Chapter VIII – Our Last Fight.
"Byrne.", a voice said. "Hmmm…" Byrne groaned. "Byrne, wake up!" the voice said louder. Byrne opened his eyes, but realise that he wasn't on the battle field anymore… Instead he saw a cloudy floor and blue skies above… Byrne got up and rubbed his face, but felled that his scarf was gone… "I've told you that I'll be waiting for you." the voice said. Byrne recognized the voice and turned around. There she was… Jessie, she looked the same he had dreamed her before. "Am I dreaming again…" Byrne said, not believing what was real or not. Jessie hugged him, "No, Byrne. This time, it's for real." she said. "Jessie!" he said and hold her tightly. "Byrne!" she said and they both cried into each others arms. "I've missed you so much, Jessie. I love you!" Byrne said and kissed her passionately, like he did long ago. They hold onto the kiss until Byrne slowly broke it, "I love you too, Byrne." Jessie said. "How is this possible? You're here with me…Alive." Byrne said. "No, Byrne, you're here with me… In the spirits's heaven…" she said sadly. Byrne looked upon himself, and noticed that he wears a blue robe. He has angel wings and walked on bare feet. "I… I'm dead…" he whispered. "It's like you've foretold me, Jessie." said a voice. They both looked on their left and saw an angel, standing at front of a huge mirror. "You were right all along that you would bring him back on the right track again.", the angel said.
Byrne looked at the angel, his hair was white, has a beard with a moustache and blue eyes. His robe was white of colour, instead of blue. "You know him, Jessie? Who's this man?" Byrne asked her. "Byrne, this is Uriel Angelos, my master. He helped me to tell you those things in your dream. He trained me since I got there, he even learned me things that a human never done before." "I see…" Byrne said and noticed movements on the mirror. Byrne moved forward to the mirror to look better…. "No…", he whispered. He saw his friends, Link and Zelda, fighting against Malladus, but they're having a rough time. Link and Zelda kept dodging meteors that Malladus shot out of his mouth. "LINK! ZELDA!", he screamed and turned to Jessie and Uriel, "We have to do something to help them!". "You're an angel now, Byrne, there's nothing you, nor Jessie and I can do." Uriel said. "It's all my fault! I can't watch my friends getting killed by that monster!" Byrne said and clenched his fists. He had never felt this powerless. There's silence…
"I know a way.", Jessie said. "Huh?", Uriel said. "Don't you remember the deal we made, Uriel?" she continued, "Now it's your turn to fulfil your part of it!" she pauses, "… Make our bodies solid and teleport us down there, until the battle's over!" "WHAT?", Uriel said, "Jessie, you can't be serious!" "Deal? What deal are you talking about?" Byrne asked. "You said that, if I bring Byrne back onto the right trail again, and guide him into the spirits's heaven, you'll grant me anything I want. I know you're a servant of the spirits, you're more high ranked than Byrne and me, you've got more powers than we do. The power you posses, is equal to the spirits. The only power you don't posses, is to bring somebody back alive. I know you well enough, master. You can't break a deal or a promise… So I asking you again…", she started to get angry, "MAKE OUR BODIES SOLID AND TELEPORT US DOWN THERE, UNTIL THE BATTLE'S OVER!" she yelled. "Wow, Jessie…", Byrne thought and smiled, "You haven't changed at all, you still thinks of somebody else first instead of yourself." "… You're such a smartass, you know that?..." Uriel said to Jessie, "…And you're right, I can't break a deal or promise… Fine. I'll grant what you want…". "That's all I need, Uriel… Thank you." Jessie smiled and looked at Byrne, "Byrne, you're ready to kick Malladus's butt?". Byrne hold her hand, "Are you sure you want to come along? This can be dangerous for you.", he said.
