Chapter Text
Oshus strolled out of his home, his red staff falling onto the dirt path with muted taps. He gazed around, noting the absence of Ciela near his home. Despite having a temple that she needed to reside in, Ciela chose to remain living in Oshus' hut, only transporting herself to the Temple of Courage for a quick scan and resetting of the protective barriers.
When asked about this, Ciela would simply shrug and state that the temple did not feel like home anymore. She would then deter any further attempts at prying, not wanting to let them know the true reason. That she didn't want to remain in the temple because while she flew through the halls, phantom footsteps of a young hero would follow her.
Oshus casted out his powers, noting that all three of his servants were on Mercay. Neri and Leaf's presences glowed brightly with their essence. Ciela's presence, however, was almost muted, a low drum of essence. When Oshus increased his presence against Ciela's, her essence flared up, letting Oshus know that she was okay. When Oshus retreated, her essence flared back down.
Oshus let out a low sigh, closing his eyes in worry for his youngest servant, knowing that Ciela's low essence was because of the separation from Link and Linebeck. Ciela had become close with the pair, and was upset with knowing that her journey with them had to come to an end when Bellum was finally defeated .
"Ciela's essence hasn't been this low since the loss of..." Oshus cut himself off, not letting the name pass his lips. What had been done, was done. There was no hope with that situation.
But the current situation.... Oshus let out a low sigh, seeing as there was only one path to take, unless he wanted to watch Ciela become only a shadow of her personality. Neri and Leaf would not desire this, but Oshus knew that Ciela's heart now rested among a special pair of Hylians. A smile graced his face under his beard. Or... If he had to be specific, with a certain fool of a captain.
Oshus summoned Neri to him, wanting to inform his decision to her first. Knowing of Leaf and Ciela's past romantic entanglements, he knew that Leaf would react more harshly to it.
"Yes, Ocean King?" Neri immediately said, landing on Oshus's offered hand. "Why have you called me to your side?"
"I need the location of Ciela. The lowness of her essence has been worrying me for quite some time now." Oshus began, looking out across the ocean.
Neri bowed her head. "I know what you mean, Ocean King. It hasn't been this low since the days after... " Neri jerked her head upright, eyes fearful. "You don't think that Ciela is remembering... her?"
Oshus frowned at Neri. "You need not speak with such an ill tone in your words." Shaking his head, Oshus resumed his position. "But to sooth your worries, no, I do not believe that Ciela is remembering that part of her history. I have a feeling that we would have a very different Ciela on our hands. A very angry Ciela." The god added in a dark undertone.
"Though, why I have need of Ciela's location, it does deal with the matters of her heart." Oshus continued.
Neri flew off Oshus' hand. "Meaning what exactly?" She demanded, flying to be level with Oshus’ face. "What matter of the heart could be causing such a essence drop in Ciela? Or for that matter, what decision have you made for Ciela?!"
"In the time that Ciela had traveled with them, Link and Linebeck had become family to Ciela, and with Linebeck, something that could have been more under different circumstances. Upon losing them, Ciela had lost family." Oshus explained. "So, I have made the choice to send her to the land of the Goddesses, as a Hylian, so she may rejoin them."
Neri stopped almost all moment, minus the beating of her wings. "What..." She whispered, eyes horrified. "Oshus, can't you just... remove her memories of them? Like before?"
Oshus glared at Neri, anger of the sea intense in his eyes. "I listened to that advice once, and only followed it because in not doing it, it may have meant forfeiting Ciela's life. In this, to take away those memories, it could destroy Ciela as we know her. Altering her memories that prominently again could very well do so." Oshus closed his eyes. "I will not alter her memories again. Ciela has a path and if this is where it intends to guide her, so be it. Do you understand?" Oshus opened his eyes, fixing them on the blue spirit.
Not wanting the wrath of the Ocean King on her, Neri bobbed her head once, thoroughly chastised. "Yes, Ocean King, I understand." She stated, gazing down at her clasped hands, not wanting to stare any longer into Oshus's eyes. The millenniums held within them always made her feel like she was drowning. "Ciela is standing on the east side of the island, looking out at the sea. May I accompany you?"
"You may." Oshus replied, already moving for the east side of the island. "I'm certain you will want to say your goodbyes."
