((Disclaimer: See previous chapter. *Squeaks* Heeelp! I dunno if I can
bear to write this, since I know exactly what will happen and it's not
pretty... Anyway, enjoy!
*Stares* Woah, 11th chapter?! Where in the name of Din did that little lot
come from?! O.o; ))
IT IS ACOMPLISHED
Din got up from her position on her rock and stretched. "Here we go, Nayru."
Nayru rose too and brushed off her robe. "We'd better get down there. I can watch from the Lake, and you could be a Gerudo in his army. Remember, Impa and Moth must do it alone. . ."
Din nodded impatiently and both sisters vanished, leaving the pool silent in the forest. Time in Hyrule did not pass in the Realm of the Goddesses, and Din and Nayru had been sat beside the pool watching for significantly less time than Impa had trained, for example.
***
Moth and Impa stole across Hyrule Field by night, moving quickly and silently. Impa was strongly calm. Moth was his usual quiet self, but he was incubating a cold dread in his stomach. The young man led the way, and was glad he did not have to gaze upon his charge constantly. The temptation was too great.
The grass was frozen; clouds smothered the moon and stars. The cold did not penetrate their skin-tight clothing, but Impa's cheeks stung with the chill. There was a wind blowing constant from the East, and the silvery patches of long grass dotted around the fields shivered.
The Sheikah came up to the fences of Lake Hylia in the middle of the night. Silent as wildcats, they scaled the fences and kept to the darker shadows cast by the towering walls, slipping like shadows themselves through the passage and onto the brow of the hill that proclaimed entry to the Lake.
The grass around the water's edge was alive with Gerudo: most talking animatedly inside tents pitched around campfires, their silhouettes standing out against the darkness of the night. From inside Impa's tunic, Fara whispered, "Never mind about them, find Kiren and Ruto."
Impa nodded and whispered to Moth. They split up and circled the camp warily, keeping to the darkness.
Impa crept to the Lab. Light beamed from the windows, and the Guay on the roof were silent in sleep. She glanced around, tiptoed to the door and listened. She heard a woman's voice talking excitedly, and a low man's voice in response. ~Bingo. . .~
Moth finished his circle of the camp and slipped back over to Impa, who whispered, "They're in here." Moth gazed deep into her eyes for a moment, tossed his fringe from his eyes, and broke down the door.
Kiren looked up first, his hands leaving Ruto's slightly protruding stomach and flying to his repaired broadsword. "Who the hell are you?"
Impa followed Moth into the room, a handful of needles in her closed first. The hatred rose in her blood, blocking all other emotions. Kiren's gaze fell on her, and he growled, "Ah, my step-sister. So nice of you to call." His sword came into his hands with a hissing noise. Impa tensed.
Ruto backed away onto a table to watch, confidence in her beloved Gerudo apparent. Impa glared at her. "Wench," whispered Moth, and spat on the stones. There was poison in his voice, "You deserve better than a Thief for a husband."
Ruto glared with more passion than Impa had ever seen, "Bad luck for you, Sheikah boy. I wish I had my powers back to exterminate you both. Neither of you will leave this alive."
***
Din appeared in a deserted tent, in full Gerudo garb. Immediately she was out and running over the grass, weaving in and out of the tents to the crooked brick building known as the Lab. The light from the candles inside fell through the open doorway, and she clearly heard Moth's insult. She quickened her pace.
Nayru stood balanced perfectly on the ice of the Lake, and watched as Din flew up the camp. She came off the slippery surface and she and Din waited with bated breath at the open doorway.
***
Kiren stood motionless in the centre of the room, feeling the darkness he had cultivated rise within him. His sword was held out in front of him; the lamplight glinted off the blade.
Moth drew his sword; it seemed delicate and frail compared to Kiren's thick blade. It sang as it came from the sheath, and the hairs on Impa's neck prickled. They faced off, gazes locked. Impa crept to Moth's left; aware Kiren would perceive all her movements. The same instant Moth leapt forwards with a cry, Impa threw her needles.
Kiren's thigh became a pincushion - he had not counted on that. With a roar he blocked Moth's strike with a powerful upward stroke of his own, and Moth let the blow push him into a back flip. He landed neatly on a table. Kiren turned his attention to Impa and charged, but Moth threw a glass at the back of his head and it smashed against his neck, drawing blood.
Kiren stumbled forwards, and Impa brought the bow up lengthways into his face. There was the sickening crack of breaking bone. Impa gasped as Kiren's head came up and he stared into her eyes, blood streaming from the wreckage of his nose.
"Kill them, Kiren!" screeched Ruto from her table, and she would have shouted more if Moth hadn't overturned the desk with a heave. She crashed onto the floor amid shards of glass with a scream. Kiren was mad with rage. It overflowed in his blood and he thought only to kill the two Sheikah.
