Hello everyone! Here it is, straight from the second-last week of classes! An earlier and longer chapter than usual, thanks to finishing requirements earlier than the given deadline, and sheer wild imagination. And seeing even just thirty views, a review and a follow… it fills me with DETERMINATION.

As per publication standards…

Disclaimer. I don't own Dark Souls and Super Smash Bros (and their characters); they belong to From Software and Nintendo, respectively. Not me.

Chapter 2

As the Comet Observatory began speeding away, its invader attempted to give chase, thinking he could break through the force field… but he was wrong. He flew straight into it, and was consequently halted. He then decided to stop in space and mull over the situation for a while.

Tabuu swore. He was in quite a state of pain. He'd bided his time, waiting for an opportune moment to strike her down while she was distracted with those prattling little Luma children... and yet it all went to waste, damn it!

That woman… he had greatly underestimated her. She'd fought back. Resisted, even. Those pestering little bratty Lumas were also quite a nuisance… although knowing he'd sent some of them to hell (or so he thought) was exceedingly satisfying. And right when he'd finally, finally decided to use the Off Waves… some blistering bolt of energy which could definitely not have come from her just shattered his left wing. "And I just grew them back! No matter… even if I look like some idiot with just one wing I'll get the job done. And this time… there won't be freak accidents to save the pitiful wretched ant." He mused to himself. "And this time, the Grand Stars… shall be mine and mine alone!"

He bid his wings disappear, then with a savage roar, began speeding after his quarry.

The Undead watched, awestruck, as a humungous, semitransparent, azure sphere hurtled down from the sky from where the light show was. There was all sorts of strange structures inside it, but as far as the Binoculars' sight extended, he couldn't see the things clearly. What he could make out was this… huge minaret of some sorts with a bright, turquoise light shone from the middle.

It approached, steady on, and steady on… until it finally crashed far, far north of the Undead's general position. What have you done, Solaire? Playing God already?! Then, out of the corner of his eye, he saw a blue blur fly after it in full throttle. Oh. Solaire definitely could have not made that. And it looks… quite invasive. A sporting hunt, this will be!

He decided to check those things out. Besides, he had all the time in the world… and all the boredom as well. And since the thing landed north… heavens above. Why there of all places?! Oh, dear…He shuddered as a gut-wrenching guilt overtook him.

Anor Londo, of all places. The place… where a good friend of his turned against him, all because of his actions.

Darkmoon Knightess.

Meanwhile, at the Comet Observatory (which had crashed onto the roof near Gwynevere's chamber), the remaining Lumas were dazed by the impact. Some of them stumbled blindly into each other, while others stayed still and waited for the world to stop spinning. Rosalina, however, was not so lucky. She was still as a stone, leaning against the Beacon.

The Lumas clustered around their unconscious mama, trying to wake her up. For a full minute they tried various methods (e.g. shouting "MAMA! WAKE UP!" in varying tones) until Polari noticed her chest rising and falling. "Sh-shhh, children, she's all safe. No need to wake her up. She's just tired!" he cautioned, seeing Oliver run to the Fountain with a bucket.

Then for the first time did the Lumas look around, and take stock of the city of the gods.

A glorious panorama unfolded before their eyes. Magnificent buildings basking in the light of the now-rising sun. The architecture, Polari noted, was quite… modern. But for the Lumas, one thing was certain: this was the greatest city they'd ever seen.

Their wonder was cut short when a certain blue invader floated onto the pinnacle of one of the buildings. It paused, evidently quite tired out due to its' injuries. Then, with a savage roar, he turned into something sharklike and sped to them

"Scatter!" screamed Zachary, as it sliced through the air. They managed to dodge that, but poor Polari – now tired from the day's exhaustions – was batted away by the Shark Blade. He landed in the Kitchen, unconscious,

"Now, now" muttered Tabuu, who had presently returned to his normal form, "Where is your mother?"