Neri followed in silence for the first half of the journey, consumed with confusion on Oshus' choice of actions and what will follow because of it. Finally, she couldn't take it anymore, and spoke once more.
"Oshus, once you send Ciela on her way... Who will become the new Spirit of Time and Courage?"
"I believe that someone will present themselves accordingly. It may take some time, but a new spirit will come about." Oshus replied, voice steady. He did not falter in his steps at Neri's inquiry.
Neri nodded, having to trust that Oshus knew what he was doing, no matter what outcomes may come about for the King's Ocean, herself, Leaf-.
Neri's train of thought cut off at the thought of the Spirit of Power. "Ocean King, what about Leaf? He still has feelings for Ciela..."
Seemingly knowing when he was being talked about, the Spirit of Power flew up beside Neri. "Hey, Oshus, Neri." He said, being less formal than the Spirit of Wisdom. "What's going on?"
Unable to help herself, Neri blurted out. "Oshus plans to send Ciela to the Great Sea. Permanently."
Leaf grew unnaturally still, much like Neri upon hearing this information. "...What..." He said in a forced whisper.
Oshus stopped to turn and face Leaf, eyes soft. "Ciela is unhappy here. Yes, we are her family, but she longs for the family she made twenty-eight years ago."
"What about our Spirit of Time and Courage?!" Leaf cried out angrily, just managing to choke back the angry words of "what about me?!"
"As I told Neri, someone will present themselves in due time." Oshus replied, turning back around to continue on his path.
Leaf's face twisted into an angry snarl. "So that's it. Because Ciela misses her precious Link and Linebeck, she will be sent from us permanently-"
A sharp slap echoed through the clearing, cutting off Leaf. The Spirit of Power raised a hand to his cheek, staring at Neri in disbelief.
Neri hovered a few inches away from him, her hand she used to slap Leaf still in the air. She looked more in shock about her actions, but soon made her expression firm. "How can you be so selfish!?" She snapped, face darkened with anger, her glow turning purple to match. "Yes, I'm upset about this too, but that is no means to ignore Ciela's feelings and wants! I just cannot believe what you are saying!" She swung her arm back down, closing her eyes.
"That's real rich, coming from you!" Leaf barked, red glow becoming a reddish brown with his anger. "You were the one pushing for Ciela's mind to be wiped. You didn't give a single damn about her feelings then! You only care about your little sister when it's easy to do so!"
"This is different and you know it, Leaf!" Neri screamed back, loosing herself in her anger.
"That's enough from the both of you!" came the thunderous voice of Oshus, now a short distance from the arguing spirits. He had turned back once more, eyes black in their fury.
Neri immediately felt chilled, and silenced herself, anger becoming doused with shame at being caught bickering like a child.
However Leaf, with a self righteous huff, whirled around and shot off into the air. After he was gone, Neri let out a rush of air, expression becoming weary.
Oshus stared after the red fairy. "Jealousy does not bode well for a Spirit of Power." He did not comment any further on Neri and Leaf's spat.
Neri only nodded sadly, watching the red ball of light fade into the distance.
…
Some distance from Oshus and Neri, Ciela stood on the edge of the cliff, in her hylian sized fairy form. She gazed down at the waves crashing against the rocks, letting the sea air tickle her golden hair and gently shift her wings. She closed her eyes, fighting against memories that forced themselves into her thoughts.
“Well, thank goodness for that fact. After a year, I was getting tired of having to see your face every single day!”
“Fine then, if that’s how you’re gonna be, Sparkles! Get the hell out of here, and good riddance to you!”
Ciela’s eyes flew open, the last words she heard from Linebeck stinging her heart. She screwed shut her eyes, protesting against the tears. That was her last chance to make everything right with that stupid captain. To reveal that she feelings for him ever since the day that he had shared a brief part of his dark past, and, and... And she just fought with him and let him go with her heart broken, never to be mended .
Ciela shook her head, disgusted. “It’s been seven years for him and Link and twenty-eight for me!" Ciela bowed her head in defeat, letting the tears fall. "Why can't I just let you guys go?" She whispered. In her mind, the images of Link and Linebeck flashed before her eyes.
