DISCLAIMER – I don't own Dark Souls, Super Smash Bros., or Super Mario Galaxy, and their characters. They belong to From Software and Nintendo, respectively.

CHAPTER THE THIRTEENTH

The Lady of the Stars' vision was fading.

She groaned and writhed around feebly, strength leaving her limbs as dark blood and precious magic oozed slowly but surely out of horrible wound where the razor-keen silver sword lay impaled in her. She was enfeebled, too weak to even scream, to stand, even to live. The pain, the hellish, blazing sensation in her gut, worsened every time she even as much moved a single muscle, immediately rushing up her entirety when she shifted position. Her heart's drumbeats grew weaker, drummed softer, the flames of her willpower dying out to the cold steel.

So this is what dying's like… damn it… not like this… not like this…

So many eons, so much millennia of travels were finally coming to an end… and yet, she still had so much to do. She gasped desperately like a fish out of water, The fear of death began to grow intensely, twinging at her mind like the blade in her belly. I gotta… I gotta make it… out of here… and get back to the Mansion… and… save my kids… and… everyone…

Out of the corner of her eyes she saw her dear friend the knight, carrying poor Oliver who was crying bitterly, clinging to his chest.

No… I can't… leave them all alone… like this…

But then, she saw him retrieve another of those thin yellow flasks from his belt, open it up, and, uncorking it, raise it to her lips hurriedly. "Drink".

There was still some hope after all, bright rays of it suddenly peeking out shyly yet brightly from the gloomy clouds of death. Weakly, she opened her lips and gulped down one swig of that blessed drink which had saved her before-

-and suddenly, her stomach blazed like hellfire as the knight roughly tugged the blade out of her as if he was King Arthur pulling Excalibur out of the stones. Her screams reached a fever pitch and she nearly choked on the Divine Blessing as more blood and gore spilled eagerly out of her wound.

But the pain began to recede as the wound began to stitch itself closed. Gasping some more, she greedily took the flask out of the knight's hand, and gulped down the rest of the contents. Immediately, the gaping hole in her belly began to shrink faster, the river of oozing blood slowly dried and the ruptured flesh and organs mended quickly. In seconds, all that was left was a long, pink scar.

Thank you so much… dearest knight…

Words tumbled out of her in a chattering babble as she curled into the foetal position, her emotions leaving her as she fell into a strange void she'd never been to before.

She slowly realized she had become deaf to everything, and stared blankly into space, Oliver's happy chirps and the knight's concerned fading into a slow and steady cascade of background noise.

Tears began to pour down her face as she clutched the knight's waist, burying her head in his chestplate.

"M'lady Rosalina? M'lady?"

Take her someplace safe. The Knightess said laconically, the battle's rage leaving her as she had finally ascertained that her Lord Gwyndolin was unhurt.

"Alright, knightess." He grunted with his lady's sheer weight as he lifted her cold, sobbing mass into a bridal carry. She slowly complied, putting her arms around her shoulders and holding him close… but the romance of the moment was lost upon the knight as he hurriedly began walking. "I hope I didn't put us into more trouble, knightess…"

Hard to say that when we're still technically surrounded by my old command… but, hey, how the times change…

"Again, knightess, forgive me if we'll have to kill more of them, but the sooner this ends, the better for us."

Though I couldn't agree more, the next time you swing me at Milord Gwyndolin I will -

She was interrupted as a loud wailing began to issue forth from the strange blue thing clutching the knight's left shoulder. That child of hers is noisy!

"Hey, give the poor thing some slack," the knight said, his arms beginning to tire, "he's survived two fights and may have more ahead of him. He even had the sense to knock out the legs of a knight from under him."

Wow, really? I'm… I'm at a loss for words. Something that small? Knock down something that big? The knightess gazed in awe at the starchild as the knight bounced jarringly down the giant steps, mustering a slew of curses at his aching ankles. He finally reached the bottom, and took a short break, exhaustion seeping through his armor.

