Senshi of Light – Chapter 10: Lupine
Enjoy!
Usagi grinned as she watched Link get hugged and checked by Reika. She was sobbing over the poor boy. Usagi could guess that Midna was enjoying this, also.
Then, Motoki was just watching with an amused expression. But, now that she really looked at him, he did look like Motoki from Juuban. The golden-orange hair, the brown eyes, and his kind personality. Oh, now how she wished the others were there.
"Alright, Reika. Calm down, now. The boy is fine."
"But- Motoki! You have to have been worried about Linkie!"
Motoki lighted lightly, "I was Reika. But, he's not a little child any more. He is able to take care of himself. Besides," his kind brown eyes looked towards Usagi, "I think that he has someone taking good care of him."
The blonde smiled lightly at the man who nodded in return.
"But, Link sweetie, just tell me what happened when you and Illia were captured," Reika cooed.
"Well…"
"We were captured. They took me from my cell before Link's and I escaped through a portal. I think he used the same method to escape," Usagi replied quickly, somewhat unsure of how she was so quick and confident.
A slow nod came from the blonde hero, "Yeah. But, really, it was just luck. The capturers were just foolish enough to let the same thing happen twice."
Well, he was quick to catch on.
"Well, I'm glad you're safe. Both of you. I swear, why must they have chosen here to attack?"
"Reika…" if only she knew how those words fit with her last life.
"But, Link. You seem a bit… anxious to get going. What's the matter?"
"Well… I think I'd like to go and travel to Castle Town," he replied on the spot.
Well, in a way it wasn't a lie. So, that was good.
"Oh, but Link! You've just come back! And not to mention, you might get attacked! Maybe even killed!" the mother babbled.
Well, that was ever so slightly true.
"Don't worry, Reika! I'll be with him!" Usagi piped in.
"Oh, no! Usagi! I don't think it would be a good idea for you!" she exclaimed.
"I can defend myself!"
"With what?" the woman asked, a bit close to hysteria.
"A sword. I'm good with it!" the blonde replied.
"Show me! Motoki! Spar with her!"
The man sighed, half exasperated and half amused, "But, we don't have an extra sword."
Usagi huffed, "I have my own!"
She knew she had put the sword in her subspace pocket at some time. She must have done it unconsciously. However, she could sense the blade in there.
She felt Link tap his finger on her shoulder and hissed at him, "What?"
"Usagi, be really careful. Motoki could, easily, defeat me."
"Well, you've gotten better. You can defeat him now, most likely," she replied easily.
"No. Usagi, he used to be a Hyrulean knight. He knows his stuff well!"
"Well, I do too! C'mon, Motoki! Let me prove to Reika that I can take care of myself!" she begged.
"Fine, fine! But, don't get mad at me when I hurt you," he joked the last part.
"Come on!"
She ran outside, dragging her green clothed friend along. She then turned to him and smiled when they were outside.
With her hands behind her, she summoned her sword and grinned at Link, "Don't worry! I'll live! It's not like I'm asking for a death wish!"
"I know. But, if he does start to tell you are good, then he'll start to get real with his fighting, and trust me, that is not good!"
"Yeah, yeah, hero!" she elbowed him playfully and grinned, "Even if he wins, its not like Reika can keep me in Ordon forever. Easily, I could fly out of here."
"Wait, you can fly?" the hero asked, surprised.
"Yes I can, actually."
"Since when?"
"Since the temple, doofus! I flew over that big, large, gaping trench! Remember?"
The green clothed hero was silent for a good time before slowly replying, "Touché…"
Usagi grinned victoriously and held up the sword that looked quite heavy but felt light to her.
"When did you get that sword back? You threw it aside when we were fighting those bokoblins and… uh… that guy came and attacked…" he was clueless about that strange event.
"Oh… I think I was tired when I retrieved my sword so I don't remember," she replied calmly.
Link nodded slowly, "So… what is your past exactly? I really haven't heard it detailed."
The playfulness in Usagi's eyes left as her face turned soft and her eyes became relaxed, "Not… now… Later, though, when no one is around."
He accepted this and then turned to face the opening door and saw Motoki holding his small, light sword that was made for real sword fighting.
