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My client wishes the reader, and any secondary information receivers (inclusive of family, friends, and pets), to know, for a given state of knowledgeability, that my client, the aforementioned Brassmonki (a.k.a That funky monki), whilst owning a copy and, subsequently, consumer rights to the electronic software designed by a multinational firm and manufactured domestically, my client does not openly or by act of neglecting facts lay claim to any characters, sub characters, places, place names, regions, equipment or other trade marked and/or copy righted articles or persons listed in this fan fiction. Ergo, any complaint from manufacturer, designer or any law provision will result in immediate removal from public viewing. Help help, he's got me here at gun point. Call the poli-
I apologise for the lameness but I needed something to kick start my writing and to cover a few of the plot lines I forgot to set up. So here it is, my last stab in the realm of Hyrule and a really lame attempt at angst.
Epilogue: The Author's Last Stab!
Marth awoke.
It took him two milliseconds to regret this. His body was on fire, and for some reason his eyes were poking daggers into his fore brain. But not only was there the fire playing merry hell up and down his body, his bones were engaging in the kind of dull ache that they always go into to dissuade you from causing the body to go through pain again. The bones knew this was futile, but ache they would in the hopes the owner of the body would give up adventuring and settle for chartered accountancy.
Amidst this cocktail of sensations, Marth's singular question was, 'Why am I still here?' Not that he was complaining, but when you have been left at the mercy of a madman you don't expect to wakeup again. You did kind of expect the agony, but you expected a lot more death than pain.
It was a while before he summoned up the courage to open his eyes. He knew full well what would happen when he did. You always got it when you woke up in the state he was now. But he knew he couldn't stay like this. He opened his eyes.
Searing light burnt into his eyeballs, burning straight past his retina into his mind. He slammed his lids shut again against the pain, thinking it was a stupid plan to open his eyes when he knew what was going to happen.
"Oh, you're awake then."
Marth's pain wrapped mind distinguished the voice as female. It was a nice surprise, considering he was expecting insane evil sorcerer and maniacal laughing. All things considered he preferred a nurse to an arch villain, even if said nurse were to poke needles in him. At least he could expect to go out feeling better than coming in.
"Yeah I'm awake," he spoke through gritted teeth. The pain was really starting to get to him.
"Better be a little nicer Altea, you're not very popular here at this moment." The voice was imperious, and full of vehemence. Marth was starting to wonder if his initial assumption of nurse was more than a little off.
"Sorry," he grumbled, "Just a little agitated from being tossed around the temple like a rag doll."
"Uh huh."
Marth tried opening his eyes again, this time with more success. Instead of pain there was just a big bright blur. "Incidentally, what's with calling me by my country's name?" he asked, trying to gain back the initiative in this conversation.
"Because you are all that is left."
There was a long pause.
"Harsh."
"At least I didn't release the greatest evil ever to descend on Hyrule and then fail to destroy it."
"I gave it my best shot," Marth shot back defensively.
"And you're best wasn't good enough. No wonder Altea fell under your rule..."
There was an even longer pause now.
The pause continued for some time.
The pause went into a full blown moment of silence.
"I hope you know there are only two reasons why I don't kill you now."
The pause departed this world, satisfied with a job well done.
"One, it is my policy not to allow harm to come to women."
"And the other?" the female voice said, a little more hesitantly.
"I can't see a bloody thing."
"Oh, you mean the healing spells haven't worked yet?" Marth felt someone's hands press against his chest, and for a second, the big white blur in front of him flashed a little brighter. The fire across his body vanished, and the dull ache lessened to a slight throbbing sensation which he could only feel if he thought about it. He blinked, his vision clearing the instant his eyes opened.
To see Zelda sitting in front of him, eyes burning holes in his own. He was a little shocked to see such coldness there, but to tell the truth, he wasn't surprised. After all, he had left her in the middle of a forest in the dead of night with nothing but a fire to keep her safe. Oh, and he had doomed her kingdom to unspeakable evil and damnation for eternity. He matched her gaze with a blank expression, letting the mask born of years in the Altean political arena descend on him.
The room was a simple affair, triangular in shape, with a bed pushed up with it's head against one wall, a door in the other wall, and a small plain window hacked out of the remaining wall. The dull glass of the window still let enough light in to give Marth some discomfort, and the combination of brilliant white bed sheets was threatening to blind him once again. It was clear to Marth that this was a castles infirmary.
