My own FanFic with my own characters

Thanks to both of you guys! I'll be finishing the second half of the chapter tomorrow. More of Treb, Scarlett, Lysa, Lena, and Andromeda.

Uhm... I am thinking about writing for a living, but being a writer would also entail having another job or a very suffecient wife or girlfriend. Thank you for the compliment too :)

EDIT: I'll be writing out parts of Chapter 9 throughout the day so expect to see (for example) Lysa out around 12:30 and then so-and-so around 1:00 or even before that. Also, Chapter 10 will see the end of Part I and the descent into a darker, more dangerous SC world.

Chapter 9 (Cont.)

Treb

Treb sat upright in bed at the extinguishing of his candlelight. How the hell? There isn't even a draft... Treb got out of bed and went to the door, but he didn't feel anything. He waked back to his bed and immediately drifted into sleep. As he slept dreams found him. "Abigail! Stop it! No stop!" a young boy yelled. Abigail was kicking the dairy's chickens at a young Treb. The scene changed and he saw the tunnels outside of his room. A feminine figure walked past a guard, who seemed to collapse just from looking at her. The figure reached a door and opened it, revealing Abigail on the ground weeping to herself. At this, Treb awoke and bolted to the door. The door would not budge no matter how hard he pushed or pulled. He shouted for help and knocked at the wall to Andromeda's room. He heard her climb out of bed and the sound of her door collapsing to the ground. "Stand back, I'm going to cut the door down and kick it in!" Andromeda yelled at him. After the door was destroyed, Treb ran to Abigail's quarters with Andromeda on his heels.

When they reached her room it was nearly destroyed, with Cassandra holding Abbie by her throat. "Cassandra! What in Hera's name are you doing?" Andromeda shouted. Cassandra threw Abigail to the floor and turned her red eyes on Andromeda. "Your the one Sophie wants. I live to serve my sister. She will make this world into our playground and you weaklings our toys. I shall present you to her and rule at her side!" Andromeda drew her sword and rushed at this new Cassandra. Treb ran to Abigail and found her with what looked to be burn marks. "Are you alright?" he asked hurriedly. She nodded slowly and tears rolled from her eyes. She grabbed her sword and spear and began to help Andromeda. "Treb, wake everyo-" Abigail said before she was cut off by a war horn, the same war horn they had heard before. Cassandra cackled. "I've lead Sophie's forces straight to you! I've sabotaged your defenses and you will be mine."

~<^>~

Andromeda

Not Cassandra too. No, no, no! Andromeda felt a horrible rage building up inside of her as she dueled with Cassandra. With every hit she attempted, Cassandra countered. Cassandra knocked her backwards and laughed a horrible laugh. "I've lead Sophie's forces straight to you! I've sabotaged your defenses and you will be mine," she said. Andromeda lunged at her with Soul Calibur and for once her hit connected. It was fatal. Cassandra's eyes widened and then she screamed as if she was being burned alive. She disappeared with a red flash and Sophitia's voice could be heard echoing in her mind. "You have defeated my sister but she is not dead. It was not her time to be destroyed. My forces are storming your - dare I say it - defenses or what little you have. Give yourself up to my armies and your companions shall be spared." Andromeda realized she was shaking. "We won't give you up Andromeda," Abbie said, "Treb and I will stay and hold off these things as long as we can." Andromeda was shocked by her decision. "You can't do this, you can't. You've no more than three hundred of Maxi's men and there are thousands of those monstrosities out there. Come with me and escape while we can," Andromeda said. Treb stepped toward her and said, "I have contact in a town about ten miles north of here. His family will help you and send you on your way well-prepared and ready to face whatever you may need to." I have to leave them. As much as I don't like it. "We'll be fine. Go before you can't." Andromeda nodded and rushed to her room, gathering everything she could. Godspeed Abigail...

