Simple and Clean [DUNGEON] [c]

[Zelda Hyrule]

[googlefont=Roboto]

Join in our prayer, in our song of birthrights and love

Come the sun, illuminate the sky

Pray that we may quell the dark - Light take the throne

Lost in thoughts all alone

People thought that she was absolutely crazy for going through with something like this. It wasn't the best idea, but she had to do something  to get Link moving again. There wasn't much to say, and words were rarely spoken between the two, but he had agreed for some reason to go with her on this journey. 

She had found an abandoned cave which led to an apparent dungeon of sorts - one that was either abandoned long ago, or was only dormant until some curious adventurers would step inside. Either way, she was adamant about seeing what was inside, and Link had agreed to come. 

The entire way there was silent. Nothing, not a word. She tried to start up conversation every so often, but he didn't have much to say besides the occasional one word answers. Eventually, she had given up, trying to give the benefit of the doubt - he wasn't 100% yet, and maybe he wouldn't be up to talking until he was. 

But when would that be? 

After several hours of their distant journey, they finally made a halt at the entrance to a large cavern in a hillside. Hopping off of her horse quickly, she peered inside before looking back to Link with a steady nod, her hand moving to the hilt of her sword carefully. "Are you ready?" she asked.

SPEAK BOY

Link Queensguard

theme

   MADE BY NAVI

[Link Queensguard]

[attr="class","TheHandmaiden05"]

[attr="class","TheHandmaiden"]

L

 ink's look was dull as he dismounted from his horse, mind racing far too fast for him to give anything other than short answers to Zelda's questions and attempts at conversation since he was saved.

None of this felt right.

Going into dungeons, training, talking to people, anything. It all felt pointless. It was like his resolve to even live had died in that prison. Zelda was an anchor in a bleak world, but even still she frightened him. Still, he was trying, but it wasn't easy.

He grabbed the sword he had, and sighed. Even the sword felt wrong.

Tossing the scabbard around his hip, he tightened it, and gave an approving sound in response to Zelda. He slipped the targe he had borrowed onto his arm, and felt the leather compress in his hand. Until past that point, he hadn't looked in the cave.

His heart skipped a few beats when he did, however. But he thought about the warmth of the shard he had found, that familiar feeling. A spark of Courage, in his hand.

Unconsciously, he closed his hand around the very shard, hanging from his neck. He just knew more of his Triforce had to be down there.

"Let's make this quick."

❀  He's making an effort ❀ @navi ❀

[attr="class","TheHandmaiden02"]英雄

[attr="class","TheHandmaiden03"]THE HERO

[attr="class","TheHandmaiden01"]

MADE BY MIZO❀

[newclass=.TheHandmaiden::-webkit-scrollbar]width:3px;background-color:#d6d6d6; border: 1px solid #ffffff;[/newclass][newclass=.TheHandmaiden::-webkit-scrollbar-thumb]width:3px;background-color: #d6d6d6; border: 1px solid #d6d6d6;[/newclass][newclass=.TheHandmaiden01]width: 100px; height: 100px; margin-top: -98px; background-color: #221152; position:relative; transform: rotate(45deg); z-index: 1; mix-blend-mode:overlay;outline:2px solid #221152;outline-offset:5px; transition: 0.8s;[/newclass][newclass=.TheHandmaiden02]font:70px times new roman; color:rgba(255, 255, 255, 1); position: relative; z-index: 2; margin-top: 300px; transition: 0.8s;[/newclass][newclass=.TheHandmaiden03]font: 8px calibri; color: #ffffff; text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 1px;[/newclass][newclass=.TheHandmaiden05]width:520px; height: 450px; padding: 10px; background: #f2e9ff; /* Old breakowsers */ background: -moz-linear-gradient(-45deg, #f2e9ff 0%, #e9fff8 100%); /* FF3.6-15 */background: -webkit-linear-gradient(-45deg, #f2e9ff 0%,#e9fff8 100%); /* Chrome10-25,Safari5.1-6 */background: linear-gradient(113deg, #f2e9ff 20%,#e9fff8 80%)[/newclass][newclass=.TheHandmaiden05:hover .TheHandmaiden01]width: 90px; height: 90px; margin-top: -88px; background-color: #ffffff; position:relative; transform: rotate(45deg); z-index: 1; mix-blend-mode:overlay;outline:2px solid #ffffff;outline-offset:5px; transition: 0.8s;[/newclass][newclass=.TheHandmaiden05:hover .TheHandmaiden02]color: #000; opacity: 0.75;[/newclass][newclass=.TheHandmaiden05:hover .TheHandmaiden03]color: #000;[/newclass][googlefont=Open+Sans]

