Tribulations of Twilight
Chapter 11
Sleep wouldn't just come to Link, even though he was the one to suggest that they sleep. He was tossing and turning, then just sighed. He sat up, the fire being long distinguished and his equipment resting on the exotic grass nearby. Being as quite as possible, he stood up. He looked over to Midna's sleeping form and drew in a deep breath.
He walked a couple yards away from camp and looked skyward. The stars were as endless as they were in Hyrule. The sky still held the darkness Hyrule had. And the moon cut through that darkness with light, just like Hyrule. He wondered. For all he could do at the current moment was nothing but.
He felt a slight breeze run past his almost roan hair, as he closed his sapphire eyes. His breathings were soft, as the air felt no different from Hyrule. His hair would dance in the night breeze all the same.
Despite all these similarities... The Twilight Realm was more auspicious because she was here. Sleeping as she may, she was here. And wherever she was, he would be as well. After he would have traveled everywhere in the Twilight Realm, he knew he would be trotting back to one place like a lost puppy to lend her his sword and shield.
Maybe it was the anxiety of that their adventure had come to a close, and he no longer belonged. He folded his arms and closed his sharp cerulean eyes, gently tapping his foot.
Taking a deep breath after a while, and releasing it from his lungs he let his arms drift back to his sides. Sleep was sounding more and more tempting with each passing second. Deciding to let his unsettled thoughts this round, he trudged back to where he once lay and resumed his position, yawning.
Sleep still didn't come to him as easily as he'd hoped.
In his dream, he saw a man wandering shrouded in a tan cloak. How he knew the figure was male, he wasn't too sure. Link noticed that he was indeed floating, so he drew closer to the walking man.
The hood of the cloak was drawn, so Link had to duck slightly to look up into the man's face.
Link retracted slightly from surprise, as a breeze came forth into his dream and threw down the man's hood.
The man in the tan cloak was surely Link. But, the Link in the tan cloak was aged. His hair was longer, his eyes more dull with age and experience. His chin had blonde beard stubbles. His skin was more pale.
Link noted that on his doppelganger's face, the scar was more faded. Link rose up a hand and traced the scar that extended from the top of his right eyebrow, across his nose, and halfway into his left cheek. It tickled slightly, the skin still sensitive even after four years. However, something else caught his eye he should have noticed before.
The more aged Link had no right arm.
The elder doppelganger stopped short of a step, somehow being reminded of his loss. He rose up a hand, and gripped the shoulder where the arm used to be attached. Pain crossed his face, though it wasn't a physical pain. Whatever caused him to lose his arm was a greater scar than the one upon his face.
"I lost her..." A mumble came from the elder Link's mouth.
The younger bit his lip, leaning in slightly to hear better.
"Ten years.. and it still hurts."
The younger Link found himself no longer floating in front of the elder Link, but now.. He was the aged Link.
"Midna's dead.. She's been dead for ten years.." Link felt himself say in remorse, clenching the shoulder harder. He felt his heart clench and shatter, his stomach burst. Link felt himself scream in despair, but on the outward appearance he was still, his hand upon his shoulder.
"Ten years, Midna's been dead and it still hurts. I should have saved her instead of myself."
Link snapped out of his reverie once Midna snapped in front of his face. "Goddesses, Link! You've been more silent than you were at the beginning of our first quest!"
Link rose up a hand and scratched his head, smiling halfheartedly. "Sorry, I was just.. um, thinking." He replied lamely.
Midna shook her head, then turned around to face the drawbridge connecting to Medietas. She walked ahead, stopping, then turned around. "Well, aren't you coming ya dumb wolf?" She snickered, turning back around and heading toward Medietas once more.
Link sighed. That was the umpteenth time he recalled the peculiar dream and got lost in his thoughts during the two days of travel. "I need to get myself together." He muttered, jogging up next to Midna and slowing down to a walk.
Once they passed through the double doors, Link and Midna stopped dead. Littered across the streets – Bodies of twili lay. Midna gasped in horror, Link rushing up to a small child in the road. He knelt, taking the child in his arms.
"What the hell happened.." He bit his lip, placing a hand on the child's neck. There was a pulse. Link let out a breath he had been holding, and looked around. He looked back to the boy, and realized there were no wounds whatsoever. He opened the boy's eye, looking into the scarlet orbs to find it devoid of life.
