Hyrule's Heroes Book 4: Seron's Revenge

by Wynn of Hyrule

Seron makes his return, and begins plotting to finish Wynn and his friends. However, he has his own problems to deal with, and this time he has met his match, in more ways than one. Please R&R.

7. Default Chapter Title

CHAPTER 7

Seron ran through the hills around Hyrule Castle, blindly fleeing the cavern and the man inside that would be after him all too soon. His previous bravado had evaporated at Wynn's triumph. He had to escape, to run away, to find a way to regain his strength…or at least his senses.

Before he could get very far, a sharp cry suddenly drew his attention. "Halt, intruder!" Seron sneered at the guard, raising a hand to blast the man into oblivion. He never got the chance.

Wynn sprinted after the dark wizard, eyes slits and fists clenched around his sword. He narrowed his thoughts as well as his eyes, his only goal being Seron's destruction. He was so close…just over that hill…

Suddenly, for both men and the monster, the world disappeared. When they could see again, they were in a Great Fairy Fountain. Both knew where they were: the last of the fountains, home to the last Great Fairy…

"Welcome, mortals, to the Fountain of the Great Fairy of Courage."

With an exaggerated sigh, Wynn sheathed his sword, his chance to stop his rival once again stolen away from him. With seething dark eyes glaring at Seron, he nodded to the fairy.

If Seron's life hadn't been in danger, he would have laughed at seeing Wynn's attempt at revenge being snuffed out. He turned his attention to the Fairy, as oblivious as Wynn to the Tekiton behind him.

"This is the final challenge. To proceed means facing things you may not want to see, to discover truths you would deny, to make choices you might not be able to stand. The end is near, but the path will not be easy. Do you accept this challenge?"

All three stepped forward, determination in their eyes, or eye, in the case of the Tekiton. The Great Fairy nodded, then laughed eerily. "Sometimes, you will learn, it is not what you know, but what you could have but didn't, that makes all the difference in the end. Proceed…and face what lies ahead. Farewell, Hyrule's heroes…and good luck. It may be all you have left, all too soon."

The three stepped forward, and the fountain vanished around them. For a second, it was if they were falling into a deep pit, and in that second they each saw the others around them disappear. The final test had begun.

******

When Wynn stopped falling, he was alone in a corridor. He looked ahead into the torch-lit hall, and saw stairs, leading downward. Eyes narrowed as he searched side to side for any sign of danger, he walked on, coming to the stairs and following them down.

It seemed he walked for miles, descending into the earth without end. His eyes could detect no end to the steps, but he didn't betray any hesitation when it came to moving forward. His friends, his family, his pride, may be at stake on this contest, and he wouldn't submit. Instead, he hiked on, watching for trouble, and not finding any.

Finally, he came to the end of the stairs. As he moved off the last step, he gazed about, taking in his surroundings once more. He was in a wide passageway, with no visible exits. More torches lit this area, but even with the increased light, Wynn still didn't feel at ease. Something was very wrong here…there was a stench of evil, of darkness, of…

Seron!

The dark wizard stood before him, eyes widening in shock. Wynn desperately threw his hand back, grasping his sword, and swung, the blade clanging off Seron's sword as the wizard mirrored his movements. Had Wynn thought about the confrontation, he would have realized that Seron did not before have a sword like his, but no conscious thoughts held Wynn's mind. Instead, the man slashed again and again at Seron, who met every attack with his own.

Tiring of the battle, Wynn stepped back, raising a hand and charging his magic, urging himself to hurry as he saw Seron do the same. He lashed out with his powers angrily, but they slammed into the darker man's blast and dissipated. Wynn roared with anger, and charged, meeting Seron halfway, and swung his sword, only to have each swipe parried by the same move.

The battle raged for several minutes before a voice in Wynn's head, his own intelligence banished out of the way from the second Seron had stepped in front of Wynn, screamed at him to stop. The hero snarled, then stepped back, the dark wizard panting for breath as Wynn was. Both men watched each other warily.