Ciela drew up her arms, wrapping them around herself in a poor attempt to comfort herself. Her heart ached for her companions, and though she wouldn't admit it to anyone, Linebeck especially. "Though why would he care for me? The damn prick probably doesn't even remember me." Dropping her arms, Ciela turned around, already mentally preparing for the transformation to fairy size. This was interrupted when she came face to face with Oshus, Neri bobbing behind the old man.
Ciela gave a start, jumping back a few steps in alarm before she realized who it was.
“Gah! Grandpa, you gotta stop sneaking up behind me." Ciela gasped out, massaging her chest, quickly rubbing away the tears, trying to hide that she had been crying.
“Forgive me, Ciela. I did not mean to scare you. I simply want to ask you something." Oshus replied, settling into a standing position.
"Ask away, Grandpa." Ciela said, crossing her arms, trying to keep her tone casual. She mentally flinched when she realized how close that pose was to Linebeck. She quickly opted to keep her arms to be held stiffly by her sides.
Neri felt lost and confuse at Ciela being in such a state over two hylians. She just couldn't understand it. Still, Neri gazed at Ciela, eyes filled with worry and hurt. "You really do miss them... don't you?" A flash of sky blue light and Neri joined Ciela in being Hylian sized, taking steps to be nearer to Ciela. "How can you miss two hylians you knew would be leaving you, no matter what?"
"Well, Neri, I didn't always know that! You seemed to have forgotten that I had to spend nine years with no clue as to who the hell I was!" Ciela snapped back, anger flaring. "Yes, I had Grandpa, but Link and Linebeck... they were something more." Ciela struggled to say more, but can't find the words on how she felt. Instead, she ungracefully clawed the air before throwing her arms down with a huff. "They gave me a sense of self, okay? Before the Temple of Courage, before I remembered that they had to leave... I started to think that... maybe I should just give up on ever regaining my memories, and simply stay with the super dysfunctional family that we three created with each other." Her shoulders slumped. "You know how well that turned out..."
Ciela went to shove past Neri, fighting tears again. Oshus' staff being set in front of her stopped her. Only out of respect to Oshus, did Ciela remain in hylian form and not switch to fairy size and zip away.
"Yes, Grandpa?" Ciela sighed, feeling suddenly very weary.
"As you very emotionally stated, Link and Linebeck were family to you and you miss them very much, Linebeck especially." Oshus stated.
Ciela reeled back as if she was slapped . "Why would I miss that superficial idiot?!" She snapped, eyes narrowing. She thought that she wasn't being that obvious...
"Your essence has been low and continuing to dip ever since the pair left my realm. Also, whenever Linebeck is mentioned, your essence briefly flares then drops even further. I simply drew conclusions from there." Oshus explained .
Ciela hanged her head, letting her hair fall in front of her face, shielding her emotions. She had forgotten how closely Oshus monitored their essences. "Yes, then, I miss Link and.. and even that moronic captain." She gave up in a monotone.
Silence filled the air. Neri faced the opposite way of Ciela, gaze downcast. "So if you had a way... to rejoin them... Would you take it?" Neri whispered.
Ciela gave off no reaction except to simply let her shoulders stiffen.
"Would you?" Neri asked again, determined to get an answer out of Ciela. She didn't want to lose the Spirit of Time and Courage, less so her sister... But Oshus’ words on how much Ciela was becoming torn up over Link and Linebeck was becoming more and more clear to her. She internally kicked herself for being so blind before, having let her high standing loyalty to her spirit powers affect her judgement. “ Again…” Neri admonished herself.
"I don't know..." Ciela quietly returned, not looking at anyone.
Neri let out a huff of frustration and whirled around. She grabbed Ciela's shoulders and whipped the golden spirit around. " Would you ?!" Neri demanded. She hated getting angry at Ciela, but she would be so stubborn at times!
"I DON'T KNOW!" Ciela screamed, glaring at Neri in vexation, body strung taut like a bowstring while she waited for the Spirit of Wisdom’s next move.
Neri released Ciela, letting a moment of silence fall between the two before speaking again. "Ciela... I would like you to not leave. I would like you to remain here, and continue your duties as the Spirit of Time and Courage. However... My eyes have been open to your pain. I can no longer not notice that the leaving of Link and Linebeck has hurt you." Neri let her sapphire eyes bore into Ciela's, her tears causing them to sparkle. "So I ask you Ciela... If you could leave... If you could go and join Link and Linebeck... would you take it?"
