Orion, a knight that was waiting and training for the day the gods would send him his quest. He almost succeeded in it...if it wasn't for that fjord and wizard.
Orion, an amazing knight that could wield any greatsword with one hand. Sadly, he met the end of his journey, not by a blade, but by a fall, far from the land of the living.
He was told to succeed Lord Gwyn when the time was right. From training in the land of the living, to a prison cell, and then in the once great land of Lordran, Orion travels, determined on his quest.
Stuck with the curse of the darksign, how will he react to the new world in which he has never lit a bonfire at? How can he adjust to living without constant killing? What of his quest?
Equestria...the place of friendship. Hardly suiting for one of the best knights in the age of fire. At least a few things haven't changed, dragons are here, demons and few "hollows", the primordial serpent, and that wierd guy that calls himself Domnhall of Zena.
Orion Raced through, slicing, smashing, eviscerating, and vanquishing the crystal golems as they ran to him, foolish enough to challenge him, Orion the Grandmaster of Greatswords, in Lordran that is.
"Thine skill is pitiful." Orion commented as he forced his zweihander through a golem, cutting him in half.
Orion ran swiftly, a feat not easy as he was wearing Black Iron Tarkus' armor. His training was to be thanked, he practiced day and night with the best before he became undead. He used his zweihander, imbued with great magic from Rickert, in his left hand. In Orion's right hand rested a flaming greatsword, one of Vamos' best works. His back held a giant's shield, stolen from a sentinel before death, under the shield rested his best weapons a black knight's sword and greatsword. The greatsword, mighty and strong, held intense lightning while the normal sword was modified for constant poison, the product of that moss-driven undead merchant, the giant blacksmith of Anor Londo, and Andre of Astora.
Orion could be considered the new Astorias...if not for one thing. He lacked his greatsword. He was actually on his way to it now.
"Haha! Such fun thou give me!" Orion bellowed as he smashed the last golem into a shattering purgatory. The hydra heard him a long time ago and kept missing him, no matter how many water blasts he sent his way.
Orion kept running and passed the hydra, jumping heads and rolling away. He slammed his flaming greatsword through the golden golem's head and pinned it into the floor. Orion pulled out the black knight's greatsword and faced the dragon, his flaming blade in the rocks, waiting for his hand.
"Have at thee!" Orion yelled to the basin and charged at him dodging each snapping head before jumping on one as it pulled it back.
The hydra raged and raged as he stabbed, sliced, and mutilated its heads before jumping back to the safety of solid rock as the great beast sank down. Orion reclaimed his flaming greatsword, putting it on his back, its flames extinguished.
"My savior! Thank you for releasing me." An odd woman spoke behind him as he washed his weapons clean of blood.
"Who art you?" Orion questioned, drinking greedily from the water and washing himself of his sweat.
"I can't tell you, but I'm from a far away land called Ooacile, I can feel myself fading back as we speak. For your braveries, summon me whenever you require help and I'll gladly lend my magics to the battle." The woman stated before disappearing.
"Prepare yourself Artorias, thy will be expecting a guest." Orion spoke to himself as he prepared and walked towards the huge ladder, leading to the deep parts of Darkroot Garden.
Orion easily defeated the demonic foliages along the way, now he stood in front of the white light.
"This shall be easy..." Orion spoke and passed through the light.
While slowly walking up to the giant grave surrounded by greatswords, Orion brandished the normal black knight's sword in his left hand and the matching greatsword in his right.
The moment he touched the greatsword's blade, a booming wolf howl was heard. The Great Grey Wolf Sif howled again before he stared at Orion with interest the at the greatsword.
"Well, Sif, dost thou plan to guard thy master's sword?" Orion questioned the wolf.
Sif tilted his head before softly jumping down and sniffing at Orion, touching his face before giving a half-hearted lick.
"I'm not thine master." Orion stated, quite confused.
Orion was once in the grove and now...was over then river with Artorias's greatsword in his gut. The sword decided itself to kill him.
As Orion started to stand up, he noticed that he wasn't at a bonfire, he was at the attention of a small green dragon in a woden treehouse.
Orion quickly readied the black knight's greatsword for a slam and its smaller brother for a stab. He had no idea where or what this place was, but he would not be defeated by a baby dragon.
"Die, dragon!" Orion yelled in triumph.
"TWIIILIIIGHT!" The small reptilian pleaded for help.
Orion was just about to smack him into dust when a purple magic bolt shot his side, making and tumble over in a chorus of metal rustle.
"Who dare to challenge Orion?! The great grandmaster of greatswords?!" Orion bellowed as he stood to slap another bolt from hitting him with the toxic-blessed blade.
"Spike! Run!" A purple color schemed small horse said and sent another bolt to get smacked away.
The baby dragon complied and ran behind the magically attacking horse, shaking with fear.
Orion quickly put away his swords and pulled out the sentinel's shield, securing it into the ground, blocking the magic blasts. He took this time to brandish his enchanted zweihander.
"Thou know not who you art against." Orion spoke as he headed toward the door behind him.
"Spike, alert the princ-" The supposed purple unicorn that was deemed Twilight went unheard the minute Orion closed the door.
Orion raced out of a small village filled with varients of the wierd unicorn creature. He ran and ran and ran, colors blurring whenever he dodged something. Orion finally stopped as he tired out from his sprint. He stood in front of a cottage in the outskirts of the odd town.
Orion started to speak his thoughts, like he always had.
"If I came to life next to that small purple and green odd baby dragon, then the beast must surely be a bonfire of some kind. I should try a more stealthy approach to return to human and refill my estus."
As if clockwork he turned around to see a yellow coat, pink-maned pony in front of him, just in time to see it drop a basket of apples and scream in terror.
"Hush thine shriek, I shall not bring harm upon thee." Orion attempted an explaination, but the scream continued.
Orion noticed other forms coming toward him and he reacted quickly. Taking off his right gauntlet, he took off the steel ring of protection and the magic stoneplate ring , quickly replacing them with the ring of fog and the slumbering dragon crest ring. He finally put his gauntlet back on and headed toward the town.
