A Strange New World: CH1

>You rise slowly from the bed, wincing as your left arm hung limply.

>That’s what you get for sleeping in your armour, you dolt.

>You flex your arm out, sighing in relief as feeling begins to return and as the tingly sensation fades.

>Through the window you could see a picturesque city below you: the entire thing precipitated at the tip of a mountain.

>It’s something, alright. The spectacle of the city was not nearly as impressive as Anor Londo, but damn if it didn’t come close.

>Surprise momentarily courses through you as you notice the denizens of the city below, and the fact that many of them appeared to be flying.

>You then remember the circumstances that facilitated your arrival here.

>Solaire… Celestia…

>Now would be as good a time as any to get some answers: dawdling in a bedroom marvelling at the city is pleasant but ultimately fruitless.

>With a sigh you turn from the window, making your way to the door.

>You are greeted with an unfamiliar corridor: in your exhaustion last night, you had barely taken in your surroundings.

 “Carelessness will get you killed…” you whisper to yourself, chiding yourself for a lack of care.

>”Perhaps outside these city walls, but inside you have nothing to fear.”

>You instinctively bring your left arm into a defensive pose, raising your right arm to strike at your ambusher.

>Your hand hovers mere centimetres from the face of the tall ebony equine: a face set in determination and coolness.

“Forgive me for one’s rudeness, but smacking the royalty does not bode well for your future here in Equestria.” Her voice is cold, commanding, and exudes a powerful regal tone.

>You blink, the visor hiding the disbelieving look on your face, before you shakily lower your hands.

“My sincere apologies, madam. Though may I recommend not sneaking up on a trained warrior, as it tends to have a negative affect on your lifespan...”

>The ebony pony chuckles lightly.

>”It seems we are off to a bad start. My name is Princess Luna. As you’ve probably worked out am I sister to Celestia… who is deeply thankful of your assistance.”

>You nod silently.

>”I myself must also thank one for your interjection. If something had happened to Celestia, I would be inconsolable. Even Solaire’s death would have troubled me greatly – he has proved himself more than worthy with his valiant sacrifices.”

“I somehow knew Solaire would find a way to keep on helping…” you mutter absent-mindedly.

>”I beg your pardon?”

“Oh, what? Sorry, my mind tends to wander.”

>”Evidently your tongue does as well.” Luna retorts, and you reluctantly smile.

“So, Princess Luna. You have given me your thanks, and a bloody good fright to mark the beginning of my day. Is there anything else I can do for you, or indeed, you can do for me?”

>”Yes actually, there is something you can do for me. Locate my sister, and inform her that as a Princess she does in-fact have duties.” Luna rubs the side of her head with a hoof, frowning in annoyance. “I should be asleep, but instead I’ve had to deal with dozens of advisors, citizens and everything in-between to keep the public from panicking.

“What is there to panic about?” you ask, a hint of concern creeping into your voice.

>”Nothing serious. When the… “Demon” crossed into our land, it caused a stream of tremors. That, coupled with that fact that my sister was nowhere to be found led to some minor panic.”

“Understandable. I take it the situation is under control?”

>”Thankfully, yes. I’d be a real shame to have this crisis wrapped up, only for a riot to break out.”

“Indeed.” You notice with some sympathy the bags under Luna’s eyes.

“Look, Princess. You’ve obviously had a rough night. Get some rest, I’ll find Celestia and make sure everything is ok.”

>”Usually it is I giving orders… but I won’t argue that my bed seems rather appealing. Goodbye for now…?”

“Anon. My name is Anon.”

>”Oh yes, of course. Forgive me.”

>Luna nods politely, before walking away down the corridor, quickly disappearing from sight.

>Now, time for a tour of this place. Hopefully you won’t be manhandled by over-eager guards.

>You secure the sheath holding your trusty longsword to your belt, before hooking your shield to your back.

>The gentle heat of the divine healing powers kicks in: the power may have all but waned during its long lifetime, but it was still reliable for healing you over the course of a few hours.

>One final check to make sure everything was on your person, and you set off from your room.

>You gently stroll down the corridors, unhurried to find Solaire and Celestia. You would have thought he would have been anxious to find you: the two of you were good friends after all, with a lifetimes worth of stories to catch up on.

>For a start, you wanted to know how in the world Manus was able to bring himself to “Equestria” as Luna had referred to it.

>Suddenly, you are interrupted by a burly pair of guards who squint with suspicion.

>”Who in the hay are you?”

>Not wanting to spark a commotion, you answer with the first thought that comes into your head.

“I’m a good friend of Solaire. I doubt he’d be pleased with your attitudes, don’t you agree?”

