Aki Ai Takehiko Yumi
I wonder if this is what it's like to die?
I feel like I'm floating somewhere...just drifting gently, like a lost feather on the wind...
I don't hear anything...I always thought there would be harps playing as a person dies...welcoming them to Heaven's embrace as they leave life behind...
What happened to me? Oh yeah, I was taking the test of strength against some weird purple angel man. Then pain and...wait, what then? It's blank after that.
"Zelda?"
Ah, my name...I guess this is it...I must have failed the test. Nightwish killed me. I hope the afterlife is nice...I wish I had tended to my affairs in Hyrule, though. Now Hyrule won't have a proper monarchy...
"Zelda..."
There's that voice again. He sounds so gentle...ready to accept me into heaven...he sounds...just like...
"Zelda!!"
"Whoa!!" Zelda's eyes snapped open. Pit was hovering over her with a look of anxiety and worry on his face. He was holding one of her hands and had his other hand on her stomach. In the exact spot where Nightwish had thrown her sword inside of her. Zelda gulped when she saw she wasn't wearing her dress. Instead, she was wearing a light gown that did little to cover her whole body. Right through the material of the gown, she could see her stomach. Directly next to Pit's hand was a large, red mark. Zelda had a horrible feeling that it went on even longer...something Pit's hand couldn't cover by itself.
"You're alive..." Pit sighed with relief. "I thought we had lost you, Zel..."
Zelda squeezed his hand to reassure him. "I can't die yet. I have too many things I want to do first. A lot of them with you," she said softly, making Pit blush. "But..." she added, a frown stretching on her face. "I failed the test, didn't I?"
"No, Zelda." Pit grinned at her. "Actually you passed it. Mother was really impressed, too. You withstood all five minutes against the most brutal angel that worked in the palace. Even some true angels struggle against him. You did well."
Zelda's heart soared. With this knowledge, she felt like she could take on anything.
"That's great, Pit!! Does this mean I can become an angel?"
"Whoa there, princess. That was just one test. There's at least two more to take on before Mother acknowledges you as a true angel."
"Oh..." Zelda's smile faded. Pit saw this and let go of her hand to cup her chin in his hand.
"Zel, don't give up. No one said this was an easy test. But you went through a very brutal test there, where thousands of mortals had given up before the first minute. Take some pride in that and take the next test head on."
The Hylian princess was silent for a minute and then nodded. "Alright. And I'll keep trying for the next one too."
"That's my girl," Pit said, kissing her lips. "You'll get through this, Zel. You're smart and clever. Nayru didn't pick you to hold her Triforce of Wisdom just because you're beautiful."
Zelda giggled lightly. Pit sure knew how to be sweet when he wanted to be. All her self doubt left her mind.
"Thank you, Pit. What test is next?"
"Look around you..." Pit said, stretching his arm out beside him and motioning around. Zelda pushed herself up off her bed and stared at the obstacle course being placed high in the sky.
In the sky. Zelda felt a knot tie tightly in her stomach. This had to mean she was going to learn how to fly like an angel. This had to be one of her worst fears in the world. Not Ganondorf, not monsters, not fighting. It was heights.
Sure she could handle fighting on high places back at the tournament, such as the Hyrule Temple, Skyworld and Corneria arenas. But those only appeared to be high up. They were actually a very short distance away from the ground. Zelda was never afraid of fighting on those arenas. But here...
No. A small voice in her head chided. Don't let your fear show. One small slip up or one flicker of fear and everything you've worked for is gone. Stay calm, or else you'll never succeed.
Just don't look down.
"Don't look down..." Zelda muttered.
"What was that, Zelda?" Pit asked.
"Nothing...so can you explain this to me?" Zelda asked. The more she knew, the better chance she had of not slipping up.
Pit opened his mouth to begin to speak, but Palutena had come over at that moment. The young angel closed his mouth just in time as his mother began to speak.
"I'm relieved to see you awake, Lady Zelda. Are you feeling any pain from your injuries?"
"Not at all. Your healers are amazing at healing bodies," Zelda replied, bowing her head. Palutena smiled and shook her head.
"I was the one who healed you, Lady Zelda. Has Pit explained what is next?"
Zelda blinked in surprise. Palutena had healed her?
"Maybe she does like me...if only a little...or did she only heal me for Pit?"
The princess quickly caught herself before she allowed her thoughts to go out of control.
"He was about to, Goddess Palutena."
"I see..." Palutena paused before she continued speaking. "Don't worry, son, I'll explain this. Lady Zelda, have you ever wondered what it is like to fly?"
Zelda chose her words carefully. "...I think every mortal wonders what it feels like...I'm no different."
Both Palutena and Pit chuckled. "Yes, I suppose that is true. Today, you'll get to find out. Your next test involves flying."
"Never would have guessed," Zelda thought to herself and immediately felt bad for her sarcasm.
"I'm going to grant you Wings of Pegasus. Pit had used these very wings as well when he fought against my evil sister, Medusa. He will show you what it's like to fly with them and then we'll test you on how well you can use them," Palutena continued.
"For this test, Zelda, you'll have to change into an angel's robe. If Mother gave you the wings now, they'll rip your dress," Pit added. He handed her a white tonga that resembled his own, only it was made for women. "One of the maids will help you get dressed. When you're done, come back and see me."
"Alright," Zelda agreed, taking the tonga. A female angel flew over to her.
"Greetings, Lady Zelda. My name is Hakuryu. I will be preparing you for your next test by heping you dress," the angel said and bowed. "Please follow me."
"Thank you," Zelda said, taking her leave by bowing at Pit and Palutena and then following Hakuryu. Pit smiled and Palutena looked very pleased. Zelda noted this with a strong feeling of confidence and reassurance.
This soon faded, however, when she was back inside the palace and Hakuryu's pleasant manner faded. The angel suddenly spun around and grabbed Zelda violently, clamping a hand over her mouth and dragging her off.
"Make one move or even scream and I'll throw you back down to the middle grounds with a splat," the angel hissed.
Zelda squeaked in fear. What was going on?!
"A mortal and an angel...how disgraceful! Did you really hope that you could accomplish this test?! Stupid human, you should be sent to the Underworld! You shouldn't love someone who's not even within your specie!"
&-&-&-&
And the plot thickens.
Sorry it took me ages and forever and ZOMG WHERE WERE YOU time. I guess my DA ban still has me down. But I'm still going to finish this.
Hakuryu is the Japanese name for the pokemon Dragonair, if anyone was curious.
Next chapter: Hakuryu's determined to stop Zelda from taking her test and keeps her away. Palutena grows impatient and Pit grows concerned. Will he figure out, in time, that Zelda's being held captive under his own roof before his mother fails her out of the test?
And now I'm going to bed, if you'll excuse me.
-Your Friendly Canadian Neighbourhood Assassin