Disclaimer: Still don't own any characters mentioned from Nintendo, M.G.S, Sega, Namco, Shonnen Jump, Nippon Ichi, ATLUS, Square Enix/Soft, AKSYS Games, Sony, and any other animes/manga in the story except for my own. Also, in case you did not know, the plot is completely original, the mentioned characters so far are original, (Dark, Death, unknown woman, and the two street fighters) and expect more, but as far as I know, I'm going to introduce characters throughout; some you may recognize, others, not as likely; those characters for certain are made by the companies mentioned above.

The Dark Flame

A Super Smash Bros. Brawl Fan Fiction

Chapter 7: Mysteries Unraveled, But Unsolved.

After what had just happened, I learned that my fight was delayed a bit, due to my adversary to be was actually one of the many who became trophies during the competition. Basically, my fight is now set a week from now rather than a few days; ugh. Regardless, it still gives me time to see the other potential adversaries I may come across in this competition, petty as it may be. The message was received not even a half-an-hour after I walked out of the shower, and honestly, I can only say that my hair is even more of a disaster when wet than it is dry. Normally, when dry, it looks like what is seen as an "emo-over", like a comb-over, but done in the style of "emo" people. I never understood so much, but despite, I did take a bit of a nap after I came in.

However, the dream was unlike anything I experienced; it was also in an unfamiliar setting, yet, oddly, I recognized it at the same time. It was in a long alleyway with a bit of a dark atmosphere. In the sky was what appeared to be a very morbid-looking moon with a wide grin with blood from its teeth, its eyes dark and wide; a freakish feature. I was chasing after a woman with aquamarine hair with silver streaks, and in my hand was a scythe, however, I could tell for certain it was not Soul Eater. It had a black blade, a long curve, and a cross at where the blade began, almost like a pole arm would have. I also lacked potential magic energy, but even so, I chased after this woman.

After a while of chasing, she and I did ensue in combat, her swinging a deadly-looking axe at me, swinging violently and without a pattern. Yet even so, I fought, blocking deadly swipe after deadly swipe, until we were locked with her on top. I swore, she would've killed me, if I hadn't locked her weapon, and kicked her in the gut, knocking her a fair distance away. She appeared to have been seriously hurt from the blow but I knocked her weapon away, and I charged at her. I swung my scythe blindly, even though she did nothing to try to avoid it.

It was there I could see a male figure push her to the side, and had took the blade of the scythe in the gut. I then saw that the axe was no longer there, but now, I watched as this male figure grow limp, and began to change shape before my eyes, but that was where I did wake up. But I heard a female's voice, calling out my name, not "Demitri Flint" but "Dark Fire". That was absurd; nobody knew of my true name except for Death, but… was this a dream, or some kind of… vision? I had no idea, nor do I believe in the whole belief in visions of the future.

But, still, what I had seen in my time of napping was amazingly vivid, as if I had experienced it before. I just shook it off and decided not to let it bother me; I had some training to get done and whatnot. I took Soul Eater, and set the weapon on my back in the make-shift sheath for it. Next thing I knew, I walked out of my room, doing all typical things, and continued on. However, upon just leaving the building, I was confronted by that blonde-haired security woman, the one who I thought could not fight.

"I'm sorry to disturb you, b-but… Thing is, there is a woman on the loose, and she has the typical appearance of what would be a ninja. We actually had seen her in the area in the recent few hours, but some of our officers were surprised she had disappeared with her using a smoke bomb. Nobody was injured, but… She seems quite unpredictable, and if you ever see anyone like that, don't hesitate to come looking for me or any other officers." She spoke, and handed a small card, that was almost like a business card, but it really only had her name and ways of contact. Noel Vermillion was her name, and her phone number was "xxx-xxxx-xxxx" (was feeling lazy). She then walked away, but she then returned, and I wondered if she forgot.

"Sorry to have taken up any of your time…" She spoke, bowing a little, before pressing on to more important things. Huh, okay then… Could this ninja that she spoke about be this same one that I had seen that one evening against Ragna…? Or someone else, since there could be more than one ninja in this area and all, considering how many dimensions are connected to here. For all I know, Earth may have never existed in some of these places. Regardless, I shrugged and I did make my way to the gym…

I blinked as I looked at how surprisingly empty the gym was, then again, that was beginning to look like a pattern the more I look at it. I sighed, as I was about to set myself up to fight a fake of Laharl, learn what his technique was like, and see if I can find a way to counteract any of them, however, a male's voice caught my attention. I stopped, and I walked away, and made my way towards the voice; the closer I got, the louder the words were. And they sounded to be spoken in a poetic manner.

