Really, what kind of line was that? 'Give me your name and I will give you mine?' Now he chose to speak up? Vera knew they were screwed, but she had to try something. Being this outnumbered, it really was hopeless.
"Lloyd, no!" She called out when she saw him go down.
Yiga around her raised their weapons. She was dead, she was sure of this. This was the end. To her utter surprise, she got saved by a man with wavy, long red hair. Twirling, he dove in, blocking and attacking the first couple of Yiga with his short sword.
A woman joined in as well, giving out harsh kicks and even throwing what looked like cards at others, driving them back or to the ground. A round, shimmering weapon flew over, hitting all three of the Yiga that were surrounding Lloyd.
All this fast action and moves, had only left Shade standing, surprised and frustrated. He had grabbed the teen by his hair, lifting him up, even though he was out cold.
"Please, sir. Don't hurt him. I'm sure we can talk about this." A soft, melodic female voice pleaded. That blonde hair, the way she folded her hands together, her pleading eyes and sheer innocent radiance.
"You, you can't be..." Shade shook his head, suddenly feeling weak and even a certain pain.
Letting go of the teen, his hand went up to his chest. And took a step back. Why, why did it hurt? Was she glowing? Stop playing with me! Shade wanted to scream, but he wasn't able. It was like he was stuck in place, stuck in his 'own' body. There was only one way out.
All three of them watched in surprise as the dark appearance seemed to sink into the ground and a dark mass skidded away from them.
"What was that?" Sheena asked with a frown.
"Ah, who cares? He's gone now." Zelos waved off her worry, as he offered himself as support to the young lady. "Are you alright, white blossom?"
Vera frowned at this weird nickname, but quickly ignored that, taking his support since she needed it.
"Lloyd. Is he okay?"
"Yoh, Colette. Is that really Bud?" Zelos called over.
The blonde knelled down at the teen's side, turning him and looking him over worryingly. "Yes, it's Lloyd."
There was no mistaking that hair and face she both knew from when they were just little kids. Sheena let out a sigh of relief.
"We were lucky to come across all this when we did."
"Yeah, those bastards were really ganging up on you. Why's that?"
The redhead looked at Vera with a dashing smile. Weird, he really reminded her of Sidon, even if he wasn't as tall, or a Zora for that matter.
"We'll come back to that later. We should find a safe place and treat her wounds." Colette suggested.
Sheena stepped closer to her and helped her lifting up Lloyd, forgetting she was more then strong enough to do this herself.
"I agree. Where is the nearest safe place to go?"
"Uh, back this way." Vera only now started to feel the three arrows in her body, the adrenaline fading.
Now she was rather happy the redhead was holding her up, or she would have fallen to the ground. She hopped along with him, while the blonde girl seemed to have no problem carrying Lloyd, with just one arm!
"Who are you people?" She wanted to know, though she had a certain suspicion she already knew.
"I am Sheena Fujibayashi." The black-haired ninja girl, Lloyd had compared Vera with. It must be in skill, because they looked nothing alike. She wasn't as...'blessed.'
"I am the great Zelos Wilder." Her red-haired support smiled. The idiot charmer Chosen. Yet, he was still an appreciated friend.
Vera then looked over to the blonde, walking next to them. "Then you must be Colette."
"Oh... Yes, Colette Brunel. Pleased to meet you, uh...?" She sweetly smiled and bowed her head, looking at the Sheikah curiously after.
"My name is Vera."
"So, did Lloyd tell you about us?" Sheena guessed from the young woman's reaction.
"Here and there, yes."
Right when Vera wanted to say more, a horse showed up, a wagon in tow. The stable girl sat on the back, waving to them.
"Oh, thank goodness, here you are. When your horses came back hurt and without their riders, I thought the both of you might have been..." She shook her head and gestured back to the wagon. "Please, place the wounded on here. We can go back quicker and get the proper help."
No one was going to say no to that. Riding on the back, it was a quick and sadly bumpy ride, but that couldn't really be helped. Lloyd and Vera were each laid down on a bed in the stable. They were lucky a certain Sheikah painter was around.
Pikango was surprised to see a fellow Sheikah, and worried to see her hurt. He had the necessary things and skill to help with her wounds. The older Sheikah man, was very known and skilled painter in Kakariko.
"What are you doing here?" was the first question she asked.
"Hello and good to see you too, Vera." The painter just smiled. He knew this girl well after all. "I am out painting the scenes. Just got here this night. Lucky for you."
He then put the wooden part of a paint brush between her teeth to bite down on, while he pulled out the arrows quickly. Sheena joined in, offering help with handing all the necessary things to treat the wounds. Zelos watched from the other side of the bed and Colette was in between the two beds of Vera and Lloyd.