[Zelda Hyrule]

[googlefont=Roboto]

Join in our prayer, in our song of birthrights and love

Come the sun, illuminate the sky

Pray that we may quell the dark - Light take the throne

Lost in thoughts all alone

He finally spoke, after hours of silence, but it was brief and impatient. The heiress took a deep breath, as her eyes evaded his and nodded - her hesitance hiding behind her tenacity. She stepped forward, wearing a new set of armor she had created just for the occasion. It was tighter fit to her form - made of steel with black mesh covering the openings. Rather than keeping her hair tied back in her tight, braided bun, she kept it down, braiding the lower half tightly as she used to when she lived back at the castle.

Blonde hair draping down over her, she took several steps forward, her feet muffled as she kept herself stifled as they began to move in. It was dark, very damp, and every drop of water echoed through the cavern. She took a deep breath, closing her eyes for a moment as she attempted to calm herself.

This was the first time she put herself head first into danger in a very long time. 

As they moved further through the empty spaces of the dark area, Zelda lit a small lantern she could keep bound to her belt. The grotto slowly opened up into a large cavity, where an entire stone structure was built into the side - a fortress of sorts, and it looked abandoned. 

"I wonder when this was used... and what for..." she murmured quietly. She stepped toward the entrance, where two large, iron doors were fixed shut - several totems surrounding the edges of the stairs leading to them. She approached the doors, but the handles refused to budge. She searched the room for a moment, taking note of each pole, which seemed to hold different sage medallions in each one. They were all facing a small pedestal, where the Triforce symbol was present. It appeared to be weight activated, 

She quickly moved toward it, placing her feet onto the risen surface as it suddenly jolted into the floor - metal bars lifting from the sides of the door. She paused for a moment, slowly removing herself as the bars suddenly jolted shut.


"Link," she murmured quietly, pointing to the door. "I think one person needs to stand here while the other opens the door."

let the games begin

Link Queensguard

theme

   MADE BY NAVI

[Link Queensguard]

[attr="class","TheHandmaiden05"]

[attr="class","TheHandmaiden"]

T

 [attr="class","TheHandmaiden"]here was an ancient feeling about the ruins, their carved details a testament to a time long passed. A time where the Hero was probably significant. Already, the symbol of that what they had lost taunted him, and he looked away as the Triforce glared down at him.


"Quit mocking me."


He was practically saying it to himself, but it was quiet enough that Zelda could hear it from him. He watched from the corner of his eye as she investigated, and when she came to the pressure plates, she noted her observation. With a nod, he stood on the other, and it sank under his weight. With that, the gate opened entirely, and he looked in, eyes squinting.

Something about it frightened him. He had been though this all before, why was it such a problem now?

Unconsciously, he drew his sword, the grip the wrong size in his hand, and took a few hesitant steps forward. He wanted to build on that glimmer of Courage, the shards of bravery he had collected. But it was hard. Just looking into the dark brought memories of blood and torture and laughter. Sickly sweet laughter echoing around him. Flashes of red, being unable to close his eyes, the lash of metal against his back-

The sword clanged as he dropped it, stepping back, and his eyes were wide in panic.

"I-I can't go back. Something's going to take me back."

His panic was brief, but intense. His breaths sharpened, and he stood frozen, until a shake ran through him and he took a deep breath, shaking with fear. He shook his head as he caught his breath, and calmed down slowly, looking away from Zelda. He felt weak. He hated  it.

"You... You lead the way."

❀  He's making an effort ❀ @navi ❀

[attr="class","TheHandmaiden02"]英雄

[attr="class","TheHandmaiden03"]THE HERO

[attr="class","TheHandmaiden01"]