"He managed to hit the knight behind the knees - either by dumb luck, or by some serious practice… but I I highly doubt it's the latter. Who would have taught him?" He grunted, and lifted his precious burden back onto his chest.

Definitely not the mother… the knightess declared as the knight began to get nearer to the Bedroom. She seems too peaceable to teach him anything effective. I mean, look at what happened to her! Had you not came, she'd have died!

"Anyways, whatever it might be, he surely saved my life back there," The knight declared as he finally reached the Bedroom. "But all these battles where she'd nearly died must come to an end."

So what do you propose, my good sir? Slaughter and kill some more of my men alone while your lady merely stands by? Surely you'll be overrun. The knightess shot back acidly.

"No. While your old command licks its' wounds, I'll hunt down these… what were those called… Powerstars?"

"P-Power Stars, yesss…" The Lady of the Stars, all but forgotten and definitely very heavy in his arms, mumbled in a jarring, hiccupy voice. "P-please… don't tire yourself too much, sir…" She gasped for air, her lungs raw with the crying. "I-I may have been too much this time - "

"It's alright, m-my lady…" The knight rasped as soothingly as he possibly could, "…you're in good hands. I did say I could go to great lengths like these for you."

"Th-thank you…" Rosalina replied, before bursting into fresh tears. The knight set her down onto her soft, regal bed, but as he was about to leave, the prostrated lady grabbed his hand desperately. "No… please… stay with me awhile… I don't want to die while you're away…"

The knight begrudgingly obliged. He removed his gloves, squatted on the soft carpet beside her bed as his lady turned herself towards him and reached out, her small, soft, pristine hands clasping his large, rough, careworn hands, her fingers curling tightly around his.

"I'm I-'I'm I'm really -" she said in between quaking sobs. "I'm really s-s-sorry if -

The knight clasped her hand closer to him. "It's alright, m'lady… you'll be safe now." He paused for a while, clearing his throat roughly. "Though I would wish that you could defend yourself better in single combat. But that can be arranged now, can it?"

The Lady of the Stars would not be consoled yet. "What if they return? What if they were to attack now? They surely will… but they shan't catch us off guard this time… but still, they're too strong for me right now!"

"Then let's hope they're still licking their wounds and make no move to strike us," said the knight decisively. He was well aware that there were way more knights and even monstrosities that Gwyndolin could throw at them, but he was hoping they had a small window of time before the next attack, assuming that Gwyndolin would have to restrategize his attacks.

"How much… how much more time, give or take?" said Rosalina, so much worry and fear beading on her tightly-drawn face.

"I would say they would wait until nightfall to strike. They shall probably assume we are easier to attack when we are tired from the day and when our wounds have grown stiff. But that's just the best-case scenario."

"And the worst case is they attack immediately, am I right?"

"Not immediately, but as soon as possible… but for now, you will have to defend yourself with whatever magics you have left - "

" - and I've got so little magic… but there has to be an option for us, right?!" the lady said despairingly. "We can't just sit here and die!"

"We aren't going to, fret not! What I can do is look for more of your Stars and get back with as much speed as I can muster." The knight stood, gently disengaging from Rosalina. "I'll promise you that I'll be back with those things you seek as fast as I can. Then we're getting out of here!"

A small smile soon spread across Rosalina's barren, plain face. "Then do as you must, kind sir, and I'll hold them off the best I can." She slowly sat up and, holding back more tears, beckoned for her son to come to her. He leapt up into her arms worriedly, but was soon chirping happily, receiving the hug long delayed him. "But I beg of your, Sir," she called out as he left, "please come back safe and sound."

"I shall."

The Lady of the Stars was taken aback by the fire blazing hotly in the knight. He had exuded so much determination despite the dreary circumstances surrounding them… that it was even contagious to a point. That she was grateful for.

She sighed in relief, taking deep breaths and trying to take control of herself back. She was alive. She was okay. She was going to live to see the coming bright of days, and damned be that Lord Gwyndolin of the Dark Sun which stood in her way.

And then she took a few deep breaths more, and began to feel the insides of her head spinning like a top about to fall over, and minuscule drops of magic coursing through her veins.