Finally, Wynn realized the truth. Had he not have been too tired to attack once more, he might never have seen the obvious. As he wiped the sweat from his brow, he paused, watching as Seron's hand stopped halfway across his own forehead. Wynn's eyes widened to the size of saucers, and he stepped backward, shaking his head in fright as he watched with horror the dark wizard do the same.

Is this what you mean to tell me, Fairy? Is this your message, the truth I could not accept? I can see why now, and I hate it! Is this what I am becoming? Wynn thought in agony, a horrified howl erupting from his throat, his reflection in the mirror he had been battling mimicking his scream.

******

Seron walked silently down the hall, his hands crackling with power as he glanced back and forth, ready for an attacker to spring out. He had been walking down the dimly lit halls for quite a while, yet nothing had threatened him. Still, he had a sharp feeling of something wrong, something unnatural, in the walls.

It was a long time before Seron came to the end of the path. When he did, his sense of unease spiked, and he froze, looking around in fear for a foe yet unseen. Trying desperately to banish that feeling, he walked forward, and found himself at a crossroads.

The path directly before him went forward for a short distance, then dropped off abruptly, with no sign of walls or any other clue that the road didn't lead to a bottomless pit. To the right and left were two doors, identical in every way.

Seron stepped into the center of the crossing, at first glancing to the left. He saw the door, and then it vanished, replaced instead with a vision. Seron jumped slightly as he saw himself. However, he wasn't the same, and the dark wizard stared intently as the vision played out in front of him.

Seron paused momentarily to wipe the sweat from his brow. He had been working in the fields for hours, judging from the dirt encrusting his clothes. The sun beamed down on him as he fell back into his task, ripping weeds from the farmlands that he called home. He wasn't the same man as he had been before, now darkly tanned and with more muscles, coming from years of hard work in the fields to support himself and his family. Another difference was obvious: where once power seemed to emanate from his body, now there was no magic, merely just another man that worked day in and out, toiling to feed his family.

Seron sneered as he turned away from the vision. He would never allow himself to fall to such depths, such…mediocrity! He was not just another man; he was a man of power!

Seron turned to face the door to the right. As he did, another vision began to play. A feral grin crossed his face as he watched.

A dark wave of clouds covered Hyrule. People scurried about, glancing in the general direction of what had been the castle and speaking a single name in choked whispers, deathly afraid the name they spoke would call the demon himself upon them. Instead, thunder crashed down, and they ran on, eyes alive with fear.

In a tower overlooking the land, a dark man laughed maniacally. As he poured himself a drink, he gazed upon the land, taking a sip from the liquid before making a crushing motion with his gauntleted right hand. Howling with a laughter caused from intoxication, not of the drink but of power, he collapsed into the throne, a gleam of sheer evil glee crossing his eyes.

Seron grinned at the vision, taking a step forward, prepared to enter the door ahead of him. To his surprise, the man on the throne suddenly changed, a skeleton replacing him, but as Seron blinked and rubbed his eyes, he was again seated upon the throne.

He cast another wary glance to the door that had been to his left. The vision of work reclaimed him, and he stared as it continued.

Seron pushed himself off his knees, dusting himself off, but to no avail. He tiredly began to walk home, his work done as the sun fell behind him. He paid his aching muscles no mind as he strode confidently toward the small house that he called his own.

A trio of people ran out to meet him. Falling to one knee, Seron grasped the two children, both with ebony hair, hugging them with all his might as they returned his affection. Releasing the pair, he stood, giving a warm smile to the young woman before him. She rushed forward, kissing him, and he held her, stroking her golden blonde hair, clutching her figure to his…

Seron gasped. Kiara! He looked from side to side, frantic, unable to choose. This wasn't fair! His dreams…or his heart? A girl he barely knew…or a conquest that he had pursued for so long? Power…or love?

Seron screamed as pain racked his brain. He clutched his head, running from the visions, running forward, between them, over the edge…

******

The Tekiton walked up stairs, holding its sword weakly, shaking with fright as it climbed on. It had left its master a while ago, and had been walking since, not stopping, climbing endless stairs. It didn't want to go on, but knew it must, for its master…and itself.