MADE BY MIZO❀

[newclass=.TheHandmaiden::-webkit-scrollbar]width:3px;background-color:#d6d6d6; border: 1px solid #ffffff;[/newclass][newclass=.TheHandmaiden::-webkit-scrollbar-thumb]width:3px;background-color: #d6d6d6; border: 1px solid #d6d6d6;[/newclass][newclass=.TheHandmaiden01]width: 100px; height: 100px; margin-top: -98px; background-color: #221152; position:relative; transform: rotate(45deg); z-index: 1; mix-blend-mode:overlay;outline:2px solid #221152;outline-offset:5px; transition: 0.8s;[/newclass][newclass=.TheHandmaiden02]font:70px times new roman; color:rgba(255, 255, 255, 1); position: relative; z-index: 2; margin-top: 300px; transition: 0.8s;[/newclass][newclass=.TheHandmaiden03]font: 8px calibri; color: #ffffff; text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 1px;[/newclass][newclass=.TheHandmaiden05]width:520px; height: 450px; padding: 10px; background: #f2e9ff; /* Old breakowsers */ background: -moz-linear-gradient(-45deg, #f2e9ff 0%, #e9fff8 100%); /* FF3.6-15 */background: -webkit-linear-gradient(-45deg, #f2e9ff 0%,#e9fff8 100%); /* Chrome10-25,Safari5.1-6 */background: linear-gradient(113deg, #f2e9ff 20%,#e9fff8 80%)[/newclass][newclass=.TheHandmaiden05:hover .TheHandmaiden01]width: 90px; height: 90px; margin-top: -88px; background-color: #ffffff; position:relative; transform: rotate(45deg); z-index: 1; mix-blend-mode:overlay;outline:2px solid #ffffff;outline-offset:5px; transition: 0.8s;[/newclass][newclass=.TheHandmaiden05:hover .TheHandmaiden02]color: #000; opacity: 0.75;[/newclass][newclass=.TheHandmaiden05:hover .TheHandmaiden03]color: #000;[/newclass][googlefont=Open+Sans]

[Zelda Hyrule]

[googlefont=Roboto]

Join in our prayer, in our song of birthrights and love

Come the sun, illuminate the sky

Pray that we may quell the dark - Light take the throne

Lost in thoughts all alone

The words from her hero caught her attention for a moment as she glanced at him, but she knew the words were not for her. It made her wonder though; who was he talking to? Himself? Or something else? She frowned in thought of it, looking back down at her feet upon the pressure plate, before he had stepped on it himself.

She smiled brightly in excitement as she twirled around to greet Elinkar with endearment, but her smile ghosted into frightened gaze as he had drawn his sword in defense. "Link... what's wrong..?" she murmured quietly, but her words seemed to pass by him while he lingered in a trance.

He dropped the sword as he began to back away in apprehension. His words caused Zelda's stomach to turn as she then approached him with haste. Before long, her hands cusped at his cheeks, trying anything she could to help him calm. "Link--please--it's okay--I'm here!" she exclaimed cautiously.

What was going on? Was he having a vision? A waking nightmare? She didn't know how to process this reaction and she felt as though her chest was on fire. "Please, I-I need you to calm down!" her voice wavered.

finally, his movements slowed to a stillness, as his breaths slowly deepened and quieted. He looked away from her, an ashamed expression plastered over him. As he turned, it caused her hand to fall from his touch, and she took a step back wistfully. He murmured quietly to her, and she nodded slowly, looking away as well.

"Alright then..." she turned to face the grand opening, striding confidently as she stepped into the damp area.

huehuehue

Link Queensguard

theme

   MADE BY NAVI

[Link Queensguard]

[attr="class","TheHandmaiden05"]

[attr="class","TheHandmaiden"]

Z

 elda's words horrified him, but her touch grounded him in the moment, and suddenly, for a moment, the fear rushed away. For the first time since his return from the Sacred Realm, he met her eyes, and he saw her concern, her devotion to him. He saw the care that the Princess had for him, and he was once again horrified.

But this time, he resolved that he would not die.

Still, it was hard to look into her eyes, and instead, he shifted his focus to the dungeon entrance, leaning down to pick up his sword. It was sheathed in its scabbard, and he took a deep breath, putting on the most confident facade he could muster.

"It's just a dungeon, how bad can it be?"

He wasn't even convincing himself.

His first few steps into the dungeon brought back memories of his former quests, footsteps echoing through the abandoned structure. There was dust everywhere, and it was dark. He instinctively found himself calling on the power of his sword, but then remembered what weapon he was holding.

His sigh of disappointment was interrupted as a scurrying rat spooked him, and his breath caught as he sidestepped to avoid it.

He knew he was in trouble when the pressure plate sank under his weight. The floor began shifting under their feet, and his fear turned to pure survival instinct. But he couldn't stop himself from sliding, as the floor opened from under him, and soon he found himself falling. His hand flailed out, hoping for something, and grabbed an out-jutting rock on the side of the wall. His shoulder screamed in protest, but he grit his teeth, bearing through the pain, and held on, looking around.

