PART IV: A Heart of Darkness, A Soul of Light
CJ stood on the balcony of Hyrule Castle, dressed in a gray sweatshirt and jeans. He stood there, staring up into the crisp, cold night sky.
I really hate having such a clouded mind like this... He thought to himself. What did Ganondorf mean when he said my heart is dark but my soul is filled with light? CJ wondered. He said we suffer from the same curse... And that Shaylene and Stacey suffer at my hand, though I don't willingly cause their suffering... I... Maybe some rest will clear my head.
He then walked through the balcony doors into an elegant bedroom. He continued through the bedroom and across the hall into a large living room. Sitting on the couch watching TV was Stacey, dressed in a blue shirt and pajama pants. Nearby, standing near a pool table were Shaylene and Jennette. Jennette wore a light blue tank top and white sweatpants. Shaylene was garbed in a pink sweatshirt and blue pajama pants with pink cupcakes on them.
"Hey hun." Stacey said.
"Hey." CJ said. "I'm gonna head to bed. I'm tired."
"Already?" Shaylene asked. "It's so early though."
"Yeah, I know. But I'm beat." CJ said.
"Well if you can't sleep, feel free to come back in here." Jennette said. "I'm gonna need someone else to play against once I beat Shay."
"Hey!" Shaylene exclaimed. CJ just chuckled.
"Good night, girls." He said, before exiting the room and heading back across the hall to the bedroom. He climbed into bed and was soon sound asleep.
A mysterious figure stood in a small alleyway in south Castle Town, dressed in a black hoodie and jeans. Across the street from the alley was a tan three-story house. The figure's face was shrouded in darkness, and all that was visible was a pair of icy blue eyes filled with an almost evil glint. The figure reached into its pocket and clutched a golden triangular-shaped amulet. The amulet gave off a faint red aura which transferred to the figure.
Unbeknownst to themselves, the figure shed a single tear as they snapped their fingers and the red glow vanished. Across the street, in the basement of the home, a small fire broke out near the gas heating unit.
The figure clutched a small green stone, mumbled something and vanished in a flash of light. Within moments, a devastating explosion rocked the tan house as well as the neighborhood, and the house was quickly and furiously engulfed in flames.
CJ rushed down a street in East Castle Town and he soon came to a three-story tan house, fully engulfed in flames. The area was blocked off by police tape and firefighters were blasting the fierce flames with water.
"CJ!" CJ turned and saw Shaylene and Jennette standing near the crowd. Shaylene ran over and wrapped her arms around CJ, who returned the embrace and held her close. Jennette quickly walked over as well.
"Shay… I'm glad you're okay. You too, Jennette." CJ said. "Where are you parents and your brother?"
"That's the thing." Jennette said, trying to cover the fear and pain in her voice. "We're not sure."
"We went out for a walk and when we came back, the house was fully engulfed." Shaylene said, trying not to cry.
"Stay here with your sister for a second, Shay." CJ said. He walked away from the girls and over to a nearby police officer, who was working on crowd control.
"Sir, you need to stand b- Oh… Your Majesty, what can I do for you?" The officer asked.
"Do you know if anyone was inside the house when the fire started?" CJ asked. "Those two girls over there live here with their parents and older brother." He motioned to Shay and Jennette.
"How old are they?" The officer asked.
"The oldest one is 22, the younger one will be 17 next month." CJ said.
"They… may want to hear this…" The officer said, a solemn tone in his voice. CJ had a bad feeling of what was coming next. He waved the girls over.
"Where are Mom and Dad?" Shaylene asked. "And Steven? Is everyone okay?" CJ put his arm around Shaylene and pulled her close.
"When we arrived, the house was fully engulfed in flames." The officer said. "We believe the fire may have been burning for some time already… Firefighters went in to search the house. Three victims were pulled from the blaze, but I'm sorry to say…"
"No… please don't…" Jennette said, her eyes beginning to water.
"I'm sorry to inform you that all three were pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics…" The officer said.
"M-mommy… D-daddy…" Shaylene buried her face in CJ's chest and cried. CJ wrapped his arms around her, hoping to comfort her. Jennette tried to hold it together for her sister, but couldn't, and broke down in tears as well.
