Seeing All or Nothing

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Chapter 25: Inevitably Inevitable

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"I didn't know you were a Sheikah," I said, more to myself than to the princess in front of me.

She smiled, "How else would my ancestor have been able to disguise herself as a Sheikah for seven long years?"

She did have a point; "All right, I guess." Buying time was all I could count on. And when I heard a commotion outside, as if someone had dropped an entire body of armor to the floor, I jumped into a fighting stance, fearing that someone would attack me from behind.

"Now," Zelda drawled (and I assumed that she and none of them had heard the noise), circling me slowly, "I hate to rush a good fight, but my parents want me to finish before the banquet tonight. Do you think you could minimize the talking so we can start fighting?"

I grimaced, her sarcasm actually getting to my nerves, "Funny, princess. I didn't think your parents knew about your secret playtime."

She narrowed her eyes at me and cocked her head to the side, "Oh, they were the ones who insisted I do this. I wouldn't want to let my parents down, or dishonor my family. Unlike some…" Her glance shifted to Kenny, but he was powerless, held back by at least half a dozen soldiers and chained with manacles around his wrists and ankles.

I cleared my sore throat to get her attention. She focused again on me. "This is a fight between you and me, remember?"

Her lips broadened, "Of course, your accord. You win, you retrieve the potion to cure your beloved…"

I scowled, "He's not…"

"Jade…!" It was Kenny, again. But he was cut off as well, when a soldier drew out a dirty rag and placed it against the Sheikah's mouth, gagging him.

"Hey!" I turned to them; ready to fight them back, when someone shoved me forward- guessing it was Zelda. I fell to the floor, hitting the carpeting for a few mere seconds before stumbling back up, sword towing behind me. "That was cheap," I sneered, itching to rub my sore arms.

She shrugged, "I could have easily killed you."

I was so compelled to ask her if this was necessary, wondering why we couldn't just sign a peace treaty, or something better- like, let me run away and never come back. But instead, I decided on doing the opposite, which included pissing her off.

"I figured," I said with a small sigh, "Do you think your brother would have approved?"

She stopped her pacing to glare, "What does it matter what he approves and disapproves? He doesn't matter in this."

I shook my head, glancing up at the ceiling, where light no longer reached, leaving it in shadows as dark as it would if it were night. "But he probably mattered to you… Well, not exactly. I mean- he was worried that this would happen. Good thing he doesn't have to deal with your lies anymore, right?"

"What do you mean?"

"Zelda," Impa called, stepping forward, "Stop listening to her and dispose of her, quickly!"

"Give me a moment," the princess exclaimed, eyes hard and cold as the ice that I was feeling bore through me. Only a bit longer, and maybe I would be able to fight again, exactly I had that night with Impa.

"Oh, yeah," I continued, placing a hand on my hip for a bit of a dramatic effect, while at the same time avoiding the pain that shot up that arm, "He's way gone. Actually, didn't they say anything to you? Saria, I mean?" Her expression was blank, and I smiled, "Yeah, he's dead."

Her hands shook, the blade quivering along as well, "You are lying."

I sighed, feigning disappointment, "No, not really. We had a huge fight and it just slipped. I sent him a huge blow, he fell off the cliff…"

"What cliff?" she interjected, eyes searching my face in panic.

"Your Highness," Impa pleaded, walking past me. I then raised the sword to the Sheikah's neck, placing enough pressure so she knew there was a sharp blade against her skin.

"Stupid idea to walk past me like that," I said, glancing at Zelda. She seemed too caught up in her brother's "death" to notice I had her protector under the blade.

Impa laughed dryly, "Smart, girl…" And then she whirled around, too fast for me to catch, and knocked me to the floor with a sickening thud. I didn't even realize the hilt was gone from my hand until all the dizziness had dispersed, so that I was suddenly left weaponless, lying on the floor, searching for anything to help me. "But you are still a klutz, remember?"

"How could I forget?" I muttered under the tip of her blade.

"Let me finish her, Princess," Impa hissed, "I have been waiting long enough."

"I hardly count two days ago a long time," I interjected, avoiding my eyes going cross-eyed if I stared at the blade for too long.

"Impa," Zelda murmured, her voice cold, "Step out of the way. A fair fight, as always. If she wants to lie to me about what I already know to prolong her death, then so be it."

