A.N: With thanks to my friend Rosie again and Jenny and Justine, for taking an interest in this.
Chapter 3: Maxi
We lose the certain things, while we seek the uncertain ones. – Latin Proverb
Link and Siegfried rode across Hyrule field, both looking at the beauty of the massive plain. Short emerald spikes of grass blew in the gentle breeze that flickered through the clean air of Hyrule, waving at the two men on the horses. The sky still shone its brilliant azure blue, the sun just beginning to sink after hitting its midday peak. There were no clouds in the sky to obscure the blazing orbs rays form the warriors, the warmth gently hitting them, warming their skin. The Verdant leaves of the trees fluttered slightly as Link, Epona, Siegfried and Nightmare plodded underneath them.
"You have a beautiful country here; I see now why you're so determined to fight for it."
"It's not just the fact that it's beautiful that I fight for it. It's because it's my homeland and I'll stand by her no matter what happens. I'm destined to watch over this beautiful land alongside Zelda and the Sages, underneath the goddess's protection...it's my destiny."
The German knight looked over to Link, amazed by how dedicated he was to his homeland.
"So...what's Raphael's story?...No offence to him but he seems a bit of a, well, obnoxious sod to be honest."
"You mean what made Raphael into the sour-faced git he is now?"
"In a word...yes."
"Raphael was born into a family of nobles, while the rest of France was stricken with poverty. He grew up with...to use an almost poetic term as someone once said 'the tumultuous age as his cradle, the scheming of noble families as his lullaby, and the rapier and medicine as his playmates.' His cool, unemotional demeanour created many enemies, but his quick and precise decision-making and execution skills solidified the foundation of his family amongst the nobles. Unfortunately for Monsieur Sorel he made a mistake one day and paid dearly for it.
In desperation over the matter, Raphael's family betrayed him, and agreed to hand him over to the enemy in order to save their pitiful lives." He stopped for a moment to think about what he would say next
"He managed to escape with only the rapier he carries with him now, the clothes he's wearing and his life.
He made his way into poverty stricken towns to avoid the soldiers that were looking for him. Unused to a life of poverty Raphael couldn't bear the cold and hunger he suffered in the slums. He certainly would have died if it were not for Amy, who hid him from the soldiers out of spite. This created a bond between him and Amy and he has never since been able to live without her. After befriending a noble to take care of the little girl, Raphael killed the man saying 'that the lord had left on a long journey and may not return for sometime' he then left his daughter to find Soul Edge. The nobles would fight over it, destroying themselves and a future would be secured for Amy." Siegfried finished.
"All that for a little girl?"
"Hmmm."
They had reached the stone wall that Link had been searching for, with the portal embedded in its surface, and with a little hesitation went through it, straight into Japan.
The sun was just rising in Japan, signalling the start of a new day. The glowing orb arced gracefully in the sky, it's light streaking across the land, illuminating everything while the sky turned a gentle pink and the cloud layer lifted.
"I suppose your going to need to know about the next person we want?" Siegfried started, breaking the silence.
"Sure, it would be helpful to know about him."
"Well, you know when we met and I was talking about the destined battles and I mentioned the pirate, Maxi?"
"Yeah."
"That's who we are here for. Seeing as Astaroth is one of your enemies at the moment, Maxi should be willing to help you out because of his hatred for the golem. Also, Maxi likes adventuring which is why he was on his way to Europe when his crew was killed by Astaroth...he wanted to explore new lands. The idea of seeing a totally new world, never mind a land should please him. He's also very friendly and easy going so it shouldn't be too hard to persuade him."
"Any other reasons?"
"He's the only person to ever be recorded in defeating Astaroth."
"Sounds like a good guy to have on your side."
"And for the fourth person, we'll just have to see what happens."
Link nodded his understanding. He looked ahead seeing that they were fast approaching a village. They entered the village warily, as if something might happen suddenly. A load of people were already out, despite the early time. They all seemed very relaxed and happy and gave the two travellers no troubles.
The two blondes dismounted and led the horses through the village and stopped in an alley.
"We're going to have to ask to find him, you know Link...and I don't speak Japanese." Siegfried stated
"Well it's lucky that Japanese is one of the languages I've learnt somehow, then isn't it?"
"Really? You can speak Japanese?"
"Absolutely."
The two walked out into the crowd when Siegfried spotted a familiar face. He walked up to a man slightly taller than himself. The man was dressed in Samurai armour and carried a Katana. He wore a beard and his long dark hair was tied back.
"Mitsurugi!" Siegfried called, the man stopped, looked towards the direction the voice came from and began to head towards Siegfried.
"Nightmare?"
"That's me."
"What are you doing here in Japan?" Mitsurugi asked, apparently not trusting the German as his hand was grasping the hilt of his Katana.
After a short explanation and questioning of whether Mitsurugi would join them, the Japanese man shook his head.
"I'm busy for a week or two...and besides there would be nothing in it for me. I'm not really interested in going to a new world or fighting more."
"Fine, I didn't expect you to anyway. One more thing though, have you seen anyone like Maxi or Yunsung around?"
"As a matter of fact, yes. They're both in the next town up; they were fighting over something before. They both said they'll be staying there for a couple of days...I think Maxi is on his way down to his old house in Ryukyu (Okinawa) and Yunsung is accompanying him for the hell of it. I think he's just bored and is looking for something to do, so he might join you." Mitsurugi finished
"Thanks for your help." Stated Siegfried, he nodded to Mitsurugi and mounted his horse again with Link following.
"Helpful, wasn't he?" Link commented
"And surprisingly pleasant. He's not famous for his pleasant demeanour...I'm wondering what's gotten into him. It doesn't really matter though."
"As long as he hasn't lied to us I don't mind."
