Disclaimer: I don't own Soul Caliber, Tekken or any of it's characters. They all belong to NAMCO. I don't own anybody from the Zelda Series they belong to Nintendo. I do not own Spawn or Necrid either, Todd McFarlane does. And if you want the copyright info on the Original Characters it is in my profile.
Author's Notes: I did a little bit of revising namely changing Zack's name to Jack for the sake of the story and time, I think it sounds a little better for a former pirate gone mercenary.
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Soul Calibur II: Of Souls And Swords
Chapter Twenty-One: Final Preparation
It was another three days at sea for the Eternal Wind who had taken off in hopes of beating the Four Blades to the Soul Edge, they felt they couldn't risk them getting to it first. Unfortunately thanks to Kyle and Raphael's persistence and Naoyuki's skill at piloting the swift Nightwraith they had caught up in no time and the Eternal Wind had been having a hard enough time keeping up with the Nightwraith until they finally reached the coast of Oman. Everybody seemed to be prepared to face them on both sides however the one warrior whom they expected to take down Nightmare seemed a little shaken.
Sophitia Alexandra had seemed a little off the last few days but the others ignored it at her request feeling that she could deal with whatever troubled her. Link however had taken a heavy concern to Cassandra's sister, he had experience several times what it was like to fight with emotion in the way it was a nearly impossible feat. While many onboard would argue that there was no way in hell she could have any positive emotion about Nightmare Link was skeptical. Seeing how the shard of Soul Edge had changed Garen Shiekan, his best friend and partner he could see what the main body could do to a person. Having to look upon that face while fighting would not be easy if they recognized it as somebody else.
Both ships landed at a harbor south of the rougher parts of the country, here they were guaranteed that their ships would be watched and be taken care of, they could also rent some horses or camels for the journey ahead. Taki stepped down off the ship and looked around the harbor, she was dressed in a casual kimono seeing as how she had no need to be wearing her demon slaying attire. She looked down gripping the handle of the Mekki-Maru as she noticed its vibrations. She drew it slowly and held it out and noticed the choice they'd have to make, she sheathed it before shaking her head. This was a real problem.
She looked back lightly as she heard footsteps. The boy she had fought (or chased rather) earlier that week and the Sophitia's sister both stepped off the ship, it was odd that in the last week they had gotten pretty close. Taki smiled mentally at just how open minded the Athenians were, anybody from her country would consider Link an outsider and try to avoid him, if not try to take his head off. From the way Cassandra spoke with him and acted around him Taki was willing to bet she hardly noticed the differences. Taki remembered what it was like to be their age although with her training and the demons it was hard to have any out in the open romance. Though it wasn't to say she lacked any in her history.
Taki mentally kicked herself for both bringing up such thoughts in the middle of this chase and making assumptions on the pair, it wasn't her business anyway to make guesses on the depth of their relationship. She would leave any judgement up to those who had that right, it wasn't like Taki had any sort of connection in any way to the Athenians or the elven swordsman. She looked back as she heard more footsteps, Kilik and Xianghua came down after Link and Cassandra stepped onto the docks to check the ropes holding the ship. Kilik approached Taki still holding his rod.
Taki didn't look back at him as she secured her cursed sword in its sheath her movements very slow showing something was amiss. Kilik looked at her "What's wrong demon huntress?" he asked simply. She looked back before speaking swiftly "Two shards. That's all I feel out there." she said before walking back up toward the ship. Kilik turned toward her "You want to run that by me again?" he practically ordered. Taki looked back huffing "There are two energies. I can't tell if either are the Soul Swords and thus cannot tell if the Azure Nightmare is here." she said. Xianghua looked up crossing her arms over her chest muttering curses in Chinese.
"I think we're having the same problems." Xianghua turned to see Yunsung and Raphael approaching them. Xianghua placed a hand on her sword knowing that it could get ugly being that they were now so close to the sword. Kilik sighed as they approached them "What do the two of you want?" he asked annoyed at their presence. Raphael looked Kilik dead in the eyes having had enough of keeping his cool in the chase for the sword "We want to know where Soul Edge is but we're having no luck with Kyle's sixth sense." the french duelist explained. Taki looked at him from her place on the gangplank "And you actually think that we would tell you, a group of fools that seek to use the sword?" she asked.
