Chapter 20: Forever and a Day
A/N: This is finally it! The last chapter of the story! This was definitely the hardest chapter I have ever written and ironically enough I already had this ending planned out. I tried my best not to be so cliché so bear with me. Since this is the end I would really appreciate it if you review at least this once. It was been a blast writing this story for you guys and I hope to hear from you some time in the future as well. Till next time! P.S. Be on the lookout for the Epilogue!
"Where's mommy and daddy?" A young Zelda cried out, her small voice falling deaf against the raging winds of that stormy night. Ms. Crystalis watched her with sorrowful eyes as she picked up the small girl into her arms and held her tight. The rain fell nonstop, pounding against the soft earth of the island. The tall woman stood on the porch of Zelda's home with a younger Darien standing silently next to her. It had been that dreadful night; the night Zelda's parents had disappeared into the vast ocean never to be heard from again. The young girl had stayed behind waiting faithfully for her parent's return.
"The rain is slightly letting up," Darien spoke softly as he glanced towards the night sky. "We should head back to the Elder's house like he instructed us to."
Ms. Crystalis nodded. "I will, let me just get some clothes for Zelda," she said motioning to Zelda's pink pajamas. She placed the small girl on the ground and kneeled down in front of her as she ran her hand through her golden hair. "I'm going inside to get you some clothes, wait here with Darien, ok?"
Zelda nodded slightly as she watched the older woman enter her dark house. She turned towards the tall soldier as he stared at the sea with a pained expression. "Darien," Zelda spoke as she tugged at the man's sleeves. "Where's mommy and daddy?" she sniffled.
Darien turned towards the small five year old unsure of what to respond. Instead he placed his big hand on top of her head and smiled sadly. Ms. Crystalis appeared a few moments later with a bundle of clothes and handed them to Darien as she picked up the scared little girl into her arms once more. "We are going to the Elder's house for a sleep over; would you like that Zelda dear?"
The young girl nodded through sniffles and allowed herself to be carried off by Ms. Crystalis and Darien into the island's town.
Once the pair reached the Elder's home they were greeted by the Elder himself who took Zelda from Ms. Crystalis into his own arms and kissed her hair softly. After once again evading the little girl's questions she was sent to an upstairs room while the rest remained downstairs in the living room discussing amongst themselves. Young Zelda, unbeknownst of what was happening, curled up into a small ball at the foot of the bed and began to stare at the sky through the window. Small tears would fall now and then and her small sniffles echoed through the empty room.
Just as she was falling asleep a sudden knock made her jump and turn straight towards the window. A small boy with raven black hair knocked ever so slightly at the window glass hoping to get the young girl's attention. Zelda spared no time in opening the window and allowing him in. The boy struggled through the window still and landed on the wooden floor with a thud.
"Kain!" Zelda whispered softly. "What are you doing here?"
The raven haired boy shook his wet hair and flashed a big grin towards the girl. "A was bored in my house and decided to go visit you, but on my way to the town's exit I saw Darien and Ms. Crystalis carrying you to the Elder's house so I followed."
"Why would you do that? It's really late," Zelda replied with a frown.
"I was worried you idiot," he stopped suddenly and sneezed rather loudly causing Zelda to jump a little.
"You're soaking wet! You're gonna catch a cold," the young girl said as she made her way towards the closet.
"I'll be fine," Kain said before sneezing once more.
"Dry yourself up with this," Zelda dropped a towel over the boy's head smiling a bit in the process.
"Thanks," he stood up and took off his soaking black shirt dropping it on the floor before wrapping himself with the towel Zelda had given him. "So… why are you here? Is everything ok?"
Zelda suddenly frowned and sat on the edge of the bed, her face lost in thought once more. "Mommy and Daddy… they left awhile ago and they haven't come back yet… I'm scared they might not come back…" a small trail of tears began to form on her delicate features.
Kain quickly sat next to the girl and wrapped his arms around her. "It's ok Zel, I'm sure they'll be back."
"But what if they don't?" Zelda asked through sniffles.
"I'll protect you then!"
The young blonde looked up at Kain with an uncertain face. "How are you gonna do that?"
