AN: I do not own the rights to the Dark Souls series. I only own copies of the games.

Chapter 1

Kiln of the First Flame

Unbelieving, I fell on my ass. After dying eight times to the Soul of Cinder and using up all my estus, I had finally won. The rush of relief while I throw back my head and laugh was astounding. It was almost comparable to when I beat the Nameless King. Only difference was that I summoned help back then. This time, try after try, was all me.

I stood up, dusted myself off, and looked to the sky. A darksign of old covered the sun, plunging this strange, twisted world the kiln was in into a sort of twilight. I picked my Wolf Knights Greatsword +5 up and strode to the bonfire. This is it. Everything I have been through. All the deaths I have suffered. All the friends I was forced to bid a final farewell to. And all beings I have slain. All of it was for this moment.

'At last', I thought, 'this all comes to an end. Don't worry everyone, I'll see you soon.' Holding my hand out I poured my being into the bonfire to ignite it like all the others. Slowly, a flame spread onto me and began crawling up my arm. I bring it up to examine it closely, before sitting down in front of the bonfire. As I let the fires consume me, I close my eyes and smile one last time, before I let death finally take hold of me.

…

In an abandoned and forsaken place, a bell tolls. Dust that has lain for centuries is disturbed with movement.

…

I felt myself fall. Not an entirely new sensation, so I hold out my hands to stop myself. 'Is this death?' I wondered. I open my eyes, eager to see what it is that awaited me. But when I did, I was left breathless. Not out of awe, but horror. 'I know this place.' I feel my breathing picking up. 'No! That's impossible! IT CAN'T BE TRUE!' Before mine own eyes was the place where my journey had first begun. The Cemetery of Ash. "But, how?" I ask aloud. "I have not been here since I slew that ravenous crystal lizard. Am I being punished!? Am I to relive my memories once more?!"

I take a step forward and kick something. Looking down I can see my sword and shield. It stops me cold. I didn't start off with that. I was a northern warrior. I had a round shield and an axe. My hands shake as I reach for them, only to stop once more. I look at my hands trying to understand what I was seeing. These were not the gloves I had started with, nor the ones I had ended with, and yet they looked familiar. I look at my body to see what else was different. Like my gloves, my body armor and leggings were different as well.

I knew this armor. But where have I seen it? I pick up my armaments and rush forward. A grave warden turns at the sound of my approach. It groans as it tries to attack me. With one swing I cut it down. Not paying attention to it, I look into the water and at last see myself.

Now I know why this armor was so different, yet so familiar. It was the armor of the Soul of Cinder. I stumble back before sitting down. My legs no longer able to support my weight. I rip the helmet off and hold my head in my hands. At last the reality hit me. I wasn't dead. I wasn't even dreaming. I was alive once more.

But, why here? The only reasoning I can see for me to wear this armor were if I were to take the Soul of Cinders place. I need answers. Just as I have many times before, I stand up, dust myself off, don my helmet, equip my shield and sword, and move forward. I cannot help but wonder though, if I were all that has changed.

Curious I travel to my right, where I can remember finding a soul upon a body. To my continuous surprise I see it. Reaching the body, I grab the soul to place along all the others I hold, only to stop. This isn't the same soul. No…it's called a soul of a proud paladin. 'How do I know that?' In the entirety of my quest, I had never come across such a thing. At least I know now that I'm not the only thing different, small comfort it is.

I continue on, facing the grave wardens, killing each with not but a single blow. One of them even dropped a fading soul. Having killed all the grave wardens, I cannot help but wonder if the ravenous lizard is back as well. If it is…

I trudged through waist high water till I come upon the clearing where I my curiosity had led me to my death so long ago. Carefully, I look around the bend to see the beast already reared up. I also notice two items, though I cannot make them out from here. I readied myself and stepped into view of the beast. It gave its crystalline roar, but did not roll. It stalked towards me, circled me. Some bestial sense must have warned it that I was no easy prey.

It finally lunged to which I sidestepped, delivering two blows on its side. It tried to hit me with its tail only for me to block it with my shield. I have indeed come far. Whereas once that blow would have knocked my shield aside, I now weather the blow. I manage to stagger it, but its stumble drew it away before I could capitalize. Regaining its senses, it rolled at me. Due to my close proximity I wasn't able to dodge and was forced to block. I fell under the beast as it tried to crush me, but thanks to my shield it passed me without harm.

Flipping to my feet, I turned to see the beast try its crystal breath attack. I rush towards it and to the left to avoid those deadly crystals. Turning, I grab my sword with both hands and struck the fatal blow, killing it. I picked up the titanite scale from its remains, before turning my attention back to the items in the area. The one nearest me was a soul of an intrepid hero while the one near the entrance was a Speckled Stoneplate Ring +1. Curious. While I have collected similar rings before, I had never come across a speckled one.

I leave it in my inventory as though useful, the stoneplates rarely proved useful enough to keep on me. I travel back and make my way to the first bonfire. At the edge of the cliff, I look out upon the vast mountain range with its snow-capped peaks and remember when I had once looked upon them with such awe.

Marching up the small hill, I spot the bonfire and light it. Before I continue, however, I stop and think. 'If indeed everything plays out similar to what I went through, then Gundyr is ahead. If I remember correctly, beings infected with that black rot are susceptible to fire.' I open my inventory and swap out my Greatsword for my Fire Claymore +10. I also swap my Shield of Want +5 for my Grass Crest Shield +5. The stamina boost would help me greatly against him.

