I'm baaaaack! MUAHAHAHAH! Sorry, I'm in a really weird mood...but, yeah, I've returned, finally! Alright, so, as usual, I don't own Legend of Zelda. I don't need all that...money...do...I...
-LOZ-
Ch. 35: Staying the Course at Hand...
-LOZ-
Ganon chuckled to himself, ignoring the fierceness of Airaen's eyes as she ran towards him, her sword at an angle beside her. He grinned as he parried, and laughed as he took the full force of her fist in his gut. Staggering to his feet, his grin widened to a horrid smile as he licked his lips in anticipation.
Airaen cocked her head at him, eyes full of fierce wonder as she kicked him again. He fell back, but then suddenly summoned a spell in his hands.
Airaen jumped back and crouched into a defensive position, her sword angled in front of her as a shield.
But, cackling madly, Ganon sent the thing into the ground, brilliant, bright light erupting on impact.
Blinded, Airaen covered her eyes, barely seeing him as he barreled into her, half-snatching her tunic as he dragged her along the ground at an amazing speed, then flung her forward by sheer force of will.
Caught off guard, she skidded along the ground, at a loss of what to do even as he jumped on top of her, grabbing her throat and pushing her against the ground, his sword lying forgotten at his side.
More in shock than anything else, her eyes widened, and, out of instinct, she clutched at his wrists, trying to wrench them away. But he grinned and licked his lips, pushing further, his eyes glowing with lust.
"You could bear my heir," he whispered so only she could hear him, even above the din of fighting around them. "Right now...I could make sure you bore my heir...would you kill him, girl-child? You think I am not prescient...that is a lie. Would you kill your own son...our son?"
She struggled under him, feeling sick as the prescient vision bit at the back of her mind, coming slowly into focus through blurred eyes...the vision of a baby boy with black hair and purple eyes...her son...
"The spawn of two demons," he nodded, seeing her thoughts. "Could you really kill him? Would a mother do that to her only son?"
She coughed as she tried to breathe, clutching his wrists tighter and tighter. Airaen squirmed under him.
He laughed bitterly. "Ah, but I can see you've already been marked," he said with a shrug. "Some other stupid little boy has taken you...you can always tell a young girl from a woman in how they move their hips...I'll make that boy pay..."
He saw the fury in her eyes, but they were slightly glazed from prescient vision and the threat of blacking out.
"Get off her!"
The voice, although shocking, was nothing in comparison to the blur of a body flinging itself at Ganon, an unsheathed sword flashing in the sunlight.
Without even opening her eyes, Airaen knew it was Roh, could sense him close by to her, before she realized the fatal danger he had suddenly put himself in. Still coughing, she scrambled to her feet, stumbling a little in exhaustion, and watched as Roh rolled forward, pivoted on one foot, and faced Ganon with his sword in front of him.
"Touch her again and you'll wish you had never set eyes on her!" Roh yelled, his teeth bared as his eyes flashed dangerously.
Ganon chuckled as he stood and brushed the dirt from his clothes. "Ah, so this must be the stupid little boy...I must thank you, though," he muttered. "But she is rather pretty, isn't she, boy? Definitely worth your while in bed, wouldn't you agree?"
"Shut the fuck up!" Roh screamed, running forward suddenly, swinging his sword.
Ganon dodged with ease, stepping lightly to the side.
"Roh, stop it!" Airaen screamed.
But Roh only snarled and leapt again, bringing his sword down.
Again, Ganon stepped to the side, a smirk on his face.
Roh faked a kick with his foot and back-slashed with his sword, but Ganon dodged again.
"Roh, please!!" Airaen pleaded, trying to step forward, but nearly stumbling again. Ganon smirked.
She loves him blindly...
Again, Roh attacked...again Ganon dodged...again and again and again...
"What's the matter, boy?" Ganon smirked. "Tired already? We've barely even started!"
"Stop...moving," Roh panted, then moved in again, his sword held point out in front of him.
Ganon angled his body away from the sword, then grabbed Roh's wrist, spun him around with Roh's back to his chest, and angled the sword to Roh's neck. Airaen screamed and stepped forward, but Ganon only said, "One more step and this boy's life-blood is on your hands, girl-child."
"Ganon, lay one hand on him and I swear I'll..." Airaen began, but he silenced her by pressing the sword lightly against Roh's neck.
