~*- 2 -*~
(Roy: "Maybe she really shouldn't end these files…")
(Link: "But we can't do anything about it, except try to protect everyone around her.")
(Marth: "Is that why she's talking backwards?")
(Link: "Maybe she's trying to go back in time so that she didn't need to write the ending?")
Yojne ouy epoh I dna! Kcab m'I!
(Young Link: "Geez… As she's out of the picture, we'll answer your reviews instead of her. Thank you, reviewers!)
Sreweiver ym ton! OOOON!!!
(Roy: So…)
Solanar: (Link: "I'm happy that you think so for DMC! And I truly hope that her writing-skills have improved as she's written this story!")
RavenGhost: (Marth: "Well, you were right when you said that she wouldn't tell you, but I really don't have the heart to ask her when she's in that condition… you'll figure it out as you read this part, ne? I'm sure you could write much better than she does, you just need to keep trying! Thanks for being so encouraging for her!")
PikaPower: (Young Link: "Thanks for saying that! She told me she's thought about writing a SSBM/Hellsing crossover for a while now, but I doubt she'll write it. Still, don't worry! I'm not going to let her stop writing!")
sagesumi: (Roy: "Yeah… That happens to her too at times… It's very frustrating, I can imagine. She's told me that once she erased 10 pages of this story by accident.")
Mewlon: (Link: Yeah, it's sad that these end, I know. I wouldn't want her to quit either. Oh, you have her on your favourite list? Wow, she must be very flattered to hear that! Maybe it's better not to make a sequel, but it's your decision after all. And I think that as soon as she recovers from her *cough* …little shock, she'll be eager to read the final chapter of the WtRC. Yeah! You hear, Roy!? No one wants you to die, so don't!!") (Roy: "Hey, I'm not the one writing this.")
Sir Exal: (Roy: "You really loved it? That's very encouraging for her, I think she's very pleased to hear that! Thank you!")
Sherrilynn: (Marth: It's sad, I know and if it was up to me, I'd make her continue writing, but it's impossible. She's already so excited about her next fanfic, but what that is… it's a secret.") (Young Link: "You've had a Christmas calendar!? Wow! I thought that no one would know them! I like opening the little doors and seeing what kind of chocolate there is before I eat it! That's a part of the fun when it's Christmas!") (Link: "I wouldn't be so excited about the original ideas… She ditched them because they sucked, so… But hey, maybe she'll put them up anyway!")
(All smashers: "Season's greetings to everyone!")
Syadiloh yppah!! Heay!
---
The elf could do nothing but watch the town burn to ashes. It was a huge bonfire, the flames ruthlessly devouring everything. Some houses had already collapsed, and the black ominous smoke floated in the air like death itself. The death of that town.
How long would it take to rebuild it? What about the people who'd lived there? They didn't have homes anymore now that there was no town of Haine anymore. Everyone's houses, places where they worked, kindergartens, everything was burnt to the ground. And in the middle of that destruction was his beloved.
Why are you doing this, Roy!?
"ROY!!!" Link shouted desperately, but he couldn't go near the fire. It would've burned him too. All he could do was to watch the city being destroyed to feed the fire.
Feed the fire…? It couldn't be that…? His eyes opened in a shock. 'It scares me, Link. Being in this place frightens me… I feel the death like it's my shadow and that the reaper could come for me anytime.' The elf remembered his beloved's words. And with a gasp he realised what the boy was doing.
And there was nothing he could do about it.
Only watch the city burn and burn and burn until the fire had stuffed itself and there was nothing left but ashes and glowing embers. The snow falling from the sky over the still smoking dead town was a sad sight. The Hero ran to it, looking for his beloved.
He searched for a long time and finally he found the redhead, sleeping peacefully and already almost covered in a thin layer of snow, making him look abandoned and lonely. The Hylian lifted him gently in his arms and carried him to his bed, where he slept for a long time.
Link never left his side, he watched over the general until he opened his sapphire eyes tiredly.
"Roy…" He began gently. "Are you all right?"
"…I don't know…" The boy replied. "Why?"
"You were inside a fire. The town of Haine's burned to the ground."
