Fighter Two: Antoine
(Knothole Village)
It was a nice sunny day at the small area of Knothole Village. The birds were singing happily as the sun shined through. Unfortunately, this was the one of the very few places that was actually less than happy.
Thanks to the evil plots of Dr. Robotnik, most of the forest areas had been taken over by him and his cronies. Thankfully, there was a group of people appropriately called the Freedom Fighters fighting to save them. However, as of right now, they were playing a game of soccer with each other.
"Here you go, sugar-cube." Bunnie Rabbot said kicking the ball over to Tails.
The two-tailed fox laughed happily before catching the ball with his feet. He then kicked it over to his over to Sonic. The blue hedgehog smirked before stopping the ball with his foot. He then started to juggle using his feet, knees and even his head. Everyone "oohed" at the display.
"Look at Sonic go!" Tails said with sparkling eyes.
"That's our Sonic." Sally Acorn said.
However, there was one person who was less than happy. Antoine growled as the brown fur on his face turned green with jealousy.
"Hmph. You call that skill!" Antoine said walking forward speaking in his French accent.
Sally rolled her eyes. "Here we go again."
"I am dribble better than you!" Antoine bragged.
Sonic merely put his hands before his head with a bored fashion while balancing the soccer ball of his leg.
"All right, Ant! You think you're so hot, YOU show us what you can do!" Sonic said kicking the ball over.
The coyote's haughty face vanished when the ball rolled over to his feet. He nervously looked at everyone who was staring at him. Sonic merely urged him to go on. Antoine gulped nervously wondering what he had gotten himself into.
Taking a deep breath, he raised his foot back to try to kick the ball. With one powerful swing, he kicked forward.
However, when he kicked the ball, he ended up falling on his back sending the ball flying towards a tree where it bounced off of it and flew straight back at Antoine who was just sitting back up.
BAM!
Antoine fell onto his back holding his throbbing nose as the soccer ball bounced into the forest. Suddenly, he heard laughing. He looked to see Sonic, Tails and Rotor laughing at him.
"Oh yeah, Ant! There is no way I am going to do THAT!" Sonic laughed.
Antoine growled. "Shut up! I was just warming up!"
"Hey! And you had cooled over!" Sonic laughed.
Sally groaned shaking her head as Bunnie looked over in the direction the ball went.
"The ball went over in the woods." Bunnie said.
"Ugh! Antoine, go over and get the ball." Sally said.
"What? But…" The coyote said.
"Just go." Sally said holding her head.
Antoine looked hurt at this. However, he scoffed before storming off to fetch the ball. It happened again. His big chance to woo over Princess Sally, his crush but instead he made himself like a complete fool in front of her and Sonic. It happened time and time again.
The guard went into the forest to see the soccer ball in a small clearing. He grumbled before walking over to the ball.
"Stupid Sonic always showing me up." Antoine grumbled. "If I got the chance, I could show HIM that I am just as good as Freedom Fighter as him!"
He then knelt down to pick up the ball until he noticed something. Hovering over him were two balls of light. One white, one black.
"H-huh? What is eez?" Antoine asked stepping back not liking where this was going.
The coyote watched as the balls of light slowly headed towards each other resulting in a bright flash.
"ACK! HE…" Antoine shouted. However, the light engulfed him silencing his scream. When the light was cleared, all that was left was left was the soccer ball.
(Citadel Fire)
Antoine groaned as he slowly tried to open his eyes. As he did so, he heard a lot of panicking screams. Finally waking up, he looked at his surroundings.
Only to jump in horror. He looked like he was in some kind of giant citadel city but that was not what caught his attention. What did was that it was under some kind of fire with people screaming in fear trying to escape. Antoine looked around wondering where he was.
"Sally? Bunnie?" Antoine called out before speaking in a wimpy voice. "Mommy?"
After seeing that calling out for help wouldn't work, he ran over to the screaming people to ask what was going on and where was he.
"Hurry! It is coming!" A man shouted.
Antoine froze in his spoke. What was "it"? Suddenly, he saw something make its way around the corner.
It was some kind of overweight figure wearing a strange red and had a gasmask on it. Antoine's eyes widened in fear as the creature ran after the citizens.
However, looking to the side, it saw Antoine startling the coyote. The poor guy yelped as the creature advanced on him. He immediately walked backwards.
