Author's Note: Well, watching Tangled certainly hasn't delayed this update. Anyway, please "enjoy" this new chapter as much as you can; because I really cannot wait to get to the next part of the story. And also, go and listen to "Ni No Kuni Soundtrack: 08 Allie" for this chapter. If you have played the video game, then you will know what happens in there; but it's such a beautiful song. Nonetheless, let's get on to those reviews and rates! :3
Reviews: MiniJen: It was really hard to write, but I'm glad that it was good (written wise, of course). I loved writing that part especially, being that I was worried about how it would turn out in the start. Thank-you, and I'll try!
ShadowNinja1011: I love Majora's Mask. But why?!
Vampire-Queen-Kazumi: I totally agree, but it was so difficult to write.
TDDolphin: Good thing you're not angry at me for it, becuase I feel the same way! He really is, but not in this one unfortunately... And that's so sad for you, as no one should go through that trauma. I guess she had, but I don't think anyone can brace themselves for somethig like this. I'm glad that it was written well, but brace yourself for this chapter.
Clashing Swords: It was even worse to write. But I'll need that :)
Schniedragon88: I'm really glad that you liked that. You should have seen my face when I thought of it, but thank-you. And that's true about the auote. I'm glad I'm writing him well, 'cause I was certainly worried about his character development. Thank-you!
CupcakePride101: Yeah, I really didn't want to do the entire Temple; but that's just 'cause I'm lazy like that :3 I'm glad that the battle was good, and she really did remind me of Hyrule Warriors now that I think about it. And it really is sad. Oh, and thank-you for telling me that. I always do the "me"/"my" thing for some reason! Thank-you! :)
Favourites & Follows: Thank-you very muchly to "blee7422", "Americaiuno", and "LilacLilyFlower" for favouriting this FanFiction along with "blee7422" again for following this FanFiction!
"If I could only be with you once more,
And hold you tightly to my heart.
We could walk this road together,
And never, ever be apart."
~Pieces of a Broken Heart, Ni No Kuni~
Ancient Roots
A Skyward Sword FanFiction
Chapter 34: Broken
~Interlude~
Karane watched with nervous anticipation as Henya softly shut the door of Link's room behind her. Her expression became desperate as she locked eyes with the caretaker, who merely shook her head lightly. Her heart sank, knowing that she should have seen it coming a mile away—she just wanted her best friend to eat something.
"Nothing," Henya confirmed. "She isn't rocking in the corner anymore, but she still won't eat a thing." Karane lowered her head. "Poor girl," the caretaker murmured after a moment. "To lose her Mother and now her Father…"
Overcome with sadness, Henya quickly excused herself and left Karane alone. Two days had gone by since the Headmaster's passing, and the island was still deathly silent. It supposedly took both of the Instructors to pry Zelda away from her Father's side, and even then, they couldn't console her in any way possible.
After hours of sobbing and crying out, she finally allowed the Instructors to take her out of the Office—shaking like a leaf as they tried to take her into her room. The sight of the painting on the wall was enough to send her back into a torrent of grief, and so she ran to Link's room and didn't leave.
Ever since she had been curled up in Link's bedsheets, frozen in place and silently refusing food.
It was tearing Karane apart to see her friend suffer so much.
Even though Skyloft was silent, the people still tried their best to help in the reconstruction—many still had nowhere to live, after all. Nonetheless, they had collectively decided to hold a funeral tomorrow, and with it came another wave of pain for everyone.
Kukiel had thankfully been found in the ruins of Skyloft, but it still didn't do much to lessen the pain of three people that would be buried alongside the Headmaster tomorrow.
Someone must have told Zelda about the funeral, but Karane felt it was her duty to let Zelda say goodbye to the Headmaster properly. It wouldn't solve her grief, but it may begin some of her healing.
Determined to help Zelda in whatever way she could, Karane reached out for the door handle and slipped inside—praying to the Goddess for help.
Link's room had barely changed since he went missing. Other than the broken desk and bookshelf from the attack on Skyloft, his room still looked the same—his work was still strewn across the remnants of the desk, a pair of his muddy shoes were leant against the wardrobe, and his plants were still growing in the corner of the room.
Zelda was curled up in a tight ball on the bed, tangled amongst the bedsheets. Her arm was in a proper sling now that she finally let someone to realign the broken bones, but that had all the help she had allowed. She was staring at nothing in particular, clutching a small knitted bluebird in her hands—trails of tears still prominent on her cheeks.
The Headmaster had given her that very bird for her seventh birthday—calling it Bluey the Bluebird. Zelda always had it whenever she was sad, saying that Bluey would always make her feel better. Karane remembered Zelda holding it tightly at her Mother's funeral, and now her bluebird had returned.
But this was damage that Karane wasn't sure Bluey could help to heal.