Ciela felt the silence choking her as she struggled to find an answer to Neri’s words. She swallowed once, twice, three times, mouth suddenly feeling dry. Her body trembled like a snowflake being tossed in a blizzard, breathing going funny.
" Yes .”
No louder than a breath, yet for all of them, the words infused with meaning for Ciela’s future. Upon saying it, Ciela herself felt drained, her body freed from some great weight. She only felt relief upon finally being able to speak the truth in her heart.
“I would take it... I miss Link so much... and yes, I... love.... Linebeck...." Ciela continued in a hushed voice. Her eyes lost focus as her memories of her companions filled her mind. "I would do anything... if I could travel with them again..."
"Even at the cost of losing everything you ever known?" Oshus gently asked, knowing the answer.
"I already lost everything once, so yes, even at that cost." Ciela said, nodding her head in a dazed manner.
Neri let out a sob, enveloping Ciela into a bone-crushing hug, wishing that she didn't have to let go. "Then you better not forget about us... Alright?"
Ciela pried Neri off of her, bringing herself back to reality. "Ners, what are you going on about? I can't leave... Not even if I wanted to..."
"Heh... heh..." Oshus let out an amused chuckle. "Ciela, you seemed to forget that I'm a god... One who has done transformation of my children before. I can easily change your state into a Hylian born under the Goddesses laws."
"What?" Ciela said, whirling around to face Oshus with wide eyes. Her tension returned tenfold upon Oshus’s words.
"I also have the same power as you to open portals into the other worlds. How else would Bellum have been able to send the Ghost Ship to retrieve souls from the Great Sea?" Oshus explained. "But again, you must give up all of your powers so I may transform you into a Hylian such as Link and Linebeck."
Ciela swallowed hard, slight nausea at what was going to occur. Nonetheless, her words came easily, heart swelling with fledgling hope. "I understand. I still wish for this to happen."
“Then repeat these words after me.” Oshus raised his staff and gestured for Ciela to take hold of it. She did.
“ Do you, Ciela, Spirit of Time and Courage .” Oshus began, voice becoming infused with his power.
“I, Ciela, Spirit of Time and Courage.” Ciela echoed, trying to quell her trembling. She was going to be seeing Link again... and with a hylian body, she might actually have a chance with Linebeck this time around.
“ Do hereby release your spirit powers .”
“Do hereby release my spirit powers.”
“In the wish to live in the world ruled under the Goddesses. ”
“In the wish to live in the world ruled under the Goddesses.”
“Fully knowing that. ”
“Fully knowing that.”
“ You will never possess these powers again? ”
“I will never possess these powers again.”
" Unless you so chose to wield them again, in dire times. "
"Unless I so chose to wield them again, in dire times." Ciela finished. " Hah! Like that's going to happen."
From Ciela's chest, purple and green orbs begin to emanate from her chest. In a pearl white flash, Ciela was again a pearly white color, fluttering in front of Oshus, fairy sized .
Ciela let out a small gasp of shock, feeling powerless. " Damn, that's gonna be hard to get used to. " She thinks, gently massaging her chest where her powers left her.
Oshus gently guided the purple and green orbs into his own chest, storing the power within himself until the new Spirits of Time and Courage presented themselves. "Now Ciela, I will begin transforming you into a hylian."
Ciela bobbed her fairy form, closing her eyes.
Ancient words flowed from Oshus' mouth, and Ciela quelled down her worries, knowing there was no going back. Tendrils of Oshus' pure white aura slunk up to meet and surround Ciela's fairy form, forming a cocoon around her.
Down upon the ground, Neri shielded her eyes, looking away, the light emanating from the cocoon being too bright to look at. " I hope you'll find more happiness with this choice and in the Great Sea, Ciela, than what grief has met you here in this world. " She thought, heart clenching.
Inside the cocoon, Ciela opened her eyes to see the pure white aura surrounding her. She watched in girlish delight as sections of the cocoon skim off from the surface, going to wrap around her tiny form. Soon, her entire body was enveloped and her clothing was stripped away. Ciela once more closed her eyes, feeling the power on her skin lengthening out her limbs, her wings pressing against her skin and melting into her body, hair whipping around her.
