Chapter Six: Zelda/Sheik
Our camping group was composed of Gannondorf, Samus, Luigi, Ness, Wario and of course myself. Wario was causing quite a stir about the camp and it was near impossible for anyone to be peaceful when he was around. He was always starting some sort of feud with someone or causing some sort of general chaos such as setting fire to a tent thinking that the best place to put the fire would be inside to ensure that everyone should stay warm. I guess he was well meaning but he was an absolute idiot just the same. I tried to stay away from him, but I found it difficult, Sheik wanted to beat the fool to death. I didn't see the rationality in such an action; it would not solve any problems but create more. I just wanted peace and the tranquility of silence.
It was hard manage my composure when Gannondorf was around, but add to the equation that twisted little man and the combination was enough to drive me to the brink of insanity.
I meandered aimlessly for the majority of the day. Not caring to socialize as had been the hopes of the Master Hand only making brief appearances to help gather food or firewood. Gannondorf seemed to understand that I wanted to be left alone; I was boycotting all contact with him until he bent and told me what it was exactly that I couldn't remember. He avoided the topic quite skillfully and with great caution was able to never even so much as mention it. To say the least it was frustrating.
We had been roommates for one month! I should have the desired information by now, what was wrong with him? Didn't he know that I would be so much more at ease and could sleep peacefully through a night if he would just tell me what I wanted to know? Sometimes I thought to myself, maybe the detail is trivial, this thing I cannot remember, and it is only the excitement of not knowing that is sending me into this panic. This would have been an easily believable theory if it wasn't for the fact that Gannondorf had always been honest with me, had never hid anything from me. whatever he was hiding was truly profound and substantial. I had to know. I would get it out of him, or maybe Sheik….
Don't even think about it…I'm not going to tell you. It's really awful what he did to you.
Just give me a hint Sheik, please? I deserve to know. You both say you love me and yet you both keep this secret from me. I don't get either of you. What motives do you have?
You're well being. You're already damaged as it is. I'm spectral proof of that.
I shut down my thoughts to meditate, no longer listening to the mad rambles of my alter.
I could no longer rely on him. I was genuinely alone, a foreign feeling for someone in my position. It was almost comforting, serene.
I would never give up, I would dedicatedly keep as this until my questions had been answered. Until then I would make due with his sickness and this betrayal.
"Princess it's time for dinner," it was Luigi. "Samus fixed the meal so you know it's going to be good."
"Thank you Luigi but I am not hungry, please excuse me," I got up to leave. "I will be over there by the lake bed if anyone needs me."
"Princess, do you want me to come with you? Is there anything you need help resolving?" Luigi was very kind, "I have a wife you know I can tell when a woman is sad." He smiled.
"Luigi there is really nothing to be said, I would just like to be alone." I made for the lakebed a couple yards away.
I sat by the water resting my feet in the coldness and watched as the sun went down behind the mountains.
Princess? I wish I could hold you…
Stop it Sheik, I hate these conversations. Please control yourself.
I just wish I could help…
If you wish to comfort me, Sheik there is a simple solution really. All you have to do is tell me what I have forgotten.
That is why I don't tell you! My intentions are to keep you comforted. You may not understand that now but you will thank me one day. A day when I can tell you.
Shut up Sheik, you're lying and you're cruel. You don't know anything about me! What if what you have to tell me, isn't necessarily something that will bother me? You just assume that it will. But it will only put my mind at ease, or do you wish me to loose whatever control I have left of my psyche?
That is not at all my intensions. I severely disapprove of what he did and I think it best for you if you just forget that the subject was ever brought up!
I'm not asking for you advice, Sheik, but your reason and your mercy.
All the things I am giving you…
It was no use, as the goddess said whatever I wished for Sheik would pray against and so it would be for all time.
I hung my head between my knees.
"Princess?"
I looked to see Luigi, a plate of freshly cooked fish in his outstretched hands, "hungry?"
I smiled I couldn't deny that I was, "very."
"Well I hope you enjoy it," he stood up to leave.
