Twilight stepped into the narrow hallway that led into the darkness within. Each step was timid and uncertain. She looked to the club held in her snout and blinked. "I must be getting confused." Her horn began to glow as the club lifted up to float beside her. She was stronger with her magic than her neck anyway.

As she approached the end of the tunnel, her steps slowed. The place she was entering was vast, at least three to four stories tall. On the second floor to either side stood massive thrones. Of the four, one was occupied by a frail and old man wearing a heavy-looking gold crown and with no legs to speak of. He simply dangled what he had, and his dress-like clothing, off the edge.

He saw Twilight easily as she entered and smiled queerly at her, but did not otherwise react.

More pressing than he was the woman, pale of skin, pale blond of hair, with pale grey robes that flowed to her obscured feet. Her hands were clasped gently. She wore something over her eyes that Twilight could not see how anyone could see through. She still reacted. Perhaps she had heard Twilight. "You bare the sword. The wheel turns once more." She approached Twilight with slow and measured steps. She reached out a hand towards Twilight, but found nothing but air, apparently expecting something more human in height. "Unkindled One? This is not the time to jest."

Twilight sank to her haunches. "My name is--"

"There you are," stated the woman, voice sounding relieved. "Why did you shy from me? I am your servant, Unkindled One. I will be at your side at every portion of your journey, serving faithfully."

She perked her ears up at the tall woman. "Thank you... I think, but... I am not any 'Unkindled One'. My name is--"

The woman reached for the voice and found Twilight's snout. Slender fingers felt along it slowly. "I cannot see," she noted as she examined her curious new mistress. "And you... are far from what I expected." Her fingers traced up along furry ears before moving down over the back of Twilight's skull. "You are... not Ashen... How can this be? Without an Ashen One, the wheel may not turn..."

"So quick to dismiss," called down the man on the throne. "The wheel doesn't have to turn precisely as you expect it to."

Twilight's eyes darted to the short man with the heavy crown. "Excuse me, can--"

He shrugged at her and gestured for her to come closer. It seemed he had no real desire to continue the conversation at a shout.

The woman shook her head. "We cannot change what is... You come bearing the sword. Follow me." She bowed slowly and turned, walking at a sedate pace towards the collection of bones in the center of the room.

Twilight followed her, eyes taking in things as she went. She could hear metal striking metal in the distance. It sounded purposeful. Were there others living in this place? Her heart soared at the idea that she had finally found friendly faces amid the ruin, death, and pain. "What do--"

The lady seemed to have no time for speech, at least from Twilight. She reached for her and drew the sword from Twilight's pocket without even being told about it. She held it aloft silently until Twilight took it in her magic. She then gestured at the bones. "Link the flame."

"What flame?" Twilight stepped up to the designated spot and peered at it without comprehension until she realized the similarity. The last bonfire she was at. She was confused and lost then. There had been a sword in it that she had ignored entirely. This one could be just like it, if it had a flame, and a sword. She had the sword.

The solution seemed clear. She twirled the sword until it faced the ground and plunged it into the earth. Blessed heat and light erupted in a brilliant flare. Her wounds and fatigue were suddenly banished. Well, most of them. The ache she felt after she had died remained. There seemed to be no forgetting that event.

"Ashen O--"

Twilight cut her off for a change, "Twilight Sparkle. I am Twilight Sparkle."

The maiden paused a moment. "I am the Fire Keeper. I will tend to it while you are away, and you must be away. There are many things for you to do, Twilight Sparkle."

Twilight brought down a hoof with a dull thud against the dirt floor. "No! First some answers, please, I beg you..."

"I will tell you what I know." She bowed to Twilight gently. "This is the Firelink Shrine, where all those who would link the fires must go. You have come. You may not be ashen, but perhaps you will perform the task. Those who swear fealty to you may also remain here, safe and protected while you work. There are others who already belong here. They will serve you as well."

Twilight perked her ears towards the metallic crashes. "Like that metal sound?"

"Like him," she agreed. "They will want what you most need to become stronger."

"Stronger?" Twilight was not trying to become stronger. "I just need to find a way home."

"You remember home? That places you ahead of many. Souls, sovereignless souls are yours to use as you wish. To bargain, or consume. Already you have felt it. I feel them within you."

Twilight shuddered from her ears down to her tail at the concept. "H-how?"

"Did you not fight your way here? The judge would not let you pass otherwise."

Twilight could scarcely forget the powerful rush she had felt. "That was his soul?!"