"Zelda! Are you okay?"

❀  Those damn rats ❀ @navi ❀

[attr="class","TheHandmaiden02"]英雄

[attr="class","TheHandmaiden03"]THE HERO

[attr="class","TheHandmaiden01"]

MADE BY MIZO❀

[newclass=.TheHandmaiden::-webkit-scrollbar]width:3px;background-color:#d6d6d6; border: 1px solid #ffffff;[/newclass][newclass=.TheHandmaiden::-webkit-scrollbar-thumb]width:3px;background-color: #d6d6d6; border: 1px solid #d6d6d6;[/newclass][newclass=.TheHandmaiden01]width: 100px; height: 100px; margin-top: -98px; background-color: #221152; position:relative; transform: rotate(45deg); z-index: 1; mix-blend-mode:overlay;outline:2px solid #221152;outline-offset:5px; transition: 0.8s;[/newclass][newclass=.TheHandmaiden02]font:70px times new roman; color:rgba(255, 255, 255, 1); position: relative; z-index: 2; margin-top: 300px; transition: 0.8s;[/newclass][newclass=.TheHandmaiden03]font: 8px calibri; color: #ffffff; text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 1px;[/newclass][newclass=.TheHandmaiden05]width:520px; height: 450px; padding: 10px; background: #f2e9ff; /* Old breakowsers */ background: -moz-linear-gradient(-45deg, #f2e9ff 0%, #e9fff8 100%); /* FF3.6-15 */background: -webkit-linear-gradient(-45deg, #f2e9ff 0%,#e9fff8 100%); /* Chrome10-25,Safari5.1-6 */background: linear-gradient(113deg, #f2e9ff 20%,#e9fff8 80%)[/newclass][newclass=.TheHandmaiden05:hover .TheHandmaiden01]width: 90px; height: 90px; margin-top: -88px; background-color: #ffffff; position:relative; transform: rotate(45deg); z-index: 1; mix-blend-mode:overlay;outline:2px solid #ffffff;outline-offset:5px; transition: 0.8s;[/newclass][newclass=.TheHandmaiden05:hover .TheHandmaiden02]color: #000; opacity: 0.75;[/newclass][newclass=.TheHandmaiden05:hover .TheHandmaiden03]color: #000;[/newclass][googlefont=Open+Sans]

[Zelda Hyrule]

[googlefont=Roboto]

Join in our prayer, in our song of birthrights and love

Come the sun, illuminate the sky

Pray that we may quell the dark - Light take the throne

Lost in thoughts all alone

Once again, he was looking through her. Despite the sudden calm that had washed over him to her touch, he found it hard to keep his gaze on her, and he ardently made comment on how hard this task could truly be. Was he trying to convince her? Or himself? 

Still, she took note of his attempts to become grounded in the ancient room, taking sword in hand as he began to look around curiously, and she followed him into the new area, looking around carefully - until a rat had then spooked him and caused him to side step right onto another pressure plate within the new room.

There was a rumble, and pebbles and dust began to shake from the walls, as she quickly turned to Link, who was out of her reach if something were to happen. Another rumble, and she was frozen. "Link?" she said quietly - as though the sound of her voice would activate the room to collapse. 

Before she could react, the floor began to engulf them - split down the middle as the two of them began to slide toward an abyss. She couldn't make out how far they would fall - or what was even at the bottom, and she started to grab at any and every stone tile of the floor hoping it would hold her wait as her voice wavered in a panic.

Her nails dug into the grooves between the stone, but wouldn't hold in place as she began sliding farther down, until she she was in a free fall and she let out a scream in sheer terror.

She hit the ground hard, on her back, but in the air she had moved her hands behind her head to soften the impact, but now she found herself in a daze - the pain causing her to become addled and silent. For a moment, she almost forgot how to breathe.

She heard Link's call for her, and her head turned immediately in the darkness, searching for him. "I'm over here!" she hailed back, slowly turning her sore body to get herself up. She had no idea where they were. Was this a trap? Or was it part of the dungeon? 

She lifted her hand in the air - a small orb of light flaring around her palm as she focused on her sealing magic in its most minimal form for a source of light, before slowly looking around the room.

Bones. Lots of them - broken up and churned into small pieces, and her face went pale in horror as she got to her feet quickly and changed focus to the walls covered in spikes. "W-what is this place?" she murmured dreadfully before searching the area for Link. 