Yunsung turned to glare at Taki "Just who the hell are you?" he demanded to know, the woman didn't so much as flinch. She was actually even more steady than Kyle. Link spoke up from behind "I wouldn't, she is not somebody to be insulted randomly." he said before looking back across the ocean. Yunsung looked back at the woman to see than she was no longer there, in the time it took him to look toward Link she had already traveled away from the platform to join Xianghua and Kilik "They are in one of two directions that is for sure. Didn't you say another with you had a much sharper sense of it." Kilik nodded.
Raphael breathed as he looked at Flambert on his belt "It seems that we have to do something and cooperate on it. Strife said it would be wise if both of our groups be prepared before we head off, we should meet outside town, agree on where to go and we can fight over the sword once one of us gets it." "I don't think so." Raphael turned his eyes to see the samurai from India standing there. He stepped down from the gangplank his sword at his side "If we manage to get the sword first it will be destroyed. If you get it you might as well be condemning yourselves because you'll be the new target." Raphael narrowed his eyes at these threats and Yunsung stepped forward "I'd love to see you try." he dared. Mitsurugi huffed at his before turning his attention elsewhere.
Yunsung and Raphael eventually left not wanting to build anymore hostility between the two groups, Cassandra watched as they walked off "They have no clue what they are getting in to." she said with contempt. "True. That is why they should never reach the sword, they're ambition would be in vain at that point." Link said as he watched them walk off. Cassandra looked at the out of town swordsman oddly, he had probably seen his share of action but was he actually concerned for these guys that wanted to continue the existence of that blade? Perhaps he was more merciful than she had originally believed.
Mitsurugi, Kilik and Xianghua eventually started off into town, Cassandra noticed their movements and spoke up "Where are the three of you off to?" she asked rather rudely. Kilik looked back toward her as Link and Taki had returned to the ship to gather what they would need for the journey though it was obvious that the demon slayer doubted the younger warriors ability to make the journey without aid. He soon spoke "It's the desert Cassandra. We're going to see what kind of deal we can on some transportation, or would you rather walk?" Cassandra shrugged before turning to walk back on board "Excuse me for being concerned." she shot back.
Link dropped his bag on the deck as he came up from the holds dropping his shield on top of it as well, at his waist he wore the sword that Sophitia had commissioned her husband to create for him it had stood up well so far. Across his back was the blade that he had brought from his own homeland, the stunning sapphire blue was much more welcome than the dull gray shades of the Athenian blade. Taki spoke up as she noticed this "What need would you have for an extra sword?" she asked him as she spied the obvious better. Link breathed as Taki really didn't seem to trust him, it was obvious she wouldn't buy the Evil Seed story.
Link looked to her and spoke as he reached up to grip the broader blade "Lets just say that this blade will be a great deal more useful if the Soul Edge and this Nightmare are anywhere near the power Sophitia claims." he said before he returned to checking his things. Taki shrugged lightly as she pulled her bag up onto her shoulder looking at the elven "Well I wouldn't concern yourself. Sophitia will be the one fighting Nightmare, after being injured by the Soul Edge and her mental training she is probably immune to any of its temptations, and those who defeated Nightmare first seem to have other plans." she said referring to Kilik and Xianghua.
It didn't take long before all of them had assembled on the dock excluding the likes of Talim and Kutter being that both of them were along with the Four Blades group. Maxi looked back at the brothers who would be staying in town with the ship as well and Juan "I'm trusting you guys with this ship so you'd better take good care of her." he said. Stephan chuckled under his breath at this "I know we will otherwise there will be hell to pay right?" Maxi nodded "Your finally getting it I see." he said before turning and walking off. He looked to Sophitia who walked on ahead something seemed to really be getting to her but it wasn't like she would tell him.
Everybody met up with Kilik, Xianghua and Mitsurugi on the edge of town and they looked into the desert that wasn't far from them Kilik stood out in the sand holding the Kali-Yuga up in front of him in a meditation stance toward the desert. Taki walked ahead of the group to her partner and looked at him expecting an explanation "He's trying to go deeper and see if he can detect which is stronger. Chai had no luck and she has encountered the sword before." Taki didn't like this. Nightmare had obviously felt them and had somehow put a mask over the power of his blade to keep it from being detected, all they could feel was the aura of the blades and fragments. Though the rumors of a small army moving from the coast gave them knowledge that one of the two signals was their target.
Kilik eventually dropped his hands and shook his head "Its no good. The Soul Edge it obviously lying dormant, probably conserving energy for when it is needed. There are two signals of that energy, one to the West and one to the North." Sophitia sighed as she heard this they had to take this gamble now. "Well in that case we will be heading to the West then." everybody turned to see Raphael and the other members of the Four Blades, including the tag alongs Talim and Jack Kutter. Cassandra looked at the french man as he said this knowing that there would probably be conflict as they would expect Nightmare to remain with his people.
