A/N: Hello everyone. I feel a little guilty not updating last week. Things have gotten busy and I'm having writer's block. This chapter isn't very exciting, but it was meant as a bridge to the ending of this story.
-SaraTheAngelic- I'm glad you thought that justic was served. Feel free to hate on Groose. To tell you the truth, I didn't like him in the game and it is appearing here as well. Hylia's reasoning was explained in the prequel, but I'll repeat it here. The demon's were banished because she feared an uprising against her (the demon's have magic, so they are more powerful) the Sheikah escaped this fate because they as Rahzel put it gave up their culture and everything to serve her. I like the theory that Rahzel might have been sent to set things right. Thank you for reviewing.
Ghirahim walked past the walls of the city that his army had overtook. Many Bokoblin took one look at his expression before giving him a wide berth. "My lord," a nervous voice called out. Ghirahim narrowed his eyes at the Lizalfo that had spoken up. "I was told by the kitchen staff to inform you that your supper is ready and is waiting in the dinning hall of that building," the lizard demon said quickly pointing to the building in question.
"I'm not hungry at the moment. I'm searching for Rahzel," Ghirahim said with a snarl.
"She has already been invited and was on her way to the dinning hall now," the lizard said backing away. The noble didn't respond to the comment, but pushed his way past the lizard walking swiftly to the building it had pointed out earlier.
Ghirahim pushed open the doors to the dinning hall nervously. The two figures that were already present turned to him. Both gave him different reactions. Midna rolled her eyes while Rahzel gave him a smile and ran to him. Ghirahim stepped back to keep his balance as the albino nearly threw herself on him. He nestled his head against her neck. "I was so worried," he mumbled.
"As was I," she responded before loosing her grip on the noble. She stepped back and looked at him. She clasped her hands behind her back and gave him a smile. "I thought you were severely injured," she said at last after taking in his injuries.
"Hmm, nothing but flesh wounds. Mere scratches," Ghirahim boasted putting his hands on his hips puffing out his chest. Rahzel chuckled keeping her hands behind her back. The noble found her posture odd, normally the woman would bring her hands to her face when she laughed and besides that she never held them behind her. "Are you sure that you are well?" Ghirahim asked.
The woman made an odd face before responding, "Of course, I'm fine." Ghirahim couldn't tell if anything was the matter, so he let the question drop.
"Can you guys stop staring at each other and come and eat," Midna's voice called from the table. The pair looked back at each other and laughed. They took their respective seats and filled their plates.
"So Midna has been very busy. She collected all those who she believed to be part of the rebellion and has eliminated them.," Rahzel said picking at her food.
"It was easy after I apprehended Zant. That man has a very low tolerance of pain," Midna said, " he sung like a canary after a couple of minutes."
"Zant was a traitor as well?" Ghirahim said taking a sip of the cider that was placed on the table.
Midna nodded, "I believe that I have eradicated all of the group or at least those who were more active."
The door of the dinning hall slammed open. A Bokoblin stood at the open door panting as if he ran a long distance. "Sir, our spies in the Hylian's city have sent word that their army is on the move," the Bokoblin shrieked.
The noble stood quickly, "How long till they are upon us?"
"A couple of days at most, my lord," the Bokoblin answered before the noble dismissed him with an order to gather the other generals.
Ghirahim turned back to the females sitting at the table, all merriment now lost. He watched as Rahzel picked up her goblet that had fallen on its side. She looked very upset as she dapped at the red liquid that was spreading across the table. "I apologize. It must have slipped from my hands," she said not looking at the noble. Ghirahim caught the pointed look that Midna gave the other woman.
"It is fine, Rahzel. One of the servants will clean it," he answered now suspicious of what the women were hiding. An idea begun forming in his mind. "Rahzel, I'm feeling a little stiff. Let's have a friendly spar before we discuss what we are going to do with these Hylians. "
The woman looked to Midna swiftly. The Twili gave her a look that seemed a little smug. "I don't know if that's a good idea, Ghirahim. We are both still recovering," she started.
"I have never thought I'll see the day that you refused to spar. Feeling frightened?" Ghirahim taunted, "that is what happens when you are facing a powerful opponent."
The taunting worked because the woman narrowed her eyes, "Apparently I have to put you back into your place." Ghirahim laughed as Rahzel pushed herself away from the table. Ghirahim walked parallel to her taking each step in time with hers. He snapped and two swords appeared in the air. One was Rahzel's hand-and-a-half sword and the other his rapier.
Rahzel snatched her blade and Ghirahim grabbed his own. "How about we make this more interesting. Let's make a wager," Ghirahim said slyly.
"What are you thinking of?" she asked raising an eyebrow suspiciously.
"If I win, you need to answer any question I ask. Truthfully." Ghirahim answered.
"And if I win, I will ask you to keep the question to yourself," Rahzel answered suspecting what the question was. The noble nodded his agreement and the woman did likewise. The sound of metal ringing echoed through the hall. Ghirahim grinned excitedly and Rahzel gave him a smirk. The noble looked at where their blades cross noticing how Rahzel's blade seemed to be shaking slightly in her double handed grasp. He backed away and studied the woman's stance. He noticed the blade of the sword shaking and her grasp changing from too loose to too tight. He narrowed his eyes, trying to figure out what was the matter with the woman. He struck out to determine if she could stop his attack with her shaking stance.
His black rapier never met the woman's sword. She fell like a puppet with its strings cut. She lay on the ground seizing. Ghirahim dropped his rapier and Midna ran to the woman's side. The noble was going to lay his hands on the woman's trembling shoulders to control her movement, but Midna stopped him. "This is the answer to your question Ghirahim," Midna said grimly.
