Chapter 10: Thunderstorm Returns with Fury
"Stupid ass Heartless," Riza muttered. "Can't keel over and die!?" Riza slashed through the samurai and warrior Heartless. She leaped up and delivered her Shinobi Slam to the small group under her, they were quickly destroyed.
Charlie was in blade-lock with a samurai Heartless. Charlie sidestepped and the Heartless stumbled forward, then Charlie brought her blade down guillotine style, slicing the head off of the Heartless. "Damned creatures, don't know when to quit!"
"They have no souls and don't know pain, they fight without hesitation, of course they won't quit. Thunder Clap Slap!" Josh growled as he shouted his thunder spell. The small band of Heartless were destroyed except for a few shadows that seemed to absorb the lightning attack. "What the hell?" On their small bodies, yellow stripes appeared. The Little Shockers were disguised as shadow Heartless. One leaped and latched onto Josh, discharging the electrical currents that it absorb from the sage. Josh hollowed in pain as the current surged through his body. Riza, being the closest, used her kunai knife the slash away the thunderous Heartless. Josh fell to his hands and knees, eyes slightly glazed over.
"Josh, you ok?" Riza standing next to him, protecting him from the advancing Heartless. "Take this damned creatures, Icy Daggers!" Riza shot the spell from her Keyblade, striking the Heartless freezing them in their tracks. "Ninja Rush," Riza slashed through the frozen and slightly chilled Heartless. Josh got up and continued his fight, thanking Riza for saving him.
In the distance, watching the brawl unfold, Tonnerre ordered the rest of the Little Shockers to cause a massive blackout. The little critters disappeared into the shadows, heading to anywhere electricity was. Within minutes, the city lights were out and only the setting sun of the town was the source of light.
"Well, warriors, I see that you are blinded by the darkness!" Tonnerre shouted to them from a rooftop.
"Um, no. We can see you as plain as day. The sun is still up and it's giving us enough light to see," Riza pointed out.
Tonnerre stood in silence for a few moments, "Shut up, you bitch!" she barked. "I'll show you!" Tonnerre, like a lightning bolt, was upon the keybearer, her lightning bolt like kunai knife grinding against Riza's. "You'll pay for what you did to Eau!"
"Huh? Oh, the harpoon, that wasn't me. That was my--" Riza was cut off by a powerful kick to her jaw, sending her crashing into a wall.
"Excuses! You set him up, and now he has a gaping hole in his back," the psycho lightning mistress yelled.
Riza got herself out of the hole, "Look lady, I wasn't the one that rammed a harpoon in Eau's back. But I'll ram my Keyblade through you if you want!" Riza charged, and went into a furious grapple with the thunderous youth. Every now and then the two leaped away and charging back into the fray. She's fast. And powerful, like lightning bolts. The two leaped away again to catch their breathes. Riza's clothes bore slash marks and her skin bled slightly from small nicks and scratches. Tonnerre was in the same predicament. Her jacket was open revealing her small shirt that showed her torso littered with red lines that dripped little drps of blood, and her kapris were dirty and singed from Riza's fire spells. Tonnerre twirled the kunai in her hands and charged the Keyblade Mistress. The two were once again locked in a fierce battle.
"Man," Charlie was fending off a samurai Heartless, "Why does Riza get all the good fights?"
"No offense, but I don't think you could keep up with that blonde, Charlie," Josh said, using his blade to slash through a Little Shocker Heartless.
"Psst!"
"Maybe we should restore the electricity to the town," Josh said, finishing off another heartless.
"You can, I need to train a bit more and these heartless will do just fine," Charlie said, powering up the holy element of her powerful blade.
"Fine, just don't get killed," Josh rushed off.
"Hah! Like that'll happen. Ok, here we go boys!" Charlie charged into the numbers of the dark foes, using Heaven's Swift Judgement against the Heartless. Flashes of light blinded the standing Heartless, making them easy prey to the swordswoman of the elements. As the Heartless fell, more took their place. "Numbers won't save you, Saint's Answered Prayer!" The bright light was launched into the masses of the Heartless, destroying many of them. However, for everyone that fell, three took their place. Damn, this might be just a little harder than I thought. Charlie thought, switching her holy power to her steel. The magic needed for the holy elemental power was too much of a drain. "I'll have to make do with the steel techniques. Come at me, you bastards!" Charlie stood her ground as the Heartless charged, "Steel Dragon Claw!" The energy beams shot out cut down many of the Heartless, "Yeah that's right, c'mon!" Charlie was not submitting herself to these creatures of the shadows.
