A/N: I'm not dead! ~Belle
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Night had fallen upon the traveling quartet and they remained a league outside their French destination. It was general consensus to set up camp and not enter town in the middle of the night. Villagers tended to be suspicious of those arriving after hours.
Kilik had busied himself stirring the fire while Talim had gathered various herbs to add to their dinner. She and Link had run off into the woods in search of items she claimed would make their dinner remarkable. Sir Al appeared to be meditating and Kilik's eye stayed warily focused upon the mysterious man.
Two sets of footsteps could be heard lightly walking back towards the campsite. Kilik looked up to see his two friends with arms laden with various roots. Talim plopped herself on the ground next to her favorite holy man and scooted up close.
"Add these to the stew, it will help it enhance our senses. These roots are well known to increase one's mental prowess." Talim explained as she shoved the roots into Kilik's open palms.
He looked at the quizzically then decided to dump them into the stew brewing over the fire. Link sat across from the two and had his gaze averted to their merchant friend. He placed the roots he had gathered into a traveling bag to use later.
The elf's blue eyes narrowed as his attention was focused on the merchant. It would appear that a green hazy glow was surrounding his body. Quickly he drew his Master Sword and stood tall. Kilik and Talim stopped their ministrations with the stew to watch their peculiar friend.
"What is it?" Talim inquired in a quiet whisper as she leaned against Kilik's strong chest and suppressed a large yawn. Her large chocolate eyes looked drowsy.
Kilik noticed her sudden sleepiness and the spoon she had stolen from him to 'test the stew.' Quickly he yanked the spoon from her grasp and peered into the stew, pulling out one of the roots that had been added.
"Are you sure this is the right root?" Kilik asked the weary wind priestess.
She smiled lazily at him again, not able to stop another yawn from escaping her lips. "Well, it may have been the sleeping root. They look awfully alike." No longer after admitting that confession the priestess slumped entirely into Kilik's lap.
The holy man's eyes grew wide at the picture they must have made and immediately pulled the woman up against his chest. He wanted her face as far away from his groin as possible. Well, maybe that wasn't the truth, but in this situation it was.
Link spared the pair a glance before focusing back on his primary target. The Master Sword was heavy in his grasp as he dreaded the action he was about to be forced to take. "Sir Al, could you explain why you are glowing green?"
Spawn knew his gig was up and rose to his staggering seven foot height. He glared down at his traveling companions, green eyes glaring with bitterness and hatred. How dare these beings find happiness in life? All of his happiness had been stolen from him!
He had to retrieve the pieces of Soul Edge in order to go back to his time. He had to go back to his time in order to see his precious Wanda. Growling in frustration, the exoskeleton that encased his burnt flesh began to become animated.
His red cape once again formed and he dropped the costume of the merchant completely. His exoskeleton then formed Agony, the ax of hatred and pain from the pits of hell. He faced his opponents.
"Give me your shards or I will destroy you," Spawn informed the warriors.
Kilik gently laid Talim to the ground and shook his head at her. He would just have to make sure the fighting was kept away from her body. Taking hold of the legendary Jingu Staff, Kilik squared off facing Spawn.
"Who are you hell spawn?" Kilik demanded as he rolled the staff across his shoulders and back stretching in preparation for the battle he knew was soon to come.
"That name is appropriate enough," Link commented looking over towards Kilik as he pulled out his boomerang. Perhaps they should work together to take out Spawn.
"You're pissing me off," Spawn declared before leaping into the air and raining a flurry of green energy blasts upon the pair. "Give me the shards or else!"
"I think not!" Kilik used his staff to propel his body towards the air to meet Spawn's height. He then used the momentum of his leap to kick the disgruntled warrior to the ground.
On Spawn's flight towards the dirt, Link's boomerang made a direct hit upon the junction between his neck and shoulder. A howl of anger resounded and vibrated through out the land.
"Don't do this! We can work together. There is no need for this fight!" Kilik tried to plead with the creature. He could see the good deep within him, but it was buried deep within layers of torture and torment.
"No." Spawn answered rising to his feet in a fluid motion. The previous wounds inflicted upon his person seemed non-existent.
Link, forgotten about for the moment, took aim with his bow and lit his arrow on fire. He blasted the inferno towards the spawn from hell, smirking when the creature groaned in pain.
Spawn rose to his feet once more and glared at the two men, before looking towards the location where Talim was laid across the ground. A smirk came to his lips. "You two are pissing me off. I will deal with you later." Then in a flash he was gone.