Impa, caught off guard at the vision of horror in front of her, neglected to attempt to block the kick to her stomach, and as she bent double, winded, Kiren gave a double-fisted punch to the back of her head. She fell, her forehead smacked off the stone floor, and her world began to fade into the cruel darkness of unconsciousness.
Suddenly the darkness faded, and Impa came to. The world outside the red haze was perfectly still. She blinked stupidly, and found herself caught in the gaze of Din in Gerudo form. She smiled, "Feel your power, little one. . ." Impa felt the pain drain, the strength flow back into her muscles. She wiped the blood from her cheek and stood, "Din. . ."
Din placed a finger to her lips and raised her right hand. A glowing beam of flames sprang from her palm and hit Impa squarely in the chest. Impa felt power burn up her arms and tingle in her fingers; she flicked her fingers and saw sparks of fire dance along her hands. She lifted her gaze to thank the Goddess, but Din had vanished, along with the red haze that stopped the Time.
Moth was engaged in a furious sword fight with Kiren. Impa saw a weak spot in Kiren's unprotected back, and reached for an arrow. As she drew the string back however, the tension was leaving the bow instead of gaining, until suddenly the bow snapped at the centre, and the arrow fell, useless. Not to be put off, she used the anger for ammunition and, gathering her newly discovered magic, formed a fireball. She launched it across the room towards Kiren.
This time, Kiren was ready. He turned in a kick, and the the fireball connected with the hard sole of his boot. Purple sparks glittered up his ankle, and the ball reversed and flew across the room toward Impa. She ducked not a moment too soon, and the projectile sparked off the wall and vanished in a small thunderclap. Moth took this opportunity to drop out of the way and join her at the far side of the lab, near the tank. They exchanged glances.
They had forgotten about the Gerudo Army. . .
Impa's eyes went wide in terror; Moth mouthed, "Come on. . ." and pushed her out of the lab, their soft shoes padding on the door lying on the floor. They ran to the nearest wall and crouched in the shadows.
Impa stifled a scream. Moth looked up sharply and ran his gaze over the camp, which appeared to be in flames. He stood and went forwards a few paces to get a better look. In fact, a ring of burning grass encircled the tents, blocking entry and exit from the camp. Din reappeared at the doorway to the lab and winked at him. Moth opened his mouth to thank her, but. . .
"MOTH!"
Moth turned at Impa's scream and threw himself sideways as a curved sword sliced through the space in which he had stood. He recovered and stood, sword in hand.
Katin, the Gerudo Sword Mistress and teacher of Kiren grinned savagely, the gesture making her look like a wild Wolfos. She flourished her blades and stood ready, weight on one foot, the other resting on the heel, leg outstretched. Her twin swords were held ready in typical Gerudo style.
Moth tensed, taking up the Sheikah defence position. Impa saw there was nothing she could do in this fight: this was a fight between masters. Fara peeked out from her tunic, and Impa had an idea: ~Fara! Go help Moth, I can take Kiren!~
Fara bobbed in agreement, ~Be careful, Impa. May you have courage. . little one.~ She shot off into the night. Impa crushed the shivering in her heart and sprinted back to the lab to take on Kiren once more.
***
Impa scaled the wall quickly and easily, and perched in the ledge of the tiny window. Kiren looked up from the tank of water where he had been trying to staunch the blood flow from his nose and growled. Ruto backed away from him and glared at Impa, "You witch! What has Kiren ever done to hurt you? Honestly, some people. . ."
"Done? You want to know what he did to me?!" said Impa in a voice that was quiet, yet shook with anger, "He murdered my father."
"As he murdered mine!" snarled Kiren, getting up and grabbing his sword.
Impa sprang from the windowsill in a flying kick aimed at Kiren's chest. Kiren swung the blade and blocked the kick with the flat of it. The jar shot through Impa's leg, and she landed hard with a cry of pain. Kiren held the sword to her throat and grinned. Impa gathered herself and kicked out, hooking his knees and bringing him crashing down to his back.
Kiren grunted in pain as he hit the hard stones and then gasped as the wind was knocked from him by Impa's spring. She jumped on his stomach, cat like, and chopped at his face and neck, her anger driving her to greater strength that she had ever experienced.
Kiren struggled desperately as the blows rained on his broken nose, and tried to raise the sword. Impa sensed his intention and stamped down hard on his injured wrist. Bones splintered under her foot. Kiren shrieked like a ReDead, and Ruto screamed in rage. Impa paused in her attack as the broadsword fell from Kiren's stricken fingers and vanished with a sigh into the water of the diving tank.
Impa was thrown from her step-brother as Ruto barrelled into her, screaming incoherently. She pinned the Sheikah girl and beat at Impa with her fists, but she was weaker with pregnancy. As Ruto flailed at her face like a stranded fish, Impa threw her knees up.
