Chapter 6

Zelgius stood behind Ashnard as if he were some sort of protection. He could hear Ganondorf speaking in the background and could see everyone diligently listening to him. Rain was pouring down on the crowd, soaking everyone. Zelgius' drenched bangs hung over his face, hiding the look of despair in his eyes. Everything seemed to be moving in slow motion. Zelgius' mind wandered away once again causing him to tune out every sound around him.

"Zelgius?"

He looked up to see Petrina staring at him with a concerned look on her face.

"What's going on with you? You've been all over the place for the past few days. You better get your act together if you don't want to be killed."

Zelgius brushed his bangs out of his face and quickly hid is looks of worry away.

"I'm alright. I'm just a little concerned."

"With what?"

"Nothing…"

Zelgius tried to quickly end the conversation only to find that his legs wouldn't move

"Zelgius, what are you concerned about?"

"…."

Petrina just sighed as her lack of patients settled in. She began pushing Zelgius from behind to try to make him walk. Zelgius finally felt the blood running to his legs and began to walk on his own. Petrina began to move next to him; constantly throwing him looks of worry and confusion. She however turned her attention over to Ashnard and Bowser who were only a few steps ahead of them.

"I want to take that stupid plumber's head off! Then Princess Peach will be all mine!"

Ashnard shook his finger in Bowser's direction.

"No hostages remember?"

"Ugh. Yeah I forgot. That kind of takes the fun out of this though. Oh well I guess our safety is more important."

Ashnard grew a sinister grin on his face and pounded his fist into his hand.

"Now Ike will pay for defeating me. He will regret ever being born!"

" Ike has definitely gotten stronger from this last time you fought him. Also Ike isn't the kind of man to regret his doings. Don't be careless."

Everyone stared in Zelgius' directions with looks of surprise and annoyance.

"Of course I know that! He wouldn't be strong enough this time though."

"Well how would you know that? You haven't seen him in years."

"Well neither have you so how would you know that he has even gotten any stronger? He could just be lazing around."

"You obviously know nothing about Ike Ashnard…"

At this point Petrina quickly stepped in between both men and turned towards Zelgius.

" Why are you supporting the enemy? You are really acting weird Zelgius. You've been acting like this ever since you got here. Always siding with them. Remember that conversation we had the first night you got here when it was pouring out like it is today?"

"You mean the night when we-."

Zelgius instantly stopped as he heard Ashnard and Bowser once again failing at covering up their laughter.

"Yeah you said that you didn't want to be a part of this. That you thought this was wrong. At first I thought it was you being your normal hesitant self but now…"

Ashnard and Bowser had stopped laughing at this point. Both of them wore straight faces.

"What do you mean you don't want to be part of this?"

Zelgius' eyes trailed over to both Bowser and Ashnard as he sighed. His mind quickly began to race.

"Great…now what should I do? Should I just tell them how I truly feel? Will they hate me? They've cared for so long now… but would they?"

Petrina stepped closer to Zelgius now wearing a look of slight anger.

"You really don't want to be part of this do you?"

"No I don't. I never have thought this was a good idea. This is just going to get us all killed. And besides, this is wrong. All of it is wrong. Do you really think you can trust Ganondorf's plan? Do you really think he cares about all of you? This plan has so many faults! Ganondorf is putting his trust into Tabuu who has already deceived him once. And Bowser, you're putting your trust into a man who has already deceived you in the subspace battle. Why can't we just leave now and forget this ever happened?"

Zelgius looked up to see everyone staring at him with intimidating expressions on their faces.

"So it looks like we have a non believer. So you really want to leave? Should I tell this to Lord Ganon?"

Zelgius looked at Ashnard and swallowed hard. Bowser quickly moved towards Zelgius and grabbed him by the collar.

"Do you think you have a choice in this? You think you can just run away? Ganondorf can always see you!"

Petrina looked over as Ganondorf came over to address them about falling behind.

"What's going on over here? We can't afford to lose any time."

"Wait Zelgius has something he wants to tell you my lord."

Ganondorf looked over at Bowser, and then quickly looked over at Zelgius. Zelgius looked around to see all of their eyes watching him.

"…. I've…lost my train of thought…sorry."

Ganondorf just stared at him then signaled everyone to catch up. Petrina, Bowser and Ashnard all glared at Zelgius as they left him behind.

" Non supporters will be punished. Watch your back."

Zelgius, seeing that he had nowhere to go, continued to follow the crowd despite his situation. His mind once again began to fade into his deep thoughts.

"Why? Why did I say anything? I didn't want to lose their kindness… but it's too late now. They've all been brainwashed. Just like everyone else. They're just pawns in Ganondorf's plan. I guess I'm next. Now that I'm hated once again…what will happen? Will I become like them? Will I commit these deeds? Will Ashera pardon me? Oh why do I even bother? What is the point of living anymore? I'm so stupid. I had friends for the first time in my life and now their gone."

Zelgius looked off into the distance to see the crowd all listening to what Ganon had to say. Among them was his used to be friends. Zelgius' bangs fell over his eyes again as they began to water. He hadn't cried for anything in years. He quickly shook the tears away before they managed to fall and continued on towards the crowd.

"Am I really a villain?"