Link watched Motoki stroll over to Usagi and speak softly with her. He kept speaking and she was nodding and grinning, quite honestly, goofily. His eyes drifted from the talking pair and saw Reika exit from the house with her hands clasped together, probably hoping that Usagi wouldn't win.
The green clothed boy walked over to her and started to chat friendly with her.
"Reika, why do you not Usagi to fight? I mean, I'll be with her and she's honestly a really good fighter."
The woman looked at him in a slightly sad way with a tinge on confusion yet she replied, "I'm not personally sure, but, I have a strange feeling about Usagi. I feel like that I have to protect her no matter what. It's strange. I just feel like there's a small connection even though we have just met."
A slow nod signaled that the boy understood most of what she said, "Sorry for asking. I'm just… curious a bit. I mean, you seem really upset."
"Link, there's no real need for apologies. I'm just fine. I just feel really worried for her."
"Not me?" he asked, slightly smiling lightly.
"W-Well, no! You're just more capable of protecting yourself!" she panicked
"Reika, Usagi is no less capable of that then me. If anything, she's probably better. Just not with a sword alone."
She bit her bottom lip slightly, a bit disgruntled by the way he talked. Yet, she was interrupted by the clank of metal against metal. The two looked over to the loud noise and saw that the two had started to duel.
They fought nicely, in a sense, before they started to become more involved. At this point, Link knew that Usagi would start to have tougher time.
His lips were pursed throughout the whole battle. They each went in fir stabs and the other either blocked or avoided it. Then sometimes they started to go for the other with a jab. Then they tried a slash and at that point, Link realized something that, even Usagi, didn't know.
Motoki was fighting for real.
He wasn't trying to take a small hit or disarm her. He was actually trying to kill her.
"Link," a voice whispered, "You need to do something!" it was Midna.
He scrunched his nose in worry and he was unsure. It would be hard. If he went head-first, he'd probably come out with more then just a scratch. If he randomly swung with his sword, he'd hit Usagi and Hotaru would most likely strangle him just hurting her, accidentally or not. If he yelled, there'd be a slight chance that Usagi'd get hit while trying to hear him, but, Motoki would, also. Except, if he timed it well, then he could intercept by swinging his own sword.
He shook his head, making up his decision, and he unsheathed his sword, then he screamed at the dueling pair, "Usagi! Duck down!"
The blonde looked at him and Motoki, as he planned, and he dashed in and hit Motoki by the hilt of his sword.
Reika, he lightly noted, gasped and Usagi looked at him, her eyes clouded in confusion. His gaze turned back to the knock out man who was getting back up quickly, meaning that he was still possessed. Stowing his sword away, the hylian lowered down and held the older man's arms behind his back.
"Link!" Reika gaped, "What are you doing to my husband?"
"He's possessed! He's trying to kill Usagi!"
Link looked his friend and saw a small signal of recognition in a painful sort of way. She walked up to Motoki, dropping her sword, and lowered to the other ground level and raised his face to see his menacing eyes.
She pursed her lips and sighed. She spoke so softly that he couldn't tell and she rested his head down.
"I iknowi who's possessing him. Even if its someone else, the energy is still the same," she finally said, her eyes filled with pain and hands on her thighs.
"Usagi," his tight grip loosened and that is where he slipped.
The possessed Motoki ripped from his grasp and he drew the sword that rested on his back. With a swift movement, he turned to Usagi and deeply scarred her midsection.
The blonde girl hissed at the sudden pain and lowered herself to the ground.
Link quickly jumped at Motoki and, painfully, held the sharpened edge of the sword. He pulled it out, his hand severely bleeding, and threw it aside. He then tackled the bewitched man and put pressure into his elbows that sunk in painfully.
Motoki spoke, his voice strange and ghostly sounding, "Sailor Moon," a gasp from Reika erupted from her, "You'd better watch your back. The seven shadows are back and shall hunt you. And when they find you," and spine chilling chuckle errupted from the man, "They will bring you back and I will find anyway to kill you, slowly, painfully, and in any other agonizing pain. I may even let you watch your friends die."
A mad laugh came from the man and then he collapsed.
The green clothed boy slid off and ran over to Usagi who seemed to be in pain but showed no blood. He knelt down and saw that her arms, hands, and stomach were covered in a silvery liquid-like substance.