Upon one of the bare walls, there was an engraved sign. The walls move as you begin. Let it out, then let them in. What you must bring, you must feel and cling.

She shifted back to Link for a moment, the words of the riddle giving no understanding and she realized that they were now racing with the clock. "If we don't figure this out fast enough they're going to close in..."

huehuehue

Link Queensguard

theme

   MADE BY NAVI

[Link Queensguard]

[attr="class","TheHandmaiden05"]

[attr="class","TheHandmaiden"]

H

 e couldn’t hold much longer, he knew that his best bet was to fall and hope he would land how he wanted to. Fortunately, Zelda did him a favor in lighting up the floor below them, so with a couple deep breaths, he let go. He felt jerked as he entered free fall, and it lasted both too long and too little. His feet hit floor with a lurch, but instinct told him to do as he was taught, and roll when he hit the floor.



When he was back on his feet, he heard Zelda speak, and froze in place, looking to her. Close in? Did she mean the walls? Panic coursed through him again, panic which he tried so hard to force down.



“Close in… We haven’t triggered the trap fully yet, it seems, so we need to be careful. Is there anything to stop it? Look for a switch, or a- a-“



He stuttered and stopped when he saw the bones, fragments of femurs, and skulls, and spines, and he took another shaking breath.



Hyrule burning. Men, women, and children trapped in their homes, the only things left of them to burn white bones and marrow. His friends, family, and subjects all dead because he had failed. And Majora laughed when showing him all this.



“This is the fate Hyrule would have befallen had the Goddesses not intervened. Truly you were given a blessing, no? The world is better off without you.



He let out a choked sound as he held his hand, the pressure against his forehead snapping him back to reality, and he turned to Zelda, looking around frantically.



“There has to be something, a panel, or a lever, or a…”



He paused when he saw the riddle, reading over it several times before looking to his left and right once again.



“We need to let something in to stop it? Multiple things? Feel and cling? What do we- Wait.”



He held out his own hand, and his own orb of magic appeared in his hand, one of flame that flickered and soothed him. It was an ironic bastardization of the Goddess’ magic being employed once again by the Hero. He began to walk along the walls, looking for any sign of a solution to the riddle.



“Feel and cling? What do we feel? Cling to what? I don’t see anything to touch. This is- It’s-“



Frustration consumed him, and Zelda heard his fist hit the wall as he let out an unpleased grunt, breathing heavily.



“You were always the smart one, Zelda! You’re Wisdom, so give me a hand, before we both die down here!”

❀  Those damn rats ❀ @navi ❀

[attr="class","TheHandmaiden02"]英雄

[attr="class","TheHandmaiden03"]THE HERO

[attr="class","TheHandmaiden01"]

MADE BY MIZO❀

[newclass=.TheHandmaiden::-webkit-scrollbar]width:3px;background-color:#d6d6d6; border: 1px solid #ffffff;[/newclass][newclass=.TheHandmaiden::-webkit-scrollbar-thumb]width:3px;background-color: #d6d6d6; border: 1px solid #d6d6d6;[/newclass][newclass=.TheHandmaiden01]width: 100px; height: 100px; margin-top: -98px; background-color: #221152; position:relative; transform: rotate(45deg); z-index: 1; mix-blend-mode:overlay;outline:2px solid #221152;outline-offset:5px; transition: 0.8s;[/newclass][newclass=.TheHandmaiden02]font:70px times new roman; color:rgba(255, 255, 255, 1); position: relative; z-index: 2; margin-top: 300px; transition: 0.8s;[/newclass][newclass=.TheHandmaiden03]font: 8px calibri; color: #ffffff; text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 1px;[/newclass][newclass=.TheHandmaiden05]width:520px; height: 450px; padding: 10px; background: #f2e9ff; /* Old breakowsers */ background: -moz-linear-gradient(-45deg, #f2e9ff 0%, #e9fff8 100%); /* FF3.6-15 */background: -webkit-linear-gradient(-45deg, #f2e9ff 0%,#e9fff8 100%); /* Chrome10-25,Safari5.1-6 */background: linear-gradient(113deg, #f2e9ff 20%,#e9fff8 80%)[/newclass][newclass=.TheHandmaiden05:hover .TheHandmaiden01]width: 90px; height: 90px; margin-top: -88px; background-color: #ffffff; position:relative; transform: rotate(45deg); z-index: 1; mix-blend-mode:overlay;outline:2px solid #ffffff;outline-offset:5px; transition: 0.8s;[/newclass][newclass=.TheHandmaiden05:hover .TheHandmaiden02]color: #000; opacity: 0.75;[/newclass][newclass=.TheHandmaiden05:hover .TheHandmaiden03]color: #000;[/newclass][googlefont=Open+Sans]

