Super Smash Bros Brawl

Part Two: Adventure

Legendary Mercenary Chapter 4: Remorse

I have returned!

Phew… I've been having some problems thinking up the chapters, but now I'm back on track. I'll start updating again.

This chapter will show you that the Crimean War had a few more casualties then you thought. You'll find out about Boyd

Sorry folks, but Meryl and Holly are both dead. Meryl's heart was weakened by Ocelot's torture, and Holly drunk herself to death after the Patriots bombed Zanzibar Land and killed all the children. Wolf, Raven, and Fox are all dead as well

Both Snake and Mist will get some new equipment in this chapter. Please read. It is your only salvation.

Mercenary Fort

Mist passed out while in the portal. Snake vomited when the portal shot them out. Something wasn't right. The portals direction seemed to distort twice before it spat them out. Snake tried to stand up but stumbled as he rose to his feet. The world started to go black, but before it did, he felt the presence of someone behind him. He couldn't move his neck, all he knew was that someone, a large someone, picked up Mist. He then passed out.

Ten hours later

Mist was sitting next to the bed which Snake was sleeping in. He was mumbling in his sleep and sweating. Soon his sleep talk was becoming clearer, and Mist could make out what he was saying. "Meryl… no… Meryl… Fox… Wolf… sorry…. I failed….Holly even…." Mist took Snake's hand. She was about to call out his name, but suddenly Snake shot up shouting. "SOLIDUS!!!" His gun was in his hand, he was covered with cold sweat, panting. He then was fully awake. He realized that he had jammed his gun into Mist's face; his hand was on her neck. He let her go and put his gun back into its holster. Mist was startled from Snake's sudden outburst. "Sorry." Snake said. He noticed that her eyes were wet, her cheeks were streaked. Had she been crying? It looked like she had been for awhile. "Why were you crying?"

"We're back… at my home…" Mist said. "It's just a little surprising… I've spotted two people who were dead when I left… now alive. Even…" Mist stopped. She leaned into Snake and began crying. Snake didn't know what to say. He heard his Codec go off.

"I'm sorry Mist, but I need to be alone for a second." Mist released her grip. Snake got up, walked outside where no one could hear him, and he touched his neck, turning on the Codec.

"This is Otacon. Come in Snake." Otacon's voice said over the Codec.

"Otacon? What's up?" Snake said.

"I could ask you that. It's been over 30 hours since our last contact. We're only 6 hours short of the second day on this journey."

"Is something wrong?"

"Snake, me and Lyn have found someone who can control the portals. A lot has happened. Listen; beyond a shadow of a doubt someone is out to kill all of us. You, Link, Dante, me even! Someone really has it in for us."

"I know. I had a run in with an old friend."

"I bet you have. He also told us some interesting stuff about why only a few people recognized us when we were traveling through time."

"Only the strong spirits keep their memories. I know."

"Lyn's not with me now."

"Where is she?"

"We're in Hyrule, Link's hometown. We've met Link. Our new partner sent him your way. Right now Lyn's with a strange man. We were under attack and he suddenly rode in and shot the enemies that were attacking us."

"With what?"

"A bow. I saw Link using one just like it. Anyway, Lyn is with him. They know each other apparently."

"How close?"

"Like me and Wolf."

"That's strange. She never mentioned someone like a friend or lover."

"Snake, Link's on his way. Dante's partner is with him. But we've still been unable to find Ike or Dante. Link's been pretty worried about his girlfriend Ilia. Lyn's not much better. I can hardly imagine the hell that would happen if Florina ended up with Dante."

"I'll talk to Link. With Dante… don't worry. He seems like an idiot, but he knows when to get serious. Florina isn't as green as she looks either. She can defend herself."

"Good. Thanks Snake. Oh, also, I've found Link's frequency, but we can't seem to activate his Codec. He'll be out of contact. I can't make contact with Ike or Dante either."

"What was Link's frequency?"

"141.92. Not the one you gave me. So that means it's either Dante or Ike."

"Hopefully whoever it is can make some sense out of which our enemy is. All I got was the name Rareware."

"Yeah, I've heard that name also. No clue what's going on though."

"I've got to get back to my mission here. Mist's… in bad shape."

"Okay. I'll leave her to you. Over and out." Otacon's frequency cut off.

