Here it is, people! Yet another chapter! The ideas stream through yet… And now we see more and more things come into the light, like the Lumas and their personalities... but I'll be honest, that topic's hard to me. One thing that will always defeat me and elude my thinking is a child. They're that unpredictable and full of energy and potential.
Hope I wrote well!
And as per usual publication standards….
DISCLAIMER: I don't own Dark Souls, Smash Bros., and their respective characters. That goes to FromSoftware and Nintendo… and, before I forget, their associated companies. Peace!
CHAPTER THE THIRD
"Is anyone there?"
The poor Knightess called out to the dark void she was in. It was surprising to her… that she still existed, persisted and was coherent. But why? And for what purpose?
It is your soul, Knightess.
An answering voice pierced the gloom; a strange resonance pulling her being strongly towards it… and suddenly she was in a throng of souls. A garrulous multitude of stark white sprites and large black Humanity phantoms quarreling among themselves for power. They stopped upon seeing the Knightess's luminous gray sprite float towards them, and she shuddered as they eyed her greedily. "We need you! Your essence!" They clamored ravenously, struggling to absorb her and take her very self for their selves. She struggled desperately, her willpower being her only weapon… and was about to be overrun when suddenly felt a commanding presence, and then the souls began to recede, skulking away sulking. Then he heard the unfamiliar, grating, yet soft voice speak…
A Firekeeper Soul is most unique, not just a wriggling mass of Humanity. It contains enough soul power to keep a Bonfire alive, and in case of the mortal vessel expiring, it continues to live on, unless its essence is used. Do you get what I imply? Or do I sound too complicated?
She thought long and hard on who this voice belonged to. It was one she had not recognized yet… Oh, my word! That immense soul power radiating from the owner... She had felt this in none but one – none other but the Knight. The one she'd gotten so pissed at for being indicted. "S-sir?! I-I-it is thee?! And your voice, too! You hast regained it! That is astounding, to say the least! But how?"
Let's just say you're in my bosom right now, which explains the other souls which tried to take your essence. We're talking thanks to the good graces of my mind. I managed to drive away the thing that killed you… but I was too late. Forgive me, I failed to keep you alive… But now your soul is safe with me. And no, I won't use you up.
"How can I trust thee?" She was beginning to grow less wary of him. His voice, ridden with guilt, was quite… genuine. Also, he had driven away all those souls from her, and if his claims were right, the huge violent thing… but there was still the issue of him being indicted.
You know… he started to reply, then sighed, I really don't have much of a reason to spare you other than all the care you've given me. And my regret for hurting you.
"So you really are repentant? Huh," she retorted, "I thought your type was the bloodthirsty kind who manipulated their friend's feelings and double-crossed them… all for plain satisfaction."
Mhmmm. I was waiting for a wayward Blade of the Darkmoon to come get me… but it seems my luck is quite ill, for the time being. And about being bloodthirsty… let's just say I have two lousy defenses for that, he returned quite sheepishly. I have a bloodthirsty friend who's influenced me somewhat, as comrades do. And by the time I used that Cracked Red Eye Orb, I was bloody bored. But, to be frank-
"I think I know who that… friend of thine is. I've judged from that canting way of speech. It's that bloodsucker Trusty Patches, right?!" she exclaimed. "That vagabond!"
Well, after managing to outwit him twice, he begs for mercy and offers to throw in the Mask of the Father! How can I resist a deal like that?! She could imagine him throwing his hands up in the air.
"What an amusing turn of events, indeed… but I suppose, after all this… I've had a revelation visit me about thee." She chuckled succinctly, sensing his discomfort. "You're as kind and as gentle as I assume thee to be… but you need to know who to befriend. And that's definitely not counting any bloodthirsty murderer."
So you're forgiving me. Thanks a lot for that, Knightess. Well, to be honest with you, this isn't the first time I've had a conversation with a Firekeeper Soul.
"You – wait… you mean the soul you brought back to life? Anastacia of Astora? But why can you not bring ME back to life?" she returned bitterly. Then she heard quite a chilling answer.
I've tried, dear… But your body seems to have… melted. If only you could see it, Knightess. Then again, you wouldn't want to.
The Undead, frankly speaking, was revolted at the sight. Technically speaking, he couldn't really see the cadaver quite clearly; it was plainly just… a gut-roiling mixture of blood and bits of flesh which was slowly oozing out of several openings in the Brass Armor Set.
But… how can I see it?! Not while I'm stuck here in thine abysslike bosom… the Knightess complained.
"Wait," he replied, pulling out the fragile Firekeeper soul gingerly, and holding it in his palm freely so the poor Knightess could have a view.
