Link was only vaguely aware of where he was.
In an endlessly dark abyss he was floating in nothing and feeling nothing. He felt helpless and weak as he drifted along in the nothingness that surrounded him. Nothing but him existed here, and like so many times in the past Link felt utterly alone.
Where was he? He wasn't falling from or to anywhere and he certainly wasn't standing upon any solid ground.
The Hylian felt something inside him shudder and instinctively he pulled his legs close, wrapping his arms around them protectively as if to warm them.
He didn't have to see it to know it was there…
The darkness…
Link shut his eyes tighter trying to push away his fearful thoughts. It really didn't matter what body he possessed, fears he harbored as a child carried over. If only things didn't work that way. Then he could really be just like the other warriors he traveled with…
'I have to get stronger.' Link thought trying to fill the empty void with his own voice. 'I have to keep fighting, for their world and my own. I can't fail here…I can't be afraid…because then the darkness will win.'
'Being afraid only means you're human, not that you're weak. What is it exactly that you are afraid of Link?'
Link was startled out of his train of thought by this voice. As he opened his eyes, he found the darkness in his mind was replaced with the familiar scenes of a cave he had come to know so well. Whatever the firelight touched, that was all Link could see, and while he couldn't see anyone, he knew he wasn't alone.
/This place…Again. / It was another recollection of the past. Link suddenly remembered this particular memory and wondered how in the world he could have forgotten it.
As he expected Link soon heard Siegfried's voice, echoing and hazy, since this memory happened quite some time ago.
'When you practice, I can read it in your body, you fight to protect. But you constantly hold back even when you posses the power necessary to win.'
This caused Link to stiffen almost involuntarily.
There was a small chuckle. Perhaps the first time Link had ever heard such mirth from the ever somber man.' Forgive me, but I could not help but spy when you started the fire last night.' Siegfried's voice monotone again.
'But even though it's for a good cause, you shouldn't be so careless with such gifts.' Link protested returning back to the previous subject. 'If I use my powers to hurt others…the goddesses might get offended, I can't.'
Siegfried's voice cut him off quickly and pointedly.' You can't or you won't? There is a difference Link.'
'Siegfried…'
His voice, which had gained just a bit of strength during the conversation, finally deflated as his injuries began to wear him out. 'Just swear to me, when the time arises you won't hold back Link, not from any fight. You must survive, just as others draw steel against you, you must do the same. As they require your life, so must you. That is the way of the sword, the sword that this world lives by.'
'But…'
'And that power entrusted to you by your world, I am confidant that you are the right one. You have the right mind, and the right heart to wield that power. I know you won't abuse it. I believe in you….'
Link could feel his body give a violent shudder both inside and out, as the memory died away having shown what it came to show, leaving him once more to the darkness's embrace. He couldn't stay here any longer, someone was waiting for him to return, and he couldn't let him down.
"Goddesses, please give me strength." The Hylian cried out in the darkness. "I do not want to fail here so forgive me if I use your powers. I, I don't want to hurt anyone but I have sown the seeds of hope, now I must help them grow…"
He wasn't really expecting an answer to his prayer, but surprisingly enough, a pure dual voice came, soft and benevolent, resonating in the very depths of his soul, startling Link.
'If these are the people you wish to fight for then we shall not stop you from using the powers bestowed upon you, Hero of Time. Please tend to them carefully for the seeds you have sown will not flourish, awaiting are they to hear the voice of destiny calling them…'
Eyes of crystal blue widened as these words echoed in the hollow darkness. What had they meant? Link wanted to know, wanted to ask, and just as he opened his mouth to speak, his every senses were bombarded with a shrill wraithlike scream that nearly tore his very soul apart.
He knew its voice, knew it with out mistake.
It was the scream of the Ocarina of Time.
######################
"link…."
There was a familiar voice he heard, soft at first, but growing louder as his senses began to awaken with him. Along with them came the familiar mortal pain he suffered when he had been fully conscious.
"Link…please.." It was broken as though the child was racked with sobs. But for the simple fact that Link knew that voice, he forced himself to open his eyes and it was with much pain and effort that he did so.
His vision was dark and blurry and the lightheaded feeling he was getting confused him so. Almost instantly he felt the cold wind lashing against his sore and weak body, could feel the sharp cold patter as the rain-washed his pale face. Though it felt good to his forehead, he couldn't say the same for wet garments against his skin.
