Showdown

[Argoth/Maximus]

Continuation of "Controlling the Beast"
Location: Kokiri Forest: Lost Woods


Young Maximus lay on the cold hard floor of his dark damp cave, sleeping. The small fire he had constantly kept going was slowly crackling away and the dimming light brought an almost serene feeling to his new dwelling.The small child was bundled up in several animal pelts and the cave floor was riddled with the bones of his prey; indicating that the young assassin was surviving quite well on his own. Outside was seemingly calm as light snow descended to the earth in a peaceful fashion. A single mouse scurried into Max's new abode curiously searching for any sort of nourishment. As it neared the dying flames of Max's fire it stumbled upon a scrap of food the boy must have left behind. Before the tiny mouse could even get its little paws on it a massive black boot came crashing down upon the front half of its body. It splattered the rodent across the cave floor in a violent spray of blood and bone. The sound was grotesque, like trying to remove a boot from thick watery mud.

Maximus instantly awoke, snapping his eyes open at the speed of light. Upon seeing the intruder the assassin was on his feet in a split second brandishing a blade arm that could slice through just about anything.
"Ahhh dear Maximus," the man purred, "Surviving I see, how goes the solitude?" The smile on his face was unnerving, and Max wanted nothing more than to wipe it off his face.
Max ignored him and growled, "How did you find me? What the hell do you want Syrus?"
"Oh nothing, just checking in," Syrus answered.
"I don't want you checking on me so why don't you just get out of here."
"Hm hm, such anger. You should try staying calm sometimes Max it really helps in conversation. So, have you rethought about my little offer?"
"No. I still refuse. Now get out. And who are they?" Behind Syrus was a Goron and a Shiekah woman, both were standing perfectly still and expressionless.
"Oh how rude of me, I forgot to introduce you to my new recruits," he said whirling around. He gestured to the rather large Goron off to his left "This is Thom, a Goron with a knack for murder. He even comes with his own unique ability. Why don't you demonstrate Thom." Thom raised his hand and snapped his fingers. A massive explosion erupted from behind Maximus throwing him to Syrus's feet. Debris blasted from the cave wall colliding with Max's back as he sailed through the air.

"Hm hm, impressive isn't it? Thom as the rare ability to control sonic booms. Rather messy I say, but whatever gets the job done. Now let me introduce you to my next apprentice," Syrus continued, turning to the female on his right, "This is Auria, the shadow assassin. Capable of killing anyone by means of the shadows, literally. A demonstration, if you will." Auria followed orders directly as given. The shadows inside the cave began warping into an almost tangible substance, slithering and snaking its way over to Max. And before he could even begin to return to his feet the shadow had pinned him to where he lay. Syrus stepped forward and knelt right before the struggling boy. "Impressive? No? Oh yes, and there is one more surprise I have for you little Max. It seems as though you are no longer required to be the perfect weapon. I have found a new vessel, and she is absolutely perfect. I won't kill you though, for being such a good sport. At least not yet." Syrus breathed in heavily and stood up, "Well little Max, I should be going now, until next time."

Max's eyes widened as Syrus told him about the new girl he had to replace him. Somewhere inside himself he felt relief, but at the same time he felt a white hot anger. He didn't want anyone else to go through what Syrus had put him through, and he'd be damned if he would let Syrus do it again. Max needed information, so he tried probing for some. "A new kid? Who?" Max groaned from under his restraints.

"That's none of your concern now is it?" He retorted with a condescending tone. "Auria, release him, we'll be going now."

Auria instantly complied and the shadow receded. "Goodbye Maximus," Syrus said.

Like hell I'm gonna let you get away with this again! Max thought, and just before Syrus teleported away with his companions he leaped forward and latched onto Syrus's ankle. But right before the four of them teleported into the unknown Max felt something grab onto him as well.

Icylius pushed open the door to the Stock Pot inn, hoping that at least one of his friends would be there. He decided he was going to rally as many of them as possible to help him search for Max. And this time he would find him.

[Azrael/Iris]

In an alleyway not too far from the Stock Pot Inn...

A thief panted as he ran through the streets. He wildly scanned the rooftops and the road in front of him, the Assassin was on his tail. The thief didn't know what he wanted...he had only stolen a few rupees and it wasn't even from someone associated with the Assassin's of Hyrule.

