OK... I'm going to try to put in a bit more description in this chapter. Anyway... oh yeah! I forgot to mention that this story will be linked with magicruler32690's((AKA: Magicka)) story, Soul Calibur 2: Souls of the Neverending Fate!

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Soul Calibur II characters, weapons or plots.

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Fate & Destiny

*~* Chapter 5Endless Evil*~*

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                Standing alone in the ruins of Soul Edge's battle with Soul Calibur... Yun Sung had nearly reached the end of his journey. He smiled triumphantly. Soul Edge was his; but just as he was about to step forward, and meet his final challenge... he could hear the footsteps of another approaching. He quickly turned around, and saw who it was – Takharu. Once again, they were meeting... but the conditions were less friendly. They did not greet each other... but simply drew their weapons... they knew what fate approached them. Coming full force at each other... no holding back. Takharu held her blade forward, and charged at Yun Sung... but as she came in striking distance she stopped. Dropping her weapon to the ground, and falling to her knees. Tears streaming down her face... she looked up at Yun Sung, who was towering over her. She gave him a look as if to say, "Please... don't go. I can't harm you." Yun Sung had to make a final decision then and there... would he go forward for Soul Edge? Or grant Takharu's wishes? Throughout his entire journey, Yun Sung had never needed to make a decision so large. His head told him to go and get Soul Edge... protect his country. But his heart told him to stay by Takharu's side...

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                Yun Sung sat up, "What?" he looked around. It was just a dream...

                "Dreaming?" Mina was sitting nearby, wrapping bandages around the few minor wounds she had acquired while battling Takharu.

                "Yeah..." Yun Sung rubbed his eyes, "...dreaming."

                Mina tied the ends of her bandages, "You're really out of it."

                "What?" Yun Sung shook his head, snapping out of his trance. He remembered now... he was with Mina. They were searching for Soul Edge, "Why are you still here?"

                "I felt guilty about leaving you behind," Mina replied.

                "Thanks, then," he said in monotone. He was still thinking about his dream in the back of his mind.

                Mina waved her hand in front of Yun Sung's face, "Yoohoo! Are you paying attention to me?"

                "Sure," Yun Sung went along with whatever she said.

                "Yun Sung! What the heck were you dreaming about?"

                "Nothing important," he answered, for once knowing what he was saying... but not necessary telling the truth.

                Mina sighed, "You're hopeless... do you know that?"

                "I resent that!" Yun Sung was finally acting like himself completely.

                "Then prove to me that you're not. Tell me what you dreamt about," Mina urged Yun Sung to explain.

                "Fine!" he finally agreed, "But it's nothing important. I just dreamt that I was finally nearing the Sword of Salvation, but I ran into Takharu who I had to battle. We fought, she stopped and I had to decide whether to stay or go forward. The end."

                "Did you want to stay with her?" Mina asked.

                Yun Sung hesitated... he didn't really know the answer, "Sort of... I can't really tell what I feel in my dreams."

                "All right... so you don't want to co-operate with me. That's fine. Let's just go," she sighed again, and picked up her rod and began walking. Yun Sung remained silent, and followed her.

~[---{-----|~-~|-----}---]~

                Takharu had been awake for a few hours longer than Yun Sung and Mina... but she was still behind them, "Is what Nightmare said true? If I get up to Soul Edge will it take control of me? No. It won't happen. I won't turn back. I've come too far," she tightened her grip on the shard of Soul Edge in her hand. She could feel it pulsating faintly, "Is the sword near? Or is it another shard?" Most likely another shard. She was finally back on the path... so there must be other people nearby who are searching for the sword.

~[---{-----|~-~|-----}---]~

                "Where are we, Mina?" Yun Sung had never been in this area before.

                Mina was quiet for a moment, "I'm not sure... but we'll figure it out soon enough."

                Yun Sung didn't have any reply to her answer. So they continued on in silence again, until, "Do you hear that?"

                "Hear what?" Mina turned around and looked at Yun Sung.

                "Ssh!" he covered her mouth with his right hand, while holding White Storm in the other. They could hear a low 'whooshing' sound. It was like a sort of spell... or black magic. Their eyes wandered... but no one could be seen in their eyes. They remained silent... in fear they would be seen.

                "Don't think you're not visible to me," a rough voice said from above, "You're not concealed at all, you fools."

                They quickly looked up, to spot a ghostly figure standing on the branch of a tree, "What are you!?" Yun Sung stepped forward, "Show yourself!"

