Super Smash Brothers: Reckoning

Chapter nine: Arrival in the East

A/N: Welcome back! Sorry about the late update... Anyway, in development, I've ditched the background music – I just got fed up looking for songs. This chapter and the next will be the conclusion of Altair's main story arc – his problems are nothing compared to Dante, Nero and Krystal's, believe me...

Warning: Character death (Sorta, it's complex.), and fluffy angst (if that makes any sense whatsoever) over this chapter and the next. Yeah. My first time at writing that kind of subject matter, so be prepared.

Rant over. Enjoy.

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Altair and his small army stepped through the portal. As soon as they did, Altair let out a chocked gasp at what was his home. The assassins were holed up inside the fortress, and the surrounding village was in flames. The Templars – around two hundred, he estimated – encircled the small island that the fortress rested on. Then he saw it. A flash of a red cape amongst the white robes.

Robert De Sable. He let out an involuntary growl in his throat, causing Dante to look at him strangely.

"You okay kid?"

"De Sable is down there" Altair spat venomously "If I find him, no-one interfere, got it?"

"Who the heck is De Sable?" Dante asked. Samus, Snake and Captain Falcon nodded, and, after a few seconds, so did Wallik.

Altair turned to face his group.

"Here's the plan" He said slowly "Wallik."

"You can't order me around, traitor..." He started

"Oh, shut up you fool." Nero interrupted. "He's trying to save you're skin."

Wallik shot a look at Nero, before nodding.

"Fine" He muttered "What do you want me to do?"

"Break into the Fortress. Tell Al Mualim-"

"The master, you mean." Wallik interrupted

"Tell him that, when he sees a plume of fire shaped like a falcon, courtesy of C.F" Altair gestured to Captain Falcon "Open the gates and charge out. It means that we'll have engaged."

Wallik nodded.

"One more thing – tell the master I quit."

This brought Altair quite a few strange looks. He'd said so many times that his duty was everything – maybe he really had changed.

Wallik glared at him. "Fine." He spat "We don't want a traitor and a coward in our ranks anyway."

There was a loud cracking noise, and Wallik stumbled back. Altair – and the others – looked in shock. Samus had slapped him.

"Watch your mouth" She hissed "Altair's risking his life to make sure that your order isn't wiped off the face of the earth – although if this is how it's members act, maybe it deserves to be."

Samus... Altair thought in wonder I never knew you cared that much.

Wallik, with a last glare at the group, turned and left.

"So...now that that's out of the way, what's the rest of the plan?" Dante said.

"Incredibly simple" Altair said "We charge, and use as much technology and magic as possible to confuse and demorilize them. Which means, Nero, you can take the sling off."

Nero, grinning evilly, complied. The Devil Bringer flared to life.

"And..." Dante said, drawing Ebony & Ivory

"We charge." Altair said. He drew his sabre and turned to the cliff. "In three minutes we charge. Get ready."

*****************

"Marth..." Shiida said slowly "We need to talk."

Marth looked up from inspecting his armor and Falchion. "About what?"

"Us."

"Wha..." Marth asked, jaw hanging open. Then he noticed the tears running down her face. "What's wrong, Shii?"

"I don't want to loose you..." Shiida said tearfully "Not now."

Marth pulled his fiancée into a hug

"You won't. I promise." He said softly "Just take care of yourself. I don't know what I'd do if I lost you..."

"You be careful as well." Shiida said softly.

Marth laughed softly as he pulled away.

"Aren't I always?"

"Not really, no." Shiida said, a smile on her face.

Marth's jaw dropped. Again.

"Kidding, kidding." Shiida said with a shake of her hand.

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Ike was inspecting Ragnell. Even though it never lost it's edge, he always liked to check it. He let out a heaving sigh and looked out over the burnt plains of the middle east.

Mia... he thought wishfully Be safe. And look after Mist if I don't come back.

He turned, face set into a grim scowl. Heaving Ragnell onto his shoulder with one hand, he walked towards the edge of the cliff.

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"Samus." Altair said softly "Could you wait a moment?"

Samus, who had been leaving to go get her gear, turned back.

"What is it?" She asked, trying not to look into those black eyes she seemed to get sucked into.

"When this is over...we need to talk." Altair said flatly.

Samus nodded, trying to hide her confusion.

"Sure. Now, if you don't mind, I need to go and get my power suit on."

She walked away, blond hair swinging in the breeze. Altair stared after her, lost in his own world, thinking of nothing but how beautiful she looked.

He slapped himself.

That can wait for later, Pal. He told himself For now, focus on the mission. Focus on the battle.

*************

"Hey, Zel?" Link called. Zelda turned back to look at him. "What's wrong?" He asked

"Nothing, my love."

"Oh, you called me my love, this is serious" Link said mockingly. Zelda slapped at his arm.

"Oh, shut up." She said "If you must know...I'm scared of losing you."

Link rolled his eyes. "Zel, I've fought my way through not one, but TWO worlds by myself. I'm pretty much a one-man army. I think I can look after myself." He said, laughing. Then he grew serious "You should worry about yourself." He saw Zelda open her mouth to retort, and interrupted before she could speak "Not for the reasons you think. Think about Hyrule. If you die, then it has no heir to the throne. Cue, Ganondorf or Vaati or even Dark Link."

Zelda realized what he was saying. "Oh." She said, softly

"I love you, Zel. But, as much as I hate to admit it, you're more important to Hyrule than to me. Remember that." Link said, pulling the princess into a hug.

"I'll try" She said quietly.

*************

"Hey kid, ready to kick some ass?" Dante said, slinging his sword, rebellion, over his shoulder. Nero stared at him.

"Didn't you have Alastor a minute ago...?"

Dante grinned sheepishly.

"I kind of brought a few more devil arms." He said, rubbing the back of his head.

"Like..."

Dante counted them off on his fingers

"The sword of Sparda, The Pandora, that crazy guitar thing..."

"How many did you bring?"

"Over nine thousand!" Dante yelled ecstatically.

"Seriously, how many." Nero asked, sweatdropping.

Dante shrugged "Geez, sorry for trying to be cheerful. About twenty. I also brought Red Queen."

At this, Nero brightened. "For once, you have been useful." He said "Now let's go kick ass so we can get Kyrie's antidote."

"Sounds good to me." Dante said.

************

"Everyone ready?" Altair asked the assembled crowd. The weapons were polished and out, Samus was in her power suit and a shot was fully charged, Snake had a bazooka on his shoulder, Captain Falcon just stood there with a raised fist, Zelda stood near Link with a look of determination on her face, and the two demon hunter....

Looked like a walking arms house. Dante had a briefcase with a moving eye, a guitar, some sort of organic sword as well as his usual gear on his back. Nero had his usual gear, but he had Yamato slung on his belt and a different sword resting on his shoulder. Blue Rose was loose in its holster.

Dante noticed the stares that he was getting.

"What?" He asked, trying to shrug but failing due to the guitar on his shoulder. Snake shook his head in disbelief.

"You have more gadgets than Link..." He said.

"You can talk, mister Utility Belt!" Link shot back.

"My original question?" Altair asked calmly.

"Yes, we're ready." Ike answered, pulling Snake away from Link as Zelda put a hand on Link's shoulder. "Save the fighting for the enemy, you two. Seriously..." He moaned "You're almost as bad as Boyd and Shinon..."

"Who?"

The group shook their heads, turned to the path that led to Masyaf, and charged.

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A/N: The biggie is next chapter! *Jumps up and down in glee*. I can't wait! I get to write a freakin' huge battle scene!