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“This is nice.” Hyrule admitted, while walking with Legend during patrol. “I feel like we’re so distant now that we’ve found the rest of the chain.”
Legend smiled. “I guess you’re not insufferable.” He said as he leaned over and gave Hyrule an affectionate ruffle of hair. Hyrule leaned into the touch, craving the warmth and affection. “Get back!”
Hyrule couldn’t move fast enough and a dark mist covered both their bodies. Legend cried out in pain after it passed, and Hyrule brought them both into a kneeling position. “Are you okay, Legend?”
Legend growled in response. “Is that because I didn’t move back?” Hyrule asked. Legend glared at Hyrule. But the face Hyrule saw was not quite Legend’s. His eyes were blood-red, with some creepy purple ooze leaking out of them. A wicked grin replaced the soft endearing smile that had been present only mere seconds before. His red tunic enhanced the grey tone his skin had taken. Hyrule took a step back.
Legend unsheathed the Tempered Sword and swung the blade in a showy circle. Hyrule unhooked his shield, knowing he’d never outrun Legend as long as his mentor had the Pegasus Boots. He wasn’t very good at fighting, either, but maybe the clanging of sword against a shield would attract the chain. Clang! Legend’s sword landed on his shield. Another clang, another block. On and on the sword and shield danced in perfect sync. No help came. Legend’s blade grazed his shoulder and blood began to slowly leak out of the wound and taint the end of the emerald green sleeve. Hyrule was getting tired. Whatever was commanding his friend had great stamina – or maybe that was just Legend himself. Another slice grazed his leg, and more blood flowed out of his body. Several minutes of dodging passed, and Hyrule realized he was getting dizzy. Blood loss. That wasn’t good. A lucky thrust landed the Tempered Sword in Hyrule’s stomach. Legend pulled on the blade and it came out with a sickening squelch. Blood erupted from the wound as Hyrule collapsed, first to his knees, then to his side. The world was all muted colors and a pounding and ringing in his ears. He felt his body being rolled onto his back. Something raised his head gently, just slightly. A blonde blur appeared in his vision before the world went dark.
Good, the evil mist thought as it left its host to deal with the soon-to-be corpse, he won’t come back from that.
The world snapped into utter clarity for Legend. His hands burned. He immediately dropped the Tempered Sword and looked at his hands. His palms were utterly charred, and the Tempered Sword’s fine gold blade was a morbid sunset. Gentle orange followed by a crimson blood. Identical to the blood that covered Hyrule’s arm, leg, and torso. Oh, s***! Legend thought. He knew what this meant. Legend dumped his entire pouch onto the forest floor, knowing a fairy was the only thing that could save Hyrule. He had several green potions, but those wouldn’t do any good. He knelt, rolled Hyrule on his back, and repositioned the other hero’s head in his lap. “Rulie, please, can you wake up and heal yourself?”
No answer. “Please, don’t leave me.”
More of Hyrule’s blood spilled onto the forest floor, onto Legend and his clothes. Legend could no longer see because his vision was so blurred by tears, but he ran his hands along Hyrule’s neck to where a pulse should be. His fingers were met with nothing. With blind groping, he found Hyrule’s wrist and felt for a pulse. Just like at his neck. Legend leaned over and listened at Hyrule’s chest. The only sounds that met his ears were that of the forest and not that of a heartbeat. Hell, even Marin had had more of a heartbeat when he’d snuggled up against her than Hyrule did now. “DON’T TAKE HIM FROM ME!” Legend yelled, as tears streamed down his cheeks.
Many minutes passed, and the chain eventually found Legend holding Hyrule’s body to his chest, screaming for all he was worth. They didn’t ask why the Tempered Sword was covered in blood when Hyrule’s was perfectly clean, nor did they make Legend let go of what was left of his brother. They offered Legend dinner, but he wouldn’t touch it. He refused to let go of Hyrule’s body, even going as far as holding it in his sleep once his body gave in to exhaustion.
Legend woke the soft touch of a bony rib tapping him through an exhale. Legend sat bolt upright and glanced around the camp. Warriors stared tiredly at the fire.
“How can I help?” the scarfed man asked, transferring his tired gaze to Legend. Not ‘are you okay?’ (obviously not), which surprised Legend only slightly.
“Please tell me Rulie… that it was some goddessforsaken nightmare.” Legend begged.
Warriors sighed. “I can’t.”
“Goddess damn it.” Legend moaned, raking his bloody fingers through his hair. The blood had long since dried, and didn’t stain the golden locks.
“You didn’t let me finish. By some miracle, he’s been resurrected. The blood loss is going to be rough and we’ll need to keep camp here for a few days, but he’s alive.”
Legend laid back down and pulled Hyrule’s limp form even closer than it had been before, and fell asleep crying tears of joy.