Chapter 34: Breaking Curses

Groose darted upwards with a yelp, panting in synch with his rapid heartbeat. A tingling sensation grew on his face. Gently wiping his fingers against his forehead, a mixture of blue & purple paints rests on his fingers. It let out a warm glow, chipping away from his skin, floating into the air, and fading away. No trace of the strange paint was left on his fingertips or his face.

"Welcome back," The Old One's voice made Groose jump. She sat with a nonchalant expression.

Groose scotches several inches away from her, "You…What the hell was in that stuff, Grannie?"

"Something that helped you."

"Help me? HELP ME?!" Groose screeched, glaring at the old woman who remained calm. "How was that supposed to help me?!"

"Are you upset?"

"Of course I'm upset! Why wouldn't I? You drugged me!" He pointed an accusing finger at her.

"Technically, I gave you a choice to drink that. I did not force you to drink it. You made your choice." The Old One clarified. "It helps you clear your mind."

"How is having trauma-inducing shit shoved to my face supposed to clear my mind?" He hissed.

"To allow you to see all the events that shaped you without the lens that censored it placed by you. Such as how your future will be. The effects of how you treated others. And how your parents abused you."

Groose held his breath. "H-How did you know?"

"I saw everything. From your past actions and the potential future."

The teen sat quietly for a good minute, unsure what to say. "Every single thing?" The elderly woman responded back with a nod.

"Have you nothing to say?" The Old One asked when the silence lingered too long for her liking.

"Should I? You already know." Groose responded with bitterness.

"Are you certain?"

"You really want me to say it out loud, Grannie?! I'm an asshole, okay!" Groose's piercing words ricocheted throughout the interior of the temple. The Old One remained unruffled by the sudden volume boost in Groose's voice. She stays hushed as he continues on.

"My parents treated me like shit! They hated me! I was always always a nuisance to them. Deadweight. The one time I tried to prove myself to them that I wasn't, they shattered it! I was never good enough for them. I was nothing but useless."

Groose let out a sarcastic chuckle.

"And then they just left me at the academy! They haven't visited me or written a letter in the past seven years! They discarded me like I was old, worn-out clothes they didn't want anymore!" Groose wiped his eyes in front of the tears that threatened to break out. "I spend so many nights lying awake asking myself: How bad of a son I was? Every inconvenience in their life has always been MY fault! What other reason could that be? Mom and Dad just left me there. Link might've been an orphan, but he had people that cared for him…."

He said with a croaked voice. "...I had no one. I was totally alone."

"Then I met Zelda. She was the first person to be kind to me." Groose grasps the necklace. "Zel made me this, y'know. It may not look like much, but to me, it meant everything. She didn't know anything about me at the time, but she made me this simple necklace to welcome me. It was the first gift I've ever gotten from anyone. Not even my parents did that. She wanted to be my friend."

Groose let out a huff. "Then I eventually blew that. When I found out that she & Link were best friends, I was afraid of losing her. I was convinced that Link was keeping her away. It was easier for me to believe that. I was wrong. I was a jealous jerk who couldn't handle Zelda having another friend. Everyone saw me as nothing more after that. I became 'Groose the Bully.' 'Terror of Skyloft.' And can't forget 'The Guy Who Ruins Everything.' That's who I've always been all of my freaking LIFE!" Groose's nostrils breathe with anger. "If that's what the world was going to see me as…there was no point in trying to be anything else."

Groose lowers his head. The Old One watches him with patience. "You still think you can help me out, Grannie? The way I see it, I'm nothing but a curse…" Groose turns to face her, spreading his arms to the side. "So go ahead. Tell me I'm an irredeemable monster. Or just kill me. No one will care."

The teen closes his eyes, bracing for whatever The Old One would do to him. His breath hitched as he heard her walk towards him. She wraps her arms around the boy in a warm embrace. "I care."

Groose darted his eyes open, frozen in shock. Clearly surprised by the gesture. "You are no curse." The Old One expressed softly.

The teen jerked away from her. "How can you believe that? You saw everything those sisters showed me." Groose, with every ounce of raw emotion in his shaky tone, tries not to let out the waterworks that threaten to break free and gazes at the old woman with disbelief in his eyes. "Don't you know…what I've done?!"

"Yes!" The Old One responded strictly before speaking with a low tone. "But what will you do now?"

Groose spent a minute pondering a response. "What can I do? People like me don't change. We don't have a choice."

"There is always a choice. The problem with you…You were led to believe that you didn't have any." The Old One gently held Groose's hand in a comforting manner. "Let me ask again. What will you do?"

