Characters in this prompt: Artorias the Abysswalker, Dragon Slayer Ornstein

Summary: Ornstein follows Artorias on his mission to Oolacile and is faced with a horrible decision, when he realizes, that his friend has been corrupted by the abyss.

(Author's note: It is time for the most angsty one of the prompts. Prepare your handkerchiefs for it is time to cry and suffer.)

Ornstein hadn't been able to shake this bad feeling away. After Artorias had left for his mission in Oolacile, he felt like something was wrong, very wrong. Ciaran must have felt it too, cause the woman had disappeared one night only leaving a note that she would have an eye on Artorias. But Ornstein still couldn't find any rest, so he abandoned his post, his duties and his silver knights to follow Artorias to Oolacile, even though he knew it would get him into great trouble.

And there he was now, standing in an arena, hardly able to believe his own eyes.

"Artorias?", he asked, unsure if the raging figure in front of him really was his friend. "It is you, right? My eyes aren't doing tricks on me, correct?"

Instead of answering, Artorias howled and opened with a jumping attack. Ornstein managed to evade it at the last moment, a slight shock in him that Artorias would attack him. He clutched his spear in both hands, taking in a defensive stance.

"Artorias, don't you recognize me? It's me, Ornstein.", he said with a pleading tone in his voice. As a response, Artorias swung his sword in his signature spinning move. Ornstein managed to avoid this attack too, he knew how deadly it could be. Artorias had never used it in a duel against him, knowing how devastating it would be if one day Ornstein wouldn't be able to evade it. His spear still tightly clutching, it felt like his knuckles were already going white beneath his gauntlets, Ornstein took a few steps backwards, as the wolf knight had to straighten up because of the attack's momentum.

Artorias took a few steps forward or more, he limped forward. Still walking backwards, Ornstein could see in what a bad state he was. He wasn't even holding his sword in the left hand, the whole arm dangled uselessly downwards, he had the sword in his right hand instead and didn't even had his shield with him. And where in the world was Sif? Ornstein could see the black sludge coming from him. Corrupted, he thought, taken by the abyss.

His armour clanked as Ornstein's back hit the arena wall. Artorias took this as opportunity to start another attack, Ornstein recognized the stance as the sword thrust. He didn't had any trouble to evade it, the distinct shape of the arena hindered that he could get cornered. Artorias immediately followed with another attack and this time Ornstein raised his spear to parry the swing.

If Artorias really had been taken by the abyss, he would have no choice. Ornstein felt a lump forming in his throat at the thought. He swallowed, it was a hot and dry feel, while the thoughts crossed his mind. Then I need to kill him.

He shivered at the thought. For now, he hadn't fought back, hadn't tried to hurt Artorias, simply evaded and parried his attacks. No, he couldn't do it. Artorias was his comrade, his friend, there had to be another way. He needed to snap him out of this rage. With a determined look at his face, Ornstein stepped back to evade another attack and swung his spear to parry the next blow of the sword.

"Artorias, you need to snap out of it.", he said, pressing his spear against the sword, on which Artorias had laid a lot of force. Ornstein knew, if Artorias would have used his left hand, he wouldn't had any trouble to shove his spear aside and probably severe his arm in the process. "This is not who you are. You are Artorias, one of the four knights of Gwyn, one of Anor Londo's heroes who fought in the dragon war. You have a wolf companion named Sif." Ornstein could feel that he would lose the battle of force, Artorias was close to push his weapon aside. He decided to pull back himself. The sudden absence of force made Artorias' sword collide heavily with the ground.

"Remember, who you are.", Ornstein screamed over the noise. "Where is the Artorias that loved to bake cookies and would surprise us with them when we least expected it?"

The wolf knight only answered with another howl and started an attack that consisted of several successive flips. Absolute deadly if you got caught in it, Ornstein had to be on his toes to evade all three of them, but when Artorias got up after the finished attack, he had another chance.

"Artorias, please, don't you hear me?", he said, his voice had a pleading tone in it. "You would always go feed the stray cats and dogs in Anor Londo, remember?"