Snake went back into the fort. Mist was laying on one of the beds, she still looked distraught. Snake was about to talk to her when someone came in through another door. He was taller then Snake, had a heavy build and strange green hair. On his back was a bow, and on his hip was an axe. Mist looked at him, leapt out of the bed and then leapt into his arms, crying out his name. "Boyd!"

Boyd shook his head. "Easy there. Mist, are you okay?"

Mist didn't answer. She kept crying. Boyd sat down and held her. Snake walked up to him. "You a friend of hers."

Boyd looked at Snake. "I owe you one. You've been protecting her. I met that big muscle head of yours while watching her. I know what's going on, Snake."

Snake was surprised. "So, you've talked to Raven? How?"

Boyd sighed. "It's complicated, but when you're a ghost, you can exchange memories with someone. I know a lot about you based on what Raven remembered. I kept my memory through all this time travel crap."

"So you know what we've been through?"

Boyd nodded. "The boss does also. After you killed him he came to his senses."

"Is he mad?" Mist asked.

Boyd shook his head. "No, he said he forgives you. He hates seeing you cry just as much as I do."

"Boyd…" Mist buried her face into his chest. "I'm sorry… you know what I've done to you…"

"You tried to save me Mist. I never was angry. I died protecting you, so I don't have any regrets. I know I'll go back to death after you leave the area, so I'm not worried."

Mist hugged Boyd and cried. Boyd held her. Snake sighed. "So what happened to you?"

Boyd looked at Snake. "Maybe we should take that conversation somewhere else when she's done crying. She's got a lot to get out of her system."

"Fine. I'll be outside. I've got to stretch a little."

Snake walked outside of the fort. He looked around. It was mostly empty, a few horses were in some stables, and not much else. He looked around and spotted a few graves. He walked over to them. A few names were carved into wooden grave markers, one grave had fresh flowers on it. He read the names. One grave was marked "Ilyana," another was marked "Gatrie." Snake looked at the names. There were four graves. The freshest one was marked "Rolf." He then took a closer look at the graves. The headstones were supported with items. Ilyana had a yellow book, Gatrie's grave had an iron lance, the one next to his marked Keiran had a short axe. The one on the far right, Rolf's, had a wooden bow. He looked closely. The bow was made for an amateur, it wasn't tightly strung or heavy. Snake noticed Boyd come out of the fort. "You two have bad timing. In one week is the time I die."

"What happened to these four?" Snake asked.

Boyd shook his head. "Ilyana was killed by an enemy mercenary. A myrmidon. She was too frail to survive even an attack from slim swords. Gatrie died shortly after Ilyana. A sage got him. Keiran… well… the idiot went off to wrestle a bear. Rolf died two days ago. In one week, we make our final assault in Crimea castle. There's a war going on right now. But during this battle Mist was in such grief about Rolf that Ike had me stay behind and protect her."

"I see. So… what happened to you?"

"Our final enemy… his name is Ashnard. During the final battle, Mist had gotten too close to him while healing Ike. Ashnard turned his sword onto her. As he was about to kill her, I distracted him with my bow. I couldn't even dent his armor even with full strength, and then he sliced me wide open. During that time Ike stabbed him, but I didn't make it. Mist blamed herself. She tried to heal me but passed out from the strain. When she woke up, Titania explained to her what had happened. She had slept for two days. I was already dead."

"I see…"

Boyd punched the forts wall next to him. "Damn…"

"You're still upset that you left her like that?"

"Mist… she grew too attached to me. I had taught her how to use bows, how to fight off her horse even, and she even said she loved me. I didn't want her to suffer because of me… but I still know what will happen. No matter what you do, you can't change what will happen during this tournament. It's still written in stone… my fate…"

Snake looked at Boyd. He felt an old sorrow well up in his chest. "You're not angry because you died. You're angry because you hurt her. You didn't care about what happened to you, but you cared about her."

Boyd put his back against the wall and then pulled his bow off his back. "Snake… give Mist this bow. Tell her I forgive her. Take care of her for as long as you can. I can't help her through her nightmares… but you can."

Snake took the bow. It was made of wood, it was a lot like Link's bow. It was beautifully carved, easy to use for either professional or rookie. Snake looked at Boyd. "Why are you leaving her this?"

Boyd then pulled his axe off his hip. "I'll open the portal for you. While we were at the fort, an enemy sage attacked. I killed him. He is your target in the area. He'll be here in six hours. I'll kill him again and open the portal for you. Also… that coat Mist had has a few gifts in it for you. I don't know what they are, but I'm sure you can service them."