It wasn't long until the end of the stairs came. As it stepped out into the clearing, the world vanished around it, and it fell. When the falling stopped, a vision took it, and it knew no more of its trials.

The Tekiton leaped over a ledge of stones, coming to the top of the hill it had been climbing for what seemed to have taken an eternity. Beside it climbed its last friend, the first and last thing it held dear. As both stared out across the cavern before them, it became painfully obvious what was to come.

Down below them stood several figures. Most obvious were three: a young Zora girl, a very familiar man, and a figure composed of pure shadow and darkness. The Zora girl was shouting defiantly at the evil creature, which responded by raising a clawed hand, which shot forward, striking the girl down. The man, Wynn, ran to the girl, speaking to her. Moments later, she was still.

The evil thing laughed, challenging Wynn, who charged his magic. However, the shadow-claw knocked him aside, then prepared to finish him. It didn't get the chance.

Leaping from his place beside the Tekiton, Seron landed in front of Wynn, glancing to the hero as he held his sword. He then turned back to the monster, lashing out at it, but his attack had no effect. Instead, the thing swiped at Seron, slashing through armor and wounding the man severely. Seron cried out in pain, then stood, eyes glaring with hatred to the other. The claw shot at him, aiming for his heart.

The Tekiton didn't even think. This…this thing, had stolen everything from him! First, its mate, then it had nearly killed the person it had come to love almost as a mother…not Seron. Not his creator, his father. It would not take this last person, the last thing the Tekiton cared for.

The Tekiton leaped in front of the claw. The attack seared through it, not injuring its body, but killing its spirit, as it had done to the Zora. The attack was the end of the Tekiton.

As darkness fell for the Tekiton, it glanced over to Seron, thanking him without words but instead with a glance, and its single eye closed.

The Tekiton snapped out of the vision, and came to as it fell. Beside it were two men, both falling with it, the Pendants and Crowns they held glowing, burning, and all went dark.

******

"Ugh…"

Two moans echoed through an immense room. Lit brightly, but with no torches in sight, the air almost gleamed golden. The room was triangular, with nine pillars, each shining yellow, ascending up to the roof, with three near the center and six near the outer walls. The floor was a shimmering gold, with the exception of the center, which was cold stone. If one could see from the roof, the floor pattern was modeled after the mystical relic, the Triforce.

On the icy center lay three beings, all slowly coming to their senses. The two young men tensed their muscles, both racing to awareness as they remembered what had passed before. The third, a much younger creature that had both surpassed and failed its original goals, was still held by unconsciousness.

Both men began to rise, coming to their knees, then to their feet, fighting dizziness that attempted to force them back down. Eyes narrowed and teeth gritted, they shook their heads, stumbling a bit before finally freeing themselves from their slumber completely.

Suddenly, the Pendants and Crowns tore themselves from the two men's grasps, with the last Pendant floating upward from the Tekiton's sleeping body. The six items whirled around, mixing and then separating. In the center of the three glowing floor tiles, which were changing from gold to red, green, and blue, columns rose, with a pair of Crowns and Pendants coming to rest on each.

"Mortals, you have collected these items of much power. However, their use is limited to this chamber only. If they leave, their strength stays here."

Seron's face grew livid. "What?!?"

The Fairy's smirk, although it could not be seen by the men, was obvious. "The book spoke of this side effect."

Seron's jaw dropped, and he remembered how he had read only halfway through the part that had described the Pendants, and then the book had nearly been ruined in the lake. He had left it…in Kakariko, he remembered, ironically near the windmill. He silently cursed his luck.

"I leave you now. Farewell…"

Wynn nodded a goodbye to the Fairy, ignoring Seron, who was fuming.

The dark wizard clenched his fists. Now, he had lost yet another chance for his greatest victory. Another one stolen…He froze. As long as he was in this room, he had the power. He couldn't conquer Hyrule from this place…His eyes fell on Wynn. But, he could end the life of the one person that had brought him down. He could avenge himself, and all he had watched slip away. He didn't care for his own life any more…only for Wynn's death.

And this time, he wouldn't be denied.