[Zelda Hyrule]

[googlefont=Roboto]

Join in our prayer, in our song of birthrights and love

Come the sun, illuminate the sky

Pray that we may quell the dark - Light take the throne

Lost in thoughts all alone

All Zelda could really do was watch as the hero began to scan the room for answers, and as his frustration possessed him in silent anger, she felt her chest grow tight as she found it harder to speak. With a loud thud against the concrete, his fist flew into the wall, and she stepped back in caution, a small breath escaping her lips from the nervousness. 

"I'm... that isn't..." she murmured in response to his statement for her wisdom. Her words mangled in panic that slowly consumed her and made her frantic and scattered. She began scanning the room vigorously as she dragged herself to every corner, hands swatting at fragments of bones and dust as she looked for any answers.

Nothing.

Link's frantic nature was only festering to herself and it grew into a more vocal panic as she sunk to her knees at the edge of the wall, pressing her hands against the ground as she tried to regain her strength. She strained her vocals but nothing came out, still she screamed, hoping someone would hear her.

Suddenly, her body wracked with raw sobs and she shook like a leaf. Fright consumed every cell in her body, swelling them with terror. With every second she practically felt the rise of her blood pressure, but she knew that this was the least of her worries.

He was still frantic behind her and she felt her body tense. "I don't understand how to fix this," she grit her teeth, no longer referring to the trap itself - but rather their situation as a whole. The room shook for a moment, but stopped.

As Zelda followed her lover's face for a reaction, the silence hung in the air like the suspended moment before a falling glass shatters on the ground. She expected him to crumple, wail or dissolve into tears, but he did none of those things.

"Is this how it is now?" she asked with defeat. Slowly, she turned herself to face him, and she felt her lips cry under the dry air as her mouth pursed tightly. "In the weeks following your rescue, I expected you to be shaken, but I don't even know who you are anymore, and I am not going to die down here with you before we talk about this!" 

She stood back up on her feet, her voice slowly shifting toward frustration with every word, but as her sentence had finished, the earth shook once more. Now, the walls made a horrific noise as it ground stone against stone, and her eyes flung back to take notice of the walls very slowly moving in. 

Zelda's mind was starting to fail, like drained magic that tries to activate, over and over, never kicking into action. She couldn't formulate a thought. Every action could lead to death and there was no way out of this trap. No way out. She brought her hand to bare wall, no false door. She glanced at the floor, no trap door. Her eyes went to the darkness above them. There was no way to even climb.

"Say something, damn it!" she begged him in panic.

huehuehue

Link Queensguard

theme

   MADE BY NAVI

[Link Queensguard]

[attr="class","TheHandmaiden05"]

[attr="class","TheHandmaiden"]

H

 er voice rose, panic and anger rising in a time of need, but she chose to direct it towards him. In all honesty, he has seen this coming, but it made it hurt no less. His body tensed, and he looked over her shoulder, pain in his eyes, and let emotion overtake him.

“What is there to talk about, Zelda? I’ve witnessed horrors that nobody should ever have to see, I’ve heard secrets I can’t tell anybody, I have watched your death and the death of all our loved ones again… And again… And again… And you expect me to just want to talk about it? Fine, I will!”

He turned to her, crossing the distance between them, and suddenly, to him, there was no walls closing in, no ruins, no world to worry about, but only her. Tears fell down his cheeks, leaving trails in the dust from his fall that caked his face, and he found himself grabbing the front of her top, pulling her nose to nose with him. His voice was a hoarse whisper as he spoke to her, shaky and slow.

“Every night, when they were done with me, I prayed to the Goddesses that locked me there, that you would coming for me. Countless prayers to someone who wouldn’t listen. Imagine how ironic that looked to all the enemies of my past selves, Zelda. Mocked, tortured, beaten and battered by all of them out of revenge, always pushed to the edge and left begging for the Goddesses. They wanted to make me stop begging for salvation, and beg for death instead, but the thought of you stopped me from crossing that line. I endured so much waiting for you, and you came. But they still come to me, in nightmares, and I can’t let you see me like this.”

