I own nothing! Not a thing! I also have another story up now. A Familiar Stranger. So when you're done with this one, then you should check it out! And then review both! I want to hit 30 reviews on this one!
Chapter 10: Harvest Moon
Part 19: A New Hope, or a False Hope?
Ness walked along the corridor toweling himself off. He had been overjoyed to learn that the Metroid Hunter had a shower, and for the first time since his hometown had been leveled, he felt clean. Onett. Not a particularly large or important place. It had just been a place to live. And now it was destroyed. His family, his friends, dead. And all because of Mewtwo. Ness wasn't sad. He was angry. He would see them avenged. He would kill Mewtwo. "I swear it."
Ness heard a giggle. Standing in front of him was Saria. "Talking to yourself, Ness?" He suddenly felt the towel wasn't enough cover. "I heard that's the first sign of insanity."
"I was just… thinking out loud. But what about you? Are you all right?"
"I'm
fine. Keller won't find an easy target next time he comes a-calling." She
laughed. "Though after what happened to him, I don't think he will come without
backup. Being set on fire and then being reduced to ashes has that effect on
people!"
"I'm serious, Saria. You yourself said that spell only works once."
"And why are you so worried about me?" Ness pondered his answer. He didn't know. Why was it that the merest thought of her being in danger frightened him immeasurably? "Ponder it and get back to me, Ness." Saria continued along the corridor. She stopped and turned around. "By the way… do you have a crossbow under that towel, or are you just pleased to see me?" Ness looked down and blushed.
"Um…" was what his mouth said, but his eyes said differently.
"I… should be going now." Saria turned and almost ran for the safety of her room. Ness stared after her. He sighed. Things were getting complicated.
* * *
Saria ran into the cell she was using as a room, slamming the door behind her. Her heart was pounding. She had no idea what had come over her in the hallway. She walked over to the mirror and stripped. Looking at herself, she could see the markings of Keller's claws on her breasts. But she looked beyond them, and saw another story. She was beautiful, Ness had as good as said. But… the effect he had on her… did she think he was handsome? Were they falling in love? She thought of him. His strong arms, his kind face, the way he had risked his life to save her…
A sound behind her made her leap. Ness had walked in. He stared open mouthed, and turned to leave. "I'm sorry. I wanted to speak to you… I had no idea you were getting changed." He started out the door.
"Wait… don't go." Saria called up a gust of wind and blew the door shut in front of him. "There. Now, you said you wanted to talk, so talk!"
Ness sat down. "Saria, I'm sorry, but I have an answer."
"An answer? For what?" Saria looked at him. She tried to fight it, but a certain part of her wanted to see what he was hiding beneath that towel…
"In the hall way. You asked me why I was so worried about you. Well, I have an answer."
"Really? What was it?" She wasn't paying much attention. She was looking at the hair on his chest, and wondered why he didn't have to cover up his top like she did. After all, his chest was having the same effect on her as her breasts seemed to have on him.
"Well, the long and the short of it is… I love you." He shifted in his seat as if something was uncomfortable.
"Oh, but you can't! We only met a couple of days ago!" She tried to keep from jumping for joy. I am the Sage of Forest! Not a giggling schoolgirl!
"Sometimes that's all it takes. What I want to know is… how do you feel about me?"
Saria stared, dumbfounded. Did she love him? Yes. But… was that safe? "Oh, Ness. I can't love you."
"Why not?" Ness's expression was sad.
"Because Keller will be back. And next time, he will bring friends or more powerful spells. He'll be coming for me, and if you get in his way…"
"What are you talking about? Why would Keller be after you?" Ness asked puzzled.
"Asides from the fact that he wants to drink my blood," Saria stated, "he also needs to kill me in order to free Ganondorf from the dark realm."
"Why? Why are you so important?"
"I am the Sage of Forest. I help to maintain the spell that keeps him inside the dark realm. There are 7 of us. Or there were…" She didn't want to mention that she was pretty sure the others were all dead.
"And he needs to kill you to free his master?"
