Children of the Triforce: Retold

Chapter 20 – Grandfather

It was just past midnight when the siblings returned to the castle. Link was there to greet them at the stable, having been too nervous to fall asleep. He knew that Zelda was likely awake at this moment feeling the exact same way. They weren't just worried for Kyla, but all three of their children. Still, Link was at least able to breathe a sigh of relief when they rode into the stable unharmed. He soon offered a hand to help Kristin down while Cecil slid off the other side.

"Well, did you find anything?" Link asked.

The two of them glanced at each other before turning back to their father with grave expressions. "We did, but…it's bad, dad."

Link's expression quickly turned somber as well. "What happened?"

Cecil took a deep breath before briefly explaining what they had encountered in Rauru. He described the burning treasury building as well as the slaughtered guards. He then recounted the story from the soldier, who claimed that an army of Iron Knuckles had stolen all of their riches before retreating.

Link was aghast, placing a hand to his temple as he looked to the ground. "Goddesses help us. It's already this bad?"

"We think Kyla created the Iron Knuckles and told them to raid the village," Kristin whispered. "And then they retreated to the North Castle, but we didn't end up pursuing them."

"I really wanted to though," said Cecil, almost spitefully. "I would've given them a piece of my mind. And my blade."

Link glanced up at his eldest children before pulling them both into a hug. "No, you kids did good. I don't expect you to rush in and face an army of Iron Knuckles. That would just be suicide. You made the right call coming back here. Now we can start making plans on how best to approach her."

The two siblings mumbled their thanks, although neither of them felt particularly proud. As far as Cecil was concerned, he had allowed an atrocity to go unpunished. As for Kristin, she was still shaken up over the thought of her own sister committing such horrible deeds.

Link released his children and then took a second to look each of them over. It was late, and they were clearly tired. "Why don't you two try to get some sleep? We'll come up with a strategy in the morning."

Neither of them felt like sleeping. In fact, they weren't even sure if they could fall asleep, but they nodded at their father's words all the same.

"Yes, daddy," Kristin mumbled.

"What about Rauru town?" Cecil asked. "Is there anything we can do to help them?"

"I'll have a group of soldiers sent there as soon as possible," Link assured him "They can help bolster the town's defenses as well as act as a deterrent against any future attacks. That should at least keep them safe for a while."

"Okay," he said, sounding satisfied but also disheartened. He then walked off, following his sister's footsteps.

Link shook his head before taking the reins of the horse and leading it into one of the nearby stalls. He soon paused however, when Cecil came back and stood before him.

Link raised his eyebrows. "What is it, Cecil?"

Cecil frowned as he clenched his fists. He looked like he had something to get off of his chest. He then turned his gaze to the ground, appearing both frustrated and upset. "Dad, I…I'm willing to fight Kyla if we have to. She…went too far this time, and we can't let her do this to anyone else. She has to be stopped."

Link gave his son a long, sad stare. Of course, he understood how he was feeling. What he was going through. It must have felt so wrong to see such evil being committed and not having the power to do anything about it. It was a perfectly natural reaction for someone who had the blood of the hero flowing through his veins.

Link soon reached over and gently patted the boy on the shoulder. "I know, son."

At sunrise, Kyla awoke with a bright smile and stretched. She currently rested in a luxurious four-poster bed. Her chambers may have been small, but she had decorated the room with numerous pieces of glorious furniture, all summoned using the Triforce, of course. She soon rose out of bed and dressed, donning a blood-red garment that perfectly matched all of her interior decor.

The girl made her way down to her magnificent throne, where she gladly took a seat and summoned her breakfast. The glowing mark on her hand conjured up a delicious meal, fresh and warm before her very eyes. She happily grinned to herself as she dined like a King. Or in this case, a powerful Queen.

I hope you are not relying on the Triforce's power too much, the voice in her head chided her. Its power can be useful, but it should not be relied upon for everything.

"Oh, stuff it," the girl snapped. "If it's so useful, then why shouldn't I use it? Honestly, you sound like my parents. They were always too afraid to take advantage of power like this."

The voice grumbled in response. This was a bit of surprise, for they usually got along rather well, but the voice was not willing to back down this time. I'm serious, girl. While your parents may have been too fearful to use the Triforce's power, that doesn't mean that it should be used relentlessly. There is a modesty in all things, and every power is finite.

The girl frowned. "Are you saying the Triforce could run out of power?"