The fight between Riza and Tonnerre escalated to insane heights. The speed and the force behind the blows were enough to break bone. The keybearer and thunder wielder trading blows, drawing blood. The strain caused them to sweat, which stung their open wounds; but they paid no mind, too focused on the battle to care.
"You won't win, psycho," Riza said, her Keyblade's sword grinding against the kunai of Tonnerre. Riza looking down at the Troup Grimm member, Riza was at least two inches taller.
"You'll pay for your insults," Tonnerre growled. "Silent Thunder Crack!" Electricity shot from the kunai and traveled down the Keyblade, shocking its mistress.
Riza gritted her teeth in pain, but didn't waver. Instead, did a quick turn and side kicked the blond into a staircase not to far from them. Stray bolts traveled over her body. "Psycho."
Tonnerre got up and spit out the small amount of blood from her busted lip. "You want to die, don't you? Fine! Ninja's Lightning!" Tonnerre leaped and threw handfulls of electricity charged shurikens and kunai knives.
Riza dodged and deflected many of the weapons, "Where are you getting all of these weapons?"
"If you haven't noticed, they are made from my energy. I have an unlimited amount of ammo to hurl against you. You stand no chance!" Tonnerre continued her unending assault. Riza looked around to see the kunai she dodged or deflected just disappeared.
Heh, little does she know. Her back is completely vulnerable! Riza dodged one last kunai knife and deflected a final shuriken. Before the psycho lightning wielder knew it, Riza was behind her. Riza slammed the rim of the Keyblade handle against the back of Tonnerre head. The blow came swift and Tonnerre fell, tumbling against the cold stone ground, coming to a stop on her back. She reached behind her and brought her hand to her vision, blood stained her hands.
"Blood..? My..blood...?" Tonnerre's vision became blurry and cloudy.
"Yeah, your blood," Riza was next to her, looking down. "Psycho."
Tonnerre blacked out. Her body was enveloped in darkness and disappeared within the inky blackness. The Heartless that Charlie was fighting disappeared with a haze.
"I thought that would never end," Charlie wiped away sweat from her brow.
"Yeah," Riza fell to her knees, dropping her Keyblade, it disappeared after losing contact with its mistress's grip. "That took more than I thought."
Charlie dropped to her side, "You ok, Princess?" Charlie sounded concerned.
"Yeah, I'm ok. Really, just tired." Riza eye's fluttered shut and fell into the warrior's arms.
"Heh, we need to get you a proper bed, hun," Charlie chuckled at the keybearer.
The street lights and lights in the houses flickered on. "Look's like Josh got the power back on," Charlie lifted Riza into her arms, "Let's get a hotel room." Charlie walked into the hotel, and payed for a room. With Riza safe in bed, she waited her cousin to return from turning the power back on throughout the city.
Ten minutes later, Josh appeared in the room. He waved silently noticing the sleeping keybearer. Josh and Charlie left room and entered the neighboring room.
"The fight with that Troup Grimm member took a lot out of her. We'll find the keyhole when she gets up," Charlie explained.
Josh nodded, "She's probably too tired to eat, wanna order room service?" Josh questioned, picking up the menu on the table.
"Yeah, I'm starved."
Josh made the order, and the bell boy knocked at the door. "Goo' evenin' lady and gent'. I hope the food 'ere is to yer likin'," the young bellhop said, smiling.
"Thanks kid," Charlie said, looking at the delicious smelling food. The bellhop held out a white gloved hand, looking at Josh with a smile on his face. "Josh, tip the boy," Charlie said, picking up the silver plate cover.
"Fine," Josh handed the boy a munny piece.
"Thank ye very much, sir," The bellhop turned and left the two in peace.
The cousins began to eat, until Josh spoke up, "Charlie, why did Aunt Meryl take you away?" Meryl was his mother's sister Asking his companion rather bluntly.
The question caught the teen off-guard, "Huh? Mom? Mom didn't do it, it was Father," she said in a low whisper.
"Uncle Hector? Why?" Josh asked, putting a piece of steak in his mouth.
Charlie put her fork down, "He always wanted a little boy. Since I wasn't, he tried his best to turn me into a little warrior. So, when we were younger, I was eight, you were ten, he sent me to train under a swordsmaster. I was with him the until we met again only a year ago." She continued her meal, not even sparing Josh a glance.
