Howdy. You all probably hate me, but I think this chapter will make up for the aggressive feelings.
This one is a bit different. It is actually in the viewpoint of Link. And is, in my opinion, one of my favorite chapters to date.
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank those who have given me such great feedback. You are all truly a classy folk and this story wouldn't exist without your encouragement.
So, thank you for the motivation!
So without further ado, delve into Link's side of the story here in chapter twelve. It's a bit shorter, but gripping. At least I think so...
You know what to do. Review, love Link, keep calm and carry on.
[LINK]
Falling. Nothing surrounds me. I am whole, and I am nothing. Complete darkness. Confusion. Fear. Loss. Pain.
It goes ever on. Endless nothingness engulfs me. I don't know where I am, where I begin, where I end. Am I alive? Dead? Somewhere in the middle? On the bridge between worlds?
Maybe.
The stilled darkness continues to snuff out any light remaining, which isn't much, to be frank. I try to grab on to whatever is left, but am unsuccessful. Desperate, I call out into the darkness. It's unsurprising that no one responds.
I withdraw, further into myself. Further into the darkness.
Falling.
Alone.
I have spent hours here. Days. Years. Time seems to decrease, agony replaces it, growing exponentially.
Loneliness. Suffering. Hopeless attempts to reach out have all been stopped by the cold, life sucking black abyss.
I only remember one true, beautiful, happy thing in this hell.
Zelda.
I simply exist here in dark. No purpose, no honor, no joy. Lifeless. No emotion.
So when a sudden burst of light appears, it is unsurprising that I would instantly shield my eyes. I have endured this black existence long enough to cower in the face of light.
Then I feel something soft. A calming presence. I can see her beauty, her grace, her power.
"Zelda," I call out weakly. The presence stays.
Her presence alone calms me.
"Link," I hear someone call. Not Zelda, but still bright and comforting. I turn to the source and see Impa in the distance.
"Link," she repeats, folding her arms in front of her. "Young descendant of the Hero of Time. Are you going to leave my daughter to fight this battle all alone? Both of you are in danger. She knows this, and is working on getting you out. She is strong. Don't be a hypocrite, Link. Don't leave her, either."
I say nothing. I do nothing. All I can do is take in the words and slowly comprehend their meaning. She smiles softly.
"She needs you more than you think. Not just for the battle, either," she smirks. "Do you understand my meaning?" She gives me a look. I nod, understanding.
"Good. Now," she turns, opening a passageway with light. "Follow me, young descendant, and return to Zelda's side." She begins to walk through the gate. I struggle to follow, but am being pulled back by the darkness. I strain as hard as I can, pulling myself farther than ever before. To the gate.
"Zelda," I mumble. The darkness loosens its grip.
"Zelda," I say stronger. Thinking about her gives me the strength to defeat it. To get to the gate.
"Zelda!" Now yelling, I run full sprint for the gate. It begins to close as I near it.
"No you don't," I utter, bursting forth with all the energy I can muster. I make it just in time.
Instead of darkness, I see an almost blinding purifying light everywhere. I look down and see that my clothes are glowing. I wear the traditional clothes of the knights of Sky Academy. There is also something else about this light that brings about a courage in me I never knew existed—to vanquish all the evil in the area and return peace. A burst of light emits from me, swells, then condenses into a bright light. I feel a burning on my right hand and look to see what it is.
The emblem of the Triforce has been imprinted, with the bottom right piece giving off an ethereal light.
I gaze at it in amazement. This must be the power that my ancestor, the Hero of Time, had coursing through him, too. I embrace it, feeling the energy flow through my body, and the courage strengthens my heart, soul, and mind.
I feel myself being lifted skyward, toward the source of the light. I push myself to go even faster.
Don't worry, Zel, I'm coming.
"Link," I hear someone whisper. My hearing is somewhat groggy and unclear. I groan, shifting my position to the side and feel someone lying next to me. I open one eye and squint, trying to make out who the figure that lay next to me belongs to. I hear them sigh, with what sounds like relief. I blink a few times, opening my other eye as well, and slowly my eyes focus on the one face I desperately want to see.
"Zelda" I whisper, voice hoarse.
I begin to sit up, but she holds me down to the bed with surprising strength.
Maybe that's because I am extremely weak, holed up in a hospital bed. Maybe.