"Ah, now we reach the impasse," Ganon whispered as he tried to hold Roh steady. "Hold still, boy."
Roh snarled, but couldn't move his pinned hands away from his sides. "Damn...you," he rasped.
"Fools, the lot of you," Ganon hissed. "I can see you, Link. Don't even try to interfere, you fool."
Link growled, but obeyed and sheathed his sword with a glance at Zelda.
"Ganon..."
"Ah, the impasse!" Ganon chuckled. "How pleasant it truly is! Bargaining is such an odd thing, yet I do enjoy its delicacies from time to time. You see, girl-child? I have something you want...you have something I want!"
He nodded, seeing the bitter realization in her eyes.
"Ah, love...so deceiving," Ganon mused, seeing the desperation in her eyes. "You thought you could deny it, girl-child, once, long ago. But now that you succumbed to it, look what happens. Now, who is the real fool? If anyone else moves, the boy dies, do we all understand this?"
"Airaen," Roh whispered, "you can't...give it...to him...not...for me...I'm not...worth it..."
She remained silent, suddenly feeling Time's grip again.
This is an impasse, she thought. Why didn't I see this? Ahh...this is my weakness then...and he saw it long before I ever did...or could...damn us both!
"Girl-child, I'll let your lover live if you give me what is rightfully mine," Ganon said loudly. "Your pathetic 'birthday' present is mine, and I want it. If not..."
Ganon pressed the sword against Roh's neck; Roh flinched, feeling the light trickle of blood drip slowly down his neck.
Zelda made to step forward, but Link put a hand on her shoulder and held her back. "If we interfere," he whispered, "he'll die...we can't..."
Airaen felt trapped and sick. Her hand throbbed, but she ignored it.
I cannot let Roh die! He must not die!
She felt tears forming in her eyes, but she held them back.
But if I do as Ganon says...if I give up the Triforce to him...that's the end to it all...do I dare risk the Future? Do I dare gamble with it?
Prescient visions flowed through her awareness as if the floodgates had been opened. She almost collapsed under them all, but held to the Present using Roh as her anchor. Without him, she would crumble.
There are infinite possibilities to the Future...but no alternatives to the Present! Why can't I see it?
She wanted to cry out, to do anything, but could only answer with silence.
"What is your answer?" she heard Ganon ask her, annoyance plain in his tone.
But what is the other choice? I barely know anything about this damnable Bearer nonsense to begin with...but at least I awakened it...summoning it would be easy...but...what can I choose?
The Future loomed before her.
My father controlled Time, but that was a set Time...I have been given all of Time...it's too much!
She stole a furtive glance at her mother, feeling sick rage swell inside of her.
Damn my mother for ever birthing me! Damn them both for falling in love! I am both a pawn and the hand that controls the pawn! Such an abomination must not exist!
"What is your answer?! Do you not care about this boy at all?!" Ganon roared. "You slept with him! Does that mean nothing??!! Whore!"
Link started.
Roh bared his teeth, trying to kick at Ganon. Could he not see the turmoil in her?
Airaen was using the majority of her power to hold back the visions, to avoid losing sanity over Time's grasp...but she could feel herself starting to slip. Fool! Damnable fool! I let emotions get the best of me...I tried to believe the myth I had created...to believe I was normal...I didn't want to be different. But I am the Bearer...I am the way. I must protect the Triforce! Ganon must not have it!
"Girl-child!"
But I love Roh...
Even as Time slowed down, she summoned it, feeling the white-hot sensation grow within her hand and expand, feeling as if the thing inside her moved from within her body to her hand, then, in a flash of light, seemed to rip from her very bones and skin. She bit back a cry, nearly dropping the searing hot Triforce pieces, but held them steady as they rotated in her hand, shining bright.
Ganon grinned lustfully, the light gleaming madly in his eyes.
"Airaen, no!" Zelda yelled.
But she ignored her with a glare.
Roh closed his eyes in shame. Goddesses above, what have I done?
"Let him go," Airaen hissed as she tried to hold back Time in her mind, feeling it swell behind her, knowing that once she let go of the Triforce...
"Give them to me first!" Ganon cried.
"Airaen...please, no," Roh rasped.
"Here," Airaen hissed, tossing the things into the air above them both.
Ganon nearly threw Roh to the side as he dashed madly for it. Airaen would have gone after him...