She didn't feel like she could do it once more. She no longer had Power Stars, and with so few drops of her magic she was merely an ant stranded in but one of the grassy fields in the universe, with little ways or means to get back home. By the very least I can sstill attack and form shields… but after an hour I'll be done for.

However much she was desperate to see the light of things, the horizons always seemed gloomy ever since she'd set foot upon this accursed galaxy. But there was hope yet… and if she was to make it out of here, she would have to cling to every last thread of it for dear life.

And of course there was the shining beacon that was the knight… which, strangely, seemed to show little power than that was expected of him. Was this really the anomaly that I was searching for? He only seems to be able to do… normal, human things. Can't he draw out the power of the souls within him? Can't he use those souls to slay foes instantly or even… even give me some magic?

And then there was the possibility that, with his absence the enemies would return once more and cut her to bloody shreds with their hissing, silvery blades . She shuddered as she heard in her mind the creaking rustle of steel armor plates as that vindictive God of the Darkmoon would return and slay her. Or, worse, Tabuu himself would arrive, heralded by destruction and having fully recovered, and squash her, pitiful, defenseless ant that she was, taking what was left of her Beacon's power.

What could she do? Without her magic, the only thing she could do would be to hide and wait till the storm was over.

Even more worrying was the lack of support from Smash Mansion. By now, they would have noticed that I would be back. She shuddered. They should have sent someone to check on me already. Have they abandoned me? Left me for dead? Or maybe… maybe they're just taking too long? I hope that's the case anyways…

"Mama? Are you alright?"

She snapped out of her reverie. Her starchild looked up at her worriedly.

Hurriedly, she put on a smile. "Oh, sorry… I was thinking about a lot of things over here… like… um… like how unlikely we're going to be able to get home."

This brought despair and fear unto the features of poor Oliver. "Does that mean that… that we're going to…"

"Not on my watch, Oliver… however unlikely that seems, we're getting out of here." She said softly, trying to muster up even the smallest drop of courage from her fearful heart. "Let's hope that Sir Stranger gets back and we get to get out here as fast as we can…"

And then she heard it. The rustle of steel plate upon the ground outside.

Hastily, she clamped her mouth shut, rolling off and then under the bed, dragging her confused child along with her and nearly gagging her child's small mouth with her right hand. She slowly watched in mute, intense and unadulterated terror as a pair, then two pairs, and then three pairs of steel-clad legs shuffled noisily into the bedroom.

The began drawing closer to the bed, each grating scrape of the boots sending chills down their spine and sweat streaming down their bodies.

The nightmare had begun again.

"That makes three."

The knight sat on the invisible ledge where two glittering stars lay gleaming for him to take. He had immediately warped to Crystal Caves, and had picked up one star which lay neatly on a ledge near the bonfire. Then he had spied the faintly glowing stars on thin air. Now, having gingerly trailed along the invisible bridge, he had grabbed them and bundled them into a grimy pouch in his belt.

Resting a while, he had unsheathed the Knightess sword gingerly, bidding her talk to him.

So, what next?

"We still have to save her kids. And for that, we will have to get all the way to the Abyss and back, hopefully intact."

You could homeward those little children home... How many homeward bones do you have?

"A hundred."

Ooh, that's pretty overkill.

"Just trying to make sure, knightess."

Well, just hand one to them, and it'll work just as it should be - it should sent them home, much like it sends Undead to a Bonfire.

"Good…" The knight stood, sheathing the knightess and yet keeping his hand on it's pommel, having spotted more. "Tell me, knightess, as I leave, do you want me to… like, uh…" He stammered uncomfortably.

Spill it!

"Do you want me to leave you behind with your old command? Just in case you're not so willing to be with me anymore - "

As much as I despise the circumstances surrounding me as of the moment, I would rather stay with you than with my old command. It's just - she shuddered. It's just that things haven't been the same since your friend Solaire lit the First Flame.

