A Blessed Curse

Chapter 9

The three of them hear a twinkling sound and see a little glowing girl with wings smile at the trio.

"Woah, a fairy!" Black*Star exclaims "Why is it here?"

Soleil throws him an 'are-you-serious?' look "Maybe it's because magical beings reside in magical areas."

"It's where the holy sword lie. Fairies shouldn't be that unexpected. Is Excalibur up ahead?" Kid asks.

The fairy pulls a face saying "Yeah." Before flying away.

"The hell? What's up with her?" Black*Star questions.

Soleil shrugs "I don't know. Maybe just a bad mood? Let's keep going."

~*~

They make it to the end of the river and reach a cave. There was a small lake with a stone island in the middle.

Kid still has the book in his hand and Soleil is looking over his shoulder so she can read it.

"Looks like a dead end." Kid states.

"Hey, is that it?" Black*Star asks.

"Yeah. No mistake."

Soleil finishes "The holy sword, Excalibur."

"Awesome..." Black*Star mutters when they reach the sword.

"The air is reverberating. I guess it's true what's writen in this book. He who wields the holy sword will be praised as a hero, and will be granted eternal glory." Kid says "And look. The exquisitely carved ornaments, the flawless blade." His golden eyes start to sparkle again, it doesn't even surprise Soleil anymore "It's certainly deserving of the name holy! A holy blade unable to be pulled by any but the chosen hero! I... I want it!"

Black*Star pulled the sword. It came out with a screech of the metal but other than that there seemed to be no difficulty in pulling it out at all. They all stare at the sword a moment, in complete shock.

Then Black*Star starts jumping around "Yay! I'm the hero, yahoo!"

"No, no! There must be some mistake!" Kid is having a mental breakdown on the ground again "You don't deserve the praise of a hero." Soleil chuckles at their reactions. Then Kid gets back to his feet "Do it over."

"Huh? You saying it didn't count?" Black*Star asks. Then he puts the sword back in the ground "Fine, it'll turn out the same no matter what, though."

"Let me do it this time."

"It's no use! The holy sword chose me. I'm just so big!"

Kid reaches out for the sword but then he hestitates. His eyebrow twitches and he polishes the hilt "You can never know who's put their hands on it, you know?"

"Just hurry up."

Kid stands up again and he looks at Soleil. She shrugs "You can at least try. Maybe it'll work. There's only one way to find out."

Kid nods, grabs the hilt and pulls out the sword without putting any effort in it "I pulled it out!"

Black*Star walks towards Kid "What's with that thing!? The hole must've widened up!"

Soleil chuckles and pats Kid's back "See? I told you so."

Then they hear a voice booming through the cave "Welcome, young ones!" The sword starts glowing and floating.

"The holy sword talked!" Black*Star says while the three of them look at the sword.

"Forgive me for not introducing myself sooner. I am known as Excalibur!" A bright light comes from the sword, causing the teens to look away.

"I-incredibly... lame..." Black*Star mutters.

They're looking at Excalibur's normal form, which looks rather dumb. It is a white figure that doesn't even reach their shoulders, maybe just barely their torsos. He's wearing a white top hat and a dress jacket with a white collar, no pants. He is holding a white cane. On each side of his head is an eye that takes up most of the space and Soleil doesn't know if he has a nose or a muzzle. He doesn't have any facial features other than those.

"You're the holy sword? Are you serious? So lame..."

Both boys are trying to keep themselves from laughing. Soleil is covering her mouth with her hand and chuckling softly.

Excalibur points his cane at them "Then I shall ask this! Who are you, then?"

"Me? I'm Black-" Black*Star begins but is cut off by Excalibur.

"My legend begins in the 12th century. You are Meisters from the looks of you. Where do you hail from?"

"Don't shove that cane in my face."

"We're from the DWMA-" This time Kid is being cut off.

"Aha! I have something interesting to show you." Excalibur turns around.

"Don't ask questions if you aren't gonna listen." Black*Star huffs "What's up with this guy? If you're gonna wear clothes, at least put on pants."

Soleil places a hand on her hip "I don't think he'll listen to that statement, even though I've only known this guy for a few minutes."

"I wonder what he's going to show us." Kid says.

This time Excalibur points his cane to Soleil "Do you want to hear my legend?"

"Put that thing away." Soleil glares at the 'holy sword'.

"You wish to know my epic tale?" Excalibur points his cane at Black*Star.

"Get that cane out of my face!" Black*Star yells.

"Where do you hail from?"

Black*Star slaps the cane away "We said we're from the DWMA!"

"What's your favourite number between one and twelve?"

"Huh? One to twelve?" Black*Star hits the cane again "One, of course! I have to be the number one!"

"Eight. It's totally symmetrical." Kid says.

Soleil is about to say her favourite number but then Excalibur starts talking already "Fools! You have no right to choose! My legend begins in the 12th century."

"You said to pick which one we liked!" Black*Star shouts.

Soleil glares at Excalibur "And you already started to talking again before I could pick one."

Excalibur shoves his cane in her face again "Silence, you cursed beast! You wish to know my legend?"

"Cursed beast?" Kid questions.

Soleilshrugs "How am I supposed to know why he calls me that? It appears this guyhates me already. At least the feeling is mutual." She bites the inside of hercheek 'Crap, he figured it out. Can thisguy sense souls or something? No, that can't be it. Kid and Maka can see soulstoo and they never said something about mine. Maybe they think it's blue likenormal souls while it's actually silver? I hope the others don't realize whatthis stupid thing is talking about. They can't know.'