But immediately Time beat down on her awareness like a flood, inundating her mind. She swayed and nearly fell, but she steadied herself and half-ran, half-stumbled to Roh, kneeling next to him, ignoring when Ganon finally reached his long-awaited prize.
Roh stared up at her both in shame and in awe.
She looked exhausted beyond her years, but there was a glazed, pained look in her eyes, as if she saw and experienced many things at once, her eyes seeing and not seeing.
"Airaen," he whispered, grabbing her bleeding, once-scarred, now freshly-wounded hand.
She didn't answer, her eyes suddenly wide.
Ganon's wild laughter broke the scene as he clutched the pieces of the Triforce, slowly integrating them into his body.
"Airaen!" Roh yelled, shaking her. But she didn't respond, her eyes suddenly rolling in the back of her head. He slapped her across the face; her eyes suddenly came into focus slightly. "Look at me!"
She obeyed, but saw him in different Time segments...old and young, even dead. Time held her in all its force now, and she could only succumb to it, a piece of driftwood on a raging sea.
But a voice seemed to speak to her out of it all, or many voices. She focused on them within her mind and felt the sudden presence of seven others.
The sages, she thought suddenly, feeling herself merging slightly with the Present again, Time slowly receding from her. She felt her mother-spirit there as well, the strongest of them all, and clung to it, ignoring the irony.
But again Time surged forward, threatening to trap her, wrapping around her mind with an icy grip, suffocating her. She swayed, her vision blurring, but Time itself stayed strong.
So this is raw Time, she thought quietly, a thought that surged forward into Time-flow, was held for a minute, then was gone. She would have laughed at all the ironies that faced her at the moment, but could only answer with a stupid grin on her face.
The world around her seemed to move at different time segments: fast, then slow, stopping, then starting up again. It was endless, maddening.
But then she felt herself stand, but all sensation was either fully gone, or extremely subdued. She knew she was turning to face Ganon, but she couldn't really see him.
Roh grabbed at her wrist, but she shrugged it off with surprising clarity.
She staggered forward, then stopped, unsure of her next movements. Do I walk forward, or backward? Ahh, I forgot the pendulum...it's not so bad, raw Time...it's almost like being drunk.
She felt like laughing hysterically as she took another step.
I go forward...I go back...so I am to be the pendulum now? How pathetically ironic, that the one thing that caused so much grief was actually saving me from raw Time! But, then again, it's ironic that the Triforce gave raw Time to me in the first place.
Now she truly laughed, but she laughed drunkenly.
Ironies in ironies in ironies in ironies! There is no end to it all! Past, Present, Future! So distinctly different, so distinctly similar...and what visions they give me! Like someone just unlocked the door...ahh, but I have no control! That's it, then! That is the weakness, and the utter uselessness, of prescient vision! What is the point of having a gift if you can never control it?
She suddenly felt Past-vision surge forward, causing her to stumble to her knees.
Is this what my father feared, this horrid thing in me? Is this what drove the people in the Market away from us when we strode in? I was five then...yes, I remember. Father wanted to see Zelda...yes, I remember it now. That's why the garden felt so familiar. He told me to stay outside, in the garden...the guards stayed away from me, because they felt it without realizing it. Ah, but my loyal parents watched that, too. That's what Dad wanted to talk to my ass of a mother about...he was worried...no...he was fearful of what I was...so what if I talked to things that weren't there, or things that only I saw?
The Present locked itself onto her, surging her awareness forward as her vision cleared slightly. She looked up, nauseous at the spinning world, and saw Ganon looming over her, a triumphant look on his face, the Triforce marked burned into his forehead.
But his face was constantly changing, an effect of raw Time...old, young, old, young...
She could feel her eyes going out of focus again, but she steadied herself by placing a hand on her knee, swaying slightly.
"So this is what it does to you," she heard him say from across the void. "You've held it for so long, it was a part of you."
Was that concern in his voice, or gloating?
"It held Time back for you," his voice continued. "But now that it's gone, there's nothing to hold it back." He laughed. "Ah, I see it in your eyes...your trapped by Time, aren't you? Time truly is a cruel thing. You'll go insane, I know it."
He grinned and slapped her across the face, the blow so forceful that blood spewed from her mouth. She flinched, her awareness exploding.
