Chapter Thirty-Four
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Link felt soiled to be using a blade other than the Master Sword, but it was all he had. He wiped it off on the fallen soldier's body. Apparent, the Tophetians had the blessing of numbers, but not skill. The Hero of Time could feel danger pulsing in his mind like a cancerous disease, but he could not afford to go charging into the Great Hall unless he knew what he was about, and he didn't. Link peered around the corner of the hallway and drew back swiftly. There were several Tophetian soldiers cleaning up the remains of the burnt benches, but nothing more. He risked another look and saw Miyako charging wildly into the Throne Room. He tried calling her with his mind, but the Master Sword's power was throbbing, an infected wound of agony, as it usually did around great evil, and everything in his mind seemed jumbled.
"Fuck," Link muttered, steadying himself to dash around the corner past the Tophetian guards. He pushed off the wall and darted around the corner, brandishing the sword. The soldiers saw him and reacted swiftly. It seemed there would be a fight.
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It was obvious she was going to lose, but one had to admire her courage. Viru countered every single slash and thrust grimly, though inwardly he was all but crowing with delight. Already he could see that she was tiring quickly, each attack weaker than the last, and each block more forced. With a decisive knock he forced the Master Sword from her hands and raised his sword point up, hovering close to her neck.
"Do you renege?" asked the king, allowing himself a small smile.
"No, ol shroun, I don't," she whispered, and threw herself back just as he slashed quickly. She fumbled for the Master Sword but a Tophetian guard kicked it out of the way. "Aiy!" She scrambled away as Viru cleaved down with his blackened sword. Several Tophetian guards restrained lance, though they could barely hold him down.
Ceifeiro watched with half-closed eyes, waiting for a chance. He fingered the minute dagger strapped to his leg.
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It was but the work of a few short minutes, but Link easily defeated the Tophetian soldiers, despite having such a weak weapon to battle with. Not bothering to wipe his dripping blade, he charged straight to the Throne Room.
Just as he entered, Link saw Ceifeiro stand up at the council's table and sling something forward. A second after this motion, Miyako staggered, clutching at her collarbone, where neck meets shoulder. Viru lashed forward, but she stumbled back in time to avoid it.
The Master Sword called to him in its confused voice, letting him know exactly where it was. He flew towards it and dived into a roll as a Tophetian soldier swung at him. Snatching it up, Link leapt to his feet and spun around, cutting the soldier in half before he could scream.
"You!" King Viru snarled, suddenly changing direction of attacks. In a few short moments the Throne Room became a war zone as Lance broke free and Ceifeiro drew his sword, the Tophetian soldiers scattering about. Queen Eloisa uttered a little scream and cowered in the corner. But Link focused only on Viru.
"This is my fight, Viru!" Ceifeiro shouted angrily, running over to them. "I will not let you take my satisfaction away!"
"Shut up!" Viru snapped, turning and slashing quickly at the Dinesenese fighter. He staggered, clutching at a deep chest wound, then disappeared in a flash of light, cursing in a foreign language. The King of Tophet turned back to face Link, but the Hero of Time was nowhere in sight.
Suddenly, a flash from his left and they were fighting. Sparks flew from silver and black glittering blades, the combatants locked in a struggle for life and victory. A frosty cloak of stillness enveloped Link, and his mind was blank save for one thing; to kill King Viru. He forced Viru to give up ground, they traveled slowly but steadily across the Throne Room, the sword singing and shrieking as they crashed mightily against each other.
Link thrust, stabbed, sliced, and slashed, forcing Viru to take up defense. The king knew he would not win by merely blocking, but this hellish Hylian before him spared him no time for countering. Viru's hands sang in with agony as each strike shocked him deep in his bones.
"Curse you," he panted under his breath, stumbling slightly over a fallen Tophetian, his black sword faltering minutely. "I should've executed you when I had the chance!"
"Too late now," Link retorted calmly, leaping forward and forcing Viru's black blade down with his silver sword. He kicked sharply and caught his enemy on his injured leg. The King of Tophet collapsed to the floor, but rolled out of the way of his downward slash. Viru scrabbled to his feet and spun around, his sword whirring dangerously about him.
The Hero of time hopped back nimbly, almost unconcerned in his fluid movements. Each of Viru's assaults was blocked smartly, and the king began to tire. Surely, so was his opponent!
