//------------------------------// // The Undead Burg Part 1 // Story: Sunset Shimmer - The Princess of Lordran // by ratedoni //------------------------------// Taking the current predicament step by small step seemed like the only solution to the current dilemma Sunset found herself in. The irony in all of this was that it was Sunset the one who was to blame to what happened this time. Although she would be quick to point out that it was partially her fault that she found in Lordran right now due to her bullying antics in the past, this time she was quick to put the entire blame on herself. A stone under her foot cracked a little bit, making the redhead bit back a curse at the sudden movement as she stood as rigid as a statue. Sunset switched some of her body pressure to her right foot, then cautiously moved her left as she slowly but surely moved across the foundations of the huge aqueduct system. To know exactly what had happened we would have to move backwards a little bit, seeing exactly what was the chain of circumstances that made Sunset put her undead life on peril in a fool’s errand. Just after the duo of female warriors met the cleric known as Petrous, they went back to the safe haven of the bonfire. “Can you tell me anything else about the Way of White?” “My knowledge about that covenant is a little limited. You have to understand, I gained most of my knowledge from covenants due to my interactions with them. So far I met so few members of their ranks that what I know is mostly whispers, fragments and hearsay,” Madeleine told Sunset as both took a seat close to the flames to battle of the morning chill, or at least Sunset thought it was morning. So far the sun hadn’t moved in the days she had been practicing and she had to trust Madeleine’s internal clock. “You say covenants, as in plural.” “Well, yes, the Way of White is not the only one out there. For what I know, the Way of White is more or less like a church I suppose, since it was established by Gwyn’s uncle.” “Wait, you mean Gwyn, as in the guy who found the First Flame?” “Yes indeed, they are that old. They are very powerful in Thorolund and Astora but my own rambunctious attitude never let me focus on things like prayers according to my Mother. The Way of White’s leader is the Head Bishop who is the guardian of the Law and Caste or something alike,” Madeleine said and Sunset was capable of seeing the dark ebony eyes behind the mask roll as if she found the idea stupid. The silver mask covering part of her face was a bizarre design to Sunset, who so far have seen undead and people wearing armor and clothing in the style of the Medieval Era back on Earth. The design was truly unique and it didn’t seem to bother Madeleine while fighting. “So if they sent someone to take care of the person who they sent to look for this Rite of Kindling, it means it’s someone from the high echelons of Thorolund.” “Thinking like a good adventurer, good. Keep doing that and you will keep your wits in this place. You better because I will be terribly miffed if my best disciple turned hollow.” “I’m your only disciple.” “Who knows, who knows. But, you asked me about covenants and believe it or not I know about a couple. There is the Forest Guardians who seem content to simply defend their small piece of grass. Also, there is the Princess Guard Covenant who protect the daughter of Gwyn and themselves, so if you find one, don’t initiate a fight and they will simply let you go. Apart from those only rumors and whispers about other covenants but nothing of importance.” “Well, seems like I have some work to do,” Sunset said ready to stand up and initiate her own pilgrimage to the first Bell of Awakening. “Before you go my dear, let me give you one piece of advice and some information that I believe will be vital for you in this perilous adventure of yours. Be careful of who you meet out there, because just like you, Lordran seems to bend the rules of time and space and people from the past, future, and even other worlds could be out there,” Madeleine told her student as she simply nodded at that last bit of information. Sunset knew well that it was possible. She was, after all, living proof that something like that could happen. So with that out of the way Sunset took her measly belongings and walked in the direction of the aqueduct. Alongside the training, Madeleine had told her about several important places and the two different locations of the Bells and the only one Sunset felt she had a chance of reaching was the one in a tall tower. The redhead checked her shield and axe one last time and walked in the direction of the stairs, taking them one by one with no hurry and always careful of what could be found. And found she did, because protecting the stairs to the Aqueduct were a number of hollow warriors staying completely immobile, waiting for someone to get close. Sunset took a look at the hollow warriors she could see but found no other route she could take in that direction. Putting her shield up Sunset began to walk into the danger zone and stopped once one of the hollows took notice of her. With a mighty jump attack, the hollow wanted to eliminate Sunset in one swing of his sword, but Sunset was faster. Instead of waiting for the swing she took a step forward while moving to the left, attacking with her own hand axe. What ended up happening was that instead of the hollow striking Sunset or her shield, he was caught in midair with a thunderous hit from Sunset’s axe, basically ripping the hollow in two, its rotten innards raining onto the floor. The redhead immediately went back into a defensive position looking everywhere for signals of another hollow, which proved to be the correct move as another warrior jumped down attacking her. It was quickly put down by a savage strike into its temple by Sunset who then noticed something weird. There was an armored hollow not too far away from her - like the one she had taken care off in the Undead Asylum - but instead of attacking or groaning, it simply stood there, looking into the distance like a doll. If the undead hadn’t attacked yet then it meant he won’t do a thing until Sunset got closer, which she didn’t want to anyway. Continuing her travel up the stairs, she was soon caught by surprise by a small object hitting her shield and Sunset had to curse as flames quickly followed the attack. She had been hit by a surprise attack of firebombs and she had walked right into the trap. Sunset’s scream of pain a second later made the six girls watching the action flinch as the redhead was struck on the side by another undead which the redhead hadn’t seen. She quickly bashed him in the head with her shield before slashing half of the head of the hollow with the axe. Turning around quickly, Sunset put her shield up again as the flames once again licked the surface of her shield and in one quick move she kicked the hollow sending him backwards. Just as she thought she had beaten all of the hollows another one fell from the stairs above close to the entrance to the aqueduct, but instead of attacking her, it suddenly lost its footing, also falling backwards into the abyss, leaving Sunset blinking in shock. Looking downwards after checking no other hollows were close, she saw that both of them had fallen into the armored one and the trio had sailed into the dark abyss. Sunset shrugged her shoulders, turning around before glancing at the hollow with half a head, making her almost gag at the gruesome scenario in front of her. The girls back home didn’t have so much luck due to Rarity having to run to the nearest toilet before her late lunch appeared in her mouth again. Sunset quickly averted her eyes from the cadaver and instead focused on the weapon of the hollow. It was a very beautiful steel battle axe that was basically calling her name. So, how did Sunset suddenly found herself in the position she was currently? Well, because she had seen something shining downstairs and she had been curious enough to not only jump into the foundations of the aqueduct and its small pathway but greedy enough to see if it was anything of value. The redhead had to be careful to not aggravate her injuries by moving too fast or too wide. She still had the Estus Flask full but she decided to use it only in emergencies, thinking that one small cut wasn’t grave enough. At last, after a minute of slowly walking almost on air, she reached a decomposing body and with some nudging of her foot she found out that the body had been once human. With everything under control, Sunset soon found out the source of the blinking light, a rather old and plain oval ring that she took out of the body. For a second she felt like a thief but quickly came to the conclusion that if she wanted to survive long enough in this place she needed to take all the advantages she could. With the ring in one of her multitude of pockets, Sunset began the arduous journey to the entrance of the aqueduct and the Undead Burg.