Orion was quite fortunate to make such good friends.
The odd horses started to panic from his presence according to what Orion was hearing until he got out of hearing range. He managed to stroll through town, arranging his items along the way.
He slowly opened the library door and saw the 'bonfire' on a stepstool rearranging books.
Stealth helped him as he reached the bottom of the stool and took off his rings, replacing them with the old ones.
"Young dragon, hear me speak." Orion said and the dragon jumped at his low deep voice.
"W-w-who a-are you?" The small dragon asked.
"I am the grandmaster of greatswords, Knight Orion. I have one wish to ask of you, it will not bring thee harm." Orion responded.
"W-what is i-it?"
"I wish to return to human and kindle to refill my precious estus flask, if thou would let me." Orion answered.
"O-okay." The reptilian eeped out.
Orion sat and reached out to the dragon, holding a black sprite which zoomed to the dragon. Orion's features returned with green magic dust. He held out three of the sprites and the small dragon felt fire brewing within him as more servimgs of estus was given to Orion. The knight stood once more.
"I am finished, I owe thou a great debt, firekeeper."
"Why do I feel stronger?"
"Humanity can be strength for the uncursed and human." Orion spoke.
"You know, you don't seem so bad, Ori...Orion." The dragon struggled to say the knight's name.
"Who art thou? Thee has yet to give speech to thy name." Orion questioned.
"I'm Spike." The lizard finally released his name," You know you sound like Princess Luna."
"How dare thou, wretched lizard! To relate me to an uptight royalty, I am a proud knight, the best of all." Orion uproared.
"No, wait! I meant like your speech. She talks the same way as you." Spike explained.
Minutes were spent talking, explaining, questioning, and other chatter. Spike and Orion began to respect each other and their differences.
"That's some quest." Spike commented.
"This is some place." Orion spoke.
The two shared hearty laughs as the door opened.
"What the...." A purple-maned, white unicorn stammered.
"Hey, guys. My new friend, Orion, isn't as bad as you all went on about." Spike said as a huge white equine parted the group and strode in, wearing royal gold attire. A horn and a pair of wings donning her form.
"She must be this Princess Celestia we spoke about." Orion once again vented his thoughts.
"So...you are this rampaging bipedal creature I heard about."
"Thou art correct. If you do not mind me asking, how art thou doing this fine afternoon?" Orion asked.
"I'm doing quite fine, thank you for asking. We have much to discuss." Celestia said.
Orion spent the rest of the day talking about his fate and Equestria. No one noticed the time until the question of such appeared. Celestia left briefly after, the topics necessary to be discussed, taken care of. It was decided that Orion would sleep in Rarity's guest room that Sweetie Belle since she was having a sleep over at Apple Bloom's for two days. A shack would be built for him and finished before Sweetie Belle got back.
"So, you are a knight?" Rarity asked along the way, the sun slowly falling.
"Indeed, proud to be one as well."
"I bet it's difficult to be traveling, fighting, and ki....killing to survive."
"Not exactly, when you have been training a lot. It does get quite lonely though and hollows don't make good talk or company."
"We'll keep you talking from the time you are here until the time you depart."
"That's quite kind of you, but I have an important quest to complete." Orion spoke, observing his surroundings as if he'll have to fight for his life later.
Life in Lordran will do that to a sane man.
"A quest? How intriguing. Please, do tell." Rarity responded.
"I am to cast away the dark, succeed Lord Gwyn, banish the darksign, and save the land from dark and cold. But I'll be needing a ton of souls." Orion answered.
"W...what? Souls? You...can't be serious!" Rarity was utterly scared as she cautiously opened the door to her bourtique.
Orion had a hearty laugh.
"Thou misunderstood, Miss Rarity. I may not be jesting, but these souls are gotten from greats beasts, creatures, and other things out for my blood. I could get such souls from fellow undead, but that isn't sane and I'm no damned hollow. These souls, of which I speak, are used to gain power in ways of strength, speed, endurance, intelligence, life, dexterity, and basically power. They are also the accepted currency in Lordran." Orion explained and Rarity calmed herself.
Orion walked inside after Rarity, ducking under the doorway
"I assume you are a seamstress of tailoring." Orion observed the dresses and suits on the pony mannequins.
"I prefer fashionista, but I do create clothing masterpieces. I might even be able to create something for you." Rarity offered.
"As generous as that is. I shall be fine in my chainmail."
Orion began to unstrap himself of the thick black iron armor on him. He was left in a complete fullbody chainmail suit that covered even his feet, strangely comfortable.
"Where may I put these?"
"In the guest room of course. Forgive me if I seem...rude, but why do you smell horrid?" Rarity questioned as she stared at his hugely muscled physique.
"Well...I was sent off a cliff and into a river with a huge greatsword in my gut." Orion told.
"How tragic..." Rarity sympathesized as the two headed into the back of the boutique and sat on a red chaise after Orion put away his armor.
"That and thou try to find a wash basin and clean water without losing your center piece. Also, I was far too busy in my training to devote some of my time to scrubbing sweat and stench off my limbs." Orion said, chuckling a little.
"Not to be a bad host...but you really need to wash up. Allow me to show you to the bathroom." Rarity said and headed toward the stairs.
"If thou insist so strongly..." Orion decided to just deal with it.
Rarity does seem to be a very ladylike character...
~~~~~~~~~~
Rarity opened a door at the top of the staircase to the left, a completly white-tiled bathroom was shown, clean and tiles were so clear they were almost functional mirrors.
"Now just call for me if you need anything else, there is a clean towel on the rack there, now I'll be-." Rarity was cut off from her instructions.
"Forgive me for the interruption, but...how does one work this contraption?" Orion was puzzled at the tub, looking at it from odd angles and tapping parts of it.
"Well, when you are ready to wash, you need to only fill it with water, hot, cold, or whatever your temperature preference is." Rarity said and pointed to the knobs.
Orion was still completely puzzled.
"Where is thy well? I did not view one when we arrived at thine residence." Orion asked.