"We'd never-"retorted Oliver, who was nearly smacked into oblivion by a Chain of Light. "Talking back, eh?! ANSWER ME!" screamed Tabuu, now irate. Not expecting one, he followed, the Lumas' gazes… and soon spotted Mama.

"A pity. She won't know what hit her!" he grinned, and prepared to use Off Waves. One wing glowing in the sunlight. One charge. And it was all over. "Ces't la guerre!"

And that's when an Estoc buffed with Darkmoon Blade sank into his back.

He remembered the details all too well. The memory was fresh as a hot iron brand through the flesh of his recent memories. As he headed to the Bonfire, preparing to warp, the memory resurfaced, warning him.

It had been a usual sunny day in Anor Londo's illusion-lit halls, just two days ago. The sun was shining, birds were singing… and he'd just decided to try out invading, for a change of pace, and since the Cracked Red Eye Orbs were just begging to be used. It was quite entertaining, that fight against that poor Forest Hunter and his White Phantom toadies. Out of the jungle, eh, fellows? They tried their best, but against his skill, no matter. One fell to backstabs from the Balder Side Sword, another blown away by Wrath of the Gods, and the master of the world, cut down by a riposte. A nice change of pace, indeed! I'll try it again, later.

He'd just returned and now had returned to the Knightess' bonfire. He sat down and rested, the familiar feeling of Estus healing his wounds coursing through him. Meanwhile, Knightess was paging through the Book of the Guilty, muttering some obscenities upon spotting some regulars (dedicated Darkwraiths and Gravelorders) who still refused to change their ways. Upon his arrival, she merely waved, and he nodded back to acknowledge her. It would not have mattered if she attempted to start a conversation with him; he was mute. But she full well knew that. She'd come to understand him, know him, show concern for him… and probably something deeper coursed through her unending care of him.

Presently she heard her gasp. He turned around, saw her clutch the Book tightly. Then drop it. And then, grip her Estoc's hilt. What's with her?

Then he heard her voice.

"You vile beast; you have been indicted!"

Oh, crap. He shook his head, trying to deny it. Those three must've been hard up. Hey, I was just bored, and-

Then she continued relentlessly, her voice in utter disdain and disappointment.

"I thought thou could not succumb to the temptation, Sir. I expected much from thee. But now… it seems you have shown thine true colors. I-I" She seemed to be breaking down, showing weakness of heart.

Then her tone changed entirely, to one of pure sorrow and pain.

"Man, I cannot draw upon thee! Thou art dear to me, dearer than aught that breathes – and yet I have to! HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO ME?!" She sank to her knees, sobbing. He tried to approach… and of course the woman just reacted in a proper manner; she roared, and with inhuman strength, hit him on a chest with a brutal right hook. He flew backwards into nearby pillar, crashing against it. Oh, dear. Now what?

She quickly buffed her weapon with Darkmoon Blade, pulled out a parrying Dagger, and started advancing to him, her stride suddenly confident. "But if thou hast transgressed mine Lord Gwyndolin's laws… then I will have to do what I must" she intoned. "I am a Blade of the Darkmoon. And I will cut you down." Her voice, once bursting with concern, with friendship, with love, was now full to the brim with hatred.

I don't know what to do anymore, he thought, blocking all her strikes from the Estoc with a Grass Crest Shield. She attacked mercilessly, without care, driven by rage. His sword remained sheathed. It would be fair murder! Not only you can draw upon me, I cannot as well!

The Knightess saw this. "Coward! Draw thine sword or die!"

But he couldn't. Now he was pressed to choose – one thing he wasn't good at… one thing, he noted bitterly, which cost him his tongue. Would he let her kill him, in the name of justice and all that was good, but in cost of his Humanity and – most importantly – his sanity? Or would he kill her, as she was a threat to him… and thus kill someone dear to him?

