*Alright, so I expected this to be the last chapter, but it appears we'll have one more after this along with three short epilogues. I don't have much to say about this other than it was very emotional to write. I'm sorry if it wasn't very climactic, but please enjoy anyway! ^^ Also, thanks SO much to everyone who left a review last time. You all motivated me to get off my butt and actually spend the time to write. (Also, my new dog who won't get off my feet. T_T) Anywho, enjoy! :3*
"The army?" Sky exchanged looks with the others. "Aren't they here for Cia?"
"This isn't good," Adult Link groaned. "Cia, get behind me before they get here!" The sorceress hesitated, shuffling back a few steps. "Please, I promise I won't trick you. We'll protect you."
Cia only hung her head. "Even after everything I did?"
"Even after all of that." Sky walked over to her and gingerly placed a hand on her cheek. It wasn't a genuine show of affection, but he did what he could to make Cia more comfortable. "Loneliness makes people do awful things. My brothers and I know that best. I admit I'm still upset about what you did, but it doesn't make you a bad person."
It sounded like he was comforting a small child. The sight of tears streaming down Cia's face would have been pathetic if not for the context. Even Midna, who gripped Wolf's shoulder tightly in anger, had a pang of sympathy in her gaze.
"Oh, that's right!" Wolf approached Cia casually, dragging a resisting Midna behind him. "Do you think you could turn Midna back? I think she said you did this to her or something. Please?"
Cia stared at the two in thought for a moment. "It's the least I can do, I guess…" She gave her hand a half-hearted wave and the stunned imp was covered in a veil of black pixels. They disappeared in all but an instant, leaving a towering woman in its place. She ran a hand over her pale blue arm, not able to believe she was back in her original body.
Wolf couldn't help but give her a wistful smile. "It's been a while since I've seen you like this."
"I'm sure," was all Midna said. Though she tried to hide her happiness under a tough expression, Wolf could see it well enough.
"Um, Sky…?"
He turned around at the sound of his name, flinching when he was greeted with the sight of his friend's tears. "Oh, don't worry," Sky Zelda giggled. "They're happy tears. I mean, it is time to go home, right? Since everything is sorted out and all."
"No, no they're here!" Agitha shouted. "A-And they look angry…"
Adult Link grabbed Cia by the arm roughly. "We'll find out what to do with you later," he whispered to her. "For now just trust me."
"Y-Yeah," she agreed, blood rushing to her cheeks. "It's just… I never thought you'd care about me without magic. I mean, just look at me."
Adult Link caught sight of everyone else crowding around the door, weapons at hand. He knew he had to keep Cia calm and focused, lest she become enraged somehow. "What, did you think I'd see some kind of cold-hearted witch?" he asked with a joking grin. "Nah. You're kind of cute, actually."
Cia wavered where she stood, not sure how to respond. "C-Cute? You're lying…"
"Nope. See? That expression you've got is kind of cute." The hero felt a bit of guilt for messing with her so shamelessly, but he couldn't deny it was a little fun. "But I think you've got to learn that I'm not the only guy out there. I'm just the only one you've ever really seen."
"No, you're-" Cia cut herself off, embarrassed by what she was about to say. "I mean, I've seen a few other boys through my crystal ball, but you're the only one I wanted to watch diligently."
Adult Link tilted his head and questioned, "Yeah, about that. When you say you watched me, exactly how much did you see?"
"Everything," she replied matter-of-factly. "When you were a child I didn't pay much attention, but… Once you went into the future I couldn't take my eyes off you."
"Y-You saw everything…?" The hero's face flushed red.
"Sorry..." Cia muttered apologetically. "I was just a little curious, I guess."
Feeling bad for mortifying her, Adult Link smirked in a teasing way. "Well, I guess I can't blame you. Even the other guys couldn't stop staring. Guess I just gave that effect on people, huh?"
Cia mustered a small chuckle, a glint of innocence appearing in her once-cold eyes. Perhaps Ganondorf's alleged spell on her was releasing its grasp. However, her shy smile disappeared as the front doors burst open.
"Cia!" Lana's familiar figure stormed into the building, the rest of the army not far behind. "Don't move!"
Adult Link instantly locked gazes with the Fierce Deity's Mask on Lana's belt. He could've sworn he saw it muster a faint smile…
"Calm down, Lana," Sky ordered in a fatherly tone. "Cia isn't going to hurt anyone."
Scarf Link pushed his way through some soldier, clearly ready to throw in his own opinion. "Are you that stupid? Look at the state of Hyrule! It's a wasteland!"
Cia hung her head shamefully. "I-I'm sorry," she stuttered quietly. "I know that can never be enough to say, but…"
"It's true," Midna spoke up, surprising her new army. "She even turned me back to normal. The old Cia wouldn't do that."
Scarf Zelda, who was quick to hurry to the front, squinted at the Twili, a glint of realization shining in her sapphire eyes. "…Midna?!" she gasped.
"Yeah, this is my true form," Midna explained with a hint of exasperation. "Apparently she was under a spell or something or other."
Lana's glare quickly softened, taking a longer look at Cia. "I think it's true. This doesn't seem like a trap."
"Oh, really?" Scarf Link asked sarcastically. "And how can you tell?"
"I just can," the sorceress answered simply.
