Notes: Okay, I haven't gotten any reviews about the last chapter yet, but that's okay! I understand summer is coming and things can get crazy. As I begin writing this, I hope to have it posted the day my school lets out. (tuesday, the 23rd or 22nd. IDK) Time has no meaning to me. That has some ups and downs, trust me. I wanna say 2 more things. 1: The 3 heroes are based off of me and my friends, they are real people. They don't have the powers, but the personality was based off them. 2: I did say during the last chapter that I was going to work on my zombie story... But I realized something. This is possibly the greatest story ever thought of. It cannot be discontinued or waited on! I understand that now and strive to only work on this story until it is finished. On with the story!...

Chp 4: The chicken or the egg?

Josh had driven until nightfall, which was about 2 hours. They all decided to sleep in the car, taking shifts on guard duty. Strangely, considering their luck, nothing attacked them that night! At the start of a new day, Josh continued driving toward the portal after checking the bandages on his shoulder. It had almost fully healed. Unfortunatley, Josh knew nothing good can happen to him without something worse happening...

"Alright guys," Josh started with a yawn, "What do you think will happen?" He received questioning looks from his friends. "I-I mean after we close the portal." It was a good question. Something as earth shattering as this couldn't just happen and everything go back to normal the next day.

Adam thought for a moment. "...Well," Adam began to ponder, "first of all, we're not even sure we can close the portal or that it even caused this. It's a good possibility, but the portal could be caused by a game character. We really are just hoping that we can find out how this started by heading to the portal."

"...What?" Michael asked. Adam had lost him somewhere. Josh was usually the medium when this happened.

"He basically saying that we have no idea what's going on and we have no idea if we can even stop it," Josh explained to Michael. Michael thought for a moment and nodded in understanding. "Truly, I think that portal is the cause. Even if it isn't, wherever that portal is will probably have a lead to the true cause... You know guys, I am really tired of driving." Josh was a really impatient person when he had nothing at all to do. "Who wants to take ov- Holy shit!" Josh suddenly lost control of the car as it skid across the road and flipped into some nearby bushes...

Adam crawled out first followed by Michael and then Josh. They looked over the car. It was not a pretty sight. The windows were smashed, both wind shields were missing, and worst of all, it was upside down. "Fffuuck!" Michael yelled in rage. "What the hell happened Josh?!" Josh looked over the car before noticing something... There was an arrow in one of the tires. They all leaned in to examine the arrow. "Oh shit," Michael said with dread. "This was fired from the bow of Artemis."

Josh looked at him in disbelief. "You mean-," Josh started to say but he didn't want to finish the guess.

Michael nodded sadly. "...Kratos," was all Michael said.

"Well," Adam said bluntly, "we're screwed." They all knew it. The car was how they escaped last time and they didn't have another one. They suddenly heard something in the bushes behind the car. They took fighting stances, Adam pulling back a fist of justice and Josh drew his S&W .500 magnum while Michael brought up his fists, feeling usless without a gun. Josh handed him his 9mm handgun. They prepared to fight Kratos with all they had... But it wasn't Kratos who came through the bushes.

It was a tall man wearing armor. The armor was greyish green, but more green then grey. He had a yellow visor, so they couldn't see his face, but that didn't matter. They knew this guy because everything about him gave away his identity. From his armor to his assult rifle to standing at 7 feet tall, They instantly tell who this was.

"...Master Chief!" They all yelled at the same time. It was Master Chief from Halo and he wearing his Halo 4 armor. He had the starter assult rifle in his hands and was looking down at them.

"That's me," He said in his deep voice. "I keep meeting people who know who I am. Who are you?" They were freaking out. This was the first time they had gotten to talk to a game character who wasn't trying to kill them and it was Master Chief!

"I'm Michael," Michael started, "and this is Josh and Adam." Josh composed himself next.

"We're trying to fix the world and stop the dimensional collapse," Josh stated. "You've obviously already figured out that this isn't your world sir." Master Chief nodded. "...Oh, um, sir? C-could you possibly flip our car back over?"

Master Chief looked at their car. "Sure," was all he said before he walked over and grasped the car by the roof. He lifted it with ease as they just looked on in awe. He threw it back onto the road upright. They all looked at the car before noticing something coming down the road...It was Kratos.

"Oh no," Josh said in a bit of a panic before getting an awesome idea. "That's Kratos. He's the one who flipped our car and has been trying to kill us. He's a real jackass." Josh's friends just looked at him in shock wondering what the hell was Josh doing. "We did nothing to him and suddenly he just tries to kill us. No warning what-so-ever. He's pretty powerful. Some people say he could even kick your ass sir." Master Chief looked hard at Josh. "Of course, I believe that is some major bull shit." Josh knew his plan was drawing to the climax.

