The Change

(Chapel of Anticipation)

Confusion, Shock, Bewilderment. So many confusing emotions and thoughts were building up onto him without so much of a filter. The Tarnished, who had slain Dragons, Outer World Entities, Lords and even Gods could only utter one thing.

"We?" Rukido questioned, coughing a bit. This weakness within him was still in effect.

"Indeed. I must admit, I wasn't expecting to be brought back to life, but I can hardly complain." The man said, a sturdy laugh to follow up. "Where are my manners! I am Galva Primus, well met!"

"...Rukido." They shook hands as Rukido took in his appearance.

Galva was about as tall as he was, having fair skin with brown hair in a faux-hawk like style and shining blue eyes. He was dawning sleeveless black robes, with a bright blue long sleeve top underneath, brown ragged pants with black boots to match. In his free hand was a Glintstone Staff while sheathed to his side was a simple dagger. Even the hand he was shaking had a finger seal on it.

Sorcerer and one of incantation, this one?

"Well come now. There are two others who are waiting. Careful with one of them though, she's a bit on the feisty side." Galva laughed while a growl could be heard outside. "Darn, she heard me."

As he walked away, Rukido took himself in for a moment. His attire was torn apart and burnt, his red top barely hanging on as is. He also had no weapon, but there were bound to be some scattered around the platform. No, the real concern came with his power. Or rather lack thereof.

'I need to see where I measure up. More importantly what else is...different.' He had never been with anyone outside that of the Grafted Scion up here. 'For now...to meet my guest.' However he looked to his side, not missing the fact that the corpse that was normally there was gone. However the blood remained along with the hole in the ceiling. 'Did they move her body? Is she...alive?"

He decided that it was finally time to head out and stepped outside.

Unsurprisingly, it hadn't changed at all in terms of size. Even now he could see that accursed platform that had caused him his very first death. However unlike many times before there were a grand amount of bodies here, confusing him greatly. They were aged, long since gone, but to have this many around was quite confusing. What was truly more so were the clear variety of soldiers among them. Each representing their own area. Concern grew upon seeing body parts missing altogether.

Spotting Galva standing by the edge, Rukido also saw the two others he had been talking about.

The first one was instantly notable thanks to his height. 8 feet tall with fair skin, though not without some notable scaring either. His hair as black as night itself, tied into a braid with silver clips while his eyes held a dark shade of blue. His armor was very much found around, consisting of chainmail that looked torn under the golden chest piece that only protected his upper torso. Golden armbands, brown pants with a long, but dirty white waist cloth around and golden boots. By his side was a Bastard's Sword that looked in desperate need of repair, but would hold in a fight for the time being.

The other was a young woman, standing around 5'6. She had pale skin followed up with flowing, bright silver hair that reached past her neck. Her eyes were truly something with her right of crimson shining bright and her left shining a brilliant shade of gold. She was wearing a torn black cloak around her body with a green top underneath along with some bandages around her chest. She also had dark brown pants with stitches, rusted iron boots with leather straps and a single blackened glove on her right hand. She was wielding an iron spear that would be good for only a little while longer.

"Well now, it seems this is all of us that is left. Quite the shame given the amount of bodies here." Galva said, a disturbed look on his face. Seemed even he wasn't immune to the sight. That and the smell. "Quite possibly for the best though. I doubt any of them would have gotten along."

"It isn't surprising. One cannot simply become Tarnished as we have." The Young Woman said, before taking note of Rukido. "You appear to have seen better days compared to the rest of us."

"My awakening was rather violently miss…?" Rukido inquired.

"Oh forgive my manners. I was named Envy before…I cannot recall. Only that I was given a violent end." Envy had seemed shaken by the thought, unpleasantness clear. However she shifted the attention onto the last of them. "And what of you, Tal and Mysterious?"

"...Corvus." He spoke ever so silently. He wasn't used to talking by the looks of it. Standing up from his place, he lifted the Bastard Sword over his shoulder. "I doubt we are safe here. We should leave."

