Alright, so, a few months after I published chapter 1, I remembered some key elements that I forgot to include! So, I'm rewriting the first chapter, basically. Warning: It's bloodier. But sweeter ;)
The two battered children stood there for a while, taking in everything that had just happened.
Link was covered head to toe in the cursed red liquid that was Malladus's blood. He was used to it, though. What shocked him was that Princess Zelda was as splattered in blood as he. Now that he wasn't used to.
Over the course of the two children's entire journey, there was one thing that Link was absolutely certain of: he never wanted Zelda to have to go through the same things that he did. Those horrible, terrifying, gory events that would have made even the bravest Hyrulian knight scamper away with his tail between his legs. As much as Link tried to hide his own pain and discomfort due to his nature, he couldn't deny to himself that what he'd seen should be seen by no mortal, let alone a child. And the princess no less. She should have been kept safe in the castle's secret chamber somewhere. Though he knew full well that they'd be in a lot more trouble if Zelda had stayed away from the Tower of Spirits…
Regardless, Link wanted to stand there, with Princess Zelda, her warm hand in his, forever. It was a…an almost magical feeling. One he never got when Niko or Alfonso held his hand to lead him somewhere, or whatever the circumstances were. Maybe it was because she was a girl? Do all girls give you this strangely wonderful sensation when you're near them? ...No, wait, Link's held the hand of plenty of other ladies in his short lifetime--village women leading him back to the road when he lost his bearings, young girls grabbing his hand and bringing him to play somewhere, with obnoxious laughter that he had come to relate with the term "home". How was Zelda any different? Maybe because she was a princess?...No, she seemed like any other girl Link'd seen behind that "princess" title. What was it? What?
He snapped out of his train of thought, and was forced to confront the situation at hand. Link still couldn't believe how Zelda looked. Her dainty, fragile, and…beautiful body, her very image, shattered completely by the presence of blood. Link decided that from this day forward, he would protect her from absolutely anything that even considered laying a finger on her, to keep her from reliving anything close to this nightmare.
Princess Zelda didn't even take notice to Link's racing mind. She just kept staring up at the spot in the sky where all the Lokomos had ascended to the heavens. She couldn't stop the tears running down her face.
Link noticed that he was crying to, but before he could think of anything else, he turned to the princess and burst out: "Zelda, I love you!"
The girl turned, eyes wide with surprise, and her eyes spilled no more tears.
"Uh…what?" Link asked her as he was blushed hard.
"Eh…ah, you just caught me by surprise…" Zelda answered, blushing just as much as Link now. She squeezed her eyes shut, and then opened them suddenly. "Then, let's get engaged!" she suggested hastily.
Link was taken aback by this.
"Wh-what?! Engaged? Is that even legal at our age?"
Zelda winked. "Sure it is! I am the princess, after all."
Link was absolutely thrilled behind his mask of embarrassment. "Alright then!"
For a moment, the children's sadness was completely washed away.
Suddenly, Link's vision blurred. He felt queasy, and a sharp pain shot through his left shoulder like a bullet. He felt himself begin to fall, and he had no control over his body. Zelda managed to catch him before he hit the ground, and he was surprisingly light. Her glove was soon dyed red, and she saw that the wound on his shoulder had reopened. He had apparently cut himself on one of the jagged pieces of splintering metal flying out from the exploding Demon Train.
But that wasn't all. She felt her other glove—the one clutching Links back—soak through too.
"Oh no," Zelda thought. "The wound from that time…"
…
Zelda, in her hulking Phantom body, stood on a safe zone in the doorway of a staircase. It was her and Link's third visit to the Tower of Spirits, and the floor they were on was only dimly illuminated by the torches scattered here and there. Zelda's torch sword didn't help much, either, but it made the few feet in front of them visible.
"Alright, Link. Onto the next level."
The young boy stepped out of the darkness and into the girl's view. Despite her previous opinion, the recruit uniform he wore really suited him.
Link nodded, and walked forward toward the staircase. Just then he stopped.
"Oh, wait," He breathed.
Zelda turned back to him. "What is it?" She asked, her voice echoing in the armor.
Link looked up at her and chuckled. "Heh, I forgot to check on something. I'll be right back,"
He turned, but Zelda stopped him.
"W-wait! I'll come with you,"
Link stared in surprise.
"Uh! I mean, um, you can't see in the dark, and I'm a Torch Phantom, so…"
"Oh, don't worry about that. I'll be quick, and I know my way around pretty well."