"Just turn the knobs...left is hot water, right is cold. Now I'll just be heading to my room to retire..." Rarity lost her words after Orion followed her instructions amd turned on the cold water flow and began to undress.
Orion's arms were well-toned and more muscular than any other man's. His torso was scarred, but held up tightly packed and strong muscles. His legs had healed wounds, but were not as muscular as his arms, though still well-built from running in his armor non-stop.
Rarity was left gawking at his huge muscles.
Orion was onky left wearing a loose, edge tattered cloth on his waist that hid his unmentionables.
"I see thou admires my great strength. So much as to drop thy jaw in awe of my form." Orion spoke, laughing.
"I...ahhh....um.... I'll just be heading to sleep now." Rarity said, her face a deep red as she bolted to her room next door and donned her beauty mask.
Orion turned off the cold water, removed his last garment, and stepped in the bath.
Isn't this so enjoyable. Orion thought as he bathed, washing himself clean, quickly scrubbing.
As he finished, Orion unplugged the drain, guessing Rarity would want so, and dried off, using the hanging towel.
He placed it back and dressed himself in his chainmail and headed back to his room.
"What friendly creatures these ponies are...I must repay them somehow." Orion said as he then lie quiet on the bed.
Hours went by until he realized that, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't sleep.
At the time of two o'clock in the morning, Orion grabbed up his zweihander and headed out the door, quietly.
Orion was used to the cold, thanks to the Painted World. He sinked into the shadows so nopony would see him.
As Orion arrived at the outskirts of Ponyville, he heard a familiar groan. One that scared him many years back, but one that he knew to well.
"Eeeuuhh..." A dry throat heaved breath followed after the groan.
Large footsteps were after the breath, accompanied by metal rustle.
"Curses, why did I leave my armor!" Orion knew what to expect. He heaved his zweihander off his shoulder and into both of his hands, the enchanted blade began to glow with the great magic imbued in it, a symbol for the crafter's expertise.
Hollows came shuffling out of thick grass, stumbling as they attempted to run. A zombie, two soldiers, and a balder knight came at him.
Orion slapped zweihander down and crushed the zombie, killing it instantly. He then rushed forward, pulling up his magic blade. He skewered both soldiers onto his blade and kicked them off.
"Damn you, hollows!" Orion bellowed to the unresponsive creaturees.
The balder knight was upon him and took three good slashes that burrowed into his flesh.
Orion fell to his knees, without his thick plate armor he couldn't withstand a hit without stumbling.
"By the blade of Artorias, I will have my revenge..." Orion spoke as the balder knight stabbed him in the chest and ripped his sword out after.
Orion faded away.
Orion woke, his memories still present, but just another gone, a simple one, of his past life. He could no longer remember who one of his trainer's name was.
Orion slowly stood to his feet, holding zweihander high. Next to him was a sleeping baby dragon and further on was a lavender unicorn.
"Spike, time to wake." Orion whispered in a deep voice.
To his surprise, Orion had awoken Twilight, not Spike
"Orion? Why are you here?" Twilight questioned as he sat down next to Spike.
"I was defeated by some damnable hollows." Orion spoke with disdain as he offered a sprite of humanity to Spike and returned to human.
Twilight shot from her bed at his words and brushed out her mane and tail rapidly.
"I'm coming with you. I wanna see them." She pipped in excitement.
Spike groaned and rolled in his basket.
"Let the dragon sleep, fire keepers deserve such." Orion whispered, scalding Twilight for being loud,"Thou can't come with me, it is too dangerous, you could die."
"I have magic, hollows can't hope to injure me." Twilight said, confident in her magic.
"No need to carry out a pointless arguement, just stay close behind me." Orion said.
They quietly headed down the stairs, and outside into the moonlight, where Twilight laid her eyes on Orion's withered flesh.
"Yo...you're....just skin and bones." Twilight spoke with a fear in her voice.
"'Tis the curse. It makes us revive to this form. Unless you carry humanity in your bosom." Orion explained and began sprinting to Rarity's in a mad dash while Twilight galloped behind.
Thanks to Orion's great practice in running he was there and barely breathing any harder while Twilight was panting behind him when they reached Rarity's doorstep.
Orion signaled to Twilight to stay put and he walked inside the boutique and to his temporary room. He quickly donned his armor, not fumbling with any straps or fittings. After a few minutes of armoring himself, Orion picked up his shield and his blazing greatsword, setting zweihander in its place. He walked out and greeted Twilight with a great fire light on his shoulder.
"How did you enchant it that much?!" Twilight yelled in the dead of night.
"I didn't," Orion dug through his pouch, pulling a red rugged rock from it,"red titanite forged the flames of it, a work that only Vamos could create." He explained and returned the titanite to its proper place in his pouch.
The pair kept quiet, mostly due to the fact that rustling metal is already loud enough. Unknown to them, someone was watching as they headed out into the grasslands. The zombie and soldiers becoming more perceivable I the dim moonlight.
And there it was, the balder knight that had slain him, gawking out at nothing in particular, Orion's bloodstain nearby it. This was all the motivation necessary.
"I'll banish thee from this world no matter how many times thine foolishness drives you!" Orion cried and rushed at them, his greatsword raised and shield hefted.
Twilight was watching intently, illuminating the battle with a magic ball above the skirmish.
Orion slammed into them all as they ran towards him, the zombie flying like the dead wieght it became, the two soldiers forced to the ground, and the knight stumbling back. Orion wasted no time and quickly stomped on of the soldier's head, slaying it, the other was treated by his slamming shield, a good hole left in its dead carcass. The knight regained his composition and faced Orion, shield up.
"Wooooo, Go Orion. Kick butt!" A familiar voice shouted above Twilight, none other than Rainbow Dash.
"This is not a show, this is very dangerous, even for you, Rainbow!"
The balder knight realized something with the little thinking power that he had other than combat. The pony over there is an easier target. He sprinted around Orion, confusing the knight for a moment as to why it didn't charge him straight on. He pursued after.
