Disclaimer: The characters and ideas used in this fic all belong to Namco.
A/N: The time line takes a leap in this chapter. It was difficult to write with the time line being so long so I decided to shorten it. Thanks to the reviewers! Enjoy!
Chapter six: One Mission
A knight. Dressed in black armor, a massive claw for an arm. Siegfried. His voice echoes from inside the regal helmet. It cries for help.
Flash . . . A woman. White haired and vindictive. Flash . . . Lying, asleep or dead? Flash . . . a captain, from the very gates of hell. Flash . . . He returns . . .
The knight, heading toward a village. A flag hangs over . . . it is red. The color seems to stand out above all others. The knight walks forward . . . the screams of innocence . . .
Sophitia awoke with a start. Glancing anxiously around the camp, she found it was exactly how they had left it the previous night. Dawn was hanging over them, the sun peaking shyly from beneath the mountain to the west. Cassandra was stirring next to her.
"What happened?" Cassandra asked, noticing the sweaty appearance of her sister.
"Nothing . . . just a dream."
The two woke themselves up and prepared to leave. As they restarted their walk down the narrow path that led into the heart of the forest, Sophitia considered their final destination.
"Do you know where we wish to head?" Cassandra said, as if she could hear what Sophitia's thoughts.
"We are headed to Britain." Sophitia replied.
"Britain?" Cassandra gasped. The length of the journey surprised her.
Sophitia nodded. "Wales to be exact."
"How long will it take?" Her sister questioned.
"About a month. That's why we must make haste."
Cassandra fell silent and the two of them set off. The journey to the ships took them several days. They only stopped for brief rest periods. Sophitia had reoccurring dreams of Siegfried and tried to hurry the pace each day.
When they finally reached the shores, Sophitia noticed Cassandras awe and smiled. Cassandra had never left Athens and had never traveled on a ship. The two headed toward the small dock with a swinging sign hanging over the arch saying Payment.
"It's best if we keep our hoods up." Sophitia warned her sister. "Men often harass young women on these long journeys and we don't want to draw too much attention to ourselves."
"Why not?" Cassandra asked, inquisitively.
"You never know who could be following you."
They arrived at the dock and payed. Climbing on the long ladder leading into a ship named The Helen they would soon be taken away from their home, the impending battle a constant on their minds.
A month later:
Several weeks later the ship docked into sunny shores. Both Sophitia and Cassandra were anticipating getting off of the cramped ship for different reasons. Sophitia found she could barely contain her anxiety concerning Siegfried and Cassandra had been bored to no end.
"Soph, please tell me we're sleeping in an inn tonight." Cassandra said as soon as their feet hit solid ground.
"I don't know, Cassandra." Sophitia replied. "The day is young. I don't think we should waste any time here."
"Come on, sis. We're both falling asleep on our feet. We're staying in an inn tonight." Cassandra insisted and dragged Sophitia by the arm down the crowded street.
Not giving Sophitia a chance to protest, Cassandra checked them into the nearest inn. As they unpacked their few necessary items in the small room, Sophitia felt slight annoyance toward her sister. How could they rest when they could be making progress?
"I know what you're thinking." Cassandra said. "Give it a rest. We both need a break. Now come on, let's go and get a drink."
Reluctantly Sophitia followed her stubborn sister out of the room. They headed down the dingy staircase and into a shabby looking pub. Assorted men with dirt racked clothes and wenches hanging off their arms were seated around. Sophitia cast a weary look around and headed toward the bar. Once they had bought their drinks she led Cassandra to a table located in the far corner of the room.
"I don't like this."She muttered.
"Don't worry about it." Cassandra replied, rolling her eyes. "Besides, if any of these men try anything I'm doubting that they have any skill with a blade."
"I'm not worried about the men." Sophitia said.
She was eyeing a stranger sitting alone at a table nearby. The person was wearing a heavy black cloak. It gave her a strange shivery feeling. She was beginning to feel stuffy in the smoke-filled room and downed the last of her rum. She excused herself from the table.
She walked outside and headed toward the dock, which had emptied. The sky was sprinkled with stars and the moon was full. For a few minutes she lost herself in the silvery orb, her mind free from all thought. She remained rooted to her spot for a long time and was simply content to bathe in the thick moonlight. Her stupor was interrupted when she sensed a presence behind her. Spinning around, she pulled out Omega.