Presently, she feinted, and suddenly lunged at him. The strike slipped through the side of his Grass Crest Shield, into a chink in his armor, and then into his gut. He yowled… but still did not draw his sword or even make any attempt at offense. The burning pain steeled his decision. I can't do it… even if I'm labelled a coward, even if I will be hunted down by some Blade of the Darkmoon… all right, I'll just get myself killed by one other Blade of the Darkmoon. But not her. I won't give her the satisfaction. In one fluid motion, he slid the Estoc out of him excruciatingly, rolled to the Bonfire, and ran out of the building while the Knightess gave chase. He was about to get to the Batwing Demon who ferried people to and from Sen's Fortress when she suddenly backstabbed him and kicked him away. She then prepared to finish him while he was down, but he had rolled out of reach, and the Batwing, watching this overture with amusement, grabbed the Undead and whisked him away.

The last he'd seen was her…falling to her knees, putting her hands on her eyes, and letting out a harrowing cry. And now… he'd be seeing her again. No Blade of the Darkmoon had killed him. He was still her target, and now she'd get what she wanted. Damnit. I'll just try not to stay hollow this time. He shuddered, and steeled himself as he warped. And I truly hope we can make amends.

This piteous cry of hers echoed in his mind as he entered Anor Londo, rising up from the ground… and she wasn't there.

The Knightess in question had been brooding over the Book of the Guilty once more(noting that the vile Undead had not changed in sin – a questionable sign!) when a sudden impact to the roof shook through the building. The great force knocked her off her feet and shattered a few fragile earthenware implements. But aside from that, the glorious building's integrity held. Damn, she thought, at least the makers of this godly building did their work well. But I will have to investigate… this appears dangerous to the inhabitants themselves. Even if I have to sacrifice mine own life.

As she took her route to the roof, she came across some of her friends, the Silver Knights. "Remain here. There might be intruders" she cautioned. "As you will, Lady of the Darkling!" The Knights replied, quite shocked at the Knightess herself, rushing out of her usual post to investigate. She ran on, and on, and on, passing a variety of inhabitants who had been disturbed by the impact. These incidents she quickly quelled. Finally, she reached the roof, panting laboriously. There she saw the most peculiar sight in her life.

A huge, strange structure, one of its sections buried into the building. An assortment of small, colored creatures, who were running for dear life as a strange, malevolent entity with a spectral wing charged its energy for one climactic release. And, in the middle of it all, a strange, pale woman wearing a flowing evening dress lay, stock still, against the barriers containing some sort of beacon. She made a decision then and there. She ran, buffing her Estoc in the way, and leapt at the intruder, burying her blade three-fourths of the way into his back. As it seems, you're at fault here, whatever you are. She had quickly sussed out the situation, seeing that the blue, murderous thing wanted to kill the inhabitants of the huge, strange structure. Murder is a crime, and it will be my pleasure to exact justice!

"Gah!" The thing turned around, losing its focus on whatever it was trying to do. It faced her, and for a moment, she faltered. "YOU DARE INTERRUPT, FOOL?!" Suddenly, at the blink of an eye, she was batted away by the humanoid's hand, with a vicious smack. She flew into a stone railing… and it remained intact, save for a small dent. She shrieked in pain as she heard several bones in her rib cage and spine crack. "I AM TABUU, THE MASTER OF SUBSPACE! AND YOU! WILL! FEEL! MY! WRATH!" The wings sprouted again, seemingly there to warn offenders of an attack. She tried to get up, but then she was paralyzed. She could only stare in despair as the small, weak creatures attempted to protect the lady.

Then the Off Wave hit. She felt the most intense burning sensation course through her. It felt as if she had linked the First Flame… but only worse. She tried to resist, but then her mind itself was melting. She saw the small creatures get blown away by the Wave… but they were seemingly saved by the woman, who had woken up in the nick of time, and instantaneously formed shields around them and herself. The shields broke, and the woman, dazed, was knocked into what seemed like a library in the superstructure, now out of sight.

Then the Knightess couldn't take it anymore. A final infernal surge of pain swept through her, and as she blacked out, she saw the thing reach for the starlike beacon of the structure, evidently pleased. Now, for the second time in my life, I have failed. Forgive me, Lord Gwyndolin, for I have failed to be the stauch warrior you had hoped I would be. And forgive me, dear Warrior, if I have misunderstood you… she lamented bitterly.A single tear rolled down her placid cheek.

