"Talking"

'Thinking'

"Mental link"

"Noble Phantasms"

POV

Chapter 18: Showdown

Jalter's head snapped to the side in alarm as several wyverns were shot out of the sky by cannon fire, her eyes widened in disbelief, Ritsuka and his group were similarly surprised until Jeanne spun around and shouted in both surprise and elation.

"Gilles!" Ritsuka spun around as well to see the French army charging downhill towards the Wyverns, a man in silver armour leading the charge, shouting at the stop of his lungs.

"Fight! We fight for the survival of France!" The Field Marshal exclaimed, sword held aloft "Cannons, fire on the dragons! Fire everything we have! Men of France! Fight with all your will! Fight for the future of France! For the Saint who stands at our side!"

"Utter trash!" Jalter snarled "Fafnir!" she stood on the dragons neck before leaping off "Kill these fools!" she slammed into the ground and levelled a glare at Jeanne "I'm going to settle right now, once and for all, if your petty little ideals can withstand the full force of my vengeance!"

Jeanne remained steadfast at her doubles declaration "I too, will show you the difference between us! If my words will no longer reach you, then I am forced to utilise less than civil-"

"Shut the fuck up and fight peasant bitch!" Jalter shouted and charged forwards, the two servants collided in an explosion of force. Jalter proving the stronger by bodily slamming Jeanne into the ground before delivering a kick to her gut which knocked her away.

Fafnir reared his head back and released an ear-splitting roar, forcing Ritsuka to slam his hands around the side of his head in a vain attempt to prevent any damage.

"Siegfried!" He shouted, his face contorted in pain, Kiyohime's eyes narrowed at the dragon, a snarl making its way onto her face.

"Of course, Master!" The knight stepped forwards, sword gripped in two hands. Fafnir ceased his cry and lowered his head towards the knight. Eye's burning with recognition and hatred, a foul black steam pouring from his mouth and nose as it stared down at the Netherlands prince.

"To think we'd meet a third time, Fafnir." He lamented "Perhaps in another life, we would have a better connection than this…" his face hardened "But it matters not, here and now, wicked dragon I shall strike you down!"

Cu Chulainn POV

"Son of a bitch!" Lancer cried as he parried yet another strike "You know, most people die when a spear pierces through their heart!"

Gael remained silent as he continued to hack away at his opponents defence, the fist sized hole in his chest where his heart would be, evidently did little to hinder his movements in the least. Much to Lancers irritation.

"This is why I have fighting undead ghouls and shit!" Cu snarled, spinning his spear and parrying away a strike aimed at running him through before he thrust his spear forwards, Gael's hood snapped to the side as the spear sailed just past and sliced off a small part of the red cloth covering his head. A giant fist lashed out as the giant stumbled forwards, Lancer curved his body as best he could as the fist sailed past, barely grazing his torso.

He kicked back as Gael changed his punch to a backhand, the force behind the wipe being powerful enough to visibly move the air and send up a small cloud of dust.

The Berserker followed through with the punch and changed it into a thrust towards Lancer, the blue haired Servant let out a small cry as the rusted blade just slipped past his guard and slashed at his side.

Not enough to immobilise him, but enough to sting. Lancer grit his teeth and struck back, Gael's head snapped to the side as a round house kick from Lancer smashed into the side of his head, the heel of his steel boot striking the Berserker servants jaw and causing a loud snap sound to follow.

Gael released a wheeze as he stumbled slightly. Lancer was quick to follow through with another thrust, the spear tip punching straight through Gael's chest. Lancer ripped the spear clean when the gauntlet reached forth to crush his skull.

At this point Lancer was exasperated "This is getting fucking stupid now." Lancer gripped "You've got no heart and there's a hole in your chest!" he twirled the spear as Gael shifted, ready to pounce like an animal "Just die already!"

Gael released a cry as he leaped forth

"Laaaaaa!" And was promptly sent flying when a rather powerful blast smashed into his side. Lancer winced, not because of the strike itself.

But because that was the worst noise he'd ever heard in his life.

"What in the…" He looked to the right to see the dragon girl, Elizabeth if he recalled correctly, strutting forth with a smug grin on her face "The hell are you doing here? I thought you were after that crazy chick?"

"Hmph!" Elizabeth huffed "As if she was a match for an idol like myself! You should be grateful, little pig, that I decided to lend you my aid and allow you the honour of hearing my voice!"

"That was your singing?" Lancer asked, at her nod he cringed and looked over to the old man, getting back to his feet after the blast. He send him a silent thought of condolence for being on the receiving end of that.

