Disclaimer: The Legend of Zelda series do not, repeat, not belong to me. They rightfully belong to Miyamoto. (May he continue to make excellent games for the rest of his days.) What does belong to me are Cleo, Finn, Syrilla and Okam (sorta).

Sparklette also belongs to me, even though she doen't make an official appearance.

Chapter 13

As they tried to make their way down into the enclosed area, Scervo was alone and thinking to himself... wondering. He reached into his inner pocket and once again pulled out something connected to a gold chain. He gazed at the photo locket in his metal palm, but didn't open it. He'd looked at its content more times than his heart could take and he mustn't let any emotion get in the way of the challenge at hand. He had long ago abandoned those feelings... they don't matter, they don't help accomplish anything... And yet when the girl and her spirit friend showed feelings for each other, it aided them in their victory and Scervo himself was left defeated and confused.

"I don't get it!" He spat bitterly. "How in the blazes is she getting stronger?" Before he could figure it out. He heard footsteps approaching. He turned around and saw his opponent approaching. Cleo stopped before him. He gave her a pleased smirk. "So ya came lass. Good... Welcome ter the Tormenta Arena. This is where we will have our fight ter the finish."

"I don't want to fight you Scervo," Cleo immediately concluded. "I'd rather we not fight at all."

"Oh really?... Why?"

"Because it's pointless! Why do we have to fight if we can just simply talk this out instead?"

"There is no room for talk! Words will do ye no good!"

"Can't you at least answer some questions? Like why in the world do you want the Skribal Sword so badly?"

"... ... ...I have me own reasons... and they don't concern ye."

"I'm trying to save the Twilight Realm from Veran and a whole army of bugs and you're getting in the way, because 'you have your own reasons that don't concern me'!"

"Ye'd best watch yer mouth, girly! Ya think ya can talk yerself out of a fight? Well it ain't working! Ya're going ter face me like a man, ready or not!"

"Cleo is not a man," Jack corrected.

"I told you I don't want to fight you," Cleo said crossly.

"WHY THE BLOODY HELL NOT?!" Scervo boomed, stamping his feet in frustration.

"Because as much as I dislike you... I don't want to hurt you."

"Ya shouldn't be concerned for me, Cleo... Just yerself." He drew his electric sword.

"Go right ahead." Cleo sat down with her arms and legs crossed. "Attack me if you want, I'm not even gonna lift a finger."

Scervo was completely stunned for a moment but then remembered that he shouldn't hold back, feel any weak emotion, show any mercy... He was a pirate, an outlaw, and he would not let anything stand in the way of his ultimate goal. He raised his blade and swung down... it stopped just a couple of inches from Cleo, who didn't even flinch and had an impassive look on her face. "... ...No fair... What can I do?"

There was silence for a moment, but soon it was broken by a strange rumbling roar. They both turned (Jack apparently did too) toward the source and saw something fast approaching. Wild laughter and whooping rang out as the newcomers came and began encircling Cleo, Jack, and Scervo. They slowed to a halt and she could now see that they were robots on motorcycles. "Who are you?" Jack demanded.

"We're the Trojan Horse Gang," said the most sinister looking robot. Cleo figured he must be the leader. "And I am LD-053D Dreadfuse!"

Cleo knew they didn't bring good news. "Friends of yours Scervo?" she asked in a scowl. Her scowl disappeared when she saw his face. The hatred he had for her was nothing compared to what he was revealing as he looked at them.

"Why are ye here?" Scervo's voice was low with fury and loathing such as Cleo had never seen before.

"Well well Scervo, I see you're still alive. I thought we left you for dead."

"Hey boss, is this the girl Veran was talking about?" one of the members questioned.

"What?!" Cleo exclaimed.

"Look how puny she is! Why she's just a wittle baby!" said another with a mocking laugh. The others joined in.

"Shut it!" Scervo hollered.

"Stay out of it Scervo!" Dreadfuse warned. "We're just here for the girl and nothing else. Have you forgotten what happened the last time we crossed paths?"

"How could I possibly forget... after what ya did?!" There was a sinister hiss in his tone. Again he reached to the mysterious item in his coat. "What ya took from me, I will never forget!" The gang started their cruel laugh again, finding whatever tragedy he'd had amusing.

"What are they talking about?" Jack asked.

"I don't know what's going on between you, but I'm far more curious about Veran. Did she send you guys after me?" asked Cleo.

"Correct. She ordered us to stop you from gathering the Essences of Light," Dreadfuse admitted with pride. "We just had to cut out the power in those warps in order to corner you."

"You did WHAT?!" Cleo squeaked in shock. "So you're the one who took one of the sols and forced me to be flung face first into the sand?!"

"Bingo, give the girl a prize!"

"What prize? This is not funny!" Jack put in.