"But, uh, the Phantoms! What if they catch you?"
"It'll be alright. If one spots me, I'll just dash back here."
Zelda wasn't satisfied, but she knew Link was stubborn in his own way.
"Oh…alright."
Link nodded happily and turned.
"But--!"
The boy looked back at his companion.
"If you get hurt, I won't forgive you! Understand?"
Link stared for a second, and giggled. If Zelda wasn't looking straight at him, she would've mistaken his voice for one belonging to a small girl.
"Of course!" His voice chimed like a bell. The little hero pattered off into the darkness, leaving the princess to stand alone.
After what seemed like forever, she heard footsteps, and obnoxiously adorable panting.
"Zelda, I'm here," Link called, and the outline of his body began to show through the darkness.
Zelda sighed with relief."Thank goodness,"
Just then, a pair of glowing red eyes appeared behind Link.
The princess gasped. "Link, watch out!!" She yelled.
Link had just enough time to turn his head toward the menace. The towering Phantom that had appeared brought its tremendous blade down upon the boy. It sliced through the flesh of his back, knocking him to the floor.
"NOOO!!!" The Princess screamed. She ran over to the Phantom and, in a moment of rage, knocked it's blade into the shadows. It gasped and tried to defend itself with its undersized shield.
"There's no way that's going to work!!!" Zelda yelled and sliced it in two. The Phantom stood dazed, giving the girl an opening. She jabbed her sword into an opening between its chest plate and shoulder armor. The beast exploded in a burst of smoke.
Zelda stepped back and panted. She looked back at Link. He was lying pitifully on the floor, blood pouring from the open wound on his back. The girl kneeled down hastily.
"Link! I-It'll be alright!" she gasped. Link squirmed, and cried out in excruciating pain.
Zelda knew he was in trouble.
She scooped the boy hero up as gently as she could, and made a beeline for the central staircase of the Tower of Spirits.
…
Zelda ran out the doorway without thinking. She'd completely forgotten that the power binding her soul to the Phantom armor lost effect once they exited the dungeon. Tears streamed from Link's eyes as the Phantom carried him down several flights of stairs, and she suddenly realized what should've happened.
I'm still in control of this body? The princess thought without slowing down. Well, the spirits must be on my side!
…
"Anjean!!" Zelda cried as she burst through the doorway.
The old Lokomo rolled over. Her face filled with shock when she saw Link. "What's happened?!"
"I-it was a-a Phantom…It came up be-behind him…he couldn't get out o-of the way…and it…it…"
Anjean nodded. "I understand. Do not panic, dear. We must stay calm. Here, come with me," She rolled over to a wall on the southwest side of the tower, where the markings of the Forest Realm lined the edges. She placed a small hand on a brick in the wall, and it pushed in, revealing a doorway. She motioned for Zelda to go in first, and she did, and they both walked down a slope to a basement room. Wall-mounted candles lit the area, and Anjean motioned to a small bed, which Zelda placed Link on. Anjean came to the bed with bandages in her hands.
"A-Anjean, this place looks like…"
The woman looked up at the Phantom. "Well, where do you think I live?"
Then it came to Zelda: This was Anjean's room.
"…Link?" Anjean said softly. The boy's eyes wavered open.
Zelda stepped forward with relief/anxiety.
"Link!"
Link stared at her for a bit with sleepy eyes.
Zelda took a step back, afraid she made Link strain himself with her sudden outburst.
Link looked down solemnly, and Zelda took another step toward him.
"…Forgive me," The injured boy muttered.
Zelda blinked. "What are you talking about? For what?"
Link sighed weakly. "Y-you said…that if I…got hurt, you…wouldn't forgive me…"He struggled to force the words out, with a little smirk.
Zelda couldn't believe what she was hearing. Was Link just pulling her leg? Or was he being serious?
"O-of course I forgive you! How could you even think otherwise? Link, you'll never have to worry about…me…getting mad, or anything! I'll always be your friend." Zelda explained sincerely.
Link managed to smile at her.
Anjean closed her eyes and smiled. "Mm, alright, that's enough, you two. Link needs to rest now,"
Link and Zelda nodded.
"Oh, right," The princess agreed.
Anjean stood for a while with a smirk on her face. "…But only after I bandage him up." She looked at Zelda.
It was obvious the girl didn't have a clue as to what the Lokomo was trying to say. Umm, am I missing something? She thought, and anime-sweat-dropped.
Anjean waited for another moment, and cleared her throat. "…And I don't think Link would want you to be around for that, now would he?"
