Reunion in the Kingdom of Death

Raphael walked on the road for many hours. It was night time; this world looked a lot like the real world, except that the stars were not at the same place. The constellations were totally different. None of those Raphael knew seemed to exist here.

He wondered when he would reach that Cathedral, he was really getting tired so he decided to walk to the field on the side of the road and rest for a while. But not for too long, he had to find Nightmare. He laid down in the grass as the many flowers of the field surrounded him and closed his eyes for a while. He was still extremely exhausted but he was so close to the end! He would not fail now! He would get the sword, get his revenge, then go back to Amy.

But deep inside, he wondered if he would be able to see Amy again. He was completely drained of his energy and he would soon meet again the one who almost killed him last time. Would history repeat itself? In his actual state, Raphael thought he would be no match for Nightmare… even worse than last time… This fight seemed already lost.

Yet even with such bad odds, he would fight for Amy. But… how was she? He wondered if she had already passed away, he really was worried for her, Zasalamel told him he had time to save both of them if he hurried, but Raphael knew that it wasn't really Amy's well being that was motivating the mysterious hooded man. What did he care if Amy passed away? As long as Raphael did the work for him and slew Nightmare… And Amy didn't have a Soul Edge shard to keep herself going… All those thoughts really tormented Raphael.

He wanted so much to come back from this journey to save Amy, to protect her, to reassure her, to tell her someone loves her and would always do…

Raphael looked at the flowers in the field as he thought about Amy. She loved flowers… He would like to bring her back some flowers from this world… He missed her so much! He hoped that she would know how much he loved her if he never came back and if they never saw each other again.

-If… Amy died… I am in the Kingdom of death… Is it where the dead really go? Would Amy… If… Would I see her here? …She loved flowers; she would come here… where there are many flowers…

Raphael sat down and looked at the horizon; he suddenly had the feeling he would see Amy.

As he scrutinized the horizon, he suddenly saw someone coming far away: As he guessed… Amy… it was Amy… Raphael couldn't believe it. He closed his eyes and looked again. There really was someone coming on the road and it really looked like Amy! Had she truly died? Had she truly died alone and came here to the Kingdom of death?

-My poor child…

Raphael's eyes became teary as he looked in sadness and relief, sadness because she passed away, alone, and relief because they would be together forever now. He picked a flower from the field to give it to her, to greet her with, and got on his feet. He walked to the road and continued staring at the person coming toward him in the distance. It was truly Amy… A wave of emotion came over him and he began to walk, and then run toward her.

-Amy!

But as he approached, Amy didn't seem to have her usual pigtails… but long untied hair flowing in the wind… She also suddenly seemed taller… and larger… Raphael slowed down as he gazed at Amy; he suddenly realised it wasn't Amy but… Nightmare! Siegfried Schtauffen was walking on the road with his long hair flowing in the wind and his head bowed. Raphael's tired and worried mind had begun to ramble. Raphael stopped moving, took a step away in surprise and dropped his flower that fell to the ground.

How come Nightmare was behind him? Raphael wondered. Did he got lost longer in the labyrinth? But it didn't matter, he now found him and he was ready to kill him! He unsheathed his rapier and began to walk resolutely toward Siegfried. He called out to him:

-Nightmare!

Siegfried, who was at first completely lost in his thoughts, froze at the mention of this cursed name. He knew he just met another victim of his. He was disheartened: It seemed they even came as far as this world to get their revenge… He slowly lifted his head and looked sadly at Raphael as the fencer walked toward him with a swift pace, a determined and hating gaze and his rapier drawn and ready to strike him.

-You shall regret that you did not kill me when you had the chance… Azure Knight!

Siegfried bowed his head again in shame.

-Yes. I was the one who was called the Azure Knight. But I am Nightmare no more.