Zelda put everything she had into the glare. It surprised her at how little there actually was. Here was the man who had attacked her in her own kingdom, had knocked her unconscious and had put her people in danger of Ganondorf, and she had to force herself to feel slightly annoyed. Maybe it was the way he had nearly killed himself trying to put things right. Or maybe it was because she remembered the foolish little boy who had done his best for a silly little girl all those years ago.
There was a polite, yet firm cough. The staring match was broken, with Zelda glancing away from the cougher eyes fixed on the floor. Marth turned his head to see the green clad blond he had stolen an item from.
"Not meaning to interrupt anything," he said, his expression forcibly unreadable, "But I just came to see how he was doing," indicating to Marth.
"He's fine Link," Zelda responded.
"Really?" Link asked, raising his eyebrow.
"Yes."
Before another long pause could descend on the tense situation, Marth cut in, "Um, purely out of curiosity, why aren't I dead?"
"I dragged you back out of the temple."
"Oh. Thanks."
"Yeah, no trouble," Link replied absent mindedly, eyes locked on Zelda, who for some reason was still giving the floor the closest scrutiny she could muster. "But next time you come into my country I'd be grateful if you didn't return my generosity by robbing me."
"Um, sorry about that, but I was kind of desperate." The tension in the room was very near to breaking point. All in the room had a feeling that if the tension snapped there would be flying bits of masonry everywhere.
Marth was a little confused. He could understand the tension in the room was because of him, that much was clear. And if that was the case, which it most certainly was, why in god's name was Link giving Zelda the evil eye? Surely he should be the one receiving the hardest of stares he'd seen anyone give anyone.
A polite knock at the door broke the threatening silence, "Excuse me your highness, your highness and milord, but his majesty has requested an audience with his highness."
All looked on momentarily stunned by the fusillade of titles. "Which highness?" Zelda finally asked.
"That one," the servant said, indicating Marth.
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"... and that is why, your majesty, I have come to ask you to honour the alliance of my father's." Marth had just recounted the story of his county's conquest by their powerful enemy. "I would like you to join once again under the old banner and fight against our common foe."
The king of Hyrule sat in his throne, chin resting on folded hands, staring Marth straight in the eye. Marth himself was kneeling before him, Falchion in the care of a guard outside the throne room. A multitude of courtiers were watching the Prince make his plea, a few giving disapproving looks, a few already formulating ways in which they could turn this to their advantage.
Link was there amongst the hub bub of dukes and aristocracy glancing at the blue haired teen and at Zelda, who for some reason refused to look directly at the prince. Zelda herself was just off to the side of the throne, standing with her face to the ground, furtively taking glances at Marth whenever she sensed Link's gaze was off of her.
This was all lost on Marth, who forced himself not to swallow. This was a critical moment. If he showed one sign of weakness now, any indicator of doubt and the king would simply say-
"No."
- just like that. Er... "What?"
"Your father is dead, and you have nothing to offer us for our aid. The Alliance of the Free Realm's died long ago, it had served it's purpose."
"But-"
"You would do the same in our place Altea."
"But you must-"
The king held up his hand to silence Marth. "I wish for a private audience with the prince."
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As with all times when a person is told to leave a room as someone wants privacy, the throne room was surrounded by the evicted courtiers, all nonchalantly holding glasses to doors and walls trying to catch glimpses of the conversation inside. It was agreed amongst the eavesdroppers that it was in the country's best interests for them to be there, but should anyone ask they were not there, and neither were you.
Link and Zelda, however, had a far more effective method of eaves dropping. When they had been ushered out by the King's bodyguard, they had each given each other a knowing glance and had made their separate ways to a small room in the lower regions of the castle. In this room was a divining pool, which they used to keep tabs on the entire of Hyrule, right from the spirit temples to the lowliest farmer's daughters bedroom. You can argue amongst yourselves who used it for which purpose. But for now, the two were hunched over the pool intent on the small flickering image in it's waters. However, there was a painfully obvious gap between the two.
"You know Zelda, you should really get the sound quality on this improved."
"Shh, I can't hear what they're saying."
"My point exactly..."
"Oh be quiet! Damn, I've missed that now..."
"Missed what?"