>Your revelation shocks the guards into an amusing state of apology.

>”Oh, of course! We’re, uh, terribly sorry, Sir.”

“I shall think nothing of it, if one of you is generous enough to show me to Celestia’s quarters.” You were guessing that was the most likely place Solaire was going to be.

>”Of course Sir! Follow me!”

>The winged pony takes lead as you calmly follow: memorising the route to avoid future complications.

>You are eventually led to a thick, mahogany door emblazoned with the same symbol Celestia had on her rear.

>Must be her room…

>”This is her Highness’ room, Sir. Am I needed any longer?”

“No, you have helped me enough already. I give you my thanks.”

>The winged pony nods enthusiastically, before turning to leave.

>You watch him leave you, the clopping of hooves rowing quieter, before turning back to the door.

>You rap against it with your steel gauntlets, and you hear hurried whispering from inside.

“Hello? Is that… Solaire? Solaire! I know you’re in there!”

>”Just one moment, Anon!”

>You ignore him and twist the handle of the door, making your way in.

“I don’t see why…”

>You gape at the sight before you: Solaire with his arms wrapped tightly around Celestia, his clothes… missing.

>He blushes heavily, stammering his words. “I can explain everything.”

“You don’t need to: what went on here is damn obvious. I mean, really Solaire? How long have you been in this land?”

>”Can’t have been that long…”

“And you’re already bedding a horse.”

>”In my defence, she controls the sun.”

“That isn’t an excuse.”

>”I never said it was. Besides, it was rather enjoyable. Wasn’t it, my dear?”

>Celestia sighs, nuzzling her head into Solaire’s neck. “Of course it was, Solaire.”

>As cute as the sight of this wayward couple is, it still unnerves you.

“Copulating with equines can wait, you twisted hollow. We need to talk, first and foremost.”

>Solaire’s face turns a volcanic red, much to Celestia’s amusement.

>”Er, v-very well. If you could just give me a few minutes, to um… get ready…”

>You bury your head in the palm of your hand, shaking in disapproval.

“Very well. Call me back in when you’re not so grossly incandescent, please.”

>Celestia erupts into gales of laughter as you make for the door, half-slamming it shut behind you.

>You lean against the opposing wall impatiently, and a few minutes the later the door is opened by a shaken, but publicly decent Solaire.

>”Please come in…”

>You follow him into the chambers, setting yourself down in a chair, as he positions himself on the couch. Not two seconds later, Celestia joins him, laying herself down against his tunic-garbed chest.

>For a few silent seconds, the only disturbance in the room is the gentle, collective breathing of 3 occupants…

“A horse! This has to be some kind of trick, Solaire.”

>And here we go…

“I’m sorry Anon, could you remind of the last human woman we met who didn’t try to kill us on sight, and who wasn’t mutilated, illusory or a church maiden?”

“Well, there was… Priscilla… ok, fine. It just unnerves me, seeing you adapt so quickly. Rutting an Equine would not be high on my priority list after arriving in a strange new land…”

>Solaire’s previous words suddenly click in your mind: the implications of them astounding.

“Wait… did you say she controls the sun?”

>”Indeed I do, Knight Anonymous.” Celestia purrs.

“Knight Anonymous? I rather fancy that title… wait, you actually control the sun!”

>”You’re unusually slow, Anon. You sure you aren’t going hollow?” Solaire laughs.

“I don’t even…”

>Celestia sighs in either relaxation or annoyance. “It’s not a terribly hard concept, Anonymous. I have the power to move the sun: my sister, Luna, has the power to move the moon.”

“I have already had the pleasure of meeting Luna in person….” Your speech trails off as you reflect on the whole situation.

>Suddenly, a chuckle escapes from you.

“It’s funny, Solaire… you managed to copulate with the physical embodiment of the sun. If anyone in Lordran could have done such a feat, it would have been you… I can’t turn my back from you for one second. As soon as we defeated Gwyn you managed to pull off a coitus worthy of legends.”

>You shake your head in disbelief and amusement.

“Anyway… I didn’t come here to deride your admittedly impressive sexual mis-adventures.”

>Solaire sighs heavily, the mark of a man who has seen enough fighting for a lifetime.

>”I am correct in assuming that you wish to know how I ended up here in Equestria, yes?”

“That’d be a start. I would hate to doubt myself over whether you stuck to the plan…”

>Solaire shifts himself into an upright position, Celestia’s head gently resting on his shoulder.

>”I stuck to the plan, yes… The fear of annihilation was positively overwhelming, but when I considered the fates this world would be left to… my resolve was steeled. Linking the flame may be only temporary, but I’d be damned before being the one to plunge the lands into chaotic darkness.”