After she had taken one of the few horses left and rode her way out of the tunnels, Andromeda could smell the smoke of siege engines and death. She rode and rode until she saw a small settlement on the horizon. Finally! Atleast Treb was right. When Andromeda reached the town, she noticed that these were mercenaries not simple town folk. A woman with red hair and the lips of a Goddess greeted her. "May I ask who you are madame?" she asked Andromeda. "I am Andromeda Arygyros and I was until recently traveling with a woman named Abigail Prescott and a man called Treb. I was told to come here to seek help from his contact. They are besieged in Relle Castle, the beasts may have already breached the ruins and may have found the tunnels they were hiding in." The woman looked at her for a moment. "Dismount, you will see my husband. I am sorry for my lack of etiquette, I am Hildegard Von Krone, formerly of the country of Wolfkrone. This 'settlement' is a camp of Schwarzwind, my husband's mercenary group he formed so long ago. You may enter his living area." Andromeda went into the tent to find a common looking German man sharpening his zweihander.

I'll be posting the rest before the end of the day.

Notes:

• Cassandra's condition caused her to become malfested because of Maxi being around her (Maxi has a shard of Soul Edge within him) and because the army that was hunting them was also bringing the dead and dying under the influence of Soul Edge. So Cass is a malfested now and is not dead. You'll see why she may have a pivotal role in the story in Part II.

I realize how cliched that was...damn. I'll be posting the last few parts of the chapter tonight.

Chapter 9 (Cont.)

Lena

Lena was led to an ornate chamber with a window in the ceiling. It showed all of the night sky and its stars, and the view could be changed through the use of a lever on the far side of the room. Since Lena and Scarlett came here, Lena had felt invigorated almost to the point of euphoria. Was this strange feeling due to this being the seat of the Olympian Gods? Or possibly that I have attained more power than Scarlett could imagine anyone other than she could hold? Sophitia's handmaiden, Lysa, came forth to meet her in the odd room. "This is her favorite place, you know. My lady has instructed me to prepare you for the battles to come. I have been tasked with outfitting you and your former master with new armor and weapons. These new garments will bind you - body and soul - to her," Lysa said. "Where is Scarlett, if I may ask," Lena replied. Lysa seemed to get a sudden surge of pain as she reached for her temple. "She is...with our master," Lysa said in an odd way. There is something wrong here. This woman who is not even named by her servants is no simple holder of power. Lysa walked towards her, almost limping. Lena walked to her with three quick strides. When she reached her, Lysa grabbed her arms and put her head near Lena's ear, but she did not speak. Lena looked at her to see Lysa's pupils enlarge and shrink continuously as if there was something Lena could not see behind her. Lysa pushed herself away from Lena and curled into a ball on the ground. Lena then saw that her sword and shield were glowing and seemed to be changing as well. Lysa reached for Lena's hand and when Lena took it, she fell to the floor.

Hours later, Lena found herself on a stone slab meant to be a bed. A figure walked towards her, it seemed to have wings of some sort and deep red eyes. "What you saw was Lysa's cleansing. She still had a will and I couldn't fully bend her to mine own so I eliminated the rest of hers. Now, the armor and weapons you were promised are in that wardrobe," the figure said pointing towards a large teak cabinet. "Where is Scarlett and why have I not seen her?" Lena said defiantly. "On the front lines of course. She is part of the vanguard of my force. You do not understand the powers you two have awoken with your transformations! However, you will not be joining her. Lysa and yourself will be finding a Valentine. Your daughter actually. My sweet sister and I shall be awaiting your return with her ashes." The woman walked into the light of the candle for a moment and a second pair of eyes appeared next to her.

~<^>~

Scarlett

The smells of an army are repulsive. The smells of an army of malfested is a beautiful thing. Scarlett was leading this force to get to both the woman who may undo Sophitia and Scarlett's plan and Andromeda. The former was of course part of that pesky British Empire that believe they rule the known world. How wrong they shall be! Scarlett was surprised at the condition of Relle Castle. "The last time I was here, I was a shadow of what I am today..." Scarlett thought aloud. To avoid the feelings of melancholy or nostalgia, she rode to the tunnels she had planned herself. She pushed the rock covering the entrance on her own, fueled by her rage and passion for killing. "Hail Kaoc'!!" Scarlett yelled as she led her forces into the tunnels. Ten thousand ancient battle cries followed her own as they ran through the cold dank burrows.

