Ch. 34 Vampires and Werewolves
The sun was about to set as Link prepared for bed. Raphael grabbed Link's shoulder.
"Link, can we have our talk now?" Raphael asked in a hushed voice.
"Now? It's late." Link stated.
"I know, but I can't wait. Please follow me." Raphael whispered.
Link thought about Mitsurugi and Ivy's words, but once again put them out of his head. Raphael hadn't done anything untrustworthy yet, so there was no reason to distrust him. Besides, at least he wasn't going out by himself again.
Raphael led Link west of Athens.
"Raphael, it nighttime. What about your blood thirst?" Link warned.
"Don't worry. I already drained the blood of some animals last night, so I'll be perfectly fine."
"O.K. Why did you bring me so far outside of town? What is this important?" Link questioned. Mitsurugi and Ivy's warnings were still echoing in his head despite his attempts to silence them.
"Well, I guess it would be best if I began with the story of a nobleman. A long time ago, there lived a young noble. Upon walking the streets, that young noble came across a man who had lost his mind. He had been affected by the powers of Soul Edge and tried to kill the young noble. Out of self defense, the young noble killed the crazed man. However, that one battle changed the noble's life forever. The man was actually a member of one of the most powerful families in France, and the young noble's family served under this powerful family. Unwilling to listen to the noble's explanation, his family cast him out and he became a wanted man. The young noble spent months in hiding, for if he was caught, he would be killed. While that young nobleman was being hunted by guards, he came across a young orphan girl who offered him a place to hide. The noble was so touched by the girl's unselfish act that he took the small girl in as his own. The young noble was able to change his name and became the ruler of a small town. However, with a new adopted daughter, the nobleman had new plans. His daughter remained frightened. She closed herself away from everyone and nothing he did seemed to cure the girl's broken heart. He also feared that the warmongering nobles would someday find him, and then his daughter's life would be in jeopardy. That was when he discovered Soul Edge. He realized that if the nobles took his sword, they would destroy Europe with their petty ambitions. The nobleman also realized that if he obtained Soul Edge, he could destroy the nobles and secure a safe future for his daughter. Leaving his daughter in the care of his most trusted servants, the nobleman left to find Soul Edge for his daughter's sake. That nobleman found Soul Edge and its current owner, Nightmare, or Siegfried, as we know him now. The nobleman fought Nightmare for the blade, but was easily defeated. He knew that if he failed, no one could care for his daughter. The nobleman found the strength inside himself to pierce the eye of Soul Edge, weakening the blade and causing Nightmare to become even more insane. Holding his head as if he heard loud voices inside, Nightmare ran from the nobleman, taking Soul Edge with him. The nobleman dragged himself back to his daughter, who selflessly tended to his wounds. However, life was about to become even more difficult for the nobleman and his innocent child. While fighting Nightmare, Soul Edge's evil energy entered the nobleman's blood, transforming him into a creature of the night. The nobleman seemed fairly normal by day, but at night, he found he had super human strength and speed. However, these abilities came with a price. The nobleman also had a strong desire for blood and he could no longer sleep at night, but he always felt drowsy during the day. To make matters worse, his daughter was also cursed since she had handled his blood. Luckily, the nobleman's daughter was not affected as severely. She didn't have the strong blood lusts and she could sleep during the night. Since the nobleman's daughter was no longer human, convincing her to open up to the world was even more difficult. She and her father were no longer human. People feared them and wanted to destroy them. Deciding that the only way to secure a bright future in this world for his daughter was to conquer it, he set out once more for Soul Edge. Even today, that young nobleman seeks Soul Edge so he can rule the world and provide a happy and safe future for his daughter."
"I see." Link replied, as he put the pieces of the story together.
Link drew his sword and spun around to block a blow from Raphael's sword.
"What they said is true. You out to kill me." Link's voice was filled with pain. The hero looked like he was about to cry from the betrayal he felt. "You and Amy against us from beginning. You just used me. Never cared about us. How many attacks were because of you?"
"Oh, about three or four." Raphael admitted, jumping back from Link. "However, don't you dare accuse Amy! She knew nothing. Her feelings for you are true. That is why I stopped trying to kill you and decided to use you for other things."
"Such as?" Link questioned even though he had little interest in the crazed noble's desires.
"Watch."
