This was it. Thomas held the last crown, the end of his journey. As he gathered the Ivory Crown in his hands, he felt a small tingle in the back of his head. He was too concerned with the end of his adventure to even care, for he was ready to finally have his curse be lifted. He wore his Faraam Helm with Vengarl's Chest piece, and the Alonne Knight leggings with some Dark gauntlets. Even through his gauntlets, he could feel the power emitting from the crown. It was warm yet cold; powerful yet weak; light and dark. It was as though it felt neutral. He wasted no time in wondering about it as he used the power of the Aged Feather to leave.

In no time at all, he warped to the Undead Crypt, and sliced his way through the hollowed warriors as if they were nothing.

"I will not become a hollowed legend" he thought to himself as he payed to rest another poor hollowed warrior. The darkness was all around him: beconing him to stay, tempting him with false promises of peace, yet still he soldiered on. This would not be his end,

As the last Royal Guard fell, Thomas stopped to catch his breath. He was so hell-bent on getting to Vendric that he was neglecting his body's warnings. He let his body regain its full strength before proceeding down the hallway; advancing past the columns that he ducked behind to avoid Velstadt. He then crossed through the one light circle just before the Kings chamber, the ring of light Velstadt had created to keep himself from going hollow. He continued to walk, pondering to himself about all he had done for four crowns.

Will it be over? Will I finally be rid of this undead curse? What if there is no way to end it... All these thoughts ran through his head. Thomas was unable to speak out loud to himself due to years of being undead. He didn't know his age, or where he came from, or who he had been in past lives. All he could recall was that he came to Drangleic to free himself of his nightmare.

His immortality as an undead was a living hell. He was unable to die, unable to finally rest in peace like he had longed for. He had no friends, no companions, and no reason to continue living. However, he refused to go hollow. He refused to let someone else fight what was left of his empty body.

He claimed down the stairs into the dark crypt. Vendric's once hollowed state wandered this room, guarding what was left of his equipment. As he approached the Clothing, he felt a power sweep over him. Only moments after that he felt the power of the Ashen Mist cover him, and he faded into the past...

"Seeker of Fire, Conquer of Darkness. The gift I have given you; it is the key. The Key to end the mark of the Fire". As Vendric spoke, Thomas felt as though he was nearly at peace. Vendric had just blessed his crown with a promise to never hollow again, yet it seemed that there was more he needed to say. "With this Crown, the decline of your Sanity will be halted, and you human essence will be maintained. But, that is but one option you may choose". As Thomas heard these words, his heart began to sink. It sounded as though he wasn't done yet.

"The power of the crown will do much more than that. It can end the curse for all undead". He felt as though a firebomb had just ignited in his heart. He could end the curse? With just this one crown. He suddenly felt as though the crown in his hands was more valuable that the world itself. "But first, before I reveal unto you how to overcome the darkest journey, I will ask if you would wear the crown. As the world around you had been reborn, your soul has another item to discuss with you".

That was the strangest thing. He didn't even realize it, but his chest had swollen up with a odd feeling. It was as if it was beckoning him to wear the crown, just like Vendric had said. He didn't waste any time; his helmet was off, and the crown was upon his head. The next thing he knew, he was on his knees grasping his head.

The pain was intense. It was as though his mind had been set ablaze, and was freezing over at the same time. He cried out in pain as the sensation continued over his head. Then the pain subsided. It was there and then it was gone. As he arose from his head between his knees, he felt a new feeling swell his mind: light. All the dark reigns of his head, reigns that he didn't even know existed, were shown into him. The power of the crown was showing him a message from his soul, a message that was lost with linking the fire the first time. He was that chosen undead.

His soul showed him memories of his past self. His name was Valious the Knight. He could only remember back to the undead asylum, but from that was the start of his journey. He remembered Oscar of Astroa, the man that freed him and gave meaning back into his life. From there, he remembered his souls whole journey. From the Bells of Awakening to the Abyss in New Londo, he remembered every detail of who he once was. He was lied to.

He stood tall, clinging to his pride of the knight he once was. Emotions swirled through his body: rage, sadness, joy, pride. But above all the rest, his desire to end the curse rose above all the rest. He no longer cared about simply surviving it, he wished to free all of the world from this horror of being undead.