Scarlett saw the first of the enemies. She was tall and not uncomely and wielded a sword and spear. "You shall not go any further, corrupted one!" the woman yelled. Scarlett licked her lips and dashed at the woman, her new sword in hand. Several of her forces began to attack Scarlett's target. "Find your own, you maggots!" Scarlett yelled at the beasts. The woman was still reeling from the sudden loss of her other enemies. Scarlett exploited her open defenses and dug her sword deep into the woman's left side. Scarlett pushed her to the ground and unsheathed her kris. She lowered it to the woman's face but was buffetted from the side. The man who attacked her drew his sword and stood between Scarlett and her prey.

Notes:

• Lysa has been too infrequent of a character so she is no longer a POV character. If anyone is against this, tell me.
• The two people fighting Scarlett are Abigail and Treb.
• The second pair of eyes is Cass.

Here we go! Chapter 10!!

Epilogue

Andromeda

"What are you doing with that sword!? Leave at once! Hilde how could you have let this woman in here with that on her belt?" the man yelled. The woman named Hilde simply bored her eyes into her own feet. "Leave me wife!" the man commanded her. Andromeda edged towards him, but he grabbed her shoulder before she could reach him. "How did you come upon this sword? Where did you find it?" he shouted at her. "It 'found' me after I was nearly killed by a malfested. This malfested was formerly called Sophitia Alexandra. I am Andromeda Arygyros, and you?" Andromeda replied collectively. The German man looked her up and down. "Sophitia Alexandra... that name brings back memories I'd soon rather forget. My name is Siegfried Schtauffen and I'd like to help you," Siegfried said. He walked to a small chest that was filled with books and found one that looked to be nearly a thousand years old. "Read. I'll be back with mead and meat for you as well some provisions for your journey."

Before Siegfried returned, Hilde entered his pavilion. "My lady, I would just like to apologize for my husband's behavior. He is not always like this..." she said. Andromeda smiled at Siegfried's young wife. "It's fine, I understand that he doesn't wish to dwell in the past." Hilde left her at that. Nearly an hour later, Siegfried came with freshly seared meat and a tankard of mead larger than Andromeda's head. "How far have you gotten?" Siegfried asked. "I'm nearly halfway through. I had no idea Soul Calibur was so...coveted," she said. "Well, if what you told me is true and that Sophitia Alexandra is under the influence of Soul Edge as I once was, you must defeat her and put the swords of destiny back into their slumber."

~<^>~

Abigail

Abigail pulled herself to her feet with the help of her spear. A monstrous riding beast dashed towards her. God damnit! Abbie sidestepped it but barely, and it wasn't done. The beast charged her again, this time much more ferociously. Abbie slashed at its face with her sword and it whimpered a bit but only got angrier. Abigail tried to run but her injury would not permit it. The beast tackled her and she tried to stab it anywhere she could but her strength was failing her. Its mangled jaws opened over her face, but it was knocked aside by someone. Maxi pulled her to her feet and threw her over his shoulder. "What are you doing? What about Treb?!" she shouted at him. Maxi ignored her. She looked back over her shoulder and shouted at him. Treb ran from his fight. He dashed towards her but not swiftly enough. The woman he had been fighting had already caught up with him. Abbie began to cry.

When Maxi had gotten them out of the caverns, she that he was injured as well. Maxi took out a small vial with a cork stopper. "This will hurt," Maxi said as her poured half of the vial into her wound. Abigail bit her tongue as the pain grew deeper. Abigail fainted. Hours later, she awoke in an abandoned home in an uncomfortable bed beside Maxi. It was freezing and there was no fire burning. She felt for her wound but could only find some dead skin and dried blood there. Abigail then noticed she was derobed. She slipped out of the slightly warmer bed and found her clothing in a folded stack next to her armor. "We're warmer without that," Maxi said. "You! Stay away from me! I know what you are," Abigail said. Maxi walked to her and put his arms on her waist. "Whatever that bitch told you, its not true. She was jealous of you." Andromeda wanted to believe it, so she did and climbed back into their bed with Maxi atop her. When they were finished, Abbie felt happier than she had in a long time.