                "Very well," the creature agreed. It leaped down from the tree, and landed in front of them, "I am Cervantes. And you both have something I want."

                "And what would that be?" Yun Sung questioned.

                "I'm certain you know," Cervantes assured with a soulless glint in his eyes, "I am here for your shards of Soul Edge. I have already acquired several with the help of my apprentice. If you refuse to hand them over... you will suffer the same fate of those who our shards are from."

                "That fate would be...?" Yun Sung asked... drawing his sword and preparing for the worst.

                "Well, that may vary," he paced back and forth, stroking his chin, "Perhaps you will be sent into a coma... or maybe immediate death will be more appropriate... either way..." he raised his hands, and two swords flew into them, "... the shards will be mine."

                "We'll see about that!" Yun Sung charged at Cervantes with his sword.

                Cervantes sneered at his weak attempt, "Pitiful! You cannot destroy me! For only the living can be killed!" he clutched Yun Sung by his throat, and held him in above the ground. Gripping one of his swords in his other hand, Cervantes held it up, prepared to strike. Suddenly... he stopped. Cervantes looked Yun Sung straight in the eyes, "There are things to attend to. Do not get in my way again. Next time you will not be so lucky!" he tossed Yun Sung to the ground, and then vanished into thin air.

                "Yun Sung! Are you all right?" Mina knelt down by Yun Sung.

                "I'm fine..." he sat up slowly, "Ugh... why did he leave?"

                "I don't know," Mina said in a confused tone, "He looked like he was about to kill you... maybe he can notice things we can't... since he's dead."

                Yun Sung rubbed his throat, which was still in pain, "I don't understand. How can he be dead?"

                She shrugged, "I have no idea. But it isn't a good thing. We can't kill him if he's already deceased."

                "I don't get why he didn't take the shard before he went..."

                "Something weird is going on... and while we have these shards, we're in the middle of it," Mina observed.

                "But do we need the rest of the shards?" Yun Sung asked.

                Mina ran her fingers through her hair, "Maybe... or it could be that once someone arrives at the remainder of Soul Edge's location, it reforms on its own."

                "I hope," Yun Sung commented, "I don't feel like going around and looking for all the shards."

                "Lazy..." Mina rolled her eyes.

~[---{-----|~-~|-----}---]~

                Soul Edge was pulsating even stronger and quicker... as was Takharu's heart, "Who could it be? Why are they here? What do they want with me?" she had so many questions rushing through her mind, "I feel that evil again... He's back..."

                "Are you ready to hand over that shard yet?"  Nightmare's voice struck fear in Takharu's heart.

                She shivered, "N-n-no..." Takharu managed to stutter.

                "You're so irritating!" Nightmare clenched his scaly claw, "You'd think people would learn to fear my power!" he held Soul Edge above his head, preparing to strike.

                Takharu closed her eyes and took a deep breath, "I wouldn't advise that you fight me," her voice sounded calm and steady.

                "And why not?" Nightmare's voice grew deeper and darker.

                Takharu swallowed her fear, "Because this time I'll do more than give you a paper cut!"

                Nightmare growled under his breath, "Is that so? You and your weak blade pose no threat to me!" he swung his mighty sword at Takharu, which clashed against the ground causing a huge cloud of dirt to fly into the air, "Hm...  Too bad. She was such a nice girl. But nice won't get you anywhere in this quest..."

                "On the contrary, it's gotten me this far!" the dust cleared away to reveal Takharu standing beside Soul Edge without a scratch on her, "But you also need wits in this world."

                "I missed?!" Nightmare shouted, "How could I have missed!?" he leaned against his great sword.

                Takharu grinned, "It must be hard to control a blade so large... I'll stick to the blade the gods entrusted me with," she held her sword above her, and slashed at Nightmare vertically. Nightmare caught the blade in between his hands.

                "Not a wise choice," he pushed forward on the blade, knocking Takharu down, "But you've made your point: You're not one to mess with. It won't be stopping me, however... by the end of this... Soul Edge will be mine!" he walked back in the direction that he came from.

                Takharu heaved a sigh, "I know I'll be seeing him again soon..." and so she continued along the path... "No turning back..." she kept saying over in her mind, "I have to go forward..."

*~* End of Chapter 5 *~*

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I'm pleased with how this chapter went! ^_^ But... that's me... and maybe it's just me. What do you think? Please review and let me know how I can make it better! Or... just review! I like reviews! ^.~