Disclaimer: You want me to tell you I don't own it again? (sigh) fine, but seriously this is starting to depress me. I don't own smash bro. etc. etc. yada yada yada, you know what I mean. And if you don't just have a look at previous chapters to find out. If you still don't know what I mean, a) you need help; b) I pity your education system.
Okay, winner of the fabled donut is... what? Oh damn, there's two of you. Okay, lemme just cut this thing in half... there. Okay the two winners are Fangirl Beverly and firemage. Thx for the reviews d00ds.
I'm disappointed with myself. I forgot to mention a sprite in my last chapter. So, there will be two sprite sightings in this one.
Chapter 6
And so it was, that Marth former Prince of former Altea, stood over the still form of his latest victim. Falchion was held high over his head, ready for the final, downward strike. Unflinching, his target offered no resistance. Marth snarled as Falchion began to charge with magical energy. His victim, made no move. Purple light cascaded off Falchion, flowing around Marth's body, a violet liquid fire. Bright light seared from the tip of the enchanted blade as it reached it's full fury. A sprite danced around the blade trying to play with the magical energy that spread off it. Marth screamed into the night "BURN DAMN YOU! BURN!"
He swung down the magical energies of his sword easily cutting the target in two. The sparks from the released energy settled on a few dry leaves, quickly igniting them. With a satisfied grin on his face, Marth dropped Falchion, and delicately placed a few twigs over the smouldering leaves. Gently blowing on them, he placed larger pieces of fuel on the twigs, and soon, a small fire was going.
"There has to be an easier way to make a fire than venting your anger on a rock," said a flat, disapproving feminine voice.
Marth grinned, "Yeah but this is so much more fun." He scooped up Falchion, which was glowing faintly in protest to the fact it was being used as a tinderbox. He sheathed it, and unbuckled his sword belt, which he hung on a tree.
"So how do you know me?" said the voice. Marth turned to the owner, a blonde, slender beauty, who went by the name of Zelda. She was currently perched on a log, wearing a skin-tight ninja suit, which Marth found very hard to ignore. Difficult! Very difficult to ignore.
He sat down heavily on a log. His lungs still burned from the previous fight, and he was sure that was due to the fact his ribs had cracked. Falling off his horse when they had fled did not help matters. And to top it all off, his scars from previous battles had popped open fresh from the force of being thrown into a wall. But on the upside, he had saved the princess, and he couldn't ask for more than that. Save perhaps Ganondorf's head on a pike, but that could all wait until his chest stopped hurting.
He smiled at the woman opposite him, "Back when Altea was still powerful, my father took the family around to all the outlying kingdoms. I suppose it was our version of a holiday. So we went to visit all the royal families of each kingdom, to pay our respects, strengthen alliances, or even, um, enforce certain deals."
"Yes, we used to do that."
"A lot of royals used to. Then things got a little bit complicated to our Eastern borders. Communication dried up. And we were left friendless, against that bast-. But that's a little off topic. But do you remember a visit a long time ago? I think you might have been seven or something..."
The light of recognition went off behind Zelda's eyes, "Oh! I remember now! You must be that blue haired little boy who helped me find... the..."
"Ocarina? You know? You were going on about nightmares or something stupid like that and you said you needed that little blue ocarina. Do you know how much trouble I got in for stealing that thing? It wasn't as if you needed me to either."
"Well I was just a little girl, I didn't know it was free for access by the royal family-"
"Uh-huh. Well, it was partly my fault for being stupid enough to believe you. I mean, evil dark man and lights coming from forests? I'm glad I was just a kid when I heard that story." Zelda remained quiet. "Oh, did I hurt that guy badly? The guy who caught me?"
Zelda remembered that. There had been a lot of commotion coming from the room where the ocarina was kept. She had followed a group of guards that were running in that direction. When they arrived, they saw the young blue haired seven-year-old facing off against Ganondorf, who was amused by the little kid's courage. Little Marth only had a toy wooden sword, but he was unwilling to back down.
Even as Ganondorf laughed at the little boy, Marth had run up to him, striking Ganon's shins with enough force to topple him over. Had it not been for the guards that had appeared in the doorway, no doubt Marth would have made it scott-free. As it was, the swift hand of retribution fell on Marth's backside, and Zelda had been confined to her room for asking him to do it.
"Um, speaking of ocarinas, do you know a blonde wannabe archer in the forest? Wear's green if that's any help."
"Who? Link?"