"You're such an egghead." Rainbow Dash commented, leaning back in her conviently couch shaped cloud.
"Says the one who reads Daring Doo.."
Twilight was cut off by the balder knight landing face first in front of her, burning like a torch.
A forever immolated blade pierced its skull and dug into the ground, hilting itself. The handle held by the great hollow slayer, Orion. All went silent, save for the crickets.
"I told thee it was dangerous..." Orion broke the short silence.
"What did that guy ever do to you, or us?" Rainbow asked.
"It isn't a he, it's a damn monster, a hollow." Orion replied as he effortlessly pulled his sword from the ground, blood evaporating from the heat of the blade, gnawing and cracking noises the whole way.
--------------------------
After an explanation, Rainbow had finally come to realize that the hollows were no joke. They all bid each other farewell, but little did any of them know that the battle was far from over, and the war never won.
As Orion strode through Ponyville, the sun barely peeking making a pino canvas along the sky, he was slapped into a tree by a huge force. It fell oddly nostalgic, familiar to his beatings when he first arrived in Lordran.
Orion looked up to see a dreaded red glow around a huge embodiment.
Wielding a giant greatsword, one that seemed to be formed from a dragon, stood a heavily armored enigma, clearly wearing the armor of the elite knight. No doubt this man, this invader was after one thing, a dragon scale.
Orion drank from his flask and stood, the phantom allowing him to do such.
"Rarely doth an invader have honor, I will gladly accept thy challenge."
Few ponies stood watching, forgeting their daily routines to watch this new creature calling itself Orion do battle with another one of its kind.
Both warriors bowed and hefted their weapons, allowing each other to prep for a real battle.
Clashing of steel was heard, clanging in the early morning. Many ponies now gathered around the two warriors that faced off on each other with a will unmatched by any living or dead spirit. Their noise so loud to draw attention from the edges of the Everfree Forest. Twilight had quickly gone out from her preparations for her small nap to see what the fuss was about. Some of her friends watched before she was even there.
"Send him packin', Orion!" A familiar farm voice hollered, the pony throwing an orange hoof in the air.
"Thou fight well," Orion commented as they slammed blades again, knocking loose dirt around them up,"but how many of thy memories do thee retain?"
The two knights slammed blades forward and slid back. The red invader shook his head and pointed low then gave a thumbs down. Such movements were needed for battling through different worlds as voices didn't get transferred often.
"At least thou has the honor to fade away as a noble warrior." Orion spoke sadly.
The two kept on edge, battling for endless minutes, one advancing, the other retreating.
"My bits are on the red one." A stall mare spoke.
"The flaming knight looks more skilled." A rich unicorn disagreed.
They were starting to make bets on who would win. Was this battle that interesting to the ponies?
"Let's end this..." Orion said and charged the honorable invader.
The invader swung with a well-timed swing, but it was for not as Orion caught it with his blade and slammed the sword to the ground. He raised the sentinel's shield and slammed it on the hilt of the blade, knocking the draconic greatsword from his opponent's hand. Orion the charged at him for three steps, knocking him to the ground.
"Any last requests?" Orion asked...respectfully.
The invader pointed to greatsword, taking off his helmet in the process. Orion understood and stabbed his blade into the ground, so deep so none of the ponies could attempt to pry it. He laid his shield next to the invader, trusting him. Orion turned his back and picked up the greatsword of his foe. When he laid eyes on the defeated knight yet again, he saw he had made no moves toward it. Orion stood atop him , holding the greatsword above his chest.
"I'll go hollow after this, but at least a friend will end this journey of mine. May I know your name before I depart?" The red being spome in a craggy, dry voice.
This was astonishing to Orion, nothing like this has ever been heard of.
"I'm Orion. May Artorias assist thee, may thou not go mad and hollow." Orion spoke with remorse.
He plunged the blade into the owner's chest, a pained scream erupted from him until he went still and faded with white soul clumps that floated into Orion's bosom. He felt the power of his soul and the souls he had gathered. Not only that, but he felt some other power. The dragon greatsword still stood in his hands, resonating with the power of the winged-beasts. Orion pulled it from the ground and lay it onto his shoulder, grabbed his shield, laid it onto his back, and pulled his greatsword from the ground with ease. As he was just about to leave, somepony spoke up.
"What's this?" A brown colored stallion held something up from the hole in the ground made by the fallen warrior's blade.
Orion looked back and saw a yellow and white illumination in the stallion's hand. It was a soul, the soul of a great hero, the soul of the invader. Orion ran over and snatched it from his hands, tucking it away in his pouch.
"Such a powerful soul shouldn't be held by one who doesn't need it, can't use it, and shouldn't be trusted with the power." Orion spoke and walked out of the crowd, toward's Rarity's boutique.
---------------------
As he arrived at the boutique, there was one thing off about it. The whole building was torn up and broken in many areas and a white light that secreted fog stood where the front door was. Ponies were already gathered around it. Six friends of Orion caught up to him.
"Rarity!" Spike bellowed and ran toward the door. A rough grip lifted him up.
"No, a fire keeper mustn't die. I, Orion, must face this challenge alone." Orion spoke and set Spike down, sitting next to him and holding humanity out to the small dragon.
Within a few moments, Spike gained strength and Orion gained his humanity. The knight stood after.
"Watch my new blade of honor..." Orion said grimly and plunged the dragon greatsword into the ground.
The knight began organizing his weapons and gear, equiping fifteen poison throwing knives, five firebombs, two servings of golden pine resin, his estus flask, and a homeward bone. With his pack geared up, he approached the wall of white light and mist. Scanning the ground.
"Hurry up and save Rarity!" Rainbow shouted at him while the others were studying over the greatsword that was plugged into the ground.
"The smart undead always finds help, prepares, and scopes out the situation. If thou with to get thyself killed by the monster in there, fine." Orion spoke distastefully before touching the ground, a blinding yellow light sprouting from it.
A swordsman in a radiant yellow form rose with his arms in the air, facing the sun. Shortly after, the figure drew his weapon and stretched his limbs.
