Chapter 8
For the power of evil
The earth started to shake, Cassandra and Sophitia held onto each other. "W-what's going on?" Cassandra shouted. They knew that earthquakes did not happen in this area of the world, then they both heard a familiar inhuman scream. Both of them knew who it was "Nightmare!" they both said at the same time and then they heard an explosion. In the distance, they saw an entire canyon fall to the ground. They could not believe their eyes, the entire landscape had been changed… there was nothing but rubble! Out of it they saw a figure emerge and walk west, towards the sea.
Sophitia looks down "What have we done…" Cassandra looks at her "We? We haven't done anything, its all Nightmares fault!" Sophitia stands up and screams at her sister! "I tried to save him a few years ago! He became free, now WE drove him back to being that monster!" Cassandra turned her back to her sister… she still doesn't forgive her for sleeping with him. "Look! He didn't even want to do it you know!" Cassandra looked at her sister, "He was too concerned about what you would think! I know you liked him, you probably still do! He likes you too! That's why he regrets it!" Cassandra looked confused. Sophitia continued to tell her stuff "he is not the same as that monster… he isn't in control of what he has done as Nightmare… remember, he saved you from those rapists!" Cassandra fell back and started to breathe heavily "What have I done? I-I've driven… driven him back to Soul Edge!" She drew her sword, "Sophitia…" Her sister looked at her "I am sorry for the way I acted…" Sophitia hugged her sister "I am not the one you should apologise to… come, let's go find him…"
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Nightmare walked for days, non stop towards the coast. From his days of teaming up with Astaroth in the past, he knew where his hideout was… and how to get to him quickly. He was still not strong enough though, so he occasionally took a detour into town to raid it and take the souls of its inhabitants. After a week of walking, he finally reached the cave where Astaroth was hiding.
"Now… we fight… old friend…" He marched into the cave, slaying lizardmen who dared stand in the way of him. He got into the central chamber, where Astaroth stood motionless. Nightmare didn't want to kill him as he was, he wanted to annihilate him. "Astaroth!" The golem looked up at him "I am here for your soul…" Astaroth laughed "I thank you for bringing me Soul Edge!" He picked up his axe… they both stood there staring at each other, Nightmare started to flow with electrical energy from Soul Edge. "I will show you…" Nightmare lowered his head Astaroth wondered what he was doing "… the greatest Nightmare!" Nightmare started to swing his gigantic zwiehander around, Astaroth was caught off guard, taking one of those slashed across the chest. That would have killed any normal person… but Astaroth is not human.
The fight went on for many hours…
Astaroth finally fell… "Wait…" Nightmare stood above the golem, ready to kill him Astaroth looked up at him and said "Your former master is looking for you… he has your companion… your soul mate…" Nightmare got confused… Cassandra? It couldn't be… he then realised what he meant… Astaroth did not know about him and Cassandra, he was talking to Soul Edge itself… "Impossible… she was shattered!" Astaroth laughed "The pieces… have been brought together…" Astaroth remained silent… had he died?
Nightmare pondered over his last words. "So… that is why I am not complete… she has been re-forged… former master... Cervantes…" The picture of the evil pirate burned in the swords memory. How was it possible for him to re-forge the other part of Soul Edge without it ever noticing? Nightmare set his course for Spain... it would be a long walk… but it would do good to stop at a few villages to power the sword up further.
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Sophitia and Cassandra tracked the footsteps left by the newly reborn Nightmare, they came through a clearing in the dense forest and saw something glimmering in the distance. "Sophitia… look!" they both ran up to it… it was Siegfried's Requiem… it lay embedded in the side of an oak tree. Cassandra looked back to where the cataclysm had happened "This went far… if he threw it, he must be really strong…" Cassandra sighed. Sophitia walked up to her sister and said "I am truly sorry for what we did Cassy… but don't blame him for it… he only did it because I asked him to… he didn't want to…" Cassandra looked at her sister "he never?" Sophitia shook her head "I am sure that he loves you… you must tell him how you feel!" Cassandra shook her head in disbelief "He is Nightmare now… he is not the man I…" Sophitia cut her off "Yes he is… he is still the man you love… we just need to change him back!" She pulled the Requiem out of the tree. "Come, we will give this to him… maybe seeing what he used to be will change him back!" the two sisters left the forest, carrying Siegfried's sword.