Disclaimer:DeadlyDragon12, and I ( Alchemypoetry) do not own the characters of Zelda, nor Final Fantasy. However, Brittney, and James are completely copywrited to us.Any use of these characters without our knowledge will result in us deleting this story and reporting your I.P address to the site, making you unable to make another account. So no stealing please.

Soul's Eternal Darkness

Once Zelda was finished explaining the Tournament rules, Cloud and Linked looked at one another. The sudden resemblance was uncanny. Light blue eyes, blonde hair, equipped with sword. Long lost twins, except for the freakishly large ears. Cloud stood completely straight, as did Link. Both silently comparing themselves to one another. Turned out they were the same height as well...

"Very strange"Link and Cloud mumbled to themself, still looking at one another.

Tifa and Zelda couldn't suppress their giggles any longer, how ironic that the boys looked alike. They then held in their laughter as they talked about the going ons of the world from both Hyrule and Midgar. Both Cloud and Link were starting to get annoyed at this.

"I think it's time for use to go to bed now Tifa" Cloud said flatly.

"Well that's the first smart thing I heard from this bunch of blonde's here... oh I'm sorry I didn't see you there Zelda, I apologize" Raizen said in a small sarcastic tone. As he walked away, Cloud turned to Link.

"You know were he sleeps ?"Cloud asked quietly. Link nodded and the two began to plot their devious plans.

In the hall before Raizen room+

Early the next morning, Link and Cloud stopped a maid who was bringing Raizen his breakfast. They swapped his drink with a cup of goron rock juice, a spicy hot flavor with the intensity of the volcano. Then gave it back to the her.

"He likes this drink better then water in the morning" Link smirked. When the maid delivered Raizen's breakfast and left there was a loud scream that came from his room.

"HOT, HOT, HOT, WHO THE FUCK DID THIS!" he screamed to the top of his lungs. Link and Cloud went back to Zelda's room to wake her, but the shouting beat them to it.

"What was that scream?"

"That?...ohhhh... It was Raizen, apparently he had something nasty in his drink" Cloud replied innocently. Zelda then giggled because she knew what he meant.

"Cloud."

"Yes, Link?"

"During the tournament they're going to have teams, do you and Tifa want to be on my team?"

"I'll be on your team, and I'll ask Tifa if she wants to be too. I'll go ask her now" Cloud answered with a smile, he made a friend. Cloud then left the room, leaving Link and Zelda alone together.

"So...Link, how did you ...ugh... sleep?" Zelda asked, trying to start small talk . ' I have got to tell him now how I feel before the tournaments over ' thought Zelda.

"I slept fine " Link answered, he was now leaning against a wall in front of Zelda. Suddenly her door then burst open, and a maid who was out of breath came running .

"Princess...please come with me there an e- emergency..."

"What is it?"

"There's a swordsman... in front of the castle... and has an... has an arm ...its... it's glowing"!

Link didn't hesitate, he took off and ran to the front of the castle to help the swordsman. When he got there he saw a women dragging him on the ground.

"What happened?"

"His arm started to hurt him and he just passed out, he says his arm is cursed " she grunted. She then looked up at the elf for a few seconds as they stared at one another.

" Your welcome to help me any time your ready " she said dryly. Link then took his arm, but not before looking at it. On it he saw the carvings of a scar made to look like a dragon.

"We better get him to the healing corrider... come on" Link finally spoke. He then picked him up and put him on his shoulder and carried him into the castle.

10 minutes later in the healing corrider+

"Is he going to be alright?" Zelda asked, she had been standing next the swordsman since he arrived. The woman who brought him stood quietly in the back, leaning against the wall.

"Doctor, do you know his name?" Link asked.

"According to his mental thoughts, name is James. This curse on his arm...I have never seen anything like it" the doctor replied.

"Here, let me have a look " Zelda said, she was reaching for the arm.James's left arm shot out and grabbed her wrist.

"Don't touch my right arm...please " James said seriously with a hint of pleading. He then slowly let go of her and began to sit up.

"Ummm...I don't think you should be sitting up, you were just..."

"This has happened before, I'll be fine doc "James shook the doctor's worried glance off.

"Well you didn't look fine ten minutes ago, you looked like shit when I came " Link crossed his arms, he loathed anyone who defied his princess.

" Humph " James snuffed as he got to his feet and walked to his blades.

"Is that all you have to say to a person that helped you ! " Zelda shouted.

"I didn't need help, I would have awoken eventually. I once passed out from the pain in the middle of the woods and stayed there for a whole day."

"Might I ask what the pain is and what causes it?"Zelda asked calmly.

"You really want to know?"

"Yes, I do, I can help you with it...if possible " she replied.

"...my curse is that of a dragon and thanks to it I have the ability to change and become half dragon when im fighting, it hurts when it try's to take control and change me on it's own, when I'm fighting and when I'm not fighting."

"Ouch that sound painful, doesn't it Link, huh Link where are you ?"

"I'm outside I have no reason to be there so I'm going to find more people for my team."

"Wait" James called out.

"Yes ? what is it?"

"I'll join your team...it's for the tournament right?"

"Yes, I already have one person and another who is yet to give a reply."

"Then I'll join, ummm...by the way what is it for?" James asked.

"Its for me to choose who I marry. The team that wins, I choose from them who I am to marry" answered Zelda who was facing down.

"Wait... you HAVE to choose? You can't just love someone like Link and marry him ? "

Zelda then blushed at this comment.

"Well yes, and if I don't chose any of the winners I have to marry my suitor who is currently staying here." Raizen walked though the door and saw Zelda looking upset.

"Zelda hun, this is what happens when you spend too much of your time with these lowly peasants. You get down and unhappy, that's why you have to make the right choice and marry me, forget the tournament."

"Hey...do I know you from some were?" James raised an eyebrow. Raizen looked at him for a few seconds before answering.

"No, why would I talk to someone like you? I mean look at you, you look like you haven't eaten in four days."

"Actually I haven't. The women I was traveling with had no spare food, and neither did the bandit's that I killed ". James wanted to look at the prince closer, so he took a step forward towards him and Raizen took a step back and they kept walking around the room until James had him lined up with the door and continued to walk forward then when ... was out the door James told Link to get in and closed the door on Raizen

"What is the meaning of this I want this door opened now! Zelda how can you let them do this to your future husband!" Raizen began to bang on the door

All three couldn't suppress the laughter that James just tricked Raizen out the door and closed it on him.

"Thank the goddesses he's gone."

"That's the man you have to marry?"

"Yes my father chose him of me, and I don't like him at all."

"Well... better find that girl who helped me here " James scratched his head.

" Oh she's in...here? Well she was " Zelda looked around the room, but the woman who had accompanied him seemed to have disappeared.

DeadlyDragon12