> Harmony Souls - Oscar, The Fateless > by The Crestfallen Soul > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Chapter 1: Fate Dies. > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ~ Chapter 1: Fate Dies ~ A Light, I see a glorious blinding light. The clerics back at the grand cathedral always said that on one's death bed they would be graced by the pure burning sunlight of Gwyn, Lord of Cinder himself, but the light soon is proven to be a false Shepard as my eyes slowly flicker open and I stare upwards and see the light, though it isn't made by my lord but a hole in a moss covered celling, I wished to look around to see where I am but I am stricken with a disabling pain that stops me from even turning my head to the side though I can still feel the cold metal of my helmet touch my face and I can still hear my laboured breath echo in my ears. Though what worries me deeply is that I can taste the metallic flavour of blood in my parched mouth but the soaring pain makes me realise why it is it there. I give a try to anything moving one more time but again the pain shoots me right back to the grimy ground, I release a strained sigh as I can feel myself slip away from this awakened plane of life, is this truly how I die once more? I do not know how long I have slept in this dank dark prison cell, that I am now calling my grave but now that I have awoken again I think back to my most recent memories. ~ Flash Back ~ I walk along the roof of this deranged asylum designed for those of us who art Undead, I trudged slowly across the moss covered ruins A body slung against my shoulder once a fellow Undead, now a festering Corpse long turned hollow. As I scan the rooftops I notice that one cell has a unbarred sunroof so I decide to make my way to another Undead's cell, maybe today one will actually leave this retched place and the prophecy can truly begin. After dumping the rotting corpse into what I hope is still a sane Undead's cell I continue my march on the rooftops seeking to release more Undead from their cells in hope that one will escape this purgatory... !Crash! The vibration from the crashing noise behind me almost takes my off my feet, a gruesome death awaits me if I fall, and fills my once faith filled heart with nothing but I a cold sense of dread. I turn around quickly, drawing my blade and shield but I am too late...I gain but a glimpse of the monstrous demon that guards this asylum before it wings its mace vertically at me. For a moment I think I am already dead as I feel a strong wind over all of my body though that dream is brought to its knees as I come to land, I crash through the roof of a cell and then as I feel myself slip away as I lay in the rubble I see a beauteous creature in the light, its wings spread wide as to welcome me to my death but before I can reach for the creature my mind fades and everything goes dark... ~ Present Time ~ I release a laboured breath from my lips as what appears to be an iron boulder smashes through the wall of my cell, honestly causing me to flinch in pain and fear but through the dust cloud it has made I see a figure enter my tomb, he wears a strong looking plater armour that covers all of his body, besides his face that allows me to see that his is slowly becoming hollow, his face looks to be older then he is and appears to be decayed slightly. I shuffle slightly and begin to make coughing noises to get his attention and it works his eyes fall to me as he approaches me, he stares down at me for a moment before getting down on one knee though he doesn't speak so I take the lead of our silent conversation, through my dry lips I start to utter my words. "…Oh, you… You're no Hollow, eh? …Thank goodness… …I'm done for, I'm afraid… …I'll die soon, then lose my sanity… …I wish to ask something of you… …You and I, we're both Undead… Hear me out, will you?" He slowly nods to me, as to signal yes and I wonder why he does not speak maybe he cannot and is a mute or he is already close to going full hollow. But I don't press on this situation as I am near death and continue to talk as I am allowed too. "…Regrettably, I have failed in my mission… …But perhaps you can keep the torch lit… …There is an old saying in my family… …Thou who art Undead, art chosen… …In thine exodus from the Undead Asylum, maketh pilgrimage to the land of Ancient Lords… …When thou ringeth the Bell of Awakening, the fate of the Undead thou shalt know. …Well, now you know… And I can die with hope in my heart…" I say with a peaceful voice as I feel my slip away from my mind but I realize that I should give him some last pieces of assistance as I take my old Estus flask from my pack and hold it out to him, its emerald glass shining in the light. "Oh, one more thing…Here, take this. …An Estus Flask, an Undead favourite. …Oh, and this…" I pause after handing him my Estus as I reach for my pack again to pull out rusted key that I almost thrust into his awaiting hands, its cold iron nesting itself in his open palms. "…Now I must bid farewell… …I would hate to harm you after death…So, go now… …And thank you…" I utter with a chocked breath as I my body starts to go limp on the rubble I call my death bed, my vision starts to go dark again as I barely notice the man leave my cell. I lay on the rubble as the thoughts of my death start to sink in, I begin to cry regretting all of my decisions that have lead to my death and with my final breaths I let out a strained cry. "...Vereor Nox!..." And as my vision starts to fade to darkness a light