Chapter 12

Cole and Veox saw Link before he saw them as they sat on the fountain in anticipation as the heroes walked towards them but stopping at a distance when they finally noticed the two.

"So you finally came back here!" Cole said surprised "I thought you would have been here sooner, especially after the kidnapping, hey Link?" Cole looked at Link who was annoyed at that comment and felt ready to attack at any point.

"I thought it would have been clear to where you need to go even after Spirit Town but I guess not."

"Where is everyone?!" Link yelled surprising his team but making Cole smile even more.

"Oh they are just locked in the castle having a good time" Cole replied smirking.

"I find that hard to believe" Link replied sternly.

"Why would you turn on a town that trusted you and would do anything for you and even protect you?" Link asked while Cole jumped down and began to walk back and forth in front of the fountain.

"Because humans are just human beings and nothing else, nothing can change the fact that they are hopeless and only follow one leader that stands out from the rest. Sure they have jobs and other things to keep them occupied but they have no power or no say in anything. They are like ants delivering food to the queen and I was that queen. Whatever I needed done they would do it and they would die for me if I asked them to. But unlike them we are different aren't we Link?" Link didn't want to be classified as the same as Cole.

"We have our own identity and we don't need to be told what to do. we just do it because of who we are. We are superior to those ants below us and we could squish them at any time and they couldn't do anything. We, unlike them can turn on the ruler and take what's ours. I didn't have any use for them anymore so I got my guards to clear out all the civilians living here and place them in the jail. They had no further use to me and I couldn't care less what's done to them afterwards.

Then I got the guards to demolish the town because I hated the lifestyle they had and so I could paint it as what I wanted it to look like. I could feel more comfortable in an environment like it is now. That is the same as the Spirit town really.

They only followed that one person who was the Spirit Guardian. Take that away and you have a town full of ants who don't know what to do because they have no leader and no one to direct them to their goals. They can't survive on their own and I hated that. You see Link this is why I do the things I do. Because I love destroying all hope in humanity that this place might have." Link who was quiet in the full time Cole was talking stepped forward gripping his hands in the shape of fists shaking them by his side.

"No..." Link said softly enough for Cole to hear

"No that isn't right Cole. You only say all that stuff about humans because you once had to live as a human in a society like this and act like an ant like the others to Princess Zelda. You couldn't handle what you had to go through and you knew when you saw me for the first time you had to become higher than humans to take me down. Once I was dealt with you went back into hiding as a human and you convinced everyone that I was evil because you knew as a group of humans you would become strong to even overthrow me.

You only think you're higher than them because… really you envy the humans Cole!" Link shouted confidently at Cole.

This frustrated Cole as he got furious by Link's speech as his face went red and stopped walking. He then turned around to face Link looking furious.

"How dare you say I envy those fools?!" Cole replied disgusted. "To think I am on the same side as those humans is so disgusting. I think I should show you why I am superior to those humans by taking out you, who used to work the human lifestyle, driving trains."

Cole lifted up from the ground and floated in the air above the fountain staring down at Link grinning. Link reached behind him and started taking out his sword before he was stopped by a feeling of someone's hand pressing against the carrier. Link looked behind him to see Angel standing close by with her hand covering the top of the carrier looking worried for him.

"Link I think we should work together to take care of him. After all he destroyed my town as much as yours." Angel's words were calm but still Link felt the sting in her voice.

Link thought about it carefully but before he could say yes Cole interrupted butting in.

"Well if you're joining I should probably get Veox to join as well. You can take care of your dearest sister, understood?" Cole asked Veox.

"Understood" Veox said nodding and standing up next to Cole facing Angel while Cole faced Link.

"Well this ought to be interesting then" Cole said smiling looking from one side to the other. "I don't suppose they want to fight as well?"

Cole pointed past Link to Byrne and Ciela who looked a bit worried for our safety. Link turned back to Cole reassuring himself him and Angel can take care of it.

"No there fine they won't interrupt." Link replied calmly.

"They better not" Cole said shaking his head.

"I have to find a way to get the rest of them past here and into the castle so they can look for the civilians" Link thought to himself looking past Cole and Veox and towards the big wooden door of the castle which was closed.

Link had other things to worry about...Little problems such as facing Cole.

"Veox attack" Cole ordered as Veox ran towards Angel who positioned her arms to ready her bow at Veox ready to fire as a blue arrow appeared between her arms.

Angel decided to shoot one arrow straight at Veox but as it flew into Veox he just shrugged it off by swinging his sword at the arrow like it was nothing while the arrow disappeared. When Veox was close enough to Angel he swung his sword downwards as Angel back flipped just in time and landed immediately, shooting another arrow and narrowing avoiding Veox's face this time. Veox stared at Angel with an emotionless expression while Angel stood there taking a few breaths.

Link watched as Veox walked close enough to Angel that she jumped out of the way of Veox's attack but while he was watching that fight go down Link saw a yellow ball from the corner of his eye and immediately took out his sword and sliced it through the middle making it explode on either side of where he was standing.