The sun set over Raphael and Link. Raphael's body began to change. His eyes began to glow red he grew a pair of fangs. His skin turned a grayish color as his nails grew in length and became like a beast's. The nobleman threw off his black cape and shirt, revealing a long-sleeved purple vest underneath his garments. Finally, the nobleman grabbed what looked like a red masquerade mask from his pocket and put it on to cover his eyes and the top of his nose.
"Well now, shall we begin our dance?"
Amy awoke in the middle of the night. Something just didn't feel right to her. The girl looked at the full moon hanging in the sky outside her window and then went downstairs to speak to Link. As Amy quietly crept downstairs, she searched for Link, only to find he was gone. Listening to her feeling of worry, she ran outside and found his footprints along with another set of footprints. Amy recognized the footprints of the shoes her father wore. Amy froze with horror as she put everything together. Her father's sudden compassion for all life, the way he spoke so friendly to Link, the fact that he didn't speak about his desire for Soul Edge. He was setting Link up! So that was why his attitude changed so suddenly. How could she have been so stupid?
"No!" Amy ran through the town as she followed Raphael and Link's footprints. Since it was nighttime, she could run at incredible speed, but she still feared she would be too late.
Link blocked Raphael's quick attacks. Raphael's speed and fighting style had surprised him. Due to Raphael's transformation, he was several times faster than a human and his fighting style didn't consist of thrusting as expected from someone using a rapier. He also fought using horizontal slashes in a style that almost seemed more fitting for a samurai than a nobleman. Link was forced to use his Triforce to increase his own speed and strength in order to keep up with the nobleman.
Link blocked another blow from Raphael and ducked to avoid a horizontal slash.
'He's fast.' Link though. 'But I can now predict his moves, which will make this fight easier.'
Link avoided another lightning quick attack.
'His style of fighting weakness is that he can't fight well if we're close, so I just have to get close and then I can knock his sword out of his hand.'
Link avoided another thrust from Raphael and then got close. He prepared to knock the sword out of nobleman's hand. Even though Link was furious at both himself and Raphael for being tricked, he didn't want to kill the man. Once he disarmed Raphael, he thought he might be able to gain the upper hand. However, just as Link was about to disarm the Raphael, the nobleman did something completely unexpected. The nobleman bit Link's neck.
Link yelled out in pain as strange venom flowed into his throat. He quickly broke loose of the vampire-like man's grip and pushed him away. Link fell to his hands and knees as he felt his strength leave him. Link's Triforce began to glow brighter, trying to clean Link of the foul curse, but he wasn't sure on how successful it would be.
Ivy walked into the town of Athens, limping. She had traveled for several days in an injured state without rest and was about to collapse. Siegfried, who was taking a late night walk, noticed her limping down the streets.
"Ivy?" Siegfried gasped. He called out to the woman. "Ivy!"
Ivy turned to the knight with a face full of discuss. "What do you want?" The woman spat.
"I'm surprised to see you. Why are you here?" Siegfried asked curiously. Surprisingly to Ivy, Siegfried kept his tone friendly. Most people would have started to interrogate her on the spot.
"Not that you would believe me, but I'm here to warn Link of future dangers. Where is he?"
"He left, though I don't know to where." The knight informed.
"What? Quickly, tell me which way he went!"
"I'm not sure. Why? Are you worried?"
"Like I said, I doubt you would believe me." Ivy spat.
The stubborn woman tried to limp past Siegfried, but as she was doing so, she stumbled and fell to the ground. Siegfried quickly ran to assist the woman, but she immediately pulled away from the knight.
"I don't need your help." Ivy objected.
"Ivy, you are not the only one with a past that needs repenting." Siegfried said gently. "You may have been one of Nightmare's servants four years ago, but remember, I was Nightmare. Your sins are nothing compared to mine. Now, tell me what you know. I wish to help."
"Fine! Your so-called friend Raphael is going to kill Link."
"What? I can't believe it. I remember fighting him as Nightmare, but for some reason, I thought he was fighting to protect a girl."
"I knew you wouldn't believe me. Now if you excuse me, I have an idiot elf to save."
Ivy began to walk away, but she was once again stopped by Siegfried.
"Wait! I do believe you, Ivy. I saw three pairs of tracks by the house. Maybe they can lead us somewhere. Please follow me!"