>He pauses momentarily, thinking over his words.

>”I touched the flame, my fate decided. My body began to crumble away, my spirit tearing at the edges. And then… I felt myself being tugged. Like a successful summoning was underway… I rose through the darkness, towards the light, and there I stood on the floor of a well-kept church.”

>Another pause.

>”I was of course confused: that feeling did not last long though.”

>As Solaire speaks you notice Celestia frown, as if his story was a reminder of something wretched.

>”I observed my surroundings, and it was then that I noticed my dearest Celestia lying in distress. The root of her anguish was a hideous demon: a changeling…”

“I beg your pardon?”

>”Vicious imposters.” Celestia interrupts. “They pose as ponies close to you, and then feed off your love for them.”

“Ah, parasites then?” you ask. “I take it you wiped them out?”

>”Of course! Celestia may have been initially unusual, but she was my summoner all the same, worthy of my protection as anyone else. We battled true and hard, but when all looked like it was lost, I snagged victory from the clutches of despair. The changelings were routed, and Canterlot was safe… for the moment.”

>You make a mental note of the name of the city in which you were currently situated.

>”The fighting did not end there, however. It rarely does… Celestia had come to trust me fully after I saved her from an assassination: after she convinced me to spare the changeling, Drejtimi’s life, I was assigned to go and hold palaver with the Changelings. The plan was to ease relations between us and them: perhaps even to allow for a peaceful resolution of conflict but alas, it was not meant to be.”

“What happened?”

>”I was on train bound for the city closest to the Changeling hi… Is something wrong?”

“What is this “train” you speak of?”

>”Oh, my apologies! I forgot that you have yet to spend even a full day here.”

>Solaire clears his throat in embarrassment. “A train is a wonderful machination that facilitates a fast, easy navigation of the land. It’s like a series of gargantuan metal boxes on wheels, hurtling down a predefined track.”

“It sounds like an impressive work of engineering, albeit one that is not safe at all.”

>”They’re usually safe… my journey was anything but, however. We were ambushed on route by a group of changelings. Me and my men… er, ponies fought back valiantly. We forced them to the end of the train when… when I was betrayed. A particularly headstrong soldier, Ajax, had been coercing with the Changelings: it was by his han-hoof that the attack of Canterlot could take place.”

“I trust that you disposed of that filth, yes?”

>”Ajax died by my hands, yes. But before that particular reckoning, I was taken to the Changeling Hive, a point of no return or rescue. I was locked up, and I thought it was all over… Or so it would have been, had Drejtimi not returned to free me!”

“The assassin would-be returned to help you? How… peculiar.”

>”That was my first impression as well.” Celestia says. “It was a matter of “honour” or something.”

“Ah, I see…”

>”Indeed. Drejtimi felt obliged to help me, given that I had spared her in Canterlot…”

>Another heavy sigh.

>”She’s dead now. Not by my doing of course… she said her purpose had been fulfilled and that this world no longer needed her.”

“An honourable death, and a well deserved one at that.”

>Solaire shrugs. “I wish I could have helped her, but she had already fixated herself on her fate. Once she had left, I made my way to a nearby town, and haphazardly warped back to Canterlot. I confronted Ajax, he died, and then-“

“I don’t mean to be presumptuous, but how exactly did Manus come to be in this world?”

>”Who is “Manus”?”

>”The demon who attacked us.” Celestial replies.

“Wait, how did you learn of Manus’ name and Solaire did not?”

 >”Manus… tried to speak with me.”

“Really? Was he coherent? What did he say?”

>”I don’t want to talk about it. Having somep0ny invade your mind like that is disturbing, and I would very much like to push that memory out of my head, thank you.”

>If not from the glare Solaire gives you, you might have grilled Celestia for information regardless of her willingness

“Very well… I ask for a good reason, but I still await the rest of Solaire’s tale.

>”Of course.” Solaire complies. “There isn’t much more to be said other than I went to the Abyss to stop him, and Celestia followed suit. The reason “Manus” was able to invade this realm was because… well, I’m not entirely sure to be honest. The Changeling general who was holding me captive used a Humanity against all better judgement. What transpired next was… a bloodbath. I swear that Manus just appeared from thin air…”

>You sit up straight, collecting your thoughts.

“I suppose now is a good time to share my tale that transpired. I did not wander into the Abyss out of dumb luck…”

>You shift in your seat.

“After you returned to your world Solaire, I faced the dilemma: let the world fall into darkness, or to let myself die for a lost cause…”

>Solaire leans forward, studying you intently. “And? What fate did you accept?”

