This chapter was done especially for Angel of Atonement, whose kind and insightful reviews made me want to sit down and write my arsenic off! So I did. No time for long Author's Notes, though, 'cause I must be going soon. I leave you with this!
Chapter 20: The Final Battle
"I've been expecting you," Dameus commented calmly. Aiko was at his side, on her knees and bound at the wrists. "Ever since I learned of this one's little trick on my looking glass, I knew you'd be here any moment, Link."
Lor, normally the level-headed and the serene one of the group, cast an icy glare at Dameus. The white-haired man raised an eyebrow. "Ah, Lor. The power I could not obtain," he sighed nostalgically. "Your strength seems to have developed quite nicely. It's a shame I couldn't have ascertained it in it's earliest stages. Such a shame…"
"You killed Hieke!" Lor spat bitterly. Dameus looked offended. "Moi?" he said in a feigned French accent. "I did no such thing! It was your friend Kaze there who carried out the deed!" The man turned to point to Kaze, but found him missing.
While Dameus was distracted, Kaze had silently crawled around the perimeter of the room and cut the ropes binding Aiko. "You little whelp!" the villain shouted, enraged, as he hurled a blast of energy at Kaze. The boy dodged with agility worthy of an ex-thief, taking Aiko's hand so she wouldn't be hit by the attack either. Kaze stuck out his tongue at the silver-haired man and fell into rank with Link and Lor.
"You… will never… defeat me!" Dameus declared as he rose from his thrown and tossed his cloak over his shoulder in a manner that reminded Link of Ganondorf. Just another wanna-be, he mused disapprovingly as he drew his sword. He noticed that the Fairy Charm was glowing brightly upon the steel. Lor's was in a similar condition, and Link saw that Kaze was holding the glowing Fairy Charm of Power. He musta nabbed it from Hieke before we left, he thought, if not a little peeved that the Gerudo couldn't just leave the departed in peace.
Dameus cackled insanely at the sight of the three jewels. "You've got power? I've got power too!" he chuckled. He spread his arms before him and the three Spiritual Stones appeared. The Gorons' Ruby shone with a blazing crimson light. The gem dissolved and the emblem it bore appeared on his forehead. "I've got more power than you'll ever know!" the man shouted. He had last all ration and reasoning to the heat of a battle that had not yet even begun.
"Take 'im down!" Link commanded as he charged forward, Kaze following closely behind. "Wait!" Lor and Aiko called simultaneously. They looked at one another, each with a raised eyebrow, as they contemplated how awkward the moment was. "He's functioning on pure power!" the black-haired boy warned. "You can't fight that with strength alone!"
However, the two warriors were caught up in the aspects of their own Fairy Charms and paid the boy no heed. Either way, they were faring well against Dameus and all his power. Lor dare not hope it, but it looked almost as though they were winning!
Dameus sensed this as well and worked quickly to correct it. "Spiritual Stone of the Forest!" he cried. The symbol depicted upon the Kokiris' Emerald emerged on his forehead to the left of that of the Gorons' Ruby. He instantly became stronger and overpowered Link and Kaze merely by emitting a burst of his aura.
"He's too strong," Link panted. "We'll never beat him now."
The maniacal laughter reverberated across the room. The white lanterns illuminating the chamber flickered and became black. Link and his team was soon lost to the darkness.
"Do the shadows frighten you?" taunted Dameus. The high acoustics of the room made it seem as though his voice was coming from every direction. "Do they make you feel vulnerable? Do the make you feel weak? Do they make you feel… helpless?" His chortling filled the room eerily. A shiver betrayed Link's anxiousness. This was boding to be the most difficult fight yet.
A bright light flashed from near the door, bringing everyone's attention to the source. Aiko stood there, bathed in a white glow. She raised her arms; as she did so, the aura crawled upwards and gathered in her hands. The light she held lit every detail of Dameus' crazed and startled countenance.
"How pathetic. You are so afraid of the dark that you'll do anything you can to drive it away," he sneered as he slunk back into the shadows. "We'll do anything we can to win, Dameus!" Link spat. The unmistakable sound of a sword's blade scraping against the mouth of the sheath came to his ears. It seemed his foe had located a weapon for a little one-on-one. I wonder if he knows this is my best field, Link smirked confidently. It mattered not, as long as he came out victorious.
Link's keen ears perked sensitively. He could hear footsteps approaching from his… right! He executed a graceful spinning slash, but his blade didn't meet its mark. Instead, a searing pain enveloped his shoulder. He whipped around and gasped, his eyes finding none other than Dameus responsible for the blow. "How…?" he pondered as he grasped his wound. A vengeful grin stretched across Dameus' lips as he dissolved into the darkness once more.
"Kaze!" Lor suddenly said, after having been quiet for so long. "You've got elemental magic, haven't you?" The Gerudo nodded. "Good," Lor smiled. "Here's what you do."
The boy told Kaze his plan as quietly as he could, not knowing whether or not Dameus was lurking closely enough to hear. Kaze chuckled when his young companion had finished. "Oh, Lor… That's genius! You see, this is why you have the Fairy Charm of Wisdom!" he grinned.
Lor blushed under the praised but shrugged it away. Link was already listening intently for the approaching footsteps, this time paying double the attention he gave last time. The footfalls came from behind him, he was sure of it! He spun around, slashing at the empty air yet again. Kaze quickly shot a jet of water behind Link. That's where Dameus would be. But there came no grunt of agony indicating their opponent had been struck. Lor saw the slight movement behind Kaze and quickly charged his fist with demonic aura.
With speed that could be likened only to the demon that inhabited him, Lor swung his fist through the air. It found no flesh in its path… "How is this possible!" the boy exclaimed, quickly about-facing. There he was, and Lor had a clear shot! He struck with fingers rigid in a manner that should have found Dameus' heart and punctured it with ease. At the last minute, the man faded away into nothingness. Lor gasped in understanding.
"He uses the shadows to transport himself wherever he chooses!" Lor alerted. His companions gave him a skeptical stare, one that clearly said 'you must be joking'. As if to prove his point, Dameus appeared beside Link. This time, he made no effort to hide his strange skill. "I see you've noticed my… abilities," he said, narrowing his eyes until they resembles those a viper poised ready for the strike. Link's hand tensed around his hilt, but he dare not attempt an attack for knowledge that Dameus could easily dodge.
"What kind of whacked up power is that!" Kaze scoffed as he formed a small fireball in his hand to show off his elemental magic. Dameus narrowed his eyes even further, if it was possible at this point. "The kind of power I will destroy you with, ungrateful wretch!" he shouted as the marking of the Spiritual Stone of Water appeared on the other side of that of the Stone of Fire.
"This battle will end… Link! You will soon see Hieke again… You will burn alongside her in Hell!"
Booyah! ...I didn't say that. I did my best with the battle details, but I know I'm not very good at it. Okay, 'nother survey-ish thing... Who wants romance (LinkxHieke) in the last chapter? I don't really WANT to write it, but I'll try it if that's what people want. Besides, I need to broaden my horizons.
You know the deal with the contest; check my profile if you need the details. And, yes. I know my quotation mark style changed in the last couple paragraphs. My mom's word processor drives me crazy...
Anyway, reviews would be appreciated. GREATLY appreciated. SO GOSH DARN APPRECIATED! Okay... that is all.