A/N: This is my first fic, and like everyone else, please review, no flames, but would love criticisms and advice to do better. Re-writting this as I just broke one the mantras that I had engraved into my head.
No Mary Sues and not so light souls.
Disclaimer: I own nothing. Not even the first name of one of my OC's.
"So this is it, the Final Flame." I muttered out. Tired after a long journey that is finally coming to a close.
"Indeed my friend, the Bonfire that will redo the Age of Fire, giving this world a chance at redemption for all the suffering the Kiln of the First Flame had caused" The jovial Knight of Sunlight spoke, with a weary voice at the knowledge of what needs to happen to bring hope back into the world. His tone betraying nothing but his seriousness, something I rarely see out of the lively knight of Astora.
...
"Haha, never thought a man like myself would have the 'honour' of dying and suffering till another Chosen will take up my place." I laughed to myself gravely. Like the Late Lord Gwyn, who had become mad after a thousand years of suffering and living eternally, watching his prosperous kingdom and people turn into ashes. When the Sun knight and I had fought against him, he was nothing more than a hollow with heavy weapons, equipment and a knowledge of pyromancy. Surprisingly he wasnt as tough as I originally thought he would be but considering that the Kiln has slowly taken away his strength must have been a factor.
With that thought in my mind I began to wonder of what the future would be, there was only a chance that humanity would recover and that depended whether the people who were given that second chance actually took it. And what if I would also turn like Lord Gwyn, a Hollow, a husk of my former glory, the final stepping stone for another Chosen Undead who was forced by fate to sacrifice his or her life for a chance.
I myself was a mere sergeant in the army, nearing the time where I would be promoted into a Captain, where I would receive the honor of fighting alongside the General and his retinue, my name finally becoming worth something in the world. Recognised, respected, remembered.
That was before I received the darksign curse and was dragged to my slow demise in the asylum. An enigma, treated in disgust, forgotten.
All of those malicious thoughts were quickly pushed away from my conscience, ignoring the deceptions of Kaathe who wanted nothing more than to rule a world of shadow and dust, oolacile being proof of that and the question as to whether humanity would truly thrive in the dark. Even when he 'informed' me of what would happen if I ever continued on the path to light all the bonfires that I would die in the end.
But the problem was...
I already knew I would die.
And I would rather die a Hero so that I would not live long enough to see myself become the villain.
That and I was never really good at a Leadership role. And if I did excel in leadership I wouldn't be sitting on a throne ruling over a world dust and shadow. I'd kill myself or try to fight and kill Kaathe out of boredom.
When I began walking towards the last bonfire, with each footstep, I remembered and cherished every 'good' memory I had ever since I left the Undead Asylum.
Meeting the Oscar, the Knight of Astora and saving him from a death that always repeated in all other paths and making him vow to return home, help whoever he can and to help the people grow once more as I made my vow to take up the mantle of lighting the bonfires.
Consoling and giving Anastacia hope, after reviving her and informing her of my vow to the Kingseeker Frampt that I would end the curse of the undead after giving him the Lordvessel. I couldnt do anything more for her than that. And that feeling of will probably be her only true interaction with someone else in this forsaken place.
I sincerely doubted myself that I would be able to relate to someone trapped forever, keeping a bonfire alight for fellow undead to rest in, but suffering from severe depression due to being alone for such a long time.
Helping Sieglinde re-unite with her father Siegmeyer, all the while overcoming said fathers obstacles while he naturally waited, slowly guiding them together while having sufficient blackmail against him that this he wasn't doing all the adventuring and glory.
Conversing and assisting the Priestess Rhea and Petrus in their pilgrimage, all the while secretly shadowing them the entire time when they went on their separate path and acted once Petrus abandoned them. And the conflict ending with Petrus being partly forgiven by Rhea when he begged for forgiveness once I had removed the evil soul that inhabited him by performing various healing miracles on him and occasional smack in the head with the blunt edge of a sword.
Though the monk is going to have to work hard to earn her full absolution. Losing long-time friends is never easy and Petrus is also partly to blame for acting so pious in his faith yet got so easily possessed.
Freeing the half-dragon Priscilla, opening her eyes to the reality of the world at the moment and aidling her at recovering her castle. It was painful seeing the young one weep for her subordinates as every one of them were given a grave considering they gave their lives for her, especially the fallen knight near her entrance.
Even when hollow, that man still guarded her room. Ever loyal. Ever faithful.
Avenging the Blue Knight Artorias' death by slaying Manus. But with the assistance of Sif, the Great Wolf along with the other three Knights of Gwyn, Ciaran, Gough and Ornstein. Giving them a chance of redeeming the corrupted knight whose true soul died when he save his companion.