Wynn turned to face the other, seeing the hatred in his eyes. Remembering his last trial, he chose his words carefully. "Seron…I don't want to fight you."

"Then just die." The words escaped through gritted teeth and clenched jaw. The brown eyes seemed to scream accusations through a wall of pain that Seron blamed on the one before him. Hands trembled as if needing to wrap around something, namely Wynn's neck. Power crackled around the dark man, and it was building. Seron had finally snapped.

Wynn considered drawing his sword, but abandoned the idea. "Seron…this doesn't have to end in one of us dying…"

Seron laughed emotionlessly, heartlessly. "That is how it will end, Wynn. I have always needed to kill you! It is in my blood!"

Wynn shook his head. "Seron, if you would just forget everything that has happened before, then maybe everyone else can too. You can live a normal life, be happy. Bury the ghosts, Seron. I have."

Seron's mind, flashing from images of his foe to images of his life and back, came to rest on his earlier vision, of his life working. He had been happy, with children and love… "Wynn, I …" He had been with…Kiara.

Seron roared in anguish at the thought of the girl he had lost for forever. He threw himself at Wynn, fingers curled like claws. His lightning sprung forth as Seron came at the hero.

Wynn unthinkingly raised his defense, the lightning and Seron slamming into the shield of light. The wizard lashed out at the barrier, throwing himself at it, nearly hitting Wynn. When he came the third time, he burst through, only to be caught and thrown behind Wynn by his own momentum.

Seron yelped in pain as the column bit into his back, and he slid to the ground. He looked to the thing his flight had been stopped by, and a gleam of intelligence reappeared in his eyes. He stood, swiping from the column a red crown and pendant.

Seron's metamorphosis was instant and horrible. Muscles bulged from arms, legs, chest. He grew taller, thicker. He was a shadow of who he had been; his body had grown more powerful, but his heart had been lost.

The Tekiton chose that moment to wake up. Staring in admiration at Seron's new muscles, it chirped in amazement, then dashed to the green column. Draping the Pendant and Crown onto its head region, it flexed its puny arms, then sagged, disappointed, when it saw no change.

Wynn fell back from Seron, concern in his eyes. His hand was to be forced, it seemed. He could not avoid killing Seron, or risk being killed. He looked into the eyes that had once faced him as an equal, and found them empty and dead.

Seron cackled, his expression wild and his laughter not of mirth but of power. The dark wizard took a powerful step forward, his foot coming down with enough strength to crater the floor. He raised a single hand, fingers spread and shaking, and a single bolt of power arced out. Wynn gasped, throwing himself to the floor as it flew through the air in the space he had occupied. The bolt, as wide as Seron's bulging arm, turned a far column into dust and splashed into nothingness against the enchanted walls.

"I have the power to kill you, pest. I could step on you, and you would perish from pain. You are nothing to me!"

Wynn shook his head in agony. "It is you that is nothing, Seron." The last word caught in his throat, as he realized he no longer faced Seron, just his anguished ghost.

"Fool! I am everything! I am the earth, the wind, the water, the fire. I am the fist that shall squeeze those impudent few who stand against me. I am power!"

"You are nothing but a deluded little man that died long ago. I know the truth, Seron," Wynn said, the name spit into the air, saturated with sarcasm. "You have only enough power to end your last chance at life. You are a failure!"

Seron froze, the words bringing a flood of memories, dimly recognizing them through the cascading rush of hatred that had formed when he put on the Crown and Pendant. That died long ago…

"Don't take him! Please!"

"It is his duty! He shall become one of us. He shall be trained, his powers awakened."

"Krite, please, don't take my son from me! He is only a boy!"

"He is coming with me. It is his time to join our forces. Besides…he is much older than I was."

Seron roared in pain, his hands clutching the sides of his head as the voices and images held his mind. He could see the desperate young woman, reaching for the dark-haired child but held away by the man. The man, wearing a dark cloak that matched his black hair and mustache. The hint of a deep pain in the black eyes of the man, the only emotion he ever witnessed from those eyes. The death of the man, much later, and his haunting last words.

