Somewhere Over the Rainbow

Here's Chapter 10!

Enjoy :)

Too Da loo, Bounty Hunter! Hahahaha!

The voice echoed inside the mind of the young warrior. That voice. So haunting. So deadly. So familiar.

Samus couldn't place her finger on it but she knew that voice. Somewhere. A ghost perhaps? An old friend?

She focused her attention on that voice, trying not to dwell on the recent deaths of Lucas, Ness, and the beautiful Peach. She tried not to dwell on the mortal injury of Pit. She tried not to dwell on the serious whiplash that has struck the Brawlers. The fear shooting in to their hearts. The curiosity, the screams, the cries, the tears.

Walking through the marble halls,she carried the diminished crown, wrapped in blood and sweat. She displayed no emotion, staring into the souls of every Brawler she saw. Her mind blocked out the sounds but she could see the agony and despair. Who could be next? How many more will die? Who was hunting them? Why?

The questions swarming around in circles over and over in Samus's mind until she became dizzy. A blue tear fell slowly down her face.

This was why she worked alone. This was why she never wanted to be attached. She felt the feeling, the feeling of pain and loss. A feeling that she hadn't felt since her own parent's deaths. A feeling once again haunting her.

After stalking her way down through the staircase, she slowly came to a halt. She looked on as she saw a small figure fell on his knees, his white gloves covering his big, blue eyes. He was unable to keep back the tears that fell, soaking into his mighty mustache.

The mighty bounty hunter tilted her head to the left, squeezing her eyes. The agony Mario displayed became unbearable. The agony that she too had felt. However, she made a promise. A promise she intended to keep.

With a deep breath, she began to make her way over to the small hero.

"Mario." She called out softly.

Not to far away, Zelda stood near a golden doorway, witnessing the scene between Samus and Mario. She had never seen Samus comfort someone else after such a traumatic event. It was a new experience for her. She watched as Samus gently placed the fading crown into the arms of the plumber. She could see Mario's head hung, squeezing the crown to his chest. She noticed how Samus placed her arms around his shoulders for support. She thought of it as bittersweet. She could read the words off her lips: "I'm sorry" and "She loved you." She saw a new character in Samus that she hadn't seen or heard of before. She had always been known to her as the hardcore, stern, fearless bounty hunter of Metriod but now, Zelda can see the human side of her.

She peered around and saw Luigi running over to support his brother. His long, green sleeved arms wrapped around his body. The visible loss and angush.

Samus slowly turned and backed away from the two Italian brothers. She began to look up when she meet the dark blue eyes of the Hyrulean princess. They traded a heartbreaking glance before Samus walked her way over to her.

The bounty hunter gazed into Zelda's innocent eyes and asked in a soft voice, "How is he?" referring to Pit.

"H...His voice box's completely crushed. He can't talk. He can hardly breath but he's still alright for now. I don't know if he'll live or not. He's not human, without his wings,I...I don't know if he'll survive." Zelda choked on her own words.

Samus nodded in understatement, "I'm going to see him."

"Samus, he's not well. He needs to rest."

"And we need to find that woman." Samus responded.

"Woman?" Zelda asked confused. "I thought the assassin was a man."

"No, I saw her." Samus replied. "I saw her standing there, emotionless. I saw her holding Pit's wings. I heard her voice. Her laugh. We need to find that bride of Satan and we need to take her out now!"

With that said, Samus marched from the corridor into a darkened hallway.

Zelda remained in her place watching as everyone around her paced everywhere. Some in anger, others in fear. She hung her head and began to make burial arrangements for Ness, Lucas, and her dear friend, Peach.

Croak. Croak. Croak.

The stumpy green frogs hopped along the dissolving rocks and branches in the deeper swamps in the woods. An owl hooted a creepy lullaby while a swarm of old crows swished their way through the leaves and trees. A sudden snap of a twig sent the greatest packing.

Dark feet slumped in to the mud and tough waters as the assassin paraded through the woods. She coughed and wheezed as the steamy odor penetrated her nose while groups of stingy flies pelted near her face.