"Yes. I never thought I would say this about Link… but he is the most dangerous creature in the galaxy." She started to cry. "Link was an excellent hunter before he died, and now that he's a vampire, there is no place anyone can go to be safe. Vampires are the greatest hunters anywhere. Capable only of rage and hatred, preferring the weak to the strong, they can take many forms, teleport anywhere. And they are the only predators to prefer intelligent life to other creatures. Keller will come for me… and he'll kill me when he does. I can't run fast enough or far enough." The tears were flowing freely now. "I certainly can't fight him... his magic is much stronger than mine. Those daggers can destroy buildings. And to make it worse… if he draws that sword… then we all die."
"Why?" Ness remembered the horrified expression on the Hylians' faces when they saw the sword.
"That is SoulBlighter. It is usable only by the dead, or the irrevocably evil. When drawn, it sucks all magic nearby into it, and then earths it in what ever is struck by the blade. The destructive magic spreads out, destroying all life within a couple of miles." Saria buried her face in her hands. "He'll use it on me. I can just see it. He wants me dead. He wants all reminders of who he was destroyed."
"Oh my…" Ness felt a touch of worry. Maybe it was for the best if they stayed far away from each other. No! He shouldn't think that. He stood up, and walked to her. Cupping her chin in his hands, he raised her head so their eyes met. "That won't happen. I won't let it happen. He'll find it hard to draw a sword when his cape is on fire." He lowered his head so that it was equal with hers. Then, acting on an impulse, he leaned forward and kissed her. Her eyes grew large, and then they closed.
"Ness… as nice as that feels… I would prefer to keep my bad mood." He pulled back in surprise. "Just kidding…" she leaned forward and brushed her lips on his. "But, I want to get dressed. And shouldn't you get changed?"
Ness got up and went to the door, opening it. He turned back and said, "I mean it. I won't let him hurt you." He went back down the corridor.
"But what's to keep him from hurting you, you stupid boy?" Saria whispered.
* * *
And far away, unbeknownst to her, her every move was being scrutinized by red-glowing eyes. "Yes, Saria. What is to keep me from hurting him? You?" He smirked. While Saria losing her virginity before he could taste her blood would be irritating, there are many forms of innocence. A predator, she had called him. He liked that. The ultimate predator, that's him. But, he wasn't the only one… "Lilian, gather the rest of the cabal. We're going to the Harvest Moon." After all, Even the ultimate predator occasionally hunted in packs… Why not put an end to this rebellion and kill Saria at the same time?
* * *
"Right, Douglas. We'll meet you there." Samus closed the transmitter and turned to Malon. "Malon, please press the purple button."
"Ah. You mean the button that speaks to the rest of the ship?"
"Um. Yes. But I prefer to call it the purple button."
"Why bother. I'll handle it." She waved her hands. "NESS, SARIA. WE ARE GOING TO THE HARVEST MOON!"
"Smart ass Hylian."
Part 22: The alliance
Captain Falcon looked at his… "I suppose they're my crew," he muttered. "Men" Krystal harrumphed, "woman," Gooey stuck its tongue out, "and bizarre blue blob. We are going to the Harvest Moon to hook up with other rebels. I want all of you on your best behavior. Fox, I want you on the weapons systems. Marth, sit behind me and try to look regal. Mario, you are to sit at the communications console. Krystal, go to the engineers chair. Kirby, sit on the blue chair and try to look like a pilot. Rick, curl up on the sofa. And Gooey, stop eating that computer. Now stop sucking on my leg. That tongue is scarier than Yoshi's!"
"Captain, we are being hailed!"
"Mario, was that sarcasm? I couldn't tell."
"Maybe. I think I narrowly crossed the line into sardonism, but I'm not sure."
"Ah. On screen." He turned towards the screen. "Mario, I said 'On screen'. The rest of you heard me, right?"
"Mario, press the blue glowing thing." Krystal shouted. The picture appeared.
"Captain Falcon! What a pleasant surprise! We thought you dead." Phoenix (Note: F-Zero GC), said.
"Phoenix? Why are you there?"
"Um… well… I should have told you guys, but the president is, or rather was, my father."
"Ah. So you're in charge?"
"Good God, no. This is a republic, not a monarchy. That honor falls to General Pepper. He'd greet you, but he's busy meeting with the crew of the Metroid Hunter."