Viru shook his free hand and a dagger slid into his palm. He feinted a high strike, and as the blonde Hylian brought his sword up to block, the king thrust forward with his dagger. He swore softly when the blade only skimmed Link's side, for the nineteen-year-old twisted his body to the right when he saw Viru's other hand move. Viru snarled again and brought his machete to crash down on his enemy's head.
Link brought the Master Sword up to block, and the tip of Viru's machete shattered against the steel of time. The king gaped for a mere second, but a second was all Link needed. With a deft flick of his wrist, Viru's head parted ways with his body forever.
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Upon seeing their king beheaded most unfashionably, the fight went out of the Tophetians, and they scrambled to exit the Throne Room. Lance glared around ferociously, waving the sword of a fallen soldier at them. Miyako closed her eyes and pawed the wound at her neck. Had it been higher... She didn't want to think about that, and left the tiny dagger in her flesh. It would block some bleeding, though it hurt like fury.
Link made as if to sheath his sword, then remembered his sheath was somewhere on the castle grounds, and simply held on to it. He strode over to the red-haired Kreyan and crouched down.
"Are you all right?" His voice was soft, but his eyes were worried.
"I'm fine," she whispered. It was difficult to speak. He nodded, his gaze lingering on the wound, and stood up.
"Lance, take care of Queen Eloisa. Free the guards in the dungeons and tell them to search the castle thoroughly for any remaining Tophetians." Link held his free hand out to Miyako. "You're coming with me."
"And where are we going?" Her curiosity was stronger than her pain, it seemed, as she took his hand. Link lifted her up effortlessly.
"To find you a medico." He raised his eyebrows at her. "Or did you plan on leaving that in there as a souvenir?"
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SORRY! _ I promised daily updates, and what happens? I don't update. -_-; I'm so sorry. It's not my fault; FF.Net has been EXTREMELY poopy for me these past several days... So here's the chapter, fairly short, but now... now the Prologue for Part Two is up. *grins happily* So check that out, it's called The Legends of Link, Part Two: The Temple of Life. The prologue gives away nothing about story, but some history behind the events that are talked about a few times in this one. Bwahahaha.
By the by... you didn't really think I would kill Miyako, did you? ....All right, so originally she was going to die, and no doubt that would have made Link/Zelda shippers very, very happy, but alas she lives. ^_^ Please review! I know this chapter is short, but there's only one more chapter after this.
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Link felt soiled to be using a blade other than the Master Sword, but it was all he had. He wiped it off on the fallen soldier's body. Apparent, the Tophetians had the blessing of numbers, but not skill. The Hero of Time could feel danger pulsing in his mind like a cancerous disease, but he could not afford to go charging into the Great Hall unless he knew what he was about, and he didn't. Link peered around the corner of the hallway and drew back swiftly. There were several Tophetian soldiers cleaning up the remains of the burnt benches, but nothing more. He risked another look and saw Miyako charging wildly into the Throne Room. He tried calling her with his mind, but the Master Sword's power was throbbing, an infected wound of agony, as it usually did around great evil, and everything in his mind seemed jumbled.
"Fuck," Link muttered, steadying himself to dash around the corner past the Tophetian guards. He pushed off the wall and darted around the corner, brandishing the sword. The soldiers saw him and reacted swiftly. It seemed there would be a fight.
-----------------------------------
It was obvious she was going to lose, but one had to admire her courage. Viru countered every single slash and thrust grimly, though inwardly he was all but crowing with delight. Already he could see that she was tiring quickly, each attack weaker than the last, and each block more forced. With a decisive knock he forced the Master Sword from her hands and raised his sword point up, hovering close to her neck.
"Do you renege?" asked the king, allowing himself a small smile.
"No, ol shroun, I don't," she whispered, and threw herself back just as he slashed quickly. She fumbled for the Master Sword but a Tophetian guard kicked it out of the way. "Aiy!" She scrambled away as Viru cleaved down with his blackened sword. Several Tophetian guards restrained lance, though they could barely hold him down.
Ceifeiro watched with half-closed eyes, waiting for a chance. He fingered the minute dagger strapped to his leg.
-----------------------------------
It was but the work of a few short minutes, but Link easily defeated the Tophetian soldiers, despite having such a weak weapon to battle with. Not bothering to wipe his dripping blade, he charged straight to the Throne Room.
Just as he entered, Link saw Ceifeiro stand up at the council's table and sling something forward. A second after this motion, Miyako staggered, clutching at her collarbone, where neck meets shoulder. Viru lashed forward, but she stumbled back in time to avoid it.