Within a few minutes, the assassin caught sight of her destintion. A light sparkle shimmered over her red eyes as a ray of sun light bursted through the decomposed trees, revealing the beautiful reflecting lake. From beneath her mask, the assassin smiled and sighed. This lake made the assassin feel good inside. It made her feel divine and important. It's water waves flowed like a whispering flame melting the cold hatred she kept in her heart. She wanted to bathe in the heavenly water. She wanted to drink the pure fluids. She wanted to become like the fragile lake.

Likewise, the lake brought back the memories of the evil she had done by her own hands. She looked at her hands. She looked at the blood. The blood that no one can see but her. The blood that can never be washed away. The guilt had returned once more and the reflection of the monster she had created lingered.

"AAAAAH" She screamed and fell to her knees as a sharpening pain pierced her heart. She could feel the fire returning. The evil. She once again looked into the lake. The monster. The reflection itself bothered her and she pounded her fist into the water, disrupting the gentle flow. This couldn't keep the tears from flowing down her bright face.

"You are weak."

The assassin twirled on the ground, making eye contact with the King of Evil.

"M..Master. Forgive me, I was...I was compromised." The assassin knelt on one knee, hoping for forgiveness.

Ganondorf boldly stood, grimacing at the timid villainess before.

"Yes. You seem to have a different mindset than before." Ganondorf exclaimed. "You seem afraid, forgotten, remorseful. Why do you hold such feelings for those that would not hesitant to throw you into the darkness, to toss you aside and pretend like you never existed? Those who feel you're nothing."

The assassin continued to bow her head and replied, "My lord, I...I don't feel like..." She was unable to finish.

"Feel like what?" Ganondorf asked, bluntly.

With a quick glance, she continued, "I don't feel like they're the villians. Everytime I slaughtered one of them, I saw anger, heartbreak, respect, human emotions. Before we showed up, they were happy, smiling, joyful. The Brawlers want what's best for not only themselves but for the civilians they protect. They fear nothing...until I showed up...and destroyed that piece of mind. I'm the monster. The villian. Not them." With fear, she looked into her master's eyes, awaiting her severe punishment for what she had said.

Surprisingly, Ganondorf just stared at her and sighed. He knew of the intended consequences that awaited when he made her existence known.

"You may feel the way you feel. You may hope and pray all you want. I tried to make you understand that the real villains were those towering away in that God forsaken mansion. But you just want to believe they're the heroes." Ganondorf boldly stated. "I'll allow you to continue with that mindset. You want to believe that they're the good, innocent creatures, go ahead."

The assassin was shocked to hear the words from his mouth.

"However," Ganondorf spoke deeply, "You are here living, breathing, and walking because of me. I own you so you will follow my ever order and command. You will NOT show those bastards mercy nor respect or else..." With that said, Ganondorf struck a large, wooden stake deep into the marshy mud. He leaned into her face, snatching her chin before continuing, "This stake will be your personal coffin and I'll have Bowser burn you on the spot. Do you understand me?"

She held back her tears as she slowly nodded in understanding. With a sharp force, he threw her to the ground and asked coldly, "I believe you have something for me."

"Y...yes Master." The assassin slowly slipped her way to the beautiful lake on her knees, grasping the bloody white wings of the angel she had struck down. When retreating with the wings, Ganondorf let out a devious smile. He loved to watch her misery.

On her knees, the assassin lifted the wings to him and stated, "A trophy...for you my lord."

With joy displayed on his face, the dark king calmly snatched the wings from her, stroking them. He turned his attention back to the dowdy assassin, ordering, "Now go and strick down more of them."

"Yes Master."

With a swift brush of the wind, Ganondorf disappeared into the dark woods.

There she knelt, dark, cold, and alone. Massive tremors of remorse and pain flooded her heart. Her eyes burned of the salty tears and she began sobbing. She was done. She didn't want to murder anymore. She had no choice . There was no place to go. To escape. In a flash, Ganondorf would be right on her tail to torture and burn her every will and nerve. Her sobbing intensified as dark clouds rolled over the dying sky. A flash of lightning and crashes of thunder erupted as the assassin screamed in agony.

"Why?! Help me! Naiva! Someone! Anyone. Help"

She buried her face into the mud as she was drowned by the tears of the angels. The rain falling and pouring with no comfort. No reassurance. No hope.

Well, that's chapter 10. I hope you enjoyed. :)

Things are changing with the assassin. What happens next? All will continue in chapter 11.