Apocalypse Here...

Iko smiled smugly. "It's fun. And after this, I'm going to find some other lives to ruin."

-------

"Okay, let's go," Fell told Tara and Link. "She's happy to have us help at any time..."

Link stepped into the lead. "I'll go in and try to make a quick swoop." he said.

---

"Why Hyrule?" Zelda asked.

Even Ganondorf had had a bonafide reason for conquest...this just seemed like random destruction and it puzzled her.

Tara fell in behind him. "Be careful, and remember what she can do."

--------

"I suppose you were the next in line," Iko said, smoothing out her sleeves. "And unfortunately for you, you're the closest one here, so far...until your little friends get here..."

Zelda laughed, "My friends? Whatever do you mean? They're long gone by now, no doubt trying to find me in the courtyard or someplace." she said, convincingly lying.

NOW she cried in her mind. The command exploded in Link's brain, and he rushed forward. The queen's back was to him, and he buried the butt of his sword at the base of her skull.

Zelda leapt up, quickly whipping out her dagger.

Tricky, tricky Iko...she had been in this situation before, but not with the Princess and her bodyguards...
She dropped as Link struck her, using the momentum to roll to the side and remove a small wave-bladed dagger from her leg. She stood again, glaring defiantly at Tara, Zelda, Fell, and Link. "So...you," she muttered, looking Tara over. "It's been some time..."

Tara fairly growled.

Link took a deep breath.

The real Zelda was on his left...if Iko tried anything, all he had to do was remember that Zelda was on his left....

Iko grinned at Tara. "Well....it's been, what...a century or so?? How's life?"

Tara spat, not answering.

Link was alarmed by this tidbit...a century?!

But no...he had to stay focused...Zelda was on his left.

"Zelda," he said, risking a whisper. "Come here, okay?"

Slowly, she obeyed, never taking her eyes off of Link. He knew what Iko could do, and if she looked away for only a second...it could mean disaster...she had to focus on Link.

Fell glanced at Tara, back to Iko, and at Tara again. She'd never asked Tara why she hated this person so...

Tara never took her eyes from Iko, never blinked. "So," she growled, "how many other lives have you ruined since then?"

Iko looked hurt. "You never heard what happened in Termina, Tara? I would think, of all people.." She ducked as the Wyndryder feignted a swing.

Link's ears pricked at the mention of Termina.

Zelda sidled up beside him, watching Tara and Iko.
"What is going on here?" she demanded, frightened and utterly bewildered.

Iko's gaze turned predatory, flicking from Zelda, Tara, Link, and back to Tara again. "We're...old acuaintances, you might say," she said, crouching into a spring-ready stance.

Tara tensed, holding her blade in front of her. She shook visibly, and the glint of tears sparked at the corners of her eyes.

Zelda saw the troubled look on Tara's face, feeling a pang in her heart for her.

Iko grinned, then came out of her crouch and tilted her head at Tara. "You miss him, don't you..."

Tara snorted. "Is it that obvious?"

"Would you like to see him again?"

The wyndryder twitched, blinking back another tear. "No. I'll see him soon enough..."

"How about...sooner!" Iko flung her dagger at Tara, who ducked and easily avoided the blade.

That was just what the Chibi wanted... She lunged at Tara, teeth bared in a feral grin.

Fell powered into her, cat-formed, and they scuffled on the dungeon floor.

"No!" Tara yelled, horrified.

Link whipped out his sword, prepared to back Fell up in the skirmish.

"Fell, incoming!" Zelda yelled.

A ball of white magic came sailing from her hands, just missing the cat girl, but making contact with Iko.

Iko spun off of Fell, only to tackle her right back. Fell managed to throw her off, but when she looked at Iko again...

She saw...herself...

Zelda froze, a blue swirl of magic suspended in her hands. Link stopped mid-stride. In all the tumblings and fighting...

...They'd lost track of which Fell was the real one.

Zelda felt her stomach flip-flop. They were in trouble now.

Fell blinked. Fell blinked.

She growled, and so did Fell.

When Fell slashed out a paw, so did Fell.

It was a mirror image...

Link's face grew taut with worry. "Zel...which is which...?"

Zelda blinked. "I-I think the real Fell is the one on the left...I'm almost sure of it, in fact...."

In reality, Zelda didn't sound to sure of anything.

Tara looked from one Fell to the other, horror plastered all over her face. "No...nonono..."

One Fell pounced on the other, and they tussled in the wavering torchlight.

"Tara!" Zelda shouted, "You grab one Fell, I'll get the other!"

She made a dive for the one on the right.

Fell let Zelda hold her back, as did the other Fell.
"I'm going to kill her," Fell growled, trying to break free from Link's hold. "She tried to hurt Tara!"

The other Fell looked back with wide, scared eyes. "Zelda, you can't do anything about Iko??"

Link's Fell paused, outraged. "ME?? IKO?? That's not even funny! Let me go, Link, so I can get rid of that no good excuse for a kitten!"

Zelda was distraught...How do I make sure we get the right one...?

For a moment, she fretted, before the idea hit her smack in the face.

"...The real Fell would be able to tell me about the first time she and I met...what happened?"

The Princess eyed both of them craftily.

Link's Fell smiled. "I was introduced to Zelda by Kadomi. We...raided the castle, nearly got caught."

Zelda's Fell gasped. "But...no! How did you know all that?? You weren't there!"

Zelda shook her head.

"What happened before that...when we FIRST met. Here," she she said, pulling her Fell close. "Tell me in my ear, and YOU tell Link in his hear. Then we'll consult and get back to you."

{Returns to 'Hope' to see what really happened}

Zelda's Fell blinked at her captor. "I liked Link," she muttered. "And you nearly had a heart attack over it."

Link's Fell, on the other hand, turned to whisper to him, but instead knocked him on his rear, dashing up the stairwell and out.