Hey! Jen here. I'm going to put up the opening disclaimer this time. So here it is!

We do not own Soul Calibur or Legend of Zelda in any form or way.

Hmmm.. Not as exciting as I thought.

Anyways, Jesse agreed to let me write my own whole chapter! That's cool right?

"That sounds amazing! I never thought that it was like that."

"It'll be worth the wait, the sea breeze blowing against your face, the warm sun above…."

The group had been traveling for several days now, wishing they had the luxuries of staying in the comfortable setting of Athens. On this particular hot day, they found themselves trekking through a patch of forest, sweating from the excessive walking, fatigued by the increasing heat the sun was leaking down upon them. Even the forest creatures seemed scarce because of it. The birds took their shelter in the comfortable shade that towered their nests and the forest critters scurried into their homes under the ground. Ahead of the group was Maga. He had taken his shirt off and hung it over his shoulder, using it as a towel to wipe the sweat from his brow every now and again. He and Maxi were in a deep conversation about the overzealous lives of being a captain of his own ship. Link didn't seem to mind the heat, though every now and again, he took sips of water from one of the bladder-bags that Rothion had given each of them. Raine and Talim were happily walking next to each other, pointing out forest creatures that they pass by and watching the natural beauty of nature. Kilik had to be the most fatigued of them all, carrying not only his traveling gear, but having to carry Xianghua on his back, because she had complained about the heat; going as far as saying she 'wouldn't go a step further in this damn heat'.

Mina was in her more revealing brown attire, keeping cool from the heat and Dante was wearing a sleeveless open vest with a pair of black dyed slops. Dante was a little less annoyed since Mitsurugi had decided to follow them for a stupid reason. His hate towards him was like a primal rage that a cat and a dog would share towards one-another and he still held a grudge with the man who had insulted him days ago.

' He thinks he's invincible, but I'll beat him, it may not be today or tomorrow, but I'll make sure that I'm the one who kicks his cocky ass first.' He always assured himself.

He turned around and looked at Mitsurugi.

"You're still here?" He mocked, " I thought you would have given up on this by now."

Mitsurugi looked at him without even a hint of emotion.

" I'm going to get my fight, whether you like it or not."

"If you don't die of old age first" Dante argued with him.

"You'd die of stupidity before death comes to claim me."

"I wouldn't be so sure of that asshole."

"Cry baby."

"I'm not a damn cry baby! Why the hell do you keep calling me that!"

Maga overheard the conversation and started laughing.

"I think this is going to happen everyday until he leaves." He said.

" Or until they die." Maxi added.

Link walked over to the two and stopped their arguing before it escalated into something bigger.

"Will you two just stop? It's way to hot for this bull shit." He said. Everyone, except Mitsurugi; whom just glared, looked at him in bewilderment. They never heard Link curse before, so they were surprised.

"I think we all just need a break, this heat is getting to us." Kilik suggested.

Everyone nodded in agreement and quickly found a shady spot under a massive Maple tree. After setting everything (And Xianghua) down, Kilik; along with everyone else, leaned against the tree and relaxed. Or, at least tried too. Dante was the only one who couldn't relax. Mitsurugi's presence just made him uneasy. He just flat out didn't trust him. Link sat in between the two, to ensure that they didn't break out into another fight like the one in Athens.

"Ahh… This is comfortable…" Raine sighed as she happily leaned up against the tree and crossed her legs. Maga sat down next to her and eased himself down onto the grass next to her.

"It sure is." Maga added.

"How much further until we get to another town?" Xianghua asked, knowing well enough that they hadn't the slightest clue.

"You already know the answer to that." Maxi yawned.

"I wonder if she really does." Maga muttered.

"What was that?" Xianghua asked, still standing.

"Uhhh, nothing." Maga awkwardly replied.

"It better have been nothing." She huffed.

"It is too bad the wind gods aren't gracing us with their breath of life…" Talim sighed.

"Yea, I could use a nice breeze right about now." Mina chirped.

Dante stared off passed the forest and spotted an open field and on that open field was a small establishment of sorts. A caravan, a gypsy train, was passing by.

"Hey Maga, look." He said, pointing at the settled mobile homes, "It's one of those gypsy circus things, like the one that came to our village a few years ago."

"Yea, I see it… Is that fire coming from it?" Maga asked, now focusing on one of the tents on wheels. Everyone averted their attention directly at the caravan. Maga was right, one of the wagons were indeed on fire. The entire group stood up and ran; on instinct, towards the establishments.

