It's the finale, so I'm gonna cut to the chase. This chapter is dedicated to everyone who's been with me from the very start of"For the Sake of the World". I am so very, very grateful. You just have no humanly idea! Most of you I am now relatively familiar with and we converse often. It's the magic of writing, bringing us all together! Enough warm fuzzies. Let's get to the gore!
Chapter 21: Unsung Defeat
Kaze soon realized that Dameus' target was Aiko and moved to defend her. He wanted to eliminate the source of light so he could move more freely than he was already capable. Aiko was doing her best to emit as much light as she could and give Dameus as little a battle field as possible.
"Lor!" Link said, whipping around to meet the boy's gaze for a moment. "The same power you used to fight Kaze! Use it now!"
The black-haired boy shook his head as fear surfaced beneath the placid demeanor reflected in his icy blue eyes. "Th-that wasn't me! That was that demon!" he argued, taking a few steps back. "I don't want to use that power again! I almost killed you, Link! What would happen if I were to lose control again?"
"You'd beat the living shingles outta Dameus, that's what!" Kaze snapped, standing in front of Aiko with amethyst eyes scanning the room incessantly. Lor cast his gaze downwards. Link sighed. "Lor, I know you don't want to hurt anyone," he began in a soothing tone, "but you have to remember that this is Dameus we're talking about! If for nothing else, do it for Hieke… Don't let her death have been in vain."
The boy bowed his head, a shuddering sigh escaping him. Aiko pressed her lips together remorsefully. The girl is dead, she thought sorrowfully. She had wondered why Hieke hadn't been with the group when they entered. It now made sense. Kaze must have killed her…
Lor bit his lip. "Fine," he muttered. "I'll… do it." He placed a hand across his heart, and the Fairy Charm he bore upon his finger faded to black. Nayru… Artemis… Please let me keep my head, he silently pleaded as demonic power radiated from his soul. Pain consumed him, as he knew it would, but he managed to endure it. He drew a long breath through clenched teeth and looked up at the shadow.
"Fade to nothing," he whispered. As if on his command, the darkness shrank away and collected within the sapphire gem on his hand. All shadows and colors were drained, leaving the area looking as through it had been drawn onto white paper with a black pen. Dameus growled in contempt, revealed. "Where's your power now?" Link jeered. The man gave a brief cry and lunged with his sword.
"In his pocket!" Aiko shouted. Kaze looked at her skeptically. "His power is in his pocket?" he inquired. The girl pointed at Dameus to emphasize her comment. "Sort of… The Dark Crystal is in his pocket. It gives him most of his strength! Not only that, but it's also how he managed to escape Purgatory without—!" Aiko's words were cut off as a thin strand of matter wrapped itself around her throat. The thread looked fragile; however, it was easily slicing her throat.
"You don't ever disclose my secrets, little princess," Dameus smirked, one hand outstretched and the other cradling a small sphere, presumably the Dark Crystal Aiko was trying to warn Kaze about. From his palm came the strand that strangled the Skybound princess while the orb seemed to be making some kind of barrier, preventing Link from attacking.
"This thing is impenetrable!" Link finally decided as he rested his sword against the floor; he was exhausted after many futile attempts to break through. Lor stood at a distance with his eyes closed in contemplation. "So impatient," he smiled, opening eyes devoid of compassion. He held out his hand, palm up, and his white sword appeared.
Kaze sliced the thread that was bound about Aiko's neck, freeing her. Her hands found their way to her wound and traced the contour of the cut. It wasn't deep; the thread had been broken before it could do much harm. Lor took the cord between his fingers and gave it a sharp yank. Dameus stumbled forward, and his hand slipped out from behind the force field. Link saw his opportunity and brought his sword down upon Dameus' wrist.
The screams of throe sent shivers down Link's spine. Lor, despite his current state of mind, cringed as the severed hand hit the floor with a fleshy thump. Dameus clutched at his bleeding arm, desperately trying to stifle the flow of crimson. In his shock and agony, he noticed not the weakening of his barrier. Link, however, saw it. Kaze joined his friend in their double attack. Link ran in from the left, Kaze on the right. As they were about to strike, Aiko conjured a restraining spell to make sure Dameus wasn't going anywhere, and Lor swept his sword across his foe's remaining hand to knock the Dark Crystal away.
Link's and Kaze's blades struck with full force, penetrating either shoulder and receiving a surge of blood in response. The four backed off to view the effects of their efforts. Dameus' shoulders were hunched forward, scarlet staining his garments. He slowly raised his head. His eyes were bloodshot and wild, his face contorted into a scowl. The mark of the Forest shone briefly and he straightened his posture. The mark of Water shone and his grimace smoothed into a disdainful frown. The mark of Fire shone and his hand tensed into a fist. The Dark Crystal glowed and seemed to draw forth everything Lor had absorbed. The white flickered and shifted to black.
In the darkness that swam throughout the room, Dameus could only just faintly be made out. The thin white line that indicated his figure looked to be expanding and shifting. Link squinted through the shadows to get a better look at the spectacle. His form was swelling, slowly stretching into a new shape. When the metamorphosing had ceased, there was a long silence during which Link and his companions warily awaited the emergence of their foe.