Ruto sailed across the room and connected with the wall with a crack; her eyes rolled and fluttered shut in unconsciousness.
Impa got up and winced at the pain in her right leg. Kiren was peering into the tank, and Impa saw her chance. Before he could turn, she took a deep breath, flew at him, and both tumbled into the water in a cloud of bubbles. . .
***
Moth placed both hands on his sword hilt and circled the Gerudo Warrior cautiously, sizing her up. She leered at him. He saw this as a challenge and leapt at her, his sword singing as it sliced through the air.
Katin blocked his attacks skilfully, and trapped Moth's blade between her two. Moth struggled and twisted, but with a cry Katin swirled out of the deadlock; the momentum knocked the Sheikah to the hard frozen ground. He looked up quickly to see Katin run and launch herself at him, swords outstretched. He rolled and stood in one movement; Katin's swords sank into the earth.
Katin yanked her swords free and prepared to bear down on the boy, but all of a sudden, a glimmering ball of light flew at her eyes and blocked her vision. She cursed and backed away, but still the thing persisted, crying out in high-pitched tones. She paused a moment, took careful aim, and hit the creature with a vicious backhand. It soared across the grass and slumped in a tiny heap.
Moth shook the stars from his vision just in time to see Katin strike Fara. He swallowed the roar of anger and turned it into speed, running to Katin and thrusting and swiping his sword expertly. Katin parried with the same grace, and kicked out at Moth to push him back slightly, brought her hands together so her swords were as one, and swung at Moth's blade.
Moth's sword snapped with a shower of sparks. He stared disbelievingly at the broken end. Katin smirked and drove her sword hilts into his stomach.
Moth crumpled as the breath left his body, and Katin slashed at his exposed back. The blades tore through fabric and flesh, and two glistening gashes in the shape of an 'X' appeared in his back. Moth felt the intense sting as steel cut into his body, the coldness as the night air pierced his blood.
The rage overflowed again, and Moth lashed out with his chain at Katin's waist. The bands of metal wrapped around the Gerudo's slim body twice around, and she cried out in pain as it cut into her. Moth yanked the chain in such a way that the Gerudo was thrown away fro him, and skidded along the grass on her back. Moth uncurled, and sprinted over. He stood a little way from the sword mistress as she got her breath back, letting the magic build in his chain. As she was about to rise, he whipped. Katin's right sword became entangled in the coils of Moth's chain, and as much as she gripped it, it came loose of her grasp and was in Moth's hand.
Moth flung his broken sword from him and clenched the curved Gerudo sword in his right hand, the left hand holding the chain at the ready. Katin pulled herself up and they faced off again. She leapt at him, and they parried and struck again.
***
Impa and Kiren grappled with each other in the strange watery world of the diving tank. Impa slipped Kiren's grasp and kicked out, driving herself downwards. The broadsword glimmered at the bottom of the tank. Kiren was also kicking his way downwards.
Each had forgotten about the other in the attempt to get the weapon. As they drew closer to the bottom of the tank, the shark in the cage flicked its tail and nudged the bars restlessly. Impa was tired: her leg was screaming where it had been jarred by Kiren's sword. Kiren however, drew on the dark power within him to dull the pains of his wrist and nose and pulled ahead of Impa's outstretched fingers. He was leaving a trail of blood in the water, and the shark tasted it and grew more agitated. Impa felt her lungs tighten, and a desire to open her mouth and breathe seized her; she kicked in panic and her eyes went wide as Kiren's hands reached for the sword. . .
Nayru darted in the open door, deliberately standing on Ruto's fingers, and took a running dive into the tank. She twisted down, aiming in between the swimmers. As Impa gave in and opened her mouth, Nayru chanted something swiftly.
Impa's in-breath did not bring drowning, rather a lungful of pure air. Nayru streaked between them and knocked into Kiren. He tumbled through the water, using his own powers to let him breath. Impa fought her way to the bottom of the tank and stood in the water, the bubbles drifting between them. Behind her, the shark swam impatiently. Nayru landed beside her, her clear eyes twinkled as she whispered, "I have made it so you may stand and breathe. Use your head, little one. . ." Then she was gone.
Impa stood ready. ~Use my head? What did she. . .~ And then an idea came to her.
Kiren made himself stand at the bottom, and a darkness came into the water where his boots touched the ground. He wheeled, in slow motion due to the thickness of the water, and saw the sword. He strode towards it, far too slowly for his liking.
Impa paused until Kiren was very near the sword, a net and a nut held ready. In her right hand, she held the lever that would release the shark, and a nut of the pouch Moth had given her all those years ago. In her left she held the net. As Kiren reached for the blade, she threw the net. The force knocked him backwards. Kiren was stuck: trapped in the mesh, the sword on the outside and he on the inside. He cursed but his words drowned in the water.