Yunsung looked at Talim as she stepped forward taking a breath as she stepped out, Cassandra huffed "Oh great now what?" she asked. Link looked at her "Talim's senses are much purer than our own, she is a priestess after all and she is the one who managed to lead me all the way to your group." Cassandra nodded as Link finished with one major detail "She can apparently read the messages of the wind." Cassandra watched Talim, she wasn't even sure who Talim was with anymore being that she had been hanging with the Four Blades recently.
Talim lowered her hands before she turned back to them "A small group of about fifty people has set out to the West from the coast there is an aura among them however there is also another to the north. I detect a high amount of power from whoever it is. It feels like a fragment." Yunsung spoke up "I say we follow the group. Why would Nightmare wander off like that." Sophitia then cut in deciding to end this.
"Nobody says that Nightmare is even in this area, we cannot be sure if these people on the move are merchants, mercenaries, thieves or a flock of birds. But this could be a win-win situation for both of us. Perhaps the reason we cannot tell which is which is because they both carry fragments and not the swords." Yunsung cut her off at this point "Whoa! Are you telling me that we may not even be near the blades, why did you come here then?!" he shouted. Sophitia looked at him a little annoyed "I felt a very powerful signal, can't say which direction it came from however. But assume the Black Wind is here one of us will walk away with one of the swords or at least a fragment."
There was a tense silence among all of them as Sophitia brought about this theory of hers and the Four Blades didn't know which direction to head in, the shards were valuable to many people and they could be used to track the sword further. Kyle suddenly spoke up "We shall head to the North then." everybody in the group looked at him "Why?" Raphael questioned. Kyle spoke "Think about it. Nightmare is obviously not in the mood with all the shard hunters running around, if I were him I would set out to some remote place while my people do whatever horrible thing they were going to do. And that is of course if these people are the Black Wind." Raphael breathed not wanting any more confrontation between the two groups "Alright we'll do this your way." he grumbled.
Talim looked at her group before taking a breath "I'll be going with them for the time being. I have a feeling that you probably won't need me if you guys are the ones to fight a group like in Istanbul." Jack nodded at Talim's words "I'll go with her. Something tells me that bullets won't do much good if it comes down to it." with this said they both walked to the smaller group. Both of them had their bags but Link's eyes fell upon Talim knowing that she had been tracking something else, he nodded to her, she nodded back unseen.
Mitsurugi looked at Sophitia who stated that she really didn't care, the samurai then turned to Maxi who was essentially the next in command seeing as how he was the one that got them this far on his ship. Maxi turned and nodded his head to them "Alright guys. I suppose we'll need to get some feed back on what happens. We'll wait back at the port for you rather or not our finds turn out valid." Talim and Jack both nodded before walking back to the group who stood at the exiting gates of the town..
Mina held onto the reigns of three horses as she waited, slowly she looked to Kyle who stood there calm and collected as always "What happens if we really do run into Nightmare or De Leon?" she asked. Kyle looked at her simply as he held his own horse "We kill them and keep whatever sword away from both of them, neither of them can be trusted with it." he said as he looked toward Raphael and Yunsung. Kyle spoke again "Yunsung is rash and refuses to reveal his purpose for chasing the sword. Raphael is the same way but doesn't plan to use it only for himself. But apparently that wouldn't matter. That thing is inertly evil." Mina nodded to this.
It wasn't much longer before the group called the Four Blades left along with Talim and Kutter, everybody turned to Sophitia who had given such a display of knowledge on the sword. Maxi spoke up "Hey, did you and Talim take some time to plot this?" he asked her, she looked toward where the Four Blades were heading and nodded. She looked back to them "When I lost my ability to hear the Gods my own pureness began to blur, soon I won't be able to sense anything at all. All I can feel are the auras of the shards and sword but I cannot feel out the difference in strength." she confessed.
She then looked up to them and took a breath "But Talim is different. Her people worship the elements and are able to feel the world through them. She told me she saw it in her dreams. She leader of the dark army moved with his troops and he sent one of his own out into the desert to hunt for another shard. She is leading the Four Blades away. We will definately run into Nightmare." Cassandra breathed having been a little hopeful that they wouldn't run into that sort of opponent. She had heard of Nightmare's rumored skill and ability before he got the Soul Edge and his immense physical power.
