Questline: The Power of One
Chapter 4
Trainings Tragic Dance
It's been several days since I went to the lost woods and found Holo. These last few days have been peaceful. These last few nights however, have been anything but peaceful. I keep waking up in the middle of night to find Holo in my bed laying next to me. Between trying to explain to her the first two nights that she has her own bed and her coming right back the same night after I fall right back asleep, I just gave up on it.
I've been recieving dance practice with Tabatha. She's a lot more strict than I thought she would be. She says she has to be strict with me since I'm going with the princess. Sometimes I really think I would have been better off taking Holo just to save myself from this side of Tabatha.
I don't really see much of Malon. Link and I have been getting together for training in my swordsman skills. We even get an audience from Princess Zelda herself from time to time. Her, Holo, and Tabatha like to come out and watch me and Link whenever they get the chance. Well Zelda and Tabatha at the very least. Holo never leaves my side even though I've told her she's free to go wherever she wants.
People all across Castle Town now know about me taking the princess to the Ball. I swear, who keeps telling everyone about me and my events as of late? Castle Town citizens all over had requested a public sword match between me and Link. Something about wanting to see a real epic match between two great heroes.
It was a close match. I lost.
Holo drags me everywhere whenever I have a break in the day. The first day, it felt a little tedious and annoying but her curious nature is starting to grow on me. I never refuse to show her around.
All of this brings us to the present day. The day of the Ball and it all begins with me waking up.
I begin to open my eyes but right as I open them, a fist comes out of nowhere and uppercuts me in the jaw.
"Oww, that stung a bit."I say as I look down to see Holo there once again in my bed stretching her arms out.
I look out the window to see it's morning. Just as I then look away from the window, there's a knock on the door. "Come on in." I say as I hop over Holo to get out of the bed.
Tabatha opens the door and comes walking in. She stops and looks and says, "Holo still refuses to sleep alone I see. To be honest, I think it's kind of adorable."
"Maybe to you but your not the one waking up to a fist in the face from her stretching." I say to Tabatha as I grab a pair of nice clean clothes that Tabatha brought for me.
"By the way Tabatha, thank you for the new clothes. You really are the best." I tell her.
Suddenly we hear Holo talking in her sleep as she stretches out again saying, " Grrrr I almost have you. Your mine."
Tabatha and I start laughing.
"Aleks? Since Holo seems to be fond of following you around, would you prefer to wait until she wakes up before we start practice?" Tabatha asks.
"Yeah I'll wait for her. Her company is starting to grow on me to be honest." I tell Tabatha.
"My company is the best kind of company thank you very much." Holo announces as she wakes up.
I look over to Holo and ask, "Are you ready for the big day Holo?"
Holo smiles and nods as she says, "Buffet table, here I come."
The day continues on as normal. Tabatha helps me practice dancing. For some reason she seems much less strict today, which was a great relief. She was smiling a lot more than usual today which was saying something considering she smiles a lot on average. Everything was going as well as could be expected until Tabatha did the last thing I expected.
Tabatha looked over to Holo and called her over.
"Yes Tabatha? What did you need?" Holo asked.
Tabatha grabbed Holo by the wrists and brought her hands to mine. She then pushed me and Holo close together and then said, "Now, show Holo how it feels to dance Aleks."
Holo looked really nervous and looked over to Tabatha and said, "But I don't even know how to dance?!"
Tabatha giggles and then replied to Holo saying, "I believe Aleks is ready. Just follow his movement and don't worry about messing up. That's what practice is for."
I look to Holo and ask her, "Are you ready?"
Holo gives me a nervous look as she shakes her head no.
I then continue to look at her and smile as I said, "How about we start with something easy from my world?"
I led the dance by pulling Holo all the way up to me and I have her place her hands on my shoulders as I wrap my arms around her waist and begin to sway from side to side.
I then tell her, "This is called a slow dance in my world."
We hear Tabatha in the background saying, " See Holo, You can do it."
After hearing that Holo begins to smile and her subtle laughter sounds joyful and happy as if she was very suprised she could dance.
The next thing we know, there was a soft song on the piano being played by the princess who was watching the whole thing. I then asked Holo if she was still nervous and wanted to stop but to my suprise she smiled and shook her head no and kept moving to the beautiful song being played.
Holo came up as close as she could and placed her head on my shoulder as the song and dance went on. I then realised that she was living in a cave all this time and never actually experienced any of this before. It was all so new to her. Her, a deity that has been stuck doing nothing but living in the woods.