"Why? Why Mom and Dad? Why Steven?" Jennette sobbed. CJ extended an arm and pulled Jennette into the embrace as well, trying to do his best to comfort the girls.
CJ quickly sat up in bed, sweating and breathing heavily. He looked out the window and saw that daylight had broken. He got out of bed, got dressed, and walked across the hall to the living room, where Stacey was sitting on the couch.
"Morning hun." She said.
"Hey you." CJ said. "Where are Shay and Jennette?"
"They went down to Lake Hylia." Stacey said.
"I'm going for a walk." CJ said.
Soon, he walked along a large, crystal clear lake in the south of Hyrule. Within minutes, he noticed Shaylene and Jennette sitting on the lake's shore, dipping their feet in the water.
"Hey CJ." Shaylene said with a smile.
"Hey Shay." CJ said.
"What's up?" Shaylene asked.
"Remember my face-off with Ganondorf?" CJ asked.
"Sort of..." Shaylene said. "Didn't he say something about fighting your darkness?"
"Yes." CJ said. "He told me that he and I suffer from the same curse... The curse of Demise... The curse laid down by the Demon King himself... Centuries ago, when the Chosen Hero of the Goddess took down the Demon King, Demise swore that an incarnation of his hatred would eternally plague the descendant of the Hero and the incarnation of the goddess... In other words, Demise's curse would eternally plague the bearers of the Triforces of Courage and Wisdom."
"But... Ganondorf has plagued you, not me and Stacey." Shaylene said.
"Are you sure?" CJ questioned. "Ganondorf and I have been at war over the Triforce of Power, and that war has put stress not only on Stacey, but Saria before her... Both have had to witness the man they love go to war with a demonic man who's existed in Hyrule for centuries."
"But... Where do I fit in?" Shaylene inquired. "And what about Layla and Ryan?"
"Ryan had to watch his sister... His twin I might add, stress over watching her lover face Ganondorf." CJ said. "Layla should be obvious. Because of this war and this curse, she lost her life. As for you..."
"CJ... Why are you avoiding this part of the answer?" Shaylene asked. "H-how do I... How do I fit in to this?" Fear began to cripple her voice.
"Because of this war... Because of this curse... You have been forced to grow up faster than you should have. You've been stressed much like Stacey and Saria. You've had to watch your best friend risk his life time and time again by facing the King of Evil in battle." CJ said. "And lastly, this curse has brought a price down on you that's affected not only you, but your sister as well..."
"What do you mean?" Jennette asked.
"I'm not sure how to say this..." CJ said, as his eyes began to water. "This curse on the Triforce is the reason you girls lost your home and your family..."
"But... how?" Shaylene asked.
"Police said that the fire was caused by an explosion from a faulty gas heater." Jennette said. "Are you saying that Ganondorf caused the gas heater to explode?"
"No..." CJ said. "...I did."
CJ stood in a small alleyway in south Castle Town, dressed in a black hoodie and jeans. Across the street from the alley was a tan three-story house. His face was shrouded in darkness, and all that was visible was a pair of icy blue eyes filled with an almost evil glint. CJ reached into its pocket and clutched a golden triangular-shaped amulet. The amulet gave off a faint red aura which transferred to him.
"I... I must be... with her..." CJ mumbled, in an almost trance-like tone.
Unbeknownst to himself, CJ shed a single tear as he snapped his fingers and the red glow vanished. Across the street, in the basement of the home, a small fire broke out near the gas heating unit.
CJ reached into his pocket and clutched a small green stone.
"Farore's Wind... Set to... Hyrule Castle." He mumbled, as he vanished in a flash of light.
Within moments, a devastating explosion rocked the tan house as well as the neighborhood, and the house was quickly and furiously engulfed in flames.
CJ found himself back in Hyrule Castle. He shed the hoodie and tossed it into his closet and suddenly snapped out of his trance-like state.
He began to look around his bedroom for a box labeled "Important Memories and Stuff".
"That's what I'm looking for." He said to himself as he fished through the box and found a few pieces of paper. He looked at them one by one.
