Showdown

[Iona]

The embarrassed girl finally looked up from under her bangs once everything settled down. She felt the eyes of the entire bar on her and she hated it, resented every gaze. Fixing her black eyes on the fat man darkl, her eyes blazed as she clenched her fists, her vision blurring with tears. She began to focus on his fat, putty-like face, on those beady pig-like eyes, and not realizing it, was putting forth energy on him. The greasy, vulgar man smirked at her and her face twitched.

The fat man was suddenly thrown from his stool and against the wall by a gale-force wind, effortlessly throwing him about with ease. He crashed onto the ground limply, like a rag doll, and Alemine made for the door. "Let's go," was all she told Icylius dully, slowly coming to the doors and leaving the place in astonished silence.

Iona nodded to Blade, throwing the doors to the bar an uncertain glance before quickly walking away from them without Blade, as if she could sense her half-sister's presence about to merge from the bar. She disappeared into the crowd, still expecting the young assassin to follow her. The Gerudo was clearly troubled, but unlike most things, was unwilling to confront it.

[Faro/Blade]

Blade followed Iona, becoming increasingly conflicted between his desire to speak with her, and the need to continue the search for Max. He stood still for a moment as the turmoil resolved itself. His mind made up, he followed Iona into the crowd.

"I understand this difficult for you. I still want to talk, but we must keep it short." Blade said. "What about your sister frightens you? She is very much like you, always getting lost in crowds."

[Argoth/Maximus]

There was a loud wooshing sound followed by a slight pop and Maximus snapped back into reality along with Syrus and his companions. His vision was slightly blurred and he oddly felt like vomitting. He was laying on the ground, and when his eyesight returned he noticed another figure laying next to him. The next thing the young boy knew an enormous hand wrenched at the collar of his shirt; yanking him off the ground. He dangled in front of the massive goron Thom, whose expression was so vague it could almost be mistaken for a smile. Syrus stood next to him and his expression was clear as day; a smile so evil it could have put off Ganondorf.
"You know Max, you should really make up your mind. First you despise the notion of joining me, now you are grabbing at my ankles just to follow me. You really needn't be so aggressive, all you had to do was ask to come along. Hahahaha," the psychopathic laughter reverberated off the walls, and Max had concluded they were in some sort of cave, "Well isn't this a surprise, look Max, your friend Mathayus decided to join you," he continued glancing in the ninja's direction, "Hm hm hm, why don't you say hello?" Maximus peered over at Mathayus as best he could from his current position. Why the hell is he here? How did he find me? Max thought.

Mathayus was propped up on his kness, glaring hard at Syrus. Auria stood next to him with her arms crossed over her chest; her shadows binding Mathayus to the floor. Syrus leaned over, placing himself directly in front of the ninja's face. "Would you like to know where she is? he spoke soflty and each word held a subtle yet overwhelming maliciousness, "Hm hm hm, I bet you would wouldn't you? But not yet, the best of tonights performance has yet to come." Mathayus didn't say a word, holding his composure like a true ninja should. He definitely had complete reign over his emotions, Max noticed.

Syrus straightened himself out again and turned to Thom, "Toss the boy next to him. Auria, you know what to do. I think it's time I gather our party guests," Syrus grinned as he finished, every aspect of which emanated pure hatred. The next thing Maximus knew Syrus was gone.

-------------------------------------------------------

Icylius smiled slightly as he witnessed the fat man slam against the nearby wall and turned to follow Alemine out. But right before he reached the doors an all too familiar voice bellowed out from atop the bar. "So this is where you "Heroes" like to come and waste your lives away, hm hm, interesting," Syrus mocked. Icylius whipped around immediately raising his arms to fling some major kinetic power around. "Ha! You never cease to amuse me Icylius, but keep your power concealed for now. I am not looking for a fight....yet." Icylius powered down, realizing that if he had exploded just then he might have killed many more people than just Syrus. "Where is he!?" Icylius thundered.

"Ah ah, all in good time Icylius. Gather your friends, we have much to discuss. I can see that some of them are already here. Torak, Alemine, why don't you come over here with Icylius so that we may have a little chat."