Master Chief looked down the road at the approaching Kratos. "Hmph," Master Chief mocked, "He doesn't look that tough. He's wearing a loin cloth... I'll take care of this punk," he said as he began to walk towards Kratos. Josh cheered in his head because this had been his plan.

"All according to plan," Josh whispered to his friends... What happened next was very shocking to everyone.
Kratos suddenly rushed forward with blinding speed and sparta kicked Master Chief into the woods. They all sat there staring at Kratos in shock and disbelief. Then Kratos turned on them. They all ran for the car and Josh floored it yet again. Kratos fired more arrows to try and take them out, but missing one tire makes it easier to swerve and dodge. "God! Damn! It!" Josh yelled as arrows blew out the ground next to the car. Somehow they managed to escape again.

Josh continued driving for another couple of hours after they had escaped. They were tired of Kratos and it was only their 2nd time meeting him. Sudddenly the car lurched forward and stopped. "What the hell is it now!" Josh yelled being fed up with all their problems happening one after another. He threw open the door and jumped outside to find something unbelievable. "What the..."

"What is it?" Michael said also stepping outside. "W-what!? H-h-how?" This was the strangest thing yet, and that was saying alot. Vines had grown through the tires and were still growing. More vines were growing everywhere as they spun higher. As the vines reached their peak, they grew branches and leaves. In a matter of 2 minutes, a forest had litteraly grown around them. Michael and his friends were standing in a clearing. "Okay... What next?"

Suddenly, Josh's eyes widened. "Do you guys hear that?" A melody had quietly started echoing throughout the forest. "I think it's coming from... this way!" Josh took off running through the woods with Michael and Adam trying to keep up. Josh wouldn't slow down. He knew that melody, but it was too quiet for him to place it. Josh paused for a moment to hear again. This gave Adam and Michael just enough time to catch up before Josh took off again. This went on for another 5 minutes before they reached a clearing.

"Josh," Adam panted after catching up, "Why didn't you wait for us?! It was a great idea to go running off in the woods by yourself! Nothing dangerous could happen. No!" Adam was in rant mode. "Are you even listening to me?!" Josh was just staring ahead.

"L...l...l-l-l" Josh stuttered in awe. Adam and Michael finally looked at where they were. They were in a clearing and all there was in front of them was a stump, but it was who was on the stump who took their breath away. "L-l-Link." It was the hero of time himself. Josh's favorite character in all of gaming was sitting right in front of them on the stump playing the Lost Woods theme. That was what Josh had heard.

"Hello," Link said in his elvish like voice. "Who are you travellers and how do you know me?" Link was looking at Josh casually with his pure blue eyes. He had no idea that he had been transported to another world

"I am Josh and this is Michael and Adam," Josh said as calmly as he could. "As for you, You're a hero. The hero of time. The things you've done with no reward to be expected are just mind blowing Link." This was one of the most amazing things to ever happen in Josh's life. Adam and Michael just wanted Josh to have this moment.

"Thank you," Link told Josh before putting his ocarina back to his mouth. Before he could start playing again though, Link's ear twitched. Link suddenly lept up, drawing his sword and shield. Suddenly something came barrelling through the woods at Link. As a weapon smashed the ground where Link was at the time, Link dodge rolled out of the way. A giant warrior stood before them.

He was bald... and about 8 feet tall. That was the first thing they noticed. The second thing would have to be his heart. It was exsposed and beating. The final thing they noticed was this guy was ripped! He could easily have ripped them in half with his bare hands, not to mention his giant axe. He wasn't wearing much, but what he did have on was spiked. Its shoulder pads, gauntlets, and boots. The only parts not spiked were the metal bands on his thieghs and his main chest armor. His main armor was just 2 large straps that crossed over his back, a metal collar on his neck, and what Josh could only describe as a gurtle made of solid steel wrapped around his stomach. The 'gurtle' drapped down a loincloth for obvious reasons. He had no irises, just pure white eyes. It took them a minute to realize who this giant warrior was, but Josh and Michael knew him.

"It's Astroth from Soul Calibur!" Michael shouted. Astroth was a golem who wielded a giant axe and was a very tough guy to fight. He hoisted his axe with 2 hands and turned to face Link. Astroth rushed forward with a sweep of his axe across the ground. Link back flipped and brought up his shield just in time to block a shoulder rush from Astroth.