"Yeah… According to my birth certificate, I was born in Gerudo Valley…" He thought aloud. "Just like my stories said… And here's me and Saria's marriage certificate, dated Zorin 9, 1119. And here's me and Stacey's marriage certificate, dated Zorin 23, 1125… Three years after we started dating…"
It was then that CJ's phone rang.
"Hello?" CJ answered.
"CJ! Help! The house is on fire!"
"Shay?!"
"Come quick! Please!" Shaylene exclaimed from the other end. CJ could hear the panic and fear in her voice.
"I'm on my way!" CJ said.
"I'm... I'm sorry..." CJ said. "I... I used my amulet to tap into my power and used the powers of the Sage of Fire to ignite the heater and cause the explosion. I didn't even completely remember doing it until I was given a vision of it in a dream last night..."
"Why the Hell would you do something like that?!" Jennette exclaimed.
"I... I don't know... I was blinded by my desire to be with Shaylene." CJ said. "I wanted to be with her... be close to her... keep her safe... protect her..."
"So you destroyed our home?!" Jennette screamed. "How did you know that she wouldn't be in there!?"
"I'm sorry! I wish I could fix this..." CJ said, sobbing. "I watched you leave for your walk... As soon as you were gone... I... I just... I lost control... I let my heritage get the best of me... I let Demise's curse take control..."
"Don't blame that fucking curse!" Jennette shouted, slapping CJ. "That's not an excuse. I can't believe you'd do something like that! You're a sick fucking bastard!"
CJ rubbed his cheek and looked at Shaylene.
"I'm really sorry, Shay... I... I don't know what I was thinking..." CJ said. "I... I love you... I never wanted to hurt you..."
"Maybe you should have thought about that before you blew up our damn house!" Jennette snapped. Shaylene simply buried her face in her sister's shoulder and wept.
"Shay... Jennette..." CJ was unsure was to say.
"I'm beyond fucking done with you." Jennette said. She and Shaylene turned and walked away.
CJ stood there, wiping his tears.
What have I done? He asked himself. Why can't I fight these demons inside me?
Meanwhile, in the desert...
Jennette wandered the desert, Shaylene in tow.
"I can't believe he'd do something so sick!" Jennette said furiously. "What the fuck is wrong with him?"
"Jennette... Maybe we're being too hard on him..." Shaylene said.
"Are you listening to yourself?!" Jennette snapped. "He killed Mom, Dad and Steven!"
"But..." Shaylene said. "He wasn't himself..."
"Why are you defending him?" Jennette interrogated. "He's a sick bastard! He killed our family because he wants to sleep with you! Deep down, he's just a sick creep!"
"Don't say that!" Shaylene screamed. "He's a nice guy! He loves me! And... And I love him too!"
"How can you say that?" Jennette asked. "Especially after what he's done!"
"Because... I trust him..." Shaylene said. "Sis, you don't understand what he suffers from..."
"Don't start trying to defend him, Shay." Jennette said. "And don't start agreeing with him damn curse bullshit. It's just a lame excuse he's trying to use to hide the fact that he's a creep!"
"What are you going to do?" Shaylene barked. "Kill him? That would make you no better than him."
"Taking his one life isn't close enough to justice for what we've lost, Shay." Jennette said. "And don't forget... We wouldn't even be in this situation if it weren't for that fucking wish he made on that stupid Crystal Wii remote."
"Please tell me you're not going to try to take the Fused Shadows from the Twilight Realm and fight him..." Shaylene begged.
"Of course not." Jennette said. As she came to a strange crack in the wall surrounded by a magical aura. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a small bracelet. She put it on and it began to glow. "I'm going to Lorule. I'm going to claim their Triforce and use it to defeat CJ and take his kingdom for us."
"Where... Where did you get that?" Shaylene asked, referencing the bracelet.
"Don't worry about that, sis." Jennette said. "What's important is that I'm going to get us the justice we so rightfully deserve..." She placed her hand in the wall and Shaylene gasped as her sister transformed into a painting. She watched as Jennette slid along the wall and vanished into the glowing crack.