"P-Please don't hurt me, sir!" Antoine begged. "I… I… I don't even know where I am!"
He continued to walk backwards until he tripped on something making his land on his rear. Antoine groaned holding his rear before looking down at what he tripped on.
He then saw a metal shield at his feet. He also saw a sword next to it. As much as he questioned who the owner of these was and why they left them there, he knew he didn't have time to think. Picking up the two, he turned tail and ran off.
Only to find a metal fence blocking his way. With wide eyes, he turned around to see the creature advancing forward.
"Stay back!" Antoine ordered getting into a timid fighting stance. "I have a sword and shield!"
The creature then spoke. However due to the gasmask, it came out in mumbles much to Antoine's confusion. Suddenly, it pulled out two fire axes from behind its back. Antoine's eyes widened in horror.
"HHHHHEEEEELLLLLPPPPP!"
(Round One: Pyro)
Antoine screamed as Pyro swung its twin axes downwards. Leaping back, the coyote threw a sloppy stab only for it to effortlessly deflect it with his axe. In an act of hysteria, Antoine grabbed Pyro by its belt.
However in doing so, he stumbled backwards still holding on to its belt pulling Pyro down with him.
"OOF!"
The Pyro landed straight on top of Antoine knocking the wind out of him. Seeing spots, he struggled to get free.
However, he heard strange muffled noises. Suddenly, Pyro rolled off to side holding its groin area. Antoine blinked twice in confusion before looking to see what his knee was up when Pyro landed on him. Apparently, the Pyro landed on Antoine's knee when he fell.
"Ouch…" Antoine winced slowly getting up with his knees shaking. He weakly turned around scanning the area. It was clear he wasn't anywhere near Knothole Village any more.
When he was scanning the arena, he noticed a shadow through the smoke made by the fire. With his eyes widening, he was about to shout out.
"Hey! Could you…" Antoine started. Suddenly, he realized something. Turning to the side, he looked down at the Pyro who laid unmoving signalling that he blacked out from the pain. Antoine paused for a moment.
He then leaped on top of the unconscious Pyro raising his sword in the air in victory. The figure emerged out of the smoke to reveal a beautiful blonde woman clad in armour.
Antoine smirked. "Greetings, Mademoiselle!"
The woman's eyes widened at this before speaking in a French accent. "Have you… Defeated that… thing all by yourself?"
"Ah, another fellow native of the regal tongue!" Antoine gloated. "And indeed, yes! I had brutally knocked this brute out!"
The woman blinked twice before walking forward. "Wow. You must be strong to take down that beast."
"But, of course!" Antoine said giving a bow. "Now, may I have the pleasure of learning your name?"
"Charlotte Christine de Colde." The woman introduced.
"Such a lovely name." Antoine said jumping off the unconscious Pyro. He then took her hand and suavely kissed it. "Lady Charlotte, I am Antoine D'Coolette."
"Antoine… Very well, Sir Antoine!" Charlotte said with a smile. "I had come to defeat this beast but it seems you had done it well by yourself!"
The coyote said a big grin. This was what he had been looking for his whole life.
"Now let's hand in this monster to the authorities before he wakes up!" Antoine smirked.
"Agreed." Charlotte said.
(Forest Clearing)
After handing in the Pyro to the authorities, Antoine was praised like a hero. He smirked enjoying the attention he was getting. Granted, he exaggerated about his tale but he DID more or less defeated Pyro albeit by accident so what was the harm?
After staying a night at an inn that wasn't damaged in the fire, Charlotte asked Antoine to meet him in a forest clearing quite a bit from the citadel. Despite confused, the coyote obliged. Antoine walked into it to see Charlotte. Seeing her new ally, she smiled before waving him over.
"Ah, Sir Antoine! I was afraid that you would get lost!" Charlotte said.
The guard merely shrugged. "The path was more straight-forward than it seems."
"Well, anyway. I am glad that you decided to come!" Charlotte smiled. "Listen… Do you remember anything before coming here?"
"Remember anything?" Antoine asked in confusion before pausing. "Ah, yes. I remembered seeing two balls of light. One white and…"
"…One black." Charlotte said. "The same thing had happened to me along with a few others!"
Antoine's eyes widened. "Seriously?"
"Indeed." Charlotte frowned. "I don't know what had transported us here but whatever it is, it is a menace!"
"Wow…" Antoine said. "Is there any way to go back home?"
