Soul Calibur - Series Fan Fiction ❯ Dawn of Fate ❯ Chapter 2

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

A place between sleep and awakeEnd of innocence, unending masquerade…That’s where I’ll wait for you.’~ ‘Sleepwalker’, Nightwish

As they prepared for battle, Tira looked out one of the castle’s windows. Rain fell as lighting stuck and thunder roared. Tira was wondering why she had been revived; all her life she had cause pain and suffering... why did Soul Calibur choose her as one of its warriors?
Draco walked to Tira’s side and placed his arm around her. “Don’t worry, we’ll get though this, and afterwards we can all be happy together once again.”
“Oh, Draco, I just don’t understand,” said Tira.
“We live again, that’s all I know. We’ve been given a second chance... we should use it wisely,’ said Draco as he kissed her on the cheek.
“I guess so,” replied Tira.
Draco could see something was troubling her; as he walked off, he heard her utter the words, “Mia, I wish you were fighting alongside me again...”
Draco remembered Tira talking about a fellow assassin named Mia Warui, but she hadn’t gone too deep into the subject, so this was still a bit mysterious to him, but right now he had to be ready- the battle with Soul Edge would soon begin again.

.::~::.

All over the world, fallen warriors were awaking from their eternal slumber. In the broken ruins of an old shrine once used by the heretical cult, lead by Kunpaetku, a scaly hand reached from the rubble.
The woman had been another in a long line of soldiers cursed by Ares, the God of War. When the golem Astaroth went berserk, she tried to fight him, but in the end was defeated and knocked into the dark abyss. There she went into a dormant state, but the awakening of Soul Edge’s energy had shaken her resting place, and woke her from her slumber.
“Ar... Ares... Astaroth... Kunpaetku, you insolent bastards! You will all pay for what you did to me!” yelled the woman.
She surveyed her surroundings she could since the same energy that Astaroth was composed of therefore Soul Edge must be involved. Finally, she found her sword lying on a pile of rocks. She clutched the sword and smirked ominously.
“The viper is back! Do you hear me, Ares? You and your wretched servants shall pay for what you did to me, for turning me into a freak!” cried Viper as made her way out of the shrine.

.::~::.

Red flames jumped up to lick the hemming of the girl’s coat, singeing it slightly. Alive- until now- for nineteen summers, the silver-haired figure looked around in dismay, surrounded by cliché fire and brimstone. It was excruciatingly hot; the girl removed her coat and tossed it into the flames.
“This is hell. I am in hell.”
The flames danced around her, inviting her to join in.
“Leave me alone. I don’t belong here.”
“Ah, but you do,” said a mocking voice, dripping with malice.
The girl looked up. “No! I’m a good person! I’ve done nothing wrong!” she cried, scared.
“You have forgotten about the lives you took in the realm of the living. It was your turn to die. Throw away your false beliefs. You’re a murderer, nothing more.”
“No! I’m good! I’m not a murderer! I’m not a murderer!” she screamed, repeating it like a mantra. Her hand shot up, breaking through layer upon layer of darkness.
“I’m not a murderer!”
She slowly began to regain control of her body. It didn’t seem so hot now.
“I’M NOT A MURDERER!”

.::~::.

In the living realm, the grave of the deceased member of the Birds of Passage split, and Mia Warui’s hand touched daylight.

.::~::.

Meanwhile… in the depths of the future…

“What’s wrong?”
“There’s something I have to tell you…”
Jet turned around and stared suspiciously at Raven. Now a fully-formed ninja, responsible for righting the wrongs of the world, nothing could shock her. Or so she thought.
“We have to go back.”
Jet frowned. “Back where?”
“To the past. Evil has reborn again.”
“Err… no, it hasn’t. Soul Edge is gone. We witnessed its destruction, don’t you remember?”
Raven sighed. “It’s come back. Someone, or something, has restored Soul Edge. Everyone you purified has turned evil again.”
“What’s the point?!” Jet shouted. “I’ve learned now I can’t change lives. I want to spend time with my son before it’s too late.”
“Jet! Have you forgotten your purpose?!” Raven cried. “You owe it to the people of the past, to ME, to stop this. Draco Faust Williams is reborn again. Can’t you see what’s happening?”
“Draco’s back?!” Jet whipped round. “Then we should not pause a moment! But how do you know this?”
“He told me.”
“And you believe that blabbering old fool?!”
“It makes sense!” Raven insisted. “Look at your sword, it’s been acting strange for weeks!”
Jet looked at her sword. Sure enough, her Gladius, a holy sword comprised of a power that neutralized Soul Edge and Calibur, was glowing green.
“Does that mean… Maria’s back?”
Raven bowed her head. “I believe so.”
“Then we have to go back for her sake. I saw her die once, this time I’ll make sure it doesn’t happen! And I’ll stop Draco’s army for good this time!”

