The battle with Kneph rages on. Lucario may be a powerhouse, but Link has a hidden power that might greatly contribute to the fight...

Chapter 12 – Facing the Winds of Death

Marth backed away from the duo. No one blamed him; the opposing energies radiating from Lucario and Kneph were foretelling of an inevitable collision - an eruption of pure power that threatened to engulf anyone that got too close.

"I can understand your hesitation," Lucario spoke up, breaking some of the tension. "Assuming you survive this battle, Azazel won't be pleased about your failure. So either I can kill you or he does."

Kneph's hands twitched and he summoned another air blade by swinging his sword. Lucario made the minimum effort to avoid the shockwave, leaning just enough for it to narrowly miss him.

Lucario smirked. "You can do better than that."

Kneph brushed it off and began his own taunt. "You are quick to die, but if that's what you wa-"

Lucario's fist burrowed into Kneph's face. The mask took the brunt of the attack, but the power of Aura was potent enough that his entire body jolted with pain. It was an awkward sensation for Kneph, as his wraith form was immune to many attacks. Few could hurt him like this, but then again, he was always wary of Lucario.

He promptly retaliated, swinging both of his swords wildly. Lucario used his powers to create semi-shielding around his limbs to stave off strikes from the blades, then discharged that power with every punch and kick he landed.

Link watched in amazement. The speed of the fight was unmatched, and he was impressed with Lucario's boldness. If that were him fighting Kneph, he would have made a little more distance for caution. Lucario's approach exploited a weakness in Kneph's defenses: the demon was simply not accustomed to fighting opponents that were in his face. It didn't give him any time to summon his wind or lightning powers.

Lucario delivered a soccer kick that sent Kneph reeling back. He followed up with another kick that knocked one of the swords right out of Kneph's grasp. It fell to the ground and slid along the grass near the rest of the Brotherhood.

"Break it!" Lucario commanded.

"Break it?" Roy repeated, sitting against a pillar as Peach addressed his wounds. "How does he expect us to do that?"

"Anyway we can," Marth answered quickly. "Any single advantage we can get in this battle, we must take!"

"I'll do it," Link volunteered. He felt that he was physically stronger than Marth, though he didn't want to admit that aloud because he didn't want it to be taken the wrong way.

He used the Master Sword to strike the blade once, twice, three times. There was no progress.

"Come on, I know you've got the power," Link murmured to the sword. "You are way more powerful than Kneph's blood-stained blades."

He strapped the shield to his back and held the Master Sword in both hands. With one mighty thrust, he drove the Master Sword through the blade. It split and shattered to pieces with little fireworks or fanfare, though the destruction of the blade did elicit outrage from Kneph.

The demon increased the intensity of his attacks. Lucario blocked a slash by crossing his aura-laced arms, but the air shockwave drove him down and into the ground. Kneph followed up with a diving thrust. Lucario's form split into two separate images before fading on impact. He reappeared behind Kneph and kicked the demon back into the air.

"Enough of this," Kneph hissed sorely. He pointed his finger and launcher a lightning bolt from the tip. Lucario deflected it with a quick spherical barrier. Kneph turned his attention to Roy and Peach, opening his palm and releasing a much stronger bolt. Lucario moved in a blur, using his body to shield the two from the attack. He collapsed to the ground as electrical energy fizzled across his fur.

"I knew it!" Kneph shrieked triumphantly. "I knew you couldn't keep summoning the barrier without repercussions! Where is your precious Aura now?"

Lucario's view of the blue sky was blocked by the worried faces of his comrades.

"My body is only numb," he informed them. "Protect yourselves!"

"We have to protect you first," Peach murmured, rubbing his face.

"It's time for you to finally suffer the wrath of the demons you've incurred for years," Kneph declared. He came for them with his trademark scream, but the flash of a blade stopped him. He reeled back and slid a finger along the deep cut in his mask. A few inches closer and he would have been done for.

Link wasted no time following up on his attack with a barrage of slashes. He didn't have the speed of Marth, the flames of Roy or the flashy Aura powers of Lucario, but he did have courage and the will to stop this demon. Kneph caught on to the intentions behind this new offensive, and managed to strike back with his free hand. Link jumped back and saw tatters from his tunic flutter away. The tips of Kneph's bony hands were more like claws and almost as sharp as his sword; the chain mail protected Link, but even that took damage.

Kneph grabbed Link's throat and slammed him against a pillar.

"Do you know what it's like to cleave a goron in two?" the demon breathed into Link's ear. "It feels delectable to break a being's strongest quality."

He slapped the Master Sword out of Link's grip and cackled. "I'm going to do the same to you. You're not afraid to die. That would be commendable if you weren't a nuisance to Father or a pawn of that conniving Lucario.

"Keep your distance or I snap his neck!" the demon commanded. Marth took a step back. Kneph sensed him before he could make a move.

"You see," Kneph continued, his face uncomfortably close, "when I kill you, there's a possibility someone might awaken your soul again. This time I'm going to make sure there's nothing for you to come back to."

Link widened his eyes, much to Kneph's delight. The demon only indulged in random murders across the land; it was for that reason so many of his loved ones were still around. He knew Kneph was at his worst when focused on specific targets. With him out of the way, it would be impossible for Kneph's new targets to defend themselves.