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Link laid in his bed looking at the ceiling. He sighed at the thought of sending hundreds of men to their death trying to eliminate the poison that contaminated the land. A timid knock came from the door. "Come in," Link called out sitting up.
Owlan opened the door slowly peering into the room. "My king," the older Hylian greeted.
"Is there something I can I help you with?" Link asked rubbing his tired eyes.
"I feel the need to discuss with you this upcoming battle," the instructor started.
Link sighed, "I understand that you don't want to fight. Neither do I, but Hylia wanted them sealed to the shadows."
"With all due respect to Hylia, she was a servant to the three goddesses. She was to watch over the Surface and its people. I just wonder if the three goddesses agree with her actions," the instructor said thoughtfully.
"Owlan," Link said sharply refusing to believe that Zelda would ever do anything wrong.
"Just remember. Hylia was a different person than Zelda," Owlan said before giving his king a bow and exited the room.
Link was left alone with his thoughts. Was Hylia really a different person than Zelda? Was Owlan right about the goddesses? Did they disprove Hylia's actions against the demons?
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Rahzel sat on the floor looking at her shaking hands. "What happen?" Ghirahim asked, his brown eyes staring at her intently.
The woman looked back down at her hands. "When I woke up at the infirmary, the healers told me the damage that was caused by Yuga's electrical attack." The woman paused to think. "There was a lot of nervous tissue damage. Mostly around my arms," the woman explained holding up her hands that trembled. "The healers believed that this trembling would be the worst of my problems, but apparently that isn't so."
Ghirahim looked at her confused, "You should have told me."
Rahzel looked into his face, seeing only concern for her well-being she spoke. "I didn't want to say it. I felt that if I told you, I would have to accept this condition."
Ghirahim hummed before standing straight and offering the woman his hand. "You are more trouble than I originally thought, my sparrow," the noble said with a smile. Rahzel smiled at the joking manner as she grabbed his hand. The noble held onto her hand for a moment longer, "You will always be my knight, my mistress, my queen."
Rahzel blushed at the conviction of his words and was going to respond in kind when Midna interrupted, "Yuck, that's enough mush for now. We need to plan for the Hylian's attack."
"You're right, Midna," Rahzel answered nodding at the Twili to lead the way. The younger woman begun to leave the room. While the Twili's back was toward them, Rahzel gave Ghirahim a modest peck on the cheek.
"Thank you for understanding," she said before the noble intertwined his fingers with hers.
…...
Rahzel watched as the demons of various shapes all spoke at once. She turned to see Ghirahim running his fingers through his hair. "You should be listening," Rahzel whispered to him.
His brown eyes flickered to hers. He shrugged his shoulders before deciding that the amusement of everyone arguing grew bothersome. "Everyone needs to speak one at a time," he said with a clearing of his throat. Sure enough each general quieted down. Each spoke their mind and it was clear that there were two different opinions on how to handle the impending attack. Some of the generals believed that the army should meet the Hylians on open ground away from the city and others believed that they should wait within the city walls.
Once the arguing died down again, Ghirahim spoke up, "Midna, can you give a reason why we should meet the Hylians on open ground?"
"The citizens of the shadow realms have already settled here. We will risk their lives if we undergo a siege," Midna started, "Also, the walls were weakened first from our take over and the rebel's explosion. They won't survive another attack."
"If we meet the Hylians on an open field, many will die," the Liztalfo general stated.
Rahzel worried her bottom lip and Ghirahim fell quiet thinking. "What do you think, Rahzel?" Ghirahim asked.
"I agree with Midna, innocent lives will be lost, but I also don't believe that we will win either battle," the woman said with a sigh.
"I have come to a decision," Ghirahim said standing. "We will gather our troops and meet the Hylians at the Field of Cambara," the noble said with authority that demanded obedience. The generals looked at each other unsure, but bowed with agreement and left without another word.
"That was a difficult decision," Rahzel said.
Ghirahim nodded, "I'm sending them to a slaughter. Do you believe that it was a correct decision?"
"Yes, I'll be looking for their plans," Rahzel said laying her shaking hand on his shoulder, "We'll catch them by surprise. You'll see this battle will be a success." The woman gave him a smile hoping that she wasn't giving him false hopes.
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Link looked at the wide field. Where it once was colorful with different blossoms, it was now solid red. Bodies of Hylians, Sheikah, and demons laid in stiff postures. The green grass was red and the air was filled with a metallic scent. The Hylian king looked at the bodies closely seeing many of his friends. Groose was lying facedown and didn't seem to be breathing.
A choking sound drew Link's attention. The blonde looked at the huddled form of Ghirahim cradling Rahzel in his arms. The woman's spotless white tunic was dyed red as was her silver hair. The demon lord looked up at Link feeling his gaze. His dark eyes burned holes through him as silent tears fell from them. "You foolish Skychild," he spat each word with venom. The noble laid the woman on the ground softly as he stood. He bared his fangs at the hero and Link took a step back.
The noble was fast and held him down. "Is this what you wanted?" the demon shouted holding the hero with one hand and motioning to the battlefield. The hero's heart was beating out of his chest.
Everything shifted. Ghirahim was gone as was the field of corpses. Link scrambled to his feet. A owl hooted at the frightened hero. The blonde man looked to the bird. "I hope this has been enlightening, hero," the bird said with an light hollow voice.
"Yes, the demons are monster and only crave bloodshed," Link answered sure of his answer.
The bird lowered its head before shaking its gray-almost-blue feathers. "Perhaps my sisters will be better teachers than I," the bird said with a patient voice.
Link woke up with a start. He was confused at the strange dream that he had. Who was the bird that seemed disappointed in his actions? And why was it upset?