Chapter 5: Darkened Fires

Right, after what feels like a millennium, I'm back with another complete mess of a chapter. I've had a lot of problems recently, starting with me being unable to view reviews, and ending with... I'm not sure. Probably multiple different forms of insanity. Anyway, where was I? Ah, yes.

For those of you who are thinking of leaving reviews, please keep them civil. I haven't had any 'flames' yet, but the paranoid often survive longer than the sane... that's quite good, actually. Remind me to use that some time in the future.

Also, in the last chapter, I didn't explain how Solaire got to that particular location because it is explained by Solaire himself in Dark Souls, which he wouldn't be willing to do towards someone on the darker side of the spectrum.

And finally, for those of you who were confused about why Firana recognised the weapon used by the half-dragon half-undead in the last chapter, it is because a Bastard Sword is a classification of a weapon, not a specific 'species', if you will, of weapon unique to Dark Souls. Firana would have likely seen metal weapons, including multiple versions of sword, including Bastard Swords, during her time in Warfang. Notice the use of the word 'likely'...

Anyhow, enough of my mindless ranting, enjoy!

Anger, rage, pain, hatred, sadness, despair, fear... I draw strength from these negative emotions. I feed off them. But it is from my own emotion that I draw the majority of my power. My own anger, rage, pain, hatred, sadness, and despair, all fuel me. Some might call me a villain for drawing my power from negative emotions. The truth... I am more of a monster than a hero, but that is because of my principles, not my power. I am willing to torture, maim, and kill. But I only ever take pleasure in those actions when I am angry, or in intense pain. When I am doing it for revenge.

Revenge. I have had plenty of it, but it is a bitter-sweet cup from which to drink. When you achieve vengeance on the one who wronged you, the need for revenge leaves, but so does the drive to continue on your path. Most would discontinue, and go back to their lives. I didn't. I found another reason to continue down the path of darkness. What is that reason, you ask? It is a simple one, all things considered.

I found comfort in the pain.

(Obsidian's POV)

(Nightmare)

I walk through the darkened wasteland, searching for something, someone. But no matter how long I search, I can never find them. No matter how many ash dunes I overturn, I never find a body. I have wandered for what feels like an eternity, but there have not even been hints to her location. But I don't give up. I can't. The loss of that one, final fragment of hope would destroy me.

After wandering for so long my four paws ache, I finally find something. A destroyed statue. I run towards it, hope blossoming in my heart, but I am stopped in my tracks when a red and silver dragoness materialises in front of me. The dragoness I have been searching for.

I open my maw, but no words come out of it. Firana stares at me, her eyes filled with remorse.

"I am sorry, Obsidian. You failed me."

I shake my head in disbelief.

"How?! I have searched eons for you! How can I have failed you, when I have only just been reunited with you?!"

"You are too late." Firana begins to dissolve. "We are already dead."

"NO!"

I claw helplessly at the mist that was once Firana, but it dissipates moments before I can clutch it. My gaze falls to the ruined statue. I notice something there, but I can't make out what. I walk slowly towards the statue, and my fears are confirmed... and they also dissipate.

Firana lies dead at the base of the statue, maggots already clawing at her dead flesh. A tear streams down my face. I was too late. By mere minutes. But... Firana is on top of something.

I carefully, and respectfully, move Firana off her perch, and gasp, tears steaming down my face. Underneath Firana... is a single, black egg.

A final tear escapes from my eye, and I glance at my tail blade. I bring it down upon the egg, as if Firana couldn't make it in this world, a hatchling would have no chance. The egg shatters, revealing an empty void inside it. Not even an embryo. I bring my tail blade to my own neck. It won't do me any good, but... at least it will honour Firana...

(Reality)

"FIRANA!"

I jump awake, fear gripping every fibre of my being. It takes a couple of moments, but I eventually realise that it was just a dream. I lean backwards onto the tree root behind me, gathering my memories.

I jump again, looking at my surroundings. A cave, with tree roots surrounding me, one tunnel visible opposite me, and an unlit bonfire in the centre of the room. I start breathing heavily, and I approach the bonfire. I extend my paw towards it, and the ash at the base of the coiled sword bursts into flames. I sit down, and the many burns I received from Hellkite slowly start to fade. I sigh.

The memory of what happened after I killed Hellkite eludes me, preventing me from understanding the situation. I know I killed the drake, I'm sure of it... and yet, the memory of that event is nothing but pure rage, the likes of which has never consumed me before. Probably this world getting to me. I've likely got multiple different types of mental disorders at this point.

HAH! What am I thinking? EVERYONE in Lordran goes insane at some point. Even Gwyn went insane, in the end. I'm not even sure I'm thinking coherently anymore. Not that it matters. Right now, all that matters is figuring out what has happened to me.

I get up, grab Nifred, and start walking down the only tunnel here. I don't recognise this place. I've played Dark Souls one, and I watched enough lore videos on the DLC to know that I'm in Dark Souls DLC land... but since I never played around in Dark Souls DLC land, I'm probably going to be worthless.

