Hikari and the Soul Edge

Hikari and the Soul Edge

Final Chapter: Her Journey Continues

When Hikari woke up, she found herself in a bed on the Halberd. She tried to sit up, but she felt a sharp pain in her stomach. She looked down and saw that she had bandages around that area.

"This must've come from the battle," Hikari thought.

She eventually got up and began to walk around. She heard shouting coming from on the deck, so she decided to check it out. So she stepped outside and decided to hear what was going on.

"Why'd you get rid of the rum?!" Captain Phoenix asked Maria.

"Because I'm not having a drunk flyer while we have an unconscious, bandaged-up person on board!" Maria shouted.

"But…the rum!" Captain Phoenix exclaimed.

The two of them then saw Hikari.

"You're awake!" Maria exclaimed.

"Can I have me rum back now?" Captain Phoenix asked.

"It's already in the ocean!" Maria shouted.

Captain Phoenix looked discouraged. Maria then turned to face Hikari again.

"Are you sure you should be walking around?" Hikari asked. "You're still hurt."

"I'm fine," Hikari said. "My dad and I have been known to be fast healers."

"That's fine," Maria said. "Please just be careful. By the way, everyone's eating lunch in the dining room. They'll be happy to see you awake."

Hikari then made her way to the dining room. When she stepped inside, she saw Kenji, Mog, Metaknight, Kilik, Xianghua, Maxi, Xianghua, and Siegfried eating lunch. When they saw Hikari, most of them excitedly ran up to her. Siegfried, Maxi, and Metaknight calmly continued to eat.

"I'm glad you are alright," Metaknight said.

"When did you get here?" Hikari asked.

"After I carried you to the others, I ran out of magical power healing Siegfried," Kenji said. "Metaknight came in and helped you with first aid."

"Which explains the bandages," Hikari said. "Wait, what happened to Soul Edge."

"It's completely gone," Xianghua said. "By the way, we found this."

Xianghua and Kilik handed Hikari Excalibur.

"Father's sword!" Hikari exclaimed as she took it. "Thank you!"

"Anything for you," Kenji said.

"Kupo!" Mog squeaked.

Hikari turned to face Siegfried.

"Siegfried," Hikari said. "I'm sorry that I…"

"It doesn't matter now," Siegfried said. "I underestimated my opponent and lost. But I feel that I have yet to repent for my sins."

"Just what did you mean by that?" Hikari asked. "What sins have you committed?"

Siegfried took in a deep breath.

"I should explain from the beginning," Siegfried said. "Years ago, I was a foolish young man who desired nothing but power. In my search for strength, I had killed my own father."

"What?!" Hikari exclaimed.

"When I defeated the original wielder of Soul Edge, it spoke to me," Siegfried said. "It offered me my deepest desire."

"To bring back your father," Kenji said.

"Correct," Siegfried said. "I was a fool and believed it. When I picked up the sword, I began to follow its commands, slaying anyone in my path and stealing their souls. The more bloodshed I saw, the more I lost my humanity. Soon, I was nothing but a monster. I became the azure knight."

"You were Nightmare?!" Hikari exclaimed.

"Yes," Siegfried said. "But I was soon defeated by a man known as Raphael. When he defeated me, or should I say Nightmare, I regained control. I tore off the armor and got rid of the sword. Ever since, I've known that the only way to repent for the murders I have done is to make sure that nothing like that would ever happen again."

"By killing Nightmare and destroying Soul Edge?" Metaknight asked.

"Exactly," Siegfried said. "But I feel that I have yet to repent. There is still something that I must do."

The room went silent as everyone took in what they had just learned. That evening, they finally docked once again. Everyone stepped off of the ship. As Siegfried was leaving, someone called out to him.

"Siegfried!" Hikari called out.

Siegfried turned around and saw that Hikari was carrying Soul Calibur.

"I want you to have this," she said as she pushed the sword towards him.

"Why are you giving me this?" Siegfried asked.