"I've waited so long for this, it seems almost unreal," Ganon chuckled as he slapped her again. "Your blood...ah, I've waited for that, too."
He knelt in front of her, running his finger along her face. "Mm, you are a pretty one..." Suddenly he stood, licking his lips. "Ah, but what to do now? I have eternity...but I shouldn't waste it."
She flinched as she staggered to her feet, Time's flow ricocheting around in her awareness, mingling Past with Present with Future.
I've lost myself, she thought suddenly, then smiled. But I've always lost myself.
"Now you're just boring," she heard him say as he outstretched his right hand. He grinned. "Let's make it interesting."
Psychic mental awareness! she thought suddenly, feeling the enormous wave of energy long before it hit her full force. It threw her back and into the air, flipping her over, allowing her to see the ground before she hit it and rolled over with a thump. Pain exploded along her left shoulder blade in the back, but even as it happened, she felt Time swell and consume the event.
Wincing, she pushed herself up, her arms shuddering in the effort. He was coming, his footsteps seeming to roar in her mind.
Ganon grinned as he reached down and grabbed her blonde hair, forcing her head back and towards the sky, her neck exposed.
"You'll be mine," he whispered. "Ah, yes, you will. I should reward you for giving me what I wanted. A soft bed will do nicely for us. But I don't need an heir, now do I anymore? A god doesn't need an heir when he has eternity!"
He knelt in front of her and drove his fist to her gut. She vomited blood, her body convulsing forward while he tugged at her hair. Half-aware, she struggled against him, swinging her fist in a drugged motion towards his face, but it barely grazed along his chin.
"You can't even avoid Time anymore," he laughed. "Just try and hit me now. But let's finish where we left off, shall we? Before your pathetic lover interfered."
He grasped her around the neck and lifted her upward.
But this time, she had no energy to retaliate.
This is interesting, her awareness told her. Let us record your death together.
I'm going...insane, she thought. That's right...I've gone insane...but at least...I can enter Death's silence. This sad, war-torn world of ours...let him burn it to the ground! Let's all just...fade away...
"Just...f...fade...away," she moaned as he tightened his grip.
Time roared in her mind.
And suddenly, she found the strength to scream.
-LOZ-
The cry from her only child seemed to slice through Zelda's mind like cold steel. She stopped in her tracks, suddenly feeling how her daughter's spirit teetered again between life and the edge of death, felt again the agony of feeling her slip away. Again, she focused on her child's spirit, feeling the other sages with her, but she couldn't penetrate it. The sudden failure shocked her back into herself, causing her to stagger.
Was that Time's flow?
Perhaps it was because she refused to do nothing, but she knew in the back of her mind what she did then was out of a mother's maddening protection towards her child.
Link was on his knees, at a loss for what to do.
How could he, when faced with a god?
She looked back, and saw the horse standing there, his nostrils flared.
Shouldering her bow and arrows, she turned to her daughter's horse, the one with proud wisdom in his eyes.
"Please," she whispered so no one would hear her, "can you bear me now? I need to help her...I beg of you, will you carry me?"
The horse snorted and nudged her with his nose, then tossed his head back and towards the saddle. Understanding him, Zelda stole quickly onto the horse. As if from a signal, he galloped forward even as Zelda was fingering her bow and a favorite arrow of hers.
Link yelled after her, then swore under his breath.
-LOZ-
Ganon tightened his grip around her throat even more, his maddened eyes glistening with lust and desire. He grinned horribly.
"Ah, come to meet your death, finally, girl-child?" he hissed. "Perhaps I'll paralyze you first, then do what I want. I have eternity now, but I do love a good bitch to rut every now and then. Be a good girl for me, would you? Your mother will be next...but scream again for me, would you? I found it so enticing!"
But she remained silent, lacking the energy. Her feet dangled helplessly nearly a foot from the ground. Already her eyes were starting to roll into the back of her head, but her mind was on how he was holding her hand, his nails digging sharply into the back of her right hand. She tried to bite her way through Time, but only found its force all the more powerful. Visions, maddening and powerful, swam in utter confusion in her mind.
Let me die, she pleaded in her mind. Please...let me die...
"It's mine, you know," he cackled. "It's amazing, isn't it? Ah, but the power you could have had! You can't deny it...I saw the turmoil in your eyes, the way you hesitated. You may have told yourself it was 'for the good of Hyrule' and all that nonsense, but, deep down, you know you wanted it for yourself. We're not so different, now are we? You wanted it as much as I did. It's like an addiction...hm, perhaps I will kill you. Your mother will suffice."
