Another Evil (Four Swords Fanfiction)

Lots of Apologies

Vio;s Point of View:

     Shadow and I fell asleep, still crying and I was still bleeding. It had been an emotional experience, but his eyes had turned blue and I had a feeling that was good.

     Even better, it seemed like we both came to grips with everything. Maybe he could stop being angry and I could stop being sad. Maybe this was a sign of improvement. But I was slightly scared to open my eyes when I was awake, because I was worried all of a sudden, Shadow would change his mind. But maybe, if I stayed patient, I'd be able to convince him again.

     But was that patience that helped me survive, or was it luck?

     Truth be told, it seemed to stop mattering. 

     When I opened my eyes, I saw Shadow with his hand on my bleeding side. There was stitches on that too. And on my cheek was a Band-Aid, and by the looks of it he had washed some parts of my body of all the blood. "I'm sorry," he said quietly.

     "I am too..." He looked scared to move closer to me. Because he was scared I'd hurt him, or he'd hurt me.

     "Can I hug you again?" I asked. "Would that be okay?"

     He gave me a brief nod before throwing his arms around my neck and hugging me tightly.

     "I don't know what I was doing," he said quietly. "But I'll never do it again."

     "There won't ever be any need for you to do it again, I promise." I ran my hands through his hair. It felt nice, being in contact with him, being in love with him again. "I won't ever hurt you like that again."

     He rested his chin on my shoulder. "I'd like that."

     "I would too."

     There was silence for a few minutes. I could still taste the blood on my lips and my stomach and chest was still covered in dried blood, I didn't have a tunic on still. But I tried to ignore it all and I pressed my face into Shadow's neck, inhaling his scent and holding him close.

     "What now?" He asked.

     "Hm?" I didn't process what he said.

     "What are we going to do now?" He asked a bit louder. "I...I want to help you, Vi, and the others, but Veran is..." He grimaced. "Veran is being used herself by Twinrova."

     "Koume and Kotake..." I said. "Wait, does she know she's being used?"

     "Yeah, but...she's still doing everything." He frowned. "You guys haven't had any interactions with her yet, have you?"

     "No, I don't think so." My body still ached, but it seemed like I would live. "I tried to do research on her--we didn't find anything. Zelda said you told her that this new threat was someone o one had seen for a long time."

     "You talked with Princess Zelda?"

     "Yes...and I..."

     "I already know...but you made the right decision, and I don't regret my decision, because it wasn't for nothing. If you four were killed by Ganondorf, I'd be saying something different though."

     I couldn't help it--I smiled.

     "Veran is not of this time. She should be far into the future, a couple centuries, but I do know she was after the Oracle of Ages which has something to do with time, I think. Maybe she got to her and is back here for some reason? She isn't supposed to exist yet."

     "Oracle of Ages..." I shook my head. "What else do you know about Veran?"

     He closed his eyes and thought for a minute. "She can possess people...and control shadows, she could also--in theory--make a shadowy double of someone else. I saw her do it before...And she was able to control me, somehow, probably because I am a shadow..." He thought for another minute. "...I don't think she's Hylian..."

     "Well, it's a start considering we didn't know anything before."  I finally realized something. "Why am I still topless?"

     Shadow blushed and eyed me briefly. "I cut it all off of you...They're just scraps now...and probably blood stained. ...I think you look cute without it."

     "Shadow...I made a promise to Zelda...I told her that I would protect that shard of the Dark Mirror with my life...I need it back."

    He flushed and handed it to me. It was covered in blood. 

     "Wait, this was what you stabbed me with?"

     "I had it in my hands, I don't even think I meant to stab you, just...punch you...Goddesses, I really hurt you..."

     "It's okay, I'm fine. You've done worse." I slowly got to my feet and grabbed onto Shadow's hand. "We need to find the others. I'll explain to them what happened and what you did--and probably warn them of Kyoko, she freaks me out--and then we'll all try to stop Veran...somehow."

     "You sound so optimistic, I have no doubts about this plan. At all." He was being extremely sarcastic.

    "First things first--I'm not gonna talk to the others when I have no shirt on." 

     "Fair enough, they might die of excitement. I think I have a spare tunic somewhere..."

     "Good. Where do you get all of your clothes?"

    "No clue--lets not think about it, all it does is confuse me."

    "Okay..."

    "Vio?" He grabbed onto my hand again. "I missed you."

    "I missed you too, Shadow."