Chapter 15: Burden Laid to Rest

A/N: The next chapter is done at last! I'm sorry I took so long, I just haven't had much time to write in the past few weeks. Well don't worry, cause I am back in business! As always, please enjoy and review! DarkNovelist out.

CLANG! Miyu slid back a few feet after blocking a blow from Nightmare. Quickly recovering, the android rushed towards the knight and went for his head. Nightmare managed to dodge the strike and counter with one of his own. Ducking under the large blade, Miyu leapt up and slashed at his shoulder. Nightmare grunted in pain and swung his deformed right arm, catching her off guard. Miyu was again forced back by the knight's incredible strength.

"You fight well, for one who has no soul." said Nightmare, ignoring his cut shoulder. "Tell me, what could possibly drive someone like you to fight me? Are you one of the many who desire Soul Edge?"

"You have taken the life of the one I cherish most. For that, I will erase you from this world." Miyu replied.

"Heh, well you'll have to do much better than that. Didn't you say something about taking my head?"

Miyu responded this time with a lightning fast thrust at Nightmare's face. The knight barely blocked the strike, stopping her sword inches from his forehead. Miyu retracted and delivered a powerful kick that sent Nightmare flying 10 feet away. The knight quickly rose to his feet and readied his sword. Growling in anger, he charged at Miyu.

Not far away, on the other side of the circular third floor, Notokishi and Kaia were engaged in a duel of their own.

"He forced you to do it, didn't he?" Notokishi asked, blocking a strike from Kaia.

"I gave myself to him on my own free will. He never once asked me to lie with him." Kaia answered, delivering another slash.

Notokishi dodged and slammed the hilt of Soul Calibur into Kaia's gut. "Then why? Why of all people would you choose him? Have you forgotten what he's done?"

Kaia coughed up some blood and stood up straight. "I haven't forgotten. But I'm not human anymore, and he is the only one who shares my pain. It's only natural that I should be with my own kind."

"To betray us like this, to throw aside everything we've achieved, is that really what you want?"

"There is no other path for me, now that I have embraced the darkness within me." Kaia readied Angheol for another attack.

"Fine. If that's how you want it, I'll just have to drag you back into the light myself!"

Notokishi lashed out at Kaia, only to be blown back by a wave of ice and cold. Getting back on her feet, Notokishi rolled toward her sister and swung upwards, clipping one of Kaia's wings and slicing through her armor. Letting out an inhuman screech, Kaia leapt back. Barring her teeth and glaring angrily at Notokishi, her eyes began to turn a deep silver and bestial.

"Grrrr…."

"This sure takes us back doesn't it? That fateful day when I was consumed by evil and was transformed into an otherworldly beast. I'm sure my eyes bore the same evil I now see in you."

"Shut up!" Kaia swung out, sending forth a series of frozen energy waves.

Notokishi braced herself as the waves crashed into her. She felt jagged shards of ice cut at her from several directions. Shaking off the injuries, she ran at Kaia and thrust Soul Calibur at her chest. Kaia tried to deflect the blade, but only caused it to cut across her shoulder instead. Notokishi then spun around and slashed at Kaia's lower right wing. Kaia leapt back as the sword clipped off a few feathers. Overflowing with rage, she raised Angheol toward the sky. Jagged frozen spikes formed on the black sword's blade.

"I'm the stronger one! I defeated you before, I can do it again! Soul Calibur is nothing compared to Angheol!" with this, she brought down the black sword, and what seemed like a hurricane of frozen shards and energy flew from the blade.

Notokishi drove Soul Calibur into the ground, and a shimmering wall of crystal rose in front of her. The massive blast of cold crashed into the wall, shattering it bit by bit until only a the part surrounding Notokishi was left. Just as the blast was coming to an end, Kaia rushed forward and swung at her sister. Notokishi raised Soul Calibur in defense, and felt herself get pushed against the floor.

"You said you'd save me, that you'd release me from this sword. You lied to me! I'm going to be like this for the rest of my life, and there's nothing you can do to stop it! There was never anything you could do!" Kaia yelled.

She raised Angheol high above her, and brought it down for a killing blow. Notokishi swung Soul Calibur to intercept the blow. There was a clashing sound as the two swords met. Kaia's attack had stopped inches above Notokishi's head. She watched as cracks formed along Angheol, and then gasped as the blade shattered into pieces in front of her.

"Im…possible…" she muttered, falling to her knees.

Notokishi now stood above her, with Soul Calibur still intact. Kaia stared wide eyed at the broken fragments in front of her.

Notokishi sighed. "I'm sorry Kaia, but I could find no alternative to save you." she said. Then she turned in the direction of Miyu and Nightmare. "Now, Miyu!"

Hearing this, Miyu nodded and ejected her sword arm. Suddenly, the forked blade of an ornate long sword took the place of the previous blade. Nightmare stared in shock at the new blade, recognizing it at once.

"A second Soul Calibur?!"

Miyu rushed towards the azure knight and thrust her sword at his head. Nightmare raised Soul Edge in defense. Miyu's blade stabbed through the sword. In a single motion, she sliced through both Soul Edge and Nightmare, cutting the demon blade in half. Nightmare stood still for a moment, then his head slowly fell from his shoulders. The azure knight was no more.

"With your demise, I have avenged my lady."

"Siegfried!" Kaia called from the other end of the room. Tears began to form in her eyes.

The Soul Calibur in Miyu's hand began to glow.

"Well done, brave maiden. You have destroyed the evil presence and it's wielder. In doing so you have avenged your precious one and retrieved her soul." said a woman's voice.

"Thank you, Soul Calibur."

"Now, I shall send you to her, where you will receive the rest of your reward."

In a flash, Miyu disappeared, leaving only the blade behind. The blade then reunited with it's other half in Notokishi's hand.

"I have not forgotten your wish. If you still wish to relieve your sister from her suffering, then end her now. Her body will be restored to its original state once you have done this."

"So, you still want me to kill her? Even when I have removed the source of her pain?" Notokishi said.

"She has committed foul crimes, has she not? I heard her say so herself, she has no other path to walk. I suggest you deliver punishment for her actions."

Notokishi looked down at her sister. Kaia was looking up at her, trembling in fear. Glaring down at Kaia, Notokishi raised her sword. Kaia looked away, waiting for the end. Hesitating for a moment, Notokishi swung down. Kaia fell to the floor, gripping her back and screaming in pain. Her wings lay nearby, severed from her body.

"That was not the punishment I instructed!"

"Shut up! I don't care about your stupid "justice"! I will not kill my own sister!" Notokishi yelled.

She looked down at Kaia again. Kaia was still clutching her sides, and was sobbing. Turning away from her sister, Notokishi began to walk away.

"You can hate me for the rest of your life if you want. Come on Kaia, we're going home even if I have to drag you the whole way."

Notokishi waited for a response, but Kaia just continued to sob. Then she noticed something which caused her to turn around. Kaia was no longer crying, now she was laughing.

"Kaia?"

The injured girl turned toward her, smiling and with eyes the brightest shade of silver she had ever seen.

"I'm afraid Kaia isn't here anymore, princess." Kaia said in a suddenly male voice.