Avenge me…

Seeing Seron distracted, Wynn took the opportunity to increase his chances of survival. He turned, dashing to the last pedestal. Snatching the blue Crown and Pendant, he placed them on his head, then faced Seron as the three columns that had held the magical items slowly sunk into the floor. In mid-turn, he stopped, his eyes widening as a rush of information entered his mind. He could see things that he had never believed to be true; he could see through the lies that others had told him, even the ones he had told himself. He had the wisdom to see the truths, and it was a mighty weapon, he could tell.

But, was it mighty enough? Wynn finished his turn, looking to Seron. The man had recovered, and a deeper rage burned in his eyes. He stepped forward without any sign of hesitation or fear, merely a fire of anger that Wynn didn't know how to extinguish. It was a fire that could all too easily consume Wynn.

Seron roared, charging at Wynn, attempting to drive him into the wall. Wynn narrowly dodged to the side, hearing a crash as Seron plowed through a second outer column. The wizard whiled, a vicious backhand nearly removing Wynn's head from his shoulders. Fortunately for the hero, Wynn noticed instantly, Seron was still adjusting to the sudden increase in power, and this made his movements more sluggish.

Wynn backpedaled, analyzing his situation as he also searched for a strategy. He couldn't run forever, because Seron's boosted stamina was much greater than his own. Physical attacks were useless, as he would come too close to Seron's reach, and, if caught, his death. Magic was a better choice, but Wynn could tell Seron's magic power had also increased, making it a foolhardy choice. Running away was workable, but he hadn't found the exit.

It was a mere coincidence that saved him. Desperately retreating from the stalking Seron, Wynn ran into one of the remaining 7 pillars. He faced it quickly, noticing its yellow glow was much dimmer than before. His boosted intelligence eliminated most possibilities save one instantly, and a plan was born.

Seron again dashed at Wynn, who rolled to the side of the man, dodging a fast palm strike that nearly broke the pillar in half. Wynn planted a foot on the other's lower back, sending him forward. Seron roared again, whirling, his hand catching the pillar and finishing it.

Wynn smiled grimly as his theory was proved. Running to an even dimmer column, Seron on his heels, Wynn charged and absorbed his magic, boosting his body enough to run almost as fast as the pursuing wizard. As Wynn neared the cylindrical pole, he leaped, catching the thing with his feet and pushing off, vaulting over Seron. The heavier man crashed on through, crying out in pain and fury as pieces of the stone bit into his back and arms.

Wynn ran faster than he had believed possible, yet knew to be within his capabilities, dodging blast after blast of black lightning as Seron resorted to magic. He dove behind the pillar, the last in the 'bottom' row, and scrambling to his feet, throwing himself in the opposite direction as the next bolt turned the pole into dust.

Wynn knew he was corned as he turned to face the other. Nearby was the cluster of three columns, now barely lit, and with them safety. However, Seron had no intention of letting him reach them. Stopping, the dark apprentice charged his magic, preparing to use it all in one mammoth wave.

Wynn had an escape plotted before Seron could even think, but acting on it was a different story. Wynn flew to the columns, using the last bit of his absorbed power to leap to them. Seron laughed mirthlessly, recognizing the trick Wynn had just used. He aimed high, and back to the direction the hero had jumped from.

Wynn, however, had different ideas. He caught the pillar with his hands, using it to turn in mid-air, soaring above Seron. The wave of power, unbelievably strong and wide, left no trace of the three center columns, and cratered the far wall. Wynn was lucky to survive, as he was nearly caught in its wake, the proximity setting fire to his tunic. He rolled as he landed behind Seron, then dashed toward the last two pillars, which were flashing with alarm, batting the last smoldering bits of his clothing as he went.

Seron, while gaining power hundredfold, seemed to have lost speed in his mental capabilities. It took him several moments to realize Wynn hadn't perished in the attack. It took the rumbling of a door to get his attention, drawing it straight to Wynn.

As Wynn had ran to the last pair of columns, he had neared the exit to the chamber unknowingly. Sensing his presence, the twin doors that made up the upper tip of the triangle slid upward. Wynn cursed himself for not deducing the location of the exit earlier, but all too soon he had other problems to deal with.

