//------------------------------//
// To link the fire, or let it fade 
// Story: Lord of Cinder 
// by SolidArc5542 
//------------------------------//

Standing victorious in the ash covered ruins of the Kiln of the First Flame, the Unkindled One looked down at his final trial. The Soul of Cinder who he had so desperately fought against was finally defeated by his sword. The fight itself… confused the Unkindled One. It was no ordinary fight. It wasn’t like fighting against any normal enemy, demon, or Lord of Cinder. The Soul of Cinder proved to be a much greater challenge than he had first anticipated. Using a weapon that could then be transformed into different weapons was something no man would ever think of declining.

The Unkindled One watched as the Soul of Cinder dropped to its knees and vanished. He watched as the bonfire where the Soul of Cinder had been resting at suddenly lit up, causing the flames to sooth the pain the Unkindled One was feeling at the moment. But those flames would have to wait a bit longer. Taking a sip of his final Estus Flask, the Unkindled One slowly walked towards the bonfire. Looking down at the fire, he held out his hand to touch it… but stopped himself seconds later.

Why? Why was he so tempted to rest at this specific bonfire? This bonfire felt so different than the others, yet it looked identical. He didn’t know the exact reason why he stopped… but he did. Turning around, the Unkindled One pondered over what he should do. He had been tasked to return the Lords of Cinder to their thrones and inherit the flames. But why exactly? What has he to gain from all of this? What will happen to him when he inherits the flame? He did not know, but he was curious. Could he return to Firelink Shrine and perhaps ask the Firekeeper for assistance?

As if fate would have it, a summoning sign appeared inside of the ash covered area where the last fight of his days as an Unkindled One had taken place. Any help could be useful to him, so he decided to touch it. 

What he summoned, however, greatly confused him.

Standing in front of him was a four legged creature reminiscent of one he had not seen since… by the gods, how long had it been since he started his quest through Lothric? Deciding to ignore the past, the Unkindled One focused on the present and the task at hand. 

Finding out why there was a pony standing in front of him.

The pony, probably as confused as he was, looked around, most likely trying to get a better look of its surroundings to know where it was. It was only when the pony laid its blue-green eyes upon the Unkindled One, clad in his Fallen Knight armor that it finally knew where it was.

Not home anymore.

The Unkindled One tilted his head in confusion. Shrugging, he decided to do the thing any sane person would have done. He got on one knee and petted the surprisingly cute looking pony. This, however, made the pony shiver back in fear, hiding its face behind its light pink colored mane. 

The Unkindled One, seemingly unsurprised by the pony’s actions, got up and turned around, ready to walk towards the bonfire, but not knowing the reason why.

“Uhm, e-excuse me, Mister—or Miss, but could you please tell me where I am and how I can go home?”

A voice? And a distinctly feminine sounding one at that. Turning around, the Unkindled One stared at the pony in confusion, though it was not visible due to his helmet covering up his face. The Unkindled One stared at the pony for quite some time. The pony did the exact same thing, staring at the strange creature in front of her. It was when the pony spoke up again, that the Unkindled One was certain. That voice defiantly came from the pony, and not someone else. His first thought was that someone had casted the Chameleon Miracle to hide themselves from plain sight. But that thought was now completely dismissed.

“Um, not to be rude but staring is kind of… impolite,” the pony said, causing the Unkindled One to look at her in confusion.

He had seen stranger things in his journey through Lothric, yes. But seeing such a ‘normal’ and peaceful looking creature stand in front of him and talk to him—actually calling him out for his rude actions—was something he defiantly was not expecting when he first stepped foot into Lothric.

“Oh, I didn’t hurt your feelings or anything, did I?” the pony asked.

The Unkindled One shook his head reluctantly, not really sure what to say to the pony.

“Oh, that’s good to hear,” the pony said happily, smiling at the Unkindled One. “But… you didn’t answer my question. Do you know how I got here and how I return to my home? You see I was in the middle of feeding my animals when all of a sudden this strange stone drops in front of me. I wanted to pick it up but it broke when I touched it. Then, when I opened my eyes because I got a bit scared by it breaking I… ended up here, with you.”

The Unkindled One shrugged, pointing at the ground, trying his best to explain what had happened. He had not talked for a very long time. The only time he had actually started up a conversation with someone was when he first encountered Siegward of Catherina, the “Onion Knight” as many called him. But those conversations usually ended up with Siegward doing all the talking, while he just nodded his head or replied with a simple “yes” or “no.”

“So… you don’t know?” the pony asked, sighing in defeat when the Unkindled One shook his head. “Well that’s not good. If I can’t return home, who is going to take care of my animals? Oh, and Twilight and the others will be so worried. And I can’t forget about Discord. Oh, and the Elements of Harmony! How will I—deep breaths, Fluttershy. Deep breaths.”

The Unkindled One continued staring at the pony—whose name he guessed was ‘Fluttershy’. He truly pondered how such a tender creature like her could possibly lay down her summoning sign to aid others in their fight against greater adversaries. Sure he had done it plenty of times and always lived to tell the tale… but this pony, this Fluttershy, she doesn’t even know where she is. Upon even closer inspection, he noticed set of wings on her sides. Was she perhaps a descendant of the angels? Or was she part of the Winged Knights? Bending down and reaching into his pouch, the Unkindled One pulled out his White Sign Soapstone and held it out for Fluttershy to see. Pointing a finger at it, trying to get Fluttershy to understand what he was asking her. 