"Don't worry about me, Byrne. Like I said, Uriel trained me since I got here.", she explained, "Besides, we both can't die anymore, because we already are dead." Jessie kissed Byrne once again, "We're angels now, we're a lot stronger than anything else. I know that you want to protect me, Byrne. I love you, and I always will." she said. Byrne smiled, "I love you too, Jessie…." "Before I sent you both there, take these with you. This can be useful for you.", Uriel said and gave them both swords… "Wow, Uriel, are you serious? Do you realise what swords you just gave us?", Jessie couldn't believe it, "You've told me before of this sword, but also said that I wasn't ready yet to use it." "True, but you both showed me you're worth it to have it. Use those "Light Swords" well. And Jessie… make me proud." Uriel said with a smile. "Uriel…" Jessie said and hugged him, "Thank you, Master, and I will."
"Alright then. Send us down there, we're ready." Byrne said. "Let's do this!", Jessie said. Energy started to surround them. Uriel teleported them away. "Good luck, Byrne… Good luck, my student…", Uriel thought.
*Meanwhile, on the battlefield with Link, Zelda and Malladus.*
Malladus attacked them with his gigantic claws and meteors, but kept missing. Link and Zelda were moving a lot faster than him, which it's a good advance for the young heroes. "STOP MOVING!" Malladus growled and used a power that Cole used before. He shots a force field upon Link and Zelda, capturing them, unable to move and escape at all. "NOW YOU'RE MINE!", Malladus roared and… SMACK! He lift his claws up. Did he…?
"W-WHAT?" Malladus roared, "WHERE DID THEY GO? THEY WERE RIGHT HERE!"… "You've killed me before, but that doesn't mean I can't fight anymore.", a voice said. Malladus recognized the voice and looked at front of him. It was Byrne, holding Link in his arms… "IMPOSSIBLE! I'VE KILLED YOU! YOU'RE DEAD!", Malladus said and looked at Byrne's dead body that was laying there. Link couldn't believe himself that Byrne just saved him. Link noticed then that Byrne has wings, "Wow, Byrne, you're an angel?", he asked and Byrne nodded. Malladus growled, "FINE, I'LL KILL YOU AGAIN!", he screamed and roared. "You can't kill us…", another voice said, " How can you kill someone who's already dead? Nobody can't die twice."
Malladus looked on his left side… It was Jessie, holding Zelda into her arms. "YOU?",he roared, "YOU'RE THAT HUMAN THAT COLE KILLED LONG AGO!" Since Malladus fused together with Cole, he knows everything what Cole knew, the same goes for attacks and abilities… Even on this moment, he knew who that person is…"Y-You're Jessie?", Zelda said. Jessie simply nodded to Zelda and flew to Byrne and Link. "What's the matter? It's like you've seen a ghost…", Jessie said to Malladus, to make him more speechless than ever. "But how…?", Link asked. "Let just say that another angel helped us to get here.", Jessie said, "Malladus, you'll regret everything you've done to all of us!". Malladus snickered, "IT DOESN'T MATTER WITH HOW MANY YOU ARE! NEITHER OF YOU OR ANYONE ELSE CAN STOP ME!", and shoot meteors towards the gang. Byrne and Jessie flew with Link and Zelda into the sky, dodging the meteors. "Ok, any ideas to stop Malladus?" Link asked. "I got a plan.", Byrne said, "But I need you both to succeed it. Since I became Guardian of the Tower, I know everything about Malladus's weaknesses." "What do we need to do, Byrne?", Zelda asked.
"Zelda, I want you to concentrate on channelling your sacred power! Link, do your best to protect her from Malladus!" Byrne said and they both placed Link and Zelda down, "Jessie and I will distract him as much as we can. Call us when you're done, you'll know when!". Byrne and Jessie draw their swords and charged up toward Malladus, distracting him from Link and Zelda.