The raven haired boy stared at the wall with a thoughtful face for a few moments before smiling broadly. "I know! I'll train and become one of the Guard Squadron's elite soldiers! I'll be the best! Then I can protect you from anything!"
Zelda smiled faintly and wiped her tears. "You'll really do that?"
"Yea! I promise you that I will!" he stood up. "I'll be the bestest, baddest soldier ever!" he began to run around the room pretending to fight off a horde of enemies making Zelda giggle in the process. "Take that! And that! You'll never lay a hand on my Zellie you evildoers!"
Zelda placed her hands over her mouth trying to contain her fit of giggles. "You'll be my knight in shining armor, right?"
"That's right!" Kain assured. "Promise!"
Zelda nodded as a small yawn escaped her lips. "I'm sleepy now… can you stay the night with me Kain?"
"Sure," the boy smiled as he cuddled up next to the girl in the large bed.
"Sleep well Kain," Zelda whispered as he sank deeper into the soft blankets.
"You too Zel," Kain yawned before letting the sleepiness overcome him as well.
"Zelda…" Link murmured to himself as he stared at the unconscious girl across from him.
Vincent's smirk remained plastered on his face as he glanced back at the girl. "It seems the loss of her friend was too much for her to bear. Isn't that a good thing though, Link?" He turned towards the mercenary. "Now she won't have to experience the fear of dying before her inevitable death."
"Vincent!" Link growled menacingly before dashing towards his opponent.
Swords clashed high up in the mountain peak of a dying island. The never ending rain, the clashing waves, the ear piercing thunder, the fierce lighting strikes, held no effect for the two dueling youths who lived lost in their own grudge and fury. The ground began to crack all over the land mass and pools of lava began to erupt from them. The island town had already been completely wiped out and the forest became consumed by the hellish fire of the night.
Vincent dodged a barrage of swings skillfully as the worn out mercenary struggled under his rage. Link unleashed one final horizontal slash, but the red noble back flipped out of harm's way. "You weren't like this!" Link shouted. "What possessed you to become so corrupt?"
"Corrupt?" Vincent scoffed. "You are one arrogant and ignorant worm!" He extended his hand towards Link and shot out a wave of dark energy that sent the teen flying back against the mud.
"The world is corrupt," The red haired youth spoke as he looked up at the darkened night sky, water droplets falling all over his pale features. "The Goddesses, humanity… we live in an era of corruptness, enslaved by greed, lust for power, sadism, an endless wave of sins."
"How are you any different…" Link coughed as he struggled to stand, clutching his pain filled chest in the process.
"I will cleanse this Goddess forsaken world!" Vincent shouted. "I will purge humanity by annihilating its very own existence, starting with the Goddesses themselves."
Link gripped his sword tightly. "You've lost it Vincent! How can you match up to the Goddesses?"
"What makes you so sure I can't?" Vincent sprinted towards the unguarded mercenary and swung his knight's sword diagonally slashing Link's upper shoulder. He followed up by kicking the mercenary's side causing him to tumble down against the floor once more.
"Arrgh!" Link winced as the warm blood began seeping through his cloak.
"Link… you and I are not so different… we are both driven by revenge, that I cannot deny."
"Why…" Link struggled. "Why revenge…?"
Vincent laid his crimson eyes on the staggering mercenary. "Just as you have lost people dear to you so have I, by the hands of those demons that lack the power to call themselves leaders of a proud country." A black and red aura began forming around the noble's body. "I… am a Sheikah."
"Shei…kah?" Link coughed.
"Part of an ancient clan of dark magic warriors long known to be extinct. Us shadow people had only one mission and that was to serve and protect the Royal Family of Hyrule like a pack of dogs. The Hylians despised us and feared us for our power far exceeded their own in many levels thus during the Ancient War my people were massacred by the very individuals we had sworn to protect. My father, the last remaining Sheikah was spared at the cost of betraying his own brothers and sisters. He was named a noble by the late King Harkinian as reward for his services… my father however would go on to plan his own revenge. For so many years he had to suffer the guilt, the nightmares, until the day he died and all of our family's history and legacy would be passed on to me… the last remaining Sheikah, the one who would carry on the last revenge on those who did us wrong."
"This… how?..." Link stood up. "Is this the reason you changed?"