"Perhaps but we have to do it along with our new task." Charlotte said.
"Huh?" Antoine asked in confusion.
"We are both French swordspeople, right?" Charlotte asked as Antoine nodded. "And we both fight for justice, right?"
"Um, right?" Antoine asked getting nervous. "Um, Lady Charlotte, where are you going with this?"
"Well, according to the townspeople, they had seen a lot of bizarre things in their lives but they had never seen anything like that fiery beast you fought." The fencer said. "Which means… They are more villains like that here."
Antoine's eyes widened at this.
"That's right. I doubt they would be as… freaky as that beast but they would be just as dangerous!" Charlotte said narrowing her eyes. "It is our jobs as French fighters to protect this world from them!"
"Even if this isn't even our world?" Antoine asked in disbelief.
"Of course!" Charlotte said crossing her arms. "Like I said, it is our jobs! Unless you didn't live up to your name!"
Antoine jumped before chuckling nervously. "Of course I lived up my name! I defeated that monster, didn't I?"
"You would join me?" Charlotte asked.
"Well, of course I will!" Antoine said with a grin. "Of course!"
He then turned around with a horrified look on his face. What had he gotten himself into this time? All he wanted was to be praised by everyone but in the end, he got roped in some kind of quests to fight villains as scary as that masked man. It was pure luck that he had managed to win that last fight.
Antoine turned around. Once he did, he found himself looking up at a large stern man dressed in rusty medieval armour. Charlotte poked her head from behind the man with a smile on her face.
"Sir Antoine, this is Adelbert Steiner!" Charlotte introduced. "Adelbert Steiner, this is Sir Antoine."
"Um, bonjour?" The Frenchman said with a gulp.
"Bonjour." Steiner said raising an eyebrow.
"This kind man had agreed to be a sparring partner. We may be on a long journey and we can't allow our skills to rust." Charlotte said.
"Sparring partner!?" Antoine said eyeing Steiner's size.
Charlotte then walked over to a tree. "All right. On the count of trois, you two will fight each other! Un…"
Steiner got out a broadsword out of his sheath. "It is only fair to warn you, I am a rough sparring partner."
"Deux…"
Antoine hastily readied his sword and shield. "W-Wait a minute!"
"Trois!"
(Round Two: Adelbert Steiner)
Antoine yelped before jumping out of the way to avoid a downwards strike from Steiner's sword. The coyote countered the attack with a slash with the chest. However, it only made a scratch in Steiner's armour.
Steiner smirked. "You have to do better than that to beat me, Sir Antoine!"
With that, he punched forward with his free hand. Antoine yelped before holding his shield in front of him. He blocked the attack but found it smacking him back in the nose. Antoine growled before reminded of his humiliating failure with the soccer ball. Out of anger, he charged forward knee-first.
Only to hop backwards on one leg holding the knee that had struck Steiner. What was he thinking attacking with a kick? He looked up expecting to see Steiner smirking smugly.
Only to see on his knees with a pained look on his face. Holding his groin area, he collapsed onto his face as Antoine and Charlotte looked in awe.
"How… How is that even possible?" Steiner asked with tears of pain running down his face.
Antoine blinked twice before looking at his legs. "Um, sorry?"
Charlotte paused. "Well, can't say I approve of that move but you did manage to win. Still, let's try to keep ourselves above the crooks, all right?"
Antoine nervously scratched his head. What was with attacks to the groin leading him to win?
"Well, in any case, you had won." Charlotte said. "You are ready to go on a quest."
"Um, all right?" Antoine asked looking down at Steiner. "Um, Adelbert Steiner? Are you all right?"
"It can allow a kick to the body part that is vital for furthering generations but it can't allow me to at least cease the pain." Steiner groaned. "My armour is betraying me again."
Antoine and Charlotte looked at each other not really knowing how to react.
(Torture Chamber)
After making sure that Steiner was all right, Antoine unwillingly went on his journey with Charlotte to find villains and sent them to justice. He still can't believe he had been dragged into this mess.
Charlotte chose an old torture chamber as their first spot because she had heard a rumour that there was some kind of band of thieves forming there. The two French people entered the area, Antoine nervously looked at the traps.
"Um, Lady Charlotte, are you sure this is safe?" Antoine asked eyeing a few torture devices.
"I know why you asked that and don't worry, I can fend for myself." The Frenchwoman smirked. "You do not need to worry about protecting me."
