Rowena leaned her head back against the wall, eyes shifting slightly when Gumqui tracked the movement. He had been watching her like a hawk since tasked with looking after her by the Seeker of Truth. Her friends had been trying to avoid following her wishes to end her life as she had asked after she was first taken by the Antilife equation. However, they were soon running out of options and the latest idea, the Seeker negotiating on her behalf, had her worried for him.
What deal would the Seeker have to make now? And could the world survive the deal.
Normally the display of faith from her friends would make her happy, but now, she couldn’t help the dark thoughts that kept coming. They should have given up; they should have done what she asked.
After all, the blighted apple doesn’t fall far from the corrupted tree. She thought bitterly. The memories coming more quickly, even she had to admit now that she was Galendrielle. Even the idea of being a descendant didn’t hold weight because of the personal nature of the memories. She had learned the history of Hyrule, learned of the downfalls of her father and uncle and had sworn she would never do the same. She may be unfamiliar with leadership, but she would be the leader Hyrule deserved. Her family’s curse would not drag them down farther, and she failed. She had been presented with the same choice her father had, your soul for your people safety, and made the same choice he had. The choice had been given through different vessels but it was the same choice nonetheless.
How could she have been so stupid? Even if Hyrule survived, their leader would not be able to make choices for the best of Hyrule. They’d have a master other than the love of the virtues. She wouldn’t be Hyrule’s leader, the Merovingian would. She still didn’t feel remorse for losing her soul, it was a price she was willing to pay to keep her people and friends safe. What she regretted, was not finding a way for her to not be the ruler of Hyrule and save them from the manipulations of the Merovingian.
Suddenly, a strange feeling came in her chest; the cold that had been with her since her soul was lost was gone. She still felt empty, but the cold dread had been replaced with a warm knowing. Without even understanding it, she knew that Nathan had won. Her eyes closed as she savored the idea, but it was tainted with a wonder of what he had to give up. She couldn’t help the slight thought that Darkness had been right, how could the light win when each victory was one step forward and two back?
NO! The voice startled her, making her jump slightly. She didn’t recognize it, though there was a strange familiar tenor to it. Haven’t you learned? Don’t you understand? Thoughts like that will only make it easier for the darkness to win!
What else can I think? She asked the voice, it always seems like the darkness is winning! We didn’t even truly kill Darkness, just locked him away.
You did what some thought was impossible; the Antilife equation has been stopped. You should start having more faith in your friends, how many times have they proven worthy of that trust?
This is wisdom you speak, she admitted, how many times have I given into despair and fell to darkness, only to have them pull me to the light. But, how can that –
She cut off her thoughts after realizing that the darkness around her was more than her eyes being closed. She felt disconnected, adrift in the shadows surrounding her. She tried to open her eyes but nothing the Darkness was in her mind. This was horrifyingly familiar.
No…it can’t be, He’s trapped in the urn, he can’t be back.
“Can’t he?”
The voice startled her again, the darkness seemed to lighten and after a few seconds she was able to see…Herself? It was her, but there was something off. There was a coldness, a harshness to the lines and planes of her face. She looked up into the eyes of her double and stumbled back in shock. The evil, the darkness reflected back in those icy blue eyes. She hoped she had never had such a look on her face before.
The double gave a feral grin, “You think you can beat me girl? I’ve always been a part of you, the darkness inside of you will never leave, never die. And no urns or holy water will stop that.”
“You’re wrong” Rowena hissed out, her voice weak and fearful. “You’ve been beaten. You will be beaten.”
Darkness walked forward, pulling a sword from its sheath on his side. It was Raphael’s Blade. But it too was different. Instead of the white and gold flames she was used to, there were flames of black midnight that seemed to swallow what little light was remaining. “I told you, I am eternal, I am your guilt, your shame, your self-doubt. I am your hatred, your fear, your anger. You can never stop me, no more than you can stop the night.”
She was now kneeling, her strength gone, he is right, why fight, all I want to do know is sleep. She felt a hand touch her lightly on her shoulder. Her horrified eyes shifted from the Darkness in front of her to the person kneeling next to her, it was Jillian and then next to her came Ara, followed by Nial and Gumqui. “Don’t give up, we’ll always be able here to guide you” Jullian said as the others helped her to her feet. “Allow our light to help you when you feel yours dimming” Ara chimed in. Nial pressed the hilt of her sword into her hand. The flames of it were dimmed and small. But when the others started glowing with a light of their own the sword’s flames grew. Rowena closed her eyes, feeling the warmth of the flames wash over her. It was like coming home, the feeling of love that always comes when you are with those that care about you.
“The light in you is only snuffed out when you allow it” Nial said, her eyes opened and regarded the Darkness in front of her.
“No more,” she said her voice hard with determination. “You will control me no longer. You may be the darkness inside me, but my light is stronger then you, because they make me stronger than the darkness! “ she lunged forward, stabbing Raphael’s Blade into the chest of her double. The darkness pressed her on all sides, fighting to crush her again. But the others were there to keep it at bay. The flames on the blade flared brighter and with a shriek of anger, the double disappeared.
Rowena stirred lightly where she was sitting; someone had walked through the door of the room. Nathan stood there, wobbling slightly as he regarded her with tired eyes.
“Are you alright?” He asked of her, she wondered briefly if he had seen the struggle in her mind.
“I think so, the coldness is gone.” And the darkness as well. She thought.
Nathan handed her a scroll, asking her to read it. As she did, she felt the emptiness dissipate from her, she felt whole again. He suddenly grabbed her shoulders, but the movement wasn’t threatening. He talked of a lesson she was learning, and hoped that she would continue to remember it. To not forget that her friends, and he included himself in that category, would always be willing to help her. That the cared and loved her. And as long as you were willing to not give to despair the Light will always win.
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