Disclaimer: See first chapter.
A/N: I figured I needed to fill in a bit of the final events Link went through before his return to his world, and what blade he now carries. Enjoy.
A/N: I usually don't write chapters as 'songfics', so this is a bit of a departure for me. I just feel that this song works exceptionally well with the chapter.
A/N+1: Talim is only 15 in 'Soul Caliber 2'. For the purposes of this fic, she's been searching for Soul Edge for three years, and is 18 at the time of these events.
Title and lyrics: Smashing Pumpkins, with "Disarm"
******
"Disarm you with a smile,
and cut you like you want me to,
Cut their little child,
inside of me and such a part of you...."
*****
Three years earlier, in the eye's of the Hero of Time....
This world was so strange, with it's people and customs. I had never seen such diversity within a single creature. Humans, as they called the species, fought amongst themselves with alarming regularity. They even worshiped different gods, and used the differences between religions as an excuse for war.
Even with these alarming tendencies, I have met humans who seek the same end that I do, those who have put aside the inherent chaos of their peoples to work towards the greater good. I am at least comforted by the fact that, should I fail, one of them will succeed. Hyrule, at least, will be saved.
"We have a choice, my friend," Kilik said. This young man was strange, but to me, he was quite possibly my only ally in this world. "Rumors place Nightmare either to the north, or west."
"Two warriors with two paths," I said, my thoughts whirling. Nightmare, who wielded Soul Edge, the object of our quest. A terrible, and powerful, fallen knight. I was loath to face him alone, or to let Kilik do the same, but we really had no choice. "I'll take the north."
Kilik nodded. "I wish you luck my friend, and may our paths cross once again."
"The same to you," I replied, my gaze already drawn to the north; to my destiny.
******
I used to be a little boy,
So old in my shoes.
What I choose is my choice,
What's a boy supposed to do?
The killer in me is the killer in you, my love,
Send this smile over to you.
*****
Three days later, I finally found him. By the Three, I wish I hadn't.
The village looked as if it had been it by the forces of Hell, and in a way, it had. Bodies, torn and bloody, were everywhere. Nightmare had spared none, feeding each soul to the blade he was thrall to. I had never seen such devastation, and hoped I that I never would again. From the oldest man to the youngest girl, he had torn their souls from their bodies. Damn him.
He was kneeling in the center of the village, Soul Edge held above his head. I felt my hatred for him rise within my chest, but I held it within. Anger would not defeat him, it would strengthen him. A young woman lay before him, one that I had met weeks before.
"Take this latest sacrifice," Nightmare murmured. His voice was carried to be by the wind, and I felt terror skirt along the edge of my concentration. Even when I faced Gannon, I had not felt this kind of fear. It wasn't my life at stake in this fight, it was my soul.
"No," the girl, Talim, pleaded. She's too young for this, my mind screamed.
"Nightmare," my voice was cold and detached, very different from the voices of my mind. They screamed to run, to hide, to flee this terrible creature before me. The distraction of my voice was enough for the girl to roll out of Nightmare's reach. With a unexpected surge of relief, I faced the man once known as Siegfried.
He looked at me, the burning red light from his eyes focusing on me. He rose, ignoring the girl at his feet. She was terribly wounded, and would be at his mercy should I fail.
"I am your death," I said, my voice going from cold to sub-zero.
The battle began easily enough, with quick feints and jabs from both sides. I had no idea of his abilities, and he had none of mine. For five minutes, at least, we took measure of the other, before the fight began in earnest.
The Blade in my hand, an echo of the Master sword I wielded in Hyrule, hummed in anticipation. Each connection with Soul Edge sent shivers of energy down my arm. I knew, then, that something was wrong in Hyrule. I knew that my life was forever changed by the quest I had undertaken. At that moment of enlightenment, he attacked.
Soul Edge screamed as it cut the air; it's eagerness to feed upon my soul bathed my heart in fear. I summoned the strength within myself and countered, the powerful downward blow halted easily by the Mirror shield on my arm.
As Nightmare was thrown off-balance by the deflected blow, I brought my own blade across, quick and hard. Just below his helmet, and above his breastplate, a line of blood appeared. The first blow belonged to me.
He brought Soul Edge around quickly, and I barely raised my shield to block. The sheer force of the swing knocked me back a few feet. By the Three, he was strong.
"Souls," he growled, "Give me strength!"
He attacked ferociously, Soul Edge merely a blur as he swung with abandon. I blocked and dodged, avoiding the blade at all costs. He was strong, and faster than he should be, but I had to beat him.