"What!?" The general sat up and looked through his window at the remains of the dead town.
"You did it, didn't you?"
"NO!! Why're you accusing me of that!?" The redheaded teen looked at his calm beloved with fierce eyes.
"I just… I have a theory."
Roy lifted an eyebrow. "What's that?"
"Do you feel like dying now?"
"No, why're you asking?"
"You've told me that you feel your death, right?" The Hylian took the general's hand in his own.
"Yes. But that's got nothing to do with this." Roy pulled his hand back.
"I think it does. What if… what if you have some kind of ability to control fire without even noticing it yourself and somehow… I don't know how, but it seems that you would somehow push your instincts by burning…" Link shook his head. "I know, it sounds bizarre even to me."
"Yeah, it does. You're not serious about that?" the redhead more ascertained than asked.
"…I don't know yet."
"I think it's nothing. I'd remember if I'd burned down a town, you know? Maybe you've seen a dream." Roy pulled him in a kiss to tell him that he didn't want to talk about it anymore and he decided that the matter could be for a while. Roy'd need to believe later when he'd talk to the other smashers and they'd all remember the destruction.
But they hadn't seen you in the fire? Or had they?
---
"Roy…"
"Yeah?"
"Remember when I came to you a long time ago to talk, but then Young Link rushed in and I couldn't talk with you?"
"Yeah, I remember." The general rose his eyebrows "What about it?"
"I wish that we could talk alone now."
"Okay. I'm listening." The redhead leaned forward, looking at his friend.
"You… You said something that has made me wonder back then. Do you remember what that was?"
"I can't remember anything before morning when I woke up next to you." The fiery boy ascertained calmly.
"In the night you kept saying 'Together we'll take over the world and our family shall rise again' and… and… that you love me." The prince looked at the floor, he had probably made the general feel highly uneasy by saying that. He doubted himself had the boy meant it or not, but it had been bothering him so he asked. And he also wanted an answer.
"I… uh… I-I can't re-remember that." Roy stuttered, his face at least as red as a tomato, feeling awkward.
"At all?" The cobalt eyes turned to look at him with a hint of surprise in them.
"Not at all. I'm sorry, Marth." The general apologised. He looked away under the icy gaze of the prince's eyes.
"Can you answer a question for me? Honestly, no matter what?"
"Uh, sure."
The blue haired man looked away for a second, trying to find a way to say what he wanted to ask. Finally he returned his eyes on Roy's sapphires and asked: "Do you love me?"
"WHAT!?" The redhead fell from his chair.
"Are you all right?" The noble stood up quickly and ran to his friend to see had he any injuries.
"Uh… I-I guess I'm okay…" Roy swallowed nervously as the prince's hands helped him standing again. "Seiously. I-I'm fine."
Marth said nothing, just pressed him against himself and his eyes widened.
Oh my god!! What if Link comes in now!? He'll think that I'm cheating on him again with Marth! The genera tried to push the prince away, but his grasp was too strong.
"Don't, Roy." The cobalt eyed man said gently as he looked at the boy. Roy then gave up, trying to think about something to say to Link if the elf would see the two of them like that.
"I thought that I loved Young Link…" Marth said gently more to the memory than to the general he held. The redheaded teen looked at him his eyes wide, waiting for the prince to say something more. "…But I was only fooling myself. I wanted to make him happy so that I wouldn't need to see him crying. That's why I was with him. Not long ago I realised that I can't force myself to love someone and told it to him. Now he probably hates me, but I was honest with him. And I really do love him, but my love towards him is brotherly."
Where's he going with this? Roy thought.
"The same night I realised that I didn't love Young Link, I also realised my true feelings. But I can't decide. I have fallen in love with two and I can't say which I love more."
What am I supposed to say now? 'I'm sorry for you?' No. 'If you're ever in pain, come and let's talk?' No way. "That's a hard situation." Roy said, catching a surprised look from the prince. Marth had probably totally forgotten that he was there in his arms.
"It is." He sighed. "And I wanted to tell you about my feelings first, because you've always been closer to me as a friend than she."
Oh, god. Is he about to--?