~<^>~

She Who Sees Everything

In the moon, I see everything. Viola repeated her chant in her head a dozen times. It kept her focused and alert. She was almost to the town where this "werewolf"was supposedly staying. After a few hours of sitting atop her orb, she finally saw lights and realized it was the town inn she was seeing. Viola made her way towards it. Once inside, she knew who this werewolf was. He was tall, lean, muscular, and shirtless. A large, detailed tattoo of a crescent moon was present on his chest. "Would you like a fortune, young knight?" Viola asked him. He sighed. "I suppose so," he smiled "if its free of charge of course." Viola smirked. "I suppose that could be arranged... just this once," she said.

Once she had him alone at a table in the back, she began her ritual. "What is your name?" she asked. "I have no name, I am simply known as Z.W.E.I." he said. Viola moved her hands over her orb and saw visions of his future. In one he was fighting with a blonde man. In another, she saw him summoning some kind of wolf. In the last, she saw herself, naked as her nameday in bed with Z.W.E.I. atop her. She blushed deeply. "Is there...something wrong?" ZWEI asked her. "Nothing, its nothing," Viola said, "I saw you fighting a blonde man and you turning out as the victor. I saw you and sometime of corporeal wolf you summoned. And I saw you and I. Together." ZWEI raised one eyebrow and smiled. He left three bronze pieces on the innkeep's counter and brought Viola upstairs. ZWEI was more rough than she expected, but it was exciting. Viola dreamt of a burning palace in Wolfkrone.

Part II is coming soon, but I need to get my ideas together. You'll see it before SCV though!

Part II

Prologue

A raven flew to the window and kawed loudly. "You've returned! How wonderful!" the strange girl said. "Now tell me what you have found cur." The split-streaked hair of the girl bounced about as she skipped toward the raven. She made a pouty face and cocked her head. "Oh! You don't know anythin' do ya?!" she said as if she was merely a babe at the breast. The raven opened its beak but nothing came from within it. The girl seemed to hear some unheard voice. "Oooh really? Well how'd she doo that?" The raven nodded and opened its mouth again. The girl's look changed drastically. "I should have played my final game with this one long ago!" Tira's mouth twitched between a grimace and a grin endlessly.

~<^>~

Fenris

Fenris pressed his head against a pillow and looked at the tavern wench he spent the night with. "Why would a common whore like yourself be found in a rural inn and not in some brothel in France?" Fenris asked her. She laughed an extremely fake laugh. "M'lord, I am not just a whore, I am a courtesan. There is a difference," the whore said in her exotic Greek accent. "Oh and what would that be?" he asked her. "Courtesans have better shoes." Fenris chuckled and dressed himself. He went down to the bar downstairs to find a blonde woman drinking with another woman who was of a red hair. Fenris sat at the table nearest their's as he listened to their conversation.

"It is time, Hilde."

"I know, we must find a way to resurrect the Holy Sword."

The Holy Sword... Fenris put hand to his chest expecting to feel something odd but only felt his regular well-muscled chest through his tunic. My past lies in this Holy Sword.

Part II

Chapter I

Andromeda

"We must away, Hilde. I can feel eyes on my back." Andromeda dared not turn around, but she knew the man and woman behind her were staring at her. Hilde could see their faces but saw nothing unsual other than their blank expressions. "Andromeda, they are leaving their tabl-" Hilde spurted out as Andromeda drew Soul Calibur and her shield. She just barely blocked the dagger that would have killed her. "She who sends watchers in the night has brought a message."