"Thank you Luigi. You'd you..?"
Before I could end my thought, there was a huge uproar from the campsite.
"HELP!! HELP!!"
"What the world?" Luigi took off at a steady pace leading me to the screams. I followed forgetting my food for the interest of what was happening.
When we reached the encampment the answers to our questions of concern were quite apparent.
Ness was missing.
Wario was the one who had been yelling help, "the precious child missing! Just when I was going to pay him a visit!"
I let the men deal with him accordingly, they were far more in control of themselves then I ever could be. We allowed Samus to intervene just towards the end. She with her superior skills of persuasion was able to get the desired information quickly from the culprit. The interrogation was quite short lived.
"I didn't do it!" Samuses gun, though rather barbaric, was a fast instrument.
"It was the Gray Men! They took the child not me!!"
The group collectively asked, "the Gray Men?"
"What are you talking about you fat slob?" Samus forced the gun a few inches closer into his nose.
"The Gray Men? They are small and pale and move very crookedly as if there no bones in their bodies. Their eyes are hollowed and their voice is like the breaking of twigs. My mom use to tell me stories but I never believed until…"
"Why didn't they take you?" Luigi voiced.
"Because I closed my eyes, they can't see you unless light catches your eyes everyone knows that."
"I don't believe you!" Samus threatened to hit him.
"He's telling the truth," I crippling vision shook me. "A barn…and a nurse…"
"Yes?" Gannondorf was next to me, the only one who comprehended what was happening as I fell to my knees.
The vision rumbled through me. Starting suddenly like falling into deep water. There was that first impact hard and strong, always knocking the wind out of me. After this it always begins to fade, as I sink into the depth, the visions become as vague and as far between as the bubbles that I exhale. My lungs burn as I try to catch every sight, sound, or taste every feeling becomes as essential as air. To remember is to struggle and to struggle is a fight for my life and mind. This is what a vision is like.
Like uncontrollable and watery death.
"People…taken…,someone hurt!" I gasped.
"Where?"
"Don't waste your time with that Princess. Why don't you ask the Gray Men yourself…?" Wario laughed.
We were silent as my breath rasped out of my throat. When I had settled back into life I too listened to the moan of the trees and the darkness, cold and eerie about us, suffocating us.
Gannondorf, thunderous voice broke the momentary serenity, "there are more. And they're coming this way."
"We need to leave," Luigi concluded. "We can't beat them all."
"I can," I marked the menacing grin across Gannon's face.
"Then we stay and we fight," Samus looked at all of us, knowing and willing.
"Hey you coward get back here!" Luigi took off after Wario who was sprinting towards the darkness.
"They won't get me!!" Wario proclaimed laughing his sick little head off. He was missing from view in record time.
Luigi skidded to a halt just at the mouth of the black woods, having better sense then he who had come before him.
We heard the screams only seconds later. So is the fate of the rash.
"We don't have to save him do we?" Samus was more concerned with herself that much was obvious.
"No he is not our problem. We have to watch out for ourselves now." I hoped that everyone would agree with me and they did.
Waiting is agonizing in any situation, but to see your enemy in the darkness ahead of you. To see it getting closer through the trees to know that at any minute it will be upon you is a terrible anticipation to have to contend with. To know that they must be near enough to smell before we fight, we have to be close enough to feel their arms around us, close enough to be taken, that's how long we had to wait. Anything else would be folly, to meet them half way would mean being taken into the night.
First there seemed to be one and then there were hundreds all materializing from the shadows. Some had only one eye, others had long claws, but all of them were gray and moving erratically as Wario had said they would.
As soon as they had broken through the mouths of the woods Samus was in action, firing and killing systematically so good at what she did, twenty had dropped before anyone else could attack.
The battle ensued and it tore up the terrain around us toppling trees and scattering dirt making a huge dust cloud rose up from our feet obscuring our vision.
I was scratched, bit, and hit with rouge fireballs from Luigi that singed my dress. But when I was nearly shot by Samus, the bullet just barely missing me, that's when I had to call an end to the battle.
