Hikari and the Soul Edge
Chapter 11: The Torn World
Hikari, Kenji, Maria, Mog, and Metaknight were all at Metaknight's training lodge in the mountains. Though they were eating, the entire room was silent. Because of the events that had occurred the previous day, nobody could think of anything to say.
Kenji took a deep breath and prepared to break the silence.
"Well…where do we go now?" Kenji asked. "It's not like we can stay here forever."
Hikari didn't say a single word. She just looked down at her meal, which she hadn't taken a bite from yet.
"Aren't you going to eat?" Maria asked.
"I'm not hungry," Hikari said.
Metaknight put his fork down. He walked over to Hikari and slapped her on the cheek. This move surprised everyone in the room.
"Pull yourself together!" Metaknight shouted. "This isn't over yet!"
"What do you mean?" Maria asked. "Kai sacrificed himself to kill Nightmare, who was the source of the threat."
"Kai sacrificed himself to delay Nightmare's plans," Metaknight said. "Nightmare is still alive!"
"What?!" everyone exclaimed.
Metaknight pulled out a folded up piece of paper and handed it to Hikari. She immediately opened it.
"It's from Dad," Hikari said.
The others were interested in the note as well.
"Hikari," Hikari read. "If you're reading this, then the worst has happened to me. But don't cry for me. You must stay strong, for you're the only one who can save our world."
As Hikari read the note, a flashback began. Kai had arrived in the abandoned town.
"This is the source of the power," Kai said. "I don't know what this is, but I must find out."
Kai then felt a presence behind him. He pulled out his sword and turned around. His sword then clashed with that of Metaknight. After a few exchanges of blows, they both jumped back and withdrew their blades.
"You're still as sharp as ever," Metaknight said.
"As are you," Kai said.
"I believe you are here for the same reason I am," Metaknight said.
"You mean the large disturbance of dark energy," Kai said. "I do seem to be drawn to these situations."
"The darkness is strong," Metaknight commented. "Will you be able to fight it."
Kai then sighed.
"To tell you the truth, I don't think I'll make it out of this one," Kai said.
"You handled Shion, the King of All Evil," Metaknight said. "Do you really believe you aren't powerful enough?"
"By what I can understand, we're up against a being older than time itself," Kai said. "It's far stronger than anything I've ever fought, even Shion. I don't stand much of a chance."
"Then all is lost," Metaknight said.
"Not yet," Kai said. "I know a warrior who has far more strength than I could ever obtain."
"Who?" Metaknight said.
"My daughter," Kai answered.
"Are you serious?" Metaknight asked.
"She doesn't realize it, but there's hidden potential inside her," Kai said. "For years, I've been trying to bring it out. Unfortunately, I don't seem to be the right teacher for her. But perhaps you are."
"Do we really have time to train her?" Metaknight said.
"Right now…no," Kai said. "But I'll try to buy us some time."
Kai then began to explain his plan. That's when the flashback ended.
"…so I knew from the beginning that this might happen," Hikari read. "Hikari, you are the only one who can stop Soul Edge from consuming the world. I know you can do it."
Hikari then placed the piece of paper onto the table.
"So what will you do now?" Metaknight said. "Will you give in now?"
Hikari stood up.
"When do we start training?" Hikari asked.
"She's back!" Kenji and Maria cheered.
"Kupo!" Mog squeaked.
"First, you need a new sword," Metaknight said. "Your father left you one more thing. All of you, follow me."
Metaknight led the others to a shed behind his lodge. He pulled out a key, unlocked the door, and opened the door. Hikari and her friends gasped at what they saw inside. The shed was filled with rare weapons and objects. In the back was another door that led to the back room.
As Hikari's friends observed the other weapons, Hikari slowly walked over to the back door. She opened the door and found something inside that amazed her. Hanging on the wall in the back room was Kai's sword, Excalibur.
"Excalibur?!" Hikari exclaimed. "He left me Excalibur?!"
Hikari held the sword with pride. She slowly began to cry.
"If you're ready, then our training begins tomorrow," Metaknight said. "Your father predicted that he could hold Nightmare off for a couple of weeks. We have that long to train you."
"Is that long enough to get her ready?" Maria asked as she examined a pair of katanas.
"There is a way," Metaknight said. "Hikari, in the morning, you'll head to the top of the mountain alone. I'll wait for you there."
Metaknight then left the shed. The following morning, Hikari hiked to the top of the mountain by herself. At the top, she saw Metaknight and a weird door that just stood there.
"What's with the door?" Hikari asked.
"There is a reason I set my training lodge here," Metaknight said. "Hikari, did you know that there are several dimensions? There are many different worlds that connect through hidden portals. This door leads to a different world."
"Really?" Hikari asked as she examined the door.
"In this door, time flows differently," Hikari said. "A week in there is merely a day out here."
"So with two weeks to train here," Hikari said. "I'll be training for fourteen weeks in there?!"
"Exactly," Metaknight said. "There is a catch."
"What?" Hikari asked.
"The conditions in there are much harsher than here," Metaknight said. "One false move, and you will die."
Hikari gulped.
"Are you ready?" Metaknight said.
"As ready as I'll ever be," Hikari said.