"I love you, Roy. I don't care how absurd it sounds or weird, these are my feelings."
"Y-You love ME!?" the general said without thinking about his words at all.
"Yes." The noble said calmly as ever, gently caressing his back and looking directly into his eyes with such tenderness it made Roy's heart beat faster.
But I've got Link! His subconscious reminded him.
"Marth… I… I hope we can still be friends, but… I already h-have someone." The general hoped that the blue haired man wouldn't start hating him after he'd said those words. He hoped that he hadn't said it too bluntly. As he looked into the prince's eyes, he saw them look at him emptily before a slight, weak, defeated smile curved on his lips. He had dropped his unemotional mask and all his feeling could be seen from his eyes. He wasn't mad. He was hurt and rejected, but he was glad to hear the truth. The redhead sighed and leaned his head on his chest, hoping that everything would be fine again.
"Thank you, Roy… For being honest with me. And I'm more than happy if we can still be friends and I can see you smile. And if you ever need to talk to someone, I'm here."
"…Thanks." The general hugged the prince in a friendly way before walking out of the door and leaving him alone in his room. The noble heaved a heavy sigh before he exited the room to do his second confession.
---
"Roy…" Sheik walked to the living room calmly. "There's someone outside waiting for you."
"Who?" The general stood up.
"He claims that he's your father."
"What!?" That bastard!! How can he come here after all these years!? The redhead ran outside, his hand on his sword's handle.
He saw his father standing far away from the Smash Building. Without hesitation, he unsheathed his sword and walked towards him. When he was close enough he stopped and shouted to the tall, redhaired man:
"What do you want!? You can't execute me as long as I'm not in Ertruria!"
The man looked down and sighed.
"Roy…" He turned his gaze from the ground to the general. Roy froze for a moment. His father had aged so many years. It had been three years since he'd seen his father the last time, but the King looked like he'd aged decades. His once so lively and sparkling blue eyes looked grey, but his flaming red hair hadn't darkened at all. It was long and on a ponytail on his back. "I'm not here to take you back to Ertruria."
"…Then what do you want, Eliwood!? Just wanting to see me!?"
"No, not really. I came because I had to. You're my… son afterall." Eliwood said calmly, but he seemed to hesitate when he called Roy as his son. This upset the redhead even more and he glared at his father.
"I came to return you to your essence." The King ascertained. "You've already caused enough trouble, I shouldn't have let this happen."
"I haven't done anything!" The boy protested.
"Don't talk back to your father!" Eliwood snapped. Roy looked away and said nothing. "I'm sorry, Roy. I'm just so used to commanding you."
"All you ever did was command me. Just leave.You can't have anything that would be necessary for me."
"I understand that you're mad at me still." The King said sadly. "But I can't make it undone. I'm sorry once again, son."
"You're forgiven. Now leave my sight before I kill you."
"I can't, Roy. You have to be returned."
"Returned to where!? I'm not going anywhere with you!" The general argued. Some of the smashers had gathered to watch the fight between the father and the son and Link ran from the Smash Building next to his beloved, ready to fight Eliwood.
"Stop talking back to me so arrogantly." The King gazed at his son with sad eyes and smiled. "But you have to. Don't you remember?"
"I don't want to remember!"
"Roy... Return to the flame."
"What!?" The redhead asked and started to laugh. "You've gone nuts, old man!"
"Roy, I'm losing my temper if you won't start behaving."
"I don't need to take orders from you. I lost my parents when I left, and I've never regretted a day!"
"Still, listen to me. You must understand that you are not a human. You're the flame." Eliwood said calmly.
"What!?" The general looked at his father with eyes open wide. "I'm the flame!? That's absurd!"
"Just listen. That's all I'm asking."
"Fine. But then you'll leave." Roy said, annoyed.
"I shall. Roy, my son. Do you remember any of your first years?"
"No… But no one does!" The general moved closer to his father.
"But you have no memory of your life before you were five, isn't that right?"
"I don't know!" The redhead snapped.
"You can't have. Because you were created when you were five. Y—"
"You're talking crazy!"