This single shard might. It is only with the completed Triforce that you will have everlasting power at your fingertips.

"Hmph, then that time can't come soon enough," Kyla replied with a scowl. "I'll have to start thinking of a plan for stealing the other shards from Cecil and Kristin…"

Just then, the sound of clanging metal interrupted the girl's thoughts. She watched as a number of Iron Knuckles marched into the room, each one holding a bag or chest of some sort in their arms. Kyla's eyes immediately lit up with joy as she cast her breakfast aside.

"Ooh, welcome back, my warriors. Tell me, what have you brought your Queen?"

The lead knight bowed, opening the chest in his hands and showing her the endless wealth inside. "We bring all the riches of Rauru Town, as you requested, My Lady."

Kyla cheerfully clasped her hands together as her eyes sparkled. "Oh, how lovely. Quick, bring it all here and pile it up on the sides of my throne. I want all who visit me to know just how powerful I am. Not just in strength, but also in wealth!"

The Iron Knuckles complied, emptying numerous bags of gold into two piles on either side of her. Kyla laughed as she watched with delight. Not only was there a hefty amount of gold and rupees, but there were a number of other treasures as well. Gems and bracelets and necklaces and rings and even tiaras. Kyla casually began sorting through it, picking whatever jewelry caught her fancy. Before long, she was decorated with a gold diadem as well as a ruby necklace.

"Oh, how stunning I appear," Kyla mused as she looked herself over in a mirror on the wall. "This is truly the image of a Queen. Thank you, my soldiers."

The Iron Knuckles bowed their heads. "It was our pleasure, Your Majesty."

The girl smirked a bit as she adjusted her headpiece. "Tell me, how did the raid go? Was there any trouble in securing my riches?"

"None, ma'am. The townspeople tried to resist but we slaughtered all who stood in our way. When we had finished looting, we then set fire to the building and made our escape."

Kyla blinked before turning to them. "You killed people?"

"Of course. Was this not what you desired, My Lady?"

"Er, no, it's fine," Kyla said before shaking her head. Truth be told, she was actually a little shaken to hear that there had been casualties in the town. She had never killed anyone before, and it felt a little strange to know that there were now innocent people who had died because of her orders. It wasn't like she had ever wanted anyone to get hurt…

Oh, stop worrying about it, the voice chided her again. You desired riches, and those people were foolish enough to get in the way of that. They should have just stood aside and gladly offered their wealth up to you, but they chose to fight instead. If anything, they got what they deserved for being so greedy.

Kyla smiled, suddenly feeling comforted. "Yes, you're right. This was bound to happen when they foolishly stood against me." She then turned to her Iron Knuckles once again. "Tell me, how did the townspeople who survived react to this? Were they terrified? Perhaps too afraid to resist?"

"That is exactly the case, My Queen. They let us have our way with them after we struck fear into their hearts. It is unlikely that they will stand in the path of your desires again."

"Hmph, as it should be," Kyla said with a grin. "Soon, everyone will learn to fear and acknowledge me. It's only a matter of time before all of Hyrule bows to me as Queen. In fact…"

Kyla paused as a delightful thought popped into her head. Perhaps she could use this situation to her advantage. Her soldiers had not only struck fear into the hearts of Hyrule's citizens, but likely into the hearts of her family as well. Surely, they were growing more terrified by the second. Kyla was no longer a sick and weak little girl but a strong Queen capable of opposing them. It would only be a matter of time before they had to surrender everything they held dear over to her.

"Perhaps we won't need to fight any battles or wage any war," Kyla mused. "If this works, I can secure my Kingdom without any trouble at all."

The voice, while connected to her mind, was not able to read her current thoughts. And what exactly do you have planned, my dear? Something crafty, I take it?

"Oh, just shut up and watch," she replied with a wicked grin. She then clenched her fist, and the golden symbol of the Triforce began to glow.

King Harkinian sighed as he sat up in bed. He took a moment to run his hands over his face as he frowned. He honestly didn't feel so well. He felt tired and he ached all over. He had felt like this for days, no doubt due to his age. He was really climbing up in the years and it showed.

However, he felt like his pains had truly intensified after the stress of yesterday's events. He still couldn't believe that Kyla had stolen the Triforce and betrayed their family. He had never even thought her capable of such a thing, and yet, it had happened. He felt so sorry for his daughter and son-in-law. He knew that they must be heartbroken and worried sick. He was too.