"It looks like someone drained the life from these people... but left the shells to breathe." Link said, placing the child down and repeating the test to a male nearby he presumed the father.
Midna looked over an elderly twili. "They're still alive... but.. What happened?"
Link set the male's head down and rose, looking over at the Palace of Twilight. "Midna, I think we'll find our answers there. It looks like we're not done yet."
Midna looked at the Palace, and felt anger run through her being, clenching her fists and baring her fangs. After a moment, she took a breath and unclenched her fist, beginning a brisk walk to the entrance. "Come on, Wolf boy!" She barked behind her shoulder.
Link nodded, walking up behind her to the palace entrance. Once they reached the door, Midna placed a hand upon it as the large door creaked open. Link placed a hand on the hilt of his Golden Sword.
Link rushed in ahead of Midna, a sense of duty coursing through his mind. He was the Hero, and a hero doesn't let this happen. Link felt anger as he unleashed the Golden Sword in a swift draw, clenching the hilt in a tight grasp in his left hand as he looked around the foyer. Midna ran in behind the hero.
It was littered like the outside of Twili. Butlers and maids lined the floor, some councilors as well.
Link loosened his grip upon his blade, lowering it as he strolled through the foyer with Midna in tow. Once they were in the middle of the foyer, coughing was heard. Link's cerulean gaze landed upon a twili in a councilor's garb.
Link studied the cyan markings, as he dropped the Golden Sword for a moment and helped the orange-haired councilor into a sitting position.
Midna crouched by the councilor, recognizing him instantly. "Anxia! What happened?"
Anxia opened his crimson eyes, shaking his tuft of spiky orange hair as he tried to regain his vision and speak.
"C-Councilor.. Lienosus betrayed us.." Anxia spoke, shifting slightly as his hand gripped his chest. He was obviously in pain.
Link shook his head, "easy now! Just try and breathe."
Anxia nodded, doing as Link said before starting up again. "He.. sucked the souls out of the people.. and killed those who opposed him.. starting with High Councilor Cerebrum.."
Midna couldn't stifle a gasp, as her hands flew to her mouth. Her crimson optics were wide, as Link looked to his love and caught her expression. Tears were starting to well up in her eyes.
He closed his, and sighed, bowing his head slightly. Cerebrum obviously meant a lot to Midna, so he remained silent. He too had a respect for the Twili. He seemed just, as Link recalled being presented before the Council for the first time.
"Once we started to figure... out what Lienosus had done, most of the councilors sided with him; scared for their lives... But, we tried to oppose him. Lunaris, General Robur.. even Ordinatur tried to stand up to Lienosus.. as well as I. We tried to follow Cerebrum's example... But he proved too strong. Somehow.. Lienosus obtained great magic.."
Link kept silent, letting go of Anxia now that the twili could support himself. Link looked over to Midna, and saw her trying not to let the tears lose, but a couple did. She wiped them away, and stood.
Link followed, as Anxia tried to stand up and succeeded.
"Where are they?" Midna asked, blinking away another tear.
Anxia held his chest for a moment, before letting his hand fall back to his side. "They went to the throne room to chase Lienosus.. but that was about an hour ago."
Link picked up the Golden Sword, and held it tightly. He looked over to Midna, who had a look of sheer determination on her face. He admired her, to be truthful.
The three began to make their way to the Throne Room.
Standing with his back to the door, Lienosus stood; clad in a Councilor's garb once more. He slowly turned his head, his hair back down as his eyes looked at the newcomers through strands of his bangs. "Oh my. Look who just joined the party." Lienosus chuckled, turning around to fully face them and stepping aside. Face down on the ground revealed a laying Lunaris. The twili's councilor's garb was stained with his own blood.
The trio's eyes wandered about the room, finding the markings and symbols. They also found the other two twili. Ordinatur was hunched up against the wall, sitting in a pool of his own blood while Robur was sprawled out on the ground, his twilit armor battered and cracked. A sword lay next to him, though it was in half.
Link growled, taking his shield from his back with his right arm, and holding it tightly along with his Golden Sword.
Midna took a step forward, clenching her fists and baring her fangs once more. "How dare you, Lienosus!" She yelled at the top of her lungs.
