Disclaimer: I don't own SC. But that's pretty obvious, huh?

this – Is flashback

this – Is thoughts

Chapter 1: Promise

Ivy stood in the doorway, her turquoise eyes wide, and her mind completely blank. There was only one phrase that was running through her head.

It's Siegfried…

Siegfried's lips upturned into a half-smile at Ivy's shocked form. He took the hilt of Soul Calibur in one hand, and waved the other hand in front of Ivy's face, chuckling softly.

"Ivy?" he questioned, raising an eyebrow.

The white-haired woman suddenly returned to her normal state, and frowned at Siegfried's actions.

"I'm fine, you dolt. What the hell are you here for?" she snapped, irritably.

"You don't want my present, Ivy?" Siegfried teased, holding Soul Calibur out to the white-haired woman.

"Sorry, but I'm not taking gifts from suitors." Ivy replied smartly, folding her arms.

"Oh Ivy…you really haven't changed a bit." Siegfried commented, still holding out the sword for Ivy to take.

It was true. The last time he had traveled with the alchemist, they had practically bickered the entire time of their journey. In the end, they had split, taking their own paths to try and achieve a common goal. However Siegfried had been the one to destroy Soul Edge…

"Ivy…may I ask…when we split-"

"Siegfried, you make it sound like we were involved in some sort of way." Ivy muttered, leaning against the doorframe.

"You didn't let me finish, now did you? When we split ways, what exactly happened? Where did you go? What did you do?" Siegfried asked.

Ivy became silent rather quickly, and she wrapped her arms around herself, her head down, as she stared at a nonexistent point on the ground.

"Ivy-"

"Siegfried, let's go inside." Ivy interrupted, turning around and walking into the mansion. Hesitantly, Siegfried followed, sheathing Soul Calibur before he did so, and closing the door behind him. The German man walked into the parlor, sitting down opposite of the white-haired temptress, who was resting her chin on her hand, frowning deeply. Her turquoise eyes stared into the fire in the fireplace; thoughts all jumbled, words not forming in her mouth.

"Ivy…I can guess if you want me to…otherwise you're going to have to say something…" Siegfried murmured gently. "Please, Ivy…what happened?"

There was a pause for only several moments, but for Siegfried, it seemed like an eternity. Ivy heaved a sigh, shifted in her chair, and then looked at Siegfried, capturing his full attention with her turquoise eyes, mirroring her troubled soul and conscience.

"I fought, and killed my father."

"You did what?" Siegfried asked, his eyes wide. "You…you really did it? You really killed Cervantes?"

"…yes."

Odd. Siegfried thought that Ivy would have been more animated about Cervantes' death. Granted, he didn't know all the details about what happened…but still…

"I would think that you would be happier about something like this…" Siegfried commented casually, taking Requiem off of his back, and placing it on the floor near the chair.

"Oh, I'm happy…I'm…ecstatic…really I am…" Ivy replied, almost in a monotone voice. "It's just…now he's dead…I have to fulfill my promise…"

"Promise?" Siegfried's ears perked up at this. Ivy's voice was starting to sound unnatural…almost like an out of tune violin string that had been plucked, especially when she had said that word.

"Siegfried…you're so daft, you know that?" the white-haired woman questioned with a bitter laugh. "After all the time we spent together traveling, you don't even remember what I said I was planning on doing once Soul Edge was destroyed? Not even a hint of a memory?"

She didn't need to say anymore. Oh yes, Siegfried remembered now. Oh how he wished he had never heard it from her lips...

The two travelers had been going on and on for days now. They were on the outskirts of an Egyptian city now, and they had agreed on deciding to make camp near an oasis. As Siegfried had set up the tents, Ivy had collected firewood from the growth around the oasis, and in no time, their little settlement was established. It was night now, and the moon was high, the stars shone in all their glory, and Ivy and Siegfried enjoyed a comfortable silence between the two.

"Ivy…once we find Soul Edge…what then? I mean, I know we destroy it…but what happens after that?" Siegfried questioned, after a moment of hard thinking, his chin resting in the palm of his hand.

"For you, my friend, whatever you choose to happen." Ivy replied evasively, throwing another twig into the fire.

"I wasn't asking about me. I was asking about you…" Siegfried stated simply.

"…I already know what will happen to me…there is nothing neither you, nor anyone else can do about it. It's as simple as that."

"But what, Ivy? What is so simple?" For some reason, Siegfried seemed compelled to continue asking about his friend.

"…I made a promise…when I found out about my blood…about who I really was…I promised to destroy everything that had to do with Soul Edge. Nightmare…Cervantes…even the cursed blade itself. All destroyed, until there was only one thing left…"

"One thing left? What else is there? If the blade is destroyed…then there's nothing else left…unless…" Siegfried paused, and looked Ivy in the eyes; ice and fire colliding and clashing violently. "Unless you mean me…"

Ivy raised an eyebrow and her eyes grew wide with surprise before she burst out into laughter.

"You? You thought I was going to kill you? Oh heavens no! I wasn't talking about you!" she exclaimed. Although her laughter seemed genuine, her eyes and smile were both sad.

"Well then what-"

"Siegfried…I was talking…about me."

He would never forget that single moment in time. He could still remember the sounds of wolves howling in the distance, and the soft buzz of the insects, as all of time had seemed to stand still with Ivy's words. He remembered that she had her hands folded in her lap, one hand clutching a piece of her cloak as she spoke those words. Her eyes were saddened, so full of pain and misery…such a tortured soul…

No.

No he would not let this happen, by all means, he would prevent it at all costs. If he could be saved, most certainly Ivy could.

"Ivy…you know I'll only try to stop you." He warned, narrowing his eyes as he looked at her.

Ivy smiled sadly at Siegfried, nodding her head slightly.

"I suppose there's no stopping you. Do as you wish, Herr Schtauffen." She replied, before crossing her feet at the ankles and looking back into the fire.

Oh how little he did know…

Her clock was already fast approaching midnight.

Well, here was the first chapter! Let me know what you think! R and R please!