Chapter 6

The night was young and the stars were twinkling in the blank sky. Cassandra looked up and tried to recognize some of the constellations, but she saw few of them. France was a new place to both of them and needed a guide badly. She turned to Xainghua who was pacing back and forth on the cool beach sand. Sophitia never said anything to her, but just stood on the sea's edge, looking into the distance.

"What time is it?" she asked her comrade, following the direction that she was going in.

"I don't know," she replied, "Maybe near midnight I hope. I've been waiting far too long." She continued pacing and turned her thoughts back to Kilik.

Cassandra took out the journal and sat on a rock. She was in eye's view of Sophitia but she didn't care. She kept reading some of the other journal entries Siegfried left for her. Sophitia turned her head at Cassandra, just to check on her. Whereas she placed her eye on the book, she immediately went over to read. Cassandra already had a lantern out, flipping pages every so often.

"May I see sis?" she asked rather monotonously. She gave her the book and she read the pages that haunted Cassandra. Surprisingly she did not recoil from the horrific entry that shocked Xainghua and Cassandra.

"Sis, why didn't you tell me? Did you know?" Cassandra turned to her sister with wide eyes. Sophitia sat beside her; one leg stretched out and closed the book on her lap.

"Yes and no. I knew that Siegfried is Nightmare, and fortunately for me that's confusing him a bit. That's how I escaped. But no, I did not remember the fact that he used to live near us, or how he felt about you. It must have shocked you when you found out."

"Yeah, but now I'm a little confused myself. You see if he did indeed felt like this. Could he again? Or is the damned blade too strong for him; theoretically speaking?"

"Hmm... that's a question even the gods can't answer. Ah! It's about time." Sophitia got up and left the two for a while. Moments later she came back with a man in a hood.

"Xainghua, Cassandra, this is Raphael." Sophitia moved to the side to allow the man to be met. Xainghua and Cassandra stopped what they were doing and walked up to explain their dilemma.

He removed his hood to reveal a blond man with a goatee. At his side laid a rapier sheathed and calm. She knelt down, took Xainghua's hand and kissed it, "Charmed I'm sure." Xainghua giggled as she was flattered. He did the same for Cassandra.

"All right, I've heard your problem about your friend. I met him three days ago and he was in fair condition. The only thing I could see wrong was a massive rash on his right arm. He could really fight though. Sorry, I lost the real reason I am here. I can lead you back to him, but I need you to be on guard. Nightmare is near so I need to make sure you can defend yourselves. Flambert is only so fast you see." Raphael said, not really giving away any sort of emotion at all.

"Trust me, we can handle anything," said Xainghua with lots of spunk.

"And it is that sort of attitude that will be your downfall little girl," he retorted with a nasty tone. He turned away and motioned them to follow.

Kilik returned to the same place that he had met this man named Raphael. Could he really trust him though? He only met him once and had no clue if this was some sort of a trap, but what did he have to lose? Cassandra and Xainghua were in the same boat as he was. He waited on the stump in the centre of the darkened woods.

Hours passed and no one came. He let out a sigh of disappointment and as he got up to leave. Three figures walked in the darkness. He turned again and knew it was really nothing to fear; Nightmare never traveled in a group. Eyes drooping, Kilik looked on as it was sure enough Raphael, Cassandra and Xainghua.

Seeing Kilik, Xainghua ran up to him and gave a tight hug that made him lose his breath for a moment. She held him for a few seconds and let him go. Cassandra was walking leisurely towards them and Raphael followed lastly.

"Kilik don't you ever leave again, or else I'm gonna have to find you and then scold you. Oh you're silly Kilik!" Xainghua said looking into Kilik's eyes.

"Sorry about that. Just something is really wrong, and I know what it is. You're definitely not going to like it." Kilik lowered his head in disgrace, "Come and sit around me please."

They sat around him, Xainghua on his left and Cassandra on his right. Raphael preferred to stand but still listened attentively.

"Soul Edge is trying to take me over again," Kilik said to the crowd bluntly. Gasps came out and then fear, "Yes I know. The last time I almost destroyed the Sheng Lu Temple. This time, I don't even know when he will strike. I must have you swear with utmost loyalty that if I try to kill you again, you must kill me."

