It was starting to be a dark and rather blood red night as I ran through the woods of the Eastern Necluda towards the sounds of these screams. My lungs burned as I ran for gods know what reason, maybe it was just desperation, maybe it was just the Blood Moon causing my blood to scream out. I always hated these Blood red nights, I always felt...uncontrollable on them. Yet now...
I didn't know what was it with this night, as monsters returned from the grave, but on this night, I I felt...emotional...like, rash. Hot blooded? Maybe it was my encounter with the Hero that caused me to act this way but…
But…
I had to run, I had to fight. That's what I felt, that's what I knew, it was the only thing clear in my head. Past my grief and past my rage, the sounds of violence grew closer as I ran as fast as I could. My muscles burned, and my coat was growing heavier with each passing second as the rain picked up. Going from a gentle shower into a fierce storm.
I ran, but I wasn't going fast enough.
I dropped my backpack.
I dropped my coat.
I dropped all the things I didn't need.
And I ran.
I don't know when, I don't know how, but the next thing I knew was that I was standing near a small group of people being assaulted by Bokoblins and Skeletons. Something was different about these monsters, their color was...odd, not red, but blue, and the numbers were higher than before. I didn't know when I drew my sword, but it was something I realized as I plunged my sword into the nearest monster. It was only the vibration and the distinct feeling of separating flesh with metal, did I come back from where I was.
I blinked once, then twice.
Then I had to duck out of the way so a club wouldn't take the upper part of my skull off.
Rolling in what could only be described in a messy and haphazard fashion, the wet grass clinging to my undershirt and skin, I came up to my knees in front of the people who were being attacked, my sword held in front of me defensively. I spared a halfward glance back to them. There were four in total, three girls, one guy. One of them looked particularly young, but that might have been due to mere appearances than actual age, the man was taller by a margin, bald, had overalls on, not to mention a long beard. The other two girls looked alike, most likely sisters, though the plain looking outfits probably gave that way, but I had no more time to analyze them in greater detail, for the battle began again.
The nearest blue Bokoblin took a swing at me, but a clumsy lunge from my blade met his swing. Only, I found that my blade, made of metal, was pushed back by his club that had a two large spikes in it. The club smashed through my guard and forced me back. Great, so not only was I outnumbered, I was also outmatched in weapons and strength.
Glancing back, I saw that the group I was "protecting" was frozen in fear and shock, "Hey!" I snarled, "Get back damn you!" I cursed.
The sisters shook their heads once and the large man picked up the small girl by the waist, who was shivering in fear. Tossing her over his shoulder, the large man began to run. One of the sisters took a step forward but was held back by the other.
"Meghyn, we need to go!" She screamed.
"But Nat-!"
"Go!" I snapped at her, feeling a mixture of ungodly anger and frustration at this girl. Here she was, denying my orders to live like a complete moron! Who did she think she was?! A little nothing that's what!
Thankfully though, her much smarter sister was there to pull that dead weight from the battlefield.
The two of them left the field as quickly as they could, scampering away, either away from me or the enemies surrounding me. It didn't matter which.
My blood boiled, and for once, I wanted to spill some.
I looked at the foes surrounding me, and I laughed, "Come on you arrogant mortals! I'll show you what despair feels like!"
I didn't bother to ask myself to ask where that came from, because I lunged forward towards a nearby Bokoblin with a shield and tried to cut off it's head in one fell swoop, thankfully, it's reflexes were slow. But, whether due to the weakness of my body or my weapon, I didn't cut through the throat like I wanted, instead, a deep cut was the reward of my efforts.
This bokoblin wasn't the one I had attacked earlier, no, that one as right behind me, readying it's attack on my flank. I can't tell if it was blood moon making me more energetic, but I felt faster, and I was fast enough to snatch the shield away from the bokoblin I just in time to block the attack.
It wasn't a very good shield, so it came as no surprise to me when it shattered on impact with his fancy club. There was a distinct crack in the air, and I couldn't tell if it was from the wood or from thunder, but either way, I stumbled back, my left arm numbed from the blow.
I grinned the despite the pain.
I didn't have time to say anything witty, because another Bokoblink this time the black one, swung down at my head. I pulled it back just in time, but a glancing blow caught me, and to make matters worse, it was on the part my skull that was already injured by the Octorocks.
I stumbled back, dazed by the blow as my vision went blurry.
Another one caught me in the side, knocking me to the ground. I swung wildly, ignoring the pain somehow as I did. I can't tell if I hit anything, but I thought I heard a cry from somewhere. Could've been me, could've been somebody else, who knew?
I rolled with the blow, and soon enough, I was on my feet, staring my foes down as they advanced on me. As the cold wind whipped, I felt a sharp pulse in my sword hand.
I grinned, and the Bokoblins stopped in their tracks, confused.