"Um, yeah, could you give this back to him?" He tossed her the blue instrument he had stolen off Link earlier that day.
Zelda sighed, "Why do you have it?"
"Um..."
"You stole it." It was not a question. She knew he had stolen it since he heard him playing it in the temple. It was a pity that Link was so trusting, but to be fair, even Zelda found herself trusting Marth. Despite the fact he had tried to kill her and doomed her people.*
Marth could not answer her. Once long ago he would not even considered stealing it. But having your country and people burned in front of you can change a man. And Marth knew that was just an excuse, and he had no right to take it. But the glimmer of hope the blonde teen had given him was too tempting to leave behind. He knew that Link would have been dead set against him using the power, and so, Marth had let himself take the ocarina.
And now... some other country was in trouble. Because of him. Toying with things he did not understand. Bugger that... He rose to his feet sharply, and gasped as the pain from his chest coursed through him. Zelda looked at him with a calculating eye.
"Are you injured?"
"Yes, but I'll get it looked at later. Right now I have some business to atten- argh!" Zelda began experimentally prodding him in the chest. Marth tried to back away, but she muttered a few words of power and his legs locked into place.
"What are you doing?!" he screamed. She placed her hand on his armour, and closed her eyes. A faint light seemed to glow under her hand for a moment, and Marth felt the pain in his chest lessen, until it faded away into nothingness.
"There. All better now."
"What the hell did you do to me?" he said calmly, feeling around his ribcage. She smiled faintly.
"I healed you. It wasn't hard, just a few broken ribs, and the occasional scar."
Marth offered a weak grin, "Well, thank you. Now if you don't mind, I have to go." He whistled, and his horse came trotting up behind him. He jumped into the saddle, then smirked at Zelda. "My lady," he said, nodding a farewell. He kicked his horse's flanks sending the well-trained steed into a gallop.
Zelda watched him leave.
And watched him ride back to pick up Falchion.
---------------------------------
Link wandered the streets of the market town outside the palace. He was sure the blue light had come from here, and there was not the usual flock of dogs that regularly plagued the peaceful little town at night. And it was quiet. Very quiet.
Even the owls had left the place, and Link was certain that if he went into a house, the owners would be hiding behind the table, crossbow held in shaky hands. There was something in the air; something that just felt like it was building up. He felt that if he looked closely, he could see the air fizz with anticipation. Not that he was a coward, but even the bravest of heroes get worried at the sight of fizzing air.
He heard the drawbridge clatter open. Just audible over the noise of the chains, a horse brayed defiance at the storm... when did the storm begin? Link ducked into the shadows, his bow already up and pointed in the direction of the gates. A curtain of rain spread across the road, as Hyrule's weather patterns shifted to allow for the momentous occasions. Link idly remembered when it use to do this for him, and how much fun he had, running back and forth, watching the sun go down and up.
He looked out, and saw a teal haired teen riding on a pure white stallion, galloping through, not even trying to shield himself from the sleeting rain. Gale force winds blew his blue steel cloak out behind him as he rode, thunder cracking every other time a hoof hit the cobbles of the street, the horse protesting at the sparks as his steel shod feet struck the wet stone.
Link let the string on his bow go slack. He recognised this one as Marth, the mercenary he had met earlier that day. But he had only just arrived in Hyrule, how could he already have caused enough trouble to warrant such environmental attention? He decided to follow him. It was the quickest way in his mind to find out just what the hell was going on, why he was not involved, and where Zelda was. It was generally a given that he would have to save Zelda.
He stepped out into the storm, and followed the clattering hooves.
---------------------------------------
Ganondorf paced up and down the temple. He was waiting. The hero always came along to try and slay the evil monster, and Ganondorf had long worked out that he was the evil monster. Having a blonde haired, pointy-eared tree hugger cut the better half of you off will tell you things like this.
But now he had the upper hand. The only sword he feared the sting of was even now, firmly wedged into a temple wall. He wandered over to it, stuck forlornly in between the marble slabs that made up the temple, at about shoulder height for the average Hylain. He kicked it, and watched with glee as it twanged back and forth. Such a potent weapon, reduced to the evil madman's child's toy. He loved the perverse irony of it.
But he would be here soon. The blonde one. Whatever his name was, Lank or something. He was a fairly major thorn in his side, and yet he barely knew his name. He shrugged; he had only met the damn kid twice, once when he was just a gutsy, idiot child, and another time when he had tried to kill him. You would think that he would remember him, if only for that.
