Chapter Twenty Three: Careful What You Wish For
The sound of endless crying filled the room. I can't believe he is gone. A minute ago he was alive, annoying me and all. Chad thought, shaking while holding the inert body. It is all my fault that he is dead. If I didn't provoke her, he wouldn't have taken the hit. Why damn it? Why you have to die Number 1?
I remember our second meeting.
"Infinite, why are you not answering your communicator?" I said, entering the treehouse. "You were supposed to meet me at the Treehouse in Sector V."
"I am sorry. I was busy but I will make it up to you by cooking you something delicious."She said. I turned to the kitchen and smiled.
"What are you making?"I asked. "It smells really good."
"Oh, I am making pizza. My dad taught me and I wanted to try for myself." She said.
"I can't wait."
"So how were the new recruits?"She said. "Do they fit your standards?"
"Not really but one stood up. He is pretty good and skilled. I actually battled him today."
"It is not like you to battle a new recruit."
"I know but I saw a lot of potential in him." I explained. "Of course he was no match for me but we a lot of training, he will be an exceptional." Then she walked in the living room with the kid. "Hey, that's him… How did he get in here?"
"Oh, this is Nigel my little cousin." She said, patting his head.
"It's Number 1, Infinite…" Nigel said nervously. "You didn't tell me that your partner is the Great 274."
"He is not all that great." She teased.
"Hey…"
"It is nice to meet you again sir…" Nigel said, giving me a salute.
"At ease soldier, there is no need for formalities. You are our guest." I said. "And also my friend."
"Really?" Nigel said.
"Yeah…"
I hate to admit it, you always have this encouraging aura like Zelda. I think it is an Uno trait. But even with all the crazy things we both went through, I have never saw you as a rival. I saw you as my friend.
"Number 1…" Wally cried, hugging Kuki.
"Why do you have to die?" Kuki cried.
"I can't believe he is gone." Hoagie cried.
"This can't be happening." Abby cried. Everyone in the cage started crying.
"I see that I killed the wrong person. Well no matter, I will kill everyone after I kill you." Negative Zelda said.
Nigel… Nigel… Nigel can't be dead…He can't leave me… He can't…. Zelda thought, shaking and crying at the same time. I just failed. I just failed Nigel… Zelda kicked Negative Zelda away from her and she forced her body up. "You…"
"Aww… why are you even crying? He was a weakling." Negative Zelda said. "A waste of space…" Zelda gritted her teeth.
"He is not a waste of space. He means the world to me." She said, glaring at her. She pinned her long hair into a ponytail "I didn't want to do this but you leave me no choice." She grabbed the handle of her katana. Nigel….
"Hey Z, what's up?" He replied. I haven't seen him for a long time and I was shocked that he gotten a little taller.
"I missed you so much little cousin. Aren't you excited that I am your neighbor?" I asked, hugging him.
"You are killing me." He said, grasping for air. "I can't breathe." I let go of him but I was still smiling.
"Sorry Nigey, I am just happy to see you." I said, giggling. "It has been a long time."
"Yes it has." He replied. He wasn't smiling so I thought he forgot all about me or didn't like me anymore. He then let out a smile. "It is good to see you again Z. I miss you too."
"Nigel…" Zelda cried, pulling out the katana. I lost another important person.
"Zelda, I am going to protect you no matter what." Nigel said, smiling. "You can always count on me."
"Really? What happen if I get abducted by aliens?" I teased.
"I will shoot the spaceship down and save you." He said. "Aliens, humans, or animals, I will always protect you. You don't need to worry because I got your back."
I couldn't even protect him…
"You are finally getting serious…" Negative Zelda was interrupt as Zelda swiftly appeared in front of her and started swinging. How did she get so fast? Negative Zelda deflected her blade but one of her katana was broken into pieces. "What…"
"YOU ARE GOING TO PAY FOR TAKING NIGEL AWAY FROM ME!" Zelda screamed, swinging her blade once more. Negative Zelda fell back and started shooting her with her gun. Zelda tossed a shuriken to the gun and it fling away from her hand. Zelda raced towards her and their blades clash once more. Images of Nigel appeared in her mind, her heart started aching, and tears kept on leaking. "You will pay…"
"What's with the gloomy face?" I said.