A wave of revulsion suddenly surged through his hand. He couldn't control it as it coursed through his body… but he'd managed to run past the Knightess' mangled remains to the railing and flip his visor – enough so that the ensuing retch properly went out of his body onto the roof below.
After panting for a few seconds, Knightess broke the silence.
You were right, Sir. Ugh. I should learn to trust thee better. But how can I go about the world without fear of – hey! She complained as he suddenly absorbed her again, and started dashing toward the inside of Anor Londo's halls without even a thought. Where are you taking me – oh, you MUST BE MAD –
"Trust me, Knightess. It's a good plan, in my opinion…" he thought as, out of breath, he reached the Giant Blacksmith.
Meanwhile, after a Tabuu-induced unconsciousness, the poor Lumas finally woke up. They wobbled around, looking all over the Observatory for Mama halfheartedly. They looked, and looked, and searched… but all in vain. None of them could enter the Library nor the Engine Room; they were blocked by large broken chunks of concrete from the Beacon. That they could not manage. Despondent, they settled down in the Kitchen to think and talk.
"Gee, thanks, Oliver. You managed to wake up Mama with that bucket of water… and shield us… but now she's gone." Said Zachary, so far being the Luma who commanded the most respect and authority among all and was the eldest apart from Polari, who was too weak to even float around as usual. Presently, he was sitting on the patch of ground on the Terrace, which was the part which had smashed into Anor Londo.
"But she's gone, she's gone, she's gone!" rattled another Luma. "What do without her?!"
"Try checking the library! It's where we haven't looked-"suggested Louise, a cream-colored Luma.
"It's blocked! We can't get in!" exclaimed Oliver
"Lumas! It is about time you *cough* learn about initiative!" shrieked Polari. "How about you try to do things before…" he continued, getting more unintelligible, until he fainted again, being badly injured from the Shark Blade.
"You know, that's a great idea, initiative…" thought Zachary. Then a sudden angry frown crossed his features.
"Initiative… Zachary, what does that mean?" asked Scotty, the youngest of the remaining Lumas.
"It means to do things without being told." Replied Oliver, who was rewarded with sharp looks from most just everybody. "What? What did I do?"
"Nothing." Replied Zachary, a look of bitterness still on his visage. "The question is… what has Mama done? Lumas, what has she ever done to help us?"
"She takes care of us! She gives us food! She lets us have fun! And she reads us stories!" chorused some of the younger Lumas.
"And aside from that?" retorted Zachary. When no one dared speak… he continued relentlessly.
"She got us hurt bad this time! She spend more time with her friends! She doesn't say thank you to us! She makes do her work! She makes us fight and protect her – and we almost get killed too! Especially when we all dove into that stupid Black Hole! And we always have to go where she goes, which is nowhere fun! She grounds us! And she makes us think as if she loves us – but she doesn't! Especially with all her stupid rules!"
This caused the Lumas to gasp. "Zachary, don't say that! Mama and Polari will be mad, and – and – "
"And what, Scotty?" retorted Zachary. "I'm right and you know that! And now… she's gone! Along with Polari! They're both the same – they're just as bad! And they're both gone from our lives… and so are their rules!" Poor Scotty looked away in shame… but then the words hit home.
Suddenly, it dawned on the Lumas. A whole cosmos to explore and to play in… without Mama and her silly rules to interfere. They thought of all the things they'd missed, of all the places they could've played in, the beaches, the really cool planets… and let's not forget all the food… if it weren't for Rosalina's constant chiding and nagging against them going out alone without her.
"You know, Zach… you're right!" chirped Bob, a Hungry Luma who took his side. Soon enough, all the Lumas were with him. "But what's the plan?"
"We take the Starshroom and go out to the world! And now," Zachary gestured with a flourish, "We take initiative! We can finally lead our own lives, in freedom! Oliver, what's keeping you?"
"I-I-I can't leave…"
"Why not?! Don't stay, we are free! Don't you get it?"
"This… this…" he gestured to the Comet Observatory, "this is my home. Our home."
"Our home? With a "mama" who doesn't even love us, how can you call this home?! This is just one huge pile of rubbish we managed to live in for a long time! And now we can go freely out into the world, with nothing to hold us back… you still want to be here, where there isn't a mama anymore? Are you stupid, Oliver?" When Oliver remained silent, all the other Lumas laughed and jeered. "Come one, Oliver. One last chance." Said Zachary, now pointing towards the Starshroom defiantly.
"No!" shrieked Oliver, equally stubborn. "I know Mama's around here somewhere! And I'm not going to just leave her!"