"Oh?" The knight perked up in surprise as he began to clamber to the next Power Star in sight, which was firmly embedded in the ceiling. He reached out and gingerly prised the star free from it's place. "That makes four… but knightess, why exactly?"

Because, every since the Flame was relit, Lord Gwyndolin has grown more proud and cruel in his power. Each passing day, more undead are slain at the hands of mine old company, and in the most cruel ways, courtesy of that pig Smough. For whatever reason I cannot fathom, but I - I myself thought that all this bloodshed would have ended when the Flame was brought back to life. Instead… it seems to have grown worse like a festering wound. Why…? The gods I believed in were noble… benevolent… just… What made them so cruel now? Have I been a fool to trust them? Even Ornstein… Ornstein seems like he wants to leave this depraved place behind… that must speak volumes about my command, huh?

Thinking back to the haunting visions of the dark that was to come, and the feral rage of his father Manus, the Undead shuddered. This curse, all the suffering, pain and torment the gods had brought upon his kind must not continue.

"Well, then, that's quite appalling, knightess, but I had already expected as much. All of us are pawns to those who are great enough to control us." He strained his eyes, looking for more stars. "Those gods have always been that cruel. They've only managed to hide behind the mask of their opulence for so long."

You know nothing about them - the knightess began. You know nothing of how benevolent they were to me and my command before -

"To your command yes, but not to our kind. They do not realize that the Age of Fire must die, and Dark must remain, and cling to their First Flame, slaughtering us and branding us with the bloody Darksign. But, no matter how much they try, such is the cycle that must be."

But think of the death that may follow - the knightess began.

"There shall be little death in the world of Dark I envision, Knightess. It shall not be an age of the vile Abyss, with its' abominations, no. There shall be an age of gentle dark, where anybody can rest and be satisfied, without fear of seeing the light of ruin and war gods like Gwyn and his kin have brought upon our."

And how do you know of all this, sir knight? From what accursed tome have you read from and gained this… this madness? she shot back. Somewhere from the Duke's Archives, I presume? I mean, look at what happened to Big Hat -

"I read from no tome, knightess, as you know tomes can become unwieldy over time… I've received all this insight… from the Furtive Pygmy… my father, and father of all Humanity." the knight said somewhat solemnly. "And it looks like there's no more stars in here."

Pah! Said the knightess, amused. Only a fool would believe in that little man's empty words. They are tainted by the dark, and he was slain long ago in the past, by the great knight Artorias -

"As your Lord Gwyn would like us to believe, the Dark being a threat to his power." The knight strode on purposely, this time to the Duke's Archives. "But believe me, we humans are all fragments of Manus' great Lord's Soul - the Dark Soul. And your Gwyn, frightened little boy that he was, decided we were all threats, and branded us with the Curse of Fire, and of undeath, exposing the Dark within us for all the world to see. He didn't realize that, despite all his pawns and power, he too was a King bound to the board, and to the cycle of disparity. And he made the biggest crime of all and prolonged his Age of Fire, which should have ended long ago. He's prolonged nothing but our suffering."

He stopped, checking for threats. "And meanwhile, Manus had been biding his time and his rage, alone amid all the other, more timid Pygmies in the Pygmy Court, chained to subservience by Gwyn in the Ringed City, and feeding on his false promises of protection. He could take no longer. Against all odds he set out to spread the Dark, but grew insane, and became the twisted monster he was, tainting the gentle Dark and corrupting it into chaotic Abyss, the ill-effects lasting long and hard upon Oolacile."

But, pray tell, how did you managed to gain audience with this so-called Furtive Pygmy? The knightess jeered back, with yet a note of uncertainty in her voice.

"Because I have his soul, right here." The knight tapped his chest. "And he's spoken to me every-so-often." He drew the gray, large and pulsating soul into his palm, which wriggled and writhed in disdain for being brought into burning light.

"Fool, it's too bright!" it said in fury. It withdrew after mere seconds.

The knightess was struck dumb with amazement, disbelief and shock. If she had a head, it would be aching and throbbing wildly, all the weight of this new information weighing her down. Everything she had believed in was a lie, if these bold statements from the knight were true… and they all seemed so true. But, whatever the case, she had to move on.