As they neared, they saw havoc, rise from within the circle that the gypsy train formed.

"What the hell….." Muttered Maga. Just then, a mother and her child ran from one of the wagons, being chased by a man-sized lizard, wielding a sword and shield. Dante's opened wide, staring in disbelief.

"What the fuck is that?" He exclaimed. The lizard stopped and stared at the group. It made a loud screeching sound and was soon surrounded by many more of it's kind.

"That's not a good sign.." Link said, unsheathing his sword. Everyone else did the same, bringing their weapons up, waiting for the lizards to attack. A blue and green colored lizard stepped forth from the small group and eyed the group. He made a raspy hiss and pointed at the Maga and his group.

"What do you think it wants?" Xianghua asked.

"I don't know…" Maxi replied. Talim stepped forth in front of the group.

"You… are human? Why are you attacking these people? Please, stop." She asked.

"Talim! Be careful. These Lizard-Men don't look like they want to talk." Mina demanded. The main Lizard tilted his head sideways and stared at Link. He made a loud hiss at him.

"I think it's talking to you Link." Dante said. Mitsurugi stood next to him, anxiously waiting for the reptilian monsters to attack. The lizard made yet another hiss at Link, but Link didn't respond. The head Lizard Man made a loud screech and all of the lizards charged at the group with their weapons raised.

One of the faster lizard men reached Talim before she or anyone else could react and lunged at her, mouth wide open to bite. Link, quick as light, pulled his up his bow and arrows and shot the lizard man right between the eyes; making the now dead lizard man plunge to the ground. Unfortunately, the lifeless shell of a body still managed to hit Talim, causing her to fall to the ground and land on top of her.

Maga and Maxi ran forward, along with Xianghua, to fend off any more lizard men from hurting Talim.

"Please help!" She cried as she struggled to push the dead body, now creating a pool of blood around her, off and away from her.

"We're coming!" Xianghua assured her, ducking away from an axe, swung at her with high velocity.

"Ha! How 'bout this!" She yelled as she quickly swung her sword around and gutted one of the horrible monsters.

Maxi was unleashing a flurry of blows onto an unsuspecting lizard man and launched him up into the air. Maxi took a few steps back, timing himself just right, ran forward and leapt up into the air; foot extended straight out.

"Rising Dragon of the Zodiac!" Maxi bellowed. His foot made contact with the Lizard Man's skull and a crack could be heard. There was so much momentum behind his kick that he snapped the creature's neck.

Several different Lizard-men had found their way around the group, surrounding them in a circle and attacked Dante.

Dante was already standing in a defensive position, holding his weapon close to him and blocked many blows that would have easily killed him. He swung left and he swung right, hitting shields and hacking limbs. While in the heat of battle, one Lizard stealthily snuck behind him and jumped, in attempt to destroy the largest threat. He jumped on Dante's back, biting down hard on his collar bone and scratching away at his back with the sharp claws on his feet. Dante yelled in pain and fell to his knees. He took his right hand and reached around his shoulder, looking for something. He ran his fingers around the Lizard Man's head and finally found what he was looking for. He curled his thumb up and jabbed it into the Lizards eye socket, making it hiss in pain. Dante's plan to harm it had indeed worked out, but his plan to get it off had not. The Lizard man did not let loose his tightening grip on Dante's shoulder. Then Dante heard something.

"Tilliya!" cried Mitsurugi as he swung his sword in a crescent chopping motion at the lizard Man on Dante's back. The lizard man screeched in pain and fell dead to the ground. Dante grunted in pain as he stood from the ground.

"Don't think this makes me hate you any less then I did before ass hole."

"Good."

Mina and Kilik got separated from the group when Lizard men somehow made their way around them.

"Ha! Hiya!" Mina cried as she gutted a lizard man. When she did this another Lizard man leapt at her from behind, only to have his plans of killing her thwarted by Kilik.

"kom-bo!" he exclaimed as he twirled his staff around, hitting several different lizard men at a time.

"Thanks." Mina said as she thrust the butt end of her zambatou into the stomach of a lizard man.

"Wait a minute….." She said aloud. Something had caught her attention, or rather nothing did.

"Where's everyone else?" she asked.

"what?" Kilik replied while finishing off the last Lizard man that had surrounded them.

"Where are they? They were just here…" She thought aloud.

"Maybe they got separated."

Suddenly a cry of pain could be heard from a distance.

"Oh no.. Let's go!" Mina yelled as she grabbed Kilik and ran towards the direction of the scream.