Andromeda couldn't understand why these people had not killed her yet but she could see they were attempting to be civil. "Our mistress has told us the Azure Knight rises, as the new Holy Warrior does as well," the grey-eyed woman said. "We cannot explain in true detail, but she believes this Azure Knight is to be followed by another in a mere seven years," the man said. "Now we must ask you permission for an inquiry of your encounters," the woman said. Andromeda explained Sophitia's appearance, weapon, and followers as descriptively as possible but it wasn't enough for these hollow vessels. "You are of no use to us. Tira knows all of this already." The woman drew her dagger but a morning star came down on her hand before she could move it an inch. She howled in pain. "Hmph. It seems you don't know how to treat a fair maid like this golden haired beauty," an unfamiliar voice said.

Andromeda looked at their defender to see a lean, brown-haired German before her. He pulled his morning star from the woman's hand and blugeoned her face with it. The woman disappeared in a cloud of black feathers. The man drew a sword and recklessly charged the stranger. He easily dodged the slashes of the sword and bashed his chest in with the morning star. "I am Fenris, and yourself?" he said nonchalantly to Andromeda. "I am Andromeda, and this is my traveling companion Hilde. Why did you...?" Andromeda replied. "Save you? I thought it was not the day to see a comely wench like yourself mangled by some ungodly beast." Andromeda raised her eyebrows and sighed. "Well, my thanks is yours. If there is any kind of favor we can pay you in return, we shall." Fenris pointed to Andromeda's waist. "I want to know what this Holy Sword is."

^*<~>*^

Scarlett

Make it stop! Thin metal chains dipped in the sacred waters of Mount Olympus were laid across her neck, chest, arms and legs. After the failure at Relle Castle, she had to be punished for her defeat. "Remove the chains." Unseen hands removed the thin chains that caused her such suffering. Scarlett was led to a room with a small basin of water and she was lowered into the small pool. Scarlett was expecting it to be warm, but it was ice cold and burned her like a thousand fires. "No! Please, Sophitia I won't make this mistake again!" Her calls were not answered. Scarlett slowly slipped into unconsciousness. A memory found her.

A young woman with dark, ebon curls and modest breasts stared at her feet as a man inspected her body. "Shall we begin the consummation of this marriage, Sweetbird?" a man with a gruff accent asked her. "Yes, my lord." The man threw the girl who became Scarlett to the ground and roughly began to thrust into her. She began to cry as it happened, and as she continued to cry, the man only became rougher. Scarlett let out a loud sob. The man looked at her for a moment and stopped his movement completely. "Do you not want to be married to me child? Does losing your maidenhead truly pain you that much?" Then the man hit her across the face. Scarlett sniffled and became rigid and stiff holding in all her sorrow. The man finished and fell asleep atop her. Scarlett reached for the small token her godmother had given her. She took her memento and drove it into his chest. She drove it deeper and deeper until his blood covered her. A tall, lanky figure appeared at the window.

^*<~>*^

Fenris

Fenris enjoyed watching women, but not as much as he enjoyed watching Andromeda. Her golden locks moved gracefully as she rode ahead of him. She had an infectuous laugh. Above all, she had a body. How she had a body! Fenris ached for her, as a man aches for ale after a battle. "Andromeda, when do we plan to stop?" Fenris asked. "It matters not, we must get those watchers off of our trail though. I would say within an hour." As that hour passed, the sun slowly set on the horizon. When the moon rose, it was a deep red. "My lady, this cannot be a good omen. We must find shelter soon," Hilde said. Andromeda nodded. In a mere five-and-ten minutes they found a weather-battered, abandoned cottage. Hilde lit a fire in the main room and Andromeda set up tents on the cold floor.

