Disclaimer: I seriously own pretty much nothing. Kilik, Maxi, Xianghua and Soul Edge belong to the creators of Soul Calibur. Invidia and mostly everything you don't recognize in this story belong to my friend, who wrote this. But I will claim ownership to Tia, Isaac and Death.
Pale fingers ran across the ivory keys of a piano. Unlike a normal piano, it was not on a soft carpet and surrounding's of furniture. The piano sat in the middle of a dead forest, the only sign of life was the slow, saddening tune that came from the girl who played. Her red hair fell down her lower back, and her head was down, focusing on what her fingers were doing. The pink dress she wore looked dirty and old, with blood stains splattered in random spots. But at the same time looked graceful, hugging her hips before flowing to the ground in a circle around her feet. Though the dress looked beautiful, the girl looked worn, tired, and even lost.
One glance at her eyes, would tell you life was gone. Inside that body was nothing but an empty shell, hoping her heart would beat just one more time, but knew she wasn't that lucky. Her villains were dead, her hero's gone, but her tragic ending would never be remembered.
She moved her fingers fast, trying to bring the end faster, trying to finish the song. After a minute or too, her eyes began to flicker with hope, the end was here, she had finished her song. That was until, one note went wrong. Fear replaced the hope in her eyes, as they darted around the dead tree, as though she was looking for something. But what she was looking for, is something she would never see, she was alone now.
She blinked back tears that threatened to fall, refusing to give in now. She had fought, and would continue to fight until fate had its way. Her eyes drifted forward, to the horizon. The sun was just beginning to rise lighting the dark around her. Life didn't always change at least, the sun still rose in the east and set in the west, the moon still came up at night, never letting the light completely fade.
Life, the word always made her laugh. Before any of this had happened to her, death tired to take her many times, but no one every let it. The people, who stopped it, helped her past it, they were her hero's, but they would never come for her now. Nothing but a mistake in the past, that's what they said. She helped create the monster that controlled them all, a monster that used to be a father, if you could even call him that. But past memories like that were too hard to bear now, the happiness they were supposed to be filled with, was covered by guilt and shame.
She thought about the last time she saw her friends. Not even able to remember how long ago that was…
Invidia smiled as she ran past carts, grinning from ear to ear. She darted around stalls quickly, trying to get away from the Kilik that chased after her. Red paint was all over his one check, making it look like he had bright red blush on and blue paint on his eye lids like eye-shadow. His brown shaggy hair tied around a small crown he had bought her for her first ever birthday.
This was truly the happy ending she had hoped for. Two older brothers, Maxi and Kilik, two sisters, Xianghua and Tia, and of course Isaac.
She had never really pictured herself as someone who would settle down, get married and have kids. Then again, she didn't Isaac did either. And though there were no kids just yet, the wedding was next spring, and she was sure kids would follow. Silently she always wondered if Isaac really loved her, and wanted to do this. But silly fears like that were washed away whenever she saw him.
Invidia eyes widen as she realized all this thinking had slowed her down and Kilik was catching up. Fast.
She picked up her pace and ran around the corner quickly, ducking into a shop and hiding against the wall. After a few minutes she pushed herself away from the wall, pretty confident she had lost Princess Kulk Kulk, or as most knew him, Kilik. She looked up and smiled at the shop owner who smiled back and shook his head with a chuckle.
Ever since she had help Tia, Kilik and Xianghua stop Death from destroyingTia's village, she had been own by most as the really happy one. Invidia grinned, feeling pleased that she had made someone smiled and walked out the door. Today was quiet busy, with the shop showing off their new knick knacks they picked up long the silk-road and kids were playing happily.
She smiled again and walked down the street that lead back to hers and Isaac's little house. She decide to take one of the alley ways, only because it was quicker. Ever since Death had been killed, there wasn't anything to worry about. Everyone was helping everyone and definitely no crime. As she walked down though, she had a bad feeling wash over her, someone was watching her.
After that, everything went black.
Invidia quickly pulled herself out her mind and looked around her. There was no happy people here, no smiling faces to bright her day. No Kilik, no Maxi, no Tia, no Xianghua, no Isaac… She was alone, heart -broken. Even if that wasn't really the last she saw of them, that was the last happy memory she had. She shook her head and worried if Kilik was still mad about her make over or if he even remembered her, or if he was even-. No, she couldn't think that.
Of course her friends were still out there. They would never give up. Outside this prison made of forgotten dreams and a fathers hate towards her daughter, they were fighting to kill her father, and Soul Edge. If she could remember right, it should have been about a year since he had taken Soul Edge and locked her within it.
When he was gone, so was this world he made for her.
Invidia jumped when she heard footsteps behind her, which could only mean one things, he had killed someone else. Ever time this happened, she was scared to look behind her, scared to see who it was. But she had made a promise to herself to help anyone who was trapped in here, hoping it would take away from Soul Edge's power, and so their souls could have the rest her never would.
With a sigh, Invidia stood up and turn around a small gasp escaping her lips. In front of her stood a little girl with short brown hair, cutting to her shoulders. Her green eyes shined with tears that flowed down he cheeks.
"I want my mom…" She whispered to Invidia, making her heart break in two.
Invidia smiled a little and walk over to the little girl, kneeling in front of her, "Do you know where mommy is?"
The little girl nodded, a few strands of hair falling in her face, "The angels took her back home."
Invidia smiled again and nodded, "Well then, let me take you too her!"
The girls eye widen, happiness filling them. She each out and took Invidia's which she had held out and followed her quickly. Invidia lead her quickly through a maze of dead trees that seemed to go on forever, ending up at a small stone arch, just big enough for one fully grow person. All along the edges of it were pictures, small little cravings showing happiness and good conquering evil. At the top a small stone angel sat, her face in her hands, crying for all the lost soul that passed through here.
The girls eyes widened, "Its so pretty!" She yelled at Invidia.
Invidia smiled at the little girl and nodded, before grabbing a sharp rock from the ground and looked at her hand. Down the middle of her palm, a thin, jagged scar was very visible, as if it had been cut ing the same place many times.
"Close your eyes," Invidia told the girl which she did quickly.
Invidia took the rock and slid if down the scar on her palm, cutting herself. The blood seeped out of the cut, leaving crimson trails down her arm, dripping down onto the ground, a few drops landing on her dress. This was how she learned she was a monster herself, she felt no pain. No matter how many times she cut her hand, she never felt pain. Invidia watching the blood a moment long before tracing the opening of the arch, and wrapping her hand with a small ripped piece of her dress.
"Alright sweetie, open your eyes again," Invidia said. The little girl do so quickly and stared at the empty archway.
"Its so pretty!" She said stepping forward, and then looked back at Invidia, "Thank you Angel! Thank you!"
Invidia went to say something but she nodded and smiled, "May I ask one thing? What's your name?"
The girl smiled back and brushed her hair behind her ears, "Isabella!" She told Invidia happily before looking back at the arch.
"Mommy!" She yelled, running into the arch and disappearing. Like everyone else, she was gone.