"Seeker of Fire, Linker of the Flame. Your soul is more powerful than the three Lord Souls combined. As any powerful soul has been, yours was returned into the cycle of fate". The words were like a praise Thomas never wished to have. He hated the curse now more than ever. Not only had he not died and rested in peace from the first time he linked the fire, he now remembered all the pain and suffering from that life, along with all the pain and disaster in this one. He was furious. But now, he had a way to only keep the curse at bay. "Fate wishes for another to link the fire. The fire will continue to cast its shadow into the world until it is all but died out. But you are not of fate. Your soul wishes to deny fate of its choices and create a choice of its own". Thomas looked up at the Old King. His eyes, the nice filled with pride and power were only filled with sorrow and regret. "There is a land, far to the east. Over the seas and far past where the Giants once thrived. In that land, in a time far distant from now, the First Flame will be at its prime again. The Flame will be filled with power, and have a fuel to last it. But as fate will be fate, the Lord Souls will escape, and the flame will soon turn to embers once again, creating the cycle of time over and over. But you, Linker of Flame, can change that". His hand then pointed straight towards the crown on Thomas's head. "The crown has the power to keep you from going hollow, but there is much more to it. If the power of the crown were to be united with the strength of the First Flame, then there would be a power in the flame that not even fate could destroy. The power would erase the shadow, and a light would shine so bright that the undead curse would be brought to light, and the Dark Soul in humanity would never again be powered by the dark. This is my last gift to you, Seeker of Fire. The gift to end the curse. Travel to the land past the Giants; journey through the fabric of time to the last flame; and then create a flame that will never die. Another will link the fire, as Faye would have it. Deny fate of its cycle. This is my last plea". And with that, the king spoke no more. His eyes, once blue in color, faded to a light grey and he returned his gaze towards the darkness in from of him.

Thomas arose. He bowed to the king, and then left the memory. He had his purpose. He had his goal. He would destroy the shackles of fate, and create a world without a curse.

Lucy walked down stairs to the basement of Fairy Tail's guild hall. She was getting a book for Levy, who was studying languages of lost dead kingdoms. She was also avoiding Erza, who for some strange reason had a undying urge to duel. Natsu and Grey teaming up weren't even a match fo her. It was like the mood she was in boosted her lust for honorable battle/victory.

As she descended the stairs in her blue jean skirt and orange tank top, she took a quick glance as she was moving downward. She saw Wendy and Mirajane searching through some books.

"What are you guys doing down here, looking through some memories?" Lucy asked in her voice full of care. Carla came out from behind a stack of books that was on the ground, holding a smaller stack in her hand. Wendy turned from looking at the bookshelf, giving Lucy a quick friendly smile.

"Hey Lucy! No, we were just looking through some of these books looking for any more support spells". Wendy then returned her gaze back towards the bookshelf that Mirajane was in front of.

"Yes, I remember reading a book with those kind of spells in it not too long ago, and though Wendy might get some useful spells out of it. Would you mind helping us look?" Mirajane didn't even take her gaze off of the bookshelf she was carefully scanning, yet Lucy could still imagine her sweet, friendly smile that always felt welcoming.

"Sure, I'll help you guys look! I just need to get Levy some books about languages. I believe it was from a book about 'Lordran'". Mirajane, in her normal red dress, pointed Lucy towards a bookshelf that was in the back corner of the room.

Thomas was resting, months since he had last left Dranleic. He was now wearing the entire Faraam set, peering into the darkness of the ruins. He was near the end of his exploration; he could feel it in his soul. Through the long journey through a land long forgotten, he was nearly at its center. He had found a temple of some sort in the middle of a weird forest full of humid heat, and a tree top that blocked the view of the sun. The temple was carved out of the side of a mountain that was already there, standing over the forest as its unspoken center piece. He had found no enemies inside of it, and by his torch walked through the beautifully crafted walls. It was also straight onward, not a maze like the other places were.

As he walked, he reflected upon his past few months journeying to get here. He had fought Giants and drakes and hollows beyond comprehension. He had found ruins of cities, monuments to the Gods of old, and even discovered many cities in a thriving state. They all had told him to turn back, yet he was compelled to thrust onward. He had also found a strange sphere of some kind: radiant in energy, yet it appeared as simply a large light blue gem. It did not glow, or react to touch, but from his lifetimes of experience had brought it along. It was about the size of a large smooth and silky stone, but not crushable by his own strength with ease.

He was so deep in thought, he hadn't realized he had entered a large circular chamber.

"Bearer of the curse". The words caught him by surprise, but had such a familiarity for him not to be afraid. The tone, the wording, and the voice all were but unforgettable. As he returned his gaze forward, there she was. In the middle of the room, in the middle of several circles embedded in the floor, the Emerald Herald, Shanalotte, stood. "Your journey in this time is near its end". Her tone was not bored. It was not a tone of despair or sadness. It was the voice of a hope long forgotten that had found strength to surface once more. "You denied the monarchy. You denied destiny. You are about to embark upon a new journey in a world that has changed so differently".

"Why is she here? What does this have to do with her?" Thomas was questioning everything that was held up to him at the moment. He was confused as to why he had been taken on detours by everyone, when they knew where he needed to end up.

"I know you must be angry. You've been lied to in two life times, and don't know if this is what you truly want". She sounded as though this was all she had left. She began to walk towards her. "I too have been deceived through out my life. But you deserve to have a closure; a end to your heroic journey". She removed her hood, showing her face through the torch light. He stopped walking, nearly standing with their feet touching.