"Fenris, I'd like to speak to you. Its about what you asked for at that inn," Andromeda said. Fenris led her to another empty room and sat next to the fire warming the stew Hilde made. "So you say your memories are in Soul Calibur?" Andromeda asked. "Yes, I believe so." Andromeda made a type of humming noise and took off her belt. She removed Soul Calibur from its sheath and held it to his chest. She stared intently at his exposed chest. Andromeda frowned and Fenris pushed her head up to his. She looked at him, directly in the eyes. He kissed her. She pushed back at first, but then withdrew herself. "I...I can't. Its just not the time. I'm sorry." Andromeda picked up her belt and Soul Calibur and ran out in tears. What have you done now you amnesiac idiot...

Part II

Chapter II

Dark Feathers Plotting in Secret

The strange girl with pigtails bounced towards a room with drawings all over the walls and ceiling. A single picture stood out the most: the Ancient Greek character for the word "Elk." Tira's eyes zipped around the room incredibly fast towards a bed with a young girl lying awake in it. "Pyrrha! Are you awake now my sweet little whore?" Tira nearly shouted. Pyrrha nodded solemnly. Tira skipped to her. "Pyrrha I have wonderful news! Your mother is going to die!" Pyrrha's eyes began to water immediately, but she did not make a sound. Tira's smile faded and her expression changed drastically. "Aren't you happy that the bitch who would ruin your life is going to die?"

^*<~>*^

Andromeda

Andromeda wiped her eyes and rushed to her bedroll. I wanted it. I wanted to help him, and be with him. Why am I so damned stupid? Another sob escaped her lips as the cold of the cottage engulfed her. Andromeda tossed and turned for a few hours, but could not find sleep. Andromeda found the book Siegfried had given to her and lit a candle. Andromeda read through the last half of the book in only a few hours and the sun was rising by the time she was packed again. Hilde had already awoken and heated the salted beef she had brought with them. Andromeda thanked Hilde and began to saddle the horses. As she began to saddle the last horse, Fenris approached her. "I'm sorry about last night... I haven't met a woman like you that I can even remember," he said. Andromeda looked at him. She kissed him on the cheek, and said "I know. Just don't think I'll fall into your arms like some maiden you saved from a bloody tower."

After hours of silent riding, the person Andromeda dreaded hearing from broke it. "Where exactly are we going? You seemed to explain everything but our destination," Fenris said. Andromeda bit her lip. "We are going to Rome to resurrect Soul Calibur and return it to its true and final form." After that short conversation no one spoke until they reached a clearing surrounding a lake. "We need to bathe, and badly. Andromeda, you can go first. I'll be after you, and Fenris can go last," Hilde said. Andromeda made sure no one was present when she dashed into the clear, warm waters. She swam under a ridge that extended over the water and watched the caked on dirt drift from her skin. She sat for a mere five minutes and began to swim back until she heard voices.

"She's around here, I can tell," a masculine voice said.

"How can you be sure?" another said.

"Gentlemen, just finish the job Mistress Tira has tasked us with and move along. We cannot fail her as the others have before."

Andromeda floated to the bottom of the water and swam as quietly as she could. Suddenly, a rock pelted her in the back. It was sharp, and she could feel a deep cut where it had hit. She pulled her head above the water and saw the group of assassins dart into the water. One nearly reached her until they were floating in the water like a freshly cut tree trunk. Another made their way towards her but he too was killed. Andromeda then saw arrows sticking out of their chests and heads. She heard someone coming from behind her and turned to swim away. The man grabbed her ankle and pulled her back to him. "I see you can't tell friend from foe. Come on, lets get you out of here." Andromeda looked up at Fenris in astonishment.

^*<~>*^

Fenris

Fenris had a secret pride in himself for not directly abusing the situation as he would have. Andromeda was hurt, disrobed, and she had just been saved by him but he continued to simply patch up her wound and ignore the fact that her round breasts were anywhere near his face. "Tell me if the wound feels any different, and let me check it every few days. Okay?" Andromeda half-smiled and closed her eyes in reply. Fenris got up but she pulled his hand. "Stay." So he did and he held her hand and watched her rest. She finally broke the tense silence he had begun to hate. "That 'rock' I felt was not truly a rock was it?" Andromeda asked. "No. It was a small throwing dagger, coated in a poison so discreet even Hilde could not recognize it," Fenris replied. Andromeda's brow furrowed. "Where is Hilde?" she said. "Out looking for some herb she said she may need if your condition worsens. I don't think she needs it, but you can never be too careful, especially with you." She chuckled at that. Andromeda's big brown eyes bored into his. "I'm, I'm ready. Pick up where I left us...please." Fenris raised his eyebrows and climbed atop her.