[Azrael/Iris]

As Syrus said his name, the man Torak was tracking down turned around and found the Master Assassin in the same building. His eyes widened with fear and he went bolting out the door.

"Merda..."Torak muttered underneath his breath and turned around to face Syrus.

"What is your reason for showing up here, Syrus?" Torak coldly asked, staring down the man.

[Kadina]

Kadina sat at a table inside the bar gobbling down bowl after bowl of finely brewed lobster chowder. Her manners absent, her pockets empty, and her face bright with content and satisfaction. Her only worry in the world was Max, and to retrieve him, she had been on quite the quest that only a bottomless bowl of lobster chowder could revive.

After Max's disappearance in the Lost Woods, she had mounted Kitty and begun her search across Hyrule. The running mailman informed her that he had seen Max head toward Termina. She hated Termina. Every region of that Godless place was murderous. But she couldn't complain entirely. Admittedly, she enjoyed the challenge of surviving it's poisonous swamps, frigid mountains, untamed ocean coast, and it's haunted canyon. However, at a time like this, they were trials and irritating distractions that only slowed her progression of finding Max.

After recently cutting through the swamp flora, getting lost in the woods, and threatening a few obnoxious monkeys, she had returned to Clock Town for rest and supplies before hitting the mountains. Knowing exactly where to find a thick fur coat, she broke into the ever-so-snooty Madame Aroma's room where she was sure to find a plethora of stylish coats in the various pelts of wolfos and keatons. Finding a nice fur cloak, she stealthily launched herself through the open window and onto the roof of the Stock Pot Inn, but not before pocketing a few fabulous earrings and other fine jewelry. She had then stayed the night at the inn, the stolen jewelry as payment for her room, and had just awoken with an implacable hunger. The Stock Pot Inn's infamous bottomless soup specials were her favorite. She ate like the bandit she was raised to be, her stomach like that of a bear.

After concluding her meal with a blustering belch, the waitress stopped by to leave her the check. It wasn't much, but Kadina was broke and rarely paid for things anyway. It just wouldn't be in character for her to produce the asking sum. There was no walking out this time around, and she'd be damned if she washed dishes in place of payment while Max was out in the cruel world to deal with his problems alone.

Nearby, a group of ragged men sat at a table arm wrestling for rupees. Whether she would lose or not was not the question, but could she distract them?

As one of the largest men in the gathering scooped up his winnings and the loser sulked away, Kadina sat down across from the burly man and readied her arm upon the table. The men sitting around the table were speechless before bursting into a cacophonous laughter that erupted from the guts of their fat bellies. She watched deviously as they bounced atrociously in their seats before realizing she was serious.
He dumped his rupees out beside Kadina's confidently placed elbow.
"What've ya got?"
"This." Kadina had rolled the tiny check into a scroll and held it up. "A treasure map."
The man snatched for the scroll but her reflexes were prime to his own. Would he decline if he couldn't see the map? Surely he could see that he had nothing to lose. And could he not tell by her face paint that she was a highly ranked bandit, that her profession was treasure?

"Alright then..." He chuckled and the rest of the men joined in to laugh at Kadina. He threw his arm in place. His elbow banged loudly against the table top. The rupees jingled as the vibrations shifted them in their place. He smirked and grabbed a hold of her hand, crushing her fingers between his. His arm was twice the size of hers, but she refused to be underestimated. A man beside Kadina did the countdown and slapped the table for them to begin. At first, both strengths evened out and did not move, but Kadina began to falter. Slowly her arm bent backward. A few of the men were shocked she had lasted this long. Suddenly, at a 45 degree angle, their strengths were matched again and remained statically in place. To anyone who knew the game, this indicated that Kadina was momentarily stronger, for he had the upper hand but was not in motion. Suddenly she gave in and her hand smashed against the table bruising her knuckles. "Dammit!" She yelled out in part frustration, part pain. After massaging her hand, she stood up. "It's all yours." She tossed him the scroll and began to walk away. The man opened the scroll. Before he could threaten Kadina, the waitress was standing beside him ready to collect the money. His face turned red with anger, Kadina was walking faster toward the exit. "Hey!" He yelled. Just then, there was an outbreak at the bar. A man came flying past Kadina by a gust of wind and knocked the arm wrestler off his feet. It was perfect! As Kadina rushed out of the bar, she noticed the familiar faces of Alemine and Icylius. "Come on! Let's find Max!" Kadina was ecstatic as she pranced toward the exit with Alemine dragging Icylius behind her. She pocketed a few rupees that she had stolen from the man beside her while all eyes were on her other hand. Deciding that she had stirred up enough trouble for a few days, she was ready to hit the mountains. And then Syrus appeared...

