The Darksouls: Chapter 3: Sovern

The shackles around my hooves clinged together as I trotted. Upon me giving them my name they asked me how long I’d been in the Crypt. When I said “So this place IS called the Crypt” they threw shackles on me, and started to march me through the forest. I guess they don’t like outsiders. I did learn the name of the mare that so eagerly suggested that I be taken to celestia-knows-where. Her name is Krifiik. Upon me looking at her confused for about 3 minutes she finally told me that her ancestors hailed from the old Crystal Empire, and believed in the Empirion heritage. I don't know much about it, except for it having a stupid language.

“So where are we going?” I asked, the shackles around my hooves clinged together so violently, as I trotted through the snowy landscape, each step sending small shivers up my legs. “I mean, you nearly take my head off with a crossbow firing squad, throw me in shackles, and march me through the fucking arctic snow. The least you can tell me is where we’re going!”

“Silence Darksoul,” The mare said, from the front of the group as we trotted, snow crunching under our hooves. A celestial light came from beyond the trees in front of us, indicating I’d survived the night...barley. I guess I’m still alive. Well, as alive as I can be, giving that I’m already dead. “we’ll be arriving shortly, to our destination.”

For a few more hours, we just walked through the snowy forest, heading to some place. Probably a place filled with more soldiers, hell whom also dislike outsiders. Oh boy, I can’t wait.

“We’re here,” Krifiik said from the front of the group. I couldn’t see anything, except a small beam of light from where Krifiik had moved some plants, and small trees. “welcome to the Sanctuary, Rapshure.”

My ears perked up as she said that last part, not knowing if she was talking to me or not. I just kept walking a little more, until I finally got past the trees, and saw the Sanctuary with my own eyes. There were 4 sets of ancient-looking-buildings, with one larger building in the center of the plot. The morning sun was just coming up over the small castle-like buildings. The town was built over a frozen lake, that we’d be following for the past 3 hours. It explains how they found it so easily.

“The sanctuary is a true sight to behold, isn’t it?” The mare asked me, already knowing my answer, as she went on talking. “It’s stood here for over 3,000 years, and still nopony knows who built it. Some think the Children of the Snow created it, others think zebra tribals. Personally I believe it was created by the Soul reapers.”

“The only word I understood of that was Zebra Tribals.” I said watching to sun, as it came over the horizon causing light to slightly reflect of the snow, and any small blades of grass exposed to the light of day. “But it is a rather rare sight, to see buildings like this still standing in Equestria. But uh, I guess it’s less likely here?”

“No, there’s a lot of these ancient ruins around the Crypt.” The mare said, trotting to group down the snow, and onto a road leading into the large, vintage safe haven. “I’d tell you about the Children of the Snow, or the Soul Reapers, but I don’t know much about that myself! You can ask Sovern. He knows everything.”

“Sovern?” I asked, putting on my questions in order, in my mind.

“Sovern is our leader.” She replied to me, as the group started to walk me to the town. “Legends say, he’s one of the Plagued darksouls, but none of us know. He hides his neck under his cloak, so none of us can check for the mark of the sick.” The mark of the sick. Finally, something I understand. The mark of the sick, is a little black X that would appear on the necks of plague victims, during the time of death. Or, as some would call it the Days of the Dark Plague.

They marched me into the largest building of the whole town, which I though might be where their leader resided, due to it’s size. Inside there was a earth pony behind a desk, that just looked up at us then back down to whatever was on his desk. Behind him was a staircase that went backwards, then ran forward on the left and right side at the top. I was marched up said staircase, and into room that was rather large, and consisted of a desk, some old pictures and other items on the walls, a bookshelf, what looked like an alchemy lab, and a unicorn looking out the large window on the other side of the room, that gave a good view of the forest and the town.

“Master Sovern,” Krifiik said taking a bow, then standing back up looking back at her master, as he looked out the large window. “we’ve brought a survivor from the town to the east. Although, he claims to be new to the Crypt. We decided it’d be better idea to bring him to you.”

“Thank you, Krifiik.” The stallion said to his servant, but never bothering to actually turn around and look at her. “Please, take your men and go back to your barracks. And leave our new friend, I’d like to make introductions.”

The mare nodded, as one of her soldiers took the shackles off my hooves, and trotted out. I just sat there frozen looking around the room. Funny how I keep forgetting the fact that I’m literally dead, and am in some form of an afterlife. No, just the constant fact that it hasn’t even been 4 hours, and I was almost killed by soldiers, taken prisoner by other soldiers, and was now in the presence of somepony whom I don’t even know, who could more than possibly have my head on a plate if he wanted it.

“Welcome,” The unicorn said, finally turning around. He spoke with a rough voice, and was rather old, with more than a few scars that probably carried more stories themselves, then I ever will. “my name is Sovern. I am the leader of the Dragon’s Covenant. We seek to bring law by overthrowing the Tyrant Proxy. I’m not going to lie, we’ve made little to no progress, and we’re not going to with our current numbers. Our soldiers might be well trained, but they’re weak in numbers. That’s why Krifiik shackled you, and brought you here.”

“You need help for your cause?” I asked, looking at the old pony as he trotted to one of the old pictures. It was of what looked like a heart, with a crystal coating. Funny, I’ve seen that somewhere. “I don’t know if you noticed, but I’m not really soldier material. That, and imprisonment doesn’t count as a good method of drafting soldiers.”

“Anypony can be changed with enough patience.” The pony said, seeming to ignore the last part of my comment. “I’ve seen it with my eyes. Blacksmiths to warriors, scholars to battlemages. It is possible Rapshure, are you with us?”

"I understand what you're saying it's just, I don't know if I'm capable, myself." I said, looking around the room some more. "I've never been in considerate fight." The thought of the Fallen Angel, I'd killed only hours ago lingered on my mind.

“Do you have any experience with a sword?” Sovern said, opening a small display case on his wall, taking an old short-sword out of the case with magic, and giving it a small inspection.

“No, not really.” I said watching him inspect the sword. It’s handle has a golden look to it, and the blade bared an engraving of what looked to be a dragon. He quickly turned, and threw the sword at me with magic. I felt myself grab it with magic, as it nearly hit me. There, the sword hovered in front of me, as I firmly grasped it with magic. “What the fuck was that?!”

The pony just smiled, and turned to look back out his window. “You’re not any normal Darksoul, are you? No. Only a mage has a magical reflex like that.” He said, turning back to his window, leaving me with a short-sword floating in front of my face.

I just let it go. It fell to the ground with a loud clash, as it hit the wood. The Head Mage would do that crap all the time, but he never threw a sword at me. Sure he threw a glass at me once, but that was the closest thing to a sword! I looked down at the short sword, reluctantly picked it up.

“I don’t like a lot of the ponies my pupils bring in, but” He said, not taking his gaze away from the window, almost like he was studying the environment outside the pane of glass. “you’re something different. You don’t seem willing to just accept the fact that you know have to fall under the command of a tyrant, like most. You might not’ve been a fighter in your past life, but you’re not that pony anymore...are you?”

I just shook my head, some what awestruck at his words. I wanted to respond to him, but my brain was too busy thinking, to work my mouth. He’s right. I’m not Storm anymore. In the words of my -so called- queen... The storm ended. No, I’m Rapshure. I’m not like Storm, I’m the warrior that won’t be taken down in the end. I’ll be the reason we take back the Crypt, if it’s the last goddess damned thing I do!

“When do I start?”