Orion quickly ran around the building, returning to the swordsman. The ponies were focusing on him and the figure now.
"Lava, small, but accompanied with fire and rapid tapping sounds." Orion spoke and took of his gauntlets, assuring he had two rings, the fire stoneplate ring and havel's ring present. He put his gauntlets back on after and changed to the black knight's shield.
"Let's go, Solaire." Orion spoke and approached the threshold of the battle, turning after,"If anything bursts free of here I want you all to run, wether it is I, Solaire, or the great beast here." Orion spoke in a deeo and loud voice before turning back to the light.
The two knight shook hands before entering together...
-------
"Get away, monster!" A familiar unicorn said from the story above and threw a pair of scissors on the fire mutation.
Lava and crackling fire were around the room, Orion noted the major fires and the lava pits, but he knew his armor would protect him well. It was the legend's, Black Iron Tarkus' armor.
Orion nudged Solaire and pointed on the ground, signaling him to stay here. Orion himself, lifted his shield and prepped his sword for a stab or slash above his head. The knight the took charge at the demonic beast.
As the heat waves grew more scarce, Orion was able to make out the monster of fire and lava. Eight legs, hair on its back, red with lava veins, exoskeleton of rock. Orion knows this thing. He continued to charge, through small fires and jumping over lava pits. His armor supplying excellent coverage from the flames.
"Do not fret, Rarity! " Orion yelled as he was almost upon the witch spider,"Solaire and I will slay Quelaag."
The witch spun around to face the knight and was just about to spray him with lava before he slid under he whole body, punching her underside with his shield, causing her some minor troubles. Orion stood behind her and gripped his blazing greatsword with two hands, he knew this would be ineffective, but he had to slam her back some, to the now charging Solaire. Orion swung hard at the witch.
Quelaag was sent stumbling forward after each smack to her abdomen. After seven swings she had fallen and Orion slammed his blade into her once more, Quelaag soared above the ground, headed to Solaire. Solaire was about to slash when he was met with lava flowing over him and death. Solaire was vanquished, the message was clearly delivered into Orion's head by an unknown way.
"Damn, should have known thou would give a difficult skirmish!" Orion cursed to the air,"Rarity, I need your help!" The knight yelled and secured his shield for any attack.
Quelaag jumped and zoomed to Orion, her fury sword delivering a stab that sent him skidding back. Orion let his shield down, his arm was numb by the vicious attack. Quelaag began swinging her sword at him, but the seasoned knight, adapted to carrying such heavy armor, watched her movements closely and prepared. He ducked the first attack, then sidestepped the next.
"Rarity, find some way to send Twilight a message. Shoot it out one of the holes in the roof and toward the other side of the white light!" Orion shouted to the unicorn mare.
The knight had slipped up and was sent slamming into a wooden wall, planks and wood pieces falling off the wall. The ponies were sure to have heard his armor slam and the wood snap. Orion quickly cllected himself from the floor and held up his greatsword, barely catching Quelaags blade.
"Hhhnnnnrrrgggh!" Orion's grunt of pain and desperation turned into rage that refueled him,"The Dark won't claim this world! Never will I, Orion, the grandmaster of greatswords, allow this deed to be done!" Orion yelled in the witch's face and spat before grabbing her blade.
The enranged knight ignored the pain, his adrenaline fueling him. Orion pulled the blade toward him with enough force to collapse a building. Quelaag stumbled to the ground, her spider legs splayed around her.
"Perish, foul witch!" Orion hailed to no one.
Orion chopped Quelaag's hand and picked the fury sword up in the hand that held the shield as well. He swung it and sliced off one of her spider legs then slapped the greatsword into her spider head with such force, a giant would be sent to the moon. Quelaag was sent into the opposite wall and busted through it, tumbling through the dirt.
Orion ran out after head and sent his greatsword into the spider's head, the huge blade flew through the air and plunged into its target and into the ground. Orion ckntinued running and jumped onto the spider's head.
"And never return, you damned witch!" Orion shouted and plunged the fury sword into her chest.
The knight stepped off the dead body and reclaimed his blade and sheathed it onto his back. Orion then collected the dragon greatsword and sheathed it on a leather holding strap on his left shoulder. He then went back into the boutique, now through the front door that held no white light.
A great energy flowed through him and a soul appeared in his right hand. Orion quickly absorbed it, feeling the immense power flow through him. Orion was bloated with souls.
Orion saw the lava cool and become stone, the fire burned out, and the intense heat vanished with Quelaag's body. The knight walked to where Rarity is standing up on the second floor that was mostly destroyed.
"Jump down, I'll catch thou." Orion spoke.
Rarity jumped without question and was safely caught in Orion's strong arms. Orion let her out of his grip and she immediately galloped back to her friends. The knight hung around a little longer and collected his weapons, placing them back in their leather and chain straps on his back. Orion joined his friends outside the boutique.
As the adrenaline left his body, Orion found himself huffing and puffing for air and a burning sensation in his chest. He noticed there was a great gash in his armor and blood was flowing out of his chest.
"Are you, alright, my undead?" A motherly voice soothed his still battle ready mind.
"I will be fine..." Orion looked up and saw Celestia staring back at him with a smile.
The knight drank from his flask and his wounds were closing fast after he took two gulps of the life invigorating liqiud.
"I believe we have much to discuss, yet again." Celestia said.
Orion walked to Spike and sat down yet again. The young dragon expecting him.
Orion took out his repairbox and souls began to form into repair powder as he used the machine, he started to repair all his gear, making sure his armor was fixed properly. He then put the box away and leaned close to Spike and handed him obscene amounts of souls. Without knowing a thing, Spime converted the souls to power and gave it to Orion. Vitality and endurance swelled in the knight. Orion stood and stretched his limbs.
"My hero!" Rarity squealed and wrapped her hooves tight around him.
"Just doing my job as the chosen undead." Orion spoke calmly, with obvious fatigue stil in him and his tone.
"We must head to the library, my sister is waiting there for us." Celestia spoke and the group was off to the library.