She then walked forward leaving Antoine stunned.
"But who is going to protect moi?" The swordsman asked with teary eyes before following Charlotte. However, Charlotte suddenly stopped making Antoine run into her.
"Ow! Why…" Antoine started.
"Shh!" Charlotte scolded putting her armoured finger to her lip. "I hear voices."
Motioning Antoine to get down, the two crept over to. Charlotte turned out to be right as Antoine did heard voices close up. Trying their best not to be seen, they hid behind a table. Charlotte and Antoine poked their heads to see a bunch of crooks surrounding a man. He had blonde hair in a strange hairstyle and a green suit. The two French people grunted in disgust at his ugly face.
"Tell us more, boss!" A bandit begged.
"Yeah! Tell us more about this world you are from!" Another bandit said.
"Why, of course, my little colleague!" The green-clad man beamed. "In my world, there is a metal vehicle that runs on a strange liquid that is a lot faster than a horse-carriage. It is called a car!"
The bandits "oohed" at this as Antoine looked confused.
"Also, there is a special weapon. It is like a gun only it's tall and slim. It is called a rifle." The green-clad man said.
The bandits looked in awe as Charlotte gritted her teeth.
"That scum. He is lying to his own men about such things." Charlotte snarled. "It just goes to show that there is no honour among thieves."
Antoine gave Charlotte a strange look. "That reminds me. I still need to ask where we are in this place."
"I had seen enough!" Charlotte growled before getting up surprising everyone. "Hey, you! Scum!"
"Who the heck are you?" The green-clad man asked stunned.
"I am Charlotte Christine de Colde!" Charlotte proudly announced pulling Antoine out of his hiding place. "And this is Sir Antoine D'Coolette!"
"Um, bonjour!" Antoine said weakly.
"Who are you!?" The green-clad man demanded. "You have a lot of nerve barging into the secret base of Hyena and the Revolution!"
Antoine blinked twice in disbelief. "Hyena and the Revolution?"
"Well, your so-called revolution ends here!" Charlotte demanded. "We came to stop us!"
The bandits blinked twice before looking at each other. Suddenly, they all started to laugh.
"You? Stop US?" The green-clad man laughed. "Yeah, right! Like a woman and a mutt would stop us! Get them boys!"
With that, the bandits took out their swords and charged at Charlotte seeing her as the bigger threats. The blonde woman merely readied her sword and got fended herself against the attackers.
The bandits was so concerned about facing Charlotte that they didn't noticed Antoine crouching down and holding his head in a pathetic fashion. He then looked up to see that nobody was even laying a finger on him. Deciding to make the best of it, he crawled on all fours trying to avoid the madness.
When he crawled out of the fight cloud, he looked back to see that nobody had seen him leave. Sighing in relief, he looked around.
Only to have a blade from a sleeve pointed dangerously to his face much to his horror.
"Going somewhere, mutt?" The green-clad man said in a haughty tone of voice.
"Um, the bathroom?" Antoine asked with a cheesy grin.
"Oh no! You are not getting away from old Hyena!" The green-clad man smirked. "You will regret even facing me!"
"Oh, trust me. I am already doing so." Antoine whimpered.
(Round Three: Hyena)
Antoine hysterically raised his shield to block a few stabs from Hyena's blades.
"Hyena Kick!" The blonde man shouted punting at Antoine. The coyote screamed before jumping out of the way. Thinking quickly (or not thinking at all), he wildly swung his shield at Hyena's leg. Hyena cried in pain before collapsing on his ground holding his leg in pain.
Antoine saw this and took the opportunity to knock out Hyena with one whack to the head with his shield knocking him out for good.
Antoine panted heavily before shaking his head. "Oh, thank goodness! I thought I was going to…"
That was until he let a cold hand on his shoulder making him shudder. Slowly looking up, he saw Charlotte giving him a small smile. He then looked around to see each and every one of the bandits on the ground unconscious.
"Um, I thought I was going to do something I may regret." Antoine improvised.
"Such a merciful soul." Charlotte said. "Though don't expect every person you fight to be the same."
"Ugh… Don't remind me." Antoine muttered.
"What was that?" Charlotte asked.
"Um, let's get these thugs off to prison before they wake up!" Antoine yelled.
"Oui!" Charlotte smirked.
Antoine sighed as he looked down at his feet. This was getting out of crazy. At this rate, he was going to get himself killed.
