Ike woke with a slight pounding in his head, more than likely it as the many bottles of mead that he shared with Ulfric that gave him it. He looked at the window and the sun had just risen over the horizon, signifying it was about seven in the morning. The Hands had arranged an early morning brawl between the newcomers, and Ike wanted to get one of the best seats in the area so he could se exactly whom these new opponents were. It had been many years since there was new blood in the area, and he was eager to see what skills the new comers brought with them
He crawled out of his bed and threw on his traditional get-up and tied Ragnell off on his back. He glanced out the window and saw the newcomer elf, Tobey if he recalled correctly. The elf was dressed in the same clothes from last night and appeared to be in a meditative state. His hand was in a pile of earth and the other in a bowl of water. Ike had seen many different forms of magic, though this seemed to be the most unusual of them all. Shamanism was the proper term, the belief that spirits existed in everything, the land, and the air, even the water.
Ike felt a small smile tug on the side of his face and he left the room and walked down the hallway, his feet being careful that he wasn't too loud in fear of waking the other smashers. Ike heard other footsteps and looked to see Ulfric walking out of his own dorm. "Ike, I would say good morning, but I have a feeling the mead may have made it less then pleasant for you." Ike smiled, knowing that it was true and massaged his temple. "You can hold your drink, and for that you have my respect. Few could challenge a Nord against his own mead and put up for quite a while with it."
Ike nodded and the two walked down the hall, both keeping their voices low. "So are you ready for your first brawl? This is quite unusual than any other fights you may have gotten in to." Ulfric nodded his head, stating that he would be ready even if Talos himself would fight him. The two walked to the main hall, in which few of the other smashers were eating their breakfast. The other two newcomers were there, Lithia was chatting with Peach on a subject that seemed to interest both of them and Leman crossed his arms and looked at the two who came closer to him.
He gestured for them to sit. It was apparent that Ulfric and Leman were already introduced, Ike however offered his hand. Lean only slammed his right fist over his heart and Ike properly returned the gesture. "Ike Griel, it is my honor to meet you." Ike raised an eyebrow, and Leman explained as the two sat down. "I learned about you from several of the other smashers and I must say, " He paused to take a bite out of his venison, neglecting to use his utensils. Taking his slice of roast with his bare hands and tearing off a portion with his teeth. The other smasher not next to them tisked with annoyance. He swallowed the meat and continued. "It is my pleasure and honor to be along with you in the brawls."
Ike nodded and crossed his own arms against his chest. Ulfric nodded as well and began to run a sharpening stone across the edge of the axe in a quiet like manner. Leman downed the last of his tankard of brew with a single gulp, throwing his head back all the while. The sound of two graceful footsteps approached form behind and the three turned to see Zelda. She was dressed in her usual white and purple silken dress. She hadn't met with Ulfric, so Ulfric rose from his seat and placed an open hand over his heart and gave a slight bow. Zelda smiled warmly and curtsied before him. "High King Ulfric Stormcloak, I bid you welcome in the name of the holy Three. I am-"
"Princess Zelda of Hyrule and wieldier of the Triforce of Wisdom, yes?" Ulfric interrupted, though if Zelda showed any distaste for the act, she neglected to show it. "Ike has told me so much about you. Perhaps more then what you could tell about yourself." He smiled slyly and Ike's cheeks turned slightly red with embarrassment. He should have seen it coming; Ulfric must have used the mead to loosen his tongue. Just how much did he tell him…? WHAT did he tell him was another question that burned on his mind. Ulfric continued and Ike prepared himself for the worst. "He told me that you are a kind and brave young lass, as well as a quite accomplished mage. And please, call me Ulfric Stormcloak or any one of those two. I am not in Skyrim, so the titles are not needed Princess." He took one of Zelda's hands and in a respectful gesture, kissed it for a moment.
Zelda spoke and Ike released that breath he was holding. "Did he now?" Her eyebrow rose slightly, intrigued. "Thank you Hig- Ulfric." She caught herself from making that mistake. "And likewise, call me Zelda. I am far away from my home so the title is no longer needed." Ulfric nodded and sat down in his chair once again, tearing off a portion of sourdough bread. Ike was about to do the same before Zelda gestured for him to follow her. Ike nodded once, swallowing hard.
The two walked together for a while, heading out doors and into the cool summer morning. Evenually, after a few moments of silence, Zelda sighed and turned to Ike. "Ike… I have a question for you?"
He looked back at her and nodded, "Ask away."
She bit her bottom lip and tried to figure out how it was best to ask the question. "So what do you think of our new arrivals?" Ike could tell it wasn't the question she wanted to ask, but he decided to tell her what she wanted to hear. He would play along with her little game. He said that they were an interesting lot. Ulfric was a great man, Tobey could handle himself in any situation, Leman was a capable warrior, and he told her that he had not met Lithia personally so he could not draw a conclusion for her. She nodded but it was clear that something else was on her mind and she wasn't telling him it.