He let her go, and stepped back, taking a breath before looking up to her. His look was weary and hopeless, but she was all he had eyes for right now.

“I didn’t talk about it because you shouldn’t have to experience the horrors they made me suffer. You were my only drive to live, and a lot of me was left back in the Sacred Realm. I’m not even sure I can be the hero you want me to be anymore. I have no Triforce, no master Sword, nothing that gives me the title. All I have now is shame, and you.”

The grinding of stone caught his attention finally, and he looked to see the room closing in further. With a sigh, he looked around, for anything.

“And if we don’t get this cleared up between us, all I’m going to have left is shame. So we’ll do this later, Zelda. My Zelda always thought with a level head, and you’re my Zelda still. So get it together, and let’s figure this out!”

❀  POPOFF BOIS ❀ @navi ❀

[attr="class","TheHandmaiden02"]英雄

[attr="class","TheHandmaiden03"]THE HERO

[attr="class","TheHandmaiden01"]

MADE BY MIZO❀

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[Zelda Hyrule]

[googlefont=Roboto]

Join in our prayer, in our song of birthrights and love

Come the sun, illuminate the sky

Pray that we may quell the dark - Light take the throne

Lost in thoughts all alone

She wasn't expecting the response she was given, and despite her uneasiness that caused her to frantically search for signs of an escape, she had frozen in place in the moment that he came into her line of sight and darted toward her. The look on his face caused her body to tense, and she found herself unable to move.

She almost flinched to his touch, as he had swiftly closed the distance between them, and his hands grabbed at her shirt aggressively. "W-what are you doing?" she felt her breath shake in a quick response. Before she could finish her muse, she was pulled in forcefully. The movement startled her as she gasped lightly, and found her eyes locked in a pained gaze with the hero.

She held her breath as his words washed over her. She felt her hands tremble as they clenched into fists. She tried to put words to how her body reacted to his words.

Suffering. That's how Zelda could describe it. Although she believed it was much more than just "suffering". It was a plethora of shattered bones, burning flesh, and cracked skulls. The air got heavier with every word he spoke. The wants and needs to shed a tear but feeling nausea by the thought. And for what? To be reminded that she was late. But she would've died for him. She would have ran to the edges of the universe if only to bring him happiness--and her attempts of doing so were in vain.

He broke out of his oration before letting her go in defeat. She couldn't move as her teeth bit against her lip harder with every second. She kept a careful gaze on his eyes as he locked onto her once more. He admitted to his guilt and fears, and her eyes began to sting as she tried to hold back her grief. She shook her head has he questioned his ability to recover, and as he made note of the impending walls.

But she could barely focus on that--she was still caught on his previous statement on his doubts. She defiantly shook her head before letting out a sharp breath as tears began to trace her cheekbones. She jolted forward, her hands quickly reaching for his and pulling them up to her chest. She cradled them with her fingers and kept her gaze locked on his own.

"I promised you that I wouldn't let anything happen to you again. Let me be your hero so that you can be everyone else's, damn it!" she spoke firmly. "I'd sacrifice everything to save you from experiencing anything like that ever again, and you'll never have to suffer alone. I never want you to hide how you feel from me, and you shouldn't feel like you have to!"

Her voice was coated with a coarseness; as if she was still frustrated, but didn't know how to speak without making it known. The death of her sister was still fresh, and despite his anguish being completely different from her own, they should be able to depend on each other emotionally.

She couldn't speak any words once more, as she felt herself give up entirely. She averted her gaze as she began to sob, pulling him into her grasp and holding onto him tightly. She took a moment to try and ease herself, as the room them shook for a moment, something seemingly changing around them - the walls began to slow, the grinding noise audibly lower than before.

Did... did she do something? She caught her breath as she looked around, still holding onto Link tightly before observing the walls coming to a halt. The room became still as a portal appeared in the center of the room. "What... did I..."

we did it!

Link Queensguard

[music]http://k003.kiwi6.com/hotlink/jvr556wrvo/08Vector_to_the_HeavensKINGDOM_HEARTS_Orchestra_World_TourSoundtrack.mp3[/music]

   MADE BY NAVI

[Link Queensguard]

She took his hands, cradling them protectively, as she affirmed her desires, and his eyes went wide, breath freeing. Every moment seemed to exist between a heartbeat, time slowing down in that familiar sense, a reminder of something.

There was nothing in the world more important to him than her.

