Fan Fiction ❯ The Legend of Zelda: The Ballad of Fallen Angels ❯ Epilogues ( Chapter 28 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Epilogue I: “Stairway To Heaven”

It was raining slightly. Gray clouds hung low in the sky, blanketing the earth with its cool water. All around them, flowers raised up and sucked in the wondrous moisture of life, blooming in a startling wide range of vibrant color. Hyrule was truly known for it's beautiful springtime.

But the beauty of the season was lost on the small parade that wound it's way up the path towards the Temple of Time. Zelda, Queen of Hyrule, walked in the front of the procession, flanked by Igus de Ikama, Ikaylimu of the restored nation of Ikama, and General Keeta, commander of the Grand Imperial Army of Ikama, holding a long, slender item wrapped in soft silk. Behind them, the wedded couple Hikari and Cremina Zotanus, lawfully-elected rulers of Clock Town walked with the coffin that contained Romani's body.

Behind them, Swiftstroke and Link Darunia, Chieftains of the Gorons of Termina and Hyrule, and Reguge Zarana and Grungle Drowsic, Kaiser and King of the Zoras of Termina and Hyrule, carried the coffin that held Link's body. Above that, Tatl and Tael floated, sprinkling the parade with faint sparks that helped warm their cold, wet, miserable bodies.

The little procession reached and entered the Temple of Time. Zelda motioned to the pallbearers to follow her, then walked up to the stairway that led to the rear room of the temple.

They placed the two coffins side-by-side, directly in front of the Pedestal of Time. Zelda slowly walked up to the pedestal and turned to face the little assembly.

“We are here, now, today, to say good-bye to two dear friends. They fought for the freedom of your world, and mine, and were both killed protecting those they loved.”

Cremina stepped forward. “Romani was my little sister. She loved everyone and everything around her, regardless of any other issues. She,” Cremina's voice caught in her throat, “she loved me for who I am, not what I believed in.”

Keeta spoke next. “Nearly a decade ago, my spirit lay desecrated and trapped in a nightmarish prison in Ikama. Link arrived and freed me. He was a good officer, a great fighter, and an even better friend. Romani was a tough young woman who could shoot better than any other archer I'd ever seen, and she was a good person.”

One by one, the others offered their little comments about the pair. Finally, Zelda stepped up to the pedestal again. She unwrapped the thing in her arms to reveal the Master Sword. “I recommit this blade of evil's bane back to it's eternal resting place, in the hope that it's magic shall never falter, and as a protector to these bodies that we commit to it.”

With that, Zelda slammed the Master Sword back into the Pedestal of Time. The other rulers nodded solemnly and slowly filed back out of temple.

Outside of the temple, however, they found that the rain had stopped, and sunlight warmed the ground all around them. Igus was about to comment about the flowers when Cremina screamed and pointed in front of them.

What the group saw will never be forgotten by any of them. The image of what appeared to be two young children danced and frolicked in the pasture directly opposite the Temple of Time. The children, one male and one female, laughed as they chased each other around the field of flowers.

Cremina ran forward, followed closely by the rest of the procession. They stopped and stared at the two shades of the children. The children stopped and looked at them.

It was Link and Romani, both age ten. Their young faces beamed with light and happiness as they looked at their friends. The children waved to the group and, laughing, slowly faded into nothingness.

Hikari wrapped an arm around Cremina, who laughed and smiled and cried all at the same time. Igus de Ikama's bony face broke and cracked into a wide grin. Keeta laughed, Reguge smiled. Zelda's eyes watered with tears, and she too laughed, the feeling of heavy dead weight gone from her heart.

The day shone with the bright sunlight. Flowers of all colors blossomed and bloomed all around them. Zelda looked up into the clear blue sky, and smiled.

“Thank you, Link. Thank you, Romani. Thank you and all the others, who became martyrs in the hope that our lives would be saved. Your hopes were not in vain. Thank you.”

THE END

Epilogue II: “November Rain”

The little procession reached and entered the Temple of Time. Zelda motioned to the pallbearers to follow her, then walked up to the stairway that led to the rear room of the temple.

They placed the two coffins side-by-side, directly in front of the Pedestal of Time. Zelda slowly walked up to the pedestal and turned to face the little assembly.

“We are here, now, today, to say good-bye to two dear friends. They fought for the freedom of your world, and mine, and were both killed protecting those they loved.”

With that, Zelda slammed the Master Sword back into the Pedestal of Time. The other rulers nodded solemnly and slowly filed back out of temple.

Outside of the temple, the light rain had turned into a full-blown storm. The little flowers where ripped asunder, and their petals scattered to the winds.

Igus de Ikama witnessed this, and remarked to Zelda, “Like the emotions and moods of the living, so to, does this storm whirl them all into turmoil.”

Zelda nodded, feeling the leaden lump that was her heart beat in her chest. She watched Hikari lead Cremina down the path towards the castle. Turning to Link Darunia and Grungle Drowsic, she remarked, “He always tried to do so much for everyone else, and now it has killed him.”

Link Darunia nodded solemnly. “Oh yes. When I was younger, he rescued my father and my people from the hideous fire-dragon Volvagia. He did this without expecting any reward or thanks in return, for he knew it was simply the right thing to do.”

Grungle Drowsic nodded in agreement. “He freed the Zoras from the enchanted ice spell that imprisoned them in their own homes. He was a true hero.”

Zelda turned to see Reguge approaching. “I think it is best to continue our reminiscing indoors. Myself and King Drowsic are unaffected by the rain and cold, but you, your Majesty, and the others may come down with an illness.”

Zelda nodded. The procession made it's way down the walk towards the castle, and it was the first time in quite a while, that a rainbow did not shine when the storm finally lifted. Rainbows would not come again, for a long time.

THE END

Author's Note: See, I couldn't decide which ending to use, so I put in both. I'll decide with the sequel which one to start with, so the sequel will be different depending of how I finally decide this ends.

Also, please read and REVIEW, it's so nice of you…