"Well that is obvious." Galva snorted, getting a light glare from Corvus. It went on ignored however as Galva stalked forward. "Come along now. Best we find a way to leave this place. They wouldn't dare just make a platform like this without an exit."

"You'd be surprised." Rukido muttered, but followed all the same. He scanned across the bodies for any kind of weapon he could come across. Thankfully he did as he bent down to take it. 'A twinblade. Nothing special, but useful all the same…I miss my weapons already.'

A weapon was a weapon however and this one he would happily use. No one questioned him as they continued to the rickety bridge and right on over it. They moved slowly past the fallen gate as entire mutilations could be seen, their blood running cold upon the sight before them.

In the center were not just one, but a large pack of Grafted Scions. Each one looting through a corpse pile, either gathering or trying to stitch on their limbs for their own sake. They all held the same pair of Ornamental Straight Swords along with a Golden Beast Crest Shield.

"What are they...?" Envy trailed off, a disturbing look shared by her fellow Tarnished. Rukido remained silent however, his gaze focused on them. He didn't want to answer, not wanting to be accused of being in league with Godrick of all people.

"Something not meant to exist as is." Corvus growled, his blade ready to attack when they noticed.

"And they just happened to be in our way." Galva sighed, trying to shake off the jitters. "Should we even attack? They might actually be friend-"

His talk was interrupted upon one of the Grafted Scions suddenly jumping above them with a screech. It didn't last long upon Corvus jabbing his blade straight in the air and tearing clear through the beast. With little to no effort he ripped the blade through as blood splattered around them while the torn creature was heaved in front of the courtyard. The sudden noise caught the attention of the others as they soon ditched their piles and screeched at them.

"Not friendly!" Envy announced her weapon at the ready. They mimicked her as they approached the small group. Sounds from behind had caught their attention as more of the Sicons had appeared. "W-were they just hiding?!"

"Likely came from underneath." Galva commented, as they were trying to figure out which side to focus on. However as two of them lunged from where they came, Rukido had sprung into action. Jumping back at them, he spun the Twinblade perfectly to tear through their chest as blood bursted out as they fell to the ground unmoving. "By the stars…"

"Focus on those one's. I need a moment to stretch." Rukido said, spinning the twinblade around as more came his. He charged forward, forcing his palm into the chest of a Sicon and sent it flying back into others. Barely missing a beat, he struck down another before swithly kicking it's fallen shield into another one as it went flying off the edge. He charged forward to face the rest, leaving the others to fend off against their own threat.

"He'll live, focus here!" Corvus swung his weapon, slamming it clean through a Scion with ease. He stomped his foot down, sending rumbles throughout the arena as the ground cracked, forcing the Grafted to spread out and stumble about.

"If you desire death, then allow it to be your own!" Envy yelled, suddenly charging into the group of them. She ducked under the twined slash of the Sicon before aggressively jabbing it clean through it's body several times. It roared out in defiance until she suddenly ripped it out and landed a heavy slash across it's side, ripping it clean open as it's own guts came falling. "Come! I have more than a few things to usher out!"

While Corvus and Envy had chosen to head in for their attack, Galva had handed back while holding his staff up. He was more than happy to stick to range given his current equipment. With careful precision he launched several Great Glintstone Shards into the bodies of the Scion, either tearing clean through them or blasting them back. They roared out in agony all the same, trying to target their anger at him, but the combined forces of Corvus and Envy made it more than difficult.

Needless to say, their combined efforts had been well used.

The last of the Sicon could be seen backing away in fear as Corvus and Envy approached. Backing into a statue out of fear, it held up it's blade to defend itself. Just as the duo were about to enact their attack a large figure had suddenly launched from the edge. Corvus and Envy had quickly stepped away, but the Scion didn't even get so much of a scream in before it was crushed by the large figure. Nearly all of them were sent by the shockwave alone as the arena shook violently. Laughter could be heard as they got a good look at who was before them.

"This...is not good." Galva announced sweat dripping down his face. The one before them was large, his body showing off several arms upon his back while he himself grinned at him while wielding a Greataxe in a single hand.

"What is this thing?" Envy muttered, forcing herself to stand in place.