“Neither.”

>Solaire’s confusion is immediate and apparent. “I… what?”

“I was not going to be anyone’s puppet. While the serpents hissed and cackled at me, I warped away from the Kiln.”

>”That’s… I should have expected that to be honest. You always find a way to shimmy out of a dilemma…”

“Likewise, you always find a way with the sun. One moment you’re praising it, the next you’re-“

>”Yes, yes, no need to have this discussion!” Solaire shouts, a hint of a blush in his cheeks.

“I warned you that I’d never let you live it down. Anyway, back to my tale.”

>Solaire and Celestia fixate their attention on you.

“Since our worlds were now separated, with contact impossible, I had no idea what to do. I ended up wandering, aimless… until I happened upon Princess Dusk, still standing silent in the Darkroot Basin. I decided to talk to her: it was that or remain lonely in a dying world.”

>A pause.

“She was happy to see me. Partly because I was her rescuer from what seems like an age back, but also because an unusual rift had appeared in a cove nearby. Being the daring, noble knight that I am, I ventured forth to investigate it…”

>”What happened?” Celestia asks in concern.

“I approached the rift, sword readied, preparing myself for battle… before Manus’ hand grabbed me and threw me into the arsehole of Oolacile, 300 years prior.”

>”You went back in time? To Oolacile, no less?” Solaire whispers in disbelief.

“My tongue is not deceiving you. Manus dragged me into Oolacile, and it was from there that I had to fight. Corrupted townsfolk, single-eyed dragons with a curse-inducing stare: I even pitched myself against Knight Artorias himself.”

>Solaire gapes at you. “You fought Knight Artorias? Impossible.”

“I would not lie to you, Solaire. I did indeed fight him, although had the Abyss not corrupted his very essence then I do not suppose I would be here.”

>”Knight Artorias… so the legends didn’t lie. He really did face down the Abyss…”

“He was too pure to handle it. Poor bastard… he even gave up his blessed greatshield to save Sif, rendering him defenceless.”

>A grim silence descends upon the room.

>”So, what happened then?”

“I battled my way through the remains of Oolacile, facing down the corrupted residents who brought on the Abyss. A strangely lucid fellow named Chester was able to impart much knowledge of the area, along with what Manus really was.”

>”What do you mean?”

“Manus was a primordial human, once. At some point in time his humanity ran wild… I suppose he can serve as a reminder. Always remember how infallible we truly are: how easy it to become undone…”

>Another pause.

“After Chester imparted me with his guidance, I set forth to kill Manus. That’s it really… I suppose the flow of time in Lordran must differ from this world: under normal circumstances, our chance meeting should have been impossible.”

>”Perhaps. There’s no real point worrying about it now, is there?” Celestia interjects.

“I suppose not. By the way Princess, your sister had quite the mouthful in regards to your royal duties” you say with a smirk.

>”Oh woes are the strains of royalty… no time to even enjoy the simple pleasures…” Celestia gazes up at Solaire with a sultry look and you grimace.

“Well, my purpose here has been fulfilled. I’ll hold palaver with you later, Solaire.”

>As you stand up and make for the door, Solaire plants a hand squarely on your shoulder.

>”Listen, Anon. Are you sure you’re ok with this? I mean, I suppose my… er, “courting” of Celestia would be unusual to you. If you want, I can-“

>You cut him off mid-sentence, silencing him with a finger.

“Solaire. I may indeed find your romantic ventures strange… but if there’s anyone alive who deserves the happiness you have found, it’s you. After all you have done for me and for others: you’re entitled to a happier life. I would never take that away from you.”

>Solaire nods slowly, a small smile adorned on his face. “Thank you, Anon.”

>You pat him on the shoulder, but as you turn once more, Solaire coughs politely.

>”You know… you’ve never expressed a particularly strong faith before. But in regards to my quest, my search for the sun… Did you ever suppose that I would succeed? Did the thought of my victory ever cross your mind?”

>You sigh deeply, before speaking from the bottom of your heart.

“I never doubted that you would succeed. Honest to the gods amongst us, I knew you would prevail. I never once lost hope in you.”

>”Thank you. It’s good to have you back as a companion.”

“And the same goes for you. Now, go enjoy yourself with your “jolly co-operation.” >You feel ashamed for entertaining such sick thoughts, but Solaire laughs it off.

>”Very well. Goodbye for now and for Celestia’s sake don’t kill anything!”

“I’m not promising anything!” you laugh, before closing the door behind you.

>It’s now you truly realise how much you despised Lordran, when there’s a brave new world before you.

>You smile. Yes, a new world indeed…