Ico
VIII : Completion
Running across the stone bridge, among the heavy mists of the morning, in a dreamland the two kids were on their way to freedom. The looming castle behind them stood angrily against the sun, almost glaring at their departure. The soft grass awaited them ahead, birds joyously singing to the dawn.
"We're almost there, keep running!" Yorda was running at top speed to the other edge, with Ico in hand. He stumbled along behind her, seemingly unable to keep up at her pace. "Don't fall behind, we're going to freedom!
Suddenly slipping in a puddle, the two kids fell against the stone bridge, as a warm, heavy rain began to fall from the sky. Sitting back up, Yorda looked at the offending puddle.
It darkly reflected the thundering skies; holding her hand out and catching the rain, Yorda found it to be a deep red, thick substance. Slowly rubbing her fingers together, she suddenly gasped, standing up.
"It's raining blood..." She felt Ico's hand slip from her own; quickly looking back, he was nearly drowning in a puddle of the red rain. With all due speed, she grabbed his arm and tried to pull him upright. The bizarre rainfall slapped against the two, and Yorda couldn't hold onto the boy's arm.
Slipping from her hands with a spurt, he suddenly fell through the puddle, leaving Yorda staring at her darkened reflection in the pool. Through the reflection, she saw a shadow slowly rise up behind her, one that gave her a sickly grin.
Suddenly snapping awake and sitting upright, Yorda found herself to be shivering quite terribly. Looking to the side, she found Ico to be peacefully dozing; without delay, her hand was attached to his own.
"...huh...?" Ico opened his eyes, "What's wrong?"
She said nothing, clinging to his hand as if she were falling.
"Did something scare you?" He sat up, looking around the wet pathways, "Did you have a bad dream?"
Shivering and letting out faint whimpers, she squeezed his hand tightly.
"...Don't be scared." He took her into a hug, "There's nothing to be afraid of anymore. I won't let anything hurt you."
With a silent sigh, she relaxed some.
"I'm going to let go. Are you going to be okay?" He slowly released her from the embrace, watching her face closely. "See? Nothing TOO bad."
Helping her up, Ico made sure she was all right before continuing onwards. Leading Yorda up to the three-step staircase, the two children gazed around, feeling somewhat lost.
"I'll be back!" Letting go, he ran to a chain that was hanging from a platform above. Climbing up, he disappeared over the edge, to the dismay of Yorda.
She began pacing around near the wall, occasionally looking up. At one point, she could hear something heavy being pushed, but it all came to a halt in a minute. Then she heard the sounds of chain links rattling, then the 'click' of a switch.
Staring up at the edge, Yorda patiently awaited the appearance of her friend. However, she was soon taken up in a chilling embrace from behind. Letting out a startled yelp, she was flung over a shoulder...
Ico, on the other hand, had noticed the foes appear- instead of dropping down to Yorda, he was climbing to the platform where the shadow originated. Sword at the ready, he gazed skyward at the coming foes, spying Yorda over a shoulder.
When they touched down, he made quick work of defeating them; Yorda was busily running around the small platform, avoiding cold hands. After all of the foes were gone, Ico had a bit of a devious smirk on.
"They brought you up FOR me. How nice of them."
Taking Yorda's hand, Ico walked her off to an elevator shaft. In the center was a large dial-like switch. Taking one of the beams, he began pushing, as the platform began rising. Yorda walked to the corner, staring off at the rising scenery.
Around and around, Ico had to take a few breaks since the gears were rather rusty. Eventually, they reached the top, but didn't leave until Ico rested his arms.
Heading across the rooftop, and leaping over a gap with Yorda, Ico and the girl were standing on the edge of a ledge. On the other side, a drawbridge was raised, which only meant one thing.
"Stay here!"
Yorda watched Ico wind himself around a virtual maze of platforms to the other side. Then he disappeared behind the bridge, hanging off a chain. He swung his weight, then launched himself at the bridge.
It suddenly snapped from it's supports and came down, causing Yorda to run out of the way. Standing up, Ico called her over. Yorda came with a sprint, quickly reaching him and taking his hand.
Running her up and down several platforms, Ico finally put her in the corner of a storage room. Within the room were sticks, a broken crate, and several bombs. Outside, Ico had noticed a long tower made of wood, that could, if broken, turn into a bridge to the next door.