Impa grinned as he met her gaze, pulled the lever and vanished in a flash as she cracked the nut to the floor. The monstrous shark, suddenly free of captivity, was hungry. What was this strange creature in the tank? Its eyes rolled back in its head as it took a taster-bite of the flesh. It tasted the body fluids swirling in the water, and went crazy with blood- lust, ripping and tearing and biting at the only thing else in tank. . .
Kiren's screams came to the surface in bubbles; Impa shuddered from the side of the tank where her nut had taken her. ~My half brother. . . I've killed my half-brother. . .~
Her mind darted back to the present, and she burst outside.
~Moth. . .~
***
Moth felt strange. There was something seeping through his veins, an odd coldness that slowed his movement. The slashes across his back burned. In a last effort, he lashed out with the chain, entrapping Katin's wrist that held the sword. She gasped in indignation and tried to pull free. Moth executed a high kick to her wrist that sent her sword flying. He stared into her eyes with a grim smile, and slashed her stomach.
Katin crumpled in agony, and Moth let the chain fall from his hand as she fell to the grass. He kicked her as she rolled in pain, and she grunted, "Maybe you've finished it, boy, but I'm taking you with me." She coughed, and bright blood dribbled down her chin onto the frost-covered grass.
"What?" demanded Moth. He dropped to one knee and grabbed the Gerudo's shoulders.
She grinned her last, "My blades are poisoned. One slash is all it takes. I'll see you on the other side, Sheikah."
The blood burbled from her mouth as she died. Moth pushed her lifeless body down the slope with a defeated sigh.
***
Impa ran across the grass, her hair coming free from its binding and streaming in the wind. "Well done Moth! We did it!"
Moth shuddered, sitting back on his knees. The coldness made sense now. The feeling had gone from his feet, and the numbness was creeping up his legs. When it reached his heart, he would die.
Impa ran up to him, "Moth, what's wrong?" Moth pulled off his face wrappings, his deathly pale skin gleaming with sweat. His eyes had lost their intensity and were a dull red, scarily alike to the liquid staining the frozen white grass. They had fought through the night, and finally the cloud had broken and pale sunlight came through the clouds. The Gerudos had perished in the fires, or had escaped and ran. The sky was a vibrant red.
"Moth. . . What is it?" Impa sank to her knees and put her arms around him. Moth gasped as Impa touched the slashes on his back.
"Don't! Impa, listen. Her blades were poisoned, and I have two slices in my back. There is nothing you or I can do. . ."
Fara finally recovered and floated dazedly over, ~What's wrong?~
Impa could not speak; her eyes burned into Moth's with such disbelief and sorrow it was all he could do to not break down. Instead, he raised a shaking hand and stared into her eyes. His fingers ran down her chin, and tilted her mouth towards his as his other hand came up and embedded itself in her hair, working the soft curls with his long fingers.
Some people say the first kiss is the most amorous and most passionate. Some people say the last before we leave the world surpasses any other. But to have a first and a last kiss at the same time. . . that is true ecstasy. Impa and Moth were locked together for what seemed like eternity.
Impa broke away to whisper desperately, "This can't be true. . . Maybe it's not deadly. . .Maybe. . ."
Moth slumped forwards with a wry smile and Impa grabbed his arms to stop his toppling over, "The numbness is in my stomach. When it reaches my heart. . . Impa. Before I die I want you to know," he took a sharp breath in. Impa jumped; her breathing quickened in her pain and fear.
His voice dropped to a heavy, low tone, "I will always love you."
Impa's eyes filled with tears that overflowed and chased themselves down her cheeks. Her voice barely held, "M-moth, I will always love you too. I will never love another. I swear it by Nayru's Love."
Moth touched her wet face again, tenderly, his touch infinitely gentle. Impa, her chest shaking with the sobs that she was holding inside, shifted so that he was not in such an awkward position. She ran her hands through his long hair, speaking haltingly, "I. . . I wish you could have. . . entered me. . ."
"Do not desire such things. There will be others. It was not meant to be," murmured Moth, pressing himself against her. She could feel his quivering muscles as the poison drew closer to his heart, "I am happy that you are pure."
Impa said nothing - what could she say?
His breathing grew shallow. His red, red eyes fluttered shut, as his chest froze with a last short intake of air.
Impa was simply silent, staring at Moth's limp form. He seemed more perfect in death, and the tears flew swiftly down her cheeks in her unspoken sorrow.
The sky had clouded gently, and fine snowflakes spiralled down. The breeze swirled the snow, and Moth's hair and skin melted with the whiteness of the world, his body and Impa's standing out with dark Sheikah clothing. The tears on Impa's cheeks threatened to freeze. The cold of the snow pierced her clothing, and the cold of the events chilled her soul.