“No thank you, that’s yours. Though I do appreciate you actually wanting to give me something. It’s really nice of you.” Fluttershy replied, ending with a nervous chuckle.

The Unkindled One had to resist the urge to smack himself across the head. Alright, time for option two: A demonstration. Placing the White Sign Soapstone on the ash covered ground, the Unkindled One tried to write down his summoning sign… but found out that he was unable to do so. Shaking the thing furiously in a desperate attempt to get it to work, the Unkindled One lowered his head in defeat as he put the Soapstone back in his pouch.

Was there an option three? No, probably not.

“I don’t know what you were trying to do… but thank you for trying.” Fluttershy said, thanking the Unkindled One.

Again he had to resist the urge to smack himself across the head.

Letting out a loud sigh, the Unkindled One did something he thought he would never do again.

He spoke.

“I am… sorry,” he said, replying in a low, but almost gentle tone as he lowered his head. “Not… know... to return… home.”

“It’s okay,” Fluttershy said, placing a hoof on his armored leg. “It’s not your fault. I’m just glad to know there’s somepony I can talk to, I guess,” she continued, tracing her hoof across the ground, the ash sticking to her fur. “I’m Fluttershy, by the way,” she said, looking up at the Unkindled One. “What’s your name?”

“… Do not remember,” the Unkindled One replied.

“Oh, that’s terrible!” Fluttershy exclaimed, placing both of her hoofs on the Unkindled One’s legs. “You poor thing.” She said in a soothing voice.

Her voice. Something about her voice reminded him of someone. Someone important. Someone… he cared for. And yet he could not even remember who it was.

“Do you mind telling me why we are standing in… ash?” Fluttershy asked.

The Unkindled One looked around him. He did not take the time to take in the breath-taking scenery when he was fighting the Soul—or should he say, ‘Souls’ Cinder. But now that she mentions it, the scenery was truly breath-taking. The Kiln of the First Flame. It was a place he had never heard of, yet it all looked so familiar to him. When he absorbed the power of the Soul of Cinder it felt like he absorbed the soul of a god itself. But the ancient legends do state that it was a god of thunder who linked the First Flame. But alas, these are just legends of old. No one truly knows what happened in previous kingdoms that have fallen to the curse of the Undead… the Darksign.

“Had… fight… defeated my adversary,” the Unkindled One replied to her question.

“You fought against somepony?” Fluttershy asked in shock. “You shouldn’t have done that. Fighting never solves anything. It just ends up with somepony getting hurt.”

“Had… no other choice. Lords of Cinder had to return to their thrones.” The Unkindled One retorted.

“Lords of Cinder?” Fluttershy asked, confusion clearly written over her face.

“Never... mind,” the Unkindled One replied, waving a dismissive and at her as he sat down on the ashy ground, only a few feet away from the First Flame. By the gods, what was he supposed to do? Every single Lord of Cinder had probably journeyed far and fought against many great beasts, demons, and knights to get to the place he was standing right now. Lord of Cinder… that title. It meant that they had been burned to ash, sacrificed themselves to link the fire. And for some reason he felt the need to follow in their footsteps. Lothric and Lorian… the two Princes. They linked the fire… or at least one of them did. Yhorm the Giant… even he linked the fire, linking it so that others—including the race that had been at war with his kind for so long—would live to see another day. The Abyss Watchers who linked the fire, cursed to fight against one another for all eternity until he came and put a halt to their suffering by collecting their Cinders of a Lord. Aldrich, the Devourer of Gods… even he linked the fire. And Ludleth the Exiled—no, Ludleth of Courland, even he linked the fire.

So was he supposed to do the same thing? He did not know why his body was telling him to go through with it, while his mind told him to do differently. He was conflicted and in pain. He had gained so many things… but also lost equal the amount. He was in quite… the pickle.

“Confused,” the Unkindled One sighed out, lowering his head in shame. “I am… confused. I don’t know what to do…”

This made Fluttershy look up at him with a look of compassion. “What are you confused about?” she asked.

Deciding it was time to put his vocabulary to the test, the Unkindled One spoke up.

“I am confused… on what to do. Lords of Cinder… they… died honorable. I… do not know what to do.”

“I’m sorry you feel that way, sir,” Fluttershy commented. “But these Lords of Cinder, who are they? They sound pretty special. At least, that’s how you’re making them sound like.”

“Because they… helped. They gave up their lives for… greater goods,” the Unkindled One replied. “They all did something… that would require you to gather all of your courage. But I… do not think I am able to find… courage… in my soul…anymore. My body is telling me to reach out for that bonfire,” he said, pointing his index finger at the First Flame. “But my mind is telling me… not to. For something bad will happen… when I do.”