Zelda concentrated on her sacred power that lives within herself. Byrne and Jessie flew around Malladus and attacked him at their very best. "Is that all you've got, slowpoke?" Jessie said, "No wonder that you got trapped by the spirits.". "WHY, YOU!" Malladus roared and shoot more meteors at her. Jessie destroyed the meteors with her sword, some of them missed her, but was heading toward Zelda! "SPIN ATTACK!" Link swung his sword around like a circle, knocking the meteors away. "Phew, that was close." Link said and looked at Zelda. She glowed brightly, meaning she had succeeded in awaking her sacred power, "Link, I'm done!", Zelda said. "BYRNE, SHE'S DONE!", Link yelled. "You go to them, Byrne. I'll keep him busy!", Jessie said and gave Malladus a huge kick onto his head to distract him from Byrne. Byrne flew to Link and Zelda, "Now you need to combine the sacred power of Zelda and the power of the Spirit Flute, so we can use that against Malladus!", he said, "Play the "Spirit Song", it will weak him!". Jessie just dodged away from one claw, but got hit by the other one. "GAAAAAHH!", she yelled and got smacked down onto the ground. "JESSIE!", Byrne yelled and gave Malladus a huge hit on the head. "Jessie, are you alright?", Byrne asked while he was flying above. "Yeah, I'm fine…", Jessie shook her head, "Wow, didn't saw that one coming…", she said. "…BYRNE, LOOK OUT!", she screamed, but it was too late. Malladus caught him, "I'LL CRUSH YOU!", Malladus roared and squeezed him. "GAAAH!", Byrne screamed. "LET GO OF HIM!", Jessie yelled and fired an energy-ball, hitting Malladus in the eye. "AAAAH! MY EYE!", Malladus screamed and released Byrne. "You're okay, Byrne?", Jessie asked and flew next to him. "Yeah, thanks to you… Since when were you able to do that? I thought you said you're a normal human.", Byrne asked. "I am, Byrne. Even humans can do this, I've learned that from Uriel 2 years ago, but I'll explain more another time! Look out!", she said quickly and pushed Byrne just in time, away from Malladus's attack.
Link and Zelda combined their powers together… Link played the "Spirit Song" and Zelda sang it together with her power. They were done… Malladus roared because of the song… Link, Zelda, Byrne and Jessie looked at Malladus, wondering if Byrne's plan worked. Suddenly, he charged upon Link and Zelda… "OH NO, YOU WON'T!", Jessie said and swung her sword, cutting one of Malladus's horn clear off. "GAAAAAH!", Malladus roared and turned his back. "He's not weakened, Byrne!", Zelda yelled. "What? It should've worked!", Byrne yelled back. Link noticed something different on Malladus, "Huh?", he said and yelled to Byrne, "Byrne, on his back! Look!". Byrne looked… There were symbols written all over Malladus's back, with a circle in the middle of it. "Those things weren't there before… Wait a minute…", Byrne thought, "Of course… That's it! It's a weak spot!". "Zelda!", Byrne yelled, "Use the Bow Of Light! Hit him in the back! Link, you distract Malladus with us!". "Right!", they both said. Link draw his sword and charged up to Malladus, while Zelda took an arrow and waited for the right moment to strike Malladus down. "YOU PESKY LITTLE FLY!", Malladus roared and smacked Jessie down with his right hand-claw, trapping her and unable to escape. "JESSIE!", Byrne screamed and swung his sword, cutting the other horn of Malladus clear off. "GAAAAAH!", Malladus roared, but hit Byrne with his left hand-claw and trapped Byrne as well. "Aaah!.. I can't move!", Byrne said, trying to get lose.
"Me either! I'm stuck.", Jessie said. "LET THEM GO, MALLADUS!", Link screamed and swung his Lokomo-sword upon his arms, making cut-wounds all over. "YOU'LL REGRET YOU EVER FOUGHT ME!", Malladus screamed and smacked his head upon Link, just missed him with a few inches away. Malladus has turned his back at the right time for Zelda, "Now!", she thought and fired an arrow with the Bow Of Light, hitting the large beast into the back. "GAAAAAH!", Malladus roared.
