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// I Saw the Sun, and he Saw Me 
// Story: Rainbow Dash Explores Lordran 
// by The Skyrunner 
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	Beyond the archway previously blocked by the monstrous demon was an old, decrepit hallway with more than a few holes in the walls and floor.  Rainbow Dash kept her eyes on the floor, careful to not step in a single hole.  Her footsteps echoed on the stone, the metal boots she wore clanking with every other step.  A simple staircase led downward.  Since it was the only way forward, it would have to do.  
Once at the bottom, Rainbow glanced outside the doorframe she was greeted with.  Her right showed an amphitheater overlooking the city below, while her left showed a massive bridge leading to a chapel-like structure.  Several hollows dotted the bridge, mindlessly walking around with no real intent.  Shrugging, Rainbow decided to try her right first, since it would be quicker.  She found the round semi-circle devoid of pretty much anything except for a single, solitary figure who was staring at the sun.  Rainbow gulped before hefting up her broken sword, trying to judge when he would attack.
The figure turned around, revealing a silver helmet with a green feather trailing off the top.  His chest plate was hidden by a white tunic that had the sun emblazoned on it.  His left hand carried a large, round shield with a similar insignia, and a straight sword hung from his hip.  Surprised at Rainbow’s drawn weapon, he too drew his own.  “Oh?  A hollow decided to wander over here?”  He said, gripping his blade.  “Well, I would do no lesser honor than to put you out of your misery.”
“Wait, you can talk?”  Rainbow said.
“Wait, you can talk?”  The man said.  Both of them stared at each other before letting out a laugh.  “Well, this is rightly embarrassing.  I took you for one of those mindless beings, so I was prepared…”
“It’s no problem.  You’re the first non-crazy person I’ve met since I left Firelink Shrine, so I automatically assumed you were gonna kill me.”  Rainbow sheathed her petty excuse for a sword before offering her hand.  “My name is Rainbow Dash.  Might I get yours?”
“A fine name, Miss Dash.  I am known as Solaire of Astora.”  He sheathed his own sword before shaking her hand.  He offered a place next to him, and the two sat down to look at the sky.  “Tell me, Rainbow.  What do you see up there?”
“Uhh… The sky.  A few clouds.  The sun.  Why?”
“Exactly!”  Solaire said giddily.  “The sun, that which gives its light to warm us all.  The sun, given to us by Lord Gwyn to light our way each and every day.”  He paused for a second, as if to silently pray.  “I have come to this land in search of my own sun, so that I may bask in its warmth.  You must think that strange, everyone does.”
“No, not really.”  Rainbow replied, looking up.  “I think it’s kind of neat.  You’re trying to find a connection to something bigger than all of us.”  She smirked.  “It’s kind of awesome, if you think about it.”
“Now, that’s a reaction I don’t normally get from people.  Most scoff at me and leave. But you?  Hah!  It seems as though you’re searching for something here as well.”
“Two things, actually.”  She sighed and looked at the knight.  “I’m trying to find a way to get back home first and foremost.  In the meantime, though, I promised a guy named Oscar I’d ring something called a “Bell of Awakening.”  You wouldn’t happen to know what that is, would you?”
“Hmm, it does spark something in my mind…”  Solaire thought for a second, stroking the bottom of his helmet like one would a beard.  “Aha!  The Bells of Awakening.  Yes, I remember now.  One of them is not very far from here, you see.  It’s at the top of the monastery above us.”
“Really?”
“Yes indeed.  However, there are quite a few hollows between here and there, and a few other nasty creatures who would wish to do you harm.”  The armored man soon stood up and adjusted his tunic.  “I’ll simply have to help you along.”
Rainbow Dash, surprised, stood as well and looked at the man.  “You’d do that… at risk of your own life?  Just to help me?”