Ike asked her, "Zelda what did you want to say to me? Honestly, you could have asked me about the newcomers in their presence. There is something else on your mind, I can tell." Zelda stopped walking and shook her head sighing.
"Ike, it's just… do you ever have moments of jealousy and hatred about someone because they may very well try to get what you wanted?"
Ike didn't know where this was going to be heading so he answered. "From time to time, Zelda. What is it?"
Again, she sighed and sat down on one of the granite benches. "That newcomer, Lithia, I managed to talk to her last night. She is a fine woman, able to take care of herself in any battle and seems to be rather reasonable. But, I have a feeling that she is after someon- something I want." She stopped herself from saying someone, but Ike could tell what the word was. So he was right after all, there was a pang of the green monster in her eyes last night.
Ike sat down next to her, and she scooted closer to him. "So tell me princess, "He said in a joshing tone, which she thankfully could decipher as such, "whom are you afraid of losing?" Zelda took a long time in thinking, mumbling to herself all the while.
She then shook her head. "No one Ike, just forget I said anything." Ike could tell that there was something going on with her and was about ready to ask her as such.
Unfortunately, they were interrupted by Peach, who came over to them. "What are you guys doing out here?! The brawl is about ready to start. Come on!" She yelled at them. Ike gave Zelda a look that said we will talk about this later. The two then picked up following the plucky little princess form the mushroom kingdom. They made their way through the doors and up the stairs to the arena. The massive maze of corridors was mindboggling of first, Devine only know how many times it confused the smashers when they first arrived here.
The smashers took their seats in the front rows, while the stage was set before them. It was to be set at the Final Destination, three stock battles and a team battle- two against two. There was to be Ulfric and Tobey on one side, then Leman and Lithia on the other side. The Smashers took their seats Ike near the staircase and Zelda sat right there on the right side of him. Ike sighed and shook his head.
"Three!" The sound of the Master hand echoed through the arena. A gust of cold wind echoed through the stage and soon the form of Ulfric appeared from the cold winds of change. Scant moments later a shadowy figure appeared right next to him, and the smoke dissipated, revealing Tobey Duel Fist.
"Two!" Fog appeared on the opposite side and out stepped Leman, slamming his battle axe against his chest, while Lithia descended on a pair of spectral wings.
"One! GO!" The entirety of the crowd began to cheer as the brawl began. Tobey began by playing to his strengths and opened up firing his sidearm, a Predator hand cannon. The bullets were striking home but soon Lithia began to throw some axes at them. Tobey swore loudly and ducked, slamming a fresh clip home. Ulfric charged with his own war axe, slamming directly into Leman. Losing his footing, Leman swung wildly, in hopes of striking Ulfric somewhere. His blows only hit air but he swung his axe around, catching the High king and Leman pulled himself up from his back.
Tobey rushed over to Ulfric's side and pulled him back, firing Mage Blast spells from his spare hand. Ulfric gritted his teeth and leapt back up to his feet. "My thanks Duel-Fist."
" We need are evenly matched, they have ranged support and a pure mêlée devoted vanguard. Any suggestions?" Ulfric pondered for a moment while Tobey started firing of a few more rounds off at Lithia, who blocked those with her shield.
"Fight until there is no more fighting to be done." Tobey smiled and then drew a long curved blade he charged the two warriors and slammed his sword against Lithia. Lithia countered with her own short sword and buckler combination. Ulfric laughed and struck out at Leman again and again. Each warrior was never going to back down, not one inch was going to be given to the other. It was a perfect battle choreographed to the rhythm of steel against steel. Tobey felt alive on the fields of battle, and Ulfric looked as if he could agree as well. Fight until there was none left… words to live by on the street.
The crowd watched as the newcomers spilt their opponent's blood for they enjoyment. Ike said that without a doubt that he was surprised the skills these smashers had. While Tobey was the jack of all trades, who could hold his own in melee and range, Ulfric was a monster in hand to hand, occasionally using the word of power to send the opponents tumbling off the edge. Leman could easily be one of the most powerful in hand to hand, that large two handed axe easily granting him a powerful reach. Now, Lithia was a tank, dealing the harsh beatings but could shrug off so many with her armor and shield tactics. Ulfric and Tobey worked through a well coordinated attack patterns that suited their strengths; the others moved with a such connection that bordered lined the super natural.
No items were to be spawned, it was a pure no holds brawl. Each began to drop like flies, and soon each were down to one stock. Marth, who was sitting be hind him, spoke up. "They seem like capable fighters, though I would have to disagree that giving Tobey the ability to heal his wound would seem a little unfair in his favor."
Mario, arguably the most experienced one of the brawlers, answered Marth. "Not so." The Italian plumber spoke up. "While he may have the ability to heal, it is only his most recent wounds that he takes off. If he was to repetitively use that, he would damage himself because that is how the magic works in his realm. While it may be able to shrug off Super Smash ability if he was lucky enough, anything before that would be permeate to him. It evens out." Seeing wisdom in the Hero of the Mushroom kingdoms words, Marth nodded and looked back to the fighting.