Taki looked at Sophitia as she took a deep breath, she stepped forward placing a hand on her cursed weapon "Don't worry. Your not the only one able to feel out the shards. We should continue as soon as possible. We need to catch up to them before they do any damage." Kilik nodded as he held out the reigns to the five horses they had managed to buy "My thoughts exactly. Saddle up." the group took some time to load up their bags onto the horses backs. Sophitia really seemed to be in a depressed state as she climbed up onto one of the six horses. Cassandra was concerned but decided not to approach her.
Sophitia took one horse after loading up her sword, shield and bag, she clutched the reigns as she moved up toward the front. Kilik took one of the larger horses that would be able to support two light people, they would be himself and Xianghua. Kilik then noticed Link looking at one of the horses and smiling "What's up?" he asked simply. Link looked toward him before giving a chuckle "Nothing. Just another thing that reminds me of home." he said before saddling up confident the smaller horse would be able to support him and his equipment.
Mitsurugi look the forth horse which was the largest, with the armor he brought with him he would need a horse with enough muscle to not be slowed by forty plus pounds of metal and wood. Maxi took the fifth horse and looked back "We have a problem." he said toward the others as their final two members were left horseless. Taki rolled her eyes before moving toward Maxi's horse and tying her bag to its side, she then climbed up sitting behind him "Don't get any ideas pirate." she said flat out. Maxi chuckled before looking ahead "I'd never dream of it." he responded.
Cassandra breathed as she first looked toward her sister, it was obvious that a smaller horse would not be able to support both of them and their luggage. Suddenly a voice came "Seems we'll have to ride together." she looked to see Link sitting on the horse he had taken looking toward her welcoming her. Cassandra smiled before she walked over and tied her things to Sophitia's horse and then mounted up behind Link, the colt had no problem carrying both of them. Sophitia spoke up soon enough "We head West. Lets go." she gave her horse a kick and they began moving.
Link looked back as Cassandra as she brought her arms around his abdomen as they would be riding at high speeds once they reached open sands "What is wrong with Sophitia? She doesn't seem as collected as she normally is." he pointed out. Cassandra looked and thought hard unable to see what the problem was "I really don't know. I don't think I've ever really seen her like this before, its almost as if she has lost that amount of determination she has always carried while going after the sword." Link looked back ahead as the horse began to trot into the sand. Emotions. He could tell. The biggest disadvantage one could have in battle.
The group rode the rest of the day and into the night until they all found themselves tired from fatigue and stopped to rest. Obviously stopping in the middle of the desert was far from a good idea so they continued until they found some of the large rock formations that seemed to honey comb the rugged desert. Two tents were set up to shield the group from the wind and between the two tents was a fire where most of them sat around. Kilik and Xianghua were tending to the horses and Sophitia had taken one of them and said she would be back soon before riding out, her frustration seemed to have been much higher at this point.
Maxi winced once again as Mitsurugi dragged a rough piece of steel down the edge of his sword effectively sharpening it "You sharpen it any more it will end up going right through its sheath." Maxi complained. Link nodded as his more sensitive ears were taking in even more of the scratching sound "I concur." he stated. Taki looked at Maxi before speaking up "He does this when he's waiting. Sophitia has been gone some time. Do you know where she went?" Taki said as she looked toward Cassandra who sat next to Link.
Cassandra looked out to the south which was the direction her sister had headed in "I don't know. She just said that she needed some time to get her head together before any confrontation and then rode off. Something is troubling her." Mitsurugi stopped in mid stroke before looking to the younger Athenian "I don't care if I don't know her but that is the last thing we need before we go into battle. It would probably be a good idea if you go and talk to her." Maxi looked up not expecting such a display of human concern from the ever serious samurai.
Taki nodded to Cassandra "You are her sister after all." the younger Athenian sighed before she stood up brushing herself off and walked toward the horses. "Hey." she heard from behind, she turned just in time to catch her sword and shield. Link stepped up to her carrying his own "I'll go with you. If these deserts are anything like the ones I've been through their crawling with thieves among other things." with this said they quickly picked a horse that wasn't sleeping and headed out into the desert following the hoof prints left behind by the other.
Next Chapter: Emotions Conflict
Cassandra and Link eventually find a very restless and frustrated Sophitia, they do however manage to learn the truth as to why she cannot go against Nightmare again. Meanwhile Mitsurugi and the others discuss a few things, that is until going off track and into one another's personal lives. Something that Taki Moyika has never been gifted at speaking of.