Then it hit him. The silver was her blood. He turned back to Reika who just stood there. A sickly white and her hands clasped at her mouth. She was frozen. From the scene that was presented to her. She'd be no help.
"Usagi. Are you alright?"
She shook in pain but replied just above a whisper, "Y-Yes. Just… I need to rest."
"Why do you have silver blood?"
"Immortal blood. I can't die, truly, unless it is by some powerful magic. I won't die easily. But, Link," she looked at him, the two blues meeting, one worried and one pained, "Let me rest at your home. Then you need to go to Kakariko. I wouldn't have been able to go anyways. Hotaru's there."
Link frowned at those few spoken words. Just let her rest at his house while he goes on? It felt, personally, a bit like abandoning a comrade in a fight. Or, even, losing one.
"Usagi, why don't you want to go?" he asked softly.
She let out a shaky sigh, "I'd like to, however, if Hotaru finds me, she'll send me straight back here and use her powers to lock me in this area. Same with Luna."
The hero frowned lightly, a bit annoyed by the fact that her friends had so much power then him. In a way, it frustrated him. He couldn't help his, for the most part, only friend because her's were too protective and powerful.
He felt a bit rotten about that.
Then, he sighed and then spoke again, sadly, "Usagi, can you walk on your own?"
Her glassy sapphires seemed to tear up when she spoke, "No. That sword of yours had some enchantment he added to it. When he touched it, dark magic is infused if he touched any sword. But, when he sliced me, it did more damage then a normal sword would."
He nodded slowly, understanding the basic idea. Then, he spoke again, "Do I need to carry you?"
"Can you?" she replied.
"Yes, you can't be that heavy, can you?"
"I don't know. I haven't really eaten much, so I can't be too sure."
He nodded and then gently took her bleeding body into his arms and carefully carried her over to his home. He was slightly thankful for everyone in their homes. Though, he knew that they were all crying or depressed over their child being gone. Even while it was good, he felt bad for feeling that way.
Slowly, he made his way to the home of his and Usagi just remained silent, prodding carefully at the wound and checking to see the blood.
Once he was at the ladder, he stopped and tried to think of how to enter his home without hurting the blonde girl in his hands.
Before he got too far in his thoughts, the tired voice of Usagi's broke him out of his mind, "The blood is still freely flowing. It's not clogging up."
"Once you stop moving it'll stop."
She nodded slightly and he carefully shifted her to rest on his back. Usagi clung on to his neck and he climbed up punctiliously and once he reached the door, he turned the knob and entered the abode.
Once in, his mind was instantly aware of his surroundings. He felt his senses spread and knew something was off in his home.
The fireplace was burning, like it'd just been lit. Above it was a pot that held some broth and vegetables. Then, there was a lantern similar to his own but it was smaller and more old fashioned looking. Beside it was a comb that was also slightly old looking and it had some blue strands of hair entangled within the bristles.
The night sky eyes searched the room quickly, seeking out any area that the intruder might be in.
His ears caught a soft rustle of cloth moving and he looked up at the ladder that led to his bed and saw a shadow of a figure move.
He let Usagi lean gently against the door. Then, he approached the ladder and rested his hand on one of the handles but before he lifted his foot from the wooden floor, a soft thump resonated behind him. He turned, suddenly expecting the cat-like woman to stand behind him but, instead, he saw a strange woman behind him.
She had blue hair like Ordon spring and red eyes that were slightly darker than Midna's and the they seemed to hold a guarded gaze that had a playfulness behind it.
"You're Link?" though it seemed like a question, it sounded more like a statement.
"Yes, I am. Why are you here?"
She smiled and walked towards the comb that sat on the table, "Well, I guess you did forget. Even though your scent is similar to his, you have a few noticeable differences."
His face scrunched up at those words, "What do you mean, 'scent?'"
She sniggered and started to brush her hair, "There was a boy that I knew, I don't know how. But, it must've been years. The whole reign of Hyrule holds a different scent, yet, it holds a familiar feel to it."
He frowned and raised his sword to the woman, "Why are you here?"