"I…" Groose mumbled. "I don't know."

The Old One's grip on his hand gently tightened. "Then, if you allow me, I can help you. There is no shame in asking for such a thing. No one can face the world alone. You've been doing that all your life. Asking for help will not make you weak. You may think nobody cares, but I do." Groose was puzzled to hear that. "It may be hard to swallow your pride in admitting to needing assistance. Believe me, I am guilty of such a thing. But if there's anything I learned from my time in this world, it takes true strength to ask for help. This world is not always fair, but you don't have to fight it alone. If you chose to I can help you. Will you allow me to do so? What is your choice?"

All of the walls that Groose had put up for so many years crumbled in that instant. He covered his mouth with his free hand to hold in the sobs that were now breaking through as the tears started to stream down. The Old One again pulled Groose into a hug, but this time he reciprocated.

Loud cries echoed throughout the interior of the temple. Tears stained the older woman's shoulder as she let the teen let out emotions that he had pent up for a good portion of his life. She gave soothing rubs on his back, like a mother comforting her sad child.

Groose clutches the old woman like his life depended on it. When was the last time he hugged someone, he realized. Has he ever been hugged at all?

He never knew how touch-starved he was.

"I'm such a failure, aren't I?" Groose croaked in a hoarse voice after a while. "I'm a failure of a Skyknight. I'm a failure of a friend…And I'm a failure of a son."

The Old One pulled away, keeping a grip on his arms. "No. You did not fail your parents. They were the ones who failed you. Rather than love & guide you, they treated you like a burden, and casted you away."

Groose lets out a sniffle, wiping his eyes from the tears. "Why couldn't they just…love me?"

"Every child deserves a parent. But not every parent deserves a child. You did not ask for them to be your parents or for this life. They decided to bring you into this world and how they treated you. I guarantee that you did nothing to deserve that kind of abuse. What they did to you is something no loving parent would ever do."

The Old One stares intently at him. "Regardless of what they did, they are still your parents. Nothing will ever change that." Groose's eyes lowered. "But they are no longer a part of your life. You are free from them. Free to make your own choices."

Grooses eyes slightly lit up upon that realization.

"Life sometimes is not easy for every person. At some point, you will be placed in a dark tunnel. You then have two choices. Either you sit in the tunnel until fate takes hold of you...Or you walk. You keep walking and walking until finally, you find that light at the end. Sometimes, that journey takes a long time, but you'll reach the end if you keep going. And you, Groose, just need to keep on walking."

"I…I guess I can do that. But where would I start?"

"You can start by stop feeling sorry for yourself." Groose let out a small chuckle at the old woman's statement, agreeing with her. "Thinking about the past will not help your future. Yes, the past can hurt, but you can either run from it or learn from it."

"Really bringing up the importance of choice, eh, Grannie?"

"Because you do have a choice. You have the choice to not be abusive like your parents."

"I know that now," Groose said uncertainly. "Could I really become a better person? I've hurt a lot of people on Skyloft."

"The path of atonement is not an easy one. Some may forgive you. But there will be some who may never do so."

Groose could already get an idea who those unforgivers may be. He will not blame them for feeling that way if they do so.

"But there is someone who I'm certain may forgive you."

"Who?" The old woman gave a confident smile to the teen. "Link?" The teen guessed. The Old One kept her smile. "How do you know? I've treated him the worst."

"Link was concerned for your well-being. Before he and his friends left, I overheard that he suspected there's more to you than you let on. If anything, I'm sure he's willing to give you a second chance. The question remains: Are you willing to make things right with him?"

"I think so." Groose took a deep breath through his nose. "I'm nothing like Link. That's a bitter potion I've got to swallow. I will do everything possible to make things right with him and everyone I've wronged." Groose eyes showed a hopeful gleam. "Maybe I could gain Zelda's friendship back. If she wants to, that is. If not…I'll be willing to accept that."

The Old One gave a proud smile.

"Goddesses, how do I even do this?" Groose ran his hand through his hair. "I could apologize, but... Link deserves so much more than that."

"I have the utmost confidence that you will figure it out." The Old One declared with complete confidence.

A yawn escapes from Groose's mouth. "Maybe I should sleep on it."

"I think it is wise to do so."

Groose sits down back in his sleeping spot. He did not immediately lie down, for something was on his mind. "What troubles you?" The Old One asks.

Groose sucked in a breath. "Can I ask you something, Grannie?"

"Of course."

"Could you…stay by my side in case I have another nightmare? I know it's stupid, but I just-"

The Old One walked to his side, sitting down. "You have my word, dear boy."