"I just had a bad day that's all." Nigel said. I then pulled him into my embrace and started cuddling. "ZELDA, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!"
"You are just too cute when you smile. Please smile for me." I said, nuzzling him. He was embarrassed with the situation and tried to break free.
"LET ME GO!"
"You are not getting away from me." I said, tickling him. He started laughing.
"HEY, STOP THAT!" He laughed.
"There's that smile I love so much." I said, tickling him so more.
"ALRIGHT, I WILL STOP BEING SAD! PLEASE STOP!" Nigel pleaded. I stopped and she let out a sigh. "You know Z, you are so weird."
"I know…"
"But thank you." Nigel said, turning to me with a smile. "You are the best."
Nigel… I am going to avenge you.
The data said that this Zelda wasn't supposed to be like this. She wasn't supposed to take the path I chose. Negative Zelda thought, staring at her. Her emerald eyes were devour by bloodlust and hatred. She is turning into… Then robots surrounded them. Negative Zelda retreated.
"We are not done yet." She said. The robots aimed their weapons on her.
"HEY NO FAIR!" Ruby screamed.
"She wasn't planning on playing fair in the first place." Richard said.
"But there is something different about Negative Zelda." Johnny said. "She seems frightened…"
"How can you tell?" Gwen asked.
"She is letting the robots fight the one battle she was looking forward to." Johnny said.
"She is not the only one different." Maurice said.
"Zelda is also changing." Cree said, turning to Nigel. All because she lost another love one…
"You are not going to leave here. You wanted this and I will fight you without holding back." Zelda said, walking towards her negative self. "I will not stop until I see your blood split before me." The robots started to fire at her and she kept on walking. She used her blade to hit the blast back. "Do you think your toys will stop me?" Nigel…
"Hey Zelda, are you ever going to leave again?" He asked. We were playing ice hockey in the game room.
"Well, after high school I will leave for college. My art teacher suggested me pursuing in art but I am more into psychology and all." I said. He hit the puck to the goal and I let out a sigh. "I can never win this game."
"Zelda, do you have to leave?" Nigel said, letting out a frown. "You just got here."
"Oh Nigel, I will be back here every Christmas. I promise…" I said, smiling. He smiled back.
"Then I have a lot of time to beat you in ice hockey." He teased.
"You meanie…"
"KEEP FIRING!" Negative Zelda screamed. The robots kept on firing but it didn't stop Zelda. When she was close, she swiftly cut all of their heads. She is this skilled? How? She started shaking while Zelda turned to her with her daggering eyes. Don't let her get to you. Kill her already… Negative Zelda raced towards her and swung her blade. Zelda kept on dodging it but with a smile on her face. Why is she smiling? It is giving me the creeps. She then jumped in the air and threw needles at her. Zelda deflected every single one of them.
"Come on, is that all you got?" Zelda said, pulling her back with her STRING and launching a punch to her stomach. Negative Zelda flew to the other side of the room, coughing out blood. "Oh what a pretty color… Do you know I love the color red?"
It is like she transformed into… Negative Zelda thought, forcing her body up. Zelda kicked her away and sliced through her armor. Negative Zelda started shaking as she tried to defend herself. Is this what everyone saw? Fear… I feel fear..
"I will kill you…" Zelda said, licking her lips. "I will make you regret everything you have done."
I turned into a monster… And now she did as well… Negative Zelda thought. I can't stop shaking…
"ZELDA, STOP!" Chad screamed. "Killing her will not solve anything. It won't bring Nigel back to life."
"I don't care. At least it gives me the satisfaction." Zelda said.
"Zelda lost it." Cree said.
"ZELDA, STOP IT!" Gwen screamed. "YOU CAN'T KILL HER!" Zelda started swinging once more and was deflected it. With all her strength, she swung again and the blade was destroy. "She is not listening."
"ZELDA, STOP AT ONCE!" Richard screamed.
