Chapter Sixteen: On Memory Lane
"Zelda, you are really awake." Chad said, walking in her room. Oh thank God she is okay. Zelda was staring at her window. "Zelda…" She turned to him and smiled.
"Oh sorry, Chad... I was lost in thought." Zelda said. "Hi Chad, it is good to see you again. I missed you so much." He cupped her cheek and smiled.
"I miss you too. I am just happy you are okay. My parents told me that you woke up and I wanted to see it for myself." Chad said. "It is hard to believe they came to see you." She grabbed his hand and kissed it.
"They aren't so bad." She said. "They were actually really nice. They just want what is best for their son."
"I am happy that they finally accepted you." Chad said. "I thought I have to go on strike with them."
"You don't need to go through all that trouble." She said. He always does stuff for me and I can't do the same. She then let out a frown. "So did you guys found the other me?"
"No, we are still searching." Chad said. "But don't worry, we will get her. She is not going to lay a hand on you again."
"But she is strong. She is also not alone." Zelda said. She was too strong. She was a match for both Nigel and Chad.
"I am not alone as well. Trust me Zelda, everything is going to be fine." Chad said. "Anyways, are you ready to go home? I am here to pick you up. My parents bought me a car for my birthday so I can take you somewhere to eat before I take you home."
"Oh, okay…" Zelda said. I hate being weak. I hate it when everyone is trying to protect me and I can't do anything. She gripped her fists. I can't…He grabbed her hand.
"Zelda, please don't worry about it. I know you feel vulnerable right now but let me protect you." Chad said, smiling. "I promise that everything is going to be fine."
"Okay…" She said. I can't let them keep protecting me. I need to face my own fears. He grabbed her things and helped her get out of bed. They walked out the hospital hand in hand.
"So where do you feel like going?" Chad asked. She didn't reply. She was lost in thought once more. She has been very silent lately. "Zelda…"
"Oh sorry…" Zelda said. "Did you ask me something?"
"Yes, where do you want to go?" Chad asked.
"Anything you choose is fine with me Chad." Zelda said. Chad let out a sigh and put her things in the trunk. She sat in the passenger seat silently.
She is still worried. Chad thought, entering the car. Wait… I know what to do. He started the car and turned to her. "Zelda, there is a place I want to take you."
"Okay…" Zelda said. They drove away and it was a silent drive. Zelda stared out into the window while Chad was focusing on driving. But this silence was killing the both of them because they were never silent with each other. If I turn myself in, they won't get hurt. They would be safe but I would disappear. She let out a frown. Mom believes in me but I am not so sure of myself. I don't know what to do. Chad pulled over and it was a kindergarten.
"Come on, let's go." Chad said. They walked out the car and walked to a tree near the playground.
"Why are we here?" Zelda asked.
"I told you I will explain about what happened at the stadium and I wanted to start here." Chad said. "This is the spot that I first lay eyes on you."
"Really, I thought we met in Elementary." She said.
"We got close in Elementary. I pretended not to know you because I felt embarrassed if I told you that I had a crush on you when I was a kindergartener." He said, scratching his head. "I can remember you wore a white shirt with red overalls. You also wore a red hat that had a picture of a bunny. I wanted to play with you so bad but I was too shy." He said, letting out a chuckle. "This was your spot. You weren't so great with the sun so you stay under the shade and watch the other children play."
"My spot…" Zelda said, smoothing the tree. Then pain hit her head. What the…
"It is too hot to play…" I said. I was sitting under the tree and staring at the kids. "I wish I wasn't so weak. I hate it when the sun is too sunny."
"Hey…" A voice said. I turned and found a boy with spiky blonde hair and blue eyes. He was wearing a blue shirt with brown shorts. He also wore a blue baseball cap.
"Hello…" I replied.
"I… well…" He stuttered, blushing in front of me.
"Yes…" I said. He ran away from me and I didn't know why. "Did I say something wrong?"
Zelda touched her head. Was that a memory? I remember something from my childhood just now. The pain disappeared.
"Zelda, are you okay?" Chad said.
"You tried to play with me but you were too shy. You ran away from me." Zelda said.
"You remember?" Chad asked, staring at her with shock. Is it possible that her memories are returning to her? She is not supposed to remember this but she did.
"Yes, you were wearing a baseball cap." She said. "It was blue."
"I was…" Chad said. She remembered my baseball cap. Maybe I can help her get all her memories back. "I was sad that I didn't have the courage to ask you to play with me so I practiced in front of a mirror." He then grabbed her hand. "There is another place I would like to take you."
"Okay…" She said. They walked back into the car and drove out. They made it to Father's house. "Why are we here at my Uncle Benedict's house?"
"You would see…" Chad said, pulling her to the front door. He pushed the doorbell and Father appeared.
"Zelda, you are out of the hospital. Thank the stars." Father said.
"Hi Uncle Benedict, I am happy to be out. The hospital food was terrible." She said, smiling.
"Is it okay if we come in, there is a place she needs to be?" Chad asked. "I know it is sudden but please let us in." Father stared at him for a brief moment and then let out a sigh.