Was he outside? What was going on?
It was so hard to think, as his thoughts were all muddled and hazy in his head. Pain coursed through every fiber of his body as it was jerked and roughly handled by someone…
Narrowing his eyes, Link tried to concentrate a little harder and realized he was staring at the wet grass passing beneath him. Now and then his vision caught the back of heels as they continued to walk.
So he was being carried, but why?!
Without wasting any thought on that, Link instead tried to observe the rest of his predicament, though he was sure it was far from pleasant.
"Link! Wake up please! You have to!" Amy shouted more loudly, more desperately. Her plea was punctuated with a sharp cry of pain followed with another voice that Link did not recognize.
He hissed a threat to the small girl who he no doubt was hurting. "Madame it would be in your best interest to do as you're told."
"And make things easier for you and your dogs?! Never! Link! Wake up!" She demanded more than pleaded now. Was she getting irritated with him?
Moving his head slightly Link tried to find where exactly Amy and her captor was without alerting his own that he was now conscious. And that's when he heard the sharp slap resound crisply in the rain. There was a light thud and Amy's form stumbled into his field of vision. The girl braced herself for the fall, her hands absorbing the impact, but as she did so an object slipped from her small wet fingers.
It was his ocarina.
"Amy…" His voice not even above a whisper was lost to the howling winds.
Link's own body twitched as if reacting to the harsh treatment of the child. But that was all he could do, his body refusing to move still so weak. His lips moved as the image of the girl slid from his vision, his captor not being the one to wait.
Amy raised a hand to her rain stained face. Yet even so, somehow Link could see clearly she had been crying. She was in trouble, no, they were in trouble, and she had been the one calling out to him. But what could he do? He couldn't do anything in his present state.
'You must survive…' A brief flash showed the Hylian a blond swordsman looking up to him. His lips moved as those eyes grew stern. Siegfried's voice echoed to him and Link remembered. He shut his eyes tightly trying to think.
"But…"
'You have the right mind, and the right heart to wield that power. I know you won't abuse it. I believe in you…. '
A sickening feeling rose at the back of Link's throat and he felt what he had not wanted to feel, dread, pure dread.
"Isn't there another way? There has to be…"
Siegfried, the faint image recreated from the depths of his mind, looked away and seemed to be getting farther away, his voice fading.
'You must survive, now Open your eyes!' The figure barked sharply.
This last command was obeyed with stunning quickness. From where it had come from Link did not know, nor did he care for when he looked, he saw what he had to do now. From where his arms dangled, his limp fingers brushed against something the handle of a dagger that was secured at the man's belt. The rhythm of the man's walk caused Link's limp hands to touch the weapon, all he had to do was take it.
His breath quickened against his parched throat. Link wanted to shut his eyes, but knew that he couldn't. It was already hazy enough as is, and he had to keep together what little concentration he had in his aching head to go through with it.
'Link…' Talim whispered softly. It was as if she were right there next to him and even the furious wind seemed to hush itself in a brief respite to listen. 'Please survive...I want to see you again.'
And that was all there was to it. Swallowing hard Link braced himself.
"Goddesses, please forgive me…" Link murmured quietly as his hand took a solid grip onto the weapon.
Though terrified, Amy was not one to quit, she had been hit many times before, and being struck by this man was no different than what she'd suffer already.
So then, why was she crying?
No, no! It as this infernal dismal rain!
She recovered quickly, forgetting her offended cheek and scrambling for the Link's precious flute. Having taken it when she went through his effects, she wasn't honestly going to keep it! Just wanted to play with it for a bit, play it for Link hoping it's notes would guide his back from the dark oblivion.
But it doesn't seem to have worked and Amy felt stupid to think it would have. Link was probably gone. Link was dead and gone, because she had been so careless…Because she had been so stupid not to believe him.
A nauseating feeling rose from her stomach and kept on rising till it was at the back of her throat.
Hopelessness.
Amy wanted to give in, wanted to give out. But something with in her remained resilient. She just couldn't, all those years alone on the streets, with no one to watch over her but herself. Her soul was forged from her long years of struggles and back then giving up was NOT an option for her. Not then, not now, not EVER.
These men had taken Link from her, and now they had the utter gall to try to TAKE Raphael from her as well? No, Amy wouldn't have it. Always having her most precious treasures taken from her!