His magic exhausted, Seron decided to deal with his problem using brute force. Much more confident with his new capabilities, he dashed to the other pillar, next to the one Wynn had fled to, and kicked the bottom ruthlessly. The single attack snapping it, the pillar broke also at the top, falling right into Seron's hands.

Wynn froze as he saw the last column flash almost powerlessly. He threw himself to the ground as Seron charged at him, holding the broken pillar with a sharpened end pointed at Wynn, his intent obvious. Seron didn't stop, merely stabbed downward with the pole. Sadly for the wizard, his reflexes, slowed by the power, were not accurate enough to allow Seron to impale his mortal foe. Instead, it merely jabbed into the floor tile, redirecting Seron's charge. His momentum and the pillar, now acting like a pole vault, forced Seron into the air. He flew upward and ahead, slamming into the wall with bone-shattering force, and bouncing backwards. His fall ended abruptly. The splintered pillar, still pointed upwards, met him on his way down.

Wynn grimaced as he heard the sickening crunch. He slowly turned, dreading what he knew he would see. However, his hopes were for naught. He slowly walked forward, shaking his head with disbelief, eyes focused on the now-red pole jutting out of Seron.

Wynn sighed, his heart falling. He had known it would come to this, but he had always hoped that he could save Seron, and keep him alive, like he had failed to do with Solan. Now, though…

Wynn ignored the sharp persistent feeling of unease as he neared Seron's still body. If only things had been different… he thought, walking close enough to touch Seron. He closed his eyes, and started to turn away.

A sudden strike sent him sprawling across the room. Wynn yelped in pain as he landed near the last pillar. He quickly climbed to his feet, but knew he had made a fatal error. Standing before him was Seron, one hand holding a wound that should have been mortal, the other ready to crush Wynn.

Wynn closed his eyes, knowing there to be no escape this time. He bade a quick mental farewell to his friends, and awaited the end. He could feel the hand hurtling down, and cringed. Fami! was to be his last thought.

Just before the hand hit, Wynn was again knocked away. He felt the ground shake as the hand slammed into the floor, cracking the tile. He weakly opened his eyes, noticing the red shape covering him. As it stood, he recognized it as Seron's monster, the last Tekiton. The Crown and Pendant it wore shined a brilliant green as it turned to face Seron.

To both men's shock, it began shrieking at Seron, jabbing an accusing finger towards him as it chirped angrily. Although Wynn usually could not understand its tirade, it slowly began to make sense. He barely caught the end, comprehending it to be, "What would Kiara say?"

The expression of rage and betrayal on Seron's face abruptly fell away, replaced by one of despair. He looked to the monster desperately, his eyes begging. His head slowly shook from side to side, his hands unconsciously trembling. It was obvious that the Tekiton's words, both the ones Wynn had heard and the ones that didn't, had hurt Seron deeply.

"Seron, please. Don't do this! You still have a chance!" Wynn pleaded.

Seron's eyes gleamed as intelligence slowly worked its way back into them. He froze, his eyes meeting the hero's. His pleading look cried out to Wynn.

"I can forgive you. So can my friends. You can make up for it, Seron! You can be happy! You can make up for what you have done; you can be good! Just let go of your hate-"

He was cut off by a sharp wail of misery. He could see a tear, then more, come from the smoldering eyes. He had chosen his words poorly.

"You LIED to me! I trusted you! I believed you! I…I HATE you!"

Seron's next action sealed his fate. Determined to end the pain from his broken heart, and to save himself the trouble of facing all he had hurt, he lunged for the last pillar, hugging it to his chest as his momentum crushed it, crumbling bits falling through his fingers. He fell to the floor, his eyes closing.

Wynn's face and heart fell as he watched Seron, his gasp of fear echoing the Tekiton's shriek. They both heard the rumbling begin in the ceiling, and three eyes were drawn upwards. Jagged cracks began to appear on the earlier flat surface, and pieces fell down as they watched. It quickly grew worse, and soon boulders slammed to the floor.

Wynn stared motionlessly, frozen by fear. His mind screamed at him, telling him to move or die, but his body wouldn't obey. He watched as a boulder the size of Biggoron plummeted down, straight for him, and couldn't even flinch.