Siegfried's quickly took the lead as Ivy followed.
"I'm shocked." Ivy murmured to herself. "He's the second person to actually trust me, the first being that elf. What makes these two men so similar, but at the same time, so different?"
Link was still down on his hands on knees as his Triforce drained him of his energy so that it could protect him from the curse.
"Really, you're putting up way too much of a fight." Raphael taunted with a cheerful tone. "The poison that just entered your body isn't going to kill you, Link. You see, you've become an asset to my daughter's happiness. If you were to die, she would be so hurt, and I just wouldn't know what to do. However, I also can't let you wonder around and continue doing as you please. No offense, but you were beginning to interfere with my plans of world domination. So I decided to keep you alive, but remove you as a threat by turning you a creature like myself. Once the transformation is complete, you will be compelled to obey my every command as a faithful servant. Don't worry. I actually have no direct use for you. Instead, you're going to be Amy's pet. You'll keep all your musical talents and even your kind heart, the very things that she loves about you. You'll even keep your fighting abilities, so when I'm gone, you'll be able to protect her in my place. In fact, the only thing that will change in your personality is the desire to drink blood once in a while and the fact that you will see me as your master. Don't you see, Link? Everyone wins in this situation. Amy will remain happy for the rest of her life, you get to keep your life, and I get to create a world that Amy will be able to live in."
"If those are your reasons, you're just as sick and twisted as Ganondorf." Link hissed. He rose to his feet and pointing his sword at Raphael. "You use the excuse of making Amy happy to do whatever you want, but you really don't know how to make her happy."
"How dare you speak to your Master that way?" Raphael fumed. "I see I have to teach you some manners."
Raphael slashed at Link, but the Hylian warrior blocked the attack and slashed at Raphael. Raphael avoided the attack and struck Link in the stomach with the dull side of his blade, causing the hero to fall to the ground. Link, clenching his sword in his hand, rose to his feet, panting.
"I can't believe you can still fight like that." Raphael spoke. "Everyone I've bit has always collapsed and become my servant. Even daemons haven't been able to withstand subduing to my power. No matter. You will obey me, Link, even if I have to bite you a second time and beat the lesson into you."
"Papa, stop!" Amy's voice yelled as the girl jumped over Raphael and landed between him and Link. Amy turned to her father and raised her arms, indicating that she wouldn't let him touch Link. "Leave him alone, Papa! Don't hurt Link!"
"Amy, please step aside." The wicked nobleman requested.
"No, I refuse." Amy yelled.
"Amy, what I'm doing is for your own good. Please, do not stand against me."
"I'm not letting you hurt Link, Papa. I know you say you want to make me happy, but this won't make me happy."
"You said you wanted Link to stay with you. If he is allowed to do as he wishes, he'll ruin my plans of building a safe world for you and then he will leave you in the miserable world, alone once more. Do you want that?"
"No, I don't." Amy spoke, kneeing besides Link and wrapping her arms around him. "But I don't want you to hurt Link. I won't let you hurt him because…because…because I love him."
"Amy, I…" Raphael tried to speak, but for once found himself wordless. He didn't know what to say and he couldn't bear to actually drag Amy away from Link while he turned the hero into his slave.
"I used to believe that hope only brought disappointment." Amy admitted. "I never imagined that determination could also bring strength, but when you were gone, Link took care of me. He made me feel safe and that I could trust people again. If you try to hurt Link, then I'll fight you Papa."
Amy drew her blade and pointed it at her father; her whole body seemed to tremble.
"Amy, you know I could never harm you in anyway." Raphael sighed, putting away his blade. Raphael eyes drifted to the shadows. He knew he was being watched and he had to quickly think of a plan before he, Amy, and Link were killed.
Once Amy began to lower her blade, Raphael dashed towards Amy at a speed that was incomprehensible for her and an injured Link. He wrapped his arm around her to restrain her and drew his rapier in his other hand, running Link through.
Link hissed in pain, thinking that Raphael had just pierced his lungs and heart. Even Link wasn't strong enough to survive that deadly of a blow. Surprisingly though, Raphael missed all vital organs by just a millimeter. He still did a lot of damage, but not nearly as much as he could have done.
"Stay down, we're being watched." Raphael whispered in Link's ears as he dashed past the injured hero.