Zelda stood baffled for a moment, until it hit her. "Ah! O-Oh, uhm, y-you're right, Anjean! I-I'll just, er, wait outside! Eh—"and she scurried off, almost crashing into the wall a few times.
Link and Anjean stared after her, Anjean smiling, and Link blushing.
"Oh ho ho, that one! Preteen angst, is what it is. But I don't suppose you'd understand something like that, now, Link?" Anjean teased kindheartedly.
"Uhm, I do…" Link answered, still preoccupied with the princess's previous behavior.
Anjean had to admit that she was a bit surprised. For a boy who seemed so carefree and aloof, Link certainly was wise in some areas, for the most part. "Hmhmm, I see. Well, now, let's bandage you up."
…
After about ten minutes, Anjean rolled her Lokomo vehicle into the lobby once again, to see that Princess Zelda had lost her armor.
Zelda saw the woman, she floated over to her hastily.
"Anjean! How is he…?"
The old Lokomo closed her eyes. "Mm…he's asleep. You mustn't worry. He'll be fine with plenty of rest."
The princess smiled. "Phew, I'm glad."
"But…" The old woman started.
"Hmm? But what?" Zelda asked, a bad feeling growing in her stomach.
"…I'm afraid his condition will greatly impede the progress you make on your journey, giving Malladus more time to destroy the world around him. With your body."
Zelda held an apprehensive hand up to her mouth. "…"
Anjean lowered her head and sighed.
"But…"
The woman looked up at the ghostly figure that was the country's princess.
"Everything will turn out okay…right?"
…
Zelda huffed at the evildoers of the memory, and worked on helping Link to the Spirit Train(which was thankfully within walking distance. Anjean must have worked another one of her miracles before she departed). He was only half-conscious, so the princess had to practically drag him.
Zelda set Link on one of the padded seats in the passenger car, and made her way to the engine. Link had taught her once before how to operate the train, in case of emergency.
…
"Zelda," Link called from the engine one day. Zelda floated out in her ethereal form from the passenger car, where she often gazed out at the scenery in peace. Though in truth, she would much rather be at the conductor's side. But unfortunately, she thought she would be a bother to the boy (which was the complete opposite of the truth).
"Hmm? What is it, Link?" The translucent girl asked.
"I want to show you how to control the train,"
Zelda blinked. "Hmm? Control the train?"
"In case anything happens to me, when you get your body back." Link smiled faintly.
"Oh, but…"
Link's smile faded.
"But Link…what if I don't get my body back…?"
Link looked sympathetic, but there was a hint of lost hope in his eyes. "Zelda…you will get your body back. I'm sure of it. You have to trust me,"
The princess looked thoughtful.
"…Do you?" Link asked with a brokenhearted look in his eyes. Zelda realized that this was one of the few times that Link had actually stopped and felt bad about their journey, felt bad for himself. He was always so busy worrying about others that he usually forgot to care about his own feelings. His own heart.
Zelda felt her throat choke up with tears, and thank the spirits it didn't show on her face. She shook the feeling off, and smiled sweetly.
"Yes."
Link's face lit up with a smile so pure it would put the Virgin Mary to shame.
…
Zelda started up the engine, and set a course for Castle Town in the far northwest.
The Dark Trains had disappeared due to their master's destruction, and the animals wouldn't be back in their habitat for a while, so all Zelda had to worry about were the occasional land tanks that were manned by actual humans. There was supposedly a notorious band of brigands that had disappeared in recent years…
…
Once the train pulled into the station, Princess Zelda pulled Link out of the passenger car. He was completely unconscious now. She did her best to carry him, but unfortunately, she was too weak, and struggled greatly.
As she made her way toward the castle, some of the townspeople swooned over her presence. She didn't really care they were happy for her wellbeing, she just really wanted one to offer her some darn help.
At the castle gates, a figure practically attacked the little princess, hugging and kissing her and spouting nonsense that was spoken too fast for anyone to understand.
"Gah! T-teacher?" Zelda managed to say through all the affection.
"My princess, you're safe! Oh, you don't know how much your teacher worried about you!!"
"Ah! Teacher, enough! Link is hurt!" The princess yelled.
Teacher snapped up and looked down at the bloody mess that was the little hero. "My lord…"
Zelda looked down at her friend sadly.
"…Come then! We must hurry to the infirmary!" Teacher lifted the boy out of the princess's hands and rushed to the castle, Zelda following close behind.
She could only pray that Link would open his eyes again.