"Zelda," Karane murmured, forcing herself towards her friend as her voice broke slightly. "Henya's been making some Pumpkin Soup for everyone. I-I even made sure she kept the seeds in just for you." Zelda was unresponsive. The older Knight swallowed thickly. "You have to eat something, Zelda… I can't watch you waste away…"
She would have clung to Pipit if she could, but with Mallara so sick he was barely functioning himself.
Karane had to be the rock for so many people it was starting to break her too.
Please help us…
But no matter how much Karane prayed to the Goddess for help, she received nothing.
Tears burned at the edges of her eyes as she rose to her feet. Unable to maintain her weakened composure, Karane made her way outside and slumped against the wall—sinking onto the ground as she began to sob.
~Zelda~
I'm an orphan…
I swallow thickly as the early morning light comes in from the window, partially brightening the room. I used to sit in here with Link and laugh and mess around, but now there's a thickness in the air with his disappearance and with the darkness in my heart. Even his smell of grass and wood chippings is gone from here, and with it my hope of bringing him home.
We're both orphans…
I sit on the edge of the bed, hands clasped in my lap. I finally forced myself to move less than an hour ago, bathing and cleaning myself up before everyone else wakes up for the day. I had no choice but to go back into my room to collect some clothes, and I could barely look away from the painting.
'HE WILL DIE.'
And he did.
Because of me.
And now I'm an orphan…
I finish plaiting my hair with quaking fingers, looping it around the back of my head into a bun. For a moment, Father's warm smile greets my mind's eye, his hand softly caressing my cheek and tucking some hair behind my ear. I close my eyes and raise my hand to my cheek. He always liked my hair like this.
But then my eyes open, and he isn't there any longer.
Using the bed as a support, I hesitantly push myself onto my feet. It takes more effort than it should, and the lack of food sends me dizzy for a moment, but I try my best to stay upright. I tug my black cloak further around my shoulders, thankful that it covers up my broken arm, and in that moment I realise just how frail I've become over the past few days.
I've wasted away…
Lowering my head, I fumble with the cloak's collar until the door opens slightly. I snap my gaze over to the figure who steps inside, meeting Karane's blue eyes evenly. She wears a black tunic like the other Knights of the Academy will be, a white feather tucked into her cap as a sign of respect.
"It's time," she says simply, and I nod numbly.
It's time…
Karane opens the door further for me to leave, wrapping her arm around my shoulders as we begin to make our way up the steps. No one else is here other than us, and a part of me is glad that I don't have to look at so many faces of pity until we reach the Statue of the Goddess.
It's time to face the consequences of my failures.
Pipit is waiting for us outside the Knight Academy, his face most likely as pale as mine is. I haven't heard much, but from what I did hear there's no telling whether or not Mallara will ever recover.
More orphans… all because of me…
As we arrive at the bottom of the wooden stairway leading up to the courtyard, a sudden wave of dread floods into my system and I freeze. My eyes simply stare at the steps before us, and I suddenly realise that I can't go up there—I have to face what I did, but I can't do it.
"I-I…" I breathe. "I-I can't…"
Pipit and Karane hold me tightly as I try to run away, knowing as well as I do that I have to do this—and that I'll regret it if I don't. But they'll never be able to comprehend the pain and guilt that I'll have weighing me down until the day I die. The pain of losing a Mother and a Father, the guilt of three deaths and however many more in the past and future on my shoulders.
"You can, Zelda," Karane soothes into my ear, smoothing my hair back. "We'll do it together…"
With their support, I slowly start to make my way towards the steps, tears burning at the corners of my eyes as I realise just exactly what I'm going to have to face up there. But there's no changing it—I have to understand what I caused, and even more so I have to say goodbye to the only family I had left.
My first taste of war…
It's a slow ascent to the Statue of the Goddess, and as soon as we step into the courtyard all of the islanders turn their gazes to me. The town has been split into two, standing on either side of the stone pathway leading towards the Statue of the Goddess. They all watch me with pity and sadness, and for a moment I tell myself that I can't handle this.
"We're right beside you, Zelda," Pipit encourages beside me, and his words help if only a little bit.
The skies above us are cloudy and overcast at best, rather fitting for such an occasion. I slowly make my way towards the circular design in the middle of the courtyard where the four coffins are laid out—Father's and Jakamar's Loftwings standing nearby with bowed heads.
Before I can stop myself, I break away from Pipit and Karane to cross over to Father's Loftwing, running my hands through his feathers.
"I'm sorry," I mumble. "I'm so sorry…"
I soon join Piper and Wryna underneath the hands of the Statue of the Goddess, standing together united by grief and loss. I have no choice but to look at the sea of people standing before us, and my gut twists at the pain I've caused each and every one of them.
Instructor Owlan and Horwell stand off to the right of us, an old ceremonial book in the former's hand. As Owlan begins to thank everyone for attending, I cast my gaze down to the coffins—one of them are half the size of the other two, and I almost break down as I think about why.