In fact, the King was so heartbroken that he could feel a sharp pain ripping through his chest. He grasped at his heart for a moment while his breath caught in his throat. He then coughed until his chest finally relaxed and the pain faded away.

Harkinian heaved a troubled sigh. He felt more exhausted than ever now. He honestly wasn't sure if his health could withstand all of the sudden stress that he had been burdened with. Much like the girl's parents, Harkinian was concerned for Kyla's wellbeing. He wondered, had the Triforce of Power truly corrupted her as Zelda claimed it had? Had that innocent little girl turned evil? Was she beyond saving at this point?

Harkinian slowly shook his head. No, he couldn't believe that. Kyla was his precious grandchild! He could never view her in such an terrible light. Still, he had no idea how any of this was going to be resolved. The situation had unfolded so quickly and unfavorably that it was hard to know what could even be done about it. Would Kyla eventually be doomed to die at the hands of her own family?

Harkinian closed his eyes, shuddering at the thought. No, he desperately wished for some other solution. Perhaps Zelda was right. If they could just have a chance to talk to Kyla and convince her to give up the Triforce…

Suddenly, Harkinian gasped before grabbing the side of his head. He could hear someone's voice in the back of his mind. They spoke directly to him, every word echoing amidst his thoughts. He froze as a message began to recite.

Greetings, grandfather. This is your youngest grandchild, Kyla, speaking directly to you through the power of the Triforce.

The King gawked as he continued to hold his head. He recognized that voice. It truly did belong to Kyla. She had apparently decided to contact him out of the blue!

The message continued. There is an important matter that I wish to discuss with you in person. I am currently staying in the abandoned North Castle. Please come and visit me so we can sort this matter out. But you must come alone. Don't tell anyone else. Not mom or dad or Cecil or Kristin. No one. They just wouldn't understand. None of them have ever understood me quite like you do, grandfather… The message paused for a moment, lingering on the hopeful note in the girl's voice. Please come as soon as you can. If you can make it outside of Castle Town on your own, I'll have a carriage waiting to greet you.

Harkinian remained still, waiting to hear more, but it seemed that the message had finished. He then took a few seconds to think things through before he sprang to action. He quickly dressed and shuffled out the door. This was a golden opportunity. A spark of hope for his worried family. If he could speak to Kyla in person, he might have a chance of convincing her to give all of this up and return home. He at least had to try!

Resolved and determined, he made his way to the castle's front gate. It was just past sunrise, so many of the castle's inhabitants were still asleep. As he stepped out into the fresh morning air, he turned and greeted the gatekeeper.

"Morning, Sire," the soldier greeted in return. "What can I do for you today?"

"I'm stepping out for a bit," he announced. "If anyone asks, tell them I've gone to visit my granddaughter."

The solider raised his eyebrows. "You mean Princess Kyla?"

"The very same. Will you pass this message along for me?"

The solider seemed conflicted, almost as if he wished to stop the aging King, but soon thought better of it. He was only a lowly soldier, and he would never want to disobey a direct order from his monarch. "Of course, Your Majesty. Have a safe trip."

Harkinian nodded before making his way down to Castle Town. His breath soon became ragged as he hurried through the streets. He knew that he was being hasty, but he couldn't help himself. He was just so desperate to reach Kyla and try to help her.

Eventually, the puffing old man made it to the edge of town, where he stumbled out into the green fields of Hyrule. Fortunately, he soon spotted a single black carriage, preceded by a dark horse and an armored driver.

"Your Majesty," the driver said with a bow. He soon opened the door of the carriage. "Queen Kyla awaits you."

Harkinian frowned, his expression turning grave. "Queen" Kyla was certainly something he did not expect to hear. He wondered if the situation was worse than he feared. Was Kyla truly insistent on obtaining ultimate power and ruling Hyrule? He swallowed before shaking his head. If he wanted to find out, he would have to speak to her personally. And the sooner he did, the better.

Wasting no time, the King climbed into the carriage while the driver shut the door behind him. The stranger then snapped the reins and the dark horse began pulling the carriage as fast as it could.

Kyla lazily sat on her throne as she continued admiring her piles of treasure. She placed a gold band on her wrist and took a moment to eye it front and back. A second later, she scowled before tossing it back into the pile of riches. It was fine, but it was hardly comparable to her current ensemble.

As she continued rifling through the treasure, an Iron Knuckle clanked its way into the room and bowed. "Your Majesty, your grandfather has arrived."

The girl quickly sat up straight, feeling excited. She hadn't been sure if he would come or not. "Excellent, show him in!"