"Alright…" Father said. What is he up to? He let them in and Chad pulled her into a throne room.
"Chad, why are we here? It is very disrespectful to waltz in my Uncle's house." Zelda said.
"In this room, it is when I met you again. There is this organization called the Kids Next Door and it is about kids fighting for their rights from adults. Like Nigel, I was an agent. My codename was 274." Chad explained. "I know it sounds silly but I was here to stop Father aka Uncle Benedict but I bumped into you."
"That is hard to believe." Zelda said.
"You saw how the others and I fought that day." Chad said. "We had weapons and armor, you have to believe me.
"But…"
"He is telling the truth by dear niece." Father said. So he is trying to regain her memories. "You were delightful when you were a kid." Then Zelda's head was in pain once more.
"You are perfect. My delightful-nizer work like a charm." My Uncle said. "So my dear, what is your objective?"
"Destroy Kids Next Door." I said.
"Perfect…" He said, hugging her. Then an alarm turned on. "I see that we have some company. What timing. I can test how powerful you really are." Then Chad appeared and he aimed his weapon to my Uncle.
"Alright Father, let's do this the easy way. Give me the weapon and I will not hurt you too bad." Chad said.
"Did your parents teach you any manners?" He said, letting out a chuckle. "Also, I am not going to be the one getting pain today. Oh niece, dispose of him but keep him alive. I need some information."
"Yes Godfather…" I said. I was holding a wooden sword.
"You have some nerve letting a kid do your dirty work." Chad said. He shot gumballs towards me but I sliced through all of them with my wooden sword. "What the… That's not possible."
"I delightful-nized her. Isn't she perfect?" My Uncle said.
"How dare you do such a thing especially towards your own niece?" Chad snapped.
"She was a test subject for the real thing."My Uncle said. "Z, knock him out for me. I want to test my machine on him."
"Yes Godfather…" I said, dashing towards him. He kept shooting me but I was too fast. I did a sweep kick and it knocked him to the ground. I pinned him with my own body and my wooden blade was on his neck. He kept staring at me. I don't know why "Goodbye…" I knocked him out with my wooden sword.
"Zelda, are you okay?" Father asked.
"Godfather…" She mumbled. "Was I really bad?" Father was lost for words. He couldn't believe that she remembered.
"No, you were an undercover agent for the KND. You were strong even for me. But even though your enemy was your Uncle, you always showed him kindness." Chad said. She remembers the name that she used to called Father. I can't believe this is working. "Your codename was Infinite."
"Infinite…" She said. Then she had another headache. "Not again…"
"Congratulation kid, you are finally a member of the Kids Next Door." The leader said.
"So what name am I?" I asked. "Am I like Number 1000?"
"Funny but no, I would like you to be called Agent Infinite." He said. "It suits you than a number."
"Infinite? I like the sound of it." I said, giggling.
My codename… I was a part of KND.
"I was an agent." She said.
"We had a truce and even though you were a member of KND, I was proud of how strong you have become." Father said.
"But I am not strong. I can't do anything." She said. "I am not that girl like before. That girl was powerful. I am just…"
"You have the power within you Zelda." Father interrupted, grabbing her shoulders. "I know you can stop your negative self." He let out a smile. "It is weird that I am supposed to be your enemy and also destroy your friend here but I am happy that you remember me a little bit."
"Godfather…" She said.
"There is one more place that I have to take you." Chad said.
"Alright…" She said. She hugged her Uncle tightly. "Thank you Godfather."
"You would do fine." He said. Her memories are coming back to her. Would she get all her memories in time?
Chad drove them to a meadow with wide-open fields and vivid flowers. He parked his car in front of a huge tree and it seems to be a treehouse. "This is the last stop." Chad said. "Does it look familiar?"
"It…" She stopped when pain once again hit her head but this time it was too severe. "AHHHHHH!"
"ZELDA, ARE YOU OKAY?!" Chad screamed, grabbing her.
"I…" She stuttered, breathing heavily.
"Infinite, of all the places to choose from, you choose this wasteland." Chad complained. The meadow was just bad soil and there was not even a singletree or flower anywhere. "I shouldn't put you in charge of picking our location for our treehouse."
"Come on, give this place a chance." I said. "I see potential. It just needs some love and some tending and it would be the most beautiful place ever."
"Let's find another place." Chad said.
"No, I want it here." I said, sticking my tongue. Chad let out a sigh and threw a seed to the ground. In seconds, a treehouse was born and I smiled with delight. "IT IS SO BEAUTIFUL!"
"It is a treehouse…" Chad said. "How is it beautiful?"
"You can't see beauty even if it is in front of you." I teased.
"That is not true, I see something beautiful right now." Chad said, blushing.
"What?"'
"I mean, let's check the treehouse."
"CHAD, GET BACK HERE!"
"I picked this spot." She said. "It was nothing more than dirt before."
"Yes, I hate to admit it is a pretty good spot. You were right. It just needed some tending to. Now it is so beautiful." Chad said.