When he assumed that he had lost him, he breathed a sigh of relief and sat against the wall. A stray dog wandered around the alley that the thief had hidden in, with a sadistic grin on his face. He closed his eyes and pulled out a knife, he opened his eyes once more to see if the dog had moved at all...it hadn't.

"Carefully...carefully." he said under his breath, knife gripped between his index finger and his thumb. He closed his eyes and threw it, his grin widened as he tightened up, waiting for the squeal of the dog as the knife hit it.

The thief opened one eye to make sure he hadn't missed...he didn't.
Torak stood before the thief, the knife he had caught with his right index and middle fingers.

"So...is this what you do on your free time, stronzo?" Torak asked, throwing the knife down and before the thief could move, grab his collar with his right hand.
His left hidden blade shot out and he aimed it at the thief's throat.

"Speak, collaborazionista!" Torak demanded.

"I did not mean to take the money!! I am so poor and..."He started to speak before behind kneed by Torak.

"I don't give two sh*ts about the money...where is Maximus? I heard in the Milk Bar that you know where he is." The Master Assassin said.

[Argoth/Maximus]

Icylius overheard Torak interrogating a man in the alley next to the inn. His curiosity peaked and he instantly headed in the Master Assassin's direction. When Icylius stepped into the darkness of the alley he noticed the man that Torak was interrogating nearly pissed himself. This brought a smile to Icylius's face and he casually strolled over to the two of them. "I do believe I heard something about Maximus, do tell," Icylius glared at the man against the wall, grinning almost menacingly.

[Azrael/Iris]

The thief made a small whimper as Icylius stepped forth from the shadows.

"You do not want to piss my friend off, collaborazionista...he can be very...uncontrollable when he loses his temper." Torak smiled for effect.

Suddenly, the contents of the thief's bladder leaked out, soaking his pants and the hem of Torak's robe.

"Okay! Okay! He's holed up somewhere on Snowhead!! That's all I know!! Please let me go...I've got a family!!"he pleaded.

Torak threw him to the ground and his hidden blade returned to it's resting place, as the thief started to get up, Torak kicked him in the diaphram.

"That was for pissing on my robes, stronzo." Torak said.

[Argoth/Maximus]

Icylius grinned as Torak kicked the man while he was down. He definitely deserved it. "Well, we know where we're headed." Icylius stated as he turned around and began to walk in the direction of Snowhead.

[Azrael/Iris]

"We'll need to pack...Snowhead is notorious for having unexpected blizzards...even in the dead heat of the summer." Torak said.

"Come with me." He motioned for Icylius to follow him. There was a nearby Assassin Hideout that the Hylian Assassin's had placed here to carry out assassinations in Termina on Hylian orders. The Terminian branch was more than happy to allow this, in fact...their leader was an old friend of Toraks.

They walked for a few moments before Torak stopped infront of a brick wall with a hole in it, his hidden blade shot out and he stuck the blade in it, the wall slowly started to open and revealed a path.

"Keep close...there are traps here that would kill anyone who wasn't an Assassin...you're with me so they will not activate...but if you wander off...they will." Torak warned, stepping inside.

[Argoth/Maximus]

Icylius followed Torak while as directed, careful not to set off any traps by sticking close by at all times.

[Iona]

The back door to Stock Pot Inn burst open and threw light into an alley as a body was flung out into the dark dampness of the alleyway. "And stay out!" A voice called as the burly arms that had thrown the body slammed shut the heavy door, shutting the light out. The person thrown out twitched, coughed, then shivered, slowly unbending his limbs.

"Deplorable. The service in this town is absolutely deplorable. Manners are quite atrocious as well, might I add," the man mumbled to himself as he got up on his feet and brushed off the dirt from the collar of his overly done suit shirt, although his backside was covered from the grime of the alley he was thrown in.

The door opened again, the same burly arms holding it open. "Err, you too, miss. Please stay out if that thing is with you." Alemine bounded out meekly into the alley, more wide eyed than usual, and a little ruffled. She flinched when the door slammed shut again. She shuffled to the man's side. "Everybody still in there," she said to him solemnly.