Airaen couldn't cry out against the pain that started to rip through her body. She wanted to close her eyes against it, but Time wouldn't stop, nor would her own awareness...she wanted desperately to die...
But she heard the whir of an arrow and opened her eyes a little wider as Ganon roared in anger, a white arrow planted smartly in his shoulder. He stared down at it, anger and confusion in his eyes. "What is this? Some kind of pathetic attempt to..."
But he was cut short as the arrow began to glow a bright gold. Ganon screamed. In a maddened frenzy he dropped his prey clumsily to the floor and grasped the glowing arrow just as another similar one planted itself in his leg. Swearing profusely, he looked up and roared with rage.
"Light arrow!" Zelda yelled, the arrow she held taught in her bow glowing to brilliance before she let it fly as Perigan whinnied in answer.
Ganon stood to either catch it or dodge, but the arrow seemed to explode with its own aura, colliding with Ganon's abdomen and sending him flying back nearly fifty feet.
Zelda nearly leapt off Perigan, dropping her bow next to her as she knelt next to her child, cradling her head in her lap. "Airaen, Airaen," she whispered, brushing blonde hair from the girl's face. "Look at me...are you alright?"
But Airaen couldn't see her, not through Time, not through the veil that was in front of her eyes. Time still held her, and she suddenly cried out as it held her still, then she grew quiet.
"Let...me...die," she whispered. "Please...I'm...begging you....please...."
Startled, Zelda looked down at her, noting the brightness of her eyes, the constant searching. "Look at me," she said again.
And suddenly, she did, trying to focus on her. But she still couldn't see; but she felt, and that was something. There suddenly were faces constantly changing around her, looking at her, talking to her, all staring. She tried to shy away, to hide, but found no energy to do so.
And suddenly there loomed the face of a young girl, brown hair falling softly over bright, piercing purple eyes. The girl, probably no more than ten years old at most, was watching her serenely, the ghost of a smile on her face, eyes showing more wisdom than was possible for a ten year old.
"Airaen."
Was that her voice? No...that was...that was Zelda's...yes, that was Zelda's voice. She sounds frightened. Why?
She focused on the girl, feeling Time slowly subduing from her awareness, the madness slowly ebbing away.
Someone was brushing her hair softly from her face, whispering her name.
The little girl stepped forward, and, as she did so, the others who stood around her faded away to nothingness.
And suddenly, Airaen could see Zelda clearly, tears in her concerned eyes that quickly shifted to relief as she saw her looking right at her.
Airaen looked around, noting the slow return of sensation, the sounds of war around them. She looked up at her mother again, but said nothing.
"Airaen! Oh, thank Nayru, you're alright!" Zelda breathed.
Still remaining silent, Airaen shifted her eyes back to the girl who now stood next to Zelda. She seemed, to Airaen, definite, yet holding a strange luminescence about her, almost as if the girl were transparent, or simply very fragile despite the ferocity of her eyes.
Those are my eyes.
"Hello."
The girl's lips never moved, yet Airaen heard them clearly in her mind.
Hello, she thought in answer.
"Airaen, we're going back, okay? You need to see a doctor," Zelda was saying as she tried to cradle her only child. "Ganon's going to come."
Airaen trembled at the name.
"Don't be afraid."
She shifted her eyes to the girl.
Just...who are you, exactly?
The girl suddenly disappeared, much to Airaen's surprise.
W-where...where did you go?
"Mother."
The word echoed in her mind, driving her to stillness.
She's...talking to me!
"Yes, Mother, I am."
The girl appeared at Airaen's left, kneeling beside her, the movements blurred and numerous. Airaen noted how each time the girl moved, numerous clones of her suddenly moved off in different directions and disappeared beyond sight. But this one knelt beside her, her face serene, but her amethyst eyes fierce.
"I'm waiting. I'm ready."
Waiting? For what? What are you ready for?
"For you to choose."
Choose? What must...I don't...understand...
"Not now, but you will."
Where do you...come from...? How are you even...speaking to me? Who...who are you?
"Why do you ask questions from which you already know the answer?"
The words were too mature for a child of her age.
You...you have that awareness...don't you? This is...my doing, then. What is my choice, then?