YOU REVIEW ME!! I KEEP WRITING!! COME ON!! WHO DO YOU ALL THINK SHOULD FIGHT WHO IN THE UPCOMING?!
Author's Notes: I did a little bit of revising namely changing Zack's name to Jack for the sake of the story and time, I think it sounds a little better for a former pirate gone mercenary.
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Soul Calibur II: Of Souls And Swords
Chapter Twenty-One: Final Preparation
It was another three days at sea for the Eternal Wind who had taken off in hopes of beating the Four Blades to the Soul Edge, they felt they couldn't risk them getting to it first. Unfortunately thanks to Kyle and Raphael's persistence and Naoyuki's skill at piloting the swift Nightwraith they had caught up in no time and the Eternal Wind had been having a hard enough time keeping up with the Nightwraith until they finally reached the coast of Oman. Everybody seemed to be prepared to face them on both sides however the one warrior whom they expected to take down Nightmare seemed a little shaken.
Sophitia Alexandra had seemed a little off the last few days but the others ignored it at her request feeling that she could deal with whatever troubled her. Link however had taken a heavy concern to Cassandra's sister, he had experience several times what it was like to fight with emotion in the way it was a nearly impossible feat. While many onboard would argue that there was no way in hell she could have any positive emotion about Nightmare Link was skeptical. Seeing how the shard of Soul Edge had changed Garen Shiekan, his best friend and partner he could see what the main body could do to a person. Having to look upon that face while fighting would not be easy if they recognized it as somebody else.
Both ships landed at a harbor south of the rougher parts of the country, here they were guaranteed that their ships would be watched and be taken care of, they could also rent some horses or camels for the journey ahead. Taki stepped down off the ship and looked around the harbor, she was dressed in a casual kimono seeing as how she had no need to be wearing her demon slaying attire. She looked down gripping the handle of the Mekki-Maru as she noticed its vibrations. She drew it slowly and held it out and noticed the choice they'd have to make, she sheathed it before shaking her head. This was a real problem.
She looked back lightly as she heard footsteps. The boy she had fought (or chased rather) earlier that week and the Sophitia's sister both stepped off the ship, it was odd that in the last week they had gotten pretty close. Taki smiled mentally at just how open minded the Athenians were, anybody from her country would consider Link an outsider and try to avoid him, if not try to take his head off. From the way Cassandra spoke with him and acted around him Taki was willing to bet she hardly noticed the differences. Taki remembered what it was like to be their age although with her training and the demons it was hard to have any out in the open romance. Though it wasn't to say she lacked any in her history.
Taki mentally kicked herself for both bringing up such thoughts in the middle of this chase and making assumptions on the pair, it wasn't her business anyway to make guesses on the depth of their relationship. She would leave any judgement up to those who had that right, it wasn't like Taki had any sort of connection in any way to the Athenians or the elven swordsman. She looked back as she heard more footsteps, Kilik and Xianghua came down after Link and Cassandra stepped onto the docks to check the ropes holding the ship. Kilik approached Taki still holding his rod.
Taki didn't look back at him as she secured her cursed sword in its sheath her movements very slow showing something was amiss. Kilik looked at her "What's wrong demon huntress?" he asked simply. She looked back before speaking swiftly "Two shards. That's all I feel out there." she said before walking back up toward the ship. Kilik turned toward her "You want to run that by me again?" he practically ordered. Taki looked back huffing "There are two energies. I can't tell if either are the Soul Swords and thus cannot tell if the Azure Nightmare is here." she said. Xianghua looked up crossing her arms over her chest muttering curses in Chinese.
"I think we're having the same problems." Xianghua turned to see Yunsung and Raphael approaching them. Xianghua placed a hand on her sword knowing that it could get ugly being that they were now so close to the sword. Kilik sighed as they approached them "What do the two of you want?" he asked annoyed at their presence. Raphael looked Kilik dead in the eyes having had enough of keeping his cool in the chase for the sword "We want to know where Soul Edge is but we're having no luck with Kyle's sixth sense." the french duelist explained. Taki looked at him from her place on the gangplank "And you actually think that we would tell you, a group of fools that seek to use the sword?" she asked.
