Disclaimer: NOOOOOO! NOOO! YOU CAN'T MAKE ME LET GO!! *sobs* *the japanese guards grab me and throw me out of mr. miyamotos's apartment* *sighs* well, I guess this only proves I don't own Legend of Zelda(s)
*
Tears
Fall
Down
My
Cheeks
My
Hand
On
My
Whip
Blood
In
My
Mouth
No
Fair
I
Cry
But
No
One
Listens.
*
Dawn came, warm. It was that kind of warm that dries out your mouth right away and beats down on your back like a ton of bricks. The sun was hazy in the sky as soon as it was risen, promising scorching heat. "How far do we have to travel on the scrublands until we reach the Tourney?"
"If we go fast, only a few days until we reach the river marking the end of the scrublands," Lindsay said. "Then two or three days over lush hills and maybe forests, and then we're at the Tourney."
Shiek scowled. "I don't like the scrubs," she sighed.
"Of course not, you've probably lived in the Proper all your life," Rhia said. "I can't stand the scrublands either, but it's a price everyone pays to get to the Tourney."
"Well, that is just ducky," Shiek snapped. "Let's go."
After that, Shiek had them go at a quick run. She wasn't sure how long Link would stay tied up—and it was already the day after.
That night as they sat down to eat—without a fire—Shiek shuddered. "He's watching me again," she whispered.
Rhia and Lindsay exchanged looks. "Are you sure? Maybe it's…Damion?"
Shiek scowled at Rhia. "You'd think I'd know what it feels like to be watched by him," she said. She got up and moved away and was violently sick. "It's like the eyes are right over me." Shiek took a long pull from her waterskin. "I can feel his presence even though I know he's not physically in this world."
"Out of curiosity, could it be Damion at some later time?" Lindsay asked.
Shiek shook her head. "I don't think he's that powerful," she said. "But maybe that's how Link finds us."
"I think Link finds us because he's a good tracker," Rhia said. "But I can discourage Damion from ever trying. There is a spell I know—"
"Absolutely not!" Lindsay said. "Let's not have a repeat of yesterday or the chicken thing!"
"Fine," Rhia said sullenly. She turned to Shiek, now concerned. "You eat and go to sleep. Lindsay and I will keep watch."
"I'll eat in the morning," Shiek said hoarsely. She lay down and was soon asleep.
*
Stormclouds gathered overhead. Zelda stood in the middle of the barren field, alone. This was where Hyrule Proper used to stand; in fact, all of Hyrule was once around her. But no more, no more…now all was barren and dead, crippled and lonely.
Something had driven the people away—or killed them. And something had not only demolished the Proper and the Castle, but completely erased any traces of them. And the fields of the farmers, and the Kokiri Forest, and even the scrublands, all dry and empty and dead.
Thunder rumbled overhead. Lightning flashed down, but Zelda did not flinch. A crater was left in the cracked earth where the lightning had struck. Zelda stood still, pale and emotionless.
Slowly, a mirror rose from the crater. The mirror rested in an ornate silver frame. The frame was decorated with depictions of the Triforce. The frame supported itself on three silver legs. Each leg was a figure, holding the mirror up like Atlas and the world. The figure in the middle was Zelda. On her right was Link. On her left, Ganondorf.
Compelled by an unknown, inner force, Zelda reached out to touch the surface of the mirror. As her finger touched the glass, it rippled and her reflection changed. Looking back at her was Shiek. The look on the faces, the stances were the same. Zelda opened her mouth to speak, but no sounds came out.
Shiek stepped out from the mirror and stood beside Zelda. The mirror now reflected them both. "What…?" Zelda tried.
Shiek pointed upwards.
Zelda looked. She saw nothing. When she looked back at Shiek, Shiek pointed to the mirror. But the mirror was not there. Now there stood the goddesses, Farore, Din, and Nayru. Farore and Din stood two paces in front of Nayru, two paces apart from each other. Nayru stood back and between them. Each goddess raised a hand so there was a sort of triangle.
In between their hands, a brilliant, blinding white light shone. The goddesses slowly faded. The light blinked out and the mirror returned. Shiek turned Zelda's head so she looked in the mirror. Hanging from the reflection's neck was a silver necklace with a small silver Triforce symbol. Zelda looked down. Indeed, she wore it too.
Zelda looked to Shiek. Shiek wore the necklace too. Zelda opened her mouth to question all that had just happened, but Shiek shook her head. Shiek ran forward and leapt back into the mirror. As she passed through the solid surface, it rippled. Shiek turned, once she was in the mirror, and looked at Zelda. A soft, sad smile—the type you use when you face the lone survivor—formed on her lips. Then Shiek disappeared in the darkness on the other side of the glass. Zelda's plain reflection, a reflection void of all magic that had inhabited Shiek on the other side, stared back.
The stormclouds finally emptied their bellies. The rain fell but did not feed the earth. Zelda knelt in the mud, alone, tears streaming down her face. She was alone, and she knew it. There was no respite for the tired in Hyrule, no food for the hungry. There was no sanctuary any longer for the hunted, no safe haven for the one who flees. There was nothing left in Hyrule but an empty mirror…and Zelda.