"Then so be it, loser. Go look for Mama all you want. As for us… we're winners. We can do what we want now." One by one, the Lumas piled into that Starshroom, then began having fun randomly pressing buttons. "Hey, guys, stop!" shrieked Zachary, who pointed to a huge green button. On the count of three, everyone press that! Three, two, one…"
With a sudden start, the Starshroom flew up and, crashing straight through a minaret in the Cathedral, and seemingly remaining in pristine condition, rocketed into the vacuum of space carrying five intrepid Lumas with it.
Leaving behind a very sad Oliver, a near-dead Polari, a destroyed Observatory, and a mother now almost all alone.
The Giant Blacksmith finally finished his newest work of art – a seemingly regular Estoc +5… except on one category.
After the usual payment and thanks, the Undead decided to start heading to the Cathedral's roof to check on the superstructure which had crashed onto it.
"Knightess, you there? Can you hear me? Knightess?"
The lack of reply suddenly startled him. What if his idea was a bust?
I'm here, I'm here, all right! She replied, quite annoyed at the fact that the Undead had decided to let her be forged into a measly sword. Impressive idea, though… but I'll have to get used to this for a while. By the least, now I can see everything the blade's exposed to – hey! She exclaimed as the Knight, without warning, sheathed her. "I can't see – there we go – STOP!" she continued, very cross, as he began rapidly drawing and sheathing her, having some fun at her expense. "You're making me real dizzy, now!" He did halt… then began laughing incessantly, stopping and leaning against a pillar... which only angered the poor Knightess more. But then the laughter proved too contagious, and she began to see the humor of it all, first chuckling a bit, and then finally joining in as well, her giggles filling the space of the Undead's mind.
When they had finally regained composure, and started moving upstairs again, they started talking again, and she asked him some few, serious questions.
So, why exactly are we heading upstairs? Isn't that place dangerous?
"Of course… but then there's the huge strange… eh, thing plastered to the top of it all. Methinks I saw a Library and a Kitchen in there – both good places to be in, unless you're in the Depths or Duke's." He answered hurriedly, and had to sprint away from a Silver Knight who'd nearly lopped his head off with a straightsword. He doubled back into a corridor, and hid, until the Silver Knight had lost interest. Then he stood still for a while, quite out of breath.
That was some good running and hiding there… the Knightess remarked, and choosing not to fight, as well. Interesting tactic. Has the great Knight, champion of Undead, become a soft-hearted man?
"Definitely not. Also, I was never good at choices, Knightess. Don't rub it in."
Ok, sorry, sorry… another question to keep us occupied as we go.
"Say it."
Have you ever fallen in love?
This halted the undead for a moment, causing him to try to look further than his last coherent memory… but no. Those memories were… long gone now. Although… there was that tiny shred of coherence pertaining to his family.
"I can't seriously remember… but my body seems to remember being loved by - hey, I don't mean it that way!" he protested while the Knightess took her turn to laugh at his expense.
Ok, ok, sure! Trying to weasel out of things, thou are!
"Well, what about you, knightess?" he retaliated. "Have you fallen in love?"
After a few moment's silence, she spoke. Sir, you're quite bad at spotting things obvious to common people. Yes, I have been in love. And yes, I fell in love with one person I cared for deeply, who betrayed my ideals, and yet is willing to plod back to me and apologize. I fell in love with you, of all people… because hey, you were – and always will be – the closest person to me, one who I have not only guided but also guided me as well.
Dumbfounded, the Undead replied, "E-ehh… w-well, feelings and affections… I'm not really good at spotting them. You were quite… subtle, under your armor. Your voice… well, I suspected it a bit, but… I thought it was mere friendship. Anyway, I'm quite curious, where did I guide you?"
Mere friendship, heh. You ARE indeed terrible at telling love apart from friendship... And as for guiding me, you did so in the waning years in my life, and taught me a few things. That love can indeed bring even the greatest of warriors to their knees… much like you did, when you could not bring yourself to draw against me. But that was a short while, anyways. And another thing. That love could indeed forgive any wrong. But now… now I'm a sword. I don't know how I can express my love now. And let's not forget the fact that I'm not alive anymore, basically... He felt a great sadness course through the blade. Guess this was how she could express herself now.
"And now you're my sword, ready to lay waste upon the enemies of your love. That is why I forged you into a sword, dear knightess." he replied gently and soothingly. Not only so you could be my blade, and thus guide me, but also so you could remain far from danger when it came to being consumed. Lastly, I can simply spread Repair Powder on you when you're hurt. Just say the word. Ah, here we are." He then began ascending the staircase leading to the roof.
He felt a burst of warm, fuzzy emotions course gently through the sword through his hand and into his bosom. Thanks for giving me this kind of worth, dear friend. And for the talk, as well. Your voice is quite pleasant to hear… even if it's tainted by the canting talk of that bastard Patches, heh.
