Surprise!

I am well aware that I have declared this story over and done with. However, as I was re-reading it this morning, I couldn't help but think how the ending especially could have been better. And out of the many plot bunnies hopping around in my head, this comes out.

Please enjoy what FIERCE probably would have been had I thought of this all those weeks ago.

And if it is not too much of me to ask, please tell me which ending you would have preferred!

June 4, 5762

Year of Blazing Swords

Midnight

She examined the katana as she ran, unsure of what to make of it. She had claimed it from an opponent- Roy of Phrae- after defeating him soundly. It was amazing how much the boy resembled Eliwood. Lyn couldn't help but feel guilty over such a lost, The boy was quite young as well, probably only about 15 years old.

It was a beautiful thing, light and durable. The hilt was a rather simple leather hilt, as many swordmasters believed that a hilt heavy with gold or jewels was simply unneeded weight. The blade was brand new and nicely blued. It was a blade fresh from the forge. Two words:, Sol Katti, were engraved on the blade.

Many of the FIERCE agents laid dead as she passed. But many more rebels had been taken with them. It was a cruel thing for the woman, who had just killed the very person that had raised her, to see all of this death. For the first time, she saw what Isaac had seen. Killing, death, massacring was not at all right. It was, in fact, one of the cruelest thigns you could ever do to a person.

Link had found Boss. She could feel it. Eliwood had ordered her to go help Link. And it was highly likely that Link had found Boss. She licked her lips, savoring the prospect of finally living up to the name her parents had set for her long ago, the name that she had refused to ponder living up to ever since she had been taken in by FIERCE.

And thus, she ran.

He was already in the office by the time she had kicked down the great wooden doors, grasping onto a sword that gleamed quite beautifully in its sheath. Long and thick with a deep purple hilt, the blade gave off a bluish tint, as if it had just come from the forge. But if the legends of the Master Sword held true, the weapon itself was over a thousand years old.

"Link," Lyn gasped as she charged in, quickly scanning the room for any sign of foreign movement. "I came as fast as I could! Do you need anything? Are you in pain? May I offer you an Elixir?"

The Chosen Hero was standing with his back to her, feet apart, one hand on the hilt of the sword. He was gazing out of the great windows that made up the back wall of Boss' office, a strange expression on his face that Lyn had not seen before. It was a mixture of longing and amusement, coupled by a spark in his cobalt eyes that she had never noticed back at the hidden base.

For a moment, Lyn couldn't help but wonder if Boss had somehow managed to disable him, as he wasn't moving at all from his position. But the rising and falling of his chest told her otherwise. Link was alive, healthy, and- she noticed this when she came in for a closer look- completely and immaculately clean. There was not a single drop of blood on him, not a single wound interrupted his flawless skin. Then, the entirety of the scene entered her consciousness and she became quite aware of one thing.

Where was Boss?

"Link…" Lyn whispered. "Link… wh-where… where's Boss?"

Again, the Hero did not answer, choosing instead to draw the Master Sword and gaze at his reflection within it. Lyn watched as the deep red light bounced off the blade, casting a sinister red glow upon the facial features of the Hylian. They stood out quite sharply, almost to the point where he looked more devil than man. Trembling, Lyn opened her mouth to speak again, but was silenced as soon as Link swung the blade in a powerful downward arch, cleaving the desk before him in two. He stood up again, gazing at the blade with wonder and admiration evident in his eyes.

And still, the spark was there.

"Beautiful, is it not, Lyndis?" he whispered, running a thumb along the flat of the blade. "So sharp it could cut the air to pieces… yet so versatile, it could be both a tool of justice…" he sheathed the blade and turned to her, eyes flashing. "And… and a weapon of evil."

"L-Link… where is Boss?" Lyn asked again, failing to keep her voice from shaking. For a moment, a shadow fell across Link's face, but it was soon cleared up, replaced only with a look of amusement. "Link, don't play games with me! Where is Boss?"

"Really, Lyndis? I thought you were more intelligent than that."

Lyn bit her lip, her hands curling into fists. Frustration welled up within her, as she gritted her teeth and faced the man she had come to look up to as the Rebel Leader, unable to believe that he was toying with her at such a crucial moment. After all, Boss could appear at any second and this man had the gall to play games?

"Don't toy with me, Link! TELL ME WHERE BOSS IS!" she was taken quite aback by the demanding tone of her voice, the impatient edge. Link raised an eyebrow at her, then sighed, shaking his head.

"Lyndis, Lyndis, Lyndis… you truly are stupid, aren't you? Well, it seems that I have no choice but to show you what I mean, do I?" he raised his left hand, revealing the mark of the Triforce of Courage upon the back of his palm. It glowed for a brief moment, temporarily blinding the young woman before the light disappeared. Link stood in front of her, a mere shadow of himself. He was colored in completely back save his wolf-like eyes, which had retained the all too familiar cobalt, soulless hue.