"It sure is…" Zelda said. "Can we go inside?"
"Of course, I asked the KND if they can keep this treehouse on the down low. It was the only thing I have to remember you by." Chad said. They walked inside and Zelda was escort around the house. She then paused in front of a door with a symbol of a bunny. "That's your room."
"I have a room?" Zelda asked.
"Yup, you can open it if you want." He said. She opened it and it was a cute room. The walls were cover with Ninja Rabbit posters and drawings. "I kept it as it is." She walked in the room and looked around the room. "Do you remember this room?"
"I don't know… Nothing is coming up." She said. She then turned to Chad. He was by the door. Wait… She then had another headache.
"ZELDA!" Chad said, racing to her aid.
"It is too much pain… Too much…" She mumbled.
"Infinite, what's wrong?" Chad asked, knocking on my door. I lock myself in my room in the treehouse. I was mad.
"I don't want to talk to you Number 274." I snapped.
"Okay, something is wrong since you are using my codename. What is wrong?" Chad asked.
"How about you ask someone else?" I snapped. "SOMEONE WHO SEES ME AS HIS PARTNER NOT A SIDEKICK!"
"What?"
"I was there when you were taking to those girls. You called me sidekick and weak." I snapped. "I AM SORRY FOR NOT BEING ELITE MATERIAL!"
"Infinite, you know that I didn't mean those things." He said. I opened the door and glared at him. "Infinite…"
"Shut it, I don't want to hear anything from you. I thought you were different but you are all the same." I snapped. "I am resigning as your partner because I am not being treated as one." I slammed the door in front of him and started crying. I didn't want to see me cry. There was silence so I thought that he stopped caring. I cried even more when silence consumed the treehouse. Then I heard the sound of a guitar and his voice.
I am sorry for hurting you
I didn't mean to make you cry
All those things I said wasn't true
It was just my stupid pride
Please don't leave me
Please don't go
Please stay with me
Please don't let go
I cried even more with his song. I hate to admit it was cute and I blushed when he was singing to me and only me.
I'm sorry that I hurt you so
I have been alone far too long
And I'm scared to let you go
That is why I singing this corny song
I giggled with his last lyric and the rage and anger disappeared.
Please let me in
Please open the door
Please let me see your grin
Please don't make me beg on the floor.
I opened the door and found him with a guitar. "I am very sorry." He said. "We have been through a lot of arguments and I think is the worse. I don't want you to resign. I want you to stay. Please forgive me." I smiled at him.
"If you sing me another song then I would stay." I said.
"You got yourself a deal." He said, smiling.
"I remember I locked myself in my room and I hated you." She said. "You sang to me."
"Yes, a lot. We always got into arguments." Chad said. "It is mostly my fault. I mean I was so used of being alone that having a partner was new." Then she turned to the Ninja Rabbit plushy that was on the bed. She grabbed it.
"It's Sky…" She said, smoothing the plushy. "I always wanted one…"
"I bought it for your 12th Birthday." Chad said. "But the day before, you erased your memory and I couldn't give it to you." She hugged it tightly and started crying. "Zelda…"
"Kept screaming my name and begging me to stop." She cried.
"ZELDA!" He screamed. He was about to reach me until a glass wall blocked his way. He banged harshly on it but it wouldn't budge. "ZELDA, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! PLEASE STOP THIS!" I turned to him and started to cry. "PLEASE DON'T LEAVE ME!" He too started to cry. "I NEED YOU! PLEASE DON'T DO THIS!" I remember how hard it was to do this. I remember how hard it was to watch him cry and scream out of name. But has much it pains me, I forced a smile. He then showed me the ninja rabbit. "I BROUGHT YOU THIS FOR YOUR BIRTHDAY TOMORROW! IT IS NOT TIME FOR YOU TO LEAVE! YOU ARE ONLY ELEVEN!" At that moment, I finally found my partner for life.
"Chad, I love you…" I said. It was okay if he didn't say those words back at me. I was just happy I had the best partner in the world. "Goodbye…" Then a bright light filled the room.
"ZELDA!" He screamed, crying.
"I left you." She said. "I was moving away on my birthday and I thought it would be best if I disappear. I lost my mother and I was a mess. I wasn't fit to be an agent of KND." She cried even more. "I didn't have the heart to resign because I knew you would hate me for it. I knew that you would stop me."
"Hey, I am just happy you are back." Chad said, smiling. "But Zelda, I know that you are planning on turning yourself in. I know that you are thinking that you should disappear. But you did that once and nothing good happened. We both suffer through pain, heartache, and endless tears." He then grabbed her shoulder. "You don't need to disappear. This time you are not alone. You have friends and your family to help you and I promise that everything is going to be fine." She then collapsed on her knees."ZELDA!" Chad screamed. She fell unconscious on her bed. He pulled her into his embrace and from tears. "I guess I pushed you to hard." He then hugged her tightly. "Sorry Zelda…"
"Number 274, you are such a meanie…" She mumbled in her sleep. "But I love you anyway." He let out a chuckle.
"Infinite, you are being cheesy again." Chad said.