Once upon a time a little girl had sworn to herself never again would it happen. Not to her. And then that little girl grew up.
Anger rose with in her as she clutched the wet instrument to her chest. Chocking back her sobs she could hardly see as her tears blurred her vision. Furiously the girl wiped at them forcing herself to stand once more.
The men were still walking, she didn't know where they were taking them, but God only knew she wasn't going to go so willingly. Amy wasn't weak.
A little ahead of her in the dim drizzle of the mid day storm Amy could see the brute that was carrying the dead Link.
And in an instant that bottled up anger building ever stronger inside her exploded. Her own captor was clearly not expecting the little girl to suddenly dash forward as she did, and by the time he was able to react, the girl had violently shoved the older man from behind, HARD.
"Link! I hate you! I HATE YOU!!!" Amy shouted in pure anger not even sure why she had shouted such a thing. She just needed to shout her frustration, her sadness it was the only way she could ever express it. Her small fist pounded upon the man's back in a rage as she wasn't tall enough to reach Link's lifeless body.
With the sudden attack upon his back, the man stopped and turned more than just a little irritated. "What the blazes!?!" He snarled. Just as quickly, Amy found herself being detained as two large hands clamped themselves over her small shoulders with such painful strength causing her to cry out for the third time but the small girl did not stop, the pain only causing her to fight harder, struggle more ferociously.
"Get your dirty hands off me! Let go!!!" The girl shrieked hoping that some one, anyone would hear.
"That'll be quite enough." The cloaked man hissed into her ear. He was definitely getting fed up with her, and as the pressure on her small shoulder intensified, Amy thought she could her bones snapping painfully. Her struggling all but ceased as her mouth opened in a silent scream, but only a tiny sound made it past her lips as she was roughly pulled back. She could feel searing pain shoot up and down her arms to throb painfully where the man dug his hands into her shoulders.
Wanting to repay the favor Amy tilted her head to the side as far as she was able and sank her teeth into the man's hands and bit as hard as she was able.
This time it was the man's turn to cry out painfully both hands releasing her. For added interest, Amy spun around and kicked the man in the shins with formidable strength, causing the man to almost fall to his knees. To bad he hadn't, for surely if he had done so, Amy would not have hesitated to deliver a good punch to his face!
The commotion caught the attention of the rest bringing the four ahead of her to a stop. Amy felt the fear flood back into her as she knew running was futile because there was no where to run to, and surely these men would catch her in a few seconds! But to stay here, she had no chance of fighting them off with no weapon! She had dropped Link's sword when her captor had seized her back in the room! Faced with the same grim choices again.
But instead of being quickly subdued as she had expected, there were soon heard snickering, confused Amy hesitated unsure of what was to happen now. Would the man kill her now?
Looking to her other abductors she could faintly see that they were mere commoners, people just like her!
"Oi what's the matter sir, the mouse too much for you to handle?" The one carrying Link's body leered.
"Shut up and mind your own damn business." Came a gruff reply. "Hurry up and dispose of the boy's body in the forest. I can handle the little miss, GO!!!"
Amy's blood ran cold the anger flaring up again. "No stop! He's already dead! What are youAh!!" She was cut short when her head was jerked back violently as the cloaked man grabbed a hold of her hair. Her small finger tried to pry his hands off but was unable to. For good measure, her captor put an arm around her throat almost lifting her off the ground! Forced to look straight into the gray skies above pelted by the rains that fell, Amy shut her eyes fighting back the pain.
And when she did so a heavy thud reached her ears, followed by a gurgling sound. Eyes shot back open in that moment surprised and her heart gave a hopeful leap. It sounded as though it came from one of the men ahead of her. At the very edge of her field of vision, as far as she could look down for her head was locked between the man's chest, and arm, she thought she saw a figure fall only to rise a few seconds later, unsteady.
Not the same person .
Then she heard a voice that for some stupid reason made her want to cry.
"The girl," His voice was breathy and soft, but the undercurrents of a threat were detected without mistake. "Release the girl."
"LINK!" Amy's heart cried out happily before her voice did. It must have come as a shock to the dark man who held her for Amy felt his grip slacken, distracted. Not one to waste an opportunity, Amy used her arms, which were still free, to elbow the man in his gut. This stunned the man quite nicely and as Amy landed on the wet ground, she scrambled to her feet.