The Iron Knuckle nodded before departing. He then returned, leading a wary Harkinian into the dark and bleak throne room.

The King shuddered as he glanced around. He had visited the North Castle before, but it looked nothing like this. The dark stonework, blood red banners, and eerie purple lighting were all enough to unsettle him. It also didn't help that there were a number of Iron Knuckles lining the walls, each remaining still enough to be mistaken for a statue, but clearly baring weapons and poised to strike at a moment's notice. However, the thing which unsettled him the most, was the twisted grin on the face of his youngest granddaughter, who sat on a dark and sinister-looking throne.

"Welcome, grandfather," she greeted him with perfectly white teeth. "Or shall I call you King Harkinian now?"

Harkinian swallowed, surprised by her brazenness. "Please, Kyla, call me grandfather. That's what I've always been to you, haven't I? Your loving grandfather."

To his surprise, the girl's expression softened, and she took on an almost innocent look. "Of course, grandfather. You were always so kind to me."

Harkinian nodded a bit as he approached the throne, halting before the short set of steps which led up to it. He then took a moment to glance around the dark room that honestly gave him chills. "So this is where you've been hiding?" he mumbled, almost to himself.

"Yes. It's quite nice, don't you think? I had to do some major redecorating, of course."

Harkinian didn't know what to say. It didn't look nice at all. If anything, it seemed like a lair that would perfectly suit Ganon, the Lord of Darkness, but he kept this thought to himself.

Kyla smiled at the elder man, still appearing young and innocent. "Thank you for coming to visit me, by the way. I assume that you didn't mention my location to anyone?"

Harkinian shook his head. "No, I only told one of the guards that I was going to see my granddaughter."

The innocent look was instantly wiped from Kyla's face as she glared at the old man. "I said not to tell anyone!" she snapped harshly. However, her moment of anger soon faded as she attempted to collect herself. "Whatever, at least they don't know the location."

"Why are you trying to hide from them?" Harkinian asked quietly. "Your parents are worried sick for you. They want you to come back home."

Kyla scowled again. "Of course they do. They only want my piece of the Triforce back."

Harkinian sadly shook his head. "No, sweetheart. They are truly worried about you. They only want to know that you're safe."

"All the more reason to leave me alone then!" the girl snapped. "I'll be perfectly fine as long as I have my Triforce. I don't need anything, or anyone, else."

Harkinian nervously swallowed. He couldn't believe that his granddaughter, once nothing more than a sweet and innocent little girl, could speak of her family so harshly like that. Was this really the same Kyla he once knew?

"But enough about that," Kyla suddenly continued with a frustrated wave of her hand. "I don't care to discuss them. I wish to discuss a different topic with you, grandfather. You see, I want something from you."

Harkinian clenched his fists a bit, trying to keep his nerves under control. "And what is it you want?"

"I'm going to be blunt," the girl said with a grin. "I want to be the next in line for the royal throne of Hyrule. When you pass away, I want the throne to pass over my mother, brother, and sister. I want it to go straight to me instead."

Harkinian's eyes went wide. He was certain that he had never heard such a greedy and selfish request in all his life. "Kyla…the throne rightfully goes to your mother next, and after her, your brother…"

"I know that!" the girl fumed, suddenly growing impatient. "Don't you get it? That's why I'm asking for them to be skipped over. So I can become this Kingdom's rightful Queen instead of them."

Harkinian gawked, feeling utterly horrified. To think that she would have such a blatant disregard for tradition, as well as her own family. Did she truly not care for them? Was she only interested in wresting the crown and Kingdom away from her loved ones? The King soon reached up and lightly grasped at his robe. The stress of this was making his chest pains flare up again…

Meanwhile, Kyla snapped her fingers, and an Iron Knuckle approached the King with a document and quill in its armored hands. "I wrote up this proclamation," she explained. "It claims that upon your death, the throne will skip over your daughter and two eldest grandchildren before rightfully going to me, Queen Kyla. If you sign it, it will be officially recognized as law."

Harkinian released a deep breath, his grip tightening on his chest. "Kyla, I can't do that. It wouldn't be right."

"Why not, grandfather?" Kyla demanded. "I feel that I am being rather fair here. If you sign it over to me peacefully, I won't have to fight for it. No one in Hyrule will have to suffer, and I will get to take my rightful place as Queen. Wouldn't this be the best solution for everyone?"