Kilik and Link stared at the location their opponent had stood but moments before in shock. Why had he vanished so abruptly?
After replacing his bow onto his back and his unused arrow in the quiver on his hip Link began to walk towards Talim as Kilik still stared at where Spawn had disappeared.
"Kilik, we have problem." Link announced, this speech clipped for in his nervous state his limited language skills diminished.
Looking towards where Talim should lay, Kilik's eyes nearly burst from their socket as he rushed to the area of empty grass. Frantically he pat his hands all over the sight. "Where could she have gone?"
Link could only stare at the location in blank bafflement. However, being calm and rational, Kilik took several deep breaths and closed his eyes tightly. When he opened them, he searched the area a little more closely. Spotting the sheet of parchment he missed earlier he leaned down to inspect it.
Unrolling it, he read, 'If you want the girl meet me at the Library of heroes in Paris. Bring the shards.' He looked back at Link who was trying to peer at the strange characters.
Answering the unspoken question, "it would appear that our Talim has been kidnapped. We shall find her and then seek out Nightmare." Kilik informed his friend.
Nodding in agreement, Link walked over to the pot of stew and kicked it over roughly to the ground. "Stupid roots," he muttered before walking to the horses and unhitching them.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Raphael was pleased with his spy, the Assassin. He had successfully tracked down the set of four warriors and captured one. Luckily, he captured the weakest one who also happened to be the most important to two of the warriors.
Assassin stood before him with the small woman tossed carelessly over his shoulder. "I left the letter telling him to meet at your library. Surely they will show."
Putting his hand to his chin, Raphael donned a contemplative pose. "I am confident they will show for her. But, whether or not they simply hand over the shards is another matter."
Grinning confidently behind his shrouded mask Assassin answered, "I believe it would more fun for us if they refused to hand them over. A little persuasion could go a long way."
Laughing insanely at the idea, Raphael ran his fingers through his short blond hair. Then he grabbed hold of the woman on Assassin's shoulder and tossed her onto his own. Using his free hand, he caressed the hilt of his rappier, excited by the idea of a thrilling fight in the near future.
A soft, timid knock came upon the door. "Raphael? Are you in there?"
"Amy, do not open that door. What is that you need?" Raphael asked, trying to sound pleasant but doing a terrible job with the effort.
"I just wanted to tell you good night," Amy's childlike voice replied sounding saddened.
"Goodnight dear Amy, I will tell you a bed time story in a few moments. Will you wait for me in your room?" Raphael inquired in his most warm tone.
"Of course! But, don't be too long. I'm feeling tired." Amy replied before her clumsy steps could be heard trailing along the hallway towards her room.
Shifting the weight of the girl on his shoulders, Raphael glared at the Assassin. "If you tell anyone about Amy I will kill you." He warned with fierce fires blazing in his ice blue eyes.
Shrugging, Assassin turned to make his exit. "Very well. I will be searching for more information about Nightmare."
Raphael watched his best spy leave. He then directed his attention back to the weight on his shoulder and pat her back softly. "Looks like its just you and me now. But don't worry, you're friends are sure to join you soon."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Maxi woke up with a cold sweat. They had been in Greece for two days now and Cassandra and her sister Sophitia had spent the entire time in their temples. Apparently, Cassandra was never very religious so it was necessary for her to return home and seek her sister.
However, they had yet to share their knowledge with the crew about what they had learned. Maxi thought he might have an idea. Every time he closed his eyes he could see Astaroth.
Surely, Greece held the secret of where they were to find Astaroth. Maxi would find his peace after he avenged his original pirate crew that was so brutally slaughtered.
A knock on his cabin door gained his attention. "Enter," he told the guest.
A flushed looking Yunsung opened the door. His spikey hair looked red in the sun's midday rays. The excited look in his eyes caused Maxi to hop out of his bed and rush towards the youth.
"They have come out of the temple." Yunsung explained, gasping for breath. If one didn't know any better they might think that the young Korean sword fighter had been waiting outside the temple the entire time and had run to the ship. Surely that didn't happen though.
"And? Have they revealed what their gods have told them?" Maxi demanded with an impatient edge to his voice. He was still unnerved by his reoccurring nightmares involving Astaroth.
Nodding his head, Yunsung smiled broadly. "They have been given the location of Soul Calibur."
Eyes widening in surprise, Maxi pressed the youth for more information. "Where is the location?"
