-Memory Of The Old Iron King-

Tetsuro took a deep breath. He'd traveled a long way to reach this very door, but now that he was here, he was unsettled for some reason. This was a memory, after all, and he knew the Iron King had won the fight, so he wasn't worried about losing. Still, his success or failure would determine a very important encounter.

After learning that Lucatiel, Seiko, and Jinta intended on hunting down the old crowns to unite their power, he had decided to be the one to retrieve the Crown Of The Iron King for them, much like he knew Seiko had done for Jinta with the Four Kings of New Londo. He had the crown already, but with the crown in his possession, something had called him to this memory. It was the first time he could remember something outside the mundane influencing him, unless it was magical attacks from an enemy.

A/N: Kodoku by Alex Roe, rearrangement of Sir Alonne by Yuka Kitamura

He pushed open the doors. There, across the room, sat another legend. The polished tile floor and beautiful pillars, the overall lavishness of the room, seemed to be in great contrast to the simple warrior seated on the floor. He sat with his sword across his lap - a blade longer than any Tetsuro had ever wielded.

Tetsuro drew his Silver Knight sword and Iron Round shield. Sir Alonne, retainer of the Old Iron King, stood and raised his sword. The hilt was long enough for four or even five hands to rest on it at once. Tetsuro paid close attention and saw that Alonne held it with his right hand under the tsuba and his left hand at the base of the hilt, a grip typical of a katana.

There was a moment of pause between the two, each fully absorbing the image of his foe, before they began. Tetsuro and Alonne both started forward at the same time, but Alonne was faster. He crossed the distance almost twice as fast as Tetsuro and stabbed. Tetsuro blocked and tried to push off the blade, but Alonne let it be pushed and moved the tip of the blade in a C shape to swing under the shield at Tetsuro's ribs. He added strength to the swing of this incredibly long blade by twisting his body and pulling the blade to slice.

Tetsuro intercepted the attack with the blade of his own sword, then charged forward, keeping both edges to one another until just before colliding with Alonne. He pushed both swords up and punched with his shield. Alonne let his sword be pushed and raised his arms with the force, then thrust the pommel of his sword down on top of Tetsuro's shield to redirect the punch. With a step to the side, Alonne turned the move into a diagonal slash down at Tetsuro.

The length of the blade made retreating back in time impossible. Tetsuro fell to the side and put his shield between himself and Alonne's sword. His Silver Knight sword vanished from his hand so he could catch himself. As soon as Alonne's sword struck, Tetsuro used the moment to move out of the way and stow his shield. In its place, his left hand found purchase on a steel axe's haft. He closed his right hand around the haft much closer to the head to use the curved blade to guard that hand.

Tetsuro rose up and swept his axe up as he did, clashing violently with another swing from Alonne. Before Tetsuro could capitalize on the opening, Alonne lept backward, half the room away. Tetsuro started to pursue, until Alonne swept his sword horizontally and threw a wave of what Tetsuro had to assume was magic. Tetsuro dodged the wave and found that Alonne was suddenly right in front of him. Alonne slashed upward and Tetsuro was unable to respond in time. Vengarl's armor held admirably, and the red and pink pelt and fabric hid the gash well, but Tetsuro nonetheless suffered a cut from his left hip to left shoulder.

Now it was Alonne who was unable to respond in time, with Tetsuro bringing the head of his axe down between Alonne's neck and left shoulder. Alonne's armor didn't seem to be infused with Titanite so, although it was well made, it split under the axe rather easily. Alonne's collarbone faired about as well. Tetsuro tried to kick Alonne, but the knight jumped back again.

As Tetsuro had to cover the same distance, slower, Alonne had time to press his blade into the wound. Blood ran down the sword and Tetsuro finally noticed how it was coating the blade. The sword now had an obvious aura, and Tetsuro felt what he could only describe as a hunger in the air. It wasn't from Sir Alonne, but the sword itself. Alonne seemed unaffected by the vampiric beast in his hands.