"Fools." I laughed, not caring if they understood me as I held up my sword that began to crackle with sparks, "It's called checkmate."
With a casual toss of my sword that sparked with electricity, and soon enough, lighting struck it and well, it went off like a goddamn spell. I laughed loudly as the deafening crack went off, not caring who heard as the bokolins were struck by lightning. Withering in pain and twitching like goddamn worms.
"That's right you maggots!" I laughed, pulling my bleeding arms up, "You fear the end?! I AM THE END!"
Funny thing about magic, most of the time, you needed a focus in order to use it, a fire tome, for instance, used the pages as a focus so a mage can get off a spell without injuring themselves. But, if you had the element nearby and ready, well...it'd take a great mage to do so, but here's the thing: The Yiga clan wasn't entirely incompetent, and they did teach a few useful things, like how to cast low level spells with hand signs.
Now, what was that about there being a thunderstorm and recently discharged lightning?
I grinned wildly and clapped my hands together as the lightning followed my movements.
The resulting boom was immensely satisfying.
As the lightning faded away, I laughed aloud as I watched the charred bodies of my enemies disappear into nothing, "Ha, foolish worms, is that all you can…" A flicker of movement caught my eye, "Oh? Oooh?"
Standing wearily to his feet, the black bokoblin got to his feet. He looked completely charred, but he, or rather, it, was somehow rising to it's feet.
I crackled with a mad grin as I approached, "Oohh? You're alive?" My foot hit something, glancing down, I saw the spiked club again, only this time, it was on fire.
I smirked.
Reaching down, I picked it up and held it aloft in my hands.
"Ooooh, this will do nicely."
In front of me, the Bokoblin slowly looked into my eyes, and I have to say, I didn't think I would see such fear in a monster's eyes.
But then again, who was the monster here?
The rain hadn't let up by the time I got the top of the hill as the people I "saved" crowded around each other as I approached. In fact, I think the rain might have even picked up a bit, the wind was definitely howling like a banshee now as I walked through the mud and the rain. The group was still the same as before, only now, they were in front of a gate to some dinky little village. Now, I got a much better look at them despite the dim light.
The sisters had differing outfits and hairstyles, one of them had a white and brown corset with dirty traveling pants, along with a blue scarf. All of which was drenched due to the rain, not to mention, her hair, which probably went around to chin, was soaking wet. The other, with a bowl cut, had a orange jacket with lightly colored pants, her cheeks were also kinda chubby.
The man was still the same as before, but now he had a pitchfork in his hands like it was some kind of weapon. The small girl had dark brown hair tied into a pony tail, with a grey shirt, a light undershirt, and brown pants on, out of them all, she looked the most frightened.
Needless to say, all of them were soaked to the bone.
Due to the wind, I had to wait a little bit before they could hear me as I walked towards them, but soon enough..."Well well well…here are the little piggies." I grinned, glancing at the bowl cut sister.
"You...you…" She breathed, but whatever she was going to say was lost to time as she stared at me. For a moment, I wondered why, then I remembered what I was carrying.
Namely, the broken and splintered spiked club I held in my hands.
"Oh?" I held it up casually, loose in my grip. My gaze sweeping over to it for a minute, then back to them. The rain was picking up, and it was getting harder and harder to seem necessitating the need to squint to keep.
For whatever reason, all of them jolted, and took a step back in fear.
I smiled reassuringly, "Oh? What's the matter? No kind words for your savior?" I "asked" mockingly.
None of them said anything in response, instead, they began to huddle together in fear. Of what? Of me?
...Good.
"D-demon." The young girl said.
I looked at her sharply, "What did you say?!" I snapped.
"Eep!" The girl eep'ed.
"Who do you think you are, you little nothing!" I yelled so she could hear me. Oh, okay, who did this girl think she is?! "I risked my life to save you people and this is how you thank me?! Jeez, what, you think that because I'm not some knight in shining armor you get to call me a demon? What is wrong with you? You don't even know who I am!"
"Stay away from us you monster!" One of the sisters yelled.
I threw my head back and laughed, "Monster? Oh, that's rich! Yeah, I am a monster! You want to know who I am?! I am the wings of despair! I am the breath of ruin! I am the fe-"
Whoever I was, my thought process took a sudden halt as my insides suddenly stopped. It felt when you ride a horse, then having that horse suddenly halt and rear, and you'd slam against the neck of the horse, only that was happening to my internal organs.
A rush of blood shot my throat, and I instinctively placed a hand to my mouth and coughed violently, clutching my stomach as I did. Oh gods, I didn't just feel sick, I was literally dying. How many injuries did I sustain? Broken bones...head injuries...oh gods….the rain...hypothermia...the run over as well, exhaustion was starting to set in….