[Iona]

Iona turned back to Blade, shaking her head. She paused, stared at her hands and wrung them nervously. She ignored the people walking past them, and shoved her hair from her face. The Gerudo looked increasingly vulnerable and shy, more like Alemine than her true self. "I don't think you'd understand. Alemine and I have never seen each other before and never met and its...just complicated. I knew a made a mistake showing up here when she was here as well. I'm going to continue searching for that Syrus man," she stated, nervously fingering the huge crimson garnet pendant at her throat.

Here, it was apparent that Iona wasn't what she appeared. As she spoke, she was spoke with the conviction of a person by far more intelligent than she appeared, or acted. The troubled black haired Gerudo came closer to Blade, talking in a near whisper. "I'm not supposed to say in the least, but..." she looked around nervously, "But the Gerudo are separated. Those that follow Ganon and those that oppose him strongly. Seiji, my mentor was the leader and a strong advocate against Ganon. My mother was among the best Gerudo but was for him...in all, when I was born, I was meant to help bring about his end." She leaned back, studying Blade's face to read his expression. Hesitating only slightly, she placed both of her hands on his arms, leaning in closer, all too aware of the slender form on the opposite roof, holding a crossbow pointed down on her. Iona's bright brown eyes focused on the sniper as if daring her to shoot...

"I've never been out of the Fortress. But I've come to trust you and Azrael. Azrael wasn't here but partially my reason of being here was to inform him that the Gerudo were going to make their move on Ganon. Soon. Even now, I am followed by both parts of the Gerudo, of the Legion, yes I too know of them, and possibly by Ganon. So I can't just be with Alemine now, not with all of this going on," Iona spoke rapidly, almost incoherently, never taking her eyes off of the sniper. But then she stared into Blade's eyes.

"I need a favor from you. I'm leaving soon. Out of the continent, to find my parents. To get away from all of this. Inform Azrael, tell him I have a message. And I was never here...!" she broke off with a grunt as there was a sharp, clear whistle near them. She pushed Blade away with surprising force and burst away from him, taking off from the panicking crowd. A large bolt was stuck fast in the cobblestone, a piece of Iona's shirt stuck in it, stained slightly by blood. If the young assassin had looked up, he would've seen the cruel, cold gaze of an all too familiar Gerudo glaring down at him, her golden eyes glinting with hate. Dashti calmly walked away from the edge of the roof, just as Iona was long since gone from sight.

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

Alemine, more than bewildered, paused, and was utterly confused. She had previously been enraged upon seeing Syrus who had so monstrously taken and ruined her Max. The Mycenlaean girl had been forming up energy to slice him in ribbons when she caught sight of Kadina. Then she stopped, glaring at Syrus, shaking and her eyes welling with tears of rage. She remembered all too well the day she had fought so hard to kill him. Looking around for Icylius and Torak, she waited, promising herself she'd have her time to destroy him.

[Faro/Blade]

Blade twisted his body in midair, and performed a handspring. He whirled around, but the assassin was already gone. Blade grabbed the bolt and approached a group of dirty men standing in a nearby alleyway.

"Take this to your leader, and tell him to deliver it to Sensaki." Blade explained.

"What was that about, who were those women?" The thief asked.

"Deliver the bolt discreetly, and you won't need to know." Blade quickly made his way back to the Stock Pot. "This day has gone from bad to worse." He muttered, thrusting open the door. Several scents bombarded his sensitive nose before his eyes knew what they were seeing. There were familiar ones, Icylius and Torak chief among them, as well as strange ones: including the patrons, one of whom suffering from what could only be described as a debilitating fondness for lobster chowder. Everyone in the tavern however, was focused on one man: Syrus.

"Oh, goddesses no." Blade whispered to himself.