A cold towel was carefully placed on the teen's head, over the bump that was protruding there. He seemed rather peaceful, laying there. There were a lot of questions on Vera's mind, along with a bunch of worries. Her fellow Sheikah noticed right away.
"It's better to speak your thoughts than to keep them to yourself." The wise words of chief Impa. Which she spoke to every Sheikah and even though they were of stealth and secrecy, thought and worry weren't part of that.
"Sorry, Pikango. This is kind of sensitive information. I would like to talk to you later. Thank you for your help, but..."
"Yeah, yeah, I get it, no worries. No feelings hurt. I will get back to painting just outside if you need me. Don't you get up just yet." He warned her before walking away, seemingly not bothered at all.
"You know that man? He seems to be very helpful." Sheena remarked, looking the bandages he had done. It was very professionally done, with utter care.
"And how do you know Bud?" Zelos asked from the other side of the bed, crossing his arms.
The black-haired girl shot him a glare. "Allow her a bit of rest, will you?"
"Hey, I just wanna know who we're dealing with. Bud is out cold. For all we know she's making use of the situation. You never know, Jubblies."
"Why would you help her out then?"
"I never leave a damsel in distress. I am a gentleman."
"You are an idiot Chosen whom charms all women. That's what Lloyd said."
Vera's remark stopped the argument, they both looked at her for this. She just directed her eyes to Sheena. "And a clumsy but very kindhearted ninja, who first was an assassin, but then became a very appreciated friend as well."
It got them quiet, both of them scratched the back of their head. The Sheikah turned her head to the blonde, who sat on the edge of Lloyd's bed, still looking worried.
"He really cares for you. Your name I have heard a lot. I got the feeling he'd do anything for you."
Colette's face flushed bright red, turning it away shyly.
"Hehe, he already went and done that. I mean; going across worlds, fighting angels and even a god just to save you? Come on, that's true love." Zelos laughed.
All the blonde could do, was get even more flustered, not even able to say anything to this.
"Well, anyway. Clearly Lloyd trusts you. So, how are you involved and exactly what kept him here this long?" Sheena asked, pulling in a chair and taking a seat.
"Right. That is a rather long story, but I suppose I can try to keep it short. I found him in trouble; a Yiga in disguise wanted to take him out, because of something he was carrying. This is called a Sheikah slate, which is supposed to only work for the hero of Hyrule. Anyway, I discovered this and took him to my village. My chief asked me to guide Lloyd, since he isn't from here. She is a clairvoyant, so that's how she found out. The problem was that apparently, the hero Link was lost. We don't know what happened to him or even if he's still alive. The Sheikah slate is the only way into the four Divine Beasts. To free them from the malice of Ganon and set them back to their original task: take down the great, dark essence that is Ganon. Who now has a tight hold on Hyrule castle. No, the whole kingdom."
It was a lot to take in and really lacked good explanations. Yet, it did answer some questions.
"So, Lloyd is trying to play the hero again, huh? But why, for a world we don't even know?"
"Because Zelos," Sheena glanced at him. "Unlike you, he has good morals. Clearly, the people here are in trouble. And he's got the way to save them. He won't question it, he wil just do what he can do to help."
"Auch, geez. Harsh. Fine, but still, why and how did he get here in the first place?"
"We have wondered that as well. Lloyd says he found himself in a cave, waking up in a tub. Is that where you come in as well?"
"No. We came in through a sort of tear, at a hideout of Yiga as we were told later. It was completely empty. Well except for the cutey that was locked up there."
Vera nodded, thinking back to what Lloyd's father had said, encountering the leader of the Yiga. But then she looked up.
"Wait, did you say the Yiga base was empty?" She asked in sheer disbelieve.
The red head was still standing at the end of the bed, folding his arms behind his head. "Yup, totally abandoned. We don't know where they went though."
"Did you find any clues there?"
"Hm. There were a lot of papers, but they were in a strange language," answered Colette softly.
"Oh, and a small lab was there as well. I found a helmet that turned out to be very important to the Gerudo people."
"This could be worth investigating." Vera more mumbled to herself.
"I would assume chief Riju thought of this as well and already sent out scouts to do so." Sheena remarked.
The Sheikah was surprised these people got the chance to meet the chief of the Gerudo. But if they really saved one of her people, and even brought back the thunder helmet as a bonus, it was understandable. The Yiga had probably stolen the helmet just to spite the Gerudo.
"Those red beams that have been fired off, is that something to worry about, white blossom?"