I fell to my knees as my coughing worsened, soon, I was violently throwing up blood. It tasted like copper and metal as I spat out what had to be at least a good portion of my blood, and I could feel my entire body start to calm up as whatever heat I had left drained away.
My vision blurred to the point I couldn't see my own hands, and…That was it, I had nothing else to give. I let out one last indescribable sound of pain as I fell onto the ground fully, then, quite simply, I was lost.
I alone, that was the first thing I noticed in my prison, for what else could I call it? I was alone in a black, empty void, the only thing I knew for certain that was there was ground beneath me by the feeling in my feet.
I looked to my left, nothing, just an empty void.
I looked to my right, still nothing.
I looked forward and- "Oh gods!?"
In front of me was me. But devoid of anything resembling...well, mortality! Empty white eyes, eerily pale skin, white hair that a person should not have and this...aura around her that...that scared me. It was like a cold hand had reached inside of me and taken hold of my spine as this...imposter stared at me.
I moved to the left and it followed, I went to the right and it followed. Oh gods, what did this thing want?!
I couldn't take it anymore, I ran.
I ran like a dog with my tail inbetween my legs.
I ran and I ran and I ran and I ran!
But it wasn't enough.
I turned to look behind me once, and it was gone. Then I looked forwards, and it was there, right in front of me!
I stopped in my tracks, breathing heavily.
"Well? Say something!" I snapped at it. Not the smartest move, but there was nothing else I could do!
Without a word, it pointed behind me.
I followed it's finger, and before I could turn fully, I let out a sharp breath.
Then I felt a searing pain explode through my chest. My entire being went numb as I dumbly stared downwards.
A sword, double edged, was piercing straight through my chest from the back. Blood began to dribble out of my mouth as I looked at my killer.
"H-hero?" I asked, wetness filling my eyes and throat, either from blood or from tears, "W-why did you…"
I didn't get any father as the Hero pushed me forward, sending me colliding with the ground as the last of my strength faded like embers…
I watched myself fall to the ground, the blade of evil's bane sticking out of my back. My hands clasped over my mouth as I let out a wordless scream of fear. Oh gods, oh gods, what...why…
My hands felt heavier than before, more than they should. I chanced a look and found them tightly bound by chains. My legs fared no better, for around the ankles were heavy cuffs that restricted my movements to an insane degree.
"What?!" Was all I was able to get out before I was forced to my knees as the chains around my legs sank into the ground, my hands pulled painfully behind me, forcing me to prostrate myself on the ground.
"Oh gods, oh gods." My breathing became faster and faster, my lungs beginning to hurt with each passing second. Oh gods, I was hyperventilating, "Din, Farore, Nayru!" I screamed with all my might, "I need your help, please!"
But no help came.
I screamed, I screamed, I screamed with all my strength and all my being. I screamed till I couldn't scream anymore. My throat became dry, it became tight and pained. Oh gods...what was going on? Is this hell? Did I die? What did I do to deserve this?!
Soon, my screams were replaced by tears, and I sobbed. Tears streamed down my face as I cried, my nose leaking snot as I bawled and bawled, oh gods, was this my punishment? To see myself die, again and again?
"Well, it certainly seems fitting, doesn't it? A worthless little rat like you deserves such a fate."
Oh gods, "No…" I knew that voice, I knew that voice all too well…
"Oh, good, you remember my voice little one. Your mother would be most displeased if you had forgotten your father's voice now, wouldn't she?"
"Y-you're no father of mine!" I can't tell if my remark was due to desperation and pride, or if it was because I literally couldn't process any my emotions correctly while I was in this...this...hell!
"Ooh, good, that suits both of us just fine."
"WHAT DO YOU WANT?!" I yelled.
"Hm, to pass judgement? What do you think o'prince?"
Prince? Oh no…
I turned to look, and I lost the ability to breathe, "No, please no!" I pleaded, "Please just go-"
I couldn't scream anymore, for the blade that awaits me at the end came down. I could only watch, it wasn't the blade of evil's bane, but something far worse. Light cuts through the dark well enough, and that blade cut me down with no such resistance.
I stared dumbly as I watched myself fall to the ground once more.
I couldn't think, I couldn't plan, I...I just watched.
My mouth moved on it's own, but I couldn't speak, for no words could come out.
A hand fell on my shoulder, and I turned.
There was a woman beside me, older then I was by a fair margin. Taller than me too, but she had faded red hair, and reddish gold eyes with bags under them. She had tanned skin, and also wore a dark purple coat that only took a half second for me to recognize, "M-mom?"
"Hello my little bird." She said sweetly.
I threw my arms around her, not caring "Oh gods, mom!" I cried, sobbing into her shoulders, "It was so awful, you weren't there! So many people hate me! I just...I…" Whatever I was going to say next was gone as I cried, whatever or wherever I was, I didn't care. I just wanted to see my mom again! Was that too much to ask Gods?! Whatever sins I've committed, don't I at least get to see my mother again one last time?!