A breath of relief escaped from Groose's mouth. He lays on his back, giving one last look to the woman. "Night Grannie."

"Sleep well, Groose."

The teen shit his eyes. With one deep breath, he was out like a light.

Sounds of muffled yelling alerted Groose. He was alone in a dark void again. What was he doing here? Was it a nightmare, a dream, or something else?

The sounds of yelling echoed around him. It sounds as if they are getting closer and closer. Groose darts his head around, trying to find the source.

Groose sees a door.

A familiar dirty door, with muffled shouts emitting from the other side, alongside sounds of a child crying.

"Instead of helping us, you waste your time-" A small slam followed. "-Making absurd contraptions!"

"No!"

Hearing those words, Groose immediately rushes to the door and opens it. He freezes at the sight.

It was his old bedroom. His parents towered over his ten-year-old counterpart, crying as the man destroyed his creation. In contrast, the woman rips the plans for it apart.

Again, Groose watches his younger self beg his parents to stop what they're doing. Then, he tried to use physical force only to be pushed back. The boy could only watch his parents destroy his creation.

"Don't cry. This was your own doing." His mother scolded the crying boy just as remorselessly as before.

"I worked so hard…I could've helped others," Young Groose looked at the adults with questioning eyes.

"Like anyone would listen to your ridiculous ideas," Groose's Father sounded as uncaring as his wife.

Like last time, Young Groose then attempted to physically lash out in his anger at his parents. As previously, it was met with his father punching him and his mother slapping him, both hard enough to make him bleed.

"How dare you attack us!" The woman barked as if she couldn't believe it.

Seeing all this, something snapped Groose out of his frozen trance. Something told him to step in. He could not allow this any longer.

When his mother took a step forward to the child, Groose dashed in.

"Don't touch him!"

Groose stood directly in front of the adults, arms spread out to his sides, blocking their path to the child.

"Don't you move any closer to him!" Groose snarled at them in between his panting breaths. His parents gave dumbfounded expressions.

Groose's mother gave an amused chuckle. "Please stop this nonsense if you know what's good for you."

Groose did not budge to her demands. Her husband stepped forward and squared up to be intimidating. "Get out of our way, you insubordinate brat."

"Why? What are you going to do? Nothing can hurt more than what you've already done. How could you lay your hands on your family? A child?! Is that what they called parenting back in your day?"

"Don't you dare speak against us! We're your parents! You should respect us!"

"The day you deserve it! Smacking your kid around is not how you do it!" Groose barked back at his mother.

"We did it to teach you to be grateful!" Groose's Father argued.

"I was a kid! You were my parents! Parents are not supposed to hurt their kids. They were supposed to guide them. Support them. And love them. You never did any of that for me! I never felt respect for you while living with guys. All I felt was fear, confusion, and anger. I had no one to help me. More so after you left me at Skyloft all alone! I became so afraid of being alone that I pushed away the first person who showed me genuine kindness. I've hurt her and so many others."

"Well of course you did. You're a curse." Groose's Mother spat at him coldly. "It's in your nature to ruin everything you touch."

"You ruined your mother. Our stability. Our finances. Our entire lifestyle! Everything single in our lives were ruined because of you!" Groose's Father yelled.

"I DIDN'T ASK TO BE BORN!" Groose retorted, pointing his finger at them. "You assholes were the ones who brought me into this world! If anyone is to blame for your life being 'ruined,' it's you two! If I could, I sure as hell would wish not to be born in this life! I was just an innocent kid who had no idea what I did to make you both hate me!"

Groose let out more huffs of air, lowering his finger. "But whether we like it or not, I'm here. I'm still here, breathing and alive. And I'm no longer going to spend my life hurting others."

"What are you going to do? Turn a new leaf?" Groose's Father mocked.

"That's exactly what I'm going to do."

"How exactly? You've hurt so many people, including the girl you claimed to care for," Groose's Mother said in her condescending tone. "You've hurt her and a lot of others, including your so called 'friends'. You think they'll all forgive you after the seven years of insults, humiliation, and no regard for their well being?"

"Maybe not all of them, but I'll do what I can to make it right. Even if it takes me the rest of my life! Because, unlike you two, I know I was an asshole!" Groose slowly struts closer to them. "And I'll be damned if I spend my life acting like you two. I'll dedicate my life to ensuring I, or anyone else, doesn't become remotely close. I don't know where you are or if you're even alive, but that doesn't make any difference. You both became dead to me the day you left me at the academy." Groose shut his eyes, balling his fists. "I…will…NEVER become anything like you!"