"Guys!" Josh shouted, "we gotta help Link!" Josh didn't want to risk shooting for fear that he might hit Link. He began looking around quickly for anything that could help. "Adam, help me get up there!" He pointed at some destroyed stairs that led to the forest temple. Adam rushed to stand in between Josh and the stairs and put his hands together. Josh took a deep breath and ran at Adam. As he reached Adam, Josh jumped and Adam used his strength and hands to catapult Josh over the stairs. Josh landed in a roll before rushing toward the temple. Michael shook his head before attempting the same menuver. As Adam was about to just jump up after them, he heard something and turned to the woods where he saw 3 new forms approaching...

Josh came face to face with, not the temple, but a giant brick wall. Josh didn't care because the pillars of stone were still in front of him. Michael came up behind him out of breath. "So," Michael breathed, "What now?"

Josh looked around for a second before pointing to a twenty foot tall pillar. "There!" Josh yelled with happiness. Michael looked at the top before making out what was on top of it. It was a block with a question mark on it. "A mario block has given us all our weapons so far, right? Don't include the magnum."

Michael nodded before thinking of a fatal flaw in Josh's plan. "But how are you gonna get up there?!" Michael didn't understand how Josh was gonna climb 20 feet of smooth rock, but he had forgotten one thing. Josh had memorized most of the Zelda games. The only guy who knew more was his dad. His dad could get the master (magic) sword in the original zelda and upgraded armor after only beating the first temple (No cheats. They didn't exist in that time). Josh suddenly rushed to the right where he started climbing some vines on the wall. Michael just looked on in amazement. "You play way to much Zelda."

Josh stopped climbing at that instant to yell back imeadeitely, "NO SUCH THING!" before he started climbing again. He then lowered himself onto a pillar across from the block. He then walked across a narrow path 20 feet high! The only thing Josh could thimk though was, 'Oh my god! It's like I'm being Link!' He then reached the block and gave it a solid punch.

A item started to rise out of it for 10 seconds. It was solid and red, about 6 feet long, and... a pole. To stop Astroth, the block had given Josh a staff, which he had no idea how to use. "God! Damn! It!" Josh yelled in frustration. He then proceeded to grab the pole. Josh grasped it and as he did, his eyes widened. He stood in that exact pose for 5 seconds before coming back to reality. "Whoa, did I just get a new power?"

He then turned to face a sword coming down on his head. Instinctively, Josh thrust his staff up, parrying the strike and putting the assailent off balance. He then spun around and brought the pole across his opponent's face. The assailent was sent tumbling to the ground where he exploded in smoke. "That's odd?" Josh looked over to see Michael holding off another one with a random tree branch. It was at this moment of calm for Josh that he got a good look at their enemies.

He was wearing red ninja armor. That was the only thing Josh knew to be a give away of who he was. "Uh, a little help Josh!" Michael suddenly shouted. Josh suddenly remembered how much danger his friend was in. Josh lept off the pillar and landed in a roll. He came up unharmed because this place was part of the Zelda universe. If it wasn't, Josh probably would have broken his legs. He rushed forward and intercepted a sword swing from the ninja and repelled him back a few steps.

"Hey Michael," Josh greeted, "I think this pole gave me powers." It was a guess because this was the first time an item had given them powers and it was only their second time receiving was about to ask him something when the ninja rushed forward with a stab heading for Josh's side. Josh pushed it farther in to the left and the ninja couldn't hope to block Josh's foot as it came across the side of his face. As he fell away, he exploded in smoke leaving Josh and Michael staring with surprised looks.

"Okay," Michael started trying to clear everything up, "who was that and what do you mean, powers?" Michael had no ideas about what the hell was happening around him, so as usual, he asked Josh to explain.

"Hmm," Josh thought for a few moments. "Well, judging by their clothes and the way they died, I think those guys were from the older Ninja Gaiden games. The red ninjas were push overs in that time. As for the powers, I'm almost positive this staff gave me some." Josh looked at the staff again, trying to remember where he had seen it before. It was a solid red color, except for both ends which were golden. Josh suddenly had an a epiphany. "I just had an epiphany!" (Thanks for this quote go to the creators of None Piece. Look him up on youtube.) "This is the Kali-Yuga! The staff that belongs to Kilik from Soul Calibur. Oh my god, I have the powers of Kilik."

Kilik was a staff wielder from Soul Calibur who sought to save the world from soul edge. He was kind of bad in Soul Calibur 4, but in number 5, Kilik was a bad ass monk like guy. Josh had once spent an hour trying to beat Kilik to no avail. All in all, Josh could probably beat anyone who came within 7 feet of him. Josh suddenly remembered what they were doing before. "Come on!" Josh yelled in Michael's face, "We gotta help Link!" Josh took off back to the grove and Michael quickly followed.