Believing this was a set up to lure Soul Edge out, Link played dead. It wasn't the first time he had to do something of that nature and was quite skilled in doing it.
"Link!" Amy screamed. "Let me go, let me go!" Amy struggled to escape her father's arms, but knew if she ran over to him, she'd find out he was alive and ruin his plan.
"You promised. You promised you wouldn't hurt him. I hate you for this, Father! I hate you!"
"Oh, that's what they all say when they don't get what they want." Spawn snorted as he walked out of the shadows. "I have to say, you're quite the coldhearted man, Raphael. Not even I expected you to do such a thing.
Raphael kept his back turned to Spawn as he spoke. "Well, of course. Did you think for a second that someone of my caliber would bond with such an inferior being?"
"I'm not sure." Spawn's red cape transformed into an ax, but before he could slash at Raphael from the back, the nobleman spun around and stabbed at him. Spawn vanished in a puff of black smoke and reappeared behind Raphael.
"Really think I'm that stupid, punk? The elf's not dead. You were planning to backstab us." Spawn snorted. "Well, I hope you and your daughter are ready to die."
"It is you who shall be vanquished from this world, daemon." Raphael hissed. "Amy, run. I'll deal with this."
Raphael released the grip on his daughter and lunged towards the daemon. Spawn appeared to have the same inhuman speed as Raphael as he blocked the nobleman's attacks with his ax and retaliated with his own attacks.
While her father and the hell-spawn were fighting, Amy ran over to Link and tried to throw him over her shoulder to drag him with her as she escaped.
"Don't." Link ordered. "I'm not hurt as bas as it looks. You escape. I be O.K."
"I refuse to leave you." Amy argued.
Spawn managed to land a kick in the nobleman's stomach, causing Raphael to skid back several feet and fall to the ground. The hell-spawn then turned his attention to Amy and Link, who he noticed was still alive.
"Touch him and you won't leave here in one piece." Amy warned the hell-spawn in her emotionless and deadly voice.
"Is that so?" Spawn laughed.
A dark aura surrounded Amy as she called forth the powers of her transformation and a pair of fangs grew in her mouth. The vampire girl stabbed at Spawn several times with the speed of her father, but the hell-spawn was able to block every single one of girl's blows.
"Impressive. If you had a chance to improve, you might actually be able to surpass your father in speed and skill. Nonetheless, you're going down." Spawn growled.
Spawn knocked the blade out of Amy's hand and picked the girl up by the throat. He then threw her to the side.
"Stay out of my way if you want to live." Spawn warned Amy.
Amy grabbed her weapon as she and Raphael attacked Spawn from both sides. Another ax appeared in Spawn's hand as he blocked the blows.
"You two are really starting to piss me off." Spawn growled as he vanished in a puff of smoke.
Spawn reappeared above the two vampires and fired a blast of green flames out of his hands.
Raphael quickly kicked his daughter out of the way of the attack, realizing she wasn't experienced enough to avoid it by herself. He then dodged the attack, but he wasn't quite fast enough as he received minor damage.
Spawn flew down in front of Link to finish him off, but Amy slashed at the hell-spawn again. The hell-spawn jumped back to avoid the attack as Amy stepped between him and the Hylian warrior.
"Last chance. Get out of my." Spawn warned.
"No." Amy answered defiantly.
"Fine! I didn't want to do this, but you left me no choice. I'm not about to let anyone stand in my way, especially if it means going back there. Die!"
Spawn's axes transformed into several sharp chains and flew towards Amy.
No one knew what happened. Blood fell to the ground, but it wasn't the blood of Amy. Link somehow used what strength he had left to appear in front of Amy, taking the blow for her.
"You son of a bitch!" Link growled in rage, causing everyone to jump. None of them had ever heard Link swear or speak so angrily before.
As everyone saw Link's form, they took a step back. Link's once soft blue eyes and sweet face had become wolf-like and fiercer than they had in any previous battle as he glared at Spawn with the utmost hate. The Hylian's blond hair became spiky and messy as claws grew on his hands. No one knew if this change was an effect of Raphael's venom, or if Link truly did have some sort of daemonic form that he had been keeping from everyone.
Link pulled the chains out of his body as he released a mighty howl. A black tornado surrounded him. The tornado vanished as quickly as it had appeared revealing Link in a new form. Amy couldn't help but take several steps backwards when she saw Link's fearsome form. Even Raphael seemed frightened.