"Uh... not really. When a Divine Beast is freed, it sets up its attack at Ganon. It is nothing we need to worry about."
Zelos hummed and nodded, leaning against the wooden post of the bed. He aimed his gaze at his fellow Chosen. "You talked about this Link before."
"That's because Zelda mentioned him. She said he needed to be saved. But not from what."
Confused, Vera looked over to the blonde again. "You spoke to the princess?"
"Princess?" Right, she had read about the hierarchy. Zelda was mentioned as the last in the line of the throne.
Colette nodded. "Only for a moment, she was able to communicate with me. Sadly she couldn't tell me much about Link. He is the one who is supposed to take down Ganon, right? Is that because he has that Triforce on him?"
"My, you actually took the time to read up on things here?" Vera was genuinely surprised.
"Well, you should know about the place you end up in, right? Before you go and hurt the wrong things or people."
"Says the assassin who didn't know the first thing about Sylvarant and its Chosen."
Sheena shot Zelos a deadly glare.
"Well, I suppose in Lloyd's case, it seemed better to just get in to it. The hold of Ganon has been going on long enough. I believe Goddess Hylia has chosen Lloyd to take the hero's place, to at the very least help us out. I have asked Rito to search for the hero and members of my tribe as well. We hope to find him before... Well, let's say the final show down. Sadly, we have little to go on. We have our suspicions, but that is all."
"Lemme guess; the Yiga. Those traitors of your tribe, right?" The descriptions of Sheikah and Yiga in the book seemed to line up, so Zelos just figured.
"Yes. They are slippery, however. Most of all their leader Kogha."
"It must have been painful when your own people turned their back on you like that."
This was something Sheena knew personally. She still didn't blame Kuchinawa fully for his betrayal, understanding he wanted to avenge his parents.
Zelos seemed to read her mind, meeting her eyes with a look off 'don't even think about it!'
"So, you spend most of your time with Lloyd?" Colette wanted to know.
"Most of it, yes. Except for the Divine Beasts and the route to Death Mountain. I like to say I did teach him some things about our land and its inhabitants. There was not much real time for it."
"And in turn he told you about us?" Zelos asked.
"Bits and pieces. More so in his sleep."
"Huh?" All three of them frowned while they looked at her for this remark.
Vera looked in between them. "It's not normal? That he talks in his sleep?"
"No, not really. Lloyd is a very heavy sleeper." The blonde worryingly eyed the teen while she said this.
"Like the snoring, messy kind." Zelos nodded in conformation.
"How curious. Maybe I was right then, about him experiencing and reliving his past."
Sheena tilted her head. "Like haunting him?"
"In a way. At first I did not think it was that harmful. But it seemed to have escalated."
The Sheikah rather not talk about Lloyd like this while he himself was out. But she did worry, and his friends should know about this.
"For example: not too long ago I tried to wake him from a nightmare. He got a really tight hold on my wrist, saying something about one called Kvar."
All of their faces fell by the mention of that name. There seemed to be a mix of sorrow, hate and dread. This person must have really been someone who left a lasting impression; a really bad one.
"Who was he?" Vera asked softly after a short silence.
Zelos looked at Sheena and Colette, a guilty look on his face. "I wasn't even there for that. But, from what I've heard..." He shook his head, losing his trail of thought.
"He was in charge of the project that claimed the life of Lloyd's mother." Colette said softly, looking at her hands as her fingers strangled together.
"Has he told you about Exsphere's?" Sheena asked, pointing to the small gem on Lloyd's hand.
"Only a little. That they make you stronger. Not how or where they come from."
"They come from people," she said it while biting her lip.
"People are either worked to death or... get sick to awaken the power of the Exsphere. Essentially, the soul of someone is in there." Colette explained, while she stroked Lloyd's gem with her thumb. "His mom's soul is in here."
There was a sheer disbelieve and shock, very clear on Vera's face. She opened her mouth and closed it again, not knowing what to say to this. It was clear she didn't understand completely and she still had a lot of questions.
"They are a necessary evil. With it, Lloyd is able to fight, to stand up to powerful enemies like half-elves and Angels."
Angels? The Sheikah just got shock after shock, but she held her questions. The story will be told to her completely, eventually.
"It got his mother sick, changed her into a... thing that would have surely killed Lloyd and his father if his father hadn't killed her first. Kvar was the one behind the project. Eventually, he got what he deserved; Lloyd and his father were able to kill him."
Vera couldn't imagine how that must have felt. Sure, she did see the pain in his eyes when Lloyd talked about his mother, but this... he was even carrying her soul with him! That really requires a lot of strength, in both your heart and mind.
