Dark-Moon Dark-Sun

Prologue

Silence hung in the air, it permiated all of Anor Londo in this moment. Endings approached, whether it be the end of a life, or an age, there would be a conclusion, fate would have it no other way.

Greatsword in hand, he remembered all he'd done to get here. And soon, it would all be taken away, by the usurpers, humanity. After all Gwyn had done to secure his kingdom's prosperity, now that it had finally become stable, the fire that started it all was fading.

No, he wouldn't have it. A life, or an age, the answer seemed simpler now. He may not be alive to see its future prosperity, but this way it would at least have a future.

He felt it grow, the urge to throw everything to the dogs and go straight for the fire. It gnawed at him like a starving pup. Soon an ending approached, whether it be a life or an age, there would be a conclusion, fate would have it no other way.

As he held his weeping lover in his arms, his thoughts wandered from his future to his past. He didn't really know how he got here, while he could guess, he'd never know for sure. The truth was long gone, lost along with the man once named Oscar.

Arias had only been around for a short time, though he developed a relationship and went on his own little journey, he still couldn't help but feel like his own life had been cut short. His future robbed by fate in favor of the future of a dead kingdom.

If he didn't link the fire, he'd still most likely lose everything he had. If he didn't link the flame and in turn lost Gwyndolin, then he'd truly have no purpose, and nothing would prevent him from hollowing.

Thinking of it that way, it may be a mercy, to die now while things were alright. Then again, the long-lasting effects of that may be worse than hollowing away.

"Arias." Gwyndolin almost whispered; his voice hoarse from crying so much.

"Hm?" Arias hummed, pulled from his thoughts.

"The night we made love, I pleaded thee never leave mine side. Thou promised never." He spoke, looking over Arias' shoulder, to the doorframe, remembering how they'd sat on the windowsill together.

Arias didn't say anything. He knew even at the time that it was a hollow promise, but he said it anyway, because Gwyndolin needed the comfort.

"Wilt thou keep that promise?" Gwyndolin asked. Arias didn't say a word. Both of them knew he couldn't.

"After all that has happened since then. I need to hear it again." Gwyndolin insisted. Arias remained quiet, indecisive. It'd be a lie; he'd have to link the fire either way.

"Please!" He pleaded, holding him tighter.

"I..." Arias started.

"...Promise. Never to leave your side."

Gwyndolin tightened his arms around him. He didn't say a word, but it was clear he was relieved to hear those words. Some time passed before Gwyndolin took a deep breath and leaned out of the hug to face Arias.

"In spite of... No, perhaps due to all that has happened. I do not know how would fare without thee anymore. Thou... cannot link the flame. But we cannot let it die either..." He told him, his golden irises sparkling in the moonlight as he gazed at him.

"Is it possible to have both?" Arias asked him.

"Only if we couldst find another being of thine strength." Gwyndolin answered glumly. Thinking on this Arias realized something. He and Lenovis were of equal skill and power, it was only his willpower and quick thinking that allowed him to overcome her.

"The darkwraith." He thought out loud.

"The darkwraith?" Gwyndolin repeated, confused.

"The one that I just defeated, the woman that tricked you. She matched me in strength, if we force her, she could be the one to link the flame." Arias explained.

"Why yes she could. Arias that's- that's simply marvelous thinking!" Gwyndolin applauded him, his expression quickly changing into one of joy and relief. And he couldn't deny, that would be fitting revenge after what she'd done to him. Fitting revenge indeed.

"Right, then we should fetch her right now." Arias said, earning a nod from Gwyndolin. Getting up he felt his tiredness again. As energetic as Gwyndolin now was, he seemed incapable of sharing his excitement.

"I shalt make the arrangements, thou shouldst go to the dungeon where I'm sure the blades have held her." Gwyndolin told him, receiving only a nod in response.

"Yeah, that's her." The firekeeper told him, handing him the keys.

"Be careful, I don't think I need to remind you what you're dealing with. I hope whatever you're getting out of her is worth it." She said as he opened the door.

The iron barred door creaked loudly as he pushed it open, quickly gaining Lenovis' attention.