Standing in front of everyone was a giant wolf nearly the size of Epona. Most of the wolf's fur was grey with a green tint, but his belly was white. Its neck was covered with a thick spiky wolf's mane that was the color of gold. Its ears were pierced with gold earrings and its blue eyes seemed to glow in the dark. The front paws of this ferocious beast were shaped like human hands, allowing it to better grasp enemies and claw them.
The transformation had somehow healed Link's wounds as he bared its teeth at Spawn. The wolf's hair stood back and it's back arched as he prepared to attack.
Spawn and Link charged at each other at full speed, their movements only blurs due to their advanced speed. The collision of the two beasts caused an explosion of dust to balloon into the air, preventing Amy and Raphael from viewing the fight.
Spawn and Link emerged from the dust as they both jumped into the air. Spawn tried to slash at the demonic wolf with his ax, but Link caught Spawn's arm in his mouth and bit down. Even though Spawn's skin was harder than Astaroth's, Link managed to tear into it with his fangs. Link pinned Spawn to the ground, as the earth underneath them began to crack from Link's strength.
Spawn slashed at Link with his ax, but the weapon only scratched the giant wolf as it jumped away from Spawn, taking the daemon's arm with him.
"Damn bitch." Spawn snarled. He looked at his missing arm. "Go to hell."
Spawn raised his ax and charged at Link head on. Link moved so quickly, only a blur aspirated several feet behind the hell spawn. Raphael looked to see several slash marks across Spawn's side, indicating that the wolf had attacked so quickly, he hadn't even seen it.
"Well, you're a quick one." Spawn commented to Link. "No matter."
Everyone's eyes widened as Spawn's wounds suddenly healed and a new arm grew.
"I can heal faster than you can damage me. There is no way you can win."
Spawn's weapons suddenly changed into chains with spinning double-sided axes attached to the ends. Spawn began to swing the chained-axes towards Link viciously. Even with his great speed, all Link could do was dodge the axes and try to look for an opening, but Spawn's attacks were coming so quickly, he couldn't get close. Spawn knew that despite Link's increase in speed and strength, he no weapons on him, forcing him to attack at close range. However, by using long-distance weapons, Spawn was able to render Link's new abilities helpless.
Link dodged another attack, but was cut slightly on the side.
"Pathetic mutt! Why won't you just accept your fate and die already?"
The Triforce symbol began to glow on Link's left paw as he dodged another attack. The giant wolf opened his mouth and a gold ball of energy appeared in it. Link fired the gold ball of energy towards Spawn, who quickly jumped out of the way. The gold ball of energy exploded in a large burst of flames, incinerating anything within its radius.
Spawn survived the attack as he flew out of the flames and launched several lightning bolts at Link. Link was able to dodge the attacks and counter with his gold fireballs, which Spawn continued to dodge as he hovered in the air.
Spawn fired a power blast of lightning out of both of his hands as Link fired a fireball. The two attacks struck one another, causing a large explosion as they cancelled each other out.
Link leapt through the explosion towards Spawn, but this time, Spawn was ready for the wolf. His chains wrapped around the giant wolf and flung Link to the ground. Link's landing caused a crater to form in the ground beneath him.
As Link was dragged across the ground by Spawn's chains, the giant wolf dug his claws into the ground, which allowed him to gain the proper footing. As both Link and Spawn tugged at each other, Link fired another fireball. The ball of fire hit its mark, causing Spawn to fall to the ground and release his grip on Link.
'I don't believe this beast.' Spawn growled to himself. 'His fur must be stronger than steel and he doesn't act disturbed by the injuries he's received.'
"Damn it beast, you're really starting to piss me off!" Spawn growled. "I'm going to send you and everyone in this area to Hades!"
Lightning surrounded Spawn's body. His green eyes began to glow brighter as green flames formed in the palms of his hands.
Link didn't give Spawn time to finish charging his attack. The Triforce released a bright flash as the giant wolf let out a piercing howl at Spawn, causing everyone to cover their ears.
Spawn was blown backwards, forcing him to cease his attack. The hell-spawn was blown backwards into a large rock. The rock began to crumble from the howl and Spawn was blown several more feet backwards into the ground when Link finally ceased howling. Link finished the attack with three more blasts of fire in Spawn's direction, making sure the daemon was finished.