"Well?" Elizabeth asked "Where is my gratitude for saving you, piggy?"

"He's still alive you know." Lancer scoffed "I hope you're a better fighter than you are singer."

"Well I...Wait! What's that supposed to mean!?"

Ash POV

The undead Saber snarled behind his helmet as his sword, once again, passed through mist as the Berserk lancer rendered his body immaterial and floated around him.

Ash spun around to block the Lance that was swung at his back as the Servant rematerialised, the ground beneath his legs cracked as the full force of the strike went right through him. Ash winced, this Servant had him beat in strength and his ability to turn his body into mist was troubling.

He was not without power to harm the servant however. His sword burst into life with flames, the sudden heat caused Lancer to hiss, his grip slacking and allowing Ash to shunt the spear to the side and punch forward with his left hand.

The outstretched palm struck the Lancer in the chest, the Lancer servant grunted, the power behind the blow was certainly strong but not enough to floor him. Ash wasn't aiming at striking him down with a punch however, he smirked behind his helmet as the palm lit up in black flames and blasted outwards, Lancer let out a cry of alarm as black flames lashed out at his body, the combustion blasting him away.

Ash wasn't able to advance as the Berserk Lancer's hand flashed outwards, hand outstretched as if casting something. For a few moments nothing happened, then the ground beneath Ash sprung to life, stakes burst from the ground aiming to impale the Servant.

Saber widened his eyes in alarm and rolled away from the stream of stakes, he flung a fire orb at them as they changed direction, the stakes being incinerated.

He winced as he felt a pain flash up through his legs, he looked down at his kneeling leg to see that several stakes had driven themselves through his shin. He reached down to rip his leg free when his instincts flared to light.

Spinning around to the front, he was barely able to get his sword up in time to block the strike from the Lancer servant, his face a rictus of anger as the spear smashed into the sword, his entire might behind the strike Ash was blasted free from his imprisonment and nearly a dozen feet into the air, the wind being knocked out of him as he sailed through the sky.

Still in the air, a flash of inspiration came to him. Gripping his sword in two hands and holding it above his head, he released a jet of flame from the blade, the sudden stream of fire creating a jet engine for the servant to accelerate forth, the sped towards the stunned Lancer.

The Berserk servant was just barely able to return to his senses before Ash impacted him, the blade swinging down in a blur of black fire and slashing the Lancer's right arm free from his body. The Berserk servant let out a cry of pain before kicking Ash in the face, the Saber servant being knocked away as Lancer's left arm gripped the stump of his right.

Eyes wide and frantic, the Lancer servant reached out with his left arm and picked his spear off the ground.

Ash meanwhile, got back to his feet. He needed a move to surprise the enemy Servant. He could think of one for that moment. Holding out his left hand, he charged up a pyromancy...and slammed it into his own chest.

An ember like burning spread across his body as he charged forth.

Lancer prepared his stance, confident that even with his missing limb, he was still strong enough to block the Saber Servant.

Which is why he was left stunned when Ash swung his blade up in an uppercut like fashion, with strength that exceed his own, Lancer's guard was completely obliterated in a single strike, Ash charged up a chaos Pyromancy in his left hand, the gauntlet being coated in fire and he punched forth.

Lancer, releasing what was about to happen, when to turn to mist.

Far too late.

With a roar, Ash drove his fist straight through Lancer's chest, the metal glove coated in fire burst through the back of the Servant.

Lancer vomited up a bloodied substance from his body as the burning spread across him.

The pair stayed motionless for a few moments before Ash ripped his fist free, Lancer stumbled as the arm was pulled from his chest. The giant hole in the centre of his torso having been cauterized by chaos flames as Ash had punched through him.

Without saying a word, Berserk Lancer turned to Ash. His face remaining blank despite the obvious pain he was in. He nodded once before collapsing to the ground, body dissipating into moats of golden light.

"Lancer is dead, is anyone in need of aid?" Ash sent out a telepathic call, for a few seconds there was silence. The he received his answers.

"Enemy Rider is kicking our collective asses!" Astolfo called back, slightly panicked.

"...I'll...be there momentarily…" He bit his lip and turned in the direction of the conflict. He let out a breath and began running.

Servants vs Faraam POV

The sound of clashing steel was quickly followed by grunts of pain, Faraam twirled his spear, the weapon blurring as it blocked the mana projectiles from Marie, he span of his heel and threw a bolt of lightning.