Now she could see him. Link was standing! It was almost too good to be true! But there he was, a little more worse for wear, the strain clear on his face, and the large man that had been carrying him at his feet unmoving. Almost instantly she noticed the large hunting knife in his hand, but it was not caked in blood.
So he had knocked the man out, but wouldn't it have been easier to slice the man's throat? The thought was brief as it was fleeting.
It took everything Amy had to not fling herself into the young man's arms remembering that he was very much weak. His posture was a little hunched and each breath he took, sounded as if he fought to pull air into his lungs.
Even with all this in mind, even so, the girl could not keep herself from embracing Link around the waist tightly.
This couldn't be happening, it shouldn't be happening, yet here he was, alive against her he felt so blessedly real. Amy came real close to crying when she felt him put a warm arm around her, keeping her close, safe. But she didn't want him to know that she was weak like that, that she needed him.
"Amy, I'm sorry for taking so long." Link whispered into her ear for he seemed incapable of speaking as he normally would. The child felt herself shake her head silently telling him that it was okay, that she was glad he was back. And that she believed in him.
When he drew away, the magic was broken and Amy pulled back suddenly remembering where they were.
"Link…" Amy found it hard to speak without showing neither fear nor sadness. As if reading her mind, Link gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze. Looking up to him, she saw his eyes though tired were hard, something new in them. Amy knew what it was for she had worn the look so many times herself, had seen it in Raphael's eyes the day he had left on that long journey.
Determination, fueled by an indomitable spirit with in.
Even in the face of hopeless odds, his spirit did not waver, making him seem just like all those heroes she had spoken about in the stories.
Because he is a hero, and Amy believed that.
#############################
"How is this possible?! You're, you're suppose to be dead!" The cloaked leader stammered dumbstruck.
Link raised his knife, but it shook slightly in his hands. "Death…" Link spoke softly, his voice like silk sliding over steel. It was so hard for him to speak, his chest hurt, and the world around him was swimming in a groggy haze. His body screamed for the eternal rest, but Link wouldn't have it. Not till he felt he was finished. A short breath and he reiterated in a stronger voice. "If you fear death, then leave us, now."
The other had finally gotten over his initial shock his stance tightened as a hand went to his side, no doubt where he kept his sword. Even to Link it was easy to read that the man would not back down, and upon his rugged features, the Hylian saw the smirk.
"The devil certainly must be watching over your soul. But you press your luck too far." The sound of steel whispering out of it's sheath was heard then as the man drew steel.
Yet even so, Link did not falter. Eyes trained upon the man for he knew the others would not act unless he said so. From what he had been able to see of them, they were not skilled swordsman, but mere common folks.
Like the ones that he protected back home.
Link tightened his wet grip around the short knife in his hand, eyes narrowing as his resolve became firmer. "One more chance, please leave us if you, any of you fear death."
But his words fell upon deaf ears as the man pointed the long thin sword directly at his chest. "Do not take us for utter fools! It is quite plain to see that you are in no condition to fight. And to fight with all the handicaps you have it will be nothing more than a bloody massacre. We shall do you the favor of sending you back where you belong!"
When Link heard the footfalls coming from behind, he was ready. Amy gripped onto a tail of his long loose green tunic in a panic. She had seen the others behind him advancing.
There was no other way out of this, and now he was forced to take the choice he had feared the most. Only now, he wasn't so afraid anymore.
Holding Amy closer to him, Link spoke solemnly "Amy you must hold fast and you must not let go." He used the passage, remembering Amy's story, and knowing Amy would also remember. When she looked to him questioningly and with slight fear, a gentle smile broke over his hard countenance like a wave. "Remember always, that I shall never hurt you whatever I seem to be."
And though she was still uncertain, Amy nodded her head, arms wrapping around his waist as she gave him what she gave no other; her life.
Feeling her slight weight lean into him, Link faced his assailants head on, his face devoid of all feelings, for he felt none save pity for these human beings.
There was a slight burning in his eyes as his vision slowly began to blur. Was it the fever? He didn't want to think about it and closed his eyes as he began to pass judgment.
The hunting knife, which he never planned on using, fell from limp fingers to bury itself point first into the soft earth. In it's place, Link felt a warm pressure grow. The more he thought, the more it grew. The more he offered, the hotter it became.
It always began this way, but it would rapidly expand once it started. The fire that burned with his very life continued to grow until his hand could no longer keep a firm grip onto it.