He was only a child…
As the Instructor continues, I start to hear the voices from the Trial of Power echoing in my mind.
"You killed me!"
I did.
I let them die because of my failures.
And I'm too numb to cry because of it.
Instructor Horwell takes the book from Owlan's hands and begins to bless the coffins, praying to the Goddess for their safe passing into the next world.
She won't help you…
"You let my family die!"
I did.
Families have been torn apart because of me.
Innocent people have suffered because the Demon King's thirst for power is insatiable. He won't stop until everything is beneath him and he reigns supreme. But until that forsaken day comes, more and more people will die because I don't know how to stop him.
"My son is dead because of you!"
I glance up to Piper, biting my lip.
Her son is dead because of me.
An innocent child's life has been ended because of my failure.
I lower my head as Wryna steps forwards and begins to sing. Her voice is truly beautiful, but the waver in her voice betrays her. She sings an old song about mourning the deaths of loved ones and the beauty of life. The same song was sung at Mother's funeral, and because of me it'll be sung again when more die.
"My home isn't safe anymore because of you!"
It isn't.
Skyloft might be protected from monsters, but that doesn't mean that the people of this town won't be scared to leave the house at night, or the Knights will patrol more than ever before, or people will begin to lock their doors more frequently. They may be physically safe, but they don't feel it.
And it's all my fault.
"I'm walking into the slaughter for you!"
He is.
And I have no idea how to save him.
Hylia herself chose this body and mind to prevent the great calamity from destroying the earth and sky once and for all. But all I seem to have done is made it worse. Yes I've kept Ghirahim from finding Link, but that doesn't mean that he won't ever find him. What if he finds him before I do?
Then it'll be another name added to the long list…
And no matter what the outcome of this Mission is, I won't ever be able to live the same as I did before. The happy Zelda that once woke her best friend up every morning, the happy Zelda that always went out of her way to help whoever she could and play with the children when she had the time to, the happy Zelda that used to smile and laugh so much is gone.
She died a long time ago.
And there's no way that I can be like her ever again, not with the blood on my hands.
"We aren't your puppets!"
It's true—they aren't.
But they surely must feel like it.
After all, their purpose in the eyes of the Goddesses is to give Zelda something else to fight for.
Or something else to cause her more suffering.
I always loved to hear stories before I went to sleep about a hero triumphing over evil, but now I realise that they were just fairy tales—the stories weren't real, of course, but in my mind I always thought that there was a goodness in the world that would always prevail over evil.
But it's not true.
"Why are you letting us suffer like this?! Your own Father..."
He suffered for hours on end before dying because of my failure.
No matter what injuries I came back to Skyloft with, no pain will ever be as bad as the fact that I failed my own Father.
The islanders look at me with confusion every time I return with cuts and scrapes with very little to explain their origins with. Now I stand out from them like a sore thumb. I'll never be like any of them again. Who knows how long peace would last before more darkness sprouts up again?
If we ever get any peace…
"Let us pray," Instructor Owlan instructs when Horwell returns to his place beside him. As one we all clasp our hands together and bow our heads. "Great Goddess, with your guiding light you protect us. Please... we send you our fallen for you to guide into the land beyond this one. Take these innocent Souls and protect them for us in our stead..."
I squeeze my eyes shut even tighter.
Gully was a child.
Jakamar was a loving husband.
Greba was a kind Mother.
Father was the kind and gentle.
And now they're all dead.
Please protect them like I didn't…
Suffering unites people under the banner of grief, but I can't stand with these people. I'm suffering and grieving like they are, but I can't stand beside them—not when I killed their loved ones.
Not when more could die because of me.
And for what cause?
I've doomed this land because of my foolishness.
Instructor Owlan holds the ceremonial tome close to his chest as people begin to come forward in small groups and place flowers on each of the coffin. The island is silent, only the sound of the wind and footsteps cutting through the deafening quiet. As the islanders begin to file out of the courtyard and make their way back to their homes to grieve in private, I watch on as the darkness in my heart only grows.
Soon enough, all that remains are the Instructors, a collection of Knights, Pipit, Wryna and me. With my broken arm, I asked if Pipit could do the honour of carrying Father's coffin to the Graveyard with the other Knights. As each coffin in lifted, Piper and Wryna leave me side as they move to carry their loved ones to the south of town.
I walk alone behind the coffins, my mind a storm of hatred and agony as we make our way towards the Graveyard. Some of the islanders have lined the pathway, some reaching out to squeeze my arms and shoulders in support—but I can't look them in the eyes.
Holes in the ground have already been dug out for us by the time we arrive, and each one is lowered into the ground one at a time before being covered over with soil. There won't be headstones for a while yet, but for now small wooden signs marks each grave.