"That quaint little village you call home? Consider it wiped out."

"You won't get the chance," Link growled.

"What makes you so sure?"

"I'm not dead yet!"

Kneph tightened his grip and moved his head back to admire Link's futility. "That princess you've taken a liking to...I will be sure to kill her nice and slowly. I wonder what will happen to the kingdom with the last royal dead. I won't have to wait long, I guess."

Link's blood boiled as he struggled, and then he was dropped to the ground. In the instant that he blinked, five needles impaled Kneph's mask. He would have thought he imagined it if he hadn't heard them strike so clearly. The demon screeched and held his mask, but the damage was done. It crumbled to pieces that fell into the grass, revealing the scar left by the Master Sword in the center of his already repugnant face.

Kneph drew his attention to the offender. Hiding in the foliage beyond the ruins was a man in a tight blue and white body suit. His face was covered and a ponytail ran down his back. The demon sent a lightning bolt his way, but the man disappeared in a plume of smoke.

Link was still engulfed in his rage from Kneph's audacious threats. He could clearly see the slaughtering of the Ordonians. Rusl, the children, even Ilia. None would be spared. And Zelda would not go down easily...the demon most likely had the power to storm the castle. All the people willing to give up their lives to protect the princess would just be appetizers.

A burst of energy coursed through Link's veins. It was a power he rarely summoned, but his anger, desire to save the innocent, and unwavering courage stimulated his hidden power.

Kneph watched Link grab the Master Sword and rise to his feet. A deep foreboding welled inside of him. Was he afraid? His pride wouldn't allow him to even consider the idea that he should fear the Hylian. He destroyed him once and he would do it again.

A golden light bore through Link's gauntlet. Three triangles radiated along the back of his left palm, with one Triforce beaming brighter than the others.

Kneph chuckled. "That didn't save you last time."

"I didn't do this last time," Link asserted with pure confidence. An aura swept over his body, emitting all the colors of the rainbow, and his eyes became bright with light.

He aimed his brand at Kneph. The golden light pierced the demon, trapping him between two rotating images of the completed Triforce.

"What is this?" the demon hissed frantically, his body unmoving. Link glided across the ground with the answer, boring into Kneph with a flurry of charged slashes. The demon's screams were drowned out by the clanging of the blade with each strike, booming throughout the ruins. The pain finally came to a halt as Link allowed Kneph to spin pathetically in his magical prison. He reared the Master Sword back for one final blow.

"Haaaaaa!"

The thrust broke the hold and shot Kneph into the air. The demon barely recovered, but his wraith-like body was more tattered and decayed than usual.

"W-what...that power!" Kneph stuttered. "Where did it come from!"

"When a soul is pushed to its edge, it burns more brightly than ever," Lucario said with much intentional pretension. "Not that you would know this. You are what you are."

"Father never spoke of this!" Kneph thought aloud, on the verge of a meltdown. His hands trembled beyond his control and he was losing more demon blood, but he did bring a scornful gaze upon Lucario. "This is far from over!"

Kneph began to retreat, soaring over the ruins.

Roy grinned and called out to the fleeing demon. "You're running away? Did that invitation for death expire?"

Marth was unsatisfied and nearly livid with Kneph's hasty exit. He clenched the Falchion and spoke, "If we follow him we should be able to finish him off!"

"No," Lucario commanded, struggling to get up. Link was drained after his attack, but still thought he was in better shape to help.

"Help Roy. I am fine," he said, pushing Link away.

Marth released a frustrated sigh. "I do not understand. We must take the opportunity to destroy the demons whenever it arises!"

"Do you think you can keep up with a being in flight by chasing him on foot? You'd need my power for that, wouldn't you?" Lucario looked Marth in the eyes but didn't get a response. "Kneph will go into hiding again, possibly within The Void. Do you think we could follow him there and hope to defeat him in our current condition?"

Marth closed his eyes and took a deep breath, but his anger remained. "It feels like a game. We are making little progress and yet a weakened demon slips between our fingers. Why?"

"It's temporary," Lucario assured him. "We aren't pursuing Kneph this second, but it doesn't mean that we won't before he recovers."

Marth gave a simple nod.

"I've gotta hand it to you, Link," Roy said as Link helped him to his feet. "You send your enemies out with style."

"Well I did have a little help from whoever that was earlier," Link admitted, though he did smile. He usually traveled alone, so very rarely did he gather such praises in battle.

"You didn't know that warrior?" Peach inquired.

"Nope. Never seen him in my life." Link had seen something interesting, though he didn't know how much his observations would mean to foreigners. The man was wearing the symbol of the Sheikah, but...they've been gone for ages. It couldn't have meant anything.

Link's mind wandered back to a decision he made during that fight and thought now was as good of a time as any to make his intentions known.

"I've decided...I want to join your Brotherhood."

You didn't think they'd kill Kneph so quickly, did you?

Link has finally decided to join the Brotherhood...but he's not an official member just yet! On top of that, he has yet to meet everyone on the team.

And was that...Sheik? Twilight Princess doesn't have a Sheik equivalent, so is this a mysterious new warrior, or did Zelda learn a few new tricks in Link's absence?

This was originally going to be another split POV chapter, but I felt the second half of this chapter stood alone well enough on its own, so expect another POV split in the next chapter.