"Stay right here. Don't get in my way AT ALL." Picking a bomb up, and a stick, leaving the sword, he staggered out across a narrow beam. Yorda, curious, peered out from the doorway, silent.
Walking out to the platform before the wooden tower, he paused and set the bomb down. Walking to a nearby torch, he lit the end of his stick, then quickly lit the explosive. Grabbing it, he, with all due speed, flung it at the tower- plugging his ears, he closed his eyes, just before it exploded.
The wood beams of the tower suddenly splintered, cracking angrily. Yorda, in the storage room, had collapsed to the ground in fear- peering out now, she watched as it fell to the side. It made a loud 'crunch' when meeting the platform before it, and the whole process came to a halt.
"Okay, all clear!" Ico came back, taking the sword and Yorda's hand, "Let's go."
Heading out, he had entirely forgotten to blow out the end of the stick. As they ran across a path, a sudden, violent explosion rocked the storage room. Both of the kids collapsed on the wood path, watching the angry explosions and smoke billow out of the room. After it was all finished, the room was actually in relatively good shape, but both of the kids were startled beyond belief.
"S-sorry about that!"
After getting upright, he helped Yorda up, then led her carefully across the new bridge. Even though it was somewhat smashed, it remained steady enough for them to travel upon. On the next ledge, they could see that down below, some doors awaited. The ladder awaited them on the other side, which meant Ico had to somehow get Yorda across the huge gap.
"I'm getting real tired of this. Whoever designed this place really didn't want us to leave." With an angry sigh, he walked to a chain, and began climbing. "Stay here. Wait until I call or something."
Shimmying across, Yorda silently watched him leave. She could tell he was annoyed, and was mistakenly blaming herself. Up above, she saw him hit a switch, but she also spotted a shadow forming down below.
"Ico!" She called up to him, backing up to the wall as the shadows raised themselves out of the floor. Meanwhile, a big crate was moved over the gap, allowing Yorda access to the other side.
Dropping down beside her, Ico swung his sword in time to hit the first monster straight off the ledge. Fighting off the fiends, Ico finished it all with an exasperated sigh. "I can't wait until we get out of here..."
Running, he leapt to the crate, then spun around and held his arm out to Yorda. She came at a run and caught it, falling down. After dragging her upright, Ico leapt to the other side and managed to bring her across, as well. Both heading down the ladder, they ran to the next doors and proceeded to the next room.
It was an identical room to the previous one with the windows. All of the windows were shut tightly. Heavy doors blocked their path, but it was easy enough to get them away. Leaving Yorda at a couch, Ico went to work cutting the doors loose. Afterwards, he walked over and sat for a minute, then helped her upright. Into the next room they went, finding another switch only Yorda could activate.
Bringing her upon it, Ico held on as it sunk into the floor, stairs rising. Both of the kids quickly headed up and proceeded lighting torches., then the window opened, letting light pour in.
Climbing out, they found this particular sun reflector to be facing the wrong way.
"Easy to fix." Ico crawled up to it, then pushed it back into position. Taking Yorda, he then ran off to the next area.
Almost everything was a repeat of the previous room, right up to the room with the running water. After winding themselves up and around the room, they were heading to open the last window.
"After this, the gate will be open- then we can leave!"
Walking across the balcony, over the strange glowing bricks and to the statues, the kids traveled hand-in-hand. Reaching the other side, Ico pulled the switch, then dropped his sword down. Grabbing a stick, resting against the wall, he lit it, then dropped down.
Yorda waited above, wary of the drop this time. She watched him light the torches, then saw the window slide open. Before they were completely open, Ico called to her, and she leapt down and actually landed on him.
Sitting up, after moving her to the side, Ico looked up just in time. Outside, the reflector suddenly shot a steady beam of light through the windows- out across the castle, it hit the orb to the side of the inactive gate. Soon the stone orb began to spin in its holder, the gate glowing brightly.
"We... We can leave now!" Rising, he picked up the sword, then took Yorda's had. He was staring at the light, in disbelief. Taking off, at as fast as he could, he suddenly tore out on the balcony, dragging her.
Stumbling along, Yorda hadn't the faintest about what was going on. Brought to a ladder, which led down to the courtyard, she was encouraged to climb down. Doing so, she was suddenly pulled when reaching the bottom onto the stone path. Both of the kids stared at the big, glowing gates.
"...Let's go! We can leave, Yorda, we can leave!"