Now Cleo's anger was rivaling Scervo's. "You are so gonna get it!"

"Now wait a bloomin' minute! We aren't done here Cleo! Don't even think-"

"Talk to the hand, Scervo!" Cleo interrupted, raising the said hand.

"But hands cannot talk."

Cleo looked at her partner, still angry. "Jack, seriously?!"

"We wasted enough time here. Boys, let's round them up!" With yet another whoop of cackles, the Trojan Horse Gang revved up their engines and took off. Cleo leapt out of the way and watched them make a turn and head right back. One of the members started circling her again and a ribbon of light trailed behind. The ribbon did not fade.

Cleo tried to run through it but was knocked back. She was trapped with the rider, who brandished his electric blade and charged at her. She brandished her sword but stood frozen in fear. He was about to strike her down when Scervo leapt in and swung his blade at him, causing him to topple off the motorbike as it crashed through the ribbon. "Leave her be, the lot of you!"

"Scervo... why?"

"Go now!" Cleo open her mouth. "Cease yer questions and run!"

Cleo got up and ran toward the tipped-over motorcycle, knowing it was their only chance of escape. One quick check over the controls and she saw, to her dismay, that they were nothing like the ones on the bikes in her world. "Jack, do you know how to work this?"

"...Um."

"Didn't think so."

"Gangway!" Scervo urged her back. "I'm driving!" He got the bike up and mounted. "Well, climb aboard!" Cleo and Jack climbed on behind the pirate and the bike shot forward. Cleo pulled her hat down tightly so it wouldn't fly off. She could see the gang chasing them. They let loose the ribbon walls, they were planning to cross Scervo's path and cause him to crash up. He wildly swerved out of their way, trying to avoid hitting the walls.

"We've got to take them down!"

"Cleo, I am noticing each of the the streaks of light are a different color." This info Jack gave was all she needed. Cleo activated Iris and threw her sword at the streaks. It absorbed their color and solidity, and curved around the drivers path as it created its own wall, sending them flying.

They raced all around the Tormenta Arena. Cleo kept throwing her sword and tripping them up one at a time with their own walls. One of the members would get close to take a jab at Scervo and he countered. Eleven fell and now only Dreadfuse was left. He launched out sets of four pikes, planted in squares, all over the area. "What the heck is he doing?" Cleo asked in confusion. "He's not hitting us."

It turned out that they were not designed as ammo. There were flashing lights with a beeping sound on the top of the pikes that went faster and faster until... the pikes sunk down in a jerk and a surge of electricity shot down into the ground. There was a huge CRACK! as loud as the thunder and, as fast as lightning, huge square earthen pillars shot upwards. They were rising up all around them way too fast and Scervo made sharp wild turns to avoid a nasty crash and both Cleo and Jack wailed.

Dreadfuse, who must've done this many times before, followed them through the maze with expert maneuvers and caught up to them. He made a grab for Cleo. "C'mere girl!"

Cleo felt an electric shock when he grabbed her and she screamed. But when Scervo heard it, it wasn't Cleo's voice, he perceived a different one, one that belonged to a woman. "Sparklette!" He instinctively reacted and lashed out at Dreadfuse, his sword sliced through the arm holding Cleo. Dreadfuse howled in pain and she, recovering quickly, kicked at his motorbike, accidentally setting off another four pikes. They landed right ahead of them. Dreadfuse, still focusing on his target, pulled out his sword to take a swipe.

"Wait Dreadfuse, look out!" Cleo shouted. He slashed down onto the front wheel and she, Scervo, and Jack flew off and landed on the hard ground in a tumble. He laughed in triumph, but then his laugh turned into a scream when he saw, too late, that a new pillar had shot up without his realizing. With literally no time to make a turn, he smashed right into it in a great explosion.

Cleo was getting herself up, gasping a few "ow"s from her throbbing bruises. "Oooh..." Jack moaned from the ground. "I think... I am going to be sick..."

"No... no! Where is it?!" Cleo looked at Scervo, still on the ground. He was groping around, practically digging his fingers and hook in the dirt. "No, No! It can't be gone! It can't be!" He sounded really frantic. What was he looking for? She got her answer when she spotted a gold gleam just a little ways off. She went over to it and picked up the shining object. It was a locket, its lid popped open. Cleo saw the photo and drew a sharp intake of breath. Inside was an image of the same robot lady from the painting.

She looked up at Scervo who was now standing before her. He was bereft, he appeared drained both physically and emotionally, like someone who was lost in memories. There was a long silent pause between them. She held the locket out to him. "...Here you go," she gently offered. He slowly reached out and took it without complaint. "Sparklette... Was that her name?"

He nodded. "I was blind... not being able ter see the truth right in front of me... It's clear ter me now... that ye were meant ter revive the ancient robots... whereas I have failed ter do so."