"Conveniently enough, it is in Egypt."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
~Sorry about the delay folks, hope this can tie you over for now. I'll try to have the next chapter up by the end of the week. Yay for Spring Break! ~Belle
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Night had fallen upon the traveling quartet and they remained a league outside their French destination. It was general consensus to set up camp and not enter town in the middle of the night. Villagers tended to be suspicious of those arriving after hours.
Kilik had busied himself stirring the fire while Talim had gathered various herbs to add to their dinner. She and Link had run off into the woods in search of items she claimed would make their dinner remarkable. Sir Al appeared to be meditating and Kilik's eye stayed warily focused upon the mysterious man.
Two sets of footsteps could be heard lightly walking back towards the campsite. Kilik looked up to see his two friends with arms laden with various roots. Talim plopped herself on the ground next to her favorite holy man and scooted up close.
"Add these to the stew, it will help it enhance our senses. These roots are well known to increase one's mental prowess." Talim explained as she shoved the roots into Kilik's open palms.
He looked at the quizzically then decided to dump them into the stew brewing over the fire. Link sat across from the two and had his gaze averted to their merchant friend. He placed the roots he had gathered into a traveling bag to use later.
The elf's blue eyes narrowed as his attention was focused on the merchant. It would appear that a green hazy glow was surrounding his body. Quickly he drew his Master Sword and stood tall. Kilik and Talim stopped their ministrations with the stew to watch their peculiar friend.
"What is it?" Talim inquired in a quiet whisper as she leaned against Kilik's strong chest and suppressed a large yawn. Her large chocolate eyes looked drowsy.
Kilik noticed her sudden sleepiness and the spoon she had stolen from him to 'test the stew.' Quickly he yanked the spoon from her grasp and peered into the stew, pulling out one of the roots that had been added.
"Are you sure this is the right root?" Kilik asked the weary wind priestess.
She smiled lazily at him again, not able to stop another yawn from escaping her lips. "Well, it may have been the sleeping root. They look awfully alike." No longer after admitting that confession the priestess slumped entirely into Kilik's lap.
The holy man's eyes grew wide at the picture they must have made and immediately pulled the woman up against his chest. He wanted her face as far away from his groin as possible. Well, maybe that wasn't the truth, but in this situation it was.
Link spared the pair a glance before focusing back on his primary target. The Master Sword was heavy in his grasp as he dreaded the action he was about to be forced to take. "Sir Al, could you explain why you are glowing green?"
Spawn knew his gig was up and rose to his staggering seven foot height. He glared down at his traveling companions, green eyes glaring with bitterness and hatred. How dare these beings find happiness in life? All of his happiness had been stolen from him!
He had to retrieve the pieces of Soul Edge in order to go back to his time. He had to go back to his time in order to see his precious Wanda. Growling in frustration, the exoskeleton that encased his burnt flesh began to become animated.
His red cape once again formed and he dropped the costume of the merchant completely. His exoskeleton then formed Agony, the ax of hatred and pain from the pits of hell. He faced his opponents.
"Give me your shards or I will destroy you," Spawn informed the warriors.
Kilik gently laid Talim to the ground and shook his head at her. He would just have to make sure the fighting was kept away from her body. Taking hold of the legendary Jingu Staff, Kilik squared off facing Spawn.
"Who are you hell spawn?" Kilik demanded as he rolled the staff across his shoulders and back stretching in preparation for the battle he knew was soon to come.
"That name is appropriate enough," Link commented looking over towards Kilik as he pulled out his boomerang. Perhaps they should work together to take out Spawn.
"You're pissing me off," Spawn declared before leaping into the air and raining a flurry of green energy blasts upon the pair. "Give me the shards or else!"
"I think not!" Kilik used his staff to propel his body towards the air to meet Spawn's height. He then used the momentum of his leap to kick the disgruntled warrior to the ground.
On Spawn's flight towards the dirt, Link's boomerang made a direct hit upon the junction between his neck and shoulder. A howl of anger resounded and vibrated through out the land.
"Don't do this! We can work together. There is no need for this fight!" Kilik tried to plead with the creature. He could see the good deep within him, but it was buried deep within layers of torture and torment.
"No." Spawn answered rising to his feet in a fluid motion. The previous wounds inflicted upon his person seemed non-existent.
Link, forgotten about for the moment, took aim with his bow and lit his arrow on fire. He blasted the inferno towards the spawn from hell, smirking when the creature groaned in pain.
Spawn rose to his feet once more and glared at the two men, before looking towards the location where Talim was laid across the ground. A smirk came to his lips. "You two are pissing me off. I will deal with you later." Then in a flash he was gone.
