Love, Eternal
Chapter 1: The Cycle Begins
"Stay with me!"
The voice sounded feminine, and yet somewhat inhuman at the same time. Slowly, I opened my eyes to see who had spoken. My vision was dark and blurred, but I thought I could see a golden and glowing spear of pure light buried deep within my chest. Before I had time to wrap my mind around the fact that I was probably mortally wounded, my head was suddenly lifted from where it lay, and my attention was turned to the silhouette of what appeared to be a tall woman with large horns, long brightly colored hair, and glowing eyes. Because of the darkness that blurred my vision, I couldn't make out anything more about them. Once again, I was given no time to adjust as the silhouette turned away from me and toward something to our side.
"Please, stop this!" she spoke again.
"You have broken our laws, fallen one. You will accept our judgment, or you too shall suffer." a number of voices answered.
"There must be some way we can be together! Please, I beg you! Don't take her away from me!"
The other voices became silent for a moment, as if they were silently debating. During their silence, the horned woman turned back to me.
"Please…she's the most important person to me…nothing else matters…"
Just as I began to register what looked like tears flowing down the woman's face, my eyes began to close, and my consciousness began to fade.
"Very well." they said at last. "We will grant you the chance to prove what you say is true. If you are truly fated to meet as you have, then you should not be limited by this world alone. We will grant you your chance, but…a price must be paid as well…"
My eyes closed, and my mind went blank. I heard no more.
"Saden? Saden? Wake up!"
I rose with a start, surprised by the sudden outburst of a familiar voice. Calming myself, I turned from where I lay against a mossy stump in a dark forest to gaze at a fairly short young woman standing nearby. She had dark hair that hung in two long curls in front of her chest, violet eyes that seemed to glow in the moonlight, and wore a suit of silver armor emblazoned with wolf motifs with a violet skirt over everything from the neck down. A short sword sat sheathed at her side, and a long spear with the flag of the woman's homeland rested in her left hand. She stared at me expectantly for a moment, then sighed when I finally chose to rise.
"Sorry, Helma." I said to her.
The armored woman sighed in response, then gazed at me with sympathetic eyes.
"Well, I suppose you'll need your strength for what's to come. We should reach the azure knight's domain by dawn."
I nodded in response, and made to retrieve the spirit sword, Soul Calibur from where it lay. In its current form of a large greatsword made of shimmering white crystals, it should be able to stand a decent chance against the cursed sword from which it had spawned. Helma and I were on our way to a confrontation with Nightmare, the wielder of the accursed Soul Edge. According to what she'd told me, the sword had not been fully destroyed as I had previously hoped, and had resurfaced a few months ago in the southern region of Germany, falling into the hands of an unfortunate woman by the name of Ethelinde. Over the past few months, she had fully transformed into the monster known as Nightmare after massacring much of the land, and her ever growing army of malfested demons was slowly spreading across the continent. Knowing that I had personal experience with the cursed sword in the past, Helma sought me out and informed me of the plight that had once again descended upon the world. I knew all too well what the prolonged usage of the cursed sword would do to someone with even the purest of intentions, as I had once held the name of Nightmare myself, so I had taken it upon myself to put the unfortunate soul out of her misery, before there was nothing left to save. So with the spirit sword at my side, and Helma as my ally, I continued my approach on Ohstreinsburg.
After fighting our way through the azure knight's most powerful warriors, we finally arrived at the throne room of Ohstreinsburg castle. With a shout, I sent a powerful slash that launched Astaroth, a gargantuan golem with molten rock like skin who wielded an axe as big as his body, flying through the front doors. Without waiting for Helma, I stepped around his unconscious form and strode up to the base of the stairs leading up to the throne. There sat Nightmare, adorned in her vile azure armor that showed off the corruption caused by the demonic sword planted in the ground beside her. Her right arm was malfested and deformed into a tangled mess of claws and glowing spikes, and inhuman fangs protruded from her exposed mouth. It was the only area of her skin not hidden by her armor, and so I was able to fully see its golden brown hue. Long, bright lavender hair hung behind Nightmare's helm, and trailed partway down her shoulders. As if becoming aware of my presence for the first time, the azure knight smiled down at me, in a manner both warm and sinister at the same time.
"It's you…" she spoke tenderly in her partially distorted voice. "At last, you've finally come."