"No..." Shaylene said to herself. "I... I can't let this happen..." She dug around in her pocket until she found a small green crystal. "Farore's Wind... Teleport to... Hyrule Castle." Shaylene soon teleported into the living room of Hyrule Castle.
"Hey Shaylene." Stacey said.
"Where's CJ?" Shaylene asked.
"He went for a walk a while ago, right after asking where you and Jennette were." Stacey said.
"And he hasn't returned?" Shaylene asked.
"No... Why?" Stacey questioned. "Is something wrong?"
"Well..." Shaylene took a deep, nervous breath and began to explain what happened between Jennette and CJ.
"You're fucking kidding?!" Stacey gasped.
"I... I wish I was." Shaylene said.
"And... you're still looking for him?" Stacey wondered.
"I'm... worried about him." Shaylene said.
"How... How are you not pissed at him?" Stacey asked, completely dumbfounded. "I mean... I'm his wife and I ready to kick his ass for this..."
"Part of me wants to be." Shaylene said. "But the other part of me can't be. While I want to be upset with him, I want to protect him more."
"Protect him from Jennette?" Stacey asked.
"Yes." Shaylene said. "She's gone to Lorule... I fear she may be seeking their Triforce..."
"Oh no..." Stacey said. "Where do you think he may have gone?"
"I'm really not sure..." Shaylene said. It was then that her and Stacey's hands began to give off a glow.
"My Triforce of Courage is resonating..." Stacey realized.
"So is the Triforce of Wisdom..." Shaylene said, looking at her hand. "CJ's entering the Sacred Realm!"
"We need to go there!" Stacey said.
A short time later, Shaylene and Stacey were teleported into what appeared to be a beautiful castle courtyard, with glistening white pillars and a white stone walkway, all surrounded by perfect green grass. At the end of the walkway was an empty pedestal.
"There!" Shaylene exclaimed. CJ turned and saw the girls.
"Stacey... Shay..." He said, tears in his eyes.
"CJ, what are you doing?" Stacey asked.
"Fixing what I've done." CJ said. His hand began to glow. Stacey and Shaylene looked at their hands as the glow of the Triforce began to fade.
"CJ... Jennette's gone to Lorule!" Shaylene exclaimed.
"Shay... You... You came to warn me?" CJ asked. "Even after what I've done? You're not mad at me?"
"Of course I am." Shaylene said. "But what's done is done. And what Jennette wants to do is no better than what you did... Besides, I know you're sorry. I know you wish you hadn't done it. And I trust you enough to know that you weren't yourself when you did it. I know the curse you suffer from... What's done can't be fixed."
"No." CJ said. "It can be fixed. And it will be." He then watched as a golden portal opened before him.
"CJ!" Shaylene rushed forward as CJ stepped through the portal and it closed. "Shit!"
"What is he going to do?" Stacey asked.
"Whatever it is, he needed to take the Triforce from us." Shaylene said, holding up her bare hand.
"Oh no... What is he plotting?"
Meanwhile, CJ stood in a mysterious void, surrounded by a golden light. He looked down at his hand and dropped to his knees. Glowing brightly on his hand was the mark of the Triforce, all three pieces illuminated.
"Young CJ... What brings thee to our chamber?" A voice echoed. CJ looked up as the three golden goddesses appeared before him.
CJ remained on his knees, glanced at the Triforce on his hand, and looked back up at the goddesses.
"Oh great goddesses... I come here to atone for my sins..." CJ said. "To atone for what I've done wrong... To fix the mistakes I've made... And repair the lives I've destroyed." He then raised his hand and the Triforce appeared in front of him in a physical form. He closed his eyes, reached out, touched the Triforce, and shed a tear. "Fix the curtain of darkness I've laid on my kingdom... On my life... on the lives of my friends... Allow me to atone for my greed... My kingdom has come... Now I let it go... Reverse the wish granted to me by the Crystal Wii remote... Return me and my friends to the lives we held before Hyrule... And most importantly... Give Shaylene back her family... Her old life... Release her from the burden laid upon her by my cursed heart... And let the memories of this life be lost from the minds of my friends... But let them remain with me."
The Triforce began to give off a mighty glow, and the room filled with a bright light...
TO BE CONTINUED?