Anxia hurriedly ran as fast as he could. Lienosus closed his eyes, a grin upon his face as he felt Anxia run past him to Lunaris.
The younger twili rolled Lunaris to his back, propping up the man in his arms. Anxia shook Lunaris. "Lunaris! Lunaris! Wake up!" Anxia called, fear in his voice. His crimson optics were wide, staring down at the closed eyes of Lunaris as he kept shaking the Twili. "You-you can't be dead.." Anxia said softly to his childhood friend.
Lienosus opened his eyes, turning his head to look at Anxia and Lunaris. "You should feel proud, Anxia.. He lasted a whole hour against me. Though of course Robur helped. Ordinatur never stood a chance. He should have just sided with me like the rest." A laugh escaped Lienosus's lips, filled with malevolence.
Anxia shook with rage foreign to him. Never in this timid councilor's life had he ever hated anyone. Though his shadow magic weak, he wasn't about to let Lienosus laugh right in his and Lunaris's face. Anxia set down Lunaris, still believing the councilor was alive and stood, facing Lienosus. Raising his hand and pointing it at Lienosus.
Shadow energy gathered, and forged a shadow ball. Anxia barraged it at Lienosus, letting out a slight grunt as he did. "Don't you dare try and belittle him!"
Laughter escaped Lienosus, as he disappeared before the ball made contact with him. He reappeared in front of Anxia. The twili froze in place.
Lienosus towered over the junior councilor, bending over so that his mouth was near Anxia's ear. "Such petty magic won't do any good against the powers of pure Darkness." Lienosus whispered, standing straight as he placed a hand on Anxia's chest. A shock wave exploded, making Link stumble slightly and Midna hold her up her arms to protect herself from it.
Anxia was sent flying, yelling as he crashed into a wall, causing a slight crator as he fell onto the floor, coughing and sputtering.
Pain swept throughout the councilor, as his fist was clenched but soon unclenched as he remained still.
Link growled, his Triforce beginning to glow as the Golden Sword began to radiate the same glow. Link charged at full speed, his legs tapping against the marble floor softly as he let out a war cry, leaping into the air and performing an Ending Blow, the sword cutting through the air swiftly.
Lienosus sidestepped, watching the Golden Sword sink into the ground halfway. He rose up a hand at Link, preparing an attack when Midna held out her hand, lightning arcing down her arm to her palm, releasing the electrical attack.
The lightning struck Lienosus square in the ribs. Lienosus dropped his hand and clenched his wound, grunting loudly but soon laughing, his eyes wild.
Link pried his sword from the ground, and hid behind his shield facing Lienosus, ready to attack. Midna ran up to Link's side, ready to assist.
Lienosus took a step back, standing tall once more but still holding his ribs. Rumbles of laughter escaped his lips, as his grin was crooked. "You two might be my best challenge yet! Cerebrum was definitely the most fun, though."
Midna growled, charging up another attack as she gathered shadow energy. "You have no right to say his name, traitor!"
Lienosus laughed dementedly once more. "Ooh, a challenge you will be, but I am far more stronger than either of you!" He yelled, gripping the torso half of his garb and tearing it off. He revealed the black crystal planted in the middle of his chest, his veins leading from the crystal outward to his body as they pulsed.
"With this, I can harness the true powers of Darkness!" He shouted, flexing his chest as he held out his arms to his sides. Matter seemed to deteriorate around his body, a black aura emitting.
Link took an instinctive step back, his wolf instincts making his hair on the back of his neck stand on end. "This isn't good, Midna.." He whispered.
"And that's not all! I'm going to completely enslave the Light Dwellers using that half-wit's Triforce! Every race will bow before me, and I will reign as King of Light and Shadow!" Laughter followed suit.
"Over my dead body." Link muttered, feeling rage flow through his veins. How he desperately wanted to dice him up here and now.
Lienosus yelled out, thrusting his arms out to the side as an explosion of Dark energy fired out. Lunaris was tossed away in the explosion, hitting against the wall and crumbling back down. Link and Midna were sent off their feet, Link standing in front of Midna and thrusting up his shield as he reduced the effects. They both landed hard on the ground, and scrambled to their feet.