And suddenly, she understood as she felt the sudden presence of another enigma: no-Time.
That is where you speak from...no-Time, the place of all possibilities. I understand, now. You are waiting for my choice. But, why? Why must I choose now?
"Why?" Airaen whispered aloud.
"What is it?" Zelda asked, hearing the murmur. She leaned forward, suddenly caught by Airaen's eyes of unfocused clarity.
Airaen stared up at her suddenly, seeing her now in the Present again as she grasped it fully, keeping Time at bay for the moment.
"Why did you do it?" she whispered, tears suddenly in her eyes. "Why did you birth me?"
Zelda was shocked into silence, at a loss for words. "I..." she began, then shook her head. "I loved your father. And I was naïve."
Airaen looked away and coughed.
"I'm ready...I'm waiting, Mother. Waiting for you to choose."
And the girl disappeared again, swept away by Time's flow.
"I'm thirsty," Airaen said simply, rubbing at her bruised throat.
"Come on," Zelda said, looking away as she gently helped Airaen to her feet. "Lean on me. That's it. We'll go back to the Castle so you can heal up and rest. I think there's some water in your horse's saddle, isn't there?"
As if by signal, Perigan trotted forward. With a weak smile, Airaen pushed off from her mother, reaching for the water skin in the saddle, when Time suddenly surged forward again, pitching her forward. With a cry, Zelda lunged forward and caught her before she hit the ground, slowly kneeling. Then, cradling her in her lap, Zelda reached up and took the water skin, pulling off the cap with her teeth.
"Here," Zelda said gently as she pressed the water skin to Airaen's lips. Slowly, Zelda poured the water, letting her sip at it slowly, most of the water trickling down the side of her cheek. "Go on, take it slow."
Airaen coughed, turning away from it. Sighing, Zelda placed the water skin on the ground and gently helped her daughter to her feet again.
"We're going back, okay? Just get on the horse and we'll ride back. Your father and I can handle this," Zelda whispered.
Ganon roared in anger as he staggered to his feet.
Airaen flinched, but didn't move.
"I can't go," Airaen answered firmly.
"What?! Why?!" Zelda cried.
"I have to stay. I have to," she answered.
"N-no, you can't go! I...I forbid you to go!" Zelda said frantically.
"Stop treating me like a child," Airaen retorted. "I'm not a child!"
"You're...my child," Zelda answered quietly.
"If you truly believe that," Airaen said with a sigh, "then let me go."
"Why?"
"I have to finish this," Airaen said with a shrug. She pushed away and staggered forward, but Zelda grasped her wrist, holding her back. Airaen looked away. "Let go of me..."
"Airaen, please," Zelda answered desperately. "Be reasonable for once! You'll be killed, and you know it! I'm begging you!"
"Why is my living so much more important than anyone else's?" Airaen answered, thinking of Ahrima with a pang. "You should have known the consequences following this abomination...my abomination...and you know that, more than anyone. Now, please...let me go."
Zelda obeyed, her hand falling limply at her side.
With her back to her, Airaen said, "My father asked you once, I think, why you never cried when you left. He was mad at you then, I remem...I was told." She laughed bitterly. "You betrayed yourself to your emotions once...you feared that mistake occurring once more. That's why you made such a wall around your emotions, why you seemed cold sometimes. I guess I made that mistake again for you." Airaen turned to her and smiled. "I barely even know you, that's what's so funny. I don't really even know you, yet I'm so alike to you. Isn't that odd?"
With a shrug of her shoulders, she moved off, trying to conceal her limp and her tears as she walked with her head held high, regal.
Perhaps I go to my death at last, she thought to herself. I really do have a choice...to choose humanity and run, or choose abomination and stay. How paradoxical of me. But I must save my daughter. She can't go through what I went through. This I swear.
Time opened up to her once more, but she refused to lose her balance, her overall self. Visions swam, and people, ghosts to her, moved about her freely. She saw all possible futures, mistakes in the past that were repeated in the present. Yes, she saw them, just as she had done as a small child, but she refused to shy away from them.
This, then, is my choice.
She saw, through Time's glare, Ganon suddenly stand, a look of rage on his face.
He wants my mother's blood now. But he's so consumed with the power he just received, he's blinded by it! He has control over everything, but he hasn't realized he has just disrupted the balance of it all! I'll have to achieve that balance within myself, then...I have to accept Time, then...accept all of it.