Siegfried lifted his head again facing the older man who was still advancing toward him. His eyes widened as he suddenly recognized this man: He fought him at Ostrheinsburg! His memories of this time were a little confused since he was still possessed by Soul Edge at that time and even some times after, his mind still was confused, but he did remember that man who recklessly came alone one day in the chapel of the castle to beat Nightmare and take Soul Edge. They fought and Nightmare won, he almost killed the man but as Nightmare was about to give him the final blow and take his soul, Siegfried saw the undying courage in the eyes of this dying man and he admired him. He always had a strong respect for those who showed courage and his respect for this man who showed more courage in front of adversity and death than anybody he ever fought with, helped him find his will back. If this man did not give up, he could also do it and fight! He then opposed Soul Edge's domination and stopped his hand from delivering the final blow. Inferno tried to regain control and Siegfried's body was paralysed while they fought for dominance. Suddenly, the wounded man found the strength to give one more desperate strike and it was this strike that completely liberated Siegfried from Soul Edge's control.

It was this man who was now standing in front of him. The man who freed him from Soul Edge's grasp. He still had this fiery courage in his eyes but his gaze also looked different; the now reddish eyes were crueller, angrier and the man also seemed different; he looked paler, sicker, meaner…

-So it's you. You are the one I met in Ostrheinsburg's chapel… I thought you… You…

In fact, Siegfried had wondered what had happened to this man. They left him dying as he and Inferno fled screaming from the wound this man had done to Soul Edge's eye, Siegfried had then fought for control of his own body for a while, but he didn't know for how long. When he sensed that Soul Edge had completely lost its grip on him, he fell on his knees and first had difficulties believing it and stayed sitting on the ground for a while, trying to understand what happened, trying to calm himself, to be alone with himself after all these years while trying to ignore the now painful wounds he just received in the fight.

He stayed for some times withdrawn onto himself, crying over what he did to so many people. Suddenly the Spirit sword appeared before him, having been released from within Soul Edge where it was kept since the swords' last confrontation. Siegfried then instinctively knew what he had to do; he couldn't stay lamenting in self pity. He didn't deserve any pity, he didn't deserve any thought about him and he didn't even have the right to cry for his victims. Sinners like him needed no mercy or sympathy. He wasn't worth any tears shed by him or anyone else. He didn't even have the right to exist. He had to forget his own pain and try to amend his ways. The only thing he was allowed to do was to destroy this evil sword. So he thrust Soul Calibur into the eye of Soul Edge, negating Soul Edge but also Soul Calibur's power.

As Siegfried watched with amazement, both the swords strangely entangled each other, forming only one twisted sword. Siegfried then knew he had to seal those dangerous swords forever. Nobody should lay their hands on the evil sword anymore. He had to make sure of that. He took off the few hated Azure armour parts he had on him, picked the new sword and began to leave but he then thought of the man he left alone in the chapel. Siegfried thought he was dead. Judging from the wounds he received, he couldn't possibly have survived. And Siegfried didn't feel the courage to go look at another one of his victims… Not now… But he had to do it, he was responsible for this man's death and had to face his responsibilities; he had to give him a proper burial. So he went to see his latest victim.

He returned into the chapel to get the body of the man he just slain. But he was surprised to find that the man was missing; only a large trail of blood remained, showing the man was still alive and had crawled out of the chapel. The bloody trail was easy to follow; the man crawled, then walked for a while, then collapsed before he got up again but left blood traces everywhere, even the walls had blood traces on it as the man seemed to have leaned on them for support. Siegfried was a little overwhelmed at the bloody sight and expected at any corner to see the dead body of the man in front of him.

He followed the long red trail of blood leading outside of Ostrheinsburg, trying to find the man to give him proper care (at least some care since he didn't know much about medicine, he mostly knew how to kill and wound rather than heal and care) and at least thank him and comfort him before he died, though he really wondered what he could tell him… How can a killer comfort his own victim? At least he could tell him he was sorry… Some shameful part of him wished the man was already dead before he had time to speak to him; he really didn't know what to tell him or how to comfort him… Siegfried feared this confrontation but he had to do it, so he kept following the trail. But the blood trail suddenly disappeared where hoof traces were still visible. The man had succeeded in getting back to his horse and got away from this cursed place. Judging from the blood loss, Siegfried was certain the man wouldn't survive for long and sorrowfully but with some relief, parted on his way, letting the man on his own since he couldn't find him anymore.