Midna hurriedly gathered up shadow energy and released it toward Lienosus. Said councilor held out his hand and formed black energy. Once the shadow energy hit the dark, the Shadow dispersed as did the dark energy. "Pathetic." Lienosus chuckled.
While Lienosus was distracted, Link ran up from the councilor's right, holding the Golden Sword with two hands. Link yelled out, slicing horizontally at Lienosus. The Councilor whirled around to face Link, crossing his arms in an X shape infront of him as a circle of dark energy formed, and blocked Link's blade.
Link grunted, feeling sever strain run up his arms as he tried to cut through the shield of dark energy. Calling power from his Triforce, the Golden Sword began to glow a bright gold, beginning to edge into the Dark shield.
Midna held out one hand, fire beginning to dance around her palm as she forged a small ball of fire. She clenched her hand, then unclenched it. The fireball grew proportionally. She launched it at Lienosus.
The dark shield weakened even more when the flame ball made contact, an explosion of fire following the contact. Using this, Link yelled out and cut through the Dark Shield, making Lienosus's arms forced to his sides.
Link brought the Golden Sword back, landing a powerful cut along Lienosus's stomach, watching black blood spew from the wound and fall onto the marble floor.
Lienosus yelped out in pain, grunting and thrusting out his hands toward Link. His hands began to glow, as an invisible attack hit Link square in the chest.
Link yelled out, stumbling as he took two steps back to regain his balance. He felt blood run down his chin as he quickly wiped it.
Midna launched another fireball, to which Lienosus dodged by jumping into the air. Teeth bared, Lienosus pointed both his hands at Midna, pure dark energy beginning to form.
Lienosus barraged a powerful attack directed at Midna. Link gasped, his eyes widening as he ran as fast as his legs could carry him infront of his Midna. He thrust out his shield infront of him, using magic to enhance it.
The energy collided with the shield, sending out a powerful shockwave that dislocated Link's right arm. He clenched his teeth and slammed his eyes shut, a loud grunt of pain escaping his clenched teeth.
Midna flinched, thinking she was going to be hit when Link dove in front of her. She felt enraged Lienosus had harmed him.
She was about to send shadow magic at Lienosus, when Lienosus rode gravity down to the floor, landing on his feet and charging at them. Lienosus held out his hand, using his dark energy to enhance his strength as he clenched it. He lashed out at Link, whom angled his body so that his right arm was between them.
The fist collided with Link's shield, causing the shoulder to relocate quite painfully. Link's eyes clenched shut with pain, before he reopened them and yelled out, thrusting his shield out to the side to deflect Lienosus's empowered hand away; making the Councilor stumble with wide eyes.
Link thrust his sword toward Lienosus, watching the golden blade plunge deep into Lienosus's abdomen.
Out of spite, Link bare his teeth and buried the sword down to the hilt inside the Councilor's stomach.
His mouth forced open, atramentous blood spewing out and landing on Link. Lienosus howled in pain, clenching his roan eyes shut as Link remained in his position. The ebony liquid slid from his stomach and soaked the bottoms of the Councilor's garb.
Midna winced slightly, taking a step back as she watched the scene; unsure if it was over or if she should prepare an attack.
Link thought it was over, and let his guard fall. However, Lienosus began to cachinnate as his right hand gripped Link's hand in a clasp, forcing Link, and the blade, to remain stationary. Link's eyes were filled with consternation as having a sword hilt-deep into your abdomen would kill most people. He began to wonder if Lienosus was even a Twili anymore, as his eyes were latched onto the crystal and pulsing veins.
Lienosus's free hand lurched out, seeming to encase in black fire. "Foolish light dweller!" Lienosus screeched.
Midna gasped, trying to ready up an attack to save Link but it proved to be in vain. Lienosus blasted Link with the black fire.
Link was flung away, forced to let go of the Golden Sword as he yelled out in pain, slamming onto the ground.
His lower body took most of the attack, as he was sure his left leg was either broken, or heavily damaged.
He rolled around, some of his clothes still burning in the onyx flame. He rolled around, writhing in pain and trying to purge himself of the fire. He was forced to let go of his shield.
