Chapter 9 – The Dark Sapphire
Himawari's POV
"N-No way…"
"Y-You're kidding…"
"M-Mio…i-is this really true?"
"Yes…it is true." Mio said to her friends after explaining everything that led up to her ending up in my world. "Everything I had said is the 100% full truth."
"No…freaking…way…" Both Zelda and Moon said.
"A clone of the original princess of Glacieria…that is simply unheard of." Hanako said.
"I do not think the other Royal Families know about this." Kaede added. "At least…my family doesn't."
"Geez…humans can be so freaking morbid." Viridi said. "Who the hell goes so far as to CLONE their sick daughter?"
"I'm sure they had their reasons, Viridi." Peach said. "Granted…they're reasons that not even I would agree with."
"So, what happened after that, Mio?" Zelda asked. "Like…how did you escape?"
"Well…after being in that castle for nearly two months, a girl named Hinagiku came to rescue me. And while she actually fought against the kidnapper…giving me the chance to escape, she gave me the sapphire that Himawari now possesses. And it had warped me to her world where I have spent the past few days in."
"And then yesterday…at least, I think it was yesterday…it brought us here." I added. "Along with letting me perform some pretty insane magic spells. Although, they've definitely helped out whenever I was in a pinch."
"What is that thing, anyway?" Viridi asked. "Just by sitting across from it, I can tell that it contains WAY too much power for it to be a simple gem."
"The Dark Sapphire…"
"Wh-What?" We all looked at Silvia.
"That's what it's called. The Dark Sapphire. It's a rare gem that manipulates your soul and DNA. And in return, it grants whatever wish you truly desire."
"W-Woah…" We all said.
"W-Wait, how do you even know about this?" Peach asked.
"Countless others have fallen prey to the sapphire's power. From little children who only wanted a certain new toy…to evil psychos who wished for world domination. That gem has been around for as long as these kingdoms have. Making manipulated souls and desired wishes coming true an endless cycle."
"H-Holy crap…" Was all we said to such a story.
"W-Wait, a second…" Zelda said. "…Himawari, you said that this Dark Sapphire was letting you perform a bunch of magic spells, right? That means that it already manipulated your soul!"
"N-No way…" I said as I looked at the (now known as) Dark Sapphire.
"But what could she have wished for if she did not know what Dark Sapphire was?" Hanako asked.
"*sigh* Hanako…" Viridi said to her. "…there are many MANY things that selfish humans tend to wish for. Money, fame, power, love, revenge…"
"A bigger chest…" Moon added.
"Definitely a bigger chest…"
…
…
…
"W-Wait! J-Just are you throwing into my mouth?!" Viridi then gained a mild blush on her face.
"Hey, don't look at me. Phosphora keeps bringing it up. Saying that she sometimes feels sorry for how flat you are. And I kinda agree."
"Wh-What did you just say?!"
"Moon, I do not think you are one to talk…" Kaede gained a sweatdrop.
"It wasn't any of those. Especially the chest one…" I mumbled the last part to myself. It was then that a memory came to me like it was a flashback. My third one since coming to this world.
Only this one would be the biggest one yet.
*EARLIER…*
Come on…please! I know you've done some pretty weird stuff in the past! And that you're the reason why I'm here in the first place! But please! Give me something to save Mio! I want to save her! I want to be with her! I DON'T WANT HER TO EVER BE HURT AGAIN! PLEASE DO SOMETHING!
And after that mental plea for help, the sapphire began to glow the dark-blue hue. This time, affecting my entire body. I felt a surge of intense power rushing through my body. It felt as cold as ice around my soul.
…
But for some reason…it felt so freaking good.
*PRESENT TIME*
"I…I think I know what did it."
"You do?" Everyone asked.
"It was when I first realized I was in another world and came to town looking for Mio. I eventually found her…but she was being ganged up by a bunch of thugs. I was in a mental panic…not knowing what to do to save her…
…
…That was when I begged the sapphire for help. And then soon after that…"
"Yep. That would do it." Silvia said. "It read your desperate plea as a wish of desire…and manipulated your soul as a trade-off you gaining these special powers. The Dark Sapphire is now a part of you, Himawari."
"N-Now a…part of me?" I asked as I held the Dark Sapphire in my hand. It soon began to float on its own as it kept circling around both Mio and me.
"Wh-What's it doing now?"
"Well…this part's only a theory…and I can't believe I'm actually saying this…but I think it also had some involvement in the creation of Mio."
"Th-This thing…cr-created me?" Mio gained a sad look on her face. Being reminded once again that she is a copy of someone else. And that she was never a real human, to begin with.
Mio…the truth is hurting her more than she's letting on…
"H-Hey…Mio…" Zelda said after a good amount of silence.
"It…It is okay. This truth may be hard to comprehend…but I already know what I must do. I am going to Glacieria to confront my parents about it once and for all."
"S-Seriously?!" Nearly everyone in the room yelled in shock.
"Why the shocked reaction?" I asked.
"M-Mio doesn't really have a good relationship with her parents." Peach said. "Her mother, especially."