But today Siegfried discovered the man had survived. And he was now some kind of monster. Siegfried didn't exactly know what the man standing in front of him was, but he was clearly not human anymore. He sensed it. Having being for so long with Soul Edge, Siegfried knew how to see even the faintest taint of this evil energy and could easily sense that the man in front of him was now deeply infected by this evil. Soul Edge seemed to have transformed him and deprived him of some of his humanity. The strange red eyes of the man also confirmed this transformation. He sadly asked him:

-You're… no longer human, are you?

Raphael looked at him with hate and rage in his eyes.

-Non. Because of you!

Raphael answered angrily. He had finally found the man responsible for his and Amy's cursed state. He would now get his revenge and avenge his beloved Amy too! He felt all the hate he had for this man and this man would feel it too! He would make him feel with his blade! Then he would take the sword to cure Amy and him. But where was the sword? Raphael could not sense Soul Edge's presence… Siegfried seemed to have a sword on his back covered by his cape and was also holding another zweihander in his hand but he didn't seem to have Soul Edge…

Siegfried bowed his head.

-I'm sorry… I… I committed countless slaughters and murders under Soul Edge's influence and I was once Nightmare but, that is over. I am now free from Soul Edge… But I'm sorry for… what I have done… to you… to everybody…

As he spoke, Siegfried slowly lifted his head again and looked at Raphael with an expression so pitiful that Raphael then knew he really wasn't Nightmare anymore. The young man seemed completely free of the evil influence and Raphael really could feel no sign of Soul Edge in him. Siegfried's repentance destabilized him. He came here to kill Nightmare, the demonic knight who killed hundreds of people without remorse and he now faced a repentant young man. And Soul Edge was not there. What would he do now?

Raphael looked at Siegfried without a word. Siegfried looked at him and didn't say anything either.

But as Raphael gazed at Siegfried, he suddenly remembered what Nightmare had done to him; the sight of this young man's face brought too many memories to him: when Nightmare was slaughtering him and butchering him in the chapel. It obviously was this face, Raphael remembered too clearly. And the expression of complete cruelty and satisfaction this boy had on his face as he struck savagely at him, making him scream in pain, the laughter at his suffering, his unending fury in his cruelties, even when Raphael was clearly too wounded to fight back… Of course, Raphael kept on staring defiantly at him, infuriating Nightmare even more but he would never have asked for pity, he was too proud for that and this boy would not have listened anyway. No matter what he would have done, how he would have acted, Raphael knew that Siegfried at that time just wanted to see suffering. But he was Nightmare at that time… Now he was…

Raphael turned his head from Siegfried, confused. Suddenly other thoughts flashed in his mind: He thought about Amy; her sadness at what she had become, her cries and her despair for her ruined life. He remembered the nights he spent trying to comfort Amy and the guilt he felt toward her. She was so young! Raphael winced in pain.

He turned again toward Siegfried and his expression changed: All this sorrow, all this grief, it was all this man's fault!

Raphael could no longer dissociate the real Nightmare who butchered him and destroyed his and Amy's life from this young man standing sorrowfully in front of him. They were the same; he knew that he would fell the satisfaction of vengeance if he killed that man even if he knew this young man had been a victim of Soul Edge also. Anyway, if that foolish boy hadn't been so weak with Soul Edge, nothing of this would have happened, it was all this boy's fault. When you're too weak, you don't play with things like that! Something really urged Raphael to get revenge on Siegfried. Someone had to pay. He could not let him go. He had to kill him to lighten his own suffering and his own guilt. He pointed his rapier toward Siegfried and stated coldly:

-It's too late for regrets.

Siegfried looked him in the eyes and sadly nodded that he understood then answered him:

-I do not expect to be forgiven. My life is yours… but give me some time. There is something I must finish. I cannot die without fulfilling my duty.

Raphael scornfully answered back:

-What do I care, of your motivations… Now feel my wrath!

He furiously threw himself at Siegfried who parried his angry strike without being able to counterattack. He just couldn't fight back at his victim.

-I can't bear to look at you! I hate you too much! Die already!

Raphael continued his offensive, Siegfried tried to parry his strikes but sometimes failed and received some wounds that he considered as deserved and took them without a word.