As the song and dance went on, we began to hear someone sniffing in the background and as our dance brought us back around, I could see Tabatha wiping tears from her eyes as if she was trying to hide her emotions.
After a few minutes go by, the song then comes to an end and we let go of each other. Holo looks up to me smiling and says, "I would really like to do that again someday."
Tabatha comes running up and gives Holo a big hug as she says, "That was so perfect and beautiful." She then turns to me and asks, "Aleks, Where did you learn that dance from?"
I tell her, "It's a basic dance from my world. I figured it would be an easy place to start for her."
The princess then comes walking up to us and says, "Tabatha is right. That really was beautiful. I think your definetly ready for tonight."
The Princess turns to Holo and says, "Holo, I have two special suprises for you. One is right now and the other you will see tonight. So would you mind coming with me?"
Holo turns to me and I tell her, "It's alright. Go ahead. I'm gonna be out in the courtyard training with Link, so you know where to find me."
She smiles and takes the princesses hand and walks off with her.
Tabatha smiles to me and tilts her head while looking at me with an"I told you so" expression on her face as she says, "What did I tell you Aleks? Adorable!"
As the day goes on, I continue my sword training with Link. Like before everything seems to be as well as could be. You get the picture by now right? Link and I take a break and as we do Navi comes out and says, "Wow, Your getting really good for it having been less than a week Aleks. You can already match Link. Thats impressive."
"Thanks Navi. That was a nice compliment." I say to her.
Link then nods in agreement with Navi saying, "No, seriously. She's right. Your improving much faster than anyone I've ever seen. Keep this up and you'll be as good as you ever were in no time flat."
"Thanks guys. I really couldn't have gotten this far without you two." I say.
Navi then turns to Link and says, "Even after facing down that Incredible Dragon, Aleks is still alive and well after all this time."
Link then looks to me and says, "Even if our lives have to end. Legends never die. Remember those words Aleks."
I look to Link and say, "Wise words like that are unforgettable."
"So I haven't seen Malon in a few days Link, is everything okay?" I ask.
Link says, "Yeah everythings good. I visit her everyday, and she's having alot of fun babysitting Cecilia."
I smile as I say, "Thats good to hear, and yeah I miss that little girl. Cecilia is awesome."
Later that day, Malon and Cecilia showed up and watched me and Link train. Not long after that Zelda, Holo, and Tabatha showed up as well. But the biggest suprise was when I saw Gaius and Raven walk up and join the group. Everyone was here. All of my friends. I felt a strong sense of pride as I look up at all of them. Proud to call everyone here my friend.
Link then stands up straight and draws his sword to the readied position. I felt a strong sudden rush of strength run its way through me as I stand up and stand ready. Ready to fight for all my friends and the faith they have in me.
We run to each other as our swords clash. We both continue to swing an clash as we dodge and block. I raise and place my sheild infront of me and push Into Links range of attack only to block a few strikes and after the third strike he threw, I took my sword in hand and swung knowing full well he either had to block or swing back to deflect it. He swung his sword to try and deflect my swing but just as he made contact with my sword I dropped both sword and sheild to grab his wrist and as quickly as possible bent his arm causing him to drop the sword as I grabbed it while sweeping him to the ground. "Looks like I finally won for once." I say as I smile and extend my and to him.
He looks to me and asks, "How did you do that?"
I look back at him as I laugh and say,"I really don't know. I wasn't even sure if it would work. I was just using my gut instinct that time."
He then says, "You should really try using it more often. I didn't see that coming."
I help him up and pat him on the shoulder say, "Well it was only a matter of time before I finally won one."
We both laughed as we walk back to the group. They were all smiling, clapping, and cheering.
As the day went on we all hung out with each other in my room. Well, almost all of us. The Princess busy with seeing to the crew setting up the Ballroom. We all had a good time with many of us laughing at each others stories. My time here on this world today was so great that I had nearly forgotten that I wasn't a part of it. I honestly felt like I really was home this whole time and everyone here was my family. I even let a tear slide down my face knowing that there was a possibility that none of this might last. That one morning I might wake up and all of this would be gone. I'd wake up in my bed in my world and it would be as if it were all just a dream. The only thing I would have left would be the memories and I would live on fearing the loss of the precious memories.
Suddenly Holo snaps me out of my thoughts by grabbing onto me and shaking me back and fourth, smiling.