Tobey slammed the sword against the neck of Leman, causing the warrior to howl in pain. Ulfric shouted once again and sent a critically injured Lithia tumbling off the edge, taking away her final life and eliminating her from the fight. However, he and Tobey were in no better condition, neither was Leman, each one had the possibility of flying of edge and into elimination. Leman swung his axe around and bashed Tobey across the ace, sending him sprawling. Ulfric growled in anger and slammed his own axe into the shoulder of Leman.
Leman took the blow and used the chance to throttle Ulfric. The High King was slammed down unto the metal beneath them. Ulfric grunted loudly in pain, but he didn't yield, no matter how many times he was piled driven into the plane beneath him. Lifted high above Lemans head, Ulfric's back was brought down on the knee, shattering the spine. Leman tossed Ulfric from the stage, ending the threat to him. He turned to see Tobey still on the ground crawling towards his shotgun. Leman was confused for a moment, wondering why the elf wasn't running to retrieve his weapon. He clearly saw why. Behind him, dragging behind him was his twisted, bloody and not to mention useless leg. The shotgun's chamber was closed, signifying that there was one shell loaded in the chamber.
Leman kicked the shotgun off the stage and the crowd held his breath as they watched Leman walked over to Tobey and picked him off the ground by his throat. "This is the end for you Tobey Duel-Fist. Game over." Tobey began to laugh causing Leman to wonder what going on. The sudden blast of a sawed off smg was the answer to his question. The hail of hot lead slammed into his chest, causing a loud gasp exit the mouth of the crowd. Leman let go of Tobey, who finished off Leman by emptying the last of his magazine.
The smashers applauded as the match ended. The surviving combatant teleported off the stage while the smashers rose from their seats, talking about the match with each other and the combatants with great eagerness. Ike moved away from the crowd and walked around to the gym. He needed to let some steam he had built up over the princess who wouldn't be straight with him. After all of his day so far, he needed to let off something.
A few hours later, Ike slammed his last fist into the punching bag. Sweat was dripping brow , and he was exhaling loudly. He was the only one in the gym and he felt much better. He was still miffed at Zelda for not giving am an answer. Was it trivial for him to get riled up about it? Perhaps it was, but he never did like being blown aside so easily, regardless whom it was.
He heard a pair of gentle footsteps come up behind him. He turned halfway expecting Zelda with an apology, in its steed, he saw Lithia. The short- though not by much- female warrior stood next to him with a shy smile on her lips. "Ike, is this a good time?" She asked, the northern accent falling from her lips and flowing into the words. He sighed and nodded, thus she continued. "Well, I heard that you are one of the best swordsmen, and seeing that you have a large claymore," She gestured twords Ragnell, "I was wondering f you could spar with me?"
Ike pondered this for a moment, considering her request. Eventually he nodded and unsheathed his blade and spun around to Lithia, who already had her own sword drawn and in an offensive posture. Ike readied his own blade and waited for her to strike at him. In all truths, he didn't have to wait long and she flung herself at him and he easily countered it and bashed her off her feet with the flat side of the Ragnell. He quickly climbed up and tried again, again he easily countered. "Why do you fight with a two handed blade as if it was a one handed weapon?" He asked as he placed a boot on her chest, pinning her to the ground.
"Because I need to show that I can prove that I am not a high princess who relies off foul sorceries to achieve my goals. I settle it with steel and iron, not tomes of knowledge and words of wisdom." She spat and pushed Ike's foot off her. "I need to do it to prove myself that I am not a fragile woman, rather which I am a warrior to be reckoned with. I will get respect from many…" Her voice trailed off, as if recalling bad memories.
Ike shook his head, considering himself to be the biggest fool. "If you want me to teach you, just ask me and I will do so, but you need to do as I say, nothing else. Are we clear on that?" She nodded and he did so back. All the while, they were being watched by two individuals, one was a brunette princess with a snarl on her face the other was a small serpent.
"So, "hissed a reptilian voice, "are we certain that his is the place?"
A much larger humanoid nodded. "Yes, our sources say it is and our own observations prove it. Though the walls of power still stand, and it will be neigh impossible to try to breach it with the small task force we have available to us. Though I we can pull such a stunt off, we may very well hold the balance of power in our favor against those weaklings." The two were gazing into a large pool of water, images flickering across the surface. The reptile was coiled like rope while the blue skin of the other caused flakes of frost to form where ever he stepped.
The reptile laughed. "It will feel good to sink my fangs into the flesh of a scion my sworn enemy. Ready the raiding party, we will soon strike." The giant slammed his fist into his shoulder and muttered something a long forgotten tongue. They would have their vengeance.
The brawl scene wasn't my best, but I found it difficult to write a four way battle in a formal way like the Brawls have. But I hope you guys enjoyed it. The next chapter will take a bit longer but it will be worth it.