Vincent grinned back, "How about we become partners from now on? Help rebuild this country one job at a time. What do you say?" he outstretched his hands towards the mercenary.
Link smiled and took his hand. "Let's do it!"
"All for the sake of revenge?" Link shouted. "Don't do this Vincent! Remember what we had said before; help rebuild Hyrule, for the people! We allowed hate and revenge to cloud us. I no longer feel this way and neither should you!"
"Shut up!" Vincent roared unleashing another energy blast at the mercenary.
"Ahh," Link growled once again as the impact caused him to cough up blood.
"People! Hylians! This is my destiny! People knew where they were heading when they chose to walk this path!" He walked over towards Link and kicked him on the side making the teen yell in pain. "Justice and faith! Ignorance and escapism! They never learn! They never listen! We have reached the end of that path! There is no way to prevent it now! The Hylians vanquished, at last! Just as they deserve!"
"Shut up," Link coughed. "I won't allow it… you don't understand anything else!"
Vincent picked Link up by the collar of his cloak and held him up. "Of course! After all, people can only understand what they've experienced!"
"You're… wrong… people… people aren't really like that," Link struggled as images of Zelda, the Elder, and the town people crossed his mind.
Vincent punched Link's face with the hilt of his sword. An evil grin became plastered on his face as he watched Link squirm on the ground in front of him. "This is a world where people's hearts are filled with hatred, where fingers have no other purpose than to push the knife into someone's back!"
"No!" Link raised his sword and swung upward in a diagonal swing. Vincent leaped backwards, but was still managed to get cut across the chest area. Using the sword as a cane, Link managed to stand and readied himself for battle. "You're wrong Vincent, people can commit mistakes, we can fall under the influence of hatred and revenge, but we can work to someday find a way to redeem ourselves, it is not a lost cause."
Vincent ran his hand through his wound acknowledging the blood oozing out of it. "Is this the voice of experience?" he hissed. "Why torment yourself saying. "Eventually, someday"? How long have you been fighting with your thoughts clouded by that brand of sweet poison?"
Link clenched his teeth out of sheer frustration. "Is this really his true nature…?"
"In the end, Link, you will have to kill me," he stretched both of his hands to his sides. "What will you do?"
"I… I…" he glanced over at his Destiny sword and held it tightly as his golden eyes diverted back to his adversary. "I will stop you, by any means necessary."
Vincent nodded in understanding. "Then let us finish this… hero."
Both swords clashed once more in an epic struggle. Link swung his sword in a combination of vertical horizontal attacks and Vincent would evade and parry with a barrage of his own attacks. The mercenary ducked under one of Vincent's attacks and sweep kicked the noble, but the red eyed teen leapt high in the air unleashing a another energy blast at Link. The blond rolled out of harm's way only to be met by Vincent's boot which connected to his stomach sending him flying back.
"Dammit," Link cursed as he landed on his feet rather clumsily. He prepared himself as Vincent rushed towards him once again.
"Die!" The noble thrust his sword towards Link with tremendous speed, but the mercenary quickly moved his head to the side just barely dodging the attack, though it left a clean cut on the side of his left cheek, and managed to punch the noble on the face with his right hand.
Vincent staggered back, but quickly cast the pain aside and extended his hand towards Link at point black range. "Eternal Flux!" he shouted before sending Link flying back with a massive force of dark energy.
Link yelled in pain as the aftershock of the attack left his body in pain. He struggled to move, but it had left him paralyzed. "Ah… damn!
"You have been a thorn in my side for quite some time now," Vincent spoke softly and menacingly as he neared the fallen mercenary. "I must fulfill what I was destined to do," he placed the tip of his sword against Link's neck.
"Leave… Link… alone…"
Vincent quickly turned, eyes widened in surprise as Zelda stood hovering behind him with a glowing blue aura emanating from her body. Her deep sapphire eyes had turned completely white and her golden hair now shone like a million blazing suns.
"Zelda…?" Link struggled.
"The power has finally awakened," he turned to walk towards her, but was stopped by Link who helplessly clutched his boots in an attempt to stop him.
"Vincent… no…"
"This is the moment of truth Link," he raised his boot in the air and brought it down against the mercenary's chest causing the teen to yell in pain. "You will witness the era of rebirth!"