The four remaining stood stunned, a few steps short of reaching Link and Amy. Fear and awe rooted them to the very ground as they watched small translucent sphere of orange form in the youth's hand. And by the time they realized the danger it held, it was already too late.
At the peak of the spell, Link tilted his hand slightly releasing his hold from the fiery sphere, allowing it to glide slowly to the ground. The wet ground did not hinder it's decent as it ghosted through it with little resistance, just as objects would when passing through water.
From where it fell, a dome grew, translucent as the sphere, flames dancing, leaping all over it all around it. But it did not touch the young man nor the small child with in it's dome. The fiery dome began to expand, larger and larger till it completely encased Link and Amy.
Link slowly opened his eyes then, while his lips murmured softly. "Burn."
Like a bubble, the sphere of red-hot flames burst, unleashing waves upon waves of fire in every direction. Roaring flames spread outwards burning the ground beneath it and incinerating what ever came into contact with it. So quickly did it come, so quickly did it pass, the fleeing men did not have time to scream as the searing fire over took them and swept them away, bones, flesh and all. The waves of flames expanded as far as they could reach before thinning out and dying.
In the wake of the awesome destructive force of nature the foliage was reduced to barren waste, water burned and became mist. The air was heated and became muggy and a fairly unpleasant smell wafted on the warm wind.
Death had come and gone with the fires and it was something Link would never forget.
What a horrid thing to think about, Link thought fleetingly as his vision showed him a lopsided sky tinted grey and black. He barely noticed when his knees hit the ground, or when his body fell heavily upon its side, his energy completely spent.
As his senses began to fade, he kept his eyes to that grey and dreary sky.
Was it pouring now? Link thought he felt something wet touch his cheek and slide down his face. His eyes dilated as darkness began to creep at the edges of his vision. He could no longer hear anything, not the rain, or the howling wind…
…Or Amy's voice.
A vision of the girl appeared over his eyes. She was looking down at him, her lips moving, but he couldn't hear a sound. Everything was quiet. Tears fell from her eyes to kiss Link softly.
Why was she crying? Had he made her cry?
Darkness came to claim him then, or had he simply closed his eyes?
'Don't cry Amy. I'm sorry, I'm sorry.' Link repeated hearing his own voice but now wondering if she heard him. 'Please don't cry Amy. It's okay now, no one is going to hurt you anymore. Please don't cry.'
He couldn't stay awake anymore. Feeling satisfied for the first time in a long time, Link let go,
falling,
falling,
falling
…back into oblivion. But for some odd reason, Link was not the least bit afraid.
###################################
No, no, no, no. This couldn't be happening! Amy rested Link's head upon her lap
Tears burned her eyes as she frantically searched for some way to wake the Hylian. "Link, don't go. I don't want you to go." She begged.
'Please don't cry…' Link had breathed softly as he slipped farther and farther away. He had said more, but his voice faded, melting into the wind. This wasn't suppose to happen! He beat the bad guys and saved her! He was a hero, everyone knows that heroes were suppose to live happily ever after! That's why he couldn't die!
He was a good person, he had worried about her even though his life was ebbing away. She wasn't worth such attention, if he hadn't tried to save her by using up his magical powers, he may have lived a bit longer!
And yet, he did. He did it to save her, even if it meant giving up his own life in exchange for hers. This little revelation was enough to cause fresh tears to form in her eyes making her wish, and wish badly that this didn't happen.
"Amy…" A voice spoke causing the girl to raise her head with a start.
"Raphael?" She spoke the name even before she turned to look. No sooner had she done so before she found herself enveloped in strong warm arms. Hugging her from behind Amy breathed in taking the scent that was uniquely Raphael.
"Thank god…you're okay." He whispered and by the way he had said it, Amy knew he had meant every word with all his heart.
Of course she was okay, but his friend…
"I'm so sorry," She spoke back, her voice choked. "Raphael, I tried so hard to save him. But he ended up saving me instead. Raphael, I couldn't…" Amy couldn't go on, but she didn't need to. Raphael released her gently before moving to kneel beside her and Link.
"Amy don't cry…" He spoke, a gloved hand caressing her cheek softly, wiping away the tears. "Don't worry, I'm here now, I'll take care of it."