With a start, I realized that the azure knight's tone was nearly identical with that of the strange woman from my dream. However, now was not the time to dwell on minor things. Taking a deep breath, I readied the spirit sword as Helma appeared at my side.
"I am here, Nightmare. Come down and face me, so that I may rid the world of Soul Edge and you once and for all!" I declared.
The azure knight made no attempt to rise from her seat. She just sat there, smiling.
"Must we fight now? We've only just met, my dear Saden. Surely you must be curious as to why one such as myself would take on the dark power of the cursed sword?"
Nightmare leaned closer, as if to take a better look at me.
"I know that I would be greatly pleased to learn more of you, whose beauty outmatches that of any I have seen."
Her words were so unexpected, so strange, and so lacking in killing intent that I found myself incapable of responding. Sensing my hesitation, Helma stepped forward and aimed her spear straight at the azure knight.
"Your tricks will not work on us, malfested witch! Now take your weapon in hand, and fight! You have no other choice!" she yelled.
Before I could warn her otherwise, she charged toward Nightmare with spear and short sword raised. The azure knight's smile was immediately replaced by a frown.
"Meddlesome pests should just get out of the way. Freida!"
Moments before Helma's spear connected, a new figure emerged from the shadows and deflected it. The newcomer was a fairly tall woman with pale skin, silver hair tied into a single ponytail, and grey eyes who was scantily dressed in red leather. In her gloved hands she held a most unusual weapon, a large metal ring with curved spikes protruding along its length. The newcomer, named Freida according to the azure knight, glared at Helma with contempt as they approached her.
"None may interfere with my mistress' plans. Stand aside, human insect!" she growled before attacking.
As my companion engaged her in combat, I returned my attention to Nightmare, who had returned to smiling at me.
"There, that should keep them busy for a while. Now, where were we?"
The azure knight said it as though nothing had happened. Was her corruption so great that her mind had all but fallen to ruin? If not, then why was she trying to talk to me as though I were a dear friend, rather than face me as all who wield the eternal swords must? Frustrated by Nightmare's refusal to take action, I lifted Soul Calibur once more.
"I've had enough of your games! Raise your sword, or die!"
With this, I ran up to her and swung. In the blink of an eye, Nightmare's cheerful expression vanished once more as she drew Soul Edge to stop the blow.
"How unfortunate...once again, violence is the only way to better acquaint myself with you. So be it, then. If you wish to duel…"
A deadly aura of the cursed sword's crimson energy began to radiate around her, increasing her strength enough to push me back.
"Then I suppose I have no choice but to accept."
Shaking off the surprise I felt at her sudden rise in power, I took a firm hold of Soul Calibur and called upon its power. Soon enough, my body was radiating a bright blue aura that matched that of the azure knight's. Nightmare seemed unfazed by this, and casually stepped down from the throne to face me, the steps cracking under each stomp of her boots. Readying myself, I charged sword first at my opponent. She swung at my side to intercept, but I spun around it and brought my blade down in a deadly arc. Without looking, Nightmare caught my sword in her malfested hand. After giving an unimpressed huff, she shoved me back and unleashed a quick trio of broad slashes at my arms and legs. Had it not been for her insane strength, I would have been able to block all three of the blows, and not have my legs swept out from under me by the third swing. Before I could attempt to rise, Nightmare leapt atop me, pinning me to the ground. As I struggled against her iron grip, she leaned her face close to mine.
"Now do you see? I am too powerful for you. Submit, so that I will not have to end your life." she demanded sternly, and yet somewhat pleadingly.
"And after sparing me, what then? Would you have me become a slave to the cursed sword's lies once more? I think not!" I declared, ignoring the strange hint of worry in her tone.
Gathering my strength, I sent a powerful kick to the azure knight's midsection, knocking her off from me and causing her to stagger back. Quickly rising to my feet, I followed up the attack with a well placed shoulder charge that threw her to the floor. Knowing that she would soon rise again, I swung with all my might down at her head. Nightmare barely managed to stop the strike a few inches from its target. I grit my teeth and glared at her as I pressed my sword against hers.
"I once sought the power you possess in order to carry out a false revenge. Because of that, I became like you are now, a murderous monster who preys upon human souls! You were a fool to take Soul Edge's power in pursuit of a hopeless goal, and so you must be destroyed along with it! With Soul Calibur as my weapon, I will right the wrongs of my past, and put an end to you both once and for all!"