"Leave Link alone!" Zelda shouted as a raging gust of wind suddenly exploded from behind her almost causing Vincent to lose balance.
"The heart of the island," Vincent spoke as he walked towards her, marveling at the beauty before him. "The power to oppose the Goddesses themselves!"
"Vincent no!" Link shouted as he struggled frantically to stand despite his wounds. Though the pain was almost unbearable Link managed to stand and ran towards the noble with his hand outstretched towards Zelda.
"The ultimate gift," he raised his knight's sword in the air.
"I won't allow it!" Link grabbed the tip of his sword and swung it like a boomerang towards Vincent. The sword managed to slice Vincent's side and gave the mercenary the time needed to tackle the noble to the ground. He frantically began punching Vincent's face while the red headed teen struggled to break free from Link's berserk rage.
"I won't let you near her!" Link shouted as the assault continued, but unbeknownst to Link the red aura began forming around Vincent once more.
"Your persistence is starting to get on my last nerve!" A flash of red energy exploded from the noble making Link fly a few feet towards the ground.
Zelda's appearance returned to normal as she laid eyes on the fallen teen. "Link!" she yelled as she kneeled next to her lover.
"You may be able to prolong her life, and maybe even yours Link," Vincent hissed as he stood up, a line of blood falling from his lips, "but you won't escape your inevitable death."
"Zelda," Link spoke as he stood up yet again. "You have to get away…"
"Don't even start with that!" the blonde spat back. "I'm not leaving anywhere!"
"Then die together!" Vincent shot another blast of energy towards the pair.
"Zelda watch out!" Link shoved the young girl aside before rolling away from the blast radius. He quickly rushed towards his sword and picked it up assuming a defensive position. "C'mon!"
Vincent gripped his knight sword tightly and dashed towards the mercenary as the red aura that surrounded him began wrapping itself around his blade. Zelda recovered from the sudden push and glanced at the fight before her. Vincent's power and agility was clearly more than what Link alone could handle. She frantically began looking around for a way to help Link when she spotted Kain's halberd lying not too far from her.
"Kain…" she breathed before sprinting towards the weapon.
"Gah!" Link yelled as he was pushed back by another of Vincent's attacks. The Sheikah blood the noble possessed gave him a power Link couldn't begin to comprehend. Not being able to find any opening in his form Link could only block and try to evade his ruthless attacks.
"Feel the anger and agony my people had to suffer!" Vincent shouted as he brought his sword down with full strength. Link swung his Destiny sword upward and caught the noble's sword in a power struggle, but the force emanating from Vincent's aura began overpowering Link's sword. One crack was all the mercenary could hear before his sword shattered under Vincent's might and he was knocked back by the blow.
"The Destiny sword!" Link thought as he saw his blade torn on the ground next to him.
"Now you die once and for all," Vincent raised his sword and brought it down in order to finally end his rival's life. Link quickly grabbed the broken hilt of his sword and blocked the attack, but Vincent did not cease his attack and continued pushing downward eagerly waiting to see his sword impale the struggling mercenary.
"Vincent!" Zelda shouted as she dashed towards the noble holding Kain's halberd directly in front of her. "Kain, give me the strength."
"You wench!" Vincent's eye widened as the halberd pierced his armor and chest. "You… you…" suddenly his aura began to increase as the blood oozed out from the wound. His eyes began glowing a deep crimson and his face scrounged up in an almost demonic manner. "I will kill you!" he hissed as blood dripped from his mouth.
"Zelda watch out!" Link shouted.
Vincent extended his arms in front of himself as his energy focused on Zelda. "DIE!" he shot out the energy blast towards the girl, but a sudden blue aura appeared around Zelda protecting her from the explosion. The aftershock, however, sent her flying back same as Vincent.
Link stood up and ran towards her. "Zelda! Zelda are you ok?" he asked frantically as he cradled her in his arms and shook her slightly.
"Li… Link," she whispered as she slowly opened her eyes.
"Zelda!" he hugged the girl tightly. "You're ok."
"Did we do it?" Zelda asked as she looked back at the fallen noble.
Almost as if on cue Vincent stood up from the blast, covering his wound with one arm. His eyes still held that demonic red hue and the aura still hovered around him. "Kill… I will kill you," he hissed in an almost in human voice.