It really put Lloyd in a new light for her. One of respect and understanding. It wasn't that strange he was haunted in his dreams. That just made sense, at least to her.
"His father. We saw him, not that long ago."
"You ran into Kratos, huh? No real surprise, he always seems to know how to find Lloyd." Zelos remarked, crossing his arms. There was a clear hostility in his body langue.
Sheena sort of shared this, but hers seemed more careful as if she was on edge.
Colette on the other hand: "He is alright? Oh, thank goodness."
"Yeah, great." Zelos was sarcastic. "He wasn't too big of a SOB to you, right white blossom?"
"Zelos, langue!"
"Sorry, Jubblies. Just simply speaking the truth." The red head shrugged.
"You are being harsh on him. Kratos had to go through hardships as well." Colette opted.
Considering what Vera just heard, she'd say so. But thinking back to that man, which Lloyd shared some similarities with, it was hard to imagine. His face was stoic, almost stone cold. Was this why Lloyd was so set on showing emotions?
"He did introduce himself rather oddly. Pointed a sharp sword at his own son's face." Vera then remarked.
"Hah, so typical," scoffed Zelos.
"However, I did hear from Sidon, the prince of the Zora, that the man had been waiting for his son for two full days without eating or sleeping, sitting out in the pouring rain."
"See? Kratos cares!" The blonde said, maybe a bit to loud.
"In his own weird way. Also, he doesn't need any sleep or food, being an Angel and all." Zelos vaguely waved his hand.
The Sheikah blinked at this. But all things considered, it made sense now. "The wings..." she said it quietly.
"So, he showed them?"
"Oh, don't act surprised, Sheena. That's so typical of him. He doesn't care who sees it when he gets to leave an impression. That's how he is."
"Does that make Lloyd an Angel too?"
This question made them all frown and look at Vera. The image of the great wings still were very fresh on her mind. Why hide this, why even seemingly be ashamed and scared?
"I'm... not – human," a voice cracked from the other bed. All eyes went directly to Lloyd. His were slightly opened, so it was hard to tell the emotions in them.
All three friends were with him right away.
"Lloyd?" Colette worryingly put her hand on his forehead, taking the cloth away to look at the bump. Now his eyes were open further, they looked tormented and distant.
"I'm like them. A heartless, lifeless being..."
"No, that is not true!" She took his hands in hers. "Remember what you have always told me. No matter what happens, even if I were to change into an angel, a crystal, or even a monster. I'd still be me. My heart, my soul would never change. You will always help people, you already proved that when you came here. You are selfless and caring. A pair of wings doesn't change that."
"Hell, if anything, it gives you a nice advantage. You can get to places much quicker for one."
"What Zelos means to say," Sheena interjected, side glancing at the red head, "is that it isn't bad on its own. It's what you do with it. Your actions, define you. Not your features."
It was most certainly strange, hearing his own words back like this, aimed at him for once. Lloyd finally completely opened his eyes, seeing the three of them clearly for the first time.
"You guys... You're here." A moment of silence, just a second, as he managed a weak smile. "Thank you."
Colette gave him a hug, even though the teen was still laying down. "I'm so happy we found you!"
"Colette." Lloyd ran his hand through her hair, his fingers slightly getting caught in the golden strands.
He couldn't help take a small whiff of it. She always had such a unique and pleasant smell. Like the sunrise over a flowing grass field, along with her sweet smile and her eyes almost the same color as the sky above. Goddess, had he missed her so?
"Sorry to have worried you."
"You certainly did, bud." Zelos stood at his other side, frowning, yet with a smile on his face.
The teen gave him and Sheena a small apologetic smile. "Thank you for coming, really. This means a lot."
At these words, Sheena and Zelos went in for the hug as well, while the teen sat up and was on the receiving end of it. He touched his head, finding the small bump there. It was only a little sensitive.
"You were lucky we got there when we did. A few moments later and who knows what would have happened." Sheena said with a serious and worried tone.
"Yeah. How were we so lucky, actually? Oh, Vera! Is she okay?" Lloyd looked around.
Colette moved out of the way so he could spot her in the other bed. The Sheikah gave him a nod, a bit of a forced smile.
"I will be alright, do not worry."
"And it wasn't all luck, bud. A little birdy, well a big one, pointed us in the right direction."
Lloyd frowned, in thought for a moment because of Zelos' words. "Oh, Teba! You ran into Teba? Where, how was he?"
"We met him when we left the desert. We were in a stable and he came there to rest. We had drawn up your likeliness in hopes of finding you." Sheena explained.
"Our little angel is a true artist, did you know that? Show him your drawing, come on!"