*
"Shiek! Wake up! Hurry!"
Shiek opened her eyes and looked for who whispered to her. Rhia knelt down by her, shaking her gently. "Shiek, I know you're sick. But Link ran through the night and he's almost here. We have to run. Please, Shiek, hurry."
Shiek got up slowly. Her head and stomach ached dully, but she seemed to have slept away the worst of her illness. She gathered her bag and her weapons. Lindsay looked back. She was watching Link slowly pick his way towards them. "Let's go, then." Lindsay shoulder her things, nodded to them, and they ran.
*
Link was following the trail in the dark, and the going was slow. When night had fallen, he had debated whether or not to go on. If he stopped, they could be miles away come dawn—even at their destination. If he kept going, he could lose the trail. He chose to risk losing the trail.
Link looked up. The plains were silent. And then…a muffled, "Fuck off!"
Link grinned. He had them. Screw the trail. He had them. He drew his sword and silently ran forward.
*
"Nayru's love, Shiek!" Lindsay said. "The way you're carrying that bag you're going to wake the dead!"
Although she knew it was true, Shiek was bothered. Go ahead, yell at Shiek. Something in the bag clanged against the handle of her whip which was tucked through her belt. Rhia had been silently listening to the two bicker. A shadow behind her flickered in the light of the waxing moon. She turned her head. "Guys," she said. "WHAT?" Both Lindsay and Shiek hissed.
Rhia pointed. "We have a bigger problem!" Rhia bolted. Lindsay followed. "Shiek, come on, please!" Lindsay called.
There was nothing left in Hyrule but an empty mirror…and Zelda…
Shiek fell to her knees, her hands on her head like she had a raging headache. Tears flooded her eyes. The pain she felt at that flash of nightmare was unbelievable. Her sight was blurred and misted in red.
Link caught up to Shiek and stopped, wary of tricks and traps. His sword was drawn, and his shield as well. Shiek didn't notice him. She was screaming at the voice that filled her head. And when you're alone, dear princess, then I'll come for you too! And you'll die…all alone…not even a reflection, Zelda, nothing…You cannot win, no matter what you do. I am the future, dear Shiek. And I know that your nightmare is destiny…and you will die there…ALONE…
"STOP!" Shiek cried.
Link was caught off guard by that. "I'm not doing anything," he said, blinking.
"No…" Shiek whispered. "No, I won't die alone…I WON'T!"
"All right then," Link said. "I am confused."
Lindsay and Rhia were also carefully coming back. "Um, Shiek?" Rhia said. "Are you okay?"
Suddenly, Shiek blinked. The voice was gone, and the pain in her head. She stared, shocked, at Link, then turned and gave the same look to Rhia and Lindsay. "Gee, I'm blushing," Shiek remarked in an offhand sort of way. "Um…All right…Uh, Link, why don't you go ahead and start with that attacking thing. Erm, Linds, Rhia, why don't you guys keep running, I'll follow in a minute." Shiek held up a few needles to reassure her friends, who nodded and ran off. Shiek looked at Link. "Gee, Link, I thought you'd 've maimed me by now."
Link was still staring at Shiek. "Why does everything I do seem wrong when I do it?" Link said.
Link could've sworn Shiek's eyes turned blue for a moment. "Listen, Link, I'm gonna run," she said. "And I'm probably goin' to sling a few needles here. Either get with it or kindly stop pursuing us for the night."
Link looked at his sword. "Guess I'll get with it," he said. Shiek nodded. "Thank you kindly, Linky boy." Shiek darted off. Link rolled forward, ducking underneath the barrage of needles flung at him. He picked his shield up and chased after Shiek.
*
"We've been running non-stop for fucking days!" Shiek gasped. "Is he still behind us?"
"Language," Rhia corrected wearily. She glanced behind her. They had long left the scrublands behind them, and were in the forests that surrounded the Tournament. Sometime during their flight from Link, they had left all traces of Hyrule behind, and were now it Odnetnin, known only for the Tourney it harbored.
"Goddesses, I've had enough of forests," Lindsay sighed. She pulled apart some low, tangled branches and bushes and almost fell down a steep drop. The gorund they were on gave way right in front of them, and they were on a low hill…
Overlooking the Tourney.
"This is it!" Lindsay said. "That's the Tourney!"
"Now exiting Hell," Rhia said. "And now entering the Tourney."
Rhia and Lindsay, who had both seen the Tourney before, looked at each other. Then they both looked at Shiek. "If any of us find a difference, I'm sure there are a lot of people who would be willing to pay to know it."
*
*
*
Simi: *sigh* All right, they're at the Tourney. Zappermon—Zyuiu and Ymota U will show up in the next chappy
Warstock—André shows up in the next chappy also
OmniGaruGreymon—Rowrun will be there too I think
If anyone plans on submitting, it's getting rather late to be in the Tourney.
Okay I think that's it for now. Odd, I haven't seen Lil' Blue Muse in a while…I think he's with Dark-Link…c'est la vie, such is life…