appears from within the very heart of the darkness and it whispers to me softly and I realize that I am no longer in the Undead Asylum cell that was my tomb but a dark nothingness where I float, I realize that I haven't truly heard the whispers and thankfully it repeats itself. "...Poor Undead, you hath lead a pure life of a Holy Knight... ...I wish to offer you a invitation to avoid your death... ...My name is Celestia...And I wish to give you one last chance..." I desperately want to say something, I'm not sure if I want to argue or accept this offer but as it appears this entity has given me no choice in the matter, look to body to see it twinkling and turning into sparkles as it is sent towards the light, I let out a scream as my whole body is turned into these twinkling sparkles and sent forth at faster then light speeds at the unreal light in the darkness all I remember is the odd comforting sensation of being held one last time. ~ Equestria: Sunset Meadow ~ I awaken laying down on soft grass with a sharp gasp of air, not because of my fatal wounds but because of how they are now gone as well of the pain that they had caused me. I lay confused on the grass wondering why I still live and where I am, I use what is left of my energy to sit up from my laying position to gain a better view of my surrounding, not complaining about the beautiful amber sky with its setting sun. From my sitting position I take note of some odd things around me the first thing I notice is that a large amount of the grass around me has been coated in what I believe is my blood, but as I look at my body I see no wounds that would connected to the blood, the second thing I notice in the distant is what appears to be a village of some kind, when I gain back my strength I will head that way but at the moment the most prominent thing I see is the equine creature staring at me with big purple eyes. The creature in whole isn't big but defiantly reminds me of a horse, its coat is almost white but has a purple tint to it and its mane is white and pink, it stares at me with wide eyes and by the look it has appeared to have urinated itself. I lift my left hand and I begin to speak but it is already on the ground, fainted before I can usher a word. I sigh at the sight at the creature feeling upset for it, I reach for the creature dragging it over to myself and laying it across myself. I lay my head back on grass as I begin to feel the tendrils of sleep wrap around it, my last thoughts are of creature now on my lap and wondering if I will be able to eat it in the morning. > Chapter 2: Radiant Sun. > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ~ Chapter 2: Radiant Sun ~ I lay still as a corpse on the fresh green grass that occupies this verdant meadow, if someone were to pass by I believe that in their eyes they would see the body of some unknown decease creature, covered in old and unmaintained armour, and a strange white pony wiggling on its belly apparently being pinned to the unknown creature body by its left arm, Oh and when I mean wiggling I mean wiggling because this pony abomination managed to wake up around a few hours ago and it has been trying again and again to escape my cold death grip. Even though I have been laying in this verdant meadow since yesterday evening I have not gotten a wink of rest, not because of the pony abomination, no the creature in my decayed clutches has given me a sense of warmth that I have not felt in..Well in a long time, though since of my curse that isn't all that strange because when one becomes Undead all the things you needed to do when you were alive such as eating and sleeping becomes non-essential, sure we who art cursed by the Darksign can still do all that the living do but it holds no benefits beside making us feel alive once again and as you can guess that is a cruel lie. But alas what is the point is reminding myself of this horrid curse where there are more important matters at hand, I lift my head slowly so that I may examine the pony abomination that lays on my decayed body and as I stare at the creature I take note of its face, its childish face with wide eyes and lavender iris, its soft light pink mane drapes slightly over its left eye and the style reminds me of a form of drowned rat that's fur drapes down over its cadaver, its once pure pearl white fur has now been sullied and matted by the grime of my unkempt armour and lastly I take one final note on the creatures body being quite plush and soft which I test by squeezing the pony abomination lightly. After squeezing the soft creature that lays upon me it makes the cutest noises I hath ever heard in all my years, after the creature hath stop making its noise its gaze falls upon me as we make eye contact for the second time and this time instead of fainting the creature manages to let out a chocked scream as it doubles its effort to release itself from my cold dead grasp. Unfavourably for the creature it doth not mange to escape my grasp and once again it lets out a tired sigh as it flops down upon my body once more, when I am sure the creature has tired itself out I slowly begin to rise from my sitting position, my bones and flesh ache as the rotten muscles under my decayed skin are forced to move, and while I am sitting up I make sure to keep a eye on the creature, I take note that its eyes have widen to the size of dinner plates and that it has begun to shake as if it is freezing. Once sitting up I begin to take note of the terrain and environment around me, the verdant