"IDIOT, DON'T KILL HER!" Johnny screamed.
"Honey Bunny… please stop…" Ruby cried.
"This is not what you are supposed to do." Maurice said. "Nigel wouldn't want this."
"Please stop Zeddy…" Kuki cried.
"I know you are in pain girl but you can't kill her." Abby added.
"You are his hero Zelda. Please don't do it." Wally said.
"Please don't let your anger take over you. You are going to regret it." Hoagie said. "Number 1 wouldn't want this."
"I am sorry but this is something I have to do." Zelda said, turning to Negative Zelda. "I am going to enjoy killing you. I am going to enjoy watching you bleed."
"I am not going to die." Negative Zelda said, launching a punch. Zelda caught her fist and threw her to the ground. She is too strong. "You weren't this strong before."
"Careful what you wish for." She said. "You wanted this. You wanted me to go all out. You have the nerve to kill someone important to me." She kicked her stomach. "Maybe I was destined to follow this path. Maybe I should be like you, being feared and alone. Thanks for opening my eyes. Too bad, you are going to die. I promised your friends that I would bring you back. They believe in you and still love you while you treated them like trash. Maybe I will end their suffering by killing you." She placed her blade on her neck.
"They still…" Negative Zelda said, staring crying. Cree, Maurice, Richard, Ruby, Gwen, Johnny… Chad… I am so sorry…
"It is too late now." Zelda said, smiling evilly. "Crying will get you nowhere." She lifted her blade in the air. "Now die…" She swung her blade.
"ZELDA NO!" Chad screamed, hugging her. I was too late… She already… "Zelda..." He opened his eyes and found that Negative Zelda was still alive. The blade destroyed the control panel that activates the voltage to the cage. "What the…"
"Just kidding…" Zelda said, sticking out her tongue. Her face was back to the silly and naïve girl. "Are you surprise?"
"What…" Negative Zelda said., staring at her with shock.
"WHAT!" Everyone screamed.
"You finally learned what you did wrong." Zelda said. "Ah Chad, you can let me go now." Chad was still shock and baffle what was going on. He didn't even let her go. "Earth to Chad… Hey, how did you get out the cage… hello…"
"What is going on here? You were consumed by bloodlust and vengeance. You wanted to kill me." Negative Zelda said. "I even killed your cousin." Zelda then let out a giggle. "This is not funny. I killed your cousin. Aren't you mad at me?"
"Nigel, you can cut the act now." Zelda said. Nigel stood up and let out a sigh.
"AHHH! A ZOMBIE!" Ruby screamed, hiding behind the others. "KILL HIM WITH FIRE BEFORE HE EATS OUR BRAINS!"
"I am not a zombie." Nigel said, dusting himself off. "Thank God, I thought I have to pretend to be dead for another hour. You took your time Zelda."
"Sorry Nigel, she was tough." Zelda said, smiling.
"I THOUGHT YOU WERE DEAD!" Chad snapped, finally letting go of her. Zelda used that time to put back her blade in the scabbard.
"That was the whole point." Nigel said. Nigel took off his shirt and he was wearing a vest. "I was wearing a vest the whole time and I added ketchup for blood." He then found Chad out the cage. "How did you get out the cage?"
"YOU FIGURE IT OUT GENIUS!" Chad screamed. He had a plan the whole time and he didn't bother to tell me.
"Sorry that I made you cry." Nigel teased.
"I didn't cry. I had something in my eye." Chad said, crossing his arms.
"Right…" Nigel said.
"GIVE US A MEMO BEFORE YOU PULL A STUNT LIKE THAT NUMBER 1!" Hoagie snapped.
"We thought we lost you." Kuki added.
"Number 5 wants to kick your butt." Abby said.
"Don't do that again." Wally said.
"Sorry guys…" Nigel said, scratching his head.
"Please tell me what is going on here." Negative Zelda said.
"Zelda send me a text message about this plan to show you what happen to you. She was reenacting you being consumed by hatred and pain when you lost your father. I thought it was crazy but it freaked you out pretty good." Nigel explained, walking out the cage.