Don't ask how Ornstein got in on this and didn't die along with Smough because it was aggravating and nearly-impossible to heal him so he did not die to Smough's greed as I awkwardly explained my purpose on reaching the cathedral of Anor Londo.
But I could not bring myself to bear the most heart-wrenching experience I would unintentionally given to an innocent.
I had healed The Fair Lady and put myself at her mercy when I had told her of who I was once I had healed her enough so that she had the strength to stand and fight. Feeling nothing but compassion and admiration for her self sacrifice by willingly sucking up the disease that infected her servants. I was glad in my choice as she asked me in genuine curiosity why I had done such an action. One that I replied merely by asking her if I can join the Chaos Servants covenant. Now whenever I visit her, she seems to be able to recognize me from the scents of Quelaag, the knight of Thorns Kirk and the servant Eingyi and seems to be more calm when around me. I thanked all of the deities that existed for the crisis that was averted.
Managing to spare Quelaag and Kirk was worth it, seeing them happy for them being able to witness The Fair Lady up and about instead of being in a critical condition. And also seeing their constant shocks in their faces when I talk so casually with The Fair Lady was funny as well.
All in all I have mildly changed the plot of Dark Souls, making some of the f'ed up things a bit bearable.
But I have never been more glad when I met Solaire, the Sun Knight was always fun to banter and joke with, having great adventures, slaying dragons and demons.
Though I did explain to him my Covenant with The Fair Lady and my friendliness with her and Quelaag. He didn't seem bothered, rather relieved to see a noble soul like him who was ready to sacrifice their life for somebody else's.
In this world there is no one else I would call my brother other than Solaire, that is how much I respected him.
I brought him out of his depressed stupor when I had slain all the Chaos bugs before he arrived, meaning he wouldn't become hollowed, but he started to doubt whether he would ever find his Sun. That only got him a beating and a speech from me and we continued on our journey, with a more powerful will at our side.
And now we reached the end of the path, meeting the end of my destiny, to give this world a chance to rise up from its ashes and be reborn, I had changed much in this world, now it was their decision as to whether they would be able to recover.
But my heart goes out for them and I wish them good luck.
"You might want to get some distance brother, this area is a giant bonfire in and of itself." I asked of him meekly, knowing full well what is going to happen once I feed the flame and didn't want an unnecessary end to my brother-like companion.
"Yeah, I wouldn't want to be burnt to a crisp, that isn't how I want my journey to end ha ha." The Sun knight replied. Both of us laughing at the irony that I would die for the world by burning to death.
"Indeed... well, goodbye brother good luck in finding your Sun and don't lose hope I didn't beat you to near-death just for you to be lost, confused and becoming Hollow." I sternly reminded him which was replied with a hearty laugh and an assurance that he wouldn't get jumped by some bugs again.
"Goodbye Barbas, my friend, my brother." And with that, he had left to meet with Oscar and the rest, far from these lands.
And with that everything seemed to slow to a crawl, all the emotional pain and the voices of my friends pleading me to come back ripping at the very foundations of my soul. Threatening my heart to giving out and dying anti climactically at the end due to all the emotional chains restricting me.
I slowly reached out to the flame, desperately being pulled back by my emotions of leaving my friends especially The Fair Lady, how we had come close together that was stronger than her bonds with her sister, her servant and the Thorns Knight, even allowing her to touch my face with her hands so she could remember what I looked like.
Something she had never done even for her most faithful servant Kirk.
But this I do for her, if I light the final bonfire the rest would strengthen and could rejuvenate her health and possibly cure her of the disease and even return her sight.
All of this for her.
My only love.
"I'm sorry Quelaan, look like I won't be visiting anytime soon..." I grimaced as the bonfire lit ME on fire instead, sucking all the souls and humanity I had with me, creating a giant pillar of fire that filled the area to the brim with, bright amber.
The pain from the flames was non-apparent, dull. Honestly burning to death was nothing compared to the pains I endured before, ripped apart by demons, eaten and immolated by dragons, mutilated by abominations, slain in various ways by invaders, etc.
After a moment or reminiscing all the brutal deaths I experienced a bright flash emanated from the bonfire and a strong force, knocked me down unconscious as my body slowly burnt away.
And like that, it was over.
Please review, possibly fav (please fav). This chapter was long just to explain my OC what they've done before they entered the Fairy Tail-verse.
Thank you so much Abyss Phantom for reminding me of the whole "overpowered good guy" theme and possibly saving my story from becoming a self-fantasy where everything was all flowers and sunshine.