I stumbled up, eyeing Impa warily before reaching for the sword. It was lighter than before, and I took my time testing it out to prepare my voice. I mean, how could I squeak at a time like this?

"Are you done?" the princess asked.

I shrugged, ignoring her question, "What do you mean 'about what I already know'?"

"I have spies everywhere," she replied, impatience brimming her tone, "And soon after this, we will bring my brother back from the outside world, and make sure Neus and the others are punished justly for their treason."

"That's harsh," I said, tightening my grip on the hilt when the difficulty of forming words came rushing back, "Did Neus work for you for a time?"

"She did," was her reply, and then she stood silent. There were voices outside, yelling and screaming; most were guards.

My muscles began to contract on their own, my mind telling me to fight already. I could feel the sweat dotting my forehead, the pressure to stand still sending shots of pain up my spine.

"Impa," Zelda called, turning to face the angered Sheikah off to the side, "See what the problem…" She was cut off, too fast for me to realize it. Her blade caught mine, blocking it from doing more than grazing her arm. Her eyes blazed with shock. I drew away, the blade gnawing against hers.

She smiled, twirling the sword in her hand, letting it dance in the light for a moment before jumping forward, the tip pointed at my heart. I evaded, stepping sideways and slashing my blade horizontally. She ducked, and shot her leg forward. But I stepped over it, lost my balance, and fell to the side. I could hear the soldiers laughing in the distance when I rolled onto me back, just as the princess's blade came crashing down where my head had been. I staggered up, feeling the adrenaline rush further in strength.

A smirk crossed my lips, and I stalked toward her, raising my sword and sending a diagonal blow. She blocked, and I drew away for another. With her horizontal slice, I ducked and scurried behind her. Thinking I could sneak in a blow, I vertically slashed, aiming for her back. It grazed the material of her dress, ripping the fine silk material, before she swirled around and caught the blow. I pushed the blade away and jumped back, slowly beginning an arc around her. She opened her mouth to speak, but I cut her off, again, and ran toward her, sending a thrust too fast for her that she had to evade, curling to the floor and then rolling back up again. The blade cut a piece of the carpet before she twirled the blade over her head and sent a horizontal blow that undoubtedly must have cut a few strands of hair off the top of my head. I breathed in deep; my hands beginning to shake as the cold turned more into an icy chill.

"If you took away the stumbling and the wrong steps," she drawled, thrusting the blade in front of me, "you wouldn't be too bad." I managed to block, and she tried again with a vertical slice. This time, I caught it, and shoved it away with all the strength I could muster. She wobbled backward precariously, lowering her sword, as if I would do the same. Instead, I plummeted forward again, blade aimed at her heart.

A few more inches, and I would have reached my goal, but it had come too late. My neck nearly snapped from the blow, as something hard pummeled into me, knocking me off my feet. I fell to the floor, right shoulder first. Pain shot up my arm, into my shoulder, through my neck, and down my spine. Someone called my name, as loud bangs resounded down the hall, and soldiers began to clank in their protecting armor.

"This has gone long enough," Impa seethed, her red eyes glowing menacingly as she grabbed my fishtail braid and yanked me up. I cried out, dropping the sword to pry away her hands. "Your twisted game, Princess, must end."

"Impa!" her voice was distant, but she was furious.

"Let her go!" another voice insisted. I couldn't place the familiarity to a face. I was tossed down, onto my back. I groaned, the breath knocking out of me.

"You would like to fight, boy!" Impa exclaimed, disappearing from my view.

I rolled onto my stomach, wincing every time pain shot throughout my body like pins and needles up my spine and through my limbs when I tried to sit up.

"We're not finished yet," Zelda hissed, as a cold blade rested at the nape of my neck. I craned my neck up to see her gazing down at me, the red of her eyes penetrating the blue like the sliver of metal that she held against my skin. "Stand up."

I did, slowly. "I think you are being ridiculous with this," my voice was wavering below a whisper, so soft I barely heard myself.

"Am I?" she murmured in return, curving the blade below my chin, "You've done so much damage, so much death, making me kill so many Sheikah."

"That was your fault alone," I retorted, "No one told you to do any…"

"But I had to," she interjected, shaking her head ever so slightly, eyes wide, "Don't you see? Those who go against the Royal Family must be punished."