Sophitia was caught of guard to see thick silver coils wind themselves around Omega's blade. Locating the source of the strange weapon, she saw the cloaked figure from the bar standing in front of her. Fighting to keep a grip on her sword, she awaited for the other to speak. She was shocked to hear a woman's voice.
"Are you Sophitia Alexandra?" She asked. Her voice rang with a strong British accent.
"Yes." Sophitia confirmed, eyeing the woman with distrust.
"The hotel keeper told me. I asked about you because I think I am right in believing that you are a skilled fighter?" The woman said.
"I am. My sister as well. Who are you?" Sophitia asked.
The woman lowered her hood. She had a shock of white hair that defined her strong face. Her skin was the color of ivory and she had defined features. She wore a deep shade of red on her lips along with a smirk.
"My name is Ivy. And I think we have something in common, Mrs. Alexandra. If you would be so kind as to accompany me into the pub, I would like to talk with you." She said.
Ivy released her tightened grip on Valentine's hilt and the flail reformed into a sword. She beckoned Sophitia with a slender hand; Sophitia hesitated for a second before following her back into the hotel entrance. They found Cassandra still seated in the corner of the room and joined her.
"Who is this?" Cassandra asked as the two sat down opposite of her.
"Call me Ivy." Ivy said, cutting off Sophitia's introduction and stretching a hand across the table.
"All right, Ivy, you have our full attention." Sophitia said. "What is it you want to talk to me about?"
She still didn't trust the woman. Her mannerism was far from reassuring. The sword was also on her mind. Never in her years had she saw such a sword and it worried her that Ivy might try and attack them.
"Are you searching for the famous soul edge?"Ivy said, leaning on her chair with ease and smiling icily at her two drinking companions.
Sophitia felt her heartbeat quicken.
"How did you know?" She asked and immediately cursed herself for blurting it out.
"It wasn't difficult to tell. You have the look of a warrior and the only thing worth hunting in these lands is the soul edge."Ivy replied.
"We are not hunting the soul edge." Sophitia said sharply. "Our mission is only related to it."
Ivy leaned forward slightly. "Oh?"
"Tell me what you're after, stranger and I'll decide then whether I should keep that information to myself." Sophitia said.
Ivy laughed. She leaned back on her chair once again and took a long swig of the rum she had ordered. Sophitia glanced at Cassandra and saw her sister looking at the woman with a cutting expression. Suppressing a smile at her sister's ferocity, she turned back to Ivy.
"I see you are not a woman to be played with." Ivy said, setting her mug back down onto the rich wood. "Very well. I myself am not searching for the soul edge directly."
"Then what are you after?" Cassandra asked, speaking for the first time since they had arrived.
"My father. My real father. I was told by my surrogate father merely a few moments before his death. Horrid things, he said. He spoke of a pirate being captivated by soul edge." Ivy said.
For the first time Sophitia saw a glint of emotion in her deep violate eyes. She felt slightly guilty for her previous reservations about Ivy. After all, they were both searching for the same thing.
"It is my wish to destroy soul edge and free his captured heart." Ivy finished.
Sophitia nodded. "Then we have a common goal."
"It will not be an easy task. Whom are you searching for?" Ivy said, her gaze settled on the table, her arrogance seemingly lost.
"His name is Siegfried Schtauffen." Sophitia said.
Ivy's head shot up. She was looking at Sophitia as if she hadn't quite heard correctly.
"Siegfried?"
"Yes." Sophitia said, hopes rising at Ivy's recognition of him. "Do you know him?"
"I saw him. A little less than two months ago."
"What?" Sophitia asked, shocked. "How . . . what?"
"He is no longer Siegfried. He goes by the name Nightmare. Soul edge has taken him."
Sophitia felt her heart sink as quickly as it had risen. Was she too late? She buried her face in her hands and felt tears creeping into the corners of her eyes.
"How did you know him?" Ivy said.
"I-well we- I love him." Sophitia replied, immediately wishing she could explain herself better.
"Ah." Ivy said. Sophitia noticed a strange look on her face.
"Did he try to kill you?" She asked worriedly, ignoring the expression.
"He did. We fought. He left my village that night." Ivy said carefully.
The three fell silent. Sophitia was feeling exasperated. She gazed around the drunken room wondering if what she was doing was crazy. How could he be saved if he was already taken? She felt a cool hand rest on her arm. Ivy was looking at her sympathetically.
"Do not give up. He can be saved. They both can."
Sophitia nodded. "We will stop it."
Ivy stretched out her hand again and Sophitia took it. "Agreed."
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