"To think lowly Tarnished are the cause for the disturbance on this day." The creature claimed, a sickening grin. He then let out a laugh that was booming throughout the arena as they all went on guard. "Destroying that of my kind, my siblings? Such a thing cannot be forgiven when it comes to my status.

"Who are you? Speak now!" Corvus demanded, getting annoyed by the person before him.

"Me? I figured it was rather obvious." The person claimed, holding his axe up high before continuing. "It is I who underwent my Lord's first Grafting. It was I who ensured his escape and fought on the front lines of the Shattering! It would be I who would continue to serve under my Lord, for he will control all that is Golden!" The Man slammed the axe down and shook the arena they stood on. "Upon the name that was given to me by my Lord! The One who called me his own Child! I am Godefroy!"

Godefroy, The Grafted

"Godefroy?" Corvus said before he suddenly saw the man charge at him. Raising his sword up, he clashed it against the Greataxe with great difficulty. 'He strikes like a Runebear!'

"Let us see how long you can last, Tarnished!" Godefroy yelled, pushing Corvus back. With all of his might, he easily overpowered the Tarnished and sent him flying back while laughing. Unaware of how close another one was.

With swith precision, Envy struck into the Grafted Man's side multiple times and had earned his attention. He swung around to attack, but she was quick to duck under and maneuver around to his back and stab him deeply. Unfortunately she didn't take into account the extra arms on his back as one of them suddenly grabbed her arm. He yanked her around and moved to cleave her in half as her eyes widened.

It never came upon a Great Glintsone slammed into his body, forcing him to let go of Envy. He hissed as he glanced over at Galva, who was now standing within a blue rune while aiming his staff down at the Grafted. Not long after a flurry of Crystals were fired from it, Envy quickly advanced away while Godefroy raised his weapon in defense.

"Quite the Sorcerer aren't you! I haven't been able to get my hands on any worth my attention!" Swinging his Axe around, he ignored the incoming damage in favor of building up a great amount of Wind around him. He then swung his weapon once more while firing off a gust of Wind at the Mage, easily tearing through his attack.

Galva saw this and braced himself for impact. It never came as Corvus barreled in front of him and took the attack head on. The Warrior held his sword in the ground and gritted his teeth while forcing himself to remain strong for the impact.

"Are you well?" Galva asked, his magic already working to heal the wounds.

"I'm alive." That was the best that Corvus could admit as he watched Envy viciously attack Godefroy. The man was a monster, one that was both strong and durable by the looks of it.

"Good, now hold still." Galva said, having on hand on his weapon. Corvus watched as the Bastard's Sword gained a bright blue glow shimmering around it. "Strike true and hard while I prepare something! Go now!"

"Thank you." Corvus didn't bother asking. Envy still needed help. He rushed back into the fight, leaving Galva to plan for just a moment.

"What's wrong little girl? Can't keep up with the likes of me!" Godefroy yelled, cackling while aggressively pushing Envy back with his relentless attack. The woman had held her ground as best as she could, but the spear she was using was reaching it's limit. "Don't be such a bore! You might be lucky enough to lay with the likes of me~"

"FUCK!" Envy managed to swerve around the Greataxe before leaping above. "NO!" With all her might she slammed it clean into his chest as he hissed out from the shockingly powerful impact. However the multitude of hands suddenly grabbed her weapon before breaking it completely, forcing her to jump back.

"I have you now!" Godefroy claimed while grabbing her by the throat. She struggled against his grip as moved to cleave her into two. The weapon was quickly blocked by Corvus, who instantly pushed it back before slashing upwards and cutting into his chest. "GAH!"

Envy managed to back away as Corvus aggressively continued his assault. The enchanted blade was doing wonders in countering and blocking Godefroy's attack while Corvus was managing to land some heavy hits on him. However Godefroy was annoyingly durable and didn't have that Greataxe for show. Both clashed their weapons as sparks flew between them.

"Ho ho! So you aren't using that sword just for show?" Godefroy questioned mockingly. Corvus refused to satisfy him with an answer and stomped down on his foot, making him hiss out in pain defiance as he pushed back with a considerable amount of force.