Alonne raised his sword again and Tetsuro changed weapons. This time, he drew a katana with a red cloth tied around the hilt. The Chaos Blade, a relic now, seemed a fitting sword to continue the fight. He continued forward and the two blades met for the first time. Tetsuro used both hands like Alonne, and his shorter, lighter Chaos Blade should have given him the advantage. He found, however, that Alonne could move his huge sword with the same finesse and speed as Tetsuro moved the Chaos Blade.

Two slashes for the chest clashed, Tetsuro pushed and Alonne abated, then Alonne turned the retreat into an attack for the hip. Tetsuro slashed down to intercept, then turned his blade to slash up at Alonne's chest or head. Alonne leaned back just enough for the sword to miss, impressing Tetsuro with his spacial awareness. Alonne jumped back, then lunged forward with another uppercut swing. Tetsuro, now, dodged to the side just enough and slashed horizontally for Alonne's stomach. Alonne turned the blade and twisted his body, blocked behind his back, then turned again and swept his blade wide into the air. The blade flew down at Tetsuro at an angle.

Tetsuro slashed up to clash, let his blade rebound, then took a step forward and smashed his blade into Alonne's again a split second later. Tetsuro was ready for the shock where Alonne was not, and he managed to cut Alonne from his right shoulder to his left hip. Tetsuro felt his sword steal stamina from him for the successful hit, but he could be sure Alonne would be in great pain.

Yet Sir Alonne showed no sign of fatigue or pain. He recovered instantly and slashed at Tetsuro. Tetsuro managed to block, and their clashing continued as if the successful hit had never happened. Tetsuro felt himself slowing down, from his wound and the Chaos Blade stealing his life away as it gave him strength. Sir Alonne began to push him back, but there was nowhere to escape to for Tetsuro. An enemy faster and stronger than he was, seemingly tireless… Until Tetsuro realized that Alonne was losing strength as well. Each swing freed some blood from the blade, every clash draining a little more strength from Alonne's attacks.

Tetsuro began to focus much more on defense, waiting for an opening. Sir Alonne left apparent openings, but they were traps Tetsuro knew Alonne had the experience and ability to exploit. Finally, Tetsuro blocked in such a way that Alonne wouldn't be able to intercept his next swing. He slashed as Alonne tried to get distance and opened another wound across Alonne's chest.

Alonne got away, but Tetsuro could see he was breathing hard now. Alonne raised his sword in a reverse grip and Tetsuro sheathed the Chaos Blade to prepare for an iajutsu strike-on-the-draw. But Alonne didn't approach right away. He stabbed himself in the stomach with his own blade, then ripped the blade out. To Tetsuro, halfway across the room, it felt like there was the howl of a hunter filling the air. He felt the impending danger from the sword itself, but he realized it was Alonne who was making the war cry.

Alonne dashed forward and Tetsuro held his ground. Alonne slashed down in an overhead strike. A wave of magic ripped out of his blade and scarred the floor… But the attack missed Tetsuro. He dodged to the side, just barely, and drew the Chaos Blade with awesome speed. The Chaos Blade sapped more of his stamina, but Alonne was surely finished. He stumbled, moved away from Tetsuro, and drew in a sharp breath.

Alonne roared and stabbed himself again, this time up at an angle through his stomach, and fell to his knees. When he was sure Sir Alonne was dead, Tetsuro sheathed the Chaos Blade and it vanished from his hip. Only then did he have an opening to drink Estus.

Tetsuro approached Sir Alonne. He suddenly heard heavy breathing from someone else in the room, and turned to see the Old Iron King, wounded from the battle that had truly happened and not the interaction he had experienced with this long dead war hero. Before Tetsuro could see more, his vision went grey and he found himself back in the real world, out of the memory he'd been pulled into.

He bent and picked up Sir Alonne's helmet with one hand, and his sword with the other.

"I hope you don't mind, knight of the east, but I'm not leaving without something to carry on your legacy. Clearly, you mastered some ancient beast within this blade and honed your skills to a razor's edge. Yours is a new style to me, a thrill of striking the killing blow an instant before your opponent. With your helmet, I'll carry your legacy, and with this sword I will find a new strength."

He bowed his head.

"Thank you for the duel… Even if to you it was against your own lord. I won't soon forget this."