"Don't worry Talim! We got you!" Xianghua assured her friend. At several feet away, she could hear Talim still pleading for help. She quickly plunged her sword into the abdomen of one of those Atrocious creatures, making it fall down as a lifeless shell. Wiping the sweat from her brow, she looked around and slowly, but carefully, inched herself towards her companion in distress. Suddenly, a yell of pain could be heard from behind them. She looked back and saw Dante on his knees, trying to throw a Lizard-man off of his back. She also saw Mitsurugi running towards him and swing his sword in a crescent motion, cutting the Lizard away from Dante's well being. Letting out a sigh of relief, she turned back around and made her way towards Talim. She was amazed at how Maxi and Maga held off several of the horrendous lizard like creatures, keeping them far away from Talim. But then again, when a friend is in dire trouble, one's self will rise above the test and conquer any in their way. Maga and Maxi stood almost back to back, guarding Talim with their lives.

"Hurry up Xianghua!" Maxi urged, " Maga and I can't hold them off forever!"

"Yeah!" Maga agreed as he deflected yet another deadly attack and returned his blade in favor of himself. Xianghua raced for Talim and pushed, with all her might, the heavy Lizard Man off of Talim

"What the hell could these things want?" Maga wondered aloud.

"You're guess is as good as mine!" Maxi replied.

Xianghua yanked Talim to her feet and nearly dragged her away from the fight.

"I got her! Let's get out of here!" She bellowed. Yet another scream of pain could be heard, but it was more feminine that the last and Maga felt more urged to finish this skirmish.

He swung his sword and with the shift of movement, held it upside down in the palm of his hand and used all his body and strength to arch it in a crescent swing, gravely injuring several Lizard Men in the process. Suddenly, a grave hiss could be heard from atop one of the gypsy wagons.

"What the…"

It was a hiss not like that of the odd reptilian creatures, this sounded much more vile and raspy. The Lizard men all retreated from the battle, but not in fear, but as is they were called back by their leader.

Maga looked up at the wagon, investigating the shredded canvas that covered it. Suddenly, another horrifyingly hiss came from it and seemingly out of nowhere, a figure leapt high into the air; shaded out by the sun.

"What the hell is that…." Maga asked himself.

"Maga! Run!" yelled a voice coming from behind him. Maga turned around to respond to the voice when suddenly, a loud thud came from behind him. He turned around and gasped at what he saw.

It was a sickly gray looking bald man with two odd looking hands crouching on the ground. His horrifying clothing was what made Maga very uneasy. He wore black leather straps that covered his eye sockets, mouth, and ears. It wrapped all around his head and extended around his torso and his lower body. Just the sight of this man made Maga gag.

"Maga! Get away from him!" Yelled yet another voice.

Maga stood still, both petrified and intrigued by this man. He finally took a small step backwards, making a small cracking noise when his boot fell upon a twig in the ground. The gray man perked his head and made a horrible gurgling-hiss sound and sprung forward at Maga.

"Whoa!" He yelled. He quickly rolled off to the side as his opponent flew above him with his claw-like hands extended. As he did this, Maga was able to get a closer look at him, and more importantly, his weapons of choice. The claws on his hands weren't claws at all, they were in fact, the weapons.

Maga rose from the ground and brought up his sword.

"Ha!" Raine yelled as she cut down a Lizard man.

" Hyaaah!" Link bellowed as he stabbed a Lizard-man in the gut.

"These lizalfos are tough!" He exclaimed.

" Tell me about it… What do they want?"

"I don't know, but they must want it bad."

Suddenly a Lizard Man leapt backwards and fell to all fours. He tensed up and with a large hiss, sprang forward; jaws opened wide. Raine brought her sword up in protest, but failed to block the monster's attack. It latched on to her arm and began to savagely shake his head every which-way, tearing away her flesh. She let out a loud cry in pain and tried to knock the creature away from her. Link quickly spun around and jabbed his sword into the Lizards neck and pulled it out. He raised his sword and brought it down on the neck of the reptilian monster, separating its head from its body. He dropped his sword to the ground and, with all his might, pried the Lizard-man's alligator-like jaws off of Raine's severely injured arm. With a final huff, Link successfully unhinged the jaws, letting Raine free from its crushing grip. She fell down to the ground and clasped her arm. It was shaking violently from her shocked nerves and the pain shooting through it.

"Come on, we need to help the others." He said as he sheathed his sword and helped her up from the ground.