"There there sweetie." She said soothingly.
I hiccupped, "M-mom…" I whimpered quietly.
"I'm sorry." She said.
"I don't care!" I shouted, "I just want you back...It's been so hard…"
"I know little bird...I know." She replied, "And I'm sorry you had to go through this…"
"I just want it to end…" I cried, "Enough is enough! I just want it to end..."
She rubbed my back, "It's okay child...no one can hurt you anymore…"
I don't care if it was a dream, but that was the sweetest thing I've ever heard, I wanted to thank her for everything, and I looked into my mom's eyes.
And found a golden pair staring back at me.
I gasped.
Then I woke up.
I screamed, but there are no words for how it sounded. Hell, I don't even know if it was a scream, just a vague chortle coming from a ruined throat. I tried to open my eyes, but they felt too heavy, which would have vaguely annoyed me if I was capable of rational thought beyond "Bugagahhahuha."
By some measure of willpower, I managed to open my eyes a small bit, no more than silts, and I saw...blur. Everything was a blur, but...it was bright, I could tell that much. Shiny even. There was...movement? Yes, there was a moving blur, what else was there...I needed to move and...
Oowww, my head…
I tried to speak up, let somebody, anybody know that I was awake. But, unfortunately, all I got was: "Bugagahhahuha."
By some miracle, this actually caused somebody to be alerted to my being, because I heard the distinct noise of plates shattering. Oh dear, wasn't that bad luck? Or was that mirrors? I'm not sure…
Ooohhh...My vision is darkening again...and my body felt really hot...like, on fire hot. Not the other kind of hot that I wanted to be….
Oh, wait, somebody just grabbed my arm, I think, my sense of touch was kinda kaputt at the moment, and then...I felt something cool and nice press against my forehead. It felt like a rag...was somebody placing a damp rag on my head? That was so nice...I should thank them.
"Thakgag yyiha." I said, elegantly, to whoever was tending to me.
I didn't hear the reply, if there even was one, because I soon passed out again. Yaayyy.
The next time I woke, thankfully from a dreamless sleep, I was a little bit more...aware. That is, I could see two feet in front of me.
There wasn't much, in fact, all I was able to see was the underside of a bed, but I wasn't on the floor, just in another bed...was I in a bunk bed? I always wanted bunk beds when I was a kid…
My vision was blurry, but thankfully, my mind was a tad bit clearer, enough for me to string together a few complete sentences. My throat burned, or rather, it was incredibly dry. Breathing onto itself was hard, and most of my body felt like it had been run over by a horse.
Using my right arm, I pushed the covers back to see how banged up my body was. Glancing down at myself, I discovered that my upper torso was covered in white bandages, and my left arm was tightly wound. My head wound from before was now wrapped up cleanly, and my right leg was the only thing on me that wasn't bandaged. Weakly, I strained my vocal cords to work as I called out to whomever could hear me, "H-hello?" My voice was weak, strained, and horse. Honestly, a child would probably be louder then me at this point.
But, to my surprise: "Oh! She's awake!" A female voice called out.
Turning my head and wincing at the pain that came with the motion, I saw a young girl with black hair enter through the doorway and approach me. This was...um...I swear I saw this girl once before….
"H-hi." I said weakly, waving my good hand, "A-are you the person who helped me?" I asked.
"Oh, um…" The girl averted her eyes.
"T-thank…" I coughed violently, placing a hand to my mouth as I did. Hot spit landed in my hand, and I vaguely remembered that was a bad thing. Struggling to finish my sentence, I looked at the girl, "T-hank you." I said breathlessly, "I...I'm am…"
"Oh, um…" The girl rubbed her hands together, "You...um…"
"I'm…" I racked my brain, trying to think of something to say, "Um...who are...you?" I asked.
"You don't remember?" The girl asked.
"R-remember?" I blinked, did I know this girl? She seemed vaguely familiar….
"Well...I'm Sophie…" The girl said quietly.
I nodded in reply, "I'm...um...Ro."
"Ro?" Sophie tilted her head, "Is that a nickname?"
"...Yeah." I nodded after a moment.
"Oh."
There was an awkward silence between us. Sophie opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out, and I was no better.
The two of stared at each other for a moment, then, slowly, something dawned on me, "Am...am I in your bed?"
She shook her head, "No, that's...wait, hold on!"
She said that particular phrase because as she began to speak, I, bravely, tried to get out of bed, but I underestimated just how messed my body was, because I soon found myself face first on the floor in an undignified heap.
"Ow…" I said, weakly.
Sophie, to her credit, didn't laugh or make a face. I think. I dunno, I couldn't see her facial expression.
Author's Notes: Thanks to everybody who favorited this story, and please, leave a review! Even if it's only two words, every little bit helps!