"This is ridiculous, I can't see who or what I'm attacking!"
"Neither can I," Gannondorf grunted as he smashed against one of our assailants, I heard its pieces clattering on the dirt.
"We have to retreat!" Gannon swooped me up in his arms and was far from the chaos in seconds.
We were out of the melee safe and free.
"Alright who's left? Samus?"
No answer.
"Luigi?"
The same ominous silence.
"We are all that's left?" I looked up at Gannondorf, "we should have stayed to help them! We have to go back!"
"We can't Princess! They're gone!" he had yet to let me go, "tell me about your vision."
"It was in an enclosure in the woods, on a hill, to the west where the sun sets."
"Do you think that is where they have been taken?"
I dropped to the ground slinking out of his gripped, "yes, I am absolutely certain." I started out but before I could make it very far, he grabbed hold of me.
"Yes, but are you certain that you are alright?" He stroked my face as his eyes skimmed over me. He planted a kiss on my forehead before I could protest.
"I hate seeing you fight, you're beautiful and a force to be reckoned with, but I am always so afraid for your safety. I never want you to be hurt. To see you in pain would be the end of me," he kissed me again this time on the cheek, his saliva burnt me and his words fell on deaf ears.
"We have to find the others," I pushed his away moving as speedily as my shaking legs would allow.
"We have a minute, come here," he spun me with ease to fall right into his chest which I melted into, defenseless. "Those three can handle themselves. I just need a second to talk to you." He lowered his voice and his head to breathe into my ear, "you have to forgive me Zelda. I am very sorry for all that has happened. I do not wish for us to be enemies but it seems that is your desire." He squeezed me about the waist, tight enough to make me forcibly exhale.
"No Gannondorf that's not what I want at all…it just…"
"What I am not telling you, I know," this was the first time he had mentioned it in a mouth. My heart started thudding in my chest so hard as to break my ribcage. "About what you forgot."
"Tell me…!" I looked up at him; he kissed me pulling me into his body. We were pressed so close together I could feel the warmth of his him, abnormally elevated due to his extended life in the arid climates of the desert.
Don't let him touch you! What are you doing? Stop this! Stop it!
Sheik's voice was insignificant.
Are you listening to me? Goddamn it Zelda! He's awful, terrible!
Quiet Sheik or I will never talk to you again!!
You are just setting yourself up for disappointment. He will never be the man you want him to be!
I ignored Sheiks protest and we kissed for a long time, and when I tried to escape his clutches, Sheik finally physically interfering, he grasped tighter. Holding to me as if his well being depended upon never letting go.
His body temperature rose despite the night air that was chilling me, I was shivering. Or had it nothing to do with the weather? His hands were running their way up and down my hips; he longer had to hold me. I did not have the will to oppose him.
Gannondorf pulled away, "can't you just leave this alone? Can't you just trust me to know what is best for you?"
My lips ached in the absence of his, "I do not know."
"We can be so happy. Forget it and we can live together in peace!"
"I really want…"
"WATCH OUT PRINCESS!!" Gannondorf pushed me behind him, "get behind me."
"My goodness…!" I could see so many Gray Men ahead of us, how were we ever going to escape?
Gannondorf spoke, "let's go!" He clutched my wrist and ran, to my surprise, into the forest, fending off everything that approached us.
"Are we going the right way Princess?"
"Yes! Keep going!"
"As you wish," he smiled devilishly over his shoulder at me. He was very destructive, my Gannondorf, every time he fought anything, the area around the brawl was wrecked beyond repair. It was no different this night. Trees were set on fire and the ground was turbulent under our feet as his power shook it forming fissures and deep crevices. Time slowed down, our enemies moving sluggishly in comparison with the stealth of Gannondorf's attacks. We were safely through the chaos in seconds; I did not even have to lift a finger in my defense. Gannondorf, though one man, was able to extend his presence all around us, cutting off the efforts of those hoping to come at us from behind. Did he have eyes in the back of his head?
