abyss began its assault. It was only a paltry few enemies, but they were enough to break through the guards stationed around the gorge. It took Celestia's light magic to slay them effectively, as they were too fast and unpredictable with their movements. The horrible bloated creatures were just the beginning, though, and Celestia had immediately ordered Ponyville evacuated. The elements, of course, immediately volunteered for the evacuation crew.

Now, every single pony or otherwise that lived in or around Ponyville was getting loaded into several trains to take them to several different cities, the bulk of ponies going directly to the palace itself. 'They will be safe there, for the time being.' Celestia thought to herself, beckoning Twilight and her friends to come with her back to the military camp.

Upon returning, immediately Celestia's gaze was drawn to the many new occupants of said camp. Dragons, huge mountains of scale and muscle, stood angrily around the gorge, staring into the deep depths of the Abyss. Griffons, ever the stalwart soldiers, stood with Iron Hoof, discussing military strategies and defense points. Minotaurs sharpened their weapons in the back, eagerly awaiting the inevitable battle with an almost uncontrollable blood lust. Zebras stood in a corner by themselves, brewing potions and chanting defense hexes. The horses were nowhere to be seen, but Celestia expects them to arrive later anyway.

Approaching the camp, every occupant immediately stopped what they were doing to regard the princess and her entourage. At once, a dragon landed in front of her, its black scales glinting in the light of the setting sun. Immediately following the dragon was a Griffon with golden feathers, the clear mark of a royal bird, and a massive Minotaur, even by their standards.

"The time for formalities and hatred is now in the past, Celestia," the Griffon leader said, nodding towards her in respect, "we are all here to aid in our plight."

"The bird is correct," The Minotaur replied, stepping forward, "Our nations have been cold towards each other as of late, but I am willing to set that aside for this sort of problem." He then proceeded to kneel in front of her, a gesture that showed her his words spoke true.

The Zebra mare that stood next to the great trio simply nodded to Celestia knowingly, acknowledging that they would always be allies.

All parties looked towards the great black dragon, who had yet to speak at all. Slowly, it lowered its large head to be eye level with the Princess. "Know this, ruler of these ponies: We are not friends. As a matter of fact, I despise your race. The only true reason that I have not ordered your country burned to cinders is because of your control over magic and the celestial bodies." Celestia secretly knew the dragon was lying, but allowed him to continue anyway. "However, this is not a threat that the dragons or any other race can face alone, even those with such magical prowess as you. I will be an ally in this endeavor, but likely no other."

"I'm glad for your allegiance, Darkscale," she said to the dragon, nodding deeply at the massive head. "As I am for you three as well, King Gold feather, King Strong Arm, High Priestess." She bowed deeply to the trio of rulers, and they reciprocated. "Now, onto business."

Celestia's horn glowed with a sickly green light, forming an orb and shooting it to the horizon to the south. She did the same with many different colors of magic, and shot them in seemingly random directions. After she was done, she turned again to the six mares behind her. "Twilight, are you aware of what I have just done?"

Looking around a bit owlishly, she snapped her head back to Celestia, "Um, I'm afraid I'm not, princess."

"What I did was send the same message that these four leaders received to every other nation across the world. That means the Changelings, the Naga, and many others that Equestria has long since considered to be either hostile or extinct. I need the words of you and your friends that no ill intentions will show up during their stay here. You need not make friends with Chrysalis, but tolerate her presence, as this is not something we can do without her, or any other.

"Do you understand?" Celestia ended, questioning Twilight.

Twilight herself faced a dilemma. She hated Queen Chrysalis for what she did to her brother's wife, but ultimately understands that this matter is something Equestria has never truly experienced before. "I, and my friends, will do our best to hold back our grudges, right everypony?" She turned back to see her five friends nodding together, coming to the same conclusion she did.

"Good, because it appears she will be arriving first," Celestia said, looking towards a growing black cloud of changelings in the distance.