"How is he still standing?" Zelda shouted.
Link helped her up while glaring at the man before them. He gritted his teeth in frustration. "What can I do now? How can I stop him?"
An evil grin crossed the noble's face as he stared at the mercenary. "Finally realizing the limits of your strength? You can't kill me on your own Link. You can, however…" his stare suddenly shifted to the young blonde girl as a small dark chuckle escaped his lips.
Link glanced at Zelda and back at Vincent. "Forget it you monster! I'll never be like you!"
"Link," Zelda spoke softly. "If you do it… if you killed me…"
"Don't even say that!" Link hissed.
"The island's power! You can use it to beat Vincent!"
"No!"
Vincent extended his arms to his side as massive amounts of energy began forming around him. "Wasn't that the reason you came to this island? To gain the power needed to get your revenge on me? Here it is! Ready to be yours! Do it!"
"A lot of things have changed Vincent," Link replied. "Revenge…" he started remembering the conversation he had with Captain Leone at the beginning of his journey.
"Link, if yer want the power then by all means. Nevertheless, yer seek the power for revenge I can tell. Lemme tell you something lad, life is a precious gift from the goddesses. Why waste it on such petty emotions like hate and spite? Once you get your so called revenge, what's next? An empty life? A lonely life?" He dusted himself off and turned around. "Think about it, yer a smart lad."
"I came here in order to find the power to kill you, but then what else is there to life? Hate, spite, anger, suffering, it's not worth it. That is why… that is why," he turned towards Zelda. "I won't kill you Zelda."
"Link…" the girl whispered.
"I came here looking for the means of my own personal revenge, but what I found was something completely different… Zelda, I found you, I found love, I found happiness and I won't give it away. I love you Zelda, forever and a day."
"Oh Link," tears cascaded down her soft cheeks. It seemed almost so unreal how someone like Link, the once cold and heartless mercenary, had changed so much. To actually love her, to actually be willing to forfeit his own life for her, Zelda could not fathom it, but she thanked the Goddesses nonetheless, she thanked them for allowing her to meet Link, the man she loved.
Link ran his hand through her cheeks wiping away her tears in the process before planting a soft kiss on her forehead. "I love you," he breathed before backing away. He picked up Kain's halberd and stared at Vincent.
"You will truly sacrifice your life for this," Vincent laughed. "You will die for your foolish ignorance!"
"It ends now Vincent!" Link shouted as he dashed straight at the noble ready to bring out all the power he had left.
"Link!" Zelda shouted.
"Die!" Vincent placed his arms in front of him and unleashed a massive blast of red and black energy that caused the earth itself to crack under its force.
"Rahhh!" Link placed the halberd in front of him as the blast collided with the tip of the weapon. Link felt the awesome pressure of the blast slowly overwhelming him; nevertheless he struggled with all his might to stop the attack, all for Zelda's sake.
"Link!" Zelda watched helplessly as Vincent's attack slowly pushed Link back. It was too much for Link's body to take, she was sure it would kill him. "Link no!"
"I already told you! I had no desire to save you! Don't you get it? The only reasoned I played along with your stupid game was to get closer to my goal! I seek the power this island holds! That's all I want and I won't hesitate to kill anyone who gets in my way! Including you."
"You don't need to be involved with this. I came here looking for the power and that is exactly what I intend to do. I have to find a way to gain the power without putting anyone's life on the line."
"To take the power from this island means to destroy this island's life source and the people with it. How will I be able to repent for my sins if I kill in order to fix my mistakes?"
I was so determined to get power because I felt responsible for so many pointless slaughters and so many families suffering. I can still see them Zelda… the innocents I carelessly killed for a false friendship."
"I was a person lost in my own hate. I grew up not having anyone by my side and I thought I was going to die alone one day. I never once cared for anyone else and suddenly you appeared in my life. I didn't think it was going to affect me so, but here I' am, in love with the girl who never lost faith in me."
"I promise you, after this is over I will cast my sword away and I will stay with you, living every day to the fullest until the day I die."
Link slowly felt his life slipping away as the attack began causing many cuts on his body. He stared at Vincent as he smiled a victorious grin. "It can't end like this!"