At some point during the massacre, one couldn't really call it a fight, his glance caught mine and he smirked, winking one of his amber eyes as he thrust a fist through the chest of a Gray Man.
"Impressed?" his expression seemed to say.
How could I not be, I felt the blood rushing to my face. Why did he do this to me?
"Gannondorf we have to make a right or we will miss it!"
"Yes, Princess. Just lead the way!" He blasted a huge group of the Gray Men from our path.
I took the lead darting as fast as I could through the brush and past the Gray Men that reached their large claws out to me. I ran until I could only hear one pair of footsteps behind me, like a stampede. I could only hear Gannondorf.
Seeing became more and more difficult as trees increased in density around us, but I could feel that we were heading downhill, the exact direction we did not want to be going.
I slipped, catching my foot under a root and tripping I tumbled down what remained of the hill. I slid, my fall coming to a clumsy cessation as I grabbed at the ground gasping and out of breath. Gannondorf dropped to his knees next to me.
"Are you alright?" he offered his hand to me.
"Yes, I am fine," I moved the hair from my face; I would pick the twigs and debris from it later.
He lay himself down on the dirt, "that was exciting wasn't it?"
"Hardly!" I scolded him, "we have to keep moving! We have to help the others; we have already wasted too much time! No thanks to you!" Sheik was surfacing.
"Oh, vicious and not very grateful at all!" he rolled over to face me.
"Grateful for what?" I stood up trying to head off Sheiks verbal assault.
"Hmm…" Gannondorf remained, sitting up he asked, "do you hear that?"
I listened intently, "yes what is it?"
The sound was faint and very frail. The person who made it seemed almost afraid to bring anything to it's' attention, but was desperate at the same time to be rescued. Whatever it was needed immediate help.
"Isn't it obvious?" Gannondorf smiled evilly, "I'd recognize the sound of a damsel in distress anywhere."
I listened again carefully and heard the word squeaked almost incoherently,
"Help!"
"Please help us!"
"It's Peach and Jigglypuff!"
Gannondorf was on the move and within minutes had found the victims. They were by the lakebed, soaking wet, wrist tied behind their backs, and looking altogether distraught. He first picked up Peach and moved her to dry land; I went for Jigglypuff coddling her trembling body in my arms.
"What happened to you guys?" I already knew the answer.
"These things came for us! They took Meta Knight!" Jigglypuff pleaded with her eyes, "we have to save him!"
"What did they do to you?" Gannondorf's proximity to the Princess Peach was making me shamelessly jealous.
"They tied us up and then threw us in the lake," Princess Peach coughed.
"How did you manage to get out?"
"I may be a princess but I'm not useless," Peach smiled.
"Yeah, and I float really well!" Jigglypuff laughed but it was without humor.
"They tried to drown you?" Gannondorf was livid, "they would have no doubt done the same to you!" He threw the statement in my face like an insult.
"Do you either of you know where Samus is?"
They both shook their heads.
By this time I had untied and let Jigglypuff down. Peach was also freed.
"We have to help them. Sonic has saved my life. I need to repay the favor."
"I understand," I said. "We need to head this way. I recognized that oak from my vision."
We traveled a very short while before we saw it in the distance, the foreboding place. I could smell death and blood in the air around us as the thick as the fog that was rolling in. I heard howling wolves on the horizon as we neared the entrance to the barn.
"This will be terrible," I warned my company. "What we see in here will be very disturbing. I remember the feeling of sickness in my vision and it was in reference to this very moment."
"Tell us Princess, we need to be warned of what is to come."
"Someone is going to be fatally wounded, I don't know who…"
"Will it be one of us?" Jigglypuff asked.
"No, it will be someone in the barn."
Jigglypuff's body quake, Peach clasped her hand over mouth, but Gannondorf remained indifferent.
"I'm willing to fight at all cost!" Jigglypuff put up one of her fists, "if they have done anything to Meta Knight, I'll kill 'em!"
It was strange to see her threatening.
Peach nodded her head in agreement.
We heard someone yelling.