(Merchant Ship)
After Charlotte and Antoine had handed in Hyena and his crew to the authorities, they went on their next destination. Going to a port town, the two of them boarded a merchant ship sailing over to another land.
Charlotte and Antoine looked at the ocean they were riding on. Charlotte looked serious while Antoine looked what he was struggling with something inside of him
"So are we going next?" Antoine asked.
"An old chateau." Charlotte explained. "They had been rumours of some strange activity."
"Strange activity?" Antoine asked. "You don't think it is a villain, do you?"
"It is a long shot but whatever it is, it is keeping all trespassers out." Charlotte said.
Antoine sighed. Ever since he told that lie, he had been dragged along by Charlotte to face dangerous foes. Foes that would waste no time taking his life. He didn't want this, in fact, he was literally warped there! And fighting Pyro was out of self-defence. Sure, he had been taught to use a sword but still he had no inexperience in fighting. All of his battles were won by luck.
However, this woman actually thought that he was a hero and a real man. That was something nobody back home gave him. How could he tell her that the brave man that she befriended was just a liar and a coward? Ignoring the pain, she would inflict on him.
But this was getting dangerous. He shouldn't even be looking for villains. He should be looking for a way home.
"Lady Charlotte?" Antoine asked.
"Yes, Sir Antoine?" The blonde woman said.
Antoine let out a deep sigh. "There is… Something I need…"
"Well, well, well! Isn't THIS a sight for sore eyes?"
Antoine and especially Charlotte's eyes widened before they turned around to see a man walking towards him. He was a middle-aged with a white loose-fitting samurai attire. What really caught Antoine's attention was his black giant ponytail.
"Haohmaru!" Charlotte gasped. "You had been transported here too?"
"Apparently." The dark-haired man shrugged.
Antoine looked back and forth between the two humans. "Wait. You two know each other?"
"Yeah. We had been quite acquainted." Charlotte nodded. "Sir Antoine, this is Haohmaru. Haohmaru, this is Sir Antoine."
"Um, bonjour?" Antonie asked.
"Yo." Haohmaru said. "I must say, I seen a lot of weird things but a coyote child is literally is a contender to top them all."
Antoine immediately took offence. "Child!? I am twenty year old! I am an adult!"
"Okay, okay, sorry." Haohmaru said rolling his eyes. "So what are you doing here, Charlotte?"
"Oh, Sir Antoine and I are trying to this land trying to stop villains." Charlotte said. "There are a lot of dangerous people transported here along with us so we need to make sure that they don't hurt anybody."
"Tsk. A white knight to the very end." Haohmaru scoffed.
This time, the samurai's comment had angered Charlotte. "How dare you!?"
"Sheesh, are all French people this touchy?" Haohmaru asked. "Anyway, I had been trying to find a way home!"
Charlotte raised an eyebrow. "That's not like you, Haohmaru. Usually you would like to explore this world and see how many fighters it have."
"I know. But I want to go home to Oshizu." The dark-haired man said.
Charlotte looked thunderstruck at this. Antoine noticed.
"I mean, don't get me wrong. She doesn't mind me travelling the world fighting." Haohmaru said. "But I literally disappeared in front of her. As if I like to stick around to fight, I can't afford to dilly-dally too much. I have to make sure she isn't too worried about me."
"Oh, I see." Charlotte said looking down.
"Well, as long as we're here." Haohmaru said holding a bottle of sake. "Sake?"
Antoine immediately grunted in disgust and shook his head. Haohmaru merely shrugged.
"Suit yourself." Haohmaru said before sitting down and got ready to drink. Antoine looked up at the upset Frenchwoman.
"Lady Cha…"
BOOM!
The entire ship shook sending everyone onto the ground.
"Ugh! No way am I drunk already." Haohmaru said before looking ahead. "Oh, snap!"
Antoine and Charlotte looked up and once they did, their eyes widened in horror.
Sailing a few feet away from the ship was a pirate ship that looked like it was at least centuries old. On the boat was some kind of purple-skinned old man dressed like a pirate with a bunch of skeletons on it.
"Hey, I'd seen that guy before!" Haohmaru said. "He is the notorious pirate, Cervantes!"
Antoine's heart sank. "This just gets worse and worse."
Cervantes then snapped his fingers. The skeletons then jumped all the way from the pirate ship all the way to the merchant ship. The crew and passengers screamed in fear as they went to cover.