Her head dropped forwards onto her chest as her hair came down like a veil and clung to the wetness on her face in the wind, and she toppled over into the harsh grass, sobbing and sobbing wretchedly until she was sure her heart would split in half. . .
***
IT IS ACOMPLISHED
Din got up from her position on her rock and stretched. "Here we go, Nayru."
Nayru rose too and brushed off her robe. "We'd better get down there. I can watch from the Lake, and you could be a Gerudo in his army. Remember, Impa and Moth must do it alone. . ."
Din nodded impatiently and both sisters vanished, leaving the pool silent in the forest. Time in Hyrule did not pass in the Realm of the Goddesses, and Din and Nayru had been sat beside the pool watching for significantly less time than Impa had trained, for example.
***
Moth and Impa stole across Hyrule Field by night, moving quickly and silently. Impa was strongly calm. Moth was his usual quiet self, but he was incubating a cold dread in his stomach. The young man led the way, and was glad he did not have to gaze upon his charge constantly. The temptation was too great.
The grass was frozen; clouds smothered the moon and stars. The cold did not penetrate their skin-tight clothing, but Impa's cheeks stung with the chill. There was a wind blowing constant from the East, and the silvery patches of long grass dotted around the fields shivered.
The Sheikah came up to the fences of Lake Hylia in the middle of the night. Silent as wildcats, they scaled the fences and kept to the darker shadows cast by the towering walls, slipping like shadows themselves through the passage and onto the brow of the hill that proclaimed entry to the Lake.
The grass around the water's edge was alive with Gerudo: most talking animatedly inside tents pitched around campfires, their silhouettes standing out against the darkness of the night. From inside Impa's tunic, Fara whispered, "Never mind about them, find Kiren and Ruto."
Impa nodded and whispered to Moth. They split up and circled the camp warily, keeping to the darkness.
Impa crept to the Lab. Light beamed from the windows, and the Guay on the roof were silent in sleep. She glanced around, tiptoed to the door and listened. She heard a woman's voice talking excitedly, and a low man's voice in response. ~Bingo. . .~
Moth finished his circle of the camp and slipped back over to Impa, who whispered, "They're in here." Moth gazed deep into her eyes for a moment, tossed his fringe from his eyes, and broke down the door.
Kiren looked up first, his hands leaving Ruto's slightly protruding stomach and flying to his repaired broadsword. "Who the hell are you?"
Impa followed Moth into the room, a handful of needles in her closed first. The hatred rose in her blood, blocking all other emotions. Kiren's gaze fell on her, and he growled, "Ah, my step-sister. So nice of you to call." His sword came into his hands with a hissing noise. Impa tensed.
Ruto backed away onto a table to watch, confidence in her beloved Gerudo apparent. Impa glared at her. "Wench," whispered Moth, and spat on the stones. There was poison in his voice, "You deserve better than a Thief for a husband."
Ruto glared with more passion than Impa had ever seen, "Bad luck for you, Sheikah boy. I wish I had my powers back to exterminate you both. Neither of you will leave this alive."
***
Din appeared in a deserted tent, in full Gerudo garb. Immediately she was out and running over the grass, weaving in and out of the tents to the crooked brick building known as the Lab. The light from the candles inside fell through the open doorway, and she clearly heard Moth's insult. She quickened her pace.
Nayru stood balanced perfectly on the ice of the Lake, and watched as Din flew up the camp. She came off the slippery surface and she and Din waited with bated breath at the open doorway.
***
Kiren stood motionless in the centre of the room, feeling the darkness he had cultivated rise within him. His sword was held out in front of him; the lamplight glinted off the blade.
Moth drew his sword; it seemed delicate and frail compared to Kiren's thick blade. It sang as it came from the sheath, and the hairs on Impa's neck prickled. They faced off, gazes locked. Impa crept to Moth's left; aware Kiren would perceive all her movements. The same instant Moth leapt forwards with a cry, Impa threw her needles.
Kiren's thigh became a pincushion - he had not counted on that. With a roar he blocked Moth's strike with a powerful upward stroke of his own, and Moth let the blow push him into a back flip. He landed neatly on a table. Kiren turned his attention to Impa and charged, but Moth threw a glass at the back of his head and it smashed against his neck, drawing blood.
Kiren stumbled forwards, and Impa brought the bow up lengthways into his face. There was the sickening crack of breaking bone. Impa gasped as Kiren's head came up and he stared into her eyes, blood streaming from the wreckage of his nose.
"Kill them, Kiren!" screeched Ruto from her table, and she would have shouted more if Moth hadn't overturned the desk with a heave. She crashed onto the floor amid shards of glass with a scream. Kiren was mad with rage. It overflowed in his blood and he thought only to kill the two Sheikah.
Impa, caught off guard at the vision of horror in front of her, neglected to attempt to block the kick to her stomach, and as she bent double, winded, Kiren gave a double-fisted punch to the back of her head. She fell, her forehead smacked off the stone floor, and her world began to fade into the cruel darkness of unconsciousness.