Suddenly, its fall halted. Not even with his greatly boosted intelligence could Wynn have ever guessed the truth. This was because standing before him, holding up the rock that would have crushed him but now was shielding him from the other boulders, was none other than Seron.

The dark wizard grunted, straining to hold up the mammoth rock. His eyes met Wynn's, and he nodded. "Go." The word was cold.

Wynn shook his head. "No! I have to help you!"

"You already have!" Seron screamed, his arms shaking as more and more rocks piled onto the one he was holding up. "Live."

"I can't leave you!"

Seron's eyes held Wynn's. "Let this make up for what I have done before. I could never have been good, but this is my chance! Go!" The rock was slowly forcing him lower.

Wynn noticed the Tekiton beside him was gone. To both men's surprise, it came over to Seron, trying to help hold the rock, its talismans shining green. It chirped an order to Wynn, and looked to Seron, who gave him a nod of thanks.

"No…" Wynn's word was a whisper.

Seron gasped as his grip nearly slipped. "Wynn, you must do this! You are the only one I can trust! You must do me…one last favor…"

"What is it?" Wynn demanded, trembling with rage at the fate that would end the life of one who was finally might have been a friend.

"Tell Kiara…that I love her…"

Wynn nodded, then gave one last look to the other. "Farewell…Seron."

"Farewell, Wynn…"

The hero dashed out, into the light of day. He could hear a rumbling behind him, but when he turned to look, it ended. Instead, a cloud of dust came from the opening he had just left, but now was sealed for eternity.

Seron was dead.

******

"Will he be O.K.?"

The man, approaching middle age far too fast for his tastes, nodded to his partner. He slipped off his armor, wincing as it brushed against his many wounds. He gingerly looked at one, noting with a sigh it would leave a scar.

The other man, also battle-worn but in considerably better shape, sighed. "Baro, you know that kid could be dangerous! By Nayru, look at who his father was! I mean,-"

"I know who his father was," Baro snarled, sending the other a venomous look.

The other man sighed again, absently twirling a finger in his beard. "I'm sorry. It's just…after all we have seen, I don't want to chance another one of their traps," he said tiredly, plopping down onto one of the large-cushioned seats nearby.

Baro nodded. "I understand that, Icarnos. But, this boy…he is to be very important, I can sense it."

Icarnos narrowed his eyes. "For which side?"

Baro glared at his friend. "They will never get him again."

"But you know, Baro, they will want to. Even after Krite's failure…"

Baro turned away, but not before shooting his friend another sharp look at the mention of the dark man's name. "They will still want to see if he has that scum's power. Well, if he does, I cannot find it in him! Perhaps that is why he had his son cleaning floors, instead of training him to follow in his foul ways!"

Icarnos laughed, trying to calm Baro down. "He was a fool, friend. But…send the boy in. I want to see him."

Baro nodded, taking one last glance out the castle window towards Death Mountain, then stepped out the door. Moments later, he returned, holding a small boy by the hand. The child had pale skin, but ebony hair, and intense brown eyes. He was young, but not an infant, coming close to the beginning of adolescence in a mere couple of years.

Icarnos fell to one knee, looking the child, who showed no fear towards either of the larger men, in the eyes. He stared for a moment, then smiled. "What is your name, son?" he queried.

"Seron," came the voice, without hesitation. Icarnos' eyebrow rose at the strength in the voice.

"Well, Seron, you are going to be living here at our castle for a while. Is that alright with you?"

The boy fixed him with a cold gaze. "He said I should never trust Hylians. Are you Hylians?"

The older men shared worried looks. "Why did he tell you that?"

"He said they wanted to stop us. He said they were weak." He paused, biting his lip. "He said I was weak…" he said, his voice trembling.

Icarnos looked up to his partner, noticing the expression of unbridled hatred towards the man so recently dead. "Weak, eh? Well, we'll see about that! If you want to be strong, Seron, then you can be, if you try hard enough. It is up to you."

Seron nodded rapidly, biting his thumb. "I would like that."