Peach eyes became wide, "is that them?"
"No. that is coming from the woods."
We listened again following the voice until we came upon a massive tree. Samus was tight to it fighting off with only one foot a pack of ravenous dogs.
"Get the hell off me!" She kicked furiously at the faces of her persecutors.
We ran to her, "hang on Samus!"
The dogs heard us approaching, they became even more ferocious and desperate lunging at the helpless Samus, tearing at her heels again and again.
They were formidable things, huge, with long spindle like hair. I went to strike one and was cut upon contact with their thorn like fur. They had huge talons for feet and massive jaws that snapped closed like a bear trap, with a gnash and snap. I avoid them as best I could but did not emerge from the skirmish unscathed.
I reached Samus finally, "are you alright?"
"No I'm not bloody alright! Have you seen what they've done to my Ankle?"
He was referring to the bloody mess of skin and torn muscle that use to be an acceptable ankle, now it was unrecognizable as such. Every movement she made caused a stream of blood to spurt from the holes that the dog's teeth had created. I tried to calm her, soothe her.
"That's gonna take forever to heal!"
"We will help you I promise Samus. It's not that bad," I could see the bone and even it had teeth marks across it. Puss flowed from it's splinters. I could have healed her right there but then I may not be able to heal whoever maybe wounded in the barn. It was nearly impossible to muster enough power to heal one person every few moons, two in one day would surely kill me.
"Gannondorf can you break these chains?" I held out the massive links.
"Of course," he flew from the battle leaving Peach and Jigglypuff both heroic, to fight the beast. He held fast to them and chanted something I could not hear. The chains turned to powder and dust in his hand.
"Shit!" The chains no longer there to keep her upright, Samus crashed to the dirt twisting and causing even more damage to her bleeding ankle. I ran to her.
"Are you alright?" Samus clung to me, using me as support.
"I've had worse, believe me. Though this is extremely unpleasant, don't get me wrong."
"Gannondorf," there was a piercing scream from the barn. "We have to go now! But someone has to watch over her," I looked around all the dogs, thanks to Jigglypuff and Peach had retreated, "just in case they come back."
Samus stood up, "I can look after myself." She let go of me too prideful to except help, and fell right down again, her ankle snapping angrily under her.
"We'll do it!" Princess Peach seemed reluctant to comply with Jigglypuff, "I know I couldn't bear to see what has happened in their, especially if…" Jigglypuff choked on the rest of her sentence, unable to speak and confront her worst fear.
"Do you wish to stay with Jigglypuff Princess Peach? I'm sure she would need your help if anything should decide to return. You can smell this blood for miles," Gannondorf was quite serious. He was a countersue of blood himself.
Peach hesitated, "okay but we should try to get her to some shelter." We looked around, "there seems to be a shed behind the barn."
"Right," Gannondorf took the hint, picking up the wounded mercenary, carting her to the shed, Samus protesting loudly the whole way. Peach and Jigglypuff followed.
I was left alone, the sounds coming from the barn made my throat close up as I threatened to spill tears. I put my hand over my mouth as a sob escaped my lips. An exceptionally loud wail exited who ever was being tortured. The sounds were so awful that I stopped and prayed to my Goddess.
Gannondorf was behind me his arms around my trembling waist, "Samus and the others will be fine in that shed it's quite sturdy. But you are you going to be okay?"
"I don't know…" it was true. I hated to see any suffering in any form. Anything pained or agonized took apart of me into their misery. I was too compassionate; I did not posses the ability to dissociate myself from the scenes of agony I had to so often as a princess encounter. I cringed with the thought of what I was going to see in only a few short moments. I covered my eyes as if I could will my duties out of existence.
Don't be so cowardly…it's not that awful…I could handle it.
"Come with me Princess it will be okay," Gannondorf so jaded, had the adverse feeling towards the pain of others. Everyone had done something in their lives at some point to merit torture.
Sheik you have to take over, at least for a little while.
I don't want to.
