Tobey pulled another cap off the needles and slammed the pain killer into his arm again where suddenly there was beginning to form a red circle from the constant injections. Being an elf did have its perks as well as its disadvantages. One of them was a weak constitution so natural healing was an uphill battle, especially when you are getting the derek smacked out of you by elements. He didn't know for sure what Lucas did, but it was enough for him to take the tyke to get a steak dinner. Though Tobey couldn't eat one himself, changed metabolism that affected along with his goblinization, he decided that the kid earned it. He constantly peered over the tome of knowledge, looking for something to describe his vision. He spoke and read twenty languages as well as native tongues. This one was beyond him however.
He shook his head and tossed the syringe aside. The illustrations were well enough to have some of the points across. The hissing was obviously that of a snake, but to which he did not know. He did know that the howling was that of a wolf, not the coyote. He was a trained member in the aspect of the Bear, a sign of healing and strength. He knew full well the sounds of the other animals. He constantly got a kick out of it, being in touch with nature while living in the concrete jungle. One of the few traits that made him Tobey.
He flicked a few pages over and eventually he shut the old leather tome. Doing so, he noticed a symbol embossed into the spine. He looked at it and found that it was none other than a hammer, perhaps that of a blacksmith, hanging upside down on the hand of it's wielder. Unusual, the symbol of the hammer was not known in his world. The only time he encountered hammers was at the end of an enraged troll and those were sledgehammers. Perhaps this was something he needed the help of another expert on, someone who knew of old tomes.
He opened his door and closed it behind him, making sure it clicked locked. He walked down the hallway, a slight pain forced him to use a mistletoe cane he sometimes use for communing with the supernatural. He passed several of the other smashers, even a very battered and bruised Lithia. She looked as if she had the living derek beaten out of her. A few sword cuts and the bruises of bludgeoning with the heavy end of a sword covered her frame. Tobey had an idea what happened, but for his sake he remained quiet. The last thing he needed was more trouble coming his way. It was bad enough he had people far away after his head, he didn't need any more of them here.
He reached his door, and the smell of smoke and other magical properties hit him like a solid wall. He used his cane to rap on the door and he heard heavy mailed boot stomps come his way. The door open and the smell increased tenfold. Ganondorf, the Dark Wizard among other titles, looked at Tobey. Tobey was one of the few who met Ganondorf's height and the two had an unspoken moment of questioning in their eyes. Eventually, Ganon allowed him entrance to his lair. Tobey bowed his head as a sign of respect.
Tobey examined what was Ganondorf's hovel. It was seething with arcane energies, both of foul and pleasant. Ganondorf gave him a look that asked why he was there. Tobey handed him the tome, "Thee is knowledge within this tome that I seek. I was wondering if your arcane knowledge will provide me anything that I can read these words." The Dark One nodded and opened the tome. He was soon flipping through these pages like a child on Christmas day. Tobey was wondering what was exactly going through the head of the wizard, but decided that it was best not to ask. On the safe side however, he primed his energies in his staff.
Ganondorf muttered a spell in the old language, perhaps the one from the tome or one from his homeland. Dark violet energies pulsed out of his hands and soon the words glowed with the same obvious glow. "This time, it is full of knowledge old and new. The words are in an old tongue, perhaps as old as the first sands." Ganondorf stroked his chin thinking hard. It was a difficult language to decipher, but it could be done. The villain turned to his alchemy table and began to mix several elements together, Tobey decided to stay a while and wait. He slammed his rod down hard upon the ground and soon he levitated about a foot in the air. Crossing his legs on the air beneath him, Tobey prepared himself for the patient wait.
Leman was out on the patio, a small clay pipe between his lips as he puffed away looking to the skies. He knew somewhere out there was his father, and so was his personal enemy. Leman grew up in the shadow of his father, always aspiring to be like him. While he did so in many ways, all of which his father praised him for, he wished that he could prove that he was more. His strength was at an equal, as was their courage to lead humanity to their destiny. He sighed and reached for another pinch of the herbs.
He was not alone on the patio, many of the other smashers were enjoying a cool summer's night. The mercenary known as Snake was with Samus, each of them over looking to the stars. Others ate their dinner, while a few of the children ran around on the green grass. Leman smiled slightly to himself. He never enjoyed that as a child. His child was a constant cycle of training the mind and body. The luxury he had was the rest periods, where he stared off into wonder to the mountains and rolling lands beneath them. He missed the mountain air from time to time, and he couldn't blame himself for it.
His took the pipe out of his mouth. He sucked in the rich, slightly cool air, purifying his lungs of any remaining smoke. However; he did not receive cool air. It felt… familiar. It shouldn't be here, not at this time. He breathed in again and noticed what was in the air. It was a slight amount of frost, just waiting to take form on the buildings, the walls and everything all around them. He over turned his pipe and removed the contents of the pipe. He placed the pipe back and walked off the patio and walked through the grasses. The dew had already began to from on it, but it would soon turn to frost. He could taste it in the very air.