Then she fell into the dark void of death.

The Knight had just reached the top of the steps and seen quite a scene before his eyes when the Off Wave hit him as well. He thanked his lucky stars that, as he had come up the stairs, he had cast Great Magic Barrier, expecting something magical no thanks to seeing them in the sky, floating down to the earth and tinged blue. Magic was ALWAYS azure these days... unless it was Dark magic, anyways. Crikey, that was something! Still hurt me bad! He thought, landing at the bottom of the staircase shoulder-first.

For a few moments he stood, stock still, as he tried to process what he had seen and felt. The huge structure, the violent blue being, and worst of all, the dead Knightess. No! I was too late to save her!

Then he steeled himself. Don't let the petty little emotions get to you, and you'll be able to do plenty! Said his friend Patches, on one day when the Undead gestured to all the (slightly) bloodstained Cleric clothes in his merchant's stock. Hey, that's how I got to the kind of man you see me now. It's a living. I might be a bloodthirsty bastard, but come to think of it, I can go about the world unhindered by guilt or nostalgia or whatnot. And I have these terrible urges, too, while i run the business! But you, friend, are an exception, I can assure!

Coming straight from a guy with a burning hatred against clerics. He chuckled. For now, we have some blue godlike thing to whack.

He pulled out Velka's Rapier, the Crest Shield, the Slumbering Dragoncrest Ring and the Ring of Fog. He then hurried up the stairs, and saw that the humanoid was siphoning power from the starlike reactor. He immediately ran, and slashed, aiming for the wing and the hand. It produced the desired effect, eliciting a great howl from the giant, and cutting both appendages off as well.

Tabuu was pleased. Now he was sure, totally sure, that no one could stop him. The prissy little guardian of the cosmos was down for the count, as were all of the remaining Lumas, save for seven of them who lay groaning in a pile near the Terrace. They couldn't hurt a fly in their state. And as for the knight-lady, she was now in Death's cold embrace. Having one anchor of his power shattered sucked badly. But now the trouble was over.

He reached for the Beacon, and started exerting his will on it. "All it needs is a push in the right direction," said his trusty advisor, "then it will give you what you most desire." It took a full three minutes, then his jackpot came. A Grand Star came out of the reactor. He grabbed it eagerly, and in jubilation… when suddenly a phantom strike slashed his other wing off. Another one cut the hand holding the Grand Star off at the wrist. And last – yet definitely the worst strike of them all – a thrust through the belly.

He cried out in disbelieving pain. I am Subspace itself! Nothing can maim me… but how?! What is this power?!

He managed to grab the Star with his other hand, and this time, he loosed a very weak and uncharged burst of force. It knocked the man away, giving him the opening to start creating a portal and get the hell out of there. But suddenly, a shaft of volatile energy - was that sunlight? - struck the Grand Star. The excess of power proved too much for the Grand Star and it shattered, splitting into a mass of Power Stars. They flew off, but four remained in Tabuu's hand.

"YOU IDIOT! YOU DARE DEFY ME?!" he screamed, trying to score him with a Chain of Light, but missed. Irate, he tried again… and was sucked into the portal he created.

The undead stood and panted, shaky from this ordeal. I dare defy you. You killed my friend in your pursuit for whatever you are after, thought the Undead. Now the danger is over. He sighed, then remembering someone, ran to the lifeless Darkmoon Knightess. No. No! He thought bitterly as he gently untangled Knightess' body and armor from the railing. You there, lady of the Darkling? Knightess?

He sank to his knees, and a tear rolled down in his helmet. She really was dead now, her body stark cold… but suddenly he heard a voice call out from within.

And that's all for now! Stay tuned, people, and as always, rate and review! I have more time on my hands nowadays, but sadly I can't write – let alone use a computer – after today until the end of classes, March 18... Peace!

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