Aiko uttered a cry of shock as she collapsed to the floor. Actually, judging by the way she fell, it seemed more likely that she had been knocked down. Dameus was on the move, wherever he was. Kaze knelt at Aiko's side, running his hand along her face. "She's unconscious," he whispered grimly. Faintly he detected a swift motion behind him. When he looked, there was, of course, nothing there.
"We've got to get our hands on that Dark Crystal," Link decided. Lor rolled his eyes. "Hasn't that been our objective from very near the beginning?" he reminded as he took a few steps forward. Link moved to follow, but Lor extended a hand to keep him back. "Traps," he muttered as he touched the floor curiously. Right before him was a large hole that he would have fallen into had he moved a fraction of an inch further.
Link focused his eyes as best he could, though the task was nearly impossible in the inky darkness that pervaded his very mind. "Look out!" Kaze suddenly exclaimed as he ran forward and pushed Link back. He fell to his knees, losing consciousness shortly thereafter.
"You've no chance…" mocked a ghastly voice. While it sounded nothing like the man, Link knew it was Dameus. "Not so smart, are you?" Lor smirked as he quickly summoned his black sword and creating the spinning vortex he had discovered accidentally. He launched the attack, and it audibly hit Dameus. The man, or whatever he currently was, roared in anger. There was a bust of white light and the room returned to normal.
In the center of the chamber was what Link assumed to be Dameus. He resembled a large serpent with spindly wings that protruded where he had been stabbed by Link and Kaze. His eyes were slitted like a cat's and glowed a strange a golden light. His feet and hand were tipped with menacing claws. In the center of his dragon-like forehead was the Dark Crystal, which was more than likely supplying him with all this newfound power.
With a strike to quick for Hylian eyes to perceive, Lor fell to the stone ground. His countenance calmed as his mind was lost to sleep. Link bit his lip. He was alone now… but he wouldn't let that aspect deprave him of his courage. Hieke's Moon Pendant, bound about Kaze's neck, was enveloped with a red light. Lor's flashed blue.
Link raised his sword as a soft green glow enveloped it. Power from the other two Fairy Charms transferred to the hero. His tunic and hat became white, and his boots and belt turned blue. His undershirt became light yet strong silver chain mail. He closed his eyes and let the force wash over him like rain. When Link opened his eyes again, the cerulean irises had become silver and red, blue, and green paints adorned his face. It was like he was wearing the Fierce Deity Mask he had gotten in Termina, though he knew full well that the mask was nowhere near him.
The light soon faded from his sword, revealing the Helix Blade, the sword he was granted use of while wearing the Fierce Deity Mask. "We hope this will be of use to you," chimed a soft trio of voices in Link's mind. He smirked. It seemed the three goddesses wished to ensure his victory. That you have, Ladies, he mused in amusement as he charged his spiraling green and gold sword with energy. A silvery-blue light formed at the tip.
Link dodged about the room, launching continuous blasts light from his Helix Blade. Few of them struck, but those that did created terrible wounds. Dameus swatted at Link and attempted to crush him against the walls with powerful wing beats, but his foe had gained far too much strength to be susceptible to such assaults. Link leapt into the air and thrust his sword into the Dark Crystal. The glossy black surface cracked, releasing a jet of shadow from its core. The sudden burst surprised Link and he fell to the floor from his perch. Immediately he turned his head to see the effects of his efforts.
Dameus' serpentine form flickered and shifted as he returned to a Hylian shape. He clutched his hand to forehead, shielding his eyes from view. Three lights flashed in front of him, and from them came the Spiritual Stones. The gems clattered to the floor as Dameus fell to his knees. He slowly dragged his hand down his face. Link clenched his teeth at the sight. There was a cavernous wound where he had covered his face, and blood was cascading across his eyes and mouth. The fractured Dark Crystal fell from his fist.
Dameus threw his head back and emitted an ethereal shriek. Dark light poured forth from his gaping mouth and empty eyes. His body was encompassed by this radiance as his essence was pulled into the Dark Crystal. Magically the breaks repaired themselves. Link drew a sharp breath as the power of the Fierce Deity was drained from him, having served its purpose.
Link glanced around himself as if he had just woken from a long slumber. Kaze, Lor, and Aiko were out cold. Hieke was in the bordering room, dead. Dameus was trapped inside the Dark Crystal. Link sighed and fell backwards, closing his now azure eyes. If everyone else was resting, why couldn't he?
At the moment, Dameus was victor. Link had failed in protecting the single person dearest to him. While his friends would surely disagree, he had lost the battle for Hieke's life.
He knew one thing for sure, though. There were still loose ends to tie up.
Okay, for the next chapters I need suggestions for riddles. HARD riddles! Not that old "what goes on four legs and on two legs and on three legs" crap, or "what's black and white and red/read all over". I need tough riddles and the answers, if you please.
The fic's gonna be over in just a couple more chapters... Then my trilogy (or quartet if you count "Trust Me", which you should have read a long time ago) will be finished and I'll be able to work on "Age of Queens". Or myabe I should instead work on any number of those OTHER unfinished fanfictions in my profile, eh? n.n; Maybe.
Contest ends January 3, check my profile for details! I currently have one for the art category. There's still a whopping seven other awards! Please enter if you have the time!
That is all. Please review, my comrades!