Nightmare's expression seemed to turn to shock for a moment, until her lips curled in a furious frown.
"Is that what you think this is about? You believe that I took this power out of a desire for vengeance? That I am some hopeless fool obsessed with power? How dare you!"
The azure knight released an inhuman growl as a jolt of tremendous power surged through her sword, sending me staggering back. I barely had time to regain my footing before she sent her malfested fist into my gut, launching me back toward the steps that lead up to the throne. Grunting in pain at my now broken ribs, I raised my sword just in time to stop her from cutting my arm off. Nightmare continued to growl fiercely at me as we traded blows, slowly backing me up the steps until she had me pressed against the throne. By then large portions of my armor had been either smashed or cut apart, and the spirit sword's strength felt vastly dwarfed in comparison to the power emanating from that of Soul Edge. I tried one last desperate attack, only to have Soul Calibur swatted out of my grasp. I watched as the spirit sword fell to the floor with a clang, and felt the edge of the cursed sword pressed against my neck. Nightmare was leaning close again, and I could feel her ragged breaths as they seethed through her barred teeth.
"You have no idea why I did this, do you? Why I claimed this accursed power, why I did such terrible things?" she snapped.
I waited for Nightmare to launch into some enraged fit of shouting as she tore me apart, but no move was made to harm me. Instead, a sort of calmness seemed to fall over the azure knight, and her scowl turned into a sort of sad pout. Slowly, she removed the sword from my throat.
"It was for you."
I stared at her in shock at this. She became the azure knight...she took on Soul Edge...for me? While I was lost in thought, Nightmare turned toward the cursed sword in her hand.
"I never wanted this power...I never cared for the swords..."
She threw Soul Edge to the floor without hesitation, then turned back to me.
"You must think me insane, to say the things that I do. But even still, it is the truth. I sought out the cursed sword, I became the azure knight, I slaughtered the people of this world, all for the sake of meeting you. I knew that you would seek redemption for your past sins, and that you would do anything to destroy Soul Edge and its wielder. Once the cursed sword was in my grasp, all I had to do was wait for you to come to me. And finally, you have come."
Nightmare reached up with her human hand, and slowly removed her helmet. No longer concealed, the azure knight looked upon me with a dark and smooth face framed perfectly by a pair of shining amber eyes and wild lavender hair. Her features were that of a human, but the almost natural glow of her eyes gave off a feeling of something far darker. Dropping her helmet unceremoniously beside her, the woman took hold of my arms and pressed her body closer to mine, her amber eyes peering deep into my own. Somehow, something about this woman felt very...familiar.
"Who...are you?" I whispered.
"...I am called Ethelinde. I have long desired to meet you...Saden." she spoke in a more human voice.
I couldn't help but notice the hesitation in her eyes as she spoke our names, as well as what appeared to be...pain. It was as if saying the words hurt her somehow, like they were not what she desired to hear. For reasons I could not understand, I felt entranced by this woman. Something about the way she looked at me with such longing and such sorrow put aside all thoughts of how I should be handling this situation, and instead a sudden and burning need began to spread throughout my body. Before I knew it, the heat had risen to my cheeks, and I found myself pursing my lips and inching them closer to Ethelinde. All of a sudden, she captured my lips in a forceful, and tender kiss. I felt my eyes widen in shock, then slowly begin to close as I melted into the touch. I knew somewhere deep down that this was wrong, that such interactions between women was unwelcome in much of this world. Yet...somehow it felt so right, as though this was how things were supposed to be. Ethelinde kept us locked in our embrace until it became difficult for either of us to breathe. A blush so deep that even her dark skin could not hide it spread to her cheeks as she pulled back to gaze lovingly down at me, a small strand of saliva connecting us.
"Ethelinde..." I whispered. Even on my own tongue, it felt wrong.
The dark skinned woman smiled warmly at me, licking up the strand that connected us. Slowly, I felt the strength begin to leave my legs, and as Ethelinde lowered me onto the seat of the throne, her armor dissolved into particles of darkness, leaving only the leather under-suit behind. We closed the distance once again, and she pressed herself flush against me, letting me feel every inch of her curvaceous and slender form. Eventually she had to pull away again, and when she did the need burning within me grew stronger, causing me to let out exhausted breaths beneath its invisible flame.
"What's...happening...to me...?" I said between breaths.