[Argoth/Maximus]

The tension in the room was palpable and Syrus was enjoying every second of it. He inhaled delightedly through his nose and clapped his hands together, "Well, I'm glad you all could make it. I have so much to tell you." Syrus took it upon himself to begin pacing the bar top, kicking peoples drinks into their faces or laps. Some of the more intoxicated patrons attempted to retaliate but were utterly shot down by Syrus. Others that were more cognizant hurriedly exited the inn. Syrus chuckled to himself before continuing, "I think you'll all be very pleased to hear that I have custody of Max once again. He's such an interesting boy, but I feel his uses are ending. So before I kill him you all might want to get your last goodbyes in. Oh yes, you will be seeing him. I have arranged a little get together for us all to get a little more....acquainted." As Syrus neared the end of the bar he pivoted, slammed his boot into the face of a man sleeping upright in his stool, and continued pacing across the bar. The man jettisoned backward and cracked the back of his head on the side of the table behind him. He didn't get up. "Now I don't know how many of you know the infamous Mathayus but I have him too, and his pretty little daughter." Syrus leaned over toward his audience lowering his voice to a mere whisper, "Pssst, he thinks I'm using her to replace Max, hm hm hahaha, boy is he wrong. Truth is I only took her to mess with him. But shhhhh, keep this between us okay. Hahahaha. Ohhh aren't I just the best?"

Syrus straightened himself out and stopped in the middle of the bar, "Okay, time to get serious. We have much to do tonight. Here is where you all will be meeting me." Syrus reached into his cloak and withdrew a letter. He tossed it to Icylius and grinned, "Don't worry kid, I won't kill him until you get there, that's when the real fun begins. Well I'll see you there, don't be late." Syrus gave a more than creepy wink to everyone and vanished.

Icylius scowled and ripped the note open, "I know where this is. Come on, let's go."

[Azrael/Iris]

Torak kept silent the whole time, his yellow eyes staring coldly at Syrus. He was getting irritated with this man...he has been a thorn in the side of the Assassins for too long.

"Then let us be off and swiftly end this bastardo before he can end Argoth's prodigy." Torak said, clamly walking to where Icylius stood with the note in his hand.

[Faro/Blade]

"This trap is so blatant, he didn't even bother trying to hide it." Blade said, placing his hands on his hips and shaking his head. "I guess I should be grateful that he didn't insult us." Blade approached the others. "Let's go." He said, sounding uncharacteristically rash.

[Azrael/Iris]

"We shall think of a strategy on the way there. Blade and I shall get horses for our group. We will meet you outside of the southern gate." Torak said, he slapped Blade on the shoulder and moved swiftly towards the door. Various bar members moved swiftly aside as his hood slightly revealed his wolf-like eyes.

Torak smiled. He knew his eyes struck fear and uncertainty into the hearts of those who gazed upon them.

[Faro/Blade]

Blade followed Torak out of the bar as his eyes scared away the other patrons. Once they were out, Blade briefly considered telling Torak about what happened with Iona, but decided against it. She was easily lost, and that made her unpredictable. She would be able to hide for a while. Sensaki could follow the bolt until they had something definitive. All Blade had to do was survive whatever Syrus had in store for them, then find Azrael.

[Azrael/Iris]

Torak shoved his way through the crowd, they needed to get to the stables as quickly as possible.
"If I remember correctly...the owner of the stables owes us one." Torak said to Blade as the Clock Town stables came into view and where there were less people.

The Master Assassin looked at the stables for a few seconds before starting off towards it.

[Faro/Blade]

"Yeah, hard to believe we went through all that for a batch of free horses, one-time only." Blade said. "Certainly came in handy, that's for sure." Blade approached the stable owner, but stopped short. "Wait. How many horses do we need?" He asked. "There's the four of us, but there was a bandit woman in the bar. High-ranked too. Should we get an extra horse?"

[Azrael/Iris]

"Get five to be safe. If we have no need of the fifth horse...we'll bring it back to our stables." Torak replied, keeping an eye out for anyone wishing to do them harm.

A group of guards walked past them, but shyed away as their eyes met Torak's and quickly ran across to the safety of the other side of the street.