"Its power is your power, to do as you wish. Souls, plucked from their vessel, have no grander purpose. Simply kneel before me and think of how stronger you will be, must be, to find victory."

Twilight backpedaled away a sudden frightened collection of steps. "What if I don't want that!?"

The Keeper seemed undisturbed. "Then you may use them as currency. Souls hold value where coins have long since lost sway. Choose quickly."

"Or?" Twilight's ears went up. "Do they go away?"

"Only when taken... They will be taken. You will suffer and die, likely many times. You will know defeat, and those souls will be taken from you. Use them now, while they are yours."

Twilight felt that she was speaking the truth, naked and terrible. "I... want to look around first."

"As you wish, linker of the flames. I will be here as you require me."

Twilight watched the Fire Keeper a moment. She was just standing there patiently, as if she would stand there for a thousand years until called on.

"Look at you," came a new voice.

Twilight turned quickly to see an armored gentleman with a sword strapped to his back sitting on the steps that made up much of the area. "Come closer. I'm not in the mood to shout, or move."

Twilight frowned a little, but did come closer. "I didn't ask you to, um, hello. I am T--"

"I heard you before. I was listening. So, you're an unusual Unkindled huh, maybe you'll do better than me. We Unkindled are worthless. Can't even die right. Gives me conniptions. And they'd have us seek the Lords of Cinder, and return them to their moulding thrones. But we're talking true legends with the mettle to link the fire. We're not fit to lick their boots. Don't you think?"

Twilight frowned a little. "I think I don't know who the 'Lords of Cinder' are." She pointed up at the thrones. "I presume those are theirs? They must be... large?"

"Some, aye." He glanced upwards towards them. "I gave up that mission, so it falls on you, strange creature. You're not even human, it's obvious. I wonder what she's thinking, the Keeper." He gave a sudden unnerving fit of laughter. "I bet she's just as scared as the rest of us and just isn't showing it. The name's Hawkwood, demon, angel, or whatever you might be."

Twilight perked an ear at Hawkwood. "If you live here, then you... work for me?"

That laughter came again. "I have the same mission as you, or did. Don't mind my tired bones. I won't get in your way."

"So much for that," she muttered under her breath. "Well, so what am I supposed to do? I want to go home."

"Don't we all." He pointed to the crackling bonfire behind Twilight. "You've started the process. You can set your body adrift between linked fires. Concentrate and see where you can go, and your way forward should be clear."

Twilight smiled brilliantly. There was a clear answer, and a good one at that. "Thank you!"

"Oh, that expression. They'll beat that smile off your face soon enough. I'll be here when that happens. You're free to sit beside me and tell me how it felt, when that fire inside you gutters out."

Twilight cringed as she backed away. "Well, um, thank you again. I'm going to... go look around." Hawkwood didn't challenge her when she trotted away, glad to be away from the bitter soul behind her. She still had more questions than answers, but there was one thread of hope. She marched with purpose to the flame.

"Are you ready?" asked the Keeper quietly.

"No, thank you. I just want to try something." She reached out a hoof for the fire and felt its warmth soothe her troubles for a time. She was safe, but she wasn't home. She focused on Equestria, on her castle, her bed, Canterlot... She felt it. She could go to a castle, but it was not home. It was not any closer. She could go and be in danger again.

With a dismayed yelp, she wrenched her hoof away. She was right where she began. The Keeper was seated across the way from Hawkwood, who hadn't moved. How long had she been staring into the flames? She couldn't tell. She rose to her hooves and shook her head, trying to clear it. "This world is crazy..."

"You don't know the half of it," jeered Hawkwood.

Twilight ignored him for the moment and decided to go explore the metal sounds, but she didn't make it that far. She walked down the hallway that seemed to carry the sound loudest and began to trot towards what looked to be a flame ahead when a voice harshly whispered to her, "A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Ashen One. I am but a humble handmaiden of the shrine. Weapons, armor, trinkets, and spells... I've lots of little things to ease the burden of a weary traveler. ...And yes, I'm Undead, too, but not so charitable as to give my goods away. Ashen One, fetch souls, and bring them to me. As is thy wont, no?"

Twilight recoiled a step at the words, surprised to see old lady hunched over in red robes. "Undead... Wait, too?"

She laughed. Her laugh was less cynical than Hawkwood's, but unnerving all the same. "Of course you are. You died. I can smell the blood fresh on you." Her nose flared. "I can smell the souls, fresh in you. Are you here to trade? A few of those souls for things to keep you safe..." Next Chapter: 4 - Twilight's First Heat Estimated time remaining: 1 Hour, 22 Minutes