Andromeda seemed stiff but he didn't mind it. They kissed, more passionately than the night before. Andromeda suddenly let her body do what it wanted and she entwined herself with him. She begged for him to enter her, so he listened and when he finished, she pulled him into a kiss that seemed to make him remember his past life. He suddenly thought of Hilde returning, finding them naked and sprawled over eachother but that stern wench didn't matter. Nothing mattered.

Part II

Chapter III

Scarlett

As her memories drifted in and out of Scarlett's mind, a sudden warmth enveloped her. "I will not accept another failure. I want those cunts dead," Sophitia said to a barely conscious Scarlett. Before she could answer Sophitia's warnings, Scarlett felt a shadow creep down into her and she held her tongue. Sophitia paced towward her and placed a single gauntleted hand on Scarlett's face. She has me like a bird in a cage. Damn that sword! Damn it all! Scarlett laid still as Sophitia loosened her grip. "Now, shall I have you dipped in my former gods' holy water? Will you dare speak my former name? Can I be sure that your faith is in me, not in yourself?" Scarlett blinked once in response. Sophitia inhaled deeply and slapped Scarlett with the back of her hand. "You can leave me."

Scarlett had been assigned to guard the palace gates in case of a counterattack from the British Empire or the malfested-hating Wolfkrone. How could either of those self-proclaimed superpowers of Europe even begin to piece together this location, let alone what else is going on? Scarlett sighed and began her watch, which may never end.

^*<~>*^

Lena

"Watch it," Lysa said. Ivy walked on a ridge below them, alone and armed. Lena watched her carefully traverse the narrow passage with poise and grace. Could this harlot really be my daughter? Lena forced herself to smile at that. The two malfested women quietly darted toward a large boulder. "Help me with this." Lena began to push immediately and then an idea came to her. She seperated her sword and brought them to the bottom of the boulder and it began to slowly roll down the hill. Just as Ivy neared the boulder, she dodged it and yanked Lysa down to her with her own snake sword. "Mother?! What are you doing here?" Ivy asked, astonished. "Enough talk. I came here for one reason and one alone!" Lena charged Ivy with her seperated sword. Ivy easily blocked each one. Lysa lunged at Ivy with her mutated sword. Ivy grabbed Lysa's arm and pulled her in front of her. Ivy then sent the shards of her sword through Lysa's body.

Lysa had seemingly taken no damage from this meant to be devastating attack. What? Lena ran to Ivy and pushed her off of the side of the ridge, but before she fell she pulled Lena with her. In a fall filled with dust and sand, the two continued to duel fiercely. As Ivy realized their proximity to the ground she caught her sword on a groove in the rock walls. Lena grasped her ankle, but Ivy kicked relentlessly at Lena's face. Lena shut her eyes trying to protect her eyes from Ivy's heeled boots. Ivy then stopped for a moment, closing her eyes. Lena felt her sword's shards seperate and leave her. "No!" Lena protested as Ivy attacked her with Lena's own sword. Lena howled as she fell from Ivy's leg, dying.

I understand this but keep in mind this is my first, unfinished copy. Once I finish the entire thing I'll change around my formatting and make it more accessible. Thanks for the advice though!

I plan on reformatting it, saving it to something, editing it like crazy, and then printing it on some card stock and binding it. Then it will rot on my shelves while I work on something else.
I ddn't mean for that to seem so dark...