She was bound by chains to the floor and the walls, adorned with tattered Armour, missing an arm and covered in scars from their battle. Her silvery white hair covered her face, but he could tell she was glaring at him with disdain.

Arias remained silent as he approached her, remaining very wary of what she was capable of. All that could be heard was her ragged breath and the clank of his Armour until he was right in front of her.

She continued to glare at him as he kneeled down and bound her arm and legs with rope, it was only when he removed her chains did, she speak.

"This isn't you Oscar."

He froze upon hearing that name.

"I know you would never do this. You know, you would never do this."

"How do you know that name?"

"Because it's me you damned traitor! Who saved you and your friend in bBighttown!? Me! Who guided you through that bandit ridden wood!? I did! Yet after everything, you still turned your back on me and Oscar! Hell you killed him enough times to turn him hollow! He just wanted to help you! But no you and that damned pale fucker butchered him!" She yelled, tears forcing their way out of her eyes as she stared into his.

The room went silent again for a minute, Lenovis staring at him with rage filled teary eyes while he sat there shocked.

"I..."

"...Am not Oscar."

"What?"

"Oscar hollowed away, alone in Anor Londo. I am what was left after he lost himself. I didn't betray you; Oscar didn't betray you. I'm a different man, just in his body." He saw as the rage dissipated from her face, his words stunning her in shock.

While she took a minute to take in what he'd just said, he tied some more rope on her just to be safe.

As he stood her up, thoughts wandered through his head, could he really say that with certainty? That Oscar was dead and that he was a different man? He was hollowing yes but he never truly lost his mind.

And, if he wasn't Oscar, then why was there this feeling deep inside his soul, of guilt?

"I loved him you know." Lenovis spoke, voice almost hollow. Her words pulled Arias out of his train of thought.

"Oscar. He was a kind, gentle soul, only wishing the best for us all. Not a hint of selfishness in his eyes, if it came down to it, he might well have challenged fate itself if it meant we would be alright. Which is why I couldn't believe it, when after being lost for so long, he turned on us, slaughtered his closest friend and never even hesitated." Her voice was low, and she stared dead at the floor, almost in a trance.

She didn't say another word, just stood perfectly still as the room was bathed in silence. Soon, without a word, Arias picked her up and took her out of the room.

"Wh-What are you doing?" The firekeeper stuttered, watching him walk out with the darkwraith in his arms.

"Gwyndolin needs her for something important." Was all Arias said, walking away quickly after. The firekeeper stood still for a moment, suspicion seeping into her mind. What would the master even need her for?

She shook the thoughts from her head, she knew damn well his loyalty to the master as he'd demonstrated it very clearly only an hour or so ago. Whatever they were doing with her, it was all for some plan Gwyndolin had, and she had no right to intervene.

"I've got her" Arias called out to Gwyndolin, approaching him in the empty cathedral.

"Well done. Then I suppose we may now depart. Hold still now." Gwyndolin said, quickly lifting his catalyst and casting a teleportation sorcery.

'No waiting around huh?' Arias thought to himself, though he knew it was urgent, his tired body was still bugging him, at least he'd be able to rest soon.

Vision was blurred into a pure white for but a moment, and then it returned, colour seeping back into the world. They appeared before a vessel in front of a large stone door. In the vessel seemed to be 3 souls, burning with great power. Those must be the souls of the other lords Oscar had slain.

"Right, now place the Paledrake's soul in the vessel and we shalt progress." Gwyndolin told him. Arias nodded and put Lenovis down on the floor, quickly reaching into his pack and grabbing the soul bequeathed to Seath, once again feeling it's sheer power in his hands gave him goosebumps as he carefully held it above the vessel.

Carefully parting his hands, he let it fall between them and into the vessel, adding to the souls already present. In but a few moments a beam of sunlight shot from the vessel into the sky, soon after the stone doors cracked open, a bright white light shining through them, illuminating a staircase.

Arias was stunned by the sight, and even when the beam of sunlight disappeared, he stood still for a minute to process what'd happened.

"We shouldst hurry, we have little time." Gwyndolin reminded him, giving him a pat on the shoulder.

"Oh- right." Arias shook himself from his trance and picked up Lenovis. Heaving her over his shoulder, Arias trudged onward, though his exhaustion still remained, he pushed himself onward with all his might.