Harkinian shook his head. "No, Kyla. This would throw everything into chaos. It would…" He paused, wincing a bit. "…bring this Kingdom to ruin."

Kyla glared at him, dropping her innocent act once and for all. "Why? Because you think I'd be too sick and weak to lead Hyrule? Is that what you've always thought of me? That I would never amount to anything? Why, you're just like my parents!"

"Kyla, listen to me," the King begged as his chest continued to clench up. He was so stressed that he was suddenly having trouble breathing. "Your family…loves you so much. Please…give this up…Come back home…"

"I'm never going back," Kyla declared adamantly. "The days of the lowly, weak Princess Kyla are over. I have the Triforce of Power now, and I'm going to live for a very, very long time. Pretty soon, I'll be powerful enough to destroy anyone who tries to stop me. Don't you see? This is your one and only chance to end things peacefully. Now please, grandfather, sign the document."

Harkinian stared at the parchment with bulging eyes before lowering his head. "I…won't do it," he said quietly. He then coughed a bit before doubling over. The pain in his chest had intensified beyond anything he had ever experienced before.

Kyla furrowed her brow as she watched him. She had been ignoring his odd behavior up until this point, but she felt like she could do so no longer. "What's the matter with you?"

"Kyla," the King wheezed softly. "I'm having…a heart attack…Please, help…"

Kyla raised her eyebrows, wondering if this was all some sort of act. Some sort of trick. "Sign the document first, and then I'll help you."

"Kyla, please," the King choked as he suddenly dropped to his knees. "I'm…begging you…"

Kyla's lips twitched a bit as she watched him. She couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy for the sick, old man writhing in pain before her. She was honestly reminded of all the times when she had suffered an asthma attack, collapsing to the ground and struggling to breathe. She considered taking pity on the old man and helping him. It would be a trivial matter if she used the Triforce's power. But a part of her hesitated. She did not wish to aid the family who had betrayed her. Not unless they were willing to surrender everything to her.

The girl hardened her heart. "Sign the document, grandfather," she commanded. "Surely you understand that this is what's best for everyone? If you don't sign it, I'll have to take the title by force! I'll even go after my own family if I must!"

Harkinian shook his head, appearing both terrified and heartbroken. "Kyla…I love you…We all do…Please, don't do this…"

"Sign it!" she insisted again.

"I…I won't," the King said, doubling over once more.

"Then I won't help you," Kyla said as she crossed her arms in disgust. "I'll only help when you finally come to your senses and sign the document."

"N-No," Harkinian croaked. He then took one final, ceremonious breath before he closed his eyes and collapsed on the floor. And there he remained, laying perfectly still.

Kyla simply sat on her throne and watched him for a while, waiting to see if he would arise and finally beg for mercy. But the moment never came. The elderly man continued to lay on the floor, not making a single sound.

Kyla clenched her teeth in frustration. "Don't tell me he actually died!" she snapped. She soon rose to her feet and marched over to his body. She rolled him onto his back and tried to shake him awake. He didn't stir. She leaned in close to his chest and listened for a heartbeat. There was none.

Kyla bit her lip as she stared down at the corpse. If this had happened a few weeks prior, she might have felt bad for the man. She might have even shed some tears at his passing. After all, he had always been a loving grandfather who was nothing but kind to her. But in this moment, she felt nothing other than a bitter disappointment in her corrupted heart.

"Well, what a waste of time this was," she said spitefully. "The old fool couldn't even do me one last favor before he croaked. How selfish can you be?"

It was worth a try, I suppose, the voice tried to encourage her. But alas, it seems that your family is too stubborn to be reasoned with. So tell me, what comes next, my young Queen?

"Now we do things the hard way," Kyla said as she crossed her arms. "I'll take this Kingdom by force if I must. And the Triforce too."

Very wise, my dear. Very wise…

Kyla nodded at the voice's approval. However, she paused when her eyes fell on the corpse of her grandfather, a man whom she had once cared deeply about. Once again, she could feel a small bit of sympathy well up in her cold, dark heart. She soon sighed before looking away.

"I suppose that this should be cleaned up first," she said with a shrug. "Iron Knuckles, come and collect his body. We'll have it sent back to the castle."

Poor King Harkinian. Too kindhearted and optimistic for his own good. It's so sad that his final moments were spent trying to save a granddaughter who heartlessly watched him die. I wonder how the rest of the family will feel about this development…

This story is nearing its end. Only five more chapters to go! :)