She trembled then, knowing full well what would happen; she saw her full potential once more, and it frightened her.
I truly am an abomination...but I must control Time!
She shook her head.
No, not control...accept.
But she was ready this time, ready for what would happen.
"Mother, wait!"
Airaen stopped in her tracks, trying to discern where the echoing voice was coming from.
"You and I, we can share Time together! You don't have to go it alone! I'm right here! You don't have to accept all of it...we can share each part."
But you'll have an awareness...you'll be far different than any other child.
"I don't care!"
The voice was desperate, pleading.
"If you accept all of it...it'll destroy you! If you're body can't handle it...your mind will..."
I know.
Airaen resumed her walking.
"Please, Mother!"
The girl reappeared at her right, but Airaen didn't slow down.
"You did it before...you can do it again! I can share it with you! I'm right there in you...we can share it together!"
Airaen almost stumbled.
I'm pregnant...
"Yes, you are...maybe a day or two...it was meant to be."
I was supposed to bear a son, I thought...
"Time's flow changed."
It changed to accept another abomination...
"Yes."
I will not let that happen.
"You can't defy Time!"
If I know the Future...I can change it. Knowing the Future is to change it.
"But, if you..."
Have you ever woken up screaming in the middle of the night from a nightmare you knew would happen?
There was a pause, then:
"Yes..."
Then you understand. I will not allow that to happen to you. You will be normal, if I ever live to give birth to you.
"Please..."
I will not let Destiny rule me! Destiny nearly destroyed my mother! I won't let that happen to you! You must see the reason in this! Analyze it if you want...the answer is there right in front of you!
Airaen felt, more than heard, the girl sigh.
"I understand."
The girl began to disappear with Time, its flow consuming her. Before she disappeared entirely, the girl reached out, through and across Time, to lightly brush her hand along Airaen's scarred hand. She smiled, and then was gone.
Airaen smiled softly, then continued on, her face set.
I'm pregnant.
The thought fueled her with determination, giving her courage as she saw Ganon running towards her. She grasped the Present, but her hold was unstable, causing her to hesitate for a moment before she ducked under Ganon's fist.
But she was too slow to avoid his other hand.
As she staggered back from the blow, he formed a spell in his hand.
"This will finish you!" he roared.
I must accept it now! I must!
She held her hands in front of her instinctively, trying to shy away from the spell that was coming towards her.
"Now!" she roared, her bloodied scar glowing bright gold.
Time roared to blaring life, opening up around her in a seemingly swirling vortex that quickly swirled around her body. She felt the spell ricochet off her hand and go spiraling back towards her opponent. Roaring, he ducked, then glared at her, unaware of what she had truly done.
"You'll pay for that dearly, girl-child!" he roared in anger.
She kept herself steady as Time swirled in her awareness.
Now for it.
She bit her lip and yelled, calling her power to fruition in its entirety, feeling the aura swirl about her. With a new surge of energy, she ran forward, barreling into him.
I have to get the Triforce away from him!
She knew it to be true.
Then I can try and lock it in the Sacred Realm again...
She ducked a blow from him and punched his arm.
Ah, but I just don't know how to do it!
Then she remembered the Sages. One of them was standing just a little bit away from where she was!
They could open the gate to the Sacred Realm! If that happened, if I somehow managed to get the Triforce from Ganon, I could toss it in, and they could seal the Realm! Then I could kill Ganon and finally end this! Yes, it could work!
She staggered with exhaustion as she jumped back and away from him, her breath labored, ragged.
I must defeat him!
"Die!" Ganon screamed, throwing a spell at her. Suddenly enraged, she answered with her own spell, quickly overpowering his, letting it barrel into him with a huge explosion.
Sinking to her knees, she paused to catch her breath, knowing full well he would retaliate soon.
Not much time, then.
Focusing her awareness, she searched through Time's veil to that Chamber her father had told her about while sipping at some tea by a warm fire. She smiled, both at the memory and at the success of finding them.
There you are, she said through her awareness.
She recognized Saria as she looked up, seeing her across Time.
"Airaen!" the kokiri answered.
I don't have much time, Saria. I need your help, and the other Sages' help, too.
An old man she that she knew to be Raru stepped forward.
"What is the aid you require, Holy One?"