Ganondorf looked up. Ahh, a storm was brewing outside. That meant he would be here soon. He vaguely wondered what sword he would be using, since his weapon of choice was here. He made his way to the centre of the temple, positioning himself with his back to the door, posing in a brooding fashion on a small raised area in the floor. He would win this time. He had the power to rule once, he would do it again. Only this time, he would tear off the little blondeys head off. Link! That was his name! Ha!
The storm outside began to roar louder, hail pelting the stained glass windows high in the roof. Soon now...
There was a dull rumble, and Ganon sensed a surge of magical energy behind him.
The temple doors exploded inwards, a bright purple flash blinding any onlooker as the twenty foot high double doors flew half way across the room, burnt to cinders before they even hit the ground, purple smoke and green fire tingling the embers as they spread themselves across the floor. Lightning shattered the glass windows, letting the full fury of the storm outside tear its way inside.
A figure on a horse was visible, still standing in the rain and hail. His sword was held limply at his side, still glowing from the energy spent. His cape was blown to the right, flapping in the gale. Lightning glinted off of his armour, sword and tiara. The pure white stallion reared, braying for all it was worth. A lone sprite was whizzing around his head, casting shadows in all directions.
Ganondorf smiled. Predictable fool. Purple smoke collected around his fist as he filled it with foul scorcerous magic. His back was still to the new comer when he spoke. "And so we meet again. You wish another battle?"
He turned slowly. "And so you come riding on your horse to fight me. Well I remember you, and I know how you fight, and you are without your precious Master Sword now. You will die."
He was now facing the newcomer, but his eyes had closed out of anticipation, "But not before I have a little fun..."
His eyes flew open, "PREPARE TO FEEL PAIN LI- Who the hell are you?!"
TO BE CONTINUED...
*(Ah, bless his little blue haired mop - Monkey-san)
A. Notes: Good news, bad news. Good news, I've got more cookies. Bad news, they're not big enough to share. So best review wins a cookie, and no dual winners. Apologies for not loading sooner. Got banned for a week for putting something in the wrong category. Next chapter will be posted in two days, just enough time for me to decide the cookie winner.
Once again, I make my futile plea for both a pre-reader, and some information on Fire Emblem. Thanks to RPGenius and Iris Amergin for their help in finding FE info, to sprite who mercilessly tormented me until I got this right, and to Monkey-san for laughing in the right places.
Okay, winner of the fabled donut is... what? Oh damn, there's two of you. Okay, lemme just cut this thing in half... there. Okay the two winners are Fangirl Beverly and firemage. Thx for the reviews d00ds.
I'm disappointed with myself. I forgot to mention a sprite in my last chapter. So, there will be two sprite sightings in this one.
Chapter 6
And so it was, that Marth former Prince of former Altea, stood over the still form of his latest victim. Falchion was held high over his head, ready for the final, downward strike. Unflinching, his target offered no resistance. Marth snarled as Falchion began to charge with magical energy. His victim, made no move. Purple light cascaded off Falchion, flowing around Marth's body, a violet liquid fire. Bright light seared from the tip of the enchanted blade as it reached it's full fury. A sprite danced around the blade trying to play with the magical energy that spread off it. Marth screamed into the night "BURN DAMN YOU! BURN!"
He swung down the magical energies of his sword easily cutting the target in two. The sparks from the released energy settled on a few dry leaves, quickly igniting them. With a satisfied grin on his face, Marth dropped Falchion, and delicately placed a few twigs over the smouldering leaves. Gently blowing on them, he placed larger pieces of fuel on the twigs, and soon, a small fire was going.
"There has to be an easier way to make a fire than venting your anger on a rock," said a flat, disapproving feminine voice.
Marth grinned, "Yeah but this is so much more fun." He scooped up Falchion, which was glowing faintly in protest to the fact it was being used as a tinderbox. He sheathed it, and unbuckled his sword belt, which he hung on a tree.
"So how do you know me?" said the voice. Marth turned to the owner, a blonde, slender beauty, who went by the name of Zelda. She was currently perched on a log, wearing a skin-tight ninja suit, which Marth found very hard to ignore. Difficult! Very difficult to ignore.
He sat down heavily on a log. His lungs still burned from the previous fight, and he was sure that was due to the fact his ribs had cracked. Falling off his horse when they had fled did not help matters. And to top it all off, his scars from previous battles had popped open fresh from the force of being thrown into a wall. But on the upside, he had saved the princess, and he couldn't ask for more than that. Save perhaps Ganondorf's head on a pike, but that could all wait until his chest stopped hurting.