Then take over when necessary. If I cannot find the strength to move you have to be my legs. If I start to black out or cry you have to be my courage to persevere, you have to!
I will do it for you, though I don't want anything to do with him.
You do not even have to deal Gannondorf if you so desire. Just help me. Because I cannot bring myself to even pass through those doors…
There was another scream…Peach cried out,
"It's Sonic! We have to do something!" Peach was torn, not wanting to leave Samus she begged with her eyes, "hurry you guys!"
I swallowed hard, "let's go." My stomach was already nauseas, I felt faint, and my head was pounding.
We breached the heavy doors. It was a monstrosity what I say before me. A woman breathing over Meta Knight a long and bloodied dagger poised to stab in her hand. Meta Knight looked positively dismal his wing was tore nearly from its socket, and he was bleeding profusely from his wounds, yet he remained conscious.
Gannondorf took after the woman before she could unleash her ill will onto poor Meta Knight. It was then I saw Sonic.
His breathing was sharp and frantic, every breath seemed to catch him off guard and he would writhe from the effort of exhalation. His eyes were rolled so far in his head he appeared to be without pupils. His wrist were cut and dripping from pulling at his restraints in futility. He was cut open between the legs so severely that his blood and insides were laid out under him. The table he was strapped on was drenched in his blood, leaking off the edges from all side collecting into a puddle deep enough to drown a person. Sonic's back arched as his mouth opened in a silent gape as he choked on his own fluids. He was shivering from head to toe, he was going into shock.
Go Princess, you have to go now!
I heard Sheiks voice of confidence and he moved me.
I was next to Sonic undoing his lock, blasting them into oblivion, before I realized what was happening.
Thank you Sheik.
Save him!
Sonic lashed out at me, a scared animal. He went rigid when I touched him, hissing and spitting, putting up as much of a fight as he could. I spoke to him, "you're alright now Sonic." Even though he wasn't.
His eyes were glazed, unseeing but he recognized my voice, going limp in my arms.
"You can hear me?" He tried to say something but this mouth was thick with blood, which poured out.
"Hold on I'm going to heal you. Everything will be fine," I looked up to see Gannondorf throw that wretched woman across the room right into her hanging instruments of torture. She was scratched, skewered and of all things…I think…
smiling.
I could see Meta Knight only vaguely, next to him was Fox. Both wounded and bleeding but neither as bad as the one now in my arms. I put a calming aura around the barn and watched as Meta Knight and Fox succumbed to it. Meta Knight who had been staring in wonder at the chaos, shut his lids and flopped limply back onto the table.
He was asleep and so was Fox.
Now I just needed to worry about Sonic.
I put my forehead against his, wanting to hold him as close as possible. He was so cold. Sheik help me…
I could feel tears welling up as the desire to faint overwhelmed.
Goddamn it Zelda! Sheik shocked my system forcing my eyes open. Sheik was in control now and Gannondorf was by his side.
"I scared that woman off. I'm not sure where she's hidden herself but we are free of her for the moment," he looked to Sheik. "The princess couldn't handle herself could she?"
"She's not heartless like you," Sheik moved my body and told my mind, build up your power as much as possible and when your ready let me know.
"When will she heal him? He doesn't have much time," Gannondorf indifferently examined the hedgehog. He wiped a dribble of blood from Sonic's chin. Sonic did not seem to feel the touch.
Now, Sheik.
Sheik forced my hand to Sonic's wounds as I began the healing prayer. It's quite strange the feeling of healing another, it takes so much of yourself that a part of you remains always in the poor soul you heal. I saw in my minds eye, hands working their way through Sonic, repairing what was tore and mending all that was broken. They had to twist under arteries and past his intestines which were hemorrhaging, up to his heart to restart its' natural rhythm. To heal his lungs so his breathing was no longer labored I had to soothe their inflammation. He gasped when I reached into them spitting blood, opening his airway. He grabbed at me his hands tearing my dress. I could tell by the drastic change in his body's physiology that his pain was passing and leaving in its place a bizarre form of arousal.