As he walked farther and farther away, he noticed that it had begun to turn to frost. Underneath his massive coats of fur, he revealed his sword in the scabbard. He gently pulled the blade from the scabbard and noticed that it was glowing blue. His face snarled slightly and continued farther away from the mansion. It wouldn't be long, he thought to himself, until he would find out what was causing this frost.
He heard a hiss in his ear, causing him to unsheathe the blade, answer found. "So, you shown to be more like your father then you know." The voice chuckled and Leman knew who it was. Not the one who his father swore to kill with his last blow, rather it was the scion of it, just like he was the scion of his father's flesh.
Leman breathed out, his breath clear in front of him. "As are you, but like me, we are not like our fathers. Yours was a coward, destined to die by my father's hammer."
The sound in his ear chuckled. "You are foolish Leman. Just like your father, and his father before him. To tied down to tradition and old ideology, you don't see the true path of power. Cast aside your allegiance to those old sods upon their thrones and join us. We can promise you so much more than a simple kingdom to rule. "
"ENOUGH! Show yourself Jomon!" Leman bellowed forth from his lungs and so he was answered. A man about his height stood before him. Where others had skin, he had the scales of a mighty snake. Fangs were bared and two swords crafted from the bones of his brethren grasped firmly in his hands. Leman growled his own primal growl and leveled his sword against the monster. "You are a fool to think you can face me in honorable combat. My father grants me powers and others have taught me much. If your bastard of a father can teach you anything, it would be dishonor."
Jomon laughed louder, his forked tongue flicking in and out of his mouth. "Save your curses for your dying moments fool." He charged Leman, who merely stood his ground and waited for the blow to come. When it did, Leman parried the incoming blow and drove his fist across the face of the monster, sickening breaking of teeth echoed in the air all around them. Jomon growled and swung his blades across his body, Leman parrying those that would have surely have struck his flesh. Leman charged forward, opening his left side to an incoming blow from the serpent man. Jomon took that blow and thrusted his blade through the chest of Leman.
Leman growled in pain as the bone blade ruptured from his body. He slammed his cackling blue fist into the side of the monster. With a ear-ripping clap, the monster was tossed aside, three tree trunks shattering under his weight. Leman withdrew the blade and tossed it aside. "Jomon, you forget my lineage." The serpent man rose from his crouched form and lept upon Leman. Jomon sank his fangs into Leman's right shoulder, causing the later to howl. Feeling his blood roll down his shoulder, Leman's world went burred with rage. He slashed his blade time and time again, his rage delivering powerful, yet uncoordinated blows.
Jomon laughed and dodged the blows but occasionally a few of them were to hit home. "Do you have any idea why I am here you bloody drunkard, or are you too obsessed with-" He didn't have a chance to finish that sentence before a pair of arms wrapped around his neck. Leman's world came back to him in a rush and he saw the prince Marth holding onto Jomon. The human wouldn't last long against such a beast, so Leman had to act fast. Raising his sword above his head, he drove the blade down through the head of the monster. Through the skull and the jaw, did the master of the north impaled the monster. Jomon howled in pain, but leman wasn't finished yet. He pulled the blade out of the skull his direction, tearing the skull into many pieces. With a quick side chop, what remained of the skull was severed and the Prince was showed in a geyser of red gore.
Marth let the body go and rushed over to Leman, who now cradled his bleeding shoulder. "I heard you scream and I came as fast as I could. Gods, you took quite the beating from that monster. What was that thing? It appeared to have known you." Leman grimaced and allowed the prince to apply wool bandages. Using his sword to support him, Leman rose and towered over the prince. Marth was shocked as always to see the size of this man.
"It was something that I knew from a long time ago. No need to be worried about it Marth." Leman lied between his teeth. The prince must have not noticed it and walked with Leman back to the mansion. Leman sighed heavily, his sweat cold, only growing colder with each passing moment. The temperature around them was dropping slowly, yet certainly. He only wodered what the morning was to bring.
Ulfric steadied his breathing and gestured for Link to strike at him once again. The Hylian agreed with enthusiasm and brought the master sword down over head. Ulfric brought up his own axe head and intercepted the blade. He grinned and pushed the Hylian back. "So the rumors are true about your sword arm."
"So are yours, High King." Link replied and paced in a circle around Ulfric, waiting for the signal to strike again. Ulfric raised his axe and charged forward towards the hero. Link raised his shield and readied his blade behind it. Link braced his legs moments before the form of Ulfric slammed into him. Link gritted his teeth and pushed his own weight against it. Ulfric brought his axe down and Link blocked each one. So was the exchange for quite a while, each one pitting their mettle of mind and strength against the other. Link found an advisory that was quite a challenge and Ulfric found an elf he could respect.