"Charlotte! Antoine!" Haohmaru shouted.
"Do not say a single word further!" Charlotte said narrowing her eyes. "Get ready, Sir Antoine!"
Antoine watched in horror as Haohmaru and Charlotte started to fight the skeletons. The coyote tip-toed away to the side.
Suddenly, a sword stabbed its way into the side of the ship where Antoine was. With a yelp, the swordsman looked up to see a skeleton with a sword & shield with a red headband.
"This just gets worse and worse!" Antoine groaned readying himself. However, he actually looks more annoyed than scared.
(Round Four: Spinal)
Antoine held out his sword and shield in front of him blocking a slash from Spinal. Thinking quickly, he kicked him in the rib knocking him back. However, Spinal quickly recovered.
Spinal then did a running charge trying to run Antoine through with his sword. Antoine yelped before ducking down. Suddenly, an instinct inside of him made him leap up. Grabbing a hold of Spinal, he threw the surprised skeleton over his shoulder and straight over the ship in the water.
"Whew! That was too close! Hey, Lady Charlotte, did you…" Antoine said turning around.
His eyes then widened when he saw Haohmaru and Charlotte back-to-back panting heavily surrounded by a bunch of bones signalling that they had defeated all of them.
Antoine nearly dropped his sword and shield in disbelief. In the time, it took him to defeat one skeleton, Haohmaru and Charlotte had single-handedly defeated all of the skeletons. Is this was the extent of his power?
"No wonder Princess Sally prefer Sonic over me." Antoine said looking down. He then put his hands to his mouth not believing the words that had come out of his mouth.
"Hey, look!"
Everyone turned to see Cervantes retreating his pirate ship away glaring angrily at the merchant ship.
"Hey, you better run!" Haohmaru yelled.
"And never return!" Charlotte said. "Are you all right, Haohmaru?"
"Tsk. It was a decent work-out." The samurai said. "You?"
"Same as you." Charlotte said turning to Antoine. "What about you, Sir Antoine?"
"Um, me? Fine." The coyote sighed.
(Old Chateau)
After making sure that everyone was all right and the damage to the ship wasn't too severe, Antoine, Charlotte and Haohmaru made it to land where they went over to the pathway to the old chateau Charlotte was talking about.
"Are you sure you want to split apart here?" Charlotte asked.
"Yeah, it's not that I am not happy to see you again but like I said earlier, I can't leave Oshizu worrying." Haohmaru said. "Even if she knows deep down, I cannot be killed that easily."
Charlotte gave a weak laugh. "Right…"
Antoine raised an eyebrow.
"Well, later. Charlotte. Antoine." Haohmaru said walking carrying his katana over his shoulder.
Antoine looked up at Charlotte watching the Frenchwoman walk out of the sight. Giving a sigh, she looked down at Antoine.
"Well, let's get this over with." Charlotte said.
Antoine slowly nodded. For some reason, Charlotte got upset over hearing the name Oshizu. With a raised eyebrow, he followed Charlotte up the path to the chateau.
It didn't took them long to reach there. It was just as Antoine feared. A dark and spooky place that probably looked even worse on the inside. Antoine shook in fear.
"Well, shall we?" Charlotte asked walking over.
Antoine didn't follow. All he thought about the scary and dangerous things that could be waiting in there. He couldn't do it.
"Lady Charlotte!" Antoine shouted.
The fencer turned around confused. "Oui?"
"There is something I need to tell you!" Antoine said.
"Can it wait until after we find out what is inside?" Charlotte asked.
"No! That's the thing! I never wanted to go inside!" Antoine yelled. "I never even wanted to go on this trip!"
Charlotte raised an eyebrow.
"I lied, Lady Charlotte, alright?" Antoine said looking down. "I am not a warrior! The only reason I had beaten that beast was of pure luck. And that could be said about the others!"
Charlotte paused before crossing her arms.
"A little later than I hoped for but I am glad you had finally learned your lesson!" Charlotte said crossing your arms.
Antoine looked stunned by this. "Huh?"
"I just walked in to see you pull the final blow to that beast. You didn't beat him out of skill but rather out of the luck of a fool." Charlotte said sternly. "And yet you still had the gall to gloat as if you saved the day."
Antoine stepped back as if he had been slapped in the face.