Watch out, Sheik jested; you might give the boy an erection.
Silence!
Some people think that the closest two people can be is during love making. Those people are not healers. To be inside a person and to be among their deepest thoughts, uninvited, are two completely different sensations. I was Sonic for a long moment. I lusted for all he did and saw his last worldly thoughts, and he mine. I had to give myself, but he was not without sacrifice either. Sonic had to endure me groping about in his most sensitive regions, places where no other woman, no other human could ever venture. He could surely feel my phantom arms deep within, warm and spreading relief from his suffering quicker then any medicine could. It was a most sensual experience of this I am certain.
Sonic breathed a long throaty sigh as I reached his subconscious.
"Where is she?" Gannondorf must have known judging by the very obvious external reactions of Sonic.
"She's in the brain," Sheik spoke for me.
"Does she know what to do?"
"Yes, of course she does! This isn't her first heal job," Sheik was short with Gannondorf. "Why what should she do?"
"She needs to erase his memory of this. Of all of this."
"NO!" Sheik was fiercely opposed.
Why not Sheik? I asked very seriously, how could he live with the memory of this pain?
You've had your memory altered, do you think it was for the best? How much torture has that loss caused you?
What? I had a precious clue, who altered my memories? Sheik!?
There was stubborn silence before, who do you think?
He…he erased my memory? That is why I cannot recall what happened in his castle?
"Gannondorf!" I forced my way to the surface, "why did you do it?"
"What do you mean?" he feigned innocence.
"You are why I cannot remember anything! You made me forget!"
Gannondorf could no longer pretend, "sometimes it is best to forget."
"But I never asked to forget! Why did you just assume!"
"Look! You are healing this boy without his permission but you know that it is best that you do!"
I could feel Sonic's breath on my neck, shaky but even paced. As I dove deeper into his psyche his ecstasy became overpowering. His teeth bore into my skin as his hands entwined around tight balls of my clothes. When his bites became unbearable he replaced them with kisses. He was still covered in blood but all his wounds had been closed, he was now in a supreme state of euphoria, feeling so miraculously good after such immense pain that I forgave him for his trespasses.
"This is different Gannon…"
"Something's you do because you know they're right. With or without consent. Now erase his memory of this! Look at him! Do you think he will be able to live normally if you allow this memory to haunt him? "
"I will see how terrible it is…"
I had found his memories. I saw milestones of his childhood; I went further, his first kiss, further yet. I saw Peach and I knew I was close, how often he thought of her. If only Gannondorf did the same of me. I saw his date with her, then a kiss. I gasped and cried, feeling as sickeningly happy as he had that day. Nothing like mine and Gannondorf's kiss so much more passionate. This memory sucked me deep into its pathos and it was hard to break away from it, it was strong, he had recalled the moment many times. I felt arousal and anger, confusion just as he had in every memory I uncovered until I reached an hour ago.
I screamed as excruciating pain raped my senses. Gannondorf had to keep me upright as my body threatened to fail me.
"Are you going to let him live with that? Are you?"
I felt the spear in my organs, the twisted and pulling. The continuous thrusting caused me to break down and cry.
"Do it Zelda you have to!"
I could barely hear him, the pain was so loud.
I took hold of the memory absorbing it as effectively as I could making sure to take every piece. When I had captured it I stood up leaving the mended Sonic on the ground beside Gannondorf. I crawled as far as I could while the memory rose like bile in my stomach spilling out fire from my throat onto the barn floor.
Gannondorf took his place by my side, "you made the right decision. He will be all the better for it." He attempted to put his hand on my shoulder.
"Don't touch me!" I feebly pushed him away.
"Zelda please…"
His statement was interrupted by the sound of doors slamming open. Peach, Jigglypuff and Samus entered the barn.
"Oh my God!" Peach ran to Sonic, taking him up in her arms. "Sonic can you hear me?"
"He's fine Princess, Zelda healed him. He will wake soon."
"Sonic?" Peach held him fast to her chest.