Lyn gasped, nearly dropping her sword as she took a step back from the monstrosity before her. "Y-You!"

Link, nay Boss, laughed. "Don't like what you see, Lyndis? Are you seriously that much of a Hero already?" his voice had taken on a much different quality. It was as if an edge had crept its way into it, giving the once gentle voice of the Hero the gruff, malicious edge of Boss'. "Amazing what the power of the Three Goddesses can do to you, eh?" the Triforce glowed once again, and Lyn now beheld him in his original form. However, the coldness of his eyes remained untouched, a malicious smile twisting his facial features.

Codeame: Link

"I-I don't understand!" Lyn stammered. "Wh-Why? H-How?"

"Why? Why and how, you ask?" Link sneered, letting out a barking laugh. "Because this world doesn't need any more pathetic little Heroes, Lyndis! You should know that by now! After all, it was you, was it not, who tried to uphold FIERCE's code for so long, only to be shot down for a position among the Smashers every single time you attempted to apply?" again, he laughed. "How your pathetic attempts amused me over the years, young Lyndis! How amusing indeed…" he took a deep breath. "You don't know… how long I have planned for this day, Lyndis. How long I have used the Triforce of Courage to be Boss and Link all at once. How when those pathetic Heroes thought that I was on missions, I was really here, being Boss. How the members of FIERCE believed that I was merely a recluse when really, I was 'rallying' the Heroes! All I have planned, all that I have worked for has led to up this day…" he licked his lips, his sneer widening as he leered at the young woman in front of him. "The last of the Heroes… all gathered within one place… all ready for the taking…" for the first time, Lyn noticed that there was a gem of some sort on the Master Sword, a ruby that glowed bright red even in the dim light. "One push of a button and this entire base will be blown to smithereens, taking every single Hero- and a couple of annoying FIERCE agents- with it. Is that not a beautiful thought, Lyndis? Bodies… dead bodies… everywhere… corpses for me to gloat over for the rest of eternity… FIERCE living on as each of my illegitimate children- those that I deem worthy, that is- take the throne…" again, he licked his lips. "Such a… delicious thought…"

Age: 57

"You're mad," Lyn whispered.

Link laughed. "Mad, am I? Well then, Little Miss Hero, what's your choice? Shall you embrace the Code of FIERCE once again and live to tell the tale? Or shall you be yet another corpse upon which I shall celebrate my greatest victory?"

Anger swept through her, turning her vision red. How dared he? He dared he commit such a betrayal? It was one of the greatest crimes that any one man could ever commit and he had done such a thing for years upon years. He had betrayed the trust of comrades and was now going to wipe out the last hope that the world held.

There was only one answer she held for him.

Preferred Weapon: Master Sword

"You monster!" Lyn hissed as she lifted the Sol Katti, pointing it directly at her hated foe's heart. "I'LL SLICE YOU TO SMITHEREENS!" with that, she charged, aiming an overhead blow right for his next.

Link's Master Sword came up immediately and took the blow, flicking her blade away in order for him to aim a kick at her chest. She was thrown back against the wall, coughing up blood and Ashera knows what else. All the while, his mad laughter rang in her ears.

Division: None

With a cry loud enough to shake the earth, Lyn charged at her opponent, her sword a flashing wheel of light. Link easily deflected her blow before he began to rain overheads and sidecuts of his own upon her. Lyn desperately flicked her sword to and fro to block these cuts, now going on the defensive to avoid getting hit. With the speed of a viper she lunged desperately to the side, aiming an underhand slice right towards Link's sword-arm.

Link managed to sidestep just in time. The Master Sword described small, even circles in the air as Lyn charged again. The two blades clanged together as the two swordsmen glared at each other. Lyn's eyes flashed angrily as she pulled the sword from the lock just in time to block an underhand blow, followed by a right-side stab. Over and over this pattern repeated, with Link trying desperately to land a blow while Lyn quickly dodged each one.

Position: Head of FIERCE

Suddenly, Link changed tactics. He feinted an overhand cut, but immediately slammed the hilt of his sword into Lyn's stomach as she moved to block the attack. The wind knocked out of her, she collapsed to the ground. Before Lyn could so much as get up again, Link's heavy boot was upon her chest.

"Bastard!" she spat.

"Mani, Mani, Mani…" Link snickered. "How pathetic you truly are…" he raised his sword for the kill. "A death exactly like your parents… they would be so, so disappointed in how pathetically their daughter perishes…"

"I… am… LYNDIS!"

Her sword came up to meet the so-called Blade of Evil's Bane, surprising the Chosen Hero. Taking advantage of his momentary weakness, Lyn leaped to her feet and proceeded to cut and feint until her sword was nothing more than a spinning pinwheel of light. Lyn's blade flicked in and out of his defenses like a snake's tongue and, much to Link's amazement, he was forced to go into the defensive and was just barely keeping up. It didn't take long for him to realize that he wasn't facing a mere swordmaster.

He was facing a Trueblade.