Yunsung turned to glare at Taki "Just who the hell are you?" he demanded to know, the woman didn't so much as flinch. She was actually even more steady than Kyle. Link spoke up from behind "I wouldn't, she is not somebody to be insulted randomly." he said before looking back across the ocean. Yunsung looked back at the woman to see than she was no longer there, in the time it took him to look toward Link she had already traveled away from the platform to join Xianghua and Kilik "They are in one of two directions that is for sure. Didn't you say another with you had a much sharper sense of it." Kilik nodded.
Raphael breathed as he looked at Flambert on his belt "It seems that we have to do something and cooperate on it. Strife said it would be wise if both of our groups be prepared before we head off, we should meet outside town, agree on where to go and we can fight over the sword once one of us gets it." "I don't think so." Raphael turned his eyes to see the samurai from India standing there. He stepped down from the gangplank his sword at his side "If we manage to get the sword first it will be destroyed. If you get it you might as well be condemning yourselves because you'll be the new target." Raphael narrowed his eyes at these threats and Yunsung stepped forward "I'd love to see you try." he dared. Mitsurugi huffed at his before turning his attention elsewhere.
Yunsung and Raphael eventually left not wanting to build anymore hostility between the two groups, Cassandra watched as they walked off "They have no clue what they are getting in to." she said with contempt. "True. That is why they should never reach the sword, they're ambition would be in vain at that point." Link said as he watched them walk off. Cassandra looked at the out of town swordsman oddly, he had probably seen his share of action but was he actually concerned for these guys that wanted to continue the existence of that blade? Perhaps he was more merciful than she had originally believed.
Mitsurugi, Kilik and Xianghua eventually started off into town, Cassandra noticed their movements and spoke up "Where are the three of you off to?" she asked rather rudely. Kilik looked back toward her as Link and Taki had returned to the ship to gather what they would need for the journey though it was obvious that the demon slayer doubted the younger warriors ability to make the journey without aid. He soon spoke "It's the desert Cassandra. We're going to see what kind of deal we can on some transportation, or would you rather walk?" Cassandra shrugged before turning to walk back on board "Excuse me for being concerned." she shot back.
Link dropped his bag on the deck as he came up from the holds dropping his shield on top of it as well, at his waist he wore the sword that Sophitia had commissioned her husband to create for him it had stood up well so far. Across his back was the blade that he had brought from his own homeland, the stunning sapphire blue was much more welcome than the dull gray shades of the Athenian blade. Taki spoke up as she noticed this "What need would you have for an extra sword?" she asked him as she spied the obvious better. Link breathed as Taki really didn't seem to trust him, it was obvious she wouldn't buy the Evil Seed story.
Link looked to her and spoke as he reached up to grip the broader blade "Lets just say that this blade will be a great deal more useful if the Soul Edge and this Nightmare are anywhere near the power Sophitia claims." he said before he returned to checking his things. Taki shrugged lightly as she pulled her bag up onto her shoulder looking at the elven "Well I wouldn't concern yourself. Sophitia will be the one fighting Nightmare, after being injured by the Soul Edge and her mental training she is probably immune to any of its temptations, and those who defeated Nightmare first seem to have other plans." she said referring to Kilik and Xianghua.
It didn't take long before all of them had assembled on the dock excluding the likes of Talim and Kutter being that both of them were along with the Four Blades group. Maxi looked back at the brothers who would be staying in town with the ship as well and Juan "I'm trusting you guys with this ship so you'd better take good care of her." he said. Stephan chuckled under his breath at this "I know we will otherwise there will be hell to pay right?" Maxi nodded "Your finally getting it I see." he said before turning and walking off. He looked to Sophitia who walked on ahead something seemed to really be getting to her but it wasn't like she would tell him.
Everybody met up with Kilik, Xianghua and Mitsurugi on the edge of town and they looked into the desert that wasn't far from them Kilik stood out in the sand holding the Kali-Yuga up in front of him in a meditation stance toward the desert. Taki walked ahead of the group to her partner and looked at him expecting an explanation "He's trying to go deeper and see if he can detect which is stronger. Chai had no luck and she has encountered the sword before." Taki didn't like this. Nightmare had obviously felt them and had somehow put a mask over the power of his blade to keep it from being detected, all they could feel was the aura of the blades and fragments. Though the rumors of a small army moving from the coast gave them knowledge that one of the two signals was their target.
Kilik eventually dropped his hands and shook his head "Its no good. The Soul Edge it obviously lying dormant, probably conserving energy for when it is needed. There are two signals of that energy, one to the West and one to the North." Sophitia sighed as she heard this they had to take this gamble now. "Well in that case we will be heading to the West then." everybody turned to see Raphael and the other members of the Four Blades, including the tag alongs Talim and Jack Kutter. Cassandra looked at the french man as he said this knowing that there would probably be conflict as they would expect Nightmare to remain with his people.