Her heart leapt upon hearing the words and the girl finally looked up. Raphael had taken his hand away to reach into his small coat for something. With in a few moments he withdrew a tiny vial with a tiny stopper at the top. Inside was a strange syrupy substance that she couldn't identify. Pulling out the stopper he opened Link's mouth with his fingers before pouring the serum down his throat.
Was it medicine? It was far too late for that wasn't it? Amy didn't want to think about the possibilities. All she wanted right now was to cling to this tiny hope.
When the last drop was gone, the blond man discarded the vial gingerly to observe any reactions from Link. There was none, and after a few seconds, Amy felt her tiny little hope begin to crack and shatter. However, when she looked to Raphael, she saw only grim determination. It wasn't a question weather he believed this would save his friend rather than he knew it had to work. Seeing this comforted Amy a little.
A few more seconds and there was still no response, but Raphael didn't give up instead, he reached behind him to pick up a rather odd looking staff. Amy had never noticed he had it, and began to wonder how she'd miss seeing such a thing. It was a short blue lacquered stick, curved at the top and dark triangular patterns running down the back.
"Link open your eyes…" He said quietly, "Look what I got for you, it's what you been after isn't it?" Amy half expected to see the young man stir, but he remained still. Raphael placed the staff with in Link's lifeless hands upon his chest. As if to seal some sort of unknown deal, he clasped his own hand over Link's. "It is said," The man spoke to the boy; "That this rod does indeed have powers, powers that only heroes can use. The more pure of heart one is, the more powerful the effects…"
Heroes?
It was odd how certain things kept coming up. That Link would speak of it in his dreams, that she would think of if now and again, then how Raphael would speak of such things. The small girl furrowed her brows hoping against hope that Link would wake up, praying to who ever was listening to spare Link's life.
She didn't care where the power came from, she just wanted Link to come back.
No sooner had she thought this than her eye catch a faint glimmer from the staff. Blinking away the tears Amy looked to the staff unsure of what she had just seen. Was it a trick of the light? Had it just been the rain? Amy stared at the staff curiously, but it did nothing.
Maybe it really had just been her. Raphael hadn't seem to notice as he was still looking to Link trying to catch any type of response.
But Amy felt it before Raphael saw it. With Link's head still upon her lap, Amy felt a slight movement tearing her attention away from the staff. No! She hadn't been imaging it!
"Amy, look!" Raphael leaned closer then. "Link? Link! C'mon boy!" He urged. And as the little girl watched, the Hylian's pale lips parted ever so slightly.
He was coming back! Link was alive.
After a few more seconds, Link's breathing became stronger, chest rising and falling to a steady rhythm.
"It's all right Amy, our friend is okay now. He just needs to rest." Raphael said placing a hand upon the girl's head. The warmth of his hand upon her head made Amy's heart contract painfully. When she looked to the man and found him looking back her gently, she couldn't keep her bearing any longer. There in his eyes was the same kindness that she had seen that so common in Link's eyes. All this time and she had never noticed it until now.
Raphael was here when she needed him the most. When her heart finally cried out, he had come back and put her at such ease.
Amy couldn't remember a time when she had felt so relieved and so happy at the same time. Through the tears that came, Amy tried to return the man's kind smile with such honest effort that all she could do was cry.
It was her first real smile and she was happy that Raphael was there to share it with her.
Overhead the rains returned, but not with the harsh storms of before, but with the gentle cooling rain that beckons life from the ground. They washed her tears away and extinguished what was left of the destructive flames, healing the land.
###########################
Since the defeat of Voldo at Siegfried's hands, all mysterious murders in the city had ceased. The group was fairly surprised at hearing the knight reaccount his late night adventure. And while it roused a bit of suspicion from the others, it wasn't hard to believe as Siegfried had sustained new injuries as a result. When everything had become quiet the others had no choice but to believe the man in his claims, even though the guardian managed to get away in the end.
Yun Sung was even less convinced of this than the fact that Siegfried had not bothered to wake him, choosing instead to face this dangerous adversary alone claiming he hadn't the time. But he chose to keep his opinions to himself as he hadn't the evidence to support his suspicions. In the mean time, the others were getting ready to embark upon their quest once again as the days continued to bleed away and still no sign of Link. Talim became more edgy as the appointed time was drawing nigh as she believed in Link's promise to return. The priestess kept true to her word and continued her rigorous training sparring with other members and improving more and more each day. While she beat Yun Sung twice and sparred with Cassandra on occasion, she had yet to best Kilik or Xianghua.