I leapt backwards, just out of his reach, and felt the magic within my blood gather. With my arm across my chest and my blade behind my shoulder, I unleashed a devastating spin attack. Three times my blade found flesh, three times he cried out in pain.
Without hesitation, I leapt at him, bringing my sword down with all my might. As I found myself kneeling before him, the tip of my blade touching the ground, I wondered for a moment if I had hit him.
I looked up at that demonic visage, prepared to see Soul Edge heralding my death. Instead, I saw surprise in suddenly human eyes. We stood in an awkward silence as the effects of my attack hit home.
"No... This... cannot... be..."
Nightmare fell, his helmet cut as cleanly as his breastplate. Soul Edge fell from his grasp, his suddenly nerveless fingers unable to keep hold of the demonic blade. He fell, even as the light within his eyes dimmed. This part of the quest was over; he was dead.
I sheathed my blade and crouched before Soul Edge.
*****
Disarm you with a smile,
And leave you like they left me here,
To whither in denial,
The bitterness of one who's left alone...
******
Inferno. I knew the name of the demon that inhabited the blade, as well as I knew my own name. This was the being that controlled the evil, that fed upon the souls of those that Nightmare had slain.
The demi-plane that the demon had brought us to was desolate, filled with fire and brimstone. Without explanation, I knew that this battle was for control of Soul Edge. If I failed, that blade would control my body, and continue to feed upon the souls of the slain.
"Come on, you bastard," my voice, my feelings. "Let's end this now."
The flame-wrought being complied, bringing the fearsome blade to bear with terrible speed. Calmly, I drew my bow, and drew back the string. Energy gathered within the wooden shaft, and I let fly at the last instant. Aided by the magic within my soul, the arrow flew true and with frightening speed. It sank deeply into the chest of Inferno.
Using the sudden and blessed shock of Inferno, I lashed out as quickly as possible, striking Inferno half a dozen times before a wild swing drove me back. Dancing, I rolled forward and lunged, burying my blade deep within the chest of Inferno.
"It's over," I murmured as I drew my blade to the side savagely. In a blinding light, Inferno dissipated, and I found myself back in the village center.
*****
I used to be a little boy,
So old in my shoes,
What I choose is my voice,
What's a boy supposed to do?
The killer in me is the killer in you, my love,
Send this smile over to you....
******
"You've done it..?" Talim asked as she drew herself from the ground. My hand rested evenly on what remained of the evil blade. No longer was it covered by ragged flesh and evil eyes. Now, it hummed with an energy that could only be described as 'good'.
"Yes."
Her dark eyes seemed to devour me. Her elbow blades lay forgotten in the grass as she approached me. I knew what she wanted, even as her arms encircled me. I let go of my shield and sword as her lips found mine.
I lost myself in her eager lips; in her frantic arms. Our clothing lay forgotten in the summer grass, just as the horrors of our journeys were forgotten in the tender caresses and eager kisses. All thoughts of what I had lost were forgotten in this young woman's arms.
"Where are you going from here?" she asked, quite a while later. Her naked body lay close to mine, as if she was afraid I would disappear. In a way, I would.
"Home," I answered simply, my hand resting lightly on her hip.
"Will I see you again?"
"I don't think so." This time, my answer was tainted with a faint regret.
We both climbed to our feet and began to dress, distracted by playful touches and the tender explorations of her lips. When we had gathered our things, I reached for the blade that remained after my battle with Inferno.
"That's Soul Caliber," Talim explained, pressing her body close to mine. "It's the opposite of Soul Edge, and a powerful blade against evil."
I sheathed Soul Caliber in the empty sheath left when the echo of the Master Sword had faded. After a final, regretful kiss, I lifted the Oricana to my lips.
Closing my eyes, I played. And it was then I returned to a world that was no longer my home.
******
This was how I found myself in a world that was so far from the one I left. The Princess Zelda was gone, as was Malon, another girl I felt I loved. So much had changed, and I eventually learned of Gannon's second attempt at ruling the world. I had let the world down, and felt horrible about it.
Amazingly, I felt worse about leaving Talim. There was something about her, something I couldn't place. Thinking of her eased the worst of my nightmares, and brought a sense of peace to my soul. She was in another world, however, and forever beyond my reach.
It was then I became Vaans, the hermit.
*****
The killer in me is the Killer in you,
Send this smile over to you.
The killer in me is the Killer in you,
Send this smile over to you....
*****