He smiled at the woman opposite him, "Back when Altea was still powerful, my father took the family around to all the outlying kingdoms. I suppose it was our version of a holiday. So we went to visit all the royal families of each kingdom, to pay our respects, strengthen alliances, or even, um, enforce certain deals."
"Yes, we used to do that."
"A lot of royals used to. Then things got a little bit complicated to our Eastern borders. Communication dried up. And we were left friendless, against that bast-. But that's a little off topic. But do you remember a visit a long time ago? I think you might have been seven or something..."
The light of recognition went off behind Zelda's eyes, "Oh! I remember now! You must be that blue haired little boy who helped me find... the..."
"Ocarina? You know? You were going on about nightmares or something stupid like that and you said you needed that little blue ocarina. Do you know how much trouble I got in for stealing that thing? It wasn't as if you needed me to either."
"Well I was just a little girl, I didn't know it was free for access by the royal family-"
"Uh-huh. Well, it was partly my fault for being stupid enough to believe you. I mean, evil dark man and lights coming from forests? I'm glad I was just a kid when I heard that story." Zelda remained quiet. "Oh, did I hurt that guy badly? The guy who caught me?"
Zelda remembered that. There had been a lot of commotion coming from the room where the ocarina was kept. She had followed a group of guards that were running in that direction. When they arrived, they saw the young blue haired seven-year-old facing off against Ganondorf, who was amused by the little kid's courage. Little Marth only had a toy wooden sword, but he was unwilling to back down.
Even as Ganondorf laughed at the little boy, Marth had run up to him, striking Ganon's shins with enough force to topple him over. Had it not been for the guards that had appeared in the doorway, no doubt Marth would have made it scott-free. As it was, the swift hand of retribution fell on Marth's backside, and Zelda had been confined to her room for asking him to do it.
"Um, speaking of ocarinas, do you know a blonde wannabe archer in the forest? Wear's green if that's any help."
"Who? Link?"
"Um, yeah, could you give this back to him?" He tossed her the blue instrument he had stolen off Link earlier that day.
Zelda sighed, "Why do you have it?"
"Um..."
"You stole it." It was not a question. She knew he had stolen it since he heard him playing it in the temple. It was a pity that Link was so trusting, but to be fair, even Zelda found herself trusting Marth. Despite the fact he had tried to kill her and doomed her people.*
Marth could not answer her. Once long ago he would not even considered stealing it. But having your country and people burned in front of you can change a man. And Marth knew that was just an excuse, and he had no right to take it. But the glimmer of hope the blonde teen had given him was too tempting to leave behind. He knew that Link would have been dead set against him using the power, and so, Marth had let himself take the ocarina.
And now... some other country was in trouble. Because of him. Toying with things he did not understand. Bugger that... He rose to his feet sharply, and gasped as the pain from his chest coursed through him. Zelda looked at him with a calculating eye.
"Are you injured?"
"Yes, but I'll get it looked at later. Right now I have some business to atten- argh!" Zelda began experimentally prodding him in the chest. Marth tried to back away, but she muttered a few words of power and his legs locked into place.
"What are you doing?!" he screamed. She placed her hand on his armour, and closed her eyes. A faint light seemed to glow under her hand for a moment, and Marth felt the pain in his chest lessen, until it faded away into nothingness.
"There. All better now."
"What the hell did you do to me?" he said calmly, feeling around his ribcage. She smiled faintly.
"I healed you. It wasn't hard, just a few broken ribs, and the occasional scar."
Marth offered a weak grin, "Well, thank you. Now if you don't mind, I have to go." He whistled, and his horse came trotting up behind him. He jumped into the saddle, then smirked at Zelda. "My lady," he said, nodding a farewell. He kicked his horse's flanks sending the well-trained steed into a gallop.
Zelda watched him leave.
And watched him ride back to pick up Falchion.
---------------------------------
Link wandered the streets of the market town outside the palace. He was sure the blue light had come from here, and there was not the usual flock of dogs that regularly plagued the peaceful little town at night. And it was quiet. Very quiet.
Even the owls had left the place, and Link was certain that if he went into a house, the owners would be hiding behind the table, crossbow held in shaky hands. There was something in the air; something that just felt like it was building up. He felt that if he looked closely, he could see the air fizz with anticipation. Not that he was a coward, but even the bravest of heroes get worried at the sight of fizzing air.