Now ready, I set out and began killing off the rest of the grave wardens. I marched down the hillside to the right and further upon that narrow ledge. Behind the crossbow wielder was another item. I thrust my sword through the gap of the lancers shield, killing him, before rolling dodging a fire bolt. Coming up, I behead the offender before pillaging the item. 5 firebombs, that immediately went to my inventory stash.

I then walk back up past the bonfire before taking a running jump onto the coffin and collecting the titanite shard. I am not sure whether I prefer somethings being the same or not. I hop down and deal with the last two grave wardens before looking through the archway they stood before. There, kneeling on the dais in the middle was Iudex Gundyr. Dread filled me as I approached. I knew he wasn't the same being as Champion Gundyr, but still, I can clearly recall how vicious the champion was and how soundly I had been bested time and again.

As I stood before him, I noticed the writhing black mass that was oh so susceptible to fire. Preparing myself, I gripped the coiled sword that impaled him and pulled it free. I quickly stash it away and attacked. It was not honorable. It was not what a knight would have done. But I was no knight.

I was surprised at how much damage I had inflicted so quickly. After only a few hits, I had brought him down to a third of his health. I backed off quickly as that writhing mass exploded out of him, forming a giant twisted maw and hand. As he leapt at me, I rolled under, bringing my shield up to block a blow from the things massive maw. I charged forward and struck him once, twice, and with that Iudex Gundyr fell.

As I looked at his fading form, I could not help but remember on how I had prayed for him to find peace in the afterlife, as I believed no one should suffer such an infection as that. But now, I felt numb. As I did not collect his soul now, I worry that having claimed it when he was a champion, if it was I who brought this fate upon him. And even if that were the case, with things repeating themselves, does he actually have an afterlife to look forward to? Do any of us?

With these troubling thoughts in mind I open the doors, ones that I vividly remember struggling with. 'It's strange how memories continue to haunt me. Like seeing two lives. One once lived and the other living.' I collected the broken straight sword and explored the area around the shrine, killing off the grave wardens and collecting the items around. I could no longer recall some of these or whether they were here or not to begin with.

It was as I was circling around near the entrance to the right that a reminder came and bit into my arm! 'Argh! The blasted dog! I forgot about the dog!' With its jaws around one arm, I grabbed its body with the other, and twisted. A loud snap as I broke its neck echoed around. I flex my arm to see the damage and marvel at how little there actually was. With this thought in mind, I pass the shrines entrance again and make my way up to the firekeepers tomb. Standing before it, like I suspected, was the master swordsman.

I felt excitement grip me as I chug an estus. This man was truly fearsome. It wasn't until I had slain the Rotted Greatwood that I had felt confident in defeating him, and still he had caused me great harm. With a grin under my helmet I marched towards him. He saw me and gripped his blade, settling into a stance. I remember how the blow that would come used to disarm me, but felt confident I could now block him.

He lunged, trying to bring his sword down to throw aside my shield. I jumped over his blade and spun to slash him across his back. I succeeded in hitting him, but not his back as he had turned and swung again catching me on my shoulder. I hopped back, but he was on me, determined to not allow me a moments rest. I brought up my shield as he rained blows on me. I could feel his swords bleeding effect. I needed room now! But before I could gain distance, his next blow caused my shield arm to go wide. 'NO!'

With a thrust he drove his sword threw me. I had forgotten what it was like to be run through and it was not something I cared to remember. He backed off, a foolish mistake. I chugged another estus and charged. With everything falling so easily to me I had become arrogant. Even if this man, whose name I shall never know, will never be my master, he had at least reminded me of something I should never have forgotten. Even with all those around you being weaker, you should never let it blind you to the point of overconfidence. Never underestimate an opponent.

With a slash, I sent him stumbling back. Because he had no armor, he was easy to stagger, even when blocking. I didn't let up. With each hit, he was forced back. Step by step, until he stood at the crevice. With one last hit, he fell. As I watch him disappear in the unending mists below, I bowed. Knight I am not, but that does not mean I am without courtesy. One should always recognize a worthy enemy.

With all enemies now dead and all item collected, I make my way to the shrine. I must admit to some trepidation. In here I had met some of the closest people I could call friend. Some even deigned to teach me their craft. And yet, I remember what awaited some of them. Death for most. I remember the pain when I came across their fallen forms. And the anger when the handmaid chuckled at their unfortunate fate as I handed their ashes to her. Still, I needed to do this. I still do not know what is going on, but perhaps this time won't be so bad.

AN: So, this is different from the ones I normally do. I was inspired to do this after reading Rekindled by WanderSoul96 and Dying Tickles by Lets Do That Again. One deals with a DS fan becoming the chosen undead and going through the campaign trying to change things for the better, and the other is about the chosen undead waking up as a Lord of Cinder and going through DS3. Both are great and I recommend you check them out. After reading both, I got to wondering. What if I were to do a bit of both. What if I were to take the chosen ash and have him start over in NG+? It would be quite interesting to try to see it from the perspective of someone who had struggled through it all before and now have to do it again. I will be doing this while playing NG+ for the first time myself. As such, do not be surprised to see me echo some of my thoughts, mostly frustration, in this, and if I make mention of an enemy dropping an item, that is because that is what happened to me. Also, on purpose for this, even though I got the Ringed City DLC, I did not play it. So, it'll be fun to do that. Also, there will be a lot of remembering going on. That's all I have to say for now. If you have a question, leave a review and tell me how you think I am doing.