"Oh, I thought Uncle Hector was happy to have a daughter?" Charlie shook her head at her cousin's thought.
"When did you start you're training to be a sage?" Charlie asked, turning the subject off of her.
"Shortly after you left, six months, a year. It took my all these years to be this powerful with my magic," Josh explained.
"Yeah, you do like to flex your magic muscle," Charlie chuckled, earning a chuckle as well from her cousin.
"Charlie, you were like a sister to me. I missed these times together," Josh finished off his steak.
"Yeah, me too. Too bad father never saw me win my first fight. Mom told me he passed away a few years after he sent me a way."
From behind them, the door opened. In the door way, was still a very tired Riza. "You guys are eating without me?" she asked in a sleepy whisper, hair slightly messed from bed head and the shocks she got from the thunder ninja.
"Pull up a chair, Sleeping Beauty. We got you something," Charlie smiled.
The next morning, the three rested and bellies full, went and searched for the Sunset Suburbia keyhole. Charlie went on to tell her cousin the fight he missed between Riza and Tonnerre. "When I wasn't kicking Heartless ass, I watched these two, and man! Their speed was incredible! No wonder you were so tired. Josh you missed one helluva fight!"
Riza blushed at the attention, "It was nothing really. Hey, maybe Kou know's where the keyhole is."
"No, but you are close," the trio looked around and their eyes fell on Dae. He walked up to the group, "You see that crank up there," he pointed on top of the catherdral looking building. "It is said that if that crank is turned four times, a light will appear. Go try it out." Riza ran toward the building. She leaped on top of the small ledges and made her way up the building in no time.
Charlie looked surprised, but with a smile. Josh was stunned, "I thought, after the fight she had, she would still be tired?"
"Guess you don't know the energy a warrior could have, eh, Josh?"
She looked at the crank and saw the handle. She took hold of it with both hands and began to turn it. One resolution and the statue toward the front of the Third District turned, revealing a new face, she continued three more times until a bright light shined. "The keyhole!" She leaped from the roof and landed gracefully on the ground below. Dae, Josh, and Charlie were standing next to the statue. Riza took out her Keyblade when near and pointed it at the statue's head. The locking beam shot out and locked the town off from the Heartless. The hole disappeared.
"Sunset Suburbia is closed off from the Heartless. Good riddance. Now, is Nyte done with our ship?" Josh asked, turning the the shorter youth.
"Should be, let's go check," Dae lead the three to the ports.
Nyte was cleaning his hands free of any excess grease and oil. "Geez, took you long enough, but with the extra time I gave her a tune up and all that jazz. Also added a warp-gummi, so you can jump to already visited worlds, making travel faster and easier. Anyway, what happened?"
"Troup Grimm member appeared," Riza said.
"Oh, well, then I guess your tardiness if excusable. Get goin', now," Nyte shooed them into the cockpit of their small gummi ship, and the trio took off to their new destination.
A lone knight, dressed in shining armor, large sword strapped to him under his cape, walked through a dense forest. On the worn path, he stopped, his right hand began to tremble. He looked at it and it briefly turned into a three fingered claw. He grasped it tightly, the image disappearing; it was all in his head. This sin...This sin must be forgiven. If not, I'll forever be plagued by this presence for eternity.
The knight continued to walk until he came to an inn to rest for the night. He stripped himself of his cape and his large sword, a zweihander type, named Requiem. Next was his armor, but only a few pieces, like his chest plate, shoulder pads, metal gauntlets and steel boots. He ordered room service, and waited for the bellhop to bring him his food. After the bellhop appeared ten minutes later, the knight leaned against the wall closest to a window, gazing at the moon after his meal. The moon will be a good distraction. After I freed myself of Soul Edge's power, I vowed never to sleep again. Through the walls he heard voices. He decided Why the hell not, the knight listened in; maybe they might leak some information he needs.
"Kilik," came a muffled female voice, "Where do we go next?"
"Maybe head done to the port where Maxi might be," came a male voice, from the one named Kilik. One the other side of the wall, Kilik and his lady friend were sitting a table along the wall that separated their's and the knight's room. Their room was slightly bigger, enough to house two twin beds. Kilik leaned back against the old, wooden chair, which creaked against his movement. "He might even need our help, Xianghua."