It was true. Something would happen. Something that had happened countless times before the Unkindled One that now stood in the Kiln of the First Flame was even born. The linking of the fire would mean a new cycle, a new kingdom, would be born. This kingdom would prosper… but only for a short period of time. Lordran, Drangleic, and now Lothric… two have already crumbled, Lothric will soon follow.

But the Unkindled One had no idea what had happened. What countless “chosen” people had done before him. They all sacrificed themselves for the greater good. They all died as a martyr not only for humanity, but for the entire world. Was it because they were ordered to do so? Or were they misled? Or did they do it because it felt right? Of course the souls of those Lords of Cinder described what they had done… but that does describe it in full detail. A summary is just a summary, nothing more.

In his journey through Lothric he had been told to inherit the fire by many people. He had learned so much through his journey. About Lothric, the Lords of Cinder, and even small fragments of the past… of kingdoms long gone. The Firekeeper herself had told him to inherit the fire. That it was his destiny. He had no other choice than to believe her every word. Hunt down the Lords of Cinder and return them to their thrones. A giant, a devourer, an exiled soul, doomed soldiers of an Undead Legion, and a Prince. All of these Lords of Cinder were different from one another, yet they shared the same fate. Was this his fate as well, then? Was he to become a Lord of Cinder and inherit the flame? It was what he had been told to do… but still, it was not his own decision. He did not even had a say in the matter.

Looking down at the winged pony, the Unkindled One spoke up, trying to use as many whole sentences as he could. “I have no… choice. My decisions were made by others. My friends are… gone. My past… shrouded in mystery. My soul… filled with strength. Strength which I do not know the purpose of.”

“So you mean that everypony has been making decisions for you?” Fluttershy asked.

The Unkindled One nodded.

“That’s something I can relate to,” Fluttershy shamefully admitted, lowering her head. “Sometimes other ponies would make decisions for me and make me go on adventures I didn’t want to go on. But I eventually learned that going on these adventures actually helped me. But I still didn’t like it that others were making decisions for me. So I eventually stood firm and said: No.” Fluttershy said, standing proud as she looked up at the Unkindled One. “I don’t know what your decision will have in store for you, so I can’t really give you any tips. Sorry. All I can say is that you should make your own decisions. Because they make the pony you are whole.”

“It is all right,” the Unkindled One replied, shaking his head. “I suppose it is time that I made my own decisions… Oh, how incredibly stupid of me.”

This time he did not resist the urge to smack himself across the head. Reaching into his pouch, the Unkindled One grabbed hold of his Black Separation Crystal. “Fluttershy,” he said, bending over to pet her on her head, stroking his gloved hand over her mane. He smiled underneath his helmet as she let out a soft sigh. “Though our time was short, I must say that I enjoyed your company. As for my name… I have been called many things. Ashen One, Unkindled One, Champion of Ash… but I do not believe that it matters anymore.”

Clutching the crystal tightly to his chest, the Unkindled One muttered a few words before looking at Fluttershy one last time. “It was an honor and a privilege meeting you, Fluttershy. May the flames guide your way.”

Fluttershy nodded her head, smiling at him. Though she did not understood what he meant by it, she was sure it was something nice. She suddenly saw a bright light surrounding her. She closed her eyes and let the surprisingly warmth feeling of the light take her in.

“Goodbye, it was nice meeting you,” Fluttershy whispered, peeking an eye open only to see the Unkindled One walk towards the bonfire.

And so the Unkindled One stood in the Kiln of the First flame, alone once more. Lowering his head and removing his helmet, the Unkindled One touched his face with his gloved hand. He was no longer the man he used to be. His own decision. His decision. What would it be?

He knew that the Lords of Cinder all inherited the fire. When consuming an ember he felt his strength increase drastically. His stamina, his endurance, everything increased. Does becoming a Lord of Cinder mean that this strength would be doubled, tripled maybe?

He did not know. He never knew. But as it was said in legends: “When the link of fire is threatened, the bell tolls, unearthing the old Lords of Cinder from their graves.”

That meant the Lords of Cinder had not been put to rest. This fire, the fire they had so desperately tried to keep burning would keep on fading over and over again, in an endless cycle. It would mean that he would be unearthed from his grave as well, should the link of fire be threatened. Would that mean another Unkindled One would have to put him on his throne?

No. It was time for him to make his own decision. The Firekeeper and many others had been making his decisions for him.

No more.

The Unkindled One slowly walked towards the bonfire. It was time that he made his own decisions. He sat down at the First Flame and waited. He had nothing to live for anymore. So he decided to live for others instead. To wait by the First Flame for another Unkindled One to arrive. So he could stop them from becoming a Lord of Cinder, So that he could stop them from becoming what he had almost become. Fuel to a dying flame. A flame that could never be returned to its original state. So that the cycle may finally end, and that no one would ever be able to link the fire anymore. 

The fire will fade, yes. But letting it fade might mean the cycle could finally be broken.

Looking to his side, the Unkindled One noticed another summoning sign. Deciding to touch it, he actually summoned the Firekeeper.

“Ashen One,” the Firekeeper said, bowing her head to him in respect. “Thou hast journeyed far. Now, make thine decision.”

Taking a deep breath, the Unkindled One spoke up.

“Let it fade, fair maiden. It is time to rest, for all of us.“