"Marth just said something about honour of Hyrule, and I think my father has just told him that no honour is brought to those who fight for a cause not worth fighting for."
"Well, he has a point..."
"Um... Marth has just tried to remind father about the trade agreements they have- not a wise move."
"Why not?"
"Because we haven't traded with Altea in about three years. Which he just told Marth. He doesn't look too happy with the answer."
"His own fault for not trading."
"I guess... sounds like he's trying a different approach now. He's trying to remind my Father of the time's Altea had come to Hyrule's aid during the Great War." They both remembered that war. The entire continent had to unite to defeat another great power. There had been victory for them, but at the cost of many lesser nations.
"But didn't we save Altea just as often?"
"Yes we did. And that's what my father has told Marth... hmm."
"Hmm?"
"Shhhh, this is interesting..."
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"You have no idea what we were up against your majesty," Marth warned.
The king shrugged off his warning, "I'm sure it was no greater than any other outside threat we've had."
"No, this was worse. They were far more powerful than we could have possibly imagined, and they moved incredibly fast. I've never seen a foe match their re-deployment speed, or the rate at which they churned out soldiers. It was like a storm, we just couldn't stop them!" Marth shouted, losing his princely cool against the King's lack of response.
"Where Altea has failed, Hyrule shall stand firm." The king replied sternly.
"You FOOL! Nothing could stand against them, nothing! Hyrule will be a barely noticed barrier, shrugged off as easily as you do your own treaties!" Marth roared.
The king leapt out of his throne enraged, "How dare YOU raise your voice to me! You who have come begging at my feet for an army! You who had the arrogance to threaten my country to save your own failure of realm!"
"Hyrule will fall! Altea was just the start! They won't stop until they have conquered the entire continent, until all of our people are lying bloody in the fields. We have to fight back now! Before we lose everything! Can't you see that?"
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The argument did not last long. It became painfully clear to Marth as the day drew on that he would receive no help from this country. So now he was kitting up his horse who was stubbornly refusing to let him do so. He had received two kicks already just clipping on a saddle bag. Apparently his noble steed was not happy about having to set off on the open road again.
Marth didn't care. Right now he just wanted to put some distance between him and this blighted country. He had no doubt that it would crumble like a dry cookie as soon as the enemy knocked on it's borders. Then that fool would realise his folly. But he was not angry. Ok, just a little bit angry, but he was far more frustrated than angry.
His people were now under he rule of the enemy. He would never forget that. As soon as he did, he would simply become a drifter. And he had no doubt he would gather together a smallish band of warriors and carve himself a small realm to replace the one taken from him. That's what all leaders did when they forgot what they were leading. It frustrated him to see such a dark and pathetic future in front of him.
But the main reason he was frustrated was far more simple than that. He could see the fate of this world. To be over taken by the stronger enemy already taking up residence in Altea. To be bought, to have the life leeched from it, or to simple be trampled out of the way. It was exactly what happened to the only other federation to share the continent with the Alliance of the Free Realms. They had been ripped apart, portions of their land sold off to other countries. Even those that remained loyal to their old ways were little more than principalities tied to other masters.
It would happen here, and the next country, and the next country, the chance for any reasonable defence diminishing with each border crossed, until they were nothing left but a memory carved into stone wall, their accomplishments forgotten, the people unmourned. He never dreamed such a fate would befall him, especially now, after he had fought for so long. If other nations acted like Hyrule, then hope was lost before they had even tried.
"Leaving?" called a soft feminine voice from the stable door.
Marth tried an artificial smile, "Yes."
"Why?"
"Kind of hard to stay in a place where the King has to restrain himself from executing you."
"He's not a bad man..." Marth turned to see who was talking to him. Moonlight reflected off blonde hair, the gentle blue light lazily highlighting a purple and white dress, glinting off a circlet set in the flowing hair.
"Well, maybe as a daughter would see her father."
Zelda's response came back bitter, "And you would act different had you met a thief bringing back the greatest threat in living memory to your country?"
Marth flinched, "Okay, maybe I'd be the same way."
She softened, taking a few tentative steps closer to Marth, who resumed his preparations for his trip. "It was... good to see you again Marth."
"Likewise princess. It's always nice to have a reminder of more carefree days."
"Not quite what I meant," she mumbled.
"Huh?"
"Oh, nothing. By the way, you don't have to use my title."