.::~::.

In the rebuilt corridors of Ostrheinsburg castle, Draco Williams fell to his knees, clutching his ringing head in his hands.
Years of traipsing around the world as Lord Dragon had bestowed upon him empathic and clairvoyant abilities, along with the unique gift to sense an unbalance between life and death.
“Agh!” Draco grunted and slammed a fist against the marble floor, wincing in pain. “What is this?!”
Seeing Draco was in pain Tira rushed to his side. "What's wrong?!"
“Argh! I do... don’t know...” said Draco in anguish.
Finally, his pain went away, and he struggled to his feet.
“Could it be Soul Edge’s doing?” asked Tira.
“No... this was something else,” replied Draco.
Little did Draco know this pain was brought on because he was feeling the revival of many others; some, like him, chosen by the spirit sword, but some had been chosen by Soul Edge itself.
The great awaking of warriors had begun, and soon they would face off once more.
After regaining his composure Draco rallied his newly restored troops. “We all know why we’re here- Soul Edge is trying to restore itself once again, and we can’t let that happen. I sense a dark energy not too far from here; I think that’s where the remaining fragments are. So let’s move out!” yelled Draco.
Tira, Drake, Jynx, Storm Shadow, and Aeon all armed themselves, and began to Draco into what would be another great battle.

.::~::.

Meanwhile, at Zasalamel’s hideout, the man was formulating his final plan. A dark suit of armor sat on the floor. Zasalamel had thirteen fragments of Soul Edge in his possession. He took five of them and placed one in each limb of the armor, and one in the head.
“Now all I need is for him to show up, and then my plan will come to life,” Zasalamel smirked.
Just then a man entered the room. “Remember our deal, Zasalamel, you promised you would revive him as well,” said the man.
“Of course, Kunpaetku,” said Zasalamel with a grin.
The two men entered a room where a mass of clay in the shape of a man was laid out on an alter. This would be the new body of the golem Astaroth. Zasalamel placed four of his remaining fragments in the golem’s chest cavity. Then he stepped backed as Kunpaetku called upon the power of Ares, and awoke the golem.
Upon its awakening, the creature quickly grabbed Kunpaetku by the throat. “You! You dare to show your face to me, worm?!” yelled Astaroth.
“Astaroth... argh... please, we... need... you...” coughed Kunpaetku.
“How amusing; you can’t even control your own creation. Look, you freak, I aided in your resurrection, and I can just as easily send you back!” said Zasalamel as he raised his scythe.
“Hahahahaha! You expect me to believe such a tall tale?!” laughed Astaroth.
Suddenly the golem felt as if his body was falling apart, and he fell to his knees, freeing Kunpaetku from his grip.
“You had better, or you’ll be sent back to limbo!” said Zasalamel.
“I’ll... obey!” bellowed Astaroth.
“Excellent,” said Zasalamel as he lowered his scythe.
Astaroth felt fine again. Somehow, Zasalamel was able to control his body with his scythe. Astaroth would obey him for now, but he planned to destroy Zasalamel when the time was right, for no one had the right to control him.

.::~::.

In another part of Europe, Tela, Draga, and Endora were summoned by their superiors. They all knew what for- they had seen the pillar of dark light. Their superiors ordered them to take a small unit and investigate the area the pillar was emanating from. This was supposed to be reconnaissance mission to find out what had caused the pillar of dark light, but deep down the three already knew what it was, but they didn’t want to believe it. After they left their superior’s chambers they began talking it over.
“So, after six years it returns,” said Draga.
Tela looked at Draga, obviously annoyed “I refuse to believe it! Father said..."
“What if father was wrong?” interrupted Draga.
“He wasn’t wrong, you are!” cried Tela.
“Tela, calm down, we’re allies here, remember?” pleaded Endora.
“I’m sorry, I just..." said Tela.
“I know how you feel, sis; it’s not fair, they gave their lives to stop it, but all we can do is try to make sure their sacrifice wasn’t in vain,” said Draga as he hugged his sister.
“We better get going then," said Tela as she wiped her tears. “We do this for them!” she yelled as she raised her sword.
The three young warriors mounted their steeds and headed off. Little did they know they were about to fall into a trap...