"When the war of the beasts bring about the world's end,
The Goddess descends from the sky.
Wings of light and dark spread afar.
She guides us to bliss, her gift everlasting…"

If you ask me, these words sound almost like a prophecy in their own way, but regardless, I pressed on as I found myself in what appeared to be a library. Who knew the stadium would even have one? Regardless, I looked around, amazed by all the books here; some of which were familiar, others were forgotten. I saw on a nearby desk what appeared to be some novel with a "D" on the cover, the rest fairly dusted. I walked towards it, and held it, and blew the dust off the cover. Some of the letters were faded out, but it was clear enough the title was meant to read, "Vampire Hunter D". And oddly enough, it sparked something.

I was suddenly in a dorm room, reading a book with the same title, and my "dormmate" as I assumed, was a female. She had long, black flowing hair, her eyes brown in color, and her clothing style was a bit more American-style, but there was same kind of Japanese taste to her style.

"Dark Fire… still an odd name, but… I guess it suits the colors you generally wear…" I heard her say, half-amused, before I snapped back to reality. What the hell was that? I was no daydreamer, and what's more, she knew my true name. Ugh, this is giving me a headache. I tossed the book aside, a bit in frustration; what was going on here? Are these memories tricks that Death is playing on me due to me being late, or are these actual memories that were buried away? No, I'm still not convinced these are true. I was breathing surprisingly deep, despite that I haven't done anything to do such.

Why am I so on edge now? But, where I saw that book, I saw another, more recent, but was covered in dust. Even when I picked it up and blew the dust away, I didn't see anything, except the faint, engraved initials, "D.F" and just below it, I barely made out the word, "Journal". I never seen this, but the initials kind of bothered me; it's not exactly too normal for initials to simply be placed on an item rather than a full name. But still, even though I wasn't one to read other people's belongings, I walked over to a desk, and opened it up. However, I was simply amazed at what I seen on the other side; I saw a perfect double of how I wrote… In fact, as I read the few words, it was as if I knew the rest of what was written in the word setup.

Now this really bugged me; duplicated writing that I know- this had to be my journal, but I can't be too certain. As I flipped through the pages, trying to find a name, I only ever did see "D.F" in place of a name. I cannot confirm this nor deny this, but somehow, I feel Death may have set this up somehow.

"Infinite in mystery is the gift of the Goddess,
We seek it thus, and take to the sky.
Ripples form on the water's surface,
The wandering soul knows no rest…"

Okay, this rant about this, "gift of the Goddess" is starting to get on my nerves, but it was still said with a poetic rhythm. And when I looked, I could see a man leaning against a pillar with a book in his hand. It had a white cover, with gold trimmings, and on the cover was, "Loveless". Oh, so he was just reading poetry, but why aloud, I wonder. He had brown hair, his eyes blue, and what he wore appeared to be some kind of uniform, at least underneath the scarlet trench coat he wore. It was mainly black, the uniform, with belts here and there. He wore red gloves and a bracelet around his one wrist, the same kind I had. Though he was a guy, he had a feminine-like appearance, at least I thought so.

What's more, his timing with these random quotes kind of bugs me, and I just sighed. I wanted to say something to him, but I decided to remain silent, as I continued to look for any clues of who really owned this journal.

"Reading books of those that do not belong to you isn't a proper thing… But your mind is perhaps filled with plenty of questions about it… Perhaps like these words of which I speak…" He spoke, not quoted, and I looked up at him.

"Why does it concern you of what I do? I have as much right to read what's found here, whether or not they belong to another individual…" I said to him, closing the journal and stood up, holding it in my one hand. He simply looked into the book again as I decided I spent enough time here.

"There is no hate, only joy,
For you are beloved by the Goddess;
Hero of the dawn, Healer of worlds…"

"Dreams of the morrow hath the shattered soul,
Pride is lost…
Wings stripped away, the end is nigh."

I stood there at the doorway as he said these words; poetry, huh? Sounds more like a prophecy than anything else I've heard, odd as it sounds. But I don't exactly listen or believe in prophecies, since fate is fate; whatever happens will happen, some day or another; many have written down when the world ended numerous times, and many have not been true. I honestly could care less about them, honestly.