On their way they encountered multiple black knights, which Arias clumsily fought off, though despite being able to defeat them reasonably swiftly, he did take quite a few blows in trade.

Healing with his estus flask, he continued on, with Gwyndolin following closely behind, until they were standing in front of a large fog gate. Lord Gwyn certainly waiting on the other side.

They'd fight, and he'd have to be victorious. There was no if about it, he could not mess this up. Though he was dreading fighting the lord one on one in his state, he couldn't ask Gwyndolin to fight his own father.

"I'll go in alone." Arias told him as he lowered Lenovis from his shoulder to the brick floor.

"Alone? B-But in thine state-" Gwyndolin tried to talk him down but was interrupted.

"He's your father. I can't let you fight against him; it wouldn't be right." Arias stood again to face him.

"Don't worry, I'll manage by myself." He comforted him, placing a hand on his shoulder. Gwyndolin was silent for a minute, thinking about the possibilities of what could happen to him before finally speaking up.

"I- Very well. Just please be careful!" He pleaded with him, taking Arias' free hand in both of his and looking him in the eyes.

"I swear I will." Arias promised him, before withdrawing his hands and turning to cross the fog wall. Raising a clenched fist to his right in a gesture of quiet resolve as he passed through.

Gwyndolin watched as he vanished into the fog. Standing still for a moment, a tear fell down his cheek. Arias was strong yes, but he knew very well how powerful his father was. The might to destroy the ancient dragons would not be easily bested, even after all these years. Kneeling to the floor, for the first time in years, he prayed, that Arias would be victorious and unharmed.

Arias' eyes were immediately drawn to glowing embers of the flame and the silhouette of the first lord as he passed through the fog. This was it; he would be victorious. There was no other option.

As he unsheathed his greatswords, he was shocked by Gwyn leaping at him, his flame coated greatsword already heading straight for him. Quickly he dodged the attack, rolling around him he was even able to backstab the lord, kicking him to the ash after impaling him along his blade.

To his shock there was no blood along with greatsword, in fact it was more like dust, or ash, falling off the blade as he withdrew it. Though he didn't have much time to think about it, as the lord quickly stood and snapped around, his greatsword almost cleaving Arias in half, it was only thanks to his noticing Gwyn stand up that it didn't.

Hurrying to his feet, Arias was just in time to meet the lord of Cinder's blade with his own, though the fire of the blade licked at his hands, soon burning through the leather of his gloves and singeing his skin.

Mustering up all the strength he had, Arias pushed back against the Lord of Cinder despite the flames threatening to cremate his arms and was able to overpower him, thrusting the sword out of his hands and staggering him for a brief moment.

Taking his chance, Arias swung his two greatswords wildly at Gwyn, hitting him a total of 7 times, finishing off his attack with a beam of moonlight from his moonlight greatsword.

Unfortunately, he'd completely worn himself out after that attack, and despite the damage he'd done, Gwyn was still just barely going, lifting his greatsword from the ash and charging at Arias again.

Arias lifted his moonlight greatsword to block the attack, only for it to be broken in half by the force of the attack, leaving him wide open, without the energy to get out of the way of the oncoming attack.

But he knew he couldn't die, no, he wouldn't let Gwyndolin down. By some sort of reflex, he quickly reached forward and caught the sword with his hands, dropping his own weapons. The edge of the blade sliced through his palms and the flame scorched his skin, causing immense pain, but he refused to let it best him, he wouldn't die.

Screaming at the top of his lungs, he pushed against the Lord of Cinder once again, gradually overpowering him before finally - he forced the blade to the side, slipping it from the wound it'd carved into his palm and sending it promptly to the ash.

Before Gwyn could bring it back up, Arias stamped on the sword to keep it from being lifted, and then hit the Lord straight in the face with his burned fist, the force sending him to the floor.

Arias hastily retrieved his Greatsword, and just in time to stop Gwyn getting up again, stamped on his neck and ran his sword through his skull, killing him instantly.

Exhausted, Arias fell to the floor, his energy spent and his determination induced strength waning.