Siegfried and Ivy followed the tracks in the ground. They covered their ears as they heard a loud howl.
"What was that?" Siegfried asked.
"I don't know, but that howl was so loud, no ordinary creature could have made it." Ivy replied.
"It came from this way." Siegfried informed.
"You think I don't know that?" Ivy spat, following the knight. 'By the sound of that howl, something bad is happening. I just hope the elf isn't dead yet.'
Raphael and Amy uncovered their ears and looked at Link.
"What kind of attack was that?" Raphael wondered.
With Spawn defeated, Link began to walk towards Amy, who stumbled away from the giant wolf.
Seeing that Amy was scared of him, Link stopped walking towards the girl. The wolf dropped his head and let out a small whimper.
Amy studied the wolf for a few minutes. Its actions told her that despite Link's menacing appearance on the outside, he was still Link on the inside. Amy slowly approached the fearsome beast, holding out hand as if she going to pet him.
Link lifted his head as the girl knelt down besides him and tried to put her arms around his giant neck to hug him. Link sat down, gently putting his head against her body.
"As sweet as that is, I still have a job to do." Spawn's demonic voice announced. He appeared out of the smoke. His body was filled with injuries and his costume was torn to shreds. The parts of his skin that were visible looked decrepit and burnt to a crisp; almost as if he was a re-dead. Spawn's wounds and costume were already repairing themselves, bringing the daemon back to full health. The green flames were still in his hands as he prepared to attack.
"I have nothing personal against you, dog face, but I have a job to do, and you're really starting to piss me off."
Link stood up and growled at the hell-spawn. Spawn's wounds had healed by magic and he was ready to fight. Most of Link's wounds had already begun to heal at an accelerated rate, but the deeper wounds were still present.
"Take care of this, my Valentine!" Ivy shouted as her whip flew towards Spawn.
Spawn's chains transformed into the axes again as he blocked Ivy's attack. However, as soon as Spawn blocked the attack, the steel whip changed direction and extended even further as it attacked Spawn again. Spawn jumped out of the way of the whip as he glared at Ivy and Siegfried.
"Don't think I'm through yet." Ivy announced. "It's time to die!"
Ivy's steel whip made another round towards Spawn.
"Bitch, stay out of my way!" Spawn fired a giant blast of green flames towards Ivy and Siegfried. The daemon had been saving that attack for Link, but knew he needed to finish off the two intruders quickly before he continued his battle with Link.
With a single swing of his giant blade, Siegfried raised a barrier of crystals in front of himself and Ivy, protecting them from the powerful attack.
"Damn." Spawn swore
Raphael lunged at Spawn with his blade, but the hell spawn blocked the attack with his ax. Ivy attacked Spawn from the other side, flinging her whip as she channeled electricity around it. Lightning surrounded Spawn's weapons as he kicked Raphael and blocked Ivy's attack. The hell-spawn then jumped back as a blast of blue crystals flew towards him. A gold ball of flame suddenly struck Spawn in the back, sending him flying forward.
Wolf Link jumped at Spawn, but the daemon managed to recover and dodge the attack. The wolf then swiped at Spawn with his giant paw, sending the daemon smashing through a rock. Link's attack was followed by one of Siegfried's, as Siegfried swung his sword and sent a trail of crystals in Spawn's direction.
Spawn tried to jump out of the path of the crystals, but the crystals managed to touch the daemon's foot and continued to crawl up his legs. Spawn struck the crystals with all his might as he tried to stop them from creeping up his legs.
Wolf Link howled as he began to charge up for another attack as he released a powerful blast of energy from his mouth. Spawn, unable to dodge the attack since his feet were frozen in the crystals, attempted to block the attack with his cape. Even though Spawn's cape was able to protect him from some of the attack, he was still badly injured. Link then fired three more fireballs towards the daemon, each hitting their mark.
Spawn fell to his hands and knees from the onslaught of attacks. Lightning began to flow around his body as he called on the rest of his strength. Spawn was able to break free from the crystals and flew towards Link. Link fired another fireball towards the hell-spawn, causing the daemon to be knocked backwards, but Spawn quickly regained footing and flew back towards Link.