The group remained silent and then Raphael spoke up, "Poor little boy. May I ask a question? But in your country, is dying at a young age because of things out of your control honourable, or are you a plain and simple ass?"

Kilik thought about it for a moment, "Well, I never thought of it that way. I guess in a way, dying for a cause is honourable. So what you're really trying to say is that I'm being a fool and too humble?"

"Exactly my boy, you catch on quick!" Raphael said, "Up, up, up, up! It's time for me to tell you some information now. It seems that the Nightmare has returned. You see, I also had a long rivalry with him, but I only wanted Soul Edge for myself. Now if I ever got it, I know what will happen. I'm taking care of a small orphan girl and everything I do I do for her. I fight for her but I can't go off gallivanting around trying to find Soul Edge anymore. So in conclusion I'll tell you where Nightmare is. He has gone to an old abandoned den of brigands. It lies somewhere in the country between this and the next country, due North. That's all I can tell you."

"And how do you know this?" asked Cassandra.

"Trust me. I know," and with that Raphael left.

The reunited trio set off for a location unknown to any of them. Cassandra relived that Sohpitia was alive, but also depressed that her sister could not return home until Nightmare was destroyed. Xainghua was perky as ever. The only one who still kept quiet was Kilik, who was trying to go one step ahead of Soul Edge. Into the fields and closer to a rocky valley dawn rose, the three prepared to tack down Nightmare.

"We need the Soulclaibur. It's the only way," announced Xainghua

Nightmare stepped walked onto a vast rocky valley and gazed upon it. The wasteland that he had abandoned he had returned to. The sandy road was drier than ever and this was the only place in the middle of nowhere that he used to use for a den of brigands.

His mind was unsure as Cassandra came in and out of his head. Shaking his head he advanced down the hill he was on towards the old hideaway. The steps made created dust from the sand and blowing winds. Vultures circled overhead in the distance, waiting for some animal to die so they could feast. Nightmare turned his head and kept walking.

Finding the old boulder that covered the entrance, Nightmare used his body weight to lift the giant rock with ease thanks to that arm of his. The tap, tap, tap of metal boots going down the stairs echoes throughout the cavern

"Why did you lead me here?"

All in good time my boy, all in good time. Kilik is under my control. There is only one last thing to ensure our victory. Look around!

Nightmare picked up old furniture and read old parchments that dated from when he established his band and when he ended it abruptly by slaughtering his own men. One letter in particular made him interested in finding more:

To: Siegfried. (The name jostled in his mind)

We have to bring you sag news that your girlfriend, Sara, has been killed by an illness. She was in critical condition and we have done all we can to help you. She held this enclosed in her hand. Her last wish was for you to have it.

Regrettably from:

1st in command Falukner

In his mind, Nightmare remembered searching the letter for his beloved's treasure. When he found it with his hand, it gave him a tingling feeling. One of his lackeys asked him is anything was wrong. Siegfried turned around and his personal Requiem turned into the Soul Edge again. He stabbed him in the gut and the entrails spilled to the floor.

"Why did I do that? Sara? What's going on? ARG!" He fell to the floor holding his head in pain. It burned with confusion and questions he could not answer.

Fool! Stop reading those! Look for a chest! A chest you damned bastard!

The man was in no condition, but he searched anyway. Moldy bags and garbage food were searched and the pungent smell of rotting meat filled his nostrils. Not much could harm his iron constitution, but this was rancid enough to dent him. Sure enough though, a small iron box with a lock on it.

"Well what now? It's locked!"

Use your arm you son of a bitch!

"I'm no son of a bitch! My mother was the kindest woman ever! Wait, how did I remember that?" Nightmare paced the dark and damp dungeon he once called home contemplating his pondering.

Never mind! Open it! Soul Edge burned within him.

Nightmare smashed the iron box with his demon-arm. Inside lied a large blue shard of metal. It was a hilt of a sword that was directly opposite to Soul Edge.

With this hilt of Soulclaibur, they cannot stop us!

The Nightmare left but with even more questions in his head. How could he remember all of these things he couldn't remember for years?

A/N: Again, another bad chapter. I'll have to think harder next time do the next installment will come out whenever!