field I sit in seems to go on for miles and miles though far off in the distance towards to north I can see what looks like a small village and even further where the suns makes it decent over the mountains I can make out the silhouette of a castle on the mountains side, towards the south not so far away I see a dense forest where the trees stretch out towards the sky like the hands of the depraved reaching out towards their savoir and finally both the east and west show nothing much of interest beside the continuation of this field. But before I decided to get up and head towards the quaint village in the north I must first decide what to do with this adorable little abomination I could simply leave it here or maybe I could see if it would make a filling dinner and while I try to decide what to do with the creature I begin to mumble the words. "..What shall I do with thee?" as my hand working on its own instincts start to pet the creature soft mane, as my fingers glide through it I take note that it must have a silky quality do to how it parts so easily with such little force, and the creature from its once cautious and fearful body langue begins to relax into a almost comatose fashion to the point that the little thing in my arms begins to purr and murmur some odd but happy noises. I focus on its face as a small smile appears on my helmet covered face, maybe I could keep it as a pet I wondered to myself and again out of impulse I ask again in a more bemused fashion. "..What shall I do with thee?" but as I ask again I am graced with an answer from the small creature held within my arms, though this answer confuses me and at the same time disgust me to a state of disgust I have never felt before. "..Rub my Tummy.." and as those words flutter from the pony abominations lips its eyes shoot open like an bolt from a crossbow and its iris shrinks to the size of pinpricks, we stare into one another eyes as a silence falls upon us both like the darkness of night falls upon the tired eyes of youth and while this is all happening I slowly begin to stand, with the creature in my arms, and this time I ask. "..Did thou just speak?" with my voice steady as steel as my grip tightens around the creature as I wait for a response which I receive in small amounts of stutters. "..I..I.." is all the creature begins to say before I throw it a good few feet, its lands upon its back on the soft grass but quickly its rolls onto its four hoofs and takes up a defensive stance, its tries to look threatening by baring its teeth at me but since its shows it has dull teeth I show no fear but as I slowly begin to unsheathe my blade my opposition starts to show signs of appreciation to this unfair duel . "Wait!" it puts its left fore hoof, using the gesture to help signal that it wants me to wait. "..Wait, I..I am sorry..I didn't mean to scare you.." it..Or should I know say she tries to wave away my rage, I can now tell it is a she due to how it has a tomboyish but yet feminine sounding tone of voice that I would say fits her. "..Creature, thou hath frightened thy with thou ability of speech but if thou promises thou isn't a creature of darkness..Thine blade will be sheathed." I speak in a commanding tone, I do not what the creature is but if she promises that she isn't a creature of the dark will will not harm her. She nods vigorously at me to signal that she is not a creature of darkness and proceeds to play out a little bit of movements which involve crossing her chest and sticking her hoof in her eye. I sheathe my blade and kneel down onto the ground to make me seem less fearsome to the creature and then I say "..I must apologize for min actions..Though thou must understand how thy would feel hearing a creature such as thou speak.." I bow my head after speaking and I await her response. She sighs and begins to speak. "..Alright first my name isn't creature its Clear Fate and if you wouldn't mind could ya throw me my hat ya big..Ya big whatever you are." she puffs out her checks at me and monitions towards my left, I look to see what she points at and I see an odd looking blue hat so I reach for the hat and slowly stand up, then I walk over to her slowly which causes her to flinch a tiny bit but she stands up proudly and snatches the hat from my outreached hands with her teeth, she flicks her head and throws her hat onto her head perfectly. She looks me up and down before saying. "..Well I guess I would understand..So forgetting what ya did yesterday and today how about we start a new leaf?..What's ya name? and what are ya?" she asks confused. "..I was once a human but I haven't been human for a long time, thou wouldn't understand but thy am undead..I am cursed to never die but to one day go hollow..But if thou must know min name thy be known as Oscar, Oscar of Astora." I answer her. She mouths my name a few times before smiling up at me. "Undead huh?..That's pretty cool soundin'..Hey how would you like to hang with me a little while..ya know until you get you bearings." It takes me awhile before I decide that its best to go with Clear Fate, I ask her where we might be going and as I could guess she pointed with her dainty hooves towards the small village towards the north, after gathering the rest of my personal items such as my shield we then being the trek towards the small village that Fate knows as "Ponyville" though not a quarter way there Fate gestures for me to pick her up, I sigh and decided to give her a piggy back ride and finally we start making some progress.