After a while, the two stopped and sheathed their weapons. "Ulfric, that was perhaps one of the best spars I have had in a long time. Thank you for that." Ulfric laughed and slammed an open hand on the shoulder of the Hero of Time in a comrade gesture. The two walked to a pair of chairs to rest their weary bones. "So, it would appear that Lithia was fairly beaten. I wonder if you knew anything about that." Ulfric smirked roguishly and Link chuckled. Ulfric shook his head, Zelda got what she wanted. He could scarcely blame her any less, Lithia had it coming.
He reached for a bottle of mead pulled the cork out of the top. The honeyed brew slid with ease down his throat. He passed Link a bottle and the Hylian accepted. As they drank, Ulfric noticed something. He could see his breath before him and he looked around. He could tell that they were not alone. Link noticed this as well. It was not the alcohol hazing their vision, after all, they had just started their first bottle. "When is it natural to see the flakes of winter's coming in the season of the high sun?" Ulfric asked Link. The Hero of Time shrugged and unsheathed his blade. They left the training hall and looked around.
Frost was growing all around them. On the walls and on the metal doors, the hearled of winter thrived. Link looked out the window and pointed in shock. Outside, fat snowflakes danced around upon a cool wind. "By all that is holy, what is happening?" Link asked.
"I think I can answer that." Tobey spoke up, carrying an old leather tome beneath his arm. His shades were in his coat pocket and a grim face was set across his features.
The Mead hall was alive with the sounds of celebration, as they were each and every day. A young woman, blond and dressed in full plate armor walked through the parting sea of men. Each of them knew the strength and power she held. None were willing to cross her. She was a chooser of the fallen, and though her purpose was related to the battlefields, she was a constant sight here. This time, she was here for something else. Walking forward, she stopped behind a man dressed in a worn brown cloak. He appeared to be nursing ale he would never drink.
Unlike many who came into these walls, this one was unhappy that he made it here. He wished to leave, and though it sometime subsided, the thought was always there. "You come for me again?" The man asked without turning around or raising his voice. He turned to her with brown eyes lined with age. The young blond woman smiled on half of her face. She gestured for him to come with her. Like a reluctant dog, the man rose from his place on the bench and followed the woman. She lead him past the sea of hammered brawlers. The ale was strong and limitless, each would have their fill. Some more then they can stand.
She opened a massive door, in which hundreds of men could walk through shoulder to shoulder. The man followed her and was soon in the presence of two powerful men. Each of them were figures of legend, and even he was forced by instinct to fall on a knee. The older one wore a helmet with one side covered to shield a wounded eye, a self inflicted injury. The second one stood with long flowing blond hair and a hammer in his hands. "Rise, warrior of myth." The man did so and looked into the eyes of these massive warriors who's handmaidens encircled him. "You have often voiced your objections to the reason why you have found yourself here. You must know the rarity of what we are to do here. No one has left these walls as a fallen. You will be the first and perhaps the last."
The man in the cloak could scarcely believe his luck and he felt the handmaidens remove his cloak and clothing. He was left stripped to his under garments. He then felt massive pieces of armor strapped to his frame. "But you are not to return to the land you once knew. Something has happened in there and you need to do." The younger ne walked forward with his hands clenched around a weapon wrapped in a cloth. "Our enemies of frost and fire have made their move, and my son is placed at risk. I know there is someone there to you cares about there. I would lead this battle myself, but I would best not tempt my age old enemy to play his full hand. The place is a loss; you will not be able to turn back the tide." He unwrapped the weapon and revealed a master crafted axe. "That doesn't mean you can make a few heads roll before such a thing was to pass. Get as many as you can out of there, the forces are too strong for this moment. Only later will we be able to achieve such a stunt as to undermine their progress."
Once the final pieces of armor was attached to his frame, the man took the axe as if his life was given purpose once again. "I will do as you ask." He bowed his head and soon the massive door opened once again. A bridge man stood aside, making it clear that he was willing to pass. With a deep breath, the warrior reborn walked down the multi-colored bridge, ready to meet a new foe.
"Are you certain of this?" Ulfric asked Tobey, who nodded.
"The old tome said exactly. We are waist deep in some serious derrek." The elf spoke in a quick and hushed tone. Ulfric and Link listened with dread spread across their features. "No we need to get everyone ready because-" He was cut off by a low and sinister growling. Slowly, Tobey turned around and was gazing into the baleful red glowing eyes of a wolf made of ice. Tobey reacted by instinct and pulled his assault rifle from his belt and fired of a hip burst. He watched in horror as those bullets hit the ice wolf and they only regenerated. "Well… shit."
The wolf howled an earsplitting howl, causing the three to cover their ears. The wolf leapt into the air, fangs of crystal grinning and ready for battle. A yell and the explosion of flame sent the wolf crashing don to the ground. A golden blade impaled the fallen form, causing a death howl to escape the muzzle of the wolf. The three looked to an exhausted Zelda and an Ike with a grimaced face. "What the hell was that?" Ike asked as the wolf melted before his feet.
Similar howls were echoing around them. "The first of many." Link said and watched as a figure appeared before them, dressed in the colors of red and black.
Well, that was an eventful chapter with several new elements. Tell me what you think about it.
Flame Falcon