Beauty and the Beast
Well, it's here. The last chapter of my first ever Soul Calibur story. Enjoy. (I hope.)
Disclaimer: I own nothing. Well, maybe a shoelace. You never know when you're gonna need a shoelace.
With a final resounding crash, the iron gates gave way, falling to the ground with a clatter of ringing metal.
With a thunderous roar, the mob charged through the main doors of the castle, brandishing crude weapons, shouting the death of the nightmare that resided within.
Swarming through the seemingly deserted castle, they essentially ransacked the entire area, pulling down and smashing valuable artifacts, portraits, anything that seemed able to be destroyed, was.
Meanwhile, Raphael strode purposefully through the gloom of the vast bastion, his eyes narrowed, rapier drawn from its scabbard. He had but one goal for coming to this godforsaken place. Let the mob- fools that they were- destroy a potential fortune. He had bigger fish to fry.
They swept through the area, until at last they came to a vast staircase leading to the higher levels of the castle. At the top of the steps stood a single figure in raven hair, eyes half shut as she gripped two strange blades in her hands.
"None shall pass." She said softly, yet with enough force that her voice carried throughout the chamber. There was soft muttering from the crowd, until finally one of them in the crowd yelled at her.
"Get outta the way, girl! You wanna get hurt?"
Her only response was to settle down into a fighting stance, eyes narrowed. The people stared at each other uncertainly for a minute, then two of the boldest charged up the stairs, swinging weapons.
A clash of steel, and Talim parried the first blow quickly. Pivoting, she lashed with her foot, knocking the first of her assailants down the stairs. The second lunged forward, knife in hand, ready to strike.
Before he got anywhere close, his knife was knocked harmlessly out of his hands, as Yunsung stepped into view from the shadows.
Together, the pair advanced quickly down the stairs, weapons flashing as the beat back the raging mob. Twisting, whirling, lunging, they were soon at the foot of the stairs, back to back, facing the angry but increasingly uncertain mob.
"Remember, no harm, only disarm." Talim said, weapons at the ready.
"I know that!" Yunsung snapped.
And the battle began in earnest.
Gasping for breath, Cassandra cracked the reins, urging Archimedes ever forward. The frigid air seared her lungs as she narrowed her eyes, trying to see beyond the next turn, the next swerve.
The mob had left definite signs of their rampage through the forest, and through these, coupled with her memory of when she had tried to flee the castle, she was able to retrace her route efficiently.
Please, God, She thought. Don't let me be too late.
The wind whipped at her as the infernal rain drummed down relentlessly, forcing her eyes closed. A tiny sob escaped her throat as she ducked her head, trusting Archimedes to follow the path.
Don't let Siegfried die.
The villagers had expected to confront a solitary monster hiding or cowering somewhere within the deep recesses of the castle, and that the monster would primarily be left to 'someone else' while they took part in the credit of killing the beast.
They had certainly not expected to deal with a troupe of fighters, all armed and skilled, driving them back towards the entrance. A young black-haired girl wielding twin blades, efficiently disarming them and drawing little-to-no blood at all. A red-haired youth with a curved sword and lightning-fast kicks that had left more than a dozen of their compatriots lying dazed and semi-conscious on the floor.
And out of some twisted nightmare, a hulking green beast swinging his muscular arms, tossing people like hay. A lithe-limbed, serpentine creature weaving and twisting through the crowd, his weapons striking seemingly at random. Many a villager suddenly felt pain explode about their shins and collapsed, clutching their wounds and cursing.
And a being composed seemingly of living rock, turning, changing, always melding his fighting capabilities to best face any foes he encountered.
Together, the five of them steadily pushed the mob closer and closer towards the entrance, their skill only surpassed by their teamwork. This the villagers hadn't counted on. Shaky determination gave way to surprise then to confusion and panic and finally blank fear.
Suddenly, as one, heeding some unseen, unknown signal, they turned and fled, yowling, past the shattered gates, into the dark trees, until finally even the sounds of their voices died away to the sound of the drumming rain
Talim slumped, her weapons dropping from limp hands with a clatter. "That… should do it." She said, in between gasps for breath.
"Stupid." Yunsung grumbled, running a hand through his hair. "As if we didn't have enough problems already. What got them so riled up anyway?"
"Far as I could tell, they were screaming something about a beast." Talim brushed a loose strand of hair out of her eyes. "They weren't referring to master Siegfried, were they?"
"Gzhng dzhn nitrss!" Necrid offered.
"Good point." Talim shook her head wearily and sighed. I'm going back to check on him. I always feel like he's my responsibility."
Turning, she headed back towards the fortress.
The shadows his greatest protection, Raphael Sorel lingered outside the entrance to the ruined chapel, his eyes cold and hard. The grip on his rapier tightened.
Silhouetted in the strange crimson light that bathed the room but somehow never spilled out past the doorway, the hulking from of the monster was clearly visible.
A thin smile graced the face of Raphael as he stepped into the ruined arena. Once the monster had been slain, he would be hailed as a hero among the townsfolk, and then he could figure out how to turn popular opinion in favour of him and Cassandra marrying. Right now, however…
The hellish red glow splashed bloody highlights on Flambert as he raised it, the sharpened tip pointing straight at the beast. "My, you're even more hideous in person." He taunted.