"You want to know why I took you on this trip? To show you how much your bragging would get you!" Charlotte scoffed. "I knew that you were a horrible fight by the sloppy way you used your sword and shield. You are a disgrace to Frenchmen everywhere."
Antoine winced before looking down hurt by her words.
"Now wait here! Actual warriors are going to use their own power to find out and protect people!" Charlotte said turning around. "You stay here!"
Antoine raised a hand to try to stop her but then stopped herself letting the fencer inside. So this whole time Charlotte knew the truth? And purposely brought him along to teach him a lesson? He thought she genuinely cared for him but in truth, she was just like the others.
"Then again…" Antoine muttered. "Maybe I deserved it."
Meanwhile, Charlotte entered the chateau to see that despite regal, it was just as dark inside. Nonetheless, she looked around getting out her rapier in case something happened.
She was unaware of a black ball of light floating behind her.
It was only when it started to emit some kind of noise startling. Turning around with her guard, she saw the light. Suddenly, it turned into a scary sword made out of flesh and had an eye.
"Who's there?" Charlotte demanded.
"Calm down, child!" Soul Edge scolded. "I am Soul Edge and I came to help you!"
"Soul Edge?" Charlotte asked surprised.
"That's right! I am the sword of power!" Soul Edge explained. "I lend my services to people who wish to wield me!"
Charlotte narrowed her eyes not buying it. "Is that so?"
"Think about it. Wield me and you would have all the power in the world." Soul Edge said darkly.
"And why should I trust that a sword giving off a dark aura wouldn't corrupt me?" Charlotte quizzed.
"Because I could give you the power to impress any man." Soul Edge said.
Charlotte's eyes widened upon hearing this. "Really?"
"Yes, of course!" Soul Edge nodded.
Suddenly, a white ball of light appeared out of nowhere. It then turned into a sword of beautiful crystal.
"Child, no!" The sword scolded before turning to Soul Edge. "Soul Edge, this is NOT part of the truce!"
"To heck with your stupid truce, Soul Calibur!" Soul Edge snapped. "I had been waiting too long for a host and I will be purged if I just let this woman walk up and choose you instead of me!"
With that, he floated forward forcing his way into a stunned Charlotte's hand.
"AAAAAUUUUUGGGGGHHHHH!"
Antoine jumped in his place sitting outside hearing the horrible scream. Turning around, he recognized the voice.
"Lady Charlotte!" Antoine shouted.
He then got up fidgeting with his classy blue jacket.
"Oh, what do I do? What do I do? Lady Charlotte sounds like she is in danger!" Antoine said fidgeting. "But if I go in there, that very danger may attack me! Besides, it is not like she would be waiting for me expecting me to save her! That's Sonic's job, right?"
He then looked down at his sword and shield. With a deep gulp, he scanned it for a moment.
"But Sonic's official job isn't a guard…" Antoine said with himself. He then sighed before rushing towards the doors.
Once inside, Antoine gasped in horror. Standing in his line of sight was Charlotte. However, she looked much different. Her eyes were now a dull black and a red aura was surrounding her making her hair fly in the air. He also noticed some kind of flesh surrounding Charlotte's rapier.
"Ah, yes! This is the power indeed!" Charlotte said in Soul Edge's voice. "Now, no man let alone Haohmaru wouldn't be able to resist me!"
"L-Lady Charlotte?" Antoine asked in surprise.
Charlotte turned to the coyote. "Ah, the disgrace to Frenchmen. To think I was going to let you live! I will personally give you a taste of the power I now have!"
"L-Lady Charlotte?" Antoine asked in fear. "What have become into you?"
"Soul Edge had corrupted her." Soul Calibur said appearing next to him startling him. "You must defeat her to get rid of the control over her."
"Are you out of your mind!?" Antoine cried in disbelief. "I can't fight Lady Charlotte! She could easily parry each and every one of my attacks!"
"You have to! The longer Soul Edge has control over its wielder, the more dangerous it would be to save them from their corruption!" Soul Calibur said.
"Even still, what can I do?" Antoine asked. "I saw her power! She could take ten people in the time it takes me to take down one!"
"That's because you were fighting for your own survival." Soul Calibur said. "If you fight, it would be to save someone. A selfless goal will make you stronger."
Antoine paused before looking down at his blade. Narrowing his eyes, he slowly got into a stance.
"Lady Charlotte, believe me when I say, I don't want to do this! But I am doing this for your own good!" The coyote said.