“Miss Dash, I am a warrior of the sun.  It is my sacred oath to help those in need, and you are in such need.”  He reached into a small bag on his hip and pulled out a small coin, which he handed to his companion.  Rainbow looked it over, seeing it to be made of gold with a sun etched into its surface.  The coin let off a pleasant warmth as she held it.  “Here, as a token of my companionship, is a Sunlight Medal.  Keep it with you, for if we part or I should perish, use it to remember our time of cooperation.”
“Thank you, Solaire.”  Placing the medal into her bag, she went to leave.  Solaire followed her, and the two approached the bridge that she saw before.  To Rainbow’s surprise, most of the hollows seemed to have been killed by something.  The ground smelled of brimstone.  “What happened here?”
“…A Wyvern.”  Solaire responded.  He knelt down and touched the burnt residue on the ground.  “From the looks of it, an adult who hungers for flesh.  We should tread carefully.”  The two slowly walked across the bridge, weapons drawn and their eyes peeled for trouble.  A strong wind blew.  “It’s near!”  Solaire shouted.
Rainbow looked around, and spotted a small stairway nearby, in the middle of the bridge.  “Quick, in here!”  She called out, running towards the opening.  She heard Solaire’s footsteps right behind her as she ducked down the stairwell into a small room below the bridge.  The two caught their breaths, followed by “So… did it see us?”
A roar filled their ears and fire flickered from the stairway above, telling them their answer.  “I would say that it most definitely did, Miss Dash.”  Peeking back up the stairs, the two travelers saw a red wyvern drake clinging to the tower on the far side of the bridge.  Its yellow eyes gleamed in the setting sun as it searched for prey.  The gate underneath it was wide open, and Rainbow could see an unlit bonfire inside.
“Do you think we could make a run for it?”
“Not likely…”  Solaire paused for a second before continuing, “But if one of us were to pose as a distraction, I’d bet the other could make it to the other side.”
“Not happening, bud.”  Rainbow protested.  “You’re the only person who’s been nice to me since I got here and been alive for more than a few minutes.  I’m not losing that now.”  She gripped her broken sword, but not before smirking.  “I have an idea.”
“Is it any good?”
“It’s stupid.”  She said, before taking her hilt and throwing it up the staircase, aiming for it to clear the short wall on the side of the bridge.  It did, and it sailed through the air for a few seconds unseen before both travelers could hear a loud clanging sound far below them.  “Wait for it…”  On that cue, the wyvern roared and jumped off the tower, drawn by the noise.  “Run!”
The two dashed up the stairs and across the bridge, into the small room.  By the time the wyvern would realize nothing was there, Rainbow and Solaire had already ignited the bonfire and caught their breaths.  “You’re right, that was stupid.”  Solaire said, taking the time to sit on the fountain nearby.  “But it worked, so I can’t fault you.”
Rainbow beamed at his response.  She sat down near the bonfire, and after a small yawn looked out of the tower to see a few hollows milling about once more.  Solaire was still beside her, and he was busy looking around the room they were in.  “Hey, you wouldn’t happen to have a spare sword on you, would you?”  Rainbow asked.  “That hilt was my only one.”
“No wonder you tried to pull it out on me.”  Solaire laughed.  “No, I’m afraid I only have mine.  However, countless hollows carry weapons.  I’ll just have to slay one and take it for you.”  From the bonfire, Solaire walked towards a balcony opposite a set of stairs.  Curious, Rainbow followed him to discover a small platform with a ruined statue resting on it.  Grass and moss grew all over the structure, as it had been broken for many years.
“What’s this?”  
Solaire simply chuckled.  “This, Miss Dash, is an Altar of Sunlight.  A resting place and site of worship for a Warrior of Sunlight like myself.”  He knelt down in front of it, murmuring a prayer to himself.  Rainbow sat down near it, giving him some space.  When he was finished, the two left for the stairs and ascended them.
“I see two hollows right above us.”  Rainbow said.
“Two hollows against the two of us?”  Solaire responded.  “It hardly seems fair.”
The two of them charged.