Ico

IX : Plummet

Both of the kids suddenly took for the gate in a run, hand in hand. It grew larger as they came closer, the brilliant soft glow being astounding. Coming to a halt before it, the two kids gazed, dreamily wondering how to open it.

"Come on, maybe we have to push it."

Ico stepped forward, Yorda behind. She took a few dainty, soft steps against the stonework, staring up at the gate. Squinting, she could feel something well up inside of her heart; reaching her hand over it, she suddenly let out a shriek.

An incredible burst of power, with a jolt of white light, knocked Ico straight onto the ground behind Yorda. Gasping, he looked at the girl.

Hands clasped together over her heart, she was the center of a massive energy transfer. White electricity ran from her body, hitting the gate in various locations. Her skin felt as if she was aflame; weakly, she stumbled back, as the gates began to slide open. The light, disconnecting from her weakened figure, stole her breath away- slowly, like a feather, she fell through the air until her face met the pavement.

"Yorda!" Ico crawled to her, sitting beside her on his knees.

"Sei..." She weakly pushed herself upright, breathing so heavy she was shuddering, "Recoule du'taeh..."

The gates swung open, then the castle began to rumble. A huge stone bridge began to spread out from the castle; on the banks of the mainland, the second half of the bridge began to spread out. Finally meeting the two, the castle stood silent.

"...Come on!" Jumping upright, and yanking Yorda harshly upright, he suddenly took off at the door. Her feet couldn't move fast enough, and, watching the sky turn into a blur, she slowly fell onto her face once more.

"Oh, Yorda... I'm so sorry..." He stopped, then helped her up. "I'll go slowly for you."

Through pain, she began lightly stepping, leaning against him. Her breath seemed to be miles away, as the air in her lungs was as painful as knives. Her heart was throbbing with pain, while all of her limbs burned angrily.

Making sure she was steady, Ico led her onto the stone bridge. Down below, seas crashed against the island and the mainland's shores, the water reflecting the bright sun above. Birds swept past above them, singing a chorus of freedom and bliss. Once or twice, he stopped to give her a rest, never once thinking of leaving her behind.

"We're almost there. Just a little farther."

Slowly, stepping in time, they made it three-fourths of the way across. At the very end, a row of statues awaited their coming. Taking one last break, Ico smiled at Yorda, who was panting against his shoulder.

"You'll be okay. I'll make sure of it. When we get out, you will never be caged again. You'll see. Just a little bit farther."

"E...Eu..."

"Don't talk. Just breathe. One step..."

They began going slowly- then, nearing the last two sections of stone, Ico picked up the pace. Just as he stepped over the crack, Yorda was suddenly jolted from his hand.

Whipping around, he suddenly was knocked over as the bridge began to shake. Yorda was lying on her edge on the other side, staring at him. Ico, hitting the stone, suddenly rolled off onto the side, barely catching himself, as the bridge began to split apart.

"No! Yorda!" Scrambling upright, he suddenly took a leap through the air. The bridge was too far apart- he suddenly felt himself go into a free-fall.

A pale hand wrapped around his tanned wrist.

Swinging in the air, on the moving bridge, Ico tried to swing his other arm up to Yorda. With all of her effort, she tried to pull him up- but suddenly, she stopped. He continued to try to swing upright, then came to a halt when spying something in her eyes.

Behind her, a black shadow grew, as she stared down at him with a pained look. Swiftly, the figure rose up behind her, a pale face appearing in the mists. The black shadow slowly crept up Yorda's body, as Ico let out a gasp.

"Aeroute." The word came strongly from the girl's mouth, as her hand squeezed harder around Ico's wrist.

Suddenly, he was falling through the air, watching the two figures on the bridge rush away. Reaching up, and screaming, he fell limply through the cold air, disappearing into the distance.

Yorda, engulfed in the black, slowly began to feel her body stiffen. The queen, behind her, wore a smirk that could've frozen the gates of hell solid. The last thought in Yorda's mind was painful, thinking of how hard he worked, only for her to drop him. Her heart and mind went silent, as all faded to black.

"...never... leave..."

The heavens thundered angrily, cold rain slapping against each and every surface.

"I... will... protect..."

Lighting split the sky asunder, followed by bellowing thunder.

"Yorda... don't worry..." Ico, wincing, curled up a bit, the cold rain stinging against his skin. He felt the cold air whip around him, whistling harshly in his ears. "What happened...?"

Slowly looking up, he saw the bottom half of the island ahead of him. He was lying on something suspended under the castle, which appeared to be some kind of makeshift cage. It swung slowly in the breeze, creaking as it did so.

Rising up, with a bit of a headache, he looked around. More cages led the way to the island, swinging in the wind. Below, the sea angrily crashed against itself, in a mock-war of nature.

"Yorda was..." He looked up, and found the bridge was entirely gone. "Her mother... I've got to get back in to save Yorda!"