"And you're welcome, Knightess." He said as they reached the roof, and walked toward the Observatory. After quite a… entertaining discourse, they weren't disappointed by what they saw.
It was the strangest, most alien building they'd seen in their lives… and yet, it was magnificently done, in a way they could hardy describe. A tall, eloquent spire with a miniature sun burning in it, a huge building with an equally huge spoon and fork on one façade, a patch of… plainsland, was it?! Then a library, they noted, which walls looked like shelves themselves but had an entrance full of smashed concrete, a building continually spewing out water from two sides of it, a purple domelike structure surrounded by felt, and a patch of shiny, metallic ground which seemed to have no purpose at all. And apart from a few chunks of concrete missing, the spire being broken, and a few parts of the whole being smashed into Anor Londo's buildings, it was still quite an eloquent structure.
After a few seconds of staring, they conferred.
"Should we bust into it? Or should we just leave it?" asked the Undead. "It seems lots of things of value could be found – "
That would be unlawful, the Knightess retorted, but I still say we should look into it.
"Why, then, if not for gain?" he replied. "You're being confusing here."
Can't you see the purpose of this all? As far as I can see, these things are the make of someone coherent – if not Human, then just another being – for it to live in. It might be in there at this moment, even! Then we could ask for things out of this world! Without breaking the law and our codes of honor, most importantly.
"Hmm. You do have some insight there. Shall we enter, then?"
The undead then decided to take some steps onto the earth which had crashed into the roof. The earth was grassy, and so far, ordinary plainsland, indeed. "So far, so good. Nothing bad happening, I'd reckon -"
Then suddenly, something tiny barreled into him. It surprisingly managed to knock him over, but then it suddenly chirped… and the sound seemed so pitiful it made him think twice about using Knightess to whack it into oblivion.
The thing looked like a blue teardrop with stubby arms and two black eyes. Currently, it was frantically waving around, chirping and squealing, tugging him and pointing intently to the library's concrete barrier. Then it hit them.
Debris. The poor thing wants to get in. Told you there would be living things on this place. The Knightess sighed in his mind sympathetically. "So, knightess? You're better versed in diplomacy than I am. What should we – "
Oh, dear me, use thine common sense! Help him! He could imagine the poor Knightess facepalming.
"Eh, sure." He then stepped over to the blockage, and painstakingly but quickly removed a chunk of concrete from the bottom. No, dummy, you're supposed to start from the top-
Big mistake indeed. The entire pile suddenly teetered and crashed on top of him, and then some. At the end of the resulting avalanche, he was under the whole pile, about a ton heavier than him. But at least he was still alive. Before his entire energy was spent trying to not get crushed he quickly used Wrath of the Gods, and in a split-second all of the debris was sent flying away from him and the Library. Only a few stray chunks remained which landed into the other Domes and buildings.
As he took two deep swigs from his Estus flask, Knightess began to browbeat him. Next time, look at things more carefully! And above all, use your common sense! And before I forget, don't rely on your being undead too much! You've already lost too much of your memories! Understood?!
"Ok, ok, momma! Calling me dummy won't help, though…" he rebutted quite sheepishly. There was no end to the tribulations of this day… but by the very least he wasn't bored anymore. And that made him quite satisfied. "All in a day's-"
Suddenly, he felt a warm presence leap into his chest, nearly knocking him over for the second time. When he'd managed to scoop it up in his arms, he saw that it was the small blue thing from a while ago. It was chirping happily, and from the look on its' eyes, it was clear he'd made a friend.
Awww, its' adorable… crooned the Knightess. He snorted, but then she continued on, and that gave him an idea. Why, that's one of the things you should do. Befriend people or things who aren't bloodthirsty. He then felt some condescending, snarky jolt of emotion flow from the sword into him.
"You're damn good at expressing yourself, Knightess" he thought back. "Ok, sure, I will. With your guidance, eh?"
Then the thing leapt into the entryway to the Library. It stopped for the moment, and bid him follow.
Sheathe me. Show you mean no harm.
"You absolutely fine with that?" the Warrior thought back. "About not seeing, that is-"
That I will gladly put up with. So long as you can befriend him. Then I'll be happy.
"Aw, that's sweet." He immediately felt sarcasm rush into his hand as he sheathed Knightess. "In we go, then…" He crossed the threshold through a corridor full of shelves, some of which were smashed by loose chunks of concrete which flew in, no thanks to the Wrath of the Gods shockwave.
Little did he know he was going to see one of the most stunning, stellar sights of his life, one that would change him for as long as he lived.
And that's about it for now! And since I have the majority of summer to write… stay tuned!
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