"Um, I can return this temple to how it was," Cia offered. "I'm sorry for ruining it." She glanced at the paintings of the Links hung on the wall. "Well, 'ruined' probably isn't the right word…"
Adult Link smirked at the army opposite to his. "Sorry you guys had to miss the party, but we've got it covered."
"N-No, wait!" Cia grabbed his arm urgently. "What about Volga?"
"We took care of him," Agitha grinned proudly.
Midna rolled her eyes with a scoff. "Yeah, 'we.'" Wolf jokingly pushed her with the most genuine smile he'd given in a while.
"Um, Link?" Scarf Zelda called meekly. She quirked an eyebrow when four heads turned to her. "Err, you." She jabbed a finger at Adult Link. "Do you find Cia to be completely trustworthy?"
He rubbed the back of his neck nervously, carefully choosing his reply. "Well, not completely, no. But I think if you all keep your eye on her for a while she'll be alright."
"Hold on!" Scarf Link held up a hand with a shocked expression. "You expect us to babysit her? You must be freaking crazy. She tried to kill us!"
Cia flashed him an innocent smile, clasping her hands behind her back. "Oh, but I'd never kill you, Link," she giggled. Her giddy behavior was cut off by a sharp glare from Wolf Zelda, which she shrunk under.
"It's okay, everyone." Lana stepped forward and gently took Cia's hand in hers. "She's changed. I can't say she's exactly good, but… I don't think she'll be doing much more wrong."
"Hmph. I see you're pretty quick to forgive," Scarf Link huffed. "Honestly, everyone is so naïve… No one can change that quick!"
Lana began to retort, but a thundering noise from the halls drowned her out. The Links slowly turned to see what the din could possibly be, only to be greeted by a King Dodongo and hundreds of smaller monsters.
"Cia!" A hoarse voice crackled from atop the huge dragon-like creature. "I've released all those minions you've been saving!"
The black sorceress simply gave Wizzro a blank stare. "You idiot…"
"W-What the hell are those doing in here?!" Adult Link shouted above the Dodongo's deafening roar.
"I was, uh, saving it," Cia answered sheepishly. "I was gonna get rid of them, honest! It's just that Wizzro had other plans…"
Before she could finish, a hand covered her mouth from behind and pulled her close, pressing a blade to her throat. "That's bullshit and you know it!" Scarf Link threatened. "You were probably gonna level Hyrule with all of that."
Cia shook her head vehemently but the hero wouldn't listen. She waved a hand wildly at Wizzro, trying to tell him to put the monsters away.
"H-Hey, don't do you'll regret," Sky stammered cautiously.
"There's no way I'll regret this." Scarf Link grit his teeth furiously and ran the edge of his blade across Cia's throat.
"NO!" Everyone in the room screamed in unison, but it was far too late. Blood poured from Cia's throat as Scarf Link let her fall to the ground.
"You fucking idiot!" Adult Link shouted accusingly, falling to her side with his brothers. "You didn't have to do that!"
The so-called hero gripped his crimson-stained blade stubbornly. "She's murdered countless people. Her own life is just one. It's not that big a deal."
His own army had obviously mixed feelings about this, but slowly backed away from Cia's body. Adult Link gave them one final piercing glare before turning to Cia's body.
"I know she did bad things, but this is…" Wolf's solemn gaze on the sorceress's body echoed the feelings of his brothers. Cia did have a good side...but she had a lonely side as well. One that consumed her. Such a death didn't fit her…
"It'll be alright, Link," Sky Zelda said, placing her hand on his shoulder gently. He didn't look at her, yet his uneven breathing seemed to slow a bit. He took off his hat and began dabbing Cia's wound with it, dying the green fabric a deep red. Midna took off her robe and, in a surprising show of compassion, draped it over Cia's body from the neck down. The gesture was obviously meant for Wolf, but it spoke volumes nonetheless.
"Why are you mourning so early?" Adult Link raised his head as the Hero's voice resonated in his head. "Wipe your tears. I believe she wants her last image to be you smiling."
He blinked stupidly as he felt a cold hand gently grip his. Cia was looking up at him with tears dripping from her clouded eyes.
"Cia!" Wolf exclaimed, shocked she'd survived this long.
"She won't last through the next minute," the Hero said. "Say what you must now."
Adult Link bit his lip as his eyes began to wet. "But I don't know what to say…"
"Then let me ask you something." The three Links looked up in shock, Cia's voice speaking to them from a distant place. With her damaged throat, she must've been using the last of her magic to talk to her heroes one last time. "I don't care if it's a lie, but… Have you ever thought of me like you thought of Zelda…?"
Adult Link tilted his head, at first confused by the question, but then found it in himself to force a laugh. "Cia, you must be kidding. You're the only one I've ever thought of since meeting you."
He glanced at his counterparts, urging them to continue. "Oh, yeah!" Sky exclaimed with forced happiness, grasping her hand. "You're the smartest, prettiest, most perfect girl I've ever laid eyes on. I'd be with you forever if I could!"
Wolf placed his hand on top of Sky's, his cheeks turning red despite his smile. "We've always loved you, Cia," he said, brushing her bangs gingerly. "And we always will."
Cia stared at the heroes hovering over her, barely being able to resist a silent laugh. She reached up to touch Sky's cheek, but her fingertips turned to dust, and the effect traveled down her arm until her entire body was dispelled in the blink of an eye.
And in the comfort of the lie her heroes gave her, she was gone.