Suddenly the darkness faded, and Impa came to. The world outside the red haze was perfectly still. She blinked stupidly, and found herself caught in the gaze of Din in Gerudo form. She smiled, "Feel your power, little one. . ." Impa felt the pain drain, the strength flow back into her muscles. She wiped the blood from her cheek and stood, "Din. . ."
Din placed a finger to her lips and raised her right hand. A glowing beam of flames sprang from her palm and hit Impa squarely in the chest. Impa felt power burn up her arms and tingle in her fingers; she flicked her fingers and saw sparks of fire dance along her hands. She lifted her gaze to thank the Goddess, but Din had vanished, along with the red haze that stopped the Time.
Moth was engaged in a furious sword fight with Kiren. Impa saw a weak spot in Kiren's unprotected back, and reached for an arrow. As she drew the string back however, the tension was leaving the bow instead of gaining, until suddenly the bow snapped at the centre, and the arrow fell, useless. Not to be put off, she used the anger for ammunition and, gathering her newly discovered magic, formed a fireball. She launched it across the room towards Kiren.
This time, Kiren was ready. He turned in a kick, and the the fireball connected with the hard sole of his boot. Purple sparks glittered up his ankle, and the ball reversed and flew across the room toward Impa. She ducked not a moment too soon, and the projectile sparked off the wall and vanished in a small thunderclap. Moth took this opportunity to drop out of the way and join her at the far side of the lab, near the tank. They exchanged glances.
They had forgotten about the Gerudo Army. . .
Impa's eyes went wide in terror; Moth mouthed, "Come on. . ." and pushed her out of the lab, their soft shoes padding on the door lying on the floor. They ran to the nearest wall and crouched in the shadows.
Impa stifled a scream. Moth looked up sharply and ran his gaze over the camp, which appeared to be in flames. He stood and went forwards a few paces to get a better look. In fact, a ring of burning grass encircled the tents, blocking entry and exit from the camp. Din reappeared at the doorway to the lab and winked at him. Moth opened his mouth to thank her, but. . .
"MOTH!"
Moth turned at Impa's scream and threw himself sideways as a curved sword sliced through the space in which he had stood. He recovered and stood, sword in hand.
Katin, the Gerudo Sword Mistress and teacher of Kiren grinned savagely, the gesture making her look like a wild Wolfos. She flourished her blades and stood ready, weight on one foot, the other resting on the heel, leg outstretched. Her twin swords were held ready in typical Gerudo style.
Moth tensed, taking up the Sheikah defence position. Impa saw there was nothing she could do in this fight: this was a fight between masters. Fara peeked out from her tunic, and Impa had an idea: ~Fara! Go help Moth, I can take Kiren!~
Fara bobbed in agreement, ~Be careful, Impa. May you have courage. . little one.~ She shot off into the night. Impa crushed the shivering in her heart and sprinted back to the lab to take on Kiren once more.
***
Impa scaled the wall quickly and easily, and perched in the ledge of the tiny window. Kiren looked up from the tank of water where he had been trying to staunch the blood flow from his nose and growled. Ruto backed away from him and glared at Impa, "You witch! What has Kiren ever done to hurt you? Honestly, some people. . ."
"Done? You want to know what he did to me?!" said Impa in a voice that was quiet, yet shook with anger, "He murdered my father."
"As he murdered mine!" snarled Kiren, getting up and grabbing his sword.
Impa sprang from the windowsill in a flying kick aimed at Kiren's chest. Kiren swung the blade and blocked the kick with the flat of it. The jar shot through Impa's leg, and she landed hard with a cry of pain. Kiren held the sword to her throat and grinned. Impa gathered herself and kicked out, hooking his knees and bringing him crashing down to his back.
Kiren grunted in pain as he hit the hard stones and then gasped as the wind was knocked from him by Impa's spring. She jumped on his stomach, cat like, and chopped at his face and neck, her anger driving her to greater strength that she had ever experienced.
Kiren struggled desperately as the blows rained on his broken nose, and tried to raise the sword. Impa sensed his intention and stamped down hard on his injured wrist. Bones splintered under her foot. Kiren shrieked like a ReDead, and Ruto screamed in rage. Impa paused in her attack as the broadsword fell from Kiren's stricken fingers and vanished with a sigh into the water of the diving tank.
Impa was thrown from her step-brother as Ruto barrelled into her, screaming incoherently. She pinned the Sheikah girl and beat at Impa with her fists, but she was weaker with pregnancy. As Ruto flailed at her face like a stranded fish, Impa threw her knees up.
Ruto sailed across the room and connected with the wall with a crack; her eyes rolled and fluttered shut in unconsciousness.