The figure shifted. Turned. Hooded eyes observed him silently. As far as Raphael could discern, it carried no weapon.
"What's the matter? Why are you silent? Too scared to move?" Raphael continued.
No reply. Out of the corner of his eyes, Raphael noted what appeared to be a splendid looking sword that apparently had an eye affixed in the blade. He grinned to himself. Once the beast was finished, the blade would be his- as well as anything of value in the castle.
The two stood there for an endless moment as rain spattered over the area, falling from the eternal heavens. Raphael smirked. The creature obviously didn't have much in way of fighting spirit, and would be an easy kill, but the villagers didn't need to know that. The cruel smile on his face widened.
His shifted his weight slightly- slid one foot forward- and lunged.
Those villagers that had rushed past… Cassandra's brow furrowed as she stared from her hiding place in a thicket. Had the issue at the castle already been settled?
She glanced around nervously once more. She had to make sure. Saddling Archimedes again, she urged him into a gallop, heading once again for the castle.
Pain. Waves of jagged fire that swept through his body and heart. A horrendous symphony of agony that threatened to drive him into the abyss.
He glared at the arrogant swordsman in front of him. He could feel two- no, three- gashes cut through his torso. All of the potentially fatal.
The swordsman smirked. "Why, you're barely even worth the trouble of killing after all. Cassandra said something about you being kind and gentle… she always was naïve, that girl…"
Cassandra? Siegfried bared his teeth, that act unseen by the swordsman.
"Slow and spiritless would have been far better descriptions!" A boot slammed into his chest, propelling him backwards, through the stained glass window. Amid the sound of tinkling glass, he heard the crunch of the swordsman's boots as they carefully stepped out of the window.
"Let us end it…"
For an instant, Siegfried considered rising up and throttling the man, but that thought vanished as soon as it appeared. Without Cassandra, nothing seemed worth it anymore.
He took a long, shuddering breath, trying to prop himself up. His eyes squeezed shut; he heard only the drumming rain-
And a loud cry from the gate. "Siegfried!"
He opened one bloodied eye. "Cassandra?"
Her eyes wide open, she stared, horrified, at the drama far above her. From this distance, she could not make out exactly what Siegfried's wounds were, but she knew they had to be bad, based on how he was moving.
Behind him stood Raphael, arm cocked in a stance that suggested he was just waiting for Siegfried to rise before he striked again.
She couldn't help herself. A cry of rage, despair, and grief tore at her throat, and she cried out his name, as loud as she could. "Siegfried!" The sound burst from her, only to be cast away into the stormy night-
No! Siegfried raised his head, staring down her. He had heard her! In an instant, she had leapt to the ground, and took off at a dead sprint for the castle. Even as she ran, her mind pulled out a mental map of the castle, already remembering and deciding on the shortest route from the main entrance to the chapel.
Praying that she would not be too late, she vanished into the dark hallways.
Cassandra! The world shriveled down to a single moment of clarity.
Cassandra had returned. She had come back- for him.
He had something to live for, once again.
He heard the thud of the swordsman's boot behind him, and a tiny tap as the rapier rapped against the stone ledge.
"What, you're already too weak to get up?" The annoyed voice came from behind him. "Bah. I guess I'll just have to finish you now th-"
He never finished that sentence. Siegfried rolled, his human arm reaching out to grasp the swordsman's jacket. Yanking him closer, he slammed his demon fist into the swordsman's face, propelling him into the castle wall.
Siegfried clambered to his feet, and as the swordsman desperately fumbled for his rapier, Siegfried slammed his boot onto it, preventing the man from picking him up. A slight kick, and it was sent spiraling off the edge.
The swordsman stared at Siegfried with terrified eyes. "M-mercy," He pleaded. "Mercy! I'll do anything! I… I…"
Siegfried's demon arm flexed, ready to throttle the life out the insolent-
And paused. In the terrified, cowering man's visage, he saw himself. Himself as he had once been- arrogant, prideful, filled with greed and avarice. Himself as he would have been, had not a drastic measure imposed so long ago set him on the first, long step towards repentance.
He squeezed his eyes shut, feeling burning rage slowly seep out, replacing the incinerating core in his heart with a strange weariness.
"Go." He whispered to the swordsman, before turning back towards the chapel. And may your path to redemption be nowhere near as harsh as mine.
He stepped over the shattered window, into the castle, where Cassandra would be waiting for him.
She ran past the startled Talim, who gave a startled cry "Cass-!" and then took off running after her as well. Heart pounding, mind pleading, she rounded the corner and threw open the chapel doors as hard as she could. The slammed off the stones walls with a reverberating thud, echoing through the night air. The roofless chapel still allowed rain through, but the thunderstorm seemed to be dying down. The crimson glow still saturated the entire area, bathing the massive court in the hellish glow.