Midna watched with affliction toward her hero. She looked toward Lienosus with sheer abhorrence. She was about to hit Lienosus with everything she had, but Lienosus thrust out a hand toward her. Midna felt magical binds grip her arms and legs, as she began to float in the air similar to how Zant positioned her in Lanayru's spring.
Lienosus grinned, using his other hand to force the Golden Sword from his body. He gripped it tightly, lashing out at nothing as most of his raven blood fell off the golden blade. He brought the fuller near his face, inspecting the sword. "Such an otherworldly blade... I think I'll be keeping this." He began to cachinnate once more, as he briskly walked toward Midna gripping the hilt tightly.
Link watched in horror as the deranged councilor neared his love. He tried to stagger to his feet, but his leg was in such pain. He winced each time he tried to move it. His eyes widened slightly as he thought of a plan. He could use the power of the Triforce to heal himself fully, leaving him with no magic temporarily but at his physical peak.. But that would take moments he didn't have.
But if he rushed to Midna, he'd surely die if he didn't have a plan on what to do if he reached her. But if he waited to heal himself, she'd die.
He couldn't keep thinking – Lienosus was drawing closer with each step.
He had to choose now. His first instinct was to heal himself. He was about to, when he remembered his dream.
The emptiness his elder self had. The lament.
He slammed his eyes shut and clenched his teeth – If he healed himself, the dream wouldn't be a dream anymore. It'd be a reality. A reality without Midna.
He ignored the searing pain of his leg, forcing himself to his feet as his sky eyes sparked with determination and conviction. He felt his Triforce try and heal him, but he would have to remain perfectly still. Which he wouldn't do.
Once he felt himself balance, he ran as fast as he could to get in between Lienosus and Midna; his teeth bared.
Lienosus held the Golden Sword above his head, ready to cleave Midna in two.
Link watched her expression turn to absolute despair, as she shut her eyes.
The Golden Sword was brought down, but the hero intercepted. Holding out his gauntleted left hand, the Hero watched as the golden edge slammed into his gauntlet.
Despite the wails of pain his leg shot up, he remained standing tall as he felt the Golden Sword cut through the gauntlet and into his skin. He clenched his teeth harder in pain, watching his gauntlet crack and break.
Midna, feeling no blade cut her, opened her crimson and amber eyes to see Link in front of her, with the Golden Sword cutting into his arm.
"So the hero still has some fight left in him!" Lienosus rebuked.
Lienosus pulled the Golden Sword from the hero's injured arm, taking a step back.
Link was panting hard, his leg giving out as he fell to his knee, and cradled his injured arm. He felt shards of the metal cut into his skin.
The magic holding Midna was released, as he crouched near Link, placing an arm around his shoulder as she tried to soothe him.
"Don't you cretins see? Anxia, Lunaris, Robur, and even Ordinatur tried to stand up to me." Lienosus, with the Golden Sword, motioned to the either unconscious or dead bodies of the fallen twili.
"And they failed. With this.." Lienosus said, clenching the crystal center his chest with his hand grinning with spite, "no one stands a chance. I am far more powerful than Zant and Ganondorf. I can't die!"
Lienosus pointed the tip of the Golden Sword at Link, who stared with deep hatred in his cerulean eyes at the councilor. Midna's eyes rivaled the abhorrence.
"Give up. Your hope ends here. Submit yourselves to me and I might condone what happened here if you remain my loyal servants." Lienosus smirked.
Link staggered to his feet, Midna's gaze switching to concern as she snapped back to Link and helped him up.
Link said nothing, but his azure eyes said it all. He wasn't going to give up. He continued to cradle his left arm, before he let his right fall back to his side with a clenched fist.
Midna tried to say something that would make Link sit down so that he wouldn't push his already injured body farther, but she knew he couldn't be swayed. She would just have to lead the onslaught this time to prevent Link from getting injured even more. "As if we'd bow to you!" She called out, turning her ruby gaze to Lienosus. "Just like Ganondorf and Zant before you... We will do anything within our power to defy you!"
Lienosus scoffed, letting his hand holding the sword fall back to his side as the tip tapped the marble floor littered with bodies and blood markings. With his left hand, he slicked back the copper bangs that shrouded his eyes filled with malice.
He held the Golden Sword and spread his feet slightly. "Fine then. If you're so anxious to die, I will accommodate that wish!"