A scurrying noise sounded. Both Alemine and the man spun around, spotting a particularly ratty looking thief. He scuttled back as the man came forward. "Child, you see this creature of a man?" the man asked Alemine. She nodded warily. "This is called a leak. A weasel. A squeak in Troupe jargon. Do you know what we do with squeaks, dearest Alemine?" he asked, pulling out a knife and flipping it in his hands over and over. She didn't say anything as the thief flashed her a desperate glance. She sighed. "Not now, Uncle Wessley." He ignored her. "Target practice!"

..........................

Moments later, the where off in the general direction of Snowhead, bursting through throngs of people in their wake, Hastling with his head down in a map, ignoring the angry cries of people avoiding running into him. "Why are we going to Snowhead, Wessley?" she asked, hurdling over a small cart with a small group of wayward, mischeivous children. "Its uncle to you, child. I don't care if you care whether or not I'm related to you. We are going because that bastard. Cypress? Cyklus? Seamus? Is there. He has surfaced. Klaus and several others want him dead and gone. Your first cleaning assignment, child. Are you excited?" he asked mildly, putting away his map and continung to walk.

Alemine froze. "Cleaning" was Legion jargon for killing, assassinating. She shivered, wrapping her arms around herself. She was a thief, a training con artist...she wasn't even supposed to be in Hyrule or Termina, but in Auria. And now she has to kill? Looking up, she found that her so called "uncle" had long disappeared in the masses of people, and she was all alone in the ever changing sea of a huge crowd. Again.

[Azrael/Iris]

Torak and Icylius walked for what seemed like miles, passing by rooms. Some of them closed with lights bleeding out from underneath it, others open and the sounds of clinking glasses and laughing assassins was heard.

They walked past the rooms and headed towards the room where the assassins kept their equipment they used on various missions. Torak stopped and opened the door and walked in.

A large man sat in the middle of the room, he was busy trying to snooze. He looked at the door as it opened and watched Torak walk in with Icylius following him.

"Well...look who it is." The large man said, standing up.
"Still sleeping on the job, Bruno?" Torak asked as they locked eyes and nodded.

"Heh...what can I do you and...your friend for?"Bruno asked, eyeing Icylius with caution. He wasn't too worried...if he was with Torak...he must be safe.

"We need thicker clothing...we are heading to Snowhead in search of Maximus.." Torak explained, eyeing something that Bruno was working on.

Bruno nodded and moved over to the back of the room where there was a closet, he opened it and revealed many assassin robes which were thick enough to repel the cold, but easy to manuever in.

"Choose whichever one fits you, Icylius." Bruno said to Icylius.

Torak walked over to a nearby closet, his own private weapons and armor room.

[Faro/Blade]

Blade walked out of a tavern run by the local thieves. What Torak achieved through stalking and stabbing, Blade accomplished through rupee and connections. He looked around the street for Icylius, who he had sent to the Stock Pot to gather help.

He should've been back by now. Blade thought. He was worried, but more so for Max than Icylius. Every day was another chance for Syrus to find him, and Blade would not allow that to happen. He began walking to the Stock Pot, when he nearly tripped over something lying in the road. "Son of a-" He muttered, whirling around. "Alemine?" He gasped. Blade regained his composure and extended his hand. "Come on, I need to help me find Icylius." Hopefully dropping the boy's name would rouse her from her stupor.

[Iona]

Alemine looked up at the assassin from her place on the ground, her big black eyes shining up at Blade with kitten-like naivete. She blinked at him, as if processing what he just said. It looked as though she was sitting there for a while. "I was just sitting right here. On the ground. I got lost again," she stated solemnly, taking his hand silently. "Icylius?" Her eyes somehow got bigger and she looked around Blade hopefully.

...........................

A woman wandered up to the Stock Pot Inn door. Its hinges was placed on the outside of the doorway, indictating to an average person that the door would have to be opened outwards. A discreet little sign even requested customers to pull the door out rather than in. And yet the woman stubbornly was pushing her weight against the door, vainly trying to open it.

Her glossy raven-black hair slipped out of her head-veil, though she bore every resemblence to a Gerudo. Several golden adornments and jewels sparkled on her wrists and in her hair. Sparks somehow burst from her fingertips. The door suddenly burst open as a burly man sauntered out, successfully knocking her to the ground of which she gave an indignant grunt. She jumped up to her feet and rushed forward, thinking she would finally come in!