They came upon a pretty impressive sight. Adam was holding off wave after wave of red ninjas. He punched two more in the face and did a round house kick to get the one behind him. Adam then dropped into a roll so fluidly that the ninja swinging a sword at Adam's back had no defense against the knee of justice that went into his spine. Josh and Michael rushed down to help.

Michael stood back and picked off any ninjas that weren't to close to Josh or Adam with his 9mm pistol. Josh entered the fray with a thrust forward with his staff. As the ninjas tried to surround him, Josh swept his pole in a wide circle under him, sweeping many feet. Adam tore through another line of ninja with a falcon kick. It was at this time that the ninjas realized they were hoplessly outmatched. They retreated into the woods in almost the blink of an eye. Josh and Adam stood there exausted. They then heard a ring of metal hitting metal. All 3 of them turned to see Link holding his master sword against a very cut up and tired looking Astroth's axe. It appeared like Link was winning and Josh was filled with a sense of relief... But nothing ever goes right for Josh.

Astroth suddenly brought his head forward in a devastating headbutt. Link was sent falling to the ground unconsious. As Astroth lifted his axe for the killing blow, Josh rushed forward. Everything seemed to move in slow motion for Josh at that moment. He thought he heard someone tell him not to do it. Faster then anyone would have believed possible, Josh was sudenly in front of Astroth's axe.

He lifted pole into position on impulse. Somehow managing to block the overhead chop, Josh pulled back his pole for an attack of ultimate power. He brought it low and hit Astroth into the air with his staff to the amazement of his friends. He then turned around and lifted himself up with his pole and kicked back with his right foot, spinning Astroth. Josh lifted his pole off the ground and, in mid air, spun again, kicking Astroth the other way. With yet another spin, Josh brought his left foot across Astroth's face spinning him faster. With his final spin, Josh raised up his pole above him and was perfectly lined up with the center of Astroth's face. Enraged, Josh brought down his staff with all of his force slamming Astroth into the ground.

Josh landed on his feet, breathing heavily. He had just preformed the ultimate attack of staff users in Soul Calibur 5 and he was exausted, but he still rushed over to check on Link. They all crowded over Link who just wouldn't wake up. "What do we do Josh?" Michael asked a bit worried. He received a shocked look in response. "This Zelda stuff is your department right?" Josh realized he was right and went into deep thought. Josh thought about everything he knew about Zelda for about 3 minutes.

"I've got an idea!" Josh suddenly yelled. He grabbed Link's magic bag out of his pocket and started searching through it. Michael and Adam just stared at him looking like they thought he was insane. "Please be there... Yes! Red potion!" He pulled out a bottle filled with a red liquid. Josh uncorked it and held the bottle to Link's mouth. As Link slowly drank the potion, Josh kept saying, "Come on, come on, come on." After Link finished the potion, they stood back. They waited through some very tense moments... Then Link's eyes opened.

They all sighed with relief. "Okay," Adam said, "I'm done with all this. Tell me when you guys are finished." He then walked off to do who knows what. Link got up with some effort.

"What happened?" Link groaned. It all came rushing back to him suddenly. "Oh!" He looked over at Astroth who was still lying in the ground. "I assume you 3 did that. Thank you." Astroth had caught him by surprise last time and Link would not let that happen again.

They all heard something then. It sounded like some birds clucking. "What the hell is that?" Michael said. The sound was getting closer and there were alot of them.

"Oh, I would know that sound anywhere," Link said. "It's the sound of a very angry flock of cuccos. It appeares something or someone has angered them." Josh knew they were in deep shit. Cucco birds, when angered, were an invincible set of enemies that would not relent till you were dead or gone. Even Michael, who had played almost no Zelda games, knew how dead they were.

Josh looked at Michael expectantly, knowing how violent Michael was. "It wasn't me!" Michael yelled at him. Josh just continued to look at him. "Honest! It wasn't me." Josh finally believed him. They looked around for the source of the agression.

They noticed a smoking and burning cucco trying to peck at Adam. "Adam!" they both yelled at him. He had falcon punched a cucco, sending it into a rage. Of course Adam had to hit the only thing that could survive a falcon punch.

"I didn't mean to!" Adam yelled back. "I was practicing my powers and didn't notice him." Link started chuckling.

"I would start running if I was you three," Link said. As he said this, he played the prelude of light and teleported away. They all looked at each other and broke into a sprint away from the cuccos. They didn't know where they were going, but they knew one thing. They were going as far from the birds as possible.

Notes: I did it, it's 10 pm and school is out! I finished the chapter on time and can't stop the story now. Note, those stories about Josh's past are true. Next time on the Crossover Paradox: Our heroes find a frightening place, do some backtracking, gain new powers, and of course, run from Kratos. Chapter 5: The Masters of Backtracking.