"That was a cheap shot" Link said looking at the culprit who floated in the fair laughing manically.

"Well you should have been watching me instead of worrying about the girl. You can't fight her battle."

For once Link actually agreed with Cole.

Angel had her own battle to fight and it was personal to her so disrupting that and helping her would not make it any better for her self-esteem. It's more than a battle between good and evil. It's a battle between brother and sister.

"You know your right Cole" Link said laughing a little which confused Cole.

"Because I know you're my opponent and I won't stop till you're on the ground wishing to be spared." Cole suddenly burst out laughing "yeah sure whatever Link, like that's going to happen! But I would love to be see you try!" Link launched from the ground, up in the air directly at Cole who disappeared from where he was floating before Link had a chance to reach him and reappeared behind him when Link was at his height. Cole was ready to kick Link in the back but Link turned around and swung his sword while Cole took his leg back and leaned in time to watch the sword go over his head while Cole fell down landed on the ground safely below.

As Link was still midair Cole charged up a purple energy ball in his arms that looked to have a lot of power into it and he threw it directly up at Link who foresaw it coming straight at him. Link fell down towards Cole with his sword above his head and chopped the energy ball in half as it exploded behind him leaving a dark purple cloud of smoke in the air while Link fell down and sliced Cole's arm. Cole yelled out in pain and jumped back inspecting the drip of blood that dripped down his sleeve.

"Looks like you actually hit me" Cole told him sounding surprised.

"Don't worry that was just luck."

Cole charged at Link as another purple energy ball appeared from the palm of his hand and started to inflate until he pushed it into Link's chest as Link felt it go through his body and screamed in pain as he felt it hit his body like an electric current. Link was launched backwards from the attack, hitting the fountain with great force and even leaving a small crack into it.

"Damn it" Link said under his breath while he tried to stand up.

When he got up he felt a pain in his back but not only that, Cole wasn't anywhere to be seen but Link's sword was left on the ground from where he was hit.

Link ran for his sword but while he was running he heard a buzzing sound from the right but he didn't have time to look so he guessed it was Cole and rolled over his sword, picked it up and stood up next to it while the cement beside him exploded as the pavement flew into the air and went everywhere. After the explosion Link looked around everywhere but couldn't see Cole who he figured was healing his arm.

Meanwhile in the other fight, Angel was dealing with Veox in her own way but she found it hard to fight someone who was in fact as skilled as he was powerful. Angel kept using various arrows to deal different types of damage but Veox would simply swing his sword or use his speed to dodge the attack and then come back with an attack that Angel found harder to dodge. In a few instances, Veox had clipped Angel with his sword leaving little cuts all around her body.

"Why do you want to do this? I thought you were better than this!" Angel cried out dodging Veox's latest attack from a swing of his sword.

Veox didn't respond but still kept on attacking as he would disappear and reappear right in front of Angel and when he had caught her off guard he would swing downwards. Angel detected Veox's latest attempt by holding an arrow between her hands like a thick steel bar which was strong enough to hold off Veox's swings for a couple of minutes and also give her an break.

Angel then tried something new and kicked Veox where he stood but Veox jumped off his feet into the air and disappeared but shortly reappeared right behind Angel and kicked her in the back before she could even turn around as Angel flew across the ground rolling and tumbling before coming to a stop while lying on the ground.

While Angel was slowly getting up, Veox reappeared, quickly placing his sword against Angel's neck as she eventually stood up and got ready to slice it open. Angel looked up at Veox and surprisingly wasn't terrified at all. She was more looking determined as her face showed it and inside Veox knew it.

"Why aren't you scared of my blade placed against your neck?" Veox asked curiously.

Angel let out a small laugh as she looked down at the ground.

"Because I have learned not to feel fear as it just an emotion to distract you and causes you to lose focus and besides, you are after all my brother…"

Veox gasped as his eyes widened when he heard her say that word, the word that defined Veox of who he was although he had tried to block it out of his memory. He didn't expect her to say that and it caught him off-guard.

This gave Angel the chance to slip in an arrow that was being charged behind her back where Veox was unable to see. Angel moved her shoulder out of the way so the arrow shot through Veox piercing his left shoulder as he pulled back from Angel bringing hs sword with him and letting Angel escape. Angel stood up and looked down at Veox who was covering the blood with his right hand holding his sword in his left. He couldn't look up to face Angel.

"You let your guard down!" Angel yelled angrily.

"You let the enemies words get to you which caused you to lose concentration giving the enemy enough time to escape. Weren't you ever taught that by your mentor?" Angel questioned taunting her brother but sounding serious at the same time.

Veox couldn't reply and just stared at the ground, his hand still covering the wound from the arrow. It gave him time to think back to the time he hoped to forget and did until now. The time that led him to become who he is today, the day that changed his life forever.