Part II

Chapter IV

Abigail

Maxi crept behind the wall of the small stables where a single horse was kept. Abigail watched him, biting her tongue. We shouldn't have attempted this. Abbie snuck her way across the opposite wall and drew her dirk. Maxi nodded. Abbie darted out from behind the wall and drove the dirk through the stable boy's throat. Maxi saddled and bridled the horse while Abigail searched the stables for anything useful. Abigail's stomach roared ferociously at the sight of the stable boy's food cache. Hard bread, sausage and cheese will hardly get us through this journey, let alone the next few days... "Abbie! The farmer's leaving his hovel, we have to get out of here!" Maxi growled at her. She grabbed the precious sustenance and hopped onto the front of the saddle.

They rode for hours on end, but finally were forced to stop near a stream choked with rotting leaves. An east wind blew and gave Abigail a sudden chill. She returned with the horse to where Maxi had set down two fur bedrolls, which were so close together they seemed to be one. The two built a fire and cooked the sausage thoroughly. Abbie nearly swallowed her portion and sat by the fire until it had nearly burnt out. Maxi went to the bedrolls and beckoned her closer. She went to him meekly, pulling the furs over her. He reached for a breast, but she looked at him with acrimony. Abbie looked at his face and noticed how healthy he still looked after the weeks of meager meals.

Two days later, the horse died. Maxi skinned it and stripped the poor beast of good meat. Abigail went to hunt for anything else, but came back with only a small hare and a silver trout. When Abbie found Maxi, he was bathing in a stream. She sat on a rock and stared at the water's edge. She looked over at Maxi's possessions and saw a bottle of ale sticking from it. Now is the time to see what he's hiding. "Maxi, could I take a swig from that bottle of ale? I have a thirst and not for water," Abbie asked as enticingly as she could. "Fine, just don't drink the whole damned thing."

Abigail opened the sack and looked for any other food items Maxi could have been hiding. Her search ended as quickly as it started, but she found something else: a shard of metal with an enflamed eye protruding from it. She threw the pack in revulsion, forgetting Maxi's presence for the moment. Maxi turned his head swiftly and swam towards his bag. "What the hell is that in your bag?" Abigail shouted at him. "It helps me. I defeated the behemoth Astaroth with its help," Maxi replied, sweat beading on his brow. "You craven liar. I trusted you. I thought you could help me but you're just a slave to that damned sword." With that, Abigail tackled him, pushing his head into the water.

She drove his head down and pushed his face into the jagged floor of the stream. She pulled him up before his breath left him and looked him in the eye. Maxi hit her across the face with the back of his hand and threw her onto the bank of the stream. Abigail drew her dirk and held it at his bare abdomen. The sound of drunken laughter came from all around them. "Alright lads, let's see what these two quarrelsome lovers are waking the whole damn forest for!" Abigail reached for Maxi's bag and threw the shard of Soul Edge as far as she could before they came down on them.

^*<~>*^

Andromeda

Andromeda woke with her head across Fenris' chest and a hand closed around a patch of grass. When Fenris awoke under her, they found he was still stiff. Once they were finished, Hilde entered the tent and asked to speak alone with Andromeda. "You've been abed with him every night for more than a fortnight. I believe you are with child. I am no expert, as a princess is not trained in the arts of medicine like some, but you had told me that your moon's blood was late nearly three days past. If this journey persists long enough for the pregnancy to run its course, I have little hope that we will accomplish anything," Hilde said sternly. Andromeda would not believe it. She refused to. I cannot be with child. This will ruin everything. Hilde reached for Andromeda's hand, "You should have expected this. I am sorry. I will carry on with Soul Calibur to Rome while you return home to Athens." Andromeda grew enraged by Hilde's assumptions of her weakness. "I am not some little girl, afraid to face the birth of a child. I am the Vessel of the Holy Sword, the Salvation needed to stop this catastrophe that is seemingly headed for your kingdom, which you should be protecting!" Andromeda shouted assertively. Hilde gave her a look as icy as a blizzard. "I am a Princess of Wolfkrone and I will not take these insults from a common whore like yourself. I will leave you now, and return to my husband with my findings. He will be...disappointed with my information."