Kilik and Link stared at the location their opponent had stood but moments before in shock. Why had he vanished so abruptly?
After replacing his bow onto his back and his unused arrow in the quiver on his hip Link began to walk towards Talim as Kilik still stared at where Spawn had disappeared.
"Kilik, we have problem." Link announced, this speech clipped for in his nervous state his limited language skills diminished.
Looking towards where Talim should lay, Kilik's eyes nearly burst from their socket as he rushed to the area of empty grass. Frantically he pat his hands all over the sight. "Where could she have gone?"
Link could only stare at the location in blank bafflement. However, being calm and rational, Kilik took several deep breaths and closed his eyes tightly. When he opened them, he searched the area a little more closely. Spotting the sheet of parchment he missed earlier he leaned down to inspect it.
Unrolling it, he read, 'If you want the girl meet me at the Library of heroes in Paris. Bring the shards.' He looked back at Link who was trying to peer at the strange characters.
Answering the unspoken question, "it would appear that our Talim has been kidnapped. We shall find her and then seek out Nightmare." Kilik informed his friend.
Nodding in agreement, Link walked over to the pot of stew and kicked it over roughly to the ground. "Stupid roots," he muttered before walking to the horses and unhitching them.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Raphael was pleased with his spy, the Assassin. He had successfully tracked down the set of four warriors and captured one. Luckily, he captured the weakest one who also happened to be the most important to two of the warriors.
Assassin stood before him with the small woman tossed carelessly over his shoulder. "I left the letter telling him to meet at your library. Surely they will show."
Putting his hand to his chin, Raphael donned a contemplative pose. "I am confident they will show for her. But, whether or not they simply hand over the shards is another matter."
Grinning confidently behind his shrouded mask Assassin answered, "I believe it would more fun for us if they refused to hand them over. A little persuasion could go a long way."
Laughing insanely at the idea, Raphael ran his fingers through his short blond hair. Then he grabbed hold of the woman on Assassin's shoulder and tossed her onto his own. Using his free hand, he caressed the hilt of his rappier, excited by the idea of a thrilling fight in the near future.
A soft, timid knock came upon the door. "Raphael? Are you in there?"
"Amy, do not open that door. What is that you need?" Raphael asked, trying to sound pleasant but doing a terrible job with the effort.
"I just wanted to tell you good night," Amy's childlike voice replied sounding saddened.
"Goodnight dear Amy, I will tell you a bed time story in a few moments. Will you wait for me in your room?" Raphael inquired in his most warm tone.
"Of course! But, don't be too long. I'm feeling tired." Amy replied before her clumsy steps could be heard trailing along the hallway towards her room.
Shifting the weight of the girl on his shoulders, Raphael glared at the Assassin. "If you tell anyone about Amy I will kill you." He warned with fierce fires blazing in his ice blue eyes.
Shrugging, Assassin turned to make his exit. "Very well. I will be searching for more information about Nightmare."
Raphael watched his best spy leave. He then directed his attention back to the weight on his shoulder and pat her back softly. "Looks like its just you and me now. But don't worry, you're friends are sure to join you soon."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Maxi woke up with a cold sweat. They had been in Greece for two days now and Cassandra and her sister Sophitia had spent the entire time in their temples. Apparently, Cassandra was never very religious so it was necessary for her to return home and seek her sister.
However, they had yet to share their knowledge with the crew about what they had learned. Maxi thought he might have an idea. Every time he closed his eyes he could see Astaroth.
Surely, Greece held the secret of where they were to find Astaroth. Maxi would find his peace after he avenged his original pirate crew that was so brutally slaughtered.
A knock on his cabin door gained his attention. "Enter," he told the guest.
A flushed looking Yunsung opened the door. His spikey hair looked red in the sun's midday rays. The excited look in his eyes caused Maxi to hop out of his bed and rush towards the youth.
"They have come out of the temple." Yunsung explained, gasping for breath. If one didn't know any better they might think that the young Korean sword fighter had been waiting outside the temple the entire time and had run to the ship. Surely that didn't happen though.
"And? Have they revealed what their gods have told them?" Maxi demanded with an impatient edge to his voice. He was still unnerved by his reoccurring nightmares involving Astaroth.
Nodding his head, Yunsung smiled broadly. "They have been given the location of Soul Calibur."
Eyes widening in surprise, Maxi pressed the youth for more information. "Where is the location?"
"Conveniently enough, it is in Egypt."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
~Sorry about the delay folks, hope this can tie you over for now. I'll try to have the next chapter up by the end of the week. Yay for Spring Break! ~Belle