Chapter 13: Before the Storm

Verona stared out the window of her hospital room. Thanks to the nano machines within her body, she had managed to fully recover from her injury after just a few hours. Shizuru sat in a chair nearby, sipping tea. Verona frowned as she gazed through the snow covered window. They've been gone for nearly a day now. The Archduchess said the place with abnormalities was only about an hour away, so shouldn't they have finished looking by now? she thought.

"Don't worry." Shizuru said from behind her. "I'm sure they're alright. The princess isn't exactly one to doubt if things get rough."

Verona smiled faintly. "Thanks Ms. Shizuru."

Staring out the window again, she noticed two silhouettes approaching the building. Squinting to get a better look, she now saw the figures were both silver-haired women. The woman with shorter hair was carrying an elaborate long-sword. Verona's smile grew so big she had to open her mouth.

"Shizuru, look! They're back! And they've got the sword!" she said as she ran toward the door.

Shizuru set down her tea and walked after Verona, giggling slightly to herself. "My, someone sure is excited."

Downstairs, Verona and Shizuru went to meet Notokishi and Miyu. "You did it! You found Soul Calibur!"

Miyu smiled as she held up the sword. "Yes, at last we have the weapon we need to stop Nightmare."

"This is great! Now we can get Alyssa's soul back and save Kaia! Right, Notokishi?"

Notokishi said nothing. She stared at the floor in silence.

"Notokishi?"

Notokishi looked up at Verona. "Are you feeling better?" she asked.

"Y-Yeah, I'm fine. Is…something wrong?"

"…."

"Noto-"

"Yes. Something is wrong. The sword will help us to defeat Nightmare and save Alyssa, but it will not save Kaia."

"What are you saying? Isn't Soul Calibur supposed to help people?"

"No," Miyu said, no longer smiling. "It is merely a weapon with which evil may be vanquished. It would have us kill Kaia sooner than try to restore her."

"No way…"

"Verona, Shizuru, get ready to leave. We're going back to WIndbloom." Notokishi said, opening the door to leave.

"So soon? Shouldn't you rest a bit first?" Shizuru inquired.

"We'll have plenty of time for that later. When we get to Wind, we're going to rally all the remaining forces we have against Nightmare. This madness has gone on for far too long." with that, she left the building.

It's not fair. Why can't it save her? She thought as she walked toward the capital. Soul Calibur is a powerful sword, but instead of trying to redeem someone who's fallen into darkness, it would rather destroy them? Some holy sword. Notokishi stopped for a moment and looked up toward the darkened sky. I don't care what the sword thinks. I will bring her back to us.

"Where are you, little sister?"

Meanwhile…

Kaia gazed at the scene before her. Standing on a high plateau, she could see the large castle that had once been buried beneath the sands bustling with activity. Campfires were spread out at least a mile in every direction around the building. A single light shone out of a large tower protruding from the top of the castle.

"So this is where you've been hiding all this time, Siegfried." she said to herself. Running towards the edge of the plateau, she spread her wings and flew toward the castle. Hidden by the night sky, she managed to land on a balcony without being noticed.

Stepping into the castle, she found herself in a large hall. There was another floor below her, and a stair way that led to an upper level. Climbing up the stairs, she found herself in another large room. This time the room was circular, and there was a gap in the middle that revealed the lower floors. Noticing another flight of stairs, Kaia went further up the castle, now inside the tower. When she reached the top of the stairs, she was in a smaller room with two doors. One looked like it led to the roof, and the other most likely to the lit room in the tower. Kaia slowly opened the door to the tower room, and went inside.

"You dare enter into the heart of your enemy's fortress, and alone at that. You are more foolish than I had thought." said Nightmare.

The azure knight was standing on the balcony outside of the room, looking out across the desert. Inside the room was a bed and some furniture, these were his living quarters.

"Have you come to conclude our duel? Are you still driven to regain your humanity?" Nightmare said, turning towards Kaia. He raised his sword in preparation.

Kaia shook her head. "No. I came to ask something of you, Siegfried."

"Siegfried? So… you found out."

"You were right, we are the same. I was so blinded by rage and desire to even consider your position. But now I know…" Kaia walked toward the knight, and reached for his helmet. He was too confused by her actions to stop her from removing it. "Now I know why you hide yourself in this armor."

Now uncovered, Kaia could see Nightmare's still very human face. He had blonde hair that went just past his shoulders, light green eyes, and a scar over his right eye. The knight lowered his sword, and turned away from Kaia.

"Is this what you wanted? Did you come to put your mind at ease by seeing my face?" he asked.

"No. What I wanted to ask you is something a bit more…personal."

Nightmare heard a rustling sound behind him, followed by a metal clang. Before he could turn around, he felt two arms wrap around him from behind. He noticed Angheol lying next some bandages and a pile of black cloth out of the corner of his eye.

"What's this all about? Aren't I what stands between you and your humanity?" he asked.

"I've come to realize, it's impossible to go back now. After what I've done, after what I've become, I'll never be human again."

"I see. Is that why you've taken the liberty of disrobing yourself?"

Kaia tightened her grip. "You're the only one in this world who's like me. You're the only one who understands. That's why…why…"

Nightmare now turned around to face her. As he had suspected, Kaia stood before him in nothing but her own skin. She was looking down, tears forming in her eyes.

"Did you know, the otome, we who possess great power, women who wear special armor and wield mighty weapons, share a common weakness?"

"What?"

"Our power comes from nano machines implanted within our bodies. If we were ever to fall in love with a man, if we were to lose our purity, the nano machines within us would die, and we could never use the power of an otome again. So…"

"You want me…to take away that power?"

Kaia nodded.

"Why?"

"What remains of my humanity lies in my being an otome. If I am no longer human, should it not be removed?"

"You…"

"And… it's not so bad if it's you…"

Nightmare was shocked. The two stood in silence for a time. Then putting down Soul Edge, Nightmare grasped Kaia. "What is your name?" he asked.

"Kaia. Kaia Wong de Windbloom."

"Listen well, Kaia. I am a monster who has stolen millions of innocent lives, including those of close friends. I will continue to kill, and I will no doubt take the lives of all those you hold dear. Knowing that, do you still wish to be by my side, and to surrender yourself to me?"

Kaia paused for a moment. Then she looked up at the knight. "I have already told you, I am no longer human. I will stay with you for the rest of my days, and if my friends and family get in your way, I will end them with my own hands."

Nightmare pulled her close to him. "Then I shall relieve you of that life without love."

"Siegfried…" they kissed, and they proceeded to embrace.

The next morning, Kaia awoke to the light of the sun leaking into the room. Sitting up, she found Nightmare lying next to her. No, to her he was Siegfried. He would always be Siegfried. She smiled as she lay back down beside him. Placing one hand on her stomach she closed her eyes and went back to sleep. So…this is how it feels…to finally find love.