The cocoon floated to the ground, having grown in size, decreasing in its intensity. Neri was finally able to gaze at the cocoon, waiting for Ciela to step out.
The cocoon began to dissipate, the last remnants of it wrapping around Ciela's nude body, creating clothes for the newly made Hylian. Ciela felt the grass under her feet; she grinned and curled her toes up in it, opening her eyes.
Neri blinked at the woman now standing before her. "Ciela..." She murmured, barely able to recognize her sister.
Ciela's knee-length, field-of-wheat hair was replaced with sunrise red hair with highlights of golden yellow so that when Ciela shifted around, the sunlight caught strands of hair, making it seem like it was on fire. Her amber eyes changed to the color of a rich sea blue. Her hylian form was actually shorter than her hylian sized spirit form, almost like a nod to her former self. Her clothes ended up changing as well. Instead of her vest and skirt, Ciela was clad in a sun-glow yellow dress. It was long-sleeved and hugged her body enough to show her curves.
Ciela continued to twist around to examine herself. "This is really weird... It feels really weird." She giggled, craning her head to see that her winged had indeed disappeared. "The dress is a nice touch however." The now ex-fairy gave off another short giggle and gave a twirl, testing out her new permanent body. She still felt off centered, and demonstrated that by nearly falling on her face. "So this is what being a true Hylian is like."
Oshus chuckled softly. "I'm glad you like it, Ciela."
Ciela froze and looked at Oshus and Neri, her mood growing somber. "So... I guess this is it... where we have to say goodbye..." Ciela swallowed, biting her lip. She glanced around. "Shouldn't Leaf be here as well? So I can say goodbye?"
Neri pursed her lips. "We met him along the way... He didn't take Oshus letting you go to the Goddesses Realm very well... I think you know why."
Ciela let out a huff. "Do me a favor then, and kick his butt for me." She went over and took hold of Neri's hands. "Kay?"
Neri looked up to Ciela, tears spilling onto her cheeks. "Only if you'll do one in return." Neri then gave Ciela another bone crushing hug. "You may a hylian now, but you'll still live quite longer than them. In that time, don't forget your family. E-Even as you go off to m-make a new one."
Ciela swallowed back down another lump. She knew that she won't be able to return, that this was going to be the last time she would see any of them again. "How could I?" Ciela choked out, resting her head on Neri's shoulder, fiercely hugging the blue fairy as well. “You are my only sister.”
Neri let out another sob, digging her hands into Ciela’s back.
They remained holding each other as they cried. Finally, the two separate after somewhat composing themselves. Ciela moved back over to Oshus, wiping away her tears. She also took hold of one of his hands, her own hands trembling with sadness. "Thank you for everything, Grandpa." She choked out, tears spilling from her eyes. She gripped his hand, before letting out another sob and threw her arms around the old man, holding him tight.
Oshus gently held her in return. "You are most certainly welcome, Ciela." He took Ciela by the shoulders and squeezed them, looking her in the eye. "Now go and fly, my young one. Go off and make a new life with that fool of a captain and Link."
Ciela let out a shaky laugh, before slowly sliding out of Oshus's hands. "I'll miss you... Even that asshole we call the Spirit of Power."
“Ciela, language.” Oshus gently reprimanded, eyes sparkling like the moonbeams on the ocean.
Neri laughed as well, wiping at her eyes uselessly. "We'll miss you as well."
Familiar fog rolled around the trio, transporting Ciela's mind back to when she had to say farewell to people whom had become family to her. " I'm still saying goodbye to family. " Ciela thought. Nonetheless, a happy feeling began to curl up in her stomach at the thought of her former partners. " Link and Linebeck, you're gonna get the shock of your lives. "
Ciela stepped backwards into the fog, knowing that she won't fall off the cliff.
"Oh and Ciela! Do try and curb that tongue of yours!" Oshus called, his form becoming obscured in the darkness.
"Never, Old Man!" Ciela called back into the fog, before cracking up into giddy laughter.
Ciela's laughter ringing through the air was the only remnants of the ex-fairy, as she slipped through the door between worlds.