"Revenge is mine," Vincent laughed but was suddenly cut off when a blue aura appeared from behind Link and slowly began pushing his attack back. "WHAT?"
"What is this?" Link thought as he looked at the blue aura that surrounded him.
"Link…"
"Zelda?" Link looked back towards the girl. "ZELDA!"
Zelda sat on the floor a few feet away from him holding the bloody tip of the shattered Destiny sword in one hand while she covered her stomach area with the other. He noticed the large red stain on her dress and the pool of blood that spread underneath her. She, however, stared at him with her signature warm smile.
"ZELDA!" Link shouted still shocked by what he had seen. Zelda had actually taking a piece of his sword and stabbed herself in order to allow the power to pass on to him. She voiced the words 'I love you' before collapsing lifelessly on the muddy ground.
"NO!"
A flash of light suddenly enveloped her body as it began to disintegrate almost as if her physical form was transforming into that blue aura that surrounded Link.
"What has she done?" Vincent shouted in anger as he was slowly pushed back by Link's new power.
Link turned back towards Vincent, anger clearly evident behind the tears.
"Link…" he heard her voice.
"Zelda…"
"Vincent! It's over!" Link drove Kain's halberd through the noble's energy blast straight towards Vincent himself.
"No no NOOOO!" the sheikah shouted as the tip of the halberd pierced his heart completely.
Link breathed heavily as he stared at the dying noble. A sudden silence overcame the entire island for that brief moment. Vincent opened his mouth to talk, but coughed up a mouthful of blood instead.
"No longer will we have to hurt anyone ever again…" Link whispered.
Vincent struggled with his arms, but managed to place them on the halberd and with the little energy he had left he pushed himself off the bloody blade and fell back against the ground.
"I…" he coughed. "I…"
Link dropped the weapon and kneeled next to the sheikah. "Save your breath Vincent, it's over now."
Vincent extended his arm towards Link and grabbed his hand. "My… family… my… revenge…"
Link took a deep breath and closed his eyes feeling the tears falling from his face.
"My… revenge… meant… nothing…"
The mercenary suddenly opened his eyes as he heard those last words, "Vincent?" he looked back at the noble and was shocked to see tears falling from his face as well.
"What… have I… done… Link?" His eyes once full of hate and rage now replaced with suffering and agony.
"It's ok now Vincent," Link spoke softly. "Just rest now my friend."
"Li… Link… I'm…" his last breath suddenly escaped his lips and his hand fell from Link's.
"I'm sorry too… Vincent," the mercenary wiped the tears from his eyes and stood up.
"The rain stopped!" Ruby shouted from the Nightmare's deck as everyone else stood up to witness what was going on.
The rain had finally stopped along with the storm. The black clouds slowly dissipated into nothingness and the fires that ignited the island also lowered and became extinguished leaving only small trails of smoke.
"What does this mean Darien?" Ms. Crystalis asked the Guard Squadron commander.
"The fight is finally over," he whispered as he leaned against the wooden railing.
"Link won! Link won!" Raiku suddenly shouted. "I'm sure of it! He won!"
The town's people began murmuring amongst themselves as small smiles began creeping back into their faces. The hardship had finally settled and even though the island had been left in a bad state it was at least safe.
"I knew you could do it," Raiku thought with a smile as he stared at the sun as it slowly rose on the horizon.
Link slowly walked towards the edge of the summit after burying Vincent's body in honor of his childhood friend. He allowed the wind to caress his face as he stared at the sun in the distance. "Zelda… the island is safe now… I know you did what you did for my sake as well as the island and the people living here," he stopped as he felt the hot sting of the tears that fell once again from his golden eyes. "I'm sorry I couldn't be stronger… I'm sorry I couldn't save you… but I know you're happy… because you love this island so much… and now I'll make sure to protect it until the end of my time… I love you Zelda and I know you will be here with me… right?" he began crying softly to himself, allowing the tears and the cries to flow out uncontrollably. He had finally done the right thing; he had repented for his sins, but at the cost of something important to him, maybe even more important than his own life. "Zelda… I love you… I will always love you… till we meet one day in the Sacred Realm."
After few minutes of silence he stood up and wiped the tears from his eyes. "Forever and day," he whispered as he stared at the dawn of a new day.
The End