Settling Scores

[Strazio Rockwell]

With food and drink in his belly Strazio felt more confident in the desert town. The people of the nameless town wandered about each with their own purpose, taking no mind to the prime. He had taken his white cloak off in the early stages of the Abyss and figured few people would recognize him so long as he wore it. That was fine by him, the last thing he needed was to be slowed down by people wanting to rub elbows with him. No, he was on the hunt for a certain red-haired king. Still finding someone that he hardly knew in a foreign town would be no easy feat. Hell, it was even optimistic to think that Ganondorf would be there, but Strazio had to start from somewhere.

The town itself was a melting pot of various nomads and renegades of society. Merchants and shady characters lined the dusty streets and offered their discounted and exotic wares to anyone foolish enough to burn Omnilium on them. The key to hunting someone is finding a trail and he hoped that someone would be able to point him in the right direction. Carefully and methodically he made friends with various merchants, feigning interest in their exotic tapestries and rare trinkets. Every single shopkeeper tried to pry Strazio from his Omnilium, but he kept his wits about him and tried to pry back for information. Several merchants knew of the Gerudo king, but none of them could provide any useful information.

Perhaps it was the heat or the aggressive salesmen, but after several attempts Strazio quickly became disheartened. This town is nothing but vultures Strazio mused, taking a break from his search and finding a seat on a stack of boxes. Nearby he noticed a grizzled older man, resting against the same building that Strazio was leaned against. The man had several days worth of stubble and wore a black and red cloak. However, his most noticeable quality was his arm, or rather the lack of one. His right arm was missing from the elbow down, with a simple bandage wrapped around the stump. Figuring he had nothing to lose Strazio looked over to him and spoke.

“Hey there, couldn’t help but notice your arm” the mage spoke matter-of-factley.

The older gentleman chuckled “hell of a greeting, what d’ya want?” His voice was rough and sounded like he had sand in his throat.

“Sorry for being so blunt... Just trying to make conversation is all. I’m not from around here...” Strazio began to trail off and stare into the distance.

“You didn’t have to tell me, you definitely look out of place.”

Strazio shrugged and motioned towards his new found acquaintance “you don’t look like you belong here either.” It was true, the crimson and black cloak was a stark contrast to the average citizen’s tan or brown outfit. However it was worn and faded presumably by the assault of the whips of windy-sand.

“Yeah, I suppose. Name’s Isaac.”

“Strazio Rockwell, pleasure to meet you.” After their introduction a pregnant pause filled the air. Isaac’s demeanor had changed, he seemed to be more on guard and focused than before. Before Strazio could break the silence his friend did it for him.

“So you’re one of those bloodthirsty Abyss fighters?” a slight hint of venom slipped from his lips.

The question caught Strazio off guard and he stumbled to think of a reply. This was the first time his new-found fame had brought apparent ire.

Isaac continued “I’ve seen more than my fair share of carnage” he moved his stump to punctuate his point. The red-cloaked man continued his quite tirade “but, that contest made me sick to my gut. To spill blood for the sake of entertainment is nothing short of barbaric.”

A small spark of white energy crackled across Strazio’s clenched fist. Slowly and with a subtle anger he responded “I didn’t fight for the sake of fighting. I fought for the people of Darkshire”

“However you justify it, whatever you tell me. At the end of the day you fought in a needless contest of carnage.”

“How dare you” Strazio’s anger sparked and forced his voice to tremble “I fought so that I could save the people of Darkshire. They live in a constant state of fear and oppression and you’re going to condemn me for fighting in their name? Yeah, blood was spilled and there was carnage for the sake of carnage, but if that is the cost of their freedom than I will gladly pay it.” His fervor surprised even him, it had been a long time since he felt a purpose beyond hunting Damien. Isaac stood silent, keeping his thousand yard stare.

“I still don’t agree with it, but it is refreshing to find a prime who isn’t only out to serve himself. Tell me, if you’re out to serve Darkshire, what brings you here?”

Just like that the situation was seemingly diffused. A few residual sparks of energy danced across Strazio’s flesh, but he felt strangely relieved. “I’m here to find someone, a contestant actually. His name is Ganondorf, he’s tall with red-hair.”

“The one that broke your arm?”

“Yeah, you know for someone so against the contest you seem to know quite a bit about it.”

Isaac shrugged “so are you planning on hunting him down for kicking your ass in the Abyss?”

“No” Strazio lied.

“You’re a bad liar. Why would you feel any ill-will towards him? You knew why you two were there, why are you upset at him for playing the game?”

A good question, one that Strazio didn’t have an answer for. He hadn’t realized that his disdain for the Gerudo was relatively unjustified. The Defender felt embarrassed by this epiphany, but refused to show it.

“He invited me out here, you wouldn’t happen to know where he’s at would you?”

Isaac scoffed at Strazio’s request. “Why should I help you with your petty revenge fantasy?”

“You’ve got me wrong Isaac. I have no desire to hunt him down... I need allies, and the primes who participated in the Abyss would make a perfect team to kill Dracula and free Darkshire.” He lied again, trying to justify his hunt for Ganon. For a few moments the two were again silent, Isaac’s sharp eyes studied Strazio. Those sharp blue eyes cut through the prime and laid his soul bare.

“Very well, I saw him heading towards the sheriff’s office a few streets over... I’m only telling you this because I think you honestly have a good heart. Don’t prove me wrong Strazio.”

The Defender thanked Isaac for the information and promised him that he had not made a mistake. He said his goodbyes and left at a quick pace. It was destiny, or at least a ridiculous stroke of luck that Strazio had ran into Isaac. Still, it made him reconsider his actions. Perhaps he had been guided by rage for so long that he knew nothing other than conflict. Even now he knew not why he was so deadset on finding Ganondorf. Would he really attack the red-haired king just because he had been smacked around by Ganon in the Abyss? The crisis of conscious was silenced when he saw his mark. Red-haired and tall the Gerudo King had yet to notice the White-cloaked Defender. Quickly and with purpose Strazio half-ran to catch up with Ganondorf. The two were merely a few feet apart before Strazio made himself known.

“Hey! You, Ganondorf!” he exclaimed, catching the Gerudo King’s attention.