Wilting Light (Vaati x reader)

Ashes

Please don't repost the finger image without credit; the art is mine.
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I actually made the picture for the very last chapter but you know for some reason I feel like it would fit this one more.

And let's just talk about how when I first started I never thought I would get past the first chapter lmao

I normally start a story confident then that confidence would disappear over time, but with this one I became more confident over time

Well

I feel like my confidence will lead to this story becoming shit for some reason

Or it'll lead to me being that bad author that pitches a fit every time someone mentions something wrong with my story.

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    You inhaled the fresh, damp night air as you stepped off of Linebeck's ship. The town was empty, and the only sound was the rustling of bushes as a soft, chilly breeze flew over the island. Far in the distance, you could see the first hints of orange as the sun began to rise.

Link walked beside you with a slight limp. On his leg, there was a nasty burn from the one time the demon sisters back on the Ghost Ship had managed to hit him with one of their balls of magic. His shoulders were slumped and his eyes were half-lidded as he went along, almost leaning on you. "Sorry about Tetra," he whispered, not wanting to destroy the peaceful silence that reigned over the island. A breeze gently brushed against your skin, rustling the leaves in trees that were sparsely scattered around the island. The smell of salt water traveled with it.

You shook your head. "She'll be fine. You can fix this." And after four years, after seeing what she became, after going through all of this, after that dream where you enjoyed seeing her alter ego suffer, could you even call her a friend?

The boy looked down, furrowing his brow, watching each foot hit the ground as they carried him along. "I don't know... What are the chances that this Phantom Sword still exists? The last time it was used was a really really long time ago. Anything could have happened to it."

"You can do it."

Link sighed and looked up at you, a smile ready for when you turned. When you didn't however, and instead continued walking along as if he wasn't gently tugging on your sleeve, he felt a little disheartened. Did you really believe that he could do it? After a moment of continuing alongside you, the boy sighed, turned, and headed back to the SS Linebeck. Maybe you were right. Maybe it was impossible to undo the things that Bellum did. Maybe you were right to doubt him. Fucking liar, he thought bitterly, but regretted a second later. I've been reduced to an eleven year old that can't even keep his mouth clean.

It was only when you heard his footsteps become more and more distant did you turn, just in time to see him step onto the ship and head below the deck, his eyes remaining glued to the ground as he did so. Ha, only for not returning a comforting smile. But what comforting thing could that boy do when you'd just found out that one of your friends had become a stone statue?

You almost hated him for trying.

You continued to stare at the ship as it floated, bobbing in the water due to waves that slapped against its sides. It was a full minute before you caught yourself staring and turned, walking down the cobblestone path toward the large hill. By the time you reached the top of that grassy hill, the sun was peeking from below the horizon, splashing orange, yellow, and red everywhere that it could reach. The places it couldn't reach still seemed to be a light shade of blue. One by one, the birds awoke, and the baby chicks began chirping, wanting food. You turned your head towards the temple, one of the few places where the light never touched. Bellum's hiding in there, you thought miserably. Kidnapping everyone, turning them to stone. Maybe you'll be next. Maybe your mother will be next. Maybe your mother's mother will be next. Who knows? Every person on this island could be stone by the end of next week.