Impa got up and winced at the pain in her right leg. Kiren was peering into the tank, and Impa saw her chance. Before he could turn, she took a deep breath, flew at him, and both tumbled into the water in a cloud of bubbles. . .
***
Moth placed both hands on his sword hilt and circled the Gerudo Warrior cautiously, sizing her up. She leered at him. He saw this as a challenge and leapt at her, his sword singing as it sliced through the air.
Katin blocked his attacks skilfully, and trapped Moth's blade between her two. Moth struggled and twisted, but with a cry Katin swirled out of the deadlock; the momentum knocked the Sheikah to the hard frozen ground. He looked up quickly to see Katin run and launch herself at him, swords outstretched. He rolled and stood in one movement; Katin's swords sank into the earth.
Katin yanked her swords free and prepared to bear down on the boy, but all of a sudden, a glimmering ball of light flew at her eyes and blocked her vision. She cursed and backed away, but still the thing persisted, crying out in high-pitched tones. She paused a moment, took careful aim, and hit the creature with a vicious backhand. It soared across the grass and slumped in a tiny heap.
Moth shook the stars from his vision just in time to see Katin strike Fara. He swallowed the roar of anger and turned it into speed, running to Katin and thrusting and swiping his sword expertly. Katin parried with the same grace, and kicked out at Moth to push him back slightly, brought her hands together so her swords were as one, and swung at Moth's blade.
Moth's sword snapped with a shower of sparks. He stared disbelievingly at the broken end. Katin smirked and drove her sword hilts into his stomach.
Moth crumpled as the breath left his body, and Katin slashed at his exposed back. The blades tore through fabric and flesh, and two glistening gashes in the shape of an 'X' appeared in his back. Moth felt the intense sting as steel cut into his body, the coldness as the night air pierced his blood.
The rage overflowed again, and Moth lashed out with his chain at Katin's waist. The bands of metal wrapped around the Gerudo's slim body twice around, and she cried out in pain as it cut into her. Moth yanked the chain in such a way that the Gerudo was thrown away fro him, and skidded along the grass on her back. Moth uncurled, and sprinted over. He stood a little way from the sword mistress as she got her breath back, letting the magic build in his chain. As she was about to rise, he whipped. Katin's right sword became entangled in the coils of Moth's chain, and as much as she gripped it, it came loose of her grasp and was in Moth's hand.
Moth flung his broken sword from him and clenched the curved Gerudo sword in his right hand, the left hand holding the chain at the ready. Katin pulled herself up and they faced off again. She leapt at him, and they parried and struck again.
***
Impa and Kiren grappled with each other in the strange watery world of the diving tank. Impa slipped Kiren's grasp and kicked out, driving herself downwards. The broadsword glimmered at the bottom of the tank. Kiren was also kicking his way downwards.
Each had forgotten about the other in the attempt to get the weapon. As they drew closer to the bottom of the tank, the shark in the cage flicked its tail and nudged the bars restlessly. Impa was tired: her leg was screaming where it had been jarred by Kiren's sword. Kiren however, drew on the dark power within him to dull the pains of his wrist and nose and pulled ahead of Impa's outstretched fingers. He was leaving a trail of blood in the water, and the shark tasted it and grew more agitated. Impa felt her lungs tighten, and a desire to open her mouth and breathe seized her; she kicked in panic and her eyes went wide as Kiren's hands reached for the sword. . .
Nayru darted in the open door, deliberately standing on Ruto's fingers, and took a running dive into the tank. She twisted down, aiming in between the swimmers. As Impa gave in and opened her mouth, Nayru chanted something swiftly.
Impa's in-breath did not bring drowning, rather a lungful of pure air. Nayru streaked between them and knocked into Kiren. He tumbled through the water, using his own powers to let him breath. Impa fought her way to the bottom of the tank and stood in the water, the bubbles drifting between them. Behind her, the shark swam impatiently. Nayru landed beside her, her clear eyes twinkled as she whispered, "I have made it so you may stand and breathe. Use your head, little one. . ." Then she was gone.
Impa stood ready. ~Use my head? What did she. . .~ And then an idea came to her.
Kiren made himself stand at the bottom, and a darkness came into the water where his boots touched the ground. He wheeled, in slow motion due to the thickness of the water, and saw the sword. He strode towards it, far too slowly for his liking.
Impa paused until Kiren was very near the sword, a net and a nut held ready. In her right hand, she held the lever that would release the shark, and a nut of the pouch Moth had given her all those years ago. In her left she held the net. As Kiren reached for the blade, she threw the net. The force knocked him backwards. Kiren was stuck: trapped in the mesh, the sword on the outside and he on the inside. He cursed but his words drowned in the water.