But all this faded from her mind as she beheld him, standing there, in the middle of the ruinous chapel was Siegfried, beaten but unbowed. He smiled, that gentle smile she knew and loved so well. "Cassandra…"
He was safe! Instantly she was a dead run, arms outstretched to embrace him, to hold him close, safe in the knowledge that they were together again, now and forever-
And Raphael, from behind, plunged a dagger as deep as he could into Siegfried's back. Time stood still for a frozen instant- then Siegfried's eyes widened from a second, and a strangled groan as he slumped onto the ground.
"Take that, monster!" Raphael's scream of triumph likewise echoed through the endless sky. "I've done it! I alone! Ha! I have slain the beast! Ahahahaha-"
The red glow surrounding the Soul Edge exploded into crimson haze, obscuring all vision. In the red mist, Raphael's laughter abruptly dissolved into a scream of pure terror that went on and on and… stopped. The only sound now was of Cassandra's panicked gasps and Siegfried's laboured breaths as they attempted to find each other.
Then the mist disappeared, and Raphael was vanished, nowhere to be seen- but she saw out of the corner of her eye that the red sword seemed almost pleased. However, that quickly melted from her mind as she beheld Siegfried lying facedown, blood pooling slowly under him.
Moving without thinking, she crouched down by his side, and slowly began to turn him over. Midway through, he coughed, and she saw another dark stain appear on the ground.
His head lolled weakly from side to side, but he opened his eyes enough to glance at her. "Cass… Cassandra…" He took in a deep breath. "You came back." A ghost of a smile found its way onto his face. "Thank you for… letting me see you one… last… time…" Behind them, Talim stood, eyes wide with horror. A second later, Yunsung appeared, and ground to a halt at the scene before them.
"No! Don't talk like that! You're going to be alright!" Cassandra muttered desperately. "Just… just hang on! We'll get you help!"
But Siegfried's eyes were closed, and he made no reply.
Cassandra fought back a sob, and grasped him tighter. "No! Please! You can't die! Not here! Not now! You- you can't!" There was no response.
"Please…" She whimpered as she buried her head on his chest, tears flowing freely down her face. "Please, no… You can't… I…" Her voice had shrunk to nothing but a tiny whispered as her body was wracked with sobs. "I… I love you…" She whispered.
For a long moment she remained in that position, eyes squeezed shut as if to stem the flow of tears. Then her eyes snapped open. What was that? Had she felt… movement?
She glanced up hurriedly wiping tears from his eyes as Siegfried shifted slightly, and uttered a soft groan. Abruptly, the crimson glow that had poured forth from the one-eyed blade vanished from the entire room, as if someone had snuffed a candle. The only light now was the one pouring forth from… Siegfried's body?
Cassandra took a step back, one half of her afraid, and her other half unwilling to leave Siegfried. The golden light that bathed him increased in brightness and intensity until all present had to shield their eyes from the glare.
Slowly, slowly the rays of shining light began to fade, leaving a bewildered Siegfried standing there, staring at his arms… his human arms.
"I…" He began in bewildered tone of voice. "I…" Then he glanced up and saw Cassandra again. "Cassandra! Look! I… my arm… It's… me."
Cassandra, meanwhile, was staring stock still, hardly able to believe her eyes. It was him! Alive, his wounds virtually gone… He was alive!
The next thing she knew was the feeling of launching herself into his arms, and holding him close, half-afraid that he was some ghost that would vanish when touched. But he wasn't a ghost. He was alive, freed of whatever curse that had plagued him for so long, and holding her close in turn.
A tap on their shoulder brought them back to reality. "Ah," Talim smiled. "But perhaps you would do us the honour of allowing us to share in your joy?"
A few hours later, Cassandra sat beside Siegfried on the castle walls, staring at the first rays of themorning sun. The lifting of the curse has changed the castle imperceptibly- everything now seemed cheerier and more lively. It hadn't been long before Rothion and Sophitia had arrived, wondering what exactly had happened. An apology from Siegfried, a 'that's quite all right' from Sophitia, and an invitation to stay at the castle later, and Cassandra would no longer have to worry about being separated from either her love or her family.
Siegfried turned to look at her. "What are you thinking about?"
"Oh? Nothing much… just you."
Siegfried's smile grew wider. "You saved me, you know. I'd never… I'd never thought anyone could fall in love with someone like me."
"Well, I proved us both wrong, didn't I?"
There was a slight chuckle, and then Siegfried turned to look at her. "Cassandra…"
"Hm?"
"I don't suppose this would be an appropriate time to discuss marriage?"
She let a slow smile spread across her face as she turned to face him. "Oh, I don't know. The very idea of there being a better time eludes me."
Siegfried smiled, leaned in close, and then the rest of the world dissolved as their lips met. Cassandra trembled slightly at the surges of emotion and sensation running through her. Then they both pulled away softly, their unspoken comment nevertheless clearly felt by each other.
I love you.
Then nothing more was said as she eased herself into an embrace, eyes closed, basking in the glow of their love.
And as for after that? Well, you know what they say…
They lived happily ever after.
Finished! Thanks for reading! You've been a wonderful audience. (Sorta. Kinda. Can we really consider you an audience?)
Please review!