"Thanks."

"I'm going to be waiting by the gate. You check out that stuff in the coat." Boyd walked off.

Snake went into the room full of beds. Mist was asleep again. He noticed Sniper Wolf's coat next to her. Snake walked over to it quietly, not wanting to wake her up. He checked the coat. Its padding inside was very thick, but he noticed a few harder parts. Snake noticed a hidden zipper in the coat. He unzipped it, and several gun pieces and a knife fell out. Snake looked at the knife. It had a leather scabbard, a large bowie knife. Almost identical to Vamp's. He then looked at the gun pieces and began to put them together. After about five minutes he assembled Sniper Wolf's gift, her personal customized PSG-1. On the barrel, the emblem for unit FOXHOUND was painted. He then noticed one more thing, a note had fallen out of the coat pocket. He unfolded it and read. It was Sniper Wolf's writing.

"Hero. That knife is a gift for the girl. My gun is yours. Take them both and continue your mission. It is my way of thanking you for freeing me." Snake sighed and folded the note up. He put the PSG-1 sniper rifle onto his back, and took the knife with him. He would give it to Mist when she woke up.

Snake sat outside Mist's cabin. He had been working out for an hour. He could see Boyd on the other side of the fort, focused on his duties. Snake then heard something. He walked to the other side of the cabin Mist was in. A portal was opened, it then spat Link and Lady out. Link pulled himself to his feet, and then helped Lady up. He noticed Snake. "So that strange guy was right on where you are. Are you okay, Snake?"

Snake looked at Lady. She didn't talk. Her expression was serious. "I've been better. Mist's… well…"

"I already know. I bumped into an old friend who has told me a lot about what is going on."

"Who?"

"A princess. She told me a bit. A small portion of the committee in charge of the tournament is loyal to a group that wants to see us dead. It's just like the last tournament."

"Link, does the name Rareware mean anything to you?"

Link suddenly went rigid. "They're a crooked group that was responsible for the nightmare of the last tournament Melee. Because of them I had to kill two good guys. Are they at it again?!"

"That's what I was told."

"Damnit!! I'm going to have to find Ilia! If Rareware is responsible for this mess, she's in trouble!"

"Calm down!" Snake shouted. "If they were going to kill us in this stage then they wouldn't send us to so many people who recognized us."

Lady then turned to face Snake. She pulled out a small bag. "Snake, I've got a favor to ask you."

"What's wrong?" Snake asked.

"Dante's been stuck in the same area ever since the portal spat us out. Please find him. If the enemy will try to kill anyone, he's the first on their list. Dante would know the most people who would've kept their memories. You've got to hurry though."

"How? I'm stuck here."

Link reached into a pouch on his belt and then pulled out a strange instrument. "This ocarina can open portals. I'll send you to where Lyn is. Her friend will send you to Dante's location. After you save Dante, you'll be finished with your quest. I'll finish this area by completing your task."

"Fine. Let me get Mi--" Snake began. He then heard a footstep. He turned around and saw Mist. She was carrying Boyd's bow and a quiver.

"Snake… thanks for waiting. We've got to help Dante." Mist said. Her eyes were dry.

"Mist, what happened?"

"I just… had to rest. But I promise that I'll be okay. Please, we've got to hurry."

"Fine. Link, send us on our way."

Link put his mouth on the ocarina. He began to play a song on it. Soon a portal opened, but it was different from the others. "Hurry and get in. It'll close soon."

"Thanks Link. If I find Ilia with Dante, I'll help her as well." Snake leapt into the portal, Mist followed.

Village of Ordon

Snake and Mist landed outside of the portal. They were in a village. Snake soon spotted Lyn, Otacon, and another familiar face. "Snake!" Otacon shouted.

"Otacon, anything new?"

"Yes! I've found Dante's frequency. It was that one you gave me."

The third man, Vergil, walked up to Snake. "I need you to help my brother and Lyn's friend. Can you do so?"

"Yes."

"Good." Vergil said. He pulled his amulet off his neck and held it up in the air. Another portal opened.

"Good luck!" Otacon shouted. Lyn was silent . She was worried about something. Snake leapt into the portal, Mist followed.

Final Legendary Mercenary chapter after this. We'll encounter Volgin and The Fear. Snake has his PSG-1 and Mist has a short bow and Sniper Wolf's bowie knife. R&R!