This is chapter two of Myths of Adventure. If you have seen the machinima, Tales of Adventure, this is what the beginning is based on, so expect the first, four to six chapters to be similar like the machinima although I will try to spread my differences somehow. The ending you will see at the end of the story will make your head spin and then wonder on how the hell I would have a sequel but, you would understand. Enjoy chapter two which involves many characters and a lot of dialogue. Enjoy!

Link decided to tell me the history of Cairden and I have to admit, it was interesting but, in honest opinion; I wasn't exactly wanting to learn about how his folk came to be or where everyone he knew came from. I mean, come on; I was going to figure all this out when I got into HQ and met every insensible person there because on the walk over, Link didn't ask me ONE single question about how Earth was. And oh boy, did that not piss me off. I wanted to slam my fist into the elf's face due to the lack of patience I had but, the talking did seem to calm my nerves. We stopped in front of the HQ doors, which had taken us a twenty-minute trek through a mountain like path. And I wasn't ready to go in. Link paused before opening the door.

"Why aren't you moving your feet? You have a tail between your legs or something?" Link asked.

I tried to move, trust me, I tried but, my foot just didn't want to freaking move. "Um, what if you're friends don't like me and consider me an outcast of sorts?"

Link laughed and moved me by the shoulder, scooting me forward. "It's all right. When I was younger and I was found by a recruit you'll meet later; I thought the same thing but, instead they opened up to me with huge arms and the agreement that they were at my service. You'll like everyone you meet in here, I promise. And besides, Fox is probably cooking dinner."

I shrugged. "Well it would be your loss if you lied to me, and also your loss if you had a broken nose afterward but, hey I have to trust you."

Link scooted me in to the glass doors when a gust of nice, refreshing air burst out of the HQ and into the sky, laughing as it was released into the atmosphere. Link smiled. "Correction, Fox is doing his infamous air cleaning."

After I took my first precarious, hesitant step onto the tile only did I see how massive was the lobby of HQ. I felt my mouth fall to the floor. "Jeez Link! This room is huge. I can fit nearly a million New York taxis bumper-to-bumper in this room!"

Link rubbed the back of his neck. "What's a taxi?"

I waved my hand. "I'll tell you later."

"Oh, hello Link. I guess you found a new Smasher?" a new voice, this time Italian said aloud.

Link and I looked up to see a heavier set man dressed in a crisp apple jumpsuit with blue overalls lumber down the stairs toward us. He had a curly, brown moustache that seemed to hide rats or some sort of rodent, he was two sparkling blue eyes. Did everyone have blue eyes here? Anyway, the man smiled when he came to us and greeted Link warmly. I saw his spinach and oregano stained teeth and the garlic smell nearly overpowered me.

"Hey Mario, I knew you would probably have been the first person to greet us." Link said warmly.

Mario flicked his head over to me. "And who is the little buddy you found?"

I decided to speak for myself. "I'm Lionel. Nice to meet you." I outstretched my hand.

Mario shook it but, was focused on something else. "Why do you have a jagged, rippling scar running down the side of your face?"

I shrugged. "I don't know. It just appeared out of nowhere, and it was bleeding. Never seen it before till I woke up here."

Mario rubbed his chin. "Interesting indeed. Is he a smasher?"

I cocked my head. "What is a smasher?"

Link patted me on the back. "Nothing Lionel. You probably aren't even one so there is nothing to even worry about."

"But what is it?" I asked. I was going to continue when I had stopped talking, my eyes following the new figure that had come down the stairs. It was a fox in a chef's uniform, a bushy brown tail poking from the white cloak. He nodded hello and made his way around a wall, assuming it had to have been a kitchen.

Mario noticed my stare of awe. "Is that a little weird for you?"

I shook my head, making sure I wasn't, you know; hallucinating. "Was that a fox? Because, from where I come from, animals do not walk on their front feet, usually they have four feet and do not talk either. I'm not hallucinating right?"

Link laughed. "Yep, you saw correctly. That fox is one of our smartest people here at HQ. Plus he's a great chef."

I nodded, a little confused. "And what is his name?"

Mario laughed at that question. "Ironically, his name is Fox and he's a fox. It's weird I know. His father named him differently. I think he was drunk honestly."

Then there was a new voice this time to infiltrate the conversation. "Mario, Link? Who's there?"

I looked up the banister and then my eyes fell off. Ok, not literally but, standing before me was the hottest lady I have ever seen in my fifteen year-old life. This lady was stunning. She was clad in a neon blue jumpsuit that fit her body perfectly. She had lemonade hair flawlessly thrown around her back and she seemed to have an aura about her. Ok, that might have sounded disgusting for a fifteen year-old to be hitting on a thirty year-old or however old she was but, this lady was hot and I didn't have a girlfriend. I was drooling. Link noticed me making a complete fool of myself and elbowed me in the ribs. Mario kindly took the matter of introducing me.