Georgios widened his eyes and rolled to the side, the bolt of sunlight striking the ground next to him and causing a small explosion which sent him tumbling away.

Turning on his heel again, he blocked the strike from the still injured Siegward before delivering a kick to his chest. Armour bent inwards due to the force and sent the Catarinan spinning through the air before smashing into the ground, creating a small crater.

Faraam had barely a moment to compose himself before he was blocking another wave of projectiles from the musician. He would admit to being beyond perplexed as to what a song master was doing here, however the man was evidently willing to fight, so who was Faraam to deny him?

It was only when one of the pink blasts when past his guard and struck him did he realise just how outclassed the musician really was. The pink blast dissipating before it even reached him.

There was a brief silence between the two. Faraam staring at the man in an incredulous fashion and Amadeus cringing at how ineffective he was.

"I assume you have more to-GRH!" He grunted and span around, Georgios having delivered a slash to the back of his leg. Faraam struck out with the butt of his spear, nailing the Rider in the temple and sending him to the ground.

Faraam moved to crush his skull under boot before he found himself being tackled by the pink Rider's beast. Spear blown from his hand, Faraam was forced to wrestle with the beast. Gripping each of its claws with his hands, his head was left vulnerable as the animal tried to peck at his face.

"Yeah!" Astolfo cried out "Kick his ass, Hippo-kun!"

"Admirable!" Faraam spoke "But not enough!" the Hippogriff widened its eyes in alarm as Faraam lifted the creature off the ground before bodily slamming it. He delivered a savage punch to the side of its head as it attempted to get up.

He span around as Marie closed in on him, riding atop her glass horse. Performing a one-eighty spin, he avoided the attack and lashed out with the back of his arm, clotheslining the girl from her ride and sending her crashing to the ground.

"Surely you did not expect for me to fall for the same attack twice?" He scoffed "I would hope you would not underestimate me to such an extent."

"Requiem for Death!" Faraam widened his eyes in alarm as musical notes surrounded him, seconds later he felt his entire body shake with agony as the music began to assault his very being. He collapsed onto one knee as he felt his strength leave his body.

"A Curse!?" He spat out, then realised his magic resistance was working overtime to prevent further damage. He narrowed his eyes, his strength and speed had been reduced...but not as severely as they could have been. He was still superior to them.

His head snapped to the musician, if he died, then perhaps his Noble Phantasm would cease. He had no way of knowing, but it was his only chance.

Manifesting his sword spear, Faraam leapt into the sky and above the Musician.

Mozart had barely enough time to kick himself away before the Rider smashed into the ground where he had once stood, still in the air and incapable of manoeuvring himself, he was unable to do much to prevent the fist the size of his head from smashing into his ribs.

Mozart coughed up blood, the impact creating a small shockwave as the caster was blasted into the air.

Faraam charged up his spear, preparing to shoot Caster out of the sky.

"Trap of Argalia!" And suddenly found his leg missing, his eyes widening in alarm and surprise as his spear fired off into the air as he lost all semblance of balance.

Faraam collapsed to the floor, his eyes trailing down to see his leg missing. He narrowed his eyes...no...it was simply in spirit form. He snarled behind his scarf, eyes darting around until he locked onto the pink haired Rider.

Astolfo chuckled and gave a nervous wave, before he let out a squeal of alarm and jumped to the side to avoid the spear which Faraam had physically thrown at him.

Sasaki was quick to attempt to take advantage of the seemingly disabled Rider and moved in to strike the downed Servant. Rider's attention snapped to him, his reduced speed being barely enough to avoid the first strike, the second strike slicing across his cheek.

Faraam narrowed his eyes, when Sasaki went for a thrust, Rider lashed out with his palm. He winced as the blade went straight through his hand before stopping just shy of his face. Assassin eyes went wide with surprise, Rider quickly taking advantage of the lapse in judgement to form his hand into a fist, he jerked his pierced hand to the side, snapping the Nodachi of the assassin and lashed out with his right hand, striking Sasaki in the gut and launching him away with half his blade still lodged in Riders palm.

Sitting up as best he could, Faraam cringed as he ripped the blade from his palm and threw it away.

He stared down at his missing limb, bringing his spear forth, he plunged it into the ground and used it to stand himself up on, precariously balancing himself on one leg and his spear as he beheld the Servants, most of whom were getting back to their feet and ready for a renewed offensive.