"So the General's alive?" Fox asked.
"Yeah. Wait a sec, is that… King Marth?"
"Yeah, that's him."
"Great! We need him to tell us this Keller fellow's tactics, and the defenses of the planet Hylia." Behind him, a man walked up and stared. "Oh yes. This is Lycis. He's in charge of the few Lycean troops we managed to save. He's also from Altea, Marth. Maybe you have friends in common?" Lycis screamed and attacked the screen. "Lycis? What is the meaning of this?"
"Marth! How dare you show your face to me! You son of a… no, I can't insult your mother. It's not her fault she raised a traitor! You monster! How dare you work with the rebellion! After what you did to Altea, you belong with the enemy!"
"Lycis, I…" Marth turned away.
"Can't hear the truth, after all this time?" Lycis spat. "I heard the Hylians call you king now. How long did it take you to let their enemies destroy them too?"
"Lycis, that's enough!" Phoenix tried to push the fellow away.
"Where's Lord Roy? Did you kill him like you killed your father? Or Ellis?"
"No!"
"Ah. You didn't kill any of them, did you. You let their enemies kill them. All the difference in the world." Lycis was suddenly surrounded by Hylians. They all looked at the screen and then kneeled.
"My lord, we Hylian Knights are at your command." Two of them grabbed Lycis. "Say the word, and we will kill him."
"No. Don't kill him. Just… take him and calm him down." The Hylian Knight clapped his right arm to his left breast and they all wheeled off, taking the cursing Lycis with them.
Phoenix looked apologetic. "Sorry about that. Um… where is Lord Roy? If he was here, we would no longer need that madman."
"Roy is trapped in Keller's dungeon. And I don't know Keller's tactics. He and a selection of elite troops appeared in the capital by magic, and in a couple of days had control of the entire country. I'm surprised that any Hylian Knights or wizards survived to join the rebellion. And that madman, as you call him, is one of the greatest generals in the galaxy." Marth sighed.
"If you say so. Mario, a few of your friends are here too." He called behind him. Yoshi, Donkey Kong, and Toad ran up.
"Yoshi is happy to see you!" The green dinosaur jumped up and down with excitement.
"Yes, my friend. I am glad to see you too. I'm lucky we met. Funky Kong is an alright pilot with a plane, but if I never get in his 'barrel rocket' again, it will be too soon." Captain Falcon blinked. He would never get over a giant ape that sounds more educated than him.
"Mario! Thank god you're here! Bowser and Luigi have leveled the entire castle to build a temple to some guy named Ganon! I think they snapped."
"Ganon wants to be worshipped? He's the one who snapped!"
Phoenix shooed them off by telling them they could be at the landing sight. Then he turned to Kirby. "Um… Kirby, isn't it? Yes. Well, a couple of Waddle-Dees are here, and there is a group of people calling themselves Warpstar Knights, but they're all in conference. Captain Falcon, you have permission to land. Phoenix out." The screen faded to black.
"Marth, what was that guy talking about?"
"I'll tell you later."
"But"
"Later!"
Heh. I'm not sure if there is a Fire Emblem Character called Lycis or not. I think he's in 2 or something. I would appreciate being told any information anyone has on Fire Emblem. I could wait a few months until it's released here, but that's a prequel so it wouldn't really work with Marth or Roy. So, if you have any information on it, send it here to TheSlyestWolf@Hotmail.com . Thanks. As to how I get the information I do have on anything… everyone should be a member of IGN or GameSpy. I suppose I could have used Pico, and not some new character, but I never liked Pico.
Next chapter, the heroes meet again. And for one brief moment, they feel safe. But where ever Saria is, Keller is always close behind. And this time, he's brought friends… lots of friends.
I am aware that last chapter I said 8 sages. I was wrong. There are 7.
"Hey!"
What is it, Roy?
"When do I show up?"
Later, Roy. Much, much, later. Keller! You're prisoner is pestering me!
"No! Don't call him!"
"Right, Roy. Let's go."
Smile at him, Keller.
"Yes."
"Ahhhh!"
"Come on, you stupid lifeform"
"What are you?"
"I'm dead."
And they left. Sheesh, being an author is tough.