"She is the reason why Mio currently lives here in Mythgrove. Despite being the princess of the Glacieria Kingdom." Hanako added.
"Why, what happened?"
…
…
…
"Well…" Peach said after everyone went dead silent on me. "…what happened a year ago was rather…adventurous. To put it in one word."
"It's basically how all of us met Mio. Mainly Peachy and me." Zelda added.
"Adventurous, huh?" I said with more questions than answers.
Now, I'm REALLY curious as to why four well-known video game characters are in a different world, to begin with.
"Anyway…we know about Mio's situation. What about you, Himawari?"
"Huh? Well…I do plan on finding a way back to my world. Whether it be from this sapphire or some other nonsensical event. But not until I help Mio overcome this ordeal. She's my best friend and I'll do everything in my power to get her through this. Even if I have to fight this evil woman who kidnapped her 2 months ago. I'll do whatever it takes, damnit. And nothing's going to change my mind."
"Himawari…" Mio said with tears in her eyes.
"Well, now…" Viridi said to me with a smirk on her face. "…For an other-worldly human, you sure have some guts, Himawari. Care to add some truth into that promise?"
"What do you mean by that?"
"*confident chuckle* Hey, Silvia. Isn't THAT event coming up soon?"
"THAT event?" Silvia looked confused for a second. "Oh! You mean THAT event. Yeah, it's next week. People are registering for it right now. That reminds me…I should probably get back out there. Pretty sure the lines are still long as hell." Silvia then left the room to get back to work. Leaving the 8 of us in the room to talk some more.
"What's this event you're talking about?" I asked.
"She's talking about the Kingdom Battle Royale." Peach said. "It's a tournament-style event held by the Royal Family of this kingdom."
"Also known as my parents." Hanako added.
"Residents from here in Mythgrove and even some from the four neighboring kingdoms participate in a special fighting tournament. And the winner of it all gets a special prize."
"This "prize" changes every year. So, nobody really knows what they're playing for until they win." Zelda added.
"I see…" I said. "…So, why bring this up, Viridi?"
"Because, dear little Himawari…if this Dark Sapphire really is bounded to you, then I want to see its full power. And what's not a better way to show it than a tournament of ultimate fighting? Hahahahaha!"
"Did you really had to say "ultimate fighting"?" Peach and Zelda each gained a sweatdrop.
"Wait, you mean you want me to enter this Battle Royale while fighting with this sapphire? I-I don't know…"
"Aw, come on, Himawari. You gotta at least try." Moon said. "It'll definitely make this tournament interesting to watch."
"Who's entering it, anyway?"
"I am!" Zelda cheered.
"I am." Peach said.
"I'm not. But Phosphora will be entering." Viridi said. "Someone has to represent the Forces of Nature, you know."
"This will be my first time entering." Kaede said.
"I am entering as well." Hanako said. "To protect my title as champion, of course."
"Wait, YOU'RE the champion, Hanako?"
"Around here, she is known as the Phantom Fighter." Mio explained. "Winning the previous 5 tournaments using her special Shadow Magic."
"Shadow Magic? Didn't you say that was a rumor?"
"Well, it is kind of a rumor. Hanako is the only person who can actually use Shadow Magic. And it is because of the Phanto mask she wears."
"It's basically bounded to her in spirit." Peach said.
"I see…" I said.
So, it's just like me and this Dark Sapphire right now…
"And besides us, there are other people entering, too." Zelda said.
""Other" people? As in other video game characters from different worlds? How many are here, anyway?"
"Not much. Just ones like…*muffled sound*"
"Zelda, I think it would be best if Himawari found out about them on her own." Peach said as she covered the Hylian Princess's mouth.
Is that really the best option?
"And what about you, Mio? Are you entering?" I asked her.
"Well…normally, I would. But I think I am going to sit out this year's tournament. I have too much on my mind, you know."
"Right. I get you."
"So, what will it be, Himawari? You entering?" Viridi asked with yet another confident smirk on her face.
"Well…" I went silent for a bit as I stared at the sapphire once more. "…if this thing's really a part of me now, I might as well get used to using it. Plus, fighting in an ultimate fighting tournament does sound fun as hell."
"Again. Did you really had to say "ultimate fighting"?" Peach and Zelda gained another sweatdrop.
"Hahaha! Well, then the fight is on, Himawari! Let's see how powerful you other-worldly peasants truly are!"
"Heh. Well, then you're in for a surprise, Goddess of Nature!" I said with a confident smirk of my own.
"We're in for one hell of a show this year…" Moon said.
"Aipom!"
My second day in a new world and I'm already taking part in a fighting tournament. My life is definitely not normal now…
Author's Note: After learning the true origins of the Dark Sapphire, Himawari is brought on to participate in Mythgrove's Battle Royale. A fighting-style tournament that crowns a champion. Will she make it to the top with her new soul-connected powers?
Or will something (or someone) else get in her way?
Didn't think I would be updating this story so soon. But I'm stuck home from work all week and thus, I have a lot of free time. So, I figured why not.
Thanks for reading. Later.