Later after everyone leaves to get ready for the Ball, I sit on my bed. Thinking to myself. Wondering whats wrong with myself. I really felt like I wanted to cry. Is this what the Princess felt when she thought I was dead? Is this what she felt when she realized she was never going to see me again? If it is, then it's no wonder she was crying when she first saw me in that field and when she found out I didn't know who she was. It must have hurt her deeply to find out I wasn't the same Aleks that left her.
As I sit on my bed lost in my thoughts and nearly in tears, I feel these arms reach around my stomach from behind me.
Holo leans on my back as she asks me, "Why are you in tears? This isn't a night to be in tears. I really don't like seeing you like this. I trusted you enough to let you into my den for the night so you wouldn't freeze. Now it's your turn to trust me. So please tell me. Whats wrong?"
"Holo, I had a terrible thought." I said as I turn around and hold her tightly, hugging her.
" I'm Affraid." I said to her.
She continues by saying, " Of what? It's not like you to be affraid of anything."
I let go of her and continue to look down as I say, "Im affraid I may wake up one morning and I will no longer be in this world with you guys. I've grown to love each and every one of you guys in just one week and I don't want to loose any of you. I'm affraid to leave this world the same way I came. Sudden and while I sleep. With none of you ever knowing where I went or why I was gone. And if it ever does happen, then I want you all to know how I feel before that ever happens."
Holo gabs me as she begins tearing up herself and she says, " YOU IDIOT! NOW YOU GOT ME CRYING! YOU CAN'T LEAVE! YOU'RE NOT ALOUD TOO!"
Tabatha knocks on the door and then walks in only to see me and Holo hugging each other in shambles, tearing and crying and then says, "Uhhh maybe this is a bad time."
Holo then runs up to Tabatha and tells her how this all started. Tabatha then walks up to me and tells me to look at her.
I start to gain some self control and then look over to Tabatha.
Tabatha then says, " Aye Aleks, your just like the princess at times aren't you. These tears are a good thing to have. They are proof that you do care and that the old Aleks we all know is buried in there somewhere. You don't have to live in fear of leaving us Aleks. It's just as you told the Princess yourself. Even If your gone someday. As long as we keep each other in our hearts, then we are never truly gone now are we?"
I found myself feeling a lot better after hearing Tabatha say that, which was weird considering they were my own words being used on me.
"Thank you Tabatha. I feel a lot better after hearing that." I tell her.
Holo also looks to be feeling better as well. She looks pissed at me for causing her to break into tears though.
"Aleks, Holo. You two really should be getting ready. Like right now." Tabatha says.
I nod to her in agreement.
Then later that night, the Ball has begun. All the guess were comuning with each other. I walked into the room with Holo and we began walking around looking for our friends and the princess.
After 10 minutes of searching, The crowd grew silent and we hear the princesses voice speaking. She said, "Goodevening everyone. First off I want to start by thanking each and everyone of you for coming tonight. And before we get started, I want to talk about something real quick. We are all very aware of the traditions we carry in these events. Ever year host an annual Ballroom dance and this years will be the same. However, I would like to change the traditions we carry in it for this year only. As you all are aware, A very dear friend of mine and a great hero to our land has come back to us seemingly from death itself. We were all hurt by his disappearance. Now it's like fate itself has brought him back to us. What I'm trying to say is that every year we always have the guests of honor dance first but this year, all of those guests of honor have willing told me that there should only be two dancers to start us off this year. Would Aleks, Tabatha, Malon, Gaius, Cecilia, Navi, Link, Holo, and Raven all make their way here to me please?"
I grab Holo's hand and we begin walking up to the princess. Once we got there, we stood next to her waiting for the rest to get up here.
The princess then continues by saying, "Thank you all for showing up tonight. Tonight it will just be Aleks and his dance partner for the first dance."
The Princess then reaches over to me asking for my hand. As I grab her hand, I begin to follow her, but to my suprise she grabbed Holo's hand as well and it was then that I knew exactly what was going on.
She then announces, "Yes, I was suppose to be his dance partner tonight. But then earlier today I saw something I never expected to see. A beauty between you two. A beauty I want you to try and relive. Share that moment as best as you two can with everyone here. So they can see your guy's beauty the way I saw it.
Tabatha then walks up and says, " That dress was Holo's first suprise from the Princess and this dance is your second suprise Holo. Just remember what you learned today and you will do great."
Holo then looks up to me as the quiet audience watches us. She starts to look really nervous again. Last time we didn't have this big of an audience watching us. I place my index finger under her chin and position her face to look up at me and I say to her, " Just ignore everyone else in the room right now. Right now it's just me and you Holo. Do you trust me?"