"You'd raise your sword to your friend? I cam here because I know your scent and you're the only thing that hasn't changed is your scent for the most part. There is one change," her eyes flashed for a second, to a strange eye shape and they seemed to be more untamed, but they were gone as soon as they appeared.
"What is it?"
She placed the brush down, "That scent is similar to my own. Not exactly, though. But, you've got the scent of a wolf on you. Not just one you've been around, though. You've actually become one."
He frowned. She smelled that he'd become a wolf? She also said it was similar to her's…
"Wait, you're a wolf too?"
She laughed, "Dummy, yes, I am. You don't seem to be honed into your wolf senses quite as much as I."
"I turned into one just recently. I didn't have a chance either since I kept being told what to do and stuff."
She sighed, "Well, will you lower that sword of your's now?"
He frowned, "No. I can't just trust your words. You could be lying."
"Well, that's too bad. But, I'm staying. I guess you'll just have to trust me!" she sang.
He winced, a bit nervous about his "friend" joining. He slowly withdrew his sword and slid it into the scabbard and he lowered his defensive stance hesitantly.
"Link, I'm still bleeding," he heard a voice mumbled.
He turned around quickly, remembering his friend, and he knelt down to Usagi's height and gave her his attention.
"Usagi, what if we wrap some fabric around it?"
She gnawed at her lip and spoke carefully, "I don't think so. It'd still bleed, so there's no point."
"Do you know any spells?"
"No, Link. I mean, I do but they don't work on myself."
"That's twisted! How about a red potion? I have one right now."
She frowned, "Perhaps…"
He heard someone clear their throat and he turned to see Ghanti standing.
"With all due respect, Link, I think I've got something better."
She held up an huge red skinned apple that seemed to be perfect and hold no flaws. But, there didn't seem to be anything important about this apple, making Link confused.
"How does that help?"
"Do you know the origins of the red potion?" the swordsman shook his head.
"That red potion is from the juice of these special apple called Hero's Apples. The hero from my time grew apples with such care and love that it's juices were used to make the potion. But, the fruit does the same effect ten fold and it gives you a little extra energy."
"Why is the potion red then?"
"The heart the hero put into growing me these apples made the juice red like blood from the heart even though the fruit is a white color."
"Who's this 'hero?'"
"Someone quite like you. The same brave heart and drive to save the people of Hyrule."
"Wait, could Link be a reincarnation of this hero? Because from what I'm hearing, it sounds that they're the same person with a few differences."
Ghanti held a thoughtful pose before replying slowly, "Well, it wouldn't be too far fetched. I mean, it too much of a coincidence that he's so alike, so that's the most reasonable answer."
Uncomfortable, Link broke the subject up, "Well, Ghanti, can Usagi have a bite of that apple?"
She laughed, "Yeah, Link. But, you need to slice it, the apple is very rare to find."
The swordsman nodded stiffly and picked up the apple.
- - - - - End Chapter - - - - -
Hello! Sorry for the long wait. I couldn't really get into this chapter. My mind is on chapters to come much later. However, I think I need to address a few important things.
First, since Twilight Princess is such a long game, in a sense of speaking, I've planned to, eh, abridge some parts. Like when a dungeon is solved. I will do the boss part though, so don't worry. Also, getting the light tears for the spirits. So, I'm just letting you know since I've been going through every moment, practically.
Second, if people seem slightly out of character, then I am sorry. Like I said earlier, I didn't have much heart into this chapter. At least, until the end of it. But, I feel bad about posting this, but I think you deserve something for waiting
about two months.
Finally, third; Ghanti. She is not a character purely from my stupid imagination. She is in The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. Don't remember meeting or hearing of her? Well, there's good reason. She's from the manga. I'm not sure if I've said this but, you're probably thinking, "What? There's a Legend of Zelda manga?! I never knew!" Meh, but, just search "Legend of Zelda Ghanti," and I'm sure you'll see how she looks. So, no, not a character my my sad imagination.
Anyway, big thanks and sorry for the wait to: The Queen of Water, pokemonboy59832, and pinoygirl1156. Also, a shout-out to pokemonboy59832 because he was so specific of the part he liked! I'm really grateful for you being so specific about the part you liked.
Also, maybe I'll draw Ghanti and post it on DeviantArt, so look for it in the next week or two.
Happy holidays.
~ Eien M.