Lienosus charged, Midna about to retaliate but Link held her back with his right hand, turning his cerulean gaze to hers as he forged a plan. She seemed to understand as she took a step back.
The very second Lienosus lashed out at Link with the Golden Sword. Link thrust out his left arm, ignoring the shards of metal in his skin as through the gauntlet his Triforce burned through the glove.
A translucent blue diamond encased Link, the Golden Sword's edge making contact with the azure diamond. Lienosus was bewildered.
"Nayru's Love!" Link shouted. The moment he yelled the incantation, the Golden Sword was repelled. It soared out of Lienosus's grasp, making him stumble from the force of the repel.
The Golden Sword plunged into the ground, as Nayru's Love faded.
Without a word being said, Midna seized this opportunity. Her feet tapping against the ground, she ran to Lienosus's side and held out one of her arms.
Wind began to pick up in the room, as it thinned. It began to swirl around Lienosus. His eyes wandered around his position, wondering what was going to happen until he felt something slice across his left cheek. He felt his black blood run down the skin.
Link watched as the wind began to carve Lienosus. His arms began to get cut up, along with his torso and legs. He yelled out before it could continue, thrusting out both of his arms to his sides as dark energy lashed out; dispelling the wind.
Already taking the opportunity, quite stiffly Link ran to the sword plunged halfway into the marble. Lienosus was focused on Midna.
The two were barraging the other with magical assaults, both getting injured from time to time. Midna's eyes were beginning to squint as her magic was thinning, but Lienosus was all the more stronger.
Link pried the Golden Sword from the ground, and held it with his right arm since his left was disabled. He observed the magical barraging, trying to formulate a plan. Link scanned Lienosus, checking for weak points.
His eyes widened, focused on the crystal.
It-It's cracked! How did I not notice that before!
It seemed simple now. All he had to do was bring about the destruction of the crystal. He wasn't too sure what it was, but he knew it was the source of Lienosus's power – The foolish twili pointed it out himself.
Midna glanced over to where Link was looking and looked at the crystal herself. The same line of thought transpired to her mind, before she noticed Lienosus attacking her once more. She swift fully dodged, catching Link's eye.
Link nodded as silent communication, and began to circle behind Lienosus as Midna drew his attention with another magical attack.
Link was in the proper position, closing his eyes and focusing his power as he took the blade from his right hand and held it in his left, ignoring the shards.
He felt the shards fall out of his arm as he focused his light energy into the Golden Sword. He was pouring everything he could muster into it.
He held it out in front of him, focusing his sapphire gaze upon the sword, watching it shine a more radiant gold as he felt the power beginning to dim in his Triforce.
Midna saw Link preparing his assault while thinking she should do the same. "Umbra Internecionem..." She incanted, closing her eyes and holding her hands together; massive shadow energy forming. Her hands felt a mixture of warmth and cold, feeling the energies swarm between her hands.
Lienosus watched Midna, unaware of Link behind him. Seeing the attack, Lienosus forged a shield of dark energy – an opaque circle forming around him.
Midna threw all of her strength into the attack. She yelled out, her eyes blazing with fury as she unleashed her most powerful attack.
The ball of concentrated shadow magic barraged at Lienosus. The ball made contact with the shield of dark energy, and exploded. However, Midna held out both her hands and used her remaining strength to control the explosion to increase the effect.
Lienosus watched with something he didn't quite know... Was it.. Fear?
The shield of dark energy couldn't last – It was already beginning to crack. Lienosus put more strength into the shield. It seemed to shield him of the explosion for just a tad longer.
Link seized this opportunity, gripping the Golden Sword with both hands as he charged. He kept the blade low, ready to strike.
Midna watched, feeling her strength diminish as her hero neared.
In one swift strike, Link used the empowered Golden Sword to cut straight through the explosion and the dark shield. However, the Light bonded with the Shadow energies of the explosion. Mimicking what happened to Divus, the energies formed together.
Lienosus watched with what he knew now as fear. The energies overrided his and crushed his shield – Damaging his body heavily.
However, the Councilor still stood.
Lienosus panted, looking down. His vision faded out for no longer a moment, but he knew the Crystal was still intact. But the fissure was wider.
He regained his vision and looked upward, feeling the pain of his injuries fade as he stood taller.