The two reached the town further up the road in half an hour. During that time, they had talked about their pasts more, becoming very friendly with each other.
Link slid off Epona's back and walked her through the town, when a commotion startled both him and Siegfried. They looked at each other momentarily, before tying the horses up and walking over to where a large circle of people had formed. Siegfried squeezed his way forward to the front of the circle to see what the commotion was about, Link in tow.
The sight in front of them wasn't particularly unusual. Two young men were in the centre of the circle. One was standing up, with his sword pointing towards the other man. He was barely an adult; he had to be 19 at the most. He was of an average height, with a muscular build, and the most noticeable thing about him was that he had almost flame red hair, short, but spiked. He was wearing a pair of white trousers with black patterns on the knees and a white and orange top, cut short so that a small portion of his chiselled abdomen could be seen. He wore orange cuffs on each wrist and black training shoes, striped with red, his stance was quite aggressive.
The other man was sitting, very relaxed in a chair, his right arm resting on the table, supporting his head. He was smiling slightly at the younger man's actions. The man was older, by about a decade than the teenager standing up. He stood up and walked up to the teenager. He was about an inch shorter than the teenager, and very heavily built, whilst still being slim. He had short pitch black hair that was slicked back, but with a piece that rose up and hung down over his face, he was very handsome and it was clear by people's interest in him that he was well liked. His clothes indicated that he had been a sailor at one point, he wore a kind of sailor's coat, crisp white and open in the front and sleeveless, the lapels decorated with Chinese dragons, his trousers were the same white, loose and tucked into the knee high boots that he wore. He held a nunchaku in his right hand.
The two oriental men stood looking at each other for a while, and then the older man merely walked up to his friend and in a seemingly friendly gesture put his arm round the younger man's neck and shoulders.
"Yunsung, Yunsung, Yunsung." He repeated, like a father that was disappointed with his child "How many times do I have to tell you..." He didn't finish his sentence, because he slammed the boy, who was presumably Yunsung, into the floor by flicking his elbow into the boy's neck, before going to sit down again in such a casual manner that you would have thought he had merely asked for the time.
The crowd laughed at the boy before moving off to get on with business.
Siegfried approached as soon as the crowd had dispersed.
"I see you're being pleasant to Yunsung then, Maxi." He said addressing the black haired man. The man, Maxi, looked up at Siegfried and smiled at him in a slightly cocky manner before looking at Yunsung, who had picked himself up off the floor and was walking over to the table.
Siegfried and Link slid themselves into two chairs at the table.
"Yeah, well he needs to be kept in line....don't you Yunsung?" Maxi answered, calling to the teenager walking towards him. Yunsung merely scowled at the pirate and sat down
"So what can I do for you on this fine day, Siggy?" Maxi asked, with an air of boredom in his voice
Siegfried scowled when Maxi mentioned his nickname and shortly replied:
"Ask Link." motioning towards Link with a flick of his wrist. Maxi raised an eyebrow and turned to the young blonde haired man, nodding his head as if to say that it was alright to talk to him. Yunsung was looking at Siegfried, an eyebrow raised as to why he was with Link; he shrugged and walked into a nearby inn.
"... Well?" Maxi asked
"Oh for god's sake!" Siegfried exclaimed when Link didn't answer Maxi. "Maxi, this is Link...he comes...somewhat strangely, from a land called Hyrule, which is under threat."
"And you want me to help you defeat whatever enemy you face? A few questions...1. Why do you want my help? 2. What's in it for me? 3.Why do I know that your land is worth saving?"
Link cleared his throat before answering the questions:
"In answer to your questions...1. Because you are clearly a strong warrior who may be willing to help once I explain the situations properly. 2. The chance to see and explore new lands...and defeat your enemy Astaroth once and for all..." Link stopped, looking at Maxi and started again quickly before he could interrupt the break "And 3. Well, you don't but since when is it important to see whether a land is worth saving, if somebody requests your help?"
"1. Good answer, 3, Good answer and as for number 2....ASTAROTH IS ALIVE?!" Maxi exclaimed upon hearing that his enemy is back.
"Well, here is my answer...Yes, I will help you. I decided to as soon as you asked, but I just wanted to see what you were like before I answered. So are you going explain everything to me?"
"I will on the way back to Hyrule...first we need one more person to help us fight." Link answered
"Leon..." Siegfried answered
"Is protecting the princess while we fight Ganondorf and his allies."
"Liam..."
"Is preparing the armies and will be leading them into battle." Link finished.
"Well....Yunsung might consider it, I'll go ask him" Maxi cut in, getting up and walking to the inn.
He came back a few minutes later.
"The idiot has started off to the next town. Apparently he's annoyed at me for 'showing him up' just wait till I get my hands on him, we better go quickly if you want to catch up with him."
"Sure, we have nothing else to do here if Yunsung has left." Link answered, looking to Siegfried, who nodded his approval.
The two blondes mounted their horses as Maxi went inside to pay the inn keeper and gather up his few belongings. He came out to see the two on horseback.
"Who am I riding with?"
"Whoever you want to" Link answered, looking at the mountains in the distance, he was surprised when Maxi, sauntered up to Epona and looked up at him, questioning.
Link steadied Epona before nodding and Maxi swung his leg over Epona's rump and settling into place behind Link, who had moved forward to give him room. He kicked Epona gently, starting to walk her forwards before slowly building up speed until she was cantering. Siegfried and Nightmare were beside them, matching the pace perfectly.
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A.N.: Same things as before. Explanations about things will be given in e-mails. There are some in chapter 2, since they were re-written a bit.
Any questions/complaints should be sent to my e-mail so that I can contact you personally. It saves wasting review pages. All other comments should be left in review pages. It just makes it easier for me to explain and answer. Please leave your e-mail address if you wish to contact me through the review
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