Charlotte gave a dark laugh. "That is a laugh! Every time you fight, your knees won't stop shaking! This fight would be over before its starts!"
(Destined Battle: Charlotte)
Antoine raised his shield to block a series of rapier stabs from Charlotte. Thinking quickly, he kicked the woman in the shin.
Charlotte scoffed before kicking Antoine in the face knocking him away. She then pulled her rapier back running to run Antoine. The coyote yelped shaking his head in horror.
"Noooo!" Antoine shouted before stabbing Charlotte in the torso surprising her.
"I don't…" He said spinning around and stabbing his opponent again.
"…Wanna die!" He concluded giving one more stab. This actually sent Charlotte flying into a pillar where she slid down the pillar in unconsciousness.
Antoine looked at his downed opponent with wide eyes before slowly looking down at his sword.
"Wow…" The coyote said in awe at his power.
Suddenly, the aura surrounded Charlotte stopped as the flesh around her rapier slowly turned into Soul Edge.
"Ugh… How did I lose to someone who can't make their knees stop shaking if their life depends on it?" Soul Edge groaned.
"You were still getting used to Charlotte's body." Soul Calibur explained. "Even if you managed to corrupt, your power is still weak."
"But how did Soul Edge corrupt Lady Charlotte at all?" Antoine asked. "She is a strong woman who fights to defend the weak."
"Soul Edge finds the smallest sin in a person and uses it to corrupt his victim." Soul Calibur said. "This child is in love for a man. She had fought and made herself stronger just to impress her. However, much to her horror, she was already taken."
Antoine's face fell remembering how upset Charlotte looked when Haohmaru mentions Oshizu's name. "I... Kinda know how that feels."
"Charlotte's motive is of pure determination but envy is still a sin." Soul Calibur said.
Soul Edge snarled floating up. "And to think, with that coward being the person near Charlotte, it would be easy to take over her completely!"
Antoine's eyebrow twitched before swinging his sword at Soul Edge knocking it away. "Shut up!"
"Thank you. Soul Edge may be a huge threat but if he isn't allowed to do anything he wants, he acts like a spoiled child." Soul Calibur said. "So, will you be my wielder?"
"Huh?" Antoine asked surprised.
"My power is on the same level as Soul Edge. However instead of darkness, I wield pure light." Soul Calibur said.
"And you want ME as that wielder?" Antoine asked in disbelief. "Have you SEEN me ever since I landed in this place? I am not a hero! I am not a warrior! I am a fraud! Why not ask Lady Charlotte?"
"Because if Lady Charlotte was the true wielder, she wouldn't have disgraced herself by letting herself get so easily corrupted."
Antoine's eyes bugged out before turning around to see Charlotte getting up.
"Lady Charlotte! Are you all right?" Antoine asked.
"Nothing hurt but my pride." The blonde said dusting her off. "Anyway, I think you should accept Soul Cailbur."
"What? Why?" Antoine asked in disbelief.
"You saved my life. You went back inside when you heard my scream and fought with your life to save me." Charlotte said. "And even after I called you a disgrace to the French everywhere. For that, you have my apologies and thanks."
"But I AM a disgrace to the French everywhere." Antoine said looking down. "All I did was gloat about my role as a guard even though my skills that a good guard has are non-existent."
"All the more reason to wield me, child." Soul Calibur said floating over. "I could act as your mentor teaching you how a guard should act."
"R-Really?" Antoine asked.
"Of course." Soul Calibur said.
Antoine blinked twice before looking up at Charlotte. The blonde woman smiled and nodded. Antoine gave a weak smile before slowly walking over to the sword. Grabbing the sword, he stepped back after realizing that it was heavier than it looks. However, he sooner regained his compomsure.
"Please, Soul Calibur. I know it is too little too late to change in the eyes of the Freedom Fighters but I want to change anyway." Antoine said.
"Very well. The road will be less than easy but with some determination and the ability to care for others, you will be the very guard you had talking about." Soul Calibur said.
With that, Soul Calibur emitted a bright light that engulfed both Antoine and Charlotte.
…With Soul Calibur acting as his mentor, the knight Antoine had been bragging about became a reality…
NOTE: I know that it sounds weird to see Antoine becoming a better person but in the Archie comics, he had actually went through major character development and became a better person in terms of personality AND fighting skills.