"Yeah, maybe. Who knows, we might even come across that guy with the sickle," Xianghua mentioned.
The knight on the other side of the wall was now completely listening to these seemingly boring travelers. A sickle? Could it be the same man that I encountered? He looked down at his right hand, he balled into a fist. Maybe these two might be some help to me?
"It's all possible. He'll pay for running off on us like that. And after he threw that clock tower gear at us," Kilik scowled. "Hey, it's getting late. Let's get some sleep and continue on tomorrow."
That was all the knight needed to hear to confirm they faced the scythe wielder. Soon, I'll cleanse myself of the sin that is Nightmare. Then I'll rest.
Early morning, the knight got himself ready for the day ahead and the possible finding of either the man with the sickle or his sin, Nightmare. Later on, he heard the two fighters stir in their rooms. The knight just finished with putting on his armor and strapping on his sword when the two left their room. The knight started to follow when he saw they have left the inn. "Time for my cleansing," the knight soon left the inn.
Little did the knight know, that a shadow was watching him, "So, he is the one Zasalamel wants destroyed? This shall be an exciting match. What was his name that Zasalamel gave me? Oh yes, Siegfried; Siegfried Schtauffen," uttered a rather tall and well built shadow. Around the shadow, black creatures with yellow eyes appeared. "Take his soul as well as his strong heart, Ground Movers," the shadow gave the Heartless their order. The black forms twitched wildly and disappeared within the shadows. "Soul Edge and Soul Calibur were the weapons I must search for as well, only if I had a better description."
It was days after Siegfried, the knight, and the travelers, Kilik and Xianghua, left for the port. The three, were closing the distance on the port, another day's walk for Kilik and Xianghua; Siegfried kept a day's distance between them. A few hundered yards from Kilik's and Xianghua's position, the gummi ship landed with the crushing sounds off toppling trees and gashes on the ground. The two fighters rushed to see a massive dust cloud from the area.
Inside, Josh picked up the the heat signals of two people, and quickly putting the cloaking device on. The three jumping out quickly and going into the forest. On the other side, the dust cloud was clearing, but what baffled the two was that there was no object that could have made the impact. "What causes this?" Xianghua said.
Kilik looked toward the forest and faintly heard the sound of hurried footsteps. From the tree three figures emerged; it was Josh, Charlie, and Riza. "Hey, you three!" Kilik called.
Josh turned the other two, "Act natural, we don't know what caused this, right, kiddies?" The other two nodded.
Kilik made it to them, "You guys know what caused this?" They shook their heads. Kilik scratched his, looking back at the minor destruction.
"Hi, I'm Ukiazr Riza," the keybearer stuck out her hand.
"Kilik, and that's my friend, Chai Xianghua," he gave her a hardy handshake.
"These are my companions, Kuzumakii Charlie, and Itoh Josh." They shook hands with the young man.
"Kilik!" Xianghua was now by them, "Oh, hello. Who are you?" Riza introduced them again. "Well, hello then. I bet Kilik already introduced me. So where are you three heading?" The five began to walk away from the new clearing.
"Just wandering," Josh answered.
"Then how about you join us. We're heading to a port not to far from here. Our friend is there."
"Xianghua, always too eager to make friends," Kilik sighed with a chuckle.
She looped her arm around his muscular one, "And what's wrong with that? It's not like they have Soul Edge," she laughed.
"Soul Edge?" Charlie looked at them puzzled, as well as Josh and Riza.
"A powerful and evil sword. It's said to be the most powerful weapon ever forged. But, once a man clutches its handle, they become the evil sword's slave; even a fragment can drive a man mad with a murderous rage," Kilik said with a solemn face, gripping the small teal crystal around his neck. His face remembering a pained memory
"What's that?" Riza pointed to the small crystal.
"This? The Dvapara-Yuga. My...sister gave it to me a long time ago. It's a holy mirror that's protects me," Kilik explained.
"Oh," Riza uttered.
"Hey, an inn! Let's stop for the night and get to know each other better!" Xianghua cheered. Without a protest, she dragged Kilik toward the inn, Riza and her friends behind.
"Ok, you two, no letting on we're from another world. Gotta protect the world order," Josh explained.
"But we don't know the area or the names of the different countries and whatnot," Charlie said.
"Then say we're from far away," Josh said. The trio ran to catch up with the two fighters. These two seemed interesting.
TBC