"Yes!", Zelda said. Malladus was paralyzed of the arrow, everyone thinking that they succeeded to defeat the beast… "Did it worked?", Link asked…. Suddenly Malladus moved again and got ready to crush Link again with his head. "LINK! LOOK OUT!", Jessie yelled. Byrne noticed something on Malladus's head… A gem has been revealed, because of the arrow. "Link! Stab his gem!", he screamed. Malladus smacked upon Link, but Link raised his Lokomo-sword just in time and stabbed him upon the gem. Malladus uses his huge power upon Link to crush him, even with the sword upon the gem. Link tried his best not to be crushed and used all of his strength to hold Malladus away. "LINK! HANG ON! I'M COMING!", Zelda screamed and ran towards Link. She arrived and helped Link to hold Malladus away. At the same time when Malladus tried to crush them down, he was crushing Byrne and Jessie hardly. "GAAAH!", they both yelled. The more that Link and Zelda pushed, the more that the sword started to sink into the gem. "YOU LOSE, MALLADUS!", Zelda said. "THIS ENDS FOR YOU!", Link said and they pushed onto the sword so hard that the gem started to crack and planted the sword into Malladus's head…
Silence… There was no movement to move, no sound to be heard… Only the blowing wind and thunder was loud enough to break the silence. The gem sprung broken, "GAAAAH!", Malladus roared and placed his hand-claws upon his head, releasing Byrne and Jessie. They both ran to Link and Zelda and looked upon Malladus. "GAAAAAAAHHH!", he kept roaring. Suddenly, light beams appeared on Malladus body, Byrne and Jessie hold onto Link and Zelda, trying to protect each other. "GAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!", a blinding light shined brightly. Silence once again… "Is everyone ok?", Byrne asked. "Yeah, we are.", Zelda said. Jessie and Byrne let go of the young ones and all of them looked around. The thunder clouds vanished and got replaced with a beautiful sunset. "We did it…We did it!", Zelda said excited. "We defeated Malladus!", Link yelled and jumped high of joy. "It's finally over!", Byrne said and hugged Jessie. "We actually did it!", Jessie said and hugged Byrne back. The gang laughed of joy and happiness, Link and Zelda danced a little victory dance, while Byrne and Jessie kissed each other. "I'm proud of you all.", said a voice. They all turned around… "Anjean!", they all said at the same time. "How did you get here? We saw you last time in the "Dark Realm".", Link asked. "I've used lot's of my energy to teleport me here… with the Spirit Train.", Anjean said and showed the train that stands on the track behind her a few metres away.
"It's great to see you again, Jessie.", Anjean said and walked to her. "Same thing here, Anjean. It's been a long time.", Jessie said and placed her hand upon her shoulder… But her hand went right through her instead. "IEK!", Zelda squeeked. "Wow, how did you do that?", Link asked. Jessie looked at her hand, it started to become transparent. "It looks like that our time is running out." she said. "What do you mean?", Zelda asked. "She means that it's time for us to go.", Byrne said to Zelda, "Before we go, can I ask you one last thing to the both of you?". "Of course, Byrne, what is it?", Link asked. Byrne looked at his dead body, "Bury my body next to Jessie's grave in "Castle Town's Cemetery".", he said. They both nodded, "We will, Byrne.", Link said. "Thank you both for everything.", Zelda said.
"And don't feel sad of what happened to me.", Byrne said, "I've never felled this… happy for the first time in years. And at last…", Byrne looked at Jessie and hold her hand, "I can finally say: I'm reunited with my angel.". Jessie smiled and blushed of Byrne sweet words. Zelda smiled, "If you're happy, so am I.", she said. "Me too.", Link said.
"It's time for me to go as well." Anjean said. "Huh?", Zelda said. "What? Why, Anjean?", Link asked. "You see, as Lokomos… We weren't only meant to protect the Spirit Tracks. We were also meant to watch over mankind.", she laughed, "But our protection is no longer needed. Even without the spirits's guidance, you will do well. So I'll join with Byrne and Jessie and return to the spirits's heaven.". "We will miss you all.", Zelda said. "We won't forget you, none of you.", Link said. Byrne, Jessie and Anjean started to sparkle, "Please watch over this land, my dear.", Anjean said, "And, Link, You must her help.". A light shined up, "Good-bye… And thank you. Thank you both.", Anjean said as her last words and they were gone. Link and Zelda were standing there, "We promise, Anjean.", Zelda said. "We won't let you down.", Link said. They hold their hands and watched the sunset, thinking of the adventure that they had been through. Eventually, all of it came to a happy end… Even for Byrne, he's back with his loved one… At last, they were reunited again… And this time...
Forever.