"All of you..." The group turned in surprise, Ash stalking forwards with his sword in hand, his voice remarkably emotionless "Leave...assist Master against the Dragon and the Witch and Lancer against Gael."

"Are you crazy!?" Astolfo shouted "He just kicked all our asses! You'll be-"

"Go." Ash spoke again. Faraam frowned beneath his scarf, something was different about the Saber servant "Please...I...I need to do this…"

"You heard him." Siegward grunted as he climbed to his feet, Marie rushing over to help him up "He'll be fine…"

"But-"

"Lets get going!" Siegward shouted, as jovial as he could make himself sound "I believe we have a dragon and a Berserker to kill, do we not?"

The collected Servants frowned, then shook their heads.

"Insane...Utterly insane." Mozart scoffed "Honestly, meatheads and their pride. We'll see you later then, I believe I owe you a special song for this."

"Hmph." Ash grunted "Perhaps I shall enjoy hearing it…" he looked to Siegward "With luck...we shall meet again."

"I pray to the flames we do." Siegward nodded "Lets move." grunts and a few fleeting looks were given before the Servants began to walk away from the pair. The roar of the battlefield dying down as the two stared at eachother.

"You seem...different…" Faraam spoke, slightly intrigued "You are not facing me out of pride, are you?"

"...No." Ash nodded his head "I am not…"

"Then regale me, Ashen one…" Faraam spoke "For what purpose do you seek to fight me alone?"

"Atonement...for your death…"

Faraam almost choked in surprise "I-I beg your pardon? Atonement? You...you regret my death do you!? What possible insanity could have spawned this res-"

"I have been a proud member of the Sunlight Covenant for some time…" His response silenced Faraam, he remained silent for a few moments before he let out a sigh.

"You did not know who I was when you travelled to Archdragon peak, did you?"

"...To my shame...I did not, My Lord."

Faraam pinched the bridge of his nose and let out a small chuckle "Ki-killed by my own Covenant...Gwyn would have laughed...likely would have rewarded you for it as well."

"I...I do not wish a reward for such an action." Ash looked to the side "It...it was my great shame...to do so...had I known….known who you truly were…"

"I see." Faraam nodded "However…" he straightened himself "I will not ask for your reparations. I respect strength, everything else...is of little concern. You, a member of my Covenant, were strong enough to slay me in my hollowed state. For that...you have my respect."

"I…" Ash's shoulders sagged "Thank you...My Lord…"

"You of course realise that my respect for you will also compel me to fight you at my full power."

"Indeed."

"You will most likely die."

"Perhaps...but I would not be so sure." Ash shrugged "I felled the Lords of Cinder...I assume that gives me more than a fair chance."

Faraam blinked, then let out a boisterous laugh "Hahahahahaha! Indeed! Indeed it would!" his laughter died down "It would still be wise of you to strike me now, while my leg is still immaterial."

"I would not seek to strike down My Lord in such a weakened state a second time." Ash countered "We shall fight when you can stand on your own two feet."

"Hm." Faraam grunted in acknowledgement "You...truly are an odd undead...and yet you are here, are you not?"

"I am."

"I do not think you understand." Faraam went on "If you felled the Lords of Cinder, then why have you not taken their place?"

Ash went deathly silent, Faraam continued however "I was not ignorant to the world, I knew of the Curse Gwyn inflicted upon it...for you to be here and not there…" he closed his eyes and sighed "I see...You do not strike me as a Lord of Hollows."

"I...I am not...I reject the flames existence...I would not usurp it…" Ash shook his head "What Yuria wanted of me...it was a perversion…"

"I will not comment on it." Faraam replied "I have long since separated myself from Londor. Whatever befell the land and Gwyns kingdom is of no concern of me...but...you have my acknowledgement of what you have done. Gwyn broke the world, you attempted to right it...whatever the outcome of your decision, I will acknowledge your attempt."

"My appreciation." Ash nodded, then looked down "How long until your leg has been healed?"

"Not long." Faraam nodded "Perhaps a minu-" he stopped, eyes going wide and darting off to the sky "I-impossible…"

Ash blinked "My Lord?"

The Rider's eyes darted down, Ash almost recoiled by how they looked. Wide, frantic and somewhat panicked "I had not...foreseen such an outcome...to think such a thing…" he looked back at Ash "It seems as though more than us have breached the barrier between worlds...and I do not recognise what did so. If you survive our fight, I shall entrust you to be prepared to fight it."

"I...I will." Ash nodded "Provided we survive. I shall ensure your will is carried out."