"But quite frankly… despite all this, all I want for this worlds' cycle to end, regardless of who wants it to. Your gods have brought ruin on us all, and my father may well be the bringer of more if he chooses to spread the Dark in the sorry state he is in right now." He grinned, spotting three stars glowing softly on some bookshelves. "So I choose neither option, and seek a path of my own. I seek to let the flame die out of its own, and have nobody lord over the world and let Fate take its' course for all creatures to follow. That is where my vision - a vision of gentle, warm dark which shall soon make a goodly home for all - shall become true."

And that is why you shall leave with the Lady, and relinquish your destiny… The knightess shuddered, partly in distaste and in amazement. Aside from your burgeoning lust for her, I would assume.

"That would be one way to put it…" The knight said softly, grabbing the last star. "And that makes seven."

Well, that… that's surely more than enough…

"Time to get back home." The knight drew out a homeward bone.

Well, sir, thank you for opening my eyes to the truth -

"It's alright, Knightess, I understand it's hard to take." The knight said as he broke the bone and its enchantments released. "The truth's always to bitter to swallow… which is why people have always hidden it away."

He materialized onto the grassy bonfire… and noticed two knights standing near the Kitchen's entrance, with gleaming sword and gigantic bow in hand. He looked around him and saw three more already in the bedroom.

What the - oh crap, attack, attack!

He didn't waste any time. He broke into a run as the first greatarrow smashed the ground he had been, rushing quickly to the Bedroom. The next one, however, was more accurate, and glanced off his hip, bruising it. He stumbled, but continued on running. "None of those puny arrows are gonna stop me from saving my Lady if that's the last thing I do!"

The knight began to feel his legs burn. He felt the leaden heft of the his armor weigh on him as he doggedly ran as fast as he could, looking back every now and then -

And suddenly, he saw the knights in the bedroom fly out due to some powerful, interminable force. One flew over the ledges and into the yawning gulf below the rooftops, but the other two landed safely. They began to get up, and walk back into the Bedroom.

No!

He had hesitated in his shock to watch, and that was a big mistake. A greatarrow slammed into his left shoulder, thankfully only penetrating his armor slightly and sticking out awkwardly. It knocked him forward twenty paces, and brought him dangerously close to a ledge.

As he got up, he dove forward as another greatarrow sprouted from the ground where he was two seconds before. He was finally at the threshold of the Bedroom now. He entered hastily, the last greatarrow smashing the right portion of its archway into bits. And then he saw The Lady of the Stars fighting tooth and nail for her very life.

She was a constantly-moving blond blur, evading the the knights' blades with backsteps and bobs, instead choosing to let loose dozens of strange, short-ranged sparks which seared her enemies' armor when she could. And the little blue starchild was doing a fine job, too. Whenever he could, he always struck at the legs of his oppressors, putting every inch of his body into every punch and tackle.

They were a dynamic duo, but they wouldn't last long against these trained killers. Their strength was beginning to flag, and it was beginning to show in their ragged breaths, their wavering stances.

Which is when he decided to make his entry. The knight first decided to help the little child, by once again thrusting the knightess Estoc at the foe's exposed neck. The Silver Knight noticed, and managed to interpose his shield - but the Luma chose to then tackle the guy with all his might, hitting him once more on the back of his kneecap. It was all over in seconds, the knight's living blade slicing into the foe's eyes, killing them instantly.

The knight wheeled around and saw Rosalina grappling desperately at the other enemy, doing her damnedest to grip the arms which had been tormenting her for so long. Unfortunately, her strength flagged for even just a second -

- and the knight broke her hold on his shield arm, managing to bash her hard on the face. She fell to the ground and knelt, dazed, her feet beginning give out on her.

Now the knight was royally pissed.

He pulled out the Zweihander, and cleaved through the enemy's skull. He fell to the ground, and faded into dust. The knight stood in a crouch, Zweihander in hand, more than ready to face more outsiders -

- and was surprised as all of a sudden a thunderbolt pierced the very air around them, ripping and tearing at their eardrums. Recovering from his initial shock, he stepped out on the roof, fearing the worst.