After a while, Raphael suddenly stepped back to take his breath; this damned tiredness was still annoying him greatly. He then charged again at his enemy who had done nothing while Raphael tried to recover. Siegfried parried again without attacking, letting Raphael fight alone. Raphael found that behaviour very insulting and it enraged him even more. He still continued to strike at Siegfried, sometimes hitting him as Siegfried was not fast enough to parry all the strikes from the enraged fencer. Raphael suddenly used the special attack he used against Taki at the fortress; he gracefully lifted his rapier in the air setting the blade in flame. Siegfried looked at him with some amazement and didn't have time to react as Raphael swiftly whirled toward him with his flaming weapon and sent him tumbling away.

Rising painfully, Siegfried suddenly decided he had to do something. Not to save his life but he had a mission to complete.

-I guest I have no choice. I will… I will defeat you!

He tried to hit Raphael with the flat of his blade but Raphael evaded the strike and continued his unending fury on him.

-Die! Die! I want you to die!

Siegfried tried again to hit him without killing him but Raphael dodged the giant sword again. But after some times, Raphael fell down, totally exhausted from his attacks and dodging Siegfried's strikes. He seemed truly exhausted from the effort, not being able to get up, catching his breath again while he looked at Siegfried with anger. Siegfried stopped fighting, came closer, lent a helping hand to Raphael and asked him:

-Are you okay?

Raphael violently pushed Siegfried's hand aside and angrily answered back:

-Non! I am not okay! You destroyed my life! I am not okay!

Raphael was ashamed to be that weak in front of his enemy, it enraged him even more. And this Siegfried Schtauffen was scorning him and looking at him with contempt for his weakness! He had been humiliated in front of others and it already bothered him but in front of this man, it was even worse, even more humiliating! It wasn't at all how he wanted his fight with him to go on! Normally, before his sickness, he was great, now he looked like a total loser! He was so humiliated! Raphael looked at Siegfried with even more hate than before because of his humiliation and muttered on a cold enraged tone:

-I hate you.

Siegfried felt the hating gaze of Raphael like a violent strike; it felt more hurtful than any physical wound Raphael had given him already. He backed away from Raphael.

-Stop it! Don't look at me like that!

Raphael painfully got up.

-I will look at you anyway that I wish! You destroyed my life and you destroyed my daughter's life! I shall kill you now and make you pay for what you did to us!

-Your daughter?

Siegfried staggered back and seemed even more distressed than he already was.

-Yes! My daughter! You turned her into a monster like me!

Siegfried seemed really disturbed by Raphael's statement.

-When? I don't remember having fought a child… She must be very young… You're not old…

-She is fourteen years old. And she is now dying from this damned curse!

Siegfried's eyes were now starting to get wet.

-But… How come I … I just fought you… Did I met her in a city near?

-Non. You gave me the Malfestation with your cursed sword and the infection spread to her! Unlike me, she was totally innocent from all of this! She had nothing to do with this stupid sword and she…!

Raphael was totally furious; his hating gaze turned into a horrible grimace of anger, grief and despair and his eyes began to get wet with tears; he couldn't finish his sentence anymore and it ended with a loud sob; he was too outraged. Siegfried was looking at him with a distressed look, silently muttering apologies while tears started to flow from his eyes.

For a moment, none of them attacked the other; both were too disturbed to do anything. Raphael was sobbing uncontrollably as Siegfried was looking at him pitifully. After a while, Raphael calmed himself and took a serious and imploring voice:

-I… I came here to find Soul Edge… You were supposed to have it… You must give me the sword… I need it… for Amy… my daughter…

Raphael then asked Siegfried in a soft and inquiring tone:

-Where is the sword? Where is Soul Edge?

Siegfried looked at him with a saddened expression but something in his eyes hardened and he gripped his sword more tightly. He could not let anyone get the swords that were strapped on his back. Raphael could not sense Soul Edge since its power was negated in the embrace but Siegfried feared he could find out and try to take it.

-Why… do you need the sword? This sword is evil.

-But we need its energy. Now that you infected us with it, we can't live without it! You forced us to use it!

Raphael seemed to get more frantic and anxious.