They were legendary swordsmen, possessing talent that was above "natural" swordsmanship. In fact, it was said that one could only be a Trueblade if the blood of one flowed in their veins. They were extremely rare, but deadlier than the greatest poison in the world. If one faced a Trueblade in battle, there was almost no way one would survive.

Still desperately keeping up with her, Link lowered his sword to block an underhand, then flicked his sword to the right to intercept the right-hand sidecut that he knew was coming. After all, swordsmen rarely changed their attacking patterns in the middle of the battle. All he had to do was learn it and soon enough, he would be their master.

Big mistake.

Her blade switched from a sidecut to a stab. The sword slammed into his chest, puncturing a large, gaping hole. He felt the warm blood gushing out of him like a geyser and knew.

He was going to die tonight.

But then, he saw a faint glimmer of hope.

An angel descended from the heavens, a single blade out and ready. Pit, his scarred face now sporting a brand new cut, aimed his sword just above Lyn's head and dove for the kill. Link felt a bubble rise within him as he saw Pit, his avenger, his heir, ready to murder the woman that had caused so much pain.

No!

Lyndis was fast, too fast! She wrenched her sword from his body and raised it to block the angel just in time. Then, she proceeded to cut and slice, now forcing Pit into the defensive as well. Feeling his life slowly slipping away from him, Link summoned the last of his strength and threw it all into one last shout.

"PIT! GET OUT OF HERE! BEGIN FIERCE AGAIN!" he was seeing the angel at the end of a long, dark tunnel. "I name you… my heir…"

He watched in jubilation as Pit kicked Lyn in the stomach, spread his wings, and took off. The huge window behind Link's desk shattered as he charged through them. At this moment, he knew, Pit was already thinking of where to begin FIERCE again. He heard Lyn's cry of rage as she realized that the last of the FIERCE agents was ready to begin the organization again.

He saw her blade glinting above him, still stained red with blood. He saw her face, contorted with hatred, ready to murder him in cold blood.

Then let her, he thought, Let her kill me. But it won't matter. Pit's poison has already spread… soon, FIERCE will rise again!

He watched as the glittering blade descended, aimed right for his heart.

Current Status: Deceased

Lyn wrenched the sword out of the man she had once called Boss, panting as she stared at her enemy's corpse. She heard running footsteps behind her, but didn't need to turn around to know who it was. Eliwood dahed into the room and stood next to her, his mouth hanging wide open as he took in Link's corpse.

"Y-You… h-him…"

"… Pit got away, Eliwood…" Lyn said quietly. "He got away… with every intent to restart FIERCE…"

Eliwood placed a gentle hand on the woman's shoulder. "… And what shall you do…?"

Name: Lyndis

"I'm going to hunt him," she replied calmly. "I'm going to hunt him and prevent his poison from spreading… I'm going to hunt him even if it takes me a thousand years to find him…"

Eliwood nodded. "… A wise choice…"

Age: 33

"… And I'm coming with you."

Lyn whipped her head to look at her old friend. His battle-lined face was calm and impassive. Eliwood held her gaze with the calm that only a trained leader could possess. From the look in his eyes, Lyn knew that he was set and determined.

Preferred Weapon: Sol Katti

"But… what about Smashville?" Lyn asked. "Doesn't this city need you?"

Eliwood shook his head. "Smashville was in need of a Hero… and a Hero it received." his eyes twinkled slightly as he gazed at her. "You were the Hero, Lyndis…" he smiled as he gently removed the Sol Katti from her grip and began cleaning it with the dark blue cape he wore around his shoulders. "But right now, the rest of the world needs a Hero as well… and Pit… Pit needs someone to set him straight."

Division: Assist

"… I hope you know that the journey shall be rough," Lyn said. In spite of herself, she grinned. "I don't want you complaining the whole way now, Eli." she took the Sol Katti back and sheathed it. "It'll be rough… but…" she felt slight warmth rise to her cheeks. "I'm glad you're coming along."

The older man laughed. "Same to you, Lyndis…" he looked at the shattered window. "… But… where shall we begin our search…?"

"It doesn't matter… but wherever we go, we'll be Heroes…"

Eliwood nodded. "Amen."

Position: None

Lyn walked to the shattered window and watched as the tiny dot that was Pit flew off into the distance. He seemed to be heading east- to Skyworld- where it was all too evident that he would attempt to start FIERCE again. It was Link's dying wish, she knew, that FIERCE would live on forever.

But if FIERCE lived on, so would they.

They were Heroes. Their purpose was to help the weak and innocent and to protect those that couldn't protect themselves. They were the last of the Heroes, the ones that would one day restore Smashville and its neighbors to peace and prosperity.

She knew not what journey lay ahead of her. She didn't even know whether or not she would survive this journey. But as long as Eliwood was by her side, she knew that all would be well.

It was what Eliwood wanted.

It was what her parents had wanted.

It was what Isaac had wanted.

Current Status: Hero