Oh no. Ornstein's out on the loose. Prepare yourself…

But when they saw him… he was far too preoccupied to notice them. The renowned Dragonslayer was slaying his fellow knights this time around to their horror and surprise, impaling one on his swordspear and electrocuting him while the rest circled him warily.

"I'm leaving, you curs, and searching for my lord the Nameless King - my lord, who has been so unjustly disowned by the gods you serve!"

"Ornstein, cease thine madness!" The shrill voice of Gwyndolin rang out somewhere. "Would you really break thine oaths just because of thine loyalty to my disgrace of a brother?! Especially in our time of need, when vile invaders and Undead threaten us?"

"You fools are the mad ones!" he retaliated, enraged beyond any reasoning his old masters had to offer. "Your Age of Fire has only brought ruin to all but yourselves! Can you not see how much humans and dragons have suffered under your watch?!" He raised his spear, and a large, deadly bolt of lightning struck it, making it crackle powerfully with static, making the knights step back in fear. "I am leaving, to uphold what is right - not your oaths and demands! And as for those you treat as invaders, leave them be!"

"What's… what's going on…?" Rosalina stuttered as she tottered to her feet, leaning heavily on the knight. Her face, usually so beautiful, was now slightly bruised and bleeding. He caught her shoulder as she tipped dangerously towards him, reaching for the pouch on his belt. "Is it over now…?"

"Not yet, m'lady… but we've a nice distraction to help you get us out of this." He hurriedly opened the pouch and gave the small, iridescent stars to her. "Take these, quick! We may not have much time."

The floodgates of hope and happiness opened wide on Rosalina's battered face, showing teeth shining brilliantly with the light of joy. She squealed in delight, quickly grabbing the precious stars, taking one and swallowing it. Instantly, her cuts closed, her pain faded, and her wounds mended as power and magic surged through her once more.

Now they would get away, and no mistake.

She wasted no time, and warped to the Beacon, unceremoniously tossing the stars in it. It began to glow a powerful, turquoise hue. A powerful rumbling sound began to echo throughout the Comet Observatory as Rosalina raised her wand high, and a shot of bright glittering sparks jetted out from its star-tip, suddenly causing its structure to transform. Within seconds, the structure was shaped like a dart, pointing skyward, and an egg-shaped force field had surrounded it.

"Wait, we're, we're, oh, hooray! Our home's turning into a spaceship, sir stranger! We're finally leaving! Yaaaaaaay!" Oliver flipped and danced a jig, leaping into the knight's chest and hugging him, thanking him profusely.

And then, with a tremendous roar, a blast of debris and a bright azure light, the Comet eagerly rocketed into into the cosmos.

The great dragonslayer's strength was starting to flag. Silver Knights rushed after him, one after the other, and despite their deaths he was starting to tire. But at least… at least he was going to give out fighting. He fell to one knees, resting a while, gathering his breath.

The upstart imp Gwyndolin laughed out long and loud. "So this is the limit of your strength, Ornstein! What are you, fool? You are merely a pawn in our great game, and you must submit or be slain by the the powers of Darkness! Do you not see what you are doing? What really have you fought for?"

"I have submitted - for long enough!" He said, cutting down another knight as a telltale rumble warned him of Sentinels. "I have served your cause because it used to be noble and just - but now I know the truth of your cruelty! And I shall join my old master - he knows better than you dogs do!"

"Then die along with your cause!" The Lord of the Darkmoon raised his bow, preparing a rain of ephemeral arrows.

But it looked like fate was on the old dragonslayer's side. Suddenly, a massive explosion shook Anor Londo to the core, knocking his enemies to their feet and kicking up a massive cloud of dust.

When it had subsided, he was long gone, now searching for his master, the Forgotten Son of Gwyn.

And that's the end of this chapter, folks! I hope you enjoyed, and rate and review as always! \\[T]/