"Even if the morrow is barren of promises,
Nothing shall forestall my return.
To become the dew that quenches the land,
To spare the sands, the seas, the skies;
I offer thee, this silent sacrifice…"

I turned around, and was about to tell him to just shut up with this stuff, but when I looked at where he was standing, he was no longer there. Rather, I saw a black feather float towards me, which I caught and gazed at. What… was he? I asked this to myself, but I turned my back, and pressed on, the journal in my hand so I can examine the words in private. I was too focused on the words I read and what has happened recently I forgot why I was here, and where I was going as well. I was caught off guard when I bumped into an individual, and I snapped back in realization when I was knocked down to the ground.

I looked up, and, I was surprised to see there, standing before me; it was the woman from that flashback, the one who knew my name. It was clear she wasn't paying attention, but she literally appeared to be in shock when she saw me, as if she saw a ghost. She staggered to get back up, but before she could run off, I grabbed her wrist, holding her back. However, I saw her reach up and pulled a strand of her hair, and watched as it took on a different shape, and she tossed it to the ground, and smoke began to appear around us. It was thick, and entered my lungs, which forced me stagger out of it and tried to clear my throat. Dammit, the only way for me to get some answers, and she happens to get her way out of it and was gone again. And what's more, the journal I had was missing as well; did she steal it? What importance did a journal hold to a ninja girl like her?

I know Noel informed me to let her know when I did find her, but I lost her beforehand, and it won't do her any good to give her information on a target that gone missing again. I sighed in frustration, and I just made the decision to give up for today, and just think all this over back in my room. I know I got no training out of this day, but I know there is more to come and all, yet still, there are some things I have a desire to learn while I have the chance.

Enough of this, I thought to myself, and I decided to leave, and at least inform Death of what has occurred so far in my search. If this really is a joke of his, then I'll just go along and pretend that nothing has happened. But, a lot of his work is serious related, so to do this is low, even for him. Unless he somehow received a lot of free time, which I doubt, and all this thinking made me sigh.

-Ninja's POV-

That was obviously too close; I was right there in front of him again, and this time, he now saw who I am. I was too careless, but… I had to follow him, yet I lost him after the bus ride; I checked the gym, but he wasn't there. So, basically, I've been staying up here since. I in fact was about to try searching the gym again, and that was when I bumped into him. I was surprised to see I was right in front of him again, yet he appeared… clueless about whom I am.

Dark couldn't have forgotten about me, could he? He most certainly couldn't have; it's only been seven months he's been gone; even with Soul there to comfort me, it's not the same when Dark did that. But, when he grasped my wrist, I was surprised and I panicked, thinking he would have the authorities deal with me and… I just couldn't do that. In doing so, I had to use my cousin's smoke bomb technique, but in the process, I saw him holding his own journal. I took it when his guard was down; I know it was wrong, but it went missing quite recently, and I never opened it since he left. I let it pick up dust, hoping he would someday return; I brought it with me here, but I lost it recently.

I know it was terrible of me to have taken it from him, but still… If he doesn't remember me, then it's just as bad as him not being there at all. I don't know what changes he's gone through, or even if he knows he's a Weapon Meister like Maka, but even so, if he has no memory of any of us, then it can be better off with him forgetting. Yet…

I want him to be there for me again, like when I was there for him even when he told me of his terrible past. I've lost loved ones as well that I've told him about, but even so, he was much, much younger than I was when I had my loss. In fact, I'm about six years his senior, or should be, unless time runs faster where he is now than where I am. But, still… Maka nor Soul even know that he's even here, and honestly, me being the only one to know is just… something else. I didn't want them to think I was crazy or anything.

"Dark, I hope you can forgive me… I cannot bring myself to expose myself to you just yet… I will though when the time is right, just, now isn't the right time… I'll return the journal of yours as well when that day comes… But until that day comes, I'll be watching you from the sidelines…" I whispered aloud, in Japanese, though I could very well speak English. With that, from where I was watching him leave, I slowly walked into the shadows, and began to navigate my way through the darkness to the bus back down to ground level, and regroup with Maka and Soul in their appointed room. I still wondered, though, where did Blaire end up…?