"Samus, this is Lionel. He woke up here in Cairden earlier today and Link brought him here for some answers." Mario introduced.

Samus jumped from the upstairs balcony and did a perfect somersault. Then landed swiftly on her feet, leaped the perfect distance to me and then outstretched her hand. "Nice to meet you Lionel, I'm Samus Aran, one of the older people here. Not by age honey, but by how long I've been at HQ."

I shook her hand, which seemed to be so well placed in my grasp. Something about her was... I almost want to say seductive. "It's a pleasure."

Samus blushed then turned to Link. "So, is he a Smasher?"

There was that word again, the one thing everyone had been mentioning. Hmm, I need to know. Link shook his head. "I don't know, Pit will have to tell us in our next meeting."

Then, to break our little talk my stomach growled and I clutched it in embarrassment. "Um, sorry."

Link patted me on the back. "You are hungry. Seeing Fox in that uniform made you hungry. I'll show you the café," He led me away from Mario and Samus and when we rounded the wall corner he leaned in. "I'm going to take a guess that you really like Samus?"

I smacked him in the ear. "No dip Sherlock. Of course I like her. Didn't you see the drool?"

Samus on the other side of the wall gave Mario a look. "There is something about this Lionel, he doesn't seem like one of us but, obviously he was put here for a reason."

Mario nodded. "I agree. If Pit can't figure out the deal with him, then no one can. He has something big in his wake and I can't wait to see what's going to happen."

Samus clucked her tongue. "If he isn't a smasher well then we can't help him. You do realize what danger he'll be put in regardless of what he is? The kid is only fifteen and doesn't seem to have any special skills."

Mario breathed a sigh. "Only time will tell Samus. We just have to wait and see."

When I entered the café, I stumbled; like a bumbling idiot over the porcelain ledge that led into it. Link laughed, he laughs way too much. "Watch your step."

I elbowed him. "I'm pretty sure you've been tripping over that ledge every day. Am I right?"

There were two men sitting at the counter, a fiery redhead and with him was a guy with cobalt hair. The cobalt man turned to leave and then I gulped, a sword a mere inch or so from my neck. The man gasped in surprise.

"OH MY GOD! I'm SO SORRY!" the man cried and then he ran off.

The redhead held out his hand. "Ike, no come back! It was an accident," Then he turned to me. "Hi. Nice to meet you. My name is Roy and that was my brother Ike. He sort of gets emotional when he does something that could endanger a life."

I chuckled. "I can tell."

Roy shrugged. "I think I should go after him. I would like to talk to you later."

I waved bye and then turned to Link. "I like Ike (lol) he seems nice."

Link shrugged. "I consider Ike to be a big softie," Then he talked to Fox that was behind the corner. "Yo, Fox what are you cooking today?"

Fox turned off the blender and rubbed his hands on his uniform. "I am making smoothies with pepper, celery and curry. Sort of a spicy, and healthy snack for us to have at the conference once Pit gets back."

I really shouldn't have voiced my opinion. "That sounds really repulsive."

Fox glared at me then feigned surprise. "I'm sorry but, we haven't met. No one ever insults my cooking. Trust me, I know nearly thirty ways to kill you with a pan."

Link intervened. "This is Lionel. He's new here."

Fox's eyes lightened. "Ah, a newbie." He sounded amused, as if my status was a bad thing.

I had enough of him and I only talked to him once. "Listen foxy or whatever you want to be called, I've been through some weird shit and I would like to have it explained. I don't need you being an asshole."

Fox flustered and then walked out from behind the counter, taking off his chef uniform. I saw his bushy brown tail again and he was wearing a leather jacket, with many gadgets and gizmos clipped to it. Then I saw the pistol in his hands. I paled.

Fox sneered. "I suggest you stay out of my way unless you want to feel this ray." He walked off, steaming.

I blew out a breath of air. "That wasn't exactly how I wanted to meet him."

Link was going to make a reply when the speaker above us crackled to life. "May everyone please meet in the conference room? We need a meeting. And please have Lionel join." Mario's voice came from the speaker.

Link stood and wiped the crumbs off his tunic. "Let's go. Boss is back."

"Who's the boss?"

Link looked at me, a glimmer in his eyes. "His name is Pit. He's an angel from Skyworld."

"He's a what?!"

And that is chapter two which was much longer in comparison to chapter one. Things will begin to pick up when the antagonist is introduced next chapter. Please read Cross Examined and Subspace Reawakening. Those stories will be updated tomorrow. Please review, review, review and tell me how the characters are interacting. Love you all!

~TalesofAdventLover