"Listen. I wanted to get married very badly when I was in your age, but because I… I preferred men to women and it wouldn't look good in front of the public, I decided to stay single. Anyway, the public eventually started to ask for a son, an inheritor to my throne."
"…And?"
"I was desperate to get a son. I not only needed one, but I wanted one. I wanted to feel the happiness of being a father. So, I got married, but my wife gave me a daughter. And soon she became ill and unable to give birth to my offspring. Also, my sweet little daughter died. She was killed with poison. My advisor told me to go to the Red Mages before my wife died, they could give me a son. I left the next day and travelled there to meet their leader. He told me that he could create me an artificial son if I brough him a dead body of a boy." Eliwood kept a long break, gazing at the beautiful snow around him.
Roy had walked close to him, listening to what he had to say without interrupting at all. He lowered his voice, when he didn't want everyone hearing what he said to his son. "I walked out of the village in the snowstorm, wondering where I could get the corpse of a dead boy. I was lucky. I fell asleep in th esnow and was brought back to the village by hunters and I woke up into the sound of drums. I ran out of the tent where I was resting and found the villagers dancing for a human sacrifice, a cute boy, whose angelic face and flaming red hair enchanted me. That moment I realised that I wanted him to be my son.
I ran to the chief and told him to save the boy from sacrificing and give him to me as my son. First he was against it strictly, but when I promised him lots of gold and treasures, he agreed to give that boy to me.
At the seremony they took the boy's already stiff body to a crater where a huge inferno was stored. The chief put his hand in the fire and let it burn for a while. Then he took it out and most of the villagers started to sing a ritualistic song as they saw his hand aflame.
He placed the flaming hand on the boy's mouth and opened it. The fire was sucked inside him and his skin started to look more and more lively every second. His lips had been purple, but they regained their red colour, his eyes had frozen open, but they were peacefully closed as he was asleep.
I was excited to see that boy come back to life in front of my eyes. I asked him to make me another son, but he refused and said that playing with fire shouldn't be done. He also said that he wouldn't do it ever again.
They gave the boy to me, covered in blankets and breathing slowly against my chest. His small hands were clenched into fists on his chest. I suddenly realised that I already loved him so much. He had been mine not even a day and I loved him like he was my own flesh and blood."
---
"I need to talk to you…" The prince knocked on the door, trying to force the nervous sweat from forming on his forehead. He had always been able to control himself and so he would be today as well.
"Come in!" Zelda said cheerfully from her room. She was wearing glasses as she'd been reading a book that now rested lazily on her bed. When the cobalt eyes of the noble met with the marine of the princess's, he felt a lump in his throat.
Stay calm. Stay collected. Stay unfeeling.
"Zelda…" the prince began. " When I left to this tournament, I was half-forced to do it. I had nowhere to go, nor anyone who wouldn't stab me in the back because of the huge fee of my head. And my own country was dead, burned to the ground."
The blonde girl listened silently, her eyes filling with sadness and pity for the Altheans. Marth hesitated for a moment, he could still back off and tell her to forget everything.
'Have I raised you to give up!? Nothing's impossible!' The prince remembered his father's words to him when they had realised the attack of the Dark Dragon and Akanea from both sides of their country.
'No, Father, I shall fight and though I'd lose I still won't be defeated before they cut off my head! And as long as I live, I'll fight for Althea!'
And I shall make my country proud once I return. Hopefully it's with you, Zelda.
---
Ffffpmmm!!
(Marth: "Let her talk if she wants to so badly.")
(Roy: "Oh, fine.")
.Das OS tsuj s'tI …dna oga emit gnol a edosipe siht retfa selif eseht dne ot dediced I ,ti pleh t'nac I tub .og ot trap eno ylno
Ti tuoba tahw, os? Ti tnaw hguone ynam fi ylno that od ll'I tub. Trap-sgninnigeb denobnaba/yratnemmoc/senecs deteled a etirw syawla nac I, won dne seliF hsamS eht hguoht neve, osla.
(Young Link: "Geez… give me a break, DMC!!")
(Marth: "Should someone bother to translate all that?")
Gnidaer rof sknaht!!
~*- 2 -*~