"I will be out here protecting the portal," Metaknight said. "Good luck."
Hikari opened the door. Inside the door was a swirling vortex. She stepped inside. The moment she stepped inside, the door closed. She then lost her balance and began to spin. She soon couldn't tell which way was up or down. Eventually, gravity finally re-stabilized. She began to walk through the strange world. The entire world looked like it was torn apart. Deep abysses separated large patches of ground. As Hikari looked around, she saw that the sky was pitch black. She looked to her right and saw a river flowing straight down into the abyss.
"This is just plain weird," Hikari said, hearing her voice echo through the area.
She walked further and further through the strange world. She saw upside-down trees in the sky and many other misplaced objects. She then stepped into a strange, black puddle.
"What is this stuff?!" Hikari exclaimed as she looked at the thick, black liquid.
The puddle began to grow larger and larger. As it did, Hikari began to sink deeper and deeper into it.
"What's happening?!" Hikari screamed.
As she sunk deeper and deeper, her screams echoed through the room until her mouth was under the puddle. Meanwhile, Metaknight was deep in thought outside the strange door.
"Kai, my friend," Metaknight thought. "What were you thinking. Why did you send your daughter to the Torn World of all places?"
When Hikari woke up, she found herself in a completely different part of the strange world. In this area, the broken patches of land were covered with dirt. Sand flew around as if blown by wind, though Hikari felt no wind in the area. She also saw that any grain of sand that flew off of a patch of land disappeared into nothingness.
"This place just gets weirder and weirder," Hikari said to herself.
She then saw the black puddle again.
"I'll not fall for that again," Hikari said.
The black liquid in the puddle rose up and began to take form. It became a small, black creature with yellow eyes and antennae. Hikari drew her sword in preparation for a battle. Hundreds of other black puddles then appeared around her and took on the forms of the same creature. She was soon surrounded by an army of black creatures.
"Come and get me!" Hikari shouted.
The creatures jumped towards her. Hikari swung her mighty blade and swiped the first wave away. She then began to hack and slash at any creature she came across. The creatures attacked by jumping towards her. Several slashed at her with their claws. After a while, Hikari had destroyed many of the creatures. Unfortunately, for every one she destroyed, another would appear to take its place.
"These things are endless!" Hikari exclaimed.
The creatures drew closer to her. Hikari backed up until she backed into a strange wall. She was completely surrounded.
"This must be what Metaknight warned about," Hikari thought. "I'm dead!"
The creatures jumped towards her.
"Stay away from her, you vile creatures!" a voice shouted.
A bright flash of light shot through the area and destroyed all of the creatures. Hikari then looked for the source of the light. Standing there was a strange, white and grey, deer-like creature with a golden ring around its waist. The tips of its feet were golden. It looked towards Hikari with its seemingly all-knowing eyes.
"Are you alright, Miss Kamai?" the strange creature asked.
"How do you know my name?" Hikari asked. "Who are you?"
"My name is Arceus," the creature said. "I will be your guardian in this world. Follow me."
Arceus began to walk through the world. Despite her confusion, Hikari began to follow the creature. They soon ended up in a world with upside-down palm trees, sandy beaches, and an ocean that hung in the air.
"I've got a question," Hikari said.
"What do you need," Arceus said.
"Are you a Pokemon?" Hikari asked.
"I have been called such," Arceus answered. "Why?"
"Well, it's just…I've never heard of a Pokemon that was able to speak," Hikari said.
"I've been speaking through telepathy, Miss Kamai," Arceus said. "It is one of many techniques I have developed over the centuries."
"Over the centuries?" Hikari asked. "Just how old are you?"
"I was there at the beginning of time," Arceus said.
"Hold on," Hikari said. "How is it possible for someone to live that long?"
"That is a secret I cannot reveal," Arceus said. "For the world cannot know such a power."
Hikari looked confused at what was going on. She then tried to come up with another question.
"Where are you taking me anyway, Arceus?" Hikari asked.
"We're heading to your destination," Arceus said.
Hikari felt that her question still went unanswered, but that didn't matter at this point.
They soon reached a spiraling staircase that led upwards endlessly. Arceus and Hikari began to climb the stairs. They climbed for hours upon hours until they reached the top. They stepped onto a large, round platform. Hikari stepped in front of her guardian. She looked around and saw nothing.
"I don't mean to be rude," Hikari said. "But what are we doing here."
She turned around, but Arceus was gone.
"Arceus?" Hikari asked.
She turned around once more and saw a strange door.
"Maybe that's the way back," Hikari said to herself.
She walked over towards the door. When she opened the door, a bright light poured out. As the light grew larger and larger, her shadow behind her did the same. Hikari turned around and saw that her shadow was beginning to rise off of the ground. It took the form of a giant black creature that stood on its legs.
"When looking for light, you will also find darkness," Arceus's voice echoed through the air. "For one cannot exist without the other. But through the tough times, you mustn't fear the dark."
Hikari made a run for the stairs, but they were gone.
"Do not be afraid," Arceus said.
The giant black creature reached its hand towards Hikari to grab her.
"For light will always shine through the darkness," Arceus finished.
Hikari drew Excalibur and prepared for battle.