Icarnos laughed, rumpling the boy's hair affectionately. "Well then, Seron, powerful you shall be." A gleam entered his eyes. "I can tell you have a bright future ahead of you. A bright future, indeed."

EPILOGUE

Wynn trudged slowly up the stairs leading to the village of Kakariko. He was as battered emotionally as physically, and he was in danger of falling apart. The previous few hours kept playing through his head. He saw Seron die time after time. He saw an enemy become a friend, then leave him, just like Solan. He saw himself fail.

He collapsed at the base of the stairs leading to Jier's home. He had caused all this. He had killed Seron. If he hadn't been mad for revenge, then…

"No! I have to help you!"

"You already have!"

Wynn covered his face. He had helped him…too late.

"Wynn!" He stood wearily, his tired eyes meeting those of the girl who wrapped him in a hug. "You are alive!"

"Yes…" Wynn croaked. "But, Seron…"

Fami held him at arm's length, holding his eyes with her own. "He didn't do it!"

Wynn nodded, looking up to the top of the stairs, seeing the people that mattered the most in his life. "I know. I know."

Fami took his hand, and started to lead him up the stairs, towards his friends. Even as she did, Wynn turned, seeing the sinking sun, and looked towards where he knew the castle to be. "Farewell…hero."

And with those words, he joined his friends, leaving the ghosts of memories behind.

******

Far up on Death Mountain, a dark figure smiled down at the town, then at the castle. So, this was the end of an enemy. He laughed jovially, rubbing his chin. Fools.

He turned, looking at the other, whose shadow fell with his, stretching down and down to cover much of the town. He gave her a smirk, and nodded. "Come, Bera. We have much work to do."

And the two shadows slid away, soon concealed by night.

******

That night, two ragged figures stumbled along the path leading into the Marketplace. Water dripped from their bodies, the remnants of the moat's water that had carried them to the surface. Exhausted and leaning on each other for support, they walked towards the town, one leaving a dark trail of water behind him, the other leaving a mixture of the moat's liquid, and his own blood.

******

Kiara sighed as she ran down the checklist once again. Since her father was gone, excusing himself with delivering supplies but probably going there to inquire to what had upset his daughter so much, she was responsible with maintaining the Potion Shop. She had forced herself into her duties, not allowing herself a moment of rest. Not a moment to think, to wonder about her Sertane…

Stop it! she ordered herself. He isn't real! Sertane never was real, just that lying, evil wizard, Seron!

Never real. He was evil! He was scum! He was…he was handsome. He was sweet. He was exciting…

She jerked away from the counters, choking back a sob. He had betrayed her! He had never loved her! He had used her!

So absorbed in her thoughts was the girl that she didn't hear the pounding on the door. She didn't even hear the door, which she had absent-mindedly left unlocked, swing open.

She did hear his voice.

"Kiara…"

Sheer fury, hope, loathing, and love all mixed on her face. She started to scream at him, but the words died as she saw his eyes. The pain and hope and love she saw there made her heart melt, and she helped the Tekiton carry him further inside, upstairs, to the bed.

As she helped him onto the bed, looking over his wounds, she paused. "Why did you come back, Seron? Why me?"

Even held tightly by pain, Seron grabbed her hand, drawing her eyes to his. "Seron is still in that cave. I don't want him back. Please…let me be Sertane again…"

She gently pressed his hand to her cheek. Seeing a smile flit across his face before sleep took him, she ran to get the medicine she needed to heal him back to life. No one was around to see the smile of hope erupt onto her face. Sertane was back. His dark side was gone.

Indeed, Seron, the dark apprentice and wizard, was dead. And he was not mourned.

A new dawn had come for them all.

THE END

Author's Note: So ends book 4...sadly, I will be unable to begin posting book 5, Friend or Foe?, until a later date, once I near finishing it. I am over halfway through with that story, but, due to a terrible case of writer's block, progress is slow. Please bear with me, and, if anyone has anything they wish to ask/say, or wants a preview, you can contact me at hyrules_hero@hotmail.com. Thank you very much for reading. ~Wynn of Hyrule