The Legend Will Never Die: Part Eighteen "Nightmare the Azure Dream"
By: Anita
Nightmare the Azure Dream
As the sun set in the sky, an orange hue filled the Proving Grounds.
Nightmare watched the ninja woman with curiousity. She seemed familiar...
As Nightmare struggled to search his memories, he heard the calls of Soul Edge. The sword was ordering him to destroy the woman, her soul would be useful.
Nightmare accostomed to the flooding emotions of Soul Edge, always craving more souls. But this time, the call was different.
It was laced with fear...
"Who are you, woman?" Nightmare asked, hoping to understand why he knew the ninja.
"I am Taki the demon huntress. I am surprised you do not remember, young Siegfried..." Taki pulled out her weapon, the Mekki-Maru.
Nightmare's grip on Soul Edge loosened as the sword began to shake violently in his hands.
"AUGH! NIGHTMARE! DESTROY THIS WOMAN AT ONCE, AND DO NOT LEAVE ANY OF THESE FOOLS ALIVE!" Soul Edge demanded.
Nightmare glanced as his sword. The order of the sword seemed distant, somehow he did not feel the need to oblige to the command.
"Siegfried, my Mekki-Maru was also once a part of Soul Edge. The resonance I have created will not last, but while the sword is not fully capable of controlling your mind, you can break free." Taki explained.
'Her sword was a piece...this woman...the same woman from before...' Nightmare thought in confusion as he felt a memory return to him.
"You...you are the one who advised me to find Cervantes and take the Soul Edge...the woman from the cave..." Nightmare realized.
"You led him to the evil sword?" Kilik exclaimed in anger.
"Taki, you had faced Soul Edge yourself, why would you lead another to be taken under it's control?" Sophitia asked in confusion.
"She knew that Siegfried would be an easier fighter to face than anyone else. Siegfried's soul may be in turmoil, but he still has a good heart." Xianghua's voice rang out.
Taki looked at the trembling Soul Edge and saw a reflection of Xianghua's face.
"Xianghua is correct. If we wish to save her, we will need Siegfried's help." Taki clarified.
'Siegfried...why does that name bring me so much pain?' Nightmare thought as he listened to the warriors talk.
"NIGHTMARE...THESE PEOPLE...THEY ARE...LYING TO YOU..." Soul Edge desperately choked out.
"Siegfried, your father would never have wanted things to turn out this way." Edge Master softly stated.
"His father?" Maxi asked.
"Father..." Nightmare whispered sadly.
'My father...I had come to find Soul Edge because I was trying to forget. I was trying to forget that I had been my father's murderer. Instead of finding a way to forgive myself and get rid of the guilt, I only used my anger to bathe Soul Edge in blood. Instead of ridding my sin, I achieved more. Now, it is my time to repent...'
With all of his strength and willpower, Nightmare flung Soul Edge to the ground.
"I have seen the truth, Soul Edge. Your wishes will not be fulfilled."
'That girl...she is our last hope...' Nightmare decided. He concentrated on the soul that the distracted Soul Edge was trying hard to hold onto.
Using his strength, he rescued the girl from Soul Edge's clutches.
"Xianghua!" Kilik shouted, as the young girl was released from her captivity in Soul Edge.
"Kilik, Maxi, everyone, thank you for saving me." Xianghua began, but was interrupted by the sound of Siegfried's body collapsing to the ground.
"He used his last bit of strength to save her..." Sophitia realized.
"Well, there's no time to waste now. We should destroy Soul Edge while we have the chance. In it's weak state, it will be easy prey!" Maxi reasoned, as he kneeled to grab the sword.
"Ahh!" Maxi shouted, as he was flung backward. Soul Edge was surrounded by a small field of light.
Kilik tried to smash the sword with the Kali-Yuga, but the attack was deflected.
"It's no use... nothing will get through. What do we do now?" Sophitia asked.
"Nothing can even scratch Soul Edge, even in it's current state..." Taki realized.
"So, nothing can stop the demonic blade..." Xianghua whispered in fear.
"The spirit sword...Soul Calibur..." Edge Master muttered.
The name was foreign to all of the warriors. The legends of Soul Edge were known all across the world, but what was Soul Calibur?
Yet, somehow the name seemed so proverbial, so memorable, so familiar...
'Soul Calibur...' Nightmare thought as he blacked out.
Suddenly, the sky filled with blinding light. Soul Edge began to levitate in the air, as if it was awaiting the answer to a call.
A pillar of fire burst through the atmosphere, and a fiery-flamed being stepped out, taking a hold on the floating Soul Edge.
"Inferno...our fate is sealed." Xianghua whispered.
THE END?