I slam the side of my head against the pillow, but not without a sudden white throbbing pain shooting around my entire head. I groan again, closing my eyes and bringing my hand to my face.
"What happened?" I open an eye to look at Zelda. Even in her current disheveled state, with her hair all over the place, her clothes caddywhompus, and bags under her eyes, she still is beautiful to me. She reaches up to secure a bandage I must have dislodged from its place and leaves her hand on my cheek. Her warmth melts the cold in me and makes me almost feel back to normal again. Smiling sadly, she goes into detail about what happened.
Apparently I was bludgeoned atop the head with something heavy, knocking me out and giving me one doozy of a head injury. I believe it. I am slightly dizzy just laying here. But I honestly don't remember what we were doing.
She leans in to touch her forehead to mine. When did my breathing become so labored? I ignore it and close the distance. She responds instantly, wrapping an arm around my waist. I trail my hand down her side, feeling her softness, past her hip and circling her knee. I hear her sigh as I pull her leg over me, pulling us closer.
I remember there is something we need to be doing, but can't entirely think straight with this goddess of a woman in my arms. Luckily, I don't have to, because she pulls away, smiling, and kisses my nose. I feel that bright power I felt climbing out of that abyss coursing through me.
"We can't stay like this forever, Link," she admits. I hear the sadness in her voice. I give her a smile.
"No, we can't." I let go of her leg and she swings it back to sit up, looking around the hospital to see if the coast is clear. Then lying back down, she leans into my ear.
"Link, Ghirahim has invaded here a long time ago," she whispers fiercely. "I can explain it more later, but for now just rest and heal. I don't think he knows we are back yet. I will use my magic whenever I can to help you heal faster so we can get out of here. I—" She cuts off at the sound of a door opening in the distance and sits up. I rest my arm on her legs and squeeze her knee. She places a hand on my head gingerly and I can feel the power of her magic working in me. I smile.
"You've improved," I whisper. She smiles.
"Thanks," she whispers back. We stay like that for a while, simply soaking in each other's presence.
"Link," she whispers, pulling me from a deep, and much needed, sleep. I open my eyes, and look to where Zelda's gaze led. I smile, sitting up as far as I can in my bed to get a better look at my good friend, Fledge. I halt, sensing Zelda using some sort of probing magic.
She's right, I shouldn't let my guard down just because this was Fledge. She was checking to see if any magic has infiltrated his mind. She gives me a reassuring squeeze on the shoulder signifying he was clear. Luckily, he didn't notice the pause to check and see if he was the enemy and went straight for his pocket, pulling out a vial with a red liquid in it. I recognized it instantly.
Red potion.
"Fledge," I croak, "where did you get that?"
"I went to the bazaar this morning and picked it up for you," he said in his high, sheepish voice. I grin. "I heard you were here with a somewhat serious injury and figured this would help."
"Yeah, buddy, this will help a lot," he handed me the vial and I drink it down in one shot. The potion didn't have much taste to it, but it released a warm fire down my throat warming my core. "Seriously, thanks, Fledge. I owe you."
"No, no, it's fine," he waves his hands in front of him frantically. "You have helped me so much over the years with school that I figured I'd start returning the favor." He began blushing.
I smile. Fledge really was something else. No matter what, he wanted to help people, and he would do anything to do that. Go to any lengths. He, in turn, has continued to motivate me through school, making me a better person. He gives an airy laugh and scratches his neck, placing his other hand on his hip.
"Well, I better get going so that potion can take effect. Get better soon, Link," he waves and turns to leave. I turn to Zelda and see her smiling.
"Fledge is such a sweet guy," she says quietly. I nod. "You know," she continues, turning to face me, "he kind of sees you as a big brother. You inspire him to do good for others, and he strives to be his best every day because of you." She is beaming at me.
"It's not just me affecting him, he inspires me, too." I lie back down onto my pillow and close my eyes.
We sit there in silence, with nothing to do but wait for me to heal. With her magic and the red potion Fledge just brought me, I should be out of here fairly soon. I feel her shift beside me and grab my hand, lying down close to me and slowly her breathing becomes more even.
She supports me in so many ways, emotionally, physically, and mentally, that I have never really pondered over in the past. It's crazy that I've only known her for less than a year, and already I can't picture my life without her.
I have decided. I am never letting her go. No matter what.