Impa grinned as he met her gaze, pulled the lever and vanished in a flash as she cracked the nut to the floor. The monstrous shark, suddenly free of captivity, was hungry. What was this strange creature in the tank? Its eyes rolled back in its head as it took a taster-bite of the flesh. It tasted the body fluids swirling in the water, and went crazy with blood- lust, ripping and tearing and biting at the only thing else in tank. . .
Kiren's screams came to the surface in bubbles; Impa shuddered from the side of the tank where her nut had taken her. ~My half brother. . . I've killed my half-brother. . .~
Her mind darted back to the present, and she burst outside.
~Moth. . .~
***
Moth felt strange. There was something seeping through his veins, an odd coldness that slowed his movement. The slashes across his back burned. In a last effort, he lashed out with the chain, entrapping Katin's wrist that held the sword. She gasped in indignation and tried to pull free. Moth executed a high kick to her wrist that sent her sword flying. He stared into her eyes with a grim smile, and slashed her stomach.
Katin crumpled in agony, and Moth let the chain fall from his hand as she fell to the grass. He kicked her as she rolled in pain, and she grunted, "Maybe you've finished it, boy, but I'm taking you with me." She coughed, and bright blood dribbled down her chin onto the frost-covered grass.
"What?" demanded Moth. He dropped to one knee and grabbed the Gerudo's shoulders.
She grinned her last, "My blades are poisoned. One slash is all it takes. I'll see you on the other side, Sheikah."
The blood burbled from her mouth as she died. Moth pushed her lifeless body down the slope with a defeated sigh.
***
Impa ran across the grass, her hair coming free from its binding and streaming in the wind. "Well done Moth! We did it!"
Moth shuddered, sitting back on his knees. The coldness made sense now. The feeling had gone from his feet, and the numbness was creeping up his legs. When it reached his heart, he would die.
Impa ran up to him, "Moth, what's wrong?" Moth pulled off his face wrappings, his deathly pale skin gleaming with sweat. His eyes had lost their intensity and were a dull red, scarily alike to the liquid staining the frozen white grass. They had fought through the night, and finally the cloud had broken and pale sunlight came through the clouds. The Gerudos had perished in the fires, or had escaped and ran. The sky was a vibrant red.
"Moth. . . What is it?" Impa sank to her knees and put her arms around him. Moth gasped as Impa touched the slashes on his back.
"Don't! Impa, listen. Her blades were poisoned, and I have two slices in my back. There is nothing you or I can do. . ."
Fara finally recovered and floated dazedly over, ~What's wrong?~
Impa could not speak; her eyes burned into Moth's with such disbelief and sorrow it was all he could do to not break down. Instead, he raised a shaking hand and stared into her eyes. His fingers ran down her chin, and tilted her mouth towards his as his other hand came up and embedded itself in her hair, working the soft curls with his long fingers.
Some people say the first kiss is the most amorous and most passionate. Some people say the last before we leave the world surpasses any other. But to have a first and a last kiss at the same time. . . that is true ecstasy. Impa and Moth were locked together for what seemed like eternity.
Impa broke away to whisper desperately, "This can't be true. . . Maybe it's not deadly. . .Maybe. . ."
Moth slumped forwards with a wry smile and Impa grabbed his arms to stop his toppling over, "The numbness is in my stomach. When it reaches my heart. . . Impa. Before I die I want you to know," he took a sharp breath in. Impa jumped; her breathing quickened in her pain and fear.
His voice dropped to a heavy, low tone, "I will always love you."
Impa's eyes filled with tears that overflowed and chased themselves down her cheeks. Her voice barely held, "M-moth, I will always love you too. I will never love another. I swear it by Nayru's Love."
Moth touched her wet face again, tenderly, his touch infinitely gentle. Impa, her chest shaking with the sobs that she was holding inside, shifted so that he was not in such an awkward position. She ran her hands through his long hair, speaking haltingly, "I. . . I wish you could have. . . entered me. . ."
"Do not desire such things. There will be others. It was not meant to be," murmured Moth, pressing himself against her. She could feel his quivering muscles as the poison drew closer to his heart, "I am happy that you are pure."
Impa said nothing - what could she say?
His breathing grew shallow. His red, red eyes fluttered shut, as his chest froze with a last short intake of air.
Impa was simply silent, staring at Moth's limp form. He seemed more perfect in death, and the tears flew swiftly down her cheeks in her unspoken sorrow.
The sky had clouded gently, and fine snowflakes spiralled down. The breeze swirled the snow, and Moth's hair and skin melted with the whiteness of the world, his body and Impa's standing out with dark Sheikah clothing. The tears on Impa's cheeks threatened to freeze. The cold of the snow pierced her clothing, and the cold of the events chilled her soul.
Her head dropped forwards onto her chest as her hair came down like a veil and clung to the wetness on her face in the wind, and she toppled over into the harsh grass, sobbing and sobbing wretchedly until she was sure her heart would split in half. . .
***