"Why would you…"
"I wanted you to see what you were throwing away. When I was about to strike you, my friends were screaming my name. Maybe your friends tried to pull you out of this dream of yours but your hatred made them fear you." Zelda explained. Then all of Negative Zelda's friends entered the room. "Hatred is a powerful emotion but it is also insightful." She sat in front of her and grabbed her hand. "Just know that you are not alone." Negative Zelda started crying.
"I just want my family back…" She cried. "I miss my dad so much. I just want to see him again. I want everything back to normal. I wanted to create a world where he was back in my life."
"I wanted the same thing when my mother died but there were people that cared for me just like she did." Zelda said. "You had that too…"
"I keep pushing people away and hurting them."
"It was painful but I still love you Z." A voice said. They turned and found Negative Chad, smiling. "I always did."
"Chad, I don't deserve your love. I don't deserve anything. I brought this on myself." She said. Negative Chad offered his hand to her.
"We all know what you were going through. That is why we stayed by your side. We cared for you deeply." Negative Chad said. "I will love you to death." She grabbed his hand and was pull back on her feet. "Please come back to us. Please be that girl we all love."
"I miss my best friend." Negative Cree said.
"We miss you so very much darling." Negative Gwen said.
"You… helped me with the bullies at school… you were my hero…" Negative Johnny said, fiddling with his fingers.
"You wanted to be my friend even with my differences." Negative Richard said.
"You were my rival and I hate to admit that I was jealous of you." Negative Ruby said. "But even when you beat me down, I want that old Zelda back."
"You were always there for us and we wanted to do the same." Negative Maurice said. "But I also miss the old Zelda."
"See…. Everyone is here and they want you back." Negative Chad said.
"But I hurt you all so bad." She cried. "I don't…"
"We forgive you Zelda." Negative Cree said. "Just please come back to us."
"I AM SO SORRY EVERYONE!" She screamed, hugging Chad. "I am so sorry…" Then everyone of her friends gathered for a group hug. "I am so sorry…"
"I know…" Negative Chad said, kissing her forehead. "Next time someone you love dies, let's not try to take over a dimension. Let's just beat some kids and adults okay?" He then found Zelda and smiled. "Thank you my pretty prey."
"Don't mention it…" Zelda said. She watched her Negative self being hugged and she let out a smile. Now that is a pretty sight. Mission Complete.
"ZELDA!" Her friends screamed, racing towards her and hugging her tightly.
"I can't believe you came for us." Ruby cried.
"You scared us back there." Gwen cried.
"I am sorry…" She replied. "Also, I am in pain." They let her go and she let out a sigh of relief.
"Sorry, we forgot about your injuries." Cree said.
"It is okay. It is nothing I can't handle." Zelda said. "How are you guys?"
"We are fine thanks to you." Gwen said.
"It was nothing. I did what I had to do." Zelda said, scratching her head.
"But you were pretty cool… for a weirdo." Johnny said.
"You were amazing." Richard said. "I can't believe you defeated all of them."
"I still can't believe you are not in our organization." Johnny said.
"Well she can if she wants to." Cree said.
"You are really considering?" Maurice said.
"Well, it all depends on her." Cree said.
"I just want to be Zelda, the silly and naïve weirdo." She said. They all laughed and hugged her even more. "Ouch… again you guys are hurting me."
"Sorry…"
"Save your hugs when my wounds are healed." She said. "I can't…" Then she started swaying around. "I feel so dizzy." She collapsed to the ground.
"ZELDA!" Chad and Nigel screamed, racing towards her aid.
"I am so tired." She said. "I didn't know that being a hero can be exhausting." They both laughed and hugged her.
"You should leave the hero stuff to us." Chad said.
"I will… It is too much work." Zelda said.
"Thanks for saving me Z." Nigel said. "You were amazing out there. I can't believe you still got it after all those years."
"Yeah but… I… " She doze off.
"What a weird hero." They said. Everyone agreed, Zelda Uno was the weirdest hero in the world yet they wouldn't have it any other way.