Corvus growled while trying to hold his footing, a roar suddenly caught both of their attention. The young woman known as Envy was charging at them, an enraged look in her eyes before she lunged. To both of their shock and astonishment, her right hand could be seen glowing red before a large arm, having black scales with a shade of purple light glowing in between them and sharp claws, appeared. Envy slammed the arm into Godefroy and sent him flying back into the statute of Marika.

'What...was that?' Corvus was no fool. That was clearly an incantation, one of the Dragon Communion. One that could only be earned through the usage of consumption of Dragon Hearts with the use of a Seal.

Yet Envy had neither of those.

"How intriguing!" All eyes snapped over to Godefroy. He used his Greataxe to pull himself up, hardly phased by the attack altogether. "To think a Dragon was here as well, yet a pitfully weak one at that. It will make it all the more easier to deliver to Lord Godrick personally." Godefroy claimed a look of curiosity and thoughtfulness. "And yet...you are not a true Dragon. You are very much a Tarnished...and one who has not consumed that of a Dragon."

Envy looked up weakly, a glare on her face as she forced herself to stand up. However before she could make a move, Corvus stood in front of her, entering a defensive stance to face down Godefroy. "Regardless of this girl's origins, you will not take one that I've fought alongside on this day."

"Quite bold words, especially one just as disgraced as yourself! Missing something, dear Knight?" Godefroy asked while Corvus flinched ever so slightly. However he steeled his nerve upon seeing the Grafted Warrior raise his weapon high, laughing out loud. "Come now! Surely you don't believe you stand the chance against one graced as myself! You're no warrior, hardly worth Grafting befitting my Lord! You're all just Tarnished."

"Do you know what?" Galva's voice echoed out, earning their attention. He stood within a Magic Sigil, magic circling around him. Allm pouring within the staff he held as he glared specifically at Godefroy.

"Damn your Grafting." The Glintstone violently shined.

"Damn your Lord!" A large sphere of glintstone could be seen floating before Galva now.

"AND DAMN YOU!" Galva pulled the staff back as the sphere followed suit before he launched it forward. "CANNON OF HAIMA: EXPLOSION!" Corvus quickly yanked Envy up as the sphere by them and at Godfroy, who had no time to move. The impact had consumed the arena in a blast of pure Magic, blowing apart several parts as it shot clean up in the air. As it settled, Galva fell to his knees, using his staff to himself up. "Ha...ha...how do you like that?"

He got his answer in the form of a stormblade flying from the smoke and knocking him clean off his feet.

Eyes back onto the smoke, Corvus was greeted with the sight of Godefroy very much alive, but now held a notable mark across his chest. Overall however, he was fine and more than ready to battle. Corvus growled at this while Envy was forcing herself up. "Check the mage, I will hold him off!"

Envy could only nod before she made her way where Galva went while he focused on Godefroy and charged. With a roar, Corvus slashed upwards and cut deep through the man's skin before quickly bringing it back down at the same spot. Godefroy gasped as he found himself forced back by the pressure, nearly dropping his weapon as a result. However he held his ground and suddenly jumped up in the air, making Corvus miss his next attack. Glancing up, he spotted Godefroy coming straight back down, spinning around with wind built around him and his weapon suddenly sparking with Lightning!

He barely had time to roll out the way of the incoming humanoid ball that Godefroy had turned him into. The Grafted Warrior shook the arena upon impact, keeping his momentum as he swirled around and closed in on Corvus. The Knight barely lifted his sword before he found himself knocked off his feet from the impact. Just in time as his weapon lost it's enchantment.

Stabbing feet into the ground, he lunged at Godefroy to attack. Both of them had aggressively clashed their weapons with the Grafted Warrior powering over the Knight. Corvus was losing ground, the Lightning from Godefroy's weapon was only adding onto more power for him. With another swing, he broke the Bastard's Sword upon meeting the Greataxe head on. A result that led to him getting harshly cleaved into.