Raine clutched her arm and leaned against Link for support.

They slowly began their walk forward when Raine saw Mina and Kilik emerge from the thick bush of the woods.

"Look, there's Kilik and Mina!" Raine exclaimed. Mina stopped in her tracks when she heard her name and turned around and spotted Link helping Raine, both battered and bruised. She ran up to them and saw blood dripping from Raine's arm.

"Raine! Are you okay?" She asked in a concerned tone of voice.

"I'm still breathing aren't I? Where's everyone else?" she asked.

"Maga! Run!"

"That sounded like Kilik!" Mina said.

"Let's hurry!" Link urged.

They walked as quickly as they could and saw Dante, Mitsurugi, Xianghua, Talim, and Kilik all standing together in front of the gypsy caravan. They rushed and regrouped with their companions when suddenly, a loud, terrifying hiss could be heard from the wagon that was closest to them. Raine turned her head and saw Maga standing and looking at the roof of the wagon. Suddenly, a figure jumped from be hind the wagon, high into the air.

From behind, they could hear numerous hisses and growls. They turned and saw that the Lizard men had surrounded them, now in much more numerous numbers then before.

They all quickly charged the group, weapons raised, hisses and growls ringing out, and yet another battle waged forth. Raine held her sword and waited for the small army of Lizard-men to come close when Talim stood in front of her.

"Please, you must hide! You're to hurt to fight!" she said, " Come with me!"

Talim grabbed her and they both ran from the fight when suddenly, Raine heard a loud thud come from Maga's direction.

She quickly turned around and saw that the mysterious figure landed right in front of Maga. The sickly sight of the creature frightened her.

"Maga! Get away from him!" She yelled in desperation. The horrific looking thing leapt at Maga with what looked like claws extended outwards. Maga rolled to the side, successfully dodging it's attack.

She and Talim slid into a small patch of bushes and hid quietly.

Clang! Maga's blade came into contact with the blood thirsty gray man.

'That was close' He thought.

The gray man lunged forward yet again. Maga quickly moved out of the way, but his opponent had another idea in mind. When he missed, the gray man dug his claw like weapons into the ground and used them to stop in immediately. When he did this, he shifted and started walking with his stomach pointing straight up towards the sky. Using his masterful agility, he rushed up to Maga and kicked him in the back. Maga fell down to one knee and tried to get up. The gray man used this opportunity to lunge onto his back and nock him face down to the ground.

'This is it…This is the end.' Maga thought quietly to himself. But instead of a strike of pain, the man did something quite differently. He hovered above Maga, making odd noises through his nose while moving up and down Maga's body.

'Is he… Is he sniffing me? That's disgusting!' Maga thought.

The man in gray made a hiss of disappointment and backed away from Maga. He made an extremely loud hiss and retreated away into the thick of the forest, closely followed by the remaining Lizard Men.

"That…." Maga said aloud as he rolled over and sat up, " Was by far, the most disgusting thing I have ever had to endure. Why did he just sniff me?"

It was late into the evening. A harvest moon was rising, bright in the sky. The group managed to fight off the Reptilian forces led by the gray creature, but it was too late for the inhabitants. Link, Kilik, and Talim volunteered to bury the remains of the innocents whilst Dante's and Raine's wounds were dressed.

"It's a very good thing that there were bandages in one of these nearby wagons." Maga said as he was tying the knot on Dante's body wrap. Dante just glared angrily at the wall in front of him.

"Why so down, brother?"

"You know exactly why."

"Is it because Mina isn't taking care of you?"

"No. It's because of the ass hole Samurai."

" Still a little mad about him tagging along?"

"No. well, yes that too." Dante replied, " What pisses me off about him is that he constantly gets on my nerves, and now, I owe him my life!"

"You do realize that he'll leave if you just get your battle over with, right?"

Dante turned his head and glared at Maga, who was delivering a half-hearted grin to his brother.

"He wants a battle to the death. I can see it in his eyes. I really, REALLY want to fight him, but what if he injures me to the point of death? Then what?"

" I don't know. Not let you die?" Maga shrugged.

"Wow, I didn't realize how much of a genius you truly are Maga." Dante said sarcastically.

"Why thank you."

"Sometimes, I wonder about you."

Alright! I, Jen, have written my own chapter all by myself! I think a woot is in order! WOOT!

I'm not sure Jess told you guys why there was such a delay, but hes been having some personal things to deal with, and so he hasn't had the time to write anything down.

Without further a due, Please R&R! I really want to know what you all think!