He heard the drawbridge clatter open. Just audible over the noise of the chains, a horse brayed defiance at the storm... when did the storm begin? Link ducked into the shadows, his bow already up and pointed in the direction of the gates. A curtain of rain spread across the road, as Hyrule's weather patterns shifted to allow for the momentous occasions. Link idly remembered when it use to do this for him, and how much fun he had, running back and forth, watching the sun go down and up.
He looked out, and saw a teal haired teen riding on a pure white stallion, galloping through, not even trying to shield himself from the sleeting rain. Gale force winds blew his blue steel cloak out behind him as he rode, thunder cracking every other time a hoof hit the cobbles of the street, the horse protesting at the sparks as his steel shod feet struck the wet stone.
Link let the string on his bow go slack. He recognised this one as Marth, the mercenary he had met earlier that day. But he had only just arrived in Hyrule, how could he already have caused enough trouble to warrant such environmental attention? He decided to follow him. It was the quickest way in his mind to find out just what the hell was going on, why he was not involved, and where Zelda was. It was generally a given that he would have to save Zelda.
He stepped out into the storm, and followed the clattering hooves.
---------------------------------------
Ganondorf paced up and down the temple. He was waiting. The hero always came along to try and slay the evil monster, and Ganondorf had long worked out that he was the evil monster. Having a blonde haired, pointy-eared tree hugger cut the better half of you off will tell you things like this.
But now he had the upper hand. The only sword he feared the sting of was even now, firmly wedged into a temple wall. He wandered over to it, stuck forlornly in between the marble slabs that made up the temple, at about shoulder height for the average Hylain. He kicked it, and watched with glee as it twanged back and forth. Such a potent weapon, reduced to the evil madman's child's toy. He loved the perverse irony of it.
But he would be here soon. The blonde one. Whatever his name was, Lank or something. He was a fairly major thorn in his side, and yet he barely knew his name. He shrugged; he had only met the damn kid twice, once when he was just a gutsy, idiot child, and another time when he had tried to kill him. You would think that he would remember him, if only for that.
Ganondorf looked up. Ahh, a storm was brewing outside. That meant he would be here soon. He vaguely wondered what sword he would be using, since his weapon of choice was here. He made his way to the centre of the temple, positioning himself with his back to the door, posing in a brooding fashion on a small raised area in the floor. He would win this time. He had the power to rule once, he would do it again. Only this time, he would tear off the little blondeys head off. Link! That was his name! Ha!
The storm outside began to roar louder, hail pelting the stained glass windows high in the roof. Soon now...
There was a dull rumble, and Ganon sensed a surge of magical energy behind him.
The temple doors exploded inwards, a bright purple flash blinding any onlooker as the twenty foot high double doors flew half way across the room, burnt to cinders before they even hit the ground, purple smoke and green fire tingling the embers as they spread themselves across the floor. Lightning shattered the glass windows, letting the full fury of the storm outside tear its way inside.
A figure on a horse was visible, still standing in the rain and hail. His sword was held limply at his side, still glowing from the energy spent. His cape was blown to the right, flapping in the gale. Lightning glinted off of his armour, sword and tiara. The pure white stallion reared, braying for all it was worth. A lone sprite was whizzing around his head, casting shadows in all directions.
Ganondorf smiled. Predictable fool. Purple smoke collected around his fist as he filled it with foul scorcerous magic. His back was still to the new comer when he spoke. "And so we meet again. You wish another battle?"
He turned slowly. "And so you come riding on your horse to fight me. Well I remember you, and I know how you fight, and you are without your precious Master Sword now. You will die."
He was now facing the newcomer, but his eyes had closed out of anticipation, "But not before I have a little fun..."
His eyes flew open, "PREPARE TO FEEL PAIN LI- Who the hell are you?!"
TO BE CONTINUED...
*(Ah, bless his little blue haired mop - Monkey-san)
A. Notes: Good news, bad news. Good news, I've got more cookies. Bad news, they're not big enough to share. So best review wins a cookie, and no dual winners. Apologies for not loading sooner. Got banned for a week for putting something in the wrong category. Next chapter will be posted in two days, just enough time for me to decide the cookie winner.
Once again, I make my futile plea for both a pre-reader, and some information on Fire Emblem. Thanks to RPGenius and Iris Amergin for their help in finding FE info, to sprite who mercilessly tormented me until I got this right, and to Monkey-san for laughing in the right places.