Airaen flinched at the title.
Can you guys open the Sacred Realm here?
"That would cause a rift in space-time."
Airaen knew the gruff voice belonged to Impa before she even saw the face.
I know, but we'll have to risk it.
"Why do that?" Darunia asked, crossing his arms. Nabooru giggled before Ruto smacked the back of the desert girl's head, hissing for her to pay attention.
Listen, if I can get the Triforce from Ganon, you guys can open the Door to the Sacred Realm. I can then throw the Triforce back there, and then you can seal the Door. That way, I can kill Ganon. I can't now, since he's immortal.
"That's dangerous and stupid, Holy One! You would have to accept Time to do that, and we can't open the Door without the seventh sage!" Raru cried.
Zelda's here. She can do it, too, you know.
"It'll use up all of our power," Impa said calmly. "Zelda would have to use the most power. She is the Pillar of all of us."
I know...that kind of strain could...
"But you'll be exposed!" Ruto yelled. "You could be killed!"
That's not important! I just need to know how to get the Triforce from Ganon!
"We...don't know," Raru replied sadly.
What do you mean, you don't know?! You HAVE to know!
"I don't know if there's a way," Raru sighed.
THERE MUST BE A WAY! THERE HAS TO BE A WAY!! PLEASE, RARU! THINK, DAMN YOU!
"I just don't know, my Lady."
DAMN YOU ALL!
"Airaen, calm down," Saria said calmly. "There must be a way. But you'll have to figure that out. Think of his hand! We'll contact Zelda, then summon our power."
"Once the Door is opened," Impa said, "there's no telling how long we can keep it open. You'll have to move swiftly."
I will...I promise...
Airaen smiled.
You know, if the Triforce gets sent back to the Sacred Realm...you can go home, you do realize that? I can send you all home!
"Just hurry up," Nabooru retorted. "We don't have all day, kid."
Airaen stood to face her biggest problem as the connection was lost.
-LOZ-
"Zelda, Zelda!"
Startled, Zelda looked around wildly, wondering from where the voice was coming from.
"I...Impa?" she said aloud, leaning against Perigan. "Is it...you?"
"Of course it is. We don't have time. Do you remember how to open the Door to the Sacred Realm?"
"Yes...yes, I remember," Zelda answered softly. "We did it with Ganon...yes, I remember perfectly."
"Good...because we need to open the Door again."
"To banish Ganon again? We tried that once, and it failed!" Zelda answered.
"No, not to banish him. Airaen will try to take the Triforce from him. If we open the Door, she can send it through the Door. That will give her the chance to kill him finally."
"WHAT!" Zelda roared. "Don't you...don't you realize what that could...."
"We know...and she knows."
"That...that arrogant...NO! I won't do it!"
"Now is not the time to be a mother, Zelda!! You have to do this! It's your duty!"
I DON'T CARE ABOUT DUTY! Zelda screamed in her mind, too choked with tears to speak, knowing Impa could hear her. You always spoke to me about duty! She's my daughter! I won't let her!
"You will not act childish! This is Hyrule at stake here, and she is the Bearer! You can't defy an order from her! Zelda...please. You must do this. If we do this, you don't have to be a Sage anymore...none of us has to! And Airaen will live a normal life!"
If she lives, Zelda said bitterly.
"Please, Zelda. We can't do this without you."
Zelda paused and bit her lip, wiping her tears angrily away with her sleeve. She felt Airaen gazing at her long before Zelda returned the gaze. Their eyes locked, deep blue meeting with deep purple. Zelda wondered at the sudden regal maturity in those eyes, how they analyzed and comprehended everything that came to pass. She also sensed Time's presence like a waiting predator ready to strike.
Slowly, Zelda stood.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Link making his way towards her, his eyes moving from her to his daughter and back again with a feeling of awe mingled with both a father's and a lover's concern that reflected in his eyes. And it was at that moment she truly felt the same, passionate love she felt towards him just as she had before she walked away from that Ranch.
Must I sacrifice everything?
She really didn't care if Impa heard her or not; she sighed.
"Alright," Zelda said aloud, finding her voice, small though it sounded. "I'll do it."
-LOZ-
HOLY MOTHER! THIS CHAPTER'S 22 PAGES! Geez...no wonder it felt like it was taking so long. If you're confused about anything, feel free to ask! Please review, and thanks for reading!