"You're remembering..." Ethelinde answered. "At least, your body is. It seems your mind is still uncertain."
"What are you-"
"Saden! Don't listen to her!"
My attention turned to the far side of the room, where Helma lay pinned under Freida's boot. In my sudden surge of emotions, I had completely forgotten that I had an ally who was putting her life on the line in order for me to do what we came here to do. Helma's violet eyes bore into me with frustration and fear.
"Don't believe what she says! The cursed sword has driven her insane! Remember what we're supposed to do!" she shouted.
"Silence, meddler!" Freida growled before smacking her with the flat of her ring blade.
"Helma!" I yelled, having returned somewhat to my senses.
I tried to rise, but Ethelinde refused to let me escape. I was just about to demand my release, when I noticed something that made me pause. The dark woman restraining me had tears streaming down her face as she stared uncertainly at me.
"You...you would rather kill me? You would deny the feelings we just shared?" she said in little more than a whisper.
"I..."
"You would deny...that you love me?"
For what seemed like the hundredth time, her words left me stunned. Ethelinde was speaking in ways that just didn't make any sense, and the fact that she was showing me such strong emotions so quickly made it difficult to understand. The look in her eyes appeared to carry the weight of a great many hardships, and almost appeared to be recounting a moment that must have been identical to this one.
"I...I don't understand...please, what's going on? What are you hiding from me?" I demanded quietly.
Ethelinde quickly wiped the tears from her face and prepared to speak.
"I understand, you really don't know what's going on. Saden, the truth is-"
"Wait, stop!" Freida suddenly cried out.
Both Ethelinde and I turned in time to see Helma hurl her spear straight at me. Time seemed to slow down as the long projectile buried itself in my chest, piercing my lungs and delivering a fatal blow. As the life rapidly fled my body, I looked at my ally in betrayal, silently asking, Why? As if sensing my question, Helma gazed at me in regret.
"It's for your own good. Forgive me."
Her words, and Ethelinde's horrified face were the last things I saw before darkness took me.
Ethelinde sat cradling the fallen warrior in her arms, softly stroking her pitch black hair. Behind her, Freida was screaming obscenities as she beat Helma. The armored woman did nothing to stop the assault, and only glared with regret and grim satisfaction at the ring blade wielder.
"I did what must be done. I will not allow you vile monsters to take her!" Helma growled weakly.
"You meddlesome bitch! Why must you always interfere? We came so close this time!" Freida cried.
"No..."
Both the ring blade wielder and the armored woman turned toward Ethelinde. The dark woman was now standing straight up, the cursed sword clutched tightly within her grasp.
"Mistress..." Freida whispered.
"She didn't recognize me this time either, and we were going too fast for her to understand. I handled it the wrong way...I've made a terrible mistake again..."
"No, mistress it wasn't your fault! I should have stopped the meddler before she-"
"It wouldn't have made any difference. She was already beginning to doubt."
With sad eyes, the dark woman turned toward her servant.
"Come, there's nothing more we can do here."
Freida gazed at her in uncertainty, then slowly nodded.
"As you wish, mistress."
The ring blade wielder, along with Helma and the dark woman each took their weapons and pointed them towards themselves. As Soul Edge became level with her heart, Ethelinde gave one last longing glance at the fallen warrior.
"I will find you again, my beloved. No matter what it takes..."
With that, she plunged the sword into her heart, and vanished from the world.
A/N: DarkNovelist here. I know those of you who have read my other works are probably wondering why I'm starting a new story when I should be working on Rise of the Midnight Raiders, but what can I say? I got this idea in my head, and it wouldn't go away until I wrote it out. Don't think this means I'm abandoning the other story, because I'm not. I intend to work on both of these with equal vigor. Those of you who have read my crossover series will easily recognize these OC's, despite having their names changed. And for those of you who are new, you'll find out all in good time. I feel there are a few important details I should tell you before I continue this story: 1. All the main characters will change their names in each world they appear in, with only the first letter of their names being a consistency. 2. In addition, the main characters will replace actual characters from the world's they in. (such as "Ethelinde" replacing Nightmare, "Saden" replacing Siegfried, etc.) 3. ... Actually I'm leaving this one blank for now, I feel I've said too much already.
Now that that's out of the way: returning readers, you know the drill. As for all the new viewers, hope you enjoyed the first chapter and will continue to read! Don't forget to leave a review! Till next time! DarkNovelist out.