Gwyndolin noticed as the fog wall before him faded into nothing, revealing to him the sight of Arias and his father, both collapsed to the floor, the ash run red with blood, and the fire at the center of it all, dim and faded.

"Arias!" Gwyndolin cried out, rushing over to his side as soon as he saw him. He kneeled down by his side and was still for a minute, he looked terrible, his gauntlets were all but ash and the bare skin of his hands and forearms were almost entirely black, the only color he could make out was the red blood of the wounds.

"Oh dear..." He breathed, the sight of his beaten state enough to bring tears to his eyes. He should've let him help.

"Sorry... to have scared you... I'm.. okay. Just needed to catch my breath was all." Arias spoke through dry breath as he lifted a reassuring hand to Gwyndolin's shoulder, the charred skin and deep red blood staining the perfect white of his dress, though he didn't care in the slightest.

"A-Arias!" He exclaimed, the tears of worry being flooded from his eyes by tears of relief as he leaned down and took him into a hug, a hug that Arias gladly reciprocated.

After that the two said no more, as nothing else needed to be said. Gwyndolin sat him up and let him rest his head on his lap as he took his estus flask and brought it to his mouth, letting him drink deep from the regenerative flame kept within the emerald flask.

Once he was healed, Arias forced himself to his feet, and with Gwyndolin's help, was able to drag Lenovis to the flame. As they grew closer, she began kicking and screaming, desperate to escape.

"OSCAR, OSCAR! I KNOW YOU'RE IN THERE SOMEWHERE, PLEASE I BEG OF YOU STOP THIS MAN! PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE! I DON'T WANT TO DIE LIKE THIS, PLEASE!" She screamed, tears flowing down her cheeks as they took her closer to the flame.

"PLEASE STOP THIS! I BEG YOU! ARIAS, OSCAR, JUST PLEASE DON'T DO THIS!" Gwyndolin began to feel his skin crawl. He knew very well what she'd done to him, but this felt too cruel. But the only other option was to lose Arias forever and have her rotting in a cell for eternity.

Arias remained silent, not faltering in the slightest, surprising Gwyndolin a bit. He knew he was loyal but this was maybe a bit too far. Maybe he was just blocking out the sound.

Either way, they soon tossed the screaming darkwraith into the sputtering flame. Her skin soon igniting, the flame finding her as suitable kindling.

Gwyndolin hurriedly took out his catalyst and teleported the two safely back to Firelink Shrine.

When the light faded and they were greeted by the serene shrine, Gwyndolin looked over to see Arias on his knees, eyes wide.

"Art thou okay?" He asked, but to no response.

"Arias!? Thou'rt worrying me!" He spoke a little louder, still no response. Good lord what on earth happened to him.

As they were about to teleport out, he swore he'd seen him. The man he once was, kneeling in the fire, holding Lenovis' limp body in his arms. Looking him in the eyes. There was a malice in those eyes, a kind of hatred made only when someone close is taken from you.

He knew very well that Oscar couldn't have been there, and Gwyndolin would've seen it too if it was real. But he couldn't shake the feeling that this would hold drastic consequences.

"If it came down to it he might well have challenged fate itself if it meant we would be alright." Those words echoed in his mind. No, there's no way he even could challenge fate, let alone know about this at all. Oscar is dead, Arias wouldn't be alive otherwise. Or... could he be... Could the past really challenge the present.

No, there was no way. Or was... He said he could challenge fate, no she said he would, but could.. he... His thoughts were scattering, and before he knew, his exhuastion finally got the best of him, and his heavy eyes closed as he fell to the floor.

"Arias!"

A/N Well here we go again! Exactly a year ago I posted the prologue of To See a Darkened Sun, so I thought I'd wait until today to post this. Yes indeed I'm going to make a continuation. I actually had the idea for a third ending while writing the second one back in August, but after thinking about it, it'd be far too long to fit into a single chapter so I didn't write it. But I did really want to explore that idea while also expanding on some previous things that I didn't get a chance to fully expand on, Such as Lenovis' relationship with Oscar, so here we are, a full-blown continuation story. Plus more Gwyndolin romance can never hurt. Also been considering rewriting some old chapters that I'm really unhappy with. Anyways see you soon.