Marth smiled, securing a saddle bag full of provisions, "Nothing dies harder than etiquette drills princ- er, Zelda."
"I suppose. I never got much formal training for that though; most of my life was spent skulking in shadows."
"Yeah, I was meaning to ask you about that..."
"Don't bother. It's a long, complicated story, and you wouldn't believe half of what I told you."
"I see." Marth tightened his last strap. As he turned to offer his final farewell to Zelda, he suddenly noticed how close she had gotten to him. Very close. Uncomfortably close. The battle hardened Altean felt himself take an involuntary step back- something he hadn't done since he was a boy training with his sword. Unfortunately his noble steed blocked any retrovade manoeuvres he might attempt.
His close proximity to the princess allowed him to fully appreciate what was going on. Zelda was giving the floor her full attention blushing up a storm, her hands held forlornly in front of her- the universal pose for shy girl with something important to say. Marth's mind quickly recapped every memory he had of her, looking for any sign that foreshadowed what was going on now, whilst his body got to grips with the situation, nervous sweat beading on his brow.
"Marth?"
"Uh, yes? Princess? Of Hyrule?" he said, more to remind himself of diplomatic complications that could arise from the following situations.
"Please don't be so formal..."
"I'm... sorry." Which was true. He was sorry he hadn't just leapt on his horse and made for the forest.
"This is very hard for me." She took another step forward, her blush impossibly deepening.
Marth swallowed. He didn't need this right now, and not just because she was the princess. A girl with a crush was not something he felt he should deal with on top of his obligation to his country. There was too much at stake, too many lives depending on him to get caught up in a little romance.
Placing his hands firmly on her shoulders, he gently put some space between them. Keeping his eyes fixed on the floor, so that his fringe kept his eyes in shadow, he spoke in a steady, calm, and above all, understanding voice. At least that was what he hoped. "Zelda, I know what you are thinking, and I know you've considered all the implications this would have, all the effects that would arise. You're not some silly milk maid who has fallen for the rich noble image, and I know that you really do believe in what you're thinking.
"But I can't. Not now, I have too many battles ahead of me, too much war to survive. It wouldn't be fair to drag you into all that. Another time, another place, then yes, I would leap at the chance you were about to offer. But my people demand differently." 'And besides, your father would kill me,' he added to himself.
He let go of her, climbing onto the saddle of his horse, who rolled his eyes at the strangeness of humans. The horse trotted obediently out of the stable, braking into a gallop as soon as fresh wind hit his face.
Marth was grateful to his horse. He was well out of earshot before Zelda started to sob.
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Link nodded to himself, walking away from the stables, trying to ignore the pathetic sound of Zelda crying. It broke his heart to see her fall for that damned Altean. It was as though he had saved her time and time again for nothing.
Although saving Hyrule was a large part of why he fought Ganondorf, he was too honest not to say that the fact Zelda was in danger was the biggest factor in what motivated him to pick up a sword. 'And she should know that by now...'
He stopped, casting a glance back to the stable. There had been a time in his youth when he had wandered beyond Hyrule's borders. Growing up adventuring had taught him some harsh lessons, and over the years he had grown weary of the world beyond the Lost Woods. Even though he was just an ocarina song away from his friend, that had not been enough to keep the ache at bay. Only seeing Zelda's smile as he rode back into town had been able to soothe him.
But now, she had chosen someone else, and Link was too proud to serve as second best to anyone. He had fought too hard and too long to just accept that with a nod of approval and a fake smile.
He called Epona, suddenly sick of Hyrule. "Epona?" he asked, "Remember how we used to explore the world?" His horse whinnied an agreement. "Want to go out again?"
He would follow the prince. He would help him through whatever crisis availed itself to him. He would be the prince's friend. But more importantly, he would leave Hyrule and never looked back.
'Besides,' he thought bitterly, 'The Alteans sound as though they could do with the Hero of Time.'
GAME OVER
Well, that was my attempt at angst. Hope you enjoyed it. And no, Zelda isn't going to give up that easily, and Link will be annoyed and every kind of sticky situation you can see arising from this will occur. I mean, what the hell right? I need to give my sadistic side a good exercise. Anyway, I must apologise for the poor quality of this epilogue- I haven't written a thing in ages so I'm having trouble getting back into the swing of things.
Thanks for reading :)