Yunsung looked at Talim as she stepped forward taking a breath as she stepped out, Cassandra huffed "Oh great now what?" she asked. Link looked at her "Talim's senses are much purer than our own, she is a priestess after all and she is the one who managed to lead me all the way to your group." Cassandra nodded as Link finished with one major detail "She can apparently read the messages of the wind." Cassandra watched Talim, she wasn't even sure who Talim was with anymore being that she had been hanging with the Four Blades recently.
Talim lowered her hands before she turned back to them "A small group of about fifty people has set out to the West from the coast there is an aura among them however there is also another to the north. I detect a high amount of power from whoever it is. It feels like a fragment." Yunsung spoke up "I say we follow the group. Why would Nightmare wander off like that." Sophitia then cut in deciding to end this.
"Nobody says that Nightmare is even in this area, we cannot be sure if these people on the move are merchants, mercenaries, thieves or a flock of birds. But this could be a win-win situation for both of us. Perhaps the reason we cannot tell which is which is because they both carry fragments and not the swords." Yunsung cut her off at this point "Whoa! Are you telling me that we may not even be near the blades, why did you come here then?!" he shouted. Sophitia looked at him a little annoyed "I felt a very powerful signal, can't say which direction it came from however. But assume the Black Wind is here one of us will walk away with one of the swords or at least a fragment."
There was a tense silence among all of them as Sophitia brought about this theory of hers and the Four Blades didn't know which direction to head in, the shards were valuable to many people and they could be used to track the sword further. Kyle suddenly spoke up "We shall head to the North then." everybody in the group looked at him "Why?" Raphael questioned. Kyle spoke "Think about it. Nightmare is obviously not in the mood with all the shard hunters running around, if I were him I would set out to some remote place while my people do whatever horrible thing they were going to do. And that is of course if these people are the Black Wind." Raphael breathed not wanting any more confrontation between the two groups "Alright we'll do this your way." he grumbled.
Talim looked at her group before taking a breath "I'll be going with them for the time being. I have a feeling that you probably won't need me if you guys are the ones to fight a group like in Istanbul." Jack nodded at Talim's words "I'll go with her. Something tells me that bullets won't do much good if it comes down to it." with this said they both walked to the smaller group. Both of them had their bags but Link's eyes fell upon Talim knowing that she had been tracking something else, he nodded to her, she nodded back unseen.
Mitsurugi looked at Sophitia who stated that she really didn't care, the samurai then turned to Maxi who was essentially the next in command seeing as how he was the one that got them this far on his ship. Maxi turned and nodded his head to them "Alright guys. I suppose we'll need to get some feed back on what happens. We'll wait back at the port for you rather or not our finds turn out valid." Talim and Jack both nodded before walking back to the group who stood at the exiting gates of the town..
Mina held onto the reigns of three horses as she waited, slowly she looked to Kyle who stood there calm and collected as always "What happens if we really do run into Nightmare or De Leon?" she asked. Kyle looked at her simply as he held his own horse "We kill them and keep whatever sword away from both of them, neither of them can be trusted with it." he said as he looked toward Raphael and Yunsung. Kyle spoke again "Yunsung is rash and refuses to reveal his purpose for chasing the sword. Raphael is the same way but doesn't plan to use it only for himself. But apparently that wouldn't matter. That thing is inertly evil." Mina nodded to this.
It wasn't much longer before the group called the Four Blades left along with Talim and Kutter, everybody turned to Sophitia who had given such a display of knowledge on the sword. Maxi spoke up "Hey, did you and Talim take some time to plot this?" he asked her, she looked toward where the Four Blades were heading and nodded. She looked back to them "When I lost my ability to hear the Gods my own pureness began to blur, soon I won't be able to sense anything at all. All I can feel are the auras of the shards and sword but I cannot feel out the difference in strength." she confessed.
She then looked up to them and took a breath "But Talim is different. Her people worship the elements and are able to feel the world through them. She told me she saw it in her dreams. She leader of the dark army moved with his troops and he sent one of his own out into the desert to hunt for another shard. She is leading the Four Blades away. We will definately run into Nightmare." Cassandra breathed having been a little hopeful that they wouldn't run into that sort of opponent. She had heard of Nightmare's rumored skill and ability before he got the Soul Edge and his immense physical power.
