malice
n. a thick, black and magenta substance that depletes one's life force
n. the intention or desire to do evil; ill will
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"Zelda."
Her hands were clenched tight.
"You can still stop this," her father pressed. "Use the sealing power now."
"I can't."
They were defeated before they even had a chance to fight.
"You. Have. To."
The hero's brown eyes jumped back and forth uncertainly as hope crumbled between father and daughter in an empty amphitheater.
A pained ululation came from the other side of the bench, and all three of them froze. Then, circumnavigating the malice as quickly and carefully as they could, they found a woman lying in the malice on the other side.
"H-help me... please..."
No one moved. What could they do?
"P-lease, it burns..."
The woman was covered in it. A morbid curiosity stole over Zelda. Legend only spoke of malice sucking away one's life energy. But under the magenta blanket, Zelda thought the woman's physical flesh might be melting as well. If so, was there anything that could be done?
"Zelda," Father said more sternly. "You can save her."
An ivory hairbrush. Mama coughing. Blood pooling like malice.
It's inside. Soon it would be outside.
"Is Mama going to die?"
Stone floor. Stone columns. Cleric bent low.
"Your Majesty, forgive my prudence...
Hylia's blessings can stop the spread."
Hope. It's so fragile.
"You're sure you don't feel anything, Princess?"
The clock is ticking. She didn't know.
"We can't keep pretending like it's fine."
"No, Rhoam. She's just a child."
Then, a secret. Just between Papa and daughter.
Midnight breeze. Mama's labored slumber. Hush now, child.
"You can save her, Zelda."
But she can't. Her hands are too small. So is her voice.
But her heart is so big. Hope is suffocating.
You can save her. Save her. Save her—
Mama awakens. Yelling becomes coughing. The door stayed shut after that.
Until snow-dusted flowers wept under empty skies.
Funeral as big as a birthday party. Face after face after face. They don't know.
The casket they offer condolences to is empty.
Mama is still in bed. Despite the blankets, her body is cold. And her eyes are scary. Bruises black and magenta.
Malice is greedy. Her life wasn't enough.
Everyday it takes more. This corpse isn't Mama.
YOU ARE READING
Fortune Favors the Courageous
Fanfiction"Princess!" he yelled after her. "Where are you going?" "Back to the castle," she replied without stopping. "Not by yourself you're not!" "I'm sorry,"-she whipped around-"I didn't realize you were my father?" "Your father, the king, would execute me...