Orion though on the way, not talking aloud.
'Just like they always said, it really is a journey...without rest...'
As it happened in Lordran, the Darksign would not be cheated. Orion was about to realize the worst was almost upon them.
"Now, where do we begin?" Celestia asked as they were sitting on cushions, chatting as Spike was preparing tea.
"The monster, we will start there." Orion took his turn to speak.
Quelagg, guardian of the Blighttown Bell of Awakening. She was indeed, a powerful being, but she could fall and be defeated as long as an undead held the will.
"Yes, who or what was that beast?" Rarity asked, shivering as she remembered the fire spider.
"That used to be Quelagg. Her soul tells me of her story." Orion spoke and dug through his pouch, pulling out her soul,"She was a daughter of the Witch Izalith. She fused herself with a terrible spider demon to survive and protect her sister, Quelanna."
"How could such a huge varmint have all that?" Applejack asked, curious as can be.
"We, the Undead and Hollows, used to have a life. We had our parents, our spouses, our family, our friends, our hobbies, and our duties. All of that was ripped away from us when we were branded..." Orion spoke.
"The darksign, how horrible." Fluttershy spoke.
"I do not expect any of thee to truly grasp the despair we go through as we try to link the fires and cast away the Darksign. For all of thee, picture that all of thine things are lost...and thou can't even remember who thy friends are, if thou even had any, where thy homeland is, who thou parents are...I lost a lot of my memories, I can only recall one of my many trainers, but his name evades me." Orion spoke.
"We believe we've been over this." Luna spoke up.
"Of course, but with a white light gate, an invader, and a few hollows, that can only mean one scenario is happening..." A fog of despair thickened around the group as Spike walked in and served tea.
"Little dragon, head to thy room, your ears shant be allowed to hear this." The knight spoke, gulping down tea.
"It's probably something I don't wanna hear anyways..." Spike commented and headed upstairs with a small sigh. He did have respect for Orion after showing his strength and respect to the dragon, not to mention the saving of Rarity.
"The Darksign...don't tell me it is coming." Twilight dreaded.
Orion nodded his head, checking thriugh his pouch before pulling out a small black sprite.
"Yes, I hope that this humanity will not find any envy or desire from any of thee. Let me know if thou have a deep desire for it." He instructed and set the humanity on the table.
The ponies each grabbed for it, holding it one by one. Faces of confusion were on almost all of them...almost all.
"I want it..." Applejack spoke as she passed it to Luna. The orange pony farmer hung her head down.
"Do not lose hope. Thou will join me on the journey." Orion tried to lighten the mood as he dug through his pouches again.
"No...I hunger for it as well...it feels like there's an empty spot for something in me." Twilight stated and hung her head as well.
Orion pulled out many items from his pouch, many too large to fit.
"How does thy pouch holdest all of thy instruments?" Luna asked, bewildered like the others that weren't depressed by the news.
"I really have no idea, I've pondered it and wised to the gods holding them." Orion spoke as he revealed many items away from the main pile.
"Twilight, Applejack, lift thy heads and see thine new armory." The knight called, passing a long metal catalyst towards Twilight along with many scrolls. Orion passed a lot of weaponry towards Applejack, giving her his old tower shield, a silver colored shield with the design of grass on it, a simple broadsword and a long pike.
Both ponies lifted their heads, tears welled up in their eyes.
"Look upon thy new friends, these pieces of fine craftmanship will protect thou will thou will need help." Orion spoke.
Twilight brightened up, looking at the scrolls, reading their names and comprehending each one. She picked them up and studied them with the utmost enthusiasm.
Applejack picked up each of the weapons and shields, carefully handling them. She couldn't figure out how to hold them.
"This is amazing! What kind of magic is this?" Twilight shouted as she walked about with a blue glow around her feet, not making a sound.
"Soul sorcery, from Lordran. Those spells are very powerful. Do not take the responsibility lightly." Orion said, an emotion of wonder under his helm, he wondered just how she learned them so fast.
"How do ah hold this confounded thing?" Applejack asked, fumbling with the broadsword.
"I failed to remember thou didn't have fingers."
"I can give you fake fingers, it'll take a while to get used to them, but I can." Twilight said as she held the catalyst in her magic levitational field. Orion slid a dagger over to her before packing his equipment away.
"Alrighty then, I'm countin' on ya, Twi."Applejack spoke as she stood in her hind hooves akwardly and barely held the grass crest shield in her left hoof and the broadsword in her right hoof.
"Do all of thee know what this means?" Orion asked.
"Yes..." All of the present ponies spoke in unison.
"But what of Spike?" Twilight asked.
Orion stood and grabbed a longsword he left on the table, he walked to the middle of the room.
"The little dragon has a great duty."
The knight stabbed it into the library floor, placing firewood from a stack in the room around it.
"He will tend to these flames forever, helping those branded with the Darksign along the way, pointing them in the right direction. His journey will end when the flames are linked." Orion held his hand out to the odd fireplace.
"What are you doing, Orion?" Celestia questioned.
The flames ignited, but weren't burning into the library. The knight rested down at it and kindled the flames many many times, the fire now towering over all, barely tickling the roof.
"These bonfires are our homes...our hope..." Orion spoke, "As I was told a long time ago...'That which looks like hope in the distance will only lead to despair...those who seek despair will find many souls'."
"How do we link the fires?" Twilight asked as she walked over to the bonfire.
"First we must get the Lordvessel, which will require us to ring two bells...the Bells of Awakening...I think I may know where lordran is appearing with the undead burg and purgatory." The knight rose from the bonfire,"The first, uphigh will be in an ancient church that stands above a thick forest and near a great stronghold that remains locked."
He looked out the window towards a grey stone structure in the Everfree, where a castle of Equestria once stood.
"The undead church, first stop..." Orion spoke as a form from white soul clumps formed at the bonfire.
The undead sports a shiny medaled cuirass, odd leggings, and a helm of two antlers and a abnormal mask. A huge bag was over his shoulder as he sat, his hands on his knees.
