Onset
"You don't have to go."
Aryll fidgeted with her blouse.
Link offered her a smile, though it wasn't easy.
"Aryll," his fingers splayed themselves mildly against her cheek, jostling strands of gold. "My life has been one abominable, ceaseless cycle. I've done many, many horrible things."
His gaze meandered towards Midna, where he let it linger.
"And up until recently, I never thought I could forgive myself for a single one of them," he said, looking again towards his sister. "Most unforgiveable of all, however, was my cowardice. Every family I've torn apart, every life I've extinguished stayed with me like a curse. The past clung to me like a skeleton, and it was a terrible sort of limbo I lived, unable to let it go yet never fit to face it."
"I was…" he took a deep breath. "I was always running, running, running away, and I never stopped. Until I met Midna. She's…She's shown me what courage looks like, Aryll. If I were to turn a blind eye even now, in the face of her selflessness, then I'll have proven how truly irredeemable I've become."
He smiled.
"And I still haven't forgiven myself. But Midna's got that covered, too. Wait for me, okay? I won't leave you by yourself this time."
Aryll buried her face in his chest, nearly dizzied by the scent of pine and fresh gravel.
"It's a promise," came her muffled assent.
"Not to worry," A pale hand came from behind and ruffled her sun-starched locks. "I'm with him every step of the way."
"Thank you, Miss Midna," Aryll mumbled, fists still clenching green.
Perched atop the cliff, elbow propped against his raised knee, Link peered listlessly into the dying sun. The froth of crimson bloomed against the horizon, stretched across the sunken landscape like red silk, like a curtain of blood.
Link saw to its descent, saw the scarlet grin simmer against the skyline until there was hardly anything left but scattered blotches of color.
When darkness fell, and daylight's vestiges faded at last, he stood.
"What a night for it, huh?" he asked without turning his head.
"I don't see anything special about it," she replied.
"Well, at least I'm not alone."
Midna scoffed, and he grinned at such a familiar noise.
"I'm not so great."
"I disagree."
"Well, obviously, if that rubbish you fed your sister is any indication."
"You were pleased, don't deny it."
"I didn't."
They were quiet for a precious few moments.
"Midna," he took her hand. "I'm glad you're here with me."
"It's time, so save the sap. But…ditto."
They nodded to each other and leapt off the cliff as one, as the army of mangled light, twisted laughter, breathing stone, divinity itself warped feral, screamed towards them.
Author's Note: Sorry yet again for a rather lengthy wait! Had a little trouble wrangling up the next portions of the story; they were sort of unruly. Merry belated Christmas! I hope everyone's holidays were a blast! Maybe I could get some reviews in my stocking…? Heheh.