Meanwhile the other fight was in its prime as Link and Cole had been trading blows one after another. Both of them were out of breath and struggling to finish each other off. While Link was taking a breather and recovering himself, Cole was charging up another blue energy ball and threw it from afar towards Link but this one was coming in faster than the others so Link barely dodged it, rolling out of the way and watching it fly past and explode.

"How does he still have the energy?" Link questioned as he ran up to Cole and jumped up in the air where Cole was floating.

Link pointed his sword towards Cole ready to stab through him but Cole was protected by a shield in the shape of a bubble he created with his powers. Link continued to try and break Cole's shield but as he kept pushing it felt like he was being pushed back until suddenly the bubble exploded which caused Link to bounce back towards the ground. As Link was flying towards the ground Cole revealed the bubble he was using was actually something he was able to throw as Cole pushed his hands out and the bubble followed the movement and flew off Cole and headed straight for Link who had just landed.

Link witnessed the ball fly at him until it hit and just as Link was stopped he was launched back yet again. But not before feeling a world of hurt all over his body. Link flew as far back as the big wooden door which was the reason for his stopping when he smashed into it creating a small hole through to the other side.

Link, feeling defeated and hopeless couldn't really do much. All he could do was lie there and watch Cole float down from the sky and land quite a way from him. Link's body was aching and he felt tired after being thrown around. He could hardly keep his eyes open as he could hear the echo of Cole's annoying laugh from somewhere and also someone screaming out his name. His sight was blurry and couldn't see much and he felt like he was done for.

When he reopened his eyes he saw a giant flash of light coming from far way that was getting brighter and bigger the closer it got. Link realized it was one of Cole's bubbles and this would be a massive hit if it actually got him. Link attempted to get himself up and tried his hardest thinking this can't be the end.

So many thoughts were going through Link's head and it soon it stopped at the end, a memory of Zelda popped up.

She smiled as she turned around and held out her hand towards Link who stood behind her. Link remembered how much Zelda meant to him and knew he could never give up and die like this. Not after what he had been through!

From far away, Cole thought this was going to be it. No more annoying heroes bringing him down. This was his thought process until he saw Link start to stand and soon he had stood up. This surprised and shocked Cole who couldn't believe it after doing so much damage to the guy. Cole threw his huge energy ball that he had been working on since Link crashed directly at Link who still hadn't stood up.

Cole smiled as his ball was about to kill Link but his smile went away when he saw Link stand up completely and roll to the right evading the attack. The ball of energy crashed through the door creating a massive hole in the side of it, larger than the one Link had previously made.

"No!" Cole screamed out angrily clenching his fists.

Link smiled as he started running towards Cole with his sword to his side.

"This is impossible!" Cole screamed out.

"Where did you get enough energy to evade and even run at me? This isn't humanly possible!"

Link didn't say a word but instead jumped into the air, his sword stretched out and swung straight into Cole's chest as it dug in and dragged across his chest until it swung out as Cole gasped for air before collapsing on the ground close by while Link finished his swing .

Link watched and stared at Cole hoping to hear his final words until suddenly Cole started to turn into purple smoke and disappeared into thin air leaving not even the blood behind.

Link noticed there was no blood on his blade as he placed it back in his carrier and stared at where Cole once laid on the ground and that moment he thought he was actually dead. Link heard a cry of pain coming from where Angel and Veox were but the cry was a man's deep cry and when Link looked it was Veox on one knee knelling before Angel who stood there staring down shamelessly.

Link ran to Angel's aid but it looked like she didn't need it. Sure she looked in bad shape (Not as bad as Link though) but it was Veox who had a wound happening on his shoulder still from where Angel landed the shot.

"Why did you let me hurt you?" Angel yelled at Veox not giving him any mercy.

Link was confused when he heard this as everyone gathered around watching it happen.

"Because…" Veox replied staring down

"I was the one who hurt you first and left you in a position to be killed" Veox replied which caused confusion for anyone besides Angel who understood what he meant.

"That doesn't explain it!" Angel told him sounding cranky.

"You were fine at the start of the battle when you didn't have a care and now you suddenly do?" Angel asked talking down at him.

"That's because I remembered the past!" Veox finally yelled out lifting his head to face Angel.

Veox's neutral face that everyone was used to was now at a state that looked like he was about to cry. Link and everyone else watched on confused but Angel looked at him like she was about to cry as well.

"Don't you get it?" Veox asked

"I tried to forget about the past that I once had but seeing you and hearing what you said reminded me of how horrible it was and how my life turned around that one day. Why I had to leave you and mum and Spirt Town forever."

Angel was speechless and fell to her knees in front of Veox. The sound of crying could be heard from her.

"I always wondered if I would see my big brother again" Angel told her brother saddened.

"I didn't mean to leave you like I did" Veox replied.

Veox sighed heavily as he stood up and faced Link, Byrne and Ciela.

"Let me tell you the entire story, since Cole is not around and this may be chance I have to tell you so listen carefully. What I am about to tell you is what changed my life forever…for the better or the worst, but that is up to you to decide."

End of Chapter 12