"GAH!" Corvus fell on his back, his armor plate broken and blood leaked out. Godefroy was on him in seconds, pressing his greataxe down into the wound ever so slowly while Corvus gripped it and tried to prevent it from going in any deeper. "Damn it! DAMN IT!"

"Why resist? You know as well as I do that you'll be back. That is, if you can even see Grace, little Tarnished." Godefroy questioned, a sickening gleam being met with a hatful glare. "Try as hard as you might, but in the end you are nothing!"

Envy had managed to get to Galva, who was still getting back up, but his staff was broken beyond repair. She knelt down to help him, finding he had broken his leg from the impact before turning back to the fight. Their eyes went wide upon finding Godefroy now holding Corvus down with his foot, his weapon raised in the air as he cackled madly. Both of them moved to make a break for it as Godefroy brought his weapon down.

'Forgive my weakness...' Corvus thought, time slowing down for him upon realizing that this was his end. He could not call upon any more strength to save his own life and his faith... was shaken. '...Lord Godfrey.'

It should have been the end, perhaps a permanent one, yet the blow never came.

"It is unlike someone of your status to fall so easily to scum such as this." Corvus' eyes snapped open, shock and awe clear. A twinblade was between both himself and Godefroy, who seemed to share his feelings. The holder? Rukido. And he looked far from pleased, peering into Godefroy's eyes with calm, yet focused anger. "Forgive my lateness. There were more of those things coming from behind."

"Another Tarnished? Who do you think you are?" Godefroy questioned. Envy and Galva were equally surprised, not even seeing him pass by. "I asked you a question! NOW ANSWER SCUM!"

"Scum? Quite the word to use for someone that's going to stab your stomach soon enough." Godefroy took that threat seriously and prepared to defend himself. Rukido however pushed the Greataxe back with remarkable ease before suddenly dashing around, twirling the Twinblade around cut off the extra limbs upon Godefroy's back. The Grafted Warrior tried to swing his Greataxe into him, only for a foot to make contact with his face and send him skipping across the ground. "Did you really fall for an obvious lie?"

Godefroy roared as he got up, launching several stormblades his way before jumping up in the air. Wind and Lighting built up once more as he launched down at the Tarnished. The stormblades themselves had been easy to avoid, but left Rukido wide open as Godefroy closed in on him while bringing his weapon down. What the Grafted Warrior wasn't expecting however was for the Tarnished to suddenly lunge at him, evading the greataxe altogether, and impaled his own weapon through Godefroy's shoulder. Without another word, he ripped through the shoulder and tore off the man's arm.

"Wha-WHAAAAAAAA!" Godefroy screamed out in pain as he fell on his back. Rukido landed near him, ignoring the stunned looks of the others. "You...You filthy, Tarnished! How? How did you harm the likes of me! To make me spill my own blood for your kind! Something as disgusting as you!"

"I don't want to hear that from the likes of you." Rukido said, as he began to move forward. By this time, Corvus was rejoined by Envy and Galva, both being slowly healed by the Mage. "Why are you-"

He stopped himself upon a familiar sensation. Without another word, he stabbed into Godefroy's remaining arm, ignoring the screaming and looked into what he hoped was just a pocket. Inside he took out Spirit Ashes, one he quickly reconciled as the Stormhawk King.

'Godrick does like to have any edge he can claim possession of.' Remembering some of the items within Stormveil Castle. It was something to see someone else go for Spirit Ashes however. Leaving it within his own pocket for the meantime, he glared down at Godefroy making him flinch back. 'I don't even want to know how he managed to escape his fate from the Evergaol, but it does confirm that the changes here are more than what I had originally believed. All the same, he must die.'

"No! ! I refuse to lose my life to the likes of you!" Godefroy attempted to crawl back only to scream upon Rukido ripping the twinblade from his body. He then raised it up to end the man only to hear the yell of Galva and quickly jumped back as a Sicon had tried to attack him.

It was all that Godefroy needed. He quickly grabbed his weapon and took off towards the edge before running towards an exit. Rukido quickly decapitated the Sicon and moved to give chase only for a rumbling to throw him off his feet. Envy was quick to help Corvus stay on his feet while Galva grabbed onto the fractured statue, near the edge.