Link continued to fire blasts of fire at Spawn. Each attack knocked the daemon off course slightly, but the hell spawn continued to approach at top speed. Just as Spawn was in range to attack Link, both Raphael's rapier and Ivy's whip pierced his skin, stopping him in midair for. One final blast of fire came out of the wolf's mouth, engulfing Spawn in its flames.
"I have to say, I'm impressed." Spawn complimented Link. The daemon was hovering in mid-air, almost as if he was frozen in time. "But you'd better watch out?" Spawn warned as his body began to evaporate into black and purple smoke. "Because that inner daemon you fear so much isn't far from awakening."
Spawn's body burst into smoke, which turned into bats and flew off into the night.
Once the battle was over, Link released one last howl as he transformed back to normal. His clothes were torn from the battle and transformation as he fell to his hands and knees and panted.
"You reverted?" Ivy gasped in shock at Link's human form.
"Reverted?" Link asked.
"Changed back." Ivy explained in an annoyed voice. She had little patience for people…ever.
"Beast form acts as a cure for curses. When dark magic tries to transform my body, I transform until my body heals." Link explained.
"I see. Well, that makes curing you much easier than I expected. Now that the daemon is gone, it's time to take care of one last thing."
Link quickly jumped up and blocked Ivy's snake sword before it could strike Raphael. His purple tunic had been shredded and he was covered in cuts and bruises, but he had gone through worse.
"Don't help him, you idiot!" Ivy yelled at Link. "He's your enemy! He wanted to kill you, or have you forgotten that?"
"I know." Link responded. "But wasn't there enough killing? All I've seen in life is fighting and death. If we kill one another, we add to that death. I no want that. Someone has to stop all the killing, Ivy."
"And if he comes after you again?" Ivy accused.
"Then I will defend myself." Link informed. "But I have no desire to kill."
"So be it." Ivy spat. "Don't expect my help in the future."
The white-haired woman turned and walked away. Link approached Raphael and Amy.
"I guess I won't be traveling with you anymore." Raphael informed. "So tell me, how did you revert back to your human self in the middle of the battle?"
"Beast form acts as a cure for curses. When dark magic tries to transform my body, I transform into that until my body heals." Link explained.
"You could still travel with us, but this could be hard to explain to others." Link informed. "Best if you and Amy leave. If you not cause me trouble, I not cause you any. I tell others you decided mission was too dangerous for Amy."
"Yes, I suppose this would be for the best." The nobleman agreed. "Well Amy, it's time we went home."
"But…I don't want to?" Amy argued.
"Listen to your father." Link instructed, kneeling down to the girl's height.
"That means I have to give your ocarina back, doesn't it?" Amy guessed.
"Yes." Link acknowledged.
"Well, here you go."
Amy took Saria's ocarina and handed it back to the Hylian. Before Link took the ocarina from the girl, he reached into his bag and handed her a different ocarina. It was handmade and carved from wood, and even though it wasn't the high quality of Saria's, it was still beautiful.
"Here, take this one." Link handed the ocarina to Amy. "I made it for you. Knew you would need your own someday. Not as nice as other one, but yours to keep."
Amy took the ocarina and hugged Link, not wanting to let him go.
"I don't want to go." Amy told the Hylian as a tear slid down her face. "I don't want to leave you."
"I know." Link soothed. "Don't worry. Song I taught you. Play it and I will be with you."
"O.K. Thank you." Amy thanked the Hylian.
"Amy, it is time to go now." Raphael took the girl's hand.
Link eyed the nobleman coolly. "Are you going to still going after Soul Edge?"
"No, I'm afraid being with you has convinced me to do otherwise. I won't stop to make this world safe for Amy, though."
"Could always find way to live happy and normal lives." Link suggested. "May be difficult, but not impossible."
"Perhaps."
Holding Amy's hand, Raphael turned and began to walk away from the Hylian. Link turned towards Siegfried and the two began to walk in the opposite direction towards Sophitia's.
"Oh, Link? I'd like to give you some advice." Raphael quickly turned around. "For saving my daughter's life, this is the least I can do. Spawn was the last of my former ally's servants. He was also the most powerful. However, his master is far more powerful. While I was with them, I discovered who the identity of the man in white."
Raphael brought his mouth to Link's ear and whispered. Link's eyes widened in shock as he heard the name.
"What!" The Hylian hero gasped.