The commotion behind me heightened in volume, driving me out of her gaze, forcing me to glance to the side. She raised her hand, white glove and all, and slapped me before I could realize what she was doing.

"Listen to me, girl," she sneered. I retaliated when I realized the blade had lifted from my neck; so I ducked under and pushed her, forcing her to stumble to the floor. The sword dropped from her hand, clanking to the tile almost noiselessly, had the commotion behind me- the screaming, the metal clashing, the bangs- drowned out all else.

I staggered, grabbing her sword before she could reach for it. It was warm in my hand, even a bit floppy in my grip. But it didn't matter; she looked helpless, gazing up at me with narrowed eyes. You're done for, I wanted to scream to her. She was done for, in a few seconds- she would be.

"Don't do this," her lips formed the words as her gaze wavered. I placed both hands on the hilt; prepared to stab her, to ruin her fine dress.

"Jade!" It was hardly distinguishable, but it was enough to make me lose focus and stumble. From the corner of my eye- to my right, I saw the shock of familiar hair, the chestnut color flashing in my mind. Below came the hazel eyes, so strong I forgot where I was, only knowing how a blonde carrying a bloody sword was dragging him. "Look behind you!"

But I didn't, not in time. The force of the blow stole my balance away, leaving the numbing pain of something so sharp and hot and cold penetrating my back in an instant's time. I choked, something warm and coppery welling up my throat. It was hard to breath, even too difficult not to blink. Energy slipped away, just as the blade that had been in my hands only seconds before.

Someone screamed, another yelled an order.

"Impa!" It sounded feminine, and shocked. But it didn't really matter, as I felt the cold of the tiles against the side of my flushed face.

"Jade, Jade, listen to me," this voice was soft, familiar, too. Red eyes burned my eyes. I shut them, and listened. "Just, stay calm, okay?"

"I…am…" my own voice was hoarse, and I was surprised I could still talk with the taste of blood on my tongue.

"Jade," he sounded panicked, "You can't go, yet. Understand?"

"Game…not over…" I sighed, "Savvy…"

"No, no. It's not a game," he stuttered. He placed a hand to my forehead, trailing down to my chin. I wanted him to let me go, "I'm so sorry, please. Stay, Jade, don't go…"

I would have smiled if I could. "I told you…"

"What?" I opened my eyes, eyelids feeling glued-shut, to stare up at his pale face, "Told me? Told me, what?"

"You should…" I wanted to vomit, but I forced it down, letting the pain sear my abdomen if it must. I wouldn't go like that. "…save your apology for later…"

He smirked half-heartedly, as worry etched a crease between his eyebrows. "Listen, we'll get you out."

"You need to go…" I choked the last part. My head spinned, colors jumbled.

"It's not over, Jade, you can't," he pleaded, glimpsing around us. "Impa will pay for this, I swear."

"Where did…?"

"They fled," he interjected, pushing a stray strand of matted hair away from my eye, "They left the mess to the soldiers, but they won't do anything, Jade. Listen…"

"No," I seethed, finally becoming irritated with his tenacity, "Just promise me…promise me, the next one will live…"

He furrowed his eyebrows, if they could go further, "But, Jade… It…" then he stopped, eyes watering.

My own burned, as something trickled to the side of my chin. "It won't be over, Kenny… I promise you…not- not until…" My eyes closed, my vision of him no longer recognizable. The noise became something more of background music, like in an elevator. It was soft, sweet. It went perfect with the pitch black of nothingness in front of me.

Those last words I had mumbled never became clear to me, not until years later, not until I realized what I had to do for sure. I wasn't the only one who had gone this way, with the scar, bringing shame to the first one who had obtained it. No, it wasn't over. It was never over, especially not for me. I made sure of that.

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The End

…Haha, just kidding. There is still the epilogue left. I know, quick ending, right? I'm sorry, but I didn't feel as though there was much left. Fillers would only prolong the inevitable- well, what I want to happen in the story anyway. Now, I've got a very, very, muy importante question to ask. Is there anything, anything at all, that you guys don't understand, that you would like me to explain? If you have any questions that I could answer either in the epilogue itself or in an AU or something, please don't hesitate to ask. If I don't answer any of these questions, just know that the prequel will most likely do that. So, hope you all enjoyed, and stay posted for the next and last chap of Seeing All or Nothing. Until then… And Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Happy New Year in case I don't update by that or around that time:-D