Colette's cheeks flushed red, clearly embarrassed. "I-I don't think that's necessary. Teba was very helpful and pointed us towards Zora's Domain, saying you'll surely go there too."
"Those Yiga sure had some nerve to ambush you two like that. But who was that one guy?"
It was clear who Sheena referred too. Vera's expression remained rather neutral, even when in pain or in thought. Lloyd was pretty used to this by now.
"That is right, you have seen him rather up-close now. That is the man in black who attacked the people at the stable and fought with me. What I do not understand is, why did he disappear like that?"
Her red eyes went from the brown-haired teen to the three friends around him.
"I don't know. I didn't do anything and still he reacted like he had seen a ghost or something?" Colette frowned while she said this. "It was odd, I felt pain, hate but love as well."
"You felt all that?" The Sheikah gave her a confused and curious look.
The blonde girl was now sitting right next to Lloyd, her hand resting on his. They either didn't notice this, or paid it no mind. Vera just saw this as conformation; those two were an item. With how they interacted, it was clear they cared for each other.
"Ah, our little angel just has a thing for that. Really attuned to feelings and such." Zelos sort of explained in his laid-back way.
"You have some odd nicknames going around," the Sheikah remarked. "Little angel, Jubblies, bud. White blossom?"
"Would you like lily more? I could call you that. I just figured, with the pretty white hair. It's like the nice blossoms in the trees, you know?"
Was he hitting on her? It was hard to tell. He was saying some flattering things, but was still keeping up that playful smirk.
"Don't mind him too much, Vera. That's just how Zelos is. Are you sure you're okay?"
Lloyd looked her over, still worried. She gave him a nod.
"As I said: I'll be fine. I just need a bit of time to heal up."
"I'm sorry, Vera. It's my fault you got hurt."
The teen looked down guilt fully. "I was all up in my own head and that got you hurt. I never meant for that to happen."
"I don't blame you, so don't blame yourself, Lloyd. I should have paid more attention. We would have been in a lot of trouble if it was just the two of us. I am grateful your friends showed up when they did."
Looking at the three of them, Vera gave them a thankful nod.
"Hey, you kept Lloyd save up until now. We owe you this much, white blossom."
Lloyd puffed up his cheeks. "Thanks for the vote of confidence, Zelos."
"It aint my fault you got riled up in all this. You chose to help these people. I aint saying that's bad, mind you. But you got us all worried, bud."
"And I'm really sorry about that." He had a guilty look on his face. "I wanted to let you all know that I was okay. There just didn't seem to be any way to do that."
"Our theory was that if he helped out, a way would open up." Vera added.
"Did you all come here the same way Kratos did?"
"Yeah, through a terrifying tear." Sheena shook her head at the thought of it. "I am still surprised he just didn't drag you back with him."
"I'd like to say I talked him out of that. But I'm not sure about that." The teen rubbed the back of his head and his face fell. "It's weird. I always thought those wings were just a gift from the Eternal Sword. But then Kratos told me that I could do much more and then they kinda came outa nowhere."
"Are you sure about that? Maybe up until recently you had no need for them," was Colette's remark.
He thought back to his struggles at Vah Medoh. Hell, even back to the start of this all, when he was faced with a totally different world. Lloyd shook his head.
"No, that can't be it. Maybe he did something when he touched my Exsphere." He stroked the gem in thought.
"You are giving that old man to much credit." Zelos said with a huff.
"But maybe it is true. Do you remember what Yuan once said, Lloyd? About your Exsphere evolving?"
He looked at Sheena for this remark. It was true that the leader of the Renegades once told him this. But was he just saying things, guessing? Or was it really true? Did the Exsphere develop the wings on its own? If this were the case, then what else could happen, how far would it go? Would he become an emotionless being?
"No!" Frustrated, he ripped out the gem from its protective case. Raising his hand to throw it, he felt soft fingers enclose his wrist. The calming, blue eyes belonging to Colette looked him straight in the eyes.
"You know you will regret that. That is still your mother's soul and legacy. She died for that."
Resentful, Lloyd glared at the Exsphere. "I know. But what if..."
"It changes you? It won't. We will make sure that won't happen. You saved me from my crystal several times. I swear I will do the same for you. We all will! Right Sheena, Zelos?"
The blonde girl looked over to them.
"We already traveled to another world for yah. If that doesn't say enough, I don't know what will." Zelos shrugged, placing his hands behind his head.
Sheena nodded firmly. "You are our friend, Lloyd. Of course, we will help you out, with anything. Through thick and thin."
The teen showed a smile that was both grateful and being deeply moved. Again, he said: "Thank you, really."