The Master Sword called to him in its confused voice, letting him know exactly where it was. He flew towards it and dived into a roll as a Tophetian soldier swung at him. Snatching it up, Link leapt to his feet and spun around, cutting the soldier in half before he could scream.
"You!" King Viru snarled, suddenly changing direction of attacks. In a few short moments the Throne Room became a war zone as Lance broke free and Ceifeiro drew his sword, the Tophetian soldiers scattering about. Queen Eloisa uttered a little scream and cowered in the corner. But Link focused only on Viru.
"This is my fight, Viru!" Ceifeiro shouted angrily, running over to them. "I will not let you take my satisfaction away!"
"Shut up!" Viru snapped, turning and slashing quickly at the Dinesenese fighter. He staggered, clutching at a deep chest wound, then disappeared in a flash of light, cursing in a foreign language. The King of Tophet turned back to face Link, but the Hero of Time was nowhere in sight.
Suddenly, a flash from his left and they were fighting. Sparks flew from silver and black glittering blades, the combatants locked in a struggle for life and victory. A frosty cloak of stillness enveloped Link, and his mind was blank save for one thing; to kill King Viru. He forced Viru to give up ground, they traveled slowly but steadily across the Throne Room, the sword singing and shrieking as they crashed mightily against each other.
Link thrust, stabbed, sliced, and slashed, forcing Viru to take up defense. The king knew he would not win by merely blocking, but this hellish Hylian before him spared him no time for countering. Viru's hands sang in with agony as each strike shocked him deep in his bones.
"Curse you," he panted under his breath, stumbling slightly over a fallen Tophetian, his black sword faltering minutely. "I should've executed you when I had the chance!"
"Too late now," Link retorted calmly, leaping forward and forcing Viru's black blade down with his silver sword. He kicked sharply and caught his enemy on his injured leg. The King of Tophet collapsed to the floor, but rolled out of the way of his downward slash. Viru scrabbled to his feet and spun around, his sword whirring dangerously about him.
The Hero of time hopped back nimbly, almost unconcerned in his fluid movements. Each of Viru's assaults was blocked smartly, and the king began to tire. Surely, so was his opponent!
Viru shook his free hand and a dagger slid into his palm. He feinted a high strike, and as the blonde Hylian brought his sword up to block, the king thrust forward with his dagger. He swore softly when the blade only skimmed Link's side, for the nineteen-year-old twisted his body to the right when he saw Viru's other hand move. Viru snarled again and brought his machete to crash down on his enemy's head.
Link brought the Master Sword up to block, and the tip of Viru's machete shattered against the steel of time. The king gaped for a mere second, but a second was all Link needed. With a deft flick of his wrist, Viru's head parted ways with his body forever.
-----------------------------------
Upon seeing their king beheaded most unfashionably, the fight went out of the Tophetians, and they scrambled to exit the Throne Room. Lance glared around ferociously, waving the sword of a fallen soldier at them. Miyako closed her eyes and pawed the wound at her neck. Had it been higher... She didn't want to think about that, and left the tiny dagger in her flesh. It would block some bleeding, though it hurt like fury.
Link made as if to sheath his sword, then remembered his sheath was somewhere on the castle grounds, and simply held on to it. He strode over to the red-haired Kreyan and crouched down.
"Are you all right?" His voice was soft, but his eyes were worried.
"I'm fine," she whispered. It was difficult to speak. He nodded, his gaze lingering on the wound, and stood up.
"Lance, take care of Queen Eloisa. Free the guards in the dungeons and tell them to search the castle thoroughly for any remaining Tophetians." Link held his free hand out to Miyako. "You're coming with me."
"And where are we going?" Her curiosity was stronger than her pain, it seemed, as she took his hand. Link lifted her up effortlessly.
"To find you a medico." He raised his eyebrows at her. "Or did you plan on leaving that in there as a souvenir?"
-----------------------------------
SORRY! _ I promised daily updates, and what happens? I don't update. -_-; I'm so sorry. It's not my fault; FF.Net has been EXTREMELY poopy for me these past several days... So here's the chapter, fairly short, but now... now the Prologue for Part Two is up. *grins happily* So check that out, it's called The Legends of Link, Part Two: The Temple of Life. The prologue gives away nothing about story, but some history behind the events that are talked about a few times in this one. Bwahahaha.
By the by... you didn't really think I would kill Miyako, did you? ....All right, so originally she was going to die, and no doubt that would have made Link/Zelda shippers very, very happy, but alas she lives. ^_^ Please review! I know this chapter is short, but there's only one more chapter after this.