The air around him grew quiet. Groose opens his eyes to find that his parents are no longer in sight. He let out a breath of relief. That was halted when he heard the sobs of a child.

Glancing over his shoulder, Groose could see Young Groose on the floor, still crying, near the remains of his invention. The boy seems to feel his gaze, tilting his head to see him. There was a look of fear in Young Groose's eyes. It was the same type of fear Groose had seen on Link, Fledge, and so many other people he had hurt when he bullied them. That was a life that he swore he would no longer live. He was going to make things right.

Maybe he could start now.

Groose gently lifts his hands. He slowly walked over to the boy, who was on high alert.

"Easy, kid. I'm not going to hurt you."

"You look big & scary, like my dad," hearing his young self say that did sting, though to the proper extent.

"I am, but I promise I won't hurt you." Groose sits on the ground in front of Young Groose. He brought his attention to the broken. "I'm sorry about they did to your invention."

"Its okay…I'm used to it."

"What was it?"

"It's-" Young Groose stopped himself. "It's nothing."

"I don't believe that for one minute. Tell me about it."

Young Groose warily looked at Groose. Seeing that he was interested, the boy relaxed in a comfortable position.

"I called it the Groosenator. It's meant to defend against flying monsters. A model of it, at least. Mom and Dad told me it was stupid and no one would like it." Young Groose let out a defeated sigh, tears strolling down his cheek as he lowered his head. "Maybe they were right. It does sound stupid, like me."

Groose gently held onto his younger counterpart's shoulders. "Don't listen to them, kid. You are not stupid. That invention sounds like a great idea."

Young Groose lifts up his gaze. "But my parents said-"

"They're wrong about you. Just because they're your parents doesn't mean they're always right. You can't let them think for you. You gotta do that yourself. I think your idea is great." Groose used his finger to wipe away the boy's tears. "In fact…I think you just inspired me."

"Really?" Young Groose squeaked with a hope-filled voice.

Groose nods. "I was in a similar spot as you were in. The only way I could cope was by lashing out. I've hurt others because of it. Then, someone went out of their way to help show me there's another way. She didn't have to, but she did. I want to return the favor. And…maybe get a good start with making amends with the people I've hurt. And I think your idea may help me. If it goes well, it'll be all thanks to that smart brain of yours." Groose spread his arms to his sides. "What do you say, kid? Want to tell me more of your ideas?"

Young Groose leaps into Groose's chest, wrapping his tiny arms around him. Groose leaned into the hug, closing his eyes, patting his child counterpart's back comfortingly, who let out quiet sobs. The pair were locked in their hug. Groose felt somewhat of a shift in the room.

Opening his eyes, he saw the two forms of Lana & Cia standing before Groose, behind Young Groose.

Lana had her hands clasped together in front of her center chest with a happy smile. Cia had her arms crossed, keeping her firm stance, yet Groose could make out the faint proud smirk on her lips.

Groose mouthed out a silent 'Thank you' to the sisters. The women simply nodded their heads.

If this was some sort of final test they had given, Groose was sure he had passed it.

The Old One awakened to shuffling nearby.

She saw Groose with the piles of wood that had been chopped down since his arrival. He looked to be writing on some parchment paper, muttering to himself loud enough for the elderly woman to hear. The Old One could see that he seemed passionate about whatever he was working on.

With an amusing smile, she strolls over, asking, "What are you working on?"

Groose turns and glances over his shoulder. "You mentioned that the seal in the pit can't hold big & scary for long, right?" She nods in response. Sucking in a deep breath, Groose picks up the paper in front of him, showing a diagram of some type of contraption titled 'The Groosenator.' "I think I can make something that may help if he shows back up. It may be a bit absurd, and we try something else if you don't like it-"

"I'm open to any idea you may have to help," The Old One places a comforting touch on Groose's arm. "Tell me all about it."

The remainder of that morning was spent with Groose sharing his idea. He talked with passion in his voice. Eyes lit up whenever The Old One agreed with them. Not once did she not put him down. She would say it with respect if she had any input of her own.

By the end of that morning, The Old One could see that Groose was starting to progress.

We've reached the end of Groose's arch for this fic. Hope you all enjoyed it. Next chapter will be focused back to our main group.

A heads up: This fic may not update as frequently like it did early on. Don't be alarmed if this fic goes several months without updates. I got like two other multi chapter fics that I've been working on longer than this that I want to get caught up. But I promise I will finish this fic someday

Happy Thanksgiving to those who do celebrate it. And I'm few days late to this but also Happy 12th birthday to Skyward Sword!