"This wasn't the bonfire....what happened when I died for the forty-second time?" The undead said and looked at the knight,"Oh, Orion. What a pleasure to see you again."
"Domnhall, is that thou?" The knight questioned.
"Indeed, I have much more merchandise for sale, if you have the souls." The undead peddler spoke.
"If thou ever find something that fits these two ponies, then please inform me." Orion said, patting the merchant on the shoulder and handing him a piece of humanity.
"Thank you, kind knight. May the gods bless your journey with riches. I will be on the lookout." Domnhall of Zena said as he used the humanity and reversed his hollowing.
"And who is that?" Rarity asked.
"Domnhall of Zena, he is a peddler of rare items. It was him who pointed me to Black Iron Tarkus' armor."
"Now, where is this...Undead Church?" Luna asked, first to stop staring at Domnhall.
"That forest..." Orion spoke and pointed out the window ,"But, I can wait for all of thee to say thou goodbyes. Celestia, Luna, send some of thy best soldiers here, this place will need it....and never let undead stay in any of the towns." The knight advised and walked outside, being seen from inside the library as he stared at the forest.
"When the Darksign fully breaks out, what will happen to my little ponies?" Celestia asked, concerned for her subjects.
"I will not lie to thee. Thou kingdom will most likely fall into shambles, chaos in the streets. That is why ever undead must make a journey to here, where Spike is. The little dragon will lead them into Lordran, to join us in the quest to link the fires..." The knight headed toward the door, making sure all his gear was in their proper places before opening it.
"Where are you going?" Rariry asked, looking at her savior from the witch.
"To the forest....I'll be waiting for all of thee to join me..." Orion walked out of the library, keeping his estus flask on his belt, ready for use.
The library erupted in crying and whines. The oonies that were holding in their emotions had let them iut when the knight left, even the two princesses had begun to cry.
"Once branded with the Darksign...thou must go on a journey without rest..." Orion spoke quite loud, the ponies in town looking at him oddly.
The knight began trekking his way to the forest, a light jog carrying him to it. He drew out his flaming greatsword and pulled his shield from his back. Orion made his entrance into the forest.
A name came to his mind...this was no longer the Everfree Forest...it was the Darkroot Garden...
Orion stood, barely in the woods for several minutes, staring at odd shaped bushes and vines. Few ponies who farmed the nearby land tried to get his attention, but ended up staring with him.
Orion, for the first time in many many years, shedded a tear, putting an armored finger through his eye hole and checking to make sure. Daniel was his name...the name of his father. He had remembered, whether by his own will or the humanity and civilization that surrounded him.
The knight put one foot in front of the other, gaining rapid couragenand adrenaline rushes.
"I've heard tales of both of thee, causing many undead to go hollow...But I shall be standing at thy door some day...to cause thy falling." Orion said as he slowly began to walk ,"Prepare for a visitor, Dragonslayer and Executioner."
Orion was now walking at full pace, steering clear of the weird shiny vines and the bushes waving in no wind. The ponies stared at him for a while longer, before going back to their farm work.
The knight walked and walked, never stopping, always watchful of the deceitful ents and vine lizards. After several units of time that he couldn't name, Orion walked into a mossy tower, staring at crystal golems and a hydra in the distance. He, on the stairs, knowing who was waiting for him within the tower walls and what was waiting on the bridges above.
He didn't know when he stood and dug through his pockets, pulling out a key. All he knew was the sun was setting as he unlocked the door. Orion drewn the dragon sword from his back and nudged the door open with his foot.
Quiet...
Orion took off running through a loud slam followed behind him, almost smacking him into the dirt. He turned around, raising his shield, standing in a bracing stance.
A warrior stood in front of him, a large tooth on his right shoulder, a thick rock shield, and a set of stone armor. None other than the infamous Havel. A fearsome foe who claimed many deeds of hollowing others. Few could have the strength to slay him.
Orion bent his knees, the heels of his feet touching his buttocks. Havel's dragon tooth was indeed a frightening weapon. He dropped his shield and grabbed the greatsword in two hands, slamming it onto the stone floor. A loud boom resonating in the tower, Havel was blown into the wall from the power of the sword. The knight had raced to the rock armored hollow and was about to strike when he was sent onto his back by the tooth. Orion released his sword from the impact and shakily stood. Havel was standing in front of him, the great dragon weapon coming down to finish Orion.
"Not like this..." Orion barely sidestepped out of the way and grabbed the handle of the dragon tooth.
The knight shoved hard against the owner of the weapon, catching him off guard and taking the weapon for himself. He swung in a spin motion, adrenaline giving him strength. Havel was sent into the air, a sickening crack of his bones was heard as he disappeared in white soul clumps that flooded to Orion. The dragon tooth disappeared.
The knight regathered his weapons, adjusting himself when he fell to his knees, tired and greatly injured. A few screams of familiar voices were heard, heading his way. The tower door slammed.
"Orion! Umph! You didn't tell us the land was this dangerous!" Twilight screamed at him as she and Applejack held the door shut. They were indeed there, having caught up to him.
"My estus...please..."Orion heaved out, even breathing was hard for him as he couldn't move much from Havel's hard hit.
Twilight rushed over, remembering what he did. She grabbed it from his belt and put it to his lips. Knocking his head back, letting the orange liqiud run down into his mouth. She pulled the flask from his mouth as he gulped. The knight standing once again.
"I thought Quelaag covered that discussion for thou." Orion spoke and walked to the door, moving Applejack out of the way, "I assume thou fell for the Ents' trap..." He kicks the door, breaking it off its hinges, the Ents sent back onto their bushy heads.
Orion ran out, smacking the ones that still came after him, until all lay dead on the forest floor. He walked back in and began walking up the stairs of the tower.
"Stick with me, and we'll make it to Firelink Shrine in no time." Orion said, smiling under his helm. It was good to be back in territory that he knew and could somewhat call home.
The group had been told to stay quiet at all times, talking is considered very dangerous. Twilight had mastered some basic spells that most sorcerers know and use often, while Applejack had gotten orange fingers and her front hooves became hands, she had practiced being on her hind legs a lot, and now she can give a good fight.