The entirety of the chapel was starting to collapse. Not from something like age or battle, but rather a serpentine large wooden creature slowly tearing apart the base of the platform. Two Ulcerated Tree Spirits, having been swimming in the sea at the time, had worked purposely to try and bring it all down. Grafted Scions clinged to them like bugs

"This isn't good!" Galva announced before yelping as the platform under him broke. He began to fall had it not been for Envy grabbing his leg at the last moment. He still continued to panic upon seeing the Tree Spirits forcefully try and make their way up. "UP! UP!"

Envy did so, just pulling him out of the way of a torrent of golden flames. The Tree Spirit came up, a roar echoing from it's being as it began to shine a brilliant aura of gold. Envy was quick to heave Galva over her shoulder while Rukido helped Corvus onto his feet. It mattered little however as the Tree Spirit suddenly exploded in Holy Magic, not only up top, but also down below, sealing the fate of the chapel.

"Damn it! Hold on and ride it down!" Rukido ordered, forcing himself and Corvus into cover. Envy did the same, gripping onto Galva. The platform began to fall, shaking and crumbling violently as the group held on for dear life itself. Raising his hand up, Rukido channeled magic around them as Corvus and Galva instantly recognized it.

'Golden Vow? And without a finger seal?!' Neither had time to think about it as they finally made impact with the sea below, everything going black as they did so.

(Limgrave, Shores)

Pieces of debris could be seen drifting along the sea, all ranging from the fallen Chapel that was once alone is solitude. Upon the grand lot of debris the likes of Rukido could be seen, pushing a wooden, scale like platform while the others were knocked clean out from the sudden crash. He healed them as best he could in his condition, but outside the clothes and ruined armor they wore on their backs, they didn't have much.

Rukido himself had been feeling incredibly weak, not from the crash itself, but rather he felt drained. Mentally overall and that was having it's own effect over his body. Nevermind the large amount of questions that came over his mind, most of all being what else had changed. Did Godefroy even escape? Were the Demi-Gods different or the same? Were those he called Friends and Allies even alive? Damn, what if it was all just a dream...Would Melina even find them?

Upon pushing them to the shore, Rukido had carried them one by one out of the sand. Not spotting any imminent signs of danger, he finally collapsed face first into the sand, allowing sleep to finally overtake him.

.

.

.

Had he managed to stay awake any longer, he would have been greeted with the sight of a certain Spectral Steed and a fair Maiden riding him. As the steed sniffed Rukido, the Maiden spoke.

"Don't worry Torrent, luck is on their side. We found them here after all." The Maiden claimed, getting off the stead. She knelt down, her hood covering over her head as she spoke once more. "One of their kind is sure to seek the Elden Ring..."

The moon shone over them as she glanced up at the Erdtree. It's power far and wide, seemingly consuming them in it's presence alone.

"...Even if it violates the Golden Order..."

(Chapter End)

A/N: And here we have our first change. Grafted Scions, Godefroy and a few Tree Spirits. Nothing major, but I feel like it sets up the likes of Godrick better for later chapters coming up. Also, I had to make up some stuff for Godefroy as well, which was a bit annoying, but not hard to do. Making him a Loyal Warrior for Godrick made the most since, given him being

We of course have on our new characters as well to go over, some of which you can take a quick guess upon their preferred style. I also made it where they effectively had the crappiest type of equipment and armor because that's all to be left up there with a bunch of bodies. Add on with coming back from death itself and then being forced to fight a lot of bad things at once.

And lastly, I actually decided to go with the original Melina introduction on the beach setting because it makes more sense. I understand that it was just for the sake of the tutorial area, but they could have added in at the beginning area if they cared so much.

Either way, I hope you enjoyed it.

Reviews

Lio4567892012: Very cool.

Answer: Thank you

2Rule179: hEY, SO FAR SO GOOD!

kEEP UP THAT GOOD WORK WITH THIS PLEASE!

Answer: And thank you too.