She held out her hand. "The blue orb you have found. If you wish to continue, the I need it to send you to the Final Flame". He looked at her hands for a second, then into her eye. It was a beautiful brown color, with her pretty brown red hair covering her right eye. "You and I bear a great burden. To end mine, I must help you end yours. I wish you would stay; take the throne of want, and rule this land until the time far ahead of us. I wish you would steer these people so that they may love undead, and so that undead may have a place of refuge. But you don't deserve that. You were the hero of the legends. You cast yourself into the First Flame, choosing to take the path with less of two evils. I can never hope to even imagine what you must feel, so I won't bother to try and sway your choice. You wish to end this curse for all the undead, and if that means to leave this time and place behind, then I will help you". He studied her more intensely now, searching her feature for any sign of happiness. The only thing on her face was pain. He wanted to end her pain, just as much as he wished to save every undead he had meet.

He reached into his side bag, and retrieved the orb. He placed it in her hands, but he then closed her fingers around them just as she had done with the aged feather long ago. She then looked up, curiosity filled her aura. He then, pulled her close, and embraced her. She was cold, as if she had done nothing but stand in this room for a while. He didn't see her face, but he could hear water drops fall upon his chest piece, making a small ding with every drop. He knew her pain, and much more. He wished he could fix all the pain and suffering of every undead, and those affected by it.

Shanalotte didn't want to be the Emerald Herald any more than Thomas had been Valious, and he wanted her to understand that he felt her pain.

He stood there as she began to sob. She had pretended to be nothing more than another character to some cruel story, that she forgotten she was still human. Even more than that, she was a Fire Keeper. She had been a shining light to so many undead, she didn't deserve any more pain and suffering.

After a long while she finally gathered herself together, and took a step back wiping her eyes. "I am sorry. You already have a great many burdens, you need not mine". As she said those words, he shook his head. He would end everyone's burden, no matter the cost.

She finished rebuilding herself, then proceeded to look up at him again. "This will open up a portal to the Final Flame". Her voice still had not returned to its stern tone. It had kept a tone of a child that was ipset. "Before that, however, it will change you". He knew his face was full of confusion, but she continued on. "The way your magic works will change. You must find a person named Erza Scarlet. She will teach you to use this magic called Requiped, as well as to show you how the world has changed". She then placed the orb in a hole in the ground: a perfect fit. "I will also bestow upon any bonfire the power to increase yourself. In doing this, I will spread myself across all the bonfires of the time, ending my physical existence".

"She would do that just so I could end the curse?" Thomas couldn't comprehend this. Why? She seemed as though she read his mind.

"I will be guarding the bonfires with the very power of my soul. I will be watching over you, guiding you through the flame. This, is how I will end the my pain". She then stepped back, and waved her feather. The orb then began to glow blue, and etching in the wall and floor began to flow blue as well.

"You will also be able to gain your equipment from your first life. Question it not, for time has become a distorted thing". He felt his body begin to radiate with magic. His vision was turning blue.

"Thank you," was all he heard as his vision became all white...

"Here's another one!" Lucy held the old green book over her head. She was sitting in the corner of the basement, looking at the stack of books for any that contained support magic. The book she had just just announced was filled with spells that cured all different types of poison and toxics. As she turned her head towards Wendy, who was in a deep reading trance, Carla walked up to her, with her small white dress.

"I'll take to her. She seems to be nearly done with her book about stamina recovery". Lucy then held the book out towards Carla, who grasped it and began walking back towards Wendy.

Mirajane was upstairs, getting refreshments for everyone, so it was just Lucy, Wendy, and Carla down stairs. She started to turn back towards her book stack, when a weird line in the wall gathered her attention. It was so unnoticeable that it surprised even herself that she saw it. She reached over, and touched the line.

The wall reacted to her touch. It started to go back, and then upward. She jumped to her feet, and took several steps backwards.

"Lucy, what happened?" she heard Wendy call from behind her. Lucy turned her head towards the purple haired dragon slayer.

"I'm not sure. I saw a near invisible line in the wall, and when I touched it, the whole wall moved". She then returned her gaze towards the secret door; Inside was dark, but the room was no bigger than two of the tables upstairs long and wide. It had a weird circle in the middle of the floor, decorated with all strange writings and patterns.

"Levy would love to look at this. I should probably go get her before any-" she interrupted her own thoughts as she looked into the back right corner of the room. There was a pile of white ash. In this white ash, there was an elegant metal rod that was angled outward. For some reason, Lucy was drawn towards this strange altar, and took a step inside of it to get a closer look.

The room immediately light up in a light blue glow; all the symbols and patterns light up bright. Lucy quickly took a step back out of the room.

"AH! What's happening!?" Wendy was right next to her now.

"Lucy, what did you do?!" She exclaimed in a panicked tone.

"NOTHING! I walked in and walked out!" As the continued to freak out, there was a magical blue sphere that slowly began to form in the middle of the room. As Lucy glanced back into the room, the sphere was up in the air slowly descending against the floor, getting larger as it fell.

"What's that?!" Lucy was really freaking out now.

"I'm not sure, but you two need to calm down!" Carla finally had spoken up. "Whatever it is, it's starting to take form". She was right. As the words were spoken, the light blue orb began to take shape. Then, the lights faded, and in the dark there was a figure on one knee surrounded by darkness.