Her nervous look turns into a smile as she nods yes and places her hands on my shoulders just like before with my hands around her waist.
The piano begins to play the same beautiful song that it played earlier when Zelda played it.
Holo's face turned a little pink as the music began but she still kept her smile as we continued to dance. I look to her and I begin to tell her, "You know Holo, I'm really glad I get to dance with you again. I don't really care if you are a deity. Because your more than that to me."
Her face turns brighter and she says, "You know when I found you in that cave, I never imagined it could have turned into all of this. I'm really glad I let you stay with me that night now."
She then wraps her arms around my waist and proceeds to finish the dance with her head buried into my arm as she continues to smile."
I pull her close and hold her as I whisper to her saying, "I'm really glad we met that night and you aloud me to stay as well."
The song progressed for another minute and slowly came to a touching stop with me and Holo hugging and then lettling go of each other with smiles on our faces as we walked up to the rest of the group, the happiest we have ever been.
The princess then walks up as all the guests are clapping, crying, and cheering. The princess then says to me and Holo, "You two are the greatest. You both have touched the hearts of every person in here." The princess then walks up to the alter to ensure her voice reaches everyone as she then announces, "You may all begin dancing if you so desire."
Then suddenly a pink diamond like barrier forms around the princess.
Right as she is about to scream for help, the ballroom windows behind her shatter and two large guys drop down. One is big, tall, masculine, red hair, and green skin. The other is thin, tall, black trench coat with silver shoulder guards and insanely long flowing silver hair.
I quickly tell Holo to get Malon, Tabatha, and Cecilia to saftey. She nods in agreement as she grabs them and rushes them to the doors along with the crowd of people.
Link, Gaius, Raven and I run up to the party crashers. Link gasps as he demandingly shouts, "How did you escape the sacred realm Ganon?" And Gaius adds to that by asking, "And who's this friend of yours you brought."
The tall, thin man steps forward and holds out this incredibly long sword that looked like it could have been seven feet long. He points it to Gaius and says, "Well since your so curious, My name is Sephiroth. Not that, that matters. What does matter, however is the complete and total surrender of this land to our "Master".
Ganon then follows up by saying, " Our "Master" saved me from the sacred realm and brought Sephiroth here back to life. Our "Master" is a force no man and no army no matter how great, can hope to take on."
Gaius then looks over to me as he and I both remember discussing this before.
Link then makes a dash for Ganondorf. Gaius and Raven notice Link taking on Ganon, so they make a dash for Sephiroth.
That left me with an opening to run to the Princess to try and free her while those two where distracted. I pulled out my sword and as the princess could only stand there and watch, I tried to break break the barrier. But know matter how many times I hit it or how hard I tried to hit it, it wouldn't even crack.
I stood there pounding on the barrier with the princess watching me. She stops me to tell me, "Aleks, whatever happens, I want you to know that..."
Just then, the barrier surrounding the princess shatters. Pieces of it flying everywhere and I didn't even touch it.
She looks around and then looks to me and right as I was about to grab her hand...
Blood.
Blood filled the space between me and her.
The princesses head drops to look down as it hangs there.
I look down to see this Black Armored Gauntlet sticking through the Princesses chest.
The princesses head hung down motionless... and lifeless.
I look back up and as the hand pulls out of her chest, her body falls to the ground and down the steps.
My eyes filled with tears and I felt a rage of hatered building inside of me as I stared this Dark Armored Person down.
The person stares me down for a few seconds and says, "I never thought I'd see you here Aleks. I was pretty sure my dragon killed you." as they laugh sinisterly.
This person then turns around and begins walking away as they then say, " I'm glad it didn't. Ganon, Sephiroth, thats enough play time for tonight. Lets go."
"Just where do you think your going?!" I ask as I try to control my anger. And with that I take a swing at this person.
"Your attempt is brave, but futile. You sword will never touch me." They say as one sword floats up with nothing holding or touching it to clash and block my swing. Another floats up and implales me from the side.
The Dark Armored being then walks over to me as I fall down the steps, laying next to the princesses body. They kneel down to me as seven swords begin surrounding me, floating in air. They then say, "I could easily have killed you right now and rid myself of your presence if I wanted to. But if you should survive you wounds tonight. I want you to come find me. Hunt me down if you must, but come find me." And with that I feel my feel my conciousness fade as I collasped.