After a whole ten seconds of walking, I reach the end of the tunnel, which opens up into a clearing... a clearing with a rather large white manticore in it! I swap to a two-handed grip on Nifred, and I advance cautiously. This is Dark Souls, after all...

As soon as my foot enters the clearing, the manticore roars, and launches a rather large blast of lightning at me. I jump to my left, narrowly avoiding the obviously lethal blow, but I still feel the static charge when the lightning passes me. I turn around towards the white beast, only to find it about two inches from my face. The charging manticore hits me head on, and I'm sent flying into the rock wall surrounding the clearing. I plant Nifred in the ground, and use it as a crutch to get up on. Pain wracks my entire being.

The manticore, seemingly satisfied with my inability to fight back, starts strafing, growls and snarls taunting me. I get onto my hind legs, glaive in my right paw, and I start circling the beast. The impact with the rock wall broke both of my wings, so I use the pain to summon my corrupted fires. A dark mist escapes from my maw, and I snarl. The manticore, finally realising what it is up against, backs up, before doing its' best impression of a Gatling Gun, launching multiple lightning blasts at me in quick succession.

Adrenalin coursing through my body, I leap to the left, narrowly avoiding the first two blasts, and I block the third one with the tip of Nifred. Not giving the manticore time to respond, I charge at the white beast.

"TOL ARCHAN!"

The manticore is thrown off by my battle cry, giving me a window of opportunity. I slash at the beast with Nifred the moment I come within range, tearing through its left eye. The manticore staggers in pain. Not giving it any more time to respond, I open my maw, and launch a cursed fireball at it. The dark explosion knocks me backwards, and I hit the rock wall, broken wings first. I gasp in pain for the first time since I was turned into a dragon, before getting back into my battle position.

The manticore is much worse off than I am. What was once white fur has been charred black, and three of its four wings are missing. The creature snarls at me, revealing charred teeth. I smile evilly. This should be easy... right?

I throw Nifred at the manticore, who, in its injured state, can't dodge it. The blade ends up in the beasts' remaining eye, blinding it. The manticore starts thrashing wildly, panicking. I walk slowly towards it, and I grab, twist, and pull out Nifred. Blood pours from the ruined eye of the manticore. It thrashes some more, before collapsing, lying still... and FINALLY dying.

I allow my cursed fires to dim, blood slowly leaving my eyes. I sigh in pain, and I walk towards the exit of this obvious boss arena. I immediately spot another Bonfire, surrounded by statues, and I rush towards it. I light the coiled sword with an extended paw, and I sit down. The heat from the bonfire snaps the bones of my wings back into place. I flinch when I feel said bones snap together, eventually forming complete, undamaged wings. The pain in my body slowly fades, and I get up.

I look to my left, and I spot a rather large mushroom with eyes. Eyes which are currently staring at me. I walk towards the mushroom cautiously. When I get within a metre of the mushroom, it starts speaking, despite the fact that it lacks a mouth.

"Well, look at this one. From what far away age hast thou come? Thy scent is very dark indeed... but not intolerable." Why is it I'm suddenly struck by the desire to mutilate this mushroom? "Art thou a follower of the Path of the Dragon?"

I give this talking mushroom a shake of the head.

"No, I am not."

"Then art thou like Seath, a dragon capable of coherent thought and speech?"

I unconsciously growl.

"Seath? A traitor to his own kind? No, I am not."

The mushroom gives me a disbelieving look.

"Then what art thou?"

I sigh.

"My name is Obsidian. As for what I am, even I'm not entirely sure. Probably a dark dragon of some description or another." I pause, deciding to ask a couple of questions of my own. "Anyhow, have you seen a red dragoness recently? She would be small, for a dragon, about the size of a human."

The mushroom shakes its 'head'.

"I have not seen a dragoness of that description, dragon." I sigh. So Firana wasn't dragged here with me. "However, a blue dragoness, roughly the size thou hast described, passed through here a couple of hours ago." WHAT? "A few hours before, sir Artorias passed through as well. Perhaps they might be able to help?"

I smile, and nod my head in appreciation.

"Thank you, err... did you ever mention your name?"

"Sorry, my manners must be deteriorating. I am Elizabeth, guardian of this sanctuary."

I nod.

"I see. Thank you, Elizabeth."

I turn away, and I walk towards the entrance to what is clearly a forest. I can't believe it! Manus actually dragged me to BEFORE Artorias was corrupted by the abyss! I would say that it's a miracle, but if it were, I would probably be throwing lightning spears right now.

I smile, standing in front of the entrance to the forest. This is going to be a long walk... but it should be worth it.

And... cut! End of chapter! I know, my attempt at this chapter was like doing brain surgery with a chainsaw, but at least I got a chapter out at all... that is a good thing, right?

Now, to the guest R.K, since I didn't give a reply to your most recent review in the opening A/N, I have thought about Fallout 4 and Skyrim. Fallout 4 is entirely out of the question, simply due to my disgust towards some of the concepts used in it, but The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim has been added to the list. It's a very long list, but I'll get to it eventually.

Until next time...