It was a long-lost feeling, but one that hit him in the gut harder than any torture he had taken. He found his hand raising to her face, cupping her cheeks, and his eyes met hers again, but where they were distant and steely before, they were soft and vulnerable, scared beyond all recognition. But there was love, scared, horrified love, but he felt it. It was almost like a second heartbeat, a blossoming fire.

And he whispered two words to her, two powerful, dangerous words.

"Help me."

He cared not that the walls had stopped, he hardly noticed. His knees hit dirt, as he held close to Zelda's legs, shaking. Not crying, the tears were gone, but he shook like a leaf, scared she would tell him no. It was too late to go back, but part of him didn't want to.

"Help me, please. I need to heal, and I was scared to put that burden on you, but I need you and your help, Zelda. I've been pushing you away, but this whole time I should have been letting you in, and I'm sorry. I'm scared, and I need help. Please..."

His shaking stopped after some time, and he looked up to her, eyes with that same look from before, and he took her hands again, holding them tight.

"I came here with you to protect you, but I didn't let you protect me. From now on, Zelda, you can be my hero, and I yours. I'm not dying down here, and neither are you. Let's find what we need and get out, then go home. Please."

[Zelda Hyrule]

[googlefont=Roboto]

Something separates me from other people

Everywhere I turn

There's something blocking my escape

He wanted her help.

As awful as the circumstances were, and how delicate he had become, she had been thankful for the first time in forever that he was now inviting her aid. He fell to his knees, holding onto her carefully as his face had dug into her skirt fabric.

His hands held hers tightly, as he looked up at her begging for her to help him. She bit her lip, unsure what to say, but let him continue to speak as she moved down to meet him on the floor.

He was ready to go and finish what they started. He was ready to be her hero. Energy blossomed through her like a current, as she smiled brightly. "Really? You mean it?" she asked, almost as though she was stunned.

The dungeon was dark, and the portal was the only source of light as her sealing magic had diminished to nothing. She let out a nervous laugh to break the silence before hugging him tightly--so tightly, that she lost her balance and fell beside him, pulling him down with her. But as she turned to meet his gaze, she kissed him gingerly before her smile faltered.

"I didn't know what I was gonna do without you..."

Link Queensguard

MADE BY NAVI

[Link Queensguard]

For the first time in forever, he laughed. It was just a chuckle, but it was strides beyond his state at the time being. His smile faded with her kiss, and he instead held her close, studying her in the flickering light of the portal. 

"Without me? Probably not much, we are two pieces of a bigger puzzle, after all."

His hand held her cheek as he laid there, content to just stare at her, those features that he could recognize even in the dark of the dungeon. Good memories took over the bad for once, even if only briefly. He said nothing, only drinking in the moment, allowing him a small solace in a world of pain. But all times pass, and before long his arm was cramping against the stone ground. With a smile, he gave her a small kiss, then stood up, offering her a hand. After helping her out, he would look around, curious what else there was.

"Whatever is in here, we need to find... I feel something, but... I don't know where to go. I guess it's this?"

He gestured at the portal, shrugging. 

"Why did we even come here? Was there something specific we're seeking, or..."

Admittedly, in his haze of trauma, he had never caught onto it, but now with her there for him, and him her, the world felt a little clearer. He found him picking up his loaned sword, sliding it in the sheath, and held his hand out.

"Shall we together? Do you got my back?"

[Zelda Hyrule]

[googlefont=Roboto]

Something separates me from other people

Everywhere I turn

There's something blocking my escape

She didn't want the moment to end.But his words gave her comfort as her eyes wandered across his facial features, studying them carefully as she tried to read what he may be thinking.

He kissed her one last time before offering his hand to her to help her up. She took it carefully, pulled to her feet before looking into the portal carefully. Link could feel something; that was good, wasn't it? What exactly was waiting for them at the end of the tunnel?

Before he would take the step in, he hesitated, turning to her and asking why they were there, and for some reason... she couldn't give an answer. She didn't really know what brought her here, but she had heard an ancient treasure laid hidden inside. Whatever it was, it could be useful.

"The rumor mill had me wondering what could be hidden in the lair. Apparently something very valueable." A hand was held out once more, and she looked over it carefully. Soon, their troubles would be over, and they'd get out of here. She hoped. They hadn't seen any monsters yet, which worried her. Maybe it was a divine prank.

Or maybe it was a trap.

She couldn't think that way though. She nodded, taking his hand and stepping forward into the portal. "Let's go."

Link Queensguard

MADE BY NAVI