-My daughter is dying! She needs the sword to be cured!

Still holding his giant sword tightly, Siegfried sorrowfully answered:

-I cannot do that… Sorry… I cannot… this sword won't heal her… It's evil… It won't do any good… I'm sorry… for your daughter… and you… I'm sorry… But Soul Edge is evil, it cannot cure people…

Raphael seemed upset at Siegfried's answer.

-I need it. Now give it to me! Where is it?

-You don't need to know where it is… I'm sorry…

-You know! You know where it is! Tell me where! Give it to me!

Raphael was getting more agitated and Siegfried was now more on the defensive. He told Raphael on a resolute tone:

-Sorry… If you're after the sword… don't expect to get past here alive. I cannot give it to you.

Raphael then angrily told Siegfried:

-How dare you! Just heed my orders! …Give me the sword! Now!

Raphael seemed really upset now; he lowered his head and said in a slow menacing tone:

-Give me… give me the sword… Nightmare!

-I told you I am Nightmare no more… answered Siegfried, who didn't like to be called like that.

-Well, that is strange, the Nightmare I met, looked just like you… The Nightmare who cursed me and my daughter, had the same face as you… The Nightmare I know, who committed atrocious crimes and killed countless innocents, had a body just like yours… You must be Nightmare.

-Do not call me Nightmare! I am not Nightmare!

Siegfried's hand were trembling.

-Who are you then? Asked Raphael in a defiant way.

Siegfried backed away.

-Just Siegfried Schtauffen… I'm sorry for your daughter… I'm sorry for you…

Raphael stepped toward Siegfried as the young man was still stepping back and his expression turned again to one of anger and hate as he spoke to Siegfried:

-You should be more than sorry! You should be dead! It's time for you to pay… Nightmare!

He suddenly leaped at Siegfried and screamed wildly as he slashed Siegfried's right-sided face.

-This is for Amy! Take that, Nightmare! Damn you!

Siegfried fell on the ground; blood poured from the wound, a long cut from his cheek to his forehead running through his right eye, who luckily had not been cut. Siegfried swiftly got up again, closing his right eye because of the blood pouring on it. Raphael looked at him with a satisfied and evil expression.

-So, Nightmare, how many people did you kill? If I give you one for each victim, how much strikes must I give you? How many lives did you destroy? Not just your dead victims but all those who lost loved ones! And those you made me kill… You turned me into a monster and forced me to kill to live… it's your fault. Did you think about that? You're so guilty! You destroyed so many lives, Nightmare! Worst of all, you destroyed Amy's life! And you don't even want to help her! Give me the sword! I hate you! Damn you! Damn you!

-Shut up, shut up, shut up!

Siegfried couldn't stand it no more; he lifted his weapon as Raphael threw himself furiously toward him and swung his sword flat faced toward Raphael who received it straight into the face. The force of the momentum and impact of the blow sent Raphael tumbling some feet away in the grass, unconscious. Siegfried fell on his knees as tears and blood flowed on his face, blending together before they fell down. He began to sob.

-I can't… I can't… Forgive me… I'm sorry… No matter how much time I apologize… I cannot… cleanse myself of these sins…

After a while, Siegfried calmed himself. He rose and stood up before Raphael who still laid unconscious at his feet. He looked one last time at the man who saved him from Soul Edge's grasp, this man whom he cursed with Soul Edge' malevolence and for a second, he wondered if he should kill him, to free him from the evil of Soul Edge. Then he sighed; he could not do any more harm to this man. Even if it may have been for his own good. He would leave a daughter behind… a poor already dying girl… But Siegfried had destroyed his own family and he could not destroy this one more than he already had… He would not hurt them more… They were already dying…

But he hadn't thanked Raphael yet for saving him, so Siegfried stood beside Raphael and told him:

-Danke… even if saving me wasn't your intention, you did it, danke… I'm sorry for you and your daughter… But Soul Edge won't save you…

He then muttered sadly as he went away, wiping the blood from his wound:

-I do not deserve to live… But everything will be over soon… even if I do not even deserve to find peace in death…

Siegfried moved away from Raphael and walked toward the Cathedral as the sun was rising.