Artorias turned his head and stared directly at Ornstein. Ornstein felt a chill running down his spine, the face of the wolf knight couldn't even been made out anymore.. it just looked like a black abyss.

"You were knitting all of us scarfs for the winter, remember?", Ornstein said, feeling tears welling up in his eyes. There was no response.

"Fine.", Ornstein said, sniffling a bit. "If I have to beat you out of this, so shall it be." He readied his spear and started an attack, expecting Artorias to evade it, but the wolf knight just stayed where he was and Ornstein's spear connected with armour and flesh. He could make out blood that seeped from the fresh injury and Ornstein pulled his spear back immediately.

"Artorias, I am so sorry, I didn't want to... I was hoping..." What exactly? That Artorias would snap out of it by him fighting back? Staring at the bloodied blade of his spear, Ornstein didn't notice the sword coming down and a sharp pain in his left arm told him, that he hadn't evaded the blow in time. He could feel blood pouring out of the wound, the arm feeling limp, probably broken from the sheer force. "At least we are even now.", Ornstein murmured and took his spear in his right hand alone.

Ornstein knew by heart how Artorias fought and the same should be true for Artorias and while the wolf knight used all his familiar attacks, he left himself wide open for Ornstein's own. Ornstein winced every time a blow connected with the wolf knight. After a while Artorias staggered back. "Artorias, are you back?", Ornstein asked. "Have I finally beat some sense into you...?"

No answer. Instead, the darkness of the Abyss surrounded Artorias while he howled, Ornstein wasn't sure if it was in pain or in rage. Both probably.

"I know you are still in there somewhere.", Ornstein screamed. "Artorias, please fight. Where is your unbreakable will of still you are so famous for?"

The black fog cleared around Artorias. Ornstein didn't knew if it was an illusion, but it looked like Artorias would glow with darkness. He took a few step backwards as the wolf knight limped forwards, adjusting his sword.

"It is of no use, right?", Ornstein said, the tears which were welling up in his eyes starting to fall. "You have no clue who you are anymore, right?" He shivered. He didn't want to do this. He didn't want to kill his friend. But I have too, were all he could think about.

Artorias readied a jump attack. This would be his chance. Ornstein had to do it now or he would never be able to scrape together the will for this atrocious act. He didn't move, he didn't try to avoid, instead shortly before Artorias attack connected with him, he jerked his spear up and pierced it through the chest of the wolf knight, having activated the special lightning powers within it. A thing he normally wouldn't do in any of their duels. He heard Artorias scream, a sound that would haunt him in his nightmares.

Blood and goo seeped out from Artorias, he could hear him wheeze. Ornstein yanked the spear out of the wound, which made more blood splatter, from Artorias chest and mouth. The wolf knight collapsed to the ground.

"Oh, Artorias, I am so sorry.", Ornstein whispered, kneeling down beside his friend. "I wish there would have been another way. Why didn't you hear me?"

He could hardly believe it when he heard the faint whisper of Artorias voice. "Ornstein?", he said.

"I am here, don't talk. It isn't too late. Maybe we can still fix you up!", Ornstein frantically started to rummage around his belongings, he must have a divine blessing somewhere.

"Ornstein, it's too late." A cough and a wheeze. "I am already consumed... by the dark.. the abyss." Another cough, Ornstein could feel how a weak hand hold out to his own. "I am so sorry, please, all of you, forgive me. For I have availed nothing."

Ornstein shivered, feeling the tears streaming out of his eyes, clutching the hand of his friend with his own.

"Thank you... that at least... I can die.. as myself... with a friend at my side." The hand of Artorias got limp. Ornstein shivered, the salty taste of tears on his lips, he felt like screaming, but instead, he just collapsed on the ground, feeling empty, as if some void had swallowed his heart.

He could feel a hand on his shoulder and raised his head a little, enough to make out Ciaran's mask.

"Ciaran... what have I done?", he asked.

"What you had to."

(Author's note: I used some of the cut Artorias dialogue for this. From the moment I saw this prompt I wanted to use Ornstein and Artorias for it. The fic was inspired by this video: watch?v=y_yuu9Enmxc&t=0s&list=FLb7tJEgJIB2XG6MmlVN37-Q&index=8)