I'm sorry, Father…
The Graveyard has become all too familiar for me—being the resting place of both my parents and also the place where Link and I had first truly gotten to know each other. He refused to leave the graves of his family behind—even if the bodies were never found—still trying his best to wrap his head around the fact that they were gone.
I remember sitting beside him and giving him a small bunch of daisies to place next to each one of the graves. Most weren't sure what to do with Link, simple condolences weren't going to bring his family back and he had been mute for weeks after the deaths—but with those daisies, I somehow managed to get through to him.
"T-Thank you…"
Those were the first words he'd said since learning of their deaths, and after that I refused to leave his side—even after he was forced to move out of his old home, the one that Pipit lives in now with Mallara.
And now I'm back here… but he isn't here to do the same…
With little else to do, the Knights and Instructors leave the three of us alone. Piper and Wryna slump against the mounds of dirt and begin to sob, but all I can do is stare at the grave marking with cold tears running down my cheeks.
'In loving memory of Kaepora Gaepora. The rising sun will eventually set, a newborn's life will fade. From sun to moon, moon to sun, give peaceful rest to another lost Soul.'
His favourite poem…
I don't know how long I sit there for, running my fingers over the words he used to love so dearly. I never truly understood why he loved such a dark poem, but the way he used to recite it gave the words a sense of hope that you couldn't find by simply reading them on their own.
The next thing I know, I'm alone in the Graveyard and night has fallen—and I continue to sit there numbly until I collapse out of exhaustion.
~*O*~
"Time to wake up, sleepyhead!" I call as I make my way up to the grassy verge beside the waterfall cave. I wear a simple olive skirt and white blouse—the same clothes I used to wear constantly before the Goddess's Mission commenced—and it feels strange to wear them again.
The sun shines down brightly, lighting up the entire island in its wonderful warm glow. I smile as I make my way over to Link, who is unsurprisingly fast asleep.
I drop onto my knees and flick the side of his head. "Come on, sleepyhead! You're going to sleep the day away!"
But he doesn't do anything.
I huff and sit on his stomach, hoping that it'll make him wake up—but, again, it does nothing.
"Link?" Sitting back down on the grass, I shake him. "This isn't funny, Link. Wake up!"
His head lolls back and forth with my shaking, yet he still doesn't wake.
Then I notice a small bunch of daisies in his hand.
The sky begins to darken.
"Link, wake up!"
"There's nothing you can do, my dear…" My heart skips a beat at the sound of Father's voice, but no matter how much I look around, he's nowhere to be seen. "He sleeps to protect you, just like he promised me he would."
I don't listen.
"Please wake up, Link," I beg. "Please… I can't lose you too…"
"He's waiting for you, my dear. You must go to him."
I squeeze Link's arm tightly. "I can't leave you, Father. Not yet…"
"You won't be leaving me, my dear," he soothes. "I'll be with you all the way…"
~*O*~
I slowly blink my eyes open, calling out for Father as my senses slowly return to me. I somehow managed to sleep through the night, however my joints are stiff from where I've been sleeping. I slowly start to remember what happened and why I fell asleep in the Graveyard, and I pray to the Goddess that it isn't true.
But it's all true.
Slowly pushing myself upright, I soon realise that Groose, Karane, and Pipit are around me, observing me with concern. I shuffle away from them. "W-What are you doing here?"
"We found you here not long ago," Karane replies. "We thought you wouldn't want to wake up alone."
I try my best to force a smile, but it doesn't show.
Glancing back to the mound of dirt next to me, I cast my mind back to my dream.
"You won't be leaving me, my dear. I'll be with you all the way…"
I have so much left to do to save this world… but I don't want to leave…
Then I look back to my friends and tell myself one thing: I don't have to leave. Not yet, anyway.
I have to go back, but I can't just leave after a few days. Not only would that scare everyone and make them worry for me, it won't be good for me. As much as I hate myself for what I let happen, I can't let myself go before I try and fix everything. I have to end this, and I can't do that if I waste away.
I have to start with me—and I know just where to start.
"Does anyone want breakfast?"
Their faces light up at my remark.
It's not much, but it's a start. And with everyone here to support me, I'll be ready enough to face the road ahead soon enough.
"O-Of course," Pipit stammers. "I'm pretty sure Henya has some Pumpkin Soup left with the seeds in." The three help me onto my feet when I stumble, and as we make our way out of the Graveyard I glance back to Father's grave.
I will avenge you, Father, I think to myself. And I will make you proud…
Author's Note: I don't like the ending, honestly, so please tell me what I can do to make that better. Anyway, that was a sad chapter; but I'm sure that it will pick up a little bit in the next one, which I really want to write! So, please drop a rate and review if you haven't already—and I want to have the next chapter up before I go on holiday :3
And finally, lest we forget.
~RandomButLoved~