Today, Siegfried had seated himself upon one of the many fallen pillars, tending to his own wounds while watching the priestess and Korean dance across the old stone floor, the song of blades clashing sharply, pleasant to his ears. Sophitia had stopped by to check up on him, bringing surprising news with her.
His sword, the large Zewiehandler Requiem, had been forged under Link's request prior to his departure weeks ago. The Athens woman promised to bring it to him once Rinthion was done tempering it. She seemed almost as excited as he was only saying that Link added a special something to make the mighty blade better, but what exactly that special something was, Siegfried didn't know.
"Hmm?"
Siegfried looked up as he felt the icy drops splash against his bare shoulders. In the court of the decimated temple, Talim stopped sensing the same as the blond. When her sparring partner of the day, Yun Sung, realized she had stopped, he too felt the soft rains then.
Rising from his seat upon a fallen and crumbling pillar, the chimera man walked to join the wind priestess gazing at the clouded skies.
"I can't believe its beginning to rain!" Yun Sung glared at the sky. "It was sunny a few minuets ago!"
Siegfried stood beside the girl who had lowered her tonfas. "Do you feel that?" She spoke almost as if to herself, a small smile tugging at the corner of her full lips. The knight gave a curt nod, eyes never leaving the skies as the rain began to fall.
"Huh? Feel what? The rain?" Yun Sung asked confused. Just what were the two talking about? Why was Talim so damn happy?
The same smile touched Siegfried's features, eyes softening, seeing things that only he seemed to see. Yun Sung looked, hoping to share a glance at what ever had ensnared their attention so. He hated being left out! "C'mon! What the hell are you two staring at?!"
Talim rolled her eyes at his brazenness. "You can't feel it? It's in the winds." She asked.
"What are you talking about?" The young man returned annoyed.
She sighed "Like I said before, it's in the winds."
"Like /I/ said before, what are you talking about?" Yun Sung retorted miffed now. Talim only shook her head dismayed. But Siegfried spoke up then raising both hands at his sides welcoming the rain.
"He's crying…" This answer was no better than Talim's and he went on to say; "It never is easy, and for one like him, it won't get any easier. It'll always be this hard. At least now he understands that."
The young Korean looked from one to the other utterly lost."He? He who?"
Talim folded her arms over her chest sighing sadly. "You can sense him can't you?" She asked. Weather it was through the unholy power of Soul Edge with in him, or if it was truly something so simple, Talim was envious of it. To share a connection with another so deep, "I feel the winds beginning to change and I hear strange voices whispering to me."
"What?"
"Voices? What do they say?" Siegfried asked the girl. But Talim shook her head, her thick black braids hitting her bare shoulder's lightly.
"I don't know. They speak in strange tongues, in Link's tongue. I never hear them unless he's around. I think he's coming back." She turned hopeful eyes to the knight.
Were they ignoring him? Yun Sung tightened a fist. "Hey…"
A faint smile upon his face, Siegfried nodded quietly. "Yes, we should get ready soon."
"HEY!!" Yun Sung placed himself between the two making sure they saw him. Facing Siegfried, the young Korean drew back his shoulders to glare fiery orbs into placid eyes. "What the hell are you two talking about? Stop acting like I'm not here!" He gave a jump when he felt soft arms wrap around his arm.
Talim laughed pulling the young man away before he could start a fight with the injured Siegfried and get put down. "Oh, would you stop Yun Sung? You act like some petulant child! Let's go! We need to tell the others the news!" She proceeded dragging the man with her kicking and yelling.
"What?! Hey! Let go! What are you talking about!? Tell the others what news?!"
"Link's coming back!" Talim answered happily her voice echoing into the skies.
Siegfried stood watching till the pair disappeared through the main entrance, Yun Sung's angry voice fading. When silence had settled, only the erratic pattering of the rain heard, the man lowered his head to his hands, one human and the other of a monster. Eyes of amber and emerald closed as if the mere sight pained him. Wet strands of blond became matted, trails of the skies' tears running down his face in small rivers.
"Link…." He whispered softly. "It's almost time, please make haste my friend. I can feel Soul Edge growing stronger."
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A/N: Apologies for the dry spell! I've been pretty busy lately and I've had to put this fic off for a bit. Since it has been a while, I hope the story is still up to par and that it isn't disappointing. Sorry for making everyone wait so long. Let me know how I did on this chapter!