"This sword was the one that destroyed Soul Edge," Hikari said. "I'm thinking that if anything can help you right now, it's this sword. Besides, I don't need it. I've got my father's sword."

"Thank you," Siegfried said. "This is where we part ways. I feel that my journey must be a lone one."

"Farewell," Hikari said. "Maybe we'll see each other again."

Siegfried then walked away. He soon disappeared into the darkness. Hikari then saw Metaknight as he stepped off.

"Metaknight," Hikari said. "I'm sorry for giving your ship to a Sky Pirate."

"It's no problem," Metaknight said. "I was no longer using that ship. Besides, it was used to save the world. Hikari, you still have a long journey ahead of you, correct?"

"Yes," Hikari said.

"Just remember to keep on the path to the light," Metaknight said. "You must never falter. Your family will be reunited one day. Farewell. I have others who need me right now."

Metaknight spread his wings and flew away. Hikari then saw as everyone else stepped off of the ship. That's when Captain Phoenix prepared to shove off.

"This is where I go," Captain Phoenix said. "As much as I'd like to travel around on your misadventures, my rum isn't safe around your friend."

He was referring to Maria.

"Have fun with that ship," Hikari said. "Make sure not to lose it."

"Who do you think you're talking to?" Captain Phoenix asked. "I'm Captain Cid Phoenix. I don't get rid of a ship this fine."

Everyone waved good-bye as Captain Phoenix flew away with the Halberd.

"Where will you be heading, Kilik?" Maria eventually asked.

"I'll be heading to a grave nearby here tomorrow," Kilik said. "I must say something to someone special."

"If it's on our way, I'd like to see it also," Hikari said.

The following morning, everyone had gone to a large tree in the middle of a field outside of town. Kilik was the first one there. He placed flowers under the tree.

"Wow!" Xianghua exclaimed. "It's so pretty!"

"This is where she rests…the person who saved my life," Kilik said.

He then looked towards the flowers.

"Xianglian," Kilik said. "Everything's over now. We did…the right thing, didn't we?"

"What are you saying?" Xianghua said. "Of course it was the right thing!"

"Yeah," Kilik said.

"Besides," Xianghua said. "This is only the beginning!"

"You're right," Kilik said as he stood up.

He began to follow Xianghua away from the tree. Xianghua began to trip, but Kilik caught her. He then looked into her eyes.

"Xianghua…" Kilik said. "I don't know how to say this. I don't understand it myself either. But, what I do know is that…I want you to stay with me."

"That's just like you…but…" Xianghua said as she drew closer to Kilik. "That's just how I want you to stay."

They continued their embrace under the cherry tree that was in full bloom. From a hill, Hikari, Kenji, Mog, and Maria were watching them.

"That's wonderful," Maria said. "Those two definitely belong together."

"By the way, where did Maxi go?" Kenji asked.

"He disappeared before we woke up," Maria said. "He left a note saying that he was still pursuing Astaroth. I didn't look into it anymore."

"So where do we go from here?" Hikari asked.

"What does your heart say?" Kenji asked.

Hikari closed her eyes.

"I think…I believe in what you said before," Hikari said. "My father is definitely out there somewhere. And if he isn't, we still won't know until we look."

"And I'll be right beside you the whole way," Kenji said. "After all, I promised to be your bodyguard until you reunited with your family."

"How about you, Maria?" Hikari asked.

"It'll be easier to look for my father when I'm in a group that likes to search for people," Maria said. "Why not? I'll stick with you guys till the end."

Hikari looked towards the sun. She drew her sword and pointed it ahead of her.

"Metaknight's right," Hikari said. "We can't falter from our path. This journey will continue. Let's get moving! Where do we head next, Mr. Navigator?"

Kenji pulled out a map.

"A good-sized kingdom near here would be Hyrule," Kenji said.

"Then Hyrule it is," Hikari said. "Let's get moving!"

Hikari charged forward. Her friends did their best to keep up with her. They ran towards Hyrule in search for what they desire. They don't know what lies ahead, but that won't stop them. For the adventurer's spirit lies in their hearts and souls.

Fin