And the door slammed on her at the last second and she crashed right into it, sliding down the wood of the door in defeat. Iona was stared and studied the door for moments yet to come, unless a patron opened the door yet again.

[Faro/Blade]

Blade pulled her up from the ground, and chuckled at her reaction to hearing Icylius' name.

"Yes, I sent him to the inn to gather aid and supplies, but he hasn't returned." Blade explained, pausing to scan the crowd. "Come. He's probably just having difficulties with a mercenary." Blade slowly moved through the city, taking care not to move too far ahead of Alemine. As they neared the inn, he caught a familiar scent on the air. For now it was simply a light burning, but not of incense or wood, it was reminiscent of the scent of air cut by lightning, but far subtler. It was too soon to be certain, but Blade was positive he had smelled it before.

[Azrael/Iris]

Torak shut the door behind him as he entered his personal weapons and armor storage.

He walked past the various armor, blades, crossbows that were all neatly placed on racks or hooks and walked to a closet and opened it.

Inside was a pair of assassin robes that were made for the frigid weather and cold of winter and for Snowhead. (If you want a reference picture...take a gander at Ezio's robes in Revelations..not an exact copy...with some minor alterations which I will point out...right..about...now) The robes were grey with bits of fur sticking out from the pieces of armor that protected Torak's vital areas and the logo for the Assassin's of Hyrule graced the back of the robes and on the armor.

He removed the hidden blades that were on his wrist and took off his sword belt and placed them both on a nearby bench as he started to strip his old robes. He would return for these after searching for Maximus and bringing him home.

A mirror was placed in the room and Torak looked up at it, he wore no shirt and he looked at the scars of the battles he had fought.
His eyes wandered from his body up to his face, his yellow eyes looking at every detail on his body, he studied his facial hair...it seemed to have grown thicker and he gazed at the scars that adorned his eyes.

He started to place the winter robes on, after he finished with those, he placed the gauntlets and the hidden blades back in their usual spot and put his sword belt back on.
He took one last look at his face in the mirror before putting his hood back on. He turned to leave before stopping to grab a crossbow off of the wall.

"Just in case..."he muttered to himself and he exited.

"Ah..it's been a while since I've seen you in that, maestro." Bruno said, noticing the Master Assassin re-enter the room.
Torak nodded and moved over to the table to look at what Bruno was working on.

"What is this?" Torak asked, looking over the designs.

"Just something I've been working on...it's a small canon that you fire from your hand..I've also just finished a smaller model...which can be fitted into your hidden blade."Bruno answered as Torak shifted through the various blueprints.

"Really...perhaps I will give it a try sometime." Torak said, looking up at Bruno.

[Argoth/Maximus]

Icylius wandered up to closet and casually began scanning the wardrobe for an outfit. After about a minute of inspection he found something his size. It was embroidered with the assassins of hyrule insignia and as he adorned himself in it he felt a warm sensation that he was being accepted as a sort of unnoficial member of the guild. The outfit was generic in terms to what Torak had on. His was more plain.

Icylius finished clothing himself and strolled over to Torak, "Alright, I'm ready. Let's go."

[Iona]

Iona paused, as if sensing something. Her head snapped in the direction in which Blade and Alemine were travelling, and she caught sight of the tall blond haired and black eyed girl, her half-sister. Her sister. The Gerudo froze, taking a step back subconsciously, tying her head veil tightly around her to conceal her face and her hair. The door opened as yet another patron left and Iona froze, watching Alemine as she came closer. Her hand held the door open absently.

Alemine had a somewhat decent mother and she might've known the bastard that the both of them shared as a father. So Iona was a little less than enthusiastic to go greet her sister. She suddenly leapt away from the door, and fluidly seemed to slide into the adjoining alley, safe in the cover of the shadows.

.............................

Something stirred at the corner of her vision, and pulled at her senses, but Alemine didn't care. She was going to see Icylius. It didn't matter what happened; so as long as she had time to spend with him, the world could end for all she cared. Every few steps was accompained by a slight skip and she hummed to herself happily. The young girl was on cloud nine because of her feelings for the strange youth. "So where are we going that Icylius is at?" she asked Blade, blushing as she said her crush's name and attempting to hide the flush by bowing her head. A slight smile still played on her lips, though.