Sorry it took me a while to post this chapter! You're all lucky that my friend has been pestering me to update since she read this story. ^.~ Well, here we go – Chapter 7!
Disclaimer: I do not own the Soul Calibur II characters, weapons or plots.
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Fate & Destiny*~* Chapter 7 – Return of Greatest Rivals*~*
Yun Sung awoke late the next morning to an empty room, "So Mina left..." he thought aloud, "Well... I'd better get going, too," he got out of bed, gathered his things and immediately set out once again.
~[---{-----|~-~|-----}---]~
Takharu had woken up quite a while ago, but she hesitated to leave... Estrilda still wasn't home, and she was worried that some harm had come to her. She sighed, "I can't wait any longer... I have to leave now," she grasped her sword, and left. Before Takharu continued through the town, she looked far in each direction, "No Estrilda...no Mina...no Yun Sung," whether she wanted to admit it or not, she didn't want to leave everyone behind... she didn't want to continue alone. She wanted someone by her side, "Allies become rivals," she thought to herself, "I have to do this alone..."
~[---{-----|~-~|-----}---]~
"Man... it's way to quiet without Mina around," Yun Sung thought as he wandered outside of the town, "I thought that a little peace would be a good thing..."
"It's about time I've found you again!" a voice from behind Yun Sung said.
"So you're back?" Yun Sung instantly recognized Talim's voice, "Listen, I've heard your preaching about the 'evil sword' and I don't care!"
"But..."
"How many times do I have to tell you? I don't care!" Yun Sung snapped at Talim.
Talim looked at him with a pleading look in her large, brown eyes, "You don't understand! Soul Edge won't only harm you; it will bring the apocalypse, as it nearly did seven years ago!"
"So?"
"Please, I do not wish to argue with you," irritation could be heard forming in Talim's voice.
"Then leave me alone, and we won't have to argue," Yun Sung sneered.
Talim held Loka Luha and Syi Salika in front herself, "If I defeat you, will you at least listen to what I have to say?"
Yun Sung groaned, "Fine! But if I win, you have to leave me alone!"
"Agreed."
"Let's go!" Yun Sung drew White Storm and prepared for battle, "I don't know what advantages elbow swords give...I have to be careful."
Without any delay, Talim took to the offence. She instantaneously slashed at Yun Sung, switching her attacking arm each time. Yun Sung didn't have any time to counter the assault, he couldn't risk letting down his guard. "I have to get this just right..." Yun Sung pondered his strategy. He had just blocked one of Talim's attacks when he put his plan into action. He ducked down and tripped Talim; she fell to the ground, and Yun Sung towered over her. He held his sword over Talim, "Ready to give up?"
Talim considered Yun Sung's question, "No!" she replied. Talim kicked White Storm out of Yun Sung's hands, and quickly got to her feet. She held Loka Luha up to Yun Sung's throat, "I think this means that I won."
Yun Sung's eyes shifted downward to the sword at his neck. "I lost..." he closed his eyes, "All right... you won. Go ahead and tell me about the sword."
"Finally," Talim pulled her sword away from Yun Sung, "Now... please, listen carefully."
"Yeah, yeah. I'm listening."
"From the information I have gathered, seven years ago, there was a great battle between the wielder of Soul Edge and a legendary sword called Soul Calibur. Soul Edge was threatening to turn the world into an inferno with its evil powers. Soul Calibur prevailed in the battle, and Soul Edge was destroyed. It was shattered into many pieces, which were scattered across the earth. I have a shard, you have a shard... and I know of others, too. Anyone who carries a shard is in danger... and that danger will increase if they reach Soul Edge! If you continue and get to Soul Edge, then the same threat from seven years ago will return! The entire world will be doomed!" she explained, "Don't go on!"
"So you're done your explanation?" Yun Sung asked.
"Yes..."
"OK then. I'll be going now," he turned and continued walking.
"Yun Sung!!" Talim yelled, "How can you just carry on after learning this!?"
"Quite simply. I just don't believe it," Yun Sung answered while continuing along the path, "It's the same story as the last time we met – You think it's evil, I think it's going to save my country."
Talim ran in front of him, and held her arms out, blocking his path, "Open your eyes! Soul Edge brings nothing but death and demise!!"
"No! Open your eyes! We see differently! Deal with it, and leave me be!" he stepped forward and shoved her out of his way.
"At least think about turning back!" she shouted after him.
"This conversation is over!" he said in reply.
Talim shook her head, turned away from the path and ran off.
~[---{-----|~-~|-----}---]~
Badum... badum... the fragment of Soul Edge was pulsating again, "Oh no..." Takharu looked around frantically, "Where are you!? Come out, Nightmare!!"
"Heh, heh, heh..." a low laughter was heard, "Perhaps you're learning to control Soul Edge's powers more and more... or maybe it is controlling you."
"Why do you keep following me? I know you want Soul Edge, but why me? Are there no other people that you can go after?" Takharu fired question after question at Nightmare.
"Why it's simple," Nightmare replied, "Yours was the first piece I homed in on."
"What does that mean?"
"My... you're burning with questions, aren't you?" Nightmare was getting frustrated, "What does it matter? The bottom line is that I intend on getting Soul Edge!"
"No! Tell me what you mean!!" Takharu insisted.
Nightmare cackled under his breath, "You see... I was wandering outside of Egypt when a little bird told me that a piece of Soul Edge was in your village. Of course, I didn't know the exact location... so I had to tear apart every home and all inside of them."
Takharu froze, "You... couldn't have..."
"Yes. It was I who murdered your family, Takharu," a dark grin crossed his face.
"You monster!!" she screamed; tears forming in her eyes, "How could you!? It's your fault I'm here! You ruined my life!!" she clutched the blade of Ra, and charged at him, releasing all of her fury into her sword.
Nightmare held Soul Edge in front of himself, blocking her attack... but it took a lot of his strength to hold it off, "She was never this strong before," he observed, "But you're still not strong enough!!" he pushed forward on Soul Edge, as he had done in their previous battle... but this time, Takharu did not fall back, "What's going on!? How are you withstanding my attack!?"
"The power of the human spirit can be very strong... but I guess you wouldn't realize that, since all of the human in you has been pushed back by Soul Edge!" she sliced Soul Edge vertically, knocking it out of Nightmare's hands, "I've been too easy on Nightmare... I have to defeat him now!" she made an attempt to pierce Nightmare's heart, but he shifted to the left, causing her to stab his right arm. A greenish ooze poured from the gash on his arm.
"Damn you!" he hollered, "I will destroy you!!" he reached for Soul Edge with his healthy arm, but before he even grasped its hilt, Takharu had fled.
~[---{-----|~-~|-----}---]~
"'The entire world will be doomed,'" Talim's words haunted Yun Sung's thoughts, "The world... that includes everyone in it. What if Talim's right? What if the world is basically destroyed because of my actions? No... I can't think like that. I've come too far. Either way, there are others out there who are looking for the sword. So if I don't get it, someone else will. So that's that," Yun Sung had made his final decision. He would go on. He would obtain Soul Edge...
*~* End of Chapter 7 *~*
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Hip hip, HOORAY! Uh... yeah... Did you like it?? PLEASE review and tell me what you think! I would add more to this chapter... but I'm tired, so too bad! ^_^U