-POV Change-

Today wasn't any good either! Absolutely no respect by anyone, and certainly no sign of that one human with that scythe; a complete disgrace to ME, Overlord Laharl! I mean, I sensed a strong, dark presence from the weapon, but it surely cannot be too much stronger than me. Besides, he may not control the weapon too well either anyways, which will be all the more reason to be merciless with him. He will be begging for mercy when I give him a taste of what a powerful Overlord can do, and that will be when I make him a vassal lower than the Prinnies at the castle! Even lower than Flonne!

Upon entering the room of mine, I could see that both Flonne and Etna were in there, Etna leaning against a wall, still upset about her loss against him. He must be quite strong to be able to defeat her, but I'm stronger than her, so he will have a harder time against me, that's for sure.

"Oh! Sir Laharl, welcome back! I hope you don't mind, but… I found this cat on the streets outside, and since she didn't have a collar or anything, she might be a stray. I don't want her to be taken away by animal control! I don't want anything bad to happen to her! Please Sir Laharl, let her stay here?" Flonne asked, and as she said, there was a purple cat with what appeared to be a witch's hat on its head. Honestly, why would she bring in a stray cat from outside?

"Flonne… I'd say this is perhaps the weirdest thing you've asked me for, and you know my bad experiences with animals… But, I may make an exception, if… You order room service for just me for two weeks! And not just inexpensive, unappetizing meals either; I want only the best food this place offers! And it starts now!" I ordered; oh how I enjoy being an Overlord; certainly much better than my old man, anyways. And what's even better, if I do something with a condition, then at least Flonne shuts up about it later on.

"Don't worry, Sir Laharl, I'll order something you'll enjoy…" Flonne spoke, standing up, and appeared to run over in a manner to hug me, but I glared at her before she even reached me. She knows how much I hate hugs, but even so, I'm only like that when Etna is around; as another demon, she could easily spread this news around the Netherworlds.

"As for me, I'm going to try and find that twerp and make him regret ever doing that sort of thing to me… He will die if he ever sets foot in the Netherworld!" I heard Etna rant; clearly she has not gotten over her defeat with that boy, and before I knew it, she left the room. Flonne had finished her call for the Room Service.

"Flonne, you get the food! I know they will bring it up, but I want this to be you to check and see if they… I don't know, try to poison me or something." I said to her, and Flonne immediately understood, but that was not the reason why I had her leave. When Flonne left the room as well, closing the door behind her, I turned and looked at the cat. I approached it, and looked down at it. It meowed, a bit oddly I admit, but I couldn't help but find it… would it be wrong for an Overlord to consider it "cute"? No, more like… "interesting" I guess.

"You're certainly different than most cats from the Netherworld… Normally cats would have a more… normal meow than yours, no offense…" I said to it, shrugging, expecting it to remain silent, not understanding what I say.

"Don't worry about it, I hear it from where I come from too, nya." I heard a female voice speak, and I shrugged.

"Huh, I see-" I stopped when realization hit; I was the only one in the room, but why did I hear another voice. "Huh? Who said that? Show yourself!" I yelled, my scarf extending out as I pulled my sword from it, ready to seriously harm whoever it was.

"Silly boy! That was me, nya!" I heard the voice, and when I heard it, I looked to the cat, but saw it was no longer a cat. Standing in its place was a woman with purple hair, in a long sleeved jacket, but her clothes, little as they were like Etna's, did nothing to hide her body, AND one of my only weaknesses! I jumped back and away from her, somewhat in pain.

"UWAHHHHHHH! Get that curvaceous, sexy body away from me!" I yelled at her, my sword pointed at her, but even so, I was struggling to just keep it held; not even Jennifer caused me to do this! It must be because she has a cat-like personality to her, much like a… Nekomata from the Netherworld! They too have sexy bodies! I now regret having to send Flonne away; I need her here to keep this… woman away from me! I wanted to call out for Flonne, but I simply couldn't; my pride was on the line, and if I requested help from an angel, I will never be looked at the same in the Netherworld! But here and now, I'm doomed; I can't fight straight and more importantly, I became a trophy last time due to a woman taking advantage of my weakness! However, I saw her grin as her eyes narrowed; she must've caught on, or...

"Awww... Someone's still going through puberty, aren't they nya? Don't worry though boy, I'll teach you everything you need to know, nya!" She said, and I immediately got the impression of Jennifer when I first met her, but in fact, this woman was worse. I staggered back, but she was walking towards me.

"No, I said no! Stay away from me dammit! NOOOOO!" I yelled, before I was overwhelmed by an unknown force, like the first time I became a trophy...