"Do not treat me like Gwyn." Faraam shook his head "I was more of a General than a King."

"As you with then, Sir."

"I believe you have earned the right to use my name."

"As you wish, Lord Faraam."

"Honestly…" Faraam let his posture slip "You and Ornstein both...what a pair you are...I shall hope the three of us are never in the same room...I'd likely assume my name is 'Lord' by the end of a conversation." he chuckled, an honest laugh, at his own joke.

Interlude 1: A lonely hand

It opened its eyes.

Only dark remained.

It looked beyond.

Only dark remained.

Its mind, ancient and broken, yearned for answers.

Only dark remained.

A hand reached out to clasp something, not quite there.

Only dark remained.

A thousand voices cried out, it heard every single one. An old hand reached out to them, none were right.

None were what it was searching for.

An ancient desire for something.

The broken mind could not recall.

It searched for it for so very, very long.

That thing, it once held close, closer than anything else, it wasn't there. The broken mind raged.

Anger, sadness, guilt, fear...loneliness.

The broken mind raged for what it lost, it would keep searching.

It would bring it back, it would bring it home. The broken mind would be made whole...it would be made whole.

The eyes looked beyond, beyond what lay in the dark, beyond what lay in the light.

It saw two more like itself.

One of Pity.

One of Regression.

The one of Pity seemed surprised, the one of Regression seemed confused.

The broken mind was not meant to be, a thousand fractured thoughts coalesced into a single wish.

It would find what it had lost.

The one of Pity reached out, a message was given.

Home.

Beyond the reach of dark, beyond the burning of light.

The one of pity would guide it to a new place.

The broken mind accepted.

Time was fractured as the mind moved through it like a shark through water. The ripples expanded outwards and tore across reality.

The broken mind landed.

A door sealed shut, the broken mind looked beyond.

The broken mind reached out in hopes of finding what it lost.

It saw…

It saw…

It saw…

The mind saw a burning.

Billions of screams, billions of deaths, a great sadness…

It looked beyond, a single point remained.

A shining beacon, untouched by the devastation.

It looked beyond.

The beacon was shielded, whatever prevented death tried to prevent it from looking beyond.

The sight broke through in an instant, the eyes beheld.

It found her.

So alone...so afraid…

Trapped...in a glass prison…

She hurt...like it hurt…

The broken mind was weak...too weak to save her…

It looked back to its place of origin.

A thousand fragmented thoughts unified under a single desire.

Free Her.

A thousand impulses, a thousand plans driven towards a single goal…

Free her

An entire being, formed in the image of a single desire...

A desire to be made whole, a desire to be something more…

Hateful…

Hatred at those who took from it, hatred at those who caused pain to it, hatred of those who used it, hatred of those who denied others...

A Beast of Wrath let loose a shriek.

The figures head snapped up in surprise. A cry was let loose, something breached the border of time and announced its presence to everything that could hear it.

Other spirits would be unable to discern what it truly was.

Not him.

He knew exactly what it was.

"Oh dear...That is most surprising…" He hummed and frowned in thought, he had not expected this development.

A smile stretched across what could have been once described as a face "A fitting challenge, perhaps, for the one who seeks the path of a True Monarch…"

The smile fell away when something answered the cry.

That...that was not what he expected.

Something replied.

He didn't know what it was.

Something...older replied.

He looked again.

A deep fog slipped through the cracks.

He frowned. This was something he had not foreseen.

This place would fall before the Monarch Candidate even knew of its existence. He would be forced to act.

The one who had approached him had given him an idea, the Singularities held the solution, it would not prevent the fall of the world, but it would delay it for a good long while. Long enough for the Master of Humanity to reach it.

He chuckled.

Who would have thought such trouble would have formed over such a small golden cup?

AN: First interlude and mystery arrivals.

How mysterious! Oooooh!

Also, repeated people asking why I think that the Ashen One was linked to the first Flame.

Well...they are Ash.

'Ash seeketh Embers'

Without the embers, Ash becomes Cold and inert. Basically, my interpretation was that Ashen One's are different from Regular undead in that they are risen by the First Flame itself, if the flame dies then the Ash is left without embers to keep it going, thus the Ash either becomes inert i.e. dead or goes hollow without a purpose.

This isn't like other Undead, who are naturally occurring, or as natural as you can get in the Dark Souls universe.

I could be wrong, but most of the ending for Dark souls 3 is left ambiguous as to what truly happens in the let the flame die ending. Does the Age of Dark come about, or does the cycle continue? Who knows.