Orion would tell them to stay behind at some points so he could take care of some hollows. He had told them to stay behind in a stone building and not cross a small bridge no matter what.
The knight walked to the closed door with caution, bodies of hollows all around his feet. He turned the knob and nudged it open with his foot again. He was about to walk out when after he took his first step a small pot came flying down at him and he jumped back. Fire exploded in front of him.
"What was that?!" Twilight shouted, surprised at the explosion. The pots kept falling and the fires kept exploding.
"A firebomb, damn hollows...looks like they won't let me through here, I'm too heavy in this armor. Twilight, could thou run across and cast magic at them when thou are out of their throwing range? The minute it stops coming down on me, Applejack and I will be over there, backing you up."
"I guess I have no choice..." Twilight sighed and prepared to sprint.
Twilight ran through quickly, charging a soul arrow and distracting the firebomb throwers. Applejack ran across and began defeating hollows that tried to get to her friend. Just as Orion was about to run, he heard a footstep behind him and spun around, catching a knife on his shield. A red phantom stood before him, skinny and agile, a thief. Orion prepped his greatsword for any swings should the opportunity arise.
"I've got company!" The knight yelled to his companions.
Applejack had slain all the ground hollows, but Twilight was still battling the firebomb throwers. The orange farm pony rushed back over to see the red phantom. Orion had his shield up, watching his every move as he stood with the wall to his back. Applejack kept her broadsword ready as she moved around faster, thanks tonher lack of armor. The thief became very aware of them both, opting to stay away.
After a while of stalemate, the phantom rolled behind Applejack, attempting to back stab. His luck was run short when Orion jumped over and slammed his sword down upon him, knocking him flat and slaying him. His armor was just leather after all. The two ran across the now empty bridge. Orion continued further, lighting a bonfire.
"Don't rest, we are almost at Firelink...if thou do rest, the hollows will be back." The knight warned and continued walking, the two ponies behind him.
He took a left at a battlement area and smashed down shields of spearmen, killing them easily with the murderous force of his greatsword. The knight smashed crates after, revealing a set of stairs. He ran down it, taking a right and slaying a hidden axe soldier. Orion didn't continue through the archway, he headed to the balcony, where he was greeted by an undead merchant.
"Everything's for sale!" The merchant said quickly, laughing after.
The knight bought many arrows, a bow, and some repair powder off of him before walking away.
"Why did you buy arrows? I thought you used your swords, not a bow." Twilight observed as they walked toward a small bridge.
"In case I am forced to use them, and if...one of your friends join us and they use bows..." Orion responded, stopping the two as they reached the bottom of the staircase after the small bridge, hiding in a house.
The knight pointed for Twilight to run across and Applejack to take the left side on his signal. Shortly after they got into running positions, Orion raised his hands and the three took off into battle once more. Orion ran to the right, pushing a hollow off, making him fall to his death. He turned around, watching Applejack handle herself well. The knight ran to the other building, going in when he saw the hollow slash Twilight's stomach with an axe, it might have grazed, but it made her lose her poise.
The knight charged the hollow, shoving him to the floor with his shield. Orion slammed the same sentinel shield upon him, the weight easily ending his life. Orion put his estus flask to Twilight's mouth as she lay on her rump against a wall. He tilted it back, the refreshing liqiud pouring into her mouth. Twilight gulped it down after he removed the flask from her lips, putting the precious life drink in his belt. The wound on her stomach began to heal, forming a scar.
"Twi! Are you alright? What happened?" Applejack began panicking.
"I got slashed by that hollow." She pointed to the ground as she got to her four hooves ,"I'm fine now..." she spoke.
"Just a little longer until we reach Firelink." Orion spoke, walking out and continuing, the two following him after a short talk.
They slayed the last few hollows after going through a smelly, damp tunnel. The ponies looked around, mostly at the huge cliff that was near them. The knight waved across to a merchant that had already said hello in Equestria. He sat against a wall, across the cliff on the bridge. The knight walked silently on, going down the steps and reaching the broken stone ruins.
"Thou have any Estus Flasks on you? I got two new undead."Orion spoke, the crestfallen man pointed to his bag on the ground.
"I used to take them from hollows...I don't really know why I did." He responded, staring at the ground, forever depressed.
Orion walks over to the beginning of a hall, looking at the sorcerer.
"Twilight, this is Griggs of Vinheim, he'll be selling you everything spell related in exchange for souls." The knight said, Twilight immediately began to talk to him on matters of sorcery.
Orion walked off with Applejack. Heading up stairs.
"What about me, Ah need to make sure my gear stays in good condition." Applejack speaks up.
"I'm getting there...just stay in this elevator, some strong hollows lie ahead." Orion warned as they both walked onto a rusty elevator, stepping on the pressure plate, making it go up fast.
Within moments they reached the top, Orion readied Zweihander, slowly coming out of the elevator, shield raised. He looked left and caught the rough strike of a mace, bracing his feet. Orion quickly began circling the giant hollow, ducking below the mace swing and retaliating with three strikes of his own, sending him to defeat. He motioned for Applejack to follow as he walked to the door adjacent to the elevator. He walked outside, quickly slaying the hollow soldiers in single strikes.
He pointed at the small building that jutted from the thick wood.
"Andre is in that building, thou will find him to be a good black smith." He said, the orange retired farmer, made her way to the building.
Orion headed back into the Undead Church, fighting through balder knights and slaying off a horde of hollowed zombies. He had shot the channeler from below, using the bow he bought, hiding behind a pillar after each shot. Before long, Orion stood at the doors of white light, breathing a deep breath, seeing no summon sign.
He passed through it after drawing the black knight's greatsword, yellow lightning occasionally bouncing in the blade. A soon time after two mighty lion roars came from the bell tower. The beasts jumping down with bat wings, a lion body and a scorpion tail, stinger included.
Orion didn't know it, but these were fearsome manticores...a feared Everfree monster.