Sonic stirred slightly, burying his face into her neck. He seemed to understand suddenly clinging tenaciously to the Princess. Peach started whispering into Sonic's ear causing the hedgehog to flush and shiver. Though, I was happy to see that they were both going to survive…
It pained me to look at them.
Sonic's love for Peach was as shining and evident as the stars in a clear night sky. My journey into his memories was a curse. I craved the same attention he gave, but not from the hedgehog of course, rather from my Evil King. Why could not everyone just live happily in love with one another? Why was there always so much to complicate? Why had not Gannondorf just told me from the beginning that it had been him who had made me forget? I felt a sense of contentment knowing that it had been him who had altered my consciousness and not some unknown force. Gannondorf at least made the decision out of kindness and caring, not maliciousness and a will to cause any discomfort.
Don't you want to know why?
No Sheik. I do not. If it is anything like Sonic's memory I'd rather it just be forgotten.
He did a horrible thing to you that's why he erased your memory, not out of kindness but because he doesn't want you to know that a terrible man he is.
I don't care Sheik!
"Zelda?" I turned to Jigglypuff, "is Meta Knight okay?"
"Meta Knight is just fine though he may seem otherwise. He's quite alright."
Jigglypuff was looking up at the table her friend lay upon with wide liquid eyes, "Meta Knight?"
"Gannondorf, we need to get everyone out of her as fast as possible. Take Samus and Meta Knight. Peach can you carry Sonic?"
She had already lifted him, "yes."
"I'll take Fox then. We need to find Luigi, Ness and Falco."
"There's another room, perhaps they are there?"
We found the missing three, all of them were conscious and unharmed.
Apparently she had separated the men in rooms by who she found interesting enough to play with and then those she had no want of.
These ones were very lucky.
We got everyone home to our quiet mansion. Everyone else was still camping; their adventures had not been interrupted so rudely.
Wario, Luigi and Ness all excused themselves to their bedrooms; everyone was exhausted from the nights events.
Falco who had carried Fox in my stead took him to the hospital wing, promising his friend that everything would be alright. Tomorrow would be a better day.
Gannondorf took Meta knight to the hospital wing as well followed closely by Jigglypuff.
I was left with Peach and Sonic.
"Should I take him to the hospital wing?"
"No, I do not think that necessary. Just take him to his room, but keep your eye on him if you would be so kind."
She nodded, "when will he wake up?"
Sonic was limp in the Princesses arms, I told her not to expect him to wake until the morning.
She left and I followed, Sonic's room was just down the hall from me and Gannondorf's.
Peach was struggling with the password.
"It is 2167," I smiled at her remembering the numbers from Sonic's memories.
"Thanks Zelda, you're a life saver, literally," she added looking at Sonic's chest as it rose and fell.
"Thank you Peach you are very kind."
Lying asleep that night I had an awful dream.
I'm going to show you…I can't let you forget, you must not forgive!
It was Sheik's voice essentially, but there was a tone I had never before heard in him, one of resentment not towards Gannondorf, but towards me.
I'm going to show you, show you everything!! Then you will hate him as you should!!
I saw a vision of myself naked across a bed Gannondorf was over me clothed staring at the curve of my stomach, swollen.
Do you see? Do you!!
Sheik's voice hurt me the sound was so harsh and unlike him. Something else was inside me.
Gannondorf leaned over the figure of me touching my stomach tentatively.
I shook in the waking world, feeling the memory of his touch. With those rough calloused hands he had once made me melt.
His hands ran their way up to my neck, and then the vision was interrupted.
He doesn't want you to see! Still he tries to keep his dirty secret.
I felt pain and saw red, why was this happening?
Do you feel that pain? That's what he did to you!
The vision came in and out, fading. I saw a struggle, the tearing of flesh, and blood so much blood. Even more then Sonic had shed today.
STOP IT SHEIK! I don't want to see!!
I saw a body being pulled from mine, a faceless head and a solid rolling torso, and Gannondorf's hands around it.
My consciousness refused to acknowledge what it was being shown and I black out completely into a restful and dark coma.