Taki looked at Sophitia as she took a deep breath, she stepped forward placing a hand on her cursed weapon "Don't worry. Your not the only one able to feel out the shards. We should continue as soon as possible. We need to catch up to them before they do any damage." Kilik nodded as he held out the reigns to the five horses they had managed to buy "My thoughts exactly. Saddle up." the group took some time to load up their bags onto the horses backs. Sophitia really seemed to be in a depressed state as she climbed up onto one of the six horses. Cassandra was concerned but decided not to approach her.
Sophitia took one horse after loading up her sword, shield and bag, she clutched the reigns as she moved up toward the front. Kilik took one of the larger horses that would be able to support two light people, they would be himself and Xianghua. Kilik then noticed Link looking at one of the horses and smiling "What's up?" he asked simply. Link looked toward him before giving a chuckle "Nothing. Just another thing that reminds me of home." he said before saddling up confident the smaller horse would be able to support him and his equipment.
Mitsurugi look the forth horse which was the largest, with the armor he brought with him he would need a horse with enough muscle to not be slowed by forty plus pounds of metal and wood. Maxi took the fifth horse and looked back "We have a problem." he said toward the others as their final two members were left horseless. Taki rolled her eyes before moving toward Maxi's horse and tying her bag to its side, she then climbed up sitting behind him "Don't get any ideas pirate." she said flat out. Maxi chuckled before looking ahead "I'd never dream of it." he responded.
Cassandra breathed as she first looked toward her sister, it was obvious that a smaller horse would not be able to support both of them and their luggage. Suddenly a voice came "Seems we'll have to ride together." she looked to see Link sitting on the horse he had taken looking toward her welcoming her. Cassandra smiled before she walked over and tied her things to Sophitia's horse and then mounted up behind Link, the colt had no problem carrying both of them. Sophitia spoke up soon enough "We head West. Lets go." she gave her horse a kick and they began moving.
Link looked back as Cassandra as she brought her arms around his abdomen as they would be riding at high speeds once they reached open sands "What is wrong with Sophitia? She doesn't seem as collected as she normally is." he pointed out. Cassandra looked and thought hard unable to see what the problem was "I really don't know. I don't think I've ever really seen her like this before, its almost as if she has lost that amount of determination she has always carried while going after the sword." Link looked back ahead as the horse began to trot into the sand. Emotions. He could tell. The biggest disadvantage one could have in battle.
The group rode the rest of the day and into the night until they all found themselves tired from fatigue and stopped to rest. Obviously stopping in the middle of the desert was far from a good idea so they continued until they found some of the large rock formations that seemed to honey comb the rugged desert. Two tents were set up to shield the group from the wind and between the two tents was a fire where most of them sat around. Kilik and Xianghua were tending to the horses and Sophitia had taken one of them and said she would be back soon before riding out, her frustration seemed to have been much higher at this point.
Maxi winced once again as Mitsurugi dragged a rough piece of steel down the edge of his sword effectively sharpening it "You sharpen it any more it will end up going right through its sheath." Maxi complained. Link nodded as his more sensitive ears were taking in even more of the scratching sound "I concur." he stated. Taki looked at Maxi before speaking up "He does this when he's waiting. Sophitia has been gone some time. Do you know where she went?" Taki said as she looked toward Cassandra who sat next to Link.
Cassandra looked out to the south which was the direction her sister had headed in "I don't know. She just said that she needed some time to get her head together before any confrontation and then rode off. Something is troubling her." Mitsurugi stopped in mid stroke before looking to the younger Athenian "I don't care if I don't know her but that is the last thing we need before we go into battle. It would probably be a good idea if you go and talk to her." Maxi looked up not expecting such a display of human concern from the ever serious samurai.
Taki nodded to Cassandra "You are her sister after all." the younger Athenian sighed before she stood up brushing herself off and walked toward the horses. "Hey." she heard from behind, she turned just in time to catch her sword and shield. Link stepped up to her carrying his own "I'll go with you. If these deserts are anything like the ones I've been through their crawling with thieves among other things." with this said they quickly picked a horse that wasn't sleeping and headed out into the desert following the hoof prints left behind by the other.
Next Chapter: Emotions Conflict
Cassandra and Link eventually find a very restless and frustrated Sophitia, they do however manage to learn the truth as to why she cannot go against Nightmare again. Meanwhile Mitsurugi and the others discuss a few things, that is until going off track and into one another's personal lives. Something that Taki Moyika has never been gifted at speaking of.
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