Link's might at the moment was impregnable. He gripped the Golden Sword with a strong grip.
I have to break him. Was one of his single thoughts at the moment.
Lienosus tried to cower, but Link was swift.
Letting out a grunt he stepped forward, swinging the Golden Sword in a mighty attack across Lienosus's chest, the Golden Sword creating a spark as it hit the Crystal, but it still retained its form.
Lienosus stumbled, from the sudden pain of his chest and from the force.
Link brought the blade back around, striking Lienosus's chest once more.
The crystal made an audible crack, but remained intact as Lienosus fell onto his back from the force of the slice.
This was it.
Link twirled the sword in a reverse grip.
Letting out a triumphant yell, Link leapt into the air, gripping the Golden Sword with both hands as he performed an ending blow.
This time, it was truly where this ended. Just like the quest beforehand. His training started with the Hero's Shade began with this move, and he ended his first quest with this move.
Midna watched with anxiety, wondering if this is where things would finish.
Link watched as he landed with his legs on opposite sides of Lienosus, watching his blade sink deeply into the crystal and into Lienosus's body.
Lienosus let out a wail of pure agony, gripping the blade of the Golden Sword as the golden edges cut up his hands as he tried to pry it from his chest. His roan eyes, wide with terror looked down onto the crystal plunged in his chest. He watched his veins pulse more and more, until the crystal broke and withered into oblivion.
The councilor felt all of his power drain from him, as well as life.
Lienosus's eyes soon rolled back into his head. A soft thump was heard that consisted of Lienosus's head hitting the marble floor.
Link removed his blade from the fallen twili's chest, and sheathed it. "It looks like I was right; the source of Lienosus's power was indeed the crystal..." Link turned to Midna, cradling his left arm now that the adrenaline had withered.
"Do you know what it even was?"
Midna folded her arms and thought for a moment; then shook her head. "I can't say I do. It could have been a container of power used during the Interlopers incident."
Link nodded softly. He looked at the blood markings. "I bet this is some sort of design that would steal my Triforce." He frowned, thinking about who Lienosus's must have killed to make this happen.
Then, his head snapped to attention as he looked around the room. He had heard movement and saw that Robur began to stir.
The hero, Midna in tow, hurried to the general. Midna crouched near the Twili as he sat up.
"P-Princess Midna?" He acknowledged, turning his gaze to Link. "H-Hero? If you two are present.. Am I correct in saying Lienosus has been put to an end?"
Link nodded, then turned solemn. "...Are the others alive?" Link looked around, Robur following suit; puzzled for a moment before recollection hit him.
"No.. they should wake up soon. Lienosus drew most of his power from collecting souls.. So if you destroyed the Crystal; their souls should return to their bodies. I saw Lienosus suck Ordinatur's soul straight from his body after he'd been dealt with. I was next.."
"S-so it seems." A voice spoke up, before a grunt of pain followed.
Lunaris stood up, clenching his left side as he walked stiffly toward them. "You'll have to forgive me... for not being able to stop Lienosus. We saw what he had become... far too late."
A sound of stone hitting the floor came about, as Ordinatur stood up from his crater in the wall; leaning against it. "Except me.." he spoke.
Lunaris turned a tired eye to the councilor. "You've told us already, Ordinatur. Me.. and Robur forgive you. It's the rest of the council that should be put to death."
Ordinatur shook his head solemnly. "I knew of what he was becoming.. and for a while I helped him through it. It was only until it was too late I saw what even I was doing."
Robur stood, pieces of his broken armor falling off. "Despite that, you stood with us in mortal combat. I thank you, Councilor Ordinatur."
Link sighed, then smiled slightly. "Well, it's all over now."
Lunaris limped over to Anxia, cradling the boy slightly then picking him up. "Anxia came? I thought his soul was taken."
Midna shook her head, everyone gathering around Anxia. "He tried to help us after we woke him up. Though.. he was quickly overwhelmed."
Lunaris reflected on his childhood friend, before sighing. "Dr. Koric should be waking up soon – along with the rest of